My home away from home. Hands down, best bbq I've ever had. Everything is good here. Top your meal with a shrimp diablo
(5)
Beth A.
Yum yum yum!! This is a hidden gem! I stopped by on suggestion of a coworker and I am so glad I did. This will definitely become a regular spot for me while I am in Nashville. I got the pork and chicken combo platter with coleslaw and sweet potatoe fries (waffle cut and awesome). The pork and chicken are served dry with sauce in squeeze bottles on the side. I really liked the spicy BBQ sauce. The pork had a great smoked flavor and the chicken was perfect. I will be back!
(5)
Lorrie B.
We went there last night and the food was very good. Hubby had the BBQ Ribs which was a genourse size. I had the BBQ pork... Service was good. Has a hole in the wall feeling but was enjoyable & cozy. We will be back when in Nashville!
(4)
Elliott W.
Probably the best of the BBQ restaurants in the middle TN area but that's not saying too much. The brisket is consistently good, but missing something (the fat cap maybe?). The ribs are always over cooked and require a fork to eat. I don't know what they put on it but it never fails to tear me up abut 15 minutes after leaving the place. His brother Mickey Roo has just as good brisket, but also has out of this world onion rings.
(3)
Oz T.
Hit & Miss I eat here once a week as it is close to the office and has good sized servings.. Most of the time the service is great but I hate to wait and they are often busy.. Makes me feel like I am in Russia waiting for food. I really like the BBQ Chicken and the Sweet Potato fries.. Some nights they have music if ya into that this is a great place.. Always busy affordable, good bar selection. Price 4/5 Service 4/5 to 1/5 Flavor 4/5 Atmosphere 4/5 Bad bit is take away .. Ordered take away twice both time they have forgotten things..
(4)
Kenneth J.
Great place, small environment, great BARBQUE
(5)
Peter K.
Finally tried Judge Beans BBQ after hearing so much hype about it. Thankfully we only ordered the loaded nachos and nothing else. The brisket on the nachos was fairly bland, no guacamole as advertised on the menu, and more chips than toppings. We showed up on a Saturday afternoon around 2pm to an empty restaurant, I'm hoping that they food was just old because of the time of day, but that's still no excuse. Very friendly service and a laid back atmosphere. I may give them another try if I'm ever in the area and craving bbq.
(3)
Sarah D.
I know this is a Texas BBQ place, but I love their tacos and tamales. The tamales are made with the beef brisket and the tacos are good with chicken or the brisket. If you do not like hot food, ask for the salsa on the side. The tamales have a little kick to them without the salsa, but they would only be too hot for those that can not tolerate any heat. The place has a fun, roadhouse atmosphere. The servers are friendly laid back and can be a bit slow. This has not been a problem on my two visits, but it would bother high maintenance diners. This is a great place for happy hour or to watch a game.
(4)
LG N.
Love the Judge! He really knows how to do brisket tacos! Also, the catfish on Friday nights is wonderful!
(5)
Robin S.
I love all types of barbecue, and Judge Bean's Texas-style brisket is no exception! Ultra yummy and tender, and really spicy too! I have had lots of different items from the menu. The small brisket plate is a great option--brisket plus 2 sides--I like the cowboy beans (spicy baked beans) and slaw. Also, the chicken quesadilla isn't what you would normally expect. Chicken is SO spicy, and it's pulled right off the bone. It's fantastic. The brisket tacos are amazing, and my all-time favorite is the shrimp diablo--a shrimp stuffed into a jalapeno with cream cheese, and wrapped with bacon. Your mouth will be on FIRE but it's totally worth it! I take away a star because the only location for Judge Bean's is now in Greer Stadium, where the Sounds play. If you go to a game, be sure to go up to the restaurant on the 4th floor! The 12th Avenue location is, sadly, closed.
(4)
John B.
Good smoky flavor to the brisket, not too much fat. The Loaded Nachos were a meal unto themselves. Banana Pudding was average. Cowboy Beans were spiced just right. Fried Okra seems to be pre-breaded, as if bought from a food service dealer that way. We'll be back, one of the better Texas style bbq joints in Tennessee.
(4)
Chris C.
I love BBQ, and I have eaten at some of the best places this country has to offer. This place does NOT rank among them. The most critical component of good BBQ is the meat. I'll give them points for having tender meat, but I suspect the meat was boiled before being grilled because it was bland and flavorless. I had ribs and brisket... no smokey, no spicy, nothing. Might as well have been pressed and formed cardboard. The second critical component of BBQ is the sauce, and it's not that difficult to make a decent sauce. I'm not sure what they did wrong, but the sauce I got from here tasted like it had a bottle of kitchen cleaner tipped into it. It had a overpowering acidic taste that did not belong in anything edible. Sides, well, they should compliment the meal. The slaw I had was disgusting and inedible, tasting like it had sat around WAY to long. The only thing I liked was the beans and the sweet tea. Last, a word of advice to the proprietor... your little attempt at a humorous tag-line "if you're a vegetarian, go back to California" just makes you and your establishment appear ignorant. California has a larger population than the great state of Texas. You may have more land mass, but we've got the people, and we're not all vegetarians. The only points I gave this place were for the live music and the friendly bartender's service.
(2)
Zach G.
Average BBQ for Middle Tn.
(3)
Charlie R.
Great wings, awesome nachos, nice size TVs. Best place in the area to watch a game! Only reason this place gets 4 instead of 5 stars is because they're a little pricey. $22 for full rack of babyback ribs with no sides seems a little high.
(4)
Otis R.
Loved it. Excellent Texas style BBQ! Reminds me of BBQ back home in Oklahoma. Atmosphere is cool very rustic/ southwest down to the water filled zip lock bags hanging from the ceilings to scare flys away. The menus are hilarious. After ordering a cold Shiner Bock and the brisket Sandwich. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the shrimp Diablo. the brisket was good, nice smoky flavor, good smoke coloration on edge. Could have been cooked just a little longer to make it more tender though. The Shrimp Diablo (jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and shrimp then wrapped with bacon) were excellent. Loved the homestyle fries. Adding this joint to the list of restaurants I return to over and over.
(5)
Berl C.
The appearance might be somewhat concerning but the food is quite good and the atmosphere is lively. Nice change of pace but not your typical BBQ Joint. Yes I will try them again if every in the area.
(3)
Mike M.
Nice atmosphere and enjoyable food. We tried the sampler platter which turned out to be a great choice. Tasty brisket and sausage, spicy wings, mild ribs, and bbq beans. The shrimp poppers brought sweat to my eyeballs - a glorious sensation I haven't experienced for a long time (yeah, I like it hot).
(4)
Mike K.
Okay, I'm not sure exactly when this place is going to have it's grand opening but thank goodness it's opening back up in the Nashville area:) I've been to each of Judge Bean's locations in the past including Lascassas and it is the best 'Q that I have ever bitten into. No doubt this place has struggled with it's location and management but I think Brentwood will make a good home. I'll update this post once I know when they're open.... Best beef brisket ever, wonderful & unique menu options and his flavors are sooooo good. New address from the website: Judge Bean's BBQ & Steakhouse 7022 Church Street E. Brentwood, TN 37027 (across from Royal Thai) 615-823-3507 615-242-5508
(5)
BethAnn S.
I'll give this place snaps for hard working waitstaff and decent food, but don't EVER have a large group here. After talking to the owner 4 times during the course of a month to arrange a rehearsal dinner party of 60 folks, he calls 3 hours before we were to show up and says, "oh yeah....did I mention I want an extra $1000 to 'rent' the space". We took up 1/3 of the restaurant, paid $15 a head + drinks and he suddenly decided to hold us hostage. Seriously not cool. When we freaked out, he told the waitresses they just weren't going to get the 20% tip that was added on to our bill. Do NOT do business with this seriously bad, bad man.
(1)
Bryan L.
this barbecue is good and tasty
(3)
Chad R.
I have been to Judge Bean's three times over the past year. The restaurant is quite small and the dining area is really packed with too many tables and chairs. If you don't like people sitting very close to your table while you eat with friends and family, then you should go somewhere else. They usually play old school country music which kind of sets the mood of the place. The staff is usually very young but friendly and fast. This place is very casual so everyone was casually dressed. Most of the waitresses were wearing daisy dukes. Now, on to the food. The BBQ beef brisket is excellent. If you like beef brisket then you cannot go wrong here. The chili is pretty good. It has jalapeno peppers mixed in it for some spice. My brother thought the chili was very hot but I found it to be pretty mild but flavorful. However, I do have a high tolerance to hot foods. I did not like the smoked sausage. It was way too smoky for me and I felt queasy for the rest of the night after eating it. The BBQ sauce is very good but I wish there was more sauces to choose from for variety. Now for the sides. Their cowboy beans are mixed with jalapeno peppers with some habenero pepper spice and it was very good. The potato salad, bbq beans, and fried okra are also pretty good. I will go back to Judge Bean's but I will certainly avoid their sausage in the future.
(4)
Teresa D.
Told the waitress it was our first time there and she said we should definitely get ribs, so I did. My husband got the brisket. We both got fries. She said the Mac and cheese was 'yummy' so I got that as my other side. My husband chose their beans, since she said they were 'famous'. First I tasted the mac and cheese..yuk!! It was macaroni bathed in fake cheese sauce!! Ok moving on..to the fries, which by their appearance looked overcooked by their dark brown color but no they were crunchy raw in the center!! The waitress, from across the room, asked if we were enjoying everything. My husband spoke up and said 'my wife doesn't care for the mac and cheese'. After a long silence, she very hesitantly said 'can I do something' never coming over to the table. Really? Well in my mind I am thinking if you can screw up fries this bad why bother trying something else so I let it go. So I am thinking at least the ribs will be good right but not only were they not good, they were hands down the worst I have ever eaten! And trust me when I tell you I have eaten a ton of ribs all over the southern states. In fact, my husband and I love to try new BBQ places wherever we go. By the look on husband's face I could tell he wasn't enjoying his food either but I asked anyway. Without answering he handed me a spoonful of his beans. Talk about bland and tasteless, they'd win that category, no doubt! He then passed me a slice of brisket and so as not to be completely negative in this review, say it was slightly more paletable than the ribs and leave it at that. Sorry that's the best I could do. She could tell by the amount of food left on our plates and the fact that we refused a doggy bag, we were not satisfied but she made no comment as she took our plates loaded with food away until she brought the $30.00 bill flippantly saying "sorry you didn't enjoy yourselves" and walked away. We paid the bill and left.... NEVER to darken their doors again!! A word to the wise...do go!!! I wish I could give a 'no star' review but you can't so they got one star.
(1)
John G.
This has to be one of the strangest business decisions ever. Take your very popular B-B-Q joint at the corner of 12th and Porter and move it to a totally out of the way, falling down, probably-soon-to-be-demolished minor league baseball stadium. WHAT?!?!? Was this the only space available after Whitt's opened their location at the airport 's C-Concourse? I mean seriously, I was so bummed to hear that they moved here. (If you can't tell.) Anyway, the food is generally good. The tamales are bland and gluey. The brisket is highly recommended. The diablo beans should be avoided if you don't have an office with a door that you can close.
(3)
James R.
They do Bar-B-Que a little different in the Lone Star State, and Jude Bean is bent on showing Middle Tennessee exactly how it's supposed to be done. Stepping into the joint, you would think that you had traveled a few states south, and were now dining in the great state of Texas. From the dcor to the menu to the Blue Bell ice cream, everything about Judge Beans has a unique southwestern appeal. The jewel in the Judge's crown has to be the brisket. Slow smoked and fork (heck, almost spoon!) tender, the brisket is enough to make you look past the mediocre, if rather "homey" style of picnic bench style seating. Also, for the sushi lovers, Judge Bean offers up his own unique "roll". Take a firey jalapeno, stuff it with sausage and cheese, and wrap it with brisket, and you've got the Judge's answer to Crunchy Shrimp. And if you enjoy your music live, loud and unabashedly country, check out the "Judgment Hall Stage" on weekends to hear local acts strut their stuff.
(4)
Kevin D.
We went to Judge Bean's in hope of getting some good Texas style BBQ in an area known for its southern Memphis style fare. We were pleasantly surprised all around. The place is similar to most of the good Texas BBQ joints I've been to in the Lone Star State. It has a really nice atmosphere, that is dive-y in all the right ways. We each had the smokehouse combo which got us Brisket, sausage, & ribs w/ 2 sides. Brisket & sausage was spot on as was the bbq sauce. nice and vinegary with a kick. Its actually as good as most I had in my 4 years in Texas. The ribs were a nice surprise as Texas BBQ isn't known for that, but they were fall off the bone tender and seasoned perfectly. The sides were great as well. Cowboy beans had a perfect kick & consistency. Sweet potato fries were an unexpected surprise that were delectable as well. I can say that we will definitely go back as the service, food, & atmosphere were all well done especially for the price and amount of food we got.
(4)
Rachael Anne E.
I tried the tamales, I did not care for them. However, if you like the taste of matzah then you'll most likely enjoy them. Instead, the waitress nicely replaced them wraps. They were good. The service was busy, but as attentive as possible. The waitress noticed I wasn't eating and offered to replace the meal without me asking, which I very much appreciated. We went during the UT v UK basketball game -so it was packed. It's a small "roadhouse" restaurant and they seem to have their regulars so be prepped to wait for a bit.
(3)
Scott H.
Taco Tuesdays changed my life. Unlimited brisket tacos every Tuesday for $9.50. So good
(5)
Julie B.
Being spoiled by southern pulled pork, it was hard for me to get into the whole tex-mex BBQ idea that is going here. To make a long story short: I ordered the wraps - they were okay, the waitress got my order wrong, all the sides were barely edible and the atmosphere was very loud.
(2)
Scott S.
OK...I've been torn on Yelps before, but this one was realy tough. A week ago, I would have given this place 5 stars and listed it on my "worldwide favorites list". It had, without question, the BEST barbecue I've ever had! Every time I come to Nashville I make it a prioritiy to eat at Judge Bean's. I told everyone I could about it. I met Judge himself and thanked him for gracing us with his delicious barbecue creations, primarily the Texas Sushi and the Shrimp Diablo. This week I took my annual trip to Nashville, and on the first day, as usual, I took my crew over to Judge Bean's. But...(gasp!) it had been moved! OK, I can deal with that. Wherever Judge Bean goes, I'll go. I'll find the new location, and take a cab just to get there. Imagine my surprise when the cab dropped us off at an empty baseball stadium. Hmmm...this seems strange. But...there are signs in the equally empty parking lot ensuring me this is, indeed the new home of Judge Bean's and that they are "NOW OPEN". The signs even list the weekly days and times the restaurant is open. OK...so I let the cab go and my friends and I walk up to the stadium, all the while feeling more and more nervous as we don't see anything that loooks at all like a funcitoing restaurant, nor do we see any people. Finally we get to a business office with a glass door. On the glass door, a piece of computer paper is taped. Printed on the piece of compter paper are the words "JUDGE BEAN'S CLOSED". Is it closed for the next five minutes? Closed for the day? closed for the season? closed forever? No way of knowing, so I walk through the door to find out. A dork in a Brewers jacket is walking around (appearantly the Nashville Sounds are the Brewers minor League team, and this is their office). I ask the guy, what's up with Judge Bean's? He carelessly and rudely brushes me off by telling me he "doesn't have anything to do with that". He follows up, "it's closed though, that's why the sign's there." This is why Yelp makes the world a better place. A pre-Yelp Scott S. would have exploded into a knife-wielding ninja and Mr. Brewer-man would have been hibachi steak. But I held my tongue, and my knives, knowing I would have my revenge right here in this forum. The story doesn't end there. As I stated earlier, I let the cab go. Bad idea. Just as I walked out of the stadium, the rain began to fall. And oh, did I mention? This baseball stadium (Greer Stadium) is in the middle of nowhere. My friends and I walked, in the rain, all the way back to our hotel, where we ate at the horrible Amerigo (see Yelp). Listen, I would have happily walked TEN miles in a BLIZZARD for Judge Bean's. But to walk two miles in the rain on an empty stomach after being deprived of one of the world's foremost barbecue delights? Uneacceptable. It's like I always say, "a closed restaurant is a one-star restaurant" and Judge Bean's wasn't just closed, it was closed, in the middle of nowhere, with no explanation, and sevreal signs declaring it's openess. Makes me mad just thinking about it.
(1)
Wade A.
Friendly service, great roadhouse atmosphere and very good brisket sandwich.
(4)
James T.
I was so glad to find this joint resurfaced in Brentwood. Taco Tuesday killed me. All u can eat tacos (brisket, smoked chicken, or catfish) 2 sides and a drink for $9.50. Brisket coma. Love the atmosphere and attitude.
(5)
glenn s.
Went in on a Sunday afternoon, been wanting to try there BBQ. Sat at the bar and the bartender was more interested in partying with her friends than serving me. She was even drinking a beer. After about 15 minutes she finaly came back to check on me and take my food order. I didnt order, she got no tip and I left. Sent an email to the management and of course no reply so I assume that this type of service is standard for the place.
(1)
Ingrid E.
I don't love the BBQ. It's got good flavor, it's just kind of fatty for my taste. However, it's worth going to Judge Bean's for the potato salad and cole slaw. Both are delicious and pack a little bit of punch with some great spice. Dishes come with texas toast. Worth stopping in to see the decor as well!
(4)
brian f.
So here goes.. my first review. I was looking to try some decent BBQ in Nashville, so i ventured to Judge Bean's BBQ after reading some reviews. A friend and i tried the chips and queso, which was ok, but it also came with salsa that was served warm and had a smoked flavor to it... yum. I ordered the Judge's Combo with brisket, sausage and ribs. The brisket and ribs had good flavor and were very tender, but i didn't care for the sausage. I had a side of the cowboy beans, which are spicer than the regular beans because they add jalapeno peppers.. awesome! Wish it was closer to the city, but i definitely recommend it to anyone.
(4)
John M.
Normally I give Judge Beans 3 or 4 stars, as it is a pretty decent BBQ joint and we eat there maybe once a month or so. Since Williamson county is also hurting for a decent Mexican place (besides Sopapilla's for Southwestern), it is also nice that they have good queso here. My favorite is dipping their sweet potato waffle fries in it! My only recurring complaint is that the cook usually dries the meat out by overcooking it, like they did with my wife's grilled chicken and like they did with my hamburger this past visit. Which brings me to the point of this review... My hamburger. Since the menu says it is a half-pound, and I am picky about my burgers, I asked the server if they pat their own burgers or get them in frozen. She said they were hand-patted, so I was willing to give the bacon cheeseburger a shot. I asked to have it cooked medium and the cook charred the first one, so I asked them if they could give it one more try. The second one was cooked just right, and I believe they deep-fry their bacon to cook it, which if you've never had it is amazingly good. The bun however, was a little stale. The burger, unfortunately, tasted like it came straight out of a big freezer box and then danced across the grill in the form of a frozen hockey puck as it started to cook... The poor server had no idea what she was talking about. It tasted like Grade Z meat, the Sam's Club special that tasted exactly, and I mean EXACTLY like that cheap burger you ate at your last family reunion. OVERALL BURGER RATING: 2 stars, and I do believe I'm being generous here. C'mon Judge Bean's, I expect a little more from you than this for a $10 burger! I will return of course, but not repeat the mistake of ordering your $10 "Family Reunion Burger"!
(3)
Richard N.
The BBQ is solid. The atmosphere is excessive and loud. It's hard to have a conversation over the very loud music.
(4)
Bob J.
Having tried most BBQ joints in Nashville area I left unimpressed. The sausage lacked flavor and had a soft consistency, the ribs were uninspired compared to those of Martins and Edley's. Good place to go to fill a BBQ craving but not if you want top notch Cue.
(3)
Julie K.
Went here with my husband and son. I wasn't impressed the last time I came here but decided to give it another try. Nope - still not impressed. I am completely baffled by their kids menu. It is a BBQ restaurant but the only choices on the kids menu are chicken strips (frozen from a bag), corn dog (frozen from a bag), or a grilled cheese. No kids burger or kids bbq sandwich. That is bizarre to me. Sorry kid - no bbq for you unless you want a huge adult meal. I ordered the brisket (ok) and sausage (greasy and no flavor). I sent the sausage back and got more brisket. We were there early on a Friday evening and it was not very crowded yet our server was disinterested and took forever refilling drinks. There are many other barbecue restaurants in town that do it better (Mickey Roo's in Franklin for one).
(2)
Matthew R.
This is not fancy BBQ, and I like that it is not. This is an authentic establishment that serves great BBQ and is a fun place to spend an afternoon. The bartender was awesome, the people around us were cool and we had a great time. This is the kind of place I would like to frequent, unfortunately I live in Oregon, so it will be less frequent than I want.
(4)
David L.
What can I say? This week, I've been in a Barbecue state of mind... A business meeting in Brentwood took me by this shop. At the lunch hour, it is incredible crowded (and noisy). I did not stay and wait... I'd observed it's best to hit this place after 12:30pm, as the business lunch crowd will otherwise dominate the joint. Today, I did just that. Here's the lowdown: Highlights: - generous helping of the brisket - flavorful, sauce - good sweet potato fries - good, quick service Areas for improvement: - soggy corn-on-the-cob - mac & cheese = so/so...kinda dry (powdery?) - price (over $10 for lunch) All in all, a good meal, but there is room for improvement.
(3)
Tristen B.
This is one of the only places that I've gotten the same thing every time I come. The brisket nachos are a must try with some of their bbq sauce! It's been awesome and delicious every time
(5)
Linda A.
Overall, pretty yucky. Ended up here at lunch time today...not sure why. Mimosas are $4 all day on Sunday...that's pretty cool...EXCEPT, they don't have champagne. Hmmmm Sauce - horrible. Second taste - yep, horrible. Brisket - like bad pot roast. Pork - dry. Edible but when you're used to good BBQ, this is just. not. good. Kind of like when you go to a picnic and there's pulled pork, but you got there late and it's all dried out and generally ick. The slaw and potato salad were warm. The mac & cheese tasted like a mix. The sweet potato fries were really good though...they can heat those up like nobody's business. Won't be back. Nope.
(2)
David O.
I'm not someone with a great deal of experience with what constitutes good (or great) BBQ, but I know what I like. Overall I found the food at Judge Bean's to be pretty good. The other parts of the visit where perhaps less so. The location is difficult to find, and the parking lot at some point has been repainted, causing the lines to shift from "angle" parking to "straight" parking. In some places BOTH lines are visible, so someone is going to park "wrong" and subsequently the rest of the lot is going to suffer for it. The service, while friendly, was slower than I would have liked. I don't know if our waitress was the only one working (which is in fact possible) but I felt like I had to spend too much time trying to get her attention when it was time to get the check. Having said that, the staff was friendly and greeted us with a smile, the food was good, but nothing life changing. I wasn't disappointed, but I'm not sure I'd rush back.
(3)
Robert U.
Weird. Went once. Thought it was BBQ, buy the waitress was tarted up like a ho. Did I go to Hooters by mistake? She was not friendly, but instead, sort of cursory to the point of being off-putting. Why? Food was okay, but pricey. What is this place, and what does it want?
(2)
Pat O.
Very disappointing. Fried okra and French fries greasy and BBQ sauce bland. Brisket was pretty good. Not worth the trip.
(1)
Noelle T.
I still don't get this place. I gave it a second chance at their location in Brentwood and it kind of grosses me out. We started with this really strange BBQ salsa blend that just tasted like fusion gone wrong. The meat had large fat chunks in it and the fries were "meh". I don't think I will try again a third time.
(2)
Frank M.
First time. At first glance it looked like a whole in the wall. Once inside you could immediately smell the BBQ. We ordered Butchers Pack and it was enough to feed 4-6 people, if your hungry! It was a great deal and good service.
(4)
Susan D.
I was a little weary to try this place even though I live close by due to the inconsistent ratings they get here on yelp. After being indecisive about trying it for almost 2 years, I bit the bullet and went for it. I'm glad I did! I decided to just get a To Go Order for the Titans game at home. I ordered the Chicken Plate. It was a HUGE serving of food for about $10. It came with about 6-7 mesquite grilled chicken tender strips, an awesome queso dip, their salsa (which as mentioned before is very smoky- I didn't care for it and I love salsa), texas toast, and two sides. I got the fries and green beans. Both were awesome. Also ask for a side of their hot bbq sauce. It's not that hot but it is very good! The chicken was cooked almost perfectly, only a couple of the thinner strips were a little dry but overall tender and tasty. I would definitely recommend this place as a try if you're in the area. I'll be back, especially for that queso!
(4)
Charles S.
Well, I got another Groupon, so I went back. This time my wife ordered the smoked sausage plate and it was excellent. I got the tacos, one brisket and one chicken. Maybe it was because we went for lunch or maybe it was my imagination, but the crumbled brisket served on the taco was much better than the crumbled brisket my wife had on her potato the last visit. The tortilla was partially fried...sections were crisp and sections were soft, but it was still pretty good. I liked the chicken probably best of all. I guess if you know what to order, Judge Bean's can be okay.
(3)
Morgan P.
Judges claims to be the best BBQ in Brentwood. I don't think they need to worry about keeping this prized title because there aren't a lot of BBQ places in Brentwood. Wah-wah-whaaaa. For me and my man, the location is the draw. Sometimes you've been camping and you're hungry and cold and just want BBQ and beer. You want to be within driving distance of your house so when you leave woozy and meat drunk you only have to drive 10 minutes before crashing into your bed and taking a nap that ruins any hopes you had of sleeping that night. I degrees. We've had the tour of this menu due to the above pattern. We've tried the ribs, brisket, chicken, sausage etc. These menu items aren't anything to write home about. Their BBQ isn't bad, it's just not great. The only reason we've gone back recently is because they have some pretty solid BBQ nachos. I lived in Memphis of 6 years, home of the BEST bbq nachos: Central BBQ. These don't even hold a candle to that pile of drool worthy wonder. However those nachos are 3 hours away and when you are cold/hungry/not up for a 3 hour drive these nachos are a pretty good second best option. That being said the last time we ordered them the beans to cheese ratio was way off. If you wanted a fun place to watch the game in Brentwood, I would suggest this place. The wait staff is fairly attentive. Every seat has a view of a TV and you can order the nachos.
(3)
Hart P.
This was a great find in Brentwood. Plenty of food, affordably priced, and tasted good.
(5)
Mary S.
sorry for the one star---but this place deserves it. Don't think I've ever thrown away left- over ribs, but these baby backs were truly awful. Not just the "meh" sauce, but the fat content and texture was creepy! The ribs seemed to have been steamed rather than grilled and meat had no flavor. I love cole slaw of all kinds but didn't even finish this stuff--it had the taste of garlic powder (?? really??) throughout. The brisket was pretty tasteless as well. $50+ of carry out and I think 1/3 of it went into the trash! Now that's bad!
(1)
David G.
Great BBQ. I had the brisket nachos. Fantastic!!!! My Girl Sharon had the pulled pork with the waffle sweet potato fries and said it was also delicious. The atmosphere is kinda honky tonk and I am not sure if they were going for the look or it just materialized as a matter of function but either way, the food was great and to me that was the most important factor in the decision to return. I would return anytime!
(4)
Allie R.
Oh Judges... I want to like you so badly, but your shenanigans (yes SHENANIGANS!) have me so fed up. The only reason we continue to come back to judge's is because of those brisket nachos, no doubt they are my favorite nachos on this earth, HOWEVER, I think we must have some sort of bad luck at judges, at least I hope so. First off my husband and I and some friends stopped into judges on Sunday to watch some football, all decked out in our jersey's ready to eat a lot of food, drink a lot of beer, and spend a lot of money. Judges has roughly 8-10 TV's in their restaurant so we thought there would be no problem seeing our game (BearsVBangels). Oh we were wrong. They had only TWO other games and refused to change any of the other TVs away from the Titans... excuse me? When you have more than 5 TVs and a large bar you are a sports bar, refusing to put on several different teams is terrible. If you are going to be a "Titans" bar then BE a Titans bar, change the name to Titan's Beans and BBQ and decorate accordingly. So we left (and ended up having an amazing time at The Other Place in the Lenox village where they had almost EVERY game playing). This isn't the only ridiculous situation that we have come across with Judges. It used to be that slightly more than half the time we are there the waitress was rude, there is one waitress that has gone down in infamy with my friend group and we still joke about her and bring her up over a year later (seriously this girl could not get a scowl off her face even if we paid her to). Though, it seems that lately they are hiring more quality waitresses and service has been better. Another time, there were either 5 or 6 of us that they sat at one of their large tables. We got our drinks and nachos and were enjoying them, when the hostess came over and asked us to move to another table....? (so Karaoke could be set up, WHICH NEVER EVEN HAPPENED AFTER WE MOVED) I've worked as a manager in a restaurant before and this is so beyond not acceptable in the restaurant business I can't even begin, actually i can, I would have been fired if I ever did that. But we did, with a smile to make it as not awkward as possible the rest of dinner. Finally another time we were there we brought my husbands family, as they were visiting, and we had been talking up the nachos all weekend and were so excited for them to experience. We get there, we order..."oh, sorry we are out of chips"...are you kidding me!? At my old restaurant we ran out of broccoli once, SO I WENT TO THE STORE AND BOUGHT SOME! doing so meant no disappointed customers, which is something you kind of shoot for in the restaurant business. I could understand being out of something that requires prep and a lot of time, but chips? CHIPS? No excuse. So there is constant disappointment with judges, but we are like a moth to the flame when it comes to those dang brisket nachos, and we will probably always be back just for those. I want to love you judges, LET ME LOVE YOU!
(2)
Sarah S.
We visited while traveling in the area for business. All of our local contacts recommended it. The food was good. The brisket was my favorite while the others at my table really liked the ribs. I enjoyed the Texas Sushi - a jalapeno, stuffed with sausage and cheese, and then wrapped in brisket! Delicious! Be sure to ask for the spicy BBQ sauce. The service was very good. Our drinks never got below 1/2 empty before she was filling them!
(4)
Dan B.
Great BBQ, friendly staff, chill vibe and reasonable prices.
(4)
Sophia And Sacco V.
Love the food, love the beer but don't suggest you sit other than where the waitresses want to sit you. ATTITUDE.
(4)
Rodrick D.
Great BBQ and absolutely loved the Texas sushi appetizer (jalapeño, cream cheese, sausage wrapped in brisket). Never tastes anything like it in my life. Will definitely go back when I'm in town.
(4)
Patten F.
I'm not a barbecue snob by any stretch of the imagination - I've been to Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur, Jack's in downtown Nashville, virtually every Bar-B-Cutie in town and to Corky's in Brentwood. I'm not picky - if there's meat, I'll probably eat it. Granted, there were some I liked better than others. Judge Bean's falls a bit into the "others" portion. I had actually been to Judge Bean's many - or at least a few - moons ago when it was briefly the restaurant at Greer Stadium, but I didn't really remember much about it other than the view was real and it was spectacular. Fast forward to this week, I go with my lady friend to see the Judge. The building that it's in has been in Brentwood for ages and has been a bar of some sort for as long as I can remember (my dad actually used to own a business right down the street and we'd sometimes walk by the old bar to pick up PDQ Pizza back when it was located in Brentwood). At some point in the past couple of years, Judge Bean bought it...it's a little strange that the business has only been in Nashville for about 10 years and has relocated at least twice...but I digress...it's tiny, it's divey...and is so ridiculously out of place in Brentwood. There are TV's on the wall (which were playing American Idol with the volume off for some reason). The tables had checkered table cloths, rolls of paper towels and buckets with containers of ketchup and two kinds of barbecue sauce. The menu features many different presentations of meat, but mainly - your options are brisket, sausage, ribs or chicken. I got the sausage...and the serving was very generous. The sausage itself was cooked quite well, but nothing really out of the ordinary. If you like smoked sausage, theirs is straightforward, but good. If you don't like smoked sausage, you probably shouldn't be eating at a barbecue restaurant. The sides were a bit hit and miss - I ordered cowboy beans and fried okra. The cowboy beans were fantastic - they were baked beans served in a sweetish (not Swedish) sauce with jalepenos and bits of brisket. The okra, on the other hand, was bland and blech. As for the sauces, they were interesting. There was a hot sauce and a "regular" sauce. The regular sauce was sweet but ridiculously smoky. Not sure if it was actually smoked of if someone just got happy with the liquid smoke. The hot sauce was almost a paste...it also had a bit of that smoky taste, but definitely had more heat. I wavered between 2 and 3 stars, but since there wasn't anything inherently wrong with the service or the meal, I'll stick it at 3. I don't know that I'd be jumping to go back to Judge Bean's, but I wouldn't say no if someone suggested a trip.
(3)
C. D.
Ok, went on the recommendation of a friend. The BBQ Pork was very good, tender and juicy with great smoke flavor. Unfortunately, the sauce served on the side was just ok. We had the Texas Sushi for appetizers which contains smoked sausage and hot peppers with melted cheese wrapped in brisket. Again, nothing to write home about. Our service was very slow and, most annoying, it was sooo cold. Price was about 12$ per person.
(2)
Steve J.
Judge Beans understands Brisket, friendly service and a great atmosphere. If you are not a fan of dives, then you might want to skip this one. However, Brentwood needs all the dives they can get! The service is always friendly, fast and aims to please. Even though this is not fast food, my lunch has always been served quickly. The brisket is Texas Style, tasty and healthy. They only use 100% natural, steroid-free, hormone-free Hereford beef, which I really appreciate. The brisket has enough fat to provide some flavor and tenderness without being overbearing. The sides in this joint are good, but nothing to get excited about. If you need a quick lunch in Brentwood and are craving Brisket, I would recommend Judge Beans everyday!
(4)
Debbie S.
Food is just so so. If you want stouffers frozen mac n cheese, or frozen okra, go here. Or you can reheat it at home for a lot less. BBQ is mediocre. We also had chicken tacos. They were luke warm. Prices seem high for what you get. Service was good, but the waitress was overworked. Don't think we will go back.
(2)
Jasper T.
Judge Bean's has quickly become one of my favorite BBQ place in town, and you'll find me here at least once a week. Judge Bean's is a causal fun place to just relax and have some great BBQ. I have had a lot of BBQ in my life and I pride myself on being a BBQ snob and truthfully this is probably some of the best BBQ I've ever had. The sauce is always good and just the right spice. And if you go make sure you get the Chips and Salsa! The veggies in the salsa are roasted on the pit and then puried so it gives it that rich smoky flavor. Never had anything like it before. Oh and the prices are great as well. To top it off the service has always been great as well. Looking for great BBQ. Give it a try.
(5)
Brian P.
Really good barbecue, had the pick two plate, good deal for the huge amount of food. Had the brisket and ribs, both were tasty and cooked to perfection. Only drawback for me was to weirdly smokey salsa brought with the chips, neither myself or my dining companion could get our taste buds around it, and would have much preferred a more traditional salsa. Would not keep me from visiting again though. Was pleasantly surprised by the extensive selection of decent craft style beers. Would consider this a must do stop when in this area.
(4)
Mary S.
Wow....LOVED this place! I was one of the few at my table that did not get the pulled pork. Everyone raved about it! I got the smoked brisket and the smokey flavor was superb! I've had some good brisket over the years, but the smokey flavor on this was hands down the best! The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that the corn on the cob (which I was also looking forward to) was WAY over cooked and I didn't make it past the first bite of it. The BBQ was top notch though!
(4)
Katya W.
Worst nachos ever and the brisket is bland.
(1)
John M.
I'm a big fan of Judge Bean's. I've always loved southern BBQ (pork, pork and more pork), but I've grown to appreciate the Texas style as well. They focus more on the brisket, sausage and chicken. Probably my go to dish is the brisket and sausage combo with cole slaw and tamales. Yes, I said tamales. They have some random items on the menu that all work (i.e. brisket burrito, shrimp diablo, texas jambalaya and the aforementioned tamales). The only item on the menu that I didn't really care for was the smoked chicken as it was little too dry for me. Make sure you ask for the hot sauce as well. The regular sauce is good, but I like to kick it up a notch, and the hot isn't overbearingly hot. The service is always great. It is probably one of the most popular spots for our office to eat for lunch. It gets really crowded during lunch so if you're not their early, you might have a wait.
(4)
Greg S.
Saturday lunch service was busy as was the bar. Portions are large. Service was very good, but the food was quite average. There are plenty of TV's, so it would be a good place to catch the games.
(3)
Will M.
First off, skip the brisket. Second, everything else is spectacular here. Real texas BBQ, atmosphere is like you walked into another state. Place is usually pretty busy, a bit more expensive than say Martin's BBQ but the location is better for me.
(4)
Karen P.
I know this is a barbecue place, but we both ordered burgers. One of the best burgers I have had in a long time, the bun was fresh and soft, the meat flavorful and mine was cooked perfect. The only reason I didn't give 4 stars is that my fiance's burger was ordered medium well and came out with a very pink center. The fries were fresh and homeade and I ordered, as a side, the fried okra. I am confident it was homeade also and cooked perfectly. Now I know why this is one of my son's favorite places. I wish I would have remembered our waitperson's name, she was wonderful.
(3)
Brad B.
I've visited Judge Bean's in 4 different locations over the last couple of years. The consistent was the shrimp diablos and Aubrey Bean. Last visit I heard that Aubrey was no longer involved in the restaurant - so we'll see where this goes. Believe that Bobby Burton is still one of the owners. The restaurant has always been a bit inconsistent -- so you need to have a plan. Ask your server for what looks best this day. Don't plan on ordering brisket just before closing -- that's not a cook to order food, it's been cooked earlier in the day and is waiting for orders. Diablos are always reliably good, sides are usually pretty good. Service can be spotty -- let your server know if there's a problem so it can be addressed -- some of the servers are not ready for the big leagues. Better than any chain bbq spot, but I prefer Martins BBQ in Nolensville for the best BBQ in town..
(3)
Mandy S.
Just used our last Sharing Spee there last month. We bought as many as our limit because we live this place so much! Lives, good for kids and adults, and just good greasy barbecue.
(4)
Eva B.
I have rarely been to a meal at which I seriously could not find one thing redeeming about the meal until tonight. I ordered the brisket plate with the mac and cheese and fries. The brisket was cold and completely devoid of flavor. The mac and cheese was even colder and seemed as if it came from powder mix. The fries were, well....awful. And when I was hoping to drown this meal in the BBQ sauce to make it edible, I was not surprised to find it too was horrible. It had an overly acidic flavor that I'm still trying to get out of my mouth. The only star that I'm giving is for the friendly wait staff.
(1)
Anita A.
Good food. The most amazing aroma hits you when you open the door! If I could sniff my way full, this is the spot! Nice atmosphere and to die for banana puddin' pie! I will definitely be back!
(4)
Kevan G.
Best ribs I've had in Nashville! The atmosphere is very casual but the service was top notch. The cole slaw was a great surprise! My wife had the blackened tilapia. She gives it 4 stars. Portion was a little small but the flavor was awesome. We wish we had another night in Nashville so we could go back again. We will definitely plan a return next time we pass through! Highly recommended!
(5)
Jesse G.
Solid choice between Great --- Good. The meat is smoked and has a great flavor. There are a number of quality sides from which to choose; cowboy beans and fresh cut homemade fries were outstanding. The only real disappointment was the limited sauce options. The "our sauce" (house option) was OK and the only other choice was a Hot BBQ sauce which was also mediocre. If your passing through it's worth the stop!
(3)
Sarah S.
We went to Judge Bean's BBQ on a whim after doing some shopping in Brentwood. It was so good! We've been hunting for really great brisket around Nashville, and while we've found some pretty good ones, their's takes the prize hands down. To start, we had to taste the salsa because I read a review that said there were pieces of brisket actually integrated into it. Yep - amazing. Very spicy, I will warn. I am not a sensitive to spice kind of girl, and my mouth was burning. We also got a small order of their wings with the pepper sauce and I have to say, some of the best wings I've had in a long long time. I have been craving them since we went! For dinner, I ordered the daily special of the Brisket Chimichanga. There was a nice balance of ingredients (beans, cheese, brisket, rice) inside, but I'm not sure if it was the fact that my palette had just been attacked by the salsa and wings, or if it truly was lacking in seasoning. My husband ordered the brisket platter (of course, since that's what we were there for), and loved it! We'll be back, if for nothing else wings and brisket. Much Meat Love to You, Judge Beans!
(5)
Loraine N.
Food was good. Service awful. Our waitress today, think her name was Courtney had zero personality and not very warm or friendly.!didnt check back after we got our food and nit a single "thank you" from her. Seemed as she dies the minimum. Take order and bring out food and check in a quick hurry. Come on judge beans....where's the Southern Hospitality? Not with her.
(2)
George E.
Had the Judges BBQ plate/a good value@$12.50 pulled pork was good, fries soggy thou Merideth was very attentive to our needs.
(4)
David D.
Who knew? They actually have brisket in TN. Memphis take note. Is pulled pork the only thing anyone knows how to smoke? Ok the place is kinda cool. Not smoky as some places can be. And they got the sides right. You have to get the brisket. This is from a guy who grew up in KC. I know my BBQ.
(4)
Dee a.
Eh, it was ok. Decent bbq, but nothing that really made it exceptional or would entice us to make the drive out.
(2)
Kevin C.
Very good Brisket! Great Menu! Large appetizers.
(4)
Daniel G.
The brisket wasn't very tender and the sausage was lukewarm. Beans were ok and the onion rings were decent. It's more of an experience than it is a place for good food. The upside to this place is that they were very willing to change out the warm items. Great customer service. Ok food.
(3)
Kathryn D.
We drove by this place several times, we just couldn't commit to going in. The parking lot was always full, which was a good sign. Tonight we decided to go in, so glad we did, our brisket plater, bbq beans, potato salad & a shrimp Diablo. It's been a while since I have had brisket this good, that it could be cut with a fork. You need to come check them out!!
(4)
Candra G.
Stopped in for lunch this week and ordered a brisket plate with baked beans and potato salad. Overall, from the service to the food - it was a 'meh' experience. The food didn't take long to arrive, but unfortunately it was lukewarm at best. The best part of the meal was the potato salad as the brisket was dry as a desert and seriously lacking in flavor. Baked beans...well, you can't really mess up baked beans. The best part of the service experience was the valet attendant - he was super friendly and considerate. Overall, Judge Beans wasn't bad, it just wasn't all that good either.
(2)
Erica J.
Delicious food. The place is located outside of Nashville and the interior has a lot of rustic charm. Their bbq ribs were moist and flavorful, mac n cheese was creamy, and their tacos were simple but delicious. We also ordered the wings without the sauce and they were fried and seasoned perfectly. Wished we lived nearby, would come here regularly for sure.
(4)
Phil F.
My wife and I ordered drinks and the Texas Sushi appetizer with every intention of ordering a main course. The drinks were very watered down. Maybe a 1oz pour. The Texas Sushi is a jalapeño pepper stuffed with cheese and wrapped in brisket. It is supposed to be served hot (and preferably fresh). The middle was cold. Clearly they just warmed it in the microwave. The brisket was as tough as shoe leather. And we couldn't even cut through with a knife. Needless to say we didn't order dinner. The service was average. The waitress did have a good attitude which is why I gave it 2 stars instead of 1.
(2)
Phil B.
Brisket, sausage, wings, and potato salad are all great! Try the jalapeño stuffed bacon wrap appetizer and banana pudding too!
(4)
Jared K.
As a native Texan, Judge Bean unsurprisingly and thankfully gravitates toward brisket rather than pulled pork. A man after my own heart. He is also apparently a descendent of the infamous Texas lawman Judge Roy Bean, which is just awesome. Part of me was anticipating a counter-service barbecue joint, but Judge Bean's uses waitresses. As I frequently do when dining alone, I saddled up to the bar. The very friendly bartender took great care of me. In fact, everyone I encountered here was exceptionally welcoming. Clearly the staff has been instructed on the finer points of Texas charm as well as Texas 'que. Since Judge Bean's specializes in Texas-style barbecue, and since I was feeling a little homesick, a Texas Trinity was in order. I got their 3-Meat Smokehouse Combo with brisket, ribs, and sausage, as well as potato salad and cowboy beans for my two sides. I also couldn't help tacking on a piece of their so-called Texas Sushi for good measure. My Texas Sushi appetizer came out first. What you have here is a jalapeno stuffed with sausage and cream cheese, wrapped in brisket. It's kind of like a California roll, except for men. The brisket had a nice smoke ring and was quite tender despite being a leaner cut of meat. I found a great hit of smoke and heat in each bite, tempered nicely by the cream cheese. Good thing I had a big glass of sweet tea to cool things down. The entire thing was absolutely fantastic. I enjoyed their mayonnaise-based potato salad, which was a nice change of pace from the mustard-based potato salads I usually find in my travels. Without the overpowering mustard flavors, I could really taste the pickles and pimento. According to the menu, the cowboy beans are "not a sleeping partners favorite," so I'll apologize in advance to my wife. The beans had a ton of flavor, and there was definitely some spiciness to them. The brisket had a deep red smoke ring which perfectly matched the equally smoky flavor. The dark black bark was also extremely tasty. Though lean, the brisket was magnificently tender. What little fat there was had been rendered beautifully. In addition to signifying the proper cooking time/temperature, this also tells me that Judge Bean's truly cares about their product. Barbecued sausage seems to be a rare find in Middle Tennessee, so the Czech in me was happy to see it at Judge Bean's. The casings were very crisp, with each bite "popping" in my mouth. I could really taste the smoke, which isn't always the case with sausage. This was most assuredly not made in-house, but it was still really tasty. These ribs didn't have as much of a crust as I was expecting. I did, however, appreciate that they weren't served drowning in sauce. The meat was very tender, but sadly had no bone retention. Perhaps this was an attempt to appease local demands for "falling-off-the-bone" ribs. That being said, they had a nice smoke level and an all-around great flavor. Next time I eat at Judge Bean's, I may just order up a dozen pieces of Texas Sushi and call it good.
(4)
Shannon M.
As much as I want to love this place you never leave with the warm fuzzy feeling you'd expect from what feels like it should be a neighborhood haunt. Like the smoked meats but BBQ sauce could be improved.
(3)
Barbara D.
Best place in town would highly recommend, dinner are a good portion and friendly staff
(5)
Gregory B.
In Tennessee, BBQ usually means pulled prok. So it is nice to find a place that has real Texas style BBQ. I have been to Judge Beans numerous times and it still ranks as one of my favorite restaurants. I am not sure I can go to 5 stars, but I did think about it. One of my faves on the menu is the Texas sushi. This is a jalapeno with some of their BBQ sausage inside wrapped with a piece of brisket. Simply wonderful IMO. But the chips and salsa are also nice, with the smokey bits of brisket in the salsa. Yum! I have an allergy to shrimp, so I cannot try the diablos, which also sound wonderful (Bacon wrapped shrimp and cheese jalapeno). As for meals, i am not sure what my favorite is. I am currently more paleo, so I stick to a BBQ plate most times with some guac and green beans (yes, the green beans are not as low carb, but they are within the menu). On the other hand it is hard to say no to Taco Tuesday, with all you can eat for a reasonable price. Your choice of brisket, chicken, pulled pork or fish (I think there is a black bean option too for vegetarians, although why a vegetarian would go to a BBQ restaurant is beyond me). And when I am not low carbing it, the loaded baked potato fills me up. I prefer it with either the brisket or sausage, although the pulled pork is not bad.
(4)
Jordyn K.
I'd love to be able to write a good review but unfortunately I never got the chance to experience much of anything. The restaurant was closing at 10pm, my husband and I walked in at 9pm (what I though was plenty of time) when before we even had the opportunity to sit down a waitress/hostess, in passing, rudely mentioned that the kitchen was closing. 15 minutes would make sense, but closing the kitchen a whole hour before closing time? Unless that's normal for restaurants then now I know better! But it's not even the kitchen closing so early that upset me- it was the "greeting" we received- if you can even call it that. She could have kindly let us know that we might not be able to order and offered us a drink menu. Instead she barely gave us the time of day.
(2)
Tracy F.
We came to Judge Beans after hearing they had some of the best brisket in all of Nashville. We're not ones to pass up delicious BBQ brisket, so we hopped in the car and travelled to Brentwood to enjoy some good eats. Upon being seated, we were served a complimentary order of chips and a smoky, incredibly delicious salsa. I could have eaten the chips and salsa as my meal and been perfectly happy - that's how good it was. We tried to stop ourselves from eating the entire portion by ordering plates of brisket, grilled chicken breast and ribs, along with lots of side dishes to share with each other. When our food arrived, we both thought all of the meat selections were good, but not great. The brisket was tender but a bit dry, the ribs were fattier than we like, and most of the side dishes were sub-par. The chicken breast, however, was grilled nicely, and the baked beans were particularly good. Would we come out to Judge Beans again when Jim and Nick's is closer and much better? Probably not. If we're in Brentwood for other reasons, we might stop by for a basket of chips and salsa and some grilled chicken.
(3)
Bill M.
First visit and very impressed. We ordered almost one of every meat between our two combos to give a fair assessment. Ribs, pork, sausage were exceptional. Brisket was good but a bit dry. We'd skip the chicken next time. Okra, French fries (to die for!), green beans and baked beans were all delicious. Had the banana pudding for dessert and it was tasty. Great to find this friendly, solid place so close to home. We will be back.
(5)
Rick M.
I used to be a big fan. I don't know what happened, but the brisket is not as good as it used to be. There are too many good bbq options in Nashville and Brentwood to eat dry meat. Go to Martin's or Edlys.
(3)
Stacy T.
This place is pretty good. The chicken plate is delicious and, yes, the salsa is smoky. Some people apparently don't like that, but I think it's delicious. The only weird thing about this place is sometimes it might be totally full, but I'm the only girl patron. It's heavily flooded with men, which is cool, but a little strange.
(4)
Charles C.
The tacos are freaking great!! I love the cowboy beans and the shrimp diablo will light you up!
(4)
Jaime S.
Really good! Cool atmosphere. I got the brisket and the smokey taste was just right. Not greasy like some other brisket. None of the sides looked like they were from a can, all seemed homemade. I went at 2:15 on a Saturday and it wasn't crowded or busy at all. The sauce was really good too! The chips and salsa are the bomb if you like a "smokey" taste. My dad got a meat trio and he said the grilled chicken was his favorite.
(4)
Bob N.
Nice local bbq joint. Combo platter with Brisket and Pulled Pork. It was well smoked but the brisket was a touch dry. The sides were meh, and the star of the show was the pulled pork. Hind site 20/20 I'm getting a pile of pulled pork with a side of slaw. Friendly service and a full service bar. I will be back.
(3)
Samantha S.
I have been a huge fan of this location since they opened. I love some Texas BBQ. The brisket is so damn good. The ribs? Not so much. Love the huge sides as well -- FF, cowboy beans, green beans, texas toast, guacamole and corn are my favorites. They must put unicorn tears in their BBQ sauce because I could drink it dry. I'm not a huge sauce girl but watch that bottle at Judge Beans! At dinner, they bring out chips and salsa too. Yum-o! Check their site out before you go... some nights they have 2 for 1, live music, etc.
(4)
Sunshine M.
Saw good reviews on yelp and decided to try. Really good food. Mac and cheese and pulled pork was awesome. Husband had brisket and said it was the best he ever had. Coleslaw was plain, so skip that, but service was good, place was clean and food was so good.
(4)
Melissa B.
OMG!!! This is the BEST BBQ that I have eaten since I moved to Nashville area 3 yrs ago...I found this place by accident...isn't that how it usually happens!!!! I had purchased a discount on Groupons for $8 to save $16 on your visit and it never expires..so I thought why not...I bought this four months ago and I was cleaning out my desk drawer and found the coupon..so I called Tony from work and said "HEY lets try some BBQ tonight for dinner when I get off...a new place (( new to us))) and she agreed. So we went on Friday after work....it is a small location...located off the main drag in Brentwood...so I had to GPS on my phone...the parking lot was full..but we went in.. The waitress greeted us immediately and sat us at a nice table...plenty of large screen tvs everywhere....Noticed a ton of patrons crowded in the small bar area cheering on a basketball game.. I told the waitress we were newbies and she said..."well then let me recommend something to you"..I said SURE...you are the expert..and she smiled and said ..."Get it all"...you won't be disappointed...we laughed..I said I was hungry but not that hungry...and she pointed to a combo on the menu for only $14.50 that gives you three meat choices and 2 sides ...so Tony opted to get that with a cold budweiser ...he chose Brisket, ribs and smoked sausage with baked beans and mac n cheese...with texas toast... I decided to get the Mesquite chicken with Border Rice and a brisket tamale...with a soda.. Our food arrived quickly and over flowing..the plates are large portions..Tony and I immediately dived right in...we started sampling each others plates and OMG...I am not a big smoked sausage fan but it melted literally melted in my mouth..I asked our waitress if the sausage was made in house and she said NO special ordered from a smoke house in Texas..and I wont just a large plate of smoke sausage the next time I eat here.. The ribs literally fell off the bone so tender and juicy. Their sauce (( homemade of course))) was delicious and not too spicy.. I loved the Judge's Baked Beans..I want them again with my plate of smoked sausage..I already know what I want to order next time... Everything was good. I couldn't finish my plate and neither could Tony so we took it home and we both had lunch the next day...once they deducted my Groupon Coupon, I only had to pay $20.38 with taxes for this truly wonderful feast...I left her a tip of $7 and told her WE WILL BE BACK and soon!!! If you have never eaten BBQ at the Judge's in Brentwood...You are MISSING OUT!!!! Go enjoy and let me know what you think....HEAVEN in BBQ sauce in Brentwood !!!
(5)
Jan S.
I've tried the brisket here three times. The second and third times were in hopes of the first time being an unfortunate fluke, but each time it's been dry, tough, and much too heavily seasoned. A good brisket should be crazy tender with seasoning that complements the meat. So disappointing. I will give them credit for the large size of the loaded baked potato, but that's not enough for me to try them again. There are other, better, barbecue places.
(2)
Cara M.
This is one of THE BEST BBQ places in Nashville!! I definitely recommend it to everyone who comes into town. It's a bit off the beaten path and in a small little building, but that's the best kind, isn't it?! Everyone I've taken here has had a great experience and food. You can't go wrong with any of their foods either, as I've tasted everything and it's all been amazing! You should also try their southwest ranch dressing on your salad (or BBQ actually). My only pet peeve is when you come in and wait to be seated, as sometimes they won't seat you if you are with a small party and they only have large tables available. So you really want us to stand here waiting while there are open tables??? Yeahhhh I've almost walked out because of that.
(5)
Tony R.
They have bad service, overly salty pork, and the worst bbq sauce ever. There fries are not good. Please do not eat here. Go to corkys 1 minute away and get yourself some real bbq if that is what you are in the mood for.
(2)
Keith H.
I heard great things about this little barbecue place. Unfortunately it does not live up to their reputation the wait staff and hosts are very prompt and friendly however that did not make up or the subpar BBQ. I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(3)
J B.
Stopped here after reading reviews. Overall a good bbq place. Ribs were my favorite, pulled pork and chicken wings good.....diablo was very spicy which I love! brisket was just ok. Love the atmosphere, from the outside it doesnt look that impressive. Their bbq sauce is good. They sell it to go. They need to bottle it. It just comes in styro foam cup now. I would recommend this place
(4)
Jason P.
Slightly odd for a bbq place, but Judge Bean's makes some of the best roasted salsa in all the land.
(4)
Keithon S.
Raised in East Texas, in Carthage, Tx - I know Texas style BBQ better than anyone!! So many people here in Nashville talk about how much they love BBQ, but every place I try is nothing but bland southeastern style BBQ; I'm not a fan of it. So when I hear people talking about a Texas style BBQ place that's actually good, I completely disregard them. Well today, my hand was forced. I'll honestly say I had my doubts about this place. I mean come on, Texas style BBQ in Nashville, that doesn't add up. But I'll have it a try. Tonight I got the Smokehouse Combo (ribs & sausage for my meat of choice and BBQ beans & fries as my sides). OH. MY. GOD. It was a good hefty Texas portion of food - it was gone in a matter of minutes. The taste was spot on. SPOT ON!!! To all my fellow Texans, or even those who just want to see what the fuss is about, eat here ASAP!!! You won't be let down. I can't wait to try more off of this menu. Until next time...
(5)
JD K.
Good BarBcue. Ribs are good. Brisket is pretty good. A tad dry but overall good flavor. Good selection of beers and nicely stocked bar. It had the usual down-home decor which is kind of fun but is almost becoming cliche for BBQ joints. Bartenders were very attentive, great service. Overall good, but not outstanding BBQ food and great service.
(4)
Gabrielle U.
MMMMMM! My coworkers took me to Judge Bean's saying it was the best BBQ in Nashville and well...it was bomb. The place was packed, which is always a good sign in my mind. Short wait, then we were seated. They have all the basics of good, Southern comfort food that people like myself have to really hunt down in California. I decided to go with the Combo Plate, which included Pulled Pork, Brisket, Mac n Cheese and green beans. I had to get one vegetable so I could feel somewhat guilt-free. The food arrived very quickly and was absolutely scrumptious! The pulled pork had great flavor, was very tender and had that pulled apart texture I love. The brisket was thinly sliced with a great smokey taste that meshed well with just a little BBQ Sauce. Of course, the mac n' cheese was delicious as well. Glad I got to check this place out while I was in Nashville.
(5)
Stefanie M.
We went on a weekend night in December and it was very, very busy, but we found a seat at the rail and had a wonderful server that took care of us!! I guess it too frequently happens that when restaurants are busy you don't get great service so this was a nice surprise. We had the Texas Sushi which was good *but not as good as the Vinegar Room!), pork, brisket and chicken and everything was really good. I know we'll go back!
(3)
Justin S.
I got the Smokehouse combo with chicken and ribs. It was very good. The meat was fresh and the sides were very good as well.
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 : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Rico A.
My home away from home. Hands down, best bbq I've ever had. Everything is good here. Top your meal with a shrimp diablo
(5)Beth A.
Yum yum yum!! This is a hidden gem! I stopped by on suggestion of a coworker and I am so glad I did. This will definitely become a regular spot for me while I am in Nashville. I got the pork and chicken combo platter with coleslaw and sweet potatoe fries (waffle cut and awesome). The pork and chicken are served dry with sauce in squeeze bottles on the side. I really liked the spicy BBQ sauce. The pork had a great smoked flavor and the chicken was perfect. I will be back!
(5)Lorrie B.
We went there last night and the food was very good. Hubby had the BBQ Ribs which was a genourse size. I had the BBQ pork... Service was good. Has a hole in the wall feeling but was enjoyable & cozy. We will be back when in Nashville!
(4)Elliott W.
Probably the best of the BBQ restaurants in the middle TN area but that's not saying too much. The brisket is consistently good, but missing something (the fat cap maybe?). The ribs are always over cooked and require a fork to eat. I don't know what they put on it but it never fails to tear me up abut 15 minutes after leaving the place. His brother Mickey Roo has just as good brisket, but also has out of this world onion rings.
(3)Oz T.
Hit & Miss I eat here once a week as it is close to the office and has good sized servings.. Most of the time the service is great but I hate to wait and they are often busy.. Makes me feel like I am in Russia waiting for food. I really like the BBQ Chicken and the Sweet Potato fries.. Some nights they have music if ya into that this is a great place.. Always busy affordable, good bar selection. Price 4/5 Service 4/5 to 1/5 Flavor 4/5 Atmosphere 4/5 Bad bit is take away .. Ordered take away twice both time they have forgotten things..
(4)Kenneth J.
Great place, small environment, great BARBQUE
(5)Peter K.
Finally tried Judge Beans BBQ after hearing so much hype about it. Thankfully we only ordered the loaded nachos and nothing else. The brisket on the nachos was fairly bland, no guacamole as advertised on the menu, and more chips than toppings. We showed up on a Saturday afternoon around 2pm to an empty restaurant, I'm hoping that they food was just old because of the time of day, but that's still no excuse. Very friendly service and a laid back atmosphere. I may give them another try if I'm ever in the area and craving bbq.
(3)Sarah D.
I know this is a Texas BBQ place, but I love their tacos and tamales. The tamales are made with the beef brisket and the tacos are good with chicken or the brisket. If you do not like hot food, ask for the salsa on the side. The tamales have a little kick to them without the salsa, but they would only be too hot for those that can not tolerate any heat. The place has a fun, roadhouse atmosphere. The servers are friendly laid back and can be a bit slow. This has not been a problem on my two visits, but it would bother high maintenance diners. This is a great place for happy hour or to watch a game.
(4)LG N.
Love the Judge! He really knows how to do brisket tacos! Also, the catfish on Friday nights is wonderful!
(5)Robin S.
I love all types of barbecue, and Judge Bean's Texas-style brisket is no exception! Ultra yummy and tender, and really spicy too! I have had lots of different items from the menu. The small brisket plate is a great option--brisket plus 2 sides--I like the cowboy beans (spicy baked beans) and slaw. Also, the chicken quesadilla isn't what you would normally expect. Chicken is SO spicy, and it's pulled right off the bone. It's fantastic. The brisket tacos are amazing, and my all-time favorite is the shrimp diablo--a shrimp stuffed into a jalapeno with cream cheese, and wrapped with bacon. Your mouth will be on FIRE but it's totally worth it! I take away a star because the only location for Judge Bean's is now in Greer Stadium, where the Sounds play. If you go to a game, be sure to go up to the restaurant on the 4th floor! The 12th Avenue location is, sadly, closed.
(4)John B.
Good smoky flavor to the brisket, not too much fat. The Loaded Nachos were a meal unto themselves. Banana Pudding was average. Cowboy Beans were spiced just right. Fried Okra seems to be pre-breaded, as if bought from a food service dealer that way. We'll be back, one of the better Texas style bbq joints in Tennessee.
(4)Chris C.
I love BBQ, and I have eaten at some of the best places this country has to offer. This place does NOT rank among them. The most critical component of good BBQ is the meat. I'll give them points for having tender meat, but I suspect the meat was boiled before being grilled because it was bland and flavorless. I had ribs and brisket... no smokey, no spicy, nothing. Might as well have been pressed and formed cardboard. The second critical component of BBQ is the sauce, and it's not that difficult to make a decent sauce. I'm not sure what they did wrong, but the sauce I got from here tasted like it had a bottle of kitchen cleaner tipped into it. It had a overpowering acidic taste that did not belong in anything edible. Sides, well, they should compliment the meal. The slaw I had was disgusting and inedible, tasting like it had sat around WAY to long. The only thing I liked was the beans and the sweet tea. Last, a word of advice to the proprietor... your little attempt at a humorous tag-line "if you're a vegetarian, go back to California" just makes you and your establishment appear ignorant. California has a larger population than the great state of Texas. You may have more land mass, but we've got the people, and we're not all vegetarians. The only points I gave this place were for the live music and the friendly bartender's service.
(2)Zach G.
Average BBQ for Middle Tn.
(3)Charlie R.
Great wings, awesome nachos, nice size TVs. Best place in the area to watch a game! Only reason this place gets 4 instead of 5 stars is because they're a little pricey. $22 for full rack of babyback ribs with no sides seems a little high.
(4)Otis R.
Loved it. Excellent Texas style BBQ! Reminds me of BBQ back home in Oklahoma. Atmosphere is cool very rustic/ southwest down to the water filled zip lock bags hanging from the ceilings to scare flys away. The menus are hilarious. After ordering a cold Shiner Bock and the brisket Sandwich. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the shrimp Diablo. the brisket was good, nice smoky flavor, good smoke coloration on edge. Could have been cooked just a little longer to make it more tender though. The Shrimp Diablo (jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and shrimp then wrapped with bacon) were excellent. Loved the homestyle fries. Adding this joint to the list of restaurants I return to over and over.
(5)Berl C.
The appearance might be somewhat concerning but the food is quite good and the atmosphere is lively. Nice change of pace but not your typical BBQ Joint. Yes I will try them again if every in the area.
(3)Mike M.
Nice atmosphere and enjoyable food. We tried the sampler platter which turned out to be a great choice. Tasty brisket and sausage, spicy wings, mild ribs, and bbq beans. The shrimp poppers brought sweat to my eyeballs - a glorious sensation I haven't experienced for a long time (yeah, I like it hot).
(4)Mike K.
Okay, I'm not sure exactly when this place is going to have it's grand opening but thank goodness it's opening back up in the Nashville area:) I've been to each of Judge Bean's locations in the past including Lascassas and it is the best 'Q that I have ever bitten into. No doubt this place has struggled with it's location and management but I think Brentwood will make a good home. I'll update this post once I know when they're open.... Best beef brisket ever, wonderful & unique menu options and his flavors are sooooo good. New address from the website: Judge Bean's BBQ & Steakhouse 7022 Church Street E. Brentwood, TN 37027 (across from Royal Thai) 615-823-3507 615-242-5508
(5)BethAnn S.
I'll give this place snaps for hard working waitstaff and decent food, but don't EVER have a large group here. After talking to the owner 4 times during the course of a month to arrange a rehearsal dinner party of 60 folks, he calls 3 hours before we were to show up and says, "oh yeah....did I mention I want an extra $1000 to 'rent' the space". We took up 1/3 of the restaurant, paid $15 a head + drinks and he suddenly decided to hold us hostage. Seriously not cool. When we freaked out, he told the waitresses they just weren't going to get the 20% tip that was added on to our bill. Do NOT do business with this seriously bad, bad man.
(1)Bryan L.
this barbecue is good and tasty
(3)Chad R.
I have been to Judge Bean's three times over the past year. The restaurant is quite small and the dining area is really packed with too many tables and chairs. If you don't like people sitting very close to your table while you eat with friends and family, then you should go somewhere else. They usually play old school country music which kind of sets the mood of the place. The staff is usually very young but friendly and fast. This place is very casual so everyone was casually dressed. Most of the waitresses were wearing daisy dukes. Now, on to the food. The BBQ beef brisket is excellent. If you like beef brisket then you cannot go wrong here. The chili is pretty good. It has jalapeno peppers mixed in it for some spice. My brother thought the chili was very hot but I found it to be pretty mild but flavorful. However, I do have a high tolerance to hot foods. I did not like the smoked sausage. It was way too smoky for me and I felt queasy for the rest of the night after eating it. The BBQ sauce is very good but I wish there was more sauces to choose from for variety. Now for the sides. Their cowboy beans are mixed with jalapeno peppers with some habenero pepper spice and it was very good. The potato salad, bbq beans, and fried okra are also pretty good. I will go back to Judge Bean's but I will certainly avoid their sausage in the future.
(4)Teresa D.
Told the waitress it was our first time there and she said we should definitely get ribs, so I did. My husband got the brisket. We both got fries. She said the Mac and cheese was 'yummy' so I got that as my other side. My husband chose their beans, since she said they were 'famous'. First I tasted the mac and cheese..yuk!! It was macaroni bathed in fake cheese sauce!! Ok moving on..to the fries, which by their appearance looked overcooked by their dark brown color but no they were crunchy raw in the center!! The waitress, from across the room, asked if we were enjoying everything. My husband spoke up and said 'my wife doesn't care for the mac and cheese'. After a long silence, she very hesitantly said 'can I do something' never coming over to the table. Really? Well in my mind I am thinking if you can screw up fries this bad why bother trying something else so I let it go. So I am thinking at least the ribs will be good right but not only were they not good, they were hands down the worst I have ever eaten! And trust me when I tell you I have eaten a ton of ribs all over the southern states. In fact, my husband and I love to try new BBQ places wherever we go. By the look on husband's face I could tell he wasn't enjoying his food either but I asked anyway. Without answering he handed me a spoonful of his beans. Talk about bland and tasteless, they'd win that category, no doubt! He then passed me a slice of brisket and so as not to be completely negative in this review, say it was slightly more paletable than the ribs and leave it at that. Sorry that's the best I could do. She could tell by the amount of food left on our plates and the fact that we refused a doggy bag, we were not satisfied but she made no comment as she took our plates loaded with food away until she brought the $30.00 bill flippantly saying "sorry you didn't enjoy yourselves" and walked away. We paid the bill and left.... NEVER to darken their doors again!! A word to the wise...do go!!! I wish I could give a 'no star' review but you can't so they got one star.
(1)John G.
This has to be one of the strangest business decisions ever. Take your very popular B-B-Q joint at the corner of 12th and Porter and move it to a totally out of the way, falling down, probably-soon-to-be-demolished minor league baseball stadium. WHAT?!?!? Was this the only space available after Whitt's opened their location at the airport 's C-Concourse? I mean seriously, I was so bummed to hear that they moved here. (If you can't tell.) Anyway, the food is generally good. The tamales are bland and gluey. The brisket is highly recommended. The diablo beans should be avoided if you don't have an office with a door that you can close.
(3)James R.
They do Bar-B-Que a little different in the Lone Star State, and Jude Bean is bent on showing Middle Tennessee exactly how it's supposed to be done. Stepping into the joint, you would think that you had traveled a few states south, and were now dining in the great state of Texas. From the dcor to the menu to the Blue Bell ice cream, everything about Judge Beans has a unique southwestern appeal. The jewel in the Judge's crown has to be the brisket. Slow smoked and fork (heck, almost spoon!) tender, the brisket is enough to make you look past the mediocre, if rather "homey" style of picnic bench style seating. Also, for the sushi lovers, Judge Bean offers up his own unique "roll". Take a firey jalapeno, stuff it with sausage and cheese, and wrap it with brisket, and you've got the Judge's answer to Crunchy Shrimp. And if you enjoy your music live, loud and unabashedly country, check out the "Judgment Hall Stage" on weekends to hear local acts strut their stuff.
(4)Kevin D.
We went to Judge Bean's in hope of getting some good Texas style BBQ in an area known for its southern Memphis style fare. We were pleasantly surprised all around. The place is similar to most of the good Texas BBQ joints I've been to in the Lone Star State. It has a really nice atmosphere, that is dive-y in all the right ways. We each had the smokehouse combo which got us Brisket, sausage, & ribs w/ 2 sides. Brisket & sausage was spot on as was the bbq sauce. nice and vinegary with a kick. Its actually as good as most I had in my 4 years in Texas. The ribs were a nice surprise as Texas BBQ isn't known for that, but they were fall off the bone tender and seasoned perfectly. The sides were great as well. Cowboy beans had a perfect kick & consistency. Sweet potato fries were an unexpected surprise that were delectable as well. I can say that we will definitely go back as the service, food, & atmosphere were all well done especially for the price and amount of food we got.
(4)Rachael Anne E.
I tried the tamales, I did not care for them. However, if you like the taste of matzah then you'll most likely enjoy them. Instead, the waitress nicely replaced them wraps. They were good. The service was busy, but as attentive as possible. The waitress noticed I wasn't eating and offered to replace the meal without me asking, which I very much appreciated. We went during the UT v UK basketball game -so it was packed. It's a small "roadhouse" restaurant and they seem to have their regulars so be prepped to wait for a bit.
(3)Scott H.
Taco Tuesdays changed my life. Unlimited brisket tacos every Tuesday for $9.50. So good
(5)Julie B.
Being spoiled by southern pulled pork, it was hard for me to get into the whole tex-mex BBQ idea that is going here. To make a long story short: I ordered the wraps - they were okay, the waitress got my order wrong, all the sides were barely edible and the atmosphere was very loud.
(2)Scott S.
OK...I've been torn on Yelps before, but this one was realy tough. A week ago, I would have given this place 5 stars and listed it on my "worldwide favorites list". It had, without question, the BEST barbecue I've ever had! Every time I come to Nashville I make it a prioritiy to eat at Judge Bean's. I told everyone I could about it. I met Judge himself and thanked him for gracing us with his delicious barbecue creations, primarily the Texas Sushi and the Shrimp Diablo. This week I took my annual trip to Nashville, and on the first day, as usual, I took my crew over to Judge Bean's. But...(gasp!) it had been moved! OK, I can deal with that. Wherever Judge Bean goes, I'll go. I'll find the new location, and take a cab just to get there. Imagine my surprise when the cab dropped us off at an empty baseball stadium. Hmmm...this seems strange. But...there are signs in the equally empty parking lot ensuring me this is, indeed the new home of Judge Bean's and that they are "NOW OPEN". The signs even list the weekly days and times the restaurant is open. OK...so I let the cab go and my friends and I walk up to the stadium, all the while feeling more and more nervous as we don't see anything that loooks at all like a funcitoing restaurant, nor do we see any people. Finally we get to a business office with a glass door. On the glass door, a piece of computer paper is taped. Printed on the piece of compter paper are the words "JUDGE BEAN'S CLOSED". Is it closed for the next five minutes? Closed for the day? closed for the season? closed forever? No way of knowing, so I walk through the door to find out. A dork in a Brewers jacket is walking around (appearantly the Nashville Sounds are the Brewers minor League team, and this is their office). I ask the guy, what's up with Judge Bean's? He carelessly and rudely brushes me off by telling me he "doesn't have anything to do with that". He follows up, "it's closed though, that's why the sign's there." This is why Yelp makes the world a better place. A pre-Yelp Scott S. would have exploded into a knife-wielding ninja and Mr. Brewer-man would have been hibachi steak. But I held my tongue, and my knives, knowing I would have my revenge right here in this forum. The story doesn't end there. As I stated earlier, I let the cab go. Bad idea. Just as I walked out of the stadium, the rain began to fall. And oh, did I mention? This baseball stadium (Greer Stadium) is in the middle of nowhere. My friends and I walked, in the rain, all the way back to our hotel, where we ate at the horrible Amerigo (see Yelp). Listen, I would have happily walked TEN miles in a BLIZZARD for Judge Bean's. But to walk two miles in the rain on an empty stomach after being deprived of one of the world's foremost barbecue delights? Uneacceptable. It's like I always say, "a closed restaurant is a one-star restaurant" and Judge Bean's wasn't just closed, it was closed, in the middle of nowhere, with no explanation, and sevreal signs declaring it's openess. Makes me mad just thinking about it.
(1)Wade A.
Friendly service, great roadhouse atmosphere and very good brisket sandwich.
(4)James T.
I was so glad to find this joint resurfaced in Brentwood. Taco Tuesday killed me. All u can eat tacos (brisket, smoked chicken, or catfish) 2 sides and a drink for $9.50. Brisket coma. Love the atmosphere and attitude.
(5)glenn s.
Went in on a Sunday afternoon, been wanting to try there BBQ. Sat at the bar and the bartender was more interested in partying with her friends than serving me. She was even drinking a beer. After about 15 minutes she finaly came back to check on me and take my food order. I didnt order, she got no tip and I left. Sent an email to the management and of course no reply so I assume that this type of service is standard for the place.
(1)Ingrid E.
I don't love the BBQ. It's got good flavor, it's just kind of fatty for my taste. However, it's worth going to Judge Bean's for the potato salad and cole slaw. Both are delicious and pack a little bit of punch with some great spice. Dishes come with texas toast. Worth stopping in to see the decor as well!
(4)brian f.
So here goes.. my first review. I was looking to try some decent BBQ in Nashville, so i ventured to Judge Bean's BBQ after reading some reviews. A friend and i tried the chips and queso, which was ok, but it also came with salsa that was served warm and had a smoked flavor to it... yum. I ordered the Judge's Combo with brisket, sausage and ribs. The brisket and ribs had good flavor and were very tender, but i didn't care for the sausage. I had a side of the cowboy beans, which are spicer than the regular beans because they add jalapeno peppers.. awesome! Wish it was closer to the city, but i definitely recommend it to anyone.
(4)John M.
Normally I give Judge Beans 3 or 4 stars, as it is a pretty decent BBQ joint and we eat there maybe once a month or so. Since Williamson county is also hurting for a decent Mexican place (besides Sopapilla's for Southwestern), it is also nice that they have good queso here. My favorite is dipping their sweet potato waffle fries in it! My only recurring complaint is that the cook usually dries the meat out by overcooking it, like they did with my wife's grilled chicken and like they did with my hamburger this past visit. Which brings me to the point of this review... My hamburger. Since the menu says it is a half-pound, and I am picky about my burgers, I asked the server if they pat their own burgers or get them in frozen. She said they were hand-patted, so I was willing to give the bacon cheeseburger a shot. I asked to have it cooked medium and the cook charred the first one, so I asked them if they could give it one more try. The second one was cooked just right, and I believe they deep-fry their bacon to cook it, which if you've never had it is amazingly good. The bun however, was a little stale. The burger, unfortunately, tasted like it came straight out of a big freezer box and then danced across the grill in the form of a frozen hockey puck as it started to cook... The poor server had no idea what she was talking about. It tasted like Grade Z meat, the Sam's Club special that tasted exactly, and I mean EXACTLY like that cheap burger you ate at your last family reunion. OVERALL BURGER RATING: 2 stars, and I do believe I'm being generous here. C'mon Judge Bean's, I expect a little more from you than this for a $10 burger! I will return of course, but not repeat the mistake of ordering your $10 "Family Reunion Burger"!
(3)Richard N.
The BBQ is solid. The atmosphere is excessive and loud. It's hard to have a conversation over the very loud music.
(4)Bob J.
Having tried most BBQ joints in Nashville area I left unimpressed. The sausage lacked flavor and had a soft consistency, the ribs were uninspired compared to those of Martins and Edley's. Good place to go to fill a BBQ craving but not if you want top notch Cue.
(3)Julie K.
Went here with my husband and son. I wasn't impressed the last time I came here but decided to give it another try. Nope - still not impressed. I am completely baffled by their kids menu. It is a BBQ restaurant but the only choices on the kids menu are chicken strips (frozen from a bag), corn dog (frozen from a bag), or a grilled cheese. No kids burger or kids bbq sandwich. That is bizarre to me. Sorry kid - no bbq for you unless you want a huge adult meal. I ordered the brisket (ok) and sausage (greasy and no flavor). I sent the sausage back and got more brisket. We were there early on a Friday evening and it was not very crowded yet our server was disinterested and took forever refilling drinks. There are many other barbecue restaurants in town that do it better (Mickey Roo's in Franklin for one).
(2)Matthew R.
This is not fancy BBQ, and I like that it is not. This is an authentic establishment that serves great BBQ and is a fun place to spend an afternoon. The bartender was awesome, the people around us were cool and we had a great time. This is the kind of place I would like to frequent, unfortunately I live in Oregon, so it will be less frequent than I want.
(4)David L.
What can I say? This week, I've been in a Barbecue state of mind... A business meeting in Brentwood took me by this shop. At the lunch hour, it is incredible crowded (and noisy). I did not stay and wait... I'd observed it's best to hit this place after 12:30pm, as the business lunch crowd will otherwise dominate the joint. Today, I did just that. Here's the lowdown: Highlights: - generous helping of the brisket - flavorful, sauce - good sweet potato fries - good, quick service Areas for improvement: - soggy corn-on-the-cob - mac & cheese = so/so...kinda dry (powdery?) - price (over $10 for lunch) All in all, a good meal, but there is room for improvement.
(3)Tristen B.
This is one of the only places that I've gotten the same thing every time I come. The brisket nachos are a must try with some of their bbq sauce! It's been awesome and delicious every time
(5)Linda A.
Overall, pretty yucky. Ended up here at lunch time today...not sure why. Mimosas are $4 all day on Sunday...that's pretty cool...EXCEPT, they don't have champagne. Hmmmm Sauce - horrible. Second taste - yep, horrible. Brisket - like bad pot roast. Pork - dry. Edible but when you're used to good BBQ, this is just. not. good. Kind of like when you go to a picnic and there's pulled pork, but you got there late and it's all dried out and generally ick. The slaw and potato salad were warm. The mac & cheese tasted like a mix. The sweet potato fries were really good though...they can heat those up like nobody's business. Won't be back. Nope.
(2)David O.
I'm not someone with a great deal of experience with what constitutes good (or great) BBQ, but I know what I like. Overall I found the food at Judge Bean's to be pretty good. The other parts of the visit where perhaps less so. The location is difficult to find, and the parking lot at some point has been repainted, causing the lines to shift from "angle" parking to "straight" parking. In some places BOTH lines are visible, so someone is going to park "wrong" and subsequently the rest of the lot is going to suffer for it. The service, while friendly, was slower than I would have liked. I don't know if our waitress was the only one working (which is in fact possible) but I felt like I had to spend too much time trying to get her attention when it was time to get the check. Having said that, the staff was friendly and greeted us with a smile, the food was good, but nothing life changing. I wasn't disappointed, but I'm not sure I'd rush back.
(3)Robert U.
Weird. Went once. Thought it was BBQ, buy the waitress was tarted up like a ho. Did I go to Hooters by mistake? She was not friendly, but instead, sort of cursory to the point of being off-putting. Why? Food was okay, but pricey. What is this place, and what does it want?
(2)Pat O.
Very disappointing. Fried okra and French fries greasy and BBQ sauce bland. Brisket was pretty good. Not worth the trip.
(1)Noelle T.
I still don't get this place. I gave it a second chance at their location in Brentwood and it kind of grosses me out. We started with this really strange BBQ salsa blend that just tasted like fusion gone wrong. The meat had large fat chunks in it and the fries were "meh". I don't think I will try again a third time.
(2)Frank M.
First time. At first glance it looked like a whole in the wall. Once inside you could immediately smell the BBQ. We ordered Butchers Pack and it was enough to feed 4-6 people, if your hungry! It was a great deal and good service.
(4)Susan D.
I was a little weary to try this place even though I live close by due to the inconsistent ratings they get here on yelp. After being indecisive about trying it for almost 2 years, I bit the bullet and went for it. I'm glad I did! I decided to just get a To Go Order for the Titans game at home. I ordered the Chicken Plate. It was a HUGE serving of food for about $10. It came with about 6-7 mesquite grilled chicken tender strips, an awesome queso dip, their salsa (which as mentioned before is very smoky- I didn't care for it and I love salsa), texas toast, and two sides. I got the fries and green beans. Both were awesome. Also ask for a side of their hot bbq sauce. It's not that hot but it is very good! The chicken was cooked almost perfectly, only a couple of the thinner strips were a little dry but overall tender and tasty. I would definitely recommend this place as a try if you're in the area. I'll be back, especially for that queso!
(4)Charles S.
Well, I got another Groupon, so I went back. This time my wife ordered the smoked sausage plate and it was excellent. I got the tacos, one brisket and one chicken. Maybe it was because we went for lunch or maybe it was my imagination, but the crumbled brisket served on the taco was much better than the crumbled brisket my wife had on her potato the last visit. The tortilla was partially fried...sections were crisp and sections were soft, but it was still pretty good. I liked the chicken probably best of all. I guess if you know what to order, Judge Bean's can be okay.
(3)Morgan P.
Judges claims to be the best BBQ in Brentwood. I don't think they need to worry about keeping this prized title because there aren't a lot of BBQ places in Brentwood. Wah-wah-whaaaa. For me and my man, the location is the draw. Sometimes you've been camping and you're hungry and cold and just want BBQ and beer. You want to be within driving distance of your house so when you leave woozy and meat drunk you only have to drive 10 minutes before crashing into your bed and taking a nap that ruins any hopes you had of sleeping that night. I degrees. We've had the tour of this menu due to the above pattern. We've tried the ribs, brisket, chicken, sausage etc. These menu items aren't anything to write home about. Their BBQ isn't bad, it's just not great. The only reason we've gone back recently is because they have some pretty solid BBQ nachos. I lived in Memphis of 6 years, home of the BEST bbq nachos: Central BBQ. These don't even hold a candle to that pile of drool worthy wonder. However those nachos are 3 hours away and when you are cold/hungry/not up for a 3 hour drive these nachos are a pretty good second best option. That being said the last time we ordered them the beans to cheese ratio was way off. If you wanted a fun place to watch the game in Brentwood, I would suggest this place. The wait staff is fairly attentive. Every seat has a view of a TV and you can order the nachos.
(3)Hart P.
This was a great find in Brentwood. Plenty of food, affordably priced, and tasted good.
(5)Mary S.
sorry for the one star---but this place deserves it. Don't think I've ever thrown away left- over ribs, but these baby backs were truly awful. Not just the "meh" sauce, but the fat content and texture was creepy! The ribs seemed to have been steamed rather than grilled and meat had no flavor. I love cole slaw of all kinds but didn't even finish this stuff--it had the taste of garlic powder (?? really??) throughout. The brisket was pretty tasteless as well. $50+ of carry out and I think 1/3 of it went into the trash! Now that's bad!
(1)David G.
Great BBQ. I had the brisket nachos. Fantastic!!!! My Girl Sharon had the pulled pork with the waffle sweet potato fries and said it was also delicious. The atmosphere is kinda honky tonk and I am not sure if they were going for the look or it just materialized as a matter of function but either way, the food was great and to me that was the most important factor in the decision to return. I would return anytime!
(4)Allie R.
Oh Judges... I want to like you so badly, but your shenanigans (yes SHENANIGANS!) have me so fed up. The only reason we continue to come back to judge's is because of those brisket nachos, no doubt they are my favorite nachos on this earth, HOWEVER, I think we must have some sort of bad luck at judges, at least I hope so. First off my husband and I and some friends stopped into judges on Sunday to watch some football, all decked out in our jersey's ready to eat a lot of food, drink a lot of beer, and spend a lot of money. Judges has roughly 8-10 TV's in their restaurant so we thought there would be no problem seeing our game (BearsVBangels). Oh we were wrong. They had only TWO other games and refused to change any of the other TVs away from the Titans... excuse me? When you have more than 5 TVs and a large bar you are a sports bar, refusing to put on several different teams is terrible. If you are going to be a "Titans" bar then BE a Titans bar, change the name to Titan's Beans and BBQ and decorate accordingly. So we left (and ended up having an amazing time at The Other Place in the Lenox village where they had almost EVERY game playing). This isn't the only ridiculous situation that we have come across with Judges. It used to be that slightly more than half the time we are there the waitress was rude, there is one waitress that has gone down in infamy with my friend group and we still joke about her and bring her up over a year later (seriously this girl could not get a scowl off her face even if we paid her to). Though, it seems that lately they are hiring more quality waitresses and service has been better. Another time, there were either 5 or 6 of us that they sat at one of their large tables. We got our drinks and nachos and were enjoying them, when the hostess came over and asked us to move to another table....? (so Karaoke could be set up, WHICH NEVER EVEN HAPPENED AFTER WE MOVED) I've worked as a manager in a restaurant before and this is so beyond not acceptable in the restaurant business I can't even begin, actually i can, I would have been fired if I ever did that. But we did, with a smile to make it as not awkward as possible the rest of dinner. Finally another time we were there we brought my husbands family, as they were visiting, and we had been talking up the nachos all weekend and were so excited for them to experience. We get there, we order..."oh, sorry we are out of chips"...are you kidding me!? At my old restaurant we ran out of broccoli once, SO I WENT TO THE STORE AND BOUGHT SOME! doing so meant no disappointed customers, which is something you kind of shoot for in the restaurant business. I could understand being out of something that requires prep and a lot of time, but chips? CHIPS? No excuse. So there is constant disappointment with judges, but we are like a moth to the flame when it comes to those dang brisket nachos, and we will probably always be back just for those. I want to love you judges, LET ME LOVE YOU!
(2)Sarah S.
We visited while traveling in the area for business. All of our local contacts recommended it. The food was good. The brisket was my favorite while the others at my table really liked the ribs. I enjoyed the Texas Sushi - a jalapeno, stuffed with sausage and cheese, and then wrapped in brisket! Delicious! Be sure to ask for the spicy BBQ sauce. The service was very good. Our drinks never got below 1/2 empty before she was filling them!
(4)Dan B.
Great BBQ, friendly staff, chill vibe and reasonable prices.
(4)Sophia And Sacco V.
Love the food, love the beer but don't suggest you sit other than where the waitresses want to sit you. ATTITUDE.
(4)Rodrick D.
Great BBQ and absolutely loved the Texas sushi appetizer (jalapeño, cream cheese, sausage wrapped in brisket). Never tastes anything like it in my life. Will definitely go back when I'm in town.
(4)Patten F.
I'm not a barbecue snob by any stretch of the imagination - I've been to Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur, Jack's in downtown Nashville, virtually every Bar-B-Cutie in town and to Corky's in Brentwood. I'm not picky - if there's meat, I'll probably eat it. Granted, there were some I liked better than others. Judge Bean's falls a bit into the "others" portion. I had actually been to Judge Bean's many - or at least a few - moons ago when it was briefly the restaurant at Greer Stadium, but I didn't really remember much about it other than the view was real and it was spectacular. Fast forward to this week, I go with my lady friend to see the Judge. The building that it's in has been in Brentwood for ages and has been a bar of some sort for as long as I can remember (my dad actually used to own a business right down the street and we'd sometimes walk by the old bar to pick up PDQ Pizza back when it was located in Brentwood). At some point in the past couple of years, Judge Bean bought it...it's a little strange that the business has only been in Nashville for about 10 years and has relocated at least twice...but I digress...it's tiny, it's divey...and is so ridiculously out of place in Brentwood. There are TV's on the wall (which were playing American Idol with the volume off for some reason). The tables had checkered table cloths, rolls of paper towels and buckets with containers of ketchup and two kinds of barbecue sauce. The menu features many different presentations of meat, but mainly - your options are brisket, sausage, ribs or chicken. I got the sausage...and the serving was very generous. The sausage itself was cooked quite well, but nothing really out of the ordinary. If you like smoked sausage, theirs is straightforward, but good. If you don't like smoked sausage, you probably shouldn't be eating at a barbecue restaurant. The sides were a bit hit and miss - I ordered cowboy beans and fried okra. The cowboy beans were fantastic - they were baked beans served in a sweetish (not Swedish) sauce with jalepenos and bits of brisket. The okra, on the other hand, was bland and blech. As for the sauces, they were interesting. There was a hot sauce and a "regular" sauce. The regular sauce was sweet but ridiculously smoky. Not sure if it was actually smoked of if someone just got happy with the liquid smoke. The hot sauce was almost a paste...it also had a bit of that smoky taste, but definitely had more heat. I wavered between 2 and 3 stars, but since there wasn't anything inherently wrong with the service or the meal, I'll stick it at 3. I don't know that I'd be jumping to go back to Judge Bean's, but I wouldn't say no if someone suggested a trip.
(3)C. D.
Ok, went on the recommendation of a friend. The BBQ Pork was very good, tender and juicy with great smoke flavor. Unfortunately, the sauce served on the side was just ok. We had the Texas Sushi for appetizers which contains smoked sausage and hot peppers with melted cheese wrapped in brisket. Again, nothing to write home about. Our service was very slow and, most annoying, it was sooo cold. Price was about 12$ per person.
(2)Steve J.
Judge Beans understands Brisket, friendly service and a great atmosphere. If you are not a fan of dives, then you might want to skip this one. However, Brentwood needs all the dives they can get! The service is always friendly, fast and aims to please. Even though this is not fast food, my lunch has always been served quickly. The brisket is Texas Style, tasty and healthy. They only use 100% natural, steroid-free, hormone-free Hereford beef, which I really appreciate. The brisket has enough fat to provide some flavor and tenderness without being overbearing. The sides in this joint are good, but nothing to get excited about. If you need a quick lunch in Brentwood and are craving Brisket, I would recommend Judge Beans everyday!
(4)Debbie S.
Food is just so so. If you want stouffers frozen mac n cheese, or frozen okra, go here. Or you can reheat it at home for a lot less. BBQ is mediocre. We also had chicken tacos. They were luke warm. Prices seem high for what you get. Service was good, but the waitress was overworked. Don't think we will go back.
(2)Jasper T.
Judge Bean's has quickly become one of my favorite BBQ place in town, and you'll find me here at least once a week. Judge Bean's is a causal fun place to just relax and have some great BBQ. I have had a lot of BBQ in my life and I pride myself on being a BBQ snob and truthfully this is probably some of the best BBQ I've ever had. The sauce is always good and just the right spice. And if you go make sure you get the Chips and Salsa! The veggies in the salsa are roasted on the pit and then puried so it gives it that rich smoky flavor. Never had anything like it before. Oh and the prices are great as well. To top it off the service has always been great as well. Looking for great BBQ. Give it a try.
(5)Brian P.
Really good barbecue, had the pick two plate, good deal for the huge amount of food. Had the brisket and ribs, both were tasty and cooked to perfection. Only drawback for me was to weirdly smokey salsa brought with the chips, neither myself or my dining companion could get our taste buds around it, and would have much preferred a more traditional salsa. Would not keep me from visiting again though. Was pleasantly surprised by the extensive selection of decent craft style beers. Would consider this a must do stop when in this area.
(4)Mary S.
Wow....LOVED this place! I was one of the few at my table that did not get the pulled pork. Everyone raved about it! I got the smoked brisket and the smokey flavor was superb! I've had some good brisket over the years, but the smokey flavor on this was hands down the best! The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that the corn on the cob (which I was also looking forward to) was WAY over cooked and I didn't make it past the first bite of it. The BBQ was top notch though!
(4)Katya W.
Worst nachos ever and the brisket is bland.
(1)John M.
I'm a big fan of Judge Bean's. I've always loved southern BBQ (pork, pork and more pork), but I've grown to appreciate the Texas style as well. They focus more on the brisket, sausage and chicken. Probably my go to dish is the brisket and sausage combo with cole slaw and tamales. Yes, I said tamales. They have some random items on the menu that all work (i.e. brisket burrito, shrimp diablo, texas jambalaya and the aforementioned tamales). The only item on the menu that I didn't really care for was the smoked chicken as it was little too dry for me. Make sure you ask for the hot sauce as well. The regular sauce is good, but I like to kick it up a notch, and the hot isn't overbearingly hot. The service is always great. It is probably one of the most popular spots for our office to eat for lunch. It gets really crowded during lunch so if you're not their early, you might have a wait.
(4)Greg S.
Saturday lunch service was busy as was the bar. Portions are large. Service was very good, but the food was quite average. There are plenty of TV's, so it would be a good place to catch the games.
(3)Will M.
First off, skip the brisket. Second, everything else is spectacular here. Real texas BBQ, atmosphere is like you walked into another state. Place is usually pretty busy, a bit more expensive than say Martin's BBQ but the location is better for me.
(4)Karen P.
I know this is a barbecue place, but we both ordered burgers. One of the best burgers I have had in a long time, the bun was fresh and soft, the meat flavorful and mine was cooked perfect. The only reason I didn't give 4 stars is that my fiance's burger was ordered medium well and came out with a very pink center. The fries were fresh and homeade and I ordered, as a side, the fried okra. I am confident it was homeade also and cooked perfectly. Now I know why this is one of my son's favorite places. I wish I would have remembered our waitperson's name, she was wonderful.
(3)Brad B.
I've visited Judge Bean's in 4 different locations over the last couple of years. The consistent was the shrimp diablos and Aubrey Bean. Last visit I heard that Aubrey was no longer involved in the restaurant - so we'll see where this goes. Believe that Bobby Burton is still one of the owners. The restaurant has always been a bit inconsistent -- so you need to have a plan. Ask your server for what looks best this day. Don't plan on ordering brisket just before closing -- that's not a cook to order food, it's been cooked earlier in the day and is waiting for orders. Diablos are always reliably good, sides are usually pretty good. Service can be spotty -- let your server know if there's a problem so it can be addressed -- some of the servers are not ready for the big leagues. Better than any chain bbq spot, but I prefer Martins BBQ in Nolensville for the best BBQ in town..
(3)Mandy S.
Just used our last Sharing Spee there last month. We bought as many as our limit because we live this place so much! Lives, good for kids and adults, and just good greasy barbecue.
(4)Eva B.
I have rarely been to a meal at which I seriously could not find one thing redeeming about the meal until tonight. I ordered the brisket plate with the mac and cheese and fries. The brisket was cold and completely devoid of flavor. The mac and cheese was even colder and seemed as if it came from powder mix. The fries were, well....awful. And when I was hoping to drown this meal in the BBQ sauce to make it edible, I was not surprised to find it too was horrible. It had an overly acidic flavor that I'm still trying to get out of my mouth. The only star that I'm giving is for the friendly wait staff.
(1)Anita A.
Good food. The most amazing aroma hits you when you open the door! If I could sniff my way full, this is the spot! Nice atmosphere and to die for banana puddin' pie! I will definitely be back!
(4)Kevan G.
Best ribs I've had in Nashville! The atmosphere is very casual but the service was top notch. The cole slaw was a great surprise! My wife had the blackened tilapia. She gives it 4 stars. Portion was a little small but the flavor was awesome. We wish we had another night in Nashville so we could go back again. We will definitely plan a return next time we pass through! Highly recommended!
(5)Jesse G.
Solid choice between Great --- Good. The meat is smoked and has a great flavor. There are a number of quality sides from which to choose; cowboy beans and fresh cut homemade fries were outstanding. The only real disappointment was the limited sauce options. The "our sauce" (house option) was OK and the only other choice was a Hot BBQ sauce which was also mediocre. If your passing through it's worth the stop!
(3)Sarah S.
We went to Judge Bean's BBQ on a whim after doing some shopping in Brentwood. It was so good! We've been hunting for really great brisket around Nashville, and while we've found some pretty good ones, their's takes the prize hands down. To start, we had to taste the salsa because I read a review that said there were pieces of brisket actually integrated into it. Yep - amazing. Very spicy, I will warn. I am not a sensitive to spice kind of girl, and my mouth was burning. We also got a small order of their wings with the pepper sauce and I have to say, some of the best wings I've had in a long long time. I have been craving them since we went! For dinner, I ordered the daily special of the Brisket Chimichanga. There was a nice balance of ingredients (beans, cheese, brisket, rice) inside, but I'm not sure if it was the fact that my palette had just been attacked by the salsa and wings, or if it truly was lacking in seasoning. My husband ordered the brisket platter (of course, since that's what we were there for), and loved it! We'll be back, if for nothing else wings and brisket. Much Meat Love to You, Judge Beans!
(5)Loraine N.
Food was good. Service awful. Our waitress today, think her name was Courtney had zero personality and not very warm or friendly.!didnt check back after we got our food and nit a single "thank you" from her. Seemed as she dies the minimum. Take order and bring out food and check in a quick hurry. Come on judge beans....where's the Southern Hospitality? Not with her.
(2)George E.
Had the Judges BBQ plate/a good value@$12.50 pulled pork was good, fries soggy thou Merideth was very attentive to our needs.
(4)David D.
Who knew? They actually have brisket in TN. Memphis take note. Is pulled pork the only thing anyone knows how to smoke? Ok the place is kinda cool. Not smoky as some places can be. And they got the sides right. You have to get the brisket. This is from a guy who grew up in KC. I know my BBQ.
(4)Dee a.
Eh, it was ok. Decent bbq, but nothing that really made it exceptional or would entice us to make the drive out.
(2)Kevin C.
Very good Brisket! Great Menu! Large appetizers.
(4)Daniel G.
The brisket wasn't very tender and the sausage was lukewarm. Beans were ok and the onion rings were decent. It's more of an experience than it is a place for good food. The upside to this place is that they were very willing to change out the warm items. Great customer service. Ok food.
(3)Kathryn D.
We drove by this place several times, we just couldn't commit to going in. The parking lot was always full, which was a good sign. Tonight we decided to go in, so glad we did, our brisket plater, bbq beans, potato salad & a shrimp Diablo. It's been a while since I have had brisket this good, that it could be cut with a fork. You need to come check them out!!
(4)Candra G.
Stopped in for lunch this week and ordered a brisket plate with baked beans and potato salad. Overall, from the service to the food - it was a 'meh' experience. The food didn't take long to arrive, but unfortunately it was lukewarm at best. The best part of the meal was the potato salad as the brisket was dry as a desert and seriously lacking in flavor. Baked beans...well, you can't really mess up baked beans. The best part of the service experience was the valet attendant - he was super friendly and considerate. Overall, Judge Beans wasn't bad, it just wasn't all that good either.
(2)Erica J.
Delicious food. The place is located outside of Nashville and the interior has a lot of rustic charm. Their bbq ribs were moist and flavorful, mac n cheese was creamy, and their tacos were simple but delicious. We also ordered the wings without the sauce and they were fried and seasoned perfectly. Wished we lived nearby, would come here regularly for sure.
(4)Phil F.
My wife and I ordered drinks and the Texas Sushi appetizer with every intention of ordering a main course. The drinks were very watered down. Maybe a 1oz pour. The Texas Sushi is a jalapeño pepper stuffed with cheese and wrapped in brisket. It is supposed to be served hot (and preferably fresh). The middle was cold. Clearly they just warmed it in the microwave. The brisket was as tough as shoe leather. And we couldn't even cut through with a knife. Needless to say we didn't order dinner. The service was average. The waitress did have a good attitude which is why I gave it 2 stars instead of 1.
(2)Phil B.
Brisket, sausage, wings, and potato salad are all great! Try the jalapeño stuffed bacon wrap appetizer and banana pudding too!
(4)Jared K.
As a native Texan, Judge Bean unsurprisingly and thankfully gravitates toward brisket rather than pulled pork. A man after my own heart. He is also apparently a descendent of the infamous Texas lawman Judge Roy Bean, which is just awesome. Part of me was anticipating a counter-service barbecue joint, but Judge Bean's uses waitresses. As I frequently do when dining alone, I saddled up to the bar. The very friendly bartender took great care of me. In fact, everyone I encountered here was exceptionally welcoming. Clearly the staff has been instructed on the finer points of Texas charm as well as Texas 'que. Since Judge Bean's specializes in Texas-style barbecue, and since I was feeling a little homesick, a Texas Trinity was in order. I got their 3-Meat Smokehouse Combo with brisket, ribs, and sausage, as well as potato salad and cowboy beans for my two sides. I also couldn't help tacking on a piece of their so-called Texas Sushi for good measure. My Texas Sushi appetizer came out first. What you have here is a jalapeno stuffed with sausage and cream cheese, wrapped in brisket. It's kind of like a California roll, except for men. The brisket had a nice smoke ring and was quite tender despite being a leaner cut of meat. I found a great hit of smoke and heat in each bite, tempered nicely by the cream cheese. Good thing I had a big glass of sweet tea to cool things down. The entire thing was absolutely fantastic. I enjoyed their mayonnaise-based potato salad, which was a nice change of pace from the mustard-based potato salads I usually find in my travels. Without the overpowering mustard flavors, I could really taste the pickles and pimento. According to the menu, the cowboy beans are "not a sleeping partners favorite," so I'll apologize in advance to my wife. The beans had a ton of flavor, and there was definitely some spiciness to them. The brisket had a deep red smoke ring which perfectly matched the equally smoky flavor. The dark black bark was also extremely tasty. Though lean, the brisket was magnificently tender. What little fat there was had been rendered beautifully. In addition to signifying the proper cooking time/temperature, this also tells me that Judge Bean's truly cares about their product. Barbecued sausage seems to be a rare find in Middle Tennessee, so the Czech in me was happy to see it at Judge Bean's. The casings were very crisp, with each bite "popping" in my mouth. I could really taste the smoke, which isn't always the case with sausage. This was most assuredly not made in-house, but it was still really tasty. These ribs didn't have as much of a crust as I was expecting. I did, however, appreciate that they weren't served drowning in sauce. The meat was very tender, but sadly had no bone retention. Perhaps this was an attempt to appease local demands for "falling-off-the-bone" ribs. That being said, they had a nice smoke level and an all-around great flavor. Next time I eat at Judge Bean's, I may just order up a dozen pieces of Texas Sushi and call it good.
(4)Shannon M.
As much as I want to love this place you never leave with the warm fuzzy feeling you'd expect from what feels like it should be a neighborhood haunt. Like the smoked meats but BBQ sauce could be improved.
(3)Barbara D.
Best place in town would highly recommend, dinner are a good portion and friendly staff
(5)Gregory B.
In Tennessee, BBQ usually means pulled prok. So it is nice to find a place that has real Texas style BBQ. I have been to Judge Beans numerous times and it still ranks as one of my favorite restaurants. I am not sure I can go to 5 stars, but I did think about it. One of my faves on the menu is the Texas sushi. This is a jalapeno with some of their BBQ sausage inside wrapped with a piece of brisket. Simply wonderful IMO. But the chips and salsa are also nice, with the smokey bits of brisket in the salsa. Yum! I have an allergy to shrimp, so I cannot try the diablos, which also sound wonderful (Bacon wrapped shrimp and cheese jalapeno). As for meals, i am not sure what my favorite is. I am currently more paleo, so I stick to a BBQ plate most times with some guac and green beans (yes, the green beans are not as low carb, but they are within the menu). On the other hand it is hard to say no to Taco Tuesday, with all you can eat for a reasonable price. Your choice of brisket, chicken, pulled pork or fish (I think there is a black bean option too for vegetarians, although why a vegetarian would go to a BBQ restaurant is beyond me). And when I am not low carbing it, the loaded baked potato fills me up. I prefer it with either the brisket or sausage, although the pulled pork is not bad.
(4)Jordyn K.
I'd love to be able to write a good review but unfortunately I never got the chance to experience much of anything. The restaurant was closing at 10pm, my husband and I walked in at 9pm (what I though was plenty of time) when before we even had the opportunity to sit down a waitress/hostess, in passing, rudely mentioned that the kitchen was closing. 15 minutes would make sense, but closing the kitchen a whole hour before closing time? Unless that's normal for restaurants then now I know better! But it's not even the kitchen closing so early that upset me- it was the "greeting" we received- if you can even call it that. She could have kindly let us know that we might not be able to order and offered us a drink menu. Instead she barely gave us the time of day.
(2)Tracy F.
We came to Judge Beans after hearing they had some of the best brisket in all of Nashville. We're not ones to pass up delicious BBQ brisket, so we hopped in the car and travelled to Brentwood to enjoy some good eats. Upon being seated, we were served a complimentary order of chips and a smoky, incredibly delicious salsa. I could have eaten the chips and salsa as my meal and been perfectly happy - that's how good it was. We tried to stop ourselves from eating the entire portion by ordering plates of brisket, grilled chicken breast and ribs, along with lots of side dishes to share with each other. When our food arrived, we both thought all of the meat selections were good, but not great. The brisket was tender but a bit dry, the ribs were fattier than we like, and most of the side dishes were sub-par. The chicken breast, however, was grilled nicely, and the baked beans were particularly good. Would we come out to Judge Beans again when Jim and Nick's is closer and much better? Probably not. If we're in Brentwood for other reasons, we might stop by for a basket of chips and salsa and some grilled chicken.
(3)Bill M.
First visit and very impressed. We ordered almost one of every meat between our two combos to give a fair assessment. Ribs, pork, sausage were exceptional. Brisket was good but a bit dry. We'd skip the chicken next time. Okra, French fries (to die for!), green beans and baked beans were all delicious. Had the banana pudding for dessert and it was tasty. Great to find this friendly, solid place so close to home. We will be back.
(5)Rick M.
I used to be a big fan. I don't know what happened, but the brisket is not as good as it used to be. There are too many good bbq options in Nashville and Brentwood to eat dry meat. Go to Martin's or Edlys.
(3)Stacy T.
This place is pretty good. The chicken plate is delicious and, yes, the salsa is smoky. Some people apparently don't like that, but I think it's delicious. The only weird thing about this place is sometimes it might be totally full, but I'm the only girl patron. It's heavily flooded with men, which is cool, but a little strange.
(4)Charles C.
The tacos are freaking great!! I love the cowboy beans and the shrimp diablo will light you up!
(4)Jaime S.
Really good! Cool atmosphere. I got the brisket and the smokey taste was just right. Not greasy like some other brisket. None of the sides looked like they were from a can, all seemed homemade. I went at 2:15 on a Saturday and it wasn't crowded or busy at all. The sauce was really good too! The chips and salsa are the bomb if you like a "smokey" taste. My dad got a meat trio and he said the grilled chicken was his favorite.
(4)Bob N.
Nice local bbq joint. Combo platter with Brisket and Pulled Pork. It was well smoked but the brisket was a touch dry. The sides were meh, and the star of the show was the pulled pork. Hind site 20/20 I'm getting a pile of pulled pork with a side of slaw. Friendly service and a full service bar. I will be back.
(3)Samantha S.
I have been a huge fan of this location since they opened. I love some Texas BBQ. The brisket is so damn good. The ribs? Not so much. Love the huge sides as well -- FF, cowboy beans, green beans, texas toast, guacamole and corn are my favorites. They must put unicorn tears in their BBQ sauce because I could drink it dry. I'm not a huge sauce girl but watch that bottle at Judge Beans! At dinner, they bring out chips and salsa too. Yum-o! Check their site out before you go... some nights they have 2 for 1, live music, etc.
(4)Sunshine M.
Saw good reviews on yelp and decided to try. Really good food. Mac and cheese and pulled pork was awesome. Husband had brisket and said it was the best he ever had. Coleslaw was plain, so skip that, but service was good, place was clean and food was so good.
(4)Melissa B.
OMG!!! This is the BEST BBQ that I have eaten since I moved to Nashville area 3 yrs ago...I found this place by accident...isn't that how it usually happens!!!! I had purchased a discount on Groupons for $8 to save $16 on your visit and it never expires..so I thought why not...I bought this four months ago and I was cleaning out my desk drawer and found the coupon..so I called Tony from work and said "HEY lets try some BBQ tonight for dinner when I get off...a new place (( new to us))) and she agreed. So we went on Friday after work....it is a small location...located off the main drag in Brentwood...so I had to GPS on my phone...the parking lot was full..but we went in.. The waitress greeted us immediately and sat us at a nice table...plenty of large screen tvs everywhere....Noticed a ton of patrons crowded in the small bar area cheering on a basketball game.. I told the waitress we were newbies and she said..."well then let me recommend something to you"..I said SURE...you are the expert..and she smiled and said ..."Get it all"...you won't be disappointed...we laughed..I said I was hungry but not that hungry...and she pointed to a combo on the menu for only $14.50 that gives you three meat choices and 2 sides ...so Tony opted to get that with a cold budweiser ...he chose Brisket, ribs and smoked sausage with baked beans and mac n cheese...with texas toast... I decided to get the Mesquite chicken with Border Rice and a brisket tamale...with a soda.. Our food arrived quickly and over flowing..the plates are large portions..Tony and I immediately dived right in...we started sampling each others plates and OMG...I am not a big smoked sausage fan but it melted literally melted in my mouth..I asked our waitress if the sausage was made in house and she said NO special ordered from a smoke house in Texas..and I wont just a large plate of smoke sausage the next time I eat here.. The ribs literally fell off the bone so tender and juicy. Their sauce (( homemade of course))) was delicious and not too spicy.. I loved the Judge's Baked Beans..I want them again with my plate of smoked sausage..I already know what I want to order next time... Everything was good. I couldn't finish my plate and neither could Tony so we took it home and we both had lunch the next day...once they deducted my Groupon Coupon, I only had to pay $20.38 with taxes for this truly wonderful feast...I left her a tip of $7 and told her WE WILL BE BACK and soon!!! If you have never eaten BBQ at the Judge's in Brentwood...You are MISSING OUT!!!! Go enjoy and let me know what you think....HEAVEN in BBQ sauce in Brentwood !!!
(5)Jan S.
I've tried the brisket here three times. The second and third times were in hopes of the first time being an unfortunate fluke, but each time it's been dry, tough, and much too heavily seasoned. A good brisket should be crazy tender with seasoning that complements the meat. So disappointing. I will give them credit for the large size of the loaded baked potato, but that's not enough for me to try them again. There are other, better, barbecue places.
(2)Cara M.
This is one of THE BEST BBQ places in Nashville!! I definitely recommend it to everyone who comes into town. It's a bit off the beaten path and in a small little building, but that's the best kind, isn't it?! Everyone I've taken here has had a great experience and food. You can't go wrong with any of their foods either, as I've tasted everything and it's all been amazing! You should also try their southwest ranch dressing on your salad (or BBQ actually). My only pet peeve is when you come in and wait to be seated, as sometimes they won't seat you if you are with a small party and they only have large tables available. So you really want us to stand here waiting while there are open tables??? Yeahhhh I've almost walked out because of that.
(5)Tony R.
They have bad service, overly salty pork, and the worst bbq sauce ever. There fries are not good. Please do not eat here. Go to corkys 1 minute away and get yourself some real bbq if that is what you are in the mood for.
(2)Keith H.
I heard great things about this little barbecue place. Unfortunately it does not live up to their reputation the wait staff and hosts are very prompt and friendly however that did not make up or the subpar BBQ. I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(3)J B.
Stopped here after reading reviews. Overall a good bbq place. Ribs were my favorite, pulled pork and chicken wings good.....diablo was very spicy which I love! brisket was just ok. Love the atmosphere, from the outside it doesnt look that impressive. Their bbq sauce is good. They sell it to go. They need to bottle it. It just comes in styro foam cup now. I would recommend this place
(4)Jason P.
Slightly odd for a bbq place, but Judge Bean's makes some of the best roasted salsa in all the land.
(4)Keithon S.
Raised in East Texas, in Carthage, Tx - I know Texas style BBQ better than anyone!! So many people here in Nashville talk about how much they love BBQ, but every place I try is nothing but bland southeastern style BBQ; I'm not a fan of it. So when I hear people talking about a Texas style BBQ place that's actually good, I completely disregard them. Well today, my hand was forced. I'll honestly say I had my doubts about this place. I mean come on, Texas style BBQ in Nashville, that doesn't add up. But I'll have it a try. Tonight I got the Smokehouse Combo (ribs & sausage for my meat of choice and BBQ beans & fries as my sides). OH. MY. GOD. It was a good hefty Texas portion of food - it was gone in a matter of minutes. The taste was spot on. SPOT ON!!! To all my fellow Texans, or even those who just want to see what the fuss is about, eat here ASAP!!! You won't be let down. I can't wait to try more off of this menu. Until next time...
(5)JD K.
Good BarBcue. Ribs are good. Brisket is pretty good. A tad dry but overall good flavor. Good selection of beers and nicely stocked bar. It had the usual down-home decor which is kind of fun but is almost becoming cliche for BBQ joints. Bartenders were very attentive, great service. Overall good, but not outstanding BBQ food and great service.
(4)Gabrielle U.
MMMMMM! My coworkers took me to Judge Bean's saying it was the best BBQ in Nashville and well...it was bomb. The place was packed, which is always a good sign in my mind. Short wait, then we were seated. They have all the basics of good, Southern comfort food that people like myself have to really hunt down in California. I decided to go with the Combo Plate, which included Pulled Pork, Brisket, Mac n Cheese and green beans. I had to get one vegetable so I could feel somewhat guilt-free. The food arrived very quickly and was absolutely scrumptious! The pulled pork had great flavor, was very tender and had that pulled apart texture I love. The brisket was thinly sliced with a great smokey taste that meshed well with just a little BBQ Sauce. Of course, the mac n' cheese was delicious as well. Glad I got to check this place out while I was in Nashville.
(5)Stefanie M.
We went on a weekend night in December and it was very, very busy, but we found a seat at the rail and had a wonderful server that took care of us!! I guess it too frequently happens that when restaurants are busy you don't get great service so this was a nice surprise. We had the Texas Sushi which was good *but not as good as the Vinegar Room!), pork, brisket and chicken and everything was really good. I know we'll go back!
(3)Justin S.
I got the Smokehouse combo with chicken and ribs. It was very good. The meat was fresh and the sides were very good as well.
(4)