Grayson's Barbeque — Restaurant in Clarence

I was actually pretty disappointed. Heard lots of good things about this restaurant and we were looking for an alternative place to eat, a little closer to home. However, my experience was not really that great. First of all, when I walked in, I was told to go to the very back and that's where I might order. I immediately noticed that there what's some joking going on between who I assumed to be the owner and the girls that were helping in the back. They didn't think anything he was saying was funny, obviously. And he kept on...He was making jokes about counting and it could appear to a customer or anyone else that he was somewhat belittling in his statements to them as he was questioning how to add simple numbers. But he made it sound like joking. I'm not a woke individual at all. And it could be that these girls just have bad attitudes, to be fair. The rest of the review here has a lot to do with the server, one of those girls. Almost like they really didn't like their job there. Even if I didn't like my job, I would still be professional to my customers. That brings me to my experience with the servers. There's no talking over the counter. Not friendly at all. Maybe it's because I was white and they are black? Not sure. Maybe it's because they were mad at the owner who is white... Who knows? Still, it was an uncomfortable atmosphere. I ordered two sandwiches. I was hungry for smoked brisket, but they told me they don't serve smoked brisket. So my choices were sliced beef which came from a different area and some kind of concoction or mixture of all the meats they sell in a barbecue sauce. That included pork sausage, beef slices, who knows what else... And then they put it on a large bun in a slice of foil and then a small paper bag. The first sandwich, they wrapped okay. The top sandwich, was put in a piece of foil that was half the size it needed to be and the sandwich went everywhere in the bag as soon as I got in my truck and tried to grab it while I drove home. They honestly just didn't care. When they were putting the meat on the sandwich, they kind of just slopped it on there with the buns. They did not wear gloves and use their hands. Did not wash their hands in between sitting at the countertop, searching through their phones and then getting up and serving the meat on the buns to me. That made me rather uncomfortable. Does anyone have any idea how many germs are on one's phone? I'm a big boy, so I dealt with it, but I have to admit it still turns my stomach a little bit and I wish I would have asked for someone to use gloves. Anyway, I paid the $18 for the two sandwiches, which I thought was a little high considering what I got. Two $9 sandwiches... Neither of them brisket, either. The final part of this review is about the taste of it. Since the sandwich fell apart while driving, I just waited until I get home and my wife could have some too. Taking the sandwich out was quite the task and putting it all back on the bun where it had fallen into the bag and on top of the other sandwich. The meat was dry. It didn't taste like smoked meat at all. The barbecue sauce was sweet and a little tangy, but not a lot of salt was added to it. It just didn't taste that great. So it seemed like somebody made a barbecue sauce that was really sweet but didn't add a lot of spice or salt to it. All in all, I don't think me or my family are going to come back there and we are rather sad about that. We've heard a mixture of reviews but we typically want to experience it ourselves first. I'm really glad there's a restaurant like this in Clarence. It's an out of the way location so it is kind of nice to have a place, especially a barbecue place there. I hate leaving a bad review, but I think the owner needs to ramp up what he's serving and maybe offer some personal/employee training. I doubt very seriously he can afford to run customers off. I really would like to see this place survive, but that's my true review and opinion, along with my lived experience in going there for...

After retiring from the Navy, Mr. Grayson started his BBQ place a little ways up the road from where it is now. My Dad and I would stop by to pick up some of his delicious BBQ on our way back from fishing. That was more than 60 years ago.

Now in the fifth generation, the Grayson family still makes the best BBQ that i know. My family loves BBQ, and so we've tried it from Houston to San Antonio to Dallas, through Arkansas, Mississippi and into Tennessee. I still love their's the best!

Maybe part of that love comes from the memories of eating there with my parents, wife, children, and grandchildren. I was thrilled to have recently taken one of our great grandchildren there. So, we've been with them for 5 generations too.

Long ago, my parents started the tradition of getting one of their delicious smoked hams for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I still make the three hour drive each year maintaining that tradition, and also picking up some of their "frog rolls" and special cookies. I will continue to do so as long as God allows - with Graysons help keeping wonderful memories alive, and...

UPDATE 6/18/25 Stopped again to give them a 2nd try, well I dropped it to one star, the food was not good at all. The ribs were very tough and dry and no seasoning. The baked beans taste like chili beans out of the can, my husband had to send his food back because it was cold. The girl that was fixing the plates DID NOT have gloves on and as we were leaving she was fixing someone's plate and reached over there and just grabbed a handful of meat to put on the plate, thought I was going to be sick. I had just walked by and she was sitting eating fried chicken and never even washed her hands. That's disgusting. I WILL NEVER stop here again or recommend them. They sell seasoning but sure don't use it.

It was an ok meal, could use more seasonings. The Brisket was very bland and not much of a smoked flavor. The ribs also could...