Smitty's Market, web site, 208 South Commerce, Lockhart, TX, 512-398-9344 [Marginal Revolution | Yahoo | Austin Chronicle | emerils.com]
Check out the photos. My vote goes to Smitty's, in Lockhart, Texas. Lexington Barbecue wins "most overrated." Thanks to Arnold Kling for the pointer.
"Barbecue Heaven," Marginal Revolution, March 22, 2007
Riedel’s, 4221-B Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-966-4567, I believe they are not open for weekend lunches (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
White cloth napkins, say no more.
Update June 15, 2006: A commenter says it's closed.
Jerk Pit, 8145-C Baltimore Avenue, Rt. 1, College Park, MD, 301-441-4786 [WaPo | City Paper | Gayot]
Yes, jerk is a form of barbecue. The wings are recommended. Fridays they have oxtail stew. Service is slow, because they do it the right way.
Pierce's Pitt Bar-B-Que, web site, 447 East Rochambeau Drive, Williamsburg, VA, 757-565-2955, near Williamsburg, off Rt. 64 [10 Best | Activer Diner | Citysearch]
Pulled pork, recommended by many of my correspondents. They still have an open pit, which is increasingly rare these days.
BBQ Country (aka Barbeque Country Jamboree), 14215-X Centreville Square, Centreville, VA, 703-968-5896, there are four others around as well (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
I have yet to go.
Texacan Beef and Pork Co., web site, preparation page, 21750 Red Rum Drive, Ashburn, VA, 703-858-5565, closes at 6:30 (Metro Trip Planner -opens in new window) take out menu
Update May 15, 2006: Closed
Hi-tech, I have yet to go.
Half Moon Bar-B-Que, 8235 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-585-1290 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo (Eve Zeibart), WaPo (Eric Brace) | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch | Yelp | Gayot]
Update June 12, 2006: A commenter, tegwar, says this place closed in May, 2006. The web site (link removed) was recently changed to something unrelated to food
Recommended by Washingtonian magazine.
Ribster’s, web site, 7243 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 703-750-2751 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [lunchSpark | openlist | Citysearch]
Reasonably good ribs, and good prices too, especially at the weekend lunch specials. Weird and dark, you wonder how it stays in business, but in fact this is the real Annandale. You will feel like you have entered Kansas, or something like that.
Annette’s BBQ Heaven, 279 S. van Dorn Street, Alexandria, VA
Kenny’s Pit Bar-B-Que, 3060 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-823-3330. Also open for breakfast, closed Sunday (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Citysearch]
Quite good, tasty. It’s run by Koreans though no Korean barbecue food here.
Bubba's Bar-B-Q, web site, 7810-F Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA, Merrifield Plaza, 703-560-8570, right by the Burmese place, closed Sunday (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | Citysearch | Yelp | Gayot]
The pork here is quite good, the staff can be rude. Get the pork and the fries.
Rocklands, web site, 2418 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-333-2558, plus a branch in Alexandria at 25 S. Quaker Lane, 703-778-9663 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Citysearch | Yelp | Gayot]
If you are thinking of bringing your friend from Kansas City or Texas, don’t.
Red Hot & Blue, web site, 1600 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA, 703-276-7427, several other branches including one near GMU, usually open (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
Many people hate this restaurant. Given the recent proliferation of barbecue in this area, there is no longer any reason to go. It defines generic, chain barbecue, and perhaps that is worth knowing, if only to see the contrast with the real thing.
Capital BBQ, web site, 707 H Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-347-8396 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
I know, a barbecue place with a web site is not an encouraging idea. But the food here is OK, Texas style. Get the beef brisket with the spicy sauce. Not perfect, but this is better Texas barbecue than we deserve.
Urban Bar-B-Que, web site, 2007 Chapman Avenue, Rockville, MD, 240-290-4827 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]
Mostly take-out, they only have ten tables, always a good sign. They plan to expand, which I take to be a bad sign. The French fries are excellent. The sauces were not exactly to my taste. In any case this is a significant sign of progress. One of the best barbecue places around.
Kenny’s BBQ Smokehouse, 732 Maryland Avenue NE, Washington, DC, 202-547-4553 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [menupix | City Paper | openlist | Citysearch]
This is really quite good North Carolina barbecue. Very much a Mom & Pop. Get the spicy sauce, which is in any case more tangy than spicy. Good collard greens. Right now the best barbecue place in DC, without a doubt.
Willard’s Real Pit BBQ, 4300 Chantilly Shopping Center, #1a, Chantilly, VA, on Willard Rd. at the Dulles Expo Center, off Rt. 28, not too far from Dulles Airport, 703-488-9970 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | food-plan | openlist | Citysearch]
They have St. Louis ribs, Texas brisket, Kansas City burnt ends, North Carolina pulled pork, and Jamaican jerk chicken, among other dishes. No one of these is up to the original but at least it resembles pit barbecue. Real side dishes, too. Excellent characters come to eat at this place. Recommended.
Bare Bones, 20260 Goldenrod Lane in the Hampton Inn, Germantown, MD, 301-916-3700 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Citysearch]
Ribs are the specialty, I have yet to go.
Old Glory, web site, 3139 M Street NW, Georgetown, Washington, DC, 202-337-3406 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Gayot]
Recommended by a reader, but I hate Georgetown.
Dixie Bones, web site, 13440 Occoquan Road, Woodbridge, VA, south on Rt. 123, half an hour south from Fairfax, right off I-95, 703-492-2205 [Washingtonian | WaPo | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
Worth the trip, right now this is the best barbecue around. I like the ribs best. The side orders are excellent, and cooked with great care. Make sure you try the sauces on your meat. Everyone recommends their baked goods as well. This is outside my purview but they appear to be quite fresh.
