Published: July 01. 2010 2:00AM

By Renata Parker
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There are a few things Southerners crave in good old-fashioned comfort food — dishes like P-cheese, hunky beef burgers, low-and-slow-style barbecue, rib-sticking mac and cheese and most anything fried, from onion rings to chicken, might just top your list. Smoke on the Water's got Southern comfort food covered, and takes it to a whole new level by delivering it straight-up with attitude.

Real comfort food, Southern style, is all about flavor, and diners will find a wide selection of flavor-packed options on the menu. Start with a serious helping of West End nachos served on individual crispy wontons, baked with a topping of smoked pork, mango chutney and cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Or dig into the savory White Bean Smoked Chicken Chili, which is simmered with a combination of jalapenos and cumin, then balanced with a little sour cream and green onions.

Smoke on the Water is known for its meat, and the manner in which it's smoked to perfection makes even self-professed pitmasters weak in the knees. This is especially true about their pulled pork, which one-ups the competition with a focus on smoking technique and not sauce. The flavor comes from a hand-rub of coarse ground seasonings and a slow-cooked method that results in pork that melts in your mouth. The sauce, tangy and delicious, is always served on the side so that you can soak your own to taste. In addition to pork, feast on one of the many signature smoked-style meat items like the prime rib, succulent beef brisket, finger-licking baby back ribs and the beer-butt chicken, which says it all.

Big flavors don't stop with smoked items. Smoke on the Water also offers an assortment of grilled selections, like fish, pork chops and filets. Crave burgers? Smoke on the Water’s got a list of man-size 10-ounce, beautiful, thick hunks of beef that are grilled and then nestled on a fresh-baked brioche bun. Top it off with homemade pimento cheese, blue cheese, bacon or onions and you may just discover true bliss.

If the feature course wasn't enough, select any number of hearty homemade Southern-style side dishes that make you homesick, like cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, baked spinach casserole, baked beans, slaw and red potato salad.

For atmosphere, Smoke on the Water plays it casual, which is a good thing when indulging in comfort food. The handsome tavern decor welcomes guests to a comfy seating area where you can share appetizers and listen to live music in the bar area or in the dining room, which is lively and ideal for gathering with family and friends. Outside there are plenty of tables perfect for taking in the downtown scene.

Smoke on the Water packs the taste of the South in every dish and Southern comfort in every dining experience. www.saucytavern.com