Interstate Bar-B-Q & Rstrnt

05/06/09

Horrible all around

by mikeladams at Citysearch

I have never left no tip in my life until I went to Interstate. Service was ZERO stars. Food came out cold, and it was mediocre BBQ anyhow. Waste of time and money.

• Pros: none
• Cons: everything

02/07/09

Worst BBQ Place I ever visited!

by ricksamazon at Citysearch

Jim Neeleys is the WORST BBQ

We saw Jim Neeleys on the Travel channel and stopped in while in Memphis last week. Needless to say, I wish we hadn't. It was nothing like shown on TV!! When we first arrived, no one came to seat us, we just stood there watching a woman count money at the register. She never even looked up. Finally someone came to seat us and she was really friendly. After taking our drink order and delivering our drinks, she sat down in a boothe behind us to let us choose our food. Slumped in the boothe is a better choice of words. We ordered the Sampler which sounded good and she assured us it was enough for two people. When the food arrived I was appalled!! The tiny bowls of slaw, beans were certainly NOT enough for two people! We were given two slices of very dry, loaf bread on a saucer. It tasted like it had been sitting out on a counter for a while. I was dissappointed with the bbq also. I was expecting something really great according to the reviews on TV. The atmosphere was good. Lots of old pictures on the wall. But we didn't go for the look of the place, we went to have award winning food, which we did not get. We started to go to the other Neeleys place shown on TV, I wish we had.....maybe it would have been better. I don't think it could have been worse.

• Pros: NOTHING
• Cons: EVERYTHING

11/11/08

Forget what you've seen on tv....you won't find it on Jefferson Street!

by 2SweetinTexas at Citysearch

After seeing numerous television reviews and the popular Food Network television show we were so looking forward to the opportunity to "Eat at Neely's". Hosted dinner -30 people at Jefferson Street location while at a church convention. The experience did not at all match the warm and friendly media image. At a high level, the experience was nothing short of disappointing.

We visited on a Thursday afternoon at about 3:00 p.m. We were a scheduled and expected group (booked with corporate office.) Because of group size, it was their preference for us to eat from their ?groups? menu - flat rate of $18 includes a choice of meat, choice of two sides, bread, sauce, unlimited drink refills, and dessert (sock it to me cake).-includes the tax and gratuity.

Upon arrival no one greeted the party or appeared to be expecting us - no server identified. With a ratio of 1:30, the server was expected to get and fill drink orders, get and deliver the meal and to cut and serve the dessert.

Staff failed to prepare for our arrival by having adequate silverware available. I, the paying customer, personally passed out silverware, but ?bused? tables and refilled guest beverages.

Food was disappointing. The plates are institutional like?.like a prison or a high school and our food was slopped on to the plates accordingly. The rolls are nothing special and were cool, out of the package with hunks of butter smeared on top?might have been better warmed. Portions very small and cold.

A ?no frills? atmosphere - padded booths and chairs, dark wood paneling, and historical memorabilia decorating the walls with overhead speakers belting out the blues.

Sock it to me cake was good. Pecan pie not a fav (out of the box cut and serve?I watched them do it.)

The management and the staff are very task oriented - focused on getting a plate out to you?but not on making your experience memorable and special.

Trust me when I say?it?s not a good choice.