St Louis Style Spare Ribs Famous Dave's

Okay, friend. Let’s talk ribs. Not just any ribs. I’m talking about the kind that make you close your eyes and do a little happy dance in your chair. We’re talking Famous Dave’s St. Louis Style Spare Ribs.

You’ve seen them on the menu, right? They sit there, all bold and beautiful, judging you for ordering a salad. And you know what? They’re right. Skip the salad. We’re diving into pork heaven.

Wait, What Even Are St. Louis Style Ribs?

Good question. It’s not some fancy French technique. St. Louis style is all about the cut. You take a full slab of spare ribs and you trim off the sternum bone and the cartilage. You also snip off that weird, tough flap called the “rib tips.”

What’s left? A perfect, rectangular slab. It’s meatier than baby backs, but still tender. It’s the Goldilocks of pork ribs. Not too lean. Not too fatty. Just right.

Famous Dave’s takes this cut and treats it like royalty. They don’t just boil them—gasp—or rush them. Oh no. This is a slow, loving process.

The Famous Dave’s Magic

Here’s the secret. They use a dry rub first. A secret blend of spices. It hugs the meat and creates a killer crust. I swear, you can smell it from the parking lot.

Then, they slow-smoke those bad boys over hickory wood. For hours. Not minutes. Hours. The smoke gets into every nook and cranny. It makes the meat fall off the bone if you look at it funny.

Famous Dave's (11 Reenders Drive, Winnipeg, MB, Canada) | Order

But wait—there’s more. You can’t stop there. They finish it with a swipe of their famous Sweet & Zesty sauce. It’s a tangy, sweet glaze that caramelizes on the grill. It’s like putting a cherry on a sundae. An essential cherry.

My Personal Game Plan for Eating Them

You need a strategy. Don’t just grab a fork like some civilized human. No. Use your hands. Rip that slab apart. Let the sauce drip down your chin. It’s a badge of honor.

Start with a clean bite from the center. Get that perfect balance of smoky bark and tender meat. Then, dip it in extra sauce. Or don’t. Your choice. But definitely grab a stack of napkins.

What sides do you get? I’m a fiend for the Wilbur Beans. They’re sweet, smoky, and have chunks of brisket hiding in them. And the cornbread muffin? It’s basically a cake in disguise. Use it to mop up any leftover sauce on your plate.

Owner of Bay Area Famous Dave's BBQ restaurants plans expansion through

The Verdict? It’s a Crown-Worthy Experience

Are these the fanciest ribs in existence? No. But do they hit every single craving you have? Absolutely. They’re unapologetically American. They’re messy, loud, and absolutely satisfying.

Have you ever had a bite so good you forgot your own name? That’s the Famous Dave’s St. Louis rib. It’s comfort food that gives you a big, sloppy hug.

I’m not saying you should drive across town just for these. But I am saying you should consider it. What else are you doing? Binge-watching a show? That can wait. Ribs cannot.

A Little Warning, Though

Don’t order them on a first date. Trust me on this. You’ll get sauce on your shirt. You’ll have a tiny piece of rib tip stuck in your teeth. It’s a bad look. Save them for a friend who knows you’re a mess. Or just eat them alone in your car. No judgment here.

Delicious St Louis Style Spare Ribs and Boneless Wings at Famous Dave's

Also? The juice from the meat will soak through the bottom of the takeout box. Put it on a plate. Learn from my mistakes. My car’s upholstery smells amazing, but it also smells like a BBQ pit.

Final Bite (Literally)

So next time you see that red-and-white sign for Famous Dave’s, walk in. Point at the menu item that says “St. Louis Style Spare Ribs.” Order a rack—yes, the full rack. You deserve it.

And when you take that first bite? That moment where the smoky, sweet, spicy flavor hits your tongue? Just nod at the table across from you. We’ll all nod back. We’re all in this pork-loving club together.

Now go on. Get out there. Eat some ribs. Live your best messy life.