"This place has that rare charm of a tourist spot while genuinely feeling like a local hangout—unlike the ubiquitous tourist traps on lower Broadway, with the exception of Robert's Western World. I had the pleasure of working nearby for nearly a year and ended up visiting a couple of times a week, probably more than 100 times. So, while I rave about the place, why only four stars? I actually considered giving it three. (Spoiler: I’m a former chef, and I have some strong opinions about food.) The food here is incredibly inconsistent.
Let’s begin with the sides: the cheddar grits were the most bland, least cheesy I’ve ever encountered—totally lacking in salt (and that’s a recurring theme). The snap peas were oily and again, had no salt. The braised greens, while also oily, were at least flavorful. The hash brown casserole, however, was fantastic—rich in onion flavor, cheesy, and delicious. But for $4.99, you only get a small scoop, roughly the size of a scoop from Baskin-Robbins. It's just potatoes, after all!
Some entrees leave much to be desired. The ribeye—while I understand this isn't primarily a steakhouse—was served with absolutely no salt or pepper, and I honestly didn’t know ribeyes could be that thin. The salmon also fell short; the bland snap peas were paired with it, drenched in a maple bourbon sauce that also desperately needed salt and perhaps a hint of acid, like a squeeze of lemon. When the highlight of the salmon dish is the solid mashed sweet potatoes, you know there’s a problem.
The BBQ here is decent; I particularly enjoyed the chicken. I love brisket, but sometimes it’s just as I expect—fatty, juicy, and smoky/salty—while other times, it resembles overcooked pot roast. Their sauces are forgettable; I can't even recall their names since I'd never go looking for them again. The regular BBQ sauce is cloyingly sweet, the hot sauce is closer to sweet chili sauce, and the white BBQ is nearly ranch dressing (served with the fried green tomatoes, which I initially thought was ranch until my server asked for my opinion). The fried green tomatoes are delightful, but just like the hash brown casserole, they’re overpriced at $12 for a cute taco-style presentation that barely includes half of one medium tomato. I’ve had fried green tomatoes for $8 that could feed two, served on a generous platter.
I’m not a fan of the smash burger trend; in my opinion, there are only three ways to order a burger (which also applies to steak): rare, medium-rare, and “don’t order a burger.” It’s nearly impossible to get the temperature I prefer with smash burgers, but at least they’re tasty enough.
In summary: come for the amazing music and fantastic staff, but don’t expect to rely on the food."
Fried Pickles
