D's Barbeque deserves an A

In a city that hosts several barbeque focused events like the Northwest Ohio Rib Off, amazing everyday barbeque is relatively hard to find.

D’s Barbeque, an expansion of a food truck run by Darise May which was opened in October, does not outwardly jump at you, from its location inside the former Harbor Light Masonic Lodge in the Point Place neighborhood, but in large part the food was quite memorable.

My first visit to the place on a weekday afternoon found the place relatively empty except for May, a very genial and gracious host, who seems to be the only employee.

I ordered the 3 rib dinner ($17) which came with two sides, and I chose the green beans and the mac and cheese.

The green beans I was indifferent on. They were good, lightly seasoned but perhaps a little soft, though they carried with them the nostalgia of something you might get at a cafeteria.

The mac and cheese was a lot better though. Creamy, gooey, cheesy, and cooked perfectly al dente, it was exactly what I was looking for in a mac.

Then came the ribs which I really loved. They also came perfectly cooked and tender. They were juicy and fall off the bone, and slightly peppery from what I could tell was some kind of dry rub. The barbeque sauce they came with was also quite good. It was sweet, with a little heat, the perfect middle ground in a sauce that lets the meat stand out.

D’s Barbeque

★★★½

Address: 3024 131st St., Toledo

Phone: 419-902-9016

Category: Barbeque

Menu: Ribs, sausage, brisket, mac and cheese

Hours: 1-8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

Wheelchair access: Yes

Average price: $$-$$$

Credit cards: Most credit cards

Website: facebook.com/p/Ds-Barbecue-100082999879218/

At the end of the meal, I was wishing I got more than three bones.

My second visit to the establishment on a weekend saw the place, a little busier which I was glad to see.

My dining partner and I ordered the barbeque sampler ($28) and two full servings of sides ($6 each).

Though the sampler was expensive it was a ton of food, significantly more than my dining partner and I could eat in one sitting, so I considered it to be a decent value.

It came with four ribs, several rib tips, and what we found to be a kind of smoked Polish sausage.

My dining partner had more experience with Polish sausage than I, but we both found it to be pretty tasty. It was one of those links that has a tougher kind of skin on it, but we were pleased by the flavor which was the right amount of smoky.

Rib tips I did not have much experience with either, so trying them was an interesting experience for me. Initially I found them to be not quite as tender as the ribs, which were once again outstanding, but after doing some reading about how the higher cartilage content in tips is supposed to make them a little chewier, I think they were definitely good for what they were. Within the sampler, they provided a nice counterpoint to the full ribs and the sausage.

As far as the sides were concerned, my dining partner and I were in agreement that the mac and cheese perhaps was too cheesy? It was very rich, different from the first time I had it. While still good, it just had a very different taste that was disappointing because I think it was better that first time.

The other side we got, the baked beans, were a star of the show though. They were sweet, and a little cinnamon-y, but were hearty and not too soft. When I return to D’s I will definitely be getting the baked beans again.

The menu at D’s is small but they do also offer a half pound brisket sandwich ($12.00) on Fridays only, which intrigued me though I was disappointed I did not get a chance to try it. They also offer a full rack of ribs a la carte for $30 and a 1/4 pound cheeseburger and chips for $8.

Overall, while it has a few flaws, I think D’s Barbeque is a place more people should visit. As a local place, the barbeque is top notch and it is somewhere I will definitely be visiting again.