New Albany restaurant named best barbecue in Indiana

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- When it comes to the best barbecue in Indiana, one website says it can be found in New Albany. Thrillist, an online food, drink and travel website, named Shawn's Southern BBQ the best in the Hoosier state.

If you're passing by on State Street in New Albany, not much about the modest dwelling that houses Shawn's Southern BBQ would catch your attention. But the smokey smell simmering in the back tells you it's worth a second look.

"It's just a little small kind of hole in the wall place, but I've got very good food I think," said owner Shawn Pitts.

It's not just good food, but great food according to Thrillist. The site recently poled the top pitmasters and smoked meat fans across the country to find the best barbeque joint in each state. And when it comes to the Hoosier state, Shawn's is the place to go.

"I don't know how true that is, but I just try to be the best I can be," said Pitts who opened just two years ago.

"Initially that's all it was, just a hobby," said Pitts.

He used to make his living as a musician. Now he's playing a different tune, using these giant smokers as his instrument to entertain crowds of brisket and ribs lovers.

"If you like BBQ, then I don't know that you can get anything better around here," said customer Nic Braune.

"The ribs, they almost fall off the bone so it's really good for sure," said Adam Durham who recently ate at Shawn's for the first time.

Pitts can be found out behind the restaurant firing up the smokers at 6 a.m. every day and is still cooking well after the dinner rush. "I've been out here in eight degrees, snow, whatever, I'm out here," said Pitts.

He believes low and slow and plenty of cherry wood is key to the St. Louis style-ribs that earned the restaurant top honors in the Hoosier state.

"If you go to any BBQ restaurant and don't see this wood, leave," advises Pitts.

That's about as much information you'll get out of Pitts when it comes to his secret recipe. But whatever the secret dry-rub, it's clearly cooking up success.

"I kind of started out the place with nothing. A lot of people told me I couldn't do it, and I'm still here," said Pitts.

He'll keep smoking on State Street as long as people want the best barbecue in Indiana.

Shawn's Southern BBQ is located at 822 State Street in New Albany and is open Tuesday through Sunday.