As for pulled pork, Levi’s Port Cafe on 8th Street SE is about as close as you’re gonna get to Carolina Q. But you’re really better off going with the smothered porkchops, collards, and mac and cheese, which puts Ooohs and Aaahs to shame.

Preface:
We were feeling pretty good when we walked in the place, there were stacks of hickory piled up near the door and the place had a nice smoky smell to the air. We ordered a range of foods so that we could give a full report on the joint’s offerings.

Results:
I would give this rib joint a C-, edible but not worth the time or money. The pork ribs were tender but really fatty. The sauce was just ok, and the sides ranged from not edible due really overpowering and unidentifiable spices (the sweet potatoes) to the oposide end of the spectrum = totally bland (the mac and cheese and the potato salad). The baked beans and the sliced wheat bread (store loaf, not homemade) were probably the best tasting of all the side dishes we tried. The beef ribs can be summed up by that old Wendy’s riff, “where’s the beef?) The pulled pork sandwiches scored the best among the meat dishes. They were definitely not bad, but not worth writing home about.

Guinnesphish, what’s your favorite rib joint?

But, OTOH, I haven’t ever heard anything negative about the Weber. I’ll think I’ll cut my losses, avoid a deferred beating, and buy the dern thing.