Ribs Brothers — Restaurant in Sofia City

Upon entering Rib Brothers, I was initially impressed by the charming decor. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with comfortable seating and generously sized tables. The attention to detail in the interior design certainly sets a pleasant scene for a promising meal.

Our experience started on a positive note when the waiter swiftly brought our drinks. However, this fleeting moment of efficiency was the high point of our visit. Things rapidly went downhill from there.

When it was time to order, the waiter seemed to have lost all interest in his profession. His demeanour was nothing short of miserable, and his apparent disdain for serving people was palpable. Honestly, if you don't enjoy interacting with customers, perhaps a job in hospitality isn't for you. His attitude cast a shadow over the dining experience, making it quite awkward.

As for the food, the ribs arrived looking visually appealing, which briefly rekindled our hope. Alas, this hope was swiftly dashed upon the first bite. Despite their promising appearance, the ribs were utterly devoid of the smoky barbecue flavour one expects from an establishment named Rib Brothers. It was a complete letdown. A rib joint that can't get its signature dish right is like a pub with no beer—utterly pointless.

In summary, while Rib Brothers excels in creating a cosy and attractive environment, it fails spectacularly where it counts: the food and service. The ribs need significant improvement, and the waiter could do with an attitude adjustment. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I won't be returning. Perhaps I'll give Rib Sisters a try instead; they might know how to smoke a rib and...

We visited for late lunch on a Saturday afternoon in mid-April 2023. It was a short taxi ride from the train station by our hotel, B1 Hotel Sofia (& we walked back to the hotel). It was just off the main pedestrian shopping/cafe area downtown called Bul Vitosha.

The place was packed when we arrived around 1500. We got one of the last 2 tables. There was only 1 server, but he was good & got the job done. Expect to wait a bit when this crowded, obviously. Dress was casual.

We paid 63.60Lev (about $36) for soda water, Coke Zero, & essentially 3 meals (I had pulled pork 3.5/5 and a salad 5/5; my husband ordered Asian ribs 3/5). He had seen a photo of these ribs on their reviews and he asked the server what they were. The one in the picture had sesame seeds; his didn’t, but the table beside ours did. 🤷🏼‍♀️ My salad was delicious with baby greens, cheddar strips/chunks, bits of green apple & dried cranberries, and honey mustard dressing (just the right amount… not overloaded). Included with my pulled pork was qatiq - a fermented milk product from the Turkic countries. It is considered a more solid form of yogurt than ayran. It tasted sort of like a veggie dip. I only had a bite, but it was interesting/good.

We’d recommend if the price fits within...

Very disappointed. We decided for this place among many others based on reviews and the fact that we love American comfort food (we tried it across many countries). This was the worst by far! We ordered "brothers board" and it arrived quickly, which seemed suspicious at the moment. Food tasted very bad, like it was just heated in the oven and prepared hours or even days earlier. Every piece on the board was bad, but I especially have to point on ribs (as the place was named after them) that were cold, untasty and with lowest amount of meat ever. Pork belly (I think that menu says 'pork breast' which is a bad translation) was awful, pulled pork seemed cooked (not slowly roasted) and sweet, corn on the cob was cold... Garlic/herbs bread was a scandal - you can see on the photo how much of butter, garlic and herbs was put on it. Only the sausage and potatoes were acceptable. Also, the place didn't have a lemonade from its menu, and I see that people also complained about it five months ago. And how complicated is to buy a bag of lemons and squeeze them?! I'm very disappointed that I spent a day in Sofia eating at this place and not somewhere else. This is a honest review and I suggest you to avoid this place and go...