Oakwood restaurant

Okay... if you're in Florida, and are in the Leesburg/Lady Lake/Clermont area, Oakwood is definitely a place to check out. Rib places are plentiful, but I don't think you'll find one with better ribs, or better service!

Their ribs are meaty, with no fat... have just the right amount of sauce, and the meat really does fall right off the bone. I think the menu lists the "full rack dinner" at $12.95 (which includes two sides), but they have a nightly special, and the ribs are usually $10.95. That's a great deal considering most rib prices in the area start at about $15.

The menu prices run in the $10-$15 range (up to $25 at Red Oak). We've tried just about everything, and I would recommend just about anything. The barbeque pork is great too. It comes chopped or sliced... or you can opt for the barbequed pork sandwich. They have great combo plates, generous "meal" salads, and mouth-watering sides. My favorite sides are the roasted corn salad (more like a 'corn slaw' - served cold, and the onion rings. We usually order the onion rings as an appetizer, but eat fast, because no matter how busy they are, the food is at your table just a few minutes after you order.

Unlike many area restaurants (esp. rib joints), the place is clean! The service is outstanding - better than we've received at great restaurants in Chicago, Vegas, or anywhere else. They have four locations - check out Oakwood's website - and stop in and see them! All of their locations are very popular though, so go early, or be prepared to wait. Their Red Oak in Clermont has a service bar, and a nice outdoor patio where you can wait for your table. The steaks are excellent, and it's one of the few restaurants I've been to that knows how to cook polenta.

There are a couple of "I wonder about that" issues.... I ordered the barbequed chicken once, and it was pretty nasty. It was like chicken that had fallen off the grill and landed in the coals, and then just lightly brushed off and put on a plate. I'm not sure whether it's like that all the time, but - I didn't care for it. Maybe it was a one-time incident, because the rest of their food is outstanding.

The other "issue" that's confusing is why all of their African-American employees are behind the grill/counter, while all the people on the front lines are lily white. I asked a waitress a couple of times, and you get that uncomfortable laugh that says "Like ohmigod! No he didn't! Now what do I say?"

Don't forget... It seems the terms "barbeque" and grilled are interchangeable in the South. Barbeque to me means anything with barbeque sauce. In the South (and at Oakwood), 'barbeque' means grilled food with or without barbeque sauce. People will probably look at you weird, but be sure and clarify. I was a lil disappointed the first time I ordered "barbequed pork", and it came with no sauce. Of course Oakwood - like the other area restaurants - include barbeque sauce at the table. So you can use as little or as much as you like!

Their menu is on their website. I highly recommend them!