Red Pig Bar-B-Q

My mother took me here yesterday. She loves it. I must be honest. I thought it was awful!!! Everything was sub par: staff, location, and especially the atrociously made food. Even the tea was too sweet and I adore sweet tea.

Plastic cups, plates, utensils and styrofoam cups for side orders all for very mediocre bbq. My ribs were really dry, didn’t even bother to cut them… try and do that with a plastic knife! Sauce was not particularly good either.

Frankly, I’m not sure how I feel about this place. It’s a decent meal, better than fast food for the price of fast food, but I’ve certainly had better barbecue. Both times I’ve been here, I’ve opted for the small barbecue sandwich and drink deal for $ 5.99. My boyfriend ordered their fries, and while I’ll give them credit for not being greasy, they weren’t well salted and lacked flavor overall. I believe they’re baked rather than fried.
This is the kind of place I want to succeed; a small local joint. But, considering I’ve gotten a persistent headache both times after eating there, it makes me wonder what kinds of additives may be in their products. I’m not sure I’ll risk it again.

This is a place you really want to root for — over 20 years in the same location and when I first moved to Johnson City the owner always greeted guests as they came into the restaurant.
All you can say about the restaurant and dining experience is basic. which is not always a bad thing. many BBQ joints are just that and it is okay. I would have to say that the dine in experience is not the best. one big room with basic tables and pretty loud if many people are dining. There are really no comfort factors involved which would make it a little warmer or more comfortable.
I had heard many great things about Red Pig and it was a must try and I must say that my first times visiting I thought the food was good and the staff went out of their way to make sure me and my guests had a great meal. We tried both the pulled pork and the ribs with several sides including coleslaw, potato salad and baked beans. It was recommended that I try the sour slaw so we got one of both and I was not a big fan of the sour slaw — I know it can be quite tasty but here I think it was a bit off and not a big favorite.
The pulled pork just did not seem that «meaty» to me – but the coleslaw and bun help and I would rate it as average — I have had much better. The ribs were the best part and pretty meaty and nice smokey taste. I have since ordered them through double time, a great local delivery service, and was less impressed. I am sensing things have changed and I think the quality has suffered.
BBQ is a battlefield and you really need to be on the top of your game to succeed and I really hope Red Pig does that and I can revisit with a better ranking in the future.

The staff was friendly, the restaurant was clean and that is why 2 stars. The food was passable at best. The famous twice baked potato was bland, the pork on top had no flavor and the barbecue sauce was out of a bottle average. My husband had the ribs and the review saying they were boiled is spot on. The savory cole slaw was nothing but cabbage and vinegar; no seasonings and the beans were out of a can average. Not sure how this place has made it 60+ years in business. Definitely not a repeat.

Much much better after the last experience. I don’t come here for the bbq but the sandwiches and twice baked potatoes are really good. So glad this place has turned around for the better.

After changing hands, the Red Pig (sadly) is not what it once was. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of soup. I was charged $ 7.95 for the sandwich plus another $ 5.95 for my cup of soup. The sandwich is on the kids menu for $ 3.99 which includes chips and a drink! And they had to make my sandwich three times to get it right! It was so complicated ordering mayo and lettuce on my grilled cheese! The manager said there was nothing he could do about it. So sad to see a JC tradition slide.

I went in to grab a weekday lunch (since I am a sucker for BBQ). It was mediocre. The service was Great, the atmosphere was boring, and the pulled pork was disappointing. I will probably not return. It isn’t that they did anything bad. It just wasn’t very good.

The best description for the ribs would be fall off the bone cooked in a slow cooker. If you like the style of rib. For us, it tasted like boiled ribs tastes with sauce. The sauce on the side had too vinegar and it just made things worst.
I think the first warning was the cashier behind the counter recommended their best dish is a double bake potatoes. And then when you ask what kind of wood is used to smoke the BBQ, they both had a blank look on their faces. This was some of the worst ribs ever, definitely not a repeat.

I grew up in Johnson City; I have loved Red Pig for years. However, after returning to Johnson City last month for a visit, i made my way to Red Pig as fast as I could. I was disappointed to discover that the pulled pork sandwich and beans don’t taste as they had just a few years before. What has happened to Red Pig?
If they have changed the way you smoke the meat, I would ask the new owner to please consider going back to the old method.
I’m not saying it was terrible; it was however very different than the original flavor that I remember throughout my life. #lovetheoldredpig

Went here based off of a recommendation from a family member a couple months back. Definitely not impressed. The person who took our order seemed less than thrilled to be there, let alone be bothered by customers. The food was edible, but no where near what I would consider amazing. The meat didn’t have much of a flavor by itself and the Mac and cheese was less than alright. I doubt highly that I would ever return, even if I didn’t have to pay for the meal.

Good, not great. Consistent bbq, locals love the sweet tea. It’s mostly sugar. The dining room is one big kinda loud room, not a place for a relaxing meal. Hot sauce is the way to go here. We get takeout from here once in awhile. I dig the pig. Sort of.

Not impressed. The ribs were cooked well, but the sauce left a lot to be desired. I got it to go and they forgot my drink and bread. I went back in and they corrected it, but still…

This is the worst BBQ I have ever had. After the staff not knowing what a Babybacks rib was, I should have known right then. There is nothing smoked here. The St Louis ribs were boiled or steamed and were served looking like the palm of your hand after doing Sunday dishes. «For you youngsters, dishes were washed by hand in the OLD days»
Sides is slaw and beans were passable but I think if you are serving BBQ you really should have some meat that has seen fire.
Stay away from here even if ya believe that some people find this a“must stop” when they come to this area. Don’t make my mistake

This place sucks. The meat is boiled, not smoked. Only redeeming quality is Tom Carr, the owner. He’s been in restaurant business for 40 years in JC and is always out shaking hands.

Friendly place with large portions. Can’t say I’m a fan of the sauce but the ribs were fall off the bone tender.

This is the best barbecue in Johnson City. If you’re not from the South, you’ll want to go half-​and-​half on the tea; it will still be sweeter than most «sweet» tea.

Good BBQ! Pretty sure it’s the best in town…
The owner is ALWAYS there and he shakes everyones hand that comes in there. The sweet tea is so good, it almost made me horny. My folks like this place too, which is a bonus since they are picky eaters.
The prices are about average for a BBQ joint, plenty of parking and a has a decent sized dining room.
Bottomline~ Eat at Red Pig for some good ‘olé Que!

The must haves when I visit .RP Olé smokey Turkey Sub, my absolute favorite Broccoli & Cheese soup and of course the biggest cup of sweet tea they have! Atmosphere goes without saying, it’s a small BBQ, sandwich shop, order and pickup at counter. Always a pleasure.

This is one of the best BBQ places I have ever been! The pork and chicken sandwiches with slaw on them rock! They also have some rockin’ sweet tea! The owner comes around and refills your drinks to make sure your cup will never go dry. It is an in-​and-​out place to eat. You can get it pretty quick and its also great to-​go. I highly recommend this place!