Red Hot & Blue
4150 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030
Red Hot & Blue Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Fairfax for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Fairfax for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Fairfax for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
4150 Chain Bridge Road
Fairfax, VA, 22030 - Phone (703) 218-6989
- Website https://redhotandblue.com/fairfax/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : Yes
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
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Michelle P.
I have to admit that i'm disappointed in myself. Typically the food i judge a BBQ place by is their mashed potatoes. And i didn't have any here. Then again, their potato salad was quite possibly the best potato salad i've ever even looked at, so i guess that will do. I think that i would go back here, order a side of potato salad and a beer and be completely content. We were STARVING when we got there (thank you 495 traffic preventing us from going to the Orioles/ Red Sox game) and therefore we wanted an appetizer. But they were all very heavy. Then we noticed the bar menu 2.99 appetizers and there was a veggie plate that came with ranch dressing. A very light and refreshing start to our meal (except it came out at the same time.... but thats because we ordered it late!) My Texas beef brisket sandwich... eh. It had the RH&B "secret sauce" on it, but to me it seriously tasted like something i could get from the grocery store. It was on a fairly decent roll and had montery jack and lots of peppers and onions. But at some point i had to remind myself that i was eating BBQ cause it felt like eating a meatball sub. I was just not impressed. Maybe had i gotten the plain brisket, it would have been better. It was really reasonably priced... $25 for two beers, an appetizer (all on Happy Hour prices) and two entrees. Not too bad at all I'd definitely come back for convience, but if i want good BBQ i think i'd go somewhere else.... williards, mighty midget or even famous daves!
(3)Will H.
Anyone who thinks this remotely qualifies as good barbecue needs to go back above the Mason-Dixon Line and stay there. Its terrible. The ribs are mushy and taste like they've been steamed. Flavorless to boot. The "slow-smoked" meats should be ashamed to call themselves smoked. I was really wishing this place would have been good as its such a great location. But waste of $$. For a taste of real Que try Willards in Chantilly or Old Glory in DC. Both will not disappoint, their dry rub is to die for. And Old Glory has the best bourbon selection ive ever seen.
(1)Jon K.
2.5 stars or 3? I'll give this place the benefit of the doubt.... The reviews are pretty much spot on. I came here for the first time the other day with a number of my co workers. The food was okay, I had the big bite burger which was a hamburger topped with pork. The sweet sauce was pretty good, being that it was really sweet barbeque sauce. I have got to tell you I really expected more spending about $17 for lunch with tip. Next time I'll go somewhere else. Additionally, I wouldn't come here every day because I think this is definitely not the healthiest of lunch options. The place could use some cleaning up. It looks like it has been there a while, and it sure could be cleaner. Our waitress was nice and attentive and the service was excellent. I guess this place is okay to visit once......
(2)Danielle K.
I used to eat lunch here when I worked in Fairfax -- the boss was usually paying, so it sufficied for lunch. I usually ordered the southern fried chicken salad, and it was good. Probably won't return as I no longer work at the company that bought me Red Hot & Blue, and there are many other restaurants to be tried.
(3)Martha P.
Where else can you get lean chicken and veggies for this price? Yeah, believe me, I'd like to chow down on their ribs, amazing red potato salad, and onion tangle. But the fact is, I can get pulled chicken and amazing collard greens for a really fair price, and not feel like I'm doing the wrong thing. And believe me, these collard greens are GREAT!
(4)Dan F.
The BBQ was decent / good. They have a good onion loaf appetizer. For two people to share, a half loaf is more than enough. Their ribs (dry rub or multiple wet rubs) were pretty good too. The building does look a little old, and the parking lot is a bit small. But, those things do not seem to affect the quality of the food.
(3)Tyler C.
I haven't been here in a while, but their food is good once in a while. Their pulled pork sandwich is good, but at times I find "odd" pieces in my sandwich that I wish a quality check would have been used on. Most of their food comes out quick and that's not necessarily a good thing since things just seemed heated up especially the sides are definitely just thrown in to a microwave. The fried okra is very good though. A while back I ordered some wings on the phone and I'm not much of a fan of BBQ sauce, but I love hot sauce and I talked to a guy who I believe is asian *trying to give credit* and he worked with me on what I was looking for, he told me to trust him and knew what I wanted so I did and these wings were PERFECT!!! I ordered these wings THREE more times, I did as he said and told them to make it just hot sauce and butter...He wasn't on the phone these three times so I don't know if it was the chef or the person taking my order, but the next four times the wings were insanely hot!!! After about 2-3 wings my mouth was stinging so bad and all I could think while my tongue was hanging out of my mouth was "why would they torture me like this?!" A plus side to their wings is that they are big and have tons of meat! Their Idaho Pig is very good, but the whole microwave thing makes you have second thoughts. It's pretty good food once in a while.
(3)John Y.
The service was absolutely terrible. We sat in the bar area. After we placed our drink and appetizer order, it took awhile to get the bartender to take our regular order. Then our drinks were long empty before we could get his attention to get refills. He eventually asked us if we needed refills a 2nd time, then completely forgetting our drinks or the fact that we had placed it. He was more worried about socializing with those sitting at the bar. He left the bar area altogether several times with no one else present serving patrons.
(1)MARIA G.
We stopped for a quick drink. Premium drafts were 3.50 and domestics were 2.50. We also ordered chicken fingers for $3. There were only 2 but the fries were good. Oh, HH is bar only.
(2)Brian D.
When I was younger, I used to think this was the best restaurant on the face of the planet. I love the huge portions, the spicy sauces and the French fries. I've been here a couple times recently over the summer, and I just don't seem to think that its as good as it used to be. The food is all sort of bland, good but nothing amazing. The service could use a step up, and the food could use something other then old bay seasoning. I think the meat is decent quality. The sweet tea is a favorite, and they recently came out with an "onion loaf" which has a mean BBQ ranch sauce. I'll eat here over other places but its not the favorite that it used to be for me
(2)Holly V.
So dirty!! Flies everywhere- on the signs, at our table, and the bathroom-eeew! My family convinced me to stay and eat, and the food was ok, but I'll never return. I don't know how all the staff were just walking through flies and didn't even swat one! They must be used to it (shiver).
(2)Frank M.
Excellent brunswick stew and pulled pork sandwiches
(4)Rebecca S.
"Decent" is the best way that I can describe Red Hot & Blue. It isn't necessarily a bad thing. I don't have a problem with their pulled pork sandwich or with their cole slaw. Both were passable. Their potato salad was better than some. I didn't have any problem with the service that I received. This just doesn't go "above and beyond" by any aspect. Everything is "acceptable" but there isn't something (that I've found) with that "wow" factor that will bring me to Red Hot & Blue over another barbeque place in the area.
(3)Grace N.
One of the worst meals I have ever had. Service was good, place is dirty, there were food particles all over the pictures hanging above booths, the banana pudding was good, and the bacon, cheese fries, everything else ribs, pulled pork, baked beans, cole slaw and onion ring loaf, all was tasteless ... So disappointed, I have been wanting to go there for such a long time.....I really could not believe how bad the food was, but my kids enjoyed the corn muffins.
(2)Brandon H.
Typical of the DC area, this is boiled meat masquerading as BBQ, and it's not one of the best boiled meat places. If you're looking for real barbecue, and by real I mean you can actually taste the smoke that is supposed to provide flavor to the meat, look elsewhere. We went on a rainy Saturday afternoon around lunchtime and the place was moderately busy. We got seated quickly and service was decent. Always excited at the possibility of a new 'cue experience, we ordered the pulled pork, brisket, pulled chicken and the sausage. I'm equal opportunity when it comes to BBQ: I like every style from Memphis to Texas to St. Louis to NC and in between. I guess this is more of a Memphis style that uses a dry rub. So far as I could tell, their dry rub, a point of pride for serious smokers, was just Old Bay Seasoning. That might have been fine if this were a crab shack or lobster joint, but on BBQ it just sucked. Their sauces didn't offer much help. The brisket was cold and didn't seem to be of the best quality meat. The pulled pork was OK if you could get past the seafood seasoning on it. The chicken was dry, but in their defense some of my favorite 'cue places can't keep their chicken moist. Nothing stood out amongst the sides. I continue to hold that there is no really good BBQ in the DC area. The closest I have found is Chubby's in Emmitsburg, MD, just north of Frederick.
(2)Min Sae C.
Another poor excuse for real BBQ in the NOVA area.... - Brisket was inedible. Dry, no flavor, looked like it had been sitting out all day ( at least give it a quick bath in it's juices before serving ) - Ribs were dry, tough and chewy. - Sausage was the best part of my 3 combo meal and that only because it was decent. - Pulled pork was also dry, flavorless and tasted old. Overall, there was a huge lack of any smoke flavor, which only made me miss it more. The sides were average and the price wasn't too bad which is the only reason this place gets 2 stars when it really should get only 1.
(2)Justin G.
OK, this is right next to a college, so a bunch of the college kids work here. Yes, they mess up sometimes, but they try. The food is outstanding for the price. We usually stop in here before going to a show at GMU's performance center. This is comparable to a Famous Dave's (though I think it's a little cheaper).
(4)Francisco L.
This was our second time to Red Hot and Blue. The first time was a pleasant experience and the food wasn't too bad. The second time around wasn't too bad either. Our server was attentive and quick with drinks, but probably because we were one of two tables in the restaurant. Ordered the cheese fries and the catfish strips (?) as appetizers. Cheese fries were bleh, but the catfish strips were decent. My family and I each ordered something different, but each one of us had the ribs. I'm not an expert on BBQ, but they were tasty enough and did fall off the bone easily enough. I found their cornbread and hush puppies delicious. I would normally rank this place 3 stars, but they lost a star based on our last visit. My brother actually found a hair in his French Fries. Not trying to elude to anything, however, it kinda looked like a pubic hair because it was pretty short and curly. My brother being laid back and working at a restaurant himself, just asked for a new batch of fries, instead of sending the whole thing back. The thing that ruined our experience was that the manager never came out to apologize for the mishap or even check up on us. I suppose we will have to make more of fuss next time.
(2)Chris B.
Not sure what drives others to give this such a low rating, but this restaurant consistently has some of the best barbecue in the area. I've had RH&B cater a couple of parties for us, and we've gone to the restaurant on multiple occasions. And every time, the food is fabulous. My personal favorites are the beef brisket, chicken, and sausage. It all has that excellent smoky flavor. I'm not as partial to the pulled pork, but that's still good as well. Potato salad, chili, baked beans, they are all good. They have a few different sauces you can choose from. Be aware of their hot sauce; for some reason, this place creates one of the hotter sauces I've ever had. I'd definitely recommend this restaurant if you are looking for some good food. Whether you want just a sit-down dinner, or instead want everything catered. This place simply has great food.
(5)Anson P.
I eat here once every 5 years or so, mainly because I'm never really satisfied by anything I eat here. I ordered the five meat sampler which had their pulled pork, pulled chicken, sausage, brisket, and ribs. Everything gets a big whopping meh rating. The sauces aren't even that great. I think Famous Dave's had better sauces, not that I'm saying that Famous Dave's sauces are great either. I had the dry ribs which were like eating charcoal. The char was pretty ridiculous on them. The potato salad was ok, nothing spectacular. The beans were decent. The corn bread nugget (the size of a golf ball) was hard. I was contemplating throwing it at my friend to see if it would leave a bruise. He got the ribs and shrimp combo. His final words were "never again." I was a big fan of the sweet tea. They give you your own small pitcher. The only way it could get more badass is if they gave you a mason jar. The service was ok, but the funniest moment of the evening was when my friend was ordering and the waitress tuned him out. As he was finishing his order, she said, "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention." I was trying hard not to piss my pants. Hi-larious. It will probably be another 5 years before I return if I do.
(3)Jessica Y.
Poor service. Everything here was kind of dry....
(2)Ayako A.
OK to eat during happy hours. I get ribs but it is not that great but I do not complain?! I liked catfish !
(3)Jeff W.
Not the greatest BBQ ever, but certainly a decent place. I liked the extras much more than my main meal (pulled pork). Amazing potato salad, pretty good slaw, and a yummy onion loaf. The pulled pork sandwich, however, was disappointing. VERY dry, and on a crappy roll. I could barely taste anything and I almost choked it was so dry. Had to load it up with sauces in order to taste anything and get enough moisture to save me from choking. Speaking of sauces, the sauce selection is minimal, but they taste pretty good. I was really impressed with the hot BBQ sauce, but I can't remember the exact name of it. It certainly packed the heat. The other sauce choices cover the BBQ spectrum: sweet BBQ, NC vinegar, smokey, etc. Prices were excellent and the menu was diverse. I'd choose Red Hot & Blue over Famous Dave's any day, but wouldn't even compare it to Willard's or the Mighty Midget. It's a fun place though, and would be a great spot to meet up with some friends since they have something for everyone here, not just BBQ lovers. For a die-hard BBQ fan though, I don't think you'll find your salvation here.
(3)Darren G.
Now here's a nice treat for barbecue lovers outside the South: good meat and good variety of sauce. The side dishes are tasty and the atmosphere is nice. Overall my favorite barbecue place in NoVA.
(5)Gretchen H.
For fast food BBQ it's not bad. I don't find the sauces to be exceptional, but they are plentiful. I think the choices in sides is a little dismal, but the place specializes in meat, not sides.. :) I think you can find much better, like Famous Daves!
(3)Jim J.
It has been a while since I have dined here, but the food is just as good as I remembered. However, the place was very dirty. We ate outside and were afraid to touch the table it was so filthy. The walls inside were covered in dirt and grease and looked like they hadn't been painted in years and don't get me started on the bathroom. It's a shame that it isn't cleaner because the food is pretty good.
(2)Dean L.
The food was average and the service was good. We stopped in for a quick lunch and received our food and were out within an hour. All in all, nothing special, but it did the job...
(3)Jacob D.
Full rack of ribs, get in my belly!!! This is a mandatory stop when I come home. I love coming in. It helps that I know a ton of people that have worked here and none have sketchy stories about food prep or pissed off cooks. (Seriously, don't mess with people who deal in food. The stories they can tell are horrifying). The food is great. Iced tea, corn bread and ribs. Can life get better? Grab a couple of buddies and head over. You won't regret it.
(4)Justin K.
I went here in the Spring of 2010, when the hankerin' for BBQ hit. I remember enjoying the Red Hot & Blue up in Rockville/Gaithersburg MD, so I figured it was a good bet. I was wrong. It was a Saturday afternoon, and the place was almost completely empty. The service at least was good, but the BBQ, less so. The ribs were dry and the beans were nothing special. Definitely not worth the money. I head west to Willard's or Famous Dave's instead, now.
(2)David M.
Had lunch there with my friends Paula and Bob. Friendly staff and good food.
(3)Susan F.
I really like Red, Hot and Blue. Very decent BBQ. I like the full service restaurants better than the carry-out. The menu is more expansive.
(4)Nick B.
The food has been consistently good the times I've gone here (close to ten by now). The staff is generally nice and service is fast. I saw lots of low reviews for this place and felt obligated to chime in. I'm not from the South so perhaps my BBQ standards are different... But from my experience, you can do a lot worse than Red Hot & Blue.
(4)J X.
Been to this place twice with coupons. The nachos are very good! However, the meats are kinda dried. Service was okay. Sweet tea is excellent & they give you a huge cup. Whenever i came here , i got seated right away and didn't have to wait. I honestly would pick Famous Dave's over Red Hot & Blue.
(4)Jack S.
My son absolutely loves ribs, so as we are out riding towards Leesburg, VA and saw a Red, Hot and Blue restaurant on Rt. 7. We were pretty hungry so we stopped in about 2:30 in the afternoon. We gave the waiter our order and what we received was something I would consider giving my dog. First, the ribs were surprising. I had thought that RHB prided itself on its ribs. Almost any other ribs place we have been to had better offerings (ex. Outback). These were not meaty, had a lot of fat and were generally not too appetizing. These were definitely C-. The french fries may have been cooked to perfection, but they were in the second half of their half life. You know you can still get fresh french fries even at MacDonald's these days What is it about restaurants that makes them think that freshly fried french fries are a gourmet treat?? When we attempted to point this out to the waiter, he didn't even respond. A peculiar response? We thought it may be his last day. We left a 10% tip and a description of the food and service on the receipt with my name and phone number. No call back. Not impressed at all.
(1)Alexandra M.
ill be 2010s third review of red hot and blue. did i just bust a rhyme? i guess i sort of have to review it since im a so-called, "regular." sorry im like a 80 year old grandma with my lunch routines. anyhow, my roommates used to work here, i can probably say they are probably dubbed "the college kids who just dont care." although they are the nicest girls ever. red hot has gone through a big management shift or so they told me. i never really sit down here, i just sit at the bar. because im just a single diner, i hate when its anywhere other than the bar. i mean as a hostess myself im like, really? youre going to take up a whole table? i had gotten to know john, a bartender, whos last day was last week :( on his journey to find a full-time, cubicle nation job. enter patrick. now, like i mentioned, im 21/22 years old, stuck in my ways. change irks me. patrick was wonderful and he'll continue to be wonderful as i continue to dine. my only thing is i think i accidentaly got pork yesterday instead of chicken which is totally fine bc i eat both i just know chicken is healthier. here is my meal. it does not change, i get it every time. i need no menu. omg im so lame. lunch size pulled chicken no bun, no sauce. sub cole slaw for baked potato, sour cream on side. i mean its a pretty healthy lunch. i got my protein, i have my carb, and i have potassium (in the potato. there is as much as a banana) HERES a "tip" which i will update via iphone app next time. put the vinegar sauce on your baked potato its awesome. its like salt and vinegar chips in full potato form! nom nom nom. i have had the app rib tips before and they are pretty good. french fries are on point. i mean its bbq, we may be in "the south" but we really arent. service at the bar is spectacular and small talk is always welcomed. there are quite a few regulars like me at the bar who i see everytime. so maybe its a better experience than on the floor in the "dining room." since i dont sway my menu options much i cant talk for much else other than the potato salad which is too fattening but i will eat all of if put in front of me. my roommates raved of the onion loaf, but i gotta call the line somewhere. maybe one day...
(4)Alan S.
Very surprised that baby back ribs was not an option, only "St. Louis " style which I don't care for. The other problem is the ribs were embedded with white stuff. The waiter and later the manager explained that it was cartilage "which occasionally happens". My wife totally lost her appetite. The manager offered to comp the meal or order something else, but comping wasn't an option as we were using a Groupon. We had a desert and coffee instead. .
(2)Centreville R.
OK, here is the deal. The ribs were a little dry. I definitely had better @ the Pit down in North Carolina. I specifically called and asked were the collard greens fresh or out of the can. Of course they said they were fresh and not out of can. Wrong! I know collards out of the can and they were. Just maybe had they drained the water from the can and replaced it with bacon the flavor could have been boosted up. I asked for more cornbread and the lady only charged me for the cornbread. I told her wait a minute, you did not charge me for the meal. She didn't say, "Oh, I am sorry." She says, "I will just ring up another ticket". Was I really going to get free food? Well, after the taste, maybe it just should have been for FREE. No, I will not go back here.
(2)Josh A.
Lousy. Not sure if it's just this location or the chain in general.
(1)Patrick Y.
Good not great. Hostess was a bit lost. Waiters were great. Food was pretty good for a chain. I'd go back.
(3)Laurent P.
I went there for the first time this week. Got a Brisket platter to carry out with fries and potato salad. The brisket was OK, I was disappointed that it was drenched in some kind of spicy rub sauce and not left with it's natural flavor. It was OK. The potato salad was amazing and so delicious! I got their fries and they where good. Overall not bad for a $10 price. But I will still try to find that better BBQ place and also the place looks dated. I'm not sure I would want to eat there. It felt old and dark...
(3)Michael C.
I should know better than to try a chain style joint for a good BBQ sandwich, but I ordered the simplest thing I could find on the menu which was the "the pulled pork sandwich" and a side of fried okra. It came within 5 minutes flat. (way too fast in my opinion.) The meat was bland, cold, and had no smokey or hot seasoning. It was the traditional shoulder cut however(which is a good thing) and someone spent some time slow roasting it; I could tell from the long shreds of meat and tender taste, but for god's sake season it next time. Use salt maybe I dunno pepper?...hell throw it on the floor even, maybe serve it up in a dirty ashtray? Make it taste like a BBQ. The only thing in this joint that looked hot and smokey was the 20 something waitress that we saw ONCE during our service. I can still feel the pork in my stomach now dancing in cadence with the (frozen) fried okra down my digestive tract. This is what I get for slamming America's favorite BBQ joint I guess. Suggestions? Yes...Change the name to Red Not & Brew...serve more beer.
(1)Deidra B.
We love barbecue. We love Red Hot and Blue. Just not this one! And too bad -- because it is down the street from where I live!!! Here's the deal with this place: they don't care if you live or die, much less if get your order and like it. It's mostly GMU students I think... no offense but they really couldn't care less. I classify the employees into 3 groups: 1). Hostages. They are being held hostage and forced to work at this restaurant and you are one of the ruling elite and they show disdain for your very being. 2). Party Hosts and hostesses. They are having a party for their friends in the bar and having a wonderful time. They are not really sure why you are here or who invited you. They look at you oddly but don't bother you (or wait on you). 3). The OC crowd. Like CA valley kids, they mean well and are nice but have never really understood the work thing and are just kind of like experimenting with it, you know? Every time I've eaten here I munched into something "hard" that made that lump in my throat get big (and had to spit it out). Gross. Every time I have eaten here I asked for something common like silverware or ketchup or barbecue sauce only to not get it before my friends completed most of their meal. And the sad thing is, I love barbecue joints, eating out in this neighborhood, and Red Hot and Blue. Just not this one.
(1)Mae S.
For a person who lives in Michigan most of the time, this is a really amusing place to eat (or even to get takeout). I know that it's actually part of a chain, and the atmosphere is really kind of diner-ordinary, but the barbecue choices are good. It's hard to order the right amount: things that sound like a single portion would sometimes serve one, sometimes several. But I really only need one bite of ANY bbq ribs. Also recommended: sausage platter. BIG too.
(4)Elaine M.
4 stars downgraded to 2..........My husband and I started coming here a couple of years ago and became Saturday night regulars. Not necessarily for the food (although they had a killer chipotle blue cheese burger, good catfish and terrific french fries and fried okra) but mostly for the bar comradarie. In the warm weather we'd often enjoy our meals on the outdoor patio, but during football and basketball season we'd sit in the delightfully cheesy but cozy bar area to share the college games with the bartenders and other patrons. This was a 4 star experience. Now, three bartenders and a bar area redesign later (and apparently a new manager), the place holds only a vague resemblance to the neighborhood bar we once knew and loved and sadly gets only 2 stars. While they got nice, new TVs for over the bar and some new furniture, they opened it all up to adjoin with the next door dining room, effectively destroying any and all ambiance it once had. The food for some reason has become inconsistent, hovering between very good and meh. On top of that, on Saturday nights they hire a "band" or "musician" (terms used very loosely here) to "entertain" the patrons. The bar is so small and the music so loud (speakers not necessary Mr. Manager!) that you can't even talk with your dinner companion or order your beer without shouting. And trying to watch the game is hopeless. We'll be looking for a new neighborhood eatery where we can enjoy the beer, the games and the company without the noise.
(2)Debbie B.
I enjoyed my lunch so much that I ordered dinner to go! Haya was my waitress & the service was excellent. She knows how the food is prepared & gave good suggestions. The Fairfax location is clean & has a cool Jazzy Blues vibe to it. I recommend this place for anyone's budget. The BBQ is "some good," but this place has plenty of other types of foods that I consider "real fine!" I went to the other location a while ago. It was more "ole dinner" in style but the food was good there too.
(5)Beth O.
This is a review regarding the Catering... not in restaurant (that has always been fine). We ordered 20 lbs of pork, 20 lbs of chicken, 20 lbs of beef for our church picnic. We have ordered the same thing from them for the same annual picnic for YEARS. Yesterday, they showed up 15 minutes late and didn't leave the sauce. Also tried to over charge $100 on top of the proposed, which was up from previous years. Food itself was meh. When we called 4 times to say, "where's the sauce? This is dry!", they said the delivery guy was on his way back. He came back after the BBQ was over. The manager offered a meal in the future for the trouble. No thanks. Our priest got on the phone with him and is supposed to get a call back today. We will certainly be looking at other catering providers for this event in the future.
(1)Stefan S.
Place is okay. Not the best bbq, but certainly not the worst either. Service is iffy and can leave a lot to desire. Have found the worst service when sitting outside on the back patio. Not sure why, maybe they forget about us out there. Much better service when sitting inside, go figure! Food is decently good. Typically get a multiple meat platter, usually with pulled pork and dry rub ribs, sometimes with bbq chicken. Beers and drinks are plentiful. Tables and seating areas are clean, rest rooms are fine. Good for a local neighborhood place. Rarely ever any line to wait whether you have a reservation or not.
(3)Erin M.
I always thought Red, Hot, and Blue was okay... until I tried the wings. Now I love it! They're super smokey and come in lots of flavors. I now always get the wings and mac n cheese, and am never disappointed.
(4)John B.
Our first clue should have been the relatively empty resturant during Sunday dinner rush. We had a large group and the server did a good job. We found out afterwards why one group of friends wouldn't join us there...they had seen a "bug" there is the past. They finally told us about it when we revealed that we saw a "bug" that we pointed out to the staff to eliminate. The BBQ was just "ok" and consistent with many of the other reviews complaining of dryness. The sweet tea was good, which is a major component of a good BBQ joint in my opinion. With so many other BBQ places in the area, I doubt I'll go back to this one.
(2)EM B.
We used to be regulars and really liked one of the waitresses that was always pleasant to us. This location, for us, is a no go. The new "fresh" fries are a soggy, nasty, flavorless mess. The BBQ was dry and not worth eating. Not sure what's happened, but the food has hit rock bottom. We've shifted completely to other BBQ establishments.
(1)Donna M.
Decided to give RHB another try tonight and they FAILED again. Ordered Tenn. Triple of pulled pork, pulled chicken & sausage with potato salad & baked beans. Easy...nope. Received the pork & chicken but no sausage, got 2 servings of the pork! Sides were half correct, got the beans but no potato salad, got cole slaw instead. The Delta Double was ok, but again the sides were wrong! Instead of potato salad & collards I got cole slaw & beans. Come on Red Hot & Blue! Get your act together! Good service & good food means happy customers and happy customers will keep coming back. You have nice folks working there, but they are not paying attention to details. Please, please work on your customer service! You are near my home & I hate seeing another restaurant go under. Not sure if my hubby & I will try again. Too many fails.
(2)Aung W.
After a long hiatus from visiting this place, I had dinner with my family recently. The service was fine and the ribs were OK but a little bit chewy on the end parts. Their fried okras were good but the fried potatoes that came with the burger could have been a bit crispier. The place was not crowded at all perhaps it was a mid week night that we were there.
(4)Owen S.
Went here on 7/4. The ribs were tough and chewy--something that happens when they cook their ultra thin rib cut and hold it on "warm" for hours. If you eat ribs here, you should ask for "fresh" ribs, taste them, and send them back if they are dried, chewy and dry. -- Owen
(1)Jai G.
Will not be returning. Stood at the carry out counter for 10 minutes. No one ever checked on us. Walked into the dining room for service and the RUDE hostess, Olga, literally looked at us and walked away without saying anything. Moved to the bar to order our carry out and the bartender directed us right back to the carry out counter that we'd just left...Clearly we were really in the mood for BBQ otherwise we would have just left. Spoke with the manager and he at least listened to our complaint and apologized. After all that our food was just so-so.
(1)Michael S.
I usually eat at the Red Hot & Blue in Laurel, MD and it is five stars in my book. Meat melts off the excellent ribs. Just the opposite at the Fairfax location a couple of days ago. No excuse for a restaurant that specializes in ribs to serve ribs that were so tough that a steak knife could barely cut the meat between the bones. Maybe the ribs were sitting in the kitchen too long. I know one thing...the four of us that were there will never go back.
(1)Karisa D.
**** 3 1/2 Stars**** I actually like Red Hot & Blue and my experiences have been positive so far. The food is decent; I like getting the Pulled Pork Sandwich and mix my sauces up. I have been lucky with service too; the staff is friendly and my servers have regularly checked up on us. And I can get Sweet Tea which is always a plus :)
(3)Angela S.
Ordered from grubhub.com - no issue. Appetizer- hush puppies. Yuck! They were so dry that we couldn't eat them. Husband ordered their bacon cheeseburger - we wrote down TWICE plain. Specifically said no BBQ sauce and no sautéed onions. Burger came with both. Ok so you guys can't read obviously. To make it worse it was HOT PINK! I'm not talking a little pink I'm saying we had to RECOOK the supposedly cooked burger you gave us. I ordered the chopped brisket sandwich. I would think that with putting wet food on a bun knowing it's for a to go order you would have the common sense to separate it. Nope my bun was completely torn apart from being so soggy. Sides- potato salad and mac and cheese. My kindergarten class had better Mac and cheese! It was so gloppy and gross. The only thing you did right was the potato salad - must of been premade. Both of us are not feeling good after eating here. Stay away this place sucks!
(1)Carla C.
This place is alright. I had a pulled pork sandwich and it was okay, nothing special. This idea was confirmed when couple days later I had a pulled pork sandwich at Wendy's and it tasted about as good at a fraction of the price.
(3)Sally M.
Haven't been here in years and was disappointed. Pork was dry and sauces not that great...kind of important for a bar b que joint, right?
(2)Scott O.
I keep going back to red hot & blue, expecting something great but walk away every time disappointed. If you have ever had good BBQ you know what I mean. The bean's are the best thing iv had there. With the exception of the cold beer of course. If I could give it less than one star I would. I will not go back.
(1)David B.
I honestly have to say that this business should have been closed a long time ago. The only reason it exists is because there is a captive VA government lunch and catering crowd. Unfortunately the lack of local options hasn't improved the food quality. This place desperately needs some more competition. The food is really sub par. The difference between this place and daves is that daves at least has consistent food and are typically located in areas where there are food options.
(2)K M.
Food was good, service was not. If we patronize again, it will be strictly for carry out. Friday evening and the restaurant was pretty empty. Took the hostess several minutes to get his nose out of a book and acknowledge us. We cleared our throats, jingled keys and made other noises to try and get noticed. Servers were the same, all reading books. Must have been GMU students studying hard? Still unacceptable. Won't be sitting down in this restaurant again.
(2)Joshua F.
I actually think this place is pretty good. Their dry ribs were great and I think their brisket has a nice flavor too. I know this might not be super authentic bbq but its one of your best bets in Fairfax. I've never had any shady experiences with staff or food quality so I say give this place a shot.
(4)Caroleigh N.
Absolutely shocked at the Yelp rating on here, this place is good. Went for lunch with some coworkers and got a pulled pork sandwich with potato salad. The pulled pork was good, not the best I've ever had but I liked it. It is solid BBQ here in Northern Virginia. It came with a little cup of cole slaw that you could put on top of the sandwich but I ate it separately, also solid. The potato salad was absolutely delicious and I am not usually a fan of potato salad. It was creamy and full of flavor. I also like bigger pieces of potatoes in my potato salad and they have bigger chunks of red potatoes in their salad. One of my coworkers got the blackberry cobbler with ice cream for dessert and I had a little bite and this was also good. The lunch combo for $6.99 is plenty of food and a great deal. Seriously sitting here craving the potato salad as I write this and be sure and leave your diet at home.
(4)Jenny S.
Let me being by saying that I don't ever crave BBQ. I've been here a handful of times, only because of the suggestion of other friends and have always left unsatisfied. The staff is friendly and the service is fine, nothing amazing, but the food is just average, not even special or memorable or tasty. The food is really not tasty, does not have much flavor at all unless you cover it in their BBQ sauce, which honestly, then what is the point in coming here? Really not worth coming here in the end.
(2)Jeff B.
Absolutely, positively dreadful. I had the pulled pork sandwich with smoked sausage, potato salad and bbq nachos. The pulled pork was clearly boiled or cooked in an oven -- it had no smoke flavor at all. No amount of sauce could improve it -- it was mushy and tasteless, far inferior even to pre-made pulled pork. The smoked sausage was okay, but I suspect was a processed sausage, smoked at the factory. The potato salad was particularly terrible, definitely below grocery store quality (and by grocery store, I mean the cheapest, most horrifically maintained Giant foods you can think of). The nachos were equally bad. Even Famous Dave's offers better food than this. Avoid at all costs.
(1)Greg R.
Absolutely atrocious. Years ago I had been to the Arlington location and loved it. Figured I'd give this one a try as my family and I had a craving for some BBQ. The atmosphere was completely dead (granted, it was a Sun evening), but the tables sat uncleaned or barely wiped down. Our server did not know or understand their own menu, and communication was challenging. Also, when I asked if they give a military discount, I was told no (even though it plainly says 10% off for military and law enforcement personnel on their website). No big deal, I had a coupon anyway, but wanted to know for next time (after trying the food, there won't BE a next time - yuck!) We ordered ribs, pulled pork and pulled chicken. The ribs were completely charred/burnt. Totally inedible. The chicken and pork were both cooler than room temperature! Also, the menu describes them as topped with cole slaw and sauce. However, there was no sauce and the slaw was on the side. When I asked, the server explained that some people don't like it with sauce and slaw on it. I think the item should be served as described in the menu, and if someone wants different they'll ask for it that way. All in all, very very disappointing.
(1)David P.
Good ole BBQ with friendly service, quality food, and some old southern blues playing in the background. I got the combo ribs and pulled chicken and it was as sweet as ever. The meat falls off the bone and into my mouth. Really enjoyed the entire experience.
(4)William C.
Food did not look nor taste fresh. It's been a while since I went here. Now I remember why I didn't go back. Way over price for food that's not fresh. Very disappointing.
(1)Rick G.
Worthwhile BBQ & Southern style eats! Their BBQ is very good, if you like not in your face sweetness like so many other places offer. Their southern style dishes are actually pretty good. Although not the most authentic place, for this area that lacks both Southern cuisine and Great BBQ joints - this is good. We go back, over and over, and continue to enjoy it!
(3)Consuela S.
Whenever I am in Fairfax VA getting my car serviced I treat myself to a meal. We went in on 2/8 which was my birthday. I met my sister and my niece there after my niece's game was over at GMU. We sat in our favorite seats and we're quickly served. Everything was fresh, hot and promptly served to us. There wasn't a lot of conversation as we knoshed on our orders. It was so filling that we didn't even order a dessert. The size portion is exceptional for the price. I give it 5 thumbs up. I was super excited because I got the beets that I was craving and I even took part of my salad home to enjoy the next day. I hope you stop by to enjoy them as well.
(5)YloDuc E.
It's ok-coming from Alabama... It's nothing like home. I got the funky chicken sandwich- the chicken tender was over fried or something bc it was super chewy. The fries were delicious. My husbands ribs were ok, good smoke flavor, but I wasn't excited about the dry rub.
(2)Kaz K.
My husband and I went there last Friday at about 8 pm. The restaurant was not very full but they were understaffed with one server handling the main dining room. We were seated right away at a booth that was dirty. We should have left then. When we were finally waited on, we were asked if we would like an appetizer. We ordered the onion loaf. It was dry, tasteless and cold. We complained and they took it off the bill. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and my husband ordered the ribs. It was all blah and lacked any flavor. Not only was it blah but it was just lukewarm- as if it had been heated in a microwave. When we asked the waitress if they smoked their BBQ on the premises she said "yes, they start the process every evening at 8 pm and pull it off in the morning for that day's service". We then asked "Are we eating food that is close to 12 hours old?" She just nodded and said "yes, yes." We are not sure if she understood what we asked because the communication had been difficult from the moment we sat down. Like I said - we should have just left right at the beginning. Bottom Line is: Don't go, Just don't go.
(1)Wei F.
My first Yelp review. Red Hot & Blue was decidedly unimpressive. We arrived on Sunday early evening for dinner and got the brisket platter and the baby back ribs. The food came out in far less than 10 minutes and looked terrible upon landing on our table. Is there no pride at this restaurant? You can usually see and smell the love when good quality BBQ is set in front of you. The meat looked as if it has been sitting there for a whole day (in a bad way), appearing beyond dead. The brisket was bland and forgettable. It seems they try to cover that up with a tangy sauce. The ribs are of the same league as your typical family restaurant (Applebee's, etc), which isn't terrible but we were hoping for something more. On the positives, the sides of baked beans were vinegary and delicious. Unfortunately that just isn't enough because the focus should be the BBQ. Would I return? Absolutely not. The owners should be ashamed to serve that product.
(1)Samantha E.
Got a quick take out order here for lunch the other day with some co-workers. It was a sampling of almost all the types of meat and an additional half rack of ribs. None of it was particularly amazing but it was still a good lunch that filled us up with more meat than we could stand. Plus, the to go process was very quick and easy. The food was ready soon after we called it in.
(3)Valerie S.
Went to Red Hot & Blue while I was in town on a business trip.... We had great service and thought the food was great.... Didn't try any of the BBQ, but the brunswick stew and fried okra were delish and I have been dreaming about the potato salad ever since... I have got to find a recipe for that!!!
(5)Piper P.
Alright but nothing special or worth returning for. The parking situation sucks - there is only one way in and out and it's difficult to navigate into a parking spot with cars entering and exiting. Had dinner with the fam - waitress had several large parties in her area and was slow taking our order but thanked us for our patience. Disappointed in the wings (slightly burned and dry) as well as the BBQ sandwiches (boring and bland). I ordered coleslaw as my side but wasn't told the sandwich came with coleslaw anyways - had I known I would have gone with something else. Salads, ribs, and corn muffins were average; baked beans were pretty good though. Overall a pretty boring dining experience and not worth dealing with the parking situation to eat here again.
(2)Tommy M.
Last two times I ordered ribs at this location they tasted like they had been left over from the previous day. The meat was dry and tasted bad. The attempt to cover the poor quality meat with BBQ sauce did not work. Something has gone wrong at this RH&B location. Other menu items seemed OK.
(3)Rasheeda R.
I would like to say that I am never coming back to this establishment, but unfortunately for me, I was given a rather large gift card to eat at this place. The service was atrocious and only solidified my belief that one should not dine when there is a shift change approaching. Our original server could care less what we ordered and made sure we knew it, by forgetting our appetizers completely and giving us the wrong entree. Not a sorry came out of his mouth. When I asked where my appetizers were, he said "Do you still want those?" Like... wtf. Why would I not want the food I ordered? Fail #2 was coming back with something I totally didn't order. Dry ribs were requested. The ribs I got weren't dry. The replacement server, as this was a shift change, was okay. But I could sense that he knew that the person who had left him this table sucked. The food itself was bland and without flavor. You can't have bad service and bad food and think anyone wants to come back here. Damn, these awful gift cards. I have to give this place a second shot or else the person has wasted a load of money for nothing. The service was so horrendous I am thinking this may a regifted gift card. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. It was edible. But I could have had a McRib and had a rib that was just as good. It wasn't anything that I would say was amazing.
(1)Nini T.
This is my second times visiting this location, and this review is based on overall of both times. It's a nice sporty/casual environment. I see it as relaxing and no "rush-in" and out type of restaurant. The second time i'm visited is because I purchased a deal on GROUPON. Usually I noticed if you purchased some sort of deal, the services can be iffy. Maybe it's depend on the waiter/waitress experiences with the customer or poor tip? But here, the service was good. Both times I ordered the wings for appetizer, and I love it. I can't remember the name of the flavor but it's a little bit spicy (can't tolerate spicy well) yet a hint of sour at the same time. I had wet ribs as an entry and It was good. I wasn't so much into it, probably because I wasn't that hungry. would i come back here again? YES would i recommend it to my friend? YES food rating: 4 out of 5 service rating: 4 out of 5
(4)Kenneth L.
Red Hot & Blue is one of my favorite BBQ restaurants! You can get a decent meal with a drink for less then 15 dollars. I usually get their pulled chicken with fries for lunch. They even doubled the meat for free last time. They serve the drink in an extra large cup so you don't have to keep on asking for freefills. They are extremely generous on there portions as well. If you are on a budget and you are looking for great BBQ, I highly recommend Red Hot & Blue!!
(4)Kate P.
Overall, pretty good. We've dined in and have gotten take out a few times. I think the chicken sandwich is great. It's very tender chicken and juicy. I also like the spicy sauce but I like all of the sauces. Also been pleased with shrimp, fish and ribs here. All good. Every time I've had fries, they've been pretty disappointing and lukewarm. I didn't care for the nachos. Service--ehhhh, alright- -had a carry out order recently and bartender (perhaps a manager?) was a bit rude which surprised me and also didn't ask if I needed BBQ sauces, utensils, etc. so therefore he didn't include any of these items in my order..
(3)Edward K.
I've been coming to this place ever since it opened about 20 years ago, probably around 200 visits during that time (before that I went to the one on Wilson Blvd. for a couple of years). So this review is more of an overview than a review of a specific visit. There have been some less than perfect experiences during that time, but for my money, this is the best BBQ in northern Virginia. Willard's is probably the next best, but Chantilly is a bit of a hike for me, so I've only eaten there a couple of times. As far as specific recommendations, we come for the ribs, pulled pork, potato salad, cole slaw, and baked beans. No doubt how the ribs and pulled pork are prepared -- the hickory-smoked flavor is unmistakable. The pulled pork is almost addictive. The potato salad is the best I've had anywhere --consistently great, even if it has been a little too salty on occasion. Slaw is less reliably good -- sometimes very good, sometimes only average, but generally tough to beat. I don't eat baked beans myself but my wife does, and she can remember only one time when they weren't up to par. Since we almost always get some sort of pig product, I can't really comment on things like the burgers, fried chicken, fried catfish, or even the beef brisket. Onion loaf is very oily, but the dipping sauce would make almost anything taste good. I've also enjoyed the Brunswick stew in the past, but haven't had it recently. Cornbread is always very good -- not too sweet or too dry, but sometimes they forget to bring it, so don't be afraid to ask. Sweet tea is very sweet, but still pretty good. Service is almost always good, but on the rare occasions that it's been bad, it's been really bad. Now for the less than perfect stuff. Ribs are sometimes too dried out and chewy, like they've been sitting around too long waiting for someone to order them. Sometimes they're not as meaty as others. I generally don't think smoking chicken is the best way to cook it -- it dries out and the smoke flavor doesn't penetrate any deeper than the skin, and the result is no different here. As others have commented, I don't think the décor has been significantly refreshed in the 20 years, and it could really use it. But you can't eat décor, so I don't hold that against them. The cleanliness is another issue, and while I don't think it's bad enough to keep me from coming back, I have encountered sticky tables, seats and menus, dirty silverware, and an occasional bug or 2 (never in the food, though). Those who say RH&B not as good as it used to be might be right, but I still think the food here is the best around. Think about it -- how many reasonably-priced family-friendly places have you eaten at that are are still even around after 20 years let alone where you still enjoy the food? This is the only one for me.
(4)Nicole J.
Ate there a few times , it was ok , until I Was sitting there with my mother eating lunch And a roach crawled across the table. When we told the waitress all she said was sorry you had to see that. I have not been back since and I will not go back. It's a shame because there's so few places to eat in Fairfax they really need to clean up the restaurant.
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