Spare Ribs Question

[Deputy Nutz]

Applebees is about as bad as chain food gets right now.

I've reserved that distinction for Olive Garden.

You just ruined my romantic evening next Tuesday night with the Skinbasket. You rot in hell.

You guys need to cuddle at Marty's Pizza. Or Oakland Gyros.

I love some Marty's. I am a Waukesha guy, so I go to Gyro's West

[Partial]

I just don't get the whole 'Oakland Gyros' thing. I've been there on numerous occasions, drunk and sober, and it's only okay at best. I guess it's not my thing.

Supposedly there is a 5 guys going in next to it. I don't even know what type of food it is but people seem stoked for it.

Marty's pizza is effin good. It's up there right behind Ned's, Pizza Man and Anne's as far as best I've had in Milwaukee.

I like Applebees and Olive Garden. Applebees is good in a pinch, I've had good lime chicken there, and then OG is just all-around solid with the soup salad and breadsticks for a five spot.

[Deputy Nutz]

There is a 5 Guys in Delafield and Pewaukee and it is the fucking bomb! Best franchise burger I have had.

If you haven't gone, I suggest you do.

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There is a 5 Guys in Delafield and Pewaukee and it is the fucking bomb! Best franchise burger I have had.

If you haven't gone, I suggest you do.

hmm I would guessed pizza based on the name but I will check it out once it goes in.

[Deputy Nutz]

Strictly burgers and hotdogs, but fuck the hotdogs. Fries are all cut by hand day they are served.

free peanuts

[Tyrone Bigguns]

There is a 5 Guys in Delafield and Pewaukee and it is the fucking bomb! Best franchise burger I have had.

If you haven't gone, I suggest you do.

hmm I would guessed pizza based on the name but I will check it out once it goes in.

What suggested pizza?

Franchise burger joint outta the east coast. Growing like crazy. Good burger. Got 2 opening near my cardboard box soon in tempe, i think.

Still like Fatburger (fried egg is da bomb), Cheeburger Cheeburger, Backyard Burgers and The Counter more.

AZ has tons of In n Out...but, ty just really doesn't get the appeal.

[Noodle]

Let me try to actually answer the question.

I'm a huge Q fan, and while I agree with Ty about preferring places with a 3-legged dog on the porch, there are some pretty good chain places that do ribs, but they are more regional than national.

Sonny's is very good -- started in Florida in the 1960s and has lasted a long time in the South, which says something.

Melvin's is another Southern chain, based in South Carolina. Exceptional Q, though the owner is a wing-nut. His brother has started a rival operation that's also good, but Melvin's is the bigger outfit and probably more of what your client is looking for. Though, did I mention the owner is a wing-nut?

Last, Famous Dave's does excellent ribs, and it does a good job of replicating a variety of regional sauces. The down side is that the founder, Dave Anderson, grew up in Chicago, but he really has created a great chain that is very consistent. Given its size and consistency, I'd say you should look first at Famous Dave's, though it kills me to say this about a non-Southern joint.

Don't waste your time with Tony Romo's, Smoky Bones, or any of the other more national chains. They blow.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Noodle,

Ty lived in florida and ate at Sonny's. Thought it sucked. MMMM, Sonny's. (need a puking emoticon)

Not big on the buffet style sides.

[Freak Out]

Best BBQ I've had was in some fuck hole town in SW Texas....Bay City I think.....The meats and sauces were all fantastic but I came when I had the black eyed peas.

[Noodle]

Noodle,

Ty lived in florida and ate at Sonny's. Thought it sucked. MMMM, Sonny's. (need a puking emoticon)

Not big on the buffet style sides.

While I'd agree it's not the greatest, given the restriction to chains, it has shown staying power in a region that knows Q. So while I'm not surprised you didn't love it, I also think saying that it sucks is a little over the top.

Of course, if you ate there right after lapping up a healthy portion of Nutz's mom's meat curtains, that might explain your reaction.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Noodle,

Ty lived in florida and ate at Sonny's. Thought it sucked. MMMM, Sonny's. (need a puking emoticon)

Not big on the buffet style sides.

While I'd agree it's not the greatest, given the restriction to chains, it has shown staying power in a region that knows Q. So while I'm not surprised you didn't love it, I also think saying that it sucks is a little over the top.

Of course, if you ate there right after lapping up a healthy portion of Nutz's mom's meat curtains, that might explain your reaction.

Staying power: Well they are primarily in florida..and that is a region that doesn't know q. Most of florida is not considered the south. Sonny's is cheap and the all u can eat appeals to those who value mass over quality (and even better, you don't have to leave a tip)..same as other craptastic buffets like Hometown. Florida...is the home of the god awful chinese buffet as well. You have to work hard to find a lunch place that isn't a buffet.

Areas like St.Pete, Tampa, Orlando actually have very few bbq places...so sonny's wins by default.

[Noodle]

Cripes you're an argumentative MFer!

Sonny's started as a north florida joint and has places there as well as in the panhandle. Even you would have to agree that North Florida ain't a whole lot different than South Georgia.

Perhaps you've heard of the quintessential Southern rock band Lynderd Skynerd and the guy who formed it, Ronnie Van Zant? From Jacksonville.

[Iron Mike]

Alright, I don't know if it would be considered a chain, but my choice for ribs would be Robinson's #1 Ribs

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Cripes you're an argumentative MFer!

Sonny's started as a north florida joint and has places there as well as in the panhandle. Even you would have to agree that North Florida ain't a whole lot different than South Georgia.

Perhaps you've heard of the quintessential Southern rock band Lynderd Skynerd and the guy who formed it, Ronnie Van Zant? From Jacksonville.

Men have killed for less than good Q is the south.

Sonny's started in Gainesville. Gainesville is hardly a north florida type place..just so you know.

Yes, Ty would have to say NF isn't much diff than S. Georgia...Ty lived for a 1.5 years in Jville. Ty isn't much of a fan of Lynerd Skynerd or Molly Hatchett...both jville bands. Ty prefers the Allman bros.

Either way, Ty still thinks sonny's sucks and that sonny's success is based on quantity not quality.....btw, ty lived in Otown...that is the home of corp sonny's. And, ty was forced to eat many a catered corp lunch of sonny's. Ty was also forced to go with co-workers to sonny's in Oviedo far too many times.

Orlando has many sonny's but has very few independent Q joints. Shout to the defunct Red's (man, that old woman was OLD)!! And, to Blackwater and bubba lou's. Uncle Jones is also good.

BTW, did you know sonny's has had some problems? Their franchisor(whatever the term is) in ATL filed for bankruptcy. And they are no longer open in daytona?

Ok. ty will say that sonny's at least has some good sauces. That make you happy? Which is good since their meat is bland.

[Zool]

Cripes you're an argumentative MFer!

Sonny's started as a north florida joint and has places there as well as in the panhandle. Even you would have to agree that North Florida ain't a whole lot different than South Georgia.

Perhaps you've heard of the quintessential Southern rock band Lynderd Skynerd and the guy who formed it, Ronnie Van Zant? From Jacksonville.

Sonnys is the shit. Where else can you eat smoked meat for hours on end for $7?