Review: Bandana's

[mapsedge]

We like barbecue, and we haven't had it in awhile.  Consequently, after an afternoon of working in the yard, we decided to try again at the local place, Bandana's.  (We've been there before, but a long time ago.)

One thing we've noticed is that the parking lot, while never empty, is rarely full, and it certainly wasn't last night.  Now we know why.

We both got combo plates: Michelle chicken and pork, me beef and ribs.  Michelle liked hers, but on mine the beef was a little overcooked, and the ribs were mostly bone and fat.

We also decided to try their fried corn, which the waitress described as "deep fried and buttered."  Sounds like a great idea, but there was more "deep fried" than "buttered" about it, and it was in reality just an overcooked, dry corn on the cob.

The service was friendly but utilitarian, and took a while to find us even though we were seated in view of the kitchen and servers' area.  My drink was never refilled, nor offered to be, in my world a nearly unforgivable sin.

The restaurant itself is cleverly decorated without going completely over the top, but it wasn't very clean - like so much else, the staff didn't seem to be able to muster much enthusiasm for cleaning, either.  I stepped over a couple of flattened cigarette butts on my way to check out the progress on the Noland Rd. bridge, and there were the scattered remains of old meals under several tables.

In searching for something good to say about the place, I will compliment their sauces.  I liked every one to varying degrees, my favorite being the spicy version, a very comfortable balance of sweet, smoke and heat that complimented the meat well.  I would gladly take home a bottle of each, which you can: all of their sauces are bottled for sale.

To sum up, here you have a restaurant that's okay, but not good, like a circus act that the performers are tired of performing.  I'd eat there again if someone else was picking up the tab, but at nearly $50 for me and my family, this working-class man wants more than what he got.

Food: 3 out of 5 stars
Service: 3 out of 5 stars
Environment: 2 out of 5 stars
Value: 1 out of 5 stars

Comments

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Huh, you're far more generous with your stars that I am!

[aerie13.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's too bad. The Bandana's in Columbia is pretty darn good. It's parking lot is almost always full and I've never gone away hungry or unsatisfied.

[glesyn.livejournal.com]

come on back up to the Wabash. We'll make that experience vanish.