Big Apple BBQ is a Work in Progress

There's much improvement needed at Big Apple BBQ in Glen Cove.

As most city residents know, the restaurant's location on Forest Avenue has been home to many different restaurants. It was once a Friendly's — I have wonderful childhood memories of coming back from camp or baseball practice and beating the heat with some Friendly's ice cream. Then it was a few different American-style restaurants, some had good food while others did not. 

Nevertheless, when I heard about the opening of Big Apple BBQ, I hoped that maybe this place would be what Glen Cove needed, a new good eatery where people can make memories with fellow Glen Covers like they did at Friendly's. However, sad to say, I was mistaken. 

My friend and I recently visited the restaurant for a drink when it first opened, just to check out the new gigantic projection TV that was installed inside. Obviously, the decor has changed a lot since it was a Friendly's.

The place was decorated very tastefully with real wooden tables and chairs, antler chandeliers, an amazing bar and a real upstate log cabin ambiance. There were reupholstered bar stools, chairs and booths, with a cowhide fabric. 

Our first visit was disappointing after we saw that the staff was a bit unorganized, but it was the grand opening, so I didn't expect everything to be perfect. My friend and I then decided to make another visit. 

During our second visit, the restaurant opened 1 p.m., and we arrived there around 1:15 p.m. As we walked through the front doors, someone yelled out of the kitchen that it would be another 15 minutes until we would be seated. While we were sitting outside, about five minutes later, our waitress pulled up in her car, parked it and then we were called to be seated. 

While we were deciding what to eat, the waitress and the bartender were complaining nearby about the previous night's staff and how things were not ready for business that day. I began to question the service once again, but the waitress later proved me wrong because she was very friendly and attentive to us.

My friend and I started off with the Loaded Tater Sticks ($8.95), which were steak French fries topped with chili and cheddar cheese. You could call them a messy dish of amazing. Unfortunately, they were the best part of our meal. 

There were a few nice points to the menu, because the restaurant has sandwich and barbecue platters, and you can pick from 12 different sides. I ordered the Barbecue Platter with one meat and two sides ($14.95), and I chose the pulled pork, mac and cheese and cornbread.I didn't realize it at the time, but you don't get the cornbread as a side, meaning I had to pay $2.50 more for absolutely no reason.

My food was good, but it wasn't the best pulled pork I ever had, and it was very spicy. I didn't mind, because I love spicy food, but others should be careful, because it doesn't mention that it's spicy on the menu. The only thing that saved the meal and experience was the mac and cheese and the warm cornbread, with whole pieces of corn baked inside.

My buddy ordered the shredded beef brisket sandwich and also chose the mac and cheese as a side ($10.95), but he was given the pulled pork sandwich. It was the same price — and he is not one to complain — so he was fine with the meal, but he had the same complaint as me that the meat was too spicy. He also said that the spicy detail should be listed on the menu.

In the end, the dishes are reasonably priced but my overall experience was disappointing because the restaurant has much to improve.