Western Burbs Ribs

NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 20 Aug 1999 15:28:37 CDT
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Dave and Sue G. wrote:

> Ok. Let's hear it!
> Where are the best ribs in the Westen Burbs?

Well, Robinson's Ribs is in Oak Park, on Madison between Oak Park Ave. and Harlem. Take-out or table service. Still tastes great to me.  (Maybe it's that the smoke from the cookers is always drifting in my direction when I'm trying to work at the keyboard.......)

As with a lot of rib places, the "ambiance" is minimal, the staff is relaxed, the customers are talkative and friendly, and the food is surprising.

NNTP-Posting-Date: 21 Aug 1999 00:17:33 GMT
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In article  , Dave & Sue Golz
wrote:

> Ok. Let's hear it!
> Where are the best ribs in the Westen Burbs?
>
No question in my mind:  The Rib House on State Street (aka Roosevelt Road/Route 31) east of the river in Geneva (also the home of the finest nouveau-style restaurant in the area, the 302 West).

- SteveB

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Sue G. wrote:
> Ok. Let's hear it!
> Where are the best ribs in the Westen Burbs?

I rather like Giovanni's.  Their ribs are cooked without the sauce, (added near the end) and the sauce is medium spicy.  Nice, smokey flavor.  Meat is cooked not quite "fall-fo-the-rib", which is my preference -- has some chew but won't pull out your teeth.

If you are not going to eat your full slab anyway, (they have 2/3 and halves too), then I would order the small antipasto salad which is definately enough for two.  The soup is always minestrone, usually quite good.  With your entree get the augratin potatoes.  They make quite a good canolli, always crisp (flute from Turano right down the street) and filled by order.

The veteran servers are always attentive and (since they use beepers) the food always comes out of the kitchen hot. Un-impressive wine list -- order an Italian table wine.

They also make a really good thin-crust pizza, their chicken is good as well.

They do carry-out and deliveries, but never, ever, order the augratin potatoes because they are served in a nasty paper bowl, and don't taste anything like how they taste in the restaurant.

IIRC, they are open every day of the year and open fairly late (12? 1?).

The decor is pleasant, purple-ish and pink-ish, pretty modern. Some tables and some booths.  Bar area is smoking, with about 6-7 four-person booths.  Never accept a seat in the tiny "party room" in the back of the restaurant -- it is a study in claustrophobia.

The ribs are always on sale on Fridays during Lent, it's the owner's joke.  If you like the food and think you'll come back, get a PIG-OUT Club Card.  For every ten times you visit, you'll get a $25 gift certificate.

These folks enter rib contests regularly and have won some prestigious awards.

Oh, cloth napkins!

Giovannis
6823 Roosevelt Road
Berwyn, IL
708-795-7171

Jude