J. J.
Google
We were looking for a locally owned BBQ spot and chose this place because of its 4.7-star rating. The location is pleasant, right next to a lake. Unfortunately, our experience was negative overall and left us with concerns you should know about.
Atmosphere & Setup
Despite the name Burn Theory Fire KITCHEN, this is not a traditional restaurant — it’s a food trailer (see photo), serving a microbrewery, Diametric Brewing. This was not clearly stated on the website, and with “kitchen” in the name, I could understand anyone’s confusion.
Upon seating, we noticed the reusable plastic cups still had stickers attached to the bottom. The A/C was very strong and made some in our party cold, so we walked around to warm up. The children’s area was a nice touch, but many books and toys were sticky or dirty. The nearby smoking area smelled strongly of smoke, with ashtrays full of cigarette butts. Just beyond, a corner was heavily covered in bird droppings — all detracting from first impressions.
Service & Wait Time
You pay and tip ahead of time at the bar then take a number. We waited nearly an hour for our order, which felt long for such a casual setup. During this time, we saw food being carried inside within plastic containers from a green trailer outside. We were never checked on, meaning if you need help, you must wait in the beer line to speak to someone.
As our wait stretched on, we realized we had little time before we had to leave. I stood in line for 10 minutes to ask if our order could be packaged to-go. While waiting, I saw a staff member arrive at our table and began to transfer our food from plastic to metal trays. I politely asked for it to be packed to-go, thinking all that was needed was a bag for the trays. The staff member’s response was visibly frustrated and curt as she turned away without acknowledging me. A child in our group even asked why “the lady was mad,” which says a lot about how the exchange came across.
When she bagged our food, now repackaging everything into paperboard containers, she chatted with co-workers and patrons, poured beers, and took a long time despite knowing we were pressed to leave. I inquired and mentioned we'd be happy to bag our items, she flippantly replied that “it would take a long time for all the food YOU ordered.” as if we'd done something wrong. The entire interaction left us feeling as though our time and patronage were not valued. Had we not needed to leave quickly, I would have requested a refund. A first for me.
Food Quality
In fairness, I won’t deduct points for texture/temperature, as we had to eat our food later. However, the fries were soggy as soon as we opened them on the way to the car. The Brussels sprouts were slightly charred and overly sweet (despite our dietary note), and one entrée was missing. The smoked wings had an impressive smoky depth of flavor, but I cannot fairly evaluate texture of the “smo-fried” preparation since they weren’t eaten right away.
Areas for Improvement
Transparency: Clearly state that this is a food trailer.
Efficiency: Shorten wait times or set better expectations. Offer a way for food-only customers to communicate with staff without standing in the beer line. Streamline the packaging process.
Service: Acknowledge requests politely and avoid showing frustration in front of guests — especially small children.
Cleanliness & Details: Refresh the children’s area, remove stickers from cups, clean them thoroughly, and relocate the smoking area farther from the entrance.
Final Thoughts
If you’re coming specifically for Burn Theory Fire “Kitchen" at this location, be prepared for long waits, self-service, and unacceptable customer service. Regardless of food quality, the combination of delays, communication challenges, and unprofessional service keeps me from recommending this establishment.
