Thelma Bar B Que

Well, I have as others heard about the great taste of the BBQ and the overwhelming quanity of food you get for the low price so I thought I would try this Thelma's place out. I eat BBQ all the time and I particularly like my sauce on the side. I was told I would be charged $2.00 extra and I agreed. I waited 15 minutes only to get my link sliced beef sandwich drenched in BBQ sauce. I brought it to Thelma and her ""sons"" attention and he said you have to pay an extra $2.00! I told him I already paid and they made my order wrong and I said if he would give me my reciept of the credit card I would show him. Thelma gave me the reciept only to see that I was charged for 2 sandwiches and 2 extra sauce entries. I showed him that my order was wrong, I was overcharged, and that I was being patient with them because I heard their food was good. He said he could not give me a refund to my cc. I could come back.....What???? No I need a REFUND. He said he doesnt come to my job and tell me what to do! I wassteaming at this point and asked them to give me all of my money back and Ms Thelma asked me to leave. She then started talking to the patrons behind me about how new customers don't know her. I explained to the ""audience"" what happened and refused to leave without my money. Finally her ""son"" got the money out of the cashier and gave me cash for my credit transaction and said I was rude. How was I rude? I waited for my food. They messed up my order and then blamed me! No apology...no redo...just kept blaming me for driving all the way Downtown to their little hidden BBQ shack! I will NEVER, ever, go back. I tell everyone about the horrible service. To bad I know nothing about the food, Thelma & her employees are rude and need attitude adjustments. Pros: Everyone says the food is good. Cons: Horrible-HORRIBLE SERVICE!! Establishment in a scary location more

If rude and humiliating service is your thing, this is the place for you. I've been there once. I tried to go a second time but I couldn't take it... I walked out and went to Zydecos on Pease and San Jacinto. Thelma's is doing more to promote other Houston restaurants than any advertising ever could. Pros: good food Cons: bad attitudes more

I WENT TO THELMA'S TWICE. I NOTICED THE LADY AT THE FRONT WHO TAKES THE ORDERS HAD A VERY BAD ATTITUDE THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME MYSELF, MY FIANCE', AND MY COUSIN WENT, MY FIANCE' ASKED HER IF HE COULD GET A RIB PLATE AND 1 PIECE OF FISH ON THE SIDE. SHE SAID ""NOPE"", VERY NASTY. I THEN ASKED HER IF WE COULD JUST PAY EXTRA FOR THE FISH ON THE SIDE. SHE SAID ""UM...NO YOU CAN'T ITS NOT ON THE MENU YOU CAN'T GET IT."" I WAS LIKE ""OK"". SHE HAD A NASTY ATTITUDE THE ENTIRE TIME. WHEN WE WERE ORDERING OUR FOOD SHE WAS HURRYING US AND WHEN WE FINISHED I TOLD MY FIANCE' WE NEEDED TO PAY FOR IT FIRST AND SHE THEN SAID "" WELL YEAH SOMEONE HAS TO PAY FOR IT."" THAT REALLY SENT ME OVER THE EDGE AND SO I TOLD MY FIANCE' THIS WOULD BE OUR LAST TIME EATING HERE. SHE THEN TURNED AROUND AND SAID ""YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY HERE NOW, YOU CAN LEAVE!!"" VERY NASTY. MY FIANCE TOLD US ""PUT THAT &^%#! DOWN! ""AND WE LEFT OUT OF THERE. I DID NOT APPRECIATE THAT. NO ONE'S FOOD IS THAT GOOD. SHE WILL LOSE A LOT OF BUSINESS THAT WAY. PEOPLE HAVE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AT THE PLACES THEY EAT. ANYONE WHO HASN'T BEEN THERE: SHE WILL HAVE AN ATTITUDE EVERY TIME AND YOU WILL KNOW WHO I AM TALKING ABOUT. IF YOU WANT FRIENDLY SERVICE AND PEOPLE WHO RESPECT YOU, DO NOT GO TO THELMAS! more

THELMAS BAR B QUE IS THE BEST. more

On Monday, September 17, 2007, I was reminded why I don't break my neck giving my business AND MY MONEY to this establishment. I'm not here to dispute the quality, price, nor quantity of the food. Howerver, there is nothing served in Houston that is so good that it makes up for the rudeness Thelma dishes out nor the overall poor service. I chose Thelma's when I decided to take dinner to two close friends who recently lost their mother. I thought thought a good, plentiful and tasty meal from Thelma's would brighten their day. I ordered a variety of food and desserts (making sure I covered everyone's taste palette). When I requested no sauce (rather sauce on the side) I was told that would cost an additional $6.00 (after already spending over $70.00)!!! When my order of 7 dinners was placed on the counter, the staff person began to bag it. Thelma came out and said ""no, let her bag her own food."" I looked surprised and Thelma said ""you need to check your food and bag it yourself -- read the sign"" (pointing to some sign on the wall). So I did as I was told and began to bag my order. Although I requested no sauce, all of my dinners had sauce. Thelma was willing to redo one three meat plate but told me they were out of the half chickens that I had ordered. Not once did she apologize for the error nor endeavor to satisfy me -- the customer. I even had to ask for a refund for the extra sauce I ordered that I obviously no longer needed. I kept my focus as to why I was there in the first place and that was to do something for someone I loved who was going through a difficult time. Otherwise, Thelma and her rude mannerism and me would have ""gone to town in that place."" She would have either made my order exactly as I requested or she would have given me my $70.00+ dollars back.! At the end of the day -- my friends were happy and actually enjoyed the food (especially the catfish). But it will be a very long time before I decide to visit Rude Thelma's again! Pros: Good Prices; Good Quanity; Great Catfish Cons: Overrated Bar-B-Que; Abysmal Service more

I was so surprised when my porkchop sandwich was a fried chop with the bone. It was to die for. The kind my mom made, tender and full of flavor. All of her food had such rich aroma, your mouth can't wait to taste the food. Very generous portions on everything. Prices are extremely reasonable. The service is what you would expect at this type of food establishment. Order, pay, and pickup at the counter. more

Thelma's is a great place to eat Bar B Que, as long as you have time to wait. The food is well worth the wait though. It's best not to go when they first open, becasue the crowd lines up before the doors open, and the wiat is longer. Pros: excellent food Cons: slow serivce but worth the wait, not enough tables to seat the crowd more

Heard a lot of buzz about this place and its true. Their BBQ was great. I had the rib sandwich, and everything is very well priced. Grat Value. The place is a little odd as it needs better seating and lighting but other than that it was great! more

This is definately the best BBQ I've had in town but be prepared to wait for it. It will be worth the wait but if you are in a hurry you are going to be late. I'd like to be able to recommend something besides the sliced beef sandwich but it's sooo good, I haven't been able to move beyond it to try anything else. Everyone in the place looks like the are enjoying the other selections. more

I have had everything on the menu, including sides and desserts. The sweet potatoes are to die for! The portions are enormous and Thelma is the sweetest lady in the business. I strictly come here for the food and am never disappointed. The service can be spotty, but Houston is loaded with upscale restaurants with superb service. Four star service is not what I expect with BBQ and those that do, should stick to their chain restaurants and sub-par cuisine. Thelma, you rock! Keep on making the best ribs and bbq sandwiches on earth! The fried catfish is so tasty and the pecan pie brings me back to my childhood days growing up in Texas. Kansas City, Memphis, and North Carolina, eat your heart out; the best BBQ comes from Texas and from Thelma's! Pros: food, food, food Cons: whiny customers more

You people need to get over yourself. I drive 850 miles to get there. Best food in the city. Yeah so it is crowded! Duh - it is great food of course it is crowded. Thelma herself is the sweetest lady on the planet. I have been going to Thelma's since she opened. Back when very few of us who worked down town knew she existed. I have tried every item on the menu and they are all exceptional. My personal favorite is the BBQ stuffed baked potato. I dare you to try to eat the whole thing! Thelmas is absolutely fantastic!!! A rare find in the city these days. You might have to wait in line for a while but it is worth it. Don't like the full trash cans - empty them - help a little old lady out. Thelma is an absolute treasure and her food is out of this world. So go in and enjoy the food and get over yourself. Pros: Food - Thelma herself - portions Cons: lines and small place but it is worth it more

I had to write a review after reading some of the bad reviews. The food at Thelma's is excellent. You get great portions for the price that you pay. I have had EVERYTHING on the menu. This is a weekly stop for me and my son. I read one review that said the bar bq was not as good as Goode Company's. That's right. IT IS FAR BETTER!!!! If you want ribs falling off of the bones, go to Thelma's. If you want a REAL order of Ribs (not those half orders that most restaurants sell as a whole order), go to Thelma's!!!!! As for the service, yes it can be bad sometimes. However, I have been in there when people hold up the line asking how many pieces of fish come in the dinner, and how big are they, blah blah blah. Order it, try it, if you don't like it, don't go back, if you do, go back, and quit with all of the questions. People go to Pappadeaux's and other highway robbery restaurants and don't ask those questions, don't ask them. They don't have time and neither do the rest of us in line. Thelma is a very nice woman and has been in business a long time. Yes her place is small, but she does the cooking there and she takes pride in that. It's a great place, with great food. Pros: Great food, good prices more

My husband and I have been to Thelma's twice and each time the service has been horrible. First time on a Saturday, the facility was crowded and the wait was a little long but it wasn't bad. But I was put off by the cleanliness of the place. The trash (located next to tables where customers eat) was piled high and overflowed, the tables were sticky and dirty, and trash was on the floor. The second time we went, we waited 50 minutes for 2 rib sandwiches. Even though we arrived before a large party of people arrived, they were served before us and numerous other patrons because someone in that party of 10 had a birthday. Apparently, someone new Thelma so they received their food before everyone else. Don't pay any attention to the number on your order ticket because they will skip from 65 to 84...no logical sequence. The food is good, but I would not recommend this place during the week if you are on your lunch break. And the sad thing is that they don't apologize for making you wait. Pros: Good food Cons: Small facility, slow service, and too clean more

I have been to Thelma's twice and each time the food was great, the service is bad and the wait is long but well worth it after you get your food. I have had both the sliced beef sandwich and the beef baked potato, both were great. I want to try everthing on the menu. Pros: Inexpensive, Large Portions Cons: Small Eating Area, Bad Service more

I just ate lunch at Thelma's. I was expecting the worst when it came to service. I was surprised that while there could be room for improvement in the attitude of the person that took our order, the service was not as bad as the other reviews state. The food was DELICIOUS. We ordered the chopped beef baked potato - and it was huge! We could barely finish half. We had also ordered the sliced beef sandwich, which was also bigger than expected and very good as well. I will definitely come back because I can't wait to try all of the other menu items!! Pros: delicious food, not a chain, unique experience Cons: small dining area more

The customer service sucked, I was told after waiting for more that thirty minutes and seeing many people that ordered after me get their food that if I got off my cell phone I could be helped. I don't think that I will be partonizing that establishment. Pros: food Cons: customer service , parking, crowded more

The food is good but you have to get through the long lines, hot dining area, and attitudes and bad serivce to get to it. SO, if you can deal with all of that, work it out...if not, this is not the place for you. NO, you should not have to almost wanna slap someone in order to get good food, so you make the decision. The food is good but not THAT GOOD to have to go through what they take you through. THEY NEED US to stay in business...RIGHT! Pros: Good Food, Inexpensive Cons: Attitude, Bad Service, HOT!!! more

This is the best BBQ for the money and the value for the dollar is outstanding. You can't beat the flavor. The convenience of place doesn't hurt either. The place deserves all the kudos for the food. The service could be better, but all in all, the pros far out weigh the cons. All I can say is try it you'll definely go back! Pros: Great Food, Good Value Cons: Service, Small building more

While the food is great Thelma and her staff can be downright rude and you may be out of luck if you are not one of their regular or preferred customers. Pros: Great brisket, great ribs Cons: bad service, parking more

This is the place to eat if you want good Bar B Que at a great price. Thelma's has the best food value in town. The Beef Baked Potato is the best baked potato and the largest in town. There is no way you leave this place hungry, more important you are satisfied. The rib sandwich is the best in the city. Enough talking about it, go out and see what Houston and the rest of the country, thanks to Food Network, already know, Thelma's is the place to go if you want good BBQ and you don't have to break the bank. If you need to spend more then leave a tip, believe me Thelme and her staff deserve it. GOOD FOOD, GREAT PRICE, GOOD SERVICE, GOOD LOCATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pros: Great value, good service, large portions Cons: long lines, A/C, parking more