Smokin' D's BBQ — Restaurant in Saint Augustine

Not sure how this place averages such high ratings. This was my first visit here and it is by far the worst BBQ I’ve had in a long time. Absolutely disgusting. First of all, my ribs, their supposed specialty, were ice cold. They obviously sat out for hours and weren’t fresh. They also gave me a piece of toast that was so stale and cold that I could’ve used it as a hockey puck! As if that wasn’t bad enough, they asked me what sauce I wanted only to give me NO sauce so I had to eat cold, hard ribs plain. Yuck! When ordering my sides they said they ran out of small potato salads so they charged me $1 more for a medium as if that’s my problem. Should’ve been the same price because I didn’t cause them to run out. While we’re on the subject of size I ordered a “large” rib platter and a “large” is evidently six skinny ribs and two sauce cup sides and they have the nerve to charge $18 ($20 after being ripped off for the medium potato salad). I couldn’t finish the food and wound up throwing it out. Waste of my time, money, and gas. They should be ashamed calling themselves a BBQ spot. I’ve had better chains than this place. Next time I’ll just go north to Mission BBQ. I will not be back. They lost a customer as fast as they could’ve gained one but this is what happens when businesses think they can just give you anything with no regard for quality. Instead of paying to come back, I will pay to stay away! Never again!

Edit to respond to the awful owner response: Your horribly rude reply to my review shows YOUR ignorance and what an insufferable human being you are! You are RUDE, RUDE, RUDE!!!! If you don’t like the feedback then leave it and just move on. Don’t attack someone who came to your establishment, spent money, and didn’t feel they got what they paid for. I’ve seen your RUDE responses to other people too. Plus how you gonna tell me that I’m lying about my own experience?! The ribs WERE cold! There was NO sauce! And y’all DID give me cold toast! The food as a whole was NOT fresh! Why don’t you try taking accountability for the mess up and apologizing and try to make it right rather than call me a liar! The only Karen here is you! But no instead you resort to name calling and I never called YOU out of your name. I simply talked about my experience. Go learn how to make BBQ and then maybe you can talk. You say no one in 20 years gave you this feedback? That’s funny because I see negative reviews...

Short review: Good BBQ sandwich and coleslaw! :) (Large size portion!)

Long review: I have passed this place for over 20 years without stopping. I'm not sure if it is owned by the same people or not, probably not. But I was in the mood for some BBQ instead of the same ole' fast food choices.

I had just gotten my second covid shot at the VFW close by and decided that I would finally give them a try.

I walk with a cane (due to bad knees with no remaining cartilage) and it appeared OK to walk in their partially graveled lot. It was a little longer to walk because of their entrance walk around barrier. But I made it fine.

Their menu was, as expected, a bit more expensive than fast food. I ordered at one window and paid at the second window. I was the only one in line at the time and my order was placed and received quickly.

I asked if they had outside seating (nothing inside) and I was told "around the building in the back". I was disappointed because I could see an easier path strait there. But they had a door open. blocking the path. I probably should have asked them if the could close the door to allow me a shorter walk. But, I decided just to walk the shorter distance back to my car to eat. There is no medium rare beef I was told. So. I selected chopped pork.

Well, it was all worth it because even with the wrong sauce (the young order taker didn't know what "Bono's sauce was, which is the mustard base that I prefer) it was a delicious sandwich! :) In fact people driving up to the light were looking my way watching me eat and I gave them a "thumbs up" to let them know it was good BBQ! The couple laughed and gave me a "thumbs up" back! :)

My only complaint, suggestion actually, is that they make it easier for physically challenged people to order and get to a closer table much easier. OR some kind of curbside pickup like they now have at Sunny's BBQ on the other side of 312. You know, I never thought to give them a call to see if I could order 1st and have them bring it to my car. The BBQ is good enough that I will try that the next time I am near them and in the mood for BBQ. Which is often, being raised in the south.

Now if I could just find hot boiled peanuts on the corner somewhere in St. Augustine like all over GA, i would be in BBQ and peanut heaven! LOL

Note: I would have given them 5 stars if I could have gotten in and out easier and also to an outside...

Smokin’ D’s BBQ is the kind of place you don’t stumble upon by accident—it’s a pilgrimage for those who know. Hidden in plain sight on a quiet roadside in St. Augustine, it doesn’t try to impress you with frills or flair. No dining room, no fuss—just a window, a counter, and the smoky scent of greatness wafting into the parking lot. If you’re the type to judge a place by its cover, you’d drive right past. And that would be your first mistake.

We stopped on our way to a wedding, a chance detour fueled by rumbling stomachs and curiosity. What we found wasn’t just lunch—it was a revelation. Smokin’ D’s knows exactly what it’s doing, and they do it with unapologetic simplicity. The brisket? A masterpiece. Smoky, tender, with just enough bark to remind you this is barbecue, not a science experiment. You don’t need a knife—it melts. Then there’s the Georgia mustard sauce, the star among a lineup of sauces that all hold their own. Tangy, sweet, and just enough kick to make you want more with every bite.

The ribs? Let’s just say they’ve been kissed by the smoke gods. Perfectly cooked, they slid off the bone but didn’t fall apart—a delicate balance that speaks to years of quiet mastery. And those baked beans? Forget everything you thought you knew. A mix of beans, sweet peppers, and just the right amount of molasses sweetness, they’re not a side dish—they’re a sermon. You’ll scrape the cup clean.

If you’re in St. Augustine and you miss Smokin’ D’s, you’ve done yourself a disservice. It’s a roadside stand with soul, a place where the food speaks louder than the sign out front. This isn’t just barbecue; it’s a reminder that the best meals often come from places that don’t even have tables. And for that, Smokin’ D’s deserves all the...