The customer service was poor, and the meat was overcooked
I live in the area. Went there with my wife to try for the first time Friday evening. The very first question I was asked by the kid at the register was... Are you paying cash or credit?" Which was off-putting. When he saw I needed a minute to look at the above menue, he immediately walked away into the back. He didn't come back either. I waited patiently about 5 to 10 minutes for another employee to walk up to the register and again immediately asked me if I was paying cash or credit.
I bought two of the 3-meat samplers. Tried the chicken wings, brisket, pulled pork, "competition ribs," and ends.
It was all burnt, dry, and flavorless. I was not offered any barbecue sauce, and there was none to be seen anywhere. Just a bottle of warm ketchup.
It was my wifes first time trying barbecue, and now he thinks she doesn't like barbecue, and It will be hard to get her to try it again.
Vanessa Kerber
First and only time visiting this restaurant. Took my friend out for BBQ for his birthday. I really thought this place would be good based on the reviews and location (Geneva rarely disappoints with it's numerous restuarants). Sadly this was the WORST BBQ we have ever had. While the atmosphere and decor was awesome, the hostess that took our order in the front was nice as well, but the food was shockingly terrible. They were out of many choices on the menu when we went at 6pm on a Friday night. For a BBQ place, you would think their meats would be top notch, but they were not. Everything was overcooked and burnt!! (See pic) Even the fries were dried out! We got the 3 meat option and the 2 meat option with a side each. The beef brisket was awful! So dried out, chewy, and extremely bland. We were so disappointed. The chicken wings were just ok. Some of the smaller ones were dried out/burnt (not edible). Not so much jumbo. The thick cut bacon was basically beef jerky! Black and burnt! The rib tips and burnt ends were nothing special, overcooked and bland. The cornbread was just meh, nothing special. Sadly, the baked beans (probably canned) were the best thing we got. The fried pickles were ok, but not worth going back for. We ended up not even eating it all. Such a waste! This place needs to step it up, maybe work on consistency if other reviews are better than what we experienced. I don't even want to give this place a second chance because we wasted out money on this BBQ. Just beware if you go. You might get overcooked/burnt meats. If you like that, then this is your place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Derrick L
Rating this place is difficult because I love BBQ and I’ve been searching for a good one for awhile. The first time coming here (take out) was fantastic. Plenty of food, good prices, good service, and delicious food. The second time (dine -in) following a few months was not the same. Food was not all that tasty and Mac & cheese is always spicy regardless requesting without spice. It just didn’t hit the same. I do enjoy this place and want to visit a third but unsure if it’ll be like loving my first visit or settling like my second visit. Regardless, I still believe this might be one of the best BBQ place in the suburbs, which coming from is says a lot. I have had plenty of ribs from plenty of places!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
mayowa ogunfowokan
I had an absolutely terrible experience at Firewater BBQ in Geneva. I placed an online order, arrived at the restaurant, paid, and sat down to wait. After 15 minutes, I went to check on my food, only to find out it had been sitting on the pickup table the entire time—yet no one bothered to call my name after I had already paid.
When I asked for a fresh order (since mine had been sitting out), I had to wait another 15 minutes. Then, I got home only to find my order was completely wrong. At this point, what should have been a simple dinner turned into a 45-minute ordeal.
To top it off, there were no apologies—just attitude. When I called, the manager actually argued with me instead of making it right. Their idea of compensation? A gift card. I don’t need a gift card—I can pay for my own food. What I wanted was a simple apology, which they clearly don’t believe in.
Absolutely unacceptable customer service. I won’t be back.
Service: 1
art sanchez
Brisket is dry ,chicken wings were dry & tough Cooking them to l9ng?
Sean Pflughaupt
Ribs were overdone, burnt ends were dry and chewy, Mac n cheese had pimentos or something in it. Service and atmosphere was fine. Food was not.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Jeremy s
The food was just ok. The chicken was VERY dry. Parts of the pulled pork were dried out and inedible. Bread pudding was good.
Kid-friendliness: Small kids menu
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Jan Redfield
Place was dirty
Sean Miller
The food was alright tonight, i went in and they got rid of me and my daughters 2 favorite things, we did not dwell on it though, they changed this now, the beans arent in containers they are in boats as well as othersides, which makes no sense, the kitchen members tonight were amazing like always, what really pissed me off is the person on cashier, this girl looked lost, and seemed very rude, the dining room looked dirty like no one has cleaned it, overall the food was alright but the coustomer service fr the cashier was not the vibe, if i go here again it will be take out.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
john
I’m not sure what has changed with this place in the last few months? My wife and I used to love eating here. We would always get there smoked wings and they were amazing. In the past few months the wings have either been burnt or had zero flavor. Very disappointing
Gave me a couple bbq sauces with holes in them. Very friendly. Just takes a little while to get the food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork Cheese Fry
Mark B
11/15 - The staff was horribly rude this evening. There were 5 people in the kitchen and they made one order at a time, painfully slow.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Marilyn Lahman
Good food, but dislike all the BBQ sauces. Either too sweet or too spicy Why can't they use one that tastes like maybe Sweet Baby Ray's. The rib tips had a lot of greasy fat on them, but the meat part was good. Very good French fries but the ketchup was awful. Get Heinz.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Mike Gundersen
This is a great place to bring friends and family, for BBQ!
Parking: I have typically come to this restaurant on a Friday or Saturday, so I expect to park on the street.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork Cheese Fry, Three Meat Platter, Award Winning Baby Back Ribs, Slaw, Texas Tacos, Brisket
Frank Dean
Delicious food great service tasty drinks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Smoked Jumbo Wings, Three Meat Platter, Wings, Brisket and Smoked Chicken Wings, 3 Meat Platter, BBQ Sauce
The customer service was poor, and the meat was overcooked
I live in the area. Went there with my wife to try for the first time Friday evening. The very first question I was asked by the kid at the register was... Are you paying cash or credit?" Which was off-putting. When he saw I needed a minute to look at the above menue, he immediately walked away into the back. He didn't come back either. I waited patiently about 5 to 10 minutes for another employee to walk up to the register and again immediately asked me if I was paying cash or credit.
I bought two of the 3-meat samplers. Tried the chicken wings, brisket, pulled pork, "competition ribs," and ends.
It was all burnt, dry, and flavorless.
I was not offered any barbecue sauce, and there was none to be seen anywhere. Just a bottle of warm ketchup.
It was my wifes first time trying barbecue, and now he thinks she doesn't like barbecue, and It will be hard to get her to try it again.
First and only time visiting this restaurant. Took my friend out for BBQ for his birthday. I really thought this place would be good based on the reviews and location (Geneva rarely disappoints with it's numerous restuarants). Sadly this was the WORST BBQ we have ever had. While the atmosphere and decor was awesome, the hostess that took our order in the front was nice as well, but the food was shockingly terrible. They were out of many choices on the menu when we went at 6pm on a Friday night. For a BBQ place, you would think their meats would be top notch, but they were not. Everything was overcooked and burnt!! (See pic) Even the fries were dried out! We got the 3 meat option and the 2 meat option with a side each. The beef brisket was awful! So dried out, chewy, and extremely bland. We were so disappointed. The chicken wings were just ok. Some of the smaller ones were dried out/burnt (not edible). Not so much jumbo. The thick cut bacon was basically beef jerky! Black and burnt! The rib tips and burnt ends were nothing special, overcooked and bland. The cornbread was just meh, nothing special. Sadly, the baked beans (probably canned) were the best thing we got. The fried pickles were ok, but not worth going back for. We ended up not even eating it all. Such a waste!
This place needs to step it up, maybe work on consistency if other reviews are better than what we experienced. I don't even want to give this place a second chance because we wasted out money on this BBQ.
Just beware if you go. You might get overcooked/burnt meats. If you like that, then this is your place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Rating this place is difficult because I love BBQ and I’ve been searching for a good one for awhile. The first time coming here (take out) was fantastic. Plenty of food, good prices, good service, and delicious food. The second time (dine -in) following a few months was not the same. Food was not all that tasty and Mac & cheese is always spicy regardless requesting without spice. It just didn’t hit the same. I do enjoy this place and want to visit a third but unsure if it’ll be like loving my first visit or settling like my second visit. Regardless, I still believe this might be one of the best BBQ place in the suburbs, which coming from is says a lot. I have had plenty of ribs from plenty of places!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I had an absolutely terrible experience at Firewater BBQ in Geneva. I placed an online order, arrived at the restaurant, paid, and sat down to wait. After 15 minutes, I went to check on my food, only to find out it had been sitting on the pickup table the entire time—yet no one bothered to call my name after I had already paid.
When I asked for a fresh order (since mine had been sitting out), I had to wait another 15 minutes. Then, I got home only to find my order was completely wrong. At this point, what should have been a simple dinner turned into a 45-minute ordeal.
To top it off, there were no apologies—just attitude. When I called, the manager actually argued with me instead of making it right. Their idea of compensation? A gift card. I don’t need a gift card—I can pay for my own food. What I wanted was a simple apology, which they clearly don’t believe in.
Absolutely unacceptable customer service. I won’t be back.
Service: 1
Brisket is dry ,chicken wings were dry & tough
Cooking them to l9ng?
Ribs were overdone, burnt ends were dry and chewy, Mac n cheese had pimentos or something in it. Service and atmosphere was fine. Food was not.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
The food was just ok. The chicken was VERY dry. Parts of the pulled pork were dried out and inedible. Bread pudding was good.
Kid-friendliness: Small kids menu
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Place was dirty
The food was alright tonight, i went in and they got rid of me and my daughters 2 favorite things, we did not dwell on it though, they changed this now, the beans arent in containers they are in boats as well as othersides, which makes no sense, the kitchen members tonight were amazing like always, what really pissed me off is the person on cashier, this girl looked lost, and seemed very rude, the dining room looked dirty like no one has cleaned it, overall the food was alright but the coustomer service fr the cashier was not the vibe, if i go here again it will be take out.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
I’m not sure what has changed with this place in the last few months? My wife and I used to love eating here. We would always get there smoked wings and they were amazing. In the past few months the wings have either been burnt or had zero flavor. Very disappointing
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Gave me a couple bbq sauces with holes in them. Very friendly. Just takes a little while to get the food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork Cheese Fry
11/15 - The staff was horribly rude this evening. There were 5 people in the kitchen and they made one order at a time, painfully slow.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Good food, but dislike all the BBQ sauces. Either too sweet or too spicy
Why can't they use one that tastes like maybe Sweet Baby Ray's. The rib tips had a lot of greasy fat on them, but the meat part was good. Very good French fries but the ketchup was awful. Get Heinz.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
This is a great place to bring friends and family, for BBQ!
Parking: I have typically come to this restaurant on a Friday or Saturday, so I expect to park on the street.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork Cheese Fry, Three Meat Platter, Award Winning Baby Back Ribs, Slaw, Texas Tacos, Brisket
Delicious food great service tasty drinks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Smoked Jumbo Wings, Three Meat Platter, Wings, Brisket and Smoked Chicken Wings, 3 Meat Platter, BBQ Sauce
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