It was an overall great experience. We went for Christmas Eve dinner and the place was pretty empty, which was expected, so we got a table right away (I did put in a reservation just in case) and got a great spot with a view of the lake and enough space for my kids to be kids. Our server was super nice and helpful too. Especially when my child spilled his mango smoothie. I am taking 1 star away because I feel that the meat quality could have been better, especially with the price. Our dinner for 3 adults and 2 kids was over $200 (before tip). read more

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This place has really good vibes and it's nice that you are sitting facing a nice little lake. The food here is really hit or miss. I'm glad that they added an all you can eat bar for all the small sides. My husband and I have come over here a couple of times and every time, it seems like the service was subpar and not sure if they are still trying to organize everything. There is plenty of parking as well! read more

Worst KBBQ place my friends and I have ever been to. We were very disappointed bc we love KBBQ. The food is bland and the portions are small. They gave us a small circular plate of meat for three people and the meat didn't even fill up the circular plate... We ordered the beef option. The brisket and bulgogi were maybe three small pieces each person, while the steak was 1/3 fat and had no taste. The onion they provided was thin and the end cut of an onion... The side dishes tasted off, the soup was watered down, I ordered one of their signature drinks ("YOLO" drink) which also tasted watered down... The meat was also sticking to the grill -- to the point where we had to rush to scrape off the brisket before we lost too much meat... Just really disappointing and subpar. Will never go again, and it's made my friends and I skeptical about the other food around the area. PLEASE let other places be better!! read more

Central BBQ Lakehouse - The fat cut from the steak, the onion, the water down soup, the grill... - Korean Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

New fave happy hour spot!!! The seafood pancake is LARGE and easily split between 2 people, and w $8 bottle of soju and very reasonable priced drinks, we have already been back multiple times. With happy hour ending at 6pm, it has been the perfect time to catch the beautiful sunset over the lake. The all you can eat bbq is great and has so many options, and w the salad bar, you don't have to be worried about getting banchan that you won't be able to/ wont eat. Our waitress checked up on us very frequently which made sure there was always meat on the grill compared to other chain all you can eat bbq places where you have to put in the order w the sever when they drop the meat off since it takes 20 min for the next order to come. They also have fried rice as an option if you're wanting something other than white rice. read more

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Korean bbq & Al fresco dining restaurant situated on the lake in Tempe. A solid family fun & interactive place to enjoy. From grilling your premium cuts of meats to choosing your perfect salad this place is a showstopper. They also have a karaoke option for those having a celebration type of event! Dont miss out on this neighborhood gem that is sure to be a memorable meal for all!!! Ask for Pati she was a wonderful server with lots of valuable information & recommendations!!! We got some delicious tips that all panned out and gave us happy tummies!! read more

Not sure what the negative reviews were about, but we had a great dine-in experience! The food was solid--seasoning was on point, and the banchan side dishes that come with the AYCE option were especially tasty. Just a heads up: if you go a la carte, you won't get those same side dish servings, which was a little disappointing but understandable. Service was where this place really stood out. Our server was incredibly attentive, helpful with recommendations, and had a warm, genuine energy--not overly bubbly, just the right amount of friendly. We really appreciated that. The ambiance was quiet and relaxed when we arrived for Monday lunch, though it started picking up a bit during the later lunch hour. The outdoor patio has misters and a view of the lake, which looked nice, but it was too hot for us to sit outside. Bonus points for the copper-colored metal bowls--they added a fancy touch to the presentation. Prices are on the higher side, but if you're looking for a spot to enjoy a meal with loved ones, I'd say it's worth it for the overall experience. read more

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Best happy hour! Best service. Best view. Mandoo (potstickers) are AMAZE! The ladies working here are so sweet and helpful. New prices on the BBQ and a huge selection. read more

Central BBQ Lakehouse - Lakeside. - Korean Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I loved it here!! It was my boyfriend's birthday and he loves KBBQ, so I was a little hesitant to go here due to the reviews. I honestly don't know why this place has such bad reviews about the service. Maybe we just got a good server, but I have no complaints about this place. We were seated around 6:30 PM, just as the sun was setting and it was beautiful. This place is all you can eat, so make sure you come hungry. If you don't know what an item is on the menu, just ask the server and they will be more than happy to explain it to you. They also have a few boba drinks here which is a plus. There was a DJ night we went, so good food, drinks, and music, what more can you ask for? We left with our tummies full and a smile on our face :) I'm looking forward to coming back here soon! read more

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$36 AYCE kbbq with option for $60 "supreme" version. Meat quality was really good, better than other local options like Manna. Sides (corn cheese, japchae, etc) were typical. The atmosphere is a big plus for this place; the lakeside location is pretty unique for Arizona and the outdoor seating is furnished well with lights and heaters. The interior is spacious but a little bit outdated. There was also a live DJ! My biggest critique is the service. They allow only 3 meats and 2 sides at a time per table, and our service started pretty slow. We had to ask for water multiple times and had to wait for tongs to start cooking. Our server was super nice and very accommodating, which made up for the pace of the food coming out, but I still felt the restaurant was understaffed. The restaurant also doesn't have a website and when I called the listed phone number the phone was disconnected even though they were open. This place has everything else going for it, so I think better staffing and an online presence would make it a hit spot! read more

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Ask for Bella the next time you're at Central. she's very attentive, friendly and always has a smile on her face. I always ask for her when we go. Love sitting outside by the lake. Idk about everyone saying about the mosquitos but that's what you get when you're eating outside by the water. Idk what they expect. But overall. The food, the service and the ambiance is amazing. read more

The best part of this kbbq experience was the ambiance. Being able to grill next to a lake during the winter time in Arizona is immaculate. This place has a beautiful set up and I'd recommend it for a date night. In addition, the food, delicious! Quality quality quality! Now, unfortunately, in terms of service, this aspect was just not up to par. Long waits, constantly getting the wrong orders, non attentive waitor. There's a two hour limit but we didn't get our first round of meat until 20 min after sitting. We had to keep reminding them of our food that didn't come and the food that came sometimes was wrong. The portions were pretty small too. I would not recommend coming with a group. Also, didn't like the fact that you can only order 3 side dishes at a time. They asked us if it was our first time, and we said yes, but then there was no explanation of what to do. In all, I wish they fixed the kinks with service before doing extra stuff like putting a dj or the robots passing food. All that stuff doesnt matter when the service is bad. Plus, it's more expensive than other ayce kbbq places in Phoenix. I don't think I would come back but it's probably worth a try. The place is cute. read more

Central BBQ Lakehouse - Korean Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The place was dirty. The service was slow. Stuff u order never comes. This place is going to close soon. We will definitely not come back. read more

Your parking situation is atrocious. Our niece dropped off something for us while we were at pier 54 and everyone freaks out if she's in the main parking lot for 5 mins. Dude she's 16, chill tf out. They are so crazy about their parking because literally nobody goes there to eat because everyone is here for pier 54. Keep your parking lot empty then. I'd give this place 0 stars if I could smh read more

The ambiance on the lake is great in the early evening. The whole thing with robots didn't work very well, and they kept getting stuck by our table creating a traffic jam, so a human had to come and unstick it. The food was good, but thought the prices were high for it. I like Korean food but haven't been to other BBQ places so have no frame of reference to the prices. I would rather go to Hodori, as I really enjoy their food. read more

Recommend: Yes but expect slow service Service: was very slow Food: honestly food was great. The marinate was well flavored. Ambience: beautiful Came here to check out this new Korean bbq place by the lake. Gorgeous view and great food. The only disappointment was the service was very slow. I ?don't know if it is because it's new and they need more servers. They even have the robot servicer and doesn't seem to make it any efficient. We waited about 20 mins before we could ordered food. Then about another 20 min to get our food. After our first order, we waited like another 20 min after we placed the next order. And it got all kind of messy. Overall the food was great. Service still needs a lot of improvement or increase staffing. The cost for the premium all you can eat is $36.99 Definitely would love to come back if the service improved. read more

Central BBQ Lakehouse - Korean Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The food is good here and service was just okay but the amount of flies you have to shoo away from you is super annoying. There were flies on the food at the salad bar. A fly died in my drink and they still charged me for it. We looked around and everyone was trying to shoo flies away. I would not return. Unless they get the fly situation handled. read more

First time trying, and overall experience was okay. Went on a Sunday for lunch, and the place didn't look too busy. I didn't explore the whole space, but most tables looked to only be able to fit 6 max; we had 10, so our party split up between two tables back-to-back. The menu for AYCE is extensive and priced comparably to other AYCE KBBQ restaurants in the valley. Their food was decent, but the system is a little different. You have to order EVERYTHING, including side dishes and sauces, so remember to order these up front with your first round of protein. The portions were rather small for everything (protein and side dishes), which made it a little frustrating to constantly be waiting for service to order more only to barely get any food. We were told we could order 4 proteins per round for a table of 6. Despite this, our server was very nice and I didn't get the feeling that he was annoyed even though I felt like I was being annoying. With that said, order double for side dishes like kimchi, fish cake, etc. to get enough for a big group. The orders come out on the robot servers, and they didn't take too long to come out after ordering, but I can see how it could take a while if the restaurant is busy. I recommend the spicy pork bulgogi and steamed egg--both delicious and flavorful. Skip the kalbi--there was virtually no marinade and therefore lacking flavor... read more

Central BBQ Lakehouse - One order of spicy pork bulgogi, one order of spicy beef belly, and two orders of bulgogi. - Korean Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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I gotta say, this was the best experience I've had at this location EVER. The actual space has had a turbulent run, being several different restaurant incarnations with less than desirable service and food. I was excited to hear that a Korean restaurant was going to be in this spot so I knew we had to check it out for their soft opening. They currently are offering a 20% discount for the soft opening which runs from now until the end of September. The regular prices for both AYCE BBQ and for the entrees are reasonable though for what you get. We opted for the Premium AYCE which includes 46 main selections and an array of banchan to choose from. For our party of 3 adults and a kid we could choose 3 meats at a time for our table and unlimited non-meat options. We did about 3 rounds of meats before getting stuffed and also got some vegetarian options like fried rice, jap chae, and corn cheese. Everything was really on point and high quality. The meats were all really generously portioned and tasted excellent on the grill. My favorites were probably the pork collar, galbi short rib and the brisket. Service was superb and we were checked up on as needed. The grills were also changed out once they got too much char on them. They also have some robots that stroll on by to deliver drinks and sometimes food which is a cute little addition to the dining experience. When you come here, there might be some security staff in the parking lot. From what I've heard, the restaurant needs to show that there are enough parking spots to support the restaurant when the inspectors come so they are trying to make sure only Lake House customers park in the spots. It also sounds like the restaurant's rental agreement came with all the parking spots in the lot so the security people are there to redirect customers for neighboring restaurant Pier 54 to the adjacent lot. The space itself is really an idyllic locale, with picturesque lakeside views and a lot of room to dine both indoors and outdoors. When we were here on a Friday evening they also had a DJ playing and they do offer full bar service. They also have bubble tea on the menu! Um, what more could you ask for lol. I'll have to try it next time. Come check out this place! I'm looking forward to my next dining experience here. I wish the owners and staff well in this beautiful space! Details: (As of 9-2024) - Asian owned - Open for lunch and dinner - Premium AYCE $36.99 for adults, $19.99 for kids under 36 inches - Supreme AYCE $59.99 for adults, $27.99 for kids under 36 inches - Lunch menu from Mon- Thu 11- 3 PM excluding holidays read more

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I was very excited to try this place I do enjoy places by the water. The overall ambiance was great. They had live music and it had a relaxed vibe which I liked and the music wasn't too loud. However the downfall would be the service. It took an extremely long time to get our first order started after our first round of meat it was about 30 minutes before our second round came. Which was highly disappointing as there were many open tables so they did not seem busy. Our server was friendly and nice but they may have been understaffed. They also used polished gold colored silverware which had fingerprints on them. Value - 2/10 Ambiance - 9/10 Flavor - 7/10 Service - 1/10 Cleanliness - 4/10 Overall would I come back? Probably not based on how long it took to get our food. Then also the price of the food. read more

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Was super excited to come here after they blew up on Tik Tok. Unfortunately they weren't aware that they had blown up on tik tok and were massively unprepared for the rush. We had reservations and called ahead to ask about the wait and if they could accommodate us and they said it would be fine. There was no mention of a wait or anything. Fast forward to us pulling up in front of the restaurant and we are met by a security guard. Pretty strange considering it was a Korean BBQ spot but didn't think much into it. Then when we walked in the hostess told us that they were super backed up. Hearing that, we were disappointed because they hadn't said anything when we literally called 30 min prior but it is what it is. We figured it would be a wait but probably nothing too crazy because it's Korean BBQ and they're not actually cooking anything. We were completely wrong. They were backed up by 150 tickets. How does that even happen unless they are completely mismanaged? They kept mentioning that they were understaffed but from what I saw they had plenty of waiters. Everyone was just kind of standing around except for their manager, Connor, who was running around from table to table. We waited for 30 min before Connor sprinted over to our table to give us water and take our order. And when he got there, he was honest with us and said it wouldn't be worth eating there considering how backed up they were. It would take minimum an hour before we even get our food. So we ended up having to leave without eating which was a first for me because I can't remember a time where I would leave an all you can eat KBBQ, starving. Ended up going to Jin BBQ after that and had an amazing time as usual. Feel bad for Connor and feel frustrated at the owner and management. How is it possible to be this disorganized as a restaurant? How are you unaware if your restaurant blows up on social media? How do you not have contingencies in place to handle something like this especially when it's a Friday night? And listen im not expecting you to have it running perfectly but at least you shouldn't be 150 tickets behind and having waiters stand around while the manager is running around the restaurant handling majority of the tables. In terms of ambiance, it didn't really make any sense to me. There's an Italian theme with random decor that doesn't really fit anything. They have a live DJ but it's not that type of restaurant. Lot of different ideas with no overall theme. Only positive is that it's on the waterfront. Overall lots of questions and no answers. Very disappointed. Would consider coming back here again because never got a chance to try the food but that won't be happening for a while. read more

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I would give it 10 stars mainly because we had a beautiful waitress. She was outgoing, energetic, got us whatever we needed... even suggested things we weren't sure or open to and we loved it. This special lady's name is ms. pati !! The ambiance and asthetic was warm on a chilly night. Beautiful lights to show. Food was great and came way quicker than expected. Pati served us quick n easy. Thank you Pati for a great first experience!!! read more

Central BBQ Lakehouse - Korean Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Tried this place instead of GEN, but it was a disappointing experience. We asked for a lakeside table, but they said those were reserved yet they sat empty the entire two hours we were there... It took forever to even see our waitress after sitting down. I ordered brisket for the first round, and 30 mins later, the waitress asked if we wanted anything else. When I told her I was still waiting on my brisket, she claimed I never ordered it, when I clearly did. When it finally arrived, our grill was completely burnt. Another waitress took it but forgot to bring a new one, so we had to wait a long time before anyone even checked on us. By the time I finally got to cook my brisket, an hour had passed since we sat down; that was my first bite of the meal. Midway through the meal, a worker folded up the sun umbrella next to us, leaving the sun directly in my face. I couldn't even see, and it got uncomfortably hot. We also ordered kimchi, but the waitress forgot it. We asked another waitress to bring it, and they forgot too, so we had to ask again. The meat quality was terrible! Everything was overly fatty, and the taste was off. It killed my husband's appetite. Since we were seated outside, the food got cold before I could even eat it. Overall, this place is not worth it. The service was slow, the staff was forgetful, and the food was straight-up disgusting. I've had better meat from a cheap grocery store. The only thing this place serves well is disappointment. Save your money and go literally anywhere else. read more

Central BBQ Lakehouse - Korean Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Went back again because the meat quality and menu variety gets my mouth to water. Truly a treat beyond it's value. They are still in soft opening and have improved vastly since our last couple visits. Service is much much better. I opted to sit inside since the last time it felt like we were almost forgotten outside. Seems like a lot more staff on hand and plenty of attention all around now. Our waitress was really polite and went above and beyond to make sure we had a great time. The dj they have on the weekends is a fun addition and it's awesome they take requests. Parking is controlled by a security guard. Don't be alarmed if you get stopped as you turn in. read more

Service was awesome! The lakeside ambiance was good! However, they could be better at the side dishes at the salad/sides bar. They should have better bonchon type sides read more

My friends and I went here for lunch and we really enjoyed it! Our server was very attentive and helpful when explaining all the menu's options. We did AYCE and all the different meats and side dishes we tried were delicious (loved the Hawaiian pork belly & beef belly). They even brought us a complimentary mini kimchi pancake for us to share! The big highlight of the meal was the boat ride they offer to customers. It was only an extra $5 a person and you can order desserts and drinks from the menu to take out on the boat as well. The lake is beautiful and it was a relaxing way to end off our lunch. Our boat driver was really nice too. We definitely want to come back, especially in the evening! read more

I love this place! The food is consistently good and the staff is so friendly. Sitting outside is my favorite because of the lake view. I have brought all of my friends who come to visit me and everyone has enjoyed the experience. read more

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Absolutely delicious! Everything was so tasty, and everything was super fresh. The quality of the meat and side dishes was amazing, and the flavors were on point. The service was excellent -- friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. Highly recommend this place if you love Korean BBQ or just want a great dining experience! read more

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After reading the reviews, I thought this place was going to be a disaster. There was a security guard asking where we were going as we were about to enter the parking lot. That was a bit dramatic. The outdoor area is cute. The salad bar was cute. I thought service was going to be slow. It was fine. It was a lot faster than Gen. The robots did a great job too. There is 1 steak and 1 galbi option per person. The steak was good. Much better than Gen. The galbi was alright. When it comes to the meats marinades, it's more geared towards Koreans than Americans. I do appreciate that, but I kind of wish the bulgoki and galbi were a bit sweeter. I think its really 4.5. The price is a bit high at $36 per person. After an 18% tip, its near $100 for 2 people. I noticed the owner was working to keep the place running and looking clean. I appreciate that too. read more

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Has a lot of potential just needs to work out the kinks. Beautiful restaurant on the lake. HUGE capacity and grandiose decor. Even the cutlery is beautiful and elevated. First impression is that this is high end. The meat quality was okay and it was lacking flavor. Service was good. Our server was very personable and attentive. The robot server made for fun conversations. Atmosphere is spot on, with some improvement on internal operations this restaurant could be the next it date spot. read more

Amazing KBBQ right on the water! There is even a boat ride offered for a few extra bucks with your meal. Where else can you find that?! The service in incredible too. Went for the lunch special, but will definitely be back to try the happy hour since the deals look so good. They have a salad bar too! read more

Went recently and sadly it was raining outside so we sat inside but the views are gorgeous on the lake. Plenty of parking out front of the restaurant. Server was friendly and attentive. The food - especially the rib eye - was so good. The rib eye was so tender and juicy. We were really pleased with all the food we chose and we were full at the end of it. Would highly recommend this spot for good Korean BBQ and especially all you can eat! read more

To start it was a Friday night and we didn't have reservations. We arrived around 7pm and said it would be about 25-30mins. No problem, we sat at the bar and had a soju cocktail, which was 10/10 so delicious. Then after wondering about a table, the bartender went to ask the hostess for us, very sweet of her. The hostess then told us it would be a longer wait...we were not entirely pleased as I was becoming extremely famished. Thankfully by 7:45 we were sat at a table. Then had to wait another 15mins to have the waitress get our initial order..... Thankfully after that service went much faster. We were stuffed and happy by 8:30 to give you some clarity. Honestly, after the rocky start, I was really hoping the food wasn't going to be good. I have to say that was absolutely not the case. This is the best Korean bbq I've been to in Arizona. The food was incredible and fresh. When you do the premium you get three proteins and two appetizers. I didn't like how the menu had the appetizers mixed in and not listed separately. I loved having the little robots come around and deliver our food. The atmosphere was really nice too. Loved all the fun lights, and the tall ceilings. We sat inside so didn't get a good look at the patio. Next time, make a reservation and maybe the service goes smoother. Only knocked one star off for that. Food and ambiance really give this place so much potential. Hopefully once they get more waitstaff the place can really make that shift to being truly the best Korean Bbq in the valley. read more

Central BBQ Lakehouse - Menu - Korean Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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This place is honestly a poor excuse of a restaurant. The audacity to promote themselves as one of the most new poppin ayce Korean bbq spots in Arizona. Don't listen to TikTok or social media. Although the menu was extensive, it was confusing to read because they mixed all the different proteins with the sides. Service was extremely slow and ran by dysfunctional children and robots. They lack the work ethic of true Korean BBQ restaurants. We waited over 30 minutes simply just to get water. The servers kept forgetting and getting our orders wrong (even after writing it down). We had to keep asking over and over again. When they did finally bring us our meats, it was SMALL portions and BAD quality. The food wasn't worth the horrendous wait... All the parties around us left because the wait time was too long (way over the 2 hr limit). The venue space itself was huge, but it wasn't filled during weekend dinner rush? This says lot. Bathrooms were small and cramped and felt like you were on an airplane. They get one star because the view was at least nice (on a lake). DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DON'T COME HERE. IT LACKS STANDARD, QUALITY, AND EVERYTHING ABOVE. read more

Robots and delicious Korean BBQ?! This is not the old space at all. It's now trendy with the DJ. Everything looks great and the vibe was so fun! After visiting last night, I was really surprised about the poor reviews, but it looks like they're still in their soft opening. The restaurant looks beautiful! Seating was comfortable and the robots circled with fresh ordered items or collecting dishes The staff were smiling and friendly. The food was delicious . There are menu items for smaller appetites, ask the server. The all you can eat menu has SO many options! I'm excited to go back for lunch with my girlfriends! Much better than the old timer restaurant that was there! read more

Central BBQ Lakehouse - Hawaiian pork belly Beef Bulgogi Beef brisket - Korean Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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Great food with a view, nice professional staff, loved the salad bar all you can eat. House margaritas were just right on point. Lots of parking with security. read more

Central BBQ Lakehouse - Wife and I enjoying the ambiance - Korean Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Wow! Excellent service tonight from Sophia, Celine, Pati, & Jeff! Really made my night.

My friends and I came to this restaurant to celebrate a birthday, and we had 2 tables of 6 people. Coming into the restaurant, we had to wait about 20-30 minutes, as there were a few parties in front of us. We hung out at a bar for a while, and then ended up exploring the outside with the beautiful view. A little bit of time passed, and we were able to get seated. Our waitress came to greet us pretty quickly to take our order for both tables. With the amount of people that we had, we ordered a good amount of meat. Food started coming out in the robots, and we noticed that the robots weren't very useful. They kept running into each other, and it would bring food to the wrong table. After waiting about 20 minutes, only 2 of our meat plates came out, although we had ordered ~6 plates of meat, double order of some. We decided to order more meats while waiting for the rest of the orders to come out. Side dishes and soups came out pretty quickly, but meat dishes were very slow to come out. I give this place a 2 star because of the quality of the meat. I will say their quality is good. However, the meats were VERY slow to come out. We were informed that they only send out 3 meats at a time, and we asked that due to the amount of people that we have, if we could get more meats out at a time. The waitress said that was just how the kitchen works, which we understood. However, with how much time had passed at that point, we asked to cancel some of our meat orders. This place seems to milk your money in any way that they can. Unfortunately, even though the quality of the meats were good, we won't be returning. There are other AYCE KBBQ places that are much better! read more

Great place awesome service! Good always fresh and the atmosphere is great! Can't wait to go back read more

The food is terrible. The service is awful and as a resident in the lakes community, the fact that they're not willing to share the parking lot with Pier 54 is ridiculous. Would not recommend to anybody. It's a terrible terrible restaurant. read more

Terrible service, terrible parking and unfriendly employees. I would never come anywhere near this restaurant.