BBQ By The Borough

With Memorial Day upon us, we have barbecue on our minds! There’s simply no better way to kick off the summer season than with sunshine, family and friends, and a good old fashioned cookout. But while those of us staying around NYC this weekend may not be able to fire up a grill and whip up our own feast, there’s nothing stopping us from indulging at some of the best BBQ spots in town! Here are our favorite BBQ restaurants in each borough:

Manhattan – Blue Smoke
With locations in Battery Park City and Flatiron, Blue Smoke perfectly ties together regional favorites from all around the South. Choose from cookout staples like pulled pork and fried chicken with deviled eggs to start and mac & cheese as a side, or venture into their regional seafood options including East Coast Oysters and Gulf Shrimp. Extra hungry? Stay for the Southern Table ($55/person), a true foodie’s delight. With this 4-course meal you get to pick 4 main course options and then simply tell your waiter what you don’t like from the rest of the menu…the rest is all fair game! The chef will cook up a little of the rest of the menu items for you to sample, as well as trial dishes that are not yet on the menu for anyone else to order. The best part about it is that this all-you-can-eat so after sampling everything, you can reorder more of your favorite dishes. An extensive American craft beer list, American wines and whiskey round out your All-American dining experience at Blue Smoke.

Locations:
116 E 27th St (Between Park & Lexington) in Flatiron District
255 Vesey St (Between West St & North End Ave) in Battery Park City

Credit: Melissa Hom

Credit: Mighty Quinn’s BBQ

Brooklyn – Mighty Quinn’s
After getting its start along the Brooklyn waterfront at Smorgasburg, it’s only fitting that Mighty Quinn’s stay true to its roots and continue serving up some of the best BBQ at this dining extravaganza in Brooklyn. Mighty Quinn’s is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to solid BBQ – the meats are all natural, the spices are perfectly blended and the end result is phenomenal after being smoked with wood for several hours. You’ll find the perfect blend authentic cuisine in a fast casual setting. The menu features all naturally raised meat including succulent burnt ends, brisket and pulled pork, to name a few. You can either get your meat on a sandwich or naked, and spice up your meal with sides ranging from savory Dirty Frites – french fries smothered with Burnt Ends – to Sweet Potato Casserole and Sweet Corn Fritters, served with a delicious honey chile dipping sauce. Quench your thirst with some homemade iced tea or fresh ginger ale. Bottled and tap beers are also available, as well as fountain sodas and cane sugar sodas. The Brooklyn restaurant will be closed on Monday, so make sure to visit Mighty Quinn’s at Smorgasburg on Saturday or Sunday for your BBQ fix in Brooklyn.

Smorgasburg Locations:
Saturday – Kent Ave & North 7th St (11:30am-5pm)
Sunday – Breeze Hill at Lincoln Park (11:30am-5pm)

Credit: The Strand Smokehouse

Queens – The Strand Smokehouse (25-27 Broadway)
Located in Astoria, The Strand Smokehouse prides itself on being a “Meat Lovin’, Beer Drinkin’, Whiskey Shootin’ paradise.” Here you order food from the counter and dine at long communal tables, making this barn-style beer hall perfect for large groups! Options include flavorful pulled pork, dry-rubbed chicken and baby back ribs, along with signature cookout favorites including salads big enough to share, cole slaw, string beans, garlic mashed potatoes and cornbread. The restaurant has more than 15 locally brewed craft beers on tap, all coming from within 200 miles. Craving something sweeter? You’re in luck because you’ll also find a list of specialty cocktails made with house infusions. And not to worry about drink refills, the food and drink lines are split up so buying another round is a breeze.

Bronx – Dallas BBQ (281 W Fordham Rd)
If you’re looking for a bite to eat in the Bronx after visiting Yankee Stadium, then Dallas BBQ may be just the ticket. The BBQ selections include baby back ribs, Texas-style BBQ BeefRibs and BBQ chicken, as well as staple sides including homemade cole slaw, corn on the cob, baked beans and scrumptious cornbread. What sets Dallas BBQ apart on a hot summer’s day is the selection of Famous Frozen Drinks, which come in either regular or Texas size. With several locations throughout the NYC area, Dallas BBQ is always a good choice when you’re looking for BBQ in a pinch. Check out the website for the full list of locations.

Credit: Dallas BBQ

Staten Island – Craft House (60 Van Duzer St)
After a visit to the Staten Island Yankees Ballpark, you’ll find Craft House just a few blocks away from Staten Island’s St. George Ferry Terminal. Since the bar is not entirely devoted to BBQ, this is the ideal place to go to if your group is looking for the most menu variety. Regardless of the other options, however, the BBQ dishes are still buzzworthy. The menu features ribs slowly smoked and smothered in a secret spice rub, tender pulled pork and savory beef brisket. Sides like Kickin Collard Greens, Brisket Baked Beans and Jalapeño Corn Bread perfectly round out your BBQ feast to kick off summer the tasty way.

Credit: Craft House

Our concierges at the Hotel Elysee, Casablanca Hotel, Library Hotel, and Hotel Giraffe look forward to helping you plan your weekend itinerary. Please feel free to stop by the Front Desk for directions around NYC, and tell us about your experience in the Comments section!