Hannah's BBQ in Lenoir, North Carolina

Hannah's BBQ looks the part. Great presence - a cross between a drive in and a classic BBQ joint. They even have a drive through and a mascot - "Bobby Q." Who can't love that? However, once inside, the BBQ isn't legendary - anymore. Doing a little research in the area, I discovered that a number of people feel that Hannah's best days are behind them. It was once a great place that's gone a bit downhill. The chopped pork was average, and the ribs were a bit strange looking. Granted - nothing was bad, it just wasn't what you'd expect from a classic place in the Carolinas. Having said that - the banana pudding was exceptional. Best I've had in decades. It's tough to get great banana pudding these days, and this took me back to my childhood. My advice? At Hannah's - come for the banana pudding and get the BBQ on the side...

Pat's BBQ in Salt Lake City, UT

Pat's BBQ

455 W. Commonwealth Ave.

Salt Lake City, UT
801-484-5963

http://www.patsbbq.com

This was what looked like a small building on a back street in SLC but was actually pretty big once inside. It smelled great on entry.

The Menu was standard:

Pork Spare Ribs

Pulled Pork

Brisket

Chicken

no sausage :(

The ribs were good and the pulled pork was excellent. Moist with nice smoke.

Was served with corn break which was good but I like some bread with BBQ.

The sides were really good and non standard

Mashed Potatoes with meat gravy

Cajun Beans and rice - there was sausage in that and it was good.

They had several sauces but thats not really my thing and I only tried the one in the red container and it was a vinegar based sauce, it was ok.

Service was fast and friendly. I left full and happy.

I loved the smoking section outside.

This was good BBQ but sharing it with friends made it even better.

If you go, get the ribs, Pulled Pork and the sides.

Q rating: QQQ

Pappy's Smokehouse in St Louis, MO

Pappy's Smokehouse

3106 Olive St

St. Louis, MO

This was a non discirpt place in downtown St Louis but came highly reccomended by the hotel and others. We were told to get there early as the lines get long.

We got there at 11:30

This was the line behind me.

and in front and that one wraps around the corner.

I knew we were in for something special. The menu was great. Pulled pork, beef brisket, sausage, turkey and the specialty, ribs.

The way it works here is they make a bunch of BBQ, open at 10:45 and close when it is all gone.

It was amazing.

The ribs were the stuff. OMG. best I ever had.

Ribs were smokey and tender but not falling off the bone. More of a perfect eat off the bone experience. No sauce needed for me. Just perfect on their own. of course there were other meats.

The brisket was good but not great. Not enough smoke for me and a little dry.

They did have something I had not seen before, fried corn on the cob.

My buddy said it was great.

Sausage was just OK.

They had lots of sauces but I didn't try them.

Overall the service was great, people were awesome as was the owner Pappy who came by for a visit.

Que rating QQQQ

Get the Ribs!

Kansas City BBQ

Kansas City BBQ
10863 Magnolia Blvd
North Hollywood, CA


KCBBQ is a nice little bar and Q joint located in a strip NoHo strip mall.


Brisket served thin sliced in a deli slicer, good flavor but lite on smokiness.



Burnt ends of beef and pork (not actually burned but the nice crusty first and last cuts) chopped smokey w sauce Ribs smoky tender doused with rub and a splash of sauce.

Sweet vinegar base sauce in regular and hot.

Beans in a thin sauce smokey tasty and sweet potato fries yummy

QQQ

Rex.

Territory - Silverlake, CA

Territory
534 N. Hoover St.

Los Angeles, CA 90004

Nestled between apartment buildings and palm trees just off Sunset in Silverlake is "Territory" a BBQ joint and record shop. Specializing in North Carolina style que.



Serving up a menu of chopped brisket, pulled pork, fried chicken and catfish and after 5:00, Ribs.






Pulled pork and chopped brisket piled atop a pair of starched plains, sans sauce. Both moist and delicious, with a nice smoky flavor. Add a bottle of Cheerwine to wash it down.



Order in, eat out, patio style. Offset smokers out back provide the cooking platform.


And pecan pie for desert. Everything was very tasty When you're in the neighborhood stop in for some good downhome que.

QQQ

Rex

Phat Jack's BBQ

A real surprise popped on the radar in Lincoln, Nebraska yesterday. My friends Jon and Alicia Reisinger took me to Phat Jack's BBQ. It's in an industrial area right outside Lincoln, so I didn't expect much, but I was really surprised. Phat Jack's is "competitive" BBQ, in the Kansas City style and they've got the trophies and certifications to prove it. They knew they were on the right track when they were the youngest team to ever compete in the Jack Daniel's World Championship in 2008. Their brisket, ribs, and red hot sausage is worth the trip. Plus, you know it's a good place when they put on the menu: "WARNING: Get here early, 'cuz the ribs won't last long. To ensure we serve the best ribs possible, we only cook a limited number of ribs each day. They never last long."
Don't be surprised when you pull up, because as you can see by the picture, the building isn't much. But as with all good things, it's what's inside that really counts!
phatjackslincoln.com - 402-464-PHAT (7428)

Elmer's BBQ in Tulsa - "It Be Bad"

I really must pay tribute to one of my favorite BBQ places in the world - Elmer's in Tulsa. Famous for the "Badwich" - which has everything you can imagine on it - to the greatest brisket, ribs, and sausage, and even bologna (and it's really good) this is a real shrine to Oklahoma BBQ. I've got nothing bad to say about Elmers - even their beans (with little BBQ chunks included) rule. I started going there when I lived in Tulsa many years ago, and still make a pilgrimage every time I visit T-town. In fact, a bunch of professional athletes and stars from Tulsa have it Fed-X'ed to Los Angeles and beyond. Hey - when the "cue" comes on you, you've got to have it.