I'm picky about ribs, so when it said St. Louis ribs, I was expecting grease and fat. Oh no! The ribs were delicious, as were the sides. My waitress was fun and checked on me enough to let me know she was paying attention without being "too there". The place was packed with a congenial atmosphere, but service was fast, and I was delighted to have enough leftovers to take on the road for the next day's journey. Kudos, RIBS! read more

Visiting ABQ for the first time to see my best friend and her family. When I travel, my mission is to eat my way around and try as many new things as possible. I used to love BBQ, but about a decade ago it started to absolutely ruin my stomach SO I don't eat it anymore. Needless to say, I wasn't jazzed to go to a BBQ joint. I'd read that while in ABQ, I needed to experience the green chilis. Our wonderful server recommended the Charburger with chilis, cheese and bacon. I love a good burger or steak, but I'm pregnant should stay away from anything less than medium (sigh) so I hesitantly ordered a burger cooked medium. The burger came out what must have been the most perfect medium I've ever seen... ever so slight pink and completely dripping with juices down my arm. SO MUCH YESSSSS!!!! The chilies were amazing, I feel so robbed that it took me 34 years to discover these gems!! The burger was truly one of the best I've had, and it was medium instead of my much preferred medium rare... that says something! The onion rings were perfectly crunchy, the ranch was good, service was great... an all around epic experience. I did not try the ribs or chicken because I can't eat BBQ sauce and don't like smoky flavors. I did try the beans (amazing) and the really boring looking bread that comes with the meals (not boring at all, crispy and delicious) and the Jo Jo potatoes (also good). I was pissed I didn't take a picture even tho I had 100% intended to when I cut it open... but I couldn't break focus and the devouring begun Go there... order that read more

This is a wonderful place to come after a nice day of hiking up on the Sandias. It's has a nice feeling and hometown atmosphere with a lot of local family people and really delicious barbecue. Very reasonably priced and good portions. I had the St Louis style ribs with okra and onion rings - it was wonderful! We had great service and a nice time visiting. read more

This food was awesome. We chose to eat here on our way up to the sandia mountains. Cool service, and good food. We got stuffed. Definitely coming back, and spreading the word. read more

Ribs Hickory Pit BBQ - Get in my belly lol - Barbeque Near Me - Cedar Crest, New Mexico

I would have given this place at least four stars if it had not been for the absolute horrible service we received. In full disclosure, we went there on a Sunday night during the Balloon Festival and there is a very good chance that our waiter was new, but this is still no excuse for the level of incompetence we experienced. Other than the service, the food was quite good. Ribs were tender and good flavor on the bbq sauce. Cole slaw was excellent and my companion said the bbq beans were also delicious. The atmosphere was typical of a rib joint and it did appear as though the other servers were much more efficient than ours. I appreciate the manager taking the initiative to come to our table and try and smooth things over as well as applying a discount to our bill. If she had not done this my review would have been much different. Personally, I would definitely return to this place and give it another chance. read more

Came here after a recommendation from Abby at Elaine's B &B in Cedar Crest this after a long day of traveling. It was popular and we had a short wait for an inside table and there are outside tables as well. We were happily greeted by the young hostess and quickly seated. We chose the onion petals and sliced jalapeños fried appetizer. It was fried a nice golden brown and served with ranch dressing on the side. They were tasty but the jalapeños were a little spicy for my wife. We ordered the rib and hot links entree with fried okra and the smoked beans for our sides. The ribs were well smoked and tender while the hot links were too done for me. That is the first time I have gotten any hot links split and grilled and not cooked whole and cut on the bias. Splitting made them too thin and they were over cooked. I did not like them. Others may. The beans were tasty and had good smoke in them. The fried okra was just that...fried okra but it was good and fried crispy. The ambiance was good and very friendly and if ever back this way again I would return. I do recommend it. read more

We got the pulled pork and hot link sandwiches to go. Both were very generous in the meat department. Very nice counter person.

While I realize this is a BBQ place, don't discount their burgers! The best! Quality beef with great toppings! Fries and onion rings-yum! Take out orders were nicely packed and ready as promised. Courteous and friendly staff. read more

I think Ribs is a pretty good place for BBQ. I'm not an expert, but both my wife and I think it tastes pretty good. Granted, I have had better BBQ in both Texas and South Carolina, but the fact that this is about 5 minutes away, makes it worth the trip. The brisket is pretty good, the ribs, pulled pork, and hot links are great. The also have a good selection of beers on tap, including some local brews. The appetizer to get for us are the Wagon Wheels and Plowshares (jalapeno disks and onions: breaded, fried, and served with ranch dressing). I would avoid anything on the menu that is not BBQ related. I've been disappointed the couple of times I've strayed away from their BBQ items. But you really can't go wrong ordering anything that they prepare in their giant in-house smoker. Worth a visit. read more

I'm always looking to explore new places, and this place was open, so I went in. It advertises itself pretty heavily as a Barbecue place, so I went in for the dinner that has 4 different types of meat. All of the barbecue was delicious. I didn't really know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. They're big on their beer selections, although I didn't sample any when I went in. There's something like 20+ on tap, though. Wait staff was very friendly and attentive. Food came out quickly, and was reasonably priced. Kind of a mountain lodge feel on the inside, with lots of booths by the big windows. If I came back here I think I'd maybe sit outside on the deck (no smoking) and enjoy a beer. read more

Ok, i have found zero reasons to not recommend this place. Especially if you are driving through this area, because you are lost or just sightseeing this is a great place to stop. Get the ribs or the combination plate. I struggled with this review because I have had better barbeque, but that was in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, each one for different reasons and tastes. But if you are in Tijeras New Mexico (Cedar Crest actually) and need a place to stop this is it. We drive up here once in a while and always drop by and have never had anything but good food and good service. read more

Ribs catered my father's funeral services. I cannot speak highly enough of the professionalism, dependability, care, and compassion that was offered to my family during our most vulnerable hour. My father's death was sudden and we put in the order with little lead time. Ribs' ability to calculate the amount of food that would be necessary was right on. We had a large crowd and there was more than enough food for everyone. Everything was delicious, fresh, and comforting. It meant so much to me to have catering services of a caliber that offered the level of reverence necessary for such a tender event. I highly recommend Ribs for any catering event and I encourage everyone in our community to offer their patronage often. Any business owner who shows a member of their community the level of compassion that my family received over the last two days should be valued and cherished. read more

Happening spot on the east mountain, always nicely busy. Fabulous wait staff, very friendly crowd. I'm not a huge BBQ fan but these ribs/chicken are delicious. separate bar...with some high end tequila Onion rings, Burgers are terrific Had a burger on a pretzel bun with all the fixings last Saturday. Tuff to beat. read more

I love this place. We go to ribs for the food but also because we always see friends here. This is the "cheers" of the east mnts for us. Everyone knows your name, and they're always glad you came. read more

Stopped in here at the end of our trip on the Turquoise Trail at the recommendation of new friends we met at supper last night. They were spot on with their referral and we really enjoyed our lunch. My wife had a smoked turkey sandwich and I had their signature ribs. Both were great and filling with just one side on each meal. Left some room for a shared portion of peach cobbler which was not overly sweet which is the way I prefer it. Definitely come here for a great dining experience where your soft drink and tea never goes dry. read more

Although this is my first check in here it is definitely not my first visit. My husband and I have been coming to Ribs for years. All the way back to when they were in Albuquerque. The food is so good that we frequently come to cedar crest to eat. Their ribs are delicious and you can't beat the bbq sauce. The wait staff is friendly as well. read more

This place is OK. The staff was nice, but service was slow. Had several mess ups with my order. Had the buffalo burger and it was good. Didn't try the BBQ because i come from a place that has amazing BBQ and didn't need to have it again. Maybe it was really good, but I can't say. read more

Pulled pork sandwich was mediocre. They drenched it in some pretty boring red barbecue sauce, giving me no option but the drenched pork, no other sauces, I guess to cover up the dryness of the pork... pretty disappointed. read more

A friendly place to have a beer and in the future, I might try a burger. But let's be clear: this is one more mediocre BBQ place. This is steam 'cue not real pit barbecue. If you want to know what that means, read some of my other reviews (it's a plague of this particular cuisine). But the result is mushy tasteless pulled pork (it doesn't have any brown edges or smoke ring because it isn't actually hot smoked in a pit). The brisket was overdone, dry, stringy, and likewise didn't have a real smoke ring. The ribs are one of my real bugaboos: baby backs. Baby backs are fake BBQ. Dry, no fat, etc. Saint Louis ribs or don't bother. And the sausage is the fine grind stuff that might be good in a hot dog bun but just isn't that great. Please make your own rough grind pork sausage and then properly smoke it. But hey, all the above I've said about many places. It's just the nature of the thing. Real BBQ is a beast to do right and especially to do it repeatedly over years. Hell of a hard way to make a living. But the problem is, more and more, I eat at a place like this and I'm pissed. This stuff is terrible for you...so if you are going to eat it, it has to be good. When it's not, you just feel guilty--with no pleasure. But like I said, for a beer and a burger...perhaps. read more

Owners are cool. Kids have no place in a bar however. Especially on a monoboard. Open door for a lawsuit.

This little BBQ place is a serious gem. I was visiting from Dallas, TX so you can bet that I have had some sampling from some quality BBQ establishments. This place has nailed the environment of a traditional BBQ, great smoked meats, plenty of quality beers on tap, and the menu items are simple but succulent and priced fairly. read more

We decided to take a drive to the East Mountains and get takeout from Ribs. This was our first time. There food is great. I would recommend the fries. read more

Great food great location! Enjoyed the live music and the atmosphere. Had the amazing mashed potatoes and my husband had the wonderful ribs that they were so known for. read more

Great BBQ. Fish and chips are quite tasty. I even like the Ruben sandwich. But don't think you're going to order something light. They make a mean margarita, too, none of this sours mix trash that so many other restaurants make. The Gran Patron is a serious contender (using Gran Marnier instead of Cointreau, and using Patron añejo tequila instead of bottom shelf stuff). read more

My husband and I have thought about coming to Ribs for yesrs while driving through the east mountains. We finally stopped there today and it was fantastic. Des was our server and she was wonderful! The service was fast and friendly, the food was excellent, and the outdoor seating was really pleasant. We plan to eat there every time we are in the area. read more

The service was very good and they give free refills on soda. That's the good part. Also, the fried zucchini is tasty. So, if you're going for beers and an appetizer it might be passable. But, other than that, all of the food was TERRIBLE. Their idea of barbecue is to cook the food until it's dry as could possibly be, NOT season it at all. Seriously, no seasoning at all, and then expect the barbecue sauce to carry the dish. That means every single bite has to be drenched in (decent) sauce to be able to eat it. The sides were pretty good. Would NEVER go there again. read more

This BBQ joint is so delicious! Everything on the menu is so good and their portions are great. This bbq is much better than any of the bbq joints in ABQ. If you haven't already, stop in and give it a try. You will not be disappointed! read more

If you like smoky you'll love this place! Lunch of burger & fries & beer for me. Spouse had meatloaf with gravy with his choice of side, potato salad. Several locals were also partaking. I had the yummy stout as I wasn't driving. Too full & happy to finish! Definately recommend. read more

my wife and I came here when we were staying at a bed and breakfast on the east side of the mountains, my wife liked it enough we later drove back out from Albuquerque just to eat here again. appetizer onion wedges good but slightly undercooked for my liking zucchini good jalapeños good flavor jalapeño poppers salad was fine, higher quality greens than just iceberg or romaine alien vanilla stout delicious margarita meh ribs are good fall off the bone but a bit more fat and char than I prefer ambiance noisy and feels like the South... normally I write up fancy reviews based on my notes but this time.... you can just directly view my initial thoughts without edits. after our second trip my wife was less impressed and said it may have just been starvation that made it so great the first time. I felt the food was about average both trips, we will likely not be making a dedicated third trip. read more

We picked up several items for a Mother's Day brunch from Ribs. The food was fabulous! We couldn't have asked for anything better! Always a favorite of ours but this time was exceptional! Thanks for making our brunch perfect! read more

Dog friendly! Favorite place after hiking Sandia with my pup. They have water bowls and sand volleyball court that my daughter loves to run around in. Plus it's the best BBQ I've found in town. My daughter loves kids rib plate and I like their pulled pork sandwich. The sides are also tasty such as fried okra and baked beans. Save room for dessert the chocolate cake is out of the world!!! read more

Great food and atmosphere. The ribs fell right off the bone. Near perfection. The wait staff was super friendly and helpful. Kind of a drive from the westside, but will definitely be coming back... read more

I came in today amid the restrictions for restaurants across New Mexico. I been to the restaurant several times over the past couple of months. Without fail I was greeted with a smile and welcomed. This is the reason I keep coming back whenever I come to town for work! Don't get me wrong the food is always awesome! I appreciate Charissa my waitress who exemplifies customer service, the restaurant should be proud to have her in your family! Happy St. Patrick's day the corned beef and cabbage was awesome! I'll be back!! No pun intended! read more

Today was my first time here, I ordered the hot wings and the sliced brisket sandwich. The word "phenomenal" doesn't seem to be enough to describe the food here. I've eaten a lot of wings in my life, but the smoked and grilled wings they have are the best I've had in years, maybe even ever. The brisket sandwich was awesome as well, tender and very juicy. Also the staff was very friendly and attentive. Next time I'm in the area, I will definitely be back. read more

Delicious food. I had the meatloaf dinner. Great service. Waitress was very attentive and didn't go thirsty.

The only downside to living in the East Mountains is that there aren't any good restaurants. Ribs exemplifies this problem. The worst thing on the menu are the BBQ items. Which is strange for a place called Ribs. Their meat is generally closer to room temperature than hot, it's always dry, always tough, and they always try to cover up those shortcomings with way too much BBQ sauce. "Too much BBQ sauce, is that even a thing?" you ask. Yes, yes it is definitely a thing when the sauce itself is pretty meh. The sides taste like they came from a bag in the back of the freezer, which I'm pretty sure they do. The drinks are okay. And the owner only seems to hire really young, thin girls and then makes them wear short shorts. I guess that draws some people. I find it sexist and weird. Not being one to prejudge a place I've eaten at Ribs four times. It's just bad. read more

Im from Kansas City, the birthplace of BBQ and I have to say Ribs is the best BBQ Ive ever had. The wings are unreal! They aren't fried, they smoke them and then grill them. You've got to try the wings!! read more

Everyone is great, and the food is fantastic! These guys know what they're doing! Top shelf liquor and large selection of local micro-brews. Best burger and BBQ anywhere! Volleyball sand court, and lots of outdoor seating! read more

Been traveling all day and was nice to find this BBQ place just outside of ABQ. They had a lively Friday night crowd and a really homey feeling, lots of locals. Our server, Charissa, was awesome. She has the most friendly smile and easily held conversations not only with us but with everyone. Lots of service not only from Charissa but from everyone. A+ on service. We are really picky about our BBQ and we weren't expecting much....man were we surprised! We had the half combo platter which was perfect for 2. Awesome ribs, great pulled pork and mouth watering brisket. We are not crazy about hot links so they substituted more ribs...perfect. Another A+ for food. I liked the interior and the big smoker inside was fun to see. Another A for BBQ ambiance! We were camping at Hidden Valley RV and the 7 mile trip was well well worth it. read more

Best restaurant in the mountains, and my favorite green chile cheeseburger in NM. I order the bison burger with green chile and swiss with a Santa Fe Nut Brown on the side. Haven't found anything better in the 4 years I've been looking. read more