The food and service is always phenomenal at Bridges. Everyone always speaks when you go in, and the waitresses always have a smiling face. You get a lot of food for your money. read more

This was my first time visiting Red Bridges Barbecue and I was happy with the food, prices, service and ambiance. Their food was really good and portions were good size. The prices were reasonable. We sat at a table, which was in between the booths, which made getting around our chairs a little tight. The service was excellent with our waitress checking on us often. The ambiance is nice as it does look like it's been around for a while, which it has. The restaurant gets busy, which is a testament to it's quality of food, service, and prices. read more

Bridges has a unique take on BBQ and has been an icon of Shelby for generations. There are too many stories to tell of this place. The atmosphere here is great, down to earth, and always busy. They don't take reservations either. You just have to show up and make sure you get there early because once the bbq is gone that's it. Honestly I'm not a fan of their style of sauce but many others are. However I did try the deviled egg sandwich today and it was outstanding, I really need to order 2 next time! The waitress recommended adding bacon and I also added onions because I'm a fan of them. The combination made for a hearty sandwich that hit the spot. Be prepared though that you'll get tiny paper plates for your food. But there are plenty of napkins. Get to Bridges and experience this iconic Shelby BBQ!! read more

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I called to place an order for 40 and they were NOT very accommodating in helping me. Their food is good, but, their phone manners and helpfulness to pickup at your convenience ISNT good. But, I'd like to add the manager called me bak and made things right read more

I really loved this place!! My sister and I came here cuz we heard so many wonderful things about how famous the food is here. And it did NOT disappoint!! I got the BBQ plate and everything was fantastic. and the service here is quick and the people working here are so cute read more

Fun place with really great service. Love the teal colored booths and the decor is vintage. The hush puppies were fantastic. Probably the best we've ever had, but the bbq was not our favorite. If you like a vinegar bbq sauce you will love this place. My husband and I prefer a sweeter bbq sauce. The bbq slaw obviously had the bbq vinegar sauce in it and it didn't finish it. The fries and potato salad were pretty good. The banana pudding was a disappointment. It was very thin and runny, and mostly just whipped cream. I prefer a thick banana pudding. Overall, it was ok but for bbq we prefer sweet sauce. read more

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After living just down the road for 8 years, and hearing mixed reviews, I finally gave it a try. I ordered the 1/2 chicken plate with fries and baked beans. I also ordered some "sliced" pork to go. The good: service, atmosphere, red slaw (perhaps too strong of a vinegar flavor but good), the sauce. The disappointing: numerous empty tables were dirty. I had to seat myself at a dirty table for a few minutes before someone cleaned it off and took my order. The chicken was VERY bland with virtually zero smoke or seasoning flavor. Arguably some of the worst chicken I've ever had. I honestly thought it was baked in an oven. It was also ripping hot, not that I don't want hot food but it seemed like it had been microwaved or possibly even boiled (just describing what it seemed like). Perhaps it wasn't, but the chicken was chewy, not tender. A lot of water came out of it too. So it was either not rested well after cooking or it was "nuked". It didn't taste brined, smoked, or literally anything but baked with minimal prep. Not very "BBQ" at all other than the sauce. The pork was equally bland. I mean, I could only taste a hint of salt. Again, not even a hint of smoke on the flavor. It also wasn't sliced, more like just pulled but not chopped. Minor quibble. The baked beans tasted straight out of the can. Nothing special at all. When combined with some of the slaw and sauce, the overall flavor isn't bad but I prefer BBQ that can stand on its own rather than need a sauce or side to be enjoyable. read more

Best BBQ and hush puppies in NC!!! Congratulations on serving BBQ for 80 years!!! Cheers to another 80 years!!

Grew up on Lexington style BBQ and moved to Shelby 41 years ago. Red Bridges BBQ is the best in the state.

Amazing Carolina traditional BBQ and staff that treats you like family all nestled in a cozy southern atmosphere. Come for the BBQ, stay for the friendships. You won't be disappointed in either. read more

The food and service is excellent at Red Bridges BBQ! Southern comfort at its finest and the decor inside takes you back to another time. Truly one of the best spots in Shelby, NC to eat! read more

Been coming for over 40 years and it's always top-notch, highly recommended!!! Done the right way cooked with a smoke all night long. read more

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Best BBQ plate and tray! - Barbeque Near Me - Shelby, North Carolina

Upon arrival, I was greeted with a smile and a welcome! My order arrived promptly as I had been enjoying the best hush puppies ever!! The bbq was delicious. I wish I lived closer. I would visit weekly if I could! read more

I can't tell you how happy it makes me when I'm visiting family and friends in Shelby and get a chance to have some of the best NC BBQ in the state. Everything was fantastic. The service, the BBQ, the hush puppies and the sweat tea. I love this place. Decorated like your typical BBQ joint, pictures and videos included. The place is always packed but turnover is pretty quick. read more

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Shelby, North Carolina

We have passed this place several times when they were closed and finally had our chance to try it today. We wanted so badly to love the food but we were so disappointed. The pork was watery like it had been in a steam table a while. The BBQ coleslaw was honestly nasty. It's red and looks unappealing and tasted way too vinegary for us. The beans were okay, nothing special. The fries and hush puppies were quite good. Service was prompt and very friendly but the food is just not as expected. read more

Loved the food and people. The service is amazing! The meat was cooked perfectly! It is a must to visit read more

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Barbeque Near Me - Shelby, North Carolina

some of the best, tender, juicy, fantastic barbecue I've ever had. I highly recommend!!!!!

I stopped in for lunch today, and the good news is you don't need teeth to eat here. They don't have pulled pork at Bridges barbecue on hwy74, they chop it. The pork barbecue was finely chopped except for the bone that I bit into. Friendly staff, but I found the pork to be flavorless. In my experience, chopped pork can be dry. And it was. Why take all the time to smoke a butt, and then mince it? read more

The food is consistently good. The hushpuppies are amazing! The staff is super friendly and helpful. I love the down home "diner" type vibes of the building! read more

This is western North Carolina Q at its finest. Been eating bbq here for close to 50 years. That says it all. Hush puppies to die for.

Server was nice and helpful. Food came out quick. I got a small plate and was full after eating it. The pork BBQ went well with the slaw. Its vinegar based, so while I'm someone who prefers a sweeter flavor it was good! I'm glad I tried it out. The hushpuppies were sooo good! The place had a well established feel read more

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Hushpuppies - delicious! - Barbeque Near Me - Shelby, North Carolina

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Brisket, tomato-slaw, French fries, hush puppies, beans, a vinegar base sauce, and sweet tea. I wanted ribs, greens, corn bread, and Mac n cheese. Well, this restaurant didn't have any of that. Today,(Thursday) is Brisket day, so I had the brisket. Tender pulls apart easy, fair taste. Of course, I had sauce all over it. Hush puppies seemed to be heat lamped, cooked earlier. The beans I tasted and left on the plate! I've only recently had tomato slaw. That's an acquired taste, and I've had it twice, but I still don't know what to think about it. I do not think I will be a regular at this establishment. read more

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Brisket, beans, tomato-slaw, French fries - Barbeque Near Me - Shelby, North Carolina

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I was back in town for high school reunion and went to one of my favorite Carolina Barbecue places. Not only has Bridges not changed since I remember, it may be better than I remember. read more

Restaurant was packed which was encouraging. Against the advice of a local I was determined to try it. The food was mediocre. The servers clearly didn't want to be there. This is the local greasy spoon. If your looking for a small town vibe and avg food - this is the place to go. read more

Service was great, food was yummy, best bbq in NC! Super cute restaurant. Everyone enjoyed their food and the food portions were hefty! read more

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Chicken, Baked Beans, red slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Shelby, North Carolina

I have the best barbecue and the sauce is to die for. My husband says that the red slaw is the best thing about it. My daughter says it is the endless hush puppies. So go there and you decide what is the best! read more

This review is strictly for the food and we need to talk. As a North Carolina native, I have eaten my fair share of bbq over the years and this place is nowhere near award winning! It is plastered all over their tables and walls how great their bbq is, and while that may have been the case 20+ years ago, it is not the case today!! Let me break it down. The bbq is flavorless and does not taste like it has been smoked all night, like the website claims. The sauce tastes like they dumped an ENTIRE bottle of vinegar out and mixed it with 1 single drop of tomato paste. It was disgusting!! They put the same sauce on their cole slaw which is an abomination to cole slaw..all you can taste is the vinegar! The baked beans are Bush's baked beans from the can....I know my Bush's baked beans when I taste them. The fries were bland and tasted like they were frozen. I've had better fries from Ore-Ida in the frozen section of the grocery store. The hush puppies were the only good thing...and it's pretty hard to mess up hush puppies. I expect a lot from small southern bbq resturants, especially when they advertise so heavily how great and famous their bbq has become. Advice to Red Bridges, don't make claims you can't back up! If you are on the road near Shelby searching for a good bbq spot...keep searching...this ain't it!! read more

Out of 5 Staff friendliness- 4.5 I have the jumbo BBQ plate chopped. Sweet--173627374728 Hush puppies-1736283747284 BBQ-3 Fries-4 BBQ slaw-4 Baked beans-3 Atmosphere had a good southern vibe. read more

This popular BBQ spot is the perfect stop on the way back to Charlotte from the mountains. My husband and I shared: - Jumbo Plate - Deviled Egg Sandwich - Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich - Banana Pudding I wish I could get BBQ like this in Charlotte. It was fantastic. And so cheap. The hushpuppies and slaw were my favorites of the sides. I'd probably double up on the BBQ plates next time. read more

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Traveling to Greenville and found this place in "around me" app and drove 25 minutes out of our way to give it a try! From the outside and indoor ambiance when we walked in we thought we hit the jackpot of BBQ places. Aside from a friendly courteous wait staff an amazingly delicious hush puppies, this is where the review goes "south". The menu basically offers burgers, chicken or their specialty, pulled pork. I'm not a professional chef but have to say my pulled pork off my Big Green Egg puts theirs to shame. Theirs has very little flavor, it was moist yet flavorless. They also only had a vinegar sauce so if you like sweet or mustard or other flavors, you'll be disappointed. It was complimented with bland baked beans, a bbq slaw which was slaw with the same vinegar sauce on it. Personally prefer a mayo based slaw with larger pieces of shaved cabbage not so finely chopped as theirs. The fries were fine but not freshly cut. The hush puppies were the best I've ever had, with a nice slightly sweet flavor. Waitress was awesome and can cut ambiance with a knife so kudos there! read more

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Hush puppies and the BBQ plate - Barbeque Near Me - Shelby, North Carolina

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Yum, good food . Good friends, good times . Good bbq good price and staff was friendly. The food was delicious . Friendly , welcoming atmosphere - country style sides , southern charm read more

This place has a system and it works for the locals but it's not my favorite style of bbq. Vinegar based and only pulled or chopped pork. I need more variety and prefer tomato based. Like I said though, it's work for them and they've been in business a long time. I liked the ambiance. read more

Such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere! Good is delicious at every visit and the sweet tea is the best around!!!

The barbecue nachos were great. Definitely would be getting those again. The servers are excellent and the service was fast

This place is just another one of those amazing local gems that you find when you travel extensively for work. Aside from it having quite possibly the best Carolina style barbecue I've had in quite sometime, the service is incredible either the orders coming quickly and accurately. The patronage here despite it being 2024 takes you back to a simpler, happier time that seems out of place, Natalie's accent is one of the greatest things about being a North Carolinian. read more

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Outside sign - Barbeque Near Me - Shelby, North Carolina

I first went to Red Bridges a few decades ago. I was impressed back then, and visited several more times. But I don't get out towards Shelby much in modern day, so it's been more than a few years since I checked this classic venue out. Luckily, I found myself in Cleveland County recently, and knew that was reason enough to see if the Q is still as good as I recall. It is. Wood smoked meat, tangy sauce, barbecue slaw, quality hush puppies...all just like I remember. So this place will remain one of my favorites. And I hope that never changes. read more

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Diet Sundrop for me today, but I'm sure their tea is still good. This is the jumbo plate, chopped. - Barbeque Near Me - Shelby, North Carolina

Red Bridges ranked 23/50 in Southern Living's 2019 survey of the South, and was the readers' top choice in a 2019 USA today survey. The team at Big Seven Travel rated it #38 nationwide. We visited on a late Sunday morning, and it was very, very busy. Still, service was both friendly and quick, which we always appreciate when on the road. We shared a jumbo plate, which gave us more than enough food for two at a very reasonable price point ($12.75 plus tax). The pork was superb, moist with great flavor and smoke. The Lexington style coleslaw and the hush puppies both left us wanting more. The french fries, in contrast, were just okay, and the baked beans frankly nothing to write home about. So, if you are on the road between Charlotte and Ashville, or just in the neighborhood, this is a great choice for a BBQ lunch. More hush puppies, please! read more

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Pulled pork with baked beans and coleslaw, hush puppies, french fries, and iced tea - Barbeque Near Me - Shelby, North Carolina

There are many restaurants in the area serving what they call Barbecue. Some of them don't even have a real smoke pit. And while some buy their "barbecue" from distributors, then reheat it as needed, Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge fires their pit all night, smoked fresh and whole shoulders every time. From the pits you get a choice of chopped, sliced, minced or custom cut. My favorite being course chopped brown meat, it's all good. And they also got chicken on the menu, which is even offered on a salad. Great hamburgers, fries and hush puppies (to die for) if you need to grab and go. And Red Bridges Barbecue hasn't forgotten you brisket seekers. It's cooked to perfection on Wednesday night, ready to serve up at lunch on Thursdays. Maybe I'm a little bias due to location, but I can get to several other restaurants serving barbecue, some closer than Red's, but none as good. I'm 70 years old, and they've been doing it the same way since before I was born. You don't change what has worked for that many years! read more

Great food, amazing atmosphere and perfect for all ages. Best food I have had in and quick service.

I visit NC 2x a year and the visit isn't complete without a stop at Bridges BBQ. I live in TX and there's nothing as good as NC BBQ and the best is at Red Bridges! I had the chopped plate and it did not disappoint, and the hush puppies are divine! Always nice to see Patricia's smiling face, already thinking about my next visit! Thank you! read more