4 Rivers Smokehouse
| Address: | 1600 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789, USA |
| Phone: | +1 844-474-8377 |
| Site: | 4rsmokehouse.com |
| Rating: | 4.6 |
| Working: | 11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–8PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–9PM Closed |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 6
TR
Traveler Foodie
This was my second attempt to try this place out. One my first attempt the line was way too long. What is the hype? So it is counter service with food slapped on a tray and picnic table dining. Big deal! Really big deal. Texas size big deal. New concept for Orlando. We are a little behind. That is okay. Scattered around the south this type of smokehouse/BBQ shack is all over the place. Smokers and grills surrounded by makeshift seats are the norm. So what is the big deal about this place. It is definitely not on the back roads of the deep south, it is on the main entry way to one of, if not, Orlando’s most prestigious neighborhoods, Winter Park. So many restaurants have come and gone around here, what makes this a keeper? It is completely different from all the restaurants around it. Counter ordering and picnic table dining? No, it is the food. The food is the star. Look pass the hip, cool, outdoorsy vibe, that makes sharing on a picnic table a really cool thing. Focus on the food. Signature Angus Brisket that fell apart with great moist bark and tender perfection. Southern Pulled Pork was a pile of gooey, rich, fatty goodness. Smokehouse Prime Rib was moist, tender, delicate, and deliciously pink. St. Louis Style Ribs fell off the bone with firm give and thick juicy bark. Baked Cheese Grits was creamy and holdsome. 4R BBQ Beans was deliciously spiced and cooked to perfection, no mushiness here. John’s Potato Salad not so much. Fried Okra had a nice coating and tenderness inside. Texas Cornbread was a big sponge, soft and tender. Sweet Potato Casserole had a light cinnamon creamy taste. Chocolate Cake was huge but dry. This Texas roadside smokehouse is definitely worth waiting in the long line. With the long line and picnic style tables one is surely to make at least another friend or two. These portions are huge so make plenty of room. Really good food and nice vibe. This smoke will take a long time to clear.
JO
John Frost
Finding the 4 Rivers Smokehouse is like discovering a little slice of BBQ heaven. Youll have to wait to get in, but once inside, the gates of deliciousness are open to all. For the most part dishes are served Texas style, which means all the flavor is imparted in the smoking and bbq process. You get to decide which sauce to add, or none at all. The meat is that good. If youre unfamiliar with the cuts or portion sizes, be sure to ask. Some dishes, like the sausage you might be able to split, while others youll covet all to yourself. Im a fan of the Burnt Ends, which is a mix of pork and beef and is the only dish marinated in sauce, but you can still add more if you like. Truth be told, Im just as likely to visit 4 Rivers for the sides as I am the meat. The Cheese Grits come wrapped in tinfoil to keep in all the goodness. The cornbread is fried in bacon fat, so a no go for vegetarians, but heaven for everyone else. That said, they do have a good selection of side dishes that make vegetarians squeal with delight. Finally, there are the desserts. You may have to bring a hollow leg or punch a few extra loops on your belt, but trust me, its worth it.
A
A Private User
If youre a big fan of Starbucks, meaning that you like expensive fare in a "hip" atmosphere, then Four Rivers is for you. If however, you like great, smoky barbeque in good-sized portions and sides that are authentic in their old-style down-home taste, then this place is not for you. The barbeque didnt taste smoky, was dry, which is weird since this places barbeque is all about the sauce, so youd think itd be moist from the sauce, but it isnt. The sauce is automatically on the barbeque, not optional. The sauce is mostly sweet, just a little spice. The sandwiches are served on hamburger buns (!), not a choice of type of bread. The beans are too sweet, and the sweet potato casserole is so sweet its like a dessert. So if you like everything sugary sweet, youll like this place. I very much prefer Harry and Larrys Barbeque on Plant Street in Winter Garden, where the meat is lusciously moist and smoky, with sauces on the side, and the sides are wonderful and not so sweet as to be confused with dessert. The iced tea was good at Four Rivers, but thats the only thing good I have to say about the food. I wont be going back.
KN
Knirps Lyn
Food was an average price. 31 for two adult sandwiches and a kids meal. Pulled pork was dry and tasteless, potato salad was soup, sweet tea was meh, ice machine was out for most of the meal, jalapenos were stuffed with ricotta so watch out for that...This is not a saucy BBQ joint. Youve got liquid sugar and hot sauce at the table, but nothing else on hand. Cuban sandwiches were great, but heavy on the mustard for the quesadilla. Sweet potatoes, coleslaw salad, and fried pickles were great. Really interesting batter. Atmosphere was good and layout was great, but for some reason they have music BLASTING at the ordering counter so it was a serious PITA to order. Service was pretty good, but the manager was not having a good day or something. My bf went to exchange the soupy potato salad and that was a no questions asked exchange so yay, but the manager either didnt know what was going on or didnt care, and shoved the next customers food down the line in front of my bf so he had to reach over her food to grab the sweet potatoes. Thats ew.
ES
Esther-Abigail Rahab-Martha
I have been seeking soul food for 3 weeks with no good results. Until, today! OMG...This place reminds me of the soul food back home, up North of course. Signs a restaurants food is popular. The 1st sign..People were sitting in the parking lot waiting for them to open. 2nd sign...there was a line heading out the door before 11:15, they open at 11. 3rd sign...People were smiling walking to the dinnind room with their orders. So, we ordered a portion of everything to test it out. Let me just say there wasnt much left. The full rack of ribs were tender, tasty and plentiful. The sides, mac n cheese, bacon wrapped jalapeños poppers, corn bread salad, green beans, collard greens, sweet potatoes,.BBQ beans, Texas cornbread and banana bread pudding(banana foster). All the food was superb. They smacked a couple a mommas when making the green beans. Lol I will be returning...U Rock 4 Rivers Smokehouse. Almost forgot, they bake their own deserts. The whole experience was Awesome!
A
A Private User
Had been meaning to try this for awhile as its been a year since I had Texas-style brisket (in Texas). Very disappointing! First of all, there were flies. I mean in the dining area, not the outdoor area. The brisket was dry. Really dry. I choked on the first bite. The flavor was just OK. The biscuit was hard and dry; collards and cornbread too sweet and the jalapenos unevenly cooked. The 5 staffers on the line held some sort of conference while I waited and waited for the sides to be added to the tray. At last the cashier prodded them. And about the tray. The meat was placed on a place mat directly on the tray. I sincerely hope Orlandoans dont judge Texans manners and Texas brisket by these examples. A nice touch for a self-serve restaurant was the young woman who came by to ask how things were. NOTE: This review was of the Winter Garden location after it had been open a few weeks.
