Loved this Place! Can't Recamend it enough! Food is Amazing! We traveled over an hour to get there and I can't wait to go back!

+2

Very decent for the price. Got the chicken and spare ribs combo for $15. Salad included with all meals. Chicken was smokey, moist, and tender. Ribs were fine- not dry. The sauce used on the ribs was a bit sweet. Service was good. Good place for families or if you’re craving BBQ. Can be quite crowded but can usually get a quick seat at the bar.

It was torture having to wait for friends to show up for over an hour in the parking lot as the waft of barbecue kept hitting us. The park-like atmosphere was a nice break from our long trip. Once getting inside ordering was easy. The selections of sides were wide in variety. The barbecue brisket and chicken had great flavor. I think smoking the beans and chicken nuggets would have been a nice touch. I can see why it's a local favorite.

Hands down some of the best chicken I’ve ever had. Been coming here for over 35 years and will continue to do so

brooks has changed a bit since Covid but still same great service and excellent food. No complaints from me!

Amazing brisket and pulled pork with Mac and cheese and cheese curds. They didn't have seating open cause of low staffing so we ate on some benches outside and it was so worth it.

+6

A bit pricy for the amount of meat you get however the buffet style for the sides was excellent, full salad bar and great tasting food.

While I prefer table service, I understand the need to change to a buffet due to staffing issues. The buffet was hot, and the temperature was checked regularly. BBQ chicken was moist and tasty, as always. Every employee was super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend, we traveled 3 hours each way to eat there and it was well worth the trip.

Excellent BBQ and being from Georgia I think I know good BBQ. Big place, we ordered to go and ate outside. Inside is buffet and was a little too expensive for our hunger level. But looked very nice. Staff was very nice. BBQ sauce was some of the best I’ve ever had, I went and bought a half gallon which I normally never do.

The best place for BBQ I ever been. Highly recommended. Delicious food.

+6

Thoroughly enjoyed our meal there! I would recommend it to anyone visiting Oneonta. I used to work there in the 80s, so I was excited to go back. (Of course I could see how things changed as far as dining service.) The food was as delicious as ever, and it was great to select my own side dishes and desserts. We could even go back for seconds on those.

If you're in the mood for smoky barbeque then Brooks is the place for you. On the recommendation of a few local residents, we gave it a try and we're so glad we did. Warm bread arrived at the table with soft butter. The salad bar comes as a free option and includes the standard buffet options of greens, veggies and a selection of dressings. We both opted for the chicken and ribs combo with the baked potato side. The portions were good. The ribs in particular had tons of meat on the bone and we had our choice of dark or white meat chicken. We had no room for dessert, but I'm pretty sure any of the pies would have been the same caliber as the food. Cute country chicken decor just Ada to the experience.

Today we went to Brooks for chicken and the salad bar. We were pleasantly surprised when we walked into the lunch buffet. Everything we ate, and there was much, was delicious. We look forward to returning with our daughters when they visit us. The only thing I missed was the slice of the spiced apple which they stopped providing some time ago. I guess my age was showing. .

Stopped in here on the way through the state, surprised to find it's some of the best brisket and chicken I've ever had. Extremely tender, juicy, and flavorful. Nice selection of side-plates too.

Everything was amazing! The food was absolutely the best BBQ that I’ve ever had, and the atmosphere was perfect. The staff was very accommodating and friendly

Wish the indoors was finished. Are renovating the inside for a future buffet. It was warm out today if so we sat under the gazebo. It was a nice breeze. My son said the buffalo sauce had a very nice taste but it wasn't hot. My daughter had a pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and she really enjoyed the coleslaw on the sandwich. I had another sandwich that was good. I added extra BBQ sauce, but I wish it was spicy. We had an order of hush puppies. Totally enjoyable. The butter had a great taste and wasn't overly sweet

+4

Update- the indoor seating area is closed for renovations. There are covered and uncovered outdoor areas to eat at the restaurant. Take out service only Fast service on a night when baseball camps are in full swing. The restaurant was packed but the wait for food was brief. Well-organized system and speedy staff. Plus, the food was delicious.

Third generation fan. Stayed in Oneonta for a couple of nights and ate at the same hall twice. Been ordering cases of the original chicken sauce to IA for decades. Can't eat grilled or rotisserie chicken without it.

This is a great place. Famous in the central NY area for great barbecue chicken and ribs. We live 60 miles from the restaurant and make many trips over the years to have dinner here. You have the option of being seated in the restaurant which usually involves a wait as there is always a line or you can go-to the take out window, get your dinner return home or eat there at the many picnic tables set up through out the property. Delicious food and great prices makes this a must do if you're passing within a 100 miles or more. You won't be disappointed.

+6

It was very clean & the staff were all friendly. At first I thought $30 for 2 meat choices was a little expensive, but the serving sizes are very generous, the food is delicious and there's a large variety of hot & cold bottomless sides and desserts. There are a lot of meal size choices, also (1 meat, 2 meats, 3, etc). Well worth it!

Awesome food. Had a sampler platter. Everything delicious. Came with salad bar and potato. For me enough for three meals. Atmosphere laid back. Was able to purchase sauces, rubs, marinades in the store at very reasonable prices. Well worth the trip.

+6

Absolutely wonderful experience! The staff did an amazing job helping my boyfriend, his family and me put together a large takeout order for his surprise birthday party. I’m BEYOND grateful for how kind and helpful everyone was throughout the process. I especially want to thank the woman who was the manager working today — I unfortunately didn’t catch her name, but she went above and beyond to make sure everything came together smoothly. The entire team was incredibly friendly and supportive, and I can’t express enough how much we appreciated that. The food was great as always. We ordered several chicken halves, pulled pork, ribs, and almost all of the sides — everything was delicious. If you like BBQ, Brooks is absolutely the place to go. Since this was a takeout order for a big group, they also supplied plates and silverware, which made hosting so much easier. We definitely ordered more than we needed, but the leftovers are just as good the next day! We’ll absolutely and always be coming back.

Patty Stroh

The day I went was Monday and the place was packed. Nobody could really explain how the system worked. Thank God the people I was with knew what to do. I can say that the food was excellent. What a great meal. Not sure it's very affordable but it is delicious

Michael

Always a tremendous experience. Brooks chicken is unlike any other. I don't know how they do it, but it melts off the bone and is the most delicious chicken I've ever had. Time and time again, they never fail.

Patricia Torcello Catalina

Our first time eating in this famous restaurant! BBQ chicken and all the fixings are delicious!

+3

Jules

I had a great experience at Brooks’ and I am especially thankful for how kind and accommodating the staff were! I have a severe fish allergy and the staff went absolutely above and beyond to ensure my safety and that none of my food would be cross-contaminated. They fried the buffet sides like tater tots, hush puppies, fries, etc. in a separate fryer for me so I could enjoy some too :) they also gave me my own tongs and spoon to serve myself at the buffet for added measure. I want to shout out the hostess Brooke in particular for her compassion and helpfulness. I have gone to many other restaurants that do not seem to take my allergy too seriously but I can absolutely say the opposite about Brooks’ — they really care!! I highly recommend this place for the delicious food and exceptional service ☺️

pamela schepis

We have been meaning to dine at this restaurant every time we visit Cooperstown but it’s a 1/2 hour out of the way. Today we made the trip and the chicken was fabulous. I’m not a fan of salad bars BUT the hush puppies were delicious and the chicken and biscuits were 10/10! The food was hot and continuously refreshed. If you’re on the fence about going, definitely make the trip!!!

Dotti Kruppo

We chose Brooks’ for my daughter’s wedding reception. We knew the food would be exceptional and our guests would love it. It was held in their log cabin called The Roost. It was a great rustic venue! We chose one of the buffet packages but we had 2 wait staff (Missy and Skylar) who were excellent. They consistently checked with me, the bride and groom and our guests. Missy worked with our DJ to ensure all the various wedding traditions went smoothly. Dan was our bartender and also was great. We could not have had a more accommodating and friendly staff. One of the managers, Gene, was very helpful and patient during planning and set up. Finally, Ryan Brooks was absolutely wonderful in helping us plan and very accommodating so we could have time to decorate. He has a great team but teams are always a reflection of the leader and Ryan is truly awesome! Thank you for making the reception perfect! I highly recommend Brooks’ BBQ for any event!

Lenae King

Staff was very friendly, patient, and accommodating of our party of 11. We enjoyed the set up of the buffet and the meat choices. The chicken was delicious! The kids enjoyed the food options and the ice cream bar! The bottled sauces are great to take home! I recommend the wing sauce- it is excellent!

Allyson Brevetti

We were traveling through and decided to stop. Buffets are fun with all the choices, but for the prices you better come on an empty stomach. I loved the chicken and sides I chose. Loved the biscuits with honey cinnamon butter, the macaroni and cheese, beans, chili, pasta salad, all of it. Did not have room for dessert, but saw an ice cream station. They have take out or dine in. The staff were friendly and always walking around seeing what we may need. Highly recommend. I think a bbq buffet is a gem.

Melanie

Best chicken in the world. Will drive miles to go. They have changed things up a bit....somethings for the good somethings not so good. Check their website for some understanding. It will explain it there. Besides that this place is one of my favorite BBQ spots around. I drive 1 1/2 hours to get to it. Well worth the drive and money.

+11

William Hadley

This restaurant is an excellent place to go for some excellent barbecue chicken. I have not been to Brooks' for about 5 years but was not disappointed. Since COVID-19, they updated everything to an all-you-can-eat buffet-style, which is nice as it gives you more options for what to get for your sides. Upon arriving at the restaurant, you check in to order your meat meal and get a token to give to the server at the meat buffet. After paying, find a seat and then get your food. Drinks, meats, salads, desserts, and sides are all in the same area. The BBQ chicken, as always, was amazing. The sides were impressive as well. I especially enjoyed the potato salad and baked beans. Overall, good experience.

+6

Juan Lima

We came here after we were told that this was the best bbq in the state. Just follow the smoke. Upon arrival, this place was thoroughly packed for an early weekend afternoon, couldn't believe the amount of foot traffic and the line of people waiting to get in. Apparently when we went, the restaurant had just reopened the indoor dining area and converted to an all you can eat buffet. We had the pick three buffet and were given a chip. The chicken and the pulled pork were the best pickings on the list of meat options. Went back for cream of broccoli soup, several rounds of sides, refills of soda and a few desserts. Outside the restaurant, there were several out building as well as a truck that was purchase from Frank Sinatra. We were constantly asked about feedback which showed the restaurant wanted feedback on how well they were doing with the new menu and showing they care about customer satisfaction.

+23

Terri Rowe

The new salad bar set-up has been open for about two weeks now and this was our first visit to give it a try. All you can eat salad bar, hot food bar, drinks and dessert. It's a lot of very good food! If you order an entree, you will be given a token to go to the meat bar to pick it up when you're ready! I was too full from the two buffets so I got my entree to go. It's not on the menu but you can order just the buffet for $17.99. You will place your order and then wait to be seated or you can sit at the counter and get started right away! The staff were all very pleasant and helpful. They were busy trying to keep everything stocked and CLEAN! Not an easy task with a full dining room! I highly recommend you give it a try!

+8

4 & 1/2 A singular American classic and great example of vanishing regional Upstate footways, I was thrilled to get a chance to revisit this place from my misspent youth after and find the place, and…

Always a great experience dining at Brook's. We love the energy and great vibe inside the restaurant. BBQ is delicious - the chicken is our favorite.\nWe love the buffet style experience and often ta…

Always a great experience dining at Brook's. We love the energy and great vibe inside the restaurant. bbq is delicious - the chicken is our favorite.\nWe love the buffet style experience and of…

Always a great experience dining at Brook's. We love the energy and great vibe inside the restaurant. BBQ is delicious - the chicken is our favorite.\nWe love the buffet style experience and often …

Always a great experience dining at Brook's. We love the energy and great vibe inside the restaurant. bbq is delicious - the chicken is our favorite.\nWe love the buffet style experience and often …

This was the absolute best restaurant in the area.\nThe bbq was great, the salad bar was even better and it is all-you-can-eat for the salad bar.\n\nGreat variety and tasty as could be.\nThe price …

Thank you Donavan for awesome customer service, it was our first time here and your suggestions were very helpful. The food service and atmosphere were great

I have known about Brooks BBQ for 25 years but never stopped there until today. I was under the impression it was just Chicken and am not a fan of chicken. I am glad I stopped. They have the best bri…

I have known about Brooks bbq for 25 years but never stopped there until today. I was under the impression it was just chicken and am not a fan of chicken. I am glad I stopped. They have the be…

I have known about Brooks BBQ for 25 years but never stopped there until today. I was under the impression it was just chicken and am not a fan of chicken. I am glad I stopped. They have the best…

I have known about Brooks bbq for 25 years but never stopped there until today. I was under the impression it was just Chicken and am not a fan of chicken. I am glad I stopped. They have the best b…

Excellent food, friendly staff, we love ordering from Brooks. We order takeout and go picnic at Fortin Park or Pine Lake. Always good food, ready quickly and the staff is great. The kids love it, and…

Excellent food, friendly staff, we love ordering from Brooks. We order takeout and go picnic at Fortin Park or Pine Lake. Always good food, ready quickly and the staff is great. The kids love it,…

Excellent food, friendly staff, we love ordering from Brooks. We order takeout and go picnic at Fortin Park or Pine Lake. Always good food, ready quickly and the staff is great. The kids love it,…

Brisket is excellent with the perfect strip of fat. You preorder your single serving of meat and thats all you will need anyway. 2 or 3 islands...with your basic bbq sides. Everything is self serve…

We held a celebration of life for my husband at The Roost event venue. The staff were responsive and kind, starting with the planning and throughout the event. The space held 85 people and was perf…

Brooks has changed up their business model slightly but the quality is still the same. An additional bonus is that they now serve beer and wine. Although you pay at the station as you enter, th…

Authentic BBQ, great staff, easy system of ordering, buffet style sides & fixings, everything included in price, even dessert and drinks (we didn’t have alcohol) clean, ample parking, management…

Authentic BBQ, great staff, easy system of ordering, buffet style sides & fixings, everything included in price, even dessert and drinks (we didn’t have alcohol) clean, ample parking, management w…

Great service and decent food. The brisket, hush puppies, Mac and cheese, and honey gold wings were good and the pulled pork and strawberry shortcake were just ok. Interesting and good beer selection.

Quality family restaurant, I ordered the chicken & rib combo and would rate the taste slightly above average. Fair prices and quick service. Plenty of parking and the home brew ale was refreshing! Will go again the next time I'm in the area.

It's getting time to update the atmosphere. That said the chicken is good and the buffet has fresh salad.

This is GREAT CHICKEN. They have their own methods and sauce and it's perfection. The ribs, sausage, and brisket are really good too. The brisket is different than what I'm used to. It doesn't have a smoke ring or even taste smoked, but it's good. I'd rather have the chicken at Brook's anyway. Everything else on the buffet is really good too. I like the cowboy beans and cornbread a lot, and my husband loves the chicken nuggets and plum sauce. They're made in the back so they're just cut pieces of chicken breast instead of chopped and formed grossness, and the plum sauce tastes made in house too. It's one of our favorite stops in the area when traveling. We can grab a cup of coffee on the buffet before we get back on the road. My only complaint, please staff Mondays? We're heartbroken every time we pass through and you're closed.

Always fresh & delicious. Good prices for what you get. Got 3 orders to go. Polite time efficient service. This business values and honors Veterans.

McClelland family has been around since 1912 with their poultry farm and BBQing since 1951. It is a fantastic meal that they have perfected and is consistently great. The salad bar comes with every meal, a homemade baked on site loaf of soft bread and even senior prices. You can even buy their sauces. Killer meal.

+5

I usually love Brooks BBQ, but maybe I’ve been spoiled by their pop up pits where u buy a half for $16. This chicken was D-RY! Ugh! Couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t even eat it, sadly. And the potatoes did not help. All in all, this time around, I did not have a great visit :/ I hope they’re not going ”down hill”, and that this was just a one-off thing!!

I have been going to Brooks since the 70's. It hasn't changed much over the years until recently. It's currently carry out only. The dinning room is closed. Sign says it's because they don't have enough employees to run it. Fortunately there are several picnic tables outside to eat at. The chicken is still amazing. However, the portions are now smaller. If you order a combo, you only get 1/4 chicken now instead of a half. But definitely stop and try the chicken. You won't be disappointed in the taste. And grab a bottle of the Bar BQ sauce while you're there, and make your next cook out amazing.

I’ve had Brooks BBQ chicken for years through fundraisers and it’s always been delicious and have always wanted to get here. Today was my first time and I thought it was solid. I really thought the food tasted great and was worth the $20 I paid. The service was fast, friendly and efficient. Reminded me of all the BBQ places in the south that I’ve been too so the ordering and food pick-up concept wasn’t too foreign. The Ribs were not my favorite but cant win ‘em all. Reading other reviews I do wish I got to experience the pre Covid Brooks House of BBQ but I’d still def come back!

Ordered ribs to-go here today. I was not disappointed. Ribs were tender and juicy, not overly sweet. Portion was generous. Order prepared timely.

A lot has changed within my 6 year gap of visiting brooks’ bbq. The food in general has kept its flavor which is the most important part of this experience. Being a Delhi alum, brooks’ was the go to spot whenever there was family in town and visiting after 6 years we did just that. There are way less seating available, but I’m assuming Covid has a lot to do with that and the removal of the salad bar. Even with dining in, you’ll need to order and pay for your food first before finding a seat with a buzzer that will let you know when your order is ready for pick up. No waiters available, however there are free refills are the fountain. The cashiers were quick and blunt, not much interaction with us. Doesn’t matter to me anyway because I went for the food. The portions seems to have gotten a little smaller but the flavors are still there. It was good, we went back next day for take out.

+2

I thought this place was pretty good for the area. I had the pulled pork, onion rings and cornbread. The pork was very well balanced and flavorful. It wasn’t too salty, slightly citrusy but very savory and also a tad sweet. I really enjoyed it. The onion rings were very crunchy and not too salty. I am a fan of crunch, so I liked them a lot. Skip the cornbread though. I should’ve got the regular dinner roll. Probably would’ve paired well with the pulled pork. Overall, it was good, but nothing too crazy. Good place for a family dinner or if you want some American classics.

It was pretty good. We got the buffet. Which really isn’t a buffet because you can only have a set amount of bbq. You can pick 1 2 or 3 different meats. 2 meat was $30 per person and you get choice of two meats and then whatever is at the buffet. Buffet is decent. Mashed potatoes were good. Mac and cheese was good. Salads were good. The best part was the ice cream. They have pure maple syrup as a topping. The atmosphere is great.

John G

This establishment has been a “must go” place for my wife and her family for as long as she can remember; so this review comes from a place of 36 years (that’s how long I’ve been apart of the family.) This last visit was a bit disappointing… the food was still amazing, but the service was less than average. After ordering we were given a receipt and left to figure out what to do next. When I asked, “now what do we do?” I got a figure point to the middle of the dining room area. I would still recommend this place; but caution to not expect stellar customer service.

lisa howard

Let me just start by thanking the owners of this restraunt. They've created heaven on earth! This food was not only delicious, but it was also packaged well . We ordered takeout, and as usual, we counted on poor quality of packaging. We were pleasantly surprised to find the bag that the takeout bag was sealed shut and the cold condiments were in a separate bag from the hot items. Each item was individually wrapped or in containers. We ordered the ribs and brisket with Mac n cheese and coleslaw. The meats were tender, juicy, and flavorful. The mac n cheese was not mushy or bland. The coleslaw was on the sweet but not too sweet. This place gets packed, but we were able to find parking in our, we'll, for lack of a better description, RV. I greatly appreciated the roomy parking lot and the outdoor picnic areas. Not only do I highly recommend this place to others, but I also hope to return. To management, chefs, and staff, thank you!

+2

Got takeout and it was not good. Even though it was quick, they forgot the hush puppies.The ribs were overcooked and tough, the brisket was a bunch of scraps, and most of the lettuce in the salad was…

Got takeout and it was not good. Even though it was quick, they forgot the hush puppies.The ribs were overcooked and tough, the brisket was a bunch of scraps, and most of the lettuce in the salad…

Very good food and even better service! First time here, the smashburger was excellent, as were the ribs. Our server Kayla went above and beyond bringing us samples of the various beers, and even…

Very good food and even better service! First time here, the smashburger was excellent, as were the ribs. Our server Kayla went above and beyond bringing us samples of the various beers, and even…

They changed the recipe!\n\nThe classic Cornell chicken formula has been adulterated with cloying artificial smoke flavor........not needed or appreciated.

wow how things have changed...have not been there since 2015...wheres the tiny loafs of bread the cinnamon butter the friendly local staff....wanted steak and the whole trout...... settled for the …

The main meats were tasty and satisfying. I got the ribs and salmon combo.\n\nThe service and ambience were disappointing.\n\nI told the hostess, Sienna, there was a dead bug on the sneeze guard of…

An expensive meal , $60 for two adults. You have to serve yourself, on a paper ( composite ) plate. That includes getting your own drink. The staff just picks up your trash and food waste , which y…

Changed a lot since I used to go when I was in college. Now it is a buffet style but meat is limited to the choice you paid for. You go us to the meat station with a receipt and they will give you …

Changed a lot since I used to go when I was in college. Now it is a buffet style but meat is limited to the choice you paid for. You go us to the meat station with a receipt and they will giv…

The food on the buffet was good however the ribs were awful,tough and nearly inedible. service was good wife's chicken was good. Stay away from the ribs!

Hmm let's see, this place has changed and I don't think for the better. This place used to have a waiting line all the way out the door, not anymore. The buffet format is a lousy idea, in my opinio…

Stopped in for pick up order, last time I had the boneless wings (3yrs ago) they were memorable! Now.... terrible, looked like meatballs, no sauce. Very disappointed

Not the best not the worst. Meat portion sizes are super small for the $28-$29 they charge you. The buffet is just a big salad bar and then another bar for sides like Mac and cheese and stale corn bread. Everything seemed kinda watered down to and blah. The service was friendly, the manager was nice and the place was very clean. I wouldn’t eat there again though. Just very average/below average.

Used to be really good. There are a ton of people doing on site chicken that is much better.

Haven't been here in a long time and stopped by recently while in the area. The brisket was lean and tasty, but sliced a bit too thin and was dry. The sides were decent and large size portion. The roll tasted like it just came out of a package. Disappointed that the dining room has not opened. There was sufficient covered outdoor seating. They did have a large restroom trailer in the back that was exceptionally clean.

Stopped for a quick lunch. For some reason I remember this a having more tables, but oh well. Friendly staff, prompt and quick service. However, the food seemed to be lacking this visit. Portions were a little on the small side. The flavor was just not there. The restaurant should have better quality than what you find on the roadside when they are cooking for a fund raiser. It was on par with the pop up's they do. Disappointing.

Quite the scene here. It is a multi-generational business that has expanded over time. I'm originally from the south where barbecue is compared on an almost religious basis and I'm no aficionado. This was good and for my purposes, the outdoor dining fulfilled a specific need---we were visiting from out of town with our dog and the farthest outdoor picnic table was next to the "dog walking area," meaning no hassle with having our pup join us. I had the pulled pork, which was good and a taste of my daughter's brisket, which was better. All the sides were passable, if not special, including the baked beans, potato salad and mac and cheese. I have to say that my favorite aspect of the place is the shaded grove of picnic tables ("and conference center" not full sure of what that part 'is' exactly)---and especially the restored 1936 Chevy pickup, originally owned, evidently, by Frank Sinatra, and is the same model as a vehicle used in the family biz two generations ago.

+2

We ordered carry out. The baby back ribs had great flavor but were dry. The brisket was nothing special as were the mild wings, not enough sauce on them at all. The potato salad, coleslaw, hush puppies, fries, and beans were all very good as was the coconut cake we shared for dessert. Next time I would try the bbq chicken.

Ribs were good, buffet was plan and basic. I asked for a to go cup for my drink that I didn't drink from dinner and got hassle about not allowing a soda to leave since it was dine in? Little crazy it was just my soda.

Stopped by for lunch on a road trip. I enjoyed my pulled pork sandwich and onion rings. Mac and cheese was pretty good, too. My husband enjoyed his baked beans, but thought the pulled pork was sort of bland. No one in the family cared for the french fries. 2 of my kids got chicken poppers which they left mostly uneaten. I tried one and it was overcooked and dry. We were also planning to use the bathroom before hitting the road, but much to our dismay the dining room was closed, which is where the bathrooms are located.

Richard Francis

It's a shame... Brook's is a far cry from what they once were. It used to be a family friendly restaurant. It's sad seeing a once bustling dining room sitting idle and lifeless. Gone is the great salad bar with the best coleslaw and the warm homemade bread. No more lines of people waiting to be seated, replaced with a virtually empty parking lot. We are no longer living in the area and with only a take-out option, it is doubtful that we will be back.

Leo Fioravanti

This is a rare example of a place where buying from the mobile fundraising events is an overall better experience than visiting the home base. Firstly, the meat is good but sides are like chain buffet quality. Every BBQ taste is different. If you’re looking for Texas wood smoke you won’t find it here. This is charcoal based BBQ, and in my experience, chicken and ribs are the highlight since they take better to that kind of cook. I was not a fan of the brisket or pulled pork because I think those really need Texas smoke. They should add sausage and turkey options since they are also good charcoal cooked meats. If you want to dine in on the weekends, it’s buffet only and no sandwiches. The cost will be between $20-35 depending on your choice of meat. The buffet is all you can eat sides and dessert (ice cream and pudding), but meat is only one round. They also bring you fries and bread for the table, but I think the goal here is to fill you up on that cheap stuff so would recommend skipping those. Plus they’re not even good. Get a biscuit from the buffet if you want some carbs. So why 3 stars? The overall experience just feels cheap and it really seems like they look down on their customers. The place is old and not in a cool vintage way. No hand sanitizer for the cafeteria style buffet. I felt like I was being watched the whole time to ensure I wasn’t stealing food. Idk maybe it’s a problem for them in which case they should change the format. They allow you to take uneaten meat home but not anything else on your plate, and not even any of the fries or bread that THEY gave you. Not sure what’s happening with those leftovers. Packed leftover meat is wrapped in foil and given to you in a clear plastic bag that is trimmed and knotted in a way to again ensure you’re not stealing anything. Look I’m not interested in stealing food or taking buffet items home. It just all overall made for a weird experience to the point where it seemed like I was inconveniencing them for being a customer.

Theresag G

For $50 our chicken was cold and we had absolutely no service. The only time we saw wait staff was to bag up our chicken to take it home. No bread was brought to the takle. Sides were ok, but not great. Plates were very small. Some of the cucumbers were mushy and the salad dressing bottles had dressing spilled down them. It's not the place we used to love to go to, unfortunately. We won't make the hour drive again. :(

Came here with a big appetite looking forward to a "bbq buffet". Paid approximately $36 for a 2 Meat Buffet only to find out the buffet is not all-you-can-eat on the bbq meats. You only get one…

There is no better barbecue! However, changing it to a buffet has left the quality and atmosphere in a rather poor state. Although the food was delicious, we waited 10 minutes when we were finished…

There is no better barbecue! However, changing it to a buffet has left the quality and atmosphere in a rather poor state. Although the food was delicious, we waited 10 minutes when we were finished…

Driving across I-88 and we were looking for lunch spot, found this as we got off the exit. Nice treat to find a buffet. The chicken was very good but the hot bar items was underwhelming. Salad bar …

Been going there for over 50 years wish you can go back in time cause it was a great place every thing taste like home made, Salads now taste like it came from Price chopper chicken rubbery and over priced, Since John Brooks left gone down hill, my friend from San Diego that grew up in Oneonta was coming for a visit all he talked about was to eat at Brooks, after we left he said what the hell happened to this place, to bad, also every year enjoyed entering the big buck contest

I got the brisket dinner to go. Unfortunately, I was surprised when I opened the box. There was not much brisket and half of it was fat. If I was in the restaurant I would have sent it back. What was left after getting rid of the fat was basically a snack, not a dinner. 20 bucks and still hungry…..

So disappointed. No more eat-in, only picnic tables outside. Hubby's ribs were ok, chicken dry + flavorless. Mac n cheese was bland, BBQ sauce watery + way too sweet. My black bean burger was pasty + flavorless. Overall, Brooks has gone way downhill since my last visit years ago. We won't be back.

Bbq chicken was over cooked and dried out so burnt and dry. Brisket was over cooked( guessing kept warm in foil in a steamer) so it was mushy without much flavor. French fries over cooked, dried out ,oily and some burnt. Drinks were self serve had all the regulars plus coffee and tea. Green side salad was fresh cold and crispy ; dressing was good too. Dinner Roll was warm ,dried out and tasteless. Their signature sauce is a mix of red Carolina bbq sauce and mustard bbq. I didn’t like it. I like them separate but together it was all over the place in flavor. I was hours from home hungry and tired. I’ve had this before at many satellite locations ( catering) and at the location in Oneonta. I have to say it was the worst I’d ever had of Brooks Bbq. The two stars are for the salad and drinks.

+6

I'm glad that you're able to do order pick up,with a lack of employee's. Need to update there app ,for tried to load app said it's not set up for the newer android phones . Food was good ,went to local park to eat Got BBQ Ribs and Grilled Chicken Salad Sandwich

The beef brisket was disappointingly tasteless. I hoped loading up on sides at the buffet would save the experience, only to taste disappointment after disappointment. Additionally, the new ordering system is unnecessarily complicated.

1st time at Brooks. Had the ribs. Just ok kinda dry. My wife had the pulled pork said it was delicious. Overall very disappointed with the buffet. Why not just have a traditional buffet? My wife wouldn't have taken 8 oz of pork to begin with and I dought after a couple of ribs I would have switched to chicken. To sum it up we were very let down after hearing how good it was supposed to be. P.s. met friends for for dinner who had been there years ago. Only comment was certainly isn't what it used to b e.

I’m an avid BBQ lover and it saddens me to have to give this place a low rating. I was so excited to try out Brooks’ House of Bar-b-q and what I left with is disappointment. Upon arriving, we walked in and saw the counter to order at. The staff was waiting patiently as we determined what we wanted to eat. We ordered a dozen chicken wings, half garlic parm, half spicy hickory bbq as an appetizer. As our mains, we ordered a combo plate of chicken and brisket with a side salad and onion rings, and a combo plate of chicken and ribs with Mac and cheese and vegetable which were carrots. As per the menu, all dinners come with a buttered roll and two sides. There’s a $0.60 up charge if you want to switch your roll to cornbread. I ordered two pieces of cornbread too, and got two drinks. After we placed our order, the front staff didn’t give us any direction as to where to pick up our food or where to sit to eat our food. I had to physically ask these questions like “where do we go to pick up our food?” “Where can we sit to eat our food?” Turns out you just wait until your order is called right where you ordered food. And outdoor seating is available behind the place. Receiving our order was relatively quick. We sat out back. We ate the chicken wings first. They were good. Meaty flavorful saucy wings. I really loved the garlic parm sauce. It was fresh garlic they used in their sauce and you could tell. This was honestly the best food item I ate from here. The spicy hickory bbq was okay. Nothing to rave about. Then this is where disappointment settled in. Like I mentioned we ordered the combo plates. Both had chicken. It was very good. Smoked. And the skin was great. Big piece of chicken too. But one plate had the ribs. It was 3 ribs in total which is perfect for a combo plate. However these ribs WERE NOT fall off the bone meat. I needed a knife to cut through them and all they give out are plastic utensils. It was rough very rough trying to get through these. The ribs were juicy-ish. But also needed some type of sauce. The other combo plate had the brisket. Tasted okay, but also needed sauce. The “buttered” roll was definitely not buttered and they didn’t give us butter either. The cornbread was dry as a river. But had no butter to slab on there. The onion rings were greasy like they didn’t let the deep fryer basket drop a tad. Carrots were alright, needed butter and salt. The utensil packet came with salt and pepper luckily. The only thing that redeemed itself was the mac&cheese. That was moist and cheesy and hot and yummy. I would order just this again. Overall I have to say it’s more like a 2.5 star but I can’t do half ratings on here. If you’re looking for a bbq place around town, please pass by this one and continue to keep looking.

The last time I was there on Tuesday the hot and cold bars were very dissatisfied gravy over salty and I like salt salads are not what they used to be the flavors are not the same. The girls spoke very poor English and were rude my guest said her chicken was very dry and she had same opinion of hot and cold bars this may be our last time here and we have loved Brooks for years. We are local.

I'm still not sure what to say about this place. I grew up eating Brooks BBQ for fundraisers and thought the nostalgic memories would make this trip worth the ride but I'm thinking I've never felt so let down before. Brooks is a glorified fast food restaurant that is from 8 decades ago and has not changed anything. We were very confused walking in and not being greeting. Finally realizing we needed to approach a cash register we learned we needed to order, pick up, seat ourselves, then eat our lackluster food. The food which did come out very quick, perhaps faster than any fast food restaurant. I'll give them that. But everything came out together and we had ordered an appetizer. The cauliflower was heavily breaded, either lightly bread it or don't bread it. The chicken tasted like smoked rotisserie chicken (I can buy a whole one for $7 at Price Chopper). The bread was cold. The meats lacked flavor other than salt, smoke, and mustard. The decor is maybe a step up from the Cracker Barrel. A very down home country establishment. The only good thing we ate was the beans. There are ways to make BBQ nice. It's ok to update. The fries seemed fresh cut but were served room temp. Will not be back.

brooks not what it used to be. i try to support a local buisness but kind of hard when the food quality and atmosphere has gone way down hill. i miss the old way where u order a meal and waitresses and friendly staff, the buffet is cheap quality and manangement is awful. the owner a great guy and i have worked with him personally for fundraising events but now are is different and just the same welcome feeling anymore. used to go there once twice or even three times a month plus any local benefit in my county they may have had brooks bbq but now one time in a year and honestly food the chicken was black and burned and when asked about it was given a nasty look and comment and was told i didnt know how to bbq. hate to tell u i do and i dont burn it. sry to say i even the fundraisers i have supported between albany area to onteonda just not good at all. wont be back.

While this is a well known restaurant in the region, it is a bit overrated, in my opinion. First of all, dining in the main dining room seems to require purchase of the buffet, where the meats have been sitting in chaffing dishes for who knows how long, and the salad bar is extremely average. By ordering at the window you can dodge the overpriced buffet and it enables you to order "a la carte" and get away cheaper. Plus, the meat dishes are fresher at the window, based on my experience. Unfortunately, if ordering at the window, seating inside is off limits. Instead, you can sit outside or on a bench in the narrow entrance hall with your plate on your lap with your flimsy plastic fork and knife. I don't like the rules they have set up at this old and dated restaurant, including their refusal to provide a to-go cup if you want to leave the buffet with a drink refill. When you pay $50+ for two people dining in, you at least expect to be able to leave with a paper or styrofoam cup of ice-tea or water. I don't think Ill be going back.

Grace Lobdell

I tried the baby rack of ribs & sweet potato fries ! I got home before I realized the fries were a burnt offering & the ribs were tasty (But overly sweet) not the ribs of the past generation. Saw the chicken price for 1/2 $7.50 I have the sauce & make it at home. Miss the parents style.

Special was prime rib, ordered same and when I took ticket to counter they were sold out. Took 4 trips back to cash register, waiting each time while I was attempting to eat what dinner I could get…

What was once the premier barbecue ribs and chicken place in New York State has been ruined. It used to be that you would take a seat and a waitress would take your order, then you would help yours…

What was once the premier barbecue ribs and chicken place in New York State has been ruined. It used to be that you would take a seat and a waitress would take your order, then you would help yours…

I only get take out, not often but I refuse to use the restaurant. Reasons why expensive and besides the meat 2/3 of the salads are convenience. \nA month ago I stopped, bought a quarter, the thigh…

I was in town for my son's baseball camp. Upon arriving I had a good feeling about Brooks BBQ. That was until we we're seated. Food was at best ok. Not worth the price we paid for unlimited sides a…

Don't waste your time or money! \nWe have been stopping here for years whenever we travel through the area, but this time will most definitely be the last. \nThere is no wait staff. You have to s…

We went on a Saturday afternoon, three of us had the barbeque chicken half with the buffet. What a waste of 75$, that's right 75$ . The chicken halves looked like they were leftover from the day …

We went on a Saturday afternoon, three of us had the barbeque chicken half with the buffet. What a waste of 75$, that's right 75$ . The chicken halves looked like they were leftover from the day be…

One half chicken and one Senior chicken $48. We did not want All You Can Eat Buffet and Unlimited drinks. We miss the old menu and service. We won’t be back again. Very sad to see this.

Quality sub par, extremely high priced for what you get, buffet style of nothing special, your meat is limited to tiny portions, we felt robbed.

Worst. Meal. Ever. This is a horrible, dirty, expensive buffet. The website is misleading! You are herded like cattle to a desk to order your meat and you’re handed sani-wipes and a bucket for your…

Was there today (11/5/2021) was very disappointed. The meal was subpar compared to times past. Ordering as you come in the door, given a ready light, then wait until your light goes off. Go pick …

Why did they wreck this place? What was once I sit down barbecue restaurant built around their delicious chicken, is now a gross buffet. With dried out meat and gelatinous sides. Not to mention bait and switch on the included desert which was limited to picked over pudding and cheapest soft serve ice cream mix available. Honestly the worst meal I've had at Brooks in 20 years, if I'd known buffet was the only option I would have skipped it. talk about self-destruction of a brand... So sad.

I’ve been going to brooks for over 40 years. It was always a highlight for me when I would visit from NJ, which was 15-20 trips per year. It’s very sad to see what has happened to the place. The food, which was outstanding on most days, is barely worth eating. Add that to the fact they doubled their prices since Covid and it’s a recipe for disaster. But honestly, it’s not worth eating for free. If you haven’t been in a few years, please don’t go. Keep the great memories you have of the good old days. When there were lines out the door and great service and great food. You will find none of that anymore.

Firstly I have had Brooks' my entire life from the restaurant, fair, church Brooks' shoot I met my husband in person for the first time at Brooks' for dinner. THIS IS NOT IT! What happened? We had the buffet dine in unappetizing for $64.80 I honestly don't care about the price if I am served a meal worthy and it certainly was not. As for atmosphere it was lacking. Looking around things are missing. Things just felt off different. The chicken is like deconstructed rotisserie sized chicken's as for taste it is off like a fake liquid smoke has been added to everything or something. I dont know? The same went for the brisket and as for the ribs not even close. The tomatoes on the salad bar were no good. The rolls hockey pucks, Chicken biscuits the biscuits were terrible and the chicken grave seamed out of a can. The coleslaw was even lacking. Everthing was Luke warm at best. It was just lacking And come to think of it. Where was the cottage cheese?maybe we missed it.

This was my first time here and it will definitely be my last. It was one of the worst restaurants I’ve ever been to. The service was great, but the food was horrible. The buffet is comparable to the Golden Corral, nothing to brag about. The chicken and the salmon were very salty. I was only able to eat half of the chicken due to all of the salt. Also, they still have yet to update the menu on the website. The menu has drastically reduced in size. Overall, this was a very disappointing experience. Save yourself the time and money and go to a different BBQ place.

It is all buffet style nasty. u can’t sit down order off the menu any more it’s horrible gone right down hill to bad it was a great place before changes

Everything was bland tasting, minimal service, not like a few years ago. The workers were nice. We will not be coming back. Also very pricey.

My first time and I'll never go back. I just spent $22 for only THREE baby back ribs. Sure it comes with an all you can eat buffet but the only thing desirable about the meal was the 3 ribs. The food on the buffet taste like hospital food. I have a hard time believing the stories my partner shared of the restaurant in the past because this was below subpar at best.

I grew up eating brooks and looooved it. It has ruined its name and will no longer be a staple in our home. Took my kids here for lunch and I couldn’t be more disgusted. I spent $60 on three meals to seat my self, serve myself and get my own drinks. The food came out fast food style and was microwaved. My ribs were so over microwaved that they were dried out. My son’s chicken was so dry he couldn’t eat it. It was like chewing rubber bands. French fries looked fresh cut but were also microwaved and harder than rocks. Absolutely inedible. What an expensive lesson learned.

Drove an hour round trip to one of their events at St. Michael the Archangel – 80 Saratoga Road, South Glens Falls on Oct 12. Their website said "Serving Chicken Dinners 11:00 until sold out". Got there at 11:10am and saw at least 50 chickens on the grill. Tried to buy 2 but was told they were sold out! Won't say why. I couldn't find any way people could reserve them. Suggest caution if considering a long trip to one of their events.

I have been going to Brooks for over 60 years. We have noticed that the food the last couple of years has not been what it once was. We got a couple of chicken halves yesterday which were dry, over cooked and did not taste like it once did. We were truly disappointed.

*Read this before you go* YIKES! I’ve been stopping at Brooks since I was a little girl, 35+ years traveling between PA&NY. When I say this restaurant was previously a 10/10, it’s now about a 2/10. For lunch for 2 adults meal, tax and tip was $86! Yes you read that right—- $86. For lunch. Your only sit down option now is a buffet. You pay at the door for your meat selection and you have a small buffet with about 10 different sides plus salad. 2 meats will run you $30…. The food is absolutely disappointing. The meat is cooked and left to sit under heat warmers. So much for “off the smoker/grill” taste. It didn’t even taste like they smoked the chicken. The chicken was luke warm. It wasn’t cooked the same and didn’t have any BBQ sauce on it. This is a BBQ restaurant?!?! My husband said he could tell the quality of his meat was not good, nothing like the previous Brooks owners would have served. DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY OR A TRIP HERE. The “best” part is, you will be given a hard time about taking any leftovers with you. They reluctantly gave me a white bag for my pulled pork. Not even foil lined. Remember- you’re paying $30 for 2 meats. You can’t even give your customers a proper takeout container? Instead of allowing guests to take home remaining food they rather waste it and toss it. If this were the previous sit down restaurant model where you order off a menu, a takeout container would be given without any issues and you’d pay a heck of a lot less. This was an absolute disaster. Food was horrible especially for the price. The newest generation of Brooks owners are running the restaurant into the ground. It’s so sad because our family has such great memories here. The amount of money we were charged was actually insulting. We won’t be back.

We got in at 7:15 pm. There were quite a few people. The 1/2 BBQ Chicken was cold and extremely dry. Many buffet items were old, or scraps in the pan. The Salad & old baked potato was almost hot, and were the best part of the meal. To spend over $60, and have Food that is substandard is terrible. I'm from Texas, and have been here 3 times pre-covid, and food was amazing. Post covid in 2021 and today, the food was horrible. Their namesake is the BBQ chicken. It was cold, terribly dry, including the thigh and leg. The breast and tender was even drier, like a hocky puck. We left most of the chicken, it was that bad. I doubt we'll ever be back. I don't mind paying for good food no matter the cost, but today was worse than Cracker Barrel. I'm sad that the food is so bad.

Nothing good lasts forever. We used to travel to Albany frequently and Brooks was a “must stop.” We were surprised that it is now a buffet and you just order your meat at the door. We miss the friendly service and the hustle and bustle of kitchen by the bar. Now it feels like a hospital cafeteria and I don’t like handling all buffet food utensils that everyone else in the restaurant has as well. Germs anyone? Are the spiced apple rings gone?! It also seems like it is no longer as “senior friendly” or for folks with mobility issues because of the lack of wait staff now. We wish the Brooks family well. Thanks for the memories of a good sit down family restaurant.

Unfortunately, Brooks House of Barbecue is no longer what it once was. From the current ownership and management to some of the staff, the overall environment, the quality of the food, and especially the pricing — the change has been undeniable. Brooks House of BBQ, as many people remember it, is now a thing of the past. This decline falls squarely on the current owner, his ego, and his focus on pinching pennies and increasing profits rather than prioritizing quality food and a positive customer experience. That mindset has clearly filtered down through parts of management and staff as well. The owner seems far more concerned with the sauce plant than with the restaurant itself. While there were noticeable negative changes prior to COVID, the pandemic appeared to hit the current owner particularly hard. Instead of adapting constructively, he allowed it to affect him, and that frustration was taken out on his staff, the restaurant, the customers, and ultimately the food. The current owner does not handle criticism well at all. What was once a respected and beloved establishment is now suffering greatly, and sadly, the owner is in the process of destroying his own family’s legacy.

Becky Tinus

Getting take out on our way home from Massachusetts. Asked to substitute the spicy mayonnaise and honey Dijon for regular mayonnaise. We can not tolerate any spice. One sandwich dry with nothing on it and the other was very spicy with the the condiment I wanted replaced. The chicken texture was very tough. We have visited over many years. This is the second bad food experience. Very disappointing.

Summer

We didn't order anything extra and it came to over $70 for two people for a weekday quick lunch buffet. One person had a full portion of ribs (which turned out to be about a half rack) and the other had wings as their meat ($30 - included the buffet, wings deep fried to order). You take your meat ticket to a station near the buffet where your meat is pulled from a pile of precooked meats, being held to temperature. It is understood that BBQ and smoked meat need hours to cook and that a cook to order style cannot be done for BBQ, but the ribs that came from this station were tough and dry. Parts of the meat (the outermost sides, top, edges, etc) were dry. We're not talking about 'this meat was a little overcooked' kinds of dry...we're talking a dry beef jerky. The wait staff were attentive but unable to communicate. The salad bar and hot bar had soup, lettuce, potato salad, chicken nuggets, Mac n cheese, coleslaw and other selections. The plates are tiny - I would say smaller than a household salad plate. We split the ribs and wings so we each ate our meal from those tiny plates. I don't remember if the plate that the wings were served on was larger, but the wings reached the edges of the plate and there was no room for putting your buffet food on it once you brought it to the table. The result? 1: eating like a beast from multiple plates all around the table, or 2: constantly bouncing up and down to get your cold selection, hot selection, etc one at a time or 3: eating your entire meal off of tiny plates. They still bring you bread (and french fries!) to the table but they also have it at the salad bar which unfortunately resulted in us having more bread than we could eat. We were unable to finish our meal, and they offered to box it up. They came back with our food (only the meat that you selected - you can't take anything else with you from your plate like the accidental abundance of bread which probably ended up in the trash 😔) and handed us our food wrapped in aluminum foil and a clear plastic bag, doubled knotted shut. The way it was carried gave 'I clean up after my dog' vibes. During a tour once, it was told that the bottling business of Brooks is now it's main income driver, and this shows. The corner cutting is seen everywhere in the restaurant. Local. Won't be going back.