Big City Barbeque Restaurant & Catering

Claim
marker

5118 S Rural Rd
Tempe, AZ 85282

marker
(480) 756-5702
Incorrect info? Correct your listing
Reviews
( 10 )
( 3 )
( 3 )
( 1 )
( 0 )

Best

i have yet to try something on the menu that i have not liked- the pulled pork sandwich is perfect, catfish is great, ribs are great, and everyside is wonderful, particularly the ...

Worst

Growing up in Chicago I have had my fair share of BBQ in my lifetime. I was greeted in a prompt and friendly manner; almost as if I had ran into an old friend. My order was taken ...

Over-Rated for sure 3/22/2007

BCBBQ has consistently been a favorite among the community at CitySearch. However, each time that I have tried this spot, I have been disappointed. BBQ is usually a little expensive, and here was no exception. There was nothing out-of-the-ordinary when it came to the flavor of the food. Having moved here from TX, not native though, I have been looking for a good BBQ joint that doesn't taste like it is out of the frozen food section and Big City didn't deliver. Go to Famous Dave's, at least the food is less expensive, better flavor on the meat, and there is a great variety of BBQ sauces. Pros: Convenient Cons: Price more
Reply | Report abuse |

amazing bbq 3/17/2007

i have yet to try something on the menu that i have not liked- the pulled pork sandwich is perfect, catfish is great, ribs are great, and everyside is wonderful, particularly the okra and greens. small and laid-back atmosphere at the rural location and a nice big restaurant with a bar at the alma school location. great food. Pros: best pulled pork sandwich more
Reply | Report abuse |

YUMMY Smothered Anything!!! 2/20/2007

My daughter turned me on to this place because she knew I'd love the greens and catfish. I ended up being in love with the smothered chicken - pork chops too! The greens are great, she was right! The man behind the counter was exceptionally friendly. The only bummer is no alcohol. (we like BEER with our southern food!!) We went to the one on Rural, which is small and you can go in whatever you're wearing, so that spur of the moment is aok.I'm going to go try the bigger resturant accross the street from Fiesta Mall and try the fried okra and maybe the brisket because of the other reviews!! MAYBE THEY'LL HAVE THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE BY THEN!!! more
Reply | Report abuse |

great barbeque, bad manners! 1/11/2007

I stopped in a couple months ago. the bbq was great. what I didn't care for was the fact the man who took my order told me ""you forgot something"" when I signed the receipt for credit card payment. I asked what, and he replied "" the tip."" Since I was a first time customer, I was shocked he would ask me to tip for food I had never tried. What was worse is the fact he said this in front of other customers embarassing me. if the personnel from Big City read this, I hope they will let their employees know that hitting up a customer for a tip is very tacky. more
Reply | Report abuse |

There are better BBQ places out there 11/2/2006

Stopped by two times. Both times the cornbread was dry and tasteless. Pulled pork was good, and so was the candied yams/sweet potato casserole. If I were to visit again, it would only be for the candied yams. Pros: Good candied yams/sweet potato Cons: Terrible cornbread more
Reply | Report abuse |

Exceptional Bar-B-Que: Outstanding Hot Links and Sauce 9/7/2006

The service was great and the Bar-B-Que some of the best in Phoenix. If you get the hot links and the hot sauce, be prepared for truly HOT food. It was absolutely wonderful. Other than that, the brisket was tender, moist and full of flavor. Side dishes were generous and flavorful as well. Pros: Hot links and Sauce Cons: Not enough locations more
Reply | Report abuse |

Very Average 8/25/2006

Ribs were tough and not particularly tasty. The only flavor was from the sauce, but no distinct BBQ flavor from the meat. Pulled Chicken and Pulled Pork sandwich were good. Very dry and unappetising corn bread. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Tasty BBQ 5/28/2006

The BBQ was tastey as was the sauce. Candied yamms were excellent. The cornbread was just out of the microwave and tasted old which was the only disappointment. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Big City - Big Expectations 12/30/2005

Growing up in Chicago I have had my fair share of BBQ in my lifetime. I was greeted in a prompt and friendly manner; almost as if I had ran into an old friend. My order was taken and I waited in anticipation for my order; a rib tip dinner w/ fries and slaw. The aroma was just as I remembered it from back home, smoke, meat and sauce; BBQ. I arrived back at my office and opened my dinner I was truly disappointed. The first thing I noticed was my cornbread was missing. Ok, no big deal it happens. My rib tips were dry and did not even taste like pork. They were definitely overcooked. This was my first and last trip to Big City BBQ. Pros: Friendly Service, Casual Dining area Cons: Food Quality, Price, small dining area more
Reply | Report abuse |

Amazing BBQ!!! 11/8/2005

We love this place. The BBQ is spectacular. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich and the beef brisket sandwich. The only thing was that the cornbread was so dry it sucked the moisture out of our mouths but we weren't there to eat corn bread. You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table. The staff was sooooo friendly. They walked around and gave our towelettes after your meal. Pecan pie is yummy but on the cold side. Great for a quick bite or for lunch. I recommend everyone go here once during their visit to Phoenix. Pros: Friendly service, Quick service, Great BBQ sauce Cons: Dry cornbread, Cold pecan pie more
Reply | Report abuse |

Hot new place in town 6/14/2005

I visited the Tempe location after trying their Mesa restaurant, which is closed on Sundays. The Mesa location looks big and airy and roomy, but Tempe was small and not laid out very well. Once you get your food, however, you stop thinking about logistics and learn very quickly exactly why this place is so crowded. This barbecue here is top notch, better than I have tasted in a very long time. I had the beef brisket, ate it with a knife and fork using their hot sauce as a dipping sauce - WOW!!! While I was eating there, a delivery guy from one of their suppliers came in an ordered. He said that he drives from across town for this food, and that one big reason he likes this place is because it is extraordinarily clean in the back, a rarity for sure in the barbecue world. Pros: Unbelievable food, Very clean Cons: Not much elbow room more
Reply | Report abuse |

The best BBQ spot in Maracopa County! 6/12/2005

I was raised on BBQ from the South and have eaten BBQ in California for 15 years yet this has to be the most tender BBQ Pork ribs you can get this side of the Mississsippi river and it is so sweet. I loved the mixed greens these fellas have prepared as they are awesome as well as the BVlack Eye peas they serve. I have made this my home away from home eating place, plus they just opened one of the most fantastic locations in Mesa on Alma School rd near Hwy 60 that is easy to reach with plenty of parking. I plan to snag a seat at the ole bar as soon as the liquor license is in place so I can be sitting at what I truly believe is going to be one of the hottest eating spots in Mesa and Maracopa County soon! Sammy JJ! Pros: plenty of parking, easy access, good prices more
Reply | Report abuse |

User review by beau55 6/9/2005

We had the beef brisket sandwiches. The meat was tender and adequately flavored, but had big chunks of greasy fat. The place was dark and unpleasant. The food that we had was not bad, but it certainly was not anywhere close to as good as the citysearch 'ratings' suggest is is. There are better alternatives in Phoenix. more
Reply | Report abuse |

Nice to see a new growing chain in Phoenix 6/3/2005

The guys who own this place are entrepreneurs with big plans for Phoenix. They have great food, every type of ""cue"" imaginable, more than a dozen side dishes, and a particular flair for spicing up good old southern home cooking. Everyone in the restaurant was oohing and aahing over what they ordered. A lot of bbq places buy low-quality meat and try to compensate by cooking them to death. Not these guys -- the head chef had a career in the resort industry before creating the menu for this restaurant, so everything is top notch. It is not often that you find a reasonably priced restaurant with excellent food quality -- keep up the good work, and keep your prices down as you expand into more locations and you will be a phenomenal success. Pros: Great Food, Friendly Owners, Celebrity Chef Cons: Not for large groups more
Reply | Report abuse |

Best Brisket Sandwich I Ever Ate! 5/28/2005

I was told to order the brisket sandwich with HOT sauce, and it was SPECTACULAR!!! The meat was juicy and the sauce was over the top, not so hot that I still felt it in my gut, but hot enough to put a tingle on my lip. Pros: Brisket sandwich, good location, friendly people Cons: somewhat crowded, small restaurant more
Reply | Report abuse |

A Celebrated Chef does BBQ? 12/4/2004

When you walk in the door, you find full-page framed newspaper articles about the executive chef who owns this restaurant, plus more than a dozen accolades from the press, and all this for a rib joint? It turns out that the owner is atop-rated chef, and his ambition is no less than to bring barbeque to the upper crust by mixing soul food flavorings with professional culinary technique and quality foods. Does he pull it off? After just one bite, I would say he does. After two more visits, I am now a big fan! When you try his smoked meats, get the sauce on the side. Although the sauce is definately killer, the meats are so good that they don't need it, so use the sauce sparingly. Pros: smoked meats, killer hot sauce, great desserts more
Reply | Report abuse |

""The Bar B Que That Warms My Soul"" 10/24/2004

Outstanding, simply delightful, and totally satisfying. I am a regular (at least weekly) and the consistancy in quality is always top shelf. Please take all your local and out of town guests to this fabulous restaurant. They will talk about the food, service, and good times they experience, for a long, long time. more
Reply | Report abuse |
< Previous 1 Next >
Menu for Big City Barbeque Restaurant & Catering


Summer SALE!!!:
15% OFF all yearly plans
Use year15 at checkout. Expires 1/1/2021
Editorial

  • Casual barbecue joint serves smoked ribs, pulled pork, hot links and beef brisket with corn bread, beans and fried okra.

  • 4/24/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: American Express, Master Card, Visa
badge