Memaw's Bar-B-Q — Restaurant in Palm Bay

Aside from the reviews all talking about to go otders at memaw's. I however dined in, here's my review. I normally focus on the dry rub ribs, sliced pork, just bbq chicken 🐔 and sliced beef along with their nice sides like coleslaw and french fries especially the garlic bread though I only come here for special occasion I do however order the feast for two along with my family member and as long as you ask them to make it hot and ready for you it comes out as such. It is a delightful experience as the staff treat you almost like family and their kindness is just intoxicating. The desserts are also something to look forward to and they're specials they have on each particular day is also something to think about as you might be interested in an item that you might want to have if you can't find anything else on the menu. Being a connoisseur of barbecue this place has my approval in terms of delicious dry rub rib juicy chicken, sliced pork and beef , and good old fashioned coleslaw and so much more. I would not recommend getting it to go for it just will not be the same or others seem to be okay with ordering it to go such as eating pulled pork though that is their problem for I actually eat in the restaurant .

A warning to all: apparently they'll spread rumors about you if you don't tip enough. Already had to talk One of my favorite server whose name I'm not going to say but if you don't give a tip they start getting hissy even if the service is not great and will ruinely demand a tip especially at the front desk, which is not exactly proper since I have more years of experience with a culinary and service industry. And from what I can say to these people is that good service and great effort is rewarded. The food here is great but sometimes they tend to seat you at places where your food will get cold really quick. Not to mention that some of your servers gives the stink eye and will outright ignore which is very unethical in the restaurant business and for that shame on you.

For that I'm reducing my stars for the place due to the recent event as of August the 3rd, 2023. Me and my family members do not skip out tips. Even when we do takeout the last I check we don't tip on takeout because we weren't served we came to pick up food. I'll make that very clear I worked for 4 years and four different types of restaurant and my father ran MWR with the military and ran 29 clubs that were also restaurants. We have more experience in restaurant business than you can think and the do's and don'ts when working in a restaurant.

On a personal note to the owner: I do not take kindly to your workers trying to set us apart from the rest of your customer base just because we refuse to sit underneath a table with a fan that will instantly turn our food cold and we mostly pay cash and give the amount that is owed because we do not agree with the up charge percentage on using credit card. Overall you guys became too expensive for a barbecue place especially a mama papa restaurant. Blame it on the economy but Idc.

Finally there are a lot of times the server has not returned to even give me a refill after waiting 30 minutes or even check on us hence why I don't give a tip to low effort servers in your establishment except for one why no she knows who I'm referring to. I would rather give the tip to the cook and not the server since I have great respect for cooks than someone who likes to chat near the soda fountain or at the front desk. We know who spread the rumor and now our business with this establishment will be limited extremely because of it.

I do not enjoy writing negative reviews but I'd be doing it the service to myself not to write it after what I experienced. To the server who treated me and Dad like family and took good care of us and we treat her with the amount of respect that is owed we thank you for your awesome service. The likelihood someone stole your tip is...

Memaw's BarBQ- Palm Bay- 2.5 Stars

Growing up Beachside during the 80s, certain things were guaranteed, practically written in stone they were. Among these Universe anchoring truths were that there was always a jungle juice/tea party on any given Saturday night at a dead end cul-de-sac facing the river, Local's Only was going to tear up Spectrum this coming weekend and if you wanted good southern BBQ you headed to Redneckville, aka. the West Melbourne/Palm Bay area.

The Big Boy knows "the times they are a changing" and thinks change, in general, is good for the soul; however, certain things should never change. Such as where to find good BBQ in the Melbourne area. Unbeknownst to me and my discerning palate, this change had occurred. Upon entering MeMaw's BBQ in Palm Bay I was gladly welcomed and soon seated within the old west themed joint complete with picnic table seating, the obligatory wanted poster and several wagon wheels on the wall. My server, Brenda, was professional and on point while fighting a losing battle with the quality of the food. It's not that it tasted rancid or anything, it's just that it, well, I'll get to that. With no bar and only bottled beer and wine to choose from, I had to forgo my usual adult beverage and settle for a glass of MeMaw's Unsweetened Tea. Per usual I ordered selections from different areas of their menu in order to get an overall sense of their gastronomical offerings. As such, I ordered a French Dip with au jus and no sides along with their three item highly self-touted BBQ combo plate of Beef, Pork sausage, a half chicken and two sides: one of fries, the other a cup of MeMaw's original recipe Brunswick Stew along with two slices of Texas toast thrown haphazardly on top.

First up was the French Dip sandwich with a side of au jus. Their meat may indeed be hand trimmed every morning, but it is not fresh, that is obvious. The meat, along with the bread had a previously frozen texture and flavoring that was not all that unpleasant, but it wasn't all that good either. As the au jus looked, smelled and tasted not unlike microwaved canned beef consomme, I am assuming that is exactly what it was. The bun was stale and slightly stiff as you chewed as only previously frozen or old bread can be and tasted flat on the palate.

After such a mediocre beginning, I was hoping the meal got better as I looked to tackle my BBQ combo. As I mentioned at the start, after growing up in the region, I was not put off by the color of the beef, nor the chicken down near the bone. I was, however, put off by the doneness of the pork sausage. I understand that it is to be browned and crispy on the outside, but this looked like it had just escaped from the rotary warmer at the local gas station. It wasn't as overcooked as it appeared at first glance, but it was a bit too done for this cowboy. The beef, as with the beef in the au jus, just didn't taste fresh, Again, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't memorable as BBQ should be. The chicken was slightly burnt in some areas of skin, but the inside was fine if a bit on the dry side. Not completely dry, but not as juicy as one comes to expect in BBQ chicken. If the sauce and the Brunswick stew are, as claimed, based on "MeMaw's" own recipe it's no wonder that one: she is not named and two, there are only two locations in this "chain." The stew was plebian, to say the least, downright bland to say the most. A correctly seasoned Brunswick stew is a staple of Southern cooking and should pop on your taste buds in a dance of complex flavors fronted by (usually) chicken. Their sauce was nothing to write home about and tasted like it came out of an industrial size can or bottle, not made fresh on site.

Big Boy says, "If you're in a pinch, hungry or want a cheap Stella Artois, head on over to MeMaw's in Palm Bay, but for real Southern BBQ,...

The!;worse !place to eat!,My Husband an I went there for a after lunch hamburgers.no a clean palace, Flys every were buzzing around us, we told a waitress we dint like all those flys buzzing on our faces. She took it as a joke.Then almost 20 minutes to take orders and drink, we was the only ones in there,I told My Husband it a reason why Place was emty.After the order was taken, an other 15 to get what We order. I order a fish sandwich,My Husband a pull pork in a bunn, I had never tasted something so horrible!! Fish was so salty I count t not eat it,one bit was all it took to stop.I had to bring half of the drink to pass all the salty taste. My husband food was bad! too,He said tasted terrible,but He hardly complaint ,but I did. when the waitress came back and saw my sandwich in the plate,she ask :"do you like to take Our food home?,I told he No! It's way to salty and hard,so salty I can t take a second bait, she told us "I am sorry, I will tell the manager,who was the Owner.He Never came to the table to apologize.We when to the register to pay, and He took the money like nothing happen! You can tell He was upset at us ,for complaining for a food We ordered an I coun't eat ??,. No! A " thank You! from Him or anybody else eider. I was so shock !. We ending spending 30$ for a fish sandwich I coul not eat, and a pull pork in a bunn who taste weirrd. Be Aware! If You Like To Be Poition with Food or eat salty food and have A party of Fly s around You? Then go to this people.But I You Are Concern About You Health in Any Way!Never!Visit This place at All!. !Staid Away From Memaw's B-Q. First time for Us! And last Time!! What a Dangerous to Health and Rip-off Place. Instead Go To Cheddar's 1-92 Rd. Good! Food.Good Babaque Ribs and All the Menu it's outstanding !good asmosfere,good service. Very adfortable! Trust me....