Took a quick trip down to Richmond for the first time and this place kept popping up. We got there nice and early but there was already a line out the door. The meats here were very good - extremely tender with a nice smoky flavor. I was personally a huge fan of the spare ribs and my girlfriend loved the prime rib (which I have never seen at a BBQ place before!). The sides were a bit lackluster and just ok, but service was friendly. While a bit pricey, I would definitely come back just for the meats! Meats: Brisket, Prime Rib, Pork Spare Ribs and Sausage Links Sides: Jalapeño Mac and Cheese, Potato Salad and Collard Greens read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Bbq - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

First, let me preface this by saying that I grew up in North Texas for the majority of my life. Second, I've had a LOT of BBQ during that time. Well known standards from the area including Angelo's, Railhead, Heim's, Cousin's, and a lot of old places that are no longer in existence. Each one offering its own spin on a Texas standard. Upon moving to Virginia, I hadn't ventured out to any of the BBQ joints, but one of my associates from the office would often talk about ZZQ. I had assumed that Virginians had a concept of BBQ that was akin to shredding some meat and pouring BBQ sauce on it. So, I finally had the courage to visit ZZQ a few weeks ago to pick up an order to go. I arrived just before opening time on a Saturday morning. There was a line that extended just down to the street. Probably 40 feet or so. Figured this would go pretty quickly once the doors opened. I was wrong. After 15 minutes, I had only moved about 5 feet. The line was building behind me, but simply appeared to have gotten stuck somewhere in front of me. After about 40 minutes, I had finally made it to the front door. Inside, there was another line up to the cutters. There were menus to peruse and a large sign with all the cuts and sides you could think of. A great variety. As I got closer to the front, I realized that it wasn't the cutters causing such a slow procession, but the customers. As I listed to them talk, most seemed to have absolutely no clue what they wanted at all. Did I mention the menus and billboards? They seemed to want to chat about food and prep more than just order. Had this been in Texas, the mob of a line would have escorted you out. When you get to the cutters, you know what you want. No time to dilly-dally. I got up to the cutter and placed my order. I was getting a variety, so I went for 1/2 a chicken, 1.5 lbs of sliced brisket, a couple of sausages, mac and cheese, cole slaw, and sauces. The cutter gave me a chunk of the brisket. Definitely moist, a bit overly fatty, but tasty. Their idea is the "meat has enough flavor so that you don't need sauce." He also mentioned they smoke with oak wood. Good to know. The taste is good. Probably as close to a Texas style as you can get, but with some small exceptions. Mesquite wood is often used in Texas for smoking. Plentiful, but obviously costly to transport outside of Texas. It has an exquisite flavor that is just right for BBQ. The second is the sauce. I like sauce...GOOD BBQ sauce! Unfortunately this is where ZZQ falls short. I didn't care for their sauce at all. Too vinegary and liquidy for the lighter sauce, and too heavy with molasses with the other one. So, I had to make do an whip up a small batch of homemade sauce at home that helped to bring it together. All the folks at ZZQ made it for a nice experience. Definitely customer oriented and friendly. I think the BBQ is as close to Texas-style as you can find in these parts, but kind of a miss on the sauce. Still, I can either make my own or buy a bottle at the local store if I want. Definitely worth a try, but you will need patience with a barrage of people who clearly have a lot of questions about BBQ. read more

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ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque does not accept reservations. We got there 10 minutes after it opened and the line was already long. They have a bar and indoor seating. Outdoor seating is also available. Ambience is very casual. Service was awesome. The people behind the counter were very helpful. They had some samples at the counter to try. They did not rush us and answered all our questions very well, describing the sides and how ordering worked. The beef brisket was heavenly. It was soo delicious. The best one I've had so far. Very juicy and tender. It melted in your mouth. The pulled pork and pork spare ribs were also good. The meat went well with the thick sauce which was my favorite. The house sausage that was spicy and had cheese was good too. The dirty rice was another favorite. Jalapeno mac & cheese had a kick and was good too. Buttermilk potato salad was mashed and had smooth texture (rather than the chunky version). Terlingua cole slaw and cornbread were nice too. The chopped brisket sandwich came with pickled red onions (or white ceviche onions). It had a lot of meat in it and was also delicious. Will definitely come back and try their desserts next time. Highly recommended. read more

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This place was incredible! You order at the front and find your seat once you get your food. We went down on Saturday and the line moved quickly, and there was plenty of seating, both indoor and outdoor. The food itself is incredible, there were samples at the front so that we could try each of the meats before buying, and all of the meat was so tender and well marinated. The cornbread was perfectly moist, and the serving sizes were generous. I loved this restaurant and will definitely be coming back! read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - brisket, ribs, corn, coleslaw, cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Wow! What a gem of an establishment. My boyfriend and I popped in for lunch before heading back up towards dc and had such a great experience! We had our dog and the staff was very accommodating with water and pets for her. We had a great meal out on their patio area and can't wait to try more on our next trip down! read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Very good bbq and sauce! I think what really made the difference are the sides -- all had a level of depth that was so gooood. We ate this at hardy wood so we had a lot of space to enjoy the bbq. The service was very good, efficient and friendly. Can't wait to have it again! read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Beef Brisket, Buttermilk Potato Salad, Jalapeo Mac & Cheese, Terlingua Cole Slaw, green beans, pickled onions - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

So let's start with the word DELICIOUS. Every single thing I had was awesome. Stuffed myself stupid. Tried the ribs (A+), the brisket (A+), the jalapeño cheese sausage (A-) and the banana pudding (A). The staff were awesome and super friendly. Got a burnt end sample while we were waiting in line. I would recommend getting there early as im told they sell out. They have plenty of seating option both inside and out. I want to go back to try their bar. They had an impressive cocktail menu that work prevented me from indulging in. Definitely hit this place up if you are a BBQ fan. read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Best BBQ I've had in Virginia! While a touch pricey for your portions, the flavor is incredible. I will dream of that brisket. That smoked turkey paired with their pickled onions is incredible! Don't sleep on the potato salad either! Service with a smile is the name of the game here. Everyone was super attentive & kind. It's a well laid out spot with a slightly nicer ambience than tradition bbq spots. We will be back! read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Beef Brisket, Turkey Breast, pi, Buttermilk Potato Salad, beans, banana pudding - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

One of my Favorite Restaurants Ever Food Best Brisket I have ever had period. Everything else is good. I have had the pulled pork and the trio sandwich. If you are in the mood I'm sure you'll like it but just get the brisket. Service Be forewarned there will probably be a line to get in the door and.... You may drive an hour to get there and they are closed because they have completely sold out of food. It had happened to me three times. I now call before to make sure they aren't closed. The people are friendly the food is just that good. Ambiance It is fine. Nothing to talk about or complain about. Price Brisket is like $30/lb so it isn't cheap but it is worth it. Overall One of my favorite places anywhere go try it read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Beef Brisket Jalapeo Mac & Cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I visited ZZQ for a second time and, once again, it did not disappoint. I was a bit worried the line was pretty long before opening, but it moved rather quickly. As always, the staff was on top of things, bite-size samples were out, and the food was out of this world. I went for the Tres Hombres sandwich, which is loaded with brisket, pulled pork, and sausage. It's a great way to try three things in one! While the meat is nice and juicy, I always like to add a little flavor with one of their sauces. They're all pretty good. Portions are big, so come hungry. Parking is limited, so try your luck with street parking first as the spaces out front are few. read more

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Stopped by on our way home from NC to NoVA. It HITTTTT. Meat's always a solid 10/10 but wanted to give a shout out to the staff. Never met a group of people so down to earth and sweet. Just truly look like they were all happy to be there. Definitely a go-to spot for me in Richmond read more

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Ashamed to admit I only tried this place about three weeks ago after living in Richmond for over a year and a half. I've already been back five times despite the consistently long line. The brisket is unbelievably good, and the bacon ribs alone are worth a Sunday visit. The staff is super friendly and attentive, especially Jane at the bar. Plan to set aside some time for this place--I guarantee it'll become a regular stop. I usually get there around 10:30 because there's already a line by the time they open at 11. If you show up around noon, don't be surprised if you end up waiting close to an hour. I waited about 45 minutes on my last visit. The interior is really cool, too. I would've posted a picture of the food, but there simply wasn't time for anything other than stuffing my face. read more

We were in the area and were ready for a late lunch and this spot popped up. When you see a Que spot add "unless/until sold out" to their hours it's a good sign. All the best Craft Que joints in Texas do this as it's about quality not quantity. They also offered samples of their Brisket while in the line-another good sign. Arrived around 1 and there was a short line out the door-about 15 ahead of us but the line moved quickly. Rustic interior with a Bar in the back offering craft beer on draft and everything else. We saw a sign that said "Eazzy Burger" and thought we'll order one of these-turns out it was a sign for their sister restaurant next door -we did get the Burger to share and it was excellent! For lunch, it all looked so good-from Chicken to pork, Beef Ribs, Sausages and Turkey. As always though, we were here for the Brisket. We ordered 1 1/4 lb (plenty for 3)-they give you a mix of fatty and lean which was a nice touch. Also ordered a couple of their sausage links-sausage of the day was beef with a hint of Jalapeño -great they had beef sausage as most places do pork only. My only suggestion would be to have combo plates -I.e. a meat or two with sides etc. -no matter we ended up eating the food family style and it worked. For sides, we ordered the Jalapeño Mac n cheese and Collard Greens-both delicious with Collards having a touch of sweet. The Brisket was amazing and reminded me of the best I've had in Texas-sausage didn't disappoint-so much flavor! Tried the smoked cheddar-just the right amount of smoke. Ordered extra to take home. Exceptional and engaged service throughout! If you are going to Richmond or driving on 95/passing by, take the exit to Scott's addition and make it to ZZQ-you're welcome! read more

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Excellent BBQ Had my usual: 1/2 lb of moist brisket and it was melt in your mouth fantastic Cole slaw was innovative and interesting but super vinegar-y (my mouth is watering as I type this). I was not the biggest fan of it. But their Texas caviar was super duper good. The Whoopee pie was a great balance of super fudge-y cookie and delicious cream filling There's a reason the line to get in was so long Highly recommend this spot read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Pricey. Busy. Worth it. That brisket is killer. Been here a few times. This most recent time we opted to get all from the point but probably will get a mix of point/flat next time. It's rich. Sausage is good but I will skip next time. Sides are good. Indoor and outdoor seating. It was busy on a weekday afternoon. read more

I stopped here for lunch and it definitely filled me up. The BBQ was tasty and hit the spot, but the mac and cheese felt like it was missing a little something. The baked beans were a nice addition and rounded everything out. Overall, it was a solid visit. I mean... how can you really go wrong with some good BBQ? read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

10/10 spot in Richmond. I am a huge fan of brisket and recently tried ZZQ. Despite the prices and longer waits, the food is amazing. Definitely recommend going as soon as they open in case they sell out of certain items by the time lunchtime may hit. They post all their daily specials on Instagram. read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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We decided to have lunch at ZZQ when we were walking through Richmond at 11am and saw a line forming outside of the establishment. We knew from the line and from the smells wafting through the air that we were in the right place for some delicious bbq. We did wait in line for roughly 30-45 minutes, but the wait was worth it. We ordered the Sunday prime rib, pork spare ribs, and brisket. The prime rib was our favorite. It came with a fresh chimichurri sauce. For sides, we had the jalapeño mac n cheese, Texas caviar, cole slaw and corn bread. The Texas caviar and corn bread were my top picks. I really liked the assortment of bbq sauces, too. We ate a feast, and it was all very good! We left feeling very stuffed. They have a really nice outdoor area for seating. And they have a full bar, too. Seems like a great place for a gathering! read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This was the best dining/customer service experience I've had in a very long time. Walked over with my dog but there was no option to order food without going in. The kindest employee ever offered to watch my dog while I went in to order. Guys inside were super friendly, offered burnt end samples to us in line and were quick to get orders fulfilled. I came back out to find this employee (whose name I wish I'd gotten) tending to his duties with my Leland in tow the whole time. He had gotten him a bowl of water and noticed I had failed to grab a fork, so quickly offered to bring me one (before I even realized I needed it!). I had the Beef and Cheddar with beet salad and both were phenomenal. I seriously can't get over this level of customer service and will be adding this to my must visit places every time I'm in RVA. read more

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ZZQ is my favorite spot for BBQ in Virginia. Everything is amazing and consistent. The staff are all incredible. I recommend going on a weekend when you can try their prime rib. Everything is great and enjoyable in the laid back atmosphere. Also, their cocktails are fantastic. I recommend being prepared to wait in line. It's usually busy. Also, arrive early because they run out of things later in the day, which is great because you can try something else. read more

wonderful! waited an hour outside but it was so worth it . my husband loved the pork bbq sandwich and the brisket sandwich was the best i have ever had in my life! the whoopee pie is a delicious treat . my kids enjoyed the jalapeño mac & cheese thoroughly as well as the brisket and the pork barbecue. I'm thankful they invited me for this luscious meal .the customer service was efficient and courteous. The owner was very friendly and conversational and sweet.! can't wait to visit again! read more

This is probably the best Texas Style BBQ in Virginia. Parking is limited and tight in front of the establishment so, be prepared to park a block or two away. The BBQ here is outstanding. On my last visit I ordered 1/2 lb of Brisket, 1/2 of Ribs, 1/4 lb of Prime Rib all of it was cooked to perfection. We also ordered their Collard Greens & Potato Salad as our sides. The potato salad was a dill potato salad and it was delicious. The Collard Greens were seasoned with molasses which was a lil different than what I am used to, but were still delicious. We also ordered their cornbread, which was warm, soft, sweet...perfection!!. They also offer free pickles, & pickled onions to go along with your meal. The soft drinks are self serve w/ free refills. The atmosphere I. This place did have somewhat of a Texas feel, and the bar had a wide selection of spirits. Overall this place is well worth the visit if you love Texas Style BBQ..BZ!!!!! read more

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Back for round 2 after a year. All BBQ is still good as I remember from a year ago. We got some new items this time. We got the chicken, potato salad, and banana pudding in addition to the ribs, beef rib, beef briskets, and Mac and cheese. The chicken is tender and smoky. I prefer the breast to the dark meat. The potato salad is ok. A bit more creamy. The banana pudding has this strange taste to me but my son loves it. Line is still as long as last year and about an hour to where one can order. The wait is worth it! read more

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Yum. This place is great! The sausage and brisket are spectacular. This place has the best BBQ in Richmond. Keep in mind that the lines can get long and they do sell out of certain things sometimes. I like the atmosphere. Nothing too fancy, which is just how a BBQ place should be. I definitely go whenever I'm in the area. I highly recommend you do too. read more

If you haven't had he pork ribs from here your missing out on life busy. Collard greens fire... jalapeño Mac and cheese fire

Amazing BBQ! A must stop if you are in town. Flavors were outstanding! Make sure to get there early because they can sell out read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Tres Hombres Chopped Brisket, Pork & Sausage - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

PURE CRAFTSMANSHIP. I cannot wait to return and have perfectly smoked brisket & sausage. I met orange, who shared lovely stories about their origin and I can't wait to meet Texas somewhere down the road. For this location: if you ain't first, you're last. So good, that they sell out! read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Signage and counter - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Scratching my southern food jones at the best BBQ in the RVA! If you've never been, you must visit. Bob's beef brisket was fork tender. The collards have a touch of sweetness and the buttermilk potato salad was creamy! Cowboy caviar was a pop of delight! read more

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Best bbq ! I love the brisket and the chicken was delicious ! get their early and just know they might run out of the things you like !

No words truly to describe the chopped brisket sandwiches with pickled red onions - it was a huge hit, the sides (jalapeño Mac and cheese + elote salad) were a good side to add, both spicy but not intolerable and not overly filling. The spare ribs literally fell off the bone. Would recommend coming here again, the meat is absolutely cooked to perfection. The ambience is the closest to a Texan feel you can have in Virginia. Would come back again and bring friends! read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Elote salad, jalapeño Jalapeo Mac & Cheese, Chopped Brisket, Pork Spare Ribs, cornbread, cheesecake desert. - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

GO! If you're in Richmond, even for an hour, stand in line for ZZQ Texas Craft BBQ. It's worth it...always. Going around 1pm on a January Saturday, here's my experience. 1) Experience: The line was out the door, but it only took 45 minutes to leave with food in hand. One of the owners came out to chat us up and give us updates on which items were sold out. (They are open until then sell out of food for the day.) The day I went, they only ran out of cornbread while I was in line. Once inside, it's another 20 minute wait. Once you're at the counter, you'll order your meat, then sides, and then dessert. That part moves more quickly. 2) Food: I ordered for a group. Here's what we loved: -Brisket- it comes with four slabs and it's very tender, juicy, and tasty. It's among the best we've had...ever. -Pulled pork sandwich- It's full of flavor, thick, and the bun it delicious. Make sure to ask for BBQ sauce on the side. -Chicken- the half pound chicken was seasoned perfectly. -Potato salad- it's creamy, unique, and so good. -Collared greens- best I've ever had. Everything was good, but my group didn't love how the beets were seasoned with cinnamon. The cobbler also had a lot of cinnamon in it. I enjoyed it, but a few of my friends didn't. Mac and cheese at BBQ spots isn't usually amazing, but I enjoyed the real jalapenos in theirs. 3) Service: Everyone we met was helpful and seemed proud of the food they serve and excited to be there. 4) Space: The dining area is big with plenty of tables. There's a bar inside and an outdoor patio for warmer months. If you love BBQ, you MUST visit! read more

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Very quick and kind service, informative & patient, loved the sample of the brisket so much that me and my girlfriend got a whole pound of it! We also got some ribs, the two sausages they had & a side of mac, greens & coleslaw. The ribs were sooo tender, I'm talking fell off the bone tender. The brisket was beautifully seasoned & the sausages were flavorful and cooked to perfection. None the the meats needed sauce which is always a good sign in my books. I'm not a coleslaw person but my girlfriend is and she loved it! My personal favorite was the greens, WOW! I've always been a very "classic" greens type of person but the seasoning in these were INCREDIBLE! I could have eaten a bucket of those alone and been satisfied. Free refills on fountain drinks which is always a plus, plus it's self-serve which I personally love. The inside was large, tables spread out nicely & an available sink to wash your hands at. There was also outdoor seating as well if that's your thing. Big ol bar as well. Loved it, I highly recommend and I will be back again soon! read more

I've been to ZZQ a few times over the years. It's worth the hype! Expect a line out of the door on the weekends even on a cold winter day. It thankfully moves fairly quickly and they seemingly match the line pace with table availability. I'd recommend going early because they do sell out of items. All of the meats I've tried are all very tender and juicy. I normally start with a quarter pound per meat and the employees will show you it to see if you'd like to add more. The meats will rack your bill up quickly. The sides are great too. The jalapeño mac and cheese is a must in my opinion. read more

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Ohhhh. Myyyy gggoooshhh. Has to be the Best BBQ ever. My only true tip would be to get there Early. There is a line and they sell out of items every 10 minutes. I mean just the best hands down. If you're in Richmond you have to try them. Just fantastic.,,, and super nice staff. read more

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Great BBq and worth the wait. Never knew Richmond had a name lace like this. It was recommended by a friend and since I was in town wanted to check it out with a group of friends. When we arrived we saw that the line was wrapped around the building. Since we didn't have anything pressing we decided to wait in the long line. However the line did move pretty quickly. It took about 20 mins to get to the order window/counter. They cut and measure all the meat to order from the meat market menu. They have several sides you can choose from as well. The restaurant is set up cafeteria style. After ordering the seating is on a first come first serve basis. It gets pretty packed in there so seating is on a premium. After getting our food, we were lucky enough to find three seats at the bar. Did I forget to mention that they had a full service bar in there as well? I got the beef brisket and a side of the French onion pie. I had some serious food envy because by buddy got the beef rib and it was massive. He let me get a little piece and it was fall off the bone tender. The service was great. All the staff was friendly and more than willing to answer any questions. Definitely a must if you're in the Richmond area. read more

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First, I just moved here from Austin, TX where I lived the last 20 years, and I've lived in AL, GA, TN, NC, and KY too. This place is at the level of the best around central TX for brisket and the sausage. The sausage reminds me of Black's in Lockhart, but moister...it's not some ridged piece of meat from a grocery store but somethimg that crumbles a little bit as you cut through the casing. Perfect. The jalapeno cheese sausage (offered by Harper as a choice who was very friendly and proud of what they do here) could use a hair more heat, but the flavor and texture is spot-on...I'd never consider w/o jalapeno anyway. The Brisket was moist! That alone destroys any competition in this state. Fatty on the sides, good bark on the outside fat, just enough fat marbled thru the lean portions. It reminds me of Franklin's. I didn't try anything else, but I certainly will now. They brought a water bowl for my dogs which are allowed outside, and servers kept them company while I ordered by the link and pound--as it should be. Full bar here (Jane and Jacob), and the best part is it's on the other side of things from getting food--it's an actual bar! That trumps most places in TX! I'm estatic about this place. Music piped outside, picnic tables, shade, smokers...they get it right on atmosphere, ambiance, and vibe. Just perfect! 5 stars! Just found out there are different 1-day specials Th, Fri, Sa, Su...everything from beef cheek to shredded lamb to prime rib and more. Worth checking those out in advance to see what is when! read more

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Go early and often! I first tried to go at 530 on a week night, but they were sold out. I came back the next day at noon, and after waiting in line about 20 minutes, had some of the best bbq I have ever had. I had the tres hombres sandwich so I could try the pork, sausage, and brisket and then added on a 1/2 lb of pastrami. That pastrami was so good..what ever adjective or saying you know to describe good food, it was that. This is a must stop if you are in Richmond. I spent 2 hours between driving out of the way and it being closed and returning and waiting in line...and it was worth it! read more

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It has been a loooong time since I made a special trip to eat in downtown Richmond. The food tax is incredibly high. We did this noon, however to checkout a BBQ restaurant I was told was good. We met another couple there as they said it had been a few years but they thought it was a good idea. SERVICE was great as everyone as very helpful. Once seated we enjoyed the ambiance as the tables were good-sized and well spaced apart. Brisket & Pork Ribs were great and my wife's smoked turkey was exceptional!! Cole Slaw was different but good - I suggest you try a small size and get more if you like it. Wife said beets were outstanding. Our friends enjoyed the corn bread and cookies along with their Ribs & Brisket. Also, It's not a fancy place with no paper plates as you eat off the tray with paper that gets soggy and breaks down. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the price relative to the size of Meat Portions. They need to be a bit more generous on the meat. Having said that I'd consider coming back and hit the Beef Ribs or maybe a sandwich. Normally I don't eat bread with Brisket or Pork Ribs but I imagine they do a pretty good job with sandwiches as a lot of people were ordering them so perhaps that may be the secret to ZZQ? read more

Great food great service, gonna have to give the place "best BBQ in RVA". I could just sleep here and eat BBQ for the rest of my days read more

ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque - Had the brisket and pork, along with the collards, mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This place was something else! Talk about grab some grub and dig in. Communal outdoor dinnng. Food is delicious and service is good. Be ready to order so you don't hold everyone up. I went with the Chopped Brisket Sandwich then went back for a side of Mac n'Cheese. The Sandwich was ginormous and so good! Absolutely recommend this place for the food and the environment. read more

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