Old Smokey's

Ok, I was really caught between giving this 2 stars instead of 3 because "Meh - I've had better" really does sum up the rib tips I had, but I hate doing that to a mom & pop establishment with friendly service that seems like they really try.  Unfortunately, being in mid Illinois they probably just don't know what good southern barbeque is!  Memphis rib tips this is not!  

I wandered into this place by accident as I was passing through Morton around lunch time and hungry, and seeing a sign for KFC reminded me how much I like their pop pies (they're very good with a truly flaky crust!) so off the highway I went looking for the KFC.  Unfortunately, I never found that KFC but saw a Jimmy Johns in the distance, and driving up to it, what do I see but a little hole in the wall BBQ joint!  

Being a sucker for hole in the wall BBQ joints of course I chose that over the Jimmy Johns, and being Tuesday all you can eat rib tips was the daily special.  So how were they?  Well, maybe I should've had Jimmy Johns instead.  No, they're not that bad, in fact, they're pretty good unless you're really expecting Memphis style tips with all their smokey goodness.

These tips appear to have been put into a crock pot or something to keep them warm.  Were they moist?  Yes.  Fell off the bone?  Yep - that's all good, except I have the sneaking suspicion these might have been boiled first before putting on the smoker which is a definite no-no for authentic BBQ pits.  As for their pit, an employee informed me they don't really have one, and these were smoked indoors with "wood" so I suspect they must have an electric smoker that you throw some wood in for some smoke effect.

All in all they were tasty, with some smoke flavor and they were soft and moist - perhaps a bit too moist, as if they'd been smothering in steam for awhile.  I did have a 2nd helping being it was all you can eat, but unfortunately I didn't quite finish it all, and if you know me, I never leave anything on the plate so that might tell you my overall enthusiasm for those tips!  But all in all, it was all-right - I'm just spoiled and ok, picky when it comes to barbeque!

Awful! How does this place stay open? They must give a free meal with tax service?

I thought Tony S. was perhaps being snarky, but he was right. I got the AYCE rib tips and apparently they were  sitting in water/steam for hours and most of the flavor was gone. The bbq sauce added little to the bland food.