Slo Joe's Bigtime Backyard BBQ   

You wouldn't think a double-tall corner spot in the semi-industrial South Lake Union 'hood could feel like someone's backyard, but Slo Joe's does a fine job at bringing the outdoors in. If you're lucky, Joe himself will be there with his warm, charismatic welcome. Order at the counter and dig in at a picnic table underneath a green patio umbrella, house sauces and plenty of paper napkins at the ready. Pulled pork and beef brisket are tender and flavor-packed, hotlinks are the spiciest thing on the menu, and rib meat practically falls off the bone. An extra buck gets chicken on your Caesar side salad. Baked beans, slaw and potato salad are all tasty, but mac-n-cheese is a side worth selling your soul for. You'll want to sample just about everything, so consider a combo. Feed a crowd with the Family Style, which includes two pounds of meats and two pounds of sides, plus plenty of cornbread. Chocolate cobbler is a chocoholic's dream. Dark, rich, and tantalizingly sinful, it's sort of like undercooked brownie (in a good way) with crunchy, caramelized bits. A little goes a long way -- probably for the best.