It was one of those hot summer Saturday afternoons when I trekked out to LaGrange to meet some friends and try our luck at Q BBQ, 70 S. LaGrange Road. Started right off as a nice experience— unlike so many places in the city, we saw convenient parking on the street and in a lot right next to the restaurant. Next thing you know we’re inside, listening to some upbeat blues on the sound system and appreciating the nicely cooled air while we check out the big chalkboarded menu.
Everything is laid out in a casual, fun way. From the racks of salty snacks to the coolers full of creative drink options like special teas, craft-brewed beers and wine, everything felt relaxed. The menu made everything sound delicious, and we decided we’d each try something different. It’s order-it-yourself at the standup counter, and then servers bring your food to you.
I chose the pulled pork sandwich and my companions selected ribs, pulled chicken sandwich and a brisket sandwich. Each sandwich comes on a tasty bun, not one of those fast-food types, with your choice of a side and two Q-Puppies—the Q’s own version of this southern-style deep-fried flour-cornmeal-and-buttermilk dough. A tiny bit greasy, but hey, it’s deep-fried! And we all liked the tang of the onion and the slightly sweet flavor.
We ordered our sandwiches “Q-style,” which means topped with their creamy cole slaw and a slice of smoked Gouda cheese—a new experience for me as I’d never had barbeque served that way. My cheese wasn’t quite melted but it was a nice addition. All the meats were tender and cooked without sauce, including the ribs. One of my companions informed us this is the way barbeque is done in Texas—meat cooked painstakingly slowly ‘til tender, generally with a rub or coating, and then served with separate sauces.
On the table we had a big wooden container with four different sauce dispensers. To dress our meat we could choose from South Carolina mustard, sweet, or CQ-spicy, plus a thin vinegar sauce. They all worked well with the meats and the fries, which are fresh-cut and very tasty. Other sides we tried included Mac Q Roni, very creamy mac-and-cheese with crumbled Cheezit crackers on top, and corn bread with a touch of sweetness and just enough tooth to it—the way I like it (and by the way, nothing like the coarse, dry version my mom used to make out of straight cornmeal in the big cast iron skillet!). A third side, the green beans, disappointed. I saw somewhere on their site they are served with a parmesan crust, but the dish didn’t meet that description and the beans were overly oily.
Servings were generous and prices reasonable—nice that everything includes sides and Q-Puppies. If you live nearby or are coming out to party in the western suburbs it’s a great location—right across the street from the downtown LaGrange movie house and not far from I-55, I-294 or even I-290.
Oh, and by the way, they had a fabulous pecan slice dessert that we were told is made right on the premises by a local woman. Well worth the calories! Check out the full menu here.
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