One of NJ’s Best BBQ Joints Just Got Bigger, Better, and Jersey-ier
Red White and Que Smokehouse has moved to a huge new location in Green Brook, NJ. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
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For years, New Jersey-based barbecue joint Red White and Que Smokehouse has attracted a lot of attention for its delicious barbecue and its support of veterans. But this summer, the owners of the acclaimed joint took an enormous gamble — moving from a stable takeout-only spot in Kearny to a large restaurant space in Green Brook.
“It was a big life gamble, with all the chips on the table,” co-owner Dan Misuraca said. “We had something comfortable in Kearny, which had great business. It’s like, ‘here’s another shot.’ It was like when we started Red White and Que. We left comfortable jobs, took the money we had, and opened up a spot. We hoped we’d make a living. And now we’re doing it again.”
While the location is different, the food at the new Red White and Que is as good as ever. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
The new location of Red White and Que Smokehouse (150 US-22 Green Brook, NJ 08812) is just off the busy highway US-22 and housed inside the home of former iconic fast-food joint Texas Weiners, which had been there for 75 years. The Green Brook location can hold roughly 100 people, has a real parking lot, and has room for more smokers, which is a far cry from its small former home in Kearny.
Misuraca said he and his crew have added one large J&R Oyler smoker to its array of smokers, which in turn has increased how much meat they can smoke. They also have two more J&R Oyler smokers in a warehouse that will likely be installed in the spring. Misuraca estimates the joint’s smoked meats capacity will triple once the other smokers are up and running.
Red White and Que has added another J&R Oyler smoker and plans to add two more within the next year, which will greatly increase its smoked meats output. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
The menu has not changed drastically at Green Brook, so patrons can still expect to find a large array of smoked meats and creative sides. The standards Red White and Que is known for are brisket, pastrami, turkey, pork ribs, and beef ribs — most of which sell out completely each day. One new item that is sure to turn some heads is the sausage that is made with pork roll (aka Taylor ham) and cheese, which might be the most New Jersey BBQ item ever.
“We just did a huge batch with two months’ worth so we could test it,” Misuraca said. “Now that we've had great feedback from it, that'll be on our menu with our regular jalapeno cheddar sausage.”
The new restaurant can hold up to 100 people, a massive upgrade from the takeout-only previous location. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
While business has been good at the new location, Misuraca notes that his restaurant, like many, has not been immune to challenges that all eateries are facing. These include inflation, a persistent labor shortage, and supply chain constraints. One example he noted is sourcing turkey, which is hard to get because of a devastating avian flu outbreak.
“The supply chain is definitely a problem,” Misuraca said. “There's no turkey. We haven’t been able to get turkey breasts for two weeks. That’s one of our best sellers daily. … And word out is there might not be turkeys for Thanksgiving.”
Co-owners Dan and Katie Misuraca have made a huge impression on the NJ BBQ scene over the years. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Despite those challenges, Misuraca is optimistic about the future of Red White and Que’s journey in Green Brook.
“Everything is looking great,” Misuraca said. “We’re overwhelmingly busy, which is a great problem to have. We’re about to go into our fall hours, where we'll be closed Mondays and Tuesdays. We will do that until November or December, and then we’ll start ramping up again for springtime. We have nothing but exciting things to look forward to.”
Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ
EAT ALL ABOUT IT (NEWS)
Acclaimed pitmaster Evan LeRoy makes killer BBQ like this at his joint LeRoy and Lewis, and he’ll be a guest pitmaster at Hill Country in October. (Photo by Sean Ludwig)
Here are the top BBQ and related food news stories you need to know about this week:
Acclaimed pitmaster Evan LeRoy will soon be featured as a guest pitmaster for one night only at Hill Country BBQ on October 1. LeRoy’s Austin-based BBQ joint LeRoy and Lewis is one of the top joints in all of Texas, and serves creative craft barbecue. LeRoy worked as a pitmaster at Hill Country between 2010 and 2012, so his return is a homecoming of sorts. He’ll be serving up Pastrami Beef Cheeks, Barbacado, and perhaps more. READ HERE.
Writer Alyssa Levine has written a preview of Pig Island NYC that is coming up this Saturday on Staten Island. “From whole hog roasts to endless barbecued meats, craft beers, spirits, ciders, and more, you don’t want to miss out on the incredible, all-inclusive one-day feast that is Pig Island,” Levine writes. READ HERE.
Pig Beach NYC has announced it will be hosting Octoberfest festivities at its Brooklyn location on Oct. 8-9 and its Queens location on Oct. 15-16. The events will feature beer steins, pretzels, brats, games, and prizes. READ HERE.
Writer Joshua Needelman has a great article in The New York Times about the many families and friends that use New York’s public parks for grilling. READ HERE.
Eater’s Smoke Point video series has an awesome new video featuring Laser Wolf in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where the team there uses charcoal to put down flavor on brisket kebabs and more. READ HERE.
Here are the eight best BBQ spots in Philadelphia, according to The Infatuation. READ HERE.
IRL BBQ EVENTS
Pig Island NYC returns this weekend with incredible food. Be sure to show up early to enjoy all the bites.
Here are the top BBQ and related food events coming soon to the New York metro area:
September 10, 2022: Pig Island NYC will celebrate its 13th year on September 10, 2022, at Snug Harbor on Staten Island. Join in for all-inclusive food and drink from all-star pitmasters and chefs who will be serving up delicious porky goodness, as well as local breweries, distilleries, and cideries. Top chefs will compete for the best dishes, and event-goers reap the benefits. Expect a ton of amazing eats and a great place to picnic with friends and family for the day. BUY TICKETS HERE.
October 1, 2022: Acclaimed pitmaster Evan LeRoy of LeRoy and Lewis in Austin will work as the guest pitmaster at Hill Country BBQ for one night only. MAKE RESERVATIONS HERE.
October 8-16, 2022: Pig Beach NYC will host Octoberfest Festivities at its Brooklyn location on Oct. 8-9 and its Queens location on Oct. 15-16. MORE INFO HERE.
October 13-16, 2022: The New York City Wine & Food Festival will return this October. It will see the return of the huge Burger Bash hosted by Rachael Ray and the Backyard BBQ hosted by Andrew Zimmern. BBQ lovers will certainly enjoy both the Burger Bash and Backyard BBQ, but other fun events will be held too. This will be one of the last big food events happening in NYC in 2022, so don’t miss out. (USE THE CODE NYCBBQ15 TO GET 15% OFF THE BACKYARD BBQ.) BUY TICKETS HERE.
Please get in touch if you would like your food event listed here!
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