Oak Park Boys Eat BBQ - 12/20 - 7 PM - Pit Zone

The Oak Park Boys who don't all live in Oak Park, and we swear, don't even have to be boys, are meeting in a few weeks to try a new BBQ place that's not in Oak Park.

Wednesday December 20
7 PM

Pit Zone BBQ
7247 W. Roosevelt
Forest Park, IL 60130
(708) 435-4117
https://www.facebook.com/Pit-zone-bbq-1559982494263214/

Planning on being there!

Always a good time.

I’m not sure about the Koolaid though...

Koolaid

And there's been a price increase, it's now $2.25 for the Koolaid. Tonight's was whatever flavor this color is. I didn't try it. I can recommend the mac and cheese. I'll be interested in your verdicts on the pork.

How was it? I sometimes frequent that neck of the woods and I like to know....

toria wrote:How was it? I sometimes frequent that neck of the woods and I like to know....

The event is still to happen and coming up next week.

Fwiw, I take it as a strong indicator when talking about BBQ if someone compliments a side dish and doesn't mention the meat.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

toria wrote:How was it? I sometimes frequent that neck of the woods and I like to know....

The event is still to happen and coming up next week.

Fwiw, I take it as a strong indicator when talking about BBQ if someone compliments a side dish and doesn't mention the meat.

=R=

Looking forward, and if we're not totally satisfied Cigars and Stripes or City Barbeque (not bad for a chain, quite barky if not moist) are easily accessible for round two.

I was hoping to make it tomorrow night but unfortunately, it's not going to happen. Have fun!

=R=

I was also hoping to make it, but I think we're heading downtown for a last minute trip to Christkindlmarket. Maybe you'll have to hit all three places and report back on findings! Enjoy!

You know when you're GLAD to go to the dentist?
Had a big ol molar yanked outta my head yesterday afternoon. I knew I probably wasn't gonna make it to this one, but I was almost contemplating - the patient is doing just fine, but there's that issue of a big, not so healed crater in the back of my mouth.

Eagerly awaiting the reports on this joint. I STILL haven't made it there yet.

My take is that Pit Zone is well-intentioned but not turning out anything special - beyond Kool-Aid, the black cherry-lemonade was great - yet. Their links are by Blue Ribbon in Oak Park and seem to just be fried. The tips are lean and don't bear any smoke flavor - cooked somehow and then also possibly perked up in the fryer. I didn't love the wings. Everything comes with once-fried handcut fries which are good in the sauces but not crisp (one thing Smokin' M's used to have right). Some meat and side selections were not available - fried green tomatoes are out of season, collards weekend only, they don't "smoke" every meat every day. They have a nice comfortable dining room.

I kuhdo'd my way over to City Barbecue afterward. The place smells glorious and doesn't feel too corporate, and for the second time had a strong brisket showing with lots of bark and melty fat. I went collards and gumbo (seasonal) this time and both were good - the collards had as much pulled pork as greens (their pulled pork is not as strong as their brisket) and the gumbo was spicy and piping hot. A notch better than Q on Marion (or in LaGrange) and much better than erstwhile Piggyback. There are lot of coupons in circulation that make this a reasonable value for suburbancue. Nothing has hit the height of the first batch of smoked & fried wings I had at Cigars & Stripes (which were almost an Uncle John's experience) but at least there are some options beyond Famous Dave's now.