Delano Barbeque Company — Restaurant in Wichita

I have been a certified KCBS BBQ judge for 14 years, and grew up in a BBQ family of judges before that. This is some of the WORST bbq I've ever had!

Tried the 3 meat combo consisting of brisket, pulled pork, and ribs. The brisket I would have disqualified from a judges table. Its was sort of a shredded burnt paste. It shouldn't honestly be called brisket. It looked closer to catfish bait. Its overly salty, and a burnt dry flavor like someone mixed it and over cooked it in a crockpot...which isnt bbq.

The pulled pork had me hopeful as it had good color to it, but the over abundance of salt honestly made my gag reflexes go nuts. I had to over soak it in bbq sauce just to get the salt taste toned down. Honestly it was more like some pulled pork with my bbq sauce. Also very disappointing. (But not as sacrilege as what this place did to a brisket)

And last the ribs...again overly salty, and the tenderness was not there for where ribs are supposed to be. When the meat pulls off like its tender, but it's hard and chewy it's again a sign of over salting or a cheap slab of ribs.

If you want good bbq you'd be better off going to McDonald's and getting a McRib then eating here and that is just sad. This place is a perfect example how not to do bbq.

On the bright side, it is one of few bbq joints that can actually make a decent mac and cheese so if that floats your boat you have a win, but coming from a certified bbq judge I am sorry to say that it's not worth turning your head when driving by.

Anyone who thinks this is good bbq grew up with hot dogs and hamburgers being a bbq rather than a cook out.

A side note...their bbq sauce I would say is very good, and has massive potential.

(Added 02-04-2020) In response to the owner...go to KC and try Gates, Joe's, Slaps, and Jack Stack. These would be great examples of great bbq for a great price! 9 out of 10 in BBQ enthusiasts would be amazing! 9 out of 10 people that thinks hamburgers and hotdogs count as BBQ isn't a good standard to go for on good BBQ. I wrote an email to our KCBS review head to consider you guys for a professional review for print. Goodluck and I hope for the best for continuing to raise the BBQ standard.

(Added 04-09-2021) I noticed you updated your response to this review with a more professional response. Thank you! Adding a star for that. There is hope...

I went on Wednesday specifically to get the pork belly burnt ends. I ordered briskit and the burnt ends. When I got it my burnt ends looked like the brisket only cut in smaller pieces. I took it back and they said they didn't have the pork burnt ends. they should of said so when I ordered instead of trying to pass something else off. No apology no attempt to change the order. Let's forward this review 1 year. I went there 2 other times seeking the pork burnt ends . They were always sold out. One time I was there 45 minutes after they opened and they were out. If you are going to offer them have enough to offer. The last and Ii mean last time I was and will be there was yesterday. I got there 30 minutes before they opened to guarantee I would get the pork burnt ends. I ordered a two meat dinner with both beef and pork burnt ends. Had it to go. Went across town to appointment and found out my double meat dinner had 7 pieces of meat, and they were all the same. I figures a double meat would be more. So I called and told them what happened. They said come back and we'll fix it. No apology no nothing. So... 11/2 hours later after my appointment I returned. I was thinking the least they could do was replace the entire meal since my hot sides were now cold. I went in and I was handed a container that had meat only, both kinds. They were more than generous with the amount. Then before I could leave a guy came from the back and asked the guy who gaave me the container, what he had given me. He pulled the lid open and proceeded to chew the guy out for giving me both kinds of meat. He almost took the container back, but then said, let her have it. No apologies to my inconvenience or anything. I shall not return...

I'll start off my saying my only experience with this restaurant is with ordering and purchasing a boxed lunch order for 25. I hate rating a restaurant based on that kind of order, but I feel the need to share so others are aware.

The online menu is slightly misleading. Apparently box lunches only come with 2 meat options...."because its easier". As a customer that's not what I want to hear. You advertise "standard meat" options so in my opinion these should all be available in the box lunch. I was a but peturbed when upon calling I found this out. This meant I would have to hang up and reach out to my staff to get updated meat orders. I could have just as easily hopped online to order box lunches from panera "because its easier" but I chose go support local. On the plus side the owner Drew did give me his cell to call to update the order since he was getting ready to leave for the day.

When we got the box lunches 90% of the cookies were burnt on the bottom. And when I say burnt I mean the bottom of them were BLACK and they were inedible. This is where I struggle with the review. I spent years in the restaurant industry and know mistakes happen. But honestly the person who put those in the box knew damn well they were bad and they did it anyways. Also one of our boxes was missing the meat completely. Thank god someone called in sick.

What was supposed to be an employee appreciation meal turned out pretty disappointing. I will gladly update with a new review with any future experience, however after this one I'm afraid it...