Food: Tropical Smokehouse (and Tropical BBQ Market)

Florida is not exactly known for its barbecue. While we do have Sonny's and other restaurants, most of them just don't stand up to the best BBQ in Tennessee, Texas, and other places in the South.  

One big exception is Tropical Smokehouse and its sister location, Tropical BBQ Market, in West Palm Beach:

Tropical's pitmaster, Rick Mace, was selected as a 2023 James Beard semifinalist, and it's not hard to see why; the menu at Tropical has stuff you just can't get in other barbecue joints, usually with a Caribbean, Latin, or seafood twist. Mojo pulled pork? Check. Brisket empanada? You got it. Smoked Mahi with fiery hot mango habanero sauce? Only at Tropical, baby.

Truth be told, my favorite thing on the menu is the Duroc pork spare ribs (covered in tasty coarse ground black pepper), but you're guaranteed to find something you like on Tropical's menu. As West Palm Beach's go-to barbecue, Tropical earns

3/4 stars