Reuben’s Smokehouse
11506 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL, 33907
Reuben’s Smokehouse Menu
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Address :
11506 S Cleveland Ave
Fort Myers, FL, 33907 - Phone (239) 931-0420
- Website https://www.reubenssmokehouse.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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R.J. D.
Some of the sides are lacking in taste but the pulled pork is great! Cool local joint to experience and great atmosphere. Very little parking thought and low amount of seating so when it gets busy it's going to be a wait.
(5)Sandy M.
Couldn't wait to experience this place. I Took two dinners to a friend .... Not thrilled however, I may try it again.
(2)Lloyd S.
The reviews were way overhyped. Took us 45 minutes to get a table and 55 minutes to get our food. it wasn't because they were busy it was because they were slow and disorganized. We ordered ribs, chicken and pulled pork. The ribs were overcooked they were like beef jerky. The pulled pork was excellent The barbecue sauce that they offered the two of them were homemade I'm assuming they were pretty good as well. The chicken was decent The sides we order were potato salad and coleslaw and baked beans those are all good as well. They had homemade rolls those racks one as well. The staff was extremely friendly including the owners wife who kept coming by to our table to check and see if we're doing ok. The price was decent for what we ordered. Overall the food was good and just wasn't quite as good as what the recommendations of other people left. I guess in conclusion we probably wouldn't eat there again because of the amount of time it takes to get your food.
(3)John D.
We have been to quite a few of the many BBQ joints in Lee county although certainly not all of them, and so far, this is clearly the best. Between the two of us, we had the Beef Brisket Plate with sides of Cheesy MAC and Country Green Beans, and Pork Back Ribs (4 Ribs) with sides of Mashed Potatoes & Molasses Baked Beans. The meats were top notch and the sides were good, but not necessarily outstanding. Great place.
(4)Glenn C.
Been trying to get in for weeks based on yelp teviews and over-hyped Tripadvisor article. There is no way this a top 10 barbecue restaurant in the US. I have no idea how they found this dive. I have 2 places better locally already. Last time we walked out because they were out of pulled pork. This time they were out of brisket. The ribs were very good but tough. The pulled pork was mushy, stringy and not very tasty. The barbecue sauces were below average. The sides were nothing special. Hard to wreck mashed potatoes. Mac n cheese was bland. The baked beans were plain. Canned beans are tastier. Beer was bottled and you helped yourself from a cooler. Service could have been better. We had a new waiter that took the order of the people next to us but forgot about us. We shared a table of 6. He put their order in but didnt come back. They claim bread pudding was a specialty but they were out. No rush to come back. This is a small restaurant.
(3)Niurka M.
Reuben-licious!!!!!!! That's the new word for this AMAZING restaurant. The ambiance was fantastic it felt like you where among family. The food was delicious ....I mean REUBEN-LICIOUS and let's not even talk about the bread pudding , oh my word it was so gooood. My husband doesn't even like bread pudding, but this one stood out from all the rest!!! We will be making this our top restaurant!!!!!
(5)Suzanne W.
Altogether great lunch place! Reasonably priced, reasonably portioned, super quality barbecue! I had the barbecue blue sandwich and it was amazing: barbecue pulled pork with blue cheese dressing, French fried onions, and a buttered bun toasted to perfection! We also split the chocolate caramel bread pudding which was out of sight. I would recommend Rubens to anyone who enjoys a quaint dining experience with good food, good service, and good prices. Ranked 4th best BBQ in the nation by trip advisor!
(5)Yasemin S.
Reuben's smokehouse is hands down the best BBQ in SWFla. We recommend the tender and flavorful beef brisket as well as the pulled pork. The macaroni and cheese was fresh and cheesy but overall pretty average but the green beans are a must order! Our meals came with a small bit of fresh homemade strawberry jam with a warm roll; the only reason we didn't take a jar of jam with us to-go was because we probably would have been tempted to eat it all on the car ride home. ;-) As a sweet tea lover, or batch of tea was like drinking sugar water. I'd probably get half unsweet the next time we go... But we will definitely be visiting Reuben's and will be considering their catering service for future parties!
(5)Britney L.
Best bbq in Fort Myers. Great strong flavored without to much pepper and smoke (like the competitor down the street). Being a big fan of Texas BBQ after vacationing in Austin, Reuben's serves up familiar taste! Aside from the food, the kitchen staff and owner could not be nicer of more accommodating. A must try!
(5)My Girl M.
I'm being generous by giving a four, I feel like a 3-1/2 would be more accurate. We tried to go on a Saturday night in August, and there was standing room only waiting(it's a small place), overflow into the parking lot, all for the pleasure of at least a 45 minute wait to be seated. We decided to try again a few weekends later for lunch. We got there five minutes after they opened, and were the fourth table seated. It took a few minutes to figure out what we wanted. We could have ordered earlier but the waitress didn't come back right away with our drink order. We ended up waiting for over a half an hour for our food, for two people. And this is all food that's smoked, so I'm confused why it took so long. We had the combo pork and brisket platter, and half chicken plate. The pork was the favorite of the bunch. Brisket had appropriate beef taste and wasn't fatty, but unfortunately it was dry. The chicken had an overwhelming amount of smoke to it, however was juicy. The southern green beans were excellent, so was the roll. I could have eaten half a dozen of those. They have 4 or 5 different sauces you can experiment with. This might be considered the best BBQ in Fort Myers. Maybe? How that translates to the Top 10 in the country, I'm puzzled. It had some things I liked, mostly green beans and rolls. The atmosphere was kind of charming, the service was adequate, the wait time for our order was long, considering it was a just opened half empty restaurant. Maybe I'm a tough customer - I just visited NC and lived there for seven years during the 90's.
(4)Karley M.
If you're looking for quality and home cooked BBQ this is the place for you! My boyfriend and I first ordered the sweet tea which came in a pitcher and was perfectly sweetened. We then shared the brisket rib combo plate and they were both to die for! The meat was so tender and instantly fell apart right when I picked it up with my fork. For the sides we ordered the mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, cole slaw and the baked beans (which were my favorite out of all of them)! To finish we ordered the caramel and chocolate chip bread pudding! Everything was great! We decided that this is our new spot!
(5)Lori D.
The owner greeted us at the door and made us feel right at home in her cozy little restaurant. We ordered the meatloaf and chicken and dumplings combo and the beef brisket dinner so we could sample various items. They were all delicious! The cheesy Mac and molasses baked beans were the perfect side dishes. Of course, we had to try the chocolate bread pudding with the caramel sauce for dessert. Yeah, we get back on the diet bandwagon tomorrow! Totally worth falling off for. Also, try the homemade strawberry jam! Amazing!
(5)William P.
While visiting friends in Fort Myers we heard about the recent Trip Advisor article, listing this place as one of the top barbecue (smokehouse) places in the nation. After our visit, I can say with absolute certainty, it is not. We went in for for a late supper and found the place was hopping with a brisk business. The staff was cordial and attentive. It was hot and the A/C was inadequate. As with any barbecue, there is a lot of eating with your hands. Because of this, the table, chairs, benches, floor, menus, and condiment containers needed a good cleaning/degreasing. I had the brisket plate and my wife had the garden salad with brisket. The brisket was lean, tender, and has a nice subtle barbecue flavor. It was about a 6 oz serving. It was average. The mashed potatoes were dry, stiff, and bland. The side salad was small and unremarkable. The "yeast roll" was tiny, yeasty and served with about a 1/3 teaspoon of homemade strawberry jam, come on man, really? With Famous Dave's a block away, I'm surprised this place has survived. As a family owned business, I'm pulling for them, but they're going to need to step it up. If they were gong to hire me as an advisor (which I strongly recommend), I would give them the following advice: 1. Get your staff going on a good cleaning, top to bottom, and keep it up everyday. 2. Freshen up and clean the decor. 3. Put the sharpies away from the customers (The writing on the walls is not charming or quaint). Then paint the walls. 4. Implement some quality control. All sides need to be spot on, not over cooked, dried up, or bland. 5. Continue smoking your meats, but do it really, really well, with every order that goes out. 6. Get the best A/C guy out there and get your unit humming. I'm sure that Trip Advisor article has been a godsend, but they need to use that bump in business to get them to the next level. Good luck!
(2)Alex V.
Ok. This is how busineses should be run. The food is great, staff are friendly and do their jobs. Get the brisket. Get the Mac and cheese. Make sure not to pass up the bread pudding. What a breath of fresh air.
(5)Theresa H.
Very good place, I had the brisket sandwich with a side of mac n cheese and it was delicious. The meat was tender and tasty and had a nice amount of meat on it. I usually like the meat cooked with the barbeque sauce, I'm not a fan of adding it on when its served to you, that would be the only thing I didn't care for. It was still good though. My friend had side of mash potatoes, kind of dry. I also need to say that a restaurant needs to be super clean, and this place was not, floors needed help, condiment bottles were greasy. They were friendly and came around to see how things were. There is many barbeque places, so hopefully they can correct some issues.
(3)Jacqueline M.
Came here for dinner expecting a really good meal. We were not disappointed. It started with the iced tea which was great. The ribs and pulled pork were really good. Also the yeast rolls are not to be missed. The ribs are very meaty and coated with a dry rub. The pulled pork was quite lean and tasty. We had baked beans and mac and cheese as our sides. For dessert we had the chocolate cake and the bread pudding. Both excellent choices. All in all a great experience.
(5)Tuna B.
READ THIS FIRST: Everything but the BBQ was stellar. The dressings, sauces, preserves and bread were all outstanding. They were a combination of love and preparation of food, taking the time to do it right and someone having a very good palet. As for the Q, the ribs were very good , let's say a 7 / 8 out of 10. The chicken was nicely seasoned and all but the breast meat was juicy and tender. However the breast meat was very dry. The brisket on the other hand was very dry and quite flavorless, in fact it shouldn't have been served. They brought me another but it was from the same cook (batch of meat) so there was no difference in dryness or flavor. However they had ladled some more drippings over it to make it moist overall but the underlying brisket itself was still bone dry. I understand growing pains but when you're doing bbq that is cooked off a day ahead of time that should not impact your end product. The brisket was a 2 out of 10 at best and a great disappointment. I was there a few weeks after an article from TripAdvisor rated them number 4 for barbecue in the country so I understand that they were incredibly busy that day. However they're were also incredibly inefficient in service and getting orders out. With a understandable and acceptable 35 minute wait to be seated after that it was still almost a two hour program. making it is a two and a half hour event that day.
(3)Gillian M.
Ambiance was amazing, service was a bit slow...our order never went threw to the kitchen but our waitress apologized but once the food arrived it was delicious!
(4)Rachel F.
The best BBQ I have ever eaten; hands down. I went there with my boyfriend and my dad...two nights in a row! The pulled pork was melt-in-your mouth tender, and the brisket was smokey and flavorful. The baked beans were delicious and sweet. The mac'n'cheese was incredibly thick, a little too rich for me. Finally, we ordered the chocolate bread pudding for dessert. YOU HAVE TO GET THAT. It's too good to miss. Prices are fair, service was friendly. Go to this place! You won't regret it :)
(5)Bob W.
Pork ribs, Mac and cheese, beans, pulled pork, strawberry butter. All outstanding. Pins moist and meaty with lots of flavor. Beats rib city hands down. Enjoy.
(5)Chef N.
We like our ribs. This is an exceptional place for not only ribs but brisket to. Service is exceptional and friendly. Food is hot and delicious. Always ask for extra sauce as it is so good you'll desire to dip your fries in it. The manager has always been there when we came in. He always makes sure everything is running somoothly.
(5)Richard H.
Here's my 2 cents. I had my coupon was in the area dropped in. Oh my the beef brisket melts in your mouth. The rolls are to die for. Excellent green beans. Cole slaw ehhh stadard fare. But if you need a very worth while meal this is the place to go. Do not miss this place.
(5)Scott B.
I know this place has gotten a lot of reviews and attention but...it really is not anything that special except for the very warm welcoming service. My guess is many have reviewed the small quaint atmosphere and allowed that to dictate the review. That being said the Beef Brisket was very good and moist and the smoked flavor came through. The ribs were just ample, have had much better right here in town. Mac n cheese was pretty good, green beans weird and not good, and yeast roll just average. I toggled between 3 and 4 stars and decided on 4 due to friendly service and Brisket. Wife had Chicken n dumping and said they were okay, not as good as mine at home but okay. She took home desert and said very good Chocolate cake. All and all, it was comfortable place to go and meal was fine, just not exceptional by any measure.
(4)Yard B.
Previously enjoyed the French Blu Q sammy, especially with the lighter, less-BBQ sauce packed up by the caring and learned Sandrine. Was disappointed by tonight's dinner. They had run out of Yardbird by 4:30 PM on a Friday. The only other bird was Chicken & Dumplings [thin, like a ravioli without filling]. It was hard to distinguish the dumpling from the small piece of chicken in the mashed potatoes & white sauce. My friend had good dry-rubbed ribs [4 for $12], but the side BBQ sauce was Kraft-like. The Cheesy MAC and potato salad were plain enough to not recommend. The best part was the small, yeasty tea roll. Will be hard pressed to return, tho the staff was nice. TripAdvisor's "#4 BBQ in the US" has spoiled my trust in TripAdvisor.
(2)Ignatius L.
A good as it gets. The barbecue is awesome. Ask for the homemade hot sauce. Service is always excellent. Great vibe. I've been there twice and can't wait to go back.
(5)Taylor H.
I cannot rave about this place enough! Absolutely fantastic food!!! The best BBQ I have ever tasted. The first night I had the yard bird, with cheesy mac and baked beans. There are no words for how good each component of the dish was. And then......... The dessert came!!! Chocolate chip caramel bread pudding, that's just not fair. We also had the chocolate cake too which was to die for! My one question for the owners was "if the other restaurants were angry at them because reubens food was so much better than their". They laughed and appreciated the truth being spoken so bluntly. Simply put this is the best food in the area and if you are in the area and don't take the time to eat here you are a fool!!!
(5)Craig J.
1st time to Reuben's Smokehouse, and it was outstanding. Ordered the half rack of ribs and their special of the day - Braised Pork Tacos. Had the potato salad and baked beans for the sides. The ribs were outstanding. Very tender and very flavorful. Lots of meat on those ribs. The Braised pork tacos were ohhh so good. They had a relish sauce topped with habanero. I could eat those tacos all day. Both the potato salad and beans are homemade. They were outstanding. The beans were very flavorful. Total bill with iced tea was $18 dollars. Waitress was outstanding and all of the employees were very nice and welcoming. I will return.
(5)RicMelody S.
This is how a restaurant should be...friendly people and delicious food! OMG food was DELICIOUS! We took our teenagers here for dinner and we all got something different so we could sample each other's food. We have been looking for a place like this for a long time and we finally found what we were looking for. This place has good old fashion dinners. Pot roast, brisket, chicken & dumplings, burger were ALL so savory along with the sides of mashed potatoes, mac & cheese and baked beans. Bread with jam was to die for as well. We shared a bread pudding and know we will need to order more next time. It was like no bread pudding we ever had. The waitress was very friendly. The owner came to the table and was lovely...she really cares that the customer is happy and enjoys the food. We HIGHLY recommend that you make a drive out to this place and try for yourself. I THINK they are closed on Sun and Mon so check their hours first. You won't be sorry. We will try to make this a weekly stop :)
(5)Alice M.
We read about Reuben's on the trip advisor chart and went to see if lived up to the high rating. IT DID! We arrived at 2pm on a Friday and still had to wait for a table! We had the brisket, pulled pork, Mac and cheese, and the green beans. The meat was delicious and smokey and some of the best we've had! And the Mac and cheese was to die for... I absolutely loved it. The yeast rolls that come with it are AMAZING... We had to order more. We completely cleaned our plates and thought we had gone to heaven but then we ordered the chocolate cake and realized that it could get better than we'd imagined! Holy chocolate cake... It was perfectly gooey and chocolate. It was some of the best chocolate cake. Wow! In addition to the food being amazing, we were also greeted by Arvey, one of the owners, and were made to feel right at home. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Scott P.
Once I opened my car door, the delicious aroma of the barbecue smoker took over my body. The smoker put off a smell of deliciousness. My wife and I stepped inside the small establishment and were immediately greeted. Quickly seated, we began drooling over Reuben's menu. Everything on the menu sounded delicious. We started with a pitcher of sweet tea. My wife ordered the Chicken and Dumplings with green beans and a house salad. I ordered the Brisket Burger, yes a hamburger topped with muenster cheese and large slices of sliced brisket, and side of Reuben's homemade mac 'n cheese. The portions were large and at the waitresses encouragement, we decided not to eat it all so that we would have room for dessert, which consisted of homemade lemon bars and the best chocolate caramel bread pudding I've ever had. If you are in Fort Myers for any length of time, I highly recommend you stop by Reuben's Smokehouse...and definitely leave room for the bread putdding!
(5)Chrissy M.
I appreciate the quick response, but I think you may have me confused with another customer. No one checked with our table to see how service or food was. I understand the sudden spike in business creates a longer wait for a table and food, I just felt the food wasn't what it used to be. My biggest issue was with the waitress telling us "oops I only entered three meals instead of four" without apology.
(2)naihomi r.
lil small for comfort had to sit with complete strangers on my lunch date but food was good
(3)K. C.
Being born and raised in Kansas City and having ample options to spectacular BBQ is what I am basing my opinion on. Reuben's is okay BBQ. Not sure what all the hype is about. We were seated after about a 10 minute wait- which we got there before the rush- score! Service was inattentive and below par. They were out of several menu items from their already very small menu. We watched people stand around and lean on our table while they waited when 3 booths and a table remained open for over 10 minutes. Asked for more paper towels and after several moments we had take a roll off of an empty table. It was a challenge for my friends to get refills on their iced tea. The waitress finally just brought over a half full pitcher to them. The rest of us got our own drinks from a cooler. Our food came to our table in a reasonable amount of time. Baked beans were served lukewarm and runny. They didn't have that "baked" consistency to them. Not thick and flavorful. Cheesy Mac tasted like it was made from processed cheese rather than the real homemade version. The sauces were okay. I chose the Jalapeño sauce after taste testing all of them. It was missing that Jalapeño kick and I found it to be disappointingly mild. Meat was tender, but it lacked that true smokey smokehouse yumminess. Yeast rolls are 3 bites so don't expect a big fat roll if that's what you're used to. At first look we found the prices to be comparable, until we got our food. Portions are small for what you pay for. I always look forward to having leftovers for a second meal... sigh. And why doesn't Rueben's offer French Fries or Onion Rings as a side!?!?! I think this little joint got lucky from a few good reviews that were posted on popular review forums.
(2)SatahJane E.
Cute little hide away A wait to get in for the 3of us. Way too hot For me! Where was the air?? Had a combo plate ribs and pulled pork. They are cooked without sauce, why I wonder? The two sides I had were salad & fresh green beans. G beans and salad were delish! I couldn't eat the pulled pork-so lunch tomorrow. It's a casual place-plastic utensils and paper plates. Their homemade rolls and fresh strawberry jam were out of this world (not enough jam though). The bread pudding was outstanding I would return-calling first to see if the air is working
(4)Kevin R.
Fantastic BBQ! Besides the amazing BBQ, high marks for the homemade blue cheese dressing. I had a hard time eating the brisket with a fork because it was so tender that my fork had nothing to grab. I finally gave up with the fork and used my fingers. One of my colleagues had the meatloaf and it looked really good. Looking forward to my next visit.
(5)Erich V.
Voted top 5 bbq in the nation for a reason. Great food and good service. If you're in the area and you don't already know about this place than you may live under a rock. You should eat here.
(4)Elizabeth C.
On a work road trip from Miami to St Pete and one of my stops is in Ft Myers and decided to have bbq for lunch. Place is small with a good vibe. Under staffed, unfortunately only 2 servers for the lunch crowd. So, you can witness intensity in action with the waitress since it was noticeable that They were under pressure. I was asked by the server if I was ready I said yes and I proceeded to put my order when she cut me off In front of the cook where as the cook seemed to call her out on her behavior. Place ran out of ribs which its unfortunate some claim to slit there wrist since that's what they came for. Cooks are probably the most friendly staff, they truly show great work ethic and show they can work under pressure maybe... they should be in the front end just a thought. My neighbor in the bar area had to pull a napkin out of her purse since she and I had asked for one but waitresses were too overwhelmed and when asked by the cook for napkins they kind of snapped at him. Very noticeable. To my right there was an older gentleman seemed like the owner pleasant man but an older lady approached him which she seemed like the owner and man if looks could kill that man would have been you know what. She seemed upset because the man was having his lunch and she seemed overwhelmed. Unfortunately if she was the owner she definitely needs to change her attitude since that attitude does rub off on the rest of the staff when I say staff I mean waitresses that's my recommendation. I would recommend this place I had the pulled pork I loved the tenderness just lacked a little bit of seasoning. Mac and Cheese was good as well as the bake beans. I hope to visit soon on my next trip out to Ft. Myers.
(3)Brent K.
Wow. Excellent food. You can't go wrong with the bbq. The brisket and pulled pork were great. What topped off the lunch was the warm bread pudding. The owner was very friendly and I will definately be back
(5)Felton W.
The smells in the restaurant from the food is no joke. And the portions was dead on. Even though it aS a little wait they still get a five star now.My favorite
(5)Charlie F.
By far the best burger I have ever had. It was so good that one of the guys I went with asked if he could buy my extra bisect. I never heard him even though everyone else heard him ask multiple times
(4)Tim H.
Best barbecue in southwest Florida! I tried the ribs with two sides including green beans and baked beans. The ribs were meaty and the smoke was just right. The green beans had a very tasty marinade that I can't figure out. The baked beans had a nice thick sauce with bacon pieces. Yum! I plan on coming back for the brisket. You gotta try this place. Not very many tables so be patient. Definitely worth the wait!
(5)Nicole M.
I've been searching for a long time and FINALLY I found a decent BBQ joint in Fort Myers. Fort Myers is a city filled with chain restaurants so it's refreshing to find a locally owned restaurant especially for BBQ. We were first greeted by one of the owners (Arvey) and she was so welcoming like she was welcoming us into her house. Food was fantastic! They make their own blue cheese dressing and all there meats are smoked in house. BBQ sauces are also fantastic too. They give you homemade jam with their homemade biscuits (my mouth is watering just thinking about it!). When it comes to sides, you need to try the molasses baked beans and the Mac n cheese. Absolutely delicious!
(5)Jonathan K.
Amazing taste great, Worth the wait
(5)Carly M.
Loved this place! The owners are very friendly and appreciate customer feedback. Have had the baby back ribs, pulled pork, green beans and mashed potatoes - all good. Will definitely be back!!
(5)Zachary F.
Deserving of their #4 Ranking in my opinion. I grew up in Kansas and love Joe's in KC but these guys in SW FL have NAILED their brisket!!! It is super tender and almost melts in your mouth. I prefer their Sweet & Smokey Sauce (molasses based) but the Reuben's House Sauce may be the best vinegar based sauce I've had (though I don't prefer vinegar based bbq). The smoke on the ribs is terrific, though overall I wouldn't say ribs are their strength but still very good. MacNcheese is super creamy and the baked beans are sweet and well seasoned. The rolls are soft, came out fresh and warm and the strawberry jam is fresh and super tasty! The bread pudding has chocolate chips and caramel and is perfectly sweet, not too heavy and like everything else here super fresh, delicious!! The only thing left to add is that this is a truly family run restaurant with hospitality to match their outstanding BBQ!
(5)Craig D.
We went there for an early dinner. We split the combo of ribs and beef brisket. Our sides were green beans and mashed potatoes and gravy. It comes with a couple yeast rolls and homemade peach jam. The food is fabulous. The meats were smoked to perfection complete with a nice bark on the outside and pink smoke ring on the inside. There was a good amount of smoke flavor and the meat remained moist. The green beans were fresh picked and still a little crunchy. The real homemade mashed potatoes still had some of the skin left on and the gravy was exquisite. The BBQ sauces were good, I would have liked a few more varieties to choose from. I ordered a side salad to try the homemade blue cheese dressing. It too is extremely good. For desert we tried the chocolate chip bread pudding. We're glad we did. What a finish to an awesome meal. Finally we washed it all down with unsweetened iced tea which also was homemade and brewed strong enough to satisfy. Great meal, good service and a friendly group of people that run the place. The best BBQ in Lee County.
(5)Kerry K.
Great food!!!! Nicest family who runs it.. The strawberry jam is amazing and homemade by the woman who runs it with her son. Worth going to!!!!!
(5)Scooter B.
This place was recently rated number 4 on a list of the best 10 barbeque places in the USA. I don't know on what criteria or how many places the arbiter of this accolade had considered, but I'm not going to rush out to visit the other nine on the list. It's apparent that the waitstaff is relatively new and doesn't know how to do the job. Our waitress wandered around like a deer caught in the headlights and dropped the ball constantly. When we were given a table, instead of a two top (there were only two of us), we were given a six top. Given the wait for seating, it seemed a waste of space. Immediately after we were seated, three beefy guys were shoe-horned into a booth that would have better suited us and the large table would have been better for them. Just to give you an idea of how inexperienced the staff is. We ordered a full slab of ribs and the beef brisket. With both those you receive a choice of two sides. We both chose the green beans, my husband got the side salad with bleu cheese dressing, and I got the baked beans. You also receive a Parkerhouse roll with a bit of "homemade" strawberry jam in a small container. I couldn't swear the jam was homemade, but the rolls were very good. I didn't like the green beans because I found them too salty, but my husband loved them. The baked beans were very good. My beef brisket was cold. The ribs were very good. I noticed that other tables were covered with a variety of barbeque sauces and ours was not. We didn't ask about it. The bleu cheese dressing was different and quite good. But then we ordered the chocolate cake to share for desert. I was totally dumbfounded because I know a microwaved cake when I see and taste one. This had been quickly cooked in the microwave, upended onto a plate, and slathered with a fudge sauce and possibly a caramel sauce. The cake was hot, but as soon as I took one forkful, I could tell by the look of it and the taste that it was a microwave cake. Holy Mackerel. Service was very slow and iffy and this was during a less busy time of the day. Given the price, I would expect more, especially from the 4th best barbeque joint in the USA.
(2)Colin C.
AWESOME IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT !!!!! We just ate at the Cleveland Avenue Location ! This is the best Smokehouse Joint In Lee County. BAR NONE! Reuben Puts "Famous Daves" to shame. Everything in this place is authentic, fresh and prepared to perfection including the sides ! The Beef Brisket is likely the best I have ever had. The Green Beans, The Slaw, The Baked Beans all homemade and completely melt in your mouth. The Rolls are also homemade and doughy textured perfection. Absolutely the Best Bread Pudding I have ever had light fluffy hot with melted chocolate pockets in it and drizzled with caramel. The servers are also awesome. Genuine and helpful without being pushy ! Not your run of the mill service but definitely welcoming and a fresh relief from the norm. This is a place that you will return to ,,,often !
(5)Mike G.
We heard about this spot and got there today for lunch. I had the special pork loin with blackberry & bourbon jam sauce sandwich that came with slaw & corn on the cob. Sand was great excellent job on the sauce. My cole slaw that the very chatty waiter told us was house made was to plain no taste for me. He brought me some baked beans instead of the slaw and all was outstanding. Texas wife got brisket as usual with mac n cheese and the famous green beans. She loved it all but the bread pudding dessert was the star of the show. Hands down best in town BBQ joint in FTM. We will be back.
(5)M L.
This is a great restaurant addition to Fort Myers. The added press has made it quite busy so there is some added wait times. Do I agree with tripadvisor, NO. It's not the best BBQ I have had. But it's a great BBQ place and I disagree with all the reviews on both extremes of being terrible and the best they have ever had. The ribs were smoked to perfection and the brisket was good. I'm not a good judge of briskets since I'm not a huge fan. The only thing is I wish they had a large variety of BBQ sauces. The sides were good as expected. I wasn't able to try the bread pudding as they were sold out. Overall a great BBQ place and I will be returning there on a regular basis.
(4)Marie C.
All the publicity of being named one of the country's top BBQ spots alerted us to Reuben's. Wish we had discovered before! Believe they are challenged by the sudden fame, but think that is understandable. There were 3 in our party and we were all pleased with our food and the service. The smoked meat was wonderful and the sides were all delicious. Seems like in a lot of places the meat might be okay and then the sides are blah. I think what will bring us back on a regular basis is that the whole meal is good. Our server was very busy and really appreciated she left a pitcher of iced tea on our table so we could refill ourselves rather than do without or nag her. Sometimes it's the little things like that which truly matter. The owner was making the rounds, was engaging and appreciative of our feedback and business. Eager to try some of the other things on the menu besides the barbeque, but don't know if I can go in next time and do so!
(5)Maximus P.
Excellent brisket, really good service. Will definitely come back if the opportunity presents itself.
(5)Sheila N.
Great brisket and pulled pork! Worth the wait! Loved the chocolate cake! It was served warm and delicious!
(5)Mark D.
First time I have tried this place, and will definitely not the last! I had a combo plate with ribs and brisket. The brisket was tender and juicy and just perfect. The ribs were ok, that's what brought my review down to 4 stars. They were good flavor wise, but a bit dry. The sides I had were very good (Mac and cheese and green beans). My wife had the meatloaf which she raved about, and I had a couple of bites, and I can attest that it was out of this world! My parents and sister tried a special of the day, a pork loin sandwich with goat cheese and a berry sauce, which they thoroughly enjoyed. It was my birthday and I ordered the chocolate Carmel bread pudding, creamy, sweet and decadent! Yum! Thank you for the birthday treat! Friendly service, good food, fair prices! A winner!
(4)Heather G.
We have lived in Fort Myers for over a year but had never been to Reuben's, and like so many others, had to check it out after it was named #4 Best BBQ by Trip Advisor. We got there just before 5pm, knowing how busy the place has become and that there is limited seating. Good thing we did, because the place was packed by 5:30. I had the brisket plate with mashed potatoes and gravy and black beans. The brisket was very tender (and I used the Sweet and Smokey Sauce), the mashed potatoes and gravy were good too. The black beans weren't as flavorful or as spicy as I thought they would be. My man had the pulled pork plate, also with mashed but with the baked beans. He enjoyed it, but said it was not as good as the usual place we go for BBQ. We also tried each other's meal and agreed. Our server was great- very friendly and paid us just the right amount of attention. The owner also came around to say hello, which was a nice touch. We would go back to try the meatloaf, pot roast and chicken and dumplings, but as far as BBQ and sides, Reuben's isn't as good as our favorite BBQ joint in N Ft Myers.
(4)Rachel M.
If you haven't tried Reuben's yet, I feel sorry for you! This place is a true BBQ gem. No other barbecue joint in the area can even come close to the melt in your mouth brisket, phenomenal meat loaf, and solid pulled pork. The green beans deserve a mention also as they are just out of this world crave worthy. Everything is made from scratch, the sauces, the jam for your biscuits...it's true home cooked southern comfort food. Great prices and great service complete the package. Do yourself a favor and stop by Reuben's as soon as possible. You will not regret it!
(5)Sheri S.
If there were more stars to award I would have given them in a minute. If you want superb food look no further. The service, staff, and food all come together to make it a great experience. Have had the ribs, chicken, brisket, and chicken with dumplings and am at a loss of words to describe them. Perfect would be a start. Prices are good, service is the best. Kids can draw on the table and then sign the wall. Wish they were closer. Would be there every week.
(5)Ruben L.
I had a bad experience with this business. I looked forward to eating here because of all the great things I heard. After going and spending my hard earn money I can say never again! Best BBQ they haven't ate elsewhere! The party of 4 waited for about 1 hour to be seated then waited longer to get our drink order. After placing our order we received what I thought was the best that they have which is there dinner roll and Strawberry Jam! Which I can say is great. But after that the food arrived cold, supposed fall off the bone ribs where rubbery and the mash potatoes where colder than my coke. The owner would go to every table and ask how the food was to which never came to ours! Then she said on my review in trip advisor that she brought me a birthday cake to which I can say i didn't get a cake because it wasn't my birthday! So wow!!!! So never again would I go there because of how rude this owner made out to be!!!! Also they brought my family member the wrong order!!!
(1)Junior L.
Ive been craving good bbq ribs for quite sometime. After reading the reviews and saw the banner for being the top 5 bbq places in the country, i decided to try them out. The ribs were very meaty and delicious. In addition, the sides that i ordered were great size portions and very filling. I will definitely be back!
(5)Sandy C.
What a delightful place!! The food was amazing! Also the bread pudding was the best dessert ever. Friendly service too! Everything about this restaurant is top notch!!
(5)Faiyaz H.
Great Food - Great Service - Great Find We were in Fort Myers for the weekend and decided to use Trip Advisor to find a location that was not a "chain". I am glad we stopped by. This is a family owned business. We walked in an were promptly greeted and seated. Food: great tasting food Price: the amount of food for the price was great Service: Great I will definitely visit this place again when we are passing through.
(5)John L.
Fantastic food and very friendly folks!
(5)Gerry M.
Wow. Best brisket I've ever tasted. Super moist! The sides (green beans, baked beans, potato salad) were all awesome. Found this place on the list of the top 10 BBQ places in the USA. Good service as well. They handled our big group with no problem.
(5)Chris H.
You have to love this place. First, it feels like going home. I was greeted by the hostess when I first walked in the door and instead of just seating me...she made me feel welcomed. There were more things on the menu that I would have loved to have tried, but I just went with the ribs and beef brisket. The ribs were tender and tasty and the brisket was some of the best that I have ever had. Tender and juicy!!! They had a great BBQ sauce. I only tried the sweet, but it was just like I like it. The green beans tasted just like my moms...maybe even slightly better...and the mac and cheese was also tasty. Oh...and those yeast rolls...perfect. Someone in one of the earlier reviews mentioned that they were undercooked, but my guess is that they don't understand what a yeast roll is. I look forward to going back!!!
(5)Chelsea L.
This restaurant is a new favorite. Two others and I were looking for a bbq place and stumbled across this gem on 41S. I had the pulled pork with Mac and cheese and potatoes. The Mac was delicious and tasted homemade. The potatoes were the perfect consistency with delicious gravy on top. And the pulled pork was to die for. The sweet bbq sauce should be renamed sweet Jesus bbq sauce and was delightfully amazing. The ribs were the bomb and by far superior to other local places. The whole meal was topped off with the perfect sour dough roll. And since they were short and the others weren't done baking we were given another round of rolls on the house. Wonderful experience. Will be back with friends to experience the magic.
(5)Maggie B.
We had read that Rubens was rated high on Trip Advisor. So when our friends from California came to visit us it was on the list of restaurants to go to. We were seated quickly by a friendly staff member, it went downhill from there. As we were being seated in a booth my feet slipped on the greasy floor and slammed my toes (which are now black & blue) into the table legs. 3 of us ordered the brisket 1 ordered salad. The brisket was tender with no fat but very bland. The salad was below average with very little chicken. Several of the menu items they were out of. The person who ordered the brisket/rib combo had to wait for more ribs to be cooked. We sat in a table next to a window with curtains that were filthy with bbq sauce stains, and the chair upholstery also was dirty & stained. They had NO french fries, what bbq place doesn't? Also ambience was outdated and filthy. There were scribbled notes on the wall - not quaint or charming, or clean. The condiment containers, menu's were greasy and needed a good cleaning. Our overall rating is below average. The owner and staff seemed pleasant but it doesn't make up for below average food and certainly not cleanliness. We will not recommend this.
(1)Stevie F.
The best BBQ we have ever had! No question about it. My husband found this amazing place here on yelp and we have now been 3 times in 2 months. The pork ribs are amazing, the French Blu q sandwich is great and the sides are to die for!!!! I highly recommend the cheesy Mac, the side salad (homemade blue cheese) and the baked beans. Their homemade bread pudding is out of this world. The owner is the sweetest woman ever. We are never going anywhere else for BBQ. This is the place!
(5)Mike M.
Amazing food. Simply amazing. I ordered the mashed potatoes, green beans, and mac and cheese and they were all delicious. The green beans had a great flavor. The rolls were awesome. We had the lemon bars for dessert and they were lemon bar perfection. The only complaint my husband had is that his ribs were a little tough, but they had a great flavor. The owner, Arvey, stopped at our table. She was very personable and she makes the most amazing strawberry jam! The interior of the restaurant was perfectly themed for a barbecue restaurant. Overall awesome homemade food!!
(5)Travis G.
This place has amazing food!!! The family meal with ribs and pulled pork Was delicious and all the sides and pudding bread was really good too. Bring a bottle opener though! The staff was great and the owner was super friendly. Definitely recommend
(4)Terry R.
Catered a wedding rehearsal dinner for us. We are in MA and had trouble locating somewhere from such a distance. Saw a good yelp review and decided to give them a try. Good food. Great to work with. They helped customize the menu for us to fit various diets and food allergies. Melanie was the server she did a great job. Friendly and very helpful.
(5)Gabe V.
Best bbq in town. Best service in town. There's not much more to say here, if you haven't been yet go today.
(5)Rich Y.
5/21. 1:30PM waited an hour for a seat, waited another 1.5 hours till 4PM and finally left. Once we were seated around 2:30PM, a waitress took our order and told us there was no more pork ribs. They had been out for a while because the last To-Go order had basically depleted their inventory and they were behind in cooking. What they should have done is stated, or put up a sign to state there was "NO PORK RIBS" their signature dish. After waiting till 4PM, sipping on ice tea for 1.5 hours, we ask about our food and the waitress states she'll go check. She comes back and states they are out of the beef brisket and that's why our order did not come out. In my opinion this was just wrong. At least send out the chicken since we ordered the combo "chicken and brisket." Again state "NO BEEF BRISKET" and let everyone know who is in the restaurant. I know a lot of people were waiting for food just like us (party of 2). Instead they have people waiting for hours on food that they did not have. To our surprise there were still people in line waiting for seats and they were not transparent in letting people know they were out of food. This review is not based on the food since I did not get a chance to try it but rather a business practice to patrons who actually waited inside the restaurant. Hopefully the owner, who was there, will take some of these recommendations and put it into practice. Recommendations: 1. Serve patrons at the restaurant first before fulfilling TO-GO orders. SOOO important. 2. Post a sign stating which food you do not have. Make it transparent for people waiting 3. Get a bus boy. Tables are cleaned by the waitress who are too busy trying to seat people, take order, getting drinks, putting in orders, etc. 4. Understand if food is running out, CLOSE SHOP! No shame in that, I'm sure they know that BBQ isn't something that can't be rushed and if it isn't planned from the beginning it won't work. I can understand that they recently got nominated #4 BBQ place in the USA and were busy and probably not used to the volume. If it gets out of hand put up a CLOSE sign, regroup and do it right, ESPECIALLY when there is NO FOOD LEFT.
(1)Remie S.
Reuben's is exactly what you need for you BBQ fix. Its down home cooking and friendly staff make it a pleasant stop for dinner.
(4)Riles S.
I'm honestly not even a huge BBQ person, but this place blows every other BBQ place out of the water. Arvey, the owner, is very personable. She will actually go to your table and have conversation with you. The food is the best I've ever tasted when it comes to BBQ. If you go, you must try the French q. You will not regret it
(5)Jay M.
Very pleased! Pulled pork and yardbird are very good meats. Four options for sauces. We loved the original. The yeast rolls did not seem to be fully baked but the jam is very good. We are from Kansas City and know BBQ. We would rank this up there with Joe's Kansas City, Arthur Bryant's, Gates, etc. The only option missing? French fries. We loved it.
(4)Jeff M.
Well, so much for my much anticipated first visit to what is supposed to be one of the nation's top BBQ joints. I sat for over an hour waiting for a pulled pork sandwich and baked beans. Many people came in after me, ate and left while I sat there. When I asked the server about my order she kept saying it should be right up. I finally asked for it "to go" and after another 5 minutes just got up and left out of frustration. Server knew I was leaving unhappy and nobody said a word to me. My fault for not tracking down a manager. Maybe the hype of their recent ranking has caused issues, as some people got their food fast and others were still waiting over an hour when I left. If you run out of a menu item then tell us. Not sure I will give them another try. Sad because I love good BBQ!
(1)Julie T.
The only reason I'm giving one star is because there is not an option for 0 stars. okay so we went expecting to have home cooking not the case while we were waiting we looked around and noticed that the wait staff was very disorganized and not very friendly, however we decided to wait anyway as we saw the reviews were very good . in the front of the restaurant you can also see the entire kitchen. We also noticed a girl is measuring out shredded pork from a disposable aluminum pan that is not covered and there for everyone to breathe on and who knows what else, to top it off we then watched the kitchen staff opening cans of Bush's baked beans! this is not my kind of home cooking so we decided we wouldn't stay for the actual food. first impressions are Eveything, we wont be going back.
(1)Courtney T.
Amazing simply amazing. Great BBQ, chicken dumplings, and even chocolate cake! Best home cooking I've had in a long time and to top it all off amazing costumer service! Very friendly and happy to help you. Definitely recommend it
(5)Ricardo G.
Tasty but still hungry After calling ahead for take out on four or five occasions previously, ( kept getting voicemail, not sure why they don't answer their phone during business hours) I figured the only way I was going to get take out was to walk in and order. Got a brisket plate and meatloaf plate and bread pudding. Simply put, all was quite tasty but I found the portions a little small for the price. Portions more suitable for seniors I felt. Even after the yummy dessert we were both still hungry.
(3)Michael L.
Great food. Clean establishment. Excellent sauces. And world class BBQ prepared and served by the friendliest folks in the state. Feeling froggy? Ask for a taste of the pineapple habanero sauce on the side. And save room for homemade desserts if you can.
(5)Ryan V.
Everyone makes you feel at home. Chicken and dumplings are amazing. Same with the brisket plate. Not to mention the place is pretty cheap for the quality of bbq.
(5)Teresa V.
We stumbled upon Reubens purely by luck and I ate possibly the best ribs I've ever had....didn't need a drop of sauce. The owners hospitality was amazing even on a very busy Saturday night. A real gem!
(5)Kate M.
Went here on the recommendation of other Yelpers, and we were not disappointed! All the food was great! Microbrews in the cooler, comfy place. Service was slow (but they were jammed). Also, we were there on Saturday January 3, which they admitted was their first day back from being on break from xmas through the new year. And shortly after we got our food, we heard them around the restaurant saying they were out of brisket, out of ribs, out of pulled pork... Whoops. Lots of people left without ordering. Hoping this was just growing pains (they've only been open as a restaurant for a year) and a learning experience! Waitstaff was gracious and apologetic, prices spectacular for BBQ. Parking is a little tight; you may have to use the jeweler's lot next door and sneak over.
(4)Ray C.
Writing this review was hard simply because I was extremely pleased with my food but disappointed with the dining experience. I went there at 4:30 pm on a Friday afternoon and the line was out the door. But since I was alone I was offered the only seat available at a four seat bar. The volume of business has clearly outgrown the space available. After eating the food I clearly understand how this place is voted the fourth best bar-b-q in America! There is nothing from a can or a five gallon white bucket that you will find on your plate. The prices are moderate and I was delighted to take home a doggie bag and spend less than $15.00. Everything from the potato salad to the baked beans was exceptional- and if you put one of those home made rolls on your head I swear your tongue will beat your brains out trying to get to it! But as far as the dining experience- it was lacking. It was so crowded and loud that I started getting claustrophobic- my chair was bumped a dozen times and I got a few elbows to the back of my head as customers and staff tried to get by (try to avoid bar seating unless you like this sort of thing- I also got a show with my meal- every word and action occurring in the kitchen became part of my experience). If you want the best bar-b-q you will have in years then this is your place. If you want a relaxed quiet dining experience out with friends- this ain't your place. If you want both then I recommend calling ahead and get take out back home. So for food 5 stars, for experience 3 stars. Just a few suggestions to owner (who is very nice and personable and I hope is open to these suggestions) 1. Provide sweet and low- not every one likes Splenda- there are actually a lot of people like myself who are addicted to that chemical taste that saccharin provides 2. Have olive oil and balsamic vinegar available as a dressing choice- there are those Italians like myself who need their daily dose of EVOO and BV 3. Provide salt and pepper on the bar not just on the tables 4. Wet naps? Need them! 5. Not sure if you can do this but would be cool to have a food truck parked outside where you pull the call ahead take out folks away from a very crowded front door. Maybe provide a few covered picnic tables outside to free up some space inside and people can order directly from a food truck. There are millions of people who do not care about the environment they are in as long as the food is good. Congratulations on a great job and good luck with your rapid success and very necessary growing pains!
(4)William W.
Service was good with advanced reservation. Found numerous items on the limited menu not available(out for the evening). Food was average at best and I don't know where the super ratings come from. We had a party of 12 and general feeling was just ok. Probably won't return.
(2)D M.
Delish bbq!! Me and my husband are from Texas and let me say this is top notch food! Brisket with the house sauce was cooked great...my fave the pulled pork was awesome especially with the mustard sauce! Green beans yum!! Baked beans yum! Potato salad was great and it didn't have too much crunchy stuff in it! Coleslaw was fresh and not soggy and over mayoed or sugared! Wanted bread pudding, but sold out...will be back for that! Lemon bars tho we're very good! Had to wait, but in Texas you wait for good food because it will sell out! Service was great! All servers were very helpful!! Def a bbq dive, but clean, cool and comfy! Owners very friendly! Saw her go to every table! Snoots stay away so more room for all of us bbq lovers!
(5)Cheryl M.
Dinner with Reuben and Arvey was beyond yummy. Brisket is lean, fork tender and delicious. Loved the green beans, which are obviously fresh with just enough bacon. Yeast rolls were made with love in them. And no diet is worth missing the chocolate chip caramel bread pudding! We'll be back!
(5)Stan H.
Saw this place on Yelp and had to try it. I was not disappointed. The meatloaf is to die for. Chicken and dumplings are like my grandmas. The brisket is some of the best I ever had. For desert we had the bread pudding please save room for this you will not be disappointed.
(4)Jerrie W.
Tried Rueben's for lunch, we both enjoyed our pulled pork plate, yummy green beans and Mac and cheese. Jay provided excellent service and Arvey stopped by our table to introduce herself. As locals, we appreciate good ,clean, friendly restaurants. Will definitely return to try some of the other entrees.
(5)Dillon C.
The best food I have ever had. I came to have some BBQ and left with the thought that it was the best food I had on my trip. Reuben and Arvey are amazing people and remembered us by name the first time. Hope to have one in California soon!! The food will not disappoint...
(5)Morgan W.
Tried Reuben's out tonight on my wife's insistance. Thank GOODNESS I did, because this place is smack yo' momma good! Had the combo plate with brisket and pulled pork, wife had chicken and dumplings. Everything was ridiculously tender and delicious. The beans were a tad oniony, but could just be me. The breadrolls are actual yeast rolls made in house which is very impressive because that's a real pain in the tuckus to do- and they did it well. Staff was super friendly and the prices were reasonable as well. Try it, you can come thank me later :)
(5)Jeremy K.
Great BBQ, great sides and great yeast rolls. Wife and I had brisket and ribs and boy were they good! Highly recommend this little gem!
(5)Amber F.
We stumbled on this place after popping into some less than desirable restaurants in the area. This place is a breath of fresh air! The staff is warm and friendly, and the decor is homey and very "southern comfort" styled. First off, let me say, the sweet tea was PERFECT. It didn't taste like colored sugar water, it tasted how real southern tea should taste: refreshing and sweet enough to slap a smile on your face. We started off with the chili con queso and chips. It was perfectly warmed and cheesy, with big chunks of meat. I always judge a BBQ place by its pulled pork because it's simple enough that it's (usually) always good, but can complicated enough that a really good pork is hard to come by. The pork here was smoked perfectly, and it came without sauce! Our waitress told us that they smoke their meats without sauce, and it really gave the meat a deep, smoky flavor with a good crust. The molasses baked beans are literally the best beans I've EVERY had, they were perfectly balanced and not overly sweet. And the banana pudding is TO DIE FOR. My fiancé loved his brisket and killer black beans. Our waitress even gave us a taste of their roasted butternut squash soup with bleu cheese and pecans. Holy cow! The sweet soup itself was puréed perfectly and was spiced just right with cinnamon. But the bleu cheese took it to another level! It added the perfect tang to balance the sweet, and the pecans provided a good crunch. I really can't recommend this place enough! It was fabulous!
(5)Gordon G.
First off the place is a dump. Dim lighting and the menu is small. Everthing but the beans was tastless. The brisket was like a sad pot roast, dry and chewy. Their sauces couldn't save the meat. The mac and cheese was gloppy and flavorless. The sweet tea was brown water. This is the first time I have ever used salt on BBQ. I don't understand the good reviews. Nothing smokey nor juicy just bland.
(1)Amy F.
OMG the BBQ here is allllllll home made and soooooo darn good! What a find. Feels like your in the owners home while the son does the cookin
(5)Nevin M.
What can I say. This place is just great. Superb barbecue. All the sides are really good. Wonderful, warm staff. It is down home funky. This is a place you should not miss.
(5)John F.
Tasty barbecue and friendly service. I enjoyed the pulled pork plate with potato salad and fresh garden salad. The place was packed on a Tuesday night so we parked in the grass behind the restaurant. Walking in and being a bit confused as to where to sit or how to order. After a few minutes some tables were cleared and cleaned so we could sat down. The waitress was very friendly and the food came out fast and affordable. The owner was very friendly as well, visiting with customers and her family. I would like to see real dinnerware and not the picnic style disposable flatware, cups and bowls. The tables and chairs did not match and were so close together making it look cluttered and hard to move around. They were out of the ribs and baked beans that night, but were close to closing time and didn't rush us out the door.
(4)Fred W.
Don't drive by and wind up at a chain down the street! And don't let the appearance fool you. Reuben and Mom know their food!!! Good gracious!!!! Drove through from Wellington, FL last Saturday and will definitely be coming back. Sandrine and the other waitress were about as sweet as they could be. I asked Sandrine about the pork ribs and she gave me the best advice, stating that some people ONLY want baby backs and if that was me, these ribs are not like that, they pull from the bone and don't just fall off. I thought that was fair and was willing to give it a try, even though I am a "baby back" guy. Well, guess what? Very different, but absolutely wonderful. Reuben coaxes ALL the flavor out of those ribs and you are left with a meaty, smokey bite of goodness. I am so glad I tried them! They were awesome, like nothing I have had before. And the side salad...not your run of the mill iceburg, shredded carrot, shelf dressing. The greens were so fresh and vibrant. Cukes were not waxed and the dressing was, get this, home made!!! And it tasted every bit of it. When the waitress tells me that everything on the menu is homemade, except the ranch dressing (I think), I'm in! My wife had the blue cheese burger and it came on the most wonderful roll. Yeah folks, if you like good food and nice people, go no further. Nothin' fancy and frankly, the layout is a little odd. But they put love in that food. Enjoy!
(5)Glenn R.
Insanely good brisket. I can die now. The service was very friendly and the place was clean and nice. But really, its about that brisket. I got a side of mashed potatoes that were pretty good but not rave-worthy.
(5)David S.
3.7 not 5 star props can be assigned but worth a visit . . I experienced slow line prep but ok bbq...no crusty outter bark or pink smoke ring if you are a brisket puris but it was tender and juicy. definately better than Famous Daves.. Understand that 10 years in Austin may have me jaded. Buen provecho.
(4)Sharon S.
Homey, friendly, with great pulled pork, delicious brisket, amazing sides. Bought carryout..will be back soon.
(5)Don E.
What!!!!!! Are you kidding. That's BBQ! Better than most places I have been! Ask for the habanero pineapple barbecue sauce. The House Saussure is great too!
(5)nosila D.
Excellent homemade BBQ. Staff is so friendly and the BBQ is the best you'll find around these parts. Great selection of homemade sauces and everything on the brisket sammy is perfection. You'll not be disappointed in this place.
(5)M E.
I'll just add my 5 star review to the well-deserved pile earned by this local smokehouse. Excellent meats, delicious home made rolls served with a homemade strawberry jam as flavorful as my grandma used to make it. As others have noted, the baked bean side is sweet and deeply flavorful. The only disappointment was the mac and cheese which had a velveeta-like texture.
(5)Ken Y.
Friendly, personal service. Nice atmosphere. Good food. Reasonable prices. One of those "Hole-In-The-Wall" places that brings you back. Arvy was a great hostess.
(5)Kem R.
Last night was the third time I've eaten at this wonderful gem of a restaurant tucked next to Dunkin Diamonds on Cleveland Avenue. Basically there are 5 entrees; Brisket, Meatloaf, Pot Roast, Yardbird (a half chicken) and pulled pork. There are seven or eight homemade sides and three desserts. Everything is fresh, nothing is "off the truck" and if you're a carnivore it is THE place. The brisket is my favorite. But last night there were eight of us and even the skeptics (and there are several at our Friday eat out night) found praise, not fault. Besides the food quality, the service, provided by Arvey, the co-owner was not only efficient, but cheerful, down-home and fun! There is limited alcohol, beer and wine. None of us had room for dessert, but we wound up sampling all three of their offerings at the table. The chocolate cake (can't remember the cutesy name) was absolutely the best I've ever eaten anywhere (and I have consumed a lot of chocolate cake over the years). The desserts vanished in a twinkling of the eye and the group (there were 9 of us) universally vowed that no matter what the room left over after dinner Reuben's desserts were mandatory. I ate lunch there on my first visit when I stumbled across this tucked away place. Tough to find parking, but there's plenty in the back. The brisket sandwich I had was as good as there is this side of New York. Give them a try if you're a carnivore. (or even if you're not, you may convert)
(5)Wendy H.
Food was excellent. Brisket perfectly cooked, nice bark. Also shared bacon meatloaf & pulled pork, can't go wrong. Sides & rolls delicious too. Met the owner. Owner & staff very friendly.
(5)John M.
Rueben's Catering has expanded to be Rueben's Smokehouse and that is a good thing for anyone that chooses to go there. The food is outstanding, the entire staff of the restaurant gets engaged, from the owner on down, and it brings back the old fashion "down home" personal touch. Our meals were indeed some of the best BBQ we have had in years and the owner came over and if we hadn't tried a certain dish, she brought over a sample. If you like BBQ, put this on your must-do list.
(5)Elisa A.
this place is awesome!!!as a former waiter in a bbq rest,i know what im talking about.we ordered pulled pork,beef brisket,and ribs,all the meats were perfect.the kids loved the mac and cheese.we ordered bread pudding and chocolate cake for dessert.both are superb.our waitress was very good.the owner came to our table and she was the nicest business owner i have ever met!!!god bless her and her business!!!what a nice lady,wow!!!
(5)Miles M.
This place was one of the very few restaurants that I've been to that is great at everything they do-all food is fabulous!! Only wish I lived here so I could come all the time!!! Best rolls I've ever had!! And Donald, I live in The Midwest and assure you this review is not planted...
(5)Kathy P.
I picked this restaurant for my birthday dinner and it exceeded all expectations. My husband and I split the rack of ribs, which were meaty, smoky and tender. The green beans and black beans were very good too, as were the rolls and jam. I couldn't leave without the bread pudding dessert, it was delightful! Relaxed atmosphere and great service....we will be back.
(5)