History

Ted Gregory opened the original Montgomery Inn on Montgomery Road in 1951. His wife Matula prepared the sauce-glazed loin back ribs that became the venue's signature dish. The Boathouse opened on Riverside Drive in 1989, taking the Cincinnati ribs concept to the Ohio River waterfront. The Gregory family still owns and runs the venue, and the secret sauce is bottled and sold regionally.

Common allergens: Gluten

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4Hands-on 30 minTotal 2 hr 30 minDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 2 racks loin back pork ribs, about 2 lbs each
  • 1 tbsp sea salt
  • 1 tbsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp prepared mustard
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp paprika

Method

  1. Remove the membrane from the back of each rib rack. Combine the rub spices and dust the ribs heavily on both sides.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a low simmer. Submerge the ribs and gently par-boil for 30 to 45 minutes until tender but not falling apart.
  3. Meanwhile make the sauce: simmer the ketchup, vinegar, molasses, brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard and remaining spices in a saucepan for 15 minutes. The sauce should be glossy and pourable.
  4. Drain the ribs and pat dry. Preheat a grill to medium-high.
  5. Grill the ribs 4 to 5 minutes per side, brushing thickly with sauce as they cook. The sauce should caramelize and lacquer the ribs.
  6. Rest 5 minutes, cut between the bones, and serve with extra sauce on the side.

Tip from the editors. Par-boil first, then grill. The Montgomery Inn signature texture is tender meat with a caramelized sauce crust, which the par-boil and grill sequence produces.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat montgomery inn ribs

Montgomery Inn ribs in Cincinnati

Montgomery Inn Boathouse ★ 4.3

Barbecue$$$downtownTue-Thu 16:00-21:00; Fri 16:00-22:00; Sat 15:00-22:00; Sun 15:00-21:00; closed Mon

The Montgomery Inn Boathouse on Riverside Drive is Cincinnati's Ohio River barbecue outpost, with sauce-glazed pork ribs and a long porch over the water.

Signature: Pork ribs, Saratoga chips

925 Riverside Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202 Book →

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