Central City BBQ Is About To Change the New Orleans Barbecue Game

It’s a glorious day for New Orleans barbecue fanatics. Hotly-anticipated barbecue spot Central City BBQ has officially opened its doors at 1201 Rampart, Todd Price reports. Pitmaster Rob Bechtold, who garnered a huge following with his sadly shuttered, critically-acclaimed NOLA Smokehouse, has teamed up with chef Aaron Burgau of Patois to open a giant Central City barbecue compound— the chefs worked together at Bayona back in the day, and Burgau himself is a member of Hogs For The Cause barbecue team Stand Up & Snout.

While NOLA Smokehouse was a bare bones operation with just two smokers and a propensity for selling out of barbecue by midday, at Central City BBQ there’s a “fleet” of conventional smokers, according to Ian McNulty, and an actual outdoor pithouse:

Inside there’s a trio of cookers built as hybrids... ideal for ribs and chicken and the house-made boudin... the cookers could also open new possibilities on the menu for more delicate dishes, like smoked steaks or sweetbreads.

The massive restaurant, which took over a former seafood market and Chinese food joint, has seating for 160, a backyard, and even an events hall. A full bar features an array of local beers and a kimchi Bloody Mary.

On the menu, you’ll find sandwiches, a barbecue platter with brisket, ribs, the best burnt ends in town and more meats. Sides include remoulade potato salad and spoonbread.

Status: Officially open at 1201 S. Rampart St. Thurs-Mon, 11 a.m. until (closed on Christmas Day). (504) 558-4276. Official Website here.

Central City BBQ, from ex-NOLA Smokehouse pit master, now open [NOLA.com]

As Central City BBQ gets smoking, a pitmaster returns under different terms [Advocate]

All Opening Coverage [ENOLA]