VooDoo BBQ
1501 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Uptown 1: Garden District & Environs
Backstory
VooDoo BBQ was a spinoff, in 2002, of the short-lived Hyde Park Grill, an upscale steakhouse on St. Charles Avenue (where Zea is now). The owners started VooDoo in the old McKenzie's on the corner of St. Charles and Martin Luther King, and set up a major smokehouse operation a block away. It has now grown into a chain with over fifty locations around the country. The original St. Charles Avenue VooDoo seems to be golden.
Dining Room
Each location is a little different, but all have assisted self-service (you order and pay at the counter and fetch your own drinks, then they bring the food to you). The St. Charles Avenue VooDoo is the most cramped; the one in Mandeville the most spacious.
Why It's Essential
The six New Orleans locations of VooDoo are among the most convenient and reliable vendors of real barbecue in the area. The menu is more extensive than those of most other barbecue joints, and they make four excellent sauces in different styles. Although some of the barbecue is less than thrilling (there's never quite enough smoke flavor and crusty "bark" for my tastes), the food impresses me more with every visit.
Why It's Good
A lot of the food at VooDoo comes from a central commissary. This is a good thing, because the consistency of flavor and seasoning is nearly perfect. It's all slowly smoked--no faking anything there. The three sauces offer interesting contrasts. You get major red pepper from the "mojo" sauce, the thickest of the three. The mango sauce has the expected sweet heat. And the vinegar sauce gives a flavor of the Carolinas for those who like that (and I do). Across the menu, the pepper levels are higher than average. The side dishes are the best offered by any barbecue outfit in the area.
Most Interesting Dishes
»Barbecue brisket.<br /> »Barbecue pulled pork.<br /> »Caribbean jerk chicken.<br /> Bone-in barbecue chicken or tenders.<br /> Cajun smoked sausage.<br /> St. Louis ribs.<br /> »BBQ shrimp.<br /> Sandwiches of any of the above.<br /> Hamburger.<br /> Barbecue-stuffed baked potato.<br /> Caesar salad.<br /> Beans.<br /> »Corn pudding.<br /> »Gris-gris greens.<br /> »Cole slaw.<br /> Potato salad.<br /> Macaroni and cheese.<br /> Cheesecake.<br /> White chocolate bread pudding.
Deficiencies
Ribs are just okay, and the low point of the menu. (Not tight enough.) The hamburger is strictly for kids who eat nothing else.
For Best Results
Brisket is the best of the offerings. Chicken--available in three different styles--is better than in most barbecue shops. Get extra sides; the corn pudding and the greens are especially tasty.
Bonus Ratings
1
Attitude
1
Local Color
2
Value