May 21st, 2007 By Justin Williams
East Side Review: Shylers BBQ
We here at It’s Evansville were looking for a more filling lunch than our almost daily trip to Ritzys and Jimmy Johns, so we made a trip over to Shyler’s BBQ on Evansville’s East side. Evansville, and the region in general, has a wide assortment of BBQ restaurants, and Shyler’s is usually near the top of the food chain when it comes to good BBQ in town. Shyler’s has a 1950’s era atmosphere featuring photos, movie posters and advertisements from the era. The restaurant has been in the midst of a renovation of their decor over the past few weeks, and thus, the walls seemed a bit more bare than when we usually dine there.
One of the neat things about Shylers’ experience is if you get to sit in the Elvis Room. The Elvis Room has only two booths, but you are surrounded by nothing but photos and memorabilia of the King himself. One wall even spells out ELVIS in photos. Pretty neat.
Sadly, the atmosphere was cooler than the food when we went. I had the all you can eat BBQ lunch special, which affords you as much meat and sides as you want. I got the pork along with german potato salad and green beans. The sides were delicious, but the meat seemed very tough. A lot of my meat was filled with the chewy ends of the pig. While I only paid $6.25 for my meal, I was hoping to have a nicer array of meat. My dining buddy had a slab of ribs, which were a bit pricey for lunch ($10), but had much more flavor than my pork. The meat was falling off the bone. Shylers also features chicken, beef and all the other standard fare at any BBQ restaurant. One of our other favorites is the BBQ-filled baked potatos. They also offer a wide assortment of pies for dessert.
While Shyler’s is good, it’s nowhere near as delicious as what you can get by driving to Owensboro at Moonlite. We’ve also heard that the BBQ Shack on the north side is pretty good, so maybe we should go there next time. It’s not that Shylers’ food was awful, but when you mix the average food with the average service it wasn’t really worth the price.
Shylers is located at 405 S. Green River Road; (812) 476-4599. It’s pen from 11AM to 10PM daily.
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Chris
May 21, 2007 @ 09:18PM
I’ve never had a great experience at Shyler’s. It has ranged from okay to decent. Not exactly a glowing review. I am one of those who argue that BBQ Shack is the best in town. I’d definitely encourage you to check it out.
Jan in Evansville
May 21, 2007 @ 09:22PM
BBQ Shack is pretty good, but like you said, nothing tops MoonLite. They wrote the book on barbeque! Well worth the drive…
CJ
May 21, 2007 @ 09:38PM
First there was Mac’s BBQ. Then Wolf’s. Then Shyler’s topped them all. But there service has gone steadily downhill. It’s difficult to have an all you can eat meal when your server doesn’t come around much.
You might try Leroy’s BBQ on Broadway, or Marx’s BBQ on Harmony Way behing Hilltop Inn - both west side favs!
Heather
May 21, 2007 @ 10:02PM
For some reason, I think Shyler’s is only good at dinner time. If you have an hour lunch break, don’t go there. They take wayyy too long for the lunch “rush hour.”
SUPERBANANABOMB
May 21, 2007 @ 10:08PM
I’ve only been to Shyler’s 2, maybe 3 times. From what I remember, the service was okay. Nothing terrible but nothing outstanding either. I’ve been serving for a couple years so I am pretty laid back when it comes to my servers because I know what it’s like. I do remember that it seemed to take a long time for my food, and when I got it, it was “okay.” It wasn’t bad at all, but it didn’t make me juice my Jockeys. Personally, I think that if you wanna get good barbeque without having to drive to another city, the smaller joints are the way to go. I don’t think it’s worth driving out of town just to go eat, that is unless I have other affairs to attend to. Screw barbeque anyway! What we need is a Joe’s Crab Shack!
lauren
May 21, 2007 @ 11:10PM
i love shyler’s big drinking glasses.
cody
May 22, 2007 @ 12:03AM
Butts & Bones in Newburgh is good too
Jenna
May 22, 2007 @ 02:28PM
ehhh, Shyler’s is okay. I always have liked Wolf’s better, but I can’t wait to try Moonlight over in Owensboro—it’s on my list of things to do this summer
Bobby
May 22, 2007 @ 07:04PM
i waited years to try moonlight in owensboro,just recently i moved in with my girlfriend in rockport so i finally got the opportunity to drive over and try it….HUGE disappointment. I had the bbq mutton and tried a bbq beef sandwich….it was by far the worst bbq ive ever had. The many little bbq restaurants in evansville are far and away better than what moonlight offered up.
daniel
May 22, 2007 @ 07:59PM
i have work at shlyers and let me tell u that if everybody seen what was back there u would never ever think about going back there trust me i was a cook there and it the nastiest place i ever been there kicthen is filty health inspetor should shut it down
Jerry
May 23, 2007 @ 06:26AM
I personally think Shyler’s went down hill when they quit serving cold beer. :)
Zack
May 23, 2007 @ 10:42PM
Shyler’s isn’t bad, but it’s not great either. Nothing at all spectacular. You just can’t beat the BBQ joints over in Owensboro. Moonlite is the best, and Old Hickory is pretty good too. I’d like to see Moonlite open up a place here in E-ville. I think it would go over well. And if by some chance you’re ever over in southern Illinois, check out 17th Street Bar & Grill in Marion. So far, that’s the closest place to Moonlite that I’ve found.
Neale
May 29, 2007 @ 02:12PM
For people who haven’t ventured far away from the tri-state area for BBQ, Shyler’s is “okay.”
Moonlight in Owensboro is leaps and bounds ahead of Shyler’s, and I would personally eat there over 80% of the BBQ places I’ve ever patroned. I can’t say enough good things about Moonlight!
barky
May 31, 2007 @ 06:03PM
Shyler’s is an eyesore. Thankfully they have at least painted all the patches on the room the same color.
It is so ugly and unwelcoming on the outside that I haven’t been inside, so I won’t comment on the food. There is a great BBQ place in Henderson called Thomason’s and it is phenomenal from a food point of view. They specialize in the Western Kentucky version with the vingegary dip for sauce. Try the mutton.
jb
August 23, 2007 @ 02:19PM
shylers is the poo
Rick
September 28, 2007 @ 05:43PM
Old Hickory has the best BBQ in Owensboro…Moonlite is more hype and $$$.
Joshua
October 07, 2007 @ 10:41PM
Moonlight is the worst example of Owensboro BBQ there is. If you want good Owensboro ‘que you need to goto Old Hickory. Ole’South is decent too, but it serves a more spicy southern style of BBQ. If you like Moonlight, then you are sure to love Old Hickory. Just don’t get the mutton ribs… mutton does not make for a good rib.
sheila
October 25, 2007 @ 09:47AM
Shylers is the best. Obviously you all haven’t tried their cheesesticks which are the best. period. And I love the st. louis style ribs, and their huge burgers. Whats wrong with you guys?
Chimpie
October 25, 2007 @ 04:48PM
We use to eat Shyler’s BBQ quite often. Pre-2000 it was great. In 2003 my g/f and I decided to take a vacation and we went back to good ol’ Evansville (we live in Florida). I told her numerous times how good the food was. We were not only disappointed in the quality of food AND service, but I was very embarrassed that I recommended it so highly.
Growing up I had Wolf’s once but didn’t care for it. It was juicy enough. Mind you this was in the late 80’s, early 90’s so things might have changed since then.
johnjacobjingleheimerschmitt
January 10, 2008 @ 05:32PM
Shyler’s is tacky and terrible. And they need Mountain Dew
Backyard BBQ King
February 09, 2008 @ 11:09PM
If your talking about BBQ worth the drive. Head down to Holy Smoke BBQ in Providence KY. They are from the Smokey Mountains and bring that great mountain flavor with them. I have never had ribs as tasty and tender as theirs and they have a BIG Pork chop sandwich that is sweet and spicey all at the same time.
Shyler's is way better than moonlight.
May 14, 2008 @ 09:21AM
Anyone who thinks Moonlight is even edible needs to have their taste buds examined. I used to live in Owensboro and Moonlight’s barbeque is absolutely disgusting. I loved the opportunity to travel to Evansville for Shylers. For those of you who had bad experiences at Shylers I am sorry. Maybe you made someone mad, but I have never had anything less than an incredibly delicious experience. All in all I would rather eat a McDonald’s McRib (fake meat barbeque) than have to suffer through another meal at Moonlight.
Steve
May 15, 2008 @ 04:26PM
Shyler’s used to have the best BBQ I ever had. I live in Owensboro, so I haven’t been there in a few years. I have tried nearly all the ‘Q in Owensboro, and Old Hickory wins, hands-down.
Moonlite is living off it’s own long reputation and word-of-mouth.