McClure’s Barbecue

This is for the location inside NOLA Brewery and not about the Brewery at all.
After a terrible experience at Wood Pizza on The Girly’s Birthday, we stopped here so she could try the beer and maybe get something to eat.
You order at the window (I hate doing that but in this situation, I can see how they have to do it that way) they give you a device to let you know when your order is up. The menu is small and made for fast turn-​over.
The Girly got the pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw. For a New Orleans BBQ place, it was top notch. I never have too high of expectations for BBQ here because, face it, you’re not going to get world class bbq here. I’ve actually had better bbq in England than in New Orleans (true story bro).
I got the chicken wings and they seemed like standard Buffalo style wings. They were ok and a step up from places like Buffalo Wild Wings but you can make them better at home.
So while we were not wowed by the experience, neither were we disappointed. And with New Orleans BBQ places, that’s usually the most that you can hope for.

Well so go’s the end of this love affair. New Orleans is one of the worst major cities in the south when it comes to barbecue and when McClure’s arrived I had hope that I could finally have a place I can rely on for my BBQ fix but sadly they have proceeded to ruin the business. When I woke up this morning and turned on my computer I saw a photo on Facebook from this day last year when I enjoyed a great rib dinner from McClure that featured a a black eye pea soup that was astounding. What made McClure different was his sides were excellent and every now and then he would show his talent as a chef. Well somewhere along the line he got the idea of opening a satellite location in the new Nola Brewhouse. Once again a local business chasing dollars instead of quality and running away loyal fans. Having eaten at the brewhouse location it was as I feared, price increase, quality decrease because he is trying to serve too many people. The greens that I loved are not on the menu at the other location brewhouse location because he wants high volume. The specials that I loved like the prime rib, the Smoked Thanksgiving Dinner, smoked brisket phở, all gone from the menu. Its a shame what has happened here.

Wow! At first I thought this place was immensely popular, then-​after driving by the location dozens of times-​I came to a conclusion. Being closed all the time, either they are real restrictive about who and when they sell to… …or, they just stay closed all the time and show a good «choice» menu on the door.
I can now confirm what the owner of BEVI in Metairie «told me so!!!» This place blows away the next 10 places combined. Although they don’t stay open all the time, but they do have two locations. 4800 magazine & the rear of the tap room on Tchoupitoulas St. It is well worth it.
And I have tried every place from Hwy 23 to Cochin, e
I really wanted to get a hamburger, because they convey tastes to paper for you to order from in such a fashion that eating the crumpled menu seems like a good idea at the time! I mean it’s the next best thing to a huge BBQ smoked burger with bleu cheese burger with double thick slices bacon (with 1 of 6 BBQ sauces that are handmade).
But to check this foodie recommendation, I ordered the 3 meat combo. Ribs, pulled pork, and chicken along with my two sides: Four cheese macaroni and jambalaya. God bless the cashier who was honest enough to answer straightforjnlhward when you ask «what’s better, this? Or that?
There are six sauces, and I tried every one. They were spot on target. But the ribs were like very tender and juicy. I almost wanted to say they were practically rare, but somehow cooked through all the way and they were «falling off the bone!» The chicken was so good I was afraid the staff was going to see me eating like bluto in animal house, with two cheeks stuffed like a squirrel and trying to fit more shredded chicken. It also speaks to the volume of the portions.
This place is the bomb! –but call ahead and check the specific hours of operation.
Some days they close early if they «sell out», but in the same sentence they refuse to compromise the immaculate quality for financial gain thereby absolutely refusing to be a «sell out»!!!
I don’t have any supporting photos, but with 130 photos that «show it all» I was able to enjoy my meal without having to document it, as dozens of persons already have validated the food here. The mere fact that people do wait till the store is cleaned out speaks for itself.

Love the bbq. I always get the 3 meat plate. Didnt know they had burnt ends though until i saw picture on Unilocal.I will tey those next time. The greens are so good with that vinegsry taste and so was the dirty rice. My favorites sauces are the Alabama white and the North and South Carolina. The Joint used to be my go-​to BBQ spot but McClures might have my number one spot now.

I love this place. It is in a cool/​hip area of the Garden District and is easy to get to. Easy parking and lots of places to stroll about in working up your appetite… but don’t wait too long… cuz when they run out… they do. 2p is a safe ‘late’ time for eats. 3p and you are pressing your luck.
Try the ribs, try the greens, try the EVERYTHING you can. This place rules and I’m coming back on my next visit to New Orleans.

I was told to eat here by a local from another place I ate at recommended my another local. This place is located in the garden district (mainly a hipster area). Serving all types of BBQ. Being from the south I love my BBQ.
There brisket was amazingly tender, great smoke lines and just super juicy. Order with some jambalaya and some creole cole slaw. Let me tell you this is the best BBQ place I’ve ever had brisket. The best part is there selection of BBQ sauces! All just amazing catering to different pallets. Although there jambalaya was a tad bit salty for my taste, their creole cole slaw was so delicious and complimented the brisket well. It had no mayo but had a like vinegar base with the creole flavors. I can dig that. Kudos to the man who made the brisket. Whenever I come back to Nola I will be back at Mclure’s

I have been here a couple times and it never disappoints. I usually get the pulled chicken and the 4 Cheese Mac. They have a variety of sides, like collard greens, corn bread, and baked beans. However I really recommend the Mac and cheese, it’s delicious! My husband really enjoys the pulled pork and ribs. The service is super friendly and the atmosphere is nice. The only reason for me not giving it a five star rating is that I wish they had a sauce selection that wasn’t as vinegar based. They have 6 yummy sauces to accompany your BBQ, but they are all runny sauce and I’d prefer to have a thicker sauce as at least an option. If you’re looking for BBQ in Nola give this spot a try!

I ordered the Cuban sandwich and it came w/​1 side, so I got the molasses stewed collards. They had a bunch of tasty sauces on the table w/​the ingredients listed and which sauces paired well with what meats. Highly appreciated. For all of that I paid $ 11 and it was well worth the price. My greens were sooooooo good, but they needed to be washed better I bit into dirt a few times and they also needed to be cooked a little longer. Besides the molasses I wish I knew what else was in the greens, so I could make them myself. I tasted my friends jumbalaya and it had a nice little kick to it and the staff let us sample the Mac and cheese. It was the wet kind, not baked so I opted out of that for my side. Other than that, the service was friendly and I have no complaints. I really wish I had more of those greens, that’s how u know they were really good because they weren’t even perfect and I still want more.

McClure’s provided me with two personal firsts. My first BBQ in the south and my first meal in NOLA. After 3 solid days of driving it really hit the spot. I had the brisket cheese steak with jalapeño cornbread. I’m by no means a BBQ pro, but the sandwich meat and cheesy deliciousness and the corn bread was like none I’ve ever had.
The service was fast and friendly which is always a huge plus.
I will say that as I was finishing, the folks at the next table were getting their meals and I instantly felt like I’d ordered the wrong meal. They had gotten the meat combos and it nearly had me ordering a second lunch it looked so good… but no regrets, I didn’t want to over do it for lunch and mine was very good.

I’m a fan of McClure’s. Is it as good as The Joint? I don’t really know, as I don’t consider myself a BBQ connoisseur. I will tell you I have had some good BBQ at both the flagship location and the new one inside NOLA Brewing.
My latest visit to the taproom found me eating Pulled Pork Poutine over waffle fries. Yes, they were as delicious as they sound. I also got a side of coleslaw because I can say, without hesitation, that McClure’s has the best damn vinegar-​y coleslaw I’ve ever had. I also loved the collard greens and found the smokiness of them to be pleasing both taste and smell-​wise. I have sampled the brisket, pulled pork and sausage and was pleased with all of them. I like ribs, but have not had them here, but my 12 year old son loves them (see photo).
On my next trip, I’d like to sample a burger as I saw one come up on the pass that looked amazing. If they had peanut butter pie on the menu, I might be able to kick it up a star.

Wanted to try a new BBQ spot, fairly small place, food was only mediocre. we had the following:
— Pull Pork sandwich — topped with slaw and a side (we got jambalaya) — the sandwich was okay, nothing to brag about
— All Meats & All Sides — which consists of:
— Texas style brisket — brisket was juicy and delicious
— St Louis cut pork ribs — the ribs was okay, nothing special
— Slow-​smoked chicken — a little dry
— Carolina-​style pulled pork — pulled pork was delicious
— Chaurice Sausage — sausage was mediocre, nothing special
— Spicy Sweet cole slaw — slaw was not good, did not enjoy it
— Pork & Beans — this was pretty good
— 4-​Cheese Macaroni — this also was delicious
— Barbecue jambalaya — the jambalaya was also delicious
— Creole potato salad — the potato salad had too much pickled flavor for our liking
— Molasses-​stewed collard greens — we did not enjoy this at all
— Roasted corn & jalapeño cornbread — cornbread was okay, somewhat dry
Wanted to try a new BBQ spot in NOLA, but guess it looks like we’re going to go back to our favorite spot.

If McClure’s isn’t the best BBQ in Nola, it’s in the top 2 – 3 for sure. In addition to an awesome BBQ brunch menu with all your favorite BBQ dishes tailored for breakfast, their standard BBQ and sides are fantastic. Notable favorites are their wings, pulled pork (wow…), and ribs. Jambalaya is our favorite side.
We’ve had no complaints with anything else we’ve tried but the above mentioned are consistently our favorites. Some of their sauces are solid while other’s simply just aren’t my style. Regardless, this has become our go to BBQ joint.

Count me as your newest fan, Mr. McClure! I’ve been wanting to try your BBQ for a while now and I finally got the chance today. Holy hell, was it heaven!
First of all, the space is so my style with the picnic table seating, the awesome New Orleans themed art on the walls and the cool vibe.
The food is incredible. I had the pulled pork, the best Cuban in New Orleans, jambalaya (freaking incredible-​and I don’t even like jambalaya) and some potato salad that knocked my socks off. The sauces are all perfect but I’d knock over an old lady for your receipe for that yellow one. No, really… I would push a grandma down for it. I’ll be honest and admit to stealing some to take home, in fact. :)
P. S. The framed copies of the Times Picayune when the Saints were going to and then won the Super Bowl filled me with pride. Thank you for that!

This is the best BBQ in New Orleans.
Walk across the street to Bön Temps and get a couple drinks to go, then walk in and order anything on the menu.
Everything is good.
They do a real, real nice job here.

While Uptown, I had an opportunity to try McClure’s since so much had been made of it. Was disappointed they were out of brisket at the noon hour, but the counter said they just filled a large take out order. They were also out of Pulled Pork so I settled for the Rib plate. All I can say is these were the BEST ribs I have had in some time.
Perfectly done with a wonderful smoked flavor and well barked with a savory rub. McClure’s serves St Louis style ribs and they don’t «fall off the bone», but rather provide a wonderful, moist, tender bite. Paired with the Kansas City sauce (one of 6 different regional sauces), it was just short of fantastic.
Sides were the Spicy Sweet Cole Slaw and Pork&Pork&Beans. Neither blew me away.
Would have gotten 5 stars, except for shortage of brisket and rather average sides

I first put 4 stars but then I remembered that they had an Alabama style white BBQ sauce, and being from Bama I can say that it is as close to white sauce as I have found since moving to Louisiana from Bama. For those who have never had white sauce put it on the BBQ chicken. It will not disappoint… I guarantee!
I did the brisket and the chicken and they were both great. The brisket had a nice smoky flavor without being dry and the chicken was nice and juicy. I did the Memphis style BBQ sauce on my brisket.
Next time I will be trying the ribs for sure.
There were a couple ladies sitting next to me that had an entire platter full of food that took up their entire table… Might have to trade that with a friend next time I go.
They are BYOB so grab a daiquiri or a six pack to split with a friend and go and enjoy!

2ND LOCATION OPENING SOON AT NOLA BREWERY!
EXEMPLARY SIDES
I asked Neil McClure today, the totally approachable owner, why his sides are so darn good. His thinking is that with so many new restaurants in town, one way he can further stand-​out is to make the best sides. «I mean I’m here all day anyway, why not perfect the recipes».
EVERYTHING’S FROM SCRATCH
Nothing comes premade. The slaw is hand shredded. Potatoes in the summery light mayo-​based salad are cut bite sized and not mushy. The smoked pork jambalaya is a must have. It’s dirty rice based and has some heat. However, it’s that four cheese baked mac that’s one of the best in the city. Just look at my picture!
DOESN’T QUALIFY FOR MY $ 12.70 OR LESS «FINDS»
But the cost of beef is 20% higher and pork 15% over 2014 given last summer’s draughts (I come from a beef production family so such stats are ingrained). A 2 meat, 2 side platter after-​tax will set you back $ 17. Considering that the smoke on the brisket is excellently charred (I eschew the sauces) my will power isn’t sufficient to break it into two meals.

McClure’s is solid BBQ.
Many Unilocalers like to pontificate about their BBQ credentials when writing reviews. I’m sure their vast experience eating baby back ribs from Chili’s qualifies them as some sort of expert, but for me, none of that matters. I am no expert, but when I want BBQ I want my meat cooked slow and low with lots of smoke. McClure’s BBQ fits that criteria and does it pretty well.
Here are the items I have had and what I think about each one:
Brisket — For me, this is the bellwether of any BBQ joint. McClure’s version was smoky, tender and had pretty good bark.
Ribs — The ribs are very smokey and have just the right firmness to the meat. I know many people like their meat «falling off of the bone», but that is not indicative of legit BBQ. The ribs may be my favorite item on the menu.
Chaurice — If you’re not aware of chaurice, you need to be. Chaurice is Louisiana’s version of chorizo and this spicy sausage is phenomenal when smoked. This may be my second favorite item on their menu.
Brisket cheese steak — I do not like normal Philly style cheese steak sandwiches, but the addition of smoked brisket with melted cheese and peppers make for a great sandwich. This sandwich does not lend itself to being a to-​go item because the bread gets soggy, but I’d definitely order it if I ate inside.
Sauces — The mustard based sauce is phenomenal. Dip the chaurice in this sauce and you will dream of that combination. It is among my favorite BBQ sauces I’ve ever tried.
Sides — The creole potato salad and macaroni are my favorite. In particular the potato salad is spicy and creamy and I highly recommend it.
I think McClure’s has some of the best BBQ that I’ve had in the city. I still think Nola Smokehouse has them beat, and it remains my favorite, but if they’re not open, or sold out, I’d recommend Mc’Clure’s.

«Open 7 days a week 11am – 9pm unless we sell out first!»
I should have read this as a major red flag considering they were almost out of ribs and completely out of brisket when we arrived at 7pm. Those menu items were the reason I decided to eat here so to run out of two main meat options at peak dinner time seems very amateur and frustrating.
We decided on a 3 meat platter so we could taste a few things. We settled for the chicken, sausage, and pulled pork and altogether it was $ 23. The platter was most definitely not twenty three dollars worth of food (see picture). The sides, coleslaw and potato salad were scant and also boring. That price didn’t even include an alcoholic beverage! I had to pop across the street for a drink.
I did like the 6 barbecue sauce options on each table though. On the holder there’s a thorough description of each one, which was clever. But not one of these sauces stood out to me. They’re very watery as well and lacking in depth and flavor. On our plate were 2 ribs, a chicken leg, and 2 salty, dry sausages. The chicken was alarmingly still kind of red on the inside and very greasy. We also each got about 2 – 3 small bites of meat off the tough, pink ribs. The thick savory cake square was probably the best part of the meal albeit the fact that it’s advertised as jalapeño cornbread. I don’t think it even touched a grain of cornmeal and they must have run out of the jalapenos along with the other half of the menu.
Since we felt like it wasn’t much food and to keep from having to find something else to eat afterwards, we also ordered a pulled pork sandwich. To me, it seems kind of hard to mess up a barbecued meat sandwich but they did. It had mostly the same vinegary, celery and pepper chunked coleslaw we tried to eat with our meal. The sandwich had very little meat on it and the bun was super dense and not at all toasted. That coleslaw sandwich, dressed with pork on a massive chunk of bread was about $ 10.
Overpriced for underwhelming food, I won’t be returning. Stay tuned as I search for barbeque that actually fulfills the cravings!

Awesome! We went for brunch yesterday which apparently is a new thing. But they act like they’ve been doing it for years. I can’t think of anywhere else in New Orleans that offers an array of smoked meats atop your eggs with Vietnamese rolls and a side of king cake.
Just as good as the food was the service. I believe it was the owner himself waking around asking how everything was. It was delish!