Virgil’s Real Barbecue is one of the only “real” reasons I even dare to enter into tourist trap called Times Square. For as overcrowded as this area can be, there are some surprisingly delicious locations that you can find within it where you escape from the crowds and into a real barbecue heaven type of atmosphere. I took a friend there late last week to experience what Virgil’s had to offer and finished with a happy face and an overly used bib.
The “real barbecue” places in Manhattan aren’t exactly plentiful as I don’t think this genre of food is really that plentiful in the big apple. Thai, Chinese and Italian food joints seem to run the muck here, so it makes it that much more special for Virgil’s as it brings that southern BBQ flare to Manhattan without feeling like its redundant or what not.
Virgil’s Real Barbecue has been in Times Square for many years now, a feat that is quite extraordinary given the massive turnover rate of any sort of restaurant in Manhattan as of late. Located on the corner of 44th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenue, Virgil’s is in the epicenter of everything as it is easily accessible from several subway lines.
The location itself is gigantic, sprawling with two floors enough to accommodate a big family from Texas but also a large group of businessmen and women who are chowing down on some authentic southern barbecue realness. My friend and I came prepared, IE starving ourselves throughout the day, to really experience what Virgil’s had to offer and we were stuffed and elated with sheer BBQ happiness throughout it all.
If you are truly looking to pig out on a starter, their Trainwreck Fries is a great way to begin your meal. These fries are LOADED with so many tasty ingredients, including Melted Cheddar and Jack Cheese, Smoked Bacon, Pickled Jalapenos, Scallions, and Ranch Dressing so if you think this is a heart healthy dish then “Molly, you in danger gurllll”. Just a great meal to pick apart with the people you are with that has great flavor depth to it.
They also have these bomb Buttermilk Biscuits that come with a side of sweet butter that is finger licking good. I happen to love biscuits, as I don’t think they are much appreciated up north as they are down south, but man these are tasty!
Obviously, this is a barbecue joint so we naturally pigged out on a variety of their best BBQ types of cuisine you can indulge in. It would be best to get one of their combo platters, which would include two different types of meat and two sides. I had their Pulled Pork and Texas BBQ Beef Brisket with a side of Coleslaw and Mac and Cheese. Boy was I in for a treat! There was a lot of attention to detail when it came to all of it, but especially the brisket and pork as you can tell it was cooked for a while and made it that much more juicier and pungent when I ate each bite. Simply delicious.
If you have room left in your stomach for dessert, finish off with their fluffy and sweet Key Lime Pie! Overall, Virgil’s Real Barbecue showed off their chops (pun!) in the best way possible and stood out to me as one of the few great BBQ locations in Manhattan.
Also, if you plan on going out for the NCAA Championship tomorrow night, let Virgil’s take care of you! They will be offering drink specials and fun prizes to pair with their mouthwatering game-time eats such as Virgil‘s famous smoked Chicken Wings or BBQ Nachos with Carolina pulled pork. Happy Hour specials (5:30 pm – 7:30 pm) include Corona ($5) and pitchers of Modelo ($18) with models handing out complimentary samples and fun giveaways such as a Corona cooler and even a Bike!
For more information on Virgil’s Real Barbecue, check out their official site.