Bar Q, Stamford

When fresh cuts of St. Louis–cut ribs, pork shoulder, or beef brisket arrive at Bar BQ, they go straight to the award-winning pit team. Chips of locally harvested red and white oak send off smoke from the pit below as the team cooks these meats for hours at a time. Once everything is ready, they plate juicy portions of sticky ribs or pulled pork alongside homemade fixings such as braised collared greens and cheesy grits cakes.

As Bar BQ’s name implies, there’s more to the restaurant than lip-smacking barbecue fare. Bartenders craft Southern-style cocktails and pour 26 draft microbrews to complement the hearty meals. And the menu isn’t Bar BQ's only repository of Southern charm. Plank wood lines the two-level interior from floor to ceiling, serving as a rustic backdrop to farmland photos and cowhides. Live DJs spin tunes throughout the week, coating their turntable belts in barbecue sauce to keep them running smoothly until 2 a.m. on weekends.