Brad wrote:This Thread Needs a new poll. What do you want me to add and what do you want me to take off?
Jim's Rib Haven (North O)
Smoke Pit (Downtown)
Big Horn (South O)
Osark BBQ (114th and Center)
Doc and Eddies (West O)
Heartland BBQ (Benson)
402 BBQ (Food Truck)
McKenna's (Aksarben)
Harkeet's (Midtown)
Boyd & Charlie's BBQ (West O)
Phat Jacks BBQ (Lincoln)
Parkers (Ashland and NE City)
Boxer BBQ (Council Bluffs)
Hog Stop BBQ (Council Bluffs)
Uncle Earnie's (Cedar Creek, NE)
Po' Boy's Barbecue (Gretna)
Fusion BBQ (Not Open Yet - 70th and Maple)
Famous Dave’s (Chain)
Dickey's (Chain)
Non of the Above
I don't eat BBQ
It is spelled Harkert's, btw. And Hartland. And of course Ozark.
A bunch of us from work ate at Swine Dining today in Bellevue. For my money, and my experience (I am past president of the Greater Omaha Barbeque Society, for what that may be worth), Swine Dining is the best of a paltry lot in the Omaha metro. Various places do one or two things very good (the onion taters and BBQ sauce at Ozark are top notch, Famous Dave's is pretty consistent, and has great corn bread. Harkert's used to be known for their ribs, but it has changed ownership since my last visit. Heartland has good sandwiches, but the sides aren't very good. Boxer must have something good, but I haven't discovered what that might be.)
Uncle Earnie (John Earnest) is an excellent cook. You can find his food at Taste of Omaha. When he is sober he cannot be beat with his food. (Side story, when I used to be a criminal prosecutor I put John in jail more than once, for his alcohol related problems. But he is a good man, and we grew to be friends.)
For my time and money, L.C's in KC, MO has fantastic burnt ends and sandwiches. BB's Lawnside at 85th & Troost cannot be beat for their combo of Cajun food, BBQ. And Blues music. Oklahoma Joe's never, ever disappoints. Plus you can stock up on BBQ sauces and supplies in their adjacent store. Fiorella's Jack Stack have excellent ribs and brisket, plus killer baked beans. Skip the O rings, though. Gates is good for sandwiches and sauces, but the ribs can be tough. Smokestack at Zona Rosa is a gorgeous place with consistent quality throughout.
Rendezvous is something every BBQ aficionado simply must experience. The food is decent, but the experience of dining there is not to be missed well beyond the quality of the dry rubbed meats.
Stubbs BBQ in Downtown Austin is a winner, though you can find even better Q elsewhere if you look.
Some of my all time favorite BBQ is found in the Carolina's. The vinegar based sauces simply cannot be beat, in my opinion. High Cotton in Kill Devil Hill was a wonderful find. The best BBQ are the little roadside shacks you are apt to come across on the back roads and highways of this big country, particularly south of the Mason-Dixon Line, where BBQ is a passion and a way of life. But I have found exceptional BBQ served from a blue school bus in Vermont, to a transplanted Oklahoman's roadside diner in Seaside, Oregon, to Rudolph's in Minneapolis.