- Usually responds within 15–30 minutes
Palatine · Illinois
Authentic Kansas City And Memphis Style BBQ Catering
Slow-smoked over post oak for 14+ hours. Pitmaster Jon Conner
brings the tradition of central Texas to your event — for moments worth savoring.
- 🔥 Weekend bookings fill fast — reserve early
14+
Years Smoking
850+
Events Catered
32k
Briskets Smoked
4.9★
Avg. Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 / 5 · 850+ events catered ⏰ 8 AM – 9 PM CST · 7 days 📍 Palatine, Illinois
🔥 WHAT WE DO
Catering For Every Occasion
From backyard birthdays to 400-guest weddings — we bring the pit, the pitmaster, and the people-pleasing flavor. Every service is fully customizable to your event, your guests, and your budget.
Full-Service BBQ Catering
End-to-end smoked BBQ catering — we bring the pit, the pitmaster, and the party. On-site smoking, buffet setup, servers, and cleanup.
Wedding Catering
Make your big day unforgettable with authentic Texas-style brisket, smoked chicken, and sausage. Elegant presentation that wows every guest.
Corporate Catering
Impress clients and reward your team. From boardroom lunches to company-wide cookouts — we deliver hot, smoky, and on time.
Private Parties
Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries — let us feed your celebration. Backyard setups, drop-off catering, or full-service events.
Family Reunions
Bring the whole family together over slow-smoked brisket and homestyle sides. We scale from 30 to 300+ guests with ease.
Community & Church Events
Fundraisers, potlucks, Sunday socials — authentic BBQ that brings neighborhoods together. Special pricing for non-profits.
🔥 THE MENU
Smoked Low. Served Bold.
Three signature smoked meats. Eight homestyle sides.
Build your own catering menu below and watch your total update in real time.
🔥 Smoked Meats
Texas-Style Brisket
USDA Choice brisket, dry-rubbed with salt & pepper, smoked 14+ hours over post oak. Sliced thick, served with burnt ends on the side.
$19/person
or $28/lb by the pound
Smoked Chicken
Whole chickens brined 24 hours, rubbed with our house BBQ spice, smoked until the skin is crisp and the meat is juicy.
$13/person
or $14/lb by the pound
Smoked Sausage
Hand-linked jalapeño-cheddar and classic Polish sausage, smoked low and slow over hickory. Snapped crisp, juicy inside.
$11/person
Insured
Company established:
Established 2026 Experience: Over 20 years of experience as a Pitmaster
— OUR STORY
Uncle Bob’s Story!
- Founder & Pitmaster
He was a true family man and one of the kindest people you could ever meet. No matter who he met, he always had a way of making people feel welcome. Whenever someone new joined the family or came around, he would smile and say, “Hi, my name is Bob — you’ll never forget it! It’s spelled the same way forwards and backwards. But don’t call me Bob… call me Uncle Bob!”
That nickname stayed with him throughout his life, and it became something everyone knew and loved him for.
My father’s favorite thing in the world was hosting backyard BBQs. For him, it was never just about the food — it was about bringing people together. Family, friends, laughter, and memories filled every gathering, and nothing made him happier than seeing smiles around the table.
— Jon Conner, Pitmaster
We named our company after him to honor the man who taught us the importance of family, community, and hospitality. At every event we cater, our goal is simple: bring people together and create memorable moments — one BBQ at a time.
Because to us, great food is more than a meal. It’s about connection, family, and making people feel at home — just like Uncle Bob always did.
🔥 EVENTS & CATERING
Built For Your Event
WEDDINGS
Elegant Texas-style BBQ that fits black-tie or boots-and-jeans. Custom menus, plated or buffet, with day-of coordination.
👥 50–400 guests · ⏰ 4–8 hour service
CORPORATE
On-time, on-budget, on-point. Boardroom drop-offs to company-wide cookouts with itemized invoicing and recurring scheduling.
👥 15–500 guests · ⏰ Lunch or dinner
BACKYARD BBQ
We roll up with the smoker, set the buffet, and feed the neighborhood. Birthdays, graduations, block parties — your call.
👥 50–400 guests · ⏰ 4–8 hour service
COMMUNITY & CHURCH
Fundraisers, potlucks, Sunday socials — special non-profit pricing and bulk portions designed for big crowds.
👥 50–1000 guests · ⏰ 2–6 hour service
Pick Your Package
- Backyard Basic
$24 /guest
⭐ Drop-off, no staff
- 1 smoked meat (brisket, chicken, or sausage)
- 2 homestyle sides
- Brioche buns & BBQ sauce
- Disposable servingware
- Serves 20+ guests
Most Popular
- Premium Pitmaster
$42 /guest
⭐ Full service, on-site smoker
- 2 smoked meats (any combination)
- 3 homestyle sides
- On-site smoker & pitmaster
- 2-hour service window
- Serves 30+ guests
- Custom Texas Feast
Custom /tailored to you
⭐ Anything goes
- All 3 smoked meats + extras
- Unlimited sides & desserts
- Multi-pit on-site smoking
- Dedicated event coordinator
- Custom menu design
- Servers, bussers & grill cooks
- Late-night snack service
- Premium equipment & rentals
Booking In 4 Simple Steps
01
Share Your Event
Tell us your date, guest count, and event type using the quote form. Takes 2 minutes.
02
We Design Your Menu
Jon personally reviews your request and crafts a custom menu + quote within 30 minutes.
03
Lock In Your Date
Approve the menu, pay your 25% deposit, and your date is reserved. Simple as that.
04
We Smoke & Serve
We arrive early, smoke on-site if you have chosen full service, and serve your guests. You enjoy.
🔥 THE GALLERY
Smoke, Fire, & Good Times
🔥 CUSTOMER LOVE
850+ Events., Zero Regrets.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 / 5 average · 312 verified reviews
“Jon and his team catered our wedding for 180 guests and absolutely nailed it. The brisket was the best I have ever had — even my Texas in-laws were floored. Worth every penny.”
Sarah Mitchell
Bride, September wedding · Barrington, IL
“We have used Uncle Bob’s for 6 corporate events now. Always on time, always hot, always delicious. The invoicing is clean, the staff is sharp. Best catering partner we have had.”
Marcus Reyes
Operations Director · Schaumburg, IL
“Fed 400 people at our annual church picnic and not a single complaint — only seconds and thirds. The non-profit pricing made it possible. Uncle Bob’s is our forever BBQ people.”
Pastor David Hale
Community Church Picnic · Palatine, IL
Emily Tran
30th Birthday Party · Arlington Heights, IL
Frank Delgado
Family Reunion Organizer · Crystal Lake, IL
“From the first phone call to the last bite, Jon was responsive, professional, and clearly passionate about his craft. He responded to my quote request in under 15 minutes. The burnt ends are still being talked about.”
Jamie O'Sullivan
Bride's Mother · Inverness, IL
⭐ Google Verified
⭐ Fully Insured
⭐ Licensed Caterer · Illinois
⭐ Food Handler Certified
⭐ Member · National BBQ Associati
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 / 5 average · 312 verified reviews
Let's Smoke Your Event
Call or Text
+1 847-774-4137
1-847-774-4137
Business Hours
8 AM – 9 PM · CST · 7 days
🔥 Request Your Quote
🔥 AREAS WE SERVE
Based In Palatine Serving Chicago Suburbs
Our mobile smoker rig travels across the northwest suburbs of Chicago, bringing authentic barbecue straight to your location in Palatine and beyond. A small travel fee may apply depending on distance — and we’ll always be upfront about it in your quote.
✓ Palatine
✓ Arlington Heights
✓ Schaumburg
✓ Rolling Meadows
✓ Hoffman Estates
✓ Barrington
✓ Buffalo Grove
✓ Mount Prospect
✓ Des Plaines
✓ Elk Grove Village
✓ Inverness
✓ Crystal Lake
✓ Chicago (Select Suburbs)
🧭 Outside our usual radius
Elegant Texas-style BBQ that fits black-tie or boots-and-jeans. Custom menus, plated or buffet, with day-of coordination.
🔥 GOOD TO KNOW
Questions? We've Got Answers.
Weekend dates fill up fast — we recommend booking 4-8 weeks in advance for weekends during peak season (May-September). For weekday events and corporate catering, 2-3 weeks is usually enough. Last-minute requests? Call us — we will do our best to fit you in.
We are based in Palatine, Illinois and serve all of the Chicago suburbs — including Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Barrington, Rolling Meadows, Hoffman Estates, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Crystal Lake, and more. Outside our 25-mile radius? We can still make it work with a small travel fee.
Yes — our Premium Pitmaster and Custom Texas Feast packages include on-site smoking with our mobile pit. There is nothing quite like the smell of brisket smoking at your event. For drop-off catering (Backyard Basic), we smoke everything fresh at our commissary and deliver hot.
Absolutely. We offer vegetarian sides, gluten-free BBQ sauce, dairy-free mac & cheese, and can prepare separate proteins for guests with restrictions. Just let us know during booking and we will design the menu around your guests’ needs.
Our per-guest pricing includes your choice of protein(s), delicious homemade sides, and our signature BBQ sauce. Every order is freshly prepared and smoked to perfection, ensuring an authentic BBQ experience with no hidden fees — your quote is your quote.
Yes — our Premium and Custom packages include trained serving staff (1 server per 30 guests), a pitmaster, and a cleanup crew. For drop-off catering, staff is available as an add-on. All staff are uniformed, background-checked, and food-handler certified.
We require a 25% deposit to reserve your date, with the balance due 7 days before the event. We accept all major credit cards, ACH, and checks. Corporate clients can request net-15 invoicing. Cancellations more than 30 days out are fully refundable.
Our minimum for full-service catering is 20 guests. Drop-off catering has a $300 minimum. For smaller gatherings, check out our family packs — perfect for 8-15 people and available for pickup or delivery.