After hearing multiple testimonies about heavenly meats and food-induced comas, I knew it was time to make a visit to Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q.

On a Friday night, I expected to enter a restaurant teeming with Chinese and foreign patrons alike, and perhaps be greeted with joyous yelling, loud music, and an extremely close atmosphere. This is what I pictured as a typical night at a Texan BBQ relocated to the heart of China. Instead, I was surprised to see the restaurant was spacious and calm, with only handfuls of people, mostly expats, pushed to the one side that housed the bar. The music playing in the background included a wide variety of genres that set a fun and friendly atmosphere. Despite reality not lining up with my imagination gone wild, it was a pleasant place to spend time with my friends.

When it came down to the actual food, I was pleased but not extremely impressed. The macaroni and cheese starter was sprinkled with bacon and came with a side of cornbread, reminding me of comfort foods from home.The other starter I tried was a platter of chicken wings. The wings had no spice to them unlike most Texan wings – although there was a sauce to give it an extra kick – but they were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, an excellent combination for this type of dish. After I finished the starters, I was pretty satisfied.

I was most looking forward to the main entrée, a pulled pork sandwich, since it’s a homemade food that I’ve been missing for months. The sandwich was topped with cole slaw and melted cheddar cheese on the bun, accompanied by fries. Overall, the sandwich wasn’t bad, but it didn’t exceed my expectations. The pork was a bit dry and tough, and there was no inevitable mess afterwards, a surefire sign that the sandwich was not as authentic as it could be. An extra side of corn on the cob followed, which I was most disappointed with. The corn had small kernels, already an indication it would not be as juicy, and despite being slathered in butter, it was mostly tasteless.

The dessert and coffee were my favorite dishes of the evening. The cheesecake was thick and creamy, but not too heavy even after a hefty meal, and the blackberry compote on top added a little something special to the mix. Usually, I also like to drink coffee after large dinners, and the service was quick to deliver. This was the perfect combination to end the dinner and left the experience on a good note.

Another important thing I want to point out was the excellent service. When we first sat down at Stubb’s, we were met with a pleasant smile from a waitress that looked neither nervous nor hopelessly fed up with her job. This one waitress served our whole table of 8 and had a friendly demeanor the whole time. Since there weren’t many other customers, she was very attentive, always waiting patiently nearby. She was never inconsiderate but also managed to avoid being overbearing. By the end of the night, I could tell she was amused by how much food our table managed to keep ordering in one sitting.

All in all, I was content at the end of my night at Stubb’s BBQ. It’s definitely a restaurant I’ll visit again in the future if I’m ever craving barbecue.

“Ratings”

Overall: 4.5 / 6 Price: 4 / 6 (A bit on the expensive side but the food is good quality.) Food: 4.5 / 6 (Good fix for Western food if you're craving it!) Service: 5.5 / 6 (Great, attentive service.) Atmosphere: 5/6 (Comfortable and relaxed when there aren't many customers around.)

“Want to visit?”

Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q Phone: (21) 5459 1202 Address: 550 Jianguo West Road, near Wulumuqi Road 徐汇区建国西路550号(近乌鲁木齐南路) Price Range: RMB 60 - RMB 120 Live Music: Every Friday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm Nearest Metro Stations: Hengshan Road, Line 1; Zhaojiabang Road, Line 7 or 9

This article was written by Cynthia Sun. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Ng Meizhi