Utica BBQ: A Hidden Gem of Flavor in Utica, NY

Decided to give this a try today & I’m so glad we did! Everything was delicious! They apologized for having a limited menu as they had just opened after having a water main break, it honestly was an incredible meal. We decided to go family style and enjoyed everything that was brought out in 6-course style plate after plate. The roasted shishitos with pork belly dust was an amazing start. The stuffed poblano with pulled pork jalapeño cream cheese (I think) wrapped in bacon and UC beer cheese, excellent!! We also had the street corn, Korean bbq ribs, pulled pork mac and cheese, and ended with churros. Each dish was a creative take on traditional bbq! I would definitely recommend checking it out. Thank you Utica BBQ for a wonderful meal :)

Utica BBQ is absolutely fantastic! The food was excellent, flavorful, and offered a great variety. What really stood out, though, was the service. The owner is incredibly friendly and went out of his way to adjust the sample platter for my dad, who is vegetarian. He kept checking in with us kindly to make sure we had everything we needed. That personal touch made the whole experience feel extra special. Highly recommend this place — both for the food and the wonderful hospitality!

We had the most amazing experience at Utica BBQ! Chef Chance delighted us with a tasting menu of his choosing, and every dish was as delicious as the last. Cornbread, ribs, pulled pork sliders, wings, mac and cheese, chicken & potatoes, stuffed poblano, and an incredible banana pudding topped with his homemade caramel sauce, marshmallow whipped cream, caramel corn, & edible gold flakes!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Utica BBQ absolutely blew us away. My wife, my sister‑in‑law, and I went in for the tasting menu and left feeling like we’d just discovered something this area has been missing for years. The atmosphere hits you immediately — warm, inviting, and full of energy — and you can feel the owner’s passion the second he steps out to greet you. He’s not just cooking; he’s creating, hosting, and cracking jokes in between like someone who genuinely loves what he does. The dynamic between him and the gentleman working with him was something I’ve never seen around here. Their hospitality wasn’t just good — it was memorable. Personal, funny, engaging, and completely genuine. You don’t just get served food; you get welcomed in, taken care of, and entertained in the best way. The tasting menu was incredible from start to finish, each dish showing off real skill, creativity, and heart. It’s the kind of meal that sticks with you — not because it’s fancy, but because it’s crafted with intention and delivered with personality. This was a one‑of‑a‑kind experience for us, and we’re already planning our next visit. 100% recommend Utica BBQ to anyone who loves great food, great people, and a place that truly stands out

Food was delicious and the chef loves what he does. This isn't typical bbq, this is a chefs interpretation of of bbq and it's well executed. We tried a sampler menu of shishito peppers, sticky ribs, wings, rib tip tacos, street corn, cornbread, and it's bananas dessert. Everything was well executed and the cooking method and ingredients were all explained with each plate. The meats were all delicious, the blue cheese with wings homemade, and the street corn was out of this world delicious. Try this place out if you can.

Such a wonderful meal from beginning to end. Every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor, especially the tender ribs and the stunning banana pudding dessert. Definitely coming back. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Visiting the area and decided to try this place out based off of the reviews . It did not disappoint!!! The chef/owner was amazing and made us a tasting menu and the food was delicious, fresh, and it was a very unique experience for a BBQ restaurant. 5 stars ⭐

He was open and ready on christmas eve, made my night a whole lot easier. He was super friendly and kind, and the food is amazing!! Thank you so much!!! I really liked the potatoes!!