In the highly fictionalized version of my growing-up years, my grandmother owned a Victorian house in New Orleans. We would gather on its wrap-around porch every Sunday to feast on her culinary specialties: beef ribs, pork ribs and chicken, all smoked in her special stove for several hours. Naturally, the feasts included such fixings as homemade biscuits, shoestring fries, cheese grits, corn on the cob and sweet mashed potatoes.

Appearance

Luckily for me, Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ turns this fantasy into reality. Not all this chain’s branches in California, Nevada and Arizona have Victorian farmhouse exteriors, but all try to duplicate the 19thcentury ambiance inside using dark woods, glass-shaded hanging lamps, wooden beams and traditional furniture. The restaurant is typically so popular that you can’t just walk in and grab a table. Even during off-hours, a greeter takes your name down, so a waiter can lead you to a table.

Barbecue

The barbecued selections form the specialties: baby back ribs, St. Louis spare ribs, Texas-style beef brisket, tri tip, half-chicken and combo platters mixing your choice of dishes. The beef ribs are my favorite. They’re rubbed with special spices, hickory-smoked and then glazed with the house-made barbecue sauce. The bones are large and the meat easily pulls off, with grilled surfaces adding just enough texture. The sauce tends to the sweet and sticky and I always order a stack of white paper napkins to grasp my meal. The end of the repast includes a hot cloth towel for each person.

Food

For patrons who don’t want to eat barbecued meats, the restaurant offers a range of alternatives. Southern selections include breaded fried catfish and shrimp, jambalaya, and fried chicken. The Louisiana pasta features andouille sausage, blackened chicken breast, tasso ham, peppers and penne pasta in Cajun cream sauce while the New Orleans style gumbo is served over steamed white rice.  Lighter fare includes sandwiches with pulled pork, hot links, tri tip or burgers. And desserts boast Snickers ice cream pie, banana pudding, fruit cobbler, bread pudding and chocolate cake.

My nearest branch also has a full sports-type bar with raised tables, big-screen TVs, draft beers, wine and cocktails. Bar food can stimulate the palate with sliders, BBQ wings, onion straws, fried green tomatoes, Cajun fish tacos and fried pickles. You can end your culinary enjoyment with a free Tootsie pop or two at the entry. Ask for toothpicks, which look like small wooden walking sticks and come in a small box with the Lucille’s logo.

Recommendations

You’ll need to go early to snag a seat. Otherwise, when it gets crowded, you can easily wait half-an-hour or more.  About a dozen locations also allow online ordering, though be sure to ask for an extra batch of napkins if you indulge in ribs. In any case, I highly recommend this chain for its delicious treats and its festive atmosphere.

Recommended: Yes