TJ Ribs — Restaurant in Baton Rouge

The waiter never told us his name. When I was asking him questions about menu items he seems unsure like he didn’t know about their food. We ordered all of our food and drinks at 4:12. Bread came out at 4:19 and fried pickles at 4:22. Bread/roll was good. Nothing out of the ordinary. The fried pickles were okay little too greasy than fried pickles usually are. The sauce is good that you dip them in. Biggest issue is when I unwrapped my napkin there was food that was on my knife and flaked off. We had to ask him for refills on our drinks several times. Food came out at 4:35. Unwrapped my silverware for second time and there was lettuce on my fork. The restaurant was very empty and quite I think there was only one or two other tables of people besides us in the restaurant. I was not impressed at all with the service or quality. The fries were not seasoned very bland & the Turkey was cold. The burnt ends were decent, defiantly not in my top of what I have had. The ribs were good, the Cajun seasoned potatoes were not seasoned just thrown in the deep fryer, very upset about this. The Mac and cheese was average. The fruit did not taste fresh the honey dews tastes old and I couldn’t eat anymore after 2 bites. I have heard great things about this place but the service, environment, utensils and food were all very much of a let down. There were tables around us that were dirty before we sat down and when we left. On the ticket our waiters name was Joseph G. My significant other ate here couple years ago and said it was to die for good, his opinion has changed and my opinion is not a good one. Employees were just standing outside the bathrooms cracking up joking and talking and my first thought is there is tables that need to be cleaned y’all should be working. The men’s bathroom was a typical men’s bathroom, but the women’s bathroom was DISGUSTING! Women’s used feminine products on the ground by the toilet. There was also a bunch of girls in there on their phones blocking the sink when I needed to wash my hands and had to ask them to move. Just was not a...

The only reason you get 2 stars is the quality of the food. You need to have a serious talk with your wait staff and inform them that your customers are the reason you have a business. I often work in the Acadian Thw area and love, love bbq. My previous visit was a warm welcome, and explanation of the menu, with a friendly atmosphere. NOT SO MUCH TODAY.... I'm in the construction business and often sweaty and possibly a bit dirty so I choose to place my order to go. Today, 07-30-2021 at approximately 1330 hrs I passed by your employee whom was outside focused on her phone near the entrance. I took it upon myself to locate the menu, look over the possible sides, and was ready to place my order and you guessed it no employee. I had the opportunity to admire all of your decoration and even met the busboy. I know that was his position, I'll explain later. Eventually a party of 3 came into the restaurant followed by said employee. She then greeted the party and introduced them to the hostess. Still standing at the counter asked: " You Want To Take My Order?", Oh, I didn't know you wanted to place an order... Probably because she didn't ask. When asking about the menu items she was very short and condescending. I finally made my choice and was informed it would be about 15 minutes, and it was. Awesome cook staff. Here comes the busboy story. While waiting A Waitr driver showed up and was suffering the same customer service that I had just experienced. Finally she spoke to the only person available, just as said employee made her way back to the register and informed her he was "Just The Bust Boy" We are working on your order. Like I said the food was really good, and on time, It was only the customer service that was horrible. And the kicker is I'm a very generous tipper, and, well you can probably guess what percentage was left today. Keep up the good work back house, and clean...

The evening in Baton Rouge moves like molasses—slow, thick, inevitable. The air hangs heavy with heat and the lingering perfume of woodsmoke and spice, the scent of something coaxed, not forced, into existence. There’s an unspoken rule here: you don’t rush the good things. And right now, I want something worth waiting for.

So I find myself at TJ Ribs, where LSU’s legends don’t just hang on the walls—they loom. Their ghosts sit in the booths, nodding in silent approval, watching over a menu that doesn’t waste time with nonsense. It’s barbecue, done right. I don’t hesitate. I order the full rack.

When it arrives, it’s everything it should be. A plate of ribs that have known patience, given over to time and smoke like some kind of slow Southern prayer. First, the dry rub, deep and knowing. Then the low heat, the long wait, the transformation. Fire at the end, but just enough—because the ribs don’t need to be drowned in sauce. They need to be honored.

Potato salad on the side, the cool, starchy pause before the next bite. Slaw, crisp and clean, like a deep breath between sips of sweet tea that drips condensation onto the table.

I take my time, because a meal like this isn’t just about eating—it’s about understanding. This is food with history, ribs with a story, and a place where tradition doesn’t just sit in a glass case—it sits next to you at the bar. Billy Cannon frozen in mid-stride, Pistol Pete caught in a flicker of impossible grace, Shaq with that unmistakable grin like a man carrying more than just a team. Some restaurants serve food. TJ Ribs serves memories.

And as I walk out into the thick Baton Rouge night, the taste still lingers—smoke, spice, the weight of something done right. Some places fade. Some things get lost. But not here. Here, history isn’t just...