Barbeque for Beginners: Lillie's Q

Lillie's Q, located on the corner of North Wolcott Street
and West North Avenue

I was walking down North Ave over the weekend, which the Green Music Festival was occurring on Damen. Lillie’s Q (1856 West North Ave, lilliesq.com) was sitting on the corner. After walking around the neighborhood for awhile, I returned and walked in. Originally I was looking for some to eat somewhere outside. I found a spot nearby but I wasn’t feeling the vibe. And I’m not sure I could walk in my shorts and t-shirt. Everyone was dressed up. And the specials advertised (“Two-for-one margaritas!” scrawled on colorful chalkboard) didn’t make me feel special.

Lillie’s Q specializes in barbeque and Southern eating and drinking, like bourbon, moonshine, and whiskey. They also have a wide selection of craft beers, all from independent and small distilleries, with the exception of Budweiser (which is available for four whole dollars). Chef Charlie McKenna, who worked in various top-notch places around the country before opening Lillie’s Q (named after his grandmother, who taught him the fine art of southern cooking) in July 2010, uses family recipes in just about every item available on the menu, from the boiled peanuts and banana pudding to the baby back ribs, sandwiches, and shrimp and grits.

For appetizers or sides to your meal, whether it’s a sandwich or a whole chicken, add some mac ‘n’ cheese and sweet potato fries. I know, I know, you are watching your diet. But hey, you are in the center of Bucktown. (And Wicker Park and Lincoln Park are nearby.) Walk around for half an hour, either to the park or do some window-shopping—or real-life shopping. Myopic Books and Reckless Records are nearby. You can easily spend an hour or two walking through the rooms where thousands of books are sitting there, waiting to be read or listen to Dum Dum Girls on blast while contemplating buying some records from the clearance bins—even though the last thing you need are half a dozen books or records in your already crowded living room.

But let us return to Lillie’s Q. The food was brought out on a small and sturdy aluminum tray, which resembled both the baking pans used in the kitchen as well as the lunch trays from the cafeteria. Part of me wanted to take home the tray and use it as a tray--or to bake.

Lillie's Q: Also available in as a food truck entity.

The pulled pork sandwich (seven bucks), which is what I ended up getting for lunch, was a good deal. It’s the right size, not too big or too small. My server, Sarah, mentioned that I could add some coleslaw on top of the pork (or as a side) for one dollar more. I do not eat coleslaw, so I politely declined. I did get the Mac ‘N’ Cheese as my side. For a dollar extra, they will add some meat into the mac ‘n’ cheese. My server suggested pulled pork, saying that it would make the dish taste even better than bacon or without any meat at all. I was concerned about going overboard with the pulled pork; after all, I was also ordering a pulled pork sandwich. But she recommended it, so it has to be good. They placed almost as much pulled pork in the mac ‘n’ cheese as they did for the sandwich. There weren’t bits of pork in the dish; there were big chucks of the stuff. The pork was tender but not too tender where it becomes too juicy to eat without making a mess all around. (But just in case, you get a giant, white rag as a napkin.) 

Try the Hot Smoky on your food. Try Smoky on appetizers.

On the table were the house barbeque sauces. I tried the hottest one (Hot Smoky) for the sandwich and the medium one (or Smoky) for the Mac ‘N’ Cheese ‘N’ Pork (or M&C&P).

Each beer comes with a glass jar for your drinking pleasure. It reminds me of drinking downstate (Illinois, Missouri, etc.), where I once drank some homemade liquor (I believe it was moonshine) out of a small jar. It was flavored, grape. Then I tried a fruit punch one. Both were very strong and very refreshing. I only had a single shot of each one but I had trouble getting up after drinking. I got up ten minutes after the drinking ended. It was that strong.

Speaking of drinking, a cold beer goes great with southern-style food. Well for most people, moonshine or whiskey is the perfect liquid companion with that, but I am not a moonshine and whiskey kind of guy. For me, beer is excellent with just about anything.

Whiskey out of a straw? I'm not sure this could end well.

Originally the beer for me was the Two Brothers Domaine Dupage (ABV 5.9%), a French-style country ale with a toasty, caramel taste that is also hoppy. Sarah said that they were out of the beer.

“Really?” I asked. (This the second time in four days that my first choice of beer was unavailable.) “It’s all gone?”

“The Milk Stout is the closest one we have to the Dupage,” she said. “It’s sweet and heavy.”

And the cow went over the moon. Then fell and passed out.

I ended up getting the Left Hand Milk Stout (ABV 5.9%), which was dark and heavy enough that I needed a glass of water (and it came in a glass jar, which was so cool.)

I chose a great time to enjoy a very fulfilling meal. Had I arrived an hour later, Lillie’s Q would have been packed with people, mostly there to drink and eat ‘til their stomachs erupted. Since they don’t take reservations, it is tough to find a table (especially for a group of four or more) on a weekend night. there is also the option of take-out, but for a place as laid-back as this, why not check it out and stay for the whole nine yards? Get a couple rounds of moonshine along with ribs and M&C&P in a cozy yet cool environment.