Midwood Smokehouse

Midwood Smokehouse is the Plaza Midwood barbecue restaurant on Central Avenue from Frank Scibelli’s group, with further locations in Park Road, Ballantyne and beyond. The bar is the most reviewed barbecue restaurant in Charlotte by a wide margin. Burnt ends are the item people single out again and again, and they are what most first timers should order. Purists from eastern North Carolina rate the pulled pork as good instead of transcendent. Servers are unusually well briefed on gluten free options, which is worth knowing if someone at the table needs them.

What to know

• St. Louis ribs and brisket ordered half moist and half lean are the other picks.
• Smoked wings arrive on a sizzling skillet.
• The Well-Fed platter covers four meats for a group.
• Servers are unusually well briefed on gluten free options.