Although western Kentucky is famous for its deep-rooted barbecue culture, the the center of the state around Lexington never has had an exalted reputation for smoke-cooked meat. Since 2014, the folks at Blue Door Smokehouse have been doing something to change that.
There’s nothing dramatically different about the Blue Door menu, nor is the kitchen’s repertoire unique to Kentucky. But if you are in Lexington hankering for Texas-style (melt-in-your-mouth) brisket, pulled pork, smoky chicken, muscular smokehouse sausages, or baby back ribs, this is the place to go. The meats are succulent enough to not require sauce, but it’s fun to play around with the three varieties available: tangy, spicy, and sweet.
Side-dish choices include red potato salad, a choice of creamy or vinegar-spiked cole slaw, collard greens, and ranch beans.
Blue Door is as casual as BBQ ought to be: order at the counter and receive food on trays lined with pink butcher paper. Do note that it is open only until 3pm Monday through Thursday, and until 8pm on Friday and Saturday. But it is not uncommon for one or several of the meats to sell out before closing time. So if you need to eat this good BBQ, arrive early!
Other Nearby Restaurants
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Boone Tavern
Berea, KentuckyBuilt in 1909 and affiliated with Berea College (which supplies much of the staff), the Boone Tavern serves great vintage hotel food with many modern twists.
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Smithtown Seafood
Lexington, KentuckyThe perfect order at chef Ouita Michel’s Smithtown Seafood? Spicy buffalo catfish bites, the crispiest fish ‘n’ chips, and mountains of golden brown French fries.
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Hitz BBQ
Berea, KentuckyAt a highway exit in Berea, Kentucky, Hitz doesn’t look like a first-rate BBQ joint, but it is. Meats are expertly smoke-cooked; side dishes are extraordinary.
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Star Hill Provisions
Loretto, KentuckyIn the old distiller’s house on the Maker’s Mark campus, Star Hill is a contemporary farm-to-table cafe featuring unique Kentucky eats and bourbon drinks.
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Hall’s on the River
Winchester, KentuckyHall’s is a Kentucky destination for handsome steaks, hot browns, and mud pie dessert, all in a bucolic country setting. Fine Roadfood dining.