52. Carolina Piggie Platter at Austen's

It’s that time of year when we count down to New Times’ Best of Miami 2012 issue in June. Until then, Short Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have any nominations of your own, please send them to cafe@miaminewtimes.com.

As one of South Beach’s newest eateries, many have yet to try the delectable barbecue selections at Austen’s. The owner of the popular Liquor Lounge on 18th and Collins Avenue and Dewey’s Tavern on Eighth and Alton opened Austen’s in March with the vision of providing eager tourists the best barbecue on the beach.”Our barbecue is extremely tender,” said general manager Patrick Hughes. “The way we prepare it makes it fall right off the bone.”

Austen’s clearly does not take barbecue lightly. Pork, chicken and beef is cooked in a wood stove with no open flame at about 200 degrees for an incredible 24 hours. What results is an anomaly and absolute culinary enchantment — meat that melts and seemingly dissolves in your mouth. Dishes are served with apple cole slaw, a popular Southern variation, and/or baked beans, accompanied by a variety of six delicious sauces. Our favorite is the Carolina Piggie, which comes as a platter ($11) or sandwich ($10) cooked in a surprisingly mild pepper vinegar sauce. It all comes on a slice of crisp Texas toast with a piece of sweet cornbread to complement the near bitter taste of the sauce. Your taste buds will quiver with excitement, then explode with delight.

The most popular dish is their classic combo, which features half a chicken and half a rack of baby back ribs served with apple cole slaw and baked beans. In addition, Austen’s also has 12 beers on tap, mostly microbrews from macrobeer giants like Anheuser Busch. Short order suggests you try Murphy’s — a beer very similar to Guinness, but a bit less pungent.

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Outdoor seating is available for pet lovers, and you may even get a free beef brisket bone for your dog (we did!).

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