The WORST BBQ you ever had

Switching things around a little, and looking for a heads up on places to avoid. There are two situations to make bbq bad for me. One is place. We got bbq at work once. Good Q made not the best because I was caught at work. The Q still brightened things up a little. Ok, that probably shouldn't count.

Fatty BBQ for me is what makes it bad. I want the fat to be cooked down into the meat not still there in a gob. But I can not think of specific places right now. I'm generally happy with what I get, sauceless or drowned, carolina or memphis. What have you. I know there are some who have found the worst of the worst. Where was it? What did they do?

I walked into a place in Teaneck NJ called Smokey Joes.-sounds good right.As soon as I walked in and saw 2 Jewish Gentelman standing behind the counter I was disappointed.(nothing against Jewish people)-it was KOSHER-no Pork-I have trouble calling a BBQ joint in NJ BBQ without pork.I had the brisket sandwitch-it was terrible-it was served with refried beans and rice.

Every Famous Dave's I've Been to, equally awful...3 of them, no more chanches for Dave.

Here is a thread you might want to look at..

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13118

To be honest?.. I didnt care for Big Bob Gibsons. Or Maurices.

There's a chain in the Austin San Antonio area called Rudy's that cleverly claims to be "the Worst Barbeque in Texas". Unfortunately, they are correct. But they're real proud of it, just look at the prices on the menu.

I've never had bad 'que and I don't plan on starting now!!

There's a place in Palm Desert called Babes, owned by the heir to the Marie Callender fortune. The place must have a few million tied up in HUGE sculpted pigs and other expensive paintings and decor. The BBQ is SOOOOO awful it's almost funny, throw away bad, nice place to throw your food away though!

Kosher BBQ-no pork-Smokey Joes in Teaneck NJ

Dearfolk,
Once in 1986 I ate in a BBQ place out McGavock Pike in East Nashville, Tennessee that was SO bad that it was almost good.
First, there was no pit, no smoker, no nothing. The poor cluck was cooking pork butts in the bottom of the oven, then cutting pieces off rather indiscriminately and placing them in a pot on the stove... a pot full of -- WATER!
The meat was ridiculously watery, had no taste, there were no sides, there was no sauce, and the only other thing available (other than sweeeeeeeet tea) was water. Oh, there were several desserts, but once the owner had said to me the fourth time "How about a little sumpin' sweet?" only to have me plead with him each time to understand that I couldn't eat sugar, I just paid up and sauntered out.
I felt sorry for the poor guy, I really did. But I never went back there again. I wish I could remember the name of the place, but surely it's long gone by now.
Pit-ifully Pitlessly, Ort. Carlton in Far Better Athens, Georgia.

quote:

Originally posted by chewingthefat
Every Famous Dave's I've Been to, equally awful...3 of them, no more chanches for Dave.

Dearfolk,
Hey, if Dave's is so famous, why hadn't I heard of them before they opened here? -- Their Athens-area location has already closed, by the way... I forget what's in there now.
Infamously, Ort. Carlton in Largely Edible Athens, Georgia.

Josh's BBQ in Santa Fe New Mexico. The brisket is braised, like eating a pot roast, must have offended the cow who gave it sweet little life for that piece of meat!

quote:

Originally posted by mikez629

Kosher BBQ-no pork-Smokey Joes in Teaneck NJ

Plenty of other meats are considered BBQ, does not have to be pork you know.

Sounds like your problem is no pork, not necessarily kosher.

Dr. Hoggly Wogglys which is always voted number one. ICK

Too much sauce, too much fat, too much hype.

Any place that puts sauce on the 'que before serving it is the worst in my book. Let ME do the sauce!

quote:

Originally posted by Ort. Carlton.

Dearfolk,
Once in 1986 I ate in a BBQ place out McGavock Pike in East Nashville, Tennessee that was SO bad that it was almost good.
First, there was no pit, no smoker, no nothing. The poor cluck was cooking pork butts in the bottom of the oven, then cutting pieces off rather indiscriminately and placing them in a pot on the stove... a pot full of -- WATER!
The meat was ridiculously watery, had no taste, there were no sides, there was no sauce, and the only other thing available (other than sweeeeeeeet tea) was water. Oh, there were several desserts, but once the owner had said to me the fourth time "How about a little sumpin' sweet?" only to have me plead with him each time to understand that I couldn't eat sugar, I just paid up and sauntered out.
I felt sorry for the poor guy, I really did. But I never went back there again. I wish I could remember the name of the place, but surely it's long gone by now.
Pit-ifully Pitlessly, Ort. Carlton in Far Better Athens, Georgia.

Amazing that Famous Dave made it anyhow, too bad his food is even worse than when you had it Ort!

I was a judge at the Houston Rodeo BBQ for about 5 years, and I can tell you that even from competitors, there is such a thing as bad BBQ.

Sonny's - They catered a lunch at my office one afternoon. The meat was dry and the rolls had mold on them.....Yuck.

Probably the most mediocre was Market BBQ in Minneapolis. Really worse than Famous Dave's.

I did have some bad BBQ in LA in the '70s at a place called Love's or Luv's. Being from KC I think I may have been somewhat biased.

Any place in Eastern NC that serves that vinegar based stuff that never won a BBQ contest...unless the conest is in Eastern NC.

Ort. Carlton I don't know if that place is open 21 years later; but there's a place on McGavock Pike called Dee's that I've heard mixed things about. If it's the same place maybe it's gotten better with practice.

I guess the worst BBQ I've eaten would be at this place that WAS here in Nashville called Dem Bones. They should 've named it Dat Gristle.

Here in the Nashville area there's a chain called Whitt's that shouldn't call its product BBQ since it just oven roasted with sauce added to it. Lots of my old co-workers ate there on Wednesdays because they had pulled pork sandwiches for $1.50.

quote:

Originally posted by brisketboy

There's a chain in the Austin San Antonio area called Rudy's that cleverly claims to be "the Worst Barbeque in Texas". Unfortunately, they are correct. But they're real proud of it, just look at the prices on the menu.

Ditto. While I hear the original place in Leon Springs is great, Rudy's SUCKS in general. There's really nothing good about the place. It's not the worst I've ever had, but it's definitely the sorriest "famous" place.

Ole' Smokehouse in Charlotte, NC

quote:

Originally posted by Big Frank
Sonny's - They catered a lunch at my office one afternoon. The meat was dry and the rolls had mold on them.....Yuck.

Big Frank,
That's an overprice to pay for what sounds like a bunch of doorstops.
Open And Shut, Ort. Carlton in Amazing Athens.

quote:

Originally posted by ctfrasier
Ort. Carlton I don't know if that place is open 21 years later; but there's a place on McGavock Pike called Dee's that I've heard mixed things about. If it's the same place maybe it's gotten better with practice.

CTFrasier,
No, Dee's wasn't it... I'd remember that short and succinct of a name. I think it was something like Old Smoke House or some such... not the guy's name.
Dee's is probably a little farther out McGavock; this place was at something like 1416, as my memory serves me.
Out To Lunch At 1:00 A. M., Ort. Carlton in All-That-Is-Athens, Georgia.

Bill's Barbecue in Richmond, VA. I'm pretty sure the meat was boiled, no sauce, awful sides. But they've been open since the thirties, go figure.

And in its defense I've never had a bad meal at Famous Dave's. Sonny, OH GOD YES, I wouldn't feed that stuff to a dog.

quote:

Originally posted by MandalayVA


And in its defense I've never had a bad meal at Famous Dave's.

Add me to the defense team of Famous Dave's , as well.
I think it's slightly above average, although I've only had the brisket and the roast chicken. The brisket had a nice taste, and the roast chicken was bland with the seasonings, but otherwise not THAT bad; it tasted fresh and juicy. I certainly would'nt eat there when I am traveling out of state, but I "resort" to taking out a sandwich from them when I get burnt out with all the cheesesteak and pizza places here in the AC area.
We've got a Famous Dave's in Mays Landing, 5 miles from me.
My sis is a tough rib critic however, and she did not care for their ribs. I can't comment on them personally, as I just like beef ribs, and they don't have beef ribs.

So, IMO, it does not qualify as the worst bbq . JMO.

Update : I went for lunch at Famous Dave's today, Feb. 11th.
I posted a pic of my brisket sandwich in the fast food
forum. I did not enjoy the brisket as much as I had
on a previous visit. However, it still did not make my
"worst BBQ hall of shame" list. It was'nt THAT bad.

quote:

Originally posted by mar52

Dr. Hoggly Wogglys which is always voted number one. ICK

Too much sauce, too much fat, too much hype.

Agreed; been there a few times, and like you said, too much hype!
They are up in Van Nuys, and it seems like you can barely find a place to sit, it's certainly stays busy , though, huh?

I see you are in Aunt Kizzy's restaurant territory. Their ribs are too mushy for me. I've been to their Sunday brunch a few times, it's soul food , liked their fried chicken and lemonade and that Sunday brunch "after church" atmosphere. (makes you feel like you are in Georgia, or something) Are they still open?

We ended up getting what was said to be BBQ pork sandwiches from a place called Hi Ho #2 in Ponchatoula, LA. Horrible. Watery and barely any flavor to the thinly sliced meat at all. I joked to my husband that maybe it was alligator and not pork.

We had a Famous Daves for a while in East Peoria, IL where the food would often not be kept up to temp. But I still miss the place. Every time I was in, the food was very good.

For me. If it says Famouse Dave's or Sonny's. I would skip on by.