Virgil's Real BBQ • 1994

In the heart of Times Square, Virgil's Real BBQ serves Southern-style barbecue smoked low and slow for up to 10 hours over hickory, oak, and fruit woods in a roadhouse Americana setting. Founded by Artie Cutler in 1994 after a barbecue pilgrimage through the South, this restaurant offers regional styles from across Dixie—Texas beef brisket, Carolina pulled pork, Memphis spare ribs, and the infamous Trainwreck Fries loaded with cheddar, bacon, and ranch. The space fills with pre-theater crowds and tourists drawn to live music on Wednesdays and the singular promise of authentic pit-smoked meats just steps from Broadway.