Shorter's Barbeque & Catering — Restaurant in Tracy

My husband and I hadn't been to Shorters since it relocated from downtown Tracy years ago. I believe we tried it twice. I thought it was decent back then. We have passed by the new location at the bowling alley many times. My husband wanted to try their hot links. I'd looked at the reviews. On this particular day, we were going to Stockton to eat at our favorite 🌮 shop. There was traffic on the freeway. So we took the streets instead. While stopped at the traffic light, I saw the smoke from the bbq pit. We decided not to make the trip to Stockton and give Shorters a try. Immediately, upon entering the bowling alley, an unpleasant stench hit our noses. We have bowled there before over the years. We were very hungry, proceeded just on down to Shorters. There was only one other customer before us. The young lady who took our order was nice. Mr. Shorter walked in and immediately began conversing with a male friend sitting watching tv. They were sitting together, talking and joking while assembling a portable, sink type item that Mr. Shorter had purchased. At some point he did look over and gave a semi head nod to my husband. I thought it was odd that at NO time did he actually greet any of the few customers who dined. We ordered hot links, three sides (potato salad, fries, mustard greens), two Shasta sodas and a tri tip sandwich. The total was about $40. While waiting about fifteen minutes, I noticed, that nobody in the kitchen was wearing hair coverings while dealing with the food. The sitdown bar area's foot rest, needed cleaning of food droppings. I had to ask the cashier to rinse the top of my soda can off due to it being dirty. Our food was brought over by a young lady with a bushy ponytail. The two links were drenched in bbq sauce, lacked grill marks, was warm and not piping hot. The potato salad helped make the links taste better. They were not spicy as the cashier said they were. The fries were two tone in color, hard, stale and looked to be the last of the bunch. Only one fry was soft and hot. My tri tip sandwich had plenty of meat. However, it was not piping hot, my bun had a pinkish liquid soaked on the corner as if the meat wasn't cooked! I pinched off two pieces and wasn't impressed. It didn't smell fresh either. I scraped the meat off the bun into my husband's link container to take home an attempt to salvage. I know good soul food and I can cook also. I'm a Southern woman, and absolutely ❤️ greens. These were not memorable! Last, but not least, we really wanted to patronize this place and support other Tracy's business. We wanted to tell Mr. Shorter that we weren't satisfied, but chose not to unaware of how he'd receive it. The only time he verbally acknowledged us was when we were leaving out the door. I hate to leave a negative review like this, but it's our experience and the truth. I wish the business success, but it needs some pertinent improvement...

I have a hard time with BBQ places that are recommended by skinny people. Especially the last couple places that I've been to that had their trophies displayed made me question where in the world did they compete because it tasted old and nasty. I make my own rubs and smoke my meats using real wood like real pit masters should. As a fat guy who loves BBQ I have a checklist of things that I look for to be called great BBQ. Hands down Shorter's got me. I have been hesitant even though I've seen the big smoker in the front. My go to on a menu is pulled pork. My God it was fantastic. The sweet and tangy BBQ sauce covering the perfectly slow smoked pork is amazing. The price was just right and the pulled pork nachos were a hit with my kids. Normally, I'll take my time to take pictures and eat slowly to savor the flavor but there was no savoring nothing. I was almost done before I realised I hadn't taken any pictures. By the time I got to the nachos my kids had cheese and bits of pork stuck to their face as they were shoving it in. If you're in the area you should definitely stop in. I'll be working my way around the menu real soon. In my book a restaurant is quality when you start craving it out of the blue. I'll be going there after I pick up my kids from school. Who knows, we might just blow a few games while we're there. They also bring the food to your lane...

Went and asked about there catering menu I had to wait 8 mins for someone to help me. There was a cubby man talking to people from the bowling alley ( inside where shorter's is) there was a young man cooking inside of the kitchen and a young lady Inside the kitchen as well. Finally when the chubby man came over I asked him if he can set a price for a plate with a piece of chicken and a 1 rib and 1 piece of tri-tip. I said I just want to taste to make sure i like it before I order. I told him set a price I will pay. He told me that he couldn't do that he said that I had to order the 3 meat plate with all the sides??? I said I don't want sides don't need sides. He said that is the only way I was going to taste it. So I order the dam 3 piece meal and thank God I did need to it was so so. The only thing I liked was the tri tip. Which I thought I would order and then go somewhere else for thr trst of the meats. I waited 5 mins after I tried the meat he never came back to see if I liked it. As I looked around I noticed that the young guy inside the kitchen was sweating real bad he kept wiping his head( while cooking) sick!!! Then the chubby guy who was sweating to walked right by me. I thought what bad service!!!! Thanks to Donnie' s I have the best BBQ and she didn't charge me to taste the meat!! Shorter's you just list 745.00...