R & R BARBEQUE - TUCSON, AZ

I have a love-hate relationship with this restaurant. The beef brisket (this is the only place where i eat this cut of meat due to its excellence) is wonderful; very very tender and flavorful without any fat ribbons or gristle. The meat is served on a fresh hoagie roll with a side of tasty and slightly spicy BBQ sauce. and for a $1 extra you get a side. I got french fries which were good and Bill always gets coleslaw which to me is pretty bland with hardly any dressing. They also have mac n' cheese (i had this once and i'm sure some of the gluey cheese is still sticking to tiny diverticuli pockets), potato salad (ho-hum) and beans which i've never tried because they don't give samples.

And this is one of several 'hate' aspects of my feeling about this place. The owner is a grossly overweight dour gruff person who never smiles and who is not welcoming at all. I always feel apologetic and also like i'm ready to be scolded. When i asked for a taste of the beans, he announced that he doesn't allow that and plus in umpteen years of him making beans, every customer has loved them. Well, that puts me in a competition with all those other customers which i'm not ready to join.

I don't see the sign anymore but he was on a rant one day about the cost of groceries and people wasting food and proclaimed that from now on if you wanted more than the small plastic cup of BBQ sauce you had to pay $2.50.

The restaurant is also grim looking. very plain and very bright. Unlike most BBQ places there are not napkins or paper towels at the table; instead you've got to go up to the counter under Mr. BBQ-Nazi's watchful eye and take some very thin and small napkins. I'm always ready to be sternly 'cut off'.

But ahhhhhhhhhhhh, the beef brisket so far comes out ahead of the atmosphere and persona of the owner so i'll be back.