(Hotel restaurants are not eligible in this category)
Barbecue Restaurant
TONY ROMA'S
Multiple locations
Among the first restaurant chains to spread samples of good old American barbecue across the country, Tony Roma's has a loyal clientele that brought them to the top of the chart again this year. We're guessing that reasonable prices for complete dinners -- with welcome plastic bibs served free to protect -- and the rather sweet sauce toppings are reasons for a return to the winner's circle. A newcomer to this category, admittedly one that encourages a suspension of formal dining rules, is the Red Apple Grill, which smoked its way into the runner-up spot.
Our Pick:
BIG MAMA'S
2230 W. Bonanza Road
Customers from nearby R-J central say the soul food is good enough to ignore the fact that Big Mama's moved into a former McDonald's restaurant. Perhaps that is really a sign of good luck because how often does a McDonald's franchise fail?
