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| - Let me start by saying I'm a native Gastonian, and I grew up regularly eating RO's BBQ. My dad even worked there, back when the waiters were required to be attractive. That was apparently part of the appeal, my mom tells me. Pull up, handsome guy comes to take your order and delivers the food to your car with a wink and a smile.
BUT
That was 1989, and I am not blinded by nostalgia. It has become apparent that in recent years, RO's has relied less on taste and quality and more on the misplaced trust of patrons from years past.
The RO's slaw is the main attraction for most natives. The closest thing I can relate it to is thousand island. Hell, it just may BE thousand island with a little spice added in. I hadn't eaten here in quite some time when I brought my out of town fiancé to the food truck on the corner to try it out (after explaining the decor of the main restaurant wasn't anything special). If you decide to try the main location, thinking maybe this was a food truck experience gone awry, read on. The main location (in scenic ghetto Gastonia) has tiny booths, the chairs do not move, there is no handicap seating available, and the waitstaff seem more interested in socializing with one another than serving you. This is especially true if you eat inside, where tips aren't expected, vs eating in your car where I guess you're supposed to tip them for walking that 15 feet you didn't feel comfortable traversing.
We ordered two platters ($19.11 total, one minced, one "pulled pork". The "pulled pork" is listed as a third option but truly, it is just the same thing as option number one: sliced.
Thankfully, the staff was very nice and talkative. What I was most grateful for however was that the "slaw" came in a separate container, and you put the meat on the buns yourself. Granted they are store bought buns they warm up and flatten.
The meat. Dead. That's the only word for it. Or maybe "gray". No, dead sums it up. My fiancé's "minced" meat was pulverized and decimated to the point that he didn't even realize it was supposed to go on the sandwich. It was buried under hush puppies and pale, undercooked fries, to be fair. His comment that really struck me was "...is...what is this...? Is it cat food?"
My "pulled pork" aka "sliced" pork, was pale gray and darker gray and seriously resembled what month-old turkey slices may look like. It didn't taste like pork. I seriously am doubting whether they truly use pork at all, or whether they have a secret deal with the local pound for cheap meat. I kid you not, it looked disgusting.
While it *looked* disgusting, it didn't particularly taste like anything. It was just dry, so dry. So, so dry. The only way to make it edible would be to coat it in the thousand island- I mean, slaw.
They do give you two tiny packets of tomato based BBQ sauce that they probably buy in bulk from Sam's Club.
Silver lining: the hushpuppies were okay. Teensy tiny, but okay.
If you still think you ought to give RO's the good ole' college try in memoriam of your delicious, nostalgic childhood memories: DON'T... but if you must... bring cash- no debit/credit cards allowed.
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