Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que

The food here has gone downhill, even though the food was horrible the service was great.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 5

Walking into this restaurant feels like stepping into a different era, a truly magical journey back in time. With over a century of history, the décor is both classic and authentic, creating a warm and nostalgic ambiance that simply envelops you. From the moment we walked in, I felt like we were in an old-world gem where every corner tells a story.

The food was nothing short of exceptional. The menu offered a wide array of choices, each dish more tempting than the last. I was genuinely blown away by the quality and attention to detail in each bite. Everything we tried was perfectly prepared, flavorful, and beautifully presented. As a delightful touch, they served us homemade biscuits with special butter as a starter, which was both a treat and a welcoming gesture.

What truly set this restaurant apart, though, was the incredible service. The staff went above and beyond to make sure our experience was unforgettable. Noticing my son’s interest in the beef ribs, they surprised us by bringing out an extra serving for him, entirely on the house! This level of attentiveness and care is rare to find.

From the charming ambiance to the exquisite food and unmatched hospitality, I can’t recommend this restaurant enough. It’s a place where you feel cherished as a guest and leave with a heart full of warmth and a desire to return soon. This restaurant has won a special place in our hearts, and we’ll be sharing this unforgettable experience with everyone we know!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Macaroni & Cheese, Beef Ribs, Sandwich

Our waiter was very nice. Love the happy hour items.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Beef Ribs, Fried Chicken

We recently had a group gathering here. The food was sub-par and the drink service was abysmal. It took over 30 minutes to get our drink orders filled and everything came at different times. I think we should look for a new venue that appreciates and serves their customers.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 1

Happy hour food was very small

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 5

During my recent lunch visit to Lucille’s Barbecue, I was thoroughly impressed by the delicious food. The service was exceptional, with a welcoming atmosphere that enhanced the experience. Our waiter, Nick, was particularly attentive and pleasant. I also appreciated the thoughtful touch of receiving a hot towel at the end of our meal. The space itself is not only spacious but also beautifully designed. If you find yourself in the area, I highly recommend stopping by!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sandwich

Arrived at 3:00 pm on 10.3.2024 to place a to-go order. Waited for five minutes at the order/pick-up counter when the hostess noticed me and said a manager would come over shortly. Waited another 20 minutes when a customer walked in to claim their to-go order and was helped by the hostess. I was then told the manager was sorry but they had been on a long call. I waited another 5 minutes - now 30 minutes total - and as I still had not been helped, I left and went to a different restaurant which happily to accept my order. Note - the hostess tried me to help but no one responded to her requests.

Our server Riley was so so kind, understanding, helpful and friendly! Such a hard worker, she was awesome!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Lucille’S Onion Straws, Back Ribs

The Tri Tip salad was the best!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Tri Tip Salad

Maybe my expectations were just a little too high. But I really had my hopes up and tastes buds R E A D Y for amazingness and everything just kinda fell short. The new brisket nachos (sounds super yummy, right) disappointed big time. The brisket itself was the bomb! But I think there was no more than 8 tiny pieces on the whole plate. On top of dry chips with minimal cheese. Literally a dozen black beans. It was actually kind of weird. It was like they ran out of everything but still tried to throw the plate together. My husband had the pulled pork sandwich. Only pulled pork I've ever had be DRY. How does THAT happen??
The bacon ranch Mac 'n cheese was the only good part out of either of our meals. So after paying $75 plus $20 tip (our server was great) I left feeling .. well, among other things, hungry. That's some expensive hunger. ?

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Macaroni & Cheese

I haven't found a better BBQ place in South OC!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Macaroni & Cheese, BBQ Beef Ribs, Apple Butter, Lucille's Sidewalk Fresh Lemonade

I’ve been to Lucille many times and have always been pleased with both the food and service. However, today was an unfortunate experience. The young woman checking us in was rude and unwelcoming. While we waited to be seated, a coworker passed by, and she waved her hands toward us, saying, 'making my life harder.' When she came over, she said, 'We’re getting your table ready,' to which we politely responded, 'Okay, thank you.' As she walked away, we realized she expected us to follow her, and when we did, she condescendingly said, 'Yeah,' instead of simply saying, 'Your table is ready, please follow me.'

Once seated, I politely asked if there was a possibility to switch to a booth. She bluntly said, 'No.' I then asked another staff member, who was kind and quickly accommodated our request. I overheard her questioning the decision, and the response was simply, 'They requested a booth.' She seemed visibly upset and made it known as she passed by our table.

It’s disheartening to experience such negativity when you're trying to enjoy a nice evening out. It’s unfortunate when someone’s dissatisfaction with their job affects customers’ experiences.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 5

Service: 2

Been going to this location since Pre-Covid a few times a year since it’s close to home, and sadly the food quality and quantity have declined significantly. Most immediate example I can think of, I payed ~40 dollars for a rack of beef ribs and they only gave me 3 of the usual 7 it included. Was told I’m they “don’t offer the full rack anymore”, but still charge the same price. The ribs were dry. The customer service was to par but I’m disappointed, and will probably not be returning.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 4

Genuinely one of the best meals I’ve ever had, lovely service aswell - highly reccomend

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I expected a lot from this, all I really got was just disappointment. The meat was cold and had absolutely no flavor. The sides were decent, I really only enjoyed lemonade and Mac and cheese. I have seen tons of good reviews but at max I would give this place a 4.5/10

Food: 2

Recommended dishes: Macaroni & Cheese, Lucille's Sidewalk Fresh Lemonade