Michaelgemmel-here’s the timeline: Country Smokehouse was originally called NN Smokehouse and was owned by a guy named Larry Tucker. Larry opened NN in the early ’90s and was proclaimed by several Chicago publications to have the best ‘que in town. Larry was the victim of some skulldeggery on the part of his landlord who quadrupled his rent and chased him out even though Larry was running a successfull business and paying his rent. After closing NN, Larry went to work for several other restaurants, one of them being Biasetti’s (which happens to be about 3/4 of a block west of Country Smokehouse, on the same side of the street).

Now, here’s where it gets a little murky. Larry’s old assistant cooks somehow managed to reopen the old location with the new name of Country Smokehouse. Because of loyalty to Larry, it took me a long time to get back in there. Eventually the craving for good ‘que overwhelmed my sense of decency (how often have we heard that sad tale) and I went back in for a brisket sandwich. Well I have to say they have maintained the recipes and quality with which Larry infused the original place. I have been going back ever since. And now the kicker: The "LT" in LT’s Grill in my original post is none other than Larry Tucker! Amidst all the nonsense, he reopened at a new location (Grand and Wood, the old location of the original Wishbone Restaurant). The only problem is, Larry’s only open for lunch right now and I just don’t get into the city much during the day. If you’re looking for some of the only good barbecue in Chicago I would heartily reccomend either one of these two spots.