Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

Our caterer cancelled on us a week before my wedding and Shana and her crew stepped up and made it happen for me without blinking an eye. They were amazing to work with and the guests raved and raved about how great the food was. Thank you Martin's for saving the day! more

I don't see how anyone could possible say the meat isn't smoked, the pit is in the middle of the restaurant. Personally I think this is the best Q I have tried in middle Tennesee. Haven't eaten everywhere, but this is cooked the right way. All I have had is the pulled pork though, so I can't speak to the brisket. more

Having driven past this place a few times, it was time to give it a try for lunch....unfortunately, we should have kept driving. The atmosphere is OK, but the (rock) music is loud. Prices for a walk-up counter joint was high, higher than even Jack's up in Nashville (ate there a few days before) but to be expected as you are near Brentwood/Franklin. Sandwich, tea and fries was $10- They claim on the menu that the pork is smoked for many hours...maybe steamed yes, but no smoke taste, so I doubt the smoke claim. I smoke my own que and eat BBQ regularly and found it very bland for this ""claim"". Ditto to another in our party's chicken. Both came out COLD also. The ""Fresh Cut Fries"", I was really looking forward to these. Unfortunately....COLD, limp and soggy as others have pointed out. The sweet tea was not like the fries, it was TEPID/WARM and very stale. The pecan pie ($4-) that one in our party had was claimed to be home made, but the crust was obviously store made, and we suspect the pie was the same. The sauces were all ""spicy"" also, regardless of type. I did not mind it, but one in our party did. On the plus side, the place was clean, doing a good business, and the service was fast, but the quality of the product was not worth it. more

Being locals, we couldn't wait till Martins opened to support them. We tried everything over about 4 visits and 3 takeouts at the old place. Definitely NOT the best anything we've ever had with fat and hard burned meat chunks, limp gray fries from not being ""fresh"" cut, and dissappointing sides we wouldn't eat. We learned to just get ribs or BBQ takeout. Because of all the beer decorations we didn't take the kids, but it did have a cute decor.Because of unsanitary things we saw my whole family quit going. more

awesome BBQ !!! i highly recommend the red neck taco more

I grew up around Southeast Texas, and while there isn't a whole lot to say about that fact, you can get two things there, incredible crawfish, and incredible BBQ. I've been to a lot of places that try, but Martin's is stupid good! I can't tell you how many times during me and my wife's last visit we said ""God this is good"", and she doesn't even like BBQ! So far I've only had the briscuit, chicken, and pork and french fries, but I'll keep going back. more

Just went to Metromix's #1 ranked best ribs in Nashville. Unfortunately they were the worst ribs I have ever eaten. The most bland over salted meat I have ever tasted. Take your hard earned money and give it to those who deserve it. Any other rib joint is better. more

We went to the old Martin's many times and couldn't believe how good the barbeque was! It was the best anybody in our family had ever eaten and we love BBQ. When the new building opened, we couldn't wait to try it out! It's hard to believe it is the same restaurant! We have eaten inside a couple of times after it first re-opened and chalked the bad food up to new ovens, overwhelmed staff, whatever! We have since gotten it to go 2-3 times and all have been bad! Tonight was the last time. We really want to give this local mom and pop place the benefit of the doubt but it is too costly. It is glorified pork roast. No taste without the sauce, which, by the way, isn't a good as it used to be either! No smoked flavor in the meat at all, very bland, basically........ just roast. Please, guys, go back to your old place and get back to basics! We spent enough money here to give you a fair shake and got poor product for the price:( more

If you're looking for good 'Q, skip Martins. We had been wanting to try this place for a while. Highly disappointed. The food is WAY overpriced. The day we were there, the windows were all up and with the big smoker sitting right out front, the dining area was filled with smoke. My eyes were burning before we left and it was cold inside, therefore the food was cold before we were finished eating. We ordered pulled pork plates with fries and coleslaw. Without the sauce, the pork is flavorless. Fries were good (the ones I ate before they got cold) and the small cup of slaw was good. But we could have gotten a LOT better meal for $25.00 elsewhere. more

For the 6th consecutive time, I've had a horrible meal at Martins. I really want to like this place, but they're making it extremely difficult. I went to Martins shortly after they opened up the new place. The first time I ate there, it was a religious experience. EVERYTHING was amazing (well, except the brisket, which was dry as hell: harbinger of things to come). The next few times the food was just as good. For the past 3 months however, everything I get there has been putrid. If you get any ""pulled meat"" products, be sure to have a gallon of fluids handy. The food is so dry, it gets lodged in my esophagus. The pulled pork, chicken and turkey must be days old whenever I get it, because it's more like ""chopped Naugahyde"" than anything that's been pulled with a fork. When it's on, the food here is fantastic. The problem is erratic customer volume must dramatically affect the product. They certainly know how to smoke meat, but they can't seem to have it fresh when you want it. I've tried early in the day, late in the day, during rushes, etc. It's just hit or miss, and usually miss. I understand that it is difficult to have fresh smoked meats ready at all times of the day, but if the quality is not there, simply inform the customer that you're out of the product, rather than serve up whatever chipped shoe-leather you've got on hand. The quality of the food here is just too inconsistent to warrant chancing more than a few bucks on sandwich. If timing is the problem, then anyone in the know, please inform us of a time of day/week when the meat is fresh. Otherwise, my working assumption will be that the meat is days old. February 28, 2011 UPDATE: I decided to give Martins another chance. Since my first post, I've been back a few times. The first one or two times, it was marginally better. But in the past 3 months, it's been a home-run every time. I finally tried the ribs, and they're dang good. I've also tried a few other items, and have yet to be disappointed. One thing I will note: there seems to be some confusion about what's to be included in drive-thru orders. One time my sandwich came with free fries, another time it came with free beans, sometimes they include a napkin and silverware, most times they don't. It still looks like the drive-thru need to get a system together. Yesterday I got the ribs to go, and there were no utensils, napkin, or wet nap. Kinda hard to eat your food without those items (or, at least eat it and not get it all over yourself). I'd give it 5 stars at this point, but there still are a few quibbles. But the food itself has been consistently great for the past 4-8 times I've hit the drive-thru. more

Saw Martin's on the show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. We're not typically influenced by television shows, but the Redneck Taco inspired us to visit. Stopped by mid-afternoon on a Saturday, the place was relatively busy for 3 pm. Pros: Casual, reasonable prices, great flavor palates, kitchy more

Worst service of any restaurant I've been to. They have a haughty attitude and change their menu to screw you on prices. I ordered a chicken tenders basket. A basket used to come with fries. No longer though. When I asked the waitress, ""Where are the fries?"", she replied with, ""We don't do that anymore!"" in a rude way. Who serves a basket with just chicken tenders and no fries. Obviously, it's these buttholes. Pros: Decent Food Cons: They know how to turn that smile upside down more

Hungry in Nolensville -- well, keep on driving down the road to a decent restaurant... Forget this place ! It is OVER-PRICED and even charges 25 cents for a glass of water. The staff is rude, unprofessional and must be ""family"" or they wouldn't have a job with their level of customer service. Thought the staffing problem would improve with the new location, but this has only added a sense of arrogance to the equation. Had burnt meat as well. Wouldn't eat there again if it were FREE. Pros: New Building Cons: OVERPRICED - Terrible service - Burnt meat more

I grew up in the deep deep South and I know good barbeque. I went to this place because I am a fan of Diners, Drive Inns and Dives this barbeque joint was highlighted on the show. Typically Guy is right on point. This one fell way short Guy, what were you thinking? I did not order the ""Redneck Taco"". Perhaps if I had my experience would have been better. Really disappointed. Pros: None really Cons: Food, unfriendly staff more

out of 90% of menu and drunk employee hitting on my 14 year old! Pros: terrible (drunk) service Cons: out of everything more

I drove thru with the little one for convenience...wrong! After 24 minutes wait and only a few things still available off the entire menu, we were shorted part of our order! The little one got chicken fingers (they had run out of her first two choices). She couldnt eat them because they were overcooked in old grease that needed changing, and they were highly peppered. I had a pork sandwich that was overcooked and flavorless. Thats the third bad experience of three tries. I'm done. Cons: ran out of most everything before 7:30pm; shorted the order! more

I tried this place on 3/31/10 because of good reviews on this site. But the BBQ was awful. Mushy, tasteless, no smoked flavor at all. If you are used to west Ky BBQ you will hate this. The baked beans did taste good, but soupy. And the BBQ, fries(not good), and beans with a cola were about $12. In west KY the same plate with wonderful meat would have been $6. Cons: HORRIBLE BBQ WAY OVERPRICED more

Since the place moved into its new digs (which are gorgeous), the food is better...but still erratic. Two weeks ago the brisket was to die for...it was just perfect. Last night it was gristly and fatty....very fatty. They need to stop being so rushed with the person cutting the meat needing to look at it carefully and see if they would want to eat it. I will give the place one more chance, but if it comes out that way ever again, I am done with them. Pros: Fries are consistently great. Meats, not so. Cons: Brisket was horrible last night. more

prices not bad .. fantastic quality of food .. nice atmosphere, just what you'd expect from a great BBQ place! Pros: Huge slab of ribs and best wings ever! Cons: wanted to get pulled chicken, but they had run out more

I'm sure their brisket is fine, but Sugar's Ribs in Chattanooga will steal you away with theirs. more