Penguin Ed's is downright incredible. Whether you're going in for lunch/dinner, or you're having it catered for special events, you won't get better barbecue in the town. I've came to this location several times and have always had very friendly wait staff that deserved a great tip for service. Most of my experience comes from their catering service, catering groups of 150+, and I've yet to find a better staff to help you order for large groups. Get two large plates of pulled pork and a couple gallons of their various sauces and you're looking at a lot of great food for relatively low price. It keeps well too! Love the place.
(5)
Gregory G.
Visitor in town. Great BBQ! Recommend getting the pulled chicken but get it on a bun. Fried okra was good. Probably wouldn't reorder the Mac and cheese but anything with enough of their hot sauce can't be bad.
(5)
Brian D.
had the pulled pork sandwich
(4)
Daniel L.
Great Food!! If you're from out of town and want some BBQ Authentic try this place out!!
(4)
Allessandria P.
Delicious BBQ and fantastic service (love the red phone). We had the ribs, pulled pork, potato salad, BBQ beans & batter dipped fries. All were amazing, as was the service.
(4)
Donald M.
I had chopped pork two days ago. I am going back today. 12 bar blues played the entire dining experience. Gtood Stuff
(4)
J. B.
There are several "Award Winning BBQ" joints in NWA...they can't touch the original Penguin Ed's B and B Bar-B-Que. True Sourthern Comfort is what you get here, no fuss, no muss, just good food. The Q is as good as it get and the sides are even better. Try the batter dipped fries, the onion rings and the fried pickles....yes heart attack on a platters but rehab is worth it. We usually get the 1/2 chicken and rib dinner then split it between two of us. Wife likes the brown beans and I get the batter dipped fries. If I'm really hungrey I'll order an extra rib for $1.95 and know that we will both be stuffed by the time we're through. The fried pies and cookies are wonderful but we rarely get either one because we're so full from the meal! Speaking of sauces we like the Half and Half, I add a dash of hot to bring up the heat a touch and I always order the meat with sauce on the side. An old BBQ Pro told be that the true test of good BBQ is to eat the meat without sauce first and then you know if it is good. Add sauce later if you want or need it! Anyway, I can't think of another place in Northwest Arkansas that I have tried that is even in the same ballpark as Penguin Ed's Original B and B Bar-B-Que. Not even Ed's other stores, their smokers are too new.
(5)
Cierra J.
"Killer" batter fries and macaroni like my grandmother makes. Very small sitting area and an even smaller bathroom but the food was good and the decor was very interesting (in a good way).
(4)
David R.
So we were in Fayetteville for the first time and naturally as I do with any new place, I try to sniff out the best local BBQ. The reviews on Yelp lead me to Penguin Ed's, especially since the old-school set up made me think my dad would really enjoy it too. We arrived what looked like just after the dinner rush, so we were able to get a booth upon entering and yes, this place is very old school. My dad and I both got a kick out of the table-phone ordering system. My normal strategy is to try as many different BBQ meats as possible, so the Dinner #3 was the logical option and I went with pulled pork, ribs, and sausage and my dad went with the brisket, ribs, and sliced pork and we split it all up, calories galore. On to the BBQ: The Ribs: the one large rib you get with the Dinner 3 is a nice, meaty spare rib. The flavor was great and it was enhanced by the light seasoning and the meat didn't put up too much of a fight when you tore into it and pulled away from the bone. The Brisket: as I have noticed with many places outside Texas, the brisket here too was served very thinly sliced. It had a very nice smoke ring with no seasoning or rub featured. Although I did like the brisket, I found that it seemed a bit dry, not from overcooking, but I think slicing it so thinly doesn't help the meat retain much moisture. Overall good stuff, but not amazing. The Sausage: same with the ribs, it was very thinly sliced, of which I haven't seen sausage sliced this way in my BBQ travels. The sausage here wasn't dry like the brisket, but I felt the flavor was just OK. Nothing too unique about the cut of sausage or the mixture, just your general stuff. The Pulled Pork: simply great stuff. I love getting pulled pork since so few places in Texas know how to do it right. The nice heaping portion was flavorful and moist and and had a nice smoky flavor. One observation is that it seems a bit chopped as well as pulled. Definitely my favorite next to the ribs. No seasoning featured on the pulled pork. The Sliced Pork: as with the brisket and sausage, it was sliced thinly too and my dad and I both felt that it was sliced a bit too short as well, where it seemed more like chopped pork slices which I think takes away from what is really a tasty piece of meat. The Sauce(s): They had two types, original and hot and I found I liked the hot better. The sauce has a brown body to it and is quasi-runny, so somewhere in between a store bought BBQ sauce (KC masterpiece) and the extremely runny vinegar-based sauces featured in the deep south. Good stuff. The Sides: I am not very big on sides as since there are so many good meats to try on most BBQ restaurant's menus, I find I am unable to leave room in my stomach for the sides. However, since three sides are offered, I went with the mac n'cheese, the normal (crinkle cut) fries, and the battered fries. The batter(ed) fries...MOTHER OF GOD...simply amazing. Soft and doughy and the batter is something I would describe as what you might see in a fish-and-chips place (think Cod not Catfish), really good, heavy, flavorful batter. The other two sides were solid but paled in comparison to the majesty of the artery-clogging deliciousness derived from the batter fries. A must order. Overall, a great experience and at $11.25 the Dinner #3 is an amazing value too, it was simply too much food to eat. If I get the chance to go back again, I would just go with the ribs, pulled pork and a massive portion of those battered fries. Great experience in razorback country.
(4)
R H.
Really like Penguin Ed's. It is in no way my favorite BBQ in the world, but it is NWA BBQ at it's best. Other menu items are also good. Good Ozark BBQ.
(4)
Frances W.
Pengin Ed's is the penultimate Fayetteville experience for me and my family. The red phones, the insanely delicious cookies, the no-frills atmosphere... this place better cater my wedding someday. We still order the BBQ sauce in bulk for my dad every holiday (mild is his favorite, though he's usually a spicy dude). My sister came here when she was pregnant, and then-unborn Abby started dancing in her tummy to the beat and the delicious ribs my sister was consuming, apparently. JUSSAYIN BABIES LIKE IT TOO SO YOU AIN'T GOT NO EXCUSE
(5)
Larry N.
Penguin Ed's Is the best BBQ I have had in a long time. Had the brisket and hot links, they were great. The BBQ beans were awesome and the batter fries were spectacular. This will be a regular stop.
(5)
Kristal Joy W.
This was OMG GOOD... I have been to Penguid Eds before, but this location stands out.. the service was OUTSTANDING. Friendly, efficent, very personable. The ribs were a m a z i n g.... pulled port was Awesome! The sause was the best Iv had, and I do lots of Bar-B-Que! Didnt hurt that the mang was from Las Vegas, moved same time I did!! the food was outstanding, gotta try it!
(5)
P O.
Loved it. Staff was pleasant, barbecue was great.
(5)
Sacha D.
I like bbq and this place use to be known as b & b bbq was great then so i came to this location of penguin eds to see if i would like it better than the mission one and boy did i i had the bbq meatloaf and yum it was so good and everyone with me loved there food will start going here for bbq instead of mission the atmosphere was ok staff ok
(4)
Ben T.
I've only been in NWA for 4 months now, but this is hands down my favorite place to eat in the area. Awesome place to kick back with a few beers and some great food. I've only been here for lunch, and have only had the sandwiches. They're fantastic, and come on perfectly cooked, buttery Texas toast. I usually get the beef, pulled pork or chicken, and they are all great. Well cooked meat and a variety of BBQ sauces to choose from. My wife had a BBQ baloney sandwich here which was also awesome. The sides are great too. I always get the BBQ baked beans, much to the chagrin of my wife. They also have coleslaw, fried okra, and a few others I'm eager to try. The ordering is novel. You pick up the red phone at your table, press a button and you're connected to the kitchen. Afterward the waitress brings out your food, and comes by later to see that you're doing good or asks if you need another beer. They have a variety of homemade cookies and pies that I bet are really good, although I've yet to try them. For Thanksgiving this year we bought a 14 lb. smoked turkey from PE's. It was awesome. Just a couple of hours in the oven and it was ready to go. It came with 2 quarts of gravy on the side. This will be a new Thanksgiving tradition. UPDATE: Had dinner here tonight. Add ribs and brisket to the list of things that are awesome.
(5)
Justin M.
It's worth mentioning that this is one of the few BBQ places in the area that will cater to vegetarians. Vege burger + tons of their sause = great sandwich. Speaking of catering, these guys are also convenient if you need to cater buckets of food to your event.
(4)
Joseph E.
Good maybe even really good BBQ. Sides were great as was the service.
(4)
Brent M.
Maybe not the *best* BBQ I've ever had, but Penguin Ed's offers excellent value for the price. It's cheap, it's good, and service is prompt. Can't really ask for much more than that.
(4)
Paul M.
Casual bbq dining. We shared a 2 meat combo because the portions are so abundant. Good bbq for the price. Not the best, but good.
(4)
B B.
So I was excited to check this place out...It smelled good, prices were reasonable and we even got to order on the cool red phone! Unfortunately food did not deliever. Meat was overcooked and not too tasty at all. Mac and cheese had no flavor and potato salad too much mayo. There were 4 of us and we all had different things and were all meh- about it. I wanted to love it and it just didn't happen :(
(2)
Aaron K.
I thought about giving this place only 2 stars because it's probably a 2.5 for me, but I decided that I would round up. I guess that the best way to describe the food would be that it tasted like it had been seasoned as an afterthought once it had been cooked. Several places in Fayetteville that are quite a bit better.
(3)
Lea M.
Gooood stuff!!
(5)
Gary L.
Also known for decades as B&B Bar-B-Que, the place has that Fayetteville "funky" feel that's cozy, bluesy, affordable and comfotable for both family and available singles. They were drawing in a lot of bikers during the enormous Bike, Blues & BBQ festival the day I dropped in (on my bike), and I had to wait 15 min. on a table, but was able to buy a beer and sit on a bench outside with my dad. The service was good and friendly, and the food was also good. I got the pulled pork sandwich with choice of sides. I don't like a lot of bread, so I was pleasantly surprised to see my sandwich with a small bun. But there was still plenty of meat, and it was cooked to a point where there was a tasty amount of charring or slight blackening in the mix, and I really liked the flavor it added. Oh, use the red phone at the table when you're ready to order.
(4)
Taylor W.
Solid bbq place. The novelty of eating here - you order from the table via a phone attached to the wall at each table.
(4)
Dawn G.
Great BBQ! They have wonderful salads and they're big. Be real hungry if you order the large salad. They have wonderful smoked chicken on top. They're also very reliable and dependable for catering.
(4)
Chris L.
Very good BBQ and has a great ambiance.
(4)
Seth M.
This is one of my reasons I come back to Fayetteville. Out of all the BBQ joints I've been to, none hold a candle to how these guys do it. This is real food with great service. There are only a hand full of places I've eaten at that years later I still crave ( RIP 4th Cafe) and after 6 years since my last visit, its nice to know that its as good as I remembered.
(5)
Molly D.
I used to live across the street from B&B (now Penguin Ed's) and I got their rib dinner on a daily basis. You cannot beat their ribs. And I love the toasted texas toast that comes with it. Went back recently with my sister and the rib dinner with half and half sauce was as good as I remember it. Excellent slaw and potato salad. Batter-dipped fries are probably too rich for one person to consume - we split and order and still only ate half of it. The pulled pork on the Poke Annie Salad was not pulled, but sliced, and kind of bland. I normally love a pulled pork salad (Smokin Joes, Whole Hog - just the meat, and sauce, and lettuce, mmmmm) but this one was really nothing to write home about. Still, everything else is so good, it still gets 5 stars from me!
(5)
Chris S.
Outstanding pulled-pork sandwich was fantastic! Good potato salad and baked beans with a killer chocolate-chip cookie, all under $6.95! Sandwich was small, but impressive. Service was wonderful, place was clean, super-friendly staff. Great experience, will be back. Recommended. Only negative thing, I looked up "buffet" in Fayetteville and all of their locations are listed. I phoned and they said that only applied to catering. Weak.
(4)
Rob G.
Its interesting to see people say that its like a trip back in time. Thats almost exactly what it is for me. I grew up in Oklahoma, but my parents are from Ft. Smith, and my father went to law school here in the 'ville. As a kid, i remember Dad taking me to Ft. Smith on fall friday afternoons, every once in awhile. We'd have dinner with family, crash at mammaw and pappaw's, then get up in the morning and drive over the mountain for Razorback football or basketball. After the game, we went one of two places: the legendary Herman's, or to B&B. Those are some of the best memories I have of my dad, those fall afternoons when it was just us, sports, and a feast of delicious meat. I moved here in August, when i decided to leave my culinary career in Austin, TX, and follow in Dad's footsteps at UofA Law. Once i realized the the B&B was now called "Penguin Ed's", I avoided the place, thinking that it had changed, and it wouldn't be the place of my memories. How wrong I was. I went in late fall, and it was EXACTLY as I had remembered. Dark room with dark woods, red phones for ordering (my favorite part as a kid), and plates of great Q. I've been several times since, and today, i stopped in for a late lunch. It was not my plan to eat at, screw it, i'm still calling it the B&B, I ended up there after a misadventure across town. See my review of Boar's Nest BBQ, and you will understand why i ended up here today. I had been craving a pulled pork sandwich, but given that it was 2:30, and i hadn't eaten all day, I was more than a bit peckish. I ordered a starter, the onion rings. They are battered, and they aren't too big, and aren't too small. There are several different schools of thought on fried onions, in terms of size, or breaded vs battered. I happen to like them all, and if you like the battered version, you'll enjoy these. Great with ketchup, or one of the bbq sauces on the table. BTW, you can also get crinkle cut french fries dropped in the same batter and fried again. i'll warn you now, they are in no way, shape, or form, good for you. But i've had them a couple of times and they are friggin awesome. They look like they should be really dense and heavy, but the second frying somehow makes the potato become light and almost fluffy. But they are still greasy, and well, batter fried french fries. not for everyone, but if you can stand them, you gotta try them. Anyway, after the onion rings, I had a pulled pork sandwich. The pulled pork sandwich comes on a bun, while the others come on homemade texas toast. But, if you ask, they will do the pork on toast, and that is exactly what you should do. Its a great sandwich, though i must admit i quibble with calling it "pulled". when i think of pulled pork, i think of pork shoulder pulled apart with forks or bear-claws, or even fingers, long thin strands of delicious meat, tossed with sauce. At the B&B, they don't so much pull it as chop it. But whatever you call it, its delicious. You can taste the flavor of the pork through the sauce, and the smoke comes through nicely. The toast was crisp and buttery, and well complimented the meat. It was thick enough to not get soggy and fall apart, which was also nice. For sides, I had chips and fried okra. Its ruffles (totally proper in the BBQ setting), and the fried okra, is, well, fried okra. But it was crispy, hot, and with a bit of salt, very tasty. For desert, i got a chocolate chip cookie, and a white chocolate apricot cookie to go. the latter kinda sounds weird, but if you like white chocolate, its actually pretty good. As a BBQ experience, it's very good. Doesn't quite rank up with the top of the top, either regionally (Oklahoma Joe's in KC, Elmer's in Tulsa), or even locally (in terms of food alone, i think Whole Hog Cafe is probably just a bit better), which is why it gets 4 stars. But for nostalgia, its hard to beat.
(4)
Kim G.
Best BBQ in NWA. Brisket is delicious. Best cole Slaw you'll ever have. Menu has wide variety of things to choose from. BBQ is bad to the bone. I love it!
(4)
Johnathon O.
Where do I start.... Okay so I'm visiting and I saw the reviews and decide this looks good. I saw some pics and thought it would be cool to order on the phone. We put it in the GPS and it took us through a residence and we almost thought we wouldn't make it and there it was. First impression was a little hole in the wall place. Old looking and we looked at each other and said its either gonna be great or horrible. But as we step out of the car we could smell the greatness! If I could say anything negative I'd say when we walked it it was pretty warm in there. There was little seating but it's a home feel atmosphere. Now for the food! I ordered the #3 plate. I got pulled pork hot links and a rib. No joke some of the best BBQ I've ever had! I got 3 sides. Baked beans okra and Mac and cheese. The sides were sides. Nothin to Bragg about but not bad at all. And for what it's worth the dr pepper was great too! I know it's fountain but seems to be different at other places. It also came with 2 slices of toast. I'm in town visiting for work but I cannot wait to come back next week and indulge again! Oh almost forgot. The wait staff were just so polite and fun and courteous. Could ask for a better experience. Unless they paid me to eat there haha
(5)
Amber J.
Great spot for some good barbecue. I had the fried pickles (with ranch), onion rings, smoked wings, mac and cheese, baked beans and potato salad. The smoked wings were by far my favorite item. The fried pickles were good but with the fried onion rings, I was a little fried out. It was grease overload but still very good. I recommend the fried items in smaller quantities. The sauce on the wings was tangy and delish. I was not impressed with the sides. The mac and cheese was the most disappointing. There wasn't much flavor to call it mac and cheese...it was really just 'mac'. The sides are just that, sides to great meats. The patio was the best. It was nice to enjoy great weather with my meal. I heard the place gets pretty packed. When I was there at 10:30 (opening) there were already several tables taken.
(4)
Blake M.
The food is FANTASTIC! The atmosphere, like I saw another reviewer say, is no frills. However, the atmosphere fits the food. Nothin fancy, just good stuff! I'm a pretty tough critic and the ONLY reason I gave it 4 stars is because I believe a 5 star meal is life changing! The cookies on the other hand..... Those are life changing! If you're in Fayetteville and feel the need to fill your soul with an abundant amount of smoked meats, this is the place for you!
(4)
Jonathan W.
The Brisket taste like it's been on the grill forever, so moist and delicious reminds me of home. Chopped or sliced you can't go wrong. Excellent lunch. A1 product, I'm definitely coming back when I am in town again.
(5)
Deep S.
I don't get the hype. The place is silly. The waitresses giggled at me because I didn't know to just come in and sit down. Halfway between divebar and Dairy Queen is the vibe I got when I went in, so I wasn't sure whether to walk to the counter or sit down at a table or what. Got a pulled pork sandwich, baked beans and coleslaw. To me this is a BBQ lunch. If a place can't get this right they're not worth going to. The beans tasted like they were out of a can with (maybe) a little something tossed in them. Coleslaw was plain and unappealing. A few drops of Kraft-tasting sauce in the middle of a pile of barely seasoned meat. Seemed like two batches of pork were mixed together because some was bone dry and some was a bit juicy. All that slapped on a regular tiny white bread bun, not grilled, not toasted, just fluffy cheap hamburger buns. A lot of places in college towns are awful because a large portion of the people that eat there are inebriated students. And it's OK to be a student. And it's OK to drink. But your tastebuds aren't working right during these crazy college years. I know mine weren't, lol. This place is an example of just that. One of the worst I've had, and I've eaten a lot of BBQ. And btw waitresses.. It's not good business to laugh at customers unless they make a joke. You're not in high school anymore.
(1)
Jason W.
I didn't see any red phones, but the pulled pork was pretty good. I used a mix of their hot and mild sauces to get just the right flavor.
(4)
Adam C.
The best place to eat in Fayetteville is most certainly Penguin Ed's. Is has the best BBQ, the best service and staff and the best atmosphere of any place in NW Arkansas. Can't wait to come back again!!!
(5)
Kim L.
This place was very hard to find! This place had a red phone in your seating area where you can call and order your food - thought that was cool. The grilled chicken wings and chicken was amazing! It was all soo tender and juicy! The baked beans and mac and cheese were also yummy! They also have breaded deep fried fries here! Of course they tasted good! :P
(4)
Rob H.
Love Penguin Ed's! I've traveled the world and always make a point to come back to Fayetteville for the BBQ. everything is delicious here.
(5)
Kaci L.
I loved the eclectic look of the restaurant. The BBQ and the BBQ sauce was very good!! I can't forget about the peach pie!! That was the icing on the cake for me. Penguin Ed's was awesome!!! The Mac and cheese was also very good!! My bf let me have a fork full. Lol
(5)
Cheyenne B.
Best BBQ in town bar none! The ribs are fall off the bone, melt in your mouth tasty! Super in love with the sides, and the sauces are perfection! Great prices for what you get, and friendly local servers every time! Highly recommend this place!
(5)
Jennifer C.
A very cool spot to get some real good BBQ. If you get a chance try the Jalapeño BBQ Nachos they are amazing!
(4)
Kelly M.
Although the place is very cool, I have had better barbecue. The staff was great though - which is one of the reasons for 3 stars and not less. The fried pickles were tasty (I would recommend ordering them if you like fried pickles) but the meat itself was unremarkable. Overall, I would look for another BBQ joint if that's what you're in the mood for.
(3)
Keyaira H.
The ribs. The fried okra. Southern hospitality at it's best. *__*
(5)
John R.
Nice enough place, unpretentious setting and service. The battered fried pickles were great and the prices were reasonable. The BBQ was not at all what I hoped for. I was hoping to get something like competition style ribs and brisket (I ordered both) and that didn't come close to happening. The brisket was bone dry and utterly flavorless. The ribs were not trimmed or cut properly at all, and included mostly just Cartilage and the little odd bones. Not something you would serve to paying customers. Again the meat was tasteless, no discernable rub or brine had been used, and very little flavor, either smoke or of any sort. The texture was just eating pork, not BBQ. Better that the brisket, which only had signs of a smoke ring on one side, but nothing like BBQ can, and should be. I gave an extra star because I liked the overall feel of the place, and for the service which was fine as well. They have a little kids menu and bring coloring stuff and that's nice also. You can eat outside, we did, and as a little diner it's not a bad place. Some of the sides and appetizers are unique and delicious as well. I just wouldn't come back here for the BBQ.
(3)
Quincy D.
The best I have had in a long time. The onion rings are awesome and the service was great. This is a must visit in Fayetteville.
(5)
Michael M.
First time here. Low key. Inside and outside seating. Ordering on the Red Phone is cool. I've had better.
(4)
Kristin H.
Tender, juicy pulled pork that just MELTS in your mouth. You can choose a few sides with your main course. I chose the green beans and baked beans. The green beans had little pieces of bacon in them...came as a surprise, but not bad! The mac n cheese looked great too!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Sean M.
Penguin Ed's is downright incredible. Whether you're going in for lunch/dinner, or you're having it catered for special events, you won't get better barbecue in the town. I've came to this location several times and have always had very friendly wait staff that deserved a great tip for service. Most of my experience comes from their catering service, catering groups of 150+, and I've yet to find a better staff to help you order for large groups. Get two large plates of pulled pork and a couple gallons of their various sauces and you're looking at a lot of great food for relatively low price. It keeps well too! Love the place.
(5)Gregory G.
Visitor in town. Great BBQ! Recommend getting the pulled chicken but get it on a bun. Fried okra was good. Probably wouldn't reorder the Mac and cheese but anything with enough of their hot sauce can't be bad.
(5)Brian D.
had the pulled pork sandwich
(4)Daniel L.
Great Food!! If you're from out of town and want some BBQ Authentic try this place out!!
(4)Allessandria P.
Delicious BBQ and fantastic service (love the red phone). We had the ribs, pulled pork, potato salad, BBQ beans & batter dipped fries. All were amazing, as was the service.
(4)Donald M.
I had chopped pork two days ago. I am going back today. 12 bar blues played the entire dining experience. Gtood Stuff
(4)J. B.
There are several "Award Winning BBQ" joints in NWA...they can't touch the original Penguin Ed's B and B Bar-B-Que. True Sourthern Comfort is what you get here, no fuss, no muss, just good food. The Q is as good as it get and the sides are even better. Try the batter dipped fries, the onion rings and the fried pickles....yes heart attack on a platters but rehab is worth it. We usually get the 1/2 chicken and rib dinner then split it between two of us. Wife likes the brown beans and I get the batter dipped fries. If I'm really hungrey I'll order an extra rib for $1.95 and know that we will both be stuffed by the time we're through. The fried pies and cookies are wonderful but we rarely get either one because we're so full from the meal! Speaking of sauces we like the Half and Half, I add a dash of hot to bring up the heat a touch and I always order the meat with sauce on the side. An old BBQ Pro told be that the true test of good BBQ is to eat the meat without sauce first and then you know if it is good. Add sauce later if you want or need it! Anyway, I can't think of another place in Northwest Arkansas that I have tried that is even in the same ballpark as Penguin Ed's Original B and B Bar-B-Que. Not even Ed's other stores, their smokers are too new.
(5)Cierra J.
"Killer" batter fries and macaroni like my grandmother makes. Very small sitting area and an even smaller bathroom but the food was good and the decor was very interesting (in a good way).
(4)David R.
So we were in Fayetteville for the first time and naturally as I do with any new place, I try to sniff out the best local BBQ. The reviews on Yelp lead me to Penguin Ed's, especially since the old-school set up made me think my dad would really enjoy it too. We arrived what looked like just after the dinner rush, so we were able to get a booth upon entering and yes, this place is very old school. My dad and I both got a kick out of the table-phone ordering system. My normal strategy is to try as many different BBQ meats as possible, so the Dinner #3 was the logical option and I went with pulled pork, ribs, and sausage and my dad went with the brisket, ribs, and sliced pork and we split it all up, calories galore. On to the BBQ: The Ribs: the one large rib you get with the Dinner 3 is a nice, meaty spare rib. The flavor was great and it was enhanced by the light seasoning and the meat didn't put up too much of a fight when you tore into it and pulled away from the bone. The Brisket: as I have noticed with many places outside Texas, the brisket here too was served very thinly sliced. It had a very nice smoke ring with no seasoning or rub featured. Although I did like the brisket, I found that it seemed a bit dry, not from overcooking, but I think slicing it so thinly doesn't help the meat retain much moisture. Overall good stuff, but not amazing. The Sausage: same with the ribs, it was very thinly sliced, of which I haven't seen sausage sliced this way in my BBQ travels. The sausage here wasn't dry like the brisket, but I felt the flavor was just OK. Nothing too unique about the cut of sausage or the mixture, just your general stuff. The Pulled Pork: simply great stuff. I love getting pulled pork since so few places in Texas know how to do it right. The nice heaping portion was flavorful and moist and and had a nice smoky flavor. One observation is that it seems a bit chopped as well as pulled. Definitely my favorite next to the ribs. No seasoning featured on the pulled pork. The Sliced Pork: as with the brisket and sausage, it was sliced thinly too and my dad and I both felt that it was sliced a bit too short as well, where it seemed more like chopped pork slices which I think takes away from what is really a tasty piece of meat. The Sauce(s): They had two types, original and hot and I found I liked the hot better. The sauce has a brown body to it and is quasi-runny, so somewhere in between a store bought BBQ sauce (KC masterpiece) and the extremely runny vinegar-based sauces featured in the deep south. Good stuff. The Sides: I am not very big on sides as since there are so many good meats to try on most BBQ restaurant's menus, I find I am unable to leave room in my stomach for the sides. However, since three sides are offered, I went with the mac n'cheese, the normal (crinkle cut) fries, and the battered fries. The batter(ed) fries...MOTHER OF GOD...simply amazing. Soft and doughy and the batter is something I would describe as what you might see in a fish-and-chips place (think Cod not Catfish), really good, heavy, flavorful batter. The other two sides were solid but paled in comparison to the majesty of the artery-clogging deliciousness derived from the batter fries. A must order. Overall, a great experience and at $11.25 the Dinner #3 is an amazing value too, it was simply too much food to eat. If I get the chance to go back again, I would just go with the ribs, pulled pork and a massive portion of those battered fries. Great experience in razorback country.
(4)R H.
Really like Penguin Ed's. It is in no way my favorite BBQ in the world, but it is NWA BBQ at it's best. Other menu items are also good. Good Ozark BBQ.
(4)Frances W.
Pengin Ed's is the penultimate Fayetteville experience for me and my family. The red phones, the insanely delicious cookies, the no-frills atmosphere... this place better cater my wedding someday. We still order the BBQ sauce in bulk for my dad every holiday (mild is his favorite, though he's usually a spicy dude). My sister came here when she was pregnant, and then-unborn Abby started dancing in her tummy to the beat and the delicious ribs my sister was consuming, apparently. JUSSAYIN BABIES LIKE IT TOO SO YOU AIN'T GOT NO EXCUSE
(5)Larry N.
Penguin Ed's Is the best BBQ I have had in a long time. Had the brisket and hot links, they were great. The BBQ beans were awesome and the batter fries were spectacular. This will be a regular stop.
(5)Kristal Joy W.
This was OMG GOOD... I have been to Penguid Eds before, but this location stands out.. the service was OUTSTANDING. Friendly, efficent, very personable. The ribs were a m a z i n g.... pulled port was Awesome! The sause was the best Iv had, and I do lots of Bar-B-Que! Didnt hurt that the mang was from Las Vegas, moved same time I did!! the food was outstanding, gotta try it!
(5)P O.
Loved it. Staff was pleasant, barbecue was great.
(5)Sacha D.
I like bbq and this place use to be known as b & b bbq was great then so i came to this location of penguin eds to see if i would like it better than the mission one and boy did i i had the bbq meatloaf and yum it was so good and everyone with me loved there food will start going here for bbq instead of mission the atmosphere was ok staff ok
(4)Ben T.
I've only been in NWA for 4 months now, but this is hands down my favorite place to eat in the area. Awesome place to kick back with a few beers and some great food. I've only been here for lunch, and have only had the sandwiches. They're fantastic, and come on perfectly cooked, buttery Texas toast. I usually get the beef, pulled pork or chicken, and they are all great. Well cooked meat and a variety of BBQ sauces to choose from. My wife had a BBQ baloney sandwich here which was also awesome. The sides are great too. I always get the BBQ baked beans, much to the chagrin of my wife. They also have coleslaw, fried okra, and a few others I'm eager to try. The ordering is novel. You pick up the red phone at your table, press a button and you're connected to the kitchen. Afterward the waitress brings out your food, and comes by later to see that you're doing good or asks if you need another beer. They have a variety of homemade cookies and pies that I bet are really good, although I've yet to try them. For Thanksgiving this year we bought a 14 lb. smoked turkey from PE's. It was awesome. Just a couple of hours in the oven and it was ready to go. It came with 2 quarts of gravy on the side. This will be a new Thanksgiving tradition. UPDATE: Had dinner here tonight. Add ribs and brisket to the list of things that are awesome.
(5)Justin M.
It's worth mentioning that this is one of the few BBQ places in the area that will cater to vegetarians. Vege burger + tons of their sause = great sandwich. Speaking of catering, these guys are also convenient if you need to cater buckets of food to your event.
(4)Joseph E.
Good maybe even really good BBQ. Sides were great as was the service.
(4)Brent M.
Maybe not the *best* BBQ I've ever had, but Penguin Ed's offers excellent value for the price. It's cheap, it's good, and service is prompt. Can't really ask for much more than that.
(4)Paul M.
Casual bbq dining. We shared a 2 meat combo because the portions are so abundant. Good bbq for the price. Not the best, but good.
(4)B B.
So I was excited to check this place out...It smelled good, prices were reasonable and we even got to order on the cool red phone! Unfortunately food did not deliever. Meat was overcooked and not too tasty at all. Mac and cheese had no flavor and potato salad too much mayo. There were 4 of us and we all had different things and were all meh- about it. I wanted to love it and it just didn't happen :(
(2)Aaron K.
I thought about giving this place only 2 stars because it's probably a 2.5 for me, but I decided that I would round up. I guess that the best way to describe the food would be that it tasted like it had been seasoned as an afterthought once it had been cooked. Several places in Fayetteville that are quite a bit better.
(3)Lea M.
Gooood stuff!!
(5)Gary L.
Also known for decades as B&B Bar-B-Que, the place has that Fayetteville "funky" feel that's cozy, bluesy, affordable and comfotable for both family and available singles. They were drawing in a lot of bikers during the enormous Bike, Blues & BBQ festival the day I dropped in (on my bike), and I had to wait 15 min. on a table, but was able to buy a beer and sit on a bench outside with my dad. The service was good and friendly, and the food was also good. I got the pulled pork sandwich with choice of sides. I don't like a lot of bread, so I was pleasantly surprised to see my sandwich with a small bun. But there was still plenty of meat, and it was cooked to a point where there was a tasty amount of charring or slight blackening in the mix, and I really liked the flavor it added. Oh, use the red phone at the table when you're ready to order.
(4)Taylor W.
Solid bbq place. The novelty of eating here - you order from the table via a phone attached to the wall at each table.
(4)Dawn G.
Great BBQ! They have wonderful salads and they're big. Be real hungry if you order the large salad. They have wonderful smoked chicken on top. They're also very reliable and dependable for catering.
(4)Chris L.
Very good BBQ and has a great ambiance.
(4)Seth M.
This is one of my reasons I come back to Fayetteville. Out of all the BBQ joints I've been to, none hold a candle to how these guys do it. This is real food with great service. There are only a hand full of places I've eaten at that years later I still crave ( RIP 4th Cafe) and after 6 years since my last visit, its nice to know that its as good as I remembered.
(5)Molly D.
I used to live across the street from B&B (now Penguin Ed's) and I got their rib dinner on a daily basis. You cannot beat their ribs. And I love the toasted texas toast that comes with it. Went back recently with my sister and the rib dinner with half and half sauce was as good as I remember it. Excellent slaw and potato salad. Batter-dipped fries are probably too rich for one person to consume - we split and order and still only ate half of it. The pulled pork on the Poke Annie Salad was not pulled, but sliced, and kind of bland. I normally love a pulled pork salad (Smokin Joes, Whole Hog - just the meat, and sauce, and lettuce, mmmmm) but this one was really nothing to write home about. Still, everything else is so good, it still gets 5 stars from me!
(5)Chris S.
Outstanding pulled-pork sandwich was fantastic! Good potato salad and baked beans with a killer chocolate-chip cookie, all under $6.95! Sandwich was small, but impressive. Service was wonderful, place was clean, super-friendly staff. Great experience, will be back. Recommended. Only negative thing, I looked up "buffet" in Fayetteville and all of their locations are listed. I phoned and they said that only applied to catering. Weak.
(4)Rob G.
Its interesting to see people say that its like a trip back in time. Thats almost exactly what it is for me. I grew up in Oklahoma, but my parents are from Ft. Smith, and my father went to law school here in the 'ville. As a kid, i remember Dad taking me to Ft. Smith on fall friday afternoons, every once in awhile. We'd have dinner with family, crash at mammaw and pappaw's, then get up in the morning and drive over the mountain for Razorback football or basketball. After the game, we went one of two places: the legendary Herman's, or to B&B. Those are some of the best memories I have of my dad, those fall afternoons when it was just us, sports, and a feast of delicious meat. I moved here in August, when i decided to leave my culinary career in Austin, TX, and follow in Dad's footsteps at UofA Law. Once i realized the the B&B was now called "Penguin Ed's", I avoided the place, thinking that it had changed, and it wouldn't be the place of my memories. How wrong I was. I went in late fall, and it was EXACTLY as I had remembered. Dark room with dark woods, red phones for ordering (my favorite part as a kid), and plates of great Q. I've been several times since, and today, i stopped in for a late lunch. It was not my plan to eat at, screw it, i'm still calling it the B&B, I ended up there after a misadventure across town. See my review of Boar's Nest BBQ, and you will understand why i ended up here today. I had been craving a pulled pork sandwich, but given that it was 2:30, and i hadn't eaten all day, I was more than a bit peckish. I ordered a starter, the onion rings. They are battered, and they aren't too big, and aren't too small. There are several different schools of thought on fried onions, in terms of size, or breaded vs battered. I happen to like them all, and if you like the battered version, you'll enjoy these. Great with ketchup, or one of the bbq sauces on the table. BTW, you can also get crinkle cut french fries dropped in the same batter and fried again. i'll warn you now, they are in no way, shape, or form, good for you. But i've had them a couple of times and they are friggin awesome. They look like they should be really dense and heavy, but the second frying somehow makes the potato become light and almost fluffy. But they are still greasy, and well, batter fried french fries. not for everyone, but if you can stand them, you gotta try them. Anyway, after the onion rings, I had a pulled pork sandwich. The pulled pork sandwich comes on a bun, while the others come on homemade texas toast. But, if you ask, they will do the pork on toast, and that is exactly what you should do. Its a great sandwich, though i must admit i quibble with calling it "pulled". when i think of pulled pork, i think of pork shoulder pulled apart with forks or bear-claws, or even fingers, long thin strands of delicious meat, tossed with sauce. At the B&B, they don't so much pull it as chop it. But whatever you call it, its delicious. You can taste the flavor of the pork through the sauce, and the smoke comes through nicely. The toast was crisp and buttery, and well complimented the meat. It was thick enough to not get soggy and fall apart, which was also nice. For sides, I had chips and fried okra. Its ruffles (totally proper in the BBQ setting), and the fried okra, is, well, fried okra. But it was crispy, hot, and with a bit of salt, very tasty. For desert, i got a chocolate chip cookie, and a white chocolate apricot cookie to go. the latter kinda sounds weird, but if you like white chocolate, its actually pretty good. As a BBQ experience, it's very good. Doesn't quite rank up with the top of the top, either regionally (Oklahoma Joe's in KC, Elmer's in Tulsa), or even locally (in terms of food alone, i think Whole Hog Cafe is probably just a bit better), which is why it gets 4 stars. But for nostalgia, its hard to beat.
(4)Kim G.
Best BBQ in NWA. Brisket is delicious. Best cole Slaw you'll ever have. Menu has wide variety of things to choose from. BBQ is bad to the bone. I love it!
(4)Johnathon O.
Where do I start.... Okay so I'm visiting and I saw the reviews and decide this looks good. I saw some pics and thought it would be cool to order on the phone. We put it in the GPS and it took us through a residence and we almost thought we wouldn't make it and there it was. First impression was a little hole in the wall place. Old looking and we looked at each other and said its either gonna be great or horrible. But as we step out of the car we could smell the greatness! If I could say anything negative I'd say when we walked it it was pretty warm in there. There was little seating but it's a home feel atmosphere. Now for the food! I ordered the #3 plate. I got pulled pork hot links and a rib. No joke some of the best BBQ I've ever had! I got 3 sides. Baked beans okra and Mac and cheese. The sides were sides. Nothin to Bragg about but not bad at all. And for what it's worth the dr pepper was great too! I know it's fountain but seems to be different at other places. It also came with 2 slices of toast. I'm in town visiting for work but I cannot wait to come back next week and indulge again! Oh almost forgot. The wait staff were just so polite and fun and courteous. Could ask for a better experience. Unless they paid me to eat there haha
(5)Amber J.
Great spot for some good barbecue. I had the fried pickles (with ranch), onion rings, smoked wings, mac and cheese, baked beans and potato salad. The smoked wings were by far my favorite item. The fried pickles were good but with the fried onion rings, I was a little fried out. It was grease overload but still very good. I recommend the fried items in smaller quantities. The sauce on the wings was tangy and delish. I was not impressed with the sides. The mac and cheese was the most disappointing. There wasn't much flavor to call it mac and cheese...it was really just 'mac'. The sides are just that, sides to great meats. The patio was the best. It was nice to enjoy great weather with my meal. I heard the place gets pretty packed. When I was there at 10:30 (opening) there were already several tables taken.
(4)Blake M.
The food is FANTASTIC! The atmosphere, like I saw another reviewer say, is no frills. However, the atmosphere fits the food. Nothin fancy, just good stuff! I'm a pretty tough critic and the ONLY reason I gave it 4 stars is because I believe a 5 star meal is life changing! The cookies on the other hand..... Those are life changing! If you're in Fayetteville and feel the need to fill your soul with an abundant amount of smoked meats, this is the place for you!
(4)Jonathan W.
The Brisket taste like it's been on the grill forever, so moist and delicious reminds me of home. Chopped or sliced you can't go wrong. Excellent lunch. A1 product, I'm definitely coming back when I am in town again.
(5)Deep S.
I don't get the hype. The place is silly. The waitresses giggled at me because I didn't know to just come in and sit down. Halfway between divebar and Dairy Queen is the vibe I got when I went in, so I wasn't sure whether to walk to the counter or sit down at a table or what. Got a pulled pork sandwich, baked beans and coleslaw. To me this is a BBQ lunch. If a place can't get this right they're not worth going to. The beans tasted like they were out of a can with (maybe) a little something tossed in them. Coleslaw was plain and unappealing. A few drops of Kraft-tasting sauce in the middle of a pile of barely seasoned meat. Seemed like two batches of pork were mixed together because some was bone dry and some was a bit juicy. All that slapped on a regular tiny white bread bun, not grilled, not toasted, just fluffy cheap hamburger buns. A lot of places in college towns are awful because a large portion of the people that eat there are inebriated students. And it's OK to be a student. And it's OK to drink. But your tastebuds aren't working right during these crazy college years. I know mine weren't, lol. This place is an example of just that. One of the worst I've had, and I've eaten a lot of BBQ. And btw waitresses.. It's not good business to laugh at customers unless they make a joke. You're not in high school anymore.
(1)Jason W.
I didn't see any red phones, but the pulled pork was pretty good. I used a mix of their hot and mild sauces to get just the right flavor.
(4)Adam C.
The best place to eat in Fayetteville is most certainly Penguin Ed's. Is has the best BBQ, the best service and staff and the best atmosphere of any place in NW Arkansas. Can't wait to come back again!!!
(5)Kim L.
This place was very hard to find! This place had a red phone in your seating area where you can call and order your food - thought that was cool. The grilled chicken wings and chicken was amazing! It was all soo tender and juicy! The baked beans and mac and cheese were also yummy! They also have breaded deep fried fries here! Of course they tasted good! :P
(4)Rob H.
Love Penguin Ed's! I've traveled the world and always make a point to come back to Fayetteville for the BBQ. everything is delicious here.
(5)Kaci L.
I loved the eclectic look of the restaurant. The BBQ and the BBQ sauce was very good!! I can't forget about the peach pie!! That was the icing on the cake for me. Penguin Ed's was awesome!!! The Mac and cheese was also very good!! My bf let me have a fork full. Lol
(5)Cheyenne B.
Best BBQ in town bar none! The ribs are fall off the bone, melt in your mouth tasty! Super in love with the sides, and the sauces are perfection! Great prices for what you get, and friendly local servers every time! Highly recommend this place!
(5)Jennifer C.
A very cool spot to get some real good BBQ. If you get a chance try the Jalapeño BBQ Nachos they are amazing!
(4)Kelly M.
Although the place is very cool, I have had better barbecue. The staff was great though - which is one of the reasons for 3 stars and not less. The fried pickles were tasty (I would recommend ordering them if you like fried pickles) but the meat itself was unremarkable. Overall, I would look for another BBQ joint if that's what you're in the mood for.
(3)Keyaira H.
The ribs. The fried okra. Southern hospitality at it's best. *__*
(5)John R.
Nice enough place, unpretentious setting and service. The battered fried pickles were great and the prices were reasonable. The BBQ was not at all what I hoped for. I was hoping to get something like competition style ribs and brisket (I ordered both) and that didn't come close to happening. The brisket was bone dry and utterly flavorless. The ribs were not trimmed or cut properly at all, and included mostly just Cartilage and the little odd bones. Not something you would serve to paying customers. Again the meat was tasteless, no discernable rub or brine had been used, and very little flavor, either smoke or of any sort. The texture was just eating pork, not BBQ. Better that the brisket, which only had signs of a smoke ring on one side, but nothing like BBQ can, and should be. I gave an extra star because I liked the overall feel of the place, and for the service which was fine as well. They have a little kids menu and bring coloring stuff and that's nice also. You can eat outside, we did, and as a little diner it's not a bad place. Some of the sides and appetizers are unique and delicious as well. I just wouldn't come back here for the BBQ.
(3)Quincy D.
The best I have had in a long time. The onion rings are awesome and the service was great. This is a must visit in Fayetteville.
(5)Michael M.
First time here. Low key. Inside and outside seating. Ordering on the Red Phone is cool. I've had better.
(4)Kristin H.
Tender, juicy pulled pork that just MELTS in your mouth. You can choose a few sides with your main course. I chose the green beans and baked beans. The green beans had little pieces of bacon in them...came as a surprise, but not bad! The mac n cheese looked great too!
(4)