Years ago we saw the show that centered around under dog bbq. Finally we made it here after our last visit to Erie when we found the location we went to was closed. Walking in I didn't get that bbq vibe right off the bat. Sure there were some sauces and ribs for sale but I was kind of left wondering if this was a bbq place. Our waiter / cook/ bartender had us seated in the wide open dining area and drinks moving in no time, we placed our food order shortly afterwards. The misses got the nachos, the chips were probably the best part of the dish, the queso was on the bland side and the chicken ... well some was tender and some really not so much. Kind of in impressed. The little yelper was down for her usual tenders, there was two large hand breaded tenders in the basket, and some fries. The tender breading wasn't a hit with her but that chicken was better than the nachos meat. After some peeling she ate it. The fries though, definitely could have used a little more time down, the weren't really crispy and had a hot sog to them. I got the smoked wings. Hellfire and rust belt. Of the two rubs the rust belt was the sweetest and overall best , but I'm a fan of spice and the hellfire was definitely the winner. The chicken wings had the same Kind of inconsistency . Some were perfectly cooked, others a bit dry. But their bleu cheese really was the standout for me. As a top wing reviewer in 2025 I've had a lot of wings and bleu cheese. This I would probably give a 7/10. Definitely saved the day with the wings. Underdog was a bit underwhelming but service really saved the day here. He was attentive, helpful And overall just great. The food however, definitely not what we had hoped for. read more

See all

Best BBQ I've ever had!!!! Service was incredible and the atmosphere was welcoming and homey. The brand was clear and the pictures on the wall from the show really made it all feel like such a family and team effort. The history behind this place is inspiring and seeing it still owning its roots and going strong still feels great to support! Wish I was able to get a sweatshirt in my size but unfortunately when I went they no longer had mediums because they were getting a new screen printer. Anytime I'm in the area I WILL be back! The food is just too great to miss!!!!!! read more

See all

Great decor and vibe inside. Food is delicious and they have a fun list of events! Check it out!

BBQ is just an all around "no". The pork wasn't "pulled" pork, it was chunked pork. Flavorless. The sauces are gross. Two guys at the bar were BLARING YouTube videos while we were there on Sunday and not a single waitress (or manager) said a thing. The owner of this restaurant clearly needs to go spend some time down south and study BBQ. This isn't it. The only redeeming thing about our visit was Sue! Fabulous server with lots of personality. Would not return. read more

Underdog BBQ was, in a word, disappointing. We were visiting Erie for my birthday and had researched dog-friendly patios for dinner. Underdog does welcome pets, but that's one of few good things that I can say. The patio was an unbussed mess when we arrived, despite only medium levels of business. I assumed that a rush had just left and let it go. Servers were slow to clean it and slow to take our order. We ordered the crab dip appeteizer (which was good) and smoked wings, which they were temporarily out of as they had not restocked the smoker. This is a bad look for 7PM on a Saturday, so we ordered the dog platter (which also involved substitutions due to other shortages, but the dogs are forgiving), had some beers, and planned to get dinner elsewhere. As we prepared to leave, our server told us that the smoked wings were available again, so we ordered some and waited...45 more minutes for them and had to ask about them after our server disappeared and talked on their cell phone. Not only had the wings obviously been forgotten under a heat lamp (the server admitted as much), they were ordinary fried wings that had clearly skipped the smoker in order to save time despite taking nearly an hour to receive. (Also: a $3 upcharge for celery, carrots, and ranch for your $18.50-per-dozen wings is plain insulting.) So we ultimately committed two full hours for two appetizers, a round of beers (they were fine), and some disgusting, cold wings of which we ate half. During the last hour, we sat surrounded by trash from tables that had once again been dined at and then left unbussed (see photo). There was no shortage of staff, but no one seemed to communicate or help one another, and the result was a slow, disorganized, depressing experience. The employee at the host stand did offer us a small discount, which was appreciated, but not enough for us to consider returning. Underdog appears to be surviving off an appearance on a TV show (of which we were unaware before eating there), but the star average also seems to keep falling over time. Better management is desperately needed. read more

Underdog BBQ - The patio, abandoned to filth an hour before closing. - Barbeque Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

We showed up on a Sunday for lunch. We were greeted and seated immediately. The service has been so friendly so far. We have ordered brisket and burnt ends along with hose salad and fried carrots Right now, we are waiting for them to appear on our table. I will continue this review after we had them. By the way, the beer is so cold and really good. Cheers! Ok. We have just finished our meals. The service continued to be friendly and timely. The salad was not very fresh. The meat was delicious but had room to be more tender. The outdoor space was also great with the weather being so nice Overall we enjoyed our visit. read more

See all

The brisket and coleslaw were great! The beans and cornbread were good. Our waiter was excellent and was knowledgeable about the bbq. ( Matt ) The restaurant was very clean and well kept . Very nice the was its setup read more

Been 2 years. This place went to the shits new menu items were awful. Brisket was fattiest thing I've ever been served. Turning in to a Mac & cheese restaurant. Bbq. What. Bbq read more

This place is a sentimental favorite even though it is just a few years old. If you don't know, its origins can be attributed to the TV show UNDERCOVER BILLIONAIRE. Being born and raised in Erie, but living away the past 45 years, I love the show and tried out their first location because of that show. I am no BBQ expert, just know what I like and the food here is good. The new location is a much better restaurant type building for both the customers and probably staff. They have more room for souvenir type things which we bought to show my Erie Pride back in Columbus, Ohio. The new building isn't finished yet, but they are open for business and it is clean and a nicer looking place. Here is to continued success for them. read more

Underdog BBQ - the outside of the restaurant - Barbeque Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Great BBQ spot. We came here since we are mortgage brokers and do business w/Kind Lending which is associated with Undercover Billionaire Glenn Stearns which is how we learned about Underdog. We are on a 45 day RV trip and made sure to include a stop! The food was great, fast, service was top notch. Definitely recommend if visiting Erie,PA read more

See all

I've been wanting to try Underdog since I saw the business come together on Undercover Billionaire back in '19. I finally made it, and sadly, I wish I had better things to say. The restaurant is very clean and decorated nicely, nice tables and hi-tops and seating at the bar as well. We were greeted immediately upon entering and seated right away by a host whose name I didn't catch. Our server, Roberta, was a bit brisk and seemed like she'd rather be ANYWHERE other than waiting tables on a Saturday afternoon. I ordered an Undergrog, which was a very good beer, my wife and daughter both had water. We started with the Brisket Poutine, which was good, a little too much black pepper for my taste ( not a complaint, just a note) but good nonetheless. My wife ordered the pulled pork sandwich with fries (they were out of baked potatoes). The pork was 'okay' but not as amazing as we had hoped, and the fries were under cooked and over salted. We tried the 'old fashioned ' sauce (I think that's the name), and we really liked it. My daughter ordered the 1 meat platter with pulled pork and fries (no baked potato) and a side salad. The salad was well put together, and all the ingredients were fresh and crispy, but again, the pull pork was just 'okay', and the fries were undercooked and way too salty. I ordered the full rack of ribs and with baked beans and fries. I'm sorry to say that this entree was pure disappointment. The best thing on the plate was the beans. The ribs were almost completely inedible. There was more bark than meat, and the meat that was there was completely dried out. The beans were really, really good with a nice savory sauce and little chunks of meat. I could've actually made a meal out of a bowl of beans and some bread and butter. I don't know if Underdog just had a bad day yesterday (4/27/24) or what the issue was. I would be willing to give them another chance to impress me if I were in the area, but I won't make the 250mi drive just to go back. read more

See all

Wasn't good then, isn't good now. Started off as a reality show subplot and has never really impressed as to the quality of food. Far better in town read more

There were 8 of us and we all loved our meals. The pork nachos were so good with all the different sauces. Our waitress was very attentive and kind. The restaurant was very clean with lots of seating. We'll definitely go back! read more

On a beautiful July Saturday we decided to head to Erie, PA for the beach. On the way in we looked for dinner spots and came across the usual local establishments and franchises. One of the choices was Under Dog BBQ. After reviewing the menu we have decided that would be our lunch choice. Once we had entered we seated by a very nice hostess. She was polite, kind and but up with our shenanigans. Our waitress arrived and she was also pleasant. I should have gotten names to add to the review but I was in awe of the food coming out of the kitchen. The waitress was funny and informative about the items on the menu. They had recently gotten their liquor license. The have a few signature drinks. I had ordered the blackout. It was smooth and refreshing. The issue is they go down smoothly and the damage is done before you realize it. It took a while to decide what I was going to order. Started off with the brisket stuffed mushrooms. They give the option of blue cheese or ranch. I did not try it with the ranch but do not get the blue cheese it over powers the taste of the appetizer. It was perfect with out. Suggestion throw a few extra pickled onions on the plate instead of the blue cheese. My meal choices was build my own platter. I got the three riiblets and burnt ends. My sides were bake beans and blue cheese smashed potatoes salad. He were the waitress dropped the ball on information. Riblets in the world I from are theses little mini ribs. Not at Underdog the riblets were the same size of any regular ribs. If those were riblets I am scared to see the size of those on the slab. Now every where. I go burnt ends are these little cubed pieces of pork with a nice bark. Please look at my picture. The burn ends were these lovely large chunks of pork with the most beautiful smoked bark and so tender they melt in your mouth. I am not complaining about the size of the portions by any means. The sides were equally good. When the person you are with is not a blue cheese fan and would eat the blue cheese potato salad I know its good. The beans had a lot of flavor and weren't overly sweet. You have multiple selections for sauce. I loved the original and the Huckle berry jalapeño was my second choice. The peach was a bit sweet for me. This is five star all day long from service, food, and price I was satisfied. If anyone from Underdog is reading this can you please make sure your merch is stocked. I need a XXL shirt. I was told I can check and order off line, but what fun is that when it is a nice road trip and I can get good food and a shirt!!! Ill be back to many things I didn't try. read more

Underdog BBQ - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

See all

Not impressed. I ordered brisket and pulled pork with mac n cheese and brown sugar carrots as sides. The brisket was decent, I'd give it 7.5/10. Somewhat juicy, but nothing to write home about. Pulled pork was a bit dry, but the sauce was good enough to drown it in. Mac n cheese did not have a great cheese:macaroni ratio, very macaroni and not much cheese. It was okay but I expected better. Brown sugar carrots were honestly awful, it was just hard baby carrots in some sugar water. I was expecting 'real' carrots that were cooked to be a bit softer. Price is insane, about $31 for this one meal. Similar BBQ places in the area have much higher quality and lower pricing. Overall, would not go again. Food is alright, good variety of dishes, but pricing is awful and the quality is not good enough to justify picking this restaurant over competing BBQ places in the area. read more

Underdog BBQ - Brisket, Pulled pork, Carrots, Mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Unfortunately I know how underdog bbq got its name. It's fitting. This was the worst bbq place I've ever been to everything was cooked to the point of being crispy like excessively burned. What lacked in bbq sauce was made up for in a a soggy mess of what tasted like liquid smoke. Both my husband and I have spent the night in our bathroom having issues and even as I'm writing this I feel like I'm going to be sick. We brought our toddler and I'm thankful that she didn't eat much because of this. The wait staff was nice enough and the building itself was nice, just wouldn't eat here ever again. There was also I fly that we noticed part way through our meal, making its way around the establishment. I'm not one to leave these kinds of reviews, but this was an awful experience. read more

We went towards the end of the day. All the food was delicious but I wish the sides along with the brisket were larger. One cornbread sliver and a tiny cup of baked beans just left me wanting more. Still it was really nice. The patio was pleasant and quiet. read more

My daughter went to Erie for a getaway on Mother's Day weekend. We decided on barbecue and decided to try Underdogs. It was absolutely the worst I've ever had. They were out of brisket so I tried the ribs. I attempted to eat them but they were more like jerky! What little meat that was on them was so dry in edible They were nice enough to refund my $. The waitress was nice and attentive. So disappointed. read more

Delicious food. My favorite is actually the cornbread which I could eat my weight in. The barbecue was delicious especially the ribs. Service was quick and very accommodating. read more

The brisket was AMAZING... but the 5 stars goes to the wait staff who were more than happy to let us eat outside with our pooch. Sue and everyone are the BEST! Our pup didn't want to leave! After the brisket, I'd say my fave was the mac-n-cheese... but really, it was all great! Especially the sauces. read more

See all

Really good food and friendly service. Brisket was meaty and tender, sides were big. Nice location and good beer selection.

Very tasty! Waitress was very informative :) they were out of a few things and give suggestions (I think being out of something speaks to good food) the loaded nachos were great the pickled hot peppers delightful with Just a bit of heat, and every with all the toppings the chips were still crisp :) use a fork $100 for drinks, food with extra sides and desserts for three is a good value (and a free cookie as it was broken and my roommate got is dairy dessert to go as forgot his pills) will go back when next in town, lovely clean place :) read more

Great food after being out on the beach all day! Underdog came recommended by a few locals and we were glad we stopped by. There is outdoor seating and high chairs and coloring sheets for littles. The ribs and brisket were good, and the sides were real shining stars. Staff was friendly and service was pretty fast. read more

Last minute decision to try something different in Erie, and didn't realize until are waiter Hunter told us that the restaurant was recently featured on Undercover Millionaire on Discover Channel. The decor and bar area had a modern, hip vibe that was upbeat no wait last Saturday evening which was great. Shared the two meat and two side options for dinner, absolutely loved the Peach Burbon Sauce on the Chicken & Louisiana style ribs... even bought a bottle for home..my favorite side was the mac & cheese being someone that makes mac & cheese the combined flavors and usage of panko crumbs gave a classic dish a nice twist. The food overall was delicious, would have liked more meat on both the ribs & chicken. On to the beer selection, was Yungeling Hershey Chocolate Porter Ale . After reading about it in the fall was intrigued on trying it at and it surely didn't disappoint...basically a chocolate lovers delight in a beer form....without the chocolate. If your in the Erie area or like BBQ be sure to check this place out... read more

See all

Was so excited to try this place after watching Undercover Billionaire. No pics of our food because my son had my phone and we also ate it as fast as it came out. Server was friendly, interior was beautiful and they have a very nice outdoor section, as well as an area for larger parties. We ordered the Brisket Poutine with gravy - brisket and fries were delicious, but would've preferred just a tiny bit more cheese and a tiny bit less gravy as the fries quickly became very soggy. We also ordered the stuffed mushrooms, which were perfect little pockets of flavor! We ordered the smoked meatloaf with brown sugar glazed carrots and an upgraded side of sharp cheddar Mac and cheese - the meatloaf had a charred crust on the outside, but was perfectly balanced with a very tender and homestyle center that was juicy and flavorful - even our toddler loved it! The carrots were okay and could've been just slightly more done with a little more sweetness in my opinion. The Mac and cheese was to DIE FOR. We got a side and then reordered another side on top of that. It was creamy, dreamy, cheddary, rotini noodles with a little breadcrumby crumble on top - YUM. We also ordered the carrot cake, and if you're someone who prefers a little more nut and carrot in your dessert than actual cake - this is for you because it is HEAVVVVY on the nuts and you'd probably love it, however, if you're like me, and prefer a little more pumpkin-roll-esque cake with a tiny faux-frosted carrot on top - this will NOT be your jam, but we still ate the frosting so the entire cake didn't go completely to waste and I think this review is more of a result of my preference than a reflection on the cake itself because it was very moist and sophisticated and is probably someone else's carrot cake of their dreams. My only other request is BRING BACK THE CORNBREAD! The waitress mentioned it was a summer edit to remove it from the menu, but CORNBREAD DOESN'T TAKE VACATION! All of the other food is very "heavy," so why discriminate against the cornbread? Okay, I'll get off my soapbox, but I can't help that throughout my whole meal, I just needed that little bite of something starchy like that or even a biscuit to balance out the flavors. Overall, I would eat here again and would recommend anyone local or passing through to stop and give it a try. They also cater, so would be awesome for parties or business lunches! read more

See all

I love the decor. All of the tables are at least 5' apart each other. The benches have slabs of butcher block. All the chairs look industrial. There is a dining room and bar area with high tops. The art is tasteful. I knew this restaurant primarily sold BBQ. A group of 4 geriatric men came in and were complaining the menu wasn't diverse enough. They didn't do their homework. I ordered the 1/2 rack dry rubbed with collards greens & side salad. The meat fell off the bone and obviously spent time in the smoker. Flavors deep into the meat. The collard greens were good. The iceberg salad was ok. The warm slice of cornbread was delicious. The waitresses carry "cash registers" which allow them to perform credit card transactions at the table including the tip. It was streamlined but a little off putting tipping in front of the waitress. Indoor and patio seating. Parking could easily get congested. Because of the lack of tables, I foresee people waiting for tables ... and worth the wait. read more

Underdog BBQ - 1/2 rack, collard greens, side salad, and cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

See all

Ok, it's 2024 in the old Perkins. I was wondering if they would live up to the old Underdog. It is just as fabulous as ever. We had tender brisket and ribs, broccoli slaw and collard greens. Unbelievable read more

If you like to go to places in the news you should go here. It was featured on Undercover Billionaire - a rich guy flies into an unknown town, and builds a business and passes it on to hard-working folks who could use a break. Our party had every meat available on at least one of our plates. I thought the burnt brisket ends were excellent but everyone else was underwhelmed by everything else ((particularly the ribs). Though this is my home town, I've lived in one of the BBQ Meccas (Memphis) for half my life, so keep this in mind! We thought the Golden Deviled eggs were also great. The portions were good so no-one had room for dessert. The service was good and they had an assortment of good local beers on tap. One of our company regularly buys their peach BBQ sauce so you might want to check that out read more

Came here because of the TV show. Ordered a 3 meat platter. We had high expectation for the ribs because of the TV show, but it's just okay. The brisket and pulled pork are below average and very dry. For the sides, Potato salad is okay but the fresh cut fries are not fresh at all. We somehow had adjusted our expectations because of the terrible service of the waitress, but it didn't help much. So disappointed, never came back again. read more

Underdog BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

See all

My family and I were turned away from another restaurant and did a quick search for something nearby. Thankfully, we found Underdog BBQ. The food at Underdog BBQ was far beyond what we expected. Each of us voiced how good our meals were, including sides. For my meal, I enjoyed the best pulled pork, beans and seriously, the best fries I have ever had at any restaurant. I ordered 2 quarts of beans and 2 lbs of pulled pork to take home. For desert, I had the crème brûlée. It was a great finish to my meal. I only wish there was an Underdog BBQ near me. read more

My boyfriend was a big fan of Undercover Billionaire, so Underdog BBQ was on our list during our recent trips to Erie. We had the smoked wings, which were amazing and came with a brussel sprout/walnut salad. He ordered the ribs and brisket with fresh cut fries and cole slaw. His only complaint was the brisket was a little too fatty for him. I had the pulled pork and turkey with baked beans and potato salad and I had zero complaints. We also loved the barbecue sauces, but wish we could have tried more -- they had more varieties for sale in bottles out front. read more

See all

I've been a few times on my visits to Erie really wanting to believe the hype but it just isn't living up to great or even good BBQ. Adequate is likely a better description. Like you're not going to have a bad meal but you're definitely not going to have a great meal. It will do if you're hungry without a plan and that's about it. On my last visit a bottle of strawberry-habanero sauce exploded all over my face and chest. It had been fermenting in the flip top bottle and was under so much pressure it became a volcano as soon as the lid was flipped. Wouldn't you think this is a food safety issue? Fortunately for my glasses or I'd had hot sauce in my eyes. As it was, my skin was burning and my shirt was ruined. Had to change my afternoon plans as well since I needed to shower and change after a mediocre and threatening lunch. Though the new server was deeply apologetic and kind afterwards. Thanks for the 10% discount (amounting to $4 for my troubles.) I think with mediocre food, well-meaning but meh service, and risky sauces left to ferment this place will always be an underdog. And one I'm not rooting for sadly enough. read more

Super salty food. I'm not sure what happened but it tasted like the chef spilled the entire bottle of sat in my meal... besides that the taste was average. Concerned because I never smell the meat smoker when I drive by?? How does that make sense. Food is fine but nothing special read more

Excellent service. Got 3 meat platter, ribs and x2 brisket. Ate ribs with no sauce, great flavor without. Brisket was just awesome, very moist, don't believe anyone who tells you it's dry. Tried all 3 sauces with the brisket, best of the lot was the peach which surprised me. Enjoyed the cornbread and beans. Great meal, what I look for in a barbecue place. Will definitely be back. read more

Underdog BBQ - 3 meat platter with ribs and x2 brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Excellent - great beer selection mostly local to the region. Full bar. Ordered half rack, brisket and chicken - some of the best BBQ I have had! The collard greens were unbelievable, Mac and cheese very good, banked beens very good. Loved the peach bourbon bbq sauce best - next up was the huckleberry habanero sauce Next time it's ribs and brisket - can't get enough of them Will be back next time I am in Erie read more

Underdog BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Really DRY!! The sauces were too sweet (beware if you are diabetic). Even the cole slaw I ordered was inedibly sweet. The person who took our order on the phone sounded annoyed when we asked questions about the 2-meat option on the menu. read more

We had a team dinner here - son's team is travelling to Erie PA for a tournament - and the food was impressive. I had the beef brisket with collard greens and potato salad. I enjoyed every bite. The restaurant is allergy aware, their sauces are clearly labelled for gluten sensitivities and they were understanding and reassuring when I asked about their practices for accommodating for a peanut allergy. I highly recommend! read more

We drove 2 hours to eat here. My husband seen the show and wanted to visit. Very disappointed. First thing is very overpriced for small portions. We ordered burnt ends for appetizer and when they sat this tiny plate in front of us we just looked at each other like is this a joke. We both ordered 3 meat plates. I had collard greens and coleslaw and my husband had battered fries and macaroni and cheese. The collard greens were disgusting. They was over cooked, salty and nasty. The macaroni and cheese was dry. The cornbread was hard and dry. The brisket was tough and our food was warm at best. The bbq sauce was not that great so I'm not sure what the hype was it was loaded with sugar. The only good thing about the visit was the Diet Pepsi and the butter. Not everyone can BBQ. read more

Really good food and an amazing team. They took great care of us and our pups! Great bark on the ribs. I highly recommend visiting next time you are in Erie. read more

My wife and I visited Underdog in a Saturday in August around 5:30 PM ET. We were promply greeted and seated at a table of our choosing. Our waitress was prompt to our table, took our drink order (we asked for a pitcher of water and she graciously complied), and at our request, took our appetizer order. For our appitizers we chose the devild eggs and fries with beer cheese. Both were delicious. Since my wife is a vegetarian, she had a number of side dishes for her meal. She had the coleslaw (bland), potato salad (bland), green beans (good), and mac and cheese (outstanding!). I had the three meat selection (brisket, ribs, and turkey). All delicious. Where I went wrong was putting their sauces on them. The bbq was better without their sauces. Chances are we won't return. read more

See all