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A Piece of Little Rock in the Big Apple

We're not so keen on any restaurant that promises to specialize in two cuisines at the same place. Great pizza and fried chicken? Doubtful. Chinese and Cuban? No thank you. But we'll make an exception for any combo that is so bizarre, it just might be good. That's the case with the Arkansas/Cajun grub at East Village eatery Mara's Homemade.

The Cajun part actually came first--Louisiana shrimp boil, fried okra, crawfish cheesecake and the like--but of course it's the BBQ we get most excited about. You see a lot of Texas BBQ around these parts, and some Carolina joints as well, but we know of no other Arkansas BBQ place in New York.

Mara's describes Arkansas style as a blend of Memphis and Texas, which means spicy rubbed meats smoked on-site over hickory wood and topped with a tangy sauce. Still confused? You can always check out the BBQ Song for full definitions.

All we know for sure is that Mara's unnecessarily giant platters of smoked brisket and baby back ribs are up there with the best you can find anywhere in the Big Apple.

· Mara's Homemade [Official Site]
· Food Travel 101: The BBQ Song [Jaunted]
· BBQ coverage [Jaunted]

Photo: [knile]