Rub BBQ and Pub

Stop number two on the pub crawl! Wonderful service/friendly bartender in the face of 32 people who walked in at the same time!
I always try something new when I'm someplace new so I went with the Rowdy Rootbeer... Some sort of alcoholic root beer special for $2. Probably the best deal on the whole crawl tonight!
If you have a big group, this was the most spacious of our stops, and also the most modern... Maybe more bar than pub: you could see the game from every angle! I can see why this is a favorite downtown.

Made reservations a few weeks in advance for an annual work outing. We go to a Tigers game every year, and eat a different restaurant downtown each time. I have to say that I am disappointed in my choice this year. The music is very loud and the food is not the best. I would not rush back. But, our waitress Ava was awesome!

The mac and cheese was chewy, almost like it sat under a heat lamp for a while. The burnt ends were not burnt, nor were they ends, and on a bed of mashed potatoes = strange. The Yzerman didn't have a lot of meat, it was mostly Kaiser roll. The rib tips were just ok. A few people ordered the ribs and said they were superb.

I think they need to add another 'B' into their name. Rub B BBQ and Pub (Rub BarBBQ and Pub). It's total bar food, not BBQ.

Sooooo.
Guess who's hungry?
You guessed it..
Me!
If you have read my reviews you know that I have a three strikes then you are out policies on all venues.
Three strikes when most people only give you one.
So I go into Rub for Thursday Industry night as there is a play across the street and I am starving and my FIRST CHOICE Subway was closed.
Sooooo. I go to place my order.
I show my employee benefit card and credit card that proves my employment.
I barely made the cut..
Not sure what proves your employment.
If I dare go back (I seriously doubt it).
I will bring my check.
Once I am approved as a city worker I am told to go place my order at the bar.
I am in front of a woman but the bar keep looks over me and addresses the woman to my left.
I ignore that I am patient and hungry.
After now being here twenty minutes the bartender stands in front of me.
I guess that is my cue to order.
I tell him I would like to order as part of Thursday night Industry night..
He says, "that is not applicable on event nights.."
Well according to the the post card mini marquee thingee, the Thursday night does not apply only wheb there are home game nights...
I tell him this he says let me check with my manager.
He proceeds to serve other guests for ten more minutes before I get it..he is not going to serve me.
Soo...
I ask to speak to the manager.
Long story short he defends the bartender saying basically they are slammed... And makes excuses as I am hungry!!!
Well hopefully small plates up the street will feed me tonight.

It really hurts me to not give Detroit restaurants great reviews, but tonight's experience was just so-so. This restaurant isn't that old, so I was disappointed to see that the soap dispensers have already been ripped off the ladies room walls, and tiles are cracked. Wouldn't think the crowd would be that rough! The BBQ sauce sampler was tired - three of the labels were worn off, one bottle was clogged and another one was broken. Details make all the difference, and the details have been lost.

The reviews for Rub were iffy, and I had removed it from my list of restaurants to try. But we were in the area and decided to have lunch here. When we first walked in, I noticed how cold the building was. We thought it was because they had just opened, but the waitress said the furnace hadn't work since the day before. I decided to stay and just kept my coat on. For an appetizer, we had the yummy burnt ends. I needed a few more pieces of those. I had the Tennessee pulled pork with Texas toast, mac & cheese, and fried okra. I enjoyed my meal, and so did my friend who had the Hat Trick sandwich and fries. Our waitress used to be a bartender and offered to make me two "bartender's choice" cocktails. They were sooo good. I just wish I could remember what was in them. Thanks to Dominique for the great service and cocktails. I'm glad I gave Rub a try. We weren't disappointed.

Been here numerous times and finally remembered to do a review.

I've always been sat here in a proper amount of time. The drink selection is excellent. Was a bit put off that they had ran out of rib tips for an appetizer, however I realized what time of day it was as well as what events were going on nearby, so I understood. I decided on this pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese sauce on it. Seemed a bit weird but wow was I wrong....it was the best sandwich I have ever had. Hands down. Out of my party of 20+, 5 of us had it and we were all beyond satisfied with it.

There was lots of things to like about this place: atmosphere, location near the stadium, sauce selection, quantity of food.... Its a shame the rib tips were nearly inedible. Very tough meat, couldn't even drive a fork tine into them. I ended up gnawing on a few and giving up. Would enjoy going back next time in Detroit pre or post game for a drink from the big draft beer selection. This place would be driven out of business very quickly if they were in Kansas City promoting themselves as a barbecue restaurant. 4 stars for a beer joint, 1 star for bbq.

Never again...3rd time being here and it never fails to have cold food, old fries and less than pleasant service. Looks very nice but I would be better off going to a local coney for what we served.

Waited 15minutes to even be acknowledged by the bartender, beer list on the electronic monitors outdated, glasses were sticky, food took 30 minutes and came out ice cold! We wanted to grab a bite before a concert , wound up being hungry instead.... never again
Server said they had a few big parties , kitchen got overwhelmed, not sure how that's possible in a BBQ place where food is cooked for hours before..

This food sucks! From the flavorless brisket to the tough rib tips. I can't find anything good about this meal. The fries(both white and sweet) lacked flavor they didn't even put salt on the food. WTF?