Tony Roma’s Express, 19501 Biscayne Boulevard (Aventura Mall), North Miami, Florida  33180, (305) 936-9190.

When I first got down here some 17 years ago, there were 2 major players in the bbq rib-chicken business… namely Tony Roma’s and Bobby Rubino’s. Rather than rehashing old history…as to whether or not Rubino worked for Roma and stole the concept, or vice versa, let’s just say that back then, both chains had tons of restaurants in South Florida.

Anyway…both are still around, but far from the powerhouses that they use to be. To be perfectly honest with you, I use to enjoy both, but I haven’t eaten in either chain for something like 10 years.

Yesterday, I gave Tony Roma’s “new” food-court concept…Tony Roma’s Express, a shot. Just off the top of my head, in addition to the joint in the Aventura Mall (which I tried), I know that there are locations in the Miami International Mall and Sawgrass Mills Mall…Check Tony Roma’s website at www.tonyromas.com for menu/locations/prices/and other details.

Tony Roma’s Express has something like 10 menu items…there are bbq pork ribs, bbq beef ribs, pulled pork sandwiches. I tried the pork and beef ribs. Do you know what GARBAGE is?  Well if you don’t, eat this crap and you will find out. I don’t know how Tony Roma’s makes its ribs, but they tasted as if they were boiled “to death”…thrown on a grill for a few seconds… then slathered with an absolutely tasteless bbq sauce (think Original Open Pit Barbecue Sauce diluted 50% with water)…To add insult to injury… A pitifully small order of 5 beef riblettes with barely enough meat to feed a pigeon) plus a piece of corn-on-the-cob and a medium Pepsi cost $11.43….an absolute waste of money.

Pass this joint by. Lousy food, no make that horrendous food…Small portions, (then again maybe that’s a good thing, because the food is so bad)…Overpriced.