Big Nate's is Still Cookin'

Big Nate's BBQ used to be one of the best in Saint Plotniko, but then Nate sold out to these new guys, and the black people behind the counter turned into Latinos, and the smell of the smoker, that used to perfume the whole neighborhood, disappeared. It doesn't seem to be gentrifying much down near the 101 overpass, and you still see the photos of Nate Thurmond on the wall along with Warrior paraphernalia from the past, but the parking lot is empty.

So it's a surprise that the food is still wonderful. Plot and Duck had bought a groupon that was expiring last night, so after the Shmlaker game they drove down and picked up ribs, pulled pork and hot links, plus cole slaw and baked beans, and drove back home to eat. The sauce and the meat might even be better than it used to be, and the attitude of the people behind the counter is infinitely nicer than in the old days.

Plotnik doesn't know the name of the school that counter men at Katz's and bbq servers in rib joints must have to attend before they're allowed to cash their first paycheck. It might be Rude State or the University of The Customer is Always Wrong.

The ladies at the post office were once required to take annual seminars at UCIAW, but now they are much nicer, probably because nobody goes into a post office any more. When was the last time you saw a line at the post office? When was the last time you got any mail that you didn't immediately toss in the garbage? Now that their jobs are on the line, those previously grumpier-than-thou ladies have lost their attitudes. It turns out they have teeth, and the corners of their mouths actually turn up.

And the tattooed bone-in-their-nosers who work at Rainbow Market -- they will now pause in their sneering at your pathetic loser lack of piercings to help you find the organic kamut flakes. Cutbacks must be looming at Rainbow too.

Plotnik hasn't been to the DMV for awhile so he's not sure about them.

They were very nice at Nate's and the whole meal cost Plottie $6 bucks (of course he'd paid for the Groupon earlier, but that was then. It doesn't count anymore). Terrific ribs. Great beans. Nice people. And a victory over the Chrispaulians, who finally went away, fighting to the last bite.