RQ Barbecue
643-645 Brook Forest Ave, Shorewood, IL, 60404
RQ Barbecue Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Shorewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Shorewood for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Shorewood for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
643-645 Brook Forest Ave
Shorewood, IL, 60404 - Phone (815) 725-2824
- Website https://www.rqbarbecue.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
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 : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Joe P.
Tried it tonight with a friend & we both were amazed at the taste & quality. The owner offered us samples & listened to our requests. He picked a half slab of ribs for my friend that wasn't too fatty. I thought this was some sort of chain based on the well thought out menu & decor. Got home & see via the Internet that it's a private ownership. Great food, please please patronize this place, & keep them going. I'll be ordering burnt ends catering for work soon!
(5)Joni K.
Moved to Shorewood decided it was time to give this place a try. Tried ordering from the online menu which was quite confusing. Went in and ordered from the even more confusing menu board. We chose the pulled pork sandwich and burnt ends. I declined sauce on pork because I wanted to try a few different sauces to see how they tasted. Which leads me to my first disappointment. They had their sauces in the containers with a pump. First one I tried the mustard - EMPTY. if your going to offer the sauce like that you should keep it full. Did they refill it? Nope. Just gave me a 1\2 full cup. The pork tasted like a boiled pork roast that they pulled apart. No taste of being in a smoker whatsoever. Best part about that was the nicely toasted bun. Burnt ends. I think they had been sitting around for a while- was more shredded than cubed. Had 1 cube. Whole mess was swimming in a pool of grease. The dogs enjoyed it. It wasn't fit for human consumption. Sauces bland. No kick or taste. Cole slaw bland. Mac and cheese very bland. The questions I asked where answered with I don't know and blank stares. I think they where tired and ready to call it a day. Save your money and go elsewhere. NOT a good BBQ place whatsoever.
(1)B M.
The worker at the drive-thru window recommended their brisket sandwich. Ordered it with sauce and pickles. Got home to eat it--no sauce and no pickles. Meat was too much for the thin bottom of the bun. Tasted more like a pot roast platter than good brisket. Called to suggest they pay a bit more attention to an order that someone is going to eat elsewhere and the guy offered to replace it, but that doesn't make sense because there's a reason I used the drive-thru in the first place! Too many other places to try before I go back.
(1)Rick L.
Just left there ordered at drive thru. We ordered two 3 meat samplers that came with 2 sides. One sampler was fine. The other they got one of the meats wrong and forgot one of the sides. The food was really good but for $46 worth of food maybe you can get the order right. Maybe focus more on dinner customers and less on "late night RQ" with live music. Just saying.
(3)Rose Anne G.
I usually eat the pulled pork sandwich, but decided to try the "Burnt Ends" and am I glad I did! They were delicious and very tender. A generous portion...definitely my new favorite. The service has continued to be consistently good and my orders spot on. Glad I decided to give them a second chance to make a good first impression.
(4)Daniel S.
My family and I visited rQ! on Sunday and it was horrible at best. Food quality and customer service make a business operate successfully, and unfortunately rQ! had neither. The staff was young, rude, and immature with even less customer service principles. The food was dry, unkept, lacked any flavor. Options were limited for gluten free customers and upon ordering those limited options, they were simply inedible. Out of the four meals were purchased, 2 kids and 2 adults, we had 2 full plates of inedible food thrown away. Really wish there was proper management available to speak with about this huge disappointment (however he was on his headset taking a personal call complaining about his job).
(1)Monica B.
Anyone who gives this place a bad review is insane in the membrane! The burnt ends are it! They have the best fries I ever had! I repeat the best fries I ever had! I would seriously go there just for the fries! They also have a soda machine with tons of choices! Owner truly cares about his business and offered us samples so we could see what we wanted! Will I be back? Hell yeah!
(4)Moe N.
The burnt ends were really good. They were so soft that they melted it your mouth. They started to fall apart as soon as you touch them. The corn and Mac and cheese were also good. I will be back for sure.
(4)Elena B.
I went in here with my dad to pick up enough food for 8. It's a casual place and the guy helping us was really friendly. The food was good. We got ribs and brisket sliders. The ribs had a lot of meat on them. I'd go back! I want to try the pulled pork now.
(5)Mike B.
We placed an order for delivery - ribs, rib tips, wings. They delivered the food completely dry, no sauce on anything, which is not what we asked for. The food was barely warm. They also forgot one of the sides, so they had to go back to the store and get it. They did not give us an itemized receipt, so we can't be 100% sure, but pretty sure we were over-charged. Just disappointed that a BBQ restaurant would serve BBQ food without any BBQ sauce, probably won't be back, at least not for a while.
(2)Clayton S.
This place is great. My family is Gluten Free and RQ has so many choices for us. The staff is always friendly and the restaurant is always clean. This is our kids favorite place to go after sporting events.
(5)Ashley J.
went there today as a 1st time customer. We went through the drive through and ordered the pulled pork sandwich, brisket sandwich, fries, and chips... the man who took our order at the drive through was soooooo kind and helpful. We were indecisive about the sauce and asked for his opinion since we had never been there. We ended up going with the sweet but he gave us a side of medium and hot to try for next time. He also gave us a little sample of the sweet corn. Before we even got home to taste the food, the customer service alone would make me go back. Our food was so good and I'm happy we got to try a few different sauces. The fries and chips were soooooo good. Very pleased with our visit and can't wait to go back.
(5)Heather M.
I really enjoy the food at RQ and you can't go wrong with any of the boulevard brews! I love their take on tacos! Pulled chicken with Cole slaw tacos are delicious! The owner is a really nice guy and takes pride in his restaurant. He does a great job and his staff is always friendly.
(4)D W.
I've had better.! Rather go to Famous Dave's and get carry out.! Ribs were dry and fries were cold:( Not a good day
(1)Caitlyn Z.
If you have Celiac this is the BBQ place for you! Every now & then I get an insane craving for foods I used to be able to eat. BBQ being one of them. Don't get me wrong, this isn't your traditional BBQ establishment, but it gets the job done. I asked my usual "is this item gluten free" question and without hesitation the employee prepping my food immediately washed her hands and changed gloves. Out of all the food we ordered, the burnt ends were by far our favorite. They even have gluten free beer! Not the stupid "gluten removed" stuff.
(4)Michael L.
Fantastic Burnt Ends. So tender and tangy. The Cheesy Sweet Corn is amazing. Very friendly and they will give tasting samples of their items. First time but not the last.
(4)Courtney H.
I wish there was an option for 2.5 stars because that's what I am feeling for RQ, but I went with the 3. I tried this place for lunch today for the first time. Drive Thru took awhile, but with the food being fresh I can look past that. After making sure the pulled chicken was breast, I ordered the sandwich meal with a side of mac & cheese. I also added slaw and cheese to the sandwich and got a side of the corn also which brought my lunch total to just over $13-a lot, but I was willing to do it because I wanted to try a few things. The sandwich was HUGE with a LOT of chicken. However, it was a lot of large chunks and not as shredded as I expected. The toppings I ordered were good, I felt like the chicken was a little bland. The mac & cheese was amazing, VERY good. The side was sort of small for the price of the upgrade to a meal but it was fine. I did not like the corn and threw most of it away. I didn't think the flavors meshed well together. To be fair, I am not a huge BBQ fan so the chicken is probably the only thing I would eat here but I would be willing to try it one more time and see if I like it better.
(3)Ed B.
I wasn't impressed. Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon for a pound of brisket. I've had enough brisket to know it is supposed to be moist and tender. This was dry and chewy. BNQ is expensive and there are other options. I haven't been back since.
(2)Scott C.
Best BBQ in town. Great place for everyone no matter what diet you have or tastes in BBQ. All the meats are cooked perfectly and sauces for everyone.
(5)Debbie S.
I've got to say I think I'm becoming addicted to this place. I absolutely love the pulled pie wrap with coleslaw and sweet sauce. It's big! The pork is always moist and flavorful. I love the corn side dish and the home made chips but I do think that the chips and sides are too high in cost. I also would prefer no sweet sugar on the sweet potato chips. I haven't tried any ribs yet but definitely want to soon. I'd give the place 5 stars if it wasn't for the cost of the sides.
(4)Brittany E.
Every time I go here, it's amazing! I'm addicted to the burnt ends. That with a side of their creamy corn and sweet potato chips! A little pricey at first order but then you see the portion size and it all makes sense. Check them out if you haven't!
(5)Dom A.
I have went three times, mostly out of convenience but can't do it anymore. I have had burnt ends and pulled pork twice. While eating the pulled pork each time it had a considerable bark yet absolutely no smoke taste. I am wondering if they just rub and bake their meat. The burnt ends were juicy but the pulled pork was dried out each time. All I can say is I miss Fat Terry's Rib Crib and will stick to BBQing my own food from now on.
(2)Amber T.
Free range, hormone, antibiotic chicken, turkey and pork!!! Fresh and delicious! The burnt ends were also terrific. The macaroni and cheese was so yummy. I had a few of my daughters sweet potato chips and they were wonderful. As a parent I really enjoyed the portioned my plate kids meals. The sauces were all good. My favorite was the spicy and mustard. There is something for everyone. We will definitely be back! Oh and the customer service was exceptional. The young man who helped us was very patient and helpful.
(5)Eric S.
I love this place! I tend to get The Boss with avocado, cheese, and chipotle mayo with a side of mac & cheese. I like to try something different now and then, but I always go back to The Boss. Highly recommend giving it a shot.
(4)Kathy M.
The pulled bbq pork and chicken are great. My favorites are the turkey wrap and salad though. Their Homemade potato chips are addictive. I've only been through drive thru and they're always courteous and quick.
(4)Liam S.
I ordered the trio of sliders, which was very delicious. I tried the turkey, pulled pork and brisket all were moist and tender. My meal came with macaroni and cheese and small drink for just over 9.00 which isn't bad. Definitely will return to try more!
(5)Dan W.
The portion size is a little small, but the food is great. I've taken people from out of state and they have all said positive things. Try the pulled pork w/ sweet potato chips!
(3)Kevin B.
This place has been open about a year and this is the first time we stopped in. Why haven't we been here before? The selection, prices and tastes are really quite good. We will be back on a regular basis.
(5)Ken B.
Place gets better every time I go. Keep listening to your customers and you're sure to be a success.
(4)Tim H.
Thanks in part to a sponsored ad on Facebook, I made the journey to Shorewood to continue my best pulled pork sandwich endeavor. I was really blown away with the owner, Ron. He couldn't have been more patient and helpful. I'm sure since I went in after the lunch rush, he was eager to allow me to sample just about everything on the menu. He made a joke and said "come back when you're hungry and buy something." I still had to get my staple first time visit sandwich... pulled pork and slaw. His prices are extremely reasonable and it's just $2.50 extra for a side and a drink, which is a great value. The size of their sides are equal to what most places would consider a double serving. His sandwich is an easy 6-7 oz., they don't skimp. I think I sampled all nine of his gluten free sauces, including the secret hot hot hot one. I was having a hard time tasting anything after that one. Only the brave of heart should go for that sauce. I was interested in hearing his philosophy on barbecue, as Ron is a Kansas City native. He just won a coveted "best sauce on the plane" trophy for their "firebug" sauce. Their sauces are a staple in Kansas City and are also available at a few retailers here in Illinois. rQ!'s open kitchen design allows us free access to see preparation and the storage of his menu items. One of his crew member was in the process of making the "boss" sausage and I got a peek in the smoker too. No freezer here and most of his meats are free range and from a local source in IN. Great Mom & Pop run shop with a crew that has an interest in serving consistently great food. Don't be surprised if you see them taste testing to get the recipe just right. There's something magical about his coleslaw, when you combine it with his pulled pork, it takes me back to a flavor familiar with mom's home cooking. I can appreciate the efforts Ron and his wife has put into their business plan. The menu items and their philosophy behind sauce integration is outstanding. The gluten free buns are carefully handled to insure no cross contamination, so don't be surprised he doesn't run it thru his only toaster. The Turano brand is always a welcome site for buns. I really like the fact that he has some healthy options, including the smoked salmon and the variation with salads and some wraps. Ron's philosophy behind serving chips (both regular and sweet potato chips sprinkle with cinnamon) are a great change from the norm too. Their decision to incorporate a drive-thru is a great idea, just be sure to get an extra bag of chips for your ride home. I loved the fact that all the sauces are clearly labeled and held at room temperature in convenient pump dispensers. The vinegar sauce is in a squirt bottle and is outstanding. Free style coke machines but for me it's brewed tea. He does also have a sweet version, for those of you that feel the urge. They have two chili's both red and a white chicken that I personally can't grasp. Being from Cincinnati, chili tends to have a personnel preference of no beans, served over spaghetti and in-golfed with fancy shredded cheddar on top. I'll do a beef chili occasionally but didn't sample their's. The baked beans had hunk of brisket and pork and the mac n cheese was the perfect creamy blend. By this point I was just lucky to be seated and enjoyed half my sandwich... until Ron showed up with some more pork that he would grade higher than what he served. He is sincere with his desire to satisfy each customer and school us on what roller coaster ride to expect from each of his sauces. I took the left over pork, wrapped it in wax paper, put it in the microwave for 45 seconds and I actually think the slaw and sandwich tasted better today for lunch. The flavors seemed to gel that much more just two days later. (I got the picture to prove it!) I strongly suggest you take a peak and see the 69 reviews filtered by Yelp and get to the point that 29 5 star reviews have been filtered. I tend to rarely look at reviews before I try it for myself but was drawn to the fact that 90% off his reviews are filtered. No need to take a gamble on this place... get in here pronto and enjoy the cozy, contemporary, homey feel of his dining room, complete with some cute little bench seats, a wrap around counter with bar stools and a few high top tables. There's a few TV's for any distraction from your food that you may or may not have. Don't be alarmed if you here people moaning... it's just that good. Oh yeah free WiFi too. Be sure to sign up for Belly rewards and for all you hip dudes, get the app and order on-line.
(5)P. W.
Delicious foods, great customer service and atmosphere. We are lucky to have this one-of-a-kind gem this close to home. You just try the corn side and the white chili. Yum!!! Also the Burnt Ends are mouth watering and addictive. Yum!!! A+
(5)Melinda H.
We've been a few times, and I'm finally getting around to writing a review. The food is, hands down, five stars. I'm not a huge meat eater, and I LOVE their brisket. Hubby likes just about everything (although he did say their Boss sandwich wasn't quite as awesome as he expected). The kiddos love the kids meals as well! I'm excited to have a place with fresh ingredients and gluten free (we have family with celiac, so we will bring them next time they're around). The service, on the other hand is probably 2-3 stars. Every time we've gone, it's come across as somewhat chaotic and disorganized. We'll be asked the same questions numerous times, there is no consistency as to how much of any ingredient is put in a wrap or salad (had to ask the girl to put the right ingredients in my wrap!), and sometimes employees have wandered off in the middle of taking our order, only to be replaced with a different employee, which means we have to repeat everything over again. Some of these people have been there for at least a couple of months, so it's not just a problem with new people. I've worked in food service...either the training isn't great, or the processes in place are overly complicated or poorly organized. I'm willing to keep coming back because the food is so good...hopefully the kinks get worked out before it becomes too frustrating! As it is, if we need a "quick" dinner or lunch, RQ is off the list. :(
(4)Josh B.
I came back to give rQ another try and they didn't disappoint. Great food, great service with a smile! Glad I came back. Would highly recommend!
(5)Bianca P.
I wasn't to happy with this place just because the food was not that great I had gotten the ribs and those were the worse ones I have tasted but did have pretty good speed on getting my food
(3)Devin H.
I picked up a trio sampler and was quite disappointed. I had rib tips, burnt ends and wings. The rib tips were tough and dry. The burnt ends were just ok and the wings were overcooked, dry, and bland. After trying these items I don't think that I will return.
(1)Alicia C.
I would say that this place was a big disappointment. It looked really cool and neat when you walk in, and the menu looked promising. However, instead of the traditional order everything and then make it restuarant like Patio, which has GREAT BBQ ribs, they took one person's order, made it, and then took the next person's order. By the time a party of 6 was done ordering and paid for the food, half of the food was cold. Fries cold are not good fries at all! (Minus a star) The one guy who took our order didn't acknowledge us and didn't communicate that he would come back to take the rest of our orders after he made the first meal. Bad communication for a business especially in the food industry. When we got to the check out the cashier didn't know what we got because the guy who took our order didn't write it down for the cashier. I think that is also bad communication.(Minus a star) I walked to get a table and the tables were dirty. If this place is designed to be a fastfood BBQ place then you need to have someone go clean the tables after each customer leaves. Seem silly but how can you work or eat in an unclean place? (Minus a star) The BBQ sauce was pretty good but the meat was a bit dry for the price we paid. (Minus a star) I read the reviews and replies of the owner. As an owner you should not be telling customers that they have succeeded in giving a horrible review. That would be like saying, "Thanks for being an *sshole" so I am taking another star off because that is horrible management and customer service.(Minus a star) The best part of my experience was the soda machine, the mac n'cheese, and the kind girl who said goodbye to us. This review is not meant to tell the employees they are doing a bad job but that the manager needs to work on a better working environment. Hire more people...who aren't rude, and have a good system that the employees can follow. I challenge anyone to go and check this place out to see how the service is but be prepared to waste your time and money. I challenge anyone to do this because then I wouldn't sound like a jerk. Minus 5 stars means that I would give zero stars if I could. I hope your business improves.
(1)Joel H.
One night had a burning desire for BARBECUED PIG FLESH, and drove all the way to Plainfield to some place that said they were open, and really the kitchen was closed, only the bar was open. Soul = crushed. After that disappointing escapade, we were doubly hungry and I found this one on Yelp and made our way down there. I think they were in their last hour of being open, we were the only ones in the place. Still very friendly. They have a big line of sauces you can fill up cups with, and I sneaked a couple home ;) The food was ridiculously good, no complaints. Will be back.
(5)Ken U.
Food was good and not expensive!! Turkey and salmon are really good. The cheesy corn is yummy but the green beans are a bit too peppery for me. Good food, good atmosphere and great price.
(4)Genoveva S.
I had the 3 meat sampler which included pulled pork, ribs, and burnt ends! It was heavenly! The meat was most and feel off the rib bone. The burnt ends were crispy but not "inedible-burnt-burnt".... just perfection! The pulled pork was juicy. Great selection of bbq, in house recipes. Great ambiamce! Friendly customer service! The owner is usually on site and you can even see him take orders, clean tables, make suggestions. He was also very friendly! Definitely making the trip and going back - I live closer to the city of Chicago! Fyi....fries come in orders big enough for two.
(5)Adriana D.
Hit the drive thru for a quick dinner solution when a home improvement project took a little longer than expected. The wait time at the drive thru was long but the kid at the window was pleasant. Two meals cost $20. Brisket and pork sammys were not bad. Fries pretty good. Mac n cheese a little over cooked for my liking but it wasn't bad. I would like to give it another try but for that price I'll probably bee line straight over to baby back blues off rt 30.
(3)Kevin C.
OK so..... I was here opening day and have tried it multiple times since then. Opening day was as expected. Hectic and everything was fresh and good. Fast forward about six months...... It quickly lost its alure. I've tried both the brisket and chicken recently both were dry and not bringing me back. My kids liked the pork. The chips tasted to much like the oil they were cooked in. Sorry RQ BBQ......Just my recent visits are not what they were when you opened. Strictly food based review, the place is spotless clean and always nice service. Worth a try for you to experience yourself for sure. I edited my review due to the owners response below. He called me out on being a yelp cheat so to prove I'm not affiliated with the other BBQ place I've edited. Yes I was off yelp for awhile but found myself using it alot lately so I should definitely participate back to the community. Did a bunch of reviews on places I've frequented, yes all at one time since I never did it before. Oh and Ron, notice how I didn't even mention RQ in my review of the other BBQ place I gave 5 stars to. I want you guys to be successful it's just not my favorite BBQ in the area.
(3)christy f.
Really good BBQ & sides! I tried the burnt ends on a bun. I shared a side of cole slaw, baked beans & the Mac & cheese. The sandwich was awesome & I loved the sweet baked beans. I prefer creamy cold slaw & this is more a vinegar sauce but still tasty. Definitely will add this to our regular rotation!
(5)Joe C.
Stay away from the "burnt ends" They use a rub with an off putting flavor on it initially, but what they serve as burnt ends looks like yesterday's brisket cooked in a slow cooker overnight. A rule of thumb for me personally. ...... if I am @ a BBQ establishment and it has sauce on it before you put it on, I stay away. Good in house made potato chips though
(2)Jamie N.
Stopped in on a Friday night. It was not busy at all. It's set up like a chipotle where you order and move down the counter and pick what you want. The service was quick and staff was very friendly. The food however was just alright. I've had much better BBQ. I had the sliders, chicken pork and turkey. The pork was by far the best. Would be a great stop if you want a quick bbq fix.
(3)Chris B.
First time here. Cute inside. Tried many things with family. Burnt ends and homemade chips worth coming back for (and they have those terrific coke machines). Good = brisket, turkey and sweet sauce. Just ok/not flavorful enough = pulled chicken, chicken chili, slaw and rolls. Owner nice enough but I don't like he writes back on opinions he doesn't agree with. Yikes! Also...floor super slippery/greasy. Kinda gross.
(3)Jessica D.
My family and I ate there for the first time, food was delicious, I think the only problem this establishment may have is location.
(4)Stephanie M.
I had a three meat plate; chicken, smoked turkey and burnt ends......da bomb baby!! Mac-n-cheese to die for and the sweet potato chips.....I'm in love....YUM!! And don't forget the sauce bar....so much to choose from it was GREAT!! Thank you to the staff for an excellent meal!!
(5)Lelin Lee C.
Horrible salty steamed meat. The kids meal ribs were bigger than the "combo". We will never go back. The reason it is the best BBQ in Shorewood is because it is self proclaimed.
(1)Sean R.
Wow this is good is what popped in to my head after the first bite. The buns are good the meat is tender and falls apart in your mouth. The sauces are good they have them ranging from hot to sweet. Myself I prefer the sweet. The Fries are fresh cut and they are amazing. The pop machine is a touch screen with Many more choices than most pop machines. The Inside has a modern feel it's clean the staff is friendly. It even has a drive through. I like this place
(4)Tom W.
Great atmosphere in the place. Lots of delicious sauces. I would gladly come back.
(4)Mike G.
Decent barbecue. I would recommend leaving the barbecue sauce off of some of the meats and letting the customer decide how much to put on. The tips were drenched in a sauce. Just a little bit too much. The restaurant is beautiful and the owner is very nice. I will be back.
(4)Tom M.
First time here, we are pretty impressed. Good food, good variety of proteins and sides. We will be back!
(4)Mike W.
First visit to RQ and the food and atmosphere both exceeded expectations. We had pulled pork with the signature sauce; one mild n one spicy. Also ordered some burnt ends, coleslaw & beans. The pork was just a little dry but good flavor and just enough smoke. Both sauces were flavorful without overpowering the meat. Sides were fresh and the beans were rich with layers of flavor. Burnt ends were good too. The dining area was nice and not your typical boring, sterile fast food style tables and chairs. Staff was friendly and service was great. Will definitely return. Have I had better? Yes. But they are closer and easier on my wallet than Smoque. I look forward to my next visit. Thanks RQ.
(4)Peggy P.
It's nice to have Kansas City style barbecue in Illinois. The burnt ends are great, and we love the non-GMO and gluten-free items on the menu.
(5)Kate C.
Been to Rq several times as we live close. Have had the brisket sandwich and half chicken dinner. Good for around here but doesn't compare to Austin bbq! I wish that the servers were more generous and consistent with serving size. Have gotten green beans and it's been mostly broth. Also the taste and texture isn't there when your brisket sandwich is tiny bits..it seems mealy. Yuck. So consistency is an issue. It's usually clean and love the selection of drinks. Hope they can be more consistent so they stay around! !
(3)Anna G.
We've been here twice. I have gotten wraps both times. First time, I got the buffalo chicken wrap and it was good. The chicken was slightly dry, but overall good taste aside from that. I had the cheesy corn side which was delicious! This second time, I got the beef brisket wrap w/ bleu cheese. I would say the brisket blew the chicken out of the water! It was really fantastic! My coworkers rave about the curly fries. I haven't had them, but I can really recommend the brisket wrap & cheesy corn! I also want to add that the service has been great and everyone here is very courteous. I have done a call ahead carry out both times, but when I went in, they have a really nice, clean restaurant. They have the cool mix your pop machine where you can pick your pop however you want it and a variety of BBQ sauces for sale. Just a cool, little restaurant!
(4)Jeremy P.
VERY disappointed..... went through the drive thru, from the outside this place looked decent but the food was not good whatsoever! We usually get our BBQ from Sharkos in Naperville/Plainfield area so our standards are VERY high. This place gets SMOKED by Sharkos, no pun intended! Speaking of smoke, the beef brisket had absolutely no smoke taste or flavor. It was so tasteless and the BBQ sauce (Firebug) was not good either. Fries were greasy and undercooked. Mac and cheese was so dull! Had no taste, no saltiness, NO NOTHING! They would've been better off making and selling Kraft Mac n cheese. Overall, I do not recommend this place to anybody who is looking for authentic BBQ. This place sure does look better than it taste unfortunately.
(1)Phil M.
I was pretty excited to try this place (really just the great branding and the fact that I love BBQ) but was overall underwhelmed. I went just as they opened for lunch, and already the food tasted like it had be waiting for a while, dry and stale. The options and taste had more of a cafeteria feel than I would have expected. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich and tried someone's pulled pork sandwich, both with the sweet barbecue sauce. As the rating implies, it was just okay, nothing to write home about. If you are going in expecting some fast food fare (which I wasn't) you will likely not be as disappointed. Keep in mind the price is a step above standard fast food, but don't expect much more in the flavor or quality department. All in all, I don't expect to go back for round two.
(3)Anthony A.
You can tell when the owner is in because he makes sure the brisket and pulled pork are heaping. The kid today...not so much heaping. Still brisket juicy, not greasy. The sides all good and unique. Not bothered by price (8.00 for a brisket sandwich with sides) - less bothered when portions heaping.
(4)Darla W.
I took the owners up on their offer and went in again to try their food. I had the chicken wings and my daughter had the ribs. I was actually highly impressed with the wings...they were seasoned perfectly. I also had the baked beans, while they were not my highlight of the meal, and indeed different, it was a good different. They put the burnt end of the brisket on the top, adds some depth to the beans. My daughter liked her rib, and they have a new cheesy corn, which taste like mexican corn on the cob in a bowl! I do appreciate the fact that they added new things to their menu, and will visit with our whole family soon
(4)James B.
Forgettable at best. We are big BBQ people, have hit numerous locations from Chicago, to Texas and everywhere in between. There was nothing "authentic" feeling about this place. It felt like the BBQ equivalent of a certain chain Mexican food place that prepares it right in front of you, except not good. Where to begin: Bad: -Burnt ends were stringy and tough and did not have much flavor. Nothing juicy about them and had parts that could not be chewed. -Chicken was drier than your old aunt's turkey on Thanksgiving. Had several dry tough chunks that were inedible. -Ribs were just OK. Had a squishy wet fat layer on top that felt like you were eating ribs from a cheap supermarket. -Multiple squeeze pump BBQ sauces to choose from, but none were that exciting. Good: -The corn side dish creamy thingy. That was tasty. -Fries, my toddler seemed to enjoy them, granted she doesn't have the most refined tastes. -Staff was friendly enough. Sadly this was the epitome of bad suburban BBQ. A good BBQ place leaves you with the good lingering aftertaste in your mouth of smoked meat and tangy sauce. This left both my wife and I with a feeling of a bloated gut and fear of what will emit from us while we sleep. Pass, can't recommend and I see little they can do to improve.
(2)Nicky W.
I think this place is excellent. As a non pork or beef eater I really appreciate it when places have something other than chicken on their menu. The turkey is delicious! I've tried a couple of different sauces and enjoyed them. The sweet potato chips are good, but don't carryout well. I think it's definitely one of the better bbq choices around.
(5)Sandy W.
Husband and "the boys" went there for dinner a few days ago on the recommendation of another friend. Good time and meal had by all. He took me back for lunch. Clean and nice decor. I had the brisket. Nice smoke and tender. Lots of choices for sauces. Sweet potato chips were good. Sort of pricy but good.
(4)Michelle U.
So glad there is somewhere in Shorewood with a drive thru and good food now! The wraps are delicious and they feel healthy and not greasy like all of the fast food places nearby. The service has been friendly and fast every time I have been there. Love the sweet potato chips!
(4)Tim T.
Stopped there the other night. Several things struck me upon first entering( we came in after the dinner rush) 1) how clean the place looked, 2) how well spaced the seating area was & away from the order counter. 3) the modern look it had. Customer service seemed good, in fact the owner walked the dining room before we exited asking" hows everyone doing tonight? Can I get something for anyone?" He went to each table . This is a guy who cares. Food was good. My son had the pulled pork sandwich, reported the meat was tender & moist. I had the buffalo chicken wrap. It was good but in retrospect, I should have had something more Barbecuey. Is that a word? I also liked their drink system. You get a cup at the counter & go to the drink machine- self serve. Lets say you pick Coke. You press the button, now you get another more specialized menu w/ refined choices. Coke, vanilla cherry coke, orange coke, coke lime. Etc. This is done with all of the soda! Pretty cool huh? Lots of choices. Refills are free. Another bonus. The place is a bit pricey, and though portions could b a bit bigger, you ARE getting what you pay for. Washrooms were clean & he had TV's in the seating area for sports fans. We will return as my daughter is the bbq queen @ my house and was out of town that day. The maple bacon dessert was calling to me & should be sampled & reported on. Interesting place.
(4)Shay B.
I've been wanting to try the food here, so this past Friday I strolled in around 9:30 pm. I walked up to the order section and the employee just stood there. Silent. I didn't get a hello or a how can I help you. He just stood there doing other stuff. Silent. Once I figured out he wasn't going to acknowledge me, I went ahead and browsed the menu. I decided on a half slab dinner for myself and a pulled pork sandwich for my husband. It was really awkward. You know, announcing an order and hoping he would take notice. Well this time he did respond. He uttered "I'm just really tired." I was totally shocked and at that point ready to walk out without my food. However, the young lady at the register was a complete opposite. She recognized me as having a pulse. She confirmed my order and I paid, which totaled $20.47. I left out feeling like I won't go back no matter how good the food may be. Once I got home I surprised my husband with the pulled pork sandwich. He said it was dry and was forced to add more sauce to it. My ribs were cold and dry, even though I requested them with firebug mild sauce. I was just so disappointed, I still am. I was really expecting to add a new restaurant into our takeout night rotation. It won't be RQ Barbecue.
(2)Liz F.
I've been here a few times now and its pretty good. I've only ever had the pulled pork wrap, pulled pork sandwich and the salmon sandwich - all were ok. I'm not a fan of any of their sauces except for the white sauce that I usually get on the salmon. To me, it just seems like a typical fast food BBQ joint, nothing fancy. Its a little expensive for what you get. Its no Ooga Booga but it will do in a pinch when you crave a pulled pork sandwich.
(3)Jeff B.
My family and I have eaten here twice...both take-out. The first time we ordered pulled pork sandwiches on the second day they were open. We grabbed a bunch of different sauces to try. We liked our sandwiches but ~$25 for four sandwiches with about a pound of meat between the four of them seemed a tad high to me especially considered we ordered no sides or drinks. On Father's Day I asked my wife to buy some pork and chicken by the pound. She got one of each. This is more like it. At $13 a pound, I'll be back. The meat is nothing spectacular (especially compared to where I got my BBQ growing up in the south...whole hog), but the Southern Delight sauce is. I'm a HUGE fan of Carolina (South...western side of the state) sauce and this is the best that I've had outside of my hometown joint. I dropped $12 on two bottles of their stuff. If they have a sale, I will stock up. So far, I'm going to say this is a 3 star place; the 4th star is for the sauce. I'm pulling for the owners of RQ, but starting out with some of these low reviews will likely hurt business...ask the folks at Durbin's in Plainfield.
(4)Angie M.
Nice to have a different kind of drive thru in the area! Great BBQ. Loved the Sweet potato chips.Can't wait to go back and try more!
(4)Jasmin M.
My husband and I were anxious to try this place because we're both gluten free. Their website states that they have a lot of gluten free options. It was really disappointing. The portions are small. The gluten free bread was straight from the bag and not heated up, which if you've eaten GF bread before, you know that it's pretty weird if not heated. The pulled pork on the sandwich was just okay. Very little meat. Left us both hungry and wanting more. The "chips" were tasteless. Who doesn't serve fries with their sandwich? The coleslaw had a weird after-taste. We're bummed because very few restaurants are so gluten free friendly. But the food here just isn't good.
(2)Lauren S.
I've have pretty hit or miss experiences here. I tried the burnt ends once and they were amazing. Yesterday I tried them on a sandwich and they were almost dried to beef jerky and they forgot the coleslaw. Another time they forgot to give me the chips and it's a disappointment when you get home and don't have all that you paid for. Once I had a salad with chicken and it was amazing, the next time it tasted weird and the chicken had a consistency of canned tuna. The sauce I tried last night tasted like a plastic container. It's a dilemma because a few times it had been seriously delicious, other times the food tastes off or they forgot something.
(3)Yvette C.
I love RQ. I've tried and liked most of the items. The pulled pork and the turkey are both great. I also really liked the chicken bean chili. Wasn't crazy about the salmon salad. I usually go drive through but have eaten in several times. My critique would be on their service. Most of the times there was no line but a few times I had to wait before they could take my order even though there was no one ahead of me. Some of these reviews have mentioned that they have had better BBQ. To be fair to the establishment, keep in mind that it is casual fast food and shouldn't be rated as if it were high end gourmet. You wouldn't rate Walmart as if it were Nordstrom. The same consideration should be given for restaurants.
(5)Amanda W.
On a whim we decided to try RQ BBQ for the first time and loved the food. Inside the restaurant was very modern and clean! The food was yummy. I had a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and spicy garlic on top. My side was the Mac and Cheese. My husband had the brisket sandwich with robust sauce. The product tasted fresh and homemade. Our dinner was worth every penny and we will be back! The place had no customers at 6:30pm on a week night.. Please support this business as we don't want them to disappear :)
(4)Rachel A.
My boyfriend is a local and decided to bring me here after trying to figure out a local place to eat. It was my first time eating here and the staff member was very helpful with helping me pick a sauce for my pulled pork sandwich. I loved how you could choose your own toppings, sauces, and sides to accompany your meal. Next time I visit, this is a place I would like to visit again. The food was great, the restaurant was clean, and the service was good. Keep up the good work and hopefully more locations will pop up! If you like BBQ, it's worth it to check this place out! Also, from a southern girl who has had sweet tea multiple places, they have great sweet tea here.
(4)Sherrie I.
Where to start........ I'm not sure how or why people rate RQ BBQ higher than one star. I ordered the Brisket sandwich and my son ordered a chicken wrap. The size of the sandwich was SMALL. And I mean small. On the sandwich, I received 3 skimpy slices of brisket and the rest was shredded scraps from the slicer. A brisket sandwich should never resemble a pulled pork sandwich. The beef was overdone, too. Brisket when cooked properly should have a pink smoke ring around it. My beef resembled a shoe bottom. I ordered mild sauce to go on it. In my opinion, it was sweet baby rays with done cayenne pepper in it. The bun was nicely toasted but it was nothing more than a hamburger bun. The chicken wrap was a decent size but didn't contain a whole lot of chicken. TWO small strips. Plus it was poorly put together. My son ordered hot sauce on the side....... Which we didn't get. Fries nor coke slaw didn't come with either sandwich and for $14 it probably should have. This place was an utter disappointment. We live down the street and we will def not return.
(1)Kevin H.
We eat here quite often and the food is always fantastic. The sandwiches and sliders are great and have lots of meat on them. The chips are my favorite side, but the mac and cheese is also pretty good. The restaurant is always clean and the staff is always friendly. This is one of our favorites in the area.
(5)Joe P.
I have read both good and bad reviews on this place. I have to say my first experience was pretty good. Ordered from the drive thru. Ordered the burnt ends, bbq pork wrap, and an order of sweet potato chips. Got the food well within 3 to 4 mins. Chips were awesome. The burnt ends were even better than I thought and the pork wrap was perfect. Slaw and onion on the wrap made it super flavorful and spicy. All that food was 16 bucks. I have paid more for less. Can't wait to go again.
(5)Pella C.
I really want to really like this place, but when it comes to bbq I am having a hard time grasping the fast food segment. I'm torn really. I like that I got it fast and was out the door before but before an insane rush. The flavors were good but I was expecting more smokey flavors in the meat. Meat was moist for sure but it is definitely in a brine to where the meat was a little salty but not too bad. The best way to sum this place up is Chipotle meets Five Guys meets Boston Market that serves up bbq. I didn't feel rushed but had my order in hand in mere seconds. I say try it, and you'll understand where I'm coming from. It's about the food and the quality of the product. I will try again.
(4)Elle D.
I have to eat gluten free - which usually sucks- But RQ had so many GF options. I was able to eat bbq pork on a gf bun.....A GOOD GF BUN!!!! (that's unheard of) Customer service was great . They took my gluten allergy seriously and changed their gloves and used clean utensils. I did not get sick - I was very impressed. They do share the fryer with non gluten free items - I did get sick from eating the french fries- but to be fair they warned me . Very Happy with my experience .
(5)Mark W.
Overall menu is typical BBQ fare. Prices are rather high compared to other places in the area. Had the half chicken for lunch with a side. Cost was $12. So rather expensive for lunch. Chicken chili is a little spicy but pretty good. Half chicken portion was small and a little dry. I tried it, though probably will find another place in the future.
(2)Aaron W.
Excellent food, great service and I love the atmosphere! Wish they had Garlic/Sea Salt fries to dip in their awesome sauces!
(4)Beatrix K.
Cold watery bbq coming right up! Not to mention As I was eating my sandwich I felt something hard and sharp in mouth and discovered there was a small bone in my pulled pork sandwich. Any proper bbq place would know that pulled pork should not contain bones. Thanks to this establishment I'm not sure ill ever eat bbq again.
(1)Timothy C.
I am a BBQ fan, and have been waiting for this place to open since I heard that it was coming to Shorewood. We definitely needed a good BBQ place in the area, and I do believe we have finally gotten one. I had heard many good things about this place by friends and family. So today I was able to make my first of many trips to rQ. I decided to come on here and leave a review and glad to do so seeing as there are a few that aren't so flattering. So along with my review, I will address a few others comments and hopefully give everyone a more open minded opinion. Yes the staff is young, but they are energetic, friendly, and appear eager to learn. And with time I believe because of these attributes that I observed they can be taught the difference between the types of ribs, and sauces, etc. As for the dining experience I had the brisket sandwich, with beans on the side. I must say personally I prefer my brisket sliced, but that aside it had a lot flavor and the bun I had was perfect, not to much bread at all. The brisket could stand alone without sauce, unlike other BBQ places in the area, but I tasted 4 different sauces, the sweetness, ivory, robust, and firebug. I must say all that I tried was exceptional. The beans were ok for me but that's because I particularly don't care for a "Boston baked" style bean. But several friends who do like that type said they loved them. The one thing that I did enjoy about the beans though we're the burnt ends that they added to them. A suggestion that I have for rQ is to offer burnt ends as its own entree on your menu. PLEASE!!!!!!! My wife had the Mac and Cheese, and said it was extremely creamy and cheesy and was as close to homemade that you can get from a restaurant let alone a "fast food" restaurant. I will definitely be back and encourage others to give it a try as well. Form your own opinion, because your tastes will differ from mine, but I feel if you enjoy true BBQ, you will enjoy rQ. And if anyone has the question as to what I know about BBQ...1. I travel extensively for work and have eaten at some of the best BBQ restaurants around the country, and for the Chicagoland area this is indeed one of them....and 2. I do a lot of my own BBQ-ing, low and slow on the smoker and put many hours into it, but just don't have that kind of time everyday. So it's nice to have a place that I feel is just like I spent 12 - 16 hours smoking, without actually having put in that time. So if this place can be this good within the first week, great things are yet to come!
(4)John K.
Not the best BBQ I have had, but it is decent. Been here a few times have tried just about everything . Ribs have a nice bite to them while still being tender. Brisket no pork both a little dry. Chicken was moist and the wings were quite taste . Smoke flavor on all the meats was very mild. Macaroni and cheese had a floury flavor. Coleslaw is a light non mayo slaw, decent flavor. They have beer and wine. There is also a drive thru. Overall not the best but I have had worse.
(3)Karen L.
We had the pulled pork sandwich and beef brisket sandwich was the best we have had locally . The rubs where good but not as good as sandwiches. Coleslaw was just ok if you like vinegar coleslaw and not creamy. We will eat there again
(4)Renee W.
We'll I thought this place would be good, had high hopes since they have gluten free food. We have had delivery and also have gone through the drive thru. Always something missing, one time a sandwich, fixings on another sandwich, and a small chili instead of the large ordered. Also ordered an ingredient on one sandwich and had them put it on another where it was specifically asked to not have it on. Due to an allergy.the coleslaw we got was so full of pepper we threw it away. I am disappointed to not have the orders done right even one time. I will say the chicken, turkey, ribs, and pork are very good. Also when I stated there was an issue with the ingredient being on the sandwich I was treated rudely with a "just what is wrong with it". When I told them,they said the ingredient was put on the sandwich and then scraped off, because they did not know it was an allergy to the ingredient. They figured it was ok to just scrape it off. Even Mc D will make a new burger.
(1)Jonathan F.
Time to write a review, why? Because having lived in Joliet over a year now and having tried most of the BBQ joints around these parts and I can tell you that RQ is simply the best and deserves all the accolades coming to it and hopefully enough people eating here to keep it busy and open. The first time I went in, I was not overly impressed, the brisket was so so and the ribs while full of flavor were a little on the dry side. The mac and cheese however was excellent and the sauces...oh the sauces. I got a bunch of different sauces to try and they were all pretty tasty. Ok we can fast forward over the last 11 months I've been to RQ enough times to try as much of the menu as I like/can. The ribs are still a bit dry on the ends but I don't mind that because it lets me know they're actually smoked instead of being cooked and then wrapped in plastic wrap to sweat all day...might as well put your meats in a crock pot(other place that has alright BBQ in the area). I've had the brisket multiple times now and it's really good, I've had wraps with brisket...and really good. I've had the half chicken, SO GOOD. Tonight I had the burnt ends sandwich and they were incredibly tasty. Do yourself a favor and get some sides. The corn is rich beyond belief. The chips are alright but, the fries are even better. I love the fries and everything I've eaten here. I highly recommend RQ to anyone looking for real BBQ in the Joliet/Shorewood/Plainfield area. Oh and don't be afraid to try the sauces. You will be guaranteed to find at least one or four that you will love.
(5)Courtney B.
This place is top notch for this area. We don't have much in the arena of free range all natural options. Wide variety of sauce, something for everyone in the fam. Everything tastes very fresh. The customer service was very patient and pleasant. We will be passing the good word along and will back for sure!
(5)Michael M.
Overall okay. It was nice they had a lot of gluten free options but it felt a tad pricy for what you get. Good but not great
(3)