Love the BBQ, Baked Beans & more. Folks that work there are great. Cool decor. And clean restrooms! read more

It's a cool place for a pit stop! Their fried oysters hit the spot but I'd skip the brisket next time. I saw someone chowing down on some ribs & fried chicken and I got jealous. Surprisingly, their habanero hot sauce was fantastic! I didn't see if they sell that stuff by the bottle but I'm sure they would hook you up with some. I got the impression that not many people show interest in it sooo, get on it! Their Cookies & Cream pie is meh but their blueberry pie, warmed up with a little whip cream hits the spot. read more

Shaffer's BBQ & Market - Barbeque Near Me - Middletown, Virginia

The smell while driving by made us double back. From there we had very high hopes... we spoke to another customer who suggested the pulled pork. We spoke to clerk who suggested the family sampler $49.99 It came with 3 meats - we chose Pork, Chicken and Brisket, hush puppies, 3 sides - we chose Mac n cheese, greens, French fries Here is where our review comes: keep in mind we are foodies and I'm from Smithfield NC Brisket- 2/10 very thin, it gets cold immediately, you can taste the smoke but need the sauce to eat it. It didn't hold favor. Bbq sauce is very watery. Not sure why. Pork- 1/10 we did not like it at all. It was different. Ground. Vinegar overpowers everything. I almost feel it could've been better but we just couldn't eat it. Chicken- 6/10 as a family we ate it. Would picture it in a taco being great. Again vinegar overpowers. Mac and Cheese- 3/10 too milky not enough cheese.... And a true sample. Maybe 2oz. For the price it wasn't worth it. Greens- 8/10 again too much vinegar but I'm a country girl we eat the greens Hush puppies 10/10 French fries 10/10 So all in all we would not stop here again. However the staff was friendly, the decor was cute and if it works for you, go for it! Honestly I'm disappointed that we didn't like it as much as we wanted to. But I promised to always be honest in my reviews. It's a pass if you are a foodie. read more

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The pulled chicken and pulled pork were both delicious! Great flavor on both, didn't need any additional sauces. We liked the slaw on the sandwich which gave a little tartness to the sandwiches. The baked Mac n cheese side had a good amount of cheese on it and a little crusty at the top. We weren't huge fans of the friend oysters but could be since it wasn't something we had had too much before being from the Midwest! Glad we veered off the highway a bit to check this place out! Also had a great selection of local beer to buy. read more

Shaffer's BBQ & Market - What a view for lunch! - Barbeque Near Me - Middletown, Virginia

Mid. No need to stop again. Customer service (older lady) acted inconvenienced that we had the audacity to stop in and help pay her bills. Sorry- if you are working in customer service for a small business- you should be super welcoming and receptive, not pissed off that someone enters your establishment! We had been in once before on a time crunch and couldn't order bbq and were excited to return. Very disappointed that I had to initiate the order and ask how she was doing. I guess it's too much to expect kindness. read more

Old school barbecue experience, plenty of options, good sides. The barbecue is good, mixed quality at times, the scene is great, especially in good weather. Nice shop, too. Worth a stop. read more

Matt Shaffer just keeps upping the BBQ game here! This roadside spot is a must visit when in the Shenandoah Valley or especially if you live in or around Frederick County! We had takeout last evening and the Chopped Pork Sandwich was the best anywhere ever! Our sides included Mac n Cheese, Baked Beans, Cornbread, Mac Salad, and Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. We added on their delicious Brunswick Stew to enjoy for dinner tonight! The staff working were so friendly and helpful! We watched the young man pack our meals with great care and precision. The added tables inside and selection of goodies to browse add to the allure and make you want to stop and linger just a bit longer. We can't wait to visit again! read more

the brisket was like water soaked leather. The barbecue sauce was watery. The fries were reheated in the deep fryer. Maybe it's all different from Kansas. read more

The food was incredible! Exceeded expectations so come hungry! The play area in the back for the kids was also a hit!

Excellent food, generous portions. Friendly folks. Nice stop after the Belle Plantation and Battlefields.

While in Middletown for work I stopped in here for lunch. Since I was on a diet I wasn't able to try all the amazing looking sides they had on their menu, but I did try their brisket. They sell their brisket sandwich without the bread, it's just a cup of 1/3lb of meat with some sauce on top. It was sliced nice and thin and I'm sure this would have been perfect on a sandwich! The meat had a nice smoke to it, with some smoke ring visible. It was moist and clearly it seemed like it was pre-made/smoked and then kept warm in a moist place, but I have to say it was really good! Tender, hardly any fat, and flavorful! Service was friendly and helpful. I asked for hot sauce and she gave me a small cup of their homemade hot sauce and WOW that stuff packed a punch, but it was also really tasty too! Their sauces were pretty good, I tried them both. And the restaurant itself actually has some seating inside, if you want to order at the counter and then dine in. Definitely a great visit, I'd return! read more

Shaffer's BBQ & Market - Barbeque Near Me - Middletown, Virginia

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Solid BBQ food in the area. Not the best meat, but huge portions and sides are delicious (baked beans, broccoli salad, mac and cheese, and hush puppies). I had chopped pork sandwich, and my partner had brisket sandwich. Brisket was a bit too tough/dry, but chopped pork was good and flavorful. Their BBQ sauces are tasty but are very thin/runny, and I would've liked a thicker texture. read more

Shaffer's is well worth the 5 minute trip into town off of I-81. I'm a barbecue snob, and when I pulled up and saw the huge wood-fired offset smoker out front I knew I was in good hands. The barbecue is well worth the praise that so many Yelpers have given it, and the fried chicken is some of the very best I've ever had. The rustic country store with a few tables vibe is comfortable and authentic, and the staff is super friendly. Absolutely worth the visit! read more

Excellent barbecue, so glad we finally got to try it. Great sides, good beer selection and general market goods.

If you have never been here, definitely give it a go! The food is excellent, they have great customer service, and the ambiance is so rad! It's an old classy gas station next to the Battle of Cedar Creek, battlefield with mountains in the background. Many come for their BBQ which we really like, however we just tried their fried chicken, and wow it did not disappoint, it was super tasty and cooked perfectly! They also have so much more on their menu that tastes great, the mac and cheese is a fav as well as the ranch potato salad. They also have great desserts! read more

Driven by many times. My friend said stop. This is a great place. Went in and wow, great menu. Had fried oysters, sausage with fried onions, pork barbecue and red beets. Everything was/is wonderful. And I met the owner, Mathew Shaffer. How cool is that. And the staff was very pleasant Gotta go back to try more of the menu. read more

100% legit Eastern NC style pork BBQ minced and vinegar based. Sides were also perfect. Had potato salad, hushpuppies and Brunswick Stew and all were excellent. Best I've had in Northern VA and worth the drive. read more

When someone says don't judge a book by its cover that is high praise for this BBQ place. The food is superb and that's all the matters and the view is amazing as well. read more

Shaffer's BBQ & Market - Barbeque Near Me - Middletown, Virginia

Cute little historic place in Middleton, VA. Looks to date to the late 1950s (verified 1952). Very reasonable prices. We tried something called "the red neck eggroll" which was finely chopped brisket in a warapper deep fried. A bit of a country store vibe. Recommended! read more

We have come here for several years and was always good. Today the Fried chicken tasted nothing like it always had not crispy or seasoned. The potato salad was nothing more than potatoes and mayonnaise. No celery or onion as it use to. Expensive for so so food! Won't do that again read more

I can not say much about the food that is positive. - Potato salad was practically raw and needed to be cooked again - Mac and cheese was bland with minimal cheese. - Cajun cabbage was more a pepper cabbage. - The chopped/ground BBQ pork had a light Smokey flavor but without bbq sauce it was dry. They have a great variety of beer from all over the place, some tasty stouts. The farm fresh eggnog was amazing. The staff were friendly and on top of their game. read more

TLDR: Divey country store environment with delicious BBQ. Come for the pulled pork and paper thin brisket. Vibe: 5/5. Operating out of an old gas station, Shaffer's really embraces the old country store vibe. Inside they have a plethora of cold craft beers in both 6 packs and singles to be enjoyed with your BBQ. They also offer a nice selection of local meats to take home. Service: 5/5. The staff at Shaffer's was very hospitable! From taking our order at the counter and giving us recommendations to walking our food out to their back patio where we were seated, they were very nice and accommodating. Food: 5/5. We wanted to try as much as possible so we opted for the brisket sandwich, the monthly special sandwich which was their take on a cubano and the redneck egg roll (pulled pork inside a fried egg roll wrapper). All the meats were well executed. The pulled pork in the the egg roll and Cubano was moist and fork tender. The brisket was a tad on the dry side, however the paper thin consistency saved it. All in all, you can't go wrong with any of the sandwiches. read more

Shaffer's BBQ & Market - the outside of the building - Barbeque Near Me - Middletown, Virginia

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I've been searching the valley for good southern fried chicken. Found it at Shaffer's.

Food is very good. Place has nice decorations. At first the service was bad. Waited 30 minutes for our order. They lost our order, but were very apologetic and offered a free drink or dessert. I appreciated their honesty and willing to make it up to us. read more

Customer service and their food are always great. I particularly like their homemade cakes, pies and bread pudding!

I stopped by Shaffer's last week with a few folks. I ordered a platter with brisket, pork, and smoked chicken. The brisket was ok, but not as tender as I would like. The pork had a nice flavor, but it was ground into very tiny pieces, which was very odd. The smoked chicken had some decent flavor, but the seasoning was a little light, and the skin was a little tough. On the brighter side, the fried chicken, which I tried as well was bangin' .....nice job on that. The place did have a nice setting the the employees were very nice. read more

By outward appearance, this is a place you might drive by without a second glance. Don't. We tried the brisket, fried chicken, and numerous sides. It was all wonderful! If I lived in the area I would visit often. read more

Bought a lb of pulled pork. My first visit here. Think the pork is mediocre at best. No or very little Smoky flavor and chopped rather than pulled pork. I'll not return. Much better options in the area. Feel the stack of wood out front is more for show than go. read more

Good food, good service and a nice view on the back patio which is dog friendly. Small Playground for the kids if you're in a road trip and the kiddos need a stretch. read more

Super cute shop with craft beer, wine, and other snacks and items for sale. Then there's the food - so good! Everything from gator poboys to pork BBQ and sides like ranch potato salad and Mac and cheese. I had a special chicken sandwich - fried chicken in hot sauce, remoulade, spicy pickles, bacon, etc. on Texas toast. SO good! I also had the ranch potato salad, which was good. Other people in my party said the Mac & cheese was great and the redneck egg roll (pork, mozzarella, peppers, and onions) also looked good. There is indoor seating and covered outdoor seating. The staff is also super friendly. read more

Shaffer's BBQ & Market - Barbeque Near Me - Middletown, Virginia

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Awesome good & the people that work there we very friendly. Will go there the next time we are traveling

Worth driving too! All of the bbq is great. Fun, homey feeling in an old gas station/store. The Shaffer family knows their way about a grill and their catering of weddings and events is great. On nice days - the back porch is nice to hang out and look at the mountain views. read more

Came back after 3 years! How can I forget? Made sure we stopped by when driving through VA. Had the pork bbq sandwich and BF had the pulled chicken, delicious! I loved the bbq slaw, it's spicy and addictive. I also ordered a pound of pork bbq, a pint of bbq slaw and a quart of Brunswick stew to take home so we can make our own sandwich. I placed an order online and it was ready when we got to the restaurant. Til next time when we're in VA. read more

Saw the sign on I-81 and followed. You should as well. Easy 5 stars. Probably the best brisket sandwich I've ever had. Definitely recommend!! read more

Shaffer's BBQ & Market - Sliced Brisket Sandwich & Mac & Cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Middletown, Virginia

What a cute funky little place. With lots of fun things for sale. We were greeted very kindly and warmly and patiently. We sampled several things on the menu and everything was delicious. We just happened to find it on our way from New York to Asheville if you have a chance stop in for some barbecue read more

Shaffer's BBQ & Market - Our view. Inside looking out. - Barbeque Near Me - Middletown, Virginia

I have stopped at this little country store in the past but I have never ordered the food. I was working at an event nearby that would have pulled in alot of serious food lovers to the area so it made me sad that they likely got the same food experience I did that day? I have a business that is trying to pull tourists and farm/foodies to this area so this was especially disappointing. First I had a breakfast sandwich to go and it tasted like soap. I forgave them thinking OK...at least they clean their grill because it tasted like the butter from the grilled bread touched a soapy grill? The egg was charred and flat as if the cook had smashed a spatula against it to cook it fast..... I ended up throwing out half the bread away because just not enough between the 2 thick pieces of bread (1 slice cheese & 1 flattened fried egg). Still.....I came back for pulled chicken BBQ sandwich 7 hours later and the chicken was so greyish/brown I had to ask if they had accidentally given me the pork? Waitress said...no that's our chicken. The fourth bite I hit a chewy ball that I had to spit out and I believe it was the chicken heart (organ of some kind) and then the 5th bite was a good sized bone. It was like someone had BRUTALIZED that chicken carcass with a cleavor and thrown some clumps of flesh on a bun...no effort to separate the chicken meat as you would expect with "pulled" chicken. The meat was somewhat smokey but no flavor unless you put alot of sauce on it. The sauces came out of the bottles like broth....very thin and messy....I truly believe someone had watered them down to extend the sauce in the bottles. The bun seemed to have been steamed in a microwave....it was wet and chewy. I threw the sandwich away after 5th bite and I felt like I was going to puke the whole way home. I didn't stop to complain because if I had...a long line of tourists would have heard my complaint. I saw several women and 1bearded man in the kitchen that day. I am very forgiving when a restaurant hands me a less than great meal but that sandwich was downright NASTY! I felt like the person who made it really dislikes customers or hates his boss and is being vindictive through food....it was that bad. read more

Fantastic place to eat, there is a Louisiana flair happening and it's real, all my Nola readers.... Don't expect lidenhimers bread, but the shrimp poboy hits the spot and is a good college effort. The Mac n cheese is fantastic, and the bbq plater is full and delicious! read more

Shaffer's BBQ & Market - the dining area - Barbeque Near Me - Middletown, Virginia

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Great Food! Wife always gets the smoked chicken leg and I select from the other delicious meals. Great selection of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Love the potato salad. Service spectacular and fast. Very homey place. read more

A hidden gem along the road, this place offers fantastic food and a warm, friendly ambiance. Convenient parking is available out front, and there's pleasant outdoor seating if the weather permits. Food it good you won't be disappointed. read more

Shaffer's BBQ & Market - Amazing - Barbeque Near Me - Middletown, Virginia

The food here is delicious and the staff are all pleasant and nice. The BBQ, Country Ham sandwiches, and chicken are especially good, and I highly recommend this place. read more