Need Charleston BBQ help!

I can't make it up to Sweatman's, so I need the scoop on a local BBQ joint in Charleston. What's good & what's not? Can anyone help?

[kencitadel]

Bessingers (Thomas on Highway 17 south) is much better than sweatmans
sweatmans is a waste of time/gas/ money

[bbqdawg]

Wow, never heard that sentiment expressed before. I've never been to Bessinger's, so I can't compare, but I have been to Sweatman's and thought it was fantastic. What about Sweatman's did you not like, and in what ways is Bessinger's better?

[Sue in Mt P]

I know! I'll take Sweatman's any day. I like real wood smoke. Nobody in town can cook on wood. Mamma Brown's in Mt. P. has the pepper vinegar sauce I grew up loving, so that's where I go when Sweatman's is closed.

mama brown's, mt pleasant

Without question, the best BBQ in the Charleston area is Mr B's -- right across the bridge on Coleman Boulevard in Mt. Pleasant. It is a buffet style where you pick your own meat and there are about 20 sides to chose from.

Melvin's is tasty, but it is a fast food type setup. Mr B's is the real thing.

Bessinger's can be very, very good, although not in Sweatman's league. They're in a class by themselves...
Avoid Carey Hillard's and any Duke's.

Bessinger's Barbecue House
1602 Savannah Hwy. (US Hwy 17 S)
Charleston, SC
843-556-1354

I've been to this Bessinger's, run by Thomas, and liked it better than brother Maurice's. The sauce was not nearly as cloying. They have a dinner buffet that looked good -- I was a few minutes late to be able to try it, which was probably a good thing, since it looked like you couldn't get out of there without an intake of at least 10,000 calories. :>)

I think the other Bessingers, Robert and Melvin, also have bbq joints in the Charleston area.