Bear Down Barbecue & Catering Co.

absolute fire brisket!! only complaint is I wish I lived closer to try more of the menu!! Definitely a true pitmaster here!!!

Best barbeque place on the planet! Top notch quality and perfect menu variety. Great environment and high character employees make for an unmatched dining experience. Don't waste your time at any other restaurant.

Update: The new pastrami sandwich was a real treat. I tried this last Friday 12/10/24 and was thoroughly impressed. Appreciate the menu variety and superior food quality.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Banana Pudding, Cheeseburger and Fries, Pulled Chicken, Beef Brisket, Fries, Smokey Mac and Cheese

Tucked away in the corner of a strip mall you might pass it by or not give it a second thought, but this place needs a look! This was one of the best BBQ places on the south side. Atmosphere inside is a true Bears fans heaven. But the food itself is to die for. The brisket was juicy and fall apart, Hot links were moist with a good snap and the homemade BBQ sauce had the perfect sweetness and bite from the vinegar. You can tell the owner truly cares for his customers and takes pride in the food he serves. When you think of good southern BBQ this place directly hits the soul. I’d recommend this place to anyone and everyone and will definitely be back again!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Baked Beans, Beef Brisket, Fries, Pulled Brisket Sandwich Fries, Pulled Pork Sandwich

Me and my sister went here very good hospitality and the food is amazing

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The best smoked plates on the Southside. Owner is friendly and makes sure that his customers are happy.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Banana Pudding, Pulled Chicken, Beef Brisket, Fries, Slaw, Pulled Pork Sandwich

For food that is already made, takes way too long to get served and when we did get it, it was cold. Ordered onion rings which were burned and looks like the oil they use came out of my car. I really wanted to have good food as I tried them a few years ago and hoped they got better.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 1

Great BBQ and great ambiance!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pulled Brisket Sandwich 6oz, Banana Pudding, Baked Beans, Angus Beef Brisket 1 2lb, Five Bean Cowboy Beans, Smoked Spare Ribs, Pulled Pork 1 2lb, Sausage, Beef Brisket, Ribs Dry, Fries, Slaw, Power Sweeping Pulled Pork Sandwich, Pork Rib Tips 1 2lb, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Chicken Sundae, Redzone Ribs, Half Rack of Ribs, Fresh Cut Fries

First time order. Was ok with the $100 for dinner and the one hour wait to pick up, but to get a call 35 min into said wait and to be told they are cancelling our order!?!!?! No.

I understand things happen, but there was no apology, no offer to change the order to something else, no ask if there is something, anything that they could do, just "so is this your order? Sorry but we have to cancel it, take care"

Then to scramble to get alternate dinner plans last min!! Thankfully we actually found another BBQ place in the area that had the same order ready in less time and for a cheaper price.

Needless to say, will not try here again. Experience matters as much as the product

Decent bbq for the area. Would eat again

Best smoked meat around. The meat was tender and smoked to perfection. The guy at the front who took my order was polite and extremely nice.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Phenomenal experience the staff was very personable and everything was amazing. I went back and ordered everything for catering for my son's birthday party. 100% recommend this place without it out.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Nice staff. The links were my fav. Everything was very smoky, even the Mac which I wasn't crazy about. But the meats were very good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Found this place on google. Seeing that I've lived in Dallas Texas for 10 years and have ate some of the most well respected places not only in Texas (Franklin's, Hutchins, Snows and Terry Blacks ect...) but from Memphis to Kansas City and on and on. Not wanting to Bash a Black owned business but. Sorry no pics. I've been to Chicago several times as My Wife is from here. Never tried Chicago BBQ but wanted to give it a fair chance. She ordered a reg rib tip and I ordered ribs and brisket w/ fries. The ribs were like baby back ribs that he cut down the middle. So one ribs was 2. The meat was dry and crunchy almost fried. The rib tips were just as dry and sliced paper thin. I knew I was in trouble when the season was on the outside of the ribs. Definitely would give it a 1 out of 10. I ate one rib and trashed the rest. The brisket had absolutely no smoke and seemed to be streamed or boiled but not smoked. No flavor, no season and the fat on the slice wasn't even rendered (Try injecting the brisket). I spent 52.00 and all I can say is at least the fries were good and the drinks we had was cold. If you've had real BBQ from anywhere in America stay clear from here. I recommend the owner go out of state and get help on how cook BBQ. I can't believe he's been in business that long......By far the worst food I've ever had in Chicago. Not even close.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: Fries

Great food!!! Reasonable prices!!! The chicken tips, coleslaw and cowboy beans were excellent!!! Will definitely be my go to place for chicken tips!!! I highly
recommend, if you’re looking for great bbq!!! You will not be disappointed!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food,workers,owner,highly recommend this place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5