Bobby Q's

12/18/03

Northwest suburbanites get messy with big plates of barbecue in a casual strip-mall setting.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Come-as-you-are couples and families roll up their sleeves at this low-attitude, low-ambience spot in Arlington Heights, named for the owners' toddler's pronunciation of "barbecue." Poster and tchotchke efforts at decor are incongruous with the food, though bluesy background music is on-message. Service is enthusiastic, despite occasional gaps in menu knowledge.

The Food
There's a serious commitment to smoked meats here, all done in-house (except the pork sausage) using hickory wood and cherry for the poultry. Some results are stellar, including perfect pulled pork and smoked turkey breast, and the house sauces, spicy Cajun and sweet Texas, are worthy contenders (the former took third place Cajun at K.C.'s American Royal competition). Fans of falling-off-the-bone ribs may find these a bit too firm, and the reheated brisket can have a stale flavor. Stalwart onion rings are a good bet; other sides like mac and cheese and cole slaw are forgettably bland. Dessert is a low priority, as ownership feels "if you have room for dessert, we haven't done our job."

• Pros: good barbecueserious saucecasual ambiance
• Cons: uninformed serviceuneven side dishesstrip mall atmosphere