Red’s True Barbecue

Red’s deserves a solid 3.5 stars but I’ve rounded it up to 4 stars because I feel like 3 wouldn’t do it justice.
I had the pitmaster burger, which was essentially a ton of different barbecued meats + cole slaw inside a bun. The brisket was particularly good. If you’re a burger person, I’d recommend it. My boyfriend had the medium beef rib which was absolutely massive. So fair warning to anyone who dares to order the large! Anyway he seemed to really enjoy it!
We also ordered sides of beans, onion rings, and chips. Avoid the onion rings as you only get 2 per order (aka £1 per mediocre onion ring). The chips weren’t anything special either. I did, however, really enjoy the bbq beans and if I ever come back, it will be the only side I’ve got my eyes on!
The beer selection is not great so that was a little bit of a let down.
Overall, good American barbecue (especially for the north of England)!

The BBQ ribs were great, my pulled pork sandwich was mouth-​watering.
But what’s even better is the theme for this restaurant — all hallelujahs! and amens! and «let there be meat». Their menu looks like a bible, complete with a fork & knife making a cross on front.
We LOVED it!
See pics for more

Heard a lot of good reports so decided to try it out on Sunday but was disappointed with my ribs and especially the salad I had with them… its not cheap and unfortunately did not meet up to my expectations although friends have had better expereinces than me

They messed up our order so we had to take a burger we didn’t ask for.
The normal burger was below average and not worth £9. I asked for it well done and it wasn’t.
The ribs were absolutely awful and not worth the money. No meat on them.
Fries came in a pie dish, and there weren’t as many as other photos show.
£5.50 for a pint of lager is scandalous.
The only positive was that service was spot on.
Would I return? No.

This was the second time we have been to Reds True, and it seemed much better than the first. We arrive about 3.30 pm — not too busy, it was quiet enough to be able to talk and we were seated straight away. We were told about the specials which included Jerk ribs — and told these were spicy. I chose the ribs and the missus chose the brisket and burnt ends s’witch. Both came within a relatively quick time and boy were the ribs hot!
One of the waiting staff must have seen how spicy the ribs were and offered me a glass of milk which was on the house. Its little touches like that which have earned this place the extra star.
Will definitely be visiting again.

Having eaten here before with an average experience I thought I would give it another go as my lovely wife fancied a burger.
As far as the service went it was fantastic, we were greeted very well and the staff were attentive, knowledgeable of the menu and friendly exactly what you want.
Reds do offer a very wide selection of the BBQ based food and the smell that hits you as you walk in is a BBQ’ers dream. The beer selection is also very good however it is very expensive over £4.50 for a pint of Brooklyn Lager.
We I decided what we wanted, she got a Burger and Fries I built my selection of Baby Back Ribs, Beef Brisket and Sweet Potato Fries and when we ordered it was no more than 5 minutes and it was laid in front of us on trays. I like this little feature even if it is turning up everywhere.
The burger my wife got looked awesome stacked high with salad, melting cheese and a juicy meat slab in the middle Awesomeness! My tray looked good but I was very disappointed with the meager portion beef brisket 2.5 pieces I received for £8.50 and the sweet potato fries had obviously been sat on the side a little while waiting for people to order them. The ribs were nice needed a bit more sauce over them and they were cooked a little to much (probably cooked and reheated judging by the 5 minute timescale of ordering to eating)
The food was average would recommend the burger over the rest it is the prices which really lets it down. I was well aware of what I was ordering and the cost of it all and would be happy to pay it with a better quality product. They should maybe not cook so much in advance, I am sure people would be happy to wait a little longer and get a better meal I know I would. And they need to up the portions a little bit paying £8.50 i expect a mini mound of Beef brisket not a mole hill.
Still better than meat liquor but falls behind Cattle grid for me.

I arrived after work on Friday about 4:30 and told them I was meeting mates there. I sat down and they basically ignored me until I hauled one for a drink, after about 10 minutes. Once my friends arrived, they were more attentive.
Friends had told me it was great and raved on about the food so I was looking forward to it.
I had ribs and a side. Was better than average and would go again but probably not my first choice as you can’t book.

My boyfriend and I love this place, we have been many times and the food is always to the same succulent standard. I usually have the ribs, the meat just falls off the bone and the barbecue sauce is amazing! There are plenty of tasty sides to choose from too.
The only shame is that there is often a long wait for a table but its popularity doesn’t surprise me!

Arrived 4.30pm. Told have to wait half but did the ingenious thing of taking our number and ringing us when a table became ready. Saunter in Corn Exchange and 15 mins later, our table was ready. Niece who is 9 ordered from kids menu. Nephew 11, we thought might need adult portion as kids ones tend to be lacking but here the pulled pork slider was generous. Shame all the other bits of the kids menu goes back to samey nuggets type fodder. As for the adults, my rib tops starter was quite nice if a little gristly but good all the same. Main was the brisket plate. The brisket melted in your mouth and gravy on it was drinkable. Didn’t say it came with slaw so when I ordered slaw as a side, it seemed bit of a waste.
Good variation of sauces from ketchup to three types of bbq and a hot sauce for the brave. The fries were nothing special if even a little let down by the rest of meal being so great. Drinks were plentiful in choice, be prepared to be asked a few times about top ups.
The restaurant is busy and quite active with the cooking area being with the customers. I can imagine later in the night it would become even more rowdy with the night life. Had American bbq in Maine and in New York City and this is on a par.

Menu looks great but with so many empty tables and door staff that say when there is no queue «if you haven’t booked we can’t give you a table» it’s not worth the effort.

This place is definitely aimed at the male market. With a menu consisting of things like ribs and ‘oh-​so-​now’ pulled pork (give me a break), I was less than impressed. I love my meat but I am not a caveman. I do not wish to spend my time at a restaurant picking out bits of meat from between my teeth or continually having to wipe my hands on napkins because they’re covered in pork fat. I’m a laydeeee!
I ended up ordering a measly portion of cheese-​stuffed, deep fried jalapeños and sweet potato chips to dip in the selection of sauces. The sauces were tastier than the food, if you ask me.
It’s unlikely that I’ll be returning to Red’s. It’s just not me and a bit too much like somewhere you’d see that dude from Man Vs Food shoving ridiculous amounts of heart attack-​inducing American yuckiness into his gob.
I think the only way you’d get me back here would be to ply me with booze beforehand. Everything tastes good when you’ve had a few — fact. But until then, I’ll be dodging this boring, overpriced, testosterone-​targeted bullet.

Found it as I had a hankering for something’s flesh, although my fiancé was a little against the idea as she apparently had something more dainty and ladylike in mind (probably something that involves pasta or some such non-​food). Was directed to a tiny table in the corner next to the window, but despite the squash the food was good enough to make my fiancé change her mind and start eating my order as well as her Jalapeño’s poppers (no, I don’t know why they are called that either).
I’m not sure about this place at all. The food is good (but not amazing), the décor is good (but a bit fast-​foodish) and fair enough the service was spot on. However, the price was high for what it was, and the Heineken beer I ordered was three pounds ninety five. THREE POUNDS NINETY FIVE. It wasn’t a magic beer and it wasn’t London. It wasn’t served by an acrobat juggling or by a group of itinerant midgets. THREE POUNDS NINETY FIVE. OK, your meat might be slightly different from other places and it might experience a different kind of flame which makes the prices higher, but this was Heineken. Bastards.
Much like an episode of South Park (but with a slight derivation) let me say again, THREE POUNDS NINETY FIVE.

A stone’s throw from The Corn Exchange, Red’s was a real stab in the dark as we hadn’t heard of them before and my friend, a massive BBQ fan, was firmly in Bodeans BBQ Restaurants’ camp (see review
).
It was packed in there, so we figured it must be decent. We weren’t disappointed.
The friendly staff managed to get us some window seats despite being practically full. After a quick scan of the menu (which helpfully suggested a complimentary drink for each meal option), we only had to wait a couple of minutes before our drinks were served and these were followed about 15 minutes later by our meals.
That’s when the conversation ceased… as we devoured every inch of the pulled pork burgers, fries and corn on the cobs whilst daring each other to try each of the sauces provided (their ‘Judas Ketchup’ was the best IMO). The bill came to £30 which considering we had two drinks each and a sizeable meal was pretty good; we’d been well taken care of so tipped accordingly.
If you’re bored of the usual (and seriously lacking) high street fast food joints, definitely get yourselves to Red’s.
Tip: If you’re not a fan of coleslaw, ask for it to be left off your burgers as they bung it on there and not on the side.

Hmm. My mouse has been hovering between 2 and 3 stars on this one for the last 5 minutes. s
I’ve been to Red’s on five occasions now, and I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anywhere so hit-​and-​miss outside of the fast food world, despite the masses of rave reviews I’ve seen. My first visit to Red’s was not long after opening, and it was such amazingness that had I been on Unilocal at the time, it’d have gotten a full five stars. I had the beef brisket with sweet potato fries and cornbread, and the brisket alone was superbly chin-​wiping delicious enough to earn five stars! The service was great too, the waitress was really attentive without being in your face too much.
On subsequent visits though, I’ve found the service (and on one occasion the food) to be more lacking than a Mills and Boon plot. Not that I’ve ever read any Mills and Boon, honest. One occasion had us sat waiting around 20 minutes for a menu, and then after we’d finished our meal and wanted to look at dessert, we had to wait 30 minutes for someone to clear the table, and another 10 minutes for someone to bring a dessert menu. Long waits for service have happened on 3 out of the 5 visits too.
We once tried the bucket-​o-​bones, and having had their ribs before I was very excited to be confronted by a huge bucket of the things! Sadly, what we got seemed to be the offcuts of fairly meatless ribs, quite dry, and not the juicy meaty gorgeous ribs that I’d had there once before.
I’ve been back a few times, hoping that I would get that first Red’s experience again, but I think I lucked out with that visit. Either that or I’ve been quite unlucky since!
All I’d say with Red’s, is take Flava Flav’s advice, and Don’t Believe the Hype.

So, after the burger incident, I came back here again. Not glutton for punishment, as such, but glutton for meat and it was about time that I got some dinner. My friend and I got seated really swiftly, but it was getting on for 10pm ish, and I have to say — I’m a fan of late night eating. Not enough places serve food beyond 10pm and I love nothing more than sitting sociably with beers and a plate of good grub late on. We used to do this often at Uni, and unfortunately I struggle to find late night bites that aren’t £3 chicken burgers in Leeds town. (If you know of any, please send ‘em my way.)
So, this time I did the right thing, and ordered the ribs. I did one of the combo meals, meaning I got the most humongous chicken wings to accompany my platter of flesh, and ordered just the one side — those fabulous smoky porky beans. Definitely the best side here, just overtaking the pickles. In spite of the fact the place was buzzing, and the staff rushed, we got our check really quickly. I was very tempted to order another shake, but knowing they come in pint milk bottles, I knew it’d be wasted. (Or at least half would!)
Taking in all the free smells available, I picked a sauce and got stuck in. Oh heavenly, succulent rib meat. It does just fall off the bone, and it’s flipping addictive. The wings are cooked extremely well, and even though I favoured the pork over the wings, I did my best to demolish them. I’m not sure how best to actually finish a plate here — eat as quickly as possible before you feel full, or take the stamina approach and methodically endure bite by bite. Either way, I’ve not achieved finishing a plate here ever.
And so, the verdict is thus. I love the theme, and welcome the American style eating. It’s not something I think any of us should indulge in on a regular basis, for obvious reasons, but it’s certainly a real treat for anyone who loves enjoying good meat. I really like the chips here, and whilst that might not sound like an achievement, I’m sure it must be as so many places get them wrong. The sauces and glazing however have, after at least three visits, become cloying. I can’t quite appreciate the difference in any of them, all being so sickly sweet, and so after about half an hour of eating I found myself desperate for a new taste. The initial rush of that rib taste just doesn’t remain exciting for me, but that is just me.
So, with the sauces being rather samey, but the meat being really well cooked I’m on par and reckon it’s definitely worth a visit for a treat, but I’ll be spreading those out so I don’t completely lose interest. I daren’t try the burgers again, despite being well celebrated by trusted friends, as I just can’t afford the disappointment! Kudos to the excellent range of drinks though, and there’s definitely enough on the menu to make each visit an indulgence in something new. We’ll definitely be seeing each other again sometime…

Yknow I almost feel bad writing this review… almost.
I was here recently on a works do in a party of 10. We had tried booking in advance but due to a problem with the booking system our reservation didn’t go through. When my coworker phoned to look into it, the staff member told him — in a pretty ‘oh well eh?’ manner, by all accounts — that we would just have to turn up on the night and hope there was a table available.
It was a weekday, so we didnt really expect the place to be packed, but for some god alone knows reason it was. Youd think that due to the inconvenience we had been dealt with there would be a little bit of effort on the restaurant’s part to put things right. We were pretty much ushered back out and told to check in after a half hour or so, only to be fobbed off a second time.
Almost two hours later, we finally get our table, this whole air of us being some sort of nuisance still prevalent with a couple of the staff. We were led to a long table and sat at the most uncomfortable ‘church pew’ type benches ive ever had the displeasure of sitting in.
We were also sat smack bang next to the toilets, adding that extra bit of human bodily waste as a seasoning to our food.
I will say that the décor in Red’s is very charismatic, very reminiscent of the dive bars and steak houses ive been to in the U.S. I also really liked the old fashioned porcelain dishware the food was served up in. Too bad the aroma of dried urine from the toilets made the whole thing look like our food had been served up in bedpans.
The cute furnishings unfortunately just doesn’t compensate for the lacklustre service, the waitress that practically ignored us the whole time and the bland as old boots brisket I paid well over the odds for.
Word of advice: you are barely 10 metres away from the Cattle Grid. Go there instead.