The flashing neon lights can be seen down all of Broadway. The smell of pork entices one to enter. Jack’s Bar-B-Que is a dive BBQ restaurant in the heart of Nashville, TN.

Being a novice in the large world of barbeque, I expected to enter Jack’s and to be mesmerized by a large menu selection. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised. At Jack’s, there are only six items on the menu (including Tennessee Pork Shoulder, Texas Beef Brisket, Smoked Turkey Breast, St. Louis Pork Style Ribs, and Smoked Chicken), along with a few delectable side dishes.

For the past few days, I have had a strange craving for a pulled pork, so I went for the Tennessee Pork Shoulder sandwich. Being a New Yorker, I expected (and wanted) there to be a spicy sauce on-top, instead it was just pork, and you had the option of putting sauce on yourself.

I took a bite, and I was simply blown away. It was the most tender pork I have ever dug my teeth into. It was also very tasty (even without sauce).

Jack’s Bar-B-Que is a must-visit establishment for any barbeque enthusiast traveling through Nashville.

Jack’s Bar-B-Que
216 Broadway
Nashville, TN

Max Murphy, host and producer of Mac News Weekly, is on a 3000 mile road trip with his dad and brother, Sam. On the road he is BBQ blogging for Carnivore and making us all really hungry!

BBQ at Bluegrass in Highland Park, IL from Cali Lewis on Vimeo

When we head out on the bus, we may just have to spend the first couple months driving around Texas getting sick of BBQ, if such an outcome is possible. You know BBQ is different than other kinds of dining because the indicators are nearly 180 degrees different than for any other kind of restaurant.

To start with, in what other type of dining is a decrepit looking building a good sign? They’re are some, but with BBQ is practically a given. You want a place with the character of New Orleans, a place where maintenance takes a backseat to good food and good fun.

Standing in line at the grocery store this afternoon (I was buying apples), I saw that the latest issue of Texas Monthly was promoting the “Top 50 BBQ Joints in Texas.” I bought a copy and was disappointed that it didn’t put the Top 50 in rank order, but then again, that is nearly an impossible task. I know I couldn’t do it because there is just too much nuance.

Here’s what is both notible and exciting about the Texas Monthly list: I’ve never eaten at a single one of the joints. This fact is both exciting and overwhelming.

There are lots of places to go and lots of video to shoot, which means I need some exercise.