I must confess, I did not venture with enthusiasm to Red’s True BBQ meat and grill restaurant. I was on a road-trip with three mates and we’d spent the day attempting to climb Mount Great Gable. Our days hike had been an adventure, but a failure nonetheless. Now we staggered into Leeds, tired, hungry, and on the hunt for a good evening meal to bring us together, replenished and reinvigorated for a fun night out. A BBQ meat restaurant was never going to be the right choice for a time like this. We needed a lighter meal; something with more carbs, less sauce and less salt. Something to make us energised not sluggish. But while I believe I held the right opinion; I did not hold the popular one. And in Red’s True BBQ did my weary travelling companions and I take our seats.
Now, whatever I may have been feeling at the time, I promise I won’t let it affect my review of Red’s True BBQ. This BBQ meat restaurant will be assessed objectively; well, as objectively as possible, considering that my objectives are pre-set by my own interests and opinions. But I shall not be unduly harsh on this meaty eatery, though neither shall I show unnecessary mercy.
After a truly exhausting day, nobody was going to stop me ordering a starter. A quick glance at the menu would suggest it doesn’t offer any real appetizers. Instead, the starter selection is simply a duplication of its side’s menu, offering snacks that would usually accompany mains: pork cracklings, battered pickle, swine fries. I went for mac’n’cheese balls, which were, (unsurprisingly) also listed under sides. I have no idea if it’s considered acceptable to dip mac n cheese balls in big blobs of BBQ sauce, but I wasn’t dining at the ritz, and my gut told me there was no right or wrong here. So, dunk my balls I did.
Okay, let’s start talking about meat…
‘Let there be MEAT. Amen.’ The Menu announces. And when it came to the meat, Red’s True BBQ delivered adequately. The menu was extensive and I enjoyed reading through the various different types of hotdogs and burgers before deciding that the ‘pit tray’ – a platter containing a range of meats – looked by far the best offering. There was a lovely heap of pulled pork (the tastiest), a long slab of pork belly (the most succulent) and tender chunks of sausage (the most contrasting taste). I think I actually enjoyed the pork belly the most, simply looking at the thing would be enough to make all but the most ardent vegans salivate.
The dried-up coleslaw and the pitiful bowl of chips however? Well, I’m no chef, or expert for that matter, but you can get better chips almost anywhere, including the random little chicken shops you find open at 3am. Being good at meat isn’t an excuse to skimp on the chips. KFC has this same problem. And the coleslaw? Look, I’m no fan of the gloopy mayo drenched stuff you get from the supermarket, but raw dry cabbage? Seriously? Could they not at least have added some tomato, or even the slightest smear of mayonnaise to moisten it up? What is a salad without a dressing? To be fairto Red’s True BBQ, our dining table was already populated with sauces, but there was no mayo in sight, and again, I’m no expert, but I don’t think that South Dakota BBQ and ketchup are good companions for cabbage and carrot.
Now that we’ve got the meat out of the way, let’s talk about the last, but by no means unimportant aspect of the refreshment. DRINKS.
We had all been looking forward to a beer. And when you’re digging your way through a pile of salty meat, it’s very important you have something good to wash it down with. And this is where Red’s True BBQ just seems to throw in the towel. There’s one pint of lager on draft, one IPA and one cider, and there’s one more option for each in a bottle. That’s it. What are you playing at True BBQ? I’m no IPA or cider drinker, I just like a nice lager, and the Bud Light they served was fine, but not even getting a choice on draft just takes out the fun. What if I did drink IPA? What if I wasn’t a fan of the Goose Island IPA they were offering? Man, a meaty eatery like this should have a better selection of beers, period. The menu did mention something about their selection ‘ever changing’ from ‘the best breweries around’, but guys? You need to actually have a selection in the first place. With only one lager on draft, you’re more likely taking the piss than getting anyone pissed. Anyway, what do I think of Red’s True BBQ overall?
The meat was tasty, and while it filled me up with the help of the mac n cheese balls, I’ve been to other grills whose pit trays could make this one look a little on the small side, and where ordering a starter isn’t necessary. I’d be much less picky about this if it weren’t for the prices. Be pricky with your prices and I’ll be picky in my review. Charging almost £20 for a burger in a place that more closely resembles a fast-food diner than a fine restaurant is not going to win you much forgiveness. But what will lose you forgiveness altogether? Having a rubbish selection of beer. Or more to the point, having no selection at all.
In conclusion, I’d only recommend this place for a night you’re planning to spend in front of the television, or maybe an evening of boardgames with friends. My friends thought it was the right place to fuel a late night on the lash. But as we later found out, they were wrong. It’s an alternative to having take-out, nothing more.
Atmosphere: 6/10
Service: 4/10
Food: 5/10
This review was for Red’s True BBQ in Leeds. The chain can also be found in Manchester, Nottingham and various other cities. https://truebarbecue.com/
