We went here on a double date with some friends after playing mini golf. It was a nice lunch spot in the area. My friends wanted to try the jalapeño cheesy sausage, but it was already sold out and it wasn't even that late in the day, so they got the hot links, but it wasn't spicy or hot whatsoever. They said it was somewhat bland and they were disappointed for the price. We all enjoyed the sides those were the best! The greens, pickles, and fresh rolls were bomb that are sandwiches were on! I thought it was cool how you could see the open kitchen and the dining room was more of a fine dining experience like in the name. I did notice while we were leaving they had a food truck outside to order at which might have been more our speed. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

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Since after remodeling, brisket is dry and I ate there at noon. Use to be very juicy before remodeling. Seems to be quantity or quality now. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Beef brisket was very dry - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

Phenomenal "in-house" smoked meats! Will be back as soon as possible. We tried the pulled pork sandwich with the Spicy Kimchi side & Spicy BBQ sauce. Put the pickles & red wine vinegar onions on as well. Damn that was good!!! Also, we had the Big Buddy. It was delicious all on its own, without the BBQ sauce. We shared both meals and ended up loving the wet/sloppiness of all the stuff we put on the pulled pork, so we added all the same to the Big Buddy. Freaking awesome! Will to back, probably more than I can afford. Lol read more

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This spot off hwy 7 & it is pretty neat. Plenty of parking available. It is very open with a good amount of seating, a big bar, open kitchen, and lots of outside spaces for sitting as well. The menu has so many things to choose from. From the BBQ to the sides we enjoyed it all! My friend & I stopped in and split the bill to try a bunch of items & I really was impressed. Buddy Boy Smoked Old Fashioned - J carver 7 yr, cherry demerara syrup, and angostura bitters. Good old fashioned and I'd drink it again. Pork Belly Burnt Ends - really crispy yet tender. They come with a really tasty sauce for dipping needs. Charbroiled Oysters 1/2 dozen made with parmesan, garlic butter, and wine- these were solid but not my favorite. I hate to say it but too much cheese took over the oyster. Fun to try though. Pork Spare Ribs 1/2 rack - I can't remember the sauce we picked but these were delish. Sides: Burnt End Potato Salad- made with creamy garlic and herbs, burn ends, fresh corn & peppers. This was my fav! So good. Mac & cheese - Cavatappi and their house savory cheese sauce. Delish! Collard Greens & pork belly - savory with a nice little kick. I liked these as well. I want to return and try a sandwich or some other bbq items. The menu is large, so I still have a lot to enjoy! Check it out when in the area for sure! read more

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Ok - we really wanted to love this place but all we can come away with is meh. We even tried it 3 times. The food is always like warm - except the grits the grits are pretty all right. The burnt ends are tough, the pork and the brisket are dry and barely warm at all and the hush puppies chewy skip the cornbread but the chips are good and the collards are very good. Their trio of sauces are sweet sweeter and uninterestingly hot. read more

Had the brisket sandwich at the land castle event. The brisket was delicious. Good portions. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Brisket Sandwhich - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

This is really nice bbq spot. Staff was really great and food was great too. Can't wait to come back and try more things.

All style no substance.....we had to send our food back for being overcooked, tough, and dry. Our server said it is a common problem...not good! They eventually brought us food that we could eat but VERY underwhelming. Ribs should be falling off the bone, my pork chop was dry and tough. We have lived in KC, traveled to TX and NC all BBQ capitals so we have eaten REAL BBQ! The noise level is atrocious as well, so unless you are hankering for a trip down memory lane to the high school lunchroom experience I cannot recommend! Wanted to try and hoped it would be good but not again! read more

We are visiting the area for a month and was craving good BBQ. What are these people thinking when they are saying this is quality? Ribs had little meat with a lot of fat.....what meat it had was dry. Wife had a Brisket sandwich and took all the meat apart to try and cut all of the fat off. Also, offer more napkins....it is BBQ that is messy. It is a nice building with a lot of cars, makes me wonder if this is the best MN has to offer. read more

I've been here a few times and the food, by MN BBQ standards, is just OK (3 stars). If you factor in the high prices the rating falls to 2 stars. For your money, there are better places to get BBQ. read more

I have been here twice now, once dine in and once to go. The smell from the parking lot is incredible, you see the smoke billowing from the smokers. The food is very good, brisket sandwich, burnt ends, and baked beans. The brisket was great, burnt ends got a little salty after having a few of them. The beans were excellent. They also have a nice selection of sauces, we preferred the hottest one. Only reason for not giving 5 stars is the pricing. I realize barbecue isn't cheap but it felt overly pricey. Regardless, worth the trip. I think they bought the building next door and are moving into it. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Brisket sandwich and burnt ends with baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

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My wife and I took the 30 minute drive west of Minneapolis to Minnetrista to try out this wonderful BBQ spot. I met the owner and his wife and they were super cool. I got the pulled pork sandwich and the baked beans. I also got some Excelsior draft chocolate peanut butter stout, which was awesome! The pulled pork was nice and juicy, but I have to say that their beans were AMAZING! Lots of meat trimmings in it. Just the bomb. The ghost sauce was hot, but not too much. Great service and plenty of COVID spacing. Highly recommended! read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Pulled pork sandwich and beans. Amazing! - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

Arrived at 7 to a busy place, seated promptly. Big menu. Large portions of very good food. Noise level intrudes on conversation. Good service. read more

The inside is beautiful but food was poor. We had a party of 9 and everyone was disappointed in the food. Would not go back unfortunately.

Sometimes everything lines up for a perfect day. We passed this place on Thursday and came on Saturday. The lot was nearly full at 4. Lots of large parties inside. Nate was our excellent waiter and we impressed him with our bibs from an Italian restaurant in Buffalo, NY. Most items were exceptional. Starting with a sweet potato jalapeno chowder, not too spicy for us. Basil got the brisket. Super tender and we got the MN nice sauce. I was going to get that until I spotted the Amish chicken. Go figure. Not sure how it was prepared but it had a great crust and perfect spices. I even loved the root veggies that went with it, very buttery. We shared a huge piece of cornbread which we loved. The more unusual was a burnt end potato salad. Buddy beans were juicy with mostly meat and not as many beans and the spiciest thing we had. I love how a table for two is still longer and holds plenty of dishes. The chairs were also comfortable. I love it here and can't wait to go back. It was such an experience that on the way home KBOB played Stand By Your Man by Tammy Wynette. read more

Last few times my wife and I ate at Buddy Boy it was the old restaurant. We would sit outside on the picnic table and enjoy live music while smelling the smokers running outside. It was great! I'm very disappointed with the new set up, I understand what they are trying to do here but it has unfortunately lost its charm. We were going to dine into the new restaurant but decided on just doing take out. It was very loud inside and just doesn't quite have the same feel and charm as it once did. The food was ok, I feel like the quality has gone down. I got the Big Buddy Sandwich and everything tasted good but was very dry. Bun was dry too, the bun makes the sandwich in my opinion. My wife got the Pork Spare Ribs and they were tasty! For sides we got the cornbread, baked beans and dinner rolls. The dinner rolls and cornbread were dry. They had good taste but just didn't live up to our preferences. The baked beans changed from what they used to sell at the old place, very flavorful and tasty. No leftovers there... Overall my review of the new Buddy Boy is just 'ok' we will for-sure go back again because we used to frequent the old place. My honest opinion is don't try and fix what's not broken, especially in the restaurant game. 7/10. Cheers! read more

Service - Wait wasn't too bad, they were very busy. Food - Burnt Ends: scratched an itch. Not the best i've had, definitely good. - brisket, again it will satisfy a craving. I would get it chopped if i got it again. - mac n' cheese was very good! - cornbread was delicious - sauces were all very good!! Ambiance - really good ambiance, fun, hip place. - need to turn down the music Overall, I would go again. But it's not like I would go out of my way to go there! read more

My husband & I were here a couple weeks ago & the food was amazing! The service was great & we loved the atmosphere! By far the best smoked turkey sandwich I've ever had! Highly recommend! read more

This sandwich takes a good grip and a fork. The meat is so tender, it literally falls out of the sandwich. Accompanied with any sauce of your choice, pickles and onions. Enjoy! read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Brisket Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

This was such a great experience. We came here to celebrate a birthday and we split the Buddy Sampler and several sides (Mac n cheese and the corn bread are a MUST) between myself and three hungry boys. I would say it was pretty perfect for portions for us four but we did also get some appetizers. HIGHLY recommend the burnt brisket ends for an appetizer. You could always add on more meat if you feel like your group is hungrier. This meal was well worth the meat sweats. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Buddy's Sampler - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

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The brisket burnt ends are melt in your mouth goodness. Their big buddy meat sandwich is a great option with lots of meat.The atmosphere is great for a date night or a great night with the boys. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Big buddy with chips - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

Had been wanting to get here and finally made it. Not impressed. Brisket was very fatty, pulled pork was not very flavorful. Loved the outside seating and the smokers going in the background but was terribly understaffed. So many better options for BBQ in the cities. read more

I have always loved the burnt ends at Buddy Boy BBQ .... however last Saturday night. I ordered aribeye steak for the first time. It was the best steak I've had in 10 or more years. It was perfectly seasoned to my taste. I know I can cook a good steak on my own grill however, this was better..... this never happens when I go out to eat. I did not add any seasonings whatsoever....... service was fantastic! Ric read more

Wonderful food, service and Bridgemans ice cream for dessert. Highly recommended. .The burnt ends were wonderful. The hush puppies were a great addition. My Grandsons loved the brisket, and the pickles were definitely homemade. Ribs were scrumptious, along with the smoked turkey. The sampler platter is a must. Worth putting on your list. read more

The first impact is the aroma, you can smell the wood fire and crisping meat from half a mile away. Drive up and see the wood piles, the smoke, the smokers, outdoor tent, spacious patio. Head inside and get the brisket or ribs (or both). Cover those bad boys with Buddy sauce or the ghost sauce (not that spicy) and chow down. There is no other BBQ in the twin cities that can stand up to Buddy's. Not even a close call. You can order online and take out or skip the line also. Plenty of parking. Limited drink menu of beer wine and seltzer. Meh get a beer and focus on the cue! read more

It was very busy when we visited, and the service was just too slow. Food was ok. I am skeptical of BBQ in MN. Sorrynotsorry. I understand the labor around smoking meat, so I get some of the price, but frankly it's just too expensive for what it is. I would not return on my own, but partner loves BBQ. read more

Buddy boiii. Smells like heaven if your idea of heaven is a bunch of smoked animal carcasses. Super friendly employees. We were offered free samples of sweet potato corn soup as we walked in which was delicious.  They've got all the nice bbq stuff you'd expect and some interesting sides. We got the big buddy (lots of meats), brisket, and pulled pork sandwiches, the potato salad, mac and cheese, and the soup from the free sample. All the meats were very tender and flavorful. Sausage had great flavor, that was my favorite meat. Didnt love the mac and cheese, not that cheesy and a thinner sauce than i prefer. Potato salad was great. Herby $hit with burnt ends with some small potatoes. Had a lot going on. Favorite was that corn sweet potato soup though, so creamy and tasty.  We tried all the sauces, my favorites were he herby one, the ginger one, and the sweet one that tastes like candy. Would definitely go back often if i didn't live 6 hours away, thank you! read more

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Food is excellent. Atmosphere is great. Service was courteous, but we got some wrong items delivered to our table. However, they fixed the issues courteously and promptly. Highly recommended! read more

This has to be the best BBQ in Minnesota. The services was on the spot great. I would recommend this place to anyone.

Stopped here after a round of mini golf and boy were we in for a treat! The atmosphere of this place is sophisticated fun, with an array of seating inside and out! The staff were friendly, attentive, and informative! As a family we tried the corn bread which was sweet and delicious. The boys tried the burnt ends and loved them, saying they were different than usual burnt ends by having a lemony flavor and more "steak like" which they loved! The BBQ sauces are vinegar based so get ready for the tang!! Us girls had the creamy smoked turkey sandwich which was amazing!! The roasted turkey was so tasty and the dill added just the right balance! The boys had the brisket and the ribs. They loved the brisket and felt the ribs lacked the smoked flavor that they were used to. They added the beans and enjoyed the flavor. Overall, this is definitely a place worth trying. Enjoy!! read more

This is the sampler platter. Everything was excellent. Not pictured is the Burnt End Potato salad, also fantastic. Tre Brisket, Long Rib and Pulled Pork are simply phenomenal. Go here hungry. My criticism: give me more sauce and sauce varieties. Give me an abundance of napkins, including a wet wipe and tooth pick. 4.5 stars only because of the less than perfect setup. read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - This is the sampler platter. Everything was excellent. - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

BBQ is a serious way of life and Buddy Boy has nailed it! They are only open on Saturday from 10-2 during the summer, so you know its not a overproduced place and they take it seriously. It is located a bit outside of the city limits, but it is always busy! After a few times driving by to go to a families house, we decided to go and check it out. We arrived at 11 to make sure we were able to get the opportunity to try what we wanted (since its that model of when its gone, its gone). The proved to be right before the crowds came. There is both outdoor seating and indoor seating (for those super hot days!). We ordered the sampler platter which has a bit of all the meats. The beef ribs were the best! So good! Fall right off the bone! The brisket was my next favorite, It was not overly fatty but nice and tender. The sausages were tied for 3rd and 4th. Its hard to decide which one was better! We had the normal one and the jalepeno cheddar. They were great and super tasty! The pork rob took the 5th best. Couldn't compete against the beef rib but definitely a excellent option! Pulled pork came in 6th. It was good. It was a little dry, but it would be great in a sandwich for sure. Smoked turkey was the least favorite. It was just dry and none of the people in our group cared for it...so we brought it home for the dogs. They have a nice sauce selection for all the meats that are all homemade which I appreciate! The utensils are wooden which is great from a environmental stand point. At the end we opted to get some desserts. The key lime pie was good. The whip cream was FANTASTIC! The Rubarb crisp was great. The crust was amazing! For anyone looking for a afternoon adventure and good BBQ I would say give this place a try! read more

Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque - Barbeque Near Me - Minnetrista, Minnesota

We loved the food here before they remodeled, but now that they've remodeled the ambiance matches the high caliber food they offer! We sat at the bar and enjoyed a few of their delicious cocktails and both got sandwiches. Food is a bit pricey, but really really good flavor, so it's worth it! The only thing I'd change is I wish they would've kept the beignets on the menu from the old place read more

We happened to be in the area (10 min from the U of M Arboretum), and I wanted to try since the reviews were really good. We got the brisket sandwich, pulled pork sandwich, 1/4 lb sausage, buddy's beans, Mac n cheese, and the burnt ends potato salad. Food was plentiful, however, the meats were okay. The pulled pork was dried and bland. It was just lacking flavor. I thought the brisket and the sausage were good but not great. The sides, however, were the star of the show. Buddy's beans was our favorite and just like most reviewers it was like chili with plenty of meats. The potato salad was also a hit. The burnt ends blended really well in the salad and it was packed with flavor. Mac n cheese was meh. If I were to go back, it would be for the beans and potato salad. Service was good and there were plenty of tables outside. read more

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We've been eating at Buddy Boy's for many years, but were very disappointed in our last visit. The new ambiance and outdoor picnic area were great, but our ribs lacked the smoky flavor from before, the brisket had no flavor at all, and the burnt-end potato salad had an overwhelming vinegar/preservative flavor that wrecked what used to be one of my favorite dishes. We threw it away. On top of this, my half-rack of ribs came with this tiny little BBQ sauce container that covered just two of the six ribs, and the brisket came with no BBQ sauce at all. When I asked about more sauces, I was told we could purchase them, but that would have meant standing in line again for another 5-10 minutes, and who knows how long to get the sauces, while our food got cold. There are also no napkins if you want to sit outside. I've eaten at more than a dozen BBQ joints in Austin, and I love that Buddy Boy's is trying to bring the Austin ambiance and food to MN. I also want to support their awesome renovation. But our last visit was not good at all. read more

BEST BBQ in MN and its not even close! We were driving west on Hwy 7 on our way to visit some friends. There isn't much on Hwy 7 after you get west of Lake Minnetonka so as we approached we could easily see this large smoker near the road, and it was smoking. We were visiting friends for dinner but we were definitely curious about that smoker. After lunch on our way back again we noticed that smoker. As we approached the parking lot was packed! I believe if I'm going to Hog Heaven then passing a smoker twice especially when the parking lot is packed is definitely a sin. So even though we had just eaten, we stopped. Might as well get some dinner and give this place a shot. Their menu is written on paper bags and posted on their window. We ordered some brisket, beef ribs and burn ends. A few pounds of meat should be a good sample. Well after smelling the aroma of smoked meat for an hour on our drive home we figured we should have an early dinner. The beef ribs. Best we have had outside of Texas. Smoked perfectly. Silky and flavorful! The excellent brisket was a mix of the fatty point and lean flat. Both were melt in your mouth tender. The burnt ends were full of flavor. The crisp exterior in contrast with the succulent was perfect! We've had our share of BBQ in MN and around this great Country. No doubt that Buddy Boy Fine Barbeque is the best in MN, and it's not even close! read more

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We got BBQ to go. The place looks pretty great and the wonderful smell of BB Q food hits you. Food was ready on time. We got Ribs, pulled pork and Brisket and a side of roasted veggies. We ordered several types of BBQ sauce. Dry. Everything was dry. We only got 3 of the BBQ sauces we ordered. You might want to make a description of the BBQ sauce because we had no idea what we ordered that's why we chose a variety. We were given 2 of the same small containers of spicy BBQ sauces and I think an oil and lime type sauce. It might have been a salad dressing? Poor website and marketing of your food. It was crazy expensive and not very good. I would have expected one of the three items would have been good. We were really excited and it was just a waste of our money. Lots of other great bbq places. Hopefully it was an off night for the place. read more

One Friday evening, after a long and exhaustive week, my husband and I found ourselves SOL for dinner reservations. Too exhausted to cook, I suggested carry out from our go-to restaurant. My husband had a better idea! Let's drive 45 minutes in rush hour traffic to Minnetrista for BBQ at this place I drove by that's probably really good. I groaned. I didn't think I could stay awake that long. I rallied though and we headed west. It was one of those early fall evenings with perfect weather and gorgeous foliage. That softened my mood about the long drive time. What really changed my mind was the smoky aroma as we drove up to an enormous white tent...like a revival, a meat revival if you will. "We'll never get a seat," I muttered, but seeing the outdoor fire pit seating, I didn't mind so much. I share the above paragraph so that anyone who is objecting to the drive to this absolute gem of a restaurant rethinks their position doesn't miss out of the best BBQ we have in the Twin Cities. Perhaps the entire state. And now, the food. This is an old Embers restaurant plopped down in the middle of nowhere. Parking is in a gravel lot, muddy if it's been raining. You order at a counter like so many BBQ establishments in the south. Pay for your meal, get a little beeper, pick your food up at the counter once it's ready. My only complaint, and it is trivial, is that my 55-year-old eyes can barely read the menu scrawled on craft paper on a wall behind the register. Doesn't matter. Ask for help from the super friendly staff, but you're always safe with ribs, or brisket or chicken. Don't forget a hunk of cornbread with honey butter. Collard greens, mac and cheese, get extra pickles! I don't even LIKE pickles, but these are fresh slices of cucumber in vinegar and herbs that are irresistible. Ginger honey slaw? Yes, PLEASE! I haven't tried the kimchi yet, but I know it will be great. I have never had brisket this tender and juicy in my LIFE. The flavor is perfection, an honor to beef. The ribs have this lovely crust that begs you to eat it in layers, first the crisp crust, then the juicy meat and then the fat. Every bit of this meat is lovingly and carefully prepared. The Amish chicken is wonderful. The jalapeño cheddar sausage? Take some to go and enjoy it later. SPICY, not Minnesota spicy-a real kick for those of use who enjoy the heat. I'm only on my second visit, but I plan on taking a deep dive into this menu with regularity. Buddy Boy is only open four days a week, and that seems like an excellent business model for a restaurant that's more of a destination. It also creates a demand and value that is legitimate. I suspect the care and prep that goes into the incredible food produced here requires some downtime so that quality doesn't suffer. Perhaps that will change once their new, larger building under construction is open. I think the owners have a real grasp of what it takes to succeed in our post-pandemic restaurant world. This place is an absolute treasure, and we are so lucky to have the best BBQ I've ever tasted right here in flyover country. read more

Very salty foods, large portions though. Great service. But nice setting and ambiance. I will try it again just to see if the chef that day was heavy handed with salt. read more

Our waitress was super helpful and good with checking in on the table. Good sized servings, good flavor and good atmosphere. I will definitely be back and will be recommending this to others. read more