Blue Smoke in NYC

Just had lunch at Dinosaur yesterday. Let me first say I was prepared to hate it. But the ribs, I dare say, are better than Dreamland in Bama, Arthur Bryant's in KC, and anything in Memphis. The smoky flavor came through in every juicy, meat bite. Blasphemy! It's the best of all worlds-- a delicious Texas salt and pepper rub, along with a sauce amalgam of Carolina vinegar and KC tomato coated lightly at the end. Unbelievable. Even the sides were delicious. I had a striking potato and sausage soup. I went for lunch and about half the place was full. I heard dinner is an hour wait on a weeknight. Also went to RUB for the second time. Much better than my initial experience. The ribs were quite smoky and tender(but inferior to Dinosaur). The atmosphere is great. If you're around 23rd, don't hesitate. I hate to say it, but NYC is catching up. Maybe not in the brisket department, but certainly in the ribs. Perhaps these smokers can handle ribs (a shorter smoking) but not brisket (longer cooking time and better done in the old open pits). Look out Texas, NYC is on the prowl.

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Originally posted by larrygellerPastrami King is now in Merrick, LI. Same exact pastrami as the old Queens location. $9.29 is the price at Ben's in Manhattan. It's cheaper in Queens & LI.

I wasn't aware that Pastrami King had reopened. Is it the same family that runs the Manhattan and former Queens locale? I always thought the Queens location was excellent and was sad to see it go. The Manhattan store is spotty. I had a some really bad pastrami there about 6 months ago.

And to stay on-topic, I haven't been to Blue Smoke in many many months due to my new health regime. DAMN I miss it!

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Originally posted by Wigo

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Originally posted by larrygellerPastrami King is now in Merrick, LI. Same exact pastrami as the old Queens location. $9.29 is the price at Ben's in Manhattan. It's cheaper in Queens & LI.

I wasn't aware that Pastrami King had reopened. Is it the same family that runs the Manhattan and former Queens locale?

Yes. 196 Merrick Rd. Merrick, NY 11566-4532 (516) 377-1100.

I went to Blue Smoke on Friday evening and didn't think very highly of it. Baby-baby ribs lacked tenderness, the lean brisket was good, but the marbled brisket was too fatty, barely any meat in each slice. The pulled pork sanwich was decent, but was cold at the time we got it. As for the sides, the cole slaw and baked beans were slightly above average and the mashed potatoes were very good. Virgil's takes the cake (I haven't had the chance to get up to Dino), I know it's in Times Square and gets hit by the tourists, but who cares - the food is much better.

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Originally posted by Jack Barry

I went to Blue Smoke on Friday evening and didn't think very highly of it. Baby-baby ribs lacked tenderness, the lean brisket was good, but the marbled brisket was too fatty, barely any meat in each slice. The pulled pork sanwich was decent, but was cold at the time we got it. As for the sides, the cole slaw and baked beans were slightly above average and the mashed potatoes were very good. Virgil's takes the cake (I haven't had the chance to get up to Dino), I know it's in Times Square and gets hit by the tourists, but who cares - the food is much better.

If and when you get to the Dino, try the slaw, or get a pork carolina sandwich. I had a nice pulled pork sandwich at Blue Smoke, liked the cumin flavored beans but found their slaw to be pedestrian at best.

try rack & soul on broadway and 109th st. pretty darn good bbq

I haven't read every single post, but I would also recommend Dinosaur Barbecue for the best overall experience. Their combo plates of chicken and ribs are quite good. There's also good music near the bar on Friday and Saturday nights at 10pm.

I would also recommend Pearson's Barbecue (east side about 78th st), especially for the brisket, which is incredible. It's not as good as the original branch they used to have in Queens, but still very, very good for the brisket and hotlinks. (I'd avoid the chicken. The ribs are good if you like dry style ribs.)

I'd avoid almost every other place mentioned, especially the places around Times Square. They're all terrible.

Deli's:
The 2nd Avenue Deli is closed. It's worth going to Katz's just once for the experience, but Katz's is not a kosher deli, although it's kosher style. One of the good things about Katz's is that all of the meats are hand cut. For those complaining about the price, realize that a Katz's sandwich is very large - it's probably close to a pound of meat and it can easily be shared, especially if you get a side order of something else.

The Ben's chain is only fair. They don't make their own pastrami, corned beef, etc. There's a Ben's Best, which is unrelated to Ben's, on Queens Blvd in Rego Park, Queens that I think is the best Kosher deli in NYC. Their pastrami is outstanding and the brisket is pretty good as well.

Oops...just found out that Pearson's has closed.

I was very sad to find out Pearson's on E. 81st Street had closed. A friend of mine from high school was the manager there. His dad, Ken Aretsky, was Pearson's partner. They had an mazing brisket smoked for 14 hours. I think the location killed it. I recently had a Pork-sket sandwich at Dino. Its a Memphis pulled pork sandwich (with slaw) meets a brisket (with jalepenos) sandwich all in one. Very messy and tasty! The ribs are killer there though. Meaty and pulls right off the bone with a good dry rub and just a bit of sauce. I have to recommend the beans at R.U.B. though. They're really smoky with burnt ends studded throughout. Oh yeah!

speaking of places that are closed (not really on topic) but does anyone remember the original manhattan bbq joint Smokey's. it was on 9th ave and 24th st. and it was mighty fine. in those days it was the only real pit bbq in nyc (or at least manhattan, i can't speak for all the boroughs).

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Originally posted by pmrkr2

speaking of places that are closed (not really on topic) but does anyone remember the original manhattan bbq joint Smokey's. it was on 9th ave and 24th st. and it was mighty fine. in those days it was the only real pit bbq in nyc (or at least manhattan, i can't speak for all the boroughs).

I remember Smokey's well. Their BBQ was some of the best ever in NYC, and we went there all the time.

I recently got to Dinosaur--a friend of mine took me to Yankee Stadium and we stopped there to pick up some sandwiches on the way. Very good bbq brisket--didn't have the ribs so I can't compare it to Smokey's.

For anyone interested in traveling, a new place called Front Street Smokehouse opened up in the Port Elizabeth section of Elizabeth, NJ. We went there once, and I had some of the best brisket I've had anywhere. You can only get there by car. Very friendly place, and parking is easy. They have a website with their menu and location.

Charlie

When I'm in Manhattan & eating BBQ, I'm usually solo and on business, so I head to Virgil's. BUT, not for the 'Que. I thought the 'Que at Virgil's was fair and I wouldn't pass it up if it were placed in front of me.

No, for me, the trip to Virgil's is all about the BBQ Wings. Smoked, then marinated in a tangy vinegar-based sauce, then finished on the grill. A plate of wings, a side of Mac & Cheese and a couple of Red Stripes and I'm a happy guy. And a full guy.

John

Ben's Best is great...my wife used to work near there and I would volunteer to pick her up whenever I could just for Ben's. Loved all the great deli sandwhiches but the slaw dog put the Varsity in Atlanta to shame.

everytime i visit Manhattan
my son gets a 2 pound food saver bags
of Knoxville, tn Buddy's bbq
his eyes light up when my suit case opens
and I put the sauce in a plastic bottle of (empty)
soda bottle............he loves his
Buddy's bbq

Somebody asked if anyone remembers Smokey's. I do, it got quite a bit of press since it was really the first "authentic" BBQ in NYC. I was there once, and thought it was OK, but it didn't knock me over.

I've also been to Blue Smoke once, it was pretty good, and as others have said, expensive when compared to "normal" BBQ places. I don't mind expensive, but I do mind the fact that the servers kept "suggesting" other add ons, which only adds to the bill. I hate that.

Speaking of Smokey's, I can go back even farther than that. Does anyone rememebr Jack's Nest? In about 1969 it was the first Soul Food restuarant to open up "Downtown" (i.e. not in Harlem). It wasn't strictly a BBQ place, although they had some of that, but still some of the best dam fried chicken I've ever had. --Ken

Blue Smoke makes a mean burger, had one about a year and a half ago. I was reluctant to try the BBQ as I can get the best down south.

where was jack's nest located, if it's what i'm thinking of it was east side in the 50's but i'm probably wrong as usual lol

<<where was jack's nest located, if it's what i'm thinking of it was east side in the 50's but i'm probably wrong as usual lol>>

Nope, it was originally on about 29th street and 3rd avenue for about a year, then they moved to a larger location on 3rd avenue and around 23rd street. I think they closed in the mid to late 70's. ---Ken

Dinosaur all the way!

<<<<where was jack's nest located, if it's what i'm thinking of it was east side in the 50's but i'm probably wrong as usual lol>>

Nope, it was originally on about 29th street and 3rd avenue for about a year, then they moved to a larger location on 3rd avenue and around 23rd street. I think they closed in the mid to late 70's. ---Ken>>

Just for the heck of it I just did a search for "Jack's Nest" and you might be right after all, apparently somewhere along the line they opened a branch on 59th street. Jack's Nest apparently was still open as late as 1981 -- this NY Times review also turned up in my search:

http://events.nytimes.com/mem/nycreview.html?_r=1&res=950DE6D71639F932A2575AC0A967948260&oref=slogin

In my mind's eye, I think I remember that Jack's Nest was listed in the original Underground Gourmet that came out in the early '70s, and I vaguely remember going there for fried chicken in the basket.

The Underground Gourmet was my pre-Roadfood bible. I was dirt-poor, working my way through school and living in the East Village (long before it became trendy and expensive). Cheap restaurants were all I could afford, and the UG, which focused on restaurants in Manhattan, was essential. I wonder how many of the places it listed still survive today.

Charlie

I can't believe nobody mentioned R.U.B. or Hill Country in this thread. Both are very close to Blue Smoke. I've eaten at R.U.B. and expected the worst, because I'm from Kansas City. It was great. The burnt ends were awesome. I've not eaten at Hill Country because it's new, but I know the head cook, Robbie and he's a nut to perfect is product and he's a competition bbq cook. If you're in the neighborhood, I'd definitely stop into these two places.