If you're looking to eat BBQ, absolutely do not order the brisket here! It's soaking in a watery hot plate like pot roast!!! It's not smoked, it has no grill flavor and is nearly as tasteless as their sauces.. I tried three different sauces and they all tasted very watered down... The mild has no taste, the spicy is NOT spicy and the sweet.... You guessed it!!! NO TASTE! The menu is confusing and the only redeeming quality was the service... Nice people, but not grillers or smokers by any stretch of the imagination! Come here for pot roast, not BBQ!
(1)
Alicia D.
Great ribs. So delicious! Skip the sides. Other yelpers wrote that in their reviews as well but I had to see for myself. Had the mac (reminded me of kraft), collards (pass), and mashed potatoes (decent). Ribs are where it's at! Yum
(4)
Sergio V.
Awesome place! I Had the chicken wings Friday special. Except, I added an extra side. Mac & cheese and smashed potatoes with gravy....delicious. The cornbread muffins are amazing and I had to order some to take home. I will diff be coming back to try the rest of the meats. I wish they had a sampler plate with all of the meats to try them all out. Unless they do and I missed it. Oh well, I'll diff be back! Best BBQ I've had since working here in Sarasota.
(4)
Joseph L.
I tried most of the offerings. Ribs were FANTASTIC. If you have to eat here, get the ribs. Everything else was good too, but the ribs were too good to bother with the other items. My complaint is that I spent $20 and left hungry. The sides are tiny and the prices are way, way too high. They need to triple (quadruple?) the portion sizes and cut the prices by almost half before I would ever consider going back. The people running the place were super nice, but I'm sorry... If you give a full grown man 1/3 of an ear of corn, you should expect to get punched in the stupid, stupid, stupid face. It almost seemed like some kind of joke. Get a clue, guys.
(2)
Victor R.
Best Southern BBQ in the U.S. I found this gem on our recent trip to Sarasota. The food was superb. The meat on the ribs was fall off the bone fantastic. We enjoyed the hospitality from our server. We will definitely visit again!
(5)
David G.
Very good Ribs and sides. Staff was great and very friendly. Even good sweet tea for your true southerners.
(5)
Kaya G.
Road tripping is fun especially when accompanied by good food. On our usual search for what holds up well with a bunch of hours left on the road we searched yelp for BBQ, and found this place. We hightailed it off the 95 in search of this place and it didn't disappoint. Firstly, adorable precious decor. Inviting, fun and friendly, for us Miami folk it was a breath of fresh air. Second, the service. What a pleasure. Perhaps it was the owner who assisted us together with a sweet girl, but it was with pride and knowledge. We wanted those tips off the ribs - yup those little bites nobody wants but my are they yummy! It was nice seeing him chop and cut up our tips right there, as well as the fresh spare ribs right on the spot. Food: outstanding. Now when they say their collards and Mac and cheese are out of this world we did have to take it with a grain of salt being that we are in a food Mecca here in Miami and in New York and oftentimes chicago. But i was very happy with the greens. The meat - definitely top shelf BBQ. There were many many fun flavors of sauces as well. Don't think that's small potatoes! Cause in the world of BBQ you need that perfect sauce. So the big variety of hot, very hot and packing major heat sauce - was great. There was a yummy mustard and a few sweet versions as well. They were generous with the Cups to hold the sauces. They helped us pack it up being that we were continuing our travels. So, if you're out there it's definitely a spot you want to check out. Just do it!
(4)
Lisa W.
We drive past this restaurant daily, yet we have never stopped. I should have "listened" the Yelp community; I was very disappointed in the food. The sides lacked flavor, the gravy for the Smashed Potatoes was nasty - jarred? The potato salad tasted like it was prepacked; it may not have been from a package, but it was not fresh tasting. I was not impressed $45.00 later.... Oh the ribs...they were nasty...not even tasty.
(2)
EJ P.
Who the hell gives this place 5 stars? Someone who has never had great BBQ. I went here and ordered pretty much everything they make (spent a lot of $$$) and none of it deserved 5 stars. All of it was lukewarm and tasted like it was not fresh. The pulled pork, the ribs, they all tasted like they had been made the day before, no better than going to a chain BBQ joint. The chicken was dry. The side dishes were atrocious. Whatever you do, do not order the sweet potato mash. Yuck. Yelp failed me on this day.
(2)
Kay A.
I ordered a pulled pork sandwich meal which came with a side of cornbread, mac and cheese and a drink. The food was excellent! The pulled pork was tender and the mac and cheese was creamy and to die for. A fantastic meal for under $10!
(5)
Brenda M.
Fall off the bone deliciousness. The collard greens were delectable. Great staff took the time to talk about the menu options. Easy, fast service.
(5)
S L.
Roadside barbecue is probably one of the better barbecue restaurants here in town along with Nancy's barbecue. They have nice Southern sides and the ribs and meat are always tender.
(4)
H L.
If you want a true down-home southern meal, eat here. The greens were out of this world, and every kind of meat they had was succulent & flavorful. The prices can't be beat, and you get well more than what you pay for. I highly recommend for a delicious lunch or dinner, especially if you're in a hurry.
(5)
Carlos G.
Attention Sarasota and visitors! You want chic with china and crystal? You'll need to go elsewhere. But if you want outstanding ribs in which the meat is falling off the bone, a large selection of sides and tasty cornbread, then this is your place. I was dying to get away from St. Armands and get some good ol' cooking and I got what i was looking for. I will make a point of coming back to RRS next year when I return for spring training.
(5)
Chachala E.
Really delicious ribs, Mac and cheese, collards and corn bread! We had the sweet sauce on our ribs. My hubby had a jalapeño corn bread biscuit instead of the regular and he loved it. It was about 26 dollars for both of us with the drinks. Bathroom was clean and restaurant was clean. Don't be fooled by the strip mall location and decor which is kinda odd compared to many free standing restaurant locations. We each had #1-which is 3 ribs and 2sides with drink. I took home a rib and some Mac and cheese. The ribs are ginormous and delicious. Definitely brontosaurus ribs from the Flintstones.
(5)
L S.
It's a good hole-in-the-wall stop. The ribs / sauce were very good. Ribs were well cooked and tasty. The sauces were good. The sides were so-so. They're friendly and helpful. The decor is a lack-of-decor, which is nice. It's close to downtown Sarasota, but the strip mall is easy to miss.
(4)
Leslie D.
Sorry guys, I won't be back. While the guys behind the counter were very friendly and tried to be helpful, I did not enjoy my meal from Roadside Rib Shack. Fried okra was soggy and I agree with Wes B., the brisket was tough and tasteless. One of the guys taking the order suggested buying the whole slab dinner instead of the separate meat and then adding the sides b/c it was cheaper. After I agreed to go that route he said, it says 2 sides but if you get a large side then you only get 1 side and only 1 piece of cornbread. So, I added a small side, about 1/2 cup of collard greens for $3.00, I did save $2.00 after all was said and done, I think?? I walked in and spent $43.00 and while I understand I ordered 1 "dinner" and 3 add-ons, and therefore should only get 1 cornbread, I am pretty sure after the dinner hour they will be throwing out a lot of the cornbread I saw sitting on the counter in the kitchen and tossing in a couple of .25cent pieces of cornbread muffins might be considered generous but even free cornbread wouldn't have overcome the fatty, overcooked "slab" of ribs.
(1)
John Z.
Don't be scared off by the tiny roadside strip mall location. The food is AMAZING. It has a throwback roadhouse diner design that looks a bit run down but in a well used way. The bathrooms are new modern and perfectly clean. The staff/owners that run the restaurant have a high BBQ IQ and can make excellent recommendations. I had the shack ribs (largest half rack ever!) very cheesy Mac n cheese smashed potatoes w/ gravy and cornbread muffin (dessert style). The ribs come without sauce and frankly are so good you don't need any. They offer several sauces, the mustard base and the spicy were my favorite. Stop by and try the best BBQ my wife and I have ever had!
(5)
Robert T.
This place was introduced to me by some co-workers and I'm glad they did. What a gem of local BBQ. First, strangely enough my first trip I ordered wings which were excellent. Good size, tender on the inside and great sauce. Next, I finally tried their ribs and was treated to outstanding flavor. The ribs were excellent fall off the bone quality. With our second trip I tried the Baked Mac and Cheese and highly recommend it. In addition, their chicken was also smoked perfectly. Lastly, combination of green peppers in baked beans was a nice touch. We used their catering service which was great. Pros - Fall off the bone ribs, smoked chicken, macaroni and cheese homemade quality, traditional "Mom and Pop" atmosphere, their Sweet BBQ sauce Cons - Brisket needed a bit more flavor but it was tender. Moreover, no other cons that I can think of just prices but it's well worth it.
Got the pulled pork sandwich with mustard BBQ sauce and Mac & cheese. Amazing. Simply amazing. Worth the trip across town.
(5)
C S.
A little pricey but worth it. The ribs were excellent, very meaty. Nice. Variety of sauces. The cole slaw was nice, lite on the mayo, I love sweet potatoes not a fan of their sweet potato casserole. Definitely go back again.
(4)
Shelley J.
I have eaten here several times now and feel I can give the place a fair review. If you come to eat here, get the ribs and leave the rest alone. You will be very happy. If all of the food was as good as the ribs, I would give this place 5 stars because the people who work here are also great. As far as the other options, I found the brisket to be very dry and lacking smoke flavor. Unfortunately it seemed more like an under-cooked pot roast than brisket slow smoked for 16 hours like it should be. Because of this I found myself drowning it in sauce just to be able to swallow it. It was very disappointing. The pulled pork was okay, but lacked a really smokey flavor. Sides are decent, though not as scratch-made as I would like. And I am apprehensive about trying the chicken after these other two meats. So, I will keep coming for the ribs, but for brisket so far Snook Haven has the best I have found. And pulled pork, well, the jury is still out on that one.
(3)
Adrian M.
I tried this place out close to closing time last night. Was able to talk to Corey, the owner, who's a very cool and friendly guy. He and the girl working their were really friendly both everyone there. And the food was fantastic too! Ribs were perfectly done. Obviously brined, and a bit salty but testily so. He brisket was heavenly, sooo moist and tender. Mac and cheese rocked! Cheesy, tasty, cooked with a crust of crunchy cheese on top. Yum! And the sweet potatoes were excellent also. Jun enough butter and brown sugar to taste, but leaving it mostly sweet potato. I think most places bury the taste of the sweet potatoes in higher mash. Good sauces etc, too. So a fun friendly excitement and damn fine BBQ.
(5)
Jake A.
Editing my review... Great dinner staff extremely friendly. Had the junkyard plate. Beans with Mac and cheese was outstanding. Pulled pork with cole slaw was also pretty good. One suggestion would be to put the brisket on the junkyard plate! Then it would be perfect.
(5)
Melaina C.
We went there for lunch. I got the baby back ribs and my bf got the junkyard. Both were delicious. The ribs were very fall of the bone. The mac n cheese was very good. I didn't like the baked beans, but my bf did. The cole slaw and pulled pork was extremely tasty. The owner let my bf try the brisket and he said it was a 10! The sweet tea was very good and I liked that it came in a to go cup. The corn muffins were amazing. I wish I had a few more of those :) We would definitely return and try new things. Prices were ok...average for bbq. They should do a daily special at a discounted rate, but their lunches do come with a drink.
(4)
John L.
Casual atmosphere and excellent food! We had the chicken, ribs and brisket. The fries are homemade and the Mac n cheese is awesome.
(5)
andy r.
I try and stop here whenever I'm in the area. Love the St. Louis ribs. The BBQ sauces (separate) are OK but the ribs are perfection. I'd like a little bit more sharp taste (vinegar) in the sauces, they are a little too generic. Real (as in real) redskin potatoes are used for the potato salad sets that a notch above standard everywhere else.
(4)
Ali M.
Pleasantly surprised by this little joint. I had chicken while my hubby had ribs and pulled pork. Nice and moist with good sauces (spicy or sweet). Large portion of pulled pork!! Sides we chose were mac & cheese, baked beans, collard greens & sweet potato casserole. All were very good with exception of sweet potato which was too cinammony for us. But it did mop up well with the cornbread which was moister than most (which we liked). Altogether a very good meal. I may have been overcharged a couple dollars though so just keep an eye on the tab.
(4)
J D.
Got take out while on vacation here. Three racks of ribs. Two racks were decent but certainly nothing to write home about. The third was dry and tough like it was cooked the day before and then thrown back on. Had I been sitting in the restaurant I would have sent them back because they were not edible, my kids would not eat them because they were too tough. Will not be back here.
(1)
Stacy F.
My boyfriend and I were searching for places to eat, and this restaurant popped up on UrbanSpoon with a 94% approval rating. We decided to give it a shot, and were not disappointed in what we found. The owner was nice and friendly, the food was phenomenal, and the atmosphere was intriguing and well done. I ordered the Shack Attack, which is two ribs and a quarter bbq chicken with one side and cornbread (includes the drink as well). As good as the chicken was, the ribs were definitely my favorite part. My only complaint was that the cornbread wasn't bigger - because it was delicious! ; ) Local or just visiting - give this place a try!!
(5)
Rob B.
BBQ is easy. It's really good or it's not good at all. After seeing all the reviews, the one thing that really disappointed me was the lack of cleanliness. I mean for a BBQ place I give it a lot of leeway and this place was not very clean. The ribs were greasy... actually very greasy. The BBQ sauces were very good. This is one of their strong points. The sides were ok. Mac and Cheese was very heavy...not my style. Collards were good. I still think Perry's Roadside BBQ is the best in SRQ. He's worth hunting down his locations...
(2)
Milly V.
The reviews made it sound fantastic. The staff was very friendly and greet you as you walk in. I got The Boss" which is a 1/3 baby back rib platter with 2 sides. The ribs were tender and juicy but needed more seasoning. I didn't put sauce on so i could taste their rub but couldn't taste any rub. Also, it was 430pm and I don't know if they'd sold out of Mac and cheese at lunch but it was DEFINITELY not creamy as advertised. It was dry and burned and sticky. The corn on the cob was mushy, overcooked and had no flavor. The cornbread was good but tasted more like a cake than cornbread. I recommend buy the meat and make your own sides. KFC has way better Mac and cheese and corn on the cob. I still think I'll give it another shot after so many good reviews
(2)
Scott P.
wooooooo. .the ribs were delicious and the orders were huge. try the brisket . great sides a great find and close to Yoders for dessert
(5)
Jo D.
Best BBQ we've had in Florida! Brisket was amazing and pulled pork was pretty good. definitely get the collard greens and mac n cheese. The corn muffins were nummy too.
(4)
Miriam W.
Woo hoo! Great barbecue in Sarasota! Who'da thunk it? This is an especially good find, as Sarasota is one of those towns with a thousand restaurants and nothing to eat. We were at our annual Sarasota Stamp Expo show, so I grabbed the sampler platter to go for Doug and myself, and we enjoyed it immensely. It's counter service here, so you order and he puts it all together for you. He asked if I wanted any of the meats sauced, and I really appreciate this, as I don't, and I don't like it when places load everything up with sauce. The ribs here are wonderfully smoky and meaty, with a delicious dry rub that makes any other addition unneccesary. Besides, they have a nifty little station where you can package their 4 sauces yourself. The pulled pork and chicken were nicely smoked and tasty too. The only sauce I didn't care for was the South Carolina mustard sauce. I have loved this sauce whenever I get it in South Carolina, but everywhere else it lacks layers of flavor and interest. The other three sauces were very good, so no demerits there. We liked all of the sides we tried, with the exception of the corn bread, which had too much white wheat flour in it for my taste. I like a real corny tasting corn bread, and this one came up short. The mac and cheese is everything folks say it is...simply the best mac and cheese I have ever had. Really. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Matthew T.
The Roadside Rib Shack is one of those places that is on my lunch rotation list. It is fairly good Bar B Q, not the best I've ever had, but pretty darn good. And it seems the last few months that some of their so so things have improved and are much tastier now. Which I'm happy about. The beans are much improved. Typically I go for a pulled pork sandwich and a side of mac and cheese. I love their mac and cheese. You almost always get a bit of the top part with the browned cheese. It is creamy and yummy and just right under neath. Heck sometimes, I just want the mac and cheese and could forget the pulled pork. They have a few different sauces and a reasonable selection of sides. The ribs are reliable but not the best ever. A co-worker loves their smoked chicken but I've never had it. But he has decent taste so give it a try. but remember, the mac and cheese.......It haunts my dreams.
(3)
Rick L.
I've been there 3 times in the last fortnight for their baby back BBQ ribs. I think that makes me an addict. They're nearly as good as the ribs at the Shed in Ocean Springs, MS which are my all-time favorites so not too bad. Collards are good too and the sweet potato casserole is tasty, but a bit rich. I like it anyway. I like going there. The people are always friendly and chatty and the place looks insanely clean. Next time I'm going to try something else... maybe.
(4)
John F.
This place is a local gem!! If you love great BBQ this place is a MUST. It's kind of hidden away in a local plaza off of Bahia Vista but you'll be glad that you found it. Great selection of sides like mac and cheese, baked beans, and killer cornbread. Best BBQ in SRQ!
(5)
Tasha R.
Based on all of the reviews I read here on yelp I decided to give this place a try. It was on a weekday around 3pm-ish. First I'll start with the food. The menu was a bit pricey but if the food is great (and their portions were big) I am willing to do so. Unfortunately it was not. I am not sure what I expected but I kept an open mind when my husband ordered ribs and the man behind the counter pulled it out of a nearby hot box. I ordered a brisket sandwich (brisket being my favorite). Each of us had a side of macaroni with cornbread, both of which were lukewarm at best. This is really a cafeteria style dining experience with everything awaiting your plate in a hot box as I stated earlier. I don't remember anything remarkable about my sandwich but I do remember that my husband's ribs were tough and he looked like a caveman trying to navigate the rib with his beard. Maybe we are spoiled by fall-off-the-bone ribs? The decor was your average BBQ joint set-up with cowboy paraphanalia everywhere, which doesn't bother me at all. I can not comment on the service as you mostly service yourself but the man putting our food onto our plates was courteous. In all I will never go here again. The food was not hot and below average. I have had better ribs at Chili's. Perhaps we went at a bad time but it isn't worth the gas money.
(2)
Brett H.
I'm very particular about my BBQ and this is the real deal. The meat just falls off the bone on the Ribs and the chicken is good (better with the Original BBQ sauce). The mac & cheese were good but the mashed potatoes and gravy were better. If you want a quick BBQ joint, this is the place.
(5)
Ruvin F.
Having eaten ribs through the south we are particular about a good rack of ribs. Some say that Florida isn't in the "real" south, but you'd never know it about the ribs coming from the shack. We just did a take-out of their rack of ribs. Meaty, moist & top them off with the spicey sauce - great. Good friendly service from from the staff at the counter. You want ribs, this is the place in Sarasota!
(4)
John M.
Just got into Sarasota today from Chicago and my girlfriend and I were both starving, not being from here and not knowing where to eat I searched Yelp & lo and behold I found a gem! The Roadside Rib Shack in Sarasota. Let me begin by telling you all that I am an experienced BBQ connoisseur and this is among the best I've ever had I ordered a rib tips meal which came with 1 side and 1 piece of corn bread and a drink. The tips were fresh, meaty, juicy as hell and seasoned to perfection my girlfriend ordered the Chicken wing meal deal with two sides and a drink the wings too were cooked and seasoned to perfection. Roadside Rib Shack had several different BBQ sauces to choose from, and I highly recommend the mac n cheese and colored greens as sides. Overall we both had a very memorable experience thanks to an employee who took the time to talk to us about the food and the other area restaurants & even sent us packing with extra rib tips and wings which I am munching on right now in fact. Thank you Roadside Rib Shack, keep on Queing! John Mac & Charlotte Rios
(5)
Phil M.
Definitely good Barbecue! Nice authentic dry rub and smoke. Some nice sauces too. The St. Louis style spare ribs were a bit tough for my liking, but I'm not a spare rib fan anyway. The baby backs were excellent and the chicken was amazing. I recommend trying their smoked chicken wings, but note, they only have them on certain days. The kids loved em and so did I! The Mac and Cheese was super cheesie and lived up to its hype. My favorite, the collard greens, were spot on and some of the best green I ever had. The amazing thing about the food of=at this place is that it had a bit of a gourmet flare too it. The place was very clean and food was very well prepared! Plus, the staff is super friendly.. I will for sure be back next time I'm in the area. In fact, I just may stop on way out of town.
(5)
Michael H.
Best barbecue place in Sarasota hands down. Everyone should try the macaroni and cheese at least once. It's the best mac and cheese I've ever had. There's not even a close second. There are generous portions and the spicy barbecue sauce is also great. Great service, great food, and great prices.
(5)
Lana A.
The place isn't much to look at or dine in, but the ribs are okay. The mac and cheese was dried out the day we went so we skipped that side and went for the coleslaw, which was nice and creamy, and fries. Altogether, you'll spend about $10-12 per person for lunch here, which would include drinks. Quick service and friendly staff.
(3)
Jen M.
I literally had to put on stretch pants before writing this review. This is some darn good BBQ. I opted for the Roadside sandwich (half pulled pork, half pulled chicken), side of mac and cheese, and it came with a corn muffin and a drink. The portion was very generous. Roadside offers 4 BBQ sauces...original, spicy, sweet and mustard. I got my pork and chicken bathed in a combo of sweet and spicy and got some mustard on the side. Delicious! Tender and smoky meat. The macaroni and cheese was pretty good. The corn muffin was on point. Cool little interior if you venture to the back of the place.
(5)
Steve G.
Very solid bbq at this joint off Siesta Key. The owner is an absolute gem and guaranteed we would enjoy anything off the menu. He was was right. The ribs were fatty, tender, full of flavor and dripping with homemade hot sauce. Plus, my sides: old school mac & cheese and unbelievably tasty potato salad...with mustard mixed in as a special kick. If your driving along US 41 and tempted to pull in for a steak at longhorn or outback, just take a minute and pull off the road to this joint. You'll spend much less and actually remember the experience.
(4)
Sara S.
This is the best BBQ place in the area. The ribs are sooo tender and fall off the bone. The spicy bbq sauce is the best out of the sauces. All meals come with delicious cornbread and they offer combo meals. Their smoked chicken is tender too, but I prefer the ribs. You must get their mac & cheese and mashed sweet potato. Both are amazing. I used to get the collard greens which were my favorite until I found out it was cooked with ham hock and later found a chunk. That is the way to cook em' though, just not my thing. ... The restaurant itself is what you would expect with a name like rib shack, located in a small strip and has a few booths. It's clean though!
(4)
George B.
I heard about this Restaurant from a co-worker during my recent trip to Sarasota. Maybe it was over-hyped, or I was expecting too much, but this restaurant underwhelmed me. The quality of food was a step above Sonny's, I had the ribs, with baked beans and corn bread, and with a drink was about $12. The meat was coked right, fall of the bone, and had a variety of sauces to chose from (sweet, spicy, and mustard based), but what disappointed me, was their portion size in relative to their higher than average price (I had picked one of the lower priced meals which came with 2 ribs and a quarter chicken). The staff was very friendly, as well as their patrons. Their brightest spot was their cornbread muffins, man were they good! The location had limited parking, it's in a strip mall, but there is parking available across the road. The atmosphere is rustic, therefore giving it's "Shack" name. I wouldn't consider taking anyone on a first date there, unless you both were raised on a farm and are used to being covered with BBQ sauce. The bottom line, the food was good, but be prepared to shell out some bucks for a more filling meal.
(3)
Jeffrey G.
The brisket sandwich was tender and delicious. The pulled pork was a tiny bit dry, but the South Carolina mustard-based sauce was the best I've ever had. The rib tips were great too. Stay away from the fries. They were put into the frier wet, and came out soggy.
(4)
Eugene B.
Fantastic service by the owner - Kevin. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, and spent time talking to us about the food, BBQ in general, etc. I had the baby back ribs, which were outstanding, with the spicy sauce. They fell off the bone. My wife had the brisket, and I actually liked it even more (and I am a rib guy). My son had the pulled pork, which was very tasty as well. And great prices to top it off. I wish I lived closer - will be back next time in Sarasota. Stop in! Don't miss it!
(5)
Chris H.
This place doesn't look like much when you pull in . But the food was great,the meat fell right off the bone. The BBQ sauces (4) were all very good. I will be going again. service was good and the people friendly.
(4)
Fuzzy B.
Large portions. Lots of different sauce flavors. Very friendly and helpful guy behind the counter (the owner?). They were out of ribs by 5:30 on the Saturday we tried to go there, so either go early or call ahead.
(4)
Lady V.
After returning from our lil adventure in Bush Gardens, as we were driving back to Sarasota, I went through YELP to find a place to eat near our hotel. We were half starved! I found this lil hole in the wall here, Roadside Rib Shack. The food here was incredible.. I've never eaten ribs like their ribs.. First off the portion of my HALF of babyback ribs were "Fred Flintstone" style.. I even confirmed with the guy and told him, I asked for half of babyback ribs and he said with a huge smile that is half.. I was dumbfounded.. When I say HUGE, I mean HUGE!! The flavor was amazing.. Mi Bebe had the pull pork, shredded chicken and these huge ribs. He was in HOG HEAVEN.. LOL.. The only thing I kept seeing was eyes rolled back to his head in euphoria.. LOL.. The owner behind the counter was a friendly family guy.. Didn't cared too much for the greens but I loved the mac & cheese.. When I returned back to Sarasota, I will definitely return to this place.. We loved it.. Our bellies were happy happy joy joy... LOL
(5)
Carolyn H.
If you're in Sarasota and looking for BBQ, definitely check this place out. The owner, who is from Ohio, is a self-taught BBQ master. His ribs are amazing -- tender, fall off the bone, and flavored just right. My guy ordered pulled pork and said it was delicious. I wasn't starving when I arrived, so the owner kindly let me order a smaller plate than what was on the menu: 4 baby back ribs + 1 side for about $8 (as opposed to a half rack + 2 sides for $15). It was just the right amount of food for me. The collard greens were my side, and they were spot-on. The owner also makes his own BBQ sauce -- and apparently his original recipe won an award at a BBQ competition. I can see why. It was tangy, complex, and addictive. The one disappointment was dessert. I ordered the peach cobbler, and it was too sweet (almost cloying) and mainly crust. I kept searching for peach slices, but I found maybe 4 in my entire serving.
(4)
John C.
Amazing food. Large amount of food as well. I got ribs with 1/4 chicken, and mac n cheese including a large drink for only $10 and it filled me up! (a tall order for most places)
(4)
Frank A.
This place has fall off the bone ribs, a great selection of homemade BBQ sauces. The Pork, the brisket, the chicken were all above expectations. We will go here every time we are in the area. The sides were excellent and the owner was very friendly. Even showed us around the kitchen. Put this one on your list.
(5)
jeff h.
Mac And Cheese is from the smoker and the BEST I have ever eaten. The BBQ is the best in this town by far !!! PERIOD
(5)
Douglas W.
My lovely wife went out to get us the Roadside Sampler Platter as I had to work today. I wish we had been able to dine there because it was great and I would love to have checked it out in person. The platter includes 4 ribs, 1/2 pound pulled pork, 1/4 chicken, 2 sides and cornbread. We chose Mac 'n cheese and greens. We split this and it was plenty of food. It was a terrific value. It comes without sauce so Miriam picked up a sample of all 4 of their sauces. 3 very similar versions of a red sauce, sweet, spicy and regular and a nice mustard sauce. All were good, not great but no complaints. I haven't had a mustard sauce outside SC that I thought was worth eating and this one missed a bit and was a little too sweet. All, however, complemented the BBQ quite nicely. None of this BBQ needed sauce, it was all perfectly cooked, smoked, porky and chicken BBQ goodness. None of the meats were buried in heavy rubs. The meats were of excellent quality and really fresh tasting. Definitely not yesterday's leftovers. Pulled pork is so very often dry and in my mind often incorrectly chopped or sliced. This was really juicy and succulent. I didn't catch any smoke but the flavor was terrific. I really liked it with the mustard sauce. The ribs had the tips on and were meaty, fall off the bone, juicy and flavorful. I highly recommend you don't skip the Mac. This is some of the best I have had. It was creamy and caramelized on the top. It was just plain delicious. The greens were very good, many are undercooked and this was perfect. The corn muffin has too much white wheat flour. You can just skip it. I'll be back as soon as I can.
(5)
Ana P.
Ribs were excellent.. We got the shack rack. It came with 2 sides and a corn muffin. We should of listened to the reviews about skipping the sides because they were absolutely right. The macaroni and cheese had no taste and the sweet potato casserole had way too much nutmeg in it and was over spiced in general. The corn muffin was too dense. We, however, forgave all when we tasted the ribs. I will be returning many more times for the ribs. The service was good the young man behind the counter was very nice and professional.
(4)
Jason L.
I was looking for a barbecue place to help me get my fix. Look this place up online. I saw the good reviews and decided to stop in. I got pulled pork brisket rib tips and chicken wings that are smoked. The pulled pork was good and tender the rips were what I expected to be but the smoked chicken wings and brisket where phenomenal those are my two favorite choices that I had. Its not much to look at on the inside but the food is great I highly recommend stopping here.
(4)
Catherine B.
We went in near to closing hour and the ribs were still fall off the bone tender. The pulled pork was moist and tasty. The bun was fresh. I tried three out of four barbecue sauces. All were good. My personal preference was the "sweet". It was refreshing to see the young girl behind the counter fresh, cheerful and energetic as though she just started her shift. They closed while we were eating and yet they didn't rush us in the least. If I lived in the area, I would be a regular patron.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Wes B.
If you're looking to eat BBQ, absolutely do not order the brisket here! It's soaking in a watery hot plate like pot roast!!! It's not smoked, it has no grill flavor and is nearly as tasteless as their sauces.. I tried three different sauces and they all tasted very watered down... The mild has no taste, the spicy is NOT spicy and the sweet.... You guessed it!!! NO TASTE! The menu is confusing and the only redeeming quality was the service... Nice people, but not grillers or smokers by any stretch of the imagination! Come here for pot roast, not BBQ!
(1)Alicia D.
Great ribs. So delicious! Skip the sides. Other yelpers wrote that in their reviews as well but I had to see for myself. Had the mac (reminded me of kraft), collards (pass), and mashed potatoes (decent). Ribs are where it's at! Yum
(4)Sergio V.
Awesome place! I Had the chicken wings Friday special. Except, I added an extra side. Mac & cheese and smashed potatoes with gravy....delicious. The cornbread muffins are amazing and I had to order some to take home. I will diff be coming back to try the rest of the meats. I wish they had a sampler plate with all of the meats to try them all out. Unless they do and I missed it. Oh well, I'll diff be back! Best BBQ I've had since working here in Sarasota.
(4)Joseph L.
I tried most of the offerings. Ribs were FANTASTIC. If you have to eat here, get the ribs. Everything else was good too, but the ribs were too good to bother with the other items. My complaint is that I spent $20 and left hungry. The sides are tiny and the prices are way, way too high. They need to triple (quadruple?) the portion sizes and cut the prices by almost half before I would ever consider going back. The people running the place were super nice, but I'm sorry... If you give a full grown man 1/3 of an ear of corn, you should expect to get punched in the stupid, stupid, stupid face. It almost seemed like some kind of joke. Get a clue, guys.
(2)Victor R.
Best Southern BBQ in the U.S. I found this gem on our recent trip to Sarasota. The food was superb. The meat on the ribs was fall off the bone fantastic. We enjoyed the hospitality from our server. We will definitely visit again!
(5)David G.
Very good Ribs and sides. Staff was great and very friendly. Even good sweet tea for your true southerners.
(5)Kaya G.
Road tripping is fun especially when accompanied by good food. On our usual search for what holds up well with a bunch of hours left on the road we searched yelp for BBQ, and found this place. We hightailed it off the 95 in search of this place and it didn't disappoint. Firstly, adorable precious decor. Inviting, fun and friendly, for us Miami folk it was a breath of fresh air. Second, the service. What a pleasure. Perhaps it was the owner who assisted us together with a sweet girl, but it was with pride and knowledge. We wanted those tips off the ribs - yup those little bites nobody wants but my are they yummy! It was nice seeing him chop and cut up our tips right there, as well as the fresh spare ribs right on the spot. Food: outstanding. Now when they say their collards and Mac and cheese are out of this world we did have to take it with a grain of salt being that we are in a food Mecca here in Miami and in New York and oftentimes chicago. But i was very happy with the greens. The meat - definitely top shelf BBQ. There were many many fun flavors of sauces as well. Don't think that's small potatoes! Cause in the world of BBQ you need that perfect sauce. So the big variety of hot, very hot and packing major heat sauce - was great. There was a yummy mustard and a few sweet versions as well. They were generous with the Cups to hold the sauces. They helped us pack it up being that we were continuing our travels. So, if you're out there it's definitely a spot you want to check out. Just do it!
(4)Lisa W.
We drive past this restaurant daily, yet we have never stopped. I should have "listened" the Yelp community; I was very disappointed in the food. The sides lacked flavor, the gravy for the Smashed Potatoes was nasty - jarred? The potato salad tasted like it was prepacked; it may not have been from a package, but it was not fresh tasting. I was not impressed $45.00 later.... Oh the ribs...they were nasty...not even tasty.
(2)EJ P.
Who the hell gives this place 5 stars? Someone who has never had great BBQ. I went here and ordered pretty much everything they make (spent a lot of $$$) and none of it deserved 5 stars. All of it was lukewarm and tasted like it was not fresh. The pulled pork, the ribs, they all tasted like they had been made the day before, no better than going to a chain BBQ joint. The chicken was dry. The side dishes were atrocious. Whatever you do, do not order the sweet potato mash. Yuck. Yelp failed me on this day.
(2)Kay A.
I ordered a pulled pork sandwich meal which came with a side of cornbread, mac and cheese and a drink. The food was excellent! The pulled pork was tender and the mac and cheese was creamy and to die for. A fantastic meal for under $10!
(5)Brenda M.
Fall off the bone deliciousness. The collard greens were delectable. Great staff took the time to talk about the menu options. Easy, fast service.
(5)S L.
Roadside barbecue is probably one of the better barbecue restaurants here in town along with Nancy's barbecue. They have nice Southern sides and the ribs and meat are always tender.
(4)H L.
If you want a true down-home southern meal, eat here. The greens were out of this world, and every kind of meat they had was succulent & flavorful. The prices can't be beat, and you get well more than what you pay for. I highly recommend for a delicious lunch or dinner, especially if you're in a hurry.
(5)Carlos G.
Attention Sarasota and visitors! You want chic with china and crystal? You'll need to go elsewhere. But if you want outstanding ribs in which the meat is falling off the bone, a large selection of sides and tasty cornbread, then this is your place. I was dying to get away from St. Armands and get some good ol' cooking and I got what i was looking for. I will make a point of coming back to RRS next year when I return for spring training.
(5)Chachala E.
Really delicious ribs, Mac and cheese, collards and corn bread! We had the sweet sauce on our ribs. My hubby had a jalapeño corn bread biscuit instead of the regular and he loved it. It was about 26 dollars for both of us with the drinks. Bathroom was clean and restaurant was clean. Don't be fooled by the strip mall location and decor which is kinda odd compared to many free standing restaurant locations. We each had #1-which is 3 ribs and 2sides with drink. I took home a rib and some Mac and cheese. The ribs are ginormous and delicious. Definitely brontosaurus ribs from the Flintstones.
(5)L S.
It's a good hole-in-the-wall stop. The ribs / sauce were very good. Ribs were well cooked and tasty. The sauces were good. The sides were so-so. They're friendly and helpful. The decor is a lack-of-decor, which is nice. It's close to downtown Sarasota, but the strip mall is easy to miss.
(4)Leslie D.
Sorry guys, I won't be back. While the guys behind the counter were very friendly and tried to be helpful, I did not enjoy my meal from Roadside Rib Shack. Fried okra was soggy and I agree with Wes B., the brisket was tough and tasteless. One of the guys taking the order suggested buying the whole slab dinner instead of the separate meat and then adding the sides b/c it was cheaper. After I agreed to go that route he said, it says 2 sides but if you get a large side then you only get 1 side and only 1 piece of cornbread. So, I added a small side, about 1/2 cup of collard greens for $3.00, I did save $2.00 after all was said and done, I think?? I walked in and spent $43.00 and while I understand I ordered 1 "dinner" and 3 add-ons, and therefore should only get 1 cornbread, I am pretty sure after the dinner hour they will be throwing out a lot of the cornbread I saw sitting on the counter in the kitchen and tossing in a couple of .25cent pieces of cornbread muffins might be considered generous but even free cornbread wouldn't have overcome the fatty, overcooked "slab" of ribs.
(1)John Z.
Don't be scared off by the tiny roadside strip mall location. The food is AMAZING. It has a throwback roadhouse diner design that looks a bit run down but in a well used way. The bathrooms are new modern and perfectly clean. The staff/owners that run the restaurant have a high BBQ IQ and can make excellent recommendations. I had the shack ribs (largest half rack ever!) very cheesy Mac n cheese smashed potatoes w/ gravy and cornbread muffin (dessert style). The ribs come without sauce and frankly are so good you don't need any. They offer several sauces, the mustard base and the spicy were my favorite. Stop by and try the best BBQ my wife and I have ever had!
(5)Robert T.
This place was introduced to me by some co-workers and I'm glad they did. What a gem of local BBQ. First, strangely enough my first trip I ordered wings which were excellent. Good size, tender on the inside and great sauce. Next, I finally tried their ribs and was treated to outstanding flavor. The ribs were excellent fall off the bone quality. With our second trip I tried the Baked Mac and Cheese and highly recommend it. In addition, their chicken was also smoked perfectly. Lastly, combination of green peppers in baked beans was a nice touch. We used their catering service which was great. Pros - Fall off the bone ribs, smoked chicken, macaroni and cheese homemade quality, traditional "Mom and Pop" atmosphere, their Sweet BBQ sauce Cons - Brisket needed a bit more flavor but it was tender. Moreover, no other cons that I can think of just prices but it's well worth it.
(5)Sara P.
Stopped by this place after reading the Yelp reviews. This little hole-in-the-wall surpassed my BBQ dreams. Pulled pork - excellent. Grease-free and very moist with good flavor BBQ sauces - spicy and sweet, warmed up for the pulled pork. Yum! Mac n' cheese - moist and cheesy as it should be. Perfect. Collard greens - good flavor, good texture, not overcooked Cornbread - best part of the meal! Moist and sweet, perfect again! Sweet potatoes - I loathe sweet potatoes, these were done just right and I willingly ate them Rib rack - the right amount of fat and juicy meat. My fiancé orders this one, but I definitely stole some bites Service - the people (an older couple, I believe) were genuinely sweet and friendly and serve quality food. I'm happy I found their business and I'll recommend this place to my friends, as well as visit when I'm in Sarasota again.
(5)Jason W.
Got the pulled pork sandwich with mustard BBQ sauce and Mac & cheese. Amazing. Simply amazing. Worth the trip across town.
(5)C S.
A little pricey but worth it. The ribs were excellent, very meaty. Nice. Variety of sauces. The cole slaw was nice, lite on the mayo, I love sweet potatoes not a fan of their sweet potato casserole. Definitely go back again.
(4)Shelley J.
I have eaten here several times now and feel I can give the place a fair review. If you come to eat here, get the ribs and leave the rest alone. You will be very happy. If all of the food was as good as the ribs, I would give this place 5 stars because the people who work here are also great. As far as the other options, I found the brisket to be very dry and lacking smoke flavor. Unfortunately it seemed more like an under-cooked pot roast than brisket slow smoked for 16 hours like it should be. Because of this I found myself drowning it in sauce just to be able to swallow it. It was very disappointing. The pulled pork was okay, but lacked a really smokey flavor. Sides are decent, though not as scratch-made as I would like. And I am apprehensive about trying the chicken after these other two meats. So, I will keep coming for the ribs, but for brisket so far Snook Haven has the best I have found. And pulled pork, well, the jury is still out on that one.
(3)Adrian M.
I tried this place out close to closing time last night. Was able to talk to Corey, the owner, who's a very cool and friendly guy. He and the girl working their were really friendly both everyone there. And the food was fantastic too! Ribs were perfectly done. Obviously brined, and a bit salty but testily so. He brisket was heavenly, sooo moist and tender. Mac and cheese rocked! Cheesy, tasty, cooked with a crust of crunchy cheese on top. Yum! And the sweet potatoes were excellent also. Jun enough butter and brown sugar to taste, but leaving it mostly sweet potato. I think most places bury the taste of the sweet potatoes in higher mash. Good sauces etc, too. So a fun friendly excitement and damn fine BBQ.
(5)Jake A.
Editing my review... Great dinner staff extremely friendly. Had the junkyard plate. Beans with Mac and cheese was outstanding. Pulled pork with cole slaw was also pretty good. One suggestion would be to put the brisket on the junkyard plate! Then it would be perfect.
(5)Melaina C.
We went there for lunch. I got the baby back ribs and my bf got the junkyard. Both were delicious. The ribs were very fall of the bone. The mac n cheese was very good. I didn't like the baked beans, but my bf did. The cole slaw and pulled pork was extremely tasty. The owner let my bf try the brisket and he said it was a 10! The sweet tea was very good and I liked that it came in a to go cup. The corn muffins were amazing. I wish I had a few more of those :) We would definitely return and try new things. Prices were ok...average for bbq. They should do a daily special at a discounted rate, but their lunches do come with a drink.
(4)John L.
Casual atmosphere and excellent food! We had the chicken, ribs and brisket. The fries are homemade and the Mac n cheese is awesome.
(5)andy r.
I try and stop here whenever I'm in the area. Love the St. Louis ribs. The BBQ sauces (separate) are OK but the ribs are perfection. I'd like a little bit more sharp taste (vinegar) in the sauces, they are a little too generic. Real (as in real) redskin potatoes are used for the potato salad sets that a notch above standard everywhere else.
(4)Ali M.
Pleasantly surprised by this little joint. I had chicken while my hubby had ribs and pulled pork. Nice and moist with good sauces (spicy or sweet). Large portion of pulled pork!! Sides we chose were mac & cheese, baked beans, collard greens & sweet potato casserole. All were very good with exception of sweet potato which was too cinammony for us. But it did mop up well with the cornbread which was moister than most (which we liked). Altogether a very good meal. I may have been overcharged a couple dollars though so just keep an eye on the tab.
(4)J D.
Got take out while on vacation here. Three racks of ribs. Two racks were decent but certainly nothing to write home about. The third was dry and tough like it was cooked the day before and then thrown back on. Had I been sitting in the restaurant I would have sent them back because they were not edible, my kids would not eat them because they were too tough. Will not be back here.
(1)Stacy F.
My boyfriend and I were searching for places to eat, and this restaurant popped up on UrbanSpoon with a 94% approval rating. We decided to give it a shot, and were not disappointed in what we found. The owner was nice and friendly, the food was phenomenal, and the atmosphere was intriguing and well done. I ordered the Shack Attack, which is two ribs and a quarter bbq chicken with one side and cornbread (includes the drink as well). As good as the chicken was, the ribs were definitely my favorite part. My only complaint was that the cornbread wasn't bigger - because it was delicious! ; ) Local or just visiting - give this place a try!!
(5)Rob B.
BBQ is easy. It's really good or it's not good at all. After seeing all the reviews, the one thing that really disappointed me was the lack of cleanliness. I mean for a BBQ place I give it a lot of leeway and this place was not very clean. The ribs were greasy... actually very greasy. The BBQ sauces were very good. This is one of their strong points. The sides were ok. Mac and Cheese was very heavy...not my style. Collards were good. I still think Perry's Roadside BBQ is the best in SRQ. He's worth hunting down his locations...
(2)Milly V.
The reviews made it sound fantastic. The staff was very friendly and greet you as you walk in. I got The Boss" which is a 1/3 baby back rib platter with 2 sides. The ribs were tender and juicy but needed more seasoning. I didn't put sauce on so i could taste their rub but couldn't taste any rub. Also, it was 430pm and I don't know if they'd sold out of Mac and cheese at lunch but it was DEFINITELY not creamy as advertised. It was dry and burned and sticky. The corn on the cob was mushy, overcooked and had no flavor. The cornbread was good but tasted more like a cake than cornbread. I recommend buy the meat and make your own sides. KFC has way better Mac and cheese and corn on the cob. I still think I'll give it another shot after so many good reviews
(2)Scott P.
wooooooo. .the ribs were delicious and the orders were huge. try the brisket . great sides a great find and close to Yoders for dessert
(5)Jo D.
Best BBQ we've had in Florida! Brisket was amazing and pulled pork was pretty good. definitely get the collard greens and mac n cheese. The corn muffins were nummy too.
(4)Miriam W.
Woo hoo! Great barbecue in Sarasota! Who'da thunk it? This is an especially good find, as Sarasota is one of those towns with a thousand restaurants and nothing to eat. We were at our annual Sarasota Stamp Expo show, so I grabbed the sampler platter to go for Doug and myself, and we enjoyed it immensely. It's counter service here, so you order and he puts it all together for you. He asked if I wanted any of the meats sauced, and I really appreciate this, as I don't, and I don't like it when places load everything up with sauce. The ribs here are wonderfully smoky and meaty, with a delicious dry rub that makes any other addition unneccesary. Besides, they have a nifty little station where you can package their 4 sauces yourself. The pulled pork and chicken were nicely smoked and tasty too. The only sauce I didn't care for was the South Carolina mustard sauce. I have loved this sauce whenever I get it in South Carolina, but everywhere else it lacks layers of flavor and interest. The other three sauces were very good, so no demerits there. We liked all of the sides we tried, with the exception of the corn bread, which had too much white wheat flour in it for my taste. I like a real corny tasting corn bread, and this one came up short. The mac and cheese is everything folks say it is...simply the best mac and cheese I have ever had. Really. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Matthew T.
The Roadside Rib Shack is one of those places that is on my lunch rotation list. It is fairly good Bar B Q, not the best I've ever had, but pretty darn good. And it seems the last few months that some of their so so things have improved and are much tastier now. Which I'm happy about. The beans are much improved. Typically I go for a pulled pork sandwich and a side of mac and cheese. I love their mac and cheese. You almost always get a bit of the top part with the browned cheese. It is creamy and yummy and just right under neath. Heck sometimes, I just want the mac and cheese and could forget the pulled pork. They have a few different sauces and a reasonable selection of sides. The ribs are reliable but not the best ever. A co-worker loves their smoked chicken but I've never had it. But he has decent taste so give it a try. but remember, the mac and cheese.......It haunts my dreams.
(3)Rick L.
I've been there 3 times in the last fortnight for their baby back BBQ ribs. I think that makes me an addict. They're nearly as good as the ribs at the Shed in Ocean Springs, MS which are my all-time favorites so not too bad. Collards are good too and the sweet potato casserole is tasty, but a bit rich. I like it anyway. I like going there. The people are always friendly and chatty and the place looks insanely clean. Next time I'm going to try something else... maybe.
(4)John F.
This place is a local gem!! If you love great BBQ this place is a MUST. It's kind of hidden away in a local plaza off of Bahia Vista but you'll be glad that you found it. Great selection of sides like mac and cheese, baked beans, and killer cornbread. Best BBQ in SRQ!
(5)Tasha R.
Based on all of the reviews I read here on yelp I decided to give this place a try. It was on a weekday around 3pm-ish. First I'll start with the food. The menu was a bit pricey but if the food is great (and their portions were big) I am willing to do so. Unfortunately it was not. I am not sure what I expected but I kept an open mind when my husband ordered ribs and the man behind the counter pulled it out of a nearby hot box. I ordered a brisket sandwich (brisket being my favorite). Each of us had a side of macaroni with cornbread, both of which were lukewarm at best. This is really a cafeteria style dining experience with everything awaiting your plate in a hot box as I stated earlier. I don't remember anything remarkable about my sandwich but I do remember that my husband's ribs were tough and he looked like a caveman trying to navigate the rib with his beard. Maybe we are spoiled by fall-off-the-bone ribs? The decor was your average BBQ joint set-up with cowboy paraphanalia everywhere, which doesn't bother me at all. I can not comment on the service as you mostly service yourself but the man putting our food onto our plates was courteous. In all I will never go here again. The food was not hot and below average. I have had better ribs at Chili's. Perhaps we went at a bad time but it isn't worth the gas money.
(2)Brett H.
I'm very particular about my BBQ and this is the real deal. The meat just falls off the bone on the Ribs and the chicken is good (better with the Original BBQ sauce). The mac & cheese were good but the mashed potatoes and gravy were better. If you want a quick BBQ joint, this is the place.
(5)Ruvin F.
Having eaten ribs through the south we are particular about a good rack of ribs. Some say that Florida isn't in the "real" south, but you'd never know it about the ribs coming from the shack. We just did a take-out of their rack of ribs. Meaty, moist & top them off with the spicey sauce - great. Good friendly service from from the staff at the counter. You want ribs, this is the place in Sarasota!
(4)John M.
Just got into Sarasota today from Chicago and my girlfriend and I were both starving, not being from here and not knowing where to eat I searched Yelp & lo and behold I found a gem! The Roadside Rib Shack in Sarasota. Let me begin by telling you all that I am an experienced BBQ connoisseur and this is among the best I've ever had I ordered a rib tips meal which came with 1 side and 1 piece of corn bread and a drink. The tips were fresh, meaty, juicy as hell and seasoned to perfection my girlfriend ordered the Chicken wing meal deal with two sides and a drink the wings too were cooked and seasoned to perfection. Roadside Rib Shack had several different BBQ sauces to choose from, and I highly recommend the mac n cheese and colored greens as sides. Overall we both had a very memorable experience thanks to an employee who took the time to talk to us about the food and the other area restaurants & even sent us packing with extra rib tips and wings which I am munching on right now in fact. Thank you Roadside Rib Shack, keep on Queing! John Mac & Charlotte Rios
(5)Phil M.
Definitely good Barbecue! Nice authentic dry rub and smoke. Some nice sauces too. The St. Louis style spare ribs were a bit tough for my liking, but I'm not a spare rib fan anyway. The baby backs were excellent and the chicken was amazing. I recommend trying their smoked chicken wings, but note, they only have them on certain days. The kids loved em and so did I! The Mac and Cheese was super cheesie and lived up to its hype. My favorite, the collard greens, were spot on and some of the best green I ever had. The amazing thing about the food of=at this place is that it had a bit of a gourmet flare too it. The place was very clean and food was very well prepared! Plus, the staff is super friendly.. I will for sure be back next time I'm in the area. In fact, I just may stop on way out of town.
(5)Michael H.
Best barbecue place in Sarasota hands down. Everyone should try the macaroni and cheese at least once. It's the best mac and cheese I've ever had. There's not even a close second. There are generous portions and the spicy barbecue sauce is also great. Great service, great food, and great prices.
(5)Lana A.
The place isn't much to look at or dine in, but the ribs are okay. The mac and cheese was dried out the day we went so we skipped that side and went for the coleslaw, which was nice and creamy, and fries. Altogether, you'll spend about $10-12 per person for lunch here, which would include drinks. Quick service and friendly staff.
(3)Jen M.
I literally had to put on stretch pants before writing this review. This is some darn good BBQ. I opted for the Roadside sandwich (half pulled pork, half pulled chicken), side of mac and cheese, and it came with a corn muffin and a drink. The portion was very generous. Roadside offers 4 BBQ sauces...original, spicy, sweet and mustard. I got my pork and chicken bathed in a combo of sweet and spicy and got some mustard on the side. Delicious! Tender and smoky meat. The macaroni and cheese was pretty good. The corn muffin was on point. Cool little interior if you venture to the back of the place.
(5)Steve G.
Very solid bbq at this joint off Siesta Key. The owner is an absolute gem and guaranteed we would enjoy anything off the menu. He was was right. The ribs were fatty, tender, full of flavor and dripping with homemade hot sauce. Plus, my sides: old school mac & cheese and unbelievably tasty potato salad...with mustard mixed in as a special kick. If your driving along US 41 and tempted to pull in for a steak at longhorn or outback, just take a minute and pull off the road to this joint. You'll spend much less and actually remember the experience.
(4)Sara S.
This is the best BBQ place in the area. The ribs are sooo tender and fall off the bone. The spicy bbq sauce is the best out of the sauces. All meals come with delicious cornbread and they offer combo meals. Their smoked chicken is tender too, but I prefer the ribs. You must get their mac & cheese and mashed sweet potato. Both are amazing. I used to get the collard greens which were my favorite until I found out it was cooked with ham hock and later found a chunk. That is the way to cook em' though, just not my thing. ... The restaurant itself is what you would expect with a name like rib shack, located in a small strip and has a few booths. It's clean though!
(4)George B.
I heard about this Restaurant from a co-worker during my recent trip to Sarasota. Maybe it was over-hyped, or I was expecting too much, but this restaurant underwhelmed me. The quality of food was a step above Sonny's, I had the ribs, with baked beans and corn bread, and with a drink was about $12. The meat was coked right, fall of the bone, and had a variety of sauces to chose from (sweet, spicy, and mustard based), but what disappointed me, was their portion size in relative to their higher than average price (I had picked one of the lower priced meals which came with 2 ribs and a quarter chicken). The staff was very friendly, as well as their patrons. Their brightest spot was their cornbread muffins, man were they good! The location had limited parking, it's in a strip mall, but there is parking available across the road. The atmosphere is rustic, therefore giving it's "Shack" name. I wouldn't consider taking anyone on a first date there, unless you both were raised on a farm and are used to being covered with BBQ sauce. The bottom line, the food was good, but be prepared to shell out some bucks for a more filling meal.
(3)Jeffrey G.
The brisket sandwich was tender and delicious. The pulled pork was a tiny bit dry, but the South Carolina mustard-based sauce was the best I've ever had. The rib tips were great too. Stay away from the fries. They were put into the frier wet, and came out soggy.
(4)Eugene B.
Fantastic service by the owner - Kevin. He was very friendly, knowledgeable, and spent time talking to us about the food, BBQ in general, etc. I had the baby back ribs, which were outstanding, with the spicy sauce. They fell off the bone. My wife had the brisket, and I actually liked it even more (and I am a rib guy). My son had the pulled pork, which was very tasty as well. And great prices to top it off. I wish I lived closer - will be back next time in Sarasota. Stop in! Don't miss it!
(5)Chris H.
This place doesn't look like much when you pull in . But the food was great,the meat fell right off the bone. The BBQ sauces (4) were all very good. I will be going again. service was good and the people friendly.
(4)Fuzzy B.
Large portions. Lots of different sauce flavors. Very friendly and helpful guy behind the counter (the owner?). They were out of ribs by 5:30 on the Saturday we tried to go there, so either go early or call ahead.
(4)Lady V.
After returning from our lil adventure in Bush Gardens, as we were driving back to Sarasota, I went through YELP to find a place to eat near our hotel. We were half starved! I found this lil hole in the wall here, Roadside Rib Shack. The food here was incredible.. I've never eaten ribs like their ribs.. First off the portion of my HALF of babyback ribs were "Fred Flintstone" style.. I even confirmed with the guy and told him, I asked for half of babyback ribs and he said with a huge smile that is half.. I was dumbfounded.. When I say HUGE, I mean HUGE!! The flavor was amazing.. Mi Bebe had the pull pork, shredded chicken and these huge ribs. He was in HOG HEAVEN.. LOL.. The only thing I kept seeing was eyes rolled back to his head in euphoria.. LOL.. The owner behind the counter was a friendly family guy.. Didn't cared too much for the greens but I loved the mac & cheese.. When I returned back to Sarasota, I will definitely return to this place.. We loved it.. Our bellies were happy happy joy joy... LOL
(5)Carolyn H.
If you're in Sarasota and looking for BBQ, definitely check this place out. The owner, who is from Ohio, is a self-taught BBQ master. His ribs are amazing -- tender, fall off the bone, and flavored just right. My guy ordered pulled pork and said it was delicious. I wasn't starving when I arrived, so the owner kindly let me order a smaller plate than what was on the menu: 4 baby back ribs + 1 side for about $8 (as opposed to a half rack + 2 sides for $15). It was just the right amount of food for me. The collard greens were my side, and they were spot-on. The owner also makes his own BBQ sauce -- and apparently his original recipe won an award at a BBQ competition. I can see why. It was tangy, complex, and addictive. The one disappointment was dessert. I ordered the peach cobbler, and it was too sweet (almost cloying) and mainly crust. I kept searching for peach slices, but I found maybe 4 in my entire serving.
(4)John C.
Amazing food. Large amount of food as well. I got ribs with 1/4 chicken, and mac n cheese including a large drink for only $10 and it filled me up! (a tall order for most places)
(4)Frank A.
This place has fall off the bone ribs, a great selection of homemade BBQ sauces. The Pork, the brisket, the chicken were all above expectations. We will go here every time we are in the area. The sides were excellent and the owner was very friendly. Even showed us around the kitchen. Put this one on your list.
(5)jeff h.
Mac And Cheese is from the smoker and the BEST I have ever eaten. The BBQ is the best in this town by far !!! PERIOD
(5)Douglas W.
My lovely wife went out to get us the Roadside Sampler Platter as I had to work today. I wish we had been able to dine there because it was great and I would love to have checked it out in person. The platter includes 4 ribs, 1/2 pound pulled pork, 1/4 chicken, 2 sides and cornbread. We chose Mac 'n cheese and greens. We split this and it was plenty of food. It was a terrific value. It comes without sauce so Miriam picked up a sample of all 4 of their sauces. 3 very similar versions of a red sauce, sweet, spicy and regular and a nice mustard sauce. All were good, not great but no complaints. I haven't had a mustard sauce outside SC that I thought was worth eating and this one missed a bit and was a little too sweet. All, however, complemented the BBQ quite nicely. None of this BBQ needed sauce, it was all perfectly cooked, smoked, porky and chicken BBQ goodness. None of the meats were buried in heavy rubs. The meats were of excellent quality and really fresh tasting. Definitely not yesterday's leftovers. Pulled pork is so very often dry and in my mind often incorrectly chopped or sliced. This was really juicy and succulent. I didn't catch any smoke but the flavor was terrific. I really liked it with the mustard sauce. The ribs had the tips on and were meaty, fall off the bone, juicy and flavorful. I highly recommend you don't skip the Mac. This is some of the best I have had. It was creamy and caramelized on the top. It was just plain delicious. The greens were very good, many are undercooked and this was perfect. The corn muffin has too much white wheat flour. You can just skip it. I'll be back as soon as I can.
(5)Ana P.
Ribs were excellent.. We got the shack rack. It came with 2 sides and a corn muffin. We should of listened to the reviews about skipping the sides because they were absolutely right. The macaroni and cheese had no taste and the sweet potato casserole had way too much nutmeg in it and was over spiced in general. The corn muffin was too dense. We, however, forgave all when we tasted the ribs. I will be returning many more times for the ribs. The service was good the young man behind the counter was very nice and professional.
(4)Jason L.
I was looking for a barbecue place to help me get my fix. Look this place up online. I saw the good reviews and decided to stop in. I got pulled pork brisket rib tips and chicken wings that are smoked. The pulled pork was good and tender the rips were what I expected to be but the smoked chicken wings and brisket where phenomenal those are my two favorite choices that I had. Its not much to look at on the inside but the food is great I highly recommend stopping here.
(4)Catherine B.
We went in near to closing hour and the ribs were still fall off the bone tender. The pulled pork was moist and tasty. The bun was fresh. I tried three out of four barbecue sauces. All were good. My personal preference was the "sweet". It was refreshing to see the young girl behind the counter fresh, cheerful and energetic as though she just started her shift. They closed while we were eating and yet they didn't rush us in the least. If I lived in the area, I would be a regular patron.
(4)