Brother Jimmy's Opens Barbecue Hub in the City

A southern barbecue chain is opening its first New Jersey location here in New Brunswick and is ready to start serving plates of ribs, wings and brisket to the locals.

Brother Jimmy's BBQ is a southern-style restaurant that offers items like barbecue brisket, wings and pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, potato salad and black eyed peas.

General manager Wes Gibson said all the food served at Brother Jimmy's is made in-house, including sauces and desserts, all the way down to the batter on the fried pickles.

"We'd grow it if we could," said executive chef Eva Pesantez.

Gibson said that the restaurant, which is located in the Gateway Transit Village building, is meant to have a homey feel and serve as a good place to hang out as well as have a decent meal.

Pesantez described the barbecue brisket as "killer" and said their pulled pork was also particularly good.

"It's the roots of the company," she said.

Specials are held throughout the week, including all-you-can eat wings and rib tips on Mondays, Rutgers appreciation night with a 25 percent discount on the bill for Rutgers students, faculty and staff on Wednesdays, and 50 cent wings and discounted drafts on the weekends.

Daily lunch specials are also available.

The restaurant seats 144 people, not including the bar area, which boasts a number of speciality drinks, Gibson said.

It is staffed by about 40 to 50 people on the front of the house and a kitchen staff of about 10, he said.

Gibson said the the restaurant has a "good connection" with Rutgers and with the city.

A Rutgers connection has begun even before the doors have opened to the public, with the restaurant hosting the weekly radio show of Rutgers University football coach Kyle Flood on Wednesdays.

"People will want to come back," he said.

Brother Jimmy's BBQ opens on Oct. 30 for dinner. For more information, visit brotherjimmys.com.