Rib America Comes to St. Louis

With all the charm of a refugee camp, Rib America trots out expensive beer and 'classic' rock acts (with one original member each!) to highlight BBQ in St. Louis this weekend at Soldier's Memorial downtown. Featured Q includes:

• BIG BONED BBQ - IL
• COYOTE ROADHOUSE BBQ - IL
• TEXAS OUTLAWS BBQ - KY
• WILLINGHAM'S WORLD CHAMPION BBQ - TN
• PORKY CHICKS BBQ - AK
• CHICAGO BBQ - IL
• JOEY'S TEXAS THUNDER BBQ - TN

Get there early and admission is free (not the BBQ though) - otherwise $5.00. Portapotties and scrip are to be expected. For the music line-up and more details, go here.

Charlotte's Rib

An old favorite from bygone days (along with the long-defunct Rib Crib), this was my first visit to the new location at Clayton & Kehr's Mill.

Named after St. Louis TV personality, Charlotte Peters, the restaurant started in Kirkwood in the last 70's, but I used to go to the Manchester Road location in the 80's & 90's. Still in the family, the new location is a bit lighter, less formal than the old place.

I went with Dan T. I had the pork ribs, he had the rib/chicken combo. I'd have liked to tried the burnt ends, but those are a Thursday only item. Big thumbs up all around on the meat. Mine was very tender, lean and had a good smoke to it. Charlotte's special recipe sauce was on the mild side (and used sparingly though they will bring more on request) but very tasty, unlike anything else I've had so far.

The baked beans were mediocre but the fries were seasoned well. Very affordable for a strip mall/sit-down joint.