Smokin' Als Famous BBQ Joint
1 rating since posting on Wednesday, September 14, 2005
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Overall Rating based on 1 rating |
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In the sleepy town of Bay Shore, on the south shore of Long Island, a diamond of a barbeque house waits to be discovered; real midwestern-style barbeque that is a bit sweet, a bit spicy, and perfectly smoked. Sauces cling to the meat, they aren't poured over it. This isn't the vinegary North Carolina barbeque that most NY barbeque places serve - it's beyond anything you have had in NY before. Owner Al Horowitz has a gem of a barbeque joint here. It's obvious that he's done his homework. From the moment you walk in the door and smell the sweet smoke, you'll be hooked. The service is very attentive. The ambiance is quite noisy, so it wouldn't be a place for a romantic evening. You must be prepared for a wait - and on weekend evenings, a LONG wait, over an hour - and they don't take reservations. So if you can, go on a Saturday afternoon for lunch - the place was almost deserted when we walked in at 1:30. For appetizers, try the "burnt endz" - not really burnt at all, they are the very crispy crusted ends of the smoked brisket, served on a bed of Haystack Onions. And speaking of Haystack Onions: the appetizer of Haystack Onions (by themselves, not the portion with the endz) is HUGE! It's really enough for four. The ribs, whether beef or pork, are spectacular, and not just in taste. The beef ribs were so big I felt as though we were reenacting the opening of "The Flintstones," where the waitress at the drive-in brings out the oversized rack of bronto-ribs. The pork ribs were perfectly smoked, not too heavily, and they literally fell off the bone. Perfection. The pulled chicken was excellent, and the beef brisket was indicative of the chef's fine training in the art of 'que. The side dishes are fantastic: cole slaw; macaroni and cheese; collard greens; baked beans; garlic mashed potatoes, and much more, and all meals include a piece of mildly sweet cornbread that would do Texas proud. I didn't really want dessert, but my dining companion did, and the server's recommendations were the Mississippi Mud or the Pecan Pie. I wasn't in the mood for Mud, and since my Mom makes the world's best pecan pie that nothing else approaches, I really wasn't up for that either. But at the insistence of the server, we ordered the Pecan Pie. We weren't sorry. Honestly, it was as good as Mom's, and that is high praise. I would venture to say that you have never had Pecan Pie as good as this anywhere (unless you have been to my Mom's house). Five stars is a high rating, but this barbeque is worth it - and worth the drive. - Marc , posted 09/14/05 |
