Jake Van Lent and his buddies swear they have no inherent bias — that they've never worked in barbecue before.
They just love good ribs, pulled pork and brisket. And they're willing to travel the state to find Nebraska's best.
Van Lent, a grain merchandiser for Archer Daniels Midland and part-time boxing promoter, has embarked on something he calls the Nebraska Barbecue Council. His goal is to rank the top barbecue joints statewide, then move on to promoting barbecue-related events.
The group includes him and his brother Alex as co-presidents, along with friends Dmitry Adams and Sam Hardwick.
"I would say for all of us, its our favorite kind of food," he said.
They realized their mealtime discussions were a bit more in-depth and food-related than most. So, they thought, "Why not get something down on paper?"Â Jake Van Lent said.
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The first batch of rankings is for the Lincoln area only. They plan to do Omaha next.
The rankings below aren't endorsed by Ground Zero. Have your own thoughts? Let us know @JournalStar.com.
1. Phat Jack’s BBQ
101 S.W. 14th St.
Phat Jack’s burnt ends have been the kryptonite to Lincoln residents’ diets since 2006. Their signature burnt ends boast a tantalizing combination of juicy beef, crisp bark and smoky flavor, making Phat Jack’s the consensus king of barbecue in Lincoln. Oh, and they also serve very good ribs, brisket, pulled pork and sides. However, recent inconsistency — burnt ends sometimes too fatty or too dry — has left the door open for challengers looking to knock Phat Jack’s off its barbecue throne.
2. Lippy’s BBQ
126 Second St., Malcolm
A very close second overall to Phat Jack’s, Lippy’s gets the award for best ribs in the Lincoln area. With quality rub and glaze, and near-perfect texture, you’ll probably eat the whole rack before realizing you didn’t even consider using any sauce. The meat is tender enough to melt in your mouth, but firm enough to not fall off the bone when you pick it up. Lippy’s selling out of meats is an issue many nights.
3. Single Barrel
130 N. 10th St.
Single Barrel is a great venue for a country music concert, but perhaps an even better venue for shoving delectable beef brisket down your throat. Enjoy a bold, smoky taste in the brisket and the ribs. The biggest knock on Single Barrel is price; expect to pay 30 percent more for the same amount of food compared with other Lincoln barbecue joints.
4. Parker’s Smokehouse
8341 O St.
Inconsistency is an inherent trait of almost all barbecue restaurants because of all the variables involved in smoking meat, but Parker’s takes it to a new level. One day, Parker’s will serve brisket that is dry and tastes three days old. The next day, you’ll get perfectly cooked slices of mouthwatering brisket. Parker’s has a smoked sausage that bursts with flavor, and you can sometimes get a good slab of St. Louis-style ribs.
5. Hog Wild Pit Bar-B-Q
3210 Cornhusker Highway
Hog Wild, a regional chain, does a solid job with their ribs. But they fall off the bone too easily and could use more smoke flavor. The brisket is below average; the burnt ends are bathed in sauce but tender and tasty.
6. Famous Dave’s
2750 Pine Lake Road
This national chain is the jack of all barbecue trades, and master of none. They have the best barbecue sauce selection of any restaurant in Lincoln.
7. C. Berry’s
1422 O St.
C. Berry’s pulled-pork nachos rank alongside the D’Leon’s Nebraska Burrito for best late-night delights. The side dish lineup, highlighted by jalapeño mac & cheese and fresh, homemade coleslaw, is the best in Lincoln. However, the brisket is soaked in au jus to mask dryness, and ribs are not on the menu.
8. Southwest Pit
1601 P St.
There are two reasons to go to Southwest Pit: arguably the best smoked wings in Lincoln, and the Big Hog sandwich (half pound of pulled pork, quarter pound of bacon, nacho cheese and barbecue sauce). The other menu items often do not taste fresh.
9. Dickey’s
Multiple locations
Another national chain, Dickey's has average barbecue all around, and really good hot links.
10. Spare Time Lounge
123 S. Fourth St., Seward
Spare Time Lounge is a terrific place to bowl and enjoy a brisket sandwich and beers with friends. However, ribs are only smoked Fridays, and prime rib is only smoked Saturdays. Both are worth eating, but neither is worth planning your week around.
Note: Poppi’s (closed physical location in 2017), Mary Ellen’s (food truck), and Juan’s (catering only) are all ineligible due to lack of brick-and-mortar restaurant. Each would otherwise be in the top five.