The Alabama White Wings
I have a friend from Alabama (yes, just one) that I met several years ago. Not long after meeting him, he started telling me about the food in Alabama and kept going on about this place called Big Bob Gibson's BBQ. We never actually talked about the food there, he only ever mentioned one thing - the white sauce. I knew there were different styles of bbq sauce like the vinegar-based Carolina sauce, but this was something I couldn't wrap my head around. By the way he talked about it, I knew it had to be good.
So, when I sat down for the first time at Blue Smoke and saw the "Alabama White Wings", I figured there must be some connection to this white sauce I'd heard so much about. When they were the first thing the waiter recommended, we knew we had to get it. Well, I can tell you that the stories I'd heard of this sauce, if anything, had been watered down. This sauce was ridiculously good - it was savory, creamy, vinegary and had a hint of pepper. I would go here for these wings alone (and I do).
So, think twice before you rule out the possibility of good BBQ in NYC. Their mac & cheese is a great side, and their beignets (pictured) are probably the best we've had (this isn't saying much since we haven't been to many beignet spots, but our waiter said he's had folks say they prefer them to the beignets at Cafe du Monde, which is a big deal)... but the wings really are the star of the show here. Despite the restaurant feeling like it's a little too fancy to be serving barbecue, they do not skimp whatsoever on the food. I always leave this place feeling just a few bites past the comfortably full level, and I never regret it.
The Beignets. This is a full size dinner plate - these are huge.