Russell’s Barbecue

This is a Landmark in this part of town. My mom used to eat here as a little girl and since I’m in town we stopped in. It’s as good as I remember.

Best beef sandwich ever. Been going there for over 35 years and the food is as good every time as the first time I tried it. Sure miss the Rolling Meadows location though.

Best BBQ beef I’ve ever had. The brisket sandwich and ribs are worth trying as well. The BBQ sauce it’s self is one of my favorites and is quite unique.
I’ve been coming here my whole life and will continue to until I’m dead.

Having grown up in Elmwood Park, I was a regular at Russell’s throughout my childhood. Now that I’ve moved out of town, it remains one of my first stops when visiting the area.
The BBQ pork sandwiches are fantastic. They’d probably be average without the famous Russell’s sauce, but that is good stuff!

I used to go here all the time with my family. I remember the ribs, and everything being amazing. It was just a bit of a pain waiting in line, then having to wait for your ticket to be called. It has been over a year, but now it is completely different. They have Adult Video Gaming section (Video Gambling) where a big round table used to sit. I have family in Elmhurst, and we would all meet up and snag that table when we could. Now it is on the other side of the restaurant so at least it’s not gone, but still a downer.
Across from this area is a small bar. This is new, and just feels very different. I guess they are going for a bit more of a sports bar feel.
Anyway, ribs were sub par, and I feel that the quality of the food has suffered with the changes. Also if they updated in all these ways they could have upgraded the bathrooms. I know they are tiny, but it just seems out of place with everything more fixed up now.

The seating area is pretty spacious. I did enjoy the mac n cheese wedges but the food is pretty mediocre. After two times I really could not think about coming back unless I was starving. Sorry. I have to be honest. Plenty of parking, food is pretty greasy. Not my cup of tea.

Don’t get the BBQ Ribs more bone than Meat fake Mashed Overcooked Corn.
Cole Slaw is strange but my Coke was cold but no refills.
Brisket very good, but terrible Bun, cheap paper plates .
This used to be a must go… now it’s better to skip or buy their sauce and BBQ at home.
Very sad and not a cheap meal for 2 almost $ 40 bucks.
Go to Smoque worth the long wait lots of food and much better meat and sides !!

I have actually come here when the BBQ brisket was excellent. So when I came last time and they were off, I decided to give them one final chance today. I’m so sorry I did. The BBQ brisket was simply hard and charred and bone dry, like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for 2 days. Even the french fries were stale and the coleslaw was mushy. I ate and I didn’t complain because I was hungry and I was in a hurry, (and I don’t like to complain in a restaurant unless there is a real problem like a roach in the food or something) but honestly I wish I had just gone to McDonald’s instead of Russell’s.
The point is — Russell’s is capable of good fare. The problem is that they are highly variable in their quality. Sometimes they are good, and other times they are just god awful.
And by the way, they are waaaay overpriced. My crappy meal put me out nearly 14 bucks.
To end on a somewhat positive note, I do like their t-​shirts and the Coca Cola I drank was fresh and delicious.
But never again.

Maybe they had an off night looking at the other reviews. Now please, bear in mind, I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy The Salt Lick, Franklin’s BBQ in Austin, Central Market in Luling, TX, Oklahoma Joes, Pappy’s in STL, etc so I’ve been blessed to eat some incredible BBQ.
That said, the ribs they served me were dry baby backs that I finished only because I paid enough for them — much like the Bears sticking with Cutler because they already paid for him. They were overcooked with a lot of bone exposed and the sauce couldn’t overcome the dryness. I wasn’t a big fan of the sauce either.
I love the interior, the nostalgic feel to the place. The smokestack is pretty cool for a BBQ joint. I wanted to love this place, but I’m still searching for great ribs in my beloved Chicago.

My husband grew up eating here and always talked about it so we were in the neighborhood… outstanding! I had the pork sandwich and he had beef and we shared. .they were equally amazing!
I wish it was closer to our house as we would eat here all the time!
Would definitely recommend and will definitely be back.
Next time it is chicken! And to think I almost ordered a salad!

Best sauce I have ever had. This is one of my favorite BBQ places to hit up when I am in town. The sauce is literally incomparably delicious. This is hands down my number one choice for BBQ. My mom in-​law hooked me on this place and her family has been eating her for 40+ years! If that doesn’t say something Idk what does. I always get the ribs and the beef sandwich! Both are excellent, but you cannot go wrong with anything on this menu!

I have been going here for over 25 years ! The service is nothing special, not too friendly, not to much involved either. However, they simply just take an order and give you your food. If your polite you clear your own table if not they will
Do it for you. The food is GREAT! From sandwiches to ribs. The fries dipped in that amazing BBQ sauce is second to none. I love to go at least a couple
Times a year.

My grandparents and parents went here when they were young and it’s become a family tradition. Of course, while in town, I had to go! Full of people, exceptional customer service, quick food service and most importantly, the food is still AMAZING. I’m so glad that they haven’t skimped out on the huge portions of pork on my favorite BBQ pork sandwich. Packed full of meat in a soft bun, I devoured it :) The fries are great –and my family LOVES the broccoli cheese poppers! They have ample seating and even outdoor tables/​umbrellas. I am always missing Russell’s when I’m home in TX… So yummy!

This is one of those places that has been around forever. My parents met and dated here in the 1950’s. As a result, I have been going here for over 50 years and have enjoyed every visit. I vividly remember being with my grandparents and friends and family here. So, I am admittedly biased.
With that being said, the food here is good. The facility is a bit quirky, but it looks like it has recently had a bit of a refresh.
Rather than simply repeat what hundreds of other reviewers have said, I suggest you review those and try it for yourself.
As one of my favorite reviewers recently wrote, «it is what it is.» And what it is is pretty good.

Went there last night and had the BBQ Pork sandwich. Maybe I just keep ordering the wrong thing– the place sure seems popular enough, lots of families and groups there.
The thing that got me is that the pork was pretty flavorless, but they had the BBQ sauce on the side. It needed salt, as did the cheese fries side.
I understand BBQ can be a bit tricky, but I have had better. And to not have your BBQ Pork sandwich already slathered in sauce is beyond me. BUT, I do have to say at least it wasn’t dry like I’ve had some other places. Maybe next time I’ll just try the hamburger ;)

I cannot rave ENOUGH about this sauce. It is honestly top bbq sauce of all time if not the best-​but lets not get crazy now. So I’ve grown up on Russell’s I would typically give it a 5 star but the last time I went the ribs were not as great as I remembered still good but not great. For the most part, the ribs are delicious! I’m talking meat falling right off the bone like butta barely any fat to pick around whatsoever. The last time I went my slab was a little more fatty than usual-​ONLY REASON THIS IS MISSING A STAR. The onion rings are beyond perfection-​so super crunchy and flavorful! The ambiance and atmosphere is not for everyone. Unless you’ve grown up on this place you might be put off at how old fashioned it is. But that’s what I love about it def childhood memory. The wait is forever but you know what they say good things come to those who wait, huh? See what I did there-​yessss.

This place reminds me of my childhood. I remember coming with my grandpa and my mom. As a kid I AlWAYs wanted to come here not because of the food, but because of the coins to get a trinket.
Its been a while since I’ve been here, but I AlWAYs order either the ribs or the beef sandwich with the baked potato and coleslaw. And the sauce. You can’t forget the yummay sauce.
Its not the best you’ll ever have, but you’ll come to remember the good days when life was easy peasy lemon squeezey.

This place has barbecue down! They have all kinds of grilled meats that they douse in their famous Russell’s sauce. Or should I say awesome-​sauce? It’s really different and probably isn’t for everybody. It tastes like barbecue sauce except with a surprising dose of cinnamon.
I got the brisket sandwich which was served with fries, coleslaw, and a drink. They served it to me as if I was at a picnic: on a paper plate with another paper plate on top to keep flies off. Except I was indoors and there were no flies.
They were generous with the portion of brisket heaped on the bread. It was absolutely delicious!!! It came without sauce on it, which was fine because they gave individual containers of their sauce AAAAND there were bottles of the sauce on every table. I was able to sauce it up as much as I liked.
The coleslaw was okay. Nothing to write home about. In fact, I’d even suggest skipping it. It was such a small portion and my only reason for eating it was so that I could have SOME vegetables.
The space in Russell’s is old and borderline rustic nostalgic but in a worn down way and not trendy. There are booths, tables, an enclosed porch, and outdoor picnic tables. The whole place is surrounded by parking lot.
Russell’s has many employees working. They are perfectly nice but not outgoing. I stood near the door for about ten minutes and nobody spoke to me.

Jury duty at a courthouse without a cafeteria led me to try Russell’s Barbecue as I’m not usually out this direction. My order was ready super-​fast. The smoked pulled pork was tender & juicy but I’m not a fan of their BBQ sauce… it had a flavor which reminded me of the cinnamon in Cincinnati-​style chili, if you’ve ever had that… I don’t know what the ingredient was exactly, but I just didn’t dig it. But there are many types of barbecue sauce and clearly theirs appeals to plenty of folks, so to each his own. There is just a bit of the sauce mixed with the meat and they give you a container of extra sauce to add your own as you like, so that was a good thing. The bun was really good, though it was no match for the MOUND of meat on the sandwich. Seriously, they give you enough meat for two sandwiches.
The coleslaw is strictly the vinegar-​based kind, no creaminess to it — but that’s the way I like my coleslaw so fine by me in that category. Their fries weren’t quite fried enough and on the limp side — bummer.
The restaurant has a ton of seating and an outdoor patio area as well for the warmer months. Lots of big flat screen TV’s around alternated with black & white inspirational prints that really do not go with a barbecue joint and the rest of the décor. The ladies restroom is tiny & awkwardly laid out (hard to explain) to the point where I thought there might not be enough room to actually sit on the toilet seat once I somehow managed to close the door to the stall (and I’m not a big girl so some people may not be able to make these facilities work for them). Add to that a creepy flickering lone fluorescent light bulb in the restroom and I was ready to be on my way…

Super cool nostalgic restaurant. Signs look like they are from the 40’s or 50’s. My grandma used to eat here as a teenager!
As other reviewers mentioned, the food and the Russell’s signature barbeque sauce are great! Ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken, etc. Fries are good. Onion rings are awesome! Big «meaty» onion rings! Stay away from the Mac n Cheese bites… Blah. Also could have done without the ice cream cone.
This place is huge! Great for groups. Order at the counter and seat yourself.
Minus one star for the icky bathroom with no changing table for baby! C’mon Russell’s this is supposed to be a family place! Do you really want dirty diapers being changed in booths while other diners are eating?