Solid BBQ. Meal begins with barbecue chips and pickles. They were very tasty in fact I could eat just that all day phenomenal. We tried the brisket meatballs with grits they were ok 3/5 . For the main meal we went with The Pit Boss Platter, basically a sampler of all the meats, ribs, pulled pork, pull chicken, 1 hot link, and brisket. Comes with a side i went with potato salad. Nothing to make you go wow for most of the meat here imo. The pull pork was very moist, pull chicken 2/5, Hot link was decent, however, the brisket especially the fat was good 4/5. The standouts were the ribs very tasty. They come dry(without sauce) but they offer 4 sauces the regular was tasty, when added to the ribs that's a winning combination. They offer a "competition" slab of ribs that's different from there standard ribs i will be trying that in the very near future. The potato salad was good 4/5. I really liked it. The chocolate cake dessert is $12 its ok tasting but it's huge, easily could feed 3 grown men, not teenagers lol. Grown men. Seriously though you could feed 3 people probably 4 with it. So the cost justifies the quantity. The food overall was probably 3/5, my bill for 1 appetizer, 1 entree platter( most likely could feed 2) and 1 chocolate $70 before tip. That's expensive for barbecue. But there was some definite hits(ribs, brisket, potato salad) and there were 2 homeruns( complimentary pickles and potato chips). Couple that with nice decor, friendly wait staff, and ample portions despite hefty prices, i give them a 4/5. Im usually all about taste, but they manage to please me with the little things as well. read more

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What a great place! I've been here two times. The service, clean aesthetic, homemade pickles and chips, and, naturally, the food were all top notch. Also, the space is remarkable. The entry is small and unassuming, but there are patio, bar, high table, booth, family room, and even banquet table options. Disclaimer: I am no Barbecue connoisseur, but I love it just the same. I had the Brisket Sandwich (twice) and it was amazing. Hint: flip the sandwich as soon as you receive it to prevent the bottom bun from getting too moist. All four sauces that were brought to the table were great, the chips had enough salt to keep me satiated, and I left not wanting to eat for at least 12 hours, which is the way it should be with BBQ... I think. :) read more

I live in the neighborhood so I have visited Chicago Q many times. I have tried their lunch, dinner and Happy Hour. I met a friend for Happy Hour yesterday and enjoyed myself very much. The bar area is an attractive room, dimly lit, made for relaxing. They offer a basket of complimentary BBQ chips, pickles and little meat pastries. I ordered a special drink made with gin, cucumbers and bubbles. It was very refreshing. We shared an appetizer of fried green tomatoes. They were crunchy and a more tasty than I expected. The bartender was friendly and professional. He offered drink suggestions and remained attentive. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant, especially if you are a hearty meat eater. read more

Wow! Just perfect! This place is is soooo good. Very attentive staff and the food was amazing. We ordered the hush puppies for appetizers which were awesome. The ribs were amazing! I ordered the combo plate with just about everything and I loved it. The cornbread was also very good! We are actually going back next week with our friends. Can't wait!! read more

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So wanted to like this more but the service brought the stars down. Waited over 10 minutes to get s waiter and then another 10 for our drinks to come out. Now I get this if it's a busy Friday or Saturday but seriously on a random Wednesday? Then had to wait for our waiter to finally come and take our order. Very nice guy but probably we were the only table he had in the back? Food was good. Not wow fantastic but I liked the ribs and the sauces. The salmon was good not great. Ok for every once in a while but not our favorite place. Whiskey was great. read more

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Food was really good; brisket, st Louis ribs and mahi mahi. The first ribs were over cooked but the manager immediately replaced them with some juicy tasty ribs. We sat at the bar and the bar tender was great. We really enjoyed the ambiance and the food. read more

This might be the best BBQ I've ever had, which was totally unexpected. When you walk in, it has a very cozy, intimate vibe; definitely not your stereotypical BBQ joint. That, and I'd never pin Chicago for having amazing BBQ. But Q proved me wrong! We had a hard time choosing what to order, so opted for the Pit Boss Platter which comes with BBQ meatballs, a sausage link, pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and pulled chicken. Everything tasted like it had been smoked in an outdoor grill. Every, single thing on the platter was delicious. The only one I didn't annihilate was the sausage because it was on the spicy side. Speaking of annihilating, I shared the platter with a friend and we were both starving. It's good for 2 people. We also had a side of cornbread, and holy bejesus. Again, quite possibly the best cornbread I've ever had. It's served in a mini skillet topped with a lil' scoop of honey butter which gave it just the right sweetness. Cocktails were also on point. We tried the hazelnut old fashioned and the mint julep. Great service as well. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the mood for some quality 'Q! read more

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Wow!! Classy ambiance and great food! I also thought the prices were reasonable and was actually expecting it to be more expensive! Tried something new and exotic with the alligator. Salty and good! read more

Chicago q - Prime Brisket Burnt Ends Creole Fried Alligator - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This used to be one of our favorite places. Food is pretty good and the prices were somewhat reasonable with all the extras they gave you. What really set it apart were the homemade potato chips and the amazing homemade pickles. They were brought to every table, much like bread in some places. Both were delicious but the pickles were next level. Now... due to cost cutting measures... they have indefinitely removed the pickles and potato chips. You can't even pay for them. The BBQ and other dishes are just ok. They are on par with several other places that are more reasonably priced. The buttermilk mashed potatoes are very good. Without the potato chips and pickles to set it apart, and the high prices, we won't be going out of our way to eat here anymore. read more

I've been craving BBQ for the longest time and decided to try Chicago q since it's right near my home. Unfortunately, Chicago q just didn't do it for me. I ordered their St. Louis half-rack ribs, which was lean, but dry. The side of fries it came with also short and disappointing - how can you mess up fries? Only one bone of the ribs was fatty so a bit more tender, so perhaps I just got a bad rack? I also wish more sides came with the different entrees. I ordered a side of mac n cheese to supplement my one-side entree, and that was good. I'd love to give Chicago q another try, as it seems the overall consensus for Chicago q is above what I'm rating it. read more

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Wow what a hidden gem.On our way to L train to Wrigley.We Saw a sign. happy hour $5 old fashions.So we stopped in.Are you kidding me $5 old fashions in the city.Our bartender Kristen was amazing.Wow what a drink.She was a sweetheart to.What a great place.I don't usually take time to recommend a place but I'm coming back tomorrow for dinner.This is a little gem.Great staff read more

Fantastic food! We came here to inquire on booking for our rehearsal dinner and after talking with staff, trying the food and checking out the space, we were booked! Delicious food, very attentive and friendly staff. I know when you think BBQ, you imagine Texas etc. but don't let that thought have you miss out on the Mid-West BBQ. We got the ribs and couldn't finish them and was so glad to have some leftovers the next day. The chocolate cake is HUGE and so tasty. read more

This was possibly the fanciest barbecue place I have ever been, but the food was unbelievably mouth watering comfort food with no pretentious twist. I was promised that the fried chicken here would be the best in the city and i was not disappointed. I shared an entree portion of the buttermilk fried chicken, which comes with a side (we got mac and cheese), and both of us were stuffed. I am a bit of a mac and cheese connoisseur and this was some good stuff. It comes in a skillet with melty, saucy cheese. We did not save room for dessert, but were told the cheesecake, chocolate cake and carrot cake are very worth saving a little bit of tummy space. The food is a bit on the pricey side, but the portions and quality make it very worth it. The staff here were wonderfully nice and attentive. There is also a gluten free menu! I can't wait to go back and try more of the barbecue options! read more

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We ate at Chicago Q this past Sunday. I took my wife, daughter and her boyfriend. To try something new, I ordered everything on the starter list for us to share. Fried green tomatoes, pickles, chips,dry rubbed wings, burnt ends, gator, everything, it was all delicious. Everyone then had their own entree. They also make a mock cocktail with mint and cucumber that was awesome. I had the buttermilk fried chicken and seriously the best fried chicken I've had in a restaurant ever, crispy and moist. We're still eating our leftovers. Really great experience. read more

Great menu, big portions and prices are appropriate. Everything is wonderful...you can't make a wrong selection!

Went here for the first time today and sat outside . The portions are large so I would've shared a meat plate and salad with my fiancée had I looked beforehand (the meat plate is a LOT for lunch). We loved the food and they bring you the best chips and pickles ever right when you sit down. I got the smoked pulled chicken and my fiancée got the pork both with coleslaw . The food was fantastic but I knocked the rating down a star for the service . It was the most bizarre layout service wise. Our waiter was nice, but then they brought our beer to the wrong table , someone else wrapped up our food and brought it to the wrong table even though he had just asked us if we wanted it wrapped. Multiple wait staff brought chips and pickles to peoples table when they had already received them 5 mins prior. It was like the entire wait staff was confused / we had 4 different people who took our order/ got water/ brought drinks/ wrapped up food. It seemed unorganized . Great ambiance and great food, though, so would recommend . read more

We just had our first visit to Chicago Q - and everything was above and beyond our expectations. First, the ambiance was nice, and even though we were wearing our comfy clothes, we were made to feel welcome. The food was excellent! Every bite was enjoyment, including the fried chicken, which was juicy, crispy and full of flavor. The desserts were also awesome-we had the carrot cake and the cheesecake! Finally, what really made the evening a memorable excursion, our service was top notch! Robert made us feel welcome, and was one of the best parts! Bravo Q and Robert! read more

Solid place to go for your BBQ fix. Before our order came out we were already full from eating chips and pickles that they serve you before your meal. Efficient service, great potion sizes, one meal could have been split in half and still be more than enough. I liked all of it. I will most definitely be back. read more

Phenomenal fall off the bone ribs. The 4 sauces that came out with it were out of this world. My favorite being the mustard. Mac and cheese was also a highlight. Cocktail was just alright. Beer selection was a bit weak. Come for the food though! Top dining experiences I've had in Chicago. read more

My friend and I visited Chicago Q for brunch on a Sunday and words cannot do justice to how wonderful our experience was, but I will try. From the moment we entered the restaurant, we were greeted so warmly and felt welcome right away. The interior was cozy and looked very comfortable but we decided to eat outside as the fallweather was lovely. Our server, Mario, was incredibly knowledgable about the menu and made great recommendations. He was also funny, kind, and attentive. When our food arrived we were impressed with the beautiful presentation but by far the best thing was how delicious everything was. We both had the brisket and shared side of macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes and as they say, chef's kiss on everything (including the mimosas!) Thank you, Mario, chef, and all of the superb staff at Chicago Q. Needless to say, I highly recommend! read more

This establishment is located in/near Gold Coast. Pretty good barbecue options... The Brisket tacos, Ribs, and Smoke Wings are a few of my favorites. The complementary seasoned chips are incredible. The complimentary pickles used to be absolutely delicious, but unfortunately, it appears they changed the recipe. The pickles are free, so quite frankly, I can't complain about it. I highly recommend purchasing the specials, that's the best bang for the buck. read more

Love the pickles and chips so much that it makes me sad they are now charging for them. But alas. Also my favorite baby back ribs in the city. We keep going back for more. read more

Love it! Art Smith strikes again! The food was fantastic. The Old Fashion...so yummy. They have an awesome and extensive bourbon and whiskey menu. I highly recommend the fried chicken and the chocolate cake. read more

Chicago q - Chocolate cake and carrot cake! Go for it! - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I visited Chicago Q around 2pm for lunch and sat at the bar, i think i was the only patron in the entire restaurant at the time. No complaints about the service, the bartender seemed to be working on lunch to dinner transition duties but checked in on me enough times it wasn't a concern. Pre-meal: The potato chips are house made and absolutely amazing. Perfectly fresh, crispy, salty and seasoned. They could easily sell bags and bags of them. The pickles were equally amazing, half-sour(?) with peppercorns and a hint of red pepper flakes. Again, fresh and crunchy, not too briny, and a great post meal palate cleanser. Meat: Brisket is the most difficult meat to smoke, and thusly my metric for quality BBQ. The brisket at Q was just on the dry (wrong) side of perfectly cooked. The bark was nice but not a lot of the flavor infused the meat. The baby back ribs were great: fall-off-the-bone, moist, flavorful. Pulled pork is one of the easiest meats to smoke, if you find a place with awful pulled pork, never go back! No complaints about the pulled pork at Q: tender, moist, well flavored. Sauces: Sauces are a condiment, well smoked meat shouldn't need a sauce. The brisket needed a sauce... They gave me the mild and the spicy/hot sauce. The spicy/hot had too much cayenne to do anything but bring heat, no flavor. The mild was too sugary to be a decent mild, but the brisket needed something so it served a purpose. Had i known they had a mustard sauce i would have liked to try that. Side(s): I had the baked beans, they were pretty good. Good thickness and flavor to the soupy part and a few chunks of meat in their, too. I don't pay much attention to cornbread, but their cornbread was fine. Could be a little sweeter, perhaps. Overall, i'd try Q again, probably for dinner. Maybe they save the moist brisket for dinnertime. read more

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Barbecue was really good. Drinks were good as well. Nice location and comfortable atmosphere. The service was very good and check in discount didn't hurt. read more

Chicago q - New Years day at q - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Get the eggs Benedict for brunch please!! They have a mix eggs Benedict - one of lobster, one of pulled pork, one of brisket. The portion size is huge so make sure to share this instead of ordering this for one. read more

Chicago q - Eggs Benedict - mixed - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered here for a coworker's going away party (they do deliver by the way). Funny I had been to this location once but it never occurred to me they had such amazing food. What I remember most is their bottled sauce. I used it for weeks at home on my chicken. It was awesome. I'll def be back. read more

This is my FAVOURITE barbecue restaurant in Chicago! The service and ambience is very homey- flannel plaid shirts, the servers are very knowledgeable about the food and drinks, and honestly the food is remarkable. The tables are far enough apart that even if Q is full, you don't have to speak over all the other tables. The pulled meats are phenomenal and the HOME MADE pickles are OUT OF THIS WORLD! I bring all of my Chicago visitors here for lunch and I have never had a bad experience. I highly recommend coming to get a reasonably priced meal with great service, great ambiance, and amazing food. read more

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I really liked Chicago Q! I have been lucky to have visited "fancy BBQ" places and this was by far the best I have had. The portions were huge and everything that I ate was very tasty! I got the three meat platter so I got 1/3 Ribs, Pulled Chicken, and Beef Brisket. The Beef Brisket was good, but not earth shattering. The Ribs and the Pulled Chicken were amazing. I almost didn't get the pulled chicken, but I am glad I did! One thing to note is that you got free BBQ potato chips that were addicting. You have to pay extra for those at some of Smith's restaurants. Not here! Free at Chicago Q! The only slight negative was that the service seemed a bit off. I have been to Art Smith restaurants before so I know that part of the premium cost is the exceptional service. The service was ok, but not on the usual Art Smith level. I will chalk it up to a bad night. read more

Solid BBQ spot and great portions for the price. Definitely up there with some of the best ribs in the city (including twin anchors) and the old fashion was perfect. Highly recommend. read more

I kept seeing this place and after months of walking by, my family and I finally went. This is a great place to go with a larger group because the servings are big and you'll want to pick off each other's plates. We sat in the front room, which has a gorgeous high ceiling that looks like it was taken straight out of the south. We loved sitting in there. Great natural lighting (the rest of the restaurant seemed pretty dark). As far as ambience goes, 10/10 for Chicago Q. Service was great. Only caveat is we ordered the mac and cheese (easily could be someone's entree) and they forgot about it -- but then they comped it to us, so really not a big deal. They were apologetic and realized their mistake. Now for the food. All of it was great but some of it stood out over others. I got the slider trio because I wanted to try everything they were offering. I found the chicken to be the most flavorful and had the best texture. The pulled pork was a bit dry, and the brisket didn't have *so* much flavor. I liked that they came un-sauced so I could douse mine in whatever I wanted (opted for the spiciest option). I chose the honey butter cornbread, which was sadly a bit dry but still great. Their homemade chips are AMAZING and bottomless (not good!!!). Seriously, could've filled up on just those before any of the food got placed in front of me. Because my family is indulgent, we went for the carrot cake dessert. We're a dessert-loving family but holy cow, this thing was huge. I mean, family of 8 huge. Unbelievably huge and unbelievably delicious. TL;DR: come for the barbecue, stay for the chips and the carrot cake. read more

Chicago q - Insane carrot cake! - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We tried the burnt ends appetizer--really good! With or without bbq--we had to ask for bbq sauce. I was hoping to enjoy the different sauces. Our drinks were good! The brisket is delicious and tender. There's nothing special about the half chicken--it wasn't tasty. It lacked flavor, looked unappetizing, just a big portion we didn't eat. We also found it a bit dry, not succulent. We did not enjoy the sides--grits were thick, very much like mashed potatoes. The baked beans have kidney beans and aren't as flavorful as they should be. Others enjoyed the coleslaw. The cornbread is good. If paired with a honey or melted butter, it would take the cornbread to another level. read more

My boyfriend and I were staying in the neighborhood and came here for brunch, and it ended up being one of the best brunches we've ever had. First off, the meal starts with homemade pickles and homemade BBQ chips. Those alone sold me. Then, I ordered the smoked chicken Benedict. It's two poached eggs over a hash of potatoes, smoked chicken, and cornbread pieces, in a slightly sweet hollandaise sauce. I seriously could have licked the plate clean it was so good. The space was also very cute, and the service was fast and friendly. If you're in the area, stop by for some delicious southern eats! read more

Chicago q - Smoked chicken Benedict - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best Beef brisket sandwich ever! Meat is authentic, some red onions to add the flavor and four sauces for you to choose to add more flavor to the brisket! $17 with certain sides,adding $2.5 for a side salad! Great experience! read more

Chicago q - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We got the rib combo which was a half slab of St. Louis and half slab of baby backs. There's simply no comparison. The St. Louis barely had anything on the bone and it was so dry. The baby backs were good. Cornbread was yummy but small for $6 side. Slaw was perfect ratio. Not too much Mayo and not too much vinegar. read more

Chicago q - Rib Combo, Coleslaw, Cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food at CQ is excellent. The ribs are some of the best I have tasted in a very long time. The smoke ring/flavor profile is fully developed and the ribs are tender, moist and meaty. Unlike most BBQ places, sauce is not really "needed" as a result of the great smoke flavor but feel free to gild the lily and ask for the sauce sampler in order to find your favorite saucy enhancement. Simply put, the food is wonderfully executed at CQ. Appetizers/Sides: -Burnt ends arrive on a bed of perfectly seasoned and creamy celery seed coleslaw -Side of skillet mac and cheese -Brisket chili *These items were enjoyed alongside the complimentary housemade pickles and potato chips which arrive at your table moments after being seated. Of course, all of the above items are plentiful and also intended to accompany the main entrees. The main events were: -Steakhouse Wedge Salad with blue cheese dressing (Char-crusted Filet Chunks nestled among the typical suspects in a wedge salad: iceberg, bacon, tomatoes, cucs, and grilled corn) -The Smoker (Baby back ribs, choice of sliced brisket, pulled pork or pulled chicken alongside more creamy celery seed coleslaw) As previously stated, the caliber of food here is top notch and the dining room is quite comfortable and cozy. The only reason this place did not get top ratings was due to poor customer service. Dining out is every bit part of the service received, as it is the quality and caliber of food being served. If great food is being served by those that have zero engagement, the overall experience will suffer. This is by no means a cheap dining experience and the quality of all other supporting components (e.g., wait staff, etc.) needs to be in sync with the higher menu price point. Everyone from the hostess to the waitress and servers were drab, lack lustre and not at all engaged. It is of my opinion that the entire wait staff needs a pep rally of sorts to learn the proper execution of making the customer experience a priority. In this instance, the waitress greets us to take our drink order, however instead of making eye contact and speaking "to" us directly, she was suddenly enthralled with looking at her reflection in the mirror that hung just above our booth. Apparently, it was more important that she check out her grooming attempts, rather than give the customer the attention required to take the order. The wait staff is unfriendly, has zero personality, is robotic at best and appears to lack the maturity and skill set to even attempt to simulate being attentive or appreciative of patronage. With the plethora of great restaurants in Chicago, there are always other great dining options. This is very sad for this caliber of restaurant. More importantly, it is a disservice to the fantastic food that Art Smith has crafted. I had the opportunity to visit Art Smith's other restaurant, Table 52, before its closure. Table 52 was also excellent, and one of the key components was that the wait staff was mature, attentive, engaged and definitely serious about representing the Art Smith brand. read more

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Fantastic! Burnt Ends: little salty but good with coleslaw Shrimp and Grits: so so so yummy. Great sauce. Cornbread with Poblano Cheese: perfect compliment Second time coming here and by far my best meal to date. Great service and food. I ate everything else before I could take a pic!! read more

Chicago q - Barbeque Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The worst food and zero presentation. I ordered half order of baby back ribs. I received 5 mini ribs with barely any meat. My husband had pulled pork. It came on a dish and looked like dog good. Art Smith should be as embarrassed as we were with our 3 guests. We vowed never to come back. On line the menu looked fabulous. Our actual menu was miniscule. And what's with the $13 covid recovery charge. Added insult to injury. read more

We came in for a night cap and had the BEST time! Their carrot cake is incredible! Johnny gave us the best service and Rob is so wonderful to all of his patrons! 10/10 recommend read more

Jhony and Rob were amazing!! Food was fantastic and service was quick and easy and great! Jhony best server in the city