To many, anything to do with barbecue (BBQ) is sacred. There are even entire TV shows and week long festivals dedicated to the subject! The arguments about who has the best BBQ invokes the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s….Eastern vs. Western North Carolina, North vs. South Carolina, mustard based vs. vinegar based, chopped vs. pulled, beef vs. pork. And it’s not lost on me that in some parts of the US the term barbecue is a verb, and in other parts it’s a noun! Pity some of the folks in the north who thought a Sloppy Joe was BBQ. I’ve eaten at countless BBQ joints all through the south, in Texas and even in California (where there are very few!).

Which brings me to 4Rivers, where I have a long and even personal history with, dating back to the first location on Fairbanks Ave in Orlando. John Rivers opened this location as a “Barbecue Ministry” in 2009, around the time we met. I was working on the Cheerwine soft drink brand, the official soft drink of Carolina BBQ. John was buying and bootlegging the nectar of the Carolinas down to Florida from our plant in South Carolina, before Cheerwine was available in the state. He was so dedicated to the BBQ experience; he even brought down the original formula, made with real cane sugar and in an old school glass bottle.  This was also a big differentiator in a state packed with BBQ restaurants.  The other aspect of 4Rivers that makes it unique is the amazing brisket, as virtually all BBQ joints in FLA are pork centric! Simply stated, 4Rivers has the best brisket I’ve had in all of Florida.

The 4Rivers experience is a delight. It is cafeteria like, where you order off the overhead menu.  The sides are equally amazing, many of these recipes from the mind of the owner, and all delicious. On this trip I had the brisket sandwich, collard greens and green beans. Love. The brisket is moist, the collards are seasoned and the beans are perfect. Oh, did I mention the on site Sweet Shop? Two words: Red Velvet. Seriously, everything in a 4Rivers location is made with care and the employees are genuinely glad to be there! You will be glad to be there too.