Bartley's BBQ was my first stop in my journey to visit all the restaurants listed as D's Best BBQ in DFW. Maaan, I was totally rocking the meat sweats. To quote my friend, our lips were glazed with meat fat. That barbecue was rapturous, especially the ribs. It wasn't all mushy, but it was tender and so well smoked. I also really dug on the brisket, which had just the right amount of fat and wasn't as dry as most of the brisket I've had. I also had the hot links, which were tasty, but I wasn't losing my shit over them or anything. I was losing my shit over the ribs, though, believe that. The sides were really sad in comparison to the fantastic meat. I had potato salad and baked beans. The baked beans were pretty good, but the potato salad was so boring. It was just potatoes, mayo, and onions, pretty much. I happen to be an expert on potato salads (bullshit) and I have to say, a potato salad is a fucking joke without boiled eggs. Their side options were next to nil, but then again, I came at about seven and they close at eight on weekdays, which is way too early if you ask me. After I'd gotten my sides, I saw a dude sit down with fried okra they did not have while I was up there. I was so pissed! The decor was okay. I wasn't expecting the ritz-carlton. I kept knocking down all the ridiculous amounts of tabasco bottles and it was cold as the dickens. Their sweet tea wasn't all that sweet. They do have Big Red on tap though, which would be awesome if I liked Big Red. I happen to think it tastes like barbie pee. They were also out of cobbler when I went. It was super cheap at like, 10.50 for a three meat plate. I'll definitely be back, definitely get all you can eat, and I will definitely have COBBLER. My rating will change if my experience changes. read more

While reflecting on the three meat plate I just fought through, my phone went off. I picked it up to check what the notification was for and it was my Dictionary application informing me of the "Word of the Day". Abdicate, verb: to give up or renounce. What an ironic and fitting choice my app decided to generate as I moved my eyes back to the disappointment before me. Bartley's in Grapevine somehow bested 3 Stacks Smoke and Tap House, Odom's, Off-the-Bone, Railhead and newly opened Slow Bone for a coveted spot on the Texas Monthly Top 50 list. In hindsight, this selection should be abdicated. Being on the list is a thing of honor. You had better be cooking top notch product because the attention that is about to be bestowed upon you is of the highest pedigree in the oft controversial world of Texas Barbecue. Only in Texas will you find as much passion in a conversation about BBQ as you would sports, politics, and religion. Needless to say...you better have more than your "A game" every stinkin' day. Texas BBQ Posse and I met at 11:30 am and immediately got to the line before the steady stream of customers hit shortly after. We all requested the three meat combo with me being the only one who got the brisket. I was the guinea pig because after seeing it, no one else wanted it. The less than personable cutter didn't retrieve a complete brisket. Bits and pieces were picked through before he drummed up what appeared to be a piece of the point, cut in half diagonally, then folded over. A few other slices were more traditional to form and displayed for photographic purpose. The hot links were Eckrich and the ribs were their own. Hickory is their choice of wood although by the taste of the meat...you wouldn't guess any wood was used. A general consensus among the table that the brisket was most likely a day old. Dry, roast beefy, and absent of seasoning. Not even the bark heavy pieces were tolerable. The casing on the Eckrich hot links was snappy but again...commercial sausage. The little bit of hope here were the ribs. Nothing smoky but the flavor had a decent sweetness to them. We had people stagger their visits while we there from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm and nothing fresh was introduced. We may have found the chink in the chain of the prestigious Texas Monthly list. I feel bad for the stream of travelers who will use the list as a guide for the following years only to be let down. If you want a sub par BBQ experience, head to Big Racks in Grapevine and at least you'll have something worth looking at. read more

Can we add a sixth star? I was in Grapevine for a convention and decided to look for Texas barbecue places. I watch a lot of barbecue shows on Food Network, so I felt it was my obligation to try some local cuisine. I was not disappointed. The only negative thing I can say about them is that they were closed on Sunday and Monday, so I only had one opportunity to eat there. I tried another barbecue restaurant while in Grapevine, but they couldn't hold a candle to Bartley's. Everything was spectacular. I treated myself to the "All You Can Eat" plate for $19.99. Sam, the gentleman that assisted me in this undertaking, prepared me a plate that would make any carnivore envious. I was treated to brisket (lean and moist pieces), smoked bologna, and pork tenderloin for my first plate. Everything tasted absolutely amazing. The brisket, however, was my favorite. It was the best I'd ever had. And the servings were substantial. For my second plate, I had more brisket and the ribs. The ribs were so moist and juicy, they were falling off of the bone. They melted in your mouth. And they were the best I'd ever had. I see a trend here. Sadly, I had to stop at two plates. I wanted more, but I wasn't sure the stomach would allow it. But, besides the great food was the wonderful hospitality that I received from everyone at Bartley's. When I walked in, I felt like an old friend that came to visit. Sam was great, joking around as he prepared my feast and Lynn, the owner, was a true gentleman that really cared about his customers. He went out of his way to shake my hand and thank me for coming. I was just in town visiting on business and may never be in town again, but he made sure I felt welcome and even joked that he would save a table for me if I ever returned. If you are visiting Grapevine and in the mood for barbecue, give Bartley's a try. read more

The bbq at this place has no taste of seasoned what so ever. Orded the bThey give you a good portion. Add the bbq sauce then you can eat it. The staff is friendly. read more

Went here on a Saturday night at 7:45pm, and we where the only people there, that should have been a clue. Food was very disappointing. Spicy BBQ sauce had lumps in it, we were all afraid to try it, since it just didn't look right. It might have been the place to go for BBQ years ago, but there are so many more places for BBQ now with great meats and amazing sides. Customer Service was not impressive either. Even though I only live about 3 minutes away, I will not be back. read more

Since our first time eating at Bartley's we have not been back to any other BBQ restaurant. We love all of the selections. I myself love their great "home made" vegetables. The ribs are my favorite meat selection. Thursday's are Chicken Fried Steak or Chicken days! YUMMY! The baked goodies & rolls are from next door Bartley's Home Town Bakery. I have loved everything that I have eaten at Bartley's BBQ & Bartley's Home Town Bakery. Try it you'll like it! read more

Phenomenal barbecue hands down, my wife and I showed up and we were happily greeted. There is not a single bad thing I can say about this place. The pork ribs, shredded brisket, pulled pork, hot links, potato salad, fried okra and rolls were all amazing. I will definitely be going back read more

Well I had a trip back to Texas and was looking forward to some smoked brisket. I found this on urbanspoon. It's located in a strip mall. After walking in the menu is on the wall behind the serving counter. I had a rib and brisket combo platter and chose baker beans and slaw. The place smelled fantastic all smoky and meaty. The brisket tasted like what can cook on the oven at home with some liquid smoke. The ribs were slightly better. The baked beans tasted too much of brown sugar and were not baked. The sauce was tomato based and was tart from vinegar. I might go back but wouldn't get brisket or ribs. The service and sweet tea were great read more

Bartley's Bar-B-Que - Dining Room - Barbeque Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

See all

We use Bartley's for our catering needs both large events and small (8 people). They never fail to provide volumes of incredibly delicious food! We've been using them for over 16 years! They've been in business over 52 years, been named to D Magazine's top 10 and Texas Monthly top 50 (no small task considering there are THOUSANDS of barbeque joints across Texas). The food will always blow you away and impress your clients!!! This is also a great idea for sending food to a quaranteening covid family, a family that has suffered a loss, a church group, your local fire or police departments (first responders), etc. I promise you will be remembered for it!!! read more

Bartley's is a Grapevine staple. This place is known for the best BBQ around the area and it lives up to that. The food is great and the staff is friendly. I stop by Bartley's as much as often as I can. I would normally give them 5 stars, but they forgot my okra last time I was in, so I'm knocking a star off until next time, when I finally get my okra!! No hard feelings though, I'll be back a hundred more times. read more

We visited Bartley's while we were at Greatwolf Lodge. We had the brisket, sausage, ribs, beans, potato salad, and the pecan cobbler. The food was REALLY good. The ribs were the best thing about the meal. They had great flavor and did not need any sauce. I was REALLY excited to try the Pecan Cobbler based on the reviews but I was not impressed. I did not like the texture of it. Next time I am in Grapevine, I will be back to Bartley's! read more

How this got on TX Monthly's top 50 is beyond me. Daniel must have got some bbq "from the back". This is a rough equivalent to Dickeys. Sides are ok - bakery next door is the best thing.Ribs were the best of the meats, smoked baloney ok, brisket dry, overcooked, steamed... Wifey really enjoyed the potato salad Not worth the effort to go back - or to type any more..... read more

My family was visiting the area and craving BBQ. The younger boys took one look at the food and declined... we should have done the same. The brisket was cold and had absolutely no flavor. Someone in an earlier review said it looked like pot roast -- that's a perfect description. The sandwich bun was stale. The sides were simply disgusting... everything looked like it was sitting there for hours. Nothing but a few crusty fries and Mac and cheese with a "skin" on the top. No matter what we picked, they had to scrape the sides of the pan for a full serving. I ended up with corn since it was the safest bet, but it was nothing more than a $0.65 can of grocery store corn (no unique seasoning or anything southern about it). There are so many other options in the area... don't make the same mistake we did. read more

We went to Bartley's on a Saturday and had the 3 meat platter: brisket, ribs and sausage. The brisket and ribs were good and tender, the sausage was ok (nothing special) and the BBQ was decent- a bit on the sweet side. We also had the beans, which were sweeter than most and the Pecan cobbler. The tea was a bit weak. The dining area was clean, but plain and utilitarian. We were impressed enough that we tried to go back Wed. evening, not realizing they are only open until 3PM on weekdays in the winter. We'll just have to go back on another Saturday. read more

Above average but not amazing. Brisket was good, but the ribs were a little tough and chewy. They had a nice sweet note too them though. It was $11 for a 2 meat plate which included 2 sides and a roll. read more

Bartley's Bar-B-Que - Two meat plate, brisket and ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Grapevine, Texas

The bbq sauce was watered down. The place is located conveniently but the good is gland and overpriced.

I ate at Bartley's for the first time today. My overall impression of this place is that it's a good value -- the quality is good for the price. The food is very reasonably priced (7.99 for a plate which includes one meat, bread/toast and two sides) and pretty tasty. They serve the basic line-up of beef brisket, sausage, chopped beef, smoked turkey and ribs. You can either have your meat on a sandwich with Texas toast or on the plate with a dinner roll. I let my curiosity get the best of me and got BBQ bologna which I would not do in the future. This tastes pretty much exactly how you would expect it to taste. Their sides are traditional southern fare such as collard greens, peach cobbler, grilled corn, green beans, etc. I had tater tots as a side (theirs are made with cheese and minced jalapeno) and really liked them. The pecan pie cobbler was also really good. The portions are quite generous. I will be eating mine for at least another meal. Don't go here if you are looking for fancy ambiance for a date or something like that. This is a really basic place in a strip mall. You order at a counter and then take your food to the table in the dining room. There isn't any table service. But the people who work here are super friendly and you will have the feeling you are at a family establishment rather than some huge chain, which I personally really like. I will definitely be going back here when I'm looking for a bite out but not to spend a ton of cash. I lived in South Carolina before this and really miss having lots of cheap places for good, southern cooking around. For me, this place gets the job done. read more

Bartley's is famous in Grapevine. I had not eaten there in years, and I was happy to have good tasting food! The chicken and brisket were very flavorful, as were the sides. However, all of my meal, the protein and the veggies, were cold! If they turned up the heat I would have had some peace of mind from food born illnesses. read more

My review in one word: unfortunate. The food was generic, the atmosphere was tired.. the bread was good, but the rest of it was very, very ordinary. I'd give it 2 stars if it weren't for the fact that we were pretty sick by the end of the evening after eating there... other than that, it was a full 2 stars. with that, they get one. read more

Just wanted to let readers know due to beef price going up the all you can eat is off menu. I gave a 3 because they should make sure it is on the website so you don't drive over here for it. read more

What a great place to eat, my family and I are down to stay at greatWolf. Nancy and Jaimie were so polite. Nancy even pulled the meat of the bone of the chicken for me!! We will define be back! read more

This place is absolutely not bbq. You stand in line to approach a counter that reminds me of a subway sandwich shop. I ordered brisket and ribs with green beans and spicy cornbread. The brisket was the driest I've ever eaten and almost as if it was old and not fresh. The brisket had no flavor at all. It sucked. The ribs were dry and zero flavor like they were heated in a microwave and so much cartilage that they were hard to eat. The sauce was watery and I had to ask for it as if it was not included and was tasteless. The cornbread was cold and not even cooked. Green beans were fresh out of a can it appeared. Absolutely a waste of time and money. There are way better places to have great bbq. Kroger has better bbq than this crap. Don't waste your money here if you want great bbq. read more

This is a hometown BBQ place that time forgot. It's got the same style as the one i grew up with 30 years ago. Except this one has more square feet! The country music is roaring and the staff is pleasant. For someone who is not familiar with these types of places; they may be turned off by the brown stained walls and ceilings. You may walk out with your clothes smelling a little smoky but the food is delicious. A chopped beef sandwich plate with fries and ice tea set me back about $8 plus tax. I'm coming back for the ribs! read more

I got the ribs at Grape Fest Sunday. 14 tickets means seven dollars for three ribs. Captive audience I guess. I judge ribs on four criteria. Tenderness, moistness, rub/sauce, and smoke flavor. Bartley's hit on three out of four. Very tender, fall off the bone. Very moist. Sauce flavorful. Smoke flavor? None. I would have sworn they were either boiled or baked in an oven. Won't be back. read more

Delicious bbq and sides. Mac and cheese was extra yummy. There was an older gentleman singing classic country songs which gave the experience a little extra fun. read more

I was visiting my sister and found this place close to her house. They had awesome briscuit and ribs! I will sure to return when I visit again. read more

I have been wanting to try Bartley's BBQ for some time now. My wife and i went on a saturday for lunch. I ordered ribs and she ordered the chopped brisket special saturday sandwich. Both were great. I wasn't sure what to expect being the place was in a shopping mall but the ribs were cooked perfect and the sauce was great also. Prices are about average or slightly below average. My half a rack of ribs with two sides was around $14. read more

I read some mixed reviews on this place but wanted to try it for myself..it was mediocre to say the least. will not be returning.

My husband & I were visiting the area for the first time & looking for BBQ! Not only was the food great, but the people who work here were beyond amazing!! Shane who helped us from behind the counter gave us a great education on what they had to offer, as there were so many things to choose from. The brisket was probably my favorite, but the smoked turkey, smoked chicken and pork were great too! The fried orka was yummy too!! We really appreciated the wonderful customer service!! Thank you for the support to those who serve in the military!! We will definitely be back!! read more

Amazing BBQ joint with the friendliest staff. Came from CA and had an amazing dinner--brisket, ribs, pork loin, pecan cobbler....

Visiting from Arizona, we wanted to find some good Texas BBQ. We ate at several places before finding this hidden gem. This is the taste of good BBQ! In the three days we've been here, we've eaten here three times! The brisket is delicious and tender, whether you opt for chopped or sliced. My kids think the BBQ sauce is sweet and delicious, and gobble it up with anything they can dip into it. And to top it all off, the staff is awesome (and are beginning to recognize us!) and very friendly. We're trying to convince them to start shipping their meats so we can continue to enjoy them when we head back to AZ! If you're anywhere near Grapevine, seek this place out - you won't regret it! read more

The hot links were wonderful, soft, spicy, delicious. The pecan cobbler was awesome - killer sweetness. The brisket was dry and didn't even have any smoke. The pork loin was okay, but nothing to write songs about. The staff were really nice. The other thing is the bakery. They served dinner with a fresh roll from the bakery next door. It was really sweet, kind of like Hawaiian bread. I liked it, but I prefer sliced white bread with my Q, and this just didn't cut it. I would have taken some rolls home, though, to have with roast beef and gravy and stuff like that. Not sorry I went here, it is on the Texas Monthly top 50 list after all, but I won't be back. Moving on! read more

The brisket is so good. Moist, tender and the right amount of smokiness. This was my second time going and I had a great experience both times and you you don't have to break the bank for a meal. For a 3 meat plate with 2 sides is around $16 after taxes plus you're going to have a hard time doing anything after eating the amount of food they give you. Oh yeah, you got to try the pork tenderloin, it's awesome. read more

This place is awesome. Down home, great food, friendly staff and I think it is impossible to leave there hungry....

I had a long layover in Dallas (6 hours) and the info desk suggested a take the shuttle to Grapevine to kill some time. Boy am i glad i did. I found Bartley's BBQ while walking around. I was in the mood for some ribs so I ordered the Rib plate which came with 2 ribes and 6 Ribs. AMAZING! The best ribs I have ever had, they were so tender and flavorful. I love ribs and eat them all the time but I cant get these out of my head, my next trip I will try to layover in dallas just to go back and eat more! read more

If your looking for ambiance, then this ain't your place. If your looking for the best BBQ in Dallas/Fort Worth, then it is. We've sampled BBQ all over the metroplex and bar none, this is the best. The ribs are awesome, and everything else is topped notch. Very friendly folks make it a great experience. The decor is hole-in-the-wall level, but you need come here for the food, not the atmosphere. read more

Hard to imagine I haven't posted a review to my family's go-to BBQ restaurant! Awesome smoke and taste. Simple but OH SO GOOD! Sides are good and they will make fries at a drop of a hat for you if there is even a hint they are not fresh. Very accommodating staff / owners who are related to the bakery people next door / means the bread is always fresh and great. Certainly worth the Texas Monthly Nod of being one of the Top 20 BBQ restaurants in Texas, not just in DFW area. Had them prepare our Eve of Christmas Eve BBQ meal for our party, knocked it out of the park as usual. If you try to use their App and can't get anywhere which happened to me, just call the restaurant. They are very accommodating. read more

My family and I had a wonderful experience at Bartley's. I am not giving this place a five star rating for the food but for the overall experience. Yes the bbq is very good but it is not one to belong on the Texas Monthly's top 50. The owner treated us like family not even knowing us beforehand. He went around to each patron within the restaurant and made them feel welcome. Hospitality is something hard to find these days, and honestly I was touched to find someone who was so caring about my family and I. This place is spot on and I hope to visit if I ever make it to Grapevine again. read more

Just left & Food was delicious and the service was great and prices were extremely reasonable. Keep up the EXCELLENT work, food & service u guys!! All the way from CA thank you!!! read more

Just had lunch there, our 4-5th time. Brisket was good and the ribs very good. Great Pecan dessert. Very good "down home" BBQ place and we will return! read more