These Are Brett Anderson's Top Barbecue Spots in New Orleans

Just in time for the summer meat sweats, Times-Pic critic Brett Anderson has just named his top spots for "really good barbecue" in New Orleans, a far cry from the limited options of just ten years ago.  Today, Anderson reports, the city boasts some "serious barbecue craftsmen" and "the progress continues" with a McClure's expansion now open in NOLA Brewing's Taproom and Texas-cue Black Label Icehouse on the way to Uptown this fall.

While you'll likely be familiar with many of these, there's a couple surprises. Here now, Brett Anderson's top seven choices for barbecue in Nola:

Blue Oak Barbecue in Chickie Wah Wah: "Order the nachos."

Hillbilly Bar-B-Q: Harahan's Kentucky style barbecue spot is "as good as ever."

The Joint: "Keep your eyes open for the smoked pastrami, a mid-week special that sells out quickly."

McClure's Barbecue: "Sauces from all corners of the Barbecue Nation... tacos, a country take on chicken Cordon Bleu, and one of the best cheeseburgers in New Orleans."

NOLA Smokehouse: "Smoked prime rib nights are set to resume in the fall."

Papa's Backyard Bar-B-Q: At this Slidell spot, "the meat, cooked crisp and fragrant in an indoor, wood-fired smoker, is a fine and poignant tribute" to owner Ronald Robinson's son, Ronald Jr., who passed away in 2010.

Walker's BBQ: Home to the cochon du lait po boy (of Jazz Fest fame), which "essentially put what might be called 'Louisiana-style barbecue' on the map."