Brooks’ Brings Back Table Service Ahead of 75th Anniversary

By DAKOTA KEATSSUNY Institute for Local NewsONEONTA

After a few uncertain years of operating as a buffet, Brooks’ House of Bar-B-Q is returning to full table service, restoring a dining experience many longtime customers have missed at the beloved Oneonta institution.

As of March 17, the family-owned restaurant has officially reopened its dining room with traditional sit-down service, marking a significant shift after a challenging period shaped by staffing shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic. The move also comes as the restaurant approaches its 75th year serving the community this summer.

Owner Ryan Brooks, a third-generation leader of the business, said the decision to bring back table service has been more than a year in the making and comes after one of the most challenging periods in the restaurant’s history.

“We had to adapt, but closing was never an option,” Brooks said.

When the pandemic struck, the Brooks family was forced to rethink how the restaurant operated. They initially shifted to takeout only, then by late 2021 they were able to reopen the dining room doors with a “fast casual” buffet style. Staffing levels dropped sharply, making it impossible to maintain the large team of servers the restaurant once relied on. Switching to a buffet-only model allowed the business to stay open at a time when many restaurants were shutting their doors.

The community remained supportive during that transition.

“A lot of people were just happy we were open,” Brooks said.