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    The Real Deal Bbq

    4.3 (91 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    The Real Deal Bbq Photos

    The Real Deal Bbq - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey
    The Real Deal Bbq - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey
    The Real Deal Bbq - Side Mac and cheese and corn bread - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey
    The Real Deal Bbq - a menu on a chalkboard - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey
    The Real Deal Bbq - waiting on line - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey
    The Real Deal Bbq - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey
    The Real Deal Bbq - The "dining area" - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey
    The Real Deal Bbq - Menu - MAY 2026 - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey
    The Real Deal Bbq - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey
    The Real Deal Bbq - Half Slab Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey
    The Real Deal Bbq - The real deal. - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey

    +74

    The Real Deal Bbq - Bbq chicken platter with Cole slaw and baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Clinton, New Jersey

    THE REAL DEAL BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    waiting on line

    good afternoon My Buddies and i went around the area fishing for trout We decided to stop and get a bite at this Bbq spot we got online we order the food two pork ribs Entrees with two side and a side of corn bread $3.00 each ,it took forever to get the food they forgot my coleslaw ,The ribs were a little cold. I thought they were gonna be St. Louis ribs or baby back but they were different pork Ribs ,They were OK ,the baked beans and the cornbread were very good.also pulled pork sandwich was sitting in bbq sauce i was only able to eat top of bun only with pulled pork . I will never go back again

    Dry brisket with an attempt to mask that dryness with some sweet sauce, beans straight out of a can, and OK mac & cheese.
    J W.

    So disappointed. Came here years ago and remembered it being much better. Maybe it's because I moved back to Texas and was reacquainted with good BBQ. The brisket was pretty dry and had virtually no bark on it. They tried to mask it with some pretty ketchuppy sauce. The mac & cheese was the best thing, which is a pretty sad statement. It wasn't great but at least it appeared to be house made. The beans, on the other hand, seemed to be straight out of the can. Just a ho=hum experience all around. Needs to be a lot better to be a food truck on a gravel lot with a couple of picnic tables for a "dining area".

    Heavenly pulled pork sammy
    China D.

    The name says it all. Dont waste your time with any of the other bbq places in this area. This place has everything i want in a bbq place: off the highway and outdoor picnic tables next to several smokers. Its a little hard to find but look for the smoke and let your nose guide you. Make sure to call ahead before you visit because they may not be open that day. So far ive tried the beef brisket and pulled pork. Both are totally phenomenal. the light bbq sauce they put on the pork is excellent but you dont even need it because the pork alone has enough flavor. All of their sides are amazing too. Also it seems to be cash only so try to have at least $10-15 cash

    Just plain, friendly people here.
    Alex H.

    The best BBQ tastes, packaged into the "real deal" in NJ may not be served in fancy restaurants, but on a roadside rest area on a rural road in Clinton. I even missed the turn into the parking lot since I was expecting a building! We ordered the brisket, which turned out to be expertly basted and BBQd to perfection. The jerk chicken was also a masterpiece that blended well with the sweet baked beans without being overwhelmed by BBQ sauces. The crunchy-skinned sausage was complementary of the other meals ordered. The saliva-inducing smoke and the sun gave the whole thing a giant picnic feel, with cars buzzing by in front of the diverse set of visitors who all seem to (rightfully) enjoy their meals. The portions were generous and prices are more than reasonable -- 6 people were graciously fulfilled at about $40 worth of meal. Social distancing was followed and every visitor while I was there respectfully wore masks. We even ate on the trunk of my car and it did not make this any less fulfilling experience! Note: We arrived on a sunny autumn Saturday at noontime and orders were flying fast. They were served by equally friendly and efficient staff -- I think at that pace some selections may be already out if you're coming in later during the day so I would call in first if you want specific meals.

    All homemade amazing sides!

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    1 year ago

    Food is good but I've ordered the ribs on several occasions and they were served cold.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was great. I got pulled pork and brisket sandwiches and both were great tasting will go the again for sure.

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    4 years ago

    Tried the food 2 or 3 times and my husband & I are not fans. We can make better bbq.

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    Grounded For Life Cafe

    Grounded For Life Cafe

    4.7(73 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Whenever I'm visiting family in central NJ, Grounded for Life is a must visit for me…read more As a vegan, it's a real challenge to find decent - let alone GOOD - food in this area. The exception is Grounded for Life, which offers delicious breakfast and lunch options that are thoughtfully prepared, delicious, and satisfying. Their extensive, all vegan menu offers breakfast options such as bagel sandwiches, burritos, toasts, and more, and even their coffee is surprisingly good! I have also enjoyed their wraps, bowls, and sandwiches. And they even have burgers and hot dogs, too. GfL is my new spot for takeout (order ahead online to save time!) before heading to the airport. The chunky chicken wrap saved me when my flight back to the West coast (already a long journey) was delayed by several hours and I was starving. The cafe also has a number of yummy desserts displayed in the case that are great to-go. GfL also offers a "Meal Prep" option where you can order food on a weekly or monthly basis. Service is friendly and efficient, but they are sometimes understaffed. Try to be patient and nice, and your tasty food will be out soon enough. The cafe itself is pretty small with just a few tables indoors. The outdoor patio is more expansive, and I recommend enjoying your food and drinks outside if the weather is decent.

    Absolutely great experience, cute little place and everything was delicious. I would recommend…read moretrying this place if you are in the area! The service was really nice as well the people were super sweet and answered all of our questions, it's a cute little place my mom and I were pleasantly pleased!

    Photos
    Grounded For Life Cafe
    Grounded For Life Cafe - Yummy vegan muffins and cookies are a wonderful treat!

    Yummy vegan muffins and cookies are a wonderful treat!

    Grounded For Life Cafe

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    Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

    Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

    3.3(298 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    Very disappointing experience…read more A friend of mine ordered the steak and shrimp entrée and asked for his steak medium rare, but it came out well done. The shrimp didn't even arrive with the meal. On top of that, it took over 35 minutes for our food to come out, which is unacceptable. We had to ask twice about the missing shrimp before anything was done. When we finally asked to speak to a manager, our server, Danielle B., rushed off and came back with the shrimp wrapped to-go. It was pretty clear that once the word "manager" was mentioned, she hurried to grab the shrimp instead of actually getting a manager. No manager ever came to the table, and there was no attempt to make the situation right. To make things worse, when we got back to our office across the street and opened the container, the shrimp we were given to-go was ice cold. Slow service, an incorrect order, missing items, and poor handling of the situation. Not a good experience.

    Point: I have loved Cracker Barrel for generations, since we first discovered them in the South in…read morethe early '90s. Counterpoint: The recent rebranding attempt. Turns out that CB has not fully undone the rebranding. You will see places where the logo no longer has an old man by the barrel. The triangle games at the tables no longer say "Four or more you're just plain ig-no-ra-moose." I miss that. They went PC. More importantly, a couple of things here I never encountered previously: someone to greet us as we walked in, the ability to pay from your table instead of up front, and a completely revamped menu. So, the menu has a lot of new dishes, a section with the old favorites - both for the mains and the sides - but I definitely did not have the comfort level here that I'm used to at a CB. Food? I'd say we're still where CB has always been. No change to my fried okra. They accidentally brought a second mac & cheese, let us keep it. They brought cornbread and biscuits while we waited (I asked), and then another bowl with the meal - let us keep it. Very nice! Cornbread still as addictive as ever, biscuits nice and soft. The mac is OK, maybe better if you upgrade with the bacon bits. My third side - I went up for onion petals, and those are mostly breading. Skip those, even if the dip was nice. Get the dip with something else. Too full for dessert, though they have ones I remember and new ones as I figured. The special seasonal lemonade - I think it was strawberry peach limeade - was interesting, the lime threw things a bit but I appreciated the "different" flavor and there was totally puree in there, strawberry seeds I could taste. That was . Verdict: Some things never change. Some things change. But the Barrel's still Crackin' to meet you.

    Photos
    Cracker Barrel Old Country Store - Inside- Rear dining area

    Inside- Rear dining area

    Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
    Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

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    31 South Grill & Deli - Turkey avocado BLT.  Very well seasoned and you can see the plentiful ingredients. Great sandwich.

    31 South Grill & Deli

    4.7(27 reviews)
    5.8 mi

    Mike (owner/chef) is THE best! He makes everyone feel like they are special and welcome there, he…read moreis quick to greet in a fun manner and get right to your order, which is always great! Good people are drawn to come back here and Mike's regular customers are easy to hang with and have good conversations with. I would give more stars to this review if allowed. Thanks Mike- we need 31 South and you!

    Amazing roadside burger and sandwich place. Looks unassuming from the road and maybe a place you…read morewouldn't normally think of stopping at but don't make that mistake. The food is incredible. The burger was smashed nice and flat and had a great char on it. It was seasoned well, which is a major thing for me. I got one with Taylor Ham on it which could have had a slightly better scald on it but that is a VERY minor nit to pick. The fries are superb roadside stand/diner fries. Frozen crinkle cut fries that are fried to perfection; amazingly crisp on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside. Has the faintest hint of old fryer oil. Just delicious and nostalgic. The turkey avocado BLT was also delicious. Tons of Turkey, plenty of avocado and very well seasoned. And the prices are very reasonable. Man, I love this place. There seems to be a very steady stream of regulars all the time and I can see why. Stop on in. You'll thank me later.

    Photos
    31 South Grill & Deli - Dining room bigger and nicer than it looks from the road.

    Dining room bigger and nicer than it looks from the road.

    31 South Grill & Deli - Great scald on a nicely smashed burger. Not afraid of the salt and pepper. Great burger.

    Great scald on a nicely smashed burger. Not afraid of the salt and pepper. Great burger.

    31 South Grill & Deli - Perfect roadside fries. Crisp on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside. Awesome.

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    Perfect roadside fries. Crisp on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside. Awesome.

    The Real Deal Bbq - bbq - Updated June 2026

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