Food review: Burgers and beef dogs are worth the drive to this Stone County gem
Everyone loves a food truck to brick-and-mortar success story.
Everyone also loves hot dogs and old-timey knick-knacks and pretty much anything attached to a gas station on the highway.
So it’s no wonder PB’s Twisted “Q” has become a fan favorite in southern Stone County.
It’s located directly between Gulfport and Wiggins and dead center between Saucier and Perkinston. It’s in the heart of McHenry, a community founded by a man immune to Yellow Fever, home of the Pecan House and survivor of three town-flattening fires in the early 20th century.
PB’s operated as a food truck for several years before moving into the suite formerly belonging to O’Neal’s in March 2024. Since then it has garnered the consistent patronage of local barbecue enjoyers and a near-perfect 4.7 stars on Google.
Always on the watch for something hidden between the lines, we couldn’t help but stop in.
PB’s has a familiar menu for barbecue shops. There’s a plate for pretty much everything: brisket, pulled pork, shrimp, fish and tenders.
They’ve also got wings that come eight ways, including “Purple Goo.” We’re told this a blueberry-based sauce.
The kitchen’s specialties are beef dogs and burgers. I got one of each.
The options on the dogs were slaw, jalapeño, chili and junkyard. The first three are pretty self-explanatory. I was told the junkyard came with everything.
I did not inquire what “everything” entailed and put it on the ticket. I packaged in a crawfish burger, a side of cajun fries and a tendie plate.
The junkyard came with cheese under the dog, chili over the top followed by fries, more cheese and mustard. It’s a meal and forced me to be selective with the number of bites I can manage before falling asleep in my seat.
The burger was my favorite. It housed a beefy patty atop a mound of lettuce. On the patty were crawfish, relish and fried pickles. Weird thing about me, the older I’ve gotten, the less I’ve enjoyed burgers. Too greasy and all too easy to soggy up the bread. I genuinely enjoyed this one.
The tenders came perfect: white-hot with seasoned breading slipping off the meat, and served with an A+ grade cup of ranch.
My only regret was not saving enough room for the apple bourbon bread pudding.
All of this was enjoyed while surrounded by really old trinkets. Some of them dating back to the time of Dr. George McHenry (Yellow Fever guy). Directly to my right was a thumbpiano, an instrument I am proud to say I am now proficient in.
Behind me was the Webster’s Dictionary from 1943. I tried looking up the word “bussin’” and found nothing. Webster would not add this word until 2023, as it turns out.
But that’s how I would describe the meal.
At a time where new restaurants are pouring in and unfortunately cycling out almost as fast, PB’s is closing in on two years serving its beef dogs and purple goo. It’s worth the stop if you’re traveling up Highway 49 and worth the pilgrimage if you’re a barbecue fan always searching for something new.
Address: 481 US 49
Hours: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday
