New York Smokehouse Offers Unlimited Ribs For Just $35 On Wednesdays But One Hungry Diner Says Most People Are Better Off Ordering A Half Rack

Unlimited ribs for $35 sounds like the kind of deal that ought to come with a cheering section. Walk in, sit down and eat until you cannot eat another bite. But one diner who tried the all you can eat rib special at Mable’s Smokehouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, came away with a surprising piece of advice: most people should not bother.

A diner tries a New York smokehouse's unlimited ribs, with a platter of grilled ribs on a wooden tray.

The deal itself is simple. The smokehouse offers an all you can eat rib deal for $35, and it is available only on Wednesdays. For rib lovers, that is a tempting setup, and it explains why this one caught the attention of a hungry visitor.

The diner behind the YouTube channel @Jamesnu was the right person to test it. By the diner’s own description, this was a person in full marathon training mode, and a half marathon had been run that same morning. If anyone had the appetite to take on a bottomless rack of ribs, it was somebody who had just finished a half marathon.

The surprising verdict

After eating, the diner did not hold back. “I wouldn’t recommend it,” the diner said. “Even for me, that was a one and done sort of eating experience.”

The reason had nothing to do with the quality of the ribs and everything to do with how people actually eat. The diner explained it this way: “I like variety, especially with barbecue where I prefer multiple meats and sides… No matter how good a dish is, more and more of one thing and I get bored.”

That is a point many of us will recognize. The first rib is a delight. The third is still pretty good. By the time you are reaching for another one, the novelty has worn off, and you may be wishing you had a spoonful of something else on the plate.

A solid barbecue spot

This is not a pan of the restaurant. The diner’s overall opinion was fairly kind: “I think it’s a pretty good barbecue restaurant overall. Not a great one, but a solid one.” That is an honest middle-of-the-road review, the kind that helps you set expectations. You are not getting a once in a lifetime meal, but you are getting a decent place to eat barbecue.

The recommendation came with a clear dividing line. “If you really like ribs and can eat a lot, the rib deal is for you,” the diner said. “For most people, just getting a half rack of ribs and some other sides and meats, that’s the way to go.”

How to decide if an all you can eat deal is worth it

Buffet-style and bottomless deals can be great, and they can also be a trap for your appetite. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you sign up.

Do you love one thing above all else? If ribs are your favorite food and you can keep going, an all you can eat deal makes sense. If you like to taste a bit of everything, it probably does not.
Do you prefer variety? The diner’s complaint was boredom with one item. A half rack plus sides gives you different flavors and textures in the same meal.
Be honest about your appetite. Even a hungry runner called it a one and done experience. Most of us do not eat as much as we think we will.
Check the days and the rules. This deal is only on Wednesdays, so it is worth confirming the details before you head out, as deals can change.
Do the math. A bottomless deal only saves money if you eat enough to beat the price of a regular order. If you would be full after a half rack, the smaller order may be the better buy.
Plan to share. Ordering a half rack and a few other meats and sides to split with the table lets everyone try more.

What this means for your next barbecue night

The lesson reaches well beyond Brooklyn. Any time a restaurant advertises a bottomless special, the real question is not how much you can eat but how much you will enjoy. Appetite and enjoyment are not the same thing. The first plate is where the pleasure lives, and the rest is often just the clock running out on your interest.

It also helps to remember that a fixed price can push you to overeat just to feel you got your money’s worth. That is rarely a good reason to keep going. A smaller order of something you love, paired with a few different dishes, usually leaves you happier, and it leaves you feeling better the next morning.

Barbecue is meant to be a feast with plenty to pick from. Brisket, ribs, sausage and sides each have their own fans, and the fun is mixing them. A deal that locks you into a single item can work against that.

So here is the takeaway from a hungry marathon trainer: the bottomless rib deal is a fun idea that suits a narrow group of eaters. If you live for ribs, go for it. If you want a well-rounded meal, order the half rack and a few sides and other meats.