Great food. Whenever I am down here this is on place I always look forward to going to. Great ribs. Meat falls off the bones. Got beef brisket this time as well. Shaved thin, juicy and flavorful. If your in the area and looking for great bbq look no farther than Oakwood!
(5)
Kim H.
My husband and I love this place! We always bring our guests when they are in town - it's a sure fire winner! The price is excellent for the amount of food you get. The ribs are fall of the bone delicious. The sides, although not huge, are just enough to balance out the meal. The drinks are in extra-large glasses, meaning refills (although always offered) are rarely needed. Service is quick and food is delivered to the table very quickly. This place does a lot of take-outs also - I always see numerous people picking upholders that look like they will feed an army. Even when busy, wait times are very reasonable and often quicker than quoted.
(5)
Jen G.
Awesome food and great service. I had half a slab of ribs and the turkey. My husband did the three-meat combo with sausage, ribs and chicken. Everything was delicious. The food was served quickly. Our waiter was entertaining, helpful and easy to talk to! I'd visit this place again next time I'm in town!
(5)
Tamara M.
I always make sure to visit Oakwood when visiting my parents in the Villages. You can't get Ribs like this with sidewinders in Vermont. On this occasion, Chef Brown greeted us in the waiting area near bar with free samples of their delicous ribs. Not only that he was kind enough to treat us to his "special dessert". Thank you once again for a fabulous meal and southern hospitality! A special Thank you to Chef Brown !
(5)
Jason G.
I am in town from Los Angeles visiting my uncle. He said to me "hey get in the car, we're gong to get some bbq" we drive up to this place and there wasn't a parking spot to be had. This place is jumping. We singed in and about 15 minuets later were sat. We were treated by a young lady named Kylie. She was supper nice and very helpful. We had some Chinese exchange students with us who have never had anything like this before. Kylie brought out a big o'l plate of ribs and a bunch of sides for the kids taste. The ribs are fall off the bone good. You do not need a knife here at all the service is amazing the food tastes soooo good. I would come here just for the service.
(5)
Todd S.
Great place to grab a full rack of ribs and sweat tea or a burger. The decor gives the customer something to talk about as you gaze at all the pictures. Great fast service and great food at a reasonable price.
(4)
Anecia R.
Fast and efficient, it's surprising how fast the service is, you're in and out of there in less than an hour, the food is very inexpensive and filling, they don't open til about noon but I have no complaint with how they run their restaurant. No one eats barbecue for breakfast.
(5)
Bob C.
The ribs are always great. Try the lima beans even if you're not a fan. They are different and great. Sooo popular, there may be a long wait.
(5)
Conni M.
Great ribs! Great service! Loyal clientele! While we waited for a table we got a drink at the bar. As soon as the folks to our right and left heard we were there for the first time, each of them jumped into reviewing the menu with us and made their passionate arguments over the merits of each item and side dish. One guy said he ate there 3 nights a week. Then the bartender joined in and bought us some ribs to try! OMG they were so good. We enjoyed them with a little bit of their mustard sauce as he recommended. While we were lead to our table, I checked out the tables along the way and I spotted several piles of rib bones that were picked clean! We enjoyed the ribs, smoked turkey, chicken and sides. The corn fritters were dusted with powdered sugar and served with honey for dipping and were so sweet, we ate them as a dessert.
(4)
Scott H.
We came here on a Sunday for the rib special and all six of us loved it. The ribs really did fall of the bone, but on top of that they were flavorful and the BBQ sauce was delicious. I had the sides of green beans and corn salad which were both pretty good. I probably should have chosen the baked sweet potato which someone's else in the party said was delicious. On my next visit I will definitely be returning to oakwood because of the excellent food and quick and friendly service.
(4)
Darin L.
Great BBQ sauce and quality meats but frankly its not worth the long waiting. Bathrooms so dirty you can smell urine in the restaurant. Wait staff friendly and responsive.
(3)
Madeline F.
We stopped in after a day at the Villages. Our server gave us a nice sample of their baby back ribs, which clearly won us over. Excellent food and a cool, country feel. We will definitely go back.
(5)
roaches F.
This BBQ is very average. No - frankly, it is below average. Ordered the rib + 1 special, meaning a 1/2 rack of baby back ribs, a second meat, 2 sides called 'sidewinders', and a piece of garlic toast. We decided on chopped pork and 1/4 chicken, fries, cole slaw, corn, and black-eyed peas. Ribs. A 6-bone half rack smothered in sauce usually means the flavor is going to be too sweet. Yup. The texture of the meat was mealy - properly cooked ribs have a firm but tender texture requiring each bite chewed off the bone with a slight tug of resistance followed by a satisfying mouthfeel. Not this: touch the meat, and the entire bone pulls away intact - way overcooked for my liking. The way-too-sweet sauce masked any possibility of actually tasting any flavor of the meat. By our reckoning, and as judged in competitions all over the country, low-and-slow baby backs stand on their own based on the rub and the smoke, and don't need any sauce. Not here. Chopped pork. Our delightful server recommended the table sauces + delivered a small container of 'debris' sauce collected by the pit aster as he was slathering the ribs during cooking. The pork was virtually tasteless by itself. Not wanting to complain, we mixed up some of the offered sauces in order to add some flavor to what was otherwise very, very bland bites. Not to beat a dead horse, but properly smoked meats do not need sauce. This meat needed sauce in order to generate any flavor whatsoever. Chicken. Almost edible. A small dark-meat quarter including a leg and thigh was probably the only passable BBQ on our plates. Corn, black-eyed peas, fries. All served hot, reasonably-sized portions, each was cooked well. Not bad. Cole slaw. Yuck. Bitter, drowning in dressing and irregularly chopped, resulting in difficulty even spooning or forking bites. Hard to mess up something so simple as cole slaw, but this place ruined what is a standard in virtually every BBQ joint in America. Overall, neither of us enjoyed our meal. The location is nice, there is plenty of parking, the interior is nicely laid-out, and we were blessed with a delightful & efficient waitperson. But none of this could make up for a lousy meal of poorly prepared meats that were absolutely smothered and swimming in a sweet sauce, not of our choosing. If anyone has occasion to eat here, I strongly urge you ask for all of your meats served dry. Then you can make a pure assessment of the flavors of the meat, rather than be fooled by a sugary tomato-based sauce masking the shortcomings of the 'pit master'. Best case, next time just keep driving.
(2)
Lulu D.
Oakwood is okay but not outstanding. We ordered the rib special. Full rack of baby backs for $11.49, with two sides, and garlic toast. I was hoping to love the ribs, but I didn't. Our server was pleasant and efficient. The meal was served quickly. But I probably won't go back. I can't figure out why everyone else seems to love this place. It must be because of the amount of food and the price. I prefer quality over quantity.
(3)
J B.
Very nice and efficient staff. Great prices. But BBQ is not too exciting. Fries were good. Cole slaw was a little plain but very fresh. Baked beans were ok. Shredded pork with sauce on it was little better than BBQ you buy premade at grocery refrigerated section.
(3)
James G.
Went here for the rib special lunch with parents and uncle aunt. Very good service and tasty ribs. Been here before. Enjoyed the lunch
(5)
Digital B.
When we were coming back from the Polar Express in Tavares we stopped off here expecting it to be a SmokyBones kind of place and it was exactly that and more. They are really geared for the "country folk" as the entire places is filled with various pictures of hunters and their dead victims. No, I'm not anti-hunting nor am I pro-hunter, it's just an observation which I think fits the decor. We were seated quickly even though it was packed. We had drinks quickly served. They gave the kids some crayons and paper to play with which was cool and typical. The booths were a little tight but we made do. The waitress was friendly and very informative. The food came out really quickly which was suspicious. I mean, in under ten minutes. They were packed though... which is really strange to me. I had an order of baby backs with chicken but I was disappointed that I got a breast of chicken which was previously frozen. It was over cooked also and dry and chewy. I should have gotten the smoked chicken. The baby backs were tasty and had very little fat on them, but I could tell the meat had been pre-boiled. You can tell because the meat will fall off the bones and also the bones will be discolored with a whitish color. I don't mind this, but it is an old trick which is used to speed up the grilling process. So don't tell me that they were "SLOW SMOKED" because they weren't! The BBQ beans were ok. They sort of reminded me of Bush Baked Beans which are very acceptable. The slaw was good too, not too much mayo but just enough vinegar. I hate too much mayo on my slaw. Yuck. The rest of the meals were chicken fingers and a hamburger which is exactly what it is... nothing fancy to say. The other adult meal was the smoked chicken which I would have preferred. The side dishes of mac&cheese and collard greens were salty. Based on the overall quality of the food I'd say they are just like SmokyBones. A bunch of their stuff is prepared long before it is even shipped to the store. Ruining the entire "this is a smokehouse" type of feel. They aren't close to being a Porky's or Adam's Rib type of place. Over all the visit was nice and inexpensive. The only depressing part of the visit was that I couldn't give myself a check in. The damn GPS wasn't working and my battery was low! I'd definitely go back again.
(3)
Kevin B.
Came here on a Monday night, the place was crowded and we were told to wait for 40 minutes. We ended up sitting at the bar. The waitress were all cute and not very knowledgeable about the menu, she was unable to tell us about the origin of the meats. She ended up bringing the manager who ended up speaking with us for a few minutes. My guest had a shrooms (interesting name choice) and cheese burger with black eyed peas. The burger was a real delight, by far better than five guys. The black eyed peas were also good, an overall good value for its price $8.5. I've ordered the 3 meats plus 3 sides and 1 extra side (just to be able share my experience lol).i got the turkey that was a let down, it was served in thin slices, and looked like the deli meat not really a bbq. I got the chicken which was a half chicken and was very good and generous. The slices pork was alright, just a little too fatty in my opinion, I had to cut the fat away on the last pieces to not clog my veins too much. Regarding the sides, the collar greens were surprisingly good and then sweet and baked potato I ordered were classically good. Total bill was $23. A very good value and quality food in the area. I would've gave 3 stars but the great value, the cool atmosphere bumped it up. I'll Be back and recommend the place.
(4)
Carolyn K.
Everything in this place is incredibly good! Atmosphere and staff are wonderful! They are always PACKED in the winter! The smells are all so yummy! Good food for good price!
(5)
Lee M.
Oakwood Smokehouse is by far the best smoked BBQ meat I have ever had. My husband and I visit at least once a week and have the pulled pork or the ribs. Excellent.
(5)
Jose S.
Outstanding service & food!!!! Had their special with a half rack of ribs and pull pork. Let me tell you that It was out of control. The meat literally fell off the bone and no work needed to be done. Their sauces goes perfectly with pull pork. You will not be disappointed. I still don't understand as to why it is not rated 5 stars because they deserve it.
(5)
Cassie G.
I'm here visiting my Grandma in Water-oaks and one of the residents told us this place has fantastic BBQ. Last night we ordered Take-Out around 630pm. The girl on the phone was very polite and helpful. When I arrived, there are 3 take out spots located right in front (awesome!) and the place was packed! The line was out the door, which I was surprised to see for a Monday. The hostess was very sweet and showed me where to pick up my food. When I arrived it was ready to go which was a shocker. Overall, quick and friendly service. The food was fresh and the side items are amazing! I recommend the green beans and Mac and cheese. We will definitely be ordering from them next time we're in town.
(5)
Peter B.
The food here is great. Service is good too. Prices are reasonable and the portions are generous. It gets crowded around 6 but still only a 30 minute wait. I'm very pleased.
(5)
Virginia E.
OMG. I can't get back here soon enough. We'll definitely include a trip here the next time we're in FL. The ribs are outstanding, juicy, fall off the bone, with an absolutely fabulous bbq sauce. I got a full rack, promising a friend at the table he could finish what I left -- but there was nothing left! LOVE the cole slaw and fries! And the service was very friendly and very prompt. Overall, a wonderful meal at a reasonable price.
(5)
Jodi W.
. Wslking Oakwood is always excellent. The food service and prices can't be beat. Walking distance from home. What more could I ask
(5)
Kelly F.
My husband and I both got the 1/2 rack ribs and choice of meat special. The ribs fell off the bone and we're really good. Everything else was just meh. The sides were frozen/canned. The turkey was a deli loaf that had been smoked and the beef was tough. We'd go back for the ribs, but much prefer Black Bear Smokehouse in Ocala.
(3)
Christi S.
Awesome food, awesome service! My favorite is the cranberry feta chicken salad. Low in calories and delicious.
(5)
Brian K.
I love good barbecue. To me, there are not too many things that are better than good barbecue. So I looked online at reviews of Oakwood and saw that it had good reviews, so for my 30th birthday, I decided to go there. Boy was I rewarded for going. We started out with fried Okra as an appetizer, they were so much better than most anything you can find out in California. I ordered the ribs, the full rack. Now I like my barbecue to be saucy, not just a rub, but to have a sauce as well. This was perfect. the sauce was a bit sweet with a hint of heat. It was mouth watering. The meat fell off the bones as you pulled on the ribs. If I ever go back to Florida, I will defiantly go back.
(4)
Jennifer L.
Great food. Fast, friendly service. Reasonably priced. Good sized portions. Definitely worth a try.
(5)
Jasmine N.
I just recently started eating Oakwood and boy is it amazing. The staff is always friendly, and I've never received any food that wasn't perfectly cooked. I truly regret not trying Oakwood sooner.
(5)
Pat K.
This has become our Tuesday dinner! The ribs are sweet, smokey and fall off the bone! They offer a wide selection of sides of which you get 2 with your ribs. The garlic toast is wonderful. If you've want some of the best ribs in Florida, this this place is you you! Next week I am trying the pulled pork just for something different -- will let you know what I think.
(5)
Don C.
They have outstanding baby back ribs. Customer service great. All there food is good. I have been to all four locations and you can't beat them
(5)
Mike C.
This place was good. Good enough for me to come back to when out in No-Man's land. I ordered the half rack of ribs, the fried okra and the macaroni and cheese. The fried okra was crunchy and delicious and the macaroni and cheese was good as well. The ribs were delicious and I loved the bbq sauce. My only gripe is that the ribs are smaller than normal. Overall service was friendly, and drinks were constantly refilled. Nice place to grab some food.
(4)
Brad Z.
A decent BBQ place. Quick, cheap, big and good. Although I ordered the chopped pork BBQ, I was tempted to order the full rack of ribs for $11.99. The chopped pork was plentiful, had good flavor with a noticeable smoke ring. The kitchen is wide open so you can watch your meal being made. No stars deducted, but they did hit my personal pet-peeve of offering Pepsi instead of Coke. This must be a popular place for folks from the Villages to trek down to because that's how we ended up there, visiting my inlaws at the geezer colony.
(4)
Mr M.
Was visting family in the Villages this past weekend. We all were looking for some good Q and my uncle said "Oakwood is the place, better then sonneys" so I was game. OMG after eating here I wanted to rip the part of the sign off that said "smokehouse" this place is a plain vanilla restaurant, not a bbq place. It is like Cracker Barrel and Sonneys tried to have a baby but failed. This was by far "old people bbq" nothing about this place is bbq, even the sauce is straight out of some food service company's bottle. I got the pork and my wife got the ribs, Both were dry and lacked any real kick. I think they have a smoker out back for bragging rights lol. service was super slow, good thing we did not have anywhere else to be. I will not be back if I can help it, but the old folks out here love it for some reason. (I know they are all from up north! :)
(1)
Gerry S.
We go to OakWood often and it is, without doubt, the best place in the area for barbeque.
(5)
Teri S.
Always eat here when visiting The Villages. This time it was for my father-n-law, Jim Steele's 80th Birthday! The Ribs are my favorite, meat falls off the bone! Would have given the 5th star but, there was a little mix up with the food, but couldn't complain about the food ;)
(4)
Ronald J.
Regular restaurant for my family. I don't know about "authentic" but it is good, at least to my Yankee taste buds. Ribs are tender, flavorful, and reasonably priced, during slow period, (summer) they run some pretty nice specials. Some old timers complain that they had better BBQ back in the old days, but I saw some of those old time greasy spoons and you couldn't pay me to eat at those places. Much better than the chain BBQ. If you know who I mean, and generally better value than them, too. Drinks can be a bit pricey, particularly if you want Foo foo wine, but who drinks wine at a BBQ joint?
(5)
Ted F.
They're special appeared to be the back ribs but I had just cooked my own last week so I went with my usual sliced pork and it was pretty good. The sauce was way too sweet for me though. Be sure to get some corn nuggets as well.
(4)
David T.
Great service, great food, great prices Top that of with a discount (they ran out of ribs late one night).
(4)
Susan K.
Tremendous baby back ribs - the best I have ever tasted!! They just fell off the bone and were very meaty. I didn't even have to put any BBQ sauce on the ribs because they had pretty of delicious flavor. I choose the lima beans as one of my sides and they very extremely flavorful. The wait staff was very courteous and prompt. I would definitely go here again and would recommend.
(5)
Jennifer C.
This is a poppin' BBQ place off 142 in Lady Lake, a group of collegues and I came here for an early dinner after clinic, around 5 PM and it was busy! They advertise their famous award winning ribs, so I had to have it! They also do cheap deals on their baby-back ribs on certain days of the week if you check their website. Since it was so early, a friend and I weren't too hungry and shared a side of fried pickles, half a rack of ribs with meat (which came with two sides). There are a large variety of sides to choose from, I never stray away from mac and cheese, and what a great decision, I loved it! It reminded me of KFC's mac and cheese, which is delicious. Our second side was the corn salad, which I also enjoyed. Others at the table chose the green beans, which I later regretted not getting. The ribs were soft and fell off the bone, their BBQ sauce (there are two, sweet and spicy) was just the right amount of sweet and tangy. Their sliced beef was okay, I didn't think I would want a lot of ribs since pork ribs are usualy not my favorite, so we decided to break it up and try something else, but I would definitely recommend just going all the way with the ribs. The waitress was attentive and the service was quick. We were luckily able to get seated right away before the huge dinner crowd settled in, so that was fortunate. The downfall to OakWood... no beef ribs!!!!
(4)
Bob S.
I eat here about 5 times a month and really enjoy the full rack rib special and the beef sandwiches. At times I have been disappointed with the servers. Some are not very friendly and are slow with refills or getting the check to the table. And the daytime hostess has absolutely no personality and it seems like a bother to her to do her job. She has been there for years, why I don't know!!!! I often do carry out to avoid these women. The food gets 5 Stars, the servers get 2 1/2.
(4)
Heidi N.
Visiting our folks in The Villages, and we requested we wanted BBQ-they suggested this place, and damn! It was yummy! I've never had meat that just falls off the ribs, and that's what exactly happened here! 3 out of 4 guests in our party had the full rack of ribs w/2 sides, and garlic toast for $14.99. YUM! The 4th person is new to eating meat so she had a thinly sliced smoked turkey sandwich with the baked potato soup-YUM as well! Funny server-Love it when they have some life in them and make it a fun experience! Happy hostess, who greeted us, and gave us a pager right off the bat-but we only waited 7 minutes! Beers were $2.79 A GLASS! That's cheap! Too bad I am only visiting, so won't be here again till next year, but I recommend it to anyone! It's casual dress/jeans, there are lots of booths to sit in, and the kitchen is 1/2 of the restaurant, so the smells are amazing!
(5)
Leslie W.
My last dining experience in Leesburg certainly had me questioning their taste buds however OakWood Smokehouse & Grill definitely made me think otherwise. I didn't order anything extravagant - just a grilled chicken sandwich and a sweet potato. Absolutely delicious. I'm a fan of their HUGE cups and to-go cups. Sweet tea was good but a little sweet for my taste. If you're a fan of O'Boys then you'll be a fan of OakWood Smokehouse and Grill.
(4)
Richard D.
Awesome BBQ and great prices and portions. We drive 30 miles to come here and it's worth it.
(5)
Evan M.
Food is excellent.Our server was Ilene she was great. I recommend having the rib special. The special includes a half rack, 2 sides, and garlic toast. Use the extra bbq sauce on the ribs it gave it extra flavor. WILL GO AGIN AND HAVE THE SAME THING. The price was extremely reasonable. Probably the best ribs in the Villages.
(5)
M G.
Great BBQ rib meet falls off the bone and chicken has crispy skin and juicy inside. I love the collard greens and the peach cobbler was also good. Yes we pigged out at Oakwood and will be back after lots of exercise!
(5)
Bob H.
Had full rack of ribs with Baked beans and sweet potato (with cinnamon butter). All wonderful stuff. I am partial to their spicier sauce while my wife goes for the original. I've been a fan since they were in Leesburg only and would get carry-out from that location years ago. I have a snowbird rental business and I list this as a "must try" among local restaurants in recomendations to my renters and have for years. By the way Tuesdays are ribs special night, $11.99 full rack dinner.
(4)
Francis P.
There's no reason for you NOT to get ribs. It was absolutely amazing. I'm willing to come back here when I get the chance, it's the best place to get ribs in town.
(5)
Paul B.
Wow is this good BBQ- First visit and I can't wait to go back- ordered Ribs but ended up going home with a Quart of Pulled Pork! Do your taste buds a favor and go to flavor town!!
(5)
Lana A.
Couldn't find a way to post a comment in response to the restaurant owner's recent comment of my 2009 review, so I'll post it this way. Yes, $7.50 was indeed the price of a small glass of wine in October of 2009. I went by the price listed on the 2009 menu as well as my receipt. If the price in 2012 is now lower, then good for you. But do not try to refute my completely honest review. Thank you.
(2)
Sarah S.
We love this place! We eat here every time we visit our grandparents in FL and it's always just as delicious every single time we go. I highly recommend this place. The food comes very fast and the service is always great. Love love love their ribs.
(5)
Barry R.
I have been to Oakwood twice now and both times they just nailed it. Both times I ordered the full rack of baby back ribs and both times they were great! Meaty and tender and tasty. They have a sweet sauce that I love and a hot sauce that has a bit of a kick to it. They also have a very interesting mustard based sauce that my friend had on their pulled pork and it was great. The side dishes are also great. I like the collard greens and the corn salad. Friendly and fun service and small pitchers of beer topped off the experience. On Mon, Tues and Wed. they have special pricing (full rack for $10.99 including sides). This is my new favorite bbq spot.
(5)
Patricia S.
We were there Easter weekend, got take out one night, ate in another. I got the ribs one night, and would totally disagree with Lana, that there were "only slivers of meat" on them. I am a hearty eater, and with the sides and bread, was not hungry afterwards. I had their skewered shrimp another night and also found the portions adequate. Hubby's BBQ chicken platter was likewise almost over-portioned As for that Zach person complaining about the pressed turkey, you don't go into a BBQ place and order turkey, you turkey!
(4)
Mike M.
Totally awesome! I drove up at 1:30 pm hoping they would be somewhat slow (Sunday) and the parking lot was slammed. Me and my buddy went it and got a "Buzzer" with a 25 min wait and there were people waiting in and outside. In 15 the buzzer went off and we were sat. The hostess was seating two packs of people at a time to be more efficient so we walked in with another group and was sat. The waitresses (All of them I was watching) were all flying around taking orders and filling drinks up like a swarm of ants helping everyone. This was a well planned feat by who ever is running the place. To re cap here, we were sat sooner than to be said, the drinks were immediate and me and my buddy got our full rack of ribs in about 15 min after that. I know you steam ribs before the rush and in some times a day or two before hand to have them on hand. This was awesome. The food was great and the servers need training like this at every major chain. You guys are hired! Kick but this was totally awesome! Long drive from Orlando to see a friend but well worth it. This will be my excuse to come to this end of the map. Spot on!
(5)
KEVIN G.
Very good BBQ at a good price near The Villages. Oakwood offers good quality BBQ and consistently good quality service. They have some good lunch specials for a beef or pork sandwich with a drink for $6.49. The only suggestion that I would offer on that lunch special would be to add the turkey to the list and they could probably get some people to come more often. The sides are more varied than most BBQ places and very good. Everything I have ever tried from here is very good except I don't recommend the BBQ beans. They have some very good soups and vegetables in addition to all the BBQ that you would expect. I highly recommend the food and the friendly staff!
(4)
Zach M.
I had lunch at Oakwood last week and had a mixed reaction to the turkey plate. The turkey was like pressed sandwich meat, and not at all satisfying. However, the mac cheese and green beans were excellent. Others in the party had baby back ribs and loved them.
(2)
Stephen G.
I go to the OakWood Smokehouse & Grill everytime I am in The Villages visiting my mom. There is plenty of parking in the back and lots of seating inside. Good value in purchasing pitchers of beer. The waitstaff is friendly and hard working. The food is super. Appitizers are great and main dish portions are solid . I like to order the rib combination dinner, but there are specials on 1/2 racks. Interesting decor with a hunting/fishing theme. Better than any chain type of BBQ restaurant. Owners and management will bend over backwards to make sure you're satified.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jeff T.
Great food. Whenever I am down here this is on place I always look forward to going to. Great ribs. Meat falls off the bones. Got beef brisket this time as well. Shaved thin, juicy and flavorful. If your in the area and looking for great bbq look no farther than Oakwood!
(5)Kim H.
My husband and I love this place! We always bring our guests when they are in town - it's a sure fire winner! The price is excellent for the amount of food you get. The ribs are fall of the bone delicious. The sides, although not huge, are just enough to balance out the meal. The drinks are in extra-large glasses, meaning refills (although always offered) are rarely needed. Service is quick and food is delivered to the table very quickly. This place does a lot of take-outs also - I always see numerous people picking upholders that look like they will feed an army. Even when busy, wait times are very reasonable and often quicker than quoted.
(5)Jen G.
Awesome food and great service. I had half a slab of ribs and the turkey. My husband did the three-meat combo with sausage, ribs and chicken. Everything was delicious. The food was served quickly. Our waiter was entertaining, helpful and easy to talk to! I'd visit this place again next time I'm in town!
(5)Tamara M.
I always make sure to visit Oakwood when visiting my parents in the Villages. You can't get Ribs like this with sidewinders in Vermont. On this occasion, Chef Brown greeted us in the waiting area near bar with free samples of their delicous ribs. Not only that he was kind enough to treat us to his "special dessert". Thank you once again for a fabulous meal and southern hospitality! A special Thank you to Chef Brown !
(5)Jason G.
I am in town from Los Angeles visiting my uncle. He said to me "hey get in the car, we're gong to get some bbq" we drive up to this place and there wasn't a parking spot to be had. This place is jumping. We singed in and about 15 minuets later were sat. We were treated by a young lady named Kylie. She was supper nice and very helpful. We had some Chinese exchange students with us who have never had anything like this before. Kylie brought out a big o'l plate of ribs and a bunch of sides for the kids taste. The ribs are fall off the bone good. You do not need a knife here at all the service is amazing the food tastes soooo good. I would come here just for the service.
(5)Todd S.
Great place to grab a full rack of ribs and sweat tea or a burger. The decor gives the customer something to talk about as you gaze at all the pictures. Great fast service and great food at a reasonable price.
(4)Anecia R.
Fast and efficient, it's surprising how fast the service is, you're in and out of there in less than an hour, the food is very inexpensive and filling, they don't open til about noon but I have no complaint with how they run their restaurant. No one eats barbecue for breakfast.
(5)Bob C.
The ribs are always great. Try the lima beans even if you're not a fan. They are different and great. Sooo popular, there may be a long wait.
(5)Conni M.
Great ribs! Great service! Loyal clientele! While we waited for a table we got a drink at the bar. As soon as the folks to our right and left heard we were there for the first time, each of them jumped into reviewing the menu with us and made their passionate arguments over the merits of each item and side dish. One guy said he ate there 3 nights a week. Then the bartender joined in and bought us some ribs to try! OMG they were so good. We enjoyed them with a little bit of their mustard sauce as he recommended. While we were lead to our table, I checked out the tables along the way and I spotted several piles of rib bones that were picked clean! We enjoyed the ribs, smoked turkey, chicken and sides. The corn fritters were dusted with powdered sugar and served with honey for dipping and were so sweet, we ate them as a dessert.
(4)Scott H.
We came here on a Sunday for the rib special and all six of us loved it. The ribs really did fall of the bone, but on top of that they were flavorful and the BBQ sauce was delicious. I had the sides of green beans and corn salad which were both pretty good. I probably should have chosen the baked sweet potato which someone's else in the party said was delicious. On my next visit I will definitely be returning to oakwood because of the excellent food and quick and friendly service.
(4)Darin L.
Great BBQ sauce and quality meats but frankly its not worth the long waiting. Bathrooms so dirty you can smell urine in the restaurant. Wait staff friendly and responsive.
(3)Madeline F.
We stopped in after a day at the Villages. Our server gave us a nice sample of their baby back ribs, which clearly won us over. Excellent food and a cool, country feel. We will definitely go back.
(5)roaches F.
This BBQ is very average. No - frankly, it is below average. Ordered the rib + 1 special, meaning a 1/2 rack of baby back ribs, a second meat, 2 sides called 'sidewinders', and a piece of garlic toast. We decided on chopped pork and 1/4 chicken, fries, cole slaw, corn, and black-eyed peas. Ribs. A 6-bone half rack smothered in sauce usually means the flavor is going to be too sweet. Yup. The texture of the meat was mealy - properly cooked ribs have a firm but tender texture requiring each bite chewed off the bone with a slight tug of resistance followed by a satisfying mouthfeel. Not this: touch the meat, and the entire bone pulls away intact - way overcooked for my liking. The way-too-sweet sauce masked any possibility of actually tasting any flavor of the meat. By our reckoning, and as judged in competitions all over the country, low-and-slow baby backs stand on their own based on the rub and the smoke, and don't need any sauce. Not here. Chopped pork. Our delightful server recommended the table sauces + delivered a small container of 'debris' sauce collected by the pit aster as he was slathering the ribs during cooking. The pork was virtually tasteless by itself. Not wanting to complain, we mixed up some of the offered sauces in order to add some flavor to what was otherwise very, very bland bites. Not to beat a dead horse, but properly smoked meats do not need sauce. This meat needed sauce in order to generate any flavor whatsoever. Chicken. Almost edible. A small dark-meat quarter including a leg and thigh was probably the only passable BBQ on our plates. Corn, black-eyed peas, fries. All served hot, reasonably-sized portions, each was cooked well. Not bad. Cole slaw. Yuck. Bitter, drowning in dressing and irregularly chopped, resulting in difficulty even spooning or forking bites. Hard to mess up something so simple as cole slaw, but this place ruined what is a standard in virtually every BBQ joint in America. Overall, neither of us enjoyed our meal. The location is nice, there is plenty of parking, the interior is nicely laid-out, and we were blessed with a delightful & efficient waitperson. But none of this could make up for a lousy meal of poorly prepared meats that were absolutely smothered and swimming in a sweet sauce, not of our choosing. If anyone has occasion to eat here, I strongly urge you ask for all of your meats served dry. Then you can make a pure assessment of the flavors of the meat, rather than be fooled by a sugary tomato-based sauce masking the shortcomings of the 'pit master'. Best case, next time just keep driving.
(2)Lulu D.
Oakwood is okay but not outstanding. We ordered the rib special. Full rack of baby backs for $11.49, with two sides, and garlic toast. I was hoping to love the ribs, but I didn't. Our server was pleasant and efficient. The meal was served quickly. But I probably won't go back. I can't figure out why everyone else seems to love this place. It must be because of the amount of food and the price. I prefer quality over quantity.
(3)J B.
Very nice and efficient staff. Great prices. But BBQ is not too exciting. Fries were good. Cole slaw was a little plain but very fresh. Baked beans were ok. Shredded pork with sauce on it was little better than BBQ you buy premade at grocery refrigerated section.
(3)James G.
Went here for the rib special lunch with parents and uncle aunt. Very good service and tasty ribs. Been here before. Enjoyed the lunch
(5)Digital B.
When we were coming back from the Polar Express in Tavares we stopped off here expecting it to be a SmokyBones kind of place and it was exactly that and more. They are really geared for the "country folk" as the entire places is filled with various pictures of hunters and their dead victims. No, I'm not anti-hunting nor am I pro-hunter, it's just an observation which I think fits the decor. We were seated quickly even though it was packed. We had drinks quickly served. They gave the kids some crayons and paper to play with which was cool and typical. The booths were a little tight but we made do. The waitress was friendly and very informative. The food came out really quickly which was suspicious. I mean, in under ten minutes. They were packed though... which is really strange to me. I had an order of baby backs with chicken but I was disappointed that I got a breast of chicken which was previously frozen. It was over cooked also and dry and chewy. I should have gotten the smoked chicken. The baby backs were tasty and had very little fat on them, but I could tell the meat had been pre-boiled. You can tell because the meat will fall off the bones and also the bones will be discolored with a whitish color. I don't mind this, but it is an old trick which is used to speed up the grilling process. So don't tell me that they were "SLOW SMOKED" because they weren't! The BBQ beans were ok. They sort of reminded me of Bush Baked Beans which are very acceptable. The slaw was good too, not too much mayo but just enough vinegar. I hate too much mayo on my slaw. Yuck. The rest of the meals were chicken fingers and a hamburger which is exactly what it is... nothing fancy to say. The other adult meal was the smoked chicken which I would have preferred. The side dishes of mac&cheese and collard greens were salty. Based on the overall quality of the food I'd say they are just like SmokyBones. A bunch of their stuff is prepared long before it is even shipped to the store. Ruining the entire "this is a smokehouse" type of feel. They aren't close to being a Porky's or Adam's Rib type of place. Over all the visit was nice and inexpensive. The only depressing part of the visit was that I couldn't give myself a check in. The damn GPS wasn't working and my battery was low! I'd definitely go back again.
(3)Kevin B.
Came here on a Monday night, the place was crowded and we were told to wait for 40 minutes. We ended up sitting at the bar. The waitress were all cute and not very knowledgeable about the menu, she was unable to tell us about the origin of the meats. She ended up bringing the manager who ended up speaking with us for a few minutes. My guest had a shrooms (interesting name choice) and cheese burger with black eyed peas. The burger was a real delight, by far better than five guys. The black eyed peas were also good, an overall good value for its price $8.5. I've ordered the 3 meats plus 3 sides and 1 extra side (just to be able share my experience lol).i got the turkey that was a let down, it was served in thin slices, and looked like the deli meat not really a bbq. I got the chicken which was a half chicken and was very good and generous. The slices pork was alright, just a little too fatty in my opinion, I had to cut the fat away on the last pieces to not clog my veins too much. Regarding the sides, the collar greens were surprisingly good and then sweet and baked potato I ordered were classically good. Total bill was $23. A very good value and quality food in the area. I would've gave 3 stars but the great value, the cool atmosphere bumped it up. I'll Be back and recommend the place.
(4)Carolyn K.
Everything in this place is incredibly good! Atmosphere and staff are wonderful! They are always PACKED in the winter! The smells are all so yummy! Good food for good price!
(5)Lee M.
Oakwood Smokehouse is by far the best smoked BBQ meat I have ever had. My husband and I visit at least once a week and have the pulled pork or the ribs. Excellent.
(5)Jose S.
Outstanding service & food!!!! Had their special with a half rack of ribs and pull pork. Let me tell you that It was out of control. The meat literally fell off the bone and no work needed to be done. Their sauces goes perfectly with pull pork. You will not be disappointed. I still don't understand as to why it is not rated 5 stars because they deserve it.
(5)Cassie G.
I'm here visiting my Grandma in Water-oaks and one of the residents told us this place has fantastic BBQ. Last night we ordered Take-Out around 630pm. The girl on the phone was very polite and helpful. When I arrived, there are 3 take out spots located right in front (awesome!) and the place was packed! The line was out the door, which I was surprised to see for a Monday. The hostess was very sweet and showed me where to pick up my food. When I arrived it was ready to go which was a shocker. Overall, quick and friendly service. The food was fresh and the side items are amazing! I recommend the green beans and Mac and cheese. We will definitely be ordering from them next time we're in town.
(5)Peter B.
The food here is great. Service is good too. Prices are reasonable and the portions are generous. It gets crowded around 6 but still only a 30 minute wait. I'm very pleased.
(5)Virginia E.
OMG. I can't get back here soon enough. We'll definitely include a trip here the next time we're in FL. The ribs are outstanding, juicy, fall off the bone, with an absolutely fabulous bbq sauce. I got a full rack, promising a friend at the table he could finish what I left -- but there was nothing left! LOVE the cole slaw and fries! And the service was very friendly and very prompt. Overall, a wonderful meal at a reasonable price.
(5)Jodi W.
. Wslking Oakwood is always excellent. The food service and prices can't be beat. Walking distance from home. What more could I ask
(5)Kelly F.
My husband and I both got the 1/2 rack ribs and choice of meat special. The ribs fell off the bone and we're really good. Everything else was just meh. The sides were frozen/canned. The turkey was a deli loaf that had been smoked and the beef was tough. We'd go back for the ribs, but much prefer Black Bear Smokehouse in Ocala.
(3)Christi S.
Awesome food, awesome service! My favorite is the cranberry feta chicken salad. Low in calories and delicious.
(5)Brian K.
I love good barbecue. To me, there are not too many things that are better than good barbecue. So I looked online at reviews of Oakwood and saw that it had good reviews, so for my 30th birthday, I decided to go there. Boy was I rewarded for going. We started out with fried Okra as an appetizer, they were so much better than most anything you can find out in California. I ordered the ribs, the full rack. Now I like my barbecue to be saucy, not just a rub, but to have a sauce as well. This was perfect. the sauce was a bit sweet with a hint of heat. It was mouth watering. The meat fell off the bones as you pulled on the ribs. If I ever go back to Florida, I will defiantly go back.
(4)Jennifer L.
Great food. Fast, friendly service. Reasonably priced. Good sized portions. Definitely worth a try.
(5)Jasmine N.
I just recently started eating Oakwood and boy is it amazing. The staff is always friendly, and I've never received any food that wasn't perfectly cooked. I truly regret not trying Oakwood sooner.
(5)Pat K.
This has become our Tuesday dinner! The ribs are sweet, smokey and fall off the bone! They offer a wide selection of sides of which you get 2 with your ribs. The garlic toast is wonderful. If you've want some of the best ribs in Florida, this this place is you you! Next week I am trying the pulled pork just for something different -- will let you know what I think.
(5)Don C.
They have outstanding baby back ribs. Customer service great. All there food is good. I have been to all four locations and you can't beat them
(5)Mike C.
This place was good. Good enough for me to come back to when out in No-Man's land. I ordered the half rack of ribs, the fried okra and the macaroni and cheese. The fried okra was crunchy and delicious and the macaroni and cheese was good as well. The ribs were delicious and I loved the bbq sauce. My only gripe is that the ribs are smaller than normal. Overall service was friendly, and drinks were constantly refilled. Nice place to grab some food.
(4)Brad Z.
A decent BBQ place. Quick, cheap, big and good. Although I ordered the chopped pork BBQ, I was tempted to order the full rack of ribs for $11.99. The chopped pork was plentiful, had good flavor with a noticeable smoke ring. The kitchen is wide open so you can watch your meal being made. No stars deducted, but they did hit my personal pet-peeve of offering Pepsi instead of Coke. This must be a popular place for folks from the Villages to trek down to because that's how we ended up there, visiting my inlaws at the geezer colony.
(4)Mr M.
Was visting family in the Villages this past weekend. We all were looking for some good Q and my uncle said "Oakwood is the place, better then sonneys" so I was game. OMG after eating here I wanted to rip the part of the sign off that said "smokehouse" this place is a plain vanilla restaurant, not a bbq place. It is like Cracker Barrel and Sonneys tried to have a baby but failed. This was by far "old people bbq" nothing about this place is bbq, even the sauce is straight out of some food service company's bottle. I got the pork and my wife got the ribs, Both were dry and lacked any real kick. I think they have a smoker out back for bragging rights lol. service was super slow, good thing we did not have anywhere else to be. I will not be back if I can help it, but the old folks out here love it for some reason. (I know they are all from up north! :)
(1)Gerry S.
We go to OakWood often and it is, without doubt, the best place in the area for barbeque.
(5)Teri S.
Always eat here when visiting The Villages. This time it was for my father-n-law, Jim Steele's 80th Birthday! The Ribs are my favorite, meat falls off the bone! Would have given the 5th star but, there was a little mix up with the food, but couldn't complain about the food ;)
(4)Ronald J.
Regular restaurant for my family. I don't know about "authentic" but it is good, at least to my Yankee taste buds. Ribs are tender, flavorful, and reasonably priced, during slow period, (summer) they run some pretty nice specials. Some old timers complain that they had better BBQ back in the old days, but I saw some of those old time greasy spoons and you couldn't pay me to eat at those places. Much better than the chain BBQ. If you know who I mean, and generally better value than them, too. Drinks can be a bit pricey, particularly if you want Foo foo wine, but who drinks wine at a BBQ joint?
(5)Ted F.
They're special appeared to be the back ribs but I had just cooked my own last week so I went with my usual sliced pork and it was pretty good. The sauce was way too sweet for me though. Be sure to get some corn nuggets as well.
(4)David T.
Great service, great food, great prices Top that of with a discount (they ran out of ribs late one night).
(4)Susan K.
Tremendous baby back ribs - the best I have ever tasted!! They just fell off the bone and were very meaty. I didn't even have to put any BBQ sauce on the ribs because they had pretty of delicious flavor. I choose the lima beans as one of my sides and they very extremely flavorful. The wait staff was very courteous and prompt. I would definitely go here again and would recommend.
(5)Jennifer C.
This is a poppin' BBQ place off 142 in Lady Lake, a group of collegues and I came here for an early dinner after clinic, around 5 PM and it was busy! They advertise their famous award winning ribs, so I had to have it! They also do cheap deals on their baby-back ribs on certain days of the week if you check their website. Since it was so early, a friend and I weren't too hungry and shared a side of fried pickles, half a rack of ribs with meat (which came with two sides). There are a large variety of sides to choose from, I never stray away from mac and cheese, and what a great decision, I loved it! It reminded me of KFC's mac and cheese, which is delicious. Our second side was the corn salad, which I also enjoyed. Others at the table chose the green beans, which I later regretted not getting. The ribs were soft and fell off the bone, their BBQ sauce (there are two, sweet and spicy) was just the right amount of sweet and tangy. Their sliced beef was okay, I didn't think I would want a lot of ribs since pork ribs are usualy not my favorite, so we decided to break it up and try something else, but I would definitely recommend just going all the way with the ribs. The waitress was attentive and the service was quick. We were luckily able to get seated right away before the huge dinner crowd settled in, so that was fortunate. The downfall to OakWood... no beef ribs!!!!
(4)Bob S.
I eat here about 5 times a month and really enjoy the full rack rib special and the beef sandwiches. At times I have been disappointed with the servers. Some are not very friendly and are slow with refills or getting the check to the table. And the daytime hostess has absolutely no personality and it seems like a bother to her to do her job. She has been there for years, why I don't know!!!! I often do carry out to avoid these women. The food gets 5 Stars, the servers get 2 1/2.
(4)Heidi N.
Visiting our folks in The Villages, and we requested we wanted BBQ-they suggested this place, and damn! It was yummy! I've never had meat that just falls off the ribs, and that's what exactly happened here! 3 out of 4 guests in our party had the full rack of ribs w/2 sides, and garlic toast for $14.99. YUM! The 4th person is new to eating meat so she had a thinly sliced smoked turkey sandwich with the baked potato soup-YUM as well! Funny server-Love it when they have some life in them and make it a fun experience! Happy hostess, who greeted us, and gave us a pager right off the bat-but we only waited 7 minutes! Beers were $2.79 A GLASS! That's cheap! Too bad I am only visiting, so won't be here again till next year, but I recommend it to anyone! It's casual dress/jeans, there are lots of booths to sit in, and the kitchen is 1/2 of the restaurant, so the smells are amazing!
(5)Leslie W.
My last dining experience in Leesburg certainly had me questioning their taste buds however OakWood Smokehouse & Grill definitely made me think otherwise. I didn't order anything extravagant - just a grilled chicken sandwich and a sweet potato. Absolutely delicious. I'm a fan of their HUGE cups and to-go cups. Sweet tea was good but a little sweet for my taste. If you're a fan of O'Boys then you'll be a fan of OakWood Smokehouse and Grill.
(4)Richard D.
Awesome BBQ and great prices and portions. We drive 30 miles to come here and it's worth it.
(5)Evan M.
Food is excellent.Our server was Ilene she was great. I recommend having the rib special. The special includes a half rack, 2 sides, and garlic toast. Use the extra bbq sauce on the ribs it gave it extra flavor. WILL GO AGIN AND HAVE THE SAME THING. The price was extremely reasonable. Probably the best ribs in the Villages.
(5)M G.
Great BBQ rib meet falls off the bone and chicken has crispy skin and juicy inside. I love the collard greens and the peach cobbler was also good. Yes we pigged out at Oakwood and will be back after lots of exercise!
(5)Bob H.
Had full rack of ribs with Baked beans and sweet potato (with cinnamon butter). All wonderful stuff. I am partial to their spicier sauce while my wife goes for the original. I've been a fan since they were in Leesburg only and would get carry-out from that location years ago. I have a snowbird rental business and I list this as a "must try" among local restaurants in recomendations to my renters and have for years. By the way Tuesdays are ribs special night, $11.99 full rack dinner.
(4)Francis P.
There's no reason for you NOT to get ribs. It was absolutely amazing. I'm willing to come back here when I get the chance, it's the best place to get ribs in town.
(5)Paul B.
Wow is this good BBQ- First visit and I can't wait to go back- ordered Ribs but ended up going home with a Quart of Pulled Pork! Do your taste buds a favor and go to flavor town!!
(5)Lana A.
Couldn't find a way to post a comment in response to the restaurant owner's recent comment of my 2009 review, so I'll post it this way. Yes, $7.50 was indeed the price of a small glass of wine in October of 2009. I went by the price listed on the 2009 menu as well as my receipt. If the price in 2012 is now lower, then good for you. But do not try to refute my completely honest review. Thank you.
(2)Sarah S.
We love this place! We eat here every time we visit our grandparents in FL and it's always just as delicious every single time we go. I highly recommend this place. The food comes very fast and the service is always great. Love love love their ribs.
(5)Barry R.
I have been to Oakwood twice now and both times they just nailed it. Both times I ordered the full rack of baby back ribs and both times they were great! Meaty and tender and tasty. They have a sweet sauce that I love and a hot sauce that has a bit of a kick to it. They also have a very interesting mustard based sauce that my friend had on their pulled pork and it was great. The side dishes are also great. I like the collard greens and the corn salad. Friendly and fun service and small pitchers of beer topped off the experience. On Mon, Tues and Wed. they have special pricing (full rack for $10.99 including sides). This is my new favorite bbq spot.
(5)Patricia S.
We were there Easter weekend, got take out one night, ate in another. I got the ribs one night, and would totally disagree with Lana, that there were "only slivers of meat" on them. I am a hearty eater, and with the sides and bread, was not hungry afterwards. I had their skewered shrimp another night and also found the portions adequate. Hubby's BBQ chicken platter was likewise almost over-portioned As for that Zach person complaining about the pressed turkey, you don't go into a BBQ place and order turkey, you turkey!
(4)Mike M.
Totally awesome! I drove up at 1:30 pm hoping they would be somewhat slow (Sunday) and the parking lot was slammed. Me and my buddy went it and got a "Buzzer" with a 25 min wait and there were people waiting in and outside. In 15 the buzzer went off and we were sat. The hostess was seating two packs of people at a time to be more efficient so we walked in with another group and was sat. The waitresses (All of them I was watching) were all flying around taking orders and filling drinks up like a swarm of ants helping everyone. This was a well planned feat by who ever is running the place. To re cap here, we were sat sooner than to be said, the drinks were immediate and me and my buddy got our full rack of ribs in about 15 min after that. I know you steam ribs before the rush and in some times a day or two before hand to have them on hand. This was awesome. The food was great and the servers need training like this at every major chain. You guys are hired! Kick but this was totally awesome! Long drive from Orlando to see a friend but well worth it. This will be my excuse to come to this end of the map. Spot on!
(5)KEVIN G.
Very good BBQ at a good price near The Villages. Oakwood offers good quality BBQ and consistently good quality service. They have some good lunch specials for a beef or pork sandwich with a drink for $6.49. The only suggestion that I would offer on that lunch special would be to add the turkey to the list and they could probably get some people to come more often. The sides are more varied than most BBQ places and very good. Everything I have ever tried from here is very good except I don't recommend the BBQ beans. They have some very good soups and vegetables in addition to all the BBQ that you would expect. I highly recommend the food and the friendly staff!
(4)Zach M.
I had lunch at Oakwood last week and had a mixed reaction to the turkey plate. The turkey was like pressed sandwich meat, and not at all satisfying. However, the mac cheese and green beans were excellent. Others in the party had baby back ribs and loved them.
(2)Stephen G.
I go to the OakWood Smokehouse & Grill everytime I am in The Villages visiting my mom. There is plenty of parking in the back and lots of seating inside. Good value in purchasing pitchers of beer. The waitstaff is friendly and hard working. The food is super. Appitizers are great and main dish portions are solid . I like to order the rib combination dinner, but there are specials on 1/2 racks. Interesting decor with a hunting/fishing theme. Better than any chain type of BBQ restaurant. Owners and management will bend over backwards to make sure you're satified.
(4)