"There just aren’t that many kosher smokehouses out there, but that’s not why we like Izzy’s so much—the Crown Heights spot is superb in its own right. Pitmaster Izzy Eidelman smokes brisket for 18 hours, double drenches his burnt ends in barbecue sauce, and loads chili sausage with homemade sauce and coleslaw. Everything is solid, including the sandwiches (get the smoked then fried chicken sandwich on toasted brioche with horseradish mayo). And good news if you live in Manhattan: Izzy’s has a smokehouse on the Upper West Side." - anna rahmanan, will hartman