Best BBQ you’ve had?

1977 Cat

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Oct 26, 2006
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That’s embarrassing, but just what I would expect from a bunch of yanks. Go to Tompkinsville Kentucky and find the Garden Of Eden of barbecue. Pork shoulder with vinegar sauce that has red pepper and melted lard with the best slaw you ever had!
 

WildcatFan1982

Heisman
Dec 4, 2011
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I ate here once.
 

dgtatu01

All-Conference
Sep 21, 2005
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No joke one of my favorite smoked food I ever ate was at a friends wedding. The brides father from Argentina smoked a bunch of brisket and served it with homemade Chimmichurri.

Also similarly my grandfather and his buddy would do a buried beef every year where they got some charcoal going in a hole and then put 2 or 3 briskets down in it and buried and left it there for 2 days. That stuff was amazing. My grandmother made a homemade BBQ sauce for that.
 
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jwheat

Heisman
Aug 21, 2005
97,626
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Is any of you have ever been around the dale hollow lake this wouldn’t even be up for debate
 

-Mav-

Heisman
Jun 19, 2017
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Blind Joe’s Porcine Palace in Arlington (Carlisle County) has some of the best I’ve ever eaten.
 

Saguaro Cat

All-American
Apr 27, 2008
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Surely you have been to a spot that has better than what this looks like.

In defense of the story, it's not trying to say Brooklyn BBQ is better. There is a trend in other countries of restaurants claiming to offer Brooklyn BBQ, and they question why those countries are not importing better BBQ from KC, Texas, Memphis, etc...

Quick note about barbeque. I hate when people try to poo poo sauce. Yes, good barbeque doesn't need it. But I love a good sauce. Centrepoint (not my favorite but great still) outside Nashville gives you a choice of six and I love trying a bit of each. Don't have to slather it. But pickles, sauce, beans, banana pudding, Big Red. Good barbecues not a meat, it's a meal.
 
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1977 Cat

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Oct 26, 2006
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It isn’t Moonlight in Owensboro. Very overrated. Give me a hole in the wall run down place any day. Monroe County is good and West TN has some great place so.
Tompkinsville Ky. is Monroe County barbeque. And yes people from around Dale Hollow do come to T-ville to get their BBQ.
 
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jwheat

Heisman
Aug 21, 2005
97,626
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Tompkinsville Ky. is Monroe County barbeque. And yes people from around Dale Hollow do come to T-ville to get their BBQ.
Tville is around dale hollow. The same BBQ is made in tville bville and celina
 

JDHoss

Heisman
Jan 1, 2003
16,421
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Really good, and different. You can't get ribs, pulled pork or brisket here, just thinly sliced ham and beef that they throw on a flat top and give it just a little crust and some sauce. I parked next to the smokehouse once just as they were taking the hams out. It was enough to make you swoon, and by the time I got to the door I was slobbering on myself. The fries and slaw are good, but the beans are just ok and not nearly as good as Phil's Dream Pit. Love Ridgewood though, and it defies the "location, location, location" theory. It couldn't be in a more out of the way spot and the parking is horrible. Most of the time we'll just call it in and I'll drop the Mrs. off and she'll go in and get it while I find a spot to turn around. If you're in the upper East TN area, it's worth it to make it a stop. Here are a couple of more local spots that are excellent as well....

http://www.philsdreampit.com (be damn sure to get a side of beans)

http://www.thebonefiresmokehouse.com (good food, full bar, great atmosphere with live music on some nights)
 
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BlueRaider22

All-American
Sep 24, 2003
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My top 10:

10. Lexington BBQ - Lexington, NC
9. Central BBQ - Memphis
8. Pappy's BBQ - St Louis
7. Mary's - Nashville.....it's gone downhill though
6. Peg Leg Porker - Nashville
5. Rendezvous - Memphis
4. Black's - Lockhart, Tx (tied with Hard 8 in Coppell, Tx)
3. Kreuz Market - Lockhart, Tx
2. Franklin BBQ - Austin, Tx
1. Salt Lick BBQ - Austin, Tx



I've had every just about every BBQ place in Lexington. In Western KY I've had Moonlight, Ole South, Brother's......and several others that I didn't care to remember the names of. Nothing I've had in Kentucky would crack my top 20.
 

mashburned

Heisman
Mar 10, 2009
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If not the McRib, probably from this shack near Guthrie, KY/TN State line/Clarksville area. Used to eat it all the time visiting family. It's perfect everything - the pork is primo, the vinegar red sauce is dynamite.
 

BlueRaider22

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Sep 24, 2003
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Ummm... yeah... ummm... No. Salt Lick isn't anywhere near as good as Franklin, not even Top5 in the Austin/Centex area.

Won’t argue at all as I’ve only eaten at Salt Lick once. After all, we’re talking about opinions and not facts.

There’s a reason why most people BBQ in the US as coming from 4 major areas: Tennessee/Memphis, St Louis, Carolina, and Texas. On a pretty consistent basis the general population votes these areas as having the better BBQ. And often restaurants outside these areas will try to emulate the main 4.
 
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1977 Cat

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My top 10:

10. Lexington BBQ - Lexington, NC
9. Central BBQ - Memphis
8. Pappy's BBQ - St Louis
7. Mary's - Nashville.....it's gone downhill though
6. Peg Leg Porker - Nashville
5. Rendezvous - Memphis
4. Black's - Lockhart, Tx (tied with Hard 8 in Coppell, Tx)
3. Kreuz Market - Lockhart, Tx
2. Franklin BBQ - Austin, Tx
1. Salt Lick BBQ - Austin, Tx



I've had every just about every BBQ place in Lexington. In Western KY I've had Moonlight, Ole South, Brother's......and several others that I didn't care to remember the names of. Nothing I've had in Kentucky would crack my top 20.
Hell you’ve never had real barbecue. You need to go to southern Kentucky and enjoy your first bbq experience.
 

MychalG

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Dec 16, 2012
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When I lived in Dallas, TX in the early '80's there was a hole in the wall place called, Red Bryan's. Did not seat many people and it was a cafeteria style restaurant. Man, they had the best ribs I have ever had and I have had BBQ from TX, through Memphis, through Owensboro, KY. The owner was a big ole no nonsense type of guy. Best sweet corn, sweet cornbread. If you happened to be in there at closing time, he would come by and put some more ribs on your plate at no charge. Me and my rib eatin buddies ate there so much, he knew us all by name. Damn those things were delicious..For my money, in Louisville, I choose Mark's Feed Store..
 

UKGrad93

Heisman
Jun 20, 2007
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1. Tiny shack on the side of the road in Selmer, TN
2. BBQ that my brothers made
3. Jimmy Jacks Rib Shsck
4. My own bbq
 

UpstateNYCat

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Jul 4, 2012
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Won’t argue at all as I’ve only eaten at Salt Lick once. After all, we’re talking about opinions and not facts.

There’s a reason why most people BBQ in the US as coming from 4 major areas: Tennessee/Memphis, St Louis, Carolina, and Texas. On a pretty consistent basis the general population votes these areas as having the better BBQ. And often restaurants outside these areas will try to emulate the main 4.

Salt Lick has a great environment, just think the Q is meh. We moved from Texas to NY 2011, so haven't had decent Q in a while, but Franklin is out of this world. Have not had anything better. I hear there's several places that have opened up in Austin and surrounding areas that will give Franklin a run for its money.
 
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chitown87

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Mar 22, 2007
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Saw's in Birmingham, Archibald's in Tuscaloosa, and Pappy's in St. Louis(specifically for ribs)
 

WildcatFan1982

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Dec 4, 2011
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Even I would have a hard time justifying waiting 4-5 hours for it but I do believe you can pre-order well in advance for pick up.

I was down there on business. Pretty much the only time I got to leave the hotel was when my company took us out to dinner at Salt Lick.
 

JDHoss

Heisman
Jan 1, 2003
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Rendezvous in Memphis.
My own is pretty good.

The ribs at the Rendezvous were excellent, but I was a little underwhelmed by the sides. That said, the smell coming out of there while we were waiting drove me crazy. Cool atmosphere too.