We are here on our way to a concert at Tuffy's in Sanford. There is a lot of construction going on in the area so the foot traffic was slim, even for a prime time evening. The menu is short, the options limited - but what they do, they do Well. The prices are higher than I'd expect, but perhaps it is their location, local rent, and fierce area competition from many many other restaurants. I got the burnt ends, a 4 oz portion was fine since I got two sides also. The sides were $3.99 ish and that was asking a lot, still tasty, just not the amount I'd normally pay $4 for, hence the 4 stars, not 5 rating. The burnt ends were small bites, beautifully sauced and not too soft or too firm. The smoked Mac and cheese was delicious, but I encountered a piece of bbq chicken in it. I don't know if that's the recipe or cross contamination, but beware food allergy peeps. The green beans were savory, not overly wet, and a good balance of vegetables in an otherwise meat and carb heavy menu. My friends got the sliced beef, and similar sides, although one person got the coleslaw which was supposed to be fresh made and crisp, but was watery and soggy - couldn't not finish them. Would I go back again? Yes of course, very tasty, but I'd have more clear expectations of what I'm getting for the price. Note that they had a robust phone order line, so they are still super popular. Plenty of small tables inside to eat, or larger outdoor patio tables (but windy) to eat at and enjoy the adorable downtown or sunset views. read more

Fuel BBQ - Smoked Mac and cheese, green beans, burnt ends (taste like meat candy), and cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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Fuel is a fun place to eat in downtown Sanford. I love the indoor and outdoor concept. The establishment is a quick service style, like most bbq restaurants. You order at the counter and receive food when you pay. I enjoyed the pulled pork, mac and cheese, green beans, and cornbread. The pork did not have a ton of flavor and the cornbread was flavorless. Overall it was very good but I would switch it up from cornbread and pork. read more

Fuel BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

What you will find here: great BBQ. What you won't find here: friendly staff. haha I love this spot but I always feel so rushed here and that the staff has no time for me... so I just try to order as fast as I can and be on my way. It's not that they are rude. They are just no nonsense type of people and that's ok. You need to know what you want and get your order in. Which in the end keeps things nice and fast and moving. read more

Really good BBQ and fun place to eat. Indoor and outdoor seating. Rod makes some of the best BBQ ribs, pork butt, chicken, and more around here. This place is connected to a blues bar where lots of different live bands frequent and play. Cool place. read more

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Came to Fuel for lunch and had an amazing experience. It's a stand and order type place so we went with the Bus Stop sandwich combo pictured. They unfortunately were out of the burnt ends. The sandwich, Mac and grinds were great. Then as we were finishing up, the main server came and brought me some fresh burnt ends that they had just made so I can try them out. Truly amazing service and excited to come back again. read more

Fuel BBQ - Bus Stop Sammie. Coleslaw, pork rinds, and mac and cheese. - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Staff was nice the smell inside the restaurant did not smell like food more like bad produce. The venue looks like a good place to enjoy a meal. I did sample the brisket. It tasted pretty good. Smoky and moist. The beer is ICE cold just below freezing. I couldn't bring myself to try any further due to the fowl smell at the restaurant. Maybe I caught them on a bad day. read more

Fuel BBQ was amazing! I called in an order on the 4th of July and they said it would be a delay since they got slammed with a bunch of people earlier in the day. So I put in my order and picked up in the time they said it would be ready. When I got there they greeted me and said my food just came up. So I got hot and fresh BBQ and it was ready at the time they said. I watched the guy cut the BBQ and it was super soft as I could see he was slicing with ease. I also ordered some sides, Mac n cheese, collard greens potato salad, and a mini brisket. They were very organized at the counter and pleasant. I paid $30 for 1/2 slab and 3 sides which was not bad. Food: The BBQ was soft and tasty. They give you sauce but it really does not need it. I ate majority of it without sauce. When I did use it I had the house sauce which was perfect, the hot sweet sauce was too spicy for me. The sides were all good no complaints at all. Mac n cheese creamy but not loose with good flavor, collard greens like grandmas, potato salad like at a family reunion. The mini brisket sandwich was a nice little side sample to get idea if I want to order brisket next time, it was soft and flavorful but it is a ver small sample. Only thing about the sides is that they are extremely small so you probably want to get a large size if possible. I was ok with the small sizes because it was only two of us eating. Overall, this place hit all the marks. Good BBQ even tastes better the next day, good sides and good service. I will definitely be back.! read more

Fuel BBQ - St Louis Ribs, potato salad, collard greens, Mac n cheese and brisket mini - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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Been to Fuel several times and loved the food. This time the temperature was not up to standards. The green beans were literally cold. The burnt ends were luke warm at best. The bbq beans were the warmest but def not hot. They no longer have honey for the cornbread or "couldnt find it". read more

The spot is so cool! It's located inside a garage so the ambience is legit! The food was okay but for the price I paid, I expected it to be better. For a spot in Downtown Sanford, it was a nice quick stop for food. read more

This is an amazing bbq spot in Sanford! Their food is amazing! I got the pulled chicken and Mac which was DELICIOUS! Their barbecue sauces are also sooo good. My s/o got the pulled pork and brisket which he really enjoyed. The sweet tea was perfect! They were very accommodating, as they gave me a bowl for my pup! I am so happy I stopped by here because this is truly a hidden gem. There's indoor and outdoor seating which is perfect if you have your pup with you! read more

The food was great. The gal who waited on us and took our order was attentive to our needs and made sure we understood the menu. We had the lean brisket sandwiches. They were unbelievable. Sides were also very good, including the baked beans which I had double. The construction going on nearby made it hard to get to, but it was worth it and when complete will upgrade the nieghborhood The inside was as you'd expect for a barbecue joint and fountain and drinks with refills. Very good would recommend it. read more

This is a jewel in downtown Sanford. It's attached to a bar called the Alley. You order at the counter and the meat and bread is there ready on the warmer. I had the half rack of ribs that were so meaty and filling. The fried okra was amazing. The cornbread was a little dry, it needed some butter which I never use on cornbread. They have Coke products but no Coke Zero. The sweet tea was fresh and good. It was a little pricey but worth it. Their patio is bigger than the dining room and it's dog-friendly and had some good live music. read more

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1st time visiting/dining here. Gavin served us and was very helpful and friendly. I tried the chicken and pork with Mac & Cheese side (also comes with Cornbread)...and a Sweet Tea. Wife had the half rack and okra Food was great and (a little cooler on Temps- but suitable) read more

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After having a few drinks in Downtown Sanford, we wanted something smokey! Found this place on Yelp when everything was about to close on Labor Day. Parking was easy and we walked right in to the sound of rock music. This restaurant is half bar/half food. You order at the counter and build your plate. We got 2lbs of brisket, both lean and fatty. Paired it with coleslaw and mac n cheese. The brisket was a little bit on the dry side, but the sauce (hot and sweet) makes up for it. The coleslaw is cold and the perfect amount of sweetness, but the real star was their mac n cheese. It was so stringy, hot and cheesy, everything you want in it. Definitely coming back earlier in the day when the brisket is full size! read more

Walk in, order at the counter, and you bring the food over to your table or take it next door to The Abbey with a full bar. Small inside with 8 tables, large outside 10+ tables and then The Abbey. Food is already prepping, waiting in the area where they put your food on trays and you pay. read more

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As crazy as it sounds it's true , Food was Horrible !! Sorry Just have to save people from Future disappointment lol ambiance also sucked read more

Lunch with the work crew! I've visited before and Fuel doesn't disappoint. The food is so good and definitely hits the spot with its nice size portion. Fuel offers inside and outside seating. The service was really good, everyone was nice and welcoming. Will definitely return. read more

Food came in really small portions and it was pricey for what you got. Hardly any flavor either. Real let down.

#1 BBQ spot in all of Sanford I couldn't believe it took me this long to make a review. This place is absolutely delicious, it is authentic bbq that is cooked daily. Every friend that I bring here , always makes a "must-have" when they are in the area. I always get the brisket or Burnt ends . They also have there own bbq best hot bbq in town and the sweet right after . And don't get me started with the side 10/10 fries, cornbread , Mac and cheese, and brownies. read more

Fuel BBQ - Ribs , brisket mini sider , Mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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Burnt ends were very dry. Collards were tasteless. Sweet potato fries were thin. Mac n cheese was coagulated. Slaw was not fresh read more

Fuel BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

We went to The Alley for a Sunday afternoon jam but decided to have lunch beforehand. Since Fuel BBQ was right next door that was the obvious choice. No frills area the food was all laid out with prices listed in the wall. You might call this place a dive but the food was really good. Prices were a little high but with good music to go along with your meal right next door it was worth the visit. read more

Fuel BBQ - Burnt ends, corn bread, collard greens, Mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Food was delicous better than homemade. Amazing side dishes complimented the delightful pull pork and brisket

Sanford continues to impress after lunch today at Fuel BBQ. This open and airy restaurant serves up delicious ribs (definitely try the Sweet Sauce!) just off West 1st Street. The cornbread was maybe the best I've ever had and the green beans were a great recommendation as well. The Mac & Cheese is HEAVY on the cheese so be prepared to see a spike in your cholesterol. Fountain drinks are refillable and there are a few sauce options at the tables to give you a decent variety of flavor. There are "sample sizes" available on the menu if you want to try a bit of the different meats, which is a nice option. I could kick myself for not taking home some of that banana pudding, but at least now I have a reason to return. read more

The fam and I came to Fuel BBQ because of the Reggae & BBQ event. The outside area had the sounds of the islands featuring an awesome local musician along with his co- artist string-bean. I've seen this duo perform in the past at the Sanford square downtown and they are really good. Inside was some cold a/c pumping filled with the delicious smells of bbq. We were all excited to try the food while jamming out to the sounds. The meals come in mini, 4oz, 6oz, and 1/2 lb weighted meats (which is usually how bbq spots function). Then the sides are separate charged from about $2 - $3.49 depending on your selection. I will list the meats I tried along with the sides and what I thought about them. Pulled pork was just ok. It was too dry for me but didn't taste bad. The brisket was slightly better but also wasn't tender. However, I did like the smoked taste to it. Now onto the sides: The best side by far were the sting beans! The baked beans, Mac & cheese, and coleslaw were just ok. The potato salad was disappointing. Overall the spot looks cool and has a chill vibe to it. The inside eating area was small but worked. There is a nice looking bar connected to Fuel BBQ and I would like to visit one night because it looks like it could be fun. Overall food is not great but it's not bad. read more

Fuel BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

I was craving some barbecue and was in the Sanford area, so decided to give Fuel BBQ a shot. They have various lunch specials until 3 PM and offer meats by the oz with sides a la cart. I ordered 4 oz of the pulled chicken and 4 oz of brisket. The meats come with a choice of either corn bread or a kaiser roll. For the sides, I ordered the smoked mac and cheese and the sweet potatoe fries. To start, the pulled chicken was eh. It was a bit chewy and bland. The brisket was suprisingly good. Very moist and flavorful. The cornbread was a huge disappointment; it was super dry and tasted stale-like it was made a few days ago. The mac and cheese was average, but nothing special. The portion was a little small for my liking. I enjoyed the sweet potatoe fries though. They were made fresh to order and topped with brown sugar. There are various barbecue sauces you can help yourself to at the table. I really liked their sweet barbecue sauce. They had lipton sweet tea. It was good, but not as good as some other barbecue joints I've been to. The food and service was pretty average overall except for the brisket. If I could give half stars, I would give it 3.5 stars. It was just lacking in a couple areas. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again, but if I was in the area I might stop by. read more

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Hands down the best BBQ my wife and I have had in the area. The burnt ends and the cornbread are legit. Very friendly staff too. Looking forward to the next time! read more

Hands down, this is my fav. place to get BBQ. I honestly have never had BBQ on point as this one. The meat is moist, juicy sweet, with the right amount of seasoning! I love the high octane pulled pork sandwich. The ribs are meaty, tasty without being drenched in sauce! The sweet potato fries topped with brown sugar were yummy, too. The brownies are sooo chocolatey. I liked it so much that I ended up getting an order to go since I live far away. I will make a special trip to have more. Parking is easy on the street the afternoon we went. There was indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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Stopped in for a quick lunch and was surprised to find they had burnt ends. Many bbq spots have them on the menu but don't make them daily. I was also surprised to see that when i ordered brisket they pulled out a whole brisket and sliced it fresh. All of the meats had great flavor as did the sides. The day was perfect so we enjoyed their large patio! read more

Fuel BBQ - Pork Skins, brisket, burnt ends, beans - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Why does it seem like no restaurants in Florida use salt in their cooking? Is it all the old people who live down here? Well here's a tip: old people probably aren't eating ribs. Their dentures can't handle it. So go ahead and be a little more liberal with that salt. Let flavor ring! Based on other reviews I was excited to try Fuel. The food looked so good, and I like that it's all there in front of you to select from. I was disappointed that I needed to go back inside to request salt. The ribs needed it desperately. Otherwise the ribs I ordered could have been top notch. The sauces were really good too. It's just too bad about the salt. I did enjoy the fried okra, so I highly recommend that. If you're on a no-salt diet this is the place for you. read more

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A rocket launch and some great BBQ. I had the pulled pork and burnt ends. House BBQ sauce on the side. I like my BBQ sweet, and this hit the mark for me. I got 6oz portions of each with baked beans (little kick, nice!). Corn bread was not as sweet as I prefer, but that's a me thing. It was very good. Very reasonable price. Great meal. Great, quick service for take out. Highly recommend. read more

Fuel BBQ - Pulled pork, burnt ends, cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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Many options in town on a Saturday evening for dinner, with us eventually settling on the outdoor seating setup here. Overall cramped inside with two separate entrances for the indoor seating and the ordering counter. Thankfully the outside patio is larger with not many people at the available tables. Settled on the Smoked Half Chicken ($8.50) which came with cornbread, as well as a canned beer ($6?). Food comes out quick as they have most of the meats setup under heat lamps. Chicken is a little dry, but they offer a variety of sauces to compliment the meat. The sauces themselves are all towards the sweet flavor profile - wish there was something spicier. The cornbread has a nice texture and goes well with the BBQ sauce. Service started off slow (ring the bell!), But got a lot better as the guy behind the counter explained the side options. Fine spot to soak up some booze from the area if looking for something hefty. read more

Fuel BBQ - Half chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Food was savory and delicious, and service was phenomenal!! I loved taking my kids here.

Pros: RIBS!! Sweet Potato Fries Staff was beyond patient and friendly Coke was fresh (ifykyk) Clean environment Cons: The plants outside need some love I will definitely be coming back read more

Fuel BBQ - Greens and ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

5 stars for some of the best bbq I've ever had! We were wandering around Sanford one day and happened to wander past this place, twice, decided to give it a try. We were a little wary since it was 6pm and there were no cars parked out front and no customers from what we could see, but upon entering we were met by a line of people, a clean and friendly atmosphere, and live music from the bar next door. The owner recommended the burnt ends, since they were a favorite, and I quickly opted in for those, greens, cornbread, and fried okra. My boyfriend ordered brisket (he'd be talking about it for an hour), cornbread, baked beans, and mac n cheese. The owner said the mac n cheese he had out wasn't the best, but he had a fresh batch that would be ready in 20 mins, because of that he would not charge us for the sides. We were cool with that! When we finally sat down to eat, the dining area is on the small side, should you choose to eat in there, or you can go through sliding doors and eat at the ample seating of the bar (which about 50% of the patrons did). Such a fantastic and delicious place to eat. Will return! read more

Mediocre BBQ. Portion of burnt ends small for $8.99. Each side approx $2.50-3.49. Out of fried okra on a Sunday. Slaw was awesome. Burnt ends chewy. Not worth $8.99. Clerk taking orders by herself was visibly overwhelmed, not very friendly. Dining area wasn't cleaned up after last seating, crumbs in chair, seat yourself. Huge party in back got so loud with music had to leave. Went in restroom, smelled of strong septic odor. Had to try since we heard good things. Won't go back. read more

This BBQ joint was recommended by a local newspaper. I ordered their chicken and pork lunch special with a beer and this is what you get for $16. The guy literally snapped off a little wing off the chicken and put it on a scale. Then proceeded to do the same with other meats and this pjoto is what you get. MAJOR RIPOFF read more

Fuel BBQ - $16 RIPOFF - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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Recently has take out with my husband. Everything was prepared fresh. I had pulled pork and hubby had ribs and burnt ends. The fried okra and collard greens were perfect (often greens are neglected but these had the perfect spice to them!). Service was friendly. Sauces were on point. We love 4Rivers and this was a great alternative. Definitely coming back! read more

Excellent BBQ! The Burnt Ends are superb. Love this place and I will return frequently.

Great spot in the middle of Downtown. Plenty of sitting outside on an ample patio. Food was delicious and Fresh and the portions were generous. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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I really enjoy coming here. The customer service is great and they will let you try samples before ordering. There's an a la carte menu for those of use who are indecisive. My favorite items are the bbq beans, Mac and cheese, and brisket. They also have a variety of homemade sauces that are delicious and you can purchase them as well. read more

Fuel BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Sanford, Florida