OAK WOOD SMOKE HOUSE AND GRILL
OAK WOOD SMOKE HOUSE AND GRILL is slipping. It still carries a C (78/100), but the trend across its recent inspections points down — worth a look at the history below before you go.
Its most recent inspection on June 10, 2026 cited 1 high-priority, 1 intermediate, and 11 basic violations. It currently ranks safer than 28% of Lake County restaurants we grade. Diner rating: 4.6 from 1,705 reviews.
Trend: declining · C (78/100)
Get directions Call (352) 394-0036
Restaurant details
- Health grade
- C (78/100)
- Violations
- 13 total — 1 high-priority, 1 intermediate, 11 basic
- Address
- 230 CITRUS TOWER BLVD, Clermont, FL
- Cuisine
- Other
- Categories
- Barbecue restaurant, Caterer
- Price
- $10–20
- Rating
- 4.6 stars (1705 reviews)
- Seats
- 180
- Phone
- (352) 394-0036
- Website
- Official website
Community Rating
Reviews via GoogleWhat diners say — our read
55% of reviews here touch on service, more than any other theme. Reviewers who mention service rate this place 4.6 on average — it is working in the restaurant’s favour. Whether it is worth the money follows at 23% of reviews, where ratings average 5.0.
Behind those, how clean the place looks is raised in 18% of reviews (4.5 average). Older reviews score better than newer ones (4.1 recent against 4.6 earlier), so direction is worth weighing alongside the average. If you had to pick one number to represent this corpus it would be 5, the most frequently given rating (16 reviews).
The kitchen graded a C (78/100) on 1 high-priority, 1 intermediate, and 11 basic violations at its last inspection, which is roughly where the reviews sit too. DBPR last walked in on June 10, 2026. Its inspection trajectory is downward over the records we hold. That puts it ahead of 28% of graded kitchens in Lake County. The citations behind that grade include in-use food dispensing utensils properly stored and handwashing.
This is a listing where the two measures each tell half the story. Everything above is computed from the 22 reviews reproduced below.
Our own analysis of 22 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The SMOKIEST & MOST TENDER & JUICY BBQ BEEF I've ever had! I love BBQ, but OAKWOOD SMOKEHOUSE is NEXT LEVEL... Not fatty, not dry, AND THE SAUCES- they have a SMOKY AU JUS!!! I literally sipped it out of the bowl like a nectar of God. I'm so full but I will be happily digging in to my take home box tonight! I'm switching to OAKWOOD Smokehouse as my go to BBQ heaven. AND BAILEY keeps it 💯, the best server!!
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Great food and our server Nicole was the tops! Large servings of meats and good southern style vegetables.
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Pork was dry and not edible. Green beans were way too salty and the mac and cheese was extremely cheesy and not edible. Both are sent back with no refund. Tha service was fine. The fresh fries were fine and the tea was good. The food sucked. Your manager should be retrained
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We were in town visiting a family member who suggested Oakwood Grill for the ribs. They were very good. 3/4 of us got the ribs, they were falling off the bone. Our server was on top of it and kept our drinks filled and checked on us regularly. I would go back.
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The food was cold and didnt taste very good, the corn fritters were cold and hard as a brick, we didnt get any cinnamon butter for sweet potato,
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Great food, especially worth going for the above and beyond ribs.
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We catered a big event using Oakwood and highly recommend them! We had the pleasure of working with Neil to coordinate all of the catering and food... He was excellent to work with! Great communication, speedy replies, and super reliable. When we picked everything up they wheeled it all out to our car and helped us load it. Everything was ready right on time and the food was fantastic!
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Good food reasonably priced
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Even the kids are full and happy
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Best ribs around! And they have lima beans too! Yum
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Been here numerous times. Usually have a great meal. Not so this time.
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We were in Clermont and wanted to try BBQ outside the usual chains. We weren't disappointed and glad we found this restaurant. The baby back ribs were tender and the sauce was yummy. Prices were very reasonable and the portions were generous. Our server was really nice and the restrooms were very clean. Really can't ask for anything more!! Eat local and try this place out.
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First time visit. Had their half rack combos for $17.99 each. The ribs were excellent and paired well with the delicious sides. My combo was ribs, pulled pork, mac and cheese, corn salad. The other was ribs, BBQ chicken, okra, baked beans and a side of French fries. Food came out very quickly and server was very attentive.
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The ribs were the best. I will definitely be back.
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Our server SHE WAS AMAZING! The food was FANTASTIC!! I loved the decor!! I can't wait to go back!!!
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If I'd had eaten inside most likely would have given 5 stars. Ordered take out to bring to Lake Hayawatha park for a picnic lunch for 4 people. Bought hamburgers, fries, salad. All were nicely packed and upon opening seemed beautifully prepared as ordered. The problem was we were forced to eat everything dry and with dirty fingers as Oakwood Smokehouse Clermont saw fit to save a couple of pennies by not providing utensils, ketchup, salt or napkins on a nearly $100 take out order. What is even more disappointing is that I was not even asked if I wanted/ needed anything when I ordered or picked up. Make sure you explicitly ask for everything you need to actually enjoy your meal before leaving cause if you don't ask, you don't get.
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Excellent ribs!
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EDIT: We went back as we normally have a good experience here, and this time everything was fine, no problems. I decided to get onion rings in place of the fries this time and they were good. Today's visit was not too good, the baked beans were horrid, can't even really describe them as they were like a paste. Not sure what happened, they're usually really good. The ribs were fine, but apparently Oakwood has decided to add some sort of coating to the fries which used to be amazing and are now not good at all. The worst thing today was the iced tea, I ordered sweet tea which is usually great but it was unbearably sweet. I told our waitress and asked her to top it off with some unsweet but even that didn't help. Waitress was not apologetic at all, nor was she apologetic when my mom asked for her baked beans to be replaced and mentioned how bad they were. The waitress also just walked away when I was trying to say something to her. I want to say that this is not my usual experience here, we've been going here for years and years, and the service is usually great but the food unfortunately seems to be going downhill little by little, really sad. Anyway today was not a good experience with food or service. I could name the waitress, her name is on my receipt, but I won't do so as hopefully she was just having a bad day.
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In my opinion, there is no better place for barbecue in Central Florida than Oakwood! It's been a consistent staple of our family's go-to restaurants for 15+ years now. The baby back ribs are consistently fall off the bone tender, and everything on the menu is delicious and generously portioned. The servers are kind, very hospitable, and fun to interact with. Clean dining room and restrooms, there's nothing not to like--come discover the phenomenon that is Oakwood!
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Great BBQ, excellent service and reasonable prices. We visit frequently. Another great dinner with exceptional service.
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Ribs were amazing and a great price. Sides of corn fritters and lima beans were wonderful, friends said the baked beans and Mac & cheese were good as well. Mitchell, our server, was pleasant, friendly and efficient. We will definitely be returning!
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Clean, pleasant waiter, interesting photos on the walls, i have had the rack of ribs several times and they are aiways in my opinion excellent. The price is reasonable too. They have many other dishes but i cant stop eating the ribs, i can only assume other items are just as good. Fish looks good.
Overall Score
53 / 100
Composite score from health grade, dietary options, ratings, and inspection record — distinct from the state-derived health grade.
Opening hours
- Monday
- 11 AM to 8 PM
- Tuesday
- 11 AM to 8 PM
- Wednesday
- 11 AM to 8 PM
- Thursday
- 11 AM to 8 PM
- Friday
- 11 AM to 8 PM
- Saturday
- 11 AM to 8 PM
- Sunday
- 11 AM to 3 PM
Inspection history
The following records are from Florida DBPR public inspection records, most recent first.
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June 10, 2026 · Routine - Food
Call Back - Complied
1 high-priority · 1 intermediate · 11 basic
- 03 — Temperature control of foods (cold/hot holding, cooking, cooling, reheating)
- 10 — In-use food dispensing utensils properly stored
- 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
- 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained (×2)
- 16 — Dishwashing facilities; sanitizer test kits; gauges
- 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
- 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
- 24 — Storage & handling of clean equipment and utensils; air drying (×2)
- 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention
- 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×2)
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April 7, 2026 · Routine - Food
Warning Issued
1 high-priority · 2 intermediate · 12 basic
- 03 — Temperature control of foods (cold/hot holding, cooking, cooling, reheating)
- 10 — In-use food dispensing utensils properly stored
- 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
- 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained (×2)
- 16 — Dishwashing facilities; sanitizer test kits; gauges
- 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
- 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
- 24 — Storage & handling of clean equipment and utensils; air drying (×2)
- 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention
- 35 — Insects/rodents/pests; outer openings protected against pests
- 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×2)
- 53 — Food manager certification; employee food-safety training
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August 5, 2025 · Complaint Full
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
1 high-priority · 3 intermediate · 7 basic
- 03 — Temperature control of foods (cold/hot holding, cooking, cooling, reheating)
- 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized (×2)
- 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
- 24 — Storage & handling of clean equipment and utensils; air drying
- 29 — Plumbing installed & maintained; mop sink; backflow prevention (×2)
- 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×3)
- 41 — Chemicals / toxic substances properly stored & used
Safer options nearby
Higher-graded restaurants close to OAK WOOD SMOKE HOUSE AND GRILL, by Florida DBPR grade:
- GABBY'S
- DUNKIN DONUTS
This grade is calculated by us from Florida DBPR public inspection records — Florida does not issue official grades. How we calculate it →
Data last updated: June 10, 2026