Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que

Service is amazing– but food it’s okay. The Watermelon Martini is delicious … And reasonable… But I preferred wood ranch. The mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese was a lil cold and the brisket was a little over cooked… The chx was so good!!! Overall it’s good… I would come back for happy hour the bartenders were awesome!!!

Fabulous location at The Village in Woodland Hills — with an awesome interior, lounge/​patio layout.
The food is really good when you’re craving for BBQ and Southern fixin’s.

I’ve been a fan of Lucilles for over a decade. I finally got to try the one at The Village and it just wasn’t what I remembered.
Service: I did take out so I can only attest to the service of the take out host and she was great. From her phone etiquette to her in person delivery, very nice.
Food: it wasn’t great. Tried beef ribs, baby backs, peanut slaw, creamy slaw, Mac n cheese, baked beans, and their biscuits. Both ribs were decent as they should be… After all it’s a bbq place right. The slaws were okay and the beans were good. The real losers of the night were the Mac n cheese and the biscuits. The Mac was sooooo bland and creamy. The biscuits were extremely hard, rock hard (not exaggerating). No wonder they just give them out for free.
Price: kinda high. For the price, wood ranch is far better in every aspect.
Overall I’m glad I got to try this location. I probably won’t be back soon but it’s better than the other bbq options in woodland hills.

Food was meh. Had the BBQ Tri Tip Sandwich and that was a disappointment. It’s literally try tip and a potato bun. Where’s the mop sauce and some greens? Not sure how this is the most popular sandwich! Picked the bbq beans as my side. Not a good choice either. And this is coming from someone who devours all bbq items. Saving graces were the biscuit&butter, peach lemonade, and server.

Soo … Was here today for a glass of wine during HH. Sat at the bar and was helped by Ashley. She asked her co-​worker to please wipe down our side of the bar since she was in the middle of getting someone’s order… He said yes but continued to walk around the bar like he had nothing to do. Another gentleman started his shift, I think his name was Jon… Very helpful. Got our drinks and wiped down the area that Caleb was supposed to do…
So folks normally come to to HH after work to wind down after a long day… Not to listen to bartenders bicker and pick on the only female bartender there (2 males and 1 female).
I have to say I was horrified by how aggressive Caleb was to Ashley. Mind you… My husband and I have been listening to the guys give this girl (Ashley) a hard time almost the entire time we were there. They were questioning why things were done, etc.
I don’t think that they should be so loud and vocal around their patrons at the bar. I also don’t think that it is acceptable for the guy bartender (Caleb) be so aggressive to the girl bartender (Ashley).
This bothered us so much that we left within 30 minutes that we sat down.
I did tell Ashley that she handled herself very well — very professional.
For the Woodland Hills Lucille’s Management… You may want to observe and see the type of behavior behind the bar.
My husband and I will NOT be dining/​or getting a drink at your establishment.
Not only did we not enjoy ourselves,… But we do hope that attitude and behavior like that will not be tolerated.
Be thankful that you have a professional employee like Ashley!
To Ashley… You’re better than me!
You handled yourself well!

Fine if you are really craving BBQ in the area, but really had a chain restaurant vibe to it and the food was only so so.
Service was fine, but pretty rushed.
The space kind of cramped and noisy, not great for conversation.
I had a salad with brisket and while it was ok, it was pretty uninspiring and not worth the money.
My husband had the platter with 3 meats, again pricey for the quality and portions that you get.
Not a fan of biscuits, but my husband filled up on them and said they were pretty good.
Ok, but not worth rushing back to, especially not with all the other great options in walking distance.

$ 30 lunch for two is a splurge for us. Definitely not worth it at Lucille’s in the Village. The bbq chicken sandwich ($ 11) was piled with so much wet lettuce and limp fried onions we had to scrape it off, but the pulled pork sandwich was only a small amount of plain white pork with some charred bits on a dense cold bun. The meat might have been hot when the cook put it up but it was cold when it hit the table. And it had no sauce on it. We poured on cold bbq sauce from the bottle on the table. I guess a picture menu would help here, because a «pulled pork sandwich» makes you expect plenty of shredded pork simmered in nice hot bbq sauce. That is not what you get at Lucille’s. Way too expensive at $ 13.
For sides, we got the bbq beans and the sweet potato fries. The beans come in a tiny little ramekin which is disappointing when you see it, but not so much when you discover the beans are still crunchy half raw. The fries are greasy. We are still burping them up.
The server was very nice and that was where the remainder of the $ 30 went. Our first and last visit to Lucille’s. Urp!

2^nd visit, even better experience. Made it in before 4 PM and was able to enjoy the lunch platter special. I chose baby back ribs, pulled pork & bacon cheddar sausage with mac & cheese for my side.
The meats were all delicious! The sausage wasn’t as spicy as I expected for a hot link. But the flavor added with the creaminess of the cheddar made it a hit. The pulled pork was juicy & tender. Adding BBQ sauce to this seemed almost criminal. The smoky flavor of the pork can stand on its own! Then there was the ribs… tender and tasty. But they seemed small as if someone had cut a rack in half lengthwise. Aside from their ststure, they were meaty and falling off the bone. I’ll have to try a full rack in the future.
Last but not least, my choice of libations. This visit I opted for the rum punch. $ 5.75 by the glass for happy hour, or $ 13.95 for the half carafe that held about 2 ½ glasses. Unlike the coolers I had last visit, this punch lived up to its name. In fact, they should probably rename it the Uppercut Punch. Because after a couple of these, you’re likely going to be lights out!
Again, there are still things on the menu I’d like to try. But I’m sure in time we’ll accomplish that!

The service here could definitely use some improvement. I would suggest not coming here starving because it will take a while. I had the unfortunate luck (lol ok I’m exaggerating) of having a new waiter trainee. I think someone forgot to keep tabs because it took the longest time to have anyone check on us. Anyway, we ordered the jambalaya and a burger. I wasn’t too impressed wIth the burger, pretty average, but the jambalaya was delicious. :)
I have ordered jambalaya a bunch of times but never with such a small amount of rice on the plate. For it being close to a $ 20 plate, I believe… I would expect a little more. At the end, I asked if we could have another bread basket. Those biscuits are so good, if you haven’t tried it you would understand. I got an unpleasant look from the waitress, but at least she brought it out. :) My bad! I guess I shouldn’t have asked even though it want a big deal. Didn’t like the attitude much but luckily we were ready to go. Maybe I’ll come back for happy hour, but with other spots around here I’ll wait. Enjoy the biscuits for me!

I go along with 3.5 stars that Lucille’s seems to be holding onto steadily. Unlike Le Pain Quotidien, which we visited recently, I WILL return to Lucille’s. I didn’t love Lucille’s, but there was enough that I liked about it, that I’d return… and my husband, a BBQ addict, thought much higher of this place than I did… but he’s not writing this review. I am.
Drinks: I ordered Red Sangria, and my husband ordered Peach Iced Tea. The Red Sangria was not good… too much of something, and I’m just not sure what it was, but it sat heavy on my tongue, and sometimes reminded me of Manishewitz wine. Oh god, I hope they didn’t give me that, trying to pass it off as Sangria. Anyone who knows Manishewitz wine knows how sickeningly sweet it is. Regardless, I won’t be ordering that again. However, the peach iced tea was UNsweetened, just how I like it, and it was refreshingly peachy. I definitely would get that next time.
Entrees: I ordered the smoked BBQ ½ chicken. It was a very moist, meat-​falling-​off-​the-​bone kind of situation, and the real test, it was the most tender chicken breast meat that I’ve ever had. The problem, however, was that the BBQ sauce (I used the «original») was too sweet… not much, but just a little too much on the sweetness for my liking… I still used it, but I didn’t like the other 2 choices. As for my sides, not good at all. I got the mac ‘n cheese… so not what I wanted… the macaroni noodles, while creamy, had no appreciable cheese flavor nor appreciable flavor AT ALL. The only cheesy aspect was some grated and melted cheddar cheese over the top. No grated onion or onion flavor, no buttery bread crumbs, nothing else to make it pop. No herbs or spices of any kind, and definitely no salt. Soooooo boring. The «creamy» coleslaw was dry. How in the heck is that possible? Sure, I tasted something to do with a sweetened mayo dressing on the cabbage, but it was so minimal, that the cabbage was almost dry. Weird, and so not enjoyable.
My husband ordered rib tips, and I know 2 things about it… it was a huuuuuuuuuuuuge plate of them, and my husband LOVED them. He had no complaints. I don’t eat them, so I know nothing about this venture, but he loved them and is ready to go back.
Now, for the perfection moment of the evening. The biscuits. Warm, almost hot (but not too much), ultra soft and moist, but with just enough crumb… and lovely biscuit-​y flavor. Buttery, I suppose. They served it with apple butter, which was different (to me, at least), but I gobbled it right up. Do you know the restraint it took to pass up getting more brought to the table? They initially brought one for each but were very willing to bring more. We said no; we were trying to be smart about what we ate. I am still thinking about them today. Sometimes, intelligence is overrated.
It’s a huge menu, and because I know my husband would come back here in a heartbeat, I would probably be more adventuresome with my side dishes and try new things, esp. since I didn’t like either of the ones I tried this first time. We didn’t try any of the desserts either, so maybe that’s in the future, too… but this place, overall, was decent enough to capture my curiosity for future visits. Very friendly service, too… always pleasant and smiling.

Enjoyed our first visit to Lucille’s last night at the new Village at Topanga. Parking is always a bizarre experience (for another review of The Village itself), but we made it to the front door of Lucille’s.
Liking the retro vibe, which reminds me of New Orleans-meets-50’s diner chic. Lots of fun textures on the ceilings and walls, and upbeat colors, too.
The host /​hostess were very welcoming. Seated promptly, then stellar service began. Page (who was going off shift) started the trend. She was followed by Alexis. Both were gracious, informative, quick to please, answered questions about the menu and made helpful suggestions.
We ordered the Onion Straws to start. Large portion on the Happy Hour Menu ($ 4.99, a good deal). The seasonings were flavorful without being too spicy or overwhelming. Only downside was they could have been warmer when they came to the table. They came out quickly, so makes me think they were under a warming lamp for a bit anticipating multiple orders.
DH and I shared the Memphis Style Pulled Pork Sandwich and added an extra side. Lots of yummy flavors in that dish.
Our friend ordered the Brisket Nachos and we all shared.
No one left hungry! Overall, the service was amazingly wonderful. The ambiance was fun and upbeat. Would be nice to sit out on the patio on a warm evening, if they ever come back again.
Food temperature needs small improvement. Also, have to pace ourselves as the meals are on the heavy side for what we’re used to with more veggies.
The warm towelettes to clean up after digging in to BBQ are a nice touch. Keep rockin’, Lucille’s!

I would have never imagined a Lucille’s opening up in the Valley! Before, we also had a do long treks to find a Lucille’s and their amazing apple cinnamon butter spread!
First, I think this location is prime for business. The Village is gorgeous, and I love the large layout. Customer service has always been impeccable at any and every Lucille’s I’ve been to.
That being said, I was highly disappointed in the food. As a restaurant that gets its «inspiration» from the South, they need to take better notes. I’ve had BBQ from Nashville and St. Louis, both amazing, and Lucille’s just did not deliver that.
I ordered their «highly recommended» tri-​trip sandwich, and it was just sad. The meat was not tender at all, super chewy, hard, and dry. Sweet potato fries looked and tasted burnt to a crisp. If you want good tri-​trip in the Valley, I would recommend StoneFire (probably wasn’t a good idea to have that for lunch, since that set the bar high).
At this BBQ joint, I would come for the bread & spread, and possibly order a salad next time.

I finally made it to the famed Lucille’s and I was somewhat disappointed. While the BBQ and sides were all fine, they did not live up to other BBQ places in the area.
Lucille’s has a great spot in the village. It is a pretty large restaurant with high ceilings for a very open feel. During the spring it will be a nice place to hang out on their patio. As for their food I opted for one of their combo plates, which was huge. Two sausage, Baby Back Ribs, half a Chicken, and two sides… known as the «Front Porch.» For sides I went with the greens and their version of Peanut Slaw. I enjoyed the greens but Wood Ranch’s slaw is way better. Similarly the BBQ meats were definitely not bad, but not as good as I expected, and certainly not for the price. Again my vote would be for Wood Ranch.
All and all not bad, but just ok in my book.
FYI…they do validate parking.

(+) Biscuits. Yes I started not with the bbq but the bread. And that cinnamon butter oohhweee
(+) BBQ is great, had a full rack of ribs… menu is huge like the portions. Lots of side options pasted here for your convenience:
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, French Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Baked Potato, Potato Salad, Macaroni & Cheese, Creamy Cheese Grits, Southern Braised Greens, Creamy Coleslaw, Honey Roasted Peanut Slaw, Fresh Vegetables, BBQ Beans, Fresh Corn on the Cob or Potato Chips.
(+) Expect a wait generally but there are a lot of tables and patio seating. Sip on some sweet tea or try their watermelon iced tea.
(+) At the south end of the Village, right under the 24 Hour gym so you can work off the delicious calories. They validate parking, don’t forget to ask.

Decided to go to Lucille’s for their happy hour which is on Mondays-​Fridays from 5−7pm (website has false information, says 3−7pm by the way). We were seated right away which was a plus but we were told we can only get happy hour on the other side of the restaurant. Whyyyyy? I complained to our server since none of the hostesses told us about this happy hour requirement so she asked her manager what she should do. She came back and said the manager couldn’t make any accommodations. Because of that, we would’ve had to wait 30 minutes to change our seats and since we were HANGRY we just decided not to enjoy happy hour. This was a huge bummer for me.
Got the tri tip salad on Friday (12÷11÷15) for dinner and I started having the absolute worst stomach ache the following morning. No one else in my party ate the salad so I’m assuming the greens weren’t washed well or something went bad (I honestly couldn’t tell because it was drenched in dressing). I had my company party Saturday night and my stomach was still hurting! I seriously prayed to God that the pain would go away but it didn’t until Sunday morning. It felt like the worst cramps I’ve ever had. I honestly don’t know what was wrong with me but I’m glad it’s gone.
Not ever coming back to this location. It’s honestly not worth it since I’m scarred from the pain.

I decided to give this location a 2^nd try after my first experience was sub-​optimal. I came on a Saturday night and the wait was around 15 minutes, so it wasn’t that bad. I ordered the wings appetizer which should have came with 10 wings, but it only came with 9. I notified the waitress and she gave us another 5 for free, which was really nice.
The food i like the most here are the biscuits. Unfortunately, the butter that came with the biscuits was really cold (the first time i came here it was room temp). Having hot biscuits with really cold butter was really a downer because i was looking forward to my favorite biscuits.
For they main course, i ordered the Baby back ribs and the St. Louis Ribs. The baby back ribs were much better than the last time I tried it here, but the St. Louis ribs were nothing to write home about.
A mistake made by the wait staff was that they brought me the wrong order at first, but was quickly corrected in a few minutes.
Emily was the waitress for our table and she was great. They should hire more people just like her.
As I walked out, they asked me if i needed validation, which was great because the last time i was here they didn’t ask me. So it was good to see they made improvements on that.
The one improvement i would recommend is if the restaurant can pack my leftovers. This is one of the few places where they give you boxes and make you pack it yourself.
All in all, the experience wasn’t perfect, but i like how the restaurant corrected the mistakes quickly during my dining experience and it’s really good to see improvements from my first visit.

Great place to hang out at The Village! I was here for happy hour with my coworkers on Friday, and the bar area was nice and bright to hang out at for some drinks and snacks after work. The servers are friendly and service is fast. Plenty of big screen TVs playing sports to watch, or you can check out all the diners eating all around us.
I was pleasantly surprised at how large my glass of beer was for happy hour. It was like the size of two glasses! I also had the wedge salad, and it was crisp and refreshing. Really good happy hour specials, too.
Bonus: As we were leaving, we noticed a big bowl of Tootsie Pops sitting at the entrance. Score! :)

If service is always like the one I had on my birthday, then that’s awesome.
My cousin made a reservation for my birthday Tuesday night so we came here after work. We saw Big Boy from the radio and the waiter said they get celebrities there. Cool I guess.
FOOD:
–Full Rack of Ribs: not fall off the bone tender but still good. I love ribs so I’m not picky. I do like that they have bbq sauce on the table for me to add.
–Tri tip: I liked this too but it wasn’t anything special. A for presentation lol.
–Hot wings: good with the dipping sauce. A little salty otherwise.
–Fried pickles: I don’t like pickles but I liked this. You can fry anything and give it to me lol.
SIDES:
–Mac and cheese: it was okay. I wanted mashed potatoes but we had a kid with us.
–Fries/​Sweet Potato fries: who doesn’t like fries? I had mine with ranch.
–Veggies: I didn’t eat it.
–Biscuits with cinnamon butter: unique! I liked this and apparently you can get as much as you want!
DRINKS:
–Peach lemonade: yes my favorite! It was so good. The mason jar is huge and I didn’t get to finish it. I asked for it to-​go and they brought me a brand new filled cup. I was amazed and super happy haha. What? It was my first time.
BIRTHDAY:
They brought me out a chocolate cake with ice cream sandwiched in. I couldn’t eat too much of the cake because I was full but I enjoyed it anyway. I also got a birthday card signed by the employees! What restaurant does that? Amazing.
SERVICE:
Everyone was really nice. There were some minor mistakes, but they were fixed right away. They’ve only been open for 3 weeks. Our waitress, Maddie, was great.
PARKING: tough to find. I think the Village is charging parking now if you go in their structure. Try to find a spot in front of the restaurant!

Awesome food and awesome service. This place is known for their bbq so their meat is better than their sides. We had 10 people so we ordered the family meal which comes with 6 sides and various types of meat. We got baby back ribs, St. Louis ribs, chicken, tri tip, burnt ends, and pulled pork. My favorite amongst all the different types of bbq was the St. Louis ribs. Very tender… it falls off the bone! The biscuits are also delicious. I couldn’t stop eating it.
Our server was awesome; very attentive and nice. We had a lot of food leftover so as we were packing the leftovers, he offered to give us a bag full of buscuits and it even had little containers of apple butter in there.
There are 2 reasons why I docked 1 star…
1. The parking sucks. With validation, it is free for 2 hrs but with the wait, it will probably take longer than the 2.
2. We had reservations at 6pm and they wanted to seat us outside on the coldest and windiest night in So Cal telling us there were heaters outside. We took a look and there was only one heater to heat the whole outside patio. We told them we wanted a seat inside and had to wait another 15 minutes to get a table.
I would go again but the wait can get really long! Be prepared to wait!

Went there for an early dinner. There was a thirty minute wait but decided to sit at the bar. The exterior was fun but the layout was very strange. Hardly any room when you first walk in.
Sat down and we were served quickly. Kelsey our server was wonderful and the entire staff was just superb.
Ordered the Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita. It was good but not very strong.
We ordered the fried pickles. Burnt brisket salad and the tri tip. The bus quests and spread were unbelievable. The rest was good especially the tri tip.