The Spare Rib — Restaurant in Town of Smithtown

Should be a 3/4 Star rating but there's a few issues. One our service experience was not good the server got my order wrong twice, and my spouses order didn't even get put in. When the food arrived hers wasn't there and she had to wait for them to prepare it, meanwhile I waited for her dinner to arrive and 10 plus minutes later it did. My meal was then cold and I didn't eat it because I was aggravated at that point. We paid for everything and nobody questioned why I didn't eat my meal which I would have explained if they cared to ask. Two the table was sticky because it wasn't wiped down properly in between turnover which is somewhat gross, but not the end of the world for me necessarily being it is a bbq place. Three the menu had a few things that I found particularly annoying and this one is on the owner, there's a one dollar up charge for white meat on chicken, they don't post prices on lower cuts of beef example skirt steak etc. They show it as market price. The beef market prices have stabilized enough at this point that you can put a fair price to make a profit and the chickens that they order are all the same price per lb including "White" meat. Food distribution companies don't up charge for the white meat that's on the chickens that come in case bulk packs. And lastly the margins at this restaurant are at 400 % which is a little on the high end. Ownership is quite happy with that number and they're obviously getting it being the place was quite busy. That being said it's a decent looking place with average food at a little higher price than normal, and I'm sure there's some great employees but I got the "dud" which was frustrating. And I'll put this out there that I happen to be a food distribution owner and unfortunately for the owner and myself I know the business hence my frustration with the little ancillary price points for the benefit of ownership rather than customers. At those margins the one dollar up charge for white meat chicken is petty. And chicken, pork, and chop meat are the cheapest of meats you can buy in the business which is what they sell...

Both my wife and I decided to stop at the Spare Rib for dinner one night. We both tasted the half rack of spare ribs with salad and found it to be good. Today - 8/10/16 we surprised my son and his wife with taking them to celebrate their third wedding anniversary. We were greeted by a very nice waitress and ordered our meals. I ordered a full rack of St. Louis cut ribs on the suggestion of the waitress. Everyone else had the baby back ribs. My ribs where OVERCOOKED so much I could hardly cut the meat with the knife. The waitress took them back and brought out a rack of baby back ribs that were cooked to perfection. Both my daughter in law and I both ordered alcoholic drinks. We conversed and were having a good time, when I realized my drink had no alcohol in it. I didn't say anything because I did not want to spoil anybody else's dining. At the end of our dinner, my daughter in law told my son that her drink did not have any alcohol in it. I did not want to spoil our dining experience, but I had paid for drinks that were not received. The reason I am writing to you is to make you aware of what is going on in your restaurant. Consistency is the success of a good business. We did not receive that today. I would like to return but I have seen many negative reviews on this restaurant. Is this inconsistency your normal operating...

So..I visit the Spare Rib almost once a month. On November 13th I went there to celebrate my wife's birthday. I told the server to bring out dessert for her birthday and get the celebratory song. Listened to it happen to other folks rhat night. My boys waited in anticipation of surprising Mom....Waited and waited and nothing. Got the check. Paid. I mentioned something to hostess as my kids were waiting for someone to sing to Mom and never happened. Hostess asked me to sit back down and they would bring something out, and I said no thanks. She said that they would make up for it next time. Being a rewards member, I figured they would make a note.

Well, I went there tonight to give them another chance. Cold cornbread, my ribs were a little dry and no spinach (still don't understand why something they make that is real good they never have). Shrimp and rice were good.

I gave the server my number to check rewards....figured there would be a desert, discount something to make up for the error last time....Nothing.

I don't look for free. I hope people stand by their word to make good on what they say. 90$ a night eating there with my wife and more when I have my kids isn't chump change.

I like the Spare Rib. I will probably be going back. I'm just a dissatisfied...