Buffy's Southern Pit Bar-B-Que   

Situated in the Diston neighborhood of St. Pete, Buffy's has been a local barbecue institution since the early 1990s. This place doesn't mess around. The Thursday night leather-clad biker throngs digging in at the outdoor bar are proof that the meats smoked up and piled high here are serious stuff. Southern-style 'cue is the specialty, and the house sauce - a sweet and tangy affair - makes an ideal addition to the wood-smoked pork, beef, chicken and ribs. The pulled pork stays in the smoker for a full 24 hours, with its sublime tenderness testament to the TLC that goes into this authentic southern barbecue. All the usual comfort food side dishes are on offer, including corn bread, baked beans and potato salad. Head next door if it's a killer hamburger you're after - Biff Burger is just adjacent, and the bar stretching between the two restaurants is the largest outdoor bar in St. Pete. Saturday nights draw a biker crowd, too, with live entertainment. And DJs spin dance hits on Friday nights. Who knew a 'cue feast could be so entertaining?--Terry Ward