Gary, IN area BBQ joints? Need recommendations!

[JonnyB]

Hey everyone,
Haven't been on much lately due to work and school, not to mention the holidays that included a 2 week, 3000 mile loop from TN to Lockhart, TX, then Lubbock, Tx, then Dallas, TX, and finally home. I did get to enjoy some amazing bbq at Kreuz in Lockhart. But now it's back to work and school again. I'm headed to the Gary, IN area to give a class to some MEDEVAC folks and was wondering if anyone had bbq joint recommendations in Gary or Merrellville. I know there are several folks on here from that neck of the woods. Might be staying the night in Chicago before I fly out, but that's on Sunday so I don't expect many joints to be open that day. I'll be there Feb 28th - March 3rd. Thanks!

[Troutman]

OK so you've just been to Kreuz's in Lockhart, Texas and experienced some of the best Texas has to offer and now you're going to Gary Indiana to look for barbecue? Now not saying that my brothers up there don't have some good cue, but it's kind of like dancing with the prom queen and ending up going home with ugly gal.

Actually I grew up on Chicago's south side not terribly far from Gary. I do remember back in those days you could cut the air with a knife, so my recommendation would be to find a killer bbq in Chitown and cut your losses.

[JonnyB]

I try to get barbecue where ever I travel. Sometimes I don't get to pick the location. I don't expect world class, just something representing the area. I've had Smoque in Chicago already. It was good, but I'm not going into Chicago until Sunday, so I'm not sure what is open then. Most bbq in TN and TX is closed on Sunday unless it's a chain.

[adamcoe]

Yeah I feel like the best bbq in Gary, IN is in your car, if you have a take-out container in it from Chicago or St. Louis. Gary is a terrifying place.

[Steve R.]

Good call, JonnyB. Merrillville isn't bad.

[Troutman]

"Gary is a terrifying place" .... that about sums it up !!!

[adamcoe]

Well played man. Best of luck with the BBQ hunt.

[klflowers]

There used to be a place in downtown Chicago called the Wabash Inn that had some of the best ribs I ever tasted. This was back in the 1980's. Looking online, it looks like it is now Miller's Pub, but the same family owns it. Maybe the ribs are still the same...

[Spinaker]

Did you stop at Black's while in Lockhart? That is my favorite spot around those parts! Although the Hot Guts at Kruez's is amazing.

[JonnyB]

I had Black's the last time I was in Lockhart. It was right before closing, so the quality wasn't the best, but it was still good. Sausage was dry by then, so they gave me extra. But all that did was give me more dry sausage. I won't judge them by that meal though. Next will be a stop at Smitty's.

[Troutman]

Well let's try not to be too down on Gary, we may actually have a member here !! So in that regard, I thought I'd "Cue" up a song instead .....

[Keiferr]

I was born and raised there. Great place to be from. Not familiar with good eatin anymore, but look around Schereville, Merrillville, and Crown Point.