The Wilbury — Restaurant in Tallahassee

Completely serendipitous lunch experience.

There I was, driving westbound on Gaines, intent on checking out that new Chinese restaurant (which I haven't yet been to) when, 'Lo. The neon "BBQ" in the window beckoned me to pull in - and so I did.

Not since St. Michael's have I stepped foot in here - but I did enter through my customary door (the western entrance) and stepped up to the familiar room with an unfamiliar feel.

Because this was January 5 at 1:30 PM (school out, state workers back to workie-workie) there was NO ONE here - and so naturally, I thought it wasn't yet open, but a very friendly bartender (Megan) made it clear they were - and pointed me to the menu.

I checked out the rear deck before ordering and spied what appeared to be a 26' Airstream Overlander (I could be wrong) converted into a kitchen. I'll need to go back and pay better attention - but it looked pretty cool. I do know that's where the cooking is happening.

Uncharacteristically, I couldn't make up my mind - so Megan did for me and I ordered "The Wilbury" - a pulled-pork sandwich with made-to-order onion rings. Very nice. Coupled with the black bean baked beans as a side, it made for an unexpectedly great lunch.

This place is WAY cooler than I am (using the term "cool" tells you, dear reader, how "cool" I must be...). I say this because generally, I'm able to size up an atmosphere and peg it to something familiar - but this place is different.

The menu is what I'd call "post-artisanal boutique" - which is to say that there's a major culi-hipster vibe throughout the options and descriptions - and the menu items themselves are both edgy and grounded. Think "comfort food with attitude" at the core combined with push-the-limits creations at the periphery. Put it this way: I've never seen Dave's Insanity Sauce highlighted as a menu-item ingredient but, sure enough, the Hellbury features it. I'm ordering that next time. I didn't see that until AFTER Megan suggested The Wilbury.

I'll dispense with the haughty descriptors for the sandwich - and just bottom line it with this: A very good pulled pork sammich with killer onion rings and an interesting side (black beans baked beans)

It would have NEVER occurred to me to come here for lunch, but it will occur to me moving forward.

I'm confident this place is a successful night-time scene. The kitchen is open 'til 1AM (not sure if the menu is limited - but regardless, it's sure to please) and closing time is the expected 2AM.

Great diversions throughout the space include the pool table, Fussball, mini-bowling, shuffleboard.

Very hip. I'd go as far as even...

Went here with my friends like 2 weekends ago and there was a white girl that snatched a menu out of my hands, stepped on my foot, pushed me, and started saying “hablo inglés? Que dinero?” in my face and my friend’s face. After asking the door guy about if she worked there (bc she was helping them band people coming in) he said no and that he would take care of it. However “taking care of it” was treating her like a toddler with a slap on the wrist. My friends and I tried to enjoy the rest of the night, but she walked by not even 20 minutes later and pushed me while I was sitting at the bar. Overall, horrible experience. The staff should have done better by kicking her out. Really didn’t expect people to be so compliant with...

We ordered online through Bite Squad. Our order was missing an entire entrée, and 3 sides. I personally called the restaurant to resolve the issue and was placed on hold for over ten minutes and no one ever picked the line back up. When Bite Squad tried calling the restaurant back the line rang back busy for over 30 mins and we never got our food. The food that was delivered tasted as though it had been sitting for quite some time as well, yet our delivery was 30 minutes later than it stated previously that it would be ready, and we ordered as soon as they opened. Very subpar service to say the least. Granted the delivery driver is also culpable, but the restaurant fell short as well. Most likely wont be ordering from The...