Location: Palm Bay
Top Restaurants in Palm Bay
Top 6 Barbecue food in Palm Bay, Florida, United States
Discover Restaurants offering the best Barbecue food in Palm Bay, Florida, United States. Palm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida. The city's population was 103,190 at the 2010 United States Census, making it the most populous city in the county. Palm Bay is a principal city of the Palm Bay−Melbourne−Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 543,376 at the 2010 census.
Things to do in Palm Bay
6. Jimmy Jay's
Reviewed By BigBoyDiningOut
Jim Jay's BBQ & Catering-Palm Bay- 0.5-Stars***SWILL ALERT***When a name comes up on my restaurant generator if I have never heard of the place (and let's face it, even as big as I am and as much as I eat, there is no way I know every place on the Space Coast), I go in blind. What I mean by that is that I do not google their name or look them up on any social media. I just plug the address into my GPS (Hey! I made a rhyme!), point the BBDO mobile in the appropriate direction and hit the gas. After my experience at Jim Jay's Barbecue in Palm Bay, I am rethinking that strategy...Driving there I had to pull over and double check the address and GPS as I was driving down a long-forgotten section of Palm Bay Road. Dilapidation had set in here and dug its roots deep, threatening to never release the tendrils torpedoing the exterior of each building I passed. At least Jim Jay's lot looked clean and inviting. However, once I stepped inside and heard the sorrowful sound of a microwave door closing followed by the unmistakable noise of food getting nuked, my stomach returned to the pit in which it had sunk on the way here. Hoping it was at least better than Bubba's Backyard BBQ, I apprehensively approached the counter. Standing behind the said counter was none other than Jim himself. Jim is a gregarious outgoing fella with the charm of your favorite Uncle. Finding him pleasant enough, I began to question him on the menu. While everything certainly sounded delicious I couldn't forget the sound of the microwave in the back I heard upon entering and while hesitant to order, did so knowing I might very well be about to take another one for the team.I asked Jim Jay for an order of his "almost famous" Beef Brisket sandwich, a Pulled Pork sandwich and one 1/2 rack of ribs. As I did so, Jim Jay commented that he would have to defrost the brisket and all I could think of was, "ugh, this is gonna suck." I began to sample the ordered fare, I soon realized just how much this place sucked. the Beef Brisket was of such low quality, thawed in the microwave and had more gristle than meat. It was inedible. The Pulled Pork was actually slimy (I am sure from being frozen, then nuked) and the 1/2 rack of ribs were on par with the Brisket and inedible as well. Try as I might it was all I could do to find any edible meat on the ribs. The sauce seemed to be artificially colored and had the unmistakable taste of industrialization.One of my staffers asked me how I could eat out three times a day noting that I order several items in order to get a wide variety of samples from an eating place. I told him that I usually only take a bite or two out of each item and box the rest. That was the case here as well. However, this is where it gets really interesting. Returning home with the boxed fodder from Jim Jay's, I was about to toss it all in the garbage when my cleaning lady said, "Wait! I will eat it." I tried to explain just how disgusting it was, but she insisted on taking it home. Upon her return the following week, I asked her what she thought of the food she took home. She told me that it was so horrid that she decided to give it to her dogs and that they REFUSED to eat it! I found that hard to believe, but she assured me that the dogs took one sniff, a tentative tongue tasting and trotted away. This BBQ was so bad that not only did dogs declined to eat it (and let us not forget, some dogs have even been known to drink from toilets--gross, but true!), I have to say, it was way worse than Bubba's Backyard BBQ and I never thought I would say that in a million years. This is Monster Swill. I am sure prisoners in the Bastille got better slop than what Jim Jay is slinging. Back to my opening remarks, I had my lackey google Jim Jay's before I wrote this review and they informed me that his FB page had not been updated in 6 years. In this day and age, if an establishment is lacking on Social Media, it just might be an inclination of the services they provide, in this case, it was. It told me that they don't care at all about the dining public and the swill slung by Jim drives that point home with a gristle filled pair of tongs. The Big Boy says, "Don't. Just don't. Not in a million years, unless he gets rid of that cursed microwave and uses fresh meats!" #bigboydiningout #iamthebigboy
5. Skeebo's Rib Shack
Overall Ratings
4 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By Scuba-Obsession
Interesting stop! My first impression was my presence annoyed the server. I almost walked out, but I decided to try the food, anyway. I ordered the rib sandwich. Normally, the rib meat is pulled from the bone and placed between some kind of bread. Nope! These were actually bone in ribs on two slices of bread. That was different! The ribs themselves were very good! Perfectly cooked! The meat was moist and pull off the bone. I also ordered a side of fries. It was a huge side, and cooked the way I like them. They also put a seasoning on the fries that was excellent. The longer I was there, my server became more pleasant.Next time, I'll have the ribs without the sandwich.
4. Smokey Bones
Overall Ratings
4 based on 287 reviews
Reviewed By DaggersTT
Smoky bones in Melbourne FL, must be under new management.My wife and I always look forward to a meal here when we are in Melbourne, and tonight was no exception.We were disappointed.I broke my rule of " you don't eat steak in a rib house"Ordered the Ribeye which came highly recommended.The medium rare came well done, and the potato undercooked. The roasted corn was like it was boiled.One redeeming factor, the service was excellent!
3. Memaw's BBQ of Palm Bay
Overall Ratings
4 based on 82 reviews
Sauce it up! Eat it up! Go ahead and enjoy that good old-fashioned Memaw's Barâ¢Bâ¢Q that we are so proud to serve you
Reviewed By BigBoyDiningOut
Memaw's BarBQ- Palm Bay- 2.5 StarsGrowing up Beachside during the 80s, certain things were guaranteed, practically written in stone they were. Among these Universe anchoring truths were that there was always a jungle juice/tea party on any given Saturday night at a dead end cul-de-sac facing the river, Local's Only was going to tear up Spectrum this coming weekend and if you wanted good southern BBQ you headed to Redneckville, aka. the West Melbourne/Palm Bay area. The Big Boy knows "the times they are a changing" and thinks change, in general, is good for the soul; however, certain things should never change. Such as where to find good BBQ in the Melbourne area. Unbeknownst to me and my discerning palate, this change had occurred. Upon entering MeMaw's BBQ in Palm Bay I was gladly welcomed and soon seated within the old west themed joint complete with picnic table seating, the obligatory wanted poster and several wagon wheels on the wall. My server, Brenda, was professional and on point while fighting a losing battle with the quality of the food. It's not that it tasted rancid or anything, it's just that it, well, I'll get to that. With no bar and only bottled beer and wine to choose from, I had to forgo my usual adult beverage and settle for a glass of MeMaw's Unsweetened Tea. Per usual I ordered selections from different areas of their menu in order to get an overall sense of their gastronomical offerings. As such, I ordered a French Dip with au jus and no sides along with their three item highly self-touted BBQ combo plate of Beef, Pork sausage, a half chicken and two sides: one of fries, the other a cup of MeMaw's original recipe Brunswick Stew along with two slices of Texas toast thrown haphazardly on top. First up was the French Dip sandwich with a side of au jus. Their meat may indeed be hand trimmed every morning, but it is not fresh, that is obvious. The meat, along with the bread had a previously frozen texture and flavoring that was not all that unpleasant, but it wasn't all that good either. As the au jus looked, smelled and tasted not unlike microwaved canned beef consomme, I am assuming that is exactly what it was. The bun was stale and slightly stiff as you chewed as only previously frozen or old bread can be and tasted flat on the palate. After such a mediocre beginning, I was hoping the meal got better as I looked to tackle my BBQ combo. As I mentioned at the start, after growing up in the region, I was not put off by the color of the beef, nor the chicken down near the bone. I was, however, put off by the doneness of the pork sausage. I understand that it is to be browned and crispy on the outside, but this looked like it had just escaped from the rotary warmer at the local gas station. It wasn't as overcooked as it appeared at first glance, but it was a bit too done for this cowboy. The beef, as with the beef in the au jus, just didn't taste fresh, Again, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't memorable as BBQ should be. The chicken was slightly burnt in some areas of skin, but the inside was fine if a bit on the dry side. Not completely dry, but not as juicy as one comes to expect in BBQ chicken. If the sauce and the Brunswick stew are, as claimed, based on "MeMaw's" own recipe it's no wonder that one: she is not named and two, there are only two locations in this "chain." The stew was plebian, to say the least, downright bland to say the most. A correctly seasoned Brunswick stew is a staple of Southern cooking and should pop on your taste buds in a dance of complex flavors fronted by (usually) chicken. Their sauce was nothing to write home about and tasted like it came out of an industrial size can or bottle, not made fresh on site. Big Boy says, "If you're in a pinch, hungry or want a cheap Stella Artois, head on over to MeMaw's in Palm Bay, but for real Southern BBQ, go elsewhere."
Where to eat Italian food in Palm Bay: The Best Restaurants and Bars
2. Sonny's BBQ
Overall Ratings
4 based on 182 reviews
Sonny's BBQ of Palm Bay. Southern BBQ at its finest. Slow-smoking favorites like pulled pork, ribs, brisket since 1968.
Reviewed By tailsofpineapplecoco
We lived in North Alabama prior to moving to Florida so we definitely know a thing or two about great BBQ. Sonny's has always been the only BBQ place we've liked here in the Melbourne area. However, we picked up lunch from here last Thursday and were really disappointed. First of all, even though we were the only car in line, it took at least 20 minutes to get our to-go which we felt was way too long. My brisket was very fatty and practically flavorless. My baked beans and mac n'cheese were just so-so. My husband liked his pulled pork sandwich but was disappointed by how small it was for the cost. The cashier had asked us our sauce preference and we asked for sweet but when we got home we realized he had given us 1 packet each of 8 difference sauces so not enough of any one thing to use. It was well over $30 for a simple lunch for the 2 of us so between the price, the quality of the food, and the wait time, I'm not sure that we will be back.
Most Popular Seafood food in Palm Bay, Florida, United States
1. The Broken Barrel Tavern
Overall Ratings
4 based on 271 reviews
Reviewed By LightPacker634550
Food selection is excellent! Covers the entire food spectrum! It's a hidden gem in Palm Bay! Outshines places such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Gators Dockside, Long Doggers, Hooters, etc. I would say the prices are on the higher side! But comparable to the other places I mentioned above. The food is far superior!Not sure why they are located in that Plaza? I hope their business is doing well there?
