Barefoot BBQ with an Attitude

Seems you might should have stayed a few more minutes to get answers to some of your questions. It is pretty good stuff. We are blessed with some dang good restaurants in SoWal.

Seems you might should have stayed a few more minutes to get answers to some of your questions. It is pretty good stuff. We are blessed with some dang good restaurants in SoWal.

Yes, we are blessed with a lot of good restaurants in SOWAL.

We stayed long enough to have almost the same conversation with a girl and a guy. Their conversations were different, but the same outcome. Thought that was long enough, especially since there was not a sole in sight around us and they both sounded pretty firm They did nothing to encourage us to stay. I'm pretty easy when it isomething I want. Especially when it comes to food. But I will not ask 3 times. That is almost begging.

Last week we picked a business card asking that we VOTE for them to be on "Diner's, Drive-Ins, & Dives. I do hope they make it. It would only be good for SOWAL.

Murphy, the owner, is very customer oriented and runs a tight ship. This will get back to him and he'll make adjustments if he can.

Murphy, the owner, is very customer oriented and runs a tight ship. This will get back to him and he'll make adjustments if he can.

You are right. Murph is very customer oriented. We ate there last week, and the BBQ was excellently yummy. We'll be back soon.

That being said, frankly we would go more often if we could order a la carte.

We ate there a couple of times in the summer of '09 and spoke with the owner both times and he was super nice and talked to us extensively about his food, showed my hubby his smoker system and couldn't have been nicer. Sorry the folks that you dealt with weren't so great. I'm with you, service means a lot and like you, I enjoy trying different meats and a trio of sliders sampler sounds fabulous-right now! they should have that no their menu!!

Thank you all for your comments!

To Iris....I am very sorry for your experience. Unfortunately, it is true, the sliders are the only thing that we do not make alterations to the order. Because the quantity of meat is relatively small (compared to any of the other dishes, per slider), the process to make an order efficiently had to be laid out as such. The different meats are all kept in separate heaters with doors like a fridge and shelves within the heaters that have to be pulled out. To keep a long story short, it could potentially cause too many problems with efficiency (which we have a very good reputation for) that we did create that one invariability so as not to have the "well, last time I was here, etc." syndrome. My husband and my staff are very accomodating with ALL other items on the menu. While you were there at a quiet time, we do generally put out a phenomenal volume of food from a very small space and have had to be very creative to keep the food consistently great and efficiently built to order. To your comment about food waste, you are actually correct to question the "tight" pars. We do run with very tight pars due to our limited space and relatively large menu, not to mention wanting to spare loss on the cost of organic and chemical free meat.
My husband, Murph, is there almost always. Hopefully, you will try again, it would not be recognized as "begging," and if you pop in, introduce yourself as the one having had the miscommunicated/misinterpretted experience (hopefully with a smile), he will be more than happy to accomodate in any way he can. Not because you had an unfortunate experience, because he is passionate about his creation and doesn't want anyone to ever leave disappointed. He's very genuine. He is very excited to give tours, taste tests and accomodate special orders, whenever possible....just about anyone will confirm this

To the comment about ala carte....we offer almost everything ala cart now on the picnic menu. Also, the sandwiches are served without sides if you do prefer. Just lookin out for all our peeps!

Hope to see you all soon! We are so grateful for our super loyal and frequent dining locals....keep an eye out for the specials on social websites that we will be offering all off season in addition to the usual local discounts!

Thanks you always,
Jen Murphy

Oh, that's great (re the a la carte). Sometimes I just want meat and pickles.

See y'all soon!

Thank you all for your comments!

To Iris....I am very sorry for your experience. Unfortunately, it is true, the sliders are the only thing that we do not make alterations to the order. Because the quantity of meat is relatively small (compared to any of the other dishes, per slider), the process to make an order efficiently had to be laid out as such. The different meats are all kept in separate heaters with doors like a fridge and shelves within the heaters that have to be pulled out. To keep a long story short, it could potentially cause too many problems with efficiency (which we have a very good reputation for) that we did create that one invariability so as not to have the "well, last time I was here, etc." syndrome. My husband and my staff are very accomodating with ALL other items on the menu. While you were there at a quiet time, we do generally put out a phenomenal volume of food from a very small space and have had to be very creative to keep the food consistently great and efficiently built to order. To your comment about food waste, you are actually correct to question the "tight" pars. We do run with very tight pars due to our limited space and relatively large menu, not to mention wanting to spare loss on the cost of organic and chemical free meat.
My husband, Murph, is there almost always. Hopefully, you will try again, it would not be recognized as "begging," and if you pop in, introduce yourself as the one having had the miscommunicated/misinterpretted experience (hopefully with a smile), he will be more than happy to accomodate in any way he can. Not because you had an unfortunate experience, because he is passionate about his creation and doesn't want anyone to ever leave disappointed. He's very genuine. He is very excited to give tours, taste tests and accomodate special orders, whenever possible....just about anyone will confirm this

To the comment about ala carte....we offer almost everything ala cart now on the picnic menu. Also, the sandwiches are served without sides if you do prefer. Just lookin out for all our peeps!

Hope to see you all soon! We are so grateful for our super loyal and frequent dining locals....keep an eye out for the specials on social websites that we will be offering all off season in addition to the usual local discounts!

Thanks you always,
Jen Murphy

Thanks, appreciate your comments.

Iris,

I can say as a former employee, current customer and friend of the Murphy's that no other owner/operator does a better job at doing a great job with their restaurant. As Jenny said, Murphy works nearly night and day at his craft. He glady gives tours, samples and long stories about their place because he is truely involved and proud of the place. Infact, it is one of the very few places on 30A where the owner us involved with the preparation and serving of the good. The only other two I know for sure is Jeff at Bruno's and Paul at the Grayton General Store Deli. I know there are others but these are my favorites.

Back to the point. BF has a large and varied menu and had you asked, you would have been given samples of ANYTHING you wanted. It is true that they probably could have given you three separate flavored sliders but I think you would have been happier with the way they are normally prepared.

Bottom line, I think you allowed a little thing rob you of a great meal. Time and again, I have heard day that BF is some of the best BBQ they've ever eaten and quite a few of those people were BBQ restaurant owners in other cities.

I suggest you go back, decide which BBQ you want ( I suggest the brisket ) and enjoy a great meal. You won't be disappointed.

In this tight economy frequently restaurants get one chance to make someone a loyal customer. It is all about the customer. I have seen places w/great food forget that the reason they are in business is the CUSTOMER! You certainly have the right to run the business the way you want to but you do want people to spend their money at your place right? An excellent book-

Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer

All I have to say is Barefoot BBQ is utterly fantastic both food and service wise. Some people just have a hard time accepting "no" as an answer and need to deal with it. Being a customer does not give one power to dictate policies and procedures to a business. It does give you the power not to spend your money at a business, but I can honestly say that there can be customers a business can be better without.

One of my favorite Charlie Morgan columns when he was writing for The Beachcomber:

Harbor View by Charles Morgan - The Beachcomber Newspaper - Destin, Fort Walton Beach - Entertainment, Nightlife, Restaurant Guide, Dining, Music, Editorial,

All I have to say is Barefoot BBQ is utterly fantastic both food and service wise. Some people just have a hard time accepting "no" as an answer and need to deal with it. Being a customer does not give one power to dictate policies and procedures to a business. It does give you the power not to spend your money at a business, but I can honestly say that there can be customers a business can be better without.

If that is the case, then they have no worries. People like to spend their money where they feel like a valued customer. I've just seen so many places fail because they run the place to accommodate their own ideas without consideration as to what will make the customer come back. The soup nazi got away with it but most won't. Just for perspective, we have been in a service business for 35 years and owned our own business for 12 years. We value every customer even initially difficult ones. They are some of our most loyal.

Murph et al:

I would like to commend you on the manner in which you responded to the sentiments expressed in this thread. I am a firm believer that if a business owner/manager handles customer issues (concerns/complaints) properly that they can come out shining even brighter than if the issues were never publicly shared in the first place.

In other words, in the world of customer service with every problem comes a wonderful opportunity.

Kudos!

Barefoot BBQ Fan- Geo

I like Barefoot BBQ just the way it is. Love the pork sliders, and the crew running that show is always supercool.

One of my favorite Charlie Morgan columns when he was writing for The Beachcomber:

Harbor View by Charles Morgan - The Beachcomber Newspaper - Destin, Fort Walton Beach - Entertainment, Nightlife, Restaurant Guide, Dining, Music, Editorial,

Whatever happened to Charlie Morgan?

Iris,

I can say as a former employee, current customer and friend of the Murphy's that no other owner/operator does a better job at doing a great job with their restaurant. As Jenny said, Murphy works nearly night and day at his craft. He glady gives tours, samples and long stories about their place because he is truely involved and proud of the place. Infact, it is one of the very few places on 30A where the owner us involved with the preparation and serving of the good. The only other two I know for sure is Jeff at Bruno's and Paul at the Grayton General Store Deli. I know there are others but these are my favorites.

Back to the point. BF has a large and varied menu and had you asked, you would have been given samples of ANYTHING you wanted. It is true that they probably could have given you three separate flavored sliders but I think you would have been happier with the way they are normally prepared.

Bottom line, I think you allowed a little thing rob you of a great meal. Time and again, I have heard day that BF is some of the best BBQ they've ever eaten and quite a few of those people were BBQ restaurant owners in other cities.

I suggest you go back, decide which BBQ you want ( I suggest the brisket ) and enjoy a great meal. You won't be disappointed.

dittos.

While in Atlanta this weekend, I wanted all beef piroshkis at Nikolai's Roof. They only offered a medley......Pintade, Beef and Rock Shrimp. What's the world coming to? Think it might be me! Remember that old song...by the Rolling Stones, "You Can't Always Get What You Want". I am going to sing it for a week and when I get back to SOWAL I will try the sliders! Yes, I had to look up, Pintade, it is a guinea with head and feet attached. Those pork sliders are looking really good.

Thankfully, we have choices, and not all restaurants are the same. Some have slider medleys and some don't. Go get some pork sliders. They are good.

Thank you all for your comments!

To Iris....I am very sorry for your experience. Unfortunately, it is true, the sliders are the only thing that we do not make alterations to the order. Because the quantity of meat is relatively small (compared to any of the other dishes, per slider), the process to make an order efficiently had to be laid out as such. The different meats are all kept in separate heaters with doors like a fridge and shelves within the heaters that have to be pulled out. To keep a long story short, it could potentially cause too many problems with efficiency (which we have a very good reputation for) that we did create that one invariability so as not to have the "well, last time I was here, etc." syndrome. My husband and my staff are very accomodating with ALL other items on the menu. While you were there at a quiet time, we do generally put out a phenomenal volume of food from a very small space and have had to be very creative to keep the food consistently great and efficiently built to order. To your comment about food waste, you are actually correct to question the "tight" pars. We do run with very tight pars due to our limited space and relatively large menu, not to mention wanting to spare loss on the cost of organic and chemical free meat.
My husband, Murph, is there almost always. Hopefully, you will try again, it would not be recognized as "begging," and if you pop in, introduce yourself as the one having had the miscommunicated/misinterpretted experience (hopefully with a smile), he will be more than happy to accomodate in any way he can. Not because you had an unfortunate experience, because he is passionate about his creation and doesn't want anyone to ever leave disappointed. He's very genuine. He is very excited to give tours, taste tests and accomodate special orders, whenever possible....just about anyone will confirm this

To the comment about ala carte....we offer almost everything ala cart now on the picnic menu. Also, the sandwiches are served without sides if you do prefer. Just lookin out for all our peeps!

Hope to see you all soon! We are so grateful for our super loyal and frequent dining locals....keep an eye out for the specials on social websites that we will be offering all off season in addition to the usual local discounts!

Thanks you always,
Jen Murphy

Keep up the good work Jen - we appreciate it when owners respond here. And it shows a great commitment to your customers that you care enough to respond. We are happy to provide a place where some back and forth can happen for everyone's benefit.

Everyone please rate and comment here also:
Barefoot BBQ | SoWal.com - Guide For The Beaches Of South Walton & Scenic 30A

Love BFBBQ! Last week hubby brought back to GA 5 quarts of frozen BBQ. Yum!

Big, big fan of Barefoot BBQ! It takes a lot to pry me away from the Taco Bar & the Tarpon Club, but the aromas coming off the smoker are just the prelude to a wondrous meal. Can't wait to stop in at year's end to sample a few other selections. Keep up the GREAT work, Jen!

OMC! We decided to have for dinner tonight some of the BFBBQ that hubby brought back from the beach that we froze.

We thawed it out and took a few bites, and it is so good that we can't wait for dinner.

It. is. meat. heaven.

Love me some Barefoot BBQ. Murphy and the gang rock! My only complaint is that after eating, I need elastic in my shorts as my belly grows.