BBQ in NYC

I going to NYC and have heard they have different kinds of BBQ. A cajun restaurant Mara's Homemade just won the Best of City Search and was wondering if it really is good? I going for a week and would love three bbq meals. Which places should I go?

Thanks,

Mel

Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem. Blue Smoke in Manhatten.

Dinosaur BBQ!

R.U.B. on W. 23rd St. is the closest thing to the Real Thing in the NY metro area.

Hi David. We've had this exact discussion a bunch of times. Check out the "search" function on the very top of the forums page. Welcome to roadfood.

try rack and soul on broadway and 109th st.

quote:

Originally posted by pmrkr2

try rack and soul on broadway and 109th st.

Went there once. More of a soul food joint.

I remember small portions and pricey! I had catfish.

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmos

Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem. Blue Smoke in Manhatten.

Harlem is in Manhattan.

quote:

Originally posted by TheHotPepper.com

quote:

Originally posted by pmrkr2

try rack and soul on broadway and 109th st.

Went there once. More of a soul food joint.

I thought their portions were also too small, and over priced
not much of a que place, I would have to agree with Hotpepper
more soul than que

Flatted Fifth, that's funny. Calling 'em out.

Try Daisy May's. Something like 47th and 12th. Used to be only take out but now have some tables. Excellent ribs, both dry rubbed and with sauce. Fantastic sides. Gourmet touches without obscuring traditional methods and flavors, and without gourmet prices. Close to the Intrepid.

I have a good friend now living is Sweden who will be in town starting Wednesday. He has informed me that starting that night we have to eat at every BBQ joint in the city. My plan is to hit:

Daisy May's - Haven't been yet but hear good things
Dinosaur - I haven't been since their Friends and family opening two years ago
Blue Smoke - More for the music than the food
Brother Jimmy's - I know, I know, but I know people there and I think the ribs are good
Virgil's - But I'm getting the chicken fried steak not the Q

After that I'm not sure, but for Monday I booked a suite at the coronary wing of the local hospital.

quote:

Originally posted by FlattedFifth

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmos

Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem. Blue Smoke in Manhatten.

Harlem is in Manhattan.

Actually, Dinosaur BBQ is at 135th Street and 12 th Avenue under the El.

Hey FlattedFifth, How about RUB?

There's also a new place in the Village that i wanted to try but can't recall the name. Something like The Boneyard. I also know there's a place that just opened up in Williamsburg, too. Biscuit in Prospect Heights is ok for Carolina pork, but not great.

Oh, there's this great bar that didn't open up too long ago called Bar-B-Que. It's south of Park Slope close to the expressway. Something like 25th and 4th. I had a terrific pulled pork sandwich there. They have a nice beer selection. Really fun place. I would definitely give them a try.

I'm sorry. It's called Bar BQ and it's on 6th and 20th in Brooklyn.

Here's the link:
www.brooklynbarbq.com

Has anyone tried a new place called Jake's in Brooklyn? They've been getting good reviews. Billed as KC style.

Cornfed, If you come up with the name of the place in the Village please let me know. As for RUB, I'm not familiar with it, but I guess that's the point, I'll try to add it to the list. I was thinking of Rack and Soul (10 blocks from my apt) but I think that'll have to wait. Also, I'm a big fan of Brooklyn in general but I doubt we'll make it out there this trip, I might try the two places out there and then hit up the brewery for a few beers another time though. Want to come?

I already feel a little sick and a lot fatter..... I need a new hobby.

Here's the West Village place:
Bone Lick Park
75 Greenwich Ave (Cross Street: Bank Street)
New York, NY 10014View Map
(212) 647-9600
Directions: 1 at Christopher St; A, C, E at 14th St; L at 8th Ave

It's supposed real somke-pit bbq over hickory. Sounds good.

As for RUB, it's at a great location on 23rd St. It's owned by the BBQ Baron of KC. I would absolutely recommend this. More casual than Blue Smoke. Much better overall experience than Virgil's. Everything I've had was good here. A very fun night out.

quote:

Originally posted by cornfed

Here's the West Village place:
Bone Lick Park
75 Greenwich Ave (Cross Street: Bank Street)
New York, NY 10014View Map
(212) 647-9600
Directions: 1 at Christopher St; A, C, E at 14th St; L at 8th Ave

It's supposed real somke-pit bbq over hickory. Sounds good.

As for RUB, it's at a great location on 23rd St. It's owned by the BBQ Baron of KC. I would absolutely recommend this. More casual than Blue Smoke. Much better overall experience than Virgil's. Everything I've had was good here. A very fun night out.

Well that couldn't be more perfect, my friends staying on 15th and seventh. I'm no BBQ expert but I'll let you know what I think.

Can't wait to read your review(s). Since I'm in Cali now, will have to enjoy by proxy.

now i admit i'm partisan and it is 10 blocks from my apt. but my experience with rack and soul has been great. bbq pork both ribs and pulled and bbq chicken. portions were just fine including two sides and great biscut, prices in line (this ain't NC and if you think it's high what is blue smoke). in addition they do also have great soul food (smothered chicken, catfish etc.) as well and great sides. also great desserts. so it's not stictly a que joint but it's still pretty darn good for nyc and for my money better then the closest competition, dinosaur up on 127 or 128th st. ok let the assault begin lol

So I went to Rack and Soul tonight for dinner and in general I thought it was pretty good, I would eat their food again.

3 out of 5 stars

That said, the play by play leaves a lot to be desired. I sat at the bar and far and away the most annoying thing was having "America's Top Models" blasting from the big screen in front of me. The volume was ridiculously high and there was no escaping it throughout the joint. I ordered a pilsner and it was served barely cool, not cold but drinkable. I was started with some buttery honey glazed biscuits which were quite good. I think I would have preferred them to be more fluffy, but that's just nitpicking.

I ordered the baby back ribs and pulled pork combo platter with mac and cheese and cole slaw as sides. It was delivered quickly and without any extras or fanfare. At first glance I thought they were being a little stingy with the ribs, but I left very full. The mac and cheese was not good. Fairly bland, the pasta was mushy and the cheese was separating a little. Actually this is a problem I have found in a lot of BBQ joints, I definitely wont be getting that again. The cole slaw good, above average but nothing to write home about. The pulled pork was quite good. They put a little sauce on it and there was plenty available on the side. It went very well with the slaw. At this point I was on my second equally not-cold beer and slowly going deaf and mad from Tyra Banks and her vacuous models screaming in my ear. It was defiantly a big black mark on my experience.

Finally I tried the ribs. You could pull the bones out of them clean and with no effort. My understanding is that real BBQ enthusiasts think that is too much. I don't know, I'm a New Yorker, I like them that way. There was a very deep smoke ring and the ribs were very tender with a nice caramelized crust. I really liked them, they were easily the best thing I had and saved the experience for me. The best part was that in both of the meats there was very little fat and no gristle; it was a pleasure not to have to pick through the plate for the edible parts

All in all I found the prices fairly reasonable and most of the food good. The staff was very nice, but pretty inept. There seemed a bit of confusion about everything that they did and they did not give a lot of thought to the customers experience. Bottom line I would eat there again, but probably only take out or delivery. I would not consider this a destination restaurant and am in no rush to get back. However, I do want to try some of their soul food entrees and see how they rate.

But like I said, I'm no BBQ expert.



Pmrkr2 - we might be neighbors, I'm 10 blocks away too.

flatted fifth north or south of rack and soul. fair review the tv wasn't on the times i was there so it wasn't a prob for me. i agree about the mac and cheese but the okra and collared greens were very good. let me know when your going there again and i'll buy ya a warm beer. oh yeah the staff is nice but a little amateurish. but hey it is only 10 blocks away and the delivery is good too

David --


I heartily recommend "Tennessee Mountain" !!

Click Here To Read The Menu > http://www.tnmountain.com/dinnermenu.shtml

And on Monday & Tuesdays it's "All You Can Eat" for $15


Later!

Just saw an episode of Roker on the Road and the featured restaurant is Biscuit.. '"A BBQ joint"'.In Brooklyn...
Hmmmm........
Further googling has turned up that it is closed...
Hmmm.......
Food Network should do some editing on their re-runs, it seems.
I agree with Dinosaur.. I have only eaten at their Syracuse location, but their Q rocks!

I tried Rack and Soul again. Take out. They were out of ribs and BBQ pork, lol. The 1/2 chicken was pretty good. Very good size. At least it wasn't one of those small grocery store birds. The 1/2 chicken was probably the size of a whole chicken from the grocery store. There was orange grease on the bottom of the take out pan, usually you don't see this with BBQ chicken, I imagine it's from the sauce or marinade, had olive oil or something in it. It was a sweet sauce, and had a sheen like a glaze. You could really taste the wood it was smoked with. Sides were also a decent size, and tasted decent. The beans were okay, I like them a little sweeter, but they were decent. Potato salad was pretty good. It was the "dry" kind that is really fluffy. I ususally like it a little chunkier and wetter. Overall, the best BBQ you'll find in this neighborhood (Morningside Heights).

Bone Lick Park and Tennesse Mountain are both out of buisness. Biscuit is also out of business. So's RIB.

For BBQ, and buy that I mean the traditional meats. Ribs, Brisket, Butt, Chicken, Sausage - I don't care about the rest of the restaurant.

Go to RUB first (23rd St)
Then Daisy Mays (46th St)
Then Blue Smoke (21st St?)
Then Waterfront Ale House (East side - 30th St maybe and also on Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn)-Very underated and often forgotten about.
Then Virgils (44th?)
Then Spankys (43rd?)

Haven't been to Rack and Soul. But been to Dinosaur and have never been impressed. Brothers and Borther Jimmys aren't worth your time unless you're looking to drink and oogle the waitresses. Whatever you do, don't go to Dallas BBQ. What they make has absoultely no relationship with real BBQ. Other food there is OK and cheap, but it's not BBQ.

BTW - I don't consider myself a BBQ Expert, but I do compete on the KCBS BBQ Circuit and and a certified BBQ judge.