Jimbo’s Pit Bar-B-Q
4103 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33609
Jimbo’s Pit Bar-B-Q Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Tampa for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
4103 W Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL, 33609 - Phone (813) 289-1006
- Website https://jimbosbarbq.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 10:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Lauren C.
Jimbo's has been a Tampa BBQ spot for many many years. The environment here is nothing special, in fact its just a low key no frills BBQ place. They also have a drive thru for those on the go, but it's not the quickest service and generally the drive thru wait time is 10 minutes or so. The pulled pork sammy was good, I like the BBQ Sauces. The sides are also tasty here, my favorites are the baked beans and the mac 'n cheese. It's not the absolute #1 best BBQ i've ever had, but I think it's a decent reasonably priced meal so for that I give it 3 stars
(3)Todd W.
This is more like visiting someone's cabin than being in a Tampa Bay Area restaurant. There is plenty of comfort to go with the comfort food being served here. Employees talk to you like friends and seem to really enjoy their jobs, whether they are on the floor or at the drive-thru window. My food has always been very good and consistent in its flavor. Usually, I go inside to order take-out just because I'd rather get out of my car for a few minutes and it doesn't take very long for them to have it ready. While I don't eat them often, ribs here are always on my radar and not a messy dining experience at all. Sandwiches are always very filling also and do not ignore the entree salad options either. Oh, those hush puppies always hit the spot too.
(4)Jc M.
Jump in the food is tasty , the sauce superb The best sadwich beats others hands down
(4)John T.
I always get their pulled pork sandwich platter. I get the large because I like it so much but should get the regular size as I always get too full. I see a lot of people don't like the fact they only have one type of sauce. I can see where this would be a problem if you happen not to like their bbq sauce but I love it. I have never had bad service. I get sweet tea when I go there and they are always getting my refills without me having to ask and always ask if I want one to go. So if you can't tell I like this place and recommend you give it a try if you want some good BBQ.
(5)Melissa C.
I think this place is amazing. Hearty portions. Ready very quick. Green beans are my favorite, hush puppies are awesome. Ribs are meaty. Bbb ham is delicious. I can't say enough. If you're near westshore go here, the drive thru is fast too, it takes convenience to another level. Never tried the breakfast but I heard it's amazing as well.
(5)Jackson B.
Jimbo's BBQ is great, just, simply great. This is one of the top 3 BBQ places on my list in all of Tampa Bay. The staff is always friendly and fast and they always ask if you want to refill your tea for a to-go cup on the way out. If I wasn't on a motorcycle I'd surely take them up on this during our hot Tampa summers! Their breakfast is good... I mean how can you really screw up something straight out of a chicken... but it is a little over-priced.
(4)Don K.
The best hush puppies I ever had by far! The ribs are almost as good as Pappy's in STL. The chicken was very well smoked. But the best was a great side sauce, just the right amount of tangy sweetness or maybe the hot blueberry cobbler! Very good potato salad and green beans! Place could be a little cleaner to deserve 5 stars, but not a bad joint. Also Wear a sweater as the AC blows cold! Overall enjoyable and tasty.
(4)Tripp R.
Super good, nice folks and great setting for some real tasty bbq!
(5)Meaghan H.
Eh. Won't be back. Only 1 type of sauce, sides were bland. The meat was decent but nothing to write home about. I had my meal taken off the bill because I didn't have more than 3 or 4 bites. Hush puppies were awesome, though!
(2)Marissa S.
I got the two meat combo, chopped pork and ribs. It was a good price, and came with two sides. Also, they give you free hush puppies! The only recommendation I have, is to give bigger sides and have different flavors of BBQ sauce to choose from.
(5)Maranda S.
I came in today with my husband i ordered a rib dinner with a side of green beans and fries.My hubby ordered a 2 meat combo with beef and sausage with a side of coleslaw and bar b que beens.First let me start with the service.It is amazing our waitress came and checked on us constantly and always made sure our drinks were filled.As for the food the ribs were tender,jucy and the sauce toped it off perfectly. My fries and green beans were seasoned perfectly over all our experience here was great,I recommend Jimbos to all who love bar b que.
(5)Kristi J.
My absolute favorite BBQ place in Tampa. I love the bbq chopped pork. It has the right amount of sauce already on it. It doesn't get sloppy. If you want more sauce you can add it yourself. The sandwich comes with a mustard slaw and a hush puppy. I'm not a fan of coleslaw so I don't it it but the. Hush puppy is delish. They also have a bar of help yourself pickles and pepperccinis. It's a seat yourself place. They have long tables that can be shared in the middle of the place or smaller ones on the sides. You pay at the front at the register.
(4)Tiffany B.
Update: Giving them another star. I think they put time-released crack in their food, because although I wasn't 100% sold at first, now I find myself craving Jimbo's! Good, but not amazing. I ordered the chopped pork sandwich, with baked beans & coleslaw. The beans were tasty, but pretty average. The coleslaw had an oddly bitter flavor and was quite soupy when it should have been creamy. The sandwich was amazing, but it's pretty hard to screw up smoked pulled pork. Their house BBQ sauce was tasty, but nothing to drool about- nice flavor, but a little too fluid. Points for serving it warm though. Nice touch. I also partook in their blueberry cobbler a la mode. Best part of the meal. Sweet, but not cloying- the cobbler was studded with pecans & served with a ridiculous mountain of soft serve. Delicious! Would I give this place another shot? Probably, but i wouldn't say it's a must have.
(4)Ray W.
This is a great place if you're a local... ...and by that I mean that you will sit there and wait while the staff and management say hi to all their friends. Visited with my 5 year-old and, for the first time in my life, had to pick up our stuff and walk out. The food is good and the price is reasonable but the service is lousy. I don't think that one should have to visit a restaurant for years before feeling like they matter...
(2)Deneille D.
Quite possibly the worst BBQ I've ever had. The ribs and beef were both dry and tasteless. They were also lukewarm and the one sauce that they have was cold. The coleslaw had an unpleasant aftertaste and the potato salad was bland. And don't get me started on the hush puppies that were so salty that I could literally feel my blood pressure rising. I will never eat here again.
(1)John W.
This place is the best to go for smoked ribs in the area. There other meats are decent but the ribs are the best in the area. Their sides are only ok. I've been looking for a decent barbecue place in the area for a long time and this is the best one I found compared to other places in the state (not in Tampa). It's no four rivers but the best you can do until we get one in Tampa.
(4)Jessica M.
Great place for a quick, yummy lunch! The prices are good and the portions are large. Atmosphere is a classic bbq joint :) I just wish they would add some other side choices.
(5)Andrew C.
This was my first time at Jimbo's so I went all out and got the three meat platter with ribs, sausage and sliced pork with Mac and cheese and coleslaw. Sausage was nothing special, seemed more like a hot dog. Ribs were dry and mediocre at best. Sliced pork was average and nothing to write home about. So onto the sides, Mac was okay and coleslaw was underdressed. I'll stick to Mission BBQ, Holy Hog and Jazzys.
(3)Dan S.
I've been coming here since the early '90s, and I don't think anything has changed. And that is a good thing. I've eaten BBQ in at least a dozen cities, and Jimbos does it their way. I happen to like the warm sauce, especially on the pork, preferably sliced. I stick to the usual beans and fries, but sometimes change to green beans when I try to be healthy. I'll mix it up and get a 2 or 3 meat dinner occasionally. I am not supposed to eat the hush puppies now, but when they come on the plate anyway, they are great dipped in the beans. The self service pickles and peppers are a nice touch. Service quality will vary from visit to visit, but you can usually wave your hand and catch someone's eye. The other issue is if the parking lot is full, you may not find a seat so you'll either find new friends on one of the bigger tables or wait for a place to open up.
(4)Dominick T.
This is a great place for Barbq. Grab some pickles and peppers when you walk in at the bar. I love the ribs and the beef. The sandwiches are generous, and the sweet tea keeps flowing. The sauce is theirs and is peppery and placed on your table hot, so it doesn't cool off your meat. This place has been here for years and years, and South Tampa locals love it. Don't overlook breakfast here. the Ham is great with eggs, and the strawberry jelly served in little creamer pots. I love the biscuits.
(5)Steph M.
So disappointed. I ordered the beef sandwich, baked beans and mac n cheese. Sandwich was ok! Mac n Cheese, was a definite no-no. It looked like processed, school lunch, mac - ugh - and tasted like it too. The beans do have a special and unique sauce, but I wasn't a fan. 1 star for the food, but since service was good - I bumped them up to a 2
(2)Susan T.
Avoid this place at least for breakfast. The eggs were overcooked, the sausage was of cheap quality and the biscuit was a frozen kind. I understand that this is a low class establishment but, the servers work for tips. They could at least pretend like they want a tip. They take your order like it's bothering them. Someone drops off your food and leaves before verifying it's correct or if you need anything. They also drop off your bill at this time. No one offers to refill your drink or bothers to check on you. I guess they don't want your business!
(2)Michelle M.
The BBQ is pretty good at Jimbo's. The chopped pork sandwich platter with hush puppies is my favorite meal to order at Jimbo's. I can never decide on which sides I want because the coleslaw, baked beans, and french fries are all so good. Their mac & cheese is not my favorite. I have ordered it several times and it is always on the bland side. I think if they used less milk in the cheese sauce it would come out cheesier. I forgive Jimbo's because their hush puppies are so amazing! I recommend checking out their breakfast: you get a huge meal for $6! Expect a laid-back atmosphere, tasty BBQ, and cheap prices at Jimbo's.
(4)michelle l.
Solid BBQ with great sides. Now if only they served beer. The best thing about this place is the hush puppies. They are perfectly crispy with flavored. I could eat a ton, who needs the rest of the meal? The ribs don't fall off the bone, but they are soft and perfectly seasoned. I don't think they need the BBQ sauce (I do love that the BBQ is warmed before they bring it to the table in its bottle). The pulled pork is fine but not that remarkable. I found that it needed some hot sauce. For sides, we tried the green beans (so good, flavorful and whole not the usual soggy mess of reconstituted frozen beans served by BBQ place), the fries (perfectly crisp) and the mac n cheese (the pasta was overcooked -- that was expected, but the sauce was cheesy and rich). Jimbo's is pretty good for BBQ, but they really know their way around a deep fryer.
(4)EJ P.
I am a fan of this place b/c it reminds me of the Central and North Florida BBQ joints of my youth. If you are expecting gourmet BBQ, go elsewhere. I recommend the sliced pork, the baaked beans, the hush puppies. The mac-n-cheese is NOT good----AVOID.
(4)Gary I.
Obviously neither the owners or the reviewers have ever had GOOD BBQ. I'm a traveling salesman and have visited all three of the Mecca's of BBQ and this establishment doesn't even come close to what is served in them. I'm talking about Kansas City, Memphis, and all of Texas. No self respecting BBQ place says my sauce is the only thing we serve here because I said so. Not every one has the same taste. The pulled pork could have been roasted in the oven as there wasn't any smokiness to it at all. And really $2.20 for 10 spoonfuls of beans? Never again for me! Also dark and dingy decor didn't add to the overall impression
(1)Jack K.
I had the fish sandwich, which is an unusual choice for me at a BBQ place, but for some reason it looked really good. Jimbo's didn't disappoint...the sandwich was served hot and was obviously fresh. The sides could use some work--I didn't like the mac and cheese at all, though the potato salad was excellent.
(4)Christine E.
I have never had a bad meal from this place! order the hush puppies they are very yummy!
(4)Frank N.
I had often heard good things about Jimbos so when we happened to be in the area and hadn't had dinner yet......kismet. This place reeks of old fashion inside with all knotty pine wood furniture. It actually has table service instead of counter service....a nice touch. Wife and I tried the ribs, BBQ beef and sausage. She opted for the 1/3 rack rib dinner, 4 bones instead of the 1/2 rack, 6 bones. I got the 3 meat combo, ribs, beef and sausage. Both came with 2 sides and hush puppies. We had the cole slaw, good, French fries, solid, and the BBQ beans, quite good. When you first arrive and the server gives you your table setup, silverware....etc....they also bring out a squeeze bottle of the only BBQ sauce they have. It is a Carolina type sauce, thin, tasty, and it is Warm. A very nice touch, but back to the BBQ. The ribs are just wonderful, fall off the bone tender but not gamey the way ribs can get sometimes. The beef was good, served sliced very thin. This is not brisket though. The sausage tasted like kielbasa, sliced in half and cooked on the flatiron. Desert, blueberry crisp was more like blueberry soggy but it was edible with a very generous portion of soft serve vanilla. Wife's rib dinner - 9.99, mine, 13.99, not terribly expensive. The star here are the ribs. Worth a try. I'd give 3 and a half stars if I knew how to do halfs.
(3)Maria D.
Its ok. The ribs were pretty tough and the hush puppies were to salty. Went through the drive thru a couple of weeks ago and ordered the family meal. It was pretty inexpensive but I probably won't eat there again.
(3)Laura H.
Chopped pork + ribs + hush puppies + fries = happiness! As a moderately recent discoverer of BBQ, I'm into trying lots of different places...but I'll be going back here for sure!!!
(5)Ashley F.
Found this place ten minuets before they were closing. Was really looking for some BBQ and they really fit the bill. Much better than average, considering our order was ready in ten minuets. Great value, enough to feed 4 for a total cost of 23$ Had the pulled pork sammy which was a bi dry but still good. Hushpuppies, ribs, baked beans and onion rings were all stellar. Really hit the spot and even have some left-overs for the morning!
(4)Callie B.
The worst bbq I have had in my life. My husband and are both sick from it...stay far away...$30 down the drain
(1)Mary Grace P.
Had BBQ sliced pork for under $10 which came with 2 sides, of which I chose cole slaw and BBQ beans. It also came with their homemade BBQ sauce and a bisquit. I didn't get to eat the bisquit bc my naughty boxer stole it while I looked away for a second. Jerk. Most everything was pretty good. Loved the beans. I would probably want more seasoning on the pork however.
(3)Sean H.
I ignored advice to not get the ribs. Should have listened. Ribs were like the sile of a shoe, flavorless, dry and hard. Beef was dry and also flavorless. Lucky I found a squirt bottle if sauce on the table. Chicken was ok. Good news is that the coleslaw and hushpuppies we're very good. Won't go back when I cam back in Tampa.
(2)Kurtis K.
Let me preface my review by saying that I am from the Carolinas and am quite skeptical when it comes to trying BBQ down in Florida, although with this visit- I did my best to keep an open mind since the place seems successful and in a very good location. Unfortunately, I can't see how this place stays in business and why it gets patronized. The pulled pork wasn't the worst I have ever had, but it was mushy and I felt like it had been sitting in a pan over steaming water for quite some time. It was the only thing I can say I was able to stomach. The sides...oh, the sides. The mac-n-cheese was certainly some of the worst I have ever consumed. It tasted like Velveeta mac-n-cheese except they doubled the amount of water for the recipe...it had zero flavor and was very watery...and not cheesy at all. The green beans tasted like they came from a microwaveable steam pouch...they were tough and, like the mac-n-cheese, had zero flavor. The baked beans tasted like they were poured from a Bush's can, but had a bunch of ketchup added in. Completely disgusting sides on all points. Then I got to the hushpuppies that I read everyone raving about. While they seem to be "rare" in Florida and I can understand the love for them when found, they weren't anything to write home about either. I truly feel sorry for the people who feel like this is a good BBQ joint. To those people, I could easily pick a dozen BBQ houses in a region of the Carolinas that would make your taste buds explode. I am left with no good reason to try Jimbo's again.
(1)Laura G.
We have been here for lunch and loved it so we decided to try this place for breakfast. It was crowded but we found a table within minutes of coming in. We got served right away and there were plenty of options to choose from. We always had a full cup of hot coffee and the portions were so big I have leftovers. Great place and friendly atmosphere.
(4)Don L.
The Wife and I decided to have dinner here last night after a movie. since we had a good experience some years ago, we decided to try it again. It was a MAJOR disappointment! The wife ordered the pork ribs with baked beans and cole slaw and I ordered the 1/4 chicken with same sides. My chicken had very little taste to it. It seemed to have been baked rather than smoked. Both servings of the beans had many beans un cooked or undercooked. The Cole Slaw had very little seasoning . The best thing on the plate was the Hush Puppies. My wifes pork ribs were only ok and looked over cooked. Needless to say, we will not return in the near future!
(2)Shannon H.
This place is pretty good. Fast and cheap; a good choice for a quick lunch.
(3)Rob W.
This place is awful. It is hard to see how it stays in business serving food this bad.
(2)Caleb L.
Jimbo's has been in the same location for 33 years, a metal roofed red barn looking structure among the big city buildings that line Kennedy Boulevard. Inside are wood covered floors and walls surrounding a good sized dining room and the kitchen at the rear. During the weekday lunch rush on this day, there wasn't an empty table to be had, so I placed a to go order, though the friendly man behind the counter told me a table would be open soon. I opted for a pulled pork sandwich with potato salad and barbecue beans. It also came with a small cup of cole slaw with an unusual mustard sauce, and a couple of their hushpuppies which were excellent- so hot the steam rolled out as I bit into them. The pork was piled high on a plain bun and smothered in sauce. The sauce was actually quite good, with a strong pepper and vinegar kick. It was one of the best sauces I've tasted in a while, but the drawback of presauced meat is that can hide the smoke flavors, which it did in this case. I enjoyed the sandwich but not as much as I might have with more smoke and a little less sauce. Just like the hushpuppies, the other sides were tasty and well prepared. I especially liked the creamy potato salad with big chunks of smooth textured red skinned potatoes. And my jumbo styrofoam cup of sweet tea had just a bit more sugar in it than average, which is how I like it.
(3)Michael C.
I made the mistake of getting Jimbo's for lunch before afternoon tailgating once. After filling up on that great pulled pork sandwich and fries I could barely eat my own barbecued burgers. Granted I've only been there for lunch, but I was impressed - quick, filling food for pretty cheap, and a drive thru nonetheless! And the hush puppies were pretty solid. Ultimately the menu is huge, there is a lot of selection between sandwiches and platters and family deals. The interior looked like a fun place to relax with friends of the family and just enjoy some food. Now its no Four Rivers, but considering Jimbo's is only a few minutes from place, I'll settle.
(3)Mike S.
A good, commendable BBQ place. Have eaten there only once, and it was contrary to advice of a daughter who had a bad meal there once. But it was the closest eatery to the blood bank and I needed to restore red cells. It offers the usual assortment of smoke/grilled meats, including sausage which I love grilled and BBQ ham which is not common. Notably, their sauces seem to be made there, not provided in plastic packets or off-the-shelf bottles....and good flavors/options. Also they are open for breakfast and offer some country specialties like biscuits with sausage gravy. Sides are also the standards and tasty....beans, mac & cheese, slaw and wonderful hush puppies. A bit dark inside, but everything looked clean in dim light. Like most BBQ places, they seem to do a lot of take-out. My take out was internal, with the meat rapidly replenishing my blood iron content.
(3)Clint M.
We went there for breakfast this morning, it was our first time there for breakfast. Surprisingly all the menu options were very reasonable and the food was great! The country ham was not quite as salty as I would have liked but it did have a good taste. The home fries are very unique in that they are like wafers and not the traditional cubes. Very good experience overall!
(4)Amber T.
I ordered breakfast which can't really be messed up but the waitress forgot my biscuit and didn't come back to the table until she was ready to drop off the check. She was just strolling around giving coffee refills. Another table waited for fifteen minutes to get their order taken before she said "I totally forgot about you guys" my husband got a pulled pork sandwich and said it tasted store bought. He expected a lot more from a BBQ pit.
(2)Adam Y.
I will start off by again saying that I do not like the Yelp star system. Jimbo's is probably deserving of a 3 star because it is average, but the Yelp system seems to suggest something better than that. So 2 stars it will have to be. Next caveat is that BBQ in Tampa for the most part does not compare to just about any of the better known locations (anywhere in Texas and also TN and the Carolina's) one can visit. So someone from those places is likely to be disappointed. But I am a month out from my next Texas visit so when we drove by Jimbo's recently we made an impulse decision to eat dinner at Jimbo's. I've eaten here probably a dozen times, and the food is fine. The pulled/chopped pork works on either a sandwich or as a stand alone (although it probably is better with the bread), the chicken actually pretty good and the ribs not bad. Fries are excellent and my string green beans were very good. My co-diner had ham and the ribs which were good. Mac and cheese was apparently dreadful, and that was basically untouched. I did like the hush puppies but probably didn't need to eat 3 of them. The one issue we had was after the food was delivered, we never saw our server again. The place had 4 tables seated, so not even close to being full. I never got a glass of water which I really needed. My friend definitely wanted to get something to replace the mac and cheese. And yes, we could have just walked up there, but really, should we have to? When we finally checked out someone did say they were sorry, but the excuse was how busy they were, which is a joke because anyone could see they weren't. Overall, if you have to get BBQ in south tampa, I'd go to the Alabama place on Dale Mabry first. Jimbo's is okay, but I am much more excited to be heading back to Austin and San Antonio to get the real thing
(2)Sam Q.
Hush puppies. Nuff said. (But I'll say a bit more since that wouldn't really count as a review). Jimbos is one of those Tampa staples that as a local you come to know and love, like La Bamba, La Teresita, and Mons Venus (not that I've ever been to Mons). If you are in Tampa and crave BBQ, Jimbos is the place to try. Atmosphere is very casual and laid back with benches instead of the traditional restaurant look. But don't let the looks deceive you. These guys know BBQ. The pulled pork and chicken are my favorites. I hate messing with bones. And then there's the hush puppies. Nice and warm, a bit on the greasy side which makes them perfect. I could dine on hush puppies alone (and frequently did until I had to get serious about losing weight). I can't have just two. I think there is a law that says you have to have at least a dozen. I am almost sure. Almost. :) I have had business lunches catered from Jimbos, especially around the holidays. It is an office favorite. I've been going for 15 years, and the place already looked old when I first went there. They must be doing something right to have lasted this long. It gets packed at lunchtime. If you are a BBQ fan, do yourself a favor and visit Jimbos. And get an extra order of hush puppies. You'll be glad you did.
(4)Kelley K.
It is said that your first taste of BBQ is what all other bbqs will never live up to! Jimbo's was my first about a million years ago and I have never had better! I love the *Ribs *Sauce *Homemade Pickles *Hush Puppies And I always buy a couple bottles of sauce to tide me over until my next return to Tampa!
(5)Donald M.
Arrived at 12:30pm. Peak Lunch time. Parking lot was full. Luckily with one spot open. Walked in. All tables but one was full. A 6-top. We sat down. Ordered. They added another party to our table. Understandable. We weren't using more than half anyways. Ordered a Pork sandwich and a sliced Beef sandwich. Average, very dry... I guess you add the sauce that is left on the table... not really true BBQ. cole slaw was average, hush puppies were good... I heard they are known for their Milkshakes. but we forgot to order one as we were in a rush to get back to work... next time...
(3)Melissa K.
We ordered the sliced beef sandwiches and the meat was so lean, tender, and tasty. The baked beans were wonderful and the green beans were the freshest I've ever had. There was only one sauce, but it was a delicious vinegar base that was not overly sweet or spicy. The raspberry milkshake was so good especially when combined with the brownie sundae!
(5)Mason D.
Love this place for breakfast !! BBQ is okay, but the home fries, French toast, and bacon in the morning is where its at. Great sweet tea too
(5)Bill C.
The price is right and the atmosphere is great but the BBQ is just ok...not enough smoke flavor for me personally and kind of soggy. That being said, I still hit it for lunch about once a month.
(3)Laurie M.
Food is always great! Love the pickle and Pepper bar!
(5)Brittany R.
Lacking a lot! Still on the look out for good BBQ in Tampa!.
(2)Kevin M.
Hush puppies! I've driven by this place many, many times over the last few years on my visits to this part of Tampa (Westshore) but never stopped. Mistake. Everything I've tried is tasty, with their one style of unique BBQ sauce, delivered to your table in a flash and a friendly staff. If nothing else I could go there and eat Hush Puppies.... I know, not healty but if I'm gonna die this would be the way to go! Their unique shape and texture are memorable. Prices are good for the portion size and you can get in and out quickly. Good value overall.
(4)Cj M.
The service was excellent. The food, not so much. Quite possibly the worst BBQ experience that I have ever had. I am not sure how this place is in business. The service was excellent, but I did not find anything tasty about my meal. The food was bland, undercooked, and flavorless.
(1)Will Y.
I've been frequenting the Tampa Jimbo's since I moved from Lakeland to St. Petersburg. I have to say I prefer the Tampa Jimbo's HANDS DOWN. It's super clean, the staff are friendly although they can be somewhat inattentive it's not a trend - just know you may have to flag one down from time to time. The prices are reasonable considering the portion sizes are some of the biggest of any Tampa BBQ joint. Does Jimbo's take the cake for BBQ - no but, their sandwiches and platters are exceptional and the value is by far the absolute in Tampa. One thing that sets Jimbo's apart is the fact that they keep their BBQ sauce in warmers. Nothing irks me more than putting cold sauce on hot meat. One thing I hear often when I'm in the dining room is that it's cold. I would imagine for someone wearing shorts, or a t-shirt it probably is. However, this fat guy is nice and comfortable in the building.
(4)Magnus H.
My parents have been coming here since they opened the place. I just got around to trying it this weekend and I was very impressed. The ribs are very tender and flavorful, even without the barbecue sauce. The bbq sauce has a nice zing to it and its not overly sweet, which I like. The cole slaw, fries, hush puppies and beans were all good, if not particularly exceptional sides. The have fresh pickles (assume they do them in house) and cherry peppers to snack on while you are waiting on your food. The staff is all very helpful and friendly. Oh, the prices are incredible. I felt like I was looking at a menu from 20 years ago.
(4)Clarke S.
During the RNC in Tampa I tried this place with some guys from CBS and to my surprise (cuz I really wasn't in the mood for BBQ frankly, but just went with the flow) I really liked my chicken BBQ something or another... I don't really remember which I had, all I remember was that it was Chicken and all the sides were great. Side note: Don't order salad: Our boss (Dan) got food poisoning from it... he was trying to be good and paid dearly. Lesson learned, in a place with so much meat, cross contamination is likely to happen, especially on raw food - get it cooked! My experience was a good one, and I'd come here again.
(3)Nichole C.
When it comes to the BBQ in Jimbo's Pit Bar-B-Q, I find it okay. Not ah-mazing, and not bad. Not memorable either, sadly. What I do love? The atmosphere, very friendly low-key folks. And the sides, I am in lust with their mac and cheese and could go and order just that. I also love their hush puppies and onion rings. Their BBQ pork sammie is okay but honestly I have had better. Worth trying for yourself, just don't expect a 5/5 or you may be disappointed.
(3)Mike N.
Oh my god. This place. Everyone should know about this place. Food came out like five minutes after we ordered. And the macaroni and cheese is great. It's not even the cheese, but the actual macaroni is even better than normal. The whole meal was pretty cheap, too. Also, they have a drive thru. Go here.
(5)Rachel S.
My cousin goes here for the milkshakes, and they indeed are delicious and rich. I went here for lunch on day, and it's definitely a place where manly men eat hearty lunches. The place is small so be ready to get cozy and share your table with other people on busy days. I had the chopped pork sandwich and mac & cheese, and Donald M. got the sliced beef sandwich. The chopped pork sandwich is tossed with the house sauce, which is rather sweet for my taste. The mac and cheese was solid, and the hush puppies were fried perfectly. However, the sliced beef was much too dry for me. I may be back, but only for milkshakes and hush puppies. Luckily, there's a drive through window.
(3)Naresh S.
Skip this one. The meat didn't taste fresh and the sauce was just overpowering. Even the slaw was underwhelming.
(1)J D.
There is no way I could visit the South and not have BBQ. I searched Yelp and found this listed as a 4 Star restaurant. When I arrived, I was pleased to see that they had an option for small or large sandwiches. This allowed me to try more than 1. Food - I had a small Sliced BBQ Beef and a small BBQ Pork sandwich. Both sandwiches came with 1 Hush Puppy and a mustard cole slaw for spreading on the sandwich. I ordered some fries as well. The flavor of the pork sandwich was very good. I was pleased to see that the meat wasn't doused in BBQ sauce. I hate it when places do that. They give you a bottle of their house BBQ sauce with your order so that you can add it to your meal as you see fit. It had a nice smoky flavor. The size of the sandwich was perfect....approx 4-5 oz of meat on a med sized bun. The mustard cole slaw was an awesome touch to the sandwich. The flavor of the Sliced BBQ Beef sandwich was just as good. There was no BBQ sauce at all on the sandwich and was slightly dry...which is how I like it. Again, the mustard cole slaw was a great add-on to the flavor. I added a little of the house BBQ sauce to both sandwiches. The only thing was I wish there was a spicier option for the sauce. I like BBQ sauce with bite. There were bottles of tabasco and peppers on the table....but I think a BBQ restaurant should have a spicy house sauce. The fries were fresh cut steak fries. They were fried just right...not too soggy and not too crispy. Good level of salt added too. They get an A+ here. The same for the Hush Puppies...they were fried just right. I hate when Hush Puppies are over or under cooked. That wasn't the case here. Service - The staff there was very friendly. They asked if that was my first time visiting them and offered a few suggestions. They were also very friendly to the other patrons in the restaurants, so that was a huge plus in my book. I gave them 4 Stars....would have given them 5 Stars if they had spicier sauce options. I also would have liked to see a hot links sandwich....but I understand that you can't find that in all restaurants. Will I return? If I have the opportunity to come back to Tampa, absolutely!
(4)Lisa C.
I'm by no means a bbq snob, but this place was close to the worst I've ever had. Chopped pork sandwich was bland, the sauce was watery, the mac n cheese had an odd sweetness, and the beans tasted like they just dumped them out of a can in the back. Points for the friendly service and ok hush puppies, but that's about it. I'm astonished by the other raving reviews!
(2)Mark a.
Great BBQ...I wanted ribs...she wanted Pasta
(4)Karen V.
I am not sure why I haven't been here before. This southern girl is always looking for BBQ. I was driving down Kennedy and was starving.... out of the blue I say "I've never seen that BBQ place before".. mind you.. I have driven this way to work for the past 8 months. Anyway, we stop...and I was in heaven. Pulled pork, beans, coleslaw, hush puppies (which are damn good!) and sweet tea. What else can you ask for? I was really impressed.. this was some good stuff. No frills.. just good food.
(4)John F.
A Tampa staple for me. I am in Tampa quite a bit for business... It's solid BBQ. Not the best you're ever going to have, but pretty damn good. The building isn't the most pleasing to the eye, but sometimes in BBQ, that's the best place! I love the ham, chicken and beef here. The flavors in all three are perfect. I'm not really big on the ribs, though. Not tender enough for me. There are some solid side choices, most of which are good. The beans are exactly what you imagine beans from a BBQ joint should taste like. The potato salad, green beans and hush puppies (is there anything worse for your body that is better tasting?) are flavorful as well. Only bad side is the mac 'n' cheese, which is a big negative for me, as I LOVE mac 'n' cheese. Dessert-wise, the cobblers are good, though the apple pie gets a little too soggy for me. If I'm in Tampa for at least a few days, I always stop in here for one of my meals. They serve breakfast too, but unfortunately I haven't tried that yet.
(3)Kelly F.
I yelped "best lunch" and Jimbo's came up so I gave it a try. Parking was an issue as the place was packed. I sat at a community table an ordered the small pork sandwich, fries, and coleslaw. The fries were crisp and tasty. the slaw as pretty good and the hush puppies were perfect. However the pork and sauce were unremarkable. Just pork...and sauce. The staff was super nice and knew a lot of the older clientele by name. The interior is decorated "old school" Florida style complete with a gator skin on the wall. This place is super busy so I must be missing something. But based off the sandwich I'm not in a huge rush to go back. "MEH."
(2)Betsy M.
Service was great, food was so-so. Pork was flavorful, hush puppies and green beans were VERY good, but baked beans were too ketchupy. Don't go out of your way.
(2)Maria G.
Big servings... fun n busy place.. reasonable in price... waiter attentive n also offeredmy drink refill to go...
(4)Les L.
Located On Kennedy Blvd just West of Dale Mabry, this place has always been a favorite when I'm in South Tampa. Loaded with quick service and attentive waitresses, this day was no different. The free pickles aren't just free, they're good. The tea was fresh and not too sweet. The beans tasted home made and very tasty. They use their own variety of BBQ sauce. Not too tangy, not too sweet. I had the pulled pork sandwich which was great. And if you are in a hurry, they have a drive thru window for fast pick up.
(4)Susan W.
They serve their BBQ sauce all warmed up and it enhances the flavor of the meat. We ordered a variety of things, so we could sample several things. The pulled pork was great. I thought the ribs and the sausage were definitely above average. Something that I've never had in a BBQ place is that they serve your BBQ sauce warmed up. I love that! The mac and cheese was good, the Coleslaw had an odd taste. This place also has an assortment of pickles and peppers in the back near the restroom. I wish I'd known that before I'd already finished my meal.
(4)Cricket L.
Fantastic find. I had the sliced beef and pork ribs. The pork ribs were excellent. My friend's chopped pork was delicious. The beef was good, too, but the pork was better. The sides were okay (I had mac-and-cheese and baked beans). I would have loved some collard greens instead! Their sauce is fantastic, and I love that you sauce your own meat. It was very clean, and the service was fantastic. We'll be back!
(4)Larry J.
Overall pleased not the best BBQ I have ever had and far from the worse. Just wanted more flavor I guess.
(3)Wade m.
do not waste your time This is one of those restaurants that have stopped trying to produce good food and started to cut corners. I ordered the ribs and half of them were so dry they were inedible. Green beans were terrible, tasted like they were frozen. One a high note the baked beans were good. I suggest passing this place by and going to Sonny's, which is not a very good choice either.
(1)Jennifer B.
Yesterday Jimbo's catered a baby shower for 34 people for me. I was able to feed everyone for just over $9 per person and we had so much food leftover. Jimbo's was great with the order letting me know I could tell them they day of if the number changed. We got chicken, pork, baked beans, coleslaw, hush puppies, 2 gallons of tea and all the silverware and plates plus an entire bucket of ice! Everyone was very excited to see the Jimbo's van in our driveway when they pulled up. I highly recommend Jimbo's for catering!!! They did an outstanding job and the food was delicious.
(5)Jack B.
Great pork ! Good place! Bar-B-Q sauce is really good!
(4)David F.
One of the better BBQ joints I've found in Tampa. There seems to be a dearth of pulled pork know how in this town. I love their brisket and hush puppies, all of their meat is tender and succulent, although their sliced pork can be hit or miss depending on the day. If you have the craving, hit it up, if you are expecting BBQ of the NC, Southern VA or Tennessee varieties, this might not meet your expectations. BBQ is still better than no BBQ.
(3)Sandy J.
I've passed by this place numerous times and never stopped to try it, until one day when my friend and I got off work late and everything else but this place was open. Their BBQ sauce is yummy, although it's a little liquidy (I know that's not a word, but I couldn't use watery since it's flavorful.) and not as thick as others. That was probably my favorite item there. It was so good, I bought a bottle. Ribs and chicken were pretty dry, but that is most likely due to having a very late dinner. Overall it's a decent place.
(3)Feverish G.
Just stay far away stopped by on my way back to Miami. Food was really bad. Ribs tasted like rubber, hush puppies tasteless, it's a wonder how they have stayed in business for 40 years.
(1)Jim G.
BEST BREAKFAST, LUNCH or DINNER in TAMPA!!!........Love the well known barbecue, but the Breakfast is well worth remembering, too!....GREAT Service, Huge Portions........the BEST at Catering......The YANKEES have 27 Rings, But this place Deserves 27 STARS!!!
(5)Darren D.
Ignore idiots from Miami that know nothing about BBQ. This place rocks and is a Tampa icon. Miami aka the armpit of Florida is the anti bbq city. Check out Jimbos! The food is amazing!
(5)Jacquie H.
I've only been to the drive thru but the food and portions were epic! YUM-O!!
(4)Colin W.
Being from the North, I wouldn't call myself a bar-b-q expert, but I thought this was pretty good. Beef, pork and ribs were all tasty. Pickle bar is fun. Sausage was a little fatty and heavy. Cherry coke is always a plus. And, unlike someone else, I thought the hush puppies were good.
(4)ryan w.
Ribs were average but on the Tampa scale I'd say pretty good.
(4)D H.
It was getting late and we were getting bored of looking for somewhere to eat. We saw this place and thought..what the hell. The moment you walk through the door, you just know you have made a good choice. Our waitress was very polite and took our drink order quickly. I ordered the half slab of ribs. Now, I'm not a huge BBQ fan, but, that was a religious experience! Perfectly smoked with a nice deep smoke ring in the meat, a bottle of warm Jimbo's BBQ sauce to add as you like and they were so tender that you could have 'bitten' it off with your lips. The best Hush Puppies that I have ever had, great when mopping up that BBQ sauce. I will be back whenever I get the chance. 3/7 Stopped in on our way home. Just wanted to make sure that it was that good...all present and correct :)
(5)Sara H.
Jimbo's really is as good as it gets. I don't even typically like BBQ sauce and I was even dipping my fries in the stuff! It is warm and home made and not all thick and sugary. I loved it. The ribs fall off the bone and were SO tasty. In fact everything was SO good we went back again before leaving Tampa. It is by far the best BBQ I have ever had! If Jimbo's was here I would find it incredibly habit forming.
(5)jon Q.
This is a solid bbq joint. The atmosphere is nice, and customer service is good. The pulled pork is good, as is the chicken and the hushpuppies. Our biggest complaint was that everything was just a bit bland for our tastes. I'm a big BBQ fan, so this was a bigger complaint for me, but even my girlfriend who does not like a strong BBQ commented on how bland things were. Overall its not a bad place to hit up if your hungry; I wouldn't drive to far out of my way to eat here, but if I was in the neighborhood I would definitely stop by again.
(3)Ryan B.
Being from the Kansas City area, I really didn't expect much from Jimbos. I mean, I've had a lot of great BBQ. But I was surprised that at Jimbo's I found two bests. Best hush puppies I've had, and best BBQ sauce I've had (that I didn't make myself). We ordered two of the 3 meat combo dinners to share between four people and took some home. So the portions are quite generous. We had chopped beef, pulled pork, ribs, and chicken. The chopped beef was probably the best of the lot. Cooked to perfection. A lot of the time the brisket gets overcooked at pit bbq joints. This was cooked to the perfect medium. The pulled pork was the worst of the lot. Drown in sauce. Nothing special. The ribs and chicken were both good, not amazing. Ribs were probably a bit on the dry side. The sides weren't worth commenting on either way. Pretty standard overall. What sold me on Jimbo's was the sauce. Its fantastic. I bought a bottle to take home with me, which is a first for me. I'd recommend checking out Jimbo's if you get a chance.
(3)Jessica S.
Such good barbque! It's the best I've had since leaving Georgia. I would definitely recommend it. The base sauce is yummy and not too sweet like some other places. You can spice up the sauce with the other condiments to give it your own amount of kick! Smells great coming in the door!
(5)MJ G.
Service was awesome, fast, and friendly. Easy to find, very clean, execution of food was good, and everything tasted good. We both ordered the 3 meat combo with chicken (mine with dark meat, his with white meat), pork and beef, green beans and Mac and cheese, hushpuppies, and blueberry cobbler. The chicken and beef were both well cooked but could probably have used some spice rub or a salt rub. The green beans were more of a gourmet style than BBQ type green beans. Other than our personal preferences of spicing foods, it was very good and we'd definitely go back.
(4)Meg R.
Don't think we'll bother coming back to this place due to the quality of the food and just-okay service. We grabbed a table and waited 10 minutes for a server to come take our drink orders. After that, the service improved, though it was not great. As for the food, it wasn't terrible, but it definitely wasn't anything special. The barbecue sauce is very thin and runny. It basically went everywhere on my plate except where I wanted it to end up. I found the hushpuppies lacking in flavor, as did the coleslaw. My boyfriend's fries tasted liked they went straight from the freezer to the fryer to our plate. My baked beans were tepid at best, and essentially congealed in the bowl. Yelp's "meh" really sums it up.
(2)RJ P.
I had driven past this place numerous times in my treks up and down Kennedy and had contemplated trying it many times; the source of my reluctance is that being a Texas native, I have very high standards for meat. A stewardess friend was in town and staying nearby so it was a perfect opportunity to check it out. This resturaunt is quaint, super clean and inviting. The wooden picnic-style tables and inviting pig statue out front gave this place plenty of charm. My first impression of Jimbo's was, "Wow, that girl really knows her meat!" Telling our very friendly waitress about my origins, she quickly pointed out that they didn't serve bruiscuit and therefore I was not cheating on Texas. The portions were generous and a great value for the price. The chicken sandwich was quite filling and the warm sauce on the table was delicious. Upon leaving, I had to ask if there was a special aparatus they used to keep their sauces warm and the friendly young lady pointed it out. There were several menu options that I wanted to try so I will certainly be back.
(4)Aarron W.
When grading BBQ I like to look at the food to see if it was cooked properly. The sauce and rub are very subjective, you either like it or you don't. The meat didn't fall of the bone ( which means it's overcooked) but it came off once I took a bite of it, which means it was cooked perfectly! I actually liked the sauce, it had good flavor and I liked the fact it was dry, I could sauce it how I pleased. I didn't have any problems with service, and the prices are decent; expect to spend around $10 per person. The chicken was good, but the mac n cheese was awful, no flavor whatsoever--- get the ribs and some sides and you will be pleased!!!
(4)Lisa M.
For what it is, a casual bbq restaurant, it's wonderful! They serve delicious bbq pork, beef, and chicken dishes and yummy homemade pickles. Prices are reasonable. They have a drive up window and indoor table service.
(5)James S.
Ribs couldn't have been drier. It seems They had been from day before or sitting under heat lamp for a very long time. Green beans were also old and dried out. I told the manager and he acted like he couldn't care less and asked if I wanted a to go box. Won't be back!!! Stay away!!
(1)Erica G.
What a great local gem! My yelp community helped me out to find this place. At noon on a Tuesday this place was packed. Great community atmosphere with community style dining tables. Paper towels and condiments on the table and homemade pickle chips free flowing. I tried the 1/3 slab of ribs with mac and cheese and green beans and hushpuppies. SOOOO much food for the price and all good. The meat just fell off the bones and the vinegar based sauce was a perfect compliment. Green beans were nice and crisp and hushpuppies were piping hot. My colleague ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with cole slaw. She said she would definitely be back when we were in town next. Friendly staff and very attentive. They were very patient with the out of towners. The one thing we did notice was we were the only female patrons. Didn't matter to us! Good food is good food!
(4)Anna M.
Jimbo's is one of my favorite BBQ joints in Tampa. This restaurant has been around for over forty years and is consistently busy. The prices are such a great value because the portions that are served are very generous. The staff here is very friendly, attentive, and efficient. I can honestly say in the all the years I have dined here, I have never had a bad experience. If you decide to dine in, there are complimentary peppers and pickles you can munch on while you wait for your order. You won't wait long though, food comes out quickly here. There is also a drive-thru and a separate to-go window here for your convenience. I love the to-go window because I will call ahead with my order and don't even have to walk through the restaurant looking like a tired hot mess. I have tried most of their entrees and my favorite is their sausage. I also enjoy the hush puppies that are served with every meal. You don't really find too many restaurants that serve hush puppies. Their sides are typical sides items served with BBQ: french fries, BBQ beans, etc. The French Fries are good. Jimbo's also serves a very inexpensive breakfast, if you are looking for an option.
(5)Teri B.
I had the pork sandwich with fries and BBQ beans. The beans and fries were good. The pork sandwich was decent. Just pulled pork on a hamburger bun. Nothing spectacular, to me. I thought that since they brought the sauce out warm it would be heaven. It wasn't. A little too runny for me. The husband enjoyed it though. I'd probably go back, if I was in the area, to try other items on the menu though.
(3)Chris H.
Sliced pork was lacking flavor, smoked sausage tasted like an Erhlich's polish or something from Winn-Dixie. Only one sauce on the table, might as well have been any generic bottled sauce off the shelf. Mac+Cheese just okay, hush puppies the same. Friendly service.
(2)Jenny S.
Coming from Texas, we know good BBQ. The pork was dry, sausage similar to Oscar Meyer, and ribs were tasteless. Their homestyle beans looked like pork and beans but had a strong vinegar flavor. The macaroni left me wishing I had made Kraft Mac and cheese at home instead.
(1)Amy S.
Passed by Jimbo's on the way to our hotel and immediately looked it up on Yelp to check out the reviews. I hadn't had bbq in a while and knew we needed something close by for lunch the next day, so it looked like a good place. After reading the reviews and talking to fellow Yeep Steve E., who lives in Tampa, I was sold on this place! I ordered the chicken & ribs combo and chose baked beans and fries. My chicken & ribs were both cooked perfectly. The chicken was nice and juicy and the ribs were nice and tender. The baked beans were not the best I have ever had, but they were pretty darn good and I ate them all. I didn't care for the fries because they were seasoned, so hubby ate those. Nothing against the fries, I just don't like seasoned fries from anywhere... ever. I wish now I would have gotten the mac & cheese instead. The hushpuppies were so yummy! I was born and raised in Mississippi and have lived in FL for 17 years. These hushpuppies were so close to the ones back home. Closest ones I've found yet here in FL. LOVED them! Could have eaten my weight in them. Yay that hubby doesn't eat hushpuppies because I got to eat his too! Hehehehe The place was really nice and homey inside. I loved all the old timey signs they had as decorations. I also loved the cute little stairs that went nowhere with a sign for a painless dentist. Very cute. Only 3 stars instead of 4 for a couple of reasons. They only had one type of bbq sauce. I like my bbq sauce sweet and their sauce was a little too tangy for me. Even though my chicken and ribs were cooked perfectly, the tangy sauce took away the total yummy factor for me. The other reason is because of the service. Our waitress was absolutely horrible. We had to get up twice to go ask for refills on our drinks and we had to get up and go ask for silverware. We were there in the middle of the afternoon and the place was pretty much dead. I don't understand why she wasn't attentive. Anyway, when in Tampa, I'd still return here just for those hushpuppies!
(3)John S.
This place would get four stars from me if it weren't for the bad service and the lack of more than one type of barbecue sauce. I had the chopped pork sandwich, which was good, although I've had better. I wish they had a spicy sauce, but alas I had to settle for the bland sauce they have posing as tangy! The waitress was terrible. She didn't bring refills to our table very often and when she did, she had a mean look on her face. If we're in the Tampa area again we might try this place again...
(3)Clayton L.
I'm sorry usually I give most places I eat at 2 or 3 dining experiences before rating them and writing a review. But this place, I've definitely have had better. The meat was rather flavorless, it had the signature pink smoke ring, but it lacked flavor. The BBQ sauce wasn't even all that great, it's as if they depend upon just the smoking to make the meat have flavor, well this is the case with great BBQ but it takes hours. The Pork tasted as if it has only been in a high temp grill for about an hour or 2 with wood chips, but there was no seasoning on the meat, and it was rather rubbery and not tender at all. The fries were your garden variety frozen fries that you can buy at any grocery store and the green beans were ok, but not the greatest. I went to this place on the recommendation of a few friends, I should've known better because they've recommended other establishments in the area that have failed to deliver a good tasty meal!
(2)Dennis C.
If you're a local you may enjoy it. I'm a NC native, so I'll admit to be a BBQ-snob. I've never had any other BBQ in Florida, so maybe it's the best that can be had around here. Worse, however, was the service - or lack of it. It strikes me as clannish. If you're a regular, you may get greeted warmly and served with enthusiasm. If you're not, your glass may sit empty, as mine did. No wait staff every checked back for any reason. Negative reviews are not something I like to do. But seriously, if you ain't from Tampa, eat somewhere else.
(1)John J.
Jimbos BBQ was great. Most defiantly a 5 star establishment! When we arrived their were only a few people seated but they picked up about half way through our meal. They had 2 servers but one was mostly cashing people out but our server was always super nice and very prompt even being very very busy. The food was some of the best Barbecue I've had in a while. I ordered the barbecue chicken and it was juicy and the macaroni and cheese was amazing. My Girlfriend ordered the ribs and the meat was so tinder that it literally slid right off the bone. Hush puppies are awesome to. I recommend trying Jimbos if you are in the area. Parking is behind the building. Enjoy!
(5)Coty S.
Diligently, I researched all of the reviews, website, and photos for Jimbo's Barbeque... but I was still not prepared for what to expect. The atmosphere is perfect and casual; dark wood picnic tables in the middle and wooden booths along the lining walls, dim lighting, and clean. The service is also warm and friendly. Reminds me of home. The novelty of the pickle bar and the quality of the meat and desserts is where I am most impressed. Sauce is very important to me, almost even more important than the meat at times. I crave barbeque sauce something-fierce, and if a barbeque joint has good sauce, that is what I will come back for. Well... have you ever acquired a delicious looking apple, then bitten into it to find that it is flavorless? That is how I felt when I tasted the sauce at Jimbo's. I don't know how that is possible, because the beans are packed with smoky-meaty-oniony-tangy goodness. So, I figured that the same sauce was used in the beans, but I guess not. The Mac and cheese is bland as well, but they won me over with the meat. The ribs are full of sweet smoke, and the pork is tender and perfect. The sliced beef is not barbeque tasting, but is also quality flavor. The pickles are self-service and plentiful; cucumber and pickled peppers! I wish there was a bucket of them on my table to snack on. But, I do appreciate them being kept on ice instead. All of the desserts are home-made and even the sauces. The apple pie is so buttery and the apples are still a little toothsome, and not too sweet. The caramel sauce for the apple pie is amazing! We ordered the apple pie a la mode, which is vanilla soft serve ice cream. They also have brownie and homemade blueberry cobbler.
(4)Tanya S.
The location is good and the interior is very bbq joint. I had the pulled pork sandwich platter. The sandwich was good and the bun was fresh. The green beans were not good, undercooked and under seasoned. The coleslaw was ok but under seasoned. The baked beans were ok but seemed very ketchupy and not baked, maybe the problem there was under cooked also. My hubby had the beef sandwich and gave it a 3, and said it was edible. The hush puppies easily stole the show and were delicious. We went for lunch @ 3:30 so there wasn't any crowd and the service was quick.
(2)Ryan S.
I visit Jimbo's at least once a month for #GeekBreakfast and the staff always remembers us. I usually get a few eggs with toast and bacon which seems unlikely for a BBQ joint but I have to say they serve a good dish. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of having take out from Jimbo's and I must say there is a reason they have been around for so long. The pulled chicken and pork sandwiches were excellent. The coleslaw is just what I like, not too creamy with just the right amount of tang. It went perfectly on my sandwich. I also love the quick service and pick up window. Its awesome to have a local business offer a drive through window. It so easy and simple.
(5)Frank F.
good food, excellent service. I wish they had told me about the pickle bar tho, didnt see it till I was done. : (
(4)Rick A.
Don't eat the ribs, they were nothing but fat worst ribs I've ever tried to eat. Definitely won't ever be going there AGAIN.
(2)Eric G.
Best BBQ I've ever had in the state of Florida. I ordered the sliced ham with Mac n cheese and potato salad for my sides. Simply amazing. Best smoked ham I've ever tasted. My girlfriend ordered the pull pork with Mac n cheese and French fries and even the French fries were seasoned to perfection. If you are looking for great BBQ for a good price definitely come here.
(5)Jerry H.
When I throw most of the food away-well, that's not a good sign. I ordered a sliced beef sandwich extra lean and it was one of the worst BBQ sandwiches I've ever had. It was full of gristle (which I didn't discover at the drive-thru so I was stuck later on with it) and I managed to salvage about 2 1/2 bites out of the entire sandwich. The "hot" sauce was bland and the fries looked like the grease hadn't been changed in awhile. I won't be back.
(1)Dan D.
Jimbo's Pit BBQ is: So. Damn. Good. If you're in Tampa, go. It exceeds expectations bu far. It's a BBQ place, with picnic tables inside. (Not a white tablecloth place.) Your first clue you're in for some good BBQ, are the STACKS of firewood out back. Yep, that's what they're cookin' over. There is (was?) an alligator skin on the wall. It's not after-market art. It's real. I'm pretty sure I saw George Steinbrenner eating here during the Spring Training / Grapefruit League before he passed away. (I'm not kidding.) Free pickle bar. Cold beer. Perfect.
(5)Frankie J.
These guys have great fries. They also have great hush puppies. I wish I could steal the recipe. They have a large screen TV where you can watch the game of the day and comfortable seating with available child seating if you need it. The prices on some items are a bit too steep for my tastes, but I'm happy with the food and the service. I believe they also have a drive-up. It can be a bit irritating getting to the parking from Kennedy Blvd. coming from the west. It seems easier if you turn left on Lois and then go around the back way. The neighborhood just behind Jimbo's has the largest population of loose cats I've ever seen in my life. In a 2 block span I counted 8 loose house cats. One was in the middle of the street and wouldn't move his butt, another was on a corner, several were sunning in peoples' yards. Weirdest thing.
(4)Armando B.
The service while polite was terrible. Four people ordering four meals was too much for the waitress to correctly take down and put in apparently. The wait was overly long with two meals coming out cold and the half the sides just plain missing. When the food did arrive it was fairly unsatisfying. The sides are terrible and not worth the money. Not one of us even attempted to finish any of the eight different sides we ordered. One bite being enough to reveal how terrible they were. Can you make baked beans, Mac and cheese, and green beans incorrectly? Apparently Jimbo's can. The bbq was the only decent part of three meals. The fish sandwich was terrible. $40 dollars later and I'm left staring at four unfinished meals we didn't bother wrapping up. To surmise, average BBQ, terrible everything else. Wouldn't go back, wouldn't recommend it. AVOID!
(1)Seemee C.
The smoke smell outside draws you in and then...you're served boiled ribs and meat!! The fat is still oozing, no smoke ring on the meat. Stay away! The best thing was the hush puppies, not a reason to go! Imposter BBQ!
(1)Michele W.
1/2 bbq chicken was delicious. The meat was fall off the bone tender. The BBQ beans are made fresh daily & they were the best I've had! They also serve hush puppies with every meal & they have delicious tea!
(4)Steve E.
Jimbo's is a family owned and operated barbecue institution that's been in Tampa for over 40 years. You'll find them along W. Kennedy Boulevard, a few blocks west of Dale Mabry Highway -- and honestly, you'll smell the smoking meats long before you get to the restaurant. Jimbo's is one of the best-known pit barbecue places in town, and while this might not be the best barbecue that you'll find in Tampa, their food is consistent, inexpensive, and delivered up in a hurry. The décor is very simple with long picnic tables made of darkly-stained wood, which matches the dark interior of the place. People are there to eat smoked meats and not to be dazzled by potted ferns and fancy tablecloths. Depending on the time of day you can either order country breakfast specials with omelets, pancakes, French toast, breakfast sandwiches, and biscuits & gravy, or after 11am you can order any of their barbecue platters and sandwiches. Your choice of meats are pork, beef, ham, sausage, pork ribs, and chicken. The sides are the very traditional barbecue beans, Cole slaw, French fries, potato salad, green beans, and Mac & Cheese. I'm not wildly fond of any of their sides, but I do love their homemade hush puppies which come with every platter. If you're a regular you'll know that they put out a big bowl of freshly-cut dill pickles and a second bowl of pickled peppers for their customers, and both of those items are free and AYCE. On this recent trip I had a quarter of a slow-smoked chicken with green beans and potato salad. The chicken was extremely good with a smoky, spicy taste -- the sides were mehhh. But the hush puppies, dill pickles, and pickled peppers were excellent -- so I had them as my sides. I was out the door for about $10, and that's a great value!
(4)Scott L.
I'm living near philly where great pork sandwiches are easy to find. The sliced pork sandwich here at Jimbos was the best I have ever had anywhere. I did put an onion ring on it that probably put it over the top. It must be slow cooked with the laughter of little children. The hush puppies are great, kids loved their burgers. The chicken sandwich was delicious and very juicy which is hard to do with chicken breast. I also had a fall off the bone rib that was awesome. The prices are stupid cheap too. I might come back here for breakfast tomorrow before our cruise.
(5)Patrick K.
Why all the poor reviews?! You are crapping on a Tampa institution! I will not tolerate this. Did you even have the hush puppies?! Jimbo's is super fantastic BBQ. It's easy to find and has a drive-thru. It is inexpensive and delicious. Get a three meat combo because you should always go hard at a BBQ restaurant - otherwise go get a McRib and call it a day. Order extra hush puppies because you will demolish them. Dipping them into the extra BBQ sauce is a veteran move. Ignore the haters and keep going here.
(4)Ann S.
Good food fast. Chopped pork sandwich platter was more than enough food, glad I ordered the small. I was surprised the green beans were actually fresh (another Tampa joint has canned). Mac and cheese was just right. Worth trying out.
(4)Alicia P.
A classic BBQ spot - have been coming here since the early 90's. My favorite hush puppies are here! I always order extra. And as a creature of habit, I cannot help myself but to always order the chopped BQ pork sandwich. YUM! I like the side pickles too. You don't find many places that will have side pickle fixin's available to you for whenever you want... The interior has some design needs, though I like the picnic tables. Just remembering all my great sandwiches and my favorite hush puppies in town makes me want to go back right now!
(4)