Madison, home of the Badgers and progressive heart of the Dairy State, may be better known for cheese curds than brisket, but its barbecue game has seriously leveled up over the past decade.
Maybe it’s the city’s national transplants, its love of farmer’s markets and craft beer, or just a yearning to smoke meat year-round—even through a Wisconsin winter—but Madison’s pitmasters bring both innovation and respect for the classics.
Here you’ll find everything from rustic Midwestern rib joints to upscale smokehouses with a local twist…