MISSION BBQ — Restaurant in Wilmington

Just a bizarre experience…

I came in to pick up an online order and walked up to the counter, where I stood unattended, for almost 10 minutes without anyone looking directly at me or asking if I needed anything. It felt super weird.

Oddly though, there were 6 employees behind the counter and not one of them looked at or acknowledged me, asked if I needed anything, or if I was here to pick up my order. I was standing under the online order sign!

I finally had to call over behind the counter and ask the guy expediting the food if my order was ready. He didn’t say anything, and just grabbed my order, and still didn’t make any eye contact with me, as he opened my food and put it into a to go bag.

During that entire 10 minutes, I was the only one standing there…so I finally asked the guy who was expediting if he was ok.

He said he was sorry because he was looking at all of the tickets in front of him and making orders. When I said that I had been waiting there for 10 minutes and none of the 6 people said anything to me, he said that they were busy. Odd.

I just jot it up to this is the world that we live in nowadays, where people just can’t interact with the public, without a phone or screen device. Customer service continues to fall every where I think. I just expected more here.

It was as almost if all 6 of them were purposely not talking to me because they were expecting someone else to help, but in a place that “prides” itself in customer service, this was terrible.

I’m a military veteran and active law enforcement, so it’s odd that this place is all about serving that demographic, but then this happens. Even if I wasn’t military/LE, you still can’t ask if I need help? For 10 minutes at the counter?!

This all may sound harsh, and I’m not asking for 5 star service, especially when I’m picking up an online order…but maybe just pay attention to your customers and have some people skills.

The food was OK, and the atmosphere to me, means a lot less now after this experience. Lost a lot of credibility and I highly doubt that I’ll be back.

Definitely won’t recommend this place to military or first responders, when there’s a million other places to go...

With limited BBQ options to choose from in Wilmington, you can't go wrong with Mission BBQ. I have dined at the S. College Rd. location a few times but am just now taking the time to write a review, for whatever reason that may be.

FOOD: Pick 2 Meal: Brisket and Jalapeno-Cheese Sausage with a seasonal Sweet Potato Mash. Mission BBQ, each and every time, serves up wonderful meals with a smile and you're never waiting long for the food. Their brisket and sausage remind me of one of my favorite BBQ places to eat, located in Dallas, TX....Rudy's BBQ. I missed Rudy's for so long but then had Mission's smoked flavors,which are the most comparable, and I was a happy man again. The brisket was moist, tender and full of smokiness. The sausage packed some spicy heat but was calmed down by the small bits of cheese theoughout the body of the sausage. Excellent BBQ all around. The additional kickers included the sweet potato mash (tasted like holiday yams) and the fact that Mission provides 6 varieties of BBQ sauces to choose from or mix at your table. This allows you the personalized dressing of your own, to enhance the flavors of the meats. Although Mission is not my favorite BBQ of all time, you rank in my top 10 for overall flavors and consistency. SCORE: 4.8 STARS!!

SERVICE: Scoring service here can be a challenge due to your limited interaction with the staff. This is a place-your-order-at-the-counter style of restaurant and you pick it up when your name is called. The young lady who took our order was kind, polite, masked and did her job well. The establishment was clean and patrons, inside, all practiced social distancing. Nice job! 5 STARS!!

OVERALL SCORE: Mission BBQ has amazing food, friendly service and prompt delivery of hot, smoked meats. They also support and give back to American Veterans and First Responders...that speaks volumes to me. Consistent food and service keep me coming back to a place, I feel, should get more recognition than it receives!...

Lunchtime, Saturday May 20th, was our first visit(first year move in day at UNCW) and was NOT disappointed. We(three of us) got the pulled pork NC style sandwich with baked beans with brisket, Maggie's mac 'n cheese, fresh cut fries with American Hero cups, which is absolutely wonderful idea! Also, got the meat market pulled pork with Maggie's mac 'n cheese with American Hero cup.($2 donation goes to nonprofit in the community, READ their mission statement and giving back statement) We were greeted when we walked in which is a plus! There was a small line with two cashiers. We were called up and greeted. I told the cashier(tall lady with a cool camo hat) it was our first visit and she was pleasant and thorough, A+++! Super excited when she stated NO MICROWAVES! We fixed our drinks, highly recommend the sweet tea. There is a six pack of different sauces on each table with a bottle of NC vinegar as well. A sweet,female employee(dark hair with glasses) recommended Smokey Mountain sauce, N.C. vinegar for our sandwiches awesome combination. We highly recommend those and the Tupelo sauce. When called we went for our meals. These are not small portions! The side cups are pleasantly deceiving, we could not finish the delicious sides nor the market pulled pork. Makayla was kind and friendly. I believe ALL the staff really enjoy their job.All were smiling. I saw one man grooving as he made sandwiches, a male expediter smiling, genuinely happy enagaging with ALL customers! The decor is awesome. The entire restaurant is clean, A++++++! From all the bbq I have eaten, this hands down IS the best bbq I have ever had!

I love that this corporation/franchise supports all active duty, veterans and first responders!

We will...