Skip to content

Find Smoky, Slow-Cooked Religion at Seattle’s New Barbecue Church

And for the love of God, don't skip the mac 'n' cheese.

By Chelsea Lin July 17, 2017

wood-shop-CROP

This article originally appeared in the July 2017 issue of Seattle magazine.

Listening to Matt Davis talk about barbecue is a little like going to church. There’s passion—so much passion that he quit his day job in woodworking to bring barbecue to the people. There’s history—the recipes taste of his Kansas hometown. And there’s community—the locals who have made his new restaurant a gathering place.

Davis launched the mobile Wood Shop BBQ with partner James Barrington (who also owns food trucks Hallava Falafel and Bread and Circuses) in 2014. They added a brick-and-mortar Central District location in January.

Hits include the brisket cooked slowly over a combination of Ozark hickory and central Texas post oak in the smoker they’ve nicknamed “Brad Pit”; fall-off-the-bone pork ribs; and smoked jalapeno mac ’n’ cheese piled with pulled pork, pickled onions and their signature barbecue sauce. And because every self-respecting barbecue spot leans heavily on the brown liquor, there’s an impressive assortment of whiskies. Let the sermon begin.

Central District, 2513 S Jackson St.; 206.557.8090; thewoodshopbbq.com

 

Follow Us

Restaurant Roundup: Christmas Dining and Copine Closing

Restaurant Roundup: Christmas Dining and Copine Closing

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.

Sometimes the best gift you can receive (or even treat yourself to) is to not have to cook during the holidays, so why not take advantage of the restaurants that are staying open? From Blue Water Bistro in Leschi to Ben Paris downtown and Maximilien in Pike Place Market, there are plenty of options on…

Counter Culture: Road Trip Edition—Sea J’s Cafe

Counter Culture: Road Trip Edition—Sea J’s Cafe

A winter drive to Port Townsend reveals a humble spot that’s worth the miles for its cod and chips.

Winter in Seattle has a way of convincing you to stay home, to hunker down and forget the gems just beyond the city limits. But winter is exactly when Port Townsend shines its most authentic light. Gone are the summer crowds—what remains is a charming, windswept seaside town that feels like it’s yours alone. Before…

Neighbors helping neighbors: The door-to-door fight against hunger
Sponsored

Neighbors helping neighbors: The door-to-door fight against hunger

Photos by United Way of King County Donate: Our neighborhood Fund If you see fresh produce or hot meals being delivered in your neighborhood, don’t be surprised to learn that the order came from a local food bank, not a pizza parlor or supermarket. Nonprofits are changing the way they make food available to people…

Restaurant Roundup: Remembering Legends and Late-Night Tacos

Restaurant Roundup: Remembering Legends and Late-Night Tacos

Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.

A lot of Seattle stories seem to be coming to a close as we near the year’s end, with some iconic eateries going out on their own terms and others fighting to survive. Sadly, we’ve also lost some truly outsized figures on the culinary scene, including Ms. Helen Coleman, the “Queen of Seattle Soul Food,”…