I have visited a few different 4 Rivers locations and have always had consistently good top-notch barbecue. Unfortunately this Gainesville location did not live up to those standards. I visited for lunch a couple days ago and ordered the Texas Destroyer with Fried Okra and Baked Cheese Grits. The sandwich was very disappointing; it was much smaller than expected (it had less meat than my wife's brisket sandwich), the brisket was very thin and dry, and the toppings of jalapenos and fried onions were limited and didn't add much flavor. On a positive note, the sides were delicious. The Okra had a nice crisp breading on the outside and was fresh and tender on the inside. The grits were warm and savory. read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Texas Destroyer with Fried Okra and Baked Cheese Grits - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

First time visiting 4 Rivers Smokehouse today and this place is amazing. The staff was friendly and the BBQ is the best I have had in Gainesville and I have tried them all. This is a can't miss spot. Good value for the Amani of food and the quality and flavor was on point. We will be back again soon. read more

Enjoyed this place very much A great finding in Gainesville Conveniently located on Archers Rd. A wide selection of meats and sides My favorite is Brisket platter with collard greens and baked beans and sweet potato casserole Bread pudding was a wonderful addition to our meal Cornbread paired well Enough portion to share and enjoy Two thumbs up ! read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Brisket platter - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Nice people- Great service...the bbq and everything else is delish! Love their fresh Brisket !

Do not order no food from here unless you like talking to machines and ordering online. New to town and tried this place. You call them and the AI tells you to order online and then hangs up in your face. You get there and they act surprised and are slow AF to get the food out. Bunch of dang gen Z kids running the place. Won't be back . Trump 2025 . Let's bring workers back and get rid of AI read more

I was not overly impressed with this place. I ordered the chicken and rib plate. Came with 2 sides, so I got green beans and bbq beans. The green beans were good. Bbq beans were thick like they were there for some time. Chicken was dry and rubbery. Wing were good 3 bones. The service was great, friendly and helpful. If I return it might be to try a pulled pork sandwich. Prices were very fair. read more

Came here for an interview dinner. We had ordered the chicken wings, barbecue pork, macaroni and cheese, Cole slaw, and cookie platter. The meat was well down- I think could have used a bit more rubbing for the outside rim with tad more salt, but it was cooked well in texture. The macaroni and cheese was a little too cheese saucy for me, but noodles were not overdone. This is a southern place after all, so be prepared to meat up and eat lots of southern food here! Atmosphere: casual- order at counter and then sit down. No formalities here- great for hanging out or a chill dinner. So, as said earlier, I think the meat texture was fine and if you add your own sauces, this meat is good. I personally like a more rubbed and then slow roasted meat, so I think adding more seasoning outside and a saltier crispy crust would not have hurt. Macaroni and cheese- as someone from the south, I was surprised this was the way they did the macaroni and cheese. You're usually supposed to mix up various cheeses with the cooked macaroni and then bake it. This reminded me of some Kraft cheese sauce doused over cheap white enriched Barilla macaroni. I've never seen macaroni and cheese like this before in a southern restaurant and was a little mystified. I think a different cheeses layered approach and perhaps trying to bake it instead of making the cheesy sauce like a spaghetti sauce would have been good. Coleslaw was good- not too sweet and not too flat in taste and the cabbage was crisp, meaning fresh and not been sitting out too long. cookies were rich and thick- not the crispy hard kind but a medium soft and crisp cookie. If you like a good rich cookie, then don't hold back on their macadamia or chocolate chip. read more

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everyone at this establishment deserves a raise! food and customer service were top tier.

Great food. But despite signs saying masks are mandatory in line and so on, the group of guys next to us were not wearing theirs. We had a child with us and we were all masked (including the kid). Two hospital workers were behind us wearing masks and commented too ... We are all trying to stay safe and doing our part while trying to support local businesses. We will pick another restaurant next time. read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Um... - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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We were on a long drive and were trying to find a place to stop for a bite to eat along the way, but didn't want any of the usual fast food options at interstate exits. After doing a quick search on YELP, I found that we would be driving by a 4 Rivers Smokehouse off an exit in Gainesville and the decision was made! We went inside to order food to-go, so I cannot comment on their sit-down service. The inside of the restaurant was sparkling clean and completely empty when we arrived on a Saturday afternoon. They offered seating in booths as well as long tables inside, with some high tables available outdoors as well. Perhaps we were early for their dinner rush, but everything was in place and spotless, and looked like it was a new restaurant. Hand sanitizers were available inside by the door, and signs were clearly visible reminding guests to wear masks. If you have never been to 4 Rivers Smokehouse, stop reading this review and go there - seriously, that is the best advice I can give you. I'll give you more information about the food below, but you can read that as you're in line to order. At 4 Rivers you wait in line and go along a cafeteria-like line where you can see the food options and make your choices (like Chipotle) - which is nice for first-time customers. Service and utensils are very simple - generally, the meat/sandwich is placed on a brown paper on top of your tray, and instead of napkins they have brown paper towels at the tables. Simple, but effective, and it reminds me of the small mom & pop BBQ places with authentic homemade smoked meat. On this visit, I tried their Burnt Ends Sandwich ($7.68), which is now officially the only thing I will be ordering when I visit a 4 Rivers location! When I first heard the term "burnt ends" I wondered why anyone would want to buy burnt food - I quickly learned the name is deceptive. Burnt ends are from the pointed parts of smoked brisket, so not something you can just throw together at home - which is why some restaurants run out of them. The burnt ends at 4 Rivers melted in my mouth like butter. It was the kind of sandwich I wanted to eat slowly so I could appreciate every bite - yes, it really was THAT good! They also offer a burnt ends platter with 3 sides, or by the pound or half-pound, but this sandwich was the perfect size for me. When our food arrived my daughter talked me into sharing half of our sandwiches with each other. She ordered a pulled pork sandwich (something I usually like at other restaurants) - but once I bit into my burnt ends I started to regret my decision! The pulled pork was OK, kind of dry, and nothing too exciting. If I had not tried the burnt ends first I may have been more impressed by the pulled pork. We both ordered a side of cornbread and were surprised to find it had a kick to it - not something I ever expected with cornbread. When I looked at the menu again I saw it said "jalapeno cornbread," and realized I need to start reading menus more carefully. I usually think of cornbread as something soothing to have with chili or spicy foods, not something that would be spicy on its own. The cornbread wasn't bad, it just wasn't what I was looking for that day. My only complaint is that they don't have a 4 Rivers Smokehouse in the North Pinellas/Westchase area so we can visit more frequently! read more

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My husband and I had given up on good brisket in Gainesville until we found 4 Rivers Smokehouse. The brisket is consistently good unlike other restaurants that can only seem to get brisket right once in a while. The sides are also excellent. Lastly the service is the awesome. My husband picked up takeout on 1-6-25 and after looking in bag realized that we had not placed correct order. Though it was our fault the staff corrected order and did not charge us for it. Thier care and attitude as always was exceptional. Highly recommend 4 Rivers Smokehouse! read more

I was craving bbq on the way home, and since it was the No-Waiting Hour (3pm-4pm) for restaurants, I essily parked my car and walked in. As I entered, I noticed that they have a nice setup for curbside and picking food up. Even though it was not crowded at all - maybe five people- the employees were busy as bees in the back, as if a tour bus had just rolled up. I grabbed a small papper menu, and made my choice before I got to tr counter. I was warmly greeted, gave my choices, and was assured that I could sit anywhere and my food would get right to me. I took a minute to look around and take pics, and this place is much bigger than it looks from the outside!! My brisket sandwich, greens and mac & cheese were pretty good. I thought the sandwich would be bigger, but it was yummy. The greens were smooth and delicious, and the mac was creamy, but did not taste like homemade. I took mine to go, sonInadded two slices of bread and hot sauce, cuz, well, you know... read more

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I've been to this 4 Rivers location twice. Both times when I was traveling to Orlando. My first time was in Daytona Beach. Everytime I go, I get the same thing: vegan burnt ends with a side of mac n cheese. The fake burnt ends tastes like real meat. It's so freaking good. Honestly, I can eat it everyday and not get tired of it. Prices are decent and located in a good shopping center off 75. I was sad when 4 Rivers closed in ATL. Wish it would come back! read more

Just nah. Brisket sandwich was totally lacking in flavor, no bark, no smoke ring... just a roast beef sandwich. I smoke a couple dozen briskets a year at home when I'm there, and as a traveling for work Texan, I'm still looking for good brisket east of the Red River. Maybe I'll give it another chance before I leave the area read more

COLD COLD COLD, use to be amazing but now the brisket was cold and dry. They don't even know how to cut the brisket. Baked beans were cold on the line. Sausage was luke warm but good tasting. Fries were the only item hot. I'll pass on this place from now on read more

We've (husband & I) heard about 4 Rivers, but never been so we decided to stop there when going through Gainesville, FL. The place looked clean, service was fast and friendly and all of our food was yummy. We both had a 2X2 with 2 meats and 2 sides. We also grabbed some desserts to go that were delicious. I would definitely return when possible. read more

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Y'all, frozen cucumbers, partially frozen romaine, frozen tomatoes, and soggy chewy croutons are unacceptable. C'mon. (Meat was decent.) This is why prepping salads in advance and then storing them is sketch.... read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Frozen cucumbers. No, these are not pickles. - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I've never been to a 4Rivers before mostly because I don't go out of my way to go to BBQ spots if I'm being truly honest. Stopped in with a group of friends while traveling north to Georgia and was told this was "the best" of all the 4Rivers franchised locations. They have a cafeteria style ordering type process - when I got to the front I ordered a brisket sandwich with a side of mac-n-cheese and jalapeno corn bread. The brisket was delicious but I'm also VERY picky about my cuts of meat. Even though I'd asked for a less fatty piece/pieces there were some really thick fatty pieces which I wasn't super happy about. I also told the guy behind the counter that it was my first time. I didn't realize I had to ask for cole slaw and pickles on top of the sandwich. I saw someone behind me ask which prompted me to ask for these condiments but it would have bene helpful to know that these were included as a sandwich condiment. The boys we were with also left hungry so not sure if the portion sizes were really worth the cost. With that said, they have great BBQ sauce options and their staff was very friendly. By the time we left they were packed for the lunch crowd. I guess if you're used to going out to get BBQ on the regular this was a fairly decent option but I think I'll stick to the homemade smoked meats I'm used to getting. read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Always delicious! Good GF options as well, which is always a plus! Friendly service, and it's at a good location on archer road! It's usually not too loud and has indoor and outdoor seating. Great for a nice family meal! read more

Came here on a Friday night when it was super busy. The line moved fast however. I ordered a brisket quesadilla with a side of baked beans and smoked bacon wrapped jalapeños. The brisket quesadilla was very good and the baked beans were the best I've ever had! However, I only received two little jalapeños (see photo attached). The jalapeños were good but I wanted more! 4 of 5 stars granted to due the jalapeños. read more

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I was hoping this was going to be a full service restaurant as I had never heard of 4 Rivers before. It is not. It's more of a fancy fast food BBQ in a nice atmosphere. You order cafeteria style and sit down. Some food may go with you at the counter and some may be brought out to you later. The food was delicious. We had several items from their menu including ribs, sandwiches, baked beans, cole slaw, baked grits, and fried okra. Overall it was a great dining experience even though it wasn't what I was on the hunt for. I spent about $70 for 4 people. Our food was very good....so I feel the price was in line with the quality. I would prefer if they had servers and a bar also. read more

I would not mind the small portions if the meat was actually flavorful. The brisket was tough and stringy. The chicken was actually more moist. Speaking of the chicken, it had a weird cinnamon flavor almost. The dinner roll was dry. The baked beans are okay and the bread pudding is really good. I have tried this place five times. Four times were before the pandemic. I really wanted to like this place. Make the drive to Pearls for better flavor, portions, sauces, and desserts. And overall value. read more

Went in today to get a salad with pulled pork for lunch. Ended up adding a piece of corn bread and a drink, my total was $18. Pricy for what I received and left wanting an additional snack. The salad itself was not good - the cucumbers were not fresh, the tomatoes were weird and the kale was wilted. The pulled pork was the best part of the whole meal. I added a side of corn bread - it was cold, not even room temp. I went back up and asked for butter for the corn bread...... they told me they didn't have butter. I have never been to a restaurant that did not have butter. Also, unsweet tea was gone, so much for my $3 drink of choice. Will not be going back. Food was lacking - definitely not worth an $18 lunch for one. Customer service was horrible, I know they had butter. read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Brisket sandwich yummy. Smoky. Good. Pulled pork sandwich great! Beans good. Potato salad good. Fries good. Mac n cheese good. Bathroom clean. Lots seating. * Behind Panda Express in a plaza on end Friendly staff. Yummy looking sweet shop Inside. read more

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I've always had great food and service here! Frequently visit when in Gainesville! I'd highly recommend!

Stopped by here the other night, after having their food at an event and enjoying it. On a specialty diet and finding a place to eat out is difficult. After reviewing the menu, we found two things we could eat here so we placed an order for a two-meat combo with burnt ends and pulled pork (for a friend), a pound of brisket and an order of smoked jalapenos for us. We were asked how we wanted our brisket and we were told that "moist" meant it was more marbled, which sounded good, so we ordered that. Our order came and I decided to check that everything was there, since it seemed small. The smoked jalapenos were not there. I went back to the window and the lady quickly apologized and said she would get them. After a minute, another person appeared to explain that they were out of the jalapenos and that they stop making them at a certain point in the day. So they refunded us for one of the only two things we could eat at the place. We take our food and refund and head home. We open the brisket and it's way more than just marbled. They basically gave us giant chunks of cooked fat. I had one slice (out of a whole pound) that was actually marbled and good. The rest was like the fatty part of a roast you normally cut off. Our friend did not enjoy his burnt ends... they were also mostly fat. Considering this is one of the pricier barbecue places in a town with a thousand barbecue places, the tiny bit of food we got, with most of it being inedible, was definitely not worth the $32 (after refund) we paid for it. Needless to say, the vote is we're not returning to this place. read more

4Rivers can be hit or miss, but so far this GNV location has been on point. Great brisket and sides, typically good service. Can't wait for the bake shop to be open post-pandemic. read more

The atmosphere was a bit loud inside, but it was very pleasant eating outside. Three of us ended up splitting the Pitmaster Combo and it was enough to fill us up. My favorite meat was for sure the burnt ends which are brisket shredded with pork, covered in barbecue sauce, and recooked to perfection. The rest of the meats and sides were not bad, especially for a fast casual barbecue place. read more

4 Rivers Smokehouse - The Pitmaster Combo (4 meats and 2 sides) with brisket, sliced pork, smoked turkey and burnt ends and a piece of cornbread. - Barbeque Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Great bbq brisket! Found the reviews & decided to try it. Nice atmosphere and service was on point

This place was terrible. $45 for ribs fried okra Mac and cheese and two beers. The ribs on top were good the ribs on bottom were dry the okra salty and Mac and cheese blah. I should have went to sonny's. read more

Big fans of our local 4 Rivers we thought we would give this location a try while driving through Gainesville on a little road trip. Easily ordered online (Thank you!) and a happy employee delivered our order to the car minutes later (Thank you!!!). My favorite is the street tacos-I sub pulled chicken which is so flavorful. I love it with all of the taco toppings. Husband loves the pulled pork. Our favorite item by far is the cheesy grits cake. It's so freaking good. Husband loves the bbq beans and I love the bread pudding. Toddler had nuggets and fries which were also yummy. read more

Brisket is pretty good to be outside of Texas. The burnt ends were pretty dry, which is the first time I can say that. The collards were cooked to death and the green beans are from a can. All in all it's your average run of the mill BBQ joint, not the best I've ever had, but not the worst either. read more

I would have given it 5 stars but it was freezing in there. I was going to eat in there but when I walked in it was so cold I had to get it to go. Food was great as always read more