RUB BBQ

Please note: this business is now closed; nycgo.com keeps record of many old and closed venues. RUB (Righteous Urban Barbecue) doesn't look like much, with flat-screen TVs in every corner, plain wood tables and a compact bar. But when it comes to barbecue, this humble Chelsea hangout is king. Pit master Paul Kirk is champion of the American Royal Open, the largest barbecue contest in the world, and has also been inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame. His baron of beef brisket is smoky, pink and tender with just a shimmer of fat; his baby back ribs crisp, meaty slabs of heaven. Sausages in natural casings are smoked fresh daily, and sandwiches are perfection on a bun.