4 Rivers Smokehouse — Restaurant in Tampa

I have driven past this place so many times to see my daughter that lives on that street. I love BBQ and sides are a must with any Smokehouse and if they don’t compliment your meal...no deal! I placed my order over the phone on New Years Eve and ordered the Ribs, pulled pork, brisket (lean and moist), and chicken tenders for my little one. The sides I chose were the Mac n cheese, John potato salad and French fries for my daughter. Let me tell u that I love the brisket and the fact they put the perfect combo of lean juicy slices along with fattier pieces was such a delight as I love the perfect amount of rendered fat on the brisket. It was like butter as it melted in your mouth. Best I ever had and the portion was amazing. The Ribs were very good but seem have been sitting out but it didn’t matter as the portion and amount of meat on the bone made up for the slight toughness of parts of the ribs. I had a bite of my exwifes pulled pork and it was amazing and will get they next time. She is pretty picky and I asked her how was it and she said “simply amazing”. The Mac n cheese, how basic or not, was so good and just makes you want to try the next sides that we ordered and their potato salad didn’t disappoint. Not my favorite but not bad at all! The only part of the meal that was just a little disheartening was my daughters chicken tenders. Even though she is very picky, she stopped eating after the first bite. I asked her why she didn’t like them as you usually can’t go wrong with something like tenders. She said it was too crunchy and hard to chew. I tried a piece and I actually had to side with my 5yr old. The chicken was dry and the breading was overly crunchy as if it were put on breaded catfish. I got more breading than tenders on the first piece. I tried a second piece that seemed to be more meat and this was slightly better but was sliced down the middle, almost al the way through for some ofd reason...maybe to check for if the chicken was cooked completely?? I have to say she did love the fries as they were fresh, thick, and just the perfect amount of saltiness and texture. We all loved the fries but had to stop eating them as we felt bad that’s all she could eat! She didn’t seem to mind and didn’t want to share anyways. The lemonade that came with it was also her favorite and I had the sweet tea, which was just right. I kinda understand that chicken tenders are not a signature item but i am going to get them again just to see if maybe it was just a case of sitting out, especially on NYE and the streets were not that busy. Being the first time, I really really love the food and will try the bread pudding as I forgot to order it. The wait time was very good at under 15 minutes and the ladies at the express or take out windows were very friendly. I am so glad I made the choice to finally try their food and can’t wait to make plans to come in and eat. I love this place already and have to try other things but will have to have the brisket as I couldn’t not get enough...even as the portion was great for what I paid for the three of us to eat! I think this is the best smokehouse I have been to in a very long time in South Tampa as well as others in...

4RSmokehouse review Shocking Yesterday I went with my wife to 4 Rivers BBQ Restaurant to and also order a happy Herd to go . When We were arrived The brisket they had which they were cutting was almost done. As soon as I asked for a new brisket. There was a gentleman and a red shirt immediately, he looked annoyed at me after he went to the back, and this was the shocking part he literally grabbed the brisket that I had requested to get a new one and through across the room also sausage literally hand toss that, and fell off the tray. I told one of the ladies that was working behind the counter about the way he was handling food, but there was no care and he really didn’t care about the way he was handling it and throwing the food. When he came back up, I literally told him that I would like some fatty brisket and lean, when they were cutting it, you could tell this brisket was not moist being from Texas . I can say what a brisket needs to look like and also I have been there several times . when he was cutting the fatty part of the brisket I told him that the was not really moist. His response was that’s the way it is. I told him I had been there several times earlier and this was not the norm later than said well we got a bad batch and this is what we have .My thing is if it was a bad batch why are they sell it in the first place the brisket was so dry and I was actually shocked and the way he talked and the way he handled the food. There was one fantastic lady there older that I talk to, and she expressed her apologies I asked who he was and his name was Steve and he was a general manager wearing a red shirt. I was just shocked that the manager was touching and treating food like it was nothing demeanor was unacceptable. This is a warning if you want to be treated or being annoyed for asking for a certain piece of meat or cut or if you want a general manager at the store to throw food across the room you might want to reconsider going to a place that actually cares about the way of handling food and treating their...

Located near MacDill Air Force Base, 4 Rivers Smokehouse delivered a satisfying dining experience that left us eager for a return visit. We indulged in a delightful spread of barbecue goodness, starting with my choice of the half rack of St. Louis style ribs. They were perfectly cooked, boasting a balance of tenderness and flavor that made each bite a pleasure. Served alongside crispy fries and a decadent bread pudding, it was a hearty meal that hit the spot. My girlfriend opted for the BBQ tacos paired with sides of sweet potato casserole and 4R BBQ beans. The tacos were a creative twist on traditional barbecue, blending savory meats with fresh, tangy flavors. The sides complemented the main dishes wonderfully, showcasing the kitchen's attention to both taste and variety. We sampled all three sauces offered — sweet, mustard, and hot. While they didn't blow us away, each provided a decent accompaniment to our dishes, enhancing rather than overpowering the flavors. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, matched by the exceptional service from the staff. Everyone we encountered was genuinely friendly and eager to ensure we had a pleasant dining experience. Special mention goes to the employee who, with honesty and apology, explained the unavailability of the advertised BBQ pork belly burnt ends. Such transparency was appreciated and reflected the restaurant's commitment to customer satisfaction. For dessert enthusiasts, 4 Rivers Smokehouse didn't disappoint with its selection of bakery treats, although we were too full to indulge further this time. Overall, 4 Rivers Smokehouse near MacDill Air Force Base exceeded our expectations with its delicious barbecue offerings, friendly service, and comfortable ambiance. Despite the minor hiccup with the pork belly ends, we left looking forward to our next visit, eager to explore more of their menu and enjoy another...