Rudy's Country Store and BBQ — Restaurant in Selma

TL;DR- manager doing nothing but chatting up the girl on sides as people in short line wait for 20-30 min for one cashier, other manager working super hard in other areas apologized, no cream corn for 20+ MORE min. NOT an "honor to serve" a veteran and family.

We came in at 4:15ish on Mother's Day for our last meal before heading back to Colorado. This used to be our favorite spot when we lived here (Army moved us). We waited in a very short line for about 25 min. There were only about 5 or 6 groups of customers ahead of us. They only had one cashier and the manager was standing around chatting with the young girl getting the sides. I watched him just stand around and not do anything. When I got up to order sides they were completely out of cream corn (our favorite) and it would be another 20 min before they had a new batch. I addressed the manager that was standing there regarding us waiting for so long and then there not being any corn to which he replied, "yeah it'll be about 15-20 min." He didn't seem to care and went back to chatting with the girl at the sides. He eventually asked if we wanted any meat. I told him our order and he didn't do anything with it. A gentleman behind me yelled and asked if he could jump on a register as all of us had been waiting for over 20 min. He just shrugged and said that another girl was on break and she was coming back soon. About 5 min later she showed up and called me over to her register (she was actually on the to-go side helping them). The meat cutters looked at me and said, "what kinda of meat can I get you?" I responded that I had told the manager guy that I had wanted 1.5 lbs of lean. The meat cutter quickly cut it and had it ready. I asked the young lady if there was another manager and she said there were others above him. She went and grabbed the other manager who was working hard and he rushed over. He listened to my complaint and apologized profusely. I told him that I wanted to make sure they knew the kind of job the other guy was doing (which was nothing). He offered to bring us the cream corn if we were still here when it was done. I appreciated his effort to go above and beyond to make it right. (Unfortunately, we had to leave right after eating to catch our flight as we didn't think it would take this long to get our food. Walked away from counter at ~4:50 pm.) The brisket was ok and the cobbler was awesome. The assistant manager should've been willing to do his job and fill in the gaps instead of chatting about 7 day suspensions being a "vacation" and other silly stuff with the young lady on sides. He at least should be put on corrective action and reminded that anytime he is on the clock he should be working instead of stealing company time. Maybe he should get the 7 day suspension/vacation. It says all over the place that it is an "honor to serve" us but he did not exhibit anything close to that. This is NOT the Rudy's we remember. I don't think this is the way they want their employees acting, either. The other manager was awesome and was busting his butt and was doing a great job (probably multiple jobs). The gal at the register was really nice and helpful. They are the type of folks that represent Rudy's mission well. They deserve a raise as they both looked exhausted but still had...

I don't know what happened to this place.I used to go up and buy 2 pounds of brisket and a couple of sides and bring it home.So when somebody was visiting, I went up.and it lived up to there logo. Worst barbecue in Texas, it was disgusting. We ordered 4 people. 3 had brisket and one had the half chicken and it was absolutely disgusting. I ordered the moist because I bragged how good this place was terrible. That half of chicken was cold when I when I went back up to the counter. Because they had given us an incut spoke to the manager and said this is supposed to be moist and she said that is almost, but if you're not happy I guess I can get you some more. Are the time I finished with? Everything came back to the table. Of course. My food was cold. I had a biscuit sandwich again. Didn't wanna go up and complain again because we were all hungry. We tried to sit outside and the amount of dust on the tables and the napkin holders was also disgusting. We watch people standing around from changing something simple like a trash can liner. Then watching the manager and the employee sitting there playing on their cellphones in the middle of the dining room. It took 10 minutes before they put a new bag in that trash can. Then we went to go to the restroom and the smell was so bad. We wouldn't even use it. We had to wait till we got home. I don't know who's running this place or what happened to it, but I'll tell you. You have lost your tremendous amount of business just from the people I kno and if anyone asks, I would never send him to this place. I don't know what happened, but you took something that was a good product and made it an absolute disaster. This is the worst place I have ever been to and anyone can see on my reviews. I never speak like thit was absolutely horrible. The only. Bright side was the person who took our order with a smile and a young gentleman who was working in the back who gave us samples of the green corn. He had a smile and was very friendly. And that is the only bright spot from our entire visit if you can smell the bathrooms and you have a manager and for employees just standing around. And no one cares about the business to even wipe the napkin holders outside with the amount of dust and dirt that was on them. They even told us to go sit inside and it was a nice day again. Absolutely, disgusting. Don't waste your time there. I wouldn't even get gas from this place. I would choose any place other than this one for barbecue. No wonder that tago place wasn't open. Who would even go up there again? Avoid this place at all cost. I could make a long list of the other things. I've said enough again. Do not waste your time money and effort in a place that obviously does not care about anything from their appearance to their food to their managers. And to most of the employees except the 2...

Pales in Comparison to the NB Rudys just 15 min away. I guess if you're in a bind for BBQ the meats are characteristically Rudys but that's about where the comparison to other much better Rudys in New Braunfels and Austin ends. Pretty much all the San Antonio locations are stripped down versions of their nearby counterparts. The menu is severely limited as are other perks like heated sauce, self help condiments, etc. No wonder the last few times I've been here it's a ghost town at lunch. Compare this to NB and Austin locations and the SA locations probably do a fraction of the businesses. Supposedly the SA versions are still held by the OG ownership while the Austin and other locations are owned by different franchise mgmt who probably know more about improving business by making it more of a BBQ restaurant vs a market with some tables…doesn't matter as they are probably still laughing on their way to the bank. Don't get me wrong, Rudys (even this one) BBQ is decent. Not the best, but much better than Bill Millers or Grady's. However, the dearth of sides and limited menu options make this a stop by only in the most time constrained circumstances. If you can wing the extra 15 minute drive, visit the New Braunfels location. It's sooo much better: actual BBQ sandwich offerings, BBQ spuds, a ton of side options and other menu items including my favorite: Green Chili Stew. Come to think of it, even Smokey Mos, a similar BBQ joint actually started by a former Rudys employee (from what I have heard; BBQ and sauce sure taste similar), has a much better menu selection than the Rudys locations in San Antonio. There's one about 10 minutes away at Evans and Bulverde road. At least they have cream corn here at the Selma location... but what the heck is up with the salt and pepper shakers at all Rudys? Is it too difficult to have someone refill shakers? Would that cut into the overhead too much? I mean, it's only $15 on avg for a side and a half pound of meat. You'd think they could pay someone to check these. Just seems wasteful if people are accidentally dumping half the container out of a an 8 lb dispenser with a generously large sieve. If you don't want to ruin your meal, I'd suggest staying away from these. They literally pile the salt or pepper on if you aren't careful. Also, you will have to ask for pickles and onions. They don't have them available for self serve at Selma or any other SA location I've visited. At least they don't still charge extra for pickles and onions like they did. That was just the worst when you're paying a good chunk of change...