Lem's Bbq House

05/09/09

Inconsistent

by BBQ4ME at Citysearch

I have been eating Lem's for two decades, starting on 59th with Mike and when that location closed I followed Lem's to the 75th street location. I travel from the far west suburbs to get Lem's at least once a month and the ribs are never the same. One month they are great and the next they are so hard that I can't eat them! The same thing goes for their chicken wings, they are either great or under cooked. Customer service is not the best either, we could do with out the coldness of the women who work on the cash register, they should treat every customer the same way they treat the food critics who give Lem"s such high regards. Somebody need to inform the owners of Lem's of the fact that six chicken wings should not cost over six dollars and you should not have to take out a loan to buy an order of rib tips! Lem's you are located in an urban area with gold coast prices... WAKE UP before it's to late because you will not get a bail out loan from yhe government to stay in business!

• Pros: Food Critics Love Lem's
• Cons: Lacks consistency, poor customer service, parking

12/01/07

Get Real (BBQ Boy)...Lem's Rules

by nelson_tj at Citysearch

I have had them all over town and Lem's is still the king. A unique tangy sauce with a hint of clover and just a bit of heat slathered on tender rib tips or a more chewy st. louis style rib. If you like meat falling off the bone go for the tips or head to Chilis. Instead of getting the standard preparation of meat packed on top of the fries and white bread - get the meat on the side w. extra sauce. This keeps the oil smell from the fries from infiltrating the main event. Prepare for a drive thru some sketchy areas but the people at Lem's are great. Beware of getting a bad batch of yesterday's ribs by heading in too early in the shift - but prime time lems is an experience any bbq afficianato would treasure.

11/19/07

worst ribs. so tough I threw them out

by tapiro at Citysearch

you've gotta be kidding. after reading the reviews posted here I visited this place. I am from Kansas City where BBQ comes in many styles and varying qualities. I've eaten BBQ from coast to coast. This places wins for toughest ribs. The worst I've ever had, anywhere. Not smoked or slow cooked or anything that makes BBQ good, just cheap meat with toughness preserved or even augmented with high heat fast cooking. I am now suspect of all reviews on this site. Most are probably written by interested parties, like Lem, in this case.

10/06/06

lucky to find this place

by emiliobasa at Citysearch

i'm from detroit and i found this place by complete accident. what a find!! we got the fried shrimp and ribs with the fries. the sauce is great. it's open till 4am on the weekends and food is fast. so much sauce i didn't know what to do with it. the best is when the lay the ribs on top of the fries and then pour the sauce all over it. the fries get drenched in sauce. so messy and so good!!!!!

• Pros: food, late night kitchen, sauce
• Cons: none, but do ask for a lot of napkins...

03/14/06

The Best

by billerkelens at Citysearch

I have been to this pure south side rib joint. It is by far the best I have tried the patio,

Georges, The old Red Barrell,and many others all over chicago and the suburbs hands down Lem's is the best no question

• Pros: Taste, price, Quality
• Cons: none, none, small place

12/29/04

Longtime South Side carryout spot dishes up smoky barbecue to a loyal following.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
Great sauce and excellent slow-cooked meats have kept this place going strong since 1967. Walk in and call your order through the thick glass, and the staff will have your order up in no time. Lem's sauce is slathered on with a large paintbrush and tastes good on everything, including hot links, crusty-tender ribs and tips. Fried-to-order chicken takes time, but it's worth the wait. All dishes are served on a bed of fries.

• Pros: great sauce
• Cons: no seating

09/15/03

Best B.Q

by russell at Citysearch

I HAVE BOUGHT LEM'S BARBEQUE FOR YEARS AND THERE IS ALSO A STORE ON 59th AND STATE STREET AND IT ALSO HAS THE SAME GREAT BARBEQUE.

06/05/03

SLAP YO MAMMA

by princesa66 at Citysearch

I have been eating at LEMS for about 20 years. I have tasted many BBQ restaurants but nothing comes close. The sauce is so addictive. I now live in Long Beach, California, but when I go home I pick up a gallon of BBQ sauce to bring back to California! Now my native Californian husband is hooked!!! Keep up the good work!

11/09/02

Rib Lover Personified

by blackcontractor at Citysearch

These Ribs are nothing but Good! Lem's begins by slow cooking a premium slab of ribs over a hickory wood fire. After the slow cooking process they mop the ribs and french fries with a secret, spicy, tangly sauce. In my estimation Lem's is without doubt the finest rib joint in the city of Chicago.

• Pros: The Ribs, Crowded but cheering, Good value
• Cons: Ambience, Parking on weekends

10/26/02

Go to the source!

by pinojet at Citysearch

If your tired of copies and good imitations at best. Lem's authentic barbeque without the "fu-fu".

• Pros: Inexpensive, Quality, Authentic