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dining
Ridgewood Barbecue
Legendary pit-smoked barbecue since 1948
Bluff City, Tennessee
Photo: Bluff City (NARA) via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
- City
- Bluff City
- Cell signal
- moderate signal
- Admission
- Free admission
Ridgewood Barbecue has been smoking pork over hickory coals in Bluff City since 1948, and the line out the door tells you everything you need to know. This is Tennessee barbecue at its most authentic, pit-smoked meat, tangy tomato-based sauce, and sides that taste like somebody's grandmother made them. The restaurant has earned recognition from national food media, but what matters more is that three generations of Sullivan County families consider Ridgewood their barbecue home. Don't leave the county without eating here.
Visit Info
thu: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
fri: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
sat: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Open Thursday through Saturday only. Cash preferred. Gets very busy, expect a wait at peak times.
900 Elizabethton Hwy, Bluff City, TN 37618
Parking: Free gravel lot. Gets crowded at peak hours.
Visitor Tips
- ›Bring cash, they prefer it and the line moves faster
- ›Go early or go late, the noon rush is real
- ›The pork sandwich with their signature sauce is the essential order
- ›Only open Thursday through Saturday, plan your Sullivan County itinerary accordingly
- ›Pair with Holston Heritage Museum in Bluff City for a heritage-and-BBQ day
Stay near this stop
Turn this into an overnight trip.
These places to stay are closest to Ridgewood Barbecue. Use them as your base, then add nearby food, trails, and events.
Featured in Routes
What to know before you go
- Access
- Single-story building. Entrance has a small step, assistance available.
- Parking
- Free gravel lot. Gets crowded at peak hours.
- Cell signal
- Moderate cell signal — main areas covered, expect dead spots
- Tips
- Bring cash, they prefer it and the line moves faster
- Go early or go late, the noon rush is real
- The pork sandwich with their signature sauce is the essential order
- Only open Thursday through Saturday, plan your Sullivan County itinerary accordingly
- Pair with Holston Heritage Museum in Bluff City for a heritage-and-BBQ day
Pair this with
Pair Ridgewood Barbecue with Holston Heritage Museum, Backyard Terrors Dinosaur Park, and Bluff City Boardwalk.
Within 6 miles, you can chain these into a half-day without driving back.
Verified by us
Verified 2026-05-21 · next review 2026-08-19