Woodpeckers Backyard BBQ

Heard that this was one of Yelp's top BBQ spots in the whole country, so of course I had to try it. Obviously, Florida isn't known for its BBQ, but gosh darn, it does have some diamonds in the rough. And this is one of them. I came here after a Jaguars game in Jax. It was loosely on the way back to Orlando, so I made it a point to come here. I say loosely, because it was quite a ways off the beaten path. It's definitely not a tourist trap; more of a local-supported place, which boded well, I thought. After getting to the place, we pulled into the poorly lit, single shanty looking building, and I start really getting excited. This was gonna be some good Q. We walk in, get seated, and get our order going. I forget exactly what we ordered, but it was a pretty massive feast with a good assortment of their meats and sides. We sit at our picnic tables and sip on our sweet tea, and browsing the many different table sauces they had. A neat thing about this place was that it showcased a local produce called a datil pepper, grown primarily in St. Augustine. It was featured in a couple of their sauces and in a couple of side dishes as well. They love this pepper, and I loved it, too. It was a little tangy, a little kicky, and definitely unique enough to make me get more than my fair share of that datil BBQ sauce in to-go cups when we were done. As for the food, wowww. The meat itself was perfect. The spare ribs were tender, had a good chew, and had a great little seasoning bark on the outside. The chopped pork was juicy, unsauced so it could sing for itself, but was complimented very well by each of the six sauces on the table. Sausage was flavorful and snappy. Even the turkey was moist, not even a little dry. And the brisket, forgetaboutit, juicy and moist to a fault, amazingly rendered fat, perfect smoke levels, and a bark on it that was so perfect I wanted to bronze it and keep it forever. Nothing needed sauce, but the sauces were awesome, so I let it fly as appropriate. And as for the sides, I feel like they were probably the best in all of Florida. Just so much TLC was put into each one of them. From the datil-infused corn to the datil baked beans to that lovely bite on that mac & cheese, everything was designed and executed to perfection and was a lovely side to the stars of the show. Overall, if you're within 100 miles of Woodpeckers, I would definitely come here to give it a try. If you're even a casual barbecue lover, you will absolutely fall in love with it.

Pros: Love the middle of nowhere vibes and the simple, single dining room only architecture. Makes it feel rustic, like where good barbecue is supposed to come from. Service was quaint, friendly, everything you want from a small town feeling place. Food was incredible. This is a place that focuses on both the quality of their meats as well as the quality of their sides. Best sides I've ever had at a barbecue place. You could taste the TLC. Cons: It was kind of in the middle of nowhere. You won't stumble upon this place. You have to intentionally want to come here. That's the only con. Once you get here, the place is perfect. Tips: Get anything. Nothing was bad. Even the turkey was moist and juicy. All the sides were amazing, but the mac & cheese and the beans were particularly amazing. When you inevitably ask for to-go containers, don't forget to ask for all the sauces.

My entire adult life I've been on a relentless search for the best barbecue. It's one that never truly ends, as I'm always looking for a new winner. Woodpeckers as whole experience remains the undefeated and undisputed bbq champion!I've traveled the country always sampling the local barbecue and I've only found one rival but it's not nearby. I've tried Texas bbq too and y'all trippin! Dry as the dirt you stand on

I cruised by heading for a meeting at around 1:15 and there was a line outside. I figured that I would head back and try to catch it if it was still open. Around 230 I came back by and they were still open so I pulled over to see what the big deal was. It was great. I ordered a sausage sandwich Which I put a little bit of mild sauce on and it was delicious. I also ordered a pound of pulled barbecue and some sliced turkey. Along with their cornbread it made a great meal for the rest of the family when I got home that afternoon. I love places like this. Everything about it from the store to the food and the environment not to mention the people were all great. It's worth going out of your way.

Simple easy serviceFood was spectacular literally no complaintsPerfect scenery and the restraint makes you feel at a backyard bbq Best BBQ by far i even took 2 days to think on itPrice to food ratio 2000/5 stars

This place is our favorite family spot for a casual BBQ experience on Sundays.Get a spot at the bar for fast and friendly service if it's just 2-3 people.The service is exceptional anywhere you choose to sit and the smoked meats are second to none. It's really all about Woodpecker's consistency and quality.The staff with their warm welcoming hospitality keeps us coming back. Feels like a backyard BBQ every time. LOVE IT

One of my sons was going to Woodpeckers with some of his buddies for lunch on the 4th of July. My wife and I gave him a to-go order since he was coming home after he ate. It's been a while since we have gone to Woodpeckers, and my grill has seen better days, so this was a great lunch option. My wife picked half a chicken so she could have enough for dinner, too with datil slaw & baked beans for the sides. I did two meats, which were sliced pork and ribs. My sides were datil slaw and a baked potato. My wife said her chicken was moist and delicious. She enjoyed the sides as well. My 2 meats were great. I had sliced pork at a chain BBQ restaurant a few days ago, which I really enjoyed. It blew my mind how much better this pork was. This sliced pork was so much better it wasn't close. The ribs were perfectly cooked, and I wished I ordered another serving for later tonight. The sides as always were very enjoyable. What a great BBQ for the 4th of July. Woodpeckers is still the best!

Captain Mikes Special 3.6/5.Bread 3/5. Meat 5/5. Sauce 4/5. Sides 3/5. Size & Value 3/5.Delicious smoked turkey and sausage packed with flavor. Thin texas toast style bread with BBQ sauce. Great combo.Banana Pudding 4.7/5.Texture 5/5. Flavor 5/5. Size & Value 4/5.Loved this pudding, very thick and creamy. Excellent flavor and a great balance of texture with the add ins. Highly recommend for dessert!

WoodPeckers which is in St Johns County about 5.mins from my house is a godsend. It is a staple on the courner of rt 210 and 16A, woodpeekers has been serving up BBQ for a long, long time. They have indoor, out door and preorder dining. No lines when we arrived. The hostess was pleasant and told us there was a 15 minute wait for inside. We decided to eat out doors. We both had the ribs with barbecue sauce. The meat was falling of the bone. Also, we had the mac and cheese oozing with cheese. The collard greens and cole slaw were to die for. The meal was topped off with peach cobller for dessert. When in doubt try woodpeckers out in St Johns County. We will come back to see them now, here.

Awesome BBQ. They have also catered a couple of celebrations for us and everything is always done right. We usually do takeout so I don't know about the service inside.