Country Tavern

Bring a thick wallet and a thin appetite. I was very disappointed with Country Tavern. They have no menu so you have no idea what anything costs or the extra charges that will show up on the bill. More disappointing was the portion size, the fatty brisket, and the long wait for the food (30 minutes). You'll notice how thin the ribs are in the photo. When I asked the server why the ribs were so thin, she said they base it upon weight and didn't respond to my dissatisfaction. (Apparently the customer is not always right at the Country Tavern.) The weight doesn't matter if you can see that the three small ribs on the plate look like that. For the price paid, one would expect a better portion size. I should have asked, "Would you be okay serving this size portion to your mom or dad?" But it wouldn't have mattered. She was on to the next table. Next time, I'll save the trip from Tyler and go to Stanley's. I've never left Stanley's hungry.

Very popular place! We got there at 1100 and it took 40 minutes for food to arrive. Outstanding brisket! The place filled quickly, and so the noise level rocketed sky high. They serve a lot of phoned in to go orders. No menus, all done verbally.

Best ribs in East Texas. Busy night on a Monday before Christmas. Katie was great got drinks and food order in right off. Love the place .

Just tried this place yesterday. I have tried all the bbq places in Tyler and haven’t liked any of them . I am always comparing the brisket to Hutchins Bbq in McKinney . And this restaurant has amazing brisket!!! . This will be my go to place now and definitely worth the drive !

I first went here roughly 12-15 years ago. My 1st visit the ribs stuck out in my mind that after going for lunch I had to go back again for dinner. While in the area again I made it a priority to stop by. Unfortunately this visit wasn't as amazing as my 1st. Ribs were 8/10, Brisket (moist) was 8/10, sausage 6/10, potatoes 6/10, Mac n cheese 7/10 and I'm not even a big Mac n cheese fan but this was solid. Lastly the cobbler was VERY disappointing I will give it a 4 only because of the ice cream, it appeared to be cinnamon. I love the hot towel after the meal to clean your hands and face. Lastly, it was frustrating to leave and have no cell access but that obviously is not their problem. Thankfully the gas station across the street helped me get back to the Interstate.

BBQ can be a controversial topic; how long to smoke, what kind of sauce, or sweet or savory. Country Tavern will make you a believer in a quality BBQ. From the chopped beef sandwich to the jalapeno mac and cheese, everything is worth trying. They have a variety of sides that most BBQ restaurants do not, which I found very refreshing. They have one BBQ sauce that is phenomenal, if you can get past eating the meat without it. The ribs are fall off the bone and the turkey is one of the juiciest we've ever had. Make sure to come hungry because the portions are also very generous. #GoogleGal

Best Bar b que hands down!! A Texas Legend!

Drove up from Henderson, at the recommendation from some locals. No menu, the waitress just told me the typical BBQ meat and side options. No price provided. Bill came and it was $31. Ordered 7 ribs, spicy Mac and cheese and the coleslaw. Ribs were good, as was the sides. I do like a creamy coleslaw, but the watery based option they had was decent. I was hoping to have root beer with my BBQ, but they were out. Place is dimly lit / tavern. Service was decent, but not great. Overall good experience, but I don't think I will drive 30 minutes there and back again from Henderson.

The barbq was phenomenal. service was speedy. $24 for ribs and brisket. this includes 2 sides and large sourdough toast. the beans were smokey and meaty. i also chose cucumber salad which was crisp and fresh. mom had potato salad and beans. she is very hard to please but said that was the best bbq meal she ever had. when it was all over we sat there in a daze when all of a sudden the sweet waitress slid a couple of warm damp wash cloths on the table. i can't say enough good things. the ambiance is that of a tavern. ps the banana pudding is fresh and creamy with homade shortbread cookies. we took home 2 but it was so big we should have shared.

Simply the best in the world of the living...RIBS!!! I've traveled the south and I've ranked bar b que locales and Country Tavern beats out Memphis, Kansas City, Austin, and the Carolinas. Yeah, it's loud, busy, and understaffed. If you want quiet and romantic... go to an Italian bistro. Those who complain about that do not get it.

Sad to say my wife, myself and my best friend were all disappointed. My friend had the ribs and they were nothing to write home about. My wife had the brisket and it was dry and pretty flavorless... I had the sausage and I must say the sausage was good. The sides were adequate but not outstanding. We also had water to drink and it tasted horrible and was undrinkable so we reorder soft drinks wick the brixing (the ratio of carbonated water to syrup was off) I rarely rate a restaurant "meh" but this experience was... possibly it was an off day...

Country Tavern may be the Best Ribs on the planet. I am from KY but am in TX alot for work. If I am within 2 hours of Kilgore, I am getting ribs at Country Tavern!!! If you like ribs, this is The Place!!

Outstanding as always. Famous for their wonderful ribs but also has killer brisket, turkey, and sausage. Been eating there for 38 years and don't plan to stop,

I wish I lived closer... I'd eat here every day. My first time at Country Tavern and I went with a bunch of seasoned pros so they told me what to get and was I treated to a feast!! The pork ribs are by far the best I remember ever eating. I had 5 ribs and they were all 'meaty', no kidding they were tender fall-off-the-bone delicious.There was nothing left but a pile of bones in the middle of our table. That will be a picture I take next time I go. I had potato salad and baked beans for sides and they were very satisfying. I have to say there is something different about the baked beans; a deep smokey, hearty flavor that I have never enjoyed so much! The baked beans are amazing. Not to be outdone by the great ribs and sides, I bet I had my iced tea refilled 4 times without ever saying a word, although I did say thank you every time and with a mouth full of rib meat. Sorry about that. Our service was outstanding. Wish I had asked her name but since I'll be going back at some point, I'll add it to my next review. The whole experience is a really wonderful memory. I liked everything about Country Tavern. I am told I missed out on some of the best tasting cobbler and ice cream, but how in the world is that possible? So many fantastic foods to eat at one place is just crazy. Next time, blackberry cobbler and ice cream will be the first thing I order and then I'll take the rest home! Go as often as possible - in my opinion the experience is worth every penny!!

Food is not that great. Dark as heck can't read receipt. Music is to loud giving people a headache. Service is slow and getting food is slow even though food is cook in advance.

In order for me to give barbecue 5 stars, it requires the brisket to be juicy and smoky and for the portion to cost ratio to be in favor of the customer. This place checks off all the boxes for me. Truly a gem, and dare I say its legacy makes this place legendary. Worth a stop if you're in the area, and worth the road trip if you're not.

No photos, but I made my 1st trip to Country Tavern tonight with 2 family members & had a great time! My ribs had an incredible smoke on them & were super tasty, as was the spicy mac n cheese. Probably the most negative thing was that there were several large parties seated when we arrived, so service was a bit slow & it was LOUD in the restaurant. All in all, I feel like Country Tavern is an East Texas hidden gem. Well done, Country Tavern!

Went for a nice combined birthday celebration. Left with a big bill and a headache. Service was very slow. From getting drinks, tea and water, to the premade BBQ and sides. Went at an off time so it would be quieter but, had blaring jukebox beside with screaming kid whose parents would not control. The bill came and it's entirely too dark you can't even see it. Paid 47 dollars for a plate of sides and 1 sausage platter and 1 drink. Left with headache and a not coming back.

Always a favorite when in the area! Ribs are very good! Chocolate cake outstanding.

This East Texas legend has been serving juicy ribs, brisket and sausage for nearly 100 years! I ordered lean brisket with a side of Texas toast, spicy macaroni and pinto beans. Quickly proceeded to pour their homemade barbecue sauce all over the top. Can't recommend this place enough.

Really really good food and service. It is a true Texan BBQ restaurant. The reason why it only gets 4 stars is because there are not much sides, and their potato chips taste almost store bought. But either way it is really really good!

Love Love this place great food great service by far the BEST BBQ in East Texas will definitely be back

Another amazing plate of ribs. 7 bones will satisfy even the biggest appetite. Had to try homemade blackberry cobbler to cap it off and it was extra good. Definitely coming back anytime I'm within 75 miles like today.

Just SO good!!! We had ribs and my goodness...there just aren't any I've ever had that taste as incredible as Country Taverns! It's the place we always go for dinner when we want to introduce company to Texas ribs. Our waitress was perfect as well.

I've lived in the Hill Country, where really good BBQ is king, but the ribs at the Country Tavern are better. Incredibly tender, flavorful, with an amazing sauce. I used to come here in the '90s, when it was more of a honky tonk. Now, people have figured out the food is the real attraction, and the dance floor is gone, replaced with tables. The good part is that they've stepped up their sides game. No longer just potato salad and beans, now there's a variety, and all are wonderful. It's pricey, but worth the money for something so superior and unique.

Food was good but maybe a little too salty. We had a draft beer from Shreveport that was excellent. The biggest gripe was the lack of menu & surprise prices of stuff. When we got our check it was a complete surprise. The bathrooms were nice and cleans. The ambiance was great. We will stop here again if ever we make this trip again.

We had lunch there Friday right when they opened at 11:AM. We had the chipped beef sandwich plates with potato salad and beans. I had a coke in the bottle and husband had a fountain coke. We were waited on right away and received excellent service. I believe that was one of the best meals I have ever had. I always like the food there, but it was exceptional on this visit. It gets a well deserved 5*s.

Went with a large family group (14 people) on a Saturday night in October. The place was packed, mainly it seemed with similarly large groups, and the deafening interior noise from their conversation was the loudest I've encountered in a restaurant since doing Oktoberfest at the Hofbrauhaus in Cleveland in 2019. The clientele is Texas Bubba Central: lots of fat, bearded guys in denim bib overalls, trucker caps and the occasional cowboy hat, and their wives, daughters and girlfriends. I suspect they're not Beto voters. Service was agonizingly slow; the kitchen must have been slammed and it took a good hour for the grub to arrive (not the waitresses' fault, but maybe hire more staff). Do get the ribs, they're expertly smoked and the house sauce is good (more necessary for the brisket, which is adequate but dry). I was a fan of the 'spicy' mac & cheese, which was only pleasantly spicy. The reports of 'no menus available' are accurate (you have to look it up online), and the food is no bargain -- if you're drinking more than water, figure on $40 to $50 per person. The place is as authentic as it gets, down to the autographed photos of Larry Hagman, Robert Duvall and various Miss Texas winners on the wall near the bar. All in all, if you're looking for a real Lone Star dining experience, rehearse your yee-has and make the trip to East Texas.

Very good food. I personally thought their BBQ sauce was a little vinegary, at least for my tastes. However, the sticky hot links, regular sausage and spicy Mach and cheese were excellent, as was the cole slaw my wife had. Hardly anyone in the restaurant when we arrived, so I was a little worried. I need not have been. Shortly after we sat down the place filled up No menus, not even posted on the wall. We asked and the waitress told us what they had. Since we were close to the (overly loud) juke box and I was at the far end of the table, I didn't hear most of what she said. That lead to a lot of unnecessary back and forth. I would definitely go back.

Go every time we get a chance great service ribs are the best sweet and tender sides are good cole slaw and beans my favorite don't miss banana pudding Go

Having heard nothing but great things about this restaurant/tavern, we had to make drive to Kilgore to give them a try. With all the hype these days about various restaurants, most of the time they just don't live up to it !! BUT this place delivers !! Staff were great and service spot on ! Bbq was even better followed by the coldest big iced mug of draft beer. I was in hog heaven !! Their brisket had a nice bark and perfectly tender. Ribs were some of the best I've had. Sausage was amazing as well. Bbq sauce served in a warm bottle on the table was the adding touch ! So many other places the sauce is not warm. Next was the best blackberry cobbler and they also had peach but we had to choose as belly room was getting filled out ! Bet the peach was just as great though. Also had a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of the cobbler. Made for a great afternoon drive to Kilgore. You should try it !! You won't be disappointed !!

I'd never been super into BBQ, but perhaps it was because I'd never been to Country Tavern. No printed menus, the waitress filled us in on their offerings, but it might be easier to load their menu before heading in (we didn't have cell service inside). We shared a 3 meat plate (brisket, turkey, and regular sausage) that came with 2 sides (potato casserole and coleslaw) and added an additional side of beans. They offer a 1 meat plate or mac and cheese (not spicy) for the kids - both of mine picked mac and cheese, but one kid downed half of the sausage. Everything was delicious, almost too good to share! Definitely worth the drive.

New item! Texas Twinkies - cream cheese/ brisket stuffed jalapeños wrapped in bacon. Delicious!!!!!

Food was average, service was ok, price was extremely overinflated, sweet tea was good. $30 for one person to eat and have one glass of tea, before tip. I've eaten barbecue all my life all around the country, at the most this was a $12-$16 meal.

If you are any where near the Country Tavern and you are not a vegetarian you definitely should stop in. This is some of the best barbecue around and is worth a drive. I live in Minnesota and no matter how good the barbecue is, it's not worth the drive from Minneapolis BUT I am originally from Texas and my mom and dad grew up in East Texas not far from the location of the Country Tavern and when I visited them we always made the trip. The divey ambience goes perfectly with the food. I would advise trying the ribs, brisket, and sausage. After finishing of a serving of these I don't have room for anything else. I have eaten a lot of southern style barbecue pork in the Carolinas and I am probably prejudiced but in my opinion nothing compares to authentic Texas barbecue. I wish I had some right now. Go there and remember YOLO

Maybe my perception of good bbq and good service are slightly different then the norm. Let me start with the food: I had brisket and ribs. The brisket was relatively dry and the ribs tasted similar to Costco. Like it wasn't terrible it just wasn't great. I had the potato casserole which was ok and the spicy Mac which was equally ok. Sauce taste like a very think tomato sauce with a tad bit of spice. They also put bread baskets on the table but no bread... I'm confused. The service wasn't bad, I was just equally disappointed. I brought in a group of 30. They knew about the group ahead of time. They got smaller parties food out who got there after us before ours. For us, it took about an hour. As a large group we don't get a discount or anything, so our money spends the same as our counter parts. The dining area is really dark which normally wouldn't be a big deal, however, considering there isn't a major color difference in the cups between water and other drinks I accidentally drank someone else's sprite... I don't drink soda, it's a big deal for me. I will always try to support local and I don't regret supporting local. I just had a very average exper

Maybe I had unrealistic expectations coming in, but the ribs just weren't as heavenly as I'd hoped for. They were good, but in a typical rib BBQ joint kinda way. Same for the banana pudding, blackberry cobbler and beans. The baked potato casserole was the star of the show hands down. We were there on a night when the balloon races were happening in Longview, so it was crazy busy. The waitstaff was running at breakneck speed and did a great job with a smile (bartender too). Hats off to those ladies!

Ribs, Sausage and Brisket to die for! A tad on the expensive side, but Hey! Our go to when we think of BBQ in East Texas.

Always a friendly staff, makes sure to-go orders have all the condiments, overall one of the best restaurants in Kilgore. Inside is very clean and the wait staff check on you frequently. These people really do try to give you the best experience when you visit & i'm a local so I go often!

When in Texas you you have to eat BBQ, based upon many recommendations we decided to try this place. The outside of Country Tavern looks small, old and ultimately unwelcoming.  It does not reflect the large welcoming restaurant inside. Is the best BBQ I've ever had? No Would I eat here again? Definitely. The first thing you need to know when going here is they have no menu, I don't know if the meats change every day or not but on the day we were here the had, turkey, brisket, hot and mild sausage, and ribs. I got the hot sausage and the turkey. The sausage was very good, the turkey was only average. The sides were good but basic. They have what I think is a homemade BBQ sauce here as well, it was pretty good. Everyone in my group liked the food but no one that it was amazing, Overall the food here was good, but not great. The server was nice and friendly, but the service was slow, when our food came out it was closer to cool than it was to warm, but I don't know if that is because of how busy they were. The final verdict is I think we will give this place a try again if we are in the area.

and ignore my first review please, thank you so much for cooperating, it was my sons review:/

I now remember why it has taken me over 10 years to return to this establishment. The beer was the best thing we ordered. After receiving our appetizer, we were informed they were out of brisket and salad. Waitress expected us to just change our meat selection to one of the whole other 4 options. So when I told her no thanks she asked if I just wanted my potato salad by itself. Ugh hell no. She then looks to my husband and he says if you're out of brisket and she's not eating, we just need the ticket. Ok so how does a barbecue restaurant run out of brisket before 6 pm? So we ate our appetizer and left. 2nd and last time I will darken the doors of this dive.

Terrible. Overpriced and bad. Brisket was not tender. Ribs had very little meat. Whole plate was barely warm. We will Not be back!

All I can say is "Damn! That was good eatin'!!!" When the food came, my hubby and I couldn't talk for at least 2-3 minutes while we bit into each of the items on our plate. The only sound I could hear was, "mmmmmm...." We live about an hour and a half away and we can finally say , "this food was worth the drive!" For the pecan cobbler - get it while can, b'cuz it's seasonal! We practically licked the plate clean!

I tried the ribs and it was a 9/10 (saving that extra point for something that really blows my taste buds out the water.) if you go in and eat, say hi to Brent, he cooks everything except the ribs. He sat next to me at the bar and bought me a brisket wrapped in bacon with cheese and pepper. Great customer service and thank you Brent for the nice gesture.

Best BBQ Ribs in the state, been coming here, when in the area for over 30 years, consistent quality... always great The place is generally very busy, so there is somewhat of a wait, but be patient, it's worth it...

Really good. A friend referred us! Delicious! I love that they don't have or need menus. The menu is simple and offers all of the regulars for sides. Desert we as delicious.

Husband got the "fatty brisket" which he loved. Ribs were great has a light touch of sweetness which I enjoyed balanced by the slight acidity of the coleslaw. I had the regular brisket it was really good and moist. We almost didn't come but glad we did!

OMG! Best ribs I've ever had! And the best sauce! And the best beans! And the best Mac and cheese and loaded mashed potatoes! And the cobbler is crazy good! Waitress was super friendly. Love this place!

This awesome place never disappoints Can always count on putting out excellent food and service. Everything perfect! Will be back soon. But so worth our 5 hour drive from Austin!

Best BBQ place in Kilgore, even if it's on the outskirts. Been really consistent for decades, which is so hard to do. You can count on getting good brisket and ribs every time.

This place is garbage that I didn't even think they should 2 hours to bring me pleasure, took 4 hours to bring me my food, and I want it, and I had to be somewhere, I was late to my baseball game, this place is like, and they took 4 hours, my game, I ordered make me order a birthday, then you can get out, it took an hour, and there was hairs in the food, though everything you could think of that snap my food.

Great food and service by lacy who attended to our every need. She was so personable and friendly. Made y bday a success.

BOMB-ASS BBQ 10/10. The spicy sauce is the best sauce outside of Arthur Bryant's. No menu, no problem. Toby Keith an ZZ THE MF TOP on one wall!? Sheeeeeeeeat. I'll be back tomorrow.

C'mon, now! What BBQ joint lays out linens for napkins? Country Tavern sure does, and it super beats having to unravel paper towels over and over again. Very impressive, but not as impressive as their ribs. Juicy. Tender. Flavorful. The ribs are lightly coated with CT's homemade BBQ sauce, and it is also served to you via a squeeze bottle if you want more. I thought they were fine just the way they came out on the plate. Speaking of... the ribs are sliced and stacked right in the center of the plate resting on a couple of bread rolls with pickles on one end and potato salad on the other. No need to cut into them. Whether visiting Kilgore or the surrounding area or passing through, Country Tavern must be on your list of places to eat BBQ in East Texas.

Great Texas bbq and hospitality. The servers both Amy were fantastic. Definitely start with the sausage sampler. Then we had ribs, brisket and Turkey. My wife loved the baked potato casserole. Shiner Bock was cold and hit the spot. Sorry it had to end so we got the banana pudding dessert to finish us off.

Limited menu and down home good food make the CT shine!! All is superb. Know that the jalapenos are MUY PIQUANTE.

I certainly understand why ZZ Top loved this cuisine! An absolutely perfect place for BBQ. Great staff, too. If you enjoy super hot - grab you some spicy hot sausage, it'll blow your head off'