Leatha’s Bar-B-Que Inn
6374 U S Hwy 98, Hattiesburg, MS, 39402
Leatha’s Bar-B-Que Inn Menu
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Leatha's Wood Grilled Steaks
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Main
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Leatha's Sides
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Desserts
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Beverages
Healthy Meal suggestions for Leatha’s Bar-B-Que Inn
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Leatha's Wood Grilled Steaks
-
Main
-
Leatha's Sides
-
Desserts
-
Beverages
Visit below restaurant in Hattiesburg for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Hattiesburg for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
6374 U S Hwy 98
Hattiesburg, MS, 39402 - Phone (601) 271-6003
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :Closed
- Mon : Closed
Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Ben B.
This place is not at all what it's pumped up to be. Before I came to Hattiesburg I was constantly told this was the place to end all places (ok, exaggerating a little). No matter, it's good, but I've made better. If you're going to smoke, make the flavor go through out. Their smoke flavor only goes the first half inch of the roast, the rest is just cooked. I started to think they parboil before putting in the grill, I can't confirm but I can't help but wonder. The sauce, HEAVY on brown sugar, could make lollipops out of the stuff. It was tasty, but it's merely a tool to cover up the lack of pork ands smoke flavor. I'm one and done here.
(2)Dean S.
Found Leatha's on Yelp on way through Hattiesburg to Jackson. All I can say is DO NOT MISS this gem! The portions are big. My big football player couldn't finish the ribs. Sweet family service. We will be back!
(5)Natasha K.
Excellent food! The staff is friendly, they provide good portions for decent prices. The place is a little hidden, but a great gem for traditional southern BBQ! The beef I got was so succulent it melted in my mouth. Mmm.
(5)Twice B.
It has been a while since I last visited Leatha's but yesterday my husband wanted some barbecue and we thought of Leatha's. Went there to witness its rustic charm a little off hwy 98. You have to be careful because you might miss it if you are not looking out for it. It was not very busy and we were immediately seated at a large table and provided with menus. After looking at everything offered, we decided on the Leatha's special, a four meat and four sides special. My husband made a point of asking if that was enough food for three people and we were told yes, it was. Drinks were provided quickly. The waitresses were very polite and attentive. It took a while for the food to come but the slaw and potato salad were provided in advance with a couple of side bowls, in case we wanted to share. The food, when it arrived, looked pretty good, though those were the smallest half chickens I have ever seen! Loved the chicken, the pulled pork and the ribs that we slathered with the sauce provided in a cup on the side. Only two rolls were provided so my husband asked for one more. We ate and loved what we ate. This was great, and the price was reasonable for the amount of food provided. Liked the baked beans, and the fried potatoes but not so much the potato salad or the slaw. Too mustardy for us. Finally came time for us to pay and leave. We had enough food left over to get a to-go box. My husband came back from paying and did not look at all happy. Evidently, in addition to the food, we had been charged $7.50 twice for the two extra plates (empty) we had asked for to share the meal. It suddenly tasted like ashes in my mouth. We paid enough to almost pay for separate meals for each of us with lots of left overs. No one had apprised us of the fact that there would be a steep surcharge for us wanting two extra empty plates! Thats what really annoyed me the most. Given the option, we would have ordered differently, had we been told about the surcharge for sharing. I know I'm never going back there again. This is the kind of thing that really ticks me off. Now I remember why it has been so long since we were at Leatha's last.
(3)John W.
wonderful BBQ. I had the 4 meat plate. it tasted wonderful and the pork ribs were the best! the plate is served with two large sides, rolls, and a pitcher of sauce. the sauce is like syrup. the potato salad is very mustardy -- as is the secret cole slaw. the staff is very friendly.
(5)Mike M.
I realize that this place is very well known and has been in business for decades. My opinion is that its reputation exceeds reality. This week I had the pulled pork sandwich plate for lunch. I thought the pork was very basic in taste. Their sauce is extremely sweet. Too much so for me. I also had their beans and slaw. Both were 3's but the pulled pork was a 2. Service was average. I have also had their chicken before and wasn't impressed. Perhaps their ribs are good however I am not a big rib fan. Also they do not serve any brisket here. I am sorry but I have had far better bbq from many other places. Perhaps years ago it was better but my experiences leave a lot to be desired.
(2)Michael E.
Solid BBQ spot in Hattiesburg. It should be noted I'm more of a dry rub kinda guy, but there isn't much to complain about at Leathas. The restaurant is exactly what you would want a down-home BBQ joint to look like and the staff couldn't be nicer. I got the mixed ribs and truth be told it was too much food, but I ate it all. Meat was fall off the bone tender. Beans were also spot on, but I could have done without the cole slaw as it was simply mixed with honey mustard. It's a local joint and this time the locals don't love it because it's the only option....they love it cuz its good! Go and check it out...you will be glad you did.
(4)Chuck R.
This was my first visit to Leatha's but it won't be my last! I ordered the Lunchtime Small Portion Beef Rib Plate($13.99) with potato salad, baked beans, pecan pie and sweet tea. The beef ribs were excellent and very sweet. The potato salad was delicious. The baked beans were average. The pecan pie was excellent as well($4.00). Servers kept my large glass of tea full but I was disappointed that Leatha's does not serve coffee which would have been great with that pecan pie! This "Lunchtime Special" cost me a few pennies short of $20 not including tip. For a senior citizen that is steep for lunch but I certainly would be willing to do it again!
(3)Glenn G.
We stopped at Leatha's on our way back from the beach. Based upon the 5 star reviews we were looking forward to a great meal. However we had 2 star experience. The ribs were adequate at best, over cooked till the wouldn't hold a bone. The sauce was good at first taste but was so sweet it was unpalatable after the first couple bites. The fried potatoes were extremely greasy which means the oils not hot enough. Slaw was bland and the pulled pork was so fatty to be inedible. My son loved the half chicken and the ladies serving and taking orders were very nice. However, I can't recommend the food to anyone, too greasy, too sweet, no spice, not enough salt. Below average restaurant at best. Sorry, I really wanted to like this place, kind of had a little bit of the original Dreamland in Tuscaloosa vibe, kitschy cool, but the food really let it down big time.
(2)Ryan R.
I love Leatha's. Every time I come to see my grandparents, I stop by Leatha's - usually on the way in BEFORE giving my grandma a hug. It's that good. Pork ribs with baked beans and fries are my go to. I wish I could tell you what else is good on the menu, but the ribs are so good I can never bring myself to get something else when I know how incredible the ribs are. Seriously, best I've ever had! I did get there a bit late on day and they were out of pork ribs, so I went for beef. Also delicious.
(5)Nguyen L.
Very nice people. Excellent ribs and even better sauce. The steak is excellent also. The potato salad and fries are also good. As is the mustard-based coleslaw.And so is the tea. U pretty much can't go wrong with anything you order. Open Tues.-Sat. But allow private parties on Sun. And Mon.
(3)Mike C.
I haven't been to Hattiesburg in over 20 years, but last weekend we took the RV out for a quick spin and headed to Picayune and then Hattiesburg for a quick day trip. We didn't arrive in town until 2:00 PM and were ready to eat lunch. I pulled out my phone, clicked on the Yelp app and filtered out the top rated restaurants. Low and behold, Leatha's was the top rated pick so we opted to give it a try. The address is correct in Yelp, however, the map location is not correct. The restaurant sits way back off the highway, so it's easy to miss if you are not paying attention to the signage on Hwy 98. Anyway, we found the place with not too much trouble and there was plenty of room for RV parking off to the side of the restaurant. The building itself is very unassuming, but in a cool, rustic kind of way. And you can see the small smokehouse outside the restaurant where "all the magic happens". When we walked in, we noticed that there were plenty of picnic style tables setup and the floors were unfinished plywood; all of which added to the rustic charm. We were immediately greeted by our server Glenda, who was the nicest and most attentive server ever. She introduced us to Ms. Leatha's 2 daughters that run the place now that she has passed away. However, Ms. Leatha's picture resides on the wall right above the entrance to the kitchen as a reminder of her legacy. We were told that only her daughters have the recipe to her secret BBQ sauce. Now to the food. My wife and I split the four meat plate, which included a 1/4 chicken, pulled pork, pork ribs and beef ribs. The chicken was super juicy and cooked to perfection. The skin was slightly crisped with a deep smoky flavor. The generous serving of pulled pork was so tender that a simple stab with the fork shredded it up one bite at a time. The pork ribs were as tender as I imagined and fell off the bone as soon as you bit into them. However, it was the beef ribs that truly one me over and made me such a huge fan. I've eaten a lot of BBQ, and some places just don't know how to cook beef ribs as I've had then served tough and sometimes rubbery. However, Leatha's beef ribs (served off the bone) are just as tender as the pulled pork and they melted in your mouth. I would have liked to gnaw on a beef bone, but these are the best beef ribs I've ever had. All of Leathas's BBQ is served with their secret sauce on the side. And when I say on the side, I mean we got a mug and a small pitcher of BBQ sauce along with a platter of delicious hot rolls. The sauce has just the right blend of sweet/vinegar/tangy flavor that is best kept a secret. For those who don't like BBQ sauce, the smoked flavor from Leatha's smoker is delicious all on its own. However, I'm a "saucy" guy and poured it on thick. The potato salad was ok and featured huge chunks of potatoes mixed throughout. It definitely had a little bit of a mustard aftertaste with it though. The cole slaw was just ok and also had a pronounced "mustardy" taste as well. I'm not a huge mustard guy, so I thought these sides were just ok. However, the baked beans were delicious and had a pronounced BBQ/brown sugar sweetness that I would definitely recommend. This place is very kid friendly and they encouraged my picture taking, which I politely asked before proceeding. All in all, we left very happy and very full.
(4)Jamie G.
Writing as we grub. So far so grrreat! Very welcoming and friendly staff and they have sweet tea! Mmm. To start, coleslaw and potato salad. I don't even like coleslaw, but this has some schmancy secret ingredient and it's superb! If you like the goodness of a traditional deviled egg then you'll LOVE their potato salad. Next up, 4 meat plate: pork ribs, pulled pork, beef, chicken. Whoa. Pork ribs and beef were our favorites. Hands down. Could have easily fed four. Also noshed on baked beans and BBQ sauce. Sauce is sweeter and not as tangy-spicy as a Texas BBQ sauce, but it's just as delicious! Total bill: $33.12 First Mississippi BBQ experience with my favorite plus one and a Polaroid camera: priceless!
(5)Ash S.
Very delicious. The pork ribs literally fell off of the bone!!! They were extremely tender. I personally didn't care for the barbecue sauce because I'm not a sweet sauce fan, however everyone else in our party loved it. Barbecue beans were ok nothing noteworthy, but I really enjoyed the fried potatoes. They were new potatoes cut up and fried. Sometimes it's difficult to get them all the way done in the middle, these were spot on! All in all this was really good restaurant. Our waitress was the late Leatha's daughter and she had an amazing memory. She remembered all of our orders without writing a thing down (We had 13 of us so it was quite impressive!) and didn't get our order wrong at all. Worth a visit if you're on Hattiesburg.
(4)Mary France's N.
I am in Hattiesburg twice a year and this is the first place I come. I like to hear "Hey honey, nice to see you back." They always ask about Atlanta and how are things going with me. Now on to the food. The only thing I have had that I really don't care for is the slaw, everything else is the bomb. The ribs are fall off the bone and tender. The pulled pork is out of this world! The potato salad is just like my mom's! This place does not look like a palace, inside or out. But it does deliver when it comes to the food. A MUST when you are in Hattiesburg!
(5)Brenda G.
So this little shack on 98 out of Hattiesburg is unassuming and service is slow. But if your looking for the Real Deal. This is your BBQ joint. We shared the Jumbo Plate of Pork Ribs Beef Ribs and Pulled Pork. Everything was delicious. I have heard the Pecan Pie is awesome but they didn't make it today. Sadly I will have to wait until my next trip thru Hattiesburg to try it. Can't wait!
(5)Colby W.
I've always been a fan of Gates new in Kansas city but this place could give it a run for its money. Great food and and amazing slaw. I will be coming back!.
(5)Anthony S.
This restaurant is exactly what I think of when I think smokey bbq. Shed appearance on the outside with plywood floors on the inside. Just looking at the place makes you wanna eat meat. Extra star for Packer memorabilia. I had the pork ribs with salad. Ribs are very tender, falling off the bone. Sauce is sweet, doesn't take much to flavor the ribs. I don't love salad in general and wouldn't get it here again. Good for groups, long term girlfriends, day out with the guys. Not a place for first dates.
(3)Robert A.
I refuse to eat ribs anywhere other than Leathas. I'm from NJ, and get down every year to Biloxi / Nola area. Even if I have to rent a car, there isn't a trip I down that I would pass this place up. The ribs are amazing. I like to flip them over, slide the bones out, flip it back over and use the bread and a fork to devour them. There is no sense in trying to eat them with the bone since it falls right off. There is no place that has come close, not that I keep searching, although I did for a while, but quickly gave up. Leathas has a great story, as became evident when I was down this past month and read her book. Life is good, and thankfully Leatha's BBQ can be a part yours too. To the Leathas's BBQ family, Thank you.
(5)Robert G.
Wow. Forget decor, ambiance, and a well stocked bar. You are about to have the best and true BBQ experience. I had the 2 meats which was pork ribs and beef ribs. My friend had the pulled pork and pork ribs. I've had ribs in KC, Memphis, Raleigh, and Chicago. These blow away the Rendezvous and give Jack Stacks a run for their money at half the price.
(5)Emily G.
I think it's quite clear that the food is remarkable- there is really no debating that. What's even better is the service! Beautiful people who are willing to go the extra mile for every guest. They even gave us food off the menu that they had made for themselves so we could have a real home-cooked experience. Absolutely loved everything about this place.
(5)Lindsay C.
Best EVER!!! Even got a tour of where the goodness is cooked! Service is wonderful and amazing sweet tea!
(5)Glenn G.
Heard that I MUST try this place. It is good, but not the best. First, service is very slow (30 min from order to food..... for BBQ??). Meat (ribs n pulled pork) were good, but lacked any real smoke flaver. Sauce, an beans, are way to sweet for my taste. The slaw was pleasant surprise. Leatha 's is good, but did not justify going an hour out of my way.
(2)Perry M.
Bbq does not get any better than Leetha's. Combo pork n beef ribs with slaw and baked beans is the best.
(5)Cee L.
I'm not a huge fan of BBQ, however; when I want BBQ this is my go to location. The price is a little more than what you typically pay but the service, quality and quantity are worth it! I love the ribeye and beef ribs and my two favorite sides are fries and potato salad. The staff are down to earth and courteous and with every meal you get a side of sauce and dinner rolls! Leatha's is hands down the best BBQ in Hattiesburg! If I had to say anything bad about it would be that the menu is limited. Do not expect sausage dogs, hamburgers etc.... It's real deal BBQ, beef and pork ribs, chicken and ribeyes! I think they may offer chicken tenders or corn dogs for the kids...
(5)A L S.
I had been waiting a long time to try Leatha's BBQ after hearing so much about this "legendary" place. Finally I was in town and was able to find this tucked away spot. It was a notable waste of time and money. The most appealing thing to this BBQ house is the atmosphere. A very unassuming old meeting hall with community tables made it genuinely inviting. We took our seat on a Tuesday around 1230. The waitress was efficient but I would point out that she had no other character qualities that stand out with that assessment. When we ordered the pulled pork, she told us they were out. Actually the only thing they did have was high dollar ribs. So, being that we really wanted to try this place, we ordered 1 plate of the beef and pork ribs combo with beans, coleslaw and 2 waters. The slaw was the best part of the meal. It had a tasty unique honey mustard & apple cider vinegar dressing on it. The simple cabbage dish was long cut, fresh and crispy. The beans were straight out of the can. The only thing they did to them was open the can, pour them out, heat them up a bit and serve them. They were a navy pea in a tomato and molasses sauce generic style you can find at any grocery store. The beef "rib" was a single boneless cut of chuck roast that had never seen the pit. Oven baked till tender, it simply had been seasoned with "Lawry's" style seasoning salt and basted with a little in house BBQ sauce. The sauce was an OK tomato and brown sugar base that was unmemorable. The pork ribs did leave a memorable mark--and not in a good way. Some folks call them baby back ribs. I assure you no sow lost her young darling to this slaughter house. "Baby Back" is a marketing term invented by Chili's. The name now carries over for this cut of their younger pig ribs. The ribs served here were not Baby. They were full on mature hog. Back ribs are cut closet from the spine area. The have the signature curved bones. If you set them up on the cut ends, they would look like a train tunnel. Most ribs served come from the flats. Hence the cut name, they are flat just like you find in the grocery store. Flat ribs being the most common sold are from the lower ribs nearer the belly. Nothing is wrong with back ribs, this cut of pork rib is good--if you cook it right. It also is a cheaper cut if you can find them in full service butcher shops At Leatha's apparently they boil their ribs. This method cooks quicker and makes the most of tenderness in a short time. It also tastes like boiled meat. Any BBQ house that boils their meat instead of taking the time to slowly cook it allowing the sugars to caramelize and fats to naturally tenderize the meat to smoky perfection, simply either doesn't know what they are doing or don't care about their customers standard expectations. I suspect that at one time perhaps Miss Leatha was in the kitchen supervising and that is how she got her legendary reputation. Now, this place is getting a reputation to something else in her stead--don't go there. Overall, the service was adequate but not friendly. The sides were a disappointment with the exception of the coleslaw. The ribs were horrible. No smoke on the beef and only a faint hint of it on the unseasoned, boiled and bloody metallic tasting water-cooked bony hog ribs that looked like dead mans fingers grasping for one last time. They did at least put them near the pit for a few minutes to baste some OK sauce on them. But nothing would prepare us for the sticker shock of the bill. The one rib combo plate was about $17. In addition our total for 2 waters, 2 extra sides and a "share plate" fee (charged after they were out of basically any other meat options), the bill without tip was $24 and some change. The only thing notable about Leatha's BBQ now is that it is a legendary rip off. Be forewarned.
(1)Charity P.
Let me warn you that the service is poor. The decor makes you wonder if you should eat there and the mismatch dishes will remind you of a garage sale. That being said we finally found good bbq in Hattiesburg. The sauces is thin homemade and hot and served in whatever they can find. The ribs and chicken litterally fall off the bone. The pulled pork is perfect. The coleslaw is a sweet mustard slaw and the potato salad is perfect. The froed potatoes were hot and crunchy. Prices were reasonable. It doesn't look like much but somebody in the kitchen knows how to cook!
(4)Ernie S.
I've eaten at the famed Letha's at least half dozen times, and every time I leave disappointed. The food just tastes bland to me, and everything had way too much sauce. The service is very nice, and the atmosphere is homey and refreshing, in a cabin-way-back-in-the-woods kind of way.
(2)Elizabeth C.
I compare all BBQ joints to BBQ in Memphis and this is no comparison. It is very good, but it is not earth shatteringly so. The meat was good, the potatoes were good, and the cute little girl running around clearing tables so she could go home made the place seem friendly. I was disappointed that there was no macaroni or pasta on the menu. The menu is very limited, but it's commendable that they only make what they make best! I think the only issue we had here was that I gave the order to my date so he could order for me and the waitress was so offended by this that she handed us off to someone else for the night. It's never been a problem anywhere else, and it's mostly so the ordering goes smoother with the waiter only speaking to one person or just clarifying my order with me. Most waiters seem to appreciate that we aren't talking over each other, and I'm not changing my mind half way through my order! Isn't it normal for the man to order? I wasn't sure what to think of how she responded to it; it certainly wasn't expected!
(3)Angela I.
Good in undergrad and still good today!! Best BBQ in Hattiesburg area!! Must go, you won't regret it!! I ordered the beef ribs, potato salad, and baked beans! All delicious. And the small portion filled me up nicely! The customer service is excellent as well.
(5)Wes M.
I must be missing something here. I grew up near Memphis so I know good bar-b-q. I can't say this is it. The ribs were greasy and fat. I also like to be able to eat the meat off the rib bone. At this place the bone just pulls right out of the meat. Not my style. I think they boil their ribs and that's probably what ruins them, IMO.
(1)Antoine P.
If you like very sweet bbq, you might like Leatha's sugar shack because every single items is full of sugar. It is not my taste at all. Otherwise nice people and quick service.
(2)Marc M.
If Brett Favre eats here ('cause he lives in Hattiesburg), you know it is good. This is your typical local, hole-in-wall BBQ place. Despite the gravel parking lot and interior that looks like a FoE Lodge, you find everyone from families to construction workers to accountants in suits putting their elbows down on the plastic tableclothes to enjoy some seriously good BBQ. The pics tell it all - you WILL see those same people working here. The BBQ pit is right outside and he welcomes visitors for "tours" I usually follow what my local-friends order - today it was a pork plate with beans and coleslaw. The pork was plentiful and wonderful - make sure you put some extra BBQ sauce on it. Nothing like getting served sauce in a coffee mug with a spoon to ladle it out! The slaw deserves a mention of its own - it came out first, before the meal, almost like a salad. It appeared to be made with yellow mustard and it definitely had a different tang to it.
(5)Richard R.
I thought for sure I had written a review of Leatha's already... or maybe I only thought so because I've been talking about this place nonstop since discovering it in early August. Whatever the case, I am happy to let anyone know who is willing to listen how great this place is!!! We were in route home to Atlanta from New Orleans after a long summer vacation road trip. It had been the most anticipated part of our vacation plans ever since seeing this place on The Food Networks show 'Best thing I ever Ate'. BBQ in my opinion is sacred... I mean, I think you should be licensed to have a grill or some sort of credentials to be able to handle such a delicious animal. It should literally be a sin to mishandle a prized meat such as pork ribs and should be punishable by a 24 hour soaking in cayenne pepper BBQ sauce!!! I'm serious folks, don't mess up a good pig!!! Leatha's clearly understands this because they have developed a BBQ so glorious that heavenly 'Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh' sound wafts out when you open the doors to this humble establishment. Greeted by Leatha's grand daughter, you are instantly made to feel like family. She talks to you like you've been her favorite customer for years and really genuinely seems to enjoy your company. THAT was a totally refreshing experience as compared to many restaurants today. The menu is simple: Beef or pork ribs, BBQ Chicken, a few sides, pecan pie for desert and a perfectly mixed sweet tea. It wasn't very long after ordering that I got my plate of this Oh So Amazing BBQ. HAVE YOU EVER tasted something that made you want to sing, and dance like a ballerina around the room... well I did!!! Leatha's grand daughter said it happens all to often, but I don't think the poor table sitting next to us had ever witnessed such a sight!!! No matter, I was happy to entertain because this food gave me that happy feeling that makes you wanna share it with people. I finished inhaling my entire order and couldn't leave without taking four more order to go so my friends back home could witness this taste for themselves. Unfortunately, somewhere between getting those orders and arriving home the selfish bug bit me and I kept them all to myself (shameful I know)!!! But I am finally out of ribs and need to do a road trip back... anyone ready to ride??? The taste is beyond description, and is worth the drive, Airplane, Greyhound, Amtrak, donkey or whatever means of transportation you can find to arrive at Leatha's front steps. When you go, give her grand daughter a big ole kiss and hug for me, rub her cheeks, look tenderly into her eyes and tell her "I'll be back soon!!!" LOL
(5)Ashley G.
Talk about your sugar rush (in a good way) and a full belly. I had the half chicken with slaw and beans. All of them were wonderful. The chicken was smoked nicely. The sides and sauce were really sweet but were a nice change of pace from our hometown Texas BBQ. My comrades had beef ribs and fried taters. No disappointments there either. Filled me up to prepare for the long nap on the way back home.
(5)Betsy M.
Just stopped at Leatha's on the way home from Florida to Texas. Delicious!!!! We shared the Leatha's special (all 4 meats) and couldn't eat it all. The beans are sweet and savory! Potato salad is like deviled eggs! Slaw has a secret dressing on it that's like a honey mustard vinaigrette. ALL OF IT IS DELICIOUS!!!! The beef ribs are to die for! It's like you're in grandma's kitchen! We loved meeting Leatha's family and hearing their stories. Leatha's is a must if you are anywhere nearby. We will definitely be stopping in again! We love our BBQ in Texas, but Leatha's is some of the best we'd ever put in our mouth!
(5)Jeff K.
This was the best barbeque I have had. Great place, great service. Fantastic!
(5)Andrew K.
I've been wanting BBQ ribs since I left... Not any ribs, Just Leatha's. I had the Half and Half, Beef and Pork ribs... If I have ever in my life made a good choice damnit this was it!!!! The potato salad is the best I've ever had. I had that Leatha's is all the way in MS. But I glad that they are not a chain.
(4)Jenny A.
I don't know how I haven't left a review for this heavenly place when I crave it all the time. I may be from lafayette but I am a southern girl at heart and BBQ is where I am a snob. My dad actually discovered this place on a business trip and I was more then excited to finally get to try it. The pulled pork is my favorite but the chicken is also delicious. Not much of a ribs kinda girl but I did try a bite and it was very tender. What stood out from other places is their coleslaw and pecan pie. They're a must to at least try once, or for me I could eat that coleslaw with every meal. All around a place that is definitely a go to stop while visiting Mississippi. So check it out!
(5)Dick H.
Leatha's was all the reviews promised. The ribs and pulled pork were delicious. The coleslaw, potato salad and browned potatoes were tasty. Service was good. It appears to be a place for locals since people seemed to know others as they entered. As others mentioned , it is hard to find but worth the search. Don't let the exterior fool you. It's clean and welcoming inside,
(5)Cee G.
Great hole in the wall! Very friendly, great bbq, great secret. A little pricey but worth every penny. You will need to wear your fat jeans/sweat pants for later though lol!
(5)Kandyace W.
The best bar b q I ever had! The portion size is just out of control, but that means EXCELLENT LEFT OVERS!! XOXO
(5)Corbett H.
Really great BBQ. Service by Trina was kind and caring. I felt right at home here, almost like family. The chicken had a nice smoke flavor and was still juicy. The ribs were so perfectly tender. I enjoyed the sauce which was, for me, the right combination of sweet and vinegar. Cole slaw was fantastic. Loved this place.
(5)Mark A.
I've been and returned several times now when home just to go to Leatha's. If for nothing else the friendliness of the staff and being around people I've grown up with and that hospitality gets a 5 star. Aside from my nostalgia, I got the half and half with both pork and beef ribs. Yes, fall off the bone pork ribs that were cooked just right and excellent. And if you are lucky enough to get the pecan pie, consider yourself in rare air. The night I went someone bought all the pies before I ordered. But, after two more tries while passing through the area, score one. Got the pecan pie and got the yummo factor. If you love BBQ, with sweet southern style, this IS the spot.
(5)Shelton B.
I've eaten ribs all over the South and these are the best I've ever had. The pork ribs are really tender as well as the chicken breast,and the fried potatoes are some of the best ever!
(5)Larissa A.
I saw Leatha's on Bizarre Foods and knew that I had to go here while visiting family in Hattiesburg. YUM YUM YUM YUM!! If you love sweet and saucy BBQ, this is THE place to go. It's some of the BEST BBQ I've EVER had. -very friendly service (family owned and run) -extremely casual and comfortable atmosphere (long tables covered in checkered picnic tablecloths) -BBQ sauce is sweet and plentiful -ribs were falling off the bone! -cole slaw is great (mustard-based I think) -fried potatoes are okay -DELICIOUS! Try Leatha's!
(5)J. R.
Beef Rib aficionado here from California. I have eaten at BBQ places all across the country, and Leatha's has the most tender beef ribs I have ever tasted. The service was great, the prices are very reasonable, and the service is Southern friendly! The BBQ sauce is pretty good. Not too spicy, not too hot.
(5)Mark L.
the BBQ is tasty, unique coleslaw, great baked beans. I preferred the ribs and pulled pork over the chicken. Sauce based and tasty. To call this rustic would be giving the decor too much credit, plywood floors. Clearly a local speciality, worth a meal.
(4)Bert C.
I cannot put into words how fantasticly awesome amazing BBQ. Not to mention the family type atmosphere during your visit.
(5)Jason J.
Yum, yum yum so glad I am not Jewish. Fantastic food better service. Owe and the stakes are good to but why eat steak when they have some of the best BBQ in the country.
(5)James J.
Never had anything so good. Pork BBQ was so tender, so good. The cole slaw was amazing and loved the beans. Whenever I'm in town, I'm going to make a special stop at Leatha's!
(5)Wayne B.
I went to visit my parents in south Mississippi. Before my trip, I asked around for recommendations on a must-visit BBQ place. Almost everyone said Leatha's. Now it's very rare that I get such a unanimous response to a question, so I just had to check it out! As you walk up and start to head in, you immediately get the sense of "coming home". That down-home feeling is confirmed with a very simple decor. Mismatched table cloths give the dining area a certain charm. There are many large tables present to allow for community seating as well as a few smaller tables for a more intimate experience. Leatha's is a "seat yourself" restaurant. Once I sat down, I was asked what I would be having. I identified myself as being a first time visitor (despite having lived in south MS for over 20 years), and the response from the waitress was, "You've gotta try the pork ribs." (which are baby backs) So I did. And when asked for which sides I wanted, I said, "Surprise me." After ordering, I went around looking at the pictures on the wall of various celebrities who had eaten at Leatha's. I get back to my table to find two sides -- Cole slaw and potato salad. A couple of minutes later, the ribs arrive -- along with sides of baked beans and homiest potatoes as well as a couple of yeast rolls and some of their BBQ sauce! I'll first comment about the ribs. As a KCBS certified BBQ judge, I have been trained that if a rib falls off the bone, that usually means it is overcooked. So I have grown to prefer a rib that leaves a clean bite mark when I take a bite. Having said that... when I took a bite of one of the ribs, all of the meat came right off the bone. However... it had AMAZING flavor!! Just the right amount of smoke, rub, and sauce, and everything worked together in perfect harmony! And now for the sides... usually I can find something that I don't like about one of the sides. For this trip, however, I had a difficult time doing that! Everything had an excellent, down-home Southern taste. The potato salad is a warm mustard-based potato salad. The beans had the perfect blend of sweet, tang, and bold flavors. The Cole slaw was very fresh, and the potatoes were just right. I asked if I could take a look at the cooker, and the staff more than obliged. I stayed out there and talked with the guys working the pit for at least a good half's. We talked of what type of wood they used to cook with (pecan), the lost art of family owned BBQ joints, and how everything is made from scratch. I did get a shot of some beef ribs that were about to come off, and looking at it made me wish I had ordered that. If you are looking for an authentic down-home BBQ experience, you must check out Leatha's! You can find this review with photos at bigwaynerbbq.com/2012/01…
(4)Skip R.
Stop reading the reviews and GO TO LEATHAS. It will be the best bbq you have ever had. You can't dream of bbq being this good.. I order pork ribs, beans, and potatoes. Then I start on one side of the plate and pour the heavenly sauce until I reach the other side. You will thank me for this later. This is the south, so the sweet tea is sweet. The meat on the ribs will actually fall off the bone. I have been to Leathas close to 40 times and it has tasted the SAME EVERY TIME. That is a sign of a great place to eat. Leatha's is so much more than 5 stars. This BBQ is off the chart. Enjoy.
(5)Miriam W.
I finally made it to Leatha's, after an earlier attempt that failed...I should know better; no barbecue place worth its' salt is open on a Monday. The vibe here is pure Dixie barbecue, which is to say humble and unfussy. The menu is brief, which I've found to be the standard among the best barbecue restaurants, and the food is lovingly prepared and delicious. Doug and I arrived mid afternoon after having eaten a pretty good sized lunch, so we weren't terribly hungry. However, we're never through here on any day other than a Sunday or Monday, so this was our chance. We split he 2 meat combo and opted for pork ribs and pulled pork. The ribs were meltingly tender and falling off the bone, with their fat intact and just enough sauce on them to complement the perfect smoke and pork flavors. They use pecan wood here, and I'm a fan...sometimes I find hickory imparts too much of an aggressive smoke note, and I prefer pecan or apple wood smoked meats. The pulled pork was also great...tender and well caramelized. Their sauce would usually be a little on the sweet side for my taste, but I found just a bit of it to be a nice supplement to the pork and smoke flavors. The barbecue baked beans were surprising to me, as they tasted just like the ones my mother used to make, which means nothing to any of you, unless you are one of siblings, so I'll elucidate~perfectly tender and redolent of both molasses and brown sugar, which should have made them too sweet, but did not. They brought me right back to the basement kitchen of the Congregational Church in Enfield, Connecticut, where we enjoyed beans of a similar style (the aforementioned "mom's beans"), with baked ham. Their potato salad was unusual, with a nice touch of mustard to offset the rather sweet relish that they mix in. All in all, a successful barbecue venture along the Dixie trail. The people who own this place will make you feel like you're family just stopping in for a visit and a bite. More of that legendary Southern hospitality at work.
(4)Shannon S.
I've been eating at Letha's for many years going waaay back to when she was serving in a house. I REALLY miss when the beef bbq ribs were served on the BONE. They were these huge Fred Flintstone dinosaur bones that had huge amounts of meat on them!!! Now you just get the meat pulled off the bone so that takes away the gnawing off the bone joy of the bbq beef ribs :( If the bone sucking and gnawing joy was still there this would be a total five star place but it is still mighty fine bbq and well worth a visit. I do my best to stop here and grab some whenever I'm in the area but there are some surprise closures and odd hours I've discovered so it is wise to call ahead and make sure they are open when you are planning on going. Leatha told us right after ole Andrew Zimmern came that "that man just took one bite of that coon 'n opossum and wasted the rest." FYI they don't have any of that on the menu so don't expect to see that.
(4)Lan D.
Leatha's is an unassuming, unremarkable shack-type structure along a freeway that would never cause me to go in there unless my car broke down right in front of it. Luckily for me, my car did not break down in front of it, but my friend, a grad student living in the area took me there while I was in town. Because this is the beauty of Leatha's - it's an authentic homestyle BBQ place that caters to locals and those in the know. For a mere passerby, getting to eat here is a real privilege. The place has all the trappings of what you might imagine a southern comfort food place to have. A simply decorated large open space, with a portly proprietor who remembers repeat customers and is simply the sweetest person to talk to. My friend and I shared a large plate of ribs and ordered four sides. We doubled up on baked beans, got coleslaw and fries. Everything was delicious. The service was attentive and courteous. Anyone who wants an authentic Mississippi experience needs to stop by and dine here.
(5)Scott D.
INCREDIBLE pork ribs and outstanding service with genuinely nice people (family). However, I must say their baked beans were outstanding and their PECAN PIE WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD ANYWHERE!!!!!
(5)Tim G.
Best BBQ ever. I went with a large group of friends and the wait staff was very nice. I liked how they give you dish towels instead of napkins. The ribs I ordered were perfection I had never had ribs done so well at a restaraunt before. Very smoky, perfect tenderness and don't even get me started on the sauce. Friendly people and great food!
(5)Alison L.
HOLY AWESOME!! The lovely gentleman at Strickland's Furniture directed my Dad and I to this -- thankfully!! Awesome, awesome ambience inside, great staff and DELICIOUS BBQ!! I had pulled pork and beans and OMG.
(5)Travis A.
I drive from B'ham to Letha's for the sauce about 4 times year. This time I was there in the area for work and had the chance to sit down and enjoy a meal with a family friend. It was his first time. We both enjoyed it. He had the Beef Ribs and i had the 1/2 Chicken. Both were falling off the bone. The fresh side of potato salad, slaw and baked beans.. MMM.. Oh by the way the pecan pie it awesome !!!
(5)Trip A.
I have to tell you I have eaten BBQ in my hometown of Memphis, as well as The Carolinas and Kansas City. I always dream about Leatha's"......... Well- i said i wouldn't do it but i ate there coming and going on a business trip from jackson, ms to mobile, alabama and back this week. The beef ribs were not available the first night - but i was in luck on the return trip. Man are these things good! I bumped into a friend eating there from Chicago doing business in Mississippi. He chided me for not telling him about this place and it was a pleasure to see the look on his face with the first bite of pork ribs! The sauce is available for purchase now and I bought a bottle to use with my inferior bbq on the Big Green Egg. Ask Leatha's daughters what the recipe for their slaw is and they will smile at me and say "we add a lot of love". It is next to the Dairy Queen out west of Hattiesburg on The south side of Hardy Street for you directionally challenged "hongry" folks. enjoy!!
(5)Douglas W.
I can't really add too much to the posted reviews except to agree with them wholeheartedly. This is a wonderful family run real Dixie BBQ experience and I highly recommend you come and eat here. BBQ is a highly varied product and this is not the best I have ever had but it is definitely really good. I appreciate that you can taste the ingredients. Nothing is buried by smoke and sauce or both or so highly seasoned that you can't taste the quality of the ingredient. There's a lot of love here in this food, you can taste it and feel it. I ordered pork ribs and pulled pork, both tender albeit a little chewy and juicy with the right amount of fat. The beans were very tasty. I don't like them this sweet but they weren't over the top. I really loved the mustard potato salad and they make really nice light yeast rolls too. The sauce is a little sweet and not my taste but just a little bit on your meat complements their rub nicely. I am definitely coming back again on my next trip, this is a must stop on the BBQ trail.
(4)Paula B.
The best pork ribs ever. End of story. Forget Dreamland, forget Rendezvous. Leatha's is all you need to know. Ask for Bonnie.
(5)Nathan A.
I'm not a guy that eats bbq 3 days a week but when I walked into this place the smell was fantastic. Miss Bonnie welcomed us AND she remembered my friend whose last time there had been almost 3 years ago.... impressive. The food is seductive. The sauce is obscene. The quality is only surpassed by the smile on Miss Bonnie as she checks on you. The space is simple, pictures of happy customers litter the walls, a "no frills, bbq joint is what you want is what your going to get, baby." Thank You. I will be back.
(4)Christopher T.
definitely a gem in this small town in Mississippi! I tried the pulled pork sandwich with potatoes and baked beans. ..and here we go. Honestly did not find this place all that amazing in food - did I come on the wrong day or pick the wrong thing to order? I am really not sure I could tell you. I thought that my pork was just a bit dry and lacked a bit of something. Thankfully though the lady brought my a cup of the BBQ sauce out with the order..at the same time. Maybe this was a hint to me that it was dry? Not sure. The potatoes, easily done..no effort there. The baked beans, 'eh. Sadly just wasn't feeling much of it. So why the 4 stars?! I love the ambiance and the experience of it all. Everyone was extremely friendly and thought that I was in another time and world. just loved the whole feel to it. Plus, with all the 5 stars here I am thinking that I either came on a bad day, ordered the wrong thing, or they're all just nuts and never experienced really good food. Either way I think i would still recommend this place. My all time favorite pulled pork BBQ is hands down Mrs. Wilkes Dining room in Savannah, GA.
(4)Jeff S.
Quite possibly BBQ heaven! I'm from St. Louis where we have some good BBQ. Have also tried some of the best of Kansas City, through the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia. I don't think I've ever tried any better than what I had tonight in little ol' Hattiesburg at Leatha's.
(5)Cheryl G.
The best BBQ you will ever eat!
(5)Erika M.
DELICIOUS!!!! We came to Mississippi for a wedding and heard that this place was visited by Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre foods). He visited because this place cooks any type of animal is brought here. Honestly I was a little scared when we got there, it smelled weird and gave me the feeling that it was kinda dirty... ... so we ordered the pork ribs... and OOOOOOOMMMMMGGGG!!!!... those ribs were soooo good, my mouth waters right now just thinking about it!!! The side dishes were delicious as well ( potatoe salad, and ranch potatoes). The people that work there are very attentive as well. If you are in Hattiesburg, YOU MUST COME TO LEATHA'S !!!!!!
(5)Daniel P.
I've eaten BBQ all over the country and have had some good stuff. This, however, is the absolute best BBQ I have ever eaten. I've been back several times, and always get the same main dish - Pork ribs and pulled pork combination. They are a little hard to find since they sit back of the road a little bit and they are behind another building. The first time I went, I couldn't find them right away so I called. A sweet older lady answered the phone and gave me directions. After a few more minutes, they actually called me back! It was Leatha herself. She said she was worried about me and wanted to make sure I wasn't still lost. I was in love with the charm right away. Little did I know the food would put it over the top. If you love BBQ, you must eat here. If you also love good, honest people with a talent to make your belly happy, please try them out. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Lindsey K.
If you have to drive through an RV lot to find a weathered shack in Hattiesburg, MS, chances are...you's gonna git some gooooood BBQ. I immediately began quivering with anticipation upon walking through the doors. Could have been sheer "chihuahua excitement" or it could have been the diabetic shock I went into upon imbibing the sweet tea. But let's get down to business. The pork ribs are God's gift to carnivores. The coleslaw was beyond sweet and made my teef hurt. Their special sauce probs had about a pound of Domino sugar in it. I'm not gonna SUGAR COAT it for y'all (get it?) there was some serious obesity up in this joint. But, a small price to pay for such a divine experience. This place, run by Leatha and her family, is LEGIT. Definitely pay five bucks to split a plate so you can try the pulled pork and ribs, plus get two sides. To quote R. Kelly, "So good so good so goooooood."
(5)Rachel L.
Ow my tummy. I had such a hard time waddling out of this place. We drove 2 hours just to eat here. The meat was SO amazing. The art on the walls was cool too. The sides were great, I had to actually call into play some complex strategy so that I could tetris the food into my tummy (passed on some of the starchier stuff).
(5)Kathy W.
I've had barbeque in most of the places its considered famous and no one's anywhere compares to Leatha's! Hands down the absolute BEST!! Love the service and the ambiance too. Go eat, what are ya waiting for?
(5)Eric S.
Sometimes I declare Best in Chicago. For Leatha's, though, I declare BEST IN THE WORLD. We had chicken, ribs, pulled pork, rolls, sides, and sweet tea. But all that I remember is the meat. I couldn't decide which was best. I ate it long after I was full, and I don't even remember feeling stomach pains. The chicken was the real surprise: places like Smoque can impress - I mean really impress - with their ribs and brisket, but often their chicken lacks the same wow-factor (but see The Publican; also, Sheffield's chicken can be the star of their combo platter specials). Leatha's chicken, in contrast, can still make me salivate like the obedient Pavlovian that I am.
(5)Doug L.
I have two positive things to say about Mississippi: 1. It borders Louisiana 2. It's home to Leatha's Bar-B-Que Inn
(5)Linda M.
Went to Leatha's before returning to TX and it was everything the locals in Hattiesburg said it was....GREAT! I'll be back next time I'm in MS. You've got another fan.
(5)Andres D.
One word: AWESOME! This place may be hidden behind an RV Sales lot, but the locals know how to find it. I was asking around town for a good place to eat and folks told me that this was the spot, and boy were they right! As you walk up to the place, it looks like your are walking towards someones home, walk in the door, and you are! The folks at Leathas have a couple of round tables, but in the middle of the place are a couple of long tables all pushed together so that you can sit down and make a friend...which I did, in the chicken and ribs! The place has a great atmosphere, and even like at home, gives you a washrag to wipe your face after digging in. I ordered the ribs and chicken with beans and coleslaw. The slaw came out first and even it rocked my socks off. It has a delicious honey mustard flavor and is not too creamy. Then came my meal. There was definitely enough for two, but the glutton I am, I ate it all. Licking my fingers and had no one been around, probably would have licked the place. The sauce comes out in a coffee cup on the side, so you can hit it up as much as you want. The ribs were truly fall off the bone, juicy, and just the right amount of fat. I could have died a happy man after eating them...then the chicken. It was perfectly smoked, the right amount of flavor and not dried out like I have seen other chickens when they get smoked. The sauce complimented them perfectly, and if I can steal a line, it was finger licking good! Will definitely be back to Leathas to have a whole slab of ribs and gorge myself again. Its a great thing I only come into Mississippi once a month or I could find myself needing to buy into this business or risk going broke!
(5)Jason R.
Wow what great BBQ!! Got here at noon, and even though the place was completely packed, We were in and out in less then one hour, with friendly fast service at a great price. The patato salad and coleslaw was amazing, and the BBQ meltes in your mouth. The sweet sauce is top-notch, and the sweet tea is made PERFECT! The staff was wonderful, not bothering yet alway there to full you up or clear empty dishes. Can't wait to eat there again.
(5)Danilo G.
I've driven all over the South and midwest in search of serious Barbecue. From Kansas City to the South Carolina Low Country, from Chicago to Arizona. I've been to hundreds of Barbecue places -- Some really really good ones like Fat Matts in Atlanta, Robinson's in Chicago, Anjac's in Gulfport, Dreamland in Tuscaloosa, Schweigart's in Denton. These places don't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Leatha's. From the decor where no two chairs or tables are alike, to the most amazing Barbecue that I have ever eaten. I can't describe what I put in my mouth, but God would ask for the recipe if he could get it. I've driven more than 100 miles out of my way to go to this place. "You haven't eaten barbecue until you've been here" is an overused statement. "Your mouth has never known happiness until you've been here" is more accurate. I would give up sex to eat here once a week.
(5)Michael W.
WOW, this place is awesome. I have been to a lot of BBQ place in my travels, and I always look for the great local places. This has to be hands down one of the best if not the best BBQ place I have ever been to. The food was great; I had the pulled pork and the pork ribs with their beans and potatoes. My friend had the ribs and the chicken. He is not even a real BBQ fan, and he was raving about how great it was. The ribs are hard to pick up and eat because they just fall off the bone. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone. The food is great and the staff is very nice, we had a nice conversation with Leatha's daughter and showed her all the great things people were saying on Yelp.
(5)Charles R.
Good Q and sides but not the earth shattering, life-changing Q that I was expecting after reading the reviews. Service was fast and friendly. The pulled pork was not served fresh off the shoulder, but out of a stew pot, as it was pretty mushy. Would be far better served freshly pulled from a shoulder. Beans were pretty much pork n beans with some extra brown sugar. Cole slaw was tangy and sweet. Sweet tea is SWEET. A pot of warm BBQ sauce is served along with a roll.
(3)Jeff K.
Oh my god! The best smoked ribs I've had the pleasure of eating.
(5)Krsna V.
One of the best BBQ restaurants I have visited. This family owned restaurant is all about BBQ. The menu is short and perfect. I love the fact that they provide half and half combinations. They give you towels instead of napkins....because you need a towel after licking your fingers. Yes, it is that good! The best part is when one of the staff comes to your table and asks if you want to hear a blues song and proceeds to sing at your table. Where would you get that kind of service?? A definite visit for any BBQ fan.
(5)Adam S.
This place is kind of my benchmark for good BBQ. The food is all amazing and the setting is exactly what a true southern BBQ place should be. It is, in my mind, the quintessential BBQ restaurant.
(5)P G.
Its a place I know I will go back to over and over again... Glad I went :-)
(4)Jason R.
Leatha's is a really cool BBQ joint that has a limited menu, but the items they do serve are outstanding. I went to Leatha's while on a business trip in the Gulf Coast region. The building is a rustic, cabin-like shack with wood floors and wood walls and ceilings, with a smoke house and grill located just outside the restaurant. Their pulled pork is soft and full of flavor; the side dishes are traditional southern fare, with cornbread, Okra, beans, turnip greens and other staples from the South. One of the best features of Leatha's is the fact that they serve BBQ sauce hot. In the words of my waitress, "You wouldn't eat your meat cold; why serve cold sauce on hot BBQ?" It does make a difference. The sauce was so good, I bought a jar of it and took it home to share with my wife. One of these days I'll definitely go back there again and try another item off their menu.
(5)Paul S.
Was the highlight of my visit to the area in 2008 and will be the highlight when I visit again in 2014.
(5)Steve M.
Went here on a Friday night during a stopover on the way to Destin. It's not quite where you expect a restaurant to be but that adds to the charm. The night we were there it seemed to be a mixture of tourist like us and locals. The folks who worked there were very friendly. My son and I got the pulled pork and pork ribs and my wife and daughter got the chicken. I think we enjoyed ours more than my wife and daughter liked their chicken. There didn't seem to be a whole lot of meat on the chicken. The potato salad and cole slaw were awesome. My food was great. The only thing that was even the slightest bit disappointing were the portions. They seemed a little small for the price but we still were satisfied. I would highly recommend Leatha's as a welcome change from the standard chain food.
(4)Michael O.
This place has outstanding BBQ Ribs. The staff are so sweet!
(5)Todd R.
By far the best bbq I've ever had. I travel for work and have been all over looking for good bbq, and I found it here. I don't know what I am going to do now when I travel. I guess my hunt for great bbq is over, maybe move on to something else.
(5)Pat F.
SWEET SWEET SWEET BBQ Sauce! A little too sweet!
(3)Pedro P.
This place is still the best! I went back a couple of times this month during a business trip to Mississippi and Leatha's was a huge perk (maybe the only one) of being stuck in MIssissippi for 3 weeks. I had almost forgotten how good Leatha's potato salad is. There is no match on Earth. Period.
(5)Dan S.
Awesome BBQ. The only problem is that I never know what meat to get, so I end up with the Jumbo (3 meats, 2 sides).
(5)Nick O.
Good bbq...but a little overrated and overpriced.
(3)Danilo G.
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. Closed Sundays and Mondays. OK. This is the real thing. There are a lot of amazing places in the south for barbecue, but this place just redefines everything; If Michael Jordan cooked barbecue, this would be his place. God musta looked fondly down on this spot in the south, because the way things come together here just defy description. It's just that good. I recently drove all over the south and found nothing that compares to it. You have to be looking for it to find it, but if you get lost, ask any cop in Hattiesburg and they'll point you in the right direction, and probably give you an escort if you're buying. It's located behind an RV dealer and accessed through the dirt road that goes through the lot. I'm from California and was able to find it, just don't be afraid to ask and you'll get there in no time. I got there just after opening. It's a 30x70 or so sized building with one dining room and a kitchen at the end. There is a smokehouse outside with smells coming from it that are just amazing. They are incinerating to perfection the finest pork I have ever eaten. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich that had just a dollop of sweet barbecue sauce on top, but piled high with this amazing meat. I took a bite... and... I swear I heard Handel's Messiah. Or was that the Ninth Symphony? Something from Otis Redding? Oh hell, I don't know. The flavors just all co-mingled and just...made...such...perfect...sense. Decor is in the finest American Country tradition. It's just worth getting there early to see the autographed pictures of just about every blues guitarist, southern politician and I think there is even an astronaut on the wall. Amazing, Amazing Amazing. There just might be another perfect BBQ restaurant lurking down a dirt road in the south as good as Leatha's, but I guarantee there's none better.
(5)Jesse J.
I love Leatha's !!! They have a really small menu and i love that because everything on the menu is great. I highly recommend there pork ribs..... And potato salad.... And bake beans... Ok everything on the menu is fantastic!
(4)Jerry E.
Please be very careful eating here ... I eating the ribs one day and licking my fingers, when I noticed I had eaten two of my fingers ....
(5)Leah C.
I love the lady in a moo moo and sneakers! It's great to find places like this off the main drag while traveling, rather than chain/fast food restaurants. They make you feel right at home and have wall-to-wall memories on display of people that have visited. Love the nostalgia. My mouth is watering, thinking about the BBQ, potato salad, coleslaw & sweet tea. It happened to be a good discovery experience too, when I saw a signed t-shirt from a pro-women's football team in WI (my home state) and an article to go with it, featuring a female soldier from Ft McCoy WI (a place I've been too many times). I didn't know until then that a women's pro football team even existed until I saw that. Another interesting thing about one of the ladies that works there is that she can remember up to 30 different orders without writing them down, and recites them back to you. If I'm ever in Mississippi again, i'll be stopping by there for sure.
(5)E H.
and a half stars - but i can't figure out how to click on that. love the authenticity, love the decor, the smell of the smoke house outside. love the prices and that we were served bbq sauce in a merry christmas mug. pork ribs did fall off the bone, and the cole slaw was mustardy and good. but - it's the sweet sweet kind. no zing, no zip. and, when we were there, the delivery truck pulled up, with big cans of Hunt's baked beans, same kind I make at home. Potato salad was too mayonnaisey. still - so utterly worth the stop, for a northerner like me, who was craving the real deal, even it if meant different from what I am used to. Even if it meant same beans I use. we were on a 3 day road trip from New York to Tulane, New Orleans with my two daughters, and we tried to build in a few pit stops to get off the highway. Miss Leatha's was the one that hit the jackpot.
(4)Ben D.
Leatha's is the best BBQ I have ever had. I am in charge of team meals for a baseball team, and took our team to Leatha's tonight to eat when we were in town to play Southern Miss. When we rolled up on our bus, I could hear our guys go "Can they even fit all of us?" They had their doubts. However, after eating, EVERY single player said that was by far the best they have ever had. They set up a buffet type meal for us at a reasonable price, and even made a meal amazing after we took a butt-kicking on the field just a few hours before. This place is amazing, and I will be bringing our guys back here to eat as long as I am in charge of the meals!
(5)David H.
So I understand that there is this eternal battle between different types of BBQ...there's the Texas BBQ people, and the Memphis BBQ people, the wet BBQ, and the dry BBQ.... Whatever side of the fence you feel like you fall off of, I implore you to experience Leatha's in Hattiesburg. Originally in Foxworth, MS, Leatha's was, from all I have heard, the ONLY 5 start restaurant in the state of MIssissippi. This isn't because her place has white tableclothes or a wait staff that hangs on your every word...it's for one simple reason: the BEST BBQ. I haven't been to Leatha's in quite awhile so I'm not entirely certain how much of the ritual of eating there has changed. In Foxworth, you were actually eating in the front room of her house. Now, you are eating in a separate structure (located in Hattiesburg). You aren't given napkins, you are given towels. Napkins wouldn't cut it. The sweet tea is the Manna of the Gods. The BBQ is chicken, pork, or beef. For entertainment, a person I can only describe as a wandering minstrel, comes by your table and asks if you would like to hear him give you his rendition of favorite Michael Jackson hits or hits of the 80s or 90s or Blues or R&B... It's all 'a capello'. He may not be a professional, but it is all part of the experience of eating at Leatha Mae's. When your order is taken, it isn't written down. Everything is memorized and repeated back to your party as if it's a party trick. The atmosphere is extremely laid-back, much like 99% of Mississippi and you go to eat and enjoy, not to eat and run. If you are in south Mississippi, you will have missed it all if you miss Leatha Mae's.
(5)tanya m.
Leatha's Bar-B-Que is hands down the best BBQ in Hattiesburg. A little hard to find, but O My it is SOOOOO worth the effort. If you are in town for just one day you have got to try this place. It is a down home small southern restaurant. I have no idea how the building passes the fire code inspection (nothing fancy is an understatement) but just wait until you get the food! This is Slap Your Mom, Finger Licking good, BBQ. The restaurant has a limited menu, but when you are great at one thing you do not need anything else. The potato salad is a true southern classic, mustered and mayonnaise based; you would swear you are eating a deviled egg. The sweet tea would make even Paula Dean say WoooW Weee. There are no words to describe the BBQ. The meat doesn't just fall off the bone, it jumps. For a southern girl raised on artery stopping, diabetes inducing cooking this restaurant brought back memories of grandma's kitchen and family get to gathers. You must go!
(5)Sophia A.
It's been awhile since my last visit to Leatha's, but this place is the real deal and I highly recommend! After a day of driving through Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama, we were in serious need of some southern food and Hattiesburg was more than happy to provide! Seated at a table with wash clothes for napkins and extra large cups of sweet tea, the Bar-B-Que feast was nothing less than perfection. If you are in the area - do yourself a favor and check out Leatha's!!!
(5)Jason F.
My friends and I stopped here on a roadtrip after receiving a rambling email from a Hattiesburg native. (I texted my friend for directions...he responded asking for me to bring their sauce to DC.) Everything he said was true...this place is fantastic. Leatha's (or Ms. Leatha's) is located behind an RV dealership. The restaurant layout can be confusing since the place can be crowded, the servers are busy, and the patrons are enjoying each other's company. Feel free to walk to the cashier for take-out or wait at the door until you are seated by one of the servers (all of which are sisters and Ms. Leatha's daughters). The old lady in the corner folding silverware is Ms. Leatha herself. Like any good BBQ place, the menu is limited. Almost all main items come with two sides, biscuits, and some of the sweetest BBQ sauce you'll ever have. The sweet tea is overwhelmingly sweet and worth the experience. DEFINITELY ORDER THE PORK RIBS. Our server (and my friend) recommended the ribs, and we ordered both pork and beef. The beef just could not hang with the succulent pork ribs. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the sides, all of which are also uber-sweet. Growing up I never thought there was any reason to go to Mississippi, but I now know I'm wrong. Anyone on a roadtrip or just in the Hattiesburg area should do themselves right and head to Leatha's BBQ. Tell your server you're not a local and she'll lick her lips just thinking about how good her first taste of this sweet BBQ was and how much you're about to enjoy yourself.
(5)