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    Gus's Barbecue

    4.0 (1.5k reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque, Southern
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Gus's Barbecue Takeout or Delivery

    Gus's Barbecue Photos

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    GUS'S BARBECUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Gus's Barbecue

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    Reviews With Photos

    Picnic Platter
    Marisa M.

    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!

    separate side order of baked beans
    Katie L.

    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

    Vivian P.

    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!

    Tressa S.

    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

    Chicken and rib plate
    Jacob B.

    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.

    Restaurant sign
    Patty L.

    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.

    Carolina Style Pulled Pork with sweet potato fries and Mac& cheese
    Roger R.

    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.

    Cast Iron Cornbread
    Archie S.

    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.

    Marc L.

    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.

    Sauces
    Rafeek Y.

    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.

    Brisket Sandwich and Mac and Cheese
    Kineshia C.

    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!

    Brisket
    Alejandro S.

    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.

    BBQ Brick Chicken and Two Meat Combo
    MeLy P.

    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!

    Blueberry Lemon Sour cocktail (10 stars!)

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    2 days ago

    The food was absolutely amazing. Gus is for us! Gus is going to put Famous Dave's out of business. Famous Dave's is not famous anymore!!!

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    Great environment great food , and amazing customer service . Recommend this place and also has outside seating .

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    Page 1 of 38

    Gus's Barbecue Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Gus's Barbecue

    Do y'all have a corking fee by chance? In case that I'd like to bring a bottle or two in for a friend's bday

    Hello Andrew, you are welcome to bring in bottles of wine, our corkage fee is $20 per bottle. Let me know if there is anything else I can help with.

    Do you do family meals to go? And do you do anything special for the Holidays?

    Hi there! Here is a copy of our catering menu to review: https://guss-bbq.popmenu.com/files/guss-cateringbooklet-oct2022-pdf.pdf… 

    Are there any plant-based/vegan items on the menu? Or vegetarian offerings that can be modified? We have friends celebrating and would love to be a part of the celebration, too!

    Hello Yelitza, Our menu does not have any vegan entree options, but some of our salads and our guacamole appetizer can be made vegan. I hope this helps.

    The picnic platter, is it good for 3 people to share?

    Hi Celene, Everything on our menu is portioned out for one person. The picnic platter does happen… 

    Are there a la carte options for the meats?

    We do not provide a la carte options for our meats on the dine in or take out menus. We do, however, offer these options on our catering menu for which we ask orders be placed at least 72 hours in advance.

    Will you guys be bringing back your brunch menu post Covid ?! :(

    Hi Melissa, Thank you for your question. We hope to be able to bring back our brunch menu in the… 

    Is there outdoor dining?

    Yes with social distancing measures in place

    Plans on adding WiFi?

    Hi Dave, We do not have public wifi at this time, but we'll keep your suggestion in mind! Thanks!

    When can I have BEEF RIBS on Wednesday?

    Hi Trish! Currently, we only offer the beef rib special on Mondays, but we're glad you're a fan!

    Do they accept reservations?

    Yes we do! You can search for availability online through our website, or you can call the restaurant directly and our Host can assist with making a reservation.… 

    Does this location have a private room for parties?

    No not to my knowledge.

    What are your breakfast menu hours?

    Hey there! We serve breakfast Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30am to 2pm. See you there!

    Can dogs sit in the patio?

    Yes! We are a pupper-friendly patio!

    When is happy hour?

    3pm-6pm

    View All 15 Questions

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    Day Day's BBQ & Waffle House

    Day Day's BBQ & Waffle House

    4.3
    (1.3k reviews)
    2.3 mi
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    Okay, I want to make it clear that I am not her to frivolously review a neighborhood restaurant…read more Small businesses are the backbone of our country, specially important and black, woman and minority owned. So here's my good and not so good. Good: the service here is amazing, friendly attentive and I watched every dine in customer receive extraordinary care. The portion sizes are huge and the whole restaurant felt like you were in someone's own kitchen on a weekend morning with all of the right smells in the air for a great brunch. Here's the not so good: it took 4 minutes shy of an hour to get lunch for 2 (2 order of chicken tenders, side of red beans and rice and an order of hush puppies ) prepared. Although the booths were full, most of the tables had their food, so it didn't appear to be a lot of tickets stacked up. When my order was finally delivered, and I took the10 minute drive back home, I opened the bag to fund 3 brown paper bags, wet, soggy and soaking in grease. Because the food hadn't been allowed to cool a bit and it was placed in a plastic bag with no way to vent out steam, every item was soggy and falling apart. The fries were wet and soggy, the chicken had all of the dry coat falling off and most the seasoning was pulled off of the batter that was left because of the water and steam. Additionally, the red beans and rice were so wet, they were almost soup. One of the orders had potato salad as a side, but to received overcooked soggy fries instead. The hush puppies were way over cooked, they had passed the golden brown cook level and were a black brown color and were sort of flavorless and really soggy from the heat of the plastic bag. I'm sure that most of this could have been avoided if I hadn't placed a to go order. But I'm leaving this review so that when you order from this little gem, you consider dining in or asking for the foot with plenty of lead time so that they don't rush, improperly pack the food for transit (let it cool off a bit) and have the time to make sure the order is correct, and cooked to a standard that best represents the business. Pomona needs Day-Days as a locally owned, black owned soul food restaurant. Switching from plastic to paper bags and giving the food time to vent will go a long way with quality for the customer. In the end the food tasked good, I'm sure was prepared with love, but fell flat on the delivery. All of that said, patronize this restaurant!!!!

    The food is still really good. Been going for years. The chicken is always really good but this…read moretime I went with the pork chops. Food was great. No complaints about that. It's just the area is not the greatest but it is what it is.

    Photos
    Day Day's BBQ & Waffle House
    Day Day's BBQ & Waffle House
    Day Day's BBQ & Waffle House

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    The Back Abbey - Claremont

    The Back Abbey - Claremont

    3.9
    (2.4k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Love the Back Abbey! So yummy and consistent every time. My hubby and I went for a quick bite and…read morethere was a new seasonal burger on the menu, the Truffle Shuffle. Super delicious, cooked perfectly. Service was efficient and there was plenty of indoor seating on this late Sunday evening. If you haven't tried the Claremont location, please do!

    We were welcomed to sit outside on the patio when we got here, likely because the inside was filled…read morewith fans watching the World Cup final. We were fine with it, and were given two menus and told to sit anywhere we wanted. After 15 minutes, no servers had come out to take drink orders or anything, so my boyfriend went inside to ask if someone could come take our order. I looked around the patio area and realized there were two other tables whose patrons were there before us, waiting for drinks and service, just like we were. One of them was fanning herself with the menu, as it was close to 100° outside. (There are no misters on the patio, just a slight breeze now and then. And, if you sit near the patio entrance, you should know that the huge dryer vents from the adjacent hotel are pushing hot air into the patio.) My boyfriend came back and said that he was told "someone will be out soon", and he noticed that all the servers were watching the soccer game inside. We waited another minute or so, and decided to leave and find another place for lunch. We were so glad we left...we ended up at Gus's BBQ across the way, and OMG...save yourself the trouble of the weak menu & non-existent service at The Back Abbey and walk over to Gus's. You won't regret it!

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    The Back Abbey - Claremont
    Portabella burger comes with a side salad
    Portabella burger comes with a side salad
    Non-alcoholic Trappist

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    Gus's Barbecue - bbq - Updated August 2026

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