Up date March 2006. Woodpecker's is still fantastic! Nice BBQ joint atmosphere, great service, and supreme barbecue. Prices are good. My family, the six of us, most who live very close, my wife and I, visiting from CA, made our usual visit to Woodpecker's during an "around Florida" vacation. We visited many spots of my youth between Jax & St. Petersburg while dining at old favorites and several BBQ joints along the way. Without a doubt, Woodpecker's Backyard Barbecue was the best by far. The last time we were there, the turkey stole a show as it was the best turkey I have ever eaten in a barbecue restaurant. This time the brisket was the number one meat, equalling or bypassing any I have had anywhere, even in the many Texas joints we have tried. It was right up there with Franklin's and other top Texas offerings. All of their meats were extremely good. Their sides are very interesting as well as good tasting utilizing a lot of dátil pepper to flavor several and add a little bite of spice. My only wish is that it was closer than the 2547 miles away that it is. If you are anywhere near woodpecker's backyard, barbecue, go. Go. Go. You will not regret it. read more

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Holy smokes, now this is barbecue! I showed up randomly with a group of 14 other others for lunch after a kayaking trip. We opted to eat outside because inside it is a little tight, and they were quite full already. Everything is quite casual, including the hostess stand on the outside and the walk up window on the other. Food is served in a to-go bag from the walk up window and comes with everything you need to land a happy belly and a messy face. I have lived around here for years and wondered if there was a reason why this place is always bursting at the seams on nice days. Now I know, this is some legit bbq. The portions are generous, the chicken was tender, the beef ribs were huge, and the coleslaw is very similar to a fried chicken place (with only three letter letters in its name)... Which was my most favorite coleslaw in the whole wide world. No french fries though. But the coleslaw makes up for it. I told my BF that I would absolutely travel down there (30 min) just to pick up some to-go chicken and coleslaw. He also told me that the datil pepper cornbread was deliciously spicy with a real pepper kick. read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

They catered my step daughter's wedding in Green Cove Springs at Oak Chapel Venue 12/19/2025. The food was phenomenal. We had BBQ brisket, turkey, pulled pork, baked beans, Mac n cheese, jalapeño cornbread(a little too hot for me), & rolls. The food was Delivered and was good and hot. Pros: delicious BBQ Cons: cornbread-too spicy hot Another option was dinner rolls-good Recommend? Absolutely read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - Great food! - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

This was a great stop for lunch. Their brisket is super fresh and flavorful. Love it on the tater. And the datil baked beans are an absolute show stopper. Service was great and ambiance is your typical southern bbq joint. read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - Brisket baked potato - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

The food was fantastic I'd recommend anyone to go, service was excellent, I was totally blown away at the quality, and the plane was so clean and well taken care of. read more

Every time is so good. Amazing bar b q. Order early or it sells out. Great local ma and pa place read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Unfortunately, their quality continues to decline. Today I was served the most poorly smoked brisket I've ever received. Dried, overcooked and poorly seasoned, though with a nice bark. The cutter should've caught it and never let it get past the counter. But really, the worst part is that when I complained, they replaced it one that was cooked about 10x better! It's obvious that they know the difference, but quality control is lacking- or they gave me day old meat, hoping I wouldn't care? Ribs were dry and badly cooked too, though the seasoning was good. Sausage was excellent. Two pics of the bad, one of the replacement. read more

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You should definitely not come here. Don't be fooled by the long line. It's probably the worst BBQ ever. If you don't come then they won't sell out of what is probably the best bites of BBQ in the greater Jax area. Yes, avoid this place so I can make sure that I have plenty of moist, flavorful collard greens and yummy cornbread ready to go. And the pulled pork? Back off. It's claimed! There is a reason the weekends have a line, so I know you're not likely swayed by my warnings. It's really that good. Grab a seat outside and relax. You won't be disappointed. read more

Woodpeckers has some of the best bbq in the area. Their brisket, datil sausage, turkey, and datil corn are phenomenal. They have a great huge baked potato option that comes with 2 sides. The staff is very friendly with the girls always serving with a smile and the owner is amazing. They truly get to know their customers. Great local small town bbq shop with a laid back atmosphere. read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - Loaded potato and datil sausage - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Service was excellent. Ribs were much better than expected. Arrived late so I only got to taste the lean brisket which I would not recommend. Sides were okay. I'll go back earlier and def try the brisket and apparently the datil corn. read more

Heard that this was one of Yelp's top BBQ spots in the whole country, so of course I had to try it. Obviously, Florida isn't known for its BBQ, but gosh darn, it does have some diamonds in the rough. And this is one of them. I came here after a Jaguars game in Jax. It was loosely on the way back to Orlando, so I made it a point to come here. I say loosely, because it was quite a ways off the beaten path. It's definitely not a tourist trap; more of a local-supported place, which boded well, I thought. After getting to the place, we pulled into the poorly lit, single shanty looking building, and I start really getting excited. This was gonna be some good Q. We walk in, get seated, and get our order going. I forget exactly what we ordered, but it was a pretty massive feast with a good assortment of their meats and sides. We sit at our picnic tables and sip on our sweet tea, and browsing the many different table sauces they had. A neat thing about this place was that it showcased a local produce called a datil pepper, grown primarily in St. Augustine. It was featured in a couple of their sauces and in a couple of side dishes as well. They love this pepper, and I loved it, too. It was a little tangy, a little kicky, and definitely unique enough to make me get more than my fair share of that datil BBQ sauce in to-go cups when we were done. As for the food, wowww. The meat itself was perfect. The spare ribs were tender, had a good chew, and had a great little seasoning bark on the outside. The chopped pork was juicy, unsauced so it could sing for itself, but was complimented very well by each of the six sauces on the table. Sausage was flavorful and snappy. Even the turkey was moist, not even a little dry. And the brisket, forgetaboutit, juicy and moist to a fault, amazingly rendered fat, perfect smoke levels, and a bark on it that was so perfect I wanted to bronze it and keep it forever. Nothing needed sauce, but the sauces were awesome, so I let it fly as appropriate. And as for the sides, I feel like they were probably the best in all of Florida. Just so much TLC was put into each one of them. From the datil-infused corn to the datil baked beans to that lovely bite on that mac & cheese, everything was designed and executed to perfection and was a lovely side to the stars of the show. Overall, if you're within 100 miles of Woodpeckers, I would definitely come here to give it a try. If you're even a casual barbecue lover, you will absolutely fall in love with it. read more

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Pros: Love the middle of nowhere vibes and the simple, single dining room only architecture. Makes it feel rustic, like where good barbecue is supposed to come from. Service was quaint, friendly, everything you want from a small town feeling place. Food was incredible. This is a place that focuses on both the quality of their meats as well as the quality of their sides. Best sides I've ever had at a barbecue place. You could taste the TLC. Cons: It was kind of in the middle of nowhere. You won't stumble upon this place. You have to intentionally want to come here. That's the only con. Once you get here, the place is perfect. Tips: Get anything. Nothing was bad. Even the turkey was moist and juicy. All the sides were amazing, but the mac & cheese and the beans were particularly amazing. When you inevitably ask for to-go containers, don't forget to ask for all the sauces. read more

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Visited here a bunch and the food here is excellent and the staff is friendly and helpful. For ambiance, there's seating inside and outside, and it's a fun southern BBQ environment. It's so good, they usually draw a crowd that's bigger than the building can handle. Be prepared for a wait outside for an indoor table to free up. Alternatively, you can stand under the canopy tent outside the kitchen window and take it to go. There's a strong possibility that your favorite meats will be sold out. I'd like to see them prepare more food so sell outs aren't so common and maybe expand the building to improve the customer experience. read more

Meat is delicious and cooked perfectly! They are quick, even with a line. We had the turkey, rack of ribs and brisket.

This place had great reviews and BIG delicious potential but we felt it fell short of what it could have been. The entire vibe was great, cute outdoor area for eating, requisite characters eating and milling about, feisty waitresses. We waited in line to order our BBQ brisket. I chose the beans because of the peppers and had high hopes (that were NOT dashed) the beans are the reason I would go back and give it another try. The brisket was not anything to come back for though. It wasn't bad, it was just not memorable. A BBQ place needs memorable brisket. read more

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Service was outstanding. Food was delicious, and the free roaming chickens were the best part. Turkey had great flavor. Loud inside but not overwhelming. read more

Great prices. Savory sauces. Yummy meats. A family treat! The big elbow Mac and cheese is more for mom and dad than littles. The ribs are succulent and the chicken was cooked just right. I love the hickory sauce and my husband favored the orangedale. I am coming back soon to try the cobbler! read more

Today at 11:30 I stopped in and ordered three lunches; two Brisket sandwiches and one Pork sandwich (order #1903029) with Collard Greens, Cole Slaw, and Datil Beans as a ToGo order. When I got home and opened one of the Brisket sandwiches 8-minutes later, what I found was the worst, dried out sandwich I've ever been served. It is totally inedible. I haven't even looked at the other Brisket or the Pork sandwich, they're still wrapped up. Had I been eating in the restaurant, I most certainly would have sent them back. The sides were fine, but this Brisket is horrible. I have avoided dining here because the prices ($14 for a sandwich, $19 for a plate) are more than I am willing to pay for a lunch, and based on this sandwich, I will never be back. Sorry... but you need to do better. Whomever put this order together saw this meat was dried out when they were building it, and they used it anyway. read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - A horribly dried out Brisket Sandwich. - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Love this place! Never had a single bad thing here and they know how to COOK! Meat is moist, delicious, and juicy and sides are perfectly seasoned. read more

This place is our favorite family spot for a casual BBQ experience on Sundays. Get a spot at the bar for fast and friendly service if it's just 2-3 people. The service is exceptional anywhere you choose to sit and the smoked meats are second to none. It's really all about Woodpecker's consistency and quality. The staff with their warm welcoming hospitality keeps us coming back. Feels like a backyard BBQ every time. LOVE IT read more

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This place is fantastic. You're going to love the flavorful food. There's so many great options to choose from. I can't list them all but come hungry and be prepared to eat. The portions are hardy and even if you're full you'll find yourself still nibbling because that's how good the food is. Placing an order the service is very friendly and nice. We took the food to go but the location is great good seating and again friendly service. read more

First time dining. Food and service is great. Highly recommend for good bbq. Try the Mack and Cheese. Very delicious.

One of my sons was going to Woodpeckers with some of his buddies for lunch on the 4th of July. My wife and I gave him a to-go order since he was coming home after he ate. It's been a while since we have gone to Woodpeckers, and my grill has seen better days, so this was a great lunch option. My wife picked half a chicken so she could have enough for dinner, too with datil slaw & baked beans for the sides. I did two meats, which were sliced pork and ribs. My sides were datil slaw and a baked potato. My wife said her chicken was moist and delicious. She enjoyed the sides as well. My 2 meats were great. I had sliced pork at a chain BBQ restaurant a few days ago, which I really enjoyed. It blew my mind how much better this pork was. This sliced pork was so much better it wasn't close. The ribs were perfectly cooked, and I wished I ordered another serving for later tonight. The sides as always were very enjoyable. What a great BBQ for the 4th of July. Woodpeckers is still the best! read more

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Tasty lunch at Woodpeckers. The Datil corn was my favorite part. Recommend going on a nice day where you can enjoy the patio out back. read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - Pulled Pork Sandwich with Mac & Cheese and Datil Corn - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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This place is just down the road from where we live. Best brisket I have ever eaten. I can't smoke brisket this well.. service is always fast and pleasant. Love this place. read more

This is the best BBQ spot in Northern Florida. I am a Florida native and ALWAYS visit when I get into town. Tastes like home. Favorite sauce is Orangedale white. read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - THE SAUCE! - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Simple easy service Food was spectacular literally no complaints Perfect scenery and the restraint makes you feel at a backyard bbq Best BBQ by far i even took 2 days to think on it Price to food ratio 2000/5 stars read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - 3 meat 4 sides 4 toast $40 - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Great customer service. Ordering was super easy and plenty of seats outside. Ordered brisket (fatty), Mac n cheese, and the spicy beans. Everything was flavorful and fresh. I liked the kick the beans had. Can't wait to come back! read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - Brisket. man c cheese . Beans - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

An unsuspecting treat! Located off the beaten path in St. Augustine, Woodpeckers is a road side bbq joint that is worth the stop! The staff is super friendly and fast! Upon seating you are quickly greeted and they grab your drink order, followed up your meal. The meal arrived in what seemed like minutes of ordering. The table is filled with lots of bbq sauce options so you are likely to find a flavor that suits your palate! The food portions are large so come hungry! The ribs have a good smoke to them and a nice flavor of their rub or cooking sauce used. Layers nicely with any one of the sauce options. The chicken and turkey are also super tended! You'll also see a lot of datil pepper options on the menu and in the sauces. It's a native pepper to St. Augustine that they use throughout the cooking. Everything was delicious but the main food star was the baked beans! They were simply delicious! They rival a baked bean chili mash up. There are a few different beans and meats in the mix. It's great! Im not even a huge bean person and they are phenomenal! Highly recommend if you are in the area for some quality bbq! read more

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If you'd like barbecue meats, this place does not disappoint. They know what they're doing and they do it well. Portions are good and everything they have is top notch. If you like spicy, they have many sides with Datil which is a local pepper. The sauces which are many are all well prepared and unique. To top it off they have some of the best banana pudding. I've had the pleasure of enjoying. I don't think my grandmother made it is good, which is saying something. Well worth the visit. read more

WoodPeckers which is in St Johns County about 5.mins from my house is a godsend. It is a staple on the courner of rt 210 and 16A, woodpeekers has been serving up BBQ for a long, long time. They have indoor, out door and preorder dining. No lines when we arrived. The hostess was pleasant and told us there was a 15 minute wait for inside. We decided to eat out doors. We both had the ribs with barbecue sauce. The meat was falling of the bone. Also, we had the mac and cheese oozing with cheese. The collard greens and cole slaw were to die for. The meal was topped off with peach cobller for dessert. When in doubt try woodpeckers out in St Johns County. We will come back to see them now, here. read more

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This restaurant is amazing. The food is very good. The ribs are delicious. I had to move one notch on my belt! The service is friendly and attentive. The building is truly southern. I highly recommend the ribs, Mac and cheese, and the blackberry cobbler. read more

Met the owner and she was awesome and the food was absolutely some of the best bar-b-que we have ever had. The brisket was fresh, juicy, tender and smoked to perfection. Service was excellent. We will be back when in the area. read more

The BBQ is very good. The ribs are my favorite. The atmosphere is very rustic but I guess that is part of the charm. Friendly family' staff. It can be a little slow due to the crowds. read more

This place is great! I went hear early September with a friend, and you did NOT disappoint. we got the 3-meat combo and the loaded backed potato. Then, we had the peach cobbler and the chocolate eclair for dessert. It was immaculate. When we came, the service was great. The hostess and waitress were so kind. I love to come here whenever I visit the University of Florida. I would absolutely recommend. read more

While I was there visiting my brother in Saint Augustine, he recommended this barbecue joint. Everything was absolutely tasteful. I ended up getting two different meats for lunch which was way too much food. Go hungry and leave happy! read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - Daddel Pepper sausage, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, Texas toast, and the star of the show brisket. - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Best BBQ in St.Augustine!! Fast friendly service!! Awesome coleslaw and Bbq!! Will definitely be back!! read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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I was very disappointed when the waitress told me they were out of ribs. This place has the best BBQ in the area.

As a Texan, I've grown up eating Texas bbq. I love trying bbq as I travel and woodpeckers did not disappoint. The sides were some of the best of any bbq place I've frequented and the bbq is definitely fantastic. Like any true southern bbq place, the service was top notch and friendly. I'd encourage anyone to stop by! read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - Main inside dinning - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

I cruised by heading for a meeting at around 1:15 and there was a line outside. I figured that I would head back and try to catch it if it was still open. Around 230 I came back by and they were still open so I pulled over to see what the big deal was. It was great. I ordered a sausage sandwich Which I put a little bit of mild sauce on and it was delicious. I also ordered a pound of pulled barbecue and some sliced turkey. Along with their cornbread it made a great meal for the rest of the family when I got home that afternoon. I love places like this. Everything about it from the store to the food and the environment not to mention the people were all great. It's worth going out of your way. read more

Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ - Woodpeckers Backyard - Barbeque Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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