Smokin' Willies BBQ - Barbecue Restaurant & Event Venue — Restaurant in Galesburg

The flavors in their barbecue are amazing. The sauce is killer, the sides are always good, and the meats are usually done right. My only complaint is that, a few too many times, the meat is a mix of hot and cold. Not lukewarm, not room temperature, but actually cold. I'm pretty sure that they refrigerate the meat then microwave it... Which is sad because it's AMAZING when fresh. I've literally watched them set down a sandwich with a pile of steamy pulled pork only for my girlfriend to find the centre of it icy. And my dad is always getting ribs where some are hot, and some are fridge temperature.

If not for the cold spots, the place would get 5 stars EASY. Wish I could give 4.5 instead of 4.

The service is... okay. You order at a window and they bring your food, which is fine. But, drinks, refills, napkins, condiments, etc, you get yourself. Tho, they do check up on you on occasion.

As far as drinks, I don't drink myself, but they seem to have a decent selection according to the people that I frequent this place with.

Their soda situation leaves a bit to be desired. You get a very small cup of mostly ice for 2 dollars. And if you want more, it's 50¢ a refill. Oh, and you normally have to go to the bar yourself for all the drinks. Depending on the night.

The dining area is nice. It would remind you of an elk's or moose Lodge, or VA hall... because, well, that's what it is. Except it's in really great shape and very new looking. Nothing too fancy, but really cozy. And the place is kept ridiculously clean. Including the facilities. Only con is if you happen to go on a night with live music. It's happened to me a few times, and the "bands" were loud and lacklustre, borderline annoying.

Memorial Day weekend, they did have a professional stage and sound system setup in the parking lot with a handful of pretty decent local bands. I wouldn't be surprised to see more of that during the summer.

All in all, if you're wanting barbecue and you're in the Burg, this is the...

Tried Smokin' Willie's on a whim while we were in Galesburg this week. Managed to come in before the dinner rush & it was very peaceful & laid back dining. I really like how their menu fits on a postcard - simple and really shows they put time into their fare. Parking is a breeze, as there's a free parking lot across the street. I ordered the full rack of ribs to split with 3 sides: green beans, mac & cheese, and potato salad. We also ordered Irish Mules, which were so delicious, we ordered a 2nd round. The only reason I give 4.5 stars for food is because of the sides.... eh, they're nothing to write home about (and honestly, due to how small those sides were, they might know this?) but the BBQ?! THE BEST, SMOKY, PERFECTLY COOKED RIBS! The kind of eating that makes you chew it slowly as to savor the flavor!! The BBQ is so dang good that even if the sides aren't the best you've ever tasted, the meat & sauce is WORTH IT!! I will absolutely be back for more BBQ & and will try more sides -perhaps fries or onion rings next time- & be bringing more folks with me. Highly...

My husband and I visited their new location on the weekend and really enjoyed the friendly service and delicious BBQ. I had the meat platter, so I could try different items for my first visit. Delicious! A surprising favorite was the sausage full of flavor. The ribs are always ny go-to, and I look forward to returning to enjoy some more. I recommend asking for sauce on the side because the smoky flavor of the meat itself is phenomenal. The sauce is really good, but I love the natural smoked meats best.

Definitely a must try...