Here are the five top spots in which to order the most mouthwatering charred meats in Ireland – Tuck in!
Now that the schools are back and summer is drawing to a close, the prospect of a barbecue feast as one last hurrah is a tempting thing indeed. Optimistic talk of an Indian summer aside, the great thing about these restaurants is that you can enjoy the seductively summery taste of charred food, whatever the weather.
Mister S, Dublin 2
While it is not specifically barbeque, food cooked over fire is what the folks at Mister S excel at. You won’t find slaw, corn on the cob or the usual BBQ sides on the menu, but that will be of little consequence when you are tucking into a mammoth charred pork chop coated in a sticky glaze, smoked beef short rib with chimichurri or the charred octopus with baby potatoes and saffron aioli. www.misters.ie
Pitt Bros BBQ, Dublin 2
Pitt Bros is the stuff that food coma dreams are made of and the term ‘rib sticking’ could certainly have been coined for this menu, which, incidentally, is on the meat heavy side. And I mean heavy. Think brisket, sausage, ribs and pulled pork cooked low and slow and served with a range of sides including burnt end beans, slaw, corn on the cob, mac n cheese and bone marrow mash. And that’s just for lunch. www.pittbrosbbq.com
White Rabbit Bar and BBQ, Cork
On Cork’s McCurtain Street, White Rabbit Bar and BBQ is the place to go for all things barbeque related. Meat plates come with two sides and the options include pork (pulled, belly, bacon or ribs), wings, hot sausage links and beef brisket while the brunch menu has a mac daddy grilled cheese with smoked bacon on toasted sourdough that would no doubt kill or cure anyone of a delicate constitution. You can also pick up a bottle of their signature barbeque sauce or smoked butter to take home while you’re at it. www.whiterabbit.ie
My Meat Wagon, Dublin 7
The premise at the highly rated barbeque smoke joint My Meat Wagon is simple – they serve up Texas style smoked meats with an Irish twist. The menu consists of a choice of 3 meats, beef, pork or fowl served in either bread (i.e. as a burger), in a box with sides, or on a board with sides and with sharing options. The sides include all the barbeque greatest hits such as fries, beans, slaw potato salad and corn. www.mymeatwagon.ie
Elbow Lane Brew and Smokehouse, Cork
Boasting perhaps a slightly more refined, but no less flavourful smoke saturated menu, Elbow Lane in Cork has a selection of dishes that read like a dream. Go for the wood fired steak, the pork tomahawk, or the whole grilled fish of the day with chermoula mussels, and stay for the smoked potatoes, the blue cheese creamed greens or indeed, the beer from the brew house. You can also buy the house dry rub to recreate the deliciousness at home. www.elbowlane.ie.