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    Dead End BBQ

    3.6 (411 reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    DEAD END BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Reviews With Photos - Dead End BBQ

    Brisket and Coleslaw
    Eric B.

    Stopped in for a late lunch with my daughter before heading back to San Antonio, TX, and we're both glad we did. I always judge a BBQ place by their burnt ends, if they get those right, everything else usually follows. Well, Dead End BBQ absolutely nailed it. The burnt ends here are everything you want them to be: perfectly smoky, just the right amount of sweet, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. They tell the whole story of the pitmaster's craft in a single bite. I also tried the smoked bologna, and one bite took me straight back to my adolescence, rich, savory, and with that nostalgic flavor only real wood smoke can give. The Pimento Mac & Cheese was another standout: creamy, cheesy, and with that subtle pimento tang that keeps you going back for "just one more forkful." My daughter went for the brisket, and she raved about how juicy and flavorful it was, with just the right amount of bark. We both appreciated the variety of BBQ sauces available, each bringing its own personality to the table, sweet, tangy, spicy, you can mix and match to your heart's content. Service was friendly and laid-back, and the atmosphere felt like a true BBQ joint should: warm, casual, and a place you want to linger. Dead End BBQ isn't just a meal, it's a reminder of why great barbecue is worth the stop.

    I took the bun off so you can see how over cooked this Brisket is, it looks like a Roast, which is what happens when you over cook Brisket.

    Purchased Bar BQ sandwich to go (Chopped) - $14.00 with Chips - nice lady behind the bar - worst Bar BQ Brisket sandwich I have ever had - bar none - so over cooked it had a "Roast" taste - the Brisket flavor (that's why we eat Brisket and not Roast) was cooked out of it. I can not express enough - cool looking place HORRIBLE FOOD - second visit - last visit - Nice People, Cool Place, Horrible Bar BQ - I'm not an expert, but I was a KC Bar BQ judge at one time.

    Lindsey P.

    Absolutely delicious! Service was amazing, ambiance was great, everything was clean and nice. 10/10 recommend anything with the burnt ends!

    Bbq Pulled Smoked Chicken Sandwich & Sweet Potato Waffle Fries - Regular
    Campbell L.

    Food was decent. I feel like I need to try something else next time and it would be better. Service was mediocre at best. Our waiter did not seem thrilled at all and only checked on us once. Ambiance was good for what it was.

    Trinity P.

    Everything was phenomenal. Brisket end mac and cheese was amazing. Fried okra perfect. Our waitress Allison was a queen. Vibes were great and they played good old country music. 11/10 VISIT HERE!!!

    Kenneth S.

    I came here looking for barbecue, and barbecue is what I got. I think the place must've been a muffler shop or gas station or something at one time, now it feels like a sports bar that happens to serve really good barbecue. That's what I would say about its ambience, it has a sports bar field to it. My server was named Abby, and Abby took good care of me. She showed me the à la carte menu where I could create my own tasting plate. I ordered a quarter pound each of brisket, pulled pork, smoked sausage, two St. Louis style ribs, and of course, some burnt ends. I rounded out my plate with a jalapeño corn muffin, some of the mayors beans, and mixed greens. These are my go to sides for any barbecue joint. Let's talk about the barbecue. First, the pulled pork, it was good smoked pulled pork very juicy well done. It had enough fat to be good, but not so much as you feel like you're getting fat, it was a good Boston bud smoked well. Then there is the brisket, they do not ruin their brisket as the people in Texas do by over cooking it. It's easy to ruin a brisket, just ask any Texan he'll ruin every brisket he ever gets his hands on. These people did brisket like I would do brisket and it turned out to be good Not great but good. The sausage, it was a stand out link type sausage, it was very firm and not fatty, it was lean almost like a good kielbasa only much firmer. I believe they make these in house. It was delightful. And it comes with a little Horseradish sauce. Very good. The burn ends, these were the main event. They are greasy and delightful and everything you would want a burn in to be. This is a St. Louis or Kansas City style burnt, and only with the delicious juiciness that you only get from a pig in Tennessee or Georgia. Much better than any that I've had in the Midwest. The St. Louis style ribs were good St. Louis style ribs, nothing to ride home about, nothing bad. I've just had a lot of St. Louis style ribs in St. Louis, and these were really good, just not greasy good. As for the sides, the beans were incredible, who thought of adding pineapple to pinto beans? Whoever they were, they are a genius. The greens were a huge disappointment. They tasted like a paperback novel that had been left in the sun. Just not good greens. The cornmeal muffin with the jalapeños in it was excellent.

    The little guy enjoying some Waffle Fries.
    Karenza K.

    It's okay. Just Okay. The service was great. The food was a little off to me. I do like how they have the different customizable sauces on the table. The food is average. I was surprised that they didn't have "pulled pork Mac n cheese." That's like a southern CLASSIC. Also, everything is pimento cheese. INCLUDING the Mac n cheese. I don't know the flavor was kind of off. I was a bit disappointed with the Mac and cheese to be honest. To rule out the pimento flavor I had to order a side of pulled pork barbecue, and then drizzle it with the sauce on the table. (To create a pulled pork mac & cheese.) I was expecting so wild, blown away BBQ experience, but it wasn't really like that. The Cheese balls were a great Appetizer. I would recommend getting the mixed. The Food came out Hot. They do have Kid Options and High Chairs. It is Kid friendly. Very busy when we went. The restaurant was clean and so were the bathrooms so that was a plus. I do feel as if it's a little overhyped a bit. I don't know if I would go back. I think I would try other BBQ joints before I go back. Also it is a little bit pricey. To be honest, in my opinion, it's not really worth what we paid. We paid $80.00+ for Two Meals, Appetizer and a PB&J sandwich for the little guy.... My Husband said it wasn't that great and the food was kind of dry. My recommendations: - park more towards the back, parking in the front can be kind of sketchy with all the people coming in and out. -get a variety of flavors for the cheeseballs if you're doing that as an appetizer. Pros: -Good Service - Parking -clean bathrooms -sauces on the table Cons: -loud and crowded -pimento cheese kind of ruins everything! -meat is not flavored -kind of expensive -my Husband said the food was kind of dry

    Sauces
    Geri G.

    We came here in June while on a roadtrip and today we found ourselves back in the area and had to make a stop. Again, this place knocked it out of the park. We came around 12:30 on a Sunday and it had a good crowd. We got seated super fast and our server came over and got our drink orders super fast. Branching out a little bit this time to try their Tennessee beef and cheddar sandwich, in addition to their burnt ends again and sweet potato fries. While our son got the kids grilled cheese and french fries. The food came out very fast, it was surprising given how busy they were. The sandwich was sooooo good. The bread was buttery and crunchy, the brisket super tender and juicy and with the cheddar and caramelized onions it was such a great combination. I did steal some of the pickled onions from the burnt ends plate and added it to the sandwich and it was even better because it added a little tang. It comes with bbq sauce already in it but I did add a little of the sliced one and it added nice heat. The burnt ends again were amazing, just very well done and tender but still retained some juiciness. Our kid got the grilled cheese and fries (we did try to get him to get some amazing bbq, but sometime you just have to roll with it ). He loved the fries and inhaled them, leaving no room for the grilled cheese. He did eat it later on in the day. It heated up fine but would have been better fresh but that is totally on him. We also did the banana pudding which was decadent and tasty. Super creamy and the cookies they added. Added a nice texture. I am so glad we came back here. The food was amazing and the service was awesome. Next time we are in the area definitely is a must do for us.

    Pulled Pork Sandwich
    Nina P.

    The service is great and so is the food! We love BBQ and this place nailed it! We ordered the Burnt Ends, BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich, and the Brisket Burrito. The salsa tasted so fresh and I wanted more! The meat was cooked perfect and the BBQ was delicious! I definitely recommend this restaurant!

    Pulled Pork - 1/4 lb. Smoked Bologna - 1/4 lb. Creamed Corn - Taste Brussels Sprouts
    Andrew K.

    Smoked bologna was fantastic- huge fan especially with the regular and mild sauce mixed together. Pulled pork is decent. Brussel sprouts were good except the (goat?) cheese on top??? Had to remove that. Not sure in what world they would consider this corn creamed but it lacked flavor and was hard to eat- literally would stick to your teeth and was extremely rubbery. Stay away from that!! Service was good especially on a busy night and had a cool atmosphere with all of the college football and sports memorabilia on the walls.

    Sliced Brisket - 1/4 lb. St. Louis Cut Ribs - 1/2 Rack Fried Okra - Regular Mixed Mustard & Turnip Greens - Regular
    Jonathan M.

    Stopped by for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The location was very nice inside and out. Our server was great but the food took quite a while to come out, which was surprising as the location wasn't packed at all. I ordered the Ribs 2 Bone and 1/4 Sliced Brisket. The ribs were decent a bit overcooked and decent flavor. The brisket was tender but was lacking in flavor. The okra was perfectly fried and really enjoyable. I plan to come back and give it another try sometime soon.

    Mike K.

    A good choice for BBQ... I love BBQ, so I am always on the hunt for good BBQ. Dead End BBQ is one of the better places for BBQ in Knoxville. The atmosphere is chill, so it is suitable for any kind of casual meal. The service is always good. The food is delicious. My only complaint is that they don't have a combo meal, so you have to order alacart. I had the pulled pork, beans, creamed corn, and corn bread. Very good, definitely worthy of a visit

    Pond Gap Pie

    Got pulled chicken, mac n cheese, cornbread, and chocolate pudding dessert which were all pretty good. Big fan of the mac n cheese and cornbread. Chicken was a little cold. Good prices. Quick and kind service.

    Smoked Brisket Dry Rub Wings - One Pound and Homemade Banana Pudding - Large Enough to Share

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Fantastic food! I love the Mac Attack (with pork bbq) sandwich! It is by far my favorite.

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    2 years ago

    Food & service has gone downhill. Poor meal last week. BBQ Nachos were inedible. Should have sent them back!

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    6 years ago

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    1 year ago

    excellent BBQ. service is great. a little pricey. very clean restaurant Everybody very friendly

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Delish and cost effective. Seemed popular! I don't live in Knoxville but would go here often if I did.

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    3 years ago

    Best BBQ joint in Tennessee! Food is always on point and service as well. Keep up the great work!

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    Page 2 of 11

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    Stock & Barrel

    Stock & Barrel

    4.4
    (2k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    I was recommended to check this place out for their burgers, and it definitely didn't disappoint!…read more This place is popular, so be prepared for a wait. They get busy fast, and they won't seat your party until everyone has arrived, so make sure your whole group is there. We had a party of five and started with an order of the fried pickles to share. They were absolutely delicious--crispy, flavorful, and gone within minutes. For drinks, I ordered the Darryl Strawberry since it featured bourbon, and I figured I had to enjoy a bourbon cocktail while in Tennessee. It was surprisingly refreshing, balanced, and so good that I ordered a second one. For my meal, I went with the Classic Bacon Burger, and it was exactly what I was hoping for. It was big, juicy, and loaded with the perfect amount of cheese, tomato, bacon, and pickles. Every bite was delicious. Considering how packed the restaurant was, the service was solid. Our waitress had a great sense of humor and joked around with our table, which made the experience even more fun. Since they were so busy, we didn't see her constantly, but she was friendly and took good care of us whenever she stopped by. If you're looking for a great burger and a fun atmosphere, this spot is definitely worth checking out!

    I was on a business trip in Knoxville and came across this burger restaurant online with thousands…read moreof reviews and had to check it out. I also ran into a local that recommended I try their duck fat fries. The duck fat fries were delicious and topped with Parmesan and scallions with a creamy aioli for dipping. My burger was monstrous and somehow I ate the WHOLE thing because it was so juicy and yummy I couldn't stop myself. One thing I will say is I wish their seating was a bit more comfortable. They were busy when o came and I had to sit on a high top outside which was a squished table of six of us and very uncomfortable. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Ring of Fire
    Ring of Fire
    Bison Burger

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    Bison Burger
    Lloyd's Barbecue

    Lloyd's Barbecue

    4.4
    (45 reviews)
    6.7 mi
    $$

    I'd really like to see more good BBW joints in the Seattle area. This isn't one of them…read more This mobile trailer is found at various locations around Snohomish County and at its base near the Reptile Zoo just outside of Monroe. The calendar is on the web page. But why chase bad BBQ. This wood pellet (Traeger) grill smoked BBQ is dry. The smoke flavor is light to the point of being almost non-existent. The rub is okay, but when a brisket is this dry it's just not worth eating. The other meats are okay. The pork is probably the best thing, and it's just good not great. The ribs were okay too. The sides are about the only reason this has two stars instead of one. The mac and cheese is tasty and well made. The beans are good. Look, I don't write any reviews less than three stars and few less than four stars unless I have visited a place multiple times. Any place can have an off day, and I hate giving lower reviews to small businesses. But this is just NOT good BBQ. And, yes, I know a bit about BBQ, with deep roots in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, and Italy. I've cooked many briskets. Many. With wood. Cooked many pork butts and ribs. Tons. And so has my family (I have two relatives in the Dallas area who cater BBQ). So, this is not an area where I have no experience. Oh, and don't snicker at Italy in the list. How did your whole goat cooked in a dirt pit turn out? How about that whole pig you cooked? Yeah. Thought so. Sorry, Lloyd's. This is not great stuff. Dang. I wish it were.

    I visited Lloyd's for the first time today at the farmer's market in Monroe. I had been looking…read moreforward to trying some of the tasty food I keep hearing about. I especially want to try the pork belly bites, but those are only on Fridays. I ordered the most popular dish, the gomer. I asked what the freshest meat was because the reviews varied. Many stated that there was a lot of dry meats, others report tender and perfect. My suggestion if you don't want to be disappointed is to ask what is the freshest for that moment in time. Pork was it today and it was delicious. I think next time I would rather get the meat plate as all the sides piled onto the pork was a bit over the top for me. I wanted to taste each item they have separately, but it was challenging being piled together. But that is what I get for picking the popular item and not what I think I would enjoy more. Gomer was $12. I see the cost has gone from $10, then $11 and now $12. I would not be willing to pay more than $12 but I understand the cost of food has gone up. Curious why the nacho is $16. If I understand correctly it is just the gomer with chips and cheese. I don't think that is worth $4 more. Maybe the quantity is more too??? Overall, I am happy with my first trip to Lloyd's and looking forward to pork belly bites in my future.

    Photos
    We have Pickled Onions!!
    We have Pickled Onions!!
    New logo, new wrap, new town.
    New logo, new wrap, new town.
    BBQ Beans! Without onions!

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    BBQ Beans! Without onions!
    Oakwood BBQ

    Oakwood BBQ

    4.5
    (13 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    I've noticed since moving to Tennessee that most of the bbq places I've been to do not know how to…read morecook a true brisket. I will say I was spoiled with amazing bbq in Texas before moving here! I came across Oakwood BBQ food truck when we stopped at Southside Garage for a few beers. I love food trucks because I always feel like they elevate food typically more then a normal restaurant. I ended up getting some sliced brisket with elotes (Mexican street corn) and coleslaw. I took one bite of the brisket and I literally thought I was back in Texas. I ended up going back up to the window and talking to the employees working and letting them know how great it was. He informed me that the owner is actually from Texas so it makes since he knows how to execute a brisket well. The elotes was good, I've never had it with jalapeños it was different but I wasn't mad about it. I've been to a lot of different restaurants around the area that chop up their coleslaw very finely where it's kind of like a mush which I'm not a fan of, has a weird texture. I like that they keep it the true way. I ended up buying the rest of their brisket they had on hand, I loved it so much!

    After a 7-mile river paddle, we popped over to the Southside Garage because we were famished &…read morewanted a nice cold beer to offset the heat. You scan & order online & you'll get a text when your food is up. Mr T & I split a two meat meal -brisket & pulled pork, with a dude of Mexican street corn & the Mexican slaw. Loved the fresh jalapeños on top of the slaw..it was crispy & fresh with just the right amount of slaw dressing. I hate when they drench it in too much sauce. The brisket was fall-apart, melt-in your-mouth meaty goodness. Corn was tasty & id have it again, but nothing is rave over. Definitely try the spicy deviled eggs. Nobody makes deviled eggs is good as momma T, but these are awesome. And spicy! Will hit Oakwood up again soon!

    Photos
    Rib plate w/ loaded potato salad
    Rib plate w/ loaded potato salad
    Mexican Street Corn
    Mexican Street Corn
    Deviled Eggs

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    Deviled Eggs
    Calhoun's

    Calhoun's

    3.5
    (645 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Calhoun's on the River. I think I liked Calhoun's... actually, I know I did. Great day with oldest…read moredaughter Jordan and the Granddogs, Elbert & Sally. I learned that Knoxville hosted the 1982 World's Fair, so we walked around the old fairgrounds and then down to the river. Beautiful area and a perfect day to just hang out. At Calhoun's, I loved our waitress, sitting out on the deck, my blackberry margarita, and the chicken tenders with honey mustard. The bacon-wrapped burnt-end brisket was tasty too, although a little dry. Maybe that's just part of being burnt ends. Honestly, I thought most of our food leaned a little dry for me -- except those chicken tenders. Maybe in Tennessee, the barbecue sauce is supposed to do more of the heavy lifting. Either way, great food, great weather, great company, and a very good day all around.

    Pros: great river view on the deck, friendly servers Cons:…read moredeck seating means you have to choose from a limited menu, food was mediocre at best I tried the ribs and hubby got the Ale steak. His steak was decent, good flavor. My ribs were a bit dry, and I wasn't a fan of Calhoun's bbq sauce in the table caddy. (Also, is it safe for the sauce to be sitting out in the hot sun for hours?) If you've ever eaten the ribs at Houston's in Atlanta, don't bother ordering ribs anywhere else. I've tried so many disappointing ribs, I've vowed to stop ordering them except at Houston's. I'd recommend Calhoun's for a drink on the deck, but go eat somewhere else.

    Photos
    Antique doors at entrance were lovely. Look like they are original to the building.
    Antique doors at entrance were lovely. Look like they are original to the building.
    Chicken Salad Sandwich
    Chicken Salad Sandwich
    Calhoun's Biscuit Mix- Make them at home!

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    Calhoun's Biscuit Mix- Make them at home!

    Dead End BBQ - bbq - Updated July 2026

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