Best in Atlanta
 

Fat Matt's is just the kind of dump you'd expect top notch BBQ from if you're ever in Atlanta. Don't wear your suit there... ;)

My all-time favorite, make sure you take a tour of the smoker at the IL restaurant! I also have to put in a vote for Dinosaur Barbecue in Syracuse, NY and I'm surprised no one mentioned Corky's in Memphis.

Dreamland
 

Dreamland in Tuscaloosa/Birmingham

http://www.bhamdining.com/Reviews/review_dreamland.html

My all-time favorite, make sure you take a tour of the smoker at the IL restaurant! I also have to put in a vote for Dinosaur Barbecue in Syracuse, NY and I'm surprised no one mentioned Corky's in Memphis.

The Dino is where it's at for WNY....
 

You've got my vote for Dinosaur - that place is great. I haven't been to the one in SYR but ROC's got one too that's just amazing BBQ.

^ ^ ^ ^

Shorty's in Miami
 

Shorty's is the real thing. It's not in trendy South Beach, but in residential/shopping/plain old South Miami, US 1, South Dixie Hwy. It's been there forever and it's the best.

Prior thread on this same topic, with lots of suggestions (and of course dissention):

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=309405

As mentioned in the above thread, Wise's BBQ in Jalapa, SC (about 3 miles from I-26, and absolutely worth the detour unless you detest a mustard based BBQ sauce) has by far the best sauce I have tasted. $7 all you can eat, incl. ribs and tea. FWIW, I believe Wise's predates the Columbia area spots with similar sauce (including Piggy Park).

That would be the 8 pages of Southern BBQ listings here: http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=309405

Some droolishious reading. :)

just noticed that TRRed hyperlinked the same thread ^

Free Speech
 

I totally disagree with Bessinger's viewpoint. But what does that have to do with really good BBQ and is he not entitled to his views under the First Amendment?

It has nothing to do with really good BBQ, which Maurice's is; but the First Amendment doesn't apply since it's not the government that's trying to censor him, it's private citizens deciding that as a way of showing their disagreement with him, they won't buy his products.

I'm somwhat surprised that no one has mentioned Virgil's, just off of Times Square (NYC), almost in front of the Marriott Marquis. For NYC, it's surprisingly good food and much better prices than most of the places in the area that have waiter/waitress service.

FYI, It has been mentioned a bunch in the NYC forum. Yes there is a NYC BBQ thread.

Without a doubt, it's Starnes BBQ in Paducah, KY. The place looks the same as it did in the '50s (not that I was there) - formica counters, stools, old time Pepsi bottles. The specialty is the pork shoulder but I also get the mutton sandwich when I'm there. OMG, think it's time for another 12 hour drive for me to load up! :p

He is fully entitled to his views.

I am equally entitled to eat elsewhere.

My vote goes to the "McRib", currently available only in Germany I believe.