Great Ribs At Z Wooden Nickel

  • Thursday, November 20, 2008
  • Janet Wilson
Z Wooden Nickel is located at 526 E. MLK Blvd.
Z Wooden Nickel is located at 526 E. MLK Blvd.
photo by Janet Wilson

One of our readers recommended we try Z Wooden Nickel located at 526 E. MLK Blvd, so we decided to go there recently for a Saturday lunch. They’ve been open since July.

It was larger than I expected, with a bar and a television mounted on the wall – sort of a sports bar atmosphere. The restaurant was very clean.

We were greeted as soon as we entered, and, expecting it to be an “order at the counter” place, were pleasantly surprised when we were shown to a table.

The menu offers more than you would expect from a small bar-b-que restaurant. There are six appetizers priced from $2.25 for a corn dog to $6.49 for 12 wings. Our server, Vickie, told us they have a smoker (which we saw outside near the back) where they prepare the wings, giving them a nice flavor. Of course, we didn’t find that out until we had already ordered and eaten the fried mushrooms (10 for $3.50), do we didn’t get to try the wings – maybe next time.

The mushrooms were good, but I’m not certain if they were hand-battered or the frozen variety – my guess was frozen. A lot of places quick fry mushrooms and take them out so soon that the middle is still cold when they are served. That was not the case with these – they were extremely hot, through and through - and were served with ranch dressing. We would probably order them again.

The difficult part was deciding on our entree. I knew I wanted a plate rather than a sandwich, but they do have a lot of sandwiches to choose from, priced from $2.50 for a grilled cheese, to $6.25 for a ½ lb. Black Angus beef burger with bacon (regular burger is $5.50). Other sandwiches include beef, turkey, chicken, pork and even a Black Angus hot dog ($2.45; $2.95 with chili).

After looking over Z Plates, Wayne decided on the jumbo pork plate ($6.45), and I went for the Z Sampler ($8.95). I knew for certain I wouldn’t be able to eat everything, but I would have lunch for another day. The Z Sampler consists of your choice of smoked pork or beef; choice of smoked chicken or turkey; and two ribs (I selected beef and turkey). That sounded like a plateful to me! You also get two sides and Texas Toast with everything served on paper plates with plastic ware.

For his sides, Wayne ordered potato salad and cole slaw, while I ordered potato salad and macaroni and cheese. It’s really difficult to find the type of mac and cheese I like. As you know, I’ve said before, no one made mac and cheese like Peanut at Blue Boys! I have found a close second at Herman’s. Since the menu at Z Wooden Nickel specified “Homemade Mac and Cheese”, I was hoping for something similar, but it wasn’t. Not that it wasn’t good, it was simply not what I was hoping for. This was more like macaroni in cheese sauce, similar to what you get in the Kraft mac and cheese box.

Both of us like the smoked meats and the potato salad. Wayne said he enjoyed the cole slaw (this was not the mayonnaise variety) and that was a plus, since he never likes anyone’s cole slaw! I would definitely order the potato salad again.

And – the ribs! I loved the taste of the ribs. They had a wonderful smoky flavor and happily, they were not covered in sauce. I hate it when I am served ribs where someone has poured sauce all over them. I want to taste the smokiness of the meat, not the sauce.

The other meats we were served – turkey, beef and pork – were all moist and we both felt they were worth ordering again. If you like sauce, they deliver two bottles, regular and honey, with your plate. I tried each and they weren’t bad, although I liked the honey better. I’m just not a sauce person. Like I said, I want to taste the flavor of the meat.

In addition to bar-b-que, Z Wooden Nickel has beer battered fish (3 pieces for $7.95), rib eye steaks (6 ounce $7.95; $8 ounce $9.45), and shrimp (grilled lemon pepper or fried for $7.95). Sides run the gamut from fries to mashed potatoes, green beans, deviled eggs and chili. There are also five salads ($2 to $6) and a stuffed potato ($6) on the menu. Desserts are Banana Pudding ($2.25) and Blackberry Cobbler ($2.75).

We both ordered Banana Pudding. Wayne loved it, as he prefers cold puddings. I liked the taste, but I am one of those people that want their pudding either warm or room temperature. Other than that, I thought it was very good.

The specialty here is the smoked meats and what we were served was worth the trip downtown.

Hours for Z Wooden Nickel are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. closing whenever; and Saturday they open at 1 p.m. and close when the crowd leaves. They are closed on Sunday.

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