Goode Company BBQ — Restaurant in Houston

This comment is about poor service and changes in what used to be a genuine Houston must visit and family service place.

I have grown up going to this location for 40 years. We still buy our pecan pies here for Thanksgiving. I had great affection for this place.

I have never had a bad experience until today... The three of us were the only ones in line to order. I ordered two brisket sandwiches and a sausage plate.

The man behind the counter was making several sandwiches for a pick up order, so he said he had to finish them before he could prepare our food. There were two other men standing next to him doing nothing. Neither of the men offered to help him or us.

It was very poor customer service as we stood there watching him making sandwiches. As I was with a disabled person who couldn't stand long we moved down the line to the sides area so he could see his options.

I asked what sides they had. The tall man behind the counter there was so rude. He mumbled softly and quickly the options. We couldn't hear him, so I asked him to repeat them. It was impossible to hear him. He then told us we had to go back to order our sandwiches (which we had already done) before we could order sides. Remember, we were the only customers in line in about a 4 foot space. At this point we had to seat our disabled friend who could no longer stand.

Next, we were handed 2 sandwiches without any questions about what we wanted.

We proceeded to pay.

When we looked at the sandwiches we realized we hadn't been asked about the bread we wanted.

I decided I would pay so I could get the jalapeño bread that I aways get. I went back to the counter with my sandwich to buy the bread I wanted. The taller man who had been so rude to my guest sighed and said 'unbelievable'. I was not charged for the jalapeño bread.

Later, I went back to order a chopped beef sandwich to go(for another friend). This time I stood and watched as he made my sandwich and he did ask me what kind of bread I wanted. Then, I saw him chop the beef. He put a piece of paper and bread on a scale. He added the chopped meat. Some chopped meat had to be left on the counter because there were about 2 tablespoons too much for the correct weight of the meat . This was not done in the past. No wonder the sandwich had much less meat than it used to have.

I don't know what has happened to this place. My nostalgia was not enough to make up for the rudeness.

I didn't make a fuss because I went there to enjoy the food and experience. After we left someone in my group said, 'they were so unfriendly in there like they did not want us there'.

I was so sorry for this place to no longer have the Texas friendly service it had always had. Maybe the Goode Family has transferred management to someone else. It was really unpleasant and disappointing.

My friend said other BBQ places like Killen's were better now than Goode Company. Well...this native Houstonian thinks I will, reluctantly, try another place.

Please talk with and train your staff about how to treat your customers. It seems like newer people working there and not the seasoned Goode Company crew you always had. Also, do you really need to skimp on the meat? Maybe newer staff don't have the know how of your seasoned crew.

It looks like the indoor area has less seating than it used to.

On a positive note...the man who cleared our table was extremely cordial. I asked for a leftover box for some sausage and he brought it right over with a smile. He later brought me a bag for my box without me even asking for it.. The woman cleaning a door ran to the front door to hold it open for my disabled friend. We thanked them profusely.

They could teach the 'behind the...

Being born and raised in Texas arguably (depending on what state or region that is fanatic about their style of bbq, preparation style, seasonings, sauce etc.) gives me extra perspective and insight on good bbq, no pun intended.

Goode Company BBQ is a rustic dining experience established in 1977 on Kirby Drive just past Rice Village that harkens back to small town establishment beginnings with the way it’s decorated - all natural mahogany/cedar rustic wood color scheme, signage, and bric a brac. Boasting three locations across the Houston area, this is the original where it all started.

Almost all at once the CO BBQ makes you feel strangely at home as if in an alternate reality with the love & care your grandma and grandpa would put into the dishes they prepared for you at get-togethers, holidays, and other family functions.

Then there’s the BBQ: it takes a seasoned and nuanced hand to create meats that aren’t too smoky, salty, or greasy. It’s the perfect amount of all that would pass the test of almost any critic.

Down-home smoked BBQ that you can tell took days from preparing the cuts to the moment it graces your plate such as:

Beef brisket Pork ribs (Lean) Half chicken Czech sausage Jalapeño pork sausage Turkey breast Ham Two-meat combo Three-meat combo

For those that want more than a bbq plate:

BBQ SANDWICH

Your choice of meat served on our homemade bun or jalapeño cheese bread

Beef brisket (sliced or chopped) Turkey breast Czech sausage Jalapeño pork sausage Ham BBQ PO-BOY

Served on fresh French bread

Beef brisket (sliced or chopped) Turkey breast Czech sausage Jalapeño pork sausage Ham Combo: choice of two meats from above

Plenty of Texas sized side options that include: COLE SLAW

JALAPEÑO PINTO BEANS

JAMBALAYA TEXANA

POTATO SALAD

AUSTIN BAKED BEANS

MACARONI & CHEESE

STUFFED BARBEQUE POTATO

Chopped beef, sausage, ham, or turkey

BAKED POTATO

Loaded

MESQUITE SMOKE YOUR MEAT Drop off thawed meats (10lb minimum) at least 24 hours in advance and we'll take care of the rest.

CUSTOM COOKING

CUSTOM SMOKING, DEBONING, & SLICING

And not to leave out the sweet toothed individuals that left room for desserts:

BRAZOS BOTTOM PECAN PIE

CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE

HANDMADE PRALINES

Fountain drinks such as: Coke Soft Drink Coke Sprite Dr. Pepper Diet Coke Coke Zero Fruit Punch

Sweet Tea & Unsweet Tea

Alcoholic beverages: Domestic Beer

No frills, everything done right for a price that isn’t as bad as you’d think. Anyone whom goes to a BBQ joint knows that you have to pay for quality and that’s measures in different ways, but I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed with your food and it will be money well spent.

Remember to take chances out there, especially when you’re lucky enough to live in a city as large as Houston. You can find great places by trying new things and listening to people’s recommendations.

This also fosters a community atmosphere where the cream rises to the top, and hard work, consistency, and quality food is rewarded with revenue streams.

See you...

I don’t mean to be a hater, but I thought that the BBQ I got from this location was among the worst BBQ I’ve gotten in Houston. Maybe I went on an unlucky day or time, but I went on a Wednesday dinner time and it was just not great.

I ordered the two meat combo and chose the brisket and pork ribs. The lean cuts of brisket were very dry and chewy. However, the fatty brisket was pretty decent. I probably should have just asked for all fatty brisket, but I didn’t know if that was something I could do. The pork ribs were either very small in size or were larger but very dry and almost leathery in texture. The servers asked if I wanted their bbq sauce on top or on the side, and thank god I got it on the side, because it was among the weirdest BBQ sauces I’ve ever tasted. It’s so hard to describe — almost tasting like a mix of pure tomato paste and generic boxed beef stock. It was very flat and lacked any other tasting notes. I almost thought it was a marinara sauce or something. The sides were definitely the saving grace, but when you’re spending around $17-18 on a plate, you’d hope everything is tasty, not just the sides. The Texas Jambalaya was seasoned well and had a nice smoky flavor. I appreciated the large chunks of sausage in it as well. The potato salad was also pleasantly seasoned and acted as a good palate cleanser. I finished my meal with the chocolate cream pie and it was pretty meh. It looked beautiful, so I was excited, but it was underwhelming. Crust structure was good but didn’t have much flavor and the chocolate cream was pretty stiff and lacked flavor as well.

Perhaps I should try out Goode Company BBQ when it’s a little busier so I can try and get some fresher meats and desserts, but in my opinion, it should be just as good on weekdays as it is on weekends. I did, however, appreciate the attentive server and his hospitality and friendliness. He seemed excited to be on the line and has a sense of urgency to fulfill my order. I appreciated that.

The sides raised this poor experience to a two star rating, but unless the quality and consistency of meats and desserts improve dramatically, I don’t see myself...