Open now for more than a year, the American Fork restaurant is supposedly famous for its Southern-style barbecue. Although the food was good, it was the service that really had us talking.

Kitschy and clean, Rib City Grill seems to espouse the T.G.I. Friday’s approach to decorating, what with seemingly unrelated photos, random sayings and signs plastered on the walls. But at Rib City Grill, the slapdash decor added warmth to the strip-mall space and made us feel right at home.

That, along with our server, who was friendly, attentive and funny. When she couldn’t answer one of our many questions, she didn’t hesitate to ask the manager, and then both women stopped by our table several times to check up on us.

We took their recommendations on several dishes and weren’t disappointed. The buffalo chicken tender appetizer was a heaping plate of crunchy yet tender boneless wings. We opted for the regular flavor, which packed quite a bit of heat but cooled off nicely when dipped in the bleu cheese dressing. The chicken tenders also come in a sandwich, and we’ve already decided to order that when we return.

Fall-off-the-bone ribs are another house specialty. In fact, the Florida-based chain is so confident its “No.1 baby back ribs” will come out tender and delicious that they’ll buy your dinner if you have to take a knife to the ribs (or so says the menu).

True to the word, we had no problem pulling meat off the ribs, which had a thick, smoky taste unlike any we’ve had before.

Most of our entrées had this smoke flavor. It went well with the tender rib meat and enhanced the Bar-B-Q Chicken Dinner we ordered, although it was a little overpowering on some dishes, like the Bar-B-Q Pork Sandwich. The pork sandwich was basically ham slices served on buttered Texas toast, but the heavy smoke flavor masked the natural flavors and made it difficult to taste the meat.

All of the entrées came with a choice of standard sides — french fries, coleslaw, baked beans, corn-on-the-cob –and the baked beans were our hands-down favorite. They were sweet without being sugary, and we gobbled them down faster than you can say “NASCAR.”

Of course, we had to try the key lime pie that our server said was “the best.” With a cheesecake-like consistency, the dessert was different than any key lime pies we’ve tried before — rich, creamy and downright delicious. Must be a secret recipe from the South.

Rib City Grill

Where: 648 E. State Road, American Fork

Cost: $8 -$19

Info: 492-1744, www.ribcitygrill.com