Absolutely delicious food from many great vendors. Definitely an experience that you shouldn't miss when you are in NYC

If you love great barbecue, you need to be here. This is such a wonderful event . Award winning barbecue pit masters come to NYC from all over the country. This Big Apple BBQ Party takes place all around Madison Square Park, so as you walk around the circumference of the park, you have fabulous BBQ to enjoy. Madison Square Park is a few blocks long, at Madison Ave & 23rd Street to 26th, thru Fifth Ave, but you will usually also find more BBQ on Madison & 27-28th Streets. So there is A WHOLE LOTTA BBQ-ING GOIN' ON...and it is some of THE ABSOLUTE BEST BBQ. This year, I had some of the most delicious baby back ribs from MEMPHIS RIB CO of Mississippi (MS). Fall off the bone , perfectly WONDERFUL, ribs. That sauce...OMG, fantastic, with a perfect sweetness. THESE WERE PERFECT!! (Emoji with heart eyes) Next year, I want these delicious ribs again!! If you are planning to visit NYC, and you're a foodie, I suggest you plan your visit around the Big Apple BBQ. Check the dates on THAT WEBSITE. It is always on a weekend. I believe it is usually in JUNE. I want to attend next year, for sure! Last year was great & all the other years that I was able to attend--they were all great. My point is, this is ALWAYS A GREAT TASTING BBQ. So, try to attend, you'll be glad you did . AND--There is GREAT LIVE MUSIC, TOO!!! Free live music. Please check out the big Apple bbq website for more info. This is a fun, happy, yummy event & you should be there if you love great food & great live music. Mark your calendar....now, for next year...so you don't forget. read more

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Not raining as of 11:15. Go to Salt Lick (soon before the lines are egregious) for brisket and sausage and 17th Street for ribs. It's open until 6 but some places could run out of things at 4:30. Elsewhere in ribs, my preference in order is Memphis Barbecue, Rodney Scott and Baker's, though Baker's has reputable jalapeño cole slaw if you want to make partial amends with the vegan friend you dragged here. Big Apple doesn't debunk the cliche that barbecue isn't about sides, but 17th also has first-rate beans. And at Ubon's you might enjoy the Bloody Mary cucumber salad almost as much as the smoky wings. read more

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I been here numerous times and I have to say this year is the most disappointing and I even shelled out for a fast pass! The fast pass this year was 150.00 and you can spend 125.00 on food and merchandise. You get 2 passes, one with the money and the other just is a pass for your +1 to get in line. The way it works is you buy the food and the vendor punch out the amount on the card. If you run out of money or the predetermined amount does not match what you buy, you can pay in cash or credit card for the difference. This year's fast pass you are able to use it both days which was a nice change from the past. I would definite recommend the fast pass if you can find a friend to split it. So onto the food... First stop was our favorite place, The Salt lick. This year the sample plates seem much smaller than previous years and the brisket was cold! We all know cold greasy food is just not good! Guess they had the meat sitting out too long anticipating the crowds. That was a real let down but the beef sausage was delicious. Next up was Baby back ribs from Memphis BBQ. The plate here was double the size of The salt lick! The ribs were very tender and had just enough sauce on top. Even the side of beans was devoured! The last meat itme I tried was UBON's BBQ chicken wing and sausage. It was ok, not too memorable. After all that meat, we went went around to see what else was offered besides meat. 2 years ago they had a fruit stand inside the park that had a huge line. Watermelon and tree ripen peaches....But no luck this year. They did have a stand inside the park selling watermelon but it was cut up with toppings which I believe included cheese. After all that meat, want something light and refreshing. Other items offer beside meat was milk shakes, smoothies and fried fruit pies. I had the fried apple pie and it was quite tasty. It just came out of the fryer so it was nice an hot. All in all it was nice to spend an afternoon eating BBQ and helping a cause but $12.00 a plate is kinda steep. read more

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This festival is like a mecca for barbecue lovers with famous vendors from all across the country doling out their tastiest bites. And it is definitely something I look forward to attending every year. Among the stands I tried: 17th street had very good ribs award winning memphis style but a bit chewy, nice flavor though. At Big bob gibson don't miss out on the white bbq sauce and the spicy bbq one. Slaw was also very good using the white bbq sauce. Skylight had some very good pulled pork and they definitely use the whole hog with chitlin pieces and other crunchy chewy tendon like bits. The meat was very moist especially if you had their special vinegar based dressing for the sammie. The Salt Lick had the brisket and sausage combo which was double the meat and definitely worth the wait. I also like Bakers ribs because they are texas style which is usually a dry rub and then covered in sauce which is exactly like the ones that I prefer to make at home. They had giant vats of bbq sauce by the cashier to squirt away at your pleasure. I would like to see corn and frozen drinks next time since it is super hot every year. The only corn I saw was from the colgate stand. Dish and swish they call it. Just a tiny container of some kind of corn salad. The only way to beat the heat was at the geico bus where there is a/c and you can play pinball and karaoke. And I can't forget the fried pies oh my! Like a beef patty but even better these hand pies are worth the wait and especially since they are the only real dessert option at the block party. The Lemonade stand doesn't necessarily count but is a good place to beat the heat and listen to some music. There are random tables set up along madison avenue or you can seek refuge under the boughs in madison square park where you can watch funny people with their funny dogs in the shadow of the shake shack stand. Also a lot of tents with the fast pass check in, the beer garden, the main music stage, the cooking demos (sometimes they give out free pickles and samples) and freebies from ikea and other sponsors like Southern Hospitality magazine. You can spend a whole day at this festival but remember to bring water, sunscreen and a pound of patience since its an outdoor festival and it gets hot and crowded standing next to the grills. And if you cant find the end of a line look for the giant colorful flags they will guide the way. Or you can just munch and wait while on line. Check this fest out if you like some good 'cue but bring an empty stomach cuz there are a ton of options but not really good for take out -prepare to eat through the fest there. read more

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Always a great time provided you are prepared First thing is to get there first thing in the morning. I normally go on sunday to take advantage of the free parking on Madison Ave Stands start opening at 11am, I am usually parked by 1030 Second thing, go with several people...One group grabs a table. 2 or more others get on line at your favorite stop 2 of us always go to the salt lick.....best brisket there Jim and nicks are great for ribs Typical price is $8 a plate Another recomendation is to bring a small cooler for drinks. They usually offer a bier Garten but I am usually driving so I pack water and sodas. Madison Square park is beautiful They often have raffles and contests to pass the time in between plates I plan on going again this year read more

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This is an awesome event to take your friends and family and smother down some delicious BBQ from around the US! My advice: skip the fast pass ($125) or VIP ($225) badged. Doesn't save you that much time, but yes it does have its perks. Fast pass will give you a fast line plus $100 dollars to spend on food. It didn't help much for me on Sat because it wasn't too busy and general lines were empty. VIP will give you everything in the fast pass, but you can also chill in a private area of the booths and drinks. 2016 vendors: Memphis BBQ, South Haven, MS*** -baby back ribs Salt Lick, TX -brisket Dinosaur BBQ, Harlem, NY Hill Country, NYC -pulled pork burger Hutchins BBQ, McKinney, TX*** -brisket (There were a few others, but I didn't get a chance to try) ***definately a must have! My favorite was Hutchins BBQ! The brisket was juicy, well seasoned, and the meat melts in your mouth. I normally don't like fat, but the fat on this brisket was so tasty!! I loved it so much I went back on Sunday just to have it again. Overall this was a fun event we music and families being able to lay on the grass and enjoy the weekend. It definitely was a fun experience that brought me back to Texas. I honestly don't think I can have any other BBQ again for awhile unless I go to the south or Texas specifically. I hope next year they have just as good vendors because it was worth the hype! read more

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - Prepping the pig - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

Long lines for the ones are the most popular BBQ places. But too bad I did not dare to wait because the lines were as long as two blocks. That kind of scared me. In any case, I had the ribs from Blue Smoke (whoopdee doo only because they have that here in NY). Maybe next year, I'll be brave enough to wait on that lOOOOOOOOONG line. You can also purchase a VIP pass that gets you in to the 'fast lane' with a pass. However, this is NYC - it is festive so join in on the fun!!! read more

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Food was good. Seems like on last day of block party vendors were sold out two hrs before close rime. Whats up with that! Next year please invite park 11. Chicken and freshly made donuts was so good! read more

The Mississippi Chicken Wings from Ubon's were outstanding...to the point where I needed 3 plates for full satiety. The Ed Mitchell whole hog sandwich was sublime and the John Wheeler baby back ribs were extremely tasty. read more

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Oh, Big Apple BBQ Block Party, how am I just finding out about you now?! My husband and I enjoyed every bit of this party. A bit pricey, but still worthy. Here's a look at what we consumed: Big Bob Gibson- This was our first stand- we got their pulled pork with coleslaw. Their sauce is undeniably good and their pulled pork was delicious! My husband doesn't even like coleslaw and thought that this was the best coleslaw he has ever had. Memphis BBQ- Since this stand was next to Big Bob Gibson, we decided to go for their ribs. They were delicious as well! The beans may have been a little too sweet, but still good. Salt and Lick- This was our last stand and boy was it good! Way to finish it with a bang! Their burnt ends are so crispy and so flavorful, it will throw you off your chair! We loved it so much we are considering to visit their state just to get more! That should speak volume! My husband also enjoyed their sausage and brisket. This block party also included free samples from Knob Creek and so much more! We got free drinks, free food. What's not to love about this? Well, besides the price point of all stands ($12 for food), we very much enjoyed this block party! Until next year! read more

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Amazing event. When I heard Martin's BBQ was going to be in town, I got so excited. The event was very well put together, with amazing food and plenty of hungry people. Martin's whole hog sandwich was unbelievable. The meat tore apart in every bite, filled with that smokey BBQ taste we all love. The slaw was great, and I don't even like slaw, normally. But, seriously, those pickles... OMG those pickles. The best pickle I've ever had, I even asked if I could buy some, but I couldn't. Sweet and spicy. Dinosaur was also a hit for me, definitely a top 3 sandwich as far as pulled pork goes. The meat fell apart nicely, and filled with tons of flavor. I also put some extra sauce on bc it's way better extra wet. The beans were perfect, filled with pork and filled with sweetness, just the way I like 'em. It was also cool with that one stand giving out free brisket sandwiches and sausage, as well as their BBQ sauce. All in all, I had a great time at this very successful BBQ fest, and I CAN NOT wait for next year. Hopefully Rendevous will show up... read more

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It's not a little event in terms of square footage. The event encompasses a good portion of Madison Square Park and I was too lazy, busy, didn't feel like walking in the drizzle of rain to look through the entire itinerary. They had maps of all the Pitmasters. The event should be held more than 2 days a year :( :) For me, it was a 50% go or no go. At the last minute I decided to go. I was there for the first one many years ago like a kid wanting to go to a candy store or a Foodie with a camera waiting for a Cronut. Now this year, 2018 is my third year in attendance. Happy, meat eating side, me. I'm going to mention just a less than handful: The whole hog chopped pork sandwich from Skylight Inn was above decent (one Pitmaster I was looking) and found. Yay, I got to say hi to the chopper of Skylight Inn. The tent next to the Skylight Inn was Rodney Scott serving up ribs. Their ribs were clean, lightly charred, good flavor and had a light sauce covered. One of the longest line was at Big Bob Gibson serving up pulled pork sandwiches. And a bit of pork rind mixed in with my whole hog sandwich from Ed & Ryan Mitchell BBQ giving it a bit of a rustic pork taste with the whole hog cuts of meat. $12 Each. There were New York based BBQs and Donut + Fried Chicken and Sausages. Saw a guy with a whole pan of ribs eating them all by himself and another guy with a cooler with 1 tray from each Pitmaster. That's dedication for the love of the 'Cue. There were freebies, sweepstakes, swag and merchandise to buy but I didn't see them because I got there at 2pm. When I met up with someone, she showed me her swag and freebies. I'm like Where? She said you shouldn't sleep in! But it's Sunday! The lines weren't that long today so your $100ish VIP pass was not that good of an investment. I got what I was looking for, sat on the side and watched some of the festivities and exited out of Madison Square Park BBQ event because of that rainy drizzle. If I stayed longer the smell of that delicious BBQ smoke would have evoked my BBQ addiction (you know that's how they get you, that aroma. Mmmmmmmm! read more

I suggest getting the fast pass, or else you should do some planning. Let me explain ... I was too slow in buying the fast pass, so I decided to take a different approach. I researched all the restaurants that were going to be there and what they were serving. I wrote down in order which places I wanted to try and what dish. We arrived early, got a map and quickly mapped out our plan of attack. After being able to get all the BBQ I wanted we stopped by the shop near the entrance and picked up some sauces. Needless to say, it turned a stressful overly crowded experience into a very enjoyable one. I recommend you do the same, unless you pay out for the fast pass or seated areas. Or if you like waiting in overly long lines =X. read more

This BBQ block party have gotten just too popular. They even have a Fastpass system in place! WTF, are we in Disney? Either you come early with friends, divide up and conquer by each heading straight for a line or don't bother because the lines become so long you better just skip the event. The "samples" that you buy are overpriced after waiting on the long line.(I just walked over to Blue Smoke for real portions! read more

I never miss this event, where else can you stuff yourself with the best BBQ from all over the country in one central location. Bingo! $9 plates and $3 drinks are a bit steep I admit, however its worth every penny. The fried pies $5 are also not to be missed. The beer IMHO isn't worth it, but do give it a try once you are there, after all its only an annual event. If you don't opt for the fastpass then come early and plan it out accordingly as some of the most delicious and popular places can set you back a good hour or more. These guys do an excellent job setting this up every year and I am looking forward to next year as I am sure its going to be legendary as always. read more

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I've been counting down to the Big Apple Barbecue for weeks now and for good reason! Walking toward Madison Square Park you can already hear the music booming and see the barbecue smoke rising - a sort of come hither deliciousness is awaiting. There are tons of maps and directories located around the park to help direct you, but essentially the park is lined with several different barbecue tents is a T shape. Make sure you take a scope out the map and different tents for different barbecue options. Opinions range from the classic pulled pork sandwiches and beef brisket down to the unique lamb brisket to Jamaican jerks - it's all here. I had the lamb brisket which I can't remember for the life of me cannot remember the vendor. For $11 I received 3 finger sized slices of lamb brisket and a small cup of soupy spiced beans. The lamb was very unique, tender and well seasoned but a bit on the fatty side. The beans had a unsuspecting kick to them - overall ok. A bit pricey for the amount of food we got but at least it wasn't cash only. By far my absolute favorite was the pork ribs and beans from Pappy's. Let me tell you a bit about Pappy's for $12 we got a healthy portion of ribs and a bowl of barbecue baked beans. Make sure you douse with the barbecue sauce! The ribs were fall off the bone tender and there was a delicious caramelization on the outside. To cool down make sure you stop by the lemonade stand located in front of the Credit Suisse building (closer to 5th). It was a bit pricey at $6 a cup but the lemonade was divine! A tart mixture of lemon and limes with the right amount of sweetness - no wonder the line was so long! If you aren't into barbecue (we can't be friends - just kidding) and want to just enjoy the vibes they have various scheduled concerts throughout the weekend as well as multiple beer gardens scattered throughout the park. Just make sure you stop by one of the ID tents to get your bracelet. Some things to note, most of the vendors accept credit cards which is great but some of the smaller carts are cash only so be prepared for that. Also don't let the crowds scare you, most tents have multiple lines the wait isn't that long. Happy eating! read more

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - ribs and beans from pappy's! - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

It's the eighth or tenth year in the running, and yet I still can't keep myself away from this event. It's just the perfect balance of - smoke in my face - smoke in my clothes - smoke rings in my brisket - pig in my mouth That's the proper order of things here. This however, turned out to be a culinary festival of patience. I arrived late, so some of the lines were really long. However, if you looked hard enough, there were some lines that weren't that long. This year I actually didn't mind waiting in the lines. I had a cool friend to share the food, the heat, and good conversation with. I'll probably be back next year too. read more

This event is over and done now but this insatiable craving for barbequed meat continues to linger. Beef Brisket, pork ribs.. I was in heaven i'll be back with a VIP pass next year because its that worth it !! read more

This past weekend was my 2nd year at Big Apple BBQ and my experience was equally as good! Last year I got the fast pass with my friends and even with splitting the pass with another person, we couldn't finish the $100 of food on each pass. This year we skipped the pass and I didn't think the lines were longer at all! In fact I think some of the fast pass lines from the prior year were much longer. Ed Mitchell: Skip. I waited for him last year with a fast pass and I think it was like an hour wait!! His BBQ, while enjoyable, was definitely NOT worth the wait at all. Blue Smoke: Go. Even though Blue Smoke is right here in NYC, the salt and pepper beef ribs are amazing. Fatty and smoky and full of beef flavor! The line moves ridiculously fast as well! Blackjack: Go. There are essentially no lines for the pulled pork sandwich here because it is right next to Ed Mitchell and the lines get really confusing. We came here first because we were really hungry and just wanted to fill our tummies with something before waiting in line. The pork was very juicy and the sauce was a good mix of vinegar and tomato + a bunch of spices. I also really enjoyed the coleslaw (although the bf wanted more mayo!) Jim N' Nicks: Skip. I didn't really enjoy the sausage at all. The cheese thing that came with it was kinda weird and tasted really artificial too me. I didn't think the sausage was anything too special either. Pappy's: Skip or Go. The baby back ribs were okay. The flavor was good and had a very nice sweet flavor profile to it. However, the meat was a bit tough and wasn't fall off the bone. We really liked their beans though. Blue Smoke Desserts: Go. I love the blueberry crisp a la mode! A great end to a day of salty meats. The crisp was crunchy with a little chew to it and the blueberries the right amount of sweet. I would skip the root beer float though, didn't think it was anything amazing or special. Check out some of the other things in the park next year, this year we saw people win Kindle Fires and we participated in a free photobooth! read more

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

I have to knock this down a star for the plain and simple reason that they now sell an unlimited number of fast passes, completely wiping out the benefit of having it at all. The wait on some fast pass lines were longer than regular lines. The line for Pappy's at 11:45 on Sunday was easily 45 minutes. Why pay extra for equally long, if not longer lines? The fast pass is also no longer good for both Saturday and Sunday; only one day. This has turned into a game of make as much money as humanly possible, and they make no attempt to even hide it. The food so still mostly on point. Favorites this year were Pappy's, Big Bob Gibson's, and 17th Street. read more

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - Big Bob Gibsons. Solid pulled pork. - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

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It's worth it to come early and buy the fast pass. This event is always a fun event where you get to sample some of the best BBQ places from the country. Recommendation; - start with out of state vendors like salt lick that usually draws a huge line then work you're way to local NY vendors - bring a tray of sorts so you don't struggle carrying around your food - it could be as simple as an Amazon box or something - hand sanitizer let's be real you're eating ribs and messy foods If you're a vegetarian there are activities to do on the park itself, beer garden and some other vendors that sell cake and fruits read more

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - Salt lick - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

DELICIOUS AND DOPE but very short on the non-pork dishes. I only found 4 out about 20 booths that offered a dish other than ribs. With that being said, the beef short ribs from Hometown Bar-B-Que was insanely good and the fried pie from original pie is good for those who love pie. Things were a tad over priced on average for the proportions distributed ($12 for one rib/shortrib/pulled pork slider/ or cut of brisket and a tablespoon of a sides) but still VERY VERY good. I can't wait to return next year. I hope they add more beef and chicken options. read more

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - Memphis Barbecue Co. Station - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

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DO NOT GET THE FAST PASS. REPEAT, DO NOT GET THE FAST PASS. The bbq pitmasters lineup was superb. No doubt about that. They all delivered great food. The problem here, the fast pass was a waste. Why? Because every station had only ONE cashier vs 4-6 cashiers on the cash line. This makes no sense. People paid an extra $25 to get a fast pass with the assumption that they would be getting a better experience. Im starting to wonder there they extra $25 went to because it definitely didnt go to pay for more staff on the fast pass lines. The lines for all the pitmaster stations were awful. from 30-45min waits all because there was only ONe person taking handling orders on the fast pass side. Later on the day, some stations had 2 people working the fast pass line. Why so little? Only in NYC do you pay a premium to wait on long lines to get the same food that non fast pass holders can get. Something tells me they just sell as many fast passes as they can without actually providing any better service for the people. Once they get your $125, they already got your money and could care less about you and the long lines. Save your money and dont get the fast pass. If you go with enough people, get one person to stand each of the lines and buy enough food for your group. Better to wait 30 mins in total vs 30 mins per station. Bring a makeshift table, some extra chairs and eat while you watch the hordes of people wait on line to get their food on the fast pass lines like fools. read more

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - big apple bbq 2012: look ONE cashier for the fast pass line. lucky me! - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

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I've wanted to attend this event for awhile but always shied away because of the tales of massive soul sucking lines. This year I decided it was time to bite the bullet and go. I took someone who hates lines and should be watching his cholesterol - because if we're gonna do this let's do this, right? I will say the lines move more quickly than you expect (except for Salt Lick, whose line was the largest and slowest). The strategy we adopted was to get your food from one place, then immediately get on the next line, and split what we got with each other. There's almost no where to sit so be prepared to eat standing and walking. And bring water, every beverage was at least $3. The quality of the food was hit or miss. We made of point of only trying places that were not from NY, because why bother eating something from Blue Smoke when we can do that any time? Hands down, my favorite vendor was Big Bob Gibson. His pulled pork practically melted in your mouth, and they had jars of this delicious habanero hot sauce. Not too thick, not particularly spicy, but low on vinegar and just right for pulled pork. I would absolutely buy a bottle just to have in the house. We also had brisket, ribs, a fried apple pie, and another pulled pork sandwich from a different vendor and nothing came close to touching Gibson's product. At $10 a plate, plus water, it adds up and the food didn't really blow me away enough to make it worth it. I was really glad I didn't pay $125 for a fast pass, the lines aren't THAT bad and you'd need to eat a grotesque amount of what sometimes amounts to mediocre BBQ to make your money back. NYC also needs to update it's alcohol laws. It's ridiculous that you have to essentially drink beer in a roped off pen (ahem, I mean "garden"), away from the food. Same story at LIC Flea, or any temporary outdoor venue, it just seems completely unnecessary, but it's not the fault of the event planners. While I'm glad I went I don't think I'll be returning next year. read more

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - Brisket from Hutchins - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

I used to be one of those people who used to scoff at American food. But this was back when the phrase 'American food' only conjured up images of bland, unexciting dishes of meat and potatoes. Living in NY where chefs are constantly pushed to reinvent their food I have since reevaluated my stance on the genre of food called New American. But even then when the discussion pointed towards the question of what constitutes the culinary heart and soul of American cooking I was hard pressed for an answer. That all changed last weekend when I spent the day eating finger-licking great barbecue at the 10th Annual Big Apple BBQ Block Party under the guidance of veteran food writer and Serious Eats founder Ed Levine. Yes, it was nothing short of an educational and foodgasmic experience. The event itself is hosted by Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group and is touted to be the largest tourist event in Manhattan. With close to 125,000 attendees it is quite the spectacle. It's a weekend when Madison Square Park becomes shrouded in a glorious cloud of smoke and tourists and locals alike brave the long lines for a taste of simply awesome barbecue. As for me, being a long time reader and fan of Serious Eats paid off when I won a tour of the event with Ed. Having never been to the Big Apple BBQ Block Party and having recently gotten more familiar with New York's own BBQ scene I was ecstatic! read more

Big Apple Bbq... Yes PLEASE! Where else can you try pitmasters grub from all over USA in a few hours??? On top of all that plates ran from $8-$11.... We decided to go and enjoy the festivities Sunday afternoon around 4pm. Why so late so might ask? We tried our best to avoid the long lines and guess what.... #winning - we sure did! We ordered ribs from pappys, brisket from hill country, jerked bbq from the spot in BK, some pulled pork here and there and finally the hot sausage. Nothing disappointed. All four us had messy fingers and joker smiles lol. Pappys I love them! The sauce had a awesome smokey apple flavor to it. Them ribs were tender and still had a good pull to it. Hill country brisket was off the hook! The bbq sauce was dope but wasn't needed as the meat was moist and tender enough. All of the pulled pork sandwiches were nice. The jerked bbq had an awesome molasses and fruit flavor to it. Must try their spicy sauce if your brave enough and finally the hot sausage had a great bit to it. We will def be back next year! I wonder how the VIP passes worked, but maybe next time? If you missed out you can always go to bigapplebbq.org and stay informed. Hope to see you there next year! read more

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My fourth year in a row. My favorite event in NYC. Big Bob Gibson - Hands down the best BBQ at the Block Party. When I die, I want to buried with one of these sandwiches for my after life... I used some of the white BBQ sauce on my sandwich, thought it was amazing. Ed Mitchell - Great Carolina whole hog. Thought it was a bit on the dry side. Thank God I had some extra sauce from Big Bob Gibson. Brought the whole hog sandwich from a 8 to a 10. Blue Smoke - Texas salt & pepper beef ribs. Should never get local BBQ at this event because you can go there any time besides this event. Thought it would be a nice change. Didn't like it. Way to much fat and bone. Had to eat through the fat to get to the little meat there was. Failure... Going again tomorrow and make up for the crappy ribs. Beef ribs suck. Onto the Pork ribs.... And maybe some more Big Bob Gibson if I feel like dealing with the line. read more

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Went in 2009 & I've been too wary of the crowd + long lines to return. My husband liked the ribs he got but the price was high & the lines were just too long. Plus it was 90+ degrees outside that day. If those fast lane passes were a reasonable price, the experience would probably be better. This is a "one & done" experience in my book. read more

I've now gone to the Big Apple BBQ three years now and every year, unfortunately, I feel like the experience gets worse and worse. The first year I went (2010) was awesome because there weren't so many people that you could actually enjoy walking up and down, trying the different vendors and the prices were more reasonable. This year was the first year I went that it was ridiculously crowded. It felt like you had to fight your way through the street and you couldn't step more than two feet before getting separated between your friends. Luckily for me this year, a friend had bought the VIP pass and couldn't finish it the first day (even with 3 other friends to help him) so he gave me the pass to finish up the last $25 bucks or so. It comes with another pass for your friend to stay in line with you, but the money is on one card. It was essentially enough for us to try three items, so we went for the most popular ones and went early enough that the longest we waited was 20 minutes. We tried to wait for the pies, but the line was ridiculously long and didn't feel like it was moving so we gave up. Tip: Bring your tupperware! My friend and I brought extra tupperware so that we could bring home some BBQ to our significant others and that was well worth it! We also made sure to plan which ones to go to and picked the ones from out of state since we could get the other NY based ones anytime. read more

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - Big apple bbq - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

It is a bit hard to review this festival because it is a gathering of BQQ pitmasters. Depending on whose BBQ you try, it can vary one's whole experience. I have read other Yelpers' low star reviews and I agree with them, but I also read high star reviews which I agree with as well. Overall, I'm a fan and I had a great time and most of the food was delicious. The event itself was efficient in my mind. I was prepared to wait in Cronut level lines (or LA Ramen Festival lines for you West coasters), but was happy that the longest lines took me an average of 15-20 minutes to get through. I was also pleased that they all had the same checkout system, so I can use my credit card without fumbling around with cash and change. Knowing that this was a festival in Manhattan, I expected higher than normal prices for the quantity given and with any festivals, there would be vendors that served great food and others that served not so great food. This foresight led me to do a bit of research the night before and helped me avoid quite a few under average BBQ pitmasters, though not all. Rounding out my strategy was to avoid all New York based BBQ joints, because I figured I could go to the actual location to get a better value. I also live by the rule of thumb that if there is a line, it is probably worth waiting for. But like all rule of thumbs, you have to measure it up against other factors such as your experience/gut to avoid the over-hyped things and find those hidden gems. Pappy's Smokehouse was my favorite. This is how ribs should be - tender, juicy, and fall off the bone. The side of beans was sweater than what I would expect with beans, which was a nice surprise for my sweet tooth. Louie Mueller Barbecue was a mixed bag of emotions for me in which I can only describe as being happy that I was ripped off. I loved the dry rub seasoning on the beef rib, which was perfectly prepared that it almost melted in my mouth. It was very delicious, but the most expensive menu item at the Big Apple BBQ Block Party at $12 and probably the smallest portion. The amount of beef brisket given was small and it was served alongside pickled vegetables and a slice of white bread. Useless filler side items in my book. The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que was solid and I liked the "sample platter" style menu item. No complaints here, not even at their line. The sausage had a nice little kick of heat to it, which was balanced by the refreshing cole slaw side item. Skylight Inn was average because this style of BBQ doesn't seem to be for me (I also tried Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint). The chopped whole hog sandwich was like eating into mush for me; it lacked the wonderful texture of barbecued meat. On the bright side, the Skylight Inn pitmaster chopping the whole hog had a wonderful personality and put on quite a show with his knives. 17th Street BBQ was the biggest disappointment I ate in my life. I had high hopes after hearing great things online and in the media (Food Network, The New York Times, Bon Appetit, etc.). Whatever was served here was the complete opposite of all those positive reviews. The ribs were so overcooked and dry that I considered it treason not only against BBQ, but food in general. If I was the pitmaster of this place, I would be so ashamed at what was served that I would close all stores until the quality and consistency matched the positive reviews given by food critics. If I couldn't, then any awards and trophies won should be burned and the positive reviews by the above mentioned media properties should removed or updated after tasting what I have tortured my taste buds with. TL;DR. Fun event with bearable lines that averaged around 15-20 minutes. BBQ is delicious, but I suggest you do your homework to avoid the bad. read more

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The best of the best! Can't believe I only found out about this this year, but my friends and I had so much fun sampling the number of barbeque options the different vendors had to offer. Highlights include the well reputed Salt Lick's brisket and sausage with sesame coleslaw and Hill Country's brisket sandwich with pickles and coleslaw (the absolute best BBQ sauce I've had to date). I don't even like coleslaw but both places had me wishing for more. I'd venture so far to say that Hill Country's sandwich slightly outshined Salt Lick's (and the lines were considerably shorter as well). Also, the rainbow cake and Ample Hill's butter ice cream are both absolutely incredible -- definitely make sure to stop by! Personally, I don't think the fast pass is worth it unless you're planning on going late in the day on both Saturday and Sunday / can eat a ton. I'm a relatively decent eater and could barely finish 2 plates in a 5 hour stretch. The lines aren't too bad early in the day either. Regardless of what you do, this event is definitely worth checking out! read more

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The truckers rolled into Madison Square Park this weekend for the Big Apple BBQ Block Party. And what a party it was! Seventeen Pitmasters lined up along Madison Avenue from 23rd to 27th Streets, and then again along 26th street from Madison to Fifth Avenue was quite a sight to see--even for a jaded New Yorker like me. Almost every BBQ stand sported ribbons and awards like "voted Best BBQ in St. Louis," "World Champion, Memphis in May [BBQ] Competition," and so on. Famous BBQ Pitmasters from Alabama, North Carolina, Mississippi, Memphis, Nashville, Texas...and you name it were on hand. Most stands offered either BBQ ribs, pulled pork, whole hog, smoked sausage or beef brisket, and cole slaw or baked beans for your side. Price $8.00 with $6.00 beer stands set up in the park. My choice for the day, Pitmaster Mike Mills and his 17th Street Bar & Grill out of Illinois. Baby back ribs covered with a light and tangy BBQ sauce, with hints of pepper flakes. Good, good, good! And his beans...a combination of white, lima, and kidney beans in a nice sweet sauce. Real, real creative Mike! And it seems that Mike is legendary in the BBQ world to boot (had pictures up of his appearances on "ABC Good Morning America" cooking BBQ in Times Square). This is a huge event and the lines are long here, but I will definitely be coming back for more next year! read more

A perfect day for some BBQ. What a glorious day it was. Filled with ribs, pulled pork, sausages and all things barbecue. My mouth was watering from the time I exited the subway as the barbecue scent found it's way to my nose. This was a much better organized event this year. It was the middle of the afternoon and the lines were moving incredibly smooth and fast. Not because of a lack of people, but a better all around organization. Nothing like past years where most lines were what seemed like an hour long. Good job Big Apple BBQ. read more

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

This is my first Big Apple BBQ block party and definitely not my last! It was $8 for a plate of food Yummy, yummy, yummy, I got love in my tummy! It was all about the meat... Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q had the longest lines. Was it worth the wait? You bet!!! Worth every second, every minute, every hour. The pulled pork shoulder was served on a bun with 2 little scoops of coleslaw, and a table had Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q sauces for you to slather on as much as you wanted. The meat was melt in your mouth goodness. Flavorful and juicy. Pitmaster Chris Lilly was really nice to his fans. When asked, he turned, came over to the barrier and took pictures with them. Pappy's Smokehouse was serviing up baby back ribs with a side of baked beans. They had really good flavor and a delicious sweetness to the ribs. It was mouthwatering BBQ. Even the side of baked beans were sweet and yummy. Checkered Pig had St. Louis-Style ribs and coleslaw. The coleslaw was so tasty and fresh and it didn't even have mayo. The ribs had good flavor and good texture. Jack's Old South was serving up beef brisket and baked beans with peaches. Oh....soft, succulent melt-in-your mouth brisket. It was juicy and so good. You can see the smoke ring on the brisket. The baked beans were delicous with peach flavor and a piece of peach. Very lovely combo. Original Fried Pie Company served up 4 flavors of fried pies for $4 each. They had peach, apple, blackberry and apricot. I got 2 pies. Had to wait a bit for the blackberry, but when I got it, it was pipin' hot and ooooh so delicious. It was fine blackberry preserves served in a pie dough that was deep fried. They couldn't fry these pie fast enough to keep up with the demand. Now for the bad part...it's only once a year! read more

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Third time coming out to this (and purely on accident). My previous 2 forays into the Big Apple BBQ Block Party were rife with frustration at inefficient lines that stretched on forever, people cutting, and food running out. Good job 2012 planners. This year's BBQ had much more efficiently marked lines and lots of police officers (nice ones!) to make sure people didn't start taking liberties. The vendors also got smarter pricing all entrees at $8 and all drinks at $2 which made for quicker times at the register. They were also better able to handle the huge crowds and came prepared with a ton of food, ensuring that the lines moved quite quickly. (We got our food even faster than our friends waiting in line at Shake Shack). And for the bigger BBQ enthusiasts, you could always shell out the big bucks for a fast pass ticket for access to special lines in the back. :) Beautiful weather, slow cooked meats, and picnicking on the grass in Madison Square Park? One of those days where you love NYC. read more

This was my very 1st time going to the event. There are so many booths and food that I didn't know where to start. ACTUALLY let me correct myself, not food......MEAT! For those of you looking for something to off-set the massive amounts of BBQ available look no further because MORE MEAT is available!!! I think if I saw beans it was the only non-meat product being served with the exception of the Bier Garden beer. My Tips for future go-ers: 1) Go Hungry or bring Another Stomach 2) Remember Cash if you did not purchase tix to the Fast Lanes (Which I recommend since the lines are shorter) 2) Go Early. Some of the booths do not account for the demand and sell out. Case in point I suffered not getting pie because they sold out at 3pm. 3) Bring your own water/soda-- Like most NYers I don't like getting charged $3 for a tiny bottle of water. If you didn't bring it from home, not to worry! There is a Walgreen's around the corner who is more than happy to take your money for huge bottles of liquid. 4) Bring a blanket (Trust me, if you eat a lot you are going to want to nap a lot) 5) Bring sunscreen. We want those PIGGY'S BBQ-ed not you & your friends! P.S. I know you love your dogs but please don't let them walk around. They will def get stepped on! read more

As you start to walk off the train you start to smell the BBQ.Get there early to avoid the lines. The fast pass is definitely worth it.Some of the places gave you a lot of food for $12. Blue Smoke was definitely my favorite. Rodney Smith's ribs were to die for. Ample Hulls Corn on the run ice cream was out of this world. I would definitely go there again. I would definitely do the VIP next year for the guaranteed seat and the additional food that comes with it. read more

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Awesome experience if you are able to go the following 1) Remember Cash 2) Bring a blanket (I dont understand why people were just standing and eating) 3) Bring your own water/soda 4) Weigh if it worth getting a Fast Pass. We didn't and the lines went pretty fast so there were no problems. But it was a Sunday at 2pm so maybe things were winding down by then. 5) The Southern Living games in the center were fun and an added bonus with the Vlasic Pickle Stork that you got to take pictures with. I recommend the Blackjack Pulled Pork read more

Another great year of BBQ festivities and I'm already lickin' my chops for next year! Once again opted for only out of NYC places (I'll have to make it up to Hill Country later this week). In Order: Mike Mills, 17th Street Bar & Grill, Murphysboro, IL & Memphis Championship Barbecue, Las Vegas, NV Baby Back Ribs & Beans - Good flavor, beans had a nice kick. I like my baby backs to fall off the bone more than these did. Myron Mixon, Jack's Old South, Unadilla, GA Beef Brisket & Baked Beans - Was looking forward to tasting TLC's Pitmasters' vaunted champion's BBQ for weeks, and to be honest, I was a bit disappointed. The brisket was juicy but I would've liked some sauce for additional flavor. Hill Country's brisket is still the best I've had on 26th Street, Block Party or otherwise. Joe Duncan, Baker's Ribs, Dallas, TX St. Louis-Style Ribs & Cole Slaw - Blew everything else out of the water. These ribs were incredibly tasty and fall-off the bone, and the cole slaw had a good kick. Table to add sauce yourself. Ken Bosley, Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, Owensboro, KY BBQ Mutton & Burgoo - Interesting choice to bring to the party since no one else had anything like it. That's why I tried it, and to be honest, don't need to try either again. Probably would've been happier with pulled pork or whole hog, but what the hell, right? read more

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York