Aldie Country Store

Drive by everyday. Saw them clearing out the store today. The building is now empty. Place got shut down. And I can see why.
Went here one morning and grabbed a breakfast sandwich a few months back. It was alright. Good price.
Went back a week later and got a breakfast burrito. Then I heard the guys sales pitch about his damn BBQ. Figured I’d stop by later and grab lunch. I came back about 7 hours later and noticed the same breakfast burrito I grabbed for breakfast was still sitting under the heat lamp… then I listened to him tell another customer how he just made them. This made me get suspicious. I ordered anyways and figured it was a fluke.
Dude pulled out styrofoam and threw his famous Mac and cheese in there. Which ended up tasting like cardboard. He also microwaved his pulled pork bbq sandwich and coleslaw. After eating here I took the nastiest shit of my life. Went back a few times to grab a drink and some dip. I started to notice all of the expired packages he keeps in there, his old clothes he threw up on the rack with a «for sale» sign, and the stove. Covered with gunk and sut.
If y’all were worried about getting ecoli from chipotle then stay the hell away from here.

If Dante had a 10^th circle of hell, this place would be it. It’s where hateful things go to feed on your innards and soul.
Unsanitary conditions, a cacophony of unintelligible speech about how he is famous (flashing a decade old newspaper with grease stains and sauce on it). Lied about food coming right off the smoker and proceeded to place it in Styrofoam container and microwave it! STYROFOAM + MIRCOWAVE = TOXIC. Cross contaminating serving utensils that he dipped in 4 different food (if I can call it that) items. A «business of flies» (figuratively and literally) inside and out. Selling a visibly drunk man a 12 pack of beer who later stumbled into my car and scratched my car with his jacket and the 12 pack of beer; who later drove off drunk.
I later had stomach issues about 15 minutes after trying to keep down this poor excuse for food, let alone BBQ. NEVER EAT HERE! ZERO STARS

Yes not a sterile environment. If you have «country» roots you will be right at home. If you are «citified» you might find this experience a bit off putting. Check your judgement hats at the door and just have a good time. The locals there are fun and funny.
I got a pulled pork sandwich which was good. The sides were ok. I also got ribs to go so I will let you know how they turn out.

Horrible BBQ. Had to throw most away as the ribs were to tuff to eat. I also noticed that he kept putting things in the microwave while I was there.
I think the grill outside is just for smell. He probably just keeps it going all day but never actually cooks on it.
Don’t eat here!

My bro was in town and wanted to stop by in the way to Winchester since you could smell the bbq whole driving past. as we walked in we were greater by a pushy Indian guy starts his sales pitch of how the Washington post has reviewed his bbq as one of the best. Then says judge it for yourself and let your taste buds explore. Do me a favor and don’t go to this place. Worst bbq ever. Dude will pop your ribs in the microwave to heat it up. Ribs are so tough you can even eat it. Place is a dump and very dirty, I’m surprise the health dept hasn’t shut this place down. Head over to the Pit Stop instead!

If I could give this place zero stars I would. We had gotten a whiff of the smoker on our way to a friends pool party and decided to stop on the way home to get food. We were greeted by a very pushy Middle eastern man who talked way too fast it was impossible to understand anything he said. We got two bbq pork dinners and a «beef rib» dinner. The ribs were not ribs and my dad said they were extremely tough. The bbq was ok, their sauce which I found outside was delicious. The mashed potatoes were instant, baked beans out of a can, green beans out of a can with sauce added to them, and the Mac and cheese was NOT Mac and cheese. As if the lack of quality wasn’t bad enough I’m pretty sure I got food poisoning because I ended up throwing up all night. AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS!!!

Zero star review. All the low stars are right, this place is a dump and the health dept should have shut it down. Looks quaint, outside smoker makes you think it will be worthy of a rustic spot — both are completely wrong. Horrid. Walk away.

This place is the reason there should be an option for zero stars.
DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AS SO MANY OF US! I honestly can’t understand people who give this place two stars let alone four?! The smoker outside is the thing that gets everyone in. Like a venus fly trap. The thing is, any meat you put in a smoker will emanate deliciousness, but not necessarily taste good. Don’t fall for it!!!
Inside gives a new meaning to dirty. I don’t know how this place is in business. The owner is beyond pushy. Doesn’t wash his hands between rubbing down raw meat, messing with «cooked» meat, and running the cash register. Disgusting.
He has a schtick for promoting his «food» that’s as old as the newspaper he pulls out to show you. He babbles on about the article in the newspaper from over four years ago talking about his food. You would think the article was good, but if you can manage to read the headlines through the literally moldy newspaper it merely says he cooks meat he can’t eat (pork).
We ordered two pulled pork sandwiches, which he MICROWAVED to heat up. We were so disgusted, and had to suffer through another sales pitch tirade about how he caters for parties, before we could escape.
Didn’t touch, smell, look at, taste, or donate the «food» except straight to the trash. I’m not mad. If you want a WTF experience, go here. Just don’t eat the food if you value your health.

People are far too sensitive. This is a Family business run by the dad. Yes he was all over the place and the service was slow and a broom could stand to be run through the joint… But! A dive is supposed to be a dive! The food was fan-​bloody-​tastic. I was going to wait until I got home to eat but I got back outside and smelled the cooker and my belly was having no parts of waiting. Just a bite I told myself… so as I was demolishing the last bit of the glorious chicken it struck me that I could taste that delicious mesquite smoke in every bite.
Worth the wait, the $ 10 and the shame of eating in my car. Do yourself a favor and stop for ½ chicken platter with two sides.

Absolutely gross, dirty store and ribs definitely do not fall off the bones. Surprised Heath department has not shut this place down. you’ve been warned…

Don’t go here — you might get sick. I am so nervous about getting food poisoning that I’ve considered that perhaps induced vomiting might get this out of my system faster.
The ribs are NOT fall off the bone. Half of our rack was inedible and we threw it out. Really glad that we didn’t listen to his PUSHY sales pitch and buy THREE racks as he suggested. He scoffed at our order of only one rack and explained that one rack is simply an appetizer… In what country?
I have driven by this location countless times and been intrigued by the amazing smell coming from the smoker… I wish I had checked the Unilocal reviews — or listened to the voice inside me that said «walk out the door» when I first entered. The store is absolutely filthy. The food counter is so dirty that you cannot even see the sides or the meat dishes that are being offered for sale. How is this place in business? The salesperson /​owner is so pushy that it is uncomfortable. He also pushes you to pay in cash. Shady.
Don’t ever, ever eat here. This «BBQ» is a joke. The meat is really tough and hard to eat. Most of the meat you receive will be wasted because it is so overcooked and dry.

Tough and chewy is right. For what it’s worth, overpriced and got ways to go to claim before he can call what a real BBQ is. How long has he cooked this thing he calls BBQ? He’s using tge wrong cut of beef. Just having a pit doesn’t mean anyone can do BBQ, LOL!

Probably the worst bbq I’ve had for some time, and that’s saying a lot from a southern boy.

Rude proprietor is pushy and rushes people. Needs to check his tone. The exact opposite of what one would expect in a country store. The food — meh,…way too saucy for my taste and the bun was stale/​hard.

Interesting story– The bbq cook is a vegetarian Indian guy who learned how to cook bbq on royal Caribbean cruise line. He cooks based on feel and ingredient ratios he learned on the job. In 2012 the Washington post wrote an article on him called «the master of the meat he can’t eat». I posted a photo of the article here in Unilocal.His food is delicious, flavors are spot on. However some of the ribs we had were slightly tough. Overall an interesting experience.
«#1. The smell should intoxicate you»
«#2. The taste decides»
If you go there, you will understand these quotes.

This guy seriously needs to get shut down by the Health Department. I’ve been in numerous times to grab a quick drink, and have casual eyed his food. Almost every time there’s flies all over the open dishes, bugs crawling around or mold covering the food. It’s disgusting. I once was desperate enough to get one of his pre-​wrapped chicken sandwiches and that was a mistake. Who knows how old it was, being that it was as hard as a hockey puck and probably radioactive.
For those who say this is the best barbeque you’ve ever tried. you’re most likely a yankee who has never had really BBQ. I was coerced into trying his BBQ by a friend, and what a mistake. After growing up in the south (the real, deep south, not Virginia) I know what real BBQ is… and if curried, dry, BBQ is the best BBQ you’ve ever had you wouldn’t know good food if it slapped you in the face. Plus, pretty sure the guy handles it without washing his hands… and throws it around on his disgusting, never cleaned, fly covered counters.
He is always trying to get me to pay cash, or buy things I don’t want. I was once in there arguing with him for ten minutes because he wouldn’t ring me out until I bought some ribs «to take home to my family». I once was handed a wad of cash after paying with my credit card, too.

My partner and I were on our way to a nice, romantic dinner in Middleburg when we saw the smoker outside of Aldie Country Store. As I’m on an endless quest for extraordinary BBQ and will go to any extreme for it, we abruptly changed our dinner plans and entered this shabby convenience store. We received a carnie-​style sales pitch from «Parti,» the Washington-​Post-​reviewed «Barbecue Guru Extraordinaire,» that had me salivating for the promise of his expertly prepared, tender, fall-​off-​the-​bone beef ribs.
I was bitterly disappointed by poorly flavored tough and fatty meat. In fact, I could barely chew it. BBQ sauce, from a solitary bottle featured on our table, merely covered up some of the worst BBQ I’ve ever had. The mac ‘n cheese had an unique, enticing color. However, it was bland and, where was the cheese? After sampling a side of drab rice, I confirmed that a bottle of water was the best part of my meal. My good-​natured partner complained about her side of overly-​salty mashed potatoes. She wondered aloud about the age of this food and whether, or not, it was safe to consume. It was kept under the greasiest, dirtiest, heated display case we’ve ever seen. My partner also wondered what Emily Wax, the Washington Post reviewer, was smoking when she wrote her glowing review that referenced Parti as a «BBQ Guru.» Most of our dinner ended up in the garbage.
As I paid for one of the worst meals we’ve ever had, the fast-​taking promoter, Parti, requested a review and help expanding his business. While I recognize that Parti is hard-​working and ambitious, I think he needs to slow down enough to recognize the unacceptable disconnect between his glorified promotion and the substandard BBQ (and sides) that he actually serves.

We’ve driven past this place many a time when heading out to Middleburg or our favorite winery in Aldie. There’s always a smoker going on, one of those huge black machines that cooks up the meat and belches tons of smoke that smells delicious. We finally decided to stop to check it out.
Was surprised to see that the Aldie Country Store is run by a young, hyper man who is cook, chief and bottle washer all at the same time. He literally darts from place to place, running out front to check on his BBQ ribs and then sprinting back again to help a customer, all the while preparing an order for someone else. It was exhausting just watching him.
One thing I didn’t like was his constant, aggressive sales pitch while you are trying to decide what to order. He is pushy, but as soon as you say no he does stop. A minute later he’s back at it, trying to push something else. It was kind of annoying. He did give us a small sample of the rib meat and it was good. But I didn’t need a whole rack (or half rack for that matter) since we just wanted a few sandwiches for a picnic at the winery. He was pretty insistent that we should get the ribs and I had to be rather firm in telling him no. But who wants to do that every time?
By the way, there is an article on his counter from The Washington Post. Apparently, the guy was a chef in his native country but he is forbidden from tasting the BBQ meat he cooks for religious reasons.
The BBQ beef sandwiches we got were good, but I don’t think I’ll go back. The store looks dirty, and I was a little worried that the food would make me sick. It didn’t, but it’s not really worth another trip to tempt the fates.

My husband found this place last year when he was riding his motorcycle out. He said he could smell it before he even saw it.
Anyway, we finally made our way out there yesterday. The BBQ/​saleman was really good with his sales pitch. Like others, have said he is super fast and repeats things a lot. But that didn’t matter once we were offered a sample of ribs and it was delicious. I was sold! However, we ended up with too much food!!! Basically he said we would get 4 pieces and 2 sides a pieces a person. Our totally combined ribs was a whole rack! So if you are going there with someone, one rib meal is more than enough.
He also had chicken, pulled porked, and I think something else. Those other items didn’t look as good. The sides were green beans, baked beans, mashed potatoes, and mac n’ cheese.
We ate inside due to the weather still being cold. It was cold in the store and I wore my jacket the whole time. I also didn’t like how I had to eat with super cheap plastic silverware. It just doesn’t work well.
One thing I wish he would serve here would be cornbread. BBQ and cornbread goes together too well. Also I love the homemade sauce and I didn’t see where I could have bought any to take home.

2.5 Stars The ribs were smoky, but overly fatty and tough. This was made even worse by the guy telling us that the meat was ready to fall off the bone. It’s just another one of his robotic, canned phrases he uses to sell people on the food. He rambles them off non-​stop without adding any emotion or pride to those sentences, or even stopping to look you in the eye. Part of this is understandable since he’s the one-​man show sprinting from customer to customer and doing 6 things at once. It’s not a really good way to run a business though as others like my wife who have already paid get neglected as he stays at the register taking more cash and waiting on the more impatient people. Do yourself a favor and hire a teenager to man the counter.
When my friend and I finally got our full rack it was only cut into three pieces. The forks and knives at the store are of the cheapest variety and couldn’t cut into these tough ribs. Good thing the guy on the other side of the table was one of my best friends. We played tug-​of-​war with the ribs to split them up. If you’re going to eat the ribs at the store, consider bringing your own good knives.
The barbecue sauce has an initial kick to it, but it’s not particularly memorable. It’s a good compliment to the meat though, and it’s good that they’ve got so much sauce ready in containers for the tough meat.
My wife also got the potato salad which just tasted like eggs. The rest of the sides and dishes they sell don’t look appetizing.
Aside: I’m a fan of dives, but this place is a different kind of grimy. Kitchen Nightmares grimy.