Make time to visit The Rib Shack of Navarre

I have often driven by The Rib Shack of Navarre at Palm Tree Plaza on U.S. Highway 98 and thought I should stop by. The restaurant opened in 2002. But the timing has never been quite right, that is, until last Friday.

The food

The Rib Shack offers an eclectic selection of appetizers that includes cheese sticks, fried dill pickles, sweet potato fries, fried mushrooms and fried chicken fingers and barbecue shrimp.

Our choice was the chicken and sausage gumbo.

A slightly spicy roux-based gumbo, it is loaded with their smoked chicken and sausage and is served over rice.

They also offer a spicy no-bean chili that is served over noodles or rice.

Both the gumbo and chili could be enjoyed as a meal, especially with the addition of a salad.

The restaurant offers a barbecue salad with your choice of turkey, beef, pork, chicken breast, smoked chicken salad or fried chicken fingers.

Sandwiches at The Rib Shack include pulled pork, beef brisket, smoked chicken, turkey and sausage as well as a smoked chicken salad sandwich.

Chili dogs and burgers are also available.

Barbecue pork, beef and ribs as well as smoked chicken and turkey are available as plates or samplers.

Our choices were the pulled pork and beef brisket plates. Both were welled seasoned with Rib Shack Rub. Their spicy or sweet sauce was served on the side.

My favorite sauce was the spicy. It had just the right amount of heat to compliment the flavor of the meat.

Both the sandwiches and barbecue plates are offered with two side items and Texas toast. There are 18 side items to choose from.

Our choices were the sweet potato fries, potato salad, coleslaw and beans.

All were very good, but my favorite was the sweet potato fries, which are served with a side of brown sugar sauce.

Desserts include, cheese cake, Key lime pie, cinnamon sugar toast, chocolate “Dam Cake,” banana pudding, ice cream, floats and cookies.

We shared a slice of “Dam Cake,” which was very similar to a brownie. Served warm, it was gooey and rich and a good ending to a meal.

The Rib Shack of Navarre does a very good carry-out business, offering items in combos and bulk.

In fact, we ordered a half smoked chicken and ribs to have the next day.

Even reheated, the chicken was moist and flavorful; the ribs were meaty and tender.

The children’s menu includes grilled cheese, a hot dog, barbecue beef or pork, chicken strips or ribs.

The Rib Shack of Navarre does catering and will also custom smoke any meat except whole hogs.

The atmosphere

The Rib Shack of Navarre is a classic Southern barbecue restaurant — a place known more for its food than its atmosphere.

There is a counter area and an area that contains about 12 tables, most of which seat at least four people. There are several tables outside along the front windows also.

The service

Arriving on a Friday at lunchtime, there was a large number of takeout orders being picked up, and the waitress was somewhat overwhelmed, but she did a good job of keeping everything moving smoothly.

She asked us if we were eating in and said that we could sit wherever we liked.

When she came to take our order, she was very apologetic about our wait, which in reality was not very long.

Everything moved along smoothly after that.

She was very knowledgeable about the food and kept our drinks filled.

A final taste

The next time you are traveling through Navarre at mealtime, stop by The Rib Shack of Navarre and enjoy some good barbecue.

QuickBites

The Rib Shack of Navarre

Location

9532 Navarre Parkway

Navarre

936-4244 or 936-4650

Hours

10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. every day

Reservations

Not necessary

Handicap accessibility

Good

Children’s menu

Yes

Price range

Appetizers $2.75 – 8.25

Salads $5 - $7.25

Sandwiches $3.50 - $6

Plates $7 - $16

Side items $1 - $2

Children’s entrees $3.50 - $6.50

Dessert $1.25 - $3.75

Payment

Credit cards accepted