Pearl Country Store & Barbecue

We had a brisket plate and a pork rib combo. I prefer a leaner brisket - it was a bit fatty, but it was smoky and delicious nonetheless. Ribs had a sweet smoky crispy rubbed kind taste - making them a no sauce necessary delight. Fell off the bone as expected. Service was great. We had a very kind gal help us. She seemed happy to be slinging meat, so it was a good interaction. The downfall for me was that the place felt greasy. Seems like a deep cleaning might be in order. The food and service made up for it though :).

This place is always been one of my favorite barbecue stops. Staff was right on it. I got the pork dinner and everything was excellent!, Can’t wait to stop again!

The best BBQ in this area. Hands down!! I go here everytime I'm heading to a Florida Gators game.

The "Best" BBQ around. We travel from Citrus County, FL to eat at Pearl Country Store & BBQ. The Beef Brisket is delicious and seasoned perfectly. Melts in your mouth. Husband loves the Pulled Pork. Love the collared greens too.

Honestly, we looked up places to eat while visiting the area to hit up some antique stores, and didn't find much. But Pearl Country Store had a lot of positive reviews. Just look for the Marathon gas sign. Now the food... My brisket was some of the best I've had. I'd say top 3. Tender, flavorful and plentiful. My wife had the pork sandwich and we split a regular fry. Good food, plenty piled on good tasting buns. Tea was good, too. Their sweet sauce tasted good on everything...

Was recommended to go to this location since I’ve been trying to find catfish in the area while visiting family I have to admit everything is fresh. You can tell it’s in house made Mac & cheese was fairly decent. It was tough finding mustard greens or collard greens…. I was told the brisket is the best on this side of Texas. It’s definitely tender. Had a good smoky taste wasn’t disappointed.

Stopped here on our drive back to TX from Disney for some real, home cooked, southern food. Everyone was friendly (true southern hospitality) and the food was delicious! - well seasoned, not overly greasy. The kids said the sweet potato fries taste like churros and the banana pudding tastes just like their great grandma’s (which none of us have been able to recreate perfectly.) We left with full bellies for our long drive and great memories of home. 🥰

Nice place to stop on your travels! They give you a very generous amount of food and the prices are excellent. Very polite people and great atmosphere! We will definitely be back again soon!! 😊

We had a brisket plate and a pork rib combo. I prefer a leaner brisket - it was a bit fatty, but it was smoky and delicious nonetheless. Ribs had a sweet smoky crispy rubbed kind taste - making them a no sauce necessary delight. Fell off the bone as expected. Service was great. We had a very kind gal help us. She seemed happy to be slinging meat, so it was a good interaction. The downfall for me was that the place felt greasy. Seems like a deep cleaning might be in order. The food and service made up for it though :).

This place is always been one of my favorite barbecue stops. Staff was right on it. I got the pork dinner and everything was excellent!, Can’t wait to stop again!

The best BBQ in this area. Hands down!! I go here everytime I'm heading to a Florida Gators game.

The "Best" BBQ around. We travel from Citrus County, FL to eat at Pearl Country Store & BBQ. The Beef Brisket is delicious and seasoned perfectly. Melts in your mouth. Husband loves the Pulled Pork. Love the collared greens too.

Honestly, we looked up places to eat while visiting the area to hit up some antique stores, and didn't find much. But Pearl Country Store had a lot of positive reviews. Just look for the Marathon gas sign. Now the food... My brisket was some of the best I've had. I'd say top 3. Tender, flavorful and plentiful. My wife had the pork sandwich and we split a regular fry. Good food, plenty piled on good tasting buns. Tea was good, too. Their sweet sauce tasted good on everything...

Was recommended to go to this location since I’ve been trying to find catfish in the area while visiting family I have to admit everything is fresh. You can tell it’s in house made Mac & cheese was fairly decent. It was tough finding mustard greens or collard greens…. I was told the brisket is the best on this side of Texas. It’s definitely tender. Had a good smoky taste wasn’t disappointed.

Stopped here on our drive back to TX from Disney for some real, home cooked, southern food. Everyone was friendly (true southern hospitality) and the food was delicious! - well seasoned, not overly greasy. The kids said the sweet potato fries taste like churros and the banana pudding tastes just like their great grandma’s (which none of us have been able to recreate perfectly.) We left with full bellies for our long drive and great memories of home. 🥰

Nice place to stop on your travels! They give you a very generous amount of food and the prices are excellent. Very polite people and great atmosphere! We will definitely be back again soon!! 😊

You are here for the food and the boiled peanuts. We got the rib and beef combo with greens and sweet potatoes fries. Everything was fabulous and will be a must stop when coming through. Great boiled peanuts for a bomb price which was an added bonus. Service was great, you order at counter then pay at register. Seating isn't a lot but we came around 1200 on a Sunday and had plenty of options. Not much ambiance but I didn't come for that, came for the food and peanuts and I delivered on both.

We were in Gainesville, FL this weekend and had a hankering for BBQ. After scouring the various foodie Facebook groups in the area, one place rose above all the other mentions: Pearl Country Store and BBQ. We pulled in and saw that it was BBQ joint/station/corner store. In my experience, the less fancy the place, the better the BBQ. Me and Mah Wife shared the Meat Lover's Plate. It's a mountain of a plate piled high with pulled pork, chopped beef brisket, a chicken leg quarter, and two pork ribs. If that weren't enough, it comes with two sides and toast. We chose mac and cheese and green beans. I like to try BBQ without sauce first. The meat should be able to stand alone without the aid of a sauce. Glad to say all the meats were up to the task. Delicious, tender, smoky, good bark on the ribs and brisket. After that initial test, I was ready to let some sauces elevate the meat to another level. A variety of homemade sauces were on the table. I particularly loved the Southern Sweet BBQ sauce. It was a perfect counterpoint to the smoky savory meat. And we finished things off with a pint of homemade banana pudding. A southern classic ending to every great BBQ. Go check out Pearl's for some great BBQ.

If you're looking for a place with a good atmosphere you should drive on. However, if you're looking for some reasonably priced food and don't mind questionable cleanliness, this is your place.. my wife and I both ordered egg plates and they were just fine. The service was friendly, but essentially you eat in the middle of a gas station if you dine in. the bathrooms were horrific as well but again if you're looking for great food stop in

Great little spot for BBQ! We were visiting the area and the BBQ spot had some good reviews. It's inside a gas station but don't let that fool you, it's a whole little restaurant inside. You order at the BBQ counter and pay at the gas station counter. Our food was ready within minutes, the portions were good and it tasted great. I got the brisket with a huge portion of potato salad and the banana pudding. My friends got the ribs, sweet potato fries (with cinnamon sugar sprinkled over top) and collard greens. We all enjoyed our meals! It's a great little hidden gem!

Do I recommend this place? Ohhhhh hellllll yes! We drove by this gas station restaurant on our way to go bird watching in the state park down the road. As we turned the corner we smelled the most wonderful aroma and we wondered where it was coming from. On the way back from birding and hiking we noticed a ton of motorcycles, work trucks and cars at the Pearl Gas Station so we had to investigate. As former owners of a general store & deli that catered to the work trade we took that as a good sign. It was. We went in and ordered the beef brisket with macaroni & cheese and baked beans. Holy mackerel was it delicious! We also got the pulled pork , green beans & Mac and cheese. It was delicious and topped off with the corn bread was to die for. This place knows BBQ!

You better go hungry! Both BBQ , Brisket and chicken is worth the stop. Looks like a gas station( well it is) , new pumps, but inside your tongue will beat your brains out to get that food. Sides are also great , Mac and cheese , mixed veggies, green beans, bake beans all homemade. You order at the counter, pay at front , can sit inside or at picnic tables outside, they call your name and then the magic starts. One of the best for country style southern food.

Stop here! Pearle was a recommendation from by boss who loves bbq as much as I do. It's a no frills spot in a gas station outside of Gainesville. It's the best bbq I have come across in the state of florida. Nothing else I have tried holds a candle this. I grew up in Arkansas and Tennessee which is home to some of the best in the world, and I think this is just as good as anything back home. The sides are also just as good as the bbq itself. It's a must stop.

Unless you live in the area of Micanopy FL, you are not likely to stumble across this unique diner.. I really enjoyed the movie Doc Hollywood, so when I embarked on a long drive home to Chicago from Orlando a few years back, I made a point of getting off I-75 to check out this small old town with its beautiful old live oak trees, etc. Micanopy is the town where the movie was filmed. So years later now, this was the second time I hit this town and ate at Pearls. The place is renowned for its barbecue, and I really love their sweet homemade sauce. Besides the dining, it's also a general store and a gas station. You can tell how the local people love this place, because several folks were picking up breakfast sandwiches,etc., and the vibe between them and the workers was familiar and friendly. It was breakfast time when I arrived, so I ordered eggs with sausage, hash browns and corned beef hash. It was very good, and the server was kind. I bought some boiled peanuts to go (first time trying them), filled up my gas tank, and then it was "back to the interstate."

On our way to Micanopy everyone was getting hungry so I decided to do a little research on Yelp looking for restaurants. Well it looks like they have about 4 places to eat and I decided on Pearl Country Store and BBQ. OMG this place is legit!! They prepared a delicious meal for us. Pulled pork, Brisket, Ribs, Mac & Cheese, Greens, Potato Salad and Coleslaw. Ribs pulled of the bone meat, the brisket was tender and melted in your mouth, pork was delicious. The best potato salad I've ever had at a BBQ place. Overall everyone was satisfied and we had a great day visiting this wonderful little hidden treasure off a town,

Food was amazing! We were driving home from Orlando and saw this place on the drive. So glad we stopped. Bbq ribs were amazing and the dinner fed both me and wifey. We even had the rest for leftovers that night. Staff was all friendly and attentive. Pretty busy at lunch time but we got food and gas in a timely matter. Bathrooms were a little backed up, but it's only one stall. We will def come back if ever in the area!

That BBQ is great and the prices are reasonable. I was up with the squad and we all got dinner plates. I only got pictures of two of them before we all started eating. The ribs and the chicken were cooked perfectly. We enjoyed all the sides especially the baked beans. The only flaw was the banana pudding. That did not taste good at all. Other than it was good. The staff was friendly and quick. Had no problems answering questions and got the order right the first time around.

This hole-in-the-wall restaurant inside the Marathon Gas Station ....... is a must-stop if you're in the area. #hiddenGem It's just next to Paynes Prairie, so stop by for some delicious food after a long day of hiking. This is a full restaurant with tables and chairs, inside and outside. They have a dessert case...... enough said LOL. We ordered 1/4 lb of chicken, french fries, banana pudding and a pork sandwich.. total came out to about $22 + tip. This was an overloaaaad of food for 2 people. We made the mistake of ordering food hungry LOOOOL. Plenty of food for leftovers. Chicken was moist and delicioussss. Pork sandwich was so yummy. My favorite was their options of bbq sauce. My favs: Carolina, and the mustard sauce. French fries were fried to perfection. Banana pudding was simple and yummy. The service was wonderful. Everyone was very kind and helpful when we were deciding what to order. Would absolutely stop by, the next time I'm in the area. Mark this location for your next trip to Micanopy!

Hidden little gem right outside of Gainesville. Pork was amazing. Cole slaw was yummy. The potato salad was sooo good. The line moves quickly. Try it!

This place is a gas station! Let's be honest I was skeptical going in but the other reviews don't lie! The best beans and pulled pork I have had in years! No discernible fat globs in the pulled pork. Smokey but not too much! The service was fabulous and don't forget your banana pudding for later. It was excellent, homemade southern delitefulness! Worth getting off the highway for a quick stop.

Pretty amazing. Arrived early morning about 9am and the BBQ is already ready!! Love and kudos to these folks.

We visited Paynes Prairie and check out Yelp's restaurants in the area. We arrived a little before 1pm and thank goodness we did, the line was almost out the door. It was a delightful experience at Pearl country, store and barbecue in Micanopy Florida. My visit included, savoring a brisket and pulled pork sandwich complemented by a side, sampler, featuring barbecue baked beans, mac & cheese, fried okra, and sweet potato fries. The flavors were outstanding, making for a truly satisfying meal. The cozy intimate atmosphere, added to the charm with locals bustling in for there to go orders. It's a gem for barbecue enthusiast and definitely worth a visit if you're in the Area.

I am visiting from Southern California and this is the food I was looking forward to! This is the best bbq I've ever had and every time I visit Gainesville I look forward to eating here!

Delicious, affordable Barbecue~ we took our guests visiting from London and they loved it! They were glad they left room for pie

Food was incredible, the service was super friendly as well. It is in a gas station and you can tell this is the best restaurant around. 10/10 would recommend.

Gas station food: really great, or really awful. Fortunately this was really, really great! Huge portions of delicious brisket, pulled pork, roasted chicken. Banana pudding as a side choice! I loved it! One thing I'd wish for is to kick up the heat on the sauce. Their spicy BBQ sauce is too sweet for me, but that's not a knock, Just my particular preference.

Well i once again was reminded about Pearls from a Tik Tok person i follow so on our way home from a day in Ocala we stopped off to pic up some dinner for later. When i got there the line was to the door but it quickly went down as the guy behind the counter worked his magic!! Ordered some food and paid for it at the counter of the store, bit different than most take out places..lol...within 10 mins tops i had ordered and gotten our food from them, make sure after you pay to bring your order ticket back to the barbecue counter so they know you paid and make sure someone's getting your food, i just happened to ask when i was asked if i needed anything , so to save anyone frustration of not knowing , Now you Know!! It is probably better than about all the barbecue i have eaten in Gainesville, so if you're passing through or just want to try for yourself its one holds the top spot for barbecue in my eyes , hands down!! Its a MUST DO!! ...Don't let the gas station appearance fool you...

A blast from the past. This is what old school small town bbq used to be. Big portions, reasonable price, friendly service. I ordered the meat platter. More then enough for for 2 people to be in a food coma. The ribs were very good. The brisket and beans were good. The chopped pork was average. Mac and cheese was OK I d personally pass on them. But don't pass on this place not many like it exist any more. 5 stars for value and a solid 3.5 stars on bbq food

Are you kidding me? I'm done. I'm literally done looking for the best BBQ anywhere. This is it. Inside this gas station in the middle of nowhere. Hot, tired, sweaty, and ravenous from a day paddling the river, this hits the spot!!! It smacks you in the face the second you open the door and does not disappoint from there. mmmmmmmmmmm

This was the first time I've eaten at restaurant inside of a gas station, and I was pleasantly surprised! Service was quick, portions were plentiful, and the food was great. The atmosphere was very relaxed - you place your food order, grab anything else you need from the gas station, and pay up front. They'll call your name when your food is ready and there's plenty of seating to sit down and enjoy it, or take it on the road. The brisket on its own lacked a bit of flavor/salt to me, but paired with their bbq sauce, it was delicious. Their mac and cheese also felt relatively light on the stomach, while still being very cheesy and saucey. I ordered a 1/4 lb. of meat for about $7 and it was definitely enough for 2 meals. Although there aren't a ton of places to grab a bite in Micanopy, I'm glad this is one of them.

Look. Is this the *best* BBQ available in the continental United States? Of course not. This place is in fucking Florida. But if you happen to find yourself in the beautiful Micanopy area outside of Gainesville, Pearl Country Store & Barbecue is absolutely a stop that's worth your time. The Country Store itself is charming. Lots of local finds, including Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings books and information about nearby Cross Creek, the writer's beloved former home that isn't far from the Gainesville area. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, and the barbecue was perfectly respectable by Florida standards. Don't let the fact that it's tucked away next to a gas station and looks somewhat rundown from the outside scare you away. Classic country charm, for sure with this place.

Food was excellent. Was worried when we saw the location was at a gas station but looks can be deceiving.

This was recommended by a local. First off, everyone outside the store, in the store eating lunch and all the employees were super friendly and said hello. Just good people being awesome! Lots to choose from on their menu, where do I start. Brisket! Fatty cut! Yes please! Awesomeness uber level. The flavor is perfect and the crust has some serious seasoned bark on it, excellent. Grilled cheese, perfectly grilled, lots of butter and goodness. Mac n Cheese, holy creaminess! Perfect creamy cheese and super gooey. Let's talk fries, holy crap, super crispy with some great seasoning. Just a perfect place, super happy we stopped in.

This is a very informal place in a convenience store in a gas station. Most of the people that we saw coming in, were picking their food up to eat it at home. They have some tables inside and a couple of tables outside. Service is average. Food is good. Not the taste that I was expecting but it was good. Ribs were a little bit tough. Is like they are not cooking them slow. The amount of food that they serve for the price is a lot. We were very satisfied with the amount of food overall. They do not deserve 3 stars but not 4 either. I would rate them with 3.5 stars due to the way that they cooked the ribs and flavor.

Food was good. Picture has description of order, but had beef brisket with fried okra, Mac and cheese and toast. Would go back again when passing through town. Seems everyone does.

Everything I said is still accurate, but it just gets better... SHOUT OUT TO BRIE..., so helpful and just nice. You got the extra star.

If you live in Gainesville (or within 100 miles of it), why are you reading this? You already know. You already know that for the last several decades this totally unimpressive (from the outside) gas station/convenience store/BBQ joint serves up the best BBQ in the known universe. The ribs are superb, with a perfect smoke ring and tender to the point of falling of the bone. The brisket just perfectly barked and exactly the right moistness. The chicken softly smoked, sweet with a crispy skin. All the sides are fabulous, especially the hush puppies and the Mac and cheese. Banana pudding dessert. Take someone you love here. They will love you back!

Great food. Fairly quick and delicious. Definitely recommend the brisket. Ribs were great as well.

Yes we all love a good, fancy, overpriced, snooty breakfast now and then on China plates and linen tablecloths. If that is what you are looking for... this is not the place. Counter service, throw away plates, cups and utensils and you have to clean up after yourself but it was great country cooking!! I will bus my own table anytime for food this good!! Biscuits and gravy!! Y'all I make fabulous biscuits from scratch and gravy that my family raves about and I take so much pride in making it... this was BETTER!! And not just because I didn't have to cook it!! Corned beef hash! This is not from a can folks!! This is made from scratch and it's so much better than you can even dream of!! Cheese grits so good your eyes will roll into the back of your head!!! Sweet tea is brewed fresh all day and will put a pep in your step all day!! Get your some pie to go, you'll thank me. We did. Peach pie. To the moon and back good!!

If you want country bbq, this is the place! I have been here numerous times for whole and half smoked chicken, brisket sandwiches and pulled pork. Each time I am thrilled with the product and the service. The meat is full of flavor and is always juicy. I could not be more pleased. The people are sweet and kind and the store clean. I'll be back for more.

First time eating here. Maybe it was just the brisket as lots of people were eating the pork. The brisket was extremely salty, to the point that I couldn't eat but 2 bites of the brisket sandwich. It came covered in bbq sauce. I didn't know that or I would have asked for it without. The place was packed and parking was rather limited, possibly due to work going on around the gas pumps. I'd be willing to try again knowing what I now know.

Please stop physically asking for a tip for me picking up my To Go food! I stopped going here a year ago because of you guys trying to shame tip people for To Go orders. I'm sure you've lost other patrons for the same reason. No where in my entire life have I been physically asked to leave a tip for a To Go order. It's called greed!

So flipping good!!! We were a bit nervous when we pulled up because it is a gas station convenience store but when we came in, there is a resteraunt section for Pearls customers. Do yourself a favor and try this place! It's so worth it!

Ok first the food is awesome. We got the brisket 6oz regular) beans Mac n cheese and coleslaw. Everything was great. The sweet bbq sauce should be bottled. They would make a fortune. Next time we know to only order one meal though. We ended up putting half the food in ziploc bags (we were traveling and carry them in our food basket) for later. Yes it is a gas station but the bbq part looks like an old diner. Must stop. I know we will again

This is some of the most underrated barbecue in all of Florida. It is certainly homemade every day with an old smoker. You will find pearl country store in a gas station/convenience store and a back dining counter and a few chairs. Drinks come from the fountain drink dispenser and or self serve. There is an entire case of homemade fresh cakes. There is a hot bar with all of the sides on showcase & smoked meats. Everything is on display essentially. The ribs are huge. A half a rack would definitely feed 3 to 4 people. They have dinners, sandwiches, combinations, or you can buy meat by the pound and get the sides that you'd like. If you're taking it home and you like to have leftovers, that's definitely what I would recommend. Personally I love their pulled pork, chopped brisket, vinegar-based homemade coleslaw, and their baked beans. Hubs loves the Mac and cheese & green beans plus their ribs. Although I would love to comment on their desserts, I've actually never gotten one but they look amazing. If you were ever in the area or passing by, do yourself a favor and stop in for some truly wonderful (not fake smoked) barbecue!

This is a local favorite with general store that provides amazing bbq. Everything is delicious from the smoked meats, sides and desserts. The staff is great too.

Great food and fast service!! Hospitality and home cooked meals like no other. You'll love the food an the size portions all large enough to split a plate between two people!

My dinner was the Baked beans, green beans, pork, and ribs. Probably the best ribs I have ever had. The pork was delicious too. The baked beans are amazing. Definitely not dumped out of a can. Home made. My husband tried the chicken and brisket and liked both. Go out of your way to get their food.

Amazing food and staff. I had the sampler. It was delicious. They serve you fast and with a smile.

If you're really hungry. The food is ok, but the place is grubby. Needs a good scrubbing.

I've eaten here twice and the food is delicious, the quantity and price is outstanding, and the service is fantastic! Don't be thrown off by what it looks like from outside. Go in, walk to the back and experience amazing bbq and more!! I have taken my food to go but there are tables to eat in. I have tried the fried okra twice, the pork, collards and banana pudding and I'd get everything again. The range of bbq sauces will cover all tastes. I'll definitely be back!!

Was recommended to us for good BBQ. The food is AMAZING!!! Applause to the smoker. But the girl working the front counter at BBQ was not nice at all. Blonde got my older wrong, when I asked her about it she argued with me and then started off to us as she walked away. Great food, get better counter help If you can't handle the busy rush you should find another job!

Perfect place to pick up your game day food. Love everything about Pearl's... food, ambiance, staff, bottled wine selection, you name it!

Great bbq. Best around. I highly recommend. I get the brisket by the pound and full stack of ribs. They are both fantastic.

This is inside a gas station & that's the only reason I gave 4 stars. The food WAS delicious and the staff was really friendly. Ribs were fall off the bone, pork was delicious, Mac & cheese was good, banana pudding was tasty. Price is reasonable, has a very country vibe as the name suggests.