Barbecue Ribs: We're Not Ribbing About the Best in the Area

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Earlier this month, a showed off some of the best bites around. Teams from New Lenox and Oak Forest tied for the judges' pick, and this week I took a turn as judge for barbecue ribs at three area restaurants recommended by readers.

People who judge ribs often say there are a few criteria vital to picking the best: taste, texture and tenderness. Taste can depend on what you like, but I look for meat with a smokey flavor and barbecue sauce that has a little zest and kick to it. As for texture, I prefer that the meat is more well done, sometimes even a bit charred, and definitely not mushy. And the all-important criteria is tenderness: Most rib judges do not take kindly to fall-off-the-bone ribs, and I tend to agree. So who had the best ribs in the Lincoln-Way area?

, New Lenox

Boasting the "Best BBQ Ribs in Town," I knew I had to stop by Paisano's. The full slab of ribs was $16.95 with a choice of soup or salad and pasta or baked potato.

The good: Fantastic barbecue sauce that was full of flavor and had the perfect amount of heat. Also, the meat-to-bone ratio was great; each bone was hidden beneath a good portion of meat.

The bad: These ribs require a fork, because the meat slid off the bones the moment I picked them up. The taste of the meat itself was just mediocre, largely masked by the great sauce.

, Mokena

With "ribs" in its title, I was expecting Mindy's would be a frontrunner. It was $18.50 for a full slab, but weekly deals are available and the dinner comes with three sides: corn bread, cole slaw or corn on the cob and french fries or a baked potato.

The good: I once again enjoyed the sauce from Mindy's, and the french fries were fantastic. Mindy's also has the quickest service.

The bad: The opposite of fall-off-the-bone. There wasn't much meat on the bones to begin with, and that issue was compounded by the fact that it often stuck to the bone.

, Frankfort

I got a few suggestions for ribs in Frankfort and decided on the steakhouse, hoping the meat would be the best prepared. The full slab dinner was $18.50 with soup or salad and one side, for which I chose mashed potatoes.

The good: As I had hoped, the meat was easily the best of the three, with a smokey flavor and the perfect tenderness, coming off the bone easily upon biting into it.

The bad: The dullest sauce of the three. It has a subtle smokiness to it, but not much heat.

THE WINNER: Jenny's Steakhouse. It was a tough call between Paisano's (best sauce) and Jenny's (best meat), but ultimately I much preferred being able to bite into the ribs while they're still on the bone.

Looking for local eats? Do you disagree with our taster? Head  over to your local Patch Places food and dining directory. Find new spots, read reviews and even post a your own reviews on the profile pages.

• Frankfort establishments
• New Lenox establishments
• Mokena establishments

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