Reviews of Fred Cotten's Landmark BBQ (Restaurant)

Lucy Ferguson

Good food in a friendly environment.

Jonathan Wallace

Great BBQ. Springfield needed a place like this. Also have great daily specials

Constance Mays

Great service! GREAT PLACE FOR GROUPS, CELEBRATIONS OR SMALL EVENTS Please the address is wrong on the website. It's located between 3rd&5th N Main RIBS AND GREENS WERE BAD too much fat on ribs and greens drenched in garlic. Beef looked delicious. When I called the restaurant they still gave me the wrong address and even though I talked to the manager so far the website hasn't been corrected. As I stated I'm 100% sure this is a wonderful place for small events but perhaps you should taste the food and have a set menu if you have a party. Also your guests should have the correct address (the address is NOT NOT NOT 1417 Main St since this is the former address and the place is closed at the wrong adress NOT NOT NOT) This was very unfortunate because the event I attended was a benefit because a close friend of mine died. I was lost at night looking around for the incorrect address in a dangerous neighborhood. The new location is in an up and coming Main St location and the interior is modern and pleasing

Jerrold Mace

Absolutely the best b.b.q. sauce in the world. I drive from tampa every 6 mo. To buy 6 bottles. Oh yea the food is great too.

Joe Gay

Always fast and friendly service. The bbq sauce is good but the homemade salad dressing is amazing. Been hooked on the food here since i was a kid and Im in my 40s now.

Michelle Dabbs McInnis

The food was good and the prices are just right. I enjoyed the food and wonderful service

Dan Tristan

Top notch BBQ spot in Jacksonville. Relocation 4th and Main. Great ambience. Must try all they have to offer. People were so nice and the customers were also very friendly. Place is casual and spacious. Good bar for beer/wine. The feel and vibe of this place can definetly make your day better.

Mildred Chambers

I really had a great time I felt very safe I will be back the food was great the employees were very courteous and very helpful

Rob Whitmire

We loved this place. Excellent pulled pork BBQ (everything else looked good, too). Friendly service and great prices. The new location is awesome.

Dee L

Absolutely amazingly delicious barbeque! Customer Service is an A++ top notch! Made us feel like family! We will most definitely be back next time we are anywhere near Jacksonville! Thank you so much guys! Good luck with the move! We'll come visit at the new place!

Reggie Wilkes

Great food, great atmosphere! All you can eat needs to be offered everyday...

heidi white

Best in Jax

Steven Carty

Great food, great people.

belinda kennedy

It not the landmark BBQ Cotten's BBQ because Cotten's BBQ is probably a half mile or so down North Main Street they move I'm sure to be more centrally located but the vibe is still nice not the location I went to as a child but I get it

Harrison Zauke

Best ribs I've ever had. Their Mustard Sauce is practically in it's own food group. Sweet tea is to die for. What else needs to be said about a BBQ place? Best BBQ in town hands down!

Eddie Ackley

Great bbq. Friendly staff . fast service. Will recommend .

deborah Mickler

Down to earth everything taste so fresh if it wasn't so far from me that would be my barbecue hangout

Megan Daly

Decent food but has indoor music that was so loud, you couldn't think. Brisket was a little on the dry side too

Scott Pittenger

Baby back ribs were melt in your mouth, perfect color, no fatty aftertaste and that bbq glaze....oh my oh my, it was like nothing I’ve ever had in my many decades. Next time....Brunswick stew. And, tell John I said hi and I’ll be back.

Chuck Woodruff

Great food great service

James Reilly

Enjoyed the bbq, will come back and have told others.

Mae Foster

Great service

Lou Ritter

Was hoping for what I grew up with but with Lucille and Ernestine gone, so is the tradition of Cotten's Barbeque. Not bad but not the same.

Frank Smith

It was good and the friend shrimps are so big and good I will be going back again

Vonetta Jones

Food IS GREATTTTT

Josue Acaron

All the folks here are extremely friendly from the cook to the waitress. Chicken and ribs have good flavor the bbq sauce as the extra flavor it needs. The side are a bit bland. If your in the area you should to by!

Tim Cereste

Excellent service, good vibe, priced reasonably, folks really made me feel welcome.

Sue Huffman

Excellent food, friendly service, great price, get the family pack for 4, plenty for 4 adults!

Dannielle Bratten

Ribs, chicken were fantastic. A little pricey for the serving size. Flavalicious!

Virginia Kresmery

Service is excellent, pulled pork sandwiches wer great. Friendly atmosphere

Vincent Versher

Definitely a great friendly staff! Excellent ribs. The best key lime cake in Florida!

Anthony Nihls

Great food. Great service. Friendly atmosphere.

Lessie Nelson

I was not impressed with the food..not very flavorful. But the establishment is clean and owner nice.

Stephen Ferrell

Hands down best BBQ around. The prices are good, the service is great and the food is fantastic. Some of my favorites are the ribs, chicken, collards and fried corn on the cob. I’ve never had a bad meal here. The BBQ sauce selection has it all with their signature mustard sauce, spicy mustard sauce, sweet red sauce, and a sweet and spicy. Their collards are some of the best you can find. It’s worth the trip even if you live in Texas.

caprina Jenkins

I always enjoy eating here. The food is great. They have such friendly staff. they host many amazing and sun events. so proud that they do not discriminate against anyone. They are a perfect example of celebrating Humanity!!. My family will be back.

Heineken

Food is bland. Does not live up hype. Yikes!

Jamila Langevin

Good people... good food... good prices...good time.

Mike Miller

Best ribs I've ever had. Was a Jenkins customer before I visited this place. Key Word "Was". All Class Here.

Timothy Haire

Good old fashioned bar b q. Nothing fancy, just tasty bar b q and a quiet setting.

Susan Prince

Real southern bbqs! The food is hot and fast. The sauce is mustard base and delicious. Prices are reasonable portions are decent.The servers are efficient. Parking is not the best but worth the walk! Plenty of seating with enough room between tables you don't think you're sitting in someone's lap! Important when your husband takes up a lot of room. Checkout is easy they bring a smart phone to your table it Adds up the tip and out the door full and happy!

Abdiel Santiago

It's one of the small places that locals know but visitors dont. Amazing food at incredible prices. If you're in the Jacksonville area you must come to this place. The food is always fresh with an mouthwatering aroma always in the air. This is a mist for foodies

Asesnion Espinoza

This is a great place. The price is low and the food is good.

Sally Shaw

Service was super friendly and fast!!! We had the super combo and it will definitely fill up two people!! Had the corn nuggets as well which were great and not greasy like most DELICIOUS!! If you’re in the area you must stop in!! Credit cards are accepted!! Food and service has been great each time i've eaten here! Servers are very friendly and for being a bbq establishment, their seafood is great!

Larry Kitchen

Excellent service, excellent food!!

Preston Short

The best greens I've had except for momma's!! Tender meat, excellent food!!

Jered DaCosta

Love the bbq pulled pork here. Always great service.

Sammy Staats

Great place for good barbecie!

Larry Wilcox

Best place. For take out bq

DJ Keith Wilson

Some great ribs

David Knippenberg

Absolutely awesome food!!! Great service, smiling faces and a calm environment. Just a great night out with my son!!

STEVE FAIRBANKS

Great tasting BBQ service was a little forgetful but tolerable

Kim Bloomer

Great barbecue! Busy place at lunch time.

adam hines

My birthday

Maxwell Smart

I wanted to like the new location, really, I did, and I do, but it's just 'ok.". Furnishings are nice, and the interior is much nicer and brighter than the former location. I do like their sauces on fries. An upgrade from white bread to garlic toast is available. I'll give them another try; maybe seafood next time.

Cindi Chappell

Great salad today and some of the best service in town

Nick Walker

Great food especially the brisket.

Matt Odom

They’ve got it down just like the old days. I’ve now tried every meat and sauce and it’s all just like it used to be. Thanks to the owners for reviving this Jacksonville favorite.

Lynnette Cuebas

Great service. Very involved in helping the community

Gus Bock

Fast, friendly service. Pork BBQ salad was topped with plenty of well cooked pork. The new location is clean and bright. The walls are covered with pictures showing the history of Jacksonville. Well worth the visit.

Greg Taylor

Nice establishment!!! Good BBQ, Sauce leaves a lot to be desired...

Mary Gibson-Kester

I had the 3 meat salad, it was good even though they didn't have that many options for salad dressing.

Google user

Great food, costumer service and place. Definitely coming back to support local businesses.

Lynn Thompson

Fred Cotten's is the best in town!! Their ribs are wonderful!

Heather Boulais

Best fried shrimp. The staff is awesome.

Christopher Taylor

New owner is really great, putting Cotton's bbq back on the map of places that you must visit in Jacksonville. Great food, good prices.

Parker Watson

This place kills it. The smokiness that hits you when you open the door, the dinosaur sized ribs and sheer amount of food you get for the price, plus the little baby cup of banana pudding you get at the end. It's great.

Rebecca M

Greatest BBQ in Jacksonville. Love this place. Staff was amazing every server that walked passed our table checked on us. The food was perfect.

Sherry Harper

Excellent ribs and brisket. Loved everything!! And wonderful people

Emg

Pulled pork sandwich was delicious but barely any meat on it

Bella Faith

Good food and welcoming feel! Our waitress was so kind and on top of everything! I had the Fish and Shrimp dinner with Flounder. It was very good. Great stop in Downtown Historic Springfield District!

Charley Heigie

Name changed from La Nopalera to El Agave, and most of the staff has stayed. Same for the menu, and that's good. We enjoyed this venue as La Nopalera and we enjoyed it as El Agave. Going away party for some families, so we had three generations at our corner booth. Service was good, drinks stayed full, food came fast. Our dinners were tasty and had generous portions. It's close to home and we'll be going again.

Gary Thomas

Food good BBQ sauce could be better.

dank vape florida

I love that it is ran by white ppl now food is amazing clean restaurant great prices

Michelle Hofstetter

Love the ladies that work here and half the time its good food.. this place lacks consistency. Your either gonna get a good meal or be disappointed because its nothing like the time before..

Tommy Northwood

Holy wow. I had the ribs and chicken dinner with fried corn and bbq baked beans and a side of fried okra. Everytging was the best ive ever had and very reasonable too. Also it came super quick which is great because I was starving. Dude was awesome and helpful and its rught here in my neighborrhood. I'm a future regular. :)

Michael DeWillis

LOVE. THAT. BBQ

Alex K

Decor is great. The best BBQ in Jax.

Ashley Crews

My boyfriend brought me here and it is soooooo good!!! They have a clean place with a great atmosphere with a friendly staff! Especially Bonnie in particular who made sure my to go order was put together with perfection and love ❤️ !!! Thank you guys!!!!!

edna Shouse

I'm been coming here for years , just moved back to jax fl. I love the food customer service is great. I eat here a least twins a week. Only thing they closed at 7: o.o pm. It's so good I make sure I make before that time

Shawn Cranshaw

It was a bit gelatinous. But all in all it was pretty good

beekerfishmania

Great service and better food!

K. Levi Rusco

Ordered brisket, got served like 3 dollars worth of warmed over top round roast beef. I've never been so disappointed at a bbq place before.

ESQUILO TORRES

Great food great service good prices

George Daunhauer

Fantastic food and the staff is awesome!!

mary glenn

BBQ brisket salad was delicious

Oswald Montalvo

Great service and good...

Jonathan Caballero

Service was great but the brisket was crumbly, and just terrible.

Mr. B

Sauces and sides are very good, and I know it's the babyback lunch special, but to me it's a HUGE sin to NOT remove the membrane from the ribs before smoking them. Ribs could have definitely used some more time on the pit to tender up too. I'll be back though, hoping to see some improvement. Update - Had some ribs this weekend (7/6/19) and they were pull off the bone perfect!

Wes Brown

This was absolutely the worst BBQ I have ever had. I ordered brisket, fries, and baked beans. The beans tasted like they came from a can. The brisket tasted tough and chewy, like a roast, no fat. They remade the plate and brought me out what looked a pile of chopped beef that tasted like it had been microwaved with water, and had half a shakers worth of pepper dumped on it. It was so horrifying. My stomach ached into the night. And for what it's worth my roommate said it was the worst brisket he had ever had as well, and he and I went on two separate occasions. It's 2:00 am and my stomach is still upset. Don't go here.

Bobby Harvey

5 star

Sean B

Ok, they broke my heart and moved this place! Why?!?!?!??! :( So, yeah.... new digs. Which ARE sweet and in a better part of town. I am very happy the are doing so well. That being said- best effing ribs in the state of Florida. PERIOD The traditional mustard sauce is best damn barbecue sauce in the country. Austin might have the best brisket, Jacksonville has the sauce.

Ronald Ayres

I have been a Cotton's fan for many years. I have seen the business go through good times and bad. I was heart broken when I saw the doors locked. Then a few weeks later I see them back open. To days lunch was as good as it always was. All of the people working there were focused on the food and the customers. Great team of people . Great barbeque. Great service.

Janie More

It was fabulous. Great service and great food. Loved it

Nick Sowers

Fish and shrimp lunch special is absolute fire. The actual BBQ isn't my favorite but the sides are delicious Love the new location, friendly staff

Sean Register

Pork was awesome as well as the sweet sauce.

Peter Hong

Service was fast and polite, the meats were really good and tasted fresh. The mac and cheese left a bit to be desired but to be fair most places don't have amazing mac and cheese to begin with. The real star of the sides are the beans which complement the meats perfectly. I recommend asking for your bread to be toasted. Overall this will probably be a regular for me since I work in the area.

Bette Luksha-Gammell

After hearing rave reviews about the seafood, we decided to try it. The shrimp arrived lukewarm, and a bit over breaded for my taste. Husbands pulled pork was very fatty and inedible. I understand the fat is necessary to flavor in cooking, but it should always be removed prior to shredding or serving. Good prices & fast service.

Mike Dillion

Some of the best BBQ in JAX!!!

Trisa Bryant

The atmosphere is amazing and the food is a yummy definitely worth giving it a shout out

Jonathan frohock

Brisket was amazing, pulled pork was great, wings were awesome too. The ribs that came out to the table next to us looked incredible. Luckily we walked in right before the lunch rush, because it got packed quick.

kevin thomas

Waited and waited,few others came in and the waiter waited on them fost. I'm on lunch break what are they thinking . When we decided to finally get up and leave the waiter acted like he was happy to see us go...terrible

SoUnique Mosley

Some of the best corn nuggets and mozzarella sticks I've had in awhile! Please do try them.

Stephen Youmans

Best pulled pork in town. My favorite collard greens too. The new location is great. The staff have always been awesome.

Kelly Bean

Love this place. Great down home BBQ. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. We order from here for the office quite often.

john silcox

Loved it , the restaurant has relocated to a place by 4th and main . It's a bigger building now .

Marc Tippy Pica

Always have been a fan of Fred Cotton's through the ages. It's one of the oldest BBQ establishments in Jax. The newest owners moved it from the old location to its new digs between 4th and 5th Street on North Main. Much nicer facility, the food quantity is still as good as always (maybe even better), much larger menu and now they serve seafood as well. Went there for lunch and they have cold beer too, but couldn't do that on company time. Staff are great and service is on spot. Will be bringing folks I ride with through here. Make sure you stop in. Marc "Tippy" Pica

Chad Griffin

The best barbq in town I loved the pig but this is wonderful barbq number one in my book.

David Yarborough

Outstanding service and delicious rib sandwich!

ROY BAKER

Awesome treat for your taste buds with generous portions at reasonable prices.. Staff is very friendly, caring and very efficient. I spoke with former Mayor Jake Godbold there two weeks ago he is a long time regular customer ... Great food . great atmosphere .. I'd give it more stars IF there were anymore stars to give .. I'm going to get "take out" in a few minutes for the game .. could watch it there but .. not this time. #RoyBaker

shane davis

Had a class and ran out of food. Cotton's had a great selection available. They saved the day. Also, the BBQ was better then the food we started with. Will not make the same mistake next time.

James Cleare

This is a quaint little restaurant/smoke house located in Historic Springfield. A small, but mighty tasty, gathering place for good smoked meat of all types. The sides are genuinely good, and they serve fried seafood here also. I even overheard the owner talking about smoking some mullet in the near future.

david knippenberg

I love Cotton's. The fact that they just moved 4 blocks from the house is awesome. My son and myself enjoy spending time together eating here and enjoy the fast friendly service. Thank you Lisa, we WILL be back!!

Luis Enrique Manco

They catered my wife's surprise birthday party. The food was outstanding. Melanie was very courteous during the whole ordering and delivery process. 100% recommend this place.

Chrissy Baker

Great Food and People. Gotta try it here. I will be back

rick buckley

Food was very smoky flavored and delicious. Great place to have a get together.

no body

Best beef brisket in the area.

Gudrun Brown

The service is good and fast but there is only a little mix up with the coupon for the buy a meal for $ 5.50 and get the lunch special for free it doesn't specify that the coupon is a two different coupon. One side says buy a lunch special for $ 5.50 and get the second for free on a the other one. Please take the coupon down because it's causing alot of confusion. I wound up paying $13.00 for my meal and another time $18.00. and the meal was not free please gave your severs tell your customers this so there isn't any mix up. But over all it was good

Marty Barron

Great food cold beer

Connie Matthews

Don't bother going during the noon rush hour, kitchen clearly CAN NOT handle the rush hour traffic. After 40 minutes of waiting for our food, we gave up and had to leave, staff was advised, but there was no concern. Left hungry!

Lorna Houser

Best BBQ in area. Superb Food and Awesome Staff. Service is Good!!!

Nett Wise

Good portion size meat. Sides are a bit small but it's ok for lunch. I been here 2x. Pic is a whole chicken cut up for $11.

Theoriginalpfsgators

Brisket was dry but my friends chicken was good. Service was good

Kathy W Oldaker

Awesome food and awesome people love me some Cottons bbq

Good Folks Property Management

Really good b b que. Her for several weeks and got to try lunch. Pork sandwich great. Husband had ribs and chicken that were just right. Will be back. Service great

David Tobin

got turned away for dinner because we had our kid with us wont be back ever again

JD McKinney III

Wonderful staff & meal

Laura Edwards

Best of both worlds...New Ownership with the Original BBQ Sauce and Salad Dressing recipes. Quality and serving sizes greatly improved. Best Ribs and Beef Brisket in town. Eat there regularly and have had them cater 3 events. Food is consistently GOOD! You won't be disappointed.

Pam Morgan

We travel from the beach to eat here! The best ribs and pork!

Don Goense

HANDS DOWN, THE BEST MUSTARD BASED BBQ SAUCE IN NE FLORIDA! This place is the only reason to ever visit this neighborhood. The hot mustard based BBQ sauce truly is better than any other mustard based currently available in Duval county. Always friendly faces here, more than fair prices, and damned good smoked meats. Definitely a great experience, every time!

Jeremy Won

Ordered to go, quick and friendly service. Great food.

jim roberts

Cheep eats & beans. Nice atmosphere

Jon Russell

The sauces are amazing. However, the BBQ chicken and beef were both somewhat dry. And they close at 9pm on Thursday’s not 10pm

Heather Short

Amazing BBQ!! The meat falls off the bone, it's so tender& delicious!! Great sauces and the best greens besides momma's!! I will be going back again very soon!!

Dana Forgie

Melt in your mouth bbq. On point sides n cold beer. Staff even better!

jeff johnson

I have eaten a lot of bbq in my life and these are the best ribs I have ever eaten bar none! Great food, great prices and very friendly people. You can't go wrong with Cotten's. My girlfriend and I will be regulars.

thorton gaming

Great place to eat!!!

Chris Fagan

Visited 2 times since it reopened, and everything has been great! Another Springfield star is shining!

Nick Breeze

I heard about it and went and got some cold, bland ribs. Not a dry rub, but not really a sauce either. The first time the ribs were cold and again, bland. Not bad, but far from great or anything to write home about. I spoke with some people who told me it had been sold and had a new owner who was not a BBQ person, but had bought the location and the name. No recipes or old school pit master. I figured I would try again to be fair. The sides were very small in portion. The ribs were again bland and tasted simply like meet and nothing else. The temperature was better then cold. I was asked how the ribs were and had to be honest, I have had better from almost anywhere else. The ribs just were not that good. I don't mean to go after a business with history dating back to world war2, but the prices and the food left a lot to be desired. Its just not that good. Plain, Even the sauces were watered down. I think its the new owners. Hope it gets better, but its going to be awhile before I go back and roll the dice.

Wm. A.

From the outside this windowless bunker of a building doesn't look very inviting. The interior is better, but not by a great deal. It is the food and the service, however, that bring you back. The BBQ is as good as it gets, with tender and flavorful meats and delicious fresh sides. Do not hesitate to spend your calories on the excellent fries. The staff is amazingly friendly and attentive. Just try leaving without a to-go drink. There are a few hidden gems along Main Street, but this one may be the best. It truly is a landmark. It just doesn't look like one.

Mama2 Two

The food was good and the people are really nice. I love that they participate in dining out for life and allow the space to be utilized for charity events.

Selecia Young-Jones

2nd visit. Enjoyed the 3 meat salad today.

John Andrews

1st Time @ Fred Cotten's bbq I had the Ribs, Amazing!!!

Ashante Greenlee

I tried the sampler platter because why not? I figured if I could try everything at once, I would know what my favorite items were. First of all the smokiness of everything was just the right amount, but I think the smokiness of the chicken was by far my favorite. The chicken was juicy and I like that it was dark meat. It's $1 extra if you want white meat and you have to specify that you want that. You're given 3 ribs in the sampler and I found myself wanting more, so it was definitely my second favorite. I would probably do the brisket on the sandwich as opposed to just on its own. I will be bringing friends with me next time and will more than likely be adding more chicken and ribs to that plate.

Don Harris

First went to Cotton's over 50 years ago with my granddaddy. Now I take my grandson there. It's always been good.

john a

This is my second time hear. I drove 30 minutes across the county to come get lunch. Absolutely fantastic, good prices, portions and quality.

Joe Shewmaker

They have a simple BBQ menu with pretty standard choices. They have a nice choice of sauces. The atmosphere is informal and the food is priced fairly.

Michael Bird

Great food.

Calley Sprague

Much cuter location than the original.. the BBQ is spot on.

Sherry Vitro

Great food friendly service. Feels like home. Definitely worth a visit

Dalton Drinkwater

This is the hands down the best bar-b-q restaurant in Jacksonville. Good food with better prices fast and friendly local service.

Saul Storey

It was a nice local restaurant with a real local feel. I highly recommend the rib sandwich with a sweet tea. Be warned though, the sweet tea is EXTRA sweet.

Derrick Odom

Fantastic all around

chuck brown

Great Food ,Service was great also

Jamie LaSauce

Great BBQ and great service!

Mike Zaffaroni

Food was great and prices very fair! Good atmosphere inside and lots of tvs

Damon Guy

That's the best ribbs in Jacksonville Florida

Henry Stevens

This is best bbq ever eatin and yes ive eatin bbq everwere 300pds 6,1 professinal bbq eater i am

JL Lee

The food is the best of BBQ you could ask for. The beef brisket is so lean and juicy with flavor