Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue

Big Lee's - Serious About Barbecue 2611 SW 19th Avenue Road, Ocala, FL 34471 The quality of the food he made was unparalleled and I couldn't get it out of my mind. Thanks, "Big Lee"!
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My passion for smoking meats developed years ago when I first witnessed our uncle, Leon (aka "Big Lee"), and his incredible skills on the smoker in the Mississippi Delta, Greenwood to be exact. But beyond his sheer talent, Uncle Leon had such a joy for cooking and, moreover, for sharing his amazing food with others. We lost Uncle Leon in October of 2012 and his passing has made me more conscious o

f not only how well I cook, but also how many people I share this gift with. He was an amazing man and he still inspires us today.

08/20/2026

One of the hardest questions at Big Lee's... what's better, the pulled pork or the ribs? 😂🔥

A man and his daughter came in to order, and he asked me exactly that.

Instead of making him choose, I reminded him about the Pit Plate.

You can pick your main meat and add another meat to your plate.

Pulled pork and ribs?

Why not both?

Save that idea for your next visit to Big Lee's. Sometimes the best decision is not having to choose at all. 😂🔥

08/20/2026

The miles people are driving for Big Lee's are getting crazy. 🔥

We've had customers driving 40 miles, 65 miles, and even farther just to try our barbecue.

That kind of support is something we will never take for granted.

And while the barbecue is bringing people through the door, Big Lee's Tea is still doing what it does best. 🥤😂

One sip at a time, we're changing people's perspectives on what tea can taste like.

To everyone who has made the drive, thank you.

We know you have plenty of places you could eat, and we're honored that you chose Big Lee's.

08/19/2026

His 120th Diners, Drive Ins and Dives stop was Big Lee's. 🔥

A customer who has visited 120 restaurants featured on Triple D came through Big Lee's, and naturally, I had to ask where we ranked.

He told me something I thought was pretty cool:

The restaurants where he gets the opportunity to meet the owner tend to rank higher on his list.

That made me think about my own journey.

Back in 2017, I competed on Guy Fieri's Guy's Big Project. Winning that competition led to my own Food Network show, Eat, Sleep, BBQ, where I traveled around the country meeting pitmasters and exploring different styles of barbecue.

Now I'm on the other side of that experience, welcoming barbecue fans into my own restaurant and getting to hear their stories.

That's pretty special.

08/19/2026

When almost the whole family orders brisket, you know what time it is. 😂🔥

A whole family came to Big Lee's Serious About Barbecue, and almost everyone decided to go with our brisket.

When I checked on their table, the food was being absolutely devoured.

And the feedback?

Nothing but good things.

They were loving the brisket, ribs, and fried okra.

Seeing a whole table enjoying the food we put so much work into is one of the best parts of what we do.

Good food. Good people. Good memories.

That's Big Lee's.

08/18/2026

It's time to settle this. 👀🍰

Which scratch made Big Lee's dessert are you most excited to try?

🍑 Peach Cobbler
🍌 Banana Pudding
🍪 Cookie Butter Cheesecake
🍌 Banana Pudding Cheesecake

They're all made from scratch, but if you could only choose ONE...

Which one are you picking?

Let us know in the comments! 👇🏾

08/18/2026

Sometimes a conversation over barbecue can turn into something much bigger.

I asked a customer how she was doing, and she told me she was doing okay.

I asked her what we could do to turn that okay into a great.

She told me she had just failed her CNA test.

I told her that in my eyes, failure isn't failure unless you quit.

She wasn't planning on quitting.

A setback can show you where you have room to improve. Learn from it, make the adjustments, and come back ready to perform better the next time.

One test doesn't define you.

Keep going. Study harder. Make the adjustments.

Then go crush that test.

08/17/2026

“I don't drink tea.”

And then... she ordered one. 😂🥤

A woman came into Big Lee's with her friend, and I told them about our signature Big Lee's Tea.

She immediately told me she doesn't drink tea.

We still offered her a sample.

A few seconds later, she changed her mind and ordered one.

That's another Big Lee's Tea conversion. 😂

I call it liquified magic in one bottle.

Sometimes all it takes is one sip.

08/17/2026

Kids are some of the most honest food critics you'll ever meet. 😂🔥

A young customer recently told us that Big Lee's Serious About Barbecue was the best BBQ she's ever had!

And you have to appreciate that kind of review.

Kids usually don't hesitate to tell you exactly what they think. If they don't like something, they don't like it. 😂

That's what makes it so rewarding to see our food connect with people across different generations, backgrounds, and cultures.

Whether you're young or old, there's nothing better than seeing someone genuinely enjoy the food we put our heart into.

08/17/2026

One sample turned into THREE Big Lee's Teas. 😂🥤

A couple came to Big Lee's Serious About Barbecue for the first time, so I wanted to make sure they knew exactly what to order.

I walked them through some of our menu favorites based on what kind of food they were feeling for and also shared the story of how my wife and I started this company.

Then came the Big Lee's Tea sample.

After trying it, they went on to order three. 😂

That's a pretty strong first impression.

We want every first time guest to feel welcomed, learn a little about what we do, and leave having had a great experience.

08/17/2026

Two hours for barbecue... and she'd do it again. 🔥

A customer drove all the way from Auburndale to Big Lee's Serious About Barbecue just to try our food.

After her meal, she told us everything was amazing and that she would absolutely make the drive back again.

Then she gave us a compliment that any pitmaster would be proud to hear:

“Those were the best ribs I've ever had in my life.”

That's what makes the long days and hard work worth it.

Thank you for making that two hour trip to experience Big Lee's. We truly appreciate it.

Address

2611 SW 19th Avenue Road
Ocala, FL
34471

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 7pm
Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 11am - 7pm
Friday 11am - 8pm
Saturday 11am - 8pm
Sunday 11am - 7pm

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