Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue
249 E Irving Park Rd, Wood Dale, IL, 60191
Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Wood Dale for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Wood Dale for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Wood Dale for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
249 E Irving Park Rd
Wood Dale, IL, 60191 - Phone (630) 238-8261
- Website https://www.sbrbbq.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Angela D.
I've worked with this Sweet Baby Rays, and I have to say the Wait Staff that they provided was rude and ignorant! I would never refer the food or the services to anyone! It's all about a great fun party, but believe me, I didn't have fun!
(2)Vikki B.
Love this location better than any of the other sweet baby ray locations. Homey atmosphere. Southern BBQ feel to the place. Of course the food is awesome!
(5)Minh D.
Excellent bbq. The best I found around this part of the state. Very reasonable pricing as well.
(4)Ron S.
I'm a big fan of SBRBBQ. I think their brisket, ribs, corn mac cheaux and green mac & cheese are terrific. I particularly enjoy their daily regional BBQ specials. We had a summer gathering in our backyard this year and had SBR cater it. Everyone loved the chow.
(3)Jerome J.
I live between this and the Elk Grove Village locations... I choose Wooddale! By far, the best smoked meat in the area (somehow smoked much better than the EGV location) which rivals many of the Texas bbq places that I visit. Julian's is walking distance from my house and I still go out of my way for SBR. All of their meats are smoked extremely well. Favorites are Kansas City burnt ends, St Louis ribs and brisket. Sides are great too, especially the beans, corn maque choux, and green mac chili! Also, a lot of different sauces that you won't find on the website or on the grocery shelves. My wife's favorite is the Smokey Apple, and mine is the Competition sauce. You can take a small cup of the sauces home, or just buy a bottle of your favorite, which are in the glass display counter.
(4)Jessica M.
I'm a fan of the sauce so I knew I'd be a fan of the restaurant! The pulled pork is great -they have several sauces to choose from, too. My only request would be drink refills.
(4)Ed A.
Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue is a nice stop for taste buds tired of the usual fast food places in the area. My meal was to go and I enjoyed it in front of the TV watching sports, drinking a beer and scratching myself. It was a good-sized meal but I expected more volume, especially from the side orders. I got the brisket sandwich which was delicious. Soft, moist and very flavorful but not enough heft. The barbecue sauce was very nice. Not too sweet or smoky. It came with two side orders. Some kind of corn,/pudding mixture and BBQ beans. Yes, I was eating alone. And besides, my farts smell like cornbread. Each side order was very good, although small. (I was hungry. Shut up!) Anyway, it was a very good meal for a pretty good price.
(3)David R.
It's not often that I get carte blanche on restaurant choices; however, my recent birthday was just such an occasion. I wanted barbecue and I was willing to travel. So, adios to my oldest Yelp bookmark--and a fond farewell it was! In part, I was putting it off because 1.) Who knows where the heck Wood Dale is? and 2.) I was worried about some lame corporate atmosphere with mediocre food. I was wrong on both counts. I'll get to the food in a moment, but first let me praise the service. The young man who served us was fun, energetic, dedicated, enthusiastic, and generous. And what we saw from his handful of colleagues was more of the same. That was a delight, because you rarely see an entire cohort of employees who seem to love their jobs and actually enjoy dealing with customers--at ANY kind of business. Of course the food is the main attraction. I've been using Sweet Baby Ray's bottled sauce for over a decade now, and once long ago at Taste of Chicago I ate a legendary pulled pork sandwich from them. But I was just a little hesitant about a bricks-and-mortar establishment. My bad--I've been missing out all these years. All-around, these guys are making some of the best barbecue in Chicagoland. Pulled pork: still glorious Barbecued chicken: there's not much room for excellence with a chicken, but theirs is very good Barbecue grilled shrimp: again, it's not a knockout, but fulfills its potential Baby back ribs: I prefer a meaty rib, not a "fall off the bone" variety like some people, and SBR's was precisely to my taste. So, in my opinion, these were some of the best ribs I've had anywhere in the region. They have more sauces available in the restaurant than they sell through retail. I didn't much care for the mustard variety, but their Kansas City is damn fine. How about sides? Sweet, moist cornbread. Creamy, tangy cole slaw. Savory sweet potato fries. Check out the corn maque choux for a nice change of pace from the typical starchy sides. It's not really a "healthy" option, being creamier than it needs to be, but it's quite tasty For food, these guys rate a very solid four stars, but I am awarding them the fifth star (rare for me on a first visit) based on the staff's attitude. If they are that happy to serve it to me, I would happily haul my keester all the way out to Wood Dale again for some more of this stuff.
(5)Joe R.
Cozy place for some good bbq....highly recommend....going into food coma soon....must sign off for now...
(5)Charles S.
The full slab of ribs was good and since everyone else on this business trip with me devoured their food, I can only imagine it tasted good. Glad to grab some of there homemade sauces for the return trip home. Small place, minimal seating especially at peak lunch times.
(4)Ray J.
Not too long ago I woulda been singing this place's praises. Too bad for SBR I didn't have an account back then (back then being a couple months). In addition to the meteoric fall in quality and quantity that many other reviewers have voiced "concern" with, they've apparently recently restructured their menu. They've done away with many menu items (including my go-to Cubano Sandwich, which I'll try not to bitch about because I could see it not being very popular at a BBQ joint), but also and perhaps more jarringly, they've done away with side choices and combo platters. What was once an exceptionally modular menu allowing for any number of combinations, is now for better or (much) worse a very straight forward menu. Everything is pretty much set: no selecting sides, you get fries and coleslaw. You can still order sides for $3 a pop, which for the Green Chile Mac is tempting, but for all I know that's gone the same direction as the brisket and burnt ends (to clarify: down). I can understand how consolidating and streamlining the menu would make sense from a business perspective, however in combination with the blatant deterioration in quality, it makes for a completely undesirable (and almost unrecognizable) experience.
(1)Oscar S.
My absolute FAVORITE PLACE for BBQ when Im roaming around the suburbs!!! Always LOVE the food NO MATTER WHAT I order!! Delicious!!!
(5)Kelli A.
This place was very disappointing. We love their sauce and always keep it stocked at home. However, we've had better home made pulled pork. The sauces were just there, they weren't really integrated into the dishes. If you wanted them to use a sauce other than their regular sauce, you had to either ask for your dish dry and add it yourself, or add it yourself in addition to the meager regular sauce they attempt to incorporate in the dish. The sides were rather small and unimpressive.
(2)Rhonda G.
The ever so reliable Urban Dictionary defines sauced as: (v.) past tense of sauce: means to be owned. If this is indeed true then I guess I sauced Sweet Baby Rays pulled chicken sandwich (I also literally sauced it with some of that sweet yet spicy sauce that we all know and love). The pulled chicken sandwich was pretty good, though I must admit it would have been a lot better if it were actually hot! I know it was near closing time but still, slap that meat on the grill...that sounds dirty. The mac n cheese was green! ok, a hint of green. Why am I not giving this place one star? Because it was supposed to be green, it has green chile in it (so that makes it Chile Mac, ha! get it?). The side order of mac n cheese is tiny but it is actually enough given the size of the chicken sandwich. You also get a bag of BBQ chips, I would rather have a second tiny side though. I plan to go back because if it's good lukewarm I can only imagine how tasty it will be hot. You've been warned Ray! Do me proud next time!
(3)Jennifer H.
For me, this place would take second in the Chicago suburbs to Austin BBQ in Wheaton (overall), but they might take the gold so far in the sliced brisket category! After living in Kansas City for 3 years and having a husband that has picked up a Big Green Egg smoker; I know I've been spoiled when it comes to BBQ and smoked foods. He surprised me with a little jaunt out to Sweet Baby Ray's in Wood Dale. Let me repeat, I LOVE BBQ so this was a lovely surprise! One can tell just by looking at the place from the outside that they are really going for the "real" essence of a BBQ joint; small, quaint, and sometimes in the"middle of nowhere." They have a pretty extensive menu with a sampling of BBQ styles from across the country (Texas-style, Kansas City-style, Carolina-style, etc.) My husband and I chose the 2 meat plate but the girl behind the counter suggested we go for the 3 meat plate so we would have enough food, so we did. We chose double burnt ends (nearly impossible to find anywhere other than KC unless you make them yourself) and sliced brisket with beans on the side. *** Burnt ends: These were pretty good; tender but a little fatty. The fattiness can happen depending on the slab of meat so I didn't discount them for that. I'd give the burnt ends 3 stars. ***** Brisket: I thought the sliced brisket was delicious; tender and smoky just the way I like it! It had the ever-important smoke ring and held a lot of the smoky flavor which my husband commented can be "difficult to do." I'd give the brisket 5 stars (almost as good as my husband's). ** Baked Beans: Although sides are not typically that imporant to me at all, I was spoiled in KC by beans with brisket chunks in them, and now I am forever disappointed by beans I get anywhere else that don't live up to the "brisket beans." Aside from that, these beans had some type of funky flavor and I am not quite sure where it was coming from. I didn't like these at all but my husband ate them. 2 stars. **** KC Sauce: My favorite sauce, by far, and probably by no surprise was the Kansas City Sauce (which of course they don't sell in stores as far as I know). It has the right mix of spices, this sauce is not a sauce for you if you like super sweet sauces. Other Sauces: While I did sample all of the sauces, I didn't care enough for any of the others to be able to review them fairly. I stuck with the KC sauce since I liked it best. ****Service: The only person we interacted with was the girl at the register (who also brought us our food). She was very sweet and helpful and therefore I give the service 4 stars. Side note: I actually really liked the honey cornbread muffin served with the meal. We will defintely be back here again and will likely order the sliced brisket.
(3)Jay N.
I've been here many times and this is the best bbq around. They're not just here to make a buck but to put the best out there. They do a great job with putting out regional barbecue instead of just 1 style. Their Memphis just isn't dry rub ribs, but they have the fried bologna sandwich topped with pulled pork and slaw. You can get chopped pork like in Carolina (but no Cheerwine here) or burnt ends Kansas City style. They have a bunch of varieties of sauces along with their regular sauce. My friend is the biggest fan of their corn maque choux. Another loves their red beans and rice that definitely starts with a hearty roux. I'm a fan of their green chili mac n cheese. Great flavor! Regardless of the day of week or time of day, there is always some kind of special going on. If you don't stay for their all you can eat ribs, they have a carryout special at the same time. Service is also great since they bring the orders out to your table and refill your drinks. The only issue I have is that they close at 8. Duce Raymond, the main chef is also Kendall Culinary College trained so their recipes are solid. Definitely the best place in the suburbs for great barbecue!
(5)Alison G.
Not bad for this price with such big portion (I'm asian). Ribs taste the best among all their other meats, roasted chicken too dry, the spicy mac n cheese is a surprise! Will not likely to try again since i moved to a new place that's not close to Wood Dale, also Portillos ribs (in Schaumburg) taste so much better than theirs..
(3)Dodge S.
Coworker raves about this place so much, I had to give it a try. Simply amazing BBQ. The inside seating is on the small side so keep that in mind if you want to bring a group of people because you might have to wait for a seat or get your order to go. From the menu my favorites are the pulled pork sandwich, the Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo (which can be spicy), baked beans, red beans and rice, rib tips, and of course their ribs, and their Texas brisket. Wash it down with lemonade! Yummy! And no, that is not everything on their menu, I just like those the most. While you are eating slowly, take your time to savor each of their BBQ sauces. Find out why they have won so many awards. You'll have a hard time picking a sauce that does not work with your meal. Also if you need some reading material while you eat, feel free to borrow one of their BBQ books from the bookcase near the door. Now I'm the one who's telling everyone to try Sweet Baby Rays. Easy to find, it's near the Wood Dale Metra Station.
(4)John C.
Awesome pulled pork, fries are great. I did have to add some original sbr bbq sauce due to the pork being a bit tangy...
(5)Lou C.
If you Have a choice between Elk Grove or Wood Dale location: CHOOSE ELK GROVE VILLAGE. How Wood Dale differs from Elk Grove Vill: *dining area is a lot smaller; probably a 1/4 the size *slightly different menu; it does not have mashed potatoes! *shorter hours *staff not as friendly *in our case, phone orders trump eat-in guests (see below) *sizes of the sides are a joke; two fork-fulls and you'll be done *no wait staff, ordering is like Culvers, order at the cashier and they'll bring your food to you *ambiance of a fast-food restaurant We were almost finished ordering when one worker tells the cashier: You can add another side to their order - no cornbread is available. -Why? Someone just put in an order of 15 -So why don't you give us ours, since we're here, and let that phone order get the ones you're going to make us wait for? Nah! We had to wait. Ribs were still good, though.
(2)Jason R.
Chill place, not overpriced, decent BBQ, fun to try the different sauces, and a mellow atmosphere
(4)Milton B.
The best ribs around I always get the sampler platter half slab of baby backs and a half slab of st. Louis style ribs with a side of BBQ baked beans and Mac and cheese you can't go wrong I try to come here atleast once a month for my rib fix...
(5)Steve B.
Cute little place with great food, but designed more for Carry Out. If you're looking for a sit down experience try the one in Elk Grove on Higgins.
(2)Jessica G.
So my only complaint is that there's not a whole lot of seating here and what there is is lacking in seats for two. That said, I rather preferred this location to the other, larger one. The food tasted fresher and the sauce was lot better. I also liked that they had all the non-standard sauces that you could try. The KC-style is really delicious and we ended up buying a bottle of that and the mustard-style sauce. Service was quick and friendly. We'll be back.
(4)William B.
very solid bbq. I like the specials, and the non traditional bbq items. They do specials for lent, St. Patricks day, Oktoberfest, and many other holidays I can't recall. They also feature different regional bbq styles on different days of the week, such as KC style, memphis, carolina, & texas.
(4)Tony K.
The sides are very small and the meat always seems to be dry no matter what you get. Its like they want the sauce to cover up the problems with the dry meat. Also the ribs are crazy expensive and there is very little meat on them. $15 for a sandwich with 2 sides! You freakin' kidding me!?! Noooooo no no no no. Oh and it would be nice if the people that work there would actually get my order right! Its just not worth it. The food is fair & the prices are stupid expensive for what you get. I wanted to like this place so much too :(
(2)Brett F.
I adore SBR's BBQ sauce... so you can imagine my excitement when I heard we were being treated to lunch today on the company and we'd be ordering from Sweet Baby Ray's. For starters, I wasn't even aware they owned restaurants... obviously they do, this one in Wood Dale and another in Elk Grove Village. I can't comment on their service or atmosphere since lunch was brought in for us, this is going solely on food... so if you like to rock the take-out or are thinking of hosting your next event with SBR's, listen up!! Trying to be a bit carb-conscious lately, I opted for their Mixed Green Salad and a Pulled Chicken Sandwich where I was going to ditch out on the bread and just feast on the bird. Unfortunately both were so skimpy I needed the bread just to get full. My salad was comprised of a handful of greens, a few small tomatoes and carrot shavings. I shouldn't have expected much more but the portion was really ridiculous. My sandwich didn't fare much better, it looked huge and juicy at first glance, but after ditching the bun I realized there was only a few ounces of chicken, mostly dark meat and not nearly enough to even satisfy a toddler. Get back here you cast-off bun!! We all shared a few sides of onion strings which were tasty, crunchy and had a nice spice to them. I'm sure I overcompensated my lack of chicken by abundance in strings. Overall I was a bit underwhelmed and was longing for my Whole Foods Salad Bar. SBR's get an extra bump in star because they were nice enough to comp us a few bottles of their famous BBQ sauce (one of which promptly went in my purse) - I truly love their sweet and tangy sauce on everything I grill at home so this will definitely go to good use!
(3)Chet M.
This place is a deep sleeper - Wood Dale, IL? Very good dry rub ribs, the way ribs should be done and eaten. Make sure you order sauce on the side or you will ruin that prized crust that took hours to make. Baby backs and St. Louis slabs are both very good. Beef brisket is very high quality too. Fries were crispy and had just enough magic dust to make them plain yet special. Sauces were great, but just use to dip sparingly. Worth the drive from the city and fill up the tank as a second reason to go because you you'll be outside of Cook County!
(4)Tavis B.
Im told that a new pitmaster is in place, and I think that the food is better than ever. While the menu items do come with fries and slaw, they had no problem letting me substitute beans for fries. The burnt ends were unreal. St. Louis ribs were REALLY good, and I ended up being glad they were sold out of Baby Backs. They explained that all the barbecue is served fresh every day, and available until they sell out. No re-heats here, which is ok by me. Worth the trip for sure.
(5)Susan R.
We have been to both locations but like the original one the best. Prize winning BBQ for a reasonable price. You can sign up to their email club and receive a free birthday dinner. We just enjoyed my husband's birthday dinner. The food is marvelous if you like very tender falling off the bone ribs. They have the widest variety of BBQ sauces to enjoy with your meal and offer some tasty spicy sides. The corn bread served is fabulous but save some for later, it really packs the calories. The restaurant is very casual. You order and pay for your food and they bring it to you.
(5)Val S.
Things have changed drastically. This was our very favorite Smoked BBQ. We were in tonight, July 14th and very disappointed with the new menu and results of not only missing items in our order but the quality of food along with the change of inclusions in plates. We have been coming here for years but Unfortunately will not be returning. Ordered Tx Brisket as usual only it was full of fat and we had to throw it away, missing items included corn and corn bread, and the pulled pork was terrible as well. The fact that we now have to pay for our choice of sides and forced into a large portion with higher prices on top of the poor quality of food and a much more expensive bill was terrible. Also no lids out to take sauces to go in the cups. Just so unhappy! Officially there are no good smoked bbq restaurants any longer in the area...so sad.
(1)Gerry D.
Good food but price was a little steep! Would go more often if the 3 meat combo was $3 cheaper! The kansas city bbq sauce is GREAT!!!
(4)Sarah C.
I like Sweet baby rays on higgins better- it as a lot more room to breathe! I ordered the rib tips and was very satisfied- my dad ordered a half slab and not only did the sauce taste different, they were super dry. I'll stick to using the sauce and making ribs at home. But I would say that it's worth a trip to decide for yourself!
(3)Junior R.
Came here for lunch. 1st timer. Really nothing special. Ordered the platter (baby back ribs, pulled pork & brisket). Nothing was served hot, just warm. Corn bread was good. Green chile Mac & Cheese was wonderful. The meats.....meh. Just OK, nothing fantastic. Expensive @ $22.
(2)Eric P.
I'd give sweet baby's a 4.5! This is place is money! And do not let the exterior fool you, this place is for real! I've been here twice and I always left satisfied. First of all they do have a sweet savory bbq sauce that has won awards, thus you can't go wrong with that. Now they have the sauce down, its up to how they cook the meat. And yes great sauce with great rib tips (5lbs for less than $30) equals a very satisfied meat lover! And wow are those rib tips tender... it was just finger licking good. I wouldn't say they were the best I've had but definitely top 7(lower tier). But that's not all! The sides were incredible! Do not be a fool, eat your vegetables! Get your corn! Wow the corn is sweet and bursting with flavor... just was rich and tasty. But the green chili mac was a star with everyone. The green chili just has a unique taste with a kick that will make you compliment with either a "boy that is good!" or "mmmmm mmmm MMM!" Yes its just that delicious. You will not be disappointed with Sweet Baby Rays, definitely better than Famous Dave's, so make it happen!
(4)Sophia T.
I got the rib-tips and 1/4 chicken. While the sauce was delightful, I thought that the rib-tips themselves weren't all that tender. In fact the edges were fairly chewy and hard, which rip-tips just shouldn't be. Also the amount of meat that came on the bone was a little less than I'd expect. The chicken was delicious and juicy, though I'd say nothing too special. It also had the same bbq sauce on it. What I think makes this place great is the cornbread, to the extent that I am willing compromise getting mediocre food, as long as it's with a side of their cornbread!
(3)Joel G.
Good: First the food: No complaints. Very good BBQ and a fun assortment of sauces to try. I still prefer Smoque a bit better, but this was still excellent. Bad: No soap in bathroom, so.... what are the employees using before they go back to the kitchen??? Manager was told, and still no soap 10 min later.
(3)Kin L.
So there we were, day 2, at an off-site project wondering what to order for lunch. We already did Italian for the past two meals and needed a change. Sweet Baby Ray's was right in the area and a pulled-pork sandwich was sounding really good! My coworker said the the BBQ sauce by the company is pretty darn tasty, so it was settled, Sweet Baby Ray's it was! Although I wanted to eat there, we couldn't really leave our site, so we ordered take out. I ordered the pulled-pork sandwich with a side of beans. My coworker ordered the boneless rib sandwich with a side order of slaw. The pulled-pork sandwich was pretty good, but not the greatest that I ever had. The BBQ sauce was good enough to make me lick my fingers afterward, but it wasn't good enough to make me eat my fingers. Good thing too, or I wouldn't be typing up this review! The beans on the other hand, were way too sweet. Well, it was the sauce that was heavy on the sweet side. It pretty much took over the flavor of the beans. So sweet that it almost made me sick! I ordered a pint and I barely stomached a quarter of it. I placed it in the pantry's refrigerator hoping someone would finish it off. I wonder who took it? I feel bad for that guy...I hope he's not diabetic...whoops! As for the boneless rib sandwich, my coworker looked shocked when she unwrapped it. It wasn't what she was expecting at all. It was a a McRib! They serve a McRib sandwich! If she wanted a McRib sandwich, she would've gone to McDonald's! Once again, I have fallen victim to bad beans...
(3)Sherie S.
This place was great!! The people who work there are happy to see you, they make you feel welcome and like family from the first visit onward!
(5)david w.
Tried this place about 2 months ago. Not sure what gives, I thought food was supposed to be juicy and soft. We had one of the variety combos. All the meats were dry. Cornbread was dry and crumbly also. Not going back
(1)Tiffany L.
So I found this super cute litte BBQ Place called Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ, and i have to say it is awsome. They have really friendly staff, and very good prices. I had the pulled chicken, it was soo yummy.... I will totally be back for more, I cant wait to try their award winning ribs :)
(5)Sue R.
We stopped here after a late afternoon round of golf at White Pines in Bensenville. Since we had no idea where to go to eat we went here on a friends suggestion. We do use the SBR BBQ sauce at home so we figured what the heck. We were pleasantly surprised by what we discovered. We shared the combo plate - BBQ ribs, chicken and pulled pork with cole slaw, baked beans and honey corn muffin. Everything was just delicious. Of course that sauce was the sauce which is quite tasty. But I was impressed by the quality of the meat very good not at all fatty. The sides were good, not spectacular but good accompaniments. The corn bread was outstanding, baked with honey on top, yummy. The place is small so don't expect a big dining room, it was busy but not packed so we were comfortable. The staff was extremely attentive and checked on us several times even though this is a place where you walk up the the counter and order. The extra bonus was that one of our friends cannot do gluten. She had checked with them prior to coming and they were able to accommodate her just fine. She had the ribs, cole slaw and baked beans. She enjoyed her meal as well. I would recommend SBR's to anyone who likes casual ribs & chicken dining, the food is very good, the service great and the overall experience wonderful. We'll be back.
(4)Igloo B.
HAVING FAMILY AFFILIATED WITH KENTUCKY BBQ LEGENDS, MOONLITE INN, I AM A GOOD CRITIC FOR BBQ. been there twice from outta state, both times it was awesome, the secong time i actually met the sweet baby ray, nice guy, spoke with me about some places in indiana where i am from and gave me free dessert, an awesome brownie, the banana creme pie is great too. the bbq ribs are good, not great, but the pulled pork---best ever, and brisket is amazing, the sides are excellent as well. having a plethera of sauces on the counter helps to determine what bbq u really like, try the corn maux chax and the jerk chicken is very good too. nice place inside, way better than famous daves...
(5)Nick P.
I drove by this place after hearing about how good it was from a bunch of people and decided to grab some lunch. i got a pulled pork sandwich and it was pretty good. the food was definitely a plus but the service kind of sucked. maybe i came in on a bad day or weird time but it could have been alot better. I could see myself coming back atleast once a month because i do love BBQ.
(3)Rich K.
This is a great place and they really put effort into offering specials and bbq from other regions. Their ribs, chicken and rib tips are great, the side dishes are all fantastic (especially corn maque choux, if I spelled that correctly). I've been there many many times and only rarely have things not been perfect. If you want bbq in the western burbs, this is the place to go. The ribs are top quality, never fatty, with real smoke flavor. Now, I'm a traditionalist who believes the best ribs come from aquarium smokers - my fave is Ribs n Bibs in Hyde Park. I think that method of cooking doesn't dry out the meat like sometimes happens with modern smokers. SBR uses a modern smoker. But, that aside, I think their bbq is the best I've had outside of Hyde Park.
(5)Dong B.
Had a craving for their green chili mac and cheese. This is the absolute best mac and cheese on the planet. It has a slight kick, the pasta is always perfectly cooked, and it isn't overpowered by the cheese. Doesn't get any better than this. Oh yeah, they also do BBQ here. Their BBQ shrimp is amazing. It used to be absolutely amazing but then they stopped including the garlic bread so that knocks it down a notch. The rib tips and St. Louis style ribs are really good. You get a nice smokey flavoring. The BBQ sauce doesn't over power the the ribs. One thing I wish they would do is have different flavors of their sauce available for takeout like Famous Dave does. My favorite is the chipotle sauce which you can get in the stores. Another craving satisfied.
(4)Nari H.
This place is pretty darn sweet. Never heard of it until some friends took me here on a late afternoon. There aren't a lot of places like this in this area that I know of at least. Great Ribs, good sides (got the corn side which was pretty good), and it's a good deal. You get a lot and it's fun to come in groups. It can be messy, but if you're looking for some finger-lickin good, you'd better come here. I'd definitely be back.
(4)steve c.
Sweet sweet baby rays. The restaurant lives up to the sauce you buy at the store. Ordered a half slab and chicken with cornbread, a side, and a soda for $10. The food was top notch. There's some warmed BBQ sauce and 15 other dipping flavors you can try. The service is very attentive. The biggest problem is how small this joint is. It seats about 20 people.
(5)Patricia R.
Can't deny that the food is good, but the prices are too high. And when you order a side of something...it literally comes in a small cup. Who wants to pay $1.99 for 2 bites of something? Not I. For the price, I expect the food to be even better and more plentiful.
(3)Nicole L.
I knew from the moment I started eating the chewy BBQ chicken that I'd never eat here again. It's a shame too because the staff is super nice and the place is cute, but the food just wasn't worth it. I did feel the sides were plenty big enough, though. I liked the green chili mac & cheese but got tired of it before I ran out. The best thing was the honey cornbread.
(2)Andrew H.
Fantastic. Don't know how this is 3 and a half stars right now but I give it 5 all the way. I had the brisket with the green chile mac and it was amazing. Nothing bad to say about this place.
(5)Chris M.
I'm not a huge fan of the SBR BBQ sauce alone. Turns out the meat ain't that great, either.
(2)Brian Z.
Having just moved from Texas, my wife and I have been itching for good BBQ. And in our opinion, Texas has the best BBQ, so the bar was set pretty high. I had a side of pork ribs (a bit tough), slaw (good), and the green chile macaroni (awesome). My wife had the pulled chicken (a bit dry), and she enjoyed the slaw as well. Overall, the meal seemed a bit pricey for the portion sizes. The ambience was great, it felt like a real BBQ joint.
(3)Katty D.
My department ordered in from Sweet Baby Ray's for our department meeting, and they were more than accommodating. We didnt' have enough people in attendance to meet the 20 person min for catering, but they bent the rules a bit saying they'd rather earn business than push it away! We ordered a combo that came with bbq chicken (very moist), brisket (seasoned quite well), bread, two sides (yummy yummy beans , don't miss these beans!, & potatoes), salad, drinks and more. They were quite affordable, and even allowed me to tweak the order before hand in order to keep it on a budget. Everyone was more than happy with the food and we are very excited to order again this month. Their catering menu has more than just BBQ too, so check it out! Ambiance - they brought plates and silverware and of course - wetnaps!! Service - the reps were great and easy to work with, and the delivery was right on time Food Quality - the food was piping hot and delcious Value - Pretty good for catering. I fully intend to try the restaurant at some point!
(5)kevin s.
jesus, i loved this place. They let you put the sauce on yourself, which i like. I've lived in San Antonio and St Louis, both great bbq cities, and this place blew my mind. And if you follow the specials, its a great value!
(5)Alanna K.
It's a small tiny place, but it packs a pretty good punch. I had the full slab rib dinner. 1/2 baby back 1/2 st. louis. Man...were those ribs goodddd. So tender, and just a little bit of charred yummy goodness. My cornbread was also delish, along with my rice and beans...and the green chili mac and cheese was the bomb!!! It just made me wanna slap my mama. lol And the service was excellent. The girl taking our order and getting us refills was so sweet, and answered any questions we had!!!
(5)C C.
I love this place! I even catered my Christmas Eve dinner from here. Everyone loved the food and it was a change from the usual holiday fare. Service is great, restaurant is clean. My favorite dish is the pulled pork platter. Why get a sandwich with bread that fills-you-up, just dive into the good stuff. I think I will go there for lunch today! yummmmm :)
(5)Tony W.
Great place - a real gem. It's related to the other Sweet Baby Rays restaurant in name only - THIS is the one you want to go to. It's a small house/shack and they have daily specialties, special sauces you can't buy/try anywhere else, the staff is always friendly - plus you have a decent chance of running into the real Sweet Baby Ray here. The food is pretty good around - the Deuce sandwich is a favorite because it has wood smoked bologna on a pulled pork sandwich. Sweet potato fries are good, and all of the meats are above average (nothing is the best I've ever had, but it's all really good). What I really like are the specials (for most holidays they have special menus, and there's things like a Cuban sandwich on the menu), the fact that the BBQ is done on small scale, by friendly people, with some experimentation - not this giant one-size fits all menu carved in stone Famous Daves abomination we've taken for granted in Chicagoland.
(5)Christina A.
Ever so conveniently I live only a few blocks from this 'rock of age's bbq'! On breezy summer days I can even smell the awesome aromas of the smoker from my backyard! Sweet Baby Ray's is best known for its BBQ sauce but luckily for us they opened a restaurant! I have always visited the original in Wood Dale which is VERY small (but very accommodating) but they just recently opened their new location in Elk Grove on East Higgins Road. They have nightly dinner specials that you can eat there or take to go however I really, truly go for the pulled pork and Chef Paul's Corn Maque Choux-Kicked up creamed corn. Their Green Chile Mac N' Cheese is also to die for. I highly recommend their sides and the ribs and crab cakes are fabulous too. This past year Sweet Baby Ray's catered a two day event for the winery I work at and we had the absolute pleasure to get to know the 'guys' of SBR's. Chef Elton and Duce are spectacular and really make the best pulled pork and brisket you can ever imagine. Next time you're in the Northwest burbs or near O'Hare you MUST, MUST get your @$$ to Sweet Baby Ray's!
(5)Jim K.
My wife and I visited there in mid-January, 2010. The place is not large, but it's clean. The food is excellent! Served by freindly people. My wife had the St. Louis ribs, and I had the baby backs. Both were perfectly cooked. The meat was tender and juicy, the sauce - as we expected was the best! ...and together, they made for a great meal! We'll be back.
(4)Chris S.
Went for lunch on a Wednesday with some coworkers. I got the Rib Tips and a drink for about $12. Decent sized portion but I hoped for more and better for the price. The sauce is good, the meat ok and the fries were sub par. The dining room is small and the only open table was a 2-seater so we had to pull up an extra chair. All-in-all it wasn't very comfortable.
(3)Scott W.
This is a rating based on food quality. The location is rather small and lacking in several things that if considered would cheat people of the quality of the food based on criteria that don't come into play since I live within 1/2 mile and carry out. Chicken and rib BBQ is simply as good as any that I have eaten in my life. There are several sauces you can try, if you can't find one to satisfy your taste I would believe your taste is to picky. I have purchased food from here at least 30 times and have never had it less that 4.5 stars. They have a technique of cooking the meet so it is always cooked to absolute perfection based on a quality of cut that is excellent to begin with. The sauce is left to be put on after being cooked so that it is truly the choice of the diner no the cook and is always tender, lean, and the full rack is two meals easily that I eat slowly to allow savoring the flavor of the food I'm getting to eat. There are other BBQ establishments that I would also give a 5 star rating to, but they are completely different. Unique, excellent quality, consistent, and a good value given two meals are provided when you buy one. It is a joy to live so close and bring large quantities to family gatherings.
(5)Jennifer V.
All I can say is Yum! My office eats here often and we just love it. The Deuce is possibly the best sandwich ever invented. If you ever get a chance to try the pulled pork nachos do so they are awesome! Can't go wrong here at all. I am a barbeque snob and I love this place in the Suburbs and Fat Willys in the city!
(5)Marie L.
Holy crap, this place is good. If you like Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce or barbecued meat or meat in general, you should go here. It's comfort food at its best with barbecue sandwiches slathered with sauce, tasty rib tips, amazing shrimp and good sides, too! It's hard to find a good shrimp po' boy outside of New Orleans but they do a pretty a good job at Sweet Baby Ray's. My favorites thus far are the aforementioned po' boy, crab cakes, pulled pork sandwiches, jerk chicken, rib tips, and grilled shrimp. Droooool. The restaurant is super tiny so if you're going around lunch time, expect to wait a while but I doubt it's nearly as crowded at night.
(4)Karl B.
In all fairness I only ate here once. I had the ribtips, was it worth the trip from Westmont? No, the only thing good was the sauce and the cornbread they gave me. While maybe there other items on the menu that kick major ass it will be a while before im back to try them. I was really dissapointed w/ the food and might just stick to Hogwild as my fav BBQ joint in the chicagoland area, or unclebubs which is down the street.
(2)Patrick O.
The restaurant always orders the more expensive, better product, which is why the prices are high. But for you to come in and get a boneless rib sandwich and expect it to be the greatest thing ever is ridiculous. I warn customers that it's almost the same thing as a McRib. I personally think that the shrimp po boy is the best thing we have especially if you get extra chipotle mayo on it. What I know is that they put in a lot of effort into the food and service, and they try and please the customer. But for the people who think they are too expensive, you obviously haven't seen one of many ways to save there. They give out frequent diner cards, they have a ridiculous amount of coupons, heck if you sign up for their emails, you get a buy one get one free coupon for just signing up, which means you can get a full slab platter and have the second one free. Every restaurant is going to have problems here and there, but it is also up to you the customer to let them know when something isn't right. For you to come once and be unsatisfied isn't right, but it shouldn't make you say that you're never coming back. Just let them know what happened, and they will happily fix it for you! Just a few of my favorite things from there are: Shrimp Po Boy, St. Louis Ribs, Green Chile Mac n Cheese, Cubano, and everyones favorite...pulled pork sandwich! O and if you get the cubano, try it with chipotle mayo not citrus mayo!
(4)Carmella M.
stopped here on an outing for lunch and was ok with the meal, had the 1/2 slab with a cup of chili and thought it was pretty good . although the dinning room is really small at this location the one on higgins is much bigger.
(4)Renato P.
The meat there is really good, the pulled pork tender and flavorful , the ribs got a little chew but are still tender except toward the ends where it gets a bit tough. The half chicken was excellent. The sauce on the other hand is, Sweet Baby Rays , one of the better store bought sauces , but not nearly as interesting as a lot of the homemade sauces used at places like Heckys , Fat Willy's and even Hubs(probably not homemade but pretty good). Tried the Brisket , I never usually order that but decided to try it. I didn't really like it , it tasted really good , but was entirely too dry. The potato salad is really good , the baked beans , not a personal favorite in general , but done well here. The corn bread was a tad dry , not bad though. This is a really good BBQ joint , but it doesn't yet flirt with greatness.
(4)Tony C.
the sauce is NOT the boss, altho the fiery alice hot sauce can burn you a new hole. again, not the same league as ribs from the southside. no rib tips, just 2 types of slabs. the cornucopia of sides are tremendous and always compliments the meal. unfortunately, i just don't find the rips to be as smokey with a strong enough of a rub. we come here for lunch because the pulled pork sandwiches are nice and cheap. remember: ask for SAUCE ON THE SAUCE. real bbq isn't doused in sauce. FYI: a new SBR with full service, full bar has opened in Elk Grove: 800 E. Higgins Rd. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(3)Beth M.
I love this place, the food is full of flavor and it's not ever really crowded when I go so that is nice. You get served right away. I love the chopped southwest cobb salad. My sister and I usually split it the portion is very big. They have tons of ribs, burgers, and lots of other bbq options. Prices can be on the higher side, but if you are in the mood for BBQ, nothing else will beat this! I've had the banana parfait and I definitely recommend that even to take home for later! I love that they have about 10 different flavors of sauce to try, they are all so good! The service and staff are great too! They also offer catering for parties.
(5)Nick M.
Typical BBQ menu items you would expect all tasting quite delicious, the best part of course is the sauce. Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce is the best around! The Sauce is the Boss!
(4)Jennifer M.
In a word: Adorable! 5 stars for Endia! We walked in and immediately felt like we were guests in a person's home. The woman behind the counter is soft spoken, funny and super kind. Her name is Endia and it turns out, her dad was one of the original cooks... the things we learn just being nice and talking to people! 4 stars for the bad news: they sold out of the St Louis Slabs of Ribs and I didn't want Baby Back Ribs tonight. They don't sell a boneless rib sandwich. I'm unfamiliar with anything else when it comes to barbeque. I've heard the words Rib Tips and seen shows about Briskets on The Food Network Channel but that's about it. I asked Endia what she likes and her eyes lit up when she brought up the Brisket. I asked sandwich or plate? She said plate. I took her advice and chose the mac'n'cheese as my 2 sides (you can get two different ones). I cannot wait to return. The food is delicious. The staff is wonderful. I feel like I made a friend and found my new comfort food.
(5)Erick H.
Good, solid BBQ. I had the Brisket and the Pulled Pork. They have lots of different sauces. The Brisket was excellent. Just the right texture, and just the right amount of smoke. The pork was a little dry, but with the wide variety of sauces available, I remedied that quickly. I'm not one to use a lot of sauce because I feel BBQ should stand on its own, but all in all this is a good place to get 'que.
(4)Renita M.
My sweet, sweet Sweet Baby Ray. We moved out of Wood Dale three years ago, so we don't get here quite as often as we used to, but had to make an excursion this weekend. They've still got it. The menu has changed and expanded a bit, and you can now get the smokehouse nachos famous at the EGV location in Wood Dale. With your choice of pork, chicken or brisket. SO GOOD. However I do have one tiny complaint: some of the chips in our nachos were chewy and difficult to eat. Like they'd been nuked, maybe? Or were stale and then nuked? Hard to say. The rest of it was still delicious, though. This time I got a two-meat platter with burnt ends and smoked sausage. That sausage was delightful. The burnt ends melted in my mouth. The green chile mac & cheese and maque choux still has it. The WD location is small - though they do have outdoor seating seasonally - but they still have good service and friendly folks. They also have bottled regional sauces and rubs you can't buy anywhere else. So if you love some meat, get yourself here. (By the way, in case it needs to be said, this place is not vegetarian friendly -- you can probably eat three or four things on the menu tops...)
(5)Timothy H.
It's a chain BBQ restaurant...so don't expect to be blown away. However, SBR's does a good job at providing a consistent product which is good overall. First encounter here was going in on a Friday evening with friends. The service was slow and the food was average. My second encounter was just with my wife at her request for some BBQ on a Saturday. Again...slow, again...the food was ok. Third encounter, we used SBR's to cater our corporate luncheon and feed 150 people. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. The pulled pork was good, as was their grilled chicken, and salad with grilled vegetables. I probably won't go back unless someone else is paying. There is better BBQ down the street at Shorty's. For catering events I'll keep them on the list of possibilities.
(3)Lloyd M.
Okay food but a little disappointing. When with some colleagues from work and the food was solid but not as impressive as I had been expecting. The plusses was the variety and quality of the sauces (not surprising). Almost all of their sauces are available to try and I had never had any other than their main commercial one. Really liked a few, especially the raspberry one which had a strong raspberry flavor. The rest of the meal was unspectacular, especially for someone who has had a lot of BBQ in the south. I had a combination platter of ribs, brisket and burnt ends. Was really looking forward to the burnt ends but could not even tell them apart from the brisket. Both were good, not too fatty, but nothing special. Same for the ribs, good but nothing special. Sides also were not memorable. Baked beans were baked beans, nothing more than you can get out of a can. Green beans were the daily special, cooked in butter, but again did not jump out at me. Loved the different sauces and may go back again just to dip but overall food was good but not great.
(3)SoSunnychicago S.
Nice outdoor seating in the summer. Good ribs, shredded meat sandwiches. I like the chopped salad ($9). Great sides, like Green Chile mac, cornbread, baked beans (3bucks each). They have a lineup of the sauces, so go ahead and soak your entree!! +They do catering, both small and large events. +Good parking
(4)Jessica P.
Went back and talked to Mike P. today. What a turn around! The staff was very pleasant and welcoming.I'm changing my rating to a 4 on my own because the chicken tender kids meal was delicious that we had tonight. I also tried a two meat meal and loved the bone in white chicken breast. The fries were great and of course the coleslaw was super tasty. I'm glad SBR reached out to me...I'll be coming back for sure now. Seems as though they got rid of the crappy management and have great customer service now!
(4)Joe I.
This place is AWESOME! She is the older yet smaller sister of the SBR restaurant a few miles to the north. She is the blue collar smokehouse, where her younger brother wears a suit and tie. She has all the enthusiasm for the sauce...something I've never seen up north. And "The Sauce IS the Boss!" Love the picnic tables environment, super staff, extra SBR sauces you can sample, fries that sing, ribs that melt in your mouth, and a corn maque choux to die for. Try some new sauces but don't forget to purchase before you leave, because several are only available for sale here!
(5)Kevin W.
Top. Notch. Sweet baby Ray's ALWAYS has the best meats and the green chili mac and cheese is phenomenal! The portion sizes are excellent and the price is right on. Whenever I am in the area I make it a point to swing by. The staff is friendly, the decor is fun and the food is amazing!
(5)Teri D.
Without a doubt the worst BBQ on the planet--and I thought Sugarfire in St Louis sucked till I came here. Dried out horrible ribs with no smoke flavor to speak of, lousy service and total indifference are the hallmarks of this joke of a BBQ place. Just about any gas station in Mississippi, Georgia or Alabama has better 'cue than this poor excuse for a barbecue joint. Famous Dave's kicks the crap out of them--and they are only a 3 star place. Bandana's in St.Louis is head and shoulders over this place too and they are a chain--albeit a MUCH BETTER one. I throw better BBQ than what they served me here in the garbage. Don't eat here--it's overpriced and terrible. Come down south where we know what good barbecue is supposed to taste like and you'll throw rocks at this place while you are on your way to Smoque which is 100 times better for about the same money. It's a toss-up between here and Rendezvous in Memphis on which is the more overrated for crap BBQ. Go back to selling sauce in the supermarket because the barbecue here is an epic and miserable FAIL. A very expensive disappointment and embarrassing for my client who was trying his very best to take me for something he thought I'd enjoy as he's an IL Yankee and I'm a 5th generation southern gal. I felt bad for him, but I doubt he'll ever come here again either. If this is what passes for barbecue then y'all definitely need to come down south--where we KNOW the flavor is in the MEAT not the sugar-overloaded sauce. UGH!!
(1)Morris N.
Online ordering for take-out is easy and was ready at the time requested. They have a small dining room if you want to eat there. The St. Louis BBQ ribs were great and included fries and coleslaw. Their cornbread and mac & cheese are also good. I've had the smoked wings as well which were ok. Portion was large for an appetizer. Definitely worth trying it out if you like BBQ. They are one of the best in the area.
(4)Joseph L.
Good BBQ and brisket. The location is very small, so during lunch it's hard to get a seat. Parking is a little weird too. Still there isn't better BBQ nearby. Good food.
(4)Truth M.
I found the Ribs to be very dry, The ribs where all bone No meat on it.and as I know meats poor quality. "Wheres the Beef"? Some parts of the Ribs where like Rib Jerky, Come on! Baked beans was like sweet chile,.Fries Over cooked "Surprised" I guess I'm the only one that got bad food there. Hummmm I'm not buying it. I'm so disappointed and let down. Sad day indeed. (Award winning ribs? ) Where? If you want to throw out your money go there. To let you know it was a order to go that's why we get Bad food. Good way to dump there old crap food on you. Beware.
(1)Sarah G.
They used to be great, but they changed the menu and upped the prices. I do still LOVE the sauce though!
(2)Gemma K.
Taking a non barbecue person to Sweet Baby Ray's is like telling Sleeping Beauty she needs to get more sleep. But I have to hand it to this little joint, they did all they could up to the point of doing handstands to make me happy. One of my teacher friends suggested a stop there. I will admit, walking in, the aroma does tend to make one swoon. Not too busy, we hit it just right. I will also admit that I do love their sauce. Then I checked out the menu. Hmmm. Sensing concern our waiter did a great job. I have to agree with my Yelp friend David that everyone at Sweet Baby Ray's was just plain sweet. Now: on to the food!!!! My friend's pulled pork sandwich was gigantic. He said it was like "butt-ah". I was afraid he would drool before he got going on it. He chose a side of mac n cheese, which had "comfort food" written all over it. He also got slaw. I snagged a taste, it was awesome. I had their chicken BBQ, my ever favorite sweet potato fries, and their slaw. No complaints from this girl. We both did ourselves proud, but they have something on their menu for dessert that will definitely send you back to your childhood. Banana pudding. And not the wimpy kind. This here was some pudding!!! I stand proudly as a member of the sticky fingers club from Sweet Baby Ray's. Nice spot for barbecuer's and non barbecuer's alike.
(5)Han W.
Went to the woodale location got the email club got o 5 doller coupon right of the bat.got the pork 1 pound of meat nothing else.it was very good but without the coupon I don't think it was very much.the meat was very tender.i will go back to try some of meals it was a small sample size don't want to pass judgment yet a very good bbq joint will be back.
(3)Elaine C.
Fabulous food and service! Our brisket was on the tough side, and when the manager asked how everything was, my husband told him. He apologized, and a few minutes later returned with a plate of brisket that was outstanding! Great customer service at this lication, and as always great food and wonderful sauce! Highly recommend!
(5)Aaron D.
I have been coming here weekly for months. It used to be awesome. Really flavorful, tender brisket. Great cornbread and sides. About 3-4 weeks ago, things changed drastically. Horribly tough shoe leather brisket, burned cornbread, undercooked fries, missed drink orders... Truly embarrassing for them to serve this food. Since the first bad experience 3 weeks ago, I have been 2 more times, hoping these bad experiences were just flukes, and both times had similiar issues, and the brisket was consistently extremely tough and not at all good. I had a bite and threw it out each time. On the most recent visit I asked an employee if they had a change in management or cooks or something 3-4 weeks ago. She said they did have one exactly then. And that seals the deal for me. Whoever the new management is, they are doing a terrible job as they took a great establishment and made it awful. I will not be coming back here, and will savor the old days when this place was good.
(1)Rose D.
Mmm, mmm, good! I'd always been a fan of their bottled sauce and when a coworker told me we work near one of their restaurants...well what are we waiting for?? Let's get us some Q! I had "The Duce"...a delectable combo of fried bologna (a childhood favorite) topped with pulled pork & coleslaw. BBQ Goodness! The pulled pork was oh-so-tender and juicy. The fried bologna on the bottom, is quite tasty on it's own, but with the pulled pork on top you don't really notice it as much. I did find the fried bologna to make a nice base, though, protecting the bottom bun from getting soggy & falling apart. I found the addition of their mustard sauce to this sandwich to make it absolutely perfect. I also had sweet potato fries. A nice crispy and sweet accompaniment because you just can't go wrong with those paired with BBQ. My other side was cheesy grits...which I'd never had before so I have nothing to compare them to. I can say they were definitely very cheesy and I would order them again. The staff was friendly and the food was ready quick, though we were part of the early lunch crowd. I'm sure they get busier as the day progresses. So if you have a taste for some fabulous BBQ head over to SBR's & be sure to wear dark colors to hide the sauce you'll inevitably drip on yourself.
(5)Roseanne S.
I've always liked Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce so when I found out they had a restaurant, I had to give it a shot. I was especially surprised that this restaurant was located in itty bitty Wood Dale! Upon arriving, I had to make sure it wasn't closed because there was no one there. And it was a Friday night. I was a little hesitant to go inside because typically it's not a good sign if a restaurant is empty (See: Restaurant Impossible on the Food Network). However, once I walked inside, I understood why. This place is tiny as hell! There's about 5 tables total, so I would not recommend coming here with a big group. It's not really a sit down restaurant. The menu is on the wall, you walk up to the counter and order, sit down, and they bring you your food and drinks. They have two televisions there if you find your company boring, and they have a whole shelf of trophies, for their sauce and BBQ, I'm assuming. The food arrived on a nice little gray tray lined with wax paper, which I like. I've only had food served like that at one other BBQ place (see my other reviews) so it must be a true BBQ thing. The food was pretty good. I had 1/2 platter of ribs, with fries as my side. The ribs were yummy. Nice and pink, and a little sweet. The ribs are done St. Louis style, so there was a mix of dry rub and a little of their signature sauce. However, if you like things a little spicier, there are 5 other sauces on the table which you can use to lather up those babies. The fries were nicely seasoned and the cornbread was phenomenal. My only complaint is that it's a little pricey. My half slab was $15. My boyfriend got the full slab which was around $20. With two sodas, our bill came out to $40. Yikes. If you can stomach the bill, this place is a-okay. I wouldn't necessarily recommend dining in, but it's certainly good for take-out. Oh and they have a few domestic beers. That's always nice.
(4)Samantha V.
Green chili mac is delish! I always get the brisket plate, which can be hit or miss. As long as it's fresh and a little fatty, it's good. Occasionally it is a little bit dry, but still tasty. The multitude of sauces when you dine in is nice. The cornbread is yummy.
(4)