Zack's BBQ — Restaurant in Four Corners States

This is my opinion only. Everyone’s idea of BBQ differs and I had a different expectation as well of Zack’s BBQ. I went in to place a to-go order, so I can’t comment on the table service. Before I get into the food, the facilities are a little dated and attempts to keep clean are obvious. Or at least from what I could see from the front entrance where I placed my order. Parking can be a little precarious since it is just an unpaved lot and there is a lot of vehicle traffic in and out.

I wanted to try the various meats and some chicken tenders for the kids and family back at home. Was informed they had no Chicken, and they were not letting the Ham go to outside orders – only dine-in. So my options were Pork or Beef only…and the chicken tenders. I’m presuming they were frozen because those were available. However, I must point out the woman who was taking the order did manage to arrange to have some Ham slices for a deli sandwich made available. So kudos for that and why the 3 stars + some of the food (as described below).

Order was packed nicely and securely for the ride home. Starting with the Chicken Tenders – they were actually good. However, the fries in every order were not cooked through and still hard – inedible. The Ham deli sandwich was good according to my son.

Now, for the BBQ Pork Ribs – like I’ve stated earlier, BBQ taste is subjective. I didn’t like it. I know it is a hit around here but we didn’t like the Pork Ribs. For starters, there is absolutely no BBQ flavor to the meat at all. Very, VERY, heavily smoked flavor for sure. But the meat tasted like it was reheated from the day before in that the outer layer was as tough as beef jerky. The inside tender meat, what little there was, really good. They did provide a side of BBQ sauce and hoped that would bring out the BBQ flavor I was craving. But sadly, nope. I don’t know what that was, but it wasn’t BBQ. Tasted like runny spicy-ish ketchup. It made the meat experience even worse. Bleh. Ended up giving up halfway my first rib. I was done. I didn’t want any more of that taste in my mouth. Potatoes salad was great though…so there’s that. The kids said the Mac & Cheese was good as well.

I was expecting more of a southern style BBQ: Memphis or Sweet Caroline. I don’t know what Zack’s is. I don’t know if I’d go back and order the same thing again…maybe though. I will go back and try some other menu items not similar. My only bad experience was the BBQ Pork Ribs and no availability for Chicken or Ham (for take-out) during this visit. The next day I picked up some ribs from Don’s market (local grocery store), where the meat just fell of the bone…so good – and had bbq flavor in each tender bite. And CitiMarket had BBQ Chicken. I just wasn’t expecting to find better BBQ in locations other than Zack’s. ...

I have been coming here 2-3x a month for two years. Zack’s is contradictory and difficult to find a consistently good experience. When the food is good, the service is slow. When the service is good, the food is mediocre. This morning’s experience of being completely ignored by the waitress we almost always seem to get when we go for the reliably good breakfast offering prompted me to write this review, as my husband and I continually get this particular woman for our server and have had extremely poor service from her every single time. She looked straight at us and went instead to take the orders of the just seated couple who were obviously her friends, after we had been sitting waiting for her to show up for at least fifteen minutes already. Then, when she left to put in their order, she didn’t come back to take ours, and I had to go ask the hostess to find her. Her apology for her rudeness and neglect was rote and then she stared at us as if we were inconveniencing her by needing her to take our order.

If the owners read this I would recommend getting rid of this particular woman (not the woman with glasses, the other usual morning server) and promoting the friendly, hardworking Hispanic woman they currently have bussing tables, who has been more personable, attentive, and timely than anyone we’ve had serve us since coming there.

And it doesn’t seem to matter how busy or slow in house is, breakfast is always a 45-60 minute affair, mostly because there is at least a 15-20 minute wait between being seated, getting coffee, and actually having the order taken.

The breakfast is good, the lunch and dinner have been hit or miss. The service at dinner is quicker and the food arrives faster. My husband’s chicken fried steak and brisket sandwiches have been good, while my ribs were undercooked (just barely done, not falling off the bone as any ribs should be) and my fried chicken, while fried perfectly, was absolutely tasteless.

All in all I do like Zacks, and will continue to go. However if you’re going for breakfast get it as take out, save yourself the time and annoyance of poor,...

Got to restaurant at about 5 min. To 6. They were very busy. Got a table right away. The owner was cleaning a table right next to us. Said hello and the waitress will be with you as soon as she can. 10 min later a couple came and sat 2 tables down from us. The owner came to our table about 5 min later and took our drink order because we had yet to see the waitress. He assured us the waitress would be with us shortly. Meanwhile the couple on the other table got their drinks. And had their order taken. The owner finally took our order at about 6:20. We then met our waitress a couple min later when she can to ask "what do you what". While she was at our table the other couples food was delivered. We finally got food at 6:40. French dip on a stale roll. Chopped beef ordered without pickles but came with pickles and Luke warm rubber french fries were delivered by the owner. He saw the pickles on the sandwich and returned it to the kitchen to get the order fixed. They removed the pickles. If you don't like something you will understand when I tell you that the only thing I could taste of the sandwich was pickle. The owner was very apologetic, offered to get more fries " they will only take a minute." And did not charge us for the meal. Zacks has always had bad service. But usually the food is good. Really stinks to wait for 45 minute for a inedible meal. I won't...