A couple of weeks ago, to see how we thought they might do.
Brisket, Bologna and Hot link. Hot links were tame. Friend unknowingly tried the hot links and said "the sausage seems okay." I know from being around people who regularly smoke meats that slicing smoked bologna can give you a real idea of how long/well it has been smoked like checking rings on a tree. This looked to be barely smoked at all.
Price for a 3 meat plate, two drinks and a half order of sliced brisket was about $30.
Ribs, chopped beef, and sausage are what I usually get. I don't ever order hot links or bologna as the quality is impacted generally by what they start with and really doesn't show any skill. I rarely order sliced brisket anywhere I go either. Unless it's fresh sliced, it's almost always going to come out dry. Either that or it's smothered in sauce when it comes to the table and that's no way to serve BBQ.
If you've got a pre-conceived notion that Back Alley will be better than Albert G's, then I suppose it will come out that way to your taste buds. I've never heard any complaints out of people from around the country I've taken to Albert G's. It's usually a place I will take clients from out of town.
Thank you for posting, I'm due for an A. G's fix and think I'll head that way for lunch today. BBQ is probably one of the most prejudiced food genres as everyone likes something different. Doesn't make your experience wrong or mine wrong, we just have differing tastes. As well, it's easy to have a bad day in that business and if you happen to be having one when you get a bunch of first timers in, it can be a complete disaster even if you've been there for 50 years.