Dreamland Bar-B-que

Dreamland in Tuscaloosa is an Alabama icon. These franchises however do not quite chin the bar. Serving Cue in the state of Alabama that has already been mixed with the house sauce used to be something that would pret near get you shot. The pork is awful, and its made even worse by this sauce that has a strong mustard element to it and tastes like mud, another major NO NO in the state of Alabama.
The sides were right out of a can, and my cole slaw had no dressing on it, just water. I swear that was the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever seen in any BBQ restaurant. I hear the ribs are good here, but why bother. There’s plenty of other great BBQ restaurants in the Huntsville area. Mainly Gibson’s on S Parkway and Floyd’s on Pulaski Pike for starters.

Please don’t be fooled! This is NOT Dreamland BBQ, but a very sad attempt of imitating what was. The only thing close is the BOTTLED sauce they use. Worst ribs I’ve ever had.

Ate lunch here today with my husband. We both thought it was the worst food we have ever had. He had pork plate with baked beans an I had chicken plate with green beans and potato salad. Each item was horrible. The service was good. We will never be back. This food cost $ 34.00 and we ate off of paper plates and plastic forks.

I hate to say this but I was very disappointed in our food. Ribs were tough and chicken was dry. Service was good though.

I tried Dreamland several years ago after a friend so highly recommended it. I figured I just had a strangely bad experience, ribs soooo tough that I fed them to a neighbors dog, literally. I was back in this area today and thought I’d give it another chance. Again, very much a Meh experience. I ordered a rib plate with slaw and fries. Was surprised to AGAIN find the ribs so very tough — I’m absolutely perplexed as to why people rave about this place? There are far better ribs in at least ½ a dozen places I can think of without even trying. I found the fries over seasoned, if I went again I’d know to order them plain, and was very disappointed to find onions/​scallions in the slaw, what a waste. I honestly can’t think of any reason to return for another try. Big Bob in Decatur, among many others, makes far better ribs. The lunch plate and Coke came to $ 15.00

If I was rating the meat alone, I would rate it a 4.5. I was not a fan of the coleslaw or baked beans. The corn was mushy. But the meat… my husband had chicken and I had ribs and neither of us needed any sauce — the smoke was that good,
If I was rating the service I would rate it a 5 — the crew was awesome!

Just moved here from Georgia. This is the worst BBQ I have ever had the chicken was terrible no seasoning at all. The cole slaw was not even good. I will not be going back. The only thing I liked was the sauce.

My first experience of this BBQ. It was amazing, the server was friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. I will definitely go back!

Great BBQ. The ribs are awesome. Love the servers also. Especially Brandy. The only downside is their beer selection.

$ 14 + tip? I should’ve written, tip: get rid of all of the flies
It was so nasty, I’m afraid to even drink the tea. Those folks were sketchy as heck. Everyone looked strung out, a hot nasty fugly mess.
I was over there on that side of town and was hungry. The service was poor and the food was okay. The fly landing upside down in my plate while I was texting was the grossest thing that’s ever happened in a restaurant.
I still had a few bites of chicken left. That’s what I get for sitting at a window where several flies were buzzing, wishing they could get back outside.
When I told the waitress she gave me a yucky look, like I invited the fly to swim, backstroke in my BBQ sauce… No offer to get free food was made. Maybe I’m lucky to get a yucky look from the waitress?
I sincerely hate Dreamland forever, now. And, I’ll avoid eating anywhere on University Drive from now on. Service there is scary, at best.
Today’s service was non existent. I lost lotsa time just waiting for my check.
$ 16 for the last time, ever.
I could’ve eaten at Blue Plate Café for less $$

Dreamland is a dream come true!
I walked in the door for lunch today only to be greeted by the super friendly hostess who said «Hello darling, where would you like to sit today!» Now that’s southern hospitality at its finest!
I found a booth by the bar and the waitress was at my table within a few minutes. mafter explaining to me she was still in training she took my drink order as I looked over the menu selections. I was feeling hungry so I went for the Rib Plate which came with two sides. I chose the baked beans and Mac n cheese for my sides. Both highly recommended. I think Dreamland is now one of my favorites for BBQ in Huntsville. The sauce is amazing! Just a hint of tanginess. I was staring at the bottle to go think how many can I fit in my luggage for the trip home???
The atmosphere here is really cool, one wall is just a big huge smoker. The smell in the air is soooo appetizing!
I love Dreamland, I’ll be back soon!

This was one heck of MAJOR disappointment! We were told this was one of the best bbq’s in the country by locals… well they must have family or friends that work there & doin em a favor by sending fresh victims (aka: out of towners) bc it was awful!
It started out they tried to seat us at a broken table, and they acted borderline offended that we asked to sit at a different table! Waitress asked us if we wanted «the bread», so our friend said «sure», we thought it would be bread rolls, cornbread, garlic bread… nope. Like 6 slices of bagged bread & some runny brown sauce that tasted like it was vinegar w a teaspoon of ketchup! We ordered ribs, mac n cheese, fried okra, baked beans. Ribs were like jerky on one side, hunks of globby fat on the other & the same lousy vinegar sauce! I literally only ate ½ of one, and I spent 20 mins picking at it until I gave up & used a fork & knife to cut the meat off of the bone! I don’t know if they were having a lousy day or what, but that was the worst sauce I have ever had… and I have been all over the US & several other countries! The Mac n cheese was orange & bland bc it was or was like that orange processed cheese sauce that you buy in a can! Baked beans were ok. Fried okra I did not eat, but my fiancé & his sisters bf said it was ok. The best thing we had was Big Daddy’s Sweet tea & the banana pudding! I took all my food back to the hotel, but threw it out almost immediately
bc it was just so bad, I was afraid I would get sick!
Save your money & eat somewhere else!!!

Anytime I walk in to a place, and I can see the cook/​chef preparing food in a giant oven or grill where I can see the fire, I’m usually not disappointed.
Our waiter was polite and prompt. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side, and I chose the potato salad. The sandwich was spectacular — the flavor of the slow cooked pork was top notch, and the bun was fresh and not dried out — a common problem in many restaurants. The potato salad was a yellow, which I prefer over white. It wasn’t bad, but it lacked flavor and needed a zip or something more added to it. Perhaps it’s my love of Miracle Whip over mayonnaise that prevented me from digging it.
The only other mediocre part of the experience was the complimentary bread served before the meal — just plain, white sandwich slices with BBQ sauce. Not warm or freshly baked bread, and no butter served with it. That would’ve made it much more appealing.
But overall, it was a great lunchtime experience. Fair prices, fast service, clean environment, and delicious meat. Not quite worthy of the coveted five-​star rating, but close. I will definitely go back the next time I’m in Huntsville!

Stay away from this place. To anyone who loves BBQ Dreamland was a nightmare. We ordered ribs and they were tough and not meaty. If you want ribs that are fall of the bone tender then you won’t get them here. The BBQ sauce was awful. It was very vinegary and hot. Their sweet version was not any better. You would do better with Kraft mac n cheese and their colslaw was not creamy as described. We don’t understand what all the hype is about this place. If we could give it no stars or negative stars we would. Don’t waste your money or your time.

Food was amazing and the service was exceptional. It’s exactly like you’d expect from Southern hospitality and great BBQ. I’d highly recommend and thank the staff at my hotel for suggesting it! Definitely a must for anyone passing through who is looking for a great place to eat in the area.

Not my favorite place. First white bread and sauce? A roll might be nice. No brisket on the menu, disappointed. Ribs were smoked ok. The sauce was runny. I will leave this place off my next visit to huntsville.

The ribs and pulled pork are prolly the best items. You are nor buying bbq’d food you are buying the use of the BBQ sauce. They do a much better job in Tuscaloosa so therefore I am only giving this location a 3 and a half.
The atmosphere is okay. I sat at a booth alone next to others and just felt out of place. The waitress was friendly and all over the service but the food was not the best.
They have big screens of sports on most channels

A seriously overrated restaurant. I’ve been to this place a few times and each time I am disappointed, especially because there are so many fine BBQ places in North Alabama. Each BBQ place has it’s own special way of seasoning and cooking the meat and you can usually tell in the flavor. But Dreamland’s specialty is to impart little or no flavor to the meat. And their methods of cooking the ribs leaves it slightly tough and a little dry on the edges. Seriously, folks, BBQ does not have to be dry at all and I’ve eaten as a lot of places where the meat is tender and juicy all over the rib. And of course they take some weird pride in serving plain, white, tasteless loaf bread. OK, I love a PB&J on white bread as much as the next guy, but NOT as a side for BBQ.
Dreamland uses spare ribs, which may be a little more difficult to cook than babyback ribs, but that’s no excuse for serving dry, tough meat with little smoked flavor.
I’ve also eaten their BBQ chicken and it was juicy and tender but lacking in flavor and very greasy. I’ve had better chicken from Wal-​Mart. With so many fine choices available, I wouldn’t send anybody to Dreamland.

Worst BBQ on earth. I went here when it first opened and I have not been back since. I would never suggest this place to anyone EVER! Much better BBQ places.

This was not good! I walked in and the place was dead. Waited and waited. Not even a drink order. Finally when I was getting up to leave someone decided to get my drink order. I ordered and the food came quick enough. But the ribs were tough and lacking taste. Several waitress were standing at a station talking and pointing. Apparently the customers were funny. It is Dream land it made me dream if Big Bob Gibsons BBQ