Phatboys BBQ & Catering — Restaurant in Kewanee

Waited a decent amount of time for our food, in truth I could have gone a life time without eating this. Pros. Staff was friendly, if not a bit overwhelmed but friendly. The ribs were tender. This is where the pros end. As they were Boiled not smoked.

Cons, Pulled pork was dry and flavorless, brisket was pulled? Why I have no idea but I would have been fine with that had it too not been dry and flavorless. Sauce was as close to kraft as you could get. Not a single side was made in house, I did ask. Mac and cheese tastes like the bagged stuff from Casey's, Cole slaw is clearly from a tub, and potato salad is absolutely store bought.(I did ask if it was made in house and was told yes, it absolutely is not) and the corn muffin that comes with the meal was cold and prepackaged as well. The burger my table ordered was lack luster at best but edible. It was the All American. The fries were hot and crispy so that is a plus.

As for the atmosphere, it was that of a five bar. Loud and rather difficult to be comfortable in. There is nothing that dampened the echo so all the chatter combined to make this extremely loud, almost to the point of being unable to hear the other person at my table. For this price point I expect better, if not quality...

Some folks get BBQ spot-on perfect, but not often. James Hunt at Phatboys BBQ in Kewannee, Illinois is one of the leaders of that pack. His attention to quality and serving only world-class barbecue is too often rare in today's restaurant universe. BBQ ribs are made fresh daily and never re-heated. They are served after 4:00PM, currently Tuesday through Saturday. Also open at 11:00AM for lunch with a;iced or chopped brisket that is executed to BBQ perfection. If you want to experience BBQ Nirvana then this is your stop. I sincerely hope the folks in Kewannee realize what a truly special place thos is and how well the BBQ is prepared and served. Job well done to James and his staff,...

Me and my wife went in shortly before dinner time. The waitstaff was amazing, very kind and even caught any mistakes before we noticed. We got the breaded mushrooms which were amazing, well seasoned, hot and had a nice crisp to them. The smothered chicken was delicious being covered in cheese, onions and mushrooms gave it a nice blend of texture and flavor. The pulled pork was very moist and allowed for your own choice of BBQ sauce to finish it off. The seasoned fries, potatoe salad and mac & cheese were all fantastic. I hope to return soon to their great food, great team and comfortable...