It might be difficult to find a decent restaurant in a new place, particularly if you’re wanting real, even amazing, BBQ. Let’s also be honest: Dining out may be costly. It hurts to pay for a lousy one. Sorting the wheat from the chaff is therefore crucial. Read more about Order Albuquerque’s Best BBQ by visiting our website and if you have any questions related to this topic, connect with us.
Since Steven is the world’s most unstoppable BBQ scout, I was sure that no one had better methods for locating these treasures. (Add Planet Barbecue and The Barbecue! Bible to your own library right now if you don’t already have them.)
Here are Steven’s priceless suggestions for locating eateries that offer some of the greatest BBQ in the world!
How to Locate the Greatest Barbecue Dining Establishments
Prior to leaving…
Speak with locals: People are excited to share the names of their favorite barbecue restaurants, based on our experience. Just make sure they share your taste in BBQ. (Watch out if they want their ribs to be really sensitive.) In the days before Google, Yelp, and their kin, Steven and I would reach out to local food writers from newspapers and other media to get their well-informed thoughts. Today, however, it is worthwhile to look for internet testimonials and suggestions.
First, rely on your intuition. Suppose you are in a parking lot. Is there a barbeque pit nearby? Do you smell smoke from wood? You’ll know you’re going to have a real BBQ experience if you do. Outside, there ought to be a heap of wood. And ideally not only for show. However, wood-burning equipment is frequently prohibited by local rules. Therefore, the restaurant may have to use propane smokers. Not necessarily a deal-breaker. However, it can indicate that the meal is prepared off-site. (Have you ever dined at a BBQ joint located in an airport? Yes. similar to that.)
Menus may teach you a lot: The internet is helpful in this situation as well. A lot of eateries publish their menus online. A great deal of information may be gleaned from them. “Beware of large menus,” warns Steven. The greatest barbecue restaurants have a narrow menu and are laser-focused. Restaurants who disclose the origin of their meats, whether they are chicken, beef, or hog, receive a huge check-plus. It demonstrates their concern for the caliber of their components. Prices that look too good to be true should be avoided. According to the Consumer Price Index, the cost of beef, for instance, has increased by about 20% in the last 12 months. It’s doubtful that cheap BBQ will be excellent.
You may also check what sides the restaurant serves from the menu. A genuine barbecue restaurant may be identified by its baked beans, cornbread, collard greens, mac & cheese, creamed corn, coleslaw, and even banana pudding. However, fresh veggie sides always receive a high five from us. We also commend the fact that many establishments are increasingly providing plant-based choices.
The greatest barbecue restaurants only close when the meat is gone, so if the business displays its closing times, that’s a warning sign. And it may happen before noon.
When you arrive…
Long queues to wait? Wait times are a positive indicator, indeed. Anyone who has been to Austin, Texas’s Aaron Franklin’s restaurant of the same name is certain of it. He claims that Aaron’s success may be attributed to his concentration on perfecting a particular cut of meat, such brisket, before moving on to the next. (Refer to Steven’s aforementioned “laser-focused” statement.)
Look at the folks ordering takeout. Do they have Styrofoam containers with them? According to Steven, such shows a disregard for the environment.
Is the eatery too upscale? Steven like traditional counter service with pound-by-pound beef. An large drink menu and a hostess stand are typically a poor sign. However, the availability of a few well selected brewers and/or bourbons may justify easing strict regulations. Simple décor is OK. Steven is all for serving the food on rimmed sheet pans or butcher paper (plates are optional).
Take it easy on the sauce: In some regions of the nation, such as Texas, adding barbecue sauce to brisket or ribs is considered a sin. Pitmasters from the Carolinas or Kansas City would vehemently disagree. However, keep in mind that barbecue sauce may be utilized to cover up sins. On the side, ask for it.