Do you know this SW rib restaurant?

A friend's mom asked about a restaurant in the south western suburbs of Chicago. She used to go as a kid with her dad. They were famous for their ribs, but she remembers the onion straws served in a basket.

Anyone know of this restaurant and if it is still there? I know this isn't much to go on, but she would be so grateful if there was any information you could provide on its existence...

Could it be Russell's in Elmwood Park?
http://russellsbarbecue.com/

Could it be The Pit in Hickory Hills?

http://www.thepitribhouse.com/

Hickory Hills is more SW than Elmwood Park, has been around for years like Russell's, and I know they have nice onion rings. The ribs are real nice too, and they have an unusual BBQ Beef- basically the same beef as used in Italian beef, but drenched in BBQ sauce.

Russell's has very nice ribs as well, with a sweet and unique sauce...not for everyone, but I'm pretty sure they just passed 75 years in business, and folks from that area go back generationafter generation.

The two in the Southwest suburbs that I could think of that are well-known around here are the aforementioned Pit, and the Patio. Both, IMHO, are not terribly good, with the Pit being particularly bad (although it seems to have its following.)

I sincerely doubt that it was The Pit, since they opened in '94, and the person's Mom went there as a kid. It could have been the Branding Iron, though they probably would have mentioned the donut holes.

As an aside, the Patio's pseudo BBQ is worse than the Pit's. Even more frustrating is the fact that they seem to be voted best BBQ just about every year. As they say, the masses are a$$es.

The more I think about it, I bet it was the old Homestead on Vincennes in Blue Island. If that's it, it's been closed for a while.

I think it reopened or someone new opened up a restaurant with the same name, possibly using the same recipe in Oak Lawn or Evergreen Park right on 95th St somewhere. I think near Pulaski or Kedzie. Not sure if it's still there though.

There was a rib place in a bowling alley on 95th which I cannot remember. It moved to finley road -- Branding Iron I just remembered-- they had donut holes but I do not remeber onion rings. The Downers Grove location closed about ten years ago. Now called Filley's Grill room, nice big bar decent Rrime Rib and bugers at a good price point.

I remember the Branding Iron! They used to let you make your own sundaes - they'd pull a cart up to the tabel with all the toppings. I was about 5 years old and they let me use the whip cream can myself.....I think i was the last child allowed to do that. (Huge, huge mess)

Really great donut holes. I have no idea how the real food was.