Houston Barbecue Company

06/20/09

Rude Customer Service, Overrated Food

by BBQRegular at Citysearch

My wife made a recent visit to this restaurant and ordered some food to go. After overcharging her for the food, she brought this to the attention of George, the man who serves the food. My wife in her southern charm, called the man sweetheart and brought to his attention we were overcharged for food. He said, "Don't call me sweetheart b--ch."

My wife was appalled, I'm glad I was not there. What an unprofessional, insecure man, poor little George. I have talked to other African Americans who have also been treated poorly, but none have been called the B word to their face.

The issue was brought up to management thru e-mail, and they refused to apologize or correct the situation, and did not even give my wife a reply to her e-mail.

On top of it, this BBQ is nothing out of the ordinary that you couldn't get at any other BBQ joint that uses oak in the firebox Overrated, and extremely rude.

• Cons: See Comments

05/02/09

Rating missed the mark

by rose323 at Citysearch

while visiting the Houston area I wanted to partake in some of the great BBQ that Houston has to offer. I decided to try Houston Barbecue Company because of the high rating site visitors gave the restaurant. Unfortunately, the selection was small and did not induce appetite. If you're looking for an enjoyable and tasty dining experience, please keep looking.

• Pros: food in a flash
• Cons: limited in many ways

02/06/09

Reviewers

by johnmckee87 at Citysearch

Does anybody at City Search ever read the user reviews. The only two in 2008 were terrible but City Search still has a high rating on this place.. What I see from the reviewers is it's high priced, small or meager portions and not very good tasting. Wake up City Search

07/22/08

Bad sausage, bad sauce, exorbitant prices (but decent brisket)

by lazlow23 at Citysearch

Brisket: The pieces I had were good - moist, nice char (despite the almost complete absence of any seasoning) and plenty of smoke.

Ribs: Barely average. No rub in sight, smoky enough, but no flavor (and plenty of fat on my portion, unfortunately). Tad chewy, too.

Sauce: Way too vinegary and mustardy, it COMPLETELY masks all flavor of whatever unfortunate piece of meat happens to get so much as a drop on it. Good sauce enhances, not overpowers (and this sauce would overpower a jalapeno).

Potato salad: More like mashed potato salad, but I didn't mind. Nice tang, but too much onion.

Sausage: The links here are... Weird. I'm not sure how much meat goes in there, but it can't be much. My link tasted more like bread than any meat product - almost exactly like a hush puppy in a crackly skin.

Value: HA! WAAAAAAAY too overpriced - $11 for a single sausage, two slices of brisket, and one dinky side? Please. Like pickles? Hope you like paying for those, or jalapenos at 50 cents a pop.

Atmosphere: Nice enough, I suppose, they're trying to be rustic with the wooden walls and tables but the semi-fancy bar in the corner belies it's upscale West-side heart. Went twice at lunchtime during the week and these people know their customers: Stiff-collar yuppies from the nearby energy corridor who don't mind shelling out $15 for three ribs and three slices of brisket (as the guy in front of me did).

All in all, a place worth avoiding.

• Pros: Clean
• Cons: Terrible value

07/11/08

Over priced and underwhelmed

by NotafanofHoustonBBQ at Citysearch

Just because it looks like a BBQ joint and smells like a BBQ joint doesn't mean it is going to be a good BBQ joint. The very first thing you see when you get in line to order is the fact that they are going to nickel-and-dime you death. Jalepenos - 10c each, pickle spears - 25c ea., just to name a few. Then I ask for the Friday special and it is $6.99 for a small pulled pork sandwich and an even smaller bowl of beans. I am assuming that the drink is over $2 beacuase my total was $9.53 for the daily speacil ($6.99) and a tea. The only think that I found to be "included" was the slice of pickles. Other than this if you are looking for over priced BBQ that is average tasting...Houston BBQ is your spot!

11/18/07

My worst dining experience ever

by amaurice at Citysearch

Where do I start. I will start with the dramatic, but true statement; "This was the absolute worse dining experience of my life.

Problem 1: No Plates, they served me on construction paper (no kidding) 2. Sides. Their "famed" potato salad was okay, but our only other options were Coleslaw and pinto beans. Along with their "complimentary" supermarket sliced white bread. I was just getting over the shock of no plates when I was offered white bread out of a bag by the register! 3. Portions. Their portions were not very generous. For a $6 ala carte order of ribs (price w/out sides or drink), I got two ribs.

The tragedy is that their ribs and chicken aren't horrible. It is slightly below average, but not horrible. Certainly not good enough to overcome the experience. As I diner, they made me feel as if I was begger being fed scraps of meat and few slices of old bread.

A lot more effort on the part of the owner and staff is needed to make Houston BBQ an adequate restaurant.

• Pros: I can't think of any
• Cons: Too Many to list

04/27/07

The Worst - Quite the rip off

by smithersja at Citysearch

$7.00 for a little "Loaded Potato Bowl"?? I ordered a baked potato bowl and I was extremely disappointed. The price was very, very high $7.09. It was just a little potato (not an actual potato), just "some" potato, cheese and cut up turkey meat that looked like lunch meat. No sour cream, no green onions, not even any butter. I will not be back.

• Pros: Great location for people working in the area
• Cons: Price is high and the quality is low

06/04/06

Great food? Are you kidding me?

by tirah at Citysearch

I had the pork ribs and my husband had the chicken. Both were tough, dry, and flavorless. I've had beef jerky that was easier to eat! Wanted to add some sauce to my bone dry ribs but after taking a cautionary taste I started to gag. It was almost pure vinegar! I just don't get how everyone could love this place. Maybe our timing was off (we went early Sunday evening seemingly before the dinner rush) but we are NOT giving this place a second chance to find out! On the other hand I have to grudgingly admit that the potato salad was the best I ever had.

• Pros: Potato Salad
• Cons: Everything else!

03/04/06

YUCK..Citysearch let us down!

by ninbud at Citysearch

Head to the Swinging Door and do not stop at this place. HBC had terrible food, service, and selection. Not sure why people were rating it so high. The brisket was dry, the sausage was nasty, and the bbq sauce was terrible. The service people seemed irritated that we showed up as they would rather send text messages on their phone. Will not be going back to this place and will not suggest it to anybody either!

• Pros: none
• Cons: Price, Service, Location