Where is the Best barbeque in USA?
 

Where have you eaten that was great? Looking for stops in various states as we plan a cross country trip by car. Going from East coast to West- retired so have lots of time.

Robert, <BR> <BR>A couple authentic BBQ joints I've hit in my travels include: <BR> <BR>The G.A. Pig 1 hr. south of Savannah, GA <BR>@ the Jekyll Island exit off I-95. Awesome smell, atmosphere, & food. Written up in the N.Y. Times food section. <BR> <BR>'Nita's in Savannah, GA is very good & 'Nita herself will sit w/you like she did w/Meg Ryan in a Vogue interview. <BR> <BR>Not to be missed for character & delicious S. Carolina style BBQ (mustard sauce) is Walls' also in Savannah. This place is a shack in a back alley w/a nice old black woman serving great home-cooked BBQ. <BR> <BR>Up north in Philadelphia PA, but just as authentic & delicious as 'Nitas is Phoebe's on the 2200 block of South St. This is where I go when I get a craving for any of the above joints. <BR> <BR>Good luck & good eatin'

Big Daddy's in Des Moines, Iowa. I've tried Arthur Bryants, KC Masterpiece, Damons, and numerous others; nothing even comes close. Whenever I visit my family in California, the first thing they say is "Did you bring the Big Daddy's sauce?" E-mail me if you would like directions to this place, a central Iowa institution.

In Albany NY on Central Ave next to Armory Chevrolet is a small joint run by a felllow from TX - outstanding ribs. Also in that area just outside of Saratoga Springs is PJ's Barbecue Pit - don't know the road but everyone around there knows it - just ask! <BR>In Watkins Glen NY just past the road that goes up the hill towards the Watkins Glen Raceway and State park is a BBQ shack - no name - just a big plywood chicken by the road. Great rib sandwiches and very good chicken. <BR>Here in my town (Syracuse) the "hotspot" is the Dinosaur Barbecue - good atmosphere and decent food but the best ribs I've EVER had are from "John-John". He's set up on weekends only on the 600 block of Burnet Ave (right next to the Hydramatic Transmission shop). Burnet runs parallel to the I690 expressway and Erie Blvd east (known as State Rte. 5). <BR>My best buddy's mom's cousin is "Big John", who owns the Dreamland Barbecue near (within an hour of) Tuscaloosa. It's supposed to be one of the best barbecues in all of Alabama - was featured on National Public Radio travelogue last year.

Hello again - <BR>As usual my curiosity won out {:-) <BR>"Big John" has a website for Dreamland (which now has 3 locations) - go to <BR>www.snsnet.net/ribs/index.html <BR> <BR>Also check the following site for great reviews of BBQ joints throughout the US <BR>www.hsv.tis.net/~alvitar/barbeque/ <BR> <BR>Now you've REALLY made me hungry! <BR> <BR>P.S. - if you should happen to visit Saratoga Springs NY be sure to check out Hattie's Chicken Shack on Phila Street. I think they may have the best fried chicken anywhere in the US (no one who's tried it has disputed me yet). It did change owners 4 years ago but it's supposed to be just like it was.

There are many different types of barbecue in America, an any afficianado will confirm. You might try Russell's at the corner of Thatcher and North Ave. west of Chicago in Elmwood Park. In the South, go to Rocky Mount, NC -- there pitch into some great pork barbecue at Bob Melton's. In Page Springs, AZ (just west of Sedona), the Page Springs Restaurant serves up barbecued beef ribs (all you can eat Mon.-Thurs.) that are the size of midget baseball bats. Not far from Austin, TX, on Dripping Springs Road, they serve barbecued ribs that are superb -- ask the locals for the name and directions. I could go on and on...but it only makes me hungry.

On a trip thru Texas last year, we came across Rudy's BBQ outside San Antonio - terrific. There are many other very authentic BBQ spots throughout the state. I'll try to post more suggestions after I go back thru my guidebooks. <BR>