This is the Burger Man out here searching for the best burgers, and I was invited to score the…read moreburger for Holy Smoke BBQ, and I think I just found one of my Top Burgers for 2026. Fresh hand-patted burger patty, fresh toppings, and grilled to perfection. A small BBQ place with Big Taste. I definitely recommend this place for awesome food and customer service.

The people that own and run Holy Smokes are absolute treasures. This is a simple, family owned,…read moreand local southern business that takes pride in their food and feels a responsibility to their community. It's a humble restaurant, the inside isn't going to wow you - cabin like appearance and very simple seating. And you can smell the smoke as you pull up. Nothing new here in ages other than the very humble banquet hall that has just popped up. Your mind will drift back to an earlier time where a rail side bbq restaurant pops up to feed the locals. I honestly can't imagine ever going back to the big city for a "culinary experience" as long as I have eating options like this. Bon Appetit / happy eating, yelpers!

We literally ran through the menu. The ribs are great, so is the chopped bbq, and the BBQ loaded…read morepotato lives up to its name. Let me also mention the sides. The baked beans - not what you'd expect (in a good way). They're not sickeningly sweet and have a little zip to them (and good helping of smoked pork added). We weren't crazy about the yellow slaw, just not our thing. But it might be yours. Today we got takeout, but this place has a dining room that seats plenty of guests, has great views of the lake, and the service is really great - the young woman who took our order was as kind as could be. Bring cash (there's a charge for cards - seems to be more and more common these days). And, bring an empty stomach. I couldn't eat all of my ribs, so my son (who was born hollow) finished them off (as well as his sister's). The next time we come we will dine in - I'm looking forward to that.

Yesterday, we were passing through the area and decided to stop in for lunch around 1 p.m. We sat…read morein the last booth on the right, near the window overlooking the river. Unfortunately, we waited about 20 minutes without any acknowledgment from the staff. Eventually, we got up and left. On a positive note, the food coming out to other tables looked good, parking was convenient, and the restroom was clean.

Sort of in the middle of nowhere. I ordered fish and chips. Fair price. Good portion. Tasty…read morefood. So there is a window you order at and then walk around and enter another place to sit down. They bring your food there when ready.

Wow! Best chicken tenders I've ever eaten. We stopped in…read morebecause it was the only food close by, and we were pleasantly surprised!! Clean, beautifully built dining room, yummy lunch and affordable!

10/10--absolutely worth the stop!…read more If you're heading to Lynchburg for the Jack Daniel's Distillery (or any of the nearby whiskey distilleries), do yourself a favor and eat at Barrel House BBQ afterward. First things first: if you're a die-hard brisket lover, just know they don't serve brisket. But honestly? Their ribs more than make up for it. Coming from Florida, where truly great, non-franchise barbecue can be hard to find, we're always excited to try local BBQ when we travel. Barrel House absolutely exceeded our expectations. We ordered the three-meat platter with sides (and couldn't resist adding a couple of extras), and every single bite was fantastic. The meats were tender and juicy, nothing was dry, and the barbecue sauce was incredible. What really made the experience stand out was the atmosphere. It's a small, tucked-away hole-in-the-wall that feels welcoming the moment you walk in. You can grab a marker and sign the walls, which was a fun touch, and they also encourage guests to leave signed dollar bills that are donated to a charitable cause each year. It's those little details that make places memorable. The owner (or manager--I never did ask which) was outstanding. Even during a busy lunch rush, he was everywhere at once--helping customers, running food, supporting his staff, and making sure everyone was taken care of. You could tell he genuinely cared about both his employees and his guests. Sometimes the best restaurants are the ones hiding down a side street, and this place proves it. We'll absolutely be back the next time we're in Lynchburg. Highly recommend!

Loved the location of this place. Spacious and roomy. Plenty of seating…read more The service was great, very fast, attentive and efficient. The waitress was friendly and gave some amazing recommendations!! The sandwich was a nice touch. Very original and filling. Their potato salad was one of the better ones I've had in a long, long time. The vinegar slaw was great and original as well. Nicely done. The best part of this meal were the ribs. I have got to say that these were the best ribs I've ever had in my life. And, let me tell you... I've had a lot of ribs... the meat just melted off the bones. The flavor was next level. And, the proportions of meat to bone are ones I've never seen in my life, not even at a backyard barbecue. If you haven't been and are in the area, go check it out!!! You won't be disappointed. Ah-mazing!!!

Wonderful people!! So glad we made the trek down to this place. All the folks were friendly, we…read morewere allowed to shelter on the patio with our dogs, the food was delicious!! Can't say enough good things about this bbq spot. It is well worth the trek from Veteran's highway down into the campground to find it.

The barbecue is great here. And all of the sides. They are quite busy most of the time so prepare…read moreto wait in line with limited seating, but it is worth it.

We ate here everyday of our mountain getaway. Breakfast, lunch, I didn't get dinner here but they…read morehave delicious looking casseroles that you take home & pop into the oven. Yum! And no joke, they looked super delicious. Cheesy, creamy, meat and carbs: omg. Lots of wine and beer. Tons and tons of gifts and trinkets to take home and commemorate your mountain visit. I didn't photograph much of it but they had great items. There's a bar to eat or sip your coffee right near the front or a large side room with ample seating. The breakfast biscuit sandwiches were off the chart! If they weren't homemade biscuits, I don't want to know because they were delicious. Definitely stop in here. Even if just for a vitamin water or a memento, it's a fab little market. They've got you covered!

Grabbed a bite to eat after a hike at desoto falls! Very yummy and fresh food! Several people got…read morethe soup of the day (taco) with cornbread, Italian sandwich with chips, stuffed pork baked potato, and pizza. I got the cold Cessear salad wrap with chicken and it was very tasty! Limited seating so our party of 12 had to split up. The gift shop had lots of local nick nack stuff too! You can also get things to go in the grocery market store like deli meats and cheeses. I saw some people buying eggs and bread. Greta place! Would highly recommend if you need a light lunch!

Celebrated my milestone birthday with my favorite humans. And let me tell you, this place…read moreunderstood the assignment. First time visiting, and not only was the food to the moon fantastic with portions big enough to feed the inhabitants of Jupiter! but the man serenaded me. Yes, I got dinner and a show. The brisket? Tender enough to not use your dentures The pulled pork? Plentiful like it was trying to apologize for every bad BBQ I've ever had. And that Georgia sweet sauce? A whole spiritual experience. The green beans came in seasoned like they had something to prove, and the banana puddin'... well, that was the kind of dessert that makes you rethink your life choices in the best way. Staff was friendly, helpful and accommodating. Loved the rustic eclectic decor! 10/10 would celebrate being fabulous here again.

Hands down the best BBQ in the state. Would put the…read morebrisket up against the big Texas boys. Ribs are phenomenal. Sides are great. Deserts are great. Pulled pork is pulled pork. Awesome people. If you are heading to Chattanooga from Atlanta it's worth the drive off 75 to go here. Exactly what you want from a legit bbq place. Limited seating indoors. But nice screened in porch and tons of seating outdoors in the back. Highly, highly recommend.

A fun lunch stop on a leisurely country drive…read more Wife had the bbq chicken salad. Ok, but more a fried chicken salad with a little bbq flavor. I did the burger sliders appetizer. Impressed. The beef was clearly ground in house and was a wonderful coarse grind. excellent. With the buns charred on the grill, it made an excellent light lunch without any sides needed. Added bonus for house brewed beer. Found the kolsch a tasty lunch treat. Warmish inside, and hot outside, sadly the views that day were shrouded in haze. Don't know when we'd ever be back in the area, but if we were, I'd not hesitate to suggest a repeat stop.

We were finally able to try TOTR recently. Had heard great things about this restaurant--and for…read morethe most part, it's all true. The food, seating environment and view (or course) are really good. Pricing is on the higher end but fair for what you get. So 3 stars for that. The staff that greets and seats you--as well as our waitress--was unfriendly bordering on rude. Just weird. Our local friends state that there are a lot of out-of-state residents living nearby (especially California expats) and they're not well liked. That may be the case, but it appeared that everyone was treated shabbily. Kinda sours the experience. Lastly, there were a lot of flies. I counted 10 at one time near the entrance, kitchen and booth seating. You can see a few on the photo I attached. That really hurts the dining experience. This is a one and done for us.

This is exactly why I love Yelp! We found this spot on a road trip and wanted something local. Holy…read moreBBQ spot... this was a gem. We got several platters (chicken and pork) and various sides. Everything was so good and tasted like your family made it for you. Some standout items: the coleslaw is super finely chopped which gives it a really good texture, flavor is great. The potato salad was creamy and perfectly seasoned. The pork was so Smokey and tender. Their sauce is super great, would pour that on everything. The fried okra was so tasty, we ate every piece. They have so much cheese in the poppers, delicious. If you're passing through the East Ridge area of Chattanooga, I highly suggest checking out this awesome spot for great food at an even better price. Thanks for the great experience!

This is The Burger Man, with Best Burgers in America Association, and I was invited to score their…read moreburger. I got the Skylar Double Burger. A 1-pound Burger. It is a fresh hand-patted-out patty, Not a frozen one. Top-grade ground beef. The toppings were amazing: fresh tomatoes, Iceberg Lettuce, Onions, Pickles, Ketchup, and two pieces of melted cheese. This burger checked all the boxes as being one of my Top Burgers for 2026. Customer Service was amazing as well. I recommend this place for great burgers, BBQ, and sides.

I haven't made it to Tate's for several years, but it is the best BBQ out there. The meat has…read moreflavor and the Carolina, vinegar based sauce is my favorite. It was rarely a family event when we didn't make it to Tate's to pick up pulled pork. If you want a sweet sauce, this is not really your place. This is truly a hole in the wall, and the hours are limited, and not always followed (the only reason it doesn't get a 5 for me), but the smoke flavor is better than most of the big name places. It was so nice to enjoy our 3 pounds we brought home and had on sandwiches for the fourth. It tasted like home. To the owners of Tate's-I have never found another place that does it quiet like you do. This is the best. Only advice-call ahead! This way you don't miss them! Hope to see you next time I am "home."

I love the barbecue here. The beans are my favorite. The slaw is my most favorite. It's always so…read moregood. My favorite place to eat.