I can't speak for the whole menu. The pulled pork was decent, the sauce had a pretty nice, but sweet flavor. Nothing to write home about, but it hit the spot. The bread was right out of the package. Good slaw and good beans. Not a heavyweight in a BBQ fight, but will satisfy your hunger for bbq in a pinch.
(3)
Tim D.
The best ribs in Tampa, not a big fan of Alex's sauce but the food makes up for it
(5)
Lulu C.
Went for lunch today - got rib dinner with cole slaw and fried okra, my husband got the big dinner (has some cheesy name) with bbq chicken, ribs, pulled pork, and sausage with mac and cheese and baked beans. My ribs were great - fall off the bone, the whole deal. Maybe 1 or 2 ends of the ribs were a bit dry, but they were small pieces. The sauce is great - it's a good balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy; just seems very well balanced. The dinner comes with 4 good sized ribs served on those styrofoam plates with 3 sections. The 2 smaller sections hold your sides. The cole slaw was okay. Not very tangy, which I like. It's quite mild. Fried okra was very good - they are chopped into 1" cubes before frying. Mine were piping hot having just come out of the fryer. Okra tasted fresh. My husband's plate was bigger to accommodate all the meat, all of which were fantastic. The BBQ chicken was fantastic - super juicy and flavorful. Sausage was outta this world - smoky and juicy. Didn't try his pulled pork, but he liked it. Sides were very good too, kind of wish I got the mac 'n' cheese and beans instead (I was trying to be all low carb). The dinners come w/ 2 triangles of Texas toast - just thicker white bread. Guess if you want to make a sandwich you can, but I didn't eat my bread. My rib dinner was $9 and my husband's was $12. You can check out the menu on urbanspoon. Decor - real no frills, old-school kind of place, which I think is the perfect setting for real down home BBQ - just about the food. Don't expect it to be about more than that, although I personally find it to be charming. You can watch the guys prepare all the food behind the counter. There is a smoke pit built into the wall, which is really cool and has like a ton of whole chickens in it at once plus the other meats. There is another closed smoker next to it. I would definitely recommend going. Solid BBQ, great meat, great sauce, awesome prices. Not sure how it compares to the other Tampa bbqs; the only other one I went to while I was down was Smokin' J's - awesome as well.
(4)
Jon A.
When our family say "let's get BBQ", 75% of the time we mean Alex's. We love the pulled/chopped pork, fries/wedges, and okra. We usually get takeout because it can be pretty smoky inside, but we've eaten in a couple of times. We also love Alex's story (read the newspaper clippings on the walls sometime) and have donated to the Christmas bikes fund several times.
(4)
Holly S.
The best barbecue in Tampa. Alex does a great job with the bbq meats. The chopped pork is always a fave, the beef is also great. I never get chicken here, so I can't say. They also cater; they're my goto place for quick get-togethers at the house. The baked beans are in a world of their own - by far the best I have ever had.
(5)
Leah N.
Huge hit! I had a party last night with around 50 people, and Alex's catered. The party was on Davis Islands, and most of the attendees had never had Alex's before. I got tons of compliments on the food--pulled pork, wings, mac n cheese, green beans, baked beans, and cole slaw. The food was very fresh, and my party guests all wanted to know where it was from. I will definitely have Alex's cater for my next event. Thanks to Sean and Matt who delivered it and set it all up!
(5)
Dagmar D.
New to the Carrollwood area. Love BBQ and a fan of good customer svc...Ordered the Big Boy. ..Tall man took the order. Very short and curt. Didn't say thank, didn't tell me when the order was coming up, just walked off without saying anything. Came back to pick up my order, my order was ready. He seen me come in and never said that my food was ready...just kept talking. ..had to ask him is my food ready? just deliberate bad customer service. Big boy comes with all the meats...Meat was not the best and not the worst. It was okay. Had greens and mac and cheese for sides. greens had no taste..love good BBQ so I guess I'll keep searching
(2)
Paul F.
From the moment you walk in you can smell good barbecue. We've been coming to Alex's for the last two years and try to make it a once a week stop. I love the pulled pork and with the open kitchen you can see and smell your food the whole time it's being cooked. We recommend this place to all our customers that come into our shop, it's that good! And every year Alex's Restaurant donates a bunch of bicycles and toys to children in need. It's amazing how many bikes they get every Christmas, must make a bunch of kids holidays better.
(5)
Mr N.
I've been going to Alex's for a long time. Just good ol' BBQ. Nothing wrong with that...
(3)
Ben N.
It's not the best BBQ. It's not the worst BBQ. It's just good BBQ. I've been going here for years and most of the time you get the smokey, tender meat that Alex's is known for however on occasion a few pieces of tough and dry pork will make its way into your order. Luckily, most meals come with a side of their sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. My go to meal is the Big Boy Platter which easily lives up to its name. For under $15, you get 2 ribs, a chicken thigh, sliced sausage, and a generous portion of pulled pork that I never seem to finish no matter how hungry I am. If that isn't enough, it also comes with your choice of 2 sides including but not limited to the following: 1) Mac and Cheese - My personal favorite. Its soft and not overly cheesy with a kick of black pepper and pinch of cayenne. 2) Fried okra - Like all their fried items, each order is individually cooked resulting in a crispy,lightly seasoned outside with a tender inside. 3) Fries - large thick cut steak fries that come out steaming hot from the fryer. Be careful not to burn your mouth eating them. 4) Corn on the cob - I'd stay away from these. Every time I've ordered, I've gotten soggy, chewy, and bland corn that has had all its flavored leached away from sitting in whatever cooker they use to keep their corn warm. 5+6) Beans and slaw - I grouped these together because they seem pretty standard to me. It's one of Carrolwood's long time staples where locals know they can rely on Alex for a decent meal. I know I do. TL;DR - Good bang for your buck BBQ
(4)
Brian D.
When I walked in the place was filled with smoke. I asked the guy at the counter and he said it was because he just emptied the pans. I asked if the wings were fried or smoked since the smoky atmosphere got me in the mood for smoked meat but they are fried. The cook came up and told me I could get smoked wings but I would have to call ahead a few hours in advance. I ordered ribs with coleslaw and baked beans. The BBQ sauce was awesome but lacking and when I went for the bottle on the table it was wing sauce! The meat was cooked well and tender but NOT SMOKED. Smoked meat has a natural ring around it that shows it was cooked correctly, slow and low and this was lacking. I got a picture of the cut open rib. The coleslaw was bland but it's hard to find good coleslaw that isn't homemade. The beans were awesome. I guess I should have checked the sign before I went in because they started closing up shop around me. For BBQ there has to be a better place than Alex's around Carrollwood.
(2)
Amber H.
The bbq was good, and I love the fact that the sauce was sweet. The macaroni and cheese was amazing, and so was the okra. I really can't find anything wrong with the food at all. So why 3 stars? Because I was greeted with a very off-putting "Hey. Let me know when you're ready to order". To me, customer service, and a smile, and maybe a hint of "I'm happy you're spending money in my establishment, when there's hundreds of others to choose from" goes a long way. It's a shame that people don't understand that these days. I felt like a burden as a customer,so even though I found the food to be excellent and authentic, I more than likely will take my business to a place that wants it.
(3)
Mark D.
I'm a big fan of BBQ and the places around Tampa can be pretty bad, so we decided to give this little Strip Mall special a shot. It looks dreadful from the outside and every bit as bad when you walk in. It's not overly clean and the help range from indifferent to merely adequate. However, good food trumps all and the food here is pretty darn good. Sampled the Pulled Pork which was excellent and the Brisket which was merely good. Came back soon after and tried other stuff, all of which ranged from pretty good to downright excellent. I guess you need to remember...never judge a book by its cover because this place is FAR better than it looks.
(4)
Daniel P.
Not much to say here food was just ok. Kinda expensive for what you get as well. Place also really needs to be remodeled
(2)
Larissa N.
Must say, I like this place better than jazzys. The macaroni was smaller and had more flavor. Potato salad had delicious chunks. And ribs were perfect. The only thing I didn't care for is the fact that your given white bread instead of corn bread. Coleslaw and potato salad is better at jazzys as per my dad. Alex bbq is a MUST TRY. Also a wonderful place bc they're very involved with community.
(4)
Steve E.
YUM!!!! I love me some good Southern barbeque, and the folks from Alex's Southern-style Bar-B Q in Northern Carrollwood know how to load up their smoker with some very tasty food. As their slogan says, this place is "very Southern, very Country, and very good!" Alex and his team park their smoker near the intersection of Ehrlich and W. Village Drive (roughly across the street from Ackerman's Jewelers) every weekend, and you can smell the wood smoke and the slow-cooked meats as you approach the area. The actual restaurant is in a small (mostly vacant) strip mall along W. Village Drive. Don't be surprised to see a lot of Sheriff's cars parked there during lunch time, because the food here is outstanding, and the locals know it! The menu is your basic combination of pork ribs, chopped beef, pulled pork, smoked chicken, smoked homemade sausages, and smoked wings. The sides include BBQ beans, cole slaw, potato salad, Mac & Cheese, corn on the cob, fries, fried okra, onion rings, and collard greens. The meat is served without sauce, and you can choose to add their mildly sweet sauce, or the smoky spicy sauce as you please. Honestly the meats taste excellent without the sauce - as it should be. In addition to the delicious food, Alex is best known for his "Xmas for the Kids" bicycle drive. Each year he begins collecting bicycles, and donations for bicycles, from his customers, and then he gives the under-privileged kids in the community a bicycle and a bike helmet for Christmas. It's a great story of community involvement, and another great reason for you to visit Alex's Southern-style Bar-B Q.
(5)
Jonathan S.
Having grown up nearby to Alex's this is the BBQ I judge most BBQ against. Everything is great here. I love having the big boy platter or some Brunswick stew, but my go to food is a full rack of ribs with cole slaw and fried okra! Southern heaven in the plate. You know it's going to be great just after you walk in and are hit with the beautiful aroma of smoke and pork. Try anything and you won't be disappointed, just make sure you slather it in their delicious sauce!!!
(5)
Haley B.
Do not go another day in your life with out stopping into this carnivores paradise! Alex's has been around foreverrr and it is for obvious reasons. I highly recommend the pulled pork sandwich, ribs, Mac n cheese, onion rings, cole slaw, beans....umm yeah pretty much everything. All I'm saying is when you smell the smokey gold rolling out of Alex's firepit while at the ehrlich and west village light don't just keep going, pull in!
(5)
AaronErin D.
With a craving for great BBQ, we ended up stopping here for a quick bite to eat during our travels in Tampa. The staff behind the ordering counter were extremely friendly and professional. You simply go to the counter and order your selection of food and they will call you up when it's ready. Yes this isn't a fancy BBQ restaurant, the food is served on plastic/paper plates, but when has BBQ food been "fancy"? With many amazing options on the menu, I finally decided to order the Pulled Pork Platter with Cole Slaw & BBQ beans, it was delicious!! I loved every bite of it. This was a great find!
(4)
Lee L.
I'm sorry we tried it and it was not tasty at all. The only reason we came here was 4 rivers smokehouse had a line going outside the building. Alex's was practically empty and I now know why. Maybe I'm spoiled having moved here from Austin, Tx and having Franklins bbq and the salt lick bbq this was not even in the same ball park. This is just my 2 cent, but look at the pictures all food is drowning in bbq sauce for a reason to try and add some flavor.
(1)
Melissa C.
Ribs, chicken, beef are good. Sauce is ok. Make sure you say light sauce bc the put a lot. Hamburgers are not good they're like bubba burgers, and hotdog I tried was old from morning in fact it was white inside, and they put it on Texas toast instead of a bun. So stay with ribs, chicken, or pork. One bad thing is they are not always consistent. Sometimes great. Sometimes it'll do, and one time when I ordered that hotdog was BAD. But I'll still order again.
(3)
Andrea B.
Disclaimer on my BBQ reviews: I don't do pork, which for some folks IS BBQ, so my experience of most BBQ joints may be really different than yours. I really wanted to like Alex's. First, I love being able to support business that give back to the community and Alex's has a great program of repairing and providing bicycles. Second, this place is in a great location for me and I would have loved to have someplace close with outstanding BBQ. But alas - Alex's is not for me. I had the beef dinner with mac n' cheese and baked beans. The beef by itself was okay but a little dry. With the sauce, it was overwhelmingly sweet - a theme that was repeated in the beans. The beans tasted of nothing but brown sugar with maybe a few spices peeking through the sugar-coated main taste. The mac n' cheese was okay, but I've actually had better versions that came from a box. My dinner companion had pork and proclaimed it "okay". He would probably visit here again, but I don't think I will be.
(1)
Ashley P.
Stopped in here with the boyfriend to give it a try. We got the giant combination platter and shared it. Everything was good. We didn't care for the chicken, okra was a little to salted and Mac and cheese wasn't by definition southern. But it was good! The thing that'll get us to come back is the girl working the front desk. Very nice and helpful even brought us extra plates to split without us asking. Everything was juicy and not dry not the best I've had but not the worse either. We'd eat here again. But the should invest in some music instead of playing planet of the apes on the tvs.
(4)
Patricia L.
This was our first visit and we tried the big boy (all meats and two sides to sample each meat). I would recommend the ribs. My friends also enjoyed the pork (I do not care for pork so did not try). The brisket did not actually seem to be brisket, but more of a pot roast. The chicken was dark meat and not very good, neither was the sausage (lacked flavor). The hot sauce is a little runny, so mixed with regular sauce. The sides - Mac and cheese and beans - were ok but would not recommend. Next visit, if just get a bunch of ribs.
(3)
Erin S.
I REALLY need to stop watching the Food Network. I get so impulsive after salivating over the food for hours. Today in particular, they were showcasing BBQ and the craving hit me quick. My boyfriend suggested Alex's, which is a childhood favorite of his. The joint is nothing special, and you go to the counter and order, then pick the food up at the counter and bring it back to your table. The employee who took our order was seriously lacking in any type of personality or liveliness, but the food made up for it. I decided to give in to my inner 300 pound woman and ordered the 3 meat trio with two sides: ribs, chicken, pulled pork with mac n cheese and onion rings. I slathered on alex's bbq sauce to all three meats after I received my food(quickly!). A little too sweet for my liking but still a solid sauce. Ribs were yum, pork was super yum, the mac n cheese was rich and delicious, and the onion rings were decent. The only real complaint regarding the food is the chicken was definitely on the dry side, but having covered it in sauce; I still devoured it anyway. This was a TON of food(easily could feed two people) for 13$. The whole menu seemed to be very fair regarding price. Also, if any management is reading....you should seriously consider putting wet naps or good paper towels on every table. The napkins were at the counter and were very cheap ones, kinda sucked trying to clean up after. But alas, food was awesome and ill be back for sure.
(4)
Kyle S.
Best BBQ in Tampa and probably the best pulled pork sandwich I've every had. The pulled pork sandwiches are moist, smoky, and flavorful, and the price is more than reasonable. The sauce is of the sweet variety and is absolutely spectacular. There is nowhere else in Tampa that does BBQ like this.
(5)
Shani B.
I've been coming here since I was a child! Every time my dad says he's getting BBQ I only ask for Alex's. This bbq is the best ive ever had, and their chopped pork sandwich is my favorite, as well as all of their sides. Alex is a great guy too with the bike drive he does. Live this place :)
(5)
Arden M.
This is the kind of barbecue that when you take a bite you just want to punch someone in the face because it's so good and you can't believe you went through life without it. The meat is tender and flavorful, the service is great and it's not a 'chain' place (if you eat here you will never eat at Sonny's again). I love it.... and the prices are reasonable.
(5)
Cara D.
This is the best barbeque we've had since moving back here from Mississippi - although, to be honest, it's one of the very few family-owned places we've found. The portions are beyond generous - we ordered their Big Boy platter (I believe that is what it is called, please forgive me if I mangled it) and had enough food to feed my husband, me, and our two kids. We even had some food left over, and not because it was bad! All of the food was excellent. I personally loved their ribs, although my husband prefers their BBQ/sliced pork. Their prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get.
(5)
Josh K.
So, we had Alex's at our work for lunch a couple of months ago and it was good. I was driving by the restaurant and decided to stop in for a quick bite... Inside the restaurant are pictures on the wall of old time Tampa and memorabilia. I ordered the BBQ Chicken with a side of baked beans and coleslaw. We were told to help ourselves to drinks and our order would be up soon. I dispensed some sweet tea and when I first took a sip, it tasted like the inside of the container had not been cleaned out in a long time... I switched to soda... but was hesitant. The food came out and the first thing I noticed was that the chicken was COVERED in BBQ sauce. To me that is a red flag as if they were trying to hide something. And I was not proven wrong. The meat on the chicken was dry and only a couple of bites per piece, I like BBQ sauce, but it should only be used in compliment with, not as the main attraction. I tried the beans and they were sweet... Like somebody dumped a ton of sugar in the pot. I know some people like their beans this way, however, I am not a fan. ...the coleslaw was okay... Maybe it was just the night I went, but it is going to take a lot to bring me back.
(2)
Rob x.
Don't waste your money unless you just want to try it for yourself like I did today!!! :-( I ONLY gave it 2 stars because of the portion side which were nice, however, the meat & sauce was tasteless. Very DISAPOINTING to say the least!! I can do better BQ by using EMERIL'S SMOKER BAG in my oven!!! :-) If you enjoy tasteless BQ then this is the place for you. People ,,,,,,,,,,,,you be the judge!!!
(2)
B K.
Alex hooks it up...hands down best BBQ in town.
(5)
Tracy G.
I stumbled upon Alex's Southern Style Bar-B-Q after a dentist appointment while heading back to work. While stopped at an intersection, the smell of BBQ filled the air and I found myself turning into their parking lot. I was warmly greeted as soon as I walked in and after trying to decide what to order, I went with chicken wings, deep fried okra and mac n' cheese. Tender and juicy, their wings are smoked and dressed in their signature sauce. Delish! The friend okra was perfection and the mac n' cheese was fab. I chatted with owner Alex for a bit and learned about their history. If you are looking for excellent BBQ in Carrollwood, stop by Alex's.
(4)
Evo E.
If you are looking for that great barbecue pit that reminds you of cook outs when you were a kid. This place is not it. The food was terrible. The meat tasted like it had been left on the grill way too long. Sides were horrible, they tasted microwaved. Very very sub par place to eat. Wouldn't eat this food again even if it were free. Best part about it was the friendly girl who took our order. If I owned a restaurant I'd hire her. But The food is not worth the trip. If you haven't eaten here before I would recommend you skip it. it's not even good for a quick fix. The Sauce is very sweet, the beans are very sweet. I like my foods sweet but it seems they were "thickened" to keep fresh for a long period of time, this place is just awful. Besides the friendly service from the girl behind the register. This was a place I can't wait to forget.
(1)
Jackson P.
It's smoky like a maternity ward and juicy like NPR. If you add enough hot sauce, the sweetness of the house sauce is tamed enough to tackle.
(2)
mark s.
Great southern style bbq. Also, don't eat their baked beans. Not because they are horrible, they are so good you might find yourself stopping by daily just for their baked beans! The only peeve i have is their chickens are on the smaller side, not a deal breaker though since the quality is so good.
(4)
Ann A.
Great food, great price, great story. Our family "go to" meal is the Pulled Pork Family Pack. It comes with about a pound of pulled pork, 4 buns, bbq sauce, and 3 sides. We usually get fries (wedges), fried okra, and baked beans. They are ALL good! Best part? All that for about $20. We get this meal about every other Sunday after church, to go. It is smoky inside, so if you eat in, you will smell like bbq all day long! Alex has an annual Christmas bike drive for kids in need. He is a constant presence in the community as one of the good guys! Everything else we've eaten there has been pretty tasty: sausage, ribs, chicken. The to-go pork sandwich is HUGE and will take care of your lunchtime hunger!
(4)
Brian L.
I have been here about 2 or more times a month. While that SOUNDS like an endorsement, it is not. It is convenient, NOT good. The meats are okay, at best. Smoked okay, but no real flavor. Sauce is acceptable, but not good. Service is marginal. Go somewhere else for REAL flavorful BBQ. Go there to get something "okay". Try Sonny's....
(1)
Michael B.
Hands down best BBQ in the area. I have been coming here for years with complete satisfaction. Fantastic lunch specials. Alex himself makes the BBQ sauce and it is DELICIOUS!
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 Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
David F.
I can't speak for the whole menu. The pulled pork was decent, the sauce had a pretty nice, but sweet flavor. Nothing to write home about, but it hit the spot. The bread was right out of the package. Good slaw and good beans. Not a heavyweight in a BBQ fight, but will satisfy your hunger for bbq in a pinch.
(3)Tim D.
The best ribs in Tampa, not a big fan of Alex's sauce but the food makes up for it
(5)Lulu C.
Went for lunch today - got rib dinner with cole slaw and fried okra, my husband got the big dinner (has some cheesy name) with bbq chicken, ribs, pulled pork, and sausage with mac and cheese and baked beans. My ribs were great - fall off the bone, the whole deal. Maybe 1 or 2 ends of the ribs were a bit dry, but they were small pieces. The sauce is great - it's a good balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy; just seems very well balanced. The dinner comes with 4 good sized ribs served on those styrofoam plates with 3 sections. The 2 smaller sections hold your sides. The cole slaw was okay. Not very tangy, which I like. It's quite mild. Fried okra was very good - they are chopped into 1" cubes before frying. Mine were piping hot having just come out of the fryer. Okra tasted fresh. My husband's plate was bigger to accommodate all the meat, all of which were fantastic. The BBQ chicken was fantastic - super juicy and flavorful. Sausage was outta this world - smoky and juicy. Didn't try his pulled pork, but he liked it. Sides were very good too, kind of wish I got the mac 'n' cheese and beans instead (I was trying to be all low carb). The dinners come w/ 2 triangles of Texas toast - just thicker white bread. Guess if you want to make a sandwich you can, but I didn't eat my bread. My rib dinner was $9 and my husband's was $12. You can check out the menu on urbanspoon. Decor - real no frills, old-school kind of place, which I think is the perfect setting for real down home BBQ - just about the food. Don't expect it to be about more than that, although I personally find it to be charming. You can watch the guys prepare all the food behind the counter. There is a smoke pit built into the wall, which is really cool and has like a ton of whole chickens in it at once plus the other meats. There is another closed smoker next to it. I would definitely recommend going. Solid BBQ, great meat, great sauce, awesome prices. Not sure how it compares to the other Tampa bbqs; the only other one I went to while I was down was Smokin' J's - awesome as well.
(4)Jon A.
When our family say "let's get BBQ", 75% of the time we mean Alex's. We love the pulled/chopped pork, fries/wedges, and okra. We usually get takeout because it can be pretty smoky inside, but we've eaten in a couple of times. We also love Alex's story (read the newspaper clippings on the walls sometime) and have donated to the Christmas bikes fund several times.
(4)Holly S.
The best barbecue in Tampa. Alex does a great job with the bbq meats. The chopped pork is always a fave, the beef is also great. I never get chicken here, so I can't say. They also cater; they're my goto place for quick get-togethers at the house. The baked beans are in a world of their own - by far the best I have ever had.
(5)Leah N.
Huge hit! I had a party last night with around 50 people, and Alex's catered. The party was on Davis Islands, and most of the attendees had never had Alex's before. I got tons of compliments on the food--pulled pork, wings, mac n cheese, green beans, baked beans, and cole slaw. The food was very fresh, and my party guests all wanted to know where it was from. I will definitely have Alex's cater for my next event. Thanks to Sean and Matt who delivered it and set it all up!
(5)Dagmar D.
New to the Carrollwood area. Love BBQ and a fan of good customer svc...Ordered the Big Boy. ..Tall man took the order. Very short and curt. Didn't say thank, didn't tell me when the order was coming up, just walked off without saying anything. Came back to pick up my order, my order was ready. He seen me come in and never said that my food was ready...just kept talking. ..had to ask him is my food ready? just deliberate bad customer service. Big boy comes with all the meats...Meat was not the best and not the worst. It was okay. Had greens and mac and cheese for sides. greens had no taste..love good BBQ so I guess I'll keep searching
(2)Paul F.
From the moment you walk in you can smell good barbecue. We've been coming to Alex's for the last two years and try to make it a once a week stop. I love the pulled pork and with the open kitchen you can see and smell your food the whole time it's being cooked. We recommend this place to all our customers that come into our shop, it's that good! And every year Alex's Restaurant donates a bunch of bicycles and toys to children in need. It's amazing how many bikes they get every Christmas, must make a bunch of kids holidays better.
(5)Mr N.
I've been going to Alex's for a long time. Just good ol' BBQ. Nothing wrong with that...
(3)Ben N.
It's not the best BBQ. It's not the worst BBQ. It's just good BBQ. I've been going here for years and most of the time you get the smokey, tender meat that Alex's is known for however on occasion a few pieces of tough and dry pork will make its way into your order. Luckily, most meals come with a side of their sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. My go to meal is the Big Boy Platter which easily lives up to its name. For under $15, you get 2 ribs, a chicken thigh, sliced sausage, and a generous portion of pulled pork that I never seem to finish no matter how hungry I am. If that isn't enough, it also comes with your choice of 2 sides including but not limited to the following: 1) Mac and Cheese - My personal favorite. Its soft and not overly cheesy with a kick of black pepper and pinch of cayenne. 2) Fried okra - Like all their fried items, each order is individually cooked resulting in a crispy,lightly seasoned outside with a tender inside. 3) Fries - large thick cut steak fries that come out steaming hot from the fryer. Be careful not to burn your mouth eating them. 4) Corn on the cob - I'd stay away from these. Every time I've ordered, I've gotten soggy, chewy, and bland corn that has had all its flavored leached away from sitting in whatever cooker they use to keep their corn warm. 5+6) Beans and slaw - I grouped these together because they seem pretty standard to me. It's one of Carrolwood's long time staples where locals know they can rely on Alex for a decent meal. I know I do. TL;DR - Good bang for your buck BBQ
(4)Brian D.
When I walked in the place was filled with smoke. I asked the guy at the counter and he said it was because he just emptied the pans. I asked if the wings were fried or smoked since the smoky atmosphere got me in the mood for smoked meat but they are fried. The cook came up and told me I could get smoked wings but I would have to call ahead a few hours in advance. I ordered ribs with coleslaw and baked beans. The BBQ sauce was awesome but lacking and when I went for the bottle on the table it was wing sauce! The meat was cooked well and tender but NOT SMOKED. Smoked meat has a natural ring around it that shows it was cooked correctly, slow and low and this was lacking. I got a picture of the cut open rib. The coleslaw was bland but it's hard to find good coleslaw that isn't homemade. The beans were awesome. I guess I should have checked the sign before I went in because they started closing up shop around me. For BBQ there has to be a better place than Alex's around Carrollwood.
(2)Amber H.
The bbq was good, and I love the fact that the sauce was sweet. The macaroni and cheese was amazing, and so was the okra. I really can't find anything wrong with the food at all. So why 3 stars? Because I was greeted with a very off-putting "Hey. Let me know when you're ready to order". To me, customer service, and a smile, and maybe a hint of "I'm happy you're spending money in my establishment, when there's hundreds of others to choose from" goes a long way. It's a shame that people don't understand that these days. I felt like a burden as a customer,so even though I found the food to be excellent and authentic, I more than likely will take my business to a place that wants it.
(3)Mark D.
I'm a big fan of BBQ and the places around Tampa can be pretty bad, so we decided to give this little Strip Mall special a shot. It looks dreadful from the outside and every bit as bad when you walk in. It's not overly clean and the help range from indifferent to merely adequate. However, good food trumps all and the food here is pretty darn good. Sampled the Pulled Pork which was excellent and the Brisket which was merely good. Came back soon after and tried other stuff, all of which ranged from pretty good to downright excellent. I guess you need to remember...never judge a book by its cover because this place is FAR better than it looks.
(4)Daniel P.
Not much to say here food was just ok. Kinda expensive for what you get as well. Place also really needs to be remodeled
(2)Larissa N.
Must say, I like this place better than jazzys. The macaroni was smaller and had more flavor. Potato salad had delicious chunks. And ribs were perfect. The only thing I didn't care for is the fact that your given white bread instead of corn bread. Coleslaw and potato salad is better at jazzys as per my dad. Alex bbq is a MUST TRY. Also a wonderful place bc they're very involved with community.
(4)Steve E.
YUM!!!! I love me some good Southern barbeque, and the folks from Alex's Southern-style Bar-B Q in Northern Carrollwood know how to load up their smoker with some very tasty food. As their slogan says, this place is "very Southern, very Country, and very good!" Alex and his team park their smoker near the intersection of Ehrlich and W. Village Drive (roughly across the street from Ackerman's Jewelers) every weekend, and you can smell the wood smoke and the slow-cooked meats as you approach the area. The actual restaurant is in a small (mostly vacant) strip mall along W. Village Drive. Don't be surprised to see a lot of Sheriff's cars parked there during lunch time, because the food here is outstanding, and the locals know it! The menu is your basic combination of pork ribs, chopped beef, pulled pork, smoked chicken, smoked homemade sausages, and smoked wings. The sides include BBQ beans, cole slaw, potato salad, Mac & Cheese, corn on the cob, fries, fried okra, onion rings, and collard greens. The meat is served without sauce, and you can choose to add their mildly sweet sauce, or the smoky spicy sauce as you please. Honestly the meats taste excellent without the sauce - as it should be. In addition to the delicious food, Alex is best known for his "Xmas for the Kids" bicycle drive. Each year he begins collecting bicycles, and donations for bicycles, from his customers, and then he gives the under-privileged kids in the community a bicycle and a bike helmet for Christmas. It's a great story of community involvement, and another great reason for you to visit Alex's Southern-style Bar-B Q.
(5)Jonathan S.
Having grown up nearby to Alex's this is the BBQ I judge most BBQ against. Everything is great here. I love having the big boy platter or some Brunswick stew, but my go to food is a full rack of ribs with cole slaw and fried okra! Southern heaven in the plate. You know it's going to be great just after you walk in and are hit with the beautiful aroma of smoke and pork. Try anything and you won't be disappointed, just make sure you slather it in their delicious sauce!!!
(5)Haley B.
Do not go another day in your life with out stopping into this carnivores paradise! Alex's has been around foreverrr and it is for obvious reasons. I highly recommend the pulled pork sandwich, ribs, Mac n cheese, onion rings, cole slaw, beans....umm yeah pretty much everything. All I'm saying is when you smell the smokey gold rolling out of Alex's firepit while at the ehrlich and west village light don't just keep going, pull in!
(5)AaronErin D.
With a craving for great BBQ, we ended up stopping here for a quick bite to eat during our travels in Tampa. The staff behind the ordering counter were extremely friendly and professional. You simply go to the counter and order your selection of food and they will call you up when it's ready. Yes this isn't a fancy BBQ restaurant, the food is served on plastic/paper plates, but when has BBQ food been "fancy"? With many amazing options on the menu, I finally decided to order the Pulled Pork Platter with Cole Slaw & BBQ beans, it was delicious!! I loved every bite of it. This was a great find!
(4)Lee L.
I'm sorry we tried it and it was not tasty at all. The only reason we came here was 4 rivers smokehouse had a line going outside the building. Alex's was practically empty and I now know why. Maybe I'm spoiled having moved here from Austin, Tx and having Franklins bbq and the salt lick bbq this was not even in the same ball park. This is just my 2 cent, but look at the pictures all food is drowning in bbq sauce for a reason to try and add some flavor.
(1)Melissa C.
Ribs, chicken, beef are good. Sauce is ok. Make sure you say light sauce bc the put a lot. Hamburgers are not good they're like bubba burgers, and hotdog I tried was old from morning in fact it was white inside, and they put it on Texas toast instead of a bun. So stay with ribs, chicken, or pork. One bad thing is they are not always consistent. Sometimes great. Sometimes it'll do, and one time when I ordered that hotdog was BAD. But I'll still order again.
(3)Andrea B.
Disclaimer on my BBQ reviews: I don't do pork, which for some folks IS BBQ, so my experience of most BBQ joints may be really different than yours. I really wanted to like Alex's. First, I love being able to support business that give back to the community and Alex's has a great program of repairing and providing bicycles. Second, this place is in a great location for me and I would have loved to have someplace close with outstanding BBQ. But alas - Alex's is not for me. I had the beef dinner with mac n' cheese and baked beans. The beef by itself was okay but a little dry. With the sauce, it was overwhelmingly sweet - a theme that was repeated in the beans. The beans tasted of nothing but brown sugar with maybe a few spices peeking through the sugar-coated main taste. The mac n' cheese was okay, but I've actually had better versions that came from a box. My dinner companion had pork and proclaimed it "okay". He would probably visit here again, but I don't think I will be.
(1)Ashley P.
Stopped in here with the boyfriend to give it a try. We got the giant combination platter and shared it. Everything was good. We didn't care for the chicken, okra was a little to salted and Mac and cheese wasn't by definition southern. But it was good! The thing that'll get us to come back is the girl working the front desk. Very nice and helpful even brought us extra plates to split without us asking. Everything was juicy and not dry not the best I've had but not the worse either. We'd eat here again. But the should invest in some music instead of playing planet of the apes on the tvs.
(4)Patricia L.
This was our first visit and we tried the big boy (all meats and two sides to sample each meat). I would recommend the ribs. My friends also enjoyed the pork (I do not care for pork so did not try). The brisket did not actually seem to be brisket, but more of a pot roast. The chicken was dark meat and not very good, neither was the sausage (lacked flavor). The hot sauce is a little runny, so mixed with regular sauce. The sides - Mac and cheese and beans - were ok but would not recommend. Next visit, if just get a bunch of ribs.
(3)Erin S.
I REALLY need to stop watching the Food Network. I get so impulsive after salivating over the food for hours. Today in particular, they were showcasing BBQ and the craving hit me quick. My boyfriend suggested Alex's, which is a childhood favorite of his. The joint is nothing special, and you go to the counter and order, then pick the food up at the counter and bring it back to your table. The employee who took our order was seriously lacking in any type of personality or liveliness, but the food made up for it. I decided to give in to my inner 300 pound woman and ordered the 3 meat trio with two sides: ribs, chicken, pulled pork with mac n cheese and onion rings. I slathered on alex's bbq sauce to all three meats after I received my food(quickly!). A little too sweet for my liking but still a solid sauce. Ribs were yum, pork was super yum, the mac n cheese was rich and delicious, and the onion rings were decent. The only real complaint regarding the food is the chicken was definitely on the dry side, but having covered it in sauce; I still devoured it anyway. This was a TON of food(easily could feed two people) for 13$. The whole menu seemed to be very fair regarding price. Also, if any management is reading....you should seriously consider putting wet naps or good paper towels on every table. The napkins were at the counter and were very cheap ones, kinda sucked trying to clean up after. But alas, food was awesome and ill be back for sure.
(4)Kyle S.
Best BBQ in Tampa and probably the best pulled pork sandwich I've every had. The pulled pork sandwiches are moist, smoky, and flavorful, and the price is more than reasonable. The sauce is of the sweet variety and is absolutely spectacular. There is nowhere else in Tampa that does BBQ like this.
(5)Shani B.
I've been coming here since I was a child! Every time my dad says he's getting BBQ I only ask for Alex's. This bbq is the best ive ever had, and their chopped pork sandwich is my favorite, as well as all of their sides. Alex is a great guy too with the bike drive he does. Live this place :)
(5)Arden M.
This is the kind of barbecue that when you take a bite you just want to punch someone in the face because it's so good and you can't believe you went through life without it. The meat is tender and flavorful, the service is great and it's not a 'chain' place (if you eat here you will never eat at Sonny's again). I love it.... and the prices are reasonable.
(5)Cara D.
This is the best barbeque we've had since moving back here from Mississippi - although, to be honest, it's one of the very few family-owned places we've found. The portions are beyond generous - we ordered their Big Boy platter (I believe that is what it is called, please forgive me if I mangled it) and had enough food to feed my husband, me, and our two kids. We even had some food left over, and not because it was bad! All of the food was excellent. I personally loved their ribs, although my husband prefers their BBQ/sliced pork. Their prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get.
(5)Josh K.
So, we had Alex's at our work for lunch a couple of months ago and it was good. I was driving by the restaurant and decided to stop in for a quick bite... Inside the restaurant are pictures on the wall of old time Tampa and memorabilia. I ordered the BBQ Chicken with a side of baked beans and coleslaw. We were told to help ourselves to drinks and our order would be up soon. I dispensed some sweet tea and when I first took a sip, it tasted like the inside of the container had not been cleaned out in a long time... I switched to soda... but was hesitant. The food came out and the first thing I noticed was that the chicken was COVERED in BBQ sauce. To me that is a red flag as if they were trying to hide something. And I was not proven wrong. The meat on the chicken was dry and only a couple of bites per piece, I like BBQ sauce, but it should only be used in compliment with, not as the main attraction. I tried the beans and they were sweet... Like somebody dumped a ton of sugar in the pot. I know some people like their beans this way, however, I am not a fan. ...the coleslaw was okay... Maybe it was just the night I went, but it is going to take a lot to bring me back.
(2)Rob x.
Don't waste your money unless you just want to try it for yourself like I did today!!! :-( I ONLY gave it 2 stars because of the portion side which were nice, however, the meat & sauce was tasteless. Very DISAPOINTING to say the least!! I can do better BQ by using EMERIL'S SMOKER BAG in my oven!!! :-) If you enjoy tasteless BQ then this is the place for you. People ,,,,,,,,,,,,you be the judge!!!
(2)B K.
Alex hooks it up...hands down best BBQ in town.
(5)Tracy G.
I stumbled upon Alex's Southern Style Bar-B-Q after a dentist appointment while heading back to work. While stopped at an intersection, the smell of BBQ filled the air and I found myself turning into their parking lot. I was warmly greeted as soon as I walked in and after trying to decide what to order, I went with chicken wings, deep fried okra and mac n' cheese. Tender and juicy, their wings are smoked and dressed in their signature sauce. Delish! The friend okra was perfection and the mac n' cheese was fab. I chatted with owner Alex for a bit and learned about their history. If you are looking for excellent BBQ in Carrollwood, stop by Alex's.
(4)Evo E.
If you are looking for that great barbecue pit that reminds you of cook outs when you were a kid. This place is not it. The food was terrible. The meat tasted like it had been left on the grill way too long. Sides were horrible, they tasted microwaved. Very very sub par place to eat. Wouldn't eat this food again even if it were free. Best part about it was the friendly girl who took our order. If I owned a restaurant I'd hire her. But The food is not worth the trip. If you haven't eaten here before I would recommend you skip it. it's not even good for a quick fix. The Sauce is very sweet, the beans are very sweet. I like my foods sweet but it seems they were "thickened" to keep fresh for a long period of time, this place is just awful. Besides the friendly service from the girl behind the register. This was a place I can't wait to forget.
(1)Jackson P.
It's smoky like a maternity ward and juicy like NPR. If you add enough hot sauce, the sweetness of the house sauce is tamed enough to tackle.
(2)mark s.
Great southern style bbq. Also, don't eat their baked beans. Not because they are horrible, they are so good you might find yourself stopping by daily just for their baked beans! The only peeve i have is their chickens are on the smaller side, not a deal breaker though since the quality is so good.
(4)Ann A.
Great food, great price, great story. Our family "go to" meal is the Pulled Pork Family Pack. It comes with about a pound of pulled pork, 4 buns, bbq sauce, and 3 sides. We usually get fries (wedges), fried okra, and baked beans. They are ALL good! Best part? All that for about $20. We get this meal about every other Sunday after church, to go. It is smoky inside, so if you eat in, you will smell like bbq all day long! Alex has an annual Christmas bike drive for kids in need. He is a constant presence in the community as one of the good guys! Everything else we've eaten there has been pretty tasty: sausage, ribs, chicken. The to-go pork sandwich is HUGE and will take care of your lunchtime hunger!
(4)Brian L.
I have been here about 2 or more times a month. While that SOUNDS like an endorsement, it is not. It is convenient, NOT good. The meats are okay, at best. Smoked okay, but no real flavor. Sauce is acceptable, but not good. Service is marginal. Go somewhere else for REAL flavorful BBQ. Go there to get something "okay". Try Sonny's....
(1)Michael B.
Hands down best BBQ in the area. I have been coming here for years with complete satisfaction. Fantastic lunch specials. Alex himself makes the BBQ sauce and it is DELICIOUS!
(5)