4 Rivers Smokehouse — Restaurant in Gainesville

First time trying 4 Rivers. I've had Sonny's, Pearl in Micanopy, Top Hog, and Dickey's "fast food" style Texas BBQ (RIP), and this place's offerings are solid. Ordered a half pound of smoked turkey along with a burnt ends beef brisket and pork lunch with mac and cheese and slaw, and a pint of beans.

Upon arrival I totally missed the signs pointing to the takeout window, in part because there was a line out the door here roughly 1pm on a Saturday, good sign. Spacious dining room inside with appealing, smokey BBQ aromas from the kitchen. Props to the polite cashier who pointed out the pickup area which again I inexplicably missed...

Anyway, smoked turkey was glistening, moist and delicious with rich smokey flavor, best item all told. Burnt ends were tossed in 4 Rivers BBQ sauce, which with its mix of spices including tumeric, cayenne, thyme, tamarind, and allspice. Portion size for the meat was smallish, but quite tasty, though next time I'll likely order sauce on the side to better enjoy the smoke flavor that infused the turkey.

The baked cheese grits were... interesting. The brownie-like square had grain coarseness that immediately reminded me of cornbread, just with cheese baked in. Sort of a cornbread / cheese grits hybrid with desirable elements of both but just a bit lacking in the cheese and moisture department, a bit dry.

With the beans I was missing molasses as many other places include, and they were a bit soupy though very flavorful, complete with bits of meat to add to the flavor overall. Not quite the full pint I'd ordered, no big deal but I favor accuracy and tip accordingly. Mac and cheese was decent, not baked or particularly outstanding but good. Slaw was your average Southern-style, though KFC's generic though consistent slaw is frankly, on a good day, superior.

Versus the local competition, Pearl is a cut above for their meats sans sauce, portion sizes still generous though with bumped up prices, and their cheese grits, baked beans, and baked mac and cheese. Their garlicky oil and vinegar-based Carolina style slaw is unique in the area as well. Top Hog's turkey is comparable, neck-and-neck in terms of cost and deliciousness. However, Top Hog's mac and cheese wins because it's not just extra saucy upon request but gouda based, though not baked. Sonny's, I'll advise later, it's literally been years since I've enjoyed BBQ from them and I literally have a coupon from them ca. 2006 to redeem for some sketchy service back then. Dickey's BBQ, no contest, and perhaps they've realized given they jumped ship and left Gainesville altogether with their comparatively lowest-bar, plain, can to table offerings.

Will definitely be back, and I look forward to trying more from 4 Rivers' expansive,...

First and last time I will visit this business. I placed an online order for pickup on 10/26/19 with a promised pickup time of 1:05pm. I showed up five minutes early and waited at the pickup window, along with another customer who was already waiting. I watched several orders being packed and names being called, some of whom were not present, some who walked up and also waited. At 1:17pm the employee working the window asked if I had been helped, I said I placed an online pickup order and gave my name. She checked with the other employee who had already begun packing my order, then informed me that part of my order was still cooking. I asked how much longer it would be and explained that I was on break from work and on a time limit. Then she got defensive and, rather than giving me an estimate, began arguing that it was my fault the order wasn't ready because I didn't "announce myself" when I arrived. I don't buy that, considering other orders were being called out when the customers hadn't arrived yet or hadn't announced themselves, and the fact that they had started packing my order. After some back and forth, and no estimate of how much longer it would be, I said forget it, my lunch break is going to be over before I have time to eat and left. I immediately called the number provided in the email, the only option to speak to someone is to place an order, so I left a "general message" explaining the situation and requesting a refund, along with my order number and phone number. Two weeks later and I have not received a response. Just disputed the charge with my credit card company. Overall I'm extremely disappointed, not necessarily by the delay (clearly they were busy and these things happen sometimes,) but with the snotty attitude I got from the employee at the window and with the lack of follow up. There are dozens of places in Butler Plaza where I can (and do) order pickup for lunch, next time I want barbecue I'll go across Archer Rd to...

Sadly, and despite trying not to, I have to give a google review. This was my go to BBQ for when I wanted to treat myself to a little something more for lunch. A few weeks ago, we had talked about coming to 4Rivers as a group of us and we actually planned to be first in the door (1100). I ordered the 2 meats; 2 sides. Every single element of my meal was "cold"...not kind of warm "cold". I ordered Burnt Ends and Pulled Pork with Sweet Potato and Beans sides. Cold meat is pretty bad; but cold sweet potatoes are flat out gross. Having come to this location for nearly a year, I wrote it off as a "one time thing". However, I was so disappointed that instead of writing a poor review, I did go on the 4Rivers website and reached out directly. I didn't think it would be fair to give a bad review for one bad experience but I did want them to know I did in fact have a bad experience. I was surprised when there was no follow up, but again wasn't too focused on it. I have since gone back a second time, this time I was not there at opening and much later into lunch. 4Rivers sends out emails to showcase certain dishes, in this case it was the Burnt Ends melt. Back to back visits where the quality of the food and the food temperature were just awful (how do you have a "melt" and the meat is barely warm bordering on cold?) 4 Rivers is a little above my typical lunch budget. As stated, I often save it for a "treat", "special occasion", or event because they are a little more expensive than a typical lunch. It's wildly disappointing to have back to back experiences where the thing you want the most (BBQ) is so underwhelming in quality and temperature. I am not sure what happened to this location, but there is no way this is long term sustainable, people won't pay these prices for cold food. I am in the 4 Rivers club, so my two purchases could be easily verifiable. I hope that 4Rivers is able to address the quality and temperature issues as we head...