What’s in a name?

Maybe Not Bob’s, situated at 107, rue de la Tour Jacob, Clausen, is an American style restaurant specialising in heartily-portioned spare-ribs and grilled meat products smothered in barbecue sauce and served up in surroundings that occasionally cross the line of witty, if kitsch, Americana. Subtle? Not so much. Tasty? Undeniably. A down-to-earth establishment, it spits in the face of haute cuisine and cannot be criticised for this attitude: it doesn’t pretend to be anything that it isn’t. Another restaurant that isn’t ideal for vegetarians, it also serves as a bar, although food is its primary business, and it is close to several pubs that will swallow up much of Clausen’s bar trade, notably the Pyg, Britannia, Ecosse and Melusina. A straw poll of consumers in Luxembourg will undoubtedly throw up the fact that the spare ribs are what it is best known for, and with good reason. But a word of warning: the portions are generous, and “Grandpa’s Ribs” are not for the faint of heart or weak of appetite: I wonder how many groups of testosterone-fuelled males have been humbled by their inability to finish the portion?

Moreover, the combo platters are well suited to groups and should not be discounted as they portray very effectively the best points of the venue: good quality meat in large portions at fairly reasonable prices, washed down with local beers or honest wines. The restaurant is run through English, but staff are multilingual, friendly and quick of service. The clientele is diverse, though weighted in favour of English-speaking expats. It is not difficult to feel at ease in Maybe Not Bob’s, and that atmosphere is refreshing in times when people can be put off by food snobbery. The rear patio offers protected al fresco seating, but the interior is a nice place to be and if you are feeling carnivorous, you’re unlikely to find anywhere that matches your needs more appropriately.