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| - I write this review on the day of their grand opening, which I realize may not be completely fair since most grand openings always have their downfalls.
I also write this review as I eat my first meal from Chandler BBQ Co...and that makes me really think, 'Why am I typing a review instead of scarfing down my meal?'
Well, the meal is just ok, that's why.
I ordered a 1/2 slab of pork spare ribs and a pulled pork sandwich. I got 2 sides with the ribs, 1 with the sandwich, and 2 cornbreads. My bill was $20. Compared to this kind of meal at Famous Dave's...I suppose it is on par. The price is also what I would pay for this same meal at my all-time favorite bbq spot - Romy's Ribs.
Worth it?
My 1/2 slab didn't seem shabby nor generous. Its a 1/2 and nothing more. The ribs are meaty enough, so the 1/2 will probably do you just fine. With the 2 sides and the cornbread, $11.99 is sensible. The sandwich is actually quite generously piled with meat. Bigger than Honey Bear's, bigger than Romy's even. With the side...its worth $6.99.
Now the quality:
Creating perfect ribs has become a passion of mine the last few years, but EATING perfect ribs has always been one of my favorite past times. The Co's ribs came with a very small amount of sauce poured right in the middle of the serving, which doesn't win points for presentation. Picking a piece up, I noticed that the smoke ring was very thin, hardly penetrating the surface of the rib. Not good for smoked ribs. I bit into one and it gave that good chew that some people like and others don't. In my opinion, the chew gives you something to do while you're eating:) Decent texture. Taste was...only ok. I'm sorry too, because this is their main attraction. Perhaps it was due to grand opening craziness, but it was as though the care wasn't put into seasoning the ribs like it should've been. Not nearly smoky enough...nowhere near. But not a bad taste at all...just ok. The sauce doesn't take away from the taste, but it doesn't add to it either. Forgettable sauce.
The pulled pork sandwich had a ton of meat on it, with the same bbq sauce splatted on top. The presentation inside the styrofoam container was a bit better than the ribs, but still won no points. This sandwich is the uiciest pulled pork I have ever had, and the most tender. As far as taste though, it's downfall is the same as the ribs' - seasoning or lack thereof. Perfectly cooked meat is nothing if it tastes like nothing. I got some bits of skin and fat in mine which are meant to enhance the flavor, but those didn't have flavor either. So unfortunate because this could've topped Romy's pulled pork. Just season it!!!
The sides...I tried to pick the sides that let you know if a place is 'for real' or not. I got greens, beans & rice, and potato salad. I cannot give any of them a passing grade. Surprisingly, the greens were the best of the 3, however they were way too chewy and tangy... The beans and rice came with 3 different beans - red, lima and something else...had the same tang as the greens which isn't good; also no savoriness to them. The potato salad is too chunky for its own good, almost to the point of questioning the doneness of the potatoes...but a good actual taste, though.
So if I have such complaints about the food, why give 3 stars? Because I feel they will improve. Someone who is very passionate about this community and local business (and who loves bbq) will go and have a talk with the owner at some point. If the owner is any kind of a decent owner, they will listen. The food is not bad. It was just bland. Keeping in mind that I saw a lot of younger people in and out of the kitchen, that this is ONLY THE GRAND OPENING, and that this is CHANDLER not St. Louis (or even Chicago)...I had to cut some slack. If on my next few visits nothing has improved, they will be knocked down a star.
Service was nice. The cashier had the opening day frizzles and she had probably been at it all day, but she did everything with a smile. Smiles from the girl who gave me the food...and I only spent about 7 minutes in the place. The layout of the place needs some work...diners too close to the ordering line is a huge pet peeve of mine. And my butt was almost in some lady's beans and rice. Looks nice enough inside, though.
I am rooting for this place. For one thing, if I have a local bbq place, I'm going to be a much happier person. Also, I like to see new businesses flourish. Get some seasoning on that meat, and NEVER EVER SKIMP ON THE SMOKE!!!! C'mon Chandler BBQ CO, you can do it!!!
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