This is how ribs were meant to be: marinated for a full 24 hours, patiently smoked over hickory wood, slathered in sauce, and grilled to perfection. If that sounds like a painstakingly slow process, well, it is. But the chefs at Bridgeport Rib House know it's the only way to do it if you want tender meat that falls apart at a butter knife's glance.

But ribs are only one of the char-grilled treasures at this Bridgeport hangout. Others include the supple prime rib and the char-glazed barbecue chicken. Add up all of the above, and you end up with a menu that reads like the screenplay to a carnivore's dream. To make things even sweeter, the Bridgeport stage hosts live music and open mics five nights a week with no cover charge.