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Buz, the owner of Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue worked his way thru kitchens in BBQ havens in Texas, Kansas City, Memphis, Houston, San Francisco and Lexington, KY and then merged all that expertise along with Ned's 150-year old family recipe into his own scrumptious BBQ. On his journey he worked with old timers who were tending the pits and preparing their secret family recipes. They shared their insider information with him - much of which had been handed down for generations.

He ran across Ned, a country legend, at the crossroads connecting the mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. Ned was producing the best barbecue Buz had ever tasted. Before giving up the ghost, Ned passed his confidential information on to him, making him promise to keep his family BBQ tradition alive. Today, at Buz and Ned's they are still making good on that promise.

For the past 21 years, at Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue, the BBQ'd ribs (baby back, spare ribs or beef ribs), beef brisket and chicken have been a hit. For sides you-could-eat-as-a-meal chunky smokey baked beans, cukes & onions, sweet potato fries and, of course, hush puppies.You could start with Cajun fried pickles, kick'n fried okra, fried catfish or Panko crusted shrimp and end your meal with brownies, cinnamon bourbon apples or an ice cream float. Seasonally there's hearty Brunswick stew (chock full of corn, string beans, carrots and potatoes) and killer chili. Wash 'em down with root beer and Cheerwine. Their beer menu will satisfy the most finicky of beer snobs.

Buz and Ned's restaurants offer both indoor dining and an outdoor covered patio. You could stop off for lunch or dinner at either of their 2 locations in Richmond, VA. If you live nearby don't forget - they are a popular local caterer preparing many kinds of foods.

No time to stop and eat? You can order it all to go, or even take home some of their lip-smacking sauce. It slayed Bobby Flay with its mahogany hue, 24 ingredients and spicy/sweet/sour taste. Use it as a table sauce or slather it on your ribs and chicken at home.

The team at Buz and Ned's Real Barbecue have been smoking, chopping, saucing and glazing their cue for over twenty years, and they remain the only REAL BARBECUE (that they know of) within almost 100 miles or more of Richmond, VA. They've been a local tradition since 1992.

Hours: Mon-Thurs 11-9, Fri & Sat 11-10:30, Sun 11-9 (summer: daily closes 1 hr later). 1119 N Boulevard. (Other location: Exit 83>: 8205 W. Broad St. Tel: 804-346-4227).

www.buzandneds.com