MOUNT VERNON – Catering jobs are picking up for Road Hog Willy’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q in Mount Vernon, so pitmaster Bill Wheeler suggests booking soon.

The restaurant and catering service at 504 Harcourt Road B1 in Mount Vernon is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Call 740-326-1408 for orders and to book catering.

Wheeler said he needs at least a week’s notice for catering so that he can order the correct amount of food.

Road Hog Willy’s has catered parties of 30 to 300 people.

“Most catering parties I get are weddings,” Wheeler said. “I also get a fair share of company outings, class reunions and retirement parties.”

Graduation parties are typically catered from mid-May to mid-June, so now is the time to book a date.

For catering, Road Hog Willy’s sets up the buffet to keep it warm.

“With COVID, we have been doing the serving,” Wheeler said.

Customers are ordering Southern slow-smoked BBQ meats and fresh-made side dishes. Two catering packages are available: two meats and two sides, or three meats with three sides.

Pulled pork and beef brisket are the top meat choices.

While Wheeler is not sure there are “favorite” sides, they do make a lot of the baked mac and cheese. Cheesy potatoes would be the second favorite, but the creamy slaw gets many compliments too.

Road Hog Willy’s staff cleans up and packs the food so the person who ordered the catering can take it home.

Wheeler said he has a mixed style of BBQ. For pork, it’s Kansas City to Memphis; and for brisket, it’s Texas style.

“But with my own signature rubs and sauces, I have created my own style,” he said. “Wouldn’t it be nice to be considered as Ohio BBQ? But BBQ is thought of as southern states’ cuisine.”

Road Hog Willy’s serves ribs only on Fridays and Saturdays, and they sell out quickly. It’s best to pre-order them.

“Take-out meals have picked up like gangbusters,” Wheeler said. “These too are best to call ahead for, at least for large quantities.”