I'll keep this short and sweet but I'm a big fan of Q-BBQ! I've tried the Brisket Burnt Ends Sandwich which is served with q-pups (basically hush puppies) and one side (I chose mac). The burnt ends were deliciously tender and fatty, just the way I like it! People who don't like fat on their meat may not like the burnt ends but if you give it a chance, I think you may be convert! The mac was yummy as well, noodles were cooked al dente and covered in just the right amount of cheese. There's nothing fancy about Q-BBQ but if you're looking for some quality BBQ then head on over! There are also other locations in Lakeview/Chicago as well as LaGrange.
(4)
King G.
Room temperature food burnt ends more like wet dog food. For two people that cost $35 I would expect at least food to be fresh and hot but they could very well be microwaving day old BBQ
(1)
Steve K.
This is my first 5 star rating. I am a foodie and I absolutely love good barbecue. I've been to all the good spots in Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis. This is a great barbecue joint with four distinctly different sauces at your table - you choose which flavor you want. They are all good but the sweet and the mustard ones are best in my opinion. The pulled pork sandwich is great - very flavorful, brisket sandwich is fantastic - you have to get it Q-style (with cole slaw and bleu cheese). Buns are fresh, which is extremely important. Tried the burnt ends today for the first time. They were fantastic and as an expert in BBQ said to me "these burnt ends are a cross between filet mignon and beef jerky." The Q- puppies that come with your meal are awesome! Be sure to fill up the little black cup with their sliced pickles - a nice complimentary offering. It can get a bit crowded at the prime lunch and dinner times but a crowd is a testament to a good restaurant, so I consider a crowd a good thing. Try to go at 1:00 or later for lunch as the place thins out then. Looking for great barbecue, give it a shot. You will be happy you came. I've been back to this place (multiple locations) literally dozens of times and never had a bad experience - always excellent!
(5)
DEALS D.
Absolutely fantastic bbq. Had the sampler plate. Will definitely be back for more. The servers and counter people were super friendly and helped with order. And they were right on. Loved it.
(5)
ray c.
Overpriced. Brisket was dry. Ribs were average. Burnt ends were completely burnt and not tender at all. I do like their sweet sauce and spicy sauced mixed together.
(1)
Shin M.
I got the burnt ends sandwich ($8.99) with melted mozzarella (extra $1.50) which came with 3 hush puppies (meh, i only ate one), and I chose french fries as my side. The lady that took our order was super friendly- just had to mention that. Anyway, the burnt ends sandwich was pretty good- don't know if the melted mozzarella helped thaaaat much- I guess I'm saying it's prob still good without it. The french fries were PLENTIFUL- I could not finish them all but they were really good. They were in b/t McDonald's skinny fries and steak fries. So they were medium in thickness and soft =). Overall, it was pretty good!
(4)
J.W. W.
BBQ is okay, but tables are jammed together like sardines in a can. I would have given it three stars, but they ban legal concealed carry so I will not be back.
(1)
Tori M.
OVERRATED. Given their award-winning status I was expecting gold when I got here and the food was silver, at best. The brisket was bland and needed go be doused in sauce. The set up was cramped and the bill for both of us was about $35! It wasn't bad but it most definitely did not live up to the hype.
(3)
Fi G.
Get the sliders if you're a first timer. You get to try small portions of all their meat. Everything we have tried has been amazing. The portions are on the larger side, you'll have plenty of leftovers. The staff are friendly and helpful. On each table they have different sauces you can add to your BBQ (not that you need it). The last time I had amazing BBQ like this I was stationed in Texas.
(5)
Benjamin S.
Good, not great. So, I seriously dig good barbecue. I've been to plenty spots around the US. I also know how to make good barbecue. So, I'm not an average guy with average standards. With this area its hard to find a decent BBQ joint, so it was cool to see one prop up in Naperville. A friend from work suggested we hit there for lunch and I was game. So, first impressions. Finding parking is a pain, but that's Naperville's problem as the downtown booms. As for the restaurant, Its what you would expect from a suburban place. Sort of the Apple-Bee-ification of the decor. It ends up coming off a little artificial. But, neither of those are really that important in the grande scheme of things. I ended up getting the three meat combo, which is always a good route when you want to experience more of what they have to offer. I ended up getting the brisket, pulled pork, spicy sausage, with a side of beans and coleslaw. I was disappointed that it cost extra to have burnt ends, and they dont even serve the ribs as part of the 3 meat combo. If the ribs or burnt ends arent economical to serve in a combo, then just change the portion size. Anyhow, after a few minutes, the server arrived with the steel tray with brown paper and my entre. Overall, the presentation of the food was meant to be appear rustic. So, nothing worth mentioning. Just piles of meat with plastic cups for the sides. So on to eating,, Im not sure if the style of serving (using a metal tray) was at fault, but I felt like my meal just wasn't all that hot to begin with. I first tried the brisket, which was OK. I was sort of surprised by how little flavor (smoke or otherwise) I could detect, It was served chopped up, which I dont mind as you can keep it juicier for longer, but It was still missing spice and flavor. Which take you to the sauces..which I thought were really good, but almost seemed like they were required to make the meal work. The pulled pork was also unremarkable as it too didn't have any smoke flavor or seasoning. As for the sausage, it wasnt awful, just nothing special. It was along the same lines of a Bobak sausage - perhaps not even that high of quality. As for the beans - they were very good and extremely spicy. The coleslaw was essentially store bought and (although was nice to cut into the richness of the meat) was disappointing. The biggest surprise was that with a $20 plate that they didn't even give you any bread (and hush-puppies don't count). I thought that was a no-brainer for any BBQ joint. As others have mentioned, the mac-n-cheese is so bad that its almost a joke. I knew not to order this as I tried some before when some family members did carryout. Like some stoned hillbilly's creation. Now, there are some hillbilly creations that do work, like Frito pie. But, cheese-its on mac-n-cheese doesn't. Sorry guys, its a total fail. If cant oven bake a crumb topping, then just serve it without any topping altogether. All in all, I think this place works for a quick BBQ meal if you are in the area, but not worth driving to if you don't live nearby.
(3)
G B.
It takes much time and care to BBQ this well. The food is consistent and the Texas hot is right on. Ribs are excellent, burnt ends are nice, and real tea. I can't wait to return.
(5)
Clint K.
I liked the variety of sauces! I only had the brisket but it was very good. Definitely will go back!
(4)
Sam L.
First time customers at this restaurant. We enjoyed how friendly the staff were to us. The bbq was great! I highly recommend this place to others.
(4)
Deena A.
First time there. Would come back if I am in the area! We had to go back up for a second order! The chopped brisket is delicious.
(5)
Brandy W.
This place deserves 4 stars for flavor/variety... but only gets 3 because they're super sneaky with their prices. How on earth is a sandwich, small baked beans (think full palm of your hand), small mac-q-roni, regular mac-q-roni and about 5 brussel sprouts worth $23? I'm the vegetarian who loves her carni husband. And when we walked by, I saw signs for spicy mac-q-roni and cheese and spicy brussel sprouts. I hoped they were vegetarian. I went in, inquired. Yep, all their sides except the baked beans are veggie (not vegan) friendly. Sweet. We were in for dinner. I checked out the menu. Small sides (quite small) were $1.99 and regular size sides were $2.99. I ordered the spicy brussel sprouts and spicy mac at regular sizes, expecting a cost of $6 (which is suitable for pasta with a veggie in small portions!). The husband ordered a pulled pork sandwich with a description under it including cheese and coleslaw. While it IS listed on the menu that it's $1.50 to upgrade, you'd assume they wouldn't list the base price and description with the upgrade but not upgraded price. And the cashier should've said, For another $1.50, would you like to make it Q-style instead of assuming we didn't mind the upcharge. And the sides. YOU GUYS. I paid $4.99 for about 5 large (albeit yummy) brussel sprouts! Apparently the stuff in the window on the "spicy" list that is not included anywhere on the menu is not the same price as the sides they DO list. And the spicy mac and cheese...spicy or not (added jalapeno is all) was bland and not worth the $3.99 we paid just for them to add a few slices of jalapeno. So for $9, I got brussel sprouts and crappy mac & cheese. No meat. What a ripoff. And of course you have no idea the prices when ringing up...all unassuming. My meal as a veggie was more expensive than my husband's meal as a meat-eater! They score points for the following items: - good meat, says the husband - tasty brussel sprouts and beans - my son who hates food eating the two measly hush-puppies they threw on my husband's plate. - free pickles you can dish yourself - BBQ sauce to your heart's content - fun atmosphere - hand-washing sink Things they should improve on: - not being shady on those upcharges - labeling the menu clearly with prices, even for seasonal items - cashier not upcharging without disclosing additional cost - outdoor seating would be nice - cooler soda machine. Why don't they have the new Coke machine? IMO, those are decent things to work on that just might not get us back in the door.
(3)
steve r.
Well, if you like BBQ that you'll have a lot of leftovers for, then this is the place. I've been to this place twice and each time I've been defeated in my ability to finish my plate. The food is completely overflowing and they are more than generous with the sides, especially the french fries. Make sure you are coming for lunch, get there before the rush happens each day around noon. Lots of options, lots of sauce and lots of food. If you are hungry, this is the place for you. Keep in mind, the tables are really close to together, so be ready or take it to go.
(4)
Brad J.
I love the pulled pork and the brisket is pretty good. I am a huge fan of great bbq and this place does a really good job. I even had the pulled pork nachos one time which were okay, but I much rather would have had the pulled pork sandwich or the brisket. Like what some of the other reviewers have said, the portion size can be a little small but the food is great. The staff is very friendly and helpful!
(4)
Daniel T.
This is my second time here in two weeks . So far I give them honors in consistency . The staff is tops in service . You place your order at the front and they bring the food to your table . When placing your order the people at the counter seem like no matter how busy it is they don't rush you + they are very happy and knowledgeable about the product and do their best to answer any questions . And they don't have a tip policy. The restaurant is very clean due to the staff continually cleaning tables + floor . The restrooms are very clean . Nothing worse than going into a place for a meal and seeing filthy restrooms Yuk !!! Yes I will be back .
(4)
LOIS B.
YUM, won my heart and palate. We stopped in on a very busy Sunday afternoon and the heavenly BBQ scent wafting all the way to the parking lot had my mouth watering before reaching the door. I had the beef brisket plate. The meat was soooooooooooooooooooooo tender I did not require a knife. It comes with the North Carolina Vinegar Sauce and I added some Memphis Sweet sauce ~ mouth-watering. There are also 2 other choices of BBQ sauces available on the table for your dining pleasure. All the sides we had were, also, very tasty. They included salad, baked beans, Q-slaw, and the Q-pups. Needless to say, we cleaned our plates and were totally full. We even purchased 2 of the sauces to bring home. It is a small place and I can imagine it gets very crowed at peak times. You order at the register, are given a number, you find a table, and they bring the food to you. If only the windows opened, that would make this absolutely perfect, since there is no outdoor seating. I will return and try some other offering.
(5)
H K.
Always a solid meal! Salads rock. The BBQ sauces rock. Pickles are crispy, fast service, great food.
(5)
Boon K.
There is alot of bbq options to order here so why not just order the sample platter and try a little bit of everything. Everything on the platter was pretty good but I wasn't the biggest fan of the bbq rib, because it was to memphis sweet for me. To my surprise I really like the chicken wing and the bbq briskets. As most of my review I like the more sour things like the north carolina vinegar that goes with pulled pork. The texa hot was hot and when you put all three sauces together you get a litte bit of everything. My husband loved the bacon mac and cheese. And a note the sweet tea is not like the syrup you get in the south it is lightly sweeten so I love that too.
(3)
Andrew T.
As I'm sitting down to read this review, I see Ricky C's review in the sidebar, and he has it totally nailed. This is BBQ for people who live in the Midwest. It's smoked meat, and it's BBQ sauce, and it's BBQ sides, but that's realistically about it. If you go to Memphis or the Carolinas or Texas and eat BBQ, you aren't likely to review this place highly. For what it is, Q is fine. But it's not where I would go when I was hungry for BBQ. Their pulled pork and brisket were, as I said, just OK. Pork was not all that smoky, and also not terribly pork flavored. So maybe their meat just isn't all that great. It came sauced with a traditional Midwestern sweet sauce, which I should have asked them to hold off on. There is a decent facsimile of Carolina vinegar sauce available on the tables, and I think that would have made the pork quite a bit better. The brisket was smoked a little bit better, but it wasn't tender, and came a little cold. Again, not a ton of flavor. This needed sauce. Sides were OK - mac and cheese with Cheez-Its crumbled on top, which was cute. If I was looking for BBQ in the western suburbs, I would hit up Austin BBQ in Wheaton. With their actual sourced-from-Texas sausage, it's definitely the best I've had in the area.
(3)
Erica P.
It was good, interesting 'fast food' BBQ concept in downtown Naperville. Portions were on the smaller side for the price.
(3)
Scott H.
Very good food. Big portions! They definitely have it down to a science. Different sauce options really appeals to the different tastes in BBQ. I'll definitely be back to this place!
(5)
Mr. G.
Be warned - the standard for barbecue in this area is terribly low. Decent meat, but not really barbecue. The burnt ends I had were dry and made mostly from the flat of the brisket. The sliced brisket was also very dry and tasted more like pot roast, with very little smoke flavor and no smoke ring. I suspect they hold it for service in some type of liquid. That being said, everyone is very friendly, the restaurant is clean and has a good atmosphere. The sauces (which you will need) and sides are generally good. Don't buck up for the spicy fries, they are just fries with jalapeños thrown in.
(2)
Doug P.
Excellent food. I had the burnt ends along with the brisket. All was fresh and even rivals the bbq I had in Kansas City
(5)
Darci S.
Q was pretty good but a little overpriced. The best thing I ate was the spicy Brussels sprouts, believe it or not! The pulled pork was good - but not out of this world - and same goes for the beans. The kids meals are crazy expensive for what they are. If I went again I'd just get a regular side of mac for the kids and save 5 bucks. In summary I'd go back if I was in the area and desperate for BBQ but there are better joints IMHO.
(3)
Adam B.
I ordered the 3-meat platter. The first thing I noticed is there was only sauce on the brisket. They let the meat stand on its own and let you add whatever sauces you choose, which is the way BBQ should be. The smoked chicken wings were some of the best I've had in a while. They're covered in BBQ spices and since they're not fried, there isn't a ton of grease on them. The Texas spicy sauce goes perfect on these. I liked the burnt ends a lot, they had a very intense smoke flavor to them. The brisket was ok, it was moist, but I felt it lacked flavor or seasoning. I also added a taste of turkey, I added some Memphis sweet sauce and it may have been the highlight of the meal. I can't recommend this one enough. For sides, the beans were ok, there was a little too much liquid though. I really enjoyed the cornbread, it's a pretty good size and just crumbles. Great texture to this. I appreciate that they have all their homemade sauces at the table and my favorite is probably the Memphis sweet. The mustard had a little too much of a Dijon taste for my liking. Also, they have a jar of homemade sliced pickles at the condiment stand. Major props for this! I liked the feel of the place, lots of wood, spice jars, it really made me feel like I was in an earthy, homey type of joint. And even though it's not a waitstaff restaurant, I noticed one of the staff workers taking the time to check on each table. That goes a long way for service. I have had very bad BBQ in Chicagoland, but Q is the best I've had in the burbs. I definitely would return. That said, I think I'd still take Smoque downtown if I had my choice.
(4)
Angela P.
Still a BBQ novice, as it is not my favorite cuisine, I would definitely return to Q for the burnt ends and "Q pups" (corn fritter hush puppies). The burnt ends did seem chewy and dry on the first bite. But after adding some Texas spicy and Memphis sweet sauce, my burnt ends were fall-apart good. I also like the 4 choices of sauce on the tables, and I tried them all. The Texas and Memphis were the best. Were they authentic? Who cares? They were good, and Q is better than Famous Dave's. The macaroni & cheese was good, but could have been better with more of a cheddar or spice kick. They're headed in the right direction adding a Cheez-It topping. After that, it was standard macaroni. The fries too, were good, but neither disappointing nor extraordinary. We spent a total of $32 for 2 entrees and 2 drinks. The line is awkward, as previously mentioned, there isn't much room to stand to the side and read the menu if you're like me and need a minute to decide. After ordering, they give you a number and then they deliver to your table. I'll be back soon, most likely stuffing my face with Q pups.
(4)
Laurence P.
Craving BBQ? Check this out! Great food, great service, great location, what more do you want! Need to go back, and get the sampler! Can't wait to get a taste of all those yummy meats! ;)
(5)
Bryan N.
This place fills a niche in the downtown. It's casual like a fast food restaurant but the quality far exceeds anything else that delivers a meal as quickly. The brisket is delicious on its own, but I do recommend their BBQ sauces. I mixed the sweet and the hot sauces to make something great. What kept this place from earning its fifth star are a few things. Their ordering area is a cluster. They just get too busy, I've actually walked away because it's felt like the line was too much. Related to this, sometimes the seating area is full.
(4)
Tami B.
Overall, I think their bbq is delicious, but it is very expensive. I got the pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese. I like that they have all of the sauces on the table to choose from and I like that the mac and cheese was topped with cheez-its. I just thought I would get more food for the money. The sandwich was large, but then you get two small hushpuppies and 1/4 cup of mac and cheese. That with a drink was around $12. If I'm going to pay that much for a sandwich I would rather go to Ted's Montana grill down the street, get served and get way more food for the money.
(3)
Andrew A.
I have been looking for a decent BBQ place around for quite a long time. Q's knows what's up fo sho. I have been here three times and have tried the brisket sandwich, the pulled pork sandwich and the burnt ends sandwich. Everything I have tried has been absolutely delicious. The employees are also very friendly and the atmosphere is relaxing for me. Great BBQ.
(5)
Brent H.
Anybody who rates this place with more than 1 star obviously doesn't know barbecue. Dry, dry, dry! This is the driest most tasteless meat I've ever had at a restaurant. Poorly cooked and lack of seasoning makes for a bad experience. The brussel sprouts were edible.
(1)
Charles S.
Been here enough times to know what to recommend to friends. The platters are a nice option when you want to sample many different items. You can get the 3 or 4 meat option. The sliders are a nice treat if you want to sample as well. All sandwiches and entrees come with q puffs. The ribs I've only had once and it was a tale of two piggies: half of the slab was moist and tender and the other was tough and rubbery. So, in the future I will enjoy the variety versus the slab. Oh, you must have the spicy Brussel sprouts....very hot but tasty!
(4)
Rebecca C.
Great pulled pork sandwich! A plus for students is that they have $5 specials for lunch! The selection of BBQ sauces makes dining here great! Also my fav... You can take all the pickles you want from their pickle bowl. :)
(4)
Michael M.
Great BBQ food, Ribs!
(5)
Sandee S.
Be aware the kitchen closes at 830. I was rudely told when I walked in which is only mentioned on their WINDOW! Idk why you would close the kitchen earlier than your hours state. Only bar and grills do that which this is not.
(1)
Lydia Z.
Went here on the recommendation of a friend and was a little leery of something called "burnt ends". I didn't really know what it was but he said to try it so we did. And it was awesome! The ribs, also good as were the wings. In fact, the wings have a slight brown sugar coating or something and it makes it fantastic. The q-pups are a tasty treat. Fries are also excellent.
(5)
Adrianna N.
Burnt end sandwich with spicy Brussels sprouts! Absolutely delicious! Good prices, clean atmosphere, friendly staff!
(5)
Tim H.
Well when I went back the third time for a pulled pork sand. the fries weren't much better. There still seems to be some issues in Naperville. I'm not a fan of their sauces and I'll have to try the LaGrange location, to see what the hype is about. I love good BBQ. The pulled pork was good ... but I'm used to better. I'll have to try the burnt ends and the beans. The owner did go out of his way to satisfy me. That says a lot about a place.
(2)
Howard L.
A-ok on the BBQ here. I had a good beef brisket sandwich and a side of mac for $8.77 after tax. It was a little pricy for what you get, but it is a downtown Naperville location. I liked the Texas spicy sauce. I also liked that at lunchtime at least they hold a table for you before you order, so there's no need to scramble during the busy lunch hour, and they bring your food to the table.
(3)
Agnes L.
*Disclaimer: This is based on carry-out only. Ordered the Papa Q Sampler Platter by calling, and it was ready right when I asked for it. Service was friendly on the phone and when picking up my order. Loved that there are little to-go containers for all the sauces, and I liked the variety of sauces (sweet, spicy, vinegar and mustard). The pulled pork and chicken were tender, but the ribs were a bit tough.
(4)
Steve G.
I really feel for the folks who live in the apartments above this place. Great smell outside... Inside, a little less enticing. I had the pulled pork, "Q-Style"... My wife got the sliced brisket plate with expectations to take some home for later. She got slaw and beans for her sides. My sandwich was good, nicely cooked pork, and once I added some sweet BBQ sauce to it, very nice. The blue cheese crumbles and cheese didn't add much flavor, but the slaw on top was very tasty. Fries were good, if a bit salty. My wife's brisket was okay -- great flavor, but obviously needed another 4 or 5 hours in the smoke. The thick layer of fat that melts away on brisket when it's slow cooked for hours was still there in full force. That's a huge turnoff for my wife. After some serious trimming, there wasn't much brisket left -- and not much to take home. Overall, a $25 tab for a sandwich and platter in a fast food place seems a bit high for BBQ, and quantities are not really all that large -- at least on the plates. Here's hoping Smoque BBQ on the NW side of Chicago doesn't open anywhere near Naperville or this place may be looking at some serious changes...
(3)
Alan S.
The best barbecue joint in Naperville! I frequent Q quite often and always leave stuffed. It's a bit pricey, but well worth the cost. The selection of sauces on the table are always good to add to whatever you order. I love that they have the "hand-washing station" that is outside of the restroom. Whenever we have family come in from out of town, we always go to Q! Can't wait to go back. Gotta try: The burnt ends Spicy Fries All the sauces!
(5)
Shannon M.
After a couple of trips for takeout, a friend and I settled in at Q for a sit-down meal last night. An attentive hostess swooped down upon us at the door to check if we were eating in or taking out; when she learned that it was the former, she set us up with a table number (remember it! You'll be asked again at the counter!) and sent us along through the line to order with the to-go people. (This means a table is assigned to you...so if you don't like it, too bad, I guess.) This time I diverged from my previous love, the pulled pork, to try the sausage and chicken wings. GOOD IDEA! While the sausage was tasty, with a spicy kick, the wings were the winners, gorgeously burnished with a glaze and sprinkled with spice rub. Tender and meaty, they matched well with the Memphis sauce. Very different from your usual "buffalo wings," and so much better! I hadn't been thrilled with the sides on previous occasions, and this time tried the mashed potatoes (with some red skin still clinging to them), which were better, and a tiny side salad in a foil cup, which was standard salad bar fare. (Wish they had onion rings as an alternative to the squashy fries.) The Q Pups were bigger and fluffier than previous times, less like small gritty falafel balls and studded with corn kernels. The table is stocked with a roll of paper towels and bottles of Q's four sauces (I like the sweet Memphis and spicy Texas), but no salt & pepper (packets are up by the soda fountain), which I didn't discover until tucking into the messy fare, so I had to regroup and clean up to go grab some, then settle in again. Shakers would be a lot easier... At any rate, this was an incredibly satisfying dining experience. I will definitely be back for the wings!
(4)
Adam K.
If you've ever been to Smoque in downtown Chicago, this place reminded me of that -- note quite as good, but still very good food. I had the half-rack of ribs and my wife had the pulled chicken and both were excellent. The ribs were very tender and the rub on them was excellent, my wife ended up taking a few bites from me because they were so good. The fries and mashed potatoes were also very good and I washed it all down with a seasonal Blue Moon brew. Probably the best thing about this place is that you can fill yourself up on great-tasting BBQ and not break the bank. My wife and I both had full entree dinners and a drink each (wine for her, beer for me) and the total for the meal was right around $40. Not bad at all. I highly recommend checking this place out if you're in Naperville and have a hankering for some good BBQ.
(4)
Hayley H.
Oh yea! Yum. Get the sampler! It's the best value for two people to share and try everything. I was hoping to be waited on, instead you order at the counter and they bring it out to you. No waitstaff. Though that means, no Tip. ^_^ Honestly, the food is awesome. Not dry meat, lots of flavor. 5-6 sauces on the table, try them all. I will be returning with my meat loving family.
(4)
Jenny V.
I've been meaning to check this place out! I got the brisket with cole slaw and mac and cheese. I liked the mac and cheese, the crumbled cheese its were a very nice touch. Out of all the sauces, i liked the north carolina vinegar (?) i think. the coleslaw was okay, im not a big cole slaw person, but i liked it so that says a lot My roomie got a chicken bbq sammich and it came with fries and omg! so many fries! the Bf got burnt ends, and he said they were good. i didnt get a chance to try them =( for the size of our meals, i would say the price is a deal. i paid about 12 bucks for my food and i couldnt finish it all. i will be back when i'm craving some bbq!
(4)
Jim C.
They have Hamm's beer!! Haven't seen that in ages so high marks for originality. They have good beers too but sometimes you need a Hamm's! I know how to cook BBQ. I have a wood smoker at home and have made some of the best pulled pork known to humanity, not to mention homemade and spicy BBQ sauce. But the first time I bit into the BBQ pulled pork sandwich at Q's, I thought "hmmmmm....this may be better than mine." And I gotta say it is. It's totally awesome. Plus with the combo of four - yes four - different BBQ sauces, it puts Q over the top for me. I'm the kinda guy that likes to mix sauces up and see what happens. And I was in BBQ heaven doing that at Q's with their spicy sauce, vinegar sauce, sweet sauce and mustard sauce. Dipping the tasty hushpuppies into those sauces made my taste buds dance. Following that with a swish of Hamm's can't be beat. Go to Q's. Get the pulled pork. Mix the sauces. Or do whatever makes you happy. If you do it at Q's, you'll be happier.
(5)
Tamera B.
We've tried Q many many times. When they first opened, I gave them a 5 star review. We're from Memphis, TN and we know how hard it is to find really good BBQ outside of the south. Fortunately, when we tried Q, they did not leave us disappointed. However,it seems like the quality of their food has steadily decreased over the past 4-5 times we've eaten there. We've experienced things such as overly sweet iced tea, tough meats, and less than desirable service. It's gotten to the point where my husband refuses to go back. So, if you've never tried it, you're in Naperville, and you're really, really carving some BBQ, they'll relieve your craving.
(3)
Natasha C.
My husband and I took a brief road trip from the north side to Naperville to try the cue. **Please note that my husband and I don't eat beef or pork and he OOCASIONALLY, when the moon is full, he may have chicken. With that said, this review is mainly about the sides, and sauce. At each table there were 3 choices of sauce. I prefer a sweeter Kansas City style sauce. So, I went for that. It was great. This is mostly SMOKED meat. I think there is a difference between BBQ and smoked meats (right?). The buns they used for the chicken sandwich were great. I make and cheese was okay. Sadly, I'll go back to making my own BBQ pulled chicken sandwich. It's good but not mind-blowing. The hunt (at least for me) for great Chicago BBQ continues....
(2)
Alex P.
Is a very decent BBQ place, especially for the burbs. I prefer Chucks or Uncle Bubs that are both in the same general area but overall not a bad place. The food wasn't overly priced and had pretty decent portions. Not the best not the worst, something that is definitely edible and enjoyable, not anything i would drive out of my way for.
(3)
Erick H.
Yay! I get to be the first to review Q! Awesome! Had the Burnt End Sandwich Q-Style. It was fabulous. The meat is tender, smokey and just downright amazing. I have the Mac-Q-Roni, too, and it is amazing. Creamy, gooey goodness. The Q Puppies are amazing hunks of sweet cornbread. Everyone needs to go to Q!
(5)
Steven R.
We went here for Father's Day 2014. This is a very good barbecue restaurant! We enjoyed all of the different meats we tried including the pulled pork, sliced beef brisket, chicken wings, burnt ends, and, of course, their ribs. I have to agree with many of the other reviewers that Q's Memphis Wings and Q-pups are worth going out of your way for.
(4)
Nicole N.
I have been here 2X...FAIL. Cold and over priced. Portions are small not that I would have wanted to eat one more bite :-( Go to Gematos in Naperville on Ogden you will not be disappointed!
(1)
Jen K.
My husband and I have both eaten here twice, and sadly, both times were very different experiences! The first time we went, around when they first opened, was AMAZING and it deserved 5+ stars. We both got the burnt ends platter with a couple sides. Green beans were standard, and the mac/cheese was very hearty. But these burnt ends were the bee's knees! They had so much flavor with the perfect amount of char...and they gave us SO much meat, it was hard to move afterwards! I also loved the sauce selection too, because everyone likes a different style of bbq. This place celebrates that! The second time was mediocre and deserved 3 stars. We both felt like maybe they ran out of burnt ends that day and just added some char to their regular burnt ends. It just didn't have the same authentic taste like before. Plus we didn't get as much as before...which is fine, because at that rate, we'd be huge fatties. They charge extra for the burnt ends, probably because they only have so much of it to get served. So I imagine that when they start running out of the actual burnt ends, they have to make do by just burning regular meat? I could be wrong, but that's how it tasted. We'll probably go back, but if it was like the last time we went, it'll probably be our last, because mediocre bbq isn't worth $30 for the two of us.
(4)
Geoff G.
Great service. Can get crowded. Great for families
(4)
Joe B.
The smokey smell when you walk in is as authentic and rich as the food. Amazing BBQ in downtown Naperville. Who would have thunkit? My BBQ pulled chicken done "Q-style" with bacon and cole slaw was tender, juicy and had no signs of fat or gristle. My girlfriend's slider flite of various meats also came in Q-style, which is a must. Q's Memphis BBQ sauce is smokey and sweet, and the baked beans are thick and hearty. We dined late in the day and still had amazing quality food, which isn't always the case at some bbq places that run out of the good stuff early on. The only thing missing is an outdoor seating area with wooden picnic tables and someone jamming on a banjo.
Great food, great sauces and very nice service oriented staff. I always leave here satisfied. Thanks!
(4)
Alex C.
I have lived in Naperville all of my life. I've been to Gemato's a few times, with varying levels of satisfaction and subtle levels of disappointment, I regularly went to Famous Dave's when It had its tenure here due to its close proximity to my home and workplace, but I'll say that Q-BBQ Naperville is the best BBQ place in town by far. I've brought friends there to eat in the restaurant and enjoyed a beer and some Brisket. I've, on more than one occasion, brought the sampler platter home from work in lieu of a pizza. Occasionally, when I'm feeling particularly hungry, I order the Papa-Q platter for the gang and shamelessly hoard the ribs and chicken wings. If you are going to eat in, make sure you allow time. The wait is WELL worth the product. The staff is friendly and quite knowledgeable about their product. If the dont know something, they'll find someone who does. In addition to this, they usually cruise around, making sure your table is well stocked with paper towels and sauce. If you plan on taking out, be sure you get the full array of the four sauces for your family, because every sauce has something to bring to the table. The long and the short of it is: This place has fantastic BBQ, a hometown staff that is attentive to detail and a fantastic array of smoked meat. I originally was going to make a standing rib roast for my New Years Eve party, but later decided that Q would make a much better party than my faltering attempts as a pitmaster. Customer for LIFE and company cheerleader!
(5)
Rick N.
Some of the best BBQ I've had in the area and I consider myself a BBQ Snob. IMO the order is: Ribs - Best!, Pulled Pork - 2nd Best, Brisket - 3rd Best. Sauces are great the Mustard and Vinegar sauces are really good and the Memphis style sweet is awesome. Sides are good but the slaw is nothing special. This place is definitely worth checking out if you love BBQ. Food comes out quick which is a plus.
(5)
Rob R.
OUTSTANDING BBQ. Some of the best I've had. Best wings ever. Smoky, deep fried and dry rubbed....AMAZING!!! Burnt Ends....GREAT. You need to get to the Q and try it out yourself. The only thing missing was Shiner Beer and some good Texas music instead of that top 40 crap over the PA. But the food made up for it.
(5)
Amanda M.
AMAZING!!! I love their Pulled Chicken Sandwich! Their corn fritters are also to die for! This is the best BBQ place I have ever been to! It is nice and quick too if you're in a rush since you order at the counter and they bring your food to you! If you're love BBQ this is definitely the place to get it!
(5)
Ricky C.
Q-BBQ is what I imagine a restaurant that was opened by someone who enjoys traditional BBQ, but grew up in Naperville, IL or any other midwest city. They've got all the right elements, but the execution is off. If you've experienced authentic southern BBQ, you'll notice on the first bite. If you're a midwest shut-in, well, that would explain all the 5-star reviews for this place. I had the pulled pork sandwich, and my friend had the brisket. Both were good, don't get me wrong, but they were a little bit tough, which is a sign that perhaps maybe they weren't cooked as long as they should've been or were cooked at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time. Good BBQ is super tender, these were not. The cole slaw was great, i was actually a huge fan of that, as were the "Q pups". Cornbread was also well done, but a bit more starchy than traditional corn bread. Each table has the traditional roll of paper towels, which is a nice touch, and were the array of sauces, of which the Texas sauce was my personal favorite. Overall, I wasn't especially thrilled at the food for the price paid (it's on the high end), but if you haven't had better, then i can say you'll probably enjoy it. ignorance is bliss. :)
(3)
Rex L.
It's okay, not great, not bad. Since I can make an incredible pulled pork, I wanted to try the beef brisket and "burnt ends" Burnt ends were cubed pieces of brisket, not what i would consider"ends". Plus they were a little on the fatty side. The briskett claims it was smoked for 15 hours, but mine did not have that smokey flavor taste. Fries were good. And they have a couple of interesting bottled beers available. Sauces were good, 4 types available at tthe table. Probably won't be returning.
(3)
John B.
Great Brisket Burnt Ends. Also love the Fritters. Nachos are okay but would be great if they used real cheese and not that yellow stuff. A little pricey but very good BBQ and by far the best in area.
(4)
Tara G.
I would give a 5 if there were more vegetarian options than just salad. What's the vegetarian wife of a carnivore husband to do when she wants to take him out to eat BBQ? He definitely loved the sliders and spicy fries!
(4)
Adam B.
I recently spent some time in Nashville playing music, and they have some serious BBQ down there, I'll tell you what! I ate to the point of exhaustion more than once in Music City... After arriving back in the flatlands of Illinois, I told myself that I wasn't even gonna TRY to find BBQ like that here in suburbia. Well, that didn't last for long! This morning, I totally caved and did a search here on Yelp for BBQ joints near me. I compiled a list of a few that looked good, and randomly picked Q-BBQ as the first establishment to get some of my hard-earned money. They did NOT disappoint! I ordered a "Carolina Pulled Pork" plate with cornbread, mac-q-roni, and BBQ baked beans for sides. It was not cheap (my bill was just over $14) but totally worth it! They had several different BBQ sauces to satisfy different tastes right there at the table. I tried a little of each one (other than the "South Carolina Mustard Sauce" since I'm allergic to mustard) and each one was unique and flavorful. The actual pulled pork was fantastic: precisely the southern food fix I was looking for! The "mac-q-roni" (mac 'n' cheese topped with crumbled Cheeze-Its) was delicious. The BBQ baked beans were exactly what you'd expect, and the cornbread was very good. The place was neat and clean, my table wasn't all wobbly, and the staff was very friendly and quick to fulfill any requests I made. Plus they had rolls of paper towels at the tables instead of napkins - the same as those Nashville places I mentioned earlier... I will go there again sometime, and so should you!
(3)
Carole C.
I am doing this review with reservations. My order was called ahead for pick up, it was an hour before closing and based on the prior reviews my expectation level was very high. Our order was a full slab accompanied by an order of burnt ends, the 2 sides were Mac n cheese and cole slaw. I regret we didn't look in the bag before we left because they are uber stingy with the sides. The burnt ends lived up to their name, they were charred, stringy and chewy...this I did attribute to the late hour but if it were my joint, I wouldn't have sold them! The Mac n cheese had cheezits on top, but it had a boxed taste and totally forgettable. I think the biggest disappointment was the rancid cole slaw, that had a not so fresh taste and we voted it inedible. As for the ribs, they were okay...on the dry side, but by then I was predisposed to find fault with them too... I don't understand why fries are not just a standard addition, and I should have ordered them...if the restaurant gives the same size sides to a half slab they look cheap using same for a full slab. I could understand if they were so great, but while one was mediocre, one was inedible! I'd give it another try, earlier in the day and eat in. Not on my hit parade!
(2)
Geoff L.
Went here tonight for the first time with my wife and we loved it. Best bbq I've had in the area. I had the burnt tips and my wife had the sliders. Both were excellent. Staff was friendly and they even brought us a complimentary order of regular fries after my wife couldn't handle the spicy ones. I love spicy sruff and these fries were hot and delish. Prices were fair and the atmosphere was bright and pleasant. It's also a place that's super casual and is kid friendly. We will be back.
(5)
Heather M.
Came for dinner after walking around downtown Naperville for the day. I am not a huge fan of having to order your food as soon as you walk through the door, mainly because I am a huge foodie and can never decide on just one thing! Luckily the staff was very friendly and offered that we take paper menus and choose a table while we decide. I ordered the sliced brisket and mac n cheese. My fiance ordered the choose three meat option and tried the pulled pork, brisket burnt ends and the chicken wings. Hands down the best thing we had were the chicken wings. They had amazing flavor. We just talked about how we need to come back to have the wings again, and this time just the wings! If you have a chance, this place is definitely worth trying! Their barbecue sauces are decent, they have something for everyone.
(4)
David M.
So far I have had the rack of ribs and a couple of sides twice from here. The first time was in house and the second was carry out. The first time was upon recommendation of a eager neighbor. Both times, the service was quick and everybody was friendly, even on a Friday night. Everything looked good and smelled great. However, it immediately became apparent that the ribs were exceedingly dry, bordering inedible. By the time that I got to the end, it took great effort to pull the meat off of the bones. The meat was desiccated and flaky. I had to dunk it into my french fries catsup to make it palatable. The second meal, as I had mentioned was the same thing and was actually a "comp" meal because I had called the day after the first meal to give them my feedback. Same issue with the ribs. I see that I am not the only one who has experienced the dryness issue. My guess is that they prepare the ribs WAY in advance and that they stay in some sort of steam table situation until someone orders them. You can only get away with that so long before the food needs to go into the dumpster. The french fries were greasy and undistinguished while the baked beans and coleslaw were OK. Given the $21.99 price (typical for Naperville), I would recommend that one go to The Patio in Bolingbrook (consistently good) or Walker's Charhouse. Go elsewhere for ribs. There are many other choices in the area.
(1)
Teresa K.
I met some friends here after getting another friend's recommendation for this place. The BBQ was OK, i wanted to eat the pulled pork without sauce, but it was kind of dry and really needed sauce. Good thing there were 6 different kids of sauce on the table along with a roll of paper towels. I think the best part about the meal were the hush puppies. i could eaten a whole plate of just those, but i got the three that came with my dinner and enjoyed those. i had my 6mo old son with me and i had enough room to camp out with all my tons of baby junk. i was disappointed to see that there were no changing tables available in either bathroom, so i had to leave early to take care of the little guy. clean place, friendly staff, ok food.
(3)
Kelly A.
We were visiting family in Chicago and went to the Q. We had a great lunch consisting of pulled port combo plate of ribs chicken and briskett and all were outstanding. the sauces at the table were all great, We tried all the side dishes and all were good (bacon mac and cheese, coleslaw and baked beans and the spicy fries), the brussel sprouts to me weren't cooked enough but we were so full from all the others. I would definitely recommend Q BBQ!!!!
(4)
M D.
Was looking forward to a great BBQ experience after reading all of the reviews, but was let down. I got the sliders to try a little bit of everything (turkey, brisket, chicken) with fries and boyfriend got the spicy sausage platter with spicy fries and mashed potatoes. The sauces were bland and nothing special. The brisket and chicken were dry and all I could taste was the bun. I did enjoy the fries. The spicy sausage tasted like eating liquid smoke and the spicy fries were just regular fries with jalepeno slices thrown in. Mashed potatoes were average. It did smell great on the inside and the employees were friendly. Also, the music playing was enjoyable!
(2)
L F.
We like it. We've been here a few times - it's always buzzing with a crowd & the service is quick. Big fan of the pulled pork with the Carolina BBQ sauce. Hush puppies were divine and the macaroni and cheese was a salty, creamy treat that we all enjoyed. The prices are a bit on the high side but as far as BBQ goes, this is some of the best I've had in the midwest.
(4)
Steven M.
Came here with friends at my request. Don't know what the problem is? The ribs were dry and when I bit into them, the meat flaked off like shingles. WTH! I spent the week telling everyone how great this place is. The pulled pork was watery and the brisket looked like charcoal. Was it a bad night? Not sure, but I'm going back to LaGrange where I can have a 5 star meal.
(2)
Angela C.
This place is great! Friendly staff, big portions, quick service, good food. Very creative with the specialty Mac n cheese, which I can appreciate even though I'm allergic to dairy. Sauces are good too. I've had better, but theirs are still good. Baked beans have a delicious smoky flavor that I loooved, so definitely my favorite ever on the baked bean front.... And I'm not a baked beans fan. Will definitely be going back!
(4)
Matt M.
Had been to Q 4 times previously and had the awesome burnt ends each time. Had the ribs this time and it will be ribs for the next 12 times! Just great!
(5)
Bob K.
Went back to Q today for lunch - wife and son had the pulled pork sandwich and loved it. I tried the spicy wings and liked them - dry rubbed and flavorful - I would rate the spice or heat level as more toward mild. The wings were on the small side, but cooked perfectly.
(4)
Burbalicious X.
I'm going to upgrade my review (WOW! I don't think I have ever done this before). Came for lunch with coworkers and I thought the pulled pork sammy was much better this time and I even dug the sauces more. Perhaps the previous visit was on an off day? The prices are just a smidge high (which means I won't be stopping in for lunch as often as I might like) and I thought the cole slaw was snooze-a-riffic, so I'll go with fries next time (stole a few off my friend's plate and they were good).
(4)
Becky S.
Oooof! I really have to disagree with my fellow Yelpers on this one. I went here with my husband and son a couple weeks ago, and we were really disappointed. First off, the place seems to be exclusively manned by teenagers. I used to wait tables at that age, so I understand, but you need some adult supervision or the place will descend into chaos, which is kind of what seemed to be happening the day we went. The waiter took a very long time getting us a high chair for our table which is annoying but not the end of the world. While my husband waited in the long, slow line to order our food, he heard the cooks constantly yelling "order up!" and watched the food just sit there under the heat lamps for a very long time. Not a good sign of things to come! We ordered the sampler platter to split, which had a sampling of most of the different offerings on the menu. At $20, I felt it was reasonably priced for the quantity of food. However the food was extremely disappointing. The pulled pork was decent, although really that one is hard to mess up, but everything else was terrible. The brisket, chicken, and ribs were all very dried out. The wings tasted stale, like they had been left under a heat lamp for a long time. The green beans had the strangest flavor that was very unappealing. The cornbread was fine and the sausage was okay. The table next to us was very upset with the quality of their food and I saw them discussing this with the manager, who I guess was the adult supervision but looked barely older than the teenagers running the place. The only things I considered pretty good were the hush puppies and the BBQ sauces on the table. We moved here from NC where BBQ is taking VERY seriously. This place would not last a day down there. Sorry but we won't be returning.
(2)
Steve C.
This is an excellent example of what barbecue can be - more than just spicy or sweet sauce but smoked meats with a variety of regional flavors such as North Carolina Vinegar or South Carolina Mustard sauces. A surprising favorite side dish is the deep fried spicy brussel sprouts, cooked with jalapeño peppers. A casual restaurant where shorts and t-shirts are the norm, in a clean and comfortable atmosphere.
(5)
Gina G.
The Q pups which are corn fritters are wonderful. I ordered the brisket sandwich which came piled high with meat. I love the sweet Memphis sauce. My husband ordered a baked potato with lobster bisque as a side that he thought was really good. They have great homemade pickles. Only down side is the diet drinks were out of order and the ice was low.
(4)
Ognum O.
Our favorite BBQ around. They have many locations and every one I've tried is consistently great. The pulled pork and Mac and cheese are my favorite and they have great sauces too. I got the Carolina sauce to take home to BBQ with. Service is always great too. I ordered catering for the nurses where I work and everyone loved it.
(5)
Tim B.
Came in for the soft opening and really enjoyed the meal. I just got the Q sliders, one of each (chicken, pork, beef brisket) and thought all were delicious. I tried out each of the bbq sauces at the table and thought all were very good and very different. All in all, i'm sure i'll be going back after they open!
(4)
Mike M.
I went here twice just to make sure I had it right. This place feels like a corporate version of Smoque. The two BBQ places near me closed in the past year, another I don't care for, and Famous Daves is a nightmare. So this is the next closest place. I have had a few things on the menu. I liked the burnt ends the best. They had a nice chewy texture and went well with the sauces. I like to try them all like a flight of deliciousness. I always get slaw (I think it goes perfect with smokey meat) and the Mac is pretty good. They crumble cheeze-its or a similar product, and that is a nice "comforty" touch. The Baked beans are ok, I doctored them up with sauce for my taste, and they give you these little turds of cornbread that are pretty good. Everything is served on small sheet trays making the whole experience pretty tidy for BBQ. The place was nice, they had a good selection of meats and sides that were all pretty good. This place will satisfy a BBQ fix in the burbs if you can't make it to one of those places where there is smoke coating everything.
(3)
Chris B.
For the typical person that grew up in Naperville or surrounding areas, this place is top notch. Saying that, the food is mediocre at best to anyone else that has lived outside of the western burbs and has tasted REAL BBQ. The meats are dry and misses that smoke flavor one would see in traditional wood smoked BBQ. The sauce selection is too limited and misses on flavor. The Q-pups, which are basically hush puppies, are good. Service is nice and the atmosphere is good, but if you're looking for quality BBQ, go somewhere else.
(1)
Tim K.
Quite a disappointment after some of the glowing reviews here. It wasn't busy when we were there so service wasn't an issue, except that our cashier couldn't even pronounce the names of their wines. I had the three meat combo with mac-n-cheese and slaw. My wife had the burnt ends (plate) with fries and beans. All three of my meats (beef, chicken and pork) were dry and they were NOT tender. The portion size seemed small for the price. The burnt ends came swimming in grease. My wife commented that they don't trim their meat well. Maybe that's where all the grease came from. We went through 3-4 sections of paper towels (they don't have napkins) trying to sop up the grease. At that point I asked for another order of burnt ends "without the grease." The re-do was better. The fries were limp and soggy. Sides: Fries - limp and greasy Baked beans - tasted like out of a can with some brisket added Mac-n-cheese - OK Slaw - good Sauces - They have four on the table. You should be able to find one you like. Location: I believe someone here said Q-BBQ was in the Hugo's Frog Bar location. That is incorrect. Q-BBQ is in the former Jilly's of Naperville location at the SW corner of Main and Van Buren. Hugo's is still open in it's original location. Bottom line: We probably won't be back. Don't go out of your way to get here.
(2)
Wayne R.
I've been looking for a good bbq place and just found one. There's something to be said about a bbq place that has a sink to wash up after a messy meal. Q-BBQ is in the old Jilly's right next to Giordano's. As soon as I walked in, I could tell I was going to like it. It just had the feel and smell of a bbq joint. Looks like you can bring some tables together to accomodate larger parties too, however I could see if all the tables were all full it could get cramped fast. While we were in line someone reserved a table for us by using a number which we relayed to the cashier. A little strange, but it works. We ordered the pulled pork plate and the burnt ends brisket plate. Both were excellent. The burnt ends brisket was nice and flavorful. I particularly enjoyed the spicy sauce. It had just the right amount of bite to it (although I like things hot, it didn't pass my numb lips and bead of sweat test). The cornbread was excellent as were the fries plus you get a couple of q puppies (hush puppies) with your meal. I tried all the sauces and the spicy was by far my favorite, with the sweet and mustard following close behind. Wasn't the biggest fan of the Carolina vinegar, but to each his own. Overall I enjoyed my meal and will be back. Just don't forget to grab the ketchup, wet wipes and some pickles over by the soda dispenser... Definitely worth putting up with the parking challenges of Downtown Naperville!
(4)
Gail L.
There is nothing sadder in the world than dry, overdone ribs. I LOVE ribs. I love them in every form. I love them when they are smoked with a beautiful smoke ring, and require a gentle tug to remove them from the bone. I love them baked, falling off the bone, slathered in sauce. I do not like rib jerky, and sadly, that was what was delivered to my table. The sides were fine. The sauces were fun. But the ribs, oh the ribs, were only edible because I was hungry. This was almost a two star review, but then a manager came, and asked how the ribs were. I sadly, mournfully looked up, and said "I'm sorry, but they are horribly over done. They are like rib shards. They are so dry." I never complain, but I was so sad. I figured, at best, I might get a free appetizer coupon. At worst, I might get a snooty explanation about how real ribs don't have meat that fall off the bone (I know!). But, to my surprise, the manager expressed surprise, apologized, and said he'd go find me some other ones. About 5 minutes later, he showed up with a beautiful, full slab of ribs. They were cooked perfectly. No more rib jerky. They were tender, and juicy, and had a lovely smoke ring. Everything else we had was very good as well. The brisket was a particular favorite. The pulled pork didn't do much for me, but it was fine. It'd probably make a good sandwich. I thought the chicken wings were a bit overdone, but my husband liked them a lot. We'll give it another try, especially since there's a pretty big BBQ drought in Naperville.
(4)
Mike R.
Ok I am a man who can admit when he is wrong. I may have been a little harsh in my last review, and the owner cares enough to respond to the reviews. That earned my respect. I would like to say this place is nice and clean, the service is out standing and I will try this place again. To the owner Mike LiPadus I would like to say your side dishes do need to be bigger and give the people a little more for their money. Reviewed by the Naperville ~ Food Dude ~
(3)
Rich K.
It has been interesting to see the changes that have gone on in Naperville since I started living here in 1979. Restaurants have come and gone. Some have been good and others so-so. On a recent rainy Saturday afternoon as I was walking around town taking pictures I saw Q-BBQ on the corner and since I had not yet eaten lunch I thought I would stop in and try one of the sandwiches. Looking up at the menu board as I entered I immediately saw the words Smoked Gouda Cheese as part of the Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich. That was as far on the menu as I needed to go as smoked gouda cheese is one of my favorites. After taking my order for a Q-Style Carolina Pulled Pork (Q-slaw, smoked gouda, carolina sauce and toasted), and included side order of green beans with garlic balsamic and grabbing a bottle of Chicago made Filbert Root Beer in a bottle (a childhood favorite of mine) I sat down near the window and awaited my order. At the table were 4 bottles of different types of sauce. Memphis Sweet, Texas Spicy Sweet, North Carolina Vinegar and South Carolina Mustard. As I awaited my order squeezed a few drops out of each onto my index finger and had my own personal taste test. My order arrived with a couple of Q-Pups, the Pulled Pork and Green Beans. As I slowly savored each bite of food periodically putting each of the 4 homemade sauces on the sandwich and dipping the Q-Pups in each I really couldn't pick out a favorite. They were all great. After the meal I asked to speak to the manager. The owner was there and I told him how I thought this was one of the best new places to open in Naperville and the sandwich and sauces were out of this world. He proceeded to give me a small tour of the "behind the scenes" place. I will be back and will recommend this place to anyone and everyone!
(5)
Rob A.
Who would have thought you could do the same thing, only better, in a second location. Great staff, and the service is only second to the food taste and quality. As I travel the country, I try and check out BBQ because it's one of my favorites. This place does not, ever, disappoint. If you've got an appetite, go for the 4 meat combo with a side of the amazing fries that have a good kick and don't miss out on the Q-Puppies, unreal. Oh, and the sauces, great variety for all taste buds. Don't think that it's all just meat though. You can get a great salad and order your favorite meat on top. Simply the best, only at Q-BBQ
(5)
Kelly C.
The original Q location is close to my office, and it quickly became the go-to bbq stop for lunchtime excursions. I was really excited to hear there was a new location in Naperville, and stopped in today to check it out. It's a great location downtown, conveniently located near parking lots and garages. Walking in, it had the same vibe as the La Grange location, but was larger. The ordering process was really smooth -- you would never know it was their second day of operating. Food was just as good as their original restaurant. I ordered the sliders with Mac-Q-Roni and was delighted by it all. Their brisket and pulled pork especially are not to be missed. Also, they have sauces of the various BBQ hotbeds in the US. Try 'em all as they are all great and fun to experiment with. I whole-heartedly recommend either Q location for anyone in the mood for great BBQ.
(5)
Eric P.
We traveled here with some friends and our babies. The decor is very 'bbq' like...wood benches/seats, western feel. That said...it is a pretty cramped place as far as seating/walking aisles is concerned. We had a hard time moving our stroller between the tables (i know, big mistake to bring that in the first place). When we got there on a Saturday evening, there was a line out the door. For those that know downtown Naperville, this is a pretty common sight. The line moved very quickly though; a large number of people were there for carryout. It was pretty noisy too, so if you're looking for a quaint place to have a dinner and/or conversation...probably not the right place. The food was very tasty. They have all your common meats/cuts that most BBQ joints have. Plus some salads and other options. I got the combo w/ brisket and burnt ends. There is a $1 or $2 upcharge for the burnt ends (seriously...??), but they were WORTH it. VERY tasty and I will get those again when I go back. The brisket was very tasty, but the cuts were a lil on the small side. My wife (not a big bbq person), got chicken nuggets and the mac...ha. She said they were very good. Their sauces were awesome...enjoyed trying the different varieties. Pricing is on the slight high side for what you get, but most BBQ places are. They have VERY good sweet tea as well. I enjoyed this place and would recommend it for someone looking for BBQ. We'll be back, I know that!
(4)
Marisa S.
This was a great place to get some quick BBQ. My boyfriend and I shared the sampler plate and really enjoyed everything on it. You got your choice of sides and they were just as expected. Nothing exceptional, nothing amazingly outstanding but traditional and good. The meats weren't super juicy but the different types of barbeque sauces you got to choose from were helpful to add some extra flavor and keep the meat moist. If you haven't gone and are in the mood for some quick easy BBQ, check it out!
(3)
Scott C.
Ya know, the BBQ is pretty good, as well as their sauces. However, the place is run by a bunch of 20 somethings and teenagers who don't really care about service. I've been there 3 times and waited so long 2 of those times for my food that they REFUNDED MY MONEY. So, I guess I should give it 5 stars because I always eat there for free!! Whenever I walk in its just a bunch of kids standing around drinking coke and flirting with each other. But given I got a free sandwich card at my last visit I'll be back, at least one more time (or two, if it takes 15 minutes for a pulled pork sandwich and I get a free meal).
(2)
Kathy F.
I can't say enough about this place!!! I love it! I usually eat at the one in LaGrange , but we were in town for a ghost tour. I ate the Texas Chopped Brisket Q style . I have ordered it at least 15 times and it has tasted GREAT every time. Can't wait to have it again. One of my top 5 restaurants.
(5)
Bill V.
New place in downtown Naperville. Good not great. 15+ minutes to get our order. Ribs were very good. Chicken, pork and brisket were on the dry side.
(3)
John P.
Finally a decent BBQ place in the Naperville area. Let's break it down shall we? I went here twice during opening weekend so I could get a decent sampling of the menu, you don't want too much time to lapse between tastings less you forget :) My first trip didn't have much of a line, maybe 6 orders in front of me but it still took forever. My second trip was out the door. The line is probably the worst part of the entire experience. It was annoying enough that I was tempted to give them 3 stars but I'm hopeful that it's just some operational kinks they are working out. They have 2 registers but one is for phone in orders only. I think you also have a lot of people that are asking a lot of questions when they get to the register too. Either way, when you have a line out the door and and idle register it doesn't seem like rocket science to open that up and take phone orders in back or something. There is ample seating, once I ordered I was able to sit right away. Now the food. I tried the brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, and smoked chicken. For sides I've had the Q-pups, mac q roni, fries, beans, and corn bread. In terms of meats the burnt ends and brisket were fantastic. Tender, spiced just right, the smoke ring was really small but still tasty. The burnt ends come with some aioli sauce but honestly I think they tasted best without any sauce at all. The pulled pork was cold when I had it which also dried it out. I tried some Carolina sauce to help moisten it but it didn't help much. Again, I'm hopeful that this is opening weekend operational issues but if that's the norm then definitely skip the pulled pork. The smoked chicken was probably the worst item I had. It was also very dry and the smoke flavor didn't compliment the meat at all. Even dousing it in sauce didn't help much. Skip this for sure. As for the sides I had a comparable experience, some great some I would skip. Let's start with the corn bread. They give you an ample portion about 9" long and 3" wide or so. It was very moist both times and has a great flavor. A nice balance between sweet, and nutty like a good cornbread should be. The fries were also good. They fresh cut them and cook them in peanut oil so definitely very tasty. The mac q roni was fair, almost a little too creamy and not enough cheesy. They top them with what look like crumbled cheez-its. Worth a taste but I've had better. The beans were about the same. Average but seemed like something out of a can. As for their sauces they were average, nothing to write home about but definitely added some extra flavor. A couple of other nice extras. They have a unlimited pickle jar if you want a little added vinegar to your meal, and at the end of your meal they have a big wash tub to wash your hands off in, definitely a nice touch. All in all I will definitely be back here. For the items I liked it's some of the best bbq I've had in the burbs. A few items are to be avoided but that's the same anywhere. I'll probably wait a few more weeks to see if they get some of their opening weekend kinks worked out but I'll definitely be back for some brisket and burnt ends!
(4)
Faraaz U.
Coming from Texas embeds high standards in my expectations... I really wanted to like this place and give it a nice 4/5 star review but here is where we stand. Decor- Very nice and inviting (even had a live band when I visited) Staff- Friendly and attentive Food- Full of flavor but small portions Value- This is where the deduction comes in. For the same amount of money I could get a lot more in most BBQ places I'm use to back in Texas. But if you have never tried other BBQ's then you might just find this place A-OK.
(3)
Ashley W.
I am SOOO bummed because I really wanted to love this place, and the first two times I DID love it. In fact, I gave this place a 5 star rating just a few months ago! Here's how our experiences have gone - 1st visit- AMAZING. We fell in love. We ordered the sampler platter and the best thing on the entire platter was the ribs. Fall-off-the-bone delicious! We vowed to come back just for the ribs next time. 2nd visit- AMAZING. We ordered the ribs expecting tender, fall-off-the-bone like the ones we had on the sampler platter and guess what, they were. This time around we also tried the corn bread which was some of the best corn bread I've ever had! The overall experience was phenomenal, and we couldn't stop talking about the delicious, tender ribs. 3rd visit- this is where it all goes downhill. Today is Small Business Saturday, and when we thought about which small business we'd like to support, we chose Q. We had been craving some good BBQ since... welll... ever since our last visit to Q about a month ago! Again, we ordered the ribs expecting tender, fall-off-the-bone meat and guess what? They were awful! Our food came out within 5 minutes which seemed a little too quick. It's nice when food is brought to the table in a timely manner, but 5 minutes seemed a little too quick when ordering ribs. When the food arrived it looked delicious as always, but one bite told me otherwise. The ribs were chewy, hard, and lukewarm. My hubby and I ordered a full rack to split and there were just a few good bites out of the entire $21.00 rack of ribs. Our options were to complain, but I hate complaining, or just suck it up and eat the nearly cold, chewy ribs. We chose the second option. When you go to a BBQ joint, you expect that they know how to consistently do it right, and today Q proved that they can't. Will I be back? Likely. They've got some phenomenal sauces, and we love the corn bread, but you can bet we won't be ordering the ribs again. I'm so disappointed because I had thought we found our go-to place for ribs. The search continues....
(2)
Dov R.
This place has fabulous food at reasonable prices. I just came back from Charleston and the food here could fit right in, The Burnt Ends are just beyond great, and the Pulled Pork is lean, extremely flavorful and an excellent choice. The staff is very engaged in making this a great meal.
(5)
Chuck A.
Nice atmosphere and decor but bad food. Worst ribs I have ever had. I had 2 ribs with my meal and couldn't finish them. The sauce choices, while nice, were too spread apart in flavors and there was no 'middle of the road' flavor.
(2)
John J.
Wow, this was goooood. Cornbread (good), Brisket sandwich with cole slaw (very good), and the wings with the brown sugar dry rub (better than very good). Great quality. Definitely a place to go back to. Way to go Q's!
(5)
Sean B.
If you have eaten at Smoque BBQ on Pulaski in Chicago, don't be fooled by this generic imitator. It has the look and fee down, but the food just isn't that good. Mac N Cheese is terrible (unless you are 5) and they server store bought slaw like you get in a cafeteria. The sliced brisket I had was was cold and dry. The ribs which my wife had were ok, but nothing to write home about. The Q is just barely passible but if you know good BBQ you won't be pleased! Plenty of other choices near by, so keep walking and pass on this place.
(2)
Joanne W.
As someone who frequented the LaGrange location, I was over the moon when I saw a second location in Naperville! Wahoo! I met some friends for dinner on July 3rd....the last day of RibFest and the night of the fireworks. Q was hopping but it did not stop us from getting our mitts on some of Q's hush puppies. Oh yea! I had a sampling of three meats which came with 2 sides and some hush puppies. I got the sliced brisket, burnts ends and the spicy sausage link. For my sides, I got the mac n cheese and the garlic balsamic green beans. Q is a no frills place. You stand in line, place your order, you are seated and your food is brought out to you. As stated earlier, Q was pretty busy but the line moved quickly and we were seated without a problem. Upon receiving my bbq meat-o-rama, I noticed that I did not get any hush puppies. Tragedy! I shouted out for immediate assistance and a server brought me out a pile of hush puppies on the double. Crisis, averted. I would skip the green beans next time - they were OK. The mac & cheese with the cheeze-it cracker sprinkling was a delight. But what about the meat, you say? Well, lemme tell ya. All of it was tasty but my favorite was the burnt ends, followed by the hot link. The brisket was good, don't get me wrong but I think next time it's going to be all about the burnt ends. Q has a variety of sauces on the table that will satisfy all you BBQ lovers out there. They also have beer, sweet tea and beer. Of course they have sodas also, but did I mention they have beer as well? Q is located in the space that housed Jilly's and is a welcome addition to downtown Naperville. Go'on and get your Q on!
(5)
Lisa T.
WOW! I have lived in the western suburbs for over 5 years and have not found a BBQ place that was good until now. Yesterday a friend and I went to q-BBQ and the food was incredible. I had the sample ribs (3 bones and spicy sausage) the seasoning was dead on and the meat was NOT gas grilled. Also, the sides are great as well.
(5)
Vincent M.
Heard about this joint on the News of all places (ABC - Hungry Hound). I was love BBQ so I was thrilled that Q-BBQ had a restaurant in downtown Naperville with plenty of FREE parking! We cruised in on a Saturday afternoon and ordered the Wings and BBQ Beef Tips. We ordered at the front and our food was brought to our table after a minimum wait. The food was delicious; the portion size was generous and filling. The mac & cheese and hush puppies were the best I've had at a restaurant in quite some time. We just got back from vacation in North Carolina where we had hush puppies, they were good, but Q_BBQ's were better! My only complaint is the same one I have about all BBQ places: the price; $28.00 for two people is a bit excessive for what amounts to takeout, which means Q-BBQ will be a sometime place, and something to look forward to!
(4)
Ali K.
We just moved to Chicago from Kansas City, so we have high expectations for our bbq. Smelled great going in and they had burnt ends on the menu!! We were pumped- but WOW, we're we let down!! The burnt ends were very dry, the pulled pork was not pulled properly (there were big chunks of non pulled pork mixed in with my pulled pork) and had no flavor at all. Too bad, we were really hopeful.. The macaroni and cheese was really good, though!!
(1)
Shaheen R.
Came here with my husband and BIL. If I'm going to come with these two guys, I better be ordering enough to feed a small village! But I digress; on to the important details Walking up/Outside: Relatively new restaurant, brick outlay, tons of windows that appear to open up on nice days. Ambience/Design: . As soon as you walk in you're greeted by a very thought out, purposeful design of the space. matte walnut wood tables, and lacquered birch wood walls with rustic photos of everything BBQ related on terra-cotta colored painted walls Setup: Each table has a roll of recycled (awesome!) paper towels and 4 of their signature sauces corralled up a sauce cage. First, the moment you see this roll of paper towel, thats when you know this meal is going to get you down and dirty, and it'll be oh so delicious! So you best not wear something nice here, just in case you get it dirty! Their four sauces are the perfect complimenting elements for any of their menu selections. Sweet BBQ, Spicy BBQ, S. Carolina Mustard, and a N. Carolina vinegar blend. Their BBQ sauces have the right amount of heat, paprika and smokiness, but their mustard is definitely the most unique. The mustard has notes of Rosemary and Thyme which elevate anything you put it on. Just remember, the mustard should bring out the flavors in what you're eating, not drown it. Don't squeeze this stuff like French's mustard on a hot dog! Service: Excellent service, occasionally you can behind a person who takes TOO long to order, so I do wish that when this happens their staff calls someone else to take customers on their other register quickly, instead of having to wait 5-7 minutes before they call someone else to man the register. Because all that's happening is they look at us with eyes that say "sorry!!" and us customers in line politely glare back "its kind of, not really, okay. When are you getting someone else". What we got/Menu selection: Extensive menu, but we all wanted to try a little of everything so we ordered a TON. We got the Papa-Q platter (has a tasting of EACH meat they offer on their entire menu), Hush Puppies, Mac-Q-Roni, Spicy Fries, Cornbread and 3 sliders prepared Q-Style (Pulled chicken, chopped brisket and burnt brisket ends). A) Papa-Q Platter: Now my husband, BIL and I don't do pork, so the staff was excellent about letting us swap out the BBQ Ribs, the sausage and the pulled pork for whatever we wanted. So we ended up subbing it out for extra sliced brisket, chopped brisket and burnt brisket ends. The ultimate breakdown of the platter was memphis chicken wings (excellent sweet-spicy, tangy dry rub), chopped brisket (delicious and well marinated), burnt brisket ends (caramelized goodness), sliced brisket (meh this one is ok, more on the mild side as far as seasoning is concerned), smoked turkey (the first few bites are good, but then you realize its a bit dry. But then again its turkey, so thats what happens 9/10 times anyways), pulled chicken (a definite favorite!!!!). B) 3 Sliders Q Style: I did the pulled chicken, chopped brisket and the burnt brisket ends. All three are nestled between brioche buns. What made it Q style was what each slider was paired with. The pulled chicken was paired with memphis sweet bbq sauce, coleslaw and bacon (I omitted the bacon here-- 9/10). Chopped brisket slider q style means it was paired with N. Carolina vinegar sauce, crumbled blue cheese and cole slaw (6/10. Blue cheese was overpowering, but if you're a blue cheese fan then you might give it a 9/10!). Brisket Burnt End Slider prepared Q style was paired with sweet and spicy aioli, mozzarella and coleslaw (9.5/10) C) Hushpuppies: Platter came with hushpuppies which we DEVOURED, and I never even liked hushpuppies before this. Literally this is the only place I'll eat or will ever eat hushpuppies from D) Mac-Q-Roni: husband is a big fan, they crush Cheese-Its over it. creamy, al dente noodles. E) Spicy Fries: OHHHH LORDDDD. GET THESE. DELICIOUS. Made fresh to order its tossed in a spicy seasoning and jalepeno slices that has just a slight amount of sweetness in it to tease your tastebuds. It's got just the right amount of heat in it to make you want more, but not too much where you just want to put your mouth over a fire hydrant and swear to a higher power that you'll never eat spicy food again. F) Cornbread: meh, this one is ok, not too special, slightly sweet TL;DR: Get the papa-Q platter especially if its your first time and you want to try a little of everything they offer. They will sub out specific meats based off preference or dietary restrictions. Get the spicy fries and hush puppies (even if you don't like hushpuppies normally, you will LOVE these). Skip the cornbread and mac-q-roni. Come in casual clothes and expect to make a mess. Don't fret if you don't finish your meal; really thought out "to-go" station for any left overs.
(4)
John D.
1 1/2- 2 stars. Well. I went in there on the 4th around 7:20 PM. I noticed it was open and was deciding to either eating there or just go to Ribfest? I decided to take a menu with me. When I walked in at first, I noticed the didn't have special hours (thinking they would be open normal business hours). My thinking was that would be a bit strange to remain open with a BBQ fest happening less than a mile away but I went with it. I left and came back about 7:50 or so, having decided that I would eat there. I was only considering if I would eat there or take it with me & park somewhere before the fireworks. I noticed something when I got back. In less than 30 minutes, there was a hand written card (about 3" x 5") saying the location was closing at 8:PM. Now remember, that sign wasn't put there 30 minutes prior, which is the only reason I came back. I was somewhat confused. Having worked in a BBQ place years ago, my thinking is that they basically ran out of meat (most of it which isn't out of the question). I walk in the the door and the first thing I was told was "we're closing in 8 minutes" not hello or some greeting of the like. I asked a couple of question relating to food and they did get answered. I did my last review about 3 years ago (almost to the month) and looks like some of the service/etiquette issues needs to be addressed. While I get wanting to leave on a holiday, this is the straw you drew and you have to own it. I've been there so I can relate. At least I wasn't on hold for 8 MINUTES like I was the last time I tried to do carry out. My order was taken quickly so at least that went well. Now time to criticize the food. I have some VERY mixed emotions when I do this. I'm a big fan of BBQ and am ALWAYS looking for a good place. Now here goes nothing as it relates to my meal: A. Macaroni & cheese. VERY blah at least. The last time I ordered it, I knew it had a weird taste to it but couldn't place it. Then I looked closer. As I looked closer, I noticed the taste was like Cheez-Its. I look closer and turns out I was right. Krissy B.of Lexington, KY confirmed this in her review. Can someone PLEASE explain to me WHY you would crust or top your mac & cheese with CHEEZ-IT?!?!?! Am I missing something here? This is one time where I asked where is Gordon Ramsey when I need him? It was at least edible but VERY low on the food chain as good mac & cheese goes. It wasn't well seasoned at all. In other words, do it right or get rid of it. Save your time and mine. B. Mashed potatoes w/ gravy. TREMENDOUS although a little more gravy could be helpful. I guess it's my preference. People may not realize how fast this dish can go south (e.g., not fully cooked, over whipped, etc). Nice consistency indeed. The green beans didn't agree with me (my palate anyway) so I decided not to fill in. C. Meat #1- Spicy wings. Now I eat habanero sauce almost daily so spice for me is pain for most. The flavor was decent but only one thing. They were a bit dry. The skin in particular was a bit tougher than I expected. Maybe I got a bad batch. My previous visit is when I had the sausages. VERY good. D. Smoked turkey. It was strange because the pieces were either nice and moist or very dry. I've bbq-ed turkey myself (pieces and whole). I suspect someone cut into the meat before it was completely rested. That's the only was I know it can end up as dry as some pieces were. Both meats had a nice smoke flavor to them, but in places were dry. E. Sauces- I recommend all of them (although I generally don't eat sweet BBQ). The spicy Texas sauce has some bite but the 2 vinegar-based sauces are as good as any I've had (a little better than the place I worked at and if I said who it was, you would feel good about it). The non-vinegar sauces (Texas spicy & Memphis sweet) are also on par with the place I worked at. I REALLY want to like this place. It seems as if they take one step forward and 1-2 steps back. Service has been good or bad (as I shared before). This place had such potential but in the 3 years since my first review, it's fallen short of what I thought they'd be. Inconsistency is a bad thing. I want to dismiss it as a busy weekend but this visit was actually better than the last, which is saying a great deal. I would REALLY ASSUME not having to drive 20-25 miles for decent BBQ. There are some good places in the area. Some I REALLY believe in. Since Ribs R' Us in Westmont closed years ago, I have tried to find something that good. Some have come close. Step up your game and push for consistency and not speed. Most people who go to BBQ places are willing to wait IF the BBQ is done properly. I rated this place as I did for that very reason. I HOPE you get better.
(2)
Jason R.
Here's all you need to know: Brisket. Burnt. Ends. Plus their ribs, smoked sausage, pulled pork, sauces and sides are all really good. If you like BBQ, you will like Q.
(5)
Zach T.
I'm going to have to go back to Smoque, because now the Jury's out as to which is best. We went here with a party of 10. We were accommodated professionally. I had the brisked which was outstanding as were the fries and cole slaw (not always a given). They have a Kids menu, which not all BBQ places have. My kids loved their Ribs and little sandwiches respectively. The mac and cheese you can skip. I also tried the pulled pork from my wife's. It's outstanding. They offer several sauces that are all good. I'm going back for the mustard sauce... it would be great on a pork loin. The real highlight, however, was the wings. We had a taste portion (which you can add of any meat) and LOVED the wings. They are dry-rubbed and have a fantastic flavor. FANTASTIC. Do not skip them. Even if you get just a taste. Also, they have beer.
(5)
Chole L.
The Sampler Platter is kinda pricy but other than that food was good and easy to find parking. I would go back again for more!
(3)
Rena L.
When did this place open and why didn't I know about it? I feel like I've been in a lunchtime rut lately, so I used a post office errand to check out new lunch options in the downtown Naperville area. Really happy I found this place: Got the pulled pork w/ Q-Pups and mac-q-roni. The pulled pork was divine. Super tender, saucy, and I'm not sure what type of bun it was but it was soft and perfectly complemented the sandwich. I opted out of the coleslaw as a personal preference, but I truly think cheese would've overpower this delicious meat. However,I wish this place put as much effort into their sides as their do their meat. Both the Q-Pups and the Mac-Q-Roni lacked flavor. I mistook the Mac-Q-Roni for the Spicy Mac listed on their menu, and thinking I was going to get jalapenos was the first disappointment. The pasta just had no flavor and there was a topping that wasn't quite right...it tasted like and had the texture of Goldfish crackers? Would've like an option to upgrade to spicy mac as that seemed to have more depth/flavor. A few other things I found interesting were the option of 4 sauces to choose from, located in pumps next to the take-out bench. Great to be able to have options! But, I ordered takeout and had no napkins, silverware, nothing...in my bag which made eating back at the office interesting considering it was BBQ w// mac-n-cheese. In hindsight, there may have been all these things right across the takeout bench, so future note to all take-outers, either ask for cutlery/napkins, or check across the bench for these!
(4)
Max G.
Amazing BBQ if you've never left the western suburbs. Decent enough for Naperville, but not exceptional. Had the half slab, smoky flavor, buried in mid-range sauce. Only one kind of Ribs, more baby back than St. Louis. Sides were unimpressive.
(3)
Suzanne M.
Every time we go it is amazing. Fresh, amazing flavor and greats music to boot. We travel a long distances to come here and WAY worth it every time.
(5)
Josh H.
This is definitely a good place and worth eating at, but not my favorite, and certainly not amongst the best I've eaten. The restaurant itself is nice, clean, smartly put together for a BBQ restaurant (each table has sauces instead of having to decide as you order, each table also has a big roll of paper-towels). Service was prompt and courteous. Definitely the kind of place that is nice to go to and enjoyable to be in. The meats I tried were good, but just not as tender, nor as flavorful as I've had in many other BBQ restaurants. It was better than most stuff I make at home, but not amazing. The sides were really the biggest hit for me. The Mac-Q-roni was really good, clever crumbled cheese crackers instead of bread crumbs, tasty and creamy. The fries were also surprisingly good (crisp, not just oily). But the rest of the sides my group tried were generally unimpressive. All-around, would visit again, but would have to be in the mood and in the area, not a destination visit for me.
(3)
Shailesh J.
Its a pain to find parking spot near by this place (Naperville location) on week end.. Almost took me 10 minutes to find a parking space...Ok..now lets talk about the restaurant .. It seems to be a little cramped up on space..The tables were placed too close to each other.. The menu was confusing at the best ...It took me 4-5 minutes to place the order..and seems as it was normal as people ahead of me took the same amount of time.. I was about to order pulled chicken sandwich and the person there suggested me to go for Q plate .They didnot inform that Q plate cost more than Q sandwich. So i reverted back to Q sandwich .. I ordered Q pups as extra sides..they forgot to mention that they come in as default side.. So as far as ordering process is concerned it was not up to the mark.. Now lets talk about the food .. The food gets 3.5 stars . Pulled chicken was a little bit less juicer then expected.. but sauces and Q pups were the show stealers and just awesome.. Also corn bread ordered as side was delicious ..warm and soft .. Again 3.5 stars for food and - .5 star for service..
(3)
Soraya M.
Great bbq!! Probably the best place in the suburbs! Not too find if the Mac and cheese with cheeSe it topping. Meat was fantastic!!! I will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Wesley B.
It's pretty good BBQ but the sides leave something to be desired. One of the most important parts of a BBQ place after good meat is good Mac n' Cheese and BBQ Beans. Theirs are mediocre. The meat itself was good and the sauces were also pretty good. For a northern BBQ place, it's not bad.
(3)
D B.
This place is awesome. The burnt ends are the best. Quick service, good food, beer to purchase - you can't go wrong. We will be back. Only reason it is not a perfect 5 is the sauces. I felt they were ok. I like my sauces.
(4)
Anne B.
As a lover of all things meaty and barbecued, Q is as good as it gets in the Naperville area. I'm only reviewing based on what I've eaten which is always the brisket burnt ends, the ribs, and the turkey. The brisket burnt ends are always a must have, I'd definitely ask for the turkey again, but the ribs weren't the greatest. When I tried them, they were chewy and lukewarm. My momma's had the wings before I she didn't like them. I didn't try them but $9 for 8 wings seems a little overpriced to me. Oh, I forgot about the sides. The fries are pretty good but the hush puppies aren't my favorite. I wish they would offer the option to switch out hush puppies for something else, but I always just hand mine off to the person at the table who likes them. In all, Q's probably the best barbecue place in the Naperville and nearby area. The prices are just okay, the brisket burnt ends (this is literally their saving grace) and the smoked turkey are must have, and the wings, ribs, and hush puppies are a skip.
(4)
Steve W.
I like my BBQ, and I'm pretty fussy about it. To me this is the best place I've found since Carson's closed their Lombard location. Best of all their sides are great too!!
(5)
Noel W.
My favorite BBQ place yet...and so glad it is close to home. The decor is cool. The staff is friendly and accommodating. There is not a bad item on the menu...at least not that I have found yet. I love everything so much I order the platter when I take someone there. It allows me to enjoy a little bit of everything and have enough left over to take some home. Also happy to report that their food...the sauces, the rubs, etc. are gluten-free (always double check....but this is what I was told). My favorite item is (are?) the burnt ends....like a warm, tasty, mouth watering beef jerky. If you do have leftovers to take home, make sure to grab some pickles and extra BBQ sauce (free!). Will be going here frequently....if you love BBQ, you must give this a place on your To Do list.
(5)
David M.
Q-Combo w/ 2 Meats (Chopped Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork) & 2 Sides (Green Beans, Slaw) and Hush Puppies The 2 Meat Platter served w/ Choice of 2 Sides and Q Pups - $14.99 BBQ, What's that? LMAO! It would not be appropriate if I didn't review a BBQ joint AT LEAST once a month! Well, Q did it right... Whether it be the tender brisket or the juicy pulled pork, you're sure to be pleased. Honestly, those Q Pups are worth their own visit. I don't know if they'd be considered Hush Puppies or not but, regardless, they're off the chain! The location as pretty awesome as it's located in Downtown Naperville (It's about time BBQ moved in!), which is one of the coolest suburban cities in the country. Q is a clean, friendly place that is great for seeing or being seen. Stop by and tell 'em you want some good Q!
(4)
Todd R.
Stopped by for lunch on a whim in Naperville visiting family. My wife doesn't normally choose the restaurant but I'm glad she did today!!!!
(5)
Melissa C.
I've been to Q a few times, but not recently. Driving toward Naperville, a girlfriend and I decided to stop here for a quick bite to eat. Their menu isn't that big, but almost everything on the menu is done very well. Brisket burnt ends: Were the burnt ends good? Yes. Were they the "best" thing they have there? No. I've never had burnt ends anywhere else, but the girl who checked us out said that they were super tender and succulent. Yes, there were quite a few pieces that were like that (probably ones that had a lot of fat that was rendered down) but some pieces were pretty dry. I think next time I go, I'll stick to the pulled pork or sliced brisket. It does come with a side of spicy aioli, which is a great pair to the sauce the burnt ends are in. Bacon Mac-Q-Roni: Mac and Cheese with Bacon....delicious bacon...and cheesy but not too cheesy mac and cheese. YUM! Brussels Sprouts (plain): don't let "plain" fool you. Plain just means they use their regular seasoning on the sprouts. They fry them, and cover them with this delicious salty sweet seasoning that goes well with any meat. Yum! Bark-B-Q: If you're going home to a fluff child after dinner, definitely pick up a bark-b-q plate! It's plain pulled chicken with lightly cooked carrots (I think they just blanch them) for the pup. I got a small for my 10 lb yorkie, and the small lasted him two meals! It was a nice treat for him!
(4)
Tom C.
All I have to say is WOW! The burnt ends brisket was out of this world. It was full of flavor. Enough said, I ordered the 2 meat meal, the burnt end brisket and Memphis style wings with two sides. The cornbread and the cole slaw. When I received my order it came with 2 hush puppies! These puppies are the bomb. If I would of known I wouldn't ordered the corn bread. But at least I tried it and it was really good. Overall, the service was first class as the person who was taking my order was very friendly. I will be back to bring my family. I truly recommend this BBQ restaurant. #SenorFood
(5)
Jimmy K.
This is a nice mid size restaurant with classic atmosphere. If you go here, you have to get their burnt ends brisket! I prefer the plate rather than the sandwich. It helps me appreciate the meat more. My favorite sauce is the spicy BBQ. It's got a kick but you can't stop eating it! The only disappointment was their ribs. Kinda dry and hard... Definitely not worth the price. Additionally, sides were good but nothing outstanding and mind blowing. I'd definitely say that it's a must stop by place in Naperville!
(4)
Kat D.
When I'm craving bbq, Q is my go to place. From their chicken to their ribs, this place knows how to bbq. The ribs are so tender, it falls off the bone. Love their burnt ends. The bbq chicken is so moist and full of flavor. I recommend ordering their Q platter. It's a taste of all the bbq meats. The first time I ordered that, it helped me decide what I wanted the next time i came back. Order their chicken wings. They are cooked crispy and perfectly. And their sides are awesome. Q pups are my favorite. And no joke, Q is the reason I fell in love with roasted brussel sprouts with bacon...Mmm. Trust me, I was a skeptic. But their brussel sprouts had me coming back for more. The one thing that I appreciate the most is that they don't douse the meat in any sauce at all. They have 5 bottles of house made sauce at the tables. And the best part is you can put whatever sauce you want on the bbq meats. I thank you, Q, for allowing us to choose the sauces instead of smothering the meat.
(5)
Jon N.
This was the second Q-BBQ I've tried in Chicago. The first time, in La Grange, we tried the burnt ends. These burnt ends were over-cooked, kind of hard and chewy. I kept reading the reviews of their burnt ends and maybe we just got a bad "batch" but it sure kept me from ordering them again tonight. So I decided to try the ribs. The ribs were a little tough off the bone and really didn't have much of the smokey flavor to them. I was pretty disappointed as this was the second strike. Now I did try my wife's brisket and that was the better of the two meals. But even then I think there are other places in Chicago that do brisket better. I'm just saying that for me, I just don't get people raving about Q when there are other places with much better 'cue.
(3)
Kayla G.
Good classic barbecue. The 5 of us ordered the large sampler and full slab rib meal and it was enough to fill us up. Order an extra side of the hush puppies because they are delish! We even bought some of the sweet sauce to take home. Definitely recommend it!
(5)
Sarah L.
I stopped in here for dinner last night with my sister. She ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with fries and I ordered the pulled chicken plate with sides of macaroni and cheese and coleslaw and 2 hush puppies. The food was delicious and served very quickly! My only complaint (and reason for 4 vs 5 stars) is the ordering system - it is similar to a Panera in that you order immediately and your food is delivered to your table. We weren't expecting this though and were caught off guard at having to order so quickly (since there was no line, which was nice). If we had longer to read the menu I would've realized they served Carolina style bbq and would've ordered that. As it was I loved my food, was able to take home leftovers for lunch and know what I'll try next time for lunch!
(4)
Norman P.
Great atmosphere as soon as you step inside. Staff was great and very helpful on our first visit. Meat was moist and the sauces were amazing. Ordered the Papa Q Platter to satisfy my bbq craving. Awesome!!! Great experience and will definitely be back.
(5)
Glenda R.
Stumbled upon this restaurant with my husband and after looking at the reviews on here we decided to try it out. WOW. WOW. WOW. The food is VERY delicious and they have amazing sweet tea! I had the burnt brisket tip plate and it was worth every penny we spent. The servers were friendly and helpful since we didn't know exactly how to order. By the time we left we were both full and happy with what we ate. If you love BBQ...EAT HERE!!!
(5)
Yu-Chi F.
This is an awesome BBQ place for southern style food. It's a bit pricey but worth it. Their sliders are awesome ( my son gets the pulled pork and pulled chicken sliders ). I like their brisket Burnt ends or the Memphis chicken wings ... They have combos or their sampler meat plates. Worth trying a few different options. Yummmm
(5)
Melissa B.
I love the location in La Grange and was excited when lunch in Naperville lead me here the other day. I was here at an off hour and it was pretty empty. I have a feeling it can fill up though. We decided to split a little of everything. We shared... Wings Brisket sandwich Mashed potatoes and gravy Corn fritters Mac & cheese Spicy brussel sprouts We also each had a bottle of lagunitas beer. All of this for around $30 and we couldn't even finish everything. Everything was amazing but the spicy brussel sprouts are to die for! Make sure you order those!! I'll probably head to the La Grange location more because I live closer, but this one shouldn't be missed! Service was friendly and patient with us. Even when we stood at the front forever because we were unsure of what we wanted at first.
(5)
Ace R.
This place is in a nice location in downtown Naperville (close to Frost Gelato, which you should go to for dessert). I had the burnt ends sandwich Q-Style (with cheese and coleslaw) and it was pretty decent. I have had better barbecue and would probably be back if I'm really craving it and I'm in the area. I also had the spicy jalapeño fries which were decent but not great. They do give a very large portion of fries (enough for 3 - 4 people). The restaurant itself is very clean and nice for a quick bite to eat. You order your food at the register and they bring it to you.
(3)
Timothy S.
Fantastic! They give you a ton of food. The pulled pork sandwich had a huge serving of moist, smoky pork. I chose the french fries for my side, and they were also amazing. The q-style sandwich adds gouda cheese and Cole slaw to the sandwich. Both tasted great, but I think it would be fine without the cheese. The wings were also great! The spicy Memphis was an interesting flavor for the wings. Little bit of spicy with a hint of sweetness. The hush puppies were a delicious and a nice touch to the meal.
(5)
Mark A.
Not often can you find good BBQ outside of the usual BBQ states but this place nails it. Large portions, tons of options with all the sides too. Great beer selection. A little quirky set up as you have to order and then have items brought to your table. Wasn't a problem for us but I can see potential issues if the place gets busy and say for example you want another beer, do you have to wait on line again? I would prefer if meats didn't come smothered in sauce, as they give you a few options on the table to add... not sure if you can ask for meats to come out plain( didn't ask). Will definitely be back in the future, nice place to grab simple BBQ in downtown Naperville. Items we had: Burnt Ends: A+ Ribs: A+ Corn Bread: A Hush Puppies: B+ Fries: B+
(5)
Melanie B.
Been gardening all day this Memorial Day. I need BBQ but haven't the time nor energy to do it right. And after living in TX, I won't waste calories on mediocre BBQ. Insert Q!!! The brisket, the burnt ends, the pulled pork. It all does this body good ;). I have tried every single side and the only one I wouldn't order again are the green beans. I just don't care for them. If I weren't so attached to my waistline, I'd eat my weight in Q-pups (hush puppies) though!! For reals. We typically eat there but sometimes we order takeout and eat at home. Convenient pickup for takeout when you can park in back and don't have to worry about downtown parking.
(5)
Shondra M.
The food here is fantastic. The meats are very tender and tasty, and there are a few different bbq sauces to try as well as a mustard. Prices are decent, staff is friendly. I will definitely be returning.
(5)
Gary C.
Probably the best quality bbq joint in the west burbs. The brisket burnt ends are awesome. The ribs we tried were done to near perfectly. Tender, but still a good bite to them. Pulled pork was okay, but mine is better. For those days I can't do my own Q, this place can fill in.
(4)
Amy H.
Wow, this place is good, like reeeeeal good. Had the trio of sliders with the chicken, brisket and pork- all were excellent. Moist and flavorful without being full of sauce. The spicy Brussels sprouts were pretty amazing as well. Loved the vinegar BBQ sauce and the spicy one too. Excellent cornbread as well! They also have a solid beer selection. I was happy to see Revolution's Rosa, which has become one of my new faves, on the menu. All around great BBQ. Guess I won't miss Smoque as much as I thought. :)
(5)
Charles J.
Memphis wings are crispy perfect bird, turkey is poultry perfection is too. Beef and pork and a little light on flavor but sauce is spot on. Fries are nice, beans are crunchy not quite done. Ambiance is cool, but you order first fast casual style, a little of a wait but it's orderly and quick. It's still though one of the best bbq places around, if you like good que it's worth a visit.
(4)
Lois C.
I'm a fan! Came here after going to the Dupage Children's museum and we got here right before the mad rush with a wait out the door. My husband and I shared the sampler platter with spicy brussels sprouts and fresh cut fries, my daughter and son shared the kid's meal 2 sliders (brisket and pulled pork) with cornbread and we devoured our meal. The sampler platter was $21.99 and came with brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, 2 chicken wings, 2 ribs, spicy sausage, 2 q puppies, and 2 sides. We ate about 3/4 of it and took the rest home. Our favorite was the wing (you didn't need a sauce for it, it was delicious just the way it is) and the brisket was also good. The ribs was probably our least favorite, it was dry and tough to get down. I loved the brussels sprouts, it had a kick and was definitely not healthy (tons of oil which is probably what made it yummy but I'm a fan of regular brussels sprouts as well). The fries were good but nothing spectacular. The cornbread was also good, my children devoured it. We also had a side of mashed potatoes with gravy, that was also good and had lots of flavor. Q puppies were fried perfectly and really flavorful, probably the best hush puppies I've had here in Illinois. My friends had the burnt ends and it was delicious. Definitely something I'd recommend. We got here at 5:00 on a Saturday and it got packed by 5:15. The food came out fairly quickly and they take your plate for you at the end of your meal which is a nice touch. I'll definitely be coming here again the next time I'm in the area!
(4)
Kathleen M.
I visit Naperville once a month for my Modern Quilt Guild. Added to the equation is an electric car and a good long time friend who lives there. My electric car has a guaranteed charge of 78 miles and the trip to Naperville is 40. I am not that good at math but I can figure out that a minus 2 balance here. Obvi solution is to charge the car. And Naperville is such a cool, hip, green place that they have multiple charging stations in their downtown. And while you're charging, why not have dinner with a dear friend? I've long been a fan of Q from the LaGrange location. My friend had a bday party at 7:00 so we wanted to meet around 4:15 somewhere near the charging station where I could eat and she could not and I would make my 6:00 guild meeting on time. Q met all our needs. I had the smoked chicken plate with mac n cheese and cole slaw. Delish! Plus we were treated like royalty while we talked and talked. Great food, super polite staff, clean bathrooms and my car charged? Perfect choice. My pal and I will be back, pdQ!
(5)
Alex P.
It's not southern bbq but all in all not a bad experience. A good positive was the staff were friendly the place was clean and fairly well organized for being busy . The food was just good it wasn't great the feeling was more commissary mass-produced rather than actual smoked or barbecue.
(3)
Sarah S.
Never thought coleslaw complemented a sandwich until I came to this place. The line during evening hours can be long but it's well worth the wait.
(5)
Sarah S.
I stopped into Q-BBQ for dinner last week with some friends and was completely satisfied with my experience. All the staff seems to be on the younger highschool & college age but they were all very nice and seemed capable enough. There were some issues with my friend's order at the cash register and ringing him out but it all got worked out in the end. They were nice enough to let me order a kids meal...but really I don't know what was kid-ish about it at all because it was a pretty big portion! I got two mini sliders - pulled pork & brisket, a side of mac & cheese and a small soda drink for $7.99. It filled me completely up plus I got a beer which admittedly is a bit strange with a kids' meal. They seem to have a beer on special, changing each week or month. When I went it was Revolution's Eugene Porter which I'm a big fan of. $4.50 for a can really ain't too shabby! One gentleman working reserved a corner booth for our party of five which seems to be standard procedure here. As you order, he reserves you a table to sit down and they then bring your food out to you. I quite enjoyed everything I ordered. I thought both meats could have a bit more wetness to them but I doused them with sweet sauce and they were good to go. The sweet sauce was really delicious with no spice. My side of mac & cheese was topped with some mashed up cheez-it crackers which was an interesting little touch. I loved the mac & cheese, smooth and creamy. That being said I wasn't blown away by any of the food. I found it good on all levels but not amazing or great. I'm not running to go to Q, nor would I venture out of my way for it, however the food is good and I wouldn't hesitate to stop in for a bit when in the 'hood.
(4)
Tee G.
One evening a while back, I found myself in Naperville late in the evening and wanted to pick up a quick dinner before I headed home. Little did I know it would turn my husband into a total Q addict. It's one of his favorite places to go. Sometimes I cringe thinking about how badly parking is going to be, but nothing can keep him away. Don't get me wrong, I like it too! The pulled chicken is probably my favorite. Sometimes I'll also get pulled chicken on top of their western salad. The husband likes the 2 meat platter, and though he shakes things up sometimes, his two favorites seem to be the spicy sausage and burnt ends. He especially likes the burnt ends. One of my close friends gets sick eating pork, so I appreciate that they have a variety of tasty non-pork options. There is a bbq place in Wheaton I like (though husband doesn't seem to like that one as much), but they don't have pulled chicken and their beef items are frequently sold out. We've never had that problem at Q. Over many (many) visits, I think every employee I've run across has been very courteous and friendly. I think my only nitpick is that I'm not crazy about the cheez-it topping on the mac and cheese. Definitely minor enough that it doesn't keep us away!
(5)
Sarah C.
Well, they definitely have meat here. It would be so much better if it wasn't all so greasy. I like the idea of the spicy Brussels sprouts but you have to pour off the grease and kind of blot them. The pickles are pretty good, though.
(3)
Eppie E.
Q's dry overcooked brisket almost killed me. my first bite of the burnt ends was so dry it got stuck in my throat. if it were not for a hefty cough, I might be blue on the floor. I decided to give Q a try, because I was in the area. this restaurant is the same old tired model for a northern barbecue restaurant. beautiful interior, chalkboard menu, nice packaging, horrendously horrible dry food with absolutely zero smoke flavor. The restaurant owners , barbecue is a cooking process rather than sauce slapped on meat. When I try a new restaurant, I always order the burnt ends. the burnt ends should have a pervasive smoke flavor however this restaurant had no smoke flavor. I'm guessing based on the dryness of the brisket that they boil an oven cook their meat. The only reason I gave this restaurant 2 stars was because their sauce is pretty good. So if you like boiled dry BBQ slathered in barbecue sauce, then this restaurant is for you.
(2)
Katie C.
My boyfriend really likes this place but last time we went they changed up the fries big time. They used to have fresh cut fries which were some of the best I ever had. This time they tasted like frozen fries. They had no seasoning and we're chewy and looked completely different than they normally do. We asked about it and they didn't know anything about it. Not sure that we will be back again
(2)
Mike O.
Carolina pulled pork was good, and the brisket okay. The "Southern Sweet Tea" must have been mislabeled because it tasted like unsweetened powdered tea. McDonald's has better sweet tea. The sauces were not very good certainly nothing like the Rendezvous in Memphis. Having been raised in the South, I consider myself somewhat of a BBQ afficianado. This place in an imposter.
(3)
Kara C.
Super tasty. Their fries are fantastic, too, nice and salty. And you can drink a beer with your BBQ! Quick, friendly service. Their children's menu items are huge portions, could even split for picky eaters.
(4)
Glenda C.
I was really looking forward to eating here after recommendations from friends, but unfortunately my visit fell short. The first bust was the spicy brussel spouts. It had so much potential but failed miserably because they were very undercooked. I could barely get through eating 1 because it was rock hard. When I asked someone on staff about them, they explained that they are only flashed fried and typically not very soft inside. So we kept them and suffered through the toughness. The second strike came when my toddler discovered not 1, but 2 plastic pieces in his mac and cheese! The manager apologized and offered a coupon for our next visit, but I am not sure we will be back after that experience.
(2)
Jim G.
They have the best BBQ I've had anywhere in the area! I usually get the sliders so I can get some variety because everything is so good.
(5)
Bill B.
First (and certainly won't be last) time there. What a find!! If you don't try anything else, have the burnt ends and spicy roasted brussel sprouts...OMG outstanding. Regular brisket, pulled pork, beans and coleslaw...everything we tried was great...and the hushpuppies...need I say more, except TRY IT!!
(5)
Megan S.
This place is great. Very comparable to my favorite place in Texas, Smokey-Mo's. All the meats are gluten free. I first learned about Q via a catered lunch in the loop. BF and I finished a workout in Lakeview so I took him here. We then were coming back from a weekend in Rockford and decided to stop in Naperville for dinner. The food is the same as the Lakeview location. Sweet is my favorite but I wish there was a medium option as the spicy is tooo spicy. It's to the point where there's not much flavor just heat. The vinegar and mustard options aren't my cup of tea. The brisket is my favorite and the sausage has a good kick of spice to it. The mashed potatoes are phenomenal! M said that the fries are kick a$$. The cole slaw is....cole slaw. I really wish i could have, or he liked mac and cheese. I'm a sucker for good M&C. This restaurant will definitely stay in the rotation. I like this location for the size (compared to Lakeview) but the staff was friendlier in the city, believe it or not.
(4)
Michelangelo V.
Honest reviews: not that good i loved the hush puppies n the brussel sprouts they were amaizing the mac n cheeze was gross the pulled pork meh was ok the carolina sauce on it was gross all in all its jus ok best barbeque in naperville is thomas barbeque
(1)
Marco N.
Cornbread and ribs are DELICIOUS!!! The sauce for the ribs was good too. And try the hush puppies also.
(5)
K.K. D.
Wow! I have had some delicious BBQ in The Chicago area but so far this is the best! I love Pappy's Smokehouse in St. Louis and this place ranks up there with the best! Huge portions, good price, & good service. We had a 2 meat combo burnt ends (try the spicy aioli sauce YUMMY) and pulled pork side of mashed potatoes and baked beans. Was more then enough for us to share! But those Q puppies are addicting we had to order more and then add a sample size of ribs too! So tender! BBQ sauces were tasty that Texas Spicy sauce was my favorite! Can't wait to go back for some more I need to try the spicy brussel sprouts which I heard were amazing! If you crave BBQ like I do this is the place to go!
(5)
Krissy B.
This place is ok, but it's not my favorite. The Mac and cheese is downright horrible. What corporate nitwit thought cheese-its would be a good topping? Yuck. Mashed potatoes were good. Pulled pork was ok, got mine unsauced. It was moist, but lacked any flavor/smokiness. The sauces they provide you with are all grossly offensive IMO. I mixed the sweet, mustard, and vinegar together. Overall this place is ok but there's better, non-corporate alternatives. I suspect this place makes bank mainly because of the location.
(2)
Tracie D.
Second time I've tried this place; I want to love it but can't. As a point of reference while I have had great bbq in other states-my review is comparing this place to similar Famous Dave's. 1st- burnt ends are thumbs down. Rather than the expected deliciousness of charred ends these were just cubes of brisket, nothing special at all. The Hushpuppies are a delight, and self serve pickles/BBQ sauce bar is nice. The brisket chili was a pleasant take out item. Overall, a solid place in downtown Naperville that is the BBQ option. Potential to be great but likely the marketplace will support without any changes. Won't become a destination for BBQ unless it provides more wow factor IMHO.
(3)
Dick W.
My first impression of this place was that ot was very well put together. Nice ambiance, clean and modern. I ordered the chopped brisket plate. While waiting, I realized that I couldnt smell any bbq in the place at all. Couldnt smell the meat or the smoke. This started to get me a bit worried. Then I realized that the music playing in this joint was not that of a bbq joint. I began looking around and realized that I was almost the only person in the place. The good news is that the brisket was decent. The fries were good. The sauces were pretty great! It's nice that there are like 3-4 sauces to choose from and I used them all. I will give them a second shot to be sure, but I still have my reservations about this place's staying power.
(4)
Mark H.
I ordered their Memphis wings. They were of course dry rubbed and had an ok taste. They were a little dry. I'll have to try their pork to be able to judge just how good they are.
(3)
Carmen W.
love, love, love this food. I love the spicy bbq sauce it's amazing. The fries are really good. Not a huge fan of the macaroni and cheese. I have had the pulled pork and beef brisquet. This is a bit pricey. I dont necessarily care for the way you order your food because if you have never been there its a bit confusing.
(5)
Tracy S.
BBQ is probably one of my favorite foods and Q-BBQ is my go to spot in the suburbs. My brother and I on our most recent trip tried the Papa-Q platter which has a sampling of all their meats for two people and everything was delicious. It was a great deal for $29.99! What's even better is that they have great sides to go along with the BBQ. A great place for all!
(4)
Dave M.
Great BBQ. Everything is delicious- the burnt end brisket is possibly the best thing you can eat in town.
(5)
Shannon A.
Let me start out by saying I am NOT a BBQ person. That being said, I truly enjoyed the meal I had at Q. I got the sliced brisket with mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. The brisket was delicious, easily cut with a plastic fork, not over sauced and the portion size was generous. The potatoes were fantastic however the mac and cheese was a little weak (I will definitely get two sides of mashed potatoes next time). I wish they gave you *slightly* larger portions of the sides. The staff was very friendly, the restaurant was clean and they have PLENTY of napkins and places to wash your hands! Overall I was pleased with the food and service I got at Q.
(4)
Tim H.
Never come here again. They use peanut oil and have ZERO allergy warnings The place is dangerous to the thousands of people who now have food allergies What a joke Please do not give this place your money App made me give it a 1. It's a 0. Zero.
(1)
Cam M.
SUPER GREAT BBQ!!! Ribs are cooked to perfection and you cannot go wrong with any of the sides. I will drive from Geneva for a Q fix. Wish they would consider opening a place in the Fox River area. Just writing this review gets my taste buds going. You need stop there and you will be hooked
(5)
Samantha B.
I thoroughly enjoy the barbeque at this place. As a former resident of North Carolina, I was more than delighted when I saw Q's advertising Carolina pulled pork. It is extremely hard to find the vinegar-based sauce and coleslaw topped brisket that defines true Carolina barbeque. Unfortunately....this was not it. Not even close. Although I will still give this place four stars because the barbeque was delicious! The first time I went, I ordered the beef brisket sandwich. It comes with one side and two hush puppies. I made the sandwich "Q-style" which means for $1.50 more they will add coleslaw, bleu cheese crumbles, and "carolina" sauce, which as stated previously...was not even remotely close, yet still a good spicy brown sauce. They gave me a huge, heaping side of fries that I couldn't even finish after conquering the massive butchered cow that was my sandwich. They also have a condiments bar where you can try at least five different barbeque sauces and mustards. Plus all you can eat pickle slices! The meal was $8.99, not including the q-style price, tax and a drink. Today I ordered the full slab of ribs meal which comes with two sides. It was $23.99, again not including tax or drinks. The ribs were meaty and flavorful. Everything fell right off of the bone. I also got their macaroni and cheese which has cheez-its crumbled on top of it! Awesome idea and quite delish. Shared this meal with my husband and we still had ribs left over. I'm telling you...the portion sizes are great for the price. Again, my only complaint is this was not carolina style barbeque. It is more memphis or kansas city. I would compare this place to a fast-food version of Famous Daves, before Famous Daves got money hungry and started cutting down their portion sizes and measuring out how much meat goes on a sandwich. Give me a break, Dave.
(4)
Henri and Nicole D.
Now I'm the office hero! Great experience all around! Last minute office lunch, and everyone picks me to set it up. I have 3 hours to feed 30 people. Everyone's weighing in... and Q's comes up... a lot! So, I think, "Man 30 people in (now) 2.5 hours, no way." I reach out to find out if this is doable, and the folks at Q's don't even blink an eye. They say sure, take the order and call us when you're ready. So I scramble, office emails fly, orders and reorders come in, and I see it... a load of picky eaters who want to customize just about every dish. AGAIN, Q's doesn't even flinch. Not even a hesitation. I arrive around lunch time, the line out the door, and I soar pass all those last minute diners right to the counter where my meals are waiting with assistance to get it to the car. Oh, those in line are envious of me know, I can feel the jealousy dripping off me as I slide pass them with bag after bag of BBQ goodness. I'm in, I'm out, I'm back at work before the engine gets hot. I pass out the meals...and... silence. A usually noisy office is filled with silence as my quickly sated coworkers fill their bellies with deliciousness prepared JUST the way they wanted it. Now, I'm the office hero and everyone talking about the next time we order Q's, I'm the guy to go to for this, because I can handle tough situations. The secret's out now, Q's staff lead by leaders Liz and Tyler will knock it out the park for you.
(5)
Steve O.
For delicious, hassle free BBQ, Q is about as good as it gets. I sometimes find myself looking for excuses to drive in the area of Q just to have a reason to stop in for a bite. Every meat I have tried, and I've tried nearly all of them, are fantastic and consistently good. Favorites are the pulled pork, the sliced brisket, the chicken and the smoked sausage. Pulled pork and brisket in particular have excellent smokey flavor, and not saturated in sauce. This allows me to use the sauce I like best, with as little or as much as I want, rather than end up with a soggy mess. The brisket is great, I prefer the sliced versus the chopped, just a personal preference. The sides are very good, although I wish the coleslaw and beans were a little larger, the portion of fries you get is huge, and the slaw and beans seem a little light in comparison. My wife and I usually get 4 different sides between us so we can have some of each. The coleslaw is great, good flavor and fresh. The beans are very good. The brussel sprouts are out of this world. I like the regular instead of the spicy, they have a great flavor and are seasoned perfectly, the spicy is just more heat than I prefer. I don't order the mac and cheese often, but it is good. I don't understand the outrage I see in other reviews that they use cheez-its as a topping. It's cheese crackers on top of mac and cheese. Sorry it's not how mommy makes it with the powdered cheese packet, good god. I believe everything comes with Q-puppies, a guilty pleasure of deep fried goodness. Oh, by the way, DO NOT forget to grab a cup or 2 of the house made pickles that are available at the condiment station. These are awesome. The kids all love the food, my son is an 11 year old BBQ junkie in training, and my 2 girls are starting to get a bit more adventurous. The girls love the chicken tenders and the fries, and I can usually talk at least one of them into the pulled chicken. Service has always been good. It is a quick service set up, where you place your order and pay at the counter, and a few minutes later the food is brought out to you. Bonus points for serving Coke products and having excellent Iced tea. All of you Coke snobs out there will know what I'm talking about. Nothing worse than loving the food at a place but having to choke down Pepsi. Keep up the good work Q!
(5)
D P.
Have ate at the Lagrange location before and thought was ok. Was in Naperville so I tried this location. EVERYTHING was extrA! Q style was a tablespoon of slaw for a $1.50. Brussels sprouts were 2.39 over the standard sides. A 10 oz soft drink was $2.39. All told a sandwich a Coke was$15.23.
(2)
Edi I.
This is a really nice option for a barbecue craving on the go! Great food great menu and fast service. Love the sliders on the menu, you get to try what you like best to order a bigger portion next time ! Will definitely be back.
(5)
Ron P.
Not sure what has happened to this place. It used to be a solid bbq place in Naperville. Went last week and the food was mediocre at best. Had half a slab with beans and cole slaw. The ribs came out extremely dry and cold. The beans had maybe six beans in the container and the slaw had no flavor. Wife got brisket which tasted more like roast beef. The cost does not justify the quality. Will not go back.
(2)
Alex S.
I've been here twice so far and I was pleased both times. The atmosphere is really nice and the staff are friendly. The food is on the more expensive side but they give you really big portions so you get your moneys worth. Having lived in North Carolina for about 5 years, I was excited to eat their Carolina pulled pork platter. It came with a huge amount of pork and two sides. I chose the green beans which were nothing too special, and the mac and cheese which had an added touch of cheeze-its making it even better. The Carolina sauce however was not the same. It is supposed to be vinegar based but this is more on the think side in my opinion. The second time my wife and I split a whole rack of ribs which were amazing. They have a little condiment area too with homemade pickles that are awesome. Every table also has all of their sauces that you can add to your plate so its fun to try them all. The wait for your food is pretty short also which is a plus. Overall I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for some good BBQ.
(4)
Courtney R.
If Q-BBQ were a man, I would be making a fool out of myself. EVERYTHING here is good. Everything. The Brussels sprouts are excellent, make sure you order the original ones if you don't like spicy foods. I have been here quite a few times, If I go to Naperville, I am going to Q's.
(5)
Connie L.
I finally made it out here after hearing raving reviews and I wish I did it sooner. The food comes out lightning fast and the portions are generous. I split a two meat combo (brisket and pulled pork) with the bf and it definitely filled us up. The meat is prepared without any BBQ sauce but there are different sauces available at each table.
(5)
Ashley S.
Ohhh yum! I'm born and raised in Naperville, but I moved to southern California a while back, so it's always nice to come back and check out new places! I was meeting up with some friends on a trip back home and we met here- and oh man it was yummy! I got the pulled chicken sandwich with brussell (maybe there's only one l there..) sprouts- OH MY THEY WERE SO GOOD!! Prices were pretty decent too for the amount of food I got! Yum!
(3)
Luke W.
This restaurant had excellent food and great service! The greater was very nice, friendly, and helpful. On top of that - this was the best BBQ food I've had in a long time. We will be returning for dinner!
(5)
Sarah S.
Delicious! Went here with my brother. He got the ribs and I got a pulled pork sandwich. Loved all the sauces and my sandwich was amazing! The sides are really good too! In my opinion the ribs still don't top Portillo's ribs but that's just my thing.
(4)
Juan L.
My girlfriend and I along with two other friends decided to eat here on Wednesday at around 7 pm. I ordered the papa Q platter me and my gf just decided to share it because it sounded like enough. It came with pretty much all there meats on the menu, two sides and hush puppies. I will start of by saying that for some reason there were no hush puppies on my platter but instead it had 4 wings which I was okay with. No on to the meat! Pulled pork- was extremely tender and tasted good Pulled chocked- had a good smoky flavor and tender Chopped brisket- tender and great flavor Ribs- were extremely tender and had a great rub on them Hot Sausage- was kinda cold but had good flavor and a nice bite to it. Sliced brisket- was by far the worst. It was cold and way to dry. Hard to chew. Sliced turkey- was more tender than the brisket which I thought would not be possible. Brisket burnt ends- were really good, had great bark, great smoky flavor. Spicy wings- were incredibly tender and the dry rub was finger licking good. Our two sides were Mac and cheese and cole slaw. Mac and cheese was pretty bland. The cole slaw was really watery. The staff were all reall nice. Nice place to hang out with friends. I will definitely be back again maybe at a earlier time for fresher food.
(4)
Sarah H.
Things that are excellent: 1) Fast service once you've paid. Food comes out quickly; servers are so wonderful and friendly. 2) Selection of sauces. Yes. Just amazing. I am a fan of the sauces! Though, some will argue the sauce will cover/hide the taste of the meat. 3) Get your own takeout boxes, bags, and pretty much anything you can think of. 4) Of course, the food. Carolina pulled pork sandwich was excellent. Large portion size. The side of fries is HUGE (and a bit salty). More petite ladies may want to try a kid's meal, as I think those sizes may be much more manageable. The Q-Plate may be too large and can probably be shared by two smaller ladies. Things they need to work on: 1) Faster cashiers. I was there for lunch on a weekday and there was one register manned. The line was always at the door. This points to two things: one, poor staffing of registers and two, poor layout design as they did not consider how slowly the line would move. 2) Poor layout: They're working with a small space and trying to maximize their space, but really I think they could have sacrificed a few tables so I'm not constantly running into the next table as I move to get a refill. 3) I am not so sure if I am a fan of the "let me grab you a number, find you a table somewhere, and make you remember the number." I do understand it helps to "maximize space," but I can find my own table, thanks. Next time I want to try their southern sweet tea! Overall solid addition to downtown Naperville. If only parking wasn't such a nightmare!
(5)
Cindy D.
Brisket tender and tasty. Green beans not so much. Everything was cold except the ale. But the brisket was delicious. I like the sweet sauce with a hint of heat. the little hush puppies were a treat.
(3)
Scott K.
When it comes to American cuisine BBQ and chicken compete big time but with Q's in the competition chicken took a lickin. I'm a kid in a candy store when it comes to BBQ; beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs, oh the agony I'd have to go through if I had to choose one, but they have a multiple meat option of 1 - 4, which suppresses a severe case of anxiety. I need 4 because they have something I've not had before called burnt ends. Burnt ends is probably now my favorite way to eat cow, it is so tasting you may find yourself mooing in ecstasy. My blood pump repair man is pleased the closest location to Cortland is Naperville otherwise I be there weekly closing up my arteries quicker than the snap of an alligator's mouth. If there is one bummer it's they got onions in their baked beans 'ewhhh' I hate onions (see other reviews) but they got a mac n cheese I double on for my two sides. They have fries but one must be health conscious. If you like BBQ and have not tried Q's drop all things and go and put yourself in total carnivore utopia.
(5)
Katey A.
Q, where have you been all of my life? Please do not ever leave Naperville. Walking into Q-BBQ you immediately feel like you're down south. Rustic interior, large chalk board menus, and the staff is filled with southern charm. I was stunned by the number of options to choose from. You order at the counter and some one brings you your order. After staring at the menu for longer than I care to admit, I settled on a half slab of ribs, the bacon mac n cheese, and cornbread. Win, win, WIN! Their ribs are so meaty that I could only eat three ribs. The bacon mac and cheese was some of the best mac n cheese that I've had from a bbq joint in a long time. (Many places serve this weird velveta style mac and cheese that looks like it's been sitting out for too long. Gross.) Q's was not like that at all. The people I was with ordered the regular mac n cheese which comes with cheesy puffs crumbled on top for texture. They also were raving about the burnt ends saying it was some of the best they've ever had. This of course means I have to go back for further research. They have about 4-5 sauces. Our favorites were the sweet bbq sauce and the mustard bbq sauce. I highly recommend this place to all bbq lovers. So glad it's here!
(5)
John K.
Excellent
(2)
Matthew M.
Everyone I know loves this place for some reason but it's really just average bbq. The meat isn't very flavorful or tender, I love brisket but the version the serve here clearly isn't smoked for long enough (I've had it a couple of times and always find chewy globs of fat) and the pork and sausage is bland. The sides are really good though and the hush puppies are amazing. I get dragged here too often because everyone else loves it and those hush puppies save my dining experience.
(3)
Justin C.
Eat the brussel sprouts. I know, I know. But eat the brussel sprouts.
(5)
Melissa M.
The baked beans with brisket was awesome. The burnt ends brisket was tasty but fatty. The service was fast and freindly. I will definetly come back.
(4)
Michael M.
This is an update to the review I posted on 9/9/2012. I have to admit, this place has grown on me. I said that I wasn't sure if my feelings were based on the expectations...they were. I believe that this is probably the best BBQ place I know of in the Naperville area right now. My order has become the same. Pulled pork sandwich with fries and a taste of the sausage. The pulled pork is always great. The sausage is always a nice change from anything I normally eat. The fries are some of the best of any restaurant I've been to. I highly recommend the fires with the sweet table sauce. I will say that the brisket chili was a disappointment. Then again, I'm not really a fan of their brisket in general so I shouldn't have been to surprised. Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for a good pulled pork sandwich.
(4)
Roseanne P.
I wanted to like this place so much. I've seen reviews for it on television shows like "The hungry hound". Maybe the kitchen was having a bad day but I was completely unimpressed with most of my meal. My husband and I ordered the burnt ends platter, mine with slaw and baked beans, my husband had baked beans and the mac'n cheese. The meat was almost cold and swimming in grease when it arrived. The slaw and the macaroni and cheese were bland and flavorless. The two redeeming items were the fritters and the baked beans, which were a nice, well balanced mix of sweet and heat. Compared to other BBQ joints, I just couldn't give the restaurant more than two stars--sorry. I will give it another shot and try another item on the menu though which will hopefully I'll have a better experience the second time around.
(2)
ashley m.
Wow! This place is gooooooood! Bacon Mac n cheese, pulled pork nachos, sliders everything we shared was phenomenal
(5)
Patrick S.
First time at Q-BBQ. it was good, but not great. i'm a big fan of BBQ places, so i wanted to try this one since i was in the area. i ordered the pulled pork sandwich. for my side, i opted to try their coleslaw. despite what some other reviewers said, the portion size wasn't the biggest. the meal ended up satisfying my hunger, but i'm used to larger sandwiches for the money i paid. the pork was really tender and flavorful and their signature sauce they add on the sandwich was a nice touch. i liked almost all of their other table-side sauce options, with my least favorite being their vinegar based sauce. my favorite sauce was their Texas-style which had a sweet/spicy flavor to it. i used this sauce for the rest of my sandwich. i liked the egg bun the sandwich was served on. it was fresh and had a good bakery taste to it, not a standard bland store bought taste at all. the coleslaw was actually really good. coleslaw is typically hit or miss at BBQ places, so i was pleasantly surprised when this had a nice flavor to it. the Q-Puppies (hush puppies) that are included with your meal were decent. standard hush puppy flavor that is similar to Long John Silvers. nothing out of the ordinary. i would've liked more than just 2 of them, but oh well. i'd go back here, but i'm not going to go out of my way to eat at Q-BBQ. Cleanliness of restaurant = 5/5 Staff politeness/willingness to explain options = 5/5 Taste of food = 4/5 Quality of food = 4/5 Portion size = 3/5 Price of food = 3.5/5 total rating = 4/5
(4)
Texas L.
Okay so I returned to give you guys one more shot. I got the brisket Q plate with coleslaw and hush puppies for my sides. The brisket was chewy and sliced almost an inch thick. Brisket is best served sliced much thinner and with a little more fat content to keep moist. I did however find the perfect combination of sauces during my experience. When mixing the Texas style with the mustard style from NC I found pure bliss on my tastebuds. I still stand firm on the rib issue. I don't want to eat a half rack, I want to have the option of having a couple ribs and some brisket with my sides and a glass of ice tea. This option is not available without spending over $27.....it's BBQ. Staff was friendly and of course the atmosphere is pleasant. Sorry but we won't be visiting anymore.
(2)
Lily Z.
The guys and I came here for dinner after an exhaustive trip of shopping at the outlet mall in Aurora. I was not a fan of their sweet tea, but they have some nice brisket and burnt ends. My friend really liked their sausage. But their chicken was dry. I really liked their corn bread because it had a nice balance. If I'm ever in the area, I would definitely come back for their sliced brisket and burnt ends. Everything drenched with their spicy Texas sauce? Score!
(4)
Carrie S.
Okay, this place deserves a more extensive review. I've been here a few times, and every time I get the burnt ends sandwich. It's awesome: huge chunks of meat topped with their mustard sauce. I hate the word tender, but this stuff is tender. And the mustard is not very mustardy - it's thastes like thyme and is oh so very good. I've ordered the mac and cheese and the fries as my sides...my recommendation? Go with the fries. They're pretty solid and you get a ton of them. The mac and cheese is a little lackluster and a small portion. The thing that puts this place above and beyond is their customer service. The staff is like teens/early 20's and really nice, polite kids. Twice during dinner last night we were asked how our food was, in a very non-obtrusive and unawkward way. My boo's sandwich was a little dry and so one girl offered to bring out a new one. We're not really the "send food back" type of people, but we decided to take her up on her offer. Not only did she bring out a new, improved sandwich in a few minutes, but she also gave us a voucher for an additional sandwich for our next visit. Score! I think this small act made us lifelong fans. So sweet. Plus they serve beer.
(5)
Jonathan K.
Such a win if you decide to eat here! Reasonably priced and great portions! The pulled pork is my all time favorite! If you like BBQ then you must try this restaurant out!
(5)
Amy N.
With so many good reviews, the bar is set really high for this place. That being said though, this place beats out the slim pickings of other bbq joints around, like Famous Dave's and Texas Roadhouse. Whatever meat you end up choosing will be tender and great. The sauces offered at the table are great, and they have a good variety. The sides are a little small for what you're paying. Overall, this makes the menu a little pricy, in my opinion, but then again, what isn't pricy in Naperville? It would be great if the place was bigger because due to its popularity, it can be extremely packed on weekend evenings.
(4)
Amory D.
I have been eating at Q-BBQ religiously since Fall 2008, when the first restaurant opened in LaGrange. When I still lived in LaGrange I was walking distance from the restaurant. I ate there at least three times a month. When Q-BBQ opened in Naperville, I was worried that the authenticity of the LaGrange location would be lost. I am glad that I was proven wrong. I have been going to the Naperville restaurant since I moved to Oswego in 2010. We visit Q-BBQ about once a month to get my fix of Q-Puppies and Ribs. Everything here is authentic. A lot of people are critical of the sides, but I am unsure why...whenever I travel to south for work, I always seek out the local barbecue places and use Q-BBQ as my benchmark. I have been to smokehouses converted from garages in Tennessee, sheds behind gas stations in Texas, and one-off joints in North Carolina. Q-BBQ's meats hold their own to these southern barbecues, and the sides at Q are similar if not better. Overall Q-BBQ gets the barbecue experience right. Even the small touch of having a hand wash sink in the main area (as opposed to being in the bathrooms only) is just like the places I have visited in the south. I tell all of my friends to try Q-BBQ at either location. When I have colleagues from overseas visiting, I take them to Q-BBQ to introduce them to awesome American food. My wife's friend is visiting us from Ohio, and we're going again today.
(5)
David S.
One of our favorite restaurants in Naperville. I have been eating BBQ around the country for a long time, so I consider myself a pretty harsh critic. I have certainly had better BBQ if we were just talking a straight-up Q showdown, and I know some folks would not consider a place that did not have at least one dead pickup and a questionable neighborhood to operate out of legitimate Q. But without going to rural South Carolina, or some dump in Kansas City, this is a really good option. They serve burnt ends. This is perhaps the most important point I can make, as I have not had decent burnt ends anywhere outside KC. They are pretty good although they can be a bit greasy depending on the one you get. This is part of the charm of the dish, and one of it's hazards. Overall they are generally pretty good. Enough charring on the outside to give it some character, and tender and not at all dry in the middle. Pulled Pork is good. Again, not dry like they can be, and genuinely smoked and not at all like the horrible "crock-pot" versions many places try to pull off as BBQ. Not quite as much smoke as I like, but enough. I know many people don't like too much smoke (as I prefer no peat in my scotch), so this could be personal preference. Turkey when they have it is quite amazing. Definitely not a common menu item, so worth a try. Actually seems to be more smokey than the pork. Sausage and pulled chicken are worth a try if you get tired of pulled pork and burnt ends, but I would not go to this option as a first choice. Ribs are the only item I would NOT recommend. Not well smoked at all. I've probably had better at the Famous Dave's in the Mall of America.. They are hot horrible, but just not particularly memorable, and considering the other great options available, I'd call this an opportunity cost not worth paying. This is one of our go-to spots for dinner on the weekend. Good food, nice atmosphere, and zero pretensions.
(4)
Rich P.
I am not a huge BBQ fan but crave it once in a while. I recently had one of those cravings and gave Q a try. They have a pretty vast menu, chicken, pork, beef. I opted for the BBQ beef brisket. It was pretty good, they have several different sauces that you add yourself to it tasting to your liking, I like spicy and they have a couple nice spicy sauces. My only slight complaints are the downtown Naperville parking situation....ughhhh! If you are already down there doing shopping and other stuff and want to grab a quick bite Q is perfect but if you suddenly have a craving like I did you are likely to spend more time driving around looking for a parking spot than it will take you to eat. The serivce was a bit on the slow side for this type of restuarant where you walk up to the counter, place your order then find a seat and they bring you your meal. It took them about 10-15 minutes to get me my food. Bottom line, great BBQ, at least for Chicgao BBQ LOL but the service was slow, I would have given 4 stars had the service been promt. I will go back and give it another try in the future.
(3)
Nawal T.
Great food
(5)
David S.
The sampler is my favorite entry on the menu. The only qualm I have is that there is no bone-in chicken available, save for the delicious wings. However, the ribs, Q-pups, burnt ends and brisket are more than sufficient reason for repeated return visits.
(4)
Jennie P.
I can't lie - I'm not a HUGE bbq fan however when given the option to eat it - I never decline. Q is interesting because it's kind of fast food - you walk up grab a number, order at the counter, grab a drink and sit for your food to come out. We walked in and it was packed, not a seat in sight and I was a little nervous how it would pan out. By the time we ordered seats cleared out pretty quickly. I went for the slider and had one pulled chicken, one pulled pork, and one brisket. It came with a few hush puppies and I had fries as my side. The sliders were delicious and VERY filling! The hush puppies were also very good. The fries were pretty standard fries - nothing amazing or terrible. I really enjoyed the bbq here and this is a great addition to downtown Naperville. The only thing to note is it is VERY loud in here - it's a medium sized space but with large families and children it can get very loud. Give Q a chance, you won't be disappointed and it's all reasonably priced!! We'll be back!
(4)
Tpath H.
I should have listened to the mediocre reviews. I'm totally disappointed. I'm just grateful I had a coupon for a free sandwich or I would probably give an even lower rating. We called in our order for carry out. I have to agree with everyone else, the customer service is examplary, I just wish the food was too. We chose the slider sandwiches, 1 pulled pork, 1 pulled chicken, 1 brisket and fries. The pulled pork and brisket weren't bad, the chicken and fries were mediocre. Our second meal was the 2 meat plate with smoked sausage, chicken wings, mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy. The chicken wings were SO DRY, the mac and cheese was bland, the mashed potatoes and gravy were mediocre but I have to say I enjoyed the smoked sausage. The sweet sauce was just that...sweet. Sweet isn't always good and this wasn't a good bbq sauce. The south carolina mustard sauce was pretty tasty. I was a little sweet, a little horseradishy and a little spicy, which I enjoyed. The carolina vinegar sauce surprised me as I didn't think I'd like a vinegar based sauce but it was tasty. It was thin, vinegary and sweet. The place was packed and I don't get it unless everyone there was a newbie like me, which I believe is the case because most had tons of questions during their ordering process. Anyway, long story short, I wouldn't go back. It's a shame because I really wanted to love this place.
(2)
Brian T.
Loved the food! Great selection for anyone who loves great BBQ. The portions are good for the prices they charge. There staff were very friendly and offered suggestions on picking the food. Will go back with friends again soon!
(5)
Paul L.
We have been here twice. Both of our experiences were great. The food is really done well. So are the BBQ sauces. This is a "fast casual" restaurant where you order with the cashier, sit down and your food is delivered to your table. It's a quick in and out. With that said, the food is the star here. I should also compliment my "server" Kevin? Great sense of humor and very knowledgable about the menu items. We returned this second time based on his menu recommendations. He was right! We will return.
(5)
Tara M.
My hubs and I decided to try somewhere different for lunch today and after seeing posters in the window for some yummy looking Mac n cheese and recommendations by Hungry Hound and Chicago's Best, we decided to give Q a try. Well, looks are apparently deceiving. I chose for lunch the sliced brisket with the all American Mac n cheese and corn bread. My husband had the ribs with the chili Mac n cheese and corn bread. The brisket was fairly tender, but lacked any real flavor. The ribs however were awful. They were tough, dry, and tasteless. Now I know they supply many different sauces, but true BBQ doesn't need to be covered up in sauce just to be eaten, true BBQ should be so tender it falls off the bone and then you use sauce as a nice addition. For the meat at Q, you needed to drown it in sauce just to choke it down. The sides of Mac n cheese and corn bread were decent, but really we didn't go there for the sides. I think the biggest disappointment was not just the barely edible meat, but the fact that we paid $43 for the barely edible meal. I think it's fair to say, next time we are looking for halfway decent BBQ, we will not be heading back to Q, instead we will probably go to Bolingbrook's Famous Dave's or the Patio.
(1)
Linda K.
Had lunch with my daughter today. We were very excited to try it. She really enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with brioche bun and the sweet Memphis sauce. It was too sweet for me though. I really liked the burnt ends which came with and aoli sauce. I also got the pulled pork which was tender. However I tried it with both the Carolina vinegar and Carolina mustard sauces. Ehh. Ok. I love my sauces and none of the four choices here did much for me. I did love the aoli sauce though. The Q-pups came with both our meals. They were crunchy and slightly sweet. Yum! As sides we tried the green beans and macaroni and cheese. We disliked both, especially the beans which were seriously undercooked and had a pickle-like flavor. The macaroni was very bland and was topped with crumbled Cheeze-its. The ambience and service was nice but outside of ordering just the meat for a catered event, I doubt I'd go back.
(2)
R. Q.
I would give Q 3.5 stars if there were an option. I have been to the Naperville location twice since they have been opened. On the first visit I waited 30 minutes to order and eat with the long line. The second time I went off peak so it was much faster. As other reviewers have mentioned during the time i went while they were busy they were only using one register with a line out the door. Just doesn't make much sense. The Food: Meat- All the meats i tried (pulled pork, sliced brisket and chicken were good) The burnt brisket ends were by far the best IMO. I would say their meats stack up well to most other places. Sides- This is an area that could use some work. Sides were ok but not great. Most were pretty bland. The second time I went my fries were cold and not cooked. This is one area that Smoque BBQ wins hands down. Overall- Good BBQ, perhaps a bit pricey. I will be going back and hope they have some of the ordering and food quality issues worked out.
(4)
Jessica G.
a bbq haiku for this rainy and cold night: i know you love meat this is the place to go then get the spicy sauce came in with some folks from work for dinner tonight. cute little place. the menu is not enormous but that is probably a good thing. it is kind of hard to make a decision, or at least for me it was. i'll save you the trouble. get the brisket burnt ends. that is some tasty business. i actually ordered the little slider trio and got the pork, the chicken and the brisket ends and the brisket ends were the best part. crispy, not fatty and just plain old tasty. the chicken and pork had good flavor, too, but, again... brisket burnt ends for the win. if (or rather when) i go back, i will be ordering a full order of just those. i also really liked the q-pups, though i wish they came maybe a bucket-full per order and were a tiny bit bigger. they're good. more is better. and in my vain attempt to be vainly healthy, i had the green beans, which were not bad. the spicy sauce is my favorite and the others are also quite good but i like hotter stuff so the spicy worked for me. quick and friendly service. even though it is in downtown naperville (also known as really not my favorite place in the history of the world), it is well worth a visit. go there now to eat your tummy will say thank you and they have hamm's beer very good stuff.
(5)
Daniel D.
Q BBQ has great selection of barbecue. Pick a couple items or try them all with one of the platters. The pulled meats are amazing. The sauces are also excellent.
(4)
Jenny P.
I was so looking forward to the opening of this restaurant. We went in tonight to enjoy a late dinner and I'm sorry to report that my husband and I were disappointed. The meats were tender but the sauce was so bland. We like some zest to our barbecue sauce(s). The staff was friendly but still in the learning phase. One huge tidbit of advice for this new restaurant: CLEAN the bathrooms! For a new restaurant....that should be a no brainer. Yuck.
(2)
Brad C.
Weird ordering process. Not great. Seems to be better regarded than it actually is.
(3)
Veda P.
Awesome food, best BBQ in the burbs! I had the chicken wings, they were awesome, and my husband had the pulled pork, he loved it. I loved the choices for sides an I was so thankful that they also offer salads! It's cute, casual and friendly! We will be back!
(5)
Scott L.
By far my favorite place in the burbs for BBQ. When you go make sure you get the burnt ends. The combo of vinegar and sweet is unreal. The Q puppies make every meal complete.
(5)
Katie T.
I really enjoyed this place. Ordered the sampler platter so we could try everything. Loved the sausage and the chicken wings. Fries were really good as well - fresh cut and just the right salty. Pickles!!! Nice big jar of them by the condiment station. I would love to go back.
(5)
Matt B.
I love BBQ and after seeing quite a few 4 and 5 star reviews for this place on Yelp, I decided it was time to give it a try. Myself and 3 friends ventured downtown Naperville late Sunday afternoon for the sole purpose of having dinner at Q. There is no waiter service, when you walk in, you order and then sit down and they bring your food out to you. They do assign you a table while you are in line ordering, so you know you'll have a seat when you're done. We got there pretty early because I heard the place gets pretty busy. When we got there at about 5 there weren't many people, but when we left it was starting to fill up pretty quickly. Now on to the food... I ordered the pulled pork combo, which came with hush puppies and 2 sides. The pulled pork was absolutely perfect, very tender and not overly smokey. The fries were some of the best fresh cut fries I have had, they were perfectly cooked with a nice crispy exterior and pillowy potato interior. I also got the mac and cheese, which was very good, but nothing extraordinary. They have 4 different types of BBQ sauce, a mustard based sauce, a vinegar based sauce and then a sweet sauce and a spicy sauce. I only tried the spicy and sweet sauces, but they were both so good, I could have drank a glass of either of them, they were that good. I also tried a bite of my friends beef brisket and it was so tender you could cut it with the plastic fork. We all liked it so much that we are already planning to go back next Sunday and I can't wait. If you are even remotely close to the area and you like BBQ, you owe it to yourself to give this place a try.
(5)
Craig R.
Q BBQ is tasty all around. I love good barbecue and happened upon this place during a recent jaunt to Naperville. I first went to q at lunch time so it was slightly less crowded. I got a pulled chicken sandwich q style and it hit the spot. My wife and I went to q the other evening with another couple. The place was packed! We waited in line to order for like 20 minutes. Q has folks bringin you drinks in line which is a nice touch. We ordered and sat at our table. I ordered a q platter so I could try a bit of everything. Far and away the hands down winer for taste were the ribs. Everyone at our table agreed they were very very good. Second runner up was the brisket. I tried several sauces and the spicy Texas style was my favorite. This place won't break your budget or wallet and you will leave feeling full and happy. We will return! One thing - there are not any wet-naps so bring your own or you might have some greasy fingers depending on what you order and how you eat.
(5)
Joe A.
The best BBQ outside of TX (speaking as a former Texan) The choices of sauces are incredible (I personally love the carolina vinegar sauce). It is fantastic on the Texas smoked sausage. The chicken wings are so good, you'll want to move next door and have it delivered every day. The fries remind me of In-n-Out burger on the west coast. If you're a brisket fan - you won't be disappointed by any means. First timers - do their sampler or 3 meat special. You'll find your favorite(s) pretty quickly. You won't leave there hungry. That's for sure.
(5)
Matthew S.
Their BBQ is great in this area, that really doesn't have BBQ places to go to. Try the brisket sandwich and their hush puppies/fritters.
(4)
Nicole M.
Yay! Finally got to try Q-BBQ! I went on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and it was surprisingly not that busy. I got the sliced brisket sammy with fries and my boyfriend got the burnt ends brisket and the mac and cheese. I enjoyed my sandwich and it even tasted good the next day. I liked how they put different kinds of bbq sauce on the tables. My boyfriend said that some of the burnt ends were really good and tender and some were tough and dry. I tried some of his mac and cheese, which was good, I like how they top it with cheez itz. What makes it even better is that this place is in Downtown Naperville, so you can walk your food off, check out some places and get some ice cream! :)
(5)
Steve T.
Great BBQ! Love the pulled chicken, pulled pork, brisket, burnt ends, Q puppies. . . . . . I'm a frequent diner at La Grange & will be at Naperville too! Thank you Q!
(5)
Jeffrey S.
Awesome food. I'm already craving it again! I love burnt ends!
(5)
Lawrence F.
The food is well made, slow cooked. I would not consider it barbeque as it lacks flavor suggesting it was smoked. The sauces make up for this. Good value for the money.
(3)
Ted P.
I love BBQ. I can't ever trust the opinions of the general Chicagoan. But let me tell you, the opinions of Q-BBQ are right on the money. This place is Amazing. I had the burnt ends sandwich with the Mac-Q-Roni and cheese as my side. I also got the chicken wings after seeing a picture online. The sandwich was amazing, great color and texture, nice smokey flavor and a perfect bun. The Mac was good. Above average, but not mind blowing, they covered the top of the Mac with what seemed to be crushed cheese-it crackers. The sandwich also came with Q-pups, a corn fritter, which was honestly the best corn fritter I've ever had! That's big time right there! The chicken wings; usually I don't order chicken wings at a bbq place. That being said, after reading that they brine, smoke, rub, fry, and serve the wings, I felt compelled to get some. I am currently thanking my lucky stars that I had the sense to do so, because holy focking bbq they were good!!!! Table sauces were excellent as well, Texas Spicy Sauce was my favorite, great flavor with some kick. Go here immediately, tell them Ted sent you, you'll receive a complimentary order of Q-pups( a $1.99 value)*
(5)
Chester R.
great bbq..........wide selection of unique sauces.........however.......typical sullen / im too cool for you teenage girl service. or i would have gone 5 stars. the person that greets you at the door and directs you to a table should smile and be friendly.......not short and terse. the person that you order the food from and pay should help you with the menu, be patient and friendly......not seemingly irritated and off put. but, i will go back.
(4)
George K.
Best BBQ i've had in the North. Doesn't taste like cheap ketchup based sauces. Loved the brisket, Q puppies, fries and cornbread. I'll be back, often.
(5)
Derek C.
I had the Carolina pulled pork which was excellent. The food is not overpriced. Service was fast and friendly. I will definitely go back.
(5)
Theresa M.
The food is excellent but I don't really appreciate watching the owner talk down his employees. He is completely condescending, and I don't know if I'll be back because of this. The food is just great but not very professional environment.
(2)
CJ R.
100% Kick Ass!!! Your taste buds will love you forever after you eat there!
(5)
L S.
HUGE fan of the La Grange Q-BBQ and Naperville is sure to follow. Had the wings. q-puppies with that tangy sweet memphis sauce on the side. My boss had one of the salads. As always, high quality, tasty n tangy, food thats finger licking good. Plenty of towels on the tables for clean up and wet wipes on supply. We'll be back if in Naperville but definately back to LG location.
(5)
A C.
Great BBQ joint! Pulled pork is fantastic. I recommend getting the cole slaw right on top. Soo much meat that you really can't grip the sandwich, but it tastes sooo good that you ignore the mess it makes all over your face! Ice tea is great too! mmmm
(4)
Matthew P.
The food was great and the service top notch. The only thing that would have mad eit better would have been a nice cold "beverage" to go with my dinner.
(4)
Fred R.
Great Food, Great Place! I had brisket sandwich, wife had pork sandwich. Tasty, Crisp Fries and Pups. I'll be back for MORE!!!!!
(5)
Anthony G.
Came here many times thinking food would get better. This place is never consistent with there food. Every time I place an order over the phone and pick it up they always find away to mess it up. Weather it's if I ask for my sandwich Q style but with no slaw to forgetting to put my side in the box. After today my fifth time placing a to go and getting it messed up I do not recommend this place to anyone!!!!!
(1)
Sean F.
I smoke meats quite a bit myself, but sometimes I just don't have the long hours to devote to it. When that's the case I go to Q-BBQ in downtown Naperville. They consistently deliver high quality BBQ and have very friendly staff. In general, the meats are smoked well and have great rubs. The only miss, in my opinion is the sides, they're not anything to write home about.
(4)
Jason S.
this was great i have been in the mood for bbq lately and this really did it for me i work a few blocks away so i finally took a chance and walked over for them opening fairly recently they are doing it right i got the sampler platter with 4 meats and i was in heaven the portion was enough that i was able to share with my girlfriend and both of us where happy with it the mac q cheese was a nice little surprise with the cheese crackers crumbled on the top will be going here a little more often
(5)
Nick M.
This is by far the best BBQ I have had in a very long time. I went to the pre-opening where I ordered the sliders. I ordered the chicken, pork, and burnt ends. Two words. Burnt.Ends. This was truly a feast with very generous portion sizes and outstanding sauces. The "Q-Pups" are also a great touch which made the meal complete. I live in Elgin, but will surely be traveling to Q-BBQ in Naperville often. My wife and I now have a new favorite restaurant in a city we love.
(5)
Russ W.
Fast-casual type atmosphere leaves something yo be desired, particularly for downtown Naperville. That being said, I've never had better BBQ. Dishes are large enough that you should plan on being uncomfortable following your meal.
(5)
Ben B.
Get the burnt ends. Just trust me. I grew up in the south and I love my BBQ. This place is one of the few BBQ places in the Chicago area I'll go to. And I'm so happy they are now 10 minutes from my house.
(5)
Mark D.
very good brisket...always consistent which is rare for brisket. great sauces...spicy is my favorite. would get 5 stars but portion size is inconsistent and often on the light side
(4)
C.T. G.
Took in a late lunch on Saturday afternoon; the restaurant was fairly busy; Unfortunately, they only have one of their two registers taking orders for walk-ins (the other is dedicated to pick-up orders; hopefully they'll realize what they have more of and have both registers taking the orders of the guests backed up to the doorway). The food itself was really good. I had the two meat combo, burnt-ends and pulled pork. Both were tender and delicious and the four sauces at the table were excellent. My friend had the brisket and pulled chicken. The chicken was juicy and very tender. The brisket had a nice smoke ring and good flavor but was a little on the tough side; some more time in the smoker to tenderize it would take care of that. For sides, the mac n cheese was creamy vs gummy which was nice, the cole slaw was refreshing and the q-puppies (fritters) were awesome, especially with the mustard sauce or the aioli that comes with the brisket. This is the best bbq in the area and will definitely be added to the rotation.
(4)
Mike U.
I'd have to go with minority here and say that Q's is good, not great. I eat and cook a lot of barbecue so maybe I'm a bit of a snob, but I think part of the reason for the sky high reviews here is dearth of good q joints in the area until recently. Went here on a Sunday night, not too crowded at all, quick to order and get our food. Very friendly and helpful staff. They serve baby-back ribs, but since I'm mostly a spare guy I skipped these and had some pork, brisket, sausage and burnt ends. Pork was decent, more chunked than pulled. Neither bad nor spectacular. Paired it with their vinegar sauce which was ok, could have used a bit more heat. The sausage was juicy and flavorful but they do a mix of pork and beef. I was hoping for more of a texas link beef style, but it was pretty good. Next was the brisket which was a big disappointment. Juicy and tender but virtually no flavor at all, I would not order this again. Next were the burnt ends which were extremely good. Maybe it's because you don't see a lot of burnt ends around here, but I found these to be the best thing on the plate. One of the servers said that they only serve grass fed beef. There's a bit of debate in q circles about whether this is actually a good thing. For steaks I"m a big fan, but like some others I wonder if the grass fed cows produce enough fat to get the flavor when cooked low and slow. Not sure if that was the problem with the brisket, but it didn't seem to impact the burnt ends. Sauces were just ok. Regular KC was kind of dull, the mustard sauce used dijon which I'm not sure i cared for. The spicy sauce was the best of the lot in my opinion. I probably will head back just based on the convenience but I think I"ll stick the burnt ends in the future.
(3)
Matt B.
I love BBQ and after seeing quite a few 4 and 5 star reviews for this place on Yelp, I decided it was time to give it a try. Myself and 3 friends ventured downtown Naperville late Sunday afternoon for the sole purpose of having dinner at Q. There is no waiter service, when you walk in, you order and then sit down and they bring your food out to you. They do assign you a table while you are in line ordering, so you know you'll have a seat when you're done. We got there pretty early because I heard the place gets pretty busy. When we got there at about 5 there weren't many people, but when we left it was starting to fill up pretty quickly. Now on to the food... I ordered the pulled pork combo, which came with hush puppies and 2 sides. The pulled pork was absolutely perfect, very tender and not overly smokey. The fries were some of the best fresh cut fries I have had, they were perfectly cooked with a nice crispy exterior and pillowy potato interior. I also got the mac and cheese, which was very good, but nothing extraordinary. They have 4 different types of BBQ sauce, a mustard based sauce, a vinegar based sauce and then a sweet sauce and a spicy sauce. I only tried the spicy and sweet sauces, but they were both so good, I could have drank a glass of either of them, they were that good. I also tried a bite of my friends beef brisket and it was so tender you could cut it with the plastic fork. We all liked it so much that we are already planning to go back next Sunday and I can't wait. If you are even remotely close to the area and you like BBQ, you owe it to yourself to give this place a try.
(5)
Craig R.
Q BBQ is tasty all around. I love good barbecue and happened upon this place during a recent jaunt to Naperville. I first went to q at lunch time so it was slightly less crowded. I got a pulled chicken sandwich q style and it hit the spot. My wife and I went to q the other evening with another couple. The place was packed! We waited in line to order for like 20 minutes. Q has folks bringin you drinks in line which is a nice touch. We ordered and sat at our table. I ordered a q platter so I could try a bit of everything. Far and away the hands down winer for taste were the ribs. Everyone at our table agreed they were very very good. Second runner up was the brisket. I tried several sauces and the spicy Texas style was my favorite. This place won't break your budget or wallet and you will leave feeling full and happy. We will return! One thing - there are not any wet-naps so bring your own or you might have some greasy fingers depending on what you order and how you eat.
(5)
Joe A.
The best BBQ outside of TX (speaking as a former Texan) The choices of sauces are incredible (I personally love the carolina vinegar sauce). It is fantastic on the Texas smoked sausage. The chicken wings are so good, you'll want to move next door and have it delivered every day. The fries remind me of In-n-Out burger on the west coast. If you're a brisket fan - you won't be disappointed by any means. First timers - do their sampler or 3 meat special. You'll find your favorite(s) pretty quickly. You won't leave there hungry. That's for sure.
(5)
Matthew S.
Their BBQ is great in this area, that really doesn't have BBQ places to go to. Try the brisket sandwich and their hush puppies/fritters.
(4)
Katie T.
I really enjoyed this place. Ordered the sampler platter so we could try everything. Loved the sausage and the chicken wings. Fries were really good as well - fresh cut and just the right salty. Pickles!!! Nice big jar of them by the condiment station. I would love to go back.
(5)
Ali K.
We just moved to Chicago from Kansas City, so we have high expectations for our bbq. Smelled great going in and they had burnt ends on the menu!! We were pumped- but WOW, we're we let down!! The burnt ends were very dry, the pulled pork was not pulled properly (there were big chunks of non pulled pork mixed in with my pulled pork) and had no flavor at all. Too bad, we were really hopeful.. The macaroni and cheese was really good, though!!
(1)
Scott C.
Ya know, the BBQ is pretty good, as well as their sauces. However, the place is run by a bunch of 20 somethings and teenagers who don't really care about service. I've been there 3 times and waited so long 2 of those times for my food that they REFUNDED MY MONEY. So, I guess I should give it 5 stars because I always eat there for free!! Whenever I walk in its just a bunch of kids standing around drinking coke and flirting with each other. But given I got a free sandwich card at my last visit I'll be back, at least one more time (or two, if it takes 15 minutes for a pulled pork sandwich and I get a free meal).
(2)
Kathy F.
I can't say enough about this place!!! I love it! I usually eat at the one in LaGrange , but we were in town for a ghost tour. I ate the Texas Chopped Brisket Q style . I have ordered it at least 15 times and it has tasted GREAT every time. Can't wait to have it again. One of my top 5 restaurants.
(5)
Bill V.
New place in downtown Naperville. Good not great. 15+ minutes to get our order. Ribs were very good. Chicken, pork and brisket were on the dry side.
(3)
Nicole M.
Yay! Finally got to try Q-BBQ! I went on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and it was surprisingly not that busy. I got the sliced brisket sammy with fries and my boyfriend got the burnt ends brisket and the mac and cheese. I enjoyed my sandwich and it even tasted good the next day. I liked how they put different kinds of bbq sauce on the tables. My boyfriend said that some of the burnt ends were really good and tender and some were tough and dry. I tried some of his mac and cheese, which was good, I like how they top it with cheez itz. What makes it even better is that this place is in Downtown Naperville, so you can walk your food off, check out some places and get some ice cream! :)
(5)
Steve T.
Great BBQ! Love the pulled chicken, pulled pork, brisket, burnt ends, Q puppies. . . . . . I'm a frequent diner at La Grange & will be at Naperville too! Thank you Q!
(5)
Jeffrey S.
Awesome food. I'm already craving it again! I love burnt ends!
(5)
Lawrence F.
The food is well made, slow cooked. I would not consider it barbeque as it lacks flavor suggesting it was smoked. The sauces make up for this. Good value for the money.
(3)
Ted P.
I love BBQ. I can't ever trust the opinions of the general Chicagoan. But let me tell you, the opinions of Q-BBQ are right on the money. This place is Amazing. I had the burnt ends sandwich with the Mac-Q-Roni and cheese as my side. I also got the chicken wings after seeing a picture online. The sandwich was amazing, great color and texture, nice smokey flavor and a perfect bun. The Mac was good. Above average, but not mind blowing, they covered the top of the Mac with what seemed to be crushed cheese-it crackers. The sandwich also came with Q-pups, a corn fritter, which was honestly the best corn fritter I've ever had! That's big time right there! The chicken wings; usually I don't order chicken wings at a bbq place. That being said, after reading that they brine, smoke, rub, fry, and serve the wings, I felt compelled to get some. I am currently thanking my lucky stars that I had the sense to do so, because holy focking bbq they were good!!!! Table sauces were excellent as well, Texas Spicy Sauce was my favorite, great flavor with some kick. Go here immediately, tell them Ted sent you, you'll receive a complimentary order of Q-pups( a $1.99 value)*
(5)
Chester R.
great bbq..........wide selection of unique sauces.........however.......typical sullen / im too cool for you teenage girl service. or i would have gone 5 stars. the person that greets you at the door and directs you to a table should smile and be friendly.......not short and terse. the person that you order the food from and pay should help you with the menu, be patient and friendly......not seemingly irritated and off put. but, i will go back.
(4)
George K.
Best BBQ i've had in the North. Doesn't taste like cheap ketchup based sauces. Loved the brisket, Q puppies, fries and cornbread. I'll be back, often.
(5)
Derek C.
I had the Carolina pulled pork which was excellent. The food is not overpriced. Service was fast and friendly. I will definitely go back.
(5)
Theresa M.
The food is excellent but I don't really appreciate watching the owner talk down his employees. He is completely condescending, and I don't know if I'll be back because of this. The food is just great but not very professional environment.
(2)
CJ R.
100% Kick Ass!!! Your taste buds will love you forever after you eat there!
(5)
L S.
HUGE fan of the La Grange Q-BBQ and Naperville is sure to follow. Had the wings. q-puppies with that tangy sweet memphis sauce on the side. My boss had one of the salads. As always, high quality, tasty n tangy, food thats finger licking good. Plenty of towels on the tables for clean up and wet wipes on supply. We'll be back if in Naperville but definately back to LG location.
(5)
A C.
Great BBQ joint! Pulled pork is fantastic. I recommend getting the cole slaw right on top. Soo much meat that you really can't grip the sandwich, but it tastes sooo good that you ignore the mess it makes all over your face! Ice tea is great too! mmmm
(4)
Matthew P.
The food was great and the service top notch. The only thing that would have mad eit better would have been a nice cold "beverage" to go with my dinner.
(4)
Fred R.
Great Food, Great Place! I had brisket sandwich, wife had pork sandwich. Tasty, Crisp Fries and Pups. I'll be back for MORE!!!!!
(5)
Anthony G.
Came here many times thinking food would get better. This place is never consistent with there food. Every time I place an order over the phone and pick it up they always find away to mess it up. Weather it's if I ask for my sandwich Q style but with no slaw to forgetting to put my side in the box. After today my fifth time placing a to go and getting it messed up I do not recommend this place to anyone!!!!!
(1)
Sean F.
I smoke meats quite a bit myself, but sometimes I just don't have the long hours to devote to it. When that's the case I go to Q-BBQ in downtown Naperville. They consistently deliver high quality BBQ and have very friendly staff. In general, the meats are smoked well and have great rubs. The only miss, in my opinion is the sides, they're not anything to write home about.
(4)
Jason S.
this was great i have been in the mood for bbq lately and this really did it for me i work a few blocks away so i finally took a chance and walked over for them opening fairly recently they are doing it right i got the sampler platter with 4 meats and i was in heaven the portion was enough that i was able to share with my girlfriend and both of us where happy with it the mac q cheese was a nice little surprise with the cheese crackers crumbled on the top will be going here a little more often
(5)
Nick M.
This is by far the best BBQ I have had in a very long time. I went to the pre-opening where I ordered the sliders. I ordered the chicken, pork, and burnt ends. Two words. Burnt.Ends. This was truly a feast with very generous portion sizes and outstanding sauces. The "Q-Pups" are also a great touch which made the meal complete. I live in Elgin, but will surely be traveling to Q-BBQ in Naperville often. My wife and I now have a new favorite restaurant in a city we love.
(5)
Russ W.
Fast-casual type atmosphere leaves something yo be desired, particularly for downtown Naperville. That being said, I've never had better BBQ. Dishes are large enough that you should plan on being uncomfortable following your meal.
(5)
Ben B.
Get the burnt ends. Just trust me. I grew up in the south and I love my BBQ. This place is one of the few BBQ places in the Chicago area I'll go to. And I'm so happy they are now 10 minutes from my house.
(5)
Mark D.
very good brisket...always consistent which is rare for brisket. great sauces...spicy is my favorite. would get 5 stars but portion size is inconsistent and often on the light side
(4)
C.T. G.
Took in a late lunch on Saturday afternoon; the restaurant was fairly busy; Unfortunately, they only have one of their two registers taking orders for walk-ins (the other is dedicated to pick-up orders; hopefully they'll realize what they have more of and have both registers taking the orders of the guests backed up to the doorway). The food itself was really good. I had the two meat combo, burnt-ends and pulled pork. Both were tender and delicious and the four sauces at the table were excellent. My friend had the brisket and pulled chicken. The chicken was juicy and very tender. The brisket had a nice smoke ring and good flavor but was a little on the tough side; some more time in the smoker to tenderize it would take care of that. For sides, the mac n cheese was creamy vs gummy which was nice, the cole slaw was refreshing and the q-puppies (fritters) were awesome, especially with the mustard sauce or the aioli that comes with the brisket. This is the best bbq in the area and will definitely be added to the rotation.
(4)
Mike U.
I'd have to go with minority here and say that Q's is good, not great. I eat and cook a lot of barbecue so maybe I'm a bit of a snob, but I think part of the reason for the sky high reviews here is dearth of good q joints in the area until recently. Went here on a Sunday night, not too crowded at all, quick to order and get our food. Very friendly and helpful staff. They serve baby-back ribs, but since I'm mostly a spare guy I skipped these and had some pork, brisket, sausage and burnt ends. Pork was decent, more chunked than pulled. Neither bad nor spectacular. Paired it with their vinegar sauce which was ok, could have used a bit more heat. The sausage was juicy and flavorful but they do a mix of pork and beef. I was hoping for more of a texas link beef style, but it was pretty good. Next was the brisket which was a big disappointment. Juicy and tender but virtually no flavor at all, I would not order this again. Next were the burnt ends which were extremely good. Maybe it's because you don't see a lot of burnt ends around here, but I found these to be the best thing on the plate. One of the servers said that they only serve grass fed beef. There's a bit of debate in q circles about whether this is actually a good thing. For steaks I"m a big fan, but like some others I wonder if the grass fed cows produce enough fat to get the flavor when cooked low and slow. Not sure if that was the problem with the brisket, but it didn't seem to impact the burnt ends. Sauces were just ok. Regular KC was kind of dull, the mustard sauce used dijon which I'm not sure i cared for. The spicy sauce was the best of the lot in my opinion. I probably will head back just based on the convenience but I think I"ll stick the burnt ends in the future.
(3)
Melissa A.
I'll keep this short and sweet but I'm a big fan of Q-BBQ! I've tried the Brisket Burnt Ends Sandwich which is served with q-pups (basically hush puppies) and one side (I chose mac). The burnt ends were deliciously tender and fatty, just the way I like it! People who don't like fat on their meat may not like the burnt ends but if you give it a chance, I think you may be convert! The mac was yummy as well, noodles were cooked al dente and covered in just the right amount of cheese. There's nothing fancy about Q-BBQ but if you're looking for some quality BBQ then head on over! There are also other locations in Lakeview/Chicago as well as LaGrange.
(4)
Glenda R.
Stumbled upon this restaurant with my husband and after looking at the reviews on here we decided to try it out. WOW. WOW. WOW. The food is VERY delicious and they have amazing sweet tea! I had the burnt brisket tip plate and it was worth every penny we spent. The servers were friendly and helpful since we didn't know exactly how to order. By the time we left we were both full and happy with what we ate. If you love BBQ...EAT HERE!!!
(5)
King G.
Room temperature food burnt ends more like wet dog food. For two people that cost $35 I would expect at least food to be fresh and hot but they could very well be microwaving day old BBQ
(1)
Shaheen R.
Came here with my husband and BIL. If I'm going to come with these two guys, I better be ordering enough to feed a small village! But I digress; on to the important details Walking up/Outside: Relatively new restaurant, brick outlay, tons of windows that appear to open up on nice days. Ambience/Design: . As soon as you walk in you're greeted by a very thought out, purposeful design of the space. matte walnut wood tables, and lacquered birch wood walls with rustic photos of everything BBQ related on terra-cotta colored painted walls Setup: Each table has a roll of recycled (awesome!) paper towels and 4 of their signature sauces corralled up a sauce cage. First, the moment you see this roll of paper towel, thats when you know this meal is going to get you down and dirty, and it'll be oh so delicious! So you best not wear something nice here, just in case you get it dirty! Their four sauces are the perfect complimenting elements for any of their menu selections. Sweet BBQ, Spicy BBQ, S. Carolina Mustard, and a N. Carolina vinegar blend. Their BBQ sauces have the right amount of heat, paprika and smokiness, but their mustard is definitely the most unique. The mustard has notes of Rosemary and Thyme which elevate anything you put it on. Just remember, the mustard should bring out the flavors in what you're eating, not drown it. Don't squeeze this stuff like French's mustard on a hot dog! Service: Excellent service, occasionally you can behind a person who takes TOO long to order, so I do wish that when this happens their staff calls someone else to take customers on their other register quickly, instead of having to wait 5-7 minutes before they call someone else to man the register. Because all that's happening is they look at us with eyes that say "sorry!!" and us customers in line politely glare back "its kind of, not really, okay. When are you getting someone else". What we got/Menu selection: Extensive menu, but we all wanted to try a little of everything so we ordered a TON. We got the Papa-Q platter (has a tasting of EACH meat they offer on their entire menu), Hush Puppies, Mac-Q-Roni, Spicy Fries, Cornbread and 3 sliders prepared Q-Style (Pulled chicken, chopped brisket and burnt brisket ends). A) Papa-Q Platter: Now my husband, BIL and I don't do pork, so the staff was excellent about letting us swap out the BBQ Ribs, the sausage and the pulled pork for whatever we wanted. So we ended up subbing it out for extra sliced brisket, chopped brisket and burnt brisket ends. The ultimate breakdown of the platter was memphis chicken wings (excellent sweet-spicy, tangy dry rub), chopped brisket (delicious and well marinated), burnt brisket ends (caramelized goodness), sliced brisket (meh this one is ok, more on the mild side as far as seasoning is concerned), smoked turkey (the first few bites are good, but then you realize its a bit dry. But then again its turkey, so thats what happens 9/10 times anyways), pulled chicken (a definite favorite!!!!). B) 3 Sliders Q Style: I did the pulled chicken, chopped brisket and the burnt brisket ends. All three are nestled between brioche buns. What made it Q style was what each slider was paired with. The pulled chicken was paired with memphis sweet bbq sauce, coleslaw and bacon (I omitted the bacon here-- 9/10). Chopped brisket slider q style means it was paired with N. Carolina vinegar sauce, crumbled blue cheese and cole slaw (6/10. Blue cheese was overpowering, but if you're a blue cheese fan then you might give it a 9/10!). Brisket Burnt End Slider prepared Q style was paired with sweet and spicy aioli, mozzarella and coleslaw (9.5/10) C) Hushpuppies: Platter came with hushpuppies which we DEVOURED, and I never even liked hushpuppies before this. Literally this is the only place I'll eat or will ever eat hushpuppies from D) Mac-Q-Roni: husband is a big fan, they crush Cheese-Its over it. creamy, al dente noodles. E) Spicy Fries: OHHHH LORDDDD. GET THESE. DELICIOUS. Made fresh to order its tossed in a spicy seasoning and jalepeno slices that has just a slight amount of sweetness in it to tease your tastebuds. It's got just the right amount of heat in it to make you want more, but not too much where you just want to put your mouth over a fire hydrant and swear to a higher power that you'll never eat spicy food again. F) Cornbread: meh, this one is ok, not too special, slightly sweet TL;DR: Get the papa-Q platter especially if its your first time and you want to try a little of everything they offer. They will sub out specific meats based off preference or dietary restrictions. Get the spicy fries and hush puppies (even if you don't like hushpuppies normally, you will LOVE these). Skip the cornbread and mac-q-roni. Come in casual clothes and expect to make a mess. Don't fret if you don't finish your meal; really thought out "to-go" station for any left overs.
(4)
John D.
1 1/2- 2 stars. Well. I went in there on the 4th around 7:20 PM. I noticed it was open and was deciding to either eating there or just go to Ribfest? I decided to take a menu with me. When I walked in at first, I noticed the didn't have special hours (thinking they would be open normal business hours). My thinking was that would be a bit strange to remain open with a BBQ fest happening less than a mile away but I went with it. I left and came back about 7:50 or so, having decided that I would eat there. I was only considering if I would eat there or take it with me & park somewhere before the fireworks. I noticed something when I got back. In less than 30 minutes, there was a hand written card (about 3" x 5") saying the location was closing at 8:PM. Now remember, that sign wasn't put there 30 minutes prior, which is the only reason I came back. I was somewhat confused. Having worked in a BBQ place years ago, my thinking is that they basically ran out of meat (most of it which isn't out of the question). I walk in the the door and the first thing I was told was "we're closing in 8 minutes" not hello or some greeting of the like. I asked a couple of question relating to food and they did get answered. I did my last review about 3 years ago (almost to the month) and looks like some of the service/etiquette issues needs to be addressed. While I get wanting to leave on a holiday, this is the straw you drew and you have to own it. I've been there so I can relate. At least I wasn't on hold for 8 MINUTES like I was the last time I tried to do carry out. My order was taken quickly so at least that went well. Now time to criticize the food. I have some VERY mixed emotions when I do this. I'm a big fan of BBQ and am ALWAYS looking for a good place. Now here goes nothing as it relates to my meal: A. Macaroni & cheese. VERY blah at least. The last time I ordered it, I knew it had a weird taste to it but couldn't place it. Then I looked closer. As I looked closer, I noticed the taste was like Cheez-Its. I look closer and turns out I was right. Krissy B.of Lexington, KY confirmed this in her review. Can someone PLEASE explain to me WHY you would crust or top your mac & cheese with CHEEZ-IT?!?!?! Am I missing something here? This is one time where I asked where is Gordon Ramsey when I need him? It was at least edible but VERY low on the food chain as good mac & cheese goes. It wasn't well seasoned at all. In other words, do it right or get rid of it. Save your time and mine. B. Mashed potatoes w/ gravy. TREMENDOUS although a little more gravy could be helpful. I guess it's my preference. People may not realize how fast this dish can go south (e.g., not fully cooked, over whipped, etc). Nice consistency indeed. The green beans didn't agree with me (my palate anyway) so I decided not to fill in. C. Meat #1- Spicy wings. Now I eat habanero sauce almost daily so spice for me is pain for most. The flavor was decent but only one thing. They were a bit dry. The skin in particular was a bit tougher than I expected. Maybe I got a bad batch. My previous visit is when I had the sausages. VERY good. D. Smoked turkey. It was strange because the pieces were either nice and moist or very dry. I've bbq-ed turkey myself (pieces and whole). I suspect someone cut into the meat before it was completely rested. That's the only was I know it can end up as dry as some pieces were. Both meats had a nice smoke flavor to them, but in places were dry. E. Sauces- I recommend all of them (although I generally don't eat sweet BBQ). The spicy Texas sauce has some bite but the 2 vinegar-based sauces are as good as any I've had (a little better than the place I worked at and if I said who it was, you would feel good about it). The non-vinegar sauces (Texas spicy & Memphis sweet) are also on par with the place I worked at. I REALLY want to like this place. It seems as if they take one step forward and 1-2 steps back. Service has been good or bad (as I shared before). This place had such potential but in the 3 years since my first review, it's fallen short of what I thought they'd be. Inconsistency is a bad thing. I want to dismiss it as a busy weekend but this visit was actually better than the last, which is saying a great deal. I would REALLY ASSUME not having to drive 20-25 miles for decent BBQ. There are some good places in the area. Some I REALLY believe in. Since Ribs R' Us in Westmont closed years ago, I have tried to find something that good. Some have come close. Step up your game and push for consistency and not speed. Most people who go to BBQ places are willing to wait IF the BBQ is done properly. I rated this place as I did for that very reason. I HOPE you get better.
(2)
Jason R.
Here's all you need to know: Brisket. Burnt. Ends. Plus their ribs, smoked sausage, pulled pork, sauces and sides are all really good. If you like BBQ, you will like Q.
(5)
David M.
Q-Combo w/ 2 Meats (Chopped Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork) & 2 Sides (Green Beans, Slaw) and Hush Puppies The 2 Meat Platter served w/ Choice of 2 Sides and Q Pups - $14.99 BBQ, What's that? LMAO! It would not be appropriate if I didn't review a BBQ joint AT LEAST once a month! Well, Q did it right... Whether it be the tender brisket or the juicy pulled pork, you're sure to be pleased. Honestly, those Q Pups are worth their own visit. I don't know if they'd be considered Hush Puppies or not but, regardless, they're off the chain! The location as pretty awesome as it's located in Downtown Naperville (It's about time BBQ moved in!), which is one of the coolest suburban cities in the country. Q is a clean, friendly place that is great for seeing or being seen. Stop by and tell 'em you want some good Q!
(4)
Todd R.
Stopped by for lunch on a whim in Naperville visiting family. My wife doesn't normally choose the restaurant but I'm glad she did today!!!!
(5)
Melissa C.
I've been to Q a few times, but not recently. Driving toward Naperville, a girlfriend and I decided to stop here for a quick bite to eat. Their menu isn't that big, but almost everything on the menu is done very well. Brisket burnt ends: Were the burnt ends good? Yes. Were they the "best" thing they have there? No. I've never had burnt ends anywhere else, but the girl who checked us out said that they were super tender and succulent. Yes, there were quite a few pieces that were like that (probably ones that had a lot of fat that was rendered down) but some pieces were pretty dry. I think next time I go, I'll stick to the pulled pork or sliced brisket. It does come with a side of spicy aioli, which is a great pair to the sauce the burnt ends are in. Bacon Mac-Q-Roni: Mac and Cheese with Bacon....delicious bacon...and cheesy but not too cheesy mac and cheese. YUM! Brussels Sprouts (plain): don't let "plain" fool you. Plain just means they use their regular seasoning on the sprouts. They fry them, and cover them with this delicious salty sweet seasoning that goes well with any meat. Yum! Bark-B-Q: If you're going home to a fluff child after dinner, definitely pick up a bark-b-q plate! It's plain pulled chicken with lightly cooked carrots (I think they just blanch them) for the pup. I got a small for my 10 lb yorkie, and the small lasted him two meals! It was a nice treat for him!
(4)
Tom C.
All I have to say is WOW! The burnt ends brisket was out of this world. It was full of flavor. Enough said, I ordered the 2 meat meal, the burnt end brisket and Memphis style wings with two sides. The cornbread and the cole slaw. When I received my order it came with 2 hush puppies! These puppies are the bomb. If I would of known I wouldn't ordered the corn bread. But at least I tried it and it was really good. Overall, the service was first class as the person who was taking my order was very friendly. I will be back to bring my family. I truly recommend this BBQ restaurant. #SenorFood
(5)
Jimmy K.
This is a nice mid size restaurant with classic atmosphere. If you go here, you have to get their burnt ends brisket! I prefer the plate rather than the sandwich. It helps me appreciate the meat more. My favorite sauce is the spicy BBQ. It's got a kick but you can't stop eating it! The only disappointment was their ribs. Kinda dry and hard... Definitely not worth the price. Additionally, sides were good but nothing outstanding and mind blowing. I'd definitely say that it's a must stop by place in Naperville!
(4)
Kat D.
When I'm craving bbq, Q is my go to place. From their chicken to their ribs, this place knows how to bbq. The ribs are so tender, it falls off the bone. Love their burnt ends. The bbq chicken is so moist and full of flavor. I recommend ordering their Q platter. It's a taste of all the bbq meats. The first time I ordered that, it helped me decide what I wanted the next time i came back. Order their chicken wings. They are cooked crispy and perfectly. And their sides are awesome. Q pups are my favorite. And no joke, Q is the reason I fell in love with roasted brussel sprouts with bacon...Mmm. Trust me, I was a skeptic. But their brussel sprouts had me coming back for more. The one thing that I appreciate the most is that they don't douse the meat in any sauce at all. They have 5 bottles of house made sauce at the tables. And the best part is you can put whatever sauce you want on the bbq meats. I thank you, Q, for allowing us to choose the sauces instead of smothering the meat.
(5)
Jon N.
This was the second Q-BBQ I've tried in Chicago. The first time, in La Grange, we tried the burnt ends. These burnt ends were over-cooked, kind of hard and chewy. I kept reading the reviews of their burnt ends and maybe we just got a bad "batch" but it sure kept me from ordering them again tonight. So I decided to try the ribs. The ribs were a little tough off the bone and really didn't have much of the smokey flavor to them. I was pretty disappointed as this was the second strike. Now I did try my wife's brisket and that was the better of the two meals. But even then I think there are other places in Chicago that do brisket better. I'm just saying that for me, I just don't get people raving about Q when there are other places with much better 'cue.
(3)
Kayla G.
Good classic barbecue. The 5 of us ordered the large sampler and full slab rib meal and it was enough to fill us up. Order an extra side of the hush puppies because they are delish! We even bought some of the sweet sauce to take home. Definitely recommend it!
(5)
Sarah L.
I stopped in here for dinner last night with my sister. She ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with fries and I ordered the pulled chicken plate with sides of macaroni and cheese and coleslaw and 2 hush puppies. The food was delicious and served very quickly! My only complaint (and reason for 4 vs 5 stars) is the ordering system - it is similar to a Panera in that you order immediately and your food is delivered to your table. We weren't expecting this though and were caught off guard at having to order so quickly (since there was no line, which was nice). If we had longer to read the menu I would've realized they served Carolina style bbq and would've ordered that. As it was I loved my food, was able to take home leftovers for lunch and know what I'll try next time for lunch!
(4)
Norman P.
Great atmosphere as soon as you step inside. Staff was great and very helpful on our first visit. Meat was moist and the sauces were amazing. Ordered the Papa Q Platter to satisfy my bbq craving. Awesome!!! Great experience and will definitely be back.
(5)
Yu-Chi F.
This is an awesome BBQ place for southern style food. It's a bit pricey but worth it. Their sliders are awesome ( my son gets the pulled pork and pulled chicken sliders ). I like their brisket Burnt ends or the Memphis chicken wings ... They have combos or their sampler meat plates. Worth trying a few different options. Yummmm
(5)
Melissa B.
I love the location in La Grange and was excited when lunch in Naperville lead me here the other day. I was here at an off hour and it was pretty empty. I have a feeling it can fill up though. We decided to split a little of everything. We shared... Wings Brisket sandwich Mashed potatoes and gravy Corn fritters Mac & cheese Spicy brussel sprouts We also each had a bottle of lagunitas beer. All of this for around $30 and we couldn't even finish everything. Everything was amazing but the spicy brussel sprouts are to die for! Make sure you order those!! I'll probably head to the La Grange location more because I live closer, but this one shouldn't be missed! Service was friendly and patient with us. Even when we stood at the front forever because we were unsure of what we wanted at first.
(5)
Ace R.
This place is in a nice location in downtown Naperville (close to Frost Gelato, which you should go to for dessert). I had the burnt ends sandwich Q-Style (with cheese and coleslaw) and it was pretty decent. I have had better barbecue and would probably be back if I'm really craving it and I'm in the area. I also had the spicy jalapeño fries which were decent but not great. They do give a very large portion of fries (enough for 3 - 4 people). The restaurant itself is very clean and nice for a quick bite to eat. You order your food at the register and they bring it to you.
(3)
Timothy S.
Fantastic! They give you a ton of food. The pulled pork sandwich had a huge serving of moist, smoky pork. I chose the french fries for my side, and they were also amazing. The q-style sandwich adds gouda cheese and Cole slaw to the sandwich. Both tasted great, but I think it would be fine without the cheese. The wings were also great! The spicy Memphis was an interesting flavor for the wings. Little bit of spicy with a hint of sweetness. The hush puppies were a delicious and a nice touch to the meal.
(5)
Mark A.
Not often can you find good BBQ outside of the usual BBQ states but this place nails it. Large portions, tons of options with all the sides too. Great beer selection. A little quirky set up as you have to order and then have items brought to your table. Wasn't a problem for us but I can see potential issues if the place gets busy and say for example you want another beer, do you have to wait on line again? I would prefer if meats didn't come smothered in sauce, as they give you a few options on the table to add... not sure if you can ask for meats to come out plain( didn't ask). Will definitely be back in the future, nice place to grab simple BBQ in downtown Naperville. Items we had: Burnt Ends: A+ Ribs: A+ Corn Bread: A Hush Puppies: B+ Fries: B+
(5)
Melanie B.
Been gardening all day this Memorial Day. I need BBQ but haven't the time nor energy to do it right. And after living in TX, I won't waste calories on mediocre BBQ. Insert Q!!! The brisket, the burnt ends, the pulled pork. It all does this body good ;). I have tried every single side and the only one I wouldn't order again are the green beans. I just don't care for them. If I weren't so attached to my waistline, I'd eat my weight in Q-pups (hush puppies) though!! For reals. We typically eat there but sometimes we order takeout and eat at home. Convenient pickup for takeout when you can park in back and don't have to worry about downtown parking.
(5)
Shondra M.
The food here is fantastic. The meats are very tender and tasty, and there are a few different bbq sauces to try as well as a mustard. Prices are decent, staff is friendly. I will definitely be returning.
(5)
Gary C.
Probably the best quality bbq joint in the west burbs. The brisket burnt ends are awesome. The ribs we tried were done to near perfectly. Tender, but still a good bite to them. Pulled pork was okay, but mine is better. For those days I can't do my own Q, this place can fill in.
(4)
Amy H.
Wow, this place is good, like reeeeeal good. Had the trio of sliders with the chicken, brisket and pork- all were excellent. Moist and flavorful without being full of sauce. The spicy Brussels sprouts were pretty amazing as well. Loved the vinegar BBQ sauce and the spicy one too. Excellent cornbread as well! They also have a solid beer selection. I was happy to see Revolution's Rosa, which has become one of my new faves, on the menu. All around great BBQ. Guess I won't miss Smoque as much as I thought. :)
(5)
Charles J.
Memphis wings are crispy perfect bird, turkey is poultry perfection is too. Beef and pork and a little light on flavor but sauce is spot on. Fries are nice, beans are crunchy not quite done. Ambiance is cool, but you order first fast casual style, a little of a wait but it's orderly and quick. It's still though one of the best bbq places around, if you like good que it's worth a visit.
(4)
Daniel T.
This is my second time here in two weeks . So far I give them honors in consistency . The staff is tops in service . You place your order at the front and they bring the food to your table . When placing your order the people at the counter seem like no matter how busy it is they don't rush you + they are very happy and knowledgeable about the product and do their best to answer any questions . And they don't have a tip policy. The restaurant is very clean due to the staff continually cleaning tables + floor . The restrooms are very clean . Nothing worse than going into a place for a meal and seeing filthy restrooms Yuk !!! Yes I will be back .
(4)
Lois C.
I'm a fan! Came here after going to the Dupage Children's museum and we got here right before the mad rush with a wait out the door. My husband and I shared the sampler platter with spicy brussels sprouts and fresh cut fries, my daughter and son shared the kid's meal 2 sliders (brisket and pulled pork) with cornbread and we devoured our meal. The sampler platter was $21.99 and came with brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, 2 chicken wings, 2 ribs, spicy sausage, 2 q puppies, and 2 sides. We ate about 3/4 of it and took the rest home. Our favorite was the wing (you didn't need a sauce for it, it was delicious just the way it is) and the brisket was also good. The ribs was probably our least favorite, it was dry and tough to get down. I loved the brussels sprouts, it had a kick and was definitely not healthy (tons of oil which is probably what made it yummy but I'm a fan of regular brussels sprouts as well). The fries were good but nothing spectacular. The cornbread was also good, my children devoured it. We also had a side of mashed potatoes with gravy, that was also good and had lots of flavor. Q puppies were fried perfectly and really flavorful, probably the best hush puppies I've had here in Illinois. My friends had the burnt ends and it was delicious. Definitely something I'd recommend. We got here at 5:00 on a Saturday and it got packed by 5:15. The food came out fairly quickly and they take your plate for you at the end of your meal which is a nice touch. I'll definitely be coming here again the next time I'm in the area!
(4)
Kathleen M.
I visit Naperville once a month for my Modern Quilt Guild. Added to the equation is an electric car and a good long time friend who lives there. My electric car has a guaranteed charge of 78 miles and the trip to Naperville is 40. I am not that good at math but I can figure out that a minus 2 balance here. Obvi solution is to charge the car. And Naperville is such a cool, hip, green place that they have multiple charging stations in their downtown. And while you're charging, why not have dinner with a dear friend? I've long been a fan of Q from the LaGrange location. My friend had a bday party at 7:00 so we wanted to meet around 4:15 somewhere near the charging station where I could eat and she could not and I would make my 6:00 guild meeting on time. Q met all our needs. I had the smoked chicken plate with mac n cheese and cole slaw. Delish! Plus we were treated like royalty while we talked and talked. Great food, super polite staff, clean bathrooms and my car charged? Perfect choice. My pal and I will be back, pdQ!
(5)
Alex P.
It's not southern bbq but all in all not a bad experience. A good positive was the staff were friendly the place was clean and fairly well organized for being busy . The food was just good it wasn't great the feeling was more commissary mass-produced rather than actual smoked or barbecue.
(3)
Sarah S.
Never thought coleslaw complemented a sandwich until I came to this place. The line during evening hours can be long but it's well worth the wait.
(5)
Sarah S.
I stopped into Q-BBQ for dinner last week with some friends and was completely satisfied with my experience. All the staff seems to be on the younger highschool & college age but they were all very nice and seemed capable enough. There were some issues with my friend's order at the cash register and ringing him out but it all got worked out in the end. They were nice enough to let me order a kids meal...but really I don't know what was kid-ish about it at all because it was a pretty big portion! I got two mini sliders - pulled pork & brisket, a side of mac & cheese and a small soda drink for $7.99. It filled me completely up plus I got a beer which admittedly is a bit strange with a kids' meal. They seem to have a beer on special, changing each week or month. When I went it was Revolution's Eugene Porter which I'm a big fan of. $4.50 for a can really ain't too shabby! One gentleman working reserved a corner booth for our party of five which seems to be standard procedure here. As you order, he reserves you a table to sit down and they then bring your food out to you. I quite enjoyed everything I ordered. I thought both meats could have a bit more wetness to them but I doused them with sweet sauce and they were good to go. The sweet sauce was really delicious with no spice. My side of mac & cheese was topped with some mashed up cheez-it crackers which was an interesting little touch. I loved the mac & cheese, smooth and creamy. That being said I wasn't blown away by any of the food. I found it good on all levels but not amazing or great. I'm not running to go to Q, nor would I venture out of my way for it, however the food is good and I wouldn't hesitate to stop in for a bit when in the 'hood.
(4)
Tee G.
One evening a while back, I found myself in Naperville late in the evening and wanted to pick up a quick dinner before I headed home. Little did I know it would turn my husband into a total Q addict. It's one of his favorite places to go. Sometimes I cringe thinking about how badly parking is going to be, but nothing can keep him away. Don't get me wrong, I like it too! The pulled chicken is probably my favorite. Sometimes I'll also get pulled chicken on top of their western salad. The husband likes the 2 meat platter, and though he shakes things up sometimes, his two favorites seem to be the spicy sausage and burnt ends. He especially likes the burnt ends. One of my close friends gets sick eating pork, so I appreciate that they have a variety of tasty non-pork options. There is a bbq place in Wheaton I like (though husband doesn't seem to like that one as much), but they don't have pulled chicken and their beef items are frequently sold out. We've never had that problem at Q. Over many (many) visits, I think every employee I've run across has been very courteous and friendly. I think my only nitpick is that I'm not crazy about the cheez-it topping on the mac and cheese. Definitely minor enough that it doesn't keep us away!
(5)
Sarah C.
Well, they definitely have meat here. It would be so much better if it wasn't all so greasy. I like the idea of the spicy Brussels sprouts but you have to pour off the grease and kind of blot them. The pickles are pretty good, though.
(3)
Eppie E.
Q's dry overcooked brisket almost killed me. my first bite of the burnt ends was so dry it got stuck in my throat. if it were not for a hefty cough, I might be blue on the floor. I decided to give Q a try, because I was in the area. this restaurant is the same old tired model for a northern barbecue restaurant. beautiful interior, chalkboard menu, nice packaging, horrendously horrible dry food with absolutely zero smoke flavor. The restaurant owners , barbecue is a cooking process rather than sauce slapped on meat. When I try a new restaurant, I always order the burnt ends. the burnt ends should have a pervasive smoke flavor however this restaurant had no smoke flavor. I'm guessing based on the dryness of the brisket that they boil an oven cook their meat. The only reason I gave this restaurant 2 stars was because their sauce is pretty good. So if you like boiled dry BBQ slathered in barbecue sauce, then this restaurant is for you.
(2)
Katie C.
My boyfriend really likes this place but last time we went they changed up the fries big time. They used to have fresh cut fries which were some of the best I ever had. This time they tasted like frozen fries. They had no seasoning and we're chewy and looked completely different than they normally do. We asked about it and they didn't know anything about it. Not sure that we will be back again
(2)
Mike O.
Carolina pulled pork was good, and the brisket okay. The "Southern Sweet Tea" must have been mislabeled because it tasted like unsweetened powdered tea. McDonald's has better sweet tea. The sauces were not very good certainly nothing like the Rendezvous in Memphis. Having been raised in the South, I consider myself somewhat of a BBQ afficianado. This place in an imposter.
(3)
Kara C.
Super tasty. Their fries are fantastic, too, nice and salty. And you can drink a beer with your BBQ! Quick, friendly service. Their children's menu items are huge portions, could even split for picky eaters.
(4)
Glenda C.
I was really looking forward to eating here after recommendations from friends, but unfortunately my visit fell short. The first bust was the spicy brussel spouts. It had so much potential but failed miserably because they were very undercooked. I could barely get through eating 1 because it was rock hard. When I asked someone on staff about them, they explained that they are only flashed fried and typically not very soft inside. So we kept them and suffered through the toughness. The second strike came when my toddler discovered not 1, but 2 plastic pieces in his mac and cheese! The manager apologized and offered a coupon for our next visit, but I am not sure we will be back after that experience.
(2)
Jim G.
They have the best BBQ I've had anywhere in the area! I usually get the sliders so I can get some variety because everything is so good.
(5)
Bill B.
First (and certainly won't be last) time there. What a find!! If you don't try anything else, have the burnt ends and spicy roasted brussel sprouts...OMG outstanding. Regular brisket, pulled pork, beans and coleslaw...everything we tried was great...and the hushpuppies...need I say more, except TRY IT!!
(5)
Megan S.
This place is great. Very comparable to my favorite place in Texas, Smokey-Mo's. All the meats are gluten free. I first learned about Q via a catered lunch in the loop. BF and I finished a workout in Lakeview so I took him here. We then were coming back from a weekend in Rockford and decided to stop in Naperville for dinner. The food is the same as the Lakeview location. Sweet is my favorite but I wish there was a medium option as the spicy is tooo spicy. It's to the point where there's not much flavor just heat. The vinegar and mustard options aren't my cup of tea. The brisket is my favorite and the sausage has a good kick of spice to it. The mashed potatoes are phenomenal! M said that the fries are kick a$$. The cole slaw is....cole slaw. I really wish i could have, or he liked mac and cheese. I'm a sucker for good M&C. This restaurant will definitely stay in the rotation. I like this location for the size (compared to Lakeview) but the staff was friendlier in the city, believe it or not.
(4)
Michelangelo V.
Honest reviews: not that good i loved the hush puppies n the brussel sprouts they were amaizing the mac n cheeze was gross the pulled pork meh was ok the carolina sauce on it was gross all in all its jus ok best barbeque in naperville is thomas barbeque
(1)
Marco N.
Cornbread and ribs are DELICIOUS!!! The sauce for the ribs was good too. And try the hush puppies also.
(5)
K.K. D.
Wow! I have had some delicious BBQ in The Chicago area but so far this is the best! I love Pappy's Smokehouse in St. Louis and this place ranks up there with the best! Huge portions, good price, & good service. We had a 2 meat combo burnt ends (try the spicy aioli sauce YUMMY) and pulled pork side of mashed potatoes and baked beans. Was more then enough for us to share! But those Q puppies are addicting we had to order more and then add a sample size of ribs too! So tender! BBQ sauces were tasty that Texas Spicy sauce was my favorite! Can't wait to go back for some more I need to try the spicy brussel sprouts which I heard were amazing! If you crave BBQ like I do this is the place to go!
(5)
Krissy B.
This place is ok, but it's not my favorite. The Mac and cheese is downright horrible. What corporate nitwit thought cheese-its would be a good topping? Yuck. Mashed potatoes were good. Pulled pork was ok, got mine unsauced. It was moist, but lacked any flavor/smokiness. The sauces they provide you with are all grossly offensive IMO. I mixed the sweet, mustard, and vinegar together. Overall this place is ok but there's better, non-corporate alternatives. I suspect this place makes bank mainly because of the location.
(2)
Tracie D.
Second time I've tried this place; I want to love it but can't. As a point of reference while I have had great bbq in other states-my review is comparing this place to similar Famous Dave's. 1st- burnt ends are thumbs down. Rather than the expected deliciousness of charred ends these were just cubes of brisket, nothing special at all. The Hushpuppies are a delight, and self serve pickles/BBQ sauce bar is nice. The brisket chili was a pleasant take out item. Overall, a solid place in downtown Naperville that is the BBQ option. Potential to be great but likely the marketplace will support without any changes. Won't become a destination for BBQ unless it provides more wow factor IMHO.
(3)
Dick W.
My first impression of this place was that ot was very well put together. Nice ambiance, clean and modern. I ordered the chopped brisket plate. While waiting, I realized that I couldnt smell any bbq in the place at all. Couldnt smell the meat or the smoke. This started to get me a bit worried. Then I realized that the music playing in this joint was not that of a bbq joint. I began looking around and realized that I was almost the only person in the place. The good news is that the brisket was decent. The fries were good. The sauces were pretty great! It's nice that there are like 3-4 sauces to choose from and I used them all. I will give them a second shot to be sure, but I still have my reservations about this place's staying power.
(4)
Mark H.
I ordered their Memphis wings. They were of course dry rubbed and had an ok taste. They were a little dry. I'll have to try their pork to be able to judge just how good they are.
(3)
Carmen W.
love, love, love this food. I love the spicy bbq sauce it's amazing. The fries are really good. Not a huge fan of the macaroni and cheese. I have had the pulled pork and beef brisquet. This is a bit pricey. I dont necessarily care for the way you order your food because if you have never been there its a bit confusing.
(5)
Tracy S.
BBQ is probably one of my favorite foods and Q-BBQ is my go to spot in the suburbs. My brother and I on our most recent trip tried the Papa-Q platter which has a sampling of all their meats for two people and everything was delicious. It was a great deal for $29.99! What's even better is that they have great sides to go along with the BBQ. A great place for all!
(4)
Dave M.
Great BBQ. Everything is delicious- the burnt end brisket is possibly the best thing you can eat in town.
(5)
Shannon A.
Let me start out by saying I am NOT a BBQ person. That being said, I truly enjoyed the meal I had at Q. I got the sliced brisket with mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. The brisket was delicious, easily cut with a plastic fork, not over sauced and the portion size was generous. The potatoes were fantastic however the mac and cheese was a little weak (I will definitely get two sides of mashed potatoes next time). I wish they gave you *slightly* larger portions of the sides. The staff was very friendly, the restaurant was clean and they have PLENTY of napkins and places to wash your hands! Overall I was pleased with the food and service I got at Q.
(4)
Tim H.
Never come here again. They use peanut oil and have ZERO allergy warnings The place is dangerous to the thousands of people who now have food allergies What a joke Please do not give this place your money App made me give it a 1. It's a 0. Zero.
(1)
Cam M.
SUPER GREAT BBQ!!! Ribs are cooked to perfection and you cannot go wrong with any of the sides. I will drive from Geneva for a Q fix. Wish they would consider opening a place in the Fox River area. Just writing this review gets my taste buds going. You need stop there and you will be hooked
(5)
Samantha B.
I thoroughly enjoy the barbeque at this place. As a former resident of North Carolina, I was more than delighted when I saw Q's advertising Carolina pulled pork. It is extremely hard to find the vinegar-based sauce and coleslaw topped brisket that defines true Carolina barbeque. Unfortunately....this was not it. Not even close. Although I will still give this place four stars because the barbeque was delicious! The first time I went, I ordered the beef brisket sandwich. It comes with one side and two hush puppies. I made the sandwich "Q-style" which means for $1.50 more they will add coleslaw, bleu cheese crumbles, and "carolina" sauce, which as stated previously...was not even remotely close, yet still a good spicy brown sauce. They gave me a huge, heaping side of fries that I couldn't even finish after conquering the massive butchered cow that was my sandwich. They also have a condiments bar where you can try at least five different barbeque sauces and mustards. Plus all you can eat pickle slices! The meal was $8.99, not including the q-style price, tax and a drink. Today I ordered the full slab of ribs meal which comes with two sides. It was $23.99, again not including tax or drinks. The ribs were meaty and flavorful. Everything fell right off of the bone. I also got their macaroni and cheese which has cheez-its crumbled on top of it! Awesome idea and quite delish. Shared this meal with my husband and we still had ribs left over. I'm telling you...the portion sizes are great for the price. Again, my only complaint is this was not carolina style barbeque. It is more memphis or kansas city. I would compare this place to a fast-food version of Famous Daves, before Famous Daves got money hungry and started cutting down their portion sizes and measuring out how much meat goes on a sandwich. Give me a break, Dave.
(4)
Henri and Nicole D.
Now I'm the office hero! Great experience all around! Last minute office lunch, and everyone picks me to set it up. I have 3 hours to feed 30 people. Everyone's weighing in... and Q's comes up... a lot! So, I think, "Man 30 people in (now) 2.5 hours, no way." I reach out to find out if this is doable, and the folks at Q's don't even blink an eye. They say sure, take the order and call us when you're ready. So I scramble, office emails fly, orders and reorders come in, and I see it... a load of picky eaters who want to customize just about every dish. AGAIN, Q's doesn't even flinch. Not even a hesitation. I arrive around lunch time, the line out the door, and I soar pass all those last minute diners right to the counter where my meals are waiting with assistance to get it to the car. Oh, those in line are envious of me know, I can feel the jealousy dripping off me as I slide pass them with bag after bag of BBQ goodness. I'm in, I'm out, I'm back at work before the engine gets hot. I pass out the meals...and... silence. A usually noisy office is filled with silence as my quickly sated coworkers fill their bellies with deliciousness prepared JUST the way they wanted it. Now, I'm the office hero and everyone talking about the next time we order Q's, I'm the guy to go to for this, because I can handle tough situations. The secret's out now, Q's staff lead by leaders Liz and Tyler will knock it out the park for you.
(5)
Steve O.
For delicious, hassle free BBQ, Q is about as good as it gets. I sometimes find myself looking for excuses to drive in the area of Q just to have a reason to stop in for a bite. Every meat I have tried, and I've tried nearly all of them, are fantastic and consistently good. Favorites are the pulled pork, the sliced brisket, the chicken and the smoked sausage. Pulled pork and brisket in particular have excellent smokey flavor, and not saturated in sauce. This allows me to use the sauce I like best, with as little or as much as I want, rather than end up with a soggy mess. The brisket is great, I prefer the sliced versus the chopped, just a personal preference. The sides are very good, although I wish the coleslaw and beans were a little larger, the portion of fries you get is huge, and the slaw and beans seem a little light in comparison. My wife and I usually get 4 different sides between us so we can have some of each. The coleslaw is great, good flavor and fresh. The beans are very good. The brussel sprouts are out of this world. I like the regular instead of the spicy, they have a great flavor and are seasoned perfectly, the spicy is just more heat than I prefer. I don't order the mac and cheese often, but it is good. I don't understand the outrage I see in other reviews that they use cheez-its as a topping. It's cheese crackers on top of mac and cheese. Sorry it's not how mommy makes it with the powdered cheese packet, good god. I believe everything comes with Q-puppies, a guilty pleasure of deep fried goodness. Oh, by the way, DO NOT forget to grab a cup or 2 of the house made pickles that are available at the condiment station. These are awesome. The kids all love the food, my son is an 11 year old BBQ junkie in training, and my 2 girls are starting to get a bit more adventurous. The girls love the chicken tenders and the fries, and I can usually talk at least one of them into the pulled chicken. Service has always been good. It is a quick service set up, where you place your order and pay at the counter, and a few minutes later the food is brought out to you. Bonus points for serving Coke products and having excellent Iced tea. All of you Coke snobs out there will know what I'm talking about. Nothing worse than loving the food at a place but having to choke down Pepsi. Keep up the good work Q!
(5)
D P.
Have ate at the Lagrange location before and thought was ok. Was in Naperville so I tried this location. EVERYTHING was extrA! Q style was a tablespoon of slaw for a $1.50. Brussels sprouts were 2.39 over the standard sides. A 10 oz soft drink was $2.39. All told a sandwich a Coke was$15.23.
(2)
Edi I.
This is a really nice option for a barbecue craving on the go! Great food great menu and fast service. Love the sliders on the menu, you get to try what you like best to order a bigger portion next time ! Will definitely be back.
(5)
Ron P.
Not sure what has happened to this place. It used to be a solid bbq place in Naperville. Went last week and the food was mediocre at best. Had half a slab with beans and cole slaw. The ribs came out extremely dry and cold. The beans had maybe six beans in the container and the slaw had no flavor. Wife got brisket which tasted more like roast beef. The cost does not justify the quality. Will not go back.
(2)
Alex S.
I've been here twice so far and I was pleased both times. The atmosphere is really nice and the staff are friendly. The food is on the more expensive side but they give you really big portions so you get your moneys worth. Having lived in North Carolina for about 5 years, I was excited to eat their Carolina pulled pork platter. It came with a huge amount of pork and two sides. I chose the green beans which were nothing too special, and the mac and cheese which had an added touch of cheeze-its making it even better. The Carolina sauce however was not the same. It is supposed to be vinegar based but this is more on the think side in my opinion. The second time my wife and I split a whole rack of ribs which were amazing. They have a little condiment area too with homemade pickles that are awesome. Every table also has all of their sauces that you can add to your plate so its fun to try them all. The wait for your food is pretty short also which is a plus. Overall I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for some good BBQ.
(4)
Courtney R.
If Q-BBQ were a man, I would be making a fool out of myself. EVERYTHING here is good. Everything. The Brussels sprouts are excellent, make sure you order the original ones if you don't like spicy foods. I have been here quite a few times, If I go to Naperville, I am going to Q's.
(5)
Connie L.
I finally made it out here after hearing raving reviews and I wish I did it sooner. The food comes out lightning fast and the portions are generous. I split a two meat combo (brisket and pulled pork) with the bf and it definitely filled us up. The meat is prepared without any BBQ sauce but there are different sauces available at each table.
(5)
Ashley S.
Ohhh yum! I'm born and raised in Naperville, but I moved to southern California a while back, so it's always nice to come back and check out new places! I was meeting up with some friends on a trip back home and we met here- and oh man it was yummy! I got the pulled chicken sandwich with brussell (maybe there's only one l there..) sprouts- OH MY THEY WERE SO GOOD!! Prices were pretty decent too for the amount of food I got! Yum!
(3)
Luke W.
This restaurant had excellent food and great service! The greater was very nice, friendly, and helpful. On top of that - this was the best BBQ food I've had in a long time. We will be returning for dinner!
(5)
Cindy D.
Brisket tender and tasty. Green beans not so much. Everything was cold except the ale. But the brisket was delicious. I like the sweet sauce with a hint of heat. the little hush puppies were a treat.
(3)
Deena A.
First time there. Would come back if I am in the area! We had to go back up for a second order! The chopped brisket is delicious.
(5)
Juan L.
My girlfriend and I along with two other friends decided to eat here on Wednesday at around 7 pm. I ordered the papa Q platter me and my gf just decided to share it because it sounded like enough. It came with pretty much all there meats on the menu, two sides and hush puppies. I will start of by saying that for some reason there were no hush puppies on my platter but instead it had 4 wings which I was okay with. No on to the meat! Pulled pork- was extremely tender and tasted good Pulled chocked- had a good smoky flavor and tender Chopped brisket- tender and great flavor Ribs- were extremely tender and had a great rub on them Hot Sausage- was kinda cold but had good flavor and a nice bite to it. Sliced brisket- was by far the worst. It was cold and way to dry. Hard to chew. Sliced turkey- was more tender than the brisket which I thought would not be possible. Brisket burnt ends- were really good, had great bark, great smoky flavor. Spicy wings- were incredibly tender and the dry rub was finger licking good. Our two sides were Mac and cheese and cole slaw. Mac and cheese was pretty bland. The cole slaw was really watery. The staff were all reall nice. Nice place to hang out with friends. I will definitely be back again maybe at a earlier time for fresher food.
(4)
Sarah H.
Things that are excellent: 1) Fast service once you've paid. Food comes out quickly; servers are so wonderful and friendly. 2) Selection of sauces. Yes. Just amazing. I am a fan of the sauces! Though, some will argue the sauce will cover/hide the taste of the meat. 3) Get your own takeout boxes, bags, and pretty much anything you can think of. 4) Of course, the food. Carolina pulled pork sandwich was excellent. Large portion size. The side of fries is HUGE (and a bit salty). More petite ladies may want to try a kid's meal, as I think those sizes may be much more manageable. The Q-Plate may be too large and can probably be shared by two smaller ladies. Things they need to work on: 1) Faster cashiers. I was there for lunch on a weekday and there was one register manned. The line was always at the door. This points to two things: one, poor staffing of registers and two, poor layout design as they did not consider how slowly the line would move. 2) Poor layout: They're working with a small space and trying to maximize their space, but really I think they could have sacrificed a few tables so I'm not constantly running into the next table as I move to get a refill. 3) I am not so sure if I am a fan of the "let me grab you a number, find you a table somewhere, and make you remember the number." I do understand it helps to "maximize space," but I can find my own table, thanks. Next time I want to try their southern sweet tea! Overall solid addition to downtown Naperville. If only parking wasn't such a nightmare!
(5)
Sarah S.
Delicious! Went here with my brother. He got the ribs and I got a pulled pork sandwich. Loved all the sauces and my sandwich was amazing! The sides are really good too! In my opinion the ribs still don't top Portillo's ribs but that's just my thing.
(4)
Scott K.
When it comes to American cuisine BBQ and chicken compete big time but with Q's in the competition chicken took a lickin. I'm a kid in a candy store when it comes to BBQ; beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs, oh the agony I'd have to go through if I had to choose one, but they have a multiple meat option of 1 - 4, which suppresses a severe case of anxiety. I need 4 because they have something I've not had before called burnt ends. Burnt ends is probably now my favorite way to eat cow, it is so tasting you may find yourself mooing in ecstasy. My blood pump repair man is pleased the closest location to Cortland is Naperville otherwise I be there weekly closing up my arteries quicker than the snap of an alligator's mouth. If there is one bummer it's they got onions in their baked beans 'ewhhh' I hate onions (see other reviews) but they got a mac n cheese I double on for my two sides. They have fries but one must be health conscious. If you like BBQ and have not tried Q's drop all things and go and put yourself in total carnivore utopia.
(5)
Katey A.
Q, where have you been all of my life? Please do not ever leave Naperville. Walking into Q-BBQ you immediately feel like you're down south. Rustic interior, large chalk board menus, and the staff is filled with southern charm. I was stunned by the number of options to choose from. You order at the counter and some one brings you your order. After staring at the menu for longer than I care to admit, I settled on a half slab of ribs, the bacon mac n cheese, and cornbread. Win, win, WIN! Their ribs are so meaty that I could only eat three ribs. The bacon mac and cheese was some of the best mac n cheese that I've had from a bbq joint in a long time. (Many places serve this weird velveta style mac and cheese that looks like it's been sitting out for too long. Gross.) Q's was not like that at all. The people I was with ordered the regular mac n cheese which comes with cheesy puffs crumbled on top for texture. They also were raving about the burnt ends saying it was some of the best they've ever had. This of course means I have to go back for further research. They have about 4-5 sauces. Our favorites were the sweet bbq sauce and the mustard bbq sauce. I highly recommend this place to all bbq lovers. So glad it's here!
(5)
John K.
Excellent
(2)
Matthew M.
Everyone I know loves this place for some reason but it's really just average bbq. The meat isn't very flavorful or tender, I love brisket but the version the serve here clearly isn't smoked for long enough (I've had it a couple of times and always find chewy globs of fat) and the pork and sausage is bland. The sides are really good though and the hush puppies are amazing. I get dragged here too often because everyone else loves it and those hush puppies save my dining experience.
(3)
Justin C.
Eat the brussel sprouts. I know, I know. But eat the brussel sprouts.
(5)
Melissa M.
The baked beans with brisket was awesome. The burnt ends brisket was tasty but fatty. The service was fast and freindly. I will definetly come back.
(4)
Michael M.
This is an update to the review I posted on 9/9/2012. I have to admit, this place has grown on me. I said that I wasn't sure if my feelings were based on the expectations...they were. I believe that this is probably the best BBQ place I know of in the Naperville area right now. My order has become the same. Pulled pork sandwich with fries and a taste of the sausage. The pulled pork is always great. The sausage is always a nice change from anything I normally eat. The fries are some of the best of any restaurant I've been to. I highly recommend the fires with the sweet table sauce. I will say that the brisket chili was a disappointment. Then again, I'm not really a fan of their brisket in general so I shouldn't have been to surprised. Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for a good pulled pork sandwich.
(4)
Roseanne P.
I wanted to like this place so much. I've seen reviews for it on television shows like "The hungry hound". Maybe the kitchen was having a bad day but I was completely unimpressed with most of my meal. My husband and I ordered the burnt ends platter, mine with slaw and baked beans, my husband had baked beans and the mac'n cheese. The meat was almost cold and swimming in grease when it arrived. The slaw and the macaroni and cheese were bland and flavorless. The two redeeming items were the fritters and the baked beans, which were a nice, well balanced mix of sweet and heat. Compared to other BBQ joints, I just couldn't give the restaurant more than two stars--sorry. I will give it another shot and try another item on the menu though which will hopefully I'll have a better experience the second time around.
(2)
ashley m.
Wow! This place is gooooooood! Bacon Mac n cheese, pulled pork nachos, sliders everything we shared was phenomenal
(5)
Patrick S.
First time at Q-BBQ. it was good, but not great. i'm a big fan of BBQ places, so i wanted to try this one since i was in the area. i ordered the pulled pork sandwich. for my side, i opted to try their coleslaw. despite what some other reviewers said, the portion size wasn't the biggest. the meal ended up satisfying my hunger, but i'm used to larger sandwiches for the money i paid. the pork was really tender and flavorful and their signature sauce they add on the sandwich was a nice touch. i liked almost all of their other table-side sauce options, with my least favorite being their vinegar based sauce. my favorite sauce was their Texas-style which had a sweet/spicy flavor to it. i used this sauce for the rest of my sandwich. i liked the egg bun the sandwich was served on. it was fresh and had a good bakery taste to it, not a standard bland store bought taste at all. the coleslaw was actually really good. coleslaw is typically hit or miss at BBQ places, so i was pleasantly surprised when this had a nice flavor to it. the Q-Puppies (hush puppies) that are included with your meal were decent. standard hush puppy flavor that is similar to Long John Silvers. nothing out of the ordinary. i would've liked more than just 2 of them, but oh well. i'd go back here, but i'm not going to go out of my way to eat at Q-BBQ. Cleanliness of restaurant = 5/5 Staff politeness/willingness to explain options = 5/5 Taste of food = 4/5 Quality of food = 4/5 Portion size = 3/5 Price of food = 3.5/5 total rating = 4/5
(4)
Texas L.
Okay so I returned to give you guys one more shot. I got the brisket Q plate with coleslaw and hush puppies for my sides. The brisket was chewy and sliced almost an inch thick. Brisket is best served sliced much thinner and with a little more fat content to keep moist. I did however find the perfect combination of sauces during my experience. When mixing the Texas style with the mustard style from NC I found pure bliss on my tastebuds. I still stand firm on the rib issue. I don't want to eat a half rack, I want to have the option of having a couple ribs and some brisket with my sides and a glass of ice tea. This option is not available without spending over $27.....it's BBQ. Staff was friendly and of course the atmosphere is pleasant. Sorry but we won't be visiting anymore.
(2)
Lily Z.
The guys and I came here for dinner after an exhaustive trip of shopping at the outlet mall in Aurora. I was not a fan of their sweet tea, but they have some nice brisket and burnt ends. My friend really liked their sausage. But their chicken was dry. I really liked their corn bread because it had a nice balance. If I'm ever in the area, I would definitely come back for their sliced brisket and burnt ends. Everything drenched with their spicy Texas sauce? Score!
(4)
Carrie S.
Okay, this place deserves a more extensive review. I've been here a few times, and every time I get the burnt ends sandwich. It's awesome: huge chunks of meat topped with their mustard sauce. I hate the word tender, but this stuff is tender. And the mustard is not very mustardy - it's thastes like thyme and is oh so very good. I've ordered the mac and cheese and the fries as my sides...my recommendation? Go with the fries. They're pretty solid and you get a ton of them. The mac and cheese is a little lackluster and a small portion. The thing that puts this place above and beyond is their customer service. The staff is like teens/early 20's and really nice, polite kids. Twice during dinner last night we were asked how our food was, in a very non-obtrusive and unawkward way. My boo's sandwich was a little dry and so one girl offered to bring out a new one. We're not really the "send food back" type of people, but we decided to take her up on her offer. Not only did she bring out a new, improved sandwich in a few minutes, but she also gave us a voucher for an additional sandwich for our next visit. Score! I think this small act made us lifelong fans. So sweet. Plus they serve beer.
(5)
Jonathan K.
Such a win if you decide to eat here! Reasonably priced and great portions! The pulled pork is my all time favorite! If you like BBQ then you must try this restaurant out!
(5)
Amy N.
With so many good reviews, the bar is set really high for this place. That being said though, this place beats out the slim pickings of other bbq joints around, like Famous Dave's and Texas Roadhouse. Whatever meat you end up choosing will be tender and great. The sauces offered at the table are great, and they have a good variety. The sides are a little small for what you're paying. Overall, this makes the menu a little pricy, in my opinion, but then again, what isn't pricy in Naperville? It would be great if the place was bigger because due to its popularity, it can be extremely packed on weekend evenings.
(4)
Steve K.
This is my first 5 star rating. I am a foodie and I absolutely love good barbecue. I've been to all the good spots in Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis. This is a great barbecue joint with four distinctly different sauces at your table - you choose which flavor you want. They are all good but the sweet and the mustard ones are best in my opinion. The pulled pork sandwich is great - very flavorful, brisket sandwich is fantastic - you have to get it Q-style (with cole slaw and bleu cheese). Buns are fresh, which is extremely important. Tried the burnt ends today for the first time. They were fantastic and as an expert in BBQ said to me "these burnt ends are a cross between filet mignon and beef jerky." The Q- puppies that come with your meal are awesome! Be sure to fill up the little black cup with their sliced pickles - a nice complimentary offering. It can get a bit crowded at the prime lunch and dinner times but a crowd is a testament to a good restaurant, so I consider a crowd a good thing. Try to go at 1:00 or later for lunch as the place thins out then. Looking for great barbecue, give it a shot. You will be happy you came. I've been back to this place (multiple locations) literally dozens of times and never had a bad experience - always excellent!
(5)
DEALS D.
Absolutely fantastic bbq. Had the sampler plate. Will definitely be back for more. The servers and counter people were super friendly and helped with order. And they were right on. Loved it.
(5)
ray c.
Overpriced. Brisket was dry. Ribs were average. Burnt ends were completely burnt and not tender at all. I do like their sweet sauce and spicy sauced mixed together.
(1)
Shin M.
I got the burnt ends sandwich ($8.99) with melted mozzarella (extra $1.50) which came with 3 hush puppies (meh, i only ate one), and I chose french fries as my side. The lady that took our order was super friendly- just had to mention that. Anyway, the burnt ends sandwich was pretty good- don't know if the melted mozzarella helped thaaaat much- I guess I'm saying it's prob still good without it. The french fries were PLENTIFUL- I could not finish them all but they were really good. They were in b/t McDonald's skinny fries and steak fries. So they were medium in thickness and soft =). Overall, it was pretty good!
(4)
J.W. W.
BBQ is okay, but tables are jammed together like sardines in a can. I would have given it three stars, but they ban legal concealed carry so I will not be back.
(1)
Tori M.
OVERRATED. Given their award-winning status I was expecting gold when I got here and the food was silver, at best. The brisket was bland and needed go be doused in sauce. The set up was cramped and the bill for both of us was about $35! It wasn't bad but it most definitely did not live up to the hype.
(3)
Fi G.
Get the sliders if you're a first timer. You get to try small portions of all their meat. Everything we have tried has been amazing. The portions are on the larger side, you'll have plenty of leftovers. The staff are friendly and helpful. On each table they have different sauces you can add to your BBQ (not that you need it). The last time I had amazing BBQ like this I was stationed in Texas.
(5)
Benjamin S.
Good, not great. So, I seriously dig good barbecue. I've been to plenty spots around the US. I also know how to make good barbecue. So, I'm not an average guy with average standards. With this area its hard to find a decent BBQ joint, so it was cool to see one prop up in Naperville. A friend from work suggested we hit there for lunch and I was game. So, first impressions. Finding parking is a pain, but that's Naperville's problem as the downtown booms. As for the restaurant, Its what you would expect from a suburban place. Sort of the Apple-Bee-ification of the decor. It ends up coming off a little artificial. But, neither of those are really that important in the grande scheme of things. I ended up getting the three meat combo, which is always a good route when you want to experience more of what they have to offer. I ended up getting the brisket, pulled pork, spicy sausage, with a side of beans and coleslaw. I was disappointed that it cost extra to have burnt ends, and they dont even serve the ribs as part of the 3 meat combo. If the ribs or burnt ends arent economical to serve in a combo, then just change the portion size. Anyhow, after a few minutes, the server arrived with the steel tray with brown paper and my entre. Overall, the presentation of the food was meant to be appear rustic. So, nothing worth mentioning. Just piles of meat with plastic cups for the sides. So on to eating,, Im not sure if the style of serving (using a metal tray) was at fault, but I felt like my meal just wasn't all that hot to begin with. I first tried the brisket, which was OK. I was sort of surprised by how little flavor (smoke or otherwise) I could detect, It was served chopped up, which I dont mind as you can keep it juicier for longer, but It was still missing spice and flavor. Which take you to the sauces..which I thought were really good, but almost seemed like they were required to make the meal work. The pulled pork was also unremarkable as it too didn't have any smoke flavor or seasoning. As for the sausage, it wasnt awful, just nothing special. It was along the same lines of a Bobak sausage - perhaps not even that high of quality. As for the beans - they were very good and extremely spicy. The coleslaw was essentially store bought and (although was nice to cut into the richness of the meat) was disappointing. The biggest surprise was that with a $20 plate that they didn't even give you any bread (and hush-puppies don't count). I thought that was a no-brainer for any BBQ joint. As others have mentioned, the mac-n-cheese is so bad that its almost a joke. I knew not to order this as I tried some before when some family members did carryout. Like some stoned hillbilly's creation. Now, there are some hillbilly creations that do work, like Frito pie. But, cheese-its on mac-n-cheese doesn't. Sorry guys, its a total fail. If cant oven bake a crumb topping, then just serve it without any topping altogether. All in all, I think this place works for a quick BBQ meal if you are in the area, but not worth driving to if you don't live nearby.
(3)
G B.
It takes much time and care to BBQ this well. The food is consistent and the Texas hot is right on. Ribs are excellent, burnt ends are nice, and real tea. I can't wait to return.
(5)
Clint K.
I liked the variety of sauces! I only had the brisket but it was very good. Definitely will go back!
(4)
Sam L.
First time customers at this restaurant. We enjoyed how friendly the staff were to us. The bbq was great! I highly recommend this place to others.
(4)
Brandy W.
This place deserves 4 stars for flavor/variety... but only gets 3 because they're super sneaky with their prices. How on earth is a sandwich, small baked beans (think full palm of your hand), small mac-q-roni, regular mac-q-roni and about 5 brussel sprouts worth $23? I'm the vegetarian who loves her carni husband. And when we walked by, I saw signs for spicy mac-q-roni and cheese and spicy brussel sprouts. I hoped they were vegetarian. I went in, inquired. Yep, all their sides except the baked beans are veggie (not vegan) friendly. Sweet. We were in for dinner. I checked out the menu. Small sides (quite small) were $1.99 and regular size sides were $2.99. I ordered the spicy brussel sprouts and spicy mac at regular sizes, expecting a cost of $6 (which is suitable for pasta with a veggie in small portions!). The husband ordered a pulled pork sandwich with a description under it including cheese and coleslaw. While it IS listed on the menu that it's $1.50 to upgrade, you'd assume they wouldn't list the base price and description with the upgrade but not upgraded price. And the cashier should've said, For another $1.50, would you like to make it Q-style instead of assuming we didn't mind the upcharge. And the sides. YOU GUYS. I paid $4.99 for about 5 large (albeit yummy) brussel sprouts! Apparently the stuff in the window on the "spicy" list that is not included anywhere on the menu is not the same price as the sides they DO list. And the spicy mac and cheese...spicy or not (added jalapeno is all) was bland and not worth the $3.99 we paid just for them to add a few slices of jalapeno. So for $9, I got brussel sprouts and crappy mac & cheese. No meat. What a ripoff. And of course you have no idea the prices when ringing up...all unassuming. My meal as a veggie was more expensive than my husband's meal as a meat-eater! They score points for the following items: - good meat, says the husband - tasty brussel sprouts and beans - my son who hates food eating the two measly hush-puppies they threw on my husband's plate. - free pickles you can dish yourself - BBQ sauce to your heart's content - fun atmosphere - hand-washing sink Things they should improve on: - not being shady on those upcharges - labeling the menu clearly with prices, even for seasonal items - cashier not upcharging without disclosing additional cost - outdoor seating would be nice - cooler soda machine. Why don't they have the new Coke machine? IMO, those are decent things to work on that just might not get us back in the door.
(3)
steve r.
Well, if you like BBQ that you'll have a lot of leftovers for, then this is the place. I've been to this place twice and each time I've been defeated in my ability to finish my plate. The food is completely overflowing and they are more than generous with the sides, especially the french fries. Make sure you are coming for lunch, get there before the rush happens each day around noon. Lots of options, lots of sauce and lots of food. If you are hungry, this is the place for you. Keep in mind, the tables are really close to together, so be ready or take it to go.
(4)
Brad J.
I love the pulled pork and the brisket is pretty good. I am a huge fan of great bbq and this place does a really good job. I even had the pulled pork nachos one time which were okay, but I much rather would have had the pulled pork sandwich or the brisket. Like what some of the other reviewers have said, the portion size can be a little small but the food is great. The staff is very friendly and helpful!
(4)
LOIS B.
YUM, won my heart and palate. We stopped in on a very busy Sunday afternoon and the heavenly BBQ scent wafting all the way to the parking lot had my mouth watering before reaching the door. I had the beef brisket plate. The meat was soooooooooooooooooooooo tender I did not require a knife. It comes with the North Carolina Vinegar Sauce and I added some Memphis Sweet sauce ~ mouth-watering. There are also 2 other choices of BBQ sauces available on the table for your dining pleasure. All the sides we had were, also, very tasty. They included salad, baked beans, Q-slaw, and the Q-pups. Needless to say, we cleaned our plates and were totally full. We even purchased 2 of the sauces to bring home. It is a small place and I can imagine it gets very crowed at peak times. You order at the register, are given a number, you find a table, and they bring the food to you. If only the windows opened, that would make this absolutely perfect, since there is no outdoor seating. I will return and try some other offering.
(5)
H K.
Always a solid meal! Salads rock. The BBQ sauces rock. Pickles are crispy, fast service, great food.
(5)
Boon K.
There is alot of bbq options to order here so why not just order the sample platter and try a little bit of everything. Everything on the platter was pretty good but I wasn't the biggest fan of the bbq rib, because it was to memphis sweet for me. To my surprise I really like the chicken wing and the bbq briskets. As most of my review I like the more sour things like the north carolina vinegar that goes with pulled pork. The texa hot was hot and when you put all three sauces together you get a litte bit of everything. My husband loved the bacon mac and cheese. And a note the sweet tea is not like the syrup you get in the south it is lightly sweeten so I love that too.
(3)
Andrew T.
As I'm sitting down to read this review, I see Ricky C's review in the sidebar, and he has it totally nailed. This is BBQ for people who live in the Midwest. It's smoked meat, and it's BBQ sauce, and it's BBQ sides, but that's realistically about it. If you go to Memphis or the Carolinas or Texas and eat BBQ, you aren't likely to review this place highly. For what it is, Q is fine. But it's not where I would go when I was hungry for BBQ. Their pulled pork and brisket were, as I said, just OK. Pork was not all that smoky, and also not terribly pork flavored. So maybe their meat just isn't all that great. It came sauced with a traditional Midwestern sweet sauce, which I should have asked them to hold off on. There is a decent facsimile of Carolina vinegar sauce available on the tables, and I think that would have made the pork quite a bit better. The brisket was smoked a little bit better, but it wasn't tender, and came a little cold. Again, not a ton of flavor. This needed sauce. Sides were OK - mac and cheese with Cheez-Its crumbled on top, which was cute. If I was looking for BBQ in the western suburbs, I would hit up Austin BBQ in Wheaton. With their actual sourced-from-Texas sausage, it's definitely the best I've had in the area.
(3)
Erica P.
It was good, interesting 'fast food' BBQ concept in downtown Naperville. Portions were on the smaller side for the price.
(3)
Scott H.
Very good food. Big portions! They definitely have it down to a science. Different sauce options really appeals to the different tastes in BBQ. I'll definitely be back to this place!
(5)
Mr. G.
Be warned - the standard for barbecue in this area is terribly low. Decent meat, but not really barbecue. The burnt ends I had were dry and made mostly from the flat of the brisket. The sliced brisket was also very dry and tasted more like pot roast, with very little smoke flavor and no smoke ring. I suspect they hold it for service in some type of liquid. That being said, everyone is very friendly, the restaurant is clean and has a good atmosphere. The sauces (which you will need) and sides are generally good. Don't buck up for the spicy fries, they are just fries with jalapeños thrown in.
(2)
Doug P.
Excellent food. I had the burnt ends along with the brisket. All was fresh and even rivals the bbq I had in Kansas City
(5)
Adam B.
I ordered the 3-meat platter. The first thing I noticed is there was only sauce on the brisket. They let the meat stand on its own and let you add whatever sauces you choose, which is the way BBQ should be. The smoked chicken wings were some of the best I've had in a while. They're covered in BBQ spices and since they're not fried, there isn't a ton of grease on them. The Texas spicy sauce goes perfect on these. I liked the burnt ends a lot, they had a very intense smoke flavor to them. The brisket was ok, it was moist, but I felt it lacked flavor or seasoning. I also added a taste of turkey, I added some Memphis sweet sauce and it may have been the highlight of the meal. I can't recommend this one enough. For sides, the beans were ok, there was a little too much liquid though. I really enjoyed the cornbread, it's a pretty good size and just crumbles. Great texture to this. I appreciate that they have all their homemade sauces at the table and my favorite is probably the Memphis sweet. The mustard had a little too much of a Dijon taste for my liking. Also, they have a jar of homemade sliced pickles at the condiment stand. Major props for this! I liked the feel of the place, lots of wood, spice jars, it really made me feel like I was in an earthy, homey type of joint. And even though it's not a waitstaff restaurant, I noticed one of the staff workers taking the time to check on each table. That goes a long way for service. I have had very bad BBQ in Chicagoland, but Q is the best I've had in the burbs. I definitely would return. That said, I think I'd still take Smoque downtown if I had my choice.
(4)
Brent H.
Anybody who rates this place with more than 1 star obviously doesn't know barbecue. Dry, dry, dry! This is the driest most tasteless meat I've ever had at a restaurant. Poorly cooked and lack of seasoning makes for a bad experience. The brussel sprouts were edible.
(1)
Angela P.
Still a BBQ novice, as it is not my favorite cuisine, I would definitely return to Q for the burnt ends and "Q pups" (corn fritter hush puppies). The burnt ends did seem chewy and dry on the first bite. But after adding some Texas spicy and Memphis sweet sauce, my burnt ends were fall-apart good. I also like the 4 choices of sauce on the tables, and I tried them all. The Texas and Memphis were the best. Were they authentic? Who cares? They were good, and Q is better than Famous Dave's. The macaroni & cheese was good, but could have been better with more of a cheddar or spice kick. They're headed in the right direction adding a Cheez-It topping. After that, it was standard macaroni. The fries too, were good, but neither disappointing nor extraordinary. We spent a total of $32 for 2 entrees and 2 drinks. The line is awkward, as previously mentioned, there isn't much room to stand to the side and read the menu if you're like me and need a minute to decide. After ordering, they give you a number and then they deliver to your table. I'll be back soon, most likely stuffing my face with Q pups.
(4)
Laurence P.
Craving BBQ? Check this out! Great food, great service, great location, what more do you want! Need to go back, and get the sampler! Can't wait to get a taste of all those yummy meats! ;)
(5)
Bryan N.
This place fills a niche in the downtown. It's casual like a fast food restaurant but the quality far exceeds anything else that delivers a meal as quickly. The brisket is delicious on its own, but I do recommend their BBQ sauces. I mixed the sweet and the hot sauces to make something great. What kept this place from earning its fifth star are a few things. Their ordering area is a cluster. They just get too busy, I've actually walked away because it's felt like the line was too much. Related to this, sometimes the seating area is full.
(4)
Darci S.
Q was pretty good but a little overpriced. The best thing I ate was the spicy Brussels sprouts, believe it or not! The pulled pork was good - but not out of this world - and same goes for the beans. The kids meals are crazy expensive for what they are. If I went again I'd just get a regular side of mac for the kids and save 5 bucks. In summary I'd go back if I was in the area and desperate for BBQ but there are better joints IMHO.
(3)
Tami B.
Overall, I think their bbq is delicious, but it is very expensive. I got the pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese. I like that they have all of the sauces on the table to choose from and I like that the mac and cheese was topped with cheez-its. I just thought I would get more food for the money. The sandwich was large, but then you get two small hushpuppies and 1/4 cup of mac and cheese. That with a drink was around $12. If I'm going to pay that much for a sandwich I would rather go to Ted's Montana grill down the street, get served and get way more food for the money.
(3)
Andrew A.
I have been looking for a decent BBQ place around for quite a long time. Q's knows what's up fo sho. I have been here three times and have tried the brisket sandwich, the pulled pork sandwich and the burnt ends sandwich. Everything I have tried has been absolutely delicious. The employees are also very friendly and the atmosphere is relaxing for me. Great BBQ.
(5)
Charles S.
Been here enough times to know what to recommend to friends. The platters are a nice option when you want to sample many different items. You can get the 3 or 4 meat option. The sliders are a nice treat if you want to sample as well. All sandwiches and entrees come with q puffs. The ribs I've only had once and it was a tale of two piggies: half of the slab was moist and tender and the other was tough and rubbery. So, in the future I will enjoy the variety versus the slab. Oh, you must have the spicy Brussel sprouts....very hot but tasty!
(4)
Rebecca C.
Great pulled pork sandwich! A plus for students is that they have $5 specials for lunch! The selection of BBQ sauces makes dining here great! Also my fav... You can take all the pickles you want from their pickle bowl. :)
(4)
Michael M.
Great BBQ food, Ribs!
(5)
Sandee S.
Be aware the kitchen closes at 830. I was rudely told when I walked in which is only mentioned on their WINDOW! Idk why you would close the kitchen earlier than your hours state. Only bar and grills do that which this is not.
(1)
Lydia Z.
Went here on the recommendation of a friend and was a little leery of something called "burnt ends". I didn't really know what it was but he said to try it so we did. And it was awesome! The ribs, also good as were the wings. In fact, the wings have a slight brown sugar coating or something and it makes it fantastic. The q-pups are a tasty treat. Fries are also excellent.
(5)
Adrianna N.
Burnt end sandwich with spicy Brussels sprouts! Absolutely delicious! Good prices, clean atmosphere, friendly staff!
(5)
Tim H.
Well when I went back the third time for a pulled pork sand. the fries weren't much better. There still seems to be some issues in Naperville. I'm not a fan of their sauces and I'll have to try the LaGrange location, to see what the hype is about. I love good BBQ. The pulled pork was good ... but I'm used to better. I'll have to try the burnt ends and the beans. The owner did go out of his way to satisfy me. That says a lot about a place.
(2)
Howard L.
A-ok on the BBQ here. I had a good beef brisket sandwich and a side of mac for $8.77 after tax. It was a little pricy for what you get, but it is a downtown Naperville location. I liked the Texas spicy sauce. I also liked that at lunchtime at least they hold a table for you before you order, so there's no need to scramble during the busy lunch hour, and they bring your food to the table.
(3)
Agnes L.
*Disclaimer: This is based on carry-out only. Ordered the Papa Q Sampler Platter by calling, and it was ready right when I asked for it. Service was friendly on the phone and when picking up my order. Loved that there are little to-go containers for all the sauces, and I liked the variety of sauces (sweet, spicy, vinegar and mustard). The pulled pork and chicken were tender, but the ribs were a bit tough.
(4)
Steve G.
I really feel for the folks who live in the apartments above this place. Great smell outside... Inside, a little less enticing. I had the pulled pork, "Q-Style"... My wife got the sliced brisket plate with expectations to take some home for later. She got slaw and beans for her sides. My sandwich was good, nicely cooked pork, and once I added some sweet BBQ sauce to it, very nice. The blue cheese crumbles and cheese didn't add much flavor, but the slaw on top was very tasty. Fries were good, if a bit salty. My wife's brisket was okay -- great flavor, but obviously needed another 4 or 5 hours in the smoke. The thick layer of fat that melts away on brisket when it's slow cooked for hours was still there in full force. That's a huge turnoff for my wife. After some serious trimming, there wasn't much brisket left -- and not much to take home. Overall, a $25 tab for a sandwich and platter in a fast food place seems a bit high for BBQ, and quantities are not really all that large -- at least on the plates. Here's hoping Smoque BBQ on the NW side of Chicago doesn't open anywhere near Naperville or this place may be looking at some serious changes...
(3)
Alan S.
The best barbecue joint in Naperville! I frequent Q quite often and always leave stuffed. It's a bit pricey, but well worth the cost. The selection of sauces on the table are always good to add to whatever you order. I love that they have the "hand-washing station" that is outside of the restroom. Whenever we have family come in from out of town, we always go to Q! Can't wait to go back. Gotta try: The burnt ends Spicy Fries All the sauces!
(5)
Shannon M.
After a couple of trips for takeout, a friend and I settled in at Q for a sit-down meal last night. An attentive hostess swooped down upon us at the door to check if we were eating in or taking out; when she learned that it was the former, she set us up with a table number (remember it! You'll be asked again at the counter!) and sent us along through the line to order with the to-go people. (This means a table is assigned to you...so if you don't like it, too bad, I guess.) This time I diverged from my previous love, the pulled pork, to try the sausage and chicken wings. GOOD IDEA! While the sausage was tasty, with a spicy kick, the wings were the winners, gorgeously burnished with a glaze and sprinkled with spice rub. Tender and meaty, they matched well with the Memphis sauce. Very different from your usual "buffalo wings," and so much better! I hadn't been thrilled with the sides on previous occasions, and this time tried the mashed potatoes (with some red skin still clinging to them), which were better, and a tiny side salad in a foil cup, which was standard salad bar fare. (Wish they had onion rings as an alternative to the squashy fries.) The Q Pups were bigger and fluffier than previous times, less like small gritty falafel balls and studded with corn kernels. The table is stocked with a roll of paper towels and bottles of Q's four sauces (I like the sweet Memphis and spicy Texas), but no salt & pepper (packets are up by the soda fountain), which I didn't discover until tucking into the messy fare, so I had to regroup and clean up to go grab some, then settle in again. Shakers would be a lot easier... At any rate, this was an incredibly satisfying dining experience. I will definitely be back for the wings!
(4)
Adam K.
If you've ever been to Smoque in downtown Chicago, this place reminded me of that -- note quite as good, but still very good food. I had the half-rack of ribs and my wife had the pulled chicken and both were excellent. The ribs were very tender and the rub on them was excellent, my wife ended up taking a few bites from me because they were so good. The fries and mashed potatoes were also very good and I washed it all down with a seasonal Blue Moon brew. Probably the best thing about this place is that you can fill yourself up on great-tasting BBQ and not break the bank. My wife and I both had full entree dinners and a drink each (wine for her, beer for me) and the total for the meal was right around $40. Not bad at all. I highly recommend checking this place out if you're in Naperville and have a hankering for some good BBQ.
(4)
Hayley H.
Oh yea! Yum. Get the sampler! It's the best value for two people to share and try everything. I was hoping to be waited on, instead you order at the counter and they bring it out to you. No waitstaff. Though that means, no Tip. ^_^ Honestly, the food is awesome. Not dry meat, lots of flavor. 5-6 sauces on the table, try them all. I will be returning with my meat loving family.
(4)
Jenny V.
I've been meaning to check this place out! I got the brisket with cole slaw and mac and cheese. I liked the mac and cheese, the crumbled cheese its were a very nice touch. Out of all the sauces, i liked the north carolina vinegar (?) i think. the coleslaw was okay, im not a big cole slaw person, but i liked it so that says a lot My roomie got a chicken bbq sammich and it came with fries and omg! so many fries! the Bf got burnt ends, and he said they were good. i didnt get a chance to try them =( for the size of our meals, i would say the price is a deal. i paid about 12 bucks for my food and i couldnt finish it all. i will be back when i'm craving some bbq!
(4)
Jim C.
They have Hamm's beer!! Haven't seen that in ages so high marks for originality. They have good beers too but sometimes you need a Hamm's! I know how to cook BBQ. I have a wood smoker at home and have made some of the best pulled pork known to humanity, not to mention homemade and spicy BBQ sauce. But the first time I bit into the BBQ pulled pork sandwich at Q's, I thought "hmmmmm....this may be better than mine." And I gotta say it is. It's totally awesome. Plus with the combo of four - yes four - different BBQ sauces, it puts Q over the top for me. I'm the kinda guy that likes to mix sauces up and see what happens. And I was in BBQ heaven doing that at Q's with their spicy sauce, vinegar sauce, sweet sauce and mustard sauce. Dipping the tasty hushpuppies into those sauces made my taste buds dance. Following that with a swish of Hamm's can't be beat. Go to Q's. Get the pulled pork. Mix the sauces. Or do whatever makes you happy. If you do it at Q's, you'll be happier.
(5)
Tamera B.
We've tried Q many many times. When they first opened, I gave them a 5 star review. We're from Memphis, TN and we know how hard it is to find really good BBQ outside of the south. Fortunately, when we tried Q, they did not leave us disappointed. However,it seems like the quality of their food has steadily decreased over the past 4-5 times we've eaten there. We've experienced things such as overly sweet iced tea, tough meats, and less than desirable service. It's gotten to the point where my husband refuses to go back. So, if you've never tried it, you're in Naperville, and you're really, really carving some BBQ, they'll relieve your craving.
(3)
Natasha C.
My husband and I took a brief road trip from the north side to Naperville to try the cue. **Please note that my husband and I don't eat beef or pork and he OOCASIONALLY, when the moon is full, he may have chicken. With that said, this review is mainly about the sides, and sauce. At each table there were 3 choices of sauce. I prefer a sweeter Kansas City style sauce. So, I went for that. It was great. This is mostly SMOKED meat. I think there is a difference between BBQ and smoked meats (right?). The buns they used for the chicken sandwich were great. I make and cheese was okay. Sadly, I'll go back to making my own BBQ pulled chicken sandwich. It's good but not mind-blowing. The hunt (at least for me) for great Chicago BBQ continues....
(2)
Alex P.
Is a very decent BBQ place, especially for the burbs. I prefer Chucks or Uncle Bubs that are both in the same general area but overall not a bad place. The food wasn't overly priced and had pretty decent portions. Not the best not the worst, something that is definitely edible and enjoyable, not anything i would drive out of my way for.
(3)
Erick H.
Yay! I get to be the first to review Q! Awesome! Had the Burnt End Sandwich Q-Style. It was fabulous. The meat is tender, smokey and just downright amazing. I have the Mac-Q-Roni, too, and it is amazing. Creamy, gooey goodness. The Q Puppies are amazing hunks of sweet cornbread. Everyone needs to go to Q!
(5)
Steven R.
We went here for Father's Day 2014. This is a very good barbecue restaurant! We enjoyed all of the different meats we tried including the pulled pork, sliced beef brisket, chicken wings, burnt ends, and, of course, their ribs. I have to agree with many of the other reviewers that Q's Memphis Wings and Q-pups are worth going out of your way for.
(4)
Nicole N.
I have been here 2X...FAIL. Cold and over priced. Portions are small not that I would have wanted to eat one more bite :-( Go to Gematos in Naperville on Ogden you will not be disappointed!
(1)
Jen K.
My husband and I have both eaten here twice, and sadly, both times were very different experiences! The first time we went, around when they first opened, was AMAZING and it deserved 5+ stars. We both got the burnt ends platter with a couple sides. Green beans were standard, and the mac/cheese was very hearty. But these burnt ends were the bee's knees! They had so much flavor with the perfect amount of char...and they gave us SO much meat, it was hard to move afterwards! I also loved the sauce selection too, because everyone likes a different style of bbq. This place celebrates that! The second time was mediocre and deserved 3 stars. We both felt like maybe they ran out of burnt ends that day and just added some char to their regular burnt ends. It just didn't have the same authentic taste like before. Plus we didn't get as much as before...which is fine, because at that rate, we'd be huge fatties. They charge extra for the burnt ends, probably because they only have so much of it to get served. So I imagine that when they start running out of the actual burnt ends, they have to make do by just burning regular meat? I could be wrong, but that's how it tasted. We'll probably go back, but if it was like the last time we went, it'll probably be our last, because mediocre bbq isn't worth $30 for the two of us.
(4)
Geoff G.
Great service. Can get crowded. Great for families
Great food, great sauces and very nice service oriented staff. I always leave here satisfied. Thanks!
(4)
Alex C.
I have lived in Naperville all of my life. I've been to Gemato's a few times, with varying levels of satisfaction and subtle levels of disappointment, I regularly went to Famous Dave's when It had its tenure here due to its close proximity to my home and workplace, but I'll say that Q-BBQ Naperville is the best BBQ place in town by far. I've brought friends there to eat in the restaurant and enjoyed a beer and some Brisket. I've, on more than one occasion, brought the sampler platter home from work in lieu of a pizza. Occasionally, when I'm feeling particularly hungry, I order the Papa-Q platter for the gang and shamelessly hoard the ribs and chicken wings. If you are going to eat in, make sure you allow time. The wait is WELL worth the product. The staff is friendly and quite knowledgeable about their product. If the dont know something, they'll find someone who does. In addition to this, they usually cruise around, making sure your table is well stocked with paper towels and sauce. If you plan on taking out, be sure you get the full array of the four sauces for your family, because every sauce has something to bring to the table. The long and the short of it is: This place has fantastic BBQ, a hometown staff that is attentive to detail and a fantastic array of smoked meat. I originally was going to make a standing rib roast for my New Years Eve party, but later decided that Q would make a much better party than my faltering attempts as a pitmaster. Customer for LIFE and company cheerleader!
(5)
Joe B.
The smokey smell when you walk in is as authentic and rich as the food. Amazing BBQ in downtown Naperville. Who would have thunkit? My BBQ pulled chicken done "Q-style" with bacon and cole slaw was tender, juicy and had no signs of fat or gristle. My girlfriend's slider flite of various meats also came in Q-style, which is a must. Q's Memphis BBQ sauce is smokey and sweet, and the baked beans are thick and hearty. We dined late in the day and still had amazing quality food, which isn't always the case at some bbq places that run out of the good stuff early on. The only thing missing is an outdoor seating area with wooden picnic tables and someone jamming on a banjo.
(5)
Rick N.
Some of the best BBQ I've had in the area and I consider myself a BBQ Snob. IMO the order is: Ribs - Best!, Pulled Pork - 2nd Best, Brisket - 3rd Best. Sauces are great the Mustard and Vinegar sauces are really good and the Memphis style sweet is awesome. Sides are good but the slaw is nothing special. This place is definitely worth checking out if you love BBQ. Food comes out quick which is a plus.
(5)
Rob R.
OUTSTANDING BBQ. Some of the best I've had. Best wings ever. Smoky, deep fried and dry rubbed....AMAZING!!! Burnt Ends....GREAT. You need to get to the Q and try it out yourself. The only thing missing was Shiner Beer and some good Texas music instead of that top 40 crap over the PA. But the food made up for it.
(5)
Amanda M.
AMAZING!!! I love their Pulled Chicken Sandwich! Their corn fritters are also to die for! This is the best BBQ place I have ever been to! It is nice and quick too if you're in a rush since you order at the counter and they bring your food to you! If you're love BBQ this is definitely the place to get it!
(5)
Ricky C.
Q-BBQ is what I imagine a restaurant that was opened by someone who enjoys traditional BBQ, but grew up in Naperville, IL or any other midwest city. They've got all the right elements, but the execution is off. If you've experienced authentic southern BBQ, you'll notice on the first bite. If you're a midwest shut-in, well, that would explain all the 5-star reviews for this place. I had the pulled pork sandwich, and my friend had the brisket. Both were good, don't get me wrong, but they were a little bit tough, which is a sign that perhaps maybe they weren't cooked as long as they should've been or were cooked at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time. Good BBQ is super tender, these were not. The cole slaw was great, i was actually a huge fan of that, as were the "Q pups". Cornbread was also well done, but a bit more starchy than traditional corn bread. Each table has the traditional roll of paper towels, which is a nice touch, and were the array of sauces, of which the Texas sauce was my personal favorite. Overall, I wasn't especially thrilled at the food for the price paid (it's on the high end), but if you haven't had better, then i can say you'll probably enjoy it. ignorance is bliss. :)
(3)
Rex L.
It's okay, not great, not bad. Since I can make an incredible pulled pork, I wanted to try the beef brisket and "burnt ends" Burnt ends were cubed pieces of brisket, not what i would consider"ends". Plus they were a little on the fatty side. The briskett claims it was smoked for 15 hours, but mine did not have that smokey flavor taste. Fries were good. And they have a couple of interesting bottled beers available. Sauces were good, 4 types available at tthe table. Probably won't be returning.
(3)
John B.
Great Brisket Burnt Ends. Also love the Fritters. Nachos are okay but would be great if they used real cheese and not that yellow stuff. A little pricey but very good BBQ and by far the best in area.
(4)
Tara G.
I would give a 5 if there were more vegetarian options than just salad. What's the vegetarian wife of a carnivore husband to do when she wants to take him out to eat BBQ? He definitely loved the sliders and spicy fries!
(4)
M D.
Was looking forward to a great BBQ experience after reading all of the reviews, but was let down. I got the sliders to try a little bit of everything (turkey, brisket, chicken) with fries and boyfriend got the spicy sausage platter with spicy fries and mashed potatoes. The sauces were bland and nothing special. The brisket and chicken were dry and all I could taste was the bun. I did enjoy the fries. The spicy sausage tasted like eating liquid smoke and the spicy fries were just regular fries with jalepeno slices thrown in. Mashed potatoes were average. It did smell great on the inside and the employees were friendly. Also, the music playing was enjoyable!
(2)
L F.
We like it. We've been here a few times - it's always buzzing with a crowd & the service is quick. Big fan of the pulled pork with the Carolina BBQ sauce. Hush puppies were divine and the macaroni and cheese was a salty, creamy treat that we all enjoyed. The prices are a bit on the high side but as far as BBQ goes, this is some of the best I've had in the midwest.
(4)
Adam B.
I recently spent some time in Nashville playing music, and they have some serious BBQ down there, I'll tell you what! I ate to the point of exhaustion more than once in Music City... After arriving back in the flatlands of Illinois, I told myself that I wasn't even gonna TRY to find BBQ like that here in suburbia. Well, that didn't last for long! This morning, I totally caved and did a search here on Yelp for BBQ joints near me. I compiled a list of a few that looked good, and randomly picked Q-BBQ as the first establishment to get some of my hard-earned money. They did NOT disappoint! I ordered a "Carolina Pulled Pork" plate with cornbread, mac-q-roni, and BBQ baked beans for sides. It was not cheap (my bill was just over $14) but totally worth it! They had several different BBQ sauces to satisfy different tastes right there at the table. I tried a little of each one (other than the "South Carolina Mustard Sauce" since I'm allergic to mustard) and each one was unique and flavorful. The actual pulled pork was fantastic: precisely the southern food fix I was looking for! The "mac-q-roni" (mac 'n' cheese topped with crumbled Cheeze-Its) was delicious. The BBQ baked beans were exactly what you'd expect, and the cornbread was very good. The place was neat and clean, my table wasn't all wobbly, and the staff was very friendly and quick to fulfill any requests I made. Plus they had rolls of paper towels at the tables instead of napkins - the same as those Nashville places I mentioned earlier... I will go there again sometime, and so should you!
(3)
Carole C.
I am doing this review with reservations. My order was called ahead for pick up, it was an hour before closing and based on the prior reviews my expectation level was very high. Our order was a full slab accompanied by an order of burnt ends, the 2 sides were Mac n cheese and cole slaw. I regret we didn't look in the bag before we left because they are uber stingy with the sides. The burnt ends lived up to their name, they were charred, stringy and chewy...this I did attribute to the late hour but if it were my joint, I wouldn't have sold them! The Mac n cheese had cheezits on top, but it had a boxed taste and totally forgettable. I think the biggest disappointment was the rancid cole slaw, that had a not so fresh taste and we voted it inedible. As for the ribs, they were okay...on the dry side, but by then I was predisposed to find fault with them too... I don't understand why fries are not just a standard addition, and I should have ordered them...if the restaurant gives the same size sides to a half slab they look cheap using same for a full slab. I could understand if they were so great, but while one was mediocre, one was inedible! I'd give it another try, earlier in the day and eat in. Not on my hit parade!
(2)
Geoff L.
Went here tonight for the first time with my wife and we loved it. Best bbq I've had in the area. I had the burnt tips and my wife had the sliders. Both were excellent. Staff was friendly and they even brought us a complimentary order of regular fries after my wife couldn't handle the spicy ones. I love spicy sruff and these fries were hot and delish. Prices were fair and the atmosphere was bright and pleasant. It's also a place that's super casual and is kid friendly. We will be back.
(5)
Heather M.
Came for dinner after walking around downtown Naperville for the day. I am not a huge fan of having to order your food as soon as you walk through the door, mainly because I am a huge foodie and can never decide on just one thing! Luckily the staff was very friendly and offered that we take paper menus and choose a table while we decide. I ordered the sliced brisket and mac n cheese. My fiance ordered the choose three meat option and tried the pulled pork, brisket burnt ends and the chicken wings. Hands down the best thing we had were the chicken wings. They had amazing flavor. We just talked about how we need to come back to have the wings again, and this time just the wings! If you have a chance, this place is definitely worth trying! Their barbecue sauces are decent, they have something for everyone.
(4)
David M.
So far I have had the rack of ribs and a couple of sides twice from here. The first time was in house and the second was carry out. The first time was upon recommendation of a eager neighbor. Both times, the service was quick and everybody was friendly, even on a Friday night. Everything looked good and smelled great. However, it immediately became apparent that the ribs were exceedingly dry, bordering inedible. By the time that I got to the end, it took great effort to pull the meat off of the bones. The meat was desiccated and flaky. I had to dunk it into my french fries catsup to make it palatable. The second meal, as I had mentioned was the same thing and was actually a "comp" meal because I had called the day after the first meal to give them my feedback. Same issue with the ribs. I see that I am not the only one who has experienced the dryness issue. My guess is that they prepare the ribs WAY in advance and that they stay in some sort of steam table situation until someone orders them. You can only get away with that so long before the food needs to go into the dumpster. The french fries were greasy and undistinguished while the baked beans and coleslaw were OK. Given the $21.99 price (typical for Naperville), I would recommend that one go to The Patio in Bolingbrook (consistently good) or Walker's Charhouse. Go elsewhere for ribs. There are many other choices in the area.
(1)
Teresa K.
I met some friends here after getting another friend's recommendation for this place. The BBQ was OK, i wanted to eat the pulled pork without sauce, but it was kind of dry and really needed sauce. Good thing there were 6 different kids of sauce on the table along with a roll of paper towels. I think the best part about the meal were the hush puppies. i could eaten a whole plate of just those, but i got the three that came with my dinner and enjoyed those. i had my 6mo old son with me and i had enough room to camp out with all my tons of baby junk. i was disappointed to see that there were no changing tables available in either bathroom, so i had to leave early to take care of the little guy. clean place, friendly staff, ok food.
(3)
Kelly A.
We were visiting family in Chicago and went to the Q. We had a great lunch consisting of pulled port combo plate of ribs chicken and briskett and all were outstanding. the sauces at the table were all great, We tried all the side dishes and all were good (bacon mac and cheese, coleslaw and baked beans and the spicy fries), the brussel sprouts to me weren't cooked enough but we were so full from all the others. I would definitely recommend Q BBQ!!!!
(4)
Steven M.
Came here with friends at my request. Don't know what the problem is? The ribs were dry and when I bit into them, the meat flaked off like shingles. WTH! I spent the week telling everyone how great this place is. The pulled pork was watery and the brisket looked like charcoal. Was it a bad night? Not sure, but I'm going back to LaGrange where I can have a 5 star meal.
(2)
Angela C.
This place is great! Friendly staff, big portions, quick service, good food. Very creative with the specialty Mac n cheese, which I can appreciate even though I'm allergic to dairy. Sauces are good too. I've had better, but theirs are still good. Baked beans have a delicious smoky flavor that I loooved, so definitely my favorite ever on the baked bean front.... And I'm not a baked beans fan. Will definitely be going back!
(4)
Matt M.
Had been to Q 4 times previously and had the awesome burnt ends each time. Had the ribs this time and it will be ribs for the next 12 times! Just great!
(5)
Bob K.
Went back to Q today for lunch - wife and son had the pulled pork sandwich and loved it. I tried the spicy wings and liked them - dry rubbed and flavorful - I would rate the spice or heat level as more toward mild. The wings were on the small side, but cooked perfectly.
(4)
Becky S.
Oooof! I really have to disagree with my fellow Yelpers on this one. I went here with my husband and son a couple weeks ago, and we were really disappointed. First off, the place seems to be exclusively manned by teenagers. I used to wait tables at that age, so I understand, but you need some adult supervision or the place will descend into chaos, which is kind of what seemed to be happening the day we went. The waiter took a very long time getting us a high chair for our table which is annoying but not the end of the world. While my husband waited in the long, slow line to order our food, he heard the cooks constantly yelling "order up!" and watched the food just sit there under the heat lamps for a very long time. Not a good sign of things to come! We ordered the sampler platter to split, which had a sampling of most of the different offerings on the menu. At $20, I felt it was reasonably priced for the quantity of food. However the food was extremely disappointing. The pulled pork was decent, although really that one is hard to mess up, but everything else was terrible. The brisket, chicken, and ribs were all very dried out. The wings tasted stale, like they had been left under a heat lamp for a long time. The green beans had the strangest flavor that was very unappealing. The cornbread was fine and the sausage was okay. The table next to us was very upset with the quality of their food and I saw them discussing this with the manager, who I guess was the adult supervision but looked barely older than the teenagers running the place. The only things I considered pretty good were the hush puppies and the BBQ sauces on the table. We moved here from NC where BBQ is taking VERY seriously. This place would not last a day down there. Sorry but we won't be returning.
(2)
Steve C.
This is an excellent example of what barbecue can be - more than just spicy or sweet sauce but smoked meats with a variety of regional flavors such as North Carolina Vinegar or South Carolina Mustard sauces. A surprising favorite side dish is the deep fried spicy brussel sprouts, cooked with jalapeño peppers. A casual restaurant where shorts and t-shirts are the norm, in a clean and comfortable atmosphere.
(5)
Gina G.
The Q pups which are corn fritters are wonderful. I ordered the brisket sandwich which came piled high with meat. I love the sweet Memphis sauce. My husband ordered a baked potato with lobster bisque as a side that he thought was really good. They have great homemade pickles. Only down side is the diet drinks were out of order and the ice was low.
(4)
Mike M.
I went here twice just to make sure I had it right. This place feels like a corporate version of Smoque. The two BBQ places near me closed in the past year, another I don't care for, and Famous Daves is a nightmare. So this is the next closest place. I have had a few things on the menu. I liked the burnt ends the best. They had a nice chewy texture and went well with the sauces. I like to try them all like a flight of deliciousness. I always get slaw (I think it goes perfect with smokey meat) and the Mac is pretty good. They crumble cheeze-its or a similar product, and that is a nice "comforty" touch. The Baked beans are ok, I doctored them up with sauce for my taste, and they give you these little turds of cornbread that are pretty good. Everything is served on small sheet trays making the whole experience pretty tidy for BBQ. The place was nice, they had a good selection of meats and sides that were all pretty good. This place will satisfy a BBQ fix in the burbs if you can't make it to one of those places where there is smoke coating everything.
(3)
Chris B.
For the typical person that grew up in Naperville or surrounding areas, this place is top notch. Saying that, the food is mediocre at best to anyone else that has lived outside of the western burbs and has tasted REAL BBQ. The meats are dry and misses that smoke flavor one would see in traditional wood smoked BBQ. The sauce selection is too limited and misses on flavor. The Q-pups, which are basically hush puppies, are good. Service is nice and the atmosphere is good, but if you're looking for quality BBQ, go somewhere else.
(1)
Tim B.
Came in for the soft opening and really enjoyed the meal. I just got the Q sliders, one of each (chicken, pork, beef brisket) and thought all were delicious. I tried out each of the bbq sauces at the table and thought all were very good and very different. All in all, i'm sure i'll be going back after they open!
(4)
Tim K.
Quite a disappointment after some of the glowing reviews here. It wasn't busy when we were there so service wasn't an issue, except that our cashier couldn't even pronounce the names of their wines. I had the three meat combo with mac-n-cheese and slaw. My wife had the burnt ends (plate) with fries and beans. All three of my meats (beef, chicken and pork) were dry and they were NOT tender. The portion size seemed small for the price. The burnt ends came swimming in grease. My wife commented that they don't trim their meat well. Maybe that's where all the grease came from. We went through 3-4 sections of paper towels (they don't have napkins) trying to sop up the grease. At that point I asked for another order of burnt ends "without the grease." The re-do was better. The fries were limp and soggy. Sides: Fries - limp and greasy Baked beans - tasted like out of a can with some brisket added Mac-n-cheese - OK Slaw - good Sauces - They have four on the table. You should be able to find one you like. Location: I believe someone here said Q-BBQ was in the Hugo's Frog Bar location. That is incorrect. Q-BBQ is in the former Jilly's of Naperville location at the SW corner of Main and Van Buren. Hugo's is still open in it's original location. Bottom line: We probably won't be back. Don't go out of your way to get here.
(2)
Wayne R.
I've been looking for a good bbq place and just found one. There's something to be said about a bbq place that has a sink to wash up after a messy meal. Q-BBQ is in the old Jilly's right next to Giordano's. As soon as I walked in, I could tell I was going to like it. It just had the feel and smell of a bbq joint. Looks like you can bring some tables together to accomodate larger parties too, however I could see if all the tables were all full it could get cramped fast. While we were in line someone reserved a table for us by using a number which we relayed to the cashier. A little strange, but it works. We ordered the pulled pork plate and the burnt ends brisket plate. Both were excellent. The burnt ends brisket was nice and flavorful. I particularly enjoyed the spicy sauce. It had just the right amount of bite to it (although I like things hot, it didn't pass my numb lips and bead of sweat test). The cornbread was excellent as were the fries plus you get a couple of q puppies (hush puppies) with your meal. I tried all the sauces and the spicy was by far my favorite, with the sweet and mustard following close behind. Wasn't the biggest fan of the Carolina vinegar, but to each his own. Overall I enjoyed my meal and will be back. Just don't forget to grab the ketchup, wet wipes and some pickles over by the soda dispenser... Definitely worth putting up with the parking challenges of Downtown Naperville!
(4)
Rob A.
Who would have thought you could do the same thing, only better, in a second location. Great staff, and the service is only second to the food taste and quality. As I travel the country, I try and check out BBQ because it's one of my favorites. This place does not, ever, disappoint. If you've got an appetite, go for the 4 meat combo with a side of the amazing fries that have a good kick and don't miss out on the Q-Puppies, unreal. Oh, and the sauces, great variety for all taste buds. Don't think that it's all just meat though. You can get a great salad and order your favorite meat on top. Simply the best, only at Q-BBQ
(5)
Gail L.
There is nothing sadder in the world than dry, overdone ribs. I LOVE ribs. I love them in every form. I love them when they are smoked with a beautiful smoke ring, and require a gentle tug to remove them from the bone. I love them baked, falling off the bone, slathered in sauce. I do not like rib jerky, and sadly, that was what was delivered to my table. The sides were fine. The sauces were fun. But the ribs, oh the ribs, were only edible because I was hungry. This was almost a two star review, but then a manager came, and asked how the ribs were. I sadly, mournfully looked up, and said "I'm sorry, but they are horribly over done. They are like rib shards. They are so dry." I never complain, but I was so sad. I figured, at best, I might get a free appetizer coupon. At worst, I might get a snooty explanation about how real ribs don't have meat that fall off the bone (I know!). But, to my surprise, the manager expressed surprise, apologized, and said he'd go find me some other ones. About 5 minutes later, he showed up with a beautiful, full slab of ribs. They were cooked perfectly. No more rib jerky. They were tender, and juicy, and had a lovely smoke ring. Everything else we had was very good as well. The brisket was a particular favorite. The pulled pork didn't do much for me, but it was fine. It'd probably make a good sandwich. I thought the chicken wings were a bit overdone, but my husband liked them a lot. We'll give it another try, especially since there's a pretty big BBQ drought in Naperville.
(4)
Rich K.
It has been interesting to see the changes that have gone on in Naperville since I started living here in 1979. Restaurants have come and gone. Some have been good and others so-so. On a recent rainy Saturday afternoon as I was walking around town taking pictures I saw Q-BBQ on the corner and since I had not yet eaten lunch I thought I would stop in and try one of the sandwiches. Looking up at the menu board as I entered I immediately saw the words Smoked Gouda Cheese as part of the Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich. That was as far on the menu as I needed to go as smoked gouda cheese is one of my favorites. After taking my order for a Q-Style Carolina Pulled Pork (Q-slaw, smoked gouda, carolina sauce and toasted), and included side order of green beans with garlic balsamic and grabbing a bottle of Chicago made Filbert Root Beer in a bottle (a childhood favorite of mine) I sat down near the window and awaited my order. At the table were 4 bottles of different types of sauce. Memphis Sweet, Texas Spicy Sweet, North Carolina Vinegar and South Carolina Mustard. As I awaited my order squeezed a few drops out of each onto my index finger and had my own personal taste test. My order arrived with a couple of Q-Pups, the Pulled Pork and Green Beans. As I slowly savored each bite of food periodically putting each of the 4 homemade sauces on the sandwich and dipping the Q-Pups in each I really couldn't pick out a favorite. They were all great. After the meal I asked to speak to the manager. The owner was there and I told him how I thought this was one of the best new places to open in Naperville and the sandwich and sauces were out of this world. He proceeded to give me a small tour of the "behind the scenes" place. I will be back and will recommend this place to anyone and everyone!
(5)
Kelly C.
The original Q location is close to my office, and it quickly became the go-to bbq stop for lunchtime excursions. I was really excited to hear there was a new location in Naperville, and stopped in today to check it out. It's a great location downtown, conveniently located near parking lots and garages. Walking in, it had the same vibe as the La Grange location, but was larger. The ordering process was really smooth -- you would never know it was their second day of operating. Food was just as good as their original restaurant. I ordered the sliders with Mac-Q-Roni and was delighted by it all. Their brisket and pulled pork especially are not to be missed. Also, they have sauces of the various BBQ hotbeds in the US. Try 'em all as they are all great and fun to experiment with. I whole-heartedly recommend either Q location for anyone in the mood for great BBQ.
(5)
Eric P.
We traveled here with some friends and our babies. The decor is very 'bbq' like...wood benches/seats, western feel. That said...it is a pretty cramped place as far as seating/walking aisles is concerned. We had a hard time moving our stroller between the tables (i know, big mistake to bring that in the first place). When we got there on a Saturday evening, there was a line out the door. For those that know downtown Naperville, this is a pretty common sight. The line moved very quickly though; a large number of people were there for carryout. It was pretty noisy too, so if you're looking for a quaint place to have a dinner and/or conversation...probably not the right place. The food was very tasty. They have all your common meats/cuts that most BBQ joints have. Plus some salads and other options. I got the combo w/ brisket and burnt ends. There is a $1 or $2 upcharge for the burnt ends (seriously...??), but they were WORTH it. VERY tasty and I will get those again when I go back. The brisket was very tasty, but the cuts were a lil on the small side. My wife (not a big bbq person), got chicken nuggets and the mac...ha. She said they were very good. Their sauces were awesome...enjoyed trying the different varieties. Pricing is on the slight high side for what you get, but most BBQ places are. They have VERY good sweet tea as well. I enjoyed this place and would recommend it for someone looking for BBQ. We'll be back, I know that!
(4)
Marisa S.
This was a great place to get some quick BBQ. My boyfriend and I shared the sampler plate and really enjoyed everything on it. You got your choice of sides and they were just as expected. Nothing exceptional, nothing amazingly outstanding but traditional and good. The meats weren't super juicy but the different types of barbeque sauces you got to choose from were helpful to add some extra flavor and keep the meat moist. If you haven't gone and are in the mood for some quick easy BBQ, check it out!
(3)
Ognum O.
Our favorite BBQ around. They have many locations and every one I've tried is consistently great. The pulled pork and Mac and cheese are my favorite and they have great sauces too. I got the Carolina sauce to take home to BBQ with. Service is always great too. I ordered catering for the nurses where I work and everyone loved it.
(5)
John P.
Finally a decent BBQ place in the Naperville area. Let's break it down shall we? I went here twice during opening weekend so I could get a decent sampling of the menu, you don't want too much time to lapse between tastings less you forget :) My first trip didn't have much of a line, maybe 6 orders in front of me but it still took forever. My second trip was out the door. The line is probably the worst part of the entire experience. It was annoying enough that I was tempted to give them 3 stars but I'm hopeful that it's just some operational kinks they are working out. They have 2 registers but one is for phone in orders only. I think you also have a lot of people that are asking a lot of questions when they get to the register too. Either way, when you have a line out the door and and idle register it doesn't seem like rocket science to open that up and take phone orders in back or something. There is ample seating, once I ordered I was able to sit right away. Now the food. I tried the brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, and smoked chicken. For sides I've had the Q-pups, mac q roni, fries, beans, and corn bread. In terms of meats the burnt ends and brisket were fantastic. Tender, spiced just right, the smoke ring was really small but still tasty. The burnt ends come with some aioli sauce but honestly I think they tasted best without any sauce at all. The pulled pork was cold when I had it which also dried it out. I tried some Carolina sauce to help moisten it but it didn't help much. Again, I'm hopeful that this is opening weekend operational issues but if that's the norm then definitely skip the pulled pork. The smoked chicken was probably the worst item I had. It was also very dry and the smoke flavor didn't compliment the meat at all. Even dousing it in sauce didn't help much. Skip this for sure. As for the sides I had a comparable experience, some great some I would skip. Let's start with the corn bread. They give you an ample portion about 9" long and 3" wide or so. It was very moist both times and has a great flavor. A nice balance between sweet, and nutty like a good cornbread should be. The fries were also good. They fresh cut them and cook them in peanut oil so definitely very tasty. The mac q roni was fair, almost a little too creamy and not enough cheesy. They top them with what look like crumbled cheez-its. Worth a taste but I've had better. The beans were about the same. Average but seemed like something out of a can. As for their sauces they were average, nothing to write home about but definitely added some extra flavor. A couple of other nice extras. They have a unlimited pickle jar if you want a little added vinegar to your meal, and at the end of your meal they have a big wash tub to wash your hands off in, definitely a nice touch. All in all I will definitely be back here. For the items I liked it's some of the best bbq I've had in the burbs. A few items are to be avoided but that's the same anywhere. I'll probably wait a few more weeks to see if they get some of their opening weekend kinks worked out but I'll definitely be back for some brisket and burnt ends!
(4)
Faraaz U.
Coming from Texas embeds high standards in my expectations... I really wanted to like this place and give it a nice 4/5 star review but here is where we stand. Decor- Very nice and inviting (even had a live band when I visited) Staff- Friendly and attentive Food- Full of flavor but small portions Value- This is where the deduction comes in. For the same amount of money I could get a lot more in most BBQ places I'm use to back in Texas. But if you have never tried other BBQ's then you might just find this place A-OK.
(3)
Ashley W.
I am SOOO bummed because I really wanted to love this place, and the first two times I DID love it. In fact, I gave this place a 5 star rating just a few months ago! Here's how our experiences have gone - 1st visit- AMAZING. We fell in love. We ordered the sampler platter and the best thing on the entire platter was the ribs. Fall-off-the-bone delicious! We vowed to come back just for the ribs next time. 2nd visit- AMAZING. We ordered the ribs expecting tender, fall-off-the-bone like the ones we had on the sampler platter and guess what, they were. This time around we also tried the corn bread which was some of the best corn bread I've ever had! The overall experience was phenomenal, and we couldn't stop talking about the delicious, tender ribs. 3rd visit- this is where it all goes downhill. Today is Small Business Saturday, and when we thought about which small business we'd like to support, we chose Q. We had been craving some good BBQ since... welll... ever since our last visit to Q about a month ago! Again, we ordered the ribs expecting tender, fall-off-the-bone meat and guess what? They were awful! Our food came out within 5 minutes which seemed a little too quick. It's nice when food is brought to the table in a timely manner, but 5 minutes seemed a little too quick when ordering ribs. When the food arrived it looked delicious as always, but one bite told me otherwise. The ribs were chewy, hard, and lukewarm. My hubby and I ordered a full rack to split and there were just a few good bites out of the entire $21.00 rack of ribs. Our options were to complain, but I hate complaining, or just suck it up and eat the nearly cold, chewy ribs. We chose the second option. When you go to a BBQ joint, you expect that they know how to consistently do it right, and today Q proved that they can't. Will I be back? Likely. They've got some phenomenal sauces, and we love the corn bread, but you can bet we won't be ordering the ribs again. I'm so disappointed because I had thought we found our go-to place for ribs. The search continues....
(2)
Dov R.
This place has fabulous food at reasonable prices. I just came back from Charleston and the food here could fit right in, The Burnt Ends are just beyond great, and the Pulled Pork is lean, extremely flavorful and an excellent choice. The staff is very engaged in making this a great meal.
(5)
John J.
Wow, this was goooood. Cornbread (good), Brisket sandwich with cole slaw (very good), and the wings with the brown sugar dry rub (better than very good). Great quality. Definitely a place to go back to. Way to go Q's!
(5)
Sean B.
If you have eaten at Smoque BBQ on Pulaski in Chicago, don't be fooled by this generic imitator. It has the look and fee down, but the food just isn't that good. Mac N Cheese is terrible (unless you are 5) and they server store bought slaw like you get in a cafeteria. The sliced brisket I had was was cold and dry. The ribs which my wife had were ok, but nothing to write home about. The Q is just barely passible but if you know good BBQ you won't be pleased! Plenty of other choices near by, so keep walking and pass on this place.
(2)
Joanne W.
As someone who frequented the LaGrange location, I was over the moon when I saw a second location in Naperville! Wahoo! I met some friends for dinner on July 3rd....the last day of RibFest and the night of the fireworks. Q was hopping but it did not stop us from getting our mitts on some of Q's hush puppies. Oh yea! I had a sampling of three meats which came with 2 sides and some hush puppies. I got the sliced brisket, burnts ends and the spicy sausage link. For my sides, I got the mac n cheese and the garlic balsamic green beans. Q is a no frills place. You stand in line, place your order, you are seated and your food is brought out to you. As stated earlier, Q was pretty busy but the line moved quickly and we were seated without a problem. Upon receiving my bbq meat-o-rama, I noticed that I did not get any hush puppies. Tragedy! I shouted out for immediate assistance and a server brought me out a pile of hush puppies on the double. Crisis, averted. I would skip the green beans next time - they were OK. The mac & cheese with the cheeze-it cracker sprinkling was a delight. But what about the meat, you say? Well, lemme tell ya. All of it was tasty but my favorite was the burnt ends, followed by the hot link. The brisket was good, don't get me wrong but I think next time it's going to be all about the burnt ends. Q has a variety of sauces on the table that will satisfy all you BBQ lovers out there. They also have beer, sweet tea and beer. Of course they have sodas also, but did I mention they have beer as well? Q is located in the space that housed Jilly's and is a welcome addition to downtown Naperville. Go'on and get your Q on!
(5)
Lisa T.
WOW! I have lived in the western suburbs for over 5 years and have not found a BBQ place that was good until now. Yesterday a friend and I went to q-BBQ and the food was incredible. I had the sample ribs (3 bones and spicy sausage) the seasoning was dead on and the meat was NOT gas grilled. Also, the sides are great as well.
(5)
Vincent M.
Heard about this joint on the News of all places (ABC - Hungry Hound). I was love BBQ so I was thrilled that Q-BBQ had a restaurant in downtown Naperville with plenty of FREE parking! We cruised in on a Saturday afternoon and ordered the Wings and BBQ Beef Tips. We ordered at the front and our food was brought to our table after a minimum wait. The food was delicious; the portion size was generous and filling. The mac & cheese and hush puppies were the best I've had at a restaurant in quite some time. We just got back from vacation in North Carolina where we had hush puppies, they were good, but Q_BBQ's were better! My only complaint is the same one I have about all BBQ places: the price; $28.00 for two people is a bit excessive for what amounts to takeout, which means Q-BBQ will be a sometime place, and something to look forward to!
(4)
Burbalicious X.
I'm going to upgrade my review (WOW! I don't think I have ever done this before). Came for lunch with coworkers and I thought the pulled pork sammy was much better this time and I even dug the sauces more. Perhaps the previous visit was on an off day? The prices are just a smidge high (which means I won't be stopping in for lunch as often as I might like) and I thought the cole slaw was snooze-a-riffic, so I'll go with fries next time (stole a few off my friend's plate and they were good).
(4)
Zach T.
I'm going to have to go back to Smoque, because now the Jury's out as to which is best. We went here with a party of 10. We were accommodated professionally. I had the brisked which was outstanding as were the fries and cole slaw (not always a given). They have a Kids menu, which not all BBQ places have. My kids loved their Ribs and little sandwiches respectively. The mac and cheese you can skip. I also tried the pulled pork from my wife's. It's outstanding. They offer several sauces that are all good. I'm going back for the mustard sauce... it would be great on a pork loin. The real highlight, however, was the wings. We had a taste portion (which you can add of any meat) and LOVED the wings. They are dry-rubbed and have a fantastic flavor. FANTASTIC. Do not skip them. Even if you get just a taste. Also, they have beer.
(5)
Chole L.
The Sampler Platter is kinda pricy but other than that food was good and easy to find parking. I would go back again for more!
(3)
Rena L.
When did this place open and why didn't I know about it? I feel like I've been in a lunchtime rut lately, so I used a post office errand to check out new lunch options in the downtown Naperville area. Really happy I found this place: Got the pulled pork w/ Q-Pups and mac-q-roni. The pulled pork was divine. Super tender, saucy, and I'm not sure what type of bun it was but it was soft and perfectly complemented the sandwich. I opted out of the coleslaw as a personal preference, but I truly think cheese would've overpower this delicious meat. However,I wish this place put as much effort into their sides as their do their meat. Both the Q-Pups and the Mac-Q-Roni lacked flavor. I mistook the Mac-Q-Roni for the Spicy Mac listed on their menu, and thinking I was going to get jalapenos was the first disappointment. The pasta just had no flavor and there was a topping that wasn't quite right...it tasted like and had the texture of Goldfish crackers? Would've like an option to upgrade to spicy mac as that seemed to have more depth/flavor. A few other things I found interesting were the option of 4 sauces to choose from, located in pumps next to the take-out bench. Great to be able to have options! But, I ordered takeout and had no napkins, silverware, nothing...in my bag which made eating back at the office interesting considering it was BBQ w// mac-n-cheese. In hindsight, there may have been all these things right across the takeout bench, so future note to all take-outers, either ask for cutlery/napkins, or check across the bench for these!
(4)
Max G.
Amazing BBQ if you've never left the western suburbs. Decent enough for Naperville, but not exceptional. Had the half slab, smoky flavor, buried in mid-range sauce. Only one kind of Ribs, more baby back than St. Louis. Sides were unimpressive.
(3)
Suzanne M.
Every time we go it is amazing. Fresh, amazing flavor and greats music to boot. We travel a long distances to come here and WAY worth it every time.
(5)
Josh H.
This is definitely a good place and worth eating at, but not my favorite, and certainly not amongst the best I've eaten. The restaurant itself is nice, clean, smartly put together for a BBQ restaurant (each table has sauces instead of having to decide as you order, each table also has a big roll of paper-towels). Service was prompt and courteous. Definitely the kind of place that is nice to go to and enjoyable to be in. The meats I tried were good, but just not as tender, nor as flavorful as I've had in many other BBQ restaurants. It was better than most stuff I make at home, but not amazing. The sides were really the biggest hit for me. The Mac-Q-roni was really good, clever crumbled cheese crackers instead of bread crumbs, tasty and creamy. The fries were also surprisingly good (crisp, not just oily). But the rest of the sides my group tried were generally unimpressive. All-around, would visit again, but would have to be in the mood and in the area, not a destination visit for me.
(3)
Shailesh J.
Its a pain to find parking spot near by this place (Naperville location) on week end.. Almost took me 10 minutes to find a parking space...Ok..now lets talk about the restaurant .. It seems to be a little cramped up on space..The tables were placed too close to each other.. The menu was confusing at the best ...It took me 4-5 minutes to place the order..and seems as it was normal as people ahead of me took the same amount of time.. I was about to order pulled chicken sandwich and the person there suggested me to go for Q plate .They didnot inform that Q plate cost more than Q sandwich. So i reverted back to Q sandwich .. I ordered Q pups as extra sides..they forgot to mention that they come in as default side.. So as far as ordering process is concerned it was not up to the mark.. Now lets talk about the food .. The food gets 3.5 stars . Pulled chicken was a little bit less juicer then expected.. but sauces and Q pups were the show stealers and just awesome.. Also corn bread ordered as side was delicious ..warm and soft .. Again 3.5 stars for food and - .5 star for service..
(3)
Soraya M.
Great bbq!! Probably the best place in the suburbs! Not too find if the Mac and cheese with cheeSe it topping. Meat was fantastic!!! I will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Wesley B.
It's pretty good BBQ but the sides leave something to be desired. One of the most important parts of a BBQ place after good meat is good Mac n' Cheese and BBQ Beans. Theirs are mediocre. The meat itself was good and the sauces were also pretty good. For a northern BBQ place, it's not bad.
(3)
Chuck A.
Nice atmosphere and decor but bad food. Worst ribs I have ever had. I had 2 ribs with my meal and couldn't finish them. The sauce choices, while nice, were too spread apart in flavors and there was no 'middle of the road' flavor.
(2)
Anne B.
As a lover of all things meaty and barbecued, Q is as good as it gets in the Naperville area. I'm only reviewing based on what I've eaten which is always the brisket burnt ends, the ribs, and the turkey. The brisket burnt ends are always a must have, I'd definitely ask for the turkey again, but the ribs weren't the greatest. When I tried them, they were chewy and lukewarm. My momma's had the wings before I she didn't like them. I didn't try them but $9 for 8 wings seems a little overpriced to me. Oh, I forgot about the sides. The fries are pretty good but the hush puppies aren't my favorite. I wish they would offer the option to switch out hush puppies for something else, but I always just hand mine off to the person at the table who likes them. In all, Q's probably the best barbecue place in the Naperville and nearby area. The prices are just okay, the brisket burnt ends (this is literally their saving grace) and the smoked turkey are must have, and the wings, ribs, and hush puppies are a skip.
(4)
Steve W.
I like my BBQ, and I'm pretty fussy about it. To me this is the best place I've found since Carson's closed their Lombard location. Best of all their sides are great too!!
(5)
Noel W.
My favorite BBQ place yet...and so glad it is close to home. The decor is cool. The staff is friendly and accommodating. There is not a bad item on the menu...at least not that I have found yet. I love everything so much I order the platter when I take someone there. It allows me to enjoy a little bit of everything and have enough left over to take some home. Also happy to report that their food...the sauces, the rubs, etc. are gluten-free (always double check....but this is what I was told). My favorite item is (are?) the burnt ends....like a warm, tasty, mouth watering beef jerky. If you do have leftovers to take home, make sure to grab some pickles and extra BBQ sauce (free!). Will be going here frequently....if you love BBQ, you must give this a place on your To Do list.
(5)
Amory D.
I have been eating at Q-BBQ religiously since Fall 2008, when the first restaurant opened in LaGrange. When I still lived in LaGrange I was walking distance from the restaurant. I ate there at least three times a month. When Q-BBQ opened in Naperville, I was worried that the authenticity of the LaGrange location would be lost. I am glad that I was proven wrong. I have been going to the Naperville restaurant since I moved to Oswego in 2010. We visit Q-BBQ about once a month to get my fix of Q-Puppies and Ribs. Everything here is authentic. A lot of people are critical of the sides, but I am unsure why...whenever I travel to south for work, I always seek out the local barbecue places and use Q-BBQ as my benchmark. I have been to smokehouses converted from garages in Tennessee, sheds behind gas stations in Texas, and one-off joints in North Carolina. Q-BBQ's meats hold their own to these southern barbecues, and the sides at Q are similar if not better. Overall Q-BBQ gets the barbecue experience right. Even the small touch of having a hand wash sink in the main area (as opposed to being in the bathrooms only) is just like the places I have visited in the south. I tell all of my friends to try Q-BBQ at either location. When I have colleagues from overseas visiting, I take them to Q-BBQ to introduce them to awesome American food. My wife's friend is visiting us from Ohio, and we're going again today.
(5)
David S.
One of our favorite restaurants in Naperville. I have been eating BBQ around the country for a long time, so I consider myself a pretty harsh critic. I have certainly had better BBQ if we were just talking a straight-up Q showdown, and I know some folks would not consider a place that did not have at least one dead pickup and a questionable neighborhood to operate out of legitimate Q. But without going to rural South Carolina, or some dump in Kansas City, this is a really good option. They serve burnt ends. This is perhaps the most important point I can make, as I have not had decent burnt ends anywhere outside KC. They are pretty good although they can be a bit greasy depending on the one you get. This is part of the charm of the dish, and one of it's hazards. Overall they are generally pretty good. Enough charring on the outside to give it some character, and tender and not at all dry in the middle. Pulled Pork is good. Again, not dry like they can be, and genuinely smoked and not at all like the horrible "crock-pot" versions many places try to pull off as BBQ. Not quite as much smoke as I like, but enough. I know many people don't like too much smoke (as I prefer no peat in my scotch), so this could be personal preference. Turkey when they have it is quite amazing. Definitely not a common menu item, so worth a try. Actually seems to be more smokey than the pork. Sausage and pulled chicken are worth a try if you get tired of pulled pork and burnt ends, but I would not go to this option as a first choice. Ribs are the only item I would NOT recommend. Not well smoked at all. I've probably had better at the Famous Dave's in the Mall of America.. They are hot horrible, but just not particularly memorable, and considering the other great options available, I'd call this an opportunity cost not worth paying. This is one of our go-to spots for dinner on the weekend. Good food, nice atmosphere, and zero pretensions.
(4)
Rich P.
I am not a huge BBQ fan but crave it once in a while. I recently had one of those cravings and gave Q a try. They have a pretty vast menu, chicken, pork, beef. I opted for the BBQ beef brisket. It was pretty good, they have several different sauces that you add yourself to it tasting to your liking, I like spicy and they have a couple nice spicy sauces. My only slight complaints are the downtown Naperville parking situation....ughhhh! If you are already down there doing shopping and other stuff and want to grab a quick bite Q is perfect but if you suddenly have a craving like I did you are likely to spend more time driving around looking for a parking spot than it will take you to eat. The serivce was a bit on the slow side for this type of restuarant where you walk up to the counter, place your order then find a seat and they bring you your meal. It took them about 10-15 minutes to get me my food. Bottom line, great BBQ, at least for Chicgao BBQ LOL but the service was slow, I would have given 4 stars had the service been promt. I will go back and give it another try in the future.
(3)
Nawal T.
Great food
(5)
David S.
The sampler is my favorite entry on the menu. The only qualm I have is that there is no bone-in chicken available, save for the delicious wings. However, the ribs, Q-pups, burnt ends and brisket are more than sufficient reason for repeated return visits.
(4)
Mike R.
Ok I am a man who can admit when he is wrong. I may have been a little harsh in my last review, and the owner cares enough to respond to the reviews. That earned my respect. I would like to say this place is nice and clean, the service is out standing and I will try this place again. To the owner Mike LiPadus I would like to say your side dishes do need to be bigger and give the people a little more for their money. Reviewed by the Naperville ~ Food Dude ~
(3)
D B.
This place is awesome. The burnt ends are the best. Quick service, good food, beer to purchase - you can't go wrong. We will be back. Only reason it is not a perfect 5 is the sauces. I felt they were ok. I like my sauces.
(4)
Jennie P.
I can't lie - I'm not a HUGE bbq fan however when given the option to eat it - I never decline. Q is interesting because it's kind of fast food - you walk up grab a number, order at the counter, grab a drink and sit for your food to come out. We walked in and it was packed, not a seat in sight and I was a little nervous how it would pan out. By the time we ordered seats cleared out pretty quickly. I went for the slider and had one pulled chicken, one pulled pork, and one brisket. It came with a few hush puppies and I had fries as my side. The sliders were delicious and VERY filling! The hush puppies were also very good. The fries were pretty standard fries - nothing amazing or terrible. I really enjoyed the bbq here and this is a great addition to downtown Naperville. The only thing to note is it is VERY loud in here - it's a medium sized space but with large families and children it can get very loud. Give Q a chance, you won't be disappointed and it's all reasonably priced!! We'll be back!
(4)
Tpath H.
I should have listened to the mediocre reviews. I'm totally disappointed. I'm just grateful I had a coupon for a free sandwich or I would probably give an even lower rating. We called in our order for carry out. I have to agree with everyone else, the customer service is examplary, I just wish the food was too. We chose the slider sandwiches, 1 pulled pork, 1 pulled chicken, 1 brisket and fries. The pulled pork and brisket weren't bad, the chicken and fries were mediocre. Our second meal was the 2 meat plate with smoked sausage, chicken wings, mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy. The chicken wings were SO DRY, the mac and cheese was bland, the mashed potatoes and gravy were mediocre but I have to say I enjoyed the smoked sausage. The sweet sauce was just that...sweet. Sweet isn't always good and this wasn't a good bbq sauce. The south carolina mustard sauce was pretty tasty. I was a little sweet, a little horseradishy and a little spicy, which I enjoyed. The carolina vinegar sauce surprised me as I didn't think I'd like a vinegar based sauce but it was tasty. It was thin, vinegary and sweet. The place was packed and I don't get it unless everyone there was a newbie like me, which I believe is the case because most had tons of questions during their ordering process. Anyway, long story short, I wouldn't go back. It's a shame because I really wanted to love this place.
(2)
Brian T.
Loved the food! Great selection for anyone who loves great BBQ. The portions are good for the prices they charge. There staff were very friendly and offered suggestions on picking the food. Will go back with friends again soon!
(5)
Tara M.
My hubs and I decided to try somewhere different for lunch today and after seeing posters in the window for some yummy looking Mac n cheese and recommendations by Hungry Hound and Chicago's Best, we decided to give Q a try. Well, looks are apparently deceiving. I chose for lunch the sliced brisket with the all American Mac n cheese and corn bread. My husband had the ribs with the chili Mac n cheese and corn bread. The brisket was fairly tender, but lacked any real flavor. The ribs however were awful. They were tough, dry, and tasteless. Now I know they supply many different sauces, but true BBQ doesn't need to be covered up in sauce just to be eaten, true BBQ should be so tender it falls off the bone and then you use sauce as a nice addition. For the meat at Q, you needed to drown it in sauce just to choke it down. The sides of Mac n cheese and corn bread were decent, but really we didn't go there for the sides. I think the biggest disappointment was not just the barely edible meat, but the fact that we paid $43 for the barely edible meal. I think it's fair to say, next time we are looking for halfway decent BBQ, we will not be heading back to Q, instead we will probably go to Bolingbrook's Famous Dave's or the Patio.
(1)
Linda K.
Had lunch with my daughter today. We were very excited to try it. She really enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with brioche bun and the sweet Memphis sauce. It was too sweet for me though. I really liked the burnt ends which came with and aoli sauce. I also got the pulled pork which was tender. However I tried it with both the Carolina vinegar and Carolina mustard sauces. Ehh. Ok. I love my sauces and none of the four choices here did much for me. I did love the aoli sauce though. The Q-pups came with both our meals. They were crunchy and slightly sweet. Yum! As sides we tried the green beans and macaroni and cheese. We disliked both, especially the beans which were seriously undercooked and had a pickle-like flavor. The macaroni was very bland and was topped with crumbled Cheeze-its. The ambience and service was nice but outside of ordering just the meat for a catered event, I doubt I'd go back.
(2)
R. Q.
I would give Q 3.5 stars if there were an option. I have been to the Naperville location twice since they have been opened. On the first visit I waited 30 minutes to order and eat with the long line. The second time I went off peak so it was much faster. As other reviewers have mentioned during the time i went while they were busy they were only using one register with a line out the door. Just doesn't make much sense. The Food: Meat- All the meats i tried (pulled pork, sliced brisket and chicken were good) The burnt brisket ends were by far the best IMO. I would say their meats stack up well to most other places. Sides- This is an area that could use some work. Sides were ok but not great. Most were pretty bland. The second time I went my fries were cold and not cooked. This is one area that Smoque BBQ wins hands down. Overall- Good BBQ, perhaps a bit pricey. I will be going back and hope they have some of the ordering and food quality issues worked out.
(4)
Paul L.
We have been here twice. Both of our experiences were great. The food is really done well. So are the BBQ sauces. This is a "fast casual" restaurant where you order with the cashier, sit down and your food is delivered to your table. It's a quick in and out. With that said, the food is the star here. I should also compliment my "server" Kevin? Great sense of humor and very knowledgable about the menu items. We returned this second time based on his menu recommendations. He was right! We will return.
(5)
Jessica G.
a bbq haiku for this rainy and cold night: i know you love meat this is the place to go then get the spicy sauce came in with some folks from work for dinner tonight. cute little place. the menu is not enormous but that is probably a good thing. it is kind of hard to make a decision, or at least for me it was. i'll save you the trouble. get the brisket burnt ends. that is some tasty business. i actually ordered the little slider trio and got the pork, the chicken and the brisket ends and the brisket ends were the best part. crispy, not fatty and just plain old tasty. the chicken and pork had good flavor, too, but, again... brisket burnt ends for the win. if (or rather when) i go back, i will be ordering a full order of just those. i also really liked the q-pups, though i wish they came maybe a bucket-full per order and were a tiny bit bigger. they're good. more is better. and in my vain attempt to be vainly healthy, i had the green beans, which were not bad. the spicy sauce is my favorite and the others are also quite good but i like hotter stuff so the spicy worked for me. quick and friendly service. even though it is in downtown naperville (also known as really not my favorite place in the history of the world), it is well worth a visit. go there now to eat your tummy will say thank you and they have hamm's beer very good stuff.
(5)
Daniel D.
Q BBQ has great selection of barbecue. Pick a couple items or try them all with one of the platters. The pulled meats are amazing. The sauces are also excellent.
(4)
Jenny P.
I was so looking forward to the opening of this restaurant. We went in tonight to enjoy a late dinner and I'm sorry to report that my husband and I were disappointed. The meats were tender but the sauce was so bland. We like some zest to our barbecue sauce(s). The staff was friendly but still in the learning phase. One huge tidbit of advice for this new restaurant: CLEAN the bathrooms! For a new restaurant....that should be a no brainer. Yuck.
(2)
Brad C.
Weird ordering process. Not great. Seems to be better regarded than it actually is.
(3)
Veda P.
Awesome food, best BBQ in the burbs! I had the chicken wings, they were awesome, and my husband had the pulled pork, he loved it. I loved the choices for sides an I was so thankful that they also offer salads! It's cute, casual and friendly! We will be back!
(5)
Scott L.
By far my favorite place in the burbs for BBQ. When you go make sure you get the burnt ends. The combo of vinegar and sweet is unreal. The Q puppies make every meal complete.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street, 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 : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Melissa A.
I'll keep this short and sweet but I'm a big fan of Q-BBQ! I've tried the Brisket Burnt Ends Sandwich which is served with q-pups (basically hush puppies) and one side (I chose mac). The burnt ends were deliciously tender and fatty, just the way I like it! People who don't like fat on their meat may not like the burnt ends but if you give it a chance, I think you may be convert! The mac was yummy as well, noodles were cooked al dente and covered in just the right amount of cheese. There's nothing fancy about Q-BBQ but if you're looking for some quality BBQ then head on over! There are also other locations in Lakeview/Chicago as well as LaGrange.
(4)King G.
Room temperature food burnt ends more like wet dog food. For two people that cost $35 I would expect at least food to be fresh and hot but they could very well be microwaving day old BBQ
(1)Steve K.
This is my first 5 star rating. I am a foodie and I absolutely love good barbecue. I've been to all the good spots in Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis. This is a great barbecue joint with four distinctly different sauces at your table - you choose which flavor you want. They are all good but the sweet and the mustard ones are best in my opinion. The pulled pork sandwich is great - very flavorful, brisket sandwich is fantastic - you have to get it Q-style (with cole slaw and bleu cheese). Buns are fresh, which is extremely important. Tried the burnt ends today for the first time. They were fantastic and as an expert in BBQ said to me "these burnt ends are a cross between filet mignon and beef jerky." The Q- puppies that come with your meal are awesome! Be sure to fill up the little black cup with their sliced pickles - a nice complimentary offering. It can get a bit crowded at the prime lunch and dinner times but a crowd is a testament to a good restaurant, so I consider a crowd a good thing. Try to go at 1:00 or later for lunch as the place thins out then. Looking for great barbecue, give it a shot. You will be happy you came. I've been back to this place (multiple locations) literally dozens of times and never had a bad experience - always excellent!
(5)DEALS D.
Absolutely fantastic bbq. Had the sampler plate. Will definitely be back for more. The servers and counter people were super friendly and helped with order. And they were right on. Loved it.
(5)ray c.
Overpriced. Brisket was dry. Ribs were average. Burnt ends were completely burnt and not tender at all. I do like their sweet sauce and spicy sauced mixed together.
(1)Shin M.
I got the burnt ends sandwich ($8.99) with melted mozzarella (extra $1.50) which came with 3 hush puppies (meh, i only ate one), and I chose french fries as my side. The lady that took our order was super friendly- just had to mention that. Anyway, the burnt ends sandwich was pretty good- don't know if the melted mozzarella helped thaaaat much- I guess I'm saying it's prob still good without it. The french fries were PLENTIFUL- I could not finish them all but they were really good. They were in b/t McDonald's skinny fries and steak fries. So they were medium in thickness and soft =). Overall, it was pretty good!
(4)J.W. W.
BBQ is okay, but tables are jammed together like sardines in a can. I would have given it three stars, but they ban legal concealed carry so I will not be back.
(1)Tori M.
OVERRATED. Given their award-winning status I was expecting gold when I got here and the food was silver, at best. The brisket was bland and needed go be doused in sauce. The set up was cramped and the bill for both of us was about $35! It wasn't bad but it most definitely did not live up to the hype.
(3)Fi G.
Get the sliders if you're a first timer. You get to try small portions of all their meat. Everything we have tried has been amazing. The portions are on the larger side, you'll have plenty of leftovers. The staff are friendly and helpful. On each table they have different sauces you can add to your BBQ (not that you need it). The last time I had amazing BBQ like this I was stationed in Texas.
(5)Benjamin S.
Good, not great. So, I seriously dig good barbecue. I've been to plenty spots around the US. I also know how to make good barbecue. So, I'm not an average guy with average standards. With this area its hard to find a decent BBQ joint, so it was cool to see one prop up in Naperville. A friend from work suggested we hit there for lunch and I was game. So, first impressions. Finding parking is a pain, but that's Naperville's problem as the downtown booms. As for the restaurant, Its what you would expect from a suburban place. Sort of the Apple-Bee-ification of the decor. It ends up coming off a little artificial. But, neither of those are really that important in the grande scheme of things. I ended up getting the three meat combo, which is always a good route when you want to experience more of what they have to offer. I ended up getting the brisket, pulled pork, spicy sausage, with a side of beans and coleslaw. I was disappointed that it cost extra to have burnt ends, and they dont even serve the ribs as part of the 3 meat combo. If the ribs or burnt ends arent economical to serve in a combo, then just change the portion size. Anyhow, after a few minutes, the server arrived with the steel tray with brown paper and my entre. Overall, the presentation of the food was meant to be appear rustic. So, nothing worth mentioning. Just piles of meat with plastic cups for the sides. So on to eating,, Im not sure if the style of serving (using a metal tray) was at fault, but I felt like my meal just wasn't all that hot to begin with. I first tried the brisket, which was OK. I was sort of surprised by how little flavor (smoke or otherwise) I could detect, It was served chopped up, which I dont mind as you can keep it juicier for longer, but It was still missing spice and flavor. Which take you to the sauces..which I thought were really good, but almost seemed like they were required to make the meal work. The pulled pork was also unremarkable as it too didn't have any smoke flavor or seasoning. As for the sausage, it wasnt awful, just nothing special. It was along the same lines of a Bobak sausage - perhaps not even that high of quality. As for the beans - they were very good and extremely spicy. The coleslaw was essentially store bought and (although was nice to cut into the richness of the meat) was disappointing. The biggest surprise was that with a $20 plate that they didn't even give you any bread (and hush-puppies don't count). I thought that was a no-brainer for any BBQ joint. As others have mentioned, the mac-n-cheese is so bad that its almost a joke. I knew not to order this as I tried some before when some family members did carryout. Like some stoned hillbilly's creation. Now, there are some hillbilly creations that do work, like Frito pie. But, cheese-its on mac-n-cheese doesn't. Sorry guys, its a total fail. If cant oven bake a crumb topping, then just serve it without any topping altogether. All in all, I think this place works for a quick BBQ meal if you are in the area, but not worth driving to if you don't live nearby.
(3)G B.
It takes much time and care to BBQ this well. The food is consistent and the Texas hot is right on. Ribs are excellent, burnt ends are nice, and real tea. I can't wait to return.
(5)Clint K.
I liked the variety of sauces! I only had the brisket but it was very good. Definitely will go back!
(4)Sam L.
First time customers at this restaurant. We enjoyed how friendly the staff were to us. The bbq was great! I highly recommend this place to others.
(4)Deena A.
First time there. Would come back if I am in the area! We had to go back up for a second order! The chopped brisket is delicious.
(5)Brandy W.
This place deserves 4 stars for flavor/variety... but only gets 3 because they're super sneaky with their prices. How on earth is a sandwich, small baked beans (think full palm of your hand), small mac-q-roni, regular mac-q-roni and about 5 brussel sprouts worth $23? I'm the vegetarian who loves her carni husband. And when we walked by, I saw signs for spicy mac-q-roni and cheese and spicy brussel sprouts. I hoped they were vegetarian. I went in, inquired. Yep, all their sides except the baked beans are veggie (not vegan) friendly. Sweet. We were in for dinner. I checked out the menu. Small sides (quite small) were $1.99 and regular size sides were $2.99. I ordered the spicy brussel sprouts and spicy mac at regular sizes, expecting a cost of $6 (which is suitable for pasta with a veggie in small portions!). The husband ordered a pulled pork sandwich with a description under it including cheese and coleslaw. While it IS listed on the menu that it's $1.50 to upgrade, you'd assume they wouldn't list the base price and description with the upgrade but not upgraded price. And the cashier should've said, For another $1.50, would you like to make it Q-style instead of assuming we didn't mind the upcharge. And the sides. YOU GUYS. I paid $4.99 for about 5 large (albeit yummy) brussel sprouts! Apparently the stuff in the window on the "spicy" list that is not included anywhere on the menu is not the same price as the sides they DO list. And the spicy mac and cheese...spicy or not (added jalapeno is all) was bland and not worth the $3.99 we paid just for them to add a few slices of jalapeno. So for $9, I got brussel sprouts and crappy mac & cheese. No meat. What a ripoff. And of course you have no idea the prices when ringing up...all unassuming. My meal as a veggie was more expensive than my husband's meal as a meat-eater! They score points for the following items: - good meat, says the husband - tasty brussel sprouts and beans - my son who hates food eating the two measly hush-puppies they threw on my husband's plate. - free pickles you can dish yourself - BBQ sauce to your heart's content - fun atmosphere - hand-washing sink Things they should improve on: - not being shady on those upcharges - labeling the menu clearly with prices, even for seasonal items - cashier not upcharging without disclosing additional cost - outdoor seating would be nice - cooler soda machine. Why don't they have the new Coke machine? IMO, those are decent things to work on that just might not get us back in the door.
(3)steve r.
Well, if you like BBQ that you'll have a lot of leftovers for, then this is the place. I've been to this place twice and each time I've been defeated in my ability to finish my plate. The food is completely overflowing and they are more than generous with the sides, especially the french fries. Make sure you are coming for lunch, get there before the rush happens each day around noon. Lots of options, lots of sauce and lots of food. If you are hungry, this is the place for you. Keep in mind, the tables are really close to together, so be ready or take it to go.
(4)Brad J.
I love the pulled pork and the brisket is pretty good. I am a huge fan of great bbq and this place does a really good job. I even had the pulled pork nachos one time which were okay, but I much rather would have had the pulled pork sandwich or the brisket. Like what some of the other reviewers have said, the portion size can be a little small but the food is great. The staff is very friendly and helpful!
(4)Daniel T.
This is my second time here in two weeks . So far I give them honors in consistency . The staff is tops in service . You place your order at the front and they bring the food to your table . When placing your order the people at the counter seem like no matter how busy it is they don't rush you + they are very happy and knowledgeable about the product and do their best to answer any questions . And they don't have a tip policy. The restaurant is very clean due to the staff continually cleaning tables + floor . The restrooms are very clean . Nothing worse than going into a place for a meal and seeing filthy restrooms Yuk !!! Yes I will be back .
(4)LOIS B.
YUM, won my heart and palate. We stopped in on a very busy Sunday afternoon and the heavenly BBQ scent wafting all the way to the parking lot had my mouth watering before reaching the door. I had the beef brisket plate. The meat was soooooooooooooooooooooo tender I did not require a knife. It comes with the North Carolina Vinegar Sauce and I added some Memphis Sweet sauce ~ mouth-watering. There are also 2 other choices of BBQ sauces available on the table for your dining pleasure. All the sides we had were, also, very tasty. They included salad, baked beans, Q-slaw, and the Q-pups. Needless to say, we cleaned our plates and were totally full. We even purchased 2 of the sauces to bring home. It is a small place and I can imagine it gets very crowed at peak times. You order at the register, are given a number, you find a table, and they bring the food to you. If only the windows opened, that would make this absolutely perfect, since there is no outdoor seating. I will return and try some other offering.
(5)H K.
Always a solid meal! Salads rock. The BBQ sauces rock. Pickles are crispy, fast service, great food.
(5)Boon K.
There is alot of bbq options to order here so why not just order the sample platter and try a little bit of everything. Everything on the platter was pretty good but I wasn't the biggest fan of the bbq rib, because it was to memphis sweet for me. To my surprise I really like the chicken wing and the bbq briskets. As most of my review I like the more sour things like the north carolina vinegar that goes with pulled pork. The texa hot was hot and when you put all three sauces together you get a litte bit of everything. My husband loved the bacon mac and cheese. And a note the sweet tea is not like the syrup you get in the south it is lightly sweeten so I love that too.
(3)Andrew T.
As I'm sitting down to read this review, I see Ricky C's review in the sidebar, and he has it totally nailed. This is BBQ for people who live in the Midwest. It's smoked meat, and it's BBQ sauce, and it's BBQ sides, but that's realistically about it. If you go to Memphis or the Carolinas or Texas and eat BBQ, you aren't likely to review this place highly. For what it is, Q is fine. But it's not where I would go when I was hungry for BBQ. Their pulled pork and brisket were, as I said, just OK. Pork was not all that smoky, and also not terribly pork flavored. So maybe their meat just isn't all that great. It came sauced with a traditional Midwestern sweet sauce, which I should have asked them to hold off on. There is a decent facsimile of Carolina vinegar sauce available on the tables, and I think that would have made the pork quite a bit better. The brisket was smoked a little bit better, but it wasn't tender, and came a little cold. Again, not a ton of flavor. This needed sauce. Sides were OK - mac and cheese with Cheez-Its crumbled on top, which was cute. If I was looking for BBQ in the western suburbs, I would hit up Austin BBQ in Wheaton. With their actual sourced-from-Texas sausage, it's definitely the best I've had in the area.
(3)Erica P.
It was good, interesting 'fast food' BBQ concept in downtown Naperville. Portions were on the smaller side for the price.
(3)Scott H.
Very good food. Big portions! They definitely have it down to a science. Different sauce options really appeals to the different tastes in BBQ. I'll definitely be back to this place!
(5)Mr. G.
Be warned - the standard for barbecue in this area is terribly low. Decent meat, but not really barbecue. The burnt ends I had were dry and made mostly from the flat of the brisket. The sliced brisket was also very dry and tasted more like pot roast, with very little smoke flavor and no smoke ring. I suspect they hold it for service in some type of liquid. That being said, everyone is very friendly, the restaurant is clean and has a good atmosphere. The sauces (which you will need) and sides are generally good. Don't buck up for the spicy fries, they are just fries with jalapeños thrown in.
(2)Doug P.
Excellent food. I had the burnt ends along with the brisket. All was fresh and even rivals the bbq I had in Kansas City
(5)Darci S.
Q was pretty good but a little overpriced. The best thing I ate was the spicy Brussels sprouts, believe it or not! The pulled pork was good - but not out of this world - and same goes for the beans. The kids meals are crazy expensive for what they are. If I went again I'd just get a regular side of mac for the kids and save 5 bucks. In summary I'd go back if I was in the area and desperate for BBQ but there are better joints IMHO.
(3)Adam B.
I ordered the 3-meat platter. The first thing I noticed is there was only sauce on the brisket. They let the meat stand on its own and let you add whatever sauces you choose, which is the way BBQ should be. The smoked chicken wings were some of the best I've had in a while. They're covered in BBQ spices and since they're not fried, there isn't a ton of grease on them. The Texas spicy sauce goes perfect on these. I liked the burnt ends a lot, they had a very intense smoke flavor to them. The brisket was ok, it was moist, but I felt it lacked flavor or seasoning. I also added a taste of turkey, I added some Memphis sweet sauce and it may have been the highlight of the meal. I can't recommend this one enough. For sides, the beans were ok, there was a little too much liquid though. I really enjoyed the cornbread, it's a pretty good size and just crumbles. Great texture to this. I appreciate that they have all their homemade sauces at the table and my favorite is probably the Memphis sweet. The mustard had a little too much of a Dijon taste for my liking. Also, they have a jar of homemade sliced pickles at the condiment stand. Major props for this! I liked the feel of the place, lots of wood, spice jars, it really made me feel like I was in an earthy, homey type of joint. And even though it's not a waitstaff restaurant, I noticed one of the staff workers taking the time to check on each table. That goes a long way for service. I have had very bad BBQ in Chicagoland, but Q is the best I've had in the burbs. I definitely would return. That said, I think I'd still take Smoque downtown if I had my choice.
(4)Angela P.
Still a BBQ novice, as it is not my favorite cuisine, I would definitely return to Q for the burnt ends and "Q pups" (corn fritter hush puppies). The burnt ends did seem chewy and dry on the first bite. But after adding some Texas spicy and Memphis sweet sauce, my burnt ends were fall-apart good. I also like the 4 choices of sauce on the tables, and I tried them all. The Texas and Memphis were the best. Were they authentic? Who cares? They were good, and Q is better than Famous Dave's. The macaroni & cheese was good, but could have been better with more of a cheddar or spice kick. They're headed in the right direction adding a Cheez-It topping. After that, it was standard macaroni. The fries too, were good, but neither disappointing nor extraordinary. We spent a total of $32 for 2 entrees and 2 drinks. The line is awkward, as previously mentioned, there isn't much room to stand to the side and read the menu if you're like me and need a minute to decide. After ordering, they give you a number and then they deliver to your table. I'll be back soon, most likely stuffing my face with Q pups.
(4)Laurence P.
Craving BBQ? Check this out! Great food, great service, great location, what more do you want! Need to go back, and get the sampler! Can't wait to get a taste of all those yummy meats! ;)
(5)Bryan N.
This place fills a niche in the downtown. It's casual like a fast food restaurant but the quality far exceeds anything else that delivers a meal as quickly. The brisket is delicious on its own, but I do recommend their BBQ sauces. I mixed the sweet and the hot sauces to make something great. What kept this place from earning its fifth star are a few things. Their ordering area is a cluster. They just get too busy, I've actually walked away because it's felt like the line was too much. Related to this, sometimes the seating area is full.
(4)Tami B.
Overall, I think their bbq is delicious, but it is very expensive. I got the pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese. I like that they have all of the sauces on the table to choose from and I like that the mac and cheese was topped with cheez-its. I just thought I would get more food for the money. The sandwich was large, but then you get two small hushpuppies and 1/4 cup of mac and cheese. That with a drink was around $12. If I'm going to pay that much for a sandwich I would rather go to Ted's Montana grill down the street, get served and get way more food for the money.
(3)Andrew A.
I have been looking for a decent BBQ place around for quite a long time. Q's knows what's up fo sho. I have been here three times and have tried the brisket sandwich, the pulled pork sandwich and the burnt ends sandwich. Everything I have tried has been absolutely delicious. The employees are also very friendly and the atmosphere is relaxing for me. Great BBQ.
(5)Brent H.
Anybody who rates this place with more than 1 star obviously doesn't know barbecue. Dry, dry, dry! This is the driest most tasteless meat I've ever had at a restaurant. Poorly cooked and lack of seasoning makes for a bad experience. The brussel sprouts were edible.
(1)Charles S.
Been here enough times to know what to recommend to friends. The platters are a nice option when you want to sample many different items. You can get the 3 or 4 meat option. The sliders are a nice treat if you want to sample as well. All sandwiches and entrees come with q puffs. The ribs I've only had once and it was a tale of two piggies: half of the slab was moist and tender and the other was tough and rubbery. So, in the future I will enjoy the variety versus the slab. Oh, you must have the spicy Brussel sprouts....very hot but tasty!
(4)Rebecca C.
Great pulled pork sandwich! A plus for students is that they have $5 specials for lunch! The selection of BBQ sauces makes dining here great! Also my fav... You can take all the pickles you want from their pickle bowl. :)
(4)Michael M.
Great BBQ food, Ribs!
(5)Sandee S.
Be aware the kitchen closes at 830. I was rudely told when I walked in which is only mentioned on their WINDOW! Idk why you would close the kitchen earlier than your hours state. Only bar and grills do that which this is not.
(1)Lydia Z.
Went here on the recommendation of a friend and was a little leery of something called "burnt ends". I didn't really know what it was but he said to try it so we did. And it was awesome! The ribs, also good as were the wings. In fact, the wings have a slight brown sugar coating or something and it makes it fantastic. The q-pups are a tasty treat. Fries are also excellent.
(5)Adrianna N.
Burnt end sandwich with spicy Brussels sprouts! Absolutely delicious! Good prices, clean atmosphere, friendly staff!
(5)Tim H.
Well when I went back the third time for a pulled pork sand. the fries weren't much better. There still seems to be some issues in Naperville. I'm not a fan of their sauces and I'll have to try the LaGrange location, to see what the hype is about. I love good BBQ. The pulled pork was good ... but I'm used to better. I'll have to try the burnt ends and the beans. The owner did go out of his way to satisfy me. That says a lot about a place.
(2)Howard L.
A-ok on the BBQ here. I had a good beef brisket sandwich and a side of mac for $8.77 after tax. It was a little pricy for what you get, but it is a downtown Naperville location. I liked the Texas spicy sauce. I also liked that at lunchtime at least they hold a table for you before you order, so there's no need to scramble during the busy lunch hour, and they bring your food to the table.
(3)Agnes L.
*Disclaimer: This is based on carry-out only. Ordered the Papa Q Sampler Platter by calling, and it was ready right when I asked for it. Service was friendly on the phone and when picking up my order. Loved that there are little to-go containers for all the sauces, and I liked the variety of sauces (sweet, spicy, vinegar and mustard). The pulled pork and chicken were tender, but the ribs were a bit tough.
(4)Steve G.
I really feel for the folks who live in the apartments above this place. Great smell outside... Inside, a little less enticing. I had the pulled pork, "Q-Style"... My wife got the sliced brisket plate with expectations to take some home for later. She got slaw and beans for her sides. My sandwich was good, nicely cooked pork, and once I added some sweet BBQ sauce to it, very nice. The blue cheese crumbles and cheese didn't add much flavor, but the slaw on top was very tasty. Fries were good, if a bit salty. My wife's brisket was okay -- great flavor, but obviously needed another 4 or 5 hours in the smoke. The thick layer of fat that melts away on brisket when it's slow cooked for hours was still there in full force. That's a huge turnoff for my wife. After some serious trimming, there wasn't much brisket left -- and not much to take home. Overall, a $25 tab for a sandwich and platter in a fast food place seems a bit high for BBQ, and quantities are not really all that large -- at least on the plates. Here's hoping Smoque BBQ on the NW side of Chicago doesn't open anywhere near Naperville or this place may be looking at some serious changes...
(3)Alan S.
The best barbecue joint in Naperville! I frequent Q quite often and always leave stuffed. It's a bit pricey, but well worth the cost. The selection of sauces on the table are always good to add to whatever you order. I love that they have the "hand-washing station" that is outside of the restroom. Whenever we have family come in from out of town, we always go to Q! Can't wait to go back. Gotta try: The burnt ends Spicy Fries All the sauces!
(5)Shannon M.
After a couple of trips for takeout, a friend and I settled in at Q for a sit-down meal last night. An attentive hostess swooped down upon us at the door to check if we were eating in or taking out; when she learned that it was the former, she set us up with a table number (remember it! You'll be asked again at the counter!) and sent us along through the line to order with the to-go people. (This means a table is assigned to you...so if you don't like it, too bad, I guess.) This time I diverged from my previous love, the pulled pork, to try the sausage and chicken wings. GOOD IDEA! While the sausage was tasty, with a spicy kick, the wings were the winners, gorgeously burnished with a glaze and sprinkled with spice rub. Tender and meaty, they matched well with the Memphis sauce. Very different from your usual "buffalo wings," and so much better! I hadn't been thrilled with the sides on previous occasions, and this time tried the mashed potatoes (with some red skin still clinging to them), which were better, and a tiny side salad in a foil cup, which was standard salad bar fare. (Wish they had onion rings as an alternative to the squashy fries.) The Q Pups were bigger and fluffier than previous times, less like small gritty falafel balls and studded with corn kernels. The table is stocked with a roll of paper towels and bottles of Q's four sauces (I like the sweet Memphis and spicy Texas), but no salt & pepper (packets are up by the soda fountain), which I didn't discover until tucking into the messy fare, so I had to regroup and clean up to go grab some, then settle in again. Shakers would be a lot easier... At any rate, this was an incredibly satisfying dining experience. I will definitely be back for the wings!
(4)Adam K.
If you've ever been to Smoque in downtown Chicago, this place reminded me of that -- note quite as good, but still very good food. I had the half-rack of ribs and my wife had the pulled chicken and both were excellent. The ribs were very tender and the rub on them was excellent, my wife ended up taking a few bites from me because they were so good. The fries and mashed potatoes were also very good and I washed it all down with a seasonal Blue Moon brew. Probably the best thing about this place is that you can fill yourself up on great-tasting BBQ and not break the bank. My wife and I both had full entree dinners and a drink each (wine for her, beer for me) and the total for the meal was right around $40. Not bad at all. I highly recommend checking this place out if you're in Naperville and have a hankering for some good BBQ.
(4)Hayley H.
Oh yea! Yum. Get the sampler! It's the best value for two people to share and try everything. I was hoping to be waited on, instead you order at the counter and they bring it out to you. No waitstaff. Though that means, no Tip. ^_^ Honestly, the food is awesome. Not dry meat, lots of flavor. 5-6 sauces on the table, try them all. I will be returning with my meat loving family.
(4)Jenny V.
I've been meaning to check this place out! I got the brisket with cole slaw and mac and cheese. I liked the mac and cheese, the crumbled cheese its were a very nice touch. Out of all the sauces, i liked the north carolina vinegar (?) i think. the coleslaw was okay, im not a big cole slaw person, but i liked it so that says a lot My roomie got a chicken bbq sammich and it came with fries and omg! so many fries! the Bf got burnt ends, and he said they were good. i didnt get a chance to try them =( for the size of our meals, i would say the price is a deal. i paid about 12 bucks for my food and i couldnt finish it all. i will be back when i'm craving some bbq!
(4)Jim C.
They have Hamm's beer!! Haven't seen that in ages so high marks for originality. They have good beers too but sometimes you need a Hamm's! I know how to cook BBQ. I have a wood smoker at home and have made some of the best pulled pork known to humanity, not to mention homemade and spicy BBQ sauce. But the first time I bit into the BBQ pulled pork sandwich at Q's, I thought "hmmmmm....this may be better than mine." And I gotta say it is. It's totally awesome. Plus with the combo of four - yes four - different BBQ sauces, it puts Q over the top for me. I'm the kinda guy that likes to mix sauces up and see what happens. And I was in BBQ heaven doing that at Q's with their spicy sauce, vinegar sauce, sweet sauce and mustard sauce. Dipping the tasty hushpuppies into those sauces made my taste buds dance. Following that with a swish of Hamm's can't be beat. Go to Q's. Get the pulled pork. Mix the sauces. Or do whatever makes you happy. If you do it at Q's, you'll be happier.
(5)Tamera B.
We've tried Q many many times. When they first opened, I gave them a 5 star review. We're from Memphis, TN and we know how hard it is to find really good BBQ outside of the south. Fortunately, when we tried Q, they did not leave us disappointed. However,it seems like the quality of their food has steadily decreased over the past 4-5 times we've eaten there. We've experienced things such as overly sweet iced tea, tough meats, and less than desirable service. It's gotten to the point where my husband refuses to go back. So, if you've never tried it, you're in Naperville, and you're really, really carving some BBQ, they'll relieve your craving.
(3)Natasha C.
My husband and I took a brief road trip from the north side to Naperville to try the cue. **Please note that my husband and I don't eat beef or pork and he OOCASIONALLY, when the moon is full, he may have chicken. With that said, this review is mainly about the sides, and sauce. At each table there were 3 choices of sauce. I prefer a sweeter Kansas City style sauce. So, I went for that. It was great. This is mostly SMOKED meat. I think there is a difference between BBQ and smoked meats (right?). The buns they used for the chicken sandwich were great. I make and cheese was okay. Sadly, I'll go back to making my own BBQ pulled chicken sandwich. It's good but not mind-blowing. The hunt (at least for me) for great Chicago BBQ continues....
(2)Alex P.
Is a very decent BBQ place, especially for the burbs. I prefer Chucks or Uncle Bubs that are both in the same general area but overall not a bad place. The food wasn't overly priced and had pretty decent portions. Not the best not the worst, something that is definitely edible and enjoyable, not anything i would drive out of my way for.
(3)Erick H.
Yay! I get to be the first to review Q! Awesome! Had the Burnt End Sandwich Q-Style. It was fabulous. The meat is tender, smokey and just downright amazing. I have the Mac-Q-Roni, too, and it is amazing. Creamy, gooey goodness. The Q Puppies are amazing hunks of sweet cornbread. Everyone needs to go to Q!
(5)Steven R.
We went here for Father's Day 2014. This is a very good barbecue restaurant! We enjoyed all of the different meats we tried including the pulled pork, sliced beef brisket, chicken wings, burnt ends, and, of course, their ribs. I have to agree with many of the other reviewers that Q's Memphis Wings and Q-pups are worth going out of your way for.
(4)Nicole N.
I have been here 2X...FAIL. Cold and over priced. Portions are small not that I would have wanted to eat one more bite :-( Go to Gematos in Naperville on Ogden you will not be disappointed!
(1)Jen K.
My husband and I have both eaten here twice, and sadly, both times were very different experiences! The first time we went, around when they first opened, was AMAZING and it deserved 5+ stars. We both got the burnt ends platter with a couple sides. Green beans were standard, and the mac/cheese was very hearty. But these burnt ends were the bee's knees! They had so much flavor with the perfect amount of char...and they gave us SO much meat, it was hard to move afterwards! I also loved the sauce selection too, because everyone likes a different style of bbq. This place celebrates that! The second time was mediocre and deserved 3 stars. We both felt like maybe they ran out of burnt ends that day and just added some char to their regular burnt ends. It just didn't have the same authentic taste like before. Plus we didn't get as much as before...which is fine, because at that rate, we'd be huge fatties. They charge extra for the burnt ends, probably because they only have so much of it to get served. So I imagine that when they start running out of the actual burnt ends, they have to make do by just burning regular meat? I could be wrong, but that's how it tasted. We'll probably go back, but if it was like the last time we went, it'll probably be our last, because mediocre bbq isn't worth $30 for the two of us.
(4)Geoff G.
Great service. Can get crowded. Great for families
(4)Joe B.
The smokey smell when you walk in is as authentic and rich as the food. Amazing BBQ in downtown Naperville. Who would have thunkit? My BBQ pulled chicken done "Q-style" with bacon and cole slaw was tender, juicy and had no signs of fat or gristle. My girlfriend's slider flite of various meats also came in Q-style, which is a must. Q's Memphis BBQ sauce is smokey and sweet, and the baked beans are thick and hearty. We dined late in the day and still had amazing quality food, which isn't always the case at some bbq places that run out of the good stuff early on. The only thing missing is an outdoor seating area with wooden picnic tables and someone jamming on a banjo.
(5)Amy R.
We got carry-out, so I can't really comment on the atmosphere or staff or drinks. I sat in the car while my fiancé ran inside and got the goods. We had moved to Naperville that very day and had eaten NOTHING that day, so this review could be biased because I'm pretty sure one more hour without food and my little chihuahua would have been looking tasty. As a result of our impending starvation, we ordered two Q combos and an 8 piece wings. He got the pulled chicken and brisket, with baked beans and cornbread, while I got double brisket with Mac and cheese and French fries. The meat. Is. Bomb. Like so ridiculously absurdly tasty. Like I could happily die in a tub full of brisket. OMG, that brisket. I just ate dinner and now I'm suddenly craving brisket. Dammit. The sides were all SUPER meh. Maybe we chose the wrong ones? Maybe the sides don't travel well? The Mac and cheese was legit flavorless, and everything else was just... Bland. Our wings were fabulous, though. Then the sauces. Holy crap. Okay so I don't know the first thing about BBQ. Texas? Carolina? Is there a difference Yeah, that bad. But these sauces, whatever state they represented, were all intense, delicious, and interesting. The vinegar sauce is tangy and different, the sweet sauce is addictive, and the mustard was the most delicious incredible sauce of all time. I didn't think BBQ and mustard would really mesh, but it did. In short: go here and eat so much brisket. And if you get a side dish that's amazing, let me know so I can give it another try.
(4)A C.
Great food, great sauces and very nice service oriented staff. I always leave here satisfied. Thanks!
(4)Alex C.
I have lived in Naperville all of my life. I've been to Gemato's a few times, with varying levels of satisfaction and subtle levels of disappointment, I regularly went to Famous Dave's when It had its tenure here due to its close proximity to my home and workplace, but I'll say that Q-BBQ Naperville is the best BBQ place in town by far. I've brought friends there to eat in the restaurant and enjoyed a beer and some Brisket. I've, on more than one occasion, brought the sampler platter home from work in lieu of a pizza. Occasionally, when I'm feeling particularly hungry, I order the Papa-Q platter for the gang and shamelessly hoard the ribs and chicken wings. If you are going to eat in, make sure you allow time. The wait is WELL worth the product. The staff is friendly and quite knowledgeable about their product. If the dont know something, they'll find someone who does. In addition to this, they usually cruise around, making sure your table is well stocked with paper towels and sauce. If you plan on taking out, be sure you get the full array of the four sauces for your family, because every sauce has something to bring to the table. The long and the short of it is: This place has fantastic BBQ, a hometown staff that is attentive to detail and a fantastic array of smoked meat. I originally was going to make a standing rib roast for my New Years Eve party, but later decided that Q would make a much better party than my faltering attempts as a pitmaster. Customer for LIFE and company cheerleader!
(5)Rick N.
Some of the best BBQ I've had in the area and I consider myself a BBQ Snob. IMO the order is: Ribs - Best!, Pulled Pork - 2nd Best, Brisket - 3rd Best. Sauces are great the Mustard and Vinegar sauces are really good and the Memphis style sweet is awesome. Sides are good but the slaw is nothing special. This place is definitely worth checking out if you love BBQ. Food comes out quick which is a plus.
(5)Rob R.
OUTSTANDING BBQ. Some of the best I've had. Best wings ever. Smoky, deep fried and dry rubbed....AMAZING!!! Burnt Ends....GREAT. You need to get to the Q and try it out yourself. The only thing missing was Shiner Beer and some good Texas music instead of that top 40 crap over the PA. But the food made up for it.
(5)Amanda M.
AMAZING!!! I love their Pulled Chicken Sandwich! Their corn fritters are also to die for! This is the best BBQ place I have ever been to! It is nice and quick too if you're in a rush since you order at the counter and they bring your food to you! If you're love BBQ this is definitely the place to get it!
(5)Ricky C.
Q-BBQ is what I imagine a restaurant that was opened by someone who enjoys traditional BBQ, but grew up in Naperville, IL or any other midwest city. They've got all the right elements, but the execution is off. If you've experienced authentic southern BBQ, you'll notice on the first bite. If you're a midwest shut-in, well, that would explain all the 5-star reviews for this place. I had the pulled pork sandwich, and my friend had the brisket. Both were good, don't get me wrong, but they were a little bit tough, which is a sign that perhaps maybe they weren't cooked as long as they should've been or were cooked at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time. Good BBQ is super tender, these were not. The cole slaw was great, i was actually a huge fan of that, as were the "Q pups". Cornbread was also well done, but a bit more starchy than traditional corn bread. Each table has the traditional roll of paper towels, which is a nice touch, and were the array of sauces, of which the Texas sauce was my personal favorite. Overall, I wasn't especially thrilled at the food for the price paid (it's on the high end), but if you haven't had better, then i can say you'll probably enjoy it. ignorance is bliss. :)
(3)Rex L.
It's okay, not great, not bad. Since I can make an incredible pulled pork, I wanted to try the beef brisket and "burnt ends" Burnt ends were cubed pieces of brisket, not what i would consider"ends". Plus they were a little on the fatty side. The briskett claims it was smoked for 15 hours, but mine did not have that smokey flavor taste. Fries were good. And they have a couple of interesting bottled beers available. Sauces were good, 4 types available at tthe table. Probably won't be returning.
(3)John B.
Great Brisket Burnt Ends. Also love the Fritters. Nachos are okay but would be great if they used real cheese and not that yellow stuff. A little pricey but very good BBQ and by far the best in area.
(4)Tara G.
I would give a 5 if there were more vegetarian options than just salad. What's the vegetarian wife of a carnivore husband to do when she wants to take him out to eat BBQ? He definitely loved the sliders and spicy fries!
(4)Adam B.
I recently spent some time in Nashville playing music, and they have some serious BBQ down there, I'll tell you what! I ate to the point of exhaustion more than once in Music City... After arriving back in the flatlands of Illinois, I told myself that I wasn't even gonna TRY to find BBQ like that here in suburbia. Well, that didn't last for long! This morning, I totally caved and did a search here on Yelp for BBQ joints near me. I compiled a list of a few that looked good, and randomly picked Q-BBQ as the first establishment to get some of my hard-earned money. They did NOT disappoint! I ordered a "Carolina Pulled Pork" plate with cornbread, mac-q-roni, and BBQ baked beans for sides. It was not cheap (my bill was just over $14) but totally worth it! They had several different BBQ sauces to satisfy different tastes right there at the table. I tried a little of each one (other than the "South Carolina Mustard Sauce" since I'm allergic to mustard) and each one was unique and flavorful. The actual pulled pork was fantastic: precisely the southern food fix I was looking for! The "mac-q-roni" (mac 'n' cheese topped with crumbled Cheeze-Its) was delicious. The BBQ baked beans were exactly what you'd expect, and the cornbread was very good. The place was neat and clean, my table wasn't all wobbly, and the staff was very friendly and quick to fulfill any requests I made. Plus they had rolls of paper towels at the tables instead of napkins - the same as those Nashville places I mentioned earlier... I will go there again sometime, and so should you!
(3)Carole C.
I am doing this review with reservations. My order was called ahead for pick up, it was an hour before closing and based on the prior reviews my expectation level was very high. Our order was a full slab accompanied by an order of burnt ends, the 2 sides were Mac n cheese and cole slaw. I regret we didn't look in the bag before we left because they are uber stingy with the sides. The burnt ends lived up to their name, they were charred, stringy and chewy...this I did attribute to the late hour but if it were my joint, I wouldn't have sold them! The Mac n cheese had cheezits on top, but it had a boxed taste and totally forgettable. I think the biggest disappointment was the rancid cole slaw, that had a not so fresh taste and we voted it inedible. As for the ribs, they were okay...on the dry side, but by then I was predisposed to find fault with them too... I don't understand why fries are not just a standard addition, and I should have ordered them...if the restaurant gives the same size sides to a half slab they look cheap using same for a full slab. I could understand if they were so great, but while one was mediocre, one was inedible! I'd give it another try, earlier in the day and eat in. Not on my hit parade!
(2)Geoff L.
Went here tonight for the first time with my wife and we loved it. Best bbq I've had in the area. I had the burnt tips and my wife had the sliders. Both were excellent. Staff was friendly and they even brought us a complimentary order of regular fries after my wife couldn't handle the spicy ones. I love spicy sruff and these fries were hot and delish. Prices were fair and the atmosphere was bright and pleasant. It's also a place that's super casual and is kid friendly. We will be back.
(5)Heather M.
Came for dinner after walking around downtown Naperville for the day. I am not a huge fan of having to order your food as soon as you walk through the door, mainly because I am a huge foodie and can never decide on just one thing! Luckily the staff was very friendly and offered that we take paper menus and choose a table while we decide. I ordered the sliced brisket and mac n cheese. My fiance ordered the choose three meat option and tried the pulled pork, brisket burnt ends and the chicken wings. Hands down the best thing we had were the chicken wings. They had amazing flavor. We just talked about how we need to come back to have the wings again, and this time just the wings! If you have a chance, this place is definitely worth trying! Their barbecue sauces are decent, they have something for everyone.
(4)David M.
So far I have had the rack of ribs and a couple of sides twice from here. The first time was in house and the second was carry out. The first time was upon recommendation of a eager neighbor. Both times, the service was quick and everybody was friendly, even on a Friday night. Everything looked good and smelled great. However, it immediately became apparent that the ribs were exceedingly dry, bordering inedible. By the time that I got to the end, it took great effort to pull the meat off of the bones. The meat was desiccated and flaky. I had to dunk it into my french fries catsup to make it palatable. The second meal, as I had mentioned was the same thing and was actually a "comp" meal because I had called the day after the first meal to give them my feedback. Same issue with the ribs. I see that I am not the only one who has experienced the dryness issue. My guess is that they prepare the ribs WAY in advance and that they stay in some sort of steam table situation until someone orders them. You can only get away with that so long before the food needs to go into the dumpster. The french fries were greasy and undistinguished while the baked beans and coleslaw were OK. Given the $21.99 price (typical for Naperville), I would recommend that one go to The Patio in Bolingbrook (consistently good) or Walker's Charhouse. Go elsewhere for ribs. There are many other choices in the area.
(1)Teresa K.
I met some friends here after getting another friend's recommendation for this place. The BBQ was OK, i wanted to eat the pulled pork without sauce, but it was kind of dry and really needed sauce. Good thing there were 6 different kids of sauce on the table along with a roll of paper towels. I think the best part about the meal were the hush puppies. i could eaten a whole plate of just those, but i got the three that came with my dinner and enjoyed those. i had my 6mo old son with me and i had enough room to camp out with all my tons of baby junk. i was disappointed to see that there were no changing tables available in either bathroom, so i had to leave early to take care of the little guy. clean place, friendly staff, ok food.
(3)Kelly A.
We were visiting family in Chicago and went to the Q. We had a great lunch consisting of pulled port combo plate of ribs chicken and briskett and all were outstanding. the sauces at the table were all great, We tried all the side dishes and all were good (bacon mac and cheese, coleslaw and baked beans and the spicy fries), the brussel sprouts to me weren't cooked enough but we were so full from all the others. I would definitely recommend Q BBQ!!!!
(4)M D.
Was looking forward to a great BBQ experience after reading all of the reviews, but was let down. I got the sliders to try a little bit of everything (turkey, brisket, chicken) with fries and boyfriend got the spicy sausage platter with spicy fries and mashed potatoes. The sauces were bland and nothing special. The brisket and chicken were dry and all I could taste was the bun. I did enjoy the fries. The spicy sausage tasted like eating liquid smoke and the spicy fries were just regular fries with jalepeno slices thrown in. Mashed potatoes were average. It did smell great on the inside and the employees were friendly. Also, the music playing was enjoyable!
(2)L F.
We like it. We've been here a few times - it's always buzzing with a crowd & the service is quick. Big fan of the pulled pork with the Carolina BBQ sauce. Hush puppies were divine and the macaroni and cheese was a salty, creamy treat that we all enjoyed. The prices are a bit on the high side but as far as BBQ goes, this is some of the best I've had in the midwest.
(4)Steven M.
Came here with friends at my request. Don't know what the problem is? The ribs were dry and when I bit into them, the meat flaked off like shingles. WTH! I spent the week telling everyone how great this place is. The pulled pork was watery and the brisket looked like charcoal. Was it a bad night? Not sure, but I'm going back to LaGrange where I can have a 5 star meal.
(2)Angela C.
This place is great! Friendly staff, big portions, quick service, good food. Very creative with the specialty Mac n cheese, which I can appreciate even though I'm allergic to dairy. Sauces are good too. I've had better, but theirs are still good. Baked beans have a delicious smoky flavor that I loooved, so definitely my favorite ever on the baked bean front.... And I'm not a baked beans fan. Will definitely be going back!
(4)Matt M.
Had been to Q 4 times previously and had the awesome burnt ends each time. Had the ribs this time and it will be ribs for the next 12 times! Just great!
(5)Bob K.
Went back to Q today for lunch - wife and son had the pulled pork sandwich and loved it. I tried the spicy wings and liked them - dry rubbed and flavorful - I would rate the spice or heat level as more toward mild. The wings were on the small side, but cooked perfectly.
(4)Burbalicious X.
I'm going to upgrade my review (WOW! I don't think I have ever done this before). Came for lunch with coworkers and I thought the pulled pork sammy was much better this time and I even dug the sauces more. Perhaps the previous visit was on an off day? The prices are just a smidge high (which means I won't be stopping in for lunch as often as I might like) and I thought the cole slaw was snooze-a-riffic, so I'll go with fries next time (stole a few off my friend's plate and they were good).
(4)Becky S.
Oooof! I really have to disagree with my fellow Yelpers on this one. I went here with my husband and son a couple weeks ago, and we were really disappointed. First off, the place seems to be exclusively manned by teenagers. I used to wait tables at that age, so I understand, but you need some adult supervision or the place will descend into chaos, which is kind of what seemed to be happening the day we went. The waiter took a very long time getting us a high chair for our table which is annoying but not the end of the world. While my husband waited in the long, slow line to order our food, he heard the cooks constantly yelling "order up!" and watched the food just sit there under the heat lamps for a very long time. Not a good sign of things to come! We ordered the sampler platter to split, which had a sampling of most of the different offerings on the menu. At $20, I felt it was reasonably priced for the quantity of food. However the food was extremely disappointing. The pulled pork was decent, although really that one is hard to mess up, but everything else was terrible. The brisket, chicken, and ribs were all very dried out. The wings tasted stale, like they had been left under a heat lamp for a long time. The green beans had the strangest flavor that was very unappealing. The cornbread was fine and the sausage was okay. The table next to us was very upset with the quality of their food and I saw them discussing this with the manager, who I guess was the adult supervision but looked barely older than the teenagers running the place. The only things I considered pretty good were the hush puppies and the BBQ sauces on the table. We moved here from NC where BBQ is taking VERY seriously. This place would not last a day down there. Sorry but we won't be returning.
(2)Steve C.
This is an excellent example of what barbecue can be - more than just spicy or sweet sauce but smoked meats with a variety of regional flavors such as North Carolina Vinegar or South Carolina Mustard sauces. A surprising favorite side dish is the deep fried spicy brussel sprouts, cooked with jalapeño peppers. A casual restaurant where shorts and t-shirts are the norm, in a clean and comfortable atmosphere.
(5)Gina G.
The Q pups which are corn fritters are wonderful. I ordered the brisket sandwich which came piled high with meat. I love the sweet Memphis sauce. My husband ordered a baked potato with lobster bisque as a side that he thought was really good. They have great homemade pickles. Only down side is the diet drinks were out of order and the ice was low.
(4)Ognum O.
Our favorite BBQ around. They have many locations and every one I've tried is consistently great. The pulled pork and Mac and cheese are my favorite and they have great sauces too. I got the Carolina sauce to take home to BBQ with. Service is always great too. I ordered catering for the nurses where I work and everyone loved it.
(5)Tim B.
Came in for the soft opening and really enjoyed the meal. I just got the Q sliders, one of each (chicken, pork, beef brisket) and thought all were delicious. I tried out each of the bbq sauces at the table and thought all were very good and very different. All in all, i'm sure i'll be going back after they open!
(4)Mike M.
I went here twice just to make sure I had it right. This place feels like a corporate version of Smoque. The two BBQ places near me closed in the past year, another I don't care for, and Famous Daves is a nightmare. So this is the next closest place. I have had a few things on the menu. I liked the burnt ends the best. They had a nice chewy texture and went well with the sauces. I like to try them all like a flight of deliciousness. I always get slaw (I think it goes perfect with smokey meat) and the Mac is pretty good. They crumble cheeze-its or a similar product, and that is a nice "comforty" touch. The Baked beans are ok, I doctored them up with sauce for my taste, and they give you these little turds of cornbread that are pretty good. Everything is served on small sheet trays making the whole experience pretty tidy for BBQ. The place was nice, they had a good selection of meats and sides that were all pretty good. This place will satisfy a BBQ fix in the burbs if you can't make it to one of those places where there is smoke coating everything.
(3)Chris B.
For the typical person that grew up in Naperville or surrounding areas, this place is top notch. Saying that, the food is mediocre at best to anyone else that has lived outside of the western burbs and has tasted REAL BBQ. The meats are dry and misses that smoke flavor one would see in traditional wood smoked BBQ. The sauce selection is too limited and misses on flavor. The Q-pups, which are basically hush puppies, are good. Service is nice and the atmosphere is good, but if you're looking for quality BBQ, go somewhere else.
(1)Tim K.
Quite a disappointment after some of the glowing reviews here. It wasn't busy when we were there so service wasn't an issue, except that our cashier couldn't even pronounce the names of their wines. I had the three meat combo with mac-n-cheese and slaw. My wife had the burnt ends (plate) with fries and beans. All three of my meats (beef, chicken and pork) were dry and they were NOT tender. The portion size seemed small for the price. The burnt ends came swimming in grease. My wife commented that they don't trim their meat well. Maybe that's where all the grease came from. We went through 3-4 sections of paper towels (they don't have napkins) trying to sop up the grease. At that point I asked for another order of burnt ends "without the grease." The re-do was better. The fries were limp and soggy. Sides: Fries - limp and greasy Baked beans - tasted like out of a can with some brisket added Mac-n-cheese - OK Slaw - good Sauces - They have four on the table. You should be able to find one you like. Location: I believe someone here said Q-BBQ was in the Hugo's Frog Bar location. That is incorrect. Q-BBQ is in the former Jilly's of Naperville location at the SW corner of Main and Van Buren. Hugo's is still open in it's original location. Bottom line: We probably won't be back. Don't go out of your way to get here.
(2)Wayne R.
I've been looking for a good bbq place and just found one. There's something to be said about a bbq place that has a sink to wash up after a messy meal. Q-BBQ is in the old Jilly's right next to Giordano's. As soon as I walked in, I could tell I was going to like it. It just had the feel and smell of a bbq joint. Looks like you can bring some tables together to accomodate larger parties too, however I could see if all the tables were all full it could get cramped fast. While we were in line someone reserved a table for us by using a number which we relayed to the cashier. A little strange, but it works. We ordered the pulled pork plate and the burnt ends brisket plate. Both were excellent. The burnt ends brisket was nice and flavorful. I particularly enjoyed the spicy sauce. It had just the right amount of bite to it (although I like things hot, it didn't pass my numb lips and bead of sweat test). The cornbread was excellent as were the fries plus you get a couple of q puppies (hush puppies) with your meal. I tried all the sauces and the spicy was by far my favorite, with the sweet and mustard following close behind. Wasn't the biggest fan of the Carolina vinegar, but to each his own. Overall I enjoyed my meal and will be back. Just don't forget to grab the ketchup, wet wipes and some pickles over by the soda dispenser... Definitely worth putting up with the parking challenges of Downtown Naperville!
(4)Gail L.
There is nothing sadder in the world than dry, overdone ribs. I LOVE ribs. I love them in every form. I love them when they are smoked with a beautiful smoke ring, and require a gentle tug to remove them from the bone. I love them baked, falling off the bone, slathered in sauce. I do not like rib jerky, and sadly, that was what was delivered to my table. The sides were fine. The sauces were fun. But the ribs, oh the ribs, were only edible because I was hungry. This was almost a two star review, but then a manager came, and asked how the ribs were. I sadly, mournfully looked up, and said "I'm sorry, but they are horribly over done. They are like rib shards. They are so dry." I never complain, but I was so sad. I figured, at best, I might get a free appetizer coupon. At worst, I might get a snooty explanation about how real ribs don't have meat that fall off the bone (I know!). But, to my surprise, the manager expressed surprise, apologized, and said he'd go find me some other ones. About 5 minutes later, he showed up with a beautiful, full slab of ribs. They were cooked perfectly. No more rib jerky. They were tender, and juicy, and had a lovely smoke ring. Everything else we had was very good as well. The brisket was a particular favorite. The pulled pork didn't do much for me, but it was fine. It'd probably make a good sandwich. I thought the chicken wings were a bit overdone, but my husband liked them a lot. We'll give it another try, especially since there's a pretty big BBQ drought in Naperville.
(4)Mike R.
Ok I am a man who can admit when he is wrong. I may have been a little harsh in my last review, and the owner cares enough to respond to the reviews. That earned my respect. I would like to say this place is nice and clean, the service is out standing and I will try this place again. To the owner Mike LiPadus I would like to say your side dishes do need to be bigger and give the people a little more for their money. Reviewed by the Naperville ~ Food Dude ~
(3)Rich K.
It has been interesting to see the changes that have gone on in Naperville since I started living here in 1979. Restaurants have come and gone. Some have been good and others so-so. On a recent rainy Saturday afternoon as I was walking around town taking pictures I saw Q-BBQ on the corner and since I had not yet eaten lunch I thought I would stop in and try one of the sandwiches. Looking up at the menu board as I entered I immediately saw the words Smoked Gouda Cheese as part of the Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich. That was as far on the menu as I needed to go as smoked gouda cheese is one of my favorites. After taking my order for a Q-Style Carolina Pulled Pork (Q-slaw, smoked gouda, carolina sauce and toasted), and included side order of green beans with garlic balsamic and grabbing a bottle of Chicago made Filbert Root Beer in a bottle (a childhood favorite of mine) I sat down near the window and awaited my order. At the table were 4 bottles of different types of sauce. Memphis Sweet, Texas Spicy Sweet, North Carolina Vinegar and South Carolina Mustard. As I awaited my order squeezed a few drops out of each onto my index finger and had my own personal taste test. My order arrived with a couple of Q-Pups, the Pulled Pork and Green Beans. As I slowly savored each bite of food periodically putting each of the 4 homemade sauces on the sandwich and dipping the Q-Pups in each I really couldn't pick out a favorite. They were all great. After the meal I asked to speak to the manager. The owner was there and I told him how I thought this was one of the best new places to open in Naperville and the sandwich and sauces were out of this world. He proceeded to give me a small tour of the "behind the scenes" place. I will be back and will recommend this place to anyone and everyone!
(5)Rob A.
Who would have thought you could do the same thing, only better, in a second location. Great staff, and the service is only second to the food taste and quality. As I travel the country, I try and check out BBQ because it's one of my favorites. This place does not, ever, disappoint. If you've got an appetite, go for the 4 meat combo with a side of the amazing fries that have a good kick and don't miss out on the Q-Puppies, unreal. Oh, and the sauces, great variety for all taste buds. Don't think that it's all just meat though. You can get a great salad and order your favorite meat on top. Simply the best, only at Q-BBQ
(5)Kelly C.
The original Q location is close to my office, and it quickly became the go-to bbq stop for lunchtime excursions. I was really excited to hear there was a new location in Naperville, and stopped in today to check it out. It's a great location downtown, conveniently located near parking lots and garages. Walking in, it had the same vibe as the La Grange location, but was larger. The ordering process was really smooth -- you would never know it was their second day of operating. Food was just as good as their original restaurant. I ordered the sliders with Mac-Q-Roni and was delighted by it all. Their brisket and pulled pork especially are not to be missed. Also, they have sauces of the various BBQ hotbeds in the US. Try 'em all as they are all great and fun to experiment with. I whole-heartedly recommend either Q location for anyone in the mood for great BBQ.
(5)Eric P.
We traveled here with some friends and our babies. The decor is very 'bbq' like...wood benches/seats, western feel. That said...it is a pretty cramped place as far as seating/walking aisles is concerned. We had a hard time moving our stroller between the tables (i know, big mistake to bring that in the first place). When we got there on a Saturday evening, there was a line out the door. For those that know downtown Naperville, this is a pretty common sight. The line moved very quickly though; a large number of people were there for carryout. It was pretty noisy too, so if you're looking for a quaint place to have a dinner and/or conversation...probably not the right place. The food was very tasty. They have all your common meats/cuts that most BBQ joints have. Plus some salads and other options. I got the combo w/ brisket and burnt ends. There is a $1 or $2 upcharge for the burnt ends (seriously...??), but they were WORTH it. VERY tasty and I will get those again when I go back. The brisket was very tasty, but the cuts were a lil on the small side. My wife (not a big bbq person), got chicken nuggets and the mac...ha. She said they were very good. Their sauces were awesome...enjoyed trying the different varieties. Pricing is on the slight high side for what you get, but most BBQ places are. They have VERY good sweet tea as well. I enjoyed this place and would recommend it for someone looking for BBQ. We'll be back, I know that!
(4)Marisa S.
This was a great place to get some quick BBQ. My boyfriend and I shared the sampler plate and really enjoyed everything on it. You got your choice of sides and they were just as expected. Nothing exceptional, nothing amazingly outstanding but traditional and good. The meats weren't super juicy but the different types of barbeque sauces you got to choose from were helpful to add some extra flavor and keep the meat moist. If you haven't gone and are in the mood for some quick easy BBQ, check it out!
(3)Scott C.
Ya know, the BBQ is pretty good, as well as their sauces. However, the place is run by a bunch of 20 somethings and teenagers who don't really care about service. I've been there 3 times and waited so long 2 of those times for my food that they REFUNDED MY MONEY. So, I guess I should give it 5 stars because I always eat there for free!! Whenever I walk in its just a bunch of kids standing around drinking coke and flirting with each other. But given I got a free sandwich card at my last visit I'll be back, at least one more time (or two, if it takes 15 minutes for a pulled pork sandwich and I get a free meal).
(2)Kathy F.
I can't say enough about this place!!! I love it! I usually eat at the one in LaGrange , but we were in town for a ghost tour. I ate the Texas Chopped Brisket Q style . I have ordered it at least 15 times and it has tasted GREAT every time. Can't wait to have it again. One of my top 5 restaurants.
(5)Bill V.
New place in downtown Naperville. Good not great. 15+ minutes to get our order. Ribs were very good. Chicken, pork and brisket were on the dry side.
(3)John P.
Finally a decent BBQ place in the Naperville area. Let's break it down shall we? I went here twice during opening weekend so I could get a decent sampling of the menu, you don't want too much time to lapse between tastings less you forget :) My first trip didn't have much of a line, maybe 6 orders in front of me but it still took forever. My second trip was out the door. The line is probably the worst part of the entire experience. It was annoying enough that I was tempted to give them 3 stars but I'm hopeful that it's just some operational kinks they are working out. They have 2 registers but one is for phone in orders only. I think you also have a lot of people that are asking a lot of questions when they get to the register too. Either way, when you have a line out the door and and idle register it doesn't seem like rocket science to open that up and take phone orders in back or something. There is ample seating, once I ordered I was able to sit right away. Now the food. I tried the brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, and smoked chicken. For sides I've had the Q-pups, mac q roni, fries, beans, and corn bread. In terms of meats the burnt ends and brisket were fantastic. Tender, spiced just right, the smoke ring was really small but still tasty. The burnt ends come with some aioli sauce but honestly I think they tasted best without any sauce at all. The pulled pork was cold when I had it which also dried it out. I tried some Carolina sauce to help moisten it but it didn't help much. Again, I'm hopeful that this is opening weekend operational issues but if that's the norm then definitely skip the pulled pork. The smoked chicken was probably the worst item I had. It was also very dry and the smoke flavor didn't compliment the meat at all. Even dousing it in sauce didn't help much. Skip this for sure. As for the sides I had a comparable experience, some great some I would skip. Let's start with the corn bread. They give you an ample portion about 9" long and 3" wide or so. It was very moist both times and has a great flavor. A nice balance between sweet, and nutty like a good cornbread should be. The fries were also good. They fresh cut them and cook them in peanut oil so definitely very tasty. The mac q roni was fair, almost a little too creamy and not enough cheesy. They top them with what look like crumbled cheez-its. Worth a taste but I've had better. The beans were about the same. Average but seemed like something out of a can. As for their sauces they were average, nothing to write home about but definitely added some extra flavor. A couple of other nice extras. They have a unlimited pickle jar if you want a little added vinegar to your meal, and at the end of your meal they have a big wash tub to wash your hands off in, definitely a nice touch. All in all I will definitely be back here. For the items I liked it's some of the best bbq I've had in the burbs. A few items are to be avoided but that's the same anywhere. I'll probably wait a few more weeks to see if they get some of their opening weekend kinks worked out but I'll definitely be back for some brisket and burnt ends!
(4)Faraaz U.
Coming from Texas embeds high standards in my expectations... I really wanted to like this place and give it a nice 4/5 star review but here is where we stand. Decor- Very nice and inviting (even had a live band when I visited) Staff- Friendly and attentive Food- Full of flavor but small portions Value- This is where the deduction comes in. For the same amount of money I could get a lot more in most BBQ places I'm use to back in Texas. But if you have never tried other BBQ's then you might just find this place A-OK.
(3)Ashley W.
I am SOOO bummed because I really wanted to love this place, and the first two times I DID love it. In fact, I gave this place a 5 star rating just a few months ago! Here's how our experiences have gone - 1st visit- AMAZING. We fell in love. We ordered the sampler platter and the best thing on the entire platter was the ribs. Fall-off-the-bone delicious! We vowed to come back just for the ribs next time. 2nd visit- AMAZING. We ordered the ribs expecting tender, fall-off-the-bone like the ones we had on the sampler platter and guess what, they were. This time around we also tried the corn bread which was some of the best corn bread I've ever had! The overall experience was phenomenal, and we couldn't stop talking about the delicious, tender ribs. 3rd visit- this is where it all goes downhill. Today is Small Business Saturday, and when we thought about which small business we'd like to support, we chose Q. We had been craving some good BBQ since... welll... ever since our last visit to Q about a month ago! Again, we ordered the ribs expecting tender, fall-off-the-bone meat and guess what? They were awful! Our food came out within 5 minutes which seemed a little too quick. It's nice when food is brought to the table in a timely manner, but 5 minutes seemed a little too quick when ordering ribs. When the food arrived it looked delicious as always, but one bite told me otherwise. The ribs were chewy, hard, and lukewarm. My hubby and I ordered a full rack to split and there were just a few good bites out of the entire $21.00 rack of ribs. Our options were to complain, but I hate complaining, or just suck it up and eat the nearly cold, chewy ribs. We chose the second option. When you go to a BBQ joint, you expect that they know how to consistently do it right, and today Q proved that they can't. Will I be back? Likely. They've got some phenomenal sauces, and we love the corn bread, but you can bet we won't be ordering the ribs again. I'm so disappointed because I had thought we found our go-to place for ribs. The search continues....
(2)Dov R.
This place has fabulous food at reasonable prices. I just came back from Charleston and the food here could fit right in, The Burnt Ends are just beyond great, and the Pulled Pork is lean, extremely flavorful and an excellent choice. The staff is very engaged in making this a great meal.
(5)Chuck A.
Nice atmosphere and decor but bad food. Worst ribs I have ever had. I had 2 ribs with my meal and couldn't finish them. The sauce choices, while nice, were too spread apart in flavors and there was no 'middle of the road' flavor.
(2)John J.
Wow, this was goooood. Cornbread (good), Brisket sandwich with cole slaw (very good), and the wings with the brown sugar dry rub (better than very good). Great quality. Definitely a place to go back to. Way to go Q's!
(5)Sean B.
If you have eaten at Smoque BBQ on Pulaski in Chicago, don't be fooled by this generic imitator. It has the look and fee down, but the food just isn't that good. Mac N Cheese is terrible (unless you are 5) and they server store bought slaw like you get in a cafeteria. The sliced brisket I had was was cold and dry. The ribs which my wife had were ok, but nothing to write home about. The Q is just barely passible but if you know good BBQ you won't be pleased! Plenty of other choices near by, so keep walking and pass on this place.
(2)Joanne W.
As someone who frequented the LaGrange location, I was over the moon when I saw a second location in Naperville! Wahoo! I met some friends for dinner on July 3rd....the last day of RibFest and the night of the fireworks. Q was hopping but it did not stop us from getting our mitts on some of Q's hush puppies. Oh yea! I had a sampling of three meats which came with 2 sides and some hush puppies. I got the sliced brisket, burnts ends and the spicy sausage link. For my sides, I got the mac n cheese and the garlic balsamic green beans. Q is a no frills place. You stand in line, place your order, you are seated and your food is brought out to you. As stated earlier, Q was pretty busy but the line moved quickly and we were seated without a problem. Upon receiving my bbq meat-o-rama, I noticed that I did not get any hush puppies. Tragedy! I shouted out for immediate assistance and a server brought me out a pile of hush puppies on the double. Crisis, averted. I would skip the green beans next time - they were OK. The mac & cheese with the cheeze-it cracker sprinkling was a delight. But what about the meat, you say? Well, lemme tell ya. All of it was tasty but my favorite was the burnt ends, followed by the hot link. The brisket was good, don't get me wrong but I think next time it's going to be all about the burnt ends. Q has a variety of sauces on the table that will satisfy all you BBQ lovers out there. They also have beer, sweet tea and beer. Of course they have sodas also, but did I mention they have beer as well? Q is located in the space that housed Jilly's and is a welcome addition to downtown Naperville. Go'on and get your Q on!
(5)Lisa T.
WOW! I have lived in the western suburbs for over 5 years and have not found a BBQ place that was good until now. Yesterday a friend and I went to q-BBQ and the food was incredible. I had the sample ribs (3 bones and spicy sausage) the seasoning was dead on and the meat was NOT gas grilled. Also, the sides are great as well.
(5)Vincent M.
Heard about this joint on the News of all places (ABC - Hungry Hound). I was love BBQ so I was thrilled that Q-BBQ had a restaurant in downtown Naperville with plenty of FREE parking! We cruised in on a Saturday afternoon and ordered the Wings and BBQ Beef Tips. We ordered at the front and our food was brought to our table after a minimum wait. The food was delicious; the portion size was generous and filling. The mac & cheese and hush puppies were the best I've had at a restaurant in quite some time. We just got back from vacation in North Carolina where we had hush puppies, they were good, but Q_BBQ's were better! My only complaint is the same one I have about all BBQ places: the price; $28.00 for two people is a bit excessive for what amounts to takeout, which means Q-BBQ will be a sometime place, and something to look forward to!
(4)Ali K.
We just moved to Chicago from Kansas City, so we have high expectations for our bbq. Smelled great going in and they had burnt ends on the menu!! We were pumped- but WOW, we're we let down!! The burnt ends were very dry, the pulled pork was not pulled properly (there were big chunks of non pulled pork mixed in with my pulled pork) and had no flavor at all. Too bad, we were really hopeful.. The macaroni and cheese was really good, though!!
(1)Shaheen R.
Came here with my husband and BIL. If I'm going to come with these two guys, I better be ordering enough to feed a small village! But I digress; on to the important details Walking up/Outside: Relatively new restaurant, brick outlay, tons of windows that appear to open up on nice days. Ambience/Design: . As soon as you walk in you're greeted by a very thought out, purposeful design of the space. matte walnut wood tables, and lacquered birch wood walls with rustic photos of everything BBQ related on terra-cotta colored painted walls Setup: Each table has a roll of recycled (awesome!) paper towels and 4 of their signature sauces corralled up a sauce cage. First, the moment you see this roll of paper towel, thats when you know this meal is going to get you down and dirty, and it'll be oh so delicious! So you best not wear something nice here, just in case you get it dirty! Their four sauces are the perfect complimenting elements for any of their menu selections. Sweet BBQ, Spicy BBQ, S. Carolina Mustard, and a N. Carolina vinegar blend. Their BBQ sauces have the right amount of heat, paprika and smokiness, but their mustard is definitely the most unique. The mustard has notes of Rosemary and Thyme which elevate anything you put it on. Just remember, the mustard should bring out the flavors in what you're eating, not drown it. Don't squeeze this stuff like French's mustard on a hot dog! Service: Excellent service, occasionally you can behind a person who takes TOO long to order, so I do wish that when this happens their staff calls someone else to take customers on their other register quickly, instead of having to wait 5-7 minutes before they call someone else to man the register. Because all that's happening is they look at us with eyes that say "sorry!!" and us customers in line politely glare back "its kind of, not really, okay. When are you getting someone else". What we got/Menu selection: Extensive menu, but we all wanted to try a little of everything so we ordered a TON. We got the Papa-Q platter (has a tasting of EACH meat they offer on their entire menu), Hush Puppies, Mac-Q-Roni, Spicy Fries, Cornbread and 3 sliders prepared Q-Style (Pulled chicken, chopped brisket and burnt brisket ends). A) Papa-Q Platter: Now my husband, BIL and I don't do pork, so the staff was excellent about letting us swap out the BBQ Ribs, the sausage and the pulled pork for whatever we wanted. So we ended up subbing it out for extra sliced brisket, chopped brisket and burnt brisket ends. The ultimate breakdown of the platter was memphis chicken wings (excellent sweet-spicy, tangy dry rub), chopped brisket (delicious and well marinated), burnt brisket ends (caramelized goodness), sliced brisket (meh this one is ok, more on the mild side as far as seasoning is concerned), smoked turkey (the first few bites are good, but then you realize its a bit dry. But then again its turkey, so thats what happens 9/10 times anyways), pulled chicken (a definite favorite!!!!). B) 3 Sliders Q Style: I did the pulled chicken, chopped brisket and the burnt brisket ends. All three are nestled between brioche buns. What made it Q style was what each slider was paired with. The pulled chicken was paired with memphis sweet bbq sauce, coleslaw and bacon (I omitted the bacon here-- 9/10). Chopped brisket slider q style means it was paired with N. Carolina vinegar sauce, crumbled blue cheese and cole slaw (6/10. Blue cheese was overpowering, but if you're a blue cheese fan then you might give it a 9/10!). Brisket Burnt End Slider prepared Q style was paired with sweet and spicy aioli, mozzarella and coleslaw (9.5/10) C) Hushpuppies: Platter came with hushpuppies which we DEVOURED, and I never even liked hushpuppies before this. Literally this is the only place I'll eat or will ever eat hushpuppies from D) Mac-Q-Roni: husband is a big fan, they crush Cheese-Its over it. creamy, al dente noodles. E) Spicy Fries: OHHHH LORDDDD. GET THESE. DELICIOUS. Made fresh to order its tossed in a spicy seasoning and jalepeno slices that has just a slight amount of sweetness in it to tease your tastebuds. It's got just the right amount of heat in it to make you want more, but not too much where you just want to put your mouth over a fire hydrant and swear to a higher power that you'll never eat spicy food again. F) Cornbread: meh, this one is ok, not too special, slightly sweet TL;DR: Get the papa-Q platter especially if its your first time and you want to try a little of everything they offer. They will sub out specific meats based off preference or dietary restrictions. Get the spicy fries and hush puppies (even if you don't like hushpuppies normally, you will LOVE these). Skip the cornbread and mac-q-roni. Come in casual clothes and expect to make a mess. Don't fret if you don't finish your meal; really thought out "to-go" station for any left overs.
(4)John D.
1 1/2- 2 stars. Well. I went in there on the 4th around 7:20 PM. I noticed it was open and was deciding to either eating there or just go to Ribfest? I decided to take a menu with me. When I walked in at first, I noticed the didn't have special hours (thinking they would be open normal business hours). My thinking was that would be a bit strange to remain open with a BBQ fest happening less than a mile away but I went with it. I left and came back about 7:50 or so, having decided that I would eat there. I was only considering if I would eat there or take it with me & park somewhere before the fireworks. I noticed something when I got back. In less than 30 minutes, there was a hand written card (about 3" x 5") saying the location was closing at 8:PM. Now remember, that sign wasn't put there 30 minutes prior, which is the only reason I came back. I was somewhat confused. Having worked in a BBQ place years ago, my thinking is that they basically ran out of meat (most of it which isn't out of the question). I walk in the the door and the first thing I was told was "we're closing in 8 minutes" not hello or some greeting of the like. I asked a couple of question relating to food and they did get answered. I did my last review about 3 years ago (almost to the month) and looks like some of the service/etiquette issues needs to be addressed. While I get wanting to leave on a holiday, this is the straw you drew and you have to own it. I've been there so I can relate. At least I wasn't on hold for 8 MINUTES like I was the last time I tried to do carry out. My order was taken quickly so at least that went well. Now time to criticize the food. I have some VERY mixed emotions when I do this. I'm a big fan of BBQ and am ALWAYS looking for a good place. Now here goes nothing as it relates to my meal: A. Macaroni & cheese. VERY blah at least. The last time I ordered it, I knew it had a weird taste to it but couldn't place it. Then I looked closer. As I looked closer, I noticed the taste was like Cheez-Its. I look closer and turns out I was right. Krissy B.of Lexington, KY confirmed this in her review. Can someone PLEASE explain to me WHY you would crust or top your mac & cheese with CHEEZ-IT?!?!?! Am I missing something here? This is one time where I asked where is Gordon Ramsey when I need him? It was at least edible but VERY low on the food chain as good mac & cheese goes. It wasn't well seasoned at all. In other words, do it right or get rid of it. Save your time and mine. B. Mashed potatoes w/ gravy. TREMENDOUS although a little more gravy could be helpful. I guess it's my preference. People may not realize how fast this dish can go south (e.g., not fully cooked, over whipped, etc). Nice consistency indeed. The green beans didn't agree with me (my palate anyway) so I decided not to fill in. C. Meat #1- Spicy wings. Now I eat habanero sauce almost daily so spice for me is pain for most. The flavor was decent but only one thing. They were a bit dry. The skin in particular was a bit tougher than I expected. Maybe I got a bad batch. My previous visit is when I had the sausages. VERY good. D. Smoked turkey. It was strange because the pieces were either nice and moist or very dry. I've bbq-ed turkey myself (pieces and whole). I suspect someone cut into the meat before it was completely rested. That's the only was I know it can end up as dry as some pieces were. Both meats had a nice smoke flavor to them, but in places were dry. E. Sauces- I recommend all of them (although I generally don't eat sweet BBQ). The spicy Texas sauce has some bite but the 2 vinegar-based sauces are as good as any I've had (a little better than the place I worked at and if I said who it was, you would feel good about it). The non-vinegar sauces (Texas spicy & Memphis sweet) are also on par with the place I worked at. I REALLY want to like this place. It seems as if they take one step forward and 1-2 steps back. Service has been good or bad (as I shared before). This place had such potential but in the 3 years since my first review, it's fallen short of what I thought they'd be. Inconsistency is a bad thing. I want to dismiss it as a busy weekend but this visit was actually better than the last, which is saying a great deal. I would REALLY ASSUME not having to drive 20-25 miles for decent BBQ. There are some good places in the area. Some I REALLY believe in. Since Ribs R' Us in Westmont closed years ago, I have tried to find something that good. Some have come close. Step up your game and push for consistency and not speed. Most people who go to BBQ places are willing to wait IF the BBQ is done properly. I rated this place as I did for that very reason. I HOPE you get better.
(2)Jason R.
Here's all you need to know: Brisket. Burnt. Ends. Plus their ribs, smoked sausage, pulled pork, sauces and sides are all really good. If you like BBQ, you will like Q.
(5)Zach T.
I'm going to have to go back to Smoque, because now the Jury's out as to which is best. We went here with a party of 10. We were accommodated professionally. I had the brisked which was outstanding as were the fries and cole slaw (not always a given). They have a Kids menu, which not all BBQ places have. My kids loved their Ribs and little sandwiches respectively. The mac and cheese you can skip. I also tried the pulled pork from my wife's. It's outstanding. They offer several sauces that are all good. I'm going back for the mustard sauce... it would be great on a pork loin. The real highlight, however, was the wings. We had a taste portion (which you can add of any meat) and LOVED the wings. They are dry-rubbed and have a fantastic flavor. FANTASTIC. Do not skip them. Even if you get just a taste. Also, they have beer.
(5)Chole L.
The Sampler Platter is kinda pricy but other than that food was good and easy to find parking. I would go back again for more!
(3)Rena L.
When did this place open and why didn't I know about it? I feel like I've been in a lunchtime rut lately, so I used a post office errand to check out new lunch options in the downtown Naperville area. Really happy I found this place: Got the pulled pork w/ Q-Pups and mac-q-roni. The pulled pork was divine. Super tender, saucy, and I'm not sure what type of bun it was but it was soft and perfectly complemented the sandwich. I opted out of the coleslaw as a personal preference, but I truly think cheese would've overpower this delicious meat. However,I wish this place put as much effort into their sides as their do their meat. Both the Q-Pups and the Mac-Q-Roni lacked flavor. I mistook the Mac-Q-Roni for the Spicy Mac listed on their menu, and thinking I was going to get jalapenos was the first disappointment. The pasta just had no flavor and there was a topping that wasn't quite right...it tasted like and had the texture of Goldfish crackers? Would've like an option to upgrade to spicy mac as that seemed to have more depth/flavor. A few other things I found interesting were the option of 4 sauces to choose from, located in pumps next to the take-out bench. Great to be able to have options! But, I ordered takeout and had no napkins, silverware, nothing...in my bag which made eating back at the office interesting considering it was BBQ w// mac-n-cheese. In hindsight, there may have been all these things right across the takeout bench, so future note to all take-outers, either ask for cutlery/napkins, or check across the bench for these!
(4)Max G.
Amazing BBQ if you've never left the western suburbs. Decent enough for Naperville, but not exceptional. Had the half slab, smoky flavor, buried in mid-range sauce. Only one kind of Ribs, more baby back than St. Louis. Sides were unimpressive.
(3)Suzanne M.
Every time we go it is amazing. Fresh, amazing flavor and greats music to boot. We travel a long distances to come here and WAY worth it every time.
(5)Josh H.
This is definitely a good place and worth eating at, but not my favorite, and certainly not amongst the best I've eaten. The restaurant itself is nice, clean, smartly put together for a BBQ restaurant (each table has sauces instead of having to decide as you order, each table also has a big roll of paper-towels). Service was prompt and courteous. Definitely the kind of place that is nice to go to and enjoyable to be in. The meats I tried were good, but just not as tender, nor as flavorful as I've had in many other BBQ restaurants. It was better than most stuff I make at home, but not amazing. The sides were really the biggest hit for me. The Mac-Q-roni was really good, clever crumbled cheese crackers instead of bread crumbs, tasty and creamy. The fries were also surprisingly good (crisp, not just oily). But the rest of the sides my group tried were generally unimpressive. All-around, would visit again, but would have to be in the mood and in the area, not a destination visit for me.
(3)Shailesh J.
Its a pain to find parking spot near by this place (Naperville location) on week end.. Almost took me 10 minutes to find a parking space...Ok..now lets talk about the restaurant .. It seems to be a little cramped up on space..The tables were placed too close to each other.. The menu was confusing at the best ...It took me 4-5 minutes to place the order..and seems as it was normal as people ahead of me took the same amount of time.. I was about to order pulled chicken sandwich and the person there suggested me to go for Q plate .They didnot inform that Q plate cost more than Q sandwich. So i reverted back to Q sandwich .. I ordered Q pups as extra sides..they forgot to mention that they come in as default side.. So as far as ordering process is concerned it was not up to the mark.. Now lets talk about the food .. The food gets 3.5 stars . Pulled chicken was a little bit less juicer then expected.. but sauces and Q pups were the show stealers and just awesome.. Also corn bread ordered as side was delicious ..warm and soft .. Again 3.5 stars for food and - .5 star for service..
(3)Soraya M.
Great bbq!! Probably the best place in the suburbs! Not too find if the Mac and cheese with cheeSe it topping. Meat was fantastic!!! I will definitely be coming back!
(5)Wesley B.
It's pretty good BBQ but the sides leave something to be desired. One of the most important parts of a BBQ place after good meat is good Mac n' Cheese and BBQ Beans. Theirs are mediocre. The meat itself was good and the sauces were also pretty good. For a northern BBQ place, it's not bad.
(3)D B.
This place is awesome. The burnt ends are the best. Quick service, good food, beer to purchase - you can't go wrong. We will be back. Only reason it is not a perfect 5 is the sauces. I felt they were ok. I like my sauces.
(4)Anne B.
As a lover of all things meaty and barbecued, Q is as good as it gets in the Naperville area. I'm only reviewing based on what I've eaten which is always the brisket burnt ends, the ribs, and the turkey. The brisket burnt ends are always a must have, I'd definitely ask for the turkey again, but the ribs weren't the greatest. When I tried them, they were chewy and lukewarm. My momma's had the wings before I she didn't like them. I didn't try them but $9 for 8 wings seems a little overpriced to me. Oh, I forgot about the sides. The fries are pretty good but the hush puppies aren't my favorite. I wish they would offer the option to switch out hush puppies for something else, but I always just hand mine off to the person at the table who likes them. In all, Q's probably the best barbecue place in the Naperville and nearby area. The prices are just okay, the brisket burnt ends (this is literally their saving grace) and the smoked turkey are must have, and the wings, ribs, and hush puppies are a skip.
(4)Steve W.
I like my BBQ, and I'm pretty fussy about it. To me this is the best place I've found since Carson's closed their Lombard location. Best of all their sides are great too!!
(5)Noel W.
My favorite BBQ place yet...and so glad it is close to home. The decor is cool. The staff is friendly and accommodating. There is not a bad item on the menu...at least not that I have found yet. I love everything so much I order the platter when I take someone there. It allows me to enjoy a little bit of everything and have enough left over to take some home. Also happy to report that their food...the sauces, the rubs, etc. are gluten-free (always double check....but this is what I was told). My favorite item is (are?) the burnt ends....like a warm, tasty, mouth watering beef jerky. If you do have leftovers to take home, make sure to grab some pickles and extra BBQ sauce (free!). Will be going here frequently....if you love BBQ, you must give this a place on your To Do list.
(5)David M.
Q-Combo w/ 2 Meats (Chopped Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork) & 2 Sides (Green Beans, Slaw) and Hush Puppies The 2 Meat Platter served w/ Choice of 2 Sides and Q Pups - $14.99 BBQ, What's that? LMAO! It would not be appropriate if I didn't review a BBQ joint AT LEAST once a month! Well, Q did it right... Whether it be the tender brisket or the juicy pulled pork, you're sure to be pleased. Honestly, those Q Pups are worth their own visit. I don't know if they'd be considered Hush Puppies or not but, regardless, they're off the chain! The location as pretty awesome as it's located in Downtown Naperville (It's about time BBQ moved in!), which is one of the coolest suburban cities in the country. Q is a clean, friendly place that is great for seeing or being seen. Stop by and tell 'em you want some good Q!
(4)Todd R.
Stopped by for lunch on a whim in Naperville visiting family. My wife doesn't normally choose the restaurant but I'm glad she did today!!!!
(5)Melissa C.
I've been to Q a few times, but not recently. Driving toward Naperville, a girlfriend and I decided to stop here for a quick bite to eat. Their menu isn't that big, but almost everything on the menu is done very well. Brisket burnt ends: Were the burnt ends good? Yes. Were they the "best" thing they have there? No. I've never had burnt ends anywhere else, but the girl who checked us out said that they were super tender and succulent. Yes, there were quite a few pieces that were like that (probably ones that had a lot of fat that was rendered down) but some pieces were pretty dry. I think next time I go, I'll stick to the pulled pork or sliced brisket. It does come with a side of spicy aioli, which is a great pair to the sauce the burnt ends are in. Bacon Mac-Q-Roni: Mac and Cheese with Bacon....delicious bacon...and cheesy but not too cheesy mac and cheese. YUM! Brussels Sprouts (plain): don't let "plain" fool you. Plain just means they use their regular seasoning on the sprouts. They fry them, and cover them with this delicious salty sweet seasoning that goes well with any meat. Yum! Bark-B-Q: If you're going home to a fluff child after dinner, definitely pick up a bark-b-q plate! It's plain pulled chicken with lightly cooked carrots (I think they just blanch them) for the pup. I got a small for my 10 lb yorkie, and the small lasted him two meals! It was a nice treat for him!
(4)Tom C.
All I have to say is WOW! The burnt ends brisket was out of this world. It was full of flavor. Enough said, I ordered the 2 meat meal, the burnt end brisket and Memphis style wings with two sides. The cornbread and the cole slaw. When I received my order it came with 2 hush puppies! These puppies are the bomb. If I would of known I wouldn't ordered the corn bread. But at least I tried it and it was really good. Overall, the service was first class as the person who was taking my order was very friendly. I will be back to bring my family. I truly recommend this BBQ restaurant. #SenorFood
(5)Jimmy K.
This is a nice mid size restaurant with classic atmosphere. If you go here, you have to get their burnt ends brisket! I prefer the plate rather than the sandwich. It helps me appreciate the meat more. My favorite sauce is the spicy BBQ. It's got a kick but you can't stop eating it! The only disappointment was their ribs. Kinda dry and hard... Definitely not worth the price. Additionally, sides were good but nothing outstanding and mind blowing. I'd definitely say that it's a must stop by place in Naperville!
(4)Kat D.
When I'm craving bbq, Q is my go to place. From their chicken to their ribs, this place knows how to bbq. The ribs are so tender, it falls off the bone. Love their burnt ends. The bbq chicken is so moist and full of flavor. I recommend ordering their Q platter. It's a taste of all the bbq meats. The first time I ordered that, it helped me decide what I wanted the next time i came back. Order their chicken wings. They are cooked crispy and perfectly. And their sides are awesome. Q pups are my favorite. And no joke, Q is the reason I fell in love with roasted brussel sprouts with bacon...Mmm. Trust me, I was a skeptic. But their brussel sprouts had me coming back for more. The one thing that I appreciate the most is that they don't douse the meat in any sauce at all. They have 5 bottles of house made sauce at the tables. And the best part is you can put whatever sauce you want on the bbq meats. I thank you, Q, for allowing us to choose the sauces instead of smothering the meat.
(5)Jon N.
This was the second Q-BBQ I've tried in Chicago. The first time, in La Grange, we tried the burnt ends. These burnt ends were over-cooked, kind of hard and chewy. I kept reading the reviews of their burnt ends and maybe we just got a bad "batch" but it sure kept me from ordering them again tonight. So I decided to try the ribs. The ribs were a little tough off the bone and really didn't have much of the smokey flavor to them. I was pretty disappointed as this was the second strike. Now I did try my wife's brisket and that was the better of the two meals. But even then I think there are other places in Chicago that do brisket better. I'm just saying that for me, I just don't get people raving about Q when there are other places with much better 'cue.
(3)Kayla G.
Good classic barbecue. The 5 of us ordered the large sampler and full slab rib meal and it was enough to fill us up. Order an extra side of the hush puppies because they are delish! We even bought some of the sweet sauce to take home. Definitely recommend it!
(5)Sarah L.
I stopped in here for dinner last night with my sister. She ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with fries and I ordered the pulled chicken plate with sides of macaroni and cheese and coleslaw and 2 hush puppies. The food was delicious and served very quickly! My only complaint (and reason for 4 vs 5 stars) is the ordering system - it is similar to a Panera in that you order immediately and your food is delivered to your table. We weren't expecting this though and were caught off guard at having to order so quickly (since there was no line, which was nice). If we had longer to read the menu I would've realized they served Carolina style bbq and would've ordered that. As it was I loved my food, was able to take home leftovers for lunch and know what I'll try next time for lunch!
(4)Norman P.
Great atmosphere as soon as you step inside. Staff was great and very helpful on our first visit. Meat was moist and the sauces were amazing. Ordered the Papa Q Platter to satisfy my bbq craving. Awesome!!! Great experience and will definitely be back.
(5)Glenda R.
Stumbled upon this restaurant with my husband and after looking at the reviews on here we decided to try it out. WOW. WOW. WOW. The food is VERY delicious and they have amazing sweet tea! I had the burnt brisket tip plate and it was worth every penny we spent. The servers were friendly and helpful since we didn't know exactly how to order. By the time we left we were both full and happy with what we ate. If you love BBQ...EAT HERE!!!
(5)Yu-Chi F.
This is an awesome BBQ place for southern style food. It's a bit pricey but worth it. Their sliders are awesome ( my son gets the pulled pork and pulled chicken sliders ). I like their brisket Burnt ends or the Memphis chicken wings ... They have combos or their sampler meat plates. Worth trying a few different options. Yummmm
(5)Melissa B.
I love the location in La Grange and was excited when lunch in Naperville lead me here the other day. I was here at an off hour and it was pretty empty. I have a feeling it can fill up though. We decided to split a little of everything. We shared... Wings Brisket sandwich Mashed potatoes and gravy Corn fritters Mac & cheese Spicy brussel sprouts We also each had a bottle of lagunitas beer. All of this for around $30 and we couldn't even finish everything. Everything was amazing but the spicy brussel sprouts are to die for! Make sure you order those!! I'll probably head to the La Grange location more because I live closer, but this one shouldn't be missed! Service was friendly and patient with us. Even when we stood at the front forever because we were unsure of what we wanted at first.
(5)Ace R.
This place is in a nice location in downtown Naperville (close to Frost Gelato, which you should go to for dessert). I had the burnt ends sandwich Q-Style (with cheese and coleslaw) and it was pretty decent. I have had better barbecue and would probably be back if I'm really craving it and I'm in the area. I also had the spicy jalapeño fries which were decent but not great. They do give a very large portion of fries (enough for 3 - 4 people). The restaurant itself is very clean and nice for a quick bite to eat. You order your food at the register and they bring it to you.
(3)Timothy S.
Fantastic! They give you a ton of food. The pulled pork sandwich had a huge serving of moist, smoky pork. I chose the french fries for my side, and they were also amazing. The q-style sandwich adds gouda cheese and Cole slaw to the sandwich. Both tasted great, but I think it would be fine without the cheese. The wings were also great! The spicy Memphis was an interesting flavor for the wings. Little bit of spicy with a hint of sweetness. The hush puppies were a delicious and a nice touch to the meal.
(5)Mark A.
Not often can you find good BBQ outside of the usual BBQ states but this place nails it. Large portions, tons of options with all the sides too. Great beer selection. A little quirky set up as you have to order and then have items brought to your table. Wasn't a problem for us but I can see potential issues if the place gets busy and say for example you want another beer, do you have to wait on line again? I would prefer if meats didn't come smothered in sauce, as they give you a few options on the table to add... not sure if you can ask for meats to come out plain( didn't ask). Will definitely be back in the future, nice place to grab simple BBQ in downtown Naperville. Items we had: Burnt Ends: A+ Ribs: A+ Corn Bread: A Hush Puppies: B+ Fries: B+
(5)Melanie B.
Been gardening all day this Memorial Day. I need BBQ but haven't the time nor energy to do it right. And after living in TX, I won't waste calories on mediocre BBQ. Insert Q!!! The brisket, the burnt ends, the pulled pork. It all does this body good ;). I have tried every single side and the only one I wouldn't order again are the green beans. I just don't care for them. If I weren't so attached to my waistline, I'd eat my weight in Q-pups (hush puppies) though!! For reals. We typically eat there but sometimes we order takeout and eat at home. Convenient pickup for takeout when you can park in back and don't have to worry about downtown parking.
(5)Shondra M.
The food here is fantastic. The meats are very tender and tasty, and there are a few different bbq sauces to try as well as a mustard. Prices are decent, staff is friendly. I will definitely be returning.
(5)Gary C.
Probably the best quality bbq joint in the west burbs. The brisket burnt ends are awesome. The ribs we tried were done to near perfectly. Tender, but still a good bite to them. Pulled pork was okay, but mine is better. For those days I can't do my own Q, this place can fill in.
(4)Amy H.
Wow, this place is good, like reeeeeal good. Had the trio of sliders with the chicken, brisket and pork- all were excellent. Moist and flavorful without being full of sauce. The spicy Brussels sprouts were pretty amazing as well. Loved the vinegar BBQ sauce and the spicy one too. Excellent cornbread as well! They also have a solid beer selection. I was happy to see Revolution's Rosa, which has become one of my new faves, on the menu. All around great BBQ. Guess I won't miss Smoque as much as I thought. :)
(5)Charles J.
Memphis wings are crispy perfect bird, turkey is poultry perfection is too. Beef and pork and a little light on flavor but sauce is spot on. Fries are nice, beans are crunchy not quite done. Ambiance is cool, but you order first fast casual style, a little of a wait but it's orderly and quick. It's still though one of the best bbq places around, if you like good que it's worth a visit.
(4)Lois C.
I'm a fan! Came here after going to the Dupage Children's museum and we got here right before the mad rush with a wait out the door. My husband and I shared the sampler platter with spicy brussels sprouts and fresh cut fries, my daughter and son shared the kid's meal 2 sliders (brisket and pulled pork) with cornbread and we devoured our meal. The sampler platter was $21.99 and came with brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, 2 chicken wings, 2 ribs, spicy sausage, 2 q puppies, and 2 sides. We ate about 3/4 of it and took the rest home. Our favorite was the wing (you didn't need a sauce for it, it was delicious just the way it is) and the brisket was also good. The ribs was probably our least favorite, it was dry and tough to get down. I loved the brussels sprouts, it had a kick and was definitely not healthy (tons of oil which is probably what made it yummy but I'm a fan of regular brussels sprouts as well). The fries were good but nothing spectacular. The cornbread was also good, my children devoured it. We also had a side of mashed potatoes with gravy, that was also good and had lots of flavor. Q puppies were fried perfectly and really flavorful, probably the best hush puppies I've had here in Illinois. My friends had the burnt ends and it was delicious. Definitely something I'd recommend. We got here at 5:00 on a Saturday and it got packed by 5:15. The food came out fairly quickly and they take your plate for you at the end of your meal which is a nice touch. I'll definitely be coming here again the next time I'm in the area!
(4)Kathleen M.
I visit Naperville once a month for my Modern Quilt Guild. Added to the equation is an electric car and a good long time friend who lives there. My electric car has a guaranteed charge of 78 miles and the trip to Naperville is 40. I am not that good at math but I can figure out that a minus 2 balance here. Obvi solution is to charge the car. And Naperville is such a cool, hip, green place that they have multiple charging stations in their downtown. And while you're charging, why not have dinner with a dear friend? I've long been a fan of Q from the LaGrange location. My friend had a bday party at 7:00 so we wanted to meet around 4:15 somewhere near the charging station where I could eat and she could not and I would make my 6:00 guild meeting on time. Q met all our needs. I had the smoked chicken plate with mac n cheese and cole slaw. Delish! Plus we were treated like royalty while we talked and talked. Great food, super polite staff, clean bathrooms and my car charged? Perfect choice. My pal and I will be back, pdQ!
(5)Alex P.
It's not southern bbq but all in all not a bad experience. A good positive was the staff were friendly the place was clean and fairly well organized for being busy . The food was just good it wasn't great the feeling was more commissary mass-produced rather than actual smoked or barbecue.
(3)Sarah S.
Never thought coleslaw complemented a sandwich until I came to this place. The line during evening hours can be long but it's well worth the wait.
(5)Sarah S.
I stopped into Q-BBQ for dinner last week with some friends and was completely satisfied with my experience. All the staff seems to be on the younger highschool & college age but they were all very nice and seemed capable enough. There were some issues with my friend's order at the cash register and ringing him out but it all got worked out in the end. They were nice enough to let me order a kids meal...but really I don't know what was kid-ish about it at all because it was a pretty big portion! I got two mini sliders - pulled pork & brisket, a side of mac & cheese and a small soda drink for $7.99. It filled me completely up plus I got a beer which admittedly is a bit strange with a kids' meal. They seem to have a beer on special, changing each week or month. When I went it was Revolution's Eugene Porter which I'm a big fan of. $4.50 for a can really ain't too shabby! One gentleman working reserved a corner booth for our party of five which seems to be standard procedure here. As you order, he reserves you a table to sit down and they then bring your food out to you. I quite enjoyed everything I ordered. I thought both meats could have a bit more wetness to them but I doused them with sweet sauce and they were good to go. The sweet sauce was really delicious with no spice. My side of mac & cheese was topped with some mashed up cheez-it crackers which was an interesting little touch. I loved the mac & cheese, smooth and creamy. That being said I wasn't blown away by any of the food. I found it good on all levels but not amazing or great. I'm not running to go to Q, nor would I venture out of my way for it, however the food is good and I wouldn't hesitate to stop in for a bit when in the 'hood.
(4)Tee G.
One evening a while back, I found myself in Naperville late in the evening and wanted to pick up a quick dinner before I headed home. Little did I know it would turn my husband into a total Q addict. It's one of his favorite places to go. Sometimes I cringe thinking about how badly parking is going to be, but nothing can keep him away. Don't get me wrong, I like it too! The pulled chicken is probably my favorite. Sometimes I'll also get pulled chicken on top of their western salad. The husband likes the 2 meat platter, and though he shakes things up sometimes, his two favorites seem to be the spicy sausage and burnt ends. He especially likes the burnt ends. One of my close friends gets sick eating pork, so I appreciate that they have a variety of tasty non-pork options. There is a bbq place in Wheaton I like (though husband doesn't seem to like that one as much), but they don't have pulled chicken and their beef items are frequently sold out. We've never had that problem at Q. Over many (many) visits, I think every employee I've run across has been very courteous and friendly. I think my only nitpick is that I'm not crazy about the cheez-it topping on the mac and cheese. Definitely minor enough that it doesn't keep us away!
(5)Sarah C.
Well, they definitely have meat here. It would be so much better if it wasn't all so greasy. I like the idea of the spicy Brussels sprouts but you have to pour off the grease and kind of blot them. The pickles are pretty good, though.
(3)Eppie E.
Q's dry overcooked brisket almost killed me. my first bite of the burnt ends was so dry it got stuck in my throat. if it were not for a hefty cough, I might be blue on the floor. I decided to give Q a try, because I was in the area. this restaurant is the same old tired model for a northern barbecue restaurant. beautiful interior, chalkboard menu, nice packaging, horrendously horrible dry food with absolutely zero smoke flavor. The restaurant owners , barbecue is a cooking process rather than sauce slapped on meat. When I try a new restaurant, I always order the burnt ends. the burnt ends should have a pervasive smoke flavor however this restaurant had no smoke flavor. I'm guessing based on the dryness of the brisket that they boil an oven cook their meat. The only reason I gave this restaurant 2 stars was because their sauce is pretty good. So if you like boiled dry BBQ slathered in barbecue sauce, then this restaurant is for you.
(2)Katie C.
My boyfriend really likes this place but last time we went they changed up the fries big time. They used to have fresh cut fries which were some of the best I ever had. This time they tasted like frozen fries. They had no seasoning and we're chewy and looked completely different than they normally do. We asked about it and they didn't know anything about it. Not sure that we will be back again
(2)Mike O.
Carolina pulled pork was good, and the brisket okay. The "Southern Sweet Tea" must have been mislabeled because it tasted like unsweetened powdered tea. McDonald's has better sweet tea. The sauces were not very good certainly nothing like the Rendezvous in Memphis. Having been raised in the South, I consider myself somewhat of a BBQ afficianado. This place in an imposter.
(3)Kara C.
Super tasty. Their fries are fantastic, too, nice and salty. And you can drink a beer with your BBQ! Quick, friendly service. Their children's menu items are huge portions, could even split for picky eaters.
(4)Glenda C.
I was really looking forward to eating here after recommendations from friends, but unfortunately my visit fell short. The first bust was the spicy brussel spouts. It had so much potential but failed miserably because they were very undercooked. I could barely get through eating 1 because it was rock hard. When I asked someone on staff about them, they explained that they are only flashed fried and typically not very soft inside. So we kept them and suffered through the toughness. The second strike came when my toddler discovered not 1, but 2 plastic pieces in his mac and cheese! The manager apologized and offered a coupon for our next visit, but I am not sure we will be back after that experience.
(2)Jim G.
They have the best BBQ I've had anywhere in the area! I usually get the sliders so I can get some variety because everything is so good.
(5)Bill B.
First (and certainly won't be last) time there. What a find!! If you don't try anything else, have the burnt ends and spicy roasted brussel sprouts...OMG outstanding. Regular brisket, pulled pork, beans and coleslaw...everything we tried was great...and the hushpuppies...need I say more, except TRY IT!!
(5)Megan S.
This place is great. Very comparable to my favorite place in Texas, Smokey-Mo's. All the meats are gluten free. I first learned about Q via a catered lunch in the loop. BF and I finished a workout in Lakeview so I took him here. We then were coming back from a weekend in Rockford and decided to stop in Naperville for dinner. The food is the same as the Lakeview location. Sweet is my favorite but I wish there was a medium option as the spicy is tooo spicy. It's to the point where there's not much flavor just heat. The vinegar and mustard options aren't my cup of tea. The brisket is my favorite and the sausage has a good kick of spice to it. The mashed potatoes are phenomenal! M said that the fries are kick a$$. The cole slaw is....cole slaw. I really wish i could have, or he liked mac and cheese. I'm a sucker for good M&C. This restaurant will definitely stay in the rotation. I like this location for the size (compared to Lakeview) but the staff was friendlier in the city, believe it or not.
(4)Michelangelo V.
Honest reviews: not that good i loved the hush puppies n the brussel sprouts they were amaizing the mac n cheeze was gross the pulled pork meh was ok the carolina sauce on it was gross all in all its jus ok best barbeque in naperville is thomas barbeque
(1)Marco N.
Cornbread and ribs are DELICIOUS!!! The sauce for the ribs was good too. And try the hush puppies also.
(5)K.K. D.
Wow! I have had some delicious BBQ in The Chicago area but so far this is the best! I love Pappy's Smokehouse in St. Louis and this place ranks up there with the best! Huge portions, good price, & good service. We had a 2 meat combo burnt ends (try the spicy aioli sauce YUMMY) and pulled pork side of mashed potatoes and baked beans. Was more then enough for us to share! But those Q puppies are addicting we had to order more and then add a sample size of ribs too! So tender! BBQ sauces were tasty that Texas Spicy sauce was my favorite! Can't wait to go back for some more I need to try the spicy brussel sprouts which I heard were amazing! If you crave BBQ like I do this is the place to go!
(5)Krissy B.
This place is ok, but it's not my favorite. The Mac and cheese is downright horrible. What corporate nitwit thought cheese-its would be a good topping? Yuck. Mashed potatoes were good. Pulled pork was ok, got mine unsauced. It was moist, but lacked any flavor/smokiness. The sauces they provide you with are all grossly offensive IMO. I mixed the sweet, mustard, and vinegar together. Overall this place is ok but there's better, non-corporate alternatives. I suspect this place makes bank mainly because of the location.
(2)Tracie D.
Second time I've tried this place; I want to love it but can't. As a point of reference while I have had great bbq in other states-my review is comparing this place to similar Famous Dave's. 1st- burnt ends are thumbs down. Rather than the expected deliciousness of charred ends these were just cubes of brisket, nothing special at all. The Hushpuppies are a delight, and self serve pickles/BBQ sauce bar is nice. The brisket chili was a pleasant take out item. Overall, a solid place in downtown Naperville that is the BBQ option. Potential to be great but likely the marketplace will support without any changes. Won't become a destination for BBQ unless it provides more wow factor IMHO.
(3)Dick W.
My first impression of this place was that ot was very well put together. Nice ambiance, clean and modern. I ordered the chopped brisket plate. While waiting, I realized that I couldnt smell any bbq in the place at all. Couldnt smell the meat or the smoke. This started to get me a bit worried. Then I realized that the music playing in this joint was not that of a bbq joint. I began looking around and realized that I was almost the only person in the place. The good news is that the brisket was decent. The fries were good. The sauces were pretty great! It's nice that there are like 3-4 sauces to choose from and I used them all. I will give them a second shot to be sure, but I still have my reservations about this place's staying power.
(4)Mark H.
I ordered their Memphis wings. They were of course dry rubbed and had an ok taste. They were a little dry. I'll have to try their pork to be able to judge just how good they are.
(3)Carmen W.
love, love, love this food. I love the spicy bbq sauce it's amazing. The fries are really good. Not a huge fan of the macaroni and cheese. I have had the pulled pork and beef brisquet. This is a bit pricey. I dont necessarily care for the way you order your food because if you have never been there its a bit confusing.
(5)Tracy S.
BBQ is probably one of my favorite foods and Q-BBQ is my go to spot in the suburbs. My brother and I on our most recent trip tried the Papa-Q platter which has a sampling of all their meats for two people and everything was delicious. It was a great deal for $29.99! What's even better is that they have great sides to go along with the BBQ. A great place for all!
(4)Dave M.
Great BBQ. Everything is delicious- the burnt end brisket is possibly the best thing you can eat in town.
(5)Shannon A.
Let me start out by saying I am NOT a BBQ person. That being said, I truly enjoyed the meal I had at Q. I got the sliced brisket with mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. The brisket was delicious, easily cut with a plastic fork, not over sauced and the portion size was generous. The potatoes were fantastic however the mac and cheese was a little weak (I will definitely get two sides of mashed potatoes next time). I wish they gave you *slightly* larger portions of the sides. The staff was very friendly, the restaurant was clean and they have PLENTY of napkins and places to wash your hands! Overall I was pleased with the food and service I got at Q.
(4)Tim H.
Never come here again. They use peanut oil and have ZERO allergy warnings The place is dangerous to the thousands of people who now have food allergies What a joke Please do not give this place your money App made me give it a 1. It's a 0. Zero.
(1)Cam M.
SUPER GREAT BBQ!!! Ribs are cooked to perfection and you cannot go wrong with any of the sides. I will drive from Geneva for a Q fix. Wish they would consider opening a place in the Fox River area. Just writing this review gets my taste buds going. You need stop there and you will be hooked
(5)Samantha B.
I thoroughly enjoy the barbeque at this place. As a former resident of North Carolina, I was more than delighted when I saw Q's advertising Carolina pulled pork. It is extremely hard to find the vinegar-based sauce and coleslaw topped brisket that defines true Carolina barbeque. Unfortunately....this was not it. Not even close. Although I will still give this place four stars because the barbeque was delicious! The first time I went, I ordered the beef brisket sandwich. It comes with one side and two hush puppies. I made the sandwich "Q-style" which means for $1.50 more they will add coleslaw, bleu cheese crumbles, and "carolina" sauce, which as stated previously...was not even remotely close, yet still a good spicy brown sauce. They gave me a huge, heaping side of fries that I couldn't even finish after conquering the massive butchered cow that was my sandwich. They also have a condiments bar where you can try at least five different barbeque sauces and mustards. Plus all you can eat pickle slices! The meal was $8.99, not including the q-style price, tax and a drink. Today I ordered the full slab of ribs meal which comes with two sides. It was $23.99, again not including tax or drinks. The ribs were meaty and flavorful. Everything fell right off of the bone. I also got their macaroni and cheese which has cheez-its crumbled on top of it! Awesome idea and quite delish. Shared this meal with my husband and we still had ribs left over. I'm telling you...the portion sizes are great for the price. Again, my only complaint is this was not carolina style barbeque. It is more memphis or kansas city. I would compare this place to a fast-food version of Famous Daves, before Famous Daves got money hungry and started cutting down their portion sizes and measuring out how much meat goes on a sandwich. Give me a break, Dave.
(4)Henri and Nicole D.
Now I'm the office hero! Great experience all around! Last minute office lunch, and everyone picks me to set it up. I have 3 hours to feed 30 people. Everyone's weighing in... and Q's comes up... a lot! So, I think, "Man 30 people in (now) 2.5 hours, no way." I reach out to find out if this is doable, and the folks at Q's don't even blink an eye. They say sure, take the order and call us when you're ready. So I scramble, office emails fly, orders and reorders come in, and I see it... a load of picky eaters who want to customize just about every dish. AGAIN, Q's doesn't even flinch. Not even a hesitation. I arrive around lunch time, the line out the door, and I soar pass all those last minute diners right to the counter where my meals are waiting with assistance to get it to the car. Oh, those in line are envious of me know, I can feel the jealousy dripping off me as I slide pass them with bag after bag of BBQ goodness. I'm in, I'm out, I'm back at work before the engine gets hot. I pass out the meals...and... silence. A usually noisy office is filled with silence as my quickly sated coworkers fill their bellies with deliciousness prepared JUST the way they wanted it. Now, I'm the office hero and everyone talking about the next time we order Q's, I'm the guy to go to for this, because I can handle tough situations. The secret's out now, Q's staff lead by leaders Liz and Tyler will knock it out the park for you.
(5)Steve O.
For delicious, hassle free BBQ, Q is about as good as it gets. I sometimes find myself looking for excuses to drive in the area of Q just to have a reason to stop in for a bite. Every meat I have tried, and I've tried nearly all of them, are fantastic and consistently good. Favorites are the pulled pork, the sliced brisket, the chicken and the smoked sausage. Pulled pork and brisket in particular have excellent smokey flavor, and not saturated in sauce. This allows me to use the sauce I like best, with as little or as much as I want, rather than end up with a soggy mess. The brisket is great, I prefer the sliced versus the chopped, just a personal preference. The sides are very good, although I wish the coleslaw and beans were a little larger, the portion of fries you get is huge, and the slaw and beans seem a little light in comparison. My wife and I usually get 4 different sides between us so we can have some of each. The coleslaw is great, good flavor and fresh. The beans are very good. The brussel sprouts are out of this world. I like the regular instead of the spicy, they have a great flavor and are seasoned perfectly, the spicy is just more heat than I prefer. I don't order the mac and cheese often, but it is good. I don't understand the outrage I see in other reviews that they use cheez-its as a topping. It's cheese crackers on top of mac and cheese. Sorry it's not how mommy makes it with the powdered cheese packet, good god. I believe everything comes with Q-puppies, a guilty pleasure of deep fried goodness. Oh, by the way, DO NOT forget to grab a cup or 2 of the house made pickles that are available at the condiment station. These are awesome. The kids all love the food, my son is an 11 year old BBQ junkie in training, and my 2 girls are starting to get a bit more adventurous. The girls love the chicken tenders and the fries, and I can usually talk at least one of them into the pulled chicken. Service has always been good. It is a quick service set up, where you place your order and pay at the counter, and a few minutes later the food is brought out to you. Bonus points for serving Coke products and having excellent Iced tea. All of you Coke snobs out there will know what I'm talking about. Nothing worse than loving the food at a place but having to choke down Pepsi. Keep up the good work Q!
(5)D P.
Have ate at the Lagrange location before and thought was ok. Was in Naperville so I tried this location. EVERYTHING was extrA! Q style was a tablespoon of slaw for a $1.50. Brussels sprouts were 2.39 over the standard sides. A 10 oz soft drink was $2.39. All told a sandwich a Coke was$15.23.
(2)Edi I.
This is a really nice option for a barbecue craving on the go! Great food great menu and fast service. Love the sliders on the menu, you get to try what you like best to order a bigger portion next time ! Will definitely be back.
(5)Ron P.
Not sure what has happened to this place. It used to be a solid bbq place in Naperville. Went last week and the food was mediocre at best. Had half a slab with beans and cole slaw. The ribs came out extremely dry and cold. The beans had maybe six beans in the container and the slaw had no flavor. Wife got brisket which tasted more like roast beef. The cost does not justify the quality. Will not go back.
(2)Alex S.
I've been here twice so far and I was pleased both times. The atmosphere is really nice and the staff are friendly. The food is on the more expensive side but they give you really big portions so you get your moneys worth. Having lived in North Carolina for about 5 years, I was excited to eat their Carolina pulled pork platter. It came with a huge amount of pork and two sides. I chose the green beans which were nothing too special, and the mac and cheese which had an added touch of cheeze-its making it even better. The Carolina sauce however was not the same. It is supposed to be vinegar based but this is more on the think side in my opinion. The second time my wife and I split a whole rack of ribs which were amazing. They have a little condiment area too with homemade pickles that are awesome. Every table also has all of their sauces that you can add to your plate so its fun to try them all. The wait for your food is pretty short also which is a plus. Overall I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for some good BBQ.
(4)Courtney R.
If Q-BBQ were a man, I would be making a fool out of myself. EVERYTHING here is good. Everything. The Brussels sprouts are excellent, make sure you order the original ones if you don't like spicy foods. I have been here quite a few times, If I go to Naperville, I am going to Q's.
(5)Connie L.
I finally made it out here after hearing raving reviews and I wish I did it sooner. The food comes out lightning fast and the portions are generous. I split a two meat combo (brisket and pulled pork) with the bf and it definitely filled us up. The meat is prepared without any BBQ sauce but there are different sauces available at each table.
(5)Ashley S.
Ohhh yum! I'm born and raised in Naperville, but I moved to southern California a while back, so it's always nice to come back and check out new places! I was meeting up with some friends on a trip back home and we met here- and oh man it was yummy! I got the pulled chicken sandwich with brussell (maybe there's only one l there..) sprouts- OH MY THEY WERE SO GOOD!! Prices were pretty decent too for the amount of food I got! Yum!
(3)Luke W.
This restaurant had excellent food and great service! The greater was very nice, friendly, and helpful. On top of that - this was the best BBQ food I've had in a long time. We will be returning for dinner!
(5)Sarah S.
Delicious! Went here with my brother. He got the ribs and I got a pulled pork sandwich. Loved all the sauces and my sandwich was amazing! The sides are really good too! In my opinion the ribs still don't top Portillo's ribs but that's just my thing.
(4)Juan L.
My girlfriend and I along with two other friends decided to eat here on Wednesday at around 7 pm. I ordered the papa Q platter me and my gf just decided to share it because it sounded like enough. It came with pretty much all there meats on the menu, two sides and hush puppies. I will start of by saying that for some reason there were no hush puppies on my platter but instead it had 4 wings which I was okay with. No on to the meat! Pulled pork- was extremely tender and tasted good Pulled chocked- had a good smoky flavor and tender Chopped brisket- tender and great flavor Ribs- were extremely tender and had a great rub on them Hot Sausage- was kinda cold but had good flavor and a nice bite to it. Sliced brisket- was by far the worst. It was cold and way to dry. Hard to chew. Sliced turkey- was more tender than the brisket which I thought would not be possible. Brisket burnt ends- were really good, had great bark, great smoky flavor. Spicy wings- were incredibly tender and the dry rub was finger licking good. Our two sides were Mac and cheese and cole slaw. Mac and cheese was pretty bland. The cole slaw was really watery. The staff were all reall nice. Nice place to hang out with friends. I will definitely be back again maybe at a earlier time for fresher food.
(4)Sarah H.
Things that are excellent: 1) Fast service once you've paid. Food comes out quickly; servers are so wonderful and friendly. 2) Selection of sauces. Yes. Just amazing. I am a fan of the sauces! Though, some will argue the sauce will cover/hide the taste of the meat. 3) Get your own takeout boxes, bags, and pretty much anything you can think of. 4) Of course, the food. Carolina pulled pork sandwich was excellent. Large portion size. The side of fries is HUGE (and a bit salty). More petite ladies may want to try a kid's meal, as I think those sizes may be much more manageable. The Q-Plate may be too large and can probably be shared by two smaller ladies. Things they need to work on: 1) Faster cashiers. I was there for lunch on a weekday and there was one register manned. The line was always at the door. This points to two things: one, poor staffing of registers and two, poor layout design as they did not consider how slowly the line would move. 2) Poor layout: They're working with a small space and trying to maximize their space, but really I think they could have sacrificed a few tables so I'm not constantly running into the next table as I move to get a refill. 3) I am not so sure if I am a fan of the "let me grab you a number, find you a table somewhere, and make you remember the number." I do understand it helps to "maximize space," but I can find my own table, thanks. Next time I want to try their southern sweet tea! Overall solid addition to downtown Naperville. If only parking wasn't such a nightmare!
(5)Cindy D.
Brisket tender and tasty. Green beans not so much. Everything was cold except the ale. But the brisket was delicious. I like the sweet sauce with a hint of heat. the little hush puppies were a treat.
(3)Scott K.
When it comes to American cuisine BBQ and chicken compete big time but with Q's in the competition chicken took a lickin. I'm a kid in a candy store when it comes to BBQ; beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs, oh the agony I'd have to go through if I had to choose one, but they have a multiple meat option of 1 - 4, which suppresses a severe case of anxiety. I need 4 because they have something I've not had before called burnt ends. Burnt ends is probably now my favorite way to eat cow, it is so tasting you may find yourself mooing in ecstasy. My blood pump repair man is pleased the closest location to Cortland is Naperville otherwise I be there weekly closing up my arteries quicker than the snap of an alligator's mouth. If there is one bummer it's they got onions in their baked beans 'ewhhh' I hate onions (see other reviews) but they got a mac n cheese I double on for my two sides. They have fries but one must be health conscious. If you like BBQ and have not tried Q's drop all things and go and put yourself in total carnivore utopia.
(5)Katey A.
Q, where have you been all of my life? Please do not ever leave Naperville. Walking into Q-BBQ you immediately feel like you're down south. Rustic interior, large chalk board menus, and the staff is filled with southern charm. I was stunned by the number of options to choose from. You order at the counter and some one brings you your order. After staring at the menu for longer than I care to admit, I settled on a half slab of ribs, the bacon mac n cheese, and cornbread. Win, win, WIN! Their ribs are so meaty that I could only eat three ribs. The bacon mac and cheese was some of the best mac n cheese that I've had from a bbq joint in a long time. (Many places serve this weird velveta style mac and cheese that looks like it's been sitting out for too long. Gross.) Q's was not like that at all. The people I was with ordered the regular mac n cheese which comes with cheesy puffs crumbled on top for texture. They also were raving about the burnt ends saying it was some of the best they've ever had. This of course means I have to go back for further research. They have about 4-5 sauces. Our favorites were the sweet bbq sauce and the mustard bbq sauce. I highly recommend this place to all bbq lovers. So glad it's here!
(5)John K.
Excellent
(2)Matthew M.
Everyone I know loves this place for some reason but it's really just average bbq. The meat isn't very flavorful or tender, I love brisket but the version the serve here clearly isn't smoked for long enough (I've had it a couple of times and always find chewy globs of fat) and the pork and sausage is bland. The sides are really good though and the hush puppies are amazing. I get dragged here too often because everyone else loves it and those hush puppies save my dining experience.
(3)Justin C.
Eat the brussel sprouts. I know, I know. But eat the brussel sprouts.
(5)Melissa M.
The baked beans with brisket was awesome. The burnt ends brisket was tasty but fatty. The service was fast and freindly. I will definetly come back.
(4)Michael M.
This is an update to the review I posted on 9/9/2012. I have to admit, this place has grown on me. I said that I wasn't sure if my feelings were based on the expectations...they were. I believe that this is probably the best BBQ place I know of in the Naperville area right now. My order has become the same. Pulled pork sandwich with fries and a taste of the sausage. The pulled pork is always great. The sausage is always a nice change from anything I normally eat. The fries are some of the best of any restaurant I've been to. I highly recommend the fires with the sweet table sauce. I will say that the brisket chili was a disappointment. Then again, I'm not really a fan of their brisket in general so I shouldn't have been to surprised. Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for a good pulled pork sandwich.
(4)Roseanne P.
I wanted to like this place so much. I've seen reviews for it on television shows like "The hungry hound". Maybe the kitchen was having a bad day but I was completely unimpressed with most of my meal. My husband and I ordered the burnt ends platter, mine with slaw and baked beans, my husband had baked beans and the mac'n cheese. The meat was almost cold and swimming in grease when it arrived. The slaw and the macaroni and cheese were bland and flavorless. The two redeeming items were the fritters and the baked beans, which were a nice, well balanced mix of sweet and heat. Compared to other BBQ joints, I just couldn't give the restaurant more than two stars--sorry. I will give it another shot and try another item on the menu though which will hopefully I'll have a better experience the second time around.
(2)ashley m.
Wow! This place is gooooooood! Bacon Mac n cheese, pulled pork nachos, sliders everything we shared was phenomenal
(5)Patrick S.
First time at Q-BBQ. it was good, but not great. i'm a big fan of BBQ places, so i wanted to try this one since i was in the area. i ordered the pulled pork sandwich. for my side, i opted to try their coleslaw. despite what some other reviewers said, the portion size wasn't the biggest. the meal ended up satisfying my hunger, but i'm used to larger sandwiches for the money i paid. the pork was really tender and flavorful and their signature sauce they add on the sandwich was a nice touch. i liked almost all of their other table-side sauce options, with my least favorite being their vinegar based sauce. my favorite sauce was their Texas-style which had a sweet/spicy flavor to it. i used this sauce for the rest of my sandwich. i liked the egg bun the sandwich was served on. it was fresh and had a good bakery taste to it, not a standard bland store bought taste at all. the coleslaw was actually really good. coleslaw is typically hit or miss at BBQ places, so i was pleasantly surprised when this had a nice flavor to it. the Q-Puppies (hush puppies) that are included with your meal were decent. standard hush puppy flavor that is similar to Long John Silvers. nothing out of the ordinary. i would've liked more than just 2 of them, but oh well. i'd go back here, but i'm not going to go out of my way to eat at Q-BBQ. Cleanliness of restaurant = 5/5 Staff politeness/willingness to explain options = 5/5 Taste of food = 4/5 Quality of food = 4/5 Portion size = 3/5 Price of food = 3.5/5 total rating = 4/5
(4)Texas L.
Okay so I returned to give you guys one more shot. I got the brisket Q plate with coleslaw and hush puppies for my sides. The brisket was chewy and sliced almost an inch thick. Brisket is best served sliced much thinner and with a little more fat content to keep moist. I did however find the perfect combination of sauces during my experience. When mixing the Texas style with the mustard style from NC I found pure bliss on my tastebuds. I still stand firm on the rib issue. I don't want to eat a half rack, I want to have the option of having a couple ribs and some brisket with my sides and a glass of ice tea. This option is not available without spending over $27.....it's BBQ. Staff was friendly and of course the atmosphere is pleasant. Sorry but we won't be visiting anymore.
(2)Lily Z.
The guys and I came here for dinner after an exhaustive trip of shopping at the outlet mall in Aurora. I was not a fan of their sweet tea, but they have some nice brisket and burnt ends. My friend really liked their sausage. But their chicken was dry. I really liked their corn bread because it had a nice balance. If I'm ever in the area, I would definitely come back for their sliced brisket and burnt ends. Everything drenched with their spicy Texas sauce? Score!
(4)Carrie S.
Okay, this place deserves a more extensive review. I've been here a few times, and every time I get the burnt ends sandwich. It's awesome: huge chunks of meat topped with their mustard sauce. I hate the word tender, but this stuff is tender. And the mustard is not very mustardy - it's thastes like thyme and is oh so very good. I've ordered the mac and cheese and the fries as my sides...my recommendation? Go with the fries. They're pretty solid and you get a ton of them. The mac and cheese is a little lackluster and a small portion. The thing that puts this place above and beyond is their customer service. The staff is like teens/early 20's and really nice, polite kids. Twice during dinner last night we were asked how our food was, in a very non-obtrusive and unawkward way. My boo's sandwich was a little dry and so one girl offered to bring out a new one. We're not really the "send food back" type of people, but we decided to take her up on her offer. Not only did she bring out a new, improved sandwich in a few minutes, but she also gave us a voucher for an additional sandwich for our next visit. Score! I think this small act made us lifelong fans. So sweet. Plus they serve beer.
(5)Jonathan K.
Such a win if you decide to eat here! Reasonably priced and great portions! The pulled pork is my all time favorite! If you like BBQ then you must try this restaurant out!
(5)Amy N.
With so many good reviews, the bar is set really high for this place. That being said though, this place beats out the slim pickings of other bbq joints around, like Famous Dave's and Texas Roadhouse. Whatever meat you end up choosing will be tender and great. The sauces offered at the table are great, and they have a good variety. The sides are a little small for what you're paying. Overall, this makes the menu a little pricy, in my opinion, but then again, what isn't pricy in Naperville? It would be great if the place was bigger because due to its popularity, it can be extremely packed on weekend evenings.
(4)Amory D.
I have been eating at Q-BBQ religiously since Fall 2008, when the first restaurant opened in LaGrange. When I still lived in LaGrange I was walking distance from the restaurant. I ate there at least three times a month. When Q-BBQ opened in Naperville, I was worried that the authenticity of the LaGrange location would be lost. I am glad that I was proven wrong. I have been going to the Naperville restaurant since I moved to Oswego in 2010. We visit Q-BBQ about once a month to get my fix of Q-Puppies and Ribs. Everything here is authentic. A lot of people are critical of the sides, but I am unsure why...whenever I travel to south for work, I always seek out the local barbecue places and use Q-BBQ as my benchmark. I have been to smokehouses converted from garages in Tennessee, sheds behind gas stations in Texas, and one-off joints in North Carolina. Q-BBQ's meats hold their own to these southern barbecues, and the sides at Q are similar if not better. Overall Q-BBQ gets the barbecue experience right. Even the small touch of having a hand wash sink in the main area (as opposed to being in the bathrooms only) is just like the places I have visited in the south. I tell all of my friends to try Q-BBQ at either location. When I have colleagues from overseas visiting, I take them to Q-BBQ to introduce them to awesome American food. My wife's friend is visiting us from Ohio, and we're going again today.
(5)David S.
One of our favorite restaurants in Naperville. I have been eating BBQ around the country for a long time, so I consider myself a pretty harsh critic. I have certainly had better BBQ if we were just talking a straight-up Q showdown, and I know some folks would not consider a place that did not have at least one dead pickup and a questionable neighborhood to operate out of legitimate Q. But without going to rural South Carolina, or some dump in Kansas City, this is a really good option. They serve burnt ends. This is perhaps the most important point I can make, as I have not had decent burnt ends anywhere outside KC. They are pretty good although they can be a bit greasy depending on the one you get. This is part of the charm of the dish, and one of it's hazards. Overall they are generally pretty good. Enough charring on the outside to give it some character, and tender and not at all dry in the middle. Pulled Pork is good. Again, not dry like they can be, and genuinely smoked and not at all like the horrible "crock-pot" versions many places try to pull off as BBQ. Not quite as much smoke as I like, but enough. I know many people don't like too much smoke (as I prefer no peat in my scotch), so this could be personal preference. Turkey when they have it is quite amazing. Definitely not a common menu item, so worth a try. Actually seems to be more smokey than the pork. Sausage and pulled chicken are worth a try if you get tired of pulled pork and burnt ends, but I would not go to this option as a first choice. Ribs are the only item I would NOT recommend. Not well smoked at all. I've probably had better at the Famous Dave's in the Mall of America.. They are hot horrible, but just not particularly memorable, and considering the other great options available, I'd call this an opportunity cost not worth paying. This is one of our go-to spots for dinner on the weekend. Good food, nice atmosphere, and zero pretensions.
(4)Rich P.
I am not a huge BBQ fan but crave it once in a while. I recently had one of those cravings and gave Q a try. They have a pretty vast menu, chicken, pork, beef. I opted for the BBQ beef brisket. It was pretty good, they have several different sauces that you add yourself to it tasting to your liking, I like spicy and they have a couple nice spicy sauces. My only slight complaints are the downtown Naperville parking situation....ughhhh! If you are already down there doing shopping and other stuff and want to grab a quick bite Q is perfect but if you suddenly have a craving like I did you are likely to spend more time driving around looking for a parking spot than it will take you to eat. The serivce was a bit on the slow side for this type of restuarant where you walk up to the counter, place your order then find a seat and they bring you your meal. It took them about 10-15 minutes to get me my food. Bottom line, great BBQ, at least for Chicgao BBQ LOL but the service was slow, I would have given 4 stars had the service been promt. I will go back and give it another try in the future.
(3)Nawal T.
Great food
(5)David S.
The sampler is my favorite entry on the menu. The only qualm I have is that there is no bone-in chicken available, save for the delicious wings. However, the ribs, Q-pups, burnt ends and brisket are more than sufficient reason for repeated return visits.
(4)Jennie P.
I can't lie - I'm not a HUGE bbq fan however when given the option to eat it - I never decline. Q is interesting because it's kind of fast food - you walk up grab a number, order at the counter, grab a drink and sit for your food to come out. We walked in and it was packed, not a seat in sight and I was a little nervous how it would pan out. By the time we ordered seats cleared out pretty quickly. I went for the slider and had one pulled chicken, one pulled pork, and one brisket. It came with a few hush puppies and I had fries as my side. The sliders were delicious and VERY filling! The hush puppies were also very good. The fries were pretty standard fries - nothing amazing or terrible. I really enjoyed the bbq here and this is a great addition to downtown Naperville. The only thing to note is it is VERY loud in here - it's a medium sized space but with large families and children it can get very loud. Give Q a chance, you won't be disappointed and it's all reasonably priced!! We'll be back!
(4)Tpath H.
I should have listened to the mediocre reviews. I'm totally disappointed. I'm just grateful I had a coupon for a free sandwich or I would probably give an even lower rating. We called in our order for carry out. I have to agree with everyone else, the customer service is examplary, I just wish the food was too. We chose the slider sandwiches, 1 pulled pork, 1 pulled chicken, 1 brisket and fries. The pulled pork and brisket weren't bad, the chicken and fries were mediocre. Our second meal was the 2 meat plate with smoked sausage, chicken wings, mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy. The chicken wings were SO DRY, the mac and cheese was bland, the mashed potatoes and gravy were mediocre but I have to say I enjoyed the smoked sausage. The sweet sauce was just that...sweet. Sweet isn't always good and this wasn't a good bbq sauce. The south carolina mustard sauce was pretty tasty. I was a little sweet, a little horseradishy and a little spicy, which I enjoyed. The carolina vinegar sauce surprised me as I didn't think I'd like a vinegar based sauce but it was tasty. It was thin, vinegary and sweet. The place was packed and I don't get it unless everyone there was a newbie like me, which I believe is the case because most had tons of questions during their ordering process. Anyway, long story short, I wouldn't go back. It's a shame because I really wanted to love this place.
(2)Brian T.
Loved the food! Great selection for anyone who loves great BBQ. The portions are good for the prices they charge. There staff were very friendly and offered suggestions on picking the food. Will go back with friends again soon!
(5)Paul L.
We have been here twice. Both of our experiences were great. The food is really done well. So are the BBQ sauces. This is a "fast casual" restaurant where you order with the cashier, sit down and your food is delivered to your table. It's a quick in and out. With that said, the food is the star here. I should also compliment my "server" Kevin? Great sense of humor and very knowledgable about the menu items. We returned this second time based on his menu recommendations. He was right! We will return.
(5)Tara M.
My hubs and I decided to try somewhere different for lunch today and after seeing posters in the window for some yummy looking Mac n cheese and recommendations by Hungry Hound and Chicago's Best, we decided to give Q a try. Well, looks are apparently deceiving. I chose for lunch the sliced brisket with the all American Mac n cheese and corn bread. My husband had the ribs with the chili Mac n cheese and corn bread. The brisket was fairly tender, but lacked any real flavor. The ribs however were awful. They were tough, dry, and tasteless. Now I know they supply many different sauces, but true BBQ doesn't need to be covered up in sauce just to be eaten, true BBQ should be so tender it falls off the bone and then you use sauce as a nice addition. For the meat at Q, you needed to drown it in sauce just to choke it down. The sides of Mac n cheese and corn bread were decent, but really we didn't go there for the sides. I think the biggest disappointment was not just the barely edible meat, but the fact that we paid $43 for the barely edible meal. I think it's fair to say, next time we are looking for halfway decent BBQ, we will not be heading back to Q, instead we will probably go to Bolingbrook's Famous Dave's or the Patio.
(1)Linda K.
Had lunch with my daughter today. We were very excited to try it. She really enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with brioche bun and the sweet Memphis sauce. It was too sweet for me though. I really liked the burnt ends which came with and aoli sauce. I also got the pulled pork which was tender. However I tried it with both the Carolina vinegar and Carolina mustard sauces. Ehh. Ok. I love my sauces and none of the four choices here did much for me. I did love the aoli sauce though. The Q-pups came with both our meals. They were crunchy and slightly sweet. Yum! As sides we tried the green beans and macaroni and cheese. We disliked both, especially the beans which were seriously undercooked and had a pickle-like flavor. The macaroni was very bland and was topped with crumbled Cheeze-its. The ambience and service was nice but outside of ordering just the meat for a catered event, I doubt I'd go back.
(2)R. Q.
I would give Q 3.5 stars if there were an option. I have been to the Naperville location twice since they have been opened. On the first visit I waited 30 minutes to order and eat with the long line. The second time I went off peak so it was much faster. As other reviewers have mentioned during the time i went while they were busy they were only using one register with a line out the door. Just doesn't make much sense. The Food: Meat- All the meats i tried (pulled pork, sliced brisket and chicken were good) The burnt brisket ends were by far the best IMO. I would say their meats stack up well to most other places. Sides- This is an area that could use some work. Sides were ok but not great. Most were pretty bland. The second time I went my fries were cold and not cooked. This is one area that Smoque BBQ wins hands down. Overall- Good BBQ, perhaps a bit pricey. I will be going back and hope they have some of the ordering and food quality issues worked out.
(4)Jessica G.
a bbq haiku for this rainy and cold night: i know you love meat this is the place to go then get the spicy sauce came in with some folks from work for dinner tonight. cute little place. the menu is not enormous but that is probably a good thing. it is kind of hard to make a decision, or at least for me it was. i'll save you the trouble. get the brisket burnt ends. that is some tasty business. i actually ordered the little slider trio and got the pork, the chicken and the brisket ends and the brisket ends were the best part. crispy, not fatty and just plain old tasty. the chicken and pork had good flavor, too, but, again... brisket burnt ends for the win. if (or rather when) i go back, i will be ordering a full order of just those. i also really liked the q-pups, though i wish they came maybe a bucket-full per order and were a tiny bit bigger. they're good. more is better. and in my vain attempt to be vainly healthy, i had the green beans, which were not bad. the spicy sauce is my favorite and the others are also quite good but i like hotter stuff so the spicy worked for me. quick and friendly service. even though it is in downtown naperville (also known as really not my favorite place in the history of the world), it is well worth a visit. go there now to eat your tummy will say thank you and they have hamm's beer very good stuff.
(5)Daniel D.
Q BBQ has great selection of barbecue. Pick a couple items or try them all with one of the platters. The pulled meats are amazing. The sauces are also excellent.
(4)Jenny P.
I was so looking forward to the opening of this restaurant. We went in tonight to enjoy a late dinner and I'm sorry to report that my husband and I were disappointed. The meats were tender but the sauce was so bland. We like some zest to our barbecue sauce(s). The staff was friendly but still in the learning phase. One huge tidbit of advice for this new restaurant: CLEAN the bathrooms! For a new restaurant....that should be a no brainer. Yuck.
(2)Brad C.
Weird ordering process. Not great. Seems to be better regarded than it actually is.
(3)Veda P.
Awesome food, best BBQ in the burbs! I had the chicken wings, they were awesome, and my husband had the pulled pork, he loved it. I loved the choices for sides an I was so thankful that they also offer salads! It's cute, casual and friendly! We will be back!
(5)Scott L.
By far my favorite place in the burbs for BBQ. When you go make sure you get the burnt ends. The combo of vinegar and sweet is unreal. The Q puppies make every meal complete.
(5)Katie T.
I really enjoyed this place. Ordered the sampler platter so we could try everything. Loved the sausage and the chicken wings. Fries were really good as well - fresh cut and just the right salty. Pickles!!! Nice big jar of them by the condiment station. I would love to go back.
(5)Matt B.
I love BBQ and after seeing quite a few 4 and 5 star reviews for this place on Yelp, I decided it was time to give it a try. Myself and 3 friends ventured downtown Naperville late Sunday afternoon for the sole purpose of having dinner at Q. There is no waiter service, when you walk in, you order and then sit down and they bring your food out to you. They do assign you a table while you are in line ordering, so you know you'll have a seat when you're done. We got there pretty early because I heard the place gets pretty busy. When we got there at about 5 there weren't many people, but when we left it was starting to fill up pretty quickly. Now on to the food... I ordered the pulled pork combo, which came with hush puppies and 2 sides. The pulled pork was absolutely perfect, very tender and not overly smokey. The fries were some of the best fresh cut fries I have had, they were perfectly cooked with a nice crispy exterior and pillowy potato interior. I also got the mac and cheese, which was very good, but nothing extraordinary. They have 4 different types of BBQ sauce, a mustard based sauce, a vinegar based sauce and then a sweet sauce and a spicy sauce. I only tried the spicy and sweet sauces, but they were both so good, I could have drank a glass of either of them, they were that good. I also tried a bite of my friends beef brisket and it was so tender you could cut it with the plastic fork. We all liked it so much that we are already planning to go back next Sunday and I can't wait. If you are even remotely close to the area and you like BBQ, you owe it to yourself to give this place a try.
(5)Craig R.
Q BBQ is tasty all around. I love good barbecue and happened upon this place during a recent jaunt to Naperville. I first went to q at lunch time so it was slightly less crowded. I got a pulled chicken sandwich q style and it hit the spot. My wife and I went to q the other evening with another couple. The place was packed! We waited in line to order for like 20 minutes. Q has folks bringin you drinks in line which is a nice touch. We ordered and sat at our table. I ordered a q platter so I could try a bit of everything. Far and away the hands down winer for taste were the ribs. Everyone at our table agreed they were very very good. Second runner up was the brisket. I tried several sauces and the spicy Texas style was my favorite. This place won't break your budget or wallet and you will leave feeling full and happy. We will return! One thing - there are not any wet-naps so bring your own or you might have some greasy fingers depending on what you order and how you eat.
(5)Joe A.
The best BBQ outside of TX (speaking as a former Texan) The choices of sauces are incredible (I personally love the carolina vinegar sauce). It is fantastic on the Texas smoked sausage. The chicken wings are so good, you'll want to move next door and have it delivered every day. The fries remind me of In-n-Out burger on the west coast. If you're a brisket fan - you won't be disappointed by any means. First timers - do their sampler or 3 meat special. You'll find your favorite(s) pretty quickly. You won't leave there hungry. That's for sure.
(5)Matthew S.
Their BBQ is great in this area, that really doesn't have BBQ places to go to. Try the brisket sandwich and their hush puppies/fritters.
(4)Nicole M.
Yay! Finally got to try Q-BBQ! I went on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and it was surprisingly not that busy. I got the sliced brisket sammy with fries and my boyfriend got the burnt ends brisket and the mac and cheese. I enjoyed my sandwich and it even tasted good the next day. I liked how they put different kinds of bbq sauce on the tables. My boyfriend said that some of the burnt ends were really good and tender and some were tough and dry. I tried some of his mac and cheese, which was good, I like how they top it with cheez itz. What makes it even better is that this place is in Downtown Naperville, so you can walk your food off, check out some places and get some ice cream! :)
(5)Steve T.
Great BBQ! Love the pulled chicken, pulled pork, brisket, burnt ends, Q puppies. . . . . . I'm a frequent diner at La Grange & will be at Naperville too! Thank you Q!
(5)Jeffrey S.
Awesome food. I'm already craving it again! I love burnt ends!
(5)Lawrence F.
The food is well made, slow cooked. I would not consider it barbeque as it lacks flavor suggesting it was smoked. The sauces make up for this. Good value for the money.
(3)Ted P.
I love BBQ. I can't ever trust the opinions of the general Chicagoan. But let me tell you, the opinions of Q-BBQ are right on the money. This place is Amazing. I had the burnt ends sandwich with the Mac-Q-Roni and cheese as my side. I also got the chicken wings after seeing a picture online. The sandwich was amazing, great color and texture, nice smokey flavor and a perfect bun. The Mac was good. Above average, but not mind blowing, they covered the top of the Mac with what seemed to be crushed cheese-it crackers. The sandwich also came with Q-pups, a corn fritter, which was honestly the best corn fritter I've ever had! That's big time right there! The chicken wings; usually I don't order chicken wings at a bbq place. That being said, after reading that they brine, smoke, rub, fry, and serve the wings, I felt compelled to get some. I am currently thanking my lucky stars that I had the sense to do so, because holy focking bbq they were good!!!! Table sauces were excellent as well, Texas Spicy Sauce was my favorite, great flavor with some kick. Go here immediately, tell them Ted sent you, you'll receive a complimentary order of Q-pups( a $1.99 value)*
(5)Chester R.
great bbq..........wide selection of unique sauces.........however.......typical sullen / im too cool for you teenage girl service. or i would have gone 5 stars. the person that greets you at the door and directs you to a table should smile and be friendly.......not short and terse. the person that you order the food from and pay should help you with the menu, be patient and friendly......not seemingly irritated and off put. but, i will go back.
(4)George K.
Best BBQ i've had in the North. Doesn't taste like cheap ketchup based sauces. Loved the brisket, Q puppies, fries and cornbread. I'll be back, often.
(5)Derek C.
I had the Carolina pulled pork which was excellent. The food is not overpriced. Service was fast and friendly. I will definitely go back.
(5)Theresa M.
The food is excellent but I don't really appreciate watching the owner talk down his employees. He is completely condescending, and I don't know if I'll be back because of this. The food is just great but not very professional environment.
(2)CJ R.
100% Kick Ass!!! Your taste buds will love you forever after you eat there!
(5)L S.
HUGE fan of the La Grange Q-BBQ and Naperville is sure to follow. Had the wings. q-puppies with that tangy sweet memphis sauce on the side. My boss had one of the salads. As always, high quality, tasty n tangy, food thats finger licking good. Plenty of towels on the tables for clean up and wet wipes on supply. We'll be back if in Naperville but definately back to LG location.
(5)A C.
Great BBQ joint! Pulled pork is fantastic. I recommend getting the cole slaw right on top. Soo much meat that you really can't grip the sandwich, but it tastes sooo good that you ignore the mess it makes all over your face! Ice tea is great too! mmmm
(4)Matthew P.
The food was great and the service top notch. The only thing that would have mad eit better would have been a nice cold "beverage" to go with my dinner.
(4)Fred R.
Great Food, Great Place! I had brisket sandwich, wife had pork sandwich. Tasty, Crisp Fries and Pups. I'll be back for MORE!!!!!
(5)Anthony G.
Came here many times thinking food would get better. This place is never consistent with there food. Every time I place an order over the phone and pick it up they always find away to mess it up. Weather it's if I ask for my sandwich Q style but with no slaw to forgetting to put my side in the box. After today my fifth time placing a to go and getting it messed up I do not recommend this place to anyone!!!!!
(1)Sean F.
I smoke meats quite a bit myself, but sometimes I just don't have the long hours to devote to it. When that's the case I go to Q-BBQ in downtown Naperville. They consistently deliver high quality BBQ and have very friendly staff. In general, the meats are smoked well and have great rubs. The only miss, in my opinion is the sides, they're not anything to write home about.
(4)Jason S.
this was great i have been in the mood for bbq lately and this really did it for me i work a few blocks away so i finally took a chance and walked over for them opening fairly recently they are doing it right i got the sampler platter with 4 meats and i was in heaven the portion was enough that i was able to share with my girlfriend and both of us where happy with it the mac q cheese was a nice little surprise with the cheese crackers crumbled on the top will be going here a little more often
(5)Nick M.
This is by far the best BBQ I have had in a very long time. I went to the pre-opening where I ordered the sliders. I ordered the chicken, pork, and burnt ends. Two words. Burnt.Ends. This was truly a feast with very generous portion sizes and outstanding sauces. The "Q-Pups" are also a great touch which made the meal complete. I live in Elgin, but will surely be traveling to Q-BBQ in Naperville often. My wife and I now have a new favorite restaurant in a city we love.
(5)Russ W.
Fast-casual type atmosphere leaves something yo be desired, particularly for downtown Naperville. That being said, I've never had better BBQ. Dishes are large enough that you should plan on being uncomfortable following your meal.
(5)Ben B.
Get the burnt ends. Just trust me. I grew up in the south and I love my BBQ. This place is one of the few BBQ places in the Chicago area I'll go to. And I'm so happy they are now 10 minutes from my house.
(5)Mark D.
very good brisket...always consistent which is rare for brisket. great sauces...spicy is my favorite. would get 5 stars but portion size is inconsistent and often on the light side
(4)C.T. G.
Took in a late lunch on Saturday afternoon; the restaurant was fairly busy; Unfortunately, they only have one of their two registers taking orders for walk-ins (the other is dedicated to pick-up orders; hopefully they'll realize what they have more of and have both registers taking the orders of the guests backed up to the doorway). The food itself was really good. I had the two meat combo, burnt-ends and pulled pork. Both were tender and delicious and the four sauces at the table were excellent. My friend had the brisket and pulled chicken. The chicken was juicy and very tender. The brisket had a nice smoke ring and good flavor but was a little on the tough side; some more time in the smoker to tenderize it would take care of that. For sides, the mac n cheese was creamy vs gummy which was nice, the cole slaw was refreshing and the q-puppies (fritters) were awesome, especially with the mustard sauce or the aioli that comes with the brisket. This is the best bbq in the area and will definitely be added to the rotation.
(4)Mike U.
I'd have to go with minority here and say that Q's is good, not great. I eat and cook a lot of barbecue so maybe I'm a bit of a snob, but I think part of the reason for the sky high reviews here is dearth of good q joints in the area until recently. Went here on a Sunday night, not too crowded at all, quick to order and get our food. Very friendly and helpful staff. They serve baby-back ribs, but since I'm mostly a spare guy I skipped these and had some pork, brisket, sausage and burnt ends. Pork was decent, more chunked than pulled. Neither bad nor spectacular. Paired it with their vinegar sauce which was ok, could have used a bit more heat. The sausage was juicy and flavorful but they do a mix of pork and beef. I was hoping for more of a texas link beef style, but it was pretty good. Next was the brisket which was a big disappointment. Juicy and tender but virtually no flavor at all, I would not order this again. Next were the burnt ends which were extremely good. Maybe it's because you don't see a lot of burnt ends around here, but I found these to be the best thing on the plate. One of the servers said that they only serve grass fed beef. There's a bit of debate in q circles about whether this is actually a good thing. For steaks I"m a big fan, but like some others I wonder if the grass fed cows produce enough fat to get the flavor when cooked low and slow. Not sure if that was the problem with the brisket, but it didn't seem to impact the burnt ends. Sauces were just ok. Regular KC was kind of dull, the mustard sauce used dijon which I'm not sure i cared for. The spicy sauce was the best of the lot in my opinion. I probably will head back just based on the convenience but I think I"ll stick the burnt ends in the future.
(3)Matt B.
I love BBQ and after seeing quite a few 4 and 5 star reviews for this place on Yelp, I decided it was time to give it a try. Myself and 3 friends ventured downtown Naperville late Sunday afternoon for the sole purpose of having dinner at Q. There is no waiter service, when you walk in, you order and then sit down and they bring your food out to you. They do assign you a table while you are in line ordering, so you know you'll have a seat when you're done. We got there pretty early because I heard the place gets pretty busy. When we got there at about 5 there weren't many people, but when we left it was starting to fill up pretty quickly. Now on to the food... I ordered the pulled pork combo, which came with hush puppies and 2 sides. The pulled pork was absolutely perfect, very tender and not overly smokey. The fries were some of the best fresh cut fries I have had, they were perfectly cooked with a nice crispy exterior and pillowy potato interior. I also got the mac and cheese, which was very good, but nothing extraordinary. They have 4 different types of BBQ sauce, a mustard based sauce, a vinegar based sauce and then a sweet sauce and a spicy sauce. I only tried the spicy and sweet sauces, but they were both so good, I could have drank a glass of either of them, they were that good. I also tried a bite of my friends beef brisket and it was so tender you could cut it with the plastic fork. We all liked it so much that we are already planning to go back next Sunday and I can't wait. If you are even remotely close to the area and you like BBQ, you owe it to yourself to give this place a try.
(5)Craig R.
Q BBQ is tasty all around. I love good barbecue and happened upon this place during a recent jaunt to Naperville. I first went to q at lunch time so it was slightly less crowded. I got a pulled chicken sandwich q style and it hit the spot. My wife and I went to q the other evening with another couple. The place was packed! We waited in line to order for like 20 minutes. Q has folks bringin you drinks in line which is a nice touch. We ordered and sat at our table. I ordered a q platter so I could try a bit of everything. Far and away the hands down winer for taste were the ribs. Everyone at our table agreed they were very very good. Second runner up was the brisket. I tried several sauces and the spicy Texas style was my favorite. This place won't break your budget or wallet and you will leave feeling full and happy. We will return! One thing - there are not any wet-naps so bring your own or you might have some greasy fingers depending on what you order and how you eat.
(5)Joe A.
The best BBQ outside of TX (speaking as a former Texan) The choices of sauces are incredible (I personally love the carolina vinegar sauce). It is fantastic on the Texas smoked sausage. The chicken wings are so good, you'll want to move next door and have it delivered every day. The fries remind me of In-n-Out burger on the west coast. If you're a brisket fan - you won't be disappointed by any means. First timers - do their sampler or 3 meat special. You'll find your favorite(s) pretty quickly. You won't leave there hungry. That's for sure.
(5)Matthew S.
Their BBQ is great in this area, that really doesn't have BBQ places to go to. Try the brisket sandwich and their hush puppies/fritters.
(4)Katie T.
I really enjoyed this place. Ordered the sampler platter so we could try everything. Loved the sausage and the chicken wings. Fries were really good as well - fresh cut and just the right salty. Pickles!!! Nice big jar of them by the condiment station. I would love to go back.
(5)Ali K.
We just moved to Chicago from Kansas City, so we have high expectations for our bbq. Smelled great going in and they had burnt ends on the menu!! We were pumped- but WOW, we're we let down!! The burnt ends were very dry, the pulled pork was not pulled properly (there were big chunks of non pulled pork mixed in with my pulled pork) and had no flavor at all. Too bad, we were really hopeful.. The macaroni and cheese was really good, though!!
(1)Scott C.
Ya know, the BBQ is pretty good, as well as their sauces. However, the place is run by a bunch of 20 somethings and teenagers who don't really care about service. I've been there 3 times and waited so long 2 of those times for my food that they REFUNDED MY MONEY. So, I guess I should give it 5 stars because I always eat there for free!! Whenever I walk in its just a bunch of kids standing around drinking coke and flirting with each other. But given I got a free sandwich card at my last visit I'll be back, at least one more time (or two, if it takes 15 minutes for a pulled pork sandwich and I get a free meal).
(2)Kathy F.
I can't say enough about this place!!! I love it! I usually eat at the one in LaGrange , but we were in town for a ghost tour. I ate the Texas Chopped Brisket Q style . I have ordered it at least 15 times and it has tasted GREAT every time. Can't wait to have it again. One of my top 5 restaurants.
(5)Bill V.
New place in downtown Naperville. Good not great. 15+ minutes to get our order. Ribs were very good. Chicken, pork and brisket were on the dry side.
(3)Nicole M.
Yay! Finally got to try Q-BBQ! I went on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and it was surprisingly not that busy. I got the sliced brisket sammy with fries and my boyfriend got the burnt ends brisket and the mac and cheese. I enjoyed my sandwich and it even tasted good the next day. I liked how they put different kinds of bbq sauce on the tables. My boyfriend said that some of the burnt ends were really good and tender and some were tough and dry. I tried some of his mac and cheese, which was good, I like how they top it with cheez itz. What makes it even better is that this place is in Downtown Naperville, so you can walk your food off, check out some places and get some ice cream! :)
(5)Steve T.
Great BBQ! Love the pulled chicken, pulled pork, brisket, burnt ends, Q puppies. . . . . . I'm a frequent diner at La Grange & will be at Naperville too! Thank you Q!
(5)Jeffrey S.
Awesome food. I'm already craving it again! I love burnt ends!
(5)Lawrence F.
The food is well made, slow cooked. I would not consider it barbeque as it lacks flavor suggesting it was smoked. The sauces make up for this. Good value for the money.
(3)Ted P.
I love BBQ. I can't ever trust the opinions of the general Chicagoan. But let me tell you, the opinions of Q-BBQ are right on the money. This place is Amazing. I had the burnt ends sandwich with the Mac-Q-Roni and cheese as my side. I also got the chicken wings after seeing a picture online. The sandwich was amazing, great color and texture, nice smokey flavor and a perfect bun. The Mac was good. Above average, but not mind blowing, they covered the top of the Mac with what seemed to be crushed cheese-it crackers. The sandwich also came with Q-pups, a corn fritter, which was honestly the best corn fritter I've ever had! That's big time right there! The chicken wings; usually I don't order chicken wings at a bbq place. That being said, after reading that they brine, smoke, rub, fry, and serve the wings, I felt compelled to get some. I am currently thanking my lucky stars that I had the sense to do so, because holy focking bbq they were good!!!! Table sauces were excellent as well, Texas Spicy Sauce was my favorite, great flavor with some kick. Go here immediately, tell them Ted sent you, you'll receive a complimentary order of Q-pups( a $1.99 value)*
(5)Chester R.
great bbq..........wide selection of unique sauces.........however.......typical sullen / im too cool for you teenage girl service. or i would have gone 5 stars. the person that greets you at the door and directs you to a table should smile and be friendly.......not short and terse. the person that you order the food from and pay should help you with the menu, be patient and friendly......not seemingly irritated and off put. but, i will go back.
(4)George K.
Best BBQ i've had in the North. Doesn't taste like cheap ketchup based sauces. Loved the brisket, Q puppies, fries and cornbread. I'll be back, often.
(5)Derek C.
I had the Carolina pulled pork which was excellent. The food is not overpriced. Service was fast and friendly. I will definitely go back.
(5)Theresa M.
The food is excellent but I don't really appreciate watching the owner talk down his employees. He is completely condescending, and I don't know if I'll be back because of this. The food is just great but not very professional environment.
(2)CJ R.
100% Kick Ass!!! Your taste buds will love you forever after you eat there!
(5)L S.
HUGE fan of the La Grange Q-BBQ and Naperville is sure to follow. Had the wings. q-puppies with that tangy sweet memphis sauce on the side. My boss had one of the salads. As always, high quality, tasty n tangy, food thats finger licking good. Plenty of towels on the tables for clean up and wet wipes on supply. We'll be back if in Naperville but definately back to LG location.
(5)A C.
Great BBQ joint! Pulled pork is fantastic. I recommend getting the cole slaw right on top. Soo much meat that you really can't grip the sandwich, but it tastes sooo good that you ignore the mess it makes all over your face! Ice tea is great too! mmmm
(4)Matthew P.
The food was great and the service top notch. The only thing that would have mad eit better would have been a nice cold "beverage" to go with my dinner.
(4)Fred R.
Great Food, Great Place! I had brisket sandwich, wife had pork sandwich. Tasty, Crisp Fries and Pups. I'll be back for MORE!!!!!
(5)Anthony G.
Came here many times thinking food would get better. This place is never consistent with there food. Every time I place an order over the phone and pick it up they always find away to mess it up. Weather it's if I ask for my sandwich Q style but with no slaw to forgetting to put my side in the box. After today my fifth time placing a to go and getting it messed up I do not recommend this place to anyone!!!!!
(1)Sean F.
I smoke meats quite a bit myself, but sometimes I just don't have the long hours to devote to it. When that's the case I go to Q-BBQ in downtown Naperville. They consistently deliver high quality BBQ and have very friendly staff. In general, the meats are smoked well and have great rubs. The only miss, in my opinion is the sides, they're not anything to write home about.
(4)Jason S.
this was great i have been in the mood for bbq lately and this really did it for me i work a few blocks away so i finally took a chance and walked over for them opening fairly recently they are doing it right i got the sampler platter with 4 meats and i was in heaven the portion was enough that i was able to share with my girlfriend and both of us where happy with it the mac q cheese was a nice little surprise with the cheese crackers crumbled on the top will be going here a little more often
(5)Nick M.
This is by far the best BBQ I have had in a very long time. I went to the pre-opening where I ordered the sliders. I ordered the chicken, pork, and burnt ends. Two words. Burnt.Ends. This was truly a feast with very generous portion sizes and outstanding sauces. The "Q-Pups" are also a great touch which made the meal complete. I live in Elgin, but will surely be traveling to Q-BBQ in Naperville often. My wife and I now have a new favorite restaurant in a city we love.
(5)Russ W.
Fast-casual type atmosphere leaves something yo be desired, particularly for downtown Naperville. That being said, I've never had better BBQ. Dishes are large enough that you should plan on being uncomfortable following your meal.
(5)Ben B.
Get the burnt ends. Just trust me. I grew up in the south and I love my BBQ. This place is one of the few BBQ places in the Chicago area I'll go to. And I'm so happy they are now 10 minutes from my house.
(5)Mark D.
very good brisket...always consistent which is rare for brisket. great sauces...spicy is my favorite. would get 5 stars but portion size is inconsistent and often on the light side
(4)C.T. G.
Took in a late lunch on Saturday afternoon; the restaurant was fairly busy; Unfortunately, they only have one of their two registers taking orders for walk-ins (the other is dedicated to pick-up orders; hopefully they'll realize what they have more of and have both registers taking the orders of the guests backed up to the doorway). The food itself was really good. I had the two meat combo, burnt-ends and pulled pork. Both were tender and delicious and the four sauces at the table were excellent. My friend had the brisket and pulled chicken. The chicken was juicy and very tender. The brisket had a nice smoke ring and good flavor but was a little on the tough side; some more time in the smoker to tenderize it would take care of that. For sides, the mac n cheese was creamy vs gummy which was nice, the cole slaw was refreshing and the q-puppies (fritters) were awesome, especially with the mustard sauce or the aioli that comes with the brisket. This is the best bbq in the area and will definitely be added to the rotation.
(4)Mike U.
I'd have to go with minority here and say that Q's is good, not great. I eat and cook a lot of barbecue so maybe I'm a bit of a snob, but I think part of the reason for the sky high reviews here is dearth of good q joints in the area until recently. Went here on a Sunday night, not too crowded at all, quick to order and get our food. Very friendly and helpful staff. They serve baby-back ribs, but since I'm mostly a spare guy I skipped these and had some pork, brisket, sausage and burnt ends. Pork was decent, more chunked than pulled. Neither bad nor spectacular. Paired it with their vinegar sauce which was ok, could have used a bit more heat. The sausage was juicy and flavorful but they do a mix of pork and beef. I was hoping for more of a texas link beef style, but it was pretty good. Next was the brisket which was a big disappointment. Juicy and tender but virtually no flavor at all, I would not order this again. Next were the burnt ends which were extremely good. Maybe it's because you don't see a lot of burnt ends around here, but I found these to be the best thing on the plate. One of the servers said that they only serve grass fed beef. There's a bit of debate in q circles about whether this is actually a good thing. For steaks I"m a big fan, but like some others I wonder if the grass fed cows produce enough fat to get the flavor when cooked low and slow. Not sure if that was the problem with the brisket, but it didn't seem to impact the burnt ends. Sauces were just ok. Regular KC was kind of dull, the mustard sauce used dijon which I'm not sure i cared for. The spicy sauce was the best of the lot in my opinion. I probably will head back just based on the convenience but I think I"ll stick the burnt ends in the future.
(3)Melissa A.
I'll keep this short and sweet but I'm a big fan of Q-BBQ! I've tried the Brisket Burnt Ends Sandwich which is served with q-pups (basically hush puppies) and one side (I chose mac). The burnt ends were deliciously tender and fatty, just the way I like it! People who don't like fat on their meat may not like the burnt ends but if you give it a chance, I think you may be convert! The mac was yummy as well, noodles were cooked al dente and covered in just the right amount of cheese. There's nothing fancy about Q-BBQ but if you're looking for some quality BBQ then head on over! There are also other locations in Lakeview/Chicago as well as LaGrange.
(4)Glenda R.
Stumbled upon this restaurant with my husband and after looking at the reviews on here we decided to try it out. WOW. WOW. WOW. The food is VERY delicious and they have amazing sweet tea! I had the burnt brisket tip plate and it was worth every penny we spent. The servers were friendly and helpful since we didn't know exactly how to order. By the time we left we were both full and happy with what we ate. If you love BBQ...EAT HERE!!!
(5)King G.
Room temperature food burnt ends more like wet dog food. For two people that cost $35 I would expect at least food to be fresh and hot but they could very well be microwaving day old BBQ
(1)Shaheen R.
Came here with my husband and BIL. If I'm going to come with these two guys, I better be ordering enough to feed a small village! But I digress; on to the important details Walking up/Outside: Relatively new restaurant, brick outlay, tons of windows that appear to open up on nice days. Ambience/Design: . As soon as you walk in you're greeted by a very thought out, purposeful design of the space. matte walnut wood tables, and lacquered birch wood walls with rustic photos of everything BBQ related on terra-cotta colored painted walls Setup: Each table has a roll of recycled (awesome!) paper towels and 4 of their signature sauces corralled up a sauce cage. First, the moment you see this roll of paper towel, thats when you know this meal is going to get you down and dirty, and it'll be oh so delicious! So you best not wear something nice here, just in case you get it dirty! Their four sauces are the perfect complimenting elements for any of their menu selections. Sweet BBQ, Spicy BBQ, S. Carolina Mustard, and a N. Carolina vinegar blend. Their BBQ sauces have the right amount of heat, paprika and smokiness, but their mustard is definitely the most unique. The mustard has notes of Rosemary and Thyme which elevate anything you put it on. Just remember, the mustard should bring out the flavors in what you're eating, not drown it. Don't squeeze this stuff like French's mustard on a hot dog! Service: Excellent service, occasionally you can behind a person who takes TOO long to order, so I do wish that when this happens their staff calls someone else to take customers on their other register quickly, instead of having to wait 5-7 minutes before they call someone else to man the register. Because all that's happening is they look at us with eyes that say "sorry!!" and us customers in line politely glare back "its kind of, not really, okay. When are you getting someone else". What we got/Menu selection: Extensive menu, but we all wanted to try a little of everything so we ordered a TON. We got the Papa-Q platter (has a tasting of EACH meat they offer on their entire menu), Hush Puppies, Mac-Q-Roni, Spicy Fries, Cornbread and 3 sliders prepared Q-Style (Pulled chicken, chopped brisket and burnt brisket ends). A) Papa-Q Platter: Now my husband, BIL and I don't do pork, so the staff was excellent about letting us swap out the BBQ Ribs, the sausage and the pulled pork for whatever we wanted. So we ended up subbing it out for extra sliced brisket, chopped brisket and burnt brisket ends. The ultimate breakdown of the platter was memphis chicken wings (excellent sweet-spicy, tangy dry rub), chopped brisket (delicious and well marinated), burnt brisket ends (caramelized goodness), sliced brisket (meh this one is ok, more on the mild side as far as seasoning is concerned), smoked turkey (the first few bites are good, but then you realize its a bit dry. But then again its turkey, so thats what happens 9/10 times anyways), pulled chicken (a definite favorite!!!!). B) 3 Sliders Q Style: I did the pulled chicken, chopped brisket and the burnt brisket ends. All three are nestled between brioche buns. What made it Q style was what each slider was paired with. The pulled chicken was paired with memphis sweet bbq sauce, coleslaw and bacon (I omitted the bacon here-- 9/10). Chopped brisket slider q style means it was paired with N. Carolina vinegar sauce, crumbled blue cheese and cole slaw (6/10. Blue cheese was overpowering, but if you're a blue cheese fan then you might give it a 9/10!). Brisket Burnt End Slider prepared Q style was paired with sweet and spicy aioli, mozzarella and coleslaw (9.5/10) C) Hushpuppies: Platter came with hushpuppies which we DEVOURED, and I never even liked hushpuppies before this. Literally this is the only place I'll eat or will ever eat hushpuppies from D) Mac-Q-Roni: husband is a big fan, they crush Cheese-Its over it. creamy, al dente noodles. E) Spicy Fries: OHHHH LORDDDD. GET THESE. DELICIOUS. Made fresh to order its tossed in a spicy seasoning and jalepeno slices that has just a slight amount of sweetness in it to tease your tastebuds. It's got just the right amount of heat in it to make you want more, but not too much where you just want to put your mouth over a fire hydrant and swear to a higher power that you'll never eat spicy food again. F) Cornbread: meh, this one is ok, not too special, slightly sweet TL;DR: Get the papa-Q platter especially if its your first time and you want to try a little of everything they offer. They will sub out specific meats based off preference or dietary restrictions. Get the spicy fries and hush puppies (even if you don't like hushpuppies normally, you will LOVE these). Skip the cornbread and mac-q-roni. Come in casual clothes and expect to make a mess. Don't fret if you don't finish your meal; really thought out "to-go" station for any left overs.
(4)John D.
1 1/2- 2 stars. Well. I went in there on the 4th around 7:20 PM. I noticed it was open and was deciding to either eating there or just go to Ribfest? I decided to take a menu with me. When I walked in at first, I noticed the didn't have special hours (thinking they would be open normal business hours). My thinking was that would be a bit strange to remain open with a BBQ fest happening less than a mile away but I went with it. I left and came back about 7:50 or so, having decided that I would eat there. I was only considering if I would eat there or take it with me & park somewhere before the fireworks. I noticed something when I got back. In less than 30 minutes, there was a hand written card (about 3" x 5") saying the location was closing at 8:PM. Now remember, that sign wasn't put there 30 minutes prior, which is the only reason I came back. I was somewhat confused. Having worked in a BBQ place years ago, my thinking is that they basically ran out of meat (most of it which isn't out of the question). I walk in the the door and the first thing I was told was "we're closing in 8 minutes" not hello or some greeting of the like. I asked a couple of question relating to food and they did get answered. I did my last review about 3 years ago (almost to the month) and looks like some of the service/etiquette issues needs to be addressed. While I get wanting to leave on a holiday, this is the straw you drew and you have to own it. I've been there so I can relate. At least I wasn't on hold for 8 MINUTES like I was the last time I tried to do carry out. My order was taken quickly so at least that went well. Now time to criticize the food. I have some VERY mixed emotions when I do this. I'm a big fan of BBQ and am ALWAYS looking for a good place. Now here goes nothing as it relates to my meal: A. Macaroni & cheese. VERY blah at least. The last time I ordered it, I knew it had a weird taste to it but couldn't place it. Then I looked closer. As I looked closer, I noticed the taste was like Cheez-Its. I look closer and turns out I was right. Krissy B.of Lexington, KY confirmed this in her review. Can someone PLEASE explain to me WHY you would crust or top your mac & cheese with CHEEZ-IT?!?!?! Am I missing something here? This is one time where I asked where is Gordon Ramsey when I need him? It was at least edible but VERY low on the food chain as good mac & cheese goes. It wasn't well seasoned at all. In other words, do it right or get rid of it. Save your time and mine. B. Mashed potatoes w/ gravy. TREMENDOUS although a little more gravy could be helpful. I guess it's my preference. People may not realize how fast this dish can go south (e.g., not fully cooked, over whipped, etc). Nice consistency indeed. The green beans didn't agree with me (my palate anyway) so I decided not to fill in. C. Meat #1- Spicy wings. Now I eat habanero sauce almost daily so spice for me is pain for most. The flavor was decent but only one thing. They were a bit dry. The skin in particular was a bit tougher than I expected. Maybe I got a bad batch. My previous visit is when I had the sausages. VERY good. D. Smoked turkey. It was strange because the pieces were either nice and moist or very dry. I've bbq-ed turkey myself (pieces and whole). I suspect someone cut into the meat before it was completely rested. That's the only was I know it can end up as dry as some pieces were. Both meats had a nice smoke flavor to them, but in places were dry. E. Sauces- I recommend all of them (although I generally don't eat sweet BBQ). The spicy Texas sauce has some bite but the 2 vinegar-based sauces are as good as any I've had (a little better than the place I worked at and if I said who it was, you would feel good about it). The non-vinegar sauces (Texas spicy & Memphis sweet) are also on par with the place I worked at. I REALLY want to like this place. It seems as if they take one step forward and 1-2 steps back. Service has been good or bad (as I shared before). This place had such potential but in the 3 years since my first review, it's fallen short of what I thought they'd be. Inconsistency is a bad thing. I want to dismiss it as a busy weekend but this visit was actually better than the last, which is saying a great deal. I would REALLY ASSUME not having to drive 20-25 miles for decent BBQ. There are some good places in the area. Some I REALLY believe in. Since Ribs R' Us in Westmont closed years ago, I have tried to find something that good. Some have come close. Step up your game and push for consistency and not speed. Most people who go to BBQ places are willing to wait IF the BBQ is done properly. I rated this place as I did for that very reason. I HOPE you get better.
(2)Jason R.
Here's all you need to know: Brisket. Burnt. Ends. Plus their ribs, smoked sausage, pulled pork, sauces and sides are all really good. If you like BBQ, you will like Q.
(5)David M.
Q-Combo w/ 2 Meats (Chopped Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork) & 2 Sides (Green Beans, Slaw) and Hush Puppies The 2 Meat Platter served w/ Choice of 2 Sides and Q Pups - $14.99 BBQ, What's that? LMAO! It would not be appropriate if I didn't review a BBQ joint AT LEAST once a month! Well, Q did it right... Whether it be the tender brisket or the juicy pulled pork, you're sure to be pleased. Honestly, those Q Pups are worth their own visit. I don't know if they'd be considered Hush Puppies or not but, regardless, they're off the chain! The location as pretty awesome as it's located in Downtown Naperville (It's about time BBQ moved in!), which is one of the coolest suburban cities in the country. Q is a clean, friendly place that is great for seeing or being seen. Stop by and tell 'em you want some good Q!
(4)Todd R.
Stopped by for lunch on a whim in Naperville visiting family. My wife doesn't normally choose the restaurant but I'm glad she did today!!!!
(5)Melissa C.
I've been to Q a few times, but not recently. Driving toward Naperville, a girlfriend and I decided to stop here for a quick bite to eat. Their menu isn't that big, but almost everything on the menu is done very well. Brisket burnt ends: Were the burnt ends good? Yes. Were they the "best" thing they have there? No. I've never had burnt ends anywhere else, but the girl who checked us out said that they were super tender and succulent. Yes, there were quite a few pieces that were like that (probably ones that had a lot of fat that was rendered down) but some pieces were pretty dry. I think next time I go, I'll stick to the pulled pork or sliced brisket. It does come with a side of spicy aioli, which is a great pair to the sauce the burnt ends are in. Bacon Mac-Q-Roni: Mac and Cheese with Bacon....delicious bacon...and cheesy but not too cheesy mac and cheese. YUM! Brussels Sprouts (plain): don't let "plain" fool you. Plain just means they use their regular seasoning on the sprouts. They fry them, and cover them with this delicious salty sweet seasoning that goes well with any meat. Yum! Bark-B-Q: If you're going home to a fluff child after dinner, definitely pick up a bark-b-q plate! It's plain pulled chicken with lightly cooked carrots (I think they just blanch them) for the pup. I got a small for my 10 lb yorkie, and the small lasted him two meals! It was a nice treat for him!
(4)Tom C.
All I have to say is WOW! The burnt ends brisket was out of this world. It was full of flavor. Enough said, I ordered the 2 meat meal, the burnt end brisket and Memphis style wings with two sides. The cornbread and the cole slaw. When I received my order it came with 2 hush puppies! These puppies are the bomb. If I would of known I wouldn't ordered the corn bread. But at least I tried it and it was really good. Overall, the service was first class as the person who was taking my order was very friendly. I will be back to bring my family. I truly recommend this BBQ restaurant. #SenorFood
(5)Jimmy K.
This is a nice mid size restaurant with classic atmosphere. If you go here, you have to get their burnt ends brisket! I prefer the plate rather than the sandwich. It helps me appreciate the meat more. My favorite sauce is the spicy BBQ. It's got a kick but you can't stop eating it! The only disappointment was their ribs. Kinda dry and hard... Definitely not worth the price. Additionally, sides were good but nothing outstanding and mind blowing. I'd definitely say that it's a must stop by place in Naperville!
(4)Kat D.
When I'm craving bbq, Q is my go to place. From their chicken to their ribs, this place knows how to bbq. The ribs are so tender, it falls off the bone. Love their burnt ends. The bbq chicken is so moist and full of flavor. I recommend ordering their Q platter. It's a taste of all the bbq meats. The first time I ordered that, it helped me decide what I wanted the next time i came back. Order their chicken wings. They are cooked crispy and perfectly. And their sides are awesome. Q pups are my favorite. And no joke, Q is the reason I fell in love with roasted brussel sprouts with bacon...Mmm. Trust me, I was a skeptic. But their brussel sprouts had me coming back for more. The one thing that I appreciate the most is that they don't douse the meat in any sauce at all. They have 5 bottles of house made sauce at the tables. And the best part is you can put whatever sauce you want on the bbq meats. I thank you, Q, for allowing us to choose the sauces instead of smothering the meat.
(5)Jon N.
This was the second Q-BBQ I've tried in Chicago. The first time, in La Grange, we tried the burnt ends. These burnt ends were over-cooked, kind of hard and chewy. I kept reading the reviews of their burnt ends and maybe we just got a bad "batch" but it sure kept me from ordering them again tonight. So I decided to try the ribs. The ribs were a little tough off the bone and really didn't have much of the smokey flavor to them. I was pretty disappointed as this was the second strike. Now I did try my wife's brisket and that was the better of the two meals. But even then I think there are other places in Chicago that do brisket better. I'm just saying that for me, I just don't get people raving about Q when there are other places with much better 'cue.
(3)Kayla G.
Good classic barbecue. The 5 of us ordered the large sampler and full slab rib meal and it was enough to fill us up. Order an extra side of the hush puppies because they are delish! We even bought some of the sweet sauce to take home. Definitely recommend it!
(5)Sarah L.
I stopped in here for dinner last night with my sister. She ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with fries and I ordered the pulled chicken plate with sides of macaroni and cheese and coleslaw and 2 hush puppies. The food was delicious and served very quickly! My only complaint (and reason for 4 vs 5 stars) is the ordering system - it is similar to a Panera in that you order immediately and your food is delivered to your table. We weren't expecting this though and were caught off guard at having to order so quickly (since there was no line, which was nice). If we had longer to read the menu I would've realized they served Carolina style bbq and would've ordered that. As it was I loved my food, was able to take home leftovers for lunch and know what I'll try next time for lunch!
(4)Norman P.
Great atmosphere as soon as you step inside. Staff was great and very helpful on our first visit. Meat was moist and the sauces were amazing. Ordered the Papa Q Platter to satisfy my bbq craving. Awesome!!! Great experience and will definitely be back.
(5)Yu-Chi F.
This is an awesome BBQ place for southern style food. It's a bit pricey but worth it. Their sliders are awesome ( my son gets the pulled pork and pulled chicken sliders ). I like their brisket Burnt ends or the Memphis chicken wings ... They have combos or their sampler meat plates. Worth trying a few different options. Yummmm
(5)Melissa B.
I love the location in La Grange and was excited when lunch in Naperville lead me here the other day. I was here at an off hour and it was pretty empty. I have a feeling it can fill up though. We decided to split a little of everything. We shared... Wings Brisket sandwich Mashed potatoes and gravy Corn fritters Mac & cheese Spicy brussel sprouts We also each had a bottle of lagunitas beer. All of this for around $30 and we couldn't even finish everything. Everything was amazing but the spicy brussel sprouts are to die for! Make sure you order those!! I'll probably head to the La Grange location more because I live closer, but this one shouldn't be missed! Service was friendly and patient with us. Even when we stood at the front forever because we were unsure of what we wanted at first.
(5)Ace R.
This place is in a nice location in downtown Naperville (close to Frost Gelato, which you should go to for dessert). I had the burnt ends sandwich Q-Style (with cheese and coleslaw) and it was pretty decent. I have had better barbecue and would probably be back if I'm really craving it and I'm in the area. I also had the spicy jalapeño fries which were decent but not great. They do give a very large portion of fries (enough for 3 - 4 people). The restaurant itself is very clean and nice for a quick bite to eat. You order your food at the register and they bring it to you.
(3)Timothy S.
Fantastic! They give you a ton of food. The pulled pork sandwich had a huge serving of moist, smoky pork. I chose the french fries for my side, and they were also amazing. The q-style sandwich adds gouda cheese and Cole slaw to the sandwich. Both tasted great, but I think it would be fine without the cheese. The wings were also great! The spicy Memphis was an interesting flavor for the wings. Little bit of spicy with a hint of sweetness. The hush puppies were a delicious and a nice touch to the meal.
(5)Mark A.
Not often can you find good BBQ outside of the usual BBQ states but this place nails it. Large portions, tons of options with all the sides too. Great beer selection. A little quirky set up as you have to order and then have items brought to your table. Wasn't a problem for us but I can see potential issues if the place gets busy and say for example you want another beer, do you have to wait on line again? I would prefer if meats didn't come smothered in sauce, as they give you a few options on the table to add... not sure if you can ask for meats to come out plain( didn't ask). Will definitely be back in the future, nice place to grab simple BBQ in downtown Naperville. Items we had: Burnt Ends: A+ Ribs: A+ Corn Bread: A Hush Puppies: B+ Fries: B+
(5)Melanie B.
Been gardening all day this Memorial Day. I need BBQ but haven't the time nor energy to do it right. And after living in TX, I won't waste calories on mediocre BBQ. Insert Q!!! The brisket, the burnt ends, the pulled pork. It all does this body good ;). I have tried every single side and the only one I wouldn't order again are the green beans. I just don't care for them. If I weren't so attached to my waistline, I'd eat my weight in Q-pups (hush puppies) though!! For reals. We typically eat there but sometimes we order takeout and eat at home. Convenient pickup for takeout when you can park in back and don't have to worry about downtown parking.
(5)Shondra M.
The food here is fantastic. The meats are very tender and tasty, and there are a few different bbq sauces to try as well as a mustard. Prices are decent, staff is friendly. I will definitely be returning.
(5)Gary C.
Probably the best quality bbq joint in the west burbs. The brisket burnt ends are awesome. The ribs we tried were done to near perfectly. Tender, but still a good bite to them. Pulled pork was okay, but mine is better. For those days I can't do my own Q, this place can fill in.
(4)Amy H.
Wow, this place is good, like reeeeeal good. Had the trio of sliders with the chicken, brisket and pork- all were excellent. Moist and flavorful without being full of sauce. The spicy Brussels sprouts were pretty amazing as well. Loved the vinegar BBQ sauce and the spicy one too. Excellent cornbread as well! They also have a solid beer selection. I was happy to see Revolution's Rosa, which has become one of my new faves, on the menu. All around great BBQ. Guess I won't miss Smoque as much as I thought. :)
(5)Charles J.
Memphis wings are crispy perfect bird, turkey is poultry perfection is too. Beef and pork and a little light on flavor but sauce is spot on. Fries are nice, beans are crunchy not quite done. Ambiance is cool, but you order first fast casual style, a little of a wait but it's orderly and quick. It's still though one of the best bbq places around, if you like good que it's worth a visit.
(4)Daniel T.
This is my second time here in two weeks . So far I give them honors in consistency . The staff is tops in service . You place your order at the front and they bring the food to your table . When placing your order the people at the counter seem like no matter how busy it is they don't rush you + they are very happy and knowledgeable about the product and do their best to answer any questions . And they don't have a tip policy. The restaurant is very clean due to the staff continually cleaning tables + floor . The restrooms are very clean . Nothing worse than going into a place for a meal and seeing filthy restrooms Yuk !!! Yes I will be back .
(4)Lois C.
I'm a fan! Came here after going to the Dupage Children's museum and we got here right before the mad rush with a wait out the door. My husband and I shared the sampler platter with spicy brussels sprouts and fresh cut fries, my daughter and son shared the kid's meal 2 sliders (brisket and pulled pork) with cornbread and we devoured our meal. The sampler platter was $21.99 and came with brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, 2 chicken wings, 2 ribs, spicy sausage, 2 q puppies, and 2 sides. We ate about 3/4 of it and took the rest home. Our favorite was the wing (you didn't need a sauce for it, it was delicious just the way it is) and the brisket was also good. The ribs was probably our least favorite, it was dry and tough to get down. I loved the brussels sprouts, it had a kick and was definitely not healthy (tons of oil which is probably what made it yummy but I'm a fan of regular brussels sprouts as well). The fries were good but nothing spectacular. The cornbread was also good, my children devoured it. We also had a side of mashed potatoes with gravy, that was also good and had lots of flavor. Q puppies were fried perfectly and really flavorful, probably the best hush puppies I've had here in Illinois. My friends had the burnt ends and it was delicious. Definitely something I'd recommend. We got here at 5:00 on a Saturday and it got packed by 5:15. The food came out fairly quickly and they take your plate for you at the end of your meal which is a nice touch. I'll definitely be coming here again the next time I'm in the area!
(4)Kathleen M.
I visit Naperville once a month for my Modern Quilt Guild. Added to the equation is an electric car and a good long time friend who lives there. My electric car has a guaranteed charge of 78 miles and the trip to Naperville is 40. I am not that good at math but I can figure out that a minus 2 balance here. Obvi solution is to charge the car. And Naperville is such a cool, hip, green place that they have multiple charging stations in their downtown. And while you're charging, why not have dinner with a dear friend? I've long been a fan of Q from the LaGrange location. My friend had a bday party at 7:00 so we wanted to meet around 4:15 somewhere near the charging station where I could eat and she could not and I would make my 6:00 guild meeting on time. Q met all our needs. I had the smoked chicken plate with mac n cheese and cole slaw. Delish! Plus we were treated like royalty while we talked and talked. Great food, super polite staff, clean bathrooms and my car charged? Perfect choice. My pal and I will be back, pdQ!
(5)Alex P.
It's not southern bbq but all in all not a bad experience. A good positive was the staff were friendly the place was clean and fairly well organized for being busy . The food was just good it wasn't great the feeling was more commissary mass-produced rather than actual smoked or barbecue.
(3)Sarah S.
Never thought coleslaw complemented a sandwich until I came to this place. The line during evening hours can be long but it's well worth the wait.
(5)Sarah S.
I stopped into Q-BBQ for dinner last week with some friends and was completely satisfied with my experience. All the staff seems to be on the younger highschool & college age but they were all very nice and seemed capable enough. There were some issues with my friend's order at the cash register and ringing him out but it all got worked out in the end. They were nice enough to let me order a kids meal...but really I don't know what was kid-ish about it at all because it was a pretty big portion! I got two mini sliders - pulled pork & brisket, a side of mac & cheese and a small soda drink for $7.99. It filled me completely up plus I got a beer which admittedly is a bit strange with a kids' meal. They seem to have a beer on special, changing each week or month. When I went it was Revolution's Eugene Porter which I'm a big fan of. $4.50 for a can really ain't too shabby! One gentleman working reserved a corner booth for our party of five which seems to be standard procedure here. As you order, he reserves you a table to sit down and they then bring your food out to you. I quite enjoyed everything I ordered. I thought both meats could have a bit more wetness to them but I doused them with sweet sauce and they were good to go. The sweet sauce was really delicious with no spice. My side of mac & cheese was topped with some mashed up cheez-it crackers which was an interesting little touch. I loved the mac & cheese, smooth and creamy. That being said I wasn't blown away by any of the food. I found it good on all levels but not amazing or great. I'm not running to go to Q, nor would I venture out of my way for it, however the food is good and I wouldn't hesitate to stop in for a bit when in the 'hood.
(4)Tee G.
One evening a while back, I found myself in Naperville late in the evening and wanted to pick up a quick dinner before I headed home. Little did I know it would turn my husband into a total Q addict. It's one of his favorite places to go. Sometimes I cringe thinking about how badly parking is going to be, but nothing can keep him away. Don't get me wrong, I like it too! The pulled chicken is probably my favorite. Sometimes I'll also get pulled chicken on top of their western salad. The husband likes the 2 meat platter, and though he shakes things up sometimes, his two favorites seem to be the spicy sausage and burnt ends. He especially likes the burnt ends. One of my close friends gets sick eating pork, so I appreciate that they have a variety of tasty non-pork options. There is a bbq place in Wheaton I like (though husband doesn't seem to like that one as much), but they don't have pulled chicken and their beef items are frequently sold out. We've never had that problem at Q. Over many (many) visits, I think every employee I've run across has been very courteous and friendly. I think my only nitpick is that I'm not crazy about the cheez-it topping on the mac and cheese. Definitely minor enough that it doesn't keep us away!
(5)Sarah C.
Well, they definitely have meat here. It would be so much better if it wasn't all so greasy. I like the idea of the spicy Brussels sprouts but you have to pour off the grease and kind of blot them. The pickles are pretty good, though.
(3)Eppie E.
Q's dry overcooked brisket almost killed me. my first bite of the burnt ends was so dry it got stuck in my throat. if it were not for a hefty cough, I might be blue on the floor. I decided to give Q a try, because I was in the area. this restaurant is the same old tired model for a northern barbecue restaurant. beautiful interior, chalkboard menu, nice packaging, horrendously horrible dry food with absolutely zero smoke flavor. The restaurant owners , barbecue is a cooking process rather than sauce slapped on meat. When I try a new restaurant, I always order the burnt ends. the burnt ends should have a pervasive smoke flavor however this restaurant had no smoke flavor. I'm guessing based on the dryness of the brisket that they boil an oven cook their meat. The only reason I gave this restaurant 2 stars was because their sauce is pretty good. So if you like boiled dry BBQ slathered in barbecue sauce, then this restaurant is for you.
(2)Katie C.
My boyfriend really likes this place but last time we went they changed up the fries big time. They used to have fresh cut fries which were some of the best I ever had. This time they tasted like frozen fries. They had no seasoning and we're chewy and looked completely different than they normally do. We asked about it and they didn't know anything about it. Not sure that we will be back again
(2)Mike O.
Carolina pulled pork was good, and the brisket okay. The "Southern Sweet Tea" must have been mislabeled because it tasted like unsweetened powdered tea. McDonald's has better sweet tea. The sauces were not very good certainly nothing like the Rendezvous in Memphis. Having been raised in the South, I consider myself somewhat of a BBQ afficianado. This place in an imposter.
(3)Kara C.
Super tasty. Their fries are fantastic, too, nice and salty. And you can drink a beer with your BBQ! Quick, friendly service. Their children's menu items are huge portions, could even split for picky eaters.
(4)Glenda C.
I was really looking forward to eating here after recommendations from friends, but unfortunately my visit fell short. The first bust was the spicy brussel spouts. It had so much potential but failed miserably because they were very undercooked. I could barely get through eating 1 because it was rock hard. When I asked someone on staff about them, they explained that they are only flashed fried and typically not very soft inside. So we kept them and suffered through the toughness. The second strike came when my toddler discovered not 1, but 2 plastic pieces in his mac and cheese! The manager apologized and offered a coupon for our next visit, but I am not sure we will be back after that experience.
(2)Jim G.
They have the best BBQ I've had anywhere in the area! I usually get the sliders so I can get some variety because everything is so good.
(5)Bill B.
First (and certainly won't be last) time there. What a find!! If you don't try anything else, have the burnt ends and spicy roasted brussel sprouts...OMG outstanding. Regular brisket, pulled pork, beans and coleslaw...everything we tried was great...and the hushpuppies...need I say more, except TRY IT!!
(5)Megan S.
This place is great. Very comparable to my favorite place in Texas, Smokey-Mo's. All the meats are gluten free. I first learned about Q via a catered lunch in the loop. BF and I finished a workout in Lakeview so I took him here. We then were coming back from a weekend in Rockford and decided to stop in Naperville for dinner. The food is the same as the Lakeview location. Sweet is my favorite but I wish there was a medium option as the spicy is tooo spicy. It's to the point where there's not much flavor just heat. The vinegar and mustard options aren't my cup of tea. The brisket is my favorite and the sausage has a good kick of spice to it. The mashed potatoes are phenomenal! M said that the fries are kick a$$. The cole slaw is....cole slaw. I really wish i could have, or he liked mac and cheese. I'm a sucker for good M&C. This restaurant will definitely stay in the rotation. I like this location for the size (compared to Lakeview) but the staff was friendlier in the city, believe it or not.
(4)Michelangelo V.
Honest reviews: not that good i loved the hush puppies n the brussel sprouts they were amaizing the mac n cheeze was gross the pulled pork meh was ok the carolina sauce on it was gross all in all its jus ok best barbeque in naperville is thomas barbeque
(1)Marco N.
Cornbread and ribs are DELICIOUS!!! The sauce for the ribs was good too. And try the hush puppies also.
(5)K.K. D.
Wow! I have had some delicious BBQ in The Chicago area but so far this is the best! I love Pappy's Smokehouse in St. Louis and this place ranks up there with the best! Huge portions, good price, & good service. We had a 2 meat combo burnt ends (try the spicy aioli sauce YUMMY) and pulled pork side of mashed potatoes and baked beans. Was more then enough for us to share! But those Q puppies are addicting we had to order more and then add a sample size of ribs too! So tender! BBQ sauces were tasty that Texas Spicy sauce was my favorite! Can't wait to go back for some more I need to try the spicy brussel sprouts which I heard were amazing! If you crave BBQ like I do this is the place to go!
(5)Krissy B.
This place is ok, but it's not my favorite. The Mac and cheese is downright horrible. What corporate nitwit thought cheese-its would be a good topping? Yuck. Mashed potatoes were good. Pulled pork was ok, got mine unsauced. It was moist, but lacked any flavor/smokiness. The sauces they provide you with are all grossly offensive IMO. I mixed the sweet, mustard, and vinegar together. Overall this place is ok but there's better, non-corporate alternatives. I suspect this place makes bank mainly because of the location.
(2)Tracie D.
Second time I've tried this place; I want to love it but can't. As a point of reference while I have had great bbq in other states-my review is comparing this place to similar Famous Dave's. 1st- burnt ends are thumbs down. Rather than the expected deliciousness of charred ends these were just cubes of brisket, nothing special at all. The Hushpuppies are a delight, and self serve pickles/BBQ sauce bar is nice. The brisket chili was a pleasant take out item. Overall, a solid place in downtown Naperville that is the BBQ option. Potential to be great but likely the marketplace will support without any changes. Won't become a destination for BBQ unless it provides more wow factor IMHO.
(3)Dick W.
My first impression of this place was that ot was very well put together. Nice ambiance, clean and modern. I ordered the chopped brisket plate. While waiting, I realized that I couldnt smell any bbq in the place at all. Couldnt smell the meat or the smoke. This started to get me a bit worried. Then I realized that the music playing in this joint was not that of a bbq joint. I began looking around and realized that I was almost the only person in the place. The good news is that the brisket was decent. The fries were good. The sauces were pretty great! It's nice that there are like 3-4 sauces to choose from and I used them all. I will give them a second shot to be sure, but I still have my reservations about this place's staying power.
(4)Mark H.
I ordered their Memphis wings. They were of course dry rubbed and had an ok taste. They were a little dry. I'll have to try their pork to be able to judge just how good they are.
(3)Carmen W.
love, love, love this food. I love the spicy bbq sauce it's amazing. The fries are really good. Not a huge fan of the macaroni and cheese. I have had the pulled pork and beef brisquet. This is a bit pricey. I dont necessarily care for the way you order your food because if you have never been there its a bit confusing.
(5)Tracy S.
BBQ is probably one of my favorite foods and Q-BBQ is my go to spot in the suburbs. My brother and I on our most recent trip tried the Papa-Q platter which has a sampling of all their meats for two people and everything was delicious. It was a great deal for $29.99! What's even better is that they have great sides to go along with the BBQ. A great place for all!
(4)Dave M.
Great BBQ. Everything is delicious- the burnt end brisket is possibly the best thing you can eat in town.
(5)Shannon A.
Let me start out by saying I am NOT a BBQ person. That being said, I truly enjoyed the meal I had at Q. I got the sliced brisket with mac & cheese and mashed potatoes. The brisket was delicious, easily cut with a plastic fork, not over sauced and the portion size was generous. The potatoes were fantastic however the mac and cheese was a little weak (I will definitely get two sides of mashed potatoes next time). I wish they gave you *slightly* larger portions of the sides. The staff was very friendly, the restaurant was clean and they have PLENTY of napkins and places to wash your hands! Overall I was pleased with the food and service I got at Q.
(4)Tim H.
Never come here again. They use peanut oil and have ZERO allergy warnings The place is dangerous to the thousands of people who now have food allergies What a joke Please do not give this place your money App made me give it a 1. It's a 0. Zero.
(1)Cam M.
SUPER GREAT BBQ!!! Ribs are cooked to perfection and you cannot go wrong with any of the sides. I will drive from Geneva for a Q fix. Wish they would consider opening a place in the Fox River area. Just writing this review gets my taste buds going. You need stop there and you will be hooked
(5)Samantha B.
I thoroughly enjoy the barbeque at this place. As a former resident of North Carolina, I was more than delighted when I saw Q's advertising Carolina pulled pork. It is extremely hard to find the vinegar-based sauce and coleslaw topped brisket that defines true Carolina barbeque. Unfortunately....this was not it. Not even close. Although I will still give this place four stars because the barbeque was delicious! The first time I went, I ordered the beef brisket sandwich. It comes with one side and two hush puppies. I made the sandwich "Q-style" which means for $1.50 more they will add coleslaw, bleu cheese crumbles, and "carolina" sauce, which as stated previously...was not even remotely close, yet still a good spicy brown sauce. They gave me a huge, heaping side of fries that I couldn't even finish after conquering the massive butchered cow that was my sandwich. They also have a condiments bar where you can try at least five different barbeque sauces and mustards. Plus all you can eat pickle slices! The meal was $8.99, not including the q-style price, tax and a drink. Today I ordered the full slab of ribs meal which comes with two sides. It was $23.99, again not including tax or drinks. The ribs were meaty and flavorful. Everything fell right off of the bone. I also got their macaroni and cheese which has cheez-its crumbled on top of it! Awesome idea and quite delish. Shared this meal with my husband and we still had ribs left over. I'm telling you...the portion sizes are great for the price. Again, my only complaint is this was not carolina style barbeque. It is more memphis or kansas city. I would compare this place to a fast-food version of Famous Daves, before Famous Daves got money hungry and started cutting down their portion sizes and measuring out how much meat goes on a sandwich. Give me a break, Dave.
(4)Henri and Nicole D.
Now I'm the office hero! Great experience all around! Last minute office lunch, and everyone picks me to set it up. I have 3 hours to feed 30 people. Everyone's weighing in... and Q's comes up... a lot! So, I think, "Man 30 people in (now) 2.5 hours, no way." I reach out to find out if this is doable, and the folks at Q's don't even blink an eye. They say sure, take the order and call us when you're ready. So I scramble, office emails fly, orders and reorders come in, and I see it... a load of picky eaters who want to customize just about every dish. AGAIN, Q's doesn't even flinch. Not even a hesitation. I arrive around lunch time, the line out the door, and I soar pass all those last minute diners right to the counter where my meals are waiting with assistance to get it to the car. Oh, those in line are envious of me know, I can feel the jealousy dripping off me as I slide pass them with bag after bag of BBQ goodness. I'm in, I'm out, I'm back at work before the engine gets hot. I pass out the meals...and... silence. A usually noisy office is filled with silence as my quickly sated coworkers fill their bellies with deliciousness prepared JUST the way they wanted it. Now, I'm the office hero and everyone talking about the next time we order Q's, I'm the guy to go to for this, because I can handle tough situations. The secret's out now, Q's staff lead by leaders Liz and Tyler will knock it out the park for you.
(5)Steve O.
For delicious, hassle free BBQ, Q is about as good as it gets. I sometimes find myself looking for excuses to drive in the area of Q just to have a reason to stop in for a bite. Every meat I have tried, and I've tried nearly all of them, are fantastic and consistently good. Favorites are the pulled pork, the sliced brisket, the chicken and the smoked sausage. Pulled pork and brisket in particular have excellent smokey flavor, and not saturated in sauce. This allows me to use the sauce I like best, with as little or as much as I want, rather than end up with a soggy mess. The brisket is great, I prefer the sliced versus the chopped, just a personal preference. The sides are very good, although I wish the coleslaw and beans were a little larger, the portion of fries you get is huge, and the slaw and beans seem a little light in comparison. My wife and I usually get 4 different sides between us so we can have some of each. The coleslaw is great, good flavor and fresh. The beans are very good. The brussel sprouts are out of this world. I like the regular instead of the spicy, they have a great flavor and are seasoned perfectly, the spicy is just more heat than I prefer. I don't order the mac and cheese often, but it is good. I don't understand the outrage I see in other reviews that they use cheez-its as a topping. It's cheese crackers on top of mac and cheese. Sorry it's not how mommy makes it with the powdered cheese packet, good god. I believe everything comes with Q-puppies, a guilty pleasure of deep fried goodness. Oh, by the way, DO NOT forget to grab a cup or 2 of the house made pickles that are available at the condiment station. These are awesome. The kids all love the food, my son is an 11 year old BBQ junkie in training, and my 2 girls are starting to get a bit more adventurous. The girls love the chicken tenders and the fries, and I can usually talk at least one of them into the pulled chicken. Service has always been good. It is a quick service set up, where you place your order and pay at the counter, and a few minutes later the food is brought out to you. Bonus points for serving Coke products and having excellent Iced tea. All of you Coke snobs out there will know what I'm talking about. Nothing worse than loving the food at a place but having to choke down Pepsi. Keep up the good work Q!
(5)D P.
Have ate at the Lagrange location before and thought was ok. Was in Naperville so I tried this location. EVERYTHING was extrA! Q style was a tablespoon of slaw for a $1.50. Brussels sprouts were 2.39 over the standard sides. A 10 oz soft drink was $2.39. All told a sandwich a Coke was$15.23.
(2)Edi I.
This is a really nice option for a barbecue craving on the go! Great food great menu and fast service. Love the sliders on the menu, you get to try what you like best to order a bigger portion next time ! Will definitely be back.
(5)Ron P.
Not sure what has happened to this place. It used to be a solid bbq place in Naperville. Went last week and the food was mediocre at best. Had half a slab with beans and cole slaw. The ribs came out extremely dry and cold. The beans had maybe six beans in the container and the slaw had no flavor. Wife got brisket which tasted more like roast beef. The cost does not justify the quality. Will not go back.
(2)Alex S.
I've been here twice so far and I was pleased both times. The atmosphere is really nice and the staff are friendly. The food is on the more expensive side but they give you really big portions so you get your moneys worth. Having lived in North Carolina for about 5 years, I was excited to eat their Carolina pulled pork platter. It came with a huge amount of pork and two sides. I chose the green beans which were nothing too special, and the mac and cheese which had an added touch of cheeze-its making it even better. The Carolina sauce however was not the same. It is supposed to be vinegar based but this is more on the think side in my opinion. The second time my wife and I split a whole rack of ribs which were amazing. They have a little condiment area too with homemade pickles that are awesome. Every table also has all of their sauces that you can add to your plate so its fun to try them all. The wait for your food is pretty short also which is a plus. Overall I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for some good BBQ.
(4)Courtney R.
If Q-BBQ were a man, I would be making a fool out of myself. EVERYTHING here is good. Everything. The Brussels sprouts are excellent, make sure you order the original ones if you don't like spicy foods. I have been here quite a few times, If I go to Naperville, I am going to Q's.
(5)Connie L.
I finally made it out here after hearing raving reviews and I wish I did it sooner. The food comes out lightning fast and the portions are generous. I split a two meat combo (brisket and pulled pork) with the bf and it definitely filled us up. The meat is prepared without any BBQ sauce but there are different sauces available at each table.
(5)Ashley S.
Ohhh yum! I'm born and raised in Naperville, but I moved to southern California a while back, so it's always nice to come back and check out new places! I was meeting up with some friends on a trip back home and we met here- and oh man it was yummy! I got the pulled chicken sandwich with brussell (maybe there's only one l there..) sprouts- OH MY THEY WERE SO GOOD!! Prices were pretty decent too for the amount of food I got! Yum!
(3)Luke W.
This restaurant had excellent food and great service! The greater was very nice, friendly, and helpful. On top of that - this was the best BBQ food I've had in a long time. We will be returning for dinner!
(5)Cindy D.
Brisket tender and tasty. Green beans not so much. Everything was cold except the ale. But the brisket was delicious. I like the sweet sauce with a hint of heat. the little hush puppies were a treat.
(3)Deena A.
First time there. Would come back if I am in the area! We had to go back up for a second order! The chopped brisket is delicious.
(5)Juan L.
My girlfriend and I along with two other friends decided to eat here on Wednesday at around 7 pm. I ordered the papa Q platter me and my gf just decided to share it because it sounded like enough. It came with pretty much all there meats on the menu, two sides and hush puppies. I will start of by saying that for some reason there were no hush puppies on my platter but instead it had 4 wings which I was okay with. No on to the meat! Pulled pork- was extremely tender and tasted good Pulled chocked- had a good smoky flavor and tender Chopped brisket- tender and great flavor Ribs- were extremely tender and had a great rub on them Hot Sausage- was kinda cold but had good flavor and a nice bite to it. Sliced brisket- was by far the worst. It was cold and way to dry. Hard to chew. Sliced turkey- was more tender than the brisket which I thought would not be possible. Brisket burnt ends- were really good, had great bark, great smoky flavor. Spicy wings- were incredibly tender and the dry rub was finger licking good. Our two sides were Mac and cheese and cole slaw. Mac and cheese was pretty bland. The cole slaw was really watery. The staff were all reall nice. Nice place to hang out with friends. I will definitely be back again maybe at a earlier time for fresher food.
(4)Sarah H.
Things that are excellent: 1) Fast service once you've paid. Food comes out quickly; servers are so wonderful and friendly. 2) Selection of sauces. Yes. Just amazing. I am a fan of the sauces! Though, some will argue the sauce will cover/hide the taste of the meat. 3) Get your own takeout boxes, bags, and pretty much anything you can think of. 4) Of course, the food. Carolina pulled pork sandwich was excellent. Large portion size. The side of fries is HUGE (and a bit salty). More petite ladies may want to try a kid's meal, as I think those sizes may be much more manageable. The Q-Plate may be too large and can probably be shared by two smaller ladies. Things they need to work on: 1) Faster cashiers. I was there for lunch on a weekday and there was one register manned. The line was always at the door. This points to two things: one, poor staffing of registers and two, poor layout design as they did not consider how slowly the line would move. 2) Poor layout: They're working with a small space and trying to maximize their space, but really I think they could have sacrificed a few tables so I'm not constantly running into the next table as I move to get a refill. 3) I am not so sure if I am a fan of the "let me grab you a number, find you a table somewhere, and make you remember the number." I do understand it helps to "maximize space," but I can find my own table, thanks. Next time I want to try their southern sweet tea! Overall solid addition to downtown Naperville. If only parking wasn't such a nightmare!
(5)Sarah S.
Delicious! Went here with my brother. He got the ribs and I got a pulled pork sandwich. Loved all the sauces and my sandwich was amazing! The sides are really good too! In my opinion the ribs still don't top Portillo's ribs but that's just my thing.
(4)Scott K.
When it comes to American cuisine BBQ and chicken compete big time but with Q's in the competition chicken took a lickin. I'm a kid in a candy store when it comes to BBQ; beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs, oh the agony I'd have to go through if I had to choose one, but they have a multiple meat option of 1 - 4, which suppresses a severe case of anxiety. I need 4 because they have something I've not had before called burnt ends. Burnt ends is probably now my favorite way to eat cow, it is so tasting you may find yourself mooing in ecstasy. My blood pump repair man is pleased the closest location to Cortland is Naperville otherwise I be there weekly closing up my arteries quicker than the snap of an alligator's mouth. If there is one bummer it's they got onions in their baked beans 'ewhhh' I hate onions (see other reviews) but they got a mac n cheese I double on for my two sides. They have fries but one must be health conscious. If you like BBQ and have not tried Q's drop all things and go and put yourself in total carnivore utopia.
(5)Katey A.
Q, where have you been all of my life? Please do not ever leave Naperville. Walking into Q-BBQ you immediately feel like you're down south. Rustic interior, large chalk board menus, and the staff is filled with southern charm. I was stunned by the number of options to choose from. You order at the counter and some one brings you your order. After staring at the menu for longer than I care to admit, I settled on a half slab of ribs, the bacon mac n cheese, and cornbread. Win, win, WIN! Their ribs are so meaty that I could only eat three ribs. The bacon mac and cheese was some of the best mac n cheese that I've had from a bbq joint in a long time. (Many places serve this weird velveta style mac and cheese that looks like it's been sitting out for too long. Gross.) Q's was not like that at all. The people I was with ordered the regular mac n cheese which comes with cheesy puffs crumbled on top for texture. They also were raving about the burnt ends saying it was some of the best they've ever had. This of course means I have to go back for further research. They have about 4-5 sauces. Our favorites were the sweet bbq sauce and the mustard bbq sauce. I highly recommend this place to all bbq lovers. So glad it's here!
(5)John K.
Excellent
(2)Matthew M.
Everyone I know loves this place for some reason but it's really just average bbq. The meat isn't very flavorful or tender, I love brisket but the version the serve here clearly isn't smoked for long enough (I've had it a couple of times and always find chewy globs of fat) and the pork and sausage is bland. The sides are really good though and the hush puppies are amazing. I get dragged here too often because everyone else loves it and those hush puppies save my dining experience.
(3)Justin C.
Eat the brussel sprouts. I know, I know. But eat the brussel sprouts.
(5)Melissa M.
The baked beans with brisket was awesome. The burnt ends brisket was tasty but fatty. The service was fast and freindly. I will definetly come back.
(4)Michael M.
This is an update to the review I posted on 9/9/2012. I have to admit, this place has grown on me. I said that I wasn't sure if my feelings were based on the expectations...they were. I believe that this is probably the best BBQ place I know of in the Naperville area right now. My order has become the same. Pulled pork sandwich with fries and a taste of the sausage. The pulled pork is always great. The sausage is always a nice change from anything I normally eat. The fries are some of the best of any restaurant I've been to. I highly recommend the fires with the sweet table sauce. I will say that the brisket chili was a disappointment. Then again, I'm not really a fan of their brisket in general so I shouldn't have been to surprised. Overall, I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for a good pulled pork sandwich.
(4)Roseanne P.
I wanted to like this place so much. I've seen reviews for it on television shows like "The hungry hound". Maybe the kitchen was having a bad day but I was completely unimpressed with most of my meal. My husband and I ordered the burnt ends platter, mine with slaw and baked beans, my husband had baked beans and the mac'n cheese. The meat was almost cold and swimming in grease when it arrived. The slaw and the macaroni and cheese were bland and flavorless. The two redeeming items were the fritters and the baked beans, which were a nice, well balanced mix of sweet and heat. Compared to other BBQ joints, I just couldn't give the restaurant more than two stars--sorry. I will give it another shot and try another item on the menu though which will hopefully I'll have a better experience the second time around.
(2)ashley m.
Wow! This place is gooooooood! Bacon Mac n cheese, pulled pork nachos, sliders everything we shared was phenomenal
(5)Patrick S.
First time at Q-BBQ. it was good, but not great. i'm a big fan of BBQ places, so i wanted to try this one since i was in the area. i ordered the pulled pork sandwich. for my side, i opted to try their coleslaw. despite what some other reviewers said, the portion size wasn't the biggest. the meal ended up satisfying my hunger, but i'm used to larger sandwiches for the money i paid. the pork was really tender and flavorful and their signature sauce they add on the sandwich was a nice touch. i liked almost all of their other table-side sauce options, with my least favorite being their vinegar based sauce. my favorite sauce was their Texas-style which had a sweet/spicy flavor to it. i used this sauce for the rest of my sandwich. i liked the egg bun the sandwich was served on. it was fresh and had a good bakery taste to it, not a standard bland store bought taste at all. the coleslaw was actually really good. coleslaw is typically hit or miss at BBQ places, so i was pleasantly surprised when this had a nice flavor to it. the Q-Puppies (hush puppies) that are included with your meal were decent. standard hush puppy flavor that is similar to Long John Silvers. nothing out of the ordinary. i would've liked more than just 2 of them, but oh well. i'd go back here, but i'm not going to go out of my way to eat at Q-BBQ. Cleanliness of restaurant = 5/5 Staff politeness/willingness to explain options = 5/5 Taste of food = 4/5 Quality of food = 4/5 Portion size = 3/5 Price of food = 3.5/5 total rating = 4/5
(4)Texas L.
Okay so I returned to give you guys one more shot. I got the brisket Q plate with coleslaw and hush puppies for my sides. The brisket was chewy and sliced almost an inch thick. Brisket is best served sliced much thinner and with a little more fat content to keep moist. I did however find the perfect combination of sauces during my experience. When mixing the Texas style with the mustard style from NC I found pure bliss on my tastebuds. I still stand firm on the rib issue. I don't want to eat a half rack, I want to have the option of having a couple ribs and some brisket with my sides and a glass of ice tea. This option is not available without spending over $27.....it's BBQ. Staff was friendly and of course the atmosphere is pleasant. Sorry but we won't be visiting anymore.
(2)Lily Z.
The guys and I came here for dinner after an exhaustive trip of shopping at the outlet mall in Aurora. I was not a fan of their sweet tea, but they have some nice brisket and burnt ends. My friend really liked their sausage. But their chicken was dry. I really liked their corn bread because it had a nice balance. If I'm ever in the area, I would definitely come back for their sliced brisket and burnt ends. Everything drenched with their spicy Texas sauce? Score!
(4)Carrie S.
Okay, this place deserves a more extensive review. I've been here a few times, and every time I get the burnt ends sandwich. It's awesome: huge chunks of meat topped with their mustard sauce. I hate the word tender, but this stuff is tender. And the mustard is not very mustardy - it's thastes like thyme and is oh so very good. I've ordered the mac and cheese and the fries as my sides...my recommendation? Go with the fries. They're pretty solid and you get a ton of them. The mac and cheese is a little lackluster and a small portion. The thing that puts this place above and beyond is their customer service. The staff is like teens/early 20's and really nice, polite kids. Twice during dinner last night we were asked how our food was, in a very non-obtrusive and unawkward way. My boo's sandwich was a little dry and so one girl offered to bring out a new one. We're not really the "send food back" type of people, but we decided to take her up on her offer. Not only did she bring out a new, improved sandwich in a few minutes, but she also gave us a voucher for an additional sandwich for our next visit. Score! I think this small act made us lifelong fans. So sweet. Plus they serve beer.
(5)Jonathan K.
Such a win if you decide to eat here! Reasonably priced and great portions! The pulled pork is my all time favorite! If you like BBQ then you must try this restaurant out!
(5)Amy N.
With so many good reviews, the bar is set really high for this place. That being said though, this place beats out the slim pickings of other bbq joints around, like Famous Dave's and Texas Roadhouse. Whatever meat you end up choosing will be tender and great. The sauces offered at the table are great, and they have a good variety. The sides are a little small for what you're paying. Overall, this makes the menu a little pricy, in my opinion, but then again, what isn't pricy in Naperville? It would be great if the place was bigger because due to its popularity, it can be extremely packed on weekend evenings.
(4)Steve K.
This is my first 5 star rating. I am a foodie and I absolutely love good barbecue. I've been to all the good spots in Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis. This is a great barbecue joint with four distinctly different sauces at your table - you choose which flavor you want. They are all good but the sweet and the mustard ones are best in my opinion. The pulled pork sandwich is great - very flavorful, brisket sandwich is fantastic - you have to get it Q-style (with cole slaw and bleu cheese). Buns are fresh, which is extremely important. Tried the burnt ends today for the first time. They were fantastic and as an expert in BBQ said to me "these burnt ends are a cross between filet mignon and beef jerky." The Q- puppies that come with your meal are awesome! Be sure to fill up the little black cup with their sliced pickles - a nice complimentary offering. It can get a bit crowded at the prime lunch and dinner times but a crowd is a testament to a good restaurant, so I consider a crowd a good thing. Try to go at 1:00 or later for lunch as the place thins out then. Looking for great barbecue, give it a shot. You will be happy you came. I've been back to this place (multiple locations) literally dozens of times and never had a bad experience - always excellent!
(5)DEALS D.
Absolutely fantastic bbq. Had the sampler plate. Will definitely be back for more. The servers and counter people were super friendly and helped with order. And they were right on. Loved it.
(5)ray c.
Overpriced. Brisket was dry. Ribs were average. Burnt ends were completely burnt and not tender at all. I do like their sweet sauce and spicy sauced mixed together.
(1)Shin M.
I got the burnt ends sandwich ($8.99) with melted mozzarella (extra $1.50) which came with 3 hush puppies (meh, i only ate one), and I chose french fries as my side. The lady that took our order was super friendly- just had to mention that. Anyway, the burnt ends sandwich was pretty good- don't know if the melted mozzarella helped thaaaat much- I guess I'm saying it's prob still good without it. The french fries were PLENTIFUL- I could not finish them all but they were really good. They were in b/t McDonald's skinny fries and steak fries. So they were medium in thickness and soft =). Overall, it was pretty good!
(4)J.W. W.
BBQ is okay, but tables are jammed together like sardines in a can. I would have given it three stars, but they ban legal concealed carry so I will not be back.
(1)Tori M.
OVERRATED. Given their award-winning status I was expecting gold when I got here and the food was silver, at best. The brisket was bland and needed go be doused in sauce. The set up was cramped and the bill for both of us was about $35! It wasn't bad but it most definitely did not live up to the hype.
(3)Fi G.
Get the sliders if you're a first timer. You get to try small portions of all their meat. Everything we have tried has been amazing. The portions are on the larger side, you'll have plenty of leftovers. The staff are friendly and helpful. On each table they have different sauces you can add to your BBQ (not that you need it). The last time I had amazing BBQ like this I was stationed in Texas.
(5)Benjamin S.
Good, not great. So, I seriously dig good barbecue. I've been to plenty spots around the US. I also know how to make good barbecue. So, I'm not an average guy with average standards. With this area its hard to find a decent BBQ joint, so it was cool to see one prop up in Naperville. A friend from work suggested we hit there for lunch and I was game. So, first impressions. Finding parking is a pain, but that's Naperville's problem as the downtown booms. As for the restaurant, Its what you would expect from a suburban place. Sort of the Apple-Bee-ification of the decor. It ends up coming off a little artificial. But, neither of those are really that important in the grande scheme of things. I ended up getting the three meat combo, which is always a good route when you want to experience more of what they have to offer. I ended up getting the brisket, pulled pork, spicy sausage, with a side of beans and coleslaw. I was disappointed that it cost extra to have burnt ends, and they dont even serve the ribs as part of the 3 meat combo. If the ribs or burnt ends arent economical to serve in a combo, then just change the portion size. Anyhow, after a few minutes, the server arrived with the steel tray with brown paper and my entre. Overall, the presentation of the food was meant to be appear rustic. So, nothing worth mentioning. Just piles of meat with plastic cups for the sides. So on to eating,, Im not sure if the style of serving (using a metal tray) was at fault, but I felt like my meal just wasn't all that hot to begin with. I first tried the brisket, which was OK. I was sort of surprised by how little flavor (smoke or otherwise) I could detect, It was served chopped up, which I dont mind as you can keep it juicier for longer, but It was still missing spice and flavor. Which take you to the sauces..which I thought were really good, but almost seemed like they were required to make the meal work. The pulled pork was also unremarkable as it too didn't have any smoke flavor or seasoning. As for the sausage, it wasnt awful, just nothing special. It was along the same lines of a Bobak sausage - perhaps not even that high of quality. As for the beans - they were very good and extremely spicy. The coleslaw was essentially store bought and (although was nice to cut into the richness of the meat) was disappointing. The biggest surprise was that with a $20 plate that they didn't even give you any bread (and hush-puppies don't count). I thought that was a no-brainer for any BBQ joint. As others have mentioned, the mac-n-cheese is so bad that its almost a joke. I knew not to order this as I tried some before when some family members did carryout. Like some stoned hillbilly's creation. Now, there are some hillbilly creations that do work, like Frito pie. But, cheese-its on mac-n-cheese doesn't. Sorry guys, its a total fail. If cant oven bake a crumb topping, then just serve it without any topping altogether. All in all, I think this place works for a quick BBQ meal if you are in the area, but not worth driving to if you don't live nearby.
(3)G B.
It takes much time and care to BBQ this well. The food is consistent and the Texas hot is right on. Ribs are excellent, burnt ends are nice, and real tea. I can't wait to return.
(5)Clint K.
I liked the variety of sauces! I only had the brisket but it was very good. Definitely will go back!
(4)Sam L.
First time customers at this restaurant. We enjoyed how friendly the staff were to us. The bbq was great! I highly recommend this place to others.
(4)Brandy W.
This place deserves 4 stars for flavor/variety... but only gets 3 because they're super sneaky with their prices. How on earth is a sandwich, small baked beans (think full palm of your hand), small mac-q-roni, regular mac-q-roni and about 5 brussel sprouts worth $23? I'm the vegetarian who loves her carni husband. And when we walked by, I saw signs for spicy mac-q-roni and cheese and spicy brussel sprouts. I hoped they were vegetarian. I went in, inquired. Yep, all their sides except the baked beans are veggie (not vegan) friendly. Sweet. We were in for dinner. I checked out the menu. Small sides (quite small) were $1.99 and regular size sides were $2.99. I ordered the spicy brussel sprouts and spicy mac at regular sizes, expecting a cost of $6 (which is suitable for pasta with a veggie in small portions!). The husband ordered a pulled pork sandwich with a description under it including cheese and coleslaw. While it IS listed on the menu that it's $1.50 to upgrade, you'd assume they wouldn't list the base price and description with the upgrade but not upgraded price. And the cashier should've said, For another $1.50, would you like to make it Q-style instead of assuming we didn't mind the upcharge. And the sides. YOU GUYS. I paid $4.99 for about 5 large (albeit yummy) brussel sprouts! Apparently the stuff in the window on the "spicy" list that is not included anywhere on the menu is not the same price as the sides they DO list. And the spicy mac and cheese...spicy or not (added jalapeno is all) was bland and not worth the $3.99 we paid just for them to add a few slices of jalapeno. So for $9, I got brussel sprouts and crappy mac & cheese. No meat. What a ripoff. And of course you have no idea the prices when ringing up...all unassuming. My meal as a veggie was more expensive than my husband's meal as a meat-eater! They score points for the following items: - good meat, says the husband - tasty brussel sprouts and beans - my son who hates food eating the two measly hush-puppies they threw on my husband's plate. - free pickles you can dish yourself - BBQ sauce to your heart's content - fun atmosphere - hand-washing sink Things they should improve on: - not being shady on those upcharges - labeling the menu clearly with prices, even for seasonal items - cashier not upcharging without disclosing additional cost - outdoor seating would be nice - cooler soda machine. Why don't they have the new Coke machine? IMO, those are decent things to work on that just might not get us back in the door.
(3)steve r.
Well, if you like BBQ that you'll have a lot of leftovers for, then this is the place. I've been to this place twice and each time I've been defeated in my ability to finish my plate. The food is completely overflowing and they are more than generous with the sides, especially the french fries. Make sure you are coming for lunch, get there before the rush happens each day around noon. Lots of options, lots of sauce and lots of food. If you are hungry, this is the place for you. Keep in mind, the tables are really close to together, so be ready or take it to go.
(4)Brad J.
I love the pulled pork and the brisket is pretty good. I am a huge fan of great bbq and this place does a really good job. I even had the pulled pork nachos one time which were okay, but I much rather would have had the pulled pork sandwich or the brisket. Like what some of the other reviewers have said, the portion size can be a little small but the food is great. The staff is very friendly and helpful!
(4)LOIS B.
YUM, won my heart and palate. We stopped in on a very busy Sunday afternoon and the heavenly BBQ scent wafting all the way to the parking lot had my mouth watering before reaching the door. I had the beef brisket plate. The meat was soooooooooooooooooooooo tender I did not require a knife. It comes with the North Carolina Vinegar Sauce and I added some Memphis Sweet sauce ~ mouth-watering. There are also 2 other choices of BBQ sauces available on the table for your dining pleasure. All the sides we had were, also, very tasty. They included salad, baked beans, Q-slaw, and the Q-pups. Needless to say, we cleaned our plates and were totally full. We even purchased 2 of the sauces to bring home. It is a small place and I can imagine it gets very crowed at peak times. You order at the register, are given a number, you find a table, and they bring the food to you. If only the windows opened, that would make this absolutely perfect, since there is no outdoor seating. I will return and try some other offering.
(5)H K.
Always a solid meal! Salads rock. The BBQ sauces rock. Pickles are crispy, fast service, great food.
(5)Boon K.
There is alot of bbq options to order here so why not just order the sample platter and try a little bit of everything. Everything on the platter was pretty good but I wasn't the biggest fan of the bbq rib, because it was to memphis sweet for me. To my surprise I really like the chicken wing and the bbq briskets. As most of my review I like the more sour things like the north carolina vinegar that goes with pulled pork. The texa hot was hot and when you put all three sauces together you get a litte bit of everything. My husband loved the bacon mac and cheese. And a note the sweet tea is not like the syrup you get in the south it is lightly sweeten so I love that too.
(3)Andrew T.
As I'm sitting down to read this review, I see Ricky C's review in the sidebar, and he has it totally nailed. This is BBQ for people who live in the Midwest. It's smoked meat, and it's BBQ sauce, and it's BBQ sides, but that's realistically about it. If you go to Memphis or the Carolinas or Texas and eat BBQ, you aren't likely to review this place highly. For what it is, Q is fine. But it's not where I would go when I was hungry for BBQ. Their pulled pork and brisket were, as I said, just OK. Pork was not all that smoky, and also not terribly pork flavored. So maybe their meat just isn't all that great. It came sauced with a traditional Midwestern sweet sauce, which I should have asked them to hold off on. There is a decent facsimile of Carolina vinegar sauce available on the tables, and I think that would have made the pork quite a bit better. The brisket was smoked a little bit better, but it wasn't tender, and came a little cold. Again, not a ton of flavor. This needed sauce. Sides were OK - mac and cheese with Cheez-Its crumbled on top, which was cute. If I was looking for BBQ in the western suburbs, I would hit up Austin BBQ in Wheaton. With their actual sourced-from-Texas sausage, it's definitely the best I've had in the area.
(3)Erica P.
It was good, interesting 'fast food' BBQ concept in downtown Naperville. Portions were on the smaller side for the price.
(3)Scott H.
Very good food. Big portions! They definitely have it down to a science. Different sauce options really appeals to the different tastes in BBQ. I'll definitely be back to this place!
(5)Mr. G.
Be warned - the standard for barbecue in this area is terribly low. Decent meat, but not really barbecue. The burnt ends I had were dry and made mostly from the flat of the brisket. The sliced brisket was also very dry and tasted more like pot roast, with very little smoke flavor and no smoke ring. I suspect they hold it for service in some type of liquid. That being said, everyone is very friendly, the restaurant is clean and has a good atmosphere. The sauces (which you will need) and sides are generally good. Don't buck up for the spicy fries, they are just fries with jalapeños thrown in.
(2)Doug P.
Excellent food. I had the burnt ends along with the brisket. All was fresh and even rivals the bbq I had in Kansas City
(5)Adam B.
I ordered the 3-meat platter. The first thing I noticed is there was only sauce on the brisket. They let the meat stand on its own and let you add whatever sauces you choose, which is the way BBQ should be. The smoked chicken wings were some of the best I've had in a while. They're covered in BBQ spices and since they're not fried, there isn't a ton of grease on them. The Texas spicy sauce goes perfect on these. I liked the burnt ends a lot, they had a very intense smoke flavor to them. The brisket was ok, it was moist, but I felt it lacked flavor or seasoning. I also added a taste of turkey, I added some Memphis sweet sauce and it may have been the highlight of the meal. I can't recommend this one enough. For sides, the beans were ok, there was a little too much liquid though. I really enjoyed the cornbread, it's a pretty good size and just crumbles. Great texture to this. I appreciate that they have all their homemade sauces at the table and my favorite is probably the Memphis sweet. The mustard had a little too much of a Dijon taste for my liking. Also, they have a jar of homemade sliced pickles at the condiment stand. Major props for this! I liked the feel of the place, lots of wood, spice jars, it really made me feel like I was in an earthy, homey type of joint. And even though it's not a waitstaff restaurant, I noticed one of the staff workers taking the time to check on each table. That goes a long way for service. I have had very bad BBQ in Chicagoland, but Q is the best I've had in the burbs. I definitely would return. That said, I think I'd still take Smoque downtown if I had my choice.
(4)Brent H.
Anybody who rates this place with more than 1 star obviously doesn't know barbecue. Dry, dry, dry! This is the driest most tasteless meat I've ever had at a restaurant. Poorly cooked and lack of seasoning makes for a bad experience. The brussel sprouts were edible.
(1)Angela P.
Still a BBQ novice, as it is not my favorite cuisine, I would definitely return to Q for the burnt ends and "Q pups" (corn fritter hush puppies). The burnt ends did seem chewy and dry on the first bite. But after adding some Texas spicy and Memphis sweet sauce, my burnt ends were fall-apart good. I also like the 4 choices of sauce on the tables, and I tried them all. The Texas and Memphis were the best. Were they authentic? Who cares? They were good, and Q is better than Famous Dave's. The macaroni & cheese was good, but could have been better with more of a cheddar or spice kick. They're headed in the right direction adding a Cheez-It topping. After that, it was standard macaroni. The fries too, were good, but neither disappointing nor extraordinary. We spent a total of $32 for 2 entrees and 2 drinks. The line is awkward, as previously mentioned, there isn't much room to stand to the side and read the menu if you're like me and need a minute to decide. After ordering, they give you a number and then they deliver to your table. I'll be back soon, most likely stuffing my face with Q pups.
(4)Laurence P.
Craving BBQ? Check this out! Great food, great service, great location, what more do you want! Need to go back, and get the sampler! Can't wait to get a taste of all those yummy meats! ;)
(5)Bryan N.
This place fills a niche in the downtown. It's casual like a fast food restaurant but the quality far exceeds anything else that delivers a meal as quickly. The brisket is delicious on its own, but I do recommend their BBQ sauces. I mixed the sweet and the hot sauces to make something great. What kept this place from earning its fifth star are a few things. Their ordering area is a cluster. They just get too busy, I've actually walked away because it's felt like the line was too much. Related to this, sometimes the seating area is full.
(4)Darci S.
Q was pretty good but a little overpriced. The best thing I ate was the spicy Brussels sprouts, believe it or not! The pulled pork was good - but not out of this world - and same goes for the beans. The kids meals are crazy expensive for what they are. If I went again I'd just get a regular side of mac for the kids and save 5 bucks. In summary I'd go back if I was in the area and desperate for BBQ but there are better joints IMHO.
(3)Tami B.
Overall, I think their bbq is delicious, but it is very expensive. I got the pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese. I like that they have all of the sauces on the table to choose from and I like that the mac and cheese was topped with cheez-its. I just thought I would get more food for the money. The sandwich was large, but then you get two small hushpuppies and 1/4 cup of mac and cheese. That with a drink was around $12. If I'm going to pay that much for a sandwich I would rather go to Ted's Montana grill down the street, get served and get way more food for the money.
(3)Andrew A.
I have been looking for a decent BBQ place around for quite a long time. Q's knows what's up fo sho. I have been here three times and have tried the brisket sandwich, the pulled pork sandwich and the burnt ends sandwich. Everything I have tried has been absolutely delicious. The employees are also very friendly and the atmosphere is relaxing for me. Great BBQ.
(5)Charles S.
Been here enough times to know what to recommend to friends. The platters are a nice option when you want to sample many different items. You can get the 3 or 4 meat option. The sliders are a nice treat if you want to sample as well. All sandwiches and entrees come with q puffs. The ribs I've only had once and it was a tale of two piggies: half of the slab was moist and tender and the other was tough and rubbery. So, in the future I will enjoy the variety versus the slab. Oh, you must have the spicy Brussel sprouts....very hot but tasty!
(4)Rebecca C.
Great pulled pork sandwich! A plus for students is that they have $5 specials for lunch! The selection of BBQ sauces makes dining here great! Also my fav... You can take all the pickles you want from their pickle bowl. :)
(4)Michael M.
Great BBQ food, Ribs!
(5)Sandee S.
Be aware the kitchen closes at 830. I was rudely told when I walked in which is only mentioned on their WINDOW! Idk why you would close the kitchen earlier than your hours state. Only bar and grills do that which this is not.
(1)Lydia Z.
Went here on the recommendation of a friend and was a little leery of something called "burnt ends". I didn't really know what it was but he said to try it so we did. And it was awesome! The ribs, also good as were the wings. In fact, the wings have a slight brown sugar coating or something and it makes it fantastic. The q-pups are a tasty treat. Fries are also excellent.
(5)Adrianna N.
Burnt end sandwich with spicy Brussels sprouts! Absolutely delicious! Good prices, clean atmosphere, friendly staff!
(5)Tim H.
Well when I went back the third time for a pulled pork sand. the fries weren't much better. There still seems to be some issues in Naperville. I'm not a fan of their sauces and I'll have to try the LaGrange location, to see what the hype is about. I love good BBQ. The pulled pork was good ... but I'm used to better. I'll have to try the burnt ends and the beans. The owner did go out of his way to satisfy me. That says a lot about a place.
(2)Howard L.
A-ok on the BBQ here. I had a good beef brisket sandwich and a side of mac for $8.77 after tax. It was a little pricy for what you get, but it is a downtown Naperville location. I liked the Texas spicy sauce. I also liked that at lunchtime at least they hold a table for you before you order, so there's no need to scramble during the busy lunch hour, and they bring your food to the table.
(3)Agnes L.
*Disclaimer: This is based on carry-out only. Ordered the Papa Q Sampler Platter by calling, and it was ready right when I asked for it. Service was friendly on the phone and when picking up my order. Loved that there are little to-go containers for all the sauces, and I liked the variety of sauces (sweet, spicy, vinegar and mustard). The pulled pork and chicken were tender, but the ribs were a bit tough.
(4)Steve G.
I really feel for the folks who live in the apartments above this place. Great smell outside... Inside, a little less enticing. I had the pulled pork, "Q-Style"... My wife got the sliced brisket plate with expectations to take some home for later. She got slaw and beans for her sides. My sandwich was good, nicely cooked pork, and once I added some sweet BBQ sauce to it, very nice. The blue cheese crumbles and cheese didn't add much flavor, but the slaw on top was very tasty. Fries were good, if a bit salty. My wife's brisket was okay -- great flavor, but obviously needed another 4 or 5 hours in the smoke. The thick layer of fat that melts away on brisket when it's slow cooked for hours was still there in full force. That's a huge turnoff for my wife. After some serious trimming, there wasn't much brisket left -- and not much to take home. Overall, a $25 tab for a sandwich and platter in a fast food place seems a bit high for BBQ, and quantities are not really all that large -- at least on the plates. Here's hoping Smoque BBQ on the NW side of Chicago doesn't open anywhere near Naperville or this place may be looking at some serious changes...
(3)Alan S.
The best barbecue joint in Naperville! I frequent Q quite often and always leave stuffed. It's a bit pricey, but well worth the cost. The selection of sauces on the table are always good to add to whatever you order. I love that they have the "hand-washing station" that is outside of the restroom. Whenever we have family come in from out of town, we always go to Q! Can't wait to go back. Gotta try: The burnt ends Spicy Fries All the sauces!
(5)Shannon M.
After a couple of trips for takeout, a friend and I settled in at Q for a sit-down meal last night. An attentive hostess swooped down upon us at the door to check if we were eating in or taking out; when she learned that it was the former, she set us up with a table number (remember it! You'll be asked again at the counter!) and sent us along through the line to order with the to-go people. (This means a table is assigned to you...so if you don't like it, too bad, I guess.) This time I diverged from my previous love, the pulled pork, to try the sausage and chicken wings. GOOD IDEA! While the sausage was tasty, with a spicy kick, the wings were the winners, gorgeously burnished with a glaze and sprinkled with spice rub. Tender and meaty, they matched well with the Memphis sauce. Very different from your usual "buffalo wings," and so much better! I hadn't been thrilled with the sides on previous occasions, and this time tried the mashed potatoes (with some red skin still clinging to them), which were better, and a tiny side salad in a foil cup, which was standard salad bar fare. (Wish they had onion rings as an alternative to the squashy fries.) The Q Pups were bigger and fluffier than previous times, less like small gritty falafel balls and studded with corn kernels. The table is stocked with a roll of paper towels and bottles of Q's four sauces (I like the sweet Memphis and spicy Texas), but no salt & pepper (packets are up by the soda fountain), which I didn't discover until tucking into the messy fare, so I had to regroup and clean up to go grab some, then settle in again. Shakers would be a lot easier... At any rate, this was an incredibly satisfying dining experience. I will definitely be back for the wings!
(4)Adam K.
If you've ever been to Smoque in downtown Chicago, this place reminded me of that -- note quite as good, but still very good food. I had the half-rack of ribs and my wife had the pulled chicken and both were excellent. The ribs were very tender and the rub on them was excellent, my wife ended up taking a few bites from me because they were so good. The fries and mashed potatoes were also very good and I washed it all down with a seasonal Blue Moon brew. Probably the best thing about this place is that you can fill yourself up on great-tasting BBQ and not break the bank. My wife and I both had full entree dinners and a drink each (wine for her, beer for me) and the total for the meal was right around $40. Not bad at all. I highly recommend checking this place out if you're in Naperville and have a hankering for some good BBQ.
(4)Hayley H.
Oh yea! Yum. Get the sampler! It's the best value for two people to share and try everything. I was hoping to be waited on, instead you order at the counter and they bring it out to you. No waitstaff. Though that means, no Tip. ^_^ Honestly, the food is awesome. Not dry meat, lots of flavor. 5-6 sauces on the table, try them all. I will be returning with my meat loving family.
(4)Jenny V.
I've been meaning to check this place out! I got the brisket with cole slaw and mac and cheese. I liked the mac and cheese, the crumbled cheese its were a very nice touch. Out of all the sauces, i liked the north carolina vinegar (?) i think. the coleslaw was okay, im not a big cole slaw person, but i liked it so that says a lot My roomie got a chicken bbq sammich and it came with fries and omg! so many fries! the Bf got burnt ends, and he said they were good. i didnt get a chance to try them =( for the size of our meals, i would say the price is a deal. i paid about 12 bucks for my food and i couldnt finish it all. i will be back when i'm craving some bbq!
(4)Jim C.
They have Hamm's beer!! Haven't seen that in ages so high marks for originality. They have good beers too but sometimes you need a Hamm's! I know how to cook BBQ. I have a wood smoker at home and have made some of the best pulled pork known to humanity, not to mention homemade and spicy BBQ sauce. But the first time I bit into the BBQ pulled pork sandwich at Q's, I thought "hmmmmm....this may be better than mine." And I gotta say it is. It's totally awesome. Plus with the combo of four - yes four - different BBQ sauces, it puts Q over the top for me. I'm the kinda guy that likes to mix sauces up and see what happens. And I was in BBQ heaven doing that at Q's with their spicy sauce, vinegar sauce, sweet sauce and mustard sauce. Dipping the tasty hushpuppies into those sauces made my taste buds dance. Following that with a swish of Hamm's can't be beat. Go to Q's. Get the pulled pork. Mix the sauces. Or do whatever makes you happy. If you do it at Q's, you'll be happier.
(5)Tamera B.
We've tried Q many many times. When they first opened, I gave them a 5 star review. We're from Memphis, TN and we know how hard it is to find really good BBQ outside of the south. Fortunately, when we tried Q, they did not leave us disappointed. However,it seems like the quality of their food has steadily decreased over the past 4-5 times we've eaten there. We've experienced things such as overly sweet iced tea, tough meats, and less than desirable service. It's gotten to the point where my husband refuses to go back. So, if you've never tried it, you're in Naperville, and you're really, really carving some BBQ, they'll relieve your craving.
(3)Natasha C.
My husband and I took a brief road trip from the north side to Naperville to try the cue. **Please note that my husband and I don't eat beef or pork and he OOCASIONALLY, when the moon is full, he may have chicken. With that said, this review is mainly about the sides, and sauce. At each table there were 3 choices of sauce. I prefer a sweeter Kansas City style sauce. So, I went for that. It was great. This is mostly SMOKED meat. I think there is a difference between BBQ and smoked meats (right?). The buns they used for the chicken sandwich were great. I make and cheese was okay. Sadly, I'll go back to making my own BBQ pulled chicken sandwich. It's good but not mind-blowing. The hunt (at least for me) for great Chicago BBQ continues....
(2)Alex P.
Is a very decent BBQ place, especially for the burbs. I prefer Chucks or Uncle Bubs that are both in the same general area but overall not a bad place. The food wasn't overly priced and had pretty decent portions. Not the best not the worst, something that is definitely edible and enjoyable, not anything i would drive out of my way for.
(3)Erick H.
Yay! I get to be the first to review Q! Awesome! Had the Burnt End Sandwich Q-Style. It was fabulous. The meat is tender, smokey and just downright amazing. I have the Mac-Q-Roni, too, and it is amazing. Creamy, gooey goodness. The Q Puppies are amazing hunks of sweet cornbread. Everyone needs to go to Q!
(5)Steven R.
We went here for Father's Day 2014. This is a very good barbecue restaurant! We enjoyed all of the different meats we tried including the pulled pork, sliced beef brisket, chicken wings, burnt ends, and, of course, their ribs. I have to agree with many of the other reviewers that Q's Memphis Wings and Q-pups are worth going out of your way for.
(4)Nicole N.
I have been here 2X...FAIL. Cold and over priced. Portions are small not that I would have wanted to eat one more bite :-( Go to Gematos in Naperville on Ogden you will not be disappointed!
(1)Jen K.
My husband and I have both eaten here twice, and sadly, both times were very different experiences! The first time we went, around when they first opened, was AMAZING and it deserved 5+ stars. We both got the burnt ends platter with a couple sides. Green beans were standard, and the mac/cheese was very hearty. But these burnt ends were the bee's knees! They had so much flavor with the perfect amount of char...and they gave us SO much meat, it was hard to move afterwards! I also loved the sauce selection too, because everyone likes a different style of bbq. This place celebrates that! The second time was mediocre and deserved 3 stars. We both felt like maybe they ran out of burnt ends that day and just added some char to their regular burnt ends. It just didn't have the same authentic taste like before. Plus we didn't get as much as before...which is fine, because at that rate, we'd be huge fatties. They charge extra for the burnt ends, probably because they only have so much of it to get served. So I imagine that when they start running out of the actual burnt ends, they have to make do by just burning regular meat? I could be wrong, but that's how it tasted. We'll probably go back, but if it was like the last time we went, it'll probably be our last, because mediocre bbq isn't worth $30 for the two of us.
(4)Geoff G.
Great service. Can get crowded. Great for families
(4)Amy R.
We got carry-out, so I can't really comment on the atmosphere or staff or drinks. I sat in the car while my fiancé ran inside and got the goods. We had moved to Naperville that very day and had eaten NOTHING that day, so this review could be biased because I'm pretty sure one more hour without food and my little chihuahua would have been looking tasty. As a result of our impending starvation, we ordered two Q combos and an 8 piece wings. He got the pulled chicken and brisket, with baked beans and cornbread, while I got double brisket with Mac and cheese and French fries. The meat. Is. Bomb. Like so ridiculously absurdly tasty. Like I could happily die in a tub full of brisket. OMG, that brisket. I just ate dinner and now I'm suddenly craving brisket. Dammit. The sides were all SUPER meh. Maybe we chose the wrong ones? Maybe the sides don't travel well? The Mac and cheese was legit flavorless, and everything else was just... Bland. Our wings were fabulous, though. Then the sauces. Holy crap. Okay so I don't know the first thing about BBQ. Texas? Carolina? Is there a difference Yeah, that bad. But these sauces, whatever state they represented, were all intense, delicious, and interesting. The vinegar sauce is tangy and different, the sweet sauce is addictive, and the mustard was the most delicious incredible sauce of all time. I didn't think BBQ and mustard would really mesh, but it did. In short: go here and eat so much brisket. And if you get a side dish that's amazing, let me know so I can give it another try.
(4)A C.
Great food, great sauces and very nice service oriented staff. I always leave here satisfied. Thanks!
(4)Alex C.
I have lived in Naperville all of my life. I've been to Gemato's a few times, with varying levels of satisfaction and subtle levels of disappointment, I regularly went to Famous Dave's when It had its tenure here due to its close proximity to my home and workplace, but I'll say that Q-BBQ Naperville is the best BBQ place in town by far. I've brought friends there to eat in the restaurant and enjoyed a beer and some Brisket. I've, on more than one occasion, brought the sampler platter home from work in lieu of a pizza. Occasionally, when I'm feeling particularly hungry, I order the Papa-Q platter for the gang and shamelessly hoard the ribs and chicken wings. If you are going to eat in, make sure you allow time. The wait is WELL worth the product. The staff is friendly and quite knowledgeable about their product. If the dont know something, they'll find someone who does. In addition to this, they usually cruise around, making sure your table is well stocked with paper towels and sauce. If you plan on taking out, be sure you get the full array of the four sauces for your family, because every sauce has something to bring to the table. The long and the short of it is: This place has fantastic BBQ, a hometown staff that is attentive to detail and a fantastic array of smoked meat. I originally was going to make a standing rib roast for my New Years Eve party, but later decided that Q would make a much better party than my faltering attempts as a pitmaster. Customer for LIFE and company cheerleader!
(5)Joe B.
The smokey smell when you walk in is as authentic and rich as the food. Amazing BBQ in downtown Naperville. Who would have thunkit? My BBQ pulled chicken done "Q-style" with bacon and cole slaw was tender, juicy and had no signs of fat or gristle. My girlfriend's slider flite of various meats also came in Q-style, which is a must. Q's Memphis BBQ sauce is smokey and sweet, and the baked beans are thick and hearty. We dined late in the day and still had amazing quality food, which isn't always the case at some bbq places that run out of the good stuff early on. The only thing missing is an outdoor seating area with wooden picnic tables and someone jamming on a banjo.
(5)Rick N.
Some of the best BBQ I've had in the area and I consider myself a BBQ Snob. IMO the order is: Ribs - Best!, Pulled Pork - 2nd Best, Brisket - 3rd Best. Sauces are great the Mustard and Vinegar sauces are really good and the Memphis style sweet is awesome. Sides are good but the slaw is nothing special. This place is definitely worth checking out if you love BBQ. Food comes out quick which is a plus.
(5)Rob R.
OUTSTANDING BBQ. Some of the best I've had. Best wings ever. Smoky, deep fried and dry rubbed....AMAZING!!! Burnt Ends....GREAT. You need to get to the Q and try it out yourself. The only thing missing was Shiner Beer and some good Texas music instead of that top 40 crap over the PA. But the food made up for it.
(5)Amanda M.
AMAZING!!! I love their Pulled Chicken Sandwich! Their corn fritters are also to die for! This is the best BBQ place I have ever been to! It is nice and quick too if you're in a rush since you order at the counter and they bring your food to you! If you're love BBQ this is definitely the place to get it!
(5)Ricky C.
Q-BBQ is what I imagine a restaurant that was opened by someone who enjoys traditional BBQ, but grew up in Naperville, IL or any other midwest city. They've got all the right elements, but the execution is off. If you've experienced authentic southern BBQ, you'll notice on the first bite. If you're a midwest shut-in, well, that would explain all the 5-star reviews for this place. I had the pulled pork sandwich, and my friend had the brisket. Both were good, don't get me wrong, but they were a little bit tough, which is a sign that perhaps maybe they weren't cooked as long as they should've been or were cooked at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time. Good BBQ is super tender, these were not. The cole slaw was great, i was actually a huge fan of that, as were the "Q pups". Cornbread was also well done, but a bit more starchy than traditional corn bread. Each table has the traditional roll of paper towels, which is a nice touch, and were the array of sauces, of which the Texas sauce was my personal favorite. Overall, I wasn't especially thrilled at the food for the price paid (it's on the high end), but if you haven't had better, then i can say you'll probably enjoy it. ignorance is bliss. :)
(3)Rex L.
It's okay, not great, not bad. Since I can make an incredible pulled pork, I wanted to try the beef brisket and "burnt ends" Burnt ends were cubed pieces of brisket, not what i would consider"ends". Plus they were a little on the fatty side. The briskett claims it was smoked for 15 hours, but mine did not have that smokey flavor taste. Fries were good. And they have a couple of interesting bottled beers available. Sauces were good, 4 types available at tthe table. Probably won't be returning.
(3)John B.
Great Brisket Burnt Ends. Also love the Fritters. Nachos are okay but would be great if they used real cheese and not that yellow stuff. A little pricey but very good BBQ and by far the best in area.
(4)Tara G.
I would give a 5 if there were more vegetarian options than just salad. What's the vegetarian wife of a carnivore husband to do when she wants to take him out to eat BBQ? He definitely loved the sliders and spicy fries!
(4)M D.
Was looking forward to a great BBQ experience after reading all of the reviews, but was let down. I got the sliders to try a little bit of everything (turkey, brisket, chicken) with fries and boyfriend got the spicy sausage platter with spicy fries and mashed potatoes. The sauces were bland and nothing special. The brisket and chicken were dry and all I could taste was the bun. I did enjoy the fries. The spicy sausage tasted like eating liquid smoke and the spicy fries were just regular fries with jalepeno slices thrown in. Mashed potatoes were average. It did smell great on the inside and the employees were friendly. Also, the music playing was enjoyable!
(2)L F.
We like it. We've been here a few times - it's always buzzing with a crowd & the service is quick. Big fan of the pulled pork with the Carolina BBQ sauce. Hush puppies were divine and the macaroni and cheese was a salty, creamy treat that we all enjoyed. The prices are a bit on the high side but as far as BBQ goes, this is some of the best I've had in the midwest.
(4)Adam B.
I recently spent some time in Nashville playing music, and they have some serious BBQ down there, I'll tell you what! I ate to the point of exhaustion more than once in Music City... After arriving back in the flatlands of Illinois, I told myself that I wasn't even gonna TRY to find BBQ like that here in suburbia. Well, that didn't last for long! This morning, I totally caved and did a search here on Yelp for BBQ joints near me. I compiled a list of a few that looked good, and randomly picked Q-BBQ as the first establishment to get some of my hard-earned money. They did NOT disappoint! I ordered a "Carolina Pulled Pork" plate with cornbread, mac-q-roni, and BBQ baked beans for sides. It was not cheap (my bill was just over $14) but totally worth it! They had several different BBQ sauces to satisfy different tastes right there at the table. I tried a little of each one (other than the "South Carolina Mustard Sauce" since I'm allergic to mustard) and each one was unique and flavorful. The actual pulled pork was fantastic: precisely the southern food fix I was looking for! The "mac-q-roni" (mac 'n' cheese topped with crumbled Cheeze-Its) was delicious. The BBQ baked beans were exactly what you'd expect, and the cornbread was very good. The place was neat and clean, my table wasn't all wobbly, and the staff was very friendly and quick to fulfill any requests I made. Plus they had rolls of paper towels at the tables instead of napkins - the same as those Nashville places I mentioned earlier... I will go there again sometime, and so should you!
(3)Carole C.
I am doing this review with reservations. My order was called ahead for pick up, it was an hour before closing and based on the prior reviews my expectation level was very high. Our order was a full slab accompanied by an order of burnt ends, the 2 sides were Mac n cheese and cole slaw. I regret we didn't look in the bag before we left because they are uber stingy with the sides. The burnt ends lived up to their name, they were charred, stringy and chewy...this I did attribute to the late hour but if it were my joint, I wouldn't have sold them! The Mac n cheese had cheezits on top, but it had a boxed taste and totally forgettable. I think the biggest disappointment was the rancid cole slaw, that had a not so fresh taste and we voted it inedible. As for the ribs, they were okay...on the dry side, but by then I was predisposed to find fault with them too... I don't understand why fries are not just a standard addition, and I should have ordered them...if the restaurant gives the same size sides to a half slab they look cheap using same for a full slab. I could understand if they were so great, but while one was mediocre, one was inedible! I'd give it another try, earlier in the day and eat in. Not on my hit parade!
(2)Geoff L.
Went here tonight for the first time with my wife and we loved it. Best bbq I've had in the area. I had the burnt tips and my wife had the sliders. Both were excellent. Staff was friendly and they even brought us a complimentary order of regular fries after my wife couldn't handle the spicy ones. I love spicy sruff and these fries were hot and delish. Prices were fair and the atmosphere was bright and pleasant. It's also a place that's super casual and is kid friendly. We will be back.
(5)Heather M.
Came for dinner after walking around downtown Naperville for the day. I am not a huge fan of having to order your food as soon as you walk through the door, mainly because I am a huge foodie and can never decide on just one thing! Luckily the staff was very friendly and offered that we take paper menus and choose a table while we decide. I ordered the sliced brisket and mac n cheese. My fiance ordered the choose three meat option and tried the pulled pork, brisket burnt ends and the chicken wings. Hands down the best thing we had were the chicken wings. They had amazing flavor. We just talked about how we need to come back to have the wings again, and this time just the wings! If you have a chance, this place is definitely worth trying! Their barbecue sauces are decent, they have something for everyone.
(4)David M.
So far I have had the rack of ribs and a couple of sides twice from here. The first time was in house and the second was carry out. The first time was upon recommendation of a eager neighbor. Both times, the service was quick and everybody was friendly, even on a Friday night. Everything looked good and smelled great. However, it immediately became apparent that the ribs were exceedingly dry, bordering inedible. By the time that I got to the end, it took great effort to pull the meat off of the bones. The meat was desiccated and flaky. I had to dunk it into my french fries catsup to make it palatable. The second meal, as I had mentioned was the same thing and was actually a "comp" meal because I had called the day after the first meal to give them my feedback. Same issue with the ribs. I see that I am not the only one who has experienced the dryness issue. My guess is that they prepare the ribs WAY in advance and that they stay in some sort of steam table situation until someone orders them. You can only get away with that so long before the food needs to go into the dumpster. The french fries were greasy and undistinguished while the baked beans and coleslaw were OK. Given the $21.99 price (typical for Naperville), I would recommend that one go to The Patio in Bolingbrook (consistently good) or Walker's Charhouse. Go elsewhere for ribs. There are many other choices in the area.
(1)Teresa K.
I met some friends here after getting another friend's recommendation for this place. The BBQ was OK, i wanted to eat the pulled pork without sauce, but it was kind of dry and really needed sauce. Good thing there were 6 different kids of sauce on the table along with a roll of paper towels. I think the best part about the meal were the hush puppies. i could eaten a whole plate of just those, but i got the three that came with my dinner and enjoyed those. i had my 6mo old son with me and i had enough room to camp out with all my tons of baby junk. i was disappointed to see that there were no changing tables available in either bathroom, so i had to leave early to take care of the little guy. clean place, friendly staff, ok food.
(3)Kelly A.
We were visiting family in Chicago and went to the Q. We had a great lunch consisting of pulled port combo plate of ribs chicken and briskett and all were outstanding. the sauces at the table were all great, We tried all the side dishes and all were good (bacon mac and cheese, coleslaw and baked beans and the spicy fries), the brussel sprouts to me weren't cooked enough but we were so full from all the others. I would definitely recommend Q BBQ!!!!
(4)Steven M.
Came here with friends at my request. Don't know what the problem is? The ribs were dry and when I bit into them, the meat flaked off like shingles. WTH! I spent the week telling everyone how great this place is. The pulled pork was watery and the brisket looked like charcoal. Was it a bad night? Not sure, but I'm going back to LaGrange where I can have a 5 star meal.
(2)Angela C.
This place is great! Friendly staff, big portions, quick service, good food. Very creative with the specialty Mac n cheese, which I can appreciate even though I'm allergic to dairy. Sauces are good too. I've had better, but theirs are still good. Baked beans have a delicious smoky flavor that I loooved, so definitely my favorite ever on the baked bean front.... And I'm not a baked beans fan. Will definitely be going back!
(4)Matt M.
Had been to Q 4 times previously and had the awesome burnt ends each time. Had the ribs this time and it will be ribs for the next 12 times! Just great!
(5)Bob K.
Went back to Q today for lunch - wife and son had the pulled pork sandwich and loved it. I tried the spicy wings and liked them - dry rubbed and flavorful - I would rate the spice or heat level as more toward mild. The wings were on the small side, but cooked perfectly.
(4)Becky S.
Oooof! I really have to disagree with my fellow Yelpers on this one. I went here with my husband and son a couple weeks ago, and we were really disappointed. First off, the place seems to be exclusively manned by teenagers. I used to wait tables at that age, so I understand, but you need some adult supervision or the place will descend into chaos, which is kind of what seemed to be happening the day we went. The waiter took a very long time getting us a high chair for our table which is annoying but not the end of the world. While my husband waited in the long, slow line to order our food, he heard the cooks constantly yelling "order up!" and watched the food just sit there under the heat lamps for a very long time. Not a good sign of things to come! We ordered the sampler platter to split, which had a sampling of most of the different offerings on the menu. At $20, I felt it was reasonably priced for the quantity of food. However the food was extremely disappointing. The pulled pork was decent, although really that one is hard to mess up, but everything else was terrible. The brisket, chicken, and ribs were all very dried out. The wings tasted stale, like they had been left under a heat lamp for a long time. The green beans had the strangest flavor that was very unappealing. The cornbread was fine and the sausage was okay. The table next to us was very upset with the quality of their food and I saw them discussing this with the manager, who I guess was the adult supervision but looked barely older than the teenagers running the place. The only things I considered pretty good were the hush puppies and the BBQ sauces on the table. We moved here from NC where BBQ is taking VERY seriously. This place would not last a day down there. Sorry but we won't be returning.
(2)Steve C.
This is an excellent example of what barbecue can be - more than just spicy or sweet sauce but smoked meats with a variety of regional flavors such as North Carolina Vinegar or South Carolina Mustard sauces. A surprising favorite side dish is the deep fried spicy brussel sprouts, cooked with jalapeño peppers. A casual restaurant where shorts and t-shirts are the norm, in a clean and comfortable atmosphere.
(5)Gina G.
The Q pups which are corn fritters are wonderful. I ordered the brisket sandwich which came piled high with meat. I love the sweet Memphis sauce. My husband ordered a baked potato with lobster bisque as a side that he thought was really good. They have great homemade pickles. Only down side is the diet drinks were out of order and the ice was low.
(4)Mike M.
I went here twice just to make sure I had it right. This place feels like a corporate version of Smoque. The two BBQ places near me closed in the past year, another I don't care for, and Famous Daves is a nightmare. So this is the next closest place. I have had a few things on the menu. I liked the burnt ends the best. They had a nice chewy texture and went well with the sauces. I like to try them all like a flight of deliciousness. I always get slaw (I think it goes perfect with smokey meat) and the Mac is pretty good. They crumble cheeze-its or a similar product, and that is a nice "comforty" touch. The Baked beans are ok, I doctored them up with sauce for my taste, and they give you these little turds of cornbread that are pretty good. Everything is served on small sheet trays making the whole experience pretty tidy for BBQ. The place was nice, they had a good selection of meats and sides that were all pretty good. This place will satisfy a BBQ fix in the burbs if you can't make it to one of those places where there is smoke coating everything.
(3)Chris B.
For the typical person that grew up in Naperville or surrounding areas, this place is top notch. Saying that, the food is mediocre at best to anyone else that has lived outside of the western burbs and has tasted REAL BBQ. The meats are dry and misses that smoke flavor one would see in traditional wood smoked BBQ. The sauce selection is too limited and misses on flavor. The Q-pups, which are basically hush puppies, are good. Service is nice and the atmosphere is good, but if you're looking for quality BBQ, go somewhere else.
(1)Tim B.
Came in for the soft opening and really enjoyed the meal. I just got the Q sliders, one of each (chicken, pork, beef brisket) and thought all were delicious. I tried out each of the bbq sauces at the table and thought all were very good and very different. All in all, i'm sure i'll be going back after they open!
(4)Tim K.
Quite a disappointment after some of the glowing reviews here. It wasn't busy when we were there so service wasn't an issue, except that our cashier couldn't even pronounce the names of their wines. I had the three meat combo with mac-n-cheese and slaw. My wife had the burnt ends (plate) with fries and beans. All three of my meats (beef, chicken and pork) were dry and they were NOT tender. The portion size seemed small for the price. The burnt ends came swimming in grease. My wife commented that they don't trim their meat well. Maybe that's where all the grease came from. We went through 3-4 sections of paper towels (they don't have napkins) trying to sop up the grease. At that point I asked for another order of burnt ends "without the grease." The re-do was better. The fries were limp and soggy. Sides: Fries - limp and greasy Baked beans - tasted like out of a can with some brisket added Mac-n-cheese - OK Slaw - good Sauces - They have four on the table. You should be able to find one you like. Location: I believe someone here said Q-BBQ was in the Hugo's Frog Bar location. That is incorrect. Q-BBQ is in the former Jilly's of Naperville location at the SW corner of Main and Van Buren. Hugo's is still open in it's original location. Bottom line: We probably won't be back. Don't go out of your way to get here.
(2)Wayne R.
I've been looking for a good bbq place and just found one. There's something to be said about a bbq place that has a sink to wash up after a messy meal. Q-BBQ is in the old Jilly's right next to Giordano's. As soon as I walked in, I could tell I was going to like it. It just had the feel and smell of a bbq joint. Looks like you can bring some tables together to accomodate larger parties too, however I could see if all the tables were all full it could get cramped fast. While we were in line someone reserved a table for us by using a number which we relayed to the cashier. A little strange, but it works. We ordered the pulled pork plate and the burnt ends brisket plate. Both were excellent. The burnt ends brisket was nice and flavorful. I particularly enjoyed the spicy sauce. It had just the right amount of bite to it (although I like things hot, it didn't pass my numb lips and bead of sweat test). The cornbread was excellent as were the fries plus you get a couple of q puppies (hush puppies) with your meal. I tried all the sauces and the spicy was by far my favorite, with the sweet and mustard following close behind. Wasn't the biggest fan of the Carolina vinegar, but to each his own. Overall I enjoyed my meal and will be back. Just don't forget to grab the ketchup, wet wipes and some pickles over by the soda dispenser... Definitely worth putting up with the parking challenges of Downtown Naperville!
(4)Rob A.
Who would have thought you could do the same thing, only better, in a second location. Great staff, and the service is only second to the food taste and quality. As I travel the country, I try and check out BBQ because it's one of my favorites. This place does not, ever, disappoint. If you've got an appetite, go for the 4 meat combo with a side of the amazing fries that have a good kick and don't miss out on the Q-Puppies, unreal. Oh, and the sauces, great variety for all taste buds. Don't think that it's all just meat though. You can get a great salad and order your favorite meat on top. Simply the best, only at Q-BBQ
(5)Gail L.
There is nothing sadder in the world than dry, overdone ribs. I LOVE ribs. I love them in every form. I love them when they are smoked with a beautiful smoke ring, and require a gentle tug to remove them from the bone. I love them baked, falling off the bone, slathered in sauce. I do not like rib jerky, and sadly, that was what was delivered to my table. The sides were fine. The sauces were fun. But the ribs, oh the ribs, were only edible because I was hungry. This was almost a two star review, but then a manager came, and asked how the ribs were. I sadly, mournfully looked up, and said "I'm sorry, but they are horribly over done. They are like rib shards. They are so dry." I never complain, but I was so sad. I figured, at best, I might get a free appetizer coupon. At worst, I might get a snooty explanation about how real ribs don't have meat that fall off the bone (I know!). But, to my surprise, the manager expressed surprise, apologized, and said he'd go find me some other ones. About 5 minutes later, he showed up with a beautiful, full slab of ribs. They were cooked perfectly. No more rib jerky. They were tender, and juicy, and had a lovely smoke ring. Everything else we had was very good as well. The brisket was a particular favorite. The pulled pork didn't do much for me, but it was fine. It'd probably make a good sandwich. I thought the chicken wings were a bit overdone, but my husband liked them a lot. We'll give it another try, especially since there's a pretty big BBQ drought in Naperville.
(4)Rich K.
It has been interesting to see the changes that have gone on in Naperville since I started living here in 1979. Restaurants have come and gone. Some have been good and others so-so. On a recent rainy Saturday afternoon as I was walking around town taking pictures I saw Q-BBQ on the corner and since I had not yet eaten lunch I thought I would stop in and try one of the sandwiches. Looking up at the menu board as I entered I immediately saw the words Smoked Gouda Cheese as part of the Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich. That was as far on the menu as I needed to go as smoked gouda cheese is one of my favorites. After taking my order for a Q-Style Carolina Pulled Pork (Q-slaw, smoked gouda, carolina sauce and toasted), and included side order of green beans with garlic balsamic and grabbing a bottle of Chicago made Filbert Root Beer in a bottle (a childhood favorite of mine) I sat down near the window and awaited my order. At the table were 4 bottles of different types of sauce. Memphis Sweet, Texas Spicy Sweet, North Carolina Vinegar and South Carolina Mustard. As I awaited my order squeezed a few drops out of each onto my index finger and had my own personal taste test. My order arrived with a couple of Q-Pups, the Pulled Pork and Green Beans. As I slowly savored each bite of food periodically putting each of the 4 homemade sauces on the sandwich and dipping the Q-Pups in each I really couldn't pick out a favorite. They were all great. After the meal I asked to speak to the manager. The owner was there and I told him how I thought this was one of the best new places to open in Naperville and the sandwich and sauces were out of this world. He proceeded to give me a small tour of the "behind the scenes" place. I will be back and will recommend this place to anyone and everyone!
(5)Kelly C.
The original Q location is close to my office, and it quickly became the go-to bbq stop for lunchtime excursions. I was really excited to hear there was a new location in Naperville, and stopped in today to check it out. It's a great location downtown, conveniently located near parking lots and garages. Walking in, it had the same vibe as the La Grange location, but was larger. The ordering process was really smooth -- you would never know it was their second day of operating. Food was just as good as their original restaurant. I ordered the sliders with Mac-Q-Roni and was delighted by it all. Their brisket and pulled pork especially are not to be missed. Also, they have sauces of the various BBQ hotbeds in the US. Try 'em all as they are all great and fun to experiment with. I whole-heartedly recommend either Q location for anyone in the mood for great BBQ.
(5)Eric P.
We traveled here with some friends and our babies. The decor is very 'bbq' like...wood benches/seats, western feel. That said...it is a pretty cramped place as far as seating/walking aisles is concerned. We had a hard time moving our stroller between the tables (i know, big mistake to bring that in the first place). When we got there on a Saturday evening, there was a line out the door. For those that know downtown Naperville, this is a pretty common sight. The line moved very quickly though; a large number of people were there for carryout. It was pretty noisy too, so if you're looking for a quaint place to have a dinner and/or conversation...probably not the right place. The food was very tasty. They have all your common meats/cuts that most BBQ joints have. Plus some salads and other options. I got the combo w/ brisket and burnt ends. There is a $1 or $2 upcharge for the burnt ends (seriously...??), but they were WORTH it. VERY tasty and I will get those again when I go back. The brisket was very tasty, but the cuts were a lil on the small side. My wife (not a big bbq person), got chicken nuggets and the mac...ha. She said they were very good. Their sauces were awesome...enjoyed trying the different varieties. Pricing is on the slight high side for what you get, but most BBQ places are. They have VERY good sweet tea as well. I enjoyed this place and would recommend it for someone looking for BBQ. We'll be back, I know that!
(4)Marisa S.
This was a great place to get some quick BBQ. My boyfriend and I shared the sampler plate and really enjoyed everything on it. You got your choice of sides and they were just as expected. Nothing exceptional, nothing amazingly outstanding but traditional and good. The meats weren't super juicy but the different types of barbeque sauces you got to choose from were helpful to add some extra flavor and keep the meat moist. If you haven't gone and are in the mood for some quick easy BBQ, check it out!
(3)Ognum O.
Our favorite BBQ around. They have many locations and every one I've tried is consistently great. The pulled pork and Mac and cheese are my favorite and they have great sauces too. I got the Carolina sauce to take home to BBQ with. Service is always great too. I ordered catering for the nurses where I work and everyone loved it.
(5)John P.
Finally a decent BBQ place in the Naperville area. Let's break it down shall we? I went here twice during opening weekend so I could get a decent sampling of the menu, you don't want too much time to lapse between tastings less you forget :) My first trip didn't have much of a line, maybe 6 orders in front of me but it still took forever. My second trip was out the door. The line is probably the worst part of the entire experience. It was annoying enough that I was tempted to give them 3 stars but I'm hopeful that it's just some operational kinks they are working out. They have 2 registers but one is for phone in orders only. I think you also have a lot of people that are asking a lot of questions when they get to the register too. Either way, when you have a line out the door and and idle register it doesn't seem like rocket science to open that up and take phone orders in back or something. There is ample seating, once I ordered I was able to sit right away. Now the food. I tried the brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, and smoked chicken. For sides I've had the Q-pups, mac q roni, fries, beans, and corn bread. In terms of meats the burnt ends and brisket were fantastic. Tender, spiced just right, the smoke ring was really small but still tasty. The burnt ends come with some aioli sauce but honestly I think they tasted best without any sauce at all. The pulled pork was cold when I had it which also dried it out. I tried some Carolina sauce to help moisten it but it didn't help much. Again, I'm hopeful that this is opening weekend operational issues but if that's the norm then definitely skip the pulled pork. The smoked chicken was probably the worst item I had. It was also very dry and the smoke flavor didn't compliment the meat at all. Even dousing it in sauce didn't help much. Skip this for sure. As for the sides I had a comparable experience, some great some I would skip. Let's start with the corn bread. They give you an ample portion about 9" long and 3" wide or so. It was very moist both times and has a great flavor. A nice balance between sweet, and nutty like a good cornbread should be. The fries were also good. They fresh cut them and cook them in peanut oil so definitely very tasty. The mac q roni was fair, almost a little too creamy and not enough cheesy. They top them with what look like crumbled cheez-its. Worth a taste but I've had better. The beans were about the same. Average but seemed like something out of a can. As for their sauces they were average, nothing to write home about but definitely added some extra flavor. A couple of other nice extras. They have a unlimited pickle jar if you want a little added vinegar to your meal, and at the end of your meal they have a big wash tub to wash your hands off in, definitely a nice touch. All in all I will definitely be back here. For the items I liked it's some of the best bbq I've had in the burbs. A few items are to be avoided but that's the same anywhere. I'll probably wait a few more weeks to see if they get some of their opening weekend kinks worked out but I'll definitely be back for some brisket and burnt ends!
(4)Faraaz U.
Coming from Texas embeds high standards in my expectations... I really wanted to like this place and give it a nice 4/5 star review but here is where we stand. Decor- Very nice and inviting (even had a live band when I visited) Staff- Friendly and attentive Food- Full of flavor but small portions Value- This is where the deduction comes in. For the same amount of money I could get a lot more in most BBQ places I'm use to back in Texas. But if you have never tried other BBQ's then you might just find this place A-OK.
(3)Ashley W.
I am SOOO bummed because I really wanted to love this place, and the first two times I DID love it. In fact, I gave this place a 5 star rating just a few months ago! Here's how our experiences have gone - 1st visit- AMAZING. We fell in love. We ordered the sampler platter and the best thing on the entire platter was the ribs. Fall-off-the-bone delicious! We vowed to come back just for the ribs next time. 2nd visit- AMAZING. We ordered the ribs expecting tender, fall-off-the-bone like the ones we had on the sampler platter and guess what, they were. This time around we also tried the corn bread which was some of the best corn bread I've ever had! The overall experience was phenomenal, and we couldn't stop talking about the delicious, tender ribs. 3rd visit- this is where it all goes downhill. Today is Small Business Saturday, and when we thought about which small business we'd like to support, we chose Q. We had been craving some good BBQ since... welll... ever since our last visit to Q about a month ago! Again, we ordered the ribs expecting tender, fall-off-the-bone meat and guess what? They were awful! Our food came out within 5 minutes which seemed a little too quick. It's nice when food is brought to the table in a timely manner, but 5 minutes seemed a little too quick when ordering ribs. When the food arrived it looked delicious as always, but one bite told me otherwise. The ribs were chewy, hard, and lukewarm. My hubby and I ordered a full rack to split and there were just a few good bites out of the entire $21.00 rack of ribs. Our options were to complain, but I hate complaining, or just suck it up and eat the nearly cold, chewy ribs. We chose the second option. When you go to a BBQ joint, you expect that they know how to consistently do it right, and today Q proved that they can't. Will I be back? Likely. They've got some phenomenal sauces, and we love the corn bread, but you can bet we won't be ordering the ribs again. I'm so disappointed because I had thought we found our go-to place for ribs. The search continues....
(2)Dov R.
This place has fabulous food at reasonable prices. I just came back from Charleston and the food here could fit right in, The Burnt Ends are just beyond great, and the Pulled Pork is lean, extremely flavorful and an excellent choice. The staff is very engaged in making this a great meal.
(5)John J.
Wow, this was goooood. Cornbread (good), Brisket sandwich with cole slaw (very good), and the wings with the brown sugar dry rub (better than very good). Great quality. Definitely a place to go back to. Way to go Q's!
(5)Sean B.
If you have eaten at Smoque BBQ on Pulaski in Chicago, don't be fooled by this generic imitator. It has the look and fee down, but the food just isn't that good. Mac N Cheese is terrible (unless you are 5) and they server store bought slaw like you get in a cafeteria. The sliced brisket I had was was cold and dry. The ribs which my wife had were ok, but nothing to write home about. The Q is just barely passible but if you know good BBQ you won't be pleased! Plenty of other choices near by, so keep walking and pass on this place.
(2)Joanne W.
As someone who frequented the LaGrange location, I was over the moon when I saw a second location in Naperville! Wahoo! I met some friends for dinner on July 3rd....the last day of RibFest and the night of the fireworks. Q was hopping but it did not stop us from getting our mitts on some of Q's hush puppies. Oh yea! I had a sampling of three meats which came with 2 sides and some hush puppies. I got the sliced brisket, burnts ends and the spicy sausage link. For my sides, I got the mac n cheese and the garlic balsamic green beans. Q is a no frills place. You stand in line, place your order, you are seated and your food is brought out to you. As stated earlier, Q was pretty busy but the line moved quickly and we were seated without a problem. Upon receiving my bbq meat-o-rama, I noticed that I did not get any hush puppies. Tragedy! I shouted out for immediate assistance and a server brought me out a pile of hush puppies on the double. Crisis, averted. I would skip the green beans next time - they were OK. The mac & cheese with the cheeze-it cracker sprinkling was a delight. But what about the meat, you say? Well, lemme tell ya. All of it was tasty but my favorite was the burnt ends, followed by the hot link. The brisket was good, don't get me wrong but I think next time it's going to be all about the burnt ends. Q has a variety of sauces on the table that will satisfy all you BBQ lovers out there. They also have beer, sweet tea and beer. Of course they have sodas also, but did I mention they have beer as well? Q is located in the space that housed Jilly's and is a welcome addition to downtown Naperville. Go'on and get your Q on!
(5)Lisa T.
WOW! I have lived in the western suburbs for over 5 years and have not found a BBQ place that was good until now. Yesterday a friend and I went to q-BBQ and the food was incredible. I had the sample ribs (3 bones and spicy sausage) the seasoning was dead on and the meat was NOT gas grilled. Also, the sides are great as well.
(5)Vincent M.
Heard about this joint on the News of all places (ABC - Hungry Hound). I was love BBQ so I was thrilled that Q-BBQ had a restaurant in downtown Naperville with plenty of FREE parking! We cruised in on a Saturday afternoon and ordered the Wings and BBQ Beef Tips. We ordered at the front and our food was brought to our table after a minimum wait. The food was delicious; the portion size was generous and filling. The mac & cheese and hush puppies were the best I've had at a restaurant in quite some time. We just got back from vacation in North Carolina where we had hush puppies, they were good, but Q_BBQ's were better! My only complaint is the same one I have about all BBQ places: the price; $28.00 for two people is a bit excessive for what amounts to takeout, which means Q-BBQ will be a sometime place, and something to look forward to!
(4)Burbalicious X.
I'm going to upgrade my review (WOW! I don't think I have ever done this before). Came for lunch with coworkers and I thought the pulled pork sammy was much better this time and I even dug the sauces more. Perhaps the previous visit was on an off day? The prices are just a smidge high (which means I won't be stopping in for lunch as often as I might like) and I thought the cole slaw was snooze-a-riffic, so I'll go with fries next time (stole a few off my friend's plate and they were good).
(4)Zach T.
I'm going to have to go back to Smoque, because now the Jury's out as to which is best. We went here with a party of 10. We were accommodated professionally. I had the brisked which was outstanding as were the fries and cole slaw (not always a given). They have a Kids menu, which not all BBQ places have. My kids loved their Ribs and little sandwiches respectively. The mac and cheese you can skip. I also tried the pulled pork from my wife's. It's outstanding. They offer several sauces that are all good. I'm going back for the mustard sauce... it would be great on a pork loin. The real highlight, however, was the wings. We had a taste portion (which you can add of any meat) and LOVED the wings. They are dry-rubbed and have a fantastic flavor. FANTASTIC. Do not skip them. Even if you get just a taste. Also, they have beer.
(5)Chole L.
The Sampler Platter is kinda pricy but other than that food was good and easy to find parking. I would go back again for more!
(3)Rena L.
When did this place open and why didn't I know about it? I feel like I've been in a lunchtime rut lately, so I used a post office errand to check out new lunch options in the downtown Naperville area. Really happy I found this place: Got the pulled pork w/ Q-Pups and mac-q-roni. The pulled pork was divine. Super tender, saucy, and I'm not sure what type of bun it was but it was soft and perfectly complemented the sandwich. I opted out of the coleslaw as a personal preference, but I truly think cheese would've overpower this delicious meat. However,I wish this place put as much effort into their sides as their do their meat. Both the Q-Pups and the Mac-Q-Roni lacked flavor. I mistook the Mac-Q-Roni for the Spicy Mac listed on their menu, and thinking I was going to get jalapenos was the first disappointment. The pasta just had no flavor and there was a topping that wasn't quite right...it tasted like and had the texture of Goldfish crackers? Would've like an option to upgrade to spicy mac as that seemed to have more depth/flavor. A few other things I found interesting were the option of 4 sauces to choose from, located in pumps next to the take-out bench. Great to be able to have options! But, I ordered takeout and had no napkins, silverware, nothing...in my bag which made eating back at the office interesting considering it was BBQ w// mac-n-cheese. In hindsight, there may have been all these things right across the takeout bench, so future note to all take-outers, either ask for cutlery/napkins, or check across the bench for these!
(4)Max G.
Amazing BBQ if you've never left the western suburbs. Decent enough for Naperville, but not exceptional. Had the half slab, smoky flavor, buried in mid-range sauce. Only one kind of Ribs, more baby back than St. Louis. Sides were unimpressive.
(3)Suzanne M.
Every time we go it is amazing. Fresh, amazing flavor and greats music to boot. We travel a long distances to come here and WAY worth it every time.
(5)Josh H.
This is definitely a good place and worth eating at, but not my favorite, and certainly not amongst the best I've eaten. The restaurant itself is nice, clean, smartly put together for a BBQ restaurant (each table has sauces instead of having to decide as you order, each table also has a big roll of paper-towels). Service was prompt and courteous. Definitely the kind of place that is nice to go to and enjoyable to be in. The meats I tried were good, but just not as tender, nor as flavorful as I've had in many other BBQ restaurants. It was better than most stuff I make at home, but not amazing. The sides were really the biggest hit for me. The Mac-Q-roni was really good, clever crumbled cheese crackers instead of bread crumbs, tasty and creamy. The fries were also surprisingly good (crisp, not just oily). But the rest of the sides my group tried were generally unimpressive. All-around, would visit again, but would have to be in the mood and in the area, not a destination visit for me.
(3)Shailesh J.
Its a pain to find parking spot near by this place (Naperville location) on week end.. Almost took me 10 minutes to find a parking space...Ok..now lets talk about the restaurant .. It seems to be a little cramped up on space..The tables were placed too close to each other.. The menu was confusing at the best ...It took me 4-5 minutes to place the order..and seems as it was normal as people ahead of me took the same amount of time.. I was about to order pulled chicken sandwich and the person there suggested me to go for Q plate .They didnot inform that Q plate cost more than Q sandwich. So i reverted back to Q sandwich .. I ordered Q pups as extra sides..they forgot to mention that they come in as default side.. So as far as ordering process is concerned it was not up to the mark.. Now lets talk about the food .. The food gets 3.5 stars . Pulled chicken was a little bit less juicer then expected.. but sauces and Q pups were the show stealers and just awesome.. Also corn bread ordered as side was delicious ..warm and soft .. Again 3.5 stars for food and - .5 star for service..
(3)Soraya M.
Great bbq!! Probably the best place in the suburbs! Not too find if the Mac and cheese with cheeSe it topping. Meat was fantastic!!! I will definitely be coming back!
(5)Wesley B.
It's pretty good BBQ but the sides leave something to be desired. One of the most important parts of a BBQ place after good meat is good Mac n' Cheese and BBQ Beans. Theirs are mediocre. The meat itself was good and the sauces were also pretty good. For a northern BBQ place, it's not bad.
(3)Chuck A.
Nice atmosphere and decor but bad food. Worst ribs I have ever had. I had 2 ribs with my meal and couldn't finish them. The sauce choices, while nice, were too spread apart in flavors and there was no 'middle of the road' flavor.
(2)Anne B.
As a lover of all things meaty and barbecued, Q is as good as it gets in the Naperville area. I'm only reviewing based on what I've eaten which is always the brisket burnt ends, the ribs, and the turkey. The brisket burnt ends are always a must have, I'd definitely ask for the turkey again, but the ribs weren't the greatest. When I tried them, they were chewy and lukewarm. My momma's had the wings before I she didn't like them. I didn't try them but $9 for 8 wings seems a little overpriced to me. Oh, I forgot about the sides. The fries are pretty good but the hush puppies aren't my favorite. I wish they would offer the option to switch out hush puppies for something else, but I always just hand mine off to the person at the table who likes them. In all, Q's probably the best barbecue place in the Naperville and nearby area. The prices are just okay, the brisket burnt ends (this is literally their saving grace) and the smoked turkey are must have, and the wings, ribs, and hush puppies are a skip.
(4)Steve W.
I like my BBQ, and I'm pretty fussy about it. To me this is the best place I've found since Carson's closed their Lombard location. Best of all their sides are great too!!
(5)Noel W.
My favorite BBQ place yet...and so glad it is close to home. The decor is cool. The staff is friendly and accommodating. There is not a bad item on the menu...at least not that I have found yet. I love everything so much I order the platter when I take someone there. It allows me to enjoy a little bit of everything and have enough left over to take some home. Also happy to report that their food...the sauces, the rubs, etc. are gluten-free (always double check....but this is what I was told). My favorite item is (are?) the burnt ends....like a warm, tasty, mouth watering beef jerky. If you do have leftovers to take home, make sure to grab some pickles and extra BBQ sauce (free!). Will be going here frequently....if you love BBQ, you must give this a place on your To Do list.
(5)Amory D.
I have been eating at Q-BBQ religiously since Fall 2008, when the first restaurant opened in LaGrange. When I still lived in LaGrange I was walking distance from the restaurant. I ate there at least three times a month. When Q-BBQ opened in Naperville, I was worried that the authenticity of the LaGrange location would be lost. I am glad that I was proven wrong. I have been going to the Naperville restaurant since I moved to Oswego in 2010. We visit Q-BBQ about once a month to get my fix of Q-Puppies and Ribs. Everything here is authentic. A lot of people are critical of the sides, but I am unsure why...whenever I travel to south for work, I always seek out the local barbecue places and use Q-BBQ as my benchmark. I have been to smokehouses converted from garages in Tennessee, sheds behind gas stations in Texas, and one-off joints in North Carolina. Q-BBQ's meats hold their own to these southern barbecues, and the sides at Q are similar if not better. Overall Q-BBQ gets the barbecue experience right. Even the small touch of having a hand wash sink in the main area (as opposed to being in the bathrooms only) is just like the places I have visited in the south. I tell all of my friends to try Q-BBQ at either location. When I have colleagues from overseas visiting, I take them to Q-BBQ to introduce them to awesome American food. My wife's friend is visiting us from Ohio, and we're going again today.
(5)David S.
One of our favorite restaurants in Naperville. I have been eating BBQ around the country for a long time, so I consider myself a pretty harsh critic. I have certainly had better BBQ if we were just talking a straight-up Q showdown, and I know some folks would not consider a place that did not have at least one dead pickup and a questionable neighborhood to operate out of legitimate Q. But without going to rural South Carolina, or some dump in Kansas City, this is a really good option. They serve burnt ends. This is perhaps the most important point I can make, as I have not had decent burnt ends anywhere outside KC. They are pretty good although they can be a bit greasy depending on the one you get. This is part of the charm of the dish, and one of it's hazards. Overall they are generally pretty good. Enough charring on the outside to give it some character, and tender and not at all dry in the middle. Pulled Pork is good. Again, not dry like they can be, and genuinely smoked and not at all like the horrible "crock-pot" versions many places try to pull off as BBQ. Not quite as much smoke as I like, but enough. I know many people don't like too much smoke (as I prefer no peat in my scotch), so this could be personal preference. Turkey when they have it is quite amazing. Definitely not a common menu item, so worth a try. Actually seems to be more smokey than the pork. Sausage and pulled chicken are worth a try if you get tired of pulled pork and burnt ends, but I would not go to this option as a first choice. Ribs are the only item I would NOT recommend. Not well smoked at all. I've probably had better at the Famous Dave's in the Mall of America.. They are hot horrible, but just not particularly memorable, and considering the other great options available, I'd call this an opportunity cost not worth paying. This is one of our go-to spots for dinner on the weekend. Good food, nice atmosphere, and zero pretensions.
(4)Rich P.
I am not a huge BBQ fan but crave it once in a while. I recently had one of those cravings and gave Q a try. They have a pretty vast menu, chicken, pork, beef. I opted for the BBQ beef brisket. It was pretty good, they have several different sauces that you add yourself to it tasting to your liking, I like spicy and they have a couple nice spicy sauces. My only slight complaints are the downtown Naperville parking situation....ughhhh! If you are already down there doing shopping and other stuff and want to grab a quick bite Q is perfect but if you suddenly have a craving like I did you are likely to spend more time driving around looking for a parking spot than it will take you to eat. The serivce was a bit on the slow side for this type of restuarant where you walk up to the counter, place your order then find a seat and they bring you your meal. It took them about 10-15 minutes to get me my food. Bottom line, great BBQ, at least for Chicgao BBQ LOL but the service was slow, I would have given 4 stars had the service been promt. I will go back and give it another try in the future.
(3)Nawal T.
Great food
(5)David S.
The sampler is my favorite entry on the menu. The only qualm I have is that there is no bone-in chicken available, save for the delicious wings. However, the ribs, Q-pups, burnt ends and brisket are more than sufficient reason for repeated return visits.
(4)Mike R.
Ok I am a man who can admit when he is wrong. I may have been a little harsh in my last review, and the owner cares enough to respond to the reviews. That earned my respect. I would like to say this place is nice and clean, the service is out standing and I will try this place again. To the owner Mike LiPadus I would like to say your side dishes do need to be bigger and give the people a little more for their money. Reviewed by the Naperville ~ Food Dude ~
(3)D B.
This place is awesome. The burnt ends are the best. Quick service, good food, beer to purchase - you can't go wrong. We will be back. Only reason it is not a perfect 5 is the sauces. I felt they were ok. I like my sauces.
(4)Jennie P.
I can't lie - I'm not a HUGE bbq fan however when given the option to eat it - I never decline. Q is interesting because it's kind of fast food - you walk up grab a number, order at the counter, grab a drink and sit for your food to come out. We walked in and it was packed, not a seat in sight and I was a little nervous how it would pan out. By the time we ordered seats cleared out pretty quickly. I went for the slider and had one pulled chicken, one pulled pork, and one brisket. It came with a few hush puppies and I had fries as my side. The sliders were delicious and VERY filling! The hush puppies were also very good. The fries were pretty standard fries - nothing amazing or terrible. I really enjoyed the bbq here and this is a great addition to downtown Naperville. The only thing to note is it is VERY loud in here - it's a medium sized space but with large families and children it can get very loud. Give Q a chance, you won't be disappointed and it's all reasonably priced!! We'll be back!
(4)Tpath H.
I should have listened to the mediocre reviews. I'm totally disappointed. I'm just grateful I had a coupon for a free sandwich or I would probably give an even lower rating. We called in our order for carry out. I have to agree with everyone else, the customer service is examplary, I just wish the food was too. We chose the slider sandwiches, 1 pulled pork, 1 pulled chicken, 1 brisket and fries. The pulled pork and brisket weren't bad, the chicken and fries were mediocre. Our second meal was the 2 meat plate with smoked sausage, chicken wings, mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy. The chicken wings were SO DRY, the mac and cheese was bland, the mashed potatoes and gravy were mediocre but I have to say I enjoyed the smoked sausage. The sweet sauce was just that...sweet. Sweet isn't always good and this wasn't a good bbq sauce. The south carolina mustard sauce was pretty tasty. I was a little sweet, a little horseradishy and a little spicy, which I enjoyed. The carolina vinegar sauce surprised me as I didn't think I'd like a vinegar based sauce but it was tasty. It was thin, vinegary and sweet. The place was packed and I don't get it unless everyone there was a newbie like me, which I believe is the case because most had tons of questions during their ordering process. Anyway, long story short, I wouldn't go back. It's a shame because I really wanted to love this place.
(2)Brian T.
Loved the food! Great selection for anyone who loves great BBQ. The portions are good for the prices they charge. There staff were very friendly and offered suggestions on picking the food. Will go back with friends again soon!
(5)Tara M.
My hubs and I decided to try somewhere different for lunch today and after seeing posters in the window for some yummy looking Mac n cheese and recommendations by Hungry Hound and Chicago's Best, we decided to give Q a try. Well, looks are apparently deceiving. I chose for lunch the sliced brisket with the all American Mac n cheese and corn bread. My husband had the ribs with the chili Mac n cheese and corn bread. The brisket was fairly tender, but lacked any real flavor. The ribs however were awful. They were tough, dry, and tasteless. Now I know they supply many different sauces, but true BBQ doesn't need to be covered up in sauce just to be eaten, true BBQ should be so tender it falls off the bone and then you use sauce as a nice addition. For the meat at Q, you needed to drown it in sauce just to choke it down. The sides of Mac n cheese and corn bread were decent, but really we didn't go there for the sides. I think the biggest disappointment was not just the barely edible meat, but the fact that we paid $43 for the barely edible meal. I think it's fair to say, next time we are looking for halfway decent BBQ, we will not be heading back to Q, instead we will probably go to Bolingbrook's Famous Dave's or the Patio.
(1)Linda K.
Had lunch with my daughter today. We were very excited to try it. She really enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with brioche bun and the sweet Memphis sauce. It was too sweet for me though. I really liked the burnt ends which came with and aoli sauce. I also got the pulled pork which was tender. However I tried it with both the Carolina vinegar and Carolina mustard sauces. Ehh. Ok. I love my sauces and none of the four choices here did much for me. I did love the aoli sauce though. The Q-pups came with both our meals. They were crunchy and slightly sweet. Yum! As sides we tried the green beans and macaroni and cheese. We disliked both, especially the beans which were seriously undercooked and had a pickle-like flavor. The macaroni was very bland and was topped with crumbled Cheeze-its. The ambience and service was nice but outside of ordering just the meat for a catered event, I doubt I'd go back.
(2)R. Q.
I would give Q 3.5 stars if there were an option. I have been to the Naperville location twice since they have been opened. On the first visit I waited 30 minutes to order and eat with the long line. The second time I went off peak so it was much faster. As other reviewers have mentioned during the time i went while they were busy they were only using one register with a line out the door. Just doesn't make much sense. The Food: Meat- All the meats i tried (pulled pork, sliced brisket and chicken were good) The burnt brisket ends were by far the best IMO. I would say their meats stack up well to most other places. Sides- This is an area that could use some work. Sides were ok but not great. Most were pretty bland. The second time I went my fries were cold and not cooked. This is one area that Smoque BBQ wins hands down. Overall- Good BBQ, perhaps a bit pricey. I will be going back and hope they have some of the ordering and food quality issues worked out.
(4)Paul L.
We have been here twice. Both of our experiences were great. The food is really done well. So are the BBQ sauces. This is a "fast casual" restaurant where you order with the cashier, sit down and your food is delivered to your table. It's a quick in and out. With that said, the food is the star here. I should also compliment my "server" Kevin? Great sense of humor and very knowledgable about the menu items. We returned this second time based on his menu recommendations. He was right! We will return.
(5)Jessica G.
a bbq haiku for this rainy and cold night: i know you love meat this is the place to go then get the spicy sauce came in with some folks from work for dinner tonight. cute little place. the menu is not enormous but that is probably a good thing. it is kind of hard to make a decision, or at least for me it was. i'll save you the trouble. get the brisket burnt ends. that is some tasty business. i actually ordered the little slider trio and got the pork, the chicken and the brisket ends and the brisket ends were the best part. crispy, not fatty and just plain old tasty. the chicken and pork had good flavor, too, but, again... brisket burnt ends for the win. if (or rather when) i go back, i will be ordering a full order of just those. i also really liked the q-pups, though i wish they came maybe a bucket-full per order and were a tiny bit bigger. they're good. more is better. and in my vain attempt to be vainly healthy, i had the green beans, which were not bad. the spicy sauce is my favorite and the others are also quite good but i like hotter stuff so the spicy worked for me. quick and friendly service. even though it is in downtown naperville (also known as really not my favorite place in the history of the world), it is well worth a visit. go there now to eat your tummy will say thank you and they have hamm's beer very good stuff.
(5)Daniel D.
Q BBQ has great selection of barbecue. Pick a couple items or try them all with one of the platters. The pulled meats are amazing. The sauces are also excellent.
(4)Jenny P.
I was so looking forward to the opening of this restaurant. We went in tonight to enjoy a late dinner and I'm sorry to report that my husband and I were disappointed. The meats were tender but the sauce was so bland. We like some zest to our barbecue sauce(s). The staff was friendly but still in the learning phase. One huge tidbit of advice for this new restaurant: CLEAN the bathrooms! For a new restaurant....that should be a no brainer. Yuck.
(2)Brad C.
Weird ordering process. Not great. Seems to be better regarded than it actually is.
(3)Veda P.
Awesome food, best BBQ in the burbs! I had the chicken wings, they were awesome, and my husband had the pulled pork, he loved it. I loved the choices for sides an I was so thankful that they also offer salads! It's cute, casual and friendly! We will be back!
(5)Scott L.
By far my favorite place in the burbs for BBQ. When you go make sure you get the burnt ends. The combo of vinegar and sweet is unreal. The Q puppies make every meal complete.
(5)