Wilke's 14 Bones BBQ — Restaurant in Florida

This place is an enigma, but not in a good way. I don't know what to make of the place. Actually, I do, and I'll tell you.

On my first two occasions, I've had some of the best Kansas City spare ribs I've ever had. THAT says a lot, as I am first and foremost a dedicated smoker myself. I have been doing real-deal briskets, spare ribs, shoulders, baby backs, chicken, fish, etc. Took many years, but my rubs and techniques are down pat. Unfortunately, that makes me a finicky BBQ eater. But, I enjoy all types of well-prepared BBQ, especially Eastern NC and Texas. However, dry-rub KC spares are some of my favorite, and I've had and made my share.

The first two times, they were just AWESOME. The first visit, they were just ABSOLUTELY PERFECT, or very close to it. I was frankly blown away. I just moved up here 2 years ago and could not believe at how good they were. I'm talking REALLY good, perfectly smoked, not fall off the bone (IE boiled, steamed, wrapped & over cooked, you know, if you know BBQ) but incredibly tender, perfect smoke ring, well-spiced, utterly delicious KC ribs. The 2nd time, I got some that were obviously not ready, and the server readily brought me a proper set. You can tell in a second just looking at them whether they are worth diving into or not. The waiter read my face and asked, so I told him.

The next three times, they were the standard (ball-park) 2 hour offset-heat open-pit style ribs at best. No, they don't have an open pit; they just threw them on earlier and tossed them on my plate hoping I wouldn't notice or care. I did. They were very chewy, a little smoky, not tender, just not close to ready. -Think chain type pit BBQ at lunch. I spoke to the managers (two different) on two occasions about my experience after the fact, as I should not have to continually ask for "cooked" BBQ ribs, and both times I heard a diatribe about all of the efforts that they put into their ribs...In theory...

OK, I chalked it up to, whatever, and tried to recapture that first experience the fifth time. Same damn thing. Under-cooked, chewy, open-pit style ribs.

Plus they served overcooked, dried out, day old brisket to my daughter. She knows better and said so. She was right. My boy had a great burger, but that is not what one should come here for. She ordered the ribs the next two times after trying my first two examples and was quickly disappointed. The kids versions are definitely those same under-cooked versions. She doesn't want to go here anymore. She says, "But Dad, your ribs are way better. Why are we paying money for this?" From the mouth of babes. OK, she is ten, but well beyond the years in food.

BUT, I know what their deal is. They don't care about the big picture, sad to say, at least in how they run a BBQ business.

In the BBQ world, you either do it right, or you plug along, taking shortcuts to appease the masses, hoping that you will stay in business in a small community with no other options. This is the truth, PERIOD.

If you want to do it right , you do it right, with all BBQ selections, and when you run out, then it is just too bad for the latecomers. You post up what you have run out of, move on, and when you run out, you run out. You cannot just throw ribs on the grill at 5 'o clock and expect them to be acceptable at 8.

OK, they are not an enigma. They just choose not to do BBQ the way, the way the rest of the legitimate BBQ joints in the world does it. I wish they weren't. They could truly put themselves on...

Due primarily to the pandemic, but more due to the fact that this restaurant takes no precautions to ensure tables are cleaned after customers are through with their meals, we usually order via telephone or online. We've had problems with the online ordering system; so tonight we ordered via telephone. We wanted a full rack of baby back ribs and two sweet potatoes. I placed the order at 6:15 and had to wait 5 minutes on hold. Whoever answered the phone did not identify the name of the restaurant - stating only "can you hold?" Without waiting for my reply, I was placed on home. This should have been a clue as to how the rest of the order would go. When the order taker (for lack of a better term) returned to the phone, she asked me what I wanted and I told her the above. She asked me to wait and put me on hold again. Apparently, 14 Bones, at 6:15 PM, was out of baby back ribs.Seems like a supply management problem - blame it on Covid. I asked her what ribs they did have and she replied (honestly) "St Lucie" ribs. I questioned whether or not St. Lucie actually had a brand of ribs named after them and said, 'Don't you mean 'St. Louis ribs?' She stammered, clearly not knowing the answer to this question and then said "I guess." I asked if she had a full rack of St. Louis ribs and she concurred. I placed my order for a full rack of St. Louis ribs and two sweet potatoes. By this time, it was 6:25 PM. I told her my wife would be by to pick up our order at 7:15 PM. She asked me to wait again and put me on hold. A few minutes later she returned to the phone, and asked me to call back in 25 minutes and place the order again. I asked her why - knowing full well that the answer had to be a good one. She said they were really busy and couldn't take an order that far in advance - I mean, 45 minutes! Wow! I then asked her if she really wanted my business because I wasn't going to call back and run the risk of them running out of St. Lucie (Louis) ribs. She seemed to be totally confused and asked me to wait - yet again. She put me on hold. Upon her return to the phone, she said she could take the order. I asked if she wanted my credit card number so I could pay for it and my wife would have to only pick up the order. (We order at least once a month from 14 Bones and I've always paid via telephone. ) Again, (I kidd you not) she asked me to wait and put me on hold. She said a manager would have to take the credit card number and, (wait for it) they's all very busy and cannot stop what they're doing. I couldn't believe this, nor do I still. This is ridiculous - even for Zero Beach. Before I hung up I asked her if she had the complete order, would she repeat it for me and would it be ready at 7:15 for pickup. She repeated the order and said it would be ready at the designated time...but the next time (if there is a next time) I'll order via online. What...

I'm writing this review as a warning to others: avoid Wilke's 14 Bones BBQ at all costs. My cousin and I visited this establishment last night (9/26/24), and our experience was a disaster from start to finish.

My cousin and I walked in excited to celebrate my birthday, but the cold reception we received immediately set a negative tone. We decided to opt for takeout instead.

I stood at the bar for almost 10 minutes after ordering our food waiting for a bartender. Server after server walked past me, ignoring my presence, until I finally asked the same snotty server for the bartender. Her response? "Any one of the servers can bartend." As if I should have known this. It's not exactly a high standard of service when customers are expected to intuitively know the inner workings of the restaurant.

We ordered two beers, and my cousin requested a glass, as many ladies do. However, the server seemed put off by this request and simply placed the bottle on the table with a glass beside it, without pouring the beer.

My draft beer arrived overflowing with foam, and to add insult to injury, there were no napkins provided. I was left to deal with the mess while trying to enjoy my drink.

As a manager in the service industry myself, I was shocked by the lack of attention to detail and the blatant disregard for customer satisfaction. The sense of entitlement displayed by the server was palpable, and it's clear that she did not value our business.

Our experience at Wilke's 14 Bones BBQ was a complete disaster. The unpoured beer, snippy attitude, and general incompetence of the staff have ensured that we will never return to this establishment. If you value good service and a pleasant dining experience, stay far, far away from Wilke's...