Robin's Woodfire BBQ & Grill

Who'd ever imagine that a suburban family restaurant could morph into a terrific barbecue place? That's exactly what has happened at the Pasadena restaurant formerly known as Robin's. Only the menu has changed. Robin's Wood Fire BBQ & Grill, as it's now called, is still an informal joint with signs from almost every major brewery (and plenty of minor ones) on its walls. It has the red imitation leather booths of a family restaurant, and the soundtrack is retro stuff from the late '50s and early '60s. Robin's baby backs, beef ribs and chicken are smoked five to seven hours on hickory and oak until they develop the pink layer just under the surface that characterizes serious barbecue. Add spicy and regional sauces to the mix, including a mustard yellow, honey-sweet sauce from South Carolina and Spicy Mad Dog, a red sauce with the kick of a camel, and the result is a truly respectable 'cue joint, the only one in this class in the entire San Gabriel Valley. Plus, there's karaoke every Friday night from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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