My new favorite BBQ is Brother's BBQ in Denver.

You can smell the restaurant a block away.

Good God man, you live in freaking Texas. Well, El Paso, but still, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING ;)

I am stuck in Port Huron, Michigan

We were discussing ribs at work, and I was telling them about the Charles Vergos' Rendevous ribs and then I see those in the menu, and I thought, what a wonderful coincidence.

Big mistake

I can't believe that no one has mentioned T.J.'s Ribs in Baton Rouge (near the LSU Campus)! St. Louis Baby Backs that LITERALLY fall off the bone! (They really do! On my last trip I turned over the bone, and the meat really fell off!)

I usta go there on a number of occasions when I was married to my first wife, who's from that area. Since we've been divorced I've pretty much avoided that part of the country.

But just recently went through that area a few months ago (first time since 1991). And the ribs are just as good as ever!!!!

Best ribs in the U.S.A.!!! However, I'll be going to Memphis in a couple weeks, so I'll post if I find anything better (though I doubt it!).

Tastes vary, but in a barbeque contest you'd get marked down for that. The perfect rib will be tender, with a little bit of chew. It should come off the bone easily, but not fall off. Taking a bite should leave the rest of the meat on the bone. Pressing on the meat will not produce any grease, yet it will still be moist. A pink smoke ring should be evident, but the smoke taste should not be overwhelming.

A rib that falls off the bone when you turn it over can indicate that it's been sitting in a steam table for a long time.

Barbeque "experts" are as picky about Q as some people get about wine.

I <3 BBQ, so I'll add my 2 pennies:

Texas Pit in Saginaw, TX. Right down the street from my house. The meat is fantastic, but the potato salad sucks. Their fries are made from scratch and incredible, though.

Mike Anderson's, in Dallas off Harry Hines.

Golden Rule, Birmingham, AL. Best pulled pork I've ever had.

Elmer's in Tulsa, OK, which unfortunately closed a couple years ago. They had a "sandwich" they called the Bad-Wich, which was a serving of all the meats on a bun (including a rib).

Dickey's, IMO, is the most consistent chain in Texas. Will never be as good as most independents, but reliable. I've eaten at many of them, and have never had bad 'Q.

Burbank's in Cincinnati, OH, was quite good many years ago, but quality seems to have fallen off beginning in the late 90's. I personally believe it was probably due to mismanagement and trying to aggressively grow the brand and open more restaurants too fast. All but the original have closed.

Finally, people seem to rave about Cousin's in Fort Worth, but I don't think it is all that.

Somehow double posted????

Elmer's is definitely still open (It's on Peoria). The best in Tulsa, and one of the best in the US IMHO.

I make no claim to have read all the posts here so sorry if some one else has mentioned this. I make no claims that these are the best but they are good. In the CLT airport the BBQ place in the main atrium is very good. Also approx 4 miles from the airport on Wilkenson Blvd(going toward town) is the Smokehouse BBQ. It will be on the left.
P.S. Smokehouse has a great breakfast & great service.

Anyone have any opinion on BBQ in Florida? (Esp. Tampa, Orlando, SW Coast?)

Sonny's?

Sonny Bryan's in Dallas; Salt Lick near Austin and Memphis Championship in Vegas are my favorites.

^^^^^I did not read all 16 pages in this thread but I will say Salt Lick just west of Austin is the best. Hands down. We are done here. :D

Having been to Salt Lick a few times, as well as several of the others on the list I can only say, nah ;)

No worries. More room for the coolers of beer. :D

Interesting. Was it ever closed? I heard a report from my former co-workers shortly after I left that job in 2004 that when they went to TUL and wanted to make the semi-annual pilgrimage to Elmer's that it was closed...