Heim Barbecue on the River

Heim Barbecue on the River is an absolute must-visit. From the moment you pull in, you’ll notice there is tons of parking available—huge plus! The building itself is large and inviting, with plenty of seating both inside and out. They even have a spacious covered patio and an outdoor open play area where you can bring your dog or let your kids run around while you enjoy your meal. It’s the perfect setup for families, friends, and anyone who just wants to relax and enjoy some incredible BBQ. Now, let’s talk about the food… I ordered the 3-meat plate with brisket, sausage, and their legendary bacon burnt ends. The brisket was unbelievably juicy and tender—it literally fell apart with the slightest pull. The bacon burnt ends? A flavor explosion. It’s like a party in your mouth with every bite! The sausage was packed with flavor, and the mac and cheese was creamy and delicious. Every single item on my plate was a hit. The environment is spacious, clean, and welcoming. The staff were super friendly and helpful, which made the experience even better. I can’t recommend Heim Barbecue enough—whether it’s your first time or your hundredth, you’ll walk away happy. This place is a true gem, and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Do yourself a favor and go. And yes, get the bacon burnt ends—you’ll thank me later. 😋

The food was good. Bacon burnt ends are always fantastic here. The potato skins were not what I expected. They were presented in a mound of potatoes, cheese and meat. They were quite messy but flavorful. The three meat platter was good with nice sized portions of meat. The only thing I would have changed was sitting outside. The weather was beautiful but the flies were horrible.

Nice place for large groups. Only positive . I was disappointed with the food. The onion rings they gave me were old and dripping wet with cold oil. Better going to Whataburger for some. Got my daughter a burger and asked for no jam on it . They made it with the jam and I kindly asked for remake since the jam has juices and it saturated the buns . Instead they just wiped the jam off and added three extra cheese slice (cold) but still left residual jam with juices .

Oh my Terry Black‘s barbecue doesn’t have anything on this place. The staff is incredible. The food is wonderful. The barbecue is over-the-top fabulous probably the best I’ve had in years and years and the pricing is perfect so many other restaurants overcharged for their meats and their sides this place Has an incredible value they give you tons of food and they have so many wonderful options with an A bar to enjoy a cocktail along with your dinner or lunch Catering from this place has to be incredible. I am now a lifelong customer. I was referred by many many friends finally made it over here. I live very close and I am happy. I did the girl who took our order whose name is on. The receipt is absolutely incredible and help me Smart decisions when ordering nothing like the other place that I referenced at the top of the page where they heard you through like a bunch of cattle get your money and actually probably don’t really give a damn if you’re happy or not I wasn’t impressed with Terry Black and will never go back especially after finding this wonderful place that all my friends say is incredible. They were right.

There was plenty of parking. The atmosphere was great. So much space! You can dine in or on the patio. Service was quick and friendly. I enjoyed the cleanliness. We were happy with all of our food. I am still thinking about the green chili mac & cheese 😍

We tried Heim barbecue for the first time and were very impressed. The outdoor area was so cute with lots of seating, fire pits, and dog friendly. The food was excellent and the staff were super friendly.

Found this BBQ by seeing them Featured on Meat Church YouTube show called Pitt Stops with Matt Pitman. Needless to say this BBQ did not disappoint. The Brisket is phenomenal and the Bacon burnt ends are amazing. From the Menu to the staff to the cobbler and atmosphere this stop is a home run! We are not local but it was worth the drive.

*** Adding an update to say that this location got rid of their collard greens and I am DEVASTATED... Not sure why but I'll have to skip this location now for the Magnolia one. Super disappointed.*** I've heard so much hype about Heim, I started getting some real FOMO from it. Finally, I got to swing and see what it's all about. For the most part, it was pretty good. The prices are scary, but that's just the reality of Texas BBQ. The food was alright, though not the best I've ever had. The brisket mac was just a bit dry. TX sausage was good. Ribs and pulled pork were also a little dry. I'll definitely come back, though, especially for the atmosphere. There's a bar and plenty of seating. It was super laid back and the staff was great!

Good BBQ for Texas but there are better places in and out of state. They only offer one kind of BBQ sauce which is super sweet with no tangy notes or any spice. The big plus is the meats are not overly smoky like other places and are really juicy. Definitely better than the other location and less crowded. Service feels like any fast food establishment and the people behind the counter keep eye contact to a minimum if any at all. Otherwise, the place is clean and well thought out with the fountain drinks and bar being in the middle of the building. Sitting outside offers plenty of shade and an easy exit once you're done. We ordered the brisket and burnt ends (aka pork belly). Everything was good but the absence of a smoky and/or spicy sauce would've elevated the meal. The green chili mac n' cheese, coleslaw and banana pudding was a delight for sides. Glad there is an alternative to BBQ. I'd leave it on the map for next time.

BBQ was good, I love the backyard area. .You would never guess you were dining in the middle of a city of a million people! Very pleasant on Tuesday 4/21/25. The sun sets behind the Pecan trees and Cedar Elm and it A OK. .

Stopped by since I was in town for a work trip and had to try bbq since I was in Texas! Luckily I was able to find this spot which was the only one open around 9. Ordered the three meat combo with green chili Mac n cheese and coleslaw. It was all delicious and everyone was nice inside.

The food was good. Bacon burnt ends are always fantastic here. The potato skins were not what I expected. They were presented in a mound of potatoes, cheese and meat. They were quite messy but flavorful. The three meat platter was good with nice sized portions of meat. The only thing I would have changed was sitting outside. The weather was beautiful but the flies were horrible.

I may be done reviewing Heim because I am tired of giving five stars. Absolutely no complaints!

Listen...if I got a dime..($10) I'm going to Heim....happy hr specials/HEIM TIME ....on me, it ain't miss for a whole week. Today is Monday and I went back again. Service is good as usual I was off so at the bar I was. They always take care of me on those days. But anywho.....get up there if you got a min or hr for that Happy Hr during HEIM TIME. And my first time trying the Mac...a new snack for me....it was GOOD!!!!!

So rude. They canceled our order an HOUR before they were supposed to deliver. Terrible customer service.

Yes yes yes! ALL OF IT. Amazing food, service, ambiance Hands down the very Best Of Fort Worth DFW. Top notch offerings. Thank you Ms Robin & team for always taking such great care of us. White Settlement location is my families favorite location. We've been coming here for 5 years now and won't go anywhere else. Great for families, catering, parties and beyond. Love the Huge outdoor & outdoor seating and huge deck. The kids choose Heims every Bday!

This is NOT Texas barbecue, not Texas sides and not Texas ice tea. If you are looking for real good, smokey barbecue go somewhere else.

This was the worst experience we have had at a bbq spot in FTW. Our food was not as described (cold, missing sauce). We sat outside to allow our kids to play, and the fly situation around our food, while expected to some extent, was unbearable. Sadly, last time we will go there.

On May 21, 2025, at approximately 6:32PM, my good friend and I ate at this particular establishment. I have been hearing for the past year just how good the BBQ is. I decided to travel from Southern California to Fort Worth Texas to try this BBQ. I'll begin by pointing out how clean the establishment was from inside to outside. I could smell the aroma of cooked meats as I approached the front doors. I knew that this place would serve good meats, and I was correct. I ordered the Brisket, Kielbas Mac&Cheese and fries. The meat melted in my mouth, the BBQ sauce was just right with its sweet and spice. I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant is you so visit the Fort Worth Texas area. The food was amazing! Thank You HEIM BBQ!!!!

I'm not the biggest barbecue fan, but when in TX, I decided to try this place out with my coworkers who frequently go to this place. Upon entering, there was plenty of seating and you order your food at the counter and pick it up when it's ready. I went with the turkey and got two sides: onion rings and the chile Mac and cheese. The star of the show was definitely the Mac and cheese which had such a unique sauce and a bit of spice from the chiles. The onion rings were alright, and I wish they were a bit crispier. The turkey was pretty good and had a hint of spice which complimented the sweetness from the barbecue sauce pretty well. Overall, it's a decent place if you want to enjoy barbecue!

I am not going to sugar coat this so believe me when I say they have it all good food, cold drinks and great service with a side dish of a very wholesome atmosphere

Everytime I am in town I will stop by at least once for an order of Burnt ends. I love them so much! They are sweet, salty, peppery, chewy, moist, meaty, and yet melt in your mouth! I've had their brisket before and some sides which were great too but so filling! Even 3 of these burnt ends filled me up! The ambiance is country BBQ and the staff was very nice and helpful.

The new updates to the inside building and outside are nice but the change to some of the side dishes not so much. Myself and my husband have been coming to this location for about 5yrs. We haven't been in since the menu change? Im guessing a month or 2? They replaced the collards with green beans that are in my opinion not good at all. They took the green chile out of the Mac & cheese. The military discount is only if your in uniform. Service is always great though!

Highly recommended. As a Texas BBQ connoisseur, I must say the rather quiet for a Friday Heim at the river was spot on. Service was prompt, friendly, and made us feel comfortable even with our little one. I went with the Turkey Breast, Lean Brisket, Beans, Collards. Everything was delightful. the smoke flavor was good, lightly pronounced as a good Post Oak TX place should have. BBQ complimented the meat well but wasn't needed. Turkey was moist!! Which, is hard to get consistently with breast meat. My wife's bacon burnt ends were to die. Highly recommended!

Best brisket and chicken I've had in a while. The Bar-B-Q spicy sauce was tasty. I had the sides of green beans and pinto beans. Very savory. Everyone in my party tasted them and agreed. Cole slaw was a new blend the waiter said and was great.

Had it today for Mother's Day it was awful, okra was soggy, onion rings soggy, it was 3 big ones raw dough inside. The brisket had so much fat we didn't even get 1 serving. There were 4 small pieces of turkey they claimed was 1/2 pound. The worst bbq I have ever had here.

There's enough reviews that on "any given Sunday" this place arguably has the best BBQ in Texas. However, this review is to let ya'll know about a ProTip: Heim Salad! Throw on the bacon burnt ends, and you have a meal that will fill you up, and not sink you! While the Heim Salad is always on the menu, it's easily overlooked, and not always on the printed menu! If you are foodie, listen to me... this little salad might be one of the best things to eat in Fort Worth! 5 STARS

Quality has dropped. No more fresh cut fries and the mac and cheese is a sad representation of what it once was.

We LOVED Heim bbq. My family and I have visited this location many of times and it's never disappointed. My mother in law got the burger and said it was great, my dad and I both got the two meat plates. The star of the meal really was the bacon burnt ends! Those are sooo good but they do sell out!! We have also tried their beef rib and it's amazing too! My hubby has mentioned that the beef rib is pretty close to Pecan Lodge in Dallas. All of the meats were really good and with the Heim bbq sauce, they were even better. As for the sides...the onion rings are thick cuts and the batter is a little on the thicker side in my opinion. I can only eat one or two before getting full on them. Mac and cheese is sooo good and not spicy even though it has chilies in it. The potato salad and coleslaw are decent. The potato salad has bacon bits in it which definitely do make it taste better. I personally don't love Mayo so dishes like those aren't my favorite in general. We have also gotten the loaded potato skins before and those are amazing. Definitely recommend trying those! Overall, I would recommend Heim to anyone and we often bring guests to this place for bbq!

Can't comment on the food because when you ordered ribs, anything fried, or turkey they were out! A bbq place that's not really serving half their menu. So tell us before we waited 15 minutes in line not after.

No reason to return here. Brisket plate consisted of the smallest portion of meat I've seen in Fort Worth and of that 70% was fat. Combined with onion rings that are essentially soft undercooked donuts with an onion hidden deep inside. And of course Heim is always a higher-priced BBQ for Fort Worth. I can't fill up on reputation, I need good BBQ.

food was amazing good portions for a good price, the manager was really nice and very friendly, and the restaurant has a nice ambiance is very inviting and the lighting is nice. i definitely will comeback, this place makes eating out worth it

This place is pretty popular so be prepared to have trouble finding a parking spot and you'll have to stand in line. We went on a Saturday around 7. We split a three meat plate. We ordered brisket (they didn't ask if we wanted chopped or sliced), jalapeno cheese sausage and pulled pork with cole slaw (terrible) and potato salad (dry). You have to order beer at tye bar and it seems they have a good selection of draft beer. When I asked if they had any cider beers I was told they were out. Beer was $8 and change for 12 oz. We sat inside and shared a table with a family which made it uncomfortable when it came time for bbq sauce. I just think you can get better at many of the other bbq places in the area.

I have this place Aa couple of times and it has never disappointed me. The brisket was moist and tender, the ribs were tasy and the sausage was also very good. The sides were great and I don't think anyone will be disappointed with giving them a try.

I LOVE their BBQ. Particularly the brisket. (Just make sure to ask for LEAN if that's what you prefer.) Frankly, I'm astounded this isn't a solidly upper 4 to 5 star rated place. It's like top 3 all-time for me and I'm a little picky. The only thing I'd say is that they get crowded, which is to be expected. The Magnolia location is just as good, but unfortunately the space is smaller so even more crowded. But yeah, excellent barbecue. My current favorite in DFW.

Pretty good pulled pork and bacon burnt ends. Both were juicy. The Mac and cheese was a bit too al dente for me, and cole slaw was not flavorful.

I ordered the brisket and green Chile Mac n cheese, I added their signature bbq sauce to it once I was sat down at the bar. And let me tell you, one word: YUM. Delicious bbq. I came here with two other people; between the two of them they ordered brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, beans and and brownie. Everything was phenomenal. The employees were polite and chatty at the time we came in. The bartender and two behind the front counter. Very chill place very modern, they have a full bar and several beer taps. I will definitely be back for the burnt ends!!!

Good food. Good plate. Small meat good sides yummy yummy yummy Omg why does this have to be 85 characters long sheeesh

I do so love BBQ so I stopped in when I saw this place nearby. The brisket was pretty good. Moist, extremely tender and tasty. I could return for this alone. The sausage was so-so with a casing so tough that the issued butter knives could barely cut it. Was was passable. The ribs were tasty, but you had to really work and gnaw at them that I would give them a no. I prefer fall off the bone ribs like saltgrass. I have to give a special shout out for the onion rings. Large, thick pieces of onion with the lightest and thinnest of outer breading. VERY tasty. They need more work on their sausage and ribs, but solid brisket.

Excellent barbecue. Unfortunately, at this moment, food prices are sky high and it's hard to justify $25 a pound for pulled pork.

This place has amazing BBQ! Probably the best in Fort Worth. The ribs are amazing, so is the brisket, and the smoked turkey. I can't really review the other menu options as I have not yet tried them but I'm sure they're great too. I recently picked up and usually my order is always correct. However, this time I ordered and paid for a larger portion of their delicious banana pudding. Upon arrival at my final destination I noticed that the banana pudding was the smallest order possible, not what I paid for. I tried calling the number in my confirmation email which stated it was for order issues but they did not reach anyone. I will continue to support this business but it was disappointing to pay for something that I did not actually receive.

Well I'm surprised at the reviews. I didn't read any prior to coming here with my business partner for a working lunch. He lives nearby and while he said it was no Coopers, he said it was good. It was a freezing cold February day, 23 degrees and raining sleet and Heim was super warm inside. You walk in and it's the same as I'm assuming any other BBQ joint in Texas is - you order at a counter and then pick it up when ready. The guy at the counter was super friendly and helpful. There is no table service. There is a bar that we didn't utilize, but a few people were stationed having a drink. The wifi was strong and the building quiet enough to make phone calls and have a productive work afternoon. I'm not from Texas or any other state known for barbecue so I'm by no means an expert. I just know when food tastes good. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich on the jalapeno cheese bun. It was fantastic. The bread was soft and flavorful and they put a massive pile of pork on it. I added pickles and onions from the toppings bar. There is a soda fountain that even has Diet Dr. Pepper which is pretty rare. We also ordered the baked potato salad (which wasn't that good... dry potatoes), the chile mac and cheese which I didn't find super appealing either, and the fries which were actually super good. Aside from the ambiance of a new building there are no frills, but I've discovered bbq is a no frills kind of meal. I would definitely come here again.

Our first time my husband and mom visited we loved it I couldn't get it out my mind so we went baby the very next day. I LOVE the burnt ends they are amazing! The turkey and brisket are also really gif along with the onion rings and the peach cobbler is literally the best! Lucas or Luca (sorry don't remember the name exactly) was the icing on the cake. Super friendly gave us excellent recommendations on what to try and just overall an exceptional employee week you can tell genuinely wants customers to enjoy their experience here.

Near by for my boy's baseball tournament, the boys didn't do that great but this place hit a home run!!!! The brisket is delicious, moist & lots of flavor, the pork burnt ends are packed with flavor (a must), and the jalapeño cheddar sausage is just right!! My boy had the pulled pork sandwich and he tore that up, almost ate the paper on the tray - yup that good. The sides are good portions and tasty as well, I recommend the jalapeño Mac & cheese. The desserts are top notch as well. The atmosphere is good, we sat outside. This is a must if you're in Ft. W.

Soooo yummy, the bacon burnt ends are my favorite. The brisket (they give you a choice between fatty or lean) and sausage are also good. I always get the green Chile Mac n' cheese, very tasty. The potato salad is okay from what I remembered, I may try it again. Tried the coleslaw once, won't be ordering again, i like my coleslaw a little bit more creamy, it's too vinegary. I like the side salad with their maple vinaigrette dressing. Spacious and clean. My boyfriend likes their pulled pork or brisket sandwiches, they do not mix the bbq sauce on the meat, you have to add your own amount off barbecue sauce to the meat in the sandwich. Don't forget their brisket chips and queso, my boyfriend's favorite. The people that takes your order from the counter are very friendly and gives good recommendations.

Recommended to me as the best BBQ in Fort Worth, so was happy to try it out. Decent food and experience falling short of the build up received

I've been wanting to try this place for a while now and ended up walking away kinda disappointed. Hubby and I went for lunch on a Friday. The staff were all very friendly and it wasn't busy at all. I was looking forward to the burnt ends but most were over cooked and a little on the dry end. I didn't mind so much, but hub wasn't a fan and didn't eat many. The cole slaw was a bit vinegary for my taste. Sausage was tasty and had good heat to it. The real star was the mac & cheese. So creamy and delicious! We may go back. I'd like to try one of their burgers. And hopefully I'll be able to add another star or 2.

One star for the barely edible ribs and brisket I was served. Ordered the 2 meat plate which came with two sides. Two of the pork ribs were burnt to a crisp, and the third was chewy with barely any meat. The brisket was 90% fat. I love marbled point meat, but this was just fat. I had a good experience at another Heim location last time I was in Fort Worth and was excited for more Texas bbq. This was easily the worst restaurant bbq I've had. Will not be back.

We had to go try Heim's to see if they live up to the hype. Over hype is hard to live up to. We went to this location since it is bigger and we figured we could get in without a wait on Saturday. We did very large nice new restaurant plenty of seating no wait but they did have a good crowd. You order at the counter then they beep you when the food is ready. Nice large bar around the corner next to the drink station. There is also a very large patio and a picnic area in the grass with plenty of tables. They have all the usual bbq the price is high but normal. You can pay by the half pound or get meat plates with sides. I think the plates are a better way to try 2 meats and sides without paying a fortune. Price is comparable with other bbq places. We got the brisket, sausage and burnt ends. The brisket was good nice flavor they did not ask if we wanted moist or lean and we forgot to ask. The sausage was not great it had a tuff skin on outside and the flavor was blah. As for the burnt ends they were fatty and greasy a little sweet I was not a fan of them. The mac and cheese was very good. The potato salad did not have much flavor just need to add seasoning to make it better. Over all just okay little to much hype in the past. I like other bbq places better in my opinion not bad just okay. The service was par not very welcoming the cashier did not seem to want to be working. Food came out fast if you are in a hurry.

Excellent bbq! The brisket was our fav but the bacon burnt ends were of course great too! Didn't care for the coleslaw - huge onion rings! Lots of seating. Recommend!

Great service, friendly staff, and great barbecue especially for the price you pay. We got a half chicken meat plate and it was enough with more to take home. I would definitely come again

I know everyone has their favorite barbecue place in Texas, and this is mine. The food is always outstanding tonight. We got the meat club and it was so good! There were six of us at dinner and we decided to go Family style. we had the meat club in the center with macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, potato salad, and french fries on the side. You can't leave without having some of the banana pudding it seriously is the best in town!

Heim River is fantastic! Close to my apartment, best BBQ in Fort Worth! Bacon burnt ends! Fantastic. Talked with Andrew. He was super nice and helpful. Will always return great place!

My wife and I went to Heim today for lunch. The Fort Worth location. We had heard a lot of good things about it so we traveled the hour and fifteen minutes it took us to get there. Parking is difficult unless you want to pay for it. We arrived around 11:30 and the crowd had yet to show up. That was the best part of the Heim experience for us. Two meals. Make that two horrible meals for $50. The wife ordered brisket and her two sides were fried okra and Mac and cheese. The okra consisted of barely cooked breading and raw okra. The Mac and cheese was one lump of something that resembled Velveeta and was cold. She did say the brisket was okay. Not great, not delicious, just okay. I ordered pulled pork. Tasteless. Burnt bacon ends. If you are hoping for meat on that forget it. Nothing but gelatinous fat. Cole slaw. I've had better from Cole slaw kits purchased at the grocery store. Fried onion rings. Three rings. Yep, three. When I bit into the first one enough grease dripped out to fry another order. If this is their regular fare, I don't know how they stay in business. We will not be going back.

Its all about meat here and comfort sides coupled with a drink of your choice . Two separate counters for each . Order and collect your food from one side and get alcoholic-drinks from the other counter. As everywhere else, help yourself with any soft drink from the fountain or sweet ice tea. Seating is massive and its quite spacious inside. Separate sections give the patrons enough room to socialize and have gatherings. Beautiful patio on the side and abundance parking available. Food is great too especially if you are a meat lover. It didn't suit my stomach but the reasons can vary for me. Everyone else in my group enjoyed the food . Good thing is that you can pick and choose your sides. Coleslaw side was not a very good choice and same for onion rings as we don't get onion rings like this in canada. So expect it to be different in look and taste. Mac n cheese side is amazing . (Who can go wrong with that) Very clean space otherwise and well kept washrooms.

I went there on Wednesday and had the three meat plate. It was amazing. But my friend had the rib plate . She said it was good but all she got was 2 ribs and 2 sides for 14.00 and that seems very pricy for hardly any food . Way to pricy for the amount of food you get

Do you know, how long I've been wanting to try this place? Heim BBQ on the River was well worth the wait! They have a spacious parking lot, dining room, and patio! The décor and menu are simplistic. The staff is semi-friendly. The food was fresh, tasty, and ready in minutes! The playlist was very impressive too! The sounds of Incubus, George Strait, and Johnny Cash help set the mood! I was greeted as soon as I walked in. A friendly young Mexican girl said, "Oh? Do you need a mask?" I was like, Oh my God! I must have forgotten my mask in the car. I'll go get it in the car. She said, "Ok." I really like how she handled the situation. She didn't mask shame me or anything. Lol. My server was incredibly helpful! She suggested, I try the Burnt Ends and she knew the exact cost of each side item! Her patience really shined threw with a newbie like myself. I accidentally ordered too much but, didn't realize it, until she rang it up. My mistake was corrected right away. I couldn't decide If I wanted Fries or Potato Salad. She was like, Just get both! She was like we have a plate that comes with two sides. I was thinking to myself, GIRRRLLL! If I got two sides, it will go straight to the sides of my stomach! LMBO! I decided to get the Bacon Burnt Ends. These were highly recommended on here. I also, noticed they have a T shirt of this so, they must be pretty good. The cost for 1/4 lb of BBE was $7.00. Its only like three pieces, really small. I was thankful. Its just enough to taste without feeling like a stuffed sausage. Lol. They had a really good taste. It was freshly smoked, tender, and really greasy. The sauce was impressively goood! It was sweet with a little hint of spice. Heim BBQ was really stingy with their sauce. They did not fill up the container all the way. It was half full. It was just enough for my tips. However, I could have used more for my fries. My fries were good. Heim BBQ blessed me with an excessive amount of fries. I recommend taking someone to share them with. Fries were fresh. It seemed like the potato had been washed, peeled and fried in oil with a hint of pretzel salt. Really fresh, after the first fry you say, mmmm.... While, I was eating away, I noticed, that my table was a little low. I was a little hunched over and it was uncomfortable. The table next to me seemed higher. However, the tables are new with a nice finish. I had a young Blonde tattered server come over to me and ask how things were. He had a nice voice but, when I gave him my feedback he looked like he was not interested. lol. The outdoor patio was calling my name. I decided to go out there and watch the rain. However, the rain stopped, when I went outside. Lol. Also, for all you dog lovers. You can bring your dog on the patio. I recommend this place. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. I am sure you wont be disappointed. You will enjoy the ambiance, the service and the food!