Logan family serves up barbecue in Hinckley

HINCKLEY – After two years of serving southern-style specialties out of a mobile kitchen, owners of South Moon BBQ have found a permanent home for their restaurant in downtown Hinckley.

The mobile "shack," as owners Katie and Harlan Logan refer to it, could typically be found in front of Brown's County Market in Genoa during the summer. It was retired after the Logans moved into their new space, where they've been cooking up barbecue favorites since earlier this month.

"It's like a social club," Harlan Logan said, adding that he's enjoyed getting to know his customers. "That's why I like it."

The menu includes beef brisket, bratwurst, rib and pulled pork dishes that can be eaten indoors, outdoors or carried out. The Logans are hoping to soon offer weekend delivery options, as well. Sides include southern fried and traditional potato salads, baked beans and coleslaw.

The restaurant is family run with the help of the Logans' three children, Kyle, 17; Bly, 12; and Sean, 11. All the food is homemade, from the dry rubs to the sauces, Katie Logan said.

The Logans initially hoped to open in downtown Sycamore last fall, but building renovations became too expensive. They said the town of Hinckley welcomed their restaurant with open arms.

The barbecue-inspired wall colors – red and orange – are covered with about a quarter of Harlan's personal action figure collection, including The Lone Ranger, The Simpsons, Batman and Superman figures all still in their original boxes.

The slogan displayed on the restaurant's window reads, "It is what it is and it's gone when it's gone." And the Logans mean it – none of the meats are frozen and everything is made fresh each day. Harlan said at times, he heads to the restaurant as early as 2 a.m. to start slow-cooking brisket, which takes as long as 12-13 hours to cook.

"You know when it's done when you can take the bone right out of it," he said.

Harlan uses an outdoor smoker fueled by charcoal. He adds applewood to cook the ribs and hickory wood to cook the brisket for added flavor.

Harlan makes all of the meats while Katie specializes in the desserts, and Kyle cooks the baked beans.

Harlan has been barbecuing for more than a decade and has competed in a handful of competitions.

Though the restaurant just opened, business has been better than they expected and they tend to sell out of their slow-cooked dishes by the end of each day, Katie said. She recommends calling ahead, especially for the ribs, to be guaranteed a slab.

"We do catering too, which has really kind of been a neat sideline," Katie said. "People keep asking for it."

The ribs are cooked with Bly's rib rub, which Harlan and his daughter, Bly, invented together when she was 3 years old. They are then topped with homemade "hog wash" glaze. Harlan also makes his sweet St. Louis sauce, a sauced thinned with vinegar and a mustard-based brat sauce, which are all for sale in individual containers to take home.

"We're just glad to be here and to be able to do things with our family," Harlan said.

Know more

What: South Moon BBQ

Where: 146 E. Lincoln Ave., Hinckley

Phone: 815-286-9227

Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday