Since I was a child I have loved this place! ! ! ! (Established in 1975) Nothing has changed down home Southern Hospitality at its best!!! I still Love Country's BBQ My favorite is the chicken or rib ends platter with french light toast buttered bread. Wonderful tasty fresh Chef Salads too. They also have the best baked beans and potato salad this side of the Chattahoochee River ;-) All sides are seasoned just right and cooked to perfection. My favorite beverage is the homemade lemonade hands down!!!!!! The banana pudding is scrumptious. Ok, even if you don't like pudding they have several desserts to top off your southern delightful meal. Bon Appetit'
(5)
Amanda C.
Smells far better than it taste was very disappointed. We have tried it 4 different times at two of there locations not impressed.
(1)
Eric M.
Great food. They are expensive if you dine in and hey the plates. The food is good, but it is a much better deal to get meat by the pound and order family sized sides separately. The banana pudding is the best on earth. Literally. This is probably close to the best in Columbus, and is definitely the hometown hero.
(4)
Blaze V.
Pretty nice country place with nice decor in it. It also has live country band on Fridays I think. Friendly staff and prices are reasonable.
(4)
Stephanie V.
Update... I've since moved to Georgia and there actually was a next time, about 5-6 years later. I think it depends on what you get and maybe when you go. I've been to the location off Veterans twice since I've been here - first time had awesome ribs, delicious corn casserole, something with sweet potato that was yummy, and the best strawberry shortcake I've ever had. Three weeks later, went back for the ribs. They were okay, not as good as the first time, and the creamed corn was terrible - it actually looked curdled. When the food is good, it's great. I just wish it was more consistent.
(3)
Matt S.
I was stationed at Ft. Benning years ago and have fond memories of Country's. Unfortunately, this was not the restaurant I remember. Reading the other reviews, maybe I came on an off night. The service was good but the place is dirty (trash all over the flood and just greasy) and the BBQ chicken was dry as a bone and tasted old (you know that strange twang chicken has when its been sitting). The corn bread was dry. The slaw was like pickled mush. The bbq beans were flavorful but old. So much for nostalgia.
(3)
Virgil H.
My wife and I were in Columbus, GA, for a few days while I went through the Conus Replacement Center at Ft Benning getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan. While there, we hit the two highest rated barbeque places (as rated on yelp.com ). We were very disappointed in both, the Georgia barbeque wasteland extends to Columbus from our experience. See my earlier post, Is Georgia a Barbeque Wasteland? We went to the original location. Large, crowded and open every day. This place may have been good back in the day, but food quality, if not profitability, has suffered by expansion. I have seen this too often and it happens in single location places, as well, as they expand their menus so that they have great selection, but can't make good food. Sconyers in Augusta, GA, and Shealys in Batesburg-Leesville, SC, immediately come to mind in the single location, huge menu, category. Smithfield's in Fayetteville, NC, comes to mind in the too many locations category. Profitability may be good here, but I'll never go there again. The fact that it is crowded doesn't say much for the ability of Columbus, GA, residents to discern good barbeque. Their menu is huge for a barbeque place, even fried chicken doesn't have a place at a barbeque joint in my opinion. But here, they have hot dogs, beef brisket, sliced or chopped pork, pork ribs, barbeque beef, smoked ham, pork tenderloin, chicken, wings, Brunswick stew, a smoked meat taco, roast beef and gravy, and more. They have lots of sides, most typical of a barbeque place, like collards, black eyed peas, skillet apples, cole slaw, and corn on the cob. The barbeque sauce is my least favorite, a Kansas City type thick, sweet, sauce. I had a chopped barbeque pork platter, with some ribs, and collards and black eyed peas. Lynn had a veggie tray with collards, baked sweet potato, butter beans and corn on the cob. The biggest disappointment was the ribs, they were dry and tough. I talked to a friend the next day and he said the same thing about the ribs when he had them a different day. The ribs were really not edible. The chopped pork was OK, only OK, I did not add any of the sickly sweet sauce. It was a little dry and not real flavorful. The sides were all decent, nothing to write home about, but worth eating. Lynn said the same thing. One thing surprisingly missing on the menu was mac and cheese. I hope there is some good barbeque in Columbus, maybe next time I am there, I'll find it.
(3)
James W.
I want everyone to be aware that they have Highschool kids that work at night and a majority of them do not care for the customer because they are usually in a hurry to get off of work. They served me cold food after I waited for 20min to get it. The food is good but the customer service is bad at time, Just be aware of the waitress you will recieve. Make sure you ask questions because they will not tell you anything about extra charges on refills etc............
(2)
Mike K.
Ate here with a friend while we had a pass between BCT and OCS. I don't remember much about this meal except I enjoyed it. I think I got brisket with corn bread and beans. He got pulled pork. They were both really good. We were both so exhausted that we almost passed out in the middle of the meal and I definitely passed out soon afterwards. Nevertheless it was so good to be out of BCT that it's one of those meals I'll never fully forget because of time and place. Others will understand.
(4)
Kristin A.
I'm not a big fan of Country's hence my great review for Chester's. However what I can say about this place is that they are consistent. Since I'm basically meatless I can't really comment on that currently. In the past I would get their chopped Barbecue salads and they were big as heck. They're actually enough for two people. What I try to get whenever I go home is baked sweet potato. OMG those things are sooo good and a portion of it is guaranteed to stick out of the plate a bit. Just thinking about it is making me wish I was back home. I also really like the fried pickles. I guess you know by now I'm straight country no pun intended. Country's is also on point if you need to take a platter to an event of some sort. They would probably rank #2 in barbecue category but just not for Barbecue!!!
(4)
Sean S.
A bit of an institution with locations in West Georgia and East Alabama; the Mercury Drive spot is the original. Quality varies over time but is consistently good -- portions are HUGE so order small unless you plan to purge later. You'll prefer your 'cue chopped, not sliced -- unless you're a Yankee or from Florida -- and you'll want to start with the pork. Save room for peanut butter pie {eyeroll to back of head}. There are daily specials and all-you-can-eat nights; call ahead to see what's going on that day. Enjoy!
(3)
S J.
Always get good food here. It's consistently good but the service can vary depending on who your waitress is. Sometimes there are days where there is a very bad, sour smell when you walk in the door but it isn't bad inside the restaurant. I usually go at lunch about once a week. Best sweet tea I have had yet!
(4)
Line C.
Let me preface this by saying that I really wanted to like this place. I really, really, really wanted to like this place. I came across it one of the first days that I moved here, driving back from walking the dog at the Riverwalk. It's been about 6 weeks, and I'm just now trying it. What can I say, it hasn't been at the top of the to-do list. The food: I ordered the BBQ chicken platter and the hubs ordered the BBQ rib platter. We each got the beans and I got fries, he got tater salad. The food came in about 5 minutes, which hit me as odd right off the bat, and wondering exactly how much of what was on my plate was made for me. I got my answer within the first few bites. On the plus side, my chicken was warm and tender and had just enough BBQ flavor to not need any other sauce. Nothing else on my plate was like that. Next to my chicken was a huge glob of fries, cold and soggy, flavorless and limp. Then the bowl of beans, which were no better than Bush's, and super sweet. My husband's plate was similar...A pile of ribs, which he did say were good, although he prefers his BBQ with sauce and beans and tater salad, which was flavorless. On the table are the choice of three sauces, a red vinegar-based BBQ sauce, which tasted just like vinegar, and two mustardy puce sauces, which both tasted the same. The service: We were seated pretty quickly, and our server came with our drinks promptly, which I emptied and was never offered a refill, although she did offer a cup to go when we were done. Nope, by the time we're leaving, I don't need to drink any more. That's a big point of mine, I'm a heavy drinker. The ambiance: It's a fun place to go, it's decorated in 50s memorabilia, coke bottles everywhere, and super bright colors. When we first saw it, it was the outer decor that initially drew me in. There are tables outside for when it's nice. In a nutshell: If you could eat ambiance, this place would be a 5, but since you have to eat the cold gloppy food that's been sitting out for hours, this place is a 1.
(1)
Yumi W.
This might be the best BBQ I evr had...nice and smoky meat and cole slaw was very nice and collard green was not oily very well done.corn bread is home made but other bread are store bought not even toasted or anything....needs up grade on bread part.Over all good meat and greens!
(4)
Jason M.
Great place. My wife grew up in Columbus and we eat here about 5 times every time we come back . . . at least once at each of the three locations. She always gets the chicken platter and I always get the chopped pork platter. I haven't had a variety of the sides but usually get the fries & apples. I'm a fan of real-cut fries which these are. Some are limpy, others are crispy. I like both so am always pleased with the fries. The apples are apples. You get large servings although the service is sometimes lacking. Great atmosphere and I recommend going during off peak meal hours b/c it gets really crowded. I highly recommend!!!
(5)
Kim K.
Smelled this place from across the road so decided to come here. How could it be bad if it smelled that good? I got their version of a combo (I forget what it was called) with ribs, sliced pork, and sliced beef (eye of round I believe, I am embarrassed to admit that I don't know cuts that well). For sides I got cornbread (sweet, thankfully, and yes, I'd eat cake with dinner to you purists), and regular and BBQ slaw. The cornbread was good, as was the regular slaw. The BBQ slaw was awesome. The meats were just ok. The ribs were the best of the 3; they had a nice char but were kind of dry and overly chewy. The pork, combined with one of the mustard sauces-I'm not sure which-tasted like a McDonald's cheeseburger. It was weird and a little off-putting. The beef was super dry and I only ate about half a slice before giving up on it. The sauces were ok. I would have liked either an explanation from the server or a label or pretty much anything that explained what they were. I did not try dessert, sadly. I am still wishing I had ordered the chocolate chess pie.
(3)
Hailey D.
I absolutely loved this place, specially their sweet tea in a mason jar! I'm from Massachusetts, so I am not an expert on bbq but this place sure is one of my favorite. I loved their food and the atmosphere.
(4)
Lucas V.
Country's BBQ is decent, especially for this area. If you want GOOD BBQ check out mike and ed's or clearview bbq.
(3)
Michael J.
I have had (take-out) food from here but I had never actually been inside to eat until one fateful day. My parents were in town and we figured we come here to eat. The take out food I've had in the past was fairly good and I seem to recall hearing good things so why not. First off the wait to get in was way way long, but maybe that's a sign of how good it would be. Unfortunately the wait only made an average meal disappointing. "I waited all that time for this?" Service was not very good and the food was only OK. I tried the ribs and they were good but I've had better. I also sampled the chicken which was sub-par at best. That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
(2)
Professor K.
Great place for ribs and texas briskets. I usually get a whole slab of ribs or a pound of briskets to savor at home for dinner. Yummy!
(3)
Haley H.
Have gone to this place since I was a kid, unfortunately it has really gone down hill. The meat is fatty and chewy, and could probably be used as tire rubber, the bbq chicken is tough and dry and usually never cooked all the way- the wing refuses to come off- never a good sign. The sides are all salty or really oily. They even ruin a good healthy sweet potato by covering it in oil. Sad. The banana pudding used to be delicious but now tastes fake and very artificial. The place is always dirty and greasy, smells pretty bad and the carpets are filthy. Don't go here expecting amazing southern bbq, because you'll be pretty disappointed.
(1)
Hugh L.
Service here is great! The servers are really friendly, and refills were constant and my group did not have to ask for them. However, the food here was not the best. The brisket I had looked tasty, but was very tough. The cornbread was cold and crunchy, and the fries were really soggy. Maybe my group and I came here at a bad time (4 in the afternoon), but the food certainly wasn't what I was expecting. Like I said, the service here is this place's redeeming quality! I cannot say enough things about the great servers working here!
(3)
Sarah D.
I'm not a BBQ expert or anything but this place serves pretty good BBQ if you have a craving for it. It's my first time in Columbus Georgia so my husband suggested this place. If you come here please try their sweet tea it is so delicious and the locals say it's the real deal sweet tea! I ordered the brisket, creamed corn, collard greens, cornbread, and Brunswick stew. My husband got the BBQ chicken, coleslaw, and fries. BTW their coleslaw is not a traditional mayonnaise based sauce, they use vinegar instead which gives it a nice flavor when paired with the BBQ, it's something I've never had before and was pleasantly surprised. The service here was also great. Our waitress was so nice and suggested popular items (especially me since I'm a California girl and I don't know what the heck I'm ordering when it comes to BBQ lol) I'm coming back whenever I'm around Columbus, I'll never forget that sweet tea!
(5)
Melissa I.
Great local place to stop by if you're hungry. Really charming place with nice staff. The bbq is delicious and so are the fixings. This place will not disappoint. They also have live bluegrass music every Friday and Saturday evening
(4)
Stephen B.
I've been to country's a few times and the food has been fairly consistent. I think their BBQ is really good for the area (don't compare it to Oklahoma Joe's in KC). The ribs are a decent size and the portions are appropriate. I also had their brisket which tastes much better without their sauce on it. That's stuff is very sweet. The table sauces are much better. I have always been treated well by the staff and have no complaints there. There are a lot of sides to choose from and my favorites are the black eye peas and collard greens. Their fries need improvement. I don't order them. I was with a large group my last time in (10 people) and the service was just fine, we told them to deliver as it was ready (it didn't have to be all at once). Some of the orders came faster than expected. In all, we had a great experience. Again, I've had better BBQ but this is pretty good for this area.
(4)
Karen T.
You get a lot for your buck and everything is like size large. I honestly don't know how people eat everything on their plate it's just way too much but the reason I give it a 3 is because the BBQ doesnt make me crave it on a random day. It's good not memorable.
(3)
Brody M.
This is probably the worst BBQ I have ever tasted. I have been all over the country trying BBQ. I got the Texas brisket. Let me say i have tasted sand less dry. Usually brisket is soft and delicious and usually moist. This was very hard. I could have used it for tires. The sauce tasted lumpy peppery tasteless crap. We waited 15 to 25 minutes till our waitress appeared to take our order. Then we had to flag her down after needing refills for 15 minutes. The corn bread. The corn bread. I would prefer to call it dry corn shit pancake. It was again very very dry and had no corn flavor. We have waited 10 minutes for them to take our plates and it is yet to happen. Overall this was completely terrible . Not a single aspect was good. We should have gone to the chuck cheese for dinner it would have been a much better meal. Yes little kids screaming and running everywhere and ratchid pizza. I will never come back to this crap hole the call country's bbq
(1)
moejoe r.
Service was really good and super friendly. We were a party of 10 and the wait at dinner time was less than 10 minutes on a Friday night. We liked the apps that we ordered, the cheese dip and sweet potato chips. The entrees were nothing great; lots of food on our plates but not much flavor to any of it.
(3)
Christopher D.
Stopped here because parking lot was full, but I honestly don't know why it was after trying it. Got quickly seated and service was friendly. My brisket was tender but slathered in some nasty "shoop" sauce. My wife's ribs were burnt. Peach cobbler a la mode was nice way to finish and we enjoyed the live bluegrass band. The meal was easily $10-$15 overpriced - and they offer no military discount despite Fort Benning being down the road and there were two other tables with Soldiers sitting at them.
(2)
Devon Z.
A few friends, my wife, and I stopped by for dinner on a Thursday evening, after smelling the excellent aromas that permeate the area. In the end, we regretted the trip. Wait staff was very helpful, and our group of six was seated quickly. Our waitress was a little new, but otherwise helpful and service was good. Their sweet tea was truly excellent, and for our appetizers, we ordered fried pickles, which were spot-on, and sweet potato chips, which were bland. I ordered the conglomeration platter, my wife the fried chicken fingers, and we were both unimpressed with the food. All of my meats were dry and without flavour; my wife complained that her chicken was the same. In an attempt to supplement the dryness, I tried the three different sauces that they had on the table, assuming that one of them would be a generic barbeque sauce, but disliked all of them. One of my buddies had room for dessert, and tried the banana pudding. It looked amazing, and he said it was excellent. Overall, it would have been a good experience, but the main course was just dry and unappetizing.
(2)
Scott M.
Best BBQ in Columbus. I always take out of town friends here. The staff is courteous and very fast with orders, drinks, etc. All around great place!
(5)
Angela S.
Great atmosphere and great food. I went with a large group (9 people in total), and we were seated quickly and received great service throughout the entire meal. The place is charming, and there is live bluegrass music on Friday and Saturday nights. Definitely try the fried pickles and get a side of fried apples!
(4)
Kevin F.
Friendly staff and quick service. I had the BBQ chicken, Brunswick stew, and banana pudding. It was an excellent meal.
(5)
David P.
Courteous and attentive waitstaff. Ample offerings on the menu. Fare was good but not great.
(4)
Willie D.
Everyone in town knows that you don't go to Country's to get straight up barbecue. So with that out of the way, I'd like to say that Country's has some really good food. Their sweet tea is truly some of the best you'll find anywhere. I usually have chicken fingers when I go, both fried and grilled. Definitely some of the best I've had. The Brunswick stew is absolutely excellent, and I recommend it highly if you like that kind of thing. The sweet potato souffle is very good, if not too sweet. I also love the turkey and dressing, mainly for the dressing, as it's the best I've ever had. The corn bread is decent, but not amazing. So I do recommend going, just get something that Country's does well.
(5)
Kane B.
This place was recommended as my late Father-in-law's favorite BBQ place in the southeast. Sadly, either he had terrible taste or the quality has gone down hill severely. We got there at about 11:15AM. The wood walls and the old-timey metal ads really gave the place a good atmosphere. We were seated immediately, and our server was polite and friendly. The sweet tea came out fast and was real Georgia sweet tea. I was thinking I was in for a real treat and order the brisket plate. Then the food came out and it turned into a major disappointment. The brisket was dry and tough, not melt-in-your-mouth juicy like brisket is supposed to be. I almost asked for a steak knife so I could cut it. It came with a sauce, but the sauce it came with was nothing more than chili powder in liquid form. It probably would have been ok if the chili had added some heat but it was too mild to help. So I turned to the sauces on the table to help out my brisket. I tried them all, but they were nothing but watery and tasteless - the only difference I could discern was the color. Hoping to salvage my meal, I turned to the sides. I had gotten baked beans and the corn casserole that was the day's special. Unfortunately there was no relief for my tastebuds here. They must have gotten a deal on green bell peppers because the corn casserole was 1/3 peppers - and there were even some in the baked beans! How bizarre. The rest of the corn casserole had a slimy texture with an odd flavor I couldn't place. The baked beans were ok, but had an unusual aftertaste - almost like there was something added to cover them being overcooked. How you overcook baked beans I don't know, but these were a short spell in the kitchen away from becoming paste. However, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. After we had our plates cleared away, my mother-in-law ordered some banana pudding. It was a heaping serving in a mason jar, and when I tried a bite I was a bit jealous I hadn't ordered some too. Sadly, the only things right with this place were the tea and the dessert. They even screwed up the tip at the register and had to call three different girls out to try and figure out their own register. Never coming back to this place.
(2)
Brannon A.
When I was stationed down at Fort Benning, my friends and I would try to find new barbecue restaurantes to eat at. I was suspicious at first of Country's, as there are a few in town, and my rule of thumb concerning barbecue restaurantes is to stay away from chain joints. Additionally, Country's barbecue came recommended from a friend of mine from Chicago. I thought my Atlanta barbecue tastes to be far superior to my northern brethren, but he proved me wrong. Country's real treat comes after the main course. Their banana pudding was excellent! I like to think of myself as some what of a banana pudding connoisseur, and I would rate the BP at Country's as 5 Stars.
(4)
Nan D.
Immediate service , even though it was at closing time. Waitress was pleasant and did not hurry us. We had the brisket sandwich and the patriot, which is pork and brisket. Both were tender and delicious - would go back again - but I will bring a sweater. It was freezing ....
(4)
Kim Z.
Stopped here while visiting my husband who was on orders at Fort Benning. The service was terrible. The restaurant was only half-full maybe even a little less. And it took a ridiculously long time to get every step of service: drinks, order taken, food arriving at table, etc. And when our food arrived, my dish was cold. I hate it when we have to wait wait wait and wait for food to arrive, only for it to arrive cold. That means my plate was sitting there waiting for the server to grab it. I got the beef brisket. It was good and I liked the sauce even though I saw some reviews didn't like the sauce. My husband got the combination of three meats: beef, pork and ribs. He said it was okay. He wished they had pulled pork available. The only reason I'm giving this two stars is 1) I liked the Brunswick stew--never had it before; never even heard of it but I thought it was very tasty. And 2) The banana pudding was DEElicious! When we travel we like to eat at local restaurants, which is why we chose Country's. But in this case I kind of wish we went to the chain Smoky Bones instead, since we don't often get to go to that restaurant anyway. Also very disappointed that there was no military discount.
(2)
Elizabeth M.
I have grown up on Country's BBQ and I must say that this is still one of my favorite restaurants to visit when I come home! The BBQ is always delicious!! If you're in town, you MUST stop by one of Countrys' 3 locations!! Some of my Favorites Include: Chopped Pork Platter (Especially good with all the sauces) Fried Pickles (Very affordable and enough to share with the whole table) Fried Chicken Ribs Even the Side Salad is great!! Baked Beans Hotdog (This thing is massive!!) These are just a few of my favorites, however you can't go wrong with anything you order!!! :)
(5)
Kat K.
Have been here numerous occasions,with different friends,different days,different years.Only thing good here is tea,that is if you like it Southern Sweet.As , a Southerner,no,I do not enjoy our tea.Too sweet.Plain tea here is VERY good.Yes,I am aware it is referred to as,"Unsweetened".Science aside,how does one "unsweet" something?(You leave it out,i.e....plain)They still asked if I needed sugar,uh,huh?But I digress.The largest group I took included me and five friends.We were tired and hungry and no one wanted to cook because,that year in March,it felt like August.We were seated at the back of the restaurant.No big deal.We had a nice large table with plenty of elbow room.Waitress left after drink order,brought them back quickly.I suggested pitchers as we were thirsty too.Water was also brought.We were happy.We asked for a few minutes to look over the menu,as we were a sharing,can I try that,bunch.5 minutes turned to 10.The restaurant was filling up.10 minutes turned to 20.You get the general idea.A group that needed more room than us came in,was seated,drinks served.I flagged the waitress down.She said she'd be right back.The large group were apparently regulars and asked for the usual.We thought they had phoned it in as they had everything in less than 30 minutes.By this time nearly 45 minutes had passed.Just as she noticed we had no food.I said that was okay,we decided we'd find a restaurant that wanted our money.As we went to leave the cashier said we'd have to pay for our drinks.Seriously,I asked her.Asked for the manager.She started to ask how she could help,but was literally dragged off by the cashier and our waitress.They group huddled.I told my friends I'd deal with this.Others went out.A friend stayed,said I would probably need back up.I did.When they all came back,in a huff I might add.The cashier took her place, rang up the drinks and stated how much they were.I said I was not paying to sit 45 minutes in a restaurant for tea.The manager's look and demeanor changed quickly.She walked over to the registered and voided the charge.Begged us to come back.My friend,who has a booming voice stated he wouldn't come back if they paid him.I have not been back to this location since.S-l-o-w service.Food,mediocre from previous visits.Can buy tea at Piggly Wiggly,thankfully.
(1)
Anthony D.
So I've been to this location twice and compared to the one on Veterans Parkway, this one is way better. Much better atmosphere, and the food was really good. Once again I had the Pulled Pork and the Beef Brisket. Both were really, really, good. I cant give this place 5 stars due to the fixings and the bread selection. You get a choice of white bread, texas toast or cornbread, all of which are OK at best. But if you like Bar-B-Q this place is definitely good to go.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No 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 : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
G. C.
Since I was a child I have loved this place! ! ! ! (Established in 1975) Nothing has changed down home Southern Hospitality at its best!!! I still Love Country's BBQ My favorite is the chicken or rib ends platter with french light toast buttered bread. Wonderful tasty fresh Chef Salads too. They also have the best baked beans and potato salad this side of the Chattahoochee River ;-) All sides are seasoned just right and cooked to perfection. My favorite beverage is the homemade lemonade hands down!!!!!! The banana pudding is scrumptious. Ok, even if you don't like pudding they have several desserts to top off your southern delightful meal. Bon Appetit'
(5)Amanda C.
Smells far better than it taste was very disappointed. We have tried it 4 different times at two of there locations not impressed.
(1)Eric M.
Great food. They are expensive if you dine in and hey the plates. The food is good, but it is a much better deal to get meat by the pound and order family sized sides separately. The banana pudding is the best on earth. Literally. This is probably close to the best in Columbus, and is definitely the hometown hero.
(4)Blaze V.
Pretty nice country place with nice decor in it. It also has live country band on Fridays I think. Friendly staff and prices are reasonable.
(4)Stephanie V.
Update... I've since moved to Georgia and there actually was a next time, about 5-6 years later. I think it depends on what you get and maybe when you go. I've been to the location off Veterans twice since I've been here - first time had awesome ribs, delicious corn casserole, something with sweet potato that was yummy, and the best strawberry shortcake I've ever had. Three weeks later, went back for the ribs. They were okay, not as good as the first time, and the creamed corn was terrible - it actually looked curdled. When the food is good, it's great. I just wish it was more consistent.
(3)Matt S.
I was stationed at Ft. Benning years ago and have fond memories of Country's. Unfortunately, this was not the restaurant I remember. Reading the other reviews, maybe I came on an off night. The service was good but the place is dirty (trash all over the flood and just greasy) and the BBQ chicken was dry as a bone and tasted old (you know that strange twang chicken has when its been sitting). The corn bread was dry. The slaw was like pickled mush. The bbq beans were flavorful but old. So much for nostalgia.
(3)Virgil H.
My wife and I were in Columbus, GA, for a few days while I went through the Conus Replacement Center at Ft Benning getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan. While there, we hit the two highest rated barbeque places (as rated on yelp.com ). We were very disappointed in both, the Georgia barbeque wasteland extends to Columbus from our experience. See my earlier post, Is Georgia a Barbeque Wasteland? We went to the original location. Large, crowded and open every day. This place may have been good back in the day, but food quality, if not profitability, has suffered by expansion. I have seen this too often and it happens in single location places, as well, as they expand their menus so that they have great selection, but can't make good food. Sconyers in Augusta, GA, and Shealys in Batesburg-Leesville, SC, immediately come to mind in the single location, huge menu, category. Smithfield's in Fayetteville, NC, comes to mind in the too many locations category. Profitability may be good here, but I'll never go there again. The fact that it is crowded doesn't say much for the ability of Columbus, GA, residents to discern good barbeque. Their menu is huge for a barbeque place, even fried chicken doesn't have a place at a barbeque joint in my opinion. But here, they have hot dogs, beef brisket, sliced or chopped pork, pork ribs, barbeque beef, smoked ham, pork tenderloin, chicken, wings, Brunswick stew, a smoked meat taco, roast beef and gravy, and more. They have lots of sides, most typical of a barbeque place, like collards, black eyed peas, skillet apples, cole slaw, and corn on the cob. The barbeque sauce is my least favorite, a Kansas City type thick, sweet, sauce. I had a chopped barbeque pork platter, with some ribs, and collards and black eyed peas. Lynn had a veggie tray with collards, baked sweet potato, butter beans and corn on the cob. The biggest disappointment was the ribs, they were dry and tough. I talked to a friend the next day and he said the same thing about the ribs when he had them a different day. The ribs were really not edible. The chopped pork was OK, only OK, I did not add any of the sickly sweet sauce. It was a little dry and not real flavorful. The sides were all decent, nothing to write home about, but worth eating. Lynn said the same thing. One thing surprisingly missing on the menu was mac and cheese. I hope there is some good barbeque in Columbus, maybe next time I am there, I'll find it.
(3)James W.
I want everyone to be aware that they have Highschool kids that work at night and a majority of them do not care for the customer because they are usually in a hurry to get off of work. They served me cold food after I waited for 20min to get it. The food is good but the customer service is bad at time, Just be aware of the waitress you will recieve. Make sure you ask questions because they will not tell you anything about extra charges on refills etc............
(2)Mike K.
Ate here with a friend while we had a pass between BCT and OCS. I don't remember much about this meal except I enjoyed it. I think I got brisket with corn bread and beans. He got pulled pork. They were both really good. We were both so exhausted that we almost passed out in the middle of the meal and I definitely passed out soon afterwards. Nevertheless it was so good to be out of BCT that it's one of those meals I'll never fully forget because of time and place. Others will understand.
(4)Kristin A.
I'm not a big fan of Country's hence my great review for Chester's. However what I can say about this place is that they are consistent. Since I'm basically meatless I can't really comment on that currently. In the past I would get their chopped Barbecue salads and they were big as heck. They're actually enough for two people. What I try to get whenever I go home is baked sweet potato. OMG those things are sooo good and a portion of it is guaranteed to stick out of the plate a bit. Just thinking about it is making me wish I was back home. I also really like the fried pickles. I guess you know by now I'm straight country no pun intended. Country's is also on point if you need to take a platter to an event of some sort. They would probably rank #2 in barbecue category but just not for Barbecue!!!
(4)Sean S.
A bit of an institution with locations in West Georgia and East Alabama; the Mercury Drive spot is the original. Quality varies over time but is consistently good -- portions are HUGE so order small unless you plan to purge later. You'll prefer your 'cue chopped, not sliced -- unless you're a Yankee or from Florida -- and you'll want to start with the pork. Save room for peanut butter pie {eyeroll to back of head}. There are daily specials and all-you-can-eat nights; call ahead to see what's going on that day. Enjoy!
(3)S J.
Always get good food here. It's consistently good but the service can vary depending on who your waitress is. Sometimes there are days where there is a very bad, sour smell when you walk in the door but it isn't bad inside the restaurant. I usually go at lunch about once a week. Best sweet tea I have had yet!
(4)Line C.
Let me preface this by saying that I really wanted to like this place. I really, really, really wanted to like this place. I came across it one of the first days that I moved here, driving back from walking the dog at the Riverwalk. It's been about 6 weeks, and I'm just now trying it. What can I say, it hasn't been at the top of the to-do list. The food: I ordered the BBQ chicken platter and the hubs ordered the BBQ rib platter. We each got the beans and I got fries, he got tater salad. The food came in about 5 minutes, which hit me as odd right off the bat, and wondering exactly how much of what was on my plate was made for me. I got my answer within the first few bites. On the plus side, my chicken was warm and tender and had just enough BBQ flavor to not need any other sauce. Nothing else on my plate was like that. Next to my chicken was a huge glob of fries, cold and soggy, flavorless and limp. Then the bowl of beans, which were no better than Bush's, and super sweet. My husband's plate was similar...A pile of ribs, which he did say were good, although he prefers his BBQ with sauce and beans and tater salad, which was flavorless. On the table are the choice of three sauces, a red vinegar-based BBQ sauce, which tasted just like vinegar, and two mustardy puce sauces, which both tasted the same. The service: We were seated pretty quickly, and our server came with our drinks promptly, which I emptied and was never offered a refill, although she did offer a cup to go when we were done. Nope, by the time we're leaving, I don't need to drink any more. That's a big point of mine, I'm a heavy drinker. The ambiance: It's a fun place to go, it's decorated in 50s memorabilia, coke bottles everywhere, and super bright colors. When we first saw it, it was the outer decor that initially drew me in. There are tables outside for when it's nice. In a nutshell: If you could eat ambiance, this place would be a 5, but since you have to eat the cold gloppy food that's been sitting out for hours, this place is a 1.
(1)Yumi W.
This might be the best BBQ I evr had...nice and smoky meat and cole slaw was very nice and collard green was not oily very well done.corn bread is home made but other bread are store bought not even toasted or anything....needs up grade on bread part.Over all good meat and greens!
(4)Jason M.
Great place. My wife grew up in Columbus and we eat here about 5 times every time we come back . . . at least once at each of the three locations. She always gets the chicken platter and I always get the chopped pork platter. I haven't had a variety of the sides but usually get the fries & apples. I'm a fan of real-cut fries which these are. Some are limpy, others are crispy. I like both so am always pleased with the fries. The apples are apples. You get large servings although the service is sometimes lacking. Great atmosphere and I recommend going during off peak meal hours b/c it gets really crowded. I highly recommend!!!
(5)Kim K.
Smelled this place from across the road so decided to come here. How could it be bad if it smelled that good? I got their version of a combo (I forget what it was called) with ribs, sliced pork, and sliced beef (eye of round I believe, I am embarrassed to admit that I don't know cuts that well). For sides I got cornbread (sweet, thankfully, and yes, I'd eat cake with dinner to you purists), and regular and BBQ slaw. The cornbread was good, as was the regular slaw. The BBQ slaw was awesome. The meats were just ok. The ribs were the best of the 3; they had a nice char but were kind of dry and overly chewy. The pork, combined with one of the mustard sauces-I'm not sure which-tasted like a McDonald's cheeseburger. It was weird and a little off-putting. The beef was super dry and I only ate about half a slice before giving up on it. The sauces were ok. I would have liked either an explanation from the server or a label or pretty much anything that explained what they were. I did not try dessert, sadly. I am still wishing I had ordered the chocolate chess pie.
(3)Hailey D.
I absolutely loved this place, specially their sweet tea in a mason jar! I'm from Massachusetts, so I am not an expert on bbq but this place sure is one of my favorite. I loved their food and the atmosphere.
(4)Lucas V.
Country's BBQ is decent, especially for this area. If you want GOOD BBQ check out mike and ed's or clearview bbq.
(3)Michael J.
I have had (take-out) food from here but I had never actually been inside to eat until one fateful day. My parents were in town and we figured we come here to eat. The take out food I've had in the past was fairly good and I seem to recall hearing good things so why not. First off the wait to get in was way way long, but maybe that's a sign of how good it would be. Unfortunately the wait only made an average meal disappointing. "I waited all that time for this?" Service was not very good and the food was only OK. I tried the ribs and they were good but I've had better. I also sampled the chicken which was sub-par at best. That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
(2)Professor K.
Great place for ribs and texas briskets. I usually get a whole slab of ribs or a pound of briskets to savor at home for dinner. Yummy!
(3)Haley H.
Have gone to this place since I was a kid, unfortunately it has really gone down hill. The meat is fatty and chewy, and could probably be used as tire rubber, the bbq chicken is tough and dry and usually never cooked all the way- the wing refuses to come off- never a good sign. The sides are all salty or really oily. They even ruin a good healthy sweet potato by covering it in oil. Sad. The banana pudding used to be delicious but now tastes fake and very artificial. The place is always dirty and greasy, smells pretty bad and the carpets are filthy. Don't go here expecting amazing southern bbq, because you'll be pretty disappointed.
(1)Hugh L.
Service here is great! The servers are really friendly, and refills were constant and my group did not have to ask for them. However, the food here was not the best. The brisket I had looked tasty, but was very tough. The cornbread was cold and crunchy, and the fries were really soggy. Maybe my group and I came here at a bad time (4 in the afternoon), but the food certainly wasn't what I was expecting. Like I said, the service here is this place's redeeming quality! I cannot say enough things about the great servers working here!
(3)Sarah D.
I'm not a BBQ expert or anything but this place serves pretty good BBQ if you have a craving for it. It's my first time in Columbus Georgia so my husband suggested this place. If you come here please try their sweet tea it is so delicious and the locals say it's the real deal sweet tea! I ordered the brisket, creamed corn, collard greens, cornbread, and Brunswick stew. My husband got the BBQ chicken, coleslaw, and fries. BTW their coleslaw is not a traditional mayonnaise based sauce, they use vinegar instead which gives it a nice flavor when paired with the BBQ, it's something I've never had before and was pleasantly surprised. The service here was also great. Our waitress was so nice and suggested popular items (especially me since I'm a California girl and I don't know what the heck I'm ordering when it comes to BBQ lol) I'm coming back whenever I'm around Columbus, I'll never forget that sweet tea!
(5)Melissa I.
Great local place to stop by if you're hungry. Really charming place with nice staff. The bbq is delicious and so are the fixings. This place will not disappoint. They also have live bluegrass music every Friday and Saturday evening
(4)Stephen B.
I've been to country's a few times and the food has been fairly consistent. I think their BBQ is really good for the area (don't compare it to Oklahoma Joe's in KC). The ribs are a decent size and the portions are appropriate. I also had their brisket which tastes much better without their sauce on it. That's stuff is very sweet. The table sauces are much better. I have always been treated well by the staff and have no complaints there. There are a lot of sides to choose from and my favorites are the black eye peas and collard greens. Their fries need improvement. I don't order them. I was with a large group my last time in (10 people) and the service was just fine, we told them to deliver as it was ready (it didn't have to be all at once). Some of the orders came faster than expected. In all, we had a great experience. Again, I've had better BBQ but this is pretty good for this area.
(4)Karen T.
You get a lot for your buck and everything is like size large. I honestly don't know how people eat everything on their plate it's just way too much but the reason I give it a 3 is because the BBQ doesnt make me crave it on a random day. It's good not memorable.
(3)Brody M.
This is probably the worst BBQ I have ever tasted. I have been all over the country trying BBQ. I got the Texas brisket. Let me say i have tasted sand less dry. Usually brisket is soft and delicious and usually moist. This was very hard. I could have used it for tires. The sauce tasted lumpy peppery tasteless crap. We waited 15 to 25 minutes till our waitress appeared to take our order. Then we had to flag her down after needing refills for 15 minutes. The corn bread. The corn bread. I would prefer to call it dry corn shit pancake. It was again very very dry and had no corn flavor. We have waited 10 minutes for them to take our plates and it is yet to happen. Overall this was completely terrible . Not a single aspect was good. We should have gone to the chuck cheese for dinner it would have been a much better meal. Yes little kids screaming and running everywhere and ratchid pizza. I will never come back to this crap hole the call country's bbq
(1)moejoe r.
Service was really good and super friendly. We were a party of 10 and the wait at dinner time was less than 10 minutes on a Friday night. We liked the apps that we ordered, the cheese dip and sweet potato chips. The entrees were nothing great; lots of food on our plates but not much flavor to any of it.
(3)Christopher D.
Stopped here because parking lot was full, but I honestly don't know why it was after trying it. Got quickly seated and service was friendly. My brisket was tender but slathered in some nasty "shoop" sauce. My wife's ribs were burnt. Peach cobbler a la mode was nice way to finish and we enjoyed the live bluegrass band. The meal was easily $10-$15 overpriced - and they offer no military discount despite Fort Benning being down the road and there were two other tables with Soldiers sitting at them.
(2)Devon Z.
A few friends, my wife, and I stopped by for dinner on a Thursday evening, after smelling the excellent aromas that permeate the area. In the end, we regretted the trip. Wait staff was very helpful, and our group of six was seated quickly. Our waitress was a little new, but otherwise helpful and service was good. Their sweet tea was truly excellent, and for our appetizers, we ordered fried pickles, which were spot-on, and sweet potato chips, which were bland. I ordered the conglomeration platter, my wife the fried chicken fingers, and we were both unimpressed with the food. All of my meats were dry and without flavour; my wife complained that her chicken was the same. In an attempt to supplement the dryness, I tried the three different sauces that they had on the table, assuming that one of them would be a generic barbeque sauce, but disliked all of them. One of my buddies had room for dessert, and tried the banana pudding. It looked amazing, and he said it was excellent. Overall, it would have been a good experience, but the main course was just dry and unappetizing.
(2)Scott M.
Best BBQ in Columbus. I always take out of town friends here. The staff is courteous and very fast with orders, drinks, etc. All around great place!
(5)Angela S.
Great atmosphere and great food. I went with a large group (9 people in total), and we were seated quickly and received great service throughout the entire meal. The place is charming, and there is live bluegrass music on Friday and Saturday nights. Definitely try the fried pickles and get a side of fried apples!
(4)Kevin F.
Friendly staff and quick service. I had the BBQ chicken, Brunswick stew, and banana pudding. It was an excellent meal.
(5)David P.
Courteous and attentive waitstaff. Ample offerings on the menu. Fare was good but not great.
(4)Willie D.
Everyone in town knows that you don't go to Country's to get straight up barbecue. So with that out of the way, I'd like to say that Country's has some really good food. Their sweet tea is truly some of the best you'll find anywhere. I usually have chicken fingers when I go, both fried and grilled. Definitely some of the best I've had. The Brunswick stew is absolutely excellent, and I recommend it highly if you like that kind of thing. The sweet potato souffle is very good, if not too sweet. I also love the turkey and dressing, mainly for the dressing, as it's the best I've ever had. The corn bread is decent, but not amazing. So I do recommend going, just get something that Country's does well.
(5)Kane B.
This place was recommended as my late Father-in-law's favorite BBQ place in the southeast. Sadly, either he had terrible taste or the quality has gone down hill severely. We got there at about 11:15AM. The wood walls and the old-timey metal ads really gave the place a good atmosphere. We were seated immediately, and our server was polite and friendly. The sweet tea came out fast and was real Georgia sweet tea. I was thinking I was in for a real treat and order the brisket plate. Then the food came out and it turned into a major disappointment. The brisket was dry and tough, not melt-in-your-mouth juicy like brisket is supposed to be. I almost asked for a steak knife so I could cut it. It came with a sauce, but the sauce it came with was nothing more than chili powder in liquid form. It probably would have been ok if the chili had added some heat but it was too mild to help. So I turned to the sauces on the table to help out my brisket. I tried them all, but they were nothing but watery and tasteless - the only difference I could discern was the color. Hoping to salvage my meal, I turned to the sides. I had gotten baked beans and the corn casserole that was the day's special. Unfortunately there was no relief for my tastebuds here. They must have gotten a deal on green bell peppers because the corn casserole was 1/3 peppers - and there were even some in the baked beans! How bizarre. The rest of the corn casserole had a slimy texture with an odd flavor I couldn't place. The baked beans were ok, but had an unusual aftertaste - almost like there was something added to cover them being overcooked. How you overcook baked beans I don't know, but these were a short spell in the kitchen away from becoming paste. However, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. After we had our plates cleared away, my mother-in-law ordered some banana pudding. It was a heaping serving in a mason jar, and when I tried a bite I was a bit jealous I hadn't ordered some too. Sadly, the only things right with this place were the tea and the dessert. They even screwed up the tip at the register and had to call three different girls out to try and figure out their own register. Never coming back to this place.
(2)Brannon A.
When I was stationed down at Fort Benning, my friends and I would try to find new barbecue restaurantes to eat at. I was suspicious at first of Country's, as there are a few in town, and my rule of thumb concerning barbecue restaurantes is to stay away from chain joints. Additionally, Country's barbecue came recommended from a friend of mine from Chicago. I thought my Atlanta barbecue tastes to be far superior to my northern brethren, but he proved me wrong. Country's real treat comes after the main course. Their banana pudding was excellent! I like to think of myself as some what of a banana pudding connoisseur, and I would rate the BP at Country's as 5 Stars.
(4)Nan D.
Immediate service , even though it was at closing time. Waitress was pleasant and did not hurry us. We had the brisket sandwich and the patriot, which is pork and brisket. Both were tender and delicious - would go back again - but I will bring a sweater. It was freezing ....
(4)Kim Z.
Stopped here while visiting my husband who was on orders at Fort Benning. The service was terrible. The restaurant was only half-full maybe even a little less. And it took a ridiculously long time to get every step of service: drinks, order taken, food arriving at table, etc. And when our food arrived, my dish was cold. I hate it when we have to wait wait wait and wait for food to arrive, only for it to arrive cold. That means my plate was sitting there waiting for the server to grab it. I got the beef brisket. It was good and I liked the sauce even though I saw some reviews didn't like the sauce. My husband got the combination of three meats: beef, pork and ribs. He said it was okay. He wished they had pulled pork available. The only reason I'm giving this two stars is 1) I liked the Brunswick stew--never had it before; never even heard of it but I thought it was very tasty. And 2) The banana pudding was DEElicious! When we travel we like to eat at local restaurants, which is why we chose Country's. But in this case I kind of wish we went to the chain Smoky Bones instead, since we don't often get to go to that restaurant anyway. Also very disappointed that there was no military discount.
(2)Elizabeth M.
I have grown up on Country's BBQ and I must say that this is still one of my favorite restaurants to visit when I come home! The BBQ is always delicious!! If you're in town, you MUST stop by one of Countrys' 3 locations!! Some of my Favorites Include: Chopped Pork Platter (Especially good with all the sauces) Fried Pickles (Very affordable and enough to share with the whole table) Fried Chicken Ribs Even the Side Salad is great!! Baked Beans Hotdog (This thing is massive!!) These are just a few of my favorites, however you can't go wrong with anything you order!!! :)
(5)Kat K.
Have been here numerous occasions,with different friends,different days,different years.Only thing good here is tea,that is if you like it Southern Sweet.As , a Southerner,no,I do not enjoy our tea.Too sweet.Plain tea here is VERY good.Yes,I am aware it is referred to as,"Unsweetened".Science aside,how does one "unsweet" something?(You leave it out,i.e....plain)They still asked if I needed sugar,uh,huh?But I digress.The largest group I took included me and five friends.We were tired and hungry and no one wanted to cook because,that year in March,it felt like August.We were seated at the back of the restaurant.No big deal.We had a nice large table with plenty of elbow room.Waitress left after drink order,brought them back quickly.I suggested pitchers as we were thirsty too.Water was also brought.We were happy.We asked for a few minutes to look over the menu,as we were a sharing,can I try that,bunch.5 minutes turned to 10.The restaurant was filling up.10 minutes turned to 20.You get the general idea.A group that needed more room than us came in,was seated,drinks served.I flagged the waitress down.She said she'd be right back.The large group were apparently regulars and asked for the usual.We thought they had phoned it in as they had everything in less than 30 minutes.By this time nearly 45 minutes had passed.Just as she noticed we had no food.I said that was okay,we decided we'd find a restaurant that wanted our money.As we went to leave the cashier said we'd have to pay for our drinks.Seriously,I asked her.Asked for the manager.She started to ask how she could help,but was literally dragged off by the cashier and our waitress.They group huddled.I told my friends I'd deal with this.Others went out.A friend stayed,said I would probably need back up.I did.When they all came back,in a huff I might add.The cashier took her place, rang up the drinks and stated how much they were.I said I was not paying to sit 45 minutes in a restaurant for tea.The manager's look and demeanor changed quickly.She walked over to the registered and voided the charge.Begged us to come back.My friend,who has a booming voice stated he wouldn't come back if they paid him.I have not been back to this location since.S-l-o-w service.Food,mediocre from previous visits.Can buy tea at Piggly Wiggly,thankfully.
(1)Anthony D.
So I've been to this location twice and compared to the one on Veterans Parkway, this one is way better. Much better atmosphere, and the food was really good. Once again I had the Pulled Pork and the Beef Brisket. Both were really, really, good. I cant give this place 5 stars due to the fixings and the bread selection. You get a choice of white bread, texas toast or cornbread, all of which are OK at best. But if you like Bar-B-Q this place is definitely good to go.
(4)