Was there weeks ago, the staff was horrible they messed up our order and forgot to put the 2nd rib dinner on the ticket. So while my family was eating I had to wait an additional 15 minutes for the ribs all while my sides were getting cold. To add insult to the situation they made me pay for the ribs and then overcharged me. By the time the ribs were done my family was done eating. Wow....poor experience for sure.
Fantastic! Been coming here all my life, 69 years. My parents came here on dates while in high school. A family favorite.
My mom would tell me stories of this place when it was a very small building. This bbq is something we have enjoyed for decades here and the Rolling Meadows location. But it had been a while so in covid road trip fashion, we returned.
We found the exact same food and it did not disappoint. The beef sandwich with fries and extra sauce has been my go-to for 6 decades and I feel no need to change it now.
Soft bun, tender meat and a sauce unlike any other. Piping hot fries - literally every bite was delicious.
The covid protocol is present with a dive thru manned by friendly and knowledgeable staff.
This made a covid road trip a wonderful day of remembering my mom and the childhood memories she gave me.
Worst barbecue I've ever had at a restaurant. Everything dry and bland. Food tasted boiled not smoked.
I've been coming here for years. The bbq sauce is the best in the area.
I ordered a brisket dinner through DoorDash, which turned out to just be a sandwich. Which was 95% bread and an extremely skimpy amount of brisket. The brisket was fine but the portion was terrible. The coleslaw was just some diced cabbage and vinegar, which wasn t good. The baked beans were passable. I almost never leave reviews on anything but my disappointment was immeasurable.
It was excellent! The ribs are excellent the meat comes right off the bone. Been going there since I was a kid . My kids and grandkids enjoy it too.
I still loved Russell's since I was a kid and my dad knew the Bernsteins 2nd owner who owned Russell's back in through the 70s were excellent a 5 star restaurant (thats before they sold to its 3rd new owner at that time but I noticed that in the passed 30 years going there the food and sauce are not exactly the same and its not like the true best originals but and Imy true example is that I used to get my pork sandwiches and they were cooked moist perfectly and the meat were piled on about about one and a half inches thick and the bbq sauce were just a little thicker and not watered down like now also the sauce had a pure taste to it back then . Over the years they cut back on the their meats and sauce has changed a little ,and the quality is not the same llike it was but I still go there sometimes when I have a teste for Russell's . I hope that they will bring back the old true top quality Russells' bbq back again and I will definitely go back many times more including all Russell's bbq fans too !!!!
GREAT BBQ. They recently raised prices but you get what you pay for, worth every bite.
Russell s Barbecue has been slinging the classics since 1930!!! Best BBQ pulled pork/beef/chicken sandwiches you can get in the Chicagoland area!! All 3 are phenomenal!!Literally everything is good here! The ribs are delicious!!! Russell s is such a great spot for the whole family!! The sides are scrumptious too! Mac & Cheese, corn muffin, mashed Potatoes, Baked beans, coleslaw, applesauce, and Corn on the cob!! You can t go wrong with any of them!! Those are my favorites!! Russell s is awesome!! Highly Recommend!! Love the atmosphere in here!! Feels like you went back in time to 1930!
They didn't get this far with poor customer service. I paid $2.65 for one large cup of what was supposed to be unlimited refills of their fresh brewed iced around 815 pm tonight. About 830, the manager informed that they ran out of iced tea and would not make any more.
Before ordering my drink, I asked what time they closed, and I was told 10pm.
So then when I was denied more tea, I was quite upset. While the manager spoke with me, she had a very smart-ass facial expression and tone in her voice.
I believe they failed to honor the "unlimited refills" of the drink I paid for and for which I had a reasonable expectation that the drink would be available for the remainder of my meal. I was not even offered a partial refund. I was mad because I didn't get my tea as it is offered on the menu, at the principal of the matter of not getting what I paid for and with the manager's unprofessional demeanor. Buyer beware here! (Note: there is nothing mentioned on the menu that drinks of any kind may run out at any given time and may no longer be available nor was I informed that they were running low on iced tea.) As for the food, the baked beans had good flavor, though the side dish was like soup without any meat. I also ate a cheeseburger there, which was pretty good. (I wanted pulled chicken, but it's white and dark meat mixed, not available separate.) I also ordered 2 crab cakes that were heavily fried but did have good flavor. I ordered them to go. They were given to me on a plain white paper plate with a paper plate on top in a paper bag which also had my salad. The dressing containers were also in the bag and they fell out. Stange way to serve takeout, but whatever. The bathroom was cramped with a stench, as this place is just old and run down. I will go back for a burger when in the area, at least they use real beef.
Been coming here for years. This place makes the best barbecue beef sandwich. Period. Slather more barbecue on it once you get it. Trust me. You want it pouring all over your hands as you eat it.
If your like me, you'll order three. Not the junior size, the full size sucker. Because you're a man. You'll eat one to enjoy. You'll eat the second to fill up. And you'll force the third down because you don't want to stop the flavor assault that is going on in your mouth. The bun is always sweet and soft, the beef juicy and tender, and the sauce tangy and delicious. Wash it down with an ice cold drink of your choice.
Oh, and get the fried mac and cheese bites. Because it's mac and cheese. In a fried bite sized morsel. It's also lava hot. You've been warned.
Oh and the reason I only gave it 4 stars? Because the place is so damn far from me and they refuse to do the 30 mile delivery. hahaha. But seriously. Open one in my back yard please!!!
Fantastic, I love eating here at Russell's. The food blew me away when I ate there. It was an absolute must that I rate Russell's. The food is fantastic and mouth-watering. The atmosphere of the restaurant is rustic and cheerful. Service there is great, and they are very optimistic ad they serve your food. Great place to eat with the family.
Reminds me when I was kids eating there with the family. Great BBQ sauce and Great times.
Always great food nice atmosphere.... Nice to sit outside when weather is good...
Got the ribs Meh not the greatest by any stretch...... Need option for zero stars....
No favor in the mac and cheese and BBQ sauce is weak.
Food was so stale. No flavor. First time eating here and last.
If you haven't been here or if you haven't been here in a while. Visit, way better then typical fast food
This place is not authentic barbeque, it's boiled and baked.
First came here 30 years ago....Still good and worth the trip. My biggest problem is the bathrooms is NOT handicapped accessible for a wheelchair and our wheelchair is narrow.
My experience was more about customer service than the food. After receiving the incorrect sandwich I brought it back to the counter to have it corrected. The girl at the counter looked at my receipt and discovered that the person that took the order put the wrong sandwich order in. I was then told I would have to pay the difference in price ($1.20). I asked why because they had made the mistake. Because the sandwich you want is more money, I was told. So I paid the difference and waited for it while the other nine people with our party celebrated a 58th wedding anniversary. It's unfortunate that the $1.20 meant so much more than a customer's satisfaction.
Great food have been going there for 50 years love the ribs and original BBQ beef pork and ham sandwiches
Fast & delicious. A Chicago bbq joint. Best pork sandwiches with a vinegar-based bbq sauce, served on the side. Lots of choices for side dishes -- my favorites are baked potatoes, house-made vinegar coleslaw & cinnamon spplesauce...YUM! Stop in & enjoy!
This place is truly amazing. I have been earing here since I was a kid and so have my parents. It has changed over the years but for the better. The lighting is less dark, the kids machine in the wall still has toys but the food is still amazing.
Still love this place for bbq from when my folks took me there 50 years ago! Just miss the old style jukeboxes at every table.
The food was ok. The bread wasn't as soft ... but the service made up for the food. The lady giving the food was a doll. The young man (cashier) was not very Pleasant taking the order. Next time.. I been a Customer for over 32years...
I really enjoyed Russel's! I'm not even a big BBQ lover but the sauce was amazing and I loved the feel of the atmosphere, knowing how many people have been there before me!
Food always fantastic bbq beef sandwich favorite great variety of food available
Pulled chicken dinner and rib tip dinner...31$ worst bbq I ever had...
Far to go from geneva but so so good. The pork is so tender and juicy and full of flavor. I know the beef is good too along with fries and barbeque sauce as always. Worth the trip.
This place is a historic hidden gem. My grandfather took my dad there when he was a kid and passed that tradition down to me when I was little. The food is always amazing and the service is always quick and friendly. I recommend the beef sandwich dinner for first-comers. The barbecue sauce is a hit-or-miss for some folks but I love it and I think that's part of what makes this place unique. The sauce is not comparable to anything else I've had. The place still looks pretty original to how it was built in the 1930's and you can see photos of their WW2 victory party on the walls. How cool! Definitely worth a try.
Anytime were in the area we have to stop for BBQ beef brings back so many memories.Even my parents went here for date night in their time.
As excellent now as it has been my whole life, of 56 years! Same as my mom, who'll be 78 this year. Beef sandwich never disappoints... Same w/the sauce! We travel about an hour for Russell's & well worth it.
Food was served quick. But the food was terrible. Chicken was dry and ribs were lousy. I could ve had a better meal at McDonald s and that place sucks
A landmark of a restaurant. Quality, not spicy sandwiches, beef,pork,ham . Seem to be steamed, sliced very thin and can dress it up with their own clove based thin bbq sauce. Onion rings are some of the best anywhere. My family and friends have been coming here for 40 years.
One of the best BBQ spots in the Chicago suburbs. The prices are great, and the food is even better. It's great for kids and families, as you order at the counter and then find a seat to eat. The have plenty of seating. The line to order can get long, so plan ahead. It's worth it though.
Ribs is what you come for but don't leave without a brownie.
My family has been coming to this place for years and we love it. The food is great. Not the best dining room or facilities but that's not why we go!
Pretty good food and pretty quick. Nice change of pace on BBQ sauce.
Not much has changed since the days I grew up in this area
I don t care for Russell s too much. The bbq sauce is very thin and has an extreme clove spice taste. The fries aren t very good. You ll walk away still hungry unless you eat more than 1 beef sandwich. I don t recommend.
One of my favorite places , been going here for years , bbq beef and pulled pork sandwiches are must haves and don't forget to use a lot of there own sauce
An institution which consistently provide great meals
The meats are wonderful, prepared properly, but the sauce is terrible, and they only offer the one sauce. Go to Uncle Bubs, their sauces taste much better!!
Definitely has gone downhill. Staff taking orders were rude and made me want to leave even before receiving the mediocre food. Not loving the sauce either, too much clove. Sad to see it go downhill
I dont know how this place stays in business. The dining area is large and pretty full. Maybe my level of food expectation has outlived it,s usefulness. In my opinion...the brisket had no smoky flavor, the chicken was not seasoned, the macaroni was bland and watery (taste the grated imitation cheese in it) and the coleslaw tasted like cold cabbage.And what was with that sauce! It truly must be a learned trait to taste and appreciate this because the sauce had a cloves type twang that over-powered anything else it was trying to do. To conclude....I have run the gamut of BBQ establishments from franchise types ( Famous Daves ) to outstanding independent establishments ( Smoque,s) and this was at the nadir end of my dining enjoyment. But what do I know...here,s a harbinger for ya. The place was full of cops. .hmmmm .
Not the restaurant it used to be..
Prices are high....
Food is still good.but it has not stayed current, and lacks a real draw in today's market
Sliced brisket was good but the BBQ chicken is fried didn't taste very fresh the coleslaw was pickled, not creamy. Place was odd and a bit dated but I'll come back for brisket. Oh and they only have 1 BBQ sauce. It's mild and not very flavorful.
was disapointed burgers are really dry priced a little high you would think when you order a meal it would include a drink if a meal means only burger and fries it schould say that not a meal every other resturant a meal I includes a drink
Had half chicken, slaw and cheese fries. Omg! Delish! And Holy smokes I wasnt aware of these cakes and sundaes. I had a brownie sundae. Today definitely was worth the diet cheat cant add a photo. Was too busy devouring it.
Totally deserves more than 5 stars really good ribs and bbq sauce
Awesome food, great staff, and cozy atmosphere. Can't ask for much more than that.
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