Pearson's Texas Barbecue
Photo: Cititour.com
Contact Info:
Address: 170 East 81st Street
City: New York, NY
Zip: 10028
map: View the Map
Phone: 212-288-2704
Food Info:
Cuisine:
Barbecue
Cititour Review:
New York has no shortage of odd transformations, but few were more surprising than when the elegant Butterfield 81 shuttered last year, only to reopen just a few weeks later as Pearson's Texas Barbecue, a near-legendary rib joint that had originated in Long Island City. And since most of us hanker during the summer months for barbecue – without benefit of our own grills -- this is a great time to check out the restaurant. True, there are no burgers here, but there are a handful of long picnic tables available for al fresco dining; and if you come early (especially on the weekends), you can pretty much claim one. Portions are fairly generous – not to mention filling – so starters are strictly optional. A basket of the aptly-named hot links (spicy sausage) is a fun sharer, and makes a fine complement to beers, cocktails or the tart homemade lemonade. If you don't eat red meat, you'll be plenty satisfied by the juicy barbecue chicken. If you do, I would definitely head for the ribs, which are prepared dry (there's sauce on the table if you insist). The baby back pork ribs have an intensely smoky flavor, and the Flinstone-sized beef ribs are surprisingly fall-off-the-bone tender. Rib orders are accompanied by the house's tangy coleslaw, but I'd opt for the greaseless and delicious onion rings to fill out the plate. (Other sides include macaroni-and-cheese, collard greens, hush puppies, jalapeno cornbread, and French fries.) Desserts are also a tad unnecessary, and the house's signature finale, the peach cobbler, is a rather hit-or-miss affair; on one visit it was all peaches and no cobbler, while the reverse happened on another trip. And sadly, there are no marshmallows. Pearson's just isn't that kind of barbecue.
Review By: Brian Scott Lipton
Location:
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