Buddy's Bar-B-Q — Restaurant in Knoxville

Edit: the asst manager, DeeDee, tracked me down via Facebook and messaged me (repeatedly) until she finally reached me. She apologized not only the original issue but also for the way it was handled in her absence. She left a $25 gift card at the counter for me. I added 1 star to the review since she went to such great lengths to solve a problem she didn't create. Thank you DeeDee! I hope Buddy's knows what a valuable employee you are! THAT'S how you do great customer service!!

We typically get a large enough take out order (once or twice a month) to feed everyone and have planned leftovers. Pulled pork with baked beans, green beans, corn, and hushpuppies. Our last planned trip there we decided to add brisket to our regular order. With the price of brisket being what it is we only got one pound of brisket. A usual for us, we added extra corn. Once home, 25 +/- miles later, and went to unbox our dinner we were missing not only the extra corn but EVERY bit of meat. Somehow they "forgot" to put our pulled pork and our brisket into the box. Obviously there was no BBQ dinner. When I called and spoke to a manager she offered to return the money we spent for the entire order and to replace the entire meal. After driving the roughly 25 miles back to Buddy's a few days later I was told that that particular manager wasn't working but they knew I'd be coming back. They DID replace the entire meal but they didn't return the money I spent. I wouldn't have expected both but since they offered the money I was annoyed they didn't honor the offer she made. I wouldn't have made a 50 mile round trip just to replace the meal. Now, on the the other reason why only 3 stars. The brisket. I really like brisket and my friend (with whom I was sharing the meal) had never had it. The meat was really dry and lacking flavor. Brisket normally almost melts in your mouth but this brisket was so dry that we were doing it in the BBQ sauce just to moisten it and add flavor. Buddy's food has always been delicious in the past and it was disappointing that 1. we spent that much money on sub-par brisket and 2. that my friend's first taste of a food that I'd hyped up, in order for her to try it, was poorly done. I'll go back because their pulled pork is great but I won't order brisket and I'll definitely check my box of food closer before the...

I was in Knoxville for the weekend and had previously stopped by to fuel up at the attached fuel station and the BBQ aroma hit me. I wanted to try it but didn't have time. I decided I'd stop in before leaving Sunday morning. I stopped in and asked if the BBQ meats were being sold at 1030am. As I wanted it to-go to have for a late lunch once I made it back to Huntsville Alabama. They told me it was available to order. When I arrived at home I was shocked at the fact they'd sell bbq meat looking like this. My ribs appeared half eaten, extremely dried and over done. The slices of brisket looked and tasted like an old leather belt. Extremely dried and tough. The look itself was enough to throw it away, but thought id give a bite to see. I was embarrassed for the restaurant. If I was local I'd definitely would have returned for a full refund. I was already home 3 hours away extremely disappointed and starved. My 11-year-old daughter looked at it and was disgusted. Having to go out to pick something else up to...

I am only giving two stars because this is only the second time I have went there since they opened first one was when they opened so it's been quite a few years. The BBQ is ok baked beans are nothing more than warmed up pork and beans. My main complaint was the crew. The waitress that was getting our food to go had long stringy hair flying around near the food ( I know cause I watched) and if it had actually touched my food they would have been giving me a refund QUICK. Flies flying around and the place in general needed some cleaning. I love how the commercials show such clean and kept staff and restaurant but nothing can be further from the truth. I will not be...