We had a good time here, but I think this place has gone downhill. The atmosphere is cool and service is fast. The portions are terrible. $6.95 gets you about 7 waffle fries. I wish I was kidding. read more

Bub city has always been, and always will be my fav restaurant. Jenny and Kevin do a phenomenal job managing this place, and if you're lucky enough to catch Mauricio or Chris Swan behind the bar, you're a shoe in for a dope evening. Even in Covid, this place still has its whimsical charisma. Although no live band yet, football was on and Bub was bumpin. 15/10 would recommend. PS. Try the fatty brisket or the Nashville hot chicken. Both tremendously flavor filled. read more

Bub City - Whiskey bar with a wide variety of whiskeys from all over the nation. - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was only there for drinks on a Sunday afternoon. The staff is super friendly and responsive. Lots of screens showing sports and quite loud country music playing. Fine to have drinks and chill. read more

Bub City - Inside the bar - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Being from Texas I have some high standards for my barbecue. Bub's was really good, not the best I've ever had, but I enjoyed my meal. The ribs were good, I'd probably go for something else next time though. They also weren't the meatiest ribs, but the flavor was good. Big fan of the Mac N' Cheesy, very delicious. Looking forward to going back and exploring more of the menu. read more

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Dog Friendly Place! The waiter was so nice he brought me some water and the best part my mom and dad had wonderful brisket nachos! Thank you! read more

Bub City - BBQ Brisket Nachos - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Awesome live band, good drinks, and tasty late night food. We came here on a Friday night around 11p and there was an amazing live cover band. The vibe was great and it didn't feel overly crowded. Definitely recommend this place for a more casual, fun night out. read more

I was in town for business recently and my colleagues and I had dinner here. The service, drinks and sides were great but I was a bit disappointed with my pulled pork. We started with the fried pickles. They were delicious. Crisp crust with soft inside, good ranch dipping sauce. I had the Berkshire pork shoulder which comes with Texas toast, pickles and slaw. I really liked the sides. Good creamy slaw but the pork was not my favorite. I did not like the dry seasoning on it. it was a taste I did not like at all. Not sure what spice it was but I did not like it. The pork was nice and tender but the spice ruined the flavor for me. We had a side of Classic mac & cheese. Now this was good. Lots of cheesy goodness, a bit of spice with some peppers. So overall, not my favorite BBQ. Definitely seems like a fun place with live music sometimes and a good bar scene. read more

Visiting Chicago for the first time, and I will definitely be coming back here! Love the atmosphere and staff. HOWEVER, me, my wife, and her boyfriend all tried to go to the bathroom and were told the bathroom was flooded. We were forced to tinkle in the restaurant next door. Talk about an inconvenience! Love the name Bub, though. read more

James has been so mean and so awful every time I've been here. Not kind, not sincere, not welcoming. Please get a new manager. Also beard hair was definitely in my nachos read more

Updated: What was purpose of reaching out on Yelp - I provided my contact info twice - email and chat and never heard from you again. It's like the web version of putting my on hold and not coming back to line. Skip this place!!! I'm normally a big fan of Bub City, often in the restaurant and recently via delivery. n the last month, I've ordered from them 7 times. I tend to spend upwards of $50 for Nashville hot chicken sandwich and tenders plus a few sides- usually awesome! Unfortunately, my last two orders have been a complete mess. Both orders were over 30 min late and were the completely wrong items. I called and explained my concern and was placed on hold. No one ever picked up. Ugh, too much money to spend for a business that doesn't care. Bummer. read more

Every single thing was absolutely phenomenal. There was four of us and the wait wasn't that bad for a busy Friday night. Each one of us had a different thing from the barbecued ribs to the salmon and every single thing was absolutely phenomenal. Our server was kind, attentive, and sweet as pie. The Ambiance was definitely a little country and a little city. The temperature was perfect to sit outside to enjoy our meal. We even got a flight of whiskey for 20 bucks and all of them were fantastic picks. read more

Go for drinks & appetizers. The rest of the menu is not worth eating. Really disappointed.

The first time I came here was with a big group just for drinks at night. I don't know how we squeezed about 10 of us in one of the large semi-circular booths but we did. I always love ordering the back porch tea. You don't taste the alcohol but it definitely is there. I've come here for restaurant week and throughout the rest of the year. The restaurant week deal is one of the better ones in Chicago. The giddy up fries are great for a group of at least 4. It's a lot of food but is so good. I mean, who doesn't love waffle fries? The General Joe's Buffalo bites are good but I still prefer the giddy up fries. I love love love the burnt ends. They do run out if you go for dinner later at night. They're super fatty which I love. The fat does run out of the meat really easily so if you reheat it for leftovers the next day, expect the meat to be somewhat dry. The brisket on the other hand stays juicy and fatty when reheated. I've had the St. Louis ribs which were ok. I'd suggest skipping the STL ribs and get brisket or pulled pork instead. I have tried the hot link as well which is good. Now on to sides. The sweet tater fluff is super sweet. I would eat it as a dessert. I'm usually not a fan of baked beans but the baked beans here are pretty darn good...probably because it has some smokiness and brisket in it. The mac n cheeses are so delish. Be forewarned, the chipotle brisket mac is spicy! There are jalapenos in the dish. A less spicy but just as good option is the baby back rib mac. The service is average. The last time I went, our server was super slow getting to us because he was busy waiting on the large party next to us. read more

We love James!!!!!!! James went out of his way to make sure we were okay and we had an amazing experience with his service. Thank you for being a good human (enter heart here) read more

We came here after dinner with a bunch of business colleagues. The atmosphere here is definitely full of energy, even on the weeknights. The drinks were well made and the service was very good. They have plenty of space so bring the whole group! read more

We were able to get reservations on a Friday evening, and they gave us the perfect booth. We had 2 kids and a baby carrier. The restaurant is loud and festive, but we were still able to have conversations. The servers were really attentive, knowledgeable, and super friendly. We even had one server jokingly offer to carry our crying baby while we ate... and then actually did take her for a few minutes! The food was DELICIOUS!! Great selection and tasty sides as well as good BBQ. Hubby got sausage and ribs, daughter got the ribs, and I got the chicken (as I don't eat pork or beef). All were devoured! No complaints. read more

DO NOT GO HERE- the door man profiles you and is really rude and makes you uncomfortable

Food is tasty- but not worth the price. My husband and I ordered the brisket nachos and they gave us not even a handful of brisket.. for $20. Also ordered a double burger and the Pattie's weren't even 1/4 IBs. Environment is nice. Prices are too high for what you are getting. read more

Great service. Wait staff was very friendly and helpful for out of towners. The place was busy but we still had great service. Our waitress was Madison and she rocked. The food excellent. Six of us shared plates. Definitely get the Brussels sprouts and the covered waffle fries. Next time we are in town, we will definitely stop here. read more

Bub City - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here because it was one of the very few places open on thanksgiving evening. I ordered the thanksgiving dinner which consisted of a couple slices of turkey, cranberry sauce, some stuffing, and a couple other things I can't recall. Pretty disappointed in this. The bartender was nice enough, but the food and atmosphere were lacking. Would not return and would not recommend. read more

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We stopped in during a quick trip to the city to see a show. We were seated quickly at dinner time on a busy Saturday and Our server Austin was fantastic. We enjoyed the signature old fashioned while we waited for fired pickles and our dinners. The kids loved the Mac n cheese and tenders or course. Highly recommend! read more

We stopped here for breakfast/brunch on our way to hit the L to the airport. Our first nearby choice was PACKED with an hour wait, but Bub City seated us immediately. It's definitely an anomaly, since it's a "country bar" in the middle of downtown Chicago. We'll have to come back to try the actual BBQ some day. We started by sharing the cinnamon roll pullaparts. They are served in the cast-iron skillet in which they are baked, and were dangerously tasty (and fulfilled my craving for Cinnabon when heading to the airport). I had The King waffle, which is described as consisting of bacon, peanut butter, and banana (obviously a nod to Elvis in more than just name). The peanut butter seemed to be in what at first I thought was whipped butter or whipped cream on top, but actually had peanut butter in it (yet still smooth, cool, and airy like whipped cream). The bananas were sliced very thin, and the waffle itself was fluffy on the inside. They do good crispy bacon. My girlfriend ordered a special which consisted of an entree from a specific list (it was some kind of breakfast nachos in her case, I think), plus a choice of three sides, which we shared (more bacon, tater tots, and one other I forget). This particular brunch special is not viewable on their website menus, unfortunately. Had we not been about to run to O'Hare, she would have liked to have tried the Bloody Mary bar (airplane bloody marys are a tradition for her, so she passed). This is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, which are ubiquitous in Chicago. Any L.E.Y. restaurant you are familiar with outside Chicago (even other states), know that the original location is there. Get the app and collect some points! That being said, they have some big restrictions on using reward dollars, so be aware you can collect reward points/dollars during a weekend visit, but you can't spend them (exception is birthday dollars). read more

Beat ribs I've EVER tasted. Service was great. Environment super cool and laid back. I will definitely visit this place again if I find myself back in Chicago. read more

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AMAZING BBQ in the heart of the city!!! Food held up to that of the "BBQ states"; we walked from the Wrigley Building and thought it was far; but ended up being just a few blocks away; definitely worth it after! read more

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Originally I was a little skeptical about Bub City barbecue however after having a barbecue. Tasty season very well. Later on today I will have the chicken fried for lunch I'll let you know later taste. read more

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Not the servers fault, but tonight my food came with pork in the meal not once but twice after letting them know I was vegetarian. Disgusting. Beyond the fact that I am vegetarian we avoid pork products for religious beliefs as do many people. the blatant disregard the kitchen had making sure food was free of certain allergens/requests was abysmal. read more

Weekend brunch is really good! Those buttermilk biscuit sandwiches are the bomb! I've also had their hashbrowns which were really good. But really, it's all about them biscuits. What makes this place even better? They deliver. So that Sunday morning after a drink too many you don't even have to change out of your pajamas. Have their brunch delivered right to your door. Of course, then you'll miss their Bloody Mary bar. Sidenote : Hair of the Dog is not a real thing. You're welcome. read more

I wouldn't normally think of getting a lobster roll at a barbecue joint, and I certainly wouldn't expect it to be so darn good, but that's exactly what happened at Bub City. I had tried to get my claws (get it?) on one of these during a previous visit, only to be cruelly disappointed because they ran out just before I ordered, so I had to make sure that when I made my lunch reservation last Friday, that they would have them or I would just go to Shaw's instead. I actually put that on the "special instructions" section of my Open Table reservation. Because I'm a brat like that. Around 10:30 a.m., the manager of Bub City called and assured me he'd save me and my dining companion two lobster rolls so that we wouldn't be disappointed a second time. I really appreciated the fact that he went out of his way; that's good customer service. When we arrived, he showed us to our table and told our server about our "reserved" lobster rolls so we didn't even need to look at the menu. When they were brought to our table, I was instantly happy. There was a good amount of lobster meat, lightly freckled with herbs, dressed with a small amount of butter, and served in a toasted split-top bun with just a minute amount of mayo. I substituted tater tots for the salt and vinegar chips and they were tasty as well. So while I may not necessarily return to Bub City for their barbecue, I would happily go back to feast on a lobster roll. It seems counterintuitive that you'd find an above-average lobster roll at a place like this, but it just goes to show, you just never know where you'll find something great where you least expect. read more

At the top of the menu at Bub City it says, "We serve food as an accommodation to our drinking customers". They are not kidding. In fact, it should have said, "We hope you're drinking enough to not notice that our food is awful". Mrs and I were there last Saturday, and believe me, Rich Melman ought to step in here, because this is not like any Lettuce Entertain You restaurant I've ever experienced. A couple of things to help establish my bona fides here: 1) I love LEYE restaurants, and eat in them so much, I carry an LEYE gold card. 2) I've followed Rich Melman since he first opened RJ Grunts many years ago, and I fondly remember well his great and long departed successes, including Fritz That's It, Great Gritzbe's Flying Food Show, and Lawrence Of Oregano (anyone else remember Ronnie Rice?). Melman is a restaurant genius who I've always admired. 3) I am a certified barbecue judge (KCBS), and I regularly judge bbq competitions in several states. This is not at all about the service, which was just fine. We arrived with the place jammed and quoting a two hour wait, yet our reservation was honored immediately. Our server was as competent and pleasant as could be. The place looks great, lots of appropriate ambiance, and everything extrinsic to the food was A-OK. I am still in shock at how bad the food was. I was excited to try the burnt ends. The menu warns "While supplies last". That's as it should be with good burnt ends. Burnt ends come from the tip of the brisket, and when properly cooked, they are butter tender and bursting with a bbq'd meat flavor. People who know what they are supposed to be fight over them. Bub City's were inexplicably chewy, almost like gristle. I almost never send anything back, but by the third piece my jaw was too sore to fight anymore, and I did send them back. I asked for the lamb ribs. Pure fat. As in 100% fat, not 99%. They left a disgusting taste in my mouth that lasted quite a while. I also tasted the fried pickles and coleslaw, both pedestrian at best, and the mac and cheese, significantly less than pedestrian. I don't think I've ever written a one star restaurant review before, but then I've never had quite such an unexpectedly and hugely disappointing meal before, certainly not at an LEYE restaurant. Rich, if you're listening, go save this disaster if it's not too late. read more

Goldilocks & The Three Lobster Rolls... Resto #1 - this one is too small Resto #2 - this one is too mayo-ey Bub City Lobstah #3 - This one is just right - I'm calling it: Bubstah! The End. End notes: I had - and had been somewhat disappointed by - two other lobster rolls in the city. Hence, I'd lost my sea legs for the search. Then, between Shaw's (which I still have yet to try) at the Yelp event & having come across Melanie S.' lobstah list...I was revitalized to board the boat. Bub's was "best" so far! 1. HUGE At $18.95 , a smokin' (why, we are at a BBQ joint!) value 2. Perfectly thick Texas Toast - evenly toasted & lightly buttered 3. Nice accompaniment of slaw & salt n vinegar chips (or sub tater tots) 4. But oh! the quality! Excellent, sweet and delicious meat 5. Not overly dressed - why would they!? Nothing to hide here! I like that they let the lob speak for itself, which is a high compliment especially for a joint that slathers most the other dishes in BBQ sauce. Bub's is a chill venue where you can feel a little country in the city. It's core menu is BBQ and it's a trip watching smokehouse favorites zip by while eating a generous portion of fine seafood (they also have oysters! oddly enough.) But not so odd when you find out this is part of Lettuce Entertain You - definitely some source sharing, I'd venture to guess. (And oysters - I'm not talkin' the "rocky mountain" type tho, to be honest, I didn't look.) I'm not a "big country music gal" but I can take it in & I hear things get kickin' here at night. I'll kick it up a notch with some jalapeno poppers! Lunchtime was busy, but not terribly noisy - nice bar area w/flat screens & sports. Service is casual & friendly. Nice outside patio if construction isn't too crazy, which it was the other day. Even for lunch, make a reservation. Ye-haw! read more

Bub City - I'm calling Bub's lobster roll: Bubstah! - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bub City is a place I never thought I'd see in Chicago! A country bar seems a little out of place but it was a great time. The bar is just a fun place to be in anyway. There are decorations everywhere and TVs as well. Just looking around it feels like a fun time. We came here on a Saturday afternoon when we felt like getting a few drinks before preparing for the night. When we arrived they still had their bloody mary bar open which was extremely impressive. I'm not a bloody mary fan at all but they had everything under the sun to pile your drink high. I opted for some sort of flavored margarita and a couple beers. Prices seemed on par with other Chicago bars so we were good there. We tried to get a table for our group of 8 when we got in but that wasn't going to happen with how busy it was so we just sat up at the bar. We ordered some food for lunch and the bartender was able to take care of us well enough! I got the mac and cheese and holy crap was it delicious. All it probably needed was a little cracked pepper on top but other than that, probably some of the best mac and cheese I've ever had. It came out super hot in a cast iron "skillet" and the rest is history. I heard they have live music quite a lot there so that's another thing to keep in mind! If you're looking for a chance of pace when going out, Bub City could be the place for you! read more

Bub City - Overlooking Bub City from the back bar - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We stopped into Bub City because we had grabbed some drinks at Three Dots and wanted something substantial to eat, rather than snacks, so we popped into Bub City. It was a Friday night around dinner time and we were able to get a table right away, which was a nice surprise. While I, myself, am not a Whiskey/Bourbonite (I enjoy a good bourbon when someone else offers but I couldn't pick out a good one myself) but my partner was very impressed with the Whisky Bars on both sides of the restaurant. The food was good, nothing was a stand-out or showstopper but none of it was bad or gross either. We sat right next to a stage and I am sure when it gets late, and the sun goes down, that place gets hoppin'! My party (table of 4) was really warm because they had the air conditioning either off or low because they had the doors open and the windows open. I'm sure that would've felt great if we were seated near the windows but we were far from them and sweating a bit. I'd like to try again maybe in the colder months! read more

Bub City - Whisky/Bourbon Bar - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Its always loud when I walk by this place which isn't a bad thing, but I never thought this would be a place that interests me...a BBQ place in River North...no way would I give it a shot. Some of my peeps in the office kept talking about the awesomeness of this place so I figured why not after work someday. We treked it over after work and the place wasn't very populated yet, but because our group came in spurts we decided to grab a seat at the bar near the entrance. I grabbed an old fashioned which was good, but I noticed they had some frozen drinks in the mixer machine going. They looked good but sounded like they could be too sweet for my taste on that day. I noticed lots of whiskeys and bourbons on display...my kinda joint! The Bub City Gold Beer was pretty nice as well. We ordered a basket of fried pickles which were ok as I have never tried before. They were decent but not the big deal everyone made it out to be. While we sat and hung out we noticed the band on stage getting tuned up. Once they started rocking it didn't sound too bad. Was like a country jam/rock type of band which goes with the vibe/setup of the joint. Me and some buddies decided to come back for lunch one day and its not live as it is after work obviously. They had some funny country tunes playing that made for some good comedy. A song was playing that talked about needed a girl with a big fat dookie booty...never heard a country record drop a verse like that...good stuff! I ordered the BBQ Bacon burger along with tots. The burger was great and the bacon of course added a great touch along with the sauce. I love the fact that they have multiple BBQ sauces to squirt on your fries or tots or whatever you like sauce on. I especially loved the Carolina Gold sauce as that is normally my favorite anywhere I go. My 2 visits here have been awesome and I look forward to trying the brunch I keep hearing about here. read more

I've been to Bub City numerous times to drink, but tonight was the first time I've actually eaten there. The food selections my friends and I ordered were all delicious. I definitely recommend trying Bub City. Location: great location in that it's right downtown (River North) so it's close to hotels, offices (good happy hour spot) and residences (i.e my condo bldg). Space: huge inside with ample table seating. They have huge comfortable booths that can accommodate parties of 5-7 (depending on size of individuals in your party) people. Service: I always receive excellent service at Bub City. I need to shine my Yelp Elite spotlight on Conor. He's a great server. Food: my friends and I all enjoyed our meals and that's a rarity with our group. For my meal I had the burnt ends and buffalo tots. The burnt ends were tender and flavorful. I highly recommend trying these. The buffalo tots were good, but I don't feel the need to try them again. We all shared the classic mac & cheese and the fried pickles. Both were good, but the mac & cheese did taste like boxed Velveeta. Like I said at the beginning of my review, I recommend giving Bub City a try. read more

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After hearing some buzz about this place I finally stopped in for a few beers and appetizers. The service was good - the waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu offerings and was quick to help. I'm not one to give two stars often, but I just really did not like the food here. I got the loaded waffles fries with pulled pork, pimento cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, and BBQ sauce - sounds good right? Unfortunately it really just was not good, and I hardly made a dent in it. I typically like all of these things, especially combined, but wasn't a fan today. The food was heavy and quickly turned into a soggy pile of fries, and there was a flavor to the pork that was just hot, but not savory or good. The beers were good, the ambience was fun, and the service was certainly good, but I came for the food and really did not like it. It's fun for a group to grab a few drinks - and I would give it another try, but would not order the same item I did today. read more

Bub City - Looks good but was not a fan - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After a long day shopping on the Magnificent Mile and then hiking over to the Willis Tower for some sightseeing, the wife and I were understandably famished. Poor us, I know. We had already spent a ton on sunglasses and boots and the CityPASS and didn't want to break the bank on dinner (okay, at least I didn't) so we actually spent quite a bit of time searching (we're dumb tourists after all) for a decent, reasonably priced place between the erstwhile Sears Tower and our hotel that would accommodate both of our dietary restrictions (I'm a vegetarian, she's dairy and gluten intolerant). Who'd have thunk that Bub City would fit the bill? By the time we got there (probably around 9:00 PM or so) we were considerably less particular than at the beginning of our jaunt and probably would have settled on any place with plain chicken and fries. Bub City has those things of course, as well as some surprisingly decent options for the vegetarian and gluten free crowd...they actually have a gluten free menu, in fact! So again remember that I'm pretty hungry and could go for just about anything at this point, short of forsaking my vegetarian-ness (not a word). But there is no mistaking that this is a BBQ / rib joint and even if you're deaf, dumb and blind, the décor, the servers' attire, the menu, the music, everything really is a tip-off. So I'm a little worried (just a little) that fries are indeed the only thing I'm going to be able to eat. This was not the case at all. Our server was fantastic (Michelle? Melissa? I wish I remembered, she was lovely) and was more than happy to point out the surprising number of pretty good vegetarian options. I went with the El Paso Chopped Salad which was delish, especially the fantastic chipotle-ranch dressing and the even more delicious Phoebe's Classic Mac & Cheese. I don't know who Phoebe is but her recipe is truly killer. Also it is vegetarian friendly (no chicken stock or anything), our waitress (Melanie?) was more than happy to check even though the place was quite packed. My wife went with the soup of the day (an eggplant / red pepper thing, also excellent) and the Giddy Up Fries (minus the sour cream) which are a meal unto themselves and quite good...she was quite impressed with the quality of the pulled pork. A good enough selection of beer and the Old Fashioned was also quite good, one of the best I've had in a while. Again, loved the service (maybe her name didn't start with an 'M' after all...Jennifer?) and the place was appropriately fun and loud without being obnoxious. Don't know if we would necessarily return given all of the amazing places we didn't get to in the city but Bub City sure was a surprising Oasis for a couple with some irritating dietary limitations and they certainly made us feel more than welcome. Note to self though: I must start remembering the names of particularly exceptional servers (Jessica?) instead of just taking wild guesses. Otherwise people might just start to think I'm losing it even more than they already do. read more

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This place is great! Lauren our server was so sweet and we met the owner, who was also amazing in answering all our questions about bourbon. We tried several of the Bubs single barrel picks and we were more than impressed. Thank you for the incredible drink selection and service, we will be back next time we're in Chicago! read more

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Where is the smoked turkey? They took it off the menu. Lowering a star because of that. Don't come for an 8pm reso because they shove you in the bar area with w/ a bunch of drunk chads and trixies who are all smashed up on your table while trying to eat. Ughhh that's annoying! Another lowered star. Fried pickles are good though. read more

I didn't realize the first time I was here was for a co-workers birthday lunch. My most recent experience was also for a colleagues birthday lunch. We decided upon Bub City the second time around based on our first experience, which was fantastic. I'm updating my original review for the exceptional customer service we received. Too often Yelp reviews highlight the negative experiences. I will say the service from beginning to end of meal was exceptional. I will definitely be back and will continue to recommend Bub City to friends. read more

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On our way out to have a night out on the town. Our first spot we headed to was the famous " Bub City." I had seen it recently on T.V. featured on a cooking channel show called " Nadia Bite," so we thought let's try it. We ordered a sample platter combo where we go to try the brisket, pull pork some smoke sausage and it includes sides too. We had tots, cold slaw, and soft bread cheesy called spoonbread. We loved the brisket it was tender and juicy. The pull pork was moist and full of flavor even without bbq sauce all over it. I do like their bbq sauce both the memphis style spicy and the sweet kind. Their tots were perfectly crispy and we were so glad we tried this place because we would be back and bring friends there too. The service is friendly it's fast the atmosphere is loud but you can still have a private conversation. So that is always a good thing when going out having fun. So yes the night out on the town was a great start with having a quick bite at Bub City. We shall be back Bub City. read more