Best BBQ in Utah

A few weeks ago, Cblakes, Judd, and I met up on a Monday night and headed out looking for the best BBQ in Utah. We went to a place called Pat's BBQ (www.patsbbq.com) first. I had been there before and knew it had some amazing BBQ. It's location is a little sketchy, which, as it turns out, is a pretty good indicator of good BBQ. You drive up, and it looks more like a warehouse than a restaurant (that perception isn't helped by the fact that its in an industrial zone). Katie was very skeptical, but I went in to scout it out and found it very clean inside, so we went in and ordered. It was awesome! I ordered a half rack, but the ribs were so huge that I could only eat three. The ribs were nice and smoky, and they had a variety of sauces available at your table, so you could sample a number of different sauces. In addition to the great food, the atmosphere was outstanding. The tables are nice picnic tables to eat at, and there is a large bag of peanuts available to snack on while you are waiting for your food. They also have cool blues music playing in the background. Right then and there I declared Pat's BBQ the best Q in Utah, and I was looking forward to repeating the experience with Cblakes and Judd. But, unfortunately, they are not open on Monday nights, and we were turned away disappointed.

Determined, we called Katie and had her look up the address of the only other BBQ place that could compete with Pat's--Q for You in West Valley. We headed west and found Q for You in an appropriately sketchy, although not industrial, area. Fortunately, it was open, so we went in and ordered ourselves a couple racks of ribs. The ribs were just as large as those at Pat's, and they were nice and smoky, but they only provided one kind of sauce. The owner was a huge ethnic guy (I couldn't tell if he was black or Polynesian) that would walk around the tables and shoot the crap with other cool dudes, which was pretty cool. We were very satisfied, but, in the end, I must give the edge to Pat's. It had a greater variety of sauces, and it had a much better atmosphere. I found myself longing for Pat's peanuts, picnic tables, and blues music, while I was sitting in a ghetto table/booth, surrounded by rain forest decor (complete with a fake parrot), and lame music.

So, until proven otherwise, Pat's BBQ retains its title as best BBQ in Utah.