Category Archives: Barbeque

Art’s Southern Style Smokehouse BBQ

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***** (5 stars)

Wow, the St. Louis ribs are amazing. I’ve regarded 4 Rivers as the gold standard for barbecue, and their brisket and burnt ends are better than Art’s brisket, but these St. Louis ribs are the best barbecue I’ve found in central florida. They’re very smoky, yet moist and tender, but with a bit of a glaze on the top side, then covered with just the right amount of a perfectly seasoned slightly sweet barbecue sauce.

Art’s doesn’t mess around with multiple bottles of sauce on the table, which at first concerned me, but to my palate the have the perfect sauce already on everything when it comes from the kitchen, and the perfect amount, so it doesn’t matter.

Baked beans were a bit watery but tasty. Coleslaw was crisp and refreshing. My new favorite barbecue spot.

Art’s Southern Style Smokehouse BBQ
15502 Stoneybrook W Pkwy
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 614-8910
http://www.yelp.com/biz/arts-southern-style-smokehouse-bbq-winter-garden

Hecky’s Barbecue

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** (2 stars)

Adequate barbecue, but nothing special. The rib tips are meaty, and the snack size is a generous serving for two. A BBQ place is all about the sauce, and Hecky’s seems a bit too acidic for my taste. I like a richer, more full bodied sauce. There was certainly a lot of it, though.

The pulled pork sandwich had a nice serving of pork, but the bun was soft and flavorless, not really any point to eating it except to hold onto the pork.

Sweet potato pie is pretty good.

No place to eat, so take out only.

Hecky’s Barbecue
1902 Green Bay Rd
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 492-1182
http://www.yelp.com/biz/heckys-barbecue-evanston

Smoque BBQ

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**** (4 stars)

I love the quick efficiency of this place, which handles a huge crowd without long waits. The BBQ is good, but not life changing. I agree the brisket is tender, but I’ve have much more flavorful brisket in the South. The sauces are good, though, so pile it on and you’ll enjoy some excellent BBQ.

Smoque BBQ
3800 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 545-7427
http://www.yelp.com/biz/smoque-bbq-chicago

4 Rivers Smokehouse

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***** (5 stars)

Essentially a clone of the original 4 Rivers. In a city of BBQ joints, this is the best. At most BBQ places I lik sliced pork, but the ticket here is either the “burnt ends”, a mixture of beef and pork from the edges that is seared to perfection and mixed with BBQ sauce, or the brisket, which is best just as a lump on your tray rather than a sandwich. Most of the sides are less exciting than these two entrees. The outside seating here is spacious and not too noisy.

4 Rivers Smokehouse
1047 S Dillard St
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 474-8377
http://www.yelp.com/biz/4-rivers-smokehouse-winter-garden

4 Rivers Smokehouse

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***** (5 stars)

Indeed, in a city of BBQ joints, this is the best. At most BBQ places I lik sliced pork, but the ticket here is either the “burnt ends”, a mixture of beef and pork from the edges that is seared to perfection and mixed with BBQ sauce, or the brisket, which is best just as a lump on your tray rather than a sandwich. Most of the sides are less exciting than these two entrees, although the do have some tasty (and caloric) desserts.

4 Rivers Smokehouse
1600 W Fairbanks Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 474-8377
http://www.yelp.com/biz/4-rivers-smokehouse-winter-park-2

Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar B Que

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**** (4 stars)

Bubbalou’s has been doing its thing for a long time, and at this location for close to 20 years, so they must be doing something right. The pork sandwich is my favorite here, and I prefer it sliced to pulled. For a splurge, ask for it on the grilled toast rather than the bun. Beans and fries are excellent accompaniments, but the best thing about the BBQ here is the sauces. I like to mix the sweet and hot.

Newly discovered secret: their wings are delicious! Try the sweet ones and add some hot bbq sauce.

Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar B Que
5818 Conroy Windermere Rd
Orlando, FL 32835
(407) 295-1212
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bubbalous-bodacious-bar-b-que-orlando

Red Eye Bar And Grill

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**** (4 stars)

This place is run by the former owner of one of Orlando’s better gourmet food trucks. The cooking transcends typical barbecue, although that’s certainly the emphasis. A nice assortment of sauces are served with the BBQ items, but the highlights of our meal were the flatbreads, corn and crab chowder, and the cornbread. Pricing is very reasonable, especially for lunch items. You’re getting a sit down restaurant meal for the price of counter service. Good ambience, and a nice selection of beer and wine. Owner rob and our server were both very gracious and helpful.

Red Eye Bar And Grill
2594 Maguire Rd
Ocoee, FL 34761
(407) 877-0003
http://www.yelp.com/biz/red-eye-bar-and-grill-ocoee

Pine 22

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**** (4 stars)

Although some people (notably restaurant critic Scott Joseph) don’t like the build it yourself concept of this place’s order form-like menu, I love it. You can assemble whatever ingredients suit your fancy, and do something different on each visit. The burger was nicely cooked, juicy, and had just what I wanted. Fries were just okay.

Pine 22
22 E Pine St
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 574-2160
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pine-22-orlando-2

Yellow Dog Eats

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***** (5 stars)

This is a wonderfully funky hangout that the locals fill every day at lunch for the best sandwiches you can get in Central Florida–and perhaps anywhere.

The pulled pork is a favorite, but nothing here is that simple. Add applewood smoked bacon, a hint of raspberry sauce, some of the house-made and bottled mustard BBQ sauces… superb.

But my personal favorite is the Kitty Cat Nap salad, Organic greens, raspberry vinaigrette, and the most amazing heap of exotic tuna–filled with craisins, nuts, and Chinese five spice.

Owner Fish Morgan circulates and makes everyone feel at home. Well, at home with a wacky brother, anyway!

Parking is behind the place through a narrow drive on the left, or across the street. Eat out back, in the charming patio.

Yellow Dog is hard to find, but packed every day. That says it all.

Yellow Dog Eats
1236 Hempel Ave
Windermere, FL 34786
(407) 296-0609
http://www.yelp.com/biz/yellow-dog-eats-windermere-2