Carterque
1310 S Main St, Mount Airy, MD, 21771
Carterque Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Mount Airy for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Mount Airy for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Mount Airy for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1310 S Main St
Mount Airy, MD, 21771 - Phone (301) 829-2222
- Website https://www.carterque.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Kirsten L.
I went to Carterque this weekend with my family who was in town from PA (6 of us) and sat outside with Madison. I had a disappointing experience at Carterque once before a few years ago and was not looking forward to this visit. Boy was I impressed this time! I'm not sure if the rest of my family liked their meals, I could barely hear them over my praises! I got the Smoked Brisket Salad, it was incredible. Sometimes brisket can be a little dry, but this salad seemed to be all of the delicious fatty edges. I will definitely be back! PS: I wish there were collard greens on the menu!
(5)Rich C.
Disappointed again. Stopped in for takeout Saturday, wanted someplace quick as I am only a few minutes from store. Ordered bbq salad, stuffed bbq baked potato, and tried something new sausage dinner. BBQ salad was fine, skimpy on bbq. Nothing to write home about. Stuffed bbq potato was small and almost NO BBQ. Very disappointing. I have gotten this here before and is usually not bad. Sausage was terrible. Nothing like I expected. It tasted like breakfast sausage. My recommendations, skip this place and head up the road 20 minutes to Black Hog in Frederick. Black Hog is the best bbq around - hands down. It's worth the trip. Their BBQ is much better in my opinion too. Been there more than 30 times and I've never been unhappy with anything I've ordered. Everyone I've taken to BH have came back with the same opinion. I've had 3 experiences like this with my food from Carterque, and I'm done trying to give this place my business just because it's close. Sorry Carterque....however your raspberry bbq sauce is awesome.
(1)Kelsey S.
I have heard so many great things about this place, so perhaps I walked in with expectations that were too high, but I really wasn't impressed. The only reason this place isn't getting 1-2 stars is because it is is Mt. Airy, and I have perhaps been spoiled by good city food. My 1st mistake however was ordering a cheeseburger at a BBQ joint, so that's on me, but nevertheless it was not good. I don't hate greasy food, but it was SO greasy that the bun was so soggy it was falling apart. The french fries were also McDonald's french fries, except McDonald's french fries are way better because they're hot crispy and salty. These french fries were none of those things. My boyfriend did get BBQ though: pulled pork. I'm not sure how his pork was but I know his sides were also disappointing. The corn bread was basically boxed and had little flavor, as did the macaroni and cheese. The staff however is VERY friendly, and so are the customers. People are keen to strike up conversation with you at the bar, which btw does not have a good beer menu (but what place does in Mt. Airy)? This could still be an OK place to eat at if you live within walking distance because on a nice day main street is quite a pleasant street to stroll down. I would normally suggest sitting on the patio but there were a lot of flies at this joint. Grab some desert at jimmy cone down the block, especially on cruise night.
(3)Alyssa S.
Stopped in after seeing some positive reviews on yelp and noting its one of the only sit down establishments open around 3pm. They had a Mint Juleps on special for the upcoming Kentucky derby and they did not disappoint. Our server was very friendly, helpful, and just the right sort of attentive... I wish I remembered his name as he is worth positive recognition. I ordered the smoked turkey with a loaded baked potato, Caesar salad and two different bbq sauces. The black raspberry mixed with the hot and spicy bbq sauce was delicious! The sides were good, the turkey was above average quality although I do wish the portion of meat was larger. A definite positive experience, worth checking out.
(4)John L.
My favorite barbeque restaurant anywhere and I've been to quite a few. Got to try the barbeque egg roll appetizer, awesome.
(5)Dan H.
This place is amazing! Best ribs and beef brisket I have ever had! Make sure you try the black raspberry barbecue sauce!
(5)Daniella H.
Carterque gets a 5 for their black raspberry sauce, a 3 for food, service, and carry out. The easiest way to rate a BBQ place is by the quality of their wings...and honestly, if it wasn't for the black raspberry sauce, they would be on the bottom of my list. There just isn't anything great about them at all....not sure how they're prepared, but they dont have the flavor they should have. Love that the kids meals are served on a frisbee that we can take home. The kids love this too and think it's really cool!
(3)P. D.
Hadn't had barbecue in a while, so we decided to stop in on our way to Baltimore. My brother told me it was an awesome choice. We started out with Que Balls appetizer, delicious meatballs in CarterQue signature black raspberry BBQ sauce. So good! My fiance ordered the brisket sandwich with black raspberry sauce and potato salad side. My brother got the pulled pork sandwich with old red sauce, mac and cheese side. I opted to go another direction, chicken sandwich slathered with crab dip and cheddar cheese and side of kettle chips. The food was spectacular. My fiance and brother raved about the tender, delicious meat. My brother proclaimed it the best BBQ he's ever tasted! The chicken sandwich was bursting with tender chicken and oozing an incredibly tasty crab dip. The guys also received sweet, delicious cornbread. The establishment was clean, bright and pleasant decor. All of the staff were friendly and accommodating. Our waiter was exemplary and very attentive. We had a wonderful experience and plan on returning soon!
(5)J A.
Love this place! It's conveniently located off route 70 between Columbia and Frederick. They have a grea outdoor patio and their prices are decent. I almost always get the brisket, they do a really good job with it. And don't forget the black raspberry bbq sauce, it's the best! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu here.
(4)Dan B.
Back at Carterque for another swing at the blk. raspberry ribs. Well, this time, they are very good. Good firm texture with a hint of smokiness that accentuates the flavor of the pork, combined with the fantastic raspberry sauce, makes these ribs a wonderful bbq experience. I also ordered the steamed broccoli and baked beans. The beans are good with a paste like consistency with shredded pork, very and filling. The broccoli was freshly steamed to crispy perfection. Like last time, the cornbread was sweet, soft, and oven fresh. I'm so glad I came back here because I've been running into suck-a$$ bbq ribs recently; making my quest for the perfect rack, a chore. I'm making Carterque one of my goto spots for ribs. The service was excellent, quick seating, the order was taking promptly, and the order was served in 15 minutes.
(4)Pat M.
Stopped by for dinner on a Saturday night, on way home from Thurmont. The place was pretty packed, though about half the seats at the smallish bar were available. The barkeep came up right away, and was efficient and attentive enough throughout my visit, but really didn't have a high level of friendliness and few smiles. The draught beer selection was fairly good, but not particularly diverse. A woman who came in later asked about a wheat beer, but none were to be had, and she settled for a bottle of boring domestic lager. I ordered a two-meat platter, which comes with corn bread (okay but a tad dry) and two sides. My choices were the beef brisket and pulled pork, with baked beans and onion rings-- a premium side that costs a buck more. I went with two different sauces fun their selection of around 4-6, and liked the spicy one better than the raspberry sauce. As for the meat, it was just okay. The brisket was a little dry, and the pulled pork was run-of-the-mill and didn't stand out at all. The portions are HUGE, and I didn't finish. It made me wonder how many folks can actually put away the 3-meat platter! Prices were pretty much what I'd expect for the type of meal. Overall, not bad, but not great. Were I in the area again, I'd be more apt to try a different place.
(3)Erin M.
They have excellent service. My mom had them cater my graduation party and the food was amazing. I went to school in the south and got very use to really good BBQ. This place makes me feel like I am back in South Carolina. I highly recommend going there and getting BBQ
(5)Barry F.
Have not been to Carterque in about two years, so I was really looking forward to it. I have been a fan since they were in their downtown location. Well, this visit was exceptionally disappointing. The ribs were awful. No smoke flavor, and no hint of spice. The sauce was slathered on as almost an afterthought. These ribs were no better than Applebee's. I was worried the quality would slip when they moved, and it appears it has. I used to love recommending this place to friends, but don't feel I can anymore.
(2)Gary P.
Kids' meals come served on a frisbee to take home. Had the brisket, dry, ribs, dry, pulled pork, flavorless, and sausage, pretty good. The sauces were all on the iffy side, not really a fan of any of them and some were down right bad, not sure how one of them was named a national champion. The fried pickles were decent, kosher. What I liked: Hush puppies Sausage What I disliked: Everything else...sorry, defnitely not worth spending my hard earned money on.
(2)Carrie A.
The staff is very friendly and accommodating. The blackberry barbecue sauce is delicious and unique, I am a barbecue lover from the south and it impressed me very much. I will definitely be back for more food soon!
(5)Maureen R.
The margarita was AWFUL. Never had a bowl of chili with corn in it. That was really strange. It was more of a soup offering than a nice thick chili bowl. Ordered onion rings, never received my order with my meal. Mashed potatoes were cold. Baked beans tasted like they were out of a can and some BBQ meat just added in for their touch. Yuck!!!! Meats pulled pork and ribs were just OK. Guess when you are hungry you will eat anything even if it's not that good. This is the second time my husband and I went to this joint. Very slow service in getting the food out, had about a half hour wait after ordering. Restaurant was not that busy at the time. My husband can definitely make better and delicious BBQ on the "BIG GREEN EGG" ceramic cooker. Our next BBQ will be made on the "BIG GREEN EGG". Don't plan on returning to this establishment any time soon, probably never again. After making complaints the waitress removed the margarita and onion rings from the check.
(1)Mike D.
Waitresses were a bit dingy. I must have been talking Chinese while pointing at the menu item because my order was all messed up during my attempt to eat-in. I learned to just order take out, even though the portions are small, I end up with something I actually ordered.
(1)Charlie B.
They make good bbq, and have decent happy hour deals, but that's about it. Your best bet is to get carry out, because you know it will be on time and you don't have to deal with the slow dining room operations. Wait staff is nice, but slow... Maybe because they kitchen is beyond slow. Took 90 minutes for 2 of us to get through a meal. It's bbq, it's not like they are making it to order... It just needs warmed up! Side dishes are bland and boring, fries are similar to McDonald's, and not in a good way. Appetizers are much the same. Been here several times, it's always the same. Poorly run operation, with good bbq. 4 star pork, 2 star everything else. Get it carry out and enjoy at home.
(3)Michael D.
Best BBQ around...great food...dinner time could be busy and might have to wait a bit, but worth it.
(5)Kristen H.
This place was tasty! There aren't many places around me that really specialize in BBQ but they've done a great job. It was also really cool that they offer a beer brewed right in Mt Airy which is a darker more stout like beer that I certainly enjoyed. The fried pickles are nice and crunchy with just enough crust on them. For my entree I had the two meat platter with the sausage link and beef brisket along with mac n cheese and a big baked potato and cornbread. All some of my favorite things that really stick to your stomach. I got the black raspberry and some other sauce that were so tangy and delicious. All in all a great place for some down home food. I would just say that the wait staff could be a little more attentive but other than that, no complaints!
(4)Candy S.
Food is good, I have had this place a couple times, each time I got something completely different. To me their pork is dry, needs lots of sauce (sweet and tangy is def. my favorite!) for flavor. Their brisket is good, and their chicken is excellent. The cornbread is out of this world! However, take out is not good. We live literally 2 minutes down the street, and by the time my husband got back here, the fries were gross and the crab burger was cold. I am giving them 4 stars though, instead of three because we had them cater our wedding a couple years ago. Our guests enjoyed the food and even took some plates to go! They accommodated us in allowing us to pick up the food early in the day. Overall, we will continue to support this restaurant and will be returning for more special occasions.
(4)Caiti S.
I've been here quite a few times now with my family and would give it a 3.5 stars. The service has been warm and efficient each time. My favs from the menu: the black raspberry BBQ sauce, and also the hot 'n' spicy. I love the fried okra, and their wings are great too. For some reason they replaced the catfish with rockfish on their menu, but it received no complaints from my family. Come here if you have a craving for some BBQ and are in the area. Portions are plentiful, and the prices are quite reasonable. They have several craft beers on tap, with a minimal selection of wine. This is to be expected at a BBQ joint so no complaints.
(3)Maranda B.
Excellent place to eat. Nice atmosphere and friendly staff. The wings are one of the best I've ever had- black raspberry sauce is delicious. They have Frickles, amazing deep fried pickles. Soup is good. Then the BBQ, pit beef and burgers.... Heck it's all good!
(5)Melanie K.
We came in for lunch on Sunday. Our waitress was friendly and pretty quick. I got the Crabby Chicken Sandwich and it was freakin' amazing. Chicken was hot and cooked to perfection and the crab dip was ahmigawd so yummy.
(4)Julie W.
My boyfriend and I would eat here every day if we could. I've never had a bad experience. The nachos are SO GOOD. Great huge appetizer. I always get the platter because it comes with WARM cornbread. Try all the sauces, but the black raspberry is what I always get. Everything here is so good!
(5)Gary H.
The wife and I stopped by here as we were passing through Mount Airy. It's off of a pretty busy road so it wasn't hard to miss. Parking was plentiful. We started with the pickle spears, which were about as good of a deep fried pickle spear I've had. I would have liked a couple of different sauces to dip it in, however. I tend to prefer the chips because it has a better pickle to breading ratio, but spears seem to be so popular in this region, I've learned to make due. Their beer selection was good, having a few breweries I had never heard of and even a couple of their own brews on draft. I've always gotta give props for that. Alright, main course. I love brisket. Big, moist, Texas style dry-rub brisket. I've had it so moist and flavorful that putting sauce on it would almost be a sin. That's the kind of brisket I am always searching for. The brisket I was served had the red/pink smoke ring around it, typically a good sign, but cutting to the chase, it was pretty dry. I had to smother it in sauce to moisten it up a bit, which mind you, was very good. I recommend each of their variety of sauces. I finished my plate and moved on to 'help' my wife finish hers. She also had the brisket. Strangely, hers was significantly more moist than mind, so perhaps I just got an unlucky cut. Either way, it left me with the feeling that this is a place I would visit again if I were passing through, but would never be worth making the trek to have again. Also worth noting: their website almost made me rage-quit. They have a sound clip of someone talking about why Carterque is great that plays automatically. On every page. Even if you pause it. Worst yet is the fact that it starts from the beginning every time you go to a new page. Seriously, make your website not stupid.
(3)Mike C.
I ate at this restaurant last week because I had a gift card given to me. I have to say it was very good. Waitstaff was friendly, the food was prompt and it was very tasty as well. Portions were also good. I'd definitely eat here again.
(4)Eric L.
Ok have to update my review. Hands down great meal here today. Friendly folks, great ribs, and stellar smoked and grilled wings. Keep it up guys, great stuff.
(4)Douglas C.
Hands down a great place. Never had a bad meal here. Atmosphere and staff are great. Well deserved 5 star restaurant.
(5)William S.
Not the best BBQ I've ever had but I would come back here a hundred times. If you love pork this is definitely a gold mine.
(3)TJ B.
Service was fast, portions were right on and the food was good. I got the half rack and meat combo. It was plenty of food. The brisket was very good. Excellent flavor and moist. The ribs were dry. They were fall off the bone cooked through, with a good flavor, but dry. I'll go back to try some more items when I get the chance. I think the entree was $15, with an iced tea, tip and tax it was $24.50 which starts to seem a little steep. Probably par for waiter serviced meals, though.
(4)Mike W.
I love this place and I've never had a bad experience here. The pulled pork is amazing and the black raspberry sauce is awesome. I would also suggest getting the BBQ nachos because they are amazing with sauce and salsa on there. There really isn't anything bad here to eat everything is awesome.
(5)Nic R.
I have been meaning to write a review of this place for a while. I like bbq and local places. This restaurant fits both bills, and everything I have tried has been pretty good. The kids menu is nice, and all their child plates are served on a frisbee. As far as the cue itself, they're as good as anyone else around here. Any shortcomings stem from their side orders and deserts, but that's not why we really go to bbq places, is it?
(4)Donald P.
Good basic BBQ place. Nothing fancy but good comfort food.
(4)Jeff C.
This has been my go to place for a few years now. I originally went there when they were downtown Mt Airy. When they moved to the of Bank of America they seemed to even outgrow that. Ribs, when properly cooked should fall off the bone, here they do. I love the variety of sauces. The beans and coleslaw rock. It can be tough to get a table on a weekend but the wait is worth it. Enjoy ambiance, savor the 'que.
(4)Will W.
Best BBQ around, hands down. I've been to KC, Nashville, and Memphis, and this place is right up there with the best of them. Highly recommended.
(5)James S.
This place is off the hook!! They definitely know how to cook pork. Their BBQ sauces are amazing as well, especially their raspberry flavored BBQ sauce. I've always told people that the best BBQ in the DC metro area is "Carolina Brothers Pit Barbeque" even though Carterque is outside of the DC metro area this beats their BBQ big time. I love this joint! Buzz and Ned's in Richmond is my absolute favorite but I'll need to go back and revisit since it's been a while and compare the two. Too bad I live an hour away from Carterque....this place is like crack.
(5)Big D.
3.5 * Pretty decent meal. The brisket was moist, nice flavor. Same with the pulled pork, although not a lot of smokiness, but enough. The slaw, corn bread and potato salad were good. The star of the show was the blackberry BBQ sauce. Nice, clean restaurant. Pretty good service. Very reasonable for the amount of food and quality. I will definitely return on occasion.
(3)Mike M.
Good que. Ribs are baby back which is not stated on the menu Not my favorite, I would have preferred spare ribs. Their pulled pork is probably the best I've had in the area. Good smoke ring and slow cooked. Sauces are very sweet. Even the spicy sauce is over the top sweet. Of the meets I've tried, ribs, pulled pork, and beef brisket, all are better without the sauce. Their sauces are not bad but they are so sweet that they mask the smokey flavor of the meat. Like putting ketchup on a good steak, just say no. Sides are very good. Mac & Cheese, okra, potato salad, all good. Unfortunately they put the bag of sugar to the corn bread. It's like pound cake but maybe even sweeter than that. I prefer savory. Actually so sweet I didn't finish it. Offered it to other family members, they agreed, too sweet. Our waitress this evening was in a foul mood and took it out in us and her other tables. Very short with us, just generally pissy. No fun. Oh well, we will be back but was hoping this would turn out to be a destination restaurant. More like an "if we're in the area" restaurant and then I'd be cautious about what I order. If they would just cut the sugar back on everything by at least half, I'd be able to give it at least another star but given that after eating here I'm a half teaspoon away from diabetic shock, three will have to do.
(3)Ann K.
I tried caterque at an event that they catered to. I like the brisket. It is melt in your mouth and lean. I didnt realize that they have the restaurant too.
(3)Samantha H.
Amazing barbecue! Reasonable prices, great portions, fast friendly service. Definitely coming back here soon! Delicious.
(4)Eric P.
Average bbq, awful service. I have lived in Texas, Tennessee, Kansas City and St. Louis (I know great bbq and this is not it). Food took forever and was dried out upon arrival. This meal took over 2.5 hours which included a 30 minute wait. Unacceptable for what some claim to be a respectible bbq joint.
(1)Anne B.
Great gem of a place in Mt Airy. Friendly staff, great barbque. Gotta try their house sauce, it's awesome.
(4)Man K.
Caterque food is good bbq. Had several catered pulled pork, chicken, cole slaw, and corn bread three occasions and have yet to be disappointed. You know its good food when there arent any leftovers. Restaurant seating is difficult on weekends, so best to visit during the week. Only comment/suggestion: serve the side menu items in larger volume.
(4)Katie G.
The ribs are fantastic. The fries weren't all that great though, so I wouldn't recommend those for a side. If you try the place you definitely have to get a slab of ribs. They have BBQ sauces for sale.. the black raspberry sauce is the best.
(4)Michelle T.
Good bbq, huge portions and great prices. The last time we had the pulled pork it was really fatty but I'll still go back. Love the mac & cheese and fried okra
(4)Harris H.
Friends have given this place a glowing review so we tried it. We got the combo platter and chose brisket and ribs. The brisket was the best that I have ever had. All the sauces are awesome! The ribs were done Ok but hard chewey parts and absolutely flavorless. Was not happy at all with the ribs but the brisket made up for it. Friend gave me some pulled pork and it was decent but not great. We are going back and will do the brisket and maybe try the chicken.
(3)Victoria Z.
I'm not a huge fan of BBQ, but my boyfriend is. Knowing we'd be in the area, I did a quick search on Yelp and figured this would be a place he'd love. It turns out that I really enjoyed it, too! It was a beautiful night so we elected to enjoy our dinner on the outdoor patio. We had the Queballs for an appetizer which I highly recommend. Remember when I said I didn't care for BBQ? I could have devoured them all by myself! There is a great variety of entrees to include sea food items and burgers for those who don't want BBQ. The entrees can come with chips and a pickle or you can upgrade to a platter which can include a side and cornbread. Loved the cornbread by the way. Also, you have four different sauces to choose from to put on your BBQ dish. All sounded very unique and fun. I enjoyed the raspberry BBQ sauce.
(4)Biggins C.
This is the place where you sit down and see your neighbors and friends all around. Been too many times to count. Long day and hard drive back in town, sat down and had dinner on the table in less then 10 minutes. Great service, mostly local kids working there. Chili and cue-balls appetizers in five minutes, dinner in 10.
(5)Julie A.
3.5..it's a step above Famous Daves and a nice change from Black Hog. A dropped my rating because the sides are not that great. But the meats and sauces rock. If you're in the area, give it a try for sure.
(3)Jane G.
For a 'northern' bbq joint, the food is delicious. Their chicken and pulled pork are so very good. The black raspberry sauce is the best I've ever had. We put it on everything. Their sweet potato fries are good too.
(5)Mark P.
Excellent BBQ, delicious sauces, cool atmosphere, and great location.
(5)Ivan S.
Rib & meat is great w black raspberry and hot & spicy sauce are amazing. Love this place, wish they had one back home in Michigan. Good bye que till next time.
(5)Mark J.
I have to preface this with the fact I lived in GA for 19 years and I know a thing or two about good BBQ. Carterque was very good. The pulled pork and brisket were the best BBQ I have had since we moved to MD. The ribs were a little fatty, but it was perfectly cooked and fell off the bone. The service very impressive and very courteous. The kids really enjoyed the meal as well.
(4)Aaron F.
One of the better BBQ places in the Maryland area.
(4)J S.
The best pulled pork outside of Memphis TN. Reasonably priced and friendly staff. It is worth the drive.
(5)Charles K.
Great sauces. Pulled pork is good. Atmosphere is good. Also they have Keno.
(4)scott s.
Today was St. Patrick's Day. They advertised two specials, including Corn Beef and Cabbage, and a Ruben Sandwich. I had the Rack of Pork Ribs, and my wife had the Ruben Sandwich. This is the last time we will be going there!. There was so much fat on my ribs that I had the peel the fat layer off the top before I could eat them. As for the Ruben,..we both agreed that it was pathetic. And we mean PATHETIC...There could not have been more than 2-3 ounces of meat, and half of that most mostly fat. And when we told the waitress, someone else came out a offered to give my wife MORE meat, which also was extremely fatty. Sorry, Carterque, you are now banned from our list.
(1)G K.
AHhhh! No more mashed potatoes on the menu! This place is often packed, so you may have to wait, but it's worth it. Actually, we often get carry out & enjoy it at home. I wish they'd use compostable carry out containers instead of styrofoam, but it's probably not feasible with the BBQ sauce & the general nature of their food. The BBQ sauces are all great, but the raspberry one is my favorite. Order a sampler with your meal so you can decide for yourself. Try the 3 meat dinner w/pulled pork, brisket and chicken. Other great choices are the Oink Moo burger & the pulled pork salad. The mashed potatoes are homemade & the potato salad also seems homemade. The only thing I'd change about this place is to make it even larger!
(5)Michele W.
The pulled pork was melt in your mouth tender. There are several house made BBQ sauces to choose from. They even have their own brand of draught beer which is a nice Amber. The coleslaw and the greens were positively on point! Prices are pretty standard for BBQ fare. The atmosphere is down home comfy. The service is impeccable. parking may be a challenge on busy nights
(5)Mike C.
I live in Mt. Airy and have been going to this place since it opened. At first it was great and I recommended it highly. Unfortunately it seems to be slipping over time. Most recently I ordered brisket to go and it was a joke. More than 50% fat - couldn't believe they put some of it in there. Won't be going back.
(2)Demi D.
Incredible! My husband and I are both from the south so as far as barbecue goes, we are pretty spoiled. We ventured to Mt. Airy one Saturday for a small town excursion and stopped for dinner at Carterque. What a great experience! Legit barbecue is hard to find in the DC/MD area but this was good stuff. And don't miss their blackberry BBQ sauce.... Incredible! We even took a couple bottles home. My husband and I both had the pulled pork with fries and hush puppies. All delicious! And the cornbread on the side was tasty as well! Trust me- this place is worth visiting. And one more thing to note- the staff is great. The atmosphere was almost like being back in homey NC!
(5)Chris D.
Excellent food. Show up early on the weekends or expect to wait. Parking is limited and I think it's odd that they sell lottery tickets.
(4)josh w.
Well I was kinda disappointed in this place as it has a lot of potential, but there were some just really annoying thing about this restaurant that ruined the restaurant experience. Anywhere heres the good and the bad. Pros - Very well kept facility. Nice and clean and looks to be very new. - Lots of TV's and the Keno was a nice touch - the BBQ sauces are awesome. (just not enough of it...seee below) - Lots of food Cons - No sauces are put on the table for you to enjoy. I had to ask the waitress 3 times to bring more sauces. I could have ordered even more but was too embarrassed to do so. Half the fun of BBQ places is piling your plate high with sauce and trying the different ones that they offer. They treat sauce here like gold dust. A definite no no in my books. Completely ruined my dining expereince tonight as I couldnt enjoy the food as I was trying to ration the sauce and spent half the time worrying about where the next batch of sauce would come from. - The fries are spiced. I don't like seasoned fries in a BBQ joint as it takes away from the sauces (or what little of the sauce they serve you). - Place was staffed by a bunch of kids. I got my sweet tea served with no ice. Yuk. I then pointed out that i had no ice and was then service with a glass full of ice. I had to serve myself. No major big deal - My friend said that his pork was a little undercooked.
(2)antoin k.
Food was terrible. I wonder where the 4&5 star reviews came from I agree with the review that mentioned frozen food. Brisket, ribs, and chicken were bland with no discernible smoke and appeared thawed and baked. The so called sausage was inedible. Whoever compared their sauces to gold dust portions is right. Sauces ok but nothing special. Potato salad ok but fried okra was a little okra and a lot of breading. It was replaced with sweet potato tots which were good. Service was good which brought my review up to two stars.
(2)Chris B.
Food excellent.. service good.. management.. We had a problem, the owner cleared it up by explaining their procedures and the law. Never said sorry.. There use to be a time when the customer was right. I do though appreciate the owner getting back to me because of my yelp complaint.
(2)Sandy S.
I considered giving 3 stars based on good service, but since food is the highlight at a restaurant, I could only justify 2 stars. Canned green beans, frozen fries, dry, dry , dry beef brisket, and sauces not very good. The Ol' Red Grilling sauce taste like ketchup and molasses and maybe a hint of something else. I can't eat cornbread because of my gluten allergy, but it smelled good. Their website said "made from scratch" sides, but really, I'm not sure how they define "made from scratch". The baked beans were not good, the fries at McDonalds are better, and the green beans were truly out of a can, except they doctor them up with a bit of ham which makes them a little better. Sorry Carterque, I won't be back.
(2)Cate B.
This is one of the first places we went to upon moving into the area about 3 years ago. It was good, but over time, it seems as though some of their portions have gotten inconsistent and there have been many times when I ordered the pulled pork and it has been dry and cold - like it was made in the morning and has a been sitting out all day for them to pick from, slap it on a plate, then douse it in their "famous" sauce. Not to mention their disgusting canned tasting green beans and mushy collard greens. One day my son and his dad wanted to run out and share their first beer together. As they walked up to the door, apparently they were closed since the owner (?) rushed up to lock the door (literally in their faces, as my husband had his hand on the door handle!), turn away, then sit at the bar to finish his beer. The least he could have done was say, "I'm sorry, we are closed."
(2)Will W.
To be completely honest, I wasn't really expecting anything from this place, and I consider myself an optimistic person. As expected, my family, friends, and myself endured a very mediocre meal. First of all, the place just did not feel like a BBQ joint. If you've ever been to The Black Hog or any other good BBQ, you will know what I am talking about. The atmosphere was way too "plastic" for lack of a better term. Moving past the atmosphere, lets get to service. The service here was a little on the slow side and definitely lacked enthusiasm, but was friendly and answered whatever questions we had. Now lets move on to the food. One thing that bothered the hell out of everyone was that there was NO BBQ SAUCE on the tables for the customers own use. We had to ask to try the 4 different BBQ sauces, which were brought out in very very very small samples which were brought out with chintzy little spoons for us to try the sauces. The sauces themselves were actually pretty good, but the fact that these people treat their sauces like some sort of secret is beyond me. The food itself was pretty mediocre. The brisket was cooked well, and was a good cut if meat, but had almost no seasoning, which translated into a pretty bland experience. The sides were mediocre as well and probably came from a can or were bought somewhere. My father's pulled pork was also bland and was even lukewarm. My brother's sliders were the one thing on the menu that had enough sauce, maybe even too much. The price tag came out to almost $90 for six people, definitely way too much for what we got. None of us will be back anytime soon.
(2)Greg P.
Come here the minute you get off your diet! Lots of places do ribs and some are just okay but if you want ribs that fall off the bone and you are in good old Mount Airy,MD turn in here, you won't be disappointed, just a little chubbier when you leave. Personally I like the old red sauce and the raspberry I guess is always worth a try but you cant go wrong with the traditional.
(4)Sasha N.
I ate at CarterQue for the first time tonight. It was delicious. I had the chicken platter. The chicken had a wonderful smoky flavor, and the barbecue sauce on the side was also yum! Cornbread was not overly greasy which I liked. I loved the fact that the sides included steamed broccoli. I also had the baked beans which I enjoyed. The waitress was extremely professional--she had good suggestions, checked on us occasionally, but not in an intrusive way. She was upbeat and very friendly. When there was a slight error on the bill, she took care of it immediately. I will be back for more! The young man cleaning off the tables was also very pleasant. I loved the black raspberry sauce. Food was reasonably priced as well.
(5)Elaine T.
This place cannot be beat for bbq. Another favorite is their crab dip appetizer which comes with Old Bay-dusted multicolor tortilla chips. Yuuuuummmmm. (please note that this delicious crab app does NOT translate to their crab cakes which you should avoid at all costs.)
(5)Jason L.
It was delicious. Beef brisket was awesome. Their signature raspberry sauce was really good. They were very busy but handled my take out order promptly.
(5)David L.
Great barbecue, try the black raspberry sauce.
(5)Andrew L.
my friends and i always go to cartercues barbecue we never have any bad food. I normally start off with the barbecue nachos and maybe I'll have some wings or some burgers but either way whatever I do. I'm never disappointed five stars easily.
(5)Annette G.
Came here last summer with the bf for lunch and it was delicious! Great Bbq, lots of sides to choose from (loved the Mac & Cheese!) and the bbq sauce they make is super yummy. And I love, love, love that they sell bottles of the Raspberry bbq sauce because that stuff is good on literally everything (like Salmon, believe me just try it!) so we use it at home all the freakin time. In addition to the bbq they also have dessert. I love dessert...yay! I couldn't pick a cupcake so we ordered several and I had a hard time picking a favorite. They were all super moist and delicious, just like a cupcake should taste. Can't wait until we go back for another visit so we can stop here again!
(5)Bill S.
I normally meet my parents on Mt Airy for dinner every couple of weeks, and we wanted something new. Using Yelp, I found this place, and met my family at about 6 on a Sunday night. The restaurant itself is very small, with only about 10 tables. The décor is lively, and sets the mood for the messy dinner we were about to eat. I think some of the signs on the wall might have been pilfered on a roadtrip. The waitress immediately brought us samples of their BBQ sauces. They are all homemade, with one being a signature prize winning sauce. The menu is everything BBQ, from ribs to burgers, and all the sides to match. The only thing I didn't like was that you have to order at the counter and they don't give you pen and paper for large groups. Our order, for 4 adults and a child was just over $50. The service was fast, as it only took about 20 minutes before everything was out. Between the 5 of us, we had a little bit of everything. All of us enjoyed the meal, and there was plenty of food. I am kind of a big guy, and I couldn't finish my plate. Throughout the entire meal, several people came in for carry out, and the phone was always ringing. Carterque is obviously a local favorite. My only other suggestion would be to have wet naps. The prices are great for all the food you get, the sauces make the food worth returning for, and the meat is nice and tender. This is a place that we'll be sure to visit again!
(4)Brandon B.
The que pork pulled sandwich, was awesome. Wife had a chicken soup thing and it wsa pretty good. Nice atmosphere and service. On the top of my list for BBQ.
(5)J E.
The new barbecue restaurants around Frederick are a welcome addition. Black Hog....now Carterque. Generous portions, attentive service, and quality product. Seating is challenging during the 5-7 period, but worth the wait.
(4)Doug W.
Have dined here several times Great Q place. Brisket is fantastic. Have been to several famous Q joints in Texas that rightfully tout their brisket as the best; Carterque ranks right up there with them. Their sauces are great, particularly the award winning black raspberry flavored one.
(4)DIANE S.
Since I grew up in the capital city of BBQ, Kansas City, MO, I can only reserve 5 stars for Gates and Arthur Bryants. BUT, here I am living in Mt Airy MD and I have really one of the best BBQ eateries I have tasted outside of KC, right in my own lil town!!!! BBQ debate can be more divisive than politics, to sauce or dry-rub, vinegar or tomato-based, sweet or spicy, beef or pork, sliced or pulled, etc! But the foundation of BBQ, which cannot be faked or disguised, is tasty, well cooked meat, juicy and flavorful, with or without any embellishment. If the meat is bland, dry or tasteless, let's just go home and order pizza. Here is where Carterque has it over so many bbq posers. He is a real meat master! Ok, maybe I will give him 5 stars. I recently ordered a whole smoked turkey from Carterque for a party. It was smoked right before I needed it, fresh, not some processed, chemical preserved thing. It was tender, JUICY, flavorful and everyone who was at the party ate it in reverent silence broken by little mmmmm's of delight. I can't wait to throw another party so I have an excuse to get another whole turkey! Now we all know how a turkey can get dry real easy, so if you can make me a turkey that just melts in the mouth like this...OK 5 stars! 5 stars! The restaurant is clean, comfortable, family friendly and has a surprisingly wide menu. There is a bar, which is a nice plus. You can order carry out, too. The sides are good, better than average, but no real stand-outs. When I am eating BBQ, I am not too concerned with sides, to be honest. The sauces are all very tasty, and I would describe them as modern sauces, rather than a traditional KC style, or Carolina style...Intriguing and tasty, but not tied to any region. Since BBQ is such a big part of my own KC history, I am delighted to have a serious purveyor of righteous BBQ in my own neighborhood.
(5)Ser N.
Just got back from a VERY DISAPPOINTING lunch: knew to avoid the dried hush puppies from the last visit, as well as the nachos were were dry and burnt. This time we got the fried pickles which are like the kinds you can find in the frozen food aisle of your local grocery story. Ordered an Arnold Palmer, which tasted like it was made with the iced tea and lemonade powders you buy from a can. Then got a bowl of their "award winning chili" and it was horrible: watery and way too much cinnamon. When I told the waitress about how bad it tasted, she shrugged her shoulders as she took it away. No management ever bothered coming over to see what was wrong. Ended up eating a potato with broccoli and cheese which was about as good was what you can get at Wendy's. My partner had their brisket sandwich which was a case study in dry: meat was dry and tasteless, bun was dry. Just a very sub-standard experience, and I'll gladly take my money anywhere but here.
(1)Misty S.
Delicious bbq! Had a great dinner with the fam, very affordable, & the black raspberry bbq sauce is fantastic. As my hubby said, best bbq he's ever had, & he is no stranger to bbq, so high praise! We took a bottle home. No cupcakes though, despite previous reviews. That was a bit disappointing b/c I was looking forward to them, but oh well. Food was really good! Highly recommended.
(5)Beavis B.
This is a top notch kind of bbq place. It's more than bbq, though, if you read previous reviews. It's a higher level kind of bbq food, for which I gave it a good star rating. I visited on 2/25/12 and began by sharing fried pickles for an appetizer, which was really tasty and had great seasoning in the batter. I also shared the pulled pork sandwich and my co-reviewer and I agree it's delicious. Very tender pork, very soft bun, and very good raspberry bbq sauce. The pulled pork was the standout. Also shared was a half rack of ribs, which I'd say was good--not out of this world--and a 6-piece chicken wing appetizer. The wings are smoked, not fried, but we expected more seasoning on the wings themselves, other than bathing them in sauce. They were just so-so. We got the cornbread side with baked beans and mac 'n cheese. Cornbread was outstanding in my opinion because was soft and slightly sweet. Baked beans are sweet, too, and very appealing to my taste because of that. Mac 'n cheese was creamy--and good--and pretty simple. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and plan to go back for other samplings of the menu. Carterque is a keeper.
(5)Janet G.
So I have a hell of a lot of nerve reviewing a barbeque joint since I have not eaten meat in 16 years. But here goes. I went a few weeks back to connect with some relatives we haven't seen in a while and we really had a nice time. It's in the historic part of Mount Airy near some neat little shops, so a nice place to go for a relaxing afternoon. I did have catfish for the first time, and had some really good potato salad and hush puppies. The rest of the fam went traditional and had the ribs and chicken, and all raved about the food. The owner has won lots of awards for his sauces, and they were pretty tasty. Now for the big highlight for me, for what I lack in a taste for flesh, I make up for with a voracious appetite for sugar. The brownies and cupcakes were soooooo good. We took a box home - one of each cupcake since we just couldn't make up our minds, and the apple-filled cupcake was my favorite, followed by the chocolate cream cheese cupcake. The buttercream icing made my blood thick for days, but it was worth it. So get out of DC for a few hours. Go eat barbecue. And leave room for a cupcake.
(5)Bob B.
In four tries, i've had one barely decent meal. The BBQ is VERY dry, the brisket is too chunky and also VERY dry. The sauces are good. There's nothing to recommend the food here, though...even Famous Dave's is better.
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