The Rib Shack, the latest restaurant to open in Petts Wood, manages to be all things to all men.

Whether it’s a quiet lunch for two, a fun night out with the girls or a Sunday lunch with the family, it comes up trumps.

So what’s the secret? Beautifully cooked ribs, steaks and burgers and generous portions that leave your wallet and your stomach satisfied.

The restaurant benefits from a prime position in Station Square. By day, you can eat café style in the sunshine or inside in the modern, airy interior, with bench seating and tiled floors. At night, clever lighting transforms the ambience into an intimate space. It’s got an upmarket feel with a classy bar, expensive furnishings and nice loos, a cut above the norm for this type of eatery.

The ribs are the speciality of the house and we’ll be back for more. They’re cooked ‘low and slow’ for maximum tenderness and served with signature sauces, for that sticky fingers sensation.

We relished the delicious melt-in-the-mouth feel, one bite and the meat peeled from the bone. Owner Sedat Murat prefers to use back ribs, because they are tastier and less fatty than larger belly ribs. Then they’re seasoned with his secret spicy mix.

We followed the Rib Shack Ultimate Sharer - be warned it’s huge - with a steak and burger for mains, but there’s a choice of chicken, seafood, pasta and salad, if you prefer.

My rib eye steak was wonderfully juicy and beautifully cooked and I enjoyed the extra flavour and tenderness that comes with well matured meat.

Burgers are homemade using 100 per cent Aberdeen Angus and are served pink, but you can ask for well done. Unfortunately we didn’t have room for the homemade Baileys and Cookie Dough ice cream.

We liked the easy-approach to pricing - at lunchtime, two courses cost £9.95, one course costs £6.95. In the evening, expect to pay around £15 - £20 per head, with wines costing from £3.50 per glass or £13.50 per bottle. Delicious cocktails cost £6.50 and the amazing Boom-Shack-a la-ka at £12.50 for two is a must.

Rib Shack is open from 11.45am to 11pm, seven days a week, a godsend to time-pressured families with busy weekends.

Main courses for children cost under a fiver and on Sundays children under 12 eat free with their parents. A traditional Sunday roast costs £8.95.

Also popular are Thursday Ladies’ Nights with a 25 per cent discount. The bench seating and shared platters lend themselves to a fun and lively ambience, especially with a Boom Shack a la ka or two!

The Rib Shack American Grill & Bar, 5 Station Square, Petts Wood, Kent BR5 1LY. Telephone: 01689 836181. Web: www.theribshackgrillandbar.com