For those who like the smell of sweet, smoky barbecue ribs, this new restaurant on the corner of Curtner and Lincoln avenues smokes its meat for three hours before serving it with Southern favorites like collard greens, peach cobbler and sweet potato pie.

It's a place where the perpetual aroma of barbecue wafts through what looks like a sports bar on the surface, but it doesn't serve alcoholic beverages. It is, however, decorated with sports banners and framed photographs of professional athletes. There is also a big-screen television that is tuned into the latest ballgame, keeping numerous customers occupied as they wait for their meal.

The business has been a dream come true for All Star Barbeque owners Henry and Larita Bass, who are also husband and wife. They spent months looking for the best restaurant location until Henry spotted the vacant storefront while regularly driving by it on his route as a bus driver for Valley Transportation Authority. He consulted his wife about his find and now, one year later, they are serving barbecue six days a week.

"Business has been great so far," Larita says. "We got slammed right when we opened. We sold out three days straight."

While some may consider a husband-and-wife team working side by side 24 hours a day a recipe for disaster, she says it's been their strong team effort that has brought the business to fruition.

"He is the quarterback and I'm the receiver," she says.

Larita says she and Henry have always enjoyed cooking barbecue for family and friends and have incorporated some family recipes into their menu, including her homemade barbecue sauce that is made from scratch.

"All the stuff on the menu is stuff we like to eat, like chicken, ribs and tri-tip," she says laughing.

They both arrive at the restaurant around 8 a.m. every morning to prepare food for the day. Although they each spend more than 50 hours a week at All Star Barbecue, she says the response by people so far has been her greatest reward.

"People have been loving it," she says. "And, they tell friends and family and the word is spreading quickly. One person even called us when they got home to tell us how much he enjoyed the food."

Eric Nichols, who lives near the restaurant, stopped by for the first time to try their barbecue ribs lunch. He said he expects the location to be a big hit in the community.

The Basses hope Nichols' prediction proves to be true.

For more information about restaurant hours and menu, call 408.448.0855. All Star Barbeque is located at 2230 Lincoln Ave.