(12/24/05)

This respectable looking room has the feel of a converted warehouse, with high ceilings and brick walls providing a backdrop for sit down dining. There is also a small bar in the back.

There are three good sauces on the tables: Original (sweet and tangy), Sweet Talkin' (a sweeter, less tangy version of the sweet and tangy) and Rattlesnake (fairly sweet and fairly hot instead of tangy).

For ribs, Smokin' Al's offers both babybacks and St Louis ribs, plus monster beef bones. Brisket is avaiulable chopped or sliced; chicken is available barbecued or pulled. The non barbecue menu (burgers, wings, pub grub) looked pretty good too.

I ordered a combination that had both types of pork ribs. I got the babybacks with Rattlesnake sauce and the St Louis ribs dry. The babybacks had a hint of char as well as the perfect amount of sauce, neither distracting from the flavor. Fairly tender but not juicy. The St Louis ribs were very meaty, very pink and very juicy. These were obviously smoked and nearly falling off the bone without being mushy. Perfect texture. Wish they had a little more flavor, either inside or on the minimal rub, but the sauces helped that.

My sides, collard greens and a creamy, peppery cole slaw were very good, and the sides that passed me on plates headed to other tables also looked good.

The bottom line: Food overall was very good, the service a little slow but not a problem. This place should impress those who like their barbecue sweet, hot or unsauced. I will definitely try Al's again the next time I'm in Long Island.