this got an audible laugh out of me. i have a good buddy who thinks their ribs are the greatest thing on the planet. (they aren't horrible mind you)

Lillie's Q in Bucktown

Chicago Q on Dearborn

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Smokin' Will's in Roselle was good.

They're not there anymore though.

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What's Chicago Q like?

Is it worth the inflated prices?

How dressy is it?

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Serious response: Big Ed's up in Gurnee/Waukegan is solid.

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They're the same owner. Same menu....they just put in a huge addition, so It's now literally the same venue.

They have great food.....fried alligator, lobster mac and cheese, and all sorts of good smokes. Love that place.

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Last few times I went it was actually better than when Mr. Lemons was alive

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

I remember Big Ed's as being pretty good and wouldn't mind trying it again, but it'll be too far out of the way for me. I really don't want to go north of Evanston, where I'll be spending a lot of time during the first part of my visit.

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There's always Hecky's

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Is that over by Lakehurst?

I like Hillerys in Waukegan by Sunset Bowl.

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yes, Big Eds is the former Lakehurst Pizza Hut. Still on my list of places to try.

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That's like 10 minutes from my house...I have to get some time to get over there...I love BBQ.

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I saw that place on Chicago's Best. I was all set to give it a try until they said where it was.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Better than Hillery's

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It's upscale but I don't recall having to dress up too much.

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oh, come on RR.....you make the trek, I'll buy and we can cry politics together

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That's the Art Smith place, right?

Here's a funny story about that. There was a short-lived BBQ spot on 31st Street. It was in a space that has been several different restaurants. It was a good shrimp place for awhile. I'm not sure what's in there now. Peeps probably knows. Anyway, it was a really good barbecue place and then it was suddenly gone.

So one day, I get in an Uber and the guy seems really familiar. We start talking and the driver gets to talking about barbecue. Then it hit me. He was the guy who ran the place on 31st. He told me he was a classically trained chef who had worked at Charlie Trotter but he really loved barbecue. He had a truck and then he opened the place on 31st. He also did a lot of BBQ competitions. He also said he was good friends with the guy who runs Rub, the place right by my house on Western & Lunt that I really dislike. But this guy insisted the Rub guy was a great pitmaster. Maybe I'll give him another try.

So anyway, when Art Smith was opening Chicago Q, he wanted to enter some competitions to put his place on the BBQ map. Art's chef had never done a competition so they brought in this guy who was driving my Uber. He went down to Memphis and placed like 9th out of 200 or something. So, Art's chef got all butthurt because this guy did so well and Art was so enamored with him that he quit before the restaurant opened. Art asked the Uber guy to be the chef, but he told me he turned it down because he didn't like the idea of white table cloth BBQ. He said BBQ is supposed to be eaten on picnic tables with red and white oil cloths and paper towels.

I asked the guy why he was driving an Uber and he told me that some big corporation had hired him to go to Germany and open a BBQ chain over there. They were even shipping his truck from the place on 31st over there. He had a non-compete that had a month left on it and he was bored sitting around the house so he just started driving until it was time for him to go to Europe.

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His mind is not for rent to any God or government.

Not dressy at all. Solid stuff.

You know Rub is gone now, right?

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I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost

i judge most bbq places by their brisket. and probably the best brisket i've had in chicago was either Real Urban BBQ or Green Street Meats.

Hawaii Orr Road Rod

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C'mon man...

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They've gone downhill fast...City BBQ in Deerfield, Vernon Hills, etc is pretty good

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Really? You sure? I swear it was cranking out smoke within the last couple weeks. I know the guy has Budlong Chicken now.

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His mind is not for rent to any God or government.

Wasn't Rub the place Bigfan said had the best burgers?

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It is most certainly closed. And yes, that is the place with the brisket burger Big fan loved.

Maybe it was on fire.

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I don't remember half the time if I'm hiding or I'm lost

I miss The Homestead in Blue Island.

I'm not sure what Rub was using to cook their meat, but it wasn't wood. Their food tasted like it came out of an oven. The owner, Jared, struck me as kind of a douche, too.

I'm interested in trying Green St. Meats. Who else has been there? Comments?

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Yeah, I just rode by there and no smoke. The brisket burger was fantastic. But the last time I had one- this was a few years ago- I ordered it medium rare. The thing tasted great. I gave my wife a little bite. Later that afternoon she didn't feel well. By about 8:00 that evening I was violently ill. I never ate there again.



He was using some kind of hickory. Maybe chips or something. Hickory smoke would pouring out of there at all times.

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His mind is not for rent to any God or government.