RUB - Righteous Urban BBQ (CLOSED)

Having lived in Austin TX for 8 years, I developed a deep affection for Texas-style BBQ. I have yet to be disappointed at RUB. The brisket is thin, tender and smokey. I LOVE the pastrami! The BBQ sauce is authentic and delicious. Even their basic hamburger is better than most. The sides are really good--love the smokey, meaty greens! The onion strings are dredged in the house rub--sweet, salty, with a bit of spice. The service is fine--the staff friendly enough without being intrusive. The food is delicious, and the price moderate to high--but accurate for authentic BBQ! Be forewarned, like any real BBQ place, they run out of meat later at night. BBQ can't be made in advance and stored. So, if you want something specific and it's late--call in advance. I highly recommend RUB as one of the best BBQ joints in Manhattan!

When done right, BBQ is succulent, delicious and full of flavor. We got the meat platter trying a few different types, everything was dry, the sauce was average and the service was seriously lacking. The servers were more interested in their text messaging than their tables.

Let me start by saying that I understand that BBQ restaurants sometimes run out of things, as I know at they can't be quickly or easily prepared. We went at about 8:30 on a Saturday night, waited for about 15 minutes for a table with no problem. When we were seated out waitress quickly came over and told us that they were out of pretty much everything, and that the hostess was supposed to tell us when we came in.They were out of brisket, ham, turkey, chicken, and sausage. They had pulled pork, pastrami and ribs. The waitress was very friendly and super attentive and the pulled pork that we ended up getting was great, however it seemed strange for a restaurant to be out of so many mains! We saw a large table walk out because they also werent informed of all of the shortages and will definitely call ahead next time to see what they actually have that night before we go...

Rub is delicious, especially their pulled pork & pulled chicken sandwiches. Fries are really good as well. We've also always had great, friendly service.

Seriously, with hill country and daisy mae's a few minutes away, there's no reason on earth to endure RUB's slow, rude service,or grizzly, grey meat. How this place stays in business is confounding.not worth the money (or really any money).

Get the Frito's chili pie! It has brisket in it and is served right on the Frito's bag. One of the best appetizers you'll ever have!

My wife and I ate at RUB twice when it first opened, after taking a bbq class in Pennsylvania with Paul Kirk. The first time, we ordered the pastrami, which was literally inedible, while the chicken was incredibly goo. The second time we had the brisket, which was very good and the chicken was again deliciously moist. After a long hiatus, we returned this afternoon and both of us ordered a combination plate of brisket and chicken. We both agreed that the chicken was surprisingly chewy--tasty, but very chewy. The brisket was so dry it was virtually inedible, more like cardboard than brisket. A complete disappointment and certainly not worth a trip from Staten Island. To compare this meal to the brisket and chicken at Hill Country is a joke. Hill Country's brisket, the fatty one, not the lean, kills the brisket at RUB. I doubt we will ever return.