As my husband and I drove over for the Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, we acknowledged our growling stomachs. We knew we needed to grab something to eat first. We ran down our options and our usual faves, and I said, “Why don’t we try something different? Are you in the mood for BBQ? And will she (our daughter is four) eat it?”

We each did a quick search on our phones and both landed on Mystic BBQ & Grill on N. Lee Street. How come we hadn’t heard of this? Was the Pitmaster BBQ place gone? As it turns out, it was the same location under new ownership. Since it was within walking distance to where we needed to go and they had a kids’ menu, we headed over.

First impression: it was super clean, looked like it had been renovated, and it was pretty quiet. I was surprised because there was a huge event going on in Old Town a few short blocks away. I took in the big windows, the open layout, the cool art, the music (80s and 90s – my fave), and ordered a strawberry mojito.

When the server shared they had only been open a month, it all made sense. And I’m here to share, this is a must-stop. My husband ordered the hickory smoked BBQ ribs, my daughter had a kids’ cheeseburger, and I had popcorn shrimp and calamari with cajun remoulade. We didn’t speak while we ate, which is always a sign of – being extremely hungry, really good food or we’re too tired to talk. In this case, all of the above.

Mystic BBQ is a great spot to grab a drink at the bar, have dinner with family and friends, or even host a private event – it’s that spacious.

My husband always jokes that I’m more into the ambiance and vibe than the food, which is true. But both are good at this place – and there’s outdoor seating, too. Plus, did I mention the music? Anyone who plays my college jams gets bonus points.

Check it out: MysticBBQandGrill.com

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