BBQ joints from Tampa to Gainesville

[Little T.]

Some friends and myself are taking a trip to Gainesville and would like to stop at as many BBQ places as we can along the way - max 45 minutes from I-75.

Already planned is a trip to Newberry outside of G-ville:

Newberry Backyward BBQ
http://www.backyardbarbq.com/

Suggestions are appreciated!

[Podie1956]

Newberry's Backyard BBQ is far and away the best BBQ in the North Central Florida area. Personally I've never understood the popularity of David's. It's true the Sonny's on Waldo Road was the first one, but the only Sonny's STILL owned by the original Sonny is the one in Alachua at Exit 399 on I-75. It is the best Sonny's I've ever been to, and second best around here, after Newberry's Backyard BBQ.

[steakman55]

Drive from Gainesville to Williston and eat at Frog's. It will be on your right as you enter town. It is not toward Tampa but is worth a trip.

[Big Bad Voodoo Lou]

My friends in Brandon say that First Choice Barbecue is the best in the Tampa area. You probably know them already, but the place is right off exit 60 to I-75:
http://www.firstchoicebbq.com/

Once you get to Gainesville, I remember David's Real Pit Barbecue being pretty good, and they have a great (if gimmicky) collection of hot sauces:
http://www.davidsbbq.com/index.htm

Then again, during my years at UF, we all really loved Sonny's to get our BBQ fix. I know Chowhounds often have negative opinions of Sonny's because it's a chain and all that, but you could get some historical perspective on your barbecue tour by eating at the original Sonny's location, on Waldo Road in Gainesville:
http://www.sonnysbbq.com/pages/LSP001...