Riverport Barbecue

Nice little spot. Cool people. Got some neat stuff on the walls. I had the brisket melt, pretty good. Just needed to add some BBQ sauce. My wife had the rib plate, ribs were a little dry. Fries and onion rings were good. Also, we got a sample of the chilli, tasty.

With all the positive reviews of this place I just had to try and it was definitely worth it. The food was definitely great, everyone in my party was happy about it. The pork wasn’t quite where it should be but overall still a good experience. Definitely recommend visiting if you’re in the area. It’s a rather small place however, so try to avoid peak times if possible. Also, no animals/pets allowed as of the date of this review, so keep that in mind if traveling with one.

You can smell the wonderful BBQ when you walk inside! Closed on Mondays Order at the cash register. Food brought to your table. Shared table seating. Free drink refills. Restroom for customer use. Free street parking.

Fantastic barbecue! I got the two meat plate with ribs and brisket, sides coleslaw and beans. Those beans were so good! Get there early, I hear that when they are out that’s it for the day.

Everything was outstanding. I'm a pork rib guy and man, these are the best! The consistency of the quality of product is second to none. The smoke is so clean, and the simplicity in the seasoning gives you the perfect Texas BBQ taste. This is a must try!

This was some of the best bbq I have had. We were looking to grab a quick bite before a historic Jefferson tour and came here unplanned. It was a pleasant surprise to find great bbq away from the more traditionally great bbq areas of Texas. We tried the ribs, sliced brisket, and turkey. Sadly they were sold out of the pulled pork. All were spot on for flavor and doneness, perfect smoke level. The ribs even had a nice bark that you don’t often find. We also loved the coleslaw, potato salad, and banana pudding. Highly recommend trying this place.

Very nice barbecue! The brisket was the best! We love it! Small place, you have to be prepared to wait and sit.

I was nearby and a local couple suggested I needed to try Riverport Barbecue before leaving the area. I always listen to the locals and I am glad I did! This place looks fun from the outside and a bit dicey on the inside, but the line told me I was in the right place. It was almost back to the door when I walked in, but it moved quickly. Seating is pretty limited, especially for a party of one or two as most tables have 5-6 places. Everybody was so friendly. I think I could’ve asked to sit down if I wanted to, but I went ahead and got my order to go. The menu seems pretty reasonable with baskets and platters between $10 and $18. A lot of reviews seem to talk about the Swamp Fries, so I had to get a small order of those. I also got the sliced Brisket sandwich with a side of onion rings. The brisket barbecue is served dry but has a good smoke right on it and good flavor by itself, but they give you plenty of barbecue sauce to add to it. That’s exactly what I did along with some pickles to make my sandwich taste just right . The Swamp Fries are wonderful with fresh FF, smothered in chopped brisket, shredded cheese, and sliced jalapeños. There’s no way I could’ve eaten a large so I’m glad even though it was just two dollars more I decided to opt for the smaller portion and still had leftovers to take home. Overall, really good food definitely worth a stop in.

Incredible we had brisket, sausage and turkey, all were cooked to perfection and the sides were delicious as well. Not a single complaint except I couldn't eat more!

The restaurant is situated downtown in historic downtown Jefferson Texas. The ribs were tender, moist, tasty and not stringy. The okra was cooked hot and served immediately. The pinto beans were simply prepared like most east texas restaurants would serve them. The service was quick and friendly. The Resturant is clean and modest. The restrooms were exceedingly tidy. This was a pleasant experience.

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! I know BBQ and this is right up there with the best. The staff were friendly and helpful. I only had 2 issues. 1. The building needs to be about 3X its current size. 2. They give you so much food, you're forced to over eat. Seriously, give Joseph's a try!

Boss lady and I came in for a quick lunch, and had a weird encounter with some staff members. It started when we ordered. We are normally asked if we want fatty or lean brisket. Since we were not asked, we asked for fatty. The cashier got snotty with us and said, "Well, I guess I'll have to tell them." THAT'S YOUR JOB! We weren't asking for the moon . Then, we got a peach cobbler, which was goopy and raw. Boss lady is a baker, she's made tons of cobblers. She went back to the counter to let them know, of course, another staff person got snotty and argued that it wasn't raw. WHATEVER, just refund our money and move on. The brisket and ribs were good. The fried okra was just ok. The potatoe salad has way too much mustard. BBQ sause is really good. Solely based on their bad attitude, we will never come back!

Ordered to go and it was great. Brisket tender and smoky and the sausage crispy and flavorful. Friendly folks and the sauce was nice as well. No sides tried

Wonderful BBQ with a nice variety of ways to eat it. The brisket has a good flavor to it with a good balance of fat. The amount of meat you get for the price is a steal. The lady working the front was super sweet and friendly. I only wish the store was bigger to handle the demand during rush time. Overall a good experience. Definitely recommend the swamp fries!

We were a bit skeptic to try because barbecue varies greatly. We enjoyed our lunch. My husband ordered the loaded French fries with brisket, cheese, onions, jalapeños. He ordered large but should have ordered the small size because he could not finish half of it and not because it wasn't delicious. I enjoyed the sloppy Joe. We were both stuffed after lunch and didn't require any supper.

This was pretty solid food overall, but not the best barbecue I've had. There is limited seating for larger groups, but the ambiance was decent and the service was friendly. We tried barbecue sandwiches, fried okra, and swamp fries. The chopped brisket sandwich was good--the brisket was a tad bit dry, but I still found it enjoyable as a whole. The okra had good flavor, but could have been crispier, instead, it was more bready. The swamp fries were good--covered in chopped brisket, jalapeños, cheese, and bacon. The cheese was unmelted, which detracted a little, and the fries were on the salty side, but again it was still tasty. I'd come back if I were in Jefferson again, as the wait was reasonable even around 12 on a Sunday, but I wouldn't drive out of my way.

FANTASTIC!!!! The atmosphere was great with cool decor just what you want when going for BBQ- Probably the best barbecue I've ever had they had a nice variety of offerings and the brisket was tender not too fatty and had amazing flavor! The smoked turkey which also delicious was still moist with the perfect smoked taste.. the swamp fries with brisket .. YUM!!! We ordered a Turkey sandwich, two meat plate with Turkey and sausage and okra!! Brisket sandwich with the bbq beans .. The jalapeño sausage was so good and the okra was cooked to perfection the homemade ranch with it just topped it off.. I can't wait to go back!! Mmm mmm finger lickin good!

I only gave a star because I had to. We traveled all the way to Jefferson to eat here. I have a service dog. A corgi. The owner instantly kicked us out. I told him it was illegal for him to turn us out. He said "that's not a service dog if it can lick the floor with its short legs". I told him he was breaking the law and he said he didn't care. He was very rude. We won't be coming back to Jefferson.

I have NEVER had one thing that wasn't absolutely delicious! The food and service is always amazing. When in Jefferson this is the ONLY place we eat!

We have tried bbq all over the nation and this place ranked in our top 2. The brisket, turkey and ribs were superb. Worth the drive and wait.,they give plenty of food. The slices were thick and the bbq sauce was just right with no bitterness or too much twang. Potato salad was great and not oversaturated with fillers. Sweet potatoes fries were crisp and fresh. It is easy to find within walking distance anywhere in downtown. The atmosphere is country themed and filled with nostalgia. Only drawback is the seating area. They have maxed out their space for the crowds but get it to go and find one of many places close by for a picnic. We will be back.

Best BBQ in east Texas definitely recommend for anyone who is looking for a good lunch while touring downtown Jefferson.

This little place is awesome. Great barbecue, interesting location, and great barbecue. I'm not always in this part of country but if I am I make it a priority for my schedule to line up with this place's hours. Make sure you're not arriving just before closing or the full menu may not be available. Brisket is top notch, ribs are wonderful, and sausage is delicious. This is the kind of joint that puts the flavor in the meat rather than sauces and add-ons. Sauce is a nice accessory and not the star of the show. It's just what barbecue should be. The potato salad is about as perfect as it gets for me and the coleslaw is fresh and crunchy, too. Eat here if you're in the area and it's open, then take some time to look around the city is located in. I guarantee you'll enjoy it.

It's hard to make bad barbecue, but these folks make good barbecue plus they have some excellent sides and a remarkable dish called Swamp Fries, a mix of French fries, two cheeses, jalapeños, onion, bacon, scallions, and chopped barbecue. If you like fries, you're going to LOVE Swamp Fries. Plus, you have to try the hot water cornbread. I think they got the recipe from my old maid aunt who died 25 years ago. HOWEVER in these early stages of reopening the economy, what I saw today was scary. The place was packed, with no efforts to control the rate of entry. No floor markings to show spacing for waiting in line. Less than 20% of customers were maintaining social distance, and even fewer wore masks. I saw no servers with masks. And there were total strangers sharing tables. I don't know what the law says, but what I saw today is a recipe for Covid disaster. I would urge the owner of this restaurant to step up and take charge. So as not to end on a negative note, the food here is great!

Okay so both my son and my wife are experts in true BBQ and this place has their vote as their absolute favorite place to get BBQ. We had the chopped brisket sandwich, sweet potato fries and a cheeseburger for our grandson. The meat was tender and piled high. The burger was juicy and full of smoked flavor too. The service is awesome and they take such good care of you. I wish it was closer to home but an hour drive each way is totally worth the food! We highly recommend anyone that loves great BBQ this is a MUST STOP.

Drove in from DAllas. Brisket was ok. Turkey was very moist. Okra was the bomb. Sausage was good too. Service was great. Meat was over rated. I never pick sides over the meat but in the case the okra stood out.

Fun place to stop if you're on a East Texas BBQ road trip. If you're getting one of the plates and you like the flavor of hush puppies, give the hot water cornbread a try. These delicious little morsels are flat, light, fluffy and crispy at the same time. I liked the BBQ beans, full of tangy flavor, better than the regular pinto beans. I'm a pretty tough judge of BBQ, having been spoiled by my years in Texas. I wasn't wowed by the brisket, although it's very moist and tender with a nicely flavored bark. I found the inside of the brisket a bit bland. The pork ribs were cooked just right and benefited from a couple dashes of the BBQ sauce that's on each table. Fair prices and friendly service earned it the 4 stars.

Very good meats. Turkey, sausage, ribs, and brisket were all very good. Baked beans and pinto beans were pretty good. Hot water cornbread was more like a hush puppy than typical hot water cornbread, but good nonetheless. Good east Texas alternative from bodacious, Stanley's, and country tavern.

Stephen and crew always come through. Riverport has catered many an event for me and they always shine!!!

Love this place. When my wife and go to Jefferson this is the only place we eat. Very friendly staff. Great service and food. My go to is the 2 meat plate with brisket, jalapeño cheese sausage, fried okra and BBQ beans. And I get the sliced bread, pickles, onions and jalapeños. Eating the brisket on the bread with pickles, onions, jalapeños and BBQ sauce it the only way to go. They open up at 11:00, but get there early. There's always a line out front with people waiting to get in. There is limited seated so be prepared to share a table. If you like great BBQ this is the spot. They offer a military discount which is always a bonus.

I witnessed a blatant act of racism at this establishment today by a staff member. The lady working the register taking orders was, quite frankly, nasty towards a Hispanic family and a black woman but as friendly as could be to every white customer who came in the doors. She was so rude to them with everything she said, even when asking for their order - to make matters worse she glared at them through the duration of their meal. I felt so bad for this sweet family that I was sick to my stomach and couldn't finish even a quarter of my lunch. The woman with brown hair, glasses, and a terrible case of RBF who works the register should be ashamed of her vile behavior. Additionally, Joseph's Riverport Barbecue should be disappointed and disgusted by the actions of their employee.

We just finished a meal that was catered by Joseph's Riverport BBQ and it was outstanding! Honestly, some of the best BBQ I have ever had. Be sure to get the Swamp Fries!

We would drive 120 miles round trip from Texarkana because this, we thought, was the best BBQ in the area. Not so this time. In a word the meats were dry. Dry to the point of having to chase them down with a drink...or two. Three? And the potato salad was sour, sauerkraut sour. That may have been the taste they are after, but we think it pushed German potato salad over the Siegfried Line. The BBQ beans remain outstanding. One hundred-twenty miles round trip plus $30 for two meals. We don't know if we'll risk it again. We did not enjoy not loving this place.

Not to sure about the lady that said they are racist, a Gay, black young man took our order . Mark you say that you have eaten over 80,000 meals and "it's hard to mess up barbecue". I can give you a list of bbq places to try, when you take a break from the pot a few days later you can post about them . So onto this little eatery. My wife and I had the loaded potatoes with chopped beef. Very good. A little more fat than I would like in my chopped beef (most places add a little to the chopped). Had a decent smoke and included a couple ends pieces, which in my opinion is a treat. The nice couple at our table (had to make room due to the lack of seating) we're having the ribs. Appeared to have a good bite they came off the bone easy, as well as a good smoke and bark to them. Can't say about the taste as they would not share (no, I didn't ask-). I really don't like the star rating system, but would say that it is worth an hours drive a month to visit.

Was excited to hit this place after seeing it made the honorable mention list in the Texas Monthly. Only problem, we'd eaten a huge breakfast at our B&B just a few short hours earlier. But we still had to try it. The line was the longest of any place we ate at over the weekend, but it really wasn't more than a 10 minute wait to order. I went with a simple order of a chopped sandwich and a rib on the side. My wife had a brisket taco. The sandwich was awesome. A good amount of meat, not too lean, not too moist, some bits of bark on a perfectly toasted bun. The rib was also really good, but the brisket was the star of the show. We washed it down with an iced tea.

Great friendly place. The loaded fries were excellent and my favorite is the smoked bologna sandwich. Family lines the smoked turkey and the pulled pork tacos. I eat here every chance I get.

Sauce, coleslaw, and beans were excellent. My only issue the brisket was too salty. I'll try it again sometime when back in Jefferson.

Wow. disappointed to say the least. we expected to wait for a while, which was fine. But when the lady was filling up the ice machine and used her bare hands to shove the ice down into the machine after wiping her hands on her shorts, we basically lost our appetites. the brisket and sausage were ok. the baked beans were terrible. the hot water corn bread was not good. they should probably change the oil in the fryer, like, yesterday. not super friendly customer service. definitely not worth the cost or the experience. establishment looked very dirty.

A must stop when in Jefferson. The food is awesome. I am a barbecue snob and this stuff won't disappoint you.

Riverport BBQ , was a great place to sit down and enjoy some good food today . We had the ribs, chopped beef sandwich and Swamp fries. Man, it was filling ! Everything tasted great , but I think they should melt the cheese on the swamp fries so it will all stay together. Again the taste is there , just difficult to share and eat the fries. I like the ability to help yourself to the condiments and the tea ! If you are looking for BBQ, look no further, you've found it ! Go get Full

Situated in thee cutest little town! Came here in December and enjoyed bone warming BBQ inside, where we basked in the rustic southern atmosphere and dined on authentic BBQ. This joint is rated as one of the top 50 Texas BBQ joints, so naturally I expected a rich, smoky, full bodied flavor paired with tender textures. Delivered! I'm not much of a meat fan (!) but I enjoyed my brisket taco immensely. She was topped high with fresh pico, shredded lettuce and salsa. The brisket was well seasoned with a generous touch of smoke essence...flakey tender and delicious. I added much of their tangy BBQ sauce as I liked it. My little man loved his aromatic hickory beans and his pulled pork taco. The price is right, also. They have a little walk up window if you opt not to dine in. I imagine that option would be perfect for a busy day or if you just want a quick snack on the go while you venture the adorable historical neighborhood and enjoy the antique shops that make up the population. That would be a cute date, fellas. ;)

I am not a huge bbq fan but I try to do my best and make it an option when traveling with my husband in small towns in Texas. So... here we are. We ordered the 2 meat plate both with brisket one had sausages and the other pork shoulder. So here is my take on it; The brisket has good flavor but for me the cut was super thick and just to hard for me. I have had brisket that is tender and pulls apart. It was almost to dry for my taste. The pork shoulder was fantastic full of flavor very tender and juicy. The sausages are really good. For side we had; Cole slaw was yummy and creamy. Potato salad was different but in a good way. My husband ordered bbq beans and said those are really good. They had cayun deep fried corn on the cobb and I really loved it. Their sweet tea is just perfect. Prices are fair specially after visiting Lockhart Texas the bbq capital where they are really proud of the bbq and it shows on their prices. The service was super friendly and overall a great experience.

It takes time to get the orders in, but the wait is well worth the payoff! Jefferson is like any other place until you get close enough to smell Riverport. In a town with several attractions, this will get your attention and pull you in to order some of the best food/combinations you've had. The people are nice and friendly as is most people around town.

This is the best BBQ hands down if you like smoky flavor, perfectly tender & moist meat, with generous serving sizes & fabulous sides. We had a brisket sandwich with fried okra and a brisket taco. The side of hot water cornbread, was served as three pieces of tasty goodness; crisply golden outside & moist inside. Counter ordering and self-bussing after eating. The order counter is the only weak link. ALL business! Step up, know what you want to keep their line moving. Not sure anybody working there is happy about it . Except maybe the pleasant young lady who brought our food who was quite pleasant. Get there when the door opens which may be later than posted (11:00) or prepare to be disappointed as they run out.

We were in town for a weekend getaway. Late lunch hubby had the swamp fries and said they were very good I had the sliced beef sandwich, the brisket had a great flavor and very tender.

Awesome bbq and love how a family owns this place. I came in twice during my visit to Jefferson. The brisket was amazing and I like how they let you customize it. Just let them know if you like it Lean, fat or bark. The smoke on the brisket was not overwhelming. I have never had water cornbread before, so I ordered it to see what it was like. It was really delicious! I also liked that they had a pickle, onion and jalapeño bar so you can add what you want to your meal. On my second visit, I ordered the brisket taco for myself and brisket sandwich for my husband, along with fried okra. I don't like a lot of bread, because usually it takes over the sandwich. Damn! Should have ordered the sandwich for myself. The taco was good, but his sandwich had about 2 inches of meat on it! Now that is what I call a sandwich! It was absolutely awesome. Surpass the taco and get the brisket sandwich. You will not be disappointed.

Hot Fresh Smoked to perfection! Ribs were tender, nice smoke ring! BBQ potato tender w chopped brisket and a side of sausage. Sausage wasn't greasy, had a lot of flavor. Cheese burger was juicy, homemade fries crispy. Customer service was very welcoming and the dining area was clean. I gave 4's because of the sides: baked beans were a bit sweet and the potato salad was not as cold as it should be...

First of all, as a Yelper, I recognize that I have no talent to cook a delicious plate of food. Chefs, cooks, and pitmasters put their work on display for all to see. Therefore, unless the service is rude, I generally don't leave a negative review of an establishment. If I do not care for their food then I normally follow the rule of: no comment. I'm also not some hipster from Austin that wears a knit hat in the summer and drives a Prius around only eating at the trendy joints because they have peanuts on the floor. Nor am I a transplant from New York or California trying to write an article for Texas Monthly about how great Austin is and that the only place you can get good BBQ must be within 50 miles of the People's Republic and served out of an overpriced Airstream travel trailer. Nope. I am just a regular guy from Texas that likes good BBQ. And in Texas, BBQ is king and no other piece of meat reins the throne of royalty like the beef brisket. In order to judge a good Texas BBQ one must order the brisket. Brisket is delicious but it is very hard to properly cook. My standards for a good brisket relies more in the method of cooking and smoke. Salt and pepper are the only spices you need and sauce is just used to cover up mediocrity. I have lived and eaten brisket all over the state. I've had all the top players from Pecans in Dallas to Blacks and Fanklins. They are all great and incorporate many of the aforementioned personal standards. So when the wife and I stumbled into Joseph's Riverport Barbecue by coincidence we were excited to see and smell the post oak outside that was aged to perfection. However, I was still skeptical seeing as how I have eaten brisket at some of the best joints in Texas. Folks, I don't say this lightly but Joseph's is the King of Texas brisket. I only thought I knew good brisket and then my palate was graced by the most delectable brisket I have had the pleasure of eating. Every bite, from start to finish, was engulfed with flavor. The method of cooking was distinguishable with each bite. Indirect heat and post oak. The brisket had the perfect fat content with a bark that was full of flavor and a tenderness that I have never seen in brisket. My 10 month old was able to chew up the brisket with ease! It was sliced thick and not thin like so many establishments do to cover up the fact that the meat is tough. The smoke ring was just right and the meat contained its flavors perfectly. This place puts East Texas on the map when it comes to brisket. I cannot wait until I return to Jefferson and order double the brisket!

This past weekend wife, and I attended the 2017 Texas Bigfoot Conference. We had a small break so walked around checking out Jefferson, nice place with friendly people. We found Riverport BBQ, a small place that was packed, with people filling every table, a line of people waiting for food to go. We just wanted something basic, simple to take back to the Conference with us. We got a couple of combos sliced BBQ sandwich, side of sweet potato fries. Damn the when we opened up the boxes, for the price it was alot, taste was great. Next years Conference will go back, and we will take a couple of plates for the drive back.

Expectations were far exceeded! I mean, yum!! I've been dying to try out the BBQ here, especially after it was placed on the Texas Monthly top 50 BBQ list. No doubt that it deserves to be at the top. Food: Order the swamp fries and the brisket sandwich. Their brisket was seriously so moist and perfect. Still dreaming about it. We also had the ribs and they were great too. For sides, the potato salad was bomb and the sweet potato fries were a great addition! There isn't a whole lot of seating, so you'll have to wait a little bit. This restaurant is right in the middle of downtown Jefferson, so make the time to explore downtown afterward or beforehand!

Good barbecue and large selection. We really enjoy the brisket and sausage. Potato salad was spot on.

The only thing that could make this experience worse would be food poisoning I still may get from eating here. Terrible service The bread on the chopped beef sandwich was so hard that the plastic fork would not penetrate the bun. The Potato Salad was hospital food bland and in my cup of potato salad was a whole potato. WTF? Chopped beef sandwich was a combo of burnt brisket and fat. They obviously don't use the flat from the brisket or the choice meat. Fries were homemade? Really? How about freezer burnt and greasy. I'm a French fry junkie and these were simply bad. The staff there is a bit rude, borders going to a comedy show and being in the front row and getting heckled by the comedian all night. A little rude is an understatement. I share the utter disappointment on people's faces as they leave. Never thought bad BBQ existed, well now I know it does. Don't believe me, go ahead and waste your money on an ungrateful staff, terrible food and a good coke. At least they got the Coke right. Never again, I'll go hungry 1st.

I had a pulled pork sandwich, and a small order of swamp fries. The meal was delicious, and their servings were generous! I arrived around 12:45 on a Friday. The food was delivered promptly, and it was fresh. Their staff was friendly and attentive. The establishment has limited seating considering their business flow. I'll revisit when I'm back in town.

Go in prepared to order, staff is very impatient and to make things more ridiculous their menu is as clear as mud. Some things come with sides, some don't, the menu doesn't state if they do or not. Be careful what you pick though because they'll be out of half of them. They don't want to make burgers or fish stating they will take too long and will try to talk you out of ordering them. Food was meh. Will not recommend.

Delicious BBQ. Nice people. Good location. Only one of the (6) workers inside was wearing mask.

Wonderful BBQ! Brisket was amazing and lean and the ribs were very good. Good sides and the BBQ beans had tons of meat in them. Only issue is not a lot of tables so it can get packed fast. Well worth stopping for a meal!

My travels take me through Jefferson a few times per year, and I always enjoy stopping here for lunch. Their BBQ meat is excellent, but in the south there are hundreds of good BBQ joints. Their sauce is also excellent, but I think their hidden secret is their BBQ beans that have an excellent blend of sweet, savory, and spice. And I would recommend anyone try their "swamp fries," but you may want to stick to a half order. It's their Cajun fries topped with brisket, jalapeños, etc. and it might put you in a food coma.

We stopped in at Riverport BBQ and with suggestions for the staff with what to order we were not disappointed! Our favorites hands down was the jalapeño sausage, ribs, potato salad, and hot water cornbread! We weren't fans of the brisket because it was a bit dry but that may have just been the pieces we got! We got drinks with our order and they were gigantic! Staff is incredibly friendly and the place was packed!