Limestone BBQ and Bourbon held a soft opening Friday at its location on Limestone Road, near Kirkwood Highway.
The restaurant did not announce a formal opening at the location in an office-reteail building near a Wawa convenience store/gas station.
As the name indicates, the restaurants feature barbecue and the distilled beverage. High Five Hospitality, the operator of Buffalo Wild Wings franchises in Delaware and a portion of Maryland.
High 5 vacated the Limestone Road location after opening a BWW a short drive away near Delaware Park but went to work to remodel the location and open the barbecue spot.
Limestone features a rustic, Texas feel, with counter service and mainstays such as smoked brisket, pulled pork and sausage as well as sides such as mac and cheese and potato salad.
Barbecue has been gaining popularity in northern Delaware, with both chain and locally owned locations included in the mix.
Famous Dave’s operations two restaurants in northern New Castle County, with national franchise chain Dickey’s opening a store in Glasgow.
Locally owned Locale operates in Wilmington’s Little Italy, with Fat Rick’s running out of a location in a north Wilmington office park, and Russell’s sometimes having lines at its mobile location on Centreville Road, north and east of the Limestone BBQ location.
High 5 has been expanding beyond Buffalo Wild Wings. It found success by acquiring the former Stone Balloon Wine House on Main Street Newark and converting it to the Stone Balloon Ale House.
The company retained Stone Balloon chef Robbie Jester, who has been working to develop new concepts for the company that now includes Limestone BBQ.
Jester became well known locally and even nationally for beating celebrity chef Bobby Flay with his recipe for shrimp scampi that is now a regular item on the Stone Balloon’s menu.
Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until barbecue is sold out. Bourbon Bar hours will be, Tuesday -Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; and Sunday, 4 p.m. until midnight.
