Even in the fast-pace world of New York City restaurants, good things take time. That's especially true for savory, smoked meat. Fortunately, you don’t have to do much of the waiting, because these five NYC establishments have their smokers working overtime. Make sure you arrive with a ready appetite for some serious barbecue, because these smokers have been doing their share of the work already.
Best of NYC Smokers: Virgil’s Real BBQ (Midtown West)
Virgil’s has been around for over two decades, and the secret to their delicious barbecue eats has got to be the two Southern prime smokers that are kept in-house. When it comes to ordering, keep that in mind and stick with the House Smoked BBQ Classics, including pulled pork, Carolina pulled chicken, Texas BBQ beef brisket, Memphis smoked port spare ribs, smoked BBQ chicken, and "Our Trash Riblets." 152 W. 44th St., 212-921-9494, virgilsbbq.com
Best of NYC Smokers: Route 66 Smokehouse (Financial District)
On Route 66 Smokehouse’s “Slow & Low” menu, you’ll find all the restaurant’s favorite dishes. St. Louis ribs, pulled pork, Texas-style beef ribs, and smoked chicken are all served with your favorite fixings (blistered shishito peppers, potato salad, slaw, BBQ beans, and sweet potato fries) at this BBQ-loving destination. Or, if you want to outdo yourself, order the “Have It All,” which comes with every entrée from the pit. 46 Stone St., 212-943-1602, route66smokehouse.com
Best of NYC Smokers: The Smoke Joint (Brooklyn)
Opened in 2006, The Smoke Joint is nestled in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, providing the beloved borough a little bit of its own smoker heaven. While the dining area is intimate, the open kitchen with a Cookshack smoker makes up for it. The spare ribs, pulled pork, barbecued beef brisket, and Joint Dog are all packed with maple, hickory, and mesquite flavors that you won’t soon forget. 87 S. Elliott Pl., 718-797-1011, thesmokejoint.com
Best of NYC Smokers: Blue Smoke (Flatiron)
Blue Smoke is all about celebrating the diverse culinary traditions of the American South, which includes a soulful array of BBQ classics and passed-down family recipes. Look forward to trying the specially spiced dinner entrees from the pit, such as the jalapeno cheddar bratwurst, 7-pepper beef brisket, and dry-rubbed smoked chicken. If you want to keep things classic, you’ll also find baby back ribs, chopped pork shoulder, and spare ribs on the menu. Additional location in Battery Park. 116 E. 27th St., 212-447-7733, bluesmoke.com
Best of NYC Smokers: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (Harlem)
The Bar-B-Que Pit Plates are Dinosaur Bar-B-Que’s claim to fame. The house's all-natural bar-b-que pork ribs are served dry-rubbed and slow-smoked, lightly glazed with original BBQ sauce, while the Big Ass Pork Plate is slow-smoked pulled pork shoulder served with house-cured pickles. Drooling yet? You should be. Additional location in Brooklyn. 700 W. 125th St., 212-694-1777, dinosaurbarbque.com
