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Street Kings Smoke Shack in Whitstable hits back at one-star Google review after food runs out

A restaurant serving an all-you-can-eat barbecue has hit back at a one-star review, saying they cannot control “how much people eat”.

Street Kings Smoke Shack in Whitstable received the low score from a customer who says they had an “awful experience” despite booking their table a month in advance.

Street Kings Smoke Shack in Whitstable. Picture: Google
Street Kings Smoke Shack in Whitstable. Picture: Google

Mike Healey says in his Google review that he will never be going back to eat at the restaurant in Oxford Street.

In his post, he says when he arrived for the “Bottomless Brunch BBQ” on Sunday, he was told the table was not ready and returned 10 minutes later to find no food left except for pulled pork.

“Awful experience today,” he writes.

“Booked a table a month ahead. Me and my friends got there and they told us the table was not ready and to come back in 10 minutes.

“We came back, no food left, only pulled pork.

Tony De Sousa and wife, Makalla De Sousa, opened Street Kings Smoke Shack in Whitstable in February 2022
Tony De Sousa and wife, Makalla De Sousa, opened Street Kings Smoke Shack in Whitstable in February 2022

“Travelled all this way for nothing. If you know Sunday is busy get more food in the day before – it is not rocket science. NEVER AGAIN.”

But restaurant bosses have hit back at his comments, saying it states on their website that customers are never guaranteed a table on Sunday due to the unlimited barbecue they offer.

“As the website states you are not guaranteed to get a spot on all-you-can-eat Sundays,” Tony and the SK Team replied on Google.

“Why is it hard to understand that BBQ takes 12 to 18 hours to smoke and we cannot control how much people will eat on all-you-can-eat Sunday?

“If you want a guaranteed meal for a birthday or special day do not book all-you-can-eat Sunday as the food may run out before your arrival. Book one of our normal days. We recommend booking an early slot to ensure you can experience the whole menu. Any good fresh BBQ spot will run out.”

Some of the food on offer at Street Kings Smoke Shack in Whitstable
Some of the food on offer at Street Kings Smoke Shack in Whitstable

Tony De Sousa, owner of the site, has also taken to Instagram following the review and says he is not sure how many times he needs to “shout this one out”, adding “when it is gone, it is gone”.

“If you book a 2pm table you might be disappointed, any good BBQ joint will run out – this is normal,” the post read.

“Do not turn up for your 10-year-old’s birthday and have a meltdown when we say it is all gone sorry, then hit up Google and give us one star because you cannot understand that good s*** runs out quick, and we give you the heads up when you book, it is on the website. Rant over.”

Street Kings Smoke Shack opened in Whitstable in February last year.

The team also had a site at Coachworks in Ashford but this shut earlier this year.

The restaurant offers a selection of BBQ dishes such as pulled pork, ribs, chicken wings sausages and more.

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