We did Rockland's last week. It was great. People really liked their pasta salad.

Personally love RHB (more than Famous Dave's) and have used them for catering several times.

I was passing through Urbana and stopped for BBQ at Black Hog yesterday (I think there is also one in Frederick). It was excellent.

Rocklands in Virginia Square is fantastic! We are barbecue fanatics and it's our favorite place in the area, and we've tried them all. Good side dishes. Convenient and professional catering. Backyard BBQ is alright, the family that owns it is really nice so we try to go there every now and then to support a local business. (Their chili is excellent!) Dixie Bones in Woodbridge is pretty good, but too far away from me to justify the drive. (Though if we do go to Dixie Bones, we ALWAYS get the chocolate cream pie...that almost makes up for the traffic I'll have to sit in to get there!)

Last Fall we attended to a party where the hosts hired Green Pig Bistro to roast a pig. It was very good though I have no idea about cost.

http://greenpigbistro.com/pig-roasts

dixie bones

Used rH&B several times when doing company events. Always did a great job, always had tons of leftovers. In NoVA, the catering comes from the Manasssas store.

Anonymous wrote:I've found Famous Dave's food to be sickeningly sweet. Maybe I'll try it again after all the endorsements on this thread. What's good there?

You have to pick the right sauce to avoid the sweetness.

Of all their items, I think they do ribs the best. I also like their brisket. Pork is very good. Chicken is good. Sides are fine, typical bbq sides.

Anonymous wrote:RHB really varies by location. We stopped going to the one in Rosslyn because the meat was horrible, the sides were meh, etc. Then we were down in Williamsburg and the RHB there was practically in the parking lot of our hotel and they did takeout. We were so wiped and wanted to put the kids to sleep that we decided to chance it. The food there was as good as we remembered the RHB used to be in Arlington years ago.

The current Washingtonian has an article on BBQ. It says that the only REd Hot and Blue that is any good is the Laurel one.

RHB really varies by location. We stopped going to the one in Rosslyn because the meat was horrible, the sides were meh, etc. Then we were down in Williamsburg and the RHB there was practically in the parking lot of our hotel and they did takeout. We were so wiped and wanted to put the kids to sleep that we decided to chance it. The food there was as good as we remembered the RHB used to be in Arlington years ago.

It may come down to how important you think the sides are. I think the sides at Rocklands and Famous Dave's are terrible. RHB has great ones.

I've found Famous Dave's food to be sickeningly sweet. Maybe I'll try it again after all the endorsements on this thread. What's good there?

Is there a location that is better quality bbq for Rocklands?

The only thing that gives me hesitation is the posters mentioning it in the same recommendation as Red Hot & Blue.

Ok. Just found the Rocklands menu. Very intrigued. Thanks Memphis poster. I will have to take my husband.

Love both Rocklands and RHB!