Smoky Trails: Discovering Lush's BBQ - Nacho Tour Stop #3

Join us each week as we dive into Park City's nacho scene, sharing our top picks from the ski slopes to the apres-ski hangouts. Our mission? To find nachos that truly represent the spirit of our beloved ski town. Whether you're here for the skiing or the savory snacks, we hope our journey inspires more fun on the slopes and more delightful apres-ski moments. Let's discover together the nacho gems of Park City!

Welcome to Stop #3 on the Park City Nacho Tour

Welcome back to our Park City nacho tour! For our third stop, we ventured to Lush's BBQ, a cozy BBQ joint tucked away in Silver Creek, just a short drive from the mountain. Though we couldn't hit the slopes today due to work commitments and a well-deserved break from ski racing, we seized the opportunity to explore this off-the-beaten-path après-ski spot.

Skipped Early January Turns: Took the day off. Snow is coming!

Today, skiing took a backseat. One of us had a big day at work to close out the week, while the other needed a break after consecutive days of ski racing. This break from skiing led us to Lush's BBQ, recently relocated from Kamas and run by the dedicated owner Richie Lush. Known for its Tennessee BBQ smoked on-site, Lush's also boasts a newly built tavern, complete with live music on Fridays.

Choosing Lush's

Richie's small tavern, nestled in the corner of the restaurant, offers a rustic and intimate atmosphere with a full liquor assortment. We settled into a 2-top table, ready to sample the nachos we'd heard about – especially intrigued by their homemade flour tortillas instead of traditional corn-based ones.

The Nacho Experience at Lush's

Lush's BBQ presented their nachos on an elegant black plate with bowl-like sides, reminiscent of a cast-iron presentation. They use a cheese sauce on top of their homemade flour tortillas. On top of the cheese a guest can order any of the BBQ options from the menu, and we went with brisket, which we had enjoyed before from Lush's.

Her Perspective: Looked great. Tasted good. Flour isn't the way to go.

The nachos looked promising with evenly distributed cheese sauce and chopped brisket. The meat was good, but not as memorable as expected from a BBQ joint. The jalapeños were a hit, adding a noticeable punch. The cheese and sides were satisfactory. However, the flour tortilla chips, while crunchy, felt too starchy and struggled under the toppings, leading to an average overall rating, uplifted by the ambiance.

His Thoughts: Love the spot and the people. Nachos should be corn-based chips.

I appreciated the well-distributed cheese and the brisket, though it didn't wow me. The flour tortilla chips were a unique twist but didn't quite hit the mark for a traditional après-ski nacho experience. The chips kept breaking under the weight of the cheese and brisket. The overall feel of the tavern and the live music added to the experience, but the nachos themselves earned a solid 3-chip rating.

Detailed Ratings:

• Layers (4/5):  The nachos had good layering of ingredients

• Portion Size (4/5):  The size was hearty and satisfying

• Temperature (4/5):  Served warm

• Quantity of Cheese (5/5):  Generously covered with cheese

• Meat (Brisket) Rating (4/5):  Good quality brisket, flavorful but not memorable

• Chip Sturdiness (2/5):  The flour chips struggled under the weight of toppings

• Chip Crunchiness (5/5):  Chips were perfectly crunchy

• Uniformity (3/5):  Decent distribution of toppings

• Price (5/5):  Fair and reflective of the quality and location

• Overall (3/5):  A solid option, but not outstanding (Lush's a 5!)

Overall, Lush's didn't deliver over-whelm because of the flour tortillas, but the place and the people are great!

Ambiance and Service Lush's BBQ's tavern ambiance was a delightful surprise, with a cozy and rustic vibe. The live music added a classic touch, making the tavern within a restaurant a must-visit spot. The service was friendly and speedy, enhancing our experience significantly.

Reflecting and Looking Forward Despite not skiing today, our visit to Lush's was a welcome change of pace. We were had a nice surprise in that one of the musicians is our son's drum teacher. We talked about how the work week went, discussed funny things the kids said and did and shared some of the developments on his new ventures. Lush's provided the perfect venue to connect and unwind to end the week.

Running Ranking:

1. Collie's on Main Street (12/1) – A strong and tasty start to our nacho journey!

2. Lush's BBQ in Silver Creek (1/6) – Great vibe. Flour nachos just don't do it.

3. Legend's at PCMR (12/22) – A disappointing second stop on the tour :(

Next Stop Lush's BBQ may not have topped our nacho chart, but it's certainly worth a visit for its charming setting, live music, and BBQ. We're already excited for our next nacho adventure – where will our taste buds take us next in Park City? Stay tuned!