Accidentally found Backdraft Barbecue yesterday as we were taking in some of the old original Roswell, and it was an amazing find! Housed in an historic old building that has been crafted into a really cool visual background to the scent of hearty barbecue cooking that reels you in. The best is yet to come as you enter and are greeted by super friendly staff, or if you are lucky enough to catch the owner, Tony, working at the grill. And then there is the barbecue...absolutely delicious!! Great selection, but not overwhelming, so that you can quickly get to the best part - eating. They also have a great bar, that is very well stocked, especially with my favorite barbecue accompaniment, whiskey. We left with huge smiles on our faces - great food, great folks, and just a great find that we hope to be back to soon. read more

The bbq ribs were rather tasty! Sides were excellent . Had it all to go. Will visit again.

The most tender ribs I've ever had in my entire life. I don't understand why I have to make this review 85 characters. I don't appreciate that. read more

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We stopped in while Roswell and the food did not disappoint!! The restaurant itself is a bit off the beaten path, but that adds to the ambiance. The service was quick and friendly. Must try the coconut tea, Mac n cheese, brisket and sandwiches!!! Such a gem - glad we stopped in!! read more

As we were passing through, we yelped a good bbq place and this one popped up. We are sure glad it did. With a rustic exterior and big Bar-B-Q pit to prove it, we knew it would be good. Parking is located in a rocky parking lot near the pit where you can say "hi" to Willy, the pit master. Wheelchair access provided by a ramp located on both sides of the entrance. Bar seating is available and as we were waking in, during their down time, we were told to sit anywhere we liked. They have booths as wells as tables. Because we arrived after the rush hours and after a huge call in order, many items on the menu were unavailable. We tried the brisket, ribs, brisket nachos, potato salad (unsweet), jalapeño sausage, and brisket sandwiches. Everything was delicious! We recommend the jalapeño sausage as they run out quickly. Kid menu items are available. They serve a coconut water sweet tea rather than regular sweet tea. Staff were friendly and helpful with the menu. The restaurant was clean. read more

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Well Folks, they're back and OMG they are just as good as before. Those ribs...WOW. What a treasure for Roswell. And the service is GREAT! Big kudos to D.J. an awesome waiter. read more

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This place was awesome. The food and the service were spectacular! The portions were big. I'm from Texas so BBQ is our thing, this place was amazing! Our group ordered the brisket and rib plate with potato salad and cream corn. We also ordered the brisket sandwich. The meat on the ribs was just coming off! The brisket was super tender and good!! The bbq sauce was on point!! The sides were superb!! Our server DJ was so helpful and came to check on us often. Five out of five stars!! The owner Paul showed us there party room and Bourbon Room!! Everyone there is so nice!! read more

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We also had the jalapeno poppers but ate those as soon as they hit the table so we didn't get a picture of those! They were INCREDIBLE!! They had a light smoked flavor and I swear I could have eaten a dozen of them! The potato salad is served ice cold and super fresh - all the ingredients were crunchy - you know some places it's all mush.... The sandwich was delicious - the meat had the perfect amount of smoke and sauce and the cheese was delicious! The bread had a touch of sweet and was toasted just right. The ribs literally were falling off the bone. We couldn't finish our food but we got an order of cherry cobbler for dessert and are taking that to go. Can't wait to come back! read more

Backdraft Barbeque - Pulled pork sandwich with queso and a side of potato salad - Barbeque Near Me - Roswell, New Mexico

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Food is delicious and the prices are pretty good for some stuff and quite high for others. They can run out of items, menu is fairly limited, and the last time I got pulled pork there, about 1/4 of it was just fat chunks and not meat. It's nice they offer free refills but they use the smallest cups for sodas, with lots of ice, so you tend to drain them fast. Jalapeno poppers are fantastic read more

Backdraft Barbeque - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Roswell, New Mexico

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We stopped for lunch one day and had ribs. They were so tender, they fell off the bone!! The flavor was awesome! Best ribs we've ever had!!! Coleslaw and creamed corn were our sides and they were delicious as well! read more

Finally got into backstreet bbq and was not disappointed. Ribs and brisket were so tender and flavor was on point. Service and food were fast and friendly will definitely be back read more

This place is definitely worth a visit. Go early on Saturday and get the mac n cheese. Homemade and absolutely amazing! The meat on the ribs slide right off the bone. So tender and juicy. The brisket and pork BBQ too. Don't leave without asking what homemade desert is on the menu. WOW doesn't even come close. And the service and atmosphere was spot on including the owner coming out to say hi. read more

The chopped Brisket sandwich with hatch green chilis was excellent!! Great service as well.

Awesome bar, great BBQ, wonderful service. Definitely a cool, unique spot. Best bar I've seen in town and best bbq I've had in a while.

We were told by 4 people right away - the host the owner the waitress and someone else that they were very low on food which is understandable at a pit bbq place. The problem was the service was terrible. We obviously stayed to enjoy what was available and didn't get drinks for 30 minutes didn't see our waitress and the owner who came to talk to us earlier about the shortage of food was sitting at a table with his friends looking right at us and doing nothing about the clear lack of service. His table was fully served and had plenty of drinks. The staff seemed totally overwhelmed and frazzled - one bar tender serving at least 25 people and he sat there yucking it up with his friends. Sign said open since 2020 but it seemed like amateur hour. Food that was available was ok but not worth the hassle. read more

Totally worth a venture off the main highway in Roswell. Great service, amazing brisket. Skip the chains and try this place. We will be back. A+++ read more

The food was fantastic. Owner operator Paul has a passion and shares it with you. The staff were amazingly friendly and helpful. He's going to very busy, very soon, so you better get in now! read more

Had a good time. The brisket nachos were very good. I had the jalapeno poppers, disappointed in them, they were like warm. I wanted them to be hot (temperature). The locals were friendly, 1 guy bought us each bourbon shots. The music was good. What was outstanding was the bartender, she worked her butt off. She was working the bar, the restaurant and the trivia section. read more

Great food and drinks. Outstanding service from Lia. We ordered poppers, layered potatoes and 3 meat plate. Yummmm. Must stop in Roswell. No aliens sighted here but there was delicious food. read more

I am wondering if l came on an off day because no one was there. I ordered the sampler and requested ribs, brisket, chicken and Mac n cheese. The food came out very shortly after ordering. The brisket was lukewarm and tough. I tried to use my fork to cut it, but honestly, I could've used a knife. The chicken was dry and the ribs were just okay. The Mac n cheese was good but was also lukewarm. The decor is really nice with Smokey the Bear in one corner, a selfie Photo Booth and fire house memorabilia. The service was also very good It is unfortunate the food was just okay so I will most likely not return if visiting Roswell in the future read more

Backdraft Barbeque - Brisket, ribs, chicken and Mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Roswell, New Mexico

Haven't Got a Q Backdraft BBQ caught our attention while looking for places to eat in Roswell, as they had a stellar 4.5* average with nearly 100** reviews (which is a lot for this part of the country) and the fact that they were featured on Man vs Food (S9:E7) didn't hurt, either. The brainchild of a former Roswell firefighter, this firefighter- themed restaurant went from humble beginnings as a food truck into this brick-and-mortar location that owned during the pandemic no less. Featuring smoked Central Texas-style Q and ample alcohol, visiting this place seemed like a no-brainer. The Good: *Easy parking in a dirt lot across the street *Interesting vibe and décor in this former train station. *Lots of beers on tap from macrobrews (e.g., Ccors, Buttwiper, etc.), as well as local microbrews, and even craft cider. *Waitress/hostess was really nice and tried very hard but seemed overwhelmed trying to keep up with all the tables she was handling. *Slaw was very KFC-like, which is a good thing in my book. *Jalapeño-Cheese Sausage was by-far the best meat on the menu, as it delivered exactly as promised. *Corn w/ Cream Cheese & Green Chile was a bit of a gloopy mess, but the flavor and texture was surprisingly very moreish as we couldn't stop eating it. The Meh: *Jalapeño Poppers (aka Wolf Turds) had a* good flavor, but the presentation, uh, was somewhat lacking. Instead of tightly coiled cheese-stuffed, bacon-wrapped jalapeños, we got exploded peppers that were difficult to eat, and the rubbery bacon didn't help the situation either. *Baked beans were also good, but if they weren't slightly gussied up Bush's® then I'll eat my hat. *Smoked chicken was dry, which is fairly SOP for most Q places, if I'm being honest. *Brisket was passable in flavor, but again, the presentation left much to be desired, as it appears like someone just grabbed a pile of meat with their hands and just dumped it on the plate. No nice and neat slices of meat displaying a gorgeous cross-section, but a pile of sinewy, fatty beef that was chewy and didn't have a great mouthfeel. The Ugly: *This gives me no pleasure, but I'm just going to say it: the ribs were just straight-up gross. Undercooked, tough, and just no flavor. I could go on, but I'm gonna stop there because that's pretty much all you need to hear. *The area the restaurant is located in is, um, highly suspicious to put it kindly. We passed up quite a few crackheads and other Local Outdoor Enthusiasts™ as we navigated this seemingly abandoned part of town. Word to the wise: don't leave any valuables in your car and make sure you lock it up. TLDR: I was very disappointed in our visit as we had really high hopes based on the solid reviews and photos we'd seen earlier. Maybe it was just an off-day for them, but I won't be back to find out. **There's actually two separate Yelp sites that I'm trying to get Yelp to merge, but this is the site that's actually claimed by the owners of Backdraft. read more

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Can't review food because servers just ignored my existence. Sat for over 10 minutes waiting in a place that was 3/4 empty with 2 servers who passed me 6 times each and acted like I was not there. I could see if was busy. Ended up leaving. Sad because I liked the ambiance. read more

Went there for lunch with my family, including my pup dog. It was some of the best BBQ I've had and the service was spot on. I don't live in Roswell but go to this restaurant every single time I visit (6 times a year) and it seems to have only gotten better. The owner is awesome and even gave my pup a small bowl of meat while she quietly sat with us. Ribs are as tender as it gets. The corn is amazing. But it's the sandwiches that steal the show. read more

Had absolutely no food, we were forced to eat their leftovers. Service was slow! NEVER COMING BACK

AMAZING, such a fun night. I'm new to Roswell and Paul and the whole staff was so fun and amazing. Accidentally went in 4 minutes before closing but they did not care one bit and were so welcoming. Amazing food, we will be back weekly!!! read more

Of course we had to come here, any time we see a business owned by a first responder we are in. In the car I looked at menu and knew I wanted Mac and cheese and jalapeño poppers. I saw plenty of things the guys would like. When we arrived the place was pretty empty and they said to sit wherever. When they brought the menu the first thing they said is we are out of Mac and cheese and jalapeño poppers. Well there went my dinner. So the guys decided what they wanted pretty quick and I was still struggling. Eventually I decided on half pound of brisket and beans. When the food arrived I moved the brisket around and it was mostly fat. I can't eat that so I didn't eat anything and asked if they could just take it off the ticket. The server was nice and offered a leaner cut of brisket. I didn't know I had to specify no fat. The place is decorated great and we loved the tin ceiling. read more

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Third time to Roswell, first time here. Love the casual decor and firefighters theme. Enjoyed the BBQ, had brisket plate with coleslaw. The brisket was perfectly seasoned and cooked and the coleslaw was really good with dried cherries (will have to try this!). I had plenty to take home for dinner also. I also tried the Texas Sheet cake (have no idea what that is) and it was good, wish they had had the cobbler or the green Chile apple pie. My friend had the corn with chilies and cheese which was kind of like a corn queso. I can't eat much cheese but I took a bite and was yummy. Would be excellent over chips or a potato for a vegetarian option. The server was very nice. Great personality! Definitely recommend the location. read more

Wonderful large BBQ restaurant and taproom in Roswell. We had Bobbie for our server and she provided excellent service. We arrived in the middle of the afternoon and were promptly seated at one of their booths. We ordered a pound of brisket, 1/2 lean and 1/2 moist and a rack of pork ribs. We tried a side of corn with cream cheese and green chilies to accompany our meal. The brisket has a great bark and smoke ring and was on par with Texas establishments like Franklin's and Pinkerton's both of which I have recently reviewed. The pork ribs are excellent as well although I usually don't like ribs that are covered with sauce which brings me to my last point. Their sauce is nicely balanced and compliments their BBQ well. It's not a thick sauce and I think that is why it works well on the ribs. Who knew you could get great Texas style BBQ in Roswell. Stop by Backdraft any time you need some really good 'que. Oh, and if you are up to it, they have a challenge meal as well. read more

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Cool location and a very industrial look. The service provided by Bobbie was quick and friendly. Who could resist trying the brisket nachos? Mmmm. Good thing we shared the 1/2 rack, and have a fridge at the hotel for leftovers. The coleslaw was yummy, and had raisins! A bit creamier than I prefer, but not necessarily a bad thing for some. Added a few picks iof the building across the street where you park. read more

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Best to come early in the day, they will run out of menu items. We had the bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers and a rack of ribs. We are from KC and the ribs would give KC Joe's a run for their money. The decor is fabulous. Restaurant is super clean! read more

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The Brisket. I think is one of the best I've ever had. Fun atmosphere. Great service. read more

Always a great place for lunch. We couldn't wait for them to open and when they finally did, we made this one of our weekly stops for lunch, and now dinner when in town. Everyone is always very friendly. The bbq is always juicy and tender. Has a great flavor. The pulled chicken is juicy and tender as well. The coconut tea is super sweet for me. I balance it 1/2 coconut and 1/2 plain tea. Definitely make this a place to visit. read more

Stumbled across this place from another yelp review and SO happy we stopped in! 1) the food was phenomenal - the brisket was perfection 2) we ran into the owner, Paul, by coincidence and he was a great dude - retired firefighter just materializing his dream of owning a dope ass BBQ spot - to which he has succeeded 3) just go. Check this place out. You will not be disappointed! read more

Backdraft Barbeque - 5 alarm on the left Golden potatoes with brisket and queso on the right - Barbeque Near Me - Roswell, New Mexico

The bbq and food here are incredible. Ended up with a broken down car, and the team here was amazing while we waited for the car to get fixed. Pork ribs and brisket are on point, pecan smoke adds a little sweetness without the sugar. The restaurant is dog friendly too! read more

Backdraft Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Roswell, New Mexico

This was such a wonderful experience and a nice treat traveling through Roswell. The food is so delicious I barely got a pic for y'all. We had ordered ribs and brisket. Then we tried to order another helping of brisket but they were out so we got the pulled pork...YOLO The staff is welcoming and friendly and greets you with a smile., The service is is excellent, The place is clean and well kept...you just can't go wrong here. read more

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Who knew Roswell had such awesome bbq!! Not only was the food outta this world but the service was stellar!! The pit crew welcomed us as we walked in and the waitress was super helpful and quick with service. But let's talk about the food!! I ordered a combo plate with brisket, ribs, coleslaw and green chili corn. Oh man. The brisket was incredible. Tender, moist and full of flavor!! And the ribs just slid of the bone with no effort at all. The smoke flavor was phenomenal. No BBQ sauce needed. In fact this spot hit harder than most the bbq places I've been to in Texas!! Even the side dishes were on point. Country style coleslaw complete with dried cranberries. And that green chili cream corn was on fire!! Had that NM flare I was hoping for!! It was a Friday night when we visited and not too many people were there. I was a little worried that the bbq wouldn't be on point since business was slow, but I was sooo wrong. Talking to the waitress I found out that this bbq spot opened in 2020. Right before the pandemic hit full force. Arguably the worst time to open a restaurant in recent history. Thankfully for Roswell, it's been able to weather the storm and make it this far. Roswell, please don't let this gem die. Go get some killer BBQ and then tell all your friends, family and coworkers to do the same!! read more

Backdraft Barbeque - 2 meat combo plate with Brisket and Ribs. Coleslaw and Green Chili Cream Corn. Delicious!! - Barbeque Near Me - Roswell, New Mexico

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This place has a super cool laidback vibe that is fun to hang out at and to eat some good food. I'm kind of embarrassed to say what all I ate but here it goes. We were meeting family who were late arriving so my wife and I had the brisket nachos which were great. The family still hadn't come so we ordered 4 of the bacon wrapped jalapeños which went down real quick. They finally arrived and I got the 3 meat plate with double ribs and hot link with a side of the cream corn. The ribs were wonderful. The fell off the bone and needed no sauce. The link had a great flavor and was spicy and juicy. If that wasn't enough, I had the berry cobbler ala mode. This was a great dining experience! Don't let the rustic exterior deter you. This place was very nice inside and was a great place to spent a couple of hours hanging out with friends and family. Everyone in our party enjoyed there food. read more

Holy smokes. This BBQ was on FIRE! Conveniently the owner is a retired firefighter. Food was great! I wish I took some pictures before I scarfed it down but alas, just a word of mouth will have to do. We got the Hazmat sandwich with pulled pork and the plain sandwich with the corn, Mac and cheese, and beans for a side. The pork was AMAZING and the bread was perfectly crispy and soft. The Mac and cheese was super creamy and the beans were some of the best baked beans I've ever had with a little sweetness to them and my fiancé loved the corn. The Owner was super friendly and easy to talk to and let us check out his super old car. Definitely worth the trip off of Main St. read more

Backdraft Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Roswell, New Mexico

Best pulled pork sandwich I've had in a long time. Meat is tender and juicy and the sauce is just right. Service was great and banana pudding for dessert topped off the experience. Definitely try this spot if you like bbq read more

Backdraft Barbeque - Challenge to try - Barbeque Near Me - Roswell, New Mexico

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Driving cross country. Read reviews and decided to stop here. It's as good as they say. Wonderful BBQ. Get brisket and ribs. Corn as yummy and spicy. Fantastic help even though they were short handed. Wish we could come back but we are a long way from home. Enjoy your trip here ! read more

Backdraft Barbeque - Ribs and brisket (half way through it / sorry about that !) - Barbeque Near Me - Roswell, New Mexico