Comments on: FreeFoods BBQ Brisket Sandwich is Another Triumph (And if They Raise the Price I’ll Kill ‘Em) http://midtownlunch.com/2009/05/07/freefoods-bbq-brisket-sandwich-is-another-triumph-and-if-they-raise-the-price-ill-kill-em/ Finding Lunch in New York City's Midtown Manhattan Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:31:29 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Harry http://midtownlunch.com/2009/05/07/freefoods-bbq-brisket-sandwich-is-another-triumph-and-if-they-raise-the-price-ill-kill-em/comment-page-1/#comment-214608 Harry Thu, 14 May 2009 13:05:31 +0000 http://midtownlunch.com/?p=5782#comment-214608 This sandwich is GOOD! The gouda gives it a very rich flavor. And the BBQ sauce is great. I really enjoyed it. It's not like the Brisket sandwiches you get at the BBQ joints down south. It has a more refined flavor. I'm not saying it's better or worse. Just different. (Very enjoyably different) This sandwich is GOOD! The gouda gives it a very rich flavor. And the BBQ sauce is great. I really enjoyed it. It’s not like the Brisket sandwiches you get at the BBQ joints down south. It has a more refined flavor. I’m not saying it’s better or worse. Just different. (Very enjoyably different)

]]> By: Jeff http://midtownlunch.com/2009/05/07/freefoods-bbq-brisket-sandwich-is-another-triumph-and-if-they-raise-the-price-ill-kill-em/comment-page-1/#comment-213482 Jeff Fri, 08 May 2009 17:28:05 +0000 http://midtownlunch.com/?p=5782#comment-213482 Tasty tasty.. although i feel the brisket was a tad too soft. I mean, I understand that it's a mash of meat like a sloppy joe (as it's called) but I would't have like a little more chewiness to it. But still, all the components were a great mix (that's smoked gouda right? whatever, cheeze iz good!) Notes: 1) Actually had this for dinner, around 7.. great that this place is a open beyond lunch; 2) my bread was different than that in Zach's pic, but still something special and buttery. Frankly, I'd stick with the duck reuben although this is a great sub. I have to mention the service here is super friendly. There we so many orders of the brisket that i had to wait a few minutes (no biggie.. like 10 mins.. that's nothing)... So they threw in a free cookie... mmm... cookie. Actually, forget the overpriced iced teas.. learn to drink water.. and opt for a cookie... nothing chases down the grease better :> There was something really wholesome about it. Tasty tasty.. although i feel the brisket was a tad too soft. I mean, I understand that it’s a mash of meat like a sloppy joe (as it’s called) but I would’t have like a little more chewiness to it. But still, all the components were a great mix (that’s smoked gouda right? whatever, cheeze iz good!)
Notes: 1) Actually had this for dinner, around 7.. great that this place is a open beyond lunch; 2) my bread was different than that in Zach’s pic, but still something special and buttery.

Frankly, I’d stick with the duck reuben although this is a great sub. I have to mention the service here is super friendly. There we so many orders of the brisket that i had to wait a few minutes (no biggie.. like 10 mins.. that’s nothing)… So they threw in a free cookie… mmm… cookie. Actually, forget the overpriced iced teas.. learn to drink water.. and opt for a cookie… nothing chases down the grease better :> There was something really wholesome about it.

]]> By: Chris http://midtownlunch.com/2009/05/07/freefoods-bbq-brisket-sandwich-is-another-triumph-and-if-they-raise-the-price-ill-kill-em/comment-page-1/#comment-213478 Chris Fri, 08 May 2009 17:15:40 +0000 http://midtownlunch.com/?p=5782#comment-213478 Good point about the inconsistency. I got the brisket sandwich today and it looks nothing like Zach's pictures: http://twitpic.com/4sfre It was quite tasty, though (and this is extremely unusual coming from me) a bit excessive on the cheese. No problem finding the onions, either. Co-worker and I both liked it but think the duck pastrami still has the edge, price notwithstanding. Good point about the inconsistency. I got the brisket sandwich today and it looks nothing like Zach’s pictures: http://twitpic.com/4sfre It was quite tasty, though (and this is extremely unusual coming from me) a bit excessive on the cheese. No problem finding the onions, either. Co-worker and I both liked it but think the duck pastrami still has the edge, price notwithstanding.

]]> By: Ecoli http://midtownlunch.com/2009/05/07/freefoods-bbq-brisket-sandwich-is-another-triumph-and-if-they-raise-the-price-ill-kill-em/comment-page-1/#comment-213452 Ecoli Fri, 08 May 2009 15:56:18 +0000 http://midtownlunch.com/?p=5782#comment-213452 My only gripe about free food ( i don't actually mind paying a little extra for good food ) is the inconsistency of what you get. First brisket sandwich i got was shredded/pulled brisket drenched in a cloyingly sweet BBQ sauce. It was good but a little too sweet. Last time i had it it was slabs of brisket and less sauce more resembling the pictures here. The duck reuben is also somewhat hit or miss. I mean it's a great sandwich no matter what, but the first one i got was one of the best sandwiches i've ever had. The last time i got it it paled in comparison. Plus i always feel like they're trying to talk me out of getting what i ordered. "oh, that's gonna take a while to make...." or "We're out of the bread we us for that, why don't you try this..." Who runs out of bread at one in the afternoon? My only gripe about free food ( i don’t actually mind paying a little extra for good food ) is the inconsistency of what you get. First brisket sandwich i got was shredded/pulled brisket drenched in a cloyingly sweet BBQ sauce. It was good but a little too sweet. Last time i had it it was slabs of brisket and less sauce more resembling the pictures here.

The duck reuben is also somewhat hit or miss. I mean it’s a great sandwich no matter what, but the first one i got was one of the best sandwiches i’ve ever had. The last time i got it it paled in comparison.

Plus i always feel like they’re trying to talk me out of getting what i ordered. “oh, that’s gonna take a while to make….” or “We’re out of the bread we us for that, why don’t you try this…” Who runs out of bread at one in the afternoon?

]]> By: James http://midtownlunch.com/2009/05/07/freefoods-bbq-brisket-sandwich-is-another-triumph-and-if-they-raise-the-price-ill-kill-em/comment-page-1/#comment-213288 James Thu, 07 May 2009 20:50:40 +0000 http://midtownlunch.com/?p=5782#comment-213288 @ Zach. RE: pizza from TX "Imagine if one of us moved to Texas (or N.C. or Memphis), and everybody there was like "go to this pizza place, it is so freaking awesome."" Like the old cliche: "One man's meat is another man's poison." Back in Feb while on vacation in Austin, I met some UT students that swore Austin pizza is the best. I tried to suggest that while us NY-ers really don't know anything about real BBQ, we know pizza. "If you haven't tried NY pizza, then you have never really had pizza." Well, obviously did not agree. What I didn't know was that I was talking to members of a local pizza eating club www.austinpizzaeatingsociety.com I knew BBQ has a huge following in TX but pizza? I never tried the Austin, TX pizza but my brother did and he said it was just passable while the other Austin folks loved it. @ Zach. RE: pizza from TX

“Imagine if one of us moved to Texas (or N.C. or Memphis), and everybody there was like “go to this pizza place, it is so freaking awesome.”"

Like the old cliche: “One man’s meat is another man’s poison.”

Back in Feb while on vacation in Austin, I met some UT students that swore Austin pizza is the best. I tried to suggest that while us NY-ers really don’t know anything about real BBQ, we know pizza. “If you haven’t tried NY pizza, then you have never really had pizza.”

Well, obviously did not agree. What I didn’t know was that I was talking to members of a local pizza eating club http://www.austinpizzaeatingsociety.com

I knew BBQ has a huge following in TX but pizza? I never tried the Austin, TX pizza but my brother did and he said it was just passable while the other Austin folks loved it.

]]> By: stevenp http://midtownlunch.com/2009/05/07/freefoods-bbq-brisket-sandwich-is-another-triumph-and-if-they-raise-the-price-ill-kill-em/comment-page-1/#comment-213287 stevenp Thu, 07 May 2009 20:49:42 +0000 http://midtownlunch.com/?p=5782#comment-213287 Ooops.... did I type that out loud? Ooops…. did I type that out loud?

]]> By: James http://midtownlunch.com/2009/05/07/freefoods-bbq-brisket-sandwich-is-another-triumph-and-if-they-raise-the-price-ill-kill-em/comment-page-1/#comment-213284 James Thu, 07 May 2009 20:40:28 +0000 http://midtownlunch.com/?p=5782#comment-213284 RE: Tyler & real BBQ in NYC. I'm a member of the National BBQ Association and a backyard BBQ hobbyist. Just last year, I got serious about cooking & eating real BBQ. I've been slowly eating my way across NYC & LI. Ever try RUB in Chelsea, rubbbq.net ? It doesn't fall into the ML/low-price genre but you get what you pay for. Real BBQ that not over smoked or over sauced. Kansas City BBQ author/instructor/pitmaster Paul Kirk is the guy behind it. The brisket, pulled pork & ribs were great. The chicken & turkey were good. I thought the sausage & ham was just OK. The beans however were fantastic. Most beans is just beans, but at RUB, they did beans right. There is also Hill Country in Chelsea too. They cloned Lockhart, TX BBQ joints Kreuz Market and Smitty's and added Austin's live music dropped it right into NYC. Since they copy famous TX places, it is setup like a butcher or a meat market. Don't be put off by the very different feel & vibe in the place. I had fatty brisket and it was great & very similar to Lockhart & central TX brisket. I haven't tried Daisy May's, Blue Smoke, Virgils, Dinosaur but I hope to try at least one this weekend. RE: Tyler & real BBQ in NYC.
I’m a member of the National BBQ Association and a backyard BBQ hobbyist. Just last year, I got serious about cooking & eating real BBQ. I’ve been slowly eating my way across NYC & LI.

Ever try RUB in Chelsea, rubbbq.net ? It doesn’t fall into the ML/low-price genre but you get what you pay for. Real BBQ that not over smoked or over sauced. Kansas City BBQ author/instructor/pitmaster Paul Kirk is the guy behind it. The brisket, pulled pork & ribs were great. The chicken & turkey were good. I thought the sausage & ham was just OK. The beans however were fantastic. Most beans is just beans, but at RUB, they did beans right.

There is also Hill Country in Chelsea too. They cloned Lockhart, TX BBQ joints Kreuz Market and Smitty’s and added Austin’s live music dropped it right into NYC. Since they copy famous TX places, it is setup like a butcher or a meat market. Don’t be put off by the very different feel & vibe in the place. I had fatty brisket and it was great & very similar to Lockhart & central TX brisket.

I haven’t tried Daisy May’s, Blue Smoke, Virgils, Dinosaur but I hope to try at least one this weekend.

]]> By: Zach Brooks http://midtownlunch.com/2009/05/07/freefoods-bbq-brisket-sandwich-is-another-triumph-and-if-they-raise-the-price-ill-kill-em/comment-page-1/#comment-213277 Zach Brooks Thu, 07 May 2009 20:22:01 +0000 http://midtownlunch.com/?p=5782#comment-213277 @tyler - I don't think Daisy May's is the greatest BBQ of all time. I think their pulled pork is waaaaay too sweet (practically inedible), and some of their sides are better than others. But I think their dry rub ribs are pretty awesome... as are their sweet and sticky ribs, if you're into that sort of thing. I do agree with you that the place is grossly overpriced. In the end, BBQ is pretty similar to pizza, and burgers, and Mexican food, and pretty much almost everything... you're never going to get everybody to agree. And even worse than that, when somebody tells you something is amazing, you're probably going to be more critical than if you had just walked in off the street on your own. Think of it this way... Imagine if one of us moved to Texas (or N.C. or Memphis), and everybody there was like "go to this pizza place, it is so freaking awesome." No matter how good it seemed to those people recommending it, we probably wouldn't think it was all that great. Who is right? @tyler – I don’t think Daisy May’s is the greatest BBQ of all time. I think their pulled pork is waaaaay too sweet (practically inedible), and some of their sides are better than others. But I think their dry rub ribs are pretty awesome… as are their sweet and sticky ribs, if you’re into that sort of thing.

I do agree with you that the place is grossly overpriced.

In the end, BBQ is pretty similar to pizza, and burgers, and Mexican food, and pretty much almost everything… you’re never going to get everybody to agree. And even worse than that, when somebody tells you something is amazing, you’re probably going to be more critical than if you had just walked in off the street on your own.

Think of it this way… Imagine if one of us moved to Texas (or N.C. or Memphis), and everybody there was like “go to this pizza place, it is so freaking awesome.” No matter how good it seemed to those people recommending it, we probably wouldn’t think it was all that great. Who is right?

]]> By: Tyler http://midtownlunch.com/2009/05/07/freefoods-bbq-brisket-sandwich-is-another-triumph-and-if-they-raise-the-price-ill-kill-em/comment-page-1/#comment-213275 Tyler Thu, 07 May 2009 20:11:24 +0000 http://midtownlunch.com/?p=5782#comment-213275 Can I just take a second and talk about how everyone (apparently including you Zach) is so in love with Daisy May's? Is it because Chef Lang went to a fancy culinary school or worked at Michelin starred restaurants? Anyone that knows good BBQ knows that the best is made by toothless country folk, the exact opposite of who is running Daisy May's. I've eaten there about 5 times, only because EVERYONE in New York raves about how good the BBQ is, and I think I might just be catching them on bad days, but everything is terrible. -Sauce has no kick -Everything is overly smoked (smoke only trumps all when used properly) -The ribs are completely dried out (I've tried 3 times) -Sides are bland and grossly overpriced I could go on...but I just want to know why everyone is praising this mid-grade BBQ on a daily basis. Has anyone in New York ever had real BBQ? Please help me find some... Can I just take a second and talk about how everyone (apparently including you Zach) is so in love with Daisy May’s?
Is it because Chef Lang went to a fancy culinary school or worked at Michelin starred restaurants?
Anyone that knows good BBQ knows that the best is made by toothless country folk, the exact opposite of who is running Daisy May’s.
I’ve eaten there about 5 times, only because EVERYONE in New York raves about how good the BBQ is, and I think I might just be catching them on bad days, but everything is terrible.
-Sauce has no kick
-Everything is overly smoked (smoke only trumps all when used properly)
-The ribs are completely dried out (I’ve tried 3 times)
-Sides are bland and grossly overpriced

I could go on…but I just want to know why everyone is praising this mid-grade BBQ on a daily basis.
Has anyone in New York ever had real BBQ? Please help me find some…

]]> By: Sammy http://midtownlunch.com/2009/05/07/freefoods-bbq-brisket-sandwich-is-another-triumph-and-if-they-raise-the-price-ill-kill-em/comment-page-1/#comment-213234 Sammy Thu, 07 May 2009 18:19:40 +0000 http://midtownlunch.com/?p=5782#comment-213234 Just had the brisket. It is indeed pretty damn good. the bread is fantastic and the cheese id piled on heavy. my meat was a bit undersauced oddly enough. but i am full. and satisfied. Just had the brisket. It is indeed pretty damn good. the bread is fantastic and the cheese id piled on heavy. my meat was a bit undersauced oddly enough. but i am full. and satisfied.

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