Harlem BBQ

I stop by Harlem BBQ as it's a pretty new place in Harlem, I don't feel like cooking and I'm not particularly hungry. OK...I know my eyes aren't the best, the sign outside says Harlem BBQ, but the decor, the menu and the ambiance read Dallas BBQ. WTF?

I walk in and for some strange reason there is a bench seat in the entryway. Somebody made a boo-boo when space planning. Anywhooooo, I'm greeted, by a server, who seems overwhelmed. I don't understand why, as the dining room is pretty empty. I ask to be seated at a both. I sit down a waiter comes by I ask can I use the restroom before order, she say, "no problem I'll come back when you're out." There is no line in the bathroom, as I only go in to wash my hands, and when I come out, two minutes later, a family is seated at the table I was assigned. WTF??

So I sit in the next booth seat. The waiter who placed me, comes back and ask why did I move? I just look at her like she's crazy. A third waiter come over and asks to take my order, as I was looking at the menu, I could have sworn I was at Dallas BBQ. I ordered the ribs and shrimp combo and Pina Colada. I took one sip of my drink, not including the extra shot, was pretty strong, I was happy! A minute later a bus boy came by and threw my meal at me. He came by so fast I didn't even get a good luck at him. It was a drive by food delivery! WTF??

I took one bite of the shrimp and my mood quickly changed. The shrimp was hard as rock and had either a re-fried or freezer burned taste. I asked the waiter No. 2 to come over so I could have them removed from my bill and ironically two tables over someone else was complaining about the "shrimps". (You know what I'm saying, right?) The ribs were standard pedestrian BBQ, just like Dallas BBQ. For $10 bucks, you know going in not to expect Gates BBQ, BBQ you'd find in the Carolina's or Tennessee, but in know way as bad as the road kill you find at Dinosaur BBQ (Blech!).  The corn bread was so dry and heavy it could be used as a door stop.  The fries were uneven, how can you mess up fries?  WTF??

The waiter who seated me, asked how everything was, I just asked for the bill. Waiter three comes back with the bill.

I'll give Dallas BBQ "lite" another chance, that is if they are open. While writing this, I found out that a former employee opened the restaurant and has been sued by Dallas BBQ for trade mark infringement.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/18372689/Complaint-Bbq


Harlem BBQ

2367 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (between 127 & 128 Streets)
New York, NY 10027
(212) 222-1922
www.harlembbq.com