Review Caveman Kitchen

Bethany

I'd never been here before, despite having worked just down the road for years. I was excited to try them, and they had a certain reputation and expectations that preceded them for me, that they easily exceeded when I got there. I only wish it was a tad less expensive, so I could eat there more often. But being that my budget issues are not their fault, I didn't hold this against them. What you get for what you pay is more than adequate, and the flavors are BOMB. I got their smoked chicken bacon ranch sandwich, which is HIGHLY recommended! They have a cute covered outdoor seating area with a rad mural to look at, and the owners were extremely friendly and chatted up their customers! The reason for 4 stars is because we watched the person handling our food with her mask hanging well below her nose and most of her mouth, while doing lots of heavy breathing and talking to other staff as she was hustling to get the orders out. After 2+ years dealing with covid variants, it just astounds me that so many people still refuse to wear their masks the right way, especially when handling other people's food. 😬

TexasKev

I came in today after work, I ordered a half chicken w/ beans and potatoe salad. The service was extremely fast. The sides were of fair portion size and well flavored. The chicken looked and tasted pretty good. 2 issues that tank my review. Not a drop of BBQ sauce in sight. Chicken was not moist enough on its own, so I sorely missed some sauce. The 2nd comes from a terrible experience customer service wise. The cashier was pushy and very impolite. Showed a Lack of effort/care in general. Perhaps they were just having a really bad day. It's unfortunate as this was my first time here and the food itself might draw me back but the experience as a whole was sullied.

Dylan Tucker

$20 for this sandwich. Couldn’t even put napkins in the bag? Paid 5 dollars for a small soda cup. The lady who I assume is the owner was being extremely frustrated and rude to her daughter and the other employee. The other employee was trying to help on the cash register while the lady was making sandwiches. She got rude with him when he said he would stay a few minutes and help. She told him “I’ve got the front and I’ve got the back, just walk away”. There’s no excuse for this. There’s “now hiring” signs in the restaurant, too…. I have a feeling that sign will be there for a very long time. Companies call it a labor shortage… I think it’s a positive-leadership shortage. 0/5 stars if there were the option.

G-Unit 206

Pork Ribs, Pork Cubes and Dragon Wheel side. The pictures can’t do it justice. I understand we still in a pandemic. But the food was like from a zombie apocalypse. Cubes were stone cold & dry. Ribs were old, dry and hard. The potatoes & veggies was 2 wks old. Yes, I guess it was made by a Caveman. Hate to write bad review, but had high expectations for old establishment. Cheers everyone

Diana Wu

This is my first time ordering and I ordered $148 worth of food here. Pick up time was 5:14 pm I get there at 5:20 food isn’t ready. They ran around to let me know they were out of pork ribs, I said ok just refund for those, then they said they were out of pork cubes but had a small portion left they were going to give me free charge (they were going to refund me for those too), Then in the midst of getting my order together they found the pork ribs..which they smothered with bbq sauce. I’m thinking great extra sauce for us to enjoy. As I was waiting he offered me chili or some sort of soup which was nice to make up the fact I was waiting a long time. (Total of 30 mins additional wait time) I finally get home, the pictures are the overcooked hard ribs smothered in bbq sauce (to hide the fact it was old), pork cubes that were hard as rocks, salty old potatoes from the dragon wheel, and they forgot my coleslaw. I called for a refund on coleslaw and told me they were “trying to put it in the books for next time pick up” I said no thanks I won’t be coming back ever. The chicken and potato salad was ok. I’m truly disappointed..coming from Oklahoma/ Texas that this would be awesome bbq.

Seamus Caveney

Delightfully messy and delicious. Everything is home made, even the bread for the sandwiches (which is just the right amount of crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside). Meats melt in your mouth and are full of flavor. Just make sure you get enough napkins

Cynthia Hoeft

This is the second time I’ve eaten here and the food doesn’t disappoint. What does is the service, this three stars. The attitude towards customers, snide remarks towards fellow employees and arguing amongst employees while waiting for your food set for a bad taste before eating your food. While the food has great flavor it isn’t mouth watering and I can’t say this is a place I’d like to frequent or recommend.

Travis H

So to be honest I don't think I could fairly rate this place based on my first experience.... my co-worker and I had lunch here, (which is obviously not their customer base) but we had sandwiches, not any of the smoked meat, to be fair, the sandwiches were good.... but not 16 bucks a piece good. Then you include a side and soda it was 24 bucks each for lunch. Now don't get me wrong, I love great food. And I'll pay money for great food. But I just don't see it here. If it was a 16-17 dollar meal I could easily say 4 stars. But what I got for the price just did not impress

Christopher Mclendon

I grew up on this place! If you like sweet BBQ, this is the spot. PERIOD! The best way to eat caveman is showing up during slow times. They take more time warming and toasting your food. It is always good, but it is better when the staff isn't as rushed .

Ron N

The food if slats Amazing!!!! The service is always friendly and willing to hep you with and advice on what to get. This is one of our go too places for local good BBQ!!

Charlotte Heller

We read all the hype about this place, and we're really looking forward to eating here. When we received our food, the portions were small for the price and lackluster of flavor. My boyfriends salmon was ice cold. On a positive note the staff was nice. We're in no rush to come back.

James

Classic smoke meats. Nothing fancy about this place, but excellent smoked pork, chicken, and beef. Also excellent potato salad! Have had Caveman smoke ducks and goose that I have brought them, always done to perfection.

Mikaela Cowles

They’re not a BBQ joint and they don’t pretend to be. They are a smokehouse. Their storefront is a little run down, just like you’d expect from a place so good it’s been around since 1971. There’s no indoor seating, but come summer they have plenty of picnic tables out back.

Filboy

Terrible overall. I bought a whole chicken, 1 lb. of pork bbq, small beans and small potato salad. The chicken was dry ..... like it was a leftover from lunch then left in the oven. Hardly edible and salty. The pork bbq was on the tough side, and over powered by the sauce. The potato salad was undercooked. The only saving grace was the beans which was very good. I have been buying Caveman since the 70's, and it's a far cry when the old man was tending the smoke. The chicken then was juicy, and the bbq was falling off the bone. About $30.00 for lunch for 2 people. I should have gone somewhere else. I will never go back again.

Sir Tasty Cakes

I agree with the former reviewer's sentiment of not being able to give it a real dislike, but not a like either. The food, which is sort of a Pacific Northwest spin on BBQ, just didn't click for me. I had a salmon dip, which was grilled(?) salmon, cream cheese, and French bread. The bread was very good, but the sandwich didn't really come together for me. Tastes kind of bland. The dip, a salty water with a little bit of lemon, wasn't any good. The much-vaunted Dragon Wheels are just some roasted veggies and sausage, which were mediocre. Baked beans were among the better I've had. Service was stellar; the people working here may be among the friendliest employees I've ever met. Makes it painful to leave a less-than-stellar review, to be honest. I dunno. Maybe it was an off day, but I get the feeling it wasn't. If they've been around this long, clearly they're appealing to a certain crowd. Just not me.

Troyloveserin

Cave Man Kitchen - Kent, WA. LOVE me some Cave Man! Their French Dip is my favorite. Dragon wheels are AMAZING as well. I am a weekly regular. Fabulous food & stellar staff. :)

Jo Clayton

NOT closed!. Re-opened in December 2012 and back under the management of the owner Dick Donley's daughter Roseanna's watchful and caring eye. All the original recipes are back and the place is hopping.. turning out some awesome smoke-roasted fare. In it's 41st year.. the place is back to it's former glory. I had the ham sandwich with gingered chutney on crispy french bread.. it was amaze!

Bob's Stomach

Truly Sad. The Cave Man has been an iconic valley fixture for decades and a truly wonderful place to buy smoked meats--whether it was by the piece, in a sandwich, or an entire bird. The trip from Seattle was always worth it...a real loss.

Daniel

Great. I always get the pulled pork sandwich with cheese. Name of the places says it all. You will eat like a caveman. MEAT! Good too.

Jaime

YUMM. Good bbq, best in kent. Had the pulled pork and it hit the spot, wife had ribs and was verry satisfied

Chuck Lee

Mediocre. I wish there was a category between "doesn't like it" and "likes it". This place doesn't deserve a doesn't like it, but it is not that great either. Head up the road a couple of miles to Barbecue Pete's -- that's where the good barbecue is in this area.

Review Caveman Kitchen - Kent