Good food, good atmosphere. Friendly staff. Can't ask for a whole lot more in Edgewater

Somewhat of a small place but the food is great and the staff is extremely nice. Abundance of beer selections. Nice outdoor area to eat if you want to bring your pet. Definitely recommend this place. read more

I have been to a-lot of restaurants but never had I felt like a fish out of water. I was wrongfully accused of taking someone's table and talked to as if I didn't belong. One of the waitress asked was we done with the takeout menu as if we could not take it with us and she took it off the table. Needless to say I will never go back and the food was not that great anyway. Smoke wings taste fried and the ribs taste like they were cooked in the oven. Not a place for people of color read more

Pulled up at Chads tonight to place an order. The lady at the register asked if we called in an order. When we said no she responded that we had to pull out of one and call in our order. Said she had a lot of people waiting on orders. There was no one in line behind us. She refused to take our order. We pulled out of line and right out of the parking lot. What an establishment. We would have gladly waited in the parking lot but she wouldn't even take our order. Bottom line PHONE IN ORDERS ONLY. read more

By FAR, the best BBQ in MD -- and, yes, I've eaten there, there, there, there, and there, and everywhere else available within an hour or more's drive of Baltimore/Annapolis. It may be the best in DelMarVar/DC, but I haven't been as exhaustive in trying the other options, so I won't sa that. And unlike my fellow yelpers, I don't post superlatives -- nor five-star ratings -- lightly... I've been a fan of BBQ for decades, and am pretty good at it myself: Until I ate here, whenever I wanted a decent BBQ meal, I *always* thought first "would I rather cook myself, since every other easily available option 'round here has been disappointing?" I'll be heading to Chad's when I don't REALLY feel like cooking for an entire day (or more!) now. I stopped yelping years ago, because the constant (justified) criticisms of restaurants in this area was destroying my soul. I logged back in to post a review of this place, and am glad to see it getting the love it deserves. The only caveat I'll add is that I've only been once -- so far! -- and the region's one consistent trait, that there's no consistency from one day to the next at -any- restaurant around here, concerns me. As I build up repeated visits (though I'm rarely in the 'hood, but that might change thanks to Chad's), I'll update this review. Fingers crossed that Chad's has defeated that seemingly omnipresent demon. Go. Make the drive. Do yourself a favor and make it on a Sunday, so you can get the brisket. If Mr. Franklin deserves a four hour wait for his (and that's debatable), the example I was served yesterday deserves at least a line out the door and into the parking lot! In fact, one of the reasons I'm bothering to add on to all the other praise is that I hope they build enough business / volume to start offering the "Fatty or lean?" option when ordering! Go get the brisket! I was a little concerned by the extensive menu (too many options often equals inability to execute them all well, and, thus, landmines), but the sampler platter and brisket we got were all exceptional enough that I want to go back and eat my way through the whole thing. They _clearly_ care about the food, and _clearly_ are making the right kind of efforts to get it right -- it shows in the meats, the sauces, the presentation, all of it. Speaking of appearances: This place is WAY too clean and tidy to serve BBQ as delicious as it does! I can only guess they have access to some kind of alien technology. Service was of the common young-and-friendly/eager high school/college kids style, but couldn't have been more pleasant, helpful, and accurate, for what that's worth. (That is, not that service matters much in a real BBQ joint, if you ask me... as long as the meat is good enough. But it's a nice bonus when it's also praiseworthy.) Bonus: Well behaved, quiet, leashed dogs are welcome on the patio. Something I REALLY appreciate. In fact, I appreciate it so much that I added that "well behaved, quiet, leashed" bit, as their sign just said "dogs welcome." Let's not give them a reason to reconsider that open door policy, ok? Now, I never trust a favorable review without some constructive criticism, so here's a couple minor points: -- Rib doneness is a matter of great debate. _Personally_, I thought they were just a touch overdone and too fall-off-the-bone/dry. But my better half immediately said, "hey! These are how I like them! Can you make them like this?" So, to each their own. -- The collards _desperately_ need help. At least, again, to my taste. I'd strongly suggest tossing in some of the delicious pulled pork or hunks of the equally tasty sausage. Something. Add fat. Liven them up. But maybe there's a passionate group of people who enjoy thoroughly, THOROUGHLY boiled collards served with little else but their own collard flavor. I don't. I'd suggest heading over to the Hideaway to try theirs -- that's the one thing they do better. Total honesty time: I desperately tried to like/defend/want to eat them, but the pint container hit the garbage bin more than half full. : ( But the meats were -so- uncommonly excellent that I can't knock a star off. On the other hand, it's not like all the sides are bad -- I couldn't leave without getting a pint of their house pickles to go, so they're obviously forgiven! -- Some will argue that there wasn't enough smoke in the meats. I fully admit that I over-smoke, because I enjoy BBQ _heavily_ smoke-seasoned. Chad's has a more subtle approach, but it's still clearly smokey BBQ. And LIGHT YEARS better than some of the competition that uses heavy pours of liquid smoke. Ok. Now I want BBQ again. Thanks to Chad's, I can now look forward to my better half's occasional runs to Homestead Gardens, rather than dreading them! read more

I've been to this place twice for lunch and the burgers are fantastic. I've had the smoked burger both times because it was too good to stray and try something else. Everything else looks delicious too. Service was excellent and fast. They move you along during lunch because the dining room is small and they're understandably busy. read more

Lunch at Chad's means boating season is almost here. So ready. Looking forward to our next visit.

Wow! What a fantastic surprise! This little BBQ bungalow on the side of the road is a total gem. I visited the restaurant specifically for a fund raiser event to benefit Mutts Matter Rescue. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable. Chad's BBQ feels like it has been a local hotspot for decades. The food was DELICIOUS!!!!! I had the Alabama 1/2 chicken with Alabama white BBQ sauce. The white BBQ sauce was tangy and mild all at the same time. The chicken was tender and juicy. Chad's BBQ makes a really tasty cornbread too, crumbly but moist and a great tool to sop up that extra BBQ sauce! Absolutely yummy! The portions were generous but the meal was very reasonably priced. You will not leave here hungry. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone traveling through Edgewater but it will not disappoint if you go out of your way to eat there either! read more

Good food, pretty good beer selection, very cool atmosphere. Friendly staff. Definitely my favorite restaurant in the Edgewater area. read more

I agree with the other reviewers, tasty food but quite pricey for what it is. To feed four of us, one of which only ate mac n cheese, it was just shy of $50! We didn't order beer or appetizers, just 2 sandwiches, wings, fries, a side of mac n cheese, fries, and 4 drinks. If we each would have ordered a side or if all four of us ordered a sandwich, it would have approached 60-70 dollars. Yikes! I'd considering visiting again under the right circumstances, but probably wouldn't go on a whim for lunch (which is what happened this time). For that amount, we could visit Mission BBQ in Glen Burnie (or other areas) and feed a small army with the same quality (or better) BBQ. Also note, the inside dining area is quite small. Roughly 10 to 12 tables which were all full when we walked in. Luckily it was a nice day outside, otherwise eating would have been a challenge. read more

Just had the taco special. Wow enlightened and not what I expected. Dont miss this place! Btw the green hot sauce on the side was crazy hot so be careful read more

Ordered $96.00 today. Took way too long for our order. Most of the order was cold. French Fries were cold. I think they were under staffed. We have ordered before and disappointed this time. read more

Wow! Cane here when it first opened and wasn't impressed by the confusion. Drove past for years. Shame on ME! It's me that has been missing out. Great menu. Incredible pastrami. Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu. Even the soft drinks are from a gourmet company, and are great. Don't make the same mistake I made. When you drive bye, stop in for great food. They even have a patio where I can set with my puppy! read more

Don't let the name for you this is not some restaurant with your standard barbecue. It is very nice but small establishment that turns out very creative concoctions! My only complaint is it's too small and I can't always get table . But it's worth the wait read more

This is the best place. The staff is fun and the food is incredible. I always eat way too much of the aforementioned food. It's always a great place to meet friends. read more

Took the KCBS certified BBQ judge a little time to finally swing by Chad's - leave it to Valpak and 15% off to swing me today. Ordered 1/2 chicken and a sampler platter to go. Not going to be a lengthy review - just the bottom line. Chad did well inheriting Wharfside as it was a turnkey restaurant and looks about the same - quaint and clean and tight. Glad the patio is still running with music - it's still a good local hangout. Food wise however I think Chad's needs considerable work. My sampling primarily was lacking smoke. Smoke rings, smoke flavor, smoke anything. It's there - but very very faint. If you've ever been to any good Q house in Texas you leave smelling of the stuff. I didn't smell any at all around the premises inside or out. Pulled pork was mushy, oversauced, and lacked any particular character - mine was 'house' style as recommended by the young man at the counter. The chicken was cooked well, moist, and I like the Alabama white sauce *idea* however I didn't care much for the sauce itself - a little tangier than I've had IN Alabama. Again - not a trace of smoke ring or smoke on the chicken. Hot link was a little on the dry side, lacked good 'snap' and again - where's the beef? I mean smoke? Would like some spicy brown mustard to go with it too. That might have been available I didn't stay to peruse the condiment counter if there was one. And finally the ribs - which was the entire reason I really wanted to go - picked them up by the bone and the whole thing dropped to the tray leaving a bare bone in my hand. Seriously overcooked (yup falling off the bone alright - which is a marketing myth perpetuated by Chili's, Boston Market, and other places that have no business serving BBQ - they are supposed to tear from the bone not plummet from it). I prefer dry ribs myself but this was beyond class subjectivity - they lacked smoke again, and were not just a little overcooked but horribly overcooked. Sauce had more sweet than spicy for my liking as well - I expect savory out of ribs not candy. That however IS subjective - some folks like sweet sauced ribs. Red Hot & Blue offers the choice - I wasn't offered that choice myself. The platters were pleasingly presented and came with bread/roll, pickles, and onions. Sampler is $13.50 and 1/2 chicken $8.50. That said - it IS serviceable fare and I wish Chad the best of luck. In a town that keeps positively horrifying places to eat like Friendly's, Plazeulas, Dragon House, Hong Kong Buffet, and La Fiesta in business I'd say Chad's is safe. I myself won't be returning. Not remotely humbly submitted this day. D. Food Snob, Ph.D. NOTE: I noticed a few folks mentioning they'd prefer Adams over Chads - for the record I place Adams UNDER Chads - Adam's are some of the very worst ribs I've ever had and as a judge - I've had some very bad ribs. read more

Initially came here for Shiela, the bartender, but found the food to be very good as well. The pickle fries are great and the burger is awesome too. They have a great beer selection, and the margarita is always a good option here. read more

I didn't eat at the restaurant, rather I was treated to a tailgate party at a Bowie Baysox game that was catered by Chad and his crew. I understand that barbecue is very subjective, and I am a devotee of the Texas school, but this was some good barbecue. The brisket was a bit dry, but chopped and slathered in a fairly good sweet sauce. The coleslaw was piled on top of the brisket, with the vinegar and mustard balancing the sweetness of the sauce, and made an excellent sandwich. The pulled pork was a pleasant surprise, moist with a vinegary tang and a bit of spice. The collards were tender and flavorful, and the Mac and cheese was creamy and tasty (even if one if it's ingredients looked to be cream cheese...). I think I will check out the restaurant next time I am in the area. read more

So amazingly TASTY! First time to the great BBQ place! Had the Chads Sampler...hubby had the House Sauce and I had the Carolina Sauce. Brilliant! Ordered the collard green, coleslaw and pork & beans (possibly the best I've had). It was just what we wanted today! Chad was behind the counter and was a perfect host. Took some house made pickles home; I love pickles. Chads will become a staple. Can't wait for a wonderful summer night to try the outside patio!!! read more

Excellent BBQ. Their thoughtful selection of barbecue items and proprietary recipes make this BBQ restaurant worth the stop. Simple, flavorful, and fast. read more

The pulled pork and sides were all excellent, but the amount of food in the family meal was not nearly enough. It supposedly feeds 3-4 but left 4 us still hungry and scratching our heads. There would have been enough pork for maybe 2 proper sandwiches; as a result 4 of us had pork-flavored buns and tiny piles of beans and salt potatoes. The kids pizza was undercooked and we had to crisp it in the toaster oven before my daughter could eat it. A very mixed experience for a place that I was so looking forward to. I'm sure it all works out if ordered individually, but currently the 'family meal' feeds about half the suggested amount. A shame because the small amount of food we had was so good.... read more

I have only had take out from here therefore I cannot comment on the restaurant besides the food. The takeout was great! I can only imagine how good it would be i dined in. read more

This is a really cute spot for lunch. They have limited indoor seating, a bar and a very nice outdoor area. The smoked turkey sandwich was awesome. Fresh sweet potato fries and great sweet tea. They also serve different types of sodas that aren't your average Coke and Pepsi. Food was quick and fresh, would definitely visit again if we're on this side of the bridge! read more

I've now been to this place many times and it is just awesome and I've upped my rating to 5 stars. The whole staff is warm and friendly, the bartenders are just great - you feel very welcome and like family. Every time we've been there we've ended up chatting with our neighbors around the bar, which is really nice. Love the music they play too. The food is delicious and absolutely consistently good. It's hard to not order the Smoke Burger every time, it's just phenomenal and cooked perfectly every single time. Love their wings too! We've also ordered a huge tray of mac n cheese for a party and that process was great, the mac delicious as always, and devoured by our friends. The beer selection has grown and offers great options, and lots of local craft beers which is great. They also make probably the best margaritas around, tastes like they use fresh lime juice and are perfectly balanced - not too sour or sweet. Also love the mules and dark n stormies (or really any beverage in those copper mugs). Love this place! It's become our go-to "I don't feel like cooking" place :) read more

The food is good. The jalapeño honey wings deserve the awards they have won. But the reality is, the sandwiches are expensive. Paying $9 for a pulled pork sandwich with NO sides is ridiculous. And EXTRA for pickles and cole slaw on top of that. I'm not sure how 25 cents worth of slaw or potato salad would break them. Sides make people feel like they are getting their money's worth. Too many eatery options to keep charging this much with no sides. read more

My pulled pork was amazing. The brisket sandwich was 4 out of 5. The mac and cheese was sooo good and you can tell everything is homemade. We sat down to eat and the place is just so clean and inviting. Will definitely come back!!! read more

Delicious burger. Wings were yummy. My drink was strong. Service was friendly. The decor was cute. Will certainly return.

My husband and I both ordered the burger and they were fantastic! Cooked to temperature for both (med rare and well done) and the bacon jam was delicious!!!! The hubby loves coleslaw and said the Chad version of slaw was amazing! The salt potatoes were great too, soft and buttery. The bar was full and definitely had good looking drinks. Staff was friendly and the place was clean. We will definitely be coming back because we can't wait to try the mac and cheese, meatloaf and more! read more

This place was really awesome we drove all the way from silver spring MD to try this very home feel type of restaurants the food was amazing the service was second to none it was awesome everything and everyone here is the absolute best you can't​ask for better really really really great read more

I've eaten at Chad's BBQ 3 times since they opened a little over a week ago (ssshh, dont tell my wife) and am very confused by the 3 poor reviews. The Andrews AFB people gave Five Guys burgers 5 stars so I'm not sure how much I trust their opinion. What true culinary experts they must be! :) Anyway.... Please do yourself a favor and give it a try!!! Lots of buzz going around about this place! I love the House pulled pork BBQ sandwich! Throw some slaw and pickles on there you are good to go!! Oh yeah...I love the salt potatoes too! They are like little chunks of heaven! I had the meatloaf the second time I went and wow...what a surprise! Very unique and tasty! My third trip...I loved the house pulled pork so much, I ordered it again! Apparently lots of other people liked it too because I got the last one for the day. Really nice laid back atmosphere and the staff have been very nice everytime I've been there! Dales Pale Ale & Fat Tire in the can! Go check it out and have fun! read more

Outstanding BBQ! No late night. Early bird gets the worm before 8:00 pm. Collard greens and ribs are wonderful!

A family favorite. We make the drive from McLean, VA, to Edgewater, MD, to have a delicious weekend lunch at Chad's. Their Governor's wings are flavorful and it's because the Maryland chicken used is delicious. Ordered the pork belly BLT off the specials board today and was not disappointed. Hope it becomes a regular menu item. Highly recommend Chad's! read more

Wow! Great place for some true bbq flavors. It's off the hoof. This will be an Annapolis tradition very soon. Eat in or carry out its the same great food!! Chad is dedicated to his culinary craft. read more

Great BBQ! The food is awesome; the service is great. We go all the time. Try the brisket chili when they have it...it's amazing! (Wish they had it more.). Only drawback is that the menu is pretty limited. But that being said, everything on the menu is great!! Oh, and by far, they have the BEST burger I've ever had!! read more

Myself and a fried stopped by Chad's recently for lunch. When entering it's obvious that it is clean and setup nicely with a good menu. The Staff was friendly and the food came out quickly. I had ordered the brisket sandwich, cole slaw , and pickles. My friend ordered the B.L.T. And macaroni & cheese. My sandwich was mostly bread. It was a soft bun with very little meat in side. The cole slaw was ok. The best part of my meal was the pickles. They had the perfect combination of sweet and sour. My friend stated she enjoyed the B.L.T. , however she was disappointed that she didn't get to try the macaroni & cheese. The lady taking our order didn't hear us requesting an order of macaroni & cheese because it was so loud. Chad's is very small and very loud restaurant. It was so loud there , it was difficult to hold a conversation with the person sitting next me at my table.I think Chad's is a place with allot of potential. However if Chad's doesn't make a few minor adjustments such as lager portion sizes ; it's worth skipping. read more

Our family had lunch here... and everything was delicious! Fall-off-the-bone ribs. Mouth-watering wings with the perfect 'kick.' The brisket was perfect. The Rachel was awesome with the perfect amount of Cole slaw, cheese and dressing. Definitely going back!! read more

Great little joint! Love the Alabama Chicken and of course the Honey-Jalapeno wings are a must!! Best of all, being a Texan, they carry Shiner at the bar! Just wish they had more seating! read more

The house cured Pastrami is excellent. We loved the Rachel sandwich and the cheesesteak. Craft sodas are a nice touch. Very friendly service too! read more

Had lunch here today and ordered the pulled pork sandwich. Before I get to the pork I must say the staff where very nice and had great customer service that I haven't seen in this state since I moved here in 2010. Service was speedy and it's a nice cozy place. The pork sandwich was good. I've had a lot of pulled pork sandwiches and just wished this one had more smoke flavor and seasoning. There didn't appear to be any bark in it which I find very tasty. Meat was dry but covered by the sauce. Good sauce but way to much on the meat. Of course I have to eat mine with cole slaw on it which was very good. It was a good sandwich but not enough to make me think about going there often. Get some more smoke and flavor on that meat and it would be great and I would be there all the time. read more

My favorite BBQ place (Rusty's in Gambrills) is so far for me that I can only go once in a blue moon. So, when I saw that Chad's had opened close-by I decided to give it a try. (Tim, I should have just listened to your review and saved myself the trip--and money...) So sad, but this place is not even close. Let me at least start with the positives: Nice clean charming place to eat in--Rusty's can't match this part. I liked the bar with the 2 tvs running sports programs--very welcoming. The girl who helped me at the counter was sweet and well intentioned, but clueless about the food. "Are your pickles sweet?" "I don't know, I've never eaten them." "Is your applesauce made here?" "I don't know let me ask." (BTW for GREAT home made applesauce try Palate Pleasers) I wanted to try a little of everything so I ordered the sampler, the half chicken and some sides. Here is how they fared in my not so humble opinion: Chicken-I HATED the spice rub and was not a fan of the white sauce either.( If you want a good smoked chicken and can't make it to Rusty's, The Smokhouse on Hillsmere Dr has an excellent one) Ribs--horrible greasy mushy yuk with sauce poured over. I suppose for those who like falling off the bone these would not be considered terrible but for anyone who likes a decent toothsome bite ...fahgetaboutit. (Only 2 places in town that I know of with good ribs--Rusty's and Red Hot and Blue) Sausage-not my cup of tea at all but this may just be my issue not their's--I just don't know enough about sausages. Pulled pork-WAY too sweet--and I am a sweetaholic. This had no dimension of flavor at all--just flat out sweet. BBQ Beans-inedible--what in the world is that flavor??? Vinegar?? Not sure but it's awful Salt Potatoes-fair, but tasted like they were cooked in cheap margarine rather than velvety butter. I can make WAY better ones at home. Cole Slaw-fair Pickles-nice-good balance of sweet and spice. Unfortunately these alone will not draw me back. So, as you can see, I am not a fan, will not be back and just have to make do with the rare times I can make it to Rusty's and enjoy the Smokehouse and RH &B in between... read more