Long time established bbq restaurant in Gainesville. Nothing fancy, no table service. Prices have increased but still decent serving sizes.
We come all the way from Athens Ga for the best BBQ around. Yes we have BBQ but not one compares to Johnnys.
Food is a bit overpriced, but it's good mid-grade bbq. Service is good if a bit rushed and surprisingly impersonal. Dining area has a school lunch room atmosphere.
We got there kinda late and offered to get the food to go. The staff were very welcoming and encouraged us to dine in, letting us know we had plenty of time before they were going to be ready to close. The food was outstanding, went in on a mission to try the Brunswick Stew (coworker said it was the best in Gainesville, and they weren't lying!) Wound up getting a pork sandwich to eat there and took a few quarts of the stew to go. I can't wait to go back and try the family special, the beans, slaw, chicken, and brisket.
Not a fan. I got the lunch plate. The portions were good but the pork was dry and unseasoned, the sauces lacking in flavor so what should have been the star of the meal was disappointing. The slaw was pretty good and the beans okay but the half of bun smeared with butter puzzled me. Was charged 35 cents for tap water. The tv was being used to show taped commercials for local businesses. There was no service, just a counter to order and no employee came to your table. The whole feeling of the place had a stingy atmosphere, not welcoming and just trying to make an extra buck out of the customers any way it could. Will not be back.