Carolina’s

I couldn’t pass up a chance to see how the Milanese had translated the pleasures of Carolina bbq. I think I now know what it is like being an Italian eating Italian food in the States.
It paints a pleasant picture but I am afraid what is being sold here is not considered actual bbq.
I had the ribs plate. Ribs are my test of bbq many would argue for brisket because it is harder to do right. I just don’t like most briskets.
The ribs were overcooked with lots of shrinkage along the edge. I am also afraid they were pre-​boiled (which is a big no no in real BBQ as you lose meat flavor to the water). The meat slipped off their bones so quickly and cleanly it was like a teenager boy jumping out of his pants the first time he gets the chance to have sex. Proper ribs should have a bit of bite and come off the bone clean with a bite but not urgently. They were finished with a touch of a glaze. There was no smoke flavor or a smoke ring. These ribs are the kind of ribs that are sold at a chain resturant in the States. Basically a cheat.
The overall presentation of the plate was what I would hope from an Italian translation of BBQ. Good looking with a bit of an upgrade to some of the typical ingredients. So traditional elements are quite trashy. Here the bread served with the plate is a nicer whole wheat bread than the cheap white bread that is typical in the US South. The baked beans were tasty with a firm bite and not too sweet — they were my favorite thing on the plate. I skipped the cheesy mashed potatoes as I can eat dairy. The cole slaw was lovely with thin cabbage lightly dressed in a mayo but no flavor.
The sauce on the table was a sweet red sauce. I liked it. I would guess they don’t make it.
I admit you cannot go too wrong with pork covered in a sweet BBQ sauce but if you are looking for the subtle experience of real American BBQ you will have to look elsewhere.
This place is tied to the next door hamburger spot. Both trade in American foods with a hip style. The fries they sell next door are great and are probably what is sold here too.
This place is probably a novel experience for the locals and will sooth a homesick American. Take it for what it is and enjoy but if you only have one meal to eat in
Milan go find some local food.