Eating at Rusty's Ribs 'n BBQ
The trailer on Route 3 is open for business with a menu featuring ribs, brisket, pork sandwiches and other favorites.
As promised, I stopped by Rusty's Ribs 'n BBQ on Wednesday for some lunch.
Owner Russell Clark has officially set up shop just south of McKnew Road in the middle of the north and southbound lanes of Maryland Route 3, and is cranking out pounds of barbecue pork, chicken, brisket and sides.
He and his son are doing all the work inside the red trailer, which is equipped with heavy cooking equipment and hauled in by pickup truck each morning.
I ordered the pork sandwich on Texas toast, with baked beans and cole slaw on the side.
I'll be returning for more on a regular basis.
I chatted a bit with Clark about his cooking technique, and he said all meat is cooked "slow and low" in a smoker designed to hold as much as 500 pounds of meat.
He said that Wednesday's meat was placed in the smoker on Tuesday at 4 p.m. and he didn't take it out until 10 a.m. Wednesday. He tries to cook most meat at about 225 degrees.
Clark's sauce is homemade and on the sweet side.
Clark said business was good on Wednesday, despite a light drizzle.
For now, Rusty's will be a takeout-only stand, as he is not yet permitted to have picnic tables on site. (You need a portable toilet on site first.)
Rusty's Ribs 'n BBQ is open every day except Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It will hold a grand opening on June 2 from noon to 2 p.m. with free samples and a ribbon cutting.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Rusty's would be closed on Mondays. It will close on Tuesdays. Patch regrets the error.
Ronald
7:15 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Well written blog - especially the pictures. Now I know what I'm going to get and cann't wait to stop by this week for my well deserved sandwich BEFORE I get home for diner.
I actually did stop by for a take-out sandwich and it was really good. Hope others will support Rusty so that we can eventually get tables and restrooms.
Ron
Peggy Transue Williams
9:04 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Stopped by for lunch AND dinner Wednesday - DELICIOUS! i'll be returning - this may become our go-to place for carry-out. Loved the pork sandwich and two sides - enough for two people! Rusty is friendly, was happy to answer my questions, and even offered a large sample of juicy pork. I look forward to returning to try the chicken and fish.
Tim Lemke
10:20 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Rusty's does take major credit cards. I know a few people asked about that.
Elizabeth Ann
10:49 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
YUMMY...gotta try it out....the picture of the sandwich is making my mouth water.
John
1:28 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Fantastic! Just finished - had the beef brisket platter with slaw and potato salad - my wife had the chicken. The slaw and potato salad were among the best I've had! The beef brisket was "true barbeque" - tender, moist, flavorful. My wife loved the chicken - very moist. Highly recommend!
Cheryl Hokanson
2:57 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
My husband and I just finished brisket sandwiches and potato salad. Hands down the best we have ever had!!! IMPRESSIVE!! We will be back! We want to try everything!!
Best wishes Rusty!
Mike Schaeffer
4:36 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Just left Rusty's. All they had left at 3:45 was ribs and potato salad. That's like telling me the only days left in the year a my birthday and Christmas. Amazingly good. I will be back....often.
John
4:44 pm on Thursday, May 24, 2012
They were out of the pork BBQ when we got there around 1pm'ish so I'm really looking forward to going back and trying that out.
Tom Wise
6:41 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
I stopped by on 5/24. I couldn't decide which to get, so I tried the smoked brisket sandwich and a half rack of ribs. The brisket sandwich (a meal that happens to be between two pieces of good bread) was the best I have ever had outside of Houston. I saved half for my wife and she loved it. The ribs were outstanding (even better than my own). They were very meaty, good smoke flavor, and tender. Good Luck Rusty. You have got a winner here.
Betsy
8:40 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
We had ribs on Wednesday - best I've ever had! I hope he'll make an exception and open on Memorial Day. Was planning on "cheating" and buying some some of his ribs for our cook-out!
Tim Lemke
11:26 am on Friday, May 25, 2012
Rusty's will be open on Memorial Day —and every Monday. He'll be closed Tuesdays. My mistake. That's been corrected.
Arundel mom
5:37 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012
I have one word: delicious! The ribs were awesome!
Monika Barilla
11:34 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012
Stopped by today, Beef Brisket sandwich was the bomb. The Potato salad is out of this world and delish Cole Slaw...Rusty has a winner here.
Chase Hardison
5:38 pm on Saturday, May 26, 2012
Stopped by there on Friday a little after 4 PM. Thankfully he still had both pork and brisket left as my wife and I were eager to try both. I am from North Carolina and my wife is from the Kansas City and Memphis, TN areas so we have both seen our share of barbecue... This was some of the BEST barbecue I have ever eaten! I didn't even need to add sauce to my pork as it was deliciously smoked and neither did my wife with her brisket. That being said, I did get some of both of his two varieties of mild and spicy BBQ sauces on the side for dipping and they were both wonderful, with that Carolina vinegar base that I LOVE. He had the mac and cheese and potato salad sides available and they were some of the best of the two I have ever eaten as well. All in all, a wonderful meal with great service from a man who seems to thrive on serving up wonderful, honest to goodness BBQ. Rusty even offers a 10% discount to all police, firemen and military. As a side note, since he packs his trailer up nightly he shuts down his fryer by 4:30, so if you want fries get there early. Cannot wait to go back for more!!!
Erin Anderson
3:31 pm on Sunday, May 27, 2012
Enjoyed Rusty's sampler for dinner last night. Brisket melted in our mouths. ribs had wonderful flavor. pork delicious. The regular sauce is great and would have loved even more of it! Also, the baked beans and mac and cheese are not to be forgotten as they are yummy too. Will be back.
Russell (Rusty) Clark
9:21 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Thanks to all for the support, and wonderful comments during our soft opening. We will continue to provide the the freshest food and best service that we can. Hope to see all of you on grand opening day Saturday June 2nd (refreshments) noon till 2!
Thanks Again Rusty & Aaron
Susan Kim
11:03 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
My boyfriend and I stopped by yesterday and ordered a brisket sandwich, baked beans, rib platter with potato salad, and mac and cheese. Everything was outstanding. The spicy sauce is simply amazing - I don't think I've ever tasted anything like it. We will definitely be back for more.
Susan Kim
11:04 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
By the way, this business is now on Yelp. Please submit a positive review for Rusty!
Lori Siegesmund
12:24 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Yelp does help get the word out. I live in Colorado but my brother lives in Gambrills. I wanted to get him a present of dinner out. He loves BBQ so I looked on Yelp and was convinced by the reviews for Rusty's. I called up to start my brother a tab. :-)
Rusty was so nice to help me set it up!