Filed under: Food
We noticed a small bit from Polly Campbell about a new BBQ place opening in Newport and decided to drop by today for lunch. Pinky Sue’s is located in the space formerly occupied by NuVo on York Street in Newport. The interior is sparsely decorated, with a lasso, straw hat, and some horseshoes on the wall, surrounding the cozy dine in area and takeout counter. Seating for about 20 people is available. Pinky Sue’s serves up baby back ribs, chicken, pulled pork, and brisket along with an extensive menu of homemade sides. Between the two of us, we ordered up a 1/2 slab of ribs and a 1/2lb. brisket sandwich along with baked beans, mac-n-cheese, broccoli salad, and sweet potato fries. (We tried for the sweet corn casserole, but they were out.)
Before digging in to my ribs, I snuck a quick piece of the brisket which was juicy and flavorful — far above average for brisket in the Cincinnati area. The ribs were served dry with sauce on the side, something I always appreciate. The ribs were clearly dry-rubbed and upon pulling a bone off I discovered that these ribs were about as fall-off-the-bone as they come. Ordinarily that would also be a warning sign that the ribs were going to be a mushy mess a la Montgomery Inn, but that was not the case here. The meat still had wonderful texture with just enough chewiness. The rub had a little heat to it — not overpowering, but definitely added some kick to the dining experience. Most of the flavor seemed to come from the rub — there wasn’t much smoke flavor nor smoke ring evident. If anything, the ribs were a little on the dry side, but that was nothing some judicious use of the bbq sauce provided couldn’t solve. Overall the ribs were excellent and for me rank among the best to be found in the city. The sides were all good, but none were outstanding. The broccoli salad was a nice touch, bringing something a little different to the table. It was composed of chopped broccoli, golden raisins, bacon, and sweet/vinegary mayonnaise-based sauce. The combination of sweet, tart, and savory flavors along with the satisfying crunch that came with each bite made it a nice complement to the main course.
We were told during our meal the “grand opening” is to be this Saturday and will include a live band, so if you’re looking to try some new BBQ this weekend it’s definitely something to consider. The restaurant, being brand new, is still a little rough around the edges, but the food is good enough to warrant repeat trips and given its proximity to downtown Cincinnati it’s an easy choice for downtowners looking for a lunchtime BBQ fix without having to drive out the suburbs to get it.