Several years ago, I saw an article in Garden n Gun in 2017 that they called their “BBQ Bucket List” and kept it, as a reference. Resultingly, as we headed to Orlando, we spent the night near Lake City, with a plan to stop in Micanopy (just north of Ocala) at Pearl Country Store & Barbecue. Having eaten much gas station bbq in my life, there was no way I was missing this opportunity.

But my planning fell short, as we were staying way too close to the restaurant and, even though we slept in, we arrived barely past 10:30, just as they were starting to sell lunch. So I ordered a pork sandwich

and a brisket sandwich.

both of which were quite tasty, neither of which was in need of sauce. My partner in crime was waiting in the truck, so I picked up the sandwiches to go and we nibbled on them, as we ambled back towards I-75S. It was very good barbecue – definitely worth a stop if you’re on 441.