Deke’s Bar-B-Que

Consistently the best BBQ joint in town. The open air seating options and outdoor tables bring out the feeling of memorable pleasant summer nights. The selection of sauces is adequate and they are all generally good. I especially like the Carolina Red sauce. The staff here are incredible and very friendly, never pushy, and always appreciate and say thanks for stopping by. My friends and I have been coming here for the birthdays of friends, to long Sunday afternoons to take out-​of-​towners that are visiting. The draft beer selection is fair but not very extensive. However, they do have a fine selection of bourbons and exceed the expectations for such a casual summertime venue. (I would like more than one IPA on tap, but then again… that’s just me)

I’ve tried most everything on the Deke’s menu so far. Although I like most of it enough, it’s not «great». It’s a good BBQ experience, but it’s missing certain qualities that could make it even better. My biggest gripe is the ribs — they’re just… average. I’m very confident that most people could make equally good ribs at home after watching a youtube video, and using their oven or grill… and that’s not how great BBQ should be.
That being said, their brisket, and pulled pork are pretty good. The sides are generous and tasty, and their sauces are also quite good. The staff is very friendly and quick, and the atmosphere of the place is also quite pleasant.
Overall it’s a good BBQ joint for the east coast… but not necessarily «great».

I haven’t returned since December, but I just took a roadtrip to BBQ country. Apparently, I’ve had the world’s best BBQ and went to really great places. After trying all of that food, I’ve determined that Deke’s was equal or better than some of those joints.

Deke’s offers some great Bar-​B-​Que for Manayunk.
Their Brisket is spot on! I really like the idea that they have outdoor seating, perfect for a small group, in the late spring and early summer. Deke’s also offers some great specials, and i’d recommend coming in for their Bar-​B-​Que buffet Thursday-​Sunday. Deke’s Bar-​B-​Que buffet is small, but for twelve bucks is obviously the best deal they offer. Oh yeah, and they are cash only so bring money with you.

We accidentally stumbled upon Deke’s while looking for somewhere to go out to eat one night. It’s in the same lot as the Ugly Moose, and we happened to walk in to Deke’s.
As it was a Friday night, they have a BBQ buffet for $ 12 on Thursday — Sunday. We thought that was a good enough thing to try out. The options were pulled pork (with rolls for sandwiches), turkey and rice, bleu cheese mac&cheese, collards with pickled onions, baked beans with sausage, and smoked chicken legs (drumsticks). For an additional $ 8 you can add a ½ rack of ribs to your meal. I decided to go with the ribs as well.
The BBQ offerings were pretty good. The pork was a good quality, and there were a few sauces that added to it. The smoked chicken was a little too sauced for my taste, but the texture and smoked flavor was good. The collards and the turkey with rice I really enjoyed. Perhaps because they helped cut the natural fattiness/​richness of the ribs. I thought the ribs were ok. I’ve said I like the meat a little more firm… No sliding right off the bones. This was very tender, but pulled from the bone too easily. I will say it was a large portion for the $ 8 addition.
I’m not a huge mac&cheese fan, but I thought it was good. My girlfriend really liked it (she’s a mac&cheese person). The baked beans with sausage were also delicious, but with so many options I couldn’t fit any more than a taste.

Dekes is the first time I’ve been truly conflicted for writing a restaurant review. The food is quite possibly some of the best BBQ you can find in Philly, though Percy Street BBQ is tough competition. You can taste the difference from the smokers and pig pick’n grills out front!
Coming from down south, I can handily say their southern dishes are quite authentic. Food wise– the platters are the way to go. Definitely get way more bang for your buck. The Carolina BBQ pork is dynamite. I would order extra cornbread, as the stuff is basically manna from heaven.
There are two things that really hurt my experience– cash only and the service. I find the cash only thing completely ridiculous, but I’ve come to expect that since moving up north, so that doesn’t influence my stars here.
The service is quite possibly some of the worst I’ve experienced for the epic point this place is. Granted, my friends and I went on a Thursday evening, and it was unusually crowded. Took a while to order our first round of drinks… which I need to qualify by saying that didn’t bother me. It was more so the attitude from the bar tender. Roughly 20 minutes later we got our drafts, at which point he asked for our order. We hadn’t been provided menus at that time, despite having asked as well. Clearly they simply were not staffed for the demand. I definitely suggest having 2 bar tenders to manage customers a little better.
Other cool points: free parking, great outdoor space

Great BBQ/​atmosphere. Come hungry and try the buffet. Make sure to get a bucket of pounders, comes with a surprise beer. Cash only, tons of street parking.

— TIP: Make sure to try the wings. They are huge, smoked, juicy, and perfect. Make sure to spend at least one summer night out here on the picnic benches.
— CON: The brisket is fine, but not «melt in your mouth» nor a must-​have.
— BOTTOM LINE: Extremely solid place between the food, service, price, and atmosphere. BBQ isn’t necessarily better than other places (e.g. Fette Sau, Percy Street), but the total experience here leverages the good food and ensures a fun visit every time.

These were the worst ribs I have eaten in my life. Smoked, dryed out, old burned.
Do not eat here.
Cindy Hitson
Terrible. Staff did not care, I told her the ribs were dry, old, non tender. She did not care. She told me they were smoked yesterday. No flavor noted, no smoked ribs noted. Beware!!!
Old dryed out ribs. Cold. Sad very sad.

Overall, Deke’s is one the best places for BBQ in the area and surprisingly I had not visited until Sunday. I have been fortunate to try Deke’s through a Lucky’s Last Chance burger topped with pulled pork, but it was so much more to visit in person.
While there is limited parking within the parking lot, there is plenty of open street parking as well. I did find it odd that the valet service only parked cars that came nearby and seemed to be out of place for a casual restaurant.
For dinner we ordered the buffet, which was a good mix with pulled pork, chicken, brisket, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and broccoli casserole. For $ 12 cash it was some of the best money spent all weekend and offered more than other BBQ restaurants.
Our server seemed very busy and it seemed she was covering every table at the restaurant with orders. It may help to have a second person to avoid any delays with delivery of food/​drinks or change to tables.
I believe the experience spoke for itself and we will visit again soon on a warm, sunny day.

Is «ribgasm» a word? Is it? Well, it should be. The ribs are well above average, but as part of a total BBQ experience, Deke’s is the ribgasmic bomb. First off, there’s the all you can eat $ 12 buffet every day, which is amazing. It rotates, with a different kind of Mac and Cheese but always with some pulled pork. You can get a bourbon sampler, 3 out of 9 kinds for $ 9. You can get a weirdly wonderful brisket cheesesteak, distinctly not at all Philly-​style. Or you can default to good old racks of spare (or if you must, baby back) ribs and slather them with Deke’s special sauces, including a very good Carolina style and a super delicious XXX hot sauce. If you can save room, you can get a Dirt Pudding in a mason jar to top it all off.
We had the pleasure of talking with Deke himself as we went out, as he labored over the smoker and explained his craft to us next to his garage.
I’d come here every day if I could.
One of my friends said proudly after we went he had the «meat sweats» after leaving.

Deke’s is an open air, good old-​fashioned barbeque joint. I’ve heard rave reviews of the weekend buffet, with stories of tender brisket and pork belly. However, when I finally tried it myself this past week, I was a little disappointed. While the mac & cheese and stuffing were great, I found everything else to be a little lacking. The pulled pork was fine, but nothing special. The corned beef was tender, but I’m not a huge fan of corned beef to begin with. They never even brought out brisket or pork belly in the 1.5 hours I was there. I left full, but a little disappointed. Hopefully the next time will be better.

How have I not reviewed dekes?! So yummy. The owner is so hospitable and so are the workers. I lived around the corner and me and my daughter would be summoned by my the yummy smell on sunny evenings. You can go all out or get the super cheap buffet which includes some very tasty bbq Mac n cheese. The drinks are good too and it’s just a nice place to chill on a sunny day. It feels very picnicky. Everyone I’ve ever bought absolutely loved it. Anyway, definitely take the time to travel up to roxborough or get off the beaten path in manayunk. Well worth it.

Went here on a Friday night and got seated right away. Decided to order a rib platter between four people and the ribs were delicious. Some of the best ribs I have ever eaten. The platter came with approximately 12 ribs, potato fries and cornbread. Also ordered a side of Mac and cheese. We were still hungry after so ordered a brisket platter. It was good but the ribs were definitely better. Overall would recommend this place and would definitely go back.

I got a tip from a local to check this place out, I’m so glad that I did. We tried the buffet and it was great! The Cajun mac and cheese was tangy, saucy and smoky…
I can’t wait to sample the rest of the menu and enjoy the outdoor seating!

My boyfriend and I were around this area looking for a place to eat. He enjoys meat, and this place had good reviews so we came here to try it out!
We are so glad we were able to give this place a try. It has a different vibe than any other restaurants I’ve ever been to. It is in a garage but the owner renovated it to a restaurant (at least that’s what I think).
Parking was relatively very easy to find but there are also parking in front of the restaurant.
Once you step in, there is seating by the «bar» and tables on the side. There is a rack to hang your coats on. On Thursdays, they have a AYCE buffet for $ 12! And additional $ 8 for half a rack of ribs. I don’t have a big stomach so I usually share a meal with my boyfriend and we get an appetizer on the side. (We had chick-​fil-​A 2 hours before) so I was even less hungry!
Today, we had the baby back– ribs platter.
The meat was so tender, it fell off the bones! It was delicious yummmmy!
The fries were great, and so was the coleslaw.
The corn bread was different from any other corn bread I’ve tried. It seems like there was honey or maple syrup of some sort drizzled on top making it even more delicious.
The staff here is incredibly attentive and nice. Dan was our host and he was very very nice. He was always attentive making sure we were doing good. Additionally, there was a group of men sitting on the table next to us. And I remember someone ordered baby back but to him, it seemed as if it were spare ribs. And another worker (?) or host (?) was seriously the sweetest. He didn’t even argue and said the customer is always right. And not even in a rude way. But he was super sweet, took the plate back and brought another plate! From my experience as a customer, no one was ever that sincere. But Dan and the mystery man!!! Deke, if you read this or hear from this, you have yourself an amazing staff.

Really good BBQ. I have been down south many times to places such as Waco and auburn, and although the food at deke’s isn’t quite on the same level as it is down south, it is really good and probably some of the best around the Philadelphia area. It’s a small shop so you have to get the food to go but I personally prefer that since it’s the kinda food one would probably get to go anyway. The pulled pork and the ribs are my favorites here. If you’re in the mood for BBQ then deke’s is the place to go.

the weekend buffet is the best assortment of everything a BBQ lover could ask for and more.

Deke’s sometimes comes to my office for Fooda (in-​office catering for purchase.) The brisket is the best I’ve ever had (it’s so tender), the corn bread is the best I’ve ever had (it’s almost a dessert), and the cole slaw and mac n cheese are also at the top of their respective games. Really good American food, period.

I went to Dekes last night with a friend because we were in the mood for some BBQ with parking. The establishment was pretty decent and there was a live band which really added to the ambiance. The drinks are good and the buffet left much to be desired– Mac-​n-​cheese was delicious, rice was meh and the pulled pork lukewarm at best. I do recommend the ribs– they weren’t the fall off the bone tender type but still good. Tried the brisket and it was a little tough. Overall I would consider returning for the cocktails and the hush-​puppies.

I’ve been to Deke’s twice now, once in the summer time, and today in the winter time. My summertime was visit was nice because we were able to sit outside, but this time we obviously were seated indoors with the garage door closed.
The menu has a ton of great options. They’re known for their pork items, but they have some beef and chicken items as well. I was a bit disappointed because I didn’t realize the buffet was only Thursday-​Sunday. I ordered the brisket cheesesteak ($ 9) plus wedges ($ 3) and a side of cornbread and coleslaw ($ 3). The brisket cheesesteak was enormous and I could definitely get two meals out of that serving size. The cheese on the cheesesteak was so good. The cornbread was delicious! I would definitely get more of the cornbread next time.
Only downside was that it is cash only but they have an ATM on site. They also have complimentary valet which is convenient given its location in Manayunk.
I will definitely come back again to try the buffet!

The food here is amazing… I ordered barbeque ribs, chicken and some sides (corn bread and Mac & cheese). It taste so delicious… will definitely recommend this restaurant

I’m from Texas so I was a little apprehensive trying a BBQ place up here but this place is awesome. I ordered the platter and split it with my friend, it came with aa half chicken, ribs, and cornbread. Ribs were falling of the bone and chicken was moist. They also have 3 BBQ sauces sitting on the table and I liked the spicier one.

Hey Jackie, yes it was this past Saturday. Appreciate your attentiveness to customer comments!

Awesome bbq! Love the ambiance of the garage doors, mason jars and country feel.

Brisket Cheesesteak? Yes please.
Very good food… and it a quaint little spot (Ridge Ave location) that is perfect for the grab-​n-​go BBQ delight. Wait for your food with a short stroll to see the mighty Wissahickon creek.

Well, FIRST of all, BE ADVISED that the PICKUP place is about ¾ mile from Dekes at the old Tommy Gunn’s site on Ridge across from the bus station. REALLY. You go to Dekes and they have no idea what you’re talking about since THEY DON’T HAVE A PHONE THERE!!!
OK: That to one side, you will go a far distance before you find better ribs or pulled pork in Philadelphia. My wife is a fanatic about slaw and thinks theirs is made in Heaven’s kitchen, but I just LOVE the meat, so well cooked it (literally) literally falls off the bone when you pick up a rib. I have only one small cavil, I’m a South Carolina smoker kinda guy and like a LITTLE sauce on the meat… the St. Louis ribs were so smothered that it took a minute just to get thru it to the meat… but oh, how lovely and smoky the pork was. I could eat there every night (except I already have a problem fitting into my avatar) and be content forever. I even save the bones and cook ‘em in my pork ‘n beans I make… and they deliver a super smokey flavour to the concoction… 9.75 outta 10!
By the way, Deke’s other place, the Ugly Moose is 100% for whatever you get there, too. Burgers and beer, chili and chips, two dynamite places to eat.
On-​site parking… drive UP or DOWN SHUR’S LANE and look UP for THE UGLY MOOSE sign… looks like you’re making a turn into a driveway.

I’ve been here numerous times, I hadn’t written a review until I had not so great BBQ in the neighborhood and realized I needed to give credit where credit is due.
Deke’s is consistently very very good. Sauces are well balanced, smooth, and compliment the various meats that have been slow cooked expertly.
When Deke’s is not consistent, it’s because it is better than it’s already great reputation. A few times I’ve lucked into brisket perfection that makes me want to cry tears of joy. When this happens, I eat until I sweat. On these days the juicy tender beef brisket with its gorgeous rendered fat bits make me want to savor the moments for as long as possible. My vision blurs, my taste buds tingle, and I thank the heavens.
Sides are good, but the meat here is king. This just doesn’t exist at most BBQ joints.

This is the kind of gem I imagined finding when I moved to this neighborhood. The place has a casual atmosphere with a yummy concept. I loved the open garage in the summer.
I think the best thing we ordered was the mac n cheese. The BBQ was great, too!
I want to come back and try the buffet. BBQ is usually pretty easily served family style.

I really want to love Deke’s. Like I really do. But the hours are all weird, the service and food are inconsistent and the people working at take out are always so rude! I love the one on Shurs — yeah it gets ratchet with your typical manayunk kids, but it’s fun and the buffet is worth it.
Definitely recommend it, but just as a place to kick it & relax. Don’t expect anything special!

Well I have to say I wasn’t hungry anymore. .but was it satisfying? …
I visited the location off ridge and main, across from the septa depot. it’s ridiculously tiny. .I recall a previous bbq spot there prior that had way more space. .guess Deke needed more kitchen space or something, this location is not made for sit in dining obviously, barely take out if u ask me
We ordered the baby back ribs and spare ribs. cornbread and potato wedges. .oh and a side of fried macaroni…
The sauce on the ribs was ok. could have been a bit more for what you’re paying… the rib itself was ok… not bad not great
Cornbread was a fail as well as the wedges and fried mac balls… sometimes people try so hard to put their own spin on things it goes horribly wrong.
Doubt I’d go back. too many bbq spots in the city. next time I’ll waste a Lil more gas, fit what you get, it’s not worth the money

Livin’ the BBQ dream! Service, atmosphere and the food/​drinks were outstanding. I’m drooling thinking about all the delicious food we ordered for just two people. So SO GOOD! Dekes, thank you! We will be back, umm. today hopefully ;)

By far the best place to eat in Manayunk.
It’s awesome BBQ. A friend turned me onto the brisket cheesesteak, which is heavenly. They also have all you can eat BBQ for 12 $. With 4 – 5 meat options and a couple of sides, this may be the best deal of all-​time.
Couple that with a whiskey flight and a wonderful waitress, and you’re havin’ a good time
Heading back next time I’m in Manayunk, for Shur.

I came here looking for a new, inexpensive BBQ joint. I think Deke’s was exactly what I was looking for. It’s a garage converted into a bar. There’s plenty of space in the summer because they open up The garage doors, but in the winter I can see how it can be a tight squeeze.
We ordered some kind of a punch drink, which was light, bubbly and refreshing. Pretty impressive.
The barbecue buffet, at first looked unappealing. My friends asked me to just try it out, so we did. I guess this is where I learned not to judge a book by its cover because the food was actually decent. The pulled pork was the only meat that was actually really good in the buffet. The Mac and cheese was really nicely flavored. The green beans were a little undercooked for my liking and the chicken was dry and bland. But overall, not bad for a buffet.
We also ordered ribs that fell right off the bone, and they were delicious.
They have 3 bbq sauces to drench your food with. They waitress just put a pitcher of water on our table, so it was basically self service (which was nice because their service isn’t the greatest).
This place is good for a summer night to grab some bbq and a beer and enjoy a night with your friends.

If you have read any of my reviews, you know I don’t hold back when I encounter garbage. The same holds true when I encounter QUALITY. Come on folks, real BBQ (not yesterday’s BBQ) in an old garage, with a cobblestone courtyard, valet parking, open air with the garage doors opening to the outdoor area… great little bar. Yes…5 Stars. The place is far from perfect, but at least they have a clue at what they are shooting for. They are a little disorganized, and maybe slightly understaffed… But who cares? No risk here… Open up your schedule and go.

My boyfriend and I stopped in on a wintry Sunday evening. The handful of booths were occupied, as well as most of the approx. eight stand-​alone tables, so we grabbed two chairs at the [surprisingly empty] bar. Our bartender, a lady whose name I forget, greeted us right away. She explained that in addition to the main menu, Deke’s offers an all-​you-​can-​eat barbecue buffet at $ 12 per person, Sunday-​Thursday.
Chicken & Rib Combo (Half Rack of Ribs & Half Chicken with Potato Wedges, Cole Slaw & Cornbread — $ 25) — 3
We split this plate and were pleased with the amount of food. The proteins figure prominently here, and for good reason. The chicken and ribs were the standouts, whereas the sides were average. The chicken was juicy and perfectly cooked. The wedges lacked a crispy outside and the seasoning spices were muted. A cup of cole slaw was overly sweet; some acidity would have lent more balance. I will say that the cornbread was very moist, sweet, and rich.
Side of Collard Greens ($ 4) — 1
We ordered a side of collards and found something quite «off» — whether it was the overabundant taste of vinegar, or the heavy-​handed smoke seasoning, this dish was a clunker.
Service — 2
Service started out strong, but as the night progressed, our bartender spent the majority of her time speaking with an older blonde employee at the end of the bar. We would have appreciated more proactive service: offering another round of drinks, refilling waters, and checking in once to see how we are enjoying our meal. The last thing I want to do is wave to flag down my server. We finished the combo plate entirely, but the collards were virtually untouched. My boyfriend mentioned that there was something funky about the collards and that we weren’t fans. The bartender responded with a «well, I like them» and offered no recourse. She also left them on the bill.
Overall — 2.5
Though there were some stand-​out menu items, we weren’t thrilled about the service. Here are our current BBQ joint standings:
1) Zachary’s (Norristown) — ⁵⁄₅
2) Percy Street (Philadelphia) ⁵⁄₅
3) Deke’s (Manayunk) — 2.5 /​5
4) Barbacoa (Ardmore) — ²⁄₅
5) Jimmy’s (Malvern) — ²⁄₅