Islandton Family Closing Polk’s BBQ after 35 Years

Mrs. Polk and her two sons, Tom and Mike

A special connection to food, family and fellowship for Colleton County residents will close their doors on May 7, 2016 after 35 years in business. Older patrons will recall that Sunday after church used to be the heyday for Polk’s Barbecue Restaurant, but since 1990 they haven’t served on Sunday’s in observance of the Lord’s Day.  Located at New Hope Crossroads on Highway 63 (or 13637 Snider's Highway) the closing of Polk’s BBQ isn’t a sad occasion, rather it’s a testament to one family’s successful endeavors of feeding barbecue to their community.

The beginning of the restaurant goes back to 1981 when Thomas Polk Sr. was a veteran pit master in the Islandton community, well known for his church benefit cooking. With prodding from his supporters to open a restaurant, he and his wife Azilee followed through in February of 1982, opening for business from Thursday through Sunday. Their two sons Michael and Tom were 15 and 17 years old at the time, and they worked at the restaurant in addition to going to high school.

The BBQ buffet has served customers for 35 years!

A look at the decorum inside Polk's Restaurant

The no frills decorations includes ten deer mounts on the wall, and two duck prints, which are perfect to warm the hearts of rural patrons. Even some of the upholstery on chairs and booths is camouflage. In keeping with the humble decorum, the price of a buffet meal remains at $10 a plate. Current business hours are all day on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. and a take-out plate costs just $8. The menu has been set for years and includes chopped, pit-cooked BBQ that is prepared with a ketchup-based sauce. Their pork hash is served with steamed rice, green beans, macaroni and cheese, candy yams, corn and cabbage. Sides include cole slaw, potato salad, and a fruit bar. Locals know that Polk’s also serves up tasty fried chicken too!

To view this feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about barbecue click on Smoke In The Boro - Beasley's BBQ Sauce

To view past blog entries about cooking click on Camp Chef - Dead Meat TV - Charleston Cooks! - Palmetto BBQ and Brew - CCA Convention - Tony Chachere 

To view past blog entries about sustainable seafood click Farlow's / SW Florida - Guy Harvey Magazine / Oysters - Pink House / Savannah - Boathouse On Breech Inlet / Isle Of Palms - Circa 1886 / Charleston - Wine on the Water / SC Aquarium - Fish Restaurant / Charleston - Fresh On The Menu

To view blog entries from the Southeastern Wildlife Expo's Wild Game Supper click The Drawing Room - Hall's Chop House