John Brown Smokehouse
25-08 37th Ave Long Island City

…John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City. Their tagline is “serious barbecue” and it shows in many ways. This hole-in-the-wall is really in the middle of nowhere in an industrial area of northern LIC between an auto body shop and a fenced in parking lot. But, believe me, it is well worth the trek for some of the best barbecue in all of New York City. Their $8 pulled pork sandwich was pilled high with succulent chunks of smoked pork to which I added the housemade ghost pepper sauce for a perfect kick. The round roll wasn’t soggy and held up very well. Spud and I also shared a $12 platter of their signature burnt ends with excellent vinegar-based cole slaw and 2 slices of thick white bread to sopp it all up. We could barely finish our lunch and only spent $10 each. There is no other place in NYC with this exceptional quality and extremely low prices. This place is authentic, which means it’s not the slick decor and fancy flavored BBQ that you might find in Williamsburg. When they run out of meat for the day, that’s when they close. John Brown Smokehouse is my first exciting find of 2012. It is exceptional and I can’t wait to return for more. If you don’t trust me,  the New York Times review is excellent, and it’s even included in their top 10 list of their best inexpensive restaurants of 2011.

Pies -n- Thighs
166 S. 4th Street (Driggs), Williamsburg, Brooklyn

With one of the best names for an eatery, a smart, reasonably-priced menu, a desirable Williamsburg corner, and a menu of comfort foods, Pies -n- Thighs is a definite winner. The lunch and dinner menu is loaded with barbecue and fried chicken dishes, but Spud and I thought it would be fun to try a decadent brunch here. The wait was only a few minutes and we were seated in the more spacious back room. We passed on the pie and started with a very good fresh vanilla donut ($2) and then moved on to two dishes showcasing the chicken and barbecue. The chicken & waffles ($10) was really good. I usually think of it as a novelty dish, but the proportions of salty and sweet (and optionally spicy) were just right. The smoked pork hash and eggs ($10) was also exceptionally comforting. While the old location with an outdoor grill under the Bridge was one-of-a-kind, with this location you will get a seat and a much more extensive menu.

The Mason Jar oozes comfort, especially in a young, male kinda way. It’s a sports bar combined with a Southern/BBQ joint, but pulls it off without being the least bit obnoxious. Don’t think Brother Jimmy’s, think of a wood-paneled restaurant with really good comfort classics, a great mature beer list, a large bar, and plenty of tv’s. We arrived during a rowdy after work Thursday bar crowd, but sat at a wooden booth in the back, and had a great, relaxing dinner. The menu is like a comfort food greatest hits selection: mac & cheese, wings, chicken pot pie, pulled pork, beer can chicken. We shared the Chicken Fried Steak over mashed potatoes and green beans ($19) and the Pretzel Burger ($13): Pretzel roll with bacon, jalapeno beer mustard, lettuce, tomato & American cheese. I preferred the burger, and Spud the steak, but that could be due to what each of us ate first, because both were delicious. The steak was thick, yet extremely tender and the coating soft and melty. The burger had a huge shot of flavor with the smokey bacon, grilled beef, spicy beer mustard, and cheese, which would have been overwhelming, but the ingenious pretzel roll acted as an umbrella, encased all the flavors, and delivered a fantastic burger. I hope everything on the menu is as great as our selections.

The Mason Jar isn’t cheap eats, but it is pure fun for a couple or group of friends. Men will love this place, and women, if they enjoy quality comfort food, will be just as satisfied.

Just from hearing the name, I had some doubts about MexiQ, but it turns out to be a good find. Mexican and BBQ, two comfort food giants, do have a lot in common. They both rely on bold flavors and sauces, both concentrate on pork and chicken, and both go exceedingly well with beer. The owners are certainly aware of that last point and devote one side of the eatery to a large bar. Even with waterfalls and windows of fire (seriously), this place is still warm and inviting. We were very comfortable at brunch in a big booth. We ordered the chicken quesadilla and the omelette with corn, a Mexican type mushroom, cheese and potatoes. Both were solid items, but not very memorable. MexiQ is obviously about contrived “fusion” versions of food people like to eat. Nothing here is authentic and remarkable, but I imagine that it is a good place to hang with friends, watch some games and eat something else besides wings and potato skins. For an extra $7 with brunch they have an *unlimited* beer special. So I think despite its faults, MexiQ knows its clientele and on 30th Ave right below Steinway, it will do well.

While in Fort Greene to film a Diner Cakes episode, we needed some quality grub to match the incredible red velvet cake we were anxiously awaiting at Cake Man Raven. Well we found it at The Smoke Joint. It’s really a neighborhood place and doesn’t try to compete with the Manhattan mega BBQ empires, like Hill Country, Blue Smoke, and Dinosaur. You can actually get a quality, normal-size portion of BBQ for a fair price. We had the pulled pork and the chopped barbecue chicken. The meat was tender and packed with flavor. The pork had the requisite acid of North Carolina pulled pork. Usually chicken can be blah, but this is apparently dipped in goldsmoke, and rivaled the pork. The mac & cheese was classic with a crispy top and gooey center. The 4 cheese blend held its own. Our friend Blair was pleased with the crispy catfish sandwich as well. I dig this joint and would return. Sometimes going for BBQ feels like too big of an event with high expectations and a $50 per person tab, but at the Smoke Joint you can have a tasty plate of meat and a beer anytime for under $20. Now that’s a good Tuesday night.

Cake Man Raven
708 Fulton Street, Brooklyn (Fort Greene)

Right down the road from the Smoke Joint is a little storefront serving the **Best Red Velvet Cake** I have ever consumed. Cake Man Raven is basically one big refrigerated case of red velvet. Yes, they have other cakes, but really the only decision here is nuts or no nuts on your fat slice. Raven “Cake Man” Dennis has made this cake quite famous. Traditionally a Southern dessert, Dennis, a native of Harlem has been making this it for 20 years. It is soft and creamy and everything Red Velvet Cake should be. Go get some and take it to go and sit on one of the beautiful stoops in the neighborhood for real Brooklyn atmosphere.

Again, as all of you know, I am not a big fan of the Upper East Side around Lexington. Its restaurants definitely lack good grubhub food and prices. My standards are different for this region of Manhattan, so I’ve found that when we find a place that serves great food, even if it’s a little more pricey than usual, we are shocked and pleasantly surprised. I think this has to do with the fact that you usually pay a lot more here for sub-standard eats.
We were recently very surprised with Smokin’ Q, a new Bar-B-Q joint. It’s really cute, with wooden benches and red and white checkered table clothes……you almost forget where you (almost, until you notice all of the button down shirts with sweaters and khaki-pantsed pinched-faced UES-ers) Now, it is not cheap, but you certainly get what you pay for. A large plate of BBQ with two sides and a drink will run you around $22-25, depending on what you order, and since you place an order at a counter, you do not have to pay the 20% tip for service. Also, the servings are quite large, so you can definitely comfortably get away with sharing a large BBQ plate.
The Hubster had the pulled pork and the BBQ shrimp with collard greens and potato salad. I indulged in BBQ brisket and pulled pork with mac -n- cheese and sweet potato mash. The portions were very large…..we both couldn’t finish the food, and not only that, it was GOOD…..real good, in fact. The brisket was some of the best I’ve ever had, with just the right amount of BBQ sauce and the pulled pork was moist and flavorful (albeit slightly fatty). The Hub’s shrimp was incredible…..large sized and perfectly grilled……and they gave 6 of them! The sides were tasty…..the collards were definitely vegetarian, which was slightly disappointing, the mac-n-cheese was creamy and well-baked, the potato salad had a nice mustardy sauce and the sweet potatoes were a bit bland, but a nice sweet addition to the meal.
We really hope this place makes it…..it was a nice respite from all of the other over-priced joints surrounding it! The owner was there immediately greeting us, and he seems like a real nice guy just trying to serve some BBQ! They also have a great $10 lunch deal which includes a BBQ sandwich, drink and side.