Barbara Ann's Bar-B-Que
Barbara Ann's Bar-B-Que was a barbecue restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. It was attached to the Barbara Ann's Motel, and both businesses were founded by Delars and Bertie Bracy in 1967. They named the businesses after their daughter Barbara Ann, who later became owner.
| Barbara Ann's Bar-B-Que | |
|---|---|
 Motel and restaurant in 2008 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1967 |
| Previous owner(s) | Barbara Ann Bracy Delars and Bertie Bracy |
| Head chef | Garry Kennebrew Mack Sevier |
| Street address | 7617 South Cottage Grove Avenue |
| City | Chicago |
| County | Cook County |
| State | Illinois |
| Country | United States |
It closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
History
The restaurant was owned and operated in connection to an adjoining motel of the same name.[1][2] The restaurant and motel were founded in 1967 by Delars Bracy, a criminal attorney originally from Ruleville, Mississippi,[3] and his wife Bertie. They named the restaurant after their daughter Barbara Ann.[4] They originally operated it with the help of two of Delars' brothers,[5] one of whom had previously worked in the restaurant business.[3] Barbara Ann later took over the restaurant.[5]
The restaurant was known for serving Chicago-style barbecue, including rib tips and hot links cooked in an aquarium smoker,[6] using hickory and oak wood.[7] They began experimenting with the use of the aquarium smoker, a Chicago invention, in the 1960s with help from Leon Finney Sr.[4] It also served barbecue chicken, turkey links and ribs.[5] It served both a regular barbecue sauce and a "hot" version that was spiced with chili peppers.[8] Mack Sevier, the restaurant's original pitmaster,[9] is credited with developing its original recipes.[10] Sevier later left to open his own restaurant, Uncle John's Barbecue,[11] and was replaced by his apprentice Garry Kennebrew.[9]
It temporarily closed and then reopened in 2015.[2] It closed again permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]
Gallery
Sign at back of building
Barbara Ann Bracy at the motel
Rib tips and white bread from the restaurant
Aquarium smoker inside of the restaurant
View of restaurant from the parking lot
Rib tips and hot links sign outside
Rib tips and hot links inside of the smoker
References
- Stein, Isaac. "It's in the air: Lem's smokes up BBQ and sauce right". Chicago Maroon. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- Gebert, Mike (2015-05-19). "Chicago's 12 Best North and South Side BBQ Joints Right Now". Thrillist. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- "Barbara Ann's Bar-B-Que | Southern Foodways Alliance – Southern Foodways Alliance". 2008-03-27. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- "Rib Tips, Hot Links, and the Mississippi Roots of Chicago Barbecue | Southern Foodways Alliance – Southern Foodways Alliance". 2022-09-14. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- Davis, Ardie A.; Kirk, Chef Paul (2009-05-01). America's Best BBQ: 100 Recipes from America's Best Smokehouses, Pits, Shacks, Rib Joints, Roadhouses, and Restaurants. Andrews McMeel Publishing. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-0-7407-9022-5.
- "Chicago's 14 Best Barbecue Joints". The Chicagoist. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- "The overlooked, misunderstood, extraordinary RIB TIP". Chicago Tribune. 2007-05-10. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- "Barbara Ann's BBQ". Chicago Tribune. 2004-05-05. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- Pang, Kevin (2018-02-08). "Chicago Is A City Divided By Barbecue". Saveur. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- Drucker, Ali (2017-10-05). "Barbara Ann's Bar-B-Que". Thrillist. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- Shahin, Jim (2023-05-19). "A tip o' the ribs to Chicago barbecue". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- "Don't forget South Side barbecue in Chicago as Texas-style ascends". Chicago Tribune. 2022-09-26. Retrieved 2023-10-19.