It’s hard not to be charmed by Joe’s Real BBQ.

Nestled in historic downtown Gilbert — on Gilbert Road north of Elliot Road — Joe’s serves delicious pecan-smoked meats, homemade sides and desserts in a warm, family-friendly ambience. Perhaps that’s why — no matter if you show up at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday or 7 p.m. on a Friday — you’re certain to encounter a line.

The food — including hearty cowboy beans, tart lemon cake and homemade cream soda — is served cafeteria-style by a pleasant assortment of Gilbert teens. Owner Joe Johnston — clad in a stylish straw hat — can often be seen greeting customers and helping out behind the counter, dishing out generous scoops of creamy potato salad and giving his pot of secret recipe barbecue a good stir.

I dropped by Joe’s on a Thursday afternoon. (Yes, there was a bit of a line, though nothing compared to the time my family and I stopped by on a Saturday evening and encountered a line out the door.)

All of Joe’s barbecue sandwiches are accompanied by a side — including applesauce, sweet corn, cheesy potatoes and mac ’n’ cheese — and priced at $5.49. I opted for a barbecue chicken sandwich with a side of cole slaw. I washed it all down with a glass of cross- your-eyes sour lemonade. (That’s a good thing, by the way.)

After I loaded up my tray, I slid into a chair at one of Joe’s long tables, which are situated next to an old tractor. While a family of four can easily squeeze into one of the wooden booths which run along either side of the space, some of Gilbert’s larger families (read: offspring, not waist lines) will appreciate these tables, which are also available on the patio.

The verdict: This Gilbert gem offers fabulous food and a warm, family friendly atmosphere that’s also friendly to those without kids. In all, Joe’s Real BBQ is a real good time.

Value meal deal
Where: Joe’s Real BBQ, 301 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert,
What: Barbecue sandwich with one side ($5.49)