Barbecue specials

Midwood Smokehouse offers weekly regional specials through this National Barbecue Month: This week is Texas, with a platter including chile-rubbed beef ribs with Shiner Bock chipotle sauce, plus brisket and beef sausage, plus beans and slaw, for $15. Week Two (May 13-19) is Memphis, with babybacks. Week Three is Kansas City with "double smoked brisket burnt ends" (which is just what it sounds like: the near-to-burned ends of the point part of the brisket, smoked again, then served in sauce) over fried mac 'n cheese, and Week Four is Carolina "West vs. East": pulled pork in tomato sauce vs. chopped pork in vinegar-based sauce. 1401 Central Ave., 704-295-4227.

Harper's does "BBQ Bonanza" through the end of May with pulled pork, Texas-style brisket, Danish babybacks, and hickory-smoked chicken, along with the chance to win an outdoor charcoal grill at month's end. (You can enter that contest each time you come in and order a barbecue dish.) 6518 Fairview Road, 704-366-6688; and 11059 Carolina Place Parkway, 704-541-5255.