Rainin' Ribs: BBQ Worth the (Short) Drive
Any kid who spent part of summer vacation at a lake house is susceptible later in life to a strong nostalgia for screen doors, fountain soda, and slasher flicks. Many of my particular lake house memories are set in the 80s and involve watching dudes in nothing but cutoffs drive by in pickups with American flag bumper stickers, blaring "Born in the USA" by the Boss.It's no wonder that walking into Rainin' Ribs induces era-checking arm pinches. There are the only slightly ironic American flags displayed in the kitchen and dining area. There is the iconic framed picture of Mr. Springsteen strumming a guitar in front of the Stars and Stripes above the cash register. And the kids in cut offs? They've been replaced with a fresh-faced kitchen staff slinging some of the best damn B-B-Q in our fair city.
To spell it out, the ribs here are really good. Mildly addictive, actually. But it's the total unpretentiousness of the place, with its even mix of kids, old folks, regular Joes, and displaced hipsters, that makes it my new favorite spot. In spite of the fact that they use styrofoam take out boxes.