Mighty Quinn’s Barbecue

If the lines at Smorgasburg this year were any indication, Mighty Quinn’s makes some mighty good barbecue. I ended up with my worst sunburn of the summer while waiting in the infamous line for their smoked brisket, resulting in a few freckly mementos that are only now fading. The sole fault I found with the brisket was the long wait in the sun, so I’ve been eagerly anticipating the opening of pitmaster Hugh Mangum‘s restaurant in the East Village for some time.

Mighty Quinn’s doors just opened last Wednesday, and somehow my tough-critic, barbecue-loving snacking associate managed to eat there four times before I got in on the brisket action. So my expectations were pretty high, and I wasn’t disappointed. We stopped in for a late lunch and I ordered the excellent brisket sandwich ($8.50), which had a perfect mix of cuts with tender meat, fat, and crunchy burnt ends. If anything, I could have used a few more crunchy bits. A dollop of classic barbecue sauce added a tangy bite, as did various add-ons: coleslaw, pickles, and pickled onions. This style of brisket is a definite contrast to the lean, peppery Montreal-style smoked meat sandwich served at nearby Mile End Sandwich, with Mighty Quinn’s roll supplying a sturdier base for all the vinegary, pickley odds and ends.

We also shared the sweet potato casserole with maple and pecans, which seemed like a Thanksgiving dessert disguised as a side dish, and the more savory (but still sufficiently sugared) burnt end baked beans ($3 apiece). The real unexpected treat, in my eyes, was the well-curated draft beer list. Brewers included Allagash, Sixpoint, Stone, Founders and others ($7 each) so craft beer fans will be perfectly happy here.

I was pleased with the quality and price of my meal, so I’ll definitely be back to try the pulled pork, smoked sausage, wings, and spare ribs, as well as something called the beef rib—a gigantic $23-dollar slab of blackened meat that looks fit for a Viking feast. My only gripe with the menu was I would’ve enjoyed a green dish along with the meat and potatoes, and with a couple other side options, I might even be able to lure vegetarians to join me here.

On the upside, the counter people were lovely, and the interior was minimalist and handsome, without any of the yee-haw kitsch you’ll find at Hill Country. Restaurants don’t seem to last long on this corner, whatever the reason. I can recall the spot being a Dutch restaurant, a sports bar, another barbecue place, and other things that have receded from my memory, but Mighty Quinn’s seems like it has the stuff to become a neighborhood standby.

Mighty Quinn’s Barbecue
103 Second Ave at 6th St.
Sun-Wed 11am-11pm, Thurs-Sat 11am-12pm