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✔️Dinner ✔️Take out
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We’re a no-nonsense barbecue restaurant with consistently delicious food, owned and operated by former Hell’s Kitchen contestant and local Highwood-ian Chef Brian Merel. Unlike most BBQ joints, we’re not trying to make everything under the sun. We focus on giving you the best of barbecue without overwhelming your brain or belly. Our specialty? Ribs. No slabs though, just a bag of bones. Straight from the grill. No oven, no boiling, no baking, no smoke and no falling off the bone. It’s barbecue in its truest fashion. Cause like Papa Willie always said, The food is the stuff on the grill that makes contact with your mouth.
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This has all been wonderful, but now I’m on my way. It is … – Instagram
It is with great sadness to announce that Papa Willie’s BBQ will be closing its doors in Highwood at 8pm on July 17th. It has been an incredible …
Popa Willie’s BBQ, 148 Green Bay Rd, Highwood, IL 60040, US
Get more information for Popa Willie’s BBQ in Highwood, IL. See reviews, map, get the address, and find directions.
Blaming inflation, Papa Willies BBQ in Highwood set to … – CBS News
While the Federal Reserve is trying to pump the brakes on inflation, Papa Willie’s BBQ owner Brian Merel said it’s already too late for his …
Reviews
Burt
Delicious!! Great owner, really nice to talk with, ribs & wings were outstanding. The blue cornbread is like a wonderful corncake and the Mac & cheese was on point.
… moreChristine Quinn
I ordered the Thanksgiving “All Done” package and it did not disappoint! My entire family enjoyed the meal (which heated up very nicely) and my mom said it was the best Thanksgiving dinner she’s ever had- and she was the one in charge of cooking for so many years. My son had a third helping of everything and there really wasn’t much leftover. I will absolutely order this again and I look forward to the next holiday menu!
… moreshirley floyd
Well my first mind was not to stop, I wasn’t going to stop….. I did ….. the service was very nice the package was too ,
however if looking for a place that says barbeque, but not this is the place ,! If you want a place that have bbq this is not it ,,!
I ordered broasted chicken tender 5 cheese macaroni and cheese and french fries the chicken looked burned it was dry the mac cheese was a oily uncheesey mess the fries was good until they were cold… ended up throwing all of it away..
… morehowever if looking for a place that says barbeque, but not this is the place ,! If you want a place that have bbq this is not it ,,!
I ordered broasted chicken tender 5 cheese macaroni and cheese and french fries the chicken looked burned it was dry the mac cheese was a oily uncheesey mess the fries was good until they were cold… ended up throwing all of it away..
Gigi Leonard
People, this place is special! If you’ve passed by the crisply painted, friendly little black and white storefront in in Highwood, but you haven’t tried the food yet, this is a public service announcement: pull into the parking lot and grab some deliciousness! It’s the best barbecue place in town, perhaps in Lake County. Yeah, I said it. The chef/owner (a tremendous dude with a good vibe) begins with high quality ingredients and riffs from there with great flavors, solid and consistent cooking techniques, and thoughtful packaging – ribs are served in a bag, so no messy or slippery tearing-the-flesh-off a rack of bones like at Medieval Times; the possum pie is presented in a sweet little glass jar. Is your mouth watering now? If you’re down for lunch, dinner or even a special
event that needs catering, and you want the food to feels like it was cooked with the secret ingredient (LOVE), I am recommending Papa Willie’s without hesitation.
… moreevent that needs catering, and you want the food to feels like it was cooked with the secret ingredient (LOVE), I am recommending Papa Willie’s without hesitation.
Eric Schreiber
Love this place. Fantastic food & excellent staff. The BBQ Sauce was awesome. We took home a bottle.
Ribs, Broasted Chicken, BBQ Chicken, Chicken Fingers, Fries, Coleslaw & Blue Corn Bread were outstanding.
Blueberry Crumb Pie was the perfect encore.
Papa Willie’s for the win!
“Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul
You’ve got to run like an antelope out of control”
… moreRibs, Broasted Chicken, BBQ Chicken, Chicken Fingers, Fries, Coleslaw & Blue Corn Bread were outstanding.
Blueberry Crumb Pie was the perfect encore.
Papa Willie’s for the win!
“Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul
You’ve got to run like an antelope out of control”
Carol Griffin
Great food! First time ordering here. They are very careful with Covid guidelines. No one allowed in, just take out. Ribs were so good! We got Mac and cheese, corn on cob, coleslaw, cornbread, dessert. We traveled 45minutes and the way they packed all was still very warm when we got home to eat! Would highly recommend!
… moreNikki P
Food was outstanding! Our favorite items were the BBQ full chicken and Blue Corn bread. The chicken was cooked perfectly and coated in delicious sweet-BBQ sauce and the corn bread had a great flavor. You could tell the owner puts his heart into this restaurant. Him and his staff carry such a fun vibe. I pulled up to an active staff jamming to music and just having a blast! We will be back!
… moreIsaac Veldman
Absolutely amazing flavors and cuisine. I even went back for seconds. Coming here was totally worth the trip. I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant to locals and outsiders alike. Brian, the owner lives up to his charismatic character as displayed on Hells Kitchen, and it was an absolute pleasure too meet him in person. Definitely my new favorite eatery on the North Shore
… moreKrista Grund-Wickramasekera
Ribs were very nice, could have been more bang for your buck though. Very filling. Great mac and cheese. Great service, very personable. Love the open floor plan of the kitchen so you really see what’s cooking. Prices could definitely be more competitive or portions could be increased to accurately meet the price. Worth a try for sure.
… morePam Devendorf
This “boutique” carry out BBQ restaurant opened a few months ago. I would drive by the old Gas Station, former Dominoes as it was being transformed into a BBQ joint. The name is engaging: Papa Willies, giving one the sense it evolved from Southern Roots.
We tried multiple times to order carry out but, we kept picking the wrong day. PW’s is open Wednesday – Sunday. Finally had a chance to order a few weeks ago and sample the ribs.
We ordered the Seasonal salad which had mixed greens, sliced apples, cranberries and walnuts. It was a healthy portion of lettuce but, it could’ve used twice as much toppings, kinda skimpy.
We split a rack of ribs which they pre-cut and serve in a bag. The ribs claim they do not “fall off the bone”, which they do NOT. Honestly, we had to really work to get the meat “off the bones”, they were kinda tough. We had a side of mac and cheese, which was okay.
Overall the meal was almost $40, kinda pricey for 2 people and carry out and being average. Too much BBQ competition in the area with less $$.
… moreWe tried multiple times to order carry out but, we kept picking the wrong day. PW’s is open Wednesday – Sunday. Finally had a chance to order a few weeks ago and sample the ribs.
We ordered the Seasonal salad which had mixed greens, sliced apples, cranberries and walnuts. It was a healthy portion of lettuce but, it could’ve used twice as much toppings, kinda skimpy.
We split a rack of ribs which they pre-cut and serve in a bag. The ribs claim they do not “fall off the bone”, which they do NOT. Honestly, we had to really work to get the meat “off the bones”, they were kinda tough. We had a side of mac and cheese, which was okay.
Overall the meal was almost $40, kinda pricey for 2 people and carry out and being average. Too much BBQ competition in the area with less $$.