Foods good service is good too bar closes at 11:30-12 same as Quaker across street sad because they cools make a lot of money being this far out of big city's and being connected to truck stop since our weekends or day and half off isn't on Saturdays and Sundays like you're average jobs this spot has big potential with right person in charge even if local ordinances are 11-12 no alcohol all that needs to be done is private club after 11-12 same as sc everything goes In covered/ plastic cup and door gets locked if you go out well too bad after 11-12 that's how we get around it no problems in Spartanburg or Greenville so far since the change a few years ago private venues have different laws and regulations just have to be smart and careful read more

What a saver when the place we intended to go to was closed.. We stopped in for bar-b-q and really did not expect much. While waiting for food to go we noticed the bar in the back. Very happening. We ordered wings, brisket and a salad. We were given generous portions and it was cheap (given it is a truck stop.) read more

This place is amazing cheap drinks. The staff is awesome the food is amazing we will definitely come back read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - Nachos - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

Unassumingly awesome brisket and Mac n cheese in a truck stop and gas station. Would stop here any time I'm passing through.

Breakfast ,lunch, and dinner is always great, love to stop here . Service always great. Great people.

I had the pulled pork samich platter with sweet tater fries. The pork was moist and tasty while the fries were pretty much perfect. Highly recommend this joint! read more

Yes, it's located in the back of a gas station convenience store, but don't be deterred, the food is good! The fries were average but the Carolina sandwich was awesome. Great vinegar bite and flavorful pork. Give it a try; way better than standard fast food. read more

We're staying at Penmerryl Farms and there were few other options for dinner. We were about to go Arby's but decided to do a search when we saw their ratings. Wow, so glad we did! We got the friendliest server, ribs were tender (with soft bone for the dog), brisket, and apple pie. We also ordered salad and I should have immediately returned it bc the menu said field greens but we got iceberg. It wasn't the server's fault, but that's my only complaint. Please warn folks beforehand that the description is wrong. The sports bar side had decent business for a Sunday night. read more

The good and service was great! Even had a live musician and a few slot machines. Definitely recommended stopping if you're in the area!

Kelsie, the bartender, is amazing! Food is pretty good too. Favorite watering hole/eatery within a tank of gas from Lexington or Staunton. 5 stars isn't enough. read more

Great place!! Especially since they added a full beautiful restaurant and still have the old take out window!! Fill bar, darts and music on Saturdays!!! Local beer on tap was very good and so was the local hard cider. Plus if you not $40 on gas you get a free shower!! Great if you been driving 18 hours!! read more

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Smiley's barbecue is our regular stop when we travel up and down interstate 81 between hungry mother state park in Marion, VA and Alexandria Virginia. The parking lot is big enough for our RV and the price is right, the service is fast, the food is delicious. read more

Friday night dinner. Have been by before but first time to stop. Sampled the Carolina Rub Pulled Pork Platter. A vinegar based rub. 1 lb of pork, 2 buns, MacnCheese, Cowboy Beans, 16 oz fountain drink, 2 solo cups of vinegar based slaw. $14.10 Pork was good, mild. MacnCheese was probably good earlier in the day, meh. Beans were ok, standard. Had better, have had worse. Knock off a couple of bucks and I would b happier. I may return, not a priority. btw, didn't see the Yelp sign, they may have taken it down. read more

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Carolina style bbq sandwich with coleslaw on top at 230 am. What!! It was delicious. I go on road trips looking for places like this. Fried chicken. Pulled pork, brisket, they got ya covered. Impeccable service, super kind folks. It's a good stop on your travels. Guaranteed! read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

I actually liked it. Of course I had the fried chicken with 2 sides. I enjoyed it. My friends got pulled pork sandwiches and they on the other hand didn't like it so much they said I fed isn't the best dang bbq in VA. It's right off he highway and quick if you want something real quick and easy though. read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - Thigh and leg with 2 sides and a 16oz refillable soda - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

Buy bbq at a gas station? You bet!!! After reading reviews, I decided to give it a try. On my way back from a college visit, I stopped at Smiley's and was definitely not disappointed. I purchased take out meals to bring home and the family was crazy about it. We had the beef brisket sandwich, pork bbq sandwich, and a smoked turkey leg which was huge. There were tons of sides to choose from and I really recommend the mac and cheese! The sandwiches were huge and came with amazing bbq sauce. Smiley's is now a regular stop every time I travel 81! read more

Best brisket sandwich I ever had. I add an hour driving time when visiting family so I can stop at Smileys for the brisket. Worth it.

Ok smiley's bar b q the only one smiling is the local clinic that will charge you for IV to relieve your food poisoning!!!! Iv always had the pulled pork sandwich or platter it ok not the same as it was about 2 years ago.... but for some reason I tried the ribs omg they should charge money for the restroom because I was in their 10 times in 30 minutes!!!!!!! Some thing has changed here it has the feel of new money!!!! But that's not going to last for to long if they don't let someone with Restaurant and bar experience take over !!!! The second time here and no wings are you kidding me!!!!! read more

It's a little weird to be served Barbecue at a gas station in the same premises as a convenience store, but it reminds me of when the best pizza in my hometown was actually at a gas station on the Berlin Turnpike. But anyway, I thought it was very good. For two people, you can get two decent size pulled pork sandwiches, two sides, and a fountain soda for $14. Think about it; that's REALLY reasonable for barbecue. Can't escape for less than $25-30 back home at our best BBQ joint in CT (and yes, it's really good, and I'm a southern BBQ vet.) And while I can't say it's the absolute best I've ever had, I did sincerely enjoy everything. Particular highlights include that "Mule" sauce; simply sensational as it hits all your sweet and spicy nerves. The pork was very pleasantly tender, Mac & Cheese was very good, and those beans... super flavorful, perhaps a little too much green pepper for my liking, but even so, I really liked them. Look, it's at the GAS STATION - one of the cheapest in the state no less. So the convenience of enjoying some genuine BBQ by folks who know what they're doing while pumping petroleum is a good thing, as I see it. read more

Great place with friendly staff! Kelsey makes it feel like a local joint from back home. They also have happy hour!

Amazing service along with great music! Their Nachos and Drinks are absolutely terrific!!

Was traveling thru the state with my new Awesome job (in case my boss is ) and came across this BBQ joint slash gas station. A real pleasant surprise nice ass bar good damn food. read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - $5 Flight - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

One of my favorite stops now has a full sports bar & restaurant! Gorgeous inside with concrete countertops and stone accent wall behind the bar. Super clean and very friendly environment. It has 13 TVs plus a large big screen for us to all enjoy our favorite games! As for the food, I always get the Carolina- Style pork sandwich and add the Cattleman's Vinegar sauce (which is made fresh daily). The sandwich by itself is $6 and well worth it! They have full platters which offers sides such as Your standard "BBQ sides such as coleslaw or steak potato fries but they also offer sides like green bean casserole and broccoli and cheese casserole. The bar is open 11am-midnight. However, the gas station/ deli is open 24/7. Love to stop here every time I am driving past. It's exit 205 off 64 E.. I found this place because it offers the lowest gas prices!!! 5 STARS read more

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OUT OF THIS WORLD! Hidden gem! Leaving with extra orders!!! Great service too, excited to chat with us. Very clean. Totally not what we expected when we pulled up. Saving to favorites for next trip!! read more

Good bbq but quite expensive. $14.99 a pound and I did not get a pound. Look at the photo. The container AND q are 12 oz. Love their good, sad about their dishonesty. I'm done. read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

My husband found this place by accident one day while driving to a truck stop across the street. Told me he had one of the best BBQ sandwich he ever had. I got to find out yesterday, and I have to agree!!!! Had another one today. Awesome, awesome. Even was impressed with how they handled two difficult women. read more

Had rib plate. Potato salad was good. Slaw was not good at all to me. Terrible to be exact. Ive been smoking ribs, bbq'ing for 30 years at home and ive never had these results from Bar-B-Q'ing or smoking that i see in Smiley's ribs. The ribs appeared to have been steamed or boiled. Maybe thats how they reheat them but it was quite unpleasant. Will not be a repeat customer read more

Okay, They gave us someone else's order, or they really screwed up our order. I'm sitting here waiting for my food and dang I'm hungry!! Hamburger was okay, but can you please make a effort to spread the mayo. Price was okay, but the food didn't have that little extra. I'm use to good potato salad with relish, olives,pimentos and onion. This tasted bland with egg, and potatoes. Hamburger was juicy, and cooked well. He liked his pulled pork sandwiches , but didn't care for the coleslaw. We will be back to try something different. read more

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The place looks like a truck stop but the friendliness and quality of service is top notch and better than what I've encountered in a lot of places. The chef was friendly and explained to me what the different options are and it was a fun and friendly place. read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - Just had the best damn brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

Looking for great Bar-B-Q, eat here. Looking for a quiet, romantic, place with that "je ne sais pas" (I don't know) something feel, eat here too: it's friendly, sit outdoors and enjoy the odd selection of traffic going by. It's easy to get to (we found it on a road trip looking for BarBQ) and the service was friendly, quick (remember the road trip?). Wife is particular about her brisket, and I loved it as well. The pork was GREAT and the sauces were worth going back for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th try. We'll be back read more

The food here is good, the problem is.... He charges .35 cents for the coleslaw on a Carolina BBQ!!!! That's like coke charging you for bubbles! read more

My husband said it might be the best bbq he's ever had. My clams were fresh and lightly breaded- delicious!

This is really, really good brisket And Texas pork BBQ! Worth the stop, and we'll be back! read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - Great BBQ! - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia

Used to love coming here and getting the beef brisket. Its was amazing. but this latest visit was very disappointing. The staff was condescending when I told them I wasn't happy with the brisket this time. The meat seemed old and every piece had alot of fat. Alot, almost all of what they gave me was just fat. Not kidding. "You know brisket has the most fat, right?" "We're not going to pick every little piece of fat out." More like little pieces of meat. It did not look like it did the last four times i got the brisket platter. Every time before had been consistent and delicious.with a normal and proportionate amount of fat. So i know what im supposed to be getting. And that was not it. It was seriously so bad this time i threw it away. And they were rude about me bringing it to their attention and wanting it fixed. I ended up getting a refund. These guys are always kinda weird but this time they were straight up unprofessional. Acting like im a terrible customer because they were slacking that day. Step your game up and deliver a fresh delicious product allday everyday. Not spending money here again. And they will probably say "good we dont need your patronage" cause thats their attitude. read more

Filthy place, ridiculously small portions and outrageously expensive. BBQ was good though, if you can deal with the rest of the attributes of this option. Just passed by it with our son and told him to run away from it as he would from the bubonic plague! read more

It was okay. The BBQ wasn't bad, and it hit the spot. What I'd like to point out, is that they're paying for Yelp reviews. So be wary.

For my first meal as a Fried Cheegan (Vegan who also only eats Fried Chicken), I stopped at Smiley's! It was great, although the ordering process is fairly complex. It goes like this. Get in line behind a thin southern bearded guy with a NASCAR jacket and wait. Then you order. Then you get the ticket and wait in line behind a FINE VA girl with blue plaid on and cowboy boots and wait, and pay. THEN, go back in line behind the NASCAR dude with the original bluetooth accessory and wait and THEN hand the girl the ticket that she just wrote for you. "lemme take a look at that sweetheart, I should remember but I want to make sure I get it right" 2 pieces of chicken. Thats it. I got it and ate it and it was tasty! crisp skin, slight kick. Chicken meat was tender, but not KFC slimy style. Also, a big thing for me at Fried Chicken places is that the pieces of chicken are somewhat recognizable. OK, I'll say it, I like it when a breast looks like a breast and a thigh, the most likely victim of fried chicken-guise, looks like a thigh. Smiley's Got that ! read more

Right off the highway 81, in a truck stop gas station. The sign says its the best dang BBQ in Virginia-- big promise. I had the Carolina style sandwich. They offer a texans style too--and as I've yelped before, the very best BBQ places don't offer you a choice. They do what they do and if it's not your thing then tough &#%@ and go eat somewhere else. At Smileys this held true--they should stick to doing one thing well. The sandwich was good--and given what was around--Wendy's etc. this is the pace to eat. I was also not looking to wander too far off the freeway. Even so, I was hoping it would be much better. The reality is that a BBQ joint that sells fried chicken and pizza is degrading itself. The bun was the standard 99 cent - 8 pack grocery store variety. Too thin to really hold up. The pork was really soaked in the Carolina style vinegar sauce and for me was too much for the meat. It was kind of hard to tell what I was eating. The meat was a little mushy, almost like it had not been "pulled" but chopped up in a blender. And their fountain soda machine needed to be adjusted--too much carbonation. I've had much better, and I don't think it is a stretch to say that in this part of the country a lot is expected in barbecue. As I was leaving, a lady went up to the counterman and said this was the best anywhere, and she had come from such and such a place X miles a way to try it. So, maybe it's what you are looking for... read more

Stay away. Hubs and I ordered BBQ sandwiches. Both Texas style and NC style. No BBQ sauce n verrrry vinegary. Potato salad was inedible. Dogs enjoyed Mac and cheese. Deviled eggs were decent. So obviously we didn't eat much. Went to Petro across the way and enjoyed beef ribs with mashed potatoes and corn. read more

Billboards leading up to highway exit advertise it as the "Best Dang BBQ in VA". My inner BBQ snob's curiosity was peaked. Located in a somewhat sketchy truck stop just off the highway. Ordered brisket sandwich and sweet potatoe fries. The fries were crispy and tasty. The brisket was on the way too greasy side, but had really good flavor to it. No sauce needed. Not sure the soft bun could have handled it anyway. All in all, surprisingly worth the stop. read more

Smiley's Bar-B-Q - Smiley's brisket sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Raphine, Virginia