130878 Thu Sep 04 09:23:43 -0700 2003 4 10 Florida 0 707419 I've got to be in Ft. Lauderdale for a couple days end of the month, and I need to know who's got the best BBQ. I'm looking for either Kansas style or Texas style....no Carolina vinegar. What's the best Mom&Pop BBQ joint around? Thu Sep 04 09:23:43 -0700 2003 0 Seadog92 1 707421 IMO, you're looking for the wrong (dry rub) kind of barbecue in Fort Lauderdale. Most of the 'cue in town is made by Florida natives (whose style is Southeastern) and by transplants from other parts of the Southeast. The only explicitly Texas-style 'cue I know of around here is Charlie's, on Federal Highway in Dania (5-10 minutes south of Fort Lauderdale) and in my opnion it's nothing great and the sides can be pretty bad. I should note that some other people on here like his meat a lot, so maybe it'll work for you. Just because I don't know of other Texas-style joints doesn't mean they aren't around; I'm pretty ignorant of the style. If it's just a matter of wanting meat that you can get served reasonably dry and a sauce that's not mustard-based, the best bet overall is probably Tom Jenkins (on Federal just north of Davie Blvd.) followed by the 50+ year-old Georgia Pig (on 441 just south of Davie Blvd.), both of which use wood-fired open pits and put out very smoky meat and do chopped, not pulled, pork. You might also like the anomalous (and neo-Texan?) Mrs. Smokey's, way out west in the burbs on the ring road around the Sawgrass Mills mall. Their meat's a bit drier and still smoky, and their sauces are thicker and hotter. The place is a little gimmicky inside, though. Ernie's, which has table service, is a half mile south of Tom Jenkins. Since being taken over by the owners of the Floridian diner, it's still popular especially with the Florida old-boy network and is decent, but it's not really my thing. Jack's Smokehouse (on the 500 block of E. Oakland Park Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale) is one of my favorites and somehow seems to be getting even better, but I don't think it's what you're looking for. All of the above are best for pork (ribs or otherwise) and chicken. For beef or links (where they even do them) you're on your own, though. Some folks here have said nice things about Charlie's, and I think Jack's does all right with sausage, but personally I wouldn't bother with beef anywhere around here. Right now there's no roadside 'cue I can recommend wholeheartedly; my two most recent favorites are either AWOL (Big Smoke) or homeless and wandering the streets. Noble Jr.'s at Sunrise and Powerline is acceptable; Carousel, right across the street, is not. YMMV. Thu Sep 04 11:02:09 -0700 2003 707419 0 s.m. koppelman 2 707422 Thanks for the info!!! I guess what I'm looking for is wet/spicy. Tom Jenkins sounds familiar, but I'll be there for a couple days, so I'll try out two or three of the spots you mentioned. Thu Sep 04 13:43:56 -0700 2003 707421 0 seadog92 3 707447 You can also try Scruby's at Pines Blvd. and 441 and Shorty's further north on 441 at Sterling. Shorty's can be a little uneven but they have a nice unsweet sauce served warm on the side. I personally don't even bother w/barbecued beef anywhere but in Texas where they use brisket exclusively. In most other places they tend to use beef round, which turns out way too dry. Steve is right--in Florida and the rest of the South, the hog is where it's at. I'm in DC now and I sure miss the smoky succulence of Tom Jenkins spare ribs and chopped pork. Sat Sep 06 13:10:51 -0700 2003 707422 0 flavrmeistr 4 708135 Although we're currently in Florida, we live in the DC area. Firstly Jenkins has great chicken and ribs. Being a purist, I prefer my sauce on the side. Speaking of sides, don't miss their collard greens, they are superb. Their coleslaw and beans are very good as well. My intention is to try at least one more of the places that have been recommended. I would strongly recommend the Mighty Midget in Leesburg, VA. Great shoulder and ribs (only Friday night & Saturday). He has won awards from MIM. As an aside, I am both a MIM and a KCBS certified judge. Fri Oct 31 16:20:40 -0800 2003 707447 0 bbqtraveler