Only thing that was good was the burnt ends sandwich. Food was terrible overall. Service bad. Dark and hard to read menu. Would not recommend. Not worth the prices.
Ren Soto
Food was just not good. Not enough flavor in the pulled pork, was pretty flat and not enough meat too. The Mac and cheese tasted almost chemically, could benefit from a breadcrumb layer for additional texture. Corn bread was alright. Overall really disappointed.
Food: 2
Jon Lim
Really disappointed as the people there are way better than the food. I stopped to get a large Mac and cheese and another side. I love Mac and cheese. I don’t think I’ve ever had a worse Mac and cheese than this. They can’t seriously serve this and people think it’s good. There’s no way. Take my advice and get a new Mac and cheese. It tasted like it had horseradish in it which I hate. I don’t think I’ll be back but I would have loved to try the meats and main dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Marc Thomas
A Tale of Two Visits: Fette Sau’s Inconsistent Smokehouse Experience
Tucked away in the heart of Fishtown, Fette Sau is known for its rustic, no-nonsense approach to barbecue—where slow-cooked meats, rich smoke, and bourbon-forward cocktails should create an unforgettable experience. My first visit lived up to that promise, delivering exceptional flavors and a meal worth savoring. My second? Not so much.
On Monday, March 10, 2025, I returned during happy hour, eager to relive that first great impression. Instead, I left with a stark realization: consistency is everything in barbecue, and on this night, Fette Sau missed the mark.
Let’s start with the drink: an Old Fashioned featuring a double shot of Woodford. Or at least, that’s what I was charged for. What arrived was a weak, watered-down concoction that lacked the bold, oaky depth one expects from a well-made Old Fashioned. If this was a double, it certainly didn’t taste like it. At $32, I essentially paid for a glass of cherry, orange, and bitters.
Next, the deviled eggs—an ambitious take with horseradish. They weren’t bad, but they were certainly different. The flavors were interesting, but nothing about them stood out enough to recommend.
Then came the much-anticipated burnt ends—or what was labeled as such. Instead of the deep caramelization and smoky, fatty bark that make burnt ends a barbecue delicacy, I received a pile of shredded meat, drowning in sauce yet still managing to be dry. Whether it was a kitchen misstep or a misunderstanding of what burnt ends should be, the result was disappointing. Worse yet, the meat had a stale, almost old taste that didn’t sit right.
Redemption came in the form of the brisket. Perfectly smoked, tender, and flavorful, this was the kind of barbecue that keeps people coming back. Whether eaten plain or with sauce, it was the undeniable highlight of the meal—a flawless 10/10.
But great brisket alone isn’t enough to override the inconsistencies elsewhere. A top-tier barbecue spot should deliver precision and quality across the board, not just in select dishes.
I don’t like causing a fuss, so I didn’t send anything back or raise an issue with the staff. Instead, I’ll let my experience speak for itself here. Mistakes happen, but in the world of barbecue, where patience and technique define the craft, details matter. Fette Sau has proven it can get it right—I just hope they do so every time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
David Mack
Atmosphere and service were great. The old fashioned I got during happy hour was well made—I believe it was on tap and was only $5. I’m giving four stars because we ordered the burnt end sliders and what we got was more like pulled pork, it was good but not the same. The deviled eggs were great and the chicken legs were also quite tasty but nothing special. I’m looking forward to giving them another chance and hopefully I will get the burnt ends and not pulled pork 🙃
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Troy Viteo
I read all the reviews on here, and people said the burnt ends were great, well I just spent 70.00 on the worst food I every had from a BBQ place, the ends weren't even ends it was strings of pork, I drove 20 miles 1 way for that mac and cheese was bland and watered down, so disappointed, mission BBQ puts them to shame, oh and the brisket had no flavor but grease
Food: 1
P N
Super bland food! I have always been eager to give this place a shot, and I am utterly shocked by the letdown when trying their barbecue, my goodness, it was far from appetizing. Price is not an issue for me as long as I am promised a delicious flavor. It is unfathomable to me that this is considered the top spot for barbecue; I am thoroughly disappointed. Although the exterior of this place is appealing and charming, the one thing that truly requires improvement is the quality of the barbecue. Instead, I would much rather opt for the delightful flavors of Limestone Grill in Delaware and I'm a true Philadelphian.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Kai
The atmosphere of this place is dope. The staff was very attentive and helpful, however the food was a bit on the meh side for me. The meats were amazing! The brisket was juicy as hell, the burnt ends were crazy good and so was the pork belly. However the sides leave a lot to be desired. I ordered the spicy cole slaw, burnt end baked beans and cornbread. The cole slaw was basically red cabbage, vinegar, onions and jalapenos. It wasn't what I was expecting when I ordered coleslaw. I've always had coleslaw with a mayo as the base, this didn't. All the sides are way too vinegary for my tastes. It was a bit on the bland side. Do not even bother getting the Mac and cheese. The old saving grace for the sides we had were the burnt end baked beans. All in all it was an ok dining experience
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Brisket Sandwich
Michael Hunt
Today is the day before thanksgiving. My wife and I ordered a 400$ Thanksgiving feast. However when I arrived to pick up the 400$ order and asked if I could buy a brisket sandwich I was told no. Because it wasn’t 4pm. In fact, it was 340pm. And the only thing in there display was the brisket. So if the hostess that lost a 70$ tip see this my bad. But please have a conversation with you manager. That was the most brutal bs ever. Also the ppl who bagged the food must’ve had broken hands. Everything opened up and leaked all over, across the entire sidewalk all the way to my door. Thank you for nothing
Food: 4
Service: 1
Rashmi Kalro-Sides
Great atmosphere. The sausage and collard greens were great! However, the brisket was a bit dry.
The mac and cheese was not good - it tasted like fake cheese. The chocolate chip cookie wasn’t great either. The corn bread was really dry.
Only not 5 star because it’s a Steven star restaurant lol not a big fan of his
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Mike Jakubowski
Crazy jerky prices of the meat be hittin. No diddy.
Susanna S
to be honest, the craft beers are good, but most of the dishes are just okay, not really close to Texas BBQ except for the burnt ends baked beans.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Sarai Smith
Deceiving ! I give this place a one star because I really wanted the mac & cheese to be bomb I’ve seen so many photos of the mac & cheese so many reviews and when I ordered it on DoorDash, I literally got noodles in a cup with a sprinkle of cheese. It was literally disgusting. The brisket was amazing But I feel like if you’re going to send mac & cheese out like that, but your photos online don’t match your your fooling people and it’s not okay !
Matt G
This place completely fell off. I used to love going here. Recently the portions are much smaller and everything was dry and flavorless. Idk if they changed the food or the pit master or what but I would avoid this until they figure it out
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: St Louis Ribs, Mac and Cheese, Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Brisket Sandwich
Only thing that was good was the burnt ends sandwich. Food was terrible overall. Service bad. Dark and hard to read menu. Would not recommend. Not worth the prices.
Food was just not good. Not enough flavor in the pulled pork, was pretty flat and not enough meat too. The Mac and cheese tasted almost chemically, could benefit from a breadcrumb layer for additional texture. Corn bread was alright. Overall really disappointed.
Food: 2
Really disappointed as the people there are way better than the food. I stopped to get a large Mac and cheese and another side. I love Mac and cheese. I don’t think I’ve ever had a worse Mac and cheese than this. They can’t seriously serve this and people think it’s good. There’s no way. Take my advice and get a new Mac and cheese. It tasted like it had horseradish in it which I hate. I don’t think I’ll be back but I would have loved to try the meats and main dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
A Tale of Two Visits: Fette Sau’s Inconsistent Smokehouse Experience
Tucked away in the heart of Fishtown, Fette Sau is known for its rustic, no-nonsense approach to barbecue—where slow-cooked meats, rich smoke, and bourbon-forward cocktails should create an unforgettable experience. My first visit lived up to that promise, delivering exceptional flavors and a meal worth savoring. My second? Not so much.
On Monday, March 10, 2025, I returned during happy hour, eager to relive that first great impression. Instead, I left with a stark realization: consistency is everything in barbecue, and on this night, Fette Sau missed the mark.
Let’s start with the drink: an Old Fashioned featuring a double shot of Woodford. Or at least, that’s what I was charged for. What arrived was a weak, watered-down concoction that lacked the bold, oaky depth one expects from a well-made Old Fashioned. If this was a double, it certainly didn’t taste like it. At $32, I essentially paid for a glass of cherry, orange, and bitters.
Next, the deviled eggs—an ambitious take with horseradish. They weren’t bad, but they were certainly different. The flavors were interesting, but nothing about them stood out enough to recommend.
Then came the much-anticipated burnt ends—or what was labeled as such. Instead of the deep caramelization and smoky, fatty bark that make burnt ends a barbecue delicacy, I received a pile of shredded meat, drowning in sauce yet still managing to be dry. Whether it was a kitchen misstep or a misunderstanding of what burnt ends should be, the result was disappointing. Worse yet, the meat had a stale, almost old taste that didn’t sit right.
Redemption came in the form of the brisket. Perfectly smoked, tender, and flavorful, this was the kind of barbecue that keeps people coming back. Whether eaten plain or with sauce, it was the undeniable highlight of the meal—a flawless 10/10.
But great brisket alone isn’t enough to override the inconsistencies elsewhere. A top-tier barbecue spot should deliver precision and quality across the board, not just in select dishes.
I don’t like causing a fuss, so I didn’t send anything back or raise an issue with the staff. Instead, I’ll let my experience speak for itself here. Mistakes happen, but in the world of barbecue, where patience and technique define the craft, details matter. Fette Sau has proven it can get it right—I just hope they do so every time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Atmosphere and service were great. The old fashioned I got during happy hour was well made—I believe it was on tap and was only $5. I’m giving four stars because we ordered the burnt end sliders and what we got was more like pulled pork, it was good but not the same. The deviled eggs were great and the chicken legs were also quite tasty but nothing special. I’m looking forward to giving them another chance and hopefully I will get the burnt ends and not pulled pork 🙃
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I read all the reviews on here, and people said the burnt ends were great, well I just spent 70.00 on the worst food I every had from a BBQ place, the ends weren't even ends it was strings of pork, I drove 20 miles 1 way for that mac and cheese was bland and watered down, so disappointed, mission BBQ puts them to shame, oh and the brisket had no flavor but grease
Food: 1
Super bland food! I have always been eager to give this place a shot, and I am utterly shocked by the letdown when trying their barbecue, my goodness, it was far from appetizing. Price is not an issue for me as long as I am promised a delicious flavor. It is unfathomable to me that this is considered the top spot for barbecue; I am thoroughly disappointed. Although the exterior of this place is appealing and charming, the one thing that truly requires improvement is the quality of the barbecue. Instead, I would much rather opt for the delightful flavors of Limestone Grill in Delaware and I'm a true Philadelphian.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
The atmosphere of this place is dope. The staff was very attentive and helpful, however the food was a bit on the meh side for me. The meats were amazing! The brisket was juicy as hell, the burnt ends were crazy good and so was the pork belly. However the sides leave a lot to be desired. I ordered the spicy cole slaw, burnt end baked beans and cornbread. The cole slaw was basically red cabbage, vinegar, onions and jalapenos. It wasn't what I was expecting when I ordered coleslaw. I've always had coleslaw with a mayo as the base, this didn't. All the sides are way too vinegary for my tastes. It was a bit on the bland side. Do not even bother getting the Mac and cheese. The old saving grace for the sides we had were the burnt end baked beans. All in all it was an ok dining experience
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Brisket Sandwich
Today is the day before thanksgiving. My wife and I ordered a 400$ Thanksgiving feast. However when I arrived to pick up the 400$ order and asked if I could buy a brisket sandwich I was told no. Because it wasn’t 4pm. In fact, it was 340pm. And the only thing in there display was the brisket. So if the hostess that lost a 70$ tip see this my bad. But please have a conversation with you manager. That was the most brutal bs ever. Also the ppl who bagged the food must’ve had broken hands. Everything opened up and leaked all over, across the entire sidewalk all the way to my door. Thank you for nothing
Food: 4
Service: 1
Great atmosphere. The sausage and collard greens were great! However, the brisket was a bit dry.
The mac and cheese was not good - it tasted like fake cheese. The chocolate chip cookie wasn’t great either. The corn bread was really dry.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Only not 5 star because it’s a Steven star restaurant lol not a big fan of his
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Crazy jerky prices of the meat be hittin. No diddy.
to be honest, the craft beers are good, but most of the dishes are just okay, not really close to Texas BBQ except for the burnt ends baked beans.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Deceiving ! I give this place a one star because I really wanted the mac & cheese to be bomb I’ve seen so many photos of the mac & cheese so many reviews and when I ordered it on DoorDash, I literally got noodles in a cup with a sprinkle of cheese. It was literally disgusting. The brisket was amazing But I feel like if you’re going to send mac & cheese out like that, but your photos online don’t match your your fooling people and it’s not okay !
This place completely fell off. I used to love going here. Recently the portions are much smaller and everything was dry and flavorless. Idk if they changed the food or the pit master or what but I would avoid this until they figure it out
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: St Louis Ribs, Mac and Cheese, Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Brisket Sandwich
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