Barbeque brings up
many images—slow cooked meats, tangy and spicy sauces.  Little country shacks that serve the best
ribs, and lots of sauce-covered napkins after the eating is all done.  Barbeque is one of the true traditional
American cuisines, and BBQ joints and restaurants can be found all over the
United States.  Yet, there are specific
regional varieties and flavors that a diner can choose from, and each restaurant
takes pride in how they are prepared, and overall in how they taste. 

Whether it’s Carolina BBQ with its
mustard-based sauce, Tennessee Dry Rub, or the thick, sweet sauce that is the
preferred choice in Kansas City, each region claims their version is the
best.  While they have many differences,
there are, however, just as many similarities with BBQ restaurants.

It’s all about the
food
When you think about your local BBQ joint, what image comes
to mind? Many times, it is just a simple
building, maybe even just a shack or outdoor place that doesn’t really offer
much in the way of décor beyond beat-up restaurant furnishings, and yet that is
exactly what you want in a BBQ place. Its simplicity is part of the charm, and the chefs and owners will gladly
point that out to anyone. After all, they are up front about it, it’s all about
the food. Barbeque is slow-cooked, and
seasoned, and has been that way for centuries.

From Native Americans to the place down the country dirt road, the idea
has not changed much. Take a
traditionally tough meat and slow cook it to the point that it just falls off
the bone. Whether you like it with a lot
of sauce, or a dry rub BBQ, restaurants focus on the food, and often a simple
décor works just fine.

Saucy!
In the world of BBQ, nothing is more hotly debated than the
sauce.  In the Carolinas you have a thin,
vinegary, mustard-based sauce. In Texas and St. Louis, the sauce is thicker and
tomato based.  Memphis has their world-famous
dry rubs, and each one claims they are the best. Each region has their
adherents who are ready to defend their choice of BBQ, and to do so
passionately and fervently!  Their choice
of sauce grew up based on the culture and environment of their regional home,
and yet the furnishings and décor of the restaurants that serve them are often
the same. 

Down Home Feel
BBQ restaurants will tend to be either simple shacks, or
similar to their Southern cousins in evoking a rustic, down-home feel, and for
good reason. Eating BBQ can often be a messy affair where hands are used far
more frequently than forks and knives, and having their guests feel comfortable
and at home is important.  Having a
simple style and homely feel helps with creating that feeling of comfort. After
all, isn’t everyone more comfortable at home? 
Delicious food, and a comfortable homely feel— is it any wonder that barbeque
is one of the most popular of American cuisines?