Erica F.

It was lunch time, and I was really craving some BBQ. Not far down the road I saw Pompous Pig. Sure, I'll try it! Walked in, told the girl behind the desk it was my first time and asked what she recommended. I got just a pulled pork sandwich with the sweet sauce and fries on the side. I wasn't a fan of the fries, they were soggy and didn't have much seasoning. The pulled pork on the other hand was very good, but I didn't care for the bun, so I just was dipping the pork in the (decent) sauce. The price was a little too much for just a sandwich and some fries.

brad h.

Good BBQ... I always say that BBQ preference is a personal thing. Given that, there are a few objective things that I can say. The pulled pork was lean meat, well cooked, not very smokey, not very spicy. I that appeals to you, then you are in for a treat. I prefer more smoke and more rub on the pork. It was not as juicy as I like - a bit dry - but not bad. It absorbed the sauce well... No serious complaints from me. Sauces - they have four - that is a plus... The regular is great in my opinion - red sauce good flavor - not hot. (My favorite) There is a sweet sauce with lots of hickory smoke flavor - also good. The NC vinegar base sauce was not as flavorful as I prefer, but again this is a very subjective thing, nothing wrong here. The mustard based SC style sauce was rather plain. If you like to taste the mustard, you are in for a pleasurable experience. If you like it spicy, well... The pork covered in the regular sauce was a treat for me... I tried their beans - spicy - not too much, but some bite. I like that. I also had their potato salad, which was mustard based and good. They serve some great cornbread. Excellent.... I will stop in sometime and try their brisket. Maybe that will push them over to the 5 star ranking. They are close...

Tracy G.

So delicious! Really fun environment and very homey. The sauce is delicious and the broccoli salad is a really refreshing and crisp side.

Polina T.

I had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of mac and cheese, with the South Carolina mustard sauce and the dish came with some coleslaw. That was about $10. A bit more than I'd like to have spent on it, but it was my first time having BBQ in South Carolina. The meat was smoked and while it wasn't as moist as other meat I've had before, it was firm and flavorful and not dry. The bun was a toasted hamburger bun which went perfectly with the sandwich. The mac and cheese was ok. I prefer creamy mac and cheese, but this type was clumpy, where the cheese seperated from from the mac. I ate it all, but it just wasn't the type I prefer. I did enjoy the coleslaw, which had some sweetness to it that I couldn't quite figure out. I was glad I went with the mustard sauce. There's a bit of a kick and it's more mustard than BBQ but it was just what I enjoy. Overall it was a good meal experience and I can now tell people I've had BBQ in SC.

Molly T.

Terrific BBQ, super friendly folks and a very clean, nice place. The pulled pork was perfectly smoky and unbelievably tender; the fried okra was lightly breaded and deliciously crispy, not too greasy; and there are SEVEN super tasty sauces running the gamut from Carolina vinegar and mustard sauces to sweet and hot red sauces to Alabama white. The owner gave us samples of their Brunswick stew, chili and Carolina hash as we were ordering--we went with the hash, served with rice, cheese and sour cream--and it was fantastic. He also upgraded us to the pretzel bun which was surprisingly awesome. And the sweet tea is on point as well. Great experience overall. Really glad we made the detour off the highway for this one! Hope to come back by on our way back to Georgia.

Chris S.

I live in California and travel to Clemson once or twice a year for football/basketball games. We normally drive from Atlanta and through Anderson, and after several years I finally stumbled upon The Pompous Pig the day before going to Clemson-Georgia Tech. The restaurant is off the beaten path (speaking of the interstate) and I'm guessing because it's not a chain doesn't have money to promote as heavily as some Southern competitors so it is often overlooked. But, don't let that spook you. The Pompous Pig can rival most of the great Southern BBQ chains- and I've been to them all. This place isn't fancy, but when looking for a quick, inexpensive BBQ lunch or dinner you won't be disappointed. We order far more than we could handle, but choose to do so simply to compare it to what we had eaten in previous days (sorry Rib Country, you don't compare). I chose the pork and brisket with cornbread, sweet potato casserole and stewed okra and tomatoes. No, I wasn't able to finish it, but all of it was incredible. There was zero fat on the brisket and it was so tender it literally melted in your mouth. My buddy had the ribs and chicken and to this day swears it's the best he's ever had (and before you tell me I don't know what I'm talking about, I've been to every BBQ spot on the Travel Channel top 10). The service here is good and they staff goes out of their way to make sure you are satisfied. I bought 30 bottles of BBQ sauce and had them shipped back to CA and will return here next time I put on my orange and watch Clemson. What a great spot, that's somewhat tucked away off the beaten path.

Ken F.

Very good high quality basic BBQ. Pulled pork plate had very little fat and good smoky flavor. Broccoli apple and sweet potato casserole sides were very good too. the corn bread was outstanding which is no small feat. Go the extra mile off 85 and check this joint out.

AnonChefX X.

Had a hankering for some good ol southern BBQ today. I had a choice of two spots that had been recommended. Decided to check out PP for a quick lunch. Ordered two sandwich baskets and two beverages. Our bill was $23.67. Little higher than some of the local joints I've seen but not out of line. PULLED PORK SANDWICH-3.5 stars. First thing I look for always when I peel back the bun on a pork sandwich is how "clean" the meat is. No excess fat or other internal linings of the muscle that can gag anyone. They did a pretty good job. Only found one gelatinous blob of smoky jello. I tried the meat at first "naked" to see if It had any flavor. Decently smoky profile but rather bland. Decent size portion and was very tender until the last bite. Served on a high sugar white bun. Really did a disservice to the star of the meal. COLE SLAW-3 stars- thicker shred cabbage slaw, which was decent. The slaw dressing was really thin. I suspect they use a lower quality mayonnaise of their sugar/vinegar to mayo ratio may be a little untypical. Rather bland for a southern slaw. No celery seed profile. Dash of salt and pepper would've enhanced. In fact the overwhelming profile was of sweet relish which I personally loathe. CHOPPED BEEF BRISKET SANDWICH-3.5 stars-once again fairly "clean" for the protein. Did a good job of pre-smoking prep and trimming the main fat cap off. First glance when we went topless was the little bits of smoky bark. First bite was pretty good. Smoky flavor but lacks the enhancement of salt and pepper. When the bite hits the back of the palette there was almost a hint of synthetic smoke flavor. I don't think they use a synthetic flavoring post chop but I could be wrong. Really tender beef. Once again, the lackluster bun is just a travesty for protein that you've spent decades engineering and hours cooking. **SAUCES** POMPOUS PIG ORIGINAL RED SAUCE-3 stars. Really really sweet. Either used corn syrup or cola. MUSTARD BBQ SAUCE-3 stars-sweet and more like a honey mustard sauce. Much different that a mid carolina mustard sauce. MILD BBQ SAUCE-3 stars-really couldn't distinguish between this and the other sauce. HOT BBQ SAUCE-3 stars-well it taste like the other three. HOSPITALITY-4 stars- best part of this place is the hired help. Very friendly to all and welcoming. Were constantly busy ensuring the place ran efficiently. CLEANLINESS-4 stars-to be several years old now, the place was decently clean. I took off one start for the touch up painting which took away from the clean look and several burned out bulbs.

Wesley M.

Sorry.......but simply ordinary. I've had better, but I've had worse. Simply middle of the road.

Jamie J.

The ribs are the best I have ever had. We stopped here randomly on a road trip and were amazed how delicious the ribs were. They looked like there was sauce on these ribs they were that juicy.

Bart S.

Worth a detour of I-85. Great place. Order at counter. Decor nothing worth noting. Food is great. Brisket rueben, baked beans, etc.

Thomas G.

It was good bbq but did not care for the baked beans. Slaw was good; broccoli salad was great!

Jeff D.

Born and raised in eastern NC so im particular about my Q. I got tge pulled pork plate with baked beans and sweet potato crunch. All of it was fantastic! Glad to see apple cider vinegar sauce on the table. Great food, great tea and great service!

Robin A.

Yelp Reviewers did not let us down on this one! Husband and I stopped here on the way to Charlotte. We both ordered the pulled pork sandwich, and since we were extra hungry, we ordered an extra side. (It comes with one side.) We both agreed the pulled pork was delicious - moist and smoky and great pork flavor! And oh my gosh, the portion size was HUGE! We really didn't need an extra side. For sides, I ordered sweet potato fries, which were your average sweet potato fries - yummy, but nothing unique. I also had the broccoli salad and my husband ordered the slaw. Both had tasty twists on traditional flavors. The broccoli salad had raisins, little pieces of apple, and almonds in a "dressing" that was not overly sweet. The slaw was also on the sweet side (as opposed to vinegar-y), but it had some kind of spice added that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Maybe cinnamon? I have never had slaw with that flavor before, and I thought it was good if just for the "curiosity" factor. Husband liked it, too. Sweet tea was perfect. As other reviewers have mentioned, they have four different sauces to try, and that was a lot of fun. You have plenty of meat that will fall from your sandwich to sample each one! About 5 miles off the interstate, this place is worth the little extra effort to get to!

Heather C.

This place is just meh. The prices are high for what you get, and the meat isn't anything incredibly special. The sauces are very basic.

Lloyd W.

Wow. Did I go to the right place? Maybe I missed something or should have taken in the Pompous Pig with someone who might have balanced my perspective on a place that has generated so many 4+ Star ratings. To me the combination of lousy parking, irritating doorbell and relatively dry meat combined to make my experience pretty average. The staff was perky and friendly and the food arrived quickly. But even the arm full of sauces couldn't save the experience for me. I'll try it on a future trip to Clemson but will be happy to try other locally owned and operated options before heading back to TPP.

Christian L.

Since I moved here I have been told to check this place out. I finally did and was a little put off my the prices. But ok everyone said it was good stuff. Get our Bbq Togo head home and my husband gets a big olé bite.....of hair.

Mark B.

Chet and all the folks make eatin' bbq the way it should be. Super meat (brisket is off the chain). Great service and lots of extras you just don't get anymore. My 10 yr old daughter would never try pork - she ate half of mine here with the hickory sauce. Our new must have bbq. We will drive all the way from Greenville.

Janice P.

We stop by this place every time we are in town, it is that good! We have been numerous times and it never disappoints. The BBQ chicken nachos are my favorite! There is queso at the bottom! The sweet tea is delicious. The staff is always very friendly and the place is super clean for the amount of traffic that goes. You might want to arrive early if you are hoping to try the ribs, they sell out fast!

Brooke T.

Definitely NOT the best BBQ in or around Anderson. There pulled chicken is so dry it was disgusting. There options for sides were minimal. The best thing was the Mac n cheese.

Dan W.

We found this place on Yelp on our way between Hickory and Fayetteville. They had some amazing beef brisket and the BEST ribs I've had ever. In terms of looks, it was nothing much. The location is in a shopping center, and looks almost nothing like a BBQ joint from the outside. They have an outside eating area in the back, which is where we sat, and there's seating indoors, as well. They brought out a carrier with several types of sauces and we kind of went back and forth deciding which we liked best. They were all very good. I think a vinegar based and a couple of tomato based, one spicier than the other. The staff was extremely friendly. Like "Are we getting out of here alive?" friendly. 3 or 4 different staffers came over to the table to see if we were enjoying our BBQ, and we sure as hell were. We got some BBQ from several places on our trip south, and this was the best all around. We both agreed that the pig has a lot to be pompous about, indeed! On our list for next time through. I'd be sure to get the brisket and ribs again, and maybe more to go!

Daniel P.

Get the Brisket and the Ribs. Brisket is moist and smoked well full of flavor. The ribs are not overdone and nicely tender. The rub goes well with any of the sauces but I prefer the sweet tomato based sauce. The pulled pork is not dry nor oily and is just right. Not a whole lot of flavor but nicely smoked. Add any of their sauces for extra goodness. Mac n cheese is coagulated and right needs a bit of spice but otherwise good. The slaw is good but again needs a bit of spice or kick like onions or relish.

Crissy C.

Amazing food and great outdoor atmosphere, super friendly service. Best fried okra I've ever had outside of my grandmothers kitchen. Tastes like it literally came straight from the garden to plate. Everything about this place makes me happy. Even the retro music.

Daniel T.

BEST FALL OF THE BONE RIBS EVER. like seriously I'm a bbq and rib fiend. This by far is the best I've had, and I've had texas, midwest bbq and such. perfectly rubbed with seasonings. the mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were pretty delicious as well. service was quick and friendly. If I ever stop by South Carolina, this is the first stop I'm going to stop by...

Charlie S.

One of the best Barbque joints in the upstate. Briskett is awesome, pulled pork is off the chain. 4 * only because it is in a strip mall. If this was a standalone restaurant it would be 5 no doubt.

Kel T.

All of the reviews are correct - this is likely the best BBQ in SC! I ordered the pulled pork plate with broccoli raisin salad, fried okra and yellow cornbread, which also comes with a sweet little sample of slaw. The pulled pork literally melted in my mouth, and the cornbread was so moist and sweet. Everything else was equally delicious. I just savored that meal and barely touched my tea! My hub tried the brisket with collards, baked beans and Texas toast. The brisket was so tender he didn't need a knife to cut it, and the baked beans were sweet and savory made with with bits of onion and pepper. I won't touch collards, but hub said they were "just like home". And even though you walk in and order at the counter, they do bring your plates out and also come by regularly to see if you need anything else. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Their prices are higher (probably 30%) than Henry's in Greenville, but it's worth it to try the very best.

Dan H.

Great BBQ in a real Texas style restaurant. Their sauces are very good, but I barely used them on the Brisket Melt sandwich I ordered, it was just so good by itself! And just like the places in Texas, plenty of cold beer by the bottle. Damn good.

Herb A.

Best BBQ in NC/SC. Garden and Gun magazine was right. Fresh sides a MNF awesome BBQ. We had the Brisket Rueben, baked beans and green beans. Clean restaurant, excellent service. Owner Chet came over twice to ask how we the food was and if needed anything. This will be my regular stop when visiting son at Clemson

Ray V.

Very good BBq and the staff and owner attentive. I'd skip the Mac and cheese however.

Garrett M.

I found The Pompous Pig on Yelp after playing a round of golf with friends in the area. I fed the group with ribs, chicken, and sides and everyone LOVED the quality of the dry rub BBQ. Will make sure to stop by whenever I am in Anderson. Also, great service makes it a must visit.

Steven L.

The Pompous Pig is bursting with quality menu items and character. The fantastic customer service is just what every customer wants. (fast, friendly, great food). Location: This fine restaurant is located conveniently off Interstate 85 only about 20 miles into South Carolina coming from Georgia. You then drive about a couple miles and its on the left hidden from direct view from road. There's a big yellow sign that informs people that a BBQ restaurant is in this area. Pull in and drive to the back and it's located on the left. Advertising: I saw a billboard sign advertising this restaurant out on the Interstate about 2 hours North East of Atlanta. So I looked it up on Yelp and book marked it because I wanted to try a new Bar B Q and what better than a BBQ from South Carolina. menu items ordered: Bar B Q pork sandwich on a hamburger bun, slaw on the side, French fries, and a coke. This bar b q was great as I wished there was one close by where I live. There was just the right amount of pulled pork. The Unique Pompous BBQ sauces: Now it is the simple truth: this restaurant has up 6 or 7 sauces to choose from depending on what table you decide to sit at. The sauces to choose from are; sweet, regular, mustard and vinegar. These were the only sauces available at my table. However, I saw later that they have hot BBQ, Hot vinegar, and Alabama White. I tasted 3 of these sauces all of which were great. I really personally liked the sweet BBQ. Next best was the regular. The vinegar was ok but I had to "top it off" with sweet sauce. Final thoughts and happenings: Well they have reasonable prices on all their food no matter what you get. The chef or owner actually came out and talked to me. He knew I was a tourists and recommended some places for me to see. While I did not get around to seeing his recommends, it is the thought that counts. Menu standouts; from looking at the pictures, the sausage plate that comes with turnip greens looked mouthwatering. If I had to come here a second time, I would definitely get that. See the pictures someone named Lama C. took of it. Looks super delicious. In summary, I truly believe they need to franchise this restaurant. The owners take it for granted at what a great business they have here. I saw some other reviews with pictures of different menu items that looked appealing. Not to mention what other guests were ordering and enjoying.

Dave M.

Good but not like I thought it would be. I bought a take-out dinner and it was OK but it didn't want to make me return again. I might go back to see if dine-in is any better.

Chuck N.

I get the half-chicken plate from here and the chicken is usually fairly moist, but can be a little on the dry side. It is consistently good tasting though. There is a decent list of sides to choose from, including potato salad, which is not on the menu but is a good choice. Between Texas toast and cornbread, I opt for cornbread which is consistently moist and tasty -- better than a limp piece of over-sized bread. The tea is good, and the drinks are self serve, which I like. The service is top-notch -- the staff are all friendly and eager to see that you get what you need. They are open til 3pm on Sunday and closed on Monday.

Eddie S.

Some of the best ribs brisket and chicken I have ever eaten. It looked kinda small when we found it and wasn't really sure if we should go in. I am glad we did. It is slap yo mama good. A little pricey at $21 a plate for the combos but there's no way you can eat it all. Great food great place great folks It's a can't miss

Scott P.

Pretty good BBQ. Certainly not the best and definitely better options in the area. This is probably just slightly above a 3 star for me, but I feel as the reviews have been raving for this place as a critical reviewer of BBQ and having had BBQ all over the US, I just believe it to be a bit overrated on a whole in comparison. 4 of us did this place up family style, diging into the ribs, pulled chicken, brisket, Brunswick stew. The ribs were ok, they had a little bit of bark which I like but they are dry rub cooked and BOY the rub is put on thick! It's possible we got a particularly odd rib - it's cooked decently, smoke flavor, but the intense rub flavors lost the rib on my taste bud. 3.5 stars on the rib. Here's one other thing I don't get, is they ask you if you want the dry rub or sauced rib - they are both dry rubbed, the sauced rib they just put sauce on top before giving it to you. Hello, I have two arms and they put the sauce on the table.... Just so you know, and I verified with the pitmaster, the ribs are both prepared the same when you are asked this, the lazy person asks for it sauced :D. The Brisket was good, I think the best thing here that I had, and it was a 4 star for me. Nothing else really stood out - the bruswick stew is bland, although chunky just not appealing to me, 2.5 stars, Pulled chicken was decent but again lacked flavor, I think the chicken lost all its seasoning to the ribs - just seemed to lack any seasoning whatsoever, it gets a 3 star. French fries came out perfect and very tasty. The Banana Pudding was a highlight for me as I felt it was fresh, and chock full of goodies, I would land this on a 4. Décor was nice, it's in a strip mall, the interior was open and airy and there is a small outdoor patio - with a view of the parking lot. If I was back in Anderson, I might give this place another shot as my BBQ ratings are important to me - but it might be awhile as Anderson has a few spots to offer in this category and this place was a little lost on me. If you are looking to stop and grab some BBQ for lunch then by all means no harm no foul, but this is not "destination BBQ".

Susan T.

I've visited the Pig twice. Loved the Pig twice. ...even though I had the Beef Brisket both times, because it was just that good. I did, however, change up the sides: Sweet Potato Casserole with great texture and pieces of pecans. Broccoli Salad not too wet, not too dry with bits af apple throughout. Fried Okra... need I say more? Corn bread that is light and fluffy and made with kernels of corn. Okra and Tomatoes - perhaps a new favorite! and a significant collection of sauces to mix and match-- Perfect Sweet Tea, happy staff, clean establishment. If I'm in the area again, I promise to try the Pig - but the cow will be hard to beat!

Ray R.

Service was awesome, ordered the Ribs they looked really good, but they were awful fatty. The BBQ sauce wasn't bad. The broccoli salad was awesome. May come back to try something else but I won't be getting the ribs.

Robin C.

Just ok for me. Nothing special about the BBQ, the sides were good though. Not bad if you don't want to drive out to the smokin pig.

Brenda Wedding Officiant O.

My husband and I have been eating at Pompus Pig since it first opened. We love the food and the ambience. The food has always been fresh & tasty. Great food & fast, friendly service. Highly recommend! Brenda http:// WeddingWoman.net

Iama C.

Iama Critic Rating - The Pompous Pig - 5 Stars 3320 North Main Street, Anderson, SC Overall: It is appropriate that Chef Iama Critic would review such an incredible and iconic BBQ restaurant for his 100th review! The Pompous Pig has every right to be a tad arrogant as they make some of the best BBQ in the country, and likewise Chef Iama Critic is one of the best reviewers ever to eat BBQ! lol $13.39 Brisket Plate - 5 Stars This brisket was ordered with sweet potato fries, sweet potato casserole, and comes a bread choice, which was corn bread. The Pompous Pig's brisket is easily in the top three briskets we have ever tasted. Apparently Anderson County SC. is the brisket capital of the country as one of the other best briskets is only miles away! The fries are very good but could use a little sea salt. Eat them while they are hot as fries don't store well. The casserole was a four star cup. I am no lover of corn bread but that doesn't keep me from knowing that this corn bread is top notch. $7.79 Sausage Plate - 5 Stars This sausage plate was ordered with collard greens and apple raisin broccoli, and comes a bread choice, which was Texas toast. The beef sausage was excellent, but the Tejano sausage was perhaps the best item I tasted at The Pompous Pig. I can't express how much I dislike collard greens, but then I tasted these. Surprisingly sweet, too sweet to be collards, yet with a meaty and smoky essence! And the broccoli is exotic, much like I used to make up in Chicago. If you love great sausage you know how hard it is to smoke it and it not shrink into a ugly shriveled weany, so kudos to The Pompous Pig for these plump beauties. $10.54 Half a Chicken - 4 Stars This half chicken plate was ordered with baked mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese, and comes a bread choice, which was a toasted yeast roll. Why doesn't everyone toast their yeast rolls? I hate yeast rolls, but for some reason toasting them with a little butter makes them magnificent! The macaroni and cheese is some of the best for its type. The baked mashed potatoes fell flat compared to the wonderful flavors of everything else. These mashed taters needs some other spices or ingredients. The chicken however was perfectly cooked and smoky pink! As it ought to be! But I thought the chicken a bit too small or overpriced when compared to the competition. $8.74 Pulled Pork Plate - 5 Stars The Pompous Pig's pulled pork plate came with the same choices of two side items and a bread choice. I used this exquisite, smoky pulled pork to make a sandwich using a portion of my toasted yeast roll. I made a little topless sandwich and it was utterly delightful. The Pompous Pig does pork right! $3.59 Brunswick Stew - 4 Stars I found this stew to be wonderful but missing a bit of flavor. Maybe a bit more spices. I added some pepper which helped. And then I added on of The Pompous Pig's BBQ sauces, which did the trick. The price is a bit steep for a cup this small. The Sauces: The Pompous Pig's BBQ sauces run the gamut from Sweet, to Hot, to Vinegar. They are all good, however a few really stood out. The Hot Vinegar was fabulous, the regular Hot was extremely tomatoey, like you get from using tomato paste in stead of tomatoes, which gives you a sweeter flavor in your hot sauce, and the White Alabama sauce was unique. Final Thoughts: Most of The Pompous Pig's prices are reasonable, especially considering their quality level. The portions are correctly sized and their sauces are exceptional. One of the top three BBQ places Chef Iama Critic and 5 Star Restaurant Reviews has ever reviewed. So congratulations to both of us, to me for reaching 100 reviews, and to The Pompous Pig for providing me with a meal worthy of the distinction!

Brad W.

Misty S.

William C.

Matt S.

Jessica D.

Mark M.

Gary F.

Kimberly C.

Carrie B.

Jon G.

John Z.

RB H.

Thom P.

Kev G.

Wesley B.

Randy C.

Josh T.

Nic S.

Nick W.

Jim S.

Jim B.