Don't pass on going to Hickory Hollow. The outside does not look inviting at all. Looks trashy and sketch but you'd be surprised by the food. Inside gives a diner type of vibe. I came with a friend who said they have the best crab cakes. So we each ordered the Maryland Crab Cake meal. Wow I was blown away with how delicious the crab cake is. These crab cakes have an overabundance of crab meat and very little to no filler. The outside had a slight crispiness. The flavor was perfect and left me wishing I had ordered 2 crab cakes. For my sides I had the Deep Fried Corn on the Cob. I foolishly thought it would had been breaded and looking like a corn dog. I was wrong. It was extremely dried out corn. After about 2 bites, I gave up on it. My meal came with 2 Corn Fritters. Their appearance look fabulous, but they were a huge disappointment. The Corn Fritters tasted like a loaf of white bread with no corn flavor. I also had the Spinach Soufflé. I truly enjoyed this. My meal also came with a side of good tasting coleslaw I will be back for the Maryland Crab Cakes and will try some other items from the menu. read more

Hickory Hollow Barbeque - Crab Cake with Spinach Souffle, Corn Fritters, Coleslaw, Deep Fried Corn on the Cob - Barbeque Near Me - Ellenton, Florida

Been wanting to stop in and try this place and finally made it. Parking lot and exterior of the building wasn't anything special...that I'll take as a good sign because I'd rather see a smokehouse put their love into the Barbecue. When I entered I was immediately greeted and told I could sit anywhere I'd like. I sat at a booth and the waitress brought a menu and a wooden pig with all the available sides. Ordered the smoked turkey size large with collard greens and baby potatoes. The turkey was amazing - I could have eaten it without sauces but I tried both of their homemade barbecue sauces and they're both good...one tangy and the other one a little spicy. Waitress checked in a couple times, I cleaned the plate and was out the door. Great barbecue - can't wait to try some more. read more

Hickory Hollow Barbeque - Smoked turkey platter with collard greens and new potatoes. - Barbeque Near Me - Ellenton, Florida

First time at Hickory Hollow! Very low key place, nothing fancy. The little menu board with the sides of the day is fun! Everything I ate was delicious! Wouldn't say it's very healthy but it is flavorful! read more

Hickory Hollow Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Ellenton, Florida

Flew down to Florida for a quick weekend get away to celebrate my father's birthday. The first night in town he asked if I wanted BBQ for dinner, and suggested Hickory Hollow. Just a short drive from his home, it's apparently one of his go to spots. It's a small space, with limited seating, and when we arrived, I got a good laugh at the (2) goats in the a pen in the parking lot bundled up for the cold weather. There was a bit of a wait inside, but as tabled cleared, they re-sat new parties quickly. The menu had a good variety of options, their sides were listed on a seperate "menu", made with removable velcro items, so when they run out, they can remove it form the list. I went with the combo plate, getting baby back ribs with pull pork, and potato salad and mac and cheese as my sides. The food came out quickly, and the the portion sizes were pretty good. In addition to my food, it also came with a few huge corn fritters, which were tasty and super moist. The ribs and pulls pork were very tasty the mac and cheese was ok, but no better than what you'd get from the blue box, but the potato salad was a bit more authentic. Service was friendly, good portions and fair pricing. I'd visit again ! read more

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He kept driving by this place and wondering when it was ever open as of has some peculiar hours of operation. We finally were able to go to dinner at Hickory Hollow. When we pulled up we saw there pin of goats in the back that you are allowed to pet so my child really enjoyed that upon saying down they gave us a wooden board that had all of the homemade site items on it that were available that day. It was almost like its own version of Cracker Barrel.. The food was very good in the atmosphere and ambience was very welcoming. I heard everyone in the table surrounding us saying they were saving room for dessert. Apparently there is an amazing crumble. read more

Hands down the best food in town. They have a large menu and plenty of vegetables! The BBQ sauce is homemade and so so good! The Sangria is delicious, too! 10/10 every single time! read more

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Had dinner here last night with 18 friends. Service was great and everyone loved their food. The pig menus probably could use some cleaning/freshening, but overall one of my favorite places! read more

We love a good family owned establishment that is not a chain, however, trying to find a day where they are open is a challenge. Multiple times that we have tried to dine here they are closed and it does not appear that there is any rhyme or reason to the days they do open. Operating hours/days aside, we have been able to dine here and while the barbecue is good, the flavors of the side dishes are sub par. The interior needs a serious overhaul, but you don't come to a small town restaurant just for the decor/ambiance. I personally would prefer CK BBQ a bit down the road in Parrish as Hickory Hollow's food did not quite make an impression. read more

Ordered carry out for the fam and it was very good! We hadn't been here for awhile but had always enjoyed it while eating in. As we had 2 infants and a 3 yo involved we decided carry out was the way to go. My husband and I split a full rack of ribs with Mac and cheese and Cole slaw as sides. Both our son and daughter in law got the pulled pork sandwich with baked beans and Mac and cheese for sides. 3 yo got the kids pulled pork sandwich with Mac and cheese. Food was ready when promised and everything was tasty. Total cost was $61 which was reasonable. We will definitely keep this place in mind. read more

DELICIOUS! Lunch was great. Service was great. Will definitely be back when in Ellenton read more

Hickory Hollow Barbeque - Pork shanks. Wings. Corn fritters. Slaw and fries - Barbeque Near Me - Ellenton, Florida

Such a great find! It was really busy when we arrived! food was great and server was so kind! we will be back! read more

Hickory Hollow Barbeque - smoked turkey... okra and potatoes - Barbeque Near Me - Ellenton, Florida

Wanted to love this place. Eager to be served some flavorful baby back ribs with my sides. Place was full too. It seemed like full of regulars and locals for there was a lot of cross the room conversations on "how's the family?" And "how's your business doing?" Service was simple but friendly. There is a wide selection of can and bottled beers and wines. Mostly we saw folks drinking tea or soda. We ordered our food and waited. While we waited we started to get a lot of flys roaming our area. I noticed the window ledge has plenty of ant activity too. So I scooted away from the window a bit. And kept hoping our dinner would arrive so we could eat and leave. By the way, hubby's napkins were invaded by ants on their way to the window ledge. The ribs were okay. Smothered in bbq sauce and lean. Fell off the bone. I just felt the needed some flavor and a bit more meat. The steak fries were great, no grease and big. The Cole slaw is basically just cabbage nothing else. The husband said the collard greens were delicious and the real deal. Corn on the cob is smothered in butter and was good too. Sorry no pictures hands to busy eating and shooing flys away. Hard to enjoy a meal with Indoor dining surrounded by flys, ants crawling along window ledge, and various other bugs attracted to our table was not a pleasant experience. I even checked my hair cause I felt some of the bugs had landed on my head. Shame. read more

Great location. Nothing fancy just great food. Great service and food was hot and tasty. read more

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3 of us ent for lunch for the first time in 20 years and think that we'll go more often. The was regular BBQ great, the Carolina BBQ was very flavorful but a bit dry. That being said, the sides were wonderful: great collard greens, excellent corn/peppers and super potatoes au gratin and gazpacho. Will come back when time allows read more

Great bbq. Pork ribs were sooo tender. Sides were good too. I ordered the large size St Louis Ribs & they were delivered to me w one of my sides on the plate w ribs but it was a small round plate while my sister & brother in law each had the small order of ribs & they came on larger oval plates. What was up with that? Also disappointing, was website said they had rotating draft craft beer but the only beers on tap was Budweiser LIGHT & Stella Rosa. Need to update their beer menu on website. read more

Everything is wonderful about Hickory Hollow barbecue. It's the only place I will go in my town where I live and the people are wonderful.

The service is ridiculously good. The crab cakes are bar none the best in manatee county. Now I know others might not agree but I wasn't impressed with the fried green tomatoes having eaten them at the Lazy Gator in Ruskin. It's the accompaniments with the fried green tomatoes that make it for me. Corn and peppers were okay but the apple crisp was not good imho. It had an off taste that I couldn't pinpoint. The peach cobbler was good and key lime pie was good. We also had the ribs which were tasty. This was our first experience here and if I was traveling through again I would order their crab cakes to go. Overall it was fine just not the rave reviews, other than the crab cakes, I've read. Oh I was not compensated by the other restaurant it's just my opinion read more

I feel bad bc I have a lot of nostalgia for Hickory Hollow and nothing was wrong, but the pulled pork sandwiches were really just fine. So were the collards. It's not bad by any means; we ate all our food, we'll likely go back again. My kid loved the applesauce. The corn fritters are a must-order. read more

Hickory Hollow Barbeque - Pulled pork sandwich, Applesauce, mashed potatoes w gravy - Barbeque Near Me - Ellenton, Florida

Delicious and quiet. I am always happy with the mouthwatering food and atmosphere. The ribs, crab cakes and all of the sides are my favorites read more

It's cute on the inside. I like to try to support non chain restaurants and heard so much about this place for years, I really wanted to like it. I loved the corn fritters but everything else was edible but not very good. Lake of smoke taste and seasoning was the primary issue. My husbands chicken was salty but pork was lacking it. Only one type of bbq sauce which was supposed to be homemade but was unimpressive. read more

Hickory Hollow Barbeque - the interior of the restaurant - Barbeque Near Me - Ellenton, Florida

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Had catfish with roasted yams and corn on the cob, excellent. Wife had pork shanks. Also excellent. However they allowed two dogs in which the people sat on chairs, spoiled the experience. Didn't know non service dogs were allowed inside the restaurant. read more

We've been going here for more than ten years. Do to supply chain issues their excellent pork shanks have down sized to mini pork shanks. Not the same quality or size or flavor. Their baby back ribs are excellent. Well the owner made it right saving us as permanent customers. A great place to eat and as always with good food and good service, good atmosphere. Highly recommended. read more

this restaurant is flat out the best restaurant in all of Ellenton Palmetto in Paris combined. If you don't come, you're foolish. 100% homemade and 1000% perfect. read more

One of the best local BBQ's in the area. Excellent friendly service and good old traditional BBQ. Clean cozy quiet

Old fashion, down home cooking ...great southern cuisine and excellent service. If you are looking for authentic southern food, ribs, pulled pork, perfect portions and reasonable prices..."this is it!" They serve beer and wine, great desserts, and lots of variety and traditional sides....check it out. It's Christmas here all of the time! (Give it a try and see what i mean)...Parking is a bit of a premium...so go earlier or later...make a reservation....they are "busy"!! read more

We really enjoy this place. Everything we've tried has been good. I love the pork shanks, and the corn fritters are larger than a golf ball. I was disappointed with their apple crisp, but all their other desserts have been good. The portions are more than ample and I always end up taking home leftovers. read more

Great food and staff. The owner is a sweet lady and her son runs the back of the house. Collard greens are a must. Along with South Carolina bbq pork with extra vinegar. So so good. As far as I know, they only accept cash, but have an ATM for you. read more

So sad they dropped the smoked prime rib from their menu. Staff was polite while explaining the new menu.

Our first time eating here while staying in Siesta Key. What a great little BBQ-type restaurant with a local vibe. I had a draft beer, a cup of Brunswick Stew, a cup of gazpacho (unusual offering, but tasted great) and a BBQ plate Carolina style with 3 sides (corn pudding, stewed tomatoes and potato salad) and 2 large corn fritters (like hush puppies) They have a lot of sides--almost 20 that are displayed on a board brought to your table with the sides displayed thereon with Velcro. The BBQ was authentic and really good. We stuffed ourselves but still had some room for dessert--they had about 8 or 10, but we chose the cherry cobbler ala mode. Service was friendly and efficient. We definitely intend to return next year. read more

Wonderful down home cooking! These are the types of places I always look for bc they always have some of the best food. They have bbq pork, chicken, burgers, and many sides to choose from. The prices are very fair and almost everything comes with 2 sides. Service was fast, and very friendly. Even met the owner who was coming around checking on everyone to ensure they are recovering the care they would expect and she was very friendly. Asked her name, and she said "Mom". It's an old home diner like atmosphere feel and I feel may get passed by from many but it's a place people should definitely stop to visit. They even do catering for events and have a wedding/event venue close by as well. They definitely make you feel at home as if you're one of the family there. read more

OMG, I love finding hole in the wall and hidden gems like Hickory Hallow! On my way down to Gulf beaches, I was in need of nourishment, saw the Food signs showing BBQ and it became a craving! I chose the traditional Carolina with a vinegar based sauce. They have a special piggie board of homemade sides which put me in nirvana! Steak fries, baked beans, mac & cheese & corn n peppers were chosen for the table. Testify! Awesome. The service was so welcoming in a log cabin setting I loved! I will make this a permanent stop travelling south OR going to Ellenton Outlet, conveniently at the same exit! ;-) read more

Hickory Hollow Barbeque - Sides 'Menu' Homemade! - Barbeque Near Me - Ellenton, Florida

Love the crab cakes. Owner and son know how to make a Maryland Crab Cake and do it well. I am sure other food is good but I go every time for crab cakes and also has large number of vegetable choices. Service is always good and they seem to remember me with my diet coke beverage. read more

This is my favorite BBQ restaurant in Florida, hands down. This family-owned restaurant has been a staple of the community for over 35 years. It's a great Southern BBQ joint but also specializes in North Carolina style, in addition to the traditional tomato-based sauce, which is fabulous. The food is great; some of my favorite dishes are the fall-off-the-bone pork shanks and ribs seasoned to perfection with some of their tasty BBQ sauce. Chicken wings are another favorite of mine. They have an extensive menu from BBQ regulars like pulled meats to crab cakes, fried catfish, 25 different vegetables, fried green tomatoes, garlic beef sandwiches, and good old-fashioned burgers. The corn fritters are great; I like to dip those in powdered sugar--try it! I always get the corn soufflé as one of my sides, another sweet treat. There is an extensive and unique beer and wine list. Their desserts are worth saving room for--the cobbler of the day à la mode or crisp, or Southern pies like key lime or pecan. They have indoor and outdoor seating. It's a warm, friendly, cozy restaurant with Jarret's mom greeting guests with a warm smile, and some of the wait staff have been working there as long as I have been coming. As much as I love the restaurant, I have to say the catering is even better; planning a party? Let them do the cooking for you; your guests will thank you. He even caters Italian food double yum. He hasn't cooked something yet I did not enjoy. read more

Food was average service was slow and was hard to understand, and the side orders weren't updated

Over the years I've been at Hickory Hollow any number of times. We went in for lunch one Saturday. Recently. My memory was of a really tasty meal. This time. It was disappointing; relatively flavorless pork and sides. read more

Before I say anything else, the crab cakes are to die for! They are rich with flavor and are so buttery idk how much else to explain them. I went with my family of three, and I got a burger and my family also got the two crab cakes and corn on the cob, fried okra, and collard greens and the steak fries. The have an excellent source of sides- like so many. The food was amazing and I also wanted to state how amazing the service was. Dawn, which was our server was so sweet. She checked in on us a lot- but not so much that she a tick. This place was great and I will most definitely be coming back in the Future. read more

The waitresses are all great. The food is awesome & you get plenty for your money everything is great. My fiancee & I call it the Piggy Place because of Pig they have out side by there sign! read more

Food was pretty awful. Had fried catfish. Bad taste. Real bad mushy texture. Sides also no good. Collards overcooked and too salty. Brussels sprouts overcooked and barely any flavor. Hush puppies ok. Service good. Ambience ok. Won't be back. Sorry read more

Food is always fresh, hot and tasty. I have had ribs, but my favorite is the shanks. Meaty, tender and hot. No seasoning, no rub, just the house BBQ sauce. Yummmm! read more

First visit, decor looked a little old and not many people were there when we got there so was concerned but the food and service was fantastic. I had baby back ribs and pulled pork with side dishes of mac&cheese and baked beans. Eating partner had baby back ribs and barbecue chicken with mac&cheese and spinach soufflé. Ribs were fall off the bone and no fat. Best baked beans I've ever had. Offer about 25 sides to pick from. For dessert I had warm cherry cobbler with vanilla ice cream and partner had key lime pie. Both delicious. By time we finished and leaving there was a line out the door. Definitely recommend and will definitely be back. read more