4 Rivers Smokehouse — Restaurant in Winter Garden

Update: 04/26/2022 After a review with the management team. We decided to give 4 Rivers another try. We ordered lean versus moist (too fatty) brisket, okra, fries, green beans, Mac and Cheese. The portions of brisket were slightly better. The smoke and seasoning is not what we are used to with 4 Rivers, but the overall taste was pretty good. The fries and okra are kept in a fancy warmer. Surprisingly, they both tasted quite crispy. Rest of the food was tasty as well.

Regarding the service, that has never been questionable as it’s always been five-stars. Plus, the place is clean and the food is served quickly. All the condiments are readily available.

Overall, the experience was far better than the last time and we hope that this becomes the norm. I’ll update my experiences. In the meantime, please stop by and try them out.

Update: 04/08/2022 Four Rivers is just not doing it like they use too. Noticed the okra is now stored in a warmer after being cooked wherein it use to be cooked to order. Was stale and just not fun too eat. The brisket sandwich’s have less meat with a higher cost. I know because we’ve been going since the days of the Park Ave smoke shack. In all fairness I get growth, etc. But lovers of BBQ will pay a premium for good food and 4 Rivers has just fell off the wagon. It will be awhile before we decide to return as the food experience is just not what it was using the measure of years of patronizing 4 Rivers. In other words, they are only competing against past and present experiences.

First, the location in Winter Garden is very easy to enter and exit. Upon entering, the place is tinged with the Smokey smells expected of a place of BBQ. Ordering for takeout or sit down is seamless.

The briskets and most of the sides are spot on. The only thing I wish they would fix, is to provide fresh french fries and fresh fried okra. I know they will tell you the turnaround is fast. But, here lies the real problem. It is unsouthern like to serve okra that is sitting on the warmer. This needs to be made to order period. To ensure a crisp and crunchy taste. If, you understand southern cuisine. You are more than willing that wait for that. Same goes with the fries.

The food is a little more pricey, but your taste buds will likely compensate for your wallet. The staff are friendly and the place is clean throughout. I normally visit during lunch and only about every other month.

While I genuinely like the food. I want to say that it tasted better in the old Winter Park location. Just my opinion and yes, I plan on patronizing the business. The BBQ is pretty good!

Update: 06/28/2019 This review is made up of multiple reviews from a year ago. I’m the type of person, in which a business has to earn a five star rating from me. I do not arbitrarily give them out. We are now up to a four star rating versus a three star rating. The reason for the four stars is because I feel as though the portions of brisket are smaller than say three or four months ago. (JMO).

However, the okra and fries is now served fresher than before. I appreciate management taking me up on that one. Especially, with the okra. I’m biased with the Carolina mustard bbq sauce. It’s just my thing. Now, I’ll be reviewing in another 6 months or so for quality, quantity and consistency. Enjoy the Q!

Update: Four Rivers is losing control of their quality. I ordered take out brisket without fat. Shame on me for trusting that they would provide me what I ordered. Got home and pulled the bun off my brisket and discovered that it’ was 95% FAT disguised as meat! While the manager made me an entire new meal. This doesn’t raise any points with me as the carver should know better. Who eats brisket at 95% fat! I will make a few visits before I raise the stars. This is the second misstep in my last two visits. Four Rivers you have earned these two stars. Get it together!

06/29/2022 I returned to the Dillard Street location for a spot check lunch and let me just say that I have not been this impressed with this location for a while. Everything...

Have been wanting to try 4 Rivers since recently moving into the area. We are big fans of the 4R Cantina in Disney Springs. We tried the new "Barbacoa" bowls off of the "inflation menu".

First off, not sure why this is being called a barbacoa bowl when the meat is not included when you go to order it and you have to then choose an add on protein to the bowl.

Second, not sure if the inflation menu means you pay more and get less but as you can see from the pictures the containers were half filled up and very skimpy on literally everything that was supposed to come in it. These were now $11-12 bowls now. The menu claims there is supposed to be Cilantro lime creme fresh and avocado salsa but there was literally no Cilantro Lime creme and very little of the Avocado Salsa on the lettuce.

Third, there was no seasoning on anything. The rice was plain white rice, plain black beans and even the pork which said it was "Sazon" pork was just regular braised pork with little to no seasoning. No Mexican flair or any spice to anything and the lack of sauce and salsa made everything very bland.

Fourth, the Pork bowl was a few chunks of meat and then a huge piece of Skin (see picture) so not sure why that much skin made it into the bowl.

Fifth, the Mac and Cheese side is basic cheese sauce.. nothing special it's not baked and has nothing in it to make it special like bacon, corn or Jalapenos or breadcrumbs like some other BBQ places.

Also the food was not hot, and that seems to be a common issue from recent results. I put an online order and was there on time and still had to wait a little to get the food and then for it to not be hot a few mins later is odd.

I know this is not a Taco or Mexican place but this is on their menu and seems to be a special items as it's the first option in the menu drop down and they do have street tacos as a regular item. Being related to the 4R cantina at Disney I expected a lot more from this menu item. The idea is there just execution was lacking in a big way. What we got looks nothing like the menu picture. Trying to have something that is not chipotle that was offering a rice bowl.

Would like to try other items and the regular BBQ but experiences like this don't make you want to come back in. Staff at pick up was a little strange, kind of felt like I was bothering them by picking up? Had to also ask for napkins and utensils to be added as it was take out that should be...

Recommended by a friend, thanks to him my trips through Winter Garden will never be the same. In fact if I'm not able to stop for a meal, cleaning the car from the pavlovian drooling will be the bain of my existence.

Let me explain: my first visit to this cathedral dedicated to smoked meat came with a recommendation to try the "Messy Cow". I quickly learned that one must be prepared to place one's order as soon as you enter the "chute" (a steel post surrounded path) leading to the human version of a feeding trough filled with an amazing selection of carnivorous delights and a bevy of side dishes. If you aren't prepared you may be trampled by The Horde of other hungry carnivores behind you you are more prepared and much more experienced. I also quickly learned that there was not a "messy cow" but in fact a "Messy Pig" but I was quickly assisted and told "I can put brisket on the messy Pig instead".

Then I had to make a selection of 2 side dishes from an impossibly large choice of obviously delicious items. Not being able to decide on just 2, I selected 3 instead.

The "messy cow" lived up to its name being not only huge but also quite covered in coleslaw, pickles, sauce, jalapenos and served on a bun that just pretended to make this thing a sandwich. If absolutely needed a knife and fork.

The baked beans were absolutely amazing filled with small chunks of pork bits in lusciously sweet as I like them.

I had some kind of jalapeno popper filled with cheese and wrapped with bacon that had been grilled to perfection.

I also had the banana flavored bread puddings which I can only describe as wow!

The food was served on a paper lined baking sheet. Completing the experience as non- sophisticated, and rightfully focusing you on the food and not the surroundings or accoutrements.

I chose to eat in an open seating area on a comfortable outside covered deck. I enjoyed every sumptuous bite.

It will take me a day or two to recover.

Highly...