Firewater BBQ

By far the most unbelievable bbq ever! There was not anything we ordered that wasn’t delicious! Tried brisket, pulled pork, and chicken! We will definitely be back again and again!

Coming from a BBQ fanatic, Firewater BBQ has some of the greatest BBQ-​type food around! While it may be loud in the dining room at times as well as smoky from the meat cooking, it is definitely worth it!

We used their catering. So happy we did. We ordered the brisket (outstanding) and the BBQ chicken (delish). Our Guests all loved the food and I’m pretty sure a lot of them are planning to check this place out for themselves. They set up quickly and the hot food was hot and the cold sides were cold. Their BBQ sauce was awesome especially the hot and spicy one. We will definitely be going to the restaurant again soon for more of that brisket. Thanks Karen. It was perfect.

Finally a decent BBQ place in our area that has enough of a variety of food and sauces to satisfy everyone with us. We had with us the pickiest eater on the planet, whimpy «can’t do spicy» me and the two other «if it ain’t spicy it ain’t good» members of our group. Between us all, we had brisket, pulled pork, ribs, hot sausage, rib tips, mac-​n-​cheese, fried pickles and coleslaw. There was not one thing that any of us thought could have been improved upon. As far as the facility, it has those high ceilings where things seem louder than they really are. It’s an open picnic table/​bench seating, self serve fountain drinks, kids running around kind of atmosphere. If you’re looking for quiet then perhaps choose to take-​out instead of dining in. The staff is super friendly and extremely helpful. We will be returning maybe even as soon as this weekend.

Finally a BBQ smokehouse where you can actually taste the smoke! Great BBQ!

I had heard great things about this place from a few people, so we decided to give it a shot one night. The night we were there it was LOUD. There was a single guy playing country covers with the volume cranked to 11.
Between my wife and I, we ordered two sandwiches. I had brisket and my wife had pulled pork. We got Mac and Cheese, beans, and cornbread as sides.
The brisket was dry. I mean DRY. The pulled pork was pretty good, but nothing to write home about. The sides were unremarkable — not bad, but just not great. The sauce choices also fell in the same boat — not terrible, but just kind of there. The beer selection was pretty good for a restaurant like this — note that all beer is served in bottles or cans, no drafts.
It’s sad that the BBQ scene around Joliet is so lackluster. I really was hoping to like this place, but it’s just not there. I’ve had BBQ a lot of places and this place just gets lost in the crowd of mediocre BBQ joints. I likely won’t be back for a long time — for the price that BBQ commands, I’ll drive another 15 minutes and get great BBQ.

Thrilled with this restaurant. As others have said, there used to be another BBQ place here. DO NOT confuse the two! While the first restaurant was a major disappointment this one gets everything right: very welcoming staff, good BBQ and excellent side dishes. I usually get the rib tips or a full slab.

Really good food. The kids loved it too. We had the pulled pork sandwiches, fried pickles, sweet potato fries, coleslaw, ribs and corn bread. Only complaint is I wish we saved room for the peach cobbler bc it looked really good!

Solid 3 stars. I really wanted to like this place but it wasn’t great. When we arrived it wasn’t busy but the dining room was gross. Food on the floor, dirty tables, and staff was just hanging out in the back. I ordered the two meat with brisket and chicken. My husband ordered the three meat with wings, brisket, and chicken. My brisket was half fat. It was so gross. The chicken was decent but I have had better. I didn’t taste any of the smoke flavor other people have said they did in their reviews. I had Cajun fries as a side and they were decent. My husband did like the wings but same sentiment on the chicken and brisket. Overall it’s «meh».
We have been all through the south for BBQ and this place does not stack up to any of them. The piles of wood were a nice touch but when there really is no smoke flavor you have to wonder what it’s for. The past reviews tell me maybe we hit it on an off day. For what we spent though we won’t be trying it again.

This is the real deal. Been here several times and the food is consistent and good. As soon as you walk in you see piles of wood and can smell the smoker. Ribs are excellent. Nothing fancy inside this place. Order at one end of a counter and pick it up at the other. They also have an interesting selection of bottled craft beer, including some brewed locally.

Got take out last night. rd3 and a southsider. Amazing! What ever you do to your bacon is pure genius. Your establishment, and your establishment alone, is the single reason we are not able to be vegetarians full-​time. Everything I have ever gotten was super yummy. Your potato salad is out of this world and I have tried to copy it in my own kitchen but it’s just not the same. Thanks for being my go-​to bbq spot where there is not even a question whether it will be good or not.

I will start this review off by saying that they definitely accept credit cards. The only reason I mention this is because other reviews on here have stated that they do not accept credit cards. Anyway… On to the review. This is a great place located at the end of a strip mall. It’s pretty spacious on the inside and it looks like they are currently expanding. The décor on the inside is pretty cool as well and the tables are actually picnic tables. The service is very friendly. From the girl that took our order to the guys that served the food. Everyone is super friendly. Now on to the food… The food is great! I had the rib tips and my fiancé had pulled pork. Both had great flavor and were served hot and fresh. There’s also a nice selection of barbecue sauces right on the table so you can choose how sweet or how spicy you want it. I’m a fan — I’ll be back!

Me and my fiancé love this place! I’ve tried just about everything from the ribs to most the sandwiches. Portions are big & there’s always some to take home for later. My only complaint would be while the kitchen area always seems to be clean, which is good, the tables are often not wiped down and as clean as they could be. They get pretty busy and really need someone dedicated to just cleaning dining area. Otherwise i would give it 5 stars for sure.

O… M…G!!! Incredible food! Smoked chicken wings were moist and flavorful. Beef brisket is the best I’ve ever had. Onion rings in point. Baked beans out of this world. Coleslaw… perfect. Mac n cheese was little spicy for my taste. Small but quality beer selection. The homemade sauces? They’re all so good I had them all. AND you can take a bottle home. Well done!!!

We are bbq addicts! We love to que and smoke meats! We had recently vacationed in TX and wish we would have brought home a truckload… Then we found this place!!! We have been quite a few times to say the least.
Brisket: DELICIOUS! Rib Tips: yummy.
Customer service: TOP NOTCH!
We are beyond impressed with the family feel of this restaurant and the customer rapport. I love that we come in and we see the same faces. It helps build the community feel and makes me want to return again.
Also their sauces are delicious as well, we will be buying a few to add to our collection at home for our own bbq.
Thank you to firewater staff for being so warm and welcoming, you will continue to see lots of us.

Great bbq. The southsider sandwich was excellent since I usually cannot decide whether or not I want pulled pork or brisket. I also enjoyed the bbq brisket beans and the garlic fries with my sandwich.
There are various bbq sauces at each table, even a white bbq sauce. They are all great.
Cash only, but there was an atm inside too. They have bottled beer.

I had bookmarked this restaurant and finally had the chance to try it. I was not disappointed. As soon as you drive up, you can smell the BBQ, by the time you hit the door your mouth is watering.
I tried the pulled pork and beef brisket, both were tender, juicy and delicious. My other half had the chicken and it too was very good. (I’m glad he likes to share!) we tried a few sides, Mac and cheese, beans, and garlic fries. All were very good.
They have 5 different types of BBQ sauce, the one I liked best was the Alabama White. You can purchase the sauces as well.
The service was fast and the staff friendly.
The inside is clean and decorated on point for a BBQ restaurant, with picnic style benches, concrete floors and firewood racks.
They also have catering available.
Just finishing my own review has made me hungry for more of their BBQ!
I can’t wait to go back!

Every time I come here, the experience is flawless. If the owner ever opens a location on busy Route 59 in either Naperville, Plainfield, or Shorewood… the place would be packed open to close.
I’m truly addicted to this place.
5 stars all the way!!!

Small menu, but everything on menu is delicious. Moderately priced. They make their own sauces (which are amazing!). Wait for food was somewhat long, but well worth it. Plus, they had a packed house and live music.
Décor & arrangement of establishment is nice.
Very friendly staff & I liked that the owner was in the kitchen cooking next to his employees.

Sometimes you just NEED barbeque. Well, my favorite meat enthusiast and I sated that desire this week-​end by going to the Red White & BBQ Festival in Westmont. Lots of choices of all kinds of meats, yet we both picked Firewater, for their selection and the wicked smells that lured us from their booth…
He got rib tips, and I ordered a couple of ribs and a pulled pork sandwich to take home. Damn, dat smoky goodness. Ribs had that almost leathery exterior that gives way to tender flesh. I combined their spicy and «Sweet Home Chicago» sauces for a smooth note with a kick. The pulled pork revived perfectly the next day, the flavor rich and complex: pork, smoke, spice and sauce. (Watch out for some bone bits as you inhale it, though.)
The dude got the rib tips, which he said were tasty, but it looked like there was more meat than there was because of the fat and bone (rib tips are mostly cartilage). Quote: «I’m just not used to that weirdness of gristle. I’m not an experienced rib tipper.» Still, he said he’d eat there again.
With a location in Crest Hill and one in Lombard, you’ve got your pick on either side of town. So then next time you’re fired up for BBQ, head over to Firewater and quench the flame.