Eating BBQ while touring our Nation's Capitol

DC is very much a melting pot of our diverse country and world. With politicians and staffers from all over the country and foreign dignitaries and embassies, you can truely find everything in DC.

Though not known as a BBQ center, DC has some good BBQ places.

Rockland's in Glover Park, is a nice place. The onion flavor is a little high, but it's a good pit that somehow escaped falling prey ro DC building code regulations.

From the National Cathedral (which is a trolley stop for a few of the trolley tour companies) Just walk down Wisconsin Ave about 6 blocks downhill (south) from the Cathedral on the opposite side than the Cathedral.

When touring the hill, there is a cafeteria in the Longworth House Office Building. I'm not normally a person who promotes cafeterias, but Longworth's "Austin BBQ" makes a darn fine BBQ. I like the beef brisket. With sides it's only $5.75. no tax in this building either!

more to come.

Please do add to the list. I appreciate the directions and tips on these places (as well as the menu help) in a format that is easy to print-out and file with the tour-books!

An overlooked spot for BBQ in DC is Kenny's BBQ Restaurant located at 3066 Mount Pleasant St NW.
This is in the gentrifying neighborhood of Columbia Heights, known also for many latino restaurants. Kenny's BBQ has made it through the rough times in the neighborhood, and I hope will prosper in the new hip era of Columbia Height's history.

The menu is typical Amercian fare, but BBQ is the specialty and gets the most attention.

Take the Green Line Metro To Columbia Heights Stop. Exit 14 St. Southbound Side and head West on Irving crossing over 16th Street and taking a left onto Mt. Pleasant St. and it's right there.
The walk is about 2 1/2 blocks total from the metro.

In the Heart of, get this!, CHINATOWN is a wonderful BBQ joint called Capital Q.
The MCI Center, where the Washington Wizards (NBA), Capitals (NHL), and Mystics (WNBA) play, has turned Chinatown into a very ecclectic mix of Chinese Restaurants and American downtown shopping and eateries.
This is the smallest restaurant in DC with a bar. The smoker is in the back. And you'll likely to literally be rubbing elbows with VIPs, since the dining area is so small and tables are crammed together. But the smoked sausage and pulled meat should not be missed. Forget the Senator sitting next to you, the BBQ on your plate is the real VIP.
707 H Street, NW. You can get here from a short walk from Metro Center stop, or practically no walk from the MCI Center/Chinatown Metro Stop (Red Line).


Lastly, is the famed Old Glory in Georgetown. Famed because of the building's age, the Georgetown history and it's location, all of which would seemingly be reasons to avoid the restaurant. But the BBQ is taken seriously at Old Glory and their pits are real and they serve and ecclectic style of American regional BBQs.
Wanna see the difference between Eastern NC and Lexington, NC BBQ side by side? Here's your chance!
But don't stop there, they also serve up Memphis, Texas, Kansas City and more. Each one prepared true and honest to the areas they represent.

I usually make it a habit to avoid the over priced pompous shops of Georgetown, but Old Glory is a throw back of when Georgetown was laid back and down to earth. While the food at places like Clyde's and Chadwick's in G'town are still casual, only the atmosphere in Old Glory will make you believe you've left DC and traveled to an old hole in the wall BBQ joint in the deep south.

Take Orange Line to Foggy Bottom, then hop on one of the Georgetown University buses ($1) to the corner of M Street and Wisconsin. Just tell the driver you're going to Old Glory on M Street, and he'll know where to left you out.
If school isn't in session, you'll need to take the 30, 32, 33, 34, or 36 bus. (.35 cents with rail to bus transfer, $1.25 with out). See www.wmata.com for maps of area at a metro stop.
You want the #30-#36 buses that are going towards Friendship Heights.

OK, I knew it was too good to last!! As a person who honed his navigation skills in Urban Areas in the Los Angeles metro area (Pre- lite-rail and metrolink), I have to ask... What does one do with 30 or 36 buses?.

What I need to know is how to get my Ford Supercrew Pick'em-up truck safely into and out of the neighborhood with it's NRA stickers intact (No Stars and Bars on this one)!

the numbers is the bus line number.
the lines numbered 30, 32, 33, 34, 36 all go towards Friendship Heights. Which from the Foggy Bottom Metro stop, will take you to Old Glory.

Al, believe it or not, with the NRA Headquarters just a few miles from DC, an NRA sticker is not all that rare.
In fact, you're better off with an NRA sticker, than a Dallas Cowboy sticker.

You're biggest problem will be finding parking for a vehical that big.

Parkin'Space?, We Don' Need No Steekin Parkin'Space !
After growing up in L A I went to school in the Boston Area. If the street is wide enough for me to get down, I can park on it !! Thanks to those thousands of Bostonians who taught me the value of Double Parking!!

All kidding aside you do make a valid point. A couple of years ago we were in the Chicago area with my Mom. She got the idea that we should go back to Berghoff's for lunch (It had been 20 years since she had been there). So I used a city lot near the restaurant...and was charged for two spaces since the truck overlapped the built for Geo Metro's painted lines of a single space. At $6 for the first hour (x 2) and a busy time in the Berghoff our parking fee was more than the Lunch tab for the three of us !

If you go on Google Earth, there is an overlay that covers all the Q joints in the DC , Maryland, Virginia area.

why go to the 'burbs when we got great BBQ inside the city limits?

That's like going to NJ for pizza when visiting Manhatten. Sure, there's good pizza in NJ, but did you travel all the way to NYC for pizza in Jersey?

same in DC with BBQ.

One time visiting Washington, DC. I saw BBQ sandwich on the menu so I ordered it. You know they know NOTHING about BBQ when they serve the sandwich with LETTUCE and TOMATO on it!!!! LOL LOL I'm from Eastern NC, and we have the best BBQ!!!! We serve it with slaw!!! :) :) :)

I had some pretty good Texas style brisket at the Capital Q in Chinatown last week. Make sure they give you some of the hot pickle slices to eat with the meat.

They also serve pork but told me that their best dish is the beef. Since they promote the Texas connection, I think that is probably their long suit.

I'm fairly confident that I've tried most every BBQ sandwich offered in DC over the past few years. And for my money there is only one place to get decent 'q with all the trimmings in DC -- Levi's Port Cafe on 8th St.

Seriously, don't even bother w/ Rocklands. Unless you like big hunks of carrot in your cole slaw, that is. Go to Levis and get a large bbq sandwich w/ slaw on top, a side of mac/cheese and a large sweet tea. yeah, sweet tea. Not many places you'll find that in the "202." To boot, they also have a fantastic buffet w/ superb fried/baked chicken, fried pork chops, meatloaf and greens. The 'q is Eastern Carolina style. The owner is originally from NC.

It is very easy to find. Just under the SE/SW Freeway on 8th St., S.E. Also known as "Barracks Row" because it is just down from the Marine Barracks.

Locally owned, good folks and great food.

http://www.levisbbq.com/main.html

I'll agree, jlmva, that Levi's has good BBQ, but I wouldn't say there's no reason to try the others. Kenny's is pretty similar. But Levi's definately should be on the "must go to" list of DC BBQ.