From the Crescent City to the Rocket City or, in this case, MidCity, the “Best BBQ Restaurant of New Orleans” is bringing its fare to Huntsville.

Blue Oak BBQ, opening in MidCity Huntsville next summer, has garnered accolades such as the “best wing spot in New Orleans” by delish.com and “the best fried chicken in America” by NBC’s “The Today Show”. The restaurant was voted 2017 Hogs for a Cause grand champion, and it has been consistently voted Best BBQ Restaurant of New Orleans by Gambit.

Founded as a pop-up shop in a music venue, Blue Oak BBQ is the brainchild of restaurateurs Philip Moseley and Ronnie Evans. The Louisiana natives are longtime culinary ambassadors who create unique and out-of-the box flavors and push the boundaries on traditional recipes.

According to a news release, distinctive staples include items such as Sichuan and ranch-style rub used on a variety of meats, pork belly crackling, garlic and panko-topped macaroni and cheese, spiced ginger and toasted sesame seed slaw, and more.

“We’ve wanted to expand our presence in the Southeast for quite some time, and after visiting Huntsville for ourselves and seeing the thriving community, it made perfect sense to call this our next home,” said Moseley. “Huntsville’s vibe is so unique, deep with colorful history and demonstrates a culture that is rich in innovation; it mirrors the story of Blue Oak BBQ really well, and we’re pumped to be here.”

Aside from a menu that will feature items such as brisket, pulled pork, smoked wings and spare ribs, the experience of dining at Blue Oak BBQ is reminiscent of New Orleans itself, as the design finds its influence in the distinct elements found in the French Quarter, Marigny, Bywater, and Warehouse districts of the Crescent City.

Fueled with the excitement of introducing this New Orleans-based restaurant to North Alabama, the architects behind the project, Matheny Goldmon, sought to introduce a unique flavor of architecture to the MidCity community.

Blue Oak BBQ’s commitment to Huntsville reaffirms RCP Companies’ desire to bring to Huntsville innovative and notable restaurateurs and retailers – which is quickly turning the area into a mecca of world-class cuisine, according to the news release.

“Blue Oak BBQ is so much more than just a restaurant,” said Max Grelier, co-founder of RCP Companies, the developer of MidCity Huntsville. “The experience of flavors, the ambiance of the surroundings and the creative mindset behind Blue Oak BBQ is a perfect fit for our community and something we’ve been looking for.

“They’ve built a significant reputation in New Orleans and we’re thrilled to have them as part of the MidCity family.”

RCP Companies has partnered with hospitality experts from around the country to identify businesses that complement MidCity’s lineup and align with the company’s mission to provide unique culinary offerings, entertainment, and recreation. MidCity features first-to-market concepts in retail, dining, entertainment, residential and hospitality.

In addition to the New Orleans-inspired building, the first 600 residential units at MidCity are under construction including Metronome at MidCity and Encore Living. Two hotels – Aloft and Hotel Indigo – are also slated to begin construction soon.

Open tenants include TopGolf, REI Co-op, Dave & Buster’s, High Point Climbing & Fitness, Wahlburgers, Kung Fu Tea and Kamado Ramen as well as The Camp, a unique outdoor venue featuring a food truck garden, a coffee shop and bar, a live-music stage and a weekly farmer’s market.

Huntsville’s first Trader Joe’s is scheduled to open at MidCity this year. Huntsville Amphitheater, an 8,000-seat, world-class venue, is under construction with a planned opening for next spring. Huntsville Venue Group, a partnership between Mumford & Sons recording artist Ben Lovett, HVG President Ryan Murphy, are programming the amphitheater with internationally touring artists as well as community events and engagements year-round.