Shorty’s brings all around BBQ quality

There is something to be said about going to an establishment owned by the Mancy family.

In the restaurant business since 1921 with their steakhouse, this family really has mastered the art of dining, both fine and casual.

Established in 2003, Shorty’s True American Roadhouse is casual with a flair. The wood accents on the walls and the back wall full of smokers just add to the “roadhouse” feel. There is a fireplace in the dining area as well.

★★★★

Address: 5111 Monroe St., Toledo

Phone: (419) 841-9505

Category: Barbecue, American

Menu: Barbecue ribs, chicken, brisket, steaks, salads, fish, hamburgers, pulled pork, bread pudding, cobbler

Hours: 11:00 a.m – 9:00 p.m. Sunday – Thursday; 11:00 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Average Price: $$-$$$

Credit Cards: Most credit cards

Website: shortystoledo.com

When we came for lunch during a very busy weekend, we waited around 15 minutes,  and were then seated quickly and offered a beverage.

We decided on appetizers including the Memphis Egg Rolls ($9.49) and onion rings ($8.99).

The egg rolls were tasty and filled with BBQ pulled pork and coleslaw. They were served with a spicy "boss" sauce.

The deep fried rolls were loaded with meat and were filling. We decided to have just one half each, afraid we would be too full to enjoy our entrees.

The onion rings were lightly battered, crunchy, and not oily. They were served with a chipotle dip that added some nice spice. Again, we took many of the very large rings home to enjoy later.

Shorty’s serves corn bread muffins at all of the tables. The muffins were so moist and warm with fresh whipped butter. I could have eaten another dozen, they were so good.

My husband ordered the pulled pork platter ($14.49). The smoked and sauced pork was served with his choice of coleslaw and French fries.

He enjoyed his lunch, but wished the crunchy slaw had a much more flavor. The pork was tender and sauced well.

It was lunch, so I chose the Shorty Burger ($13.99). The hefty burger patty was done medium rare as requested.  It was layered with BBQ sauce, jack cheese, onion straws, lettuce, tomato, and chipotle mayo. It came with perfectly cooked French fries.

We shared the Homemade Seasonal Cobbler ($8.99) after our server told us they just switched to peach that week. The cobbler was like a cross between a pecan pie on top and a warm, flavorful peach pie at the bottom.

Served a la mode, the slightly sweet cobbler took us from full to rolling out the door full. Neither of us ate dinner that evening.

Our second visit was for dinner on a weekday evening. The place was packed and we waited about 15 minutes to be seated.

We decided to go right for the dinner and enjoyed the corn muffins while we waited. For as busy as they were, we were served our meals within 10 minutes.

While waiting, my husband said he could see all of the cooks, servers, and bussers working quickly to get food out and tables turned. He said it was like watching a well orchestrated dance.

I chose the BBQ Split Chicken ($15.99) with macaroni and cheese, which was an additional 99 cents, and coleslaw. The mac was so worth the extra change. It was hot, savory, cheesy, and the noodles were al dente. The coleslaw was creamy, but could have used a smidge more seasoning.

As for the chicken, it was moist, tender,  smoky, and flavorful. I was able to take some home to enjoy the following day.

My husband decided on the full rack of ribs platter ($32.99) with baked beans and French fries. The ribs were tender, still juicy, and caramelized with the sauce. The BBQ beans were “to die for” he said. They had just the right sweetness and bits of smoked meat.

To cap off our dinner, we shared the Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Sundae ($8.49). The still warm and gooey brownie was served with soft serve vanilla ice cream, Ghirardelli chocolate sauce, and whipped cream.

It was rich and comforting. It capped off the meal delightfully.

All in all, Shorty’s lived up to the Mancy legacy. If you go, be sure to wear your stretchy pants.