Friday night was date night for the wife and I. This week that meant a trip to "Sweet Baby Rays" BBQ in Elk Grove Village. They have two Chicagoland locations, the one in Elk Grove is at 800 E. Higgins, and the other is at 249 E. Irving Park in Wood Dale. For all you city dwellers, both locations have plenty of free parking.
The outside of the restaurant has a very log cabin feel to it, a look that continues to the inside. The wood from the roof is seen on the ceiling as well and the lighting is slightly dimmed. Once seated you do get cloth napkins and a bottle of their signature sauce right on the table. What is not on the table is a table cloth. Smart move since their slogan is "The sauce is boss."
Our waitress arrives and promptly tells us the specials, which on this night include Irish fair for St. Patty's and some fish selections for Lent. The menu is a good size and features standard BBQ such as ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. We start with the pulled pork nachos, my wife orders the boneless rib sandwich with salad and fries, and I order the 3 meat combo. This got me very excited. I was able to choose from baby back ribs, spare ribs, rib tips, beef brisket, pulled pork, and a 1/4 chicken (white or dark same cost). I chose baby backs, brisket, and a 1/4 chicken white. This includes cornbread and two sides, which were baked beans and green chili mac and cheese.
First thing out was the pulled pork nachos. The nachos were tortilla chips with pulled pork, cheddar jack cheese, black beans, sour cream, and pico de gallo. Maybe I set my expectations too high but the nachos didn't blow me away. They were good, but the pulled pork with the nachos sounded better in my mind than they really were. Worth getting, but don't expect too much.
Next out was our dinners. They did forget my wife's salad and did apologize, but we were so hungry for BBQ that at first we didn't notice. My wife's rib sandwich came on a crusty Italian roll and was sweet, tender, and juicy. My combo came and I was very excited. The ribs were slightly smokey but sweet from the sauce. They had the right texture as well. Slightly crisp outside but tender inside so as they easily came off the bone. Brisket was next and it was very tender slices of beef covered in warm barbecue sauce. Next was the all white meat chicken that was tender and juicy and covered in sauce as well. Time for the sides. I was most interested in the green chili mac and cheese. This was a spicy mac and cheese that had ground chili's mixed throughout. Very unique and tasty but didn't really taste like mac and cheese at all. The baked beans were next and they were your garden variety baked beans. Slightly sweet and smokey but nothing new. Good but standard. Last was the corn bread which was crusty on the outside and soft and crumbly inside. Tasty and only mildly sweet.
For dessert my wife ordered peach cobbler and I ordered pecan pie. The cobbler came warm in a small crock and had nice tender peaches and was topped with vanilla ice cream. My pecan pie was a mini pie that was topped with ice cream and a side of homemade whipped cream. My pie was only OK. It was served cold and the inside had very little caramel. After a little while it felt as if I was chewing a handful of pecans.
With tip the final bill came to about $60. Overall this is an enjoyable place with decent value for the money. Good food and pretty good service. It's worth up to a 30 minute drive but no more.
Overall rating ** and 1/2 out of ****.
The outside of the restaurant has a very log cabin feel to it, a look that continues to the inside. The wood from the roof is seen on the ceiling as well and the lighting is slightly dimmed. Once seated you do get cloth napkins and a bottle of their signature sauce right on the table. What is not on the table is a table cloth. Smart move since their slogan is "The sauce is boss."
Our waitress arrives and promptly tells us the specials, which on this night include Irish fair for St. Patty's and some fish selections for Lent. The menu is a good size and features standard BBQ such as ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. We start with the pulled pork nachos, my wife orders the boneless rib sandwich with salad and fries, and I order the 3 meat combo. This got me very excited. I was able to choose from baby back ribs, spare ribs, rib tips, beef brisket, pulled pork, and a 1/4 chicken (white or dark same cost). I chose baby backs, brisket, and a 1/4 chicken white. This includes cornbread and two sides, which were baked beans and green chili mac and cheese.
First thing out was the pulled pork nachos. The nachos were tortilla chips with pulled pork, cheddar jack cheese, black beans, sour cream, and pico de gallo. Maybe I set my expectations too high but the nachos didn't blow me away. They were good, but the pulled pork with the nachos sounded better in my mind than they really were. Worth getting, but don't expect too much.
Next out was our dinners. They did forget my wife's salad and did apologize, but we were so hungry for BBQ that at first we didn't notice. My wife's rib sandwich came on a crusty Italian roll and was sweet, tender, and juicy. My combo came and I was very excited. The ribs were slightly smokey but sweet from the sauce. They had the right texture as well. Slightly crisp outside but tender inside so as they easily came off the bone. Brisket was next and it was very tender slices of beef covered in warm barbecue sauce. Next was the all white meat chicken that was tender and juicy and covered in sauce as well. Time for the sides. I was most interested in the green chili mac and cheese. This was a spicy mac and cheese that had ground chili's mixed throughout. Very unique and tasty but didn't really taste like mac and cheese at all. The baked beans were next and they were your garden variety baked beans. Slightly sweet and smokey but nothing new. Good but standard. Last was the corn bread which was crusty on the outside and soft and crumbly inside. Tasty and only mildly sweet.
For dessert my wife ordered peach cobbler and I ordered pecan pie. The cobbler came warm in a small crock and had nice tender peaches and was topped with vanilla ice cream. My pecan pie was a mini pie that was topped with ice cream and a side of homemade whipped cream. My pie was only OK. It was served cold and the inside had very little caramel. After a little while it felt as if I was chewing a handful of pecans.
With tip the final bill came to about $60. Overall this is an enjoyable place with decent value for the money. Good food and pretty good service. It's worth up to a 30 minute drive but no more.
Overall rating ** and 1/2 out of ****.
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