When to avoid ordering dessert at a barbecue restaurant

Whether you live in an area where barbecuing is a tradition or a novelty, visiting a good barbecue restaurant is always a treat. It's not easy to prepare perfectly juicy barbecue at home, since, unlike grilling, barbecuing requires slow cooking at low temperatures, which can be difficult to master. And if you're not a gourmet chef, your side dishes probably won't be anything special either. Luckily, barbecue restaurants are there to satisfy that craving when you're in the mood for succulent smoked meats accompanied by delicious sides.

Even the most famous barbecue restaurants can have their weak points. If you want to ensure a barbecue restaurant lives up to expectations, order the brisket to test their skills and avoid those without a smoker or that offer too many different regional styles. If everything is fine with the meat, there's still dessert to consider. Some barbecue restaurants may neglect their dessert menu and opt for frozen options, as desserts aren't usually their specialty.

How do you know if a dessert is worth ordering? We asked Robbie Shoults, celebrity chef and third-generation owner of Bear Creek Smokehouse, as well as Marshall Mercantile and High Horse 1898. According to Shoults, the best thing to do is observe what others are ordering and make sure the dessert doesn't look too perfect. "If the dessert looks like it was made with molds, don't order it," he says.

Green flag desserts to accompany the barbecue

If you're craving something sweet after a hearty meal, the good news is that many barbecue restaurants offer delicious desserts, and Southern cuisine is full of exquisite options to try. When ordering at a restaurant, Robbie Shoults advises, "If a dessert looks more rustic and homemade, I recommend you try it!" At Shoults' restaurants, for example, all their homemade desserts are made from scratch, including the popular peach cornbread pie.

The cobbler (which is actually different from crumbles and crisps) is a staple dessert in American cuisine, especially in the southern states, where barbecue reigns supreme and many of the country's peaches are grown. If you see an authentic cobbler on a barbecue restaurant's dessert menu, you probably won't regret ordering it. Sweet, slightly tart, creamy, and easy to make with canned peaches if fresh ones aren't available, peach cobbler is the perfect way to end your barbecue feast. Bonus points to the restaurant that also serves its cobbler with homemade ice cream.

Looking for other desserts to try? Opt for Southern home-style classics like banana pudding, checkerboard cake, Mississippi mud pie, or pecan pie. Often, the more homemade it looks, the more authentic it is. If a barbecue restaurant makes one of these desserts just like Mom would, you're in good hands.