Rib Shak — Restaurant in Fort Payne

I am always excited when a new place to eat shows up. I was surprised when I walked in here as there were a lot people on Sunday. Nice to see a local place getting some attention. However, I fear it will not be open for long unless there is serious improvement. My partner and I stopped in for Lunch. We ordered drinks (Ice Tea which was never refilled). He ordered a Pulled Pork Sandwich with two sides and I ordered the Chicken Finger salad with no cuc's. After a bit of a wait, our food was delivered to the table. Lettuce on my salad was not fresh and in some cases brown around the edges. Chicken was a bit dry but good taste. Unfortunately, the cucumbers were still in the salad. Instead of saying something, I ate around them. I am not allergic, but don't like the taste. My partner felt the pork was dry and as took a bite of his potato salad, he bit into a red bread bag closure (the kind you see on a package of bread or hamburger buns. We brought the cucumbers and red plastic bread tag to the attention of the waiter and she rolled her eyes and took it away. We never saw her again. There was no attempt at service recovery by either the staff or management. We got up, paid the bill, and left. We wont be back. I hope they...

We visited while passing through Fort Payne. It’s a cute little hole in the wall bbq joint with a good location. Staff seemed friendly enougn too. No complaints on atmosphere, staff, or those perfect fried green tomatoes. The ribs were some of the worst I’ve ever eaten! Very tough, greasy, and offensively smoky. Inedible without a bit of salt and sauce. They tasted as if they’d been drowned in liquid smoke. 7 hours later, I’m still burping up smoke. It’s like I’ve swallowed a burned hickory chip from a charcoal grill. Had about 3/4 of my half rack left and left it there. No to go box needed! Baked beans were also cooked to death and dried out. No thanks on the untoasted piece of cheap white bread slapped on the side. A good piece of toasted buttered Texas toast would’ve been so much better! I had a fleeting thought that it was probably not a good sign when the road construction crew just outside weren’t in here for lunch. I’m sad I wasted my money here for indigestion that tastes like I swallowed a...

FINALLY!! Passed this place a while back (closed) and didn’t realize it was in operation. Then 3 and 1/2 weeks ago, I googled Valley Head restaurants and have been trying to get there to try the ribs ever since. We seem to have caught all the closed Saturdays lol, but since hubby was off on a Thursday, we went for lunch today. The picture doesn’t do justice, those ribs are FINE! Delicious, fall off the bone (literally) juicy, and none of that overly smokey flavor. Perfect! And the pulled pork was the best we have had anywhere in quite a while. Very cute place with friendly staff. My husband didn’t want me to brag on them too much because since moving to the area, we keep having these great first meals and not so great follow-ups (at other restaurants). He doesn’t want me to jinx it on this spot. We will definitely be back to try the bbq nachos! (And...