McGraw's Outlaw BBQ Co

Four out of six piggies on Jan through Mar, 2009.

Overall Impression...
Sweet! This review applies to the Gresham location.

Meats...
The pulled pork is tender but not mushy. There is a small amount of sauce mixed in and the elemental pork flavor shines through. The smoky pork ribs are seasoned with a dry rub. The delicious, smoky meat is tender and almost falls off the bone. At the time of my visit, the ribs were unfortunately oversalted. Note: As of Mar , 2009, that problem is resolved. The ribs are perfectly seasoned. Also on the menu board: beef brisket, chicken, and smoked meatloaf.

Sides...
The KC beans are, not surprisingly, sweet, but not overly so and had a nice earthy flavor. For a real blast, the Cajun Beans are very spicy, with small chunks of bell pepper. The mac & cheese is in a thin base and is not very flavorful. The corn bread comes as either regular or jalapeno. It's moist, with little bits of jalapeno which give it a gentle spiciness. Kudos. Ordinarily, I'd like to see honey on the table for the cornbread, but you might as well use the Sweet Heat sauce.

Sauces...
Not that you need sauce on the full-flavored meats, but McGraw's Outlaw BBQ Co has four sauces, all of which are quite sweet. The sweetest is Sweet Heat, which has a little bit of spice and not enough acid to balance the sugar. Next is Honey Bourbon, with no heat at all, and just a little acid. The Carolina Honey Mustard sauce is self explanatory. Most disturbing is the Polynesian sauce. It's sickly sweet and has a nasty back taste that I can't quite identify. Someone please explain it to me. My favorite is the honey habanero. It's the least sweet, the most spicy, and has a stimulating delayed heat.

Portions...
Large portions. You won't leave hungry.

Service...
Cafeteria style. Professional, friendly staff. You order at the counter and take a plastic plate and utensils to your table. The staff genuinely cares.

Cost...
Reasonable, especially considering the large portions.

Atmosphere...
Casual and cozy. A large glass front lets in plenty of light. Comfortable chairs.

Pros...
Tasty BBQ at an affordable price. I will definitely go back.

Cons...
Sauces are overly sweet. Plastic plates and utensils, paper cups.

McGraw's Outlaw BBQ Company - Gresham
408 NW Burnside Rd
Gresham, Oregon, 97030
(503)-512-8673

McGraw's Outlaw BBQ Co - Clackamas
16180 SE 82nd Dr
Clackamas, OR 97015
(503) 657-0098
Both locations closed Sundays.