Jackson Heights Life

On SeriousEats:

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2013/06/alchemy-texas-barbecue-queens-jackson-heights-review.html

Smoke Signals from Jackson Heights at Alchemy, Texas
The first thing to notice in your average New York barbecue joint is the design. Earth tones. Distressed wood. Painstaking efforts to make the place feel more casual than its position in the ruthless New York restaurant world would suggest.

That's not the case at Alchemy, Texas, a barbecue joint in the back of an old man sports bar in Jackson Heights. The wood's been there for a while. So have the balding men drinking at the bar. I get the impression that the plastic red-checker tablecloths were bought to fancy up the place.

And the 'cue? On a good day, it's up there with some of New York's great smoked meat. On other days it disappoints. As the two-month-old spot settles into a groove with its customers and works through the quirks of its smoker, that success seems likely to improve. In the meantime, go early in the evening. And spring for the beef. (click link for full article)

More and more news on Alchemy, Texas BBQ.  They're also on Gothamist's list of The 10 Best BBQ Spots In NYC!

Both times I've been here the food's been great--fantastic brisket and smoked duck! I plan on being a regular.

I also tried it this weekend for the first time and loved it.   I found it very interesting how different the food tasted from both Ranger and Pearson's, given that they all used the same smoker.  Alchemy uses delicious and very peppery rubs, and the meat tastes less smoky than Pearson's did.  The chicken was the best I've had anywhere, and the pork ribs were delicious too.  I still need to return to try the brisket.



I hope they continue to experiment with the sides... they could use some more work.  (I'd certainly prefer collards over creamed spinach)

I had made two failed attempts to try Alchemy out after they opened (Once I was there too early, not realizing that they were not open for lunch. The second time, the smoker was broken). Finally, a few weekends ago I was able to try their BBQ. I went around 7:00PM and I found a nice sized crowd of both people that were there to dine as well as those that were there to drink. I had the brisket and pork ribs and both were amazing! Alchemy definitely desrves all of the great reviews it has been receiving. I will definitely be bringing some friends along the next time I go.

I tried it out over the weekend. Had Brisket, pork ribs, beef ribs. Friends had brisket and Chicken. Sides were creamed spinach and potato salad.

The brisket and pork ribs were excellent. I also really dug the creamed spinach and potato salad. The beef ribs were just OK, I think I'm just more of a pork rib fan. Everyone liked their stuff and we agreed a return trip will be in order. Seems like it would be a good place to watch some football on sunday when the season kicks back up.

I've been there a few times and found it to be way over priced; plus if you get there late in the evening, they are usually out of most things.  It makes me miss the old Pearsons

When I leave the neighborhood, it is not uncommon for me to spend around or over $20 for a meal. I don't know why people are complaining, you've been wanting this type of class of food in the area for a long time. (I know it may be hard to believe BBQ can be in a higher class, but it is (same problem but to a lesser extent with people selling Chinese food))

We are very lucky that Pearson's set up here 20 years ago and left that giant smoker or else Alchemy would never have come. This is not a neighborhood that a consultant would recommend putting a higher end American food place --- You can either agree and protest b/c you are spending Carroll Gardens prices, or prove them wrong and see the neighborhood get better.