McWhorter Barbecue — Restaurant in Newark

This place was a nightmare! The staff hasn't a clue. They were rude! Contradicted each other on the available food. The woman can't keep track of who came in first while they have too many people waiting for a table in a stuffy little barroom. She tried to seat a party that came in after us, before us until my friend said we had been there first.

We order 1/2 chicken, 1/2 ribs order. With a spit full of chicken & ribs, they told us there was a 45 minute because what we were looking at was for other orders. When I asked the woman what that mean (it's what the waiter said) she tells me that it's one big take-out order on the spit and we have to wait 45 minutes if we want chick/ribs. Why are they taking care of take-out orders before dining room orders, I wondered?

So we ordered shrimp/garlic which, btw, was terrible. Ate bread/butter and soda/water. (we were 2 women & child). All we wanted was one order of 1/2 ribs, 1/2 chicken.

They took all the meats off the spit and into the kitchen and proceed to fill the spit again. While we ate tough, overcooked shrimp the table of 2 attached to ours got it....a chicken/ribs platter. Table next to us gets chicken/ribs too. I call the woman over again, she tells me they ordered before you. How would she know? She was at the front of the restaurant when we sat down and first ordered.

The best insult though was when the next table got food. Remember the party I mentioned earlier that almost sat down before us, although they arrived after us? Well, they got seated right after we did and right behind me (I knew because i had to move my chair in for them). They get 2 platters while we're eating our shrimp.......yes, it's CHICKEN/RIBS.

At that point I got up and went over to the woman again and told her what we witnessed, how poorly we were treated and made to feel we were slighted over other patrons. I asked for the check and made sure she knew I would never come back again. Whatever she said, she mumbled it was with a lack of care to our displeasure. Not once was there an apology.

She returned and placing the check down on the table said, I paid your bill. WHAT???......YOU paid my bill??? Who are you kiddin'? I thought, you and your staff were rude and inconsistent. You didn't pay my check, you will tear that check up when we leave.You screwed up....I'll never go back. After reading this, watch...

First time eating here. You enter into a food pick-up area that is cluttered with boxes and in need of fresh paint. You don't even see the dining room. To be honest, I was a bit worried about my choice to eat there. But I was on the ride and going to make the best of it. Turns out the dining room is behind the benched wall and accessed via a opening near the counter. For some reason they chained the area off, likely to keep the pick-up patreons from encroaching into the dining area. The chain is easily clipped open when the servers are ready to seat you.

The Dining room was small with maybe a dozen tables; 6 of which accommodated large groups, indicating it's a popular family dining place. It was full, but ambianced in moderate conversational tone, bright lighting, and the rich smell of bbq. It can benefit from some decorations, though. I loved the diversity of patrons; it speaks volumes about the quality of the food, how it transcending ethnic barriers.

We had a group of 7 and were seated near the counter. We struck a conversation with our neighbor asking about the portions and determined that a "whole" size platter can feed at least 2 people. We put in 3 orders to share family-style, plus some sides like the fried banana. The food was tasty! And plentiful! For 7 people, I think we spent like $60, were stuffed, and even had leftovers - that's incredible! The servers were very busy, but attentive enough to respond when we called them over.

The bathrooms are single occupancy, which can be problematic, but common for smaller establishments; it just means there could be a small waiting line. However, there is little space to stand, so you feel you're either in the way of the workers, or too close to the patrons table.

Overall it was a...

What a gem, nestled deep within the old cozy Newark suburb of ironbound. Very homey feel, seems like its a place that is made up of all regulars who come exclusively for the fantastic Portuguese bbq, as there is really nothing nearby in this sleepy little suburb block. The portions are huge. The chicken and ribs were expertly prepared, best of all the Portuguese chicken and rib joints I've experienced in Essex county, but this is no fast food joint, its a old bar converted to a restaurant probably thirty years back.

The prices. I can't say enough of how reasonable this place is. I ordered a 1/2 chicken and ribs combo platter for $12, thinking that I'd have some leftovers but proved to be enough for two hungry men. The chicken and ribs were rotated by hand on a well ventilated coal fire, regularly basted by the chef who graciously allowed me to take his picture in action. The platter was accompanied by shoestring potato fries and tender spanish rice.

Going to Mc Whorters convinced me that I want to move to Ironbound; fantastic food, the best transportation hub in the state with 24hr access to NYC, AND the best food I've had in the state...all the negative attitudes regarding Newark that I've seen here on Yelp and in my 9 years living here are way off base, racially motivated and should be ignored.

Sure, there's people struggling here in Newark, they may not look like you, but Newark can't be written off. In my opinion, Newark will be the equivalent of the reinventing of Brooklyn waterfront in...