This food truck was at the New Glarus Blues brews and food trucks festival kind of thing in the park. I was craving BBQ anyway so I ordered the brisket sandwich and at the last minute a side of Mac and cheese. The brisket sandwich looked good with a smoke ring on thick slices on the most cheapest generic white bun you could possibly get like some some cheap carnival hamburger. The brisket was moist and smokey with a kick from what ever sauce I picked from the two on the table which was satisfying but the meat was colder than the outside temperature I was in, cold Bbq on a warm summer day was weird. The Mac and cheese looked like pathetic cafeteria food with a mushy sticky texture and a light cheese flavor, cooked to mush, I like aged cheeses with bold flavors in a Mac and cheese so it's not just another generic Mac and cheese. read more

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We waited in a line to try Bob's BBQ at Taste of Madison and we left disappointed. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich, brisket sandwich, and the chicken fried bacon. The sandwiches were both came with plenty of meat, but were super dry and ice cold. There were no toppings, just bread and meat, and sadly no BBQ sauce to be found. The chicken fried bacon was the only thing we enjoyed as it was hot and flavorful. Maybe the food is better in their restaurant, but based on our experience at the taste, we're not eager to try. read more

Tried this place at a recent concert in Madison. I am a big fan of pulled pork so I definitely had to try it. Some of the best tasting bbq pulled pork and cole slaw! The pulled pork was amazing, melted in your mouth, and the slaw topped it off. Definitely recommend! read more

Went for takeout last Saturday; got the pork dinner and brisket. Best brisket we've ever had, and the pork was amazing as well. We travel all over the country, stopping at BBQ joints whenever possible, and have yet to find anything better than right here in our own backyard! We have 2 other favorites in the area, that are right up there with Bob's BBQ; but we'll be back here whenever we have a craving for great BBQ. read more

Finally-someone took this building and did something really interesting with it and is making it into a "destination" for people in the ~1hour driving distance radius. The atmosphere is decent. There is a cozy music venue towards the back, a bar with about 10 stools, and a variety of about 10? tables for dining. You smell the smoke in the parking lot and if you didn't plan to eat, you probably will by the time you walk in the door. All the coffee machines and drinks are still there from the prior "coffee shop" focus. They have a selection of bottled beers, focused on local Madison, Cross Plains and Arena breweries (Lake Louie, Capital, Ale Asylum). Beers are a little pricey for bottles ($3.50-$4.00). They also have a reasonable liquor selection and sodas. For smoked meats, you have a spectrum of chicken, pork ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. There are a few interesting sandwiches that contain these same meats, too. The pulled pork is still in fairly generous chunks, but is smoked nicely and tender. The brisket is sliced about 1/4 inch thick with a decent bark. The chicken is fine, but I'm never overly excited about chicken at BBQ joints. Unlike a previous reviewer's opinion, the ribs were the standout for me. Super meaty, perfect tenderness (not fall off the bone, but pulls easily and cleanly off the bone with a little tug), nicely seasoned, served dry rubbed with a few homemade red sauces on the side of varying heat. They have a gigantic pulled pork sandwich that is a "free if you can eat it all..." kind of deal. Nobody has finished it yet. As for sides, he makes beer breads and buns using Lake Louie beer. Maybe a tad dry, but a nice, homemade touch. Slaw is a nice mix of colorful cabbages and carrots with a mustard vinegarette. Beans are outstanding-plump beans, slow cooked and flavorful, but not overly sweet. Saturday is "all you can eat pork and chicken" I believe, for around $12-13. read more

Apparently this whole operation started with an art gallery/coffee shop co-op. Bob started to do BBQ on the side -- it started selling so well that the coffee shop became a BBQ Emporium. I thought it was a great meal with a personal touch. This guy uses lilac wood and oak to smoke his meat - that's pretty cutting edge. His sauce is solid (don't miss the hot). Make sure to start with the homeade hot links and the sides of beans and slaw won't disappoint. What about the meat? The chicken was my favorite, followed by the brisket, then the pork shoulder. You could tell that he was doing something a little different than usual. I'd skip the ribs - they seemed like they needed stronger smoke flavor and longer cook time. read more

I love this place! I have followed Bob from his start in Mazomanie as an art gallery... then he added awesome coffee and then an amazing panini menu...and now we are on to an another incredible line! I love the fact that I can take friends here to eat, knowing the food is good and they are going to be full when we walk out the door and I can offer to pick up the check and still make my mortgage! My favorite on the menu is the Once around the Pig.... A sandwich with pulled pork, ham and bacon?! What is not to love!? I usually sit there with the sauces lined up in front of me and alternate since I can not decide which of his homemade creations are my favorite! Just thinking about the meals I have had there makes my mouth water! I can't wait to go back! read more

One of my favorites! They have such a variety of BBQ sauces to try out at the table! Cozy atmosphere and I have never had bad service (and we have gone a lot)! You will often see Bob himself out bussing tables and helping out. You can't go wrong with the brisket and ribs. My favorite sauces are the Carolina mustard and the RBQ. But they are all really good. They taste homemade and I always leave with a jar or 2 to take home. The brisket waffle fries are also delicious for an appetizer but beware- there are a lot so be prepared to share! My recommendation - try the grilled cheese soup. It has real chucks if cheese curds and in a good tomato bisque. It's my favorite and a good comfort food! read more

I have been to Bob's BBQ Emporium twice. The first time, my boyfriend and I just got done with our 14 hour shifts and were starving. The only place open in this tiny town - was Bob's. We strolled in just before closing on a Friday - and he happily served us. I received the pulled pork and I believe my boyfriend had the Brisket. We didn't say a word to hardly anyone because we couldn't stop shoving this fantastic magical goodness in our face to get it down our throat holes fast enough. I am not from the south - and neither is my boyfriend. However, I have had Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama BBQ - and my boyfriend lived in Florida for several years. Both of us agreed, this is the best BBQ we have tasted in this state - hands down. It is perfect for that tiny little get away from "Madison" - to come enjoy some good home cooked food from some very amazing people. This leads to my second trip. None of the lame *** god forsaken restaurants/bars in this town were open after 9 PM. This was the first night I had gotten to go out in weeks. Even though we didn't order, we were able to go in and enjoy some rather tasty IPA's and local beers (Ale Asylum, Louies, New Glarus). They stayed open for us and a few other people - then treated us with some great hometown stories. The wonderful female bartender popped some popcorn for us - and it was a great time. I would recommend this place to anyone, they always have good food, good drink and a sense of humor. It's a great hidden gem to hit up on your way to American Players Theatre - take out some BBQ put it in the car and eat it at APT. It's not only going to taste better then that dry overpriced chicken that they make you cook (that comes with the 55$ 'Picnic Basket" at APT) on a grill with squirrel droppings - but you don't have to cook it! :D read more

Tonight was the first night I've eaten at Bob's BBQ Emporium and I told him, and I'll tell everyone else - it is THE BEST BBQ I've had this side of North Carolina. We dined with six people, none of whom had been there before, and ALL were incredibly impressed. The orders ranged from the Cuban sandwich to the Winner Winner Chicken Dinner to Brisket to the Once Around the Pig to the Sampler Platter. We were all STUFFED and very very happy. The Ghost Pepper BBQ Sauce wasn't burn-your-face-off-hot, and had flavor, not just heat. I am definitely going back again... the BBQ is irresistable. read more

Food was okay, I ordered the brisket with two sides, my husband ordered the brisket on a bun. Service was a little disconcerting - the waitress squatted down and practically rested her chin on the table. We placed our orders, and waited . . . and waited . . . not sure what we were waiting for, since the meats should have been cooked and ready to serve. Food finally came, it had very little flavor save for the dry rub on the outside of the meat. One slice of brisket had obviously been cut some time ago and reheated, as the surface was quite dried out. The brisket was about twice what I could eat, so I asked for a take-out container to box it up. The waitress went to the kitchen, came back out and said they didn't have any containers so she would take it back and wrap it up. I was actually looking forward to making a meal for two because there was one complete, fairly large, slice of brisket left, plus a couple of smaller pieces. When she returned with the package, it seemed rather small; I should have opened it up then and there. When we got home, I did open it, and I immediately saw that more than half of the large piece had been cut off and was not included with my leftovers. My husband immediately called, and they tried to pass it off by saying that perhaps some of it accidentally got thrown out with the scraps. Which was a bit disingenuous because the scraps (pieces of fat I'd cut off) were clearly there, while the choice piece of meat was not. So clearly they don't care that their staff is cheating their customers. We won't be going back . . . ever. read more

If you are looking for BBQ that is slow-cooked and smoked the way BBQ is suppose to be, you have found it! The best BBQ you can find in this part of the country. The price is great and the choices of local microbrews makes it even better. read more

Pleasant surprise here. Good BBQ, nice selection of local beers and pretty darn cheap. This is texas style BBQ with a nice dry rub. They had 2 house made sauces - nothing to write home about but solid. For a BBQ joint it's clean and well set up. Waitress was very friendly and kept the water glasses filled. read more

Being from the south, the bbq is fair at best, but I give Bob props. He brought something new to this area and did it with class and style. My complainant is the odd hours the business keeps. It's never open! I know the owner has been spread thin with his new restaurant in Mount Horeb which I've yet to go to and his catering. read more

The four of us were excited to try Bob's based on positive reviews on Trip Advisor and Yelp. I'm not sure what restaurant those reviewers visited but I've rarely found a restaurant that fell so far short of the reviews as Bob's. From the outside, Bob's looks like a dive but that's not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to great BBQ joints (and I've eaten in a lot of them all over the country). The interior has been remodeled and is much nicer than the building facade. The women working at Bob's were very friendly and provided great service. We visited on a Saturday evening and the place was empty aside from two locals having a beer at the bar. (Good selection of local craft brews.) Seemed odd that a place with such great reviews was so dead on a Saturday night. Didn't take long to figure out why. The meat was cool when it reached the table, which is inexcusable in my book. There are no fries on the menu, which seemed odd for a BBQ joint. The cole slaw was vinegar-based and pretty good; potato salad was not. It was bland and tasteless. I liked the sauces but the rest of our party did not. Bottom line: Tried it once and won't be back. I see Bob posted a rebuttal to my review. No apology for the bad experience we had; he just seems to want to criticize me for not complaining the night we made the mistake of eating there. Interesting way to respond a customer's concerns. read more

Great BBQ and love the sauces, even the spicy one. Yum. Plus they serve some great local beers to go with it! Who doesn't love beer and good bbq? Especially fun on Saturday's when a band is there! If you are wondering how they do it? Just ask Bob, the BBQ master. read more

Good bbq. They were out of the cobbler for peach cobbler...not too many choices for kiddos, grilled chese tho but had high chairs. Brisket and ribs and pork were great! No salads, or 'other' choices besides bbq. I'd go again when it's the busier season.... read more

Friday night's Pork Pizza is my favorite. It starts off with Bob's beer bread pizza crust, topped with bbq sauce, spinach, onion, tomato, pork and cheese on top. The flavor is wonderful. If I am in town I make the trip out for the pork pizza!! Also his Ghost Pepper BBQ Sauce is the right touch of heat and flavor. There is also live music on some Saturday nights...Great place to hang out with friends and enjoy. read more

This past summer we had Bob cater the rehearsal dinner for our wedding. We had the event just down the road from his restaurant at Sugerland. The BBQ was outstanding and the service matched. I highly recommend getting your hands on some of this BBQ! read more

If you're expecting a subdued atmosphere with bland, mild menu items you could get anywhere...well, you won't find it at Bob's. Bob's food is some of the best barbeque ever found in Wisconsin. Just ask Bob! He'll keep you entertained with stories while you dine or while you enjoy a frosty beverage. You'll need that beverage if you try Bob's hottest Barbeque Sauce made with ghost peppers! His menu is expanding these days, so there are even more reasons to stop there. On Saturday nights, Bob usually has a band in, so you'll have an even better reason to mow down some tasty baby back ribs or pulled pork or brisket or the special of the day. Expanding menus = expanding waistlines.........but what the heck! It will be worth it. Just ask Bob! read more

Bob's serves the best brisket ever!!! They're cut into thick, juicy, tender, flavorful slices of heaven inside a soft, slightly sweet bun. If you're in the area, perhaps on your way to House on the Rock or Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, please, please DO NOT miss this place. The staff is so friendly and welcoming, too! read more

Had my first experience at Bob's not too long ago and the food was amazing. I ordered a plate with many different kinds of BBQ in order to get a feel for what everything tastes like, and I wasn't disappointed with anything. The ribs, chicken, brisket, and pork were all cooked beautifully and were full of flavor. If that wasn't enough, the sides of coleslaw and potato salad were amazing as well. Service was great and the atmosphere is wonderful as well with lots of art on the walls and when I was there they had live music. Very happy with my visit. read more

Awesome BBQ. Brisket, chicken and pulled pork were all very good. Very authentic. Very good sauces - especially the ghost pepper sauce. Waitstaff was very friendly. read more

Finally, great BBQ in the River Valley! Delicious and great value (large portions for the price). And love ALL the sides ... macaroni and cheese, mess 'o greens are my new favorites. And great music, too. Casual, comfortable, delicious. Highly recommended! read more

This place has by far the best BBQ of any place within a 100 mile radius. I've had BBQ in Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, but this may be my favorite BBQ place I've ever been to. Bob knows exactly what he is doing, and he is as friendly as it gets. You could talk to him for hours about how he makes all of his food. He spends over a month making his brisket, and you can tell. And don't get me started on the pork belly. That is in a league of its own. If you like bacon as much as I do, this pork belly will bring a tear to your eyes. No joke. The sides are nothing special, but lets be honest... You don't go to a BBQ joint for the sides. It's all about the meat, which he has perfected. I will be going back every chance I get. read more

I wanted to love it, but sadly it fell far short of expectations. My husband and I shared the sampler so we could try a variety of things. What a disappointment it was! The ribs were very dry and over cooked, the chicken was just blah, the brisket mediocre, and the pulled pork was 50% fat. The beer bread that came with it was tastey, but the Mac & Cheese was dry and gritty. My husband is from the South and we know our BBQ, this was way over priced for the quality of the bbq you got. The sauces were ok, my husband really liked the vinegar based sauce, but that was the only bright spot we found. I've had better at chain restaurants, which isn't saying much. To top it off, service was slow and not exactly friendly. Took over an hour to get our meal. It was extremely hot inside the restaurant and it was only in the 70s outside. Hate to see what it's going to be like during the really hot days of summer. Then to top it off, to pay with your debit/credit card they use a card reader attached to a cell phone...I'm all of new technology, but when you have to run around the bar with my credit card and your cell phone above your head until you get cell service, so it you can process it, it's not a very practical, or secure system. I love to support local restaurants and had high hopes for this place, but I won't be going back. I hope for their sake they can get it together and really improve because that area could use a great BBQ restaurant. For now, I'll stick to Saturday night ribs at Bay 5 in Mazomanie instead. read more