As we wind down in anticipation of the 4th of July holiday there's no time like the present to put the ribs on the table and decide which joint in South Florida is the best.
We start with the nominations:
Shortys- Dadeland. The original and one of the best. Always serves consistently good ribs with a pink interior and excellent sauces which go well on the french fires.
Uncle Toms on SW 8th Street- not the original because the ownership has changed several times since we stumbled in there in....well, a long time ago.
Georgia Pig- apparently in Broward, so that's strike one.
Little Reds State road 84. In Broward (strike one) reviewer called it "sublime" (strike two) but apparently serves collard greens and that's a big plus.
Tony Romas- only place in town that serves beef ribs.
The other issue that must be addressed is dry rub versus ribs cooked in sauce. Put us down for dry rub barbecue but give us some Shortys sauce because it is just so damn good.
The field is open for nominations and reviews....
First prize- an extra large box of prilosec.
See You at the rib joint smothered in grease and sauce.
UPDATE- From Robert Kuntz and others in the comments section, another entry we missed:
Rumpole, as surprised as I am sure we all are, you are wrong. Tony Roma's is not the only place in town that serves beef ribs.
Shiver's BBQ on South Dixie serves brontosaurus-sized beef ribs that are outstanding.
The place also has collard greens and black-eyed peas, a swell corn casserole, and fired pickles -- all required for a great barbecue joint. The gigantic incongruous mural depicting western pioneers is nifty, too.
The place has been in the same family for something like 60 years and, while Shorty's has much to recommend it, I'd give Shiver's the nod as best in town.
Thought I'd chime in to stand up for a south county institution.