Corky's Ribs & BBQ - Brentwood — Restaurant in Nashville-Davidson

I really wanted to enjoy some good BBQ here in greater Nashville, as I have done every time I’ve been here, but this was just a huge disappointment. Short story: if you are looking for good barbecue (or food, for that matter) or service, don’t go here. I was surprised by the high ratings versus our actual experience.

My grandmother and I were one of four people inside this place. I would have been more sympathetic to our experience if it was a busy Saturday night, but it was a slow Wednesday.

The gentleman at the counter had no idea what was and wasn’t gluten free. (I’m fairly certain he didn’t even know what that meant.) He also was rude and pushy. For example, my grandmother couldn’t see the menu in the low light by the table where the menus were kept, so she moved up to the counter. He asked us to move to a table to read the menus. Again, there was no one behind us the entire time we ordered. There is no extra lighting at the tables, and with her limited mobility, getting in and out of a booth is difficult. This was not his first or last underhanded remark.

I cannot stress this enough: DO NOT EAT HERE IF YOU ARE GLUTEN FREE (celiac). There was a man in the kitchen who answered most of the gluten-pertaining questions. They said their mild sauce was gluten free, but the ingredients listed both Worcestershire sauce and caramel color and did not list it as explicitly gluten free. She never even tried the sauce. It could have made her really, really sick.

As for the food: bad. We both come from food industry backgrounds. The meats were relatively tender, but not at all seasoned. My grandmother’s pork was cold. None of my food was hot. They forgot my ribs. The mac and cheese was very mushy and under-seasoned. The corn muffin was more of a damp, dense sponge cake than actual cornbread. With limited gluten free side options, my grandmother ordered a baked potato with just butter, which she was charged extra for, and then they only gave her one side of butter for this huge potato because the guy at the counter couldn’t guarantee that the sour cream was gluten free (???)! I don’t have anything good to say about this food.

The manager, I think tried to salvage the experience. He gave us some $10 discount for the next time we’d be back. I was insistent that we would not be returning, and left the card on the divider in the dining room for someone that does enjoy cold, under-seasoned food and bad service. $50 for two...

I am a native Memphian. I am old enough that I was an adult young man when CORKY'S was started on Poplar Avenue. It was and remains a very successful restaurant there and at a number of other locations. I, my family and my adult children have enjoyed MANY meals there.

Therefore, when in the Nashville area for a grandchild's sportng event and we learned that there was a CORKY'S nearby in Brentwood we excitedly and quickly decided to go. There were 8 in our party.

We have come to know and expect a quality of product that is top notch and consistent. One of the main dishes that we love are their ribs. They are unlike any that I have gotten in other cities all throughout the country; particularly the South. They have always been the best!

Unfortunately last night it was the first time that I have been disappointed with my meal. Disappointed particularly in the quality of the ribs and in their preparation. I truly hate to say this as it is a true 'one-off' but it is an accurate accounting of our experience.

Our party was half adults and half teenage children. No one else was complaining of their meal. From my observation their meals appeared well prepared yet no one left bragging on their meal and explaining how good it was which had been the practice in the past. (If, when seeing them today, my family does brag on their experience last night then I will amend my review out of being fair to this CORKY'S location.)

It is for these reasons above that I grade our experience last night as I have.

I love the product historically. I miss the opportunity to go more often as I and my children moved away from Memphis many years ago. I want them to succeed in all their locations as I believe their product is unique and wonderful. Unfortunately, last night's meal fell short and for the first time. Perhaps it was just a bad night for...

Came through the drive-thru tonight around 7:40 or so. Ordered a pulled chicken plate, fried catfish plate and spaghetti. The girl who took our order had an attitude (just rude tone of voice) from the time we ordered at the intercom. She never asked if we wanted cornbread or roll, so we inquired at the window about that, and she informed us that she just put whatever bread choice with each meal (basically, SHE decided what WE got). She also never asked what dressing with our salad, and I guess she would have chosen that also if we hadn't told her specifically which one we wanted.

So we get our food. The pulled chicken plate had NO sauce with it, and it was literally just dry (REALLY dry) pulled chicken breast with absolutely NO seasoning on it. It was so bad, I couldn't even finish it, so basically, I paid $17 for two small sides a piece of bread. The fried catfish was mediocre for $19, and had absolutely NO tartar sauce with it. The spaghetti was dried out noodles in a tiny plastic container with really disgusting meat sauce (looked like a kid-size entrée). The girl at the window told us the spaghetti came with bread, but we didn't get any. We also didn't get a single utensil in the bag, despite ordering three entrées. The ONLY saving grace was the sides we ordered - the collard greens and potato casserole were both delicious.

The main parts of what we ordered were collectively awful. It's really sad that the sides were the ONLY decent part of our meal, especially given the exorbitant amount of money we paid. We had been working out in the sun all day and simply wanted a decent meal. We spent over $50 and could have had a better meal from a fast-food restaurant. Never ever again. One entree being mediocre? Okay, things happen. But ALL THREE, coupled with rude service? Nah, we will spend our money...