I have to start by saying this is my first experience with BBQ since I was wee lad. My grandparents lived in Bellwood and on certain Sundays we would go there and bring Russell's with us. As a young man I brought Russell's home to my family, and as a now middle-aged man I go there with my kids (who are now adults).
This is not your traditional BBQ joint, although they have branched out over the past several years. They have an extensive menu and are known for their BBQ beef and pork sandwiches, half chickens ( with or without sauce), and their half slabs of ribs. Recently they have added smoked pulled pork, chix, and brisket sammies which are AMAZING!
Most notable is their house brand sauce. It's just amazing, and to steal from Frank's, I put that sh*t on damn near everything. A very thin sauce, some black pepper, but just a distinctive flavor that is tough to beat. The fries dunked in the sauce should be illegal because it is just naughty. They sell it by the bottle so if you are feeling curious, look it up and get some shipped to you.
The place in ancient and has been added on to over the years. Due to the COVID, they started a drive-thru with a poor employee stuffed into a Conex box, but that's not all bad. Inside are the most uncomfortable, dark stained, hardwood benches with a 90 degree back on them. There is an old jukebox, probably digital now, and unfortunately the obligatory Chicago-area ubiquitous gambling machines. I digress.
Save for the ribs and maybe the half chicken (if you eat like a barbarian), this isn't the stick-the-napkin-to your-forehead place. That said, you won't be disappointed with the food. The have burgers, dogs (I think), all the afore-mentioned BBQ, ice cream, and beer on tap. You can park it outside during the summer and swat yellow jackets, or sit inside in the new section in decent chairs.
The locations aren't in Chicago-proper so your chance of being randomly gunned down are drastically decreased. I recommend the Elmwood Park location as that is the O.G. and the best, and what I have been describing in this post. I'm curious to hear if any of you know about this gem of the western burbs of Chi-Town.
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