09/29/09

Wow!!! I don't know if I am coming back

by 44Deal44

Well I come to this place a lot, simply because I love Barebque and this place does it right. I usually come during the week on my lunch break and I have never had a problem. I deicied to try this place on the weekend, on a Saturday night a couple of weeks ago. Well the hostess set me and my guests in the front section. I waited for a while for the waitress to come over and get our drink orders, and it seemed as though it panied her to take the order. It seemed she was in a bad mood when I started asking her about the beers. I got very short answers and not the info I needed so I went with a soda. I think the only reason she got frustrated because I was asking questions about a beer I wanted, and it seemed like she was much more important than I. Well it took forever to get our drinks, and I almost got up to leave because it the length of the wait was absurd. Another thing that may have fueled my fire was that I watched her go where the drink place is, where you get the drinks, and I could hear her complaining about our table. When she came back to take our food order I didn't even ask questions about what might be good meal for three people. I felt like I was more of a bother than anything. Well we ordered our food and it came out pretty quickly considering the place wasn't that busy, but was getting there it seemed. The waitress never came over to refill our drinks. When I was observing to see where she might be, I couldn't find her. I had to get the boy that was clearing the tables to get our table more drinks. Finally she came back over when we were finished and asked how was everything, we all said fine and she didn't even ask if we wanted anything else, but said thank you and put the bill down. Of course I looked on the bill to see if there was any name on there, and there it was "Teri". I usually leave 20% or more but I left 10% and she was lucky she got that. I may never come back at dinner again. I have had better times and service at lunch, and it seems like the people want to be there as opposed to making you feel like a bother. I hope "Teri" one day will learn the value of customer service and being professional. Luckly I am not giving up on RUB, but now I know who I don't want waiting on me or my guests again.

• Pros: Great Food!!!! They know barebque well!!!
• Cons: My Server

08/29/09

Food is OK, Service is AWFUL

by believeitornot

My husband and I loved the bar bq chicken wings and got them to go often during our first year in the neighborhood. We rarely ate in, so I really didn't experience the service. The few times we did eat in, we tried a few of the more popular entrees (duck, pulled pork etc). They were OK, but pricey.

Tonight I came by with my kid to eat in. What a mistake. The waitress ignored us (when we were clearly ready to order and I had informed the woman who seated us that we knew what we wanted). Once our food was ordered and dropped on our table by a different server (hmmm, put the hot food directly in front of the toddler? not the best move), our waitress came back for a quick, "everything ok?" while I was first biting into the food. Couldn't say otherwise!

The wings were the same as always, but my kid wouldn't eat the grilled cheese sandwich I had ordered for him, and I couldn't figure out why. Well, that's bec it was tasteless. It was dry (no butter I could detect in the bread) and the cheese had no taste whatsoever. I tried to catch the waitress and couldn't. Spoke to the person who seated us (manager? hostess? I was told she was a manager) and she assured me it was American cheese, buttered and she had had it and it was fine. It was NOT. I told her I would still pay for it (not that she offered to take it off bill or remake it right). I ordered a side of cornbread but by that time, my kid told me he wanted to go home and EAT. (Couldn't blame him!).

I tried to get waitress to bring us bill (my body language was pretty clear the whole time that we were ready to go). She made a point to not come by. I asked two people working nearbyif I could just go up and pay, but was told my server had to do it. I got frustrated at the delay (waitress had now spilled something on another table) and said so to the other waitress (standing there doing nothing). I explained that I used to LOVE this place, but this time there was no tip despite the fact that I usually tip 30% (especially when i am with a kid). I reminded her that "the customer is always right" and she let me have a mouthful of psycho babble about how the customer is NOT always right, its about the individual relationship between server and customer, blah blah blah. (I asked her where she got her MBA, but that was over her head)

Got the bill, naturally I paid for the grilled cheese, but I left no tip. I am still shocked that I would stiff someone, its unlike me.

When I left, I wanted to speak to owner, but they wanted my info, rather than give me his name/info. I had no intention of giving mine to these people, I don't need crazy crank calls (they were that type of people, not professional in the least).

So, if you want wretched service, go to RUB, sit at Terry or Andrea's table and drink 12 dollar martinis. If you want good barbecue, try Daisy Mae's.

• Pros: Leaving
• Cons: Pretty much the whole experince

Barbecue as an Art Form

by Josh Ozersky

RUB takes an almost fanatical approach to barbecue, smoking with straight hickory wood (rather than the usual gas-plus-token smoke approach) and cooking every batch by eye, rather than formula. The result shows up in the flavors and textures, which are a shame to ruin with sauce, although RUB's is a creditable Kansas City version. The room isn't much to look at, but you're not here for the decor. This is one of the best barbecue restaurants in America.

05/29/09

Great BBQ, Worst Service

by cazfish

Their service is very very bad. Start from waiting to be seated until pay the bill. We got our BBQ but we have to ask for our BBQ sauce. Food is quick but wait forever for ordering. Missing drink, missing order. Not even a rush hour.

Food is quite good. You can see real smoke ring. Recommend to-go, not eat-in.

• Pros: BBQ is top five in New York. You can see the real smoke ring
• Cons: Service is really really bad. Recommend take-out.

05/14/09

some good BBQ

by TBSSNJNY

a good place to grab some BBQ. i personally like the pulled pork and i love the burnt ends. for sides, i usually get their potato salad, but i would pass on their hush puppies. it's sometimes pretty busy and they sometimes run out of their burnt ends, so i would call ahead to make sure they have them if that's what you are heading over for

• Pros: Burnt Ends
• Cons: Hush puppies

03/01/09

Average Food; POOR Customer Service

by debNphil

Our group of 6 got to the restaurant around 8:30pm hoping for ribs.

The ribs, pastrami, duck, and burnt ends were all sold out.

Of course, we weren't notified until we had waited for a table and had been seated.

The food was ok. The pulled pork and beef brisket were ok; their original bbq sauce made the food certainly taste better. The bbq chicken was dry.

An hour into our meal, our group decided to order more food but the restaurant had failed to tell us that the ribs were now available. Although our waitress didn't come through in this one aspect, she was very friendly and vigilant with clean plates, napkins, and drinks. The price was decent. We ordered enough food for 6, sodas, and alcohol for everyone. The bill came out to ~$160.

We had a slight issue with the management; the female manager was quite rude when we brought up an issue with our bill. She finally conceded to our point and scoffed "fine" as she walked away. When we passed her on our way out, we tried to say "thank you " and "good bye" but she didn't even acknowledge us.

Based on the fact that they had poor customer service, we will try another bbq restaurant next time rather than give them our business again.

• Pros: nice waitress
• Cons: long wait; more than half the menu was sold-out; rude management

02/27/09

Delicious & enjoyable

by sharopooks

I was very pleased w/ the bbq dinner I had here. I ordered a one meat platter w/ pulled pork, corn bread & baked beans, all of it was very tasty - flavored well & cooked perfectly. Note that they already give 2 slices of regular bread, which I hadn't known when I ordered the corn bread. The sauces were yummy too. I had a few bites of the brisket - flavorful but dry, I wouldn't recommend it (note I DO recommend Hill Country's brisket!). Large portions, great menu selection (wide variety of appetizers & entree options, Frito pie! 2 kinds of slaw - vinegar or mayo based, sandwiches, much more), friendly service, decent mid-level prices... I highly recommend checking this place out!

• Pros: BBQ! sauces, selection
• Cons: Somewhat-dry brisket

02/23/09

Great BBQ in NYC

by doog37

This is a great all-around BBQ restaurant. Went there for my B-day with a party of 8 and everyone was very happy with their food, ordering across the different BBQ meats. The food was very good service was unremarkable (which lately seems to be a blessing as opposed to all of the poor service out there) and the atmosphere okay. Really the only complaint anyone had was they don't have Mac n' Cheese as a side. Overall good place, great food, but a bit small (hey what do you expect in Chelsea?).

• Pros: Great BBQ
• Cons: Small restaurant

01/26/09

With BBQ this good, nothing else matters!

by amcarr1

RUB can be all over the place when it comes to service. I've had both horrible and FANTASTIC wait staff serve me here. However, the one constant is the glorious FOOD! Yuuuum! By far (in my opinion) the best BBQ in NYC. Yeah, I said it. i've been there with other people (including my husband) and gotten through my entire meal without uttering more than three words. Why? Because my face was stuffed with perfectly prepared pulled pork and sides. I could have dined alone and I would have been just as content.

In my experience, NYC BBQ spots tend to focus on one element and are okay with everything else being average (i.e. Hill Country has the Best Mac and Cheese, but NO PULLED PORK). RUB on the other hand, gets most of their menu right. The meats, sides (minus the cornbread) and even the sweet tea! I'm drooling just writing this. Stop reading this review and go get some R.U.B.!!!

• Pros: It's freakin' delicious!!!
• Cons: Not a first date spot. Go with someone you know. Also, service is spotty.

01/24/09

Worst customer service - Beware

by AshRaimi

I've ordered from here a few times (big fan of the BBQ sausage) and tonight (at about 10:25pm) I ordered 2 plates for me and my boyfriend, one of which had pulled pork. We ate in separate rooms - about 1 hr later I put my leftovers in the fridge and noticed my boyfriend's leftover plate. I noticed his pulled pork was uneaten. There was a funny smell - I sniffed the pork (it smelled SOUR) and I tasted it (it tasted SOUR). My boyfriend couldn't eat it. So at 12midnight - I called RUB on the chance that someone was still there or I could leave a message. I ended up speaking to the manager on duty - AMY. AMY told me that all of the food is freshly smoked daily (I don't deny that), and my pulled pork was the last pork butt to be smoked, and maybe what I was smelling was the vinegar that's used to bind the meat.

Now I'm a Southern girl - and there's very popular spot I frequent in my home state called Whitt's BBQ. They use vinegar in their food, so I know what vinegar and meat smell and taste like together. This smelled and tasted like something had spoiled. AMY didn't believe me - according to her I was the only customer who complained tonight - and LOTS of people ate the same thing. So there's nothing she could do for me (not even a credit) but she would leave the GM "a very detailed note" and she MIGHT call me back. When I asked AMY the name of the GM (so I know whom I should expect - oh excuse me - might expect to call me), she said that she can't give out an employee's name (OH PLEASSSE....). And get this - she chided me for waiting an hour and half to call.

Unbelievably horrible AMY and awful customer service! Like she's never heard that maybe the customer is always right?? In her position she should have that stapled to her head. In this instance the customer is right, and I'll be marching over tomorrow with the spoiled butt and throwing it right back in their faces. This is one customer that will never sing their praises again!

• Pros: BBQ sausage
• Cons: tonight it was the pulled pork, customer service, and the manager