The food was good. The establishment could have used a little cleaning.
(3)
Lauren B.
Started coming here about two years ago and now this is the only BBQ we eat. LOVE the fried okra and BBQ beef sandwich. My bf enjoys the lil reds dinner with a little bit of everything!
(5)
Zaira L.
Love love love this place! Its absolutely one of my favorite places to eat. Their bbq is oh so delicious and the dirty rice is amazing. The texas toast and fries are also yummy. I just love this place and their bbq. You won't b sorry and the prices are awesome!!!!
(5)
Steven M.
3.5 stars. For breakfast, this is the best value in the city. The BBQ didn't impress me, but steak and eggs is like $8. Friendly, down home service. If you're staying in a hotel along 84 this is you choice before Lester's
(4)
Jarrett Y.
2nd time in, first time for breakfast. What I can remember about the first time is they had some solid chicken fingers. I recommend. Now about this visit. We came on Father's Day and the place was expectably busy. We got seated pretty quickly. I order something basic, 2 eggs over easy, corned beef hash, shredded hash browns and rye toast! Fatty, I know right! Well if it was just based off my meal and experience I would give 5 stars because my meal was amazing. Hard to get wrong those items though. My wife's breakfast was in the other end of the spectrum. She ordered the Reds mixed grill. I bet this is ordered a lot. It has bacon, sausage, grilled pork chop, eggs biscuits and gravy and potatoes. Just a monster amount of food. She substituted the potatoes for grits. This was the best part she said. The pork was impossible to cut. Way over done and when you were able to chiseled a piece off it tastes burnt and bitter. I tried it and couldn't swallow. The bacon was also not good. It looks like they cooked a bunch earlier in the day and let it just sit for a few hours. No taste. Cold. More like beef jerky because it took about 4 minutes to chew through a bite. The biscuit and gravy was fine. Tasted like cafeteria style biscuits and gravy. Eggs were fine too. Again my meal was five stars but hers was awful. I'm just so surprised because this place prides itself on bbq and literally everything that has to do with bbq or this style of cuisine was the worst part of the meal. Service was 5 stars even with the chaos. Our score is based on the average of the two meals.
(3)
Sergio F.
I remember seeing Li'l Red's BBQ since I was a li'l kid and my dad would take me in his truck to Port Everglades, so it's sort of a Broward culinary institution, at least in the sense of a local diner. Since I was doing work in the area, and construction inspection isn't a GQ affair, I came by for dinner. At least tonight, I have to go for 3 stars, since my food was very much in Yelp's definition: A-OK but missing some touches. There's a delicious smokey aroma when you walk in, and I got that taste from the BBQ sauce. Spicy, smokey and served on the side, it brought my BBQ chicken to life as the chicken breast itself was plain. I give them credit for a sizeable piece of chicken breast. However, it seemed like the meat had just been grilled or braised with very little marinade. My corn on the cob was more of the same. The nibbles were tender, but I had to ask for the butter as it appeared to just have been boiled. My red beans and white rice were also perfectly seasoned and smokey. I could have had a little more of them though. I would have given them closer to four stars but the apple pie sealed the "3". My food OCD moment with pies involves eating only the fruit filling and leaving most of the crust. I also like my apple pie just a little warm (no, I'm not talking about Stifler's mom). The dessert I had tonight was a little on the cool side, and it seemed to have more breading than fruit. Service was prompt and friendly, with my waitress checking on whether I needed soda refills. The soundtrack was the sappy Delilah show, and the crowd a mix of retirees, nearby workers and a couple or two. Still and all, Li'l Red is a good spot to stop by for a working lunch or dinner. Just make sure to ask for plenty of condiments!
(3)
Jim A.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! Ok, so I am actually sitting in my hotel room, on vacation, and taking the time to write a review about this place on yelp. Either I have no life, or I am just plain thrilled with this place! Read the review and you can decide..... We came here to eat for three basic reasons: #1. We read about it on a review for the hotel we are staying in and when they say ok things about a hotel and rave about the dive down the street. It caught our attention! #2. It is just a short walk from the hotel we are staying at and we don't have a car. #3. We love good BBQ! So, to dinner we went....... We were hit by the BBQ smell before we stepped in the parking lot! Yes, the place is a dive. But, what is wrong with that ? With this place it is part of the charm! We were told to take a seat right as we walked it. It was about 3/4 full but we found a booth by the window. We were greeted by Brenda (we LOVE HER) as soon as we sat down. I ordered sweet tea as this is the south you know. The menu had so many yummy selections we decided to go with a combo plate that had a little bit of everything which we were allow to split without grief. Just $20.00 for sausage, a leg, thigh and breast of chicken, 4 pork ribs, chopped beef and pulled pork. Then throw in your choice of three sides. We choose Apple Sauce (from a jar we are thinking) Mashed potatoes and gravy ( per Brenda's suggestion) real potatoes and very good gravy and black eyed peas cause I've never had them (unique flavor but I really liked then). Then top it all off with two pieces of Texas Toast! More food than two people could ever eat! And believe me we gave it one heck of a try! Brenda came by numerous times to check on us, chat us up (she was so sweet) and to tell us they had the best breakfast in town so to be sure to come back. I think we will! The food was amazing! Each item better than the rest. Probably the best BBQ I have ever had! Bottom line to this place.... Great food! Amazing service! Really fair prices! Again, don't expect the ritz and you will leave full, happy, and thrilled you gave it a try. Brenda, thank you so much for the great service, advice on ordering, and making us feel right at home! 5 stars! Enjoy!
(5)
Janice N.
I really loved my lunch here. It is basic so don't expect frills but the food is very good. Much better than Tom's BBQ. The collard greens are the best I've had, though I wouldn't recommend having 2 portions as I did. I went at lunch and there was only one parking spot and interestingly me and the waitresses were the only females in the restaurant.
(5)
Todd R.
We arrived in Fort Lauderdale early for a cruise and decided to have a meal here what a pleasant surprise. Their pulled pork is some of the best restaurant style I've ever had! Definitely worth trying.
(4)
Holly G.
My once a week go to place! The bbq sauce is very tasty especially with the ribs and chicken. Their salad dressings are homemade and always served with fresh lettuce. The staff is attentive and friendly. We never have to wait more than 10 minutes for our food and its always consistent. It's a bbq joint so don't expect first class, but it's a great once a week fast place for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
(5)
Alex O.
Food must have been good or I was just hungry because I didn't take picture before I ate it
(4)
Tony M.
Customer service was not great. Extremely rude. Rather go to Tom jenkins. Food is way better and customer service is great.
(1)
Alycia W.
Piece of shit, hole in the wall diner/bbq, I love this place, their ranch dressing is the best EVER, I always get the chicken breast pita, it's delicious.
(5)
Tony M.
The staff is really rude, we came on our lunch break and they were angry we didn't place a phone order. It's like we are a burden to them, we are paying customers, Tom Jenkins is better anyways
(1)
ivan G.
This is as close to authentic country bbq you can get it as one who does not own a camo buttondown. Ribs. Chicken. Chicken and ribs. Corn on the cob. All served to perfection. The place was busy on the friday night we went. Every patron we saw looked like the type that would be authorative on what good bbq should taste like. Service was equally great.
(5)
Julie B.
Lets just say don't go in hungry on a Sunday morning. Our waitress was beyond rude and it was the most unorganized diner i've ever been too. However, on that note....their breakfast was true southern comfort. Biscuits and gravy is a must along with their corn beef hash. I have mixed feelings because the waitress nearly threw a straw in my face when i asked her for water, but i'll go back to the biscuits...they were fluffy.
(3)
Mike B.
Review of breakfast only: fantastic! Best I've had in the area by far. They do a bona fide biscuits and gravy, with biscuits light and fluffy as can be! Yes it is a dive: don't expect anything genteel or elegant. But never known staff to be anything but extremely friendly (maybe they get grumpier as the day goes by...?) Points off only for the weak and watery coffee (but at least they give you a big mug full!) Also wish they'd incorporate some of their BBQ offerings into the breakfast somehow...like a smoked pork chop maybe?
(5)
Robert H.
Great food at a great price. Had the pork sandwich; red beans and rice and collards. All good!
(5)
Natasha C.
This place is damned good. I was hankering for some barbecue yesterday and stopped here on the way home. Got a pork sandwich and some sides to go for under $10, which was pretty awesome; the delectable scent that filled my car was well worth the wait. Good sauce, but the pork is just a tiny bit dry-- that didn't stop me from scarfing it down, though. The baked beans are really good --there are little bits of meat cooked in there-- and the coleslaw is on the vinegary side but still tasty. Next time I get a chance, I'll try their ribs and maybe dine in.
(4)
Al K.
I've regretted eating there. It's simply mediocre. Their menu has a thousand items and clearly, they can't make any of them right. Do yourself a favor and go to Tom Jenkins BBQ or Blue Willys instead. They are so much more delicious.
(2)
Han N.
I went here for lunch as one of my co-workers fancies this place a lot. This is a hole in the wall but the food is so good and cheap. I'm sure I will be a regular here during the weekdays. Service is fast during lunch.
(5)
Marqus R.
Li'l Red's BBQ isn't exactly little. It's a relatively decent size restaurant with good parking on both the east and west sides of the establishment. I've eaten here several times. Though it must impress some people because it always gets packed during lunch hour to the extent that there is often a waiting line, it's never impressed me. Their half rack ribs (three bones) are, in my book, just barely hit the ok on my meter. They have a nice smoke flavor to them, served to a chew off not fall off the bone doneness, but the dark brown sauce is really overpoweringly sweet and not particularly enhancing to the BBQ flavor of the meat. The collard greens are served as just mulched up boiled collard leaves and stems without any enhancement, the coleslaw flavorless as well as overly creamed and the deep fried okra blandly battered, greasy with a greasy or whatever else was cooked in the same grease flavor and served with a salad dressing for a dip which I think comes with it in order to hide the grease taste. For BBQ, even in Fort Lauderdale, one can do better and as for the fried okra, coleslaw and collard greens, I don't think one could do worse. I didn't try their chicken wings and probably glad I didn't because here is where things got pathetic but funny. Going into the men's room after eating there was this guy standing there over the wash sink with his pants down washing off his dick. I whipped out my camera and asked him if he like to have his picture on my internet review. He turned beet red and explained that he had the X-rated hot chicken wings for lunch but forgot to wash his hands off before taking a pee and that consequently his dick was on fire from the hot sauce. LOL! Poor guy. Guess that'll teach him.
(2)
Josh K.
Best diner breakfast in Fort Lauderdale!!!! Great food, cheap prices!!!!! Gets very busy for breakfast!
(5)
Paul L.
Great low key atmosphere, home style BBQ cooking all at s great price with friendly staff too!!!
(4)
Natalia A.
Its a "ok" place if you are too tired to drive around looking for a place to eat. The staff is nice and friendly, the place is clean and the order is ready relatively fast. BUT, its plain and tasteless-the only way to make it eatable-add BBQ souce
(3)
Jeannette A.
Homemade soup is the bomb and they change it everyday! I think I can eat their soup every day for the rest of my life and be satisfied. Buffalo chicken salad is a must try. Pulled pork looks fantastic and their turkey sandwich is really good. Place is always packed with people for lunch.
(5)
Lisa M.
This review is about one thing: country gravy. I have yet to find a place that does country gravy better than Li'l Red's. I've been up and down Florida, into Georgia, and various other parts of the U.S. and they're still the winner. I don't live in the area anymore, but when I visit, I bring home tubs of it to freeze and keep on hand for when I have a craving. What's so special? It gets everything right about how gravy should be. First, they use real meat - I didn't say sausage, I said meat. This isn't sausage gravy, this is sausage and bacon and ham gravy. They chop up all these delicious little meat bits and fry them up, then with all those delicious greasy drippings they make a milk base that's not too thick and not too thin. It's not overly peppery so you can still taste the creamy base along with the salty meat. Hopefully I've sold you on that gravy, because now I'm going to tell you what to put it on. Everything. Biscuits. Eggs. Country fried steak. Potatoes. A spoon. Your fingers. It comes naturally on the Country Fried Steak (which is also excellent, well seasoned and tender) and the country breakfast which is a biscuit topped with scrambled eggs (with that delicious meat mix I mentioned earlier scrambled in) and covered in gravy. The other breakfast that it's a part of is one of the egg sandwiches - it's an open faced one, texas toast topped with a nice big slab of country ham (salty, not that sweet stuff) and an over easy egg. With the gravy on top, it's amazingly delicious when you cut into it and break the yolk and the bread just soaks it all up. I could write about that gravy for hours, but I've got other things to do, so I'll sum up the rest of the Li'l Red's experience. The staff are all nice and friendly, and it's rare that service is bad even on the busiest of mornings. I've been in for lunch and dinner a handful of times and that's the only reason it didn't get 5 stars (the gravy gets 5 million stars). Their BBQ and dinner/lunch menu is nothing special. Back when they had their sister store, E&T BBQ on Oakland Park Blvd. just west of Andrews, the ribs were fantastic, but the last few times I had them here they were just so-so. But you know what, I forgive the rest of their menu, because - GRAVY. Fin.
(4)
Rick G.
Our favorite BBQ place.
(5)
Jill G.
Have been going to Red's for years (me and my family) even before the owners changed. Food is good but lately the wait staff have become rude acting like they do you a favor waiting on you. I asked about the wifi code and could not get in, waitress came over and watched me and when she saw the error message she said "well then I don't know" and walked away. The waitress grabbed the menus out of my Mother's hand and over her head then after the food was placed on our table, ignored us until the owner came in then was attentive. I don't care if I ever go back.
(2)
Tina T.
I ate breakfast a year ago here.. It was decent .. Nothing special.. Bacon eggs hash browns .. Plain bagels only... I ate lunch here .. Chicken was dry ... I don't remember the sides I had
(2)
Brian M.
This is some of the most disgusting food I ever come across. Food is absolutely disgusting and taste like if it was in a freezer all day. We ate the corn on the cob, cole slaw and fries. Ended up leaving the rest and boy was there a lot left over. Didn't even touch the chicken since it was swimming in a pool of grease.
(1)
joanna d.
My husband LOVES the spare ribs here as well as their burgers - but the other night I decided to try their tuna salad, expecting (as one does) tuna mixed with lots of mayo and maybe some celery and onions. I was floored when I received a massive plate of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sliced boiled egg, and TUNA - no mayo - just plain tuna! And not the fishy, cheap, oily tuna that makes you feel slightly yucky, but just lovely, delicious, non-fishy tuna. This could not have been healthier! I had asked for my dressing on the side - and I have to say that it was probably the most healthy and by far the best tuna salad I've had in this part of the world. It was fabulous! A massive portion that would have fed two, I took most of it home, hubbie chopped it up the next day and added avocado, some nuts and sunflower seeds, and wow - talk about a knock out home-made meal. That same night, he ordered the chicken in a pita, and apart from the fries, it was also fairly healthy - the only change he would have made would have been a wholewheat pita instead of a white pita - but he said it was delicious, light, fresh - and again, a healthier alternative to a burger or spare ribs. Lil Reds, we've known for ages you serve great breakfasts, juicy delicious burgers and great spare ribs, have excellent, friendly service and are very easy to get to (right on State Road 84 just east of I95), but we didn't know about you being a healthy alternative. They also serve beer (which pleases my husband). You really can't go wrong, no matter what you order. We are DELIGHTED with the healthy alternatives as well as the good burgers and bbq, and will be coming back regularly. Thank you!
(4)
Mos D.
After picking a friend up from the airport I found this little place via yelp and was super excited. Don't be fooled though, yelp leaves the impression it's a mom and pop style place but unfortunately it feels more like a Denny's on the inside. Don't have high hopes of cute and comfortable when you feel corporate the whole time you eat. That said... the BBQ Pork is really good. Texas Toast instead of a normal bun was a great change of pace, and the sauce was just right to add a little sweet to the smokey. Fries are just fries, nothing special, and Conch Fritters are a waste of money. Red Beans and rice was good, but nothing to rave over... if only they had a really creamy Mac and Cheese this place would be perfect!
(4)
Kristin C.
The brisket was almost inedible and extremely tough. The sauce was tasty. The sausage tasted about as unimaginative as grocery store sausage. Hmm, not quite terrible but not good either.
(2)
george W.
Food is great rude waitress but great food I got a full slab with corn it was wonderful wasn't that expensive so it was great and was right next to my hotel
(4)
Liz S.
ROACHES!!! My family and I were looking for something open late, we were staying close at the Hampton Inn. My husband wanted to sit right away, but I insisted to look at the menu at the counter before sitting, when a roach crawls over the menu we were looking at! The girl at the counter across us didn't even flinch or look alarmed!!! We immediately walked out. If there are roaches at the counter, imagine what's cooking in the kitchen. Disgusting.
(1)
Rick V.
Been here for breakfast and lunch. Now finally for dinner. Chicken & Rib Combo with cold slaw and French fries $ 12.49.. Good chicken but the St. Louis ribs style are small (4" long). Good flavor but tough. 1/4 Chicken had good flavor and was cooked thru. Meat not too heavy on the smoke, which is good for me. I love their fries and the slaw was good. Iced tea $1.89 with free refills. With tax, % 15.24.. I'll be back..
(4)
John S.
Ft. Lauderdale's state hwy 84 has become my miami base of operations. Lil red's was tha 3rd local restaurant i've tried. I'm circling outward as i'm probably going to be back at this exit a lot over tha summer. I love bbq places, second only to breakfast diners. This one turns out to be a bit of both, and as we pulled into tha lot, i made a mental note to see about skating over here in tha morning if tha bbq is good, as choices on the other side of tha bridge are sub-par by my standards. The atmosphere's fine, standard no-frills bbq joint. I ordered tha bbq pork platter, weighing in at $9 and some change after taxes. The pork portion itself was quite substantial. You get 2 sides with it, but at 3-4 ounces a piece, i found them a bit small. You also only get one slice of texas toast. I have extremely southern culinary inclinations, so obviously, i'd ordered tha coleslaw and mashed potatoes as my sides with the intention of making a sandwich with tha pork and texas toast and slaw. I saw tha one slice and knew i'd be confined to having what would amount to a southern bbq taco. The other thing i noticed was tha gravy for my mash looked more yellow than brown and hoped they hadn't accidentally given me thousand island instead of gravy. Lastly, it looked like thete was bbq sauce already on tha pork when i asked for it on tha side. I was gettin a little worried and closed tha togo box back up, pullin back into tha hotel. Ok, so it turned out that tha bbq sauce was indeed on tha side and what i had seen was pork juice. Tha pork is actually really good by itself, tha bbq sauce is adequate, but when mixed with tha pork juice is REALLY FN GOOD. Here was a welcome respite from tha same old same old to be found over tha bridge at tha hotels. And also, HOLY FREAKIN CHICKEN GRAVY. Again, mash n gravy is great, but go on and differentiate your establishment by offerin something i can't get at most restaurants and do it well, and i promise i'll be back. Only thing i would say negatively about tha mash n gravy is it's just a tad underseasoned. So glad to have found a decent place to eat with its own personal twist on only my second time out. Will have to come back before 6 to try some of the early bird specials.
(4)
Jamison E.
Stopped in her for dinner. Wasn't sure what to expect. The food was pretty good. Better than I expected. Couldn't believe how generous the portions are. I will go back.
(3)
Britt P.
I've been coming to Lil Reds for over 10 years now. It attracts more the local crowd over those visiting town, despite the location being fairly close to the airport. While the customer service is always satisfactory for this little place, the food has certainly changed over the years. The ribs are tasty but nothing compared to a few years ago. Still, if you are in the area it's worth it to stop by as there isn't an equivalent BBQ in Fort Lauderdale.
(3)
Raymond Z.
Can't believe no one's reviewed this yet. This place is next to I think a Motel 6 and gas station on 84 right after 95, you can't miss it! Apparently there's free wifi but I have no reason to use that. The inside is clean and seems to evoke a 70s (I think) sort of vibe with brown wood walls and slightly worn booths and chairs. There's an early bird menu I think everyday from 4-6PM on the table, with some items like Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Breast that aren't on the regular menu...they also come with drinks and dessert. So I walk in at around 7PM with a friend, parking isn't too tight or anything since there's parking spaces on both sides of the restaurant. We take a booth with a window view to the parking lot, good to have something to look at! I choose the 1/2 Blackened Ribs with collard greens and mashed potatoes w/gravy as my side. My buddy gets the bbq beef sandwich with coleslaw and mashed potatoes as his side. I was told the blackened ribs are a little spicy and came with a spicy bbq sauce too. I got 3 ribs which weren't as charred or fall off the bone as I would like, but they were decent. Unfortunately not that spicy but the sauce made up for it a bit. The collard greens weren't very salty but I was given a side of pepper oil to spice it up a bit. The mashed potatoes w/gravy...I can't tell if it was homemade but the gravy was delicious and seemed to have bits of chicken or some such in it. Oh yeah, when no one was looking I drank the potlikker (or whatever that collard green juice is called). The Texas toast was unremarkable...pretty much a slightly thicker slice of white bread with melted butter on it. My buddy's sandwich looked good, the juices kept dripping out and the Texas toast it came on bulged with the amount of beef inside. in the end he just ate the coleslaw and mashed potatoes on top of the BBQ beef. For $7.95 (and $6.29 for my friend's sandwich), I think I got a pretty good deal and would definitely come back for other items like the Honey Garlic Ribs after sampling other BBQ joints in the area.
(3)
Kevin C.
On a mission to find the best BBQ in South Florida, so I decided to try Red's. Started off with the Bread Pudding which is made in house. It was a great start and I would come back just for the desert however when the main course of Brisket and Sausage came I was disappointed. The Brisket was very tough to cut and also chew. The BBQ sauce was just average. The Sausage was pretty tasty and the beans were as well. Overall I've had much better and will keep on looking.
(2)
Michelle B.
Not the best bbq chicken I have had but their bbq sauce is very good. I ordered fried okra which was a dissapointment. It was soggy and greasy with no flavor. I love the bottomless sweet tea though!
(3)
Linda H.
They have excellent barbecue here. The Barbie pork sandwich is great, barbecued chicken and shrimp is first rate and includes half a chicken and 6 shrimp. Very tasty sides, including collard greens to die for! The temperature is comfortable, service friendly and fast.
(5)
Ross E.
Maybe I've been blessed by great BBQ being from the Midwest, but this place sucked. The only decent thing I ate was my house salad. Texas toast wasn't Texas, mash potatoes would have been better coming out of a box, oh and the meat could have passed as fishing chum. How is this place still open?
(1)
Lavi M.
I've eaten @ Lil Red's for almost 6 years on and off and I have to say, they rarely disapoint. Well... FOOD-WISE, that is. You see, this place is right down the street from my job, so at first, I went there for convenience, til I realized it was good. They have great bbq'd food and wonderful prices. Plus, they have daily specials for lunch and dinner. For instance, one day, I got the BEST SALAD of my life! It was a regular tossed salad, but the grilled steak on top was AMAZING!!! Honestly, the food is absolutely DELISH! Now... the service can be a bit, how you say... "special" at times. If you're the type to look for warm fuzziness in your waitresses or white glove service, THIS AIN'T THE PLACE. If you go there, you WILL enjoy the grub! However, if you go there and leave slightly pissed off.. well... just don't say I didn't warn you!
(4)
Pepsi L.
Been commin here for 20 yrs, place is still gud....
(5)
One D.
Excellent all the way around. Everyone is super friendly from the bus-boy all the way up. The 2-2-2 is on point with fluffy pancakes and crispy bacon. Lil Reds is a throwback diner to be sure, but places like this are being replaced more and more. Head and shoulders a better experience than say an IHOP, etc... Don't change Lil RED!
(5)
Pilar I.
First of all, I can't believe that Lil Reds Cook'in wasn't listed on Yelp... so, I listed it... Went in for lunch and the food was good and the prices even better. It's a small diner type restaurant with booths and tables that offers great BBQ, breakfast and dinner. Had the BBQ pork sandwich which is sliced pork... I prefer better than pulled cuz you know what the actual pork looks like and don't get all that grizzle/fatty junk from the pulled stuff, you get two sides with the order and I had the collard greens and homemade potato salad, which believe they don't have all the time cuz the waitress pitched it when we ordered, my counterpart had the BBQ brisket with black eyed peas. Don't leave without having the bread pudding which was WONDERFUL, very light and not too sweet. The waitress will ask if you would like it with caramel sauce and whipped cream - definitely go for it.. well worth the extra calories. Service was good too... Will go back again.
(5)
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Address :1705 W State Rd 84
Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33315
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Dominique A.
The food was good. The establishment could have used a little cleaning.
(3)Lauren B.
Started coming here about two years ago and now this is the only BBQ we eat. LOVE the fried okra and BBQ beef sandwich. My bf enjoys the lil reds dinner with a little bit of everything!
(5)Zaira L.
Love love love this place! Its absolutely one of my favorite places to eat. Their bbq is oh so delicious and the dirty rice is amazing. The texas toast and fries are also yummy. I just love this place and their bbq. You won't b sorry and the prices are awesome!!!!
(5)Steven M.
3.5 stars. For breakfast, this is the best value in the city. The BBQ didn't impress me, but steak and eggs is like $8. Friendly, down home service. If you're staying in a hotel along 84 this is you choice before Lester's
(4)Jarrett Y.
2nd time in, first time for breakfast. What I can remember about the first time is they had some solid chicken fingers. I recommend. Now about this visit. We came on Father's Day and the place was expectably busy. We got seated pretty quickly. I order something basic, 2 eggs over easy, corned beef hash, shredded hash browns and rye toast! Fatty, I know right! Well if it was just based off my meal and experience I would give 5 stars because my meal was amazing. Hard to get wrong those items though. My wife's breakfast was in the other end of the spectrum. She ordered the Reds mixed grill. I bet this is ordered a lot. It has bacon, sausage, grilled pork chop, eggs biscuits and gravy and potatoes. Just a monster amount of food. She substituted the potatoes for grits. This was the best part she said. The pork was impossible to cut. Way over done and when you were able to chiseled a piece off it tastes burnt and bitter. I tried it and couldn't swallow. The bacon was also not good. It looks like they cooked a bunch earlier in the day and let it just sit for a few hours. No taste. Cold. More like beef jerky because it took about 4 minutes to chew through a bite. The biscuit and gravy was fine. Tasted like cafeteria style biscuits and gravy. Eggs were fine too. Again my meal was five stars but hers was awful. I'm just so surprised because this place prides itself on bbq and literally everything that has to do with bbq or this style of cuisine was the worst part of the meal. Service was 5 stars even with the chaos. Our score is based on the average of the two meals.
(3)Sergio F.
I remember seeing Li'l Red's BBQ since I was a li'l kid and my dad would take me in his truck to Port Everglades, so it's sort of a Broward culinary institution, at least in the sense of a local diner. Since I was doing work in the area, and construction inspection isn't a GQ affair, I came by for dinner. At least tonight, I have to go for 3 stars, since my food was very much in Yelp's definition: A-OK but missing some touches. There's a delicious smokey aroma when you walk in, and I got that taste from the BBQ sauce. Spicy, smokey and served on the side, it brought my BBQ chicken to life as the chicken breast itself was plain. I give them credit for a sizeable piece of chicken breast. However, it seemed like the meat had just been grilled or braised with very little marinade. My corn on the cob was more of the same. The nibbles were tender, but I had to ask for the butter as it appeared to just have been boiled. My red beans and white rice were also perfectly seasoned and smokey. I could have had a little more of them though. I would have given them closer to four stars but the apple pie sealed the "3". My food OCD moment with pies involves eating only the fruit filling and leaving most of the crust. I also like my apple pie just a little warm (no, I'm not talking about Stifler's mom). The dessert I had tonight was a little on the cool side, and it seemed to have more breading than fruit. Service was prompt and friendly, with my waitress checking on whether I needed soda refills. The soundtrack was the sappy Delilah show, and the crowd a mix of retirees, nearby workers and a couple or two. Still and all, Li'l Red is a good spot to stop by for a working lunch or dinner. Just make sure to ask for plenty of condiments!
(3)Jim A.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! Ok, so I am actually sitting in my hotel room, on vacation, and taking the time to write a review about this place on yelp. Either I have no life, or I am just plain thrilled with this place! Read the review and you can decide..... We came here to eat for three basic reasons: #1. We read about it on a review for the hotel we are staying in and when they say ok things about a hotel and rave about the dive down the street. It caught our attention! #2. It is just a short walk from the hotel we are staying at and we don't have a car. #3. We love good BBQ! So, to dinner we went....... We were hit by the BBQ smell before we stepped in the parking lot! Yes, the place is a dive. But, what is wrong with that ? With this place it is part of the charm! We were told to take a seat right as we walked it. It was about 3/4 full but we found a booth by the window. We were greeted by Brenda (we LOVE HER) as soon as we sat down. I ordered sweet tea as this is the south you know. The menu had so many yummy selections we decided to go with a combo plate that had a little bit of everything which we were allow to split without grief. Just $20.00 for sausage, a leg, thigh and breast of chicken, 4 pork ribs, chopped beef and pulled pork. Then throw in your choice of three sides. We choose Apple Sauce (from a jar we are thinking) Mashed potatoes and gravy ( per Brenda's suggestion) real potatoes and very good gravy and black eyed peas cause I've never had them (unique flavor but I really liked then). Then top it all off with two pieces of Texas Toast! More food than two people could ever eat! And believe me we gave it one heck of a try! Brenda came by numerous times to check on us, chat us up (she was so sweet) and to tell us they had the best breakfast in town so to be sure to come back. I think we will! The food was amazing! Each item better than the rest. Probably the best BBQ I have ever had! Bottom line to this place.... Great food! Amazing service! Really fair prices! Again, don't expect the ritz and you will leave full, happy, and thrilled you gave it a try. Brenda, thank you so much for the great service, advice on ordering, and making us feel right at home! 5 stars! Enjoy!
(5)Janice N.
I really loved my lunch here. It is basic so don't expect frills but the food is very good. Much better than Tom's BBQ. The collard greens are the best I've had, though I wouldn't recommend having 2 portions as I did. I went at lunch and there was only one parking spot and interestingly me and the waitresses were the only females in the restaurant.
(5)Todd R.
We arrived in Fort Lauderdale early for a cruise and decided to have a meal here what a pleasant surprise. Their pulled pork is some of the best restaurant style I've ever had! Definitely worth trying.
(4)Holly G.
My once a week go to place! The bbq sauce is very tasty especially with the ribs and chicken. Their salad dressings are homemade and always served with fresh lettuce. The staff is attentive and friendly. We never have to wait more than 10 minutes for our food and its always consistent. It's a bbq joint so don't expect first class, but it's a great once a week fast place for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
(5)Alex O.
Food must have been good or I was just hungry because I didn't take picture before I ate it
(4)Tony M.
Customer service was not great. Extremely rude. Rather go to Tom jenkins. Food is way better and customer service is great.
(1)Alycia W.
Piece of shit, hole in the wall diner/bbq, I love this place, their ranch dressing is the best EVER, I always get the chicken breast pita, it's delicious.
(5)Tony M.
The staff is really rude, we came on our lunch break and they were angry we didn't place a phone order. It's like we are a burden to them, we are paying customers, Tom Jenkins is better anyways
(1)ivan G.
This is as close to authentic country bbq you can get it as one who does not own a camo buttondown. Ribs. Chicken. Chicken and ribs. Corn on the cob. All served to perfection. The place was busy on the friday night we went. Every patron we saw looked like the type that would be authorative on what good bbq should taste like. Service was equally great.
(5)Julie B.
Lets just say don't go in hungry on a Sunday morning. Our waitress was beyond rude and it was the most unorganized diner i've ever been too. However, on that note....their breakfast was true southern comfort. Biscuits and gravy is a must along with their corn beef hash. I have mixed feelings because the waitress nearly threw a straw in my face when i asked her for water, but i'll go back to the biscuits...they were fluffy.
(3)Mike B.
Review of breakfast only: fantastic! Best I've had in the area by far. They do a bona fide biscuits and gravy, with biscuits light and fluffy as can be! Yes it is a dive: don't expect anything genteel or elegant. But never known staff to be anything but extremely friendly (maybe they get grumpier as the day goes by...?) Points off only for the weak and watery coffee (but at least they give you a big mug full!) Also wish they'd incorporate some of their BBQ offerings into the breakfast somehow...like a smoked pork chop maybe?
(5)Robert H.
Great food at a great price. Had the pork sandwich; red beans and rice and collards. All good!
(5)Natasha C.
This place is damned good. I was hankering for some barbecue yesterday and stopped here on the way home. Got a pork sandwich and some sides to go for under $10, which was pretty awesome; the delectable scent that filled my car was well worth the wait. Good sauce, but the pork is just a tiny bit dry-- that didn't stop me from scarfing it down, though. The baked beans are really good --there are little bits of meat cooked in there-- and the coleslaw is on the vinegary side but still tasty. Next time I get a chance, I'll try their ribs and maybe dine in.
(4)Al K.
I've regretted eating there. It's simply mediocre. Their menu has a thousand items and clearly, they can't make any of them right. Do yourself a favor and go to Tom Jenkins BBQ or Blue Willys instead. They are so much more delicious.
(2)Han N.
I went here for lunch as one of my co-workers fancies this place a lot. This is a hole in the wall but the food is so good and cheap. I'm sure I will be a regular here during the weekdays. Service is fast during lunch.
(5)Marqus R.
Li'l Red's BBQ isn't exactly little. It's a relatively decent size restaurant with good parking on both the east and west sides of the establishment. I've eaten here several times. Though it must impress some people because it always gets packed during lunch hour to the extent that there is often a waiting line, it's never impressed me. Their half rack ribs (three bones) are, in my book, just barely hit the ok on my meter. They have a nice smoke flavor to them, served to a chew off not fall off the bone doneness, but the dark brown sauce is really overpoweringly sweet and not particularly enhancing to the BBQ flavor of the meat. The collard greens are served as just mulched up boiled collard leaves and stems without any enhancement, the coleslaw flavorless as well as overly creamed and the deep fried okra blandly battered, greasy with a greasy or whatever else was cooked in the same grease flavor and served with a salad dressing for a dip which I think comes with it in order to hide the grease taste. For BBQ, even in Fort Lauderdale, one can do better and as for the fried okra, coleslaw and collard greens, I don't think one could do worse. I didn't try their chicken wings and probably glad I didn't because here is where things got pathetic but funny. Going into the men's room after eating there was this guy standing there over the wash sink with his pants down washing off his dick. I whipped out my camera and asked him if he like to have his picture on my internet review. He turned beet red and explained that he had the X-rated hot chicken wings for lunch but forgot to wash his hands off before taking a pee and that consequently his dick was on fire from the hot sauce. LOL! Poor guy. Guess that'll teach him.
(2)Josh K.
Best diner breakfast in Fort Lauderdale!!!! Great food, cheap prices!!!!! Gets very busy for breakfast!
(5)Paul L.
Great low key atmosphere, home style BBQ cooking all at s great price with friendly staff too!!!
(4)Natalia A.
Its a "ok" place if you are too tired to drive around looking for a place to eat. The staff is nice and friendly, the place is clean and the order is ready relatively fast. BUT, its plain and tasteless-the only way to make it eatable-add BBQ souce
(3)Jeannette A.
Homemade soup is the bomb and they change it everyday! I think I can eat their soup every day for the rest of my life and be satisfied. Buffalo chicken salad is a must try. Pulled pork looks fantastic and their turkey sandwich is really good. Place is always packed with people for lunch.
(5)Lisa M.
This review is about one thing: country gravy. I have yet to find a place that does country gravy better than Li'l Red's. I've been up and down Florida, into Georgia, and various other parts of the U.S. and they're still the winner. I don't live in the area anymore, but when I visit, I bring home tubs of it to freeze and keep on hand for when I have a craving. What's so special? It gets everything right about how gravy should be. First, they use real meat - I didn't say sausage, I said meat. This isn't sausage gravy, this is sausage and bacon and ham gravy. They chop up all these delicious little meat bits and fry them up, then with all those delicious greasy drippings they make a milk base that's not too thick and not too thin. It's not overly peppery so you can still taste the creamy base along with the salty meat. Hopefully I've sold you on that gravy, because now I'm going to tell you what to put it on. Everything. Biscuits. Eggs. Country fried steak. Potatoes. A spoon. Your fingers. It comes naturally on the Country Fried Steak (which is also excellent, well seasoned and tender) and the country breakfast which is a biscuit topped with scrambled eggs (with that delicious meat mix I mentioned earlier scrambled in) and covered in gravy. The other breakfast that it's a part of is one of the egg sandwiches - it's an open faced one, texas toast topped with a nice big slab of country ham (salty, not that sweet stuff) and an over easy egg. With the gravy on top, it's amazingly delicious when you cut into it and break the yolk and the bread just soaks it all up. I could write about that gravy for hours, but I've got other things to do, so I'll sum up the rest of the Li'l Red's experience. The staff are all nice and friendly, and it's rare that service is bad even on the busiest of mornings. I've been in for lunch and dinner a handful of times and that's the only reason it didn't get 5 stars (the gravy gets 5 million stars). Their BBQ and dinner/lunch menu is nothing special. Back when they had their sister store, E&T BBQ on Oakland Park Blvd. just west of Andrews, the ribs were fantastic, but the last few times I had them here they were just so-so. But you know what, I forgive the rest of their menu, because - GRAVY. Fin.
(4)Rick G.
Our favorite BBQ place.
(5)Jill G.
Have been going to Red's for years (me and my family) even before the owners changed. Food is good but lately the wait staff have become rude acting like they do you a favor waiting on you. I asked about the wifi code and could not get in, waitress came over and watched me and when she saw the error message she said "well then I don't know" and walked away. The waitress grabbed the menus out of my Mother's hand and over her head then after the food was placed on our table, ignored us until the owner came in then was attentive. I don't care if I ever go back.
(2)Tina T.
I ate breakfast a year ago here.. It was decent .. Nothing special.. Bacon eggs hash browns .. Plain bagels only... I ate lunch here .. Chicken was dry ... I don't remember the sides I had
(2)Brian M.
This is some of the most disgusting food I ever come across. Food is absolutely disgusting and taste like if it was in a freezer all day. We ate the corn on the cob, cole slaw and fries. Ended up leaving the rest and boy was there a lot left over. Didn't even touch the chicken since it was swimming in a pool of grease.
(1)joanna d.
My husband LOVES the spare ribs here as well as their burgers - but the other night I decided to try their tuna salad, expecting (as one does) tuna mixed with lots of mayo and maybe some celery and onions. I was floored when I received a massive plate of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sliced boiled egg, and TUNA - no mayo - just plain tuna! And not the fishy, cheap, oily tuna that makes you feel slightly yucky, but just lovely, delicious, non-fishy tuna. This could not have been healthier! I had asked for my dressing on the side - and I have to say that it was probably the most healthy and by far the best tuna salad I've had in this part of the world. It was fabulous! A massive portion that would have fed two, I took most of it home, hubbie chopped it up the next day and added avocado, some nuts and sunflower seeds, and wow - talk about a knock out home-made meal. That same night, he ordered the chicken in a pita, and apart from the fries, it was also fairly healthy - the only change he would have made would have been a wholewheat pita instead of a white pita - but he said it was delicious, light, fresh - and again, a healthier alternative to a burger or spare ribs. Lil Reds, we've known for ages you serve great breakfasts, juicy delicious burgers and great spare ribs, have excellent, friendly service and are very easy to get to (right on State Road 84 just east of I95), but we didn't know about you being a healthy alternative. They also serve beer (which pleases my husband). You really can't go wrong, no matter what you order. We are DELIGHTED with the healthy alternatives as well as the good burgers and bbq, and will be coming back regularly. Thank you!
(4)Mos D.
After picking a friend up from the airport I found this little place via yelp and was super excited. Don't be fooled though, yelp leaves the impression it's a mom and pop style place but unfortunately it feels more like a Denny's on the inside. Don't have high hopes of cute and comfortable when you feel corporate the whole time you eat. That said... the BBQ Pork is really good. Texas Toast instead of a normal bun was a great change of pace, and the sauce was just right to add a little sweet to the smokey. Fries are just fries, nothing special, and Conch Fritters are a waste of money. Red Beans and rice was good, but nothing to rave over... if only they had a really creamy Mac and Cheese this place would be perfect!
(4)Kristin C.
The brisket was almost inedible and extremely tough. The sauce was tasty. The sausage tasted about as unimaginative as grocery store sausage. Hmm, not quite terrible but not good either.
(2)george W.
Food is great rude waitress but great food I got a full slab with corn it was wonderful wasn't that expensive so it was great and was right next to my hotel
(4)Liz S.
ROACHES!!! My family and I were looking for something open late, we were staying close at the Hampton Inn. My husband wanted to sit right away, but I insisted to look at the menu at the counter before sitting, when a roach crawls over the menu we were looking at! The girl at the counter across us didn't even flinch or look alarmed!!! We immediately walked out. If there are roaches at the counter, imagine what's cooking in the kitchen. Disgusting.
(1)Rick V.
Been here for breakfast and lunch. Now finally for dinner. Chicken & Rib Combo with cold slaw and French fries $ 12.49.. Good chicken but the St. Louis ribs style are small (4" long). Good flavor but tough. 1/4 Chicken had good flavor and was cooked thru. Meat not too heavy on the smoke, which is good for me. I love their fries and the slaw was good. Iced tea $1.89 with free refills. With tax, % 15.24.. I'll be back..
(4)John S.
Ft. Lauderdale's state hwy 84 has become my miami base of operations. Lil red's was tha 3rd local restaurant i've tried. I'm circling outward as i'm probably going to be back at this exit a lot over tha summer. I love bbq places, second only to breakfast diners. This one turns out to be a bit of both, and as we pulled into tha lot, i made a mental note to see about skating over here in tha morning if tha bbq is good, as choices on the other side of tha bridge are sub-par by my standards. The atmosphere's fine, standard no-frills bbq joint. I ordered tha bbq pork platter, weighing in at $9 and some change after taxes. The pork portion itself was quite substantial. You get 2 sides with it, but at 3-4 ounces a piece, i found them a bit small. You also only get one slice of texas toast. I have extremely southern culinary inclinations, so obviously, i'd ordered tha coleslaw and mashed potatoes as my sides with the intention of making a sandwich with tha pork and texas toast and slaw. I saw tha one slice and knew i'd be confined to having what would amount to a southern bbq taco. The other thing i noticed was tha gravy for my mash looked more yellow than brown and hoped they hadn't accidentally given me thousand island instead of gravy. Lastly, it looked like thete was bbq sauce already on tha pork when i asked for it on tha side. I was gettin a little worried and closed tha togo box back up, pullin back into tha hotel. Ok, so it turned out that tha bbq sauce was indeed on tha side and what i had seen was pork juice. Tha pork is actually really good by itself, tha bbq sauce is adequate, but when mixed with tha pork juice is REALLY FN GOOD. Here was a welcome respite from tha same old same old to be found over tha bridge at tha hotels. And also, HOLY FREAKIN CHICKEN GRAVY. Again, mash n gravy is great, but go on and differentiate your establishment by offerin something i can't get at most restaurants and do it well, and i promise i'll be back. Only thing i would say negatively about tha mash n gravy is it's just a tad underseasoned. So glad to have found a decent place to eat with its own personal twist on only my second time out. Will have to come back before 6 to try some of the early bird specials.
(4)Jamison E.
Stopped in her for dinner. Wasn't sure what to expect. The food was pretty good. Better than I expected. Couldn't believe how generous the portions are. I will go back.
(3)Britt P.
I've been coming to Lil Reds for over 10 years now. It attracts more the local crowd over those visiting town, despite the location being fairly close to the airport. While the customer service is always satisfactory for this little place, the food has certainly changed over the years. The ribs are tasty but nothing compared to a few years ago. Still, if you are in the area it's worth it to stop by as there isn't an equivalent BBQ in Fort Lauderdale.
(3)Raymond Z.
Can't believe no one's reviewed this yet. This place is next to I think a Motel 6 and gas station on 84 right after 95, you can't miss it! Apparently there's free wifi but I have no reason to use that. The inside is clean and seems to evoke a 70s (I think) sort of vibe with brown wood walls and slightly worn booths and chairs. There's an early bird menu I think everyday from 4-6PM on the table, with some items like Grilled Hawaiian Chicken Breast that aren't on the regular menu...they also come with drinks and dessert. So I walk in at around 7PM with a friend, parking isn't too tight or anything since there's parking spaces on both sides of the restaurant. We take a booth with a window view to the parking lot, good to have something to look at! I choose the 1/2 Blackened Ribs with collard greens and mashed potatoes w/gravy as my side. My buddy gets the bbq beef sandwich with coleslaw and mashed potatoes as his side. I was told the blackened ribs are a little spicy and came with a spicy bbq sauce too. I got 3 ribs which weren't as charred or fall off the bone as I would like, but they were decent. Unfortunately not that spicy but the sauce made up for it a bit. The collard greens weren't very salty but I was given a side of pepper oil to spice it up a bit. The mashed potatoes w/gravy...I can't tell if it was homemade but the gravy was delicious and seemed to have bits of chicken or some such in it. Oh yeah, when no one was looking I drank the potlikker (or whatever that collard green juice is called). The Texas toast was unremarkable...pretty much a slightly thicker slice of white bread with melted butter on it. My buddy's sandwich looked good, the juices kept dripping out and the Texas toast it came on bulged with the amount of beef inside. in the end he just ate the coleslaw and mashed potatoes on top of the BBQ beef. For $7.95 (and $6.29 for my friend's sandwich), I think I got a pretty good deal and would definitely come back for other items like the Honey Garlic Ribs after sampling other BBQ joints in the area.
(3)Kevin C.
On a mission to find the best BBQ in South Florida, so I decided to try Red's. Started off with the Bread Pudding which is made in house. It was a great start and I would come back just for the desert however when the main course of Brisket and Sausage came I was disappointed. The Brisket was very tough to cut and also chew. The BBQ sauce was just average. The Sausage was pretty tasty and the beans were as well. Overall I've had much better and will keep on looking.
(2)Michelle B.
Not the best bbq chicken I have had but their bbq sauce is very good. I ordered fried okra which was a dissapointment. It was soggy and greasy with no flavor. I love the bottomless sweet tea though!
(3)Linda H.
They have excellent barbecue here. The Barbie pork sandwich is great, barbecued chicken and shrimp is first rate and includes half a chicken and 6 shrimp. Very tasty sides, including collard greens to die for! The temperature is comfortable, service friendly and fast.
(5)Ross E.
Maybe I've been blessed by great BBQ being from the Midwest, but this place sucked. The only decent thing I ate was my house salad. Texas toast wasn't Texas, mash potatoes would have been better coming out of a box, oh and the meat could have passed as fishing chum. How is this place still open?
(1)Lavi M.
I've eaten @ Lil Red's for almost 6 years on and off and I have to say, they rarely disapoint. Well... FOOD-WISE, that is. You see, this place is right down the street from my job, so at first, I went there for convenience, til I realized it was good. They have great bbq'd food and wonderful prices. Plus, they have daily specials for lunch and dinner. For instance, one day, I got the BEST SALAD of my life! It was a regular tossed salad, but the grilled steak on top was AMAZING!!! Honestly, the food is absolutely DELISH! Now... the service can be a bit, how you say... "special" at times. If you're the type to look for warm fuzziness in your waitresses or white glove service, THIS AIN'T THE PLACE. If you go there, you WILL enjoy the grub! However, if you go there and leave slightly pissed off.. well... just don't say I didn't warn you!
(4)Pepsi L.
Been commin here for 20 yrs, place is still gud....
(5)One D.
Excellent all the way around. Everyone is super friendly from the bus-boy all the way up. The 2-2-2 is on point with fluffy pancakes and crispy bacon. Lil Reds is a throwback diner to be sure, but places like this are being replaced more and more. Head and shoulders a better experience than say an IHOP, etc... Don't change Lil RED!
(5)Pilar I.
First of all, I can't believe that Lil Reds Cook'in wasn't listed on Yelp... so, I listed it... Went in for lunch and the food was good and the prices even better. It's a small diner type restaurant with booths and tables that offers great BBQ, breakfast and dinner. Had the BBQ pork sandwich which is sliced pork... I prefer better than pulled cuz you know what the actual pork looks like and don't get all that grizzle/fatty junk from the pulled stuff, you get two sides with the order and I had the collard greens and homemade potato salad, which believe they don't have all the time cuz the waitress pitched it when we ordered, my counterpart had the BBQ brisket with black eyed peas. Don't leave without having the bread pudding which was WONDERFUL, very light and not too sweet. The waitress will ask if you would like it with caramel sauce and whipped cream - definitely go for it.. well worth the extra calories. Service was good too... Will go back again.
(5)