Nick S.
Yelp
7 WORDS - BAD AREA / GREAT SERVICE / CLASSIC RIB JOINT
...A chilly nightg in January 2017.
On a whim, Art and I decided to have a foodie adventure, so I found a new rib place (B&K Smoke House) on Yelp! and gave them a call -=625 on a Tuesday night..
The owner answered and when I asked if they were open, he said, "We close in half an hour. How fast can you be here?" I told him 10 minutes and he told me to "Come on Down."
So we did.
We arrived in about 20 minutes instead of ten. There were two guest waiting for their meals. We ordered ours for here - I got a half slab of Spicy Mustard ribs and two cans of soda. Art ordered a half slab of Honey BBQ turkey ribs, a side of cole slaw, and a Coke.
Food arrived in just under 15 minutes - a little long - and the owner called it from the deli-style counter and we had to fetch it - not horrible, but a little less than perfect for the fact we were dining there. Still, he was super congenial and he was hospitible to us as well as people who knocked on the door after closing time - serving people as late as 25 minutes after closing for "to go" orders.
The restaurant itself was simple and quaint, but also classy and clean - standard four-seat diner tables with great counter tops and nice chairs. The wall and counter were freshly renovated - and it was super comfortable inside. It's located at the corner of Main and Ohio - and that's probably out of a lot of reader's comfort zones. Still, I didn't feel unsafe, even though we made sure to park in a well-lit area and locked the doors/secured anything that might induce a "smash and grab" attempt.
Our ribs were good - hearty serviings and the cornbread (you better ask for it - otherwise you'll gfet standrad loaf bread, white or wheat) tasted home cooked: fresh and flaky. The meat tasted like it had been in the smoker all night and day - probably the effects of a good vinegar marinade - but it still tasted fresh off the grill at a state fair or Ribs Fest. We both enjoyed our food a lot - A LOT.
The total price felt a little steep at $27.50 for two half racks, a side of cole slaw, two pieces of corn bread, and three cans of soda. Still, it's pork - so I'm feeling we have to make some more rib trips to give B & K a fair shake - and possible upgrade if prices are comparable.
Still - I could recommend to anyone who is safe in such environments. If you're simply a smart tourist - it's not much different than any of the middle class suburban restaurants in Reynoldsburg, Whitehall, Westerville, Grove City, or even Hilliard. I'll go back - and soon.