I have a passion for home cooked food. At John's you do not pay for his advertisement, you do not pay for his high end seating and light fixtures, you don't pay for the fine china they serve their food on, because none of that will be found there! At John's you pay a reasonable price (multiple lunch specials under $10) , for some of the best food you will ever eat. Since my first trip to Johns I have been back on a near weekly basis, and they catered my family's Christmas Eve Dinner. I first had the Rib sandwich, which came with grilled onions and green peppers upon request, and the sweet and tangy sauce that wasn't too thick or remotely watery had me planning my next meal. I came back for a pulled pork, which is slow cooked for 13 hours, the pork is so tender you almost dont need to chew. My dad went to try it out after I gave him my initial review and the smell had him hooked. He ordered a full slab of baby backs, a rib sandwich, a catfish sandwich and a slice of peach cobbler. John bbq got my dads stamp of approval but he told me above everything, the catfish was by far the best he had ever had in his entire life. I had try it myself and I can attest, it is breaded and spiced to perfection, I have never tasted any catfish that is up to par with John's.
On Christmas Eve my dad gave me $100 and told me to get as much food as I could from my friend John. John sent me home with a slab of baby backs, a pound and a half of pulled pork, 4 catfish pieces, 2 pounds of rib tips, 5 hot links, and 2 slices of cobbler, and $20 left in my wallet! I could go on and on my friends. The cobbler is homemade by John's mom, it is to die for. The babybacks are better then any Ive had in Chicago or Nashville. Famous Daves, Gematos, The Patio, Portillos/Barnellis dont even belong in the same conversation as John's. All my life ive been under the impression rib tips are fatty, low quality pieces of meat. John showed me what a true rib tip is, 2 pounds of tips, not one piece of fat. I have never had a hot link before, but my mom grew up in Texas and said she hasnt had something like that since she was growing up. I highly recommend the Catfish, the hot links, the pulled pork, and the cobbler. For dinner go for the ribtips and babybacks. Their curly fries are hand cut, the slaw is homemade by mom and pop, the wings are triple the size of your average wing. I promise you will never be disappointed walking out of John's.
John's is family owned, it is John Sr who started the restaurant, and his son John Jr, with mom making desserts that they bring from home. You just dont find that these days. The second time ate at John's I saw a man sitting inside, but he wasnt eating he was just hanging out talking to John Jr.I thought that was very unique. If you come in odds are you will see me in there,not eating, but shooting the breeze with my friend John Jr. In a short time and a few visits he took the time to get to know me, and he has earned himself a customer for life.I have never written a review for a restaurant, but I took the time out for this because not only do John and his dad deserve for the world to know about their restaurant, but anyone who loves food deserves to know about John's.John Jr is one the nicest, most humble people you will ever meet. Every time I tell him how good his food is he says thank you like he has never heard it before. He is a man of principle, he knows how to run a business. He is going to be running a stand in Downtown Naperville right outside of Barnes and Noble this year, from 11am-3pm for lunch and 11pm-3am for the night crowd. If this restaurant was publicly traded I would buy stock TODAY. Go check out John's Rib House, get a business card, have them cater your next work luncheon, or graduation party, or anything.Tell him Palmer sent you, if Im there and you are unsatisfied the meal is on me.
more