★★★★★
Brisket was tender, smoky, and sliced thick — exactly what I want from Texas-style BBQ. Sweet Shop after dinner is dangerous. Easily the best BBQ on Baymeadows.
BBQ · Baymeadows · Jacksonville
4
Rivers Smokehouse
01
The place
4 Rivers Smokehouse is a Texas-style barbecue counter-serve restaurant in the Baymeadows neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida, located at 9220 Baymeadows Rd. Founded by John Rivers in 2009 in Winter Park, the chain is known for slow-smoked Angus brisket, pulled pork, St. Louis-style ribs, and a Sweet Shop bakery counter. The Jacksonville location holds a 4.5-star rating across more than 3,300 Google reviews. The menu features signature sandwiches, family meal packs, homestyle sides such as smoked corn and burnt-end baked beans, and house-made desserts including the Six Layer Bar and Bread Pudding. The restaurant uses counter-serve ordering with dine-in, takeout, and delivery; catering is available. Reservations are not accepted. The patio is pet-friendly and free parking is on site. The location is closed on Sundays.
Tucked into a free-standing building on Baymeadows Road, 4 Rivers Smokehouse brings central-Florida-bred Texas-style barbecue to Jacksonville's south side. The Jacksonville outpost carries the same slow-smoked program founder John Rivers built in Winter Park: Angus brisket smoked for up to 18 hours, hand-pulled pork, and St. Louis ribs that draw a lunch line most weekdays. The dining room is order-at-the-counter casual, the patio is shaded, and the Sweet Shop bakery counter sits right by the register.
Order the 18-Hour Smoked Angus Brisket sandwich or plate for the signature experience, and add Burnt Ends when they're on the board. The Sliced Texas Brisket Sandwich, Pulled Pork, and Six-Cheese Smoked Mac & Cheese are crowd favorites, with smoked corn and burnt-end baked beans as the standout sides. Save room for a Six Layer Bar, Bread Pudding, or a Cookies-and-Cream cupcake from the Sweet Shop.
Reservations are not accepted — it's counter-serve only, so expect a short line at peak lunch. Free on-site parking lot. The patio is dog-friendly. Takeout, third-party delivery, and full-service catering with family meal packs are available. Note: the entire chain is closed on Sundays.
Texas-style slow-smoked BBQ (brisket up to 18 hours)
Sweet Shop bakery counter on-site
Family meal packs feed 4-12
Full-service catering available
What to expect
Order at the counter, grab a number, and a runner will deliver your tray. Lunch hits hardest between 12 and 1:30 p.m. on weekdays; the Sweet Shop counter is set up for grab-and-go, so cupcakes and Six Layer Bars can be ordered separately without waiting in the food line. Closed Sundays — plan for Saturday or a weekday visit.
Then come for the photos
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The shop, in frames
Sponsored · Florida Hidden Spots
04
What people are saying
★★★★★
Friendly counter staff, fast line, big portions. The burnt-end baked beans and smoked mac are sides I keep coming back for. Patio is shaded and they had water out for our dog.
★★★★★
Closed Sundays which threw me off the first time, but worth the wait. Six Layer Bar lives up to the hype and the family pack fed four of us with leftovers.
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Frequently asked
Does 4 Rivers Smokehouse take reservations?
No. 4 Rivers Smokehouse is counter-serve and does not accept reservations. Walk in, order at the counter, and seat yourself. Catering and large family meal pack orders can be pre-ordered by phone.
Is 4 Rivers Smokehouse dog-friendly?
Yes — leashed dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio at the Baymeadows location. Pets are not permitted in the indoor dining room.
Where do I park near 4 Rivers Smokehouse Jacksonville?
There is a free on-site parking lot at 9220 Baymeadows Rd that surrounds the building. No street parking is required and no validation is needed.
What are the most popular dishes at 4 Rivers Smokehouse?
The 18-Hour Smoked Angus Brisket, Burnt Ends, St. Louis Ribs, Six-Cheese Smoked Mac & Cheese, and the Sweet Shop's Six Layer Bar are the most-ordered items.
What are 4 Rivers Smokehouse's hours?
The Jacksonville Baymeadows location is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
Does 4 Rivers Smokehouse offer takeout or delivery?
Yes. Takeout can be ordered at the counter, by phone, or online at 4rsmokehouse.com. Delivery is available through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Full catering is available for events.
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Closest spots by distance
Other places to fold into the same trip — measured straight-line from 4 Rivers Smokehouse.
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From Instagram
@4rsmokehouse