Summer and barbecue go together like old friends. I always think of barbecues as a time to spend with family or friends at a big table with lots of meats and sides. But I don’t always have a big backyard for a barbecue in the city. Instead, my go-to spot is Hill Country in Chinatown.

Hill Country offers meat by the pound and several sides, but the easiest way to order is to get The Pitmaster. It comes with a ¼ pound of brisket, 1 pork spare rib, 1 hot link, ¼ pound chicken and two sides. The Pitmaster doesn’t look like much but it easily feeds 3 people. Don’t let your eyes fool you and order too much! You are also going to want to make sure at least one of your sides is their famous mac and cheese. Hill Country is a full service restaurant with hostess and waiter service but you’ll order all your meats and sides from the giant grill in the back. This not only makes ordering easier but also creates a family cook out feel.  

Hill Country’s location makes a it a great stop after sight seeing on the National Mall. They also have happy hour drink specials daily from 15:00 to 19:00 and also Sunday through Thursday 22:00 to 00:00.