New Gloucester restaurant caters to BBQ lovers

(By Tara Bozick in the May 11, 2015 Daily Press)

Scoot’s BBQ in Gloucester Point didn’t have to plan a big grand opening or anything. The word is out — and the orders keep on coming.

The 70-seat restaurant opened quietly in the former Sweet Madeleine’s building at Route 17 and Tidemill Road on April 14 and put a sign up the next Saturday,” said owner Karen Ward. Ward, along with husband Gary, also own Olivia’s in the Village.

“It has been overwhelming,” Karen Ward said, adding Scoot’s had nearly 600 orders this past Saturday, both eat-in and takeout.

The No. 1 seller so far is the Scoot’s famous pit-cooked pulled pork sandwich combo, but customers can also buy pulled chicken, beef brisket, St. Louis ribs, chicken wings and burgers, Ward said. All the meats are smoked with hickory and oak in a Southern pride smoker from Louisiana, she said.

Additionally, Scoot’s concocted its own barbecue sauce in addition to others like Carolina sauce and sweet and spicy chipotle. Customers can order meat by the pound and can choose from a dozen sides, including thin homemade onion rings, fried okra, smoked baked beans, sweet potato or regular fries, cucumber or beet salad and macaroni and cheese. Dessert includes Chef Todd’s creamy peanut butter pie, pecan pie and key lime pie.

Additionally, some of Olivia’s menu items, like its seafood chowder, crabcakes, shrimp and oysters, can be ordered at Scoot’s, Ward said. Prices range from 5 bucks to $16.99 for the seafood platter, she said.

Eventually, the Scoot’s website will include online ordering and the restaurant is marketing heavy on social media with help from 18-year-old daughter Olivia, a senior at Mathews High School. While the Courthouse area restaurant is named after Olivia, the barbecue joint’s name is the nickname of Karen’s grandfather, R.L. Emerson, she said. His picture is hanging up inside.

Husband Gary believed a barbecue concept was just needed in Gloucester, and Google shows no competition in the area. Ward said Scoot’s has about 20 employees.

“Of all the restaurants we have opened, this has been the most popular,” Ward said, adding Scoot’s has nearly 1,700 likes on Facebook already with more than 70 reviews.

Hours at Scoot’s at 2091 George Washing Memorial Highway are: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/scootsbbq or http://scootsbbq.com.