Papa Sauce — Restaurant in Deerfield Beach

I’ve been to the BBQ capitals of America—Austin, Nashville, St. Louis—so I was skeptical when a friend pointed me toward a place in Deerfield Beach for “the best ribs around.”

As I walked up to the window and told the woman I’d never been there before, she shouted back to the kitchen, “We’ve got a first timer!” I wasn’t sure what was happening so I just made the order my friend recommended.

After I paid, I was about to walk away when she said, “Here’s your sample,” as a big fella from the back handed her something wrapped in wax paper and napkins.

I unwrapped a single, steaming rib, doused in a honey mustard colored sauce. As I took my first bite of this divinely inspired creation, a fellow patron walked up to the window and yelled, “Papa Sauce!” That’s when I realized I stood only a few feet away from Mr. Sauce himself, separated by only a brick and mortar wall.

As I devoured this culinary masterpiece, I felt like I was in the presence of a living legend that I had yet come to admire. That’s when the guy said, “It’s me!” and I thought, You’re on an “It’s me” basis with Papa Sauce!? How does one attain such a status?

As I licked the bone clean, I pretended not to listen in on what this man ordered. Ribs, baked beans, collard greens: the same as me. That’s when I knew I’d be satisfied.

I asked someone else waiting for her order if she’d been there before. She said, “Everyone around here knows this place.”

How could I have been living in the dark for so long? I wondered.

“I work in Fort Lauderdale and they make me cater from here all the time!”

What have I been missing out on!?

Finally, anticipation built to a Pavlovian level, my number was called. While receiving my to-go bag, I almost asked for the recipe, but what flashed through my mind next was the image of Chef Clubber re-emerging from the kitchen with a knife in hand and shouting, “I pity the fool who asks for Papa’s recipe!” so I bit my tongue instead.

I returned to my car and couldn’t wait. I ripped open the bag and started chowing down like a rabid dog. The beans were bomb, the greens were gratifying, and the ribs were as succulent as can be.

Let me tell you, dear review readers, you MUST try Papa Sauce.

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10/18/2019 I read all of the reviews so I was hyped to order some food from this soul food restaurant. When I got there it took forever to get my food which I already expected so that’s not a big deal. HOWEVER I did not expect my food to be so salty. It really felt like they put 2 tons of salt on my food. I honestly feel like I have high blood pressure now just from eating it. I had ordered fried chicken macaroni & collard greens (my favorite meal) the food was really really good it was just too salty and for someone who puts a lot of salt on everything that was TOO much!!! Other than that everything was good. #TooMuchSalt

Oh yeah one more thing the rib sauce was not all that to be honest. The ribs were fantastic seasoned perfectly but that sauce is a no for me.

Update 10/24/2019 I spoke with the owner Tai and she promised me that next time I come back the food will be perfect. She said the food isn’t usually overall salty it much have been a mix up.

Update 10/25/2019 I just ordered the same food again & it was SOOO good. It was not salty at all I was able to add my own salt. I actually met the owner Lai & she is very very nice. She actually gave me the food for free which was an added bonus because I had my card out ready to pay. I will definitely be coming back here. I love the service & the food. If anything is wrong with your service or food you should definitely write a review because they take them seriously & they will correct the issue immediately. I am...

Our go to for BBQ for years!! This is the real deal like Texas and TN. Smoke their own meats (unlike 99% of the bbq down here that just ‘cooks off’ their ribs… those others are not ‘real’ bbq IMO. (Phat Boys started out great years ago, but seemed to have expanded too quickly, lost their edge and disappeared?) Friendly, nice and smart business (who gives away a big rib while you’re waiting any more)?! Big portions. Not much to look at, free standing building in the middle of nowhere on Dixie Hwy, with a few picnic tables, but WHO CARES! ;) Used to go to the ‘other guys’ but they went downhill at the second Deerfield location (heard they’re back in Deerfield again too, but the last location there was pretty bad…) Papa’s ribs and brisket are consistently to die for and their sauce is famous (we don’t get their special yellow sauce on the ribs - like the bbq flavor as is) Once you try this real bbq you’ll be spoiled…

*UPDATE - CLOSED ?! Oct 4 Friday @ 5 pm - no phone, nobody there when drove by!?! No signs, no answering machine. No longer in...