By: William Burns
After driving by this small restaurant many times over the past few years, I decided to give On Q Smokehouse Grill a try. Everything about the place screamed good, old-fashioned BBQ. This restaurant is right off of State Road 52 but is easy to miss. The old, repurposed house is over 100 years old and gives off a very homey vibe. This eatery is less than a mile away from University Campus and across the highway; it is definitely within walking distance for students who don’t have cars.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The restaurant serves BBQ with southern sides including Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Coleslaw, Baked Beans and more. I had heard from my friends that they had the best pulled chicken of their lives there, so I went into my trip with some high expectations.
On Q Has a wide range of options from smoked sausage to catfish to whole chickens and a range of prices to fit any budget. Credit: William Burns
The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, albeit not very much. When I say a small restaurant, I mean it is very small. At max capacity On Q could hold maybe forty people. Inside the restaurant, there are three rooms, each with a different theme. There is a room decorated for USF, one for UF and one for Saint Leo. Outside there are a few tables as well as bar style seating. The porch area has awnings which can be opened during nice weather or closed and heated for rain and cooler weather. Not only can you dine in, but you can also order to-go, buy bulk smoked items and hire On Q to do your catering.
On Q normally has no wait time, and my trip was no exception. On a Wednesday night at 6 p.m., the smokehouse was less than halfway full. When I talked to other students about the restaurant, they said that it fills up regularly, but they have never had to wait to be seated. I sat myself outside to enjoy the evening, and within minutes a smiling, good-natured waitress came out to take my order; my party of two ordered appetizers and dinner sandwiches. On a recommendation from my friend I ordered the fried green tomatoes, and I can honestly say they were best I had ever had. The appetizer and entree were timed perfectly and cooked to perfection. My pulled pork sandwich was tender and savory.
They make their own sweet tea with molasses instead of sugar and served with a lemon slice, which makes it extremely satisfying. They also make their own house BBQ sauce which tasted so good I smothered my pulled pork in it. In order to meet everyone’s desires, the restaurant also has vegetarian entrees and sides. For those who are of age, they also carry wine and several beers if you wish to drink with your dinner.
The service was very good. We never had to ask for refills, and the waitress made sure that were satisfied for the whole meal. Our appetizer arrived about 10 minutes after we ordered, and 15 minutes after that, our entrees arrived. The portions were very generous, for both the appetizer and the sandwich. The meal was so filling that I was able to take home half of my meal to enjoy later on. The only bad things about the place were that it took a long time to get our checks and that they cannot split items on a check. So, if your party splits appetizers, they are not able to distribute them evenly across the checks.
From the time I arrived at On Q to the time left, only one hour had gone by making this place a desirable dinner option. Even though it is a little lengthy to be a quick dinner, the lack of commuting time makes it a good option.
William Henderson, a junior at Saint Leo and frequent On Q diner had these words, “On Q truly is one of the best-kept secrets of Saint Leo. Great atmosphere and awesome food!”
After getting my first visit under my belt, I can agree that this is a great Saint Leo secret, one that I am glad I discovered. This is definitely the best BBQ joint near the University Campus, and I will be visiting frequently! I give On Q 4.5/5 paws!
