Ritz Barbecue

Reviews 3

WI

William Kucmierowski

Foodies, its time to take a bite out of history here in the Allentown Fairgrounds! Brimstone here and Im going to tell all of you Food Hounds about our experience at the legendary Ritz Barbeque at the Allentown Fairgrounds. For starters, this place was built in the 1920s and retains its classic look. You would never know that the original structure had actually burned down in 1998 and was rebuilt to replicate everything down to the nails. Ritz as we know it has been under the same ownership for the last thirty-two years and has continued the utmost quality that has come to be expected from them. For years theyve always carried the tradition of down-home cooking and service with a smile! We couldnt wait to dig into what they had to offer; we actually felt like sharks preparing for frenzy with the thoughts of the morsels on this extensive menu. On to the food... we started with a bunch of their appetizers to start. The Sweet Corn Nuggets were simple - sweet creamed corn in a lightly fried batter shell... nuff said. I could eat those all day EVERY day... very addicting and utterly delicious. Sauteed Pierogies were smitten with flavor from the sweet caramelized onions while their Potato Pancakes were light, crispy and soft on the inside - they were SO good, we didnt want them to ever go away! One of our favorites was the Chili Cheese Fries - crispy shoestring fries engulfed with homemade chili and homemade Mmm cheese sauce that was BOSS! Sweet flavor infused with cheesy goodness; the flavor behavior was off the proverbial hook and a WIN!!! The entrees were a sight to behold, every single one of them was overflowing with hefty portions of food. The Pub Battered 10oz Haddock Fillet was enormous and filling - fresh, lightly battered and very crispy. Accompanied by their homemade coleslaw, you can actually see the effort put into every bit of the food - finely chopped cabbage and carrots with the perfect dosage of mayo makes this slaw worth eating! Chicken Fried Steak is an old fashioned Pennsylvania Dutch recipe that they do to perfection. The batter offers a thick layer of crunchy southern fried goodness with loads of herbs and spices, while the steak stays moist under its shell. As if all of that wasnt tasty enough; in comes the homemade brown gravy... damn! Speaking of all the homemade goodies in store for you at Ritz, they make fresh Baked Beans daily, almost ALL of their sauces and one of the most incredible tasting things Ive had in awhile... Double Stuffed Baked Potatoes - light and fluffy with hints of sour cream and cheddar buried deep within. Moving right along, the Chicken Pot Pie was classic - a flaky and delish crust that opens the doorway to everything that is good in this world. My favorite hands down WIN, was the Black Diamond Steak. A mound of meat-a-tarian perfection, cooked well-done while retaining every succulent but of flavor behavior - juicy and scrumptious. A local favorite is the BBQ Pork Sandwich - sweet and tangy, melt in your mouth pork! We were treated to a sample of the Manhattan Clam Chowder which was chock full o clam and veggies - chunky and slightly salty make this a great offering of this classic soup. Although in Allentown, we had the Philly Cheese Steak - unreal; reminded me of an Italian steak adorned with hot banana peppers, pickles and Mmm cheese! I enjoyed this version of the Philly tremendously and it certainly didnt hurt that the hoagie was stuffed! Lastly, we were treated to Poutine (a popular French Canadian delicacy) made with brown turkey gravy and fries. I wasnt sure if we would be able to make it to their dessert menu; but since Ritz is also known for its ice-cream - we had no choice! I had the privilege of being presented with an Old Fashioned Banana Split... ermehgehrd - this baby was not only ginormous; but sweet, creamy and yummy. If you are looking for a great spot to take the family for a big meal or a quick snack; you can never go wrong choosing Ritz BBQ & Ice-Cream. We cant wait to come back and sample the other half of the menu!

A

A Private User

The Ritz is one of the uniquely Allentown eateries that us locals love, and visitors have to experience. Noobs are confused by the word "barbecue" - so here is the deal: dont look for ribs, brisket, and a smoker. The Ritz signature barbeque sandwich - which they have been serving since cars had tailfins - is simple: a round kaiser, sliced meat ( turkey, ham, pork, beef ) with their home made sauce. The sauce is sort of a vinegar, ketchup, relish, and other items - its not smokey or brown sugar. It comes topped with chopped onions and sauce. There is nothing quite like it - good, simple, tasty. My usual dinner at the Ritz is the pork bbq sandwitch, hold the onions, sauce on the side - chicken corn chowder - and side of baked beans - whcih are some of the best baked beans Ive had. I love their beans and will get them take out! Oh, and if new to PA Dutch food, have the salad with hot bacon dressing. ( Unless you abide by certain religious restrictions, the salad with hot bacon dressing is almost a requirement. ) If you get fries, ask for a side of the special sauce. Its good on fries, chicken fingers, and just about anything. And after pigging out.... For decades Ritz made their own ice cream and was well know and sought out as a malt shop / ice cream parlor. They still have a take out window for the ice cream - which is still very good. My pick is the dusty road with french vanilla. Also, a factoid: about 10 years ago Ritz had a fire which consumed most of the dining area, and basically destroyed the place. I literally wept on seeing the destruction the following morning - as a rode my bike by it every day. Prior to the fire, each glass topped table had pictures from the Great Allentown Fair - and the various big name bands and performers that did gigs there. They were little time capsules. After the fire many of these were destroyed. The fixtures in the dining area were, for the most part, reproductions. But a couple of the tables have the picture assemblages on them - sit at one of those. I remember walking by the Ritz, with most of its hallmark neon signs charred beyond recognition, wondering if it could "ever be the same." Its back! OK, so its not Le Bec Fin... and its not barbecue as most of us would think of it. But its success is as a time machine that takes you back about 60 years, fills your belly, and delivers on the promises of simple fare.

A

A Private User

As Bob-o-Rama put it, do NOT go here looking for Southern style BBQ, Texas style BBQ, Kansas style BBQ - in other words, good BBQ. If you think its a good idea to cook meat until its utterly tasteless glop the consistency of baby food, then slap it on a big bready roll with ketchup and mustard, youll love this place. This is PA Dutch cooking, and you are welcome to it. The ice cream is fine, though.