jimbo’s and other bbq
mattLast Saturday my fiancée Traci and I were craving some barbecue so we headed to Jimbo’s Pit Bar-b-que on W. Kennedy Blvd in Tampa. Now Jimbo’s isn’t the same caliber of ‘cue as we had last week at Newberry’s Backyard Bar-B-Q, but Jimbo’s has usually been good in a pinch. Saturday was no exception.
Jimbo’s has been serving up good no-frills, home-style barbecue in the same location on Kennedy since the seventies. There is a sister location in Lakeland. I was told on a previous visit that Jimbo’s was started by two brothers- one opened and managed the Lakeland location, the other opened up the Tampa location a few years later.
On this visit I ordered a Jimbo’s salad with barbecue chicken on top (I like using Jimbo’s warm barbecue sauce as my salad dressing but their homemade blue cheese is good, too), while Traci ordered an oversized hamburger and fries. I’ve tried their barbecue pork, beef and many of their side items (the hush puppies are particularly tasty, gotta love fried dough) and all of them are pretty good, although the homestyle fries are mediocre. The menu is simple, as any good barbecue place should be, prices are inexpensive and service is quick and friendly. Again, Jimbo’s won’t knock your socks off, but it does the trick when we’re in the mood for barbecue.
Other Tampa Bay area barbecue joints that are on my list to check out are Big John’s Alabama BBQ on N. 40th St and Hickory Hollow in Ellenton. One local place that barbecue-wise I found mediocre was Kojak’s House of Ribs on Gandy near Bayshore. The outdoor patio seating at Kojak’s is nice and I know the place has been there forever like Jimbo’s, but the food needs to at least be above average and Kojak’s certainly wasn’t.
Bottom-line: While Jimbo’s barbecue may not be award-winning, it’s better than average and certainly does the trick in a pinch. There’s also a drive-thru if you’d rather get your ‘cue to go. Keep in mind the drive-thru isn’t “instant”, which is a good thing.
Inspection Scorecard: Last inspection: May 2006 violations - Critical (4), Non-Critical (4).
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July 25th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
never tried that jimbos, but i can testify that big johns is quite good, though im no regular.
i wd agree that kojaks is nothing special either, except for the outdoor porch.
a que chain that isnt too bad is smokey bones, in clearwater and brandon. i ate there this week. it wont win any awards, but its vittles are fair.
of course, theres nothing remotely similar around here to what you get in texas for barbeque. i ate at a big joint just outside austin about a year ago that was quite memorable, but then you can have that experience almost anywhere in the lone star state.
one other place locally to try is on westshore blvd at el prado. i cant remember the name. they smoke a lot of meat and its very well done. the brunswick stew is one of their big hits. mmmm….nice hot soup in july!
July 25th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
To be sure, Tampa Bay is not Texas or Kansas City or Carolina or Georgia or Memphis… but our barbeque isn’t bad.
For cheap BBQ, I like Sonny’s. Yes, it’s commercialized, chain-restaurant food. But oh, the SWEET TEA. And for those hungry days — all you can eat!
Jimbo’s and Kojaks are decent. Fred Flemings is not bad. I love Smokey Bones’ Buff-A-Que Wings. Never tried Big John’s - though I’ve heard it was pretty good. Lee Roy Selmon’s has some GREAT pulled pork, and is a great place to watch USF Bulls games.
I gotta tell ya, as a Yankee (grew up in upstate NY), I never had barbeque until a couple of years after I came to Florida. Man, was I a deprived youth!
July 25th, 2006 at 8:30 pm
A favorite for you to try out is First Choice BBQ in Brandon (Tampa) it’s on Adamo (60) in the Home Depot Shopping Center area. There is a huge line and well worth the wait…
July 25th, 2006 at 11:21 pm
The place on West Shore that dreaming mentioned is called Robert’s Meats. It’s good eatin’. Great BBQ, burgers, fish sandwiches and IMHO they have the best french fries in town.
Kym’s right: First Choice might be the best BBQ place in the Bay area. Definitely worth the trip, not to mention standing in line out in the hot sun. You won’t be disappointed.
Sonny’s: Yuck. Smokey Bones: Not bad at all. Kojak’s and Jimbo’s are OK.
Any other recommendations out there?
July 25th, 2006 at 11:30 pm
Check out Uncle Rodney’s on MacDill south of Gandy. Better hurry, one of his snooty neighbors is trying to shut him down because of all the smoke. Some folks just don’t appreciate BBQ.
July 26th, 2006 at 11:20 am
Moses White in Ybor used to be the bomb. I’ve had some good Q outside of Bucs games from the vendors on Himes.
Big John’s is authentic Q mmm mmmmm. Uncle Rodney’s on South MacDill, just north of Bay to Bay is some damn fine eats as well.
Just say no to Sonny’s, Jimbo’s and Kojak’s where the sauce tastes like ketchup.
July 26th, 2006 at 11:21 am
Sorry Uncle Rodney’s is just north of Interbay.
July 26th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
House of Soul on Columbus Ave! Best greens in Tampa! Go for the thin end or any combo with the sausage, and do NOT miss the mac and chee!
July 26th, 2006 at 5:22 pm
mmm… greens. my parents still can’t figure out why i dig them.
July 27th, 2006 at 4:39 pm
Thanks to everyone for their feedback and bbq ideas- Uncle Rodneys is right near me and I’ve got to check it out, also Big John’s and First Choice.
I grabbed a quick lunch once at Robert’s and really wasn’t impressed, maybe was just unlucky. I like the hole in the wall look of the place and was hoping for more.
Tried Fred Flemings several times, no urge to go back anytime soon, no Sonny’s for me unless I havent eaten in a few days ha. I also think Smokey Bones is pretty good (got turned on to it when I lived in Orlando) and am a fan of Lee Roy Selmon’s on Boy Scout by the airport (get the fried green tomatoes, the dipping sauce is great). Yes, it’s an Outback owned chain.
Lots of good cue ideas, thanks-
cheers
matt
July 27th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
Also consider Hot Rod’s on Livingston in Lutz and the best fried chicken and greens in Tampa Lupton’s on Busch.