5 barbecue spots to try for Father's Day

Geoffrey Wilson
Poughkeepsie Journal
Baby Back ribs and Brisket combo, with mac and cheese and baked beans with burnt ends at Billy Joe's Ribworks on Front Street in Newburgh, April 6, 2017.

Father's Day may not get quite the dining turnout of Mother's Day, but that shouldn't stop you from celebrating with great food.

With grilling season underway, why not treat your dad to some of the best barbecue available throughout the Hudson Valley?

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Big W's Roadside BBQ

Huge portions and no frills are the hallmarks of Big W's Roadside BBQ. The Wingdale barbecue joint is all about serving up great food and plenty of it. Even the serving sizes acknowledge the portions, with the smallest size listed as "truly sensible." The dining area is rather plain, though pork fans might appreciate the pig statuettes and decorations sprinkled around the restaurant. Adventurous and hungry customers can get the try-it-all combination for one, a platter featuring a quarter-rack of ribs, a quarter chicken and a quarter-pound of the meat of your choice, as well as two sides such as dirty mashed potatoes or hush puppies. Just be warned — the menu states that the combo for one is really enough food for two people.

Go: 1475 Route 22, Wingdale; 845-832-6200; theforkingpig.com.

Billy Bob’s BBQ restaurant in Poughkeepsie.

Billy Bob's BBQ

Billy Bob's BBQ offers up a eclectic flair with a tinge of country right in the Town of Poughkeepsie. Chef Bobby Kistner brings his experience as a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America to deliver what the restaurant's website boasts as the "best" barbecue. For that perfect mix of barbecue and comfort foods, try one of the Mac Attacks. Baked macaroni and cheese is topped with bread crumbs, but the kicker is the barbecue mixed into the bowl. The Piggy Mac adds pulled pork to the mix, while the Chicky Max throws in Cajun-spiced chicken.

Go: 35 Fairmont Ave, Poughkeepsie; 845-471-7870; billybobsbbq.biz.

Baby Back ribs and Brisket combo, with mac and cheese and baked beans with burnt ends at Billy Joe's Ribworks on Front Street in Newburgh, April 6, 2017.

Billy Joe's Ribworks

Take to the Newburgh waterfront, and grab a table on the deck to enjoy great barbecue and a view of the Hudson River at Billy Joe's Ribworks. The restaurant offers a taste of country, with oddities ranging from a vintage tricycle to an acoustic guitar decorating the wooden walls of the dining room. The obvious choice for what to get would be the restaurant's namesake: the half rack of St. Louis-style Ribs, smoked with a blend of spices and charbroiled before being slathered with a house barbecue sauce. Or go big with the Brontosaurus Beef Ribs.

Go: 26 Front St, Newburgh; 845-565-1560; ribworks.com.

Hickory

Inspired by the barbecue of hotspots in Memphis, South Carolina and Illinois, Hickory in Kingston aims to bring the best of American barbecue to New York. With a red facade reminiscent of a quintessential barn, Hickory stands out among the businesses on Route 28. Hickory offers a roadhouse vibe from the wood panel walls to the old-school jukebox. Diners should grab the Hickory’s Barbecue Sandwich, either pulled pork or smoked turkey topped with slaw and pickles on a grilled flat bread, all served with a side of Ma Hickory’s roasted potato salad or the macaroni salad.

Go: 743 Route 28, Kingston; 845-338-2424; hickoryrestaurant.com.

Smoky Rock

While the restaurant looks more like your traditional Hudson Valley dining spot, Smoky Rock in Rhinebeck doesn't hold back when it comes to flavor. The restaurant strives to offer both the hallmarks of barbecue and more experimental dishes that feel at home in the Valley. Diners can opt for the traditional St. Louis smoked ribs or the roasted New York-style wet ribs. For something beyond your standard barbecue fare, get the Volcano Potatoes. This odd dish comes with three potato skins packed with mashed potatoes, pulled pork, pulled chicken, cheddar and bacon, offering diners a little bit of everything in one dish.

Go:  6367 Mill St, Rhinebeck; 845-876-5232; smokyrockbbq.com.

Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4882, Twitter: Geoff_LW