Bluz Brothers BBQ

Where Del Ray used to be, at the end of the Safeway Plaza.

 

We just went there tonight for dinner. I had the Roasted Chicken and it was terrible. Very dry and it tasted "old". The wife-unit had some chicken and pork and she seemed to like it so it may have just been a bad chance on my meal.

That and the meal was pretty expensive for a BBQ joint. 2 soups (which were great!) 2 entrees and Ice tea and it was almost $40.00.

Frankly I have had better food for less money. Too bad

 

Why bother, you can't get good BBQ north of Tennessee and East of Texas.

 

Had lunch there again today. The "Wrecker" sandwich was delicious!!

 

Went there for lunch today with the family. Two of us had the pulled pork sandwich, the third had the brisket sandwich. Service was very good, quite attentive and pleasant. Manager/owner came by and chatted a couple of times - they seem to care about the quality of their food. The pork was very good - I wouldn't call it a NC style of BBQ - unlike the Carolina Bros. BBQ (which we also like), this pulled pork was a little chunkier, nice charred bits, and a deep, rich, smokey flavor. The brisket was also good (although not quite as flavorful as the pork). We liked the choices in sauce - I especially liked the tangy choice, and the mustard (I'm not usually a fan of mustard based sauces, but this was exceptional). The complementary homemade chips were very good, and the sandwiches came with fried dill pickles (good, but not quite crispy enough), fries (good, not exceptional) and we had coleslaw on the side. There was a lot of meat on the sandwiches - I thought the prices were pretty good.

We only had two complaints - the meat was a little on the cool side for two of our sandwiches (they need to work on timing a bit); and the bread for the brisket sandwich was toasted sourdough rather than a potato bun (we would have preferred a bun).

We will definitely go back, and would probably get take-out from here as well. I think the pork was exceptional - as I said, a deep, rich smokey flavor which penetrated the pork, and not chopped quite so fine as the typical NC pulled pork (I prefer the chunkier style). I think this is the type of restaurant the neighborhood needs - not extremely expensive, not pretentious - just good food.

S

 

Are they open for lunch on Sundays?

 

Went there on Friday for lunch. They were out of pulled pork (!). I mean...that is a huge staple in a BBQ joint... I had pulled chicken - it was good. I liked their homemade chips they give you. My co-worker had the beef brisket and said there was a LOT of fat on the sandwich. We will try it again. Over all it was good. They just opened so hopefully next time will be better.

 

Went there for dinner last night and they were out of pulled pork. We both ordered the ribs. They were so tough, you couldn't pull them apart and cutting through them was a chore. On top of it they were cold, as was the macaroni and cheese. Needless to say, we returned them, they took them off our check, we paid for our drinks and went home hungry. Wasn't a good experience.

 

We had pulled pork and ribs today. Service was very attentive and the food was pretty good. No complaints about the pulled pork, it was good! The ribs were too spicy for my younger one, and not very tender, and somewhat fatty. If the dry option had been on the menu we'd have ordered them that way. I think there's room for improvement, but they just opened and we'll go again. It's nice to have BBQ that we can walk to.

 

bummer- they must have kinks to work out b/c the ribs i had pulled clean off the bone with almost NO effort on my part. opening weeks are tough folks- give em some time AND feedback- good and bad! they can only get better if they know what they are doing wrong. i will call the owner myself tomorrow and share some of my personal and our community feedback. i would LOVE to see them succeed just as much as i have supported tons of other businesses!

 

Redon1 - you are such a good person!

 

good, greedy, whaever keeps restaurants open! lol

Thanks tyger....

 

Since our family doesn't eat out much, I feel bad we don't contribute much to keeping the good restuarants open. It's our choice - we get better meals at home and healthier, plus I love to cook. If we do go out, it's usually for a special occasion and then we are pretty picky about where we go.

 

Tyger31,

Don't feel bad. This is the basis of the capitolistic system. Anyone can open up a restuarant and anyone can decide not to go there.

You prefer to eat in. That's great. Not only do you like to cook but you are right in that is often much cheaper and better to prepare your own food.

I too am sad when a restuarent closes. I sympathize with the owners and the struggle they have. But that does not mean that I have any "obligation" to visit every restuarant in the area as some form of civic duty.

So don't feel bad. You are probably eating cheaper and healthier then many of us an doing something you love at the same time. You win!

 

Well - the other part of it is...it's more of a treat when we do go out.

 

Oz you are exactly right. I don't think ANYONE should look at eating out or patronizing local businesses as a responsibility- that takes all of the fun out of it! Tyger and his families help keep the better supermarkets in biz, and their only responsibility should be go have me over for dinner the next time they make bracchiole (you think I forgot?!?)

but i, on the other hand, have different motivations- 2 in fact! 1) i feel pretty strongly about entrepreneurship, mom and pop shops, and local, one of a kind businesses. maybe it's my small town Nebraska upbringing where Stella's Bar and Grill drove the CHAINS out of business! I believe in that personal original, "let me create something for you in the kitchen" feeling you don't get in most chains. So the good ones are a mission for me- i want to do all i can to spread the word. that said, i don't go broke patronizing every ONE- contrary to The Man's belief!

and 2) i looooove to go out to eat. i hate malls so i loooove little boutiques. i appreciate the hardship of owning a smal biz and so if some little guy does it just as well as or BETTER than a chain- SOMEONE is getting my money anyway so why not them...

now back to that bracchiole...

 

We got takeout from Blues Brothers last week. The bar is pretty nice (as it always was at Del Rey). Unfortunately, the food was poor (as it always was at Del Rey). I had the pulled pork sandwich which was admittedly not too bad. My wife had the burger and it was inedbile. Seriously - she gave me a bite and I had to spit it out. They also forgot her fries.

Not a great first impression. I'll usually give restaurants a couple shots before dismissing them, especially when they're newly opened and working out the operational kinks. Honestly though, I really don't see us eating there too often when Carolina Brothers BBQ is available.

 

in case you didn't know...

DIRECT TV with NFL TICKET (lots of nice flat screen TV's as well!)

$1.99 KIDS MENU MON - SAT 11am - 8pm

BUCKET O' BEER $6.00 for 4 DOMESTIC
$9.00 PITCHERS, DOMESTIC

also, I shared concerns here with the management/ownership at BBB, and they are working to make improvements. i've been several times and see a diff from the first visit soon after they opened. i need to bring The Man and Boy here since they weren't too impressed on their first and only visit here to get a second and thrid household opinion!

folks- we have a unique opportunity in this neighborhood to have diverse restaurants and services within a few miles of our doorsteps! be SURE to let every place you patronize KNOw what you do and don't like- they can only improve if you tell THEM. a lot of heart and risk goes into opening a place here and now, so let's make them BETTER, not disappear.

once warned, if they DON'T improve- then good riddance! we deserve the best!

off my :sbox:

 

We went today and thought it was really good bbq- had a half rack of ribs, brisket and a pulled pork sandwich. hands down much better than Partlows or any other bbq in the area. Service was great too.

 

My wife and I ate there a few weeks ago. This is definetly NOT Carolina BBQ. I had the pulled pork and she had the BBQ Chicken. My pork had good flavor and was tender however it had way too much fat in it. They need to trim more of it off before they chop it. My wife said her BBQ Chicken was just okay. We both prefer Eastern Carolina style BBQ (vinegar sauce). In my opinion, a BBQ restaurant isn't something that people without a lot of experience in BBQ should try. BBQ lovers tend to have high expectations. Tough ribs and fatty pulled pork won't get you too many repeat customers.