2.14 Mr. Cecil’s California Ribs
Posted on April 26, 2008
Filed Under American, Barbecue |
Surprisingly, the West Side has quite a few impressive hole-in-the-wall barbecue joints. One of these is Mr. Cecil’s California Ribs. We found it on Pico Blvd., one block west of Bundy Ave. The restaurant sits in this unique, little, round building. The tables are few, but the place is very cozy. The menu feels slightly limited, but maybe our eyes skipped some parts of it because we knew exactly what we wanted…RIBS RIBS RIBS!!! So, we ordered some baby backs and beef ribs, along with a 10oz. smoked tri-tip steak.
Not surprisingly, the Tri-Tip wasn’t the best thing we ordered tonight. It was a bit too well cooked and on the dry side, flavorful, but lacks the tenderness that it ought to have.
Thank goodness I had ordered the awesome beef ribs. These had just the right balance of tenderness / chewiness to them, have a good amount of tasty beef fat around the meat, and have a great flavor that is further helped along by the spicy and sweet house barbecue sauce. I’m very pleased with the beef ribs, I think it’s better than the baby backs.
The hush puppies were great — a bit crunchy outside, and a little of the taste of herbs inside.
As for the sides, we managed to order the standards: Hush puppies, corn bread, baked beans, and cole slaw. The cornbread was wholesome and fluffy. The baked beans had BACON IN IT!!! It was a bit sweet with the barbecue sauce flavor, and it had BACON!!! Awesome, 6 out of 5 stars. Game over. The cole slaw was chunky and felt very homemade, fresh and not overloaded with mayo.
Service was friendly and non-intrusive, the atmosphere was relaxed and cozy, it’s a small place, so it could get a little loud if the crowd is rowdy. The parking lot is tiny but street parking is pretty easy to find. This is a perfect place for a casual get-together over some good barbecue.
Mr. Cecil’s California Ribs
12244 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 442-1550
www.mrcecilscaliforniaribs.com
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Hush puppies! Hush puppies!!!
I’ve eaten there many times and never been disappointed, except one by the waiting time. If we had food like this in the army, I never would have retired. Beef ribs AND pork ribs are the best I’ve ever had. I don’t use the sauce because I like the really unusual and original flavors that are in the meat. Must be a marinade or something. If you didn’t try the roasted corn on the cob with chile lime butter or the crispy old-style double-fried french fries, you missed a treat. I’d skip the slaw and cornbread and go for the truly rare stuff like those. If I’m in a lighter mood, I dig the catfish, crispy fried on the outside and tender, sweet and moist underneath. Gonna stop now; making myself hungry.
i’ve always driven by this place and never had the chance to eat there. maybe next time i’m back in LA!! (especially since they closed down tony roma’s at the westside pavilion awhile back)