Virgil's Barbecue

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152 W 44th St (at nr. Broadway)
New York, NY 10036

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(212) 921-9494
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Virgil's Barbecue - New York, NY
Virgil's Barbecue - New York, NY
Virgil's Barbecue - New York, NY
Virgil's Barbecue - New York, NY
Virgil's Barbecue - New York, NY
Virgil's Barbecue - New York, NY
Virgil's Barbecue - New York, NY
Virgil's Barbecue - New York, NY
Reviews
( 39 )
( 58 )
( 21 )
( 14 )
( 9 )

Best

The best and most authentic southern quisine I have ever had north of the Mason Dixon line. I recomend the biscuits and gravy appetizer and pulled carolina pork sandwich. You'll t...

Worst

I usually give restaurants with a rating over 8 a chance, but found Virgil's to be a big disappointment. The crab cakes still had shell in it, cocktails were way too sweet, the si...

Just Plain ""LOUSY"" 9/22/2006

Stay away. Went there on 9/21/06 and we were seated promptly upstairs(not busy). The waiter took our drink orders, sweet iced tea that looked diluted. Ordered the Memphis ribs(very dried out and stale, like they were in the kitchen for a week). BBQ beans(just ok) and pickled beets(I have tasted better just out of a can). My wife ordered the 1/2 BBQ chicken(Very dry and kind of burnt), the beans and the rice/beans(no flavor). The BBQ sauce tasted like a very diluted store brand, it was not thick or rich at all and had no flavor. For $50 this meal was absolutely terrible. I should of complained,but we will ""NEVER"" go back, and its kind of funny that the best part of the meal were the ""HOT"" towels given to you at the end. I have eaten ""REAL"" Southern BBQ in Tenn. and Texas and this doesn't even come close. I read reviews in City Search before going and I learned my lesson, ""pay attention"" to previous customers and what they have to say. Again, stay away and you will be much better off spending your ""HARD EARNED"" $$$ elsewhere. Pros: Location Cons: Food is LOUSY/High Prices more
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Not the best BBQ 9/21/2006

I work off 6th Ave and came here for lunch one day. Not the best BBQ. The hostesses were downright rude, the server wasn't the friendliest, and the food wasn't all that good. My co-worker and I were quite offended actually. I'd never suggest this place... not even to stop in & use the restroom! Check out Spanky's BBQ right behind them. I hear that place is fantastic! Pros: Um, not sure Cons: Service staff & food more
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Very disappointed 8/28/2006

I recently had dinner at Virgils with my husband and daughter. We've been to Virgil's many times and this evening had to be the worst we've ever experienced. Firstly, portions have been cut down (which probably isn't a bad thing). However, our food was ice cold from the pulled pork to the hot (ha ha) chocolate chess pie. I don't want to blame it on high volume, because the restaurant wasn't extra crowded (we were seated in 15 minutes). Service was good. What's going on in the kitchen guys??\r \r Pros: Location, ambience, service Cons: Crowded, noisy more
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Good Mac and Cheese 7/26/2006

Virgils is not southern food at its best, but they do have pretty decent macaroni and cheese and palatable greens. I would not recommend the BBQ, most of my friends who had it for lunch said it was just so-so, nothing to rave about but then nothing real negative to say about it either. Pros: Mac and Cheese Cons: Sort of expensive for average tasting food more
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Virgils is great--For Those Not From The South or low on cash 7/18/2006

Virgils is fine but it's authentic only to New Yorkers--and that's not a bad thing. Having grown up with a Southern Grandpa, I know what good, southern food should taste like--this is close but A) It's not as good and B) It's a heafty price to pay for some BBQ, slaw and Hush Puppies. Pros: Excellent Hush Puppies, Stout Cons: Expensive more
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They way I like to be treated! 6/15/2006

Virgil's was recommended to me by a Manhattan local. It's casual BBQ and they take reservations! The Front Desk and wait service are polite, kind, and patient. The whole atmosphere is very welcoming and they do a good job accomodating people without reservations. There are a lot of good tables, I recommend dining upstairs if you can. Menu is big with many interesting choices. Biscuits and gravy, pulled pork, crab po'boy, popcorn shrimp are all winners. The towels instead of napkins is a cute, casual touch. I ate at Virgil's twice during my last trip to NY and will be sure to return on every trip in the future. Pros: Polite service, great food Cons: Crowded bar more
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best wings ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 5/24/2006

This restaurant has the best chicken wings ever. Never ask for cole slaw! Cons: 2hr wait sometimes more
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what more can i say... 4/11/2006

i've never ahd better food bbq or otherwise. the service was unbelieveable, the atmoshere amazin', the quality to die for. we ahd to wait a little, but oh so worth it. i can tell u whenever i'm in the city, i'll make sure i go. virgil's has a customer for life. more
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Possibly some of the worst food I've eaten in NYC 3/5/2006

To start, upon arriving at Virgil's at the hostess stand, the waitstaff was arguing over who would have to wait another table. Not so inviting. The food itself was mediocre at best, and does not resemble any BBQ I have eaten in the south. The cheese grits particularly were awful - tasted proecessed or old or both. Serivce was so-so. The waiter could have come by once or twice to see if we needed another drink. Oh, and if you want water, you may have to ask several times for it. Overall, don't waste your time, money or calories. more
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Not recommended 12/6/2005

I only had lunch there because my coworker works around Times Square. I live in the city and usually never eat at or around Times Square. So we ate there because we had to. I cannot understand why would anyone give this restaurant a good review for its food? Best BBQ in the city? I didn't know pork ribs could taste so bad. I am sorry: not recommended. Cons: Bad Food, Average Service, Tourist Spot more
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the best bbq in nyc, period 10/15/2005

specifically, the links. also, the lemonade. also, peach cobbler. eat in or take out, the food counts. recommended! more
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Good BBQ for New York 9/14/2005

Overall, Virgil's is the best BBQ that I've been to in NY. I should point out that this isn't really saying much -- not only is NY not known for BBQ, the proper cooking methods can't be used as they would be in violation of fire codes. Recommended is the brisket and the ribs. The pulled pork seems to fluctuate in terms of quality and can be a gamble. As for sides, the BBQ beans are tasty, but the cole slaw is very disappointing. I would not recommend eating in, as the place is touristy, noisy and the service is hurried and of varied competence. But it makes for a fine take-out meal. more
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Virgils is average for the price 7/29/2005

I took my girl to Virgils based on a recommendation. I found that the seating was crampy. I mean elbow to elbow crampy on the first floor. That turned me off the most. The the food was average and pricey. I'd say this is a place to chill and have a meal if you're shopping in Manhattan, but not a place to go if you want to make an impression. more
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Tourist Trap 7/22/2005

This is a place to avoid if you are a New Yorker or a savvy tourist. On ouor visit, our reservation was ignored and then we were asked to move from our seats at the bar, where we were told to wait, because we were not drinking enough. The food was not good either. Cons: expensive, poorly run more
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Skip It 1/8/2005

Virgil's is overrated, overpriced, and really only designed for tourists. There are far better, more authentic BBQ joints in NYC. Cons: , Value, Ambience more
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The big apple's best BBQ takes a dive... 7/18/2004

Virgil's is a touristy restaurant located in Times Square. Our first visit we enjoyed excellent pulled pork BBQ, decent ribs, tender brisket, baked beans, and hushpuppies. On our last visit, the food headed down south and then some. The pulled pork was fatty, gritty, and was dry (on top of being served lukewarm). It had to be some of the worst BBQ we've ever tried. The brisket was overcooked and fatty. The hushpuppies remain the best we've tasted, but the rest of the meal, including fake tasting macaroni and cheese will ensure that we won't return in the near future. more
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best barbeque in Manhattan 7/13/2004

I've been a fan of Virgil's since 1997, and have found that as long as you avoid the traditional NY ""off"" nights for restaurants(Monday and Tuesday nights), you can get excellent barbeque at what I consider reasonable prices. They've created the definitive barbeque wings, smoked then grilled in tangy sauce (none of that uncooked sauce on plain wings stuff here); their ribs are excellent dry rub style, with a rich smokey flavor & falling off the bone. The pulled pork and brisket are also delicious; but can be dry on the off nights. Real Southern cole slaw and other sides round off the meal, and yes, real iced tea, not that stuff from the tap. Take it from someone who's shopped around for a decade: You'd have to travel below the Mason Dixon to find better barbeque. Pros: authenticity, atmosphere, flavor Cons: , crowded, cooks have bad days more
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Horse Blinders 6/21/2004

Sauce on appetizers was too tangy and somewhat bitter. I asked three times before ordering for Lemonade with no ice and finally got one WITH ICE. The Ribs were uneatable, the Mac and Cheese awful and my friend had tasteless catfish. I cannot understand why this and other restaurants get such high ratings. Pros: Lively, Manager Attention Cons: , Entree Quality more
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Not that good 6/8/2004

I finally went to Virgil's after seeing it on the top of CitySearch's Best BBQ lists for a few years now. I was very disappointed. It's not that good at all. The ribs were average. The crabcake Po' Boy was quite bad. The ribs I've had at Brother Jimmy's and The Hog Pit are much better as are The Hog Pit's side orders. Maybe Virgil's has gone downhill or maybe I went on a bad night, but I don't expect to be going back. more
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Real BBQ 5/12/2004

Virgil's is a real find in Manhattan. I grew up in Tennessee and know good BBQ. The pulled pork and chicken sandwiches are great along with the ribs and many side dishes. It is a great place for take out lunch or big groups. It is often crowded with tourist and noisy, so you have to focus on the delicious food. Reasonable prices too for the location. more
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Menu for Virgil's Barbecue


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    At Virgil's, carnivores of every shape and color abandon all caution and happily shovel in as much pungent barbecued meat, pork and chicken as they can stomach. The two-level...

  • 10/4/2005 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Sat, 11:30am-10:30pm, Sun, 11am-10:30pm
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa, American Express, Discover, Diner's Club
  • Neighborhoods: Midtown, Theater District - Times Square
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