Fred Cotten's Landmark BBQ

If you’re a fan of brisket and delicious meats, definitely check this place out. They have a diverse menu and the food is excellent. The staff were really good too.

That was a lot of food! First time dining in and it was delicious! My friend had the Wednesday special fried pork chops and I ordered the two meat combo (pork and brisket) with two sides baked beans and Mac/cheese. Corn nugget as the appetizer and sweet tea which was amazing tea! Overall I can’t complain, great food and service.

I really want to give this place 4.5 stars. The food is good, although my brisket was a little tough. My sliced pork was juicy and delicious. I don't know what they do to the French fries but they are amazing. The coleslaw was a perfect tangy/cream mix. The food came out quickly with smiles from the staff.

My friend told me about this nice spot on Main Street. So I went to yesterday for lunch with them to try it myself. Their sweet tea was really good. I ordered the pulled pork lunch special and added house salad and potato salad as my sides. The house salad was shredded lettuce instead of an actual salad. The potatoes were also diced. I've never had diced potatoes before, let alone in potato salad. So the texture was different than what I'm used to, but it still tasted really good. The pulled pork itself was delicious. I added their sweet BBQ sauce to it to make it less dry. Definitely a really good sauce. My friend ordered their pork sausage special with baked beans. There were only two people working when we got there. One at the counter and the other was serving everyone else. There weren't many people at first. But when we finished lunch, there were a few more people who showed up. They have some cute decorations around the restaurant also. I will definitely be back in the future to try other foods they have there.

Stopped by this BBQ restaurant and was not disappointed. The pork chop was perfectly juicy and packed with flavor—cooked just right. The collard greens and potato salad were both delicious, making for great sides. Service was also excellent—our server was attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. Overall, a great meal and a great experience. Will definitely be back!

We try to eat at Fred Cotton's once a week, and it's by far, the best, most delicious food we've ever had, and what makes it even more worth going, is the family atmosphere! Melanie, her family, and their crew are the kindest, most joyful and loving people we've ever got the privilege to enjoy a great meal with!! Thank you guys for everything, and we'll see y'all next week!! 😁♥️😁

Delicious food and great and friendly service by Magen

Don't be deceived by the exterior of this place. It is well maintained and very beautiful inside. The food portions are huge! Their sweet BBQ sauce was the best. A worthwhile place to try.

Great meal and a great atmosphere. Staff is always great and welcoming. Mustard sauce does not have any sugar. It is fantastic?

The food is great! The restaurant is very clean.The only reason I say maybe is because of the woman up front she is annoying! I always call my order in and pick it up. An soon as you're about to pay she always you wanna give me a tip hun . She doesn't give you time to get your payment out. I stop going because of her.

My friend told me about this nice spot on Main Street. So I went to yesterday for lunch with them to try it myself. Their sweet tea was really good. I ordered the pulled pork lunch special and added house salad and potato salad as my sides. The house salad was shredded lettuce instead of an actual salad. The potatoes were also diced. I've never had diced potatoes before, let alone in potato salad. So the texture was different than what I'm used to, but it still tasted really good. The pulled pork itself was delicious. I added their sweet BBQ sauce to it to make it less dry. Definitely a really good sauce. My friend ordered their pork sausage special with baked beans. There were only two people working when we got there. One at the counter and the other was serving everyone else. There weren't many people at first. But when we finished lunch, there were a few more people who showed up. They have some cute decorations around the restaurant also. I will definitely be back in the future to try other foods they have there.

First time and last the only season I tasted was from the bbq sauce. The customer service was very nice. I hate to say this because of the customer service but the ribs and brisket had zero (0) seasoning. Just smoke taste not even an ounce of salt or black pepper. Greens taste like glory greens, and I definitely know canned baked beans when I taste them. Yes straight out the can and no additional upgrades to the beans. Inside was very clean and plenty of room to sit down. Just my observation hope this helps.

So I meet up with some friends here and was excited to try Fred's for the first time. It smells so great inside and the server was delightful, so helpful. I ordered a family deal to take and share at home. As I started in I was happy at the portions I received of each meat and the 3 sides. The green beans were as huge in size as in taste. Coleslaw was tasty and than I started on the potato salad with a few bites..it so good I came back for more and than a third trip to the refer to find my husband finished the rest off and I was not happy to see it gone...Finished..nomore! That was the best potato salad I've had in years! So good I will be checking back here soon to get more. I forsure enjoyed Freds and see many more orders from me in their future!

I went here a bunch of times it has always been so good. Shrimp is the best here I'm talking like 10 out of 10

Husband wanted BBQ, I was indifferent so I ordered the fried shrimp dinner and couldn't pass up on at least trying the ribs, so I ordered the 2 rib "side piece", he ordered the 4 meat combo. We like to experience everything a place has to offer. Brisket was OK, not the best we've ever had but not the worst by far either, ribs were decent size, juicy enough, not as much flavor or seasoning as I would wanted or expected honestly. The actual winner of the night by both of us was the fried shrimp, very lightly breaded, no tails, basically popcorn shrimp but not all batter like you usually get. I'm a green bean lover and these are Italian green beans, read: flat green beans for those not in the know. Decently good and would order again but not seasoned or flavored to my taste. Mac was good too. Overall, we will definitely be back to try more and portions are great and the staff is friendly, it's a neighborhood establishment.

We were served raw food and were told that it was normal. The server then caught an attitude with my sister and proceeded to talk about us in the kitchen while we were still sitting in the dining room. I don't recommend coming here. It ruined my sisters birthday lunch.

Lunch here is always the jam. The service is quick and friendly and they don't forget you!!!!love when you can sit down and they know what you drink and eat!! The sausage is legendary and be sure to get the sweet potato and the fried Brussels it's my go to every time. Was too busy talking to get a pic today but super yummy!! Love it being in the neighborhood

Good old school BBQ, Friday rib plate is what to get! Great friendly staff and right off Main Street In Springfield

So growing up as a kid in Springfield there were 2 BBQ locations competing for best Mustard sauce, Jenkin's and Cotton's (aka Fred Cotton's BBQ) back in the day. Well they closed after 68 years in 2014 and apparently Cotton's reopened a little over a year ago in a new location (Still in Springfield). So when you get off early from your day job and can't decide what to have for dinner and Boom, I arrived Cotton's! The inside has a great modern, yet welcoming feel and the staff are friendly just like you'd expect from a Southern BBQ restaurant. I was told to wherever I'd like and I'm assuming due to yesterday being a holiday and didn't know how busy it would be, they were working with only 1 server when I arrived, so I had to wait about 10 mins before my order was taken. I was in no hurry and they were hospitable throughout. They have 4 sauces, Mustard, Hot Mustard, Sweet and Sweet & Spicy. I tasted all of them....you know for science reasons and I enjoyed the plain Mustard most of all. My appetizer of Corn Nuggets came hot & fresh and instead of a standard little cup of Ranch, I was given a whole squirt bottle and I happily decorated my nugs for consumption. My Brisket was both a mixture of sliced and chopped, served with a piece of plain white bread (I'd prefer garlic bread), so I made a little sandwich. Mac was cheesy and clearly baked fresh and the Collards were good, but not my favorite, but that could've been my own tastebuds clouding my judgment, I'll let you try them and let me know. Go see Walter and the crew for lunch or dinner and support this welcomed back staple of my hometown of Jacksonville Florida.

Cotten's was recommended to me by a coworker who frequents. On my first visit, I ordered the quarter chicken with green beans-- I was not impressed with the chicken at all and I didn't plan on returning. However, the corn nuggets are delicious; make sure you don't forget the ranch it is a must have! Recently, I decided to give Cotten's another chance (thanks to that coworker) and I ordered chicken tenders with green beans and Texas toast. WIN! Definitely didn't expect it to be so good but it was enough to make me return. The service is great, the employees are always very kind. They do have an updated menu with new pricing so some of the photos already on Yelp are outdated. I have an updated photo with my review.

The place is adorable and doesn't look ran down. The lady that was serving everyone was very kind. The only thing that was missing was good barbecue. I'm not really sure why this place has good reviews, unless the reviews aren't on the food. I'm not picky about barbecue in any way, but what they serve isn't real barbecue. They don't cook meat in the back and cut portions from it; they order cheap frozen stuff. I didn't get brisket because they only serve lean, so I got a "shredded pork sandwich". The pork was chopped and looked almost like chicken. They only have their own sauces and every single one tastes like bay seasoning, no tang to it at all. I was very disappointed in my choice to go here, honestly.

I absolutely love this place! this is pretty much my go to in Jacksonville because it's fairly priced and MOST of the time I don't get a whole glob of fat in my pulled pork/brisket (;

Love this place don't normally leave reviews but this one of my go to spots not to many choices for good food on main St between 1st and the trout river

Great lunch special with the pork sandwich. Loved the coleslaw and beans too. Was a little messy when we arrived but they had just gone through their lunch rush

Not a bad BBQ place for lunch. My coworkers and I tried Fred Cotton. The BBQ is awesome! The meats are well smoked, soft, and falls apart. They do serve a Carolina based mustard BBQ sauce. Two us tried the MOAB special and 1 person had the pulled pork salad. The only concerned I have is that the wait staff will stop by and ask if you need anything but keep on going as if it is an empty gesture. The MOAB, mother of all BBQ is suppose to Come with a drink. We've asked several times to get our drinks we never got them. If the staff is going to ask customers if they need anything, then You should mean it. Also, the restaurant needs branding. There is nothing in the restaurant except the menu that says Fred Cotton. I had to keep asking my coworkers where did we go? It would be nice if the restaurant had hand wipes. Tables and door knobs to both the restrooms and to enter and exit are greasy.

Was recommended by a family member, it couldn't disappoint more. The brisket honestly looked like wet dog food. Pork had zero flavor. Atmosphere is great, good booze options, bbq... not so good

You have to try it to know ... it is the best! Always friendly, always good, lots of choices and given the crowd, it's still quick! Try the house salad dressing too.

Worst brisket ever, cut thin to make it seem more tender than it is. Fried corn is tasteless, Baked beans could've came from a can but there are cans of beans that are better. Order came with raw sliced white bread?!? Is that a thing?!? I expected toast or something more than bagged white bread. Ribs were dry and also flavorless. Their sauce was kinda good but nothing special, much better bottles bbq sauce out there. Cant believe this place had 4+ stars. ‍

The new Fred Cotten's is simply put, as good as it gets! From Bbq to seafood and all else in between. Smoked Turkey on Thursdays and Baby Backs and live music on Fridays. Be sure to try the fried shrimp!

OMG. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! We visited on a Saturday shortly after opening, and in the hour we were there all the tables were taken and there were several customers waiting for to-go orders. Everyone in our party got something different, which was great because we all sampled everything - ribs, pork, chicken, mac and cheese, collards, BBQ beans, fries. Y'all, it was all SO GOOD. I don't normally eat ribs, but the ribs here were so tender and flavorful. I loved the mac and cheese! My husband had the all-you-can-eat special - $14.99 for so much food. He raved about all the meats he had. The original barbecue sauce - it's mustard based - has just enough of a kick, but not too much. The sweet sauce? Just sweet enough without making you feel like you're eating syrup (like some chain barbecue restaurants). And the banana pudding is a nice, sweet treat. You will drive by this place if you're not actively looking for it. Don't be swayed by the outside appearance - you will find phenomenal barbecue here with friendly service. Wear something you don't mind getting messy in. :)

Not much seasoning on the ribs or chicken. Brisket is fair ...... taste like pot roast. Sides pretty basic. They are not worth the diversion when traveling. I'm heading back to Jenkins, right now ....

Attempted to eat lunch at another spot but found out they were closing and out of food, so I grabbed my phone and went straight to Yelp. This came out on top as closest and highest rated, and since BBQ is a family fav, off we went. The spot is not a fancy building by any means, but the smells wafting out from the smoker out back are incredibly inticing. Inside you have booths, a few tables, and a bar with stools. It was fun finding out these were the original booths and stools from the opening in 1941! My husband and I both ordered the special of the day - the MOAB. Mother of all BBQ sandwich, which came with a side and drink. The teen ordered a pulled pork sandwich, which you can get as a combo as well. Prices were incredibly reasonable, especially after seeing the quantity of food you receive. The MOAB comes with pork, beef, or a combo. I had FF and hubby and teen had mac and cheese as a side. Fries were hot, fresh, and very tasty. Mac and cheese was creamy, cheesy, and ooey goodness. The MOAB sandwich was amazing. Grilled onions, grilled peppers, coleslaw, and a heaping serving of meat. It was a handful to say the least, but well worth the messiness. I could only eat half of my sandwich, but hubby was happy to help out with the rest. We spoke with the owner, John, who gave us some history on the restaurant and informed us they are going to open another restaurant that will include seafood (YEAH!). He was telling us that the ribs are one of the best sellers, and even gave us a few to try out! What a way to make sure we come back as they were so tender, fall off the bone, and amazing. Their sauces are a spicy mustard and a sweet. I'm not usually a mustard sauce person but this was really good and the sweet was tasty as well. We found mixing the two to be what we liked best. We will definitely be headed back here in the future when BBQ is craved. Service was top notch. Photos on the walls show the original owner, as well as famous folks from Jax that have visited.

I've passed Fred Cotten's for years and never stopped. Today, my colleagues and I decided to try them out. I ordered the beef brisket lunch special with green beans and mac and cheese. The food was delicious... although I'd have loved to see Texas toast in place of the slice of white bread that was included in my meal. I'll definitely be back again

Great family owned and operated barbecue spot. They have nostalgic photos of the history of Jacksonville hanging so its pretty cool. They serve pretty large portions of food so be prepared to bring some home. Their sauces are their own secret recipes and I prefer the tangy mustard base on the chicken. My friend had the all you can eat fried shrimp and they just kept it coming. The sweet tea is "southern" so you know it's sweet. So when you're downtown take a ride up Main street and check them out.

Honestly it was terrible the chicken was barely warm with rubbery like skin that had this smokey smell to it. Sides were gross the potato salad was definitely not made there and fried Brussel sweet so gressy I threw them away the weird mustard BBQ sauce was just as bad it's a shame cause it's so close to my house... Honestly Jacksonville sucks for food have not found a really good place that I like

This chopped pork 'que is the closest example of the North Carolina recipe in Jacksonville! I highly recommend this restaurant to meet all your needs for a " pig picking" good time. Friendly service with a smile .

Just moved to Springfield and stumbled upon this unassuming BBQ joint and decided to give it a try. So glad I did! Stopped in for lunch with my dad who was visiting from NY with the hopes of him getting to have some decent BBQ and I can gladly say the mission was accomplished. I had the lunch special ($5.50 for 1/4 chicken with 2 sides) and he had 3 ribs with a side ($9). Although my dad was concerned that 3 ribs wouldn't cut it they were big and had lots of fall off the bone meat on them. The amount of delicious food I got for the price with my lunch was on point. I wasn't super impressed with my sides (green beans and collard greens) but they were tasty enough. His fried corn on the cob was great. Our waitress was very friendly and readily available to grab us whatever we needed. We enjoyed the food so much that my partner met us at the end of our meal and got ribs to go! He had absolutely no complaints to report when he ate them at home. Overall, I'm excited to have found this place within a few days of moving to Springfield; just a bit worried that it's only a few blocks away from my new apartment ;)

Honestly shocked by a restaurant with zero covid precautions. No masks. No distancing. Not even the smallest of measures during a pandemic. Wtf.

Let me start by saying I had high hopes for this place and I really wanted some good barbecue. I even told the girl when I came in it was my first time and I was excited to try it. I got the three ribs I asked for a moist brisket a sausage and a side of mac and cheese. Price wise not bad about $18 total portion wise very good. Service was very good. Unfortunately the food was meh. The sausage was solid I have no complaints. The ribs were ok they might have been better with the sauce but both of my sauces were watered down versions of a barbecue sweet sauce. My brisket was a hot mess. First of all it had those dark pieces as if it didn't either been sitting in a plate or was just old,burnt and dry. You would think I would have asked for chopped brisket but it just crumbled up in a tiny pieces and it tasted dry. I specifically asked for moist brisket with some fat to it. The macaroni and cheese was the smallest serving I've ever seen at a barbecue joint and you could tell they used way too much Velveeta or American cheese or a combination of both because it was mostly tasted like flour and fake cheese. It was so thick it had the texture of no lie peanut butter. you know where your mouth makes that sound when I eat it.(I know you just made the noise) Yup that's it. Macaroni and cheese is my favorite food group it takes a lot for me not to eat it. I would have preferred Velveeta shells and cheese let's put it that way. I had my older parents try it they had similar mixed reviews we all agreed on the brisket that I just felt like I got the old stuff left in the back. I wouldn't tell you to not try a place I'm a firm believer try it for yourself and see if you like it. But if you're asking me I'm a Texas girl you mess with my brisket you mess with my emotions.... And that's all I have to say about that..lol happy eating

Needing some BBQ, this one popped up so I swung by. Little shack in an iffy neighborhood, usually a good sign. I got ribs, greens, mac and cheese, and fried okra, with banana pudding. The ribs were meaty, with a tasty crust, but not much flavor in the meat. I had the spicy mustard sauce on the side, which added some zip. The mac and cheese was clearly homemade, but just meh. The greens were oddly sweet; otherwise fine. The fried okra was good- huge portion, crisp, tasty, with a side of ranch for dipping. The banana pudding was very good. All in all, good not great. I was hoping for amazing BBQ, and got fine stuff, but was disappointed. The service was amazing- welcoming, friendly, fast. The prices are very good. I'd go back and try out some of the other meats.

I have tried really hard to make it on Friday to get baby back ribs. I had just ordered some two nights prior delivered by Doordash but want more. Baby back bender you might say. But I do want to support local so I still eat there though disappointed. So I settle for something else. This Friday I did have the burger it was legit, hand pressed burger and tasty....but the previous two times, I had gotten the chili cheese dogs with onions and mustard and they were delightful. I went on a quest for the best chili cheese dog in Jacksonville. #1 is definitely Kickbacks in Riverside. #2 was All American hot dog on Beach just because they also grill the outside of the bun and I guess I appreciate that detail. But Cotton's dog was pretty darn good. Better than a Sonic, I thought. Certainly better than our local Krystal's chili pups.

Pulling up and seeing at least 5 police cars in the parking lot, because the officers are there to have dinner, is a good sign that this is one the best local place to dine. The aroma of delicious smoked meats when you walk in is also a good sign that something really yummy is about to be served. We just ordered some pulled pork, ribs, and beef brisket to go. The service was super quick and friendly so I already knew I wanted to come back again. The sauces are sweet or spicy and both seem a little intensely sweet or spicy to me, but used in moderation on the flavorful meats or to make a sandwich with the soft bread included, they are good. The ribs did not need any sauce as they were already very flavorful and super tender. The pulled pork and brisket were also tender and tasty. I look forward to going back to Cotten's and trying some of the sides next time too.

I have never been here before & my boss recommend this place for us to try out. Based on his recommendation, I'm starting to question his decision making abilities. He claimed this place had top level bbq. I've had better BBQ at KFC. Their meat salad is just shredded taco lettuce with bacon bits on top. The best thing about this restaurant was the brand new AC unit they had. Kept the place nice and cold. Really helped keep my mind off the homeless camp level food i tried to stomach. If i could give this restaurant zero stars, that would be too high. I would rather let Stevie Wonder drive me home . Also, I'm super excited for Bad Boys 3 next month. Has great potential to be one of the best movies of 2020.

I went here today for lunch. I was really craving BBQ!! I haven't been to this place in years....it was my first time here since its been revamped and I enjoyed the food and the service. It's a cozy and chill spot! It's like a mom and pop/hole in the wall spot but their food is wonderful. It wasn't busy and the waitresses were very attentive and nice. The food was really good. The service was fast and prompt. I plan to return there soon. Thumbs up!!

The wait staff set the tone and when ours didn't smile or attempt to be friendly, you wonder if you made the right choice. We did not. I ordered the brisket with two sides and while the beans and collards were very good, the brisket tasted like roast beef from Publix. My partner ordered the loaded fries and thought the fries were overcooked. Waitress didn't even say goodbye. She brought the tablet, rang up the check and dipped out. At least she was on top of the drink refills.

This place was very, very friendly. I was one of the only people there so I sat at the bar which was nice. They had an all you can eat deal for only $15! $3 cheaper than the meat combo (not sure how the economics works on that). The ribs were decent, smoky with nice tenderness. The chicken was fall off the bone tender, and the pulled pork was juicy and decent. The collard greens and Mac & cheese were good too. Unfortunately the brisket was dry, but maybe I just got it on an off-night.

Good and friendly service(Ms. Cindy). Amazing food, best bbq food I have ever had. I ended up getting the pork sandwich and I ate it the fastest I have before. My sister is usually a really picky eater, and will almost never finish her food, she ended up finishing her food extremely fast.

One star is for the staff ONLY, they were so nice. From the dirty fork I received when I sat down to the food that was upsetting and just disgusting. Ugh. Never go here. Ever

My gf and I came here thinking we would find a staple BBQ place. Boy were we wrong. The BBQ was just bland and there was nothing special about any of it. The bread they give you for sandwiches is straight out of a bag of bread. You would think at a BBQ place they would have toasted or garlic bread or something. But no, it's just another BBQ place. AVOID AT ALL COSTS

This bbq restaurant is almost downtown jacksonville. I had been here before and it was ok. I had good bbq beef. So i was downtown last week I decided to stop at this place. Too much surprise your regional owner had passed away and the new management and the owner was attending the business. We sat at the table and had a bussiness meeting and we order our meal my meal consisted again of the barbecue beef. I was very surprised that this time the meal was much better than what I had texted before you should come to this place downtown Jacksonville and tried this barbecue this is an old-fashioned barbecue. Good old Southern barbecue excellent I would love to try it again and again and again. The ladies were serving what are some of the best service I have seen in many many restaurants downtown Not too expensive not too cheap but it was very good for the price

Had their ribs and chicken. The ribs were big and well cooked with a little give, which I prefer. Smoked chicken was great, but don't sleep on the sides. Those collards were to die for. Skip the mac go straight for the corn and breads. Def gonna go back.

I live walking distance from Fred's and I use every excuse in the book to take my friends or family there. It's great food and really good prices. There staff is great, and even thought I'm not a barbecue person, I always find something to eat.

Trash... not what I was expecting. The service was good but the food was terrible!! And the original sauce was watery.

Absolutely delicious BBQ! We were driving looking at the Main Street car show and this place caught our eye and so happy it did. If you go there on a Saturday and don't get the all you can eat BBQ then your crazy! Tender fall off the bone ribs, soft pork, and amazing sauces. Will definitely be coming back for the delicious food and amazingly friendly staff!

Now I have known of this place since me and my dad used to work downtown. Then I remember when the health dept. shut them down for the smoker being old and not as clean as they thought it should be. We in the smoker business call that seasoned. It's really not dirty it is how the food gets the extra flavor. Believe me we smoker people know when it's dirty. But anyway, Fred Cotton not to be referenced to the store in Arlington. I think it is a family member and they don't play well in the sandbox. My server was very quick to tell me that. Ok this young lady that let's say doesn't like her job that day was quite surprised of my order. I want a pork sandwich, and a brisket sandwich, and a couple of ribs. She was surprised and gave me a look. But I just told her I'm a fat kid and hold the sides. Why it took 20 minutes to get my food kind of bafusess me but it did. So first my brisket was served sliced (be a slicer) and was let's call it asphalt dried out. The sauce couldn't help it. The pork was moist cause it came with sauce all mixed in but had a descent flavor but smoke wasn't one of those flavors. Now my ribs (no sauce served atop) had some smoky flavor and was fairly tender. I had to fight a couple of pieces but in all tender. Again another 10 minutes go by and i get a check. How much is it I don't know cause all I saw was a bunch of chicken scratch. So I paired the bill and did leave a good tip fighting with myself but I left a tip. I leave and you park on the side of this place (the cops get out front) I had to drive around the building to see if there was really a smoker. Enough said.

Best BBQ ribs in town and best bbq sauce in town hands down! Every time I think about getting bbq this is my first choice!

My friend and I attend dive school up the street ,so we decided to check it out on a weekend. We drove up to find the owner working the grill which is great. The owner and the waitresses are very friendly and accommodating .We both got the half baby back rib special and everything was delicious. We didn't hear about the AYCE BBQ special on Saturday,but we will definitely return . I liked the vibe, food, and owner of this place so much I even took take-out menus and set them up in the dorm so they get more business.

Amazing place and amazing staff and owner. Make sure you get the corn nuggets and ask for the cinnamon butter. It is to die for. Loved this place and it made my day and my whole trip. Best place in Jacksonville