Salinas City BBQ
700 W. Market St., Salinas (831) 758-2227, salinascitybbq.com
It’s always comforting to see smoke rising from well-worn hunks of metal outside a barbecue joint – as comforting as popping that favorite movie into the VHS machine. And it’s nice to know that some pit masters in California know how to treat more than just tri-tip to a round of low and slow. There’s dry rub brisket, mellow pulled pork and meaty ribs. They make a sauce, but you don’t really need it. Just a beer to go along with all that meat.