THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Barrel & Ashes Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Barrel & Ashes Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant and décor: Thomas Keller Restaurant Group alum Rory Herrmann went from haute French fare to family-style BBQ with Barrel & Ashes. "Barrel" stands for the drinks, and "Ashes" for barbecue. The décor is simple, illustrated by the picnic-style seating on the front patio. Inside are the bar, a communal table, tables and an impressive wood grill, where most of the cooking is done.

About the food & drinks: Start with pork rinds or the must-have "Frito pie," where Frito chips are served in the ripped package and topped with chili, cheddar, sour cream and green onions. The hoe cake (cornmeal flatbread) is so good that you might end up ordering more. Now, the pièces de résistance, the reason why we came: the barbecued meats. The list is quite mouthwatering: brisket, spare ribs, chicken, pulled pork, baby back ribs and Louisiana hot links. They all come in various serving sizes (and prices). You can create your own feast, served on a wood board, with a mix of all the above. Among the sides are very cheesy pasta and braised collard greens. Desserts include banana pudding and fruit crisp. Come thirsty as there are about 30 beers from which to choose. If you can't decide how to quench your thirst, let the bartenders do what they love most: create a drink based on your preferred spirit.