Chris and Pitts #6

“Fat gives things flavor.”
― Julia Child

 

CHRIS AND PITTS  #6

9243 Lakewood Blvd.

Downey, CA 90240

562-862-9069

11:00 AM to 10:00 PM  Sunday through Monday

Closed Tuesdays

http://www.chrisandpittsbbqrestaurants.com/

 

 

When we moved into our house, over forty years ago, there was a Chris and Pitts location within walking distance of our house.  We walked there at least once a week to enjoy barbecue.  I don’t remember it being fabulous barbecue, but it was certainly acceptable and the whole neighborhood hung out there.  It has been gone for years and now there is a Walgreen’s on the site.  The closest Chris and Pitts is in Downey, a half hour away by freeway in light traffic. We decided that in light, early Saturday evening traffic, it would be worth the drive, if for nothing else, the nostalgia value.

Coming off the southbound 5 freeway at Lakewood Boulevard the restaurant is a very short distance on the right.  Nostalgic it is.  Chris and Pitts was founded in 1940, practically Jurassic by Southern California standards, although this location probably dates from the 1950s.  The décor is the same as I remember from the former Valley location, 1940s faux Western hunting lodge right down to the cougar head on the wall which  is the product of a sculptor, not a taxidermist.  There is one feature that contemporary restaurant designers should note.  The take-out waiting area is completely segregated from the dining room waiting area.

The décor is not the only thing that seems not to have changed.  The menu looks exactly the same as I remember it from the early 1960s.  Well not exactly the same… the prices have changed.  While prices have risen, this is still one of the most reasonably priced, sit down, barbecue restaurants around.  There is a lunch and a dinner menu, that have selections that vary slightly, along with specials listed on an extra menu card at lunch and on a blackboard at dinner.  The center section of the menu is color pictures of the various dishes, much in the manner of some Chinese restaurants, and although they are probably fifty years old they still represent the current dishes quite accurately. The menu also includes grilled sea food and steaks, and there are some other sides for those, but it is mostly barbecue served as sandwiches and platters.

On the blackboard this night, was the rib combo from the lunch menu.  We ordered one of these, which includes two Beef Ribs, two Pork Spare Ribs and four Baby Back Ribs along with a selection of sides and a soft drink (eat in orders only) , and a Barbecued Chicken combo, one-half chicken with sides in order to get a good sampling.  The side selections are limited.  Every dinner and combo comes with Baked Beans, French fries and Garlic Toast.  At extra cost you can substitute a Baked Potato or Spaghetti with Meat Sauce for the beans and fries.  The food arrived promptly as the restaurant was just starting to fill up for the dinner hour.

Soup

There are three selections of soup that vary by day.  We didn’t try any of them this night, but opted for the salad.

Salad

This was a conventional tossed salad of lettuce and red cabbage served with packaged saltine crackers and blue cheese dressing.  The salad was fresh and crisp but the dressing was a bit tasteless and rather oily for a dressing that is supposed to be creamy.

Garlic Toast

A serving of garlic toast is a half of a long sandwich roll, slathered with garlic butter and put under a broiler.  It came out not garlicky enough, and a bit tough.

French Fries

These were very good steak fries, crisp and hot from the fryer.   No complaints here.

Baked Beans

We don’t know for sure, but our impression was that the beans were Campbell’s, right out of the can.

Baby Back Ribs

Not the best, but damn good baby backs.  They were meaty, in fact, more meaty than at most places, tender and had as smoky but subtle flavor that can stand up to the Chris and Pitts signature barbecue sauce.  I don’t know which wood they are using but I suspect it is mesquite.

Pork Spare Ribs

Again, these ribs are very meaty and subtly smoked and tasted almost like candy, indicating that the basting solution contained a great deal of brown sugar.  The favor is definitely different from the baby back ribs, but still stands up to the sauce…really good ribs.  Try them “dry” first before trying with the barbeque sauce.

Beef Ribs

While not the biggest beef ribs we’ve been served they are more than ample and quite flavorful.  Two days later, a leftover rib, microwaved to rewarm, was still juicy, tasty and delicious.  Also, try these ribs “dry” first before trying with the barbeque sauce.  That was always Sharon’s favorite way to eat them.

Barbecued Chicken

A bit of a disappointment here, the chicken was tender and done, but had no hint of smoke flavor.  It just seemed to be a good broiled chicken.

Chris and Pitts likes to brag that their food is still “Done the Old Fashioned Way”.  Where the meat is concerned this works.   You come here for the meat because the rest of it is mediocre.   The whole experience, ambiance, service and sides, could be brought up to date.  This would have to be approached with caution since the nostalgia factor may be a major factor in their market.  Even so, the ribs we tasted needed no apologies.  It is what it is, and we give it a solid seven.