Fat Bob's Smokehouse

Fat Bob's SmokehouseFat Bob's Smokehouse
Fat Bob's SmokehouseFat Bob's Smokehouse
Bar, Eatery

41 Virginia Pl
Buffalo, New York, 14202-1323
United States

(716) 887-2971 | map
fatbobs.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.05
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
12
pDev:
13.58%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by wieserjd:
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Reviewed by wieserjd from New York

4.25/5  rDev +4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 5
We have eaten here 6 or 7 times since Fat Bob's opened and every visit was left full and satisfied.

They have a fairly extensive bottle list as well as 6-8 taps. Bottled beer list moastly consists of a select few belgian choices (Chimay, Orval, Duvel) and US micro's (Ommegang, Long Trial, Brooklyn, Dogfish, Victory, Great Lakes and Southern Tier among others). The taps are mostly semi-micro beers (Sam Adams, Magic Hat) but they almost always have something from Southern Tier (usually Gemini) and an offering from Flying Bison to choose from as well.

The food at Fat Bob's is exceptional. In my opinion it's the best bbq in town hands down. All of their sides are freshly prepared and delicious (sweet potato fries, slaw, mac n cheese and cornbread are all a must try). You get two sides with every dinner so you can pick and choose a nice variety. Chicken, Ribs, Pork and Smoked Turkey (my personal favorite) dinners are all fabulous. So is their Sloppy Joe.

Service is never a problem and it hardly ever nevers gets overly crowded; plus they have a nice back patio-type area where you can ear/drink in summer.

Parking can sometimes be an issue depending on what time of day you arrive since it's on a small one-way street.

If you like bbq and beer this is your place. Highly reommended.
Apr 24, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.55 by oberon from North Carolina

Apr 20, 2019
Photo of Beerguy2273
Reviewed by Beerguy2273 from New York

2.93/5  rDev -27.7%
vibe: 2 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3.25
Severely over rated! Food is average on their best day. Bar area is tiny! If its crowded along the bar, good luck getting a drink. I have ate here on a few occasions over the years and the food has actually gotten worse. At this point, I'd get better service,selection, food and beer at a chain restaurant....and I hate chain places! The Dinosaur is only a couple blocks away! Better in Rochester but it beats this.....honesty hurts sometimes!
Aug 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by spark3148857 from Ohio

Nov 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by charlesjwinkler from Illinois

Oct 21, 2014
 
 
Rated: 4.25 by vermilcj from Ohio

Dec 17, 2013
Photo of bobbyr5
Reviewed by bobbyr5 from Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Bob's Smokehouse is a great place to get a good brew, and a good bite to eat as well. Very large selection of beers compared to other Bars in the area, and the chicken wings a great like everywhere else in Buffalo. The only problem I would say was that the bar area is a little too crowed. The actual counter is large, but the space behind it is narrow which makes it annoying to walk around.
May 21, 2013
Photo of generallee
Reviewed by generallee from Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +9.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
To start this has been one of my favorite little places to eat BBQ for some time but recently they have greatly expanded there craft beer selection. There beer selection boasted a 12 beer tap list and a bottle list with well over 40 selections of craft, import, domestic macro, hard tea and hard cider. I think there was a wine list as well but I didn't really make a note of it. Anyway, I was more impressed with the beer list that included some big names like Southern Tier, Victory, Dogfish Head, Great Lakes, Ommegang, Ocar Blues, Stone, Orval, Chimay, Duvel, Rochefort, Brooklyn, Sierra Nevada, Troegs and more!!!

The food and service are both very good. The staff is friendly and attentive. I have eaten there several times and have always had good service. The meat is on par with some of the best and some of there sides are very good. In my opinion the macaroni & cheese and collard greens are some of the best in Buffalo. The atmosphere has a cool Buffalo meets Texas meets southern BBQ feel, complete with a nice smoky aroma in the restaurant and a giant pig in a chefs hat that meets you as you enter.

One pain in butt can be the on street parking. Fat Bob's is located on a small one way street and parking can get a little tight.
Oct 06, 2009
Photo of truestar
Reviewed by truestar from New York

4.75/5  rDev +17.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
This is easily one of my favorite places to eat and drink. The smell of wood smoke permeates, the atmosphere is right out of a Quentin Tarantino film....the food is exceptional, and the beer bottled beer selection is huge. If this place was in my neighborhood I would become a regular akin to Norm on "Cheers". While there are many establishments in the area with better selections of beer on tap....none can compare to the magic of the food! A complimentary copy of Brewing News can be found here most of the time.
Aug 27, 2009
Photo of bobsy
Reviewed by bobsy from Canada (ON)

3.73/5  rDev -7.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 5
A short stroll brings me to Fat Bob's Smokehouse, an awesome little joint down a quiet side street. The sun is streaming down, so I head straight through the interior and on to a spacious and pleasant patio. Within moments my server is there with a menu, but conspicuously nothing about beer, and I notice there's no taplist displayed outside. I hate asking servers what's on tap, because invariably they forget something (or start "Bud, Bud Light, Coors, Coors Light..."), or I get flustered and pick something I don't really want. Fortunately I alight on Flying Bison Oatmeal Stout. A poor match for the weather, but a great pairing my barbecued food.

I'm not American and this is my first time in a barbecue restaurant, so I ask my server what's good, and decide to go with her pick. The recommendation proves to be a good one. The pulled pork is sweet and delicious, the mac and cheese is homey and satisfying, and the grilled vegetables are a homey delight. If you're thinking of eating here go ahead and do it right now... this was one of the best meals I've had all year. As I finish my meal I ask for the bottle list out of curiosity, and its quite good. Sadly, however, its time to leave.
Jul 28, 2009
Photo of pbsmooth
Reviewed by pbsmooth from New York

3.93/5  rDev -3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Overall Fat Bobs is a good place to hang out with good food. Recently the Beer selection has improved and the fact that they had ST's Gemini on tap defenitly made me feel they are worthy of a review on BA.

The overall draft selection is pretty good maybe about 10-12 drafts half macros and half craft beer. The also have a good selection of bottles mainly Belgians and Ipa's, Southern Tier, Dogfish, Victory, Rochefort, Chimay etc. I have had some bad experiences with drafts here in the past, but the Gemini was perfect. I hope beer list continues to improve. They also have the best mac and cheese in town.
Mar 09, 2009
Fat Bob's Smokehouse in Buffalo, NY
Place rating: 4.05 out of 5 with 12 ratings