Brother Jimmy's BBQ

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An always-crowded minichain of pit restaurants dotting the streets of Manhattan, Brother Jimmy’s Barbeque fairly shouts ‘tourist trap,’ with neon signs, rusty license plates, bumper stickers, university banners, and odd images of dancing, gagged hogs crowding the walls. Recent grads mob the sticky wood bar after work, ignoring the loud, bland rock and country music. But Brother Jimmy’s isn’t perpetually packed for just the big-screen TVs or cheap Bud. Surprisingly, the kitchens smoke some tasty, satisfying grub. The menu claims that the sweet, Northern Style ribs are smoked for twelve hours; slabs of toothsome, dropping-off-the-bone ribs are edible proof. Slender slices of beef brisket yield utterly at the touch of a fork, and heaps of juicy pulled pork overflow two soft white buns, slathered with thick pepper sauce and tangy vinegar. Platters come with cornbread and hyper-generous trimmings, like mountainous mashed potatoes with gravy and piles of mac-and-cheese. If the enormous portions don’t mollify your appetite for collegiate excess, weekly all-you-can-eat-and-drink (in the space of two hours) feasts just may. — Laurel A. Fantauzzo

On Sundays, all-you-can-eat ribs and all-you-can-drink draft beers; in most locations on Mondays, same goes for rib tips, hot wings, and draft beers. On Wednesdays, get 25% off with valid ID from below the Mason-Dixon.

Northern style ribs, $24.75; pulled pork sandwich, $12.50; sliced brisket, $21