Hambone Opera

I was born in NJ, but was raised in the South; NC and VA to be specific. I grew up on pulled pork, cole slaw, and baked beans, when it comes to BBQ. I've had all kinds of BBQ, good and bad, but as a Southerner, I have an extremely, almost unrealistically high standard when it comes to trying new BBQ joints, and ESPECIALLY when those joints are in a state that DOES NOT BELONG SERVING OR SELLING BBQ, not unlike NJ. That being said... I have mixed feelings about what I just ate, which was pulled pork, brisket, baked beans, and cole slaw. The brisket seemed to be ONLY flavored with smoke. The smoke flavor and tenderness were so good that I can confidently say that no other place in the country, even in the South, can match it. If it tasted as if the chef at least looked at some salt, though, I would've fully enjoyed it. The cole slaw tastes too much like traditional NJ cole slaw to me. If you really eat cole slaw, you know EXACTLY what I'm saying and what can be done to fix it. Mind you, I was raised in Carolina, so that particular style of pulled pork is and will forever be King. The pulled pork from THO, though? It pleasantly surprised me that a BBQ joint outside of NC could make pulled pork that doesn't have to be saved by BBQ sauce. It stands up very well on its own. I added no sauce to it; I ate the hell out of it; I'm about to go back for seconds. The baked beans?!? OH MY GOD. "Best ever" is an oversimplification AND and understatement. They're not sweet like traditional baked beans, but the sweet is there. They're just spicy enough to let you know and remind you subtly that they're spicy, which is PERFECT for me. If there was a Nobel Prize for food, those baked beans, in ALL of their smokey glory, would win it every year. I honestly don't think anyone can even come close to those baked beans. Did I mention that I liked them? All in all, I feel like THO has their work cut out for them, but I also feel like they've earned the top spot in NJ, if not the entire Northeast. - MJ

This place is a hidden gem , I’ve lived Two streets down my whole life and I had no idea this place was here, the flavor was phenomenal the brisket was melt in your mouth good , the owner and staff were extremely friendly and greater a great atmosphere, he has gained a customer in the future for sure