Rico's Smoke House Inc — Restaurant in Pullman

Went here for trivia night on Tuesdays, having heard a lot about it. Got there a bit early and wasn't sure how any of it goes, including service and ordering drinks & dinner. After finding a table in the "Section Closed" (if it's such a long-running trivia, why not have a "Trivia Section, Seat Yourself" sign?) area, we waited for service. After a while, a waitress came and took our drink order as well as brought menus for dinner. There was no drink menu or mention of any specials. Enough time had elapsed that we finished our drinks and popcorn when we decided to go up to the service line and order our dinner since the staff seemed extremely busy, understaffed and disorganized. About 25 minutes passed from ordering to the staff bringing us dinner. I don't consider that a horrible wait but by that time, we'd probably have been there an hour at least. The food was great and reasonably priced. I would very much enjoy having their burgers again. Cooked well, great bacon, warm, tasty. The staff didn't seem to care about service much, aside from running food and drinks to the tables. We had to specifically wait for someone's attention and ask for salt and ketchup since it wasn't on the tables. Trivia ran pretty long and I won't knock it for that, I fully admit that I suck at it but usually have a good time losing. Not this time, maybe I was just bitter from the service but it seemed to get boring. The staff didn't bring us a slip so I went up to the service counter, again, waiting in a crowd that resembled a line, people cutting in and out. The waitress behind the counter had no idea that our server said we could split the check and since we had multiple people serving us, it was poorly written. I caught a glimpse and it was just a list of prices written down, no description or even "drink" or "burger". I spent several minutes with her going over what our table had ordered and who's was what. At the end of it, she totaled it up and it seemed really high to me. But the problem is, there's no explanation. There's a food menu so I knew the prices of that but no drink menu, at least for the ones we got. It was $30 for food for 2 of us but I was paying an almost $60 bill. That's not outrageous and I paid it but it would have been nice to have a breakdown because I honestly don't know if I was under or over-charged. With the lack of organization and poor service, it'd be nice to check for myself. Maybe there's times where Rico's is better staffed and maybe Trivia Night is difficult for them with the influx of people. However, it seemed like new staff showed up halfway through trivia. I wonder why they couldn't overlap shifts an hour or two to make up for the extra customers that one night.

In summary; food was great, service left a LOT...

I used to frequent this place for the convenience of it's location but i would never take my family here. This is long but weird and kind of funny so buckle up, or jump to the bottom for the short version. The service has always been pretty atrocious. Theyre a friendly crew but it seems like no one there has ever had a day of training. The owner sometimes serves and bartends and is never particularly warm or welcoming. I have on more than one occasion had to wait inappropriate amounts of time while the workers either run around seemingly directionless, or completely ignore clientele while they chat and laugh. I'm all for fun at work but, I have watched from across the room as my salad was delivered not once, but TWICE to the wrong table. Meaning I had to wait 45 minutes for it to be made a third time and delivered, with an explanation of why it took so long, and a half hearted shrug "sorry." Lol questionable how it happened twice but they did not seem to care. I have sat next to the owner and Bartender, the only 2 people at the bar, and left after 15 minutes of no service. I was told 3 times that someone would be with me soon. No one ever even gave me a menu. Aesthetically, i would say it's a cute place. But if you plan to sit at the bar, be prepared to get actually physically caught between the large cumbersome stools and the railing that is too close behind them. The cocktail menu is dated, and not in a good way, nor does it it match the charming interior. I'm attaching a picture of the most insane and hilarious way I've ever recieved a negroni. The Bartender Googled the recipe but apparently stopped reading before the instructions. I tried to help, asking that it not be shaken, explaining that she can pour it over rocks. She nodded, proceeded to shake it, dump it into a too-small glass, and then strained the remainder into a shot glass and served it on the side wish such astonishing confidence I almost questioned myself. Incredibly bizarre, but definitely made me chuckle. I've watched the owner approach a table next to me with a new employee and ask if she could use them as an example. She proceeded to pick up the guests empty beer glass and explain to new employee "see how their foam stuck to the glass? That means it wasn't cleaned properly. It shouldn't stick to the inside like that." Then she put it back down and walked away. WHAT?!?! Lol anyways, it's almost fun to see how bad it is sometimes.

TL;DR The service is bad, the food is meh, and I highly recommend avoiding cocktails- hopefully they're washing their...

Here it is. I wanted terribly to love this place, but here is my experience. Took a group of 8 in for dinner. Actually called the night before to give notice. Was informed by a pleasant employee that don’t take reservations and should have seating at 6:30 when I planned. He did inform me that minors are allowed, but must leave by 8:00 due to state law. OK so far. Called in next day to inform of coming group again. Female was informative but less friendly. Told me that minors must leave by 7:50. OK I guess. Arrived at 6:20 and got table quickly. Male server brought water and informed of specials. Was given main menu, but wasn’t told that apps and drinks were on a separate list that we weren’t immediately given. Second female server checked on us, seemed confused, but nice. Rest of group arrived about 6:40. Male server disappeared with no notice and female server started taking order within 15 minutes. Was informed several time of the 7:50 limit while waiting on food to arrive. OK, starting to damper mood. Food arrived about 7:25, and was informed we had 20 mins. Thats 7:45 now!Hmm… 20 mins to eat at get out? Mood gone. I arrived at 6:30 at their recommendation and now being pushed to eat and leave or inconvenience the restaurant. Maybe if you have a minor in a large group the kitchen should make their food 1st?? Nope! Minor got food last and had to hoark their food. Not sure she even tasted her sandwich. The restaurant was only 1/4 full BTW. All of our food was hot and very good, Guinness was a perfect pour. When you are warned 2X that an 8 top is coming at 6:30 and on a time limit maybe you shouldn’t put 2 inexperienced servers on that table and have a manager at the ready to make sure all goes well. I won’t down our 2 servers, they were very nice and did their best. I still tipped them appropriately. I would rate atmosphere a 6, food a 4.5, but management a 2. Shame! Don’t burden your patrons with your issues. If you don’t want minors just...