For a chain, I like Sticky Fingers. They are mostly in SC, but gradually expanding into a few other states. I've eaten at their restaurants in CHS and HHH. I was happy to find their sauces at local grocery nearby my home and use it for making ribs.

^ for Rudy's. When I spent a lot of time working on the north side of Austin Rudy's would be a regular lunch stop alog with the penthouse club. :D

I don't think I've ever had really good chain BBQ. Tony Roma's and Damon's are passable, but perhaps I live in the wrong part of the country.

Then again, many foods don't lend themselves kindly to chain treatment - such as Chinese.

Mike

This BBQ stuff is so subjective.
Some like dry rub some don't.
Some like sweet some like spicy.

I don't like large chains of any type of food.
Lucilles BBQ is only 6 stores in So Cal but for a chain they are quite decent. I like my BBQ SPICY HOT!! I never even liked BBQ until a couple of years ago when I was in Kansas City.

http://www.lucillesbbq.com/

On occasion, the ribs from Outback have been good, but quality has varied from very good to pretty bad, even from the same location.

Oh man, after reading this now i need to go get some ribs for dinner tonight!

For a chain, my vote goes to Famous Daves. The Brisket is delicious!

http://www.famousdaves.com/

It's a local chain here in NJ, but it is ***REALLY GOOD*** -- Big Ed's BBQ. All you can eat ribs, all the time!

Well, I now have my reference points for BBQ as practiced in the USA, having spent the past weekend in Kansas City. Suffice to say, I both agree and disagree with various of the posts, but thank everyone for their contributions. As we all know, taste is a very personal thing, but in many ways it is wonderful that we don't all agree all the time.

In my case, I did not find the perfect BBQ experience in a single spot, though I did find some good reference points. I stuck to ribs, which is my pet indulgence. So here goes -- all by the way, washed down with Boulevard Pale or Belgian Flat Tire ales -- my impressions.

GATES had the best sauce, albeit a long way from the best I've had in my limited experience. Their hotter version beats the regular. Unfortunately, I found their rub too intense and while acceptable, a bit overpowering.

ARTHUR BRYANT'S is just about everything it is advertised to be. Here I prefered the rub and the meat, and found both version of their sauce to be lacking any kick.

The all round loser -- save for my dining companion -- was JACK'S STACK SMOKEHOUSE. Characterless sause, moderately good rub on the mixed platter of pork, beef and lamb ribs.

I particularly want to thank mwp2paris for his notes over on the SPG forum to my querry.

Chicago BBQ
 

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

All this talk of BBQ and no mention of Chicago.

Hecky's BBQ - in Evanston but the best rib tips in the world. Try the Links.

Lems BBQ - 311 E 75th, Chicago or on 59th street.

there are other good BBQ places in chicago but not this good.

I concur
 

Famous Dave's is the best....those rib tips...yum.....I'm miss the one in Uptown Minneapolis.....hum...wonder if there's one in the DC area.....thanks for the website....

Hecky's
 

So being a Northwestern alum...I very much miss Hecky's and their rib tips....by far the best BBQ....

Hecky's trivia:

Northwestern named one of its email servers after Hecky's "@hecky.acns.nwu.edu"

Mayor of Evanston bet the Mayor of Pasadena (or LA) a meal shipped from the best restaurant for the winning mayor's staff when NU played USC in the Rose Bowl in 1996. Unfortunately, lots of people ate Heckys shortly after the game.

Luther's BBQ is pretty darn good Q for a large chain (in Texas and Louisiana), IMHO.

Rudy's! Rudy's! Rudy's!

I love their extra lean brisket! and their Sause is Boss

i like rudy's sauce too
 

one of my college roomies made off with the Rudy's sauce recipe during a summer job there; suffice it to say, his bbqs were pretty solid thereafter.