Apps: fresh hot pork rinds....amazing still cracking when they arrive Lunch: waffles and fried chicken....the gravy is a butter gravy with syrup.....best I ever had. Dessert : banana pudding .....and I'm ready to pass out We drove out of our way for this one. And it was well worth it. read more

Went here after seeing great reviews. I am sorry to report that I had a half rack of ribs. Shoeleather would have been better. I am old and have had ribs for more than fifty years. There were very small if any ribs and a lot of cartilage. It was very very tough. The side were excellent. Best super cold beer. read more

Service was good. This is what we ordered rated 1-5 stars. 5 being excellent. 1. Fried chicken dark=3 2. Cucumber salad=4 3. Cole slaw=4 4. Pulled pork=3 5. BBQ baked beans=4 6. Brisket=1 The brisket was saaaaaad. Little to no smoke flavor and it was leathery/dry. All in all I thought their sides were the best part and the bbq was ok at best. If I went back, thats a big if, I would get the fried chicken dinner as that was a pretty good deal and it was passable. read more

Best bbq in town. Great portions and prices. The vibe in the restaurant is cozy and welcoming. Darrell is a hands on owner. He is excellent at catering and communicating. read more

Excellent service. Good bbq. Cute, clean and nice place to grab lunch or dinner where you know your appreciated as a customer.

Service was absolutely great. Food was average barbecue and the kitchen was over loaded with orders. Ambiance is pretty basic. A few screaming babies. Better suited to a family dinner than a couple. read more

My husband and i stopped for dinner this evening. As always food was delicious service (Gavin) fantastic. Even got my dessert using my venice card. when I got home I realized a bank envelope was missing. I called they knew exactly who we were and had put the envelope in the office. Please support this amazing local restaurant I promise you won't be disappointed. This proves there are still honest hard working young adults. read more

We catered Darrell's in for a GroundBreaking Event at CenterPointe Church. Darrel was a delight to work with, took very little time to set up the catering. Delivery was right on time, quick and perfection. We catered in Pulled Pork/rolls, mac and cheese & beans for 300 people. It was excellent from start to finish. If you need lunch or dinner out or catering I would absolutely recommend Darrell's Restaurant in Venice. You can't go wrong! read more

I gave it a 3.... It's a 3.5. The staff were super and the restaurant is super clean. I had the nachos and the pulled pork should have been on a milk carton... missing. Beers were cold wine was good, I just wish the two bbq sauces were identified and I was also hoping for a hot option. read more

We started on meal with the fried green tomatoes. There were six large tomato slices in the order they were cooked perfectly and the sauce was delicious. Husband had to piggyback Mac, and I had the day special, which was the shrimp dinner, which was grilled. My sides were a big, sweet potato and the cucumber salad. Both were excellent. The shrimp cook perfectly. Husband loves his piggyback Mac, but it was way too much, so we're taking it home and having it is leftovers another day. I would highly recommend this to anyone. Very close to the Venice beaches, and a great place to stop on your way home. Yum! read more

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We had several choices and we chose right. The food, service, and ambiance of the restaurant were very nice to catch up with friends. The server was attentive and we also enjoyed his humor because we were a lively crew. I believe he was the owner's son. And I must mention chicken and beef liver was on the menu. The chicken livers were cooked to perfection. read more

Darrell's Restaurant - Chicken liver dinner. - Southern Near Me - Venice, Florida

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The entrees are all excellent. Comfortable atmosphere with outstanding service! The Mac n cheese as well as the chicken livers are two of our favorites!! read more

Sea food gumbo had no shrimp even though the menu says there is shrimp. Brisket sandwich was like a piece of rubber, not edible.

My husband and I just recently moved to Venice and finally made it in to Darrell's. My husband had a BBQ baked potato and he said it was excellent. I strayed from BBQ and chose the dark meat fried chicken. Holy Wow!! It was so delicious. Absolutely the best fried chicken I have ever had, hands down. I don't think I will ever order anything there but the chicken it was that good. Add the food to the super friendly wait staff and we have a new favorite restaurant. read more

First timer and my husband and I loved it! I got the Saturday special 1/2 rack of ribs and bacon wrapped shrimp that were delicious. The ribs were not my favorite(baby back fall off the bone tender), but they were still very tender and scrumptious! The sauces are on the table. My favorite was the sweet and also the spicy sauces..Mixed together, tasted perfecto! Not a fan of the Carolina sauce. Too tangy for my taste. The shrimp were large and so good! Hubby had their Mac and piggy, a signature dish, I believe that's what it was called. He drizzled little bbq sauce on the pork and OMG! Fantastic! Sides: sweet potato fries, yummy! Cornbread was off the hook! Potato salad was homemade and tasty. Baked beans were good but not great.. lacked something. Maybe a little smoke flavor. Our server was on point and everyone was friendly as can be. Everything we enjoy about dining out, was at Darrell's! Can't wait to go back and try other menu items! read more

Darrell's Restaurant - Saturday special and Mac and Piggy signature dish! - Southern Near Me - Venice, Florida

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The ribs and brisket are some of the best comfort food in the area. The rib meat falls off the bones and the brisket is very juicy. The service is terrific. Food comes out fast and the wait staff is very personal. Looks like a western restaurant inside which tends to be a little to dark. Make sure you introduce yourself to the owner Darrell who was a waiter at The Gold Rush down the street. read more

Dropped by because we were in the mood for some good bbq and we were not disappointed. We weren't the biggest fans of the brisket but everything else made up for it. We recommend the pulled pork, baked beans, sweet potato, cucumber salad, and banana pudding! Fantastic service. read more

Darrell's Restaurant - Banana pudding - Southern Near Me - Venice, Florida

Great service and food. We had pulled pork sandwiches, vegetables plate, and banana pudding.

We found Darrell's Just passing through Venice, Florida. upon entry we were pleasantly greeted and told we could sit anywhere we would like. The restaurant was very clean and had a very friendly feel about it. There was four of us and everything that we ordered was on point, but the real reason we would return to Darrell's restaurant is because of Lisa. read more

A MAC AND CHEESE LOVERS MUST!! Went in right before close and offered to take it to go but they said it was not a problem. Our hostess and waitress were both friendly. I decided to try the waitress recommendation of the daily special- the Meatloaf. My order came out very fast. The meatloaf was good but not anything exciting. The Mac and cheese was the real star. If I make it back, I will be getting an entree size. You have to at least get a side of it when you try this place. Overall, I am looking forward to trying this place out again now that I know what to order. Hopefully I get to update the rating. read more

Darrell's Restaurant - Meatloaf - Southern Near Me - Venice, Florida

Today I was super-impressed by this restaurant & its owner. 11 of us from my bicycling group descended on Darrell's Restaurant at lunch time. Awhile back I gave the owner, Darrell, a heads up that we'd be coming. He systematically contacted me to let me know he'd house our bikes in his garage to keep them safe while we ate. He offered us a separate dining room for our group & promised to take good care of us. When we arrived today, he & his awesome crew exceeded all expectations. His server, Rayanne, took incredible care of our group. She & the restaurant staff served us our meals quickly & the food was spot on. I ordered a lean brisket sandwich. It came lean, & the taste was perfect. I enjoyed their several choices of bbq sauces. For a side I requested potato salad which they said they were out of. I chose cucumber salad instead & enjoyed that immensely. It had contained a tasty vinegar, sugar, herb, & cuke mix. The restaurant was clean, & in our special room there were the best barbecue murals ever. Darrell is truly a great businessman, nice guy, & knows bbq. Our group unanimously told me they all want to repeat this cycling trip with Darrell's for lunch again & again. read more

Darrell's Restaurant - My brisket & cucumber salad - Southern Near Me - Venice, Florida

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Food was great. The brisket had a nice smoke flavor. The chicken and waffle was a surprise as the sweetness of the waffle is beyond description. This restaurant was a great find. read more

Went here for a quick bite. It was hard to choose what to get because everything sounds delicious. When you walk in there is just the right amount of smokiness coming from the kitchen. I had a craving for brisket and it didn't disappoint. My sister got the daily special, 1/2 chicken and ribs. My BIL got the deep fried catfish meal. Everything was TASTY! There is a nice selection of sides. I want to go back just to try the mac and cheese! I was impressed with how clean this place looks. It looks like a brand new restaurant inside. The service was outstanding. Family owned and they treat you like family. Highly recommend. read more

Darrell's Restaurant - Beisket meal - Southern Near Me - Venice, Florida

Was back this season. Service is awesome - nice to see younger crew really care about the whole experience - food is just awesome - from scratch everything. Medium good heat --- Very reasonable price too and some great happy hour read more

Darrells has become our weeknight go-to restaurant for a good home cooked meal. Serving up satisfying southern dishes prepared to perfection, I had the half rack of ribs and ordered them wet. Wet means covered with Darrells own delicious barbecue sauce. For sides, I had their potato salad and also baked beans. Loved them both. The cornbread they serve with your dinner is amazing, consider it almost a dessert when you melt butter on top of it. Since we are talking about the south, try the peach iced tea to wash down your meal. That ice cold beverage just brings it all together. If you can't decide what to have, there are specials offered each night of the week. That could help sway your choice. With a couple of TVs for sports and some western decor on the walls, the dining ambience is just right. Importantly, our server was fast and attentive. That certainly helps with the dining experience. Located on the 41, just one block off the main drag, Venice Avenue, they have convenient off-street parking, important on the island. Ya'all enjoy your dinner! read more

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Great food ! Does not look like much from the outside, but very nice inside. Pleasantly surprised. We will be back ! read more

Absolutely phenomenal. We ordered fried green tomatoes and fried shrimp as apps. They were both delicious! We also ordered pulled pork with okra and fries, fried catfish with Caesar salad and fries, and a kids pork sandwich with baked beans. Everyone was happy. The fish filets were huge. However.... The star of the evening was the cornbread. It was like cake! We will definitely make this a regular spot when we come down from GA. read more

Really good standard American food Good service as well. There are several of these around Florida read more

Had an amazing catered meal from Darrell's this past weekend for an event and have to say it was above and beyond!! Every sauce was excellent, the brisket moist, and the service was even more lovely. I would 100% recommend this spot for their catering and team. read more

Darrell's Restaurant - Brisket - Southern Near Me - Venice, Florida

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The catfish with orca and sweet potato was delicious. Husband enjoyed Smokey bbq ribs. The waiter was nice and cheerful. The atmosphere is rustic southern. read more

Darrell's Restaurant - Witty comment poster - Southern Near Me - Venice, Florida

Went to Darrell's based on yelp reviews and it didn't disappoint. We had the chicken strips, loaded baked potatoe and corn bread. Corn bread was so good ordered a fewmto go. Real chicken breast either different sauces to choose from. We also had the piggy burger with fries. Again multiple sauces to choose from. Pork was tender and tasty. Loved our waitress and the atmosphere. Highly recommend if your looking for a great BBQ spot. read more

Big portions delicious meats moms cornbread affordable open when you are hungry I will go again

Great place with great food and really nice people. Had some happy hour beers before diving headfirst into the fried green tomatoes, BBQ sampler plate, and an awesome banana pudding. Three different BBQ sauces and a nice vinegar pepper juice for the perfect collard greens. Thomas and Gina couldn't be more hospitable. We'll be back!!! read more

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So, I thought this was a dive bar from the looks outside. I have driven by this location hundreds of times in the 4 years I have lived in Venice. But, guess what? Some friends suggested we go to dinner here and try the rumored BBQ food they offer, so four of us went July 7, 2023. We arrived, parked in a small parking lot, entered the front doors and checked in with the hostess. We got seated within 5 minutes for our anticipated dinner. Our server (Gina) helped us make our drink order (no alcohol served here). Then we selected four different BBQ meals and made our order. Within 15 minutes all the orders arrived and guess what? Every order was exactly as we placed that order (no mistakes), they were delicious and with their sauces, they were extraordinary. How was the customer service? Well our server only came by the table at least 5 times to make sure all was well. I personally rate this as a 110% establishment and suggest if you have not been here, stop in. If you have been, tell more people. It was absolutely awesome. And again, special thanks to Gina. read more

Ths is my fall back barbeque restaurant when my favorite is full.Great restaurant. They have all the favorites.

Service was horrible asked for sweet tea and got unsweet tea three times. The pulled pork sandwich was full of equal parts fat and meat and had zero smoke (tasted dry like crockpot roast). Just a complete disappointment. read more

I had the brisket and my wife had the chicken pot pie special. My brisket was moist and dry, that is I had very moist pieces of meat and very dry pieces of meat. The sweet potato I had as a side was smothered in brown sugar, and I took off the sugar because the potato was perfectly prepped - sweet and yummy, My wife's deconstructed pot pie had the crust served as a puff pastry on top of the chicken pot. The puff pastry was good, but I found the chicken pot portion to be bland. Portion sizes are very generous and service is prompt and friendly. Overall, it was okay; but I was hopeful for something better than what we got. read more

Second time here within a month. Already one of our SW Florida hot spots. After reading all the reviews and confirmation from a coworker... I was sold. Great staff and honest good food. The ambiance rocks! Modern slick country decor with a great bar. They have Jai Alai on tap so I was even more in love. Served in a cool mason jar. The food is boss here. They have a batter here that is so crunchy and light that you'll want to fry everything in it. We had chicken and waffles and chicken fried steak and fried chicken. All excellent. The sides: sweet potato fries, french fries, cole slaw, mash potatoes and that mac and cheese are all among the best I've had. Lets not even start on the corn bread... moist and delicious . Can't wait to go back for the BBQ. read more

Darrell's Restaurant - Mrs had the chicken and waffles and Chicken Fried Steak with white gravy for me! Just WOW! - Southern Near Me - Venice, Florida

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This is not barbecue or smoked. I would not recommend this restaurant if you are a true barbecue enthusiast. I've never had such tasteless food in my life. read more

Great service and place was clean which is always good at a BBQ joint during Covid. You don't want a sticky mess on the tables and condiments. We started out with cold beers. When you request a cold glass keep in mind it's a Mason jar. My boyfriend has a thing about drinking out of them. He won't! Something about stuff getting not cleaned properly in the ridges. Oh well, I digress! I ordered the brisket sandwich and swapped the bun for a piece of cornbread and chose mashed potatoes and gravy for my side. The brisket is super tender and needs the bbq sauce. I started with the sweet sauce but halfway through added the spicy one. It was delicious! All sauces are made in house. The cornbread was yummy but I was disappointed in the mashed potatoes. Boring! My boyfriend got the baked potato with pulled pork. Again super tender meat but you need to add sauce and then it's super good. He enjoyed his meal and added cucumber salad which he enjoyed too. It was a great find for us for lunch and we definitely recommend it. read more

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