Reviews 4 Rivers Smokehouse

My wife and I's favorite place for BBQ. Can't really go wrong with anything here, but if you like brisket that's my go to for sure. Baked beans, Mac and cheese and corn are excellent. Get a slice of corn bread too.

Always consistent and great! Portions are huge! Best BBQ around!

I've been to multiple 4 Rivers locations, but I think Winter Garden takes the cake! The food during my trip was amazing, as always! I went through their drive thru for the first time. At first I had a little hard time hearing through the speaker. But Caleb at the window was super patient and very friendly! He helped me with any misunderstandings or questions that I had. And the food came to me really fast! Overall the service was excellent and so was the food!

Update: 04/26/2022 After a review with the management team. We decided to give 4 Rivers another try. We ordered lean versus moist (too fatty) brisket, okra, fries, green beans, Mac and Cheese. The portions of brisket were slightly better. The smoke and seasoning is not what we are used to with 4 Rivers, but the overall taste was pretty good. The fries and okra are kept in a fancy warmer. Surprisingly, they both tasted quite crispy. Rest of the food was tasty as well. Regarding the service, that has never been questionable as it’s always been five-stars. Plus, the place is clean and the food is served quickly. All the condiments are readily available. Overall, the experience was far better than the last time and we hope that this becomes the norm. I’ll update my experiences. In the meantime, please stop by and try them out. Update: 04/08/2022 Four Rivers is just not doing it like they use too. Noticed the okra is now stored in a warmer after being cooked wherein it use to be cooked to order. Was stale and just not fun too eat. The brisket sandwich’s have less meat with a higher cost. I know because we’ve been going since the days of the Park Ave smoke shack. In all fairness I get growth, etc. But lovers of BBQ will pay a premium for good food and 4 Rivers has just fell off the wagon. It will be awhile before we decide to return as the food experience is just not what it was using the measure of years of patronizing 4 Rivers. In other words, they are only competing against past and present experiences. First, the location in Winter Garden is very easy to enter and exit. Upon entering, the place is tinged with the Smokey smells expected of a place of BBQ. Ordering for takeout or sit down is seamless. The briskets and most of the sides are spot on. The only thing I wish they would fix, is to provide fresh french fries and fresh fried okra. I know they will tell you the turnaround is fast. But, here lies the real problem. It is unsouthern like to serve okra that is sitting on the warmer. This needs to be made to order period. To ensure a crisp and crunchy taste. If, you understand southern cuisine. You are more than willing that wait for that. Same goes with the fries. The food is a little more pricey, but your taste buds will likely compensate for your wallet. The staff are friendly and the place is clean throughout. I normally visit during lunch and only about every other month. While I genuinely like the food. I want to say that it tasted better in the old Winter Park location. Just my opinion and yes, I plan on patronizing the business. The BBQ is pretty good! Update: 06/28/2019 This review is made up of multiple reviews from a year ago. I’m the type of person, in which a business has to earn a five star rating from me. I do not arbitrarily give them out. We are now up to a four star rating versus a three star rating. The reason for the four stars is because I feel as though the portions of brisket are smaller than say three or four months ago. (JMO). However, the okra and fries is now served fresher than before. I appreciate management taking me up on that one. Especially, with the okra. I’m biased with the Carolina mustard bbq sauce. It’s just my thing. Now, I’ll be reviewing in another 6 months or so for quality, quantity and consistency. Enjoy the Q! Update: Four Rivers is losing control of their quality. I ordered take out brisket without fat. Shame on me for trusting that they would provide me what I ordered. Got home and pulled the bun off my brisket and discovered that it’ was 95% FAT disguised as meat! While the manager made me an entire new meal. This doesn’t raise any points with me as the carver should know better. Who eats brisket at 95% fat! I will make a few visits before I raise the stars. This is the second misstep in my last two visits. Four Rivers you have earned these two stars. Get it together! 06/29/2022 I returned to the Dillard Street location for a spot check lunch and let me just say that I have not been this impressed with this location for a while. Everything was ON POINT!

It is awesome...burnt ends are an addiction of mine. Sides and desserts are fantastic. Line staff and check out staff could not have been nicer. Everyone seemed to be well trained and customer focused.

We waited about 20 minutes. Well worth the wait. The loaded baked potato was amazing. I wish they kept it around it was a limited time only. The mac and cheese was ok reminded me of kfc a little. The signature bbq sauce WAS GREAT i wanna drench everything in it. The tea was awesome i love the lemons they were freah. The soda station featured a hand wash station which i order. I hate eating with dirty hand. Going to the bathroom and coming out somtimes can be unsanitary. My fiance loved the brisket sandwich he liked it he got it with 2 sides. The greens and mac and cheese. He said he liked his green a little more tart. he said they must put suger in there green to mimic the greens after the first frost. Which a lot people like. we were check on 3 times once by a manger. The 3rd time the gentle man asked if we were done. We said yes he saw that my fiance didnt eat the green offer us a to go box when he said he didnt much enjoy them. He asked if he could replace them with something else. We said no but then asked him if we could order dessert from the table to aviod the line. He asked us which items were we thinking. We told him the oreo cupcake and the reeses peanut butter cookie. He said just one second. Brought them back no charge for inconvenience it was awesome i enjoyed it thoughly. We will definitely be back. Thanks so much.