Hank Daddy's Barbecue — Restaurant in Vaughan

Came here for a work event and the food was delicious but the owner was very aggressive to us for no reason. Our server Britney was great but the owner's behavior put a damper on the whole experience. We sat on the patio as one of my colleagues had a dog with her. This was around 5:30/6pm so the sun was setting and the orientation of the patio tables had the sun shining in about half the table's eyes. We asked our server if we could move the umbrellas to shade the table a bit better and she said she'd ask the owner. He came out to assist with it but was in a really irritable mood and was snipping at us the whole time. I noticed that moving the umbrella wasnt having much success so I simply asked if it was possible for the shade part of the umbrella to tilt at all. Immediately, the owner snapped at me and said 'Ma'am this isn't the ritz, this is a bbq joint, look around you'. I was very taken aback by his response as I didn't think my question was in any way offensive. This increased the tension at our table as my colleagues were also upset by his comments. We weren't being rude to him or the server, nor were we disrupting anyone else on the patio with our request (we were the only table there at the time). I have worked in food service and understand that sometimes things get hectic, however there is no need to be condescending and disrespectful to customers who are coming to spend money in your establishment (our bill was around $400). We did not ask for linen napkins and evian water or anything unreasonable to expect from a bbq joint. If he had said "unfortunately the umbrellas can't be moved any further, you'll just have to wait til the sun sets more" that would have been totally understandable and fine.

He ruined the experience despite the sensational food, as his brusque response to us visibly rattled our server who ended up messing up almost everyone's orders (we all got the wrong sides with our meals). She was great otherwise and I feel bad for her that she had to compensate for the bad vibes created by her boss. The only reason we stayed was because we already had a reservation and it would have been difficult at that time of day on a Friday to accommodate 8 people.

The food here is so good but the owner is really something else. Maybe it was just an off day but I would definitely not recommend this spot for any other work events going forward. Giving 2 stars for the food and for Britney the server because they salvaged the evening but I will...

Where to start about Hanks. I'm truly surprised anyone has any negative reviews for this place. It's rare to find a restaurant that has quality food and service and the owner (Frank) is probably one of the best people I'm grateful to know. We live in Kitchener and even though there are BBQ restaurants here, we will always make the drive to Hanks instead because they cannot be matched!

The food is amazing, yes. The brisket tender and delicious, the ribs and wings are to die for and those jalapeño sausages are addictive! Not to mention their authentic Mac and cheese that is actually stringy and cheesy and melty! The cornbread is amazing and those pickles will be something you want to buy extra of so you can take it home. The food was so good here that after trying it once, my husband and I hired Hanks to cater our wedding. That was 2 years ago and we STILL get compliments on the food and service. Food wise you won't find better BBQ!

But what makes Hanks stand out is the service. If you're a reasonable person, who understands the pressure and stress of running a restaurant, you won't begrudge a small business when they take more than 30 seconds to respond to your needs. This place can get really busy and you need to bring your patience and understanding with you when you go because the staff deserves it. They work hard and are always pleasant and go above and beyond to help. Any negative review about slow service is from someone who is just unhappy in their lives and entitled.

The best thing about the staff here is Frank, the owner, coming out of the kitchen and talking to his patrons. This is so rare and so endearing - he visits table to table asking how your meal was and sharing a moment with you. Its so special and sweet and honestly when I first went here and saw him do this, it solidified in me a belief that this is a business that should be supported at all times.

So grateful for a special place to sit and eat and we will forever be a Hanks fan! Thank you for making our anniversary special today and we look forward to...

Recently dined here for a work event with a group of 8, along with a dog, so we sat on the patio. Around 5:30–6 pm, the sun was directly in our eyes. Our server, Brittany, kindly suggested we combine tables since there wasn’t one large enough for us, and when I asked if we could move the umbrellas to block the sun, she said yes. While Brittany went inside, we shifted the umbrellas from the side of the patio to better shade our table. At this point, we were the only party on the patio.

Suddenly, the owner stormed out and started yelling at us with, “What are you guys doing?” claiming it was a hazard. The umbrellas were light and easy to move, and more importantly, we had already cleared this with our server. Brittany herself was taken aback when she returned and saw how the situation had been handled. She later asked the owner to move the umbrellas himself, and his response to one of my coworkers was, “This is not the Ritz, it’s a BBQ joint.”

This completely ruined the atmosphere for our group and put unnecessary stress on our server, who otherwise provided excellent service. To make matters worse, all of our food orders came out incorrect, with every side dish mixed up.

I have worked in customer service before, and I can say without hesitation that this was one of the worst displays of hospitality I’ve ever experienced. If dogs are not welcome here, simply state that upfront — we would have gladly chosen a different venue. If basic courtesy and respect for paying customers cannot be offered, this is not the place for work events or group gatherings.

Bottom line: Brittany did her best, but the owner’s unprofessional behavior, lack of customer service, and outright rudeness make this a restaurant I would not recommend. There are plenty of “BBQ joints” that know how to treat...