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All Reader Reviews of...

RUB

208 W. 23rd St., New York, NY, 10011
nr. Seventh Ave.
212-524-4300

Avg. Rating

6
Food: 6
Service: 6
Décor: 5
"Mixed Reviews"

Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10.

57% would go back.

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I've had better

By meehane10 on 6/24/2012

  • Overall Rating: 3
  • Food: 3
  • Service: 3
  • Décor: 5
  • No, I would not go back!

I went to RUB BBQ after a quest for finding a good place for BBQ in New York City. The service was just okay and the waitress kept moving the tables and chairs around me, including my purse. I did not like how they used disposable plastic cups because it made the restaurant seem kind of cheap. It was also really warm in there so it seemed like their air conditioning wasn't on, which wasn't very comfortable. The music they played was also rather odd because they kept playing Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Michael Jackson on repeat, which is not what I would expect in a BBQ restaurant. The soda I ordered was also super syrupy, it hardly tasted like a soft drink. Overall, I just did not like the atmosphere but the chicken wings I had were pretty good, although I have had better.

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14 out of 27 people found this review helpful.

Bad Food, Bad Attitudes

By cutefoodie on 2/5/2012

  • Overall Rating: 2
  • Food: 2
  • Service: 2
  • Décor: 5
  • No, I would not go back!

My brisket sucked. Looks like they still are serving up dry, flavorless meat. I should have listened to other reviewers. Was expecting juicy, succulent BBQ and what I got was dry meat on a friggin Burger King Bun...Dear Chef at RUB, Have you ever heard of toasting a bun on a flat top? Pls, get fattier brisket because it Really sucked and was an overall terribley disappointing dining experience served up by angy wait staff. Also, chef, drowning stuff in sub par BBQ sauce truly just makes things worse. For the positive reviews, I'm very interested to know which pulled pork these ppl were eating bc the one served to my crowd was awful. It is unheard of to me how this place does well? YUCK.

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14 out of 36 people found this review helpful.

Some to remember, some to forget

By songyii on 6/13/2010

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 6
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 7
  • Yes, I would go back!

Never get the bacon chunks appetizer. There's about 7 small bacon "chunks" in there... for 7 dollars and change??? NO WAY. My boyfriend had the smoked turkey and brisket platter while I had the pulled pork sandwich. The meat platter was not worth getting- it was incredibly dry and nothing really worth remembering... but the pulled pork sandwich was AMAZING. I'm hardly a meat eater but I felt like I could eat that sandwich for days on end.

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56 out of 120 people found this review helpful.

Excellent BBQ

By jforst02 on 12/29/2008

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 7
  • Décor: 9
  • Yes, I would go back!

This is a great place if you want Ribs. If you're looking for Brisket, stick to Hill Country. If you want something nice, go to Wildwood. However, for Ribs these are arguably the best. I'd stick to the pork ribs. The pastrami and wings are also great. I also like how they have vinegar based slaw. Texas lager is also a nice touch on the place. Definitely one of the best BBQ joints in the City. Anyone who likes Dallas BBQ or Virgil's is insane.

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102 out of 207 people found this review helpful.

the food is great, but the service?

By amybrill on 8/15/2008

  • Overall Rating: 6
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 3
  • Décor: 1
  • Yes, I would go back!

Everytime I go in this place at lunch time there are the oddest bunch of characters walking around looking confused ... and that's the service staff. I also never seem to see any of the same servers from one week to the next. The people who eat there look focused and clearly know why they are there. The food is great. I particularly like the brisket, which some people have said here is dry, but for some reason that doesn't bother me. I like it with the coleslaw on a sandwich. I also love the baked beans, which is why I keep going back. They are spicy and loaded with bacon, yum! But whatever is going on with the dazed and confused service, I hope the management can get it sorted out.

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111 out of 211 people found this review helpful.

good grub at RUB

By rwisdom on 7/10/2008

  • Overall Rating: 8
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 7
  • Yes, I would go back!

I've been to RUB many times (at least 25); obviously I like it. especially the baby backs, and the St Louis ribs, the brisket and the burnt ends. The burnt ends and brisket are not always consistent which can be a common problem at smoke houses. The brisket is usually very lean and tender; but hey, it's not corned beef, so if you like it more moist then just add a little sauce. The wings are also great (very different though than fried Buffalo wings, these are of course smoked but are still spicy because of a spicy rub). The sides are just OK, the collard greens are good but not my thing; this place could use a really good selection of salads or and some other vegetables. Also, I found the beans to be a bit much, very beefy and smokey. But overall, love this place. This place compares very favorably with any other place in NYC, better IMO than Blue Smoke or Virgils but not as good as Burnt ends from Kansas City or most brisket in Austin which is where I'm from. (HS in KC and college at UT)

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99 out of 199 people found this review helpful.

Burnt ends are the best!

By jackmogee on 6/3/2008

  • Overall Rating: 9
  • Food: 9
  • Service: 8
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Been eating BBQ for a long time and the burnt ends are really really good!! The best I've ever had. St. Louis ribs and pulled pork were also tasty... but agree with most reviews that the brisket was dry. I would definitely go back again though. Casual dining environment works well for the food. This place is a winner in my book.

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111 out of 198 people found this review helpful.

Very, very slow service

By catwoman on 8/20/2007

  • Overall Rating: 4
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 2
  • Décor: 2
  • No, I would not go back!

I went there on Sunday afternoon around 4 PM. The place was only a half full. It took exactly 45 minutes from the time we sat down, and food finally came. People from 2 other tables were complaining that they got wrong dishes. Their staff seems friendly, but poorly trained. Food was OK -- I agree with those who wrote they were dry. I had brisks, chicken, and baby ribs. Their fried oreo dessert was really good.

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298 out of 587 people found this review helpful.

OK, let's get real...

By HRose on 6/29/2007

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 8
  • Yes, I would go back!

Real BBQ that is! I never do this sort of thing but i feel it is required. I came back to NY as a tourist as i now live in TX. I had to visit RUB as all my friends were telling me it was the "best" BBQ in town. They most certainly were right. THe Pastrami is amazing, dare i say it easily gives Katz's a run for thier money?! and the burnt ends (oy vey!), dont even get me started they are AMAZING! The wings were perfectly cooked as well. It is clearly obvious that the added "plugs" for other named restaurants from the low rating reviews by others are"friends" of those establishments, not I, just a BBQ loving fan and a new fan of RUB.

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309 out of 662 people found this review helpful.

Best of 07' hands down!

By MDGirl on 4/27/2007

  • Overall Rating: 10
  • Food: 10
  • Service: 10
  • Décor: 10
  • Yes, I would go back!

RUB BBQ is amazing. The meat is extremely tender and tasty. If you want delicious BBQ, you need to go here. RUB BBQ is definately the best BBQ around.

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283 out of 597 people found this review helpful.

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