Bark Barbecue — Restaurant in New York

As a fellow Dominican and ready to support my community, I was a little sadden by the experience.

My boyfriend ordered the food at the counter as a I scurried on to look for seats (it was pretty crowded so it was difficult to find a seat). When he returned with the food, he told me he was charged $296 (including tip!) for the small amount of food that was on the tray which was (1lb of brisket, 1/2lb of pulled pork, chicarrón, 2 small Mac and cheese and cornbread plus two cokes)…we took some leftovers with us.

The food on the tray did not amount to what was on the receipt. We looked over the receipt and realized we were charged incorrectly. Significantly! We were charged over 5lbs of pulled pork which alone was $145!!! When we only had 1/2lb on our tray.

He returned to the person at the register to let her know of the error. And instead of graciously asking to see the receipt and look at the food that was set on our tray. She responded in a completely rude manner “that is what you ordered”…again she was rude and not looking or double checking.

Thankfully, the gentleman at the counter with her, overheard and assisted us. He looked over the receipt and looked and the tray of food and realized her error. He was able to give us the refund for the money we were overcharged for.

Because of the wait of sorting out their mistake. The food got cold so we couldn’t enjoy it as much as we wanted to.

I’d just say, please train your employees at the counter to be more kind to tour customers (no matter who they are) and to gracefully take accountability for their mistakes rather than take on an attitude with a customer.

We were very excited to try the food but due to their employees attitude and rudeness, sadly it tainted our experience. Although, someone else saved the situation. We were still left with the distaste of someone bad customer service.

Your employees working the counters are the first people we see and they are a representation and a reflection of your business.

Responding to your reply to my review: the overcrowding was not a complaint. I was painting a picture to the audience and obviously letting them know it’s a busy location...storytelling.

We were satisfied with getting our refund. Luckily to the gentleman at the counter.

However, I think you are missing the point, if trained, we wouldn’t have experienced her inappropriate response. There is no need to be rude or give an attitude to a customer when a mistake (on her end) was brought to her attention.. It gives your business a bad customer service reputation, which is wack.

Based on your reviews, we were not the only ones who had a negative experience with an employee at the counter.

I’d hate to see a place with delicious food that is representing the culture and our people, get a bad rep for customer service. Just looking out and want to see you prosper.

Wishing you and your business the best of luck and...

I was on the fence about writing this review until I read several other reviews about darker skinned people not being treated with the same respect as others at this establishment. I felt it was important to share my experience as well.

On Sunday, September 7th 2025, I visited bark barbecue stand at the timeout market in DUMBO with a few friends. To preface, I want to note that all of my friends I was out with are Dominican and fair skin. I was the only dark skin woman in our group.

I was completely fine with waiting 45 minutes to order, The food looked great and I was excited to try it. Once you get to the front you order your main with one attendant and then order all your sides and pay with a different attendant at the register. I could see the employees were tired being that it was the end of the day. I could imagine how they felt dealing with long lines all day so I paid attention to the attitude of the employee so I could be careful on how to interact with her. My friend who was in front of me was treated with kindness and respect, she confirmed all the details of her order was pleasant and said, please and thank you, everything seemed fine.

When I stepped up to the front, she didn’t say anything to me. I stood and waited for a minute or two being that the sandwich was still being made. I figured she would start to take the order for my sides, but again it was really busy so I was being patient. After a few minutes of standing there, she looks at me and says “yes?!” as if I was standing there for no reason, I said I’m waiting on a chicken sandwich and I’d like to order some sides. Before I could even finish ordering my first side. She immediately tells me they’re sold out of every side they don’t have anything else. As soon as I picked up on her Attitude, I paid for my sandwich and walked away. I didn’t bother getting a drink or inquiring on anything else. Her attitude towards me was so disgusting as if I wasn’t a paying Customer. I can’t understand why she would be so pleasant with my friend who was right before me, but when it came to me, I couldn’t be greeted or given simple respect.

I watched as customers after me ordered, and were given their orders and plenty of sides were still given out. It seemed like she just wanted to get rid of me standing in front of her.

Because I only got the chicken sandwich that’s the only thing I can rate, I honestly give it a 7/10 the flavor was good, but there were pieces of meat that were too hard to chew that I had to take out.

I haven’t had an experience like this in a long time. It was extremely disappointing and isolating, I can guarantee I will...

Located in the TimeOut building on the 5th floor overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge, had to try out the Dominican bbq restaurant people are raving about.

There are other restaurants to try in the building. Longest line to order food between all the businesses and it made me excited. My thoughts were if everyone is in line for this, must be slamming in flavors. My wait time was 30 min but heard the wait can be up to a 2-hour wait.

Once I arrived to the register to order, the staff member cutting all the bbq meats offered a sample of longaniza. Completely appreciated the gesture. It was very minimal time to wait from ordering to serving.

There are specials on Saturday such as beef rib, as an fyi.

Ordered chicharon, brisket and pork ribs for proteins and small orders of the mac and cheese, maduros, congri (red rice and black beans) coleslaw and torta (Dominican cornbread with a guava butter).

Served on a long wax paper, platter style. You do get plates and utensils to enjoy the meal after payment.

I’ve been blessed to have numerous experiences of Latin cuisine, specifically Dominican food. I know I have a high benchmark. I’m also Puerto Rican descent and have certain expectations when I encounter Caribbean food. With those disclaimers stated, I was not impressed with the food overall. In no way am I saying the food isn’t good, but it’s not a wait of 30 min “good”.

Meat was a decent bbq. Cooked well and meats weren’t tough. The chicharron was my favorite, with lime juice dripped all over it gave it a pizzaz. I would’ve gone with beef rib instead after trying all the other proteins. I found my sides overwhelmed with black pepper taste. Maybe this is the “Texas” influence but I wasn’t crazy about it. As I eat the meats, I tried switching the flavors by different sides but the black pepper blocked that experience. Thank goodness for the pickled red onions. If not, everything kind of tasted the same, minus the maduros. Mac and cheese reminded me of the kind that you find at seafood broil places. Wasn’t crazy how oily it became as it cooled off. Taste was good but so much unnecessary oil.

As for the torta, I was expecting more of a corn flavor and it tasted like cinnamon. I love cinnamon but not looking for that spice in my cornbread. I should’ve recognized the name of the cornbread was hinting that it was a dessert style. Once again, not stating the torta isn’t good, it just failed the mark of what I expected. It’s a bbq meal and the cornbread is an important element. The corn flavor is needed, if not then it’s just cake.

In a nutshell, not a place I would return to if I was in the...