Searched for beef ribs on Memorial Day...and as luck would have it, while other joints were closed, Dwight's Southern Bar-B-Que was open. Despite the 3.5 overall star rating, we thought - well, what was there to lose? Ordered a full rack of beef ribs with hot sauce on the side. The meat was incredibly tender, fall-off-the bone kind of awesomeness :) We were lucky as a new batch had just been put out. This will definitely be our to-go place for beef ribs. The hot sauce had the perfect balance of smoky tangy-ness and hotness. Can't wait to try out their other menu items. Keep in mind this is a cash-only establishment. No frills. Just simple a menu. Straight forward pricing. We will definitely be returning back!
(5)
Sudo N.
I went to Dwight's yesterday and got a half rack of pork ribs and half-pints of collards and mac and cheese. The ribs were excellent, and there were a lot of them; it was the biggest half-rack I've seen. They use a lot of black pepper in their rub. The sauce (mild) was sweet but not too sweet. The collards had a lot of flavor and were not too bitter. I found the mac and cheese a little sweet for my taste. My five-year-old liked it fine. Total cost was about $17.50. Note that there is no eat-in option. Addendum 2014-05-25: Dwight's is still good. I'm not sure why it took me four and a half years to go back. I will do it again, sooner. Prices have gone up a little.
(4)
Rob B.
Dwight's has proclaimed itself as "boss of the sauce" and I think thats probably appropriate, because their sauce is BANGING. I usually go with the mild because I'm kind of a wimp in that department, but I've heard the hot sauce is great too (its actually the same sauce, just with someone else squirted on at the end). The vibe in Dwight's is pretty great too. When they have the grill going real good, it fills with smoke so thick that you can barely see. its like being in a rib sauna ... a dream I'm sure we all share. The same grill has been being used for something like 65 years (or so the woman working it told me). I like it when my grill has all the gunk on it from a summer of grilling, let alone 65 years of grilling. The pork ribs are great. Super tender, fall off the bone, absolutely delicious. A half rack is all you need, trust me. I don't usually go for beef ribs so I won't touch that. Go for the short ribs, get some mac and cheese and greens too. It's all pretty tasty. The peeps that work there are super nice and friendly. One word of caution, which pretty much applies to all rib places. They make their ribs in big batches, and then they sit. If you catch some ribs when they first come off the grill, they will be so tender the meat will practically fall off into your mouth. If you catch the end of the last batch, they can be a little tough. So if you get a tough batch, don't rule them out right away. Give it one more shot! All in all, I love Dwight's. I try to go their as often as my arteries allow for.
(5)
Janelle J.
I used to come here and get the rib platter alot but I haven't been here in years. I tried to visit last year and the place was closed, I'm not sure if it closed down or took a holiday or what but I haven't had the chance to go back since. This place is pretty hard to find if you're driving and it is small and strictyly take out so don't expect to pull up a seat and wait.
(4)
Joe C.
I think I found a new number one place for ribs. So I had an appointment near St. Joe's last week and prior to leaving I mapped out routes to the nearest BBQ places because I knew there were a few in the city on Lancaster Ave. and Dwight's was the one I picked. I actually picked two (Zeke's was the other but for the life of me I couldn't find it or I entered the wrong address.) Regardless, it worked out for the best. This place is totally in the 'hood so be aware. But, man, it was worth the adventure to get there. Very nice staff educated me on their offerings and as I saw them hacking away at slabs of ribs I knew it was gonna be good. I went with a full rack (hot, natch), collards and mac & cheese. Well, I def went overboard by getting a full rack because they were HUGE. The sauce is tangy yet you get the taste of smoke with the right amount of heat. It was definitely a sauce a true rib lover would appreciate due to its multiple dimensions. So, yeah, I was blown away by the ribs but on subsequent visits have found them a bit fatty. The collards had sizable pieces of smoked turkey and were very good. The mac & cheese was the best I can ever remember having - very tangy. These guys get the concept of flavor but not of marketing because they apparently don't offer to-go menus or even receipts. It was totally a non-issue to me, though. Oh, the staff is very friendly. How couldn't they be with gospel music as the daily soundtrack?
(5)
Gwen R.
If u ever seen Seinfeld's soup nazi, the employees r a lot like that. Take a # stay quiet and wait your turn and u will be waiting a while but it is so worth it. This is the best ribs ever
(5)
Yolanda C.
I grew up eating food from this place back in the 70's when they first opened for business. Went there a few days ago and ordered the rib platter. Was very disappointed. The ribs were very, very, dry and tough. I had to give them to my dog (he didn't seem to care much for them either). I placed my order over the phone and when I got there I still had to wait. Plus, I thought I would be getting my ribs straight off the grill but no!! to my suprise the guy got them out of a foil pan that had been sitting near the front counter. Such a shame. This place use to be bumping. Are they not sticking to the same recipe and my lips were watering for some of their ribs. Only to be disappointed. You live and you learn. So sad.
(1)
Robyn H.
Easily some of the best BEEF ribs and bbq chicken you can get in Philadelphia, but don't expect soul food with a smile!!!! They're not the friendliest bunch, but who CARES? It's takeout only, so get your grub and go!!!! Their mac and cheese and collard greens are DIVINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Call your order in, because the place gets pretty crowded on the weekend. Expensive, but worth every penny.
(5)
Camay C.
Unlike their sister store down on Germantown Avenue, this Dwight's is pretty decent. I ordered the bbq chicken platter with greens and Mac n cheese. Service can be a bit slow though. They run out of Mac n cheese all the time so call ahead and ask them if it's available. Good food all in all.
(3)
Stephanie W.
I've lived down the street from this place for well over a year. I've ridden by and said I was going to try it time after time. Yesterday, during the snowstorm, I called and they were open so I ventured out. All the food was already prepared so I just grabbed my chicken wings, greens, and mac and cheese to go. DELICIOUS! Downright tasty! I will definitely be coming back.
(5)
Robbo H.
Dwight's is classic Q. No nonsense, no menu, no website. They survive on rep alone and friendly service. Pork ribs are big and tender(although not very smokey), chopped beef is exceptional. All sides are true to the southern style. Generous portions! They have mild and hot sauce or you can ask to mix the two (my pref). All of the sauces are very tasty.
(4)
Bruce B.
I have been coming here to eat For a long while now And to me this restaurant and this spot is your average run of the mill soul food take out joint. They have a huge menu to choose from offering all the usual soul food standards. Nothing fancy nothing special Just home style food. They have been around for a long time serving food in their community. Prices are reasonable With large portions. They are open late night on weekends. Good spot to go to after a night of clubbing or drinking.
(3)
Nicole F.
I went back to Dwight's after a two-year hiatus because a "shut-in" friend of mine wanted a BBQ sandwich only from Dwight's. While there, I thought I'd give their short ribs another chance (with a side of potato salad). Before I critique the food, let me say that it was about 99 degrees (F) outside and about 105 degrees (F) inside Dwight's. There were two women working there that day in the heat of God and the heat of Dwight's ovens. Unnn-believable! I said to one of them, "I don't see how you do it." And she replied: "I have bills to pay." Back to the food. The ribs were falling of the bone. While some pieces were tender and juicy, I had to get through the tough and chewy exterior to get to it. So my cat got the exterior and I ate the meat underneath. The potato salad was close to being store-bought (e.g., Acme) to me. No eggs. How do you have potato salad without eggs??? Anywho, it was edible. So, unfortunately, Dwight's didn't earn any additional stars from me on this visit. However, my visit taught me that Dwight's is a hit-or-miss spot for ribs.
(2)
Alex P.
It honestly looked like hospital food. And it was priced like hospital food (not cheap). But it was ok tasting... Not the best BBQ I've ever had though.
(3)
Charles A.
A very good place to visit, but, when you get home and find out your ribs are crunchy because it is well, well done. That turns me off. Then thought it might have been a one time thing, to my surprise it happened again and again. Now I know that food must be cooked well done, but I would like to taste the meat.
(2)
Andrea S.
Mac & Cheese is waaaay to sweet! Why do black people have to put sugar in everything? Why on earth would u even want to eat sweet Mac & Cheese? Ribs were tender so I gave 3 stars bc most places can't make tender ribs. There BBQ sauce is very sweet as well. Don't eat here if u are diabetic lol.
(3)
Christen J.
I had my husband's bday party catered by the Germantown location so we tried the Lancaster spot for lunch one day. We got there just after opening and all of the food was hot and fresh. I don't know if they changed their mac and cheese recipe but it wasn't watery or sweet as others have complained.
(5)
Dee W.
This is my go-to soul-food spot in philly! I been rocking with them for a few years now! Sometimes i wish you were located in a better place, but the food is UNDENIABLY GOOD!
(5)
M O.
Stopped by here after a long day of running around. Pick up a half of slab. When I got home the ribs looked like dinosaur ribs. I had a hard time eating those humongous ribs. They were tough and had no sauce. Now I sauce the lady spread some on. Maybe they dried up. Save your money people and go the the Germantown location. Way better ribs.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No
Linda S.
Searched for beef ribs on Memorial Day...and as luck would have it, while other joints were closed, Dwight's Southern Bar-B-Que was open. Despite the 3.5 overall star rating, we thought - well, what was there to lose? Ordered a full rack of beef ribs with hot sauce on the side. The meat was incredibly tender, fall-off-the bone kind of awesomeness :) We were lucky as a new batch had just been put out. This will definitely be our to-go place for beef ribs. The hot sauce had the perfect balance of smoky tangy-ness and hotness. Can't wait to try out their other menu items. Keep in mind this is a cash-only establishment. No frills. Just simple a menu. Straight forward pricing. We will definitely be returning back!
(5)Sudo N.
I went to Dwight's yesterday and got a half rack of pork ribs and half-pints of collards and mac and cheese. The ribs were excellent, and there were a lot of them; it was the biggest half-rack I've seen. They use a lot of black pepper in their rub. The sauce (mild) was sweet but not too sweet. The collards had a lot of flavor and were not too bitter. I found the mac and cheese a little sweet for my taste. My five-year-old liked it fine. Total cost was about $17.50. Note that there is no eat-in option. Addendum 2014-05-25: Dwight's is still good. I'm not sure why it took me four and a half years to go back. I will do it again, sooner. Prices have gone up a little.
(4)Rob B.
Dwight's has proclaimed itself as "boss of the sauce" and I think thats probably appropriate, because their sauce is BANGING. I usually go with the mild because I'm kind of a wimp in that department, but I've heard the hot sauce is great too (its actually the same sauce, just with someone else squirted on at the end). The vibe in Dwight's is pretty great too. When they have the grill going real good, it fills with smoke so thick that you can barely see. its like being in a rib sauna ... a dream I'm sure we all share. The same grill has been being used for something like 65 years (or so the woman working it told me). I like it when my grill has all the gunk on it from a summer of grilling, let alone 65 years of grilling. The pork ribs are great. Super tender, fall off the bone, absolutely delicious. A half rack is all you need, trust me. I don't usually go for beef ribs so I won't touch that. Go for the short ribs, get some mac and cheese and greens too. It's all pretty tasty. The peeps that work there are super nice and friendly. One word of caution, which pretty much applies to all rib places. They make their ribs in big batches, and then they sit. If you catch some ribs when they first come off the grill, they will be so tender the meat will practically fall off into your mouth. If you catch the end of the last batch, they can be a little tough. So if you get a tough batch, don't rule them out right away. Give it one more shot! All in all, I love Dwight's. I try to go their as often as my arteries allow for.
(5)Janelle J.
I used to come here and get the rib platter alot but I haven't been here in years. I tried to visit last year and the place was closed, I'm not sure if it closed down or took a holiday or what but I haven't had the chance to go back since. This place is pretty hard to find if you're driving and it is small and strictyly take out so don't expect to pull up a seat and wait.
(4)Joe C.
I think I found a new number one place for ribs. So I had an appointment near St. Joe's last week and prior to leaving I mapped out routes to the nearest BBQ places because I knew there were a few in the city on Lancaster Ave. and Dwight's was the one I picked. I actually picked two (Zeke's was the other but for the life of me I couldn't find it or I entered the wrong address.) Regardless, it worked out for the best. This place is totally in the 'hood so be aware. But, man, it was worth the adventure to get there. Very nice staff educated me on their offerings and as I saw them hacking away at slabs of ribs I knew it was gonna be good. I went with a full rack (hot, natch), collards and mac & cheese. Well, I def went overboard by getting a full rack because they were HUGE. The sauce is tangy yet you get the taste of smoke with the right amount of heat. It was definitely a sauce a true rib lover would appreciate due to its multiple dimensions. So, yeah, I was blown away by the ribs but on subsequent visits have found them a bit fatty. The collards had sizable pieces of smoked turkey and were very good. The mac & cheese was the best I can ever remember having - very tangy. These guys get the concept of flavor but not of marketing because they apparently don't offer to-go menus or even receipts. It was totally a non-issue to me, though. Oh, the staff is very friendly. How couldn't they be with gospel music as the daily soundtrack?
(5)Gwen R.
If u ever seen Seinfeld's soup nazi, the employees r a lot like that. Take a # stay quiet and wait your turn and u will be waiting a while but it is so worth it. This is the best ribs ever
(5)Yolanda C.
I grew up eating food from this place back in the 70's when they first opened for business. Went there a few days ago and ordered the rib platter. Was very disappointed. The ribs were very, very, dry and tough. I had to give them to my dog (he didn't seem to care much for them either). I placed my order over the phone and when I got there I still had to wait. Plus, I thought I would be getting my ribs straight off the grill but no!! to my suprise the guy got them out of a foil pan that had been sitting near the front counter. Such a shame. This place use to be bumping. Are they not sticking to the same recipe and my lips were watering for some of their ribs. Only to be disappointed. You live and you learn. So sad.
(1)Robyn H.
Easily some of the best BEEF ribs and bbq chicken you can get in Philadelphia, but don't expect soul food with a smile!!!! They're not the friendliest bunch, but who CARES? It's takeout only, so get your grub and go!!!! Their mac and cheese and collard greens are DIVINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Call your order in, because the place gets pretty crowded on the weekend. Expensive, but worth every penny.
(5)Camay C.
Unlike their sister store down on Germantown Avenue, this Dwight's is pretty decent. I ordered the bbq chicken platter with greens and Mac n cheese. Service can be a bit slow though. They run out of Mac n cheese all the time so call ahead and ask them if it's available. Good food all in all.
(3)Stephanie W.
I've lived down the street from this place for well over a year. I've ridden by and said I was going to try it time after time. Yesterday, during the snowstorm, I called and they were open so I ventured out. All the food was already prepared so I just grabbed my chicken wings, greens, and mac and cheese to go. DELICIOUS! Downright tasty! I will definitely be coming back.
(5)Robbo H.
Dwight's is classic Q. No nonsense, no menu, no website. They survive on rep alone and friendly service. Pork ribs are big and tender(although not very smokey), chopped beef is exceptional. All sides are true to the southern style. Generous portions! They have mild and hot sauce or you can ask to mix the two (my pref). All of the sauces are very tasty.
(4)Bruce B.
I have been coming here to eat For a long while now And to me this restaurant and this spot is your average run of the mill soul food take out joint. They have a huge menu to choose from offering all the usual soul food standards. Nothing fancy nothing special Just home style food. They have been around for a long time serving food in their community. Prices are reasonable With large portions. They are open late night on weekends. Good spot to go to after a night of clubbing or drinking.
(3)Nicole F.
I went back to Dwight's after a two-year hiatus because a "shut-in" friend of mine wanted a BBQ sandwich only from Dwight's. While there, I thought I'd give their short ribs another chance (with a side of potato salad). Before I critique the food, let me say that it was about 99 degrees (F) outside and about 105 degrees (F) inside Dwight's. There were two women working there that day in the heat of God and the heat of Dwight's ovens. Unnn-believable! I said to one of them, "I don't see how you do it." And she replied: "I have bills to pay." Back to the food. The ribs were falling of the bone. While some pieces were tender and juicy, I had to get through the tough and chewy exterior to get to it. So my cat got the exterior and I ate the meat underneath. The potato salad was close to being store-bought (e.g., Acme) to me. No eggs. How do you have potato salad without eggs??? Anywho, it was edible. So, unfortunately, Dwight's didn't earn any additional stars from me on this visit. However, my visit taught me that Dwight's is a hit-or-miss spot for ribs.
(2)Alex P.
It honestly looked like hospital food. And it was priced like hospital food (not cheap). But it was ok tasting... Not the best BBQ I've ever had though.
(3)Charles A.
A very good place to visit, but, when you get home and find out your ribs are crunchy because it is well, well done. That turns me off. Then thought it might have been a one time thing, to my surprise it happened again and again. Now I know that food must be cooked well done, but I would like to taste the meat.
(2)Andrea S.
Mac & Cheese is waaaay to sweet! Why do black people have to put sugar in everything? Why on earth would u even want to eat sweet Mac & Cheese? Ribs were tender so I gave 3 stars bc most places can't make tender ribs. There BBQ sauce is very sweet as well. Don't eat here if u are diabetic lol.
(3)Christen J.
I had my husband's bday party catered by the Germantown location so we tried the Lancaster spot for lunch one day. We got there just after opening and all of the food was hot and fresh. I don't know if they changed their mac and cheese recipe but it wasn't watery or sweet as others have complained.
(5)Dee W.
This is my go-to soul-food spot in philly! I been rocking with them for a few years now! Sometimes i wish you were located in a better place, but the food is UNDENIABLY GOOD!
(5)M O.
Stopped by here after a long day of running around. Pick up a half of slab. When I got home the ribs looked like dinosaur ribs. I had a hard time eating those humongous ribs. They were tough and had no sauce. Now I sauce the lady spread some on. Maybe they dried up. Save your money people and go the the Germantown location. Way better ribs.
(1)