Fred Cotten's Landmark BBQ — Restaurant in Jacksonville

I'm not a big bbq eater but when I have a taste for it,I would go to bonos or sonny's in the past.The service and food at these two places has went down hill,so I haven't had my bbq fix in a while,I like to support small business and this is one that has put my faith back into great service and food. Not trying to write a book but want to give a great review to this barbecue, I believe quality service and quantity of food has went bad since covid. I try to give reviews that are positive, so needless to say I haven't been able to give any good reviews but Fred cotten's BBQ is the truth. I wanted ribs with a few sad wasn't quite sure what was on the menu. Carmen was a great help I ordered over the phone and was able to pick up in 10 minutes the food was hot and seasoned to my Southern twang liking. I was so impressed that once I went to pick my stuff up I ordered two more sides and a large sweet tea and everything was fresh. This restaurant is a breath of fresh air and if you like barbecue youll love Fred cottons BBQ, the restaurant what is very clean friendly and quaint not to mention a lifelike figure of Jake God old at the door to great you🤣☺️Karmen was such a delight I tipped her if like I was eating in. I will be visiting this restaurant a lot more frequently and they helped to restore my barbecue taste buds😊so to sum it all upif you want some really good barbecuethat's not dry or toughthen you need to go to...

Go there! Enjoy! (Repeat as necessary!) If you're in Jacksonville - or, anywhere in North Florida or South Georgia - stop reading this and get yourself to Fred Cotton's! If getting there right now isn't an option, then let me tell you what you're missing! First, if you're looking for some sparkly shiny landscaped building - this isn't it. Yes, there are bars on the window, yes there is a collapsing building across the road. So what. You want great BBQ and that is what matters. Inside Fred Cotton's you'll find one of the most comfortable, inviting, and modern restaurants you've ever seen. Seriously, this is the place Pinterest goes for decorating ideas. The food - oh Lord the food. Look, bring your wallet. Not because of the prices, but because you are seriously going to want to try everything. Please, do yourself a favor and order the fried pickles. Don't like fried pickles you say? Well, that's only because you didn't try them at Fred Cotten's! These are more like pickle potato chips. Then on to the ribs. Perfectly smoked, nice and meaty, served with some of the best.damn.sauce you could ever want. Oh - and the coleslaw. Fresh. Whomever invented coleslaw meant it to be this good. Not one bit of any hint of chemical taste. Just fresh ingredients. Bring a friend and go there. Your friend will love you, your taste buds will thank you, and your wallet will adore...

Fred Cotton’s BBQ – Honest Review

We showed up mid-lunch on a Wednesday and the place was packed, so we were hopeful. First impression? As soon as we walked in, there was a strong mildew smell that hit right away — not a great start. The outside of the building isn’t exactly inviting either, kind of run-down and honestly a little off-putting. But once you step inside, it’s surprisingly cute and cozy, with charming decorations that give it some personality.

As for the food… since it was Wednesday, we ordered the pork chops with two sides. I got a house salad and potato salad. The pork chops were so greasy I could barely eat one — the skin was literally sliding off from all the grease. The mac and cheese was way overcooked, more like cheesy mush than anything else. The applesauce was okay, nothing special.

One thing I couldn’t help but notice — it felt like the locals got different treatment. Everyone around us was greeted by name, chatting it up with staff, while we definitely didn’t get that same energy. Maybe it’s a regulars-only vibe, but it didn’t feel the most welcoming.

Overall? The atmosphere inside is cute, but the food just didn’t hit and the experience felt a little off. Probably wouldn’t go out of my way...