Ribs are good food. What else can we say? And Long Island is chock full of great rib joints.
Long Islanders Voted Smokin’ Al’s Famous BBQ Joint Best Ribs on Long Island!
Smokin’ Al’s Famous BBQ Joint
19 W. Main St.
Bay Shore
631-206-3000
4847 Merrick Rd.
Massapequa Park
516-799-4900
www.smokinals.com
Five-time winners because Smokin’ Al Horowitz knows how to make his bones. Whether it’s the St. Louie Grand Back pork ribs, in the smoker for 12 hours, or his signature smaller pork baby backs cooked low and slow, the combo of rub, sauce and a watchful eye on the process has them coming back for more. Feel like a barbarian and grab a hold of the Monster Beef Bones, sweet and tender, for a real meaty treat.
2nd Place – The Spare Rib, 2098 Jericho Tpke., Commack. 631-543-5050. 600 W. Old Country Rd., Hicksville. 516-513-0750. www.spareribonline.com
This restaurant is a favorite with its famous ribs, sizzling steaks, and homemade dressings and marinades.
3rd Place - Zorn’s, Multiple locations. www.zornschicken.com
In their seventy years of service, they have gained many fans. They have scrumptious wraps and sandwich deals that also come with drinks. Their vegetables are quite fresh and wholesome.
National - Famous Dave’s BBQ, Multiple locations. www.famousdaves.com
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I liked mine until I slipped on ice and bruised em…
Amazing how NONE of the actual best rib joints made the list. Smokin’ Al’s should at least have been in the voting, but Zorns and The Spare Rib shouldn’t even have been contenders.
open your eyes…als was voted #1
Practice your reading, Richie. I said that Smokin’ Al’s deserved to be on the the voting list, not that it deserved to be #1 (it clearly does not) while The Spare Rib and Zorns shouldn’t even have been among the contenders to choose from for Best Ribs.
if you are looking for the best ribs and bbq around check out the wesite pigtrip.net this is where real bbq is weighed and measured
Hi, Rich. Yes, I’m a Pigtrip reader; by sheer coincidence, I’m going to Rub BBQ tomorrow–today’s featured review (or, at least, it was a half hour ago).
My point about these rankings is that, though LI isn’t the best place for BBQ, how can Swingbelly’s not make it–more specifically, how can we take seriously a list that omits it?
I couldn’t agree more with you gentlemen, I think its a travesty that included in this list and the Best of BBQ list they have chain restaurants and what amounts to a supermarket! Sadly it seems to me that rather than actual votes these lists probably have more to do with advertising $ spent with LI Press. Scott, I have been to Rub on a number of occasions, its very good and consistent in my opinion. I like some items better elsewhere i.e. the brisket @ Swingbellys, or Mike Mills’ 17th st. BBQ sauce but Rub is top notch in Manhattan!
Thanks for the PigTrip mentions. I wish I could visit Long Island more frequently. Sadly, Long Island is the weakest area in the Northeast for barbecue, but you can find the real deal at Swingbelly’s (Long Beach) and several places a little further west: RUB, Hill Country, Daisy May’s, Wildwood, Dinosaur, Rack and Soul, Fette Sau, Smoke Joint. Nothing against Smokin’ Al, but it seems like name recognition, multiple locations and something-for-everything menus trump real quality in polls like this.
There is no comparison to Houston’s. Falls off bone.
Flat out the best anywhere….