Loathe to fall into a 'rib-rut', as it were, we decided the best thing to do would be to scientifically assess what we may have been missing out on. Scientifically, as in, a side-by-side test of ribs. So we each went to a different take out place, got a rack of ribs, and brought them to a neutral location to taste-test.
Contenders: KC BBQ, T-Rex BBQ, and Phat Matt's.
Testers: X, R, @, $, A, and N
(Let me sum that up by saying one of my friends (@) is a little bit insane, and during the planning and scientific hypothesis phase of this plan, insisted that we must all be abbreviated.)
Consensus: Phat Matt's. Runner up, KC BBQ.
Details:
T-Rex BBQ was an interesting place. It was a high-quality-looking establishment, with fancy decor and nice flat screen TVs. Like some kind of super up-scale sports bar. They definitely smelled like they had a good smoker going, but the ribs we got were dry. That seemed to indicate that it was too hot, violating the basic principles of "Low and Slow" passed down to us from our BBQ forefathers. The rest of the menu looked interesting, so I may go back there and check it out, just based on cool decor. Ribs had a faint taste of a vinegar rub, and came with some pretty good potato salad (if you ask me) and sauce on the side. I suppose they deserve another chance, in case it was just that day the smokers were set too strong, but dry ribs are not promising. Also, it was the most expensive of the three contenders.
KC BBQ was much more of a mom-and-pop establishment. In fact, quite the hole in the wall, and I was glad we got take out. Sauce was sweet, but also spicy. Came with some little bit of beans and potato salad ($ thought it was good, I disagreed) and regular old bread. Most everyone besides me agreed it was a solid runner-up, but I was pretty 'meh' on them.
Phat Matt's was a memphis-style rack of ribs, and Mempihs-style may be the way to go. Rubbed down with what seems like a ton of brown sugar-based rub, and then drenched in sauce. The place is also very mom-and-pop, diner-style, and they didn't even have a box, really, just wrapped two stacks of dripping ribs in a ton of tin foil to hand over.
Round Two will involve Brick Pig's, Berkeley E&J, and Great American BBQ. Later, the Final Rounds will pit Phat Matt against the other winners in a cage-match, to-the-death showdown of ribs. We will try and actually go to the restaurant to judge service and atmosphere, too. For now, though, it's just about taste.
