Arthur Bryant's
When I found out I was taking a trip to Kansas City, the first thing I did was go to my Facebook Friends and ask for suggestions. The overwhelming winner was Arthur Bryant's Barbeque, which promised to be an authentic Kansas City Barbeque experience. I elected to go to the original location( after experiencing the disaster that is Dreamland BBQ in Atlanta) and was not disappointed. When pulling up to a humble brick building in the middle of nowhere, with a paved bus lot next to it for the hungry masses, you know you are in for something good.
Firefly's
An honest-to-god bbq joint in the Boston suburbs! Seriously.
Firefly's is a fantastic taste of the deep south located in Marlborough, Mass. From pulled pork, ribs, brisket, great fried chicken, authentic southern apps (fried pickles, cracklin' bread were our favorites), tasty sides. Its really a fantastic joint. Of particular note is that they have an entire range of sauces available that attempt to mimic regional flavors:
Memphis = classic, tangy tomato based
North Carolina = vinegary and spicy (my personal favorite)
South Carolina = Mustard based
Texas = smoky
Gates Bar-BQ
This was my first experience with real Kansas City ribs, and it was a wake-me-up introduction to a salty, spicy hot rub that was almost too shocking to adjust to. But it was good stuff. Gates has several locations around Kansas City, and online reviews say the quality varies from place to place.
Henry's Smokehouse
Henry's is a place I used to pass all the time growing up, but we never really ate much takeout barbecue at the house. Now, though, it's a great treat to stop by Henry's when I'm in Greenville. They've got a good sandwich, and the place smells great. It's convenient to downtown and the Wade Hampton area.
Big T Barbecue
I hope somebody in Columbia can tell me if Big T is still open. They were out on Garners Ferry Road in the strip shopping center where the old Wal-Mart used to be, and I think they had another location somewhere. I used to go over there for some great 'cue, and they had a good fried catfish, too. Let me know if I can leave it up here--leave a review, fellow Sandlappers.
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