Red’s True BBQ, Manchester

Sorry for the delay in posting this. I visited Red’s True Barbeque on two lunchtime occasions during their first couple of weeks after opening.  Not convinced, I intended to go back a third time “to give them another chance”. I guess the very fact that I haven’t sought to make it back, suggests that perhaps my mind is already made up.

The place, I like. The concept, I like. The food, I should like… but sadly, it failed to live up to my expectations.

A note on the service, which I have read a few negative tweets about – any interactions I had with the staff were positive and friendly. It’s just that on both occasions, short of waving ones arms frantically, I found it nigh on impossible to get anyone’s attention in the first place.

Instead of writing about the highs and lows of each dish, for those that were passable I have simply included the menu description. For the others, I have redrafted the descriptions (in red) so they match my perceptions of them.

Rib Tips – full flavoured trimmings from our St Louis pork ribs.
Rib Tips – bland, nasty, dry, grizzly off cuts from their St Louis pork ribs. Like chewing on the sole of a charred Dunlop Green Flash sneaker.

Hush Puppies – spicy sweetcorn and jalapeño fritters served with warm Red’s chilli con queso dip.
Hush Puppies – spicy sweetcorn and jalapeño fritters served with warm Red’s chilli con queso dip.

Grits – our twist on a True Southern classic with smoked garlic, fresh thyme and finished with butter and smoked paprika.

BBQ Pit Beans – sweet, smoky beans finished in the smoker for 12 hours. Laced with burnt ends, pulled pork, onions and spices. Best thing I ate.

BBQ Rib Taster – selection of Red’s legendary smoked pork ribs.
BBQ Rib Taster – selection of Red’s dry, overcooked smoked pork ribs.

Texas Beef Brisket –  freshly carved juicy 21 hour smoked beef brisket flat and point with red onion pickle and BBQ Gravy.

Beef Long - bottom right

Bucket o’ Bones – a selection of rib tips, baby backs, St Louis and beef long.
Bucket o’ Bones – a so-so selection of rib tips, baby backs, St Louis and a particularly fine and juicy beef long.

A general note on the ‘quality’ of the meat – I suppose you get what you pay for and Red’s struck me as a more quantity over quality kinda place – I’d happily pay more for less if the beef and pork itself was tastier.

I did particularly did enjoy the bottled sauces at the table – especially the mustard based South Carolina BBQ sauce and the Judas Ketchup.

Would I go back? I certainly have no plans to rush back but please don’t shoot me if you ever do find me gnawing on a bone.

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