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So our original plan was to eat at the Birdhouse for lunch and then Big John's BBQ for dinner. That got switched around since the Birdhouse didn't open until much later. So after our lunch at Big John's we visited the stunning Lower Antelope Canyon via Ken's Tours. That was an awesome experience even though it was completely sweltering outside. Make sure you make a reservation because you cannot visit the canyon without a guide because it is on Navejo land. Okay, back to the Birdhouse... Let's just say their A/C units couldn't keep up with the heat and once again, we were dining "hot" once again.
We ended up ordering the Whole Chicken Family Meal that came with 2 large sides. Consisting of 8 pieces of wings, drumsticks, thighs and breasts, this was enough for the 4 of us. We found the batter to be decently seasoned, but not impactful. It was crispy and fairly well-rendered except for some of the flabbier parts of the skin. Underneath, the meat was moist but not juicy. With that being said, the breast meat wasn't exactly dry either. As for our sides, we chose the Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli Salad and added a Mac n' Cheese. The mash was pretty creamy with a pale-looking gravy. Taste-wise, this wasn't anything to write home about. Spiked with bacon, red onion and mayo, the broccoli salad was fresh and crunchy. We've made something like this at home before, but had added dried cranberries. This probably needed it for some balance. Pretty basic, but ultimately good, the mac n' cheese was cheesy enough with al dente macaroni.
To ensure we had enough good, we tacked on an order of Fries as well. These crinkle cut fries were served hot and crispy. They were also lightly seasoned which meant ketchup wasn't necessary. Moreover, there wasn't a whole lot of grease to them either. As you can pretty much guess, the food at the Birdhouse was more-than-acceptable at a reasonable price. Definitely did the job and the kids enjoyed it. They really need to fix the A/C though as it was uncomfortable sitting inside and eating fried chicken in 100+ heat.
The Good:
- Reasonably-priced
- Decent
- Nice people
The Bad:
- A/C needs to be stronger
- Chicken could use more seasoning (mind you, we could've gotten spicy)
After we were done at Zion, we made our way over to Page, Arizona for 2 of the most spectacular sights in North America, if not the world. The first would be Horseshoe Bend and its absolutely frightening drop if one got too close to the edge. Secondly, we made a reservation at the famous Antelope Canyon (can only visit with a tour company as it is on Navejo land). Of course we couldn't do all this without provisions, so we had a few places in mind including Big John's Texas BBQ. This was supposed to be our dinner destination, but since our choice for lunch wasn't open, we flipped them on our schedule.
Once again, the kids weren't that hungry possibly due to the 100+ degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. Just like at Zion, we decided to sit outside instead of the shock of A/C and then out into the heat. So they both ended up ordering off the kids menu that featured smaller portions. My son went for the Beef Brisket Sandwich and my daughter had the Pulled Pork Sandwich. With all things considered, they were indeed smaller than the regular version but more than adequate. By visuals alone, one would assume that the meats were dry. That wasn't really the case as both fell in between dry and moist. Furthermore, they were not sauced, so once we added the BBQ sauce, the meats were fine. There was a noted smokiness that wasn't too strong. Viv did go for the regular-sized Beef Brisket Sandwich and yep, it was massive. Lots of tender smoked brisket that was slightly more moist than the kid's version. Probably just the luck of the cut.
In my mind, I only had one option on the menu which was The Sampler. The plate consisted of beef brisket, pulled pork, spicy link sausage and baby back pork ribs. I really enjoyed the ribs as the meat was fall-off-the-bone tender with a balanced smoke. The bark was tasty on its own from the rub and char. Definitely spicy, the pork link had a nice snap and wasn't overfly greasy. On the side, the cowboy beans were pretty good with bits of brisket while the potato salad was creamy and eggy. Also on the table was a big bucket of Peanuts, which I proceeded to eat addictively. Don't throw the shells on the floor thought. That's not how they do it there! In the end, we were full and satisfied while not spending too much cash. A great place for a family to dine in the Page area.
The Good:
- Reasonably priced
- Solid BBQ
- Lots of seating (if you don't mind sitting outside)
The Bad:
- Meats could've been a bit more moist, but it wasn't a deal-breaker
Posts
So our original plan was to eat at the Birdhouse for lunch and then Big John's BBQ for dinner. That got switched around since the Birdhouse didn't open until much later. So after our lunch at Big John's we visited the stunning Lower Antelope Canyon via Ken's Tours. That was an awesome experience even though it was completely sweltering outside. Make sure you make a reservation because you cannot visit the canyon without a guide because it is on Navejo land. Okay, back to the Birdhouse... Let's just say their A/C units couldn't keep up with the heat and once again, we were dining "hot" once again. 
We ended up ordering the Whole Chicken Family Meal that came with 2 large sides. Consisting of 8 pieces of wings, drumsticks, thighs and breasts, this was enough for the 4 of us. We found the batter to be decently seasoned, but not impactful. It was crispy and fairly well-rendered except for some of the flabbier parts of the skin. Underneath, the meat was moist but not juicy. With that being said, the breast meat wasn't exactly dry either. As for our sides, we chose the Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli Salad and added a Mac n' Cheese. The mash was pretty creamy with a pale-looking gravy. Taste-wise, this wasn't anything to write home about. Spiked with bacon, red onion and mayo, the broccoli salad was fresh and crunchy. We've made something like this at home before, but had added dried cranberries. This probably needed it for some balance. Pretty basic, but ultimately good, the mac n' cheese was cheesy enough with al dente macaroni.
To ensure we had enough good, we tacked on an order of Fries as well. These crinkle cut fries were served hot and crispy. They were also lightly seasoned which meant ketchup wasn't necessary. Moreover, there wasn't a whole lot of grease to them either. As you can pretty much guess, the food at the Birdhouse was more-than-acceptable at a reasonable price. Definitely did the job and the kids enjoyed it. They really need to fix the A/C though as it was uncomfortable sitting inside and eating fried chicken in 100+ heat.
