I've had the good fortune to have lived next to Red Hot 'n Blue in Laurel, MD, and to have lived a within a mile of the original Jack Stack Barbecue in Kansas City. (Jack Stack is rated #1 in the US for BBQ by Zagat's). Those are true smoked BBQ joints - with their specialties and +/-s (Pulled Pork and nachos at RHB; Burnt Ends and Beans at Jack Stack). This place doesn't smoke the meat - you can tell when there is no smoke rising and no hickory smell as you approach. The music may be decent, which would make for a great BAR, but the food is NOT BBQ. The baked beans had no meat (try Jack Stack's!) and were obviously warmed in the microwavve; the pork was pedestrian. On an upbeat note, the onion ring stack was unique with strong cajun seasoning flavor and the ""sour green beans"" were also unique; neither was particularly tasty, but at least they did not seem like a run of the mill Applebees or Chilis offering. \r
Bottom line - go here for standard food - but this ain't Barbecue, it ain't Memphis style, and sure as all get out ain't smoked.
Cons: not smoked + not memphis style + not barbecue = NOT GOOD BBQ
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