Rated a 2 because Food was good and one lady was great! The other had the worst attitude you can have while serving the public! Had absolutely no business dealing with people! The rude lady made the whole experience awful. Not sure I will visit this location again. She ruined the whole atmosphere of the restaurant!! read more

This is my dad's favorite bbq spot growing up so when I'm in town visiting family I always swing by and grab some bbq pork with hush puppies. The sauce is more of that Carolina vinegar based one but so good make sure you grab extra. read more

Their hot sauce is to die for ... buy some to take home ... it's good on everything ... the pulled pork is tender and great even left over .. read more

They are always SO NICE and the food is fantastic! We frequently visit this establishment and they always take good care of us. The food is well worth the money and will feed A LOT of people! I give it two thumbs up and five stars! Definitely the best hash I've ever had! read more

Great service and great food. The price is worth the amount of food you get. Will go back.

This place was great! The menu was a tad confusing for a northerner/first-timer but the cashier was very patient and helpful with our questions. I got the pulled pork, ribs and the dark meat chicken. Everything was great, and very tender. It was messy as hell, slathered in BBQ sauce but I had plenty of napkins, lol. Not much of an ambiance and they were doing drive-thru only, but I don't think that's what people go there for. My wife had the hash which was also good. Why they didn't get 5-stars: the potato salad was completely flavorless and they forgot my order of corn-dodgers. read more

Swung by this local joint on the recommendation of one of my husband's co-workers. You stand and order your food from a counter and due to current circumstances stand to the other side and wait to get a takeout bag. So, there's not a lot of lobby room but the service was efficient so we weren't standing all that long. We ordered the little pig, a rib plate, and a pulled pork plate. The little pug doesn't come with cole slaw and potato salad so just be aware. (That was mine but my daughter shared her veggies with me!) The pulled pork was flavorful and sauce served on the side so you can control how much you want to eat. The ribs were not my husbands favorite because they're pretty chewy but our daughter loved them - just depends what you like. We ordered a dozen corn dodgers - not realizing we all had 3-4 in our meals! So, you get some and they're delicious but unless you really want to OD on fried corn bread you don't need a dozen extra. Side note: if you love hash (and already know what it is) you'll probably love this place. There was hash everywhere and they put it on their sandwiches. (You can opt out of it but have to ask). If, like me, you are not a huge fan of meat and animal parts and aren't sure what hash is please don't google it *while* you're eating. Look beforehand or just don't look it up at all. Seems like a local favorite but I'd pick something else if it's up to me. read more

Ward's Bar-B-Q - Little pig: pulled pork over rice and smothered in hash with corn dodgers. - Barbeque Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

I went to Wards BBQ on Alice Drive today for the first time. I ordered a small pork bbq dinner and a bbq sandwich plus a side order of bbq sauce. They were not very busy. I did NOT receive a receipt. When I returned home there was no bbq sauce in the bag or on my sandwich. I specifically asked for it to be added to the sandwich. The food was very dry and and I was not very impressed. I will not be returning to Wards BBQ ever. read more

Wards is consistently good. I've been away for a few years and had to stop in during this visit. It was just as good as I remembered. The hash is so unique and yet very good. The pork is tender and doesn't need any additional sauce. Looking at the other reviews for Ward's, and based on my friends inputs, the Ward's flavor is different enough from St. Louis style BBQ it's not what some people expect. The sauce is tangy, not sweet like STL. I'll be back on my next visit to Sumter. read more

Ward's Bar-B-Q - Pork plate with rice hash - Barbeque Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

Service was good, server was friendly and helpful, prices were reasonable. We came in saying we had never been here before and we were from (about 250 miles away) but this place had come highly recommended from our hosts. She immediately offered us a generous taste of "hash on rice" and the pulled pork. When we agreed they were good and began discussing what to order, she offered suggestions. Never having had SC BBQ before, we cant compare flavors, just say it was tasty. Not tomato based, not too spicy, a little greasy. Potato salad was bland with the major flavor being pickle relish, the cole slaw was typical. Not a 5-star expensive dinner but a good, solid, satisfying mid-priced lunch. read more

Okay, I admit I was surprised when the server as if I wanted to try the hash... apparently this is a food item in South Carolina, and it's very good. I have been here a few times and always enjoy the bbq. The hash with rice is good, the fried chicken is good and the ribs are good. No complaints from me. Next time you are in Sumpter, stop by and get some hash! read more

Ward's Bar-B-Q - ows a red truck parked in front of a bar - b - que sign - Barbeque Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

This was easily the most horrible BBQ experience that I have ever had. The BBQ here was so bad that it ruined the credibility of the entire state of South Carolina as far as BBQ is concerned in my opinion. I think the best overall way to describe the BBQ here is "unseasoned beef jerky with Spaghetti-O sauce dumped over it. Let's see, where do I start.....the service. I had a bad feeling as soon as we walked in here, the woman behind the counter had a very surly attitude, she acted like she was doing us a favor by waiting on us. This person looked like they had just rolled out of bed in the trailer park and had come in to work after letting their dog play with their clothes for a few minutes. She was very unhelpful and did a horrible job of explaining the menu....which was very limited but the way that it was set up didn't make any sense to me...it was difficult to read. After you put in your order she kind of shuffles over to these pots they have set out and dumps out some of the side dishes. They have this stuff they call "hash", which I suspect is really the ribs they couldn't sell the day before chopped up and put over rice. The ribs though almost defy description. To begin with, the sign outside says "pit" BBQ.....they may have been cooked over a pit, but it was a pit with a gas burner at the bottom of it. No way these ribs were cooked over wood, or even charcoal for that matter. The quality of the meat itself was what I would expect to find should I ever find myself in a Siberian prison labor camp. This was some cheap-ass meat and apparently it was too much trouble to serve it warm, what kind of restaurant can't even be bothered to keep their food warm? The sauce was equally horrible, it basically had no taste whatsoever although if I did have to describe it, I would say that it tastes like they opened a can of Spaghetti-O's, threw the pasta in the garbage and dumped the sauce over their meat. If you are ever in the area, do yourself a favor and avoid this place, you will have better BBQ if you go to McDonald's and get a McRib. I would give this place 0 stars if that was an option, 1 star is being too kind. read more

When you near the entrance, you notice the tint on the door is in disrepair. Entering the establishment you find the service counter is right there, about four feet from the door. One of the haggard ladies in the open kitchen walks up to the counter and dully takes your order. You look up at the letter board menu behind the counter, that is attached to the ceiling - the selection is limited and boring. You order the small, chicken dinner with white meat. The lady walks over to the island food warmer and slaps some rice with some sort of shredded, barbecue chicken on top; a small dab of potato salad and coleslaw; two oval-shaped corndodgers; and finally fishes out a piece of barbecue chicken from a warmer to the left of the island. She walks back up to the counter and places the styrofoam plate on the counter and asks if you want anything to drink. You select the lemonade, pay for your food and walk into the dining area to find a seat. The tables are mix-matched along with the chairs, some are in need of cleaning and/or repair. As you find a table to sit at, you hear a high-pitched, electronic screeching - there is a phone sitting on a service window. There isn't much to look at as the blinds on the two windows are closed. The place feels a bit chilly. As you look up at the slowly rotating ceiling fans, you notice the filth and grim clinging to the tiles. You finally take a bite out of your chicken breast; the flavor is alright, but the inside is dry. You take a sip of your lemonade and it is almost unbearably sweet. The shredded, barbecue chicken topping is too strong and smothers the rice. You sample the rest of your plate and find them to be alright as well, you might have been expecting a piece of hotdog in the corndodgers, but they are apparently hush puppies. All in all the food wasn't bad, but it wasn't satisfying. If you order a sandwich from them, they put the shredded barbecue chicken in a hamburger bun(Like the BBQ sandwich from "KFC."). So there is no telling that the chicken is possibly leftovers from the previous day(s).(Not that I'm extremely picky about old food or anything, but I figure I'd leave that up to you.) Gentlemen... read more

This location/chain, sadly, will not be a regular visit for me while I'm here in SC. One, and again this is totally personal, I just don't like the vinegar based bbq(s). Which is going to make finding and getting BBQ I enjoy very difficult here since that is the flavor of choice for everyone... so NO, I do not hold that against places I eat. It's me - not them. So, the quick pros. Their banana pudding is pretty good, and pulled pork is mostly tender and tasty. Although more crumbled(?) then actually pulled/shredded like most that I've had, making it almost mushy. Their sweet tea isn't too bad, and isn't store bought. And their cole slaw (while having a slight KFC flavor) is good, cruchy/fresh, and enjoyable. Now, of course, the cons. The meat is on basically a warming tray in the middle of the kitchen behind the counter. So the majority of their meat ends up being dried out and not to juicy. Especially chicken. If you want their BBQ sauce on anything, prepare to have it droooowned in it. I believe it's an attempt to mask the extreme lack of flavoring in their meats. (I personally get the pulled pork sandwich with NO sauce, then sauce it with tomato based bbq at home - and it's good!) The same lady I've had help me the two times I went in seems short - like she just finished an 8 hour shift at the DMV before coming to work at Ward's. To sum it all up, unfriendly service, meat lacking most taste/flavor, and dried out meat means I'll be looking for other places to eat BBQ dinners here in the area. read more

The hash and rice here is my favorite, bar none. Ward's is a favorite of Sumter Natives, and I try to go there every time I'm in town. It's not fancy, so you should know that going in. It's your basic, down home, delicious South Carolina BBQ. read more

Yuck. Worst bbq ever. I tried the pork as well as the hash. Nasty is the only word that comes to mind. I did, however, try bbq at a food truck in Sumter. Eric's bbq was amazing. read more

Hello to all that read my reviews, I was able to actually eat at Wards today. First one correction from my last review they do have Coke products (sort of) they were out when I first went there. Today they had (diet Coke & Dasani Water) and were out of all other options. Back to my review I am leaving my initial 3 Star rating in place. Why? First the good, the sauce is amazing, really it is as good as it smelled in my first review, Which was surprising because I typically favor the vinegar based sauces then the red spicy ones. Wards is (I think) mustard based and is one of the best sauces I have ever eaten. That being said myself and my daughter ordered two rib platters which came with massive sides it took two plates each, They DO NOT skimp on portion size! The ribs were perfectly cooked and delicious too bad they were COLD! the coal slaw was also very good but the ribs were the star. You will also received potato salad (not bad), hush puppy's (average at best) rice with a barbeque meat sauce of some sort (just plain bad). To sum up 1. Great ribs and sauce! :) 2. Very good coal slaw. :) 3. Nice and pleasant staff. :) 4. Very large portions. :) 4. Food served cold. :( 5. The rest of their sides not good :( 6. Drink selection or lack there of. :( 7 Overall cleanliness below average. :( Will get here again just for the ribs & slaw take out microwave as needed. read more

Seriously the BEST bbq in town! The hash and rice is to die for! Not a bad thing I could say about this food! Girls up front are super sweet! read more

Is not good BBQ. The potato salad wasn't good or coleslaw. We went there for lunch expecting to have nice meals. We ordered different things. But our plates all looked the same with the hash thing that wasn't that good. It was disappointing. read more

Sandiwch was hot, but the hush puppies were cold. Bbq is a vinegar based sauce, but lacking a lot of flavor. My hush puppy was old and dry. And the water they serve is set up on a station in the outdated dining room. It tastes of pure tap water. I can't drink it. I stopped in here because my group didn't want to wait at another place, and my food was "meh." I would have been disappointed and angry if my meal cost me more than $4.28. I feel like I got what I paid for, unfortunately. I did not come in here by choice and I will not return and eat at this establishment again when I am in this area. read more

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Dried out chicken every time we went. My sister loved the pork sandwich drenched in their hot sauce. Your food is basically thrown in a styrofoam box, so if you order hash and rice you better hold on to the box and pray for no bumps on the way home or you will have a hot mess. The good: The sauce is perfect for me because I love vinegary, peppery sauces. The banana pudding is fabulous. The potato salad is the best, probably because it seems to also be vinegar based (and peppery) and I like the little cubes of potato rather than big chunks. The employees are very nice. I bought the sauce and my husband grilled chicken. Perfection. Had to only give two stars because the chicken was horribly dry on every occasion. read more

The food at Ward's was delicious. My sister-in-law took me there when I was visiting her. The pulled pork, hash over rice, and hush puppies I recommend. The staff engaged us with convo but was focused on their own convo. However they did make sure we had everything we needed as we sat to eat. I also recommend the half sweet tea-half lemonade to wash it all down. read more

Ward's Bar-B-Q - Pulled pork, hash over rice, potato salad, and 2 hush puppies. - Barbeque Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

Sadly have not been here to visit yet. But it sure looked like delicious food in the Tom Cruise movie "American Made".

Ward's is Ward's. Too bad I can't give it 3.5 stars. The pulled pork sandwichs have tender, tender meat. And I find the sauce very tasty. It's been an institution here in Sumter for many years. The pork sandwichs have gotten a little pricy at $4.50, but, again, are tasty with the sauce. One of them is a pretty full meal. Get two, and put one up at home for breakfast. Yes, I focus on takeout; the eating area is "down home", but not unusual for many of these type SC barbecue places! If you're in the mood for SC barbecue, I can recommend them. And, as an extra treat, Baker's Sweets is right across the way in the little strip center they're both in! read more

Absolutely the best BBQ place in town, great atmosphere as soon as you walk in and genuinely hospitable employees that make you feel at home. Be prepared to go on an empty stomach because you won't be eating the rest of day. read more

It's been a year since I ate at this restaurant, but I can still remember how bad it was. Ribs looked boiled, no smoke flavor, cold and covered in a homemade sauce that was not appetizing. Ended up tasting one rib and throwing away the rest. I'm still looking for a good BBQ restaurant in the Sumter area... read more

The first time I went half an hour before closing time (which is early, I think 7) and we asked if we could stay to eat there. The lady said yes, but was clearly annoyed with us for taking her up on it. Everyone behind us had to have take-out, including a cute family that was on the road and had to eat in their car. Ever try eating bbq in your car with a little kid?? I couldn't believe they turned them away like that. The second time I brought a friend with me who has a severe allergy to gluten, and when we asked which dishes didn't have flour in them we were treated with shock and horror like we were trying to steal their recipes. I'd put up with this kind of treatment for really great bbq, but their food just isn't worth it. read more

Decent BBQ for an area that seems to have no apparent knowledge of good BBQ. The sweet tea and hush puppies are good, too. Ward's is one of those establishments where the hash is minced pig brains (not uncommon but not everyone makes it that way), just so you're aware. read more

I got there pork dinner meal and it was ok but they over do it with the sauce I guess to make up for the ribs themselves not having much flaver. It tasted ok but less sauce and more flaver from the meat would have been better. I did get a large portion of food that was good. read more

Had the pulled pork dinner plate. Came with pulled pork, bbq hash on rice, potato salad, slaw and hushpuppies. Good stuff!

I was traveling from the west coast and needed my BBQ fix. They were about to close so I apologized but the woman and older man treated me like family and loaded up my 2 large dinners to go. I got the pork with some cole slaw, hash, and corn fritters. The 2 dinners were enough to feed 4 for dinner and lunch the next day! I might be use to expensive bay BBQ prices and portions but I'm amazed at the quality and price. read more

Disgusting slime nasty overpriced crud!!!!!! That's it that's all I can say about the food here. Plain and simple stay away do to mcdonalds!!!!!! sorry I gave them a star it made me do it. read more

Went to Wars barbecue today...horrible establishment. Customer serviced sucked. Food was just slapped on the plate, beverages were in pitchers and was not clean. The definitely do not know who to cook barbecue or the meaning. read more

There are 2 things Sumter gave me. My wife of 43 years and 6 children. And Ward's Hash. She is going 200 miles out of her way to bring some home to Tampa. Our July 4 will be extra special. SMOKE ON Ward's BBQ! read more

Upon moving to Sumter we heard all about Wards and how great it was... we tried it out twice and it really didnt live up to the hype.. at all. BBQ had too much vinegar.. and it looked like alpo thrown on top of white rice. Restaurant was not clean either visit. We will not be returning. read more

Ward's may not be a grand place to "eat-in". I've never even tried. For years it was take out only. An oh, the take out plates! One plate is enough for two meals unless you are a mighty hearty eater. Their BBQ sauce is available so that you can have it as mild or as hot as you want, and the flavor is GREAT. Their hash is superb! Can't get decent hash in Rock Hill or the Upstate so whenever we are near Sumter, to Ward's we go and stock up. (I use the Alice Drive site) Never once in all the years I have been eating Ward's have I ever encountered any food problems sanitation wise. It isn't new, modern, nor pristine but they keep the food temperatures safe. This is an old fashion place with old home BBQ made the right way. My family likes the potato salad and cole slaw. Love the hush puppies when the right individual is making them, as with everything some folks do it better, even with the same recipe. read more

Ward's BBQ is awesome! I go there every time I am in Sumter, the same lady waits on me each time! LOL Get take out -- because this is just a very BASIC restaurant -- their dining area kinda looks like a deli. The BBQ is fresh, tender and melt in your mouth. It's vinegar-based and not overly seasoned, so always ask for extra sauce. I really go for their hash. I don't know how to describe it as anything other than delicious.... My sister likes the sandwiches with BBQ and coleslaw. And their hush puppies are tasty treats. They have a VERY busy lunch counter, so don't expect anything other "can i help you?" from the staff, but if you explain what you want, you will be fully accomodated. They are actually quite nice, just busy. If you like vinegar-based BBQ, you won't be diappointed here! Also, check out Raging Pepperoni (a pizza joint in the same strip mall -- handmade dough and sauce, gourmet toppings) and Baker's Sweets, who have absolutely decadent croissants, muffins and desserts. Enjoy! read more

I will never go to Ward's again. My husband and I went in and when we walked into the door there were 3 ladies standing behind the counter that looked like they had just rolled outta bed. It seemed as though we were bothering them by coming to eat. One of them said in a not so helping tone, "Can we help you?" I said, "give us a second we don't know what we want." They must have thought that I kept looking and the menu board but I didn't, I saw one of the ladies look at another one and roll her eyes because we didn't know what we wanted to eat immediately upon opening their door. I'm pretty sure that there isn't a menu anywhere on the outside of the restaraunt. After we placed our order the lady dumped some food on a plate and walked it back over to us. I heard one of the ladies ask if I wanted some sauce so I said "yes." The lady that was helping us stared at me without saying anything. Then I asked her if she asked me if I wanted sauce. She said, "no, that was someone else." Then I said, "well can I have some sauce?" She then coldly told me that it was on the tables. Then she said, "drink?" I'm assuming that she was asking me if I wanted something to drink with my meal but that must have been too much for her to spit out. After I said "yes" she dropped a cup on the counter. I walked away to the table while my husband received his slop. She asked my husband if he wanted tea as well. My husband said no and then she said, "water?" My husband said "no, I'll just have some of hers." After she took my husband's check card he overheard her call him cheap while talking to the other girl that rolled her eyes at me after we walked in. Overall the food was okay and the tea was great but we will never go back because of the rude people that work there. read more

Wards BBQ is okay but not the best, especially in Sumter. The pork itself doesn't have much flavor, it really needs the sauce. BBQ is such a personal preference, personally I prefer more flavor in the meat itself. The sauce is pretty good and rather spicy. You can buy the sauce in a squirt bottle to go which makes it easy to put on at home. The hush puppies, or as they call them corn doggers were pretty weak, again not much flavor. The service was really lacking. I would only go back here if the other BBQ places in Sumter were closed and I really wanted BBQ. It is easy to find better BBQ and better service some place else. read more

Ehhhh...it's not horrible. But the barbecue is not really that great, the place is kind of dirty and run-down. The food was OK, but doesn't live up to the hype. The people that work there are really nice, though. read more