Our first visit. Friendly staff. Pulled pork, brisket, pit beef and burnt ends platter was Excellent! Baked beans, Cole slaw, Mac & cheese and corn bread were also Very good! 2 new Chubby's fans! We'll be back! Thanks for dinner!
(4)
Andrew T.
Solid BBQ and one of the better options on the road between PA and VA. Atmosphere: It's a BBQ place so the point don't come here. Service: Very friendly staff helped navigate what was good and fresh that day. Food: Had the Burnt Ends, Slaw and Jalapeño Poppers. Burnt Ends were big, tender and tasty but missing the burnt - BBQ sauce was a good accompaniment. Slaw was a solid side with a decent blend of sweet/mayo with good texture. Jalapeño Poppers were solid but not a homemade delight. A solid 3 in the world of BBQ [Been to TX, KC, NC and Memphis] and worth the stop if you have a few minutes..... skip the fast food and have some BBQ.
(3)
Victoria R.
After reading all the reviews on facebook and yelp I was absolutely dying to take my family of 5 to this restaurant. We live in Westminster so it was a little drive but I had very high expectations and was very excited to try. Plus my pregnancy craving is bbq, so I was very excited for some good bbq. I also am not normally one to review a restaurant without making several trips there first, but this was so horrifically disappointing. We arrive at Chubbys at about 12 pm today and we seat ourselves, it's very clear they are understaffed and we wait about 15 minutes for a waitress to come to our table to deliver menus and take our drink order. Though she was clearly frazzled by being understaffed and behind she was very kind and hospitable. We wait another 15 minutes before our drinks arrive and she takes our food order. Our food arrives about 30 minutes later. Heres the lo down on the food- I ordered the 1/2 lb burnt end platter with two sides of mac and cheese (1 for me and 1 to share with my 1 year old.) The mac and cheese was dry, no sauce, it looked and tasted more like buttered elbow noodles then anything, strangest mac and cheese ever, but my son did eat a few bites of it. I excitedly bite into my first bite of my burnt ends.....i spit it in my napkin. Let me be clear i'm not one to do this, i'll fight through the worst tasting food to not be disrespectful. But it tasted old, it was tough and it clearly wasn't burnt ends. A burnt end is the end cut of a brisket that is covered in bark, this was old brisket that had been thrown on the flat top and cooked till a dark sear formed. It was flavorless (seasoning wise) and tasted like a refrigerator. I thought maybe it was just that piece so I taste three other pieces, all of which are inedible. I didn't eat any of my lunch, very disappointing. I won't lie, there was a table next to me of 6 people and I heard them debating getting the burnt ends, i walked over and quietly told them not to get them, that they were horrid, i'd hate to see someone wast $20 to throw it away like i had. My husband ordered the combo platter, he got the burnt ends and pulled pork with a side of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes, also he got 2 kaiser rolls so he could make sandwiches with his meat. His burnt ends were just as awful as mine, his pulled pork was fresh, it was moist but no smoky flavor. The kaiser rolls were soft. The mac and cheese was just as strange as mine. And the mashed potatoes were very strange in color and i dared not taste it. He ate a few bites then stopped when he found chunks of burnt stuff in them. My son had the kids burger with french fries. No complaints, i tried the fries and they were good. My daughter had the chicken nuggets and though i didn't try them they came out very dark as if they were either over cooked or cooked in old oil. She didn't complain and she ate them. I was so very disappointed with my meal I had to go to McDonald's on the way home because i was left so hungry. Though i should have i did not complain, i paid my $65 ($75 with tip) and left with a rumbly tummy and a deep sadness i wasted that much money on a meal i didn't even eat. I would be willing to try again, maybe, the waitress was very kind and i understand being understaffed and over worked so my rating in no way reflects her service or personality. It reflects that meal that I wish I had never gotten.
(2)
Jane Z.
We stop here every summer heading up Route 15 and every winter up to Round Top and White Tail. It's the BEST!!!
(5)
Laura S.
Great BBQ! Huge portions of food and beverages ( my wine was served in a Stella glass) and nice variety of beer on draft. The only reason it got four stars is they were out of some of the items we wanted ( burnt ends and collards) Beef Brisket was our favorite of the meal. Pulled pork sandwich , fried pickles, and mash n gravy also excellent. The Mac n Cheese was disappointing for us but could just be our taste buds. Friendly service and awesome selection of sauces- we each had a different favorite one
Ok, here's the down and dirty on the food I ordered. Loaded potato soup: 7/10. Not bad. Lots of cheese and decent flavor. Would order again. Ribs: the looked really good, and the flavor was pretty good, but they were very overcooked. It was like biting into tough leather at times. Brisket: the brisket looked dry on the plate, and the taste matched it. Not much flavor at all in the brisket. Rather disappointing. Potato salad: no flavor at all. For some reason, it had a green tint to it. Basically, it was awful. Baked beans: the put pulled pork into the beans to jazz it up a bit, but it didn't help. They fell flat with not much flavor than what they had when they were still in the can. Won't be ordering that again. A bright spot was the "Select Reserve" sauce offered at the table. I thought that was really good, and would buy it at the store if they had it there. You can buy it at the restaurant, but I did not. The server was very nice and he made sure we always had full drinks. Since the food was not very good, the server made up for that shortcoming with his positive attitude. It won't bring me back, but he was very good nonetheless.
(2)
Scott H.
Been eating here for at least 10 years now, maybe more. I am a big fan of the BBQ. It's sometimes a bit drier the most but I always thought it was because I never eat there earlier than 7. Burnt edges were on the menu yesterday and they were about as good as it gets. Smokey, fatty, crispy and chewy. Sides can be excellent. Baked beans are always hot and delicious. Greens can sometimes be over cooked. Service is always friendly and you'll feel right at home. However, the place is so divy and beat up that I can never give this place more than 3 stars. It's like eating in some old church basement. Bathrooms are downright nasty which just shows the owner is not paying attention. I stop during the long drive between VA and PA when I am not in the mood for fast food and I can spare the time. If you like BBQ you should visit just know this is a three star joint.
(3)
Helen L.
Amazing!!!!! Great sevice, Sean is awesome. Food was incredible. We had the pulled pork and brisket. The pulled pork was our favorite. Sauces were great. Didn't know Maryland had great BBQ until we ate here :)
(5)
Susan H.
For two reasons, Chubby's has been on our radar---1) We drive right past it every time we head north to visit our daughter and; 2) Jane and Michael Stern's Road Food has a listing for the place. When our daughter was growing up, we did several cross country road trips and never left home without a copy of "Road Food". There was no Yelp then so when it came time for dinner, we would look through the book and if we were near one of their picks, we would stop in for dinner. That book never steered us wrong. All the places we tried were unforgettable in a good way. This past trip, we decided that it was long past time to give Chubby's a try. It's easy to see on Route 15. If you are heading north, there is a right turn lane that takes you directly to the place. Our first impression upon entering was that the place was divey. We were greeted by our server and welcomed to Chubby's. He asked if we had been there before. We told him "no" but we passed it many times. Apparently, he hears that a lot. The Sterns waxed poetic about the ribs saying this (I quote from the book) "Smokemeister Tom Caulfield marinates and dry rubs ribs, cooking them low and slow until drippingly tender..." With such a description, I just had to order a half rack of baby back ribs. Each entree comes with 2 sides. I chose collard greens plus mashed potatoes and gravy. The ribs come slathered with a tangy tomato-based bbq sauce. They are tender and meaty but not falling off the bone. The bbq smokiness comes through very clearly. These ribs are far better than any I have tried in the DC area. The collard greens were generously laced with bits of pulled pork. The mashed potatoes...well...weren't "mashed". Rather, they were chunks of potato covered in a tasty brown gravy. As for the brisket (another quote from the book) "Even the barbecued brisket is excellent, albeit more Texan than southern." My husband is a big fan of brisket so he ordered 1/2 pound of brisket. For his 2 sides he chose baked beans plus mac and cheese. When he first saw the brisket, he thought that it would be dry but he was pleasantly surprised as it was tender and juicy with good smoky flavoring. It comes without sauce so you choose one of the many sauces on the table. He sampled the tangy tomato based sauce as well as one that had mustard and vinegar and liked them both. He found the mac and cheese to be rather ordinary at first but as he ate it, he said that it grew on him. His baked beans had good flavoring with a touch of sweetness and a generous amount of pulled pork in them. Service was quite good. We were there on a Tuesday night between 5 p.m and 6 p.m. At first it was slow but gradually dine-in business picked up. The phone rang a lot while we were there so we figured that local residents were putting in take-out orders---and we were right as we noticed them coming in for their food. We each had soft drinks. Before the tip, dinner cost $33 + change. Chubby's sells T-shirts that have rather funny writing on them. We found them good for a laugh...but...we wouldn't want to wear any of them when we left the house LOL! So, if you are passing through Emmitsburg and are hungry plus like good bbq, do give Chubby's a try!
(4)
MF G.
Stopped in on the way from DC to Gettysburg. Service was friendly. Sides (greens, beans, cornbread, and mac & cheese) were great. Meat (we had the brisket and pulled pork) was disappointing. Tasted more like hospital cafeteria food. Portions were generous and we didn't finish our 1/2 lb platters, but we ended up throwing our leftover meat away.
(2)
Dan B.
Today, I decided to switch gears and went for the half-rack of ribs, instead of the smoked beef sandwich, and double baked beans. The ribs are excellent. The ribs have a nice smokey flavor, as evident by the pink hue in the meat, that these ribs are in fact smoked and not prepared by other questionable means. No portion control here! This has to be the largest half-rack order of ribs I've ever received (check out the pix)! I counted 10 or so bones of delicious smokey ribs and had to stop at bone 6 or 7--too much food. You'll definitely feel like you got your money's worth here--unlike other "hogish" places in Frederick. I rode my bike up, so unfortunately, I cannot take leftovers home :-( The ribs are excellent here; however, their chopped beef sandwich reigns supreme! Chub's baked beans are outstanding (see previous review) as always. You will not go wrong with the ribs--I'll definitely order them again.
(4)
Matthew S.
This place is sort of in the middle of 3 and 4 stars, but I'll give it 3 stars here (its good BBQ, but certainly not a wowser). I've eaten here twice and each time has been alright. The brisket is good, the ribs are very good, they also have side dishes of mac n cheese (below average), the green beans (good), and their cole slaw (slightly bland). In general, I felt I was not cheated, as the 1/2 pound of brisket was certainly enough, and the food itself was filling. They also put their root beer in a Mason jar, which is a great touch, but also was a bit messy (they didn't clean the jar, so there was root beer on the bottom that was getting everywhere). Plus, if you use the Yelp app, you get 5% off your first order, which helps out plenty. The location is a bit tricky. Route 15 in Maryland is somewhat of a weird and dangerous road, and you have to be careful or you'll miss it, or worse, hurt yourself. But once you're in the parking lot, its easy and definitely worth sticking around. The atmosphere is very fun, and its not a bad BBQ joint for a place only 45 minutes north of Washington, D.C. (oh, and celebs have eaten at this place too, which adds to the ambiance). It does not hurt to check it out, but its an experience nonetheless.
(3)
Dustin H.
Been a few times. It's ok. We are tough on BBQ where I come from. This last trip I got my order of brisket swimming with water under them. The food was decent, but I feel the stars and high marks here are way over rated. And since I have young kids that can read, I feel uncomfortable having them read the t-shirts the young ladies where in there. Just a tip if you have kids that are young readers.
(3)
Sandy K.
Let's start off by sayin yes it's not the most attractive place inside or out, but Iam not in the market to buy the place, just to enjoy a meal... And that they deliver!!! The pulled pork platter is worth the drive past a couple of other BBQ places, shhhh famous Dave's lol,
(5)
Karen Y.
Wonderful waitress (Brenda) Great food Between 6 of us, we had burnt ends, brisket, fries with Parmesan and jalapeño dipping sauce, ribs and the best dessert ever - Gooey Butter Cake!
(5)
DJ M.
Yummy, plentiful, homemade. I meal fed 2 hungry adults! Can't say enough, if you are on rt 15 don't miss this joint!
Very pleasantly surprised, very friendly service. Brisket sandwich was very good, pork belly sandwich good.
(4)
Jana E.
This place was disappointing. My son and I ordered the special a sandwich of burnt ends. The meat had good flavor. The meat in my sandwich was cold. My other son had a half rack of ribs with a side of mash potatoes and gravy, and coleslaw. The gray was cold and congealed, the coleslaw was flavorless. I made a mistake and didn't ask the price of the special, our bill was about $60 for two sodas, one order of jalapeño fries, two sandwiches, half rack of ribs. The restaurant itself is a greasy dirty dump of a building. Incredibly overpriced and overrated!
(1)
William T.
A group of us had gone up to Gettysburg for the day, and on the way back decided to stop by Chubby's for dinner. The food came highly recommended. I ordered the pit beef with fries and baked beans. The pit beef was some of the best bbq I have ever had. It practically melted in my mouth. I tried it with all of the sauces. My favorite was the Private Reserve. That seemed to be every ones favorite. The fries were decent as were the smoky baked beans. Our waitress was attentive, and nice, although at times seemed like she was trying to hurry us along our way. The food was really good, and some of the best BBQ I have had. I would stop by here again when in the area.
(4)
Jennie S.
Two thumbs up for Chubby's. I really dug the decor and ambiance. The first thing we heard when we walked in was a little kid say, "I don't like this," to which his mom replied, "Oh no, why??" Kid says back, "I LOVE IT!" Aw. Chubby's. I'm no BBQ connoisseur, but this pulled pork was excellent. Half pound platter for like $13, came with 2 sides (I got the cornbread and mac & cheese, duh), the sauces are AAAAWWESOME, and they serve your beer in mason jars ($3.75 pint of Yuengling). My friend got chili and the pastrami sandwich special. Dangerously delicious. We found that dipping the pulled pork in sauce mixed with cole slaw was yums. Oh, we forgot to ask about Chubby's Challenge, so I called back for the deets. WIthin 1 hour, in one sitting, without bathroom breaks, if you eat two massive sandwiches comprised of 8 half-lb burgers (4 lbs of ground beef) + 8 hot wings + 6 buns + the fixins (cheese, lettuce, whatever else is on there), you win! If successful, you get that meal for free, a Chubby's t-shirt, $100, and probs some weird bragging rights. The meal is $40 if you fail. Now time to compare with Frontier BBQ in Fairfield PA!
(4)
Ian K.
Yeah, this place is bad beyond bad. If I could give zero stars I would. We waited 10 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us sitting at a table. The waitresses rotate tables so they have tables spread out all over the restaurant and ours was working the back. This is literal - we didn't even have our drinks and other tables had ordered, received their drinks and eaten - that's how bad our service was. When I found the waitress and asked her where our drinks were, she said she had to get a band-aid and did I want' blood in my drinks. After waiting forever, she then had the nerve to tell us that a burger would take a while to cook while everything else is already ready. I said my son wanted a burger, and sure enough it took a while and wasn't really cooked through, with fries that were end of batch, burnt and cold. No apologies, no attempt at making things right. The barbecue platter of ribs, beef and pork was quite expensive, maybe like $22. Three ribs that were so-so, several very thinly sliced pieces meat on top of a big pile of fatty pork. The sides are served in very tiny styrofoam cups. We had beans and potato salad, both decent. The drinks are served in styrofoam cups too. They have several types of barbecue sauce in squeeze bottles and the containers were really sticky. Ew. The bathrooms are dirtier than a football stadium at halftime. Old, stinky and sticky. The owner - Dr. Smoke - was in the house as well and he walked through oblivious to any issues and when I was talking to the waitress at the counter about our bad service he didn't even look up although he had to have heard the conversation. Do yourself a favor and drive on. It seems like the thrive on one-and-done business, folks driving by looking for a local meal. Any place that allows this kind of service, decor and quality of food, at not really reasonable prices, should be passed up.
(1)
Amanda N.
"Bad BBQ is still good, right?" WRONG. Ribs were tough, overcooked and salty. Smelled like horse said bf ted. Brisket was really fatty and tasteless. Both were served room temperature. Beans tasted like fridge. Cornbread was like cake (some would like it if they preferred sweeter, spongy cornbread) I think the manager/chef (they're the same) may be focusing too much on penny pinching instead of quality and good cooking. Serving old food saves money but...it just doesn't taste good. The servers were really nice though!
(2)
Laurie B.
PLENTY of food for the money. We got 5meals out of the two we ordered. My only minor complaint is I got 1/2 chicken and some of the white meat was a little dry. But the sauces are delicious, and I would definitely stop here again.
(4)
Chuck K.
Great barbeque and lots of it. Waitress Susan was on top of everything and checked frequently.
(4)
Carla C.
First plate served was dirty, second plate was soaking wet even the food dish was wet which made the brisket flavor watered down. Server bitched about having yelp discount and refused to let me use the 5% check in discount.
(2)
Slap D.
Son and I had the pulled pork sandwich and fries. Packed with meat and liked the choice of sauces. 32 ounce IPA in jar was cool. Overall the food is very good but pricey. The problem...the inside is dirty and needs some work. Bathrooms were discusting. Piss on the floor looks like it has not been cleaned for weeks. I expect this in a trashy bar, but not in a restaurant with food. Makes you think how the kitchen looks.
(3)
Some G.
I swung by here a couple of times after it first opened, but stopped going in. The food wasn't bad - I've had better 'cue, and I've had a lot worse - but the atmosphere sucks! The place is pretty shabby, which doesn't bother me, especially for a BBQ joint. But the owner and his wife are total a-holes! Every time I walked in, they were screaming at their staff. The candy racks near the register were covered with signs saying "YOU TOUCH IT, YOU BUY IT!", the wall behind the counter was covered with nasty notes to staff. The last time I was there to get takeout, the cashier ran out the door and chased me down in the parking lot to make sure she'd remembered the sauce - she was clearly terrified. I go to a restaurant to eat, relax, and have a good time - not to be made to feel like I'm guilty of something or watch the staff be mistreated.
(2)
Lorilynn R.
Stopped through chubbys and got the ribs, brisket and pulled pork and Ohhh wow...Yummm!! Was not impressed with the first bite of ribs. As I pulled them apart the did get better. They were a bit over cooked but still good. Lots of food for the money. As for as cleanliness the place could use a cleaning for sure.
(4)
Thomas C.
Great service. I ordered the brisket and pulled pork with coleslaw and baked beans. Food was amazing. Came out fast. Portion was huge. Couldn't even finish. Will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Lulu C.
I'd rather eat at McDonalds than at Chubby's again... If I could give it less than half a star, I would..Ribs were undercooked.. Pulled pork was too dry and barely any flavor... The fries looked like it came from the bottom of the bag, and burnt... The "famous" chili, was like eating a block of salt... The "FAMOUS POTATO SALAD"... They ran out of it! How can you run out of something you are SOOOO famous for?... The brisket had more fat than anything... Absolutely NO TEAMWORK between the servers.. There were empty tables around and one of the servers was talking to someone else instead of helping the other server with her 12-top... The BATHROOM was dirty and ugh... If I see the bathroom like this, I can only imagine what the kitchen is like... This place makes me want to call restaurant rescue, because it is in severe need of some SERIOUS RESCUING...
(1)
Chuck B.
Chubby's has always been a favorite of mine. Usually, the food is plentiful, the sides are awesome and the BBQ is terrific...usually. On occasion, it can be a little inconsistent, where the meat is either cooked a little higher temp or the meat has been sitting in a warmer too long, causing occasional toughness. Again, it's usually not this way, but when it's right, the brisket, ribs and pulled pork are very good.
(4)
Marlies B.
So disappointed! The burnt ends were flavorless. The sauces just didn't have that barbecue tang. But the fruit flies were abundant all around our table. This will be one place we do not return to.
(1)
Jason W.
Very good BBQ. Brisket was a little too fatty for my personal liking, but the ribs were awesome. Definitely worth a short stop if you are passing by Mt. St. Mary's University or through Emmitsburg.
(4)
Greg B.
Best brisket I have had outside of Texas!!! Had the Brisket platter with slaw and fries. The fries are seasoned perfectly and they are cooked just right. The slaw was great as well. We tried all of the many sauces they had to offer but they honestly aren't needed. I have always been told in my many years in Texas that sauces are only useful to cover up your shortcomings. There are no shortcomings at Chubby's!!! We even got to chat with Tom, the owner as well as most of his staff. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. Will definitely be going back to try the rest of the great barbecue!!!
(4)
Anthony C.
I have been here a few times--it is located on 15, near Ski Liberty, so it would be a perfect stop off after a day on the slopes. Unfortunately it is not that good. I really wish it was. I think it boils down to the meat being very fatty pork and being too greasy overall. It is BBQ that is too dependent on sauce... Good BBQ should be great without any sauce. I love BBQ! I did not grow up with a regional bias-- I'm fine with good barbecue in many styles: Kansas City, Texas, Memphis, Alabama, both NC styles--wet, dry, vinegar, tomato-- and most stuff in between. If it is good, it's good. Chubby's isn't that good...
(2)
Matt V.
Went here for dinner on a week night. Got seated quick as things weren't busy. My server was friendly and on top of things. I wanted to eat some pulled pork but they were out! Silver lining is that I know the food is fresh. So I got me some brisket. It was delicious, super moist and full of flavor! I like the sauce selection. One complaint is the mac and cheese. It was not so good. Overall a good bbq joint and I'll be back!
(4)
Michael T.
I've been here a couple times now, and make it a point to stop in when I'm around. It's real BBQ cooked by people who understand BBQ. That said, it's never easy to serve real BBQ "on-demand," so if it's a little over done when you get there, that's just how it is. It's still better than what most chains pass off as barbecue. The atmosphere is very causal and my service has always been friendly. The sides are just ok, but you know it's all homemade. It is, as my friend likes to say 'clean for a BBQ place.' You'll pay a little more than you would at Applebee's or whatever, but it's not what I'd call expensive.
(4)
James B.
On the side of Rt-15, north of Frederick before the PA state line, I've driven past Chubby's many times. Saturday dinner time, this is my first stop. The feel of the place is like of a mom & pop roadside BBQ restaurant in the south. Not a faux-BBQ chain, this could be in Tennessee or Mississippi, the kind I -really- enjoy. :) It may not impress anyone on "date-night," but this is a good start for me. I've lived in cities with the world's best BBQ (Memphis and Austin) and I admit, I'm a BBQ snob. Some of my BBQ reviews have been deservedly brutal. I ordered the pulled pork and burnt tips combo platter. Never heard of burnt tips? They are boneless rib beef with extra spices and cooking time, often caramelized (though not the case at Chubby's), and common in/around Kansas City. Delicious choices. Expensive, but loaded with meat. I took a box home and made a snack and second meal from it. I preferred the pulled pork, moist and flavorful, but both meats were excellent and reheated well the next day at home. The sides I picked were the classics; slaw & beans. Both were traditional recipes, familiar, "comfort food," and excellent. No bread is provided with the meal (?!), so I ordered cornbread ($1.29 I recall). It was also very good, just sweeter than I prefer. (I do get annoyed seeing bread priced separately that way.) Several sauces (6 or more?) are on the table, traditional styles even a Sriracha sauce. Sample them all, my favorite was the "private reserve." Food was delivered quickly. Service was attentive and the waitress was knowledgeable when asked questions. Other Yelpers complained about restroom cleanliness, but I did not go in one. The dinning room did not strike me as dirty. Overall, a comfortable vibe, very good food albeit expensive, with fast service. Oddly, Yelp offered a 5% discount when I checked in. The waitress didn't appear to recognize it, then checked with management and agreed to apply it, but left the discount off the final bill. Chubby must not get many Yelpers coming through, and it's our loss. I'll be back again.
(4)
Tim H.
The service was excellent. I was really impressed with the sausage potatoes. The meat was mostly dry, likely because we closed them out at 8. I liked the pastrami, which was slightly greasy, but worked really well with their kraut. The sides were relatively sweet. Ribs were good overall.
(4)
Adam K.
The place to go for MEAT. I was craving some BBQ, and asked some friends about Chubby's. They said it's a great place to go...once a year (hey, it's called "Chubby's," right?). I walked out full, satisfied, and ready for a coma - the good kind. Supposedly, this was President Bush's (W, not the dad) favorite place to order BBQ when he was at Camp David. Pulled pork was delicious and not ground up into a mystery meat consistency. A whole selection of sauces (oh, Chubby's, how did you know I LOVE barbecue sauce?) stack up next to the wall. My only critique is, to be fair, probably a personal preference. But if I want a side of greens, like kale, I want a fresh, vibrant side to give me a break from the ribs and pulled pork loaded with smoky BBQ. I don't want more meat mixed in with, limp, overcooked veggies. I know that many BBQ places do that, but I am oh so impressed when one breaks with tradition. If you want barbecue, this isn't a bad spot to get it. However, if you're watching your wallet and your waistline, I wouldn't drop in too often. Turns out my friends were right about that.
(3)
Micah H.
I ordered the chili , but they were out. Then the crab bisque...out of that too. I ordered the 1/2 lb beef brisket platter with green beans and coleslaw. As the reviews state, I can confirm that the service was warm and friendly. My order arrived promptly. The focus seems to be on the different sauces. I thought the 'Old Fashioned' was the better of the 7 offerings. The green beans were good. The coleslaw was interesting...a little spicy but good none the less. Now the beef brisket...it was just ok. It may be kept in a steamer...it looked moist, but tasted a little dry...likely too much steam. I'll give them another opportunity to impress.
(3)
H.R. N.
First, the good news. Our server, Janey(sp?), was the most positive thing about this visit. She was helpful, friendly, warm-- everything you'd expect out of a small town, family-run restaurant. She's tried almost everything on the menu and could speak with authority on the merits of many of the items. We came down from a couple days of skiing and ran into what we thought was a godsend. I have a well-documented BBQ fetish, so I was foaming at the mouth upon seeing this hokey, looks-like-it's-about-to-collapse-but-still-very-Âcharming restaurant when we entered Emmitsburg. (Perhaps the hopes I had for it were too high. Hindsight. 20/20.) If our server was the star, the chili came a second-- a distant second, but still silver. They didn't have crackers there, just homemade croutons, which were bitter to me. An avid seafood lover, I ordered the crabcakes. Why I ordered seafood in Emmitsburg is beyond me. But, as you can imagine, 'twas no good. Overcooked and overbreaded. I thought the mash potatoes would save the meal... nope. It was awful and it's rare that I don't finish mash potatoes, but over half of it was still in its little styrofoam container when I walked out the door. And the beef brisket, the highly touted beef brisket... ::smh:: Nice people. They really are. Now if they can only get their food to catch-up.
(1)
Brendan F.
I don't even know where to start about this dirty disgusting place . do I start at the drug deals out the back door . Or the rats in the cooler?????
(1)
Sean B.
This place was recommended to me by my daughter's English teacher. Services was very nice for me... Quick to get me the menu, polite, and clean all around. Had the fried pickle chips and brisket platter. Brisket wasn't as smokey as I like it, but good quality, nice smoke ring... Overall very good. Sauces were all respectable, pick one according to your heat preference(or do what I did and try em all). Sides were beans (extra good) and collard greens (also quite good). I wouldn't travel miles just to go here. But if I were in the area, I'd make a point to eat there if I could.
(4)
Chet C.
I took my family there on a Saturday early evening. I expected a dive and that expectation was satisfied plus some. All five of us had a satisfactory meal. I rate the food good to very good, although it seemed slightly overpriced for a dive. The wait staff was pleasant and efficient. We all noticed a number of flaws mostly in cleanliness. To start the gripes.....the men's room was slightly dirtier than the average outhouse. All of the condiments and sauce containers looked like they should be both updated and cleaned. The linoleum tile floors needed to be cleaned more than once a week and waxed once in a while. Walls were drab and the decor was rather dated and somewhat dingy. Oddly enough the drinking age there is 25, so my 23 year old daughter was denied a beer. If I lived in the area I likely would eat here occasionally, but for me I won't drive out of the way to come back. My wife would not return. She said they need to take care of a lot of details before she would show up again. Too bad. A little TLC and this place could be a gold mine. Good food. Great location. Two stars could be four if they had a new management team.
(2)
J W.
The only thing this place has that is positive is the friendly servers. EVERYTHING else is nasty. Meat is greasy, fatty...too small of side dishes. You do not get your money's worth. NEVER AGAIN!!!!! Kind of funny that you never really see the bad reviews on this place. Guess since they are a PAID advertiser........hmmm...
(1)
Ale D.
The service was excellent. The place felt a little dirty and the food was just okay and definitely overpriced for the quality.
(3)
Chris J.
This is my first time here and I feel my ratings are fair. The decor is clearly that of the 50's and has been amortized dozens of time over. It's dated, but it gives it a certain hole-in-the-wall charm. But alas, when it comes to restaurants, may ratings are mostly influenced by the food, and I have to say that it's kind of average, actually a little below average. Given its location (kind of far out) and close proximity to MSM University it is probably a great destination for MSM students, but I'll take a pass next time I am in the area.
(3)
Noel W.
I've been to Chubby's twice now and both times my wife and I left satisfied that we got our barbecue "fix"! Brisket and pulled pork are both tasty and are best washed down with a tall draft beer. And if you like drinkin' your beer from a mason jar, that's even better because a mason jar is what they're gonna give you. =) It's not quite the "to die for" type of barbecue that I've experienced only a couple times in my life, but it sure does the trick. The inside is certainly not immaculate and the service is simply straight up the middle, but it is exactly what you'd expect and frankly what you probably want from a hometown BBQ place. Good food, good beer...A solid "A-OK" suits this place just fine.
(3)
Margo R.
Big fan. I had the slaw and beef brisket sandwich and it was deelish. My hubby got the pulled pork and it wasn't quite as succulent as mine. Yumm!!!!
(5)
Pat B.
This place is so dirty and is in need of repairs/updates. When we walked in it smelled like sewer, not the aroma of hickory smoked meats. Ordered a combination platter and it was barely edible. There were flies and you know they love to land on the sauce bottles that are sitting on the table all day with the tips exposed. The waitress was friendly and served us what we needed. With an open kitchen you can hear the employees talking and complaining. When I went to the bathroom, I felt like I was in a scene from the movie Saw, got really grossed out.
(1)
Sean G.
I want to like this place. I really do. The times I have been here, the food has been good however, the past few times I've visited have been absolutely terrible. Service really needs to improve. In both cases, I arrived about an hour and 15 minutes before they close and both times I am told by a shrill waitress as soon as I walk in the door, "We're closed, didn't you see the sign?! We ran out of food so we are now closed!" The sign she is referring to is a miniscule closed sign in a dirty window. So no, I didn't see it. However, I thought I was good arriving more than an hour before you close that I could get some food, since after all, you run a restaurant and I have money that I would like to spend with you. Yelling at your customers that you are closed until they walk out in bewilderment of what just transpired is a crappy way to run a business. I've worked in the restaurant business and I know how tough it can be. The least you can do is have your one nice waitress who has an ounce of empathy let incoming diners know that you ran out of food and are really sorry for the inconvenience. Yelling at hungry people as they walk through the door is a terrible surprise and doesn't endear you to anyone. Also, if you close at 9 pm, this means you stay open and seat people til 9 pm. This is how it works at every other restaurant in the world. And yes, it sucks when that last table comes in at 8:59 but that's how it goes. There was another time, I drove up with 20 minutes til closing hoping to grab some BBQ to go only to be shooed away along with other potential patrons that you were closing in 20 minutes and were not seating anymore. "But I want to get food to go," I implored. "We're closed," said the waitress. In my mind, I thought, "If you keep this up, you will be." From now on, I will just drive by Chubby's on may way up and down route 15.
(1)
David P.
The service: The staff was very friendly, and my two friends and I received great service. I don't see why people thought the place was very dumpy, I thought it was fine (maybe I am a dirty person? But I don't think so). The food: Chubby's has several different types of BBQ sauce, all of which are OK but I preferred the Volcano BBQ sauce the most. I got the pulled pork sandwhich. Servings sizes were adequate and the pork was very tender, not a whole lot of flavor though. With my meal I got the Mac n' Cheese, it was mushy and I didn't like it much but the server took it off my check so we were straight! The Potato Salad was good, but I have had better. Upon leaving the staff was friendly again and thanked us for stopping by. Thanks for the hospitality Chubby's but the food needs a little improvement!
(3)
Kat L.
I got the brisket after a long day of skiing. It wasn't smokey, and I had to drown it in sauce to consider it BBQ. The restaurant is FREEZING COLD. They have space heaters everywhere (2 miles from a ski resort) and yet none of them were on. The parking lot wasn't plowed either and I was concerned about getting stuck. Apparently they don't serve any hot drinks either. Our waitress informed me that any hot drinks had to be purchased elsewhere and brought in. WTH. On a positive note they have root beer on tap, and glass bottled nehi, peach, grape... i didnt see what else cause I got grape. After skiing all day you'll wolf down anything to fill your belly, but my hunger did not make it good. Large portions (1/2 lb of brisket), but again, more did not make it better.
(1)
Malarie B.
This place looks like shit and I am pretty sure all the servers are on meth and have 3-5 kids a piece. It's in the middle of nowhere and you'd probably drive on by it and not stop. That being said, the food is stellar. There was a special when I went, a smoked pork belly sandwich. Just let that sink in for a moment. Smoked. Pork. Belly. Sandwich. Okay, so you see where I am going in that it is LITERALLY THE BEST THING TO EVER GRACE MY LIPS. I'm not kidding, y'all. I think about this sandwich probably once a day. I don't care that it was easily my entire day's worth of calories/sodium/fat. I really don't. If you ever find yourself up this way, do it. Just do it.
(4)
Scott B.
Good Food Good Service Overpriced for its location Funny Story. This is the only place I have ever been were they would not give me a glass of water. They were more than happy to sell me a $2.50 bottle. When I asked about no tap water they said "we have a small well". Yea right.
(3)
Michael H.
Zonkers! I wasn't quite sure that this place would be like; it was a bit too close to the main road for my BBQ detector to go off. But the half-rack of ribs more than made up for my reservations. The ribs themselves were a bit more bland than I usually prefer, but they came to life and danced for me when I dipped them into the side sauce. I had never seen rib sauce done that way before, but I'm a convert now. The side of mac and cheese and BBQ beans were tasty, and there was easily enough food left over from my lunch to make for a healthy afternoon snack (or light dinner). I'd happily stop here again. The service was really friendly and "down home", and I felt completely comfortable here.
(5)
James B.
Good BBQ and food and good menu, but be warned when you ask for only water they say they only have bottled water and last time I was there a $2.00 charge!! Ripoff! Servers and employees, most of the time I am in there are not always friendly. I will give them another chance and see what happens.
(3)
Samiam H.
I stopped in last week and the brisket was not up to usual standard. A bit too fatty for me and too wet. Fries and beans were good and the micro brew on tap was just right for BBQ food. Service was perfunctory.
(3)
Shawn M.
This place offers Amazing BBQ and excellent service. I def recommend stopping here. All the servers I've ever experienced are very friendly...southern hospitality.
(5)
Chef A.
This is the re-review. Essentially all the same info from the old review plus some new stuff added. (nothing removed) I actually had the same meal this time as last too so it makes things easier for my baseline (not waistline) QUALITY: I went with the beef brisket BBQ (southern style) The fries were cold both times, though this is on account of the distance to the house from Chubby's as I got this carry-out. I did eat some of the fries on the drive home while they were still hot and fresh as I was not driving. These are the type with the skins on. Personally I am not much of a fan on the fries, but I will admit there were a hell of a lot of them. Now for the beef, man, there was so much meat, it was like a mountain of meat. Sadly there was a little too much fat for a beef brisket. And while I understand that you need fat for flavor, there was just a little too much left on there. Sauce was served on the side and I think for a sandwich of this magnitude there should have been more sauce than a small 2oz cup. Putting this aside, the sandwich was top notch and I would not hesitate to eat this beast for a thirds time. QUANTITY: There was so much food. I mean between the fries and the sandwich it was a meal for two people, possible three if they were Filipino. (they don't eat much as big fat Americans do!) There were so many fries, but the sandwich itself was huge. Certainly worth the cost. PRICE: Ok, here's a point to be made. the food really is pretty dam,n good, and the portions are certainly huge, but this all comes at a cost. After being the runner up on the Regis and Kelly Show for best BBQW in the country, local fame from all the food critics, and the local media, the cost reflects this. A BBQ sandwich with fries comes in at $12 w/ tax, minus tip. SERVICE: Fast, considering both times the place was packed. Haven't tries table service, did not call ahead. Will update later with better info if I do decide to dine in. LOCATION: Easily accessible from US-15 at Old Frederick Rd. Easy is, getting out can be rough especially if you need to run down US-15 south as you have to turn right and go north a mile, to do a U-turn. OVERALL: I give this place 3.5 stars, as I think as stated above a few things that struck me off, but I've rounded up as I really do like the food here. Maybe my love of quantity kicks me past quality, though quality is not skimping, too mcuh fat and too little sauce kicks me back just a tad. Still worth the price, I would also suggest trying Corbin's up the road or Blues BBQ in Frederick if $$$ is something you need to concern yourself with. If not, Chubby's is a winner in my book.
(3)
Gary C.
Made a special trip for my birthday from West Virginia. Ordered the ribs. As I cut the first rib off the rack I could tell it was over cooked and dry. It was not fall off the bone like most quality BBQ places. I asked the waitress for another rack because only the middle ribs were moist. She was apologetic and brought the ribs back to the kitchen. She brought them back and said the cook said the outer ribs are always dry. Well not at the BBQ places that get my money. I told her they are not acceptable. They did replace it with the pulled pork which was good. My wife ate her ribs because she didn't want to send them back. She said worst ribs she has ever had. I asked to talk to the owner and they said he was not there. Sounds like the staff is not doing what they should be when the boss is away.
(1)
Allen B.
Great sauces - very hot! Will return.
(4)
Mark B.
After a good day of skiing at Ski Liberty... fresh powder on March 25th... WOO HOO! we stopped by Chubby's for dinner on the way back to VA. And we were not disappointed. Chubby's is all about the BBQ. The place looks like a dive but it's clean so get over it. The sides are ho-hum but that's not what we're here for. It's all about the meat! We tried the pulled pork, brisket, and ribs. The pulled pork is tasty moist chunks, some with the bark, not the pulled or chopped into oblivion that you usually get. The brisket was flavorful and included some of the fat cap. And the ribs had a nice rub crust on them and were juicy inside. Good BBQ doesn't need any sauce, and Chubby's doesn't, but if you like sauce they offered 8 different kinds on our table. We tried (and liked) them all. The Volcano and Old Fashioned were our table's favorites. We washed the meat down with some very good sweet tea and an excellent root beer on tap. The service was fast and our servstress Christine was very friendly and attentive. The only downside was having to drive an hour and a half home in a BBQ coma :)
(5)
Mary B.
Pull in and eat for goodness sake! Tender, tasty pulled pork and ribs. And the dessert ... get the butter cake!!! Mac and cheese tasted homemade - not that drippy stuff. Cole slaw had a nice kick to it but I couldn't tell if it was homemade. The butter cake dessert with ice cream, whipped cream and caramel drizzle tastes like what one of your friend's Mom would make for dessert. Only 4 stars bc it needed a bit of a cleaning around the windows by the booth we sat in. I'll be bahck'
(4)
Christine R.
I have to agree with a little bit of both reviews below. After a long and exhausting day at Liberty my evil twin and I remembered seeing a mom and pop looking pizza joint off of 140 (I'll review this place in a second) but long story short, we didn't end up eating there. So we're headed home... that is until we turned onto 15 and I spotted Chubby's BBQ! I was excited because I LOVE little bbq places like this - every single one I've ever been to has been a hit for sure. So I busted a U turn and parked. Upon entering we were greeted and told to sit where ever we liked. It was dead, except for one family tucked in the back of the restaurant. We skim the menu and I ordered the pulled pork with two sides and he gets the beef brisket sandwich with fries. My pork was far from pulled. It tasted as another reviewer said "just okay". A bit bland for my taste (probably because it was in hunks and not pulled to let the bbq sauce smother it) and the sides were o-kay. Next to the mac and cheese on the menu read: "So good, you'll be dreaming about it!" - hell yeah sign me up! But it was disappointing. I woofed it all down because I was starving. My sliver of cornbread was so tiny too. I'm all for healthy portions but this was just too damn small for my taste. I didn't see any fly strips! Thank god and had I, I probably would have thought twice about eating here - especially if they were in plain view. Oh and you have to pay for water. They only serve bottled, which I guess is fine especially if their water tastes gross (water snob here). All in all I was craving pizza, that didn't work out, spotted a bbq place, was starving which probably skewed my entire review, visited my mom and she saved the day with a to-go tray of kimbop for me :) Mental note: Probably better off eating at Liberty's tavern.
(2)
Erin M.
YUCK! I can't believe how many people said this place was good! Let me start by saying this is NOT southern BBQ!! I am from Georgia and believe me when I say this is nothing like what we serve back home. Ok here's the particulars...pulled pork was bland. I had to drench it in sauce. Also, it's large pieces pulled pork so those of you who like it smaller be warned. The french fries aren't bad and the chili cheese fries were probably the best thing about the place. The burgers have pretty good taste. I gave this place several chances and I was never really impressed. If I were to go again, I'd only order sweet tea and chili cheese fries.
(1)
Shannon S.
Riding on Maryland 15? I dare you not to stop! Best BBQ before you hit the Mason-Dixon. You know you are still in the South because Chubby says "Murlund". Highlights include: -Brisket that will make you sing "...Tenderoni you've got to be Spark my nature, sugar fly with me...PYT, Pretty Young Thing" -The Chubby's Challenge--From what I can tell, 16 hamburgers smushed together -Difficult decisions like, should I get the best mac n' cheese I've ever put in my mouth or cornbread that would make me slap my momma, or both? -Celebrity photos from D-List to visitors coming around the corner of Camp David -Draught beers served from apocalypse-sized mason jars
(5)
Raul A.
A good friend recommended this place and geez...it just didn't disappoint. I had the BBQ sandwich, sauces were amazing and the sandwich wasn't BIG, it was EPIC. Friendly and fast service complimented the meal. Would love to revisit sometime soon.
(5)
D M.
Quality has gone down hill. (May 2013 visit). I had Pork belly which was ok, but lost appetite when I overheard staff talking about leftover dirty dishes from prior night.
(2)
Leslie L.
I ate a Chubby's years ago and thought it was awesome, raved about it to friends. So much so that a group of friends were finally convinced to make a 1+ hour trip out there just for the BBQ. Well, disappointed is an understatement. The beef brisket was nothing like I had in the past, there was almost no BBQ\smoke flavor, and is was watery...yuk! I don't like having to put sauce on something to make it taste good, but I tried...and that couldn't save it...I left more than 1/2 the plate and no, I don't want a box to take it home...my dogs deserve better. Also, had the mac & cheese...it was okay, but I only ate half of it...the only thing that hasn't changed were the home made chips and they are still really good. As for BBQ, Famous Daves is 3 miles away from my house and blows Chubby's away. (I hate to say it b/c from my experience years ago...Chubby's would have trumpped Famous Daves and was worth the trip.) They have a new sign and maybe a new owner...I don't know, but the place is not the same. I will never go back...even if I happen to be driving by and I'm really hungry...McDonald's will get my $ over Chubby's in the future.
(1)
Lance M.
This was my 5th visit and the BBQ at Chubby's is always as tasty as the first time I stepped foot into this little place. It's a simple facility that cranks out very tasty BBQ - the smell of the smoked meats alone make my mouth water even before stepping foot inside. Well worth stopping if you like BBQ! I'd recommend the pulled pork, brisket & ribs combo - the cornbread is awesome too....
(5)
Dave P.
OK. So lets diminish a few misconceptions right out of the gate. To all of the yelpers who complained that this isn't as good as real "southern" BBQ, listen up! Your right, it's better. I have traveled extensively in the south, to include VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, Etc.. First off, you always hear that BBQ in the south is the best. Well guess what? Horseshit! That's not to say I haven't run across a few OK joints, but for the most part, you can keep that shit. And for everyone that complained that the pulled pork meat was "too big", grow up and realize that you don't have to chop it up like fine coffee grounds for it to be enjoyable.... Now, if you can read and I assume you can, then you will know the owner is from Texas. Everything is bigger in Texas, as well as a little different. I had the pulled pork sandwich with fries. Yes the pulled pork was huge and there was a ton of it on the bun. It also had a really nice pink smoke ring, however, the smoke flavor was not too prevalent. When you walk in to the place, it looks like the interior decorator and maid left about 25 years ago. No worries though, keep your eye on the prize. Chubbys has about six different sauces on the table for you to try. I tried them all and I have to give the good ole boys in the south one leg up here. I love a vinegar and ketchup base sauce, and they don't really have that here. I did sample every sauce and they were all OK, just not what I was looking for. And oh yeah, for everyone that complained about the sauce, did you go there for the sauce? Go get yourself a bottle of Baby Rays and drink it so maybe you can be happy. So the skinny is this. Two tasty pulled pork sandwiches, two orders of fries, and two teas came to $27 plus tip. My server was friendly and helpful so she added another $4 to the bill for her tip. Decent place to find in Maryland. I will return to try the ribs and maybe the brisket. If you think the best BBQ in the world is in the south, go back there and get it.
(3)
Dave C.
Not bad the food is better than the place looks. I had some sort of platter that must have had two pounds of meat on it. Very good and the side were excellent, I had the Mac and cheese and beans. My wife was not as fond of her ribs but what does she know they tasted good to me! Service was quick and the waitress was very friendly. We had the Gooey Cake for dessert and it was the bomb. The desert was 5 stars!
(3)
Steve P.
Was on the cycle coming back from a nice ride and saw a pig holding a plate of ribs on the sign ahead of me. Any place that advertises cannibalism in any form is good enough for me. Kinda like that far side comic where the cow is cooking the burgers. I swung in and the place was very empty, only 1 other person eating at a table in the corner. Rather dark and dingy look to it with floor tiles that were lifted in some spots, and water marks on the ceiling tiles. However I don't knock points for the look, so long as they serve me decent food. I decided to settle for the pulled pork bbq sandwich and a side of fries and a drink. I can say for what I ordered the bill was a tad high, 13 dollars. Ouch! I mean I know it takes awhile to make, but you aren't exactly serving filet mignon either. Given how empty the place was, the food came out pretty quickly. Fries were good, sandwich was alright but could have used a little more bbq sauce, and luckily the refills were free. I enjoyed eating it, just felt everything was priced a bit much for me.
(3)
Brandon H.
On the way back from a business trip to Harrisburg I spot this bbq place on the side of US-15. Since I was going 55 at the time I missed the turn, but, being a little hungry and never wanting to turn down some 'cue, I turned around at the next intersection. A soon as I got there were signs it was going to be good: wood piled in the front, a little run down, smoke pouring out the top. I sat at the bar and only there was only one other table for three waitresses, so the service was great. I got the pulled pork and beef brisket, my two test meats for a barbecue place. Both were very well done with a good smoke flavor that so most of the bbq places in the DC area sorely lack. All three of the sauces were great, as was the potato salad. The collard greens were hands down the best greens I have ever had. They were sweet and perfectly cooked with beets. This is the best barbecue I have had this far north by far and would even do the hour and fifteen minute drive just to eat here. If you're not crazy enough to make the trip just for the food, it is on the way to the Gettysburg and there are several farmers markets in the area.
(5)
Judy T.
I like this place. Not at all fancy. I get the ribs without any sauce and add the sauce from the bottles on the table. That way I can just add a little bit and still taste the meat.
(4)
Tony M.
On my way back from snowboarding for only the 2nd time ever I had a sore, wet ass and needed something to eat. I spotted Chubby's just as I turned onto Rte. 15. I sat down and was told to sit wherever. A waitress came up and asked if I had been there before. "Nope." She matter of fact explained that "WE DO NOT DO ANY SUBSTITUTIONS." I was a little taken back since I didn't even ask about substitutions. I hadn't even seen the menu yet. Then I was informed they only served bottled water. Ok, I'll make do I guess. But I didn't like it. Especially not at 1.99. So I ordered the cream of crab soup and the BBQ platter. The soup was good. The ribs and chicken were good. The pulled pork was just ok. It really was just like chunks of rib meat pulled off the bone. Mac and Cheese average as well as the cole slaw. I probably enjoyed the chicken the best. I also enjoyed the vinegar with tomato type sauce that they had on the table. That was a good compliment to the pork. Overall, the food was pretty good. And after the initial abrasiveness, my server's mood seemed to get a little better. But she really failed to make me feel welcome when I sat down, and that's where service really counts. But I probably wouldn't hit up Chubby's again. Primarily because of price and policies. I have no problem paying 22.00 for a good BBQ platter, and it was pretty good. What I do have a problem with is having to pay 1.99 for water and an extra .25 for my takeout container. Talk about nickel and diming. It should really be illegal to not offer complimentary tap water to your customers. Even if the food was great I would be upset at the water thing. Overall, a cup of soup, water, platter, fair tip and don't forget the takeout container set me back 40.00. The food didn't quite warrant that. I would possibly stop back for a sandwich but I wouldn't order a full meal again.
(2)
Abbey H.
I'm going to have to give up on this place altogether after several years. The first several times I went on past years, service was good, food was great. But my last two experiences were awful. The first time I brought in about 20 people in the middle of winter. Closing time was 8 pm - we were all there by 6 pm. However, the waitress was very irritated that we were there at all, wouldn't substitute even sides , rushed us out the door and blamed it all on an invisible cook. However, the fpod was still very good. The last time I went, just a few days ago, was the last straw. Service was good, but the food was dry, tasteless, and had all four of us in various stages of digestive discomfort during the remainder of the night. Sadly, another formerly wonderful independent restaurant that has decided to coast on its former reputation rather than living up to it. I won't be stopping again.
(2)
Lars D.
Sorry for a "Meh. I've experienced better" review, but the truth is, I have and for much less. For years I have been driving past Chubby's on the way back from Upstate NY to DC. A friend recommended Chubby's and several weeks ago, I stopped in for the first time and had an excellent Brisket sandwich for $10.99. Excellent, but way over priced. Yesterday stopped by and had the Pork BBQ and it was just OK. Many very well well done, burnt and hard to chew chunks in the sandwich. I have had much better Barbeque Pork in the DC area.......Carolina Brothers in Ashburn and Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray/Alexandria, VA. Yesterday's experience was enough to know that I will not go back again.
(2)
N M.
My experience is a bit weird because I thought the meats were incredibly good, but the service really leaves something to be desired. The location is right off of route-15, and it's easy to miss if you are driving fast. Food: I ordered beef brisket, and it was excellent. The beef was perfectly cooked and tasted very good. Some of my friends ordered pork and other meats - and they were all quite happy as well. Some of the sides are so-so (like the green beans or the collard greens) but other sides are very good (like corn bread, fried zuccini sticks and jalapeno poppers). The sauces are above average (the dipping jelly they gave with the jalapeno poppers was excellent). They have a decent selection of desserts also. Service: Considering that we were a large group of people, who had called ahead, they shouldn't have behaved as off-handedly as they did. When the dining was done, the waitress came and announced loudly that they had assessed such and such a dollar amount as the gratuity and we should figure out how we want to split it but we should make sure to leave that much as tip. May be the wait-staff were having a bad day.. who knows. Overall: If you are someone who cares about the manners of the wait-staff, you may not like this place so much. If you don't care about waiters but focus purely on the meats, then this place is worth visiting because the meats are excellent. It's also not too pricey, so that's a plus.
(4)
Matthew W.
Delicious! Corn bread to is die for! Love it. Great slaw and bbq brisket!!!!!
(5)
Cassandra B.
Chubbys is our family's favorite - if it's a birthday or special occasion we go to Chubbys! Not fancy, a true "dive" but that adds to the charm. The bacon cheese burger is insanely good but be prepared with extra napkins, so juicy it drips down your arms. The BBQ, Brisket, Corned Beef - yum! My absolutely favorite thing at Chubbys is the cornbread, we call it corncake! Come as you are and come often, you'll love it!
The barbeque is absolutely yummy!! Signature sauces, the delicious and moist cornbread - if you are ever in the area, this a stop you must take and won't regret. A bonus to this experience is that the owners are kind, welcoming and will make you feel like a part of the Chubby's Barbeque family - enjoy, one visit and you'll be apart of the Chubby's BBQ family for life!
(5)
Susan H.
A family friend had stopped at Chubby's and said it was pretty good. So.... we decided to stop for a snack to check it out for ourselves. If you went on outside appearances, you would probably turn around and keep driving. Can't say there was much improvement on the interior appearance either. But....we were going for the bq and not the ambience. There were 6 in our party. We were seated in the back area where there are a couple of large tables. They say first impressions count and I can honestly say my first impression was not a good one. As we sat down, we immediately noticed two fly strips hanging from the ceiling. At least there were no dead flys stuck to them. Didn't encounter any flys while we ate either. Definite plus! Okay onto the food. They offered a bq beef brisket or a pulled pork sandwich served with fries for $9.99. For a couple dollars more you could get a brisket or pulled pork plate with your choice of 2 sides. My husband and I decided to share the bq beef brisket plate. I can't recall all the various sides they offered, but we chose the mac and cheese and home style potatoes. (Hubby must have been into starch that day) The brisket was flavorful, tender and moist. Plus you had your choice of several bq sauces to accompany the meat. We liked the original bq sauce. The mac and cheese was homemade, not the stuff you get out of a box. The potatoes were cooked with sausage and onions (yumm). If ever in the area again, I would definitely go back. The waitress did comment that they don't get many locals, mostly tourists driving though so I guess we fit into that category.
(4)
Hannah M.
This restaurant was recommended to us but, unfortunately, it wasn't good. They have a sign that says good food isn't cheap and cheap food isn't good. This was neither. We've had much better and less expensive BBQ at Black Hog & even Famous Dave's. There were 4 of us and no one liked their meal. The BBQ chicken was dry. The mac & cheese tasted like it came out of a box. The pulled pork and brisket were tasteless. The french fries weren't good either. The baked beans weren't bad though. To top things off, we had a Restaurant.com gift certificate for $25 which says 18% gratuity is added. We don't have a problem with that but our server told us that the 18% goes to the management and any additional we add will go to her. That's just wrong. The management gets their income from the high food prices and very low overhead. The gratuity should go to the server! I would have given 2 stars except Chubby's gratuity policy made us mad! We won't be back.
(1)
Gretchen D.
A friend of mine had recommended this place, and since I love BBQ - okay, food in general - I just had to try it out. Turns out, I should have side-stepped this little venture. I'll start with the overall atmosphere itself: Now, I am no diva, and I've certainly eaten in my share of so-called 'dives', but seriously, I don't consider fly strips to be a form of 'interior decoration'. Let's move on, shall we? The BBQ Sauces: They use beer six-pack holders as BBQ sauce containers; though not all the tables had all the choices, so feel free to introduce yourself to your neighboring table to get whatever sauce you might be missing. But honestly, I just didn't think the sauces were all that. The 'Classic Sauce' wasn't anything you couldn't find at any other joint, or even out of a decent bottle, these days! The Meat: It was simply okay. Not stellar, not horrible. However, I wanted my pulled pork sandwich to actually have PULLED PORK. Instead there were hunks of pork in it, and I ended up using two forks to finish the job at the table myself. That was the only way to get the BBQ sauce really distributed into the meat. On the positive side, they give you a lot of this 'just okay meat', so you'll have leftovers! The Sides: The cornbread was crumbly, and not in a good way. I don't know why people were fussing over it. I've had better at the Whole Foods salad bar! The sauerkraut had to have been sitting on the stove all day because it was overdone, soggy, and had NO TASTE whatsoever. The mac n' cheese was a light yellow curdled mess. Thumbs up on the beach fries, though. In general on the side dishes...well, I'll just assume the people who were raving about these sides never had the homemade goodness I grew up with. Sorry to go on and on, but Chubby's is just not a 'destination' BBQ joint. If you happen to pass by, and you're seriously hungry... No...! JUST KEEP GOING! I know there's better further up the road. I read one review online elsewhere, and it said that Chubby's was 'hit or miss' with their food. Sorry, but I'd suggest you miss it altogether!
(1)
Jon V.
i have been all over this country, on two wheels and four. And BBQ is what i live for. Chubbys is by far, one of, if not the best "Q" I have ever had. I drive down from NH a couple of times a year and this place is a must for me. The ribs, brisket, pulled pork ... all are excellent. The sides and corn bread too. And to complete the deal, the last few times, my waitress was smoking hot
(5)
Greg H.
Good BBQ, but not great. Kind of shabby interior. The prices are good. I have only tried the BBQ, so I don't know about the rest of the menu. The side dishes that come with the BBQ are mediocre. The service is OK. But its the only BBQ place we have near Thurmont, so I end up going there every other month or so.
(3)
Dan C.
We stopped by here on our way back from Gettysburg on a whim. My g/f and I do have soft spots in our heart for random roadside BBQ, and this place didn't let us down. Ordered the pulled pork and pit beef plates (pit beef is a MD specialty, for those for those not in the area). Meat was tasty and cooked well, and the baked beans that I ordered on the side were extremely tasty. If you're randomly on Route 15 and have a meat craving, definitely worth a stop.
(4)
Amy G.
I can't imagine how this place has not be reviewed a thousand times. It is one of the top 5 BBQ joints I've visited - and I llllllloooooovvvvveee BBQ. This is nice and rustic - but not seedy. From the side of the road, this looks like a little, time distressed building. In side, you'll find simple furnishings - mostly booths with some tables. There is a counter where you'll often see a line of people ordering takeout. This is real BBQ - the stacks of wood can been seen outside. So if you're looking for some sticky sweet pile of meat or something that tastes like a "manwich" you have come to the wrong place. The amount of food is generous. The burgers are as good as the BBQ sandwiches. The sides are great - good baked beans and coleslaw. You'll find about 5-6 sticky bottles of various types of sauce that you can use to "pimp" your BBQ sandwiches. I also like the sauces on my burgers and fries. I also found their chili to be pretty good - but I'd rather save space for the BBQ and burgers. The home made potato chips are usually a huge hit - only occasionally are they sub par. The prices are just a little high - but the food is really, really good. A huge glass of sweet tea or one of their bottles of old fashioned "gourmet" sodas really rounds out the meal. Service is usually good, but can get slow on really busy days. Summertime warning - this place doesn't really do air conditioning. I think there are a few window units, but if you're there on a really, really hot day be prepared to sweat. The smell of wood smoke before you even enter the building is enough to make you drool.
(5)
Frank W.
Still Chubby's has not lost it rustic "charme" and will I drive for hours to get some of that pulled pork BBQ.
(4)
April G.
We stopped at this place on our way to PA. We almost passed by it. Thank goodness we didn't! We ordered a platter of ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. We had fun trying all the different BBQ sauces. Our favorite sause was the Hallelujah sauce. We also ordered a Louisiana hot link. Although we really didn't like the hot link, we did like the fresh cut fries that came with it. The BBQ platter was tender and tasty. This is a great place to go when you are craving good BBQ. One of their signs reads so true. "Great food ain't cheap!....Cheap food ain't great! I'll pay for great food any day.
(5)
Barry S.
Our BBQ was fatty and the sides were so-so. I saw that this was listed in some BBQ book so I had high hopes but really, really was disappointed. There are so many other great options around here ... even as close as Frederick.
(2)
Tom L.
Wanted to like this place - I really did. Let me start out by saying hole-in-the-wall BBQ joints don't scare me, but this place was just downright DIRTY. That can be excused if the food is other-worldly, but this food was mediocrity on a plate - bland pulled pork and even blander brisket. Sides were more of the same. We didn't like it, but the flies sure did! We spent most of the meal shooing them away from our food, so if you don't like flies, this is not your place. The owner is a gregarious guy who talked our ears off even after we showed disinterest. Chubby or whatever your name is - we're here to eat some Q, not make a new best friend for life. The one positive was they did have sodas in glass bottles, but other than that the best part of this joint was seeing it in my rear-view mirror when we drove away.
(1)
Robby T.
Let me start out by saying that I really wanted to like this place, since I live about 10 minutes away, but I just couldn't. Also, let me emphasize that I am from Georgia, so my idea of BBQ leans toward pit BBQ. The smoke taste is a must for me and Chubbys doesn't deliver. Some of my favorite dishes were badly misrepresented. The bad! 1. Brisket - It is sliced thin and tender, but it is VERY bland. I had to drench it in sauce to get it down. 2. Pulled Pork - This is some of the worst I have had. It is not very finely shredded and is too "mushy." The predominant taste is grease! 3. Service - It is not consistent and leans toward bad! Out of three vists I only had acceptable service once. The good! 1. Excellent chili cheese fries! The chili is pretty darned good and the fries are always cooked perfectly. 2. Ribs - They weren't the meatiest or the best I have had, but the dry rub flavor came through nicely. If I go back I'll probably order these. I hate to give bad reviews, but this play is WAY overhyped. I'd take Famous Daves over this place ANY day!
(2)
Dave K.
Stopped at Chubby's on a whim heading south on 15 late Thursday afternoon. We weren't sure if the place was even open as there were relatively no cars in the lot, and no smoke to be seen. The place looked pretty run down, and we thought the better of it and left. Next day at work around DC we asked someone if they ever heard of it, as they were from the Frederick area. They said it was fantastic, we'd be stupid if we didn't stop. Figured better to stop than be stupid. So my fellow super-carnivore and I stopped in. We sat a table under the autographed picture of some actor I recognized, but couldn't tell you who he is, or why the hell he'd be driving down Route 15 in MD, but hey, our server came over, Renee, and took our drink orders. She had the most soothing southern accent we had ever heard. We think that if she went to Washington, so could get those boys to get along down there and fix the budget in a matter of hours, but I digress. We ordered the fried green beans as an app. They were wonderful. Of course you can fry pretty much anything and serve it, but these had a good taste, the batter was different, and the dipping sauce was nice and tangy. Ordered a 32 oz. Frederick Brewing Co. beer since I wasn't driving, and it came out in a Mason jar. I just loved that touch. Beer was good. I ordered the brisket and baby back combo with the slow-cooked baked beans and some sort of potato concoction as sides. The brisket had a nice smoky taste to it. A little fatty for me, but not bad. The sauces were excellent, Renee suggested the "Hot" and I think having tried them all she was right on. The ribs were excellent. Pulled right off the bone, moist, smoky and tasty. Dipped them too. Very good. Nice crisp on the outside. Very good ribs. My buddy got the pork belly, which neither of us had ever eaten. Went off the charts with that order. Glad we did. Looked like thick bacon. Renee explained that's where the cut comes from, same place as bacon. Nice smoky flavor. It was really good. He got their potato salad, and seeing as my mom makes the greatest potato salad on earth, I am quite the connisseur, it was VERY good for restaurant potato salad. The beans may have been the best I have ever had. Some pulled pork in them, onions, tangy. Delicious. The potato concoction on the otherhand, greasy, kinda bland, could have been canned potatoes, I don't know. Left them. The portions were excellent. We were completely gorged when we left. The prices are rather high for a hole-in-the-wall on a state highway in northern MD, but worth it. Renee was delightful, the food was very, very good. I will definitely be stopping in again.
(4)
D H.
What has happened to Chubby's? I used to enjoy stopping there on my way home from visiting family to get some carry out for dinner. The food was always consistently good not great. I stopped the other day to pick some food up and was shocked at how far downhill this place has gone. The brisket and pulled pork were ok. Not smoky enough for me and lacking dry rub flavor. Now to the sides. The mashed potatoes were some of the worst I have ever had. They used to be pretty good, but the batch I received tasted like wallpaper paste. The gravy tasted like cheap stuff from a jar. I could not even eat them. The baked beans are the best side they offer. Full of bits of pulled pork. I don't even get the mac & cheese anymore because it is just not that good. Now the cornbread. I ordered a piece of it for $1.50 and it was about 1 inch by 1 inch, no joke! Lastly, I wanted a soda for the ride so I grabbed an 8 oz. not 12 oz. bottle of Dr. Pepper. I was charged $2.50 for an 8 oz. soda. Are you kidding me!! That was a total ripoff. Overall, if this is the quality that Chubby's has become, I will have to keep on driving next time. Not worth the prices that they charge.
(2)
Shayron B.
If I had to define this place in one word, the word I would choose would be DIRTY. We called yesterday to inquire about catering and the fellow told us to call back at 5pm. Instead, we decided to dine in and figured we'd talk with someone (since as the girl who answered put it "I don't know nothing about catering). We decided to give it a go despite the obvious lack of care for the restaurant (FILTHY floors, dead flies on our table, flies flying around everywhere, boxes piled up against walls, tables full of old food/drinks that were not cleared off the entire time we were there, no silverware because "we are washing it" (no more than 12 people in the place). The brisket was ok, a little on the fatty side but seriously, who wants to use bbq sauce bottles that look like they haven't been washed since the place opened?? There was enough "Juice" on my plate to make a soup. The baked beans were average, the pulled pork was fatty too. My daughter's hotdog was burnt to hell and so were the fries. The service? Well, homeboy behind the counter (the cook?) he was busy trying to get some girls number when we arrived so he told us to seat ourselves "whereeva and somebody be wit ya" and the other two girls, they were very friendly and tried their best. Our waitress (very skinny w/black nikes) she was super nice, she did her best. Did we talk with someone about catering? Hell No, we will never go back. I guess since this place is so far on the edge of Frederick the health inspector doesn't bother! If this place was in Montgomery County, it would be closed.
(1)
Gary D.
I'm relatively new to the restaurant reviews, but having said that I stopped at Chubby's Barbeque and was very pleasantly surprised. I've always liked BBQ and I now plan to stop at more roadside places. I had the pulled pork, baked beans, and their potato salad with sweet tea. The pork was fantastic and moist. The potato salad had great flavor with the predominant other vegetable being the celery with a hint of maybe old bay. Made with skinned potatoes I would do a return visit.. I realize that potato salad is different everywhere you go and it's mostly a personal preference but I really liked this. The beans were very good and had a great southern flavor. Portions were good and the tea was good but a little extra sweet. Not a problem with me but some may want to ask for extra ice to water it down a little. Oh, and the servers were very friendly. I over heard the table next to us as well as the different server I had. Overall I would give it another visit when I'm in the area. Try the fried green beans. I must admit I've never tried these before and was very impressed. The dip with them was superb. I plan to be in TN. in a few weeks and expect to check out at least one of their barbeque places. I'm really looking forward to that now after this visit.
(4)
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Address :16430 Old Frederick Rd,Ste A
Emmitsburg, MD, 21727
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Darren D.
Our first visit. Friendly staff. Pulled pork, brisket, pit beef and burnt ends platter was Excellent! Baked beans, Cole slaw, Mac & cheese and corn bread were also Very good! 2 new Chubby's fans! We'll be back! Thanks for dinner!
(4)Andrew T.
Solid BBQ and one of the better options on the road between PA and VA. Atmosphere: It's a BBQ place so the point don't come here. Service: Very friendly staff helped navigate what was good and fresh that day. Food: Had the Burnt Ends, Slaw and Jalapeño Poppers. Burnt Ends were big, tender and tasty but missing the burnt - BBQ sauce was a good accompaniment. Slaw was a solid side with a decent blend of sweet/mayo with good texture. Jalapeño Poppers were solid but not a homemade delight. A solid 3 in the world of BBQ [Been to TX, KC, NC and Memphis] and worth the stop if you have a few minutes..... skip the fast food and have some BBQ.
(3)Victoria R.
After reading all the reviews on facebook and yelp I was absolutely dying to take my family of 5 to this restaurant. We live in Westminster so it was a little drive but I had very high expectations and was very excited to try. Plus my pregnancy craving is bbq, so I was very excited for some good bbq. I also am not normally one to review a restaurant without making several trips there first, but this was so horrifically disappointing. We arrive at Chubbys at about 12 pm today and we seat ourselves, it's very clear they are understaffed and we wait about 15 minutes for a waitress to come to our table to deliver menus and take our drink order. Though she was clearly frazzled by being understaffed and behind she was very kind and hospitable. We wait another 15 minutes before our drinks arrive and she takes our food order. Our food arrives about 30 minutes later. Heres the lo down on the food- I ordered the 1/2 lb burnt end platter with two sides of mac and cheese (1 for me and 1 to share with my 1 year old.) The mac and cheese was dry, no sauce, it looked and tasted more like buttered elbow noodles then anything, strangest mac and cheese ever, but my son did eat a few bites of it. I excitedly bite into my first bite of my burnt ends.....i spit it in my napkin. Let me be clear i'm not one to do this, i'll fight through the worst tasting food to not be disrespectful. But it tasted old, it was tough and it clearly wasn't burnt ends. A burnt end is the end cut of a brisket that is covered in bark, this was old brisket that had been thrown on the flat top and cooked till a dark sear formed. It was flavorless (seasoning wise) and tasted like a refrigerator. I thought maybe it was just that piece so I taste three other pieces, all of which are inedible. I didn't eat any of my lunch, very disappointing. I won't lie, there was a table next to me of 6 people and I heard them debating getting the burnt ends, i walked over and quietly told them not to get them, that they were horrid, i'd hate to see someone wast $20 to throw it away like i had. My husband ordered the combo platter, he got the burnt ends and pulled pork with a side of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes, also he got 2 kaiser rolls so he could make sandwiches with his meat. His burnt ends were just as awful as mine, his pulled pork was fresh, it was moist but no smoky flavor. The kaiser rolls were soft. The mac and cheese was just as strange as mine. And the mashed potatoes were very strange in color and i dared not taste it. He ate a few bites then stopped when he found chunks of burnt stuff in them. My son had the kids burger with french fries. No complaints, i tried the fries and they were good. My daughter had the chicken nuggets and though i didn't try them they came out very dark as if they were either over cooked or cooked in old oil. She didn't complain and she ate them. I was so very disappointed with my meal I had to go to McDonald's on the way home because i was left so hungry. Though i should have i did not complain, i paid my $65 ($75 with tip) and left with a rumbly tummy and a deep sadness i wasted that much money on a meal i didn't even eat. I would be willing to try again, maybe, the waitress was very kind and i understand being understaffed and over worked so my rating in no way reflects her service or personality. It reflects that meal that I wish I had never gotten.
(2)Jane Z.
We stop here every summer heading up Route 15 and every winter up to Round Top and White Tail. It's the BEST!!!
(5)Laura S.
Great BBQ! Huge portions of food and beverages ( my wine was served in a Stella glass) and nice variety of beer on draft. The only reason it got four stars is they were out of some of the items we wanted ( burnt ends and collards) Beef Brisket was our favorite of the meal. Pulled pork sandwich , fried pickles, and mash n gravy also excellent. The Mac n Cheese was disappointing for us but could just be our taste buds. Friendly service and awesome selection of sauces- we each had a different favorite one
(4)Maria L.
Last Saturday we went to this place after reading such a good reviews we were expecting something great, what a disappointment the ribs that I had were so dry, no flavor, after I complain the waitress (Brenda) came with a new order it was almost the same but her attitude was horrible I had to say this is a little bit better because she was standing there looking at me fiercely. My fiancé order a dish called dinosaur, $ 25.00 what a joke was a piece of fat. The side dishes bad bad bad. Overall the experience was painful. Please do yourself a favor do not go to that place. I am giving a 1 star because there is not an option for 0 stars
(1)John O.
Ok, here's the down and dirty on the food I ordered. Loaded potato soup: 7/10. Not bad. Lots of cheese and decent flavor. Would order again. Ribs: the looked really good, and the flavor was pretty good, but they were very overcooked. It was like biting into tough leather at times. Brisket: the brisket looked dry on the plate, and the taste matched it. Not much flavor at all in the brisket. Rather disappointing. Potato salad: no flavor at all. For some reason, it had a green tint to it. Basically, it was awful. Baked beans: the put pulled pork into the beans to jazz it up a bit, but it didn't help. They fell flat with not much flavor than what they had when they were still in the can. Won't be ordering that again. A bright spot was the "Select Reserve" sauce offered at the table. I thought that was really good, and would buy it at the store if they had it there. You can buy it at the restaurant, but I did not. The server was very nice and he made sure we always had full drinks. Since the food was not very good, the server made up for that shortcoming with his positive attitude. It won't bring me back, but he was very good nonetheless.
(2)Scott H.
Been eating here for at least 10 years now, maybe more. I am a big fan of the BBQ. It's sometimes a bit drier the most but I always thought it was because I never eat there earlier than 7. Burnt edges were on the menu yesterday and they were about as good as it gets. Smokey, fatty, crispy and chewy. Sides can be excellent. Baked beans are always hot and delicious. Greens can sometimes be over cooked. Service is always friendly and you'll feel right at home. However, the place is so divy and beat up that I can never give this place more than 3 stars. It's like eating in some old church basement. Bathrooms are downright nasty which just shows the owner is not paying attention. I stop during the long drive between VA and PA when I am not in the mood for fast food and I can spare the time. If you like BBQ you should visit just know this is a three star joint.
(3)Helen L.
Amazing!!!!! Great sevice, Sean is awesome. Food was incredible. We had the pulled pork and brisket. The pulled pork was our favorite. Sauces were great. Didn't know Maryland had great BBQ until we ate here :)
(5)Susan H.
For two reasons, Chubby's has been on our radar---1) We drive right past it every time we head north to visit our daughter and; 2) Jane and Michael Stern's Road Food has a listing for the place. When our daughter was growing up, we did several cross country road trips and never left home without a copy of "Road Food". There was no Yelp then so when it came time for dinner, we would look through the book and if we were near one of their picks, we would stop in for dinner. That book never steered us wrong. All the places we tried were unforgettable in a good way. This past trip, we decided that it was long past time to give Chubby's a try. It's easy to see on Route 15. If you are heading north, there is a right turn lane that takes you directly to the place. Our first impression upon entering was that the place was divey. We were greeted by our server and welcomed to Chubby's. He asked if we had been there before. We told him "no" but we passed it many times. Apparently, he hears that a lot. The Sterns waxed poetic about the ribs saying this (I quote from the book) "Smokemeister Tom Caulfield marinates and dry rubs ribs, cooking them low and slow until drippingly tender..." With such a description, I just had to order a half rack of baby back ribs. Each entree comes with 2 sides. I chose collard greens plus mashed potatoes and gravy. The ribs come slathered with a tangy tomato-based bbq sauce. They are tender and meaty but not falling off the bone. The bbq smokiness comes through very clearly. These ribs are far better than any I have tried in the DC area. The collard greens were generously laced with bits of pulled pork. The mashed potatoes...well...weren't "mashed". Rather, they were chunks of potato covered in a tasty brown gravy. As for the brisket (another quote from the book) "Even the barbecued brisket is excellent, albeit more Texan than southern." My husband is a big fan of brisket so he ordered 1/2 pound of brisket. For his 2 sides he chose baked beans plus mac and cheese. When he first saw the brisket, he thought that it would be dry but he was pleasantly surprised as it was tender and juicy with good smoky flavoring. It comes without sauce so you choose one of the many sauces on the table. He sampled the tangy tomato based sauce as well as one that had mustard and vinegar and liked them both. He found the mac and cheese to be rather ordinary at first but as he ate it, he said that it grew on him. His baked beans had good flavoring with a touch of sweetness and a generous amount of pulled pork in them. Service was quite good. We were there on a Tuesday night between 5 p.m and 6 p.m. At first it was slow but gradually dine-in business picked up. The phone rang a lot while we were there so we figured that local residents were putting in take-out orders---and we were right as we noticed them coming in for their food. We each had soft drinks. Before the tip, dinner cost $33 + change. Chubby's sells T-shirts that have rather funny writing on them. We found them good for a laugh...but...we wouldn't want to wear any of them when we left the house LOL! So, if you are passing through Emmitsburg and are hungry plus like good bbq, do give Chubby's a try!
(4)MF G.
Stopped in on the way from DC to Gettysburg. Service was friendly. Sides (greens, beans, cornbread, and mac & cheese) were great. Meat (we had the brisket and pulled pork) was disappointing. Tasted more like hospital cafeteria food. Portions were generous and we didn't finish our 1/2 lb platters, but we ended up throwing our leftover meat away.
(2)Dan B.
Today, I decided to switch gears and went for the half-rack of ribs, instead of the smoked beef sandwich, and double baked beans. The ribs are excellent. The ribs have a nice smokey flavor, as evident by the pink hue in the meat, that these ribs are in fact smoked and not prepared by other questionable means. No portion control here! This has to be the largest half-rack order of ribs I've ever received (check out the pix)! I counted 10 or so bones of delicious smokey ribs and had to stop at bone 6 or 7--too much food. You'll definitely feel like you got your money's worth here--unlike other "hogish" places in Frederick. I rode my bike up, so unfortunately, I cannot take leftovers home :-( The ribs are excellent here; however, their chopped beef sandwich reigns supreme! Chub's baked beans are outstanding (see previous review) as always. You will not go wrong with the ribs--I'll definitely order them again.
(4)Matthew S.
This place is sort of in the middle of 3 and 4 stars, but I'll give it 3 stars here (its good BBQ, but certainly not a wowser). I've eaten here twice and each time has been alright. The brisket is good, the ribs are very good, they also have side dishes of mac n cheese (below average), the green beans (good), and their cole slaw (slightly bland). In general, I felt I was not cheated, as the 1/2 pound of brisket was certainly enough, and the food itself was filling. They also put their root beer in a Mason jar, which is a great touch, but also was a bit messy (they didn't clean the jar, so there was root beer on the bottom that was getting everywhere). Plus, if you use the Yelp app, you get 5% off your first order, which helps out plenty. The location is a bit tricky. Route 15 in Maryland is somewhat of a weird and dangerous road, and you have to be careful or you'll miss it, or worse, hurt yourself. But once you're in the parking lot, its easy and definitely worth sticking around. The atmosphere is very fun, and its not a bad BBQ joint for a place only 45 minutes north of Washington, D.C. (oh, and celebs have eaten at this place too, which adds to the ambiance). It does not hurt to check it out, but its an experience nonetheless.
(3)Dustin H.
Been a few times. It's ok. We are tough on BBQ where I come from. This last trip I got my order of brisket swimming with water under them. The food was decent, but I feel the stars and high marks here are way over rated. And since I have young kids that can read, I feel uncomfortable having them read the t-shirts the young ladies where in there. Just a tip if you have kids that are young readers.
(3)Sandy K.
Let's start off by sayin yes it's not the most attractive place inside or out, but Iam not in the market to buy the place, just to enjoy a meal... And that they deliver!!! The pulled pork platter is worth the drive past a couple of other BBQ places, shhhh famous Dave's lol,
(5)Karen Y.
Wonderful waitress (Brenda) Great food Between 6 of us, we had burnt ends, brisket, fries with Parmesan and jalapeño dipping sauce, ribs and the best dessert ever - Gooey Butter Cake!
(5)DJ M.
Yummy, plentiful, homemade. I meal fed 2 hungry adults! Can't say enough, if you are on rt 15 don't miss this joint!
(5)Patrick B.
Beef brisket vegetable soup Jalapeño garlic parmesan fries Pulled pork sandwich Burnt end pork belly sandwich Chubby's NEVER disappoints. Thanks, Tom!
(5)ATHANASIOS B.
Very pleasantly surprised, very friendly service. Brisket sandwich was very good, pork belly sandwich good.
(4)Jana E.
This place was disappointing. My son and I ordered the special a sandwich of burnt ends. The meat had good flavor. The meat in my sandwich was cold. My other son had a half rack of ribs with a side of mash potatoes and gravy, and coleslaw. The gray was cold and congealed, the coleslaw was flavorless. I made a mistake and didn't ask the price of the special, our bill was about $60 for two sodas, one order of jalapeño fries, two sandwiches, half rack of ribs. The restaurant itself is a greasy dirty dump of a building. Incredibly overpriced and overrated!
(1)William T.
A group of us had gone up to Gettysburg for the day, and on the way back decided to stop by Chubby's for dinner. The food came highly recommended. I ordered the pit beef with fries and baked beans. The pit beef was some of the best bbq I have ever had. It practically melted in my mouth. I tried it with all of the sauces. My favorite was the Private Reserve. That seemed to be every ones favorite. The fries were decent as were the smoky baked beans. Our waitress was attentive, and nice, although at times seemed like she was trying to hurry us along our way. The food was really good, and some of the best BBQ I have had. I would stop by here again when in the area.
(4)Jennie S.
Two thumbs up for Chubby's. I really dug the decor and ambiance. The first thing we heard when we walked in was a little kid say, "I don't like this," to which his mom replied, "Oh no, why??" Kid says back, "I LOVE IT!" Aw. Chubby's. I'm no BBQ connoisseur, but this pulled pork was excellent. Half pound platter for like $13, came with 2 sides (I got the cornbread and mac & cheese, duh), the sauces are AAAAWWESOME, and they serve your beer in mason jars ($3.75 pint of Yuengling). My friend got chili and the pastrami sandwich special. Dangerously delicious. We found that dipping the pulled pork in sauce mixed with cole slaw was yums. Oh, we forgot to ask about Chubby's Challenge, so I called back for the deets. WIthin 1 hour, in one sitting, without bathroom breaks, if you eat two massive sandwiches comprised of 8 half-lb burgers (4 lbs of ground beef) + 8 hot wings + 6 buns + the fixins (cheese, lettuce, whatever else is on there), you win! If successful, you get that meal for free, a Chubby's t-shirt, $100, and probs some weird bragging rights. The meal is $40 if you fail. Now time to compare with Frontier BBQ in Fairfield PA!
(4)Ian K.
Yeah, this place is bad beyond bad. If I could give zero stars I would. We waited 10 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us sitting at a table. The waitresses rotate tables so they have tables spread out all over the restaurant and ours was working the back. This is literal - we didn't even have our drinks and other tables had ordered, received their drinks and eaten - that's how bad our service was. When I found the waitress and asked her where our drinks were, she said she had to get a band-aid and did I want' blood in my drinks. After waiting forever, she then had the nerve to tell us that a burger would take a while to cook while everything else is already ready. I said my son wanted a burger, and sure enough it took a while and wasn't really cooked through, with fries that were end of batch, burnt and cold. No apologies, no attempt at making things right. The barbecue platter of ribs, beef and pork was quite expensive, maybe like $22. Three ribs that were so-so, several very thinly sliced pieces meat on top of a big pile of fatty pork. The sides are served in very tiny styrofoam cups. We had beans and potato salad, both decent. The drinks are served in styrofoam cups too. They have several types of barbecue sauce in squeeze bottles and the containers were really sticky. Ew. The bathrooms are dirtier than a football stadium at halftime. Old, stinky and sticky. The owner - Dr. Smoke - was in the house as well and he walked through oblivious to any issues and when I was talking to the waitress at the counter about our bad service he didn't even look up although he had to have heard the conversation. Do yourself a favor and drive on. It seems like the thrive on one-and-done business, folks driving by looking for a local meal. Any place that allows this kind of service, decor and quality of food, at not really reasonable prices, should be passed up.
(1)Amanda N.
"Bad BBQ is still good, right?" WRONG. Ribs were tough, overcooked and salty. Smelled like horse said bf ted. Brisket was really fatty and tasteless. Both were served room temperature. Beans tasted like fridge. Cornbread was like cake (some would like it if they preferred sweeter, spongy cornbread) I think the manager/chef (they're the same) may be focusing too much on penny pinching instead of quality and good cooking. Serving old food saves money but...it just doesn't taste good. The servers were really nice though!
(2)Laurie B.
PLENTY of food for the money. We got 5meals out of the two we ordered. My only minor complaint is I got 1/2 chicken and some of the white meat was a little dry. But the sauces are delicious, and I would definitely stop here again.
(4)Chuck K.
Great barbeque and lots of it. Waitress Susan was on top of everything and checked frequently.
(4)Carla C.
First plate served was dirty, second plate was soaking wet even the food dish was wet which made the brisket flavor watered down. Server bitched about having yelp discount and refused to let me use the 5% check in discount.
(2)Slap D.
Son and I had the pulled pork sandwich and fries. Packed with meat and liked the choice of sauces. 32 ounce IPA in jar was cool. Overall the food is very good but pricey. The problem...the inside is dirty and needs some work. Bathrooms were discusting. Piss on the floor looks like it has not been cleaned for weeks. I expect this in a trashy bar, but not in a restaurant with food. Makes you think how the kitchen looks.
(3)Some G.
I swung by here a couple of times after it first opened, but stopped going in. The food wasn't bad - I've had better 'cue, and I've had a lot worse - but the atmosphere sucks! The place is pretty shabby, which doesn't bother me, especially for a BBQ joint. But the owner and his wife are total a-holes! Every time I walked in, they were screaming at their staff. The candy racks near the register were covered with signs saying "YOU TOUCH IT, YOU BUY IT!", the wall behind the counter was covered with nasty notes to staff. The last time I was there to get takeout, the cashier ran out the door and chased me down in the parking lot to make sure she'd remembered the sauce - she was clearly terrified. I go to a restaurant to eat, relax, and have a good time - not to be made to feel like I'm guilty of something or watch the staff be mistreated.
(2)Lorilynn R.
Stopped through chubbys and got the ribs, brisket and pulled pork and Ohhh wow...Yummm!! Was not impressed with the first bite of ribs. As I pulled them apart the did get better. They were a bit over cooked but still good. Lots of food for the money. As for as cleanliness the place could use a cleaning for sure.
(4)Thomas C.
Great service. I ordered the brisket and pulled pork with coleslaw and baked beans. Food was amazing. Came out fast. Portion was huge. Couldn't even finish. Will definitely be coming back.
(5)Lulu C.
I'd rather eat at McDonalds than at Chubby's again... If I could give it less than half a star, I would..Ribs were undercooked.. Pulled pork was too dry and barely any flavor... The fries looked like it came from the bottom of the bag, and burnt... The "famous" chili, was like eating a block of salt... The "FAMOUS POTATO SALAD"... They ran out of it! How can you run out of something you are SOOOO famous for?... The brisket had more fat than anything... Absolutely NO TEAMWORK between the servers.. There were empty tables around and one of the servers was talking to someone else instead of helping the other server with her 12-top... The BATHROOM was dirty and ugh... If I see the bathroom like this, I can only imagine what the kitchen is like... This place makes me want to call restaurant rescue, because it is in severe need of some SERIOUS RESCUING...
(1)Chuck B.
Chubby's has always been a favorite of mine. Usually, the food is plentiful, the sides are awesome and the BBQ is terrific...usually. On occasion, it can be a little inconsistent, where the meat is either cooked a little higher temp or the meat has been sitting in a warmer too long, causing occasional toughness. Again, it's usually not this way, but when it's right, the brisket, ribs and pulled pork are very good.
(4)Marlies B.
So disappointed! The burnt ends were flavorless. The sauces just didn't have that barbecue tang. But the fruit flies were abundant all around our table. This will be one place we do not return to.
(1)Jason W.
Very good BBQ. Brisket was a little too fatty for my personal liking, but the ribs were awesome. Definitely worth a short stop if you are passing by Mt. St. Mary's University or through Emmitsburg.
(4)Greg B.
Best brisket I have had outside of Texas!!! Had the Brisket platter with slaw and fries. The fries are seasoned perfectly and they are cooked just right. The slaw was great as well. We tried all of the many sauces they had to offer but they honestly aren't needed. I have always been told in my many years in Texas that sauces are only useful to cover up your shortcomings. There are no shortcomings at Chubby's!!! We even got to chat with Tom, the owner as well as most of his staff. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. Will definitely be going back to try the rest of the great barbecue!!!
(4)Anthony C.
I have been here a few times--it is located on 15, near Ski Liberty, so it would be a perfect stop off after a day on the slopes. Unfortunately it is not that good. I really wish it was. I think it boils down to the meat being very fatty pork and being too greasy overall. It is BBQ that is too dependent on sauce... Good BBQ should be great without any sauce. I love BBQ! I did not grow up with a regional bias-- I'm fine with good barbecue in many styles: Kansas City, Texas, Memphis, Alabama, both NC styles--wet, dry, vinegar, tomato-- and most stuff in between. If it is good, it's good. Chubby's isn't that good...
(2)Matt V.
Went here for dinner on a week night. Got seated quick as things weren't busy. My server was friendly and on top of things. I wanted to eat some pulled pork but they were out! Silver lining is that I know the food is fresh. So I got me some brisket. It was delicious, super moist and full of flavor! I like the sauce selection. One complaint is the mac and cheese. It was not so good. Overall a good bbq joint and I'll be back!
(4)Michael T.
I've been here a couple times now, and make it a point to stop in when I'm around. It's real BBQ cooked by people who understand BBQ. That said, it's never easy to serve real BBQ "on-demand," so if it's a little over done when you get there, that's just how it is. It's still better than what most chains pass off as barbecue. The atmosphere is very causal and my service has always been friendly. The sides are just ok, but you know it's all homemade. It is, as my friend likes to say 'clean for a BBQ place.' You'll pay a little more than you would at Applebee's or whatever, but it's not what I'd call expensive.
(4)James B.
On the side of Rt-15, north of Frederick before the PA state line, I've driven past Chubby's many times. Saturday dinner time, this is my first stop. The feel of the place is like of a mom & pop roadside BBQ restaurant in the south. Not a faux-BBQ chain, this could be in Tennessee or Mississippi, the kind I -really- enjoy. :) It may not impress anyone on "date-night," but this is a good start for me. I've lived in cities with the world's best BBQ (Memphis and Austin) and I admit, I'm a BBQ snob. Some of my BBQ reviews have been deservedly brutal. I ordered the pulled pork and burnt tips combo platter. Never heard of burnt tips? They are boneless rib beef with extra spices and cooking time, often caramelized (though not the case at Chubby's), and common in/around Kansas City. Delicious choices. Expensive, but loaded with meat. I took a box home and made a snack and second meal from it. I preferred the pulled pork, moist and flavorful, but both meats were excellent and reheated well the next day at home. The sides I picked were the classics; slaw & beans. Both were traditional recipes, familiar, "comfort food," and excellent. No bread is provided with the meal (?!), so I ordered cornbread ($1.29 I recall). It was also very good, just sweeter than I prefer. (I do get annoyed seeing bread priced separately that way.) Several sauces (6 or more?) are on the table, traditional styles even a Sriracha sauce. Sample them all, my favorite was the "private reserve." Food was delivered quickly. Service was attentive and the waitress was knowledgeable when asked questions. Other Yelpers complained about restroom cleanliness, but I did not go in one. The dinning room did not strike me as dirty. Overall, a comfortable vibe, very good food albeit expensive, with fast service. Oddly, Yelp offered a 5% discount when I checked in. The waitress didn't appear to recognize it, then checked with management and agreed to apply it, but left the discount off the final bill. Chubby must not get many Yelpers coming through, and it's our loss. I'll be back again.
(4)Tim H.
The service was excellent. I was really impressed with the sausage potatoes. The meat was mostly dry, likely because we closed them out at 8. I liked the pastrami, which was slightly greasy, but worked really well with their kraut. The sides were relatively sweet. Ribs were good overall.
(4)Adam K.
The place to go for MEAT. I was craving some BBQ, and asked some friends about Chubby's. They said it's a great place to go...once a year (hey, it's called "Chubby's," right?). I walked out full, satisfied, and ready for a coma - the good kind. Supposedly, this was President Bush's (W, not the dad) favorite place to order BBQ when he was at Camp David. Pulled pork was delicious and not ground up into a mystery meat consistency. A whole selection of sauces (oh, Chubby's, how did you know I LOVE barbecue sauce?) stack up next to the wall. My only critique is, to be fair, probably a personal preference. But if I want a side of greens, like kale, I want a fresh, vibrant side to give me a break from the ribs and pulled pork loaded with smoky BBQ. I don't want more meat mixed in with, limp, overcooked veggies. I know that many BBQ places do that, but I am oh so impressed when one breaks with tradition. If you want barbecue, this isn't a bad spot to get it. However, if you're watching your wallet and your waistline, I wouldn't drop in too often. Turns out my friends were right about that.
(3)Micah H.
I ordered the chili , but they were out. Then the crab bisque...out of that too. I ordered the 1/2 lb beef brisket platter with green beans and coleslaw. As the reviews state, I can confirm that the service was warm and friendly. My order arrived promptly. The focus seems to be on the different sauces. I thought the 'Old Fashioned' was the better of the 7 offerings. The green beans were good. The coleslaw was interesting...a little spicy but good none the less. Now the beef brisket...it was just ok. It may be kept in a steamer...it looked moist, but tasted a little dry...likely too much steam. I'll give them another opportunity to impress.
(3)H.R. N.
First, the good news. Our server, Janey(sp?), was the most positive thing about this visit. She was helpful, friendly, warm-- everything you'd expect out of a small town, family-run restaurant. She's tried almost everything on the menu and could speak with authority on the merits of many of the items. We came down from a couple days of skiing and ran into what we thought was a godsend. I have a well-documented BBQ fetish, so I was foaming at the mouth upon seeing this hokey, looks-like-it's-about-to-collapse-but-still-very-Âcharming restaurant when we entered Emmitsburg. (Perhaps the hopes I had for it were too high. Hindsight. 20/20.) If our server was the star, the chili came a second-- a distant second, but still silver. They didn't have crackers there, just homemade croutons, which were bitter to me. An avid seafood lover, I ordered the crabcakes. Why I ordered seafood in Emmitsburg is beyond me. But, as you can imagine, 'twas no good. Overcooked and overbreaded. I thought the mash potatoes would save the meal... nope. It was awful and it's rare that I don't finish mash potatoes, but over half of it was still in its little styrofoam container when I walked out the door. And the beef brisket, the highly touted beef brisket... ::smh:: Nice people. They really are. Now if they can only get their food to catch-up.
(1)Brendan F.
I don't even know where to start about this dirty disgusting place . do I start at the drug deals out the back door . Or the rats in the cooler?????
(1)Sean B.
This place was recommended to me by my daughter's English teacher. Services was very nice for me... Quick to get me the menu, polite, and clean all around. Had the fried pickle chips and brisket platter. Brisket wasn't as smokey as I like it, but good quality, nice smoke ring... Overall very good. Sauces were all respectable, pick one according to your heat preference(or do what I did and try em all). Sides were beans (extra good) and collard greens (also quite good). I wouldn't travel miles just to go here. But if I were in the area, I'd make a point to eat there if I could.
(4)Chet C.
I took my family there on a Saturday early evening. I expected a dive and that expectation was satisfied plus some. All five of us had a satisfactory meal. I rate the food good to very good, although it seemed slightly overpriced for a dive. The wait staff was pleasant and efficient. We all noticed a number of flaws mostly in cleanliness. To start the gripes.....the men's room was slightly dirtier than the average outhouse. All of the condiments and sauce containers looked like they should be both updated and cleaned. The linoleum tile floors needed to be cleaned more than once a week and waxed once in a while. Walls were drab and the decor was rather dated and somewhat dingy. Oddly enough the drinking age there is 25, so my 23 year old daughter was denied a beer. If I lived in the area I likely would eat here occasionally, but for me I won't drive out of the way to come back. My wife would not return. She said they need to take care of a lot of details before she would show up again. Too bad. A little TLC and this place could be a gold mine. Good food. Great location. Two stars could be four if they had a new management team.
(2)J W.
The only thing this place has that is positive is the friendly servers. EVERYTHING else is nasty. Meat is greasy, fatty...too small of side dishes. You do not get your money's worth. NEVER AGAIN!!!!! Kind of funny that you never really see the bad reviews on this place. Guess since they are a PAID advertiser........hmmm...
(1)Ale D.
The service was excellent. The place felt a little dirty and the food was just okay and definitely overpriced for the quality.
(3)Chris J.
This is my first time here and I feel my ratings are fair. The decor is clearly that of the 50's and has been amortized dozens of time over. It's dated, but it gives it a certain hole-in-the-wall charm. But alas, when it comes to restaurants, may ratings are mostly influenced by the food, and I have to say that it's kind of average, actually a little below average. Given its location (kind of far out) and close proximity to MSM University it is probably a great destination for MSM students, but I'll take a pass next time I am in the area.
(3)Noel W.
I've been to Chubby's twice now and both times my wife and I left satisfied that we got our barbecue "fix"! Brisket and pulled pork are both tasty and are best washed down with a tall draft beer. And if you like drinkin' your beer from a mason jar, that's even better because a mason jar is what they're gonna give you. =) It's not quite the "to die for" type of barbecue that I've experienced only a couple times in my life, but it sure does the trick. The inside is certainly not immaculate and the service is simply straight up the middle, but it is exactly what you'd expect and frankly what you probably want from a hometown BBQ place. Good food, good beer...A solid "A-OK" suits this place just fine.
(3)Margo R.
Big fan. I had the slaw and beef brisket sandwich and it was deelish. My hubby got the pulled pork and it wasn't quite as succulent as mine. Yumm!!!!
(5)Pat B.
This place is so dirty and is in need of repairs/updates. When we walked in it smelled like sewer, not the aroma of hickory smoked meats. Ordered a combination platter and it was barely edible. There were flies and you know they love to land on the sauce bottles that are sitting on the table all day with the tips exposed. The waitress was friendly and served us what we needed. With an open kitchen you can hear the employees talking and complaining. When I went to the bathroom, I felt like I was in a scene from the movie Saw, got really grossed out.
(1)Sean G.
I want to like this place. I really do. The times I have been here, the food has been good however, the past few times I've visited have been absolutely terrible. Service really needs to improve. In both cases, I arrived about an hour and 15 minutes before they close and both times I am told by a shrill waitress as soon as I walk in the door, "We're closed, didn't you see the sign?! We ran out of food so we are now closed!" The sign she is referring to is a miniscule closed sign in a dirty window. So no, I didn't see it. However, I thought I was good arriving more than an hour before you close that I could get some food, since after all, you run a restaurant and I have money that I would like to spend with you. Yelling at your customers that you are closed until they walk out in bewilderment of what just transpired is a crappy way to run a business. I've worked in the restaurant business and I know how tough it can be. The least you can do is have your one nice waitress who has an ounce of empathy let incoming diners know that you ran out of food and are really sorry for the inconvenience. Yelling at hungry people as they walk through the door is a terrible surprise and doesn't endear you to anyone. Also, if you close at 9 pm, this means you stay open and seat people til 9 pm. This is how it works at every other restaurant in the world. And yes, it sucks when that last table comes in at 8:59 but that's how it goes. There was another time, I drove up with 20 minutes til closing hoping to grab some BBQ to go only to be shooed away along with other potential patrons that you were closing in 20 minutes and were not seating anymore. "But I want to get food to go," I implored. "We're closed," said the waitress. In my mind, I thought, "If you keep this up, you will be." From now on, I will just drive by Chubby's on may way up and down route 15.
(1)David P.
The service: The staff was very friendly, and my two friends and I received great service. I don't see why people thought the place was very dumpy, I thought it was fine (maybe I am a dirty person? But I don't think so). The food: Chubby's has several different types of BBQ sauce, all of which are OK but I preferred the Volcano BBQ sauce the most. I got the pulled pork sandwhich. Servings sizes were adequate and the pork was very tender, not a whole lot of flavor though. With my meal I got the Mac n' Cheese, it was mushy and I didn't like it much but the server took it off my check so we were straight! The Potato Salad was good, but I have had better. Upon leaving the staff was friendly again and thanked us for stopping by. Thanks for the hospitality Chubby's but the food needs a little improvement!
(3)Kat L.
I got the brisket after a long day of skiing. It wasn't smokey, and I had to drown it in sauce to consider it BBQ. The restaurant is FREEZING COLD. They have space heaters everywhere (2 miles from a ski resort) and yet none of them were on. The parking lot wasn't plowed either and I was concerned about getting stuck. Apparently they don't serve any hot drinks either. Our waitress informed me that any hot drinks had to be purchased elsewhere and brought in. WTH. On a positive note they have root beer on tap, and glass bottled nehi, peach, grape... i didnt see what else cause I got grape. After skiing all day you'll wolf down anything to fill your belly, but my hunger did not make it good. Large portions (1/2 lb of brisket), but again, more did not make it better.
(1)Malarie B.
This place looks like shit and I am pretty sure all the servers are on meth and have 3-5 kids a piece. It's in the middle of nowhere and you'd probably drive on by it and not stop. That being said, the food is stellar. There was a special when I went, a smoked pork belly sandwich. Just let that sink in for a moment. Smoked. Pork. Belly. Sandwich. Okay, so you see where I am going in that it is LITERALLY THE BEST THING TO EVER GRACE MY LIPS. I'm not kidding, y'all. I think about this sandwich probably once a day. I don't care that it was easily my entire day's worth of calories/sodium/fat. I really don't. If you ever find yourself up this way, do it. Just do it.
(4)Scott B.
Good Food Good Service Overpriced for its location Funny Story. This is the only place I have ever been were they would not give me a glass of water. They were more than happy to sell me a $2.50 bottle. When I asked about no tap water they said "we have a small well". Yea right.
(3)Michael H.
Zonkers! I wasn't quite sure that this place would be like; it was a bit too close to the main road for my BBQ detector to go off. But the half-rack of ribs more than made up for my reservations. The ribs themselves were a bit more bland than I usually prefer, but they came to life and danced for me when I dipped them into the side sauce. I had never seen rib sauce done that way before, but I'm a convert now. The side of mac and cheese and BBQ beans were tasty, and there was easily enough food left over from my lunch to make for a healthy afternoon snack (or light dinner). I'd happily stop here again. The service was really friendly and "down home", and I felt completely comfortable here.
(5)James B.
Good BBQ and food and good menu, but be warned when you ask for only water they say they only have bottled water and last time I was there a $2.00 charge!! Ripoff! Servers and employees, most of the time I am in there are not always friendly. I will give them another chance and see what happens.
(3)Samiam H.
I stopped in last week and the brisket was not up to usual standard. A bit too fatty for me and too wet. Fries and beans were good and the micro brew on tap was just right for BBQ food. Service was perfunctory.
(3)Shawn M.
This place offers Amazing BBQ and excellent service. I def recommend stopping here. All the servers I've ever experienced are very friendly...southern hospitality.
(5)Chef A.
This is the re-review. Essentially all the same info from the old review plus some new stuff added. (nothing removed) I actually had the same meal this time as last too so it makes things easier for my baseline (not waistline) QUALITY: I went with the beef brisket BBQ (southern style) The fries were cold both times, though this is on account of the distance to the house from Chubby's as I got this carry-out. I did eat some of the fries on the drive home while they were still hot and fresh as I was not driving. These are the type with the skins on. Personally I am not much of a fan on the fries, but I will admit there were a hell of a lot of them. Now for the beef, man, there was so much meat, it was like a mountain of meat. Sadly there was a little too much fat for a beef brisket. And while I understand that you need fat for flavor, there was just a little too much left on there. Sauce was served on the side and I think for a sandwich of this magnitude there should have been more sauce than a small 2oz cup. Putting this aside, the sandwich was top notch and I would not hesitate to eat this beast for a thirds time. QUANTITY: There was so much food. I mean between the fries and the sandwich it was a meal for two people, possible three if they were Filipino. (they don't eat much as big fat Americans do!) There were so many fries, but the sandwich itself was huge. Certainly worth the cost. PRICE: Ok, here's a point to be made. the food really is pretty dam,n good, and the portions are certainly huge, but this all comes at a cost. After being the runner up on the Regis and Kelly Show for best BBQW in the country, local fame from all the food critics, and the local media, the cost reflects this. A BBQ sandwich with fries comes in at $12 w/ tax, minus tip. SERVICE: Fast, considering both times the place was packed. Haven't tries table service, did not call ahead. Will update later with better info if I do decide to dine in. LOCATION: Easily accessible from US-15 at Old Frederick Rd. Easy is, getting out can be rough especially if you need to run down US-15 south as you have to turn right and go north a mile, to do a U-turn. OVERALL: I give this place 3.5 stars, as I think as stated above a few things that struck me off, but I've rounded up as I really do like the food here. Maybe my love of quantity kicks me past quality, though quality is not skimping, too mcuh fat and too little sauce kicks me back just a tad. Still worth the price, I would also suggest trying Corbin's up the road or Blues BBQ in Frederick if $$$ is something you need to concern yourself with. If not, Chubby's is a winner in my book.
(3)Gary C.
Made a special trip for my birthday from West Virginia. Ordered the ribs. As I cut the first rib off the rack I could tell it was over cooked and dry. It was not fall off the bone like most quality BBQ places. I asked the waitress for another rack because only the middle ribs were moist. She was apologetic and brought the ribs back to the kitchen. She brought them back and said the cook said the outer ribs are always dry. Well not at the BBQ places that get my money. I told her they are not acceptable. They did replace it with the pulled pork which was good. My wife ate her ribs because she didn't want to send them back. She said worst ribs she has ever had. I asked to talk to the owner and they said he was not there. Sounds like the staff is not doing what they should be when the boss is away.
(1)Allen B.
Great sauces - very hot! Will return.
(4)Mark B.
After a good day of skiing at Ski Liberty... fresh powder on March 25th... WOO HOO! we stopped by Chubby's for dinner on the way back to VA. And we were not disappointed. Chubby's is all about the BBQ. The place looks like a dive but it's clean so get over it. The sides are ho-hum but that's not what we're here for. It's all about the meat! We tried the pulled pork, brisket, and ribs. The pulled pork is tasty moist chunks, some with the bark, not the pulled or chopped into oblivion that you usually get. The brisket was flavorful and included some of the fat cap. And the ribs had a nice rub crust on them and were juicy inside. Good BBQ doesn't need any sauce, and Chubby's doesn't, but if you like sauce they offered 8 different kinds on our table. We tried (and liked) them all. The Volcano and Old Fashioned were our table's favorites. We washed the meat down with some very good sweet tea and an excellent root beer on tap. The service was fast and our servstress Christine was very friendly and attentive. The only downside was having to drive an hour and a half home in a BBQ coma :)
(5)Mary B.
Pull in and eat for goodness sake! Tender, tasty pulled pork and ribs. And the dessert ... get the butter cake!!! Mac and cheese tasted homemade - not that drippy stuff. Cole slaw had a nice kick to it but I couldn't tell if it was homemade. The butter cake dessert with ice cream, whipped cream and caramel drizzle tastes like what one of your friend's Mom would make for dessert. Only 4 stars bc it needed a bit of a cleaning around the windows by the booth we sat in. I'll be bahck'
(4)Christine R.
I have to agree with a little bit of both reviews below. After a long and exhausting day at Liberty my evil twin and I remembered seeing a mom and pop looking pizza joint off of 140 (I'll review this place in a second) but long story short, we didn't end up eating there. So we're headed home... that is until we turned onto 15 and I spotted Chubby's BBQ! I was excited because I LOVE little bbq places like this - every single one I've ever been to has been a hit for sure. So I busted a U turn and parked. Upon entering we were greeted and told to sit where ever we liked. It was dead, except for one family tucked in the back of the restaurant. We skim the menu and I ordered the pulled pork with two sides and he gets the beef brisket sandwich with fries. My pork was far from pulled. It tasted as another reviewer said "just okay". A bit bland for my taste (probably because it was in hunks and not pulled to let the bbq sauce smother it) and the sides were o-kay. Next to the mac and cheese on the menu read: "So good, you'll be dreaming about it!" - hell yeah sign me up! But it was disappointing. I woofed it all down because I was starving. My sliver of cornbread was so tiny too. I'm all for healthy portions but this was just too damn small for my taste. I didn't see any fly strips! Thank god and had I, I probably would have thought twice about eating here - especially if they were in plain view. Oh and you have to pay for water. They only serve bottled, which I guess is fine especially if their water tastes gross (water snob here). All in all I was craving pizza, that didn't work out, spotted a bbq place, was starving which probably skewed my entire review, visited my mom and she saved the day with a to-go tray of kimbop for me :) Mental note: Probably better off eating at Liberty's tavern.
(2)Erin M.
YUCK! I can't believe how many people said this place was good! Let me start by saying this is NOT southern BBQ!! I am from Georgia and believe me when I say this is nothing like what we serve back home. Ok here's the particulars...pulled pork was bland. I had to drench it in sauce. Also, it's large pieces pulled pork so those of you who like it smaller be warned. The french fries aren't bad and the chili cheese fries were probably the best thing about the place. The burgers have pretty good taste. I gave this place several chances and I was never really impressed. If I were to go again, I'd only order sweet tea and chili cheese fries.
(1)Shannon S.
Riding on Maryland 15? I dare you not to stop! Best BBQ before you hit the Mason-Dixon. You know you are still in the South because Chubby says "Murlund". Highlights include: -Brisket that will make you sing "...Tenderoni you've got to be Spark my nature, sugar fly with me...PYT, Pretty Young Thing" -The Chubby's Challenge--From what I can tell, 16 hamburgers smushed together -Difficult decisions like, should I get the best mac n' cheese I've ever put in my mouth or cornbread that would make me slap my momma, or both? -Celebrity photos from D-List to visitors coming around the corner of Camp David -Draught beers served from apocalypse-sized mason jars
(5)Raul A.
A good friend recommended this place and geez...it just didn't disappoint. I had the BBQ sandwich, sauces were amazing and the sandwich wasn't BIG, it was EPIC. Friendly and fast service complimented the meal. Would love to revisit sometime soon.
(5)D M.
Quality has gone down hill. (May 2013 visit). I had Pork belly which was ok, but lost appetite when I overheard staff talking about leftover dirty dishes from prior night.
(2)Leslie L.
I ate a Chubby's years ago and thought it was awesome, raved about it to friends. So much so that a group of friends were finally convinced to make a 1+ hour trip out there just for the BBQ. Well, disappointed is an understatement. The beef brisket was nothing like I had in the past, there was almost no BBQ\smoke flavor, and is was watery...yuk! I don't like having to put sauce on something to make it taste good, but I tried...and that couldn't save it...I left more than 1/2 the plate and no, I don't want a box to take it home...my dogs deserve better. Also, had the mac & cheese...it was okay, but I only ate half of it...the only thing that hasn't changed were the home made chips and they are still really good. As for BBQ, Famous Daves is 3 miles away from my house and blows Chubby's away. (I hate to say it b/c from my experience years ago...Chubby's would have trumpped Famous Daves and was worth the trip.) They have a new sign and maybe a new owner...I don't know, but the place is not the same. I will never go back...even if I happen to be driving by and I'm really hungry...McDonald's will get my $ over Chubby's in the future.
(1)Lance M.
This was my 5th visit and the BBQ at Chubby's is always as tasty as the first time I stepped foot into this little place. It's a simple facility that cranks out very tasty BBQ - the smell of the smoked meats alone make my mouth water even before stepping foot inside. Well worth stopping if you like BBQ! I'd recommend the pulled pork, brisket & ribs combo - the cornbread is awesome too....
(5)Dave P.
OK. So lets diminish a few misconceptions right out of the gate. To all of the yelpers who complained that this isn't as good as real "southern" BBQ, listen up! Your right, it's better. I have traveled extensively in the south, to include VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, Etc.. First off, you always hear that BBQ in the south is the best. Well guess what? Horseshit! That's not to say I haven't run across a few OK joints, but for the most part, you can keep that shit. And for everyone that complained that the pulled pork meat was "too big", grow up and realize that you don't have to chop it up like fine coffee grounds for it to be enjoyable.... Now, if you can read and I assume you can, then you will know the owner is from Texas. Everything is bigger in Texas, as well as a little different. I had the pulled pork sandwich with fries. Yes the pulled pork was huge and there was a ton of it on the bun. It also had a really nice pink smoke ring, however, the smoke flavor was not too prevalent. When you walk in to the place, it looks like the interior decorator and maid left about 25 years ago. No worries though, keep your eye on the prize. Chubbys has about six different sauces on the table for you to try. I tried them all and I have to give the good ole boys in the south one leg up here. I love a vinegar and ketchup base sauce, and they don't really have that here. I did sample every sauce and they were all OK, just not what I was looking for. And oh yeah, for everyone that complained about the sauce, did you go there for the sauce? Go get yourself a bottle of Baby Rays and drink it so maybe you can be happy. So the skinny is this. Two tasty pulled pork sandwiches, two orders of fries, and two teas came to $27 plus tip. My server was friendly and helpful so she added another $4 to the bill for her tip. Decent place to find in Maryland. I will return to try the ribs and maybe the brisket. If you think the best BBQ in the world is in the south, go back there and get it.
(3)Dave C.
Not bad the food is better than the place looks. I had some sort of platter that must have had two pounds of meat on it. Very good and the side were excellent, I had the Mac and cheese and beans. My wife was not as fond of her ribs but what does she know they tasted good to me! Service was quick and the waitress was very friendly. We had the Gooey Cake for dessert and it was the bomb. The desert was 5 stars!
(3)Steve P.
Was on the cycle coming back from a nice ride and saw a pig holding a plate of ribs on the sign ahead of me. Any place that advertises cannibalism in any form is good enough for me. Kinda like that far side comic where the cow is cooking the burgers. I swung in and the place was very empty, only 1 other person eating at a table in the corner. Rather dark and dingy look to it with floor tiles that were lifted in some spots, and water marks on the ceiling tiles. However I don't knock points for the look, so long as they serve me decent food. I decided to settle for the pulled pork bbq sandwich and a side of fries and a drink. I can say for what I ordered the bill was a tad high, 13 dollars. Ouch! I mean I know it takes awhile to make, but you aren't exactly serving filet mignon either. Given how empty the place was, the food came out pretty quickly. Fries were good, sandwich was alright but could have used a little more bbq sauce, and luckily the refills were free. I enjoyed eating it, just felt everything was priced a bit much for me.
(3)Brandon H.
On the way back from a business trip to Harrisburg I spot this bbq place on the side of US-15. Since I was going 55 at the time I missed the turn, but, being a little hungry and never wanting to turn down some 'cue, I turned around at the next intersection. A soon as I got there were signs it was going to be good: wood piled in the front, a little run down, smoke pouring out the top. I sat at the bar and only there was only one other table for three waitresses, so the service was great. I got the pulled pork and beef brisket, my two test meats for a barbecue place. Both were very well done with a good smoke flavor that so most of the bbq places in the DC area sorely lack. All three of the sauces were great, as was the potato salad. The collard greens were hands down the best greens I have ever had. They were sweet and perfectly cooked with beets. This is the best barbecue I have had this far north by far and would even do the hour and fifteen minute drive just to eat here. If you're not crazy enough to make the trip just for the food, it is on the way to the Gettysburg and there are several farmers markets in the area.
(5)Judy T.
I like this place. Not at all fancy. I get the ribs without any sauce and add the sauce from the bottles on the table. That way I can just add a little bit and still taste the meat.
(4)Tony M.
On my way back from snowboarding for only the 2nd time ever I had a sore, wet ass and needed something to eat. I spotted Chubby's just as I turned onto Rte. 15. I sat down and was told to sit wherever. A waitress came up and asked if I had been there before. "Nope." She matter of fact explained that "WE DO NOT DO ANY SUBSTITUTIONS." I was a little taken back since I didn't even ask about substitutions. I hadn't even seen the menu yet. Then I was informed they only served bottled water. Ok, I'll make do I guess. But I didn't like it. Especially not at 1.99. So I ordered the cream of crab soup and the BBQ platter. The soup was good. The ribs and chicken were good. The pulled pork was just ok. It really was just like chunks of rib meat pulled off the bone. Mac and Cheese average as well as the cole slaw. I probably enjoyed the chicken the best. I also enjoyed the vinegar with tomato type sauce that they had on the table. That was a good compliment to the pork. Overall, the food was pretty good. And after the initial abrasiveness, my server's mood seemed to get a little better. But she really failed to make me feel welcome when I sat down, and that's where service really counts. But I probably wouldn't hit up Chubby's again. Primarily because of price and policies. I have no problem paying 22.00 for a good BBQ platter, and it was pretty good. What I do have a problem with is having to pay 1.99 for water and an extra .25 for my takeout container. Talk about nickel and diming. It should really be illegal to not offer complimentary tap water to your customers. Even if the food was great I would be upset at the water thing. Overall, a cup of soup, water, platter, fair tip and don't forget the takeout container set me back 40.00. The food didn't quite warrant that. I would possibly stop back for a sandwich but I wouldn't order a full meal again.
(2)Abbey H.
I'm going to have to give up on this place altogether after several years. The first several times I went on past years, service was good, food was great. But my last two experiences were awful. The first time I brought in about 20 people in the middle of winter. Closing time was 8 pm - we were all there by 6 pm. However, the waitress was very irritated that we were there at all, wouldn't substitute even sides , rushed us out the door and blamed it all on an invisible cook. However, the fpod was still very good. The last time I went, just a few days ago, was the last straw. Service was good, but the food was dry, tasteless, and had all four of us in various stages of digestive discomfort during the remainder of the night. Sadly, another formerly wonderful independent restaurant that has decided to coast on its former reputation rather than living up to it. I won't be stopping again.
(2)Lars D.
Sorry for a "Meh. I've experienced better" review, but the truth is, I have and for much less. For years I have been driving past Chubby's on the way back from Upstate NY to DC. A friend recommended Chubby's and several weeks ago, I stopped in for the first time and had an excellent Brisket sandwich for $10.99. Excellent, but way over priced. Yesterday stopped by and had the Pork BBQ and it was just OK. Many very well well done, burnt and hard to chew chunks in the sandwich. I have had much better Barbeque Pork in the DC area.......Carolina Brothers in Ashburn and Pork Barrel BBQ in Del Ray/Alexandria, VA. Yesterday's experience was enough to know that I will not go back again.
(2)N M.
My experience is a bit weird because I thought the meats were incredibly good, but the service really leaves something to be desired. The location is right off of route-15, and it's easy to miss if you are driving fast. Food: I ordered beef brisket, and it was excellent. The beef was perfectly cooked and tasted very good. Some of my friends ordered pork and other meats - and they were all quite happy as well. Some of the sides are so-so (like the green beans or the collard greens) but other sides are very good (like corn bread, fried zuccini sticks and jalapeno poppers). The sauces are above average (the dipping jelly they gave with the jalapeno poppers was excellent). They have a decent selection of desserts also. Service: Considering that we were a large group of people, who had called ahead, they shouldn't have behaved as off-handedly as they did. When the dining was done, the waitress came and announced loudly that they had assessed such and such a dollar amount as the gratuity and we should figure out how we want to split it but we should make sure to leave that much as tip. May be the wait-staff were having a bad day.. who knows. Overall: If you are someone who cares about the manners of the wait-staff, you may not like this place so much. If you don't care about waiters but focus purely on the meats, then this place is worth visiting because the meats are excellent. It's also not too pricey, so that's a plus.
(4)Matthew W.
Delicious! Corn bread to is die for! Love it. Great slaw and bbq brisket!!!!!
(5)Cassandra B.
Chubbys is our family's favorite - if it's a birthday or special occasion we go to Chubbys! Not fancy, a true "dive" but that adds to the charm. The bacon cheese burger is insanely good but be prepared with extra napkins, so juicy it drips down your arms. The BBQ, Brisket, Corned Beef - yum! My absolutely favorite thing at Chubbys is the cornbread, we call it corncake! Come as you are and come often, you'll love it!
(5)Chauncéa C.
The barbeque is absolutely yummy!! Signature sauces, the delicious and moist cornbread - if you are ever in the area, this a stop you must take and won't regret. A bonus to this experience is that the owners are kind, welcoming and will make you feel like a part of the Chubby's Barbeque family - enjoy, one visit and you'll be apart of the Chubby's BBQ family for life!
(5)Susan H.
A family friend had stopped at Chubby's and said it was pretty good. So.... we decided to stop for a snack to check it out for ourselves. If you went on outside appearances, you would probably turn around and keep driving. Can't say there was much improvement on the interior appearance either. But....we were going for the bq and not the ambience. There were 6 in our party. We were seated in the back area where there are a couple of large tables. They say first impressions count and I can honestly say my first impression was not a good one. As we sat down, we immediately noticed two fly strips hanging from the ceiling. At least there were no dead flys stuck to them. Didn't encounter any flys while we ate either. Definite plus! Okay onto the food. They offered a bq beef brisket or a pulled pork sandwich served with fries for $9.99. For a couple dollars more you could get a brisket or pulled pork plate with your choice of 2 sides. My husband and I decided to share the bq beef brisket plate. I can't recall all the various sides they offered, but we chose the mac and cheese and home style potatoes. (Hubby must have been into starch that day) The brisket was flavorful, tender and moist. Plus you had your choice of several bq sauces to accompany the meat. We liked the original bq sauce. The mac and cheese was homemade, not the stuff you get out of a box. The potatoes were cooked with sausage and onions (yumm). If ever in the area again, I would definitely go back. The waitress did comment that they don't get many locals, mostly tourists driving though so I guess we fit into that category.
(4)Hannah M.
This restaurant was recommended to us but, unfortunately, it wasn't good. They have a sign that says good food isn't cheap and cheap food isn't good. This was neither. We've had much better and less expensive BBQ at Black Hog & even Famous Dave's. There were 4 of us and no one liked their meal. The BBQ chicken was dry. The mac & cheese tasted like it came out of a box. The pulled pork and brisket were tasteless. The french fries weren't good either. The baked beans weren't bad though. To top things off, we had a Restaurant.com gift certificate for $25 which says 18% gratuity is added. We don't have a problem with that but our server told us that the 18% goes to the management and any additional we add will go to her. That's just wrong. The management gets their income from the high food prices and very low overhead. The gratuity should go to the server! I would have given 2 stars except Chubby's gratuity policy made us mad! We won't be back.
(1)Gretchen D.
A friend of mine had recommended this place, and since I love BBQ - okay, food in general - I just had to try it out. Turns out, I should have side-stepped this little venture. I'll start with the overall atmosphere itself: Now, I am no diva, and I've certainly eaten in my share of so-called 'dives', but seriously, I don't consider fly strips to be a form of 'interior decoration'. Let's move on, shall we? The BBQ Sauces: They use beer six-pack holders as BBQ sauce containers; though not all the tables had all the choices, so feel free to introduce yourself to your neighboring table to get whatever sauce you might be missing. But honestly, I just didn't think the sauces were all that. The 'Classic Sauce' wasn't anything you couldn't find at any other joint, or even out of a decent bottle, these days! The Meat: It was simply okay. Not stellar, not horrible. However, I wanted my pulled pork sandwich to actually have PULLED PORK. Instead there were hunks of pork in it, and I ended up using two forks to finish the job at the table myself. That was the only way to get the BBQ sauce really distributed into the meat. On the positive side, they give you a lot of this 'just okay meat', so you'll have leftovers! The Sides: The cornbread was crumbly, and not in a good way. I don't know why people were fussing over it. I've had better at the Whole Foods salad bar! The sauerkraut had to have been sitting on the stove all day because it was overdone, soggy, and had NO TASTE whatsoever. The mac n' cheese was a light yellow curdled mess. Thumbs up on the beach fries, though. In general on the side dishes...well, I'll just assume the people who were raving about these sides never had the homemade goodness I grew up with. Sorry to go on and on, but Chubby's is just not a 'destination' BBQ joint. If you happen to pass by, and you're seriously hungry... No...! JUST KEEP GOING! I know there's better further up the road. I read one review online elsewhere, and it said that Chubby's was 'hit or miss' with their food. Sorry, but I'd suggest you miss it altogether!
(1)Jon V.
i have been all over this country, on two wheels and four. And BBQ is what i live for. Chubbys is by far, one of, if not the best "Q" I have ever had. I drive down from NH a couple of times a year and this place is a must for me. The ribs, brisket, pulled pork ... all are excellent. The sides and corn bread too. And to complete the deal, the last few times, my waitress was smoking hot
(5)Greg H.
Good BBQ, but not great. Kind of shabby interior. The prices are good. I have only tried the BBQ, so I don't know about the rest of the menu. The side dishes that come with the BBQ are mediocre. The service is OK. But its the only BBQ place we have near Thurmont, so I end up going there every other month or so.
(3)Dan C.
We stopped by here on our way back from Gettysburg on a whim. My g/f and I do have soft spots in our heart for random roadside BBQ, and this place didn't let us down. Ordered the pulled pork and pit beef plates (pit beef is a MD specialty, for those for those not in the area). Meat was tasty and cooked well, and the baked beans that I ordered on the side were extremely tasty. If you're randomly on Route 15 and have a meat craving, definitely worth a stop.
(4)Amy G.
I can't imagine how this place has not be reviewed a thousand times. It is one of the top 5 BBQ joints I've visited - and I llllllloooooovvvvveee BBQ. This is nice and rustic - but not seedy. From the side of the road, this looks like a little, time distressed building. In side, you'll find simple furnishings - mostly booths with some tables. There is a counter where you'll often see a line of people ordering takeout. This is real BBQ - the stacks of wood can been seen outside. So if you're looking for some sticky sweet pile of meat or something that tastes like a "manwich" you have come to the wrong place. The amount of food is generous. The burgers are as good as the BBQ sandwiches. The sides are great - good baked beans and coleslaw. You'll find about 5-6 sticky bottles of various types of sauce that you can use to "pimp" your BBQ sandwiches. I also like the sauces on my burgers and fries. I also found their chili to be pretty good - but I'd rather save space for the BBQ and burgers. The home made potato chips are usually a huge hit - only occasionally are they sub par. The prices are just a little high - but the food is really, really good. A huge glass of sweet tea or one of their bottles of old fashioned "gourmet" sodas really rounds out the meal. Service is usually good, but can get slow on really busy days. Summertime warning - this place doesn't really do air conditioning. I think there are a few window units, but if you're there on a really, really hot day be prepared to sweat. The smell of wood smoke before you even enter the building is enough to make you drool.
(5)Frank W.
Still Chubby's has not lost it rustic "charme" and will I drive for hours to get some of that pulled pork BBQ.
(4)April G.
We stopped at this place on our way to PA. We almost passed by it. Thank goodness we didn't! We ordered a platter of ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. We had fun trying all the different BBQ sauces. Our favorite sause was the Hallelujah sauce. We also ordered a Louisiana hot link. Although we really didn't like the hot link, we did like the fresh cut fries that came with it. The BBQ platter was tender and tasty. This is a great place to go when you are craving good BBQ. One of their signs reads so true. "Great food ain't cheap!....Cheap food ain't great! I'll pay for great food any day.
(5)Barry S.
Our BBQ was fatty and the sides were so-so. I saw that this was listed in some BBQ book so I had high hopes but really, really was disappointed. There are so many other great options around here ... even as close as Frederick.
(2)Tom L.
Wanted to like this place - I really did. Let me start out by saying hole-in-the-wall BBQ joints don't scare me, but this place was just downright DIRTY. That can be excused if the food is other-worldly, but this food was mediocrity on a plate - bland pulled pork and even blander brisket. Sides were more of the same. We didn't like it, but the flies sure did! We spent most of the meal shooing them away from our food, so if you don't like flies, this is not your place. The owner is a gregarious guy who talked our ears off even after we showed disinterest. Chubby or whatever your name is - we're here to eat some Q, not make a new best friend for life. The one positive was they did have sodas in glass bottles, but other than that the best part of this joint was seeing it in my rear-view mirror when we drove away.
(1)Robby T.
Let me start out by saying that I really wanted to like this place, since I live about 10 minutes away, but I just couldn't. Also, let me emphasize that I am from Georgia, so my idea of BBQ leans toward pit BBQ. The smoke taste is a must for me and Chubbys doesn't deliver. Some of my favorite dishes were badly misrepresented. The bad! 1. Brisket - It is sliced thin and tender, but it is VERY bland. I had to drench it in sauce to get it down. 2. Pulled Pork - This is some of the worst I have had. It is not very finely shredded and is too "mushy." The predominant taste is grease! 3. Service - It is not consistent and leans toward bad! Out of three vists I only had acceptable service once. The good! 1. Excellent chili cheese fries! The chili is pretty darned good and the fries are always cooked perfectly. 2. Ribs - They weren't the meatiest or the best I have had, but the dry rub flavor came through nicely. If I go back I'll probably order these. I hate to give bad reviews, but this play is WAY overhyped. I'd take Famous Daves over this place ANY day!
(2)Dave K.
Stopped at Chubby's on a whim heading south on 15 late Thursday afternoon. We weren't sure if the place was even open as there were relatively no cars in the lot, and no smoke to be seen. The place looked pretty run down, and we thought the better of it and left. Next day at work around DC we asked someone if they ever heard of it, as they were from the Frederick area. They said it was fantastic, we'd be stupid if we didn't stop. Figured better to stop than be stupid. So my fellow super-carnivore and I stopped in. We sat a table under the autographed picture of some actor I recognized, but couldn't tell you who he is, or why the hell he'd be driving down Route 15 in MD, but hey, our server came over, Renee, and took our drink orders. She had the most soothing southern accent we had ever heard. We think that if she went to Washington, so could get those boys to get along down there and fix the budget in a matter of hours, but I digress. We ordered the fried green beans as an app. They were wonderful. Of course you can fry pretty much anything and serve it, but these had a good taste, the batter was different, and the dipping sauce was nice and tangy. Ordered a 32 oz. Frederick Brewing Co. beer since I wasn't driving, and it came out in a Mason jar. I just loved that touch. Beer was good. I ordered the brisket and baby back combo with the slow-cooked baked beans and some sort of potato concoction as sides. The brisket had a nice smoky taste to it. A little fatty for me, but not bad. The sauces were excellent, Renee suggested the "Hot" and I think having tried them all she was right on. The ribs were excellent. Pulled right off the bone, moist, smoky and tasty. Dipped them too. Very good. Nice crisp on the outside. Very good ribs. My buddy got the pork belly, which neither of us had ever eaten. Went off the charts with that order. Glad we did. Looked like thick bacon. Renee explained that's where the cut comes from, same place as bacon. Nice smoky flavor. It was really good. He got their potato salad, and seeing as my mom makes the greatest potato salad on earth, I am quite the connisseur, it was VERY good for restaurant potato salad. The beans may have been the best I have ever had. Some pulled pork in them, onions, tangy. Delicious. The potato concoction on the otherhand, greasy, kinda bland, could have been canned potatoes, I don't know. Left them. The portions were excellent. We were completely gorged when we left. The prices are rather high for a hole-in-the-wall on a state highway in northern MD, but worth it. Renee was delightful, the food was very, very good. I will definitely be stopping in again.
(4)D H.
What has happened to Chubby's? I used to enjoy stopping there on my way home from visiting family to get some carry out for dinner. The food was always consistently good not great. I stopped the other day to pick some food up and was shocked at how far downhill this place has gone. The brisket and pulled pork were ok. Not smoky enough for me and lacking dry rub flavor. Now to the sides. The mashed potatoes were some of the worst I have ever had. They used to be pretty good, but the batch I received tasted like wallpaper paste. The gravy tasted like cheap stuff from a jar. I could not even eat them. The baked beans are the best side they offer. Full of bits of pulled pork. I don't even get the mac & cheese anymore because it is just not that good. Now the cornbread. I ordered a piece of it for $1.50 and it was about 1 inch by 1 inch, no joke! Lastly, I wanted a soda for the ride so I grabbed an 8 oz. not 12 oz. bottle of Dr. Pepper. I was charged $2.50 for an 8 oz. soda. Are you kidding me!! That was a total ripoff. Overall, if this is the quality that Chubby's has become, I will have to keep on driving next time. Not worth the prices that they charge.
(2)Shayron B.
If I had to define this place in one word, the word I would choose would be DIRTY. We called yesterday to inquire about catering and the fellow told us to call back at 5pm. Instead, we decided to dine in and figured we'd talk with someone (since as the girl who answered put it "I don't know nothing about catering). We decided to give it a go despite the obvious lack of care for the restaurant (FILTHY floors, dead flies on our table, flies flying around everywhere, boxes piled up against walls, tables full of old food/drinks that were not cleared off the entire time we were there, no silverware because "we are washing it" (no more than 12 people in the place). The brisket was ok, a little on the fatty side but seriously, who wants to use bbq sauce bottles that look like they haven't been washed since the place opened?? There was enough "Juice" on my plate to make a soup. The baked beans were average, the pulled pork was fatty too. My daughter's hotdog was burnt to hell and so were the fries. The service? Well, homeboy behind the counter (the cook?) he was busy trying to get some girls number when we arrived so he told us to seat ourselves "whereeva and somebody be wit ya" and the other two girls, they were very friendly and tried their best. Our waitress (very skinny w/black nikes) she was super nice, she did her best. Did we talk with someone about catering? Hell No, we will never go back. I guess since this place is so far on the edge of Frederick the health inspector doesn't bother! If this place was in Montgomery County, it would be closed.
(1)Gary D.
I'm relatively new to the restaurant reviews, but having said that I stopped at Chubby's Barbeque and was very pleasantly surprised. I've always liked BBQ and I now plan to stop at more roadside places. I had the pulled pork, baked beans, and their potato salad with sweet tea. The pork was fantastic and moist. The potato salad had great flavor with the predominant other vegetable being the celery with a hint of maybe old bay. Made with skinned potatoes I would do a return visit.. I realize that potato salad is different everywhere you go and it's mostly a personal preference but I really liked this. The beans were very good and had a great southern flavor. Portions were good and the tea was good but a little extra sweet. Not a problem with me but some may want to ask for extra ice to water it down a little. Oh, and the servers were very friendly. I over heard the table next to us as well as the different server I had. Overall I would give it another visit when I'm in the area. Try the fried green beans. I must admit I've never tried these before and was very impressed. The dip with them was superb. I plan to be in TN. in a few weeks and expect to check out at least one of their barbeque places. I'm really looking forward to that now after this visit.
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