I was really excited to try this BBQ place... I'm from North Carolina and I had been disappointed by the dry style BBQ here in Florida. I love sauce!!! I want it in my BBQ!!! With that said, 4 rivers has been the best BBQ that I have tried here so far. I got the dinner with the pork & brisket mixture, a side of corn and green beans. The corn and BBQ were awesome!! The green beans tasted very bland- probably came out of a can which is unfortunate. I also got some fries, which didn't seem very fresh. They were tolerable when I dipped in the hot and sweet sauce. Overall 4 rivers is a solid BBQ joint in gainesville. Since I don't come on this side of town a lot, I might not get a chance to come here often, but it was a satisfying meal overall. read more

Pro's: Delicious Meat - The brisket is like nothing I have ever had. A+ Decor is very fun and open. Sweet shop was just what this town needed. I would give the Sweet Shop a 5 star. Staff is polite and hospitable. Condiments and eating supplies were very available. Signature sides were interesting and good. Con's Pricey for what you are getting. Sides were old and not very good. Specifically the Green Beans and the Biscuits. read more

Don't let the hype, the line, and the cafeteria experience cloud your judgment of what great food actually is. Don't get me wrong their food is descent but considering the hype it doesn't live up. Plenty of other barbeque joints in Gainesville offer higher quality food....they just don't have the fancy looking restaurant like 4 Rivers does. Or the huge cult following from Orlando! Brisket....tasty but a little on the salty side...im thinking they'll correct that Bun....nothing more then a 10 cent bun from grocery store Mac 'n cheese.....out of a box and nothing special Cheese grits....these were excellent Sweet potato casserole....excellent as well and i like the pecan pieces Baked beans....not my style but I could see some people liking em Resses Peanut Butter cupcake....AMAZING Overall 4 Rivers is an ok place and they'll be busy because of their prime location and plenty of parking. For Ribs I say check out Adams. For Brisket and Mac 'N Cheese I say check out Kay Bros. Never been to Davids but I hear they've been in town for like 30 years so I guess I'll have to give em a try. read more

I got food poisoning served straight from Jeff Driskel. How's this kid gonna be able to regulate the Gators football team, when he can't even regulate food/temperature? I was extremely sick for finals week, thanks. I still have not really recovered completely. That was actually during my first time back in months, to test it out and see if it improved from the last time I got sick there. What a mess. I think it's the generally young and inexperienced staff. read more

It's been a bit since I tried 4R. It was my friend's birthday and since we couldn't decide where to eat, we finally agreed giving this BBQ place a try as it was recently opened. I've seen the lines out the door every time I was at Butler Plaza, so maybe it was a good sign?!? I did check yelp before we went there and I should say I had my doubts... somehow I hoped my friend would say "Let's go to Panera." I like Panera; for a chain it's pretty good and consistent. Back to 4R, I wasn't wrong. It was memorable, for sure! Overly salty, super fatty and dry meat (I know, super fatty and dry at the same time... how is that possible?). Sides were whatever... I ordered a brownie, too. Terrible. Tasted fake, like all crappy baked goods do. There were 3 of us and it was unanimous this place does not deserve a repeat! I wouldn't say the price is a great value, either. And to make matters worse, the cups/cutlery etc are disposable. What's up with that? Big chain can't afford a dishwasher? I noticed that's quite a trend in Gainesville. But wait, Gainesville is so progressive! Wah, wah, wah! I still see lines outside. Makes me wonder if there's crack in their BBQ sauce, 'cause I can't explain the crowds. One star for the food. read more

BBQ combo with pork, sausage, brisket & bunt ends was really good. Small issue they forgot the burnt ends but with uber eats there is nothing you can do. The pulled pork sandwich was amazing! Highly recommend. The beans are my favorite side. The kids meals are really good sized but if you get a pulled pork make sure to ask for bbq sauce! read more

Awesome brisket! Great bacon-wrapped smoked jalapeños. Very good sweet potato casserole. Good fries. Very good biscuit. Overall - excellent meal. You stand in line to order, carry your own meal, and get your own drink (but that means easy refills). If you don't like that - go elsewhere. If you don't mind serving yourself you will be rewarded with great BBQ. read more

I am very critical of the way a BBQ restaurant does their smoked turkey. 4 Rivers does it right. The turkey wasn't dry or crusty, and had just the right amount of smoke that I could've eaten it without a sauce at all. But, I have to try sauces, so I did. They were delicious singly, but I found that I needed to mix the hot with the mild to get exactly what I wanted. That's not a big deal though, different strokes and all. The sides were delicious but the collards were not as amazing as I've had other places here while visiting Gainesville. However, they were still pretty delicious and no complaints. The sweet potato casserole was exactly as it should be, both a side and a dessert. I wish I'd had room to try from the sweet shop but perhaps next time as I will definitely be visiting again. read more

Topnotch BBQ joint especially for a chain restaurant!! I would definitely recommend trying this place. read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Yummyness - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Genuinely authentic BBQ, all of the staff is really friendly. I would recommend if it's your first time to try the sliders, so that you can get a taste of all the different meats that they have. read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Checked out 4 Rivers while in town for the weekend. The line was out the door, but moved very quickly, and the smell coming from inside the restaurant kept me company while waiting. We were a party of 5 and everyone loved their food. Boneless rib sandwich, pulled chicken, pulled pork, and brisket were all perfectly cooked and delicious. There are so many wonderful sides to choose from. The biscuit, corn bread, sweet potato, mac and cheese, and beans were all delicious. The servings are huge and the platters come with 4 sides, so come with a good appetite and feel free to split a meal with someone else. read more

I was so disappointed with my food here after hearing all this talk about how great it was. The location of this place was in the corner of a Gainesville strip mall which should have probably tipped me off in the first place that it wasn't going to be the greatest BBQ I ever had. They have an outside area to order food to-go which is convenient, and inside they have large high-tops and large tables closer to the ground which are reminiscent of a normal BBQ experience where you eat your food elbow to elbow with people you never met before. The place was really clean and still looked brand new even though it's been open a while. On the particular day I went it was empty, even though it was a little past noon, but that could be because I went during the summer when Gainesville's population drops to about 47 people. You order food here pretty much the same way you'd order from a Moe's or a Chipotle. Just say you want and they add stuff as you go along. It was quick and relatively painless! The food is my biggest gripe because it had been put on a pedestal, and I can't really say it was all that good. I got the pulled pork, mac and cheese, and fries because those should be staples for any good BBQ place. The pulled pork was cooked well, but I was just not digging the sauce. I like my BBQ sauce to basically be candy, and this BBQ was more tangy than anything else. For a really good sweet BBQ sauce I would probably suggest Adam's Rib Co. which is still my favorite BBQ in Gainesville even though they can be a bit inconsistent. The Mac and Cheese was good but a little watery, and the fries were...fries. Nothing special about them. All in all, it was a decent place and it's better than 90% of the BBQ in Miami but in Gainesville it's strictly middle of the road. Even Texas Roadhouse has better BBQ than 4 Rivers does. You can do worse than 4 Rivers, but you can also certainly do better. read more

I finally got a chance to try 4 Rivers last night! I think we got there around 7pm and it was packed, the line was wrapped all around the building to Falafel House. It took about 20 minutes to get through the line. The nice thing about 4R is the setup. As you go through the line, you get to look at a variety of glass bottles of all kinds of funky sodas, water, etc.. The lighting is nice, and the staff are really friendly. The sweet shop looked neat too, but I didn't get a chance to try anything. Where 4R goes wrong for me is the food. They were handing out samples of the "burnt ends", and I was amazed at how dry the meat was. I got a Cuban sandwich, and the meat was again extremely dry and tough, the bread was burnt, and the sauce on it was kinda weird. As for the sides, the beans were undercooked and swimming in an overly-sweet, thick sauce. The Mac and cheese was okay, tasted like it was from a box. I don't think I'll go out of my way to go here again. I'd rather go to Adam's or try somewhere new for BBQ. But it's still a neat ambiance, and a fun place to go with a few friends. read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Cuban, Mac and cheese, baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

You cannot make this up. So after 3 failed attempts to try their overrated food (wait times being too long), this July 4th weekend, I finally got the opportunity. Terrible mistake!! I've never been this sick with food-borne illness resulting from grossly unsanitary practices in my life!!! Spent the entire day yesterday spewing projectile vomit and lava diarrhea, accompanied by the most intense stomach cramps. My girlfriend is just as bad. The reason? Perhaps it's because the food is served on dirty trays lined with construction paper. Seriously, no plates? Not even Styrofoam...? Or maybe it's because the utensils are provided via a dispenser, unwrapped in any plastic, falling into a basket undoubtedly riddled with bacteria from hundreds of hands. I mean, really? Does it cost that much more to provide customers with paper plates and pre-wrapped plastic utensils. This is just rudimentary sanitation. I get the cafeteria style service, but that doesn't excuse them from taking the responsible steps of providing their patrons with clean plates and utensils. This was a disgusting and unforgivable experience. I will never come back. P.S. - although I have no proof, if the aforementioned is any reflection of what goes on IN the kitchen, there is no doubt as to why my girlfriend and I got sick. Cross-contamination must be routine. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. read more

I stopped eating here because I only like the brisket, and it was often too salty. I tried it again today and it was once again, very salty. It's like they use a dry rub made of salty salt with a touch of salt and some additional salt added......and nothing else. Yuck. I will NOT be wasting anymore money here. read more

I loved them but however the Mac n CZ was very watery and un seasoned for a bbq restaurant. But other than that, it's always Delicious!

This place is ALWAYS so giving to its local community!!! The food is delicious and I think the price is fair. They're catering has always been hot and good! read more

There is NO WAY anyone can say this place is one of the best in Gainesville for barbeque. We're in the south. Gainesville might be hoppin', but it's still a relatively small southern town. There are a ton of small, original, hand-made mom-and-pop barbecues around this area that will serve authentic, delicious, fresh barbecue. I mean, there are people who stick the grill on their truck and serve out on the 441 and in the boonies. The only reason 4 Rivers is SO popular is they invested a ton of money in projecting a word-of-mouth campaign around Gainesville before they even opened in a busy plaza to ensure a wide clientele interest. It was obviously incredibly effective; there are always lines. Is it really so good that people want to be there that bad on a Monday night? No. But it's popular, and it's peaked public curiosity. It sucks to always see local small businesses that have been here for years, sometimes decades, getting rooted out by the monster that is Butler Plaza. Adam's Rib Co. is 2 miles away on 13th street. Making the trek takes me less time than I would have to spend waiting in line and waiting for service at 4 Rivers. And it tastes way better. read more

Service tonight was lacking. My wife and I were last in line and my wife ordered before me. She was greeted with a smile and was walked through the ordering process. I however was not acknowledged and continued to stand in line waiting to be served. when a new customer entered the line, the order taker greeted her promptly and took her orders. I told the woman behind me to continue forward as I was still waiting to be noticed. It wasn't until I got the employee to lock eyes with me that I was able to give her my order. It's difficult to think of a reason to return when you don't feel welcomed in the first place. read more

Decent fast casual BBQ and atmosphere. Love the sides, beans and potato salad in particular.

We recently catered 4 Rivers for our wedding rehearsal dinner and it was perfect. The entire process working with the Gainesville catering team was enjoyable. Claire and Joshua in Gaineville were so helpful. They helped us pick the best options for our guest and ensured we had all the details covered. The delivery and set up by their team was on schedule and perfect - even though our event was 30 miles outside of Gainesville. Our guest loved the food - the BBQ Chicken and the Brisket. The sides were incredible - the baked beans and the green beans. We added a couple trays of coleslaw too and those were very reasonably priced. There was plenty of food for our 65-person party and we even had leftovers for lunch for about 20 people the next day - very easy to reheat as they deliver the food in large aluminum trays. I cannot express enough how pleased I am with the 4 Rivers Gainesville team. If there is ever an event I need to cater again in the $10-$15/person range, I am going with 4Rs. -Ken read more

I had a great time eating here. They just give you hearty, medieval-King-sized portions of meat on your tray and there are a lot of sides to choose from! I got the creamy macaroni and Texas style cornbread which was dee-lish (delicious). They also have a dang bakery in the corner for delectable after meal dessert options. This place has successfully identified my life's priorities in one setting: meats and cupcakes. Also they have BARREL SINKS outside so you can wash your hands! For when you're done eating! What a time to be alive. read more

We first found 4 Rivers in Winter Gardens. It was delicious. We were thrilled to finally get one close to us. The servers and staff are very friendly, the food is well cooked and the meat is tender. The sauces and selection of sides is very good also. The Sweet Shop is scrumptious. My absolute favorite thing is the Almond Joy. A decadent brownie with ooey coconut and topped with chocolate icing and slivered almonds. It is worth the 30 minutes trip from Ocala. read more

Me and hubby normally go Thursday's and Friday's and we normally order the same thing every time. Which is a half slab of pork ribs. But next time I will try the beef ribs. We also tried their cooler drinks this time. We thought they were beer but I happen to read the drinks and they were old fashion drinks in a bottle. read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - A half slab of pork ribs with a side of Mac and cheese and baked beans. Drink? Ice cold Old fashion root beer. - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Order food through bitesquad but have been to the restaurant several times the meats and desserts are delicious but the sides are slacking including their coleslaw which had plastic in it. would have told someone at the restaurant but the number is for their corporate office. read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Tried 4Rivers today at lunch. I wanted to see what all the hype was about and thoroughly enjoyed myself! Don't let the line out the door scare you. We almost hit Falafel King two doors down for fear of a wait when we saw that line! The style of services is like Moe's, Chipotle, etc. so the line moves fast. Just be patient. When you get to the front, tell the first person your meal choice and move on down the line for sides and drinks. I went with one of the "Signature Stackers" and ordered the Texas Destroyer. The Destroyer is brisket with onion rings, jalapeños, cheese and BBQ sauce. Ahhhh... yes, please!! BBQ purists may go for just straight meat and scoff at my sandwich. They are welcome to it. My sandwich was awesome. The sides appear to be where it is at! I went for smoked jalapeños with cream cheese wrapped in bacon. Loved them. I also got fried pickles. They were pretty good. Be prepared for A LOT of breading. If tons of breading is for you, go for them. I enjoyed them, but they weren't my favorite. My friends grabbed sandwiches, as well, and let me tried their sides. I really enjoyed the fried okra. It tasted very fresh. The baked cheese grits were very unique and I will definitely order them for myself next time. Overall, fun, quick, tasty and unique. Ignore the hater-BBQ-crazies giving negative reviews and check it out! read more

I was a bit skeptical after hearing that this was a cafeteria style restaurant, but I think that helps keep the price down for some great bbq!! I loved the pulled pork as it was really juicy! The brisket was good also, but as smoked brisket goes, you can't expect it to be really juicy as the pork. That's what the sauce is for! The atmosphere is very casual and on a Wednesday night got extremely busy! read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Awesome - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

So, this is my third 4Rivers location and it did not disappoint. We arrived earlier than the dinner rush, about 515ish...Total time from door to chow...less than ten minutes. That's a winner at a 4R. Everyone behind the line was professional, helpful, and happy. The cashier was a bit scatter brained, forgetting our drink cups and ringing in the order wrong. Dinner was spectacular...I had the sloppy pig and loved it...this would be pulled pork between slaw on a bun with pickles and jalapeno peppers. The perfect blend of scrumptiousness... My wife and son loved their dinners too. The only downfall is we didn't save room for the sweets. read more

Best place in town to get some good smoked Angus brisket ! Hands down! Sides are great too and they have some delicious desserts! read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Angus Brisket Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Let me first start by saying... I hate baked goods! I've never had a sweet tooth, instead I crave random salty things like beef jerky (yeah... I can't explain it). I actually catered desert from The Sweet Shop because I was giving a talk at UF and understand that most people, unlike myself, are normal and like sweets. I actually reached out to a point person from The Sweet Shop and she was great (Claire). she worked with me to get my order in line and even gave me a discounted rate because the event was for an "educational/non-profit purpose". I ordered 3 dozen mini-cupcakes, a dozen mini brownies and a dozen mini-blondies. Not only were the sweets a hit with the students at the event, but I myself decided to give one of the cupcakes a shot. I was blown away. I ate as simple a cupcake as ever.. some sort of vanilla with a vanilla-like frosting... OMG amazing. And keep in mind, this is coming from someone that does not like sweets! Just a great customer service experience and even better sweets! read more

My family has been going to 4R since it opened in Gainesville, but our last few visits have been so disappointing that we will not be returning. The food and service has gone downhill. Our last visit, my husband ordered the quarter chicken and it was undercooked. My pulled chicken sandwich had more fat then good white meat and I found a piece of bone in it. The bun was so soggy I had to eat it with a fork. read more

Corn, and coleslaw we're good. Stuffed jalapenos were outstanding. But I ordered the Burnt Ends. Burnt Ends are not pork. Was very disappointed. False advertising and they were nothing close to any burnt ends I've had at other BBQ joints. Traditional burnt ends come from brisket. I shouldn't have to read the fine print to know what I'm ordering when your menu item is such a well-known classic. read more

Nice place to get a cupcake for the kid. Not incredible cupcakes, but not too bad. Thier mint Oreo white chocolate cookies however are pretty good. Located right inside of 4 Rivers smokehouse BBQ. read more

The food was alright but not how it looked on the picture I thought I was a student in middle school how small the plate was

Something special in town . The food is dealicious here but sometimea over salty but so far over all perfect ..

This is the second time I have been to 4 Rivers and I feel the same way I did back in 2019. It's a solid place to get BBQ. It's no MOJO but it's solid. read more

I'm in an awkward position. I went to this location last night and the brisket was pretty good and sides were decent. Not super expensive for a bbq place, but not really cheap. I'd normally rate it a solid 4 stars, but I have actually been here once before and the brisket was terrible. It was super super salty and dry, and the sauces were also really salty. I'm hoping that this place has some more consistency from here on out, because it really was tasty this last time around. I'll be back. read more

Usually I like my meat moist (dripping with spicy sauce). Occasionally I'll eat it lean (to feel more healthy). Either way I end up thoroughly stuffed. Just to clarify, I'm talking about angus brisket, it's my favorite. I fell in love with this meat at Emerson Alumni Hall on game days. Good times. Anyway, looking forward to them opening one up in my current town of Coral Springs so I don't have to drive 5 (long) hours to get my meat fix. Oh, I like a little something on the sides, too. Ok, I don't know how to finish this review. (the end) read more

Probably the best fast food place in Gainesville(wait maybe chipotle can beat it): delicious BBQ, inexpensive sandwich, great dining atmosphere. Compared with other BBQ stores I like their sauce the best. Speaking of sides, I am not a fan of cinnamon so the choices is becoming quite limited... Their French Fries are great. Salad is not bad. read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse in Gainesville has been open for two days, and I've gone there for lunch for both of em! Needless to say, I've been anxiously awaiting the opening after I visited the Winter Park location a month ago. Go for the brisket - stay for everything else. It's all about quality. Lots of barbecue places have reputably good beef and pork - 4 Rivers excels, although I agree with a previous reviewer that the pulled pork is average. There is much more to choose from (turkey, chicken, sausage, tri-tip steak, ribs...), and I will gladly make my way through it all. The brisket is without question unmatched. Then, when they can draw you in for the meat, lots of barbecue places skimp on the sides - canned, processed, and reheated. Not this place! There are many to choose from and they are all pleasantly free of the typical bland or over-salty flavors. The smokehouse corn is crisp and smokey. The cheese grits.... stellar. Smoked jalapenos wrapped in bacon... toasty. I've had most of them and not been disappointed. Oh, and then there's the biscuit. Another item all to oft overlooked or replaced with butter-logged toast. This one is worthy of a southern kitchen - crispy and lightly buttery on the outside, and fluffy flaky on the inside. I really wish they were open for breakfast... So yeah, I'm on the bandwagon. read more