DALLAS BBQ 261 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011 (212) 462-0001 I've visited my dad in NY, 2 – 3 times a year since 2001. I'm a southern bell with an explicit obsession with New York City. Little did I know I would fall in love AGAIN at the corner of 23rd street and 8th Avenue. My friends and I walked into what I thought was an atypical American eatery. We know the drill; we know what we are supposed to do. We walk to the host station, place one of our last names on the endless waiting list and do just that, wait. While we wait, we hear friends laughing hysterically, plates plunging to their deaths on the hardwood floors, we smell the remnants of uneaten portions as tables are bussed and (oh!), excitement, we hear OUR name. I have traveled across the country; California, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia, The Carolinas, D.C., and Louisiana, for what I eventually found at Dallas BBQ's at 261 8th Avenue in Chelsea, New York City. Dallas BBQ's boasts to be New York's most popular rotisserie. However, I had the BEST Turkey burger (TB) I have EVER had in my LIFE at the rotisserie. In comparison, turkey burgers at most high- and low-end restaurants are drier, smaller and simply, bland. I believe most restaurants with a TB on their menu assume that patrons, who do not eat beef, don't care about taste. This Dallas BBQ Turkey Burger looked, smelled and tasted like a ¼ pound Angus steak burger that could easily cost me up to $15 dollars. I was impressed, I was in awe, and I was in love. Dallas BBQ's is not a first-date restaurant. However, it is a great place to meet up with friends before hitting your favorite night spot, a great place to have a family-oriented birthday celebration or a great place to take out of town guests. The cost is moderate (I only needed Alexander Hamilton's $10 bill for my meal), the dress code is casual and the Dallas BBQ cast are super friendly. Normally, it's not a good idea to go to a restaurant, starving. However, there were 3 people in my party and we all had our (accurate) orders before our seats were warm or our water glasses were empty. Despite my instant love affair with my own Turkey Burger, I did wander to my friend's plates for a split second, to try the cornbread (edible perfection) and fries (forgettable). Overall, I fell in love with New York City, again. I don't have to travel the continental U.S.A. for the perfect Turkey Burger. Chelsea can be very seductive, but this time, she has found the key to my heart. I'm hooked; I am not going anywhere else. New Times Square 42nd Street Location! For more information log on to www.bbqnyc.com Quiana Nichol CONTESTS | ABOUT US | LETTER FROM THE EDITOR | CONTACT US © 2007, Sun Goddess Productions All Rights Reserved