Burke's. BBQ next week (NOW OPEN)

[doug11]

Wow...my wife and I were fortunate enough to have an opportunity to taste a sampling of the menu items at the Soon to open BBQ on 466a just east of the Shell station at Colony.

Boy it it country with a capital C.... True country Home made side dishes complement fabulous Beef, pork and chicken entrees fresh from their smokehouse and open pit....they are going to open next week sometime and from what I understand, since it takes hours to prepare the meats, it going to be first come first serve. So when they run out of an item for the day, you'll have to wait til the next day for a fresh batch...go early!

Really rustic...this is not fine dining...all meals are served on a butcher paper covered tray self serve....mostly covered outdoor seating with a few seats indoors....

The side dishes are truly unique and delicious ... They will also sell vintage soda pops, candies and Home made fresh Kettle Korn to take home...

You've got to try this place out ... No golf cart path is the only downside that we could see...

[jblum315]

Wow, it's about time! I go by there almost every day and it seems like we've been waiting forever.
Do you know what their hours are going to be?

[gomoho]

Is the BBQ vinegar or tomato based sauce? Stopped there yesterday to see if they had a menu and they did not - were training.

[justjim]

We go by there often taking the "shortcut" to Target etc. on 441. I can visualize cars all up and down 466A when they open!

[gmcneill]

Sounds perfect for a drive by pickup and go, straight home for outdoor dining on the lanai

[CaliforniaGirl]

Passed by there at 6pm tonight and the parking lot was filled. Soft opening, maybe?

[Bogie Shooter]

Hang on, the bad reviews will be coming.

[KathieI]

I had a conversation with Tim Burke last week about scheduling a "grand opening" celebration with music and entertainment when he is ready to open.. He is a very smart young man and informed me that he wanted to get all his ducks in a row with a "soft opening" before he had any kind of grand opening celebration. I offered him the opportunity of suggesting an entertainer for his opening and also that I would post information on facebook and TOTV to add to his publicity plans. He was very interested but really wanted to make sure his staff and menu was ready before he did this. I was quite impressed with his business savy and he suggested that he would get back to me when he is ready. I think he really will. I'm looking forward to this restaurant opening and think it could add a lot of opportunity to our southern resident of the villages. We definitely need a new restaurant on 466A.

[doug11]

Hang on, the bad reviews will be coming.
Bogie...I'm not sure what you mean about the bad reviews coming.

[Bogie Shooter]

Bogie...I'm not sure what you mean about the bad reviews coming.

Just be patient. There are always folks that are not satisfied regardless and they will come on here and let you know. Its usually 60-40....60 % think the restaurant is good and 40% who will find fault.
Do a search on any restaurant in TV and you will see what I mean.

[renielarson]

This post was on the Burke's Facebook page about 11pm tonight:

Burke's Barbeque
39 minutes ago
We are open Y'all, Come see us when you can. Thanks to a fine staff and patient and understanding customers like you, we are off to a great start. Thanks to all for your encourgement and support. Thanks to my amazing Dad for seeing this all the way through, And to Norma Burke You are amazing, and I love you.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Great! Finally!!! :D Thanks for posting this.

We plan to give them a try when we're down there next time.

Bill :)

[getdul981]

We drove by there yesterday about 430 PM and there didn't appear to be any activity. We were wondering if and when they are going to open. Apparently, they are already open. May have to give them a try tonight. Anyone have any ideas what their hours are?

[Bill-n-Brillo]

........ Anyone have any ideas what their hours are?

Couldn't find their hours noted anywhere.............so I gave them a ring. (352) 787-4227

Monday - Thursday 10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday closed

They're going to see how the "staying open til 9:30" on Sat. and Sun. goes. The young lady on the phone said they're going to try it to see how it works out. Might wind up being just til 8:30.

Bill :wave:

[justjim]

If the food is good, they should do well with that location. Congrats on your new restaurant.

[jdsl1998]

I had a conversation with Tim Burke last week about scheduling a "grand opening" celebration with music and entertainment when he is ready to open.. He is a very smart young man and informed me that he wanted to get all his ducks in a row with a "soft opening" before he had any kind of grand opening celebration. I offered him the opportunity of suggesting an entertainer for his opening and also that I would post information on facebook and TOTV to add to his publicity plans. He was very interested but really wanted to make sure his staff and menu was ready before he did this. I was quite impressed with his business savy and he suggested that he would get back to me when he is ready. I think he really will. I'm looking forward to this restaurant opening and think it could add a lot of opportunity to our southern resident of the villages. We definitely need a new restaurant on 466A.

Sounds wonderful, you are SO good at this....perhaps we can meet...heading to The Villages in 6 hours....

[Bogie Shooter]

Couldn't find their hours noted anywhere.............so I gave them a ring. (352) 787-4227

Monday - Thursday 10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 10:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday closed

They're going to see how the "staying open til 9:30" on Sat. and Sun. goes. The young lady on the phone said they're going to try it to see how it works out. Might wind up being just til 8:30.

Bill :wave:

What brilliant idea.............actually call and ask!:clap2:

[Bill32]

Stopped in today about 3:30, They were out of pulled pork so I got the sliced pork sandwich.
They said by 5 pm they would have all new fresh food out. They offer a few types of sandwich rolls but only had white when I got there. The sliced pork didn't have much flavor but adding some barbecue sauce made it OK. Cafeteria style, no waitstaff which is fine by me. Many other interesting things on the menu that I'll try. I think it will be a good spot for an inexpensive meal close by.

[Shimpy]

....mostly covered outdoor seating with a few seats indoors....
...

I wish them the best, but have to question mostly outdoor seating. Now in the winter it would be great, but the majority of the year no way. Can't imagine anyone wanting to set outside through the summer in 90+ temps.

[travelguy]

I wish them the best, but have to question mostly outdoor seating. Now in the winter it would be great, but the majority of the year no way. Can't imagine anyone wanting to set outside through the summer in 90+ temps.

I would have thought the opposite; who would want to sit outdoors in the winter in the evening?
summers here are lovely!:posting:

[Houselover]

Went there tonight and the food was great..Had the pulled pork with sweet potato pecan cassrole and apples..Best BBQ we have had here and the sides were outstanding..
The only downside was the staff is still in training but the quality of the food and people there more than made up for the slower service..:welcome:

[KathieI]

Sounds wonderful, you are SO good at this....perhaps we can meet...heading to The Villages in 6 hours....

Please, please, lets try to meet up this trip. We always say it but never do... I promise to keep my calendar open. Have a safe trip down. See ya soon, Deb.

[Shimpy]

I would have thought the opposite; who would want to sit outdoors in the winter in the evening?
summers here are lovely!:posting:

My experience, though may not be typical, is BBQ places do most of their business for lunch. Also, being in my 60th year in Florida,
find nothing "lovely" about the evenings when afternoon thunderstorms are expected almost every day. Remember it doesn't get dark until very late and stays hot until then. Late April and most of May you will experience Love Bugs everywhere. You won't find many people choosing to set outside.

[rubicon]

This restaurant lost me with the first come first serve requirement. Something about having to race to a restaurant hopefully to have something left just doen't sit well for me. :grumpy: :1rotfl:

[Bogie Shooter]

Well, it took 24 posts..................to get the first negative about Burke's.

[Bogie Shooter]

My experience, though may not be typical, is BBQ places do most of their business for lunch. Also, being in my 60th year in Florida,
find nothing "lovely" about the evenings when afternoon thunderstorms are expected almost every day. Remember it doesn't get dark until very late and stays hot until then. Late April and most of May you will experience Love Bugs everywhere. You won't find many people choosing to set outside.

Been here in Florida for 13 years and don't find it all that bad!

[mulligan]

I will be trying that soon, and when I do, since they own all that nursery land, I am going to ask if they will consider a golf cart path from behind the gas station.

[justjim]

Oakwood's Baby Back Ribs are better---Because Burke's does not serve them as noted on their menu. We were disappointed about that but they have plenty of other options. We went today around 3:30 to get pulled pork to take home. They were out of pulled pork shoulder---only meat left was beef sausage and chicken. We passed as we really wanted to try their barbeque pork to return around 5:00 when they said they would have it. At 4:45 my wife called our order in for carry out. She ask did they have the pork shoulder, told they did and placed our order. When I went to pick it up at 5:15, I was told they didn't have it yet and wasn't sure but could have it by 6:00. I changed the order to pork spareribs along with our sides. However, the young lady ring them up as something else and was about to cheat herself out of a little over $5.00. Pointing that out to her---we got "straight" and I left. The pork spareribs were okay (We prefer baby backs) but the sides were very good. Obviously, Burke's is overwhelmed with more business than they can handle and needs time to debug their system. We will give them another try in a month or so when "things" calm.

[Uptown Girl]

We ate there this evening. We liked it. The barbeque is rather a cross between Texas barbeque (w/o mesquite) and St. Louis dry rub.
No vinegar based sauce, and the meat comes bare- you put your selected sauce on to your liking. Sides have a regional twist too. BBq beans and potato salad have a bit of heat! Different for me, but I liked it!

I had a pulled pork sandwich w/o sauce, just so I could fully taste the meat. The meat was good, moist and tender and flavorful. Good cut of pork- no fat. Generous helping as well.

They also have spare ribs (no baby back ribs on the menu), brisket,
smoked beef sausage, smoked turkey breast and roast chicken halves.
Met the owner and liked him. Looks like he will be hands on daily. He is already looking at ways to improve whatever he can. Tonight they were packed.

The place is VERY casual, take out is from a walk-up window outside, service is one at a time, cafeteria style.
Outdoor seating is under roof, with ceiling fans and picnic benches. Indoor seating is limited.

We wish them well and will return again!!