Gus's BBQ - Claremont, California

Basel Z.

I’ve been to Gus’s BBQ in Claremont many times, and every visit has been consistently great. Whether dining in or catering, the service is always top-notch. The staff is attentive, kind, and genuinely welcoming. Our most recent visit was for my daughter’s birthday—her one request was Gus’s mac and cheese. Our server, Kate, was incredibly sweet with her, and as any parent knows, you can tell a lot about a person by how they treat your kids. My wife and I really appreciated that extra kindness.

Since we went mid-week on a rainy evening, the restaurant was quieter than usual, which was a nice change from the typically lively weekend crowd. I started with an Arnold Palmer, which was perfectly balanced, and we shared an order of sweet potato fries—crispy, flavorful, and paired with an amazing dipping sauce (not sure what’s in it, but it was a hit with everyone).

For my main meal, I went with the ribs and two-meat platter, choosing St. Louis ribs, brisket, and jalapeño cheddar sausage. Every bite was packed with flavor, and I devoured it all. My sides—creamed corn and dirty rice—were just as good. To top off an already great meal, they brought out a sundae for my daughter’s birthday, which was such a thoughtful touch.

If you’re looking for great BBQ, a warm atmosphere, and excellent service, Gus’s BBQ never disappoints.

stephen W.

Gus's Barbecue is an absolute gem, especially if you're looking for an amazing dining experience in the evening or at night. The location is lovely, with seating options both inside and out, but I highly recommend sitting indoors to fully enjoy the beautiful ambiance and decor--it's warm, inviting, and perfect for any occasion. The seating accommodates all party sizes, so it's easy to find a spot whether you're with a group or dining solo. The food was incredible--I ordered the pulled pork nachos, one of their signature burgers, and a Charred Citrus Mule. While everything was fantastic, the nachos were the star of the show, packed with flavor and an absolute must-try!

Our waitress made the experience even better--she was fun, helpful, and made sure we had everything we needed with a smile. Before leaving, I picked up a bottle of their branded honey mustard sauce, and I highly recommend grabbing one of their sauces to take home--it's that good! Gus's Barbecue is a must-visit for delicious food, great service, and a memorable evening!

Daniel J.

Review is for breakfast only. Food was terrible for the most part. Cinnamon bun was stale, medium steak was like leather (check the photo), fruit was not fresh, eggs were overcooked. several parts of our order were incorrect. Server was friendly and the deck is great. I’ll be back to try the BBQ but skip breakfast here.

Daniel P.

Found this place and the whole Claremont Packing house by mistake while bike riding on the Pacific Electric bike trail. Came in for brunch and had an omelet with smoked turkey. It was a good omelet but I really couldn't taste the smoked turkey. Overall it was still a good place and the waitress was so helpful. I'll be back for the fried chicken and waffles which she highly recommended.

Elaine V. R.

I'M SO HAPPY, I HAD HAPPY HOUR AT GUS'S!!!
I've been going to Gus's since they came to Claremont. I love the FOOD and service. I don't go to Happy Hour for the drinks, I go for the food! Last night I went for happy hour and enjoyed the Brisket Slider and 1/4 Wedge Salad (see photos). Atmosphere was a fun one, perhaps it was because it was HAPPY HOUR! The prices are fantastic! I highly recommend Gus's!

Miguel S.

9am and I needed to burn some time while my kid was at the tutor. Figured I'd grab some breakfast and the FSU/GT game, but all the other places in Downtown didn't open till 11. Gus's was open, had the game on outside and at the bar, and they were serving breakfast. Excellent service. This might just be my goto place when I have to be in Claremont early on a Saturday.

Update: went the following Saturday and had another great experience. This time I had the Belgium waffle and it was excellent.

JEC

Reservations not needed, but can be made. The inside is set with darker lighting and furnishings, serving more of an upscale BBQ, with a sweet sauce. Should you be looking for a down home BBQ spot, other places may be a better option for you. Keep in mind, parking in the is shared by many people, enjoying a number of area establishments.

Ali R.

We recently visited Gus in Claremont for a friend’s birthday celebration, craving some barbecue. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the friendly staff and seated right away, which was a great start to our evening.

The atmosphere at Gus is inviting, and the service we received was excellent. Our server was attentive and made sure we were comfortable throughout our
visit. It’s always nice to see such hospitality in a restaurant.

For our meal, we ordered deviled eggs, BBQ sliders, and two orders of beef brisket. The sliders and deviled eggs were delicious, definitely a highlight of our meal. However, we were disappointed to learn that they no longer offer beef ribs, which used to be one of our favorites.

Unfortunately, the beef brisket did not meet our expectations as it was quite dry, which took away from the overall enjoyment of the meal. Additionally, the draft beers were not as cold as we would have liked, which was a bit of a letdown.

Overall, our experience at Gus was just okay. While the service and some of the food were good, the dry brisket and lukewarm beer left us wanting more.The price also not that reasonable. We hope they can address these issues in the future, as Gus has the potential to be a great barbecue spot.