This was our first trip to North Carolina and we wanted to try North Carolina BBQ. So, we ordered takeout while visiting Durham. I'm leaving 2 stars in case this may have been an off night, and for this review not to be dismissed as one of those "I only left one star because I couldn't leave zero" posts that even I usually ignore. But with the amount of issues, this could easily be justified as a one-star review. When I arrived around 6:45-7:00 p.m. on a weeknight, the restaurant was completely empty. I didn't think much of it at the time, but afterward this seemed unusual for a barbecue restaurant in a state known for its BBQ. The first real issue was that one of our two-meat dinners was missing one of the meats. Next was that the brisket was extremely dry, even when soaked in barbecue sauce by them, and even more sauce added by me. The ribs had an acrid smoke flavor and a smell that resembled the odor more of cigarette smoke than even liquid smoke. I'm not accusing the cooks of smoking in the kitchen. In fact, research tells me, "An unpleasant, ashtray-like smell can come from dirty smoke (a poorly managed fire), excessive creosote, or meat that sat too long." With how empty the restaurant was, it could very well have been the latter. Sides: My son's fries were also missing. The sweet potato fries were significantly undercooked. The hush puppies' outer layer was a bit more solid than I'm used to, and several of us could not take more than one bite. However, this could have been due to personal taste. The potato salad and mac and cheese were just okay, but that could also be personal taste. We're the type of people that try to convince ourselves something is better than it actually is, which is why I sat on writing this until the day after. This is also why I'm not even going to attempt to ask for a refund. I don't see us ever going back to that area, nor that restaurant. I'm generally not a picky eater, but this was one of the few times where I could not take more than a few bites of anything. We were really looking forward to trying NC BBQ in NC, so this was a disappointing experience. read more

We stopped in at 7pm on a Friday night and it was dead inside the food was pretty good though and service was quick due to us being the literal only patrons there. Over all it was reminiscent of places we have in Texas but we had a great dinner so no complaints from us. I got the Fergie burger and husband got the brisket sandwich read more

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We stopped in for dinner and a drink. The food was good. The cashier/bartender was nice. The place smelled incredible and felt a lot like a bbq joint you'd see in Texas. We will probably be back soon. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - 2- Meat Combo Plate - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I went here with a group of friends on a Saturday for dinner, roughly around 5pm and the place was pretty empty at that time, so plenty of seating. We walked in and were told to grab a menu and sit wherever we wanted, once we're ready to order we could go up to the bar and order our food. The lady that took our order did not friendly at all so that kind of threw me off to start with. Food did come out pretty quick, we got a couple of orders of the brisket and some 2-3 meat combos. The food I'd say was average. Te brisket was the best out of everything and is best had chopped rather than sliced. I will admit the hush puppies were my favorite, I had quite a few of them. All in all it was a pretty average experience, probably would not be rushing to go back there. Maybe if I went at another time where it is more lively it'd be a bit different but essential I was there for the food and the food did not deliver. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - 3 meat combo - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Visited this little spot awhile back on a visit to see my grandson. This was his choice because it is near where he lived and he had been here several times before. I had checked the reviews on Yelp and it was apparent that those who posted reviews either loved or hated this spot. The negative reviews were about evenly split between quality problems they encountered with food or service. We had no such service problems, of course we were there at opening, and were the only ones in the place for the vast majority of our time there. My son and I ordered 3 meat combos, and between our plates we sampled all the smoked meats - Ribs, dry rub Brisket, Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, and Smoked Sausage - sides of Pork Skins, Collards, Mac & Cheese, and Potato Salad, and we each received a few Hush Puppies! Nothing was bad, but then again nothing was outstanding, in fact the best of the smoked meats was the sausage. The collards had a bit of chopped tomato on top, never encountered that before, can't say I'm a fan! and based on the small portion size and the cost, there is a value issue here. My grandson had the Huevos Rancheros and he very much enjoyed the dish. read more

It is my goto place in NC for BBQ. The food is awesome, and easy to get there. But at the end of the day is all about the people and great service. read more

I walked in here with my sister and a few minutes went by until anyone acknowledged us. I made eye contact with a worker (I think she might have been the owner) who was sitting down at a table and she acted as though we were bothering her and she didn't even get up, smile, or give us a menu. I would not recommend. We left promptly. read more

Food was ok. Husband said the brisket and bbq were good. My wings were overcooked as were the pork rinds. Service..well, there really wasn't any service. You had to order at the bar though they did bring you the food. No one checked on you. The prices in the menu were different that what we were charged. We paid with cash and the girl decided to keep our $.63 change of our $11.63 change, despite the receipt telling what the amount should be. We don't live here but just warn you that it seems to be hit or miss. Didn't hate it but disappointed about the lack of service. It was a Friday night around 7 and we were the first ones there. Two other small groups came in after us, so they weren't busy. It is convenient to the hospital and university. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - Maverick's...Food was ok. - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This was very average in my opinion. All of the food was very average. It was a walk up counter, so service was neither good or bad. Decent environment, but it is a little walk from downtown. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - Sweet Potato Fries, Bourbon Beans, Hushpuppies, 2 Meat - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food was less than impressive. We ordered the eggs for $15 and they were gross. Everything else was like a 3-4 out of 10. The server was great though!! read more

Found one of the best places to get a brisket sandwich. Sliced not chopped. Juicy and served with a side order of mayonnaise base coleslaw and three crispy hush puppies. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - Brisket sandwich served on a brioche bun. - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Location is good. Didn't see much parking but I walked here so I can't say what the parking situation is like. I ordered the brisket sandwich with baked beans. Both were okay. The hush puppies were really good and tasty. They don't have a selection of bbq sauces like most bbq places which I found odd. The had an odd assortment of hot sauces that you had to put into a cup because you couldn't take the one flavor to your table so others could also use them. Over all it was just an okay meal, nothing bad but also nothing great. You have to order at the bar and list for your number to be called on the speaker and also take care of your plate afterwards. Bathrooms looked clean. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - Outside - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Disappointing on all levels. First, I ordered for delivery. Per the delivery company, they waited over an hour for the food. I wasn't going to count that in my review sInce it could be on the delivery company, but then the food came. We ordered the chicken sandwich meal with Mac and cheese side and a 1/4 rack of ribs meal with fried okra on the side. Our order came with 3 hush puppies. So 1 1/2 a piece I guess? The ribs were chewy and didn't have a ton of flavor. The chicken sandwich had too bourbon-y a flavor for me, but my significant other said it was "okay." The fried okra was soggy and didn't taste fresh and the mac and cheese was bland and lacked flavor. Our favorite thing was the hush puppies, but the portion size was ridiculous. I didn't care for the BBQ sauce but my significant other again said it was "okay." Won't plan on going here in the future. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - Ribs and chicken sandwich - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The burgers are absolutely amazing. I am shocked this place is not packed! The staff members were extremely nice and one server named Fergus was so sweet. The atmosphere was chill and friendly. I will definitely be coming back! read more

Came at 1pm on a sunny Saturday. I don't know how this place is not full open to close. It was the best food/burger I have had in a long time. This is one of my favorite places to eat now. Really friendly staff and an enjoyable atmosphere. read more

Good was good. Great outdoor seating! Liked the location and overall vibe. Mac & cheese was yummy as well as pulled pork!

Great place for some good food and a perfect outdoor table. We popped in here and tried the corn tortilla tacos and was wowed by the brisket! We can't wait to come back and sit at the bar that they have outside. I'm hoping that opens up soon! read more

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"BBQ, brisket, and more near Brightleaf in Durham" We had this for dinner through the "Durham Delivers" service on a Saturday night. I ordered the 1/3lb chopped Texas brisket with cole slaw, and my son ordered the Durham burger and fries. While the prices were similar ($13-14), my son definitely placed the better order in terms of quantity of food. The Durham burger is GIGANTIC-- 2 large patties of meat and lots of accompaniments. The helping of fries was also huge-- he couldn't finish it. And came with a few hush puppies as well. The quality was also very good-- he said the beef was outstanding-- about as good as the best he's had in town. It's a very drippy/ messy burger, so be warned, but he said it was so good. We both liked the flavor of the fries-- they were a bit mushy in texture, but the seasoning was excellent. The brisket was also quite delicious-- excellent flavor/ sauce-- but I will say that 1/3 lb of brisket ends up looking really small by itself on a plate. I'm surprised it doesn't come with toast or something. The cole slaw was meh-- I actually like the stuff from CookOut better (theirs is also more finely chopped). I would definitely not get that cole slaw again. But I did like the hush puppies. Fortunately, since my son's meal was gigantic, he let me have some of his fries, so in the end, we were both satisfied. Overall, a good choice-- reasonable price for Brightleaf, and good quality overall. I'd happily get food from there again, whether delivery or in-person (post-COVID-vaccinations). read more

Delicious BBQ at an informal spot in Durham. Stopped in at Mavericks Smokehouse and Taproom for an early dinner. There are about a dozen tables inside and a long bar, plus a set of tables and a bar on an outdoor patio. A big wood smoker is the centerpiece of the patio; on this rainy evening the smoker wasn't cooking. The menu features Memphis-style BBQ - sliced or chopped brisket, chopped pork, chicken, ribs and sausage, as platters and sandwiches. There's an extensive beer & cocktail list. To have a chance to try it all, we picked a 3 meat sampler - sliced brisket, chopped pork and dry-rubbed ribs. Of the 3, the ribs were my favorite. A tangy rub, slow cooked till falling-off-the bone tender. These were excellent. The chopped pork is also smoked till tender and is smoky and moist; cooked long enough to eliminate the fat but not dried out and served un-sauced. The brisket is well prepared - nice bark, moist and flavorful. But it wasn't sliced against the grain and was a little tougher than it should be. The chopped & sauced brisket, also an option, was much better. There are a couple of sauce choices, all tomato based. Pick the house Memphis sauce, it's delicious. Not too tangy, not too sweet, not too hot, a little smoky. There's a long list of sides. We picked green beans and bourbon braised beans. The green beans are prepared southern-style, simmered with onions and spices. They were good, but would've benefited from more simmering and a little more spice - they were still kind of crunchy and a little bland. The braised beans were OK, but nothing special. Again, would benefit by bumping up the seasoning. The sampler includes onion hushpuppies. There are excellent - crispy on the outside, moist and flavorful on the inside with a touch of onion. Should've ordered more of these - they were delicious! Plenty of other choices to try on the next visit. Mavericks is a good BBQ place in the very cool Brightleaf Square area. Recommended. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - 3 meat combo - brisket, chopped pork, ribs - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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My friend suggested this spot because of their patio seating, so I was down to give it a try. It was pretty busy on Saturday night, and there was only one cashier and runner. The drinks were good, but the food was very bland. I couldn't believe it - I guess because I was expecting more based off of the wonderful aroma of bbq upon entering the restaurant. They also were having 'comedy night', which is cool, but the sound was so loud that we couldn't hear ourselves talking. Apparently they'd just installed a new sound system. Overall, it was an OK experience. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - 1/2 lb Memphis Rubbed Pulled Chicken Smoked Gruyere Mac 'n' Cheese Smokehouse Collards - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place gave me pulled pork with plastic in the middle, the pork was rolled up in butcher paper after I unrolled it and started eating I choked on this rolled up piece of plastic that was in the middle. I told the lady there (Jonbenet) and she told me "oh well" I asked for a manager and she said there wasn't one and I can email him later! Disgusting place, disgusting service and apparently a death trap! read more

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Maverick's Smokehouse is located a few blocks away from where I live. I'm happy that there's a BBQ restaurant so close by where I live, which means that I have access to it anytime during the week. I finally had a chance to stop in for a bite to eat. I went with the pulled pork, mashed potatoes, pork rinds, and a beer. The pulled pork was good with the variety of BBQ sauces. The mashed potatoes were amazing, I really enjoyed it. You can never go wrong with pork rinds! The variety of beer choices were a plus! I went with a light beer from Clayton, suggested by the waitress. She knew her beers and was a big help. The customer service was great. I look forward to stopping in again to try other items on the menu. Overall, good experience! Can' wait to stop in again for some BBQ. read more

Stellar ambiance but food is okay. I had the spicy pineapple margarita which tasted more like spice and alcohol than pineapple. The barbeque was okay but could have been tastier. It could also be because I do not like North Carolina BBQ. The hush puppies were hard. I spent over 25$ on drink and food, which is okay considering COVID is really making it difficult for business. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - Pulled chicken dish - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Such a great meal!!! We were here from Texas for a football game and I forgot how amazing NC BBQ is - I was so happy we stopped here. I was trying to watch what I ate - then I ate a bite of the Mac n'Cheese and it was all over. And those ribs . . . read more

Grabbed lunch here today on a whim and it was pretty good overall. Menu is straightforward and the employees were super friendly and helpful. I ordered the combo platter with brisket and pulled chicken with their house fries and mashed potatoes & gravy (I know... double potato ‍). The brisket was tender but was sliced super thin which hindered the flavor profile. I really couldn't tell what the dry rub was like and while the house bbq sauce went well with it, it was just kind of flat. The pulled chicken came pre-sauced and while it was flavorful, it was sort of one note and the larger pieces were actually kind of dry. Some dark meat would have really helped it I think. Fries were good but I wasn't a huge fan of the gravy on the potatoes and the hush puppies were a little over cooked/not fluffy. I will say that the sweet tea was really good and my friends burger was excellent. Overall it just sort of fell flat... not bad... just one note. That said I would go back... there are several sandwiches that looked really tasty! read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I ordered the 2 meat combo - 2x ribs. I paid $21 for 4 rib bones - 2 of them inedible, they were just untrimmed fat. I don't think they know how to BBQ either, the ribs tasted like they'd been steamed instead of actually smoked. Complete trash - avoid at all costs. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - 2 Meat rib portion. 2 ribs - and untrimmed fat apparently counts. Awful. - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We happened upon this place because it wasn't far from the Taste of Soul Food Truck Rodeo happening in Durham that was too packed for us. The gentleman taking our order was very pleasant. There's indoor and outdoor seating. You grab a menu, sit anywhere and go up to the bar area to order. Ribs are pretty good even though they don't remove the membrane before smoking. The wings and nachos were also good. The brisket is HORRIBLE and we couldn't even eat it. Talk about fatty and greasy and just NOT GOOD AT ALL. I'm sorry to be so hard but trust me and pass on the brisket. The chopped pork was mushy. The collards have tomatoes in them (who does that?) and no seasoning and were just alright. The Mac n cheese was tasteless. The hush puppies were good. Their playlist was good though *shrug*. read more

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The BEST BBQ!! You will not be disappointed. It's a casual restaurant with good service. Today they had us order at the bar and brought the food to us when it was ready. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - 1/2 lb Brisket, pulled 1/2 lb Pork, baked Bourbon Beans, Mac N Cheese, Little Devils, 1/2 lb Sausage, pulled chicken - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I feel like this place has so much potential, so I will be going back to give it another shot. They have meats that are cooked from different regions: Memphis, Texan, and Carolinian The sauces are from that region, but the meats are limited to different regions too. It's a little bit odd, but worth the try. I tried their friend chicken soaked in brine. It was a bit salty, but it was good. It was interesting that the fried chicken had brine incorporated into it. Pros: Large list of beers on tap and in "the shack" TVs to watch the game They are willing to change the channel to watch other games Waitstaff is attendant Good atmosphere with lots of seating Memphis bbq soooo good! Cons: Food is salty Carolina bbq not flavorful Food was quite mediocre. It might have been because of the salt. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Cute place in downtown Durham! My husband and I never go out this way. We went for an engagement party. They did huge catering plates for all of us. It was so much food. They had pulled pork, chicken, sausages and beef. They had Mac and cheese (it was alright not that great) French fries, and green beans. They even had a variety of sauces for our meats! I enjoyed that. They're not very kid friendly in the sense that when I asked for my two year olds milk in a cup with a lid and straw their response was that they were trying to be more environmentally friendly. That's great, I don't need it for myself but I did need it for my toddler. Bring your own cups for your kids. The bar is inside and they had a decent selection of beers. But they didn't have a big selection of hard liquor. I was disappointed. read more

Don't go here. Maverick's must be under new management or have new cooks because this place is not the same. I used to love coming here and even suggested it when friends came to town. Now I'll probably never eat there again. The food is way overpriced for what you actually get. My hush puppies (which I didn't even want because they put onions in theirs) were fried so hard that they were inedible. I got the side of green beans to try and be a little healthy but I couldn't eat those either because they were undercooked. My pork sandwich was okay except it was a little fatty. Not sure what happened to Maverick's but it's a shame because I loved the food, sitting on the outdoor patio and people watching. Now I'll have to find another downtown bbq joint. read more

Big no from me. First time trying this place. Placed an order for the two meats with two sides. I ordered chopped brisket and pulled pork. Once I got the order (ubereats) realized they gave me chicken instead of pork. The sauce on both meats were just overly sweet. Brisket was just okay, but chicken had a weird after taste. For the sides I got mashed potatoes and gravy and Mac and cheese. The potatoes were gross. They had a very weird, unappetizing smell to them and were overly salty. The Mac and cheese was like dried out elbow. Absolutely zero flavor to them. The entire meal was just a big miss. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Went to this place Saturday evening for the comedy show. Ordered dinner for my date and I. I had the brisket tacos with smoke mac and cheese. These were the saddest tacos to ever cross my lips. First off who doesn't cook their tortillas before serving, i.e. throw them on the fire or flat top for a few seconds to release the oils and create a light crust. The mac and sauce wasn't even passable. Whoever made this stuff should be ashamed and scale back the us foods orders and cook themselves. We won't be back. P.S. the beer lines are dirty thus the sour tasting beers. read more

For a barbeque place, I expected the meat to taste better. I came with a friend on a weekday evening, and there were still plenty of open tables, both inside and outside. We chose to sit outside, and it was a nice area, although there was a lot of smoke blowing our way from the smoker. It didn't hit us right in our faces, but it easily could've. I got the jalapeño cheddar pork sausage, which came with hushpuppies and a choice of side - I got the bourbon braised beans. I've had better sausage from free Costco samples (I know Costco sets a pretty high bar, but still). I didn't detect even a hint of the jalapeño or cheddar. I saw little bits of green and yellow stuff, but that was the only clue suggesting I had gotten what I ordered. Bourbon braised beans - not the worst green beans I've received as a side item, but again, didn't taste as advertised. Probably wouldn't order again. The onion hushpuppies were my favorite, but I've never had a hushpuppy I didn't like. I'd recommend ordering these though. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and styles of bbq offered. I rarely eat at bbq places, but I have a feeling that this is not up to par with other spots. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - 1/4 Rack of Memphis Dry-Rubbed Pork Ribs; Green Beans, Onion Hushpuppies, jalapeño cheddar sausage - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Horrible experience tonight. Ordered a brisket sandwich. It was 75% fat. Not edible. There was one man working, he was "unable" to do anything to make it right. Nothing. Acted like he could have cared less. Will never go back. read more

I liked that me and my husband were almost the only ones there on a Sunday at 11:30am besides one other customer at the bar. I thought the bartender was nice. I got the turkey bacon club which was great and my husband ordered brisket and bbq. He said the brisket was delicious. I would not order the Mac and cheese again, it was white and I didn't like the flavor of the cheese used. read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - Mac and cheese - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I had a bad experience and had to leave without eating. The place was fairly empty today, but the service was slow. There were 8 of us so I ordered the meal for 8 and 8 drinks (tea/soda/etc). After tax + tips this would have been about a $200 order. The waiter came back and said they were out of sausage. We opted for chicken replacement. Later he came back and said they did have sausage, and that was fine. He then came back and said they were out of green beans. That was fine, we said we'd take mac & cheese instead. Later, the waiter came back out with the salad someone in the group ordered. The lettuce leaves were old. Like, inedible, floppy leaves. It was really strange that someone would put that on a plate and that a waiter would bring it to the table. We debated what to do while we sat there with empty drink glasses. This was getting pretty bad, but we were really hungry.... The waiter comes back and we were getting ready to tell him we needed refills and that the lettuce was inedible and before we can say anything he tells us they're out of mac & cheese. AHH! It was unanimous at that point and we just asked for a check to cut our losses and get the heck out of there. Before we left they tried to give us a gift card, which was nice of them, and they apologized for the problems. We just had them give us the sodas instead and we got the heck out of there. I think that they wanted to provide the food fresh and I don't care if they were out of something, but, I mean: - If you're out of something, tell people when we order, don't surprise them 20 minutes later.. - Don't let people sit there with no drinks.. - I don't know who brings out a salad like looks like a pile of wet tissues... This was literally the first time in like 10 years I've had to get up and leave a restaurant, but, there were just too many strikes. read more

Exceeded our expectations on every level. Such friendly helpful service!! Our food was AMAZING - the brisket was off the charts delicious. The long list of authentic sides is impossible to choose from - collard greens, okra, beans, mac n cheese, hush puppies, mashed potatoes...very casual "BBQ" inside with full bar and tap and great shaded patio. read more

First off, service was awesomel Friendly server who is not in your face to order. We are still sitting in our booth as I write this but I am blown away by the food! My husband amd I are here for lunch and just devoured our shared 2meat, 2 side, hushpuppies plate. We ordered the prime brisket and bbq pork with pork rinds and fried okra. Great meal for great value. We will absolutely come back when we visit the area again! read more

Maverick's Smokehouse & Taproom - Smokehouse Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Met friends here for lunch. I knew walking up that it would be good- a great smell, and people moving wood around back. Waited at the bar, with a very knowledgeable bartender who suggested pairings with certain meats, and gave us samples of some very good drafts. Service was great all the way through. I wasn't super hungry, so I went with the pulled pork with one side, greens. The pork is from a whole hog, so you get all that delicious variety from going to a hog roast. It was lightly sauced, and they had others on the table, but none was necessary. The greens were excellent, vinegary and loaded with brisket. The hushpuppies were great. An excellent meal all around. A little pricey, with all the drinks, but very good stuff in a great place. Free parking nearby on weekends. read more