Mary's Bar-B-Que

Having moved far away from Exsenators, my previous bar-b-que joint of choice, I was faced with a dilemma...Should I start up my naughty habit of eating unhealthy rib tips occasionally or let it die away?  I was doing well not being tempted to stop anywhere on the West side for Bar-b-que, but I had a mad craving last night. I called the janitor at my school, to get the low down on Mary's...why did I do that? He said they were great, but be careful and to call my order in ahead of time. This was my cue to let my naughty habit die away since I didn't have a number...but my life for a chance at some good tips, I decided.

Mary's has no inside...you walk up and order from outside through the window, like getting a Jewtown, my bad, Maxwell street polish. You really don't want to be hanging on the corner, but these tips were worth it...tender, juicy, the sauce was really good, however I didn't care for the vinegary twang, but others might. I ordered wings also, they were not dropped fresh, so they were not as pleasant an experience. Oh yeah...tax is included in the price.

There was also a free show of an older man standing in the middle of the street, drunk (hopefully) and rapping the same line, over and over and over. He then started yelling then went away...rib tips and a show! And the coup de grace, the man who gave me my food said, "Here you go, baby."  I was not a ma'am!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Oh yeah, a cop car kept circling the block...I didn't know whether to clear out or feel safer, however I will definitely be back because those were some really good rib tips.

Have you ever been driving and found yourself so distracted by the smell of barbecue that you almost wrecked your car trying to locate the source?  If so, consider yourself forewarned if you find yourself driving along this stretch of Pulaski.

Having almost killed my husband and myself driving by this place, I was determined to see if their cue was really worth nearly killing the both of us for.  The answer - absolutely!*  We ventured here today, hit the highlights, and left very happy, very stuffed customers and new fans of Mary's.  Open since 1968, this is your new favorite barbecue place that you never knew existed.

Wings - crisp, juicy, moist, NOT greasy, not at all.  I love these wings - add some hot sauce and you are ready to go.  Before proceeding further, you should know that I'm of the "Sauce hides a multitude of sins as well as the flavor" school of barbecue. If barbecue can't stand up on it's own without the sauce, it's not barbecue at all, so I ordered our tips/links combo sans sauce. Tips - nice smoke ring, good chew, rich porky flavor, good even without the sauce.  Honest tips, my friends, honest tips.  My generally mild mannered and very picky eater husband ordered me to step away from the tips as he decided they were all for him, high praise, indeed.  Links...oh my!  VERY spicy, absolutely speckled with flecks of pepper, great texture, nice snap, quite good. This carnivore says "more, please."  We also tried a cup of their highly touted chili - while quite good, I think I caught it on a thin day as it wasn't quite as thick as I like, but chili is like the weather and changes from day to day, so I'll definitely try it again.

Served properly, with white bread and soggy fries, this place does barbeque right.  The default sauce is a bit sweet for my tastes, but apparently they have a great hot sauce that you have to specifically request.  Do it.  Their motto is "Where the sauce is boss and every bone is well worth eating."  How can you NOT put a motto like that to the test?

Strictly Chicago style barbecue (aquarium smoker, tips/links/wings, no full sized slabs here), but they do it very, very well.  No frills, you dine ala Trunk here as there is no seating (no inside in fact, you order through a window). Amazingly nice staff, friendly patrons, inexpensive...I command thee, Barbecue Lovers, eat at Mary's and show these terrific people some love.

*There are those that would argue that my life is worthless under any circumstances, a sentiment that I, at times, fully appreciate and enthusiastically endorse, but this is a review of a barbecue place and a discussion on the actual value of my life would be inappropriate here.  Catch me at an event after I've got a few in me and I'll gladly debate it then.