Risque Cafe: User Reviews

I picked up this supposed bbq and brought it home. I had my two main requirements at a bbq joint, brisket and ribs. The brisket was average at best and very fatty. The ribs and brisket had absolutely no smoke taste to them, and the ribs were very dry. The side I had was creamed spinach. At least that is what I ordered. What I got, I am about 85% sure is frozen spinach they thawed in the microwave and threw in a styrofoam container and charged $5. Even the bbq sauce was vomitous tasting.

The restaurant/bar had one table of two customers, so when I got in there, I figured I would be right in and out. The bartender was busy typing a text message and the other person felt fit to go through her tip money instead of helping. Eventually she saw me and asked for a moment in order to do a few more things with her money.

This was an extremely disappointing experience considering who the owner is, I expected something good. Instead I had something that would have any fast-food restaurant be embarrass to serve, but for a quarter of the price. Skip this place and go to Smoke Daddy or Smoque.

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First, the beer selection is great. 100's of them all from the USA. Mostly craft brews, which I like to sample, but when I get down to business, give me the cheap tasteless stuff that goes down real easy ice cold (Hamm's, PBR, Schlitz).

The food is where it really gets WRONG! Their fried selection is fantastic! I love fried Okra but it does not get much more wrong than batter dipped deep fried bacon. So good! OK, perhaps the Risque burger is more wrong. Big and not so lean (fat means flavor) topped with cheese and the infamous deep fried bacon. And the smoked wings should win a prize. Unique and so good.

Plus the location is great. I like to sit by the window (opens wide like an accordion) and watch the people go by and drink my Hamms. I have to say, in the past, I have been dissatisfied by the service, but this summer, there seems to be a new vibe. I met the new manager and he seems to have brought a lighter feel to the place. I really like it.

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Ok, sooo… I know I’m not the smartest, but I am always at risqué, and a couple days ago, I realized it was connected to purgatory, I discovered a couple days ago – yes, I am Columbus! I can go on and on about me, wonderful me… Risque, I love you. Great food, bartenders, and the obvious beer selection – if I get fat I will sue you! I really don’t have to go anywhere else in the city, Mexican food 2 doors down, purgatory pizza next door, and the infamous risqué café! It’s Nordstrom’s makeup counter for the boozer! Have you considered a country fried bacon eating contest? country fried bacon! oh, and the wings are great, get them with Jack on tap and Dragon's Milk.

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Tonight I decided to give this place one more chance. I ordered carryout some time ago, ribs, brisket, etc., and it was mediocre at best. Tonight I go in, it takes about ten minutes to fill my simple Coca-cola drink order, and once I attempt to order my food, I'm told that the place is out of both ribs and potatoes. I have no idea how that is possible, since these two items are supposed to be the place's specialties. Moreover, the place is not the least bit crowded, unlike other similar neighborhood pubs, so I have absolutely no idea who ate the place out of BOTH ribs and potatoes. This is not reasonable, and I will never again give this place any patronage.

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I went to this bar on a Tuesday night and I had their sliders. They were great, you get the option of pulled chicken, pork or beef brisket. They were all really good and they were a dollar each on Tuesdays. They also had a craft beer drink special for $3. SInce it was a Tuesday the server was also the bartender. I would go back to this place.

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I was really excited to come across the menu for Risque Cafe because I have had a hard time finding someone to deliver good Southern BBQ food, especially because they have fried green tomatoes on the menu. When I called in my order, I was told that it was a slow night for them, and their delivery driver was just sitting around with nothing to do. I was told my food would arrive in an hour.

After 1.5 hours rolled by, I called to inquire about my order. The girl who answered sounded hesitant, and then put me on hold. When she returned to the phone, she told me that the delivery driver was just packing up my order at that moment, and that the driver would leave with my food immediately after. I asked why it took so long, and the girl sounded unapologetic when she replied, "Oh, we're just busy tonight."

Another hour passed, and still no sign of the food. By that point, over 2.5 hours had passed since I placed my order. I was hungry, and decided that it just wasn't worth it. I called and explained that my food still hadn't arrived when I was told an hour earlier that the delivery driver was just about to walk out the door. I know I don't live an hour away from the restaurant, and the weather outside was fine. Traffic couldn't have been an issue because I make that commute all the time in rush hour traffic, and it never takes more than 30-40 minutes max in the worst of traffic conditions. The same girl answered the phone, and was like, "Hmm... that's weird. You haven't gotten your food yet? Well, I don't know why." I told them I wanted to cancel the order, and I didn't want my card to be charged, and she just said okay. Never once did she apologize or try to offer me anything in return for my trouble, nor did she offer to put the manager on the phone.

Shortly after I hung up, the delivery driver came. The restaurant then called her to tell her that I wanted to cancel my order. She asked me whether or not I wanted the food still, and I told her that it had been almost 3 hours since I placed my order. At first, she just stood there as unapologetic as the girl who answered the phone, and I had to ask if they were going to compensate us for our trouble because almost 3 hours is a ridiculous amount of time to wait for food. Finally, she admitted that it was ridiculous, and told me to just keep the food, and that they wouldn't charge my card.

First of all, I know that mistakes happen, and I am willing to be understanding about a situation if someone owns up to their mistake. Not a single person that I talked to at Risque said "sorry" or even tried to empathize with my situation. I gave them every opportunity, and... nothing. I've had poor experiences at other restaurants, but have had managers apologize profusely, and try to offer something in return.

Secondly, the food was HORRIBLE. The mac n' cheese was basically mostaccioli with slightly melted shredded cheese on there, and it was over-the-top salty. The broccoli with beer cheese and fried green tomatoes were lackluster and flavorless. The worst part was the barely cooked corn on the cob that tasted like FISH. I don't know how corn on the cob ends up tasting like fish, but it was intolerable. Clearly, they don't care if they ever have my business or anyone else's business again. This was the worst experience ever.

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Nice little place located right next door to Purgatory Pizza. Wall art is framed and not scotch taped to the wall, now at least. Unlimited mac n cheese is very very good on Wednesdays. Best I've ever had. Drink specials are pretty good. On Wednesdays they have a $3 craft beer and $2 PBR tall boys. It will be a Wednesday regular. The one negative is that the place gets pretty hot on summer nights.

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Looked neat on the outside, they obviously spent some money on decorating but then ruined it by haning paper posters on the wall with scotch tape. They were out of 2 beers I wanted to try. Food was mediocre at best as well as the friendliness and service of the bartender.

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great smoked wings. . amazing. some pretty good beers

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I really wanted to like this place. I live around the corner and love BBQ. The theme is very cool, the pin-up girl thing works and is fun. The beer selection is awesome. The staff is really friendly and service is great. Unfortunately, the food is lacking. I got a pulled pork sandwich but it wasn't a BBQ...just plain pork. The sauce they gave with it wasn't that good, it was wayyyy too vinegary. I've had much better from non-BBQ restaraunts. Mac and cheese was very grainy...taste was ok, but nothing special. Cornbread was too dry, needed a gulp of liquid after each tiny bite. Creamed spinach was just weird...whole leaf spinach sitting in a tub of cream...not much effort put into it. There was nothing we got that made us want more. Pretty bummed.

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