Best BBQ in the West...or in the U.S. for that matter.

i'm only here for two weeks and I already have a hankering for some southern foods. so i guess BBQ isn't just a southern thing, but sweet yummy BBQ is TOTALLY southern. out west it's more spicy/chili powder oriented and in the eastern part of NC it's that nasty vinegar crap. luckily, while searching for restaurants to try on google maps, i found a link to famous dave's BBQ on 36th avenue. now, i know foodies usually have beef (no pun intended) ((but really, that's hilarious)) with chain restaurants*. but i went and it was AMAZING. fall-off-the-freaking-bones ribs with tons of sauce (plus extra sauces on your table in ALL kinds of flavors. i also had a GIGANTIC margarita. i only ordered a regular size but this thing was HUGE.  in addition to the amazing meat, the sides were also out of this world. i chose the selection, "ribs-n-meat" which is four ribs with your choice of one other meat: chopped pork BBQ, roast or BBQ chicken, catfish, hot wings or beef brisket. i was GOING to get the catfish which i'm SURE is phenomenal, but instead i went with the wings because i'm kinda a hot wings whore. surprisingly enough, the hot wings were NOT the best i've ever had. sure, they were good...but they had more flavor than kick...and not the kind of flavor you expected. sort of like sriracha, which i LOVE and am obsessed with...but just didn't do it for me. however, the sides were incredible. they had about ten to choose from but i chose collard greens and coleslaw. i NEVER pick coleslaw and i'm sure glad i did. they make their with horseradish and dill. it was so cold and creamy. just perfect against the BBQ. but those collard greens...y'all i am from the south and my grandmother knows how to make some collard greens. but these were almost as good. they were made with meat (obviously) and i wanted more when i was finished even though i was stuffed.

i know good food critics usually don't love EVERY place they go...but denver has offered up nothing but wonderful noms thus far.

peace & food,

Marnie

*For the record, I also hate chains on the whole. However, some of them (Like Famous D's and Red Lobster-yes! I said Red Lobster**!) are quite good.

**Red Lobster gets kuddos for their broiling technique and quality of their seafood. USUALLY, no matter which one you visit, the food tastes and is always cooked the same. It has also never been fishy a single time I have tried it-which is why it is my favorite chain.