Nov 16, 2015 Just returned from eating at Smokey Bones in Newport News, Va. I ordered the brisket, with macaroni and corn on the cob on the side.

At first, I dug into the brisket for that rich, hard smoked, real western bbq flavor. I almost gagged because I thought I was eating a shoe.

The meat was tender, but had the flavor of shoe, in other words...FAKE. It was obvious that the meat had been oven cooked for tendernous, and then glazed with some cheap flavored bbq sauce.

I know that there are a lot of people who would think this is bbq, but for the real pit masters (like myself), who know precisely how it should look, smell, taste, it was a sure let down.

I have been on the east coast now for almost 4 years, and I have bbq and smoked some of the finest meats (bbq,pork or chicken), and I have never tasted something so bland and shoe like ever.

If I had ever bought a bbq grill, and any of my meats came out tasting like this, I would throw away the meat, and eat the bbq grill instead.

And then on top of the tasteless meats, they actually call themselves smokey bones, giving someone the impression that it is a place that actually bbqs their meats.

I personally am embarrassed and feel ashamed of this place. I would offer a $25,000 bet to this resturaunt owner or "cook" that they could provide something better than what I can on my own $200 dollar walmart bbq grill.

I know of course that this will never get read by the sloppy city owner(s) who run this and other resturaunts like it, but please...you make other patrons never to want to try bbq because no one wants to eat shoe leather.

If I were to own a pastry shop, and my pastries tasted like cardboard, I wouldn't expect much business.

Do a Google search, find out what BBQ means, and in the mean time, remove the smokey bones sign, and replace it with "Payless Shoes" or Nike. As long as you are going to serve meat that is no better than a pair of shoes, then you should at least have their name brand as well.

Oh..by the way...the piece of French toast was nice. Small,,,but nice.

Waiting for a reply, sincerely dissatisfied,,,Mike

been here few times and its been okay to say the least. Last time I went was the worst. me and a friend sat at the bar and it was only like 8-9pm and they close at 2am. But my bartender and her workers were cleaning around the bar, moving stuff all over and around the bar. moving parts and sweeping around the floor and stuff. Isn't it too early for a bar clean up????? they close at 2am but start cleaning around everything at 9pmish?.. I don't get it.. as Im eating and drinking all I was thinking about is the dust and particle flying around my area while im trying to enjoy my meal and drinks. Plus they were touching all kinda things on the floor and glass and bottles and my things. Just a bad idea and germs everywhere... Food was bad too at that.. made the night even worse... but, maybe I just was there at the bad time..