Taste Test: BBQ

Bet you didn’t know it was national barbecue month. It would probably be a fair wager that you didn’t know the Bay had some solid barbecue joint options as well. Doing the work for you, we tasted samples of ribs, chicken, corn bread, wings and more. Remember, this is for you, and we’re happy to take one for the team.

Smoky Satisfaction
If the secret to great ribs is smoke, love and time, then All Friends Smokehouse is doing something right. Between the ribs, sliders, chicken wings and corn bread, everything was smoky, savory and sweet. Everything fell off the bone and directly into our mouths, and we couldn’t have been happier. 549 American Legion Highway, Westport. 774-264-9798, www.AllFriendsSmokehouse.com

Sweet Little Bites
Thoughts of family get-togethers and kids licking barbecue sauce off their fingers came to mind as we tore into the ribs, barbecue beef sandwich, corn bread and cole slaw from Sakonnet River Grille. The sweet sauce was the perfect topping to the thin-sliced beef, while the onion rings added a nice crunch to the moist and meaty sandwich. 524 Main Road, Tiverton. 401-816-6944, www.SakonnetRiverGrille.com

The Crowd Pleaser
Few things hold a special place in diners hearts and stomachs, yet Cabral’s Gourmet Chicken has managed to do both. With their heaping piles of moist chicken, ribs and wings with a barbecue sauce that was more savory than sweet, this crowd pleaser hit the spot. 585 Metacom Avenue, Bristol. 401-253-3913,
www.CabralsChicken.com

On the Wing, or Rib
The next time you think barbecue think East Providence. Bernardo’s BBQ satisfied our barbecue craving with their sweet corn bread, sticky and sweet wings and smoky ribs. Sides of cheesy mac and cheese and collard greens didn’t hurt either. 99 Hicks Street, East Providence. 401-919-5422.

All Spiced Up
We were happy to find a spicy kick in the barbecue sauce from The Wave. Although the fall-off-the-bone ribs were satisfying without any sauce, adding it definitely kicked things up. An untraditional side of thick-cut seasoned sweet potato fries put us over the edge, and so did the creamy and tangy cole slaw. 400 Metacom Avenue, Bristol. 401-253-8811, www.PizzaWaveBristol.com