Went to ABBQ for the first time last night and we were super impressed. The outdoor seating area is fantastic! Large/open area with lots of room to hang out and enjoy some fantastic BBQ. The food was excellent and the portions were just right. We will definitely be back! read more

My husband loves BBQ and has been wanting to try ABBQ for a while. We've been to Woodpeckers, Mojo, Bearded Pig, Bono's, Sonny's, among other places I can't think of and I have just never really been a fan of BBQ but ABBQ was soooooo good!!!! The Mac and Cheese was some of the best I've ever had! The burnt ends (I don't think they're on the menu, but are served as an app) were so tasty and tender and flavorful! My husband got the 1513 sandwich; it was huge and full of amazing flavor! Nothing was dry and bland! We sat at the bar and got great service and drinks! (Really enjoyed the Greener Pastures!) I wish I took pictures of the actual restaurant, but it's a really cool space too! The bar is in the center with half of it inside and half of it outside. The outside seating has artificial turf and is rather large with picnic tables and games like corn hole. ABBQ is a 40 minute drive for us, but we will 100% be back! read more

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Im all about the sides and the sauces! We took a trip to Atlantic Beach to check out ABBQ. Parking can be tricky so be sure to leave time to find a spot since the main lot is valet. We started the meal splitting the Frito Pie! It was a great mix of flavors and textures. The beans, lime crema and the pico on top of the fritos was to die for. I heard great things about the pimento cheese so that will be our next visit. We then ordered the 1513 since it had a good representation of the meat selection, sliced brisket, pulled pork and sausage. This way we got to try a little of everything and since the sandwich was so big we ended up eating it opened-faced. The brisket was my favorite especially using the sweet and tangy sauce. The mac n cheese was ok nothing too special but we thoroughly enjoyed the seasoned fries and potato casserole. The fries dipped in the white BBQ sauce was my favorite combo, even better then the dipping sauce served with the fries. I loved using all the sauces but my favorites were the charred tomato bbq (sweet and spicy) and the white. And we will be back for round 2. read more

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A Texas BBQ place at the beach? I knew I had to see what this place was all about. Walking in, it looked legit. Folks were eating on paper-lined trays, the place was buzzing, and they had frito pie on the menu. What more needs to be said? I recalled my recent bbq tour through Lockhart and Driftwood, Texas where we ate our share of moist brisket, huge beef ribs, tender pork ribs, housemade sausages, and juicy pulled pork. Prices ranged between $13-14 for pork ribs to $16-$17 for brisket, and $13 for pulled pork per pound. So when I saw the prices at ABBQ, I knew that it was all overpriced. It was early on a Tuesday evening and we were waiting in line along with at least 10 other people while the party in front of us ordered and four employees stood idly behind the counter. Something seemed wrong with this picture. Efficiency was clearly not ABBQ's strong suit but I was hoping that the meat was. I ordered a 1/4 pound of mixed brisket and I was served .41 pound for $9.43, a sausage ($6), and a greek country salad ($10) with smoked turkey breast (+$3) = $30.39 with tax. And then I waited...and waited. The cashier couldn't ring me up until her coworker sliced and weighed my meat. This was quite slow. Once I got the brisket and sausage, I was given a number for my table and told that my salad and turkey would be delivered to me. 20 minutes later, I was still waiting on my salad. I finally asked a server who went to check on it for me and 5 minutes later, it arrived...with no turkey. Operational challenges aside, the meat had good flavor and the brisket had a nice smoke ring but it was all cold and the brisket - even the fatty portion - was dry. The sausage, however, was really good and moist. Their bbq sauces were served at a little sauce bar and they were very disappointing. Two of them were vinegar based and very thin, one was mustard, and the one that we ended up using seemed to be a combination of the mustard and one of the vinegar based sauces. They need a good, thick tomato-based sauce. Oh ABBQ, I was so looking forward to this place but it was an underwhelming experience. The service was poor and very slow, the meat wasn't weighed correctly, the meat was just ok, and the sauces were lacking in flavor and variety. Hopefully things will improve with time. read more

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We came on Sunday for dinner and food was terrible. Meat was dry and unflavored. Sausage links were gritty and not good. Resembled the consistency of cat food. Sides were cold and seem like they have been sitting out long. Food came within 5 mins of ordering which tells me it was just sitting in kitchen. Not happy at all. Server was so sweet though which was the only plus. I reached out to restaurant after leaving and absolutely no reply even though they received the message. People work too hard for their money for this service and quality of food. read more

First time coming in. Food was on par for BBQ spot here locally. Matt, our server, was excellence. I would recommend. read more

ABBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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I have wanted to try this place for a very long time and finally the opportunities happened. It was busy with large groups of people. Parking isn't that great but doable. We did get seating right away. We had a young man that was right on his game. Very cordial and knowledgeable. We got our drinks fairly quickly. The menu is fairly extensive and has many options. The bar is full stocked with alcohol, beer and wine. They do have specialty drinks. It gets fairly loud as the crowds are chit chatting so don't come for an intimate dinner. There are outdoor decks for seating as well. Due to the crowds we had to wait on our food longer than I wished. It was just me and my husband and glad we were not in a hurry. I give the waiter credit though because he did finally come say something to us about the delay before I was about to ask. When we got our food, the pulled pork was well seasoned and the smoke flavor was really good, and meat was tender. The portion for the price seemed somewhat steep. I opted for green beans that were good. My husband had macaroni and cheese. He also got the potato casserole. He said both were good. He ordered dessert and once again we are waiting and probably would not have ordered it had we known it was going to take so long. He ordered banana pudding so it seemed like it would be already prepared. Finally, he got it and said it was real good. Overall we enjoyed it, but wished the wait at times wouldn't be so long. read more

ABBQ - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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ABBQ is one of our favorite BBQ places here in Jacksonville. It's a large place with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. There is a large bar with wrap around seating as well. We weren't mega hungry do we had some Happy Hour drinks (well drinks $4), Crystal got a loaded baked potato appetizer (free with a Yelp check-in!!!) for her meal. I got the turkey plate with green beans and mac & cheese. The turkey was juicy and very tasty, this can be my new go to. The green beans with slivered almonds were hot and crispy, very good! The mac & cheese was good but nothing special. Crystal's baked potato was also very good. She added pulled pork to it, extra tasty. Everything here is good, we've had all of the meat options. Like I said, the turkey is my new favorite. read more

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Please let me preface this review of ABBQ by saying that after many years of working in the restaurant industry, I don't take reviews like this lightly, and I would never be posting this had I not given the restaurant owner(s) a chance to make things right. My husband and I got married on May 28th of this year and decided on ABBQ for catering services. In February, we had a call with either a manager or owner, discussed buffet-style food options/pricing, and decided on a menu. We chose to have pork, brisket, and turkey (we have multiple friends/family who do not eat red meat), and a couple of sides. Fast forward to April and we decided to have a date night out together, choosing ABBQ as our dinner spot. We had an amazing server (sorry - I can't remember her name), but when we asked to speak to a manager about submitting our payment for the wedding catering, she sent a manager of ABBQ to our table. He told us that if we paid him that night in April, his entire inventory would be inaccurate until the end of May. Now, if you've ever worked anywhere in your life (especially for a small business), you know how inventory works - and you also know to take a customer's money if they are giving it to you. There are ways to make a record of pre-paid items while keeping your inventory accurate. Despite not being given a single "thank you for choosing us for your wedding" or "congratulations," we went along with it and agreed to pay closer to the wedding date. Now May 28th, the day of our wedding. ABBQ showed up without the turkey we ordered or any of the silverware they promised to bring (for reference, the house we got married at was a ~45-minute drive one-way from ABBQ). They promised to drive back and bring us the missing items, and they arrived 1.5 hours after our reception was supposed to begin. To make up for a mistake like this should be simple. An apology from the owner or manager, possibly paired with a "thank you" or "congrats," honestly would have made all of the difference. Instead, we were given 13 coupons for a complimentary cocktail or appetizer (hardly an apology). Last weekend, we decided to give them one more chance and take our coupons with us. We had another great server, and she let the managing partner who we had spoken to before know that we were there and wanted to use some of the coupons. He knew we were there - he even delivered a round of drinks to us - and did not say one word or mention the mistakes that were made. I understand that mistakes happen sometimes, but ABBQ did not make any effort to make up for what they did, nor did they ever thank us for our business. I used to recommend this place to everyone, but unfortunately, I won't be doing that anymore. read more

ABBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

The servers were nice and the food was amazing! Great portions and a great environment, with corn hope and football. They have tours of their very own smokehouse read more

My husband and I came for lunch on a Saturday. There happened to be a live band so we sat on the patio. We both really enjoyed the atmosphere and plan to bring friends and family back. The food was very good and there were a variety of bbq sauces to choose from. I had the 1513 sandwich which was a little bit of everything and a side of Brussels sprouts. My husband had the 2 meat combo with brisket and smoked Turkey with Cole slaw and sweet potato fries. Would highly recommend both! Service was exceptional! read more

ABBQ - The 1513 Sandwich and side of Brussels sprouts - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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Perfect relaxed BBQ venue - great indoor and outdoor seating. ABBQ offers many menu choices accommodating varying tastes and appetites. Have always had wonderful accommodating service! read more

This bbq was slightly better than average. The service was below average. Inside was loud as they permitted a group to stand by our table and drink. read more

I reached out to the General Manager, Dylan Lynch, in February to plan our end of year teacher luncheon for May 30th for 45 people. He replied that would work out great because no other large parties were booked for that day yet. I was in contact with the GM to plan this luncheon from 2/4/2025-5/30/25. He assured me with every email that we were all set. When we arrived on the 30th, we were seated outside in 93° heat. This plan was not presented to me in any communication prior to us being there. Even with contacting and planning so far in advance, the food was not set up until 20 minutes after the event was supposed to start. Only one server was assigned to take care of our large group. After everyone had eaten, the rolls were brought out which were included in the original order. We have held our school luncheon at ABBQ in the past and have never been seated outside nor experienced problems with the food being ready. The GM was not helpful at all and borderline rude. I won't plan any event with ABBQ in the future. The whole event was very disappointing. read more

Brisket was amazing! Service was great. The proprietor invited us to take a Look at the smokers! Loved the chicken winds and the pulled pork Mac and cheese balls! All yeh sides were delicious, too! read more

ABBQ - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

1,000% coming back! The staff were awesome! So easy-going and helpful. The indoor & outdoor seating was available. Not to mention, the food was DELICIOUS!! The meat and sides were cooked perfectly! The sauces were so tasty too. You have to try it for yourself. My husband and I shared the 3 meat combo with 2 sides and we were stuffed. Please do yourself a favor and try this place! P.S. They also had cornhole. read more

ABBQ - Sausage, brisket, and pulled pork with the side of brussels sprouts and fries. (3 meat combo with 2 sides) - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

Cannot get the brisket here out of my head. So delicious! Ordered wet and couldn't have been better. Sides were great too, especially the collards. Will definitely be back. Not to be missed! read more

I couldn't be more excited to have this new BBQ place in Atlantic Beach! We stopped in on whim one Saturday afternoon and thankfully caught the tail end of their brunch special. The Tiger Lilly drink was champagne, elderflower, and grapefruit juice and SO DELICIOUS! I would choose that over a mimosa ANY day now! Also on their brunch special was the avocado toast with roasted tomatoes, toasted almonds, and a savory buttered toasted bread. Probably my new favorite avocado toast at the beaches! The pulled pork and bbq sandwiches also did not disappoint. Everything smelled and tasted delicious! We loved the atmosphere as well and plan on coming back for drinks one night and to hang out on the lawn. They have cornhole, live music, and an indoor/outdoor bar. Also with your check in during business hours you get a free appetizer! Great job ABBQ! read more

ABBQ - Tiger Lilly - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

Went here Saturday for the special. It was a one pound beef rib. The atmosphere is good and there is plenty of outdoor seating. Now for the meal. I will say the special was over priced for my budget, yet id buy it again because it was absolutely one of the best bbqs ive ever eaten. My wifes fish sandwich delicious. Overall i still give it 5 stars and will return. read more

ABBQ - Beef rib - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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This is a boutique barbecue and the prices reflect that. Wednesday afternoon acoustic guitar music on the patio. Just not for me. I'm a meat and potatoes kind of guy who likes his barbecue with baked beans...$2 up charge.... I did not enjoy the experience. The meat was done well. But that's about all that I can say they don't even offer garlic bread. The "brioche bun" was just a hamburger bun. Sliced pork not offered pulled pork is just a ice cream scoop in the middle of a hamburger bun. The other bread choice is toasted sourdough bread. Not for me read more

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Great place. Fun for families. Great happy hour. The outside is one of the best at the beach.

I have eaten here twice. I would say my first experience was better than the last. However, we ate the same thing. I had a bbq sandwich that had everything on it. The food itself was delicious on both occasions. As a Texan transplant, I can truly appreciate the Texas style barbecue (i.e. brisket and pickles and onions) and seeing frito pie on the menu. I am surprised for the location and decor, some days it can seem very empty. On the last occasion we went, the weather was bad. I believe we were getting a hurricane alerts. I had gotten off of work late and wanted to grab something quick with my family. I called when I was on the way and about 2 minutes from the restaurant. When we walked in and were seated, the server comes up and said they closing hour early and we needed to put in our orders quick before the kitchen closes. He said it was a last minute decision since they were slow. I said I would have appreciated if the hostess had said something so I could have made another decision. Server was not entirely nice about it. Felt super rushed and couldn't enjoy the experience like I normally would have. However, that one experience is not stopping me from going back again. I realize the weather is not something we can control. However I do think this particular situation could've been handled differently. Do plan to go back on a regular day. read more

ABBQ - 1/2 lb. CAB Prime Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

This was pretty good. Bit too expensive, but it was good barbecue. Good service and was pleasant inside.

I was planning on taking my food to-go, but realized there was a TON of space when I walked into the restaurant. I asked the staff if they minded us eating in, and they were more than happy to accommodate. They grabbed us some water and led us to a seat. The setup of the restaurant is awesome. It's a much larger space than it looks from the outside. And you can also sit outside with their cute outdoor space. The food is amazing. Best brisket I've ever had. It's perfectly salty and moist, even the lean brisket. We ended up getting an extra pound of brisket to go because we loved it so much. I also looooved the fries. My one criticism is that the macaroni in the mac and cheese is a little too cooked for my preference. It's SUPER creamy mac and cheese so that makes the texture too "soft". Another thing I really loved is the staff. Everyone was very kind and checked in on us. They even brought us a sample of one of the sides, just because! Overall an awesome experience and I know I'll be back soon. Thanks ABBQ! read more

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Everything was absolutely and completely delicious, we choose to sit outside and enjoyed it all. The only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5, our waitress did not spend any time (we came early and there was only 1 other group) with first timers who asked questions to explain the menu. We ended up spending 25% more because we did not have the exact language to order what we wanted. Probably will not go back. read more

Holy smokes. This place was AMAZING! I ended up here for lunch with a former co-worker who lives in the area. When he told me the place was "pretty good", I was expecting run of the mill, not too bad, just okay bbq. I was wrong! For lunch I had the two meat platter with brisket and pulled pork, and mac and cheese and the honey sriracha Brussel sprouts. WOW! EVERYTHING was great!!! The meat itself was so good, I didn't want to ruin it by putting any sauces on it. I might even admit that this place has overtaken my local BBQ spot (in Virginia) and the best BBQ place I have ever ate at. This is definitely a gem that I will have to stop at next time I am Jacksonville. read more

ABBQ - Brisket, pulled pork. - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

Love this place!! Came for my second time today and was so happy to see they were still open for to go orders. My fiancé and I were able to order from our car and ended up choosing the pulled pork sandwich and brisket sandwich. The orders came out quickly (love the efficiency!) and were still hot when we got home to eat. The meat is smoked to perfection and so tasty- while they provide multiple sauces to put on your sandwich, we barely used any as the meat is delicious by itself. Will be back when they are open for dine in service- looking forward to trying some craft cocktails in their I outdoor bar! read more

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I love their pimento cheese. Went in last week to pick some up. The first time was much better. Two people working and the only one I encountered gave me Covid! Have been sick since. read more

ABBQ Meat & Drink serves Texas style BBQ at Atlantic Beach. We made a visit for lunch on a Tuesday around noon and the restaurant was not very busy (only a couple tables filled). As such the atmosphere was quiet but still had a bar feel with the many sports monitors around. All of the menu is a la carte (Meats, Sandwiches, Entree's, Salads, Sides etc.) We ordered: CAB Prime Brisket (1/2 pound) $12 & Baked Cowboy Beans (Single Serving) $3.50 CAB Prime Brisket (1/2 pound) $12 & Potato Casserole (Single Serving) $3.50 Our order came out probably about 5 minutes from when placed. Pretty quick! The Brisket were decent thick cuts, moist, flavorful with a nice bark crust. The Potato Casserole was tasty rich and creamy. The Baked Cowboy Beans were not what I expected as standard BBQ Baked beans. (The beans were more like a tangy zesty chili). The sauce is available upon request. They have a House (Sweet BBQ) and Mustard. I leaned toward the House. ABBQ Meat & Drink is a nice BBQ option at the Beach. I probably would have given 5 stars if the sides were included with the price or some bread/cornbread came with the meat. Pros - 5 stars (Excellent BBQ) Service - 5 stars (Fast) Value - 3 (Everything is A la carte. For the Entree & sides prices, sides should be included in the Entree or bread/cornbread.) read more

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We enjoyed a nice dinner and a few drinks at the bar. I wanted to try this famous turkey I keep hearing about, but it was all gone. I guess that's why it's famous. Lol! I had pulled pork 1 meat plate with sides and the hubbs had two. He had jalapeño sausage and brisket. Everything was delicious. We will be back for sure. They have a nice dining area and an inside/outside bar. Outside is setup so nice and you can bring your dog. read more

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Enjoyed our meal at ABBQ, despite the mad dash across Atlantic Blvd to avoid paying for valet parking. Valet is the worst! Restaurant had more workers than customers, and service was on point. Lots of people hanging at the bar, and the tables in the great kid-friendly backyard space was full, but inside was pretty empty. We split a 2-meat shareable platter and added a third side. Overall, brisket was tasty. Ribs good. Mac was good. Fries were delish! Apparently they are fried in brisket fat. The only item I didn't love was the beans...these had a tangy flavor as opposed to my preferred sweet profile. I do wish they had more side options...I don't recall any veggie choices. Our total for 2 meats and 3 sides (and water) was $30 including tip. So not crazy pricy, but not cheap either. read more

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This was my first visit to ABBQ. Very open layout, clean, bright (natural light), lots of tables, large wrap around bar, cool outside seating and play area for kids. The visual presentation of this restaurant is fantastic. The food looks very good as well. The flavors leave me wishing for a little more but in general it was solid; just not wowing as I had hoped. Parking is scarce so you will either need to use the complimentary valet service or be prepared to walk a block or two, if you don't snag one of their dozen or so spaces directly adjacent to their building. It's worth a try but not on my go-to list of bbq spots. read more

ABBQ - Potato Casserole. It was ok, a little too much sour cream for my taste - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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Cards on the table, I didn't expect to enjoy myself here. In fact it took me this long just to finally muster up the courage to give it a chance, given all the red flags I've read in the reviews. But, I love bbq more than pretty much anything, and I do like to make up my own mind about things; so when an opportunity opened up to give them a shot I took it. And honestly I'm glad I did. I've read a lot of negative things about the service here, but we were greeted by a very friendly hostess, and were taken care of by an equally nice waitress. It probably helped that we went on a Thursday evening instead of a Saturday. For dinner we decided to split a two meat combo with three sides, and were pleasantly surprised we didn't have to walk to the counter because we weren't getting sandwiches. I don't know if they decided to do away with that direction, but we were relieved to find we could just enjoy ourselves at the table and not have to get in line for meat by the pound. The combo we went with included ribs, which were fantastically tender, and had an very flavorful bark on them. With it we ordered the brisket (moist), and while it was also delicious and well seasoned, it bordered on the mushy side. Not a huge complaint; but I'd probably opt to try the lean portion next time. Finally there is the issue of parking. Yes there's "free" valet, but you still have to tip, so not really free. It's a pet peeve, and honestly it was worth it to avoid that hassle, and simply park across Atlantic and walk over. Overall it was a great experience though. Solid bbq that I'd put in the top five in Jax, and a beautiful new building to enjoy it in. I recognize that space is limited for parking, but if they could get that situation figured out, I'd love to come back on a regular basis. read more

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The food was absolutely delish and I will be going back. All the meats were tender and only thing was the brisket could have been seasoned a little more but I will definitely come again. The Atmosphere was great and everyone was friendly. This is the spot! read more

ABBQ - Fried Skins, brisket, ribs,smoked turkey, - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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The only consistent thing with ABBQ is the lack of good service! Came in, sat and wasn't greeted for 12 minutes. ordered 2 soft drinks, took literally 15 minutes to get them with no apology or explanation. Mind you, this is what the restaurant looked like. The average food is not worth dealing with the terrible service read more

ABBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

I had some pretty high hopes for this place. Don't get me wrong, the BBQ is pretty good, however the portions scream foo foo place. Pretty neat environment for the kids and for game day. Location is prime and walking distance from Atlantic Beach and the rest of the festivities. EXTREME disappointment in the portion and presentation of their salad offering. I definitely left hungry. Maybe ordering a full plate of BBQ instead of going healthy should have been a better call. Maybe next time if there is a next time - someone price me wrong on the salads y'all. read more

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It is unfortunate to write this review since it could be due to staffing issues. Food came out at different times and almost every dish at the table had cold food on it. I was lucky I ordered the burger and it was perfection the bacon onion jam was delicious. I will be back for the burger but not sure people I was with will be up for it unless I talk them into the burger maybe read more

ABBQ is a recent addition to the Jacksonville barbecue scene, so I naturally had to check it out. I will willingly admit that even before visiting I was a little leery of their claim to serve "Central Texas BBQ at the beach". Seems like everyone around here is claiming "Texas Style", even if they don't know what that means. So I was extra suspicious when I saw a sign touting authentic Texas something or other as I parked next to a plastic wood fence and walked inside. I was able to park because I visited for a weekday lunch. Parking is very limited here, and word is it is hard to find a spot on evenings and weekends. They do offer valet parking during those times. (I won't claim it never happens, but when I picture a Texas barbecue joint, valet parking isn't usually in the picture. But more about that later.) The inside, on the other hand, is very spacious. Both the indoor dining and outdoor backyard offer plenty of seating options. Ordering and seating was a little confusing because everything I read said they had counter service, and there is a counter, but there was also a sign saying to wait to be seated. However, I was quickly greeted and told to sit wherever I liked. As it was one of the first pleasant blue sky days of fall, I chose a spot on the patio where I was quickly provided with a menu and a glass of water. I wanted to sample as much as I could, so I chose the "1513 Sandwich" which includes pulled pork, brisket and sausage, along with cole slaw and pickles. I asked for the sauce on the side so I could sample the meats in their natural state, then added a side of potato salad and a sweet tea to round out the meal. I methodically deconstructed my sandwich (it was far to big to eat whole anyway) by first sampling the sausage, which they make themselves. Even in small slices it had great texture, the crisp pop of the skin contrasting with the juicy interior for a quick burst of perfect flavor. The brisket lived up to the billing as well. I'm not sure if it was intentional, but my sandwich had one slice that was lean and one more fatty, so I got to try both. Regardless, both were excellently smoked specimens of that most famous staple of Texas barbecue. When I got down to the pork, it wasn't quite as amazing as it seemed to be a little lacking in flavor. There wasn't anything really wrong with it, it was more like it just didn't steal the show like the other two meats. But with a little of the tangy sauce- another check for the authentic Texas claim- it too was delicious. The potato salad was some of the best I'd ever had. Creamy mayo met red potatoes in a glorious union, along with a surprise guest. Whatever else I have to say about this place, there's no doubt they know food. They know what it's worth as well. My basic meal set me back 20 bucks. It was worth that for sure, but I don't know how many working class people like myself are comfortable with that price point for a weekday lunch. And so can you see why I am incredibly conflicted in deciding how to rate them. Service was good, the food was excellent, but it was definitely a mixed bag as far as authenticity goes. Authenticity is a big deal to me, and since that's what they claim, I feel obliged to factor that in my rating. I'm not a complete expert on Texas barbecue myself, but I know the basics. So let's review the points for and against. What makes them authentic? Wood-fired smokers (custom from Moberg in Texas, according to their site) That brisket perfection Dang good homemade sausage Thin, simple sauce that complements them well Counter service (maybe sometimes?) Meats available by the pound What says this ain't your regular Texas 'que joint? Uh- plastic wood anything Valet parking $20 sandwich and side Another "outhouse" sign with a crescent moon- puhleez Absence of cowboy hats or country music-but please note if these were used as props, the result would be worse In this case, I would have no problem if they marketed themselves as a trendy, slightly upscale restaurant that serves Texas-style barbecue. There are several of those, and honestly, ABBQ does it better than most in my opinion. If that's your thing, you need to eat here. Just maybe wear the good pair of jeans, leave the dirty truck at home, and be sure you've got a high credit limit. read more

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I was 9 years old when the first Star Wars movie came out. And of course, I loved it. The entire experience. Loved. It. As well as the Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Loved them all. So I was quite excited, years later, when I learned that a new Star Wars movie was coming out. I just hoped that it would live up to my expectations. That it would be as good as the 3 originals. Yeah, you know what happened. Jar Jar Binks. Why do I bring up this delightful recounting of my history with Star Wars movies? Because I was seriously looking forward to my first visit to ABBQ? I love bbq. And I look forward to any new barbecue places in Jacksonville. So I wanted to love it. Sadly, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Let's talk about the positives. The place is really nice. Big bar, wonderful outdoor space with a kids area. And the brisket. I did like the brisket. We got it sliced. You can also get it chopped. Which is what one of the serving guys was recommending. I'm really not sure why. If the brisket is awesome it should be sliced. You should be proud to serve it sliced. No questions asked. So why recommend the chopped? But it was good. Best brisket you'll ever have? Nope. Not by a long shot. But certainly not the worst. The coleslaw was good. A bit overdressed. Hey? A little lighter on the dressing won't kill you. Try it. Will make the coleslaw that much better! Ok, the not so good. The sauces. Not one of them is "Oh my god where has this bbq sauce been all my life!" They're ok to mediocre to just bad. Is it really that hard to develop a really tasty barbecue sauce? I don't think so. Seriously ABBQ guys? Work on the sauce. We also got a beef rib because we were there on Saturday. Look, I know that beef ribs aren't the easiest to make. It just wasn't that great. Specifically? Overdone. And for how much you have to pay for them? Definitely not worth it. Maybe the pork ribs are better. We wanted to try the sausage links but they were out. I guess that's a good sign. So the food was ok. And now the bad. The whole seating and ordering system. It's just dumb. Dumb. No other word for it. When the hostess has to spend five minutes explaining that you can only order the meat from the meat counter, but you can also order the sides from the meet counter or you can order them from a seat, but you can only order drinks from a seat and not the meat counter, or the bar, then you have created a poorly designed system. It's confusing and slows everything down. And at the meat counter? You had about 10 people working but only one taking orders? How does that happen? When the line stretches to the door I think there needs to be a bit more sense of urgency from the staff. Not an eye roll when one of the staff asks another to take my order. Which leads to the next problem. You order your meat at the meat counter, spend a LOT of money, and then have nowhere to sit down? Mainly because people are going and sitting while their friends and family are ordering at the very slow meat counter. It just doesn't work very well. And while I'm willing to put up with this kind of order get food and then go sit down system at a less expensive place, after spending $75 on bbq and then not have a place to sit? Forget it. It's not worth it. You guys really need to rethink the whole dining process. The very wise, very small, very green Yoda, told us, "Do. Or do not. There is no try." ABBQ. Be like Yoda. Fix the problems and make this a barbecue place I want to come back to. Don't continue to be Jar Jar Binks. read more

I'm not a girl who writes Yelp Reviews. In fact this may very well be my first. I'm not sure where to start. Staff not friendly or engaging. Talking among themselves while we struggled to understand where to order or sit. Weird odor that smelled like chemicals, If you order meat go to the counter, sandwiches go sit down. What? We were not sure what was happening so we ordered take out. I mean how bad could it be if we just take our food home? I don't have words to explain the confusion in ordering ribs. I left with 3ribs, a spoonful of coleslaw, a spoonful of Mac n cheese see pix for $27 plus tax ( see photos ) Next time I'll choose a trusted local like Bono's, Mojo's or Woody's. If I need BBQ with flair I'll head to Palm Valley Smoke which is really amazing with the view and top notch staff. Do yourself a huge favor and skip the ABBQ! read more

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