Goochy Goo Barbecue

304 N. 71 Highway, Savannah, Mo., (816) 294-1882

You won’t have trouble finding Goochy Goo Barbecue if you follow your nose. Owner Michael Ventucci has his smoker fired up right in front of the restaurant with wafts of barbecue aroma beckoning you inside.

He opened Goochy Goo in June, starting with weekends only just to see how it would go over. Business was good, so he took the plunge and quit his full-time job in St. Joseph. His wife, Dee, and their two children help run things.

If you are familiar with Savannah, Goochy Goo is located in the former Co-op gas station restaurant, across the street from Sonic and Conoco on U.S. Highway 71. It’s casually decorated with a family-friendly flair with chalk boards on the walls for kids to draw on, picnic tables to sit on and bright red-and-white-checked tablecloths. Carry-out is the main thing, though. For individual meals, he packs up brisket, pulled pork and turkey sandwiches with coleslaw, baked beans or potato casserole sides. He also sells the meats alone and ribs by the whole or half slab.

And the name Goochy Goo? Gooch was Michael’s nickname in high school. Adding “goo” just seemed to work, especially when it comes to sauces. He makes three kinds: basic goo, sweet goo and spicy goo. They are all goochy good.

Goochy Goo is open 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays 11 :30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 2 p.m. Sundays. The restaurant is closed on Monday, and credit cards are accepted.