Joe’s real BBQ has quite a name around here. They’re known for their homemade root beer, pecan smoked meats and homemade sides and homemade BBQ sauces. People around here LOVE this place. I, on the other hand, think it’s just OK. I’ve been really spoiled by eating El Paso BBQ (see my review), and to me... Joe’s gives little competition.
The prices at Joe's are great. You can get a three meat plate with two sides and bread for $10.50! That’s a smokin’ deal (no pun intended)! On this visit, I had a two meat plate with ribs and ham and my two sides were homemade coleslaw and mac and cheese and hand-squeezed lemonade, all for under $12! The ham was wonderful…something El Paso doesn’t offer, but the ribs were bland and fatty. The coleslaw was good, but I thought the mac and cheese wasn’t cheesy enough. It too, was bland. The lemonade was great, though. I really thought the homemade sauces were good. They offer a mild one and a spicy one. Of course I liked the spicy one. You can pour your own sauce at the sauce station. The meats they offer are beef brisket, pulled pork, ham, hot links, pork ribs, chicken, and turkey. There homemade sides are, apple sauce, potato chips, coleslaw, potato salad, mac and cheese, corn, BBQ pit beans, and cheesy potatoes.
The atmosphere at Joe’s in kind of 1960s country house. Big, long booths line the walls and big tables and chairs fill the middle of the floor. This is definitely a place for large families to gather. Outside is a covered patio with picnic tables and the ‘back yard’ has more tables. The food is served cafeteria style, where you get your tray and silverware, grab your own drink, then order your food from the buffet line, where the server plates it and hands it to you. You then pay for it all at the cash register before you sit down.
They must be doing something right because I see lines here on the weekends, so people like it. I’d eat here again because of the prices and the proximity to my house. It’s not the best BBQ I’ve ever had, but it’s good. They have several dessert choices, none of which I’ve had.
So if you’re wandering around old town Gilbert, stop in at Joe’s. You can’t miss the sign. They also offer take-out if you don’t want to eat in. Joe’s is on Gilbert Rd, just south of Eliott.
www.joesrealbbq.com
They also have the only 25¢ cup of coffee in town.