Saw this on the Twitters from Big Game Boomer. The Best BBQ Joint in Every "Group of 5" College Town. App State = The Pedalin' Pig. I agree! We love their BBQ & Brisket. Their sauce selection is great too.

How sad of a town is Muncie Indiana (Ball State) if the best they have is Applebee's?

Mcdonalds for USF

AppBox wrote: ↑

Fri May 14, 2021 2:15 pm

How sad of a town is Muncie Indiana (Ball State) if the best they have is Applebee's?

That unfortunate fact about Muncie was my first thought as well. The "no BBQ in Logan" line for Utah State is funny, too.

NO.2 wrote: ↑

Fri May 14, 2021 2:40 pm

Mcdonalds for USF

That has to be a joke. There are good BBQ places in Tampa Bay - especially if you count Cuban style BBQ.

It makes me sad that the only places on that list I've been to are Rudy's (a Texas chain - it's not bad, but there are better BBQ places in DFW metro, surely there is one in the Denton area of the metro), Mission BBQ (which is my favorite BBQ national chain, I've actually been to the one in Annapolis for this list), and Doumars in Norfolk/ODU. But I've never had the BBQ at Doumars as I always thought of it as an ice cream place. (They claim to be the birthplace of the ice cream cone.)

I've never had what I would call better than "acceptable" BBQ north of Maryland or Missouri, or west of Texas. So the MAC and MWC are all probably sad.

But the saddest thing is everytime I plan a trip to Boone, I say "this time we're going to Pedalin Pig" and everytime we don't go for one reason or another.

I have to count Woodlands and Blowing Rock as part of the Boone Metro area.....The PP is just ok imo

The Old Hampton Store in Linville used to have really good BBQ too. The last time I was there they still served the sandwiches on sourdough rolls. Carolina BBQ in downtown Newland is pretty tasty as well.

P.S. Whoever did the original list of restaurants that started this post...I want their job! Would love to have been to all those towns and tried out the BBQ.

And CHARLOTTE.... Midwood Smokehouse on the Plaza and Macs Speedshop....

Rekdiver wrote: ↑

Fri May 14, 2021 3:50 pm

I have to count Woodlands and Blowing Rock as part of the Boone Metro area.....The PP is just ok imo

I don’t disagree but everyone should give Willie Brooks a taste!

If you havn`t tried Howard Station right across from Walker Hall they have some good BBQ. My wife and I have been several times and really like it. Will be a great spot during football season.

pop5app wrote: ↑

Fri May 14, 2021 5:56 pm

Rekdiver wrote: ↑

Fri May 14, 2021 3:50 pm

I have to count Woodlands and Blowing Rock as part of the Boone Metro area.....The PP is just ok imo

I don’t disagree but everyone should give Willie Brooks a taste!

My first trip to willie Brooks is tomorrow

The PP has a lively bar scene and it's a popular place, but the BBQ is just okay. I like the chicken thigh they do there. White Brothers is pretty good. Woodlands is hit and miss, but on a good day it's still the best.

can you explain "hit and miss" -

AppBox wrote: ↑

Fri May 14, 2021 2:15 pm

How sad of a town is Muncie Indiana (Ball State) if the best they have is Applebee's?

Have you been to Muncie?

I havnt seen Howard Station mentioned yet. My wife have been there several times and thought the BBQ was excellent and the service was great. Should be a great spot during football season since it is located just across the street from Walker Hall.

Very happy to see the Pig on this list. Woodlands still has a great atmosphere but the food quality has really tanked in recent years.

We'll definitely check out Howard Station...I've parked my whip on Depot St multiple times when dining at Cobo. Had no idea a good BBQ joint was so close by.

And what about Willie Brooks on 105? Seems like the parking lot is often full. But you never know these days...is it good BBQ or a regular special on $5 Natty Light pitchers?

Re: ODU...I've spent a LOT of time in the Tidewater area and Doumar's isn't what I'd consider a legit BBQ joint. It's more of a drive-in that happens to serve BBQ. The best BBQ up there is at Beach Bully, located on 19th St at Va Beach.

Took my first trip to Willie Brooks last night. Pretty good. As good as any I’ve had in the area.

AppfaninCAALand wrote: ↑

Fri May 14, 2021 3:23 pm

AppBox wrote: ↑

Fri May 14, 2021 2:15 pm

How sad of a town is Muncie Indiana (Ball State) if the best they have is Applebee's?

That unfortunate fact about Muncie was my first thought as well. The "no BBQ in Logan" line for Utah State is funny, too.

NO.2 wrote: ↑

Fri May 14, 2021 2:40 pm

Mcdonalds for USF

I've never had what I would call better than "acceptable" BBQ north of Maryland or Missouri, or west of Texas. So the MAC and MWC are all probably sad.

There are some really good Texas style joints in the Phoenix area. I've had brisket here that is on par with what I've had in Austin. There's decent pork out here, but nothing that resembles Eastern NC so I smoke my own and make my own sauce to remedy that.

I travel a lot and I've visited a couple of really solid BBQ joints in unexpected places:

KC's Rib Shack in Manchester, New Hampshire - the crown jewel of the entire menu is the "feedbag shovel," an assortment of ribs, pulled pork, smoked sausage, chicken and beef brisket served in a feed shovel (about the size of a legit snow shovel). Great flavor and the sides are good too.

Dinosaur BBQ - Newark, NJ - We were staying overnight in Newark and found this place. Located across from the Prudential Center and not too far from the train station. The place was packed at 3pm (what does that tell you?). Anyway, the BBQ was impressive and we couldn't believe the quality of the sides. Probably one of the last places in the US I would've expected to find a BBQ joint of any kind, much less a decent one.

Hill Country BBQ - Washington, DC - Located on 7th St NW, right around the corner from the Smithsonian, Library of Congress, etc. My son and I visited DC for a U2 concert back in 2017 and stumbled on this place while sightseeing. True Texas BBQ, and plenty of ice cold Shiner Bock to wash it all down. Pricey, though...it was around $25 a plate for lunch, if I remember correctly.

IMO excluding woodlands Boone BBQ is as follows

1A-Peddlin Pig
1B- Willie Brooks
2- Smokin J's BBQ food truck
3- Howard station

I tried Willie Brooks on Saturday. They were already out of Ribs and Brisket at 5:30. Had the smoked prime rib and it was excellent. The baked potato was huge and the side salad was decent. The wife had the smoked turkey, which had excellent flavor and the smoked mac-n-cheese was good as well.

Would like to see a little larger portions for the price, but it's good food.