Checked in for my Rodeo Roundup BBQ reservation 20 minutes early, but had to wait until about five minutes past reservation time before being seated. Not a big deal - extra time to work up that appetite. I'm conflicted about this place - my expectations were that it would be mediocre at best. And it definitely exceeded that low, low bar.
The theming is fabulous. And the cast members were super into it. I was pleasantly surprised how the whole restaurant played along when Andy was spotted.
I ordered a mule which was decent - clearly a premixed cocktail from a giant jug - but still enjoyable to me.
Salads and biscuits were brought all at once. Biscuits were excellent - hot and flaky. I'm not a red pepper jelly fan but that's on me not the food. Salads were fine. I thought the cucumber and tomato was the best composed salad. The romaine and kale salad was boring to me - not bad just not exciting in any way. The watermelon salad was just cubes of watermelon with like four tiny shavings of mint - not sure that actually counts as a salad, but the watermelon was good.
I wasn't expecting much from the BBQ meat and I was pleasantly surprised. The sausage was my favorite - nice flavor. Brisket and ribs were good. Dark meat chicken was excellent, but breast was dry.
I tried all three sauces - sweet was my favorite as it had a bit of smoke which I like in my BBQ sauce. And don't be afraid of the spicy - I'm not a fan of spicy things in general but didn't find it to be too hot.
Sides were a mixed bag. Fried pickles were very good - the best of the sides for sure.
Beans were decent. Tasted slightly better than the from a can stuff I pull out of my pantry as a side dish on very, very lazy cooking days.
Mac and cheese was meh at best.
I'm not sure what I was picturing when I ordered loaded tater tots, I mean potato barrels, but it wasn't this. Taste was fine, but everything was super soggy - even the bits of potato that don't seem to have been sauced directly.
Went with the chocolate silk pie for dessert. A nice little treat. Strong chocolate flavor - very rich.
The whole experience took about an hour from seating to leaving. And larger groups around me seemed to be on about the same pace. Probably because it was end of night. I actually thought the pace was just right. I know others have said it was a two hour experience for them, but that seems way too long for what it is to me.
Would I come back? I wouldn't refuse to come back and if someone wanted to try it I'd come with them. But, I can't see this taking the place of my normal Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge or boat over to Boardwalk-area resorts routine.
