Finally, Great Jacksonville
Barbecue! By Cole Pepper WOKV Barbecue
Director
It’s been said before. I am a barbecue snob. I’ve
judged contests, smoked ribs, shoulder, brisket and just
about anything else you can think of myself. Heck, I
grew up in the barbecue capitol of the world, Kansas
City. So you can imagine my skepticism when I got a call
a couple of months ago inviting me to try a new BBQ
joint.
Located in an old Skinner’s Dairy drive-thru building
on the Westside, Blackjack Barbecue gets my title as
“Best Barbecue Restaurant in Jacksonville.” This stuff
is great! Art Franco and Rich Goldfarb aren’t just some
guys who decided to open up a chain. These guys LOVE
barbecue. They have competed in sanctioned barbecue
contests. They talk about barbecue like a vintner
discussed his most recently bottled wine. These guys I
can relate to!
As you drive down Shirley Avenue between Cassat and
Blanding, don’t be fooled by the typical Westside
amalgamation of tire stores, chain-linked residences and
the odd stereo shop, it’s not the atmosphere of the take
out only business that makes it great. In barbecue the
three T’s rule: taste, texture, tenderness. And
Blackjack Barbecue gets straight A’s.
The menu includes the usual hits: ribs, beef brisket,
pulled pork shoulder (or Boston Butt), and a perfect
example of southern smoked chicken. On a cold day, don’t
miss Art’s Texas Chili. Baked beans, cole slaw, potato
salad are also available (Joe recommends the garlic
bread, too). At some barbecue joints, the lunch meat is
reheated from the previous days batch. Not at Blackjack.
Either Art or Rich is on the smoker around 4 AM to get
the day’s meat started. There is a drawback: sometimes
they run out earlier than they hope for lunch. But the
upside is awesome. It’s like pulling ribs off your
smoker and loading them up as you order…that is in
essence exactly what they do.
Blackjack Barbecue (named for the Blackjack oak, a
wood they use predominantly in their smoker) is open
Friday, Saturday and Monday. Rich and Art have other
“real jobs.” But it is a real treat to eat barbecue from
somebody who loves to slave over the smoker as much as
they love to eat it. If you have ever enjoyed smoked
meat, don’t miss Blackjack Barbecue.
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