This place is not quite what I expected. As a fan of regional BBQ, I was excited that a new BBQ place opened near my office, but I probably should have checked the Yelp reviews first. Most of the shortcomings are listed below which makes me wonder why the average star rating is so high. (Most of the 5-star reviews are from people with no profile pic and/or very few total reviews, but I digress). In short, the menu over-promises and under-delivers. IMO, the apex of BBQ is Memphis-style pork, so of course I'm going to order that. The pork had good texture and a nice smoke ring but it was dry, not particularly smokey in flavor and, worst of all, it was served cold. One particularly large, dry hunk was completely inedible. About half a cup of "Memphis-style" sauce was ladled directly over the top. Nobody confident in their BBQ would bury it in this manner. Also, the sauce was not good. Memphis-style sauce is sweet, as the menu explains. The actual product they served was not sweet at all. Maybe he gave me the wrong sauce, though that seems unlikely as he double-checked before slathering it on there. Traditional BBQ / Southern portions are meat + 3 or, occasionally, meat + 2. Here, your options are meat +1 or meat + 0. Additional sides are $1 each, and they're quite small. I tried them all anyway. The mac & chz is good but poorly plated in an individual aluminum dish, presumably to prevent the staff from giving you too much for your money. This makes it difficult to eat. The beans are not baked as you would expect from a BBQ place but rather stewed, apparently. Still a pretty good side, but the recurring theme here is "unexpected." If you're hoping for a traditional slab of corn bread to be eaten with a pat of butter, you'll be disappointed. Here, it's just an unremarkable muffin...and it counts as a full "side." The room is small, so there's not a lot of space to dine-in. If I go back, I'll try the brisket with no sauce. More likely, I won't go back. read more

No more biscuits and gravy? What gives? Went there this morning for breakfast. Other than the attitude from the female cashier this place is ok. I didn't step up to pay fast enough for her because I was trying to see what exactly goes in the breakfast bowl. The brisket was over cooked and not tender. Probably won't be back. The breakfast options are slim and overpriced. read more

Blackwood is a fast casual chipotle style BBQ spot. During lunch, you first pick between a sandwich, plate or salad and then you pick your meat, sauce, and toppings. It's a similar setup during breakfast where the base is eggs + potatoes and then you choose your meat and sauces. I've had both the brisket and the pulled chicken and both are quite tasty. The brisket is perfectly moist and juicy and fatty - but not too fatty. And when I'm feeling super healthy, I opt for the chicken instead. Let's be real though - I get the brisket 90% of the time! The sauces are all made in house and are named after the city that inspired it. I think that the South Carolina (tangy mustard) goes well mixed with the Kansas City (spicy red). Just make sure to keep your eye on the person squeezing on the sauces because sometimes they can get a bit heavy handed for my taste. Lunch time prices are a good value for the quality and portion sizes (~$10). But the real bargain is at breakfast time when you can get a plate full of fresh eggs, potatoes, and bbq meat for about ~$4, which is less than I would pay for a microwaved Starbucks breakfast sandwich !! read more

Blackwood BBQ - Breakfast. Eggs and brisket. - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There are a few things in life a man looks forward to more than trying a new BBQ joint. I had high expectations after word of mouth and viewing the pictures of brisket sandwiches and pulled pork platters on Yelp, i was not disappointed. I had the brisket sandwich with Chicago sauce, slaw on top with sides of Mac and cheese and beans. It was just under $10 and extremely delicious. The bottom line here is great BBQ for a reasonable price. I'll definitely be back for more soon!!! read more

This review is long overdue, but seeing as how I continue to have dreams about the food my fiancee and I got here I have a duty to let everyone know how ridiculously tasty this food was. My fiancee and I were in Chicago visiting my family for Christmas, and my brother recommended Blackwood BBQ as a good place to visit while I was in town. He absolutely undersold the place. Ordering is easy, the food looked mouthwateringly good (and lived up to its looks), and I am sad every day that I don't live close enough to eat there. Not so much food that I had to let my belt out when I left, but definitely more than enough for what you pay. I cannot recommend this place highly enough. read more

I was so excited to see a quick service BBQ spot open up downtown. When I finally caved and made the 10 minute walk from my office for lunch last week, I left wondering what had taken me so long! I got the pulled chicken salad with all the toppings (black beans, corn, tomatoes, onions, carrots) and a combo BBQ/ranch dressing. It was amazing. I have been back 3 times in the past week or so...I have gotten the same thing every time, but I am definitely ready to branch out and try their platters which look incredible. I have also had their homemade lemonade and mac n cheese, both of which are stellar. read more

Must...take...nap.... Friday lunch Hit with that smokey BBQ perfume as soon as I walked in. Clean, easy to understand counter order process, reasonably priced. Had well charred beef brisket with NC Vinegar sauce, mac-n-cheese, cornbread (muffin) and lemonade. A+ on everything...great brisket, melt in your mouth, great flavor. Arrived at 1130 and got last 2 seats. Small amount of seating but in no way a deal killer....will definitely go back. read more

Oh My Goodness! Ok... I'm from Texas and I'm very picky and particular when it comes to "good BBQ" I ordered the pulled pork with the Chicago style sauce, MY OH MY, it was so good. I didn't order the brisket due to the reviews on it, but everything I had was A1 The MAC and CHEESE... wow... very good... No wonder it only comes in small "doses" My friend got one to go! The cornbread...mmm mmm mmm read more

Came here with the family for something different. Got samples of the Burnt Ends, Brisket and pulled Pork. Everything was great!!! I got the burnt ends, one got the pork and wife got the brisket. No one left hungry! Mac n cheese and corn muffins were spot on! Prices are more then fair for what you get. Will be back! read more

Can I give the corn bread 5 stars? I like it that much. it had real sweet corn in it! this was the 2nd time my office ordered lunch from here and I have never been at the store so I can't speak for service or ambiance. The food is just okay. I suppose this can cure your bbq fix and you can try out the different sauces (Memphis was good). The brisket was kind of dry and lacked flavor both times...I kept chewing on it and I got bored eating it. I liked the pulled pork more. They have a nice crust on the mac and cheese too. read more

This is seriously as good as it gets.... hit the nail on the head. I lived in Old Irving Park and have been to smoque a bunch of times but this place blows them out of the water. Everything was cooked perfectly. I can honestly say I tried everything on the menu bc we ordered the full menu for everyone at the office. The brisket, chicken, pulled pork, macaroni, corn muffins and everything else was absolutely amazing. The sauces are all great as well. The mustard sauce especially! Seriously it doesn't get any better! I was very impressed. I called to double check our order for delivery and they even followed back up to make sure it arrived on time and hot! Doesn't get better than that... if every restaurant in Chicago could emulate this recipe (great food and customer service) I would be a happy camper! read more

Excellent BBQ - have only tried the brisket and pulled pork so far, but the best part here is that they allow you to state how fatty you want the brisket to be. Of course go for the fattiest slices if possible. The brisket here is moist (both the flat and the point are great here) and well seasoned. The mac and cheese and cornbread are also really, really good. There can be a bit of a line if you go here during peak lunch hours, so either come early or order online. Prices are very reasonable as well here. read more

I didn't get a chance to eat there because the line was going out of the door always have a problem with fast food places that do not have enough employees to satisfy the customer turn out if you have A-line going out of the door there's obviously not enough employees taking care of business! read more

I'm a BBQ fan and I love Blackwood's brisket. While they offer several different sauces - I like mine as-is - just the rub. Fantastic. Now - I've had some leftover bbq for breakfast before, but nothing like I had today. The eggs with onion/pepper and pulled pork was fantastic...like really fantastic. If you work in the loop or are coming down - stop-in. It's really nice to have a place like this downtown. read more

"Fast Food" BBQ that is actually good? I am as shocked as you are. But it's the truth. Everything that I have had a Blackwood -- pulled pork, brisket, mac and cheese, cornbread -- has been absolutely delicious. I wouldn't even hesitate to put their brisket up against the best in the city. Also, the sauces are REALLY good, each one bringing something different to the table. It's not the best barbeque that I have ever had persay, but for a "Chipotle-esque" fast casual joint, Blackwood definitely ranks supreme. read more

Great BBQ lunch spot. Food was great, think Chipotle except with BBQ. I had the Kentucky BBQ sauce and it was very very good. Had the Brisket which was very tender and flavorful with Mac and Cheese and Cornbread sides. Mac and Cheese A++ Cornbread was okay. Only warning is that the portions are extremely small and you will leave hungry. I almost took another star off for this, but the quality of the food kept it at 4 stars for me. read more

Beef Brisket Salad with South Carolina sauce was delicious. The brisket was tender, savory, and cooked to a brown. The sauce was fantastic. We came on Monday during the lunch rush. The place was packed. The seating is community style: one long table in the middle of the restaurant. But people ate quickly and seating was not too challenging. read more

Downtown for work related issues and it was time for lunch. When I'm somewhere, i like to get something i can't get in my own area. This was only a couple blocks away. I've been a fan of smoked meats so this was in top of the list. The menu is straight forward- pulled pork or chicken, beef brisket. Five different sauces. Basic sides- beans, coleslaw,corn muffin. I went with the brisket platter (instead of sandwich) and south Carolina sauce- mustard based. Beans on side. The service is beyond freaky fast. I was at my seat with my meal in about 89 seconds. Take that JJ! Portion size was perfect although i would have preferred to have sauce on side. They covered the meat in it. I would also like to have had sauce options at the table to try the different ones. The brisket was melt in your mouth tender. Not too fatty either. If you're in the area looking to be away from the big chains, this place is a hit. Giddy up. read more

There was a line but I was in and out pretty quick. The brisket was tender and the you can't go wrong with any of the sauces! Macaroni and cheese was also very good alongside the meat. The sandwich looked good too! read more

I've been here a couple times and found it to be good but not great. The platter offers a generous amount of meat for the price. The pulled pork is tender and well cooked, but the brisket is a bit on the dry side. Neither meat had captured much smoke flavor, most of it seeming to waft out the door when you enter. I've tried a couple sauces and found them quite bland, and they're very stingy with it; who drizzles sauce over the top of a mound of brisket and leaves most of it untouched? The thing you have to get here is the cornbread muffins, which I could eat a half dozen of and be very happy. They taste outstanding and are perfectly moist. The coleslaw is above average, the lemonade is decent but not nearly as good as Chick-Fil-A's. The baked beans are a complete disappointment, white and bland. Overall Blackwood is a decent lunch spot but very fortunate nobody like Q or Fat Willy's is in their vicinity. Word to the wise: if you plan to dine in you need to get there before noon or there likely won't be a place to sit. read more

I can't write a long review. I'm eating barbecue and this text is impeding my enjoyment. read more

Blackwood BBQ - Pulled pork platter with Chicago style barbecue sauce. Fantastic! - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great food and friendly service. I'm a fan of the breakfast bowl. I'd prefer if a more "traditional" bbq sauce was on the menu as well, but enjoy what they serve, regardless. I also like the style of the restaurant. read more

It's was okay. Not that great. I guess if you don't know bbq, you'll be okay with it. It wasn't terrible but the sides were really dry! Not sure if that was Chicago style macaroni and cheese, but if it was...you need to go visit down south to learn how to make it. Macaroni and cheese should not be that dry, nor should beans! read more

Good bbq and really cheap for The city. The food was worth it. Nice small city business.

I come from a family that BBQs in the middle of winter and makes its own sauce from scratch. That being said, Blackwood is pretty good! Not phenomenal, but good. Great price, convenient lunchtime location. Had the pulled chicken sandwich with the mac and cheese side. The chicken was mindblowingly succulent and they get 3 stars on that alone. However, I was taken aback by the 2 two-inch bones I chomped on. (OUCH!) They should definitely be more careful when chopping/pulling. The Chicago-style sauce was pretty good. Tangy enough, but slightly watery. Between the sauce and chicken, the poor bun was completely destroyed, and turned into mush. Meh...not my favorite sandwich experience. Perhaps you should get the sauce on the side and pour it on right before you eat. It'll probably be 10x better. The macaroni was good. Nice crunchy bread crumbs atop warm, cheesy macaroni. It could've used a half pinch more salt, but otherwise it was yummy. I'll definitely go back and try the salad. It's worth trying if you love BBQ. Nice alternative when you don't feel like the traditional soup/salad/sandwich options. read more

Two words: lunch portions This place is super tasty, but their portions are doing nothing for "Mission: lets get fit for summertime CHI." Sure, I could take half of my food back with me to work and save it for dinner. But lets be honest, I'll just keep eating it until there are like 6 bites left. And who wants to take 6 bites home? So then I eat it until it's gone. So please, Blackwood BBQ - offer a lunch / smaller portion! Because, I just can't control myself. And I don't trust myself around you. That being said, I ordered the pulled chicken salad with Italian dressing (on the salad) and Chicago Style BBQ (on the side). I also got all 5 salad toppings: black beans, corn, tomatoes, onions and shredded carrots. It was all delish and came out to $7.71. I almost ordered the cornbread, but remember what I said earlier? I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF. My friend had the mac and cheese. I would tell you how it was, but she ate the whole thing before I even sat down. So, I'm guessing it was good. Oh! And the staff is super nice. Lots of smiles - which is kind of hard to do in this POLAR VORTEX. It took my face 3 minutes to defrost so I could smile back. read more

Finally, great BBQ in the Loop. I passed by this place a few times, almost in shock. Is it real? How long has this been here? How have I not noticed it? Today was finally the day I tried it. The staff was very friendly. I'm not just saying that because he told me I had a sweet smile. But yeah, it helped. The food was amazing. I've had BBQ at a few places in the city - Smoque, lillie's q - and Blackwood BBQ has joined the ranks of great Chicago BBQ. I had the beef brisket - amazing - with Chicago sauce. The sauce was pretty good. I definitely want to try the others. The description is accurate - a little spicy and a little sweet. The mac n cheese was out of this world. My only complaint is that the portion is too small. But really, this is a good thing. I love mac n cheese. Some may even say, obsessed. Usually, BBQ places don't put much emphasis on this wonderful side dish. But Blackwood serves theirs perfectly seasoned and baked to crunchy perfection. I just wish they were open later and/or on weekends for those of us living in these parts. read more

Them beans be bumpin'! I skipped salad day downtown and I'm so glad I did. I ordered my pulled pork platter online to beat any lunch crowd that might await me. No need at 11:15 though, there was only one person in the ordering line. For about $12, I walked out with a tube of pulled pork, baked beans, Cole slaw, a corn bread muffin, and a tasting of pickles. I say tube only because it were wrapped in foil like a Supreme tamale. The piggy was juicy and nicely seasoned. I got a little smoke from some pieces of outside, but it wasn't that much. Too bad though because the rub was fantastic. I wasn't anticipating likely the KC sauce as much as I did but I wound up finishing one of the little cups. It had the chile powder flavor I know from Arthur Bryant's, but it wasn't as overwhelming. With its nice heat, it paired beautifully with their slightly sweet pickles. Did I mention the beans? I liked how the sauce wasn't too thick and there were other visible vegetables. Sorry veg-heads, there's pulled pork in there so it's not for you. The corn bread muffin...again, something I didn't expect to devour but did. Blackwood is the bomb! read more

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I'm struggling between 3-4 stars on this one, but I'm sticking to 3 for the time-being. Chipotle-ordering-system-style BBQ? Genius, why didn't I think of this first? Let's start off with the great... that mac & cheese. Holy crap. It really is delicious, these Yelpers aren't lying. Super crispy crust on top, perfect warm gooey cheesiness inside. Moving on to the good... the coleslaw. I love me some creamy coleslaw, and this is only $0.99 so I figured why not give it a go. It was decent, but kind of bland... needed more celery seed or something perhaps? And now for the OK... and this is the unfortunate part b/c their name is, after all, Blackwood BBQ. The BBQ. I had the pulled chicken. It was just OK. There wasn't really any smoked flavor to speak of... all the flavor comes from the sauce that they put on (I had Memphis style because Duh) and the sauce wasn't even that flavorful. It was decent, I'd eat it again, yes, but I'm just not like WHOA BLACKWOOD HOLY WOW IT'S THE BEST EVER like some people. There was a line outside the door, we arrived at roughly 12:30, so that was to be expected... butthe line moved super fast, so don't fret on that. Staff was really friendly & funny, too. Basically we were comparing Blackwood to Husky Hog with every bite, and right now, Husky Hog is still the reigning champion of legit BBQ in Chicago. I'll give Blackwood another shot for sure, I love the concept & I mean, it's BBQ. Even when it's not mind-blowingly great, it's still freakin' BBQ. read more

This was awesome!!!!! Amazing pulled chicken and the Mac and Cheese.... I had to go back for seconds!! Yum!!!!! Staff was friendly and helpful and was one of our best meals in Chicago! read more

I went for my first time the other day and was blown away. You can get a platter either all 3 meats offered and get multiple sauces. Employees are really laid back and friendly. Lots of sauces to choose from. Corn bread was freaking fantastic, very moist, great flavor. The Mac n cheese was also definitely worthwhile, crispy top layer and moist, creamy, tasty inside. There are a lot of bbq places in chitown for lunch, but this place is a must eat! Bring your out of town friends to show off the tastes of Chicago =) Only downside is lack of seating, but u can go outside and sit at the tables across the street or close-by. read more

UPDATE: The manager reached out to me and gave me the option of calling in my order. Not as convenient, but I'm adding a star for their timely and helpful response. Blackwood, why on earth did you remove the "pay in store" option from your online order system?? This used to be one of my favorite lunch spots but now there's no option to order ahead of time and pay when you pick up your order. If you pay with your credit card online, it doesn't go towards your Spring rewards, and the lines are too long in person. Are you deliberately trying to turn people off your loyalty programs?? Or do you hate lunchtime diners? Very sad about losing one of the better fast lunch options in this area. Let's just say Specialty's is getting a lot more business from me these days. read more

I had the brisket platter with the cole slaw side. The brisket was on the lean side and was okay. My favorite brisket is from Smoque or Rub BBQ. The cole slaw and pickles were the best part of the meal. I also thought the corn bread was outstanding. I have had the elote salad, beans, and stuffing sides and they are all excellent. read more

In a world of routines, commutes, walking up and down the same grids day in and day out, anything new is good. I had incredibly high hopes and expectations for Blackwood BBQ, as my office is directly across the street. I wanted so badly to love it, but it just didn't blow me away. Granted, the only time I tried every protein on the menu was during their preview sampling. I'm sure there has been some fine tuning since then. I absoultely love the brisket at Smoque, so Blackwood had some big shoes to fill for me. I found my portion of beef to be dry and a bit stringy. Take two and it was too fatty. The flavor was fine. I think I have to give this another shot. I'm hoping I just had bad luck with the cuts I recieved. The pork didn't stand out to me. It was okay. The chicken, on the other hand, was out of this world delicious. Beans were nice and firm, but lacked seasoning and seemed too watery. The vinegary slaw had a nice crunch, but again, lacked seasoning and kick. My favorite of the sauces was the Chicago style. I really like mustard based sauced, but the South Carolina reminded me of watered down Plochman's. I will tip my hat to the mac and cheese. The only problem is that there's not enough of it. It is great! Not as good as Smoque, but pretty great. The cornbread was awesome. Moist, salty, sweet, and full of chunky kernals. Really good! I think I need to give it another shot. I've only been back once since they first opened, so maybe they have tweeked their product. I hope so. If nothing else, I appreciate them being my new neighboor for the aroma alone. I love the smell of hickory in the morning. Smells like victory. read more

My coworkers keep talking about this place so I had to go check it out. Ended up getting the brisket sandwich and was absolutely underwhelmed by it. It was just OK, nothing to phone home about. Of all those spices they allegedly use, salt was the most prominent ingredient. Also, I think the meat was not "smokey" enough. I am really surprised to see this place with so many 4-5 stars. I ordered to go, but noticed what others have mentioned about how weird the seating arrangements are. A lot of seats are blocked by the long line that forms close to noon. I would not sit down to eat there. I am sure I'll be back at least one more time so I can have a better frame of reference and possibly update the review. So in short, my guess is that due to the lack of BBQ options in the Loop this comes up as great. read more

Ordered delivery. Food arrived earlier then promised which is great! Beef brisket, pulled chicken,baked beans, and salad were delicious and the price for all that food was great too! My friend and I both enjoyed our meal! Will be ordering again! *** the last two times we ordered from here the food hasn't been the same! The brisket was cut into big chunks of meat and very dry and hard that my teeth hurt! Not sliced and tender like it was the first time! Tisk tisk! read more

Pretty good barbecue! I got the Beef Brisket Platter with the side of Mac n Cheese. The Mac n Cheese is SO good! Super crispy, but it is oily. I like that they ask you if you want the beef brisket to be the fatty slices or the thin slices! I would definitely come back here again. Service is quick, even during busy hours. The sitting area is busy during lunch time, but you can still grab a seat if it's just you and a friend. There were a lot of little flies or fleas (?) or something which really detracted from my eating experience because I was shooing them away while trying to enjoy my beef brisket. read more

This food hits the spot. Went for lunch the other day and am waiting for the opportunity to go back! The portions are huge for a great price! You won't feel hungry for at least a few hours after this. They were generous with my portion size and I got a platter which was plenty for two meals for me. The only con is that the food is very heavy so choose your meal and sauces wisely, especially if your plan is to go back to work the rest of the day. My favorite is the south carolina and alabama sauce mixed together. Then I subbed out my cole slaw to try out the beans which I did not regret one bit. The beans portion is small but filling. Make sure you get there earlier to beat the line because once 1230 hits the line can be out the door at times during the week! Great place to grab a bite to eat and feel satisfied just don't eat too much or spill on your clothes! The customer service will also not disappoint and you will be planning your next visit the moment you leave the building! read more

Blackwood BBQ - platter subbed with beans - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious BBQ lunch spot in the loop. There is usually a long line but it moves quickly. Seating is limited but people come and go often. I get the pulled pork, Chicago sauce, mac n cheese, and cornbread. The cornbread honestly may be my favorite part. read more

5++++++ stars!!!! LOVE this place! We usually go in the evening when it's not that crowded. The staff is amazing! After having a long super busy week they are still super nice at 7 pm on a Friday. The food is delicious, personal favorite is the brisket Good price for yummmmmm food!! read more