Great barbecue takes patience, and the best pitmasters in Wisconsin know it starts long before the doors open. All across the state, smokehouses fire up their pits early so the brisket, ribs, and pulled pork have hours to turn tender and smoky.
From a gas-station counter in East Troy to a lakeside spot in Door County, these eight places take smoked meat seriously. Here are the ones worth planning a meal around.
1. Smoky Jon’s #1 BBQ, Madison, WI
Meat cooked over a wood-burning pit is the whole point at this compact Madison joint on Packers Avenue. The chopped brisket sandwich gets plenty of attention, and for good reason.
The menu leans classic, with a half slab of BBQ ribs, that famous chopped brisket, and sides that hold their own. The creamy mac and cheese and baked beans with a bit of kick round out a plate nicely…