Seriously, the best ribs and Punta Gorda maybe even in SWF. Restaurants very clean good location if you live in Punta Gorda if not, we'll worth the drive. The Gouda macaroni and cheese is very cheesy and amazing. The cornbread is like cake. We had great service. She was very attentive and never did we have to look for her. She was always right there. Well, absolutely be back highly highly highly recommend read more

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I rarely leave negative reviews, but this was one of the most disappointing BBQ meals I've ever purchased. I ordered the Two Meat Plate for about $27, and the portion was extremely underwhelming. The ribs had very little actual meat on them and were mostly bone, fat, and cartilage. For the price, I expected a much more substantial serving. The mac and cheese was bland and lacked flavor, the sweet potato fries were average at best, and the cornbread was stale and dry. Overall, the meal looked much better on the menu than what I actually received. I left still hungry and felt like I wasted my money. Based on the quality, portion size, and taste, I cannot justify the price. I hope management addresses these issues because this experience did not meet expectations. Order Togo bit next to abandon movie theater. read more

Jay's Smokin BBQ - No meat ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Punta Gorda, Florida

We ordered the two-meat combo (burnt ends and brisket) with mac and corn, plus wings with Jay's sauce. Let me paint you a picture: the best part of a BBQ joint should never be the sauce but without it, I would've needed a search party to find any moisture in this meal. The burnt ends? Dry. The brisket ? Somehow drier. I'm starting to think Jay has a personal vendetta against moisture. I've had jerky with more tenderness. The wings weren't drowning in sauce because they were flavorful they were drowning because it was the only thing keeping them from turning to dust. Now here's where it gets truly unhinged: this place has been open since 2021 and sits at above 4 stars on Yelp. I don't know what's more shocking that, or Jay naming the this place after himself. Himself. That's the confidence of a man who has never eaten his own food. Save your money. Save your time. Honestly? Just fire up your backyard grill. You've got a strong shot at outdoing this place, and the worst case scenario is you learn something. Jay apparently didn't. read more

My understanding is they started out as a food truck and business was so good they opened this brick-and-mortar space. Plenty of parking available. Got there around 430pm on a Saturday and were seated immediately. Service was quick and attentive. I had the three-meat platter: St. Louis Ribs, pulled pork and the brisket burnt ends. It's accompanied by corn bread and two sides. I choose the coconut street corn and the smoked gouda mac & cheese. OMG. Delicious. All of it. And I left stuffed. Highly recommend. read more

Jay's Smokin BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Punta Gorda, Florida

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Had the 3 meat platter and the star was the ribs, fall off the bone tender. Actually all the meat was delicious. Great staff quick service and very attentive. read more

Jay's Smokin BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Punta Gorda, Florida

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Delicious! This is one of the best places we have been since moving here. The brisket, corn bread, ribs and beans are all outstanding. The coconut corn was just ok. The mac n cheese is a must try ! We will certainly go here again. A+ read more

October 2025 - This place is so awesome.. the service was amazing.. great food, drinks and dessert. The location is off the beaten path. Go, you'll love it! read more

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Brisket burnt ends, potato salad, onion rings, Bloody Mary, cold beer, and the Cuban sandwich delicious. Services kind fast and professional. The vibe is great with all the TV's and indoor outdoor options. read more

Outstanding BBQ all around. Had 3 meat plate, ribs excellent, chicken moist and tender, turkey was a little peppery but moist and tender. Then the Burt Ends which are hard to find around here were absolutely Outstanding. BBQ beans and corn bread were fabulous. Wait staff were attentive and friendly and great. All around Outstanding experience and would highly recommend. read more

We were traveling through ready for a quick lunch. Quick it was not. The burnt ends were ridiculously dry. When I didn't want to take the many burnt ends left to go, I was then offered moist pieces. Why wasn't I given moist pieces to begin with? We went because of all the great reviews. We eat BBQ a lot during our travels, this was the worse we've experienced. read more

Jay's Smokin BBQ - We stopped for a quick lunch. Service was not quick. The burnt ends were so dry, this is pretty much what I didn't eat. - Barbeque Near Me - Punta Gorda, Florida

This place is amazing, I saw it on Facebook and we decided to try it. It is so good, our waitress Jaime was so sweet. Definitely will be back read more

Jay's Smokin BBQ - 2 meat platter - Barbeque Near Me - Punta Gorda, Florida

Best ribs I have ever had. The flavor of the bark was incredible. We loved our food and the sides. The amount of food you get is really good for the price. Our server was great, and we listened to live music inside. I want to go back already for those ribs and to try other sides! When a place has good sides, that is a big win for me. Highly recommend this over Mission BBQ! read more

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Busy on a Friday. All staff was friendly and so helpful suggestioning food items. Definitely a need to try place for bbq. The portions aren't huge or the sides. But you will leave full read more

Jay's Smokin BBQ - Chicken tenders - Barbeque Near Me - Punta Gorda, Florida

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Nice atmosphere. Food was pretty amazing. We sampled St Louis ribs, brisket, grilled chicken and pork. Portion size is great and priced reasonably. We ate at the bar as we preferred. Service was great and we were able to meet both owners. read more

While visiting Ponta Gorda we had dinner at Jay's. Brisket sandwiches and corn bread. Delicious!!! Shelby the bar tender was very welcoming and makes a nice drink. It is a definite do over read more

The food was delicious and cheap by my standards. The food was wonderful! The service was excellent. The ambiance was amazing! Loved it! I would eat there again and again! read more

I wish I didn't have to write this, but we paid $51 for 1.5 lbs of brisket, it's $36 for just one pound. We asked for lean brisket and got huge slices of fat, so we asked to have it changed, waitress seemed annoyed and said they'll have to throw away the pieces and cut us new ones. We did get lean ones, which tasted pretty good, but ironically these were too tough! (See my other pic of the brisket from last time, we asked for lean there and it was perfect!). We might come back, not for a bit at least. read more

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All I have to say is WOW!!! I found this gem on my way down to Naples. Everything was FANTASTIC!! The brisket and ribs were to die for. The coconut street corn was NEXT LEVEL. The cornbread was even amazing! Also, you can't go wrong with that smoked turkey club. Whatever Jay is doing, keep doing it. This place is THE BOMB! read more

Went last night about 6pm and the place was hoppin'! We did have about a 20 minute wait but we just got a drink at the also packed bar. I was supposed to get a Chardonnay but I believe it was a Pinot Grigio. I'm no wine expert, but if it was a Chardonnay, it was the absolute worst one I have ever had. I did drink it because they were swamped and I didn't want to make anything of it. We called ahead to make sure they still had ribs and unfortunately they had run out of them by the time we got seated. I was surprised at how extensive the menu was. There are so many things I would return to try. I was in the mood for a burger after reading someone else's post, so I got the one with fried jalapeno slices and pepper jack cheese. I love spice but asked for the honey sriracha sauce on the side. So glad I did. The sauce was cloyingly sweet and in my opinion would have ruined that delicious burger. I could eat my weight in those fried jalapeno chips!! They were divine. My husband got brisket. We have lived in Texas and I have never cared for brisket. I am more of a Carolina BBQ pork gal. This brisket, while a bit fatty was moist and delicious. The spicy bbq sauce is not spicy at all. That needs a tweak. Sides were fine. They did make a mistake and brought us burnt ends and even though they corrected it quickly I did want to say they looked really good. Next time I'm getting the smashed potato bowl with pulled pork. I will also look at the wine bottle before it's poured. A great addition to Punta Gorda that's for sure! Now if they could just get some fried okra....lol! read more

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Best damn BBQ I've ever had in Florida, would rank it better than half the BBQ restaurants in Kansas City, the city known for great BBQ. Get the banana pudding for dessert, if you've got room. read more

We have been going to Jay's since they opened - their Beef Brisket is like amazing and wicked good. Staff is very good at bringing the meal out hot. read more

I was there for lunch today and had the brisket. It was more than I could eat so I have enough for another meal. Service was great as always. This place is my best one for great BBQ. read more

OMG. everything the reviews said were spot on!! The food and portions were amazing. Some of the best ribs ever. Fell off the bone. And the brisket was to die for. Great crust on both. The pulled pork Mac and cheese had so much meat. And the Mac and cheese was so creamy. The pickled onions were a nice addition. Helped cut through the heaviness of the meals. Fries were really good too. The cornbread was fluffy and delicious. Service was awesome. read more

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Update: Have been back twice now and have tried several more of their offering. All top notch! The service aspect improved considerably on both subsequent visits! I had a business lunch and then an evening dinner with friends who live nearby and had yet to try Jay's. Everyone was very pl asked with their choices! Kudos to ownership and management. Keep up the great work! From 4 up to 5! I love when that happens! read more

The food was really good. Coleslaw and beans were good. The signature cocktail was yummy. Baked potato was too big for me To finish. . Definitely will return, oh very nice waitress-bartender-busgirl as well. read more

Great pulled pork sandwich, fresh brioche bun and choice of 3 BBQ sauces at table. Great Gouda Mac and Cheese. Patient and polite servers, nice environment and very clean! A + food and experience! read more

We are fairly new to the area and discovered Joe's smokin bbq a few months ago. First time we got takeout and thoroughly enjoyed everything. Couple weeks ago we went in and ate there and had the best time. Even though it wasn't very crowded it had the best vibe Our waitress was a doll. The bartender was amazing, the drinks were delicious and the food was unbelievably delicious. They also have live music on certain nights and that was a lot of fun. I would highly recommend Jay's smokin BBQ. read more

You can tell the quality of a BBQ place (especially TX style) by the quality of their brisket. Jay's surpassed my expectations - the brisket is incredibly tender with good levels of fat, not dry at all. I also had the ribs which were fantastic, with a very flavorful, smoky rub. None of that overly sweetened garbage. They have a massive trailer/ smoker on the side of the building, well hidden behind a fence, but I was curious and peeked in. This place is the real deal. read more

nice clean place with friendly staff. Went here on a Saturday, our meals were ribs and the other was ribs and brisket. the seasoning on the ribs was very good, no need for sauce. The brisket was tender and tasty. Sides were beans along with Mac and cheese. beans were soft with a very good taste, the raw white onions added a twist which we liked. the Mac and cheese was good, pasta cooked well and plenty of cheese and taste. a good addition to the food scene read more

Wow Wow and Wow What Great food and service from Shelby. Great server and she was always attentive to our needs. We had the Meat Candy to start and shared a triple meat platter. All meats were fabulous. Mac and cheese was the bomb. She also did Great with all of our questions as it was our first time. We will certainly be back. Thanks Larry and Audrey read more

Had a pulled pork sandwich and coconut corn. Both were excellent! My buddie enjoyed his brisket sandwich as well. Sampled all the sauces and they were all good as well. Great service. I'll be back ! read more

BBQ sandwich and fries were excellent. Lots of chopped Pork on the sandwich. I had a salad with chicken and homemade ranch dressing. We sat at the bar excellent service, friendly staff. We will go back! Coming from the Memphis area we know our BBQ. read more

My husband and i went there yesterday for a late lunch and LOVED it! We lived in Dallas for 28 years and are huge Texas BBQ fans. We were not disappointed!! Portions were Texas size! My husband had the brisket with the grandma's potato salad and coleslaw. He loved it! I ordered the Texas Chips. This is an entire tray of large homemade potato chips covered in cheese, BBQ sauce, pulled pork, jalapeños, pickled red onions with a side of sour cream. It was awesome! I could only eat half. This place is really big. High tables, low tables and booths. New favorite BBQ place! Service was outstanding! read more

Great job Jason Food was great and beer was cold. They have plenty of room and a full bar. If you have a large party, give them a call so they can prepare for your arrival. " they make everything fresh and I'm sure they don't want to run out due to an unexpected rush". I Definitely will be coming back to support Jason and his family. read more

Jay's Smokin BBQ - Best BBQ Iv had in FL - Barbeque Near Me - Punta Gorda, Florida

We just had great BBQ and a Great Waitress named Jenn. It's south of Punta Gorda, south of Burnt Storm Rd. Definitely worth the drive.

What a great find! Jennifer was a great server, explaining their extensive menu. The portions were so generous. 3 adults in our group. We shared the 3 meat platter and the Smashed Potatoe. Had to take home. Nice outdoor seating area and bar area too. We didn't have drinks, but several of their holiday cocktails looked delicious. Will for sure be back next time picking family up at the airport. read more

The food was just incredible! The bark on the brisket is AMAZING! Not to mention the service was out of this world! McKenzie was fantastic, stayed on drinks, kept checking in on us, super uplifting atmosphere! The live music was also great! read more

This place just recently opened this restaurant and I have to say I was very pleased with everything. The staff here is very attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is extremely welcoming. There's a bar area and a normal seating area with a back room with booths. The food--THE FOOD. Hands down the best bbq I've had in a while. The sauces they have at the table are absolutely delicious. This is a must visit!! read more

Jay's Smokin BBQ - 3 meat platter with cornbread, Mac n cheese and baked beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Punta Gorda, Florida

Best BBQ I have had in SWFL. Brisket was melt in your mouth. Skillet Mac was incredible as well. And perfect sweet tea!

Brisket and pulled pork (eatable parts) were wonderful. Brisket and ribs were 33% bulk fat. Poor value. Ribs and burnt ends were overcoated with pepper. Not a quality chef sign. Sides were generous, but some (beans) very salty. Trim the fat, reduce the salt, and cut pepper in half, and you will have a first class dinning experience. Service was quick and friendly (Courtney). read more