Westpoint BBQ Brings Big Plates to Dearborn

A plate of ribs, barbecue chicken and fried shrimp is a pretty clear statement of intent. At Westpoint BBQ, on Michigan Avenue just west of Telegraph in Dearborn, dinner can arrive as a full-on combination rather than a single main item with a few polite sides.

Ribs remain a favorite here, tender enough to be described as falling off the bone. But the restaurant does not build its identity around one narrow barbecue order. Smoked chicken, barbecue chicken, pulled pork and larger barbecue combinations give regulars plenty of ways to assemble a meal.

The portions have a reputation for being generous, so this is a comfortable stop for a hungry family, a group settling in after a long day, or anyone who does not mind taking home tomorrow's lunch.

The combination dinners are a good place to start when choosing is the hard part. Ribs can share a plate with barbecue chicken and fried shrimp, putting smoky, saucy and crisp textures side by side rather than asking the table to commit to only one direction.

There is also a ribs, baked potato and shrimp combination, a slightly old-school diner-style arrangement that has its own appeal. A baked potato turns the meal into something more substantial than a basket-and-sandwich lunch, while shrimp adds another forkful to the plate.

Pulled pork is another dependable barbecue route. It can come lightly sauced, with coleslaw, lettuce and tomato on the sandwich and fries alongside. For a straightforward meal, that is hard to overthink.

Coleslaw gets attention here, and it earns a place beside the barbecue rather than functioning as an afterthought. It is the cool, crisp counterpoint that ribs and chicken need.

The side lineup also includes potato wedges, baked potatoes, fries, macaroni and cheese and garlic bread. Those choices let a barbecue plate go in several directions: classic fries and slaw, a baked-potato supper, or macaroni and cheese with enough heft to stand up beside the meat.

Garlic bread also appears with the broiled salmon, which has been served moist and properly cooked with potatoes. It is one small sign of how far the menu reaches beyond the smoker.

Mixed groups have it easy at Westpoint BBQ. Alongside ribs and pulled pork are burgers, fish, tacos, gyros, pitas, salads, broasted chicken and a collection of non-barbecue sandwiches.

The sandwich list has some particularly substantial options. A club sandwich, Italian sub and steak melt give lunch or dinner a familiar, filling feel. The steak melt is notably large, so it fits right in with the restaurant's generous approach.

Then there is the Breuben, a hybrid that combines a hamburger and a Reuben. It is an unusually named item and a useful reminder not to assume the menu stops at standard barbecue-joint choices.

Salads are not token offerings, either. The buffalo chicken salad is notably large and full-flavored, a sensible choice when one person wants something lighter in format, if not necessarily small.

Fried fish and shrimp bring another strong option to the table. The frying is crisp rather than greasy, which matters when the meal already comes with potatoes, bread or other hearty accompaniments.

Chicken wings have tender meat, flavorful seasoning and notable breading. Broasted chicken expands the poultry choices further, giving the menu a different style from barbecue chicken or wings.

French onion soup and potato soup are worth noticing on a menu this broad. A bowl of soup can be a quieter lunch choice, or simply an extra comfort-food move before a sandwich or entrée arrives.

Westpoint BBQ works well as a takeout stop, particularly when dinner at home needs to cover more than one appetite. Family barbecue combinations bring substantial quantities of food, arrive fresh and hot, and commonly leave enough for leftovers.

That makes the larger orders useful for casual family meals, visiting relatives or a gathering where not everyone wants the same thing. Barbecue, sides and seafood combinations offer enough variety that one order need not feel repetitive.

Dine-in and pickup are both established rhythms here. You can sit down for ribs and a baked potato, or carry out a larger spread and let the table at home handle the seating.

The eat-in room is small and casual, with high-back booths along with standard tables and chairs through the center. It is clean, comfortable and well suited to an unhurried meal and ordinary table conversation.

The service style is friendly and attentive, with staff who know the menu and accommodate both dine-in guests and pickup orders. That matters with a menu offering barbecue, sandwiches, seafood, salads and multiple combinations; a little guidance can save time.

The restaurant has also accommodated a holiday dinner for a group of about 15 in a separate room. Larger gatherings are clearly within its orbit, though arrangements for group space are worth confirming directly.

Westpoint BBQ has drawn repeat customers for more than two decades, a long run built around big portions, broad choices and dependable comfort food. Lunch specials add another reason to visit outside the dinner hour.

A private lot provides plentiful free parking, including handicap parking. For a restaurant on Michigan Avenue, that practical detail makes a family platter pickup or a sit-down meal pleasantly uncomplicated.