Shane's Rib Shack — Restaurant in Athens-Clarke County Unified Government

This location really let me down. I waited to post a review because the first time I figured an employee was a having a bad day, the second time I was having a bad day, but by the fifth time without a remarkable experience just has me down. I had made a formal complaint at the time and have waited months, no response. It really makes you feel like there is no accountability or real customer service within the chain. I'll review based on this last experience. My partner and I had come in about 2 and a half hours before they closed for a quick bite. We both had long days and figured bbq would be an easy meal. We both liked Shane's from other locations and figured we'd try this one again. We had no idea that was a poor decision. We ordered and there was one person ahead of us. I'm sure they had to go orders they were working on as well, regardless, when we saw the first, second and third family behind us get their food before us and a few to go orders go though, we had to say something. It had been an hour. No real explain or apology, just a passive, I'll check and it'll be out soon. We presented the receipt as they could find the order. When we did get our food it was burnt okra, tough (almost microwaved) textured meat, room temp stew, etc etc. Anyway, after not hearing about it, I figured it was finally time to leave my review. I was hoping for a refund that night as it took over an hour to prepare two plates. But no. Then I hoped it would have been rectified in private via email and phone call, again no. Just disappointed. We'll just have to make it a treat when we are...

DO NOT order from this place. We placed an online order for 3 people, which included 2 large peach cobblers, at a cost of $9.98+tax. The peach cobblers were NOT in the pickup order when we got home. So I called and spoke with someone named Desirae. She gave me some lame excuse about why it may not have been included, (something about they had to make some more and forgot to include it), and said we could drive back there and pick it up. I said no and that we just wanted a refund back to our card. She said they could not give us a refund back to our card...we could either come back and pick up the peach cobbler or we could pick up cash for it....but either way we had to come there or nothing at all. So I told her how about they should send someone out to our house since we had already driven there to pick up our order and since the mistake was on them, we should not be inconvenienced by driving all the way there again. She told me that was not possible and she didn't know what to tell me other than to come back and either pick up our money or pickup cash. She was SO rude! She acted as if it was OUR problem even though they messed it up. And as much as told me, 'I don't know what to tell you.' Why couldn't they just refund it back to our card?

This was our FIRST and LAST time eating there. They picked the wrong one for this as I have no intention of letting this go until this...

Let me start with the facts. Clean, nice decor, good food presentation, well lit. As an establishment, first impression was it was operating as it should. Now to the details and comparison to other BBQ.

Food came out to proper temp and prepared well. We both got the sampler to judge the place by their "all-in" option. Just over 32.00 with drinks (receipt shown). First, the chicken tenders are cheaper chicken...VERY salty due to either poor prep or salt water injection to add frozen weight from the supplier. So salty that with sauces we couldn't eat it. Pulled pork was unremarkable...it was ....ok. The ribs were actually good, good char, fairly tender and moist. For sides I got stew and okra...both were not bad. My gf got sweet potato fries and okra...she loved the fries. For sauces they have a few options. I found the sauces ok but no really spicy sweet option without making your own. The sizzlin was best, but it was a stronger vinegar bbq sauce.

I did then add the peach cobbler...not impressed and had a canned peach/machine smell common of processed peaches that are cheap.

In summary, sweet potato fries, fried okra and ribs were potential reasons to return given Athens limited BBQ offerings. In terms of ribs, best I have found in Athens, equal with Texas avg BBQ joint good. I'd avoid the sampler and the peach cobbler.

(Former restaurant owner here and well...