Dining Out: Nerdy BBQ (Anderson, IN)

The amount of niche af nerd memorabilia displayed in this restaurant is staggering and impressive

Exterior: 3/5

The entrance is around the side at the left of this image

This place is tucked out of the way, that's for sure. The owners spruced up an old bank in the Edgewood area of Anderson. But it's kind of nice to drive out there. The area is quiet and you feel like you've stumbled across something that's just for you. Now, some things about the bank conversion got a bit wonky. The entrance is around to the side, and if you want to go to the bathroom you have to exit the restaurant and go around to a separate outside entrance. But when you think about the world someone would have to do to turn a bank into a restaurant (someone who isn't a wealthy investor) it's pretty impressive what they've managed to pull off here.

Ambience: 5/5

So much wonderful nerdiness and so thoughtfully curated!

It's such a nice place to be!

Yeah, so ignore the exterior and focus on the inside. Like, A+ theming and decor going on here. They've displayed a dragon's hoard of treasures from all kinds of nerd fandoms. There's two 80s-era game systems all loaded and ready to party for whoever wants a pixelated good time. And even if all that wasn't there the style choices they made with lighting, walls, and seating are on point for a nice little hole-in-the-wall barbecue joint. The design is purposeful but it still feels homey.

Variety: 3/5

It's not the world's biggest menu, but it has interesting stuff

Pork Ultimate Mac and Cheese

Nerdy BBQ is a little restaurant, and little restaurants have little menus. But your classic barbecue meats are represented, and they throw in some cool mac 'n' cheese and baked potato options as well. Vegetarians might feel a little cramped in here, but I have a feeling that you could do some creative stuff with their baked potato topping options.

Quality: 4/5 

Brisket Sandwich

Smoked Banana Pudding

Look, the menu ain't huge, but the food is fantastic. My husband and I were both bowled over by his brisket sandwich. It was smoky, savory, delicious meat that didn't need any toppings to knock your socks off. My pork mac 'n' cheese was good (better with lots of sauce on it), but I spent the whole meal feeling jealous of that brisket. We ordered a smoked banana pudding for the 1YO and I have confess that I stole about half of it for myself with absolutely zero remorse. That stuff was the TRUTH. 

Kid-Friendly: 5/5

The appeal is obvious, although Millennials would probably have even more fun with the Super NES

They were super nice and threw a little bit of chicken and a half-size Sprite for 5YO onto our order for free

But the best part was the friends we made along the way!

Did the presence of game systems you can play for free not already sell you on this place being kid-friendly? Well then let me keep going! The proprietor saw my picky 5YO coming a mile away and set him up with some tender pulled chicken and barbecue sauce that he absolutely stuffed his face with. A lot of the business they were doing seemed to be pickup, so the seating area wasn't packed and I felt free to let my kids get a little loose. The icing on the cake was that the proprietor's kid was there cooling her heels while her folks cooked, and she was so excited to see other kids she ran right out and asked them to play. 5YO got shy, but 1YO has never met a stranger and so she and the resident kid-game expert had a great time crawling around chasing each other other the tables. 

Would Eat Again?: Green Light

I now have an enormous emotional investment in this place succeeding. It's not a 5/5 on everything, but with a little more success and investment I think it really could be. The prices are fair, the dining experience is great, and the personal touches make everything all the more wonderful. The people who run this place love it, y'all. You'd be doing them and yourself a favor if you stop by and help them flourish.