I sat by myself in the Hog Wild BBQ and Deli last week, eating a chicken salad sandwich, feeling like I was in the Hard Rock Caf/ of Bowling Green, and, as if I wasn’t really alone.

That’s because the bright yellow walls of this diner are donned with celebrity photos and autographs. So while Don Adams and I shared our New Year’s resolutions, I could also catch a glimpse of Joe Namath, Jimmy Cagney, and one of my favorite people on the planet, Robert Redford, across the room.

One thing Hog Wild does not have in common with Hard Rock Caf/ is over-priced meals. This was one of the most reasonably priced meals I’ve eaten in a long time. For just $5, I had a chicken salad sandwich on a six-inch sandwich roll and a cup of potato soup. The soup was a tangy blend of potato broth and cheeses, without being too cheesy. The chicken salad sandwich was sweet in flavor, I think made with salad dressing instead of mayonnaise, with relish and even a few nuts for texture. I ended up eating the sandwich with the bottom part of the bread only, because I like a lot of the meat taste in my sandwiches with a hint of bread.

I knew that I couldn’t go away without trying the barbecue, baked beans and coleslaw, as well as Hog Wild’s specialty, barbecue nachos, so I ordered these items to go and asked for second and third opinions when I arrived home.

We were all in agreement that the pulled pork barbecue meat was smoked to perfection. Hog Wild’s specialty is Memphis-style barbecue, and when I researched what that meant, it’s the smoking that sets this barbecue apart. Apparently, it’s not just the seasoning that made the distinct smoked flavor so very appetizing, but that they use only the highest quality of meat and let the slow smoking process enhance its natural flavor. This results in pork that is tasty and tender, even without rubs and sauces.

I couldn’t tell if the baked beans were homemade, but they tasted good, either way. The coleslaw seemed as if it were also made with salad dressing instead of mayo, something I don’t personally care for, but I know many might like to know where they can find this type of coleslaw.

Hog Wild has a variety of sandwiches, hot dogs, a house salad, soup of the day and even a loaded baked potato in the deli department – as well as cookies and a thick slice of chocolate cake, if you please.

The barbecue menu offers pulled pork sandwiches and all the fixin’s, no ribs or chicken. I brought home the pig-out plate and for $7 three of us ate – the barbecue sandwich, baked beans, coleslaw and chips.

Finally, we all had to try the barbecue nachos. This is a unique combination of tortilla chips, baked beans, pulled smoked pork, melted nacho cheese, sour cream and jalapenos. Each of us started with an open mind, but the head tilt followed, one by one. That’s the head tilt that says, “Wow, that’s different. I’m not sure what to make of it.” I am a great lover of combining pungent tastes, but am used to tastes like capers with bleu cheese or kalamata olives with basil. So, I’ll let the head tilt speak for itself and let all of you out there give it a try. I’d love to know what you think.

You can spy the Hog Wild sign if you’re sitting at the light on Scottsville Road and look down toward Greenview Hospital, but you can also enter from the Party 1 store in the Hobby Lobby shopping center. I’ve glanced at the sign hundreds of times, but didn’t know when I entered I’d be getting some of the best smoked pulled pork I’ve eaten and the chance to get a glance across an uncrowded room from the likes of Batman and Robin, the odd couple, and of course Bob.

Redford that is.

Hog Wild BBQ and Deli

1751 Scottsville Road

Bowling Green

393-4471

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday – Saturday

Specialties: Memphis-style pulled pork

Cuisine: American

Price range for dinner: $2.50 to $7

Libation situation: None

Smoking: No