Bubba's 33 — Restaurant in Gastonia

The service is top notch! At least it was in our experience. Our waitress (I believe her name was Harmony... the receipt had a different name so now I'm second guessing) was very nice and always checking on us without being overbearing. She asked if we had ever been there before and then told us they were known for their big burgers and welcomed any questions. She kept our drinks filled and provided great service from start to finish. The manager even stopped by to give us a card for a free appetizer since she heard it was our first visit. She asked how our service was and we told her how great everything had been, and that our waitress deserves a raise. Truly, good service is hard to find anymore so it means that much more when you come across some and this place seems to value that. Probably why it is so popular and always busy.

We ordered the poblano spinach dip while we looked over the menu. The spinach dip was good and they give you a lot, but it was rather thin and runny. It was also supposed to come with salsa but didn't. Which was fine since we ran out of chips before making it halfway through the dip. Our waitress was nice enough to bring us more, though. Overall, the appetizer was fine but not something I would order again given the other options the menu has to offer.

I ordered the Guacamole Bacon burger and the waitress was not kidding about how large they are! You don't realize just how big it will be until you see it for yourself. I would've been happy with half the size, honestly. I'm not one to usually like big burgers but the menu description of patties made with a blend of bacon and beef caught my eye. I believe these options are made with two patties so I may ask for one on the side next time. I couldn't open my mouth big enough to take a full bite lol. The flavors were delicious and everything seemed to be made fresh in house, which always takes it up a notch. I chose the fire fries for my side and loved how crispy they were. The spicy seasoning they use definitely has a kick but paired with some house-made ranch, it balances perfectly. Unfortunately, I had to box most of them to go since I couldn't even finish my burger.

My husband decided on the Chicken Parmesan sandwich and it was also pretty large. He's usually able to manage a big sandwich but even he had to tap out before it was all said and done. I tried a bite and enjoyed it as well. The pickles seem like they would be out of place when you first read the description but they work so well with the sauce and chicken! The sauce had great flavor and everything seemed fresh. He had the cheese fries that also looked great but I couldn't find room to try them.

All in all, it was a great meal. The place was packed but there seemed to be plenty of staff to manage it. There's a lot of seats and parking but nearly every table and parking space was in use, and there was still a line waiting outside. This was somewhat of an odd hour too so I was surprised but after our meal and service, I can see why everyone chooses to eat here. Also, the prices are pretty reasonable considering the amount of food you get. It's almost cheaper than fast food at this point and much better use of the money, in my opinion.

The only drawback I can really offer is how loud it is. Between the crowds of people and blaring music, this isn't the place to go when you want a quiet dining experience. And it's probably not the place to go if you're looking for something healthy. I'm sure they offer healthier options but let's face it, if you're wanting something like that, you're probably better off choosing a different restaurant. This place is serving up good ol' American gluttony on plates so it's definitely not somewhere to go regularly. Unless you're planning to make good choices, split plates, or take most of it home for another day. But if you're looking at these pictures and reviews, you probably already know what to expect so have at it, my friend! And ask for Harmony's section when...

Being new to the Gastonia area, my husband and I decided to have a date night with dinner and a movie on Saturday, 4/26. We chose Bubba’s. Even though it was busy, we were seated within about 10–15 minutes. Our waitress, Alex, was excellent—very polite, made great suggestions since it was our first visit, and stayed attentive despite the crowd. I never had to flag anyone down for anything. A manager also came by to check on us, making sure everything was correct. It was such a great experience that I told my sister about it, and we decided to come back today, Monday, 4/28, for my nephew’s birthday dinner.

Unfortunately, tonight’s experience was the complete opposite.

Here’s a brief timeline of our evening: • 6:41 PM: Seated • 6:47 PM: Made eye contact with our waitress while she was helping a neighboring table—but she did not acknowledge us. • 6:52 PM: She finally came to the table. • 7:04-7:05 PM: Drinks arrived. • 7:05-7:09 PM: We placed our order. • 7:25 PM: Had to ask for silverware (my husband and I were sharing one set). • 7:38 PM: Food arrived—missing a medium pizza and a kid’s pizza. • 7:43 PM: Missing pizzas finally arrived. • 8:08 PM: Waitress checked on our table. • 8:24 PM: Bill was brought. • 8:33 PM: Still waiting to pay. • 8:37 PM: Still waiting. • 8:40 PM: My party walked to the front to pay.

From the beginning, it was clear our waitress wasn’t interested in serving us. Her attitude and demeanor made it obvious, and she barely checked on our table. Meanwhile, when we were nearing our time to leave I observed that she had another party nearby with just as many guests—if not more—and she was very attentive to them. Maybe she was having a bad day or going through personal issues; I’m not sure. Nonetheless, I believe all customers should be treated the same, whether it’s a party of two, five, or ten.

Additionally, the manager (wearing an orange shirt and a backwards baseball cap, Tyler) walked past our area several times but never once checked on us, even though he was consistently checking on other tables around us. It gave the impression that only regulars or familiar customers were prioritized.

When it was time to pay, after nearly 20 minutes of waiting, we saw our waitress leaning against a wall in the kitchen. I had to ask another staff member to get her. Even then, she didn’t come out immediately, and someone else ended up taking my payment to her. She eventually returned with my change, which was incorrect, and that led to even more waiting.

Tonight’s experience was truly disappointing, especially compared to Saturday night when the restaurant was much busier and the service was outstanding. Consistency matters, and tonight showed that management and staff need to work on treating all guests equally, no matter the size of the party or whether they are regulars.

Based off my experience with Alex, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️and my food I’d go back. But outside of that it’s definitely a NO for me, not...

I mostly get burgers at Bubba's. I do love their creative potato chip topper on the salads. At least at this location the burgers are inconsistent. Some days they're out of this world delicious and perfectly juicy. Some days they're over salted and not even worth finishing or saving for later.

I love their atmosphere - vet friendly and supportive, patriotic, 80s music on the TVs. Just a commitment to support wholesome values.

The waitstaff here is similar to the burgers. I've had some superior waiters but mostly had ones who ghost you once the final item is ordered. Perhaps that's a training issue. Perhaps that's not assigning tables in sections. I've also noticed that - of any restaurant I go to on a regular basis - I wait the longest here to be greeted and get a beverage. I'm not sure if that's because of how tables are assigned or the hosts not communicating to waitstaff or something entirely different but front of the house management should address that immediately. I've definitely waited 5+ minutes on average just to be greeted and a few times 10+ minutes to get drinks.

Contrary to that, food usually comes out quickly. And this is going to sound odd - sometimes too quickly. Could be a training issue, could be a communication issue. Could be a POS issue. When I order an appetizer it's pretty common to get my entree a very short time after my appetizer. Worse things can happen.

When I tell you they have the best garlic knots you need to believe me. They're amazing. I haven't tried the pizzas but I really want to since I tried the garlic knots.

Also, even when they're packed I rarely wait long for a table. So they do a great job turning tables.

Overall, while I have some complaints, this is a great restaurant that I frequent and intend to continue to do so. I especially love their veteran support. I...