There's a lot of BBQ in the Carolinas. Unfortunately, there's a lot of average BBQ. Melvin's isn't average. While I haven't been to every BBQ spot in the Charleston area, we've been to many and have yet to find a spot that competes with Melvin's. Sure Sticky's Fingers and Jim N Nicks are solid, but Melvin's is on another level, delivering home cooked BBQ that tastes great on a consistent basis and at a fair price. I've read the review from a few haters on here complaining about expensive meals and baiting readers to visit other places, instead. Let's be real, folks. Duke's BBQ down the street is like going to a Golden Corral. There's no comparison when it comes to fresh, quality sides and quality meet. Melvin's is - and should be - a destination for tourists coming to Charleston, those headed to Folly Beach and locals. They've done a heck of a job here. And, who could complain about the price. They pile on enough food that you'll need a doggy bag. If you can finish it you eat like a horse! Good BBQ is good even without sauce. Meanwhile, Melvin's sauces are so good, you'll want to grab a bottle of each and taste them all. Good luck choosing a favorite. They are all excellent, but the Golden Secret, their version of a mustard base sauce is on another level. The Red and Hickory are top-notch, too. In fact, you'll likely find yourself using them all and dipping. I'm not from Carolina, but have visited more than 250 BBQ restaurants in the country (probably more) and their sauces stand out. LAst time I was here I ordered 7 bottles of each flavor and the rubs to send back to my friends in California (where I'm from) because it's just that good, and all of them agreed. Melvin's isn't a pretty, fancy, BBQ spot. It's a walk to the counter, place your order, fill your cup with sweet tea and wait kind of a place. It's laid back, perfect for a bunch of rowdy kids, grandma and grandpa eating together or a family dinner. There's a place for everyone here, and something on the menu for everyone, too. Take the chicken, for example. Before coming to Melvin's I hadn't eaten chicken on the bone in more than a decade (a weird habit I picked up from an ex girlfriend). Meanwhile, one bite of Melvin's tasty chicken brought me back to life. I ate the entire chicken and practically the bones, it was so good! The same can be said for the ribs, pulled pork, turkey, etc. Surprisingly, even their hamburgers are good. Honestly, their sides is one of the things that kept us coming back. While some on here complain they are average, where else can you go and be able to choose from such a wide variety of sides, rather than your typical cole slaw, potato salad, french fries and macaroni salad? You can't. Melvin's brings sides to a new level offering sweet cornbread, lima beans, okra, sweet potato casserole, mac and cheese, etc. There's no drawbacks to coming here. Whomever Melvin is (and if he's still alive) deserves to be praised and this place should be the talk of the town. It is in our book.
(5)
Colleen M.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! I usually get a pulled chicken sandwich or a hotdog and I am never disappointed. The drive thru is weird and sometimes you are blocking traffic in the pakring lot. This Melvins drive thru is very fast and friendly. It is perfect for a quick meal that will fill you up the rest of the day!
(5)
Minta P.
Melvin's is D-licious! I always go for the grilled chicken sandwich with all the fixin's -add bacon & chz- but their bbq is some of the best around! The baskets come with ton of fries, the big steak fries. Their onion rings are super yummy too. And their sweet tea...well you'll just have to trust me and see for yourself! The staff is always nice and smiling, and the restaurant is always clean. Don't get thrown off by the prices, it's totally worth it both quality and quantity!
(5)
B B.
Delicious pulled chicken sandwiches. We ordered macncheese, fried okra and sweet potatoes and they were all good. Prices are a bit high. $8 just for the sandwich.
(4)
Steve D.
My first taste of SC style mustard BBQ sauce. I liked it so much I purchased a bottle on my way out and went back a second time that week with family. The restaurant was very clean. The staff were helpful and pleasant. The quality of the food was excellent. The onion rings are a cross between a donut and a fritter. Enormous! The ribs needed no additional sauce. They were succulent and smoky. The fried okra was crisp without be greasy. I liked the corn beard though a member of the family prefers the old school, unsweetened version. Mac and cheese was very good too. Last but not least, the pulled pork and pulled chicken were both outstanding. I will definitely return next time I'm in Charleston.
(5)
Bartley B.
They always cut you short on the sides. I don't write many reviews but after determining that this is consistent I decided to write one. Food is good. Will comeback. They are just slack on their sides.
(3)
JP S.
Quick, Fresh, Tasty. The Gold Mustard Based BBQ sauce rules. There is a bar full of pickled veggies and such. You can load up on that waiting for your order.
(4)
Claudia R.
One LITTLE Joe pulled pork sandwich and one medium tea... $10.22 !!! Not exactly the best deal in town. Head to Mamma Browns!
(2)
David T.
I had the beef brisket plate. Initial reaction: wow, $16 for this! And it's served like a fast food style restaurant. The meat had plenty of artery clogging fat on it but it was super tender and tasty. The onion rings are uniquely prepared and delightful. The sweet potato mash is good. Having to eat with plastic silverware SUCKS! It's super flimsy. I can only give this place three stars because of the price for the type of service. And granted it's pushing a hundred degree outside today but it was unpleasantly warm inside the restaurant.
This place is wonderful. It's fast causal style ordering makes it super easy to pop in for a quick lunch. I am from sc and this is always the first place I will tell visitors to go to for BBQ. I will admit, I go here about once a month!! Although sometimes I wish I could eat it everyday!
(5)
Ron M.
Above average BBQ for a great price. Super family friendly too. Burgers are too small and thin but fairly tasty.
(4)
Smith K.
Chopped pork sandwich was ok. Pork was moist but lacked any smoke flavor. Could have been cooked in a crock pot. Sauce was ok. Onion rings were so battered they were more like a doughnut with an onion center. If you like that kind of thing then fine but I prefer lighter batter. Banana pudding was mostly pudding with few bananas or Nilla wafers.
(2)
Joe W.
One of the best barbeque places in town. A James Island tradition. The fries are heavily seasoned, but are good. Also known for sweet tea. Don't go here if you are looking for TV's. There are none. Sweet tea is one of best on island.
(4)
David R.
WOW!!! Their service has declined significantly over the past few months. I emailed their home office regarding the poor customer service and they actually wanted to argue with me. I was just trying to help them out. They did send a gift card along with a letter basically stating that I was wrong in my assessment. I guess our definitions of good customer service differ greatly. Interesting how Duke's BBQ located about a mile down Folly Rd. is always busy and Melvin's is rarely busy. I guess THAT speaks volumes. That gift card is gathering dust on my desk; it will be a while before I go back.
(2)
Viola I.
This is where yelp fails at times. I was picking a friend up at the charleston airport. he was craving bbq, quickly yelped a placed, read the top two rave reviews and figured we give it a shot. Walking in I didn't not realize it was a fast-food typish place and got worried, but the atmosphere was nice and the cashier was super friendly and patient while we looked at the huge menu on the wall. He got a jalapeno burger and I got combo of pulled pork and a half chicken. The side: fried okra, greens, fries, some kind of rice hash. We shared everything. Sadly the best thing on we ate was fried okra and that wasn't even that great. The burger was decent, skimpy on the jalapenos. The pulled pork and chicken was cooked properly but nothing to rave about and the bbq sauces didn't add much flavor or spice. And the collard greens were the worst thing I've eaten. Collard greens aren't that hard to do, and sorry if this comes off racist, but a white person had to be a behind them, ain't no way a black person would serve greens so tasteless. Never again would I go here and sadly it soured my friend from eating in Charleston.
(2)
Mark L.
This is a decent BBQ place. The selection is good and the BBQ sauces are key to their success. The staff is usually friendly and the food is ok. Not great but good enough for a quick southern style meal.
(3)
Sid B.
wanted BBQ but tried something different this time; had the beef brisket with "Southern red sauce" was melt in your mouth delicious. ; most people go in for the pulled pork in yellow ( mustard) sauce; and have had in past and was great too; but the beef brisket was an unusually good surprise. Portion size varies from large to huge; and price is cheap; banana pudding dessert was good too - even though I ate too much
(4)
Anne Littlefield H.
I don't normally get on here and leave reviews for places, but my experience today at Melvin's got me so heated I had to get out what I think. The service was HORRIBLE! Kitchen staff, servers, management.... My order was completely wrong, and when I said something about it VERY nicely, because I know mistakes happen. I was accused by the cook that I made the mistake... yet my ticket had exactly what I ordered on it. Then to top it all off, not only was the cook a complete jerk, the young girl who gave me my correct meal had a horrible attitude, like I was in the wrong because they messed up my order. I've never thought the food at Melvin's was anything to right home about, but it's a decentg meal to get once every few months. I will NEVER eat at Melvins again and will not reccomend Melvins to anyone. Thank you for such a HORRIBLE experience!
(1)
Dana S.
My family and I absolutely love Melvin's! Went a little out of our way driving back to Ohio from Florida just to taste their food again! Will definitely stop back by in a few months.
(5)
John S.
This is a barbecue place, but they make the best darn cheeseburger in Charleston!! Have a BIG time, order a double cheeseburger and an order of rings - you will be in heaven!! Service is quick, the place is always clean - I will be back again!!!
(4)
Matt C.
bar none the best BBQ pork sandwich anywhere in the world. Notice how the vast majority of low ratings on Melvin's are from people who are NOT from Chucktown? Lived in Charleston for 3 years during my college years. My-oh-my do I miss Melvin's. At one point in my life I came here 2-3 times a week. My mouth waters just remembering the joint. Mustard based BBQ sauce that just can't be replicated! Tennessee, Kansas City, Texas, North Carolina, ya'll can keep your crappy sauces. South Carolinians know the truth, mustard is the only way to go with BBQ pork sauce!!!
(5)
Glen R.
Come on people...really? 4 and 5 star ratings? You must be kidding me or seriously BBQ deprived. Ribs were ok but nothing to write home about. Pulled pork was GREEN. That's right...the color of it was green and I've never seen that before. The brisket was so dry and overdone that the color was almost black and needed to be dowsed with sauce to get it down. They also left the entire fat cap on so it was pretty much 50/50 fat and meat. (Normally, you leave it on for cooking because it adds flavor and moisture but then remove about 75% of it afterwards) The pulled chicken was actually pretty good. Unfortunately, I haven't been to any other BBQ places in Charleston so I can't say what's better. I should've known better because you should never trust a BBQ place that has an all you can eat special and even my 10 year old knows not to trust it if has a drive through. Melvin's has both!
(1)
Josh A.
This place holds a dear spot in my heart. The reason? It's where I got my love for BBQ. This place opened up when you still knew everyone on James Island. Now, it's full of yankees and people from OH, and is beyond congested. Can't say I really blame them though. This is where I grew up as a kid and finally moved on. Anyway, the memories I have of this place are wonderful. When I played ball in high school, the entire OLine used to hit it up before our games. We would come in and they would welcome us with open arms. Their que is pretty damn good too. This is also where my love for the mustard based sauce started. Their fries are great and not to mention their huge onion rings! They are about the size of a small child's head. If you've been to Melvin's, you can pretty much say you've been to Bessingers too, because it's all the same family recipe. Oh yeah, did I mention that Emeril says they have THE BEST hamburger he's ever had? I thought that was pretty cool.
(5)
Emily K.
My mom is a huge BBQ fan, so every time we go to Charleston we have to stop at Melvin's. I don't eat pork, but fortunately, their chicken is just as good. I got a chicken sandwich with fried okra and green beans as the sides. The chicken was moist and had just the right amount of sauce. The okra wasn't greasy at all and nicely breaded. The green beans were just okay. They left the chunks of bacon floating in the container with the beans. I know that's how a good Southerner does it, but it grossed me out. Sorry all you bacon lovers out there, it just makes me cringe. Overall, it's good food for not a lot of money. If you're a lover of Q and find yourself in Charleston, Melvin's is worth a stop.
(4)
Jay D.
Went there on Jan 7th, and I had the baked beans, sweet potato casserole and BBQ chicken platter. The beans were okay and nothing too special. The sweet potato casserole was good, but I think the casserole at Boston Market might taste better in fact--still tasty. The chicken was moist and tasty. Surprisingly you don't get too much of it, though, as my order contained a handsized portion of chicken strips--no leg, breast or wings. I also tasted the brisket and it was pretty good. I wish I had ordered that. All in all, I think the place is pretty expensive for what you get. I think my platter was almost $9 without beverage.
(2)
Sarah S.
This is some GOOD low country cue! The meat is moist and the sauces are just perfect...but the kicker is the onion rings!! Forget everything you know about onion rings...these bad boys were basically onion donuts!! So much delicious batter, like nothing I have ever tasted. Loved the environment, seat yourself and order at the counter and they bring it out. The girl who was bringing out the food was kinda unfriendly or else I might have went with five stars...place was clean. They had the Ten Commandments on their drink cups, pretty awesome place :)
(4)
Deb B.
Melvin's is a great place for BBQ and burgers if you're heading out to Folly. It seems on each side of town there's a great BBQ joint and this is it for the Folly side. I've never been disappointed, the staff is nice and the place is clean.
(4)
Jim E.
OK, so we did an unscientific BBQ tour through Charleston to get a feel for the quality of pulled pork sandwiches. The contestants: - Home Team - Jim & Nick's - Bessingers - Melvins While we didn't feel any of them were spectacular, We found Melvin's pulled pork to be the best of the bunch. We track down BBQ wherever we go, and I spend a lot of time at home perfecting Texas-style BBQ (even though I live in Seattle), so I'm pretty critical. What we noticed was that at all of these places, there was not a readily apparent smoky flavor, though we're not sure whether this is a quality of Carolina BBQ. Overall, Melvin's was the best quality, and had the best sauce in out opinion. As an aside, we found the ribs at Jim & Nick's to be overpoweringly salty. The only real negative: the atmosphere was really fast food-franchis-y. But it's really all about the 'Q, isn't it? In all, Melvin's was good... but not great. In general, we weren't blown away by any of the BBQ we ran across.
(3)
C T.
Very simple: BEST BBQ in Charleston! Hands down..
(5)
Richard M.
I guess I am spoiled by good BBQ, most of which is made by great pitmasters over homemade smokers and small roadside cafes and roadhouses. I got just about what I expected at Melvins. Had the pulled pork sandwich basket which came with a drink, fries and a big onion ring. The pork was cooked well but had little taste, the fries were good and the big onion was not throughly done resulting in a doughy taste. (one bite was enough) Top all of this with a lunch time price of over $11.00 which is a lot for BBQ and Melvins barely squeaks by with a 2 star. Maby I should have tried the burgers?
(2)
Emmett D.
I stopped here for a quick sandwich on my way to running some errands. I'm not a BBQ aficionado but this was simply fantastic. The Big Joe Pork Sandwich, for starters, was on a super fresh roll, filled with perfectly cooked pork, and a smattering of the yellow, mustard based sauce. The sauce was sweet and not too spicy, which I appreciate, allowing me to add my own desired hotness. The obligatory sweet tea was perfect. The restaurant was impeccably clean, down to the hot sauce bottles, which were wiped down of the previous patron's grimy fingerprints.
(4)
Allison H.
Mmmmm. Just thinking about Melvin's double bacon cheeseburger makes my artaries clog a little, but oh how delicious it is! Their onion ring (one comes in a basket) is dipped in a fluffy sweet batter and kind of makes you wanna kick your momma (joking). BBQ is good, but being from NC, we have that whole NC vs. SC bbq...so my loyalties lie with NC on that. They do have fabulous bbq sauces. Don't forget to wash it down with some sweet tea...which probably has about 400 calories a cup!
(4)
Pierre G.
Melvin's was A-Ok. The BBQ full slab of ribs were pretty darn good. I wish they could of added a tad bit of rub on the meat but the BBQ sauce made up for it. The cheese burger wasn't the best in the United States. It tasted like an ordinary old fashion cheeseburger. The best part of my meal had to be a side of sweet tasting greens. You definitely get your money's worth at Melvin's. I would go back for more..
(3)
Robert G.
Huge portions, and for decent prices. Actually there was a half off all burgers special when I went. Ribs were good, but the burgers were only above average and not best in the world, as I heard. I really liked the sides- cheesy mac and cheese and greens that were sweet.
(3)
Morgan K.
Where can i even start with Melvin's BBQ? Well, first... I am spoiled rotten by having the privilege of eating such wonderful bbq. I have been to just about every place in and around Charleston (Jim and Nick's, Sticky Fingers, Sweatman's, bobby Q's...) and Melvin's reigns supreme. Why? 1. the quality is great. Their pulled pork practically melts in your mouth and bursts with flavor. Their ribs are to die for as well and fall right off the bone. 2. The sauces. The sauce of choice is the Golden Secret Recipe which is a mustard based mix of all their sauces and is tangy and absolutely delicious. I am not a big fan of mustard based anything, yet i cannot pass this up. 3. The trimmings. Their lima beans. the best. Mac and Cheese. To die for. Hash and rice. Unbelievable. Anything you get is out of control. and their cornbread? Probably the best i've ever had. 4. the service. A few times they have screwed up my order. Ive gone up to tell them and they have literally refunded my money and given me the order on the house. Wow! Who does that? I'm a loyal Melvins customer for life. 5. If thats not enough, Emril Legasse says their burgers are the best in the country. I dont even sway that far the BBQ is so good, but i know they are delicious too. The perfect meal? : Blue plate special (bbq pulled pork and ribs combo) 2 sides: Mac and Cheese, Baked beans. Cornbread All for 8.50. My mouth is watering just from thinking about it Note: Melvins is not open on Sundays (Very religious family who owns it)
(5)
Publius J.
Everyone talks about the very good BBQ here, but I have to say that Melvin's has phenomenal burgers that warrant this five star review.
(5)
Saad S.
Visiting Charleston and just ate at Melvin's tonight. I am amazed at how much food I got for $10. Pulled pork, sweet potato souffle, corn on cob, cornbread, and the one onion ring. The sauce is very tasty...a bit of tangy flavor with some sweetness mixed in. Very simple food, but every part of it was enjoyable. The menu said that it comes with one onion ring, which I thought was peculiar...why just one? But the one is pretty substantial and the batter is very thick....felt like I was eating an onion wrapped in cake. I'm so full.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Thad K.
Love their mustard based BBQ sauce.
(4)Chris S.
There's a lot of BBQ in the Carolinas. Unfortunately, there's a lot of average BBQ. Melvin's isn't average. While I haven't been to every BBQ spot in the Charleston area, we've been to many and have yet to find a spot that competes with Melvin's. Sure Sticky's Fingers and Jim N Nicks are solid, but Melvin's is on another level, delivering home cooked BBQ that tastes great on a consistent basis and at a fair price. I've read the review from a few haters on here complaining about expensive meals and baiting readers to visit other places, instead. Let's be real, folks. Duke's BBQ down the street is like going to a Golden Corral. There's no comparison when it comes to fresh, quality sides and quality meet. Melvin's is - and should be - a destination for tourists coming to Charleston, those headed to Folly Beach and locals. They've done a heck of a job here. And, who could complain about the price. They pile on enough food that you'll need a doggy bag. If you can finish it you eat like a horse! Good BBQ is good even without sauce. Meanwhile, Melvin's sauces are so good, you'll want to grab a bottle of each and taste them all. Good luck choosing a favorite. They are all excellent, but the Golden Secret, their version of a mustard base sauce is on another level. The Red and Hickory are top-notch, too. In fact, you'll likely find yourself using them all and dipping. I'm not from Carolina, but have visited more than 250 BBQ restaurants in the country (probably more) and their sauces stand out. LAst time I was here I ordered 7 bottles of each flavor and the rubs to send back to my friends in California (where I'm from) because it's just that good, and all of them agreed. Melvin's isn't a pretty, fancy, BBQ spot. It's a walk to the counter, place your order, fill your cup with sweet tea and wait kind of a place. It's laid back, perfect for a bunch of rowdy kids, grandma and grandpa eating together or a family dinner. There's a place for everyone here, and something on the menu for everyone, too. Take the chicken, for example. Before coming to Melvin's I hadn't eaten chicken on the bone in more than a decade (a weird habit I picked up from an ex girlfriend). Meanwhile, one bite of Melvin's tasty chicken brought me back to life. I ate the entire chicken and practically the bones, it was so good! The same can be said for the ribs, pulled pork, turkey, etc. Surprisingly, even their hamburgers are good. Honestly, their sides is one of the things that kept us coming back. While some on here complain they are average, where else can you go and be able to choose from such a wide variety of sides, rather than your typical cole slaw, potato salad, french fries and macaroni salad? You can't. Melvin's brings sides to a new level offering sweet cornbread, lima beans, okra, sweet potato casserole, mac and cheese, etc. There's no drawbacks to coming here. Whomever Melvin is (and if he's still alive) deserves to be praised and this place should be the talk of the town. It is in our book.
(5)Colleen M.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! I usually get a pulled chicken sandwich or a hotdog and I am never disappointed. The drive thru is weird and sometimes you are blocking traffic in the pakring lot. This Melvins drive thru is very fast and friendly. It is perfect for a quick meal that will fill you up the rest of the day!
(5)Minta P.
Melvin's is D-licious! I always go for the grilled chicken sandwich with all the fixin's -add bacon & chz- but their bbq is some of the best around! The baskets come with ton of fries, the big steak fries. Their onion rings are super yummy too. And their sweet tea...well you'll just have to trust me and see for yourself! The staff is always nice and smiling, and the restaurant is always clean. Don't get thrown off by the prices, it's totally worth it both quality and quantity!
(5)B B.
Delicious pulled chicken sandwiches. We ordered macncheese, fried okra and sweet potatoes and they were all good. Prices are a bit high. $8 just for the sandwich.
(4)Steve D.
My first taste of SC style mustard BBQ sauce. I liked it so much I purchased a bottle on my way out and went back a second time that week with family. The restaurant was very clean. The staff were helpful and pleasant. The quality of the food was excellent. The onion rings are a cross between a donut and a fritter. Enormous! The ribs needed no additional sauce. They were succulent and smoky. The fried okra was crisp without be greasy. I liked the corn beard though a member of the family prefers the old school, unsweetened version. Mac and cheese was very good too. Last but not least, the pulled pork and pulled chicken were both outstanding. I will definitely return next time I'm in Charleston.
(5)Bartley B.
They always cut you short on the sides. I don't write many reviews but after determining that this is consistent I decided to write one. Food is good. Will comeback. They are just slack on their sides.
(3)JP S.
Quick, Fresh, Tasty. The Gold Mustard Based BBQ sauce rules. There is a bar full of pickled veggies and such. You can load up on that waiting for your order.
(4)Claudia R.
One LITTLE Joe pulled pork sandwich and one medium tea... $10.22 !!! Not exactly the best deal in town. Head to Mamma Browns!
(2)David T.
I had the beef brisket plate. Initial reaction: wow, $16 for this! And it's served like a fast food style restaurant. The meat had plenty of artery clogging fat on it but it was super tender and tasty. The onion rings are uniquely prepared and delightful. The sweet potato mash is good. Having to eat with plastic silverware SUCKS! It's super flimsy. I can only give this place three stars because of the price for the type of service. And granted it's pushing a hundred degree outside today but it was unpleasantly warm inside the restaurant.
(3)Diana T.
I was in Charleston for the weekend for a school event and decided to stop by since Charleston is know for their southern food. I was craving ribs, so i yelped some BBQ joints in Charleston. I really thought this was a legit restaurant until I walked in. It was like I was at Zaxbys! You order at the cash register and pick up your food at the cash register. There is even a drive though!!! A BBQ drive thru!! Only in Charleston. I ordered a full rack of Carolina pork ribs "Carolina Style Wet" with their golden secret and their southern red tm with cornbread and 2 side trimmings. Their golden secret sauce was amazing! I usually hate mustard based sauces, but this was great! I dipped everything with it. The trimmings I got along with this meal was their sweet potato soufflé and their famous onion rings. The sweet potato soufflé was not a soufflé! it was mashed sweet potato with a bit of sweetness to it. It was a great disappointment. However, I am so glad I order the onion rings. They were delicious and huge. It was the shape and size of donuts. I had never had onion rings like this ever. Craving them right now as we speak. The ribs were okay. They did satisfied my cravings, but were not the best thing I have ever had. I really wanted to try the famous cheeseburger but was way too full. Emeril recommends it! If I am ever in Charleston again, will stop here again to eat their cheeseburger & onion rings.
(3)Connie F.
This place is wonderful. It's fast causal style ordering makes it super easy to pop in for a quick lunch. I am from sc and this is always the first place I will tell visitors to go to for BBQ. I will admit, I go here about once a month!! Although sometimes I wish I could eat it everyday!
(5)Ron M.
Above average BBQ for a great price. Super family friendly too. Burgers are too small and thin but fairly tasty.
(4)Smith K.
Chopped pork sandwich was ok. Pork was moist but lacked any smoke flavor. Could have been cooked in a crock pot. Sauce was ok. Onion rings were so battered they were more like a doughnut with an onion center. If you like that kind of thing then fine but I prefer lighter batter. Banana pudding was mostly pudding with few bananas or Nilla wafers.
(2)Joe W.
One of the best barbeque places in town. A James Island tradition. The fries are heavily seasoned, but are good. Also known for sweet tea. Don't go here if you are looking for TV's. There are none. Sweet tea is one of best on island.
(4)David R.
WOW!!! Their service has declined significantly over the past few months. I emailed their home office regarding the poor customer service and they actually wanted to argue with me. I was just trying to help them out. They did send a gift card along with a letter basically stating that I was wrong in my assessment. I guess our definitions of good customer service differ greatly. Interesting how Duke's BBQ located about a mile down Folly Rd. is always busy and Melvin's is rarely busy. I guess THAT speaks volumes. That gift card is gathering dust on my desk; it will be a while before I go back.
(2)Viola I.
This is where yelp fails at times. I was picking a friend up at the charleston airport. he was craving bbq, quickly yelped a placed, read the top two rave reviews and figured we give it a shot. Walking in I didn't not realize it was a fast-food typish place and got worried, but the atmosphere was nice and the cashier was super friendly and patient while we looked at the huge menu on the wall. He got a jalapeno burger and I got combo of pulled pork and a half chicken. The side: fried okra, greens, fries, some kind of rice hash. We shared everything. Sadly the best thing on we ate was fried okra and that wasn't even that great. The burger was decent, skimpy on the jalapenos. The pulled pork and chicken was cooked properly but nothing to rave about and the bbq sauces didn't add much flavor or spice. And the collard greens were the worst thing I've eaten. Collard greens aren't that hard to do, and sorry if this comes off racist, but a white person had to be a behind them, ain't no way a black person would serve greens so tasteless. Never again would I go here and sadly it soured my friend from eating in Charleston.
(2)Mark L.
This is a decent BBQ place. The selection is good and the BBQ sauces are key to their success. The staff is usually friendly and the food is ok. Not great but good enough for a quick southern style meal.
(3)Sid B.
wanted BBQ but tried something different this time; had the beef brisket with "Southern red sauce" was melt in your mouth delicious. ; most people go in for the pulled pork in yellow ( mustard) sauce; and have had in past and was great too; but the beef brisket was an unusually good surprise. Portion size varies from large to huge; and price is cheap; banana pudding dessert was good too - even though I ate too much
(4)Anne Littlefield H.
I don't normally get on here and leave reviews for places, but my experience today at Melvin's got me so heated I had to get out what I think. The service was HORRIBLE! Kitchen staff, servers, management.... My order was completely wrong, and when I said something about it VERY nicely, because I know mistakes happen. I was accused by the cook that I made the mistake... yet my ticket had exactly what I ordered on it. Then to top it all off, not only was the cook a complete jerk, the young girl who gave me my correct meal had a horrible attitude, like I was in the wrong because they messed up my order. I've never thought the food at Melvin's was anything to right home about, but it's a decentg meal to get once every few months. I will NEVER eat at Melvins again and will not reccomend Melvins to anyone. Thank you for such a HORRIBLE experience!
(1)Dana S.
My family and I absolutely love Melvin's! Went a little out of our way driving back to Ohio from Florida just to taste their food again! Will definitely stop back by in a few months.
(5)John S.
This is a barbecue place, but they make the best darn cheeseburger in Charleston!! Have a BIG time, order a double cheeseburger and an order of rings - you will be in heaven!! Service is quick, the place is always clean - I will be back again!!!
(4)Matt C.
bar none the best BBQ pork sandwich anywhere in the world. Notice how the vast majority of low ratings on Melvin's are from people who are NOT from Chucktown? Lived in Charleston for 3 years during my college years. My-oh-my do I miss Melvin's. At one point in my life I came here 2-3 times a week. My mouth waters just remembering the joint. Mustard based BBQ sauce that just can't be replicated! Tennessee, Kansas City, Texas, North Carolina, ya'll can keep your crappy sauces. South Carolinians know the truth, mustard is the only way to go with BBQ pork sauce!!!
(5)Glen R.
Come on people...really? 4 and 5 star ratings? You must be kidding me or seriously BBQ deprived. Ribs were ok but nothing to write home about. Pulled pork was GREEN. That's right...the color of it was green and I've never seen that before. The brisket was so dry and overdone that the color was almost black and needed to be dowsed with sauce to get it down. They also left the entire fat cap on so it was pretty much 50/50 fat and meat. (Normally, you leave it on for cooking because it adds flavor and moisture but then remove about 75% of it afterwards) The pulled chicken was actually pretty good. Unfortunately, I haven't been to any other BBQ places in Charleston so I can't say what's better. I should've known better because you should never trust a BBQ place that has an all you can eat special and even my 10 year old knows not to trust it if has a drive through. Melvin's has both!
(1)Josh A.
This place holds a dear spot in my heart. The reason? It's where I got my love for BBQ. This place opened up when you still knew everyone on James Island. Now, it's full of yankees and people from OH, and is beyond congested. Can't say I really blame them though. This is where I grew up as a kid and finally moved on. Anyway, the memories I have of this place are wonderful. When I played ball in high school, the entire OLine used to hit it up before our games. We would come in and they would welcome us with open arms. Their que is pretty damn good too. This is also where my love for the mustard based sauce started. Their fries are great and not to mention their huge onion rings! They are about the size of a small child's head. If you've been to Melvin's, you can pretty much say you've been to Bessingers too, because it's all the same family recipe. Oh yeah, did I mention that Emeril says they have THE BEST hamburger he's ever had? I thought that was pretty cool.
(5)Emily K.
My mom is a huge BBQ fan, so every time we go to Charleston we have to stop at Melvin's. I don't eat pork, but fortunately, their chicken is just as good. I got a chicken sandwich with fried okra and green beans as the sides. The chicken was moist and had just the right amount of sauce. The okra wasn't greasy at all and nicely breaded. The green beans were just okay. They left the chunks of bacon floating in the container with the beans. I know that's how a good Southerner does it, but it grossed me out. Sorry all you bacon lovers out there, it just makes me cringe. Overall, it's good food for not a lot of money. If you're a lover of Q and find yourself in Charleston, Melvin's is worth a stop.
(4)Jay D.
Went there on Jan 7th, and I had the baked beans, sweet potato casserole and BBQ chicken platter. The beans were okay and nothing too special. The sweet potato casserole was good, but I think the casserole at Boston Market might taste better in fact--still tasty. The chicken was moist and tasty. Surprisingly you don't get too much of it, though, as my order contained a handsized portion of chicken strips--no leg, breast or wings. I also tasted the brisket and it was pretty good. I wish I had ordered that. All in all, I think the place is pretty expensive for what you get. I think my platter was almost $9 without beverage.
(2)Sarah S.
This is some GOOD low country cue! The meat is moist and the sauces are just perfect...but the kicker is the onion rings!! Forget everything you know about onion rings...these bad boys were basically onion donuts!! So much delicious batter, like nothing I have ever tasted. Loved the environment, seat yourself and order at the counter and they bring it out. The girl who was bringing out the food was kinda unfriendly or else I might have went with five stars...place was clean. They had the Ten Commandments on their drink cups, pretty awesome place :)
(4)Deb B.
Melvin's is a great place for BBQ and burgers if you're heading out to Folly. It seems on each side of town there's a great BBQ joint and this is it for the Folly side. I've never been disappointed, the staff is nice and the place is clean.
(4)Jim E.
OK, so we did an unscientific BBQ tour through Charleston to get a feel for the quality of pulled pork sandwiches. The contestants: - Home Team - Jim & Nick's - Bessingers - Melvins While we didn't feel any of them were spectacular, We found Melvin's pulled pork to be the best of the bunch. We track down BBQ wherever we go, and I spend a lot of time at home perfecting Texas-style BBQ (even though I live in Seattle), so I'm pretty critical. What we noticed was that at all of these places, there was not a readily apparent smoky flavor, though we're not sure whether this is a quality of Carolina BBQ. Overall, Melvin's was the best quality, and had the best sauce in out opinion. As an aside, we found the ribs at Jim & Nick's to be overpoweringly salty. The only real negative: the atmosphere was really fast food-franchis-y. But it's really all about the 'Q, isn't it? In all, Melvin's was good... but not great. In general, we weren't blown away by any of the BBQ we ran across.
(3)C T.
Very simple: BEST BBQ in Charleston! Hands down..
(5)Richard M.
I guess I am spoiled by good BBQ, most of which is made by great pitmasters over homemade smokers and small roadside cafes and roadhouses. I got just about what I expected at Melvins. Had the pulled pork sandwich basket which came with a drink, fries and a big onion ring. The pork was cooked well but had little taste, the fries were good and the big onion was not throughly done resulting in a doughy taste. (one bite was enough) Top all of this with a lunch time price of over $11.00 which is a lot for BBQ and Melvins barely squeaks by with a 2 star. Maby I should have tried the burgers?
(2)Emmett D.
I stopped here for a quick sandwich on my way to running some errands. I'm not a BBQ aficionado but this was simply fantastic. The Big Joe Pork Sandwich, for starters, was on a super fresh roll, filled with perfectly cooked pork, and a smattering of the yellow, mustard based sauce. The sauce was sweet and not too spicy, which I appreciate, allowing me to add my own desired hotness. The obligatory sweet tea was perfect. The restaurant was impeccably clean, down to the hot sauce bottles, which were wiped down of the previous patron's grimy fingerprints.
(4)Allison H.
Mmmmm. Just thinking about Melvin's double bacon cheeseburger makes my artaries clog a little, but oh how delicious it is! Their onion ring (one comes in a basket) is dipped in a fluffy sweet batter and kind of makes you wanna kick your momma (joking). BBQ is good, but being from NC, we have that whole NC vs. SC bbq...so my loyalties lie with NC on that. They do have fabulous bbq sauces. Don't forget to wash it down with some sweet tea...which probably has about 400 calories a cup!
(4)Pierre G.
Melvin's was A-Ok. The BBQ full slab of ribs were pretty darn good. I wish they could of added a tad bit of rub on the meat but the BBQ sauce made up for it. The cheese burger wasn't the best in the United States. It tasted like an ordinary old fashion cheeseburger. The best part of my meal had to be a side of sweet tasting greens. You definitely get your money's worth at Melvin's. I would go back for more..
(3)Robert G.
Huge portions, and for decent prices. Actually there was a half off all burgers special when I went. Ribs were good, but the burgers were only above average and not best in the world, as I heard. I really liked the sides- cheesy mac and cheese and greens that were sweet.
(3)Morgan K.
Where can i even start with Melvin's BBQ? Well, first... I am spoiled rotten by having the privilege of eating such wonderful bbq. I have been to just about every place in and around Charleston (Jim and Nick's, Sticky Fingers, Sweatman's, bobby Q's...) and Melvin's reigns supreme. Why? 1. the quality is great. Their pulled pork practically melts in your mouth and bursts with flavor. Their ribs are to die for as well and fall right off the bone. 2. The sauces. The sauce of choice is the Golden Secret Recipe which is a mustard based mix of all their sauces and is tangy and absolutely delicious. I am not a big fan of mustard based anything, yet i cannot pass this up. 3. The trimmings. Their lima beans. the best. Mac and Cheese. To die for. Hash and rice. Unbelievable. Anything you get is out of control. and their cornbread? Probably the best i've ever had. 4. the service. A few times they have screwed up my order. Ive gone up to tell them and they have literally refunded my money and given me the order on the house. Wow! Who does that? I'm a loyal Melvins customer for life. 5. If thats not enough, Emril Legasse says their burgers are the best in the country. I dont even sway that far the BBQ is so good, but i know they are delicious too. The perfect meal? : Blue plate special (bbq pulled pork and ribs combo) 2 sides: Mac and Cheese, Baked beans. Cornbread All for 8.50. My mouth is watering just from thinking about it Note: Melvins is not open on Sundays (Very religious family who owns it)
(5)Publius J.
Everyone talks about the very good BBQ here, but I have to say that Melvin's has phenomenal burgers that warrant this five star review.
(5)Saad S.
Visiting Charleston and just ate at Melvin's tonight. I am amazed at how much food I got for $10. Pulled pork, sweet potato souffle, corn on cob, cornbread, and the one onion ring. The sauce is very tasty...a bit of tangy flavor with some sweetness mixed in. Very simple food, but every part of it was enjoyable. The menu said that it comes with one onion ring, which I thought was peculiar...why just one? But the one is pretty substantial and the batter is very thick....felt like I was eating an onion wrapped in cake. I'm so full.
(5)