How do you like your BBQ?

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

I have yet to find bar-b-que worth a damn in Virginia.

OK, before you move, we're taking a trip across the mountains to Waynesboro and I'm taking you to a bbq place over there that Laura & I found. Not the holy grail of bbq, but pretty damn good. The best around C'ville by a long shot.

 

[MetalBard]

I have to weigh in here.

I grew up in Northeastern South Carolina, fairly close to the NC state line. Pulled pork with a vinegar sauce is my bar-b-que standard, by which all others are measured. Radd Dew's Bar-B-Que (in Conway, South Carolina, my home town and about 15 miles from Mytle Beach) is the Platonic Form of Bar-B-Que joints. All you can eat buffet and it's only open Friday and Saturday nights. In the winter, they are open on Thursday nights as well, where they have chitterlings (chitlins) on the buffet.

This is not to say I am not appreciative of other forms of Que. Maurice Bessinger's restaurant's in Columbia, SC introduced me to the mustard-based sauce often associated with South Carolina. I like it, but it's not one I go out of my way to find. It's much better on chicken than pork or beef. That, and Mr. Bessinger and I disagree fundamentally on politics.

Then, I moved to Texas -- home of the grilled beef brisket and a slightly smoky tomato based sauce with a little heat to it. I was skeptical at first, but now love brisket, if cooked properly (a loooooong time on the grill with a dry rub, then adding the sauce after it's cut).

The best ribs I have ever had were from Fat Matt's Rib Shack, in Atlanta, Georgia. Good, good stuff. Pork ribs slow cooked with a bit of wet, tomato based sauce. Yum.

I have yet to find bar-b-que worth a damn in Virginia. In DC, however, there are two places I like. The first is Old Glory in Georgetown. They slow cook the meat with very light spices, then give you a variety of sauces on your table to pour over your pulled chicken, pork, or beef. This lets you try out a variety of sauces from different parts of the country - they have a vinegar sauce, a mustard sauce, a Kansas City smoky tomato sauce, a Texas sauce, etc. While the sauces are not the best in the world (especially compared to the sauce you would actually get in those places), they are all pretty good. DC also has Capital-Q, which ic on the edge of Chinatown near the MCI center. Very good brisket -- the owner/chef is a native Texan and knows what he's doing. The only wierd thing was the brisket is served over rice, which was a little odd -- maybe the Chinatown influence.

And while I love Outback, if the best bar-b-que you have ever had is from there, then I feel for you.

Thanks for the recommendations! I've been finding myself in Georgetown and in the vicinity of Chinatown a lot recently, so I'm sure I'll get around to trying both.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

BBQ is not so popular here in South Florida, but I wish it was.

 

[Greylock]

BBQ is not so popular here in South Florida, but I wish it was.

Ah, but you have easy access to Jerk chicken. Most of the rest of us have none, and it's a tasty treat on it's own. You oughta try it with cole slaw sometime, though.

 

[Boojum]

Living in California my whole life, I've probably missed out on the truly great barbecue places. My favorite is a place called Armadillo Willy's, a small chain with several locations throughout Silicon Valley. As you might expect from the name, it's Texas-style, with the tomato-based sauce. I've tried the North Carolina vinegar-based sauce once on a trip back east, and liked it as a novelty, but prefer the Texas style overall.

I agree with the general consensus on Outback. Their steaks are pretty good (though I've certainly had better), but the barbecue is just adequate.

 

[Dragonhelm]

IMO, the KC area (Gates, Smokehouse, and Arthur Bryants specifically) have the best BBQ around. There's another place new to the KC area called Perry Foster's (the original was in Warrensburg, MO) that is pretty darn good also. In fact, Hank Williams Jr has been known to fly in to get some of Perry's excellent ribs.

Yep, I've eaten at Perry Foster's in the 'Burg before. Haven't been to the new location yet.

Gates is fantastic. Smokehouse and Arthur Bryant's is okay. Trivia note, Harry S. Truman ate at Bryant's.

Then there's KC Masterpiece and Smokin' Joes. Fiorella's Jack Stack BBQ has the best beans.

I have to say, though, that the best place in KC is Smokin' Guns. Those guys put on a dry rub that make it so good and juicy that you don't need sauce. And their sauce is great!

I live in Inpdependence, which is part of the KC metro area. IMO, this is THE place to live for great BBQ.

Preach the word, brother!

I live in Lee's Summit, btw.

The big three out here are Gates, Arthur Bryant's, and The Smokehouse. Now that Perry Foster has moved up here, I'd really have to put him on the list as well. It'll just take some time for people to find out about him.

I'd say the really big ones (as far as name recognizability) are Gates, Arthur Bryant's, and KC Masterpiece.

 

[Mercule]

I live in Inpdependence, which is part of the KC metro area. IMO, this is THE place to live for great BBQ. My hometown of Marshall (an hour east of KC) has a great BBQ joint as well called Pit Stop. The place isn't much (just an old house converted into a restaurant), but they serve some of the best shredded ham and beef sandwiches going. The big three out here are Gates, Arthur Bryant's, and The Smokehouse. Now that Perry Foster has moved up here, I'd really have to put him on the list as well. It'll just take some time for people to find out about him.

Amen. My folks lived in Liberty when I was born. While I don't remember living there, we often travelled back to the area when I was growing up. Arthur Bryant's is the standard by which I measure BBQ.

Wet, dry, I don't care as long as it's spicy. Sweet BBQ is an abomination -- actually sweet tomato sauce of any stripe (ketchup, spagetti, pizza, etc.) is just nasty. It should have nice, bold flavor and a bit of zing.

The thing that amazes me is how unfortunate the BBQ is on the other side of the state, in St. Louis. My wife hails from there and she gave me some of "the best" BBQ. It tasted like ketchup -- better ketchup than most, but still ketchup, which is something I don't eat (sweet + tomato sauce = ick).

 

[Dragonhelm]

The thing that amazes me is how unfortunate the BBQ is on the other side of the state, in St. Louis. My wife hails from there and she gave me some of "the best" BBQ. It tasted like ketchup -- better ketchup than most, but still ketchup, which is something I don't eat (sweet + tomato sauce = ick).

There is a place in St. Louis (and I forget its name) that has 6 types of BBQ sauce, including St. Louis style, KC style, Carolina, Texas, etc. I thought that was a neat novelty, and they didn't do bad on the KC style, but it didn't have that certain zing.

I'll have to disagree on the sweet sauce. I like my sweet and mild. Then again, if you ever want to cure a cold, go to Rosedale's. They have a spicy sauce that'll have you in good health in no time.

Damn, I'm hungry...

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good BBQ joint in the Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland area. I especially like ribs.

I went to one BBQ place in Georgetown that was pretty good when I was there on business - Old Glory All American Barbeque.

 

[Desdichado]

Wet, dry, I don't care as long as it's spicy. Sweet BBQ is an abomination -- actually sweet tomato sauce of any stripe (ketchup, spagetti, pizza, etc.) is just nasty. It should have nice, bold flavor and a bit of zing.

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Err.. sorry. Got a bit excited there. But I totally agree. Sweet tomato sauce is the root of all evil.