Polk City BBQ Company — Restaurant in Polk City

We visited Polk City BBQ after attending a fall festival nearby based on all of the great reviews. I am now questioning all of the restaurant reviews I’ve ever seen because my experience at this restaurant goes down in the books for one of the worst experiences ever. The service was terrible ( the server was super sweet , just not efficient ) We had to write down our own orders after we noticed how unprepared the waitress was. Even after we wrote down our own orders, the waitress still came back with the orders messed up and asked us for a pen so she could write things down ( mind you, every person at our table has been a waitress at some point so we were very understanding).. The meals came to us in intervals .. to the point that some people were almost done before others received their meals. The meat was good and rightfully so, there were trophies and ribbons everywhere for the BBQ competitions. However , the side items were terrible ! The Mac n cheese was like mush and I’m 99% certain that the cheese was actually cheese whiz .. it’s was absolutely disgusting, I even cancelled my three years old’s meal because she only ordered Mac n cheese . The hash brown casserole sounded so good but was actually just raw potatoes cooked down to mash and zero flavor, like seriously .. potato mash , nothing else. The bbq chicken quesadillas had no flavor nor did the pulled chicken that came with the salad I had ordered. The appetizers ( buffalo chicken dip and pretzels with queso ) were okay but the pretzels were stale and the dips were room temperature, hardly even melted. I think if we had just ordered meat with nothing else it could have been different BUT the menu items looks so good that we wanted to try it all. There were 10 of us and not one person left satisfied or even anything resembling the the sentiments I’ve seen in other reviews . Maybe a bad day ? Had to be...

The server that took the order had it all mixed up, after she was visually writing down was was being ordered, she came back to the table at least twice asking what was ordered again. Two appetizers were ordered (nachos and buffalo chicken dip) the buffalo chicken dip never showed and the nachos were brought AFTER the main entrees. To which we were asked if we did order them, and that the cook missed the order. The kids food was brought after the adult meals were. Food was brought out cold - especially the meat and bread. The only things served warm were the sides. After the food was brought to the table the server disappeared and never came back to check on the table again. Someone from our party had to go to the front to let them know we were ready for the ticket. Once she came to the table to begin cashing us out, we were still not offered a refill or to go boxes for the extremely obvious leftover food we had. When reviewing the tickets, after we had already told her how the tickets should be separated out and she again, wrote it down, she messed the tickets up and charged on ones that shouldn’t have been. When brought to her attention that buffalo chicken dip was never brought, she asked if it was still wanted. At the END of the “service” and when we hadn’t been offered anything else during our dining experience. She was also covered in hickeys on her neck which is very disgraceful when at your place of employment, much less a place known for being a family oriented establishment.

There was hardly anyone in the restaurant during our visit and yet the service was this slow and we were completely forgotten about.

This was also my first time here and definitely did not set a good first and probably last impression.

10/10...

The food was not good. Edible, maybe. There are little things wrong on every order. I would like to know where they got all those awards.

I don't think I could beat you at making ribs. I've never used a smoker, but I don't think that is the point. It was not my first time, or second, or third, that the food was just not very good. Of course, everyone has their own tastes. For example, your sauces were just not to my tastes. The sides were ok, though they had a very different taste than most bbq I've enjoyed. The cornbread had a clumpy, cakey texture. Then the meat was greasy and an odd greenish brown color. Which is not what I'm expecting with 10hr smoked brisket.

It is also odd to me that the excuse for poor food would be in yall catering so much today. If you want to run a catering service that will negatively affect your storefront, maybe put out a sign that says sorry the food is mid today because we spread ourselves too thin. Don't get me wrong I understand the issue, I just don't think that should be an excuse.

I am also not one to complain in person. I shouldn't have to say the food is bad to an employee. Every time you go to eat somewhere it could be a gamble. I am satisfied trying something and paying for it in the state they apparently thought was appropriate.

I will change it to 2 stars though. 1 should be reserved for gross conditions and inedible food.

I once again revoke you back to a one star for you are all I have eaten today and yet I have had the runs. And I'm in a...