Food was delicious (Texas brisket sandwich, rib sliders) Excellent service from Ashley B - attentive and personable. Happy Hour is a great deal! Overall a fun experience! read more

Dined in Friday night with my husband and some friends. Didn't take long to be sat inside. Our waitress was Ashley. She was very patient, friendly and knowledgeable of the menu as we had a lot of questions. She almost had my husband sold on the weekend pork chop special they had that was off the menu, but there was no way he could finish that on his own and I had my heart set on the brisket! Ashley checked on us multiple times until she had to take a break and Kaitlyn took over for a little bit. She was very friendly with a big bright smile. All around pleasant time. Drinks and food were yummy. We will be back! read more

We had such a great experience at Gus's BBQ in Claremont Village! Andy, the manager, and all of the staff were so friendly and welcoming. They were also super accommodating with my 8-month-old, which I really appreciated and made our visit so much easier and more enjoyable. The food was amazing and everything was so delicious! And the lavender lemonade was SO refreshing -- definitely a must-try! Thank you to Andy and the whole staff for being so kind and making us feel so welcome. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

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Came here for lunch and got the brisket tacos and really liked how yummy it was. The price and quality and amount of $16 tacos is really something I was impressed about. It also came with a box of nachos! The food came out a bit slower but hey this is bbq- and there were like 2 servers in the whole big patio.. but all in all service was lovely- got my water refilled (which tells you they're doing things within their control which is nice) read more

Great baby back ribs And the service was lovely A nice dinner break on the way back from Palm Springs to LA read more

Gus's Barbecue - Full Rack Memphis Baby Back Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Claremont, California

Although the same, and yet a hint of a reminder that this location isn't. From their original location in South Pasadena, Gus's has some great roots for Bar-B-Que in the Los Angeles Area. A local Pasadena favorite for ribs, fried chicken, and other BBQ favorites in a old school setting. This new location in Claremont is a corporate establishment nestled in new architecture that is the new build serving Claremont residents with great parking and central shopping convenience. Their food is relatively the same and feels like a good staple. Unfortunately, the service is uninviting compared to their original. A weekend visit with a reservation showed a staff that seemed rushed to turn the tables. Service was quick and efficient, but hurried the dining experience that made this old time favorite a little unpalatable. I think many fans should think twice about here. read more

What stood out was the friendliness of every employee that we came into contact with. Very well-trained team. The breakfast was also quite good! read more

We came to Gus's BBQ for Father's Day dinner, and as expected, it was packed. Thankfully, we made reservations, which I'd highly recommend if you're planning to visit on a weekend or holiday. Despite how busy they were, our waitress was fantastic. She was incredibly attentive and accommodating, especially since we were dining with a toddler. That level of service definitely made the meal even more enjoyable. For dinner, we ordered the Ribs & Two Meat Combo with Memphis Ribs, Jalapeño Cheddar Smoked Sausage, and Brisket, plus the Chicken & Two Meat Combo with Brisket, Original Smoked Sausage, and Southern Fried Chicken. Our daughter had the BBQ Chicken Kids Meal, and of course we couldn't leave without ordering the Cast Iron Cornbread. Everything was delicious, but a few items really stood out. The jalapeño jam served with the cornbread was absolute perfection, sweet with just the right amount of heat. The Jalapeño Cheddar Smoked Sausage was easily one of my favorites. The Southern Fried Chicken was incredibly crispy, and both my toddler and I couldn't get enough of the mac and cheese. Gus's offers great value for the quality of food you get. The portions are generous and we had no complaints when it came to flavor. Parking is easy thanks to the nearby parking structure. Most of the seating is on the patio, while the indoor dining room seemed fairly small. Even on a warm Father's Day evening, the outdoor seating was surprisingly comfortable. We'll definitely be back, and next time I'll be ordering that cornbread all over again. read more

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Gus's is so good I couldn't take a picture of the food before I finished it, I only took cocktail pictures. The bbq isn't drenched in sauce letting the meat shine through. The cocktails are nicely balanced. They are attentive and the food comes out pretty fast. I've never had to wait more than 20 min for a table but it can get really busy! read more

Gus's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Claremont, California

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Walked into this quaint restaurant downtown Claremont, California. The reservations I made were ready for us.. The waitress took us to our table. The sweetest waitress came out and took our order. We started with the onion, straws and cornbread. Hate to say I wish so hungry I did not take photos of this. Asked us if we would like without ice or without a lemon. We both chose water on the rocks. The waitress came by and checked on us. We both ordered the sausage lunch non-spicy. My side was the creamy coleslaw and the potato salad. My friend ordered mashed potatoes and the baked beans.. and again we were so hungry. We did not take any photos. The food was over the top the food came out hot The side dishes were exactly what I wanted along with my friend. Thank you for making this such a wonderful time together. I'll be back to have an appetizer at this place. Thank you for the great service. read more

So happy to have found Gus's BBQ! It's like a better version of Lucille's without being stuck in a 2 hour wait. My husband and I were brought here by our friends a couple years ago and have been fans since. First off, the chicken. It's fried and boneless and delicious. I crave it all the time and it's a must if you're coming here. Their BBQ plates are also good deals and sharable. I love the ribs and pulled pork and their sauce options are also really good. If you find yourself at Gus's, I highly recommend getting the corn bread. It comes on a cute board with some butter and pepper jelly and is so good. There's also really good drinks here and they do different themes/drinks every month. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and making reservations is really simple. Service is also great every time I've been here and I look forward to being back soon! read more

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My friend wanted American barbecue so he brought us here to try! Everything was really good! Between the two of us, we shared the Chicken and Two Meat Combo (he wanted brisket and sausage). All the proteins were tender and well-seasoned! He said he liked the sausage the best, I said the brisket was my favorite! It came with two sides included. We also ordered a large size of beer which was quite a generous pour Kate (Katelyn?) was our server and she was so friendly! She checked in on us soooo many times to make sure everything was okay! And she was always cheerful and happy :) The patio seating was so pretty, but we opted to sit inside as it was cold out (they did have heaters outside though). There's also bar seating and TVs playing sports and news. Very lively and happy atmosphere read more

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Good BBQ, Great Cornbread... But the Food Needed More Heat! Been craving barbecue for a while now and decided to venture away from our usual spots to try somewhere new in the area. Although I made reservations, we were seated immediately just before 7 PM. There was plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and we opted to dine inside. The ambience was great--modern with a fun Southern BBQ vibe both indoors and out. After reading countless Yelp reviews, everyone kept raving about the cornbread... so of course I had to order it first! Cornbread $8.95 Rating: 9/10 Served with honey butter and jalapeño jelly. Who knew jalapeño jelly could pair so perfectly with honey butter? The combination was surprisingly delicious! The cornbread itself had a wonderful texture with little bites of sweet corn throughout. My only wish? That it came out piping hot. I would've loved for the honey butter to melt right into every bite. Even then, this was easily one of the stars of the night and definitely a must-order. Spinach Artichoke Dip $14.95 Rating: 7.5/10 Not bad at all! Hubby and I make it a mission to try spinach artichoke dip everywhere we go. This one was solid--not the best and definitely not the worst. It had good flavor, but if you're looking for our favorite, LongHorn Steakhouse still holds the crown. That one is absolutely to die for! Grilled Catfish Sandwich $17.95 Rating: 6/10 Served with sweet corn. This rating is honestly more about my personal preference than the sandwich itself. I think grilled catfish just isn't for me. The fish had a stronger seafood aroma that reminded me of my trip to New Orleans, where I also found some of the fish a little too... fishy. I actually think this sandwich would've been much better if it were fried instead of grilled. The sweet corn definitely lived up to its name--it was sweeter than I prefer, but oddly enough, it helped balance out the fish. Would I order this again? Unfortunately, no. If you're sensitive to stronger fish flavors like I am, I'd probably recommend going with the fried version instead. Picnic Platter $39.99 Rating: 7.8/10 Included: * Memphis Baby Back Ribs * Brick Chicken * Beef Brisket * Mac & Cheese * Fries Extra Coleslaw $5.95 Nothing will ever replace Phil's BBQ in San Diego for us, but I will say... I actually enjoyed this more than Lucille's. The brisket came with about three slices and was juicy with just the right amount of fat. The ribs, however, were a bit disappointing. They were on the dry side, and honestly, almost everything arrived only mildly warm. It felt like the food had been sitting for a little while before being served. If it had come out hotter, I think the ribs would've been much more enjoyable. Now... the Brick Chicken stole the show! It was juicy, flavorful, nicely glazed with barbecue sauce, and easily my favorite protein of the night. Brick Chicken Rating: 9/10 Now onto the service... David was fantastic! He checked on us often, made sure our drinks stayed filled, and asked if we needed anything throughout dinner. Great job, David! Unfortunately, the food runners were a completely different story. Since we were seated at a smaller table, dishes quickly piled up. Normally, most restaurants proactively clear empty plates when delivering new food, but that never happened. We actually had to flag someone down about five minutes later just to clear enough space for the rest of our meal. Then, when we asked another server for a to-go box, he said he'd grab one... walked by us twice... and completely "forgot". Little things like clearing plates and bringing boxes without being reminded really make a difference in the dining experience. Because of that, my overall rating dropped from what would've been a 4-star experience to 3 stars. Overall, the barbecue was good, the cornbread absolutely lived up to the hype, and I'd definitely come back to explore more of the menu. Hopefully next time the food comes out hotter and the support staff is a little more attentive. Happy eats! read more

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GUS BBQ ALERT From the moment you step in you're welcomed with a great atmosphere. Everyone is attentive and greets you with a smile I tried the ribs for the time, and the barbecue was packed with flavors worth savoring. My side was collard greens, and they deserved a thumbs up. They also have a happy hour, Monday thru Friday, 3pm to 5:30pm, bar seating is available. Get the family together and head over to Gus bbq, for some authentic soul food selections and you will quickly understand why this is a local favorite Team Smiley read more

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First time here. Can get a little busy. Staff were attentive and friendly. Very chill and easy going vibe. Food was hot and fresh. Such great flavor. read more

Gus's Barbecue - Nashville hot chicken. With Cole slaw and mashed potatoes. - Barbeque Near Me - Claremont, California

Gus's just never disappoints. It is such a solid place!! Such a cute place in the cutest downtown areas delicious food and great service every time!! The wings are my absolute favorite wings I have ever tried. The cabbage and blue cheese it comes with....you gotta try!!! The corn bread with the jelly is to die for!!! The tri tip is also so good and tender!! I highly recommend. read more

Gus's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Claremont, California

Honestly it's a 5* for the service alone. The hostess was kind and seated me quickly where I wanted to be. Charlize, the waitress, was quick and attentive. When she went on break, the guy who took her place was always checking if I needed anything very often. I've never received that much attention at a restaurant before. So A+ service. The food was good. The chicken had really good seasoning and the sauce or rub on the ribs had some kick to it. Everything was delicious. The only things that could be better is if they gave a little piece of cornbread for the table to try. People rave about it but for a person of one, a skillet of cornbread is a lot. Little piece would be nice. Also, would be good to have a bit bigger portions, especially on the sides. I get it, cost gone up everywhere. Again, food was good, but a bit more food would go a long way, especially as a returning customer decided between options. read more

Gus's Barbecue - Chicken and rib plate - Barbeque Near Me - Claremont, California

The service was excellent. We ate inside and atmosphere was nice. We didn't realize that was a vinegar based BBQ. If you like this type of BBQ, this is your place. We were not to fond of it. read more

Absolutely loved coming here! The ambiance is great, the food was delicious, and the drinks were great. We will definitely be back to try more things on the menu! read more

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Relaxing atmosphere for all ages. House salad was great, and dressing was very flavorful. Service by Samantha was great and we were not at all rushed when we finished eating. This was a Saturday evening. Cheers to top tier service!! read more

Gus's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Claremont, California

Located in an ideal spot with plenty of parking (either on the street or in the structure). You can choose between inside or outside seating. If it gets a little chilly outside, you can ask them to turn on the outdoor heater. Service was attentive with ensuring we didnt go thirsty or if we needed anything else (like extra plates). You can even come solo and they have bar seats inside and outside. On to the food: They have a great variety of options for appetizers. Honestly, looking forward to having some more in the future. We loved the deviled eggs, fried pickles, and cornbread (melt in your mouth). To eat, had the Memphis baby back ribs and smoked tri tip dip. Both tasted great having been seasoned well. The paired coleslaw and Mac and cheese werent anything special tho. Honestly, this place is ideal for meeting with friends to share some appetizers with. They also had several drink options, including cocktails ($14 to $16) and craft beer ($9). I enjoyed their cucumber jalapeño drink. read more

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Located in the Claremont Packing House, Gus's BBQ brings true Southern BBQ to the area. The menu includes all the classics like baby back ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and tri-tip. Food was excellent. I did spend a few minutes standing around looking for a hostess when I first walked in but the service was very good once we sat down. Worth a try if you are in the area. read more

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I absolutely loved this place. Immediately, we were greeted by the General Manager and he made sure that we were taken care of the entire time. It smelled so good when we sat down and I knew we had made the right decision coming here. What's also really nice is that they have a large outdoor seating area that wraps around the restaurant, as well as a decent-sized bar. My sister and I wanted to try out their sandwiches so that's what we did and we both ordered the exact same thing with two different sides: The Texas Prime Brisket Sandwich with macaroni and potato salad. It was so smokey, the portion was large, and with the additional spicy bbq sauce that they had on the table, it provided just the right amount of zing. I'm usually a fan of deviled eggs but I thought this dish was a little too vinegar-y for me so I would skip this one if you're not used to that flavor. The mac and cheese and potato salad were solid. Nothing to brag about but I would order them again. I'll need to try more of their traditional dishes. I really want to come back for their ribs and even more of their sides so I can't wait! read more

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I have been to Gus's BBQ several times. The food is always outstanding. The smoked beef brisket, pulled pork and chicken are incredible and highly recommend. Get a combo plate so you can sample more. The fired pickles are all another hit. The smell when you walk in just lets you known this food is going to be outstanding. My biggest complaint was in my recent visit the air conditioning was not turned down and it was extremely hot to the point where I could not enjoy my meal. When I mentioned that is was very hot to someone they said something to the effect that they don't like to turn the air conditioning too low. My recommendation to anyone is the food is outstanding but take it to go. I do not recommend eating inside when it is a hot day. Great place to go in the fall, winter or spring but do not go on the summer or take it to go. That's the only negative thing I can say. Otherwise it is outstanding. read more

Gus's Barbecue - BBQ Brick Chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Claremont, California

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Always great. Everthing is so delicious. The best barbecue in the area. Love happy hour too. read more

We've been here a few times in the past 6 months or so and keep finding new things we like. Yea, they do bbq, which is quite good but so are the burgers, sandwiches, salads - their wedge especially is great. I think so far, their spicy chicken has been my favorite and some of their platters are easily shareable. Come give this place a try! read more

My lady and I like to visit Gus's BBQ at least twice a month. We usually have some Brisket & Sausage with a couple of sides. I like the grits and green beans, my lady likes the bbq beans and garlic mashed potatoes. Service is always fast and friendly. And it is a good place to people watch if you sit on the patio. One of our favorite places, and highly recommended. read more

There is a lot of good restaurants in downtown Claremont, unfortunately Gus's barbecue is not one of them , not for me. I will not be returning. Service was okay , but food no good. read more

It's been a while since we had been here. They still have the amazing cornbread which started the meal off perfectly. I ordered the pulled pork with a side of sweet potato fries and the Mac and cheese. Everything was delicious and the meat was so tender and tasty. My wife ordered the St. Louis ribs with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and the cream corn. Here again, the meat was so tender and tasty as it fell off the bone. Everything was delicious. We finished with the blueberry cobbler with a scoop of some amazing ice cream. The service was as amazing as the food. Our server, Alicia, was very attentive and friendly, making my wife's birthday lunch very special. Definitely would recommend this restaurant. Great music playing in the background. read more

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Excellent customer service!!! Came in to get sides for our meal. Had one of THE best drinks EVER!!! Thanks Asis or Aces?!?!? All the sides were NOT good!!!! The dirty rice was tasteless!!!!! NO FLAVOR whatsoever!!!! The Mac and cheese was DRY and not cheesy and at all!!! It was more like MAC N PLEASE!!!!!! I'm so mad I wasted my money!!!! WHY oh WHY do I do this to myself?!?!? The beans were okay. You could taste the beer in them but the beans were so spicy that's all you could focus on!!!! Never again! You live and you learn! read more

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Corn bread corn bread corn bread. Hint we loved the corn bread. Location is fabulous conveniently located next door to the parking structure with the village accesible for a post meal walk and overall a great place to people watch from a historic building. Sausages were snappy good. Greens and garlic green beans made it very Keto friendly. Deviled eggs very good. Service was a bit off. I think our server was new and struggled to enter the orders into the device, my daughters plate had the incorrect sides and overall took a while to get the staff's attention for the bill and to go containers. The bus staff was more responsive. read more

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Gus's Barbecue is located on the east side of the Claremont Packing district. Parking is easy as there is a multi-level parking garage right next door. They have plenty of tables and booths inside, as well as seating at the bar with a view out front. Their outdoor patio is as big, if not bigger, than the inside space and has rotating fans above as well as heat lamps for when it's cold. Between the garage structure next door and being on the east side of the building, the patio is probably almost always shaded. It was such a nice day out, I sat out on the patio and you could tell that everyone was enjoying the atmosphere. While waiting for my food, I ordered the Blueberry Lemon Sour (Bourbon, amaretto, blueberry, lemon, vanilla foam, $14). If I didn't like it, it definitely looked good. Similar to my recent appreciation for well balanced Mezcal cocktails, well balanced Bourbon cocktails have also caught my fancy. The Bourbon is the dominant flavor, but the amaretto is not far behind. The lemon and muddled blueberry is in the background. This well balanced cocktail was a home run, and a bargain at only $14. I had the five bone Memphis Baby Back Ribs plate ($25.95), with sides of sautéed green beans and coleslaw. It must have been my lucky day, because my slab actually had six bones. The meat was cooked well, and came off the bone very easily. There was a good amount of meat on the bones, and I probably wouldn't have been able to finish the eight bone option. They have several BBQ sauces on the table. I tried three and liked them all. My favorites in order were the Memphis original (nice sweetness), Kansas City spicy (good spice level with sweetness in the background), and Carolina Gold (mustard forward with a little tang). They provide a wet nap to wipe your hands when you're done. The green beans were not mushy at all, and had great flavor prepared with light butter and garlic. The coleslaw was also very good with just the right amount of dressing which had a little tang. The portion size of the sides was good. My main server Ashley was friendly provided great service. The host who seated me and a few other servers who also delivered food and drink were also very friendly. A manager was walking around to make sure that everybody was enjoying their meal. All the food and drink was excellent. BBQ is expensive these days and both the cocktail and ribs were very reasonably priced. Five stars all the way! read more

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Great food! Great service! Gus's is a wonderful place to eat, catch up, and nosh on yummy food! Thank you, Ashley!!!

Came here after work on Friday . The food was amazing . The bbq chicken was so good . The drinks very refreshing . What threw it off what the waitress . I think her name was cynthia . She was just rushed . Passive agressive . Looked annoyed to be there or just w us . We come here often bcuz I work for a school nearby . Truly I felt rushed or like we bothered her . This hadn't happened before . read more

Gus's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Claremont, California

Gus's BBQ is located at the Claremont Packing House. If you're walking up to the packing house, you can't miss it. The smell of BBQ and wood will draw you in. This place is pretty big as it has indoor and a big outdoor seating area. They have all the classics you would want to have at a BBQ joint. I saw someone have a corn bread appetizer on the table and instantly knew I had to try that. Along with that it had been a while since I had some deviled eggs so decided to try that as well. The cast iron corn bread was one of the best I've had specially with their butter and jalapeño jam. It was absolutely delicious and I feel like I could have had more and more of that. As for the eggs, they were just fine, felt like they needed a little more mustard or something to add more flavor to it. For the main dish I wanted a little bit of everything so I tried the Rib and 2 Meat combo with St Louis Spare Ribs, Brisket and Pulled Pork with sides of Collard Greens and Creamed Corn. The meat was all just ok, the ribs lacked flavor to me and had to be doused with lots of their BBQ sauce to bring some flavor to it. While the brisket was tender, I once again felt like it lacked smokiness and salt. The best of the three was the Pulled Pork as the tenderness and the juice it had helped. The creamed corn was tasty but the collared green could have used some flavor as well. Over all the Corn Bread was the winner, while it's a nice place in a busy part of town, everything felt like it lacked seasoning. Service was nice and attentive, but maybe I'll someday give it another shot with their BBQ. read more

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Came here because I was craving some good barbecue, and even after more than six years since my last visit, this place is still just as great. The food is delicious and absolutely worth recommending. The chicken was juicy, the pulled pork was savory, and although I didn't order the ribs, they looked incredible on nearby tables. The tri-tip was a bit on the fatty side, but still packed with flavor. I also love that they have a variety of barbecue sauces right at the table so you can mix things up. Service was awesome. I originally requested bar seating when I made the reservation, but when we arrived and saw how packed it was, we asked if we could switch to a table. They accommodated us right away, which I really appreciated. Our waitress was attentive, quick, and always on top of refills without us having to ask. The drinks were just as impressive. I tried a seasonal cocktail--something like a strawberry corn cake bourbon--and it was super refreshing and unique. Portion sizes are huge, so sharing is definitely an option. And don't skip dessert--it was absolutely worth it. The ambiance feels like a gastropub with a relaxed vibe. It's located in what's considered a packing district area, though it's a bit more low-key compared to others in Orange County. Overall, definitely worth the drive if you're not nearby. I'd happily come back again! read more

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I stopped by on my way to Phoenix reading all the good reviews. First, want to say I'm happy with my visit and would come again. Detailed review: I ordered the peppercorn crusted Tri-Tip, and it was nice that it came fast, but it was unfortunate that it was chewy and not very flavorful, I had to rely on the sauces to get some flavor, HOWEVER, when my server came to check on me and I shared I was a bit disappointed, she took that feedback to the manager, the manager came by and offer me a side of their Brisket, and what a difference, flavor was great, texture perfect, it was soft but meaty, perfect combo. This is how you know a restaurant cares about their menu and their service. Shout out to my server Alyssa, and to Jackie for their excellent service. read more

Gus's Barbecue - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Claremont, California

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Enjoyed a Labor Day brunch here--glad we reserved a booth inside because it was already 90 degrees at noon. We ordered the tritip with garlic mashed potatoes and braised string beans and pulled pork tostada. Perfectly cooked tender meat and good tangy flavors. Most outdoor seating has at least an umbrella for shade. Staff were rushing around because it was busy, yet they also managed to be attentive and helpful. read more

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My first time at the Claremont location and I love it!! The vibe is really nice and gives you a vacation vibe how one side of the bar is outside. We sat at the bar inside and it was very nice. We had very good service with a server I think name was Dana or Deena. Very good service and super attentive with good personality. For my drinks I ordered the Mai tai and sangria and it was my first time trying their Mai Tai's and they were really good and not too much sugar. For food options we ordered the honey wings and artichoke dip that was very good and fresh. Everything tasted really well. It's a good location to come to and grab a drink and enjoy the vibe. It's in downtown Claremont and very clean modern area. I will come back to this location for sure! I had a good time and great atmosphere! -Marshay read more

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6/29/25 Amazing & delicious food, attentive service & casual indoor/outdoor dining. It's a great spot to get your bbq on! Not too many places for dining are open in Claremont, thankfully, Gus's was still open on a Sunday night past 9 pm. Our server was Kelly who took our order & got our drinks right away. We requested to have the corn bread at the same time when our meal was delivered. Within a reasonable amount of time, our food was ready: baby back ribs, pulled pork & tri tip-- everything was tasty & so tender. The seasoning was perfect. For sides, we opted for sweet potato fries & green beans, super! Glad we shared the combo coz it was a good amount portion-wise. It was nice breezy night & we dined on the patio, quite comfortable. Free parking nearby (street parking & a parking structure at the packing district) made this a great place to dine & look for other venues for dining & other places for shopping or just hanging out. read more

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