4 Rivers Smokehouse

I can’t get enough of this place! You have some great BBQ here along with unique sides to go along with them! The prices are pretty fair if you ask me, and this building is a good size!
An added bonus is the sweet shop where there’s even more variety for those that have room for it and/​or a big sweet tooth! My only complaint about 4rivers is that, they’re not open on Sundays. But I can work with 6 days out of 7.

There goes the 4 Rivers hype train. Can you guess who’s not on it? ME.
I’m not on it. In fact, I’m on the sidelines wondering if I’m missing something.
The claims of it being the best BBQ in Florida seem a bit far-​stretched to me. I mean it’s okay, but it’s definitely not my first choice. In all honesty there is a lack of really good BBQ in the area so I guess 4Rivers satisfies a BBQ yearning you may have. I can safely say that almost every time I’ve eaten there I find myself wallowing in regret. One from how oily and greasy it is and two from how I still don’t understand why everyone seems to love this place so much. I mean I get it, I’m not a health nut by any means. I understand how BBQ works… You’re looking at someone who would eat French fries everyday if she could. But there’s something about 4Rivers I can’t get completely down with. Lauren H. said in her review that it tastes like cafeteria food and I agree to some extent. It’s better than cafeteria food but still oddly similar.
But there are a lot of other elements that come into play as to why this place is so highly rated. For one, the customer service is stellar. I’ve never encountered unfriendly service here. Everyone is smiling, friendly and attentive. And don’t fret if the line is long, things move pretty quick. Any of their locations that I’ve been to have been clean, décor and interior are inviting.
I guess for me when I look at these reviews I’m expecting mind blowing BBQ and it’s far from that to me. It’s good, but I’m not rushing over there when I have a BBQ craving. I have my go-​to spot in town that 4 Rivers doesn’t even come close to in my opinion.

I’ve lived all over the world and this place by far has the best food, atmosphere, and extremely attentive staff who always have a smile. I’m very picky and am usually proper when I eat, I Tore open my coleslaw container so that I wouldn’t miss a bite of the perfect «slaw», I scrapped my mac n cheese container clean, and After eating my delicious pulled pork, I licked the paper clean! Truly the greatest eating experience of my life!

We love 4Rivers and everything it stands for. We are big fans of the owner and love that every staff member is extremely courteous; the line may be ridiculous sometimes but they get you through quickly and with a smile on. We love the brisket and burnt ends the best; the Texas stack (something like that) is delicious. My favorite sides are the baked cheese grits (nommm) and the fried okra. People also go crazy for their krispy kreme donut bread pudding.
Their sweet shoppe is dangerously good and we prefer their ice cream (bourbon java buzz and coffee oreo are my favs). Keep in mind that pregnant women get free ice cream — score!
We are so glad to see 4R and its fanbase growing steadily.

Honestly some of the best bbq in Orlando and it’s really affordable. I usually get the pulled pork sandwich and their bbq sauce is really tasty. Other great items are the smokehouse corn, mac and cheese, and red velvet cake.
We’ve had food catered for some of our parties and it is always a huge hit. People rave for days about the baked beans and corn.

As a pregnant lady, I gotta say, this was just what he baby ordered!!! I have never been much of a bbq person, but this was some of the most delicious food I have ever placed my lips on! The fried pickles were amaze balls and the longhorn was smothered in cheese with sausage and beef brisket… I am stuffed, and happy as a clam!

Food is always excellent so I can’t complain there. However, we recently used the catering service for an event and when we initially called, we were quoted one price & when we called to make an adjustment, they completely changed the price saying we were misquoted the first go (which was for more food). Delivery was on time (not for our event but what they said they could do) but they also showed without plates, plastic-​ware and serving utensils so we had to run out for those items.
The catering side of this company is very unorganized and inconsistent which is a shame because the food is really good. As a non-​profit, I’m not sure we will use this option again.

I wish I had come here sooner so that I could have tried more of the delectable options during my stay here. Everything is delicious, the location is great, and the soda selection alone is enough to bring me back! Not just any sodas, old school glass bottled regional faves from around the country.
Let me take a moment to brag on the staff as well. What a great bunch of people. They are consistently kind, patient, informative, and even funny whether it is a slow afternoon or a huge holiday rush. I wish this place was closer to home, but I will make a point to come back every time I’m in town.

Wow is this place a popular spot or what! Came here on the recommendation and with my good friend Steve (the guy with the generous girth)
This place is Hog Heaven for all BBQ lovers with a real Southern BBQ menu… very authentic down to eating on a tray with paper with plastic utensils!
I had the St Louis Ribs ½ rack with fried Okras and Collard greens and Steve inhaled his Beef Brisket with 3 gut filling sides (I tried not to look specially as I am on a low carb diet!) but they all looked great and the flavor here is very good!
What was more amazing is that Steve drove me back home to my loving and envious wife and kids approx 200 miles without passing out at the wheel immediately after our meal! A Saturday to remember fer shere… Thnx Steve!
Will definitely be back!

We tried pork ribs, beef rib, chicken and sides… mac and cheese, cheese girts, fried pickles, bbq beans, collards, sweet pot. casserole, bread pudding. Everything was delicious but the chicken was a bit dry. Also corn bread and biscuit. We went to the counter and got the stuff to go. Too smoky for me to stay and eat. Food was well packed. I was advised to not call it in. Beef rib takes 15 min. Husband loved it. Great sauce. Green beans also. Fried pickles were killer. Almost forgot… carrot cake, caramel bar, some stuffed coconut thing like a big cupcake. Everything delicious. Price is fair. Study the menu before you get there because they are in a hurry. Very good place to eat. We will be returning when we get to the area.

My very first visit to this place with a great reputation! I ordered beef brisket sandwich with southern green beans and fries! $ 12 with a drink! I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat bbq anywhere else now! It is beyond amazing!!! Wish I could give 10 stars!

I’m almost always a 4 rivers fan. Their brisket is my favorite thing, but being on a wedding diet, it’s also forbidden fruit. I ordered the BBQ chicken, green beans, and collards. It was all pretty good, but the chicken was TINY. Growing up in KC, we used to have the option to just order meat (no sandwich) and sides. 4 rivers doesn’t seem to have that, but I will ask next time if they’ll do this with brisket.

I got a 2 meat dinner. The safe choice was the pulled pork. Seldom is pulled pork terrible, so I can usually trust walking away satisfied. The pulled pork was good. Then the risky choice: burnt ends. Burnt ends can’t be square hunks of brisket with sauce. They need to be the crusty ends of the brisket. And bark is everything. These were the second best burnt ends I’ve had (the best is by a place wiped out in the last recession).
The sides were okay. The corn and beans were both good. The mac N cheese was okay but seemed too much like elbow macaroni covered in melted Velveeta (and some people like that style, so it might be your thing). The biscuit was excellent.
Overall, a very good meal. I’d like to go back.

Recently visited on a Tuesday to try the new taco Tuesday menu item and boy it was a good choice.
You get 3 small tacos with brisket, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and cheese. The flavors are incredible. I did try some of their bbq sauce on one (because why not) and even that was good. This just goes to show you can’t go wrong with whatever you get from 4Rivers.
We also purchased a bunch of sides. Fried okra, fried pickles, cornbread, sweet potatoes, bread pudding and cheese grits. I love bread pudding and I get it every time I visit 4Rivers or the Coop. I’m not a huge grits fan but add cheese and I’m on board.
My wife and I also got a red velvet cake ball and it’s so sweet and so good. Their bourbon Java ice cream from the sweet shop is tasty (I’m a sucker for good coffee ice cream) and worth a try.
I forgot how much I love this place.

If you like BBQ you’ll love 4 rivers. A «must go» destination if you’re a tourist. Orlando bucket list material for sure. Get the pulled chicken. The sides are all so good, it’s hard to pick only a couple. Leftovers are top notch.

This place has a strong following in the area for a reason. Their take on BBQ fits the mainstream crowd — the food is tasty, the prices are reasonable, and the staff is friendly. Will return when I am in the area.

I don’t know — the food looks good, but I am traveling in for a business presentation and was referenced over to this place. I called to place an order for 10 people, but I was not allowed as it was not 48 hours in advance. I asked again as it says this no where on their website and it seems weird, but if they don’t want my business — that’s fine.

Loved this place. Everything about it was fun and is what a barbeque place should be. The portion sizes are large and the food is delicious.
The fries weren’t all that impressive but I don’t think you could go wrong with anything you get here.
I recommended going here and I can’t wait to go back. I’ve heard the molten lava cake thing there is to die for. I’ll let you know when I get to try it.

I really hate to do this. This review is based on catering…
I ordered the smokehouse shindig for 15 people for a birthday party for my husband. I was reassured in the beginning that it would really feed 20. I was SHOCKED at the tiny amount of meat. The food ran out quickly and I ALWAYS over order. When I called to inquire the girl with whom I spoke investigated with the kitchen and notified me that they «forgot to include» 3 lbs of the 8 lbs of meat. They tried to appease me with a gift card that was about half of the price of the meat and sounded confused when I challenged that. The manager then counter offered me another gift card… it’s not a game show. Seriously? What’s fair is fair. I paid for 8 lbs and I should have received that. You somehow «forgot» or purposely omitted 3 lbs of meat? So refund the equivalent value. Don’t try to win me over with gift cards. Makes me wonder how often this happens based on their quick to offer attitude.

As a foreign barbecue lover the first thing I do upon arrival is asking the reception of my hotel which is the best BBQ joint in town. They sent me someplace else and it wasn’t until after a friend on Facebook sent me to 4 Rivers that I had the opportunity to try this one out. And it was definitely a lot better.
This was perfect to my taste! #ribs #pulledpork #brisket & sautéed vegetables (loved the corn!). I even took home a couple of their dry-​rub mixes. I love the fastfood style atmosphere. If I’d ever open a BBQ joint, I could see it looking a lot like this.

Love this place!!! Great variety of smokehouse items and sides. The stackers are my favorite and you have to get a side or two. Great beans and sweet potato casserole. It’s hard not to fill up, but they have a dessert shop inside the restaurant around the corner from the cash register with lots of cakes and cupcake options to select from.

4Tuvers is the daddy of another of my favs, The Coop.
For some reason, the logo led me to assume I was walking into a chili’s-type restaurant. No so. Very low-​key, relaxed atmosphere. Noisy, but more earthy.
A barbecue restaurant, with a kick. Delicious food. Servers will bring you food that wasn’t ready when you walked through the buffet-​esque (NOT a buffet!) line. You pay before you pick a table.
Seating is at long communal tables. It’s still easy to feel and have privacy even still. There are some booths.
Utensils are plastic and plates are styrofoam. Sometimes, there are no plates at all and food is served up directly on a clean tray covered in but her paper. Like I said, it’s low-​key. :)
Fountain drinks, bottled specialty drinks, and brewed tea are all perfectly matched.
Don’t forget to leave room for dessert! Fantastic bakery/​ice cream shop on site!

First time here at 4 Rivers and I have to say it’s worth the wait (because the line is Ridiculously long, like it takes an average of 45 minutes to just order your food and pay) but the food is pretty good. This place is better than Sonny’s BBQ. The beef brisket and pulled pork was not dry and their smokehouse corn and baked cheese grit is something you Have to try and get. If you’re in the mood for barbecue, go to 4 Rivers
It’s a tad bit pricey though

I have been hearing about 4 Rivers for quite some time. I live in Tampa and they built one there not too long ago. Well, driving to Orlando for a weekend get away, I decided to give the one here a try first. I don’t know why I have not gone sooner!
I ordered the St. Louis Style Ribs dinner plate which comes with 3 sides. The sides I ordered were bakes cheese grits, collards, and mac & cheese.
I thoroughly enjoyed all the sides, they were very tasty. I would say tho, the collards were a little sweet. Otherwise, I give them *****.
The ribs… the ribs were well cooked and seasoned. The meat was very tender and tasty! The only critique I have is they should give more sides for the kids meal!

I tried the pulled pork sandwich with mac and cheese and the biscuit.
Walking up to the restaurant i was super excited because of the wonderful smell of smoked meat. To be honest I was a little intimidated when at the counter because I didn’t know what to order. I asked the guys at the counter to just give me their favorite thing on the menu.
The pulled pork was solid. Nothing tremendous, but a really solid pulled pork sandwich. I was a little disappointed that I didn’t see the hot bbq sauce until I was leaving, it could have used less sweet and more smoke.
Both the biscuit and mac and cheese were fine. I personally think the Mac and cheese is basically just a better version of stoffers, but it was tasty.
Bottom line this place is trying, and it’s very fairly priced. Total with a drink was $ 11 for a quality prepared meal. Id go back, but this I by no means the best bbq I’ve ever had.

OK, seriously, if you haven’t been to 4Rivers yet, what are you doing with your life? There is a reason this place consistently has a line out the door. This has to be some of the best BBQ in the country. I’m not kidding. And P. S. that wait is worth it.
The menu is pretty extensive. A good selection of sandwiches and combo plates. My boyfriend is a fan of the Messy Pig sandwich — pulled pork, slaw, fried pickles and jalapenos with 4R sauce. Spoiler alert: it’s a pretty stellar sandwich. Me? I’m in love with the burnt ends. OMG, that is some amazing beef! And then there are their sides. You really can’t go wrong with any of them. But my personal favorite is the smoked jalapenos. Stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon. Umm… yes!
Really, I don’t need to say anything about this place. If you live in Central Florida, chances are you know 4Rivers’ reputation. That exists for a reason and you will not be disappointed.
Pro tip: You can call ahead and place your order to-​go to pick up at the window. This is usually quicker than waiting to order in the restaurant, and you can still dine in if you wish.

Bread Pudding! What the what, why have I never ordered this before? I have really been missing out. It is just so sweet, tasty and ohhh wee let me slap somebody it is so good! 4 Rivers don’t make me stop daily for this succulent tasty treat because I will! Oh yeah my ribs were fall off the bone delicious and the green beans taste like grand mom cooked them. Did I tell you about that bead pudding?

Next to my all time favorite [actual] Texas barbecue in San Antonio, this place is my second favorite. Simply the best here in central Florida!
Started by a local man, he has expanded his business into many other Florida markets such as Gainesville and most recently downtown Orlando. He owns another local favorite, The Coop, also in Winter Park.
But enough of the chitchat – let’s get to the grub! This place has some of the best. First off, yes the line is worth the wait. Always worth it. It moves quickly as once you get to the counter to order you receive your food hot as you pay at the other end of the counter.
My favorite has to be the brisket. So tender, meaty, and flavorful. Other people I have taken here enjoyed their ribs, whole chicken, and pulled pork. The brisket is so good I can never bring myself to order another meat. Sorry not sorry.
There are may combinations of what you can get. I personally favor the dinner plate that includes you choice of meat and 3 sides. Southern style sides galore, these are all pretty great. At this location I stay away from the fried stuff like french fries or pickles as they are pre-​fried and not served fresh from the fryer. Not worth the room in your belly. Sweet potatoes, baked beans, bread pudding, macaroni & cheese, grits are all great choices. And they don’t skimp. If you choose wisely you will leave good and full. I rarely finish my entire dinner plate.
They have desert for purchase including pudding, bars, cupcakes, and more. I am always too full to even look at the sweets! I had a cupcake here once that was so-​so and decided it was not worth the room in my belly either. I stick to the meats and sides.
This is another place I take all out of town visitors. It is that dang good!

BBQ lovers, this is your spot. This is Orlando’s best BBQ hands down. Be prepared to stand in a line, but the people move quickly. Run down the line and choose your meat and sides, take your food and find a seat.
There are so many options to choose from, but know the brisket and the pulled pork can’t be beat. I love the Burnt Ends, but my favorite options are the signature stackers. The Six Shooter is amazing. Any entrée where you can put the cheese grits under the meat a part of the meal is a winner to me. The cheese grits, the pickles, the pulled pork. Perfection.
As for sides, the cheese grits are awesome. Corn bread, Mac and cheese, fried okra. All amazing. Be sure to grab a specialty sofa or a fountain cheer wine on your way through the line. Enjoy the different flavor of BBQ sauce on the table. Be sure to swing by the sweet spot on the way out for a giant piece of cake for later.

I have yet to find what is NOT to love about this place. In my eyes (I am no food pro or anything), there is nothing that even comes close to comparing in the state, or Texas for that matter (see previous review on Mikasa’s bbq).
4Rivers had me at «try the cheese grits,» and I never said goodbye. I often have a hard time deciding what I want, so I usually end up ordering way too much, which then becomes lunch and dinner the next day. You can’t go wrong with any of the meats… I personally favor the brisket, but the burnt ends, pulled pork and others are also delicious and never dry. The sides are all amazing, but the Cheese grit patty cake things are to die for. They were designed for the fat kids. The only real way to describe them is it is like a nice warm brownie… except it is cheesy grit goodness.
They also have a nice sweets shop with cupcakes and other deserts. As good as they are, we rarely have the ability to even think of anything after eating here. We always leave full and satisfied!

I called 4 Rivers Smokehouse in Winter Park. The phone was answered by a polite female stating the name of the location. She displayed a caring and pleasant attitude. I asked the female that answered the phone if they did call-​ahead seating as I was told sometimes there’s a long wait. She stated that they did not do call-​ahead seating or reservations. She stated that their busiest times were between 6:00 and 10:00 with at least a 15-​minute wait. She asked if I had been to the restaurant before and explained that it was cafeteria style with log picnic tables.
I arrived at the restaurant later that afternoon. The exterior of the building was in good repair. The sidewalk and walkway directly in front of the restaurant was clean and free of debris.
There was a long line from inside the restaurant that led to outside the restaurant. I waited in the line for approximately 15 minutes before I reached the carver. After reaching the front of the counter, I was immediately greeted with a smile and eye contact and welcomed to the location. The order taker was knowledgeable about the menu when I asked questions. I had trouble deciding what to order, and he helped me by giving me a sample of the moist brisket. I ordered the BBQ Brisket Quesadilla, Smoked Wings, Coleslaw and Corn. The crew worked together as a team to facilitate the order. All crew members were clean and neatly dressed. From my vantage point, the crew members kept the kitchen area clean during service. I was given the Wings, Coleslaw and Corn on a tray, along with a table marker.
When I arrived at the cashier, I asked her about the Texas Bourbon dessert that was in the display case near the register. She had no knowledge of its ingredients. However, she told me I could go to the Sweet Shop and they would be able to tell me. I made my way over to the Sweet Shop and they told me the Texas Bourbon was basically a pecan pie with bourbon added. I purchased the Texas Bourbon.
I sat at a table and enjoyed the Wings and Coleslaw and Corn. A few minutes later, a manager approached me asking if I had ordered the Quesadilla. He informed me that the Quesadilla was overcooked and he had it sent back to be redone, and that it would be out shortly. A few minutes later, the Quesadilla was brought out to me. All the food items were served at the appropriate temperature. The Wings were huge and juicy. The Quesadilla was delicious.
Given the volume of customers, I feel that the wait time was acceptable. The restaurant was also very clean. I would definitely return and recommend to friends and family.

Unfortunately I was only able to try 4 rivers once. I came here on the recommendation of my co-​worker who is an Orlando native. Now, being from socal, the problem that I have is that I can never get burnt ends anywhere. So as you can tell, that is what I went for.
I added the smoked jalapenos, baked cheese grits, and sweet potato casserole to the mix, along with a bottle of Cheerwine. The burnt ends were great, though I can tell they had them out for a little bit. Instead of having that caramelized crunch, it was a bit dry. but nothing a bit of bbq sauce can’t help! The biscuit was moist and not too bland. The highlights were the bacon wrapped jalapenos. They had great smoky flavor and full of cheese. The cheese grits were also amazing — not too gritty and also had great subtle flavor that was not bland. I wish the sweet potato has some texture variety (maybe add some pecans or something for crunch). It was a little too sweet for me.
service was quick and friendly. Happened to get here during the daily 5 pm downpours so it was pretty quiet. Will definitely come back to try out more on the menu next time that I am in town.

Overall, my first experience at 4Rivers was disappointing. The food did not match my expectations and those of the reviews I’ve read on Unilocal.The main issue being dry meat. Both the Texas Destroyer and Burnt-​Ends contained meat that was dry. The other ingredients in the Texas Destroyer somewhat masked the dried brisket but it was unforgiving as a stand alone bite. Thank goodness for BBQ sauce! I also tried a variety of their sides and will list them in order from most favorite to least favorite (#1 being the most favorite).
1. Smokehouse Corn — best side of corns at any BBQ places I’ve tried
2. Baked Cheese Grits — this is something else lol
3. 4R BBQ Beans — I don’t like beans but I could eat this
4. Mac & Cheese — eh
5. Fried Okra — so bland! I couldn’t eat any more than 4 pieces because it was so flavorless.
On the bright side, the service was great and we didn’t have to wait in any long lines. I’ll certainly give 4 Rivers a second chance based on the reputation it has. Maybe I’ll go near opening time when the meat is more fresh and not sitting out all day. All hype aside, 3 stars is suitable for 4 Rivers in my list of BBQ restaurants.

In my opinion, one of the best places for BBQ. It’s been awhile since I’ve eaten 4 Rivers. I didn’t disappoint. We were having a meeting after work; so I decided 4 Rivers would be a nice treat.
I was ordering for up to 20 people. The person that helped me order over the phone was a great help in making choices and I really appreciated it. I ordered the pulled chicken, sausage, baked beans (4Rivers style) buns for anyone that wanted sliders, Crispy Crème bread pudding, a gallon of tea and lemonade.
The pulled chicken always taste the same; delicious with a hint of spiciness. The sausage was a hit; they loved it. Along with the different sauces to add the meats, if you wanted; it was delicious. I don’t know what they do to the baked beans, but that’s a «must have side» with any entrée you get. Now the crispy Crème bread pudding is… O…M…G…it literally melts in your mouth and so addicting. Along with plates, eating and serving utensils; and a gallon each of sweet tea and lemonade; I would say everyone enjoyed every bite.
I ordered early in the afternoon about 2 and was hoping they would be able to accommodate with such short notice because I needed the food for a 5:30 meeting. Most places require a 24 hour notice. However, I was pleasantly surprised they were able to accommodate my request. Thank you 4 Rivers! Looking forward to coming back!