I've been to three different RH&B restaurants, and this is the best so far. The chopped pork sandwich is consistantly tender and yummy- yay for Carolina BBQ sauce! The dry ribs are also really good. I am a big fan of their chopped salad- smoked chicken- mmmmm. Good hushpuppies, potato salad, and decadant chocolate cake. Yes, it's a chain, so I don't hold them to the same standards for smokiness, etc as a hardcore BBQ place. All in all, consistant service and quality- a dependable stop on the way back from the Eastern shore.
(4)
David S.
I go here about once every two weeks and maybe I've just gotten lucky. I admit that once my ribs were obviously from the night before which the manager was more than happy to correct the problem. I only get the ribs with dry Memphis rub and dose them with hard luck vinegar sauce. Definitely get the potato salad, it's a home run.
(4)
Rocky R.
The place as really gone downhill recently. I would have sworn that there were new owners who were cutting corners that did not use to be cut. All of the blues music stuff was down off of the walls (apparently they have been remodeling for some time now) there was no blues music playing in the background and the place just looking boring and very plain. But I will give them the benefit of the doubt, perhaps it will look better than ever whenever the finally get it done. I thought it looked great before. The main problem is the food. It used to be very good and now it is like they have cheapened it to save money. My wife got the chili which is what she always gets here and now it was runny and was more like a soup then chili. Even the sweet tea seemed watered down and not homemade. I got the pulled pork sandwich and the bun was beyond stale. I ordered the baked beans, which at one time were the best ever; these were like they were poured right out of a can. They use to be slow oven cooked. My daughter got macaroni and cheese and it tasted like Kraft to me. My son got a corn dog and he was happy with it. Our server really seemed like this was the last place that she wanted to be. When bringing my daughter milk she dripped it all over the table and menu and did not say a word and then rolled her eyes when we asked her to bring some extra napkins. She rolled her eyes again when we asked for the side that she forgot to bring. The prices have not gone down but the food quality and service sure has. We will not be rushing back here anytime soon.
(2)
Justin M.
Not Chicago, Memphis, KC or any other BBQ Mecca. But pretty tasty for Maryland. Meat is consistently tender and juicy. Sauce options are decent. Portions are generous. Potato salad is a solid side. And their banana pudding is top notch. Atmosphere is decent with a heavy bit of blues attitude. Been many times and consistently makes it into the lunch and dinner date rotation a few times a year.
(4)
Caraline H.
Lackluster meal, the beans were horrid. Tried the desserts, but our cake was DRY! The onion loaf was fairly lackluster and bland. The best part of the meal was that at least it was cheap.
(2)
Amber D.
Onion Ring Loaf is a must-have. Service excellent (pleasant and prompt). Rest of the food was okay but not great. You definitely get plenty of food for the money.
(3)
Michael N.
I think the food was good. Service seemed to be slow as I waited 7 minutes before I was even greeted at lunch time. I'd go back if I was hungry for some BBQ. I wouldn't go out of my way though to eat here. I really liked the potato salad. The Laurel location is a much better experience.
(3)
Shannon T.
I'm a Memphis girl, so what can I say? I dream about their fried okra, sweet tea, and pulled pork. They do catfish beautifully, too. Beef barbeque is just WRONG, so I can't judge whether theirs is any good. Sorry to say that Adams' has better ribs. The one time I saved room for dessert, the banana pudding disappointed. Those concerns, and the offensive offering of Carolina BBQ sauce, lost RH&B the 5th star.
(4)
Jennifer P.
We actually went to the restaurant yesterday because we were considering using them as a caterer for our wedding. I expected to like the food, but it exceeded all my expectations. The potato salad was absolutely amazing. I tried three different meats (pulled pork, pulled chicken and ribs) and all three were amazing. My significant other also enjoyed his meal. We were neutral about three of the BBQ sauces but we both really enjoyed the sweet one. We did pack up half of our food and chose to try a dessert- he got banana pudding and we shared a bread pudding. Both were, once again, delicious. The service did start out a little slow but our server seemed to warm up to us so by the end he was great. Really I am so excited to have found this place- I will definitely be requesting a visit back sometime very soon :)
(5)
Gwynedd D.
We ate here a couple of times. It has gone way downhill. The first time was good, but the last time, even my dining companion, who is a hungry and more generous soul than me, and who loves all bbq, said it was terrible. The ribs were cold, dry, obviously re-microwaved and made days before. I can tell when meat, especially BBQ, has been in the fridge for a while. I had Brunswick Stew, which I had had before and liked, this time it was a nauseous mix of mostly canned tomatoes. It is a convenient stop when you cross the bridge, but sadly, we drive right on by now. It tastes like chain food and is not worth the stop.
(2)
Chandler L.
It isn't the worst bbq option in Maryland. It will do when you have a craving. It isn't good though. The sauce is bland. The meat wasn't cooked properly. I did enjoy the oversized glasses though. The atmosphere is cheesy and not very coherient. The staff was lazy and unhelpful.
(2)
Andrew W.
Ok BBQ if you're really hungry. Great bar specials if you wanna get drunk when you're really hungry. AWESOME Red Beans and Rice. It's actually a guilty pleasure food for me. And I love the fact that I get my extra sweet tea serve in a mini pitcher.
(3)
Zeek D.
This is a generic BBQ joint, the ribs and and pulled chicken are the best things on the menu. The variety of sauces are a nice bonus as well. The service is always good and the drinks come In Miniature pitchers so refills are not needed or at least few an far between. The music is good and the decor decent. The bathrooms are nasty and need an update. Other than that rhb is a solid meal at a fair price.
(3)
Gwen M.
We eat here approximately 2-3 times a year. It is a good halfway point to meet the parents. Never been disappointed. Last night I had a cup (really big one) of chicken corn chowder. Very good with a nice sweetness to it. I also had a caesar salad with grilled chicken. Chicken was tender and cooked just right and salad was fresh. Too big to finish. We (4) all split an onion loaf. Again huge... so we all had a nice portion. My son got an "all in burger" and said it was great. Parents got wet ribs and a Delta Double which has ribs and sausage. Both of them liked their meal as well. Service is always good.
(5)
Jessa M.
Husband and I stopped here on our way back from Baltimore. He was lured by the promise of many types of meat. I was skeptical, and reasonably so. I think RH&B Annapolis benefits heavily from folks headed over the Bay Bridge on their way to Ocean City. The decor is very run down, faux-rustic wood and plaster effects on walls covered by various Blues music related miscellanea and country kitsch. It looked like the folks who painted the walls didn't give a crap. We ordered drinks from one waitress, and moments later another came to tell us that she was a replacement for Waitress 1 who had gone out to get some dinner. Shift change, whatever, but Waitress 2 was overly friendly in that not-so-genuine, completely rehearsed sort of way. Our new waitress brought us our drinks in PITCHERS. That's right. They don't serve beverages in cups here. They bring you your own mini pitcher, complete with pour spout and handle. Luckily they provide you with a straw so you don't have to slosh liquid and ice into your mouth from the side of the pitcher. I found the drinks to be a sign of things to come. If you're eating healthy, there is not much for you on the menu. Almost all of the salads are topped by some sort of fried or sauce covered meats. They have a pretty extensive selection of sides, but most of the entrees come with baked beans, coleslaw or potato salad, meaning that if you want a side other than those you have to pay $2.89 or more to add it to your meal. I decided to forgo healthy eating and ordered the Pulled Chicken Sandwich. I was "adventurous" and opted for coleslaw on top. My meal came with a side of potato salad. Husband ordered the Five Meat Treat, basically a plate piled with brisket, ribs, sausage, pulled pork, pulled chicken, cornbread muffins, baked beans and cole slaw. My sandwich was mostly tasteless. The chicken was tender, but the sauce had not much flavor at all; the coleslaw had absolutely no taste and basically amounted to something cold, wet and crunchy on the top of the chicken. The bun was spongy and had no flavor either. I don't usually like potato salad, but I tried a tiny bit and was overwhelmed with dill. My husband seemed happier with his meal. He said the corn muffins were okay, the sausage was decent, and the pulled meats, ribs and brisket were good. He didn't eat the baked beans or coleslaw. I keep mentally comparing RH&B to a similar style gluttonous barbecue chain restaurant like Famous Daves, which has a similar menu and theme but manages to be cleaner, livelier, friendlier and more flavorful (sometimes overly so). If I can offer any real positive about this place, it's that the prices are pretty reasonable for the amount of food you get. But I mostly just got a "yuck" feeling from the whole experience.
(2)
Stephanie M.
Great place for families! I have been here several times with my family and have never been disappointed. Good food, friendly service and fun atmosphere. Great pulled pork sandwhiches and a great dessert menu!
(4)
Marianne L.
Have been to many RH&Bs and they are usually pretty good. So when I needed to meet up with some friends out this way - seemed like a good spot to gather everyone for dinner before heading out to the Eastern Shore. Food was good. I had Ribs with potato salad for a side. Service was ok. Neither was overly memorable. I've enjoyed better at other RH&Bs in the area. Wasn't wild about the establishment itself either - just felt a little well worn, but it was right off the highway so convenient for a quick off and on.
(3)
Tim M.
I'm grateful to see only one 'fake' 5-star review here. Annapolis as of 2010 is HURTING for good BBQ - people here actually think Adam's has good ribs. I'm a certified Kansas City BBQ Judge - trust me - Adam's would be disqualified from a competition. Without going into a long review of RH&B I will say this; they own the BBQ market in this town. That isn't something worthy of a bumper sticker but they full-on beat out the competition which consists of local chain 'Famous Daves' and 'Adams'. Throw Chilis in for a square of actual competitors and that is IT for Annapolis and BBQ. Local churches on Saturdays (including mine) are better bets. RH&B has several things going for it and I am a regular customer. Their dry-rub ribs are St. Louis style cut and always very good - not fall off the bone over-cooked but usually just right. If I have any complaints sometimes their ribs are left under the lamps too long and become rib-jerky. If you get carry-out inspect your specimens before leaving for this condition - I've written them several times about this but never received any response so don't bother with their website. Their brisket is some of the best I've had - brisket isn't easy - and they really seem to have the formula down. I just wish I could duplicate this at home. Lastly their potato salad is one of the best I've ever had. It's like Grammas - with hard boiled egg and scallions studded through the red-skin potatoes and great dressing. It is so good I have to admit I've purchased it more than once and called it my own. RH&B is consistent - they better hope I don't open my own BBQ stand in South County however - good for sure - but vulnerable if a real BBQ expert was to open up shop. NOT humbly submitted this day, D. FoodSnob, Ph.D
(3)
J C.
One of these joints opened in Cherry Hill, NJ, when I lived there years ago. It had a reputation for good entertainment and lousy food. There was no entertainment in Annapolis, only lousy food. We moved to MD last year and have found a couple of good BBQ joints (Mission, Corey's. etc.) RHB is not place for good BBQ. Pulled pork had the taste pulled out of it, brisket had the taste pulled out of IT, Ribs were try and tasteless, Sausage was more like an overcooked, tasteless hot dog. The chili was served w/ a big glob of sour cream? in the middle, next to a big glob of cheese. I must say the platters meal presentation consisted of slapping the crap on a plate and sending it out from the kitchen. Service was OK but, disengaged. Will not be going back. Will be going back to Mission and Corey's (take out only) in Severna Park. Yuck.
(1)
John G.
My wife loves their fried okra, and I enjoy their Smokehouse Salad. Its not often you go to a BBQ joint and get a good salad! Their chili is also really good. I dont really eat dessert, so I cant comment on that. Another thing they do a little different is the really big cups...Or mini-pitchers depending on who you ask. There brisket is ok, nothing special or really authentic, ribs are ok, there burgers are pretty good
(4)
Bernadette N.
I've been craving BBQ for months. I completely forgot we had a place in Annapolis! I didn't realize this was a chain until I read the previous reviews just now; however, the menus definitely have that feel. So the decor leaves a bit to be desired. It feels like it was once a Sizzler, then they painted some pigs with sunglasses on the wall and called it a BBQ place. Whatever, I'm fine with dives. You're also not going to see the classiest clientele. I saw an adult woman laying down in the booth with her son throwing food at her last night. But the food, it's so good. I'm not a BBQ specialist, but I know when they are good. We started with the spicy wings. They were at the top of my spice-tolerance level (had to dip in the blue cheese dressing a few times) and probably in the middle of my husband's. I'm a fall-off the bone, sloppy, wet rib person - so I ordered a half "wet" slab and chicken tenders. Chicken was standard TGIF fare, but the ribs and sauce options on the side of the table were awesome. Hubs had the dry ribs, but ended up liking mine better. But the standouts for both of us were the cole slaw, the fries and BY FAR the baked beans with bits of onion, green pepper and shredded pork. I'm fully planning on ordering these for catering and claiming them as my own. My husband was a little annoyed that his beer took too long to be served, he requested I point that out in the review. The girls that work there like like they're 17, so don't be surprised when service is not optimal. I'll for sure be back. Often.
(4)
Hill B.
Well, I'm from Texas.... and this is DEFINITELY not good barbecue. I'd have to label this place as the lowest-quality McDonald's of BBQ places. We went after a long day, so we were pretty hungry. Even then, it wasn't tasty! We ate it because we were paying for it and STARVING! The pork on our nacho appetizer was very dry and tasteless. I got the brisket and ribs-- gross. It was dry and also tasted like it had been sitting out all day. NOT good BBQ at all! Don't waste your money.
(1)
Kirsten D.
We just went back here after a several year absence. They have these in Northern VA and they were great, so we were very excited to find one about a mile from our house when we moved. Well, it was terrible (that was about 2001). We decided to give it a try again, and I was pleasently surprised. The brisket salad was good, as were the ribs. The burger was a bit dry, but overall I'd probably go back sooner than 10 years this time!
(4)
D D.
Food was good, service was not so good. This is my second encounter with bad service at this location. I opted for RH&B because it's close to home, good and less expensive than Famous Daves. However, I'll pay the extra and opt for Famous next time.
(3)
M D.
It had been a few years since I have visited Red Hot and Blue and it is much the same as I remembered. I had the dry ribs and brisket and both were good, not outstanding, but good as was my son's wet ribs and 1/4 chicken. The portions are fairly large and we both brought a small amount home. I like the choice of sides and the beans are good and the hush puppies are spot on. I do like the option for "mini" sized dessert although we skipped those and split a tasty chocolate lava cake. The service was fine and we got our food fast since it is all made in advance. Overall it is still worth a visit.
(4)
Christopher S.
I would not make this a destination if you want really good BBQ. You need to stick with a few things on the menu such as brisket, ribs and the pulled pork sandwich. Beyond that you are rolling the dice. Service is okay. They have a busy take out business, which is a separate entrance from the main restaurant. I have been to parties Red Hot has catered and was impressed with the basic BBQ pork and chicken, beans and cold slaw. I probably lowered the high bar at these events because I was in someones backyard. Since we do not have many choices in Annapolis for really top notch BBQ, this restaurant is one of the few choices. They would not make it in Kansas City, Memphis or Charlotte.
(3)
Olivia D.
i had heard great things about red hot & blue and i love me some grilled pig, cow and chicken. so i had high hopes. but this place let me down like a high school prom rejection. the brisket was so dry it might as well have been beef jerky. the pulled chicken was like chunks of safeway rotisserie chicken-- very eh. the pulled pork was at least moist, but no flavor. the dry-rubbed ribs were as dry as their rub. the sausage? i asked my brother how it was. "it's a 7-eleven spicy big bite." in a nutshell, the meats lacked: a) that grilled charred flavor b) much any flavor and also c-- which is key) moisture. the saving graces were the intensely smoky baked beans with chunks of onion and green bell pepper, the bite-sized cornbread muffins and cinnamon and salt-sprinkled sweet potato fries. but even that wasn't enough to redeem this place, which by the way, sported a tgifriday's-by-way-of-walmart kind of decor.
(2)
Janet K.
I chose a 4 star review---"I'm a fan"---because this is Annapolis. If it were Memphis, I'm sure in comparison it would be about a 1....smile. I tried several things on the menu and some of them were the best in the area: The dry rub ribs (thanks for the tip, Tim). Very good. I have not had any others here that are as good. The brisket (again, thanks Tim I would not have tried this without your review) I can't say this is the best, because I don't generally order it, but it was quite good. Cornbread. Yum! I love cornbread and most of it around here is awful (the worst is Adams Ribs). This was wonderful. The baked beans--the best---I have not come close any place else (and again, Adams is definitely not my cup of tea) Then there were some things that were good, but not the best--the mac and cheese and the cole slaw. But I have to SERIOIUSLY disagree with all you Yelpers (who I very much respect, but are oh, so mistaken about this one) about the potato salad. It was alright, but if you want really great, old fashioned potato salad, go to Ken's Back Porch and catering. THAT is what good potato salad tastes like. Orders of magnitude better. Palate Pleasers has a better potato salad also, but make sure you get the old fashioned version. They play around with different recipes there and some of them are not as good. So, all in all, I am a fan---heck, I'd even go back just for the cornbread.
(4)
Lenny M.
Good BBQ, decent prices. Love the pulled pork and the cobler.
(4)
Craig R.
The previous reviewer made this place sound incredibly awful so I wasn't very excited to try this place out. After going there though, it wasn't as bad as it was portrayed. Maybe it was an off night for them. Don't get me wrong, this is nowhere near five stars, but it was alright. We only had to wait a little while to get seated. Once we were seated, we were greeted promptly by our waiter. From the outset, he seemed pretty distant and was like that for the rest of our time there. The menu was nothing special. The only thing different is that this is the only place that I've seen pulled chicken. The food came out really fast. We hardly waited 5/10 minutes. It was crazy. It tasted alright and then we paid the bill. Nothing special. Nothing to set it apart from different restaurants. Just an OK place with decent food.
(3)
Katie M.
I am so surprised at the bad reviews! I have always like red hot and blue! They have the BEST potato salad around, great baked beans and really consistantly delicious bbq. They bring iced tea out in these mini pitchers which hardly ever need a refill they are so large. I will admit that it is best to avoid the salad section of the menu- I was feeling healthy one night and decided to give it a try- never again! I have unnatural cravings for the potato salad and beef chili- in fact I have a feeling that I will be in there tonight! A great place to stop on the way to or the way home from a weekend at the beach!
(3)
Mike W.
My wife and I like Red Hot & Blue so much we had them cater our wedding. Our our most recent trip there we had the dry ribs, the wet ribs, the pulled pork, and the combo plate of four sides. All were fantastic. The beer was cold, the waitress was prompt, and the prices were reasonable. I recommend any of the ribs, the pulled chicken, and the potato salad.
(5)
Tim R.
Really great place to eat and great service.
(5)
Joe P.
Wow, this place is a chain? What is worth franchising here? Stopped in to try their BBQ. Ordered two meat combo platter with brisket and sausage. The brisket was by far the worst brisket I have ever had anyplace. It was totally dried out. I've had beef jerky that was more moist. The sausage was ok but not great and very greasy. The beans were good. They put some jalapeños or other peppers in them. I ate at the bar and the service was pretty slow and inattentive.
(1)
Merrill F.
Run. Away. Gross, dirty, rude...I can't even begin to describe how awful this place is.
(1)
Donna H.
We almost always stop here for lunch on our way to the Maryland and Delaware beaches -- our usual order is a pile of pulled pork with sides of potato salad and baked beans and iced tea. The food and service have been consistently good over the years and we look forward to our meals here -- would definitely recommend!
(4)
Mellisa C.
I didn't have too high expectations or a BBQ place. It seems Im always disappointed when I go out for some good ribs. This place was surprising! First...they had sweet tea and as a California Girl that was a good thing! its so hard to get good sweet tea out here. Guess Im a southern girl @ heart! I ordered a half rack of ribs and was happy with their flavor. I also really liked their hush puppies. I was only mad that there isn't one in California! I recommend this place and will go back if Im ever in the area again!
(4)
Angela L.
I grew up eating at a great BBQ chain called Sonney's so I had pretty high expectations for Red, Hot, and Blue. We stopped by this location on the way back from Deleware and I'm rather glad we did. It's chain BBQ. They don't smoke their own meats (I don't think). But, for what it is, it was great. They have the overly peppy chain restaurant brand of service, the food comes out super fast, and the large portions meant my husband and I could share an entree (5 meat feast or something similarly cutesy sounding). Plus they serve drinks in mini pitchers which means my Diet Coke-loving self only needed a single refill.
(3)
Dawn R.
OK.......maybe I've just been away from Kansas City too long, but I'll go ahead and give this place 3 stars. I've been in several times since it's pretty close to home, and have never been disappointed. They have a nice variety of sauces, the meat is always nice and tender, and the sides are very tasty. I like that they also have an option to just order a plate of side dishes if you don't want the meat (which, yes, there have been times that I didn't want meat.....I know, crazy!) Service is friendly and reasonably fast, and their sweet tea in the mason jar hits the spot when it's hot outside. I'm not a big fan of ribs, but these are really good.....I get the dry rub, so they're not as messy as the wet ribs, which I do like. The brisket is delicious, nice and tender with a good flavor. The pulled chicken was a little dry fro my taste, but add some sauce and it's all good. I'm not a fan of the sausage, but I'm not really a fan of sausage in general so that's not really a reflection on this place. On to the sides and other menu items: The chicken corn chowder is actually very good, just the right thickness and good flavor. The baked beans leave a lot to be desired, though.....they taste just like they came straight out of a can of Bush's. The chili is good, just the right amount of heat without making you run screaming for water. The mac & cheese is OK, but is just missing something....can't put my finger on it. I've never tried their desserts, so I may have to do that the next time I'm in. I'll still go back, since like I said, it's close to home, and overall the food doesn't suck (which is a great compliment according to my son in law).
(3)
Paul M.
Great food and great service. I like the atmosphere. I'm not a fan of bbq but their burgers and hushpuppies are terrific.
(5)
Shawn K.
We ate here for lunch on 8/27. The atmosphere was kinda cool and our server was very nice. We told him it was our first time, and he recommended the 5 meat platter so we could sample everything. I had the corn chowder which was good, and my husband had the red beans which he said were good. Our waiter brought us a sample of the potato salad even though we didn't order it because it was a house special and everyone loved it. I thought it was just ok, but then my husband went to try it and there was a rubberband in it!!! We showed the server, but we really didn't pay for it, so what really could we do? The 5 meat was just kinda ok, but we were kinda grossed out about the rubberband. I'm not sure if we'd try it again
(3)
Michelle P.
Something about the exterior fooled us into thinking this was a mom-and-pop type place, with perhaps homemade apple pie and a generation-old BBQ recipe. We've wanted to try it for years. I'll cut to the chase. It's a chain with a 4-color menu complete with Sam Adams logos hovering around their version of the bloomin' onion. Sigh. Even the array of BBQ sauces was a disappointment as I searched for some kind of flavor, anywhere. Service was fine, though one would expect more flair from a place that gives kids Oreo cookies with their meals. In closing, I can think of about a million other ways I'd have preferred to spend $44.
(2)
T Y.
It could be because it's the only BBQ joint in town; seems like it anyway. It's good, though. The windmill with the pigs only adds to the taste of the pulled pork sandwiches.
(3)
Bob S.
This place has progressively gone downhill the past 5 years. I use to eat here 5 or 6 times a month. But I've only eaten here once in the last year and a half. They definitely need to redo the interior. The tables, chairs and booths are in poor condition and never look squeaky clean. The food was good but now just barely restaurant quality.
(1)
Kevin M.
Before I went to Red, Hot, and Blue I never put coleslaw on my pulled pork sandwiches. Now I put it on all my sandwiches. And that has made all the difference.
(4)
Lee S.
I was in town on business and saw the sign "best bbq in Annapolis" so decided to check it out. I had been to another RH&B in the area 3 years previously that was disappointing but I thought maybe it was just that location so I decided to give this place a shot. Rustic decor with blues background music set a nice atmosphere. Service was pretty quick. Menu was diverse. Felt pretty good about the place - until the food came. I'm from Austin TX so I know bbq and what to expect when I travel: I don't bother ordering beef items because they can't touch ours, but I've had great pork ribs and pulled pork on the road, especially on the east coast, so I decided to try the ribs and pulled pork. I ordered a rack of St Louis style ribs half dry and half wet. When they came I noticed that the wet side look freshly slathered with a sauce, and the dry side had a heavy layer of freshly applied rub. Moving those layers it became apparent that the ribs had been smoked naked, with the rub and sauce applied after cooking. The ribs had been overcooked - the short end was actually burnt. The ribs were of poor quality - fatty and flavorless. The rub was bland, and the sauce was overpowered by molasses. I tried to add some flavor by using some of their other sauces and the only one I felt was decent was their mustard based. So overall, the ribs were disappointing. The pulled pork was dry and bland, not worth another sentence in this review I ordered red beans and rice as a side and it was obvious the cook had never worked the Gulf Coast - they used kidney beans with ham broth poured over rice to a stewed texture. Another disappointment. By this time I'm hoping for something to redeem the meal before I had to go back to my hotel. I noticed a local dessert: homemade Smith Island cake, so I ordered it. I needed something sweet to free my palate from the cloying taste of molasses. When the cake arrived it was a joy to behold. Twelve thin layers of yellow cake bedded in chocolate icing. A perfect blend of flavor. Finally, I had something to make the night memorable. The next time I'm in the Annapolis area I may stop there for carry-out cake, but I'll never sit down there for a meal, even if they offer free pitchers of Shiner.
(1)
Karen G.
Food was good, service was good. Darn. Checked in on Foursquare while there but not Yelp. Now I see I could have saved $5! Oh well. Would still eat there again.
(5)
Ashley W.
Red Hot & Blue sponsored an event at my job and I had the pleasure of indulging the pulled chicken, beans and spicy bbq suauce they provided. let's just say, I loved them so much I looked them up after eating and am planning a visit soon. I LOVE southern cooking and feel like it's hard to find in this state, but finally - red hot & blue saved the day.
(5)
Chris O.
I was sent here to take a class for work. I love wet ribs, I smoke my own wet ribs. Don't even think about giving me dry ribs. When I told my teacher I was going to eat at Red Hot and Blue he said you have to get the dry ribs. I told him no. He begged me to get the dry ribs and even offered to come eat with me and buy them. After a while of arguing we came to an agreement that I will order a full rack, half wet and half dry. The whole class came and I begrudgingly order the full rack 1/2 wet and 1/2 dry. When I got my order, I decided to eat the dry half first the get it over with and then enjoy the wet half. The meat was very tender; the bones just fell through like a hot knife through butter. The taste was so unbelievably good it was truly the best ribs I have ever had and it this was a dry rib. I just couldn't wait to get to the wet side, if the dry side was this good. Once I did make it to the wet side it paled in caparison to the flavors from the dry side and I was sad that I didn't order a full dry. That was 14 years ago. I haven't yet found a dry rib that good since that day. I still think about those ribs. I have told people if they are traveling through Maryland to get the dry ribs at Red Hot and Blue. Southern People are wet rib people and I tell them to go against their instincts and get the dry. The ones that have made the journey came beck a believer and tell me, wow you were right those were the best ribs they have every eaten. I hope to make it back some day.
(5)
John D.
Red hot and blue has had really good bbq for the past 20 years. Their pulled pork sandwitches are very good and so are their ribs. The service is alright but they make up for it with there food. The barbeque sauce is also very good.
(4)
Roger Y.
I don't know what some of the reviews here are talking about because this place was incredible. Awesome service, clean, relaxing atmosphere and that's all aside from the AMAZING FOOD. Gumbalaya? 5 meat trays? Enough chili in one serving to feed a Somalian village? Drinks that are served in small-ish PITCHERS? Elvis statues, overhead lamps made of drum heads and service that couldn't have been more polite and accommodating? How could you not like this place? I am going to be coming back here. Awesome experience.
(5)
S C.
I have not been a fan of this place due to past visits. However this visit was great. Brisket, pork BBQ, fried chicken, beans, potato salad, onion loaf, hush puppies, ribs and corn muffins were all great. Service was great and the visit was wonderful. If my next visit is as good, I will revise to 5 stars.
(4)
Courtney K.
Bottom Line: Average BBQ served by friendly staff in a kinda cheesy, worn restaurant. Red Hot & Blue is just average. It is neither a place I will crave nor a place I will avoid. The menu here resembles a typical barbecue joint but I do think there are tastier BBQ options in the county. Meat options include pulled port, smoked brisket, pulled chicken, sausage and hamburgers. Sides available are typical for a BBQ restaurant including cole slaw, potato salad and french fries. Red Hot & Blue has a Memphis theme to it although there is not a RH&B in Memphis or Tennessee for that matter. (Most of these franchises are located in MD, VA and TX.) If you want your sandwich with cole slaw on it, then order it Memphis style. Also, exuding Memphis is the soul and blues decor such as drums converted into pendent lights. There is a pig theme going on here too which seems to compete with the Memphis music scene theme. Plus, its tough to enjoy my pulled pork sandwich when there are cute little pigs painted on the walls. Aside from the cheesy and conflicting theme, this place could use a refresh or at least a deep cleaning. Like any good BBQ restaurant, there are a variety of sauces placed on each table. But, this is a Memphis themed eatery so you won't find any vinegar based Carolina BBQ sauce here. Sauce options include two ketchup/tomato based sauces, a mustard based sauce and a hot sauce. Service here is very friendly but it seemed like the kitchen was slow. (It took 25 minutes from placing an order to get an app for sweet potato fries and another ten minutes to get entrees.) Overall, it was an A-OK experience.
(3)
Jessie C.
Tried to give them another chance because it is a local restaurant with delicious bbq. Apparently the kitchen doesn't know the difference between a medium rare steak and a well done steak. When I sent it back, it still came out closer to medium well and was the most fatty piece of steak I have ever gotten anywhere. The manager never even stopped by to see how it turned out...unless she was never notified of the error. I guess it was my fault going to a BBQ place for a steak. Not every experience I've had here is a bad one, and our server, Vince, was fantastic. I'm tired of coming here though and wondering if it will be worth it.
(3)
Roy S.
This continues to be one of my favorite chain BBQ places in the DMV. Great pulled pork and the hot link is on another level. Come for lunch and get both for under $10 with the lunch combo.
(4)
Srebrina M.
We randomly found this place today - 3 people and a baby, and it honestly has the best food I have had in a long time. Considering how picky I am usually it is crazy that I loved everything we had! The chili was the best and their french fries are awesome. Prices were pretty reasonable I think and the atmosphere is very homey.
(5)
Linda W.
I like the pulled chicken sandwich. I go to the Laurel location more regularly and like that location's vibe a little better. But this one has plenty of space for seating small or larger groups.
(3)
Cecilia S.
I'm totally new to the area and I know close to nothing about barbecue. So take what you will from my review We were on our way to the northern Chesapeake Bay area, and I was just famished. I had no idea this was a chain. It just looked like a neat barbecue joint off the side of the freeway. Coming from Cali, I was excited to check out a southern barbecue joint. I don't know if this was authentic or legit, but the smell hit me like a train from the second I walked in. My mouth started to water and I needed some finger lickin' ribs now! The menu was very extensive. It had everything from ribs to wing, sandwiches, salads, and more. We started off with some dry wings that were absolutely delicious. Each table had an assortment of barbecue sauces - sweet, mustard, spicy, and vinegary - so, naturally we had to try them all. As for entrees, I went straight to the ribs. I got the Delta Double which came with half ribs (I chose the sweet sauce per our waitress's recommendation), barbecue chicken, a side of sweet barbecue beans, cole slaw, and two corn bread muffins. That was MORE than enough food for me. The ribs were so succulent and fall-off-the-bone tender. I love picking off the little burnt ends and I just could not stop. I'm starting to salivate just thinking about all that food. Oh, the corn bread was a delicious complement as well. The service was excellent. Like I said, I know nothing about barbecue. She was super attentive and was really patient with explaining all the different flavors. Overall, I'm quite happy with this experience. Now that I know it's a mini chain, I'm going to look for it closer to home.
(4)
Kal B.
I have long been a fan of Red Hot And Blue and ventured out last night for some of their special comfort in a Side Sampler with Hush Puppies, Collards and Potato Salad x2. No meat but I know it would be the same tastiness I've had at every RHB I've known and loved. It's not AS close as a couple other spots near home but it's well worth the few miles to get to. Our waitress was attentive and sweet (like their tea ;)) and my wine glass stayed full. We bought a t-shirt for our daughter and I think I'll sneak back and get that gift pack of BBQ sauces for my husband for his stocking. My husband had dental work yesterday and went for the Jambalaya and it was tres' yummy. I am finishing it up as I type my review! ;) The tender, juicy, flavorful BBQ, yummy sauces and unbeatable sides will keep me a fan!
(3)
Scott M.
I am a BBQ snob, and the food that Red Hot and Blue is serving is not traditional BBQ. I am not sure how to describe it, maybe a BBQ joint that messes with the food too much. BBQ is easy, start a fire, put meat on grill, and leave it alone. This BBQ tastes different, not my bag. I am a true smoked wood BBQ guy, this is not in my opinion is not 5 star BBQ.
(2)
C W.
Good food and service I had to select 4 stars as the portions keep shrinking but it's still a decent value for the price. We have used their catering service for parties and LOVE IT, they did a great job and for a terrific price.
(4)
Rex R.
Always good BBQ. Service slow during the rush.
(4)
Ric P.
I like Red, Hot & Blue and have enjoyed many favorable visits here. But this visit wasn't on the "best memories' list... Arrival included a 20 minute wait and 1/2 the restaurant was empty. Personally I think the hostess forgot about us; until I bugged her. Waitress arrived within 3-4 minutes and took our drink order. But it took over 10 minutes to bring the drinks and take our order. I had requested something from the bar. This was forgotten and the waitress had to go get it; before taking our order. Order provided to waitress with a few specific details provided. We had requested the entrees to not be fired until after our salads arrived. Sometime between 20-30 minutes later the salads arrived. The wife was about to have a fit over the time it took to get the salads to us. On our second or third bite of the salad guess what arrived... our entrees. The wife's burger was VERY well done and the roll was hard like it had sat uncovered for hours. I felt the roll and I wouldn't eat it. While the wife likes her burgers well done this burger was extremely over cooked. I had ordered the fried catfish but received a blackened catfish. The wife decided to keep her burger and I sent the catfish back. At the same time I ordered another bottle from the bar. The wife was almost done with her burger when the fried catfish arrived minus the new cold bottle from the bar. I pointed this out to the waitress who blamed the bartender for not putting it out for her to pick up. While she went for the cold bottle I inspected the catfish. Fried to a crisp! There was no way I could eat this. After informing the waitress she went to get the manager. Manager arrived... a lady between 18 - 23, not that someone young can't be a good manager. She apologized about the problems and asked if I would like to order anything else from the menu. I didn't as we were now there for 90 minutes and nothing had gone right. Bill arrived... both the catfish entrees were on the bill. Asked for the manager and pointed this out. Apologies again and she departed to fix the bill. New, correct bill, arrived. we paid and left.
(2)
Lorraine R.
We've been fans of RHB for a while, however I was disappointed that we did not receive a complimentary serving of their corn bread while we waited for our food. I didn't ask as I was just expecting it. It's not a big deal, just a little disappointed. When I asked our waitress about it, they offered to bring out "a couple pieces", because she said didn't mind but by that time we had already received our food. So I didn't want the couple pieces anymore. All in all , the food is as expected and service was quick as usual. I don't think I will return to this location anymore and there are other BBQ places in that area if I'm in that area.
(2)
Paul T.
I'd go back. Average.
(3)
Julia T.
Went a few days ago for lunch. I had a dry ribs & fried catfish combo, my husband had wet ribs. Both style ribs were disappointing: dry, tough, overcooked. The manager was apologetic and offered two fresh servings of ribs for us to take home, which was a nice touch, but they were the same overdone ribs as before. On the plus side, the sides (hush puppies, creamy cole slaw, potato salad, cornbread) were excellent. There were also a lot of young children seated in our room, and it was REALLY loud 'til those few families left, so beware of the noise level.
(3)
Eric G.
Wow.. I can't explain how bad the food was. I got the 5 meat treat. The only thing that was halfway enjoyable was the beans. Ribs were dry as a bone and were tough. They weren't even amateur ribs. My wife couldn't eat her because they were so dry and hard. The pork was extremely dry and had no smoke flavor. The brisket wasn't even brisket.. I'm not sure what to call it. It was like eating canned dog food. And the chicken, well, somehow my wife got smoked chicken and I got baked/pulled chicken. The chicken she received was delicious and mine was far below average. I'm not sure what happened there. I also tried the greens and they were average at best. My bill was $40 and I would have paid $20 at the most for what we ate. I would expect this kind of food if I was laying in a hospital bed.. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and you won't find me coming back. On a positive note, our server was very nice, polite, and good at her job. If you call this BBQ, you haven't had good BBQ.
(1)
Robert F.
I have eaten at a Red, Hot, and Blues before and remember it being an OK BBQ spot. This time around it is going to stick with me for quite some time. Incredible beer list with a full bar backed up to do all of your harder liquor needs. Your teas, lemonades, and sodas all come in a pitcher with a straw. So you don't have to worry about refills very often. We ordered a 5 meat platter and informed our waitress (Nichole) that we were going to share. She split it for us and made sure that we had a little bit of everything including a little bit extra of the sides. Of course that wasn't necessary because neither of us could finish a half of the meal! The RIBS were divine! An amazing dry rub that just leaves you smacking your lips. Nichole did such a great job that I even wandered over to the bar afterward and picked up a t-shirt. I wanted to get a pack of their reasonably priced and phenomenal sauces but didn't have a way to cart those all the way back to KC.
(5)
Richard D.
Ive been going to RH&B now for about 15 years and have always had a good experience and fantastic food. The service has always been ok to great in my experiences and I love the Memphis blues based ambiance so we can get that out of the way, now on to the food. I have had most of the menu by now and I can list a few that stick out as the best -Brunswick stew ( hearty and delicious soup that has huge flavor) -wings ( always crispy and juicy, I go with the dry rub so i can put my own sauce on them) -Memphis half chicken ( best smoked chicken i've had, always super juicy with that crispy skin you get when you finish it on the grill. excellent smoked chicken is hard to come by) -Potato salad ( simply the greatest potato salad on the planet that I have come across and worth the trip alone) 4 or 5 different sauces are provided at your table so your sure to find one you like. The bar area offers awesome happy hour specials but is small, making it a bit difficult to get a seat sometimes. If your in the Annapolis area and in the (rude) mood for gut-slappin' BBQ, look no further.
(5)
Jim S.
Canned baked beans, frozen fries, frozen okra, frozen ribs. Honestly I don't even know why they have a kitchen when all they need is a microwave and fryer. Server couldn't answer simple questions. That's either a training issue or stupidity, and she didn't seem stupid.... Nope won't be back.
(1)
Michelle S.
Best BBQ place around!! I love this place!!! Give this place a try and you won't be sorry!!
(5)
Alyssa D.
My boyfriend and I just moved To this area and we decided to explore! We came across red hot and blue and I think we fell in love with the place! We both got hamburgers that were not only delicious but unique! I also love the little pitchers they give you as a cup! It's a smart idea. The service was great and friendly as well. Overall, it's definitely one of our new favorite places.
(5)
Robb C.
Good barbecue, as always. A little slow tonight from the kitchen, but the food was wor the the wait.
(4)
S C.
I have not been a fan of this place due to past visits. However this visit was great. Brisket, pork BBQ, fried chicken, beans, potato salad, onion loaf, hush puppies, ribs and corn muffins were all great. Service was great and the visit was wonderful. If my next visit is as good, I will revise to 5 stars.
(4)
Roy S.
This continues to be one of my favorite chain BBQ places in the DMV. Great pulled pork and the hot link is on another level. Come for lunch and get both for under $10 with the lunch combo.
(4)
Bob S.
This place has progressively gone downhill the past 5 years. I use to eat here 5 or 6 times a month. But I've only eaten here once in the last year and a half. They definitely need to redo the interior. The tables, chairs and booths are in poor condition and never look squeaky clean. The food was good but now just barely restaurant quality.
(1)
Kevin M.
Before I went to Red, Hot, and Blue I never put coleslaw on my pulled pork sandwiches. Now I put it on all my sandwiches. And that has made all the difference.
(4)
Kal B.
I have long been a fan of Red Hot And Blue and ventured out last night for some of their special comfort in a Side Sampler with Hush Puppies, Collards and Potato Salad x2. No meat but I know it would be the same tastiness I've had at every RHB I've known and loved. It's not AS close as a couple other spots near home but it's well worth the few miles to get to. Our waitress was attentive and sweet (like their tea ;)) and my wine glass stayed full. We bought a t-shirt for our daughter and I think I'll sneak back and get that gift pack of BBQ sauces for my husband for his stocking. My husband had dental work yesterday and went for the Jambalaya and it was tres' yummy. I am finishing it up as I type my review! ;) The tender, juicy, flavorful BBQ, yummy sauces and unbeatable sides will keep me a fan!
(3)
Scott M.
I am a BBQ snob, and the food that Red Hot and Blue is serving is not traditional BBQ. I am not sure how to describe it, maybe a BBQ joint that messes with the food too much. BBQ is easy, start a fire, put meat on grill, and leave it alone. This BBQ tastes different, not my bag. I am a true smoked wood BBQ guy, this is not in my opinion is not 5 star BBQ.
(2)
Srebrina M.
We randomly found this place today - 3 people and a baby, and it honestly has the best food I have had in a long time. Considering how picky I am usually it is crazy that I loved everything we had! The chili was the best and their french fries are awesome. Prices were pretty reasonable I think and the atmosphere is very homey.
(5)
Linda W.
I like the pulled chicken sandwich. I go to the Laurel location more regularly and like that location's vibe a little better. But this one has plenty of space for seating small or larger groups.
(3)
C W.
Good food and service I had to select 4 stars as the portions keep shrinking but it's still a decent value for the price. We have used their catering service for parties and LOVE IT, they did a great job and for a terrific price.
(4)
Rex R.
Always good BBQ. Service slow during the rush.
(4)
Robert F.
I have eaten at a Red, Hot, and Blues before and remember it being an OK BBQ spot. This time around it is going to stick with me for quite some time. Incredible beer list with a full bar backed up to do all of your harder liquor needs. Your teas, lemonades, and sodas all come in a pitcher with a straw. So you don't have to worry about refills very often. We ordered a 5 meat platter and informed our waitress (Nichole) that we were going to share. She split it for us and made sure that we had a little bit of everything including a little bit extra of the sides. Of course that wasn't necessary because neither of us could finish a half of the meal! The RIBS were divine! An amazing dry rub that just leaves you smacking your lips. Nichole did such a great job that I even wandered over to the bar afterward and picked up a t-shirt. I wanted to get a pack of their reasonably priced and phenomenal sauces but didn't have a way to cart those all the way back to KC.
(5)
Cecilia S.
I'm totally new to the area and I know close to nothing about barbecue. So take what you will from my review We were on our way to the northern Chesapeake Bay area, and I was just famished. I had no idea this was a chain. It just looked like a neat barbecue joint off the side of the freeway. Coming from Cali, I was excited to check out a southern barbecue joint. I don't know if this was authentic or legit, but the smell hit me like a train from the second I walked in. My mouth started to water and I needed some finger lickin' ribs now! The menu was very extensive. It had everything from ribs to wing, sandwiches, salads, and more. We started off with some dry wings that were absolutely delicious. Each table had an assortment of barbecue sauces - sweet, mustard, spicy, and vinegary - so, naturally we had to try them all. As for entrees, I went straight to the ribs. I got the Delta Double which came with half ribs (I chose the sweet sauce per our waitress's recommendation), barbecue chicken, a side of sweet barbecue beans, cole slaw, and two corn bread muffins. That was MORE than enough food for me. The ribs were so succulent and fall-off-the-bone tender. I love picking off the little burnt ends and I just could not stop. I'm starting to salivate just thinking about all that food. Oh, the corn bread was a delicious complement as well. The service was excellent. Like I said, I know nothing about barbecue. She was super attentive and was really patient with explaining all the different flavors. Overall, I'm quite happy with this experience. Now that I know it's a mini chain, I'm going to look for it closer to home.
(4)
Ric P.
I like Red, Hot & Blue and have enjoyed many favorable visits here. But this visit wasn't on the "best memories' list... Arrival included a 20 minute wait and 1/2 the restaurant was empty. Personally I think the hostess forgot about us; until I bugged her. Waitress arrived within 3-4 minutes and took our drink order. But it took over 10 minutes to bring the drinks and take our order. I had requested something from the bar. This was forgotten and the waitress had to go get it; before taking our order. Order provided to waitress with a few specific details provided. We had requested the entrees to not be fired until after our salads arrived. Sometime between 20-30 minutes later the salads arrived. The wife was about to have a fit over the time it took to get the salads to us. On our second or third bite of the salad guess what arrived... our entrees. The wife's burger was VERY well done and the roll was hard like it had sat uncovered for hours. I felt the roll and I wouldn't eat it. While the wife likes her burgers well done this burger was extremely over cooked. I had ordered the fried catfish but received a blackened catfish. The wife decided to keep her burger and I sent the catfish back. At the same time I ordered another bottle from the bar. The wife was almost done with her burger when the fried catfish arrived minus the new cold bottle from the bar. I pointed this out to the waitress who blamed the bartender for not putting it out for her to pick up. While she went for the cold bottle I inspected the catfish. Fried to a crisp! There was no way I could eat this. After informing the waitress she went to get the manager. Manager arrived... a lady between 18 - 23, not that someone young can't be a good manager. She apologized about the problems and asked if I would like to order anything else from the menu. I didn't as we were now there for 90 minutes and nothing had gone right. Bill arrived... both the catfish entrees were on the bill. Asked for the manager and pointed this out. Apologies again and she departed to fix the bill. New, correct bill, arrived. we paid and left.
(2)
Lorraine R.
We've been fans of RHB for a while, however I was disappointed that we did not receive a complimentary serving of their corn bread while we waited for our food. I didn't ask as I was just expecting it. It's not a big deal, just a little disappointed. When I asked our waitress about it, they offered to bring out "a couple pieces", because she said didn't mind but by that time we had already received our food. So I didn't want the couple pieces anymore. All in all , the food is as expected and service was quick as usual. I don't think I will return to this location anymore and there are other BBQ places in that area if I'm in that area.
(2)
Paul T.
I'd go back. Average.
(3)
Michelle P.
Something about the exterior fooled us into thinking this was a mom-and-pop type place, with perhaps homemade apple pie and a generation-old BBQ recipe. We've wanted to try it for years. I'll cut to the chase. It's a chain with a 4-color menu complete with Sam Adams logos hovering around their version of the bloomin' onion. Sigh. Even the array of BBQ sauces was a disappointment as I searched for some kind of flavor, anywhere. Service was fine, though one would expect more flair from a place that gives kids Oreo cookies with their meals. In closing, I can think of about a million other ways I'd have preferred to spend $44.
(2)
Karen G.
Food was good, service was good. Darn. Checked in on Foursquare while there but not Yelp. Now I see I could have saved $5! Oh well. Would still eat there again.
(5)
Richard D.
Ive been going to RH&B now for about 15 years and have always had a good experience and fantastic food. The service has always been ok to great in my experiences and I love the Memphis blues based ambiance so we can get that out of the way, now on to the food. I have had most of the menu by now and I can list a few that stick out as the best -Brunswick stew ( hearty and delicious soup that has huge flavor) -wings ( always crispy and juicy, I go with the dry rub so i can put my own sauce on them) -Memphis half chicken ( best smoked chicken i've had, always super juicy with that crispy skin you get when you finish it on the grill. excellent smoked chicken is hard to come by) -Potato salad ( simply the greatest potato salad on the planet that I have come across and worth the trip alone) 4 or 5 different sauces are provided at your table so your sure to find one you like. The bar area offers awesome happy hour specials but is small, making it a bit difficult to get a seat sometimes. If your in the Annapolis area and in the (rude) mood for gut-slappin' BBQ, look no further.
(5)
Jim S.
Canned baked beans, frozen fries, frozen okra, frozen ribs. Honestly I don't even know why they have a kitchen when all they need is a microwave and fryer. Server couldn't answer simple questions. That's either a training issue or stupidity, and she didn't seem stupid.... Nope won't be back.
(1)
Michelle S.
Best BBQ place around!! I love this place!!! Give this place a try and you won't be sorry!!
(5)
Alyssa D.
My boyfriend and I just moved To this area and we decided to explore! We came across red hot and blue and I think we fell in love with the place! We both got hamburgers that were not only delicious but unique! I also love the little pitchers they give you as a cup! It's a smart idea. The service was great and friendly as well. Overall, it's definitely one of our new favorite places.
(5)
Robb C.
Good barbecue, as always. A little slow tonight from the kitchen, but the food was wor the the wait.
(4)
Dawn R.
OK.......maybe I've just been away from Kansas City too long, but I'll go ahead and give this place 3 stars. I've been in several times since it's pretty close to home, and have never been disappointed. They have a nice variety of sauces, the meat is always nice and tender, and the sides are very tasty. I like that they also have an option to just order a plate of side dishes if you don't want the meat (which, yes, there have been times that I didn't want meat.....I know, crazy!) Service is friendly and reasonably fast, and their sweet tea in the mason jar hits the spot when it's hot outside. I'm not a big fan of ribs, but these are really good.....I get the dry rub, so they're not as messy as the wet ribs, which I do like. The brisket is delicious, nice and tender with a good flavor. The pulled chicken was a little dry fro my taste, but add some sauce and it's all good. I'm not a fan of the sausage, but I'm not really a fan of sausage in general so that's not really a reflection on this place. On to the sides and other menu items: The chicken corn chowder is actually very good, just the right thickness and good flavor. The baked beans leave a lot to be desired, though.....they taste just like they came straight out of a can of Bush's. The chili is good, just the right amount of heat without making you run screaming for water. The mac & cheese is OK, but is just missing something....can't put my finger on it. I've never tried their desserts, so I may have to do that the next time I'm in. I'll still go back, since like I said, it's close to home, and overall the food doesn't suck (which is a great compliment according to my son in law).
(3)
Paul M.
Great food and great service. I like the atmosphere. I'm not a fan of bbq but their burgers and hushpuppies are terrific.
(5)
Shawn K.
We ate here for lunch on 8/27. The atmosphere was kinda cool and our server was very nice. We told him it was our first time, and he recommended the 5 meat platter so we could sample everything. I had the corn chowder which was good, and my husband had the red beans which he said were good. Our waiter brought us a sample of the potato salad even though we didn't order it because it was a house special and everyone loved it. I thought it was just ok, but then my husband went to try it and there was a rubberband in it!!! We showed the server, but we really didn't pay for it, so what really could we do? The 5 meat was just kinda ok, but we were kinda grossed out about the rubberband. I'm not sure if we'd try it again
(3)
Roger Y.
I don't know what some of the reviews here are talking about because this place was incredible. Awesome service, clean, relaxing atmosphere and that's all aside from the AMAZING FOOD. Gumbalaya? 5 meat trays? Enough chili in one serving to feed a Somalian village? Drinks that are served in small-ish PITCHERS? Elvis statues, overhead lamps made of drum heads and service that couldn't have been more polite and accommodating? How could you not like this place? I am going to be coming back here. Awesome experience.
(5)
Lee S.
I was in town on business and saw the sign "best bbq in Annapolis" so decided to check it out. I had been to another RH&B in the area 3 years previously that was disappointing but I thought maybe it was just that location so I decided to give this place a shot. Rustic decor with blues background music set a nice atmosphere. Service was pretty quick. Menu was diverse. Felt pretty good about the place - until the food came. I'm from Austin TX so I know bbq and what to expect when I travel: I don't bother ordering beef items because they can't touch ours, but I've had great pork ribs and pulled pork on the road, especially on the east coast, so I decided to try the ribs and pulled pork. I ordered a rack of St Louis style ribs half dry and half wet. When they came I noticed that the wet side look freshly slathered with a sauce, and the dry side had a heavy layer of freshly applied rub. Moving those layers it became apparent that the ribs had been smoked naked, with the rub and sauce applied after cooking. The ribs had been overcooked - the short end was actually burnt. The ribs were of poor quality - fatty and flavorless. The rub was bland, and the sauce was overpowered by molasses. I tried to add some flavor by using some of their other sauces and the only one I felt was decent was their mustard based. So overall, the ribs were disappointing. The pulled pork was dry and bland, not worth another sentence in this review I ordered red beans and rice as a side and it was obvious the cook had never worked the Gulf Coast - they used kidney beans with ham broth poured over rice to a stewed texture. Another disappointment. By this time I'm hoping for something to redeem the meal before I had to go back to my hotel. I noticed a local dessert: homemade Smith Island cake, so I ordered it. I needed something sweet to free my palate from the cloying taste of molasses. When the cake arrived it was a joy to behold. Twelve thin layers of yellow cake bedded in chocolate icing. A perfect blend of flavor. Finally, I had something to make the night memorable. The next time I'm in the Annapolis area I may stop there for carry-out cake, but I'll never sit down there for a meal, even if they offer free pitchers of Shiner.
(1)
Eric G.
Wow.. I can't explain how bad the food was. I got the 5 meat treat. The only thing that was halfway enjoyable was the beans. Ribs were dry as a bone and were tough. They weren't even amateur ribs. My wife couldn't eat her because they were so dry and hard. The pork was extremely dry and had no smoke flavor. The brisket wasn't even brisket.. I'm not sure what to call it. It was like eating canned dog food. And the chicken, well, somehow my wife got smoked chicken and I got baked/pulled chicken. The chicken she received was delicious and mine was far below average. I'm not sure what happened there. I also tried the greens and they were average at best. My bill was $40 and I would have paid $20 at the most for what we ate. I would expect this kind of food if I was laying in a hospital bed.. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and you won't find me coming back. On a positive note, our server was very nice, polite, and good at her job. If you call this BBQ, you haven't had good BBQ.
(1)
Ashley W.
Red Hot & Blue sponsored an event at my job and I had the pleasure of indulging the pulled chicken, beans and spicy bbq suauce they provided. let's just say, I loved them so much I looked them up after eating and am planning a visit soon. I LOVE southern cooking and feel like it's hard to find in this state, but finally - red hot & blue saved the day.
(5)
Chris O.
I was sent here to take a class for work. I love wet ribs, I smoke my own wet ribs. Don't even think about giving me dry ribs. When I told my teacher I was going to eat at Red Hot and Blue he said you have to get the dry ribs. I told him no. He begged me to get the dry ribs and even offered to come eat with me and buy them. After a while of arguing we came to an agreement that I will order a full rack, half wet and half dry. The whole class came and I begrudgingly order the full rack 1/2 wet and 1/2 dry. When I got my order, I decided to eat the dry half first the get it over with and then enjoy the wet half. The meat was very tender; the bones just fell through like a hot knife through butter. The taste was so unbelievably good it was truly the best ribs I have ever had and it this was a dry rib. I just couldn't wait to get to the wet side, if the dry side was this good. Once I did make it to the wet side it paled in caparison to the flavors from the dry side and I was sad that I didn't order a full dry. That was 14 years ago. I haven't yet found a dry rib that good since that day. I still think about those ribs. I have told people if they are traveling through Maryland to get the dry ribs at Red Hot and Blue. Southern People are wet rib people and I tell them to go against their instincts and get the dry. The ones that have made the journey came beck a believer and tell me, wow you were right those were the best ribs they have every eaten. I hope to make it back some day.
(5)
John D.
Red hot and blue has had really good bbq for the past 20 years. Their pulled pork sandwitches are very good and so are their ribs. The service is alright but they make up for it with there food. The barbeque sauce is also very good.
(4)
Rocky R.
The place as really gone downhill recently. I would have sworn that there were new owners who were cutting corners that did not use to be cut. All of the blues music stuff was down off of the walls (apparently they have been remodeling for some time now) there was no blues music playing in the background and the place just looking boring and very plain. But I will give them the benefit of the doubt, perhaps it will look better than ever whenever the finally get it done. I thought it looked great before. The main problem is the food. It used to be very good and now it is like they have cheapened it to save money. My wife got the chili which is what she always gets here and now it was runny and was more like a soup then chili. Even the sweet tea seemed watered down and not homemade. I got the pulled pork sandwich and the bun was beyond stale. I ordered the baked beans, which at one time were the best ever; these were like they were poured right out of a can. They use to be slow oven cooked. My daughter got macaroni and cheese and it tasted like Kraft to me. My son got a corn dog and he was happy with it. Our server really seemed like this was the last place that she wanted to be. When bringing my daughter milk she dripped it all over the table and menu and did not say a word and then rolled her eyes when we asked her to bring some extra napkins. She rolled her eyes again when we asked for the side that she forgot to bring. The prices have not gone down but the food quality and service sure has. We will not be rushing back here anytime soon.
(2)
Justin M.
Not Chicago, Memphis, KC or any other BBQ Mecca. But pretty tasty for Maryland. Meat is consistently tender and juicy. Sauce options are decent. Portions are generous. Potato salad is a solid side. And their banana pudding is top notch. Atmosphere is decent with a heavy bit of blues attitude. Been many times and consistently makes it into the lunch and dinner date rotation a few times a year.
(4)
Caraline H.
Lackluster meal, the beans were horrid. Tried the desserts, but our cake was DRY! The onion loaf was fairly lackluster and bland. The best part of the meal was that at least it was cheap.
(2)
Amber D.
Onion Ring Loaf is a must-have. Service excellent (pleasant and prompt). Rest of the food was okay but not great. You definitely get plenty of food for the money.
(3)
Michael N.
I think the food was good. Service seemed to be slow as I waited 7 minutes before I was even greeted at lunch time. I'd go back if I was hungry for some BBQ. I wouldn't go out of my way though to eat here. I really liked the potato salad. The Laurel location is a much better experience.
(3)
Jennifer P.
We actually went to the restaurant yesterday because we were considering using them as a caterer for our wedding. I expected to like the food, but it exceeded all my expectations. The potato salad was absolutely amazing. I tried three different meats (pulled pork, pulled chicken and ribs) and all three were amazing. My significant other also enjoyed his meal. We were neutral about three of the BBQ sauces but we both really enjoyed the sweet one. We did pack up half of our food and chose to try a dessert- he got banana pudding and we shared a bread pudding. Both were, once again, delicious. The service did start out a little slow but our server seemed to warm up to us so by the end he was great. Really I am so excited to have found this place- I will definitely be requesting a visit back sometime very soon :)
(5)
Gwynedd D.
We ate here a couple of times. It has gone way downhill. The first time was good, but the last time, even my dining companion, who is a hungry and more generous soul than me, and who loves all bbq, said it was terrible. The ribs were cold, dry, obviously re-microwaved and made days before. I can tell when meat, especially BBQ, has been in the fridge for a while. I had Brunswick Stew, which I had had before and liked, this time it was a nauseous mix of mostly canned tomatoes. It is a convenient stop when you cross the bridge, but sadly, we drive right on by now. It tastes like chain food and is not worth the stop.
(2)
Chandler L.
It isn't the worst bbq option in Maryland. It will do when you have a craving. It isn't good though. The sauce is bland. The meat wasn't cooked properly. I did enjoy the oversized glasses though. The atmosphere is cheesy and not very coherient. The staff was lazy and unhelpful.
(2)
Andrew W.
Ok BBQ if you're really hungry. Great bar specials if you wanna get drunk when you're really hungry. AWESOME Red Beans and Rice. It's actually a guilty pleasure food for me. And I love the fact that I get my extra sweet tea serve in a mini pitcher.
(3)
Zeek D.
This is a generic BBQ joint, the ribs and and pulled chicken are the best things on the menu. The variety of sauces are a nice bonus as well. The service is always good and the drinks come In Miniature pitchers so refills are not needed or at least few an far between. The music is good and the decor decent. The bathrooms are nasty and need an update. Other than that rhb is a solid meal at a fair price.
(3)
Gwen M.
We eat here approximately 2-3 times a year. It is a good halfway point to meet the parents. Never been disappointed. Last night I had a cup (really big one) of chicken corn chowder. Very good with a nice sweetness to it. I also had a caesar salad with grilled chicken. Chicken was tender and cooked just right and salad was fresh. Too big to finish. We (4) all split an onion loaf. Again huge... so we all had a nice portion. My son got an "all in burger" and said it was great. Parents got wet ribs and a Delta Double which has ribs and sausage. Both of them liked their meal as well. Service is always good.
(5)
Jessa M.
Husband and I stopped here on our way back from Baltimore. He was lured by the promise of many types of meat. I was skeptical, and reasonably so. I think RH&B Annapolis benefits heavily from folks headed over the Bay Bridge on their way to Ocean City. The decor is very run down, faux-rustic wood and plaster effects on walls covered by various Blues music related miscellanea and country kitsch. It looked like the folks who painted the walls didn't give a crap. We ordered drinks from one waitress, and moments later another came to tell us that she was a replacement for Waitress 1 who had gone out to get some dinner. Shift change, whatever, but Waitress 2 was overly friendly in that not-so-genuine, completely rehearsed sort of way. Our new waitress brought us our drinks in PITCHERS. That's right. They don't serve beverages in cups here. They bring you your own mini pitcher, complete with pour spout and handle. Luckily they provide you with a straw so you don't have to slosh liquid and ice into your mouth from the side of the pitcher. I found the drinks to be a sign of things to come. If you're eating healthy, there is not much for you on the menu. Almost all of the salads are topped by some sort of fried or sauce covered meats. They have a pretty extensive selection of sides, but most of the entrees come with baked beans, coleslaw or potato salad, meaning that if you want a side other than those you have to pay $2.89 or more to add it to your meal. I decided to forgo healthy eating and ordered the Pulled Chicken Sandwich. I was "adventurous" and opted for coleslaw on top. My meal came with a side of potato salad. Husband ordered the Five Meat Treat, basically a plate piled with brisket, ribs, sausage, pulled pork, pulled chicken, cornbread muffins, baked beans and cole slaw. My sandwich was mostly tasteless. The chicken was tender, but the sauce had not much flavor at all; the coleslaw had absolutely no taste and basically amounted to something cold, wet and crunchy on the top of the chicken. The bun was spongy and had no flavor either. I don't usually like potato salad, but I tried a tiny bit and was overwhelmed with dill. My husband seemed happier with his meal. He said the corn muffins were okay, the sausage was decent, and the pulled meats, ribs and brisket were good. He didn't eat the baked beans or coleslaw. I keep mentally comparing RH&B to a similar style gluttonous barbecue chain restaurant like Famous Daves, which has a similar menu and theme but manages to be cleaner, livelier, friendlier and more flavorful (sometimes overly so). If I can offer any real positive about this place, it's that the prices are pretty reasonable for the amount of food you get. But I mostly just got a "yuck" feeling from the whole experience.
(2)
Stephanie M.
Great place for families! I have been here several times with my family and have never been disappointed. Good food, friendly service and fun atmosphere. Great pulled pork sandwhiches and a great dessert menu!
(4)
Marianne L.
Have been to many RH&Bs and they are usually pretty good. So when I needed to meet up with some friends out this way - seemed like a good spot to gather everyone for dinner before heading out to the Eastern Shore. Food was good. I had Ribs with potato salad for a side. Service was ok. Neither was overly memorable. I've enjoyed better at other RH&Bs in the area. Wasn't wild about the establishment itself either - just felt a little well worn, but it was right off the highway so convenient for a quick off and on.
(3)
M D.
It had been a few years since I have visited Red Hot and Blue and it is much the same as I remembered. I had the dry ribs and brisket and both were good, not outstanding, but good as was my son's wet ribs and 1/4 chicken. The portions are fairly large and we both brought a small amount home. I like the choice of sides and the beans are good and the hush puppies are spot on. I do like the option for "mini" sized dessert although we skipped those and split a tasty chocolate lava cake. The service was fine and we got our food fast since it is all made in advance. Overall it is still worth a visit.
(4)
Kirsten D.
We just went back here after a several year absence. They have these in Northern VA and they were great, so we were very excited to find one about a mile from our house when we moved. Well, it was terrible (that was about 2001). We decided to give it a try again, and I was pleasently surprised. The brisket salad was good, as were the ribs. The burger was a bit dry, but overall I'd probably go back sooner than 10 years this time!
(4)
D D.
Food was good, service was not so good. This is my second encounter with bad service at this location. I opted for RH&B because it's close to home, good and less expensive than Famous Daves. However, I'll pay the extra and opt for Famous next time.
(3)
Tim M.
I'm grateful to see only one 'fake' 5-star review here. Annapolis as of 2010 is HURTING for good BBQ - people here actually think Adam's has good ribs. I'm a certified Kansas City BBQ Judge - trust me - Adam's would be disqualified from a competition. Without going into a long review of RH&B I will say this; they own the BBQ market in this town. That isn't something worthy of a bumper sticker but they full-on beat out the competition which consists of local chain 'Famous Daves' and 'Adams'. Throw Chilis in for a square of actual competitors and that is IT for Annapolis and BBQ. Local churches on Saturdays (including mine) are better bets. RH&B has several things going for it and I am a regular customer. Their dry-rub ribs are St. Louis style cut and always very good - not fall off the bone over-cooked but usually just right. If I have any complaints sometimes their ribs are left under the lamps too long and become rib-jerky. If you get carry-out inspect your specimens before leaving for this condition - I've written them several times about this but never received any response so don't bother with their website. Their brisket is some of the best I've had - brisket isn't easy - and they really seem to have the formula down. I just wish I could duplicate this at home. Lastly their potato salad is one of the best I've ever had. It's like Grammas - with hard boiled egg and scallions studded through the red-skin potatoes and great dressing. It is so good I have to admit I've purchased it more than once and called it my own. RH&B is consistent - they better hope I don't open my own BBQ stand in South County however - good for sure - but vulnerable if a real BBQ expert was to open up shop. NOT humbly submitted this day, D. FoodSnob, Ph.D
(3)
J C.
One of these joints opened in Cherry Hill, NJ, when I lived there years ago. It had a reputation for good entertainment and lousy food. There was no entertainment in Annapolis, only lousy food. We moved to MD last year and have found a couple of good BBQ joints (Mission, Corey's. etc.) RHB is not place for good BBQ. Pulled pork had the taste pulled out of it, brisket had the taste pulled out of IT, Ribs were try and tasteless, Sausage was more like an overcooked, tasteless hot dog. The chili was served w/ a big glob of sour cream? in the middle, next to a big glob of cheese. I must say the platters meal presentation consisted of slapping the crap on a plate and sending it out from the kitchen. Service was OK but, disengaged. Will not be going back. Will be going back to Mission and Corey's (take out only) in Severna Park. Yuck.
(1)
John G.
My wife loves their fried okra, and I enjoy their Smokehouse Salad. Its not often you go to a BBQ joint and get a good salad! Their chili is also really good. I dont really eat dessert, so I cant comment on that. Another thing they do a little different is the really big cups...Or mini-pitchers depending on who you ask. There brisket is ok, nothing special or really authentic, ribs are ok, there burgers are pretty good
(4)
Bernadette N.
I've been craving BBQ for months. I completely forgot we had a place in Annapolis! I didn't realize this was a chain until I read the previous reviews just now; however, the menus definitely have that feel. So the decor leaves a bit to be desired. It feels like it was once a Sizzler, then they painted some pigs with sunglasses on the wall and called it a BBQ place. Whatever, I'm fine with dives. You're also not going to see the classiest clientele. I saw an adult woman laying down in the booth with her son throwing food at her last night. But the food, it's so good. I'm not a BBQ specialist, but I know when they are good. We started with the spicy wings. They were at the top of my spice-tolerance level (had to dip in the blue cheese dressing a few times) and probably in the middle of my husband's. I'm a fall-off the bone, sloppy, wet rib person - so I ordered a half "wet" slab and chicken tenders. Chicken was standard TGIF fare, but the ribs and sauce options on the side of the table were awesome. Hubs had the dry ribs, but ended up liking mine better. But the standouts for both of us were the cole slaw, the fries and BY FAR the baked beans with bits of onion, green pepper and shredded pork. I'm fully planning on ordering these for catering and claiming them as my own. My husband was a little annoyed that his beer took too long to be served, he requested I point that out in the review. The girls that work there like like they're 17, so don't be surprised when service is not optimal. I'll for sure be back. Often.
(4)
Hill B.
Well, I'm from Texas.... and this is DEFINITELY not good barbecue. I'd have to label this place as the lowest-quality McDonald's of BBQ places. We went after a long day, so we were pretty hungry. Even then, it wasn't tasty! We ate it because we were paying for it and STARVING! The pork on our nacho appetizer was very dry and tasteless. I got the brisket and ribs-- gross. It was dry and also tasted like it had been sitting out all day. NOT good BBQ at all! Don't waste your money.
(1)
Mellisa C.
I didn't have too high expectations or a BBQ place. It seems Im always disappointed when I go out for some good ribs. This place was surprising! First...they had sweet tea and as a California Girl that was a good thing! its so hard to get good sweet tea out here. Guess Im a southern girl @ heart! I ordered a half rack of ribs and was happy with their flavor. I also really liked their hush puppies. I was only mad that there isn't one in California! I recommend this place and will go back if Im ever in the area again!
(4)
Angela L.
I grew up eating at a great BBQ chain called Sonney's so I had pretty high expectations for Red, Hot, and Blue. We stopped by this location on the way back from Deleware and I'm rather glad we did. It's chain BBQ. They don't smoke their own meats (I don't think). But, for what it is, it was great. They have the overly peppy chain restaurant brand of service, the food comes out super fast, and the large portions meant my husband and I could share an entree (5 meat feast or something similarly cutesy sounding). Plus they serve drinks in mini pitchers which means my Diet Coke-loving self only needed a single refill.
(3)
Christopher S.
I would not make this a destination if you want really good BBQ. You need to stick with a few things on the menu such as brisket, ribs and the pulled pork sandwich. Beyond that you are rolling the dice. Service is okay. They have a busy take out business, which is a separate entrance from the main restaurant. I have been to parties Red Hot has catered and was impressed with the basic BBQ pork and chicken, beans and cold slaw. I probably lowered the high bar at these events because I was in someones backyard. Since we do not have many choices in Annapolis for really top notch BBQ, this restaurant is one of the few choices. They would not make it in Kansas City, Memphis or Charlotte.
(3)
Olivia D.
i had heard great things about red hot & blue and i love me some grilled pig, cow and chicken. so i had high hopes. but this place let me down like a high school prom rejection. the brisket was so dry it might as well have been beef jerky. the pulled chicken was like chunks of safeway rotisserie chicken-- very eh. the pulled pork was at least moist, but no flavor. the dry-rubbed ribs were as dry as their rub. the sausage? i asked my brother how it was. "it's a 7-eleven spicy big bite." in a nutshell, the meats lacked: a) that grilled charred flavor b) much any flavor and also c-- which is key) moisture. the saving graces were the intensely smoky baked beans with chunks of onion and green bell pepper, the bite-sized cornbread muffins and cinnamon and salt-sprinkled sweet potato fries. but even that wasn't enough to redeem this place, which by the way, sported a tgifriday's-by-way-of-walmart kind of decor.
(2)
Janet K.
I chose a 4 star review---"I'm a fan"---because this is Annapolis. If it were Memphis, I'm sure in comparison it would be about a 1....smile. I tried several things on the menu and some of them were the best in the area: The dry rub ribs (thanks for the tip, Tim). Very good. I have not had any others here that are as good. The brisket (again, thanks Tim I would not have tried this without your review) I can't say this is the best, because I don't generally order it, but it was quite good. Cornbread. Yum! I love cornbread and most of it around here is awful (the worst is Adams Ribs). This was wonderful. The baked beans--the best---I have not come close any place else (and again, Adams is definitely not my cup of tea) Then there were some things that were good, but not the best--the mac and cheese and the cole slaw. But I have to SERIOIUSLY disagree with all you Yelpers (who I very much respect, but are oh, so mistaken about this one) about the potato salad. It was alright, but if you want really great, old fashioned potato salad, go to Ken's Back Porch and catering. THAT is what good potato salad tastes like. Orders of magnitude better. Palate Pleasers has a better potato salad also, but make sure you get the old fashioned version. They play around with different recipes there and some of them are not as good. So, all in all, I am a fan---heck, I'd even go back just for the cornbread.
(4)
Lenny M.
Good BBQ, decent prices. Love the pulled pork and the cobler.
(4)
David S.
I go here about once every two weeks and maybe I've just gotten lucky. I admit that once my ribs were obviously from the night before which the manager was more than happy to correct the problem. I only get the ribs with dry Memphis rub and dose them with hard luck vinegar sauce. Definitely get the potato salad, it's a home run.
(4)
Jessica M.
not bad, but not amazing. but it is tasty.
(3)
Julia T.
Went a few days ago for lunch. I had a dry ribs & fried catfish combo, my husband had wet ribs. Both style ribs were disappointing: dry, tough, overcooked. The manager was apologetic and offered two fresh servings of ribs for us to take home, which was a nice touch, but they were the same overdone ribs as before. On the plus side, the sides (hush puppies, creamy cole slaw, potato salad, cornbread) were excellent. There were also a lot of young children seated in our room, and it was REALLY loud 'til those few families left, so beware of the noise level.
(3)
T Y.
It could be because it's the only BBQ joint in town; seems like it anyway. It's good, though. The windmill with the pigs only adds to the taste of the pulled pork sandwiches.
(3)
Craig R.
The previous reviewer made this place sound incredibly awful so I wasn't very excited to try this place out. After going there though, it wasn't as bad as it was portrayed. Maybe it was an off night for them. Don't get me wrong, this is nowhere near five stars, but it was alright. We only had to wait a little while to get seated. Once we were seated, we were greeted promptly by our waiter. From the outset, he seemed pretty distant and was like that for the rest of our time there. The menu was nothing special. The only thing different is that this is the only place that I've seen pulled chicken. The food came out really fast. We hardly waited 5/10 minutes. It was crazy. It tasted alright and then we paid the bill. Nothing special. Nothing to set it apart from different restaurants. Just an OK place with decent food.
(3)
Katie M.
I am so surprised at the bad reviews! I have always like red hot and blue! They have the BEST potato salad around, great baked beans and really consistantly delicious bbq. They bring iced tea out in these mini pitchers which hardly ever need a refill they are so large. I will admit that it is best to avoid the salad section of the menu- I was feeling healthy one night and decided to give it a try- never again! I have unnatural cravings for the potato salad and beef chili- in fact I have a feeling that I will be in there tonight! A great place to stop on the way to or the way home from a weekend at the beach!
(3)
Mike W.
My wife and I like Red Hot & Blue so much we had them cater our wedding. Our our most recent trip there we had the dry ribs, the wet ribs, the pulled pork, and the combo plate of four sides. All were fantastic. The beer was cold, the waitress was prompt, and the prices were reasonable. I recommend any of the ribs, the pulled chicken, and the potato salad.
(5)
Tim R.
Really great place to eat and great service.
(5)
Joe P.
Wow, this place is a chain? What is worth franchising here? Stopped in to try their BBQ. Ordered two meat combo platter with brisket and sausage. The brisket was by far the worst brisket I have ever had anyplace. It was totally dried out. I've had beef jerky that was more moist. The sausage was ok but not great and very greasy. The beans were good. They put some jalapeños or other peppers in them. I ate at the bar and the service was pretty slow and inattentive.
(1)
Merrill F.
Run. Away. Gross, dirty, rude...I can't even begin to describe how awful this place is.
(1)
Donna H.
We almost always stop here for lunch on our way to the Maryland and Delaware beaches -- our usual order is a pile of pulled pork with sides of potato salad and baked beans and iced tea. The food and service have been consistently good over the years and we look forward to our meals here -- would definitely recommend!
(4)
Shannon T.
I'm a Memphis girl, so what can I say? I dream about their fried okra, sweet tea, and pulled pork. They do catfish beautifully, too. Beef barbeque is just WRONG, so I can't judge whether theirs is any good. Sorry to say that Adams' has better ribs. The one time I saved room for dessert, the banana pudding disappointed. Those concerns, and the offensive offering of Carolina BBQ sauce, lost RH&B the 5th star.
(4)
Ann S.
I've been to three different RH&B restaurants, and this is the best so far. The chopped pork sandwich is consistantly tender and yummy- yay for Carolina BBQ sauce! The dry ribs are also really good. I am a big fan of their chopped salad- smoked chicken- mmmmm. Good hushpuppies, potato salad, and decadant chocolate cake. Yes, it's a chain, so I don't hold them to the same standards for smokiness, etc as a hardcore BBQ place. All in all, consistant service and quality- a dependable stop on the way back from the Eastern shore.
(4)
Courtney K.
Bottom Line: Average BBQ served by friendly staff in a kinda cheesy, worn restaurant. Red Hot & Blue is just average. It is neither a place I will crave nor a place I will avoid. The menu here resembles a typical barbecue joint but I do think there are tastier BBQ options in the county. Meat options include pulled port, smoked brisket, pulled chicken, sausage and hamburgers. Sides available are typical for a BBQ restaurant including cole slaw, potato salad and french fries. Red Hot & Blue has a Memphis theme to it although there is not a RH&B in Memphis or Tennessee for that matter. (Most of these franchises are located in MD, VA and TX.) If you want your sandwich with cole slaw on it, then order it Memphis style. Also, exuding Memphis is the soul and blues decor such as drums converted into pendent lights. There is a pig theme going on here too which seems to compete with the Memphis music scene theme. Plus, its tough to enjoy my pulled pork sandwich when there are cute little pigs painted on the walls. Aside from the cheesy and conflicting theme, this place could use a refresh or at least a deep cleaning. Like any good BBQ restaurant, there are a variety of sauces placed on each table. But, this is a Memphis themed eatery so you won't find any vinegar based Carolina BBQ sauce here. Sauce options include two ketchup/tomato based sauces, a mustard based sauce and a hot sauce. Service here is very friendly but it seemed like the kitchen was slow. (It took 25 minutes from placing an order to get an app for sweet potato fries and another ten minutes to get entrees.) Overall, it was an A-OK experience.
(3)
Jessie C.
Tried to give them another chance because it is a local restaurant with delicious bbq. Apparently the kitchen doesn't know the difference between a medium rare steak and a well done steak. When I sent it back, it still came out closer to medium well and was the most fatty piece of steak I have ever gotten anywhere. The manager never even stopped by to see how it turned out...unless she was never notified of the error. I guess it was my fault going to a BBQ place for a steak. Not every experience I've had here is a bad one, and our server, Vince, was fantastic. I'm tired of coming here though and wondering if it will be worth it.
(3)
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Address :200 Old Mill Bottom Rd
Annapolis, MD, 21409
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No Caters : Yes
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Jessica M.
not bad, but not amazing. but it is tasty.
(3)Ann S.
I've been to three different RH&B restaurants, and this is the best so far. The chopped pork sandwich is consistantly tender and yummy- yay for Carolina BBQ sauce! The dry ribs are also really good. I am a big fan of their chopped salad- smoked chicken- mmmmm. Good hushpuppies, potato salad, and decadant chocolate cake. Yes, it's a chain, so I don't hold them to the same standards for smokiness, etc as a hardcore BBQ place. All in all, consistant service and quality- a dependable stop on the way back from the Eastern shore.
(4)David S.
I go here about once every two weeks and maybe I've just gotten lucky. I admit that once my ribs were obviously from the night before which the manager was more than happy to correct the problem. I only get the ribs with dry Memphis rub and dose them with hard luck vinegar sauce. Definitely get the potato salad, it's a home run.
(4)Rocky R.
The place as really gone downhill recently. I would have sworn that there were new owners who were cutting corners that did not use to be cut. All of the blues music stuff was down off of the walls (apparently they have been remodeling for some time now) there was no blues music playing in the background and the place just looking boring and very plain. But I will give them the benefit of the doubt, perhaps it will look better than ever whenever the finally get it done. I thought it looked great before. The main problem is the food. It used to be very good and now it is like they have cheapened it to save money. My wife got the chili which is what she always gets here and now it was runny and was more like a soup then chili. Even the sweet tea seemed watered down and not homemade. I got the pulled pork sandwich and the bun was beyond stale. I ordered the baked beans, which at one time were the best ever; these were like they were poured right out of a can. They use to be slow oven cooked. My daughter got macaroni and cheese and it tasted like Kraft to me. My son got a corn dog and he was happy with it. Our server really seemed like this was the last place that she wanted to be. When bringing my daughter milk she dripped it all over the table and menu and did not say a word and then rolled her eyes when we asked her to bring some extra napkins. She rolled her eyes again when we asked for the side that she forgot to bring. The prices have not gone down but the food quality and service sure has. We will not be rushing back here anytime soon.
(2)Justin M.
Not Chicago, Memphis, KC or any other BBQ Mecca. But pretty tasty for Maryland. Meat is consistently tender and juicy. Sauce options are decent. Portions are generous. Potato salad is a solid side. And their banana pudding is top notch. Atmosphere is decent with a heavy bit of blues attitude. Been many times and consistently makes it into the lunch and dinner date rotation a few times a year.
(4)Caraline H.
Lackluster meal, the beans were horrid. Tried the desserts, but our cake was DRY! The onion loaf was fairly lackluster and bland. The best part of the meal was that at least it was cheap.
(2)Amber D.
Onion Ring Loaf is a must-have. Service excellent (pleasant and prompt). Rest of the food was okay but not great. You definitely get plenty of food for the money.
(3)Michael N.
I think the food was good. Service seemed to be slow as I waited 7 minutes before I was even greeted at lunch time. I'd go back if I was hungry for some BBQ. I wouldn't go out of my way though to eat here. I really liked the potato salad. The Laurel location is a much better experience.
(3)Shannon T.
I'm a Memphis girl, so what can I say? I dream about their fried okra, sweet tea, and pulled pork. They do catfish beautifully, too. Beef barbeque is just WRONG, so I can't judge whether theirs is any good. Sorry to say that Adams' has better ribs. The one time I saved room for dessert, the banana pudding disappointed. Those concerns, and the offensive offering of Carolina BBQ sauce, lost RH&B the 5th star.
(4)Jennifer P.
We actually went to the restaurant yesterday because we were considering using them as a caterer for our wedding. I expected to like the food, but it exceeded all my expectations. The potato salad was absolutely amazing. I tried three different meats (pulled pork, pulled chicken and ribs) and all three were amazing. My significant other also enjoyed his meal. We were neutral about three of the BBQ sauces but we both really enjoyed the sweet one. We did pack up half of our food and chose to try a dessert- he got banana pudding and we shared a bread pudding. Both were, once again, delicious. The service did start out a little slow but our server seemed to warm up to us so by the end he was great. Really I am so excited to have found this place- I will definitely be requesting a visit back sometime very soon :)
(5)Gwynedd D.
We ate here a couple of times. It has gone way downhill. The first time was good, but the last time, even my dining companion, who is a hungry and more generous soul than me, and who loves all bbq, said it was terrible. The ribs were cold, dry, obviously re-microwaved and made days before. I can tell when meat, especially BBQ, has been in the fridge for a while. I had Brunswick Stew, which I had had before and liked, this time it was a nauseous mix of mostly canned tomatoes. It is a convenient stop when you cross the bridge, but sadly, we drive right on by now. It tastes like chain food and is not worth the stop.
(2)Chandler L.
It isn't the worst bbq option in Maryland. It will do when you have a craving. It isn't good though. The sauce is bland. The meat wasn't cooked properly. I did enjoy the oversized glasses though. The atmosphere is cheesy and not very coherient. The staff was lazy and unhelpful.
(2)Andrew W.
Ok BBQ if you're really hungry. Great bar specials if you wanna get drunk when you're really hungry. AWESOME Red Beans and Rice. It's actually a guilty pleasure food for me. And I love the fact that I get my extra sweet tea serve in a mini pitcher.
(3)Zeek D.
This is a generic BBQ joint, the ribs and and pulled chicken are the best things on the menu. The variety of sauces are a nice bonus as well. The service is always good and the drinks come In Miniature pitchers so refills are not needed or at least few an far between. The music is good and the decor decent. The bathrooms are nasty and need an update. Other than that rhb is a solid meal at a fair price.
(3)Gwen M.
We eat here approximately 2-3 times a year. It is a good halfway point to meet the parents. Never been disappointed. Last night I had a cup (really big one) of chicken corn chowder. Very good with a nice sweetness to it. I also had a caesar salad with grilled chicken. Chicken was tender and cooked just right and salad was fresh. Too big to finish. We (4) all split an onion loaf. Again huge... so we all had a nice portion. My son got an "all in burger" and said it was great. Parents got wet ribs and a Delta Double which has ribs and sausage. Both of them liked their meal as well. Service is always good.
(5)Jessa M.
Husband and I stopped here on our way back from Baltimore. He was lured by the promise of many types of meat. I was skeptical, and reasonably so. I think RH&B Annapolis benefits heavily from folks headed over the Bay Bridge on their way to Ocean City. The decor is very run down, faux-rustic wood and plaster effects on walls covered by various Blues music related miscellanea and country kitsch. It looked like the folks who painted the walls didn't give a crap. We ordered drinks from one waitress, and moments later another came to tell us that she was a replacement for Waitress 1 who had gone out to get some dinner. Shift change, whatever, but Waitress 2 was overly friendly in that not-so-genuine, completely rehearsed sort of way. Our new waitress brought us our drinks in PITCHERS. That's right. They don't serve beverages in cups here. They bring you your own mini pitcher, complete with pour spout and handle. Luckily they provide you with a straw so you don't have to slosh liquid and ice into your mouth from the side of the pitcher. I found the drinks to be a sign of things to come. If you're eating healthy, there is not much for you on the menu. Almost all of the salads are topped by some sort of fried or sauce covered meats. They have a pretty extensive selection of sides, but most of the entrees come with baked beans, coleslaw or potato salad, meaning that if you want a side other than those you have to pay $2.89 or more to add it to your meal. I decided to forgo healthy eating and ordered the Pulled Chicken Sandwich. I was "adventurous" and opted for coleslaw on top. My meal came with a side of potato salad. Husband ordered the Five Meat Treat, basically a plate piled with brisket, ribs, sausage, pulled pork, pulled chicken, cornbread muffins, baked beans and cole slaw. My sandwich was mostly tasteless. The chicken was tender, but the sauce had not much flavor at all; the coleslaw had absolutely no taste and basically amounted to something cold, wet and crunchy on the top of the chicken. The bun was spongy and had no flavor either. I don't usually like potato salad, but I tried a tiny bit and was overwhelmed with dill. My husband seemed happier with his meal. He said the corn muffins were okay, the sausage was decent, and the pulled meats, ribs and brisket were good. He didn't eat the baked beans or coleslaw. I keep mentally comparing RH&B to a similar style gluttonous barbecue chain restaurant like Famous Daves, which has a similar menu and theme but manages to be cleaner, livelier, friendlier and more flavorful (sometimes overly so). If I can offer any real positive about this place, it's that the prices are pretty reasonable for the amount of food you get. But I mostly just got a "yuck" feeling from the whole experience.
(2)Stephanie M.
Great place for families! I have been here several times with my family and have never been disappointed. Good food, friendly service and fun atmosphere. Great pulled pork sandwhiches and a great dessert menu!
(4)Marianne L.
Have been to many RH&Bs and they are usually pretty good. So when I needed to meet up with some friends out this way - seemed like a good spot to gather everyone for dinner before heading out to the Eastern Shore. Food was good. I had Ribs with potato salad for a side. Service was ok. Neither was overly memorable. I've enjoyed better at other RH&Bs in the area. Wasn't wild about the establishment itself either - just felt a little well worn, but it was right off the highway so convenient for a quick off and on.
(3)Tim M.
I'm grateful to see only one 'fake' 5-star review here. Annapolis as of 2010 is HURTING for good BBQ - people here actually think Adam's has good ribs. I'm a certified Kansas City BBQ Judge - trust me - Adam's would be disqualified from a competition. Without going into a long review of RH&B I will say this; they own the BBQ market in this town. That isn't something worthy of a bumper sticker but they full-on beat out the competition which consists of local chain 'Famous Daves' and 'Adams'. Throw Chilis in for a square of actual competitors and that is IT for Annapolis and BBQ. Local churches on Saturdays (including mine) are better bets. RH&B has several things going for it and I am a regular customer. Their dry-rub ribs are St. Louis style cut and always very good - not fall off the bone over-cooked but usually just right. If I have any complaints sometimes their ribs are left under the lamps too long and become rib-jerky. If you get carry-out inspect your specimens before leaving for this condition - I've written them several times about this but never received any response so don't bother with their website. Their brisket is some of the best I've had - brisket isn't easy - and they really seem to have the formula down. I just wish I could duplicate this at home. Lastly their potato salad is one of the best I've ever had. It's like Grammas - with hard boiled egg and scallions studded through the red-skin potatoes and great dressing. It is so good I have to admit I've purchased it more than once and called it my own. RH&B is consistent - they better hope I don't open my own BBQ stand in South County however - good for sure - but vulnerable if a real BBQ expert was to open up shop. NOT humbly submitted this day, D. FoodSnob, Ph.D
(3)J C.
One of these joints opened in Cherry Hill, NJ, when I lived there years ago. It had a reputation for good entertainment and lousy food. There was no entertainment in Annapolis, only lousy food. We moved to MD last year and have found a couple of good BBQ joints (Mission, Corey's. etc.) RHB is not place for good BBQ. Pulled pork had the taste pulled out of it, brisket had the taste pulled out of IT, Ribs were try and tasteless, Sausage was more like an overcooked, tasteless hot dog. The chili was served w/ a big glob of sour cream? in the middle, next to a big glob of cheese. I must say the platters meal presentation consisted of slapping the crap on a plate and sending it out from the kitchen. Service was OK but, disengaged. Will not be going back. Will be going back to Mission and Corey's (take out only) in Severna Park. Yuck.
(1)John G.
My wife loves their fried okra, and I enjoy their Smokehouse Salad. Its not often you go to a BBQ joint and get a good salad! Their chili is also really good. I dont really eat dessert, so I cant comment on that. Another thing they do a little different is the really big cups...Or mini-pitchers depending on who you ask. There brisket is ok, nothing special or really authentic, ribs are ok, there burgers are pretty good
(4)Bernadette N.
I've been craving BBQ for months. I completely forgot we had a place in Annapolis! I didn't realize this was a chain until I read the previous reviews just now; however, the menus definitely have that feel. So the decor leaves a bit to be desired. It feels like it was once a Sizzler, then they painted some pigs with sunglasses on the wall and called it a BBQ place. Whatever, I'm fine with dives. You're also not going to see the classiest clientele. I saw an adult woman laying down in the booth with her son throwing food at her last night. But the food, it's so good. I'm not a BBQ specialist, but I know when they are good. We started with the spicy wings. They were at the top of my spice-tolerance level (had to dip in the blue cheese dressing a few times) and probably in the middle of my husband's. I'm a fall-off the bone, sloppy, wet rib person - so I ordered a half "wet" slab and chicken tenders. Chicken was standard TGIF fare, but the ribs and sauce options on the side of the table were awesome. Hubs had the dry ribs, but ended up liking mine better. But the standouts for both of us were the cole slaw, the fries and BY FAR the baked beans with bits of onion, green pepper and shredded pork. I'm fully planning on ordering these for catering and claiming them as my own. My husband was a little annoyed that his beer took too long to be served, he requested I point that out in the review. The girls that work there like like they're 17, so don't be surprised when service is not optimal. I'll for sure be back. Often.
(4)Hill B.
Well, I'm from Texas.... and this is DEFINITELY not good barbecue. I'd have to label this place as the lowest-quality McDonald's of BBQ places. We went after a long day, so we were pretty hungry. Even then, it wasn't tasty! We ate it because we were paying for it and STARVING! The pork on our nacho appetizer was very dry and tasteless. I got the brisket and ribs-- gross. It was dry and also tasted like it had been sitting out all day. NOT good BBQ at all! Don't waste your money.
(1)Kirsten D.
We just went back here after a several year absence. They have these in Northern VA and they were great, so we were very excited to find one about a mile from our house when we moved. Well, it was terrible (that was about 2001). We decided to give it a try again, and I was pleasently surprised. The brisket salad was good, as were the ribs. The burger was a bit dry, but overall I'd probably go back sooner than 10 years this time!
(4)D D.
Food was good, service was not so good. This is my second encounter with bad service at this location. I opted for RH&B because it's close to home, good and less expensive than Famous Daves. However, I'll pay the extra and opt for Famous next time.
(3)M D.
It had been a few years since I have visited Red Hot and Blue and it is much the same as I remembered. I had the dry ribs and brisket and both were good, not outstanding, but good as was my son's wet ribs and 1/4 chicken. The portions are fairly large and we both brought a small amount home. I like the choice of sides and the beans are good and the hush puppies are spot on. I do like the option for "mini" sized dessert although we skipped those and split a tasty chocolate lava cake. The service was fine and we got our food fast since it is all made in advance. Overall it is still worth a visit.
(4)Christopher S.
I would not make this a destination if you want really good BBQ. You need to stick with a few things on the menu such as brisket, ribs and the pulled pork sandwich. Beyond that you are rolling the dice. Service is okay. They have a busy take out business, which is a separate entrance from the main restaurant. I have been to parties Red Hot has catered and was impressed with the basic BBQ pork and chicken, beans and cold slaw. I probably lowered the high bar at these events because I was in someones backyard. Since we do not have many choices in Annapolis for really top notch BBQ, this restaurant is one of the few choices. They would not make it in Kansas City, Memphis or Charlotte.
(3)Olivia D.
i had heard great things about red hot & blue and i love me some grilled pig, cow and chicken. so i had high hopes. but this place let me down like a high school prom rejection. the brisket was so dry it might as well have been beef jerky. the pulled chicken was like chunks of safeway rotisserie chicken-- very eh. the pulled pork was at least moist, but no flavor. the dry-rubbed ribs were as dry as their rub. the sausage? i asked my brother how it was. "it's a 7-eleven spicy big bite." in a nutshell, the meats lacked: a) that grilled charred flavor b) much any flavor and also c-- which is key) moisture. the saving graces were the intensely smoky baked beans with chunks of onion and green bell pepper, the bite-sized cornbread muffins and cinnamon and salt-sprinkled sweet potato fries. but even that wasn't enough to redeem this place, which by the way, sported a tgifriday's-by-way-of-walmart kind of decor.
(2)Janet K.
I chose a 4 star review---"I'm a fan"---because this is Annapolis. If it were Memphis, I'm sure in comparison it would be about a 1....smile. I tried several things on the menu and some of them were the best in the area: The dry rub ribs (thanks for the tip, Tim). Very good. I have not had any others here that are as good. The brisket (again, thanks Tim I would not have tried this without your review) I can't say this is the best, because I don't generally order it, but it was quite good. Cornbread. Yum! I love cornbread and most of it around here is awful (the worst is Adams Ribs). This was wonderful. The baked beans--the best---I have not come close any place else (and again, Adams is definitely not my cup of tea) Then there were some things that were good, but not the best--the mac and cheese and the cole slaw. But I have to SERIOIUSLY disagree with all you Yelpers (who I very much respect, but are oh, so mistaken about this one) about the potato salad. It was alright, but if you want really great, old fashioned potato salad, go to Ken's Back Porch and catering. THAT is what good potato salad tastes like. Orders of magnitude better. Palate Pleasers has a better potato salad also, but make sure you get the old fashioned version. They play around with different recipes there and some of them are not as good. So, all in all, I am a fan---heck, I'd even go back just for the cornbread.
(4)Lenny M.
Good BBQ, decent prices. Love the pulled pork and the cobler.
(4)Craig R.
The previous reviewer made this place sound incredibly awful so I wasn't very excited to try this place out. After going there though, it wasn't as bad as it was portrayed. Maybe it was an off night for them. Don't get me wrong, this is nowhere near five stars, but it was alright. We only had to wait a little while to get seated. Once we were seated, we were greeted promptly by our waiter. From the outset, he seemed pretty distant and was like that for the rest of our time there. The menu was nothing special. The only thing different is that this is the only place that I've seen pulled chicken. The food came out really fast. We hardly waited 5/10 minutes. It was crazy. It tasted alright and then we paid the bill. Nothing special. Nothing to set it apart from different restaurants. Just an OK place with decent food.
(3)Katie M.
I am so surprised at the bad reviews! I have always like red hot and blue! They have the BEST potato salad around, great baked beans and really consistantly delicious bbq. They bring iced tea out in these mini pitchers which hardly ever need a refill they are so large. I will admit that it is best to avoid the salad section of the menu- I was feeling healthy one night and decided to give it a try- never again! I have unnatural cravings for the potato salad and beef chili- in fact I have a feeling that I will be in there tonight! A great place to stop on the way to or the way home from a weekend at the beach!
(3)Mike W.
My wife and I like Red Hot & Blue so much we had them cater our wedding. Our our most recent trip there we had the dry ribs, the wet ribs, the pulled pork, and the combo plate of four sides. All were fantastic. The beer was cold, the waitress was prompt, and the prices were reasonable. I recommend any of the ribs, the pulled chicken, and the potato salad.
(5)Tim R.
Really great place to eat and great service.
(5)Joe P.
Wow, this place is a chain? What is worth franchising here? Stopped in to try their BBQ. Ordered two meat combo platter with brisket and sausage. The brisket was by far the worst brisket I have ever had anyplace. It was totally dried out. I've had beef jerky that was more moist. The sausage was ok but not great and very greasy. The beans were good. They put some jalapeños or other peppers in them. I ate at the bar and the service was pretty slow and inattentive.
(1)Merrill F.
Run. Away. Gross, dirty, rude...I can't even begin to describe how awful this place is.
(1)Donna H.
We almost always stop here for lunch on our way to the Maryland and Delaware beaches -- our usual order is a pile of pulled pork with sides of potato salad and baked beans and iced tea. The food and service have been consistently good over the years and we look forward to our meals here -- would definitely recommend!
(4)Mellisa C.
I didn't have too high expectations or a BBQ place. It seems Im always disappointed when I go out for some good ribs. This place was surprising! First...they had sweet tea and as a California Girl that was a good thing! its so hard to get good sweet tea out here. Guess Im a southern girl @ heart! I ordered a half rack of ribs and was happy with their flavor. I also really liked their hush puppies. I was only mad that there isn't one in California! I recommend this place and will go back if Im ever in the area again!
(4)Angela L.
I grew up eating at a great BBQ chain called Sonney's so I had pretty high expectations for Red, Hot, and Blue. We stopped by this location on the way back from Deleware and I'm rather glad we did. It's chain BBQ. They don't smoke their own meats (I don't think). But, for what it is, it was great. They have the overly peppy chain restaurant brand of service, the food comes out super fast, and the large portions meant my husband and I could share an entree (5 meat feast or something similarly cutesy sounding). Plus they serve drinks in mini pitchers which means my Diet Coke-loving self only needed a single refill.
(3)Dawn R.
OK.......maybe I've just been away from Kansas City too long, but I'll go ahead and give this place 3 stars. I've been in several times since it's pretty close to home, and have never been disappointed. They have a nice variety of sauces, the meat is always nice and tender, and the sides are very tasty. I like that they also have an option to just order a plate of side dishes if you don't want the meat (which, yes, there have been times that I didn't want meat.....I know, crazy!) Service is friendly and reasonably fast, and their sweet tea in the mason jar hits the spot when it's hot outside. I'm not a big fan of ribs, but these are really good.....I get the dry rub, so they're not as messy as the wet ribs, which I do like. The brisket is delicious, nice and tender with a good flavor. The pulled chicken was a little dry fro my taste, but add some sauce and it's all good. I'm not a fan of the sausage, but I'm not really a fan of sausage in general so that's not really a reflection on this place. On to the sides and other menu items: The chicken corn chowder is actually very good, just the right thickness and good flavor. The baked beans leave a lot to be desired, though.....they taste just like they came straight out of a can of Bush's. The chili is good, just the right amount of heat without making you run screaming for water. The mac & cheese is OK, but is just missing something....can't put my finger on it. I've never tried their desserts, so I may have to do that the next time I'm in. I'll still go back, since like I said, it's close to home, and overall the food doesn't suck (which is a great compliment according to my son in law).
(3)Paul M.
Great food and great service. I like the atmosphere. I'm not a fan of bbq but their burgers and hushpuppies are terrific.
(5)Shawn K.
We ate here for lunch on 8/27. The atmosphere was kinda cool and our server was very nice. We told him it was our first time, and he recommended the 5 meat platter so we could sample everything. I had the corn chowder which was good, and my husband had the red beans which he said were good. Our waiter brought us a sample of the potato salad even though we didn't order it because it was a house special and everyone loved it. I thought it was just ok, but then my husband went to try it and there was a rubberband in it!!! We showed the server, but we really didn't pay for it, so what really could we do? The 5 meat was just kinda ok, but we were kinda grossed out about the rubberband. I'm not sure if we'd try it again
(3)Michelle P.
Something about the exterior fooled us into thinking this was a mom-and-pop type place, with perhaps homemade apple pie and a generation-old BBQ recipe. We've wanted to try it for years. I'll cut to the chase. It's a chain with a 4-color menu complete with Sam Adams logos hovering around their version of the bloomin' onion. Sigh. Even the array of BBQ sauces was a disappointment as I searched for some kind of flavor, anywhere. Service was fine, though one would expect more flair from a place that gives kids Oreo cookies with their meals. In closing, I can think of about a million other ways I'd have preferred to spend $44.
(2)T Y.
It could be because it's the only BBQ joint in town; seems like it anyway. It's good, though. The windmill with the pigs only adds to the taste of the pulled pork sandwiches.
(3)Bob S.
This place has progressively gone downhill the past 5 years. I use to eat here 5 or 6 times a month. But I've only eaten here once in the last year and a half. They definitely need to redo the interior. The tables, chairs and booths are in poor condition and never look squeaky clean. The food was good but now just barely restaurant quality.
(1)Kevin M.
Before I went to Red, Hot, and Blue I never put coleslaw on my pulled pork sandwiches. Now I put it on all my sandwiches. And that has made all the difference.
(4)Lee S.
I was in town on business and saw the sign "best bbq in Annapolis" so decided to check it out. I had been to another RH&B in the area 3 years previously that was disappointing but I thought maybe it was just that location so I decided to give this place a shot. Rustic decor with blues background music set a nice atmosphere. Service was pretty quick. Menu was diverse. Felt pretty good about the place - until the food came. I'm from Austin TX so I know bbq and what to expect when I travel: I don't bother ordering beef items because they can't touch ours, but I've had great pork ribs and pulled pork on the road, especially on the east coast, so I decided to try the ribs and pulled pork. I ordered a rack of St Louis style ribs half dry and half wet. When they came I noticed that the wet side look freshly slathered with a sauce, and the dry side had a heavy layer of freshly applied rub. Moving those layers it became apparent that the ribs had been smoked naked, with the rub and sauce applied after cooking. The ribs had been overcooked - the short end was actually burnt. The ribs were of poor quality - fatty and flavorless. The rub was bland, and the sauce was overpowered by molasses. I tried to add some flavor by using some of their other sauces and the only one I felt was decent was their mustard based. So overall, the ribs were disappointing. The pulled pork was dry and bland, not worth another sentence in this review I ordered red beans and rice as a side and it was obvious the cook had never worked the Gulf Coast - they used kidney beans with ham broth poured over rice to a stewed texture. Another disappointment. By this time I'm hoping for something to redeem the meal before I had to go back to my hotel. I noticed a local dessert: homemade Smith Island cake, so I ordered it. I needed something sweet to free my palate from the cloying taste of molasses. When the cake arrived it was a joy to behold. Twelve thin layers of yellow cake bedded in chocolate icing. A perfect blend of flavor. Finally, I had something to make the night memorable. The next time I'm in the Annapolis area I may stop there for carry-out cake, but I'll never sit down there for a meal, even if they offer free pitchers of Shiner.
(1)Karen G.
Food was good, service was good. Darn. Checked in on Foursquare while there but not Yelp. Now I see I could have saved $5! Oh well. Would still eat there again.
(5)Ashley W.
Red Hot & Blue sponsored an event at my job and I had the pleasure of indulging the pulled chicken, beans and spicy bbq suauce they provided. let's just say, I loved them so much I looked them up after eating and am planning a visit soon. I LOVE southern cooking and feel like it's hard to find in this state, but finally - red hot & blue saved the day.
(5)Chris O.
I was sent here to take a class for work. I love wet ribs, I smoke my own wet ribs. Don't even think about giving me dry ribs. When I told my teacher I was going to eat at Red Hot and Blue he said you have to get the dry ribs. I told him no. He begged me to get the dry ribs and even offered to come eat with me and buy them. After a while of arguing we came to an agreement that I will order a full rack, half wet and half dry. The whole class came and I begrudgingly order the full rack 1/2 wet and 1/2 dry. When I got my order, I decided to eat the dry half first the get it over with and then enjoy the wet half. The meat was very tender; the bones just fell through like a hot knife through butter. The taste was so unbelievably good it was truly the best ribs I have ever had and it this was a dry rib. I just couldn't wait to get to the wet side, if the dry side was this good. Once I did make it to the wet side it paled in caparison to the flavors from the dry side and I was sad that I didn't order a full dry. That was 14 years ago. I haven't yet found a dry rib that good since that day. I still think about those ribs. I have told people if they are traveling through Maryland to get the dry ribs at Red Hot and Blue. Southern People are wet rib people and I tell them to go against their instincts and get the dry. The ones that have made the journey came beck a believer and tell me, wow you were right those were the best ribs they have every eaten. I hope to make it back some day.
(5)John D.
Red hot and blue has had really good bbq for the past 20 years. Their pulled pork sandwitches are very good and so are their ribs. The service is alright but they make up for it with there food. The barbeque sauce is also very good.
(4)Roger Y.
I don't know what some of the reviews here are talking about because this place was incredible. Awesome service, clean, relaxing atmosphere and that's all aside from the AMAZING FOOD. Gumbalaya? 5 meat trays? Enough chili in one serving to feed a Somalian village? Drinks that are served in small-ish PITCHERS? Elvis statues, overhead lamps made of drum heads and service that couldn't have been more polite and accommodating? How could you not like this place? I am going to be coming back here. Awesome experience.
(5)S C.
I have not been a fan of this place due to past visits. However this visit was great. Brisket, pork BBQ, fried chicken, beans, potato salad, onion loaf, hush puppies, ribs and corn muffins were all great. Service was great and the visit was wonderful. If my next visit is as good, I will revise to 5 stars.
(4)Courtney K.
Bottom Line: Average BBQ served by friendly staff in a kinda cheesy, worn restaurant. Red Hot & Blue is just average. It is neither a place I will crave nor a place I will avoid. The menu here resembles a typical barbecue joint but I do think there are tastier BBQ options in the county. Meat options include pulled port, smoked brisket, pulled chicken, sausage and hamburgers. Sides available are typical for a BBQ restaurant including cole slaw, potato salad and french fries. Red Hot & Blue has a Memphis theme to it although there is not a RH&B in Memphis or Tennessee for that matter. (Most of these franchises are located in MD, VA and TX.) If you want your sandwich with cole slaw on it, then order it Memphis style. Also, exuding Memphis is the soul and blues decor such as drums converted into pendent lights. There is a pig theme going on here too which seems to compete with the Memphis music scene theme. Plus, its tough to enjoy my pulled pork sandwich when there are cute little pigs painted on the walls. Aside from the cheesy and conflicting theme, this place could use a refresh or at least a deep cleaning. Like any good BBQ restaurant, there are a variety of sauces placed on each table. But, this is a Memphis themed eatery so you won't find any vinegar based Carolina BBQ sauce here. Sauce options include two ketchup/tomato based sauces, a mustard based sauce and a hot sauce. Service here is very friendly but it seemed like the kitchen was slow. (It took 25 minutes from placing an order to get an app for sweet potato fries and another ten minutes to get entrees.) Overall, it was an A-OK experience.
(3)Jessie C.
Tried to give them another chance because it is a local restaurant with delicious bbq. Apparently the kitchen doesn't know the difference between a medium rare steak and a well done steak. When I sent it back, it still came out closer to medium well and was the most fatty piece of steak I have ever gotten anywhere. The manager never even stopped by to see how it turned out...unless she was never notified of the error. I guess it was my fault going to a BBQ place for a steak. Not every experience I've had here is a bad one, and our server, Vince, was fantastic. I'm tired of coming here though and wondering if it will be worth it.
(3)Roy S.
This continues to be one of my favorite chain BBQ places in the DMV. Great pulled pork and the hot link is on another level. Come for lunch and get both for under $10 with the lunch combo.
(4)Srebrina M.
We randomly found this place today - 3 people and a baby, and it honestly has the best food I have had in a long time. Considering how picky I am usually it is crazy that I loved everything we had! The chili was the best and their french fries are awesome. Prices were pretty reasonable I think and the atmosphere is very homey.
(5)Linda W.
I like the pulled chicken sandwich. I go to the Laurel location more regularly and like that location's vibe a little better. But this one has plenty of space for seating small or larger groups.
(3)Cecilia S.
I'm totally new to the area and I know close to nothing about barbecue. So take what you will from my review We were on our way to the northern Chesapeake Bay area, and I was just famished. I had no idea this was a chain. It just looked like a neat barbecue joint off the side of the freeway. Coming from Cali, I was excited to check out a southern barbecue joint. I don't know if this was authentic or legit, but the smell hit me like a train from the second I walked in. My mouth started to water and I needed some finger lickin' ribs now! The menu was very extensive. It had everything from ribs to wing, sandwiches, salads, and more. We started off with some dry wings that were absolutely delicious. Each table had an assortment of barbecue sauces - sweet, mustard, spicy, and vinegary - so, naturally we had to try them all. As for entrees, I went straight to the ribs. I got the Delta Double which came with half ribs (I chose the sweet sauce per our waitress's recommendation), barbecue chicken, a side of sweet barbecue beans, cole slaw, and two corn bread muffins. That was MORE than enough food for me. The ribs were so succulent and fall-off-the-bone tender. I love picking off the little burnt ends and I just could not stop. I'm starting to salivate just thinking about all that food. Oh, the corn bread was a delicious complement as well. The service was excellent. Like I said, I know nothing about barbecue. She was super attentive and was really patient with explaining all the different flavors. Overall, I'm quite happy with this experience. Now that I know it's a mini chain, I'm going to look for it closer to home.
(4)Kal B.
I have long been a fan of Red Hot And Blue and ventured out last night for some of their special comfort in a Side Sampler with Hush Puppies, Collards and Potato Salad x2. No meat but I know it would be the same tastiness I've had at every RHB I've known and loved. It's not AS close as a couple other spots near home but it's well worth the few miles to get to. Our waitress was attentive and sweet (like their tea ;)) and my wine glass stayed full. We bought a t-shirt for our daughter and I think I'll sneak back and get that gift pack of BBQ sauces for my husband for his stocking. My husband had dental work yesterday and went for the Jambalaya and it was tres' yummy. I am finishing it up as I type my review! ;) The tender, juicy, flavorful BBQ, yummy sauces and unbeatable sides will keep me a fan!
(3)Scott M.
I am a BBQ snob, and the food that Red Hot and Blue is serving is not traditional BBQ. I am not sure how to describe it, maybe a BBQ joint that messes with the food too much. BBQ is easy, start a fire, put meat on grill, and leave it alone. This BBQ tastes different, not my bag. I am a true smoked wood BBQ guy, this is not in my opinion is not 5 star BBQ.
(2)C W.
Good food and service I had to select 4 stars as the portions keep shrinking but it's still a decent value for the price. We have used their catering service for parties and LOVE IT, they did a great job and for a terrific price.
(4)Rex R.
Always good BBQ. Service slow during the rush.
(4)Ric P.
I like Red, Hot & Blue and have enjoyed many favorable visits here. But this visit wasn't on the "best memories' list... Arrival included a 20 minute wait and 1/2 the restaurant was empty. Personally I think the hostess forgot about us; until I bugged her. Waitress arrived within 3-4 minutes and took our drink order. But it took over 10 minutes to bring the drinks and take our order. I had requested something from the bar. This was forgotten and the waitress had to go get it; before taking our order. Order provided to waitress with a few specific details provided. We had requested the entrees to not be fired until after our salads arrived. Sometime between 20-30 minutes later the salads arrived. The wife was about to have a fit over the time it took to get the salads to us. On our second or third bite of the salad guess what arrived... our entrees. The wife's burger was VERY well done and the roll was hard like it had sat uncovered for hours. I felt the roll and I wouldn't eat it. While the wife likes her burgers well done this burger was extremely over cooked. I had ordered the fried catfish but received a blackened catfish. The wife decided to keep her burger and I sent the catfish back. At the same time I ordered another bottle from the bar. The wife was almost done with her burger when the fried catfish arrived minus the new cold bottle from the bar. I pointed this out to the waitress who blamed the bartender for not putting it out for her to pick up. While she went for the cold bottle I inspected the catfish. Fried to a crisp! There was no way I could eat this. After informing the waitress she went to get the manager. Manager arrived... a lady between 18 - 23, not that someone young can't be a good manager. She apologized about the problems and asked if I would like to order anything else from the menu. I didn't as we were now there for 90 minutes and nothing had gone right. Bill arrived... both the catfish entrees were on the bill. Asked for the manager and pointed this out. Apologies again and she departed to fix the bill. New, correct bill, arrived. we paid and left.
(2)Lorraine R.
We've been fans of RHB for a while, however I was disappointed that we did not receive a complimentary serving of their corn bread while we waited for our food. I didn't ask as I was just expecting it. It's not a big deal, just a little disappointed. When I asked our waitress about it, they offered to bring out "a couple pieces", because she said didn't mind but by that time we had already received our food. So I didn't want the couple pieces anymore. All in all , the food is as expected and service was quick as usual. I don't think I will return to this location anymore and there are other BBQ places in that area if I'm in that area.
(2)Paul T.
I'd go back. Average.
(3)Julia T.
Went a few days ago for lunch. I had a dry ribs & fried catfish combo, my husband had wet ribs. Both style ribs were disappointing: dry, tough, overcooked. The manager was apologetic and offered two fresh servings of ribs for us to take home, which was a nice touch, but they were the same overdone ribs as before. On the plus side, the sides (hush puppies, creamy cole slaw, potato salad, cornbread) were excellent. There were also a lot of young children seated in our room, and it was REALLY loud 'til those few families left, so beware of the noise level.
(3)Eric G.
Wow.. I can't explain how bad the food was. I got the 5 meat treat. The only thing that was halfway enjoyable was the beans. Ribs were dry as a bone and were tough. They weren't even amateur ribs. My wife couldn't eat her because they were so dry and hard. The pork was extremely dry and had no smoke flavor. The brisket wasn't even brisket.. I'm not sure what to call it. It was like eating canned dog food. And the chicken, well, somehow my wife got smoked chicken and I got baked/pulled chicken. The chicken she received was delicious and mine was far below average. I'm not sure what happened there. I also tried the greens and they were average at best. My bill was $40 and I would have paid $20 at the most for what we ate. I would expect this kind of food if I was laying in a hospital bed.. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and you won't find me coming back. On a positive note, our server was very nice, polite, and good at her job. If you call this BBQ, you haven't had good BBQ.
(1)Robert F.
I have eaten at a Red, Hot, and Blues before and remember it being an OK BBQ spot. This time around it is going to stick with me for quite some time. Incredible beer list with a full bar backed up to do all of your harder liquor needs. Your teas, lemonades, and sodas all come in a pitcher with a straw. So you don't have to worry about refills very often. We ordered a 5 meat platter and informed our waitress (Nichole) that we were going to share. She split it for us and made sure that we had a little bit of everything including a little bit extra of the sides. Of course that wasn't necessary because neither of us could finish a half of the meal! The RIBS were divine! An amazing dry rub that just leaves you smacking your lips. Nichole did such a great job that I even wandered over to the bar afterward and picked up a t-shirt. I wanted to get a pack of their reasonably priced and phenomenal sauces but didn't have a way to cart those all the way back to KC.
(5)Richard D.
Ive been going to RH&B now for about 15 years and have always had a good experience and fantastic food. The service has always been ok to great in my experiences and I love the Memphis blues based ambiance so we can get that out of the way, now on to the food. I have had most of the menu by now and I can list a few that stick out as the best -Brunswick stew ( hearty and delicious soup that has huge flavor) -wings ( always crispy and juicy, I go with the dry rub so i can put my own sauce on them) -Memphis half chicken ( best smoked chicken i've had, always super juicy with that crispy skin you get when you finish it on the grill. excellent smoked chicken is hard to come by) -Potato salad ( simply the greatest potato salad on the planet that I have come across and worth the trip alone) 4 or 5 different sauces are provided at your table so your sure to find one you like. The bar area offers awesome happy hour specials but is small, making it a bit difficult to get a seat sometimes. If your in the Annapolis area and in the (rude) mood for gut-slappin' BBQ, look no further.
(5)Jim S.
Canned baked beans, frozen fries, frozen okra, frozen ribs. Honestly I don't even know why they have a kitchen when all they need is a microwave and fryer. Server couldn't answer simple questions. That's either a training issue or stupidity, and she didn't seem stupid.... Nope won't be back.
(1)Michelle S.
Best BBQ place around!! I love this place!!! Give this place a try and you won't be sorry!!
(5)Alyssa D.
My boyfriend and I just moved To this area and we decided to explore! We came across red hot and blue and I think we fell in love with the place! We both got hamburgers that were not only delicious but unique! I also love the little pitchers they give you as a cup! It's a smart idea. The service was great and friendly as well. Overall, it's definitely one of our new favorite places.
(5)Robb C.
Good barbecue, as always. A little slow tonight from the kitchen, but the food was wor the the wait.
(4)S C.
I have not been a fan of this place due to past visits. However this visit was great. Brisket, pork BBQ, fried chicken, beans, potato salad, onion loaf, hush puppies, ribs and corn muffins were all great. Service was great and the visit was wonderful. If my next visit is as good, I will revise to 5 stars.
(4)Roy S.
This continues to be one of my favorite chain BBQ places in the DMV. Great pulled pork and the hot link is on another level. Come for lunch and get both for under $10 with the lunch combo.
(4)Bob S.
This place has progressively gone downhill the past 5 years. I use to eat here 5 or 6 times a month. But I've only eaten here once in the last year and a half. They definitely need to redo the interior. The tables, chairs and booths are in poor condition and never look squeaky clean. The food was good but now just barely restaurant quality.
(1)Kevin M.
Before I went to Red, Hot, and Blue I never put coleslaw on my pulled pork sandwiches. Now I put it on all my sandwiches. And that has made all the difference.
(4)Kal B.
I have long been a fan of Red Hot And Blue and ventured out last night for some of their special comfort in a Side Sampler with Hush Puppies, Collards and Potato Salad x2. No meat but I know it would be the same tastiness I've had at every RHB I've known and loved. It's not AS close as a couple other spots near home but it's well worth the few miles to get to. Our waitress was attentive and sweet (like their tea ;)) and my wine glass stayed full. We bought a t-shirt for our daughter and I think I'll sneak back and get that gift pack of BBQ sauces for my husband for his stocking. My husband had dental work yesterday and went for the Jambalaya and it was tres' yummy. I am finishing it up as I type my review! ;) The tender, juicy, flavorful BBQ, yummy sauces and unbeatable sides will keep me a fan!
(3)Scott M.
I am a BBQ snob, and the food that Red Hot and Blue is serving is not traditional BBQ. I am not sure how to describe it, maybe a BBQ joint that messes with the food too much. BBQ is easy, start a fire, put meat on grill, and leave it alone. This BBQ tastes different, not my bag. I am a true smoked wood BBQ guy, this is not in my opinion is not 5 star BBQ.
(2)Srebrina M.
We randomly found this place today - 3 people and a baby, and it honestly has the best food I have had in a long time. Considering how picky I am usually it is crazy that I loved everything we had! The chili was the best and their french fries are awesome. Prices were pretty reasonable I think and the atmosphere is very homey.
(5)Linda W.
I like the pulled chicken sandwich. I go to the Laurel location more regularly and like that location's vibe a little better. But this one has plenty of space for seating small or larger groups.
(3)C W.
Good food and service I had to select 4 stars as the portions keep shrinking but it's still a decent value for the price. We have used their catering service for parties and LOVE IT, they did a great job and for a terrific price.
(4)Rex R.
Always good BBQ. Service slow during the rush.
(4)Robert F.
I have eaten at a Red, Hot, and Blues before and remember it being an OK BBQ spot. This time around it is going to stick with me for quite some time. Incredible beer list with a full bar backed up to do all of your harder liquor needs. Your teas, lemonades, and sodas all come in a pitcher with a straw. So you don't have to worry about refills very often. We ordered a 5 meat platter and informed our waitress (Nichole) that we were going to share. She split it for us and made sure that we had a little bit of everything including a little bit extra of the sides. Of course that wasn't necessary because neither of us could finish a half of the meal! The RIBS were divine! An amazing dry rub that just leaves you smacking your lips. Nichole did such a great job that I even wandered over to the bar afterward and picked up a t-shirt. I wanted to get a pack of their reasonably priced and phenomenal sauces but didn't have a way to cart those all the way back to KC.
(5)Cecilia S.
I'm totally new to the area and I know close to nothing about barbecue. So take what you will from my review We were on our way to the northern Chesapeake Bay area, and I was just famished. I had no idea this was a chain. It just looked like a neat barbecue joint off the side of the freeway. Coming from Cali, I was excited to check out a southern barbecue joint. I don't know if this was authentic or legit, but the smell hit me like a train from the second I walked in. My mouth started to water and I needed some finger lickin' ribs now! The menu was very extensive. It had everything from ribs to wing, sandwiches, salads, and more. We started off with some dry wings that were absolutely delicious. Each table had an assortment of barbecue sauces - sweet, mustard, spicy, and vinegary - so, naturally we had to try them all. As for entrees, I went straight to the ribs. I got the Delta Double which came with half ribs (I chose the sweet sauce per our waitress's recommendation), barbecue chicken, a side of sweet barbecue beans, cole slaw, and two corn bread muffins. That was MORE than enough food for me. The ribs were so succulent and fall-off-the-bone tender. I love picking off the little burnt ends and I just could not stop. I'm starting to salivate just thinking about all that food. Oh, the corn bread was a delicious complement as well. The service was excellent. Like I said, I know nothing about barbecue. She was super attentive and was really patient with explaining all the different flavors. Overall, I'm quite happy with this experience. Now that I know it's a mini chain, I'm going to look for it closer to home.
(4)Ric P.
I like Red, Hot & Blue and have enjoyed many favorable visits here. But this visit wasn't on the "best memories' list... Arrival included a 20 minute wait and 1/2 the restaurant was empty. Personally I think the hostess forgot about us; until I bugged her. Waitress arrived within 3-4 minutes and took our drink order. But it took over 10 minutes to bring the drinks and take our order. I had requested something from the bar. This was forgotten and the waitress had to go get it; before taking our order. Order provided to waitress with a few specific details provided. We had requested the entrees to not be fired until after our salads arrived. Sometime between 20-30 minutes later the salads arrived. The wife was about to have a fit over the time it took to get the salads to us. On our second or third bite of the salad guess what arrived... our entrees. The wife's burger was VERY well done and the roll was hard like it had sat uncovered for hours. I felt the roll and I wouldn't eat it. While the wife likes her burgers well done this burger was extremely over cooked. I had ordered the fried catfish but received a blackened catfish. The wife decided to keep her burger and I sent the catfish back. At the same time I ordered another bottle from the bar. The wife was almost done with her burger when the fried catfish arrived minus the new cold bottle from the bar. I pointed this out to the waitress who blamed the bartender for not putting it out for her to pick up. While she went for the cold bottle I inspected the catfish. Fried to a crisp! There was no way I could eat this. After informing the waitress she went to get the manager. Manager arrived... a lady between 18 - 23, not that someone young can't be a good manager. She apologized about the problems and asked if I would like to order anything else from the menu. I didn't as we were now there for 90 minutes and nothing had gone right. Bill arrived... both the catfish entrees were on the bill. Asked for the manager and pointed this out. Apologies again and she departed to fix the bill. New, correct bill, arrived. we paid and left.
(2)Lorraine R.
We've been fans of RHB for a while, however I was disappointed that we did not receive a complimentary serving of their corn bread while we waited for our food. I didn't ask as I was just expecting it. It's not a big deal, just a little disappointed. When I asked our waitress about it, they offered to bring out "a couple pieces", because she said didn't mind but by that time we had already received our food. So I didn't want the couple pieces anymore. All in all , the food is as expected and service was quick as usual. I don't think I will return to this location anymore and there are other BBQ places in that area if I'm in that area.
(2)Paul T.
I'd go back. Average.
(3)Michelle P.
Something about the exterior fooled us into thinking this was a mom-and-pop type place, with perhaps homemade apple pie and a generation-old BBQ recipe. We've wanted to try it for years. I'll cut to the chase. It's a chain with a 4-color menu complete with Sam Adams logos hovering around their version of the bloomin' onion. Sigh. Even the array of BBQ sauces was a disappointment as I searched for some kind of flavor, anywhere. Service was fine, though one would expect more flair from a place that gives kids Oreo cookies with their meals. In closing, I can think of about a million other ways I'd have preferred to spend $44.
(2)Karen G.
Food was good, service was good. Darn. Checked in on Foursquare while there but not Yelp. Now I see I could have saved $5! Oh well. Would still eat there again.
(5)Richard D.
Ive been going to RH&B now for about 15 years and have always had a good experience and fantastic food. The service has always been ok to great in my experiences and I love the Memphis blues based ambiance so we can get that out of the way, now on to the food. I have had most of the menu by now and I can list a few that stick out as the best -Brunswick stew ( hearty and delicious soup that has huge flavor) -wings ( always crispy and juicy, I go with the dry rub so i can put my own sauce on them) -Memphis half chicken ( best smoked chicken i've had, always super juicy with that crispy skin you get when you finish it on the grill. excellent smoked chicken is hard to come by) -Potato salad ( simply the greatest potato salad on the planet that I have come across and worth the trip alone) 4 or 5 different sauces are provided at your table so your sure to find one you like. The bar area offers awesome happy hour specials but is small, making it a bit difficult to get a seat sometimes. If your in the Annapolis area and in the (rude) mood for gut-slappin' BBQ, look no further.
(5)Jim S.
Canned baked beans, frozen fries, frozen okra, frozen ribs. Honestly I don't even know why they have a kitchen when all they need is a microwave and fryer. Server couldn't answer simple questions. That's either a training issue or stupidity, and she didn't seem stupid.... Nope won't be back.
(1)Michelle S.
Best BBQ place around!! I love this place!!! Give this place a try and you won't be sorry!!
(5)Alyssa D.
My boyfriend and I just moved To this area and we decided to explore! We came across red hot and blue and I think we fell in love with the place! We both got hamburgers that were not only delicious but unique! I also love the little pitchers they give you as a cup! It's a smart idea. The service was great and friendly as well. Overall, it's definitely one of our new favorite places.
(5)Robb C.
Good barbecue, as always. A little slow tonight from the kitchen, but the food was wor the the wait.
(4)Dawn R.
OK.......maybe I've just been away from Kansas City too long, but I'll go ahead and give this place 3 stars. I've been in several times since it's pretty close to home, and have never been disappointed. They have a nice variety of sauces, the meat is always nice and tender, and the sides are very tasty. I like that they also have an option to just order a plate of side dishes if you don't want the meat (which, yes, there have been times that I didn't want meat.....I know, crazy!) Service is friendly and reasonably fast, and their sweet tea in the mason jar hits the spot when it's hot outside. I'm not a big fan of ribs, but these are really good.....I get the dry rub, so they're not as messy as the wet ribs, which I do like. The brisket is delicious, nice and tender with a good flavor. The pulled chicken was a little dry fro my taste, but add some sauce and it's all good. I'm not a fan of the sausage, but I'm not really a fan of sausage in general so that's not really a reflection on this place. On to the sides and other menu items: The chicken corn chowder is actually very good, just the right thickness and good flavor. The baked beans leave a lot to be desired, though.....they taste just like they came straight out of a can of Bush's. The chili is good, just the right amount of heat without making you run screaming for water. The mac & cheese is OK, but is just missing something....can't put my finger on it. I've never tried their desserts, so I may have to do that the next time I'm in. I'll still go back, since like I said, it's close to home, and overall the food doesn't suck (which is a great compliment according to my son in law).
(3)Paul M.
Great food and great service. I like the atmosphere. I'm not a fan of bbq but their burgers and hushpuppies are terrific.
(5)Shawn K.
We ate here for lunch on 8/27. The atmosphere was kinda cool and our server was very nice. We told him it was our first time, and he recommended the 5 meat platter so we could sample everything. I had the corn chowder which was good, and my husband had the red beans which he said were good. Our waiter brought us a sample of the potato salad even though we didn't order it because it was a house special and everyone loved it. I thought it was just ok, but then my husband went to try it and there was a rubberband in it!!! We showed the server, but we really didn't pay for it, so what really could we do? The 5 meat was just kinda ok, but we were kinda grossed out about the rubberband. I'm not sure if we'd try it again
(3)Roger Y.
I don't know what some of the reviews here are talking about because this place was incredible. Awesome service, clean, relaxing atmosphere and that's all aside from the AMAZING FOOD. Gumbalaya? 5 meat trays? Enough chili in one serving to feed a Somalian village? Drinks that are served in small-ish PITCHERS? Elvis statues, overhead lamps made of drum heads and service that couldn't have been more polite and accommodating? How could you not like this place? I am going to be coming back here. Awesome experience.
(5)Lee S.
I was in town on business and saw the sign "best bbq in Annapolis" so decided to check it out. I had been to another RH&B in the area 3 years previously that was disappointing but I thought maybe it was just that location so I decided to give this place a shot. Rustic decor with blues background music set a nice atmosphere. Service was pretty quick. Menu was diverse. Felt pretty good about the place - until the food came. I'm from Austin TX so I know bbq and what to expect when I travel: I don't bother ordering beef items because they can't touch ours, but I've had great pork ribs and pulled pork on the road, especially on the east coast, so I decided to try the ribs and pulled pork. I ordered a rack of St Louis style ribs half dry and half wet. When they came I noticed that the wet side look freshly slathered with a sauce, and the dry side had a heavy layer of freshly applied rub. Moving those layers it became apparent that the ribs had been smoked naked, with the rub and sauce applied after cooking. The ribs had been overcooked - the short end was actually burnt. The ribs were of poor quality - fatty and flavorless. The rub was bland, and the sauce was overpowered by molasses. I tried to add some flavor by using some of their other sauces and the only one I felt was decent was their mustard based. So overall, the ribs were disappointing. The pulled pork was dry and bland, not worth another sentence in this review I ordered red beans and rice as a side and it was obvious the cook had never worked the Gulf Coast - they used kidney beans with ham broth poured over rice to a stewed texture. Another disappointment. By this time I'm hoping for something to redeem the meal before I had to go back to my hotel. I noticed a local dessert: homemade Smith Island cake, so I ordered it. I needed something sweet to free my palate from the cloying taste of molasses. When the cake arrived it was a joy to behold. Twelve thin layers of yellow cake bedded in chocolate icing. A perfect blend of flavor. Finally, I had something to make the night memorable. The next time I'm in the Annapolis area I may stop there for carry-out cake, but I'll never sit down there for a meal, even if they offer free pitchers of Shiner.
(1)Eric G.
Wow.. I can't explain how bad the food was. I got the 5 meat treat. The only thing that was halfway enjoyable was the beans. Ribs were dry as a bone and were tough. They weren't even amateur ribs. My wife couldn't eat her because they were so dry and hard. The pork was extremely dry and had no smoke flavor. The brisket wasn't even brisket.. I'm not sure what to call it. It was like eating canned dog food. And the chicken, well, somehow my wife got smoked chicken and I got baked/pulled chicken. The chicken she received was delicious and mine was far below average. I'm not sure what happened there. I also tried the greens and they were average at best. My bill was $40 and I would have paid $20 at the most for what we ate. I would expect this kind of food if I was laying in a hospital bed.. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and you won't find me coming back. On a positive note, our server was very nice, polite, and good at her job. If you call this BBQ, you haven't had good BBQ.
(1)Ashley W.
Red Hot & Blue sponsored an event at my job and I had the pleasure of indulging the pulled chicken, beans and spicy bbq suauce they provided. let's just say, I loved them so much I looked them up after eating and am planning a visit soon. I LOVE southern cooking and feel like it's hard to find in this state, but finally - red hot & blue saved the day.
(5)Chris O.
I was sent here to take a class for work. I love wet ribs, I smoke my own wet ribs. Don't even think about giving me dry ribs. When I told my teacher I was going to eat at Red Hot and Blue he said you have to get the dry ribs. I told him no. He begged me to get the dry ribs and even offered to come eat with me and buy them. After a while of arguing we came to an agreement that I will order a full rack, half wet and half dry. The whole class came and I begrudgingly order the full rack 1/2 wet and 1/2 dry. When I got my order, I decided to eat the dry half first the get it over with and then enjoy the wet half. The meat was very tender; the bones just fell through like a hot knife through butter. The taste was so unbelievably good it was truly the best ribs I have ever had and it this was a dry rib. I just couldn't wait to get to the wet side, if the dry side was this good. Once I did make it to the wet side it paled in caparison to the flavors from the dry side and I was sad that I didn't order a full dry. That was 14 years ago. I haven't yet found a dry rib that good since that day. I still think about those ribs. I have told people if they are traveling through Maryland to get the dry ribs at Red Hot and Blue. Southern People are wet rib people and I tell them to go against their instincts and get the dry. The ones that have made the journey came beck a believer and tell me, wow you were right those were the best ribs they have every eaten. I hope to make it back some day.
(5)John D.
Red hot and blue has had really good bbq for the past 20 years. Their pulled pork sandwitches are very good and so are their ribs. The service is alright but they make up for it with there food. The barbeque sauce is also very good.
(4)Rocky R.
The place as really gone downhill recently. I would have sworn that there were new owners who were cutting corners that did not use to be cut. All of the blues music stuff was down off of the walls (apparently they have been remodeling for some time now) there was no blues music playing in the background and the place just looking boring and very plain. But I will give them the benefit of the doubt, perhaps it will look better than ever whenever the finally get it done. I thought it looked great before. The main problem is the food. It used to be very good and now it is like they have cheapened it to save money. My wife got the chili which is what she always gets here and now it was runny and was more like a soup then chili. Even the sweet tea seemed watered down and not homemade. I got the pulled pork sandwich and the bun was beyond stale. I ordered the baked beans, which at one time were the best ever; these were like they were poured right out of a can. They use to be slow oven cooked. My daughter got macaroni and cheese and it tasted like Kraft to me. My son got a corn dog and he was happy with it. Our server really seemed like this was the last place that she wanted to be. When bringing my daughter milk she dripped it all over the table and menu and did not say a word and then rolled her eyes when we asked her to bring some extra napkins. She rolled her eyes again when we asked for the side that she forgot to bring. The prices have not gone down but the food quality and service sure has. We will not be rushing back here anytime soon.
(2)Justin M.
Not Chicago, Memphis, KC or any other BBQ Mecca. But pretty tasty for Maryland. Meat is consistently tender and juicy. Sauce options are decent. Portions are generous. Potato salad is a solid side. And their banana pudding is top notch. Atmosphere is decent with a heavy bit of blues attitude. Been many times and consistently makes it into the lunch and dinner date rotation a few times a year.
(4)Caraline H.
Lackluster meal, the beans were horrid. Tried the desserts, but our cake was DRY! The onion loaf was fairly lackluster and bland. The best part of the meal was that at least it was cheap.
(2)Amber D.
Onion Ring Loaf is a must-have. Service excellent (pleasant and prompt). Rest of the food was okay but not great. You definitely get plenty of food for the money.
(3)Michael N.
I think the food was good. Service seemed to be slow as I waited 7 minutes before I was even greeted at lunch time. I'd go back if I was hungry for some BBQ. I wouldn't go out of my way though to eat here. I really liked the potato salad. The Laurel location is a much better experience.
(3)Jennifer P.
We actually went to the restaurant yesterday because we were considering using them as a caterer for our wedding. I expected to like the food, but it exceeded all my expectations. The potato salad was absolutely amazing. I tried three different meats (pulled pork, pulled chicken and ribs) and all three were amazing. My significant other also enjoyed his meal. We were neutral about three of the BBQ sauces but we both really enjoyed the sweet one. We did pack up half of our food and chose to try a dessert- he got banana pudding and we shared a bread pudding. Both were, once again, delicious. The service did start out a little slow but our server seemed to warm up to us so by the end he was great. Really I am so excited to have found this place- I will definitely be requesting a visit back sometime very soon :)
(5)Gwynedd D.
We ate here a couple of times. It has gone way downhill. The first time was good, but the last time, even my dining companion, who is a hungry and more generous soul than me, and who loves all bbq, said it was terrible. The ribs were cold, dry, obviously re-microwaved and made days before. I can tell when meat, especially BBQ, has been in the fridge for a while. I had Brunswick Stew, which I had had before and liked, this time it was a nauseous mix of mostly canned tomatoes. It is a convenient stop when you cross the bridge, but sadly, we drive right on by now. It tastes like chain food and is not worth the stop.
(2)Chandler L.
It isn't the worst bbq option in Maryland. It will do when you have a craving. It isn't good though. The sauce is bland. The meat wasn't cooked properly. I did enjoy the oversized glasses though. The atmosphere is cheesy and not very coherient. The staff was lazy and unhelpful.
(2)Andrew W.
Ok BBQ if you're really hungry. Great bar specials if you wanna get drunk when you're really hungry. AWESOME Red Beans and Rice. It's actually a guilty pleasure food for me. And I love the fact that I get my extra sweet tea serve in a mini pitcher.
(3)Zeek D.
This is a generic BBQ joint, the ribs and and pulled chicken are the best things on the menu. The variety of sauces are a nice bonus as well. The service is always good and the drinks come In Miniature pitchers so refills are not needed or at least few an far between. The music is good and the decor decent. The bathrooms are nasty and need an update. Other than that rhb is a solid meal at a fair price.
(3)Gwen M.
We eat here approximately 2-3 times a year. It is a good halfway point to meet the parents. Never been disappointed. Last night I had a cup (really big one) of chicken corn chowder. Very good with a nice sweetness to it. I also had a caesar salad with grilled chicken. Chicken was tender and cooked just right and salad was fresh. Too big to finish. We (4) all split an onion loaf. Again huge... so we all had a nice portion. My son got an "all in burger" and said it was great. Parents got wet ribs and a Delta Double which has ribs and sausage. Both of them liked their meal as well. Service is always good.
(5)Jessa M.
Husband and I stopped here on our way back from Baltimore. He was lured by the promise of many types of meat. I was skeptical, and reasonably so. I think RH&B Annapolis benefits heavily from folks headed over the Bay Bridge on their way to Ocean City. The decor is very run down, faux-rustic wood and plaster effects on walls covered by various Blues music related miscellanea and country kitsch. It looked like the folks who painted the walls didn't give a crap. We ordered drinks from one waitress, and moments later another came to tell us that she was a replacement for Waitress 1 who had gone out to get some dinner. Shift change, whatever, but Waitress 2 was overly friendly in that not-so-genuine, completely rehearsed sort of way. Our new waitress brought us our drinks in PITCHERS. That's right. They don't serve beverages in cups here. They bring you your own mini pitcher, complete with pour spout and handle. Luckily they provide you with a straw so you don't have to slosh liquid and ice into your mouth from the side of the pitcher. I found the drinks to be a sign of things to come. If you're eating healthy, there is not much for you on the menu. Almost all of the salads are topped by some sort of fried or sauce covered meats. They have a pretty extensive selection of sides, but most of the entrees come with baked beans, coleslaw or potato salad, meaning that if you want a side other than those you have to pay $2.89 or more to add it to your meal. I decided to forgo healthy eating and ordered the Pulled Chicken Sandwich. I was "adventurous" and opted for coleslaw on top. My meal came with a side of potato salad. Husband ordered the Five Meat Treat, basically a plate piled with brisket, ribs, sausage, pulled pork, pulled chicken, cornbread muffins, baked beans and cole slaw. My sandwich was mostly tasteless. The chicken was tender, but the sauce had not much flavor at all; the coleslaw had absolutely no taste and basically amounted to something cold, wet and crunchy on the top of the chicken. The bun was spongy and had no flavor either. I don't usually like potato salad, but I tried a tiny bit and was overwhelmed with dill. My husband seemed happier with his meal. He said the corn muffins were okay, the sausage was decent, and the pulled meats, ribs and brisket were good. He didn't eat the baked beans or coleslaw. I keep mentally comparing RH&B to a similar style gluttonous barbecue chain restaurant like Famous Daves, which has a similar menu and theme but manages to be cleaner, livelier, friendlier and more flavorful (sometimes overly so). If I can offer any real positive about this place, it's that the prices are pretty reasonable for the amount of food you get. But I mostly just got a "yuck" feeling from the whole experience.
(2)Stephanie M.
Great place for families! I have been here several times with my family and have never been disappointed. Good food, friendly service and fun atmosphere. Great pulled pork sandwhiches and a great dessert menu!
(4)Marianne L.
Have been to many RH&Bs and they are usually pretty good. So when I needed to meet up with some friends out this way - seemed like a good spot to gather everyone for dinner before heading out to the Eastern Shore. Food was good. I had Ribs with potato salad for a side. Service was ok. Neither was overly memorable. I've enjoyed better at other RH&Bs in the area. Wasn't wild about the establishment itself either - just felt a little well worn, but it was right off the highway so convenient for a quick off and on.
(3)M D.
It had been a few years since I have visited Red Hot and Blue and it is much the same as I remembered. I had the dry ribs and brisket and both were good, not outstanding, but good as was my son's wet ribs and 1/4 chicken. The portions are fairly large and we both brought a small amount home. I like the choice of sides and the beans are good and the hush puppies are spot on. I do like the option for "mini" sized dessert although we skipped those and split a tasty chocolate lava cake. The service was fine and we got our food fast since it is all made in advance. Overall it is still worth a visit.
(4)Kirsten D.
We just went back here after a several year absence. They have these in Northern VA and they were great, so we were very excited to find one about a mile from our house when we moved. Well, it was terrible (that was about 2001). We decided to give it a try again, and I was pleasently surprised. The brisket salad was good, as were the ribs. The burger was a bit dry, but overall I'd probably go back sooner than 10 years this time!
(4)D D.
Food was good, service was not so good. This is my second encounter with bad service at this location. I opted for RH&B because it's close to home, good and less expensive than Famous Daves. However, I'll pay the extra and opt for Famous next time.
(3)Tim M.
I'm grateful to see only one 'fake' 5-star review here. Annapolis as of 2010 is HURTING for good BBQ - people here actually think Adam's has good ribs. I'm a certified Kansas City BBQ Judge - trust me - Adam's would be disqualified from a competition. Without going into a long review of RH&B I will say this; they own the BBQ market in this town. That isn't something worthy of a bumper sticker but they full-on beat out the competition which consists of local chain 'Famous Daves' and 'Adams'. Throw Chilis in for a square of actual competitors and that is IT for Annapolis and BBQ. Local churches on Saturdays (including mine) are better bets. RH&B has several things going for it and I am a regular customer. Their dry-rub ribs are St. Louis style cut and always very good - not fall off the bone over-cooked but usually just right. If I have any complaints sometimes their ribs are left under the lamps too long and become rib-jerky. If you get carry-out inspect your specimens before leaving for this condition - I've written them several times about this but never received any response so don't bother with their website. Their brisket is some of the best I've had - brisket isn't easy - and they really seem to have the formula down. I just wish I could duplicate this at home. Lastly their potato salad is one of the best I've ever had. It's like Grammas - with hard boiled egg and scallions studded through the red-skin potatoes and great dressing. It is so good I have to admit I've purchased it more than once and called it my own. RH&B is consistent - they better hope I don't open my own BBQ stand in South County however - good for sure - but vulnerable if a real BBQ expert was to open up shop. NOT humbly submitted this day, D. FoodSnob, Ph.D
(3)J C.
One of these joints opened in Cherry Hill, NJ, when I lived there years ago. It had a reputation for good entertainment and lousy food. There was no entertainment in Annapolis, only lousy food. We moved to MD last year and have found a couple of good BBQ joints (Mission, Corey's. etc.) RHB is not place for good BBQ. Pulled pork had the taste pulled out of it, brisket had the taste pulled out of IT, Ribs were try and tasteless, Sausage was more like an overcooked, tasteless hot dog. The chili was served w/ a big glob of sour cream? in the middle, next to a big glob of cheese. I must say the platters meal presentation consisted of slapping the crap on a plate and sending it out from the kitchen. Service was OK but, disengaged. Will not be going back. Will be going back to Mission and Corey's (take out only) in Severna Park. Yuck.
(1)John G.
My wife loves their fried okra, and I enjoy their Smokehouse Salad. Its not often you go to a BBQ joint and get a good salad! Their chili is also really good. I dont really eat dessert, so I cant comment on that. Another thing they do a little different is the really big cups...Or mini-pitchers depending on who you ask. There brisket is ok, nothing special or really authentic, ribs are ok, there burgers are pretty good
(4)Bernadette N.
I've been craving BBQ for months. I completely forgot we had a place in Annapolis! I didn't realize this was a chain until I read the previous reviews just now; however, the menus definitely have that feel. So the decor leaves a bit to be desired. It feels like it was once a Sizzler, then they painted some pigs with sunglasses on the wall and called it a BBQ place. Whatever, I'm fine with dives. You're also not going to see the classiest clientele. I saw an adult woman laying down in the booth with her son throwing food at her last night. But the food, it's so good. I'm not a BBQ specialist, but I know when they are good. We started with the spicy wings. They were at the top of my spice-tolerance level (had to dip in the blue cheese dressing a few times) and probably in the middle of my husband's. I'm a fall-off the bone, sloppy, wet rib person - so I ordered a half "wet" slab and chicken tenders. Chicken was standard TGIF fare, but the ribs and sauce options on the side of the table were awesome. Hubs had the dry ribs, but ended up liking mine better. But the standouts for both of us were the cole slaw, the fries and BY FAR the baked beans with bits of onion, green pepper and shredded pork. I'm fully planning on ordering these for catering and claiming them as my own. My husband was a little annoyed that his beer took too long to be served, he requested I point that out in the review. The girls that work there like like they're 17, so don't be surprised when service is not optimal. I'll for sure be back. Often.
(4)Hill B.
Well, I'm from Texas.... and this is DEFINITELY not good barbecue. I'd have to label this place as the lowest-quality McDonald's of BBQ places. We went after a long day, so we were pretty hungry. Even then, it wasn't tasty! We ate it because we were paying for it and STARVING! The pork on our nacho appetizer was very dry and tasteless. I got the brisket and ribs-- gross. It was dry and also tasted like it had been sitting out all day. NOT good BBQ at all! Don't waste your money.
(1)Mellisa C.
I didn't have too high expectations or a BBQ place. It seems Im always disappointed when I go out for some good ribs. This place was surprising! First...they had sweet tea and as a California Girl that was a good thing! its so hard to get good sweet tea out here. Guess Im a southern girl @ heart! I ordered a half rack of ribs and was happy with their flavor. I also really liked their hush puppies. I was only mad that there isn't one in California! I recommend this place and will go back if Im ever in the area again!
(4)Angela L.
I grew up eating at a great BBQ chain called Sonney's so I had pretty high expectations for Red, Hot, and Blue. We stopped by this location on the way back from Deleware and I'm rather glad we did. It's chain BBQ. They don't smoke their own meats (I don't think). But, for what it is, it was great. They have the overly peppy chain restaurant brand of service, the food comes out super fast, and the large portions meant my husband and I could share an entree (5 meat feast or something similarly cutesy sounding). Plus they serve drinks in mini pitchers which means my Diet Coke-loving self only needed a single refill.
(3)Christopher S.
I would not make this a destination if you want really good BBQ. You need to stick with a few things on the menu such as brisket, ribs and the pulled pork sandwich. Beyond that you are rolling the dice. Service is okay. They have a busy take out business, which is a separate entrance from the main restaurant. I have been to parties Red Hot has catered and was impressed with the basic BBQ pork and chicken, beans and cold slaw. I probably lowered the high bar at these events because I was in someones backyard. Since we do not have many choices in Annapolis for really top notch BBQ, this restaurant is one of the few choices. They would not make it in Kansas City, Memphis or Charlotte.
(3)Olivia D.
i had heard great things about red hot & blue and i love me some grilled pig, cow and chicken. so i had high hopes. but this place let me down like a high school prom rejection. the brisket was so dry it might as well have been beef jerky. the pulled chicken was like chunks of safeway rotisserie chicken-- very eh. the pulled pork was at least moist, but no flavor. the dry-rubbed ribs were as dry as their rub. the sausage? i asked my brother how it was. "it's a 7-eleven spicy big bite." in a nutshell, the meats lacked: a) that grilled charred flavor b) much any flavor and also c-- which is key) moisture. the saving graces were the intensely smoky baked beans with chunks of onion and green bell pepper, the bite-sized cornbread muffins and cinnamon and salt-sprinkled sweet potato fries. but even that wasn't enough to redeem this place, which by the way, sported a tgifriday's-by-way-of-walmart kind of decor.
(2)Janet K.
I chose a 4 star review---"I'm a fan"---because this is Annapolis. If it were Memphis, I'm sure in comparison it would be about a 1....smile. I tried several things on the menu and some of them were the best in the area: The dry rub ribs (thanks for the tip, Tim). Very good. I have not had any others here that are as good. The brisket (again, thanks Tim I would not have tried this without your review) I can't say this is the best, because I don't generally order it, but it was quite good. Cornbread. Yum! I love cornbread and most of it around here is awful (the worst is Adams Ribs). This was wonderful. The baked beans--the best---I have not come close any place else (and again, Adams is definitely not my cup of tea) Then there were some things that were good, but not the best--the mac and cheese and the cole slaw. But I have to SERIOIUSLY disagree with all you Yelpers (who I very much respect, but are oh, so mistaken about this one) about the potato salad. It was alright, but if you want really great, old fashioned potato salad, go to Ken's Back Porch and catering. THAT is what good potato salad tastes like. Orders of magnitude better. Palate Pleasers has a better potato salad also, but make sure you get the old fashioned version. They play around with different recipes there and some of them are not as good. So, all in all, I am a fan---heck, I'd even go back just for the cornbread.
(4)Lenny M.
Good BBQ, decent prices. Love the pulled pork and the cobler.
(4)David S.
I go here about once every two weeks and maybe I've just gotten lucky. I admit that once my ribs were obviously from the night before which the manager was more than happy to correct the problem. I only get the ribs with dry Memphis rub and dose them with hard luck vinegar sauce. Definitely get the potato salad, it's a home run.
(4)Jessica M.
not bad, but not amazing. but it is tasty.
(3)Julia T.
Went a few days ago for lunch. I had a dry ribs & fried catfish combo, my husband had wet ribs. Both style ribs were disappointing: dry, tough, overcooked. The manager was apologetic and offered two fresh servings of ribs for us to take home, which was a nice touch, but they were the same overdone ribs as before. On the plus side, the sides (hush puppies, creamy cole slaw, potato salad, cornbread) were excellent. There were also a lot of young children seated in our room, and it was REALLY loud 'til those few families left, so beware of the noise level.
(3)T Y.
It could be because it's the only BBQ joint in town; seems like it anyway. It's good, though. The windmill with the pigs only adds to the taste of the pulled pork sandwiches.
(3)Craig R.
The previous reviewer made this place sound incredibly awful so I wasn't very excited to try this place out. After going there though, it wasn't as bad as it was portrayed. Maybe it was an off night for them. Don't get me wrong, this is nowhere near five stars, but it was alright. We only had to wait a little while to get seated. Once we were seated, we were greeted promptly by our waiter. From the outset, he seemed pretty distant and was like that for the rest of our time there. The menu was nothing special. The only thing different is that this is the only place that I've seen pulled chicken. The food came out really fast. We hardly waited 5/10 minutes. It was crazy. It tasted alright and then we paid the bill. Nothing special. Nothing to set it apart from different restaurants. Just an OK place with decent food.
(3)Katie M.
I am so surprised at the bad reviews! I have always like red hot and blue! They have the BEST potato salad around, great baked beans and really consistantly delicious bbq. They bring iced tea out in these mini pitchers which hardly ever need a refill they are so large. I will admit that it is best to avoid the salad section of the menu- I was feeling healthy one night and decided to give it a try- never again! I have unnatural cravings for the potato salad and beef chili- in fact I have a feeling that I will be in there tonight! A great place to stop on the way to or the way home from a weekend at the beach!
(3)Mike W.
My wife and I like Red Hot & Blue so much we had them cater our wedding. Our our most recent trip there we had the dry ribs, the wet ribs, the pulled pork, and the combo plate of four sides. All were fantastic. The beer was cold, the waitress was prompt, and the prices were reasonable. I recommend any of the ribs, the pulled chicken, and the potato salad.
(5)Tim R.
Really great place to eat and great service.
(5)Joe P.
Wow, this place is a chain? What is worth franchising here? Stopped in to try their BBQ. Ordered two meat combo platter with brisket and sausage. The brisket was by far the worst brisket I have ever had anyplace. It was totally dried out. I've had beef jerky that was more moist. The sausage was ok but not great and very greasy. The beans were good. They put some jalapeños or other peppers in them. I ate at the bar and the service was pretty slow and inattentive.
(1)Merrill F.
Run. Away. Gross, dirty, rude...I can't even begin to describe how awful this place is.
(1)Donna H.
We almost always stop here for lunch on our way to the Maryland and Delaware beaches -- our usual order is a pile of pulled pork with sides of potato salad and baked beans and iced tea. The food and service have been consistently good over the years and we look forward to our meals here -- would definitely recommend!
(4)Shannon T.
I'm a Memphis girl, so what can I say? I dream about their fried okra, sweet tea, and pulled pork. They do catfish beautifully, too. Beef barbeque is just WRONG, so I can't judge whether theirs is any good. Sorry to say that Adams' has better ribs. The one time I saved room for dessert, the banana pudding disappointed. Those concerns, and the offensive offering of Carolina BBQ sauce, lost RH&B the 5th star.
(4)Ann S.
I've been to three different RH&B restaurants, and this is the best so far. The chopped pork sandwich is consistantly tender and yummy- yay for Carolina BBQ sauce! The dry ribs are also really good. I am a big fan of their chopped salad- smoked chicken- mmmmm. Good hushpuppies, potato salad, and decadant chocolate cake. Yes, it's a chain, so I don't hold them to the same standards for smokiness, etc as a hardcore BBQ place. All in all, consistant service and quality- a dependable stop on the way back from the Eastern shore.
(4)Courtney K.
Bottom Line: Average BBQ served by friendly staff in a kinda cheesy, worn restaurant. Red Hot & Blue is just average. It is neither a place I will crave nor a place I will avoid. The menu here resembles a typical barbecue joint but I do think there are tastier BBQ options in the county. Meat options include pulled port, smoked brisket, pulled chicken, sausage and hamburgers. Sides available are typical for a BBQ restaurant including cole slaw, potato salad and french fries. Red Hot & Blue has a Memphis theme to it although there is not a RH&B in Memphis or Tennessee for that matter. (Most of these franchises are located in MD, VA and TX.) If you want your sandwich with cole slaw on it, then order it Memphis style. Also, exuding Memphis is the soul and blues decor such as drums converted into pendent lights. There is a pig theme going on here too which seems to compete with the Memphis music scene theme. Plus, its tough to enjoy my pulled pork sandwich when there are cute little pigs painted on the walls. Aside from the cheesy and conflicting theme, this place could use a refresh or at least a deep cleaning. Like any good BBQ restaurant, there are a variety of sauces placed on each table. But, this is a Memphis themed eatery so you won't find any vinegar based Carolina BBQ sauce here. Sauce options include two ketchup/tomato based sauces, a mustard based sauce and a hot sauce. Service here is very friendly but it seemed like the kitchen was slow. (It took 25 minutes from placing an order to get an app for sweet potato fries and another ten minutes to get entrees.) Overall, it was an A-OK experience.
(3)Jessie C.
Tried to give them another chance because it is a local restaurant with delicious bbq. Apparently the kitchen doesn't know the difference between a medium rare steak and a well done steak. When I sent it back, it still came out closer to medium well and was the most fatty piece of steak I have ever gotten anywhere. The manager never even stopped by to see how it turned out...unless she was never notified of the error. I guess it was my fault going to a BBQ place for a steak. Not every experience I've had here is a bad one, and our server, Vince, was fantastic. I'm tired of coming here though and wondering if it will be worth it.
(3)