Stockyard Grill — Restaurant in Newark

First we had to make a reservation for 2 people. Which I took as a good sign that people are liking it. I did love the vibes and the look of the place. My boyfriend and I stopped by for lunch. And ordered a few things. We got the armadillo eggs , fried pearl onions and the pulled pork cornbread fritters for starters. The armadillo eggs were by far the best thing that I ate there. The pearl onions were okay but they were so small it made it weird to eat. The corn bread fritters had good flavor on the inside and a good sauce. But the outside was too well done for my liking. For our entrees we ordered the brisket Mac and cheese and a Texas triple smash. We were most excited about the brisket Mac and cheese. It didn’t come to the table while we were already eating our burgers. So I asked where it was. The server rudely stated that I changed my mind and didn’t want the Mac and cheese. And i said no that’s the thing I’ve been waiting for is the Mac and cheese. She went to go ring it in. And then told me 5 mins later that the reason I didn’t get it is because they were out of Mac and cheese. After I’ve now waited 30 mins for Mac and cheese that I’ve been wanting. No apology for her trying to blame me for me not getting the Mac and cheese because “I changed my mind” no offering to get me something else etc. the burger wasn’t great. They aren’t smash patties either. They need to be thiner and wider. It was like 3 well done sausage patties stacked on top of each other in the middle of the bread. I understand they just opened. But first impression is everything. I spent $80 on dinner just for me to only like one of the appetizers. And for my server to be rude to me, no comp or anything for messing up the Mac order. May be back in the future once everyone...

Newark has been needing a barbecue restaurant like this, and it is great to see one finally open. The atmosphere is a nice change of pace, clean, comfortable, and with a western style décor that fits well with the barbecue theme.

Taking into account that they have only been open a short time, there are a few areas that could improve with experience.

Food: I ordered the ribeye, which came out overcooked. I requested medium rare but received well done. The cole slaw was good, but the grits were cold, clumpy, and bland, with shredded cheese sprinkled on top that had not melted.

Service: My waitress was friendly and attentive at times but seemed distracted or overwhelmed, possibly due to the challenges of a new opening. I had to retrieve my own silverware and napkins after a few reminders.

Atmosphere: The interior is well kept and inviting, and the overall theme complements the style of food being served.

Once they have had time to work through the usual issues that come with a new restaurant, I plan to return for another visit. The restaurant has potential, and I hope it...

Overall, not bad, just not good either. Kitchen needs to work on getting food out hot.

My wife and I went early on Saturday around 3:30pm. The restaurant was probably a little more than half full. Service was good and checked on us regularly.

We both ordered the Trail Boss Ribeye, baked-potatoes, and then she had the seasonal veggies, and I had the grits. The wait time to receive our food felt fairly long. The steaks came out barely warm, overcooked, and tough. Both of our baked potatoes were completely cold. The only thing that came out hot were my grits. Everything but the grits tasted good, it was just cold and dry.

Overall, it was a good experience. My wife and I both agreed we'd come back in a few months when the restaurant has things figured out. Until then, they just need to figure out how to get food out in a timely manner without letting the food die on the pass. Spending $90 on a cold dinner for two was a little...