I love barbecue. I can't help it, I was raised down South where babies are silenced, not by a pacifier but by a rib dipped in barbecue sauce. So I am in a constant search for tender smoked meat here in Rhode Island.

There are three high-profile barbecue restaurants in Rhode Island. I'd been to the others from time to time, but I never quite made it to Stickyfingers. But a combination of cravings, spare time, and a two-for-one coupon finally got me there.

Actually, it got my wife and me there. I picked her up after work (she has a day job) and we squeezed through Providence's afternoon rush hour to Douglas Avenue.

Stickyfingers felt right -- wood paneled walls, heavy tables, southwestern decor. It felt like a Texas barbecue restaurant. We were seated quickly, possibly because it was midweek.

The menues came out and I saw that the special was "all you can eat ribs". Suddenly the thoughts of smoked brisket and chicken and spicy Texas sausage vanished. "All you can eat ribs". Wow.

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So out they came. Platter after platter of ribs.

The commercials I used to hear were right: "the meat falls off the bones". The pork ribs were so well cooked that the ribs themselves were practically falling apart. I occasionally give my dog a beef rib bone and I'm suprised at how she can grind the bone down to a tiny stick -- these rib bones were tender enough for me to chew them down myself, should I care to.

Now there's a common misconception about ribs and Texans. Texas BBQ restaurants tend to serve beef ribs more than pork ribs. Pork ribs tend to be favored in the rest of the South. I appreciate both.

And I appreciated the ribs at Stickyfingers.

Normally I try to visit a restaurant twice before I write about it, so that I can have a good idea of what it's like in both busy and quiet times, but so far I've only be to Stickyfingers once. But there will be a second visit, and more, as long as spare time, carvings, and the buy-one-get-one-free coupons last.

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You can find Stickyfingers online at 137 Douglas Ave in Providence, RI 02908-3254. Phone them at (401) 272-7427.

About the author, Paul Pence: Not a life-long Rhode Islander, Paul got to Rhode Island as fast as he could. He has 25 years of writing experience and numerous publication credits including the Providence Journal, the East Greenwich Magazine, Weissmann Travel Reports, Travel Lady Magazine, Jackhammer, Your Skin and Sun, TravelNotes, TexWoman, and many others.

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