Brad's Bar-B-Que — Restaurant in Oxford

Just by chance, I struck up a conversation with Mr Bradford (the son, co-owner) of Brad's BBQ during our meal there. I'm not sure why, but my hubby and I were seated in the far side section, separated by a wall, where no other customers were seated. However, our waitress (who was supposed to be looking out for us) was at a booth on this same side, across the room from us on her phone. A gentleman came strolling through and spoke to us, and I just asked if he happened to be the owner. He said he was just the clean-up boy. While I usually take people at their word, something in my Spirit spoke that just didn't ring true, so I asked if he was the manager and he again told me, he was just the clean up boy, I told him that was the most important job there because without cleanliness in a restaurant, nothing else really mattered. Before I could ask for the manager or owner to help with the problem with our waitress (who so obviously did not want to service our table for whatever unknown reason), Mr Bradford came clean from teasing me and told me who he was and that he and his 80 year old father (who happened to be in the kitchen working at that very moment) owned the restaurant. I told him I was not from the area and that it was only my second time there. We talked about where I am from, and Mr Bradford knew the area of my hometown as well, and we exchanged stories. He is altogether a charming gentleman, and I so enjoyed our conversation. I enjoyed, even more, listening to some of the history of Brad's BBQ, how and where it started and how the simple foundational principles of giving people good food at a fair price was their beliefs they built and operate the business on. Humble beginnings make people appreciate their current blessings, believe me, I know this well. I never broached the subject of our poor waitress with Mr Bradford. I didn't want to ruin our lovely conversation, but we will definitely be back to visit, we will just be requesting a different waitress. Thank you, Mr Bradford for the lovely conversation. My husband and I enjoyed meeting you immensely, and the food...

Sad to say first time eating at this establishment was not a very good experience. First off they aren't second amendment friendly. I respected their right by leaving my firearm in the car. Second the maitre d never made eye contact, turning her back on my wife and I and avoiding eye contact. I felt as if my patronage was not appreciated. The food was good. While we were eating I kept hearing someone coughing loudly. When I went up to pay the bill I saw the cashier coughing and hacking. I gave her my check and she gave me the amount. She reached for my card and I asked her if I could enter my own card and she asked why. I replied that she appeared sick and I did not want to catch her cold. She blew her top. Started getting very loud. I kept my cool and spoke in a calm low voice asking her to please speak in a normal voice. She then asked for my card and I told her I did not want her to handle it. She shouted for another person to take my card. He began the transaction and asked if I wanted to leave a tip. I said no (I generally leave a cash tip because I know how well restaurants pay) she went out to where the other employees were hanging out getting loud and telling them what was going on. Told the young lady that was waiting the table I wasn't leaving a tip and she should take her time with my to go order for my wife, that was on her way to work. I still planned to leave a tip at this point, she came back into her booth and started getting loud again. I finally had had enough. I told her she was the reason I would not leave a tip was her mouth and attitude. She should tip the young lady because it was her own fault she would not get a tip. I left without my wife's to go order because I was afraid that after the scene she caused the food would not be safe to eat. I WILL NEVER DARKEN THE DOOR OF BRADS BARBECUE AGAIN. Not because of the food. The attitude of...

We stopped in on a Saturday night. They were pretty crowded, but we didn't have to wait to be seated. The waitress took our drink order. When she came back, she didn't have the teas that were ordered, and said they were making fresh tea, and she took our food order. Twenty minutes later she brought the tea. Ten minutes later she stopped to ask if we were okay. We told her we were starving, and she said our food should be up shortly. Three other tables were seated after we were, and they all received their food, and we're still waiting for ours. One table even finished and left, and we're still waiting. At this point it had been 40-45 minutes since we ordered. I asked to speak to the manager, and explained that this was our first visit, and that we had been waiting a long time. He asked if we ordered fried food. We ordered a kids chicken fingers. He said fried food takes longer. When I mentioned that we had been waiting 30+ minutes, and the other tables being served before us, he told me that we weren't the only people there, and they were working as hard as they could in the kitchen. I told him to bring our ticket for the drinks and we would go elsewhere. He said okay, and walked away. He didn't make us pay for the drinks, but did leave a bad taste in our mouths. Needless to say, we won't go back. The manager was terribly rude, without offering any apology for the long wait....