Chicago Rib Shack

This American themed eatery has what you would expect from a Rib Shack plus more as the flair and character of the place seems grand yet inviting. The many touches to the restaurant stand out including the pig motifs, the stained-glass window and not forgetting the bibs for ribs.

The food is generous boasting large portions with a selection of meats other than ribs including a range of fish, chicken and salads. This venue is more suited to the meat-eater offering a small choice of vegetrian. Dishes such as the onion loaf are better shared as it is much larger than you might expect, briskets are very flavoursome and ribs do warrant bib wearing.

The drinks and wines are typically priced but the list includes some imported beers which are worth a try.

Service is good and the staff have the same flair to suit the place. Very attentive and not shy to fasten the ribs to you.

Chicago Rib Shack is a great place to start a night, recommended for a pre-meal to the Royal Albert Hall with the bus stop directly outside. Would be suitable for parties, families and couples especially with the more intimate seating downstairs with private areas.

Went there last week 8/09, fan of the old place and hoping for a reprise.
First course, one quarter of iceberg lettuce with good blue cheese dressing, surprising very good,
Ribs for both us, very poor, had baby rack and st Louis ribs respectively- very disappointing, barbecue sauce was foul,
Onion loaf- the thing we most remembered from the old place was swimming in oil and my last bite was a chunk of quartz in the disk, showed the manager who deducted that off the bill, lucky I did not lose a filling.

What a disappointment- nostalgia ain’t what it used to be, try the chilli ribs in harvesters or go to Tony Roma’s in the states, this was very poor.

I have a bit of a thing for places like these, with Big Easy in mind. I realise that I won't be treated to a ***-type dinner, but that's obviously not the reason for going here either. With the Rib Shack, I find it's been fun and very buzzy place (unfortunately with its fair share of kids) to go to in the weekend evenings. I was once there for a weekday and we were the only ones in the place, and with a dining room like that, you're almost expecting an echo when you order. So the varying atmosphere would be my first take-away.

The food is very straight forward and being a meat and barbecue fan myself, I have never been disappointed. Sure, it's messy (everyone's offered bibs!), and not very classy, so if that's your aim, there's no reason to visit. But if you're after a fun evening with friends, a lot of beer and meat, then this is the place. The big minus is, compared to Big Easy for instance, that it takes a lot of people to fill the place, but as I mentioned, it usually seems to be full in the weekends.

This was my first visit to The Chicago Rib Shack and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the whol experience. I had heard various tales of woe and many of joy so I decided to take the chance whilst I was in town to head over and see for myself.
I was made very welcome from the outset with lively and enthusiastic greeting on the door, although I had to wait a short while for my table I took this as a sign of good quality.
The food was excellent and to my likiing, its messy and everyone wears bibs which is a novel idea.
All in all it was a very good experience and we will be returning on NYE for the bug event.