east end bbq heaven. when the mood for bbq, really delicious bbq, strikes, the hungry carnivore used to have no options on the east end of long island. no longer is that the case: just take a trip east on the lie to riverhead and drive to the maple tree bbq and delicatessen, located at 820 w. main street (there may be no parking on the street; if so, park in the gravel lot just across from the maple tree. if the weather is nice, you can take your bbq back to the parking lot, which fronts the peconic river, and have a seat on one of the picnic tables scenically nestled among the trees by the water). the bbq inside the maple tree belies the appearance of the storefront, which just recently was "redecorated" by an errant driver who decided that the store needed to be a drive-thru. once inside, however, prepare to be captivated by a variety of truly exceptional barbeque. there is so much from which to choose: north carolina style pulled pork shoulder in a tangy vinegar sauce; tender, smoked brisket of beef prepared with honey mustard and a sweet spiced rub; house-smoked new york style pastrami; barbequed st. louis style pork ribs glistening in sauce and falling off the bone; smoked whole chickens either with the meat pulled from the bones by hand or served as bone-in pieces, available alabama style in a white, horseradish sauce; burnt ends of texas beef in a sweet and tangy sauce; pit-smoked, rare roast beef; and the creme de la creme of barbeque: juicy, slow-smoked, beef short ribs (in my humble opinion, the "filet mignon" of all bbq, succulent and fatty and tender enough to practically melt in your mouth)! and, don't ignore the side dishes. a hand-lettered sign proclaims that the maple tree is home to the world's best smoked beans. full of onions and garlic, with a touch of brown sugar and vinegar, and with just the right complement of finely chopped burnt ends of beef, the beans (there are three kinds of them in there) are slow-smoked for hours and are a taste sensation that will round out any of the barbequed meats. another side-dish staple is the grilled vegetables, sans any kind of meat, consisting of grilled sweet potatoes, green peppers, red onions, squash, eggplant and portobello mushrooms. besides specializing in bbq, the maple tree is an old-school deli, offering a menu of sandwiches, subs, salads, soups and sides (and again, in my humble opinion, the world's best cole slaw), so there is something for almost everyone. it is the good stuff, prepared and barbequed and smoked on site, and well worth the time and effort to find and eat. be prepared to visit more than once to truly appreciate all there is to offer.