This is the second time I've been to Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ. Not because it's not good but because it's all the way across town from where I live. It's about a 20 minute drive without traffic.
Anyway, my visit last night was to take advantage of their advertisement deal of $25-all-you-can-eat going on for the Monday Night Football game of Cowboys vs Titans...although the deal was available all day.
The weather was great and it was actually more comfortable to sit outside than inside because it was really chilly inside. It wasn't too busy at the time of my arrival of around 6 p.m. as I thought it would be especialy with the AYCE deal.
I waited for a few friends to arrive before sitting and ordering. Once seated, our waitress (Sofie, I believe) took our drink order and then our dinner order. I was there strictly for the AYCE deal but my friends took a little while to decide before finally opting for the AYCE as well.
As advertised, the AYCE deal started out with three meats, two sides, a dessert and a drink. Which looking at the menu would run about the $25 if not more of the AYCE deal.
I ordered the brisket, pulled pork, ribs, fried okra, mac-n-cheese, banana pudding and a Diet Coke. When they brought my food to the table, the sides were plenty but the meat was sparse: two brisket slices, two ribs and maybe an ice cream scoop of pulled pork.
The mac-n-cheese was just like I remembered it although the bbq Lays crumbs weren't as much as before and so their flavor didn't mix with the mac-n-cheese as much. Essentially, the mac-n-cheese is nothing spectacular and could be just Kraft or Velveeta mac-n-cheese.
The fried okra was pretty tasty if a bit salty. I'm not a a huge fried okra/okra fan but I figured this would be a side that I wouldn't eat as much of which would leave room for more meat. I ended up taking 90% of the fried okra home.
The brisket wasn't very moist but was still tender. I guess I forgot my own advice from my previous review about having to specify moist versus lean/chef cut. I did remember though that the brisket was better with the house barbecue sauce versus plain.
The ribs looked a little smaller...punier...than I remember from my first visit. They were still pretty tasty and almost more moist than the brisket.
The pulled pork was okay. It was my first taste of it here. I did find that it seemed better with the house sauce than plain like the brisket. I just didn't find myself saying, "Man, this is really good pulled pork." It was more like, "I could eat it." Which is what I did.
The banana pudding was pretty darn good. In fact, it is the type of banana pudding that SHOULD be served at ALL barbecue joints. I'm not saying it was spectacular but it had the right taste, texture and vanilla wafers (okay they could have more) that a banana pudding should at least be. I'm not a dessert guy at bbq joints but when I do partake, it should be at least worthy of being served. I've been to a Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ joint that did not have good at all banana pudding. Anyway...
I put in my order for the second round of meats and Sofie returned with another sparse serving of two slices of brisket and two ribs. The brisket this time around was more moist and flavorful. The two new ribs were just as tasty as the first two and just as small.
I just felt like they were nickel and diming us on the servings. I mean I know they want to make their money and people waste food but I would NEVER EVER WASTE GOOD or GOOD ENOUGH BBQ and I would typically eat more meat than the cost of the AYCE so I felt like I got my monies worth. That being said, I did not order a third round as my companions were ready to leave. Even though I could have and should have stayed, I didn't because I was battling a headache. I am a bit disappointed in myself that I did not take full advantage of getting a few more servings of the two by two meats. I'll know better next time.
The only issue I did have with the entire adventure was the extra cost we were not made aware of for ordering ribs. While I believe on the everyday menu, it says that if you want a two meat meal and one of the meats is ribs, it costs $4.00 extra for a half rack. The AYCE was $25 and they added $4 for ribs. This not mentioned ANYWHERE in their AYCE advertising! So, if you didn't order another round of meats including the ribs, you will have paid $4.00 for just two puny ribs! It's bad enough that I only got four puny ribs. If I would have known beforehand, I would have either not gotten ribs or ordered many more rounds. Some people may think $4 for 2-4 ribs isn't bad but I couldn't fill a sandwich with the meat off the four ribs much less two ribs. I'm not totally dogging the ribs. I'm just saying if I was made aware of the added costs, I would have either ordered some other meat or, like I said, made sure I ordered more ribs.
Overall, the food was good and the atmosphere was very enjoyable. Now that I know what I know about the AYCE deal, when they have it again and I decide to partake, I will make better choices and make sure I'm not pressed for time or anything so I can draw out AYCE experience.
Anyway, my visit last night was to take advantage of their advertisement deal of $25-all-you-can-eat going on for the Monday Night Football game of Cowboys vs Titans...although the deal was available all day.
The weather was great and it was actually more comfortable to sit outside than inside because it was really chilly inside. It wasn't too busy at the time of my arrival of around 6 p.m. as I thought it would be especialy with the AYCE deal.
I waited for a few friends to arrive before sitting and ordering. Once seated, our waitress (Sofie, I believe) took our drink order and then our dinner order. I was there strictly for the AYCE deal but my friends took a little while to decide before finally opting for the AYCE as well.
As advertised, the AYCE deal started out with three meats, two sides, a dessert and a drink. Which looking at the menu would run about the $25 if not more of the AYCE deal.
I ordered the brisket, pulled pork, ribs, fried okra, mac-n-cheese, banana pudding and a Diet Coke. When they brought my food to the table, the sides were plenty but the meat was sparse: two brisket slices, two ribs and maybe an ice cream scoop of pulled pork.
The mac-n-cheese was just like I remembered it although the bbq Lays crumbs weren't as much as before and so their flavor didn't mix with the mac-n-cheese as much. Essentially, the mac-n-cheese is nothing spectacular and could be just Kraft or Velveeta mac-n-cheese.
The fried okra was pretty tasty if a bit salty. I'm not a a huge fried okra/okra fan but I figured this would be a side that I wouldn't eat as much of which would leave room for more meat. I ended up taking 90% of the fried okra home.
The brisket wasn't very moist but was still tender. I guess I forgot my own advice from my previous review about having to specify moist versus lean/chef cut. I did remember though that the brisket was better with the house barbecue sauce versus plain.
The ribs looked a little smaller...punier...than I remember from my first visit. They were still pretty tasty and almost more moist than the brisket.
The pulled pork was okay. It was my first taste of it here. I did find that it seemed better with the house sauce than plain like the brisket. I just didn't find myself saying, "Man, this is really good pulled pork." It was more like, "I could eat it." Which is what I did.
The banana pudding was pretty darn good. In fact, it is the type of banana pudding that SHOULD be served at ALL barbecue joints. I'm not saying it was spectacular but it had the right taste, texture and vanilla wafers (okay they could have more) that a banana pudding should at least be. I'm not a dessert guy at bbq joints but when I do partake, it should be at least worthy of being served. I've been to a Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ joint that did not have good at all banana pudding. Anyway...
I put in my order for the second round of meats and Sofie returned with another sparse serving of two slices of brisket and two ribs. The brisket this time around was more moist and flavorful. The two new ribs were just as tasty as the first two and just as small.
I just felt like they were nickel and diming us on the servings. I mean I know they want to make their money and people waste food but I would NEVER EVER WASTE GOOD or GOOD ENOUGH BBQ and I would typically eat more meat than the cost of the AYCE so I felt like I got my monies worth. That being said, I did not order a third round as my companions were ready to leave. Even though I could have and should have stayed, I didn't because I was battling a headache. I am a bit disappointed in myself that I did not take full advantage of getting a few more servings of the two by two meats. I'll know better next time.
The only issue I did have with the entire adventure was the extra cost we were not made aware of for ordering ribs. While I believe on the everyday menu, it says that if you want a two meat meal and one of the meats is ribs, it costs $4.00 extra for a half rack. The AYCE was $25 and they added $4 for ribs. This not mentioned ANYWHERE in their AYCE advertising! So, if you didn't order another round of meats including the ribs, you will have paid $4.00 for just two puny ribs! It's bad enough that I only got four puny ribs. If I would have known beforehand, I would have either not gotten ribs or ordered many more rounds. Some people may think $4 for 2-4 ribs isn't bad but I couldn't fill a sandwich with the meat off the four ribs much less two ribs. I'm not totally dogging the ribs. I'm just saying if I was made aware of the added costs, I would have either ordered some other meat or, like I said, made sure I ordered more ribs.
Overall, the food was good and the atmosphere was very enjoyable. Now that I know what I know about the AYCE deal, when they have it again and I decide to partake, I will make better choices and make sure I'm not pressed for time or anything so I can draw out AYCE experience.
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