Well worth the short detour off I-35 at Exit 170, south to Williamsburg, but be prepared, this is a cash only joint. ATM available for the unprepared. I wouldn't say G&M is divey, but divey adjacent. Beers are cheap, and the food is delicious. I ordered a slab of ribs, so I would have some to take home. They had a great bark, delicious flavor, and were literally fall off the bone. They didn't require sauce, which is good, as the only sauce at G&M's was a bit sweet for my taste. Don't pass up the Jalapeño Pickles! I had the potato salad and beans, both I thought leaned sweet as well, however, the Jalapeño Pickles may have thrown off my taste buds. Pay attention on your way back to the highway, because if you stay on the main road, you will be headed in the opposite direction. read more

Guy & Mae's Tavern - Slab with BBQ Beans and Potato Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Williamsburg, Kansas

Cash or check only Ribs were tender , good smoke flavor.. but it needed some spice to them . The sauce they serve had no flavor to it . The coleslaw was awful... potato salad ok .. They don't get in a hurry to clean the tables off , had to wait a bit ,,3 tables had people , rest of the tables were dirty ... wouldn't go back ... read more

Delicious ribs & baked beans. Great service! We actually stopped by and got two racks to go... To bring home to Florida! Well worth the trip! read more

We've been going to Guy & Mae's since it opened. We're eating it tonight for supper. Their ribs are fabulous and they're BBQ sauce is just right. read more

This is a hole in the wall if ever there was one, and it has the best pork ribs in America. A slab of ribs comes on a sheet of aluminum foil, which is cradled by pages of newspaper. Pour their sweet barbecue sauce along the edge of the ribs and order the sides of coleslaw, potato salad, and/or BBQ beans. Beer or soda round out the meal. Scrumptious. Delicious. read more

Guy & Mae's Tavern - Barbeque Near Me - Williamsburg, Kansas

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Update January 20,2024. Called ahead to make sure the Tavern was open tonight (bad weather this week-super cold) and they were thank goodness. We needed a rib fix! We were asked to reserve/preorder the # of ribs we wanted to pick up go figure cause when we got there the place was packed! Small town America Williamsburg Kansas was hoppin'! ! Glad we ordered ahead. Got home with our food and it was fantastic! Don't pay attention to the negative reviews. If you're not happy, just give them a chance to fix things before writing something up. They have been in business a long time for a reason...... This is as Americana as you can get folks ! Pull off of I-35 when you are out their way and get ya some! While you're at it, you need a T Shirt too..... read more

Man! I wanted to push this to four stars just based on nostalgia, tradition and ambience. But rating integrity when it comes to the BBQ arts prohibits me from going that high. As eluded to, the place is an absolute gem when it comes to just old school charm. The kind of tavern that used to exist on Main St all over the Midwest. Dimly lit, faux wood grain formica tables, friendly staff and domestic beers on tap. You know the type. If I lived in the surrounding area, I'd be happy to have a spot like this to frequent for a cold beer and a nice smoked meat sandwich. I would probably pass most of the time on their ribs which were not the best when it comes to trim and were way over done. Their house made sauce also leaves a lot to be desired when compared to top notch BBQ joints. The very small $2 serving of potato salad and bread that was so dry it literally broke in half when I folded it did not help my overall impression. I'm sorry to say but with so many great BBQ options in the greater KC area this spot may be like the Trump Presidency. ONE AND DONE! read more

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The best ribs I have ever had! I've gone there for 30+ years. I live in Florida now and tell my KS friends. " Don't visit if you aren't bringing Guy& Mae's ribs!! read more

The best ribs for more than 40 years! We'd come more often if not so far from civilization!

I don't think you could imagine a better small town dive. It's small dark space on the main drag. Once your eyes adjust, you'll see that the room is lit up by a bunch of beer and pig-themed neon lights. Those lights showcase an open room with a pool table, a couple of dart boards, a pinball machine and a jukebox full of your old country favorites. Booths are built in against the walls and a long bar lines a walkway toward the back. Dollar bills are everywhere. Guy & Mae's' claim to fame, other than its amazing atmosphere, is its barbecue ribs. Those ribs are served on top of some aluminum foil and a few folded up newspapers, along with a stack of napkins. Unfortunately those ribs, while good, were overcooked. The meat fell off of the bone when I tried to pick it up. Tearing off the bone is good. Falling, unfortunately, is not. They were still good, but they were dry. I can only imagine what they could have been. read more

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The food was okay. Definitely not the best in KC. I will say that they are a cash or check only establishment. Did not see this and how to use their in house ATM. just a heads up for others. overall it wasn't terrible but it also is not a place I think I would ever frequent again. read more

Good ribs. Sides are few and not made in house. Family style bar. We enjoy going here and staff and other guests are friendly.

Best ribs on earth prove me wrong Dave Portnoy. Find me I'm not finding you. That said these ribs are special and worth a special.

I saw that there were good reviews so my wife, son, his girlfriend, and I decided to try it. I would call it dirty, lacking any customer service, rude, and disgusting. That would never me being nice. We walk in and grab a table. The person behind the bar scowls at us, rings someone up, and went to the back and grabbed a slab of ribs out of the freezer without washing her hands. The bathroom had a dirty bar of soap thrown in the sink. The employees were more interested in talking to their friends than helping us. We left after about 15 minutes and felt like we needed to sanitize ourselves. Gas station sushi might be safer to eat than anything here. Love to give it a ZERO but can't. read more

I was visiting my parents' house in Kansas and they said I needed to try this small BBQ joint in Williamsburg, KS. I had never heard of Williamsburg, KS, but followed my parents' lead and realized again just how wise they are. This place looks like a hole-in-the-wall on a sleepy mainstreet, but it certainly packs a punch on kick-butt BBQ!! My Dad ordered the ribs and I selected the ham sandwich with double meat. While both were delicious, I took a bite of my Mom's sliced Polish sausage sandwich and fell in love! I did not know they could slice Polish sausage so thinly or that it could taste so good!! I definitely plan to order that the next time I pass through. Located just off I-35 at the Williamsburg, KS exit (mile marker 170, I believe), this place is well worth the visit! They only accept cash or check, but they do have an ATM on site. Check it out!! read more

Don't let this hole in a wall gem get past you. If you are anywhere close, it is worth the extra miles. The ribs are great but the thin sliced polish sausage is the king. Get the double meat sandwich with smoked turkey and polish sausage. You won't be able to finish it all but you will be happy. read more

Guy & Mae's Tavern - Double meat sandwich with smoked turkey and thin sliced polish sausage. - Barbeque Near Me - Williamsburg, Kansas

The Ribs are good. It's making me write at least 85 charters long ...???!!!???!!!!----!!!!!

Best ribs and the sauce is amazing. We ordered a slab and some sides. The potato salad, Cole slaw and beans were good but the ribs are why you go. read more

Nice little drive out to Guy & Mae's for ribs. The ribs were so yummy. They are carry out only and only cash or check. We are at the park across the street and it was so nice. read more

Guy & Mae's Tavern - Barbeque Near Me - Williamsburg, Kansas

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Driving down I35 and saw the Williamsburg sign, and remembered hearing about the ribs at Guy and May's Tavern! First I am from KC, I eat bbq often, in fact i have eaten bbq in 3 states in the last 7 days! Place is a mecca of old school BBQ Cool, great ambiance of a cool small town beer joint mixed with 46 years of BBQ smoke....Nirvana. Duh...I had the ribs, they were tender, tasty, and moist. They have a nice tangy sauce to go with them, and cold beer on tap...not some crappy Micro Brew either, just a good old Macro Beer! read more

Blink, cough or sneeze and you'll miss the tiny town of Williamsburg, Kansas. But don't. Because the BBQ ribs at Guy and Mae's is absolutely worth the trek. There aren't a lot of menu items. But I've found that Guy and Mae's is all about the quality, not quantity. The few items it makes, it makes WELL. There are some meat sandwiches (which are delicious, too), spicy pickles, beans, potato salad, cole slaw. Those, my friends, are really just fillers - the real winner are the ribs. They are served wrapped in newspaper and foil with some slices of white bread. The slab portions are generous. There's plastic-ware but it's ribs. Come with the expectation of getting a lil' diiiiirty. The lesson here is that looks are deceiving. The establishment is in a small, rundown building. The interior a dated and a bit musty. However, dig deeper and you'll find a glorious diamond in the rough...or in this case, a perfectly smoked, falling-off-the-bone rib. It's cash-only but there IS an ATM on-site. The fee is about $3. Small price to pay for a meaty slice of heaven... read more

Guy & Mae's Tavern - Interior - Barbeque Near Me - Williamsburg, Kansas

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Making a trip out to Guy and Mae's is a trek, but when on a motorcycle its a great place to stop for lunch while cruising. I dont advocate drinking and riding, so I cant comment on this place as a bar, but it seemed pretty simple and domestic. The menu is simple, but really you only came for the ribs. The price is right, and the ribs are brought out wrapped in newspaper. They are extremely tender and have excellent flavor. Inside its dark, old and full of character. Im pretty sure G & M's is the only thing going in Williamsburg as well. read more

Guy & Mae's Tavern - Storefront - Barbeque Near Me - Williamsburg, Kansas

Make the trip!!!!! I discover this place through the 8 wonders of Kansas book. Of which it is one of the top 8 restaurant wonders in Kansas. The atmosphere is what you would expect from a small town bar, nothing fancy just what you need. There is a bar to sit at and booths every where else. A pleasant surprise was that there were no tv's so you can speak with the company you are with or the person sitting next to you, everyone's friendly. Now the food! While there my table tried two regular sandwiches 1-beef (brisket) 1-turkey and a half slab or ribs. All items come dry and you can add house made bbq sauce. The sandwiches were packet with meat. The beef was good but dry. I prefer brisket to be dipped in there drippings prior to serving. The turkey was great! It was everything I like in smoked poultry - smokey, moist, well seasoned. The ribs where the star! They fell off the bone, had a great bark, and a nice smoked flavor. You could add sauce but you don't need to. Sides: the only side they make in house are the bake beans. They are very good and a change of pace from the normal bush's style beans. They had a fresh taste and weren't overly sugared... Well balanced. The other sides are grocery store quality and not made in house... Passable. read more

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You wouldn't know it from the street but this is some of the best BBQ I've had. The ribs are delicious and very juicy. The sandwiches are very filling, the pictures are of small Turkey and a small beef and Polish sausage they flavors worked very well! Has a pool table, pinball, and jukebox. Well worth the trip off the highway. Bring a dollar to hang on the wall. read more

Guy & Mae's Tavern - Barbeque Near Me - Williamsburg, Kansas

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The food was awesome! My ham sandwich was piled high with wonderful lean, smoked ham. No frills, just great food and service. Prices were very reasonable. read more

The meat our being ham, turkey and beef was moist and flavorful. We both had medium sandwiches which were food and plenty of sauce. Today our buns could have been better. Came with. Bag of chips. The price was good as was the food. We would go back again. This review is in the time of COVID and they did good job with mask and sanitizer and all. Which we appreciated read more

This place is all about the ribs --- and they are as good as it gets. We stop in every time we can when we're headed to or from KC on I-35. Just a mile or so off of I35 at the Williamsburg exit which is a little bit south of Ottawa. We have typically been there for a late lunch on Saturdays and there is no crowd. Very friendly staff and very quick service. Cash only, but they have an ATM if you're like us and never carry cash. Back to the main attraction -- the ribs. They are perfectly barbecued with just the right amount of seasoning and smoke. They are served dry, as good barbecue should be, so the flavor of the meat comes through. Honestly, I've never even tasted their BBQ sauce, because there's no need to. The meat falls right off the bone, but has good texture. Again, the ribs are the main attraction here. The potato salad and cole slaw sides are pretty good. I would not recommend the beans. It's too bad that such a good BBQ joint serves what taste like Van Camp Pork and Beans, straight from the can. This place is a must stop for us when we're driving by, and would be worth the drive to pick up some ribs to take back home with your own sides. read more

Guy & Mae's Tavern - Ribs are served dry, on the foil with bread. Never even tried the sauce. No need to. The flavor of the ribs stands on its own. - Barbeque Near Me - Williamsburg, Kansas

Came here with my graduate advisor who had last been here over 20 years ago; apparently the ribs were the bomb back then, when he could still finish two racks, and they're still great now. The ribs are simple, that's for sure. They're not extensively seasoned, and there isn't a dry rub crust on it, so whether you like these will depend on your other rib experiences and what style you like most. They give you a big condiment bottle with sauce to slather on there. To me, what made these great was that the meat alone was really well-cooked, falling off of the bone, and moist. I'd rather have under-seasoned, well-cooked meat, than well-seasoned, overcooked meat, but that's in part because I just don't like dry meats. Prices are maybe a little steep for the ribs, but they know what they're known for. I wouldn't say the sides were anything to write home about (my vegetarian friend certainly didn't think so), but they're cheap and get the job done. The beans are made in-house, so if you are a Bush's kind of person, you'll find it to be rather unsweetened and not as processed. Pickles are pickles. The dollar bill decor is pretty neat; if you see a blue Canadian fiver, that was us! read more

This is THE place for ribs. I drive from Wichita to meet up with friends from Topeka, Emporia, and Abilene in Williamsburg at G&M Tavern to gather around a couple slabs. It's worth a trip to say the least. The ribs are tender, thick, and meaty, not just fat and bones like a lot of places. Sauce is on the side, because the smoky meat doesn't need it to be top notch. Bring an extra dollar to leave your mark on the wall that proves you've experienced the best! read more

Sorry! Not sure why there's so much love for the ribs or anything else for that matter at this bar. We stopped by on a recent Friday evening, eagerly anticipating what some say are the best ribs in the state of Kansas. WRONG! They were greasy and lacked any real flavor. The beans tasted like VanCamps and the beef was basically dry meat with no flavor at all. I know small towns like this need businesses but unless they up their game I see nothing but a downward spiral for Guy and Mae's Tavern. read more

Solid BBQ pork ribs-very tasty! The baked bean may not be everyone's cup o' tea but I liked them a lot...very oniony with a healthy dose of celery salt. The potato salad was not unique but delivered the expected cool creaminess against the tang of the sauce. Speaking of the sauce, very strong taste of tomato and on the sweet side...not my favorite but the pork ribs are served dry and they are good without any sauce! Also, get a crunchy, salty serving of the hot pickles. read more

Drove all the way from California to take my Dad here. They're very polite & accommodated him ,even though he was in a wheelchair. He had a great day. The BBQ was unique, and amazing. I have eaten so much BBQ all over the country. The ribs are world class. The sandwiches are unique and great. And I love their pickles. Worth the drive for sure. read more

A former co-worker raved about these and brought me half a slab after a visit there. Still perfectly wrapped in the newspaper, they were certainly a treat and totally worth a trip to Williamsburg. For "fall off the bone" ribs, these are true winners. They're flavorful and genuinely are awesome with or without sauce. But if you like the kind of ribs I like - slow smoked with still a little bit of a bite to them - this is not the place. Most people don't though, so for good ribs, this is likely the place for many of you good-bbq-inquiring-yelp-reading-and-reviewing people out there. read more

A++++ I grew up in this bar. Learned a lot about life running around this place. I probably turned twenty-one five times here.. Trying not be biased here but the ribs are the best I've ever had. Johnny Carson used to have them flown out to LA on a regular basis. They are that good. Also, order the sausage sammy, a bunch of bbq chips to dip into their sauce and about five bucks worth of their hot pickles. And they have the best beans I've ever had. Anywhere. Cole slaw is supposed to be top notch also, but I don't eat slaw. Throw some money in the jukebox, play some pool, keep the pitchers of beer coming and soak up the atmosphere. There aren't many places like it around anymore. read more

This is a great place to get great food. The old fashioned feel gives the food a great taste. Don't be afraid of stopping in this small town bar! read more

I'm visiting from south Louisiana and Had a wonderful evening at Guy & Mae's Tavern - the ribs were amazing!! The atmosphere was very home like. The owner welcomed us, visited with us, and made us feel very welcomed. I even got a tour of the smokehouse that has been used for years in this family owned business. The best ribs I'v ever had - I bought an extra rack to bring back to Louisiana to share. DGuillory - Lake Charles, LA read more

OK, 5 stars doesn't happen very often and this isn't the best restaurant I've ever been in by far. However, everything about this place is terrific. It's looks like a dump. I didn't think they would even have a good frozen pizza. Inside, great ribs and meat sandwiches are served in a friendly atmosphere in a funky bar with lots of dollar bills hanging from the feeling and on the walls. The good is really, really good. This is s place worth making a reservation for on a Friday or Saturday night - even though it's pretty far out of the way for most folks. read more

Cute little hole in the wall. The ribs are AMAZING. BQQ sause is different but I grew to enjoy it as I ate it! Would reccomend going to if you are near! read more

Great local color, tasty ribs, excellent potato salad. The dollars hanging from the ceiling tradition started a few years ago when some guy put up the first one. Being named after Thomas Jefferson, I put up a $2 bill. read more

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This isn't about Guy and Mae's Tavern but about the ribs and only the ribs. We went down there to see if the ribs were still good, bought a slab sat down and couldn't stop eating till they were all gone. The sauce is different but welcoming different that we quickly warmed up to. If it wasn't such a drive we'd of went right back the following Saturday. So this place is still cranking out fall of the bone good ribs wrapped in newspaper. I only wish they were open on Sunday. read more