May is National Barbecue Month, and with the long holiday weekend ahead, there's still plenty of time to make the smoky most of it.
For moi, the mere thought of hours spent over hot smoke, slow-cooking for family and friends while real-feel temperatures hit 100, is sweat-inducing.A preferred solution for moist andtender vittles: Let Southwest Florida’s pit pros do the work for you.
Our handy guide tothe region’s barbecuefavorites includes several previously reviewed BBQ joints fromour critics. We also feature new spots and food-truck finds listed alphabetically by city.
Pro tip: You can’t delay great barbecue. Feed your craving early in the daybecause when items sell out, you'll have to wait until the next visit.
Best Bonita Springs BBQ restaurants
Buffalo Chips: While this quirky and long-beloved dive is rightly known for its wings, some othertasty things are coming out of this smokehouse: honey-glazed baby back ribs;thin-sliced brisket; pulled pork smoked over hickory and cherry woods. Tack on some collard greens, beans and cornbread, and you have a barbecue feast. (26620 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs;239-947-1000;buffalochipsrestaurant.tv)
Smokin R's BBQ: Juicy chicken, pulled pork riddled with smoky bark, pink-ringed ribs that tug gentlyfrom the bone— this place checks all the most delicious barbecue boxes. Including the extra-credit bonus box for lusciouslygooey, smoked macaroni and cheese. Seating is limited and when dishes run out, they're outtill the next day. Smokin R's is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Saturday.(27792 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs;239-348-9555)
FROM 2018:Smoky, charred, great: Smokin R's BBQ checks all the boxes — JLB
Best Cape Coral, Matlacha and Pine IslandBBQ restaurants
Beach Brothers BBQ: This former brick-and-mortar restaurant has transitioned to a food truck and catering operationthat makes stops in neighborhoods and breweries from Cape Coral to south Fort Myers. From rib tips and pulled pork to the occasional brisket and all-around excellent sides, this is a truck worth finding — or hiring. (615-579-9852;facebook.com/beachbrosbbq)
Big 8 BBQ: Its pitmaster goes by the name Jiles — like Madonna or Beyoncébut with meat. Jilessmokes his brisket over mesquite wood for 14 hours, till it transforms from a slab of beef into something wobbly, juicy and crusted with luscious bark. "I've never met Jiles, but I hope he never leaves me," one of our critics noted in a December 2020 review.(1217 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral;239-205-6689;big8bbq.com)
REVIEW:Big 8 BBQ, Big Storm Brewing prove big is bountiful in Cape— JLB
Fine Swine: A newcomer to Pine Island, this porky paradise has taken over the former Saltwater Smokehouse space. It's garnering rave reviews for its smoked pork, brisket and wings, but also for its burgers, Gulf shrimp, steaks and friendly service. (10251 Stringfellow Road, St. James City;239-282-8811;fineswine.com)
Texas Tony’s Rib & Brewhouse:Two locations in Naples and Cape Coral serveTexas-style everything, including Texas jalapeno-cheddar sausage, Texas chili and"The Texan," beef brisket on Texas toast topped with slaw, pickles, onion and barbecue sauce. (738 SW Pine Island Road, Cape Coral; 239-347-7033; texastonys.com)
That BBQ Place: Located across Pine Island Road from Blue Dog Bar & Grillin a lime-green building that practically screams MATLACHA!, this BBQ Place offers many of the usuals (brisket, pork, ribs, turkey), plus smoked meatloaf stuffed with mozzarella and more than a half-dozen sides. (4590 Pine Island Road, Matlacha;239-312-8557;thatbbqplace.com)
Best Fort Myers and North Fort Myers BBQ restaurants
Big Nick's BBQ:"We cook everything fresh for that day's service. That's the old-fashioned way, the way they do things in Texas and Kansas City," Big Nick's founder and Fort Myers native, Tim Fisk, said in February. "In Florida, though, especially Southwest Florida,it's pretty unique. It's taken people here some time to understand how we operate, why that freshness makes such a huge difference." It only took us a few bites. Big Nick's opened in January, but it's already become a local favorite. (takeout only, no seating;9211 Cypress Lake Drive, south Fort Myers;239-204-2498;bignicksbbq.com)
REVIEW:Big Nick's BBQ brings old-fashioned barbecue to Fort Myers — JLB
Big D's BBQ at Farmers Market Restaurant: Pit master Mark "Big David" Anderson is the man behind these ribs, this chicken, thisturkey, brisket and pork. He parks the truck outside the 70-year-old Farmers Market Restaurant,where you can grab his 'cue to-go or sit down to enjoy it with a side of the restaurant's famous hospitality. (2736 Edison Ave., Fort Myers;239-334-1687;farmersmarketrestaurant.com/big-d-s-bbq; on Memorial Day the truck will be at Cape Coral Hospital at 11 a.m.)
Deep Down South BBQ: Calling this massive trailer a "barbecue truck" is selling chef-owner Albert Houston short. This is a full-scale restaurant on wheels. One with smoky rib tips, spice-dusted blue crabs and some of the best banana pudding anywhere. (3500 Fowler St., Fort Myers;239-332-1227;deepdownsouthbbq.com)
Jonesez BBQ: These longtime local food trucks recently added a brick-and-mortar takeout location to their ever-growing lineup. Go for the smoky spare ribs and pulled pork, stay for Vickie Jones's mouthwatering sides, her cornbread and her decadent desserts. (13438 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers;239-226-6262;jonesezbbq.com)
FROM JANUARY:Restaurant news: Jonesez BBQ opens Fort Myers takeout spot
McCarter's BBQ: This little spot has no signage, no seating, no air conditioning. What it does have: beautifully slow-smoked ribs and chicken served with slices of white bread in simple boxes that you'll want to tear into as soon as humanly possible. (2675 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers;239-645-3468)
Mission BBQ: Yes, this is a chain. And yes, it has dozens of locations up and down the Eastern Seaboard and deep into the Midwest. But it also has very good barbecue, including a surprisingly excellent barbecued salmon and some of the most consistent brisket you're going to find in this area. (12984 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers;239-603-6700;mission-bbq.com)
Smoke'n Pit Bar B Que: This North Fort Myers jointis a classic, known as much for its sweet tea and vittles bar as it is for its smoky pulled pork. The ribs are OK, the sliced beef is meh. But the quick, down-home service — everyone's called hun, and everyone gets a giant to-go cup of teawhen they leave— makes up for any shortcomings. (1641 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers; 997-7982;smokenpitbbq.com)
Naples BBQ favorites
Black Eyed Pig: The owners call themselves "connoisseurs of fine 'cue." The restaurant(closed May 29-30)serves classic Southern barbecue featuring fried okra and three varieties of ribs: dry rubbed, St. Louis and baby back. (5307 Shirley St., Naples; 239-593-5006; blackeyedpig.com)
Fuse BBQ: “Pulled pork, brisket, ribs, wings and thick-cut wild boar chops are slow-smoked and never pre-sauced. St. Louis-style ribs with edges were riddled with char and dry-rub, the meat tugging gently away from the bone,” said our critic back in 2018.(2500 Tamiami Trail N., Naples;239-529-5173;fusegastrobar.com)
Gator Creek BBQ: Chef Chris Renninghoff and his family run this popular food truck that goes way beyond gator. Weekly locations are posted on itsFacebookpage, the fastest way to get your barbecue questions answered.(239-821-0937; gatorcreekbbqnaples.com)
Herb’s Special Catering & Best BBQ: You’ll find Chef Herb Small at Peace Lutheran Church every Saturday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Calling is requiredfor other days-of-the-week barbecue cravings.(the church is at 9850 Immokalee Road, Naples; 239-821-6902; herbsbarbq.com)
Industry Beer & BBQ: Our critic was delighted by her November 2020 visit, where everything on the popular meat-and-three plateswas made in-house. Her take: “Really, they should call it the meat-and-six, because you’re just going to order everything anyway.” (449 Bayfront Place, Naples;239-331-4160; industrybeerandbbq.com)
REVIEW:
Nawty Hogg Backyard BBQ: Since our 2019 review, Nawty Hogg moved to a new North Naples location. Our critic describedit as "smoky, creative and surprisingly delicious." (Galleria Shops, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, North Naples; 239-260-5185 nawtyhoggbbq.com)
Off the Bone BBQ + Ribhouse: Off the Bone's four varieties of sauces are “the stars of the show," our critic said in a 2020 review. A new Estero location is expected to open this summer at University Village Shops.(2236 Logan Blvd. N., Naples; 239-631-5770;otbribs.com)
MORE:JLB's best of 2021: 14 restaurants that impressed from Naples to Estero to Punta Gorda
Texas Tony’s Rib & Brewhouse:As with the Cape Coral location, thisoriginal Texas Tony's in East Naples also serves Texas-style everything, as it has since opening here in 2010.(4519 Tamiami Trail E., Naples;239-732-8392;texastonys.com)
On the swell-egant side
Catch of the Pelican: Naples Grande Beach Resort's restaurant hosts a barbecue brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 29. Reservations must be booked on OpenTable. Prices do not include gratuity or tax: $69 for adults, $35 for kids under 12, and free for tots under 5. (475 Seagate Drive, Naples; 239-597-3232;naplesgrande.com)
T-Michaels Steak & Lobster House: Friday baby back ribs specials includebeans, slaw and fries, and areon the menu allsummer. (4050 Gulfshore Blvd., Naples; 239-261-0622; t-michaels.com)
Jean Le Boeuf is the brand under which our restaurant critics have written for more than 40 years. This articlecame from staff writers Diana Biederman and Annabelle Tometich. Follow our critics as@JeanLeBoeuf onTwitterandInstagram.
