Boggy Bottom Barbecue — Restaurant in Florida

I had to edit this review since my recent visit after several Months. They are no longer providing table service and while the food was good, it wasn't the excellent quality food it was when I first wrote this piece. So sorry to see this place go downhill. :(

This is a fairly new place located in Southport Park in association with Boggy Creek Airboats. While the building has been there for some time it has only recently been converted into the restaurant (I remember it being a gift shop before).

My wife and I went in for Lunch today and found the place with a few other diners, so not crowded but a pleasant atmosphere. Country music on the sound system and it was a warm place of civilization on a cold and blustery day.

We were quickly seated and Natalie our server took our drink orders. My wife had coffee with honey to sweeten it and I had a Diet Pepsi. Natalie left the menus and went to deal with that. We looked them over and discussed out choices.

My Wife chose to have the Fried Catfish with two orders of Collard Greens as her sides. I chose the 3 Meat Smoked Combo and asked for ½ rack of Ribs, Beef Brisket and Pulled Pork. My sides were Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes.

In a first at a restaurant Natalie asked if we wanted wood or plastic flatware. We decided to try the wood. It seems that the plates and flatware here are made of a biodegradable bamboo which I think is a neat idea. Much less fooling around for the dishwasher and is made from a renewable resource unlike plastics.

Curtis, the Manager at the restaurant made a stop by the table and checked on us. I found him quite personable and pleasant. I also saw him busing and cleaning tables. They use brown paper as a table covering and the wait staff write their names in crayon on it when they introduce themselves.

Once our food arrived in ample portions (I told Natalie we'd need take away boxes immediately.) we set to. My Wife was very pleased with the catfish, properly fried and not greasy at all, she also loved the collard greens. I tried the green beans first and they were excellent. So many places I have been the sides are an afterthought, clearly not here. Tasty and fresh. The mashed potatoes were of a red skin variety, I could tell because they were still somewhat lumpy and had the skins on, just the way I like them! None of this pureed to death or reconstituted mush here.

When I am trying a place for the first time I always try the meat without adding sauces to it first. The Pulled Pork was tender and well smoked, the Beef Brisket juicy and very tasty and the ribs really didn't need any other sauce (that didn;t stop me from trying them of course!)

I tried several of the sauces on the table and will discuss three of them. First is the Mango Habanero sauce. Very flavorful an excellent blend of sweet and hot. While I am not one who normally goes for the hotter sauces this is one I'll be trying again. The Texas BBQ Sauce had a nice tangy flavor but the one I really took to this time was the Hickory Sauce.

I don't often hand out a five star rating, but this place is definitely on that list. We will be back often and if you are in the area you should absolutely stop by.

Better yet make a day of it and go for an airboat ride, listen to Taylor the Gatorland employee who talks about the native wildlife and listen to a story or two from the Native Storyteller in...

Airboat ride was ok with a couple of gators, few birds and a bald eagle. We shared the rib and brisket plate $23.99 which was very small for the cost but absolutely awful— dry, over dusted with dry spice, and tasted a couple of days if not weeks leftover. The brisket way dry and stringy Nevertheless, the sweet BBQ sauce made them edible. My husband and I agreed on this food critique. They only came with one side, we chose the baked beans which were ok. We asked for water and bread and were told it doesn’t come with the meals, which were order and pick up at the counter, but a space to “add a tip” when you paid. Way overpriced- and even if it were more reasonable, I advise you to take your money elsewhere. Was sorry we wasted a dinner opportunity here. We also never saw the baby gators other reviews talked about. We were on time for the Indian show but were told you have to negotiate with the chief to arrange to see that show beforehand at an extra charge. I looked forward to the butterfly house, but it was overgrown with weeds, with, at the most 10 butterflies. It was a beautiful afternoon, but do not recommend any part of this...

Updated, see below...this place used to be great. But they have changed it into a self-service restaurant consequently the service is not very good and I don't believe the food is up to what it used to be it's still a unique place to dine and I will go there again but it definitely is not what it used to be.

Updated from a 6/28/2018 visit: they must have a new Chef as the food has improved from when I was there 6 months ago the food was actually very very good this time. service was a little bit slow but I think it was a slow day due to rain and maybe they did not have everything prepared as normal. we had two adults and two children we had the brisket plate which was excellent and the pulled pork sandwich which was very very good the chicken strips were so many that a 14 year old could only eat about half of them and he said they were delicious. The nine-year-old ate all of her hotdog and all of her macaroni and cheese which was actually amazing considering she eats very little. Anyway except for the fact that is still a basically fast food type service there I highly recommend the restaurant and we will...