The thing that I liked best was Jared's genuine enthusiasm for BBQ and his hospitality, evidenced by the tour we received on the smoker room. The brisket was excellent, the ribs and sausage very good, the pulled pork a bit mushy, and the chicken a work in progress. The cornbread was considerable more moist than usual, to its credit (thanks to the custard) and the beans were very rich and flavorful. Although I ordered the Texas caviar (black-eye peas, peppers, etc), it will not be on my regular rotation. The truffled mac'n'cheese seemed out of place. At that price point there wasn't going to be real black truffles, so why go outside backcountry dishes?
I understand that Rub's is much improved, and if it continues to improve it might become a city-Q-destination. Right now it bests Merle's and certainly holds its own with Hecky's.
Cross-posted on the main Rub's thread.
Toast, as every breakfaster knows, isn't really about the quality of the bread or how it's sliced or even the toaster. For man cannot live by toast alone. It's all about the butter. -- Adam Gopnik