Mutt's BBQ Mauldin — Restaurant in Mauldin

The problem with writing reviews is having some idea of what criteria or standard you are going to use to develop a quality grade. Mutts is a BBQ buffet restaurant, so are we grading Mutts on the quality of the BBQ food, or on something else? The building is a cool log building and the signage inside is humorous vintage throwback which harkens back to what many would call "the good old days" And, the train going round and round as diners chow down is entertaining. The meal comes with a free trip to the old fashion slide top ice cream freezer where you have a choice of many varieties of ice cream bars. They're all good so its hard to choose only one. I've been to the Mutts in Greer about eight times and to this one about six times. On all of those occasions, except two, Mutt's was the choice of others I was with. People like the train. I've run into one crabby staff member at this Mauldin location, but the many other staffers I've dealt with have been very friend and helpful. Overall service is excellent. So, on to the food. Their catering vehicles display the slogan, "When You're Serious About Your BBQ". From this we are to assume they are serious about BBQ and are not relying only on the trains, signs, building, or anything else. I've confessed to eating at Mutts 14 times. I enjoy food while I'm critically judging it. It doesn't have to be perfect for me to enjoy it, but that doesn't make me blind to how it could have been made better. I enjoy the variety of choices offered on Mutt's buffet. I enjoy getting at least a small taste of everything they have. For me, this is it: The variety offered, and it is what pulls me there. They offer one item which is the best I have ever had: Pork skins. They are crunchy but not too hard and have the great taste. I really like the seasoning. Other than the pork skins nothing is out of the ordinary. The BBQ sauces are bland. How can you taste those sauces and not try to improve them? The ribs are overdone and come off the bone in one bite, plus there is just too little of the smoke taste. I am sure many people find the ribs to be perfect like this. The pulled pork, again, lacks enough smoke. A decent BBQ sauce could bridge some of the failings in the taste of the meat. The fried chicken is good. The pulled pork is like the ribs, not enough smoke. The BBQ chicken wings are not helped by the weak sauce. Great BBQ beans can be a meal all unto themselves. Mutt's beans are mediocre, as are the green beans. The greens are ok, but my wife makes far better. There is a variety of things I ordinarily love to eat and ordinarily must restrain myself from over eating, such as mac and cheese, fried okra, mash potatoes and gravy, corn bread, and more. Mutt's has it, but after tasting a little nothing leaves you wanting more. My wife use to enjoy BBQ, but she's practically a vegan now. She can do no dairy at all, and has gone to almost all plant based foods. She'll have eggs occasionally and seafood, but no beef, pork, or chicken. When I have BBQ now it is without my wife, which means I eat far less BBQ than before. BBQ restaurants don't offer vegans many options. That's not being critical. It is just reality. Even their veggies have meat or meat...

Update: Was met at the door by a couple who were leaving and was told the food is changed, it is not good, you'll regret it, go to the Greer location. We went in anyway😮🤦$15.99 is the featured price but now they're charging $1.50 additionally for the drink. Food old, okra hard Mac and cheese you could tell left over from lunch no cheese and gunky (it was 6.30pm) and not a fresh one for dinner crowd. Sweet potato casserole wanna be? Not fresh for dinner either. Lacking. Yeast rolls, rocks. Fried chicken like 5 breasts were so over fried and smaller that my palm. Unsweet tea was empty, 6.30pm prime dinner time? Oreo chocolate pudding thing is usually to die for but this one also was left over from lunch and looked like a spoon had been run thru it, unappetizing? yep. On a positive note before we left they put a fresh peach cobbler out that was fresh from oven and wonderful. $15.99 I don't mind paying for BBQ, we'll be enjoying Lewis's or Bobby's or Henry's in the future highly recommend them all, sometimes a buffet from lunch becomes dinner with a price change, at these other places they fix it fresh for dinner not expect you to eat lunch leftovers. I wondered why the parking lot was empty. Should have listened to that couple who warned us. Read my review below to see how much this restaurant has changed.

Amazing country atmosphere, they even have a small train running around the top of the room! Old time feel to it, food is above and beyond best of home cooking/comfort food around. Cheesy Mac n cheese, okra, sweet potato casserole many more, as well as either chicken or pork bbq, and homemade pork skins for a unbelievably low price! Their buffet is one of the best...

I'm a long time regular to Mutt's. Been eating there for years! Over the years I've tried to help them fix problems they've had. For instance they were serving sour coleslaw that made me and no telling how many others sick. I brought it to their attention and they made an attempt to correct it, but it still pops up from time to time. Also they can't seem to get the shrimp cooked. Other items vary in quality and doneness from visit to visit. But in recent months they've really fallen off. The ribs at their Greer location taste terrible and are way to tough! But the thing that bothers me the most is that they're asking diners to leave if they think they've been their too long. I'm not sure how you can stay too long at an "all-you-can-eat" buffet, but apparently the owners at Mutt's have figured it out. The last three of my visits consisted of them telling me I had been there too long, that if I didn't leave I would have to pay double, and the final time they told me not to come back! That's how they treat a customer who chose to spend their hard-earned money sometimes twice a week at their restaurant. I can't imagine how they treat others they don't know by first name! They embarrassed and humiliated me in front of other diners. Not sure that's how you treat a very regular customer who would come in alone, sit by himself, mind his own business, and try to enjoy a nice dinner! I think I'll let my attorney handle that. But if you want to be treated like a valued customer, find another restaurant! I found one where the owners and wait staff are friendly, the food is better, and it's less expensive. It's The Green...