ENTERTAINMENT

‘Watts for Dinner’: Dry-rubbed perfection at the Black Eyed Pig

Will Watts
Correspondent

Just off Pine Ridge Road, on Shirley Street, you’ll find some of Naples finest barbecue at the Black Eyed Pig.

The beef brisket platter with potato salad and mac 'n cheese from the Black Eyed Pig, Naples.

The menu features pulled pork, slow smoked Boston butt; smoked turkey and beef brisket – which can be ordered as a platter (two sides and choice between jalapeno corn muffin or Texas toast) from $9.79 to $13.49 or sandwich (with one side) from $9.79 to $11.49.

For bigger appetites, there’s the four-meat sampler ($25.50) with two sides; or the dry rubbed ribs, St. Louis cut ribs or baby back ribs ($13.99 to $19.99).

Sides include pasta salad, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, black eyed peas, collard greens and French fries. For an upcharge you can have mac ‘n cheese, sweet potato fries or fried okra.

I ordered the pulled pork platter with cole slaw and sweet potato fries and selected a jalapeno corn muffin. The pork was tender and tasty. I sampled it naked, and with both the sweet and tangy barbecue sauce provided at the table. Both sauces were equally amazing, and I kept switching between the two. Usually adding a lot of sauce says bad things about the meat; but not this time. It was cooked to perfection. That being said, the sauce was so good I even used it on my corn muffin.

The sweet potato fries had this chili-powder blend on them that elevated the dish beyond your regular side. Side note: I also used the barbecue sauce on them.   

The pulled pork platter with cole slaw and sweet potato fries from the Black Eyed Pig, Naples.

My partner in dine chose the beef brisket, potato salad and mac ‘n cheese. The brisket was also tender and delicious, cooked to perfect. The white mac ‘n cheese looked to be a blend, predominately white cheddar and definitely comfort food.

For potato salad lovers, this was a creamy blend; disappointing southerners everywhere who like a little mustard in their potato salad.

The restaurant is open weekdays from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday; closed Sunday.

The Black Eyed Pig, go for the sauce and stay for the Q.

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If you go

Black Eyed Pig BBQ

  • 5307 Shirley Street, Naples
  • Blackeyedpig.com
  • 239-593-5006