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    Mission BBQ

    4.5 (191 reviews)
    InexpensiveBarbeque
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Mission BBQ Photos

    Business Info

    MISSION BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Mission BBQ

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    Smoked cheddar burger med rare Mmmmm Best in Lakeland
    Jeff S.

    I love this place for outstanding food and amazing people who love to serve people with respect. The brisket sandwich is fantastic and you can get it lean or juicy. Great sauces too

    Sport memorabilia
    Steven T.

    BBQ FAMILY FOOD ADVENTURE!!! This is one of our go to's for consistent quality BBQ when in Lakeland. The food is always YUMMY, pricing is a higher price point per person here, but you are paying for a quality meal. We all get the same thing, we have tried it all, but the lean brisket is everyone's favorite so we all stick to it now. We have been to this establishment many, many times. They are consistent in the quality of their food and we always enjoy the Mac and cheese, slaw, fries, corn on the cob and of course that corn bread, we always order extra for our table!!! They have 6 different sauces to add, but this brisket is good enough that sometimes I don't even use it on a couple pieces in between the sauced bites just to cleanse the pallet. Ambience is sport, military, police & fire pictures, signs and memorabilia. Price breakdown: Food to value = higher price point, but great quality food. It's around 100$ for 5 brisket meals, sides, 4 extra pieces of corn bread and 5 drinks = 20$ a person. We are and will be returning customers, unless we get priced out of course!!! 4 star rating is b/c of the price point. Thanks for reading and... AS ALWAYS, TRY IT FOR YOURSELF!!!

    Double X chicken wings, black plate special

    Food is amazing here consistently good no matter what day of week is food's always good here you're not gonna have a better server than Michaela. Hands-down needs a raise badly was skeptical about trying some desserts. She offered me a free sample. Tried it with the best things ever she hasn't lied or anything like that about the food just told me the straight up facts about you can't get a better server bottom line

    Raegan L.

    I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of barbecue overall- but I'll still enjoy it once in awhile. So when my friend wanted to try Mission BBQ I was happy to go even though I've come before and haven't particularly desired to come back. I was hoping maybe I'd change my mind this time around, but the feeling was consistent. I got the pulled pork sandwich (I know, pork at a bbq specialty place) so maybe that was the first mistake- but it was still startlingly bland and dry. Not even the many varieties of sauces could help this enough. I also got the mac and cheese, and again it just wasn't anything special, and I feel it's not hard to make a good mac. My one friend who also got pulled pork felt the same about her food. On the brighter side, my friend who had wanted to come tried the brisket sandwich for the first time and she loved it. So I was happy her visit went well. They do have very quick service here and fairly friendly staff. Plus, I like the theme of appreciating veterans and those who serve our country and how they give a military discount. But I just have to say I feel that the mission overall fails. I'd much rather get bbq from a local place because I'd had a lot better, higher quality.

    Courtni D.

    Great!! The customer service was exceptional and Aiden who took our order took the time to explain everything and answer any questions we had. The food was also exceptional full of flavor and melted in your mouth. 10/10 would recommend! DR PEPPER RATING: 9/10

    Rainy Day BBQ YUM!!!
    Dave O.

    If this is your first visit to Mission BBQ you can rest assure this location represents the brand well, I've eaten at no less than (6) different locations and it's been the same at all of them - I don't think it's possible to have a bad experience here. What's good here - well I'd say everything but I love consistency when it comes to bbq, the property is well maintained and very clean, the open kitchen is testimony to this I love the transparency, the staff is friendly, professional and well trained in customer service, there's no shortage of happy people here. The Food: quality ingredients means quality results - I have tried a lot of their items and I've never been disappointed. My Favorites: Smoked Turkey - of course this is at the top of my list, I love Turkey and I can say with certainty that nobody does it better. The Turkey is always moist and tender and the smoke penetrates through each portion combine that with a spicy rub, it's a selection I always order. Beef Brisket (Fatty and Moist) - there is a lean option but I always opt for this one. This brisket checks all the boxes, smokey bark, fall apart tender and thick cut melt in your mouth tender - the fat cap is thin and cooked perfectly. Jalapeño Cheese Sausage - it doesn't claim to be Texas Style that I know of but the grind reminds me of that, so it's lean and spicy with a casing that snaps that's a combination that makes me drool. They also offer a regular version for those of you who aren't as adventurous. Sides - they are all good so if you have a favorite and they offer it go for it it's doubtful you'll be disappointed- I love their hand cut fries and Mac n Cheese it's legit. The restaurant is decorated in patriotism from the floor to the ceiling, what a wonderful tribute to our American Hero's and a statement about the ownership...

    Jessica P.

    Service was unfortunately not well. They tried to give us someone else's food and didn't explain how meat was cut. The food itself was subpar. If you want amazing BBQ try Lakeland BBQ and Ice Cream over in Combee. The food did not taste very good at all. It was bland and just kind of ugh.

    Memorabilia that was donated by service members families.

    First, the service and friendliness of the staff is evident the moment you walk in the door. Then the purpose of all the pictures on the walls comes into focus. Finally, when you taste the BBQ and are starting to really dig the place, a brief recording replaces the music and you are asked to stand and remove your hat for a playing of our National Anthem! Everyone did and at least half of the customers joined in and sang. (Happens every day they are open at noon straight up). They help veterans with free food and drink if needed and will sit and talk to those same veterans for longer than a casual conversation as well. I will go back multiple times, it makes me smile. And the food is very tasty.

    Three meat platter: pulled pork, moist brisket, pulled chicken; baked beans, "cold slaw", corn bread
    Kerry C.

    I've been dying to try Mission BBQ here in Lakeland since we are fans of the one in Jacksonville. We came here for dinner and the first thing we saw was that they had our favorite beer on draft (Duke's from Bold City Brewery in Jax FL). It was busy on a Saturday night, but not overly crowded, thankfully, so we were able to order and find a table quickly. There was a personable young man who was constantly cleaning and sanitizing everything. It didn't take long for our names to be called for our food. My husband ordered the Three Meat Platter: Pulled pork & chicken, brisket (moist); with baked beans & "cold slaw". I had the Two Meat Platter: Brisket (moist), jalapeño cheddar sausage; with Maggie's mac & cheese. Both came with corn bread. What can I say? Everything was absolutely delicious. All the meats were perfect. The pulled pork and chicken were moist and tender. The brisket just melted in our mouths. The jalapeño cheddar sausage is fabulous - spicy and cheesy, but very meaty too. Hubby loved the baked beans (they were good) and the "cold slaw" (Mission BBQ's spelling, not mine). The mac & cheese is baked and good, with a nice little crumb on top. The corn bread is standard, not sweet (thankfully) but definitely needs a bit of butter to give it that Southern taste. Just ask and they are happy to give you a couple of pats for it. As for the sauces, they have 6 to try on the table. Hubby tried all and liked 2 or three. I only liked one, the Florida Gator Bite. I'm one of those people who are very picky about BBQ sauces. (I'll try anything, but dislike most.) The Gator Bite has a clean, citrus-y taste to it, but is still sharp. I've since found out the company makes a Georgia Mustard and an Alabama White (two of my favorites) but not all restaurants carry them. (Horror! I'll have to ask next time I'm there, just in case.) After we finished eating, we ordered a Pulled Pork sandwich with a "seasonal side" of baked cheese potatoes to go for my mum. They were nice and added a couple of to-go sauces for her to try since we weren't sure what kind she'd like. She loved the sandwich and said it was the best she ever had. Also said the potatoes were much like a scalloped or au gratin type of potatoes and were quite delicious. She highly recommends both and can't wait to go back and try Mission BBQ in person. The decor is cool, all military and first responder stuff. Being a veteran myself, it's neat to look around and try to find things I recognize.

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    7 months ago

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    Business owner information

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    Mission Bbq L.

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    1 year ago

    Staff and manager were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. Food was great! Will definitely return

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    2 years ago

    Barbecue brisket was very good a bit pricey but atmosphere was good. Staff was friendly clean enjoyed my lunch would recommend.

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    2 years ago

    Food is pretty good! I love how they recognize our first responders. It's a great place if you're wanting some BBQ.

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    2 years ago

    The foot Is fantastic at Mission BBQ, th service is efficient and staff is friendly and cordial.

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    Ask the Community - Mission BBQ

    You might also consider

    Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits - Burnt brisket ends with collards and mac and cheese

    Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits

    4.1(388 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits is definitely a cute spot with a lot of character. The décor and…read morehistoric building give you the feeling of stepping back into the early 1900s, which makes the atmosphere one of the highlights of the experience. The food was very good, although the service was just okay--nothing particularly above and beyond during our visit. The beef brisket is a must-try, whether you get it as a plate or a sandwich. It was one of our favorites. I also highly recommend upgrading to the onion rings. They are huge, crispy, and absolutely worth it. We also tried the St. Louis spareribs, which were okay but didn't stand out as much as the brisket. The Fresh Spicy Chicken Sandwich was another hit, although be warned--it definitely has a good kick of heat! Overall, we enjoyed our visit. I'd definitely come back for the brisket and those onion rings, and the unique atmosphere makes Mojo Federal a fun place to check out in downtown Lakeland.

    Our order: Salmon, Smoked Chicken, 2 meat: smoked turkey and brisket; Sides -- side salad, sweet…read morepotato, green beans, smoked corn, coleslaw, and an extra side of fries The Review: The best thing was the smoked chicken and dipping it into the many different sauces. Ya caught me, this is a guilty pleasure of mine. Other family members agreed that the chicken was the most tasty of the meats. Another positive, there are a lot of gluten-free options if you eat meat! They even have a special menu that tells you the items that do have gluten. The fries are GF but in a shared fryer, but if that doesn't bother you I highly recommend them. The fries when they were fresh were amazing, but they tried to give us old fries first, which we ended up sending back because they were cold and mushy. Luckily, the next batch pulled through! As for the sides, the smoked corn was good but pretty salty, the sweet potato was so delish, the coleslaw was fresh and sweet and creamy, and the green beans were just green beans. They made a mistake on our order, fixed it, and then charged us extra for it. When we asked them about it, they said it was because they gave us extra food on accident, and therefore we would have to pay for the extra food. To me, this seems like something that should not have been charge because we did not ask for the extra food, but we still paid because we did not want to make a big deal of it. The customer service is not great, and you may need to advocate for yourself at this restaurant.

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    Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits - Dining area

    Dining area

    Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits - Coppertail night swim porter & banana pudding

    Coppertail night swim porter & banana pudding

    Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits - Entrance

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    Entrance

    Low And Slow Smokehouse - Dog Bowl

    Low And Slow Smokehouse

    4.0(70 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    We got to the restaurant at 12:25, and thought it would be full. Maybe Thursday is slow for lunch…read morebecause only two other people were eating inside. Husband and I got the half pork platter with one side. He got beans, which he said were delicious. I got a fresh garden salad with honey mustard. Our friend got brisket (looked moist) with side salad and coleslaw (not creamy). We all got cornbread and liked it. All of us enjoyed our meals, and savored them. Salads were fresh. Pork was just right. It was quiet and peaceful so we were able to catch up in normal speaking voices. Didn't have to shout to be heard. Our waitress was attentive and kept checking up on us. We appreciated that kind of service. We only had to get one to go box for our friend. Husband and I got clean plate awards! Friend paid her bill with a credit card. We used Apple Pay after scanning the QR code. I don't remember paying a surcharge for not using cash, which was refreshing. When we left an hour later, more people were in booths, and the bar area was no longer empty. This is a really nice place, with good food and service. It should be full all the time!

    First visit to this recycled BBQ joint formerly Mojo's. According to some this is some of the best…read moreBBQ around. I'll give you the real scoop. At first glance this place looks like a really cool hangout. The mix of metal roofing and American motif gives it a gritty look. Looks to have plenty of seating to include a covered outdoor area. Looked to be clean and organized. Service was spot on and our hostess/server was quick to provide menus and silverware. She immediately took drink orders and returned rather quickly. My friends and I chose the buffet as it was recommended by my friend's cohorts. According to them "they have the best beans and BBQ buffet". A Looking it over there were several meat choices. There was hamburger patties in a brown gravy, several flavors of chicken wings, pulled pork, meatballs, and burnt ends. Overall it was okay at best. Flavors weren't consistent. For example I had a meatball that was very spicy. But the other was bland. I thought the burnt ends were a bit dry as if they sat there all day. The problem with that is we went as they opened. The pulled pork was a bit mushy. The BBQ wings were pretty tasty. I also tried the garlic parmesan. I thought they were a bit salty. Now for the sides. I felt the macaroni was a bit overcooked as opposed to al dente. Hush puppies were okay. The beans were actually good in my opinion. A nice addition was pork rinds. I don't know if they were house made and I forgot to ask. I really didn't go up for seconds as nothing really impressed me. Afterwards I did try their peach cobbler. Mushy and lacking either ice cream or whipped cream. They did have a salad bar. It looked to be fairly fresh. And I wanted to also add, for an extra $5 you can have all you can eat sliced brisket. At $17 I wasn't going to tack another $5 for kess than impressive BBQ. Overall I'd have to say there are far better choices for BBQ in Lakeland. Would I go back? Maybe, but I'd express my opinion. For what I paid I could have gotten a far better meal at Mojo Federal in Downtown. Just saying.

    Photos
    Low And Slow Smokehouse - Brisket Sandwich

    Brisket Sandwich

    Low And Slow Smokehouse
    Low And Slow Smokehouse

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    Mission BBQ - bbq - Updated September 2026

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