Ethan B.
Yelp
I am glad I revisited Roger That, as it appears my last visit was indeed a fluke. It's by no means exceptional -- it's still rather low on my list of BBQ joints in town, but they're good folks and they try.
Again, starting at the good: the chicken wings are incredible, as others have pointed out. I'm not sure where they get the dinosaurs that produce such massive wings, but the meat is flavorful, the sauces and rubs diverse, and the breading crispy as anything. The wings are served with a buttermilk heavy ranch that cuts the breading perfectly. Delicious. The barbecue sauce is also a stand out plus. The Memphis-style sauce is on the thin side, but just the right balance of sweet, savory, and smoky. The brisket, which can have some quality control issues (see my previous review) is generally good, if not really worth the price tag.
Unfortunately, Roger That has a few issues. Least important, and admittedly more a pet peeve of mine, is that their hours / reliability are awful. They've gotten better at preparing enough food to last a few hours, but it can still be something of a crapshoot trying to come here on a weekend only to discover they've sold out.
As with my last review, I will note that both the ribs and the brisket run a bit bland. The quality of the meat seems to have gone up, with no more mealy texture -- I'm not sure whether they changed butchers or what, but it's working for them. Unfortunately, the flavor's still the same. The smoke just doesn't really seem to penetrate the meat. And the "spicy mac and cheese" remains the worst mac and cheese I've ever eaten.
On my first visit, I noted some hygiene issues -- hair in the food. This time, perhaps due to not ordering the same BBQ sauce, I did not notice any hairs as I was eating. I'm not hugely bothered by the occasional hair in my food, but at this price point, it can be a bit of a slap in the face. I'd still eat with a wary eye, at least for a few more visits.
Roger That still struggles to deliver consistent quality, but it's definitely worth a try. For the price point, I'd like a better job at the smoker. If everything were the quality of Roger That's wings, I'd be ecstatic. The owners are lovely people, and very attentive, but for the price, I really need some of that care and attention put into the food, not just the customer service.