Food was good but the tri tip was a bit dry otherwise was good. Fast service. Place had a southern carm to it. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Garlic bread, brisket, tri trip, beef ribs. Bakes bean and hot sauce - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

It's a cafeteria type ordering system without the efficiency of an actual one. If you have multiple plates and drinks, good luck! there are no trays out for anyone to be found to carry your items to a table in the loud, crowded eating area. Nothing authentic to actual Southern bbq to be found anywhere or by any of the staff. Also good luck screaming your order and hoping they understand you. And they left my drink off my order so I had to reorder one after ordering everything else. When I said I ordered one with the first window, the cashier rolled her eyes at me and says I have to order the drinks at HER window. The guy I gave my order to didn't tell me this and there is no sign indicating this, and my husband had no issue ordering his drink with his meal, so I can only assume they messed up and were looking to make excuses. I haven't even mentioned the food yet lol. Not smoked at all. Dripping in some sort of sauce like liquid, so my pulled pork sandwich was soggy instantly. Bland as could be to top it off. Worse quality than a bbq chain restaurant and at least as expensive if not more. There is some dude out front with meat on a bbq but none of it is ever taken into the restaurant. It's a huge scam. I guess they are hoping the smell of the smoke will hide the fact that you taste none in the meat they actually give you, lol. Do not recommend. read more

Drove all the way from the East Bay with church folks of 5 couples to let them experience and share the very good grill meats Buster's has to offer from an experience we had 2-3 years ago. Disappointed! Sad for the very big change in service most importantly quality. Meat served to us were from yesterday's grill! Meats across the board are bone dry. The ongoing grilling smoke, I think is part of creating an impression fresh grilled meats are being served. Not true, until you get to eat and observed the meats are dry, no fresh meat juice from the "newly fresh" grill since that morning. Compromising quality for easy profits from "leftover" grills. I hope it goes back to the very essence of what brought Buster's a famous BBQ grill place to go to in the Napa Valley - honesty and quality! read more

Had the Tri-tip dinner - the meat was fatty and overcooked, the potato salad I believe had ginger in it and was awful, and the vinegar based BBQ sauce was unpleasant. The baked beans were not great, but the highlight of the experience. In the three years I lived in North Carolina I tasted all kinds of good and bad and Buster's lands at the low end of that scale. Very disappointing. read more

I had high hopes for this place, but it was really disappointing. I got the three-meat combo and my husband got the tri-tip sandwich. The tri-tip, chicken, and pulled pork were all dry and seriously lacking flavor. The hot links were okay. Of the coleslaw, potato salad, and BBQ beans, the beans were the only standout. Even the BBQ sauce tasted like Worcestershire sauce mixed with liquid smoke. Service was also frustrating. They weren't listening to orders, and when I tried to correct mine, the woman taking orders was yelling and barely paying attention. On top of that, everything came on separate plates with no tray to carry it all. read more

All bad The girls behind the counter are horrible people The 3 rib beef dinner was basically Burt bones the potato salad was pure garbage Not worth the $30 I waisted Never ever again the place is a mess I'm filling a complaint with the health department Save yourself a major disappointment read more

This is a nice establishment. Mr. Buster was kind, and spent a generous amount of time visiting with our small group. Although the food did not match up to Texas BBQ. It was served fast, the portions were generous, and I think it was good for the community that patronizes it. Very clean restroom as well. read more

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The ratings are accurate. Not great, but not terrible bbq. Just average. Went around 11 am on a Saturday and it wasn't busy. It's an order at the counter and seat yourself type of place. You hand you your food shortly after paying. There's counter seating, outdoor seating, and indoor seating as well. Plenty of seating. We ordered the 3 meat combo with brisket, pork ribs, beef ribs, chili beans, coleslaw, and garlic bread $51. The meats were all decent. Not real tender, but not dry either. Decent flavor and not too fatty. The sides were terrible. Chili beans was the worst I've tasted, coleslaw looked and tasted days old, garlic bread had 0 garlic, just butter. Prices and portions were reasonable. They have bottled beers and 3 beers on tap. Didn't see any wine. There's 1 restroom and 1 hand washing station outside. Decent sized parking lot. Street parking is available as well. Overall, it's ok. I wouldn't go back though read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - 3 meat combo with pork ribs, brisket, beef ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

The portion of tri-tip on the dinner plate was around 1/4 pound for $20. Meat was a bit overcooked. Coleslaw was not bad. BBQ sauce very liquid and vinegary. Garlic bread looked like a couple of hotdog buns flattened and fried w/o any hint of garlic. Paying with card requires a surcharge. 3* mainly for the service with a smile. read more

You can buy a pound of brisket for 40. But spend 25 on 1/4 . The math doesn't add up. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Not enough brisket for the price - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

Busters set up is for quick ordering and food at the window as fast as you can order it. There can be a line at lunchtime but the service is fast and friendly. My go to is the pork rib dinner coming with 4 bones 2 sides and garlic toast. Remember the hot bbq sauce is HOT. Just right for those who like the spice. Dining room is warm and spacious. read more

We have been here just one other time. It was good. However today the ribs were very salty and the coleslaw made my wife throw up. She assumes it might have been bad mayo or it had been sitting out until purchased. Really disappointing. read more

Went to Busters right after wine tasting and man did it hit the spot. A bit of a wait but worth it! Was there around 230p. Line went by fairly quickly. First window to order and the 2nd window to pay. Tried the brisket sandwich and tri tip sandwich with mild sauce. Tasted delicious! Highly recommend if you're in St. Helena area! read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

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As someone who's done many dozens of barbecue reviews in Texas, I felt compelled to come here to see if this place lives up to the standard. You basically order at their outdoor window and then come into their non- air-conditioned space to dine at one of less than 20 tables. The first thing I noticed when I stepped up to the menu was how ridiculously expensive it was. Even the best barbecue in Texas doesn't command this kind of price. $50 for a two meat plate and a pint of three bean salad! Another miss is the fact, that they give you a puny couple of ounces of coleslaw and beans. My brisket was fatty with no discernible smoke ring and had an unpleasant mushy texture. It made me wish I'd got the sausage instead. I also got the pork ribs which were barely edible, and once again virtually no discernible smoke ring and tough with salt being the primary flavor coming through. They were most likely cooked on the outside grill, not pit smoked. Be careful if you order their spicy barbecue sauce, because it is extremely hot as if they buried a ghost pepper into it. Not exactly the best dining experience, especially with plenty of flies to keep you company. You may wish to consider buying a bottle of beer because it desperately needs something to wash it down. If you take real barbecue seriously, you need to avoid this place. It was a real letdown for us and a waste of $50 (and a tip). Wonder what Barbara J will have to say? 8 Informative photos included. read more

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This reminds me of back home in the mountains of Virginia. This is rustic but good. This order at the counter and take it to go or eat in the rustic table area. If you're looking for fancy and table service go some where else. I got the Tri Tip sandwich and bake beans mild for lunch. It was on a fresh grilled half grilled loaf of bread with h mild BBQ sauce. Great BBQ!!! My partner had the pulled pork with coleslaw. The pulled pork great coleslaw was good as a Sweet Pallet cleanser for the BBQ. read more

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Hands down the best BBQ spot around! Everything was amazing tender, smoky, and full of flavor. It's an order-before-you-sit kind of place, but the service is fast and friendly. The ambiance is calm and relaxed, perfect for kicking back and enjoying great food. A must-visit for any BBQ lover! read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Tri-Tip - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

The service is fast, but the food is honestly pretty disappointing. I don't understand why this place gets so full during lunch maybe it's just because there aren't many quick food options in the area, because it definitely isn't for the quality these meats are not smoked. The tri tip was dry and completely well-done, and the brisket was also dry and served more like pulled pork. The ribs didn't fall off the bone and had no smoky flavor at all. Everything was covered in BBQ sauce, which felt like it was trying to hide the lack of real BBQ taste. My meal alone cost $50, and with drinks and my wife's tri tip sandwich (which was just meat and BBQ sauce), our total came out to $86. For that price, I expected much better. The sides were just as disappointing. the macaroni salad was bland, the potato salad tasted sour, and the only thing that was decent was the chili beans, which says a lot. read more

If you are in the area, this is a must try. When I first arrived the line was long, but it went fairly fast. I had the tri tip sandwich with hot bbq sauce and a side of chili beans. It was absolutely delicious. By the time I got home a piece of me wanted to go back and get another. Looking forward to my next call in the area read more

Meh - brisket was all fat, overpriced Beans were good - all other items mediocre. Not enough to justify a good review read more

The brisket is tender but wish it had that smoky flavor that great bbq has. The sides were ok. Overall I give it a 3.5/5. Would I return? Probably not but happy to have tried it. read more

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Ordered brisket, but what I received looked and tasted much more like pulled pork. If you're ordering brisket expecting traditional smoked beef brisket, this will be disappointing. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

An absolute must stop for TriTip sandwiches whenever I go for a motorcycle ride. They always have a long line for good reason. They have the best BBQ sandwiches around. My go to is the TriTip Sando with spicy sauce and baked beans and slaw. It's just an old mom and pop style roadside BBQ joint, and it's biker friendly. Lots of motorcycle parking. They also do concerts and music during the summer months. Very cool little spot. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - TriTip sandwich with spicy sauce, baked beans, and slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

So yummy. Pork loin sandwich with half and half mild and spicy sauce, baked beans and coleslaw! So good... thank you Buster.

Best pulled pork I've ever had. I didn't get try anything else but I will be back!!!!

I have been coming here since I was a child and I am super disappointed with how much this place has changed. Today I paid sixty dollars for two of the skimpiest plates of food. The potato salad has nutmeg in it...why?? The coleslaw has pineapple?? The food I used to love is just bad now. On top of all that, they had nothing to drink except for beer and some sodas. I couldn't even get a wine or cider to drink away the fact I just wasted a ton of time and money. The service was nothing special and the overall vibe was just rushed and unpleasant. Sad to say this was the last time I will be visiting. read more

Macaroni salad was very good. Scenery felt like summer camp and in the chow hall. Musical stage was adorable and I would love to get a tune going. The amount of pork ribs served was good. Not dry especially with the bbq sauce which could have used some sugar. I got to sample the meat before ordering which was very nice. The server was kind and the place was clean. Open mic took forever as many had multiple songs. It was cute for a small town on a Tuesday night. They were like a family of musicians jamming out. read more

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We went for lunch there l. I ordered brisket, chicken and few sides. Meat was dry and the beef had a weird chemical like taste. The sides were overly sweet. Overly priced for what actually is. I would not waste my time to eat there. read more

This place was pretty cool. Good size portions of food, it will fill you up. Definitely a place to come to with family or friends. The meat has soo much flavor as well beans and corn bread. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

This is not bbq. We ordered the 3 meat combo with 2 sides for around $50. We received 3 pork ribs, 4 pieces of Tri Tip, 4 small pieces of Chicken Breast, the 2 smallest sides I've ever seen (maybe 2ounces each) and some garlic bread. If this was a legit bbq spot maybe I would have let it slide but the food was tasteless. The pork ribs were so hard to eat (opposite of fall off the bone) and not even seasoned. No rub, no spritz and no flavor. You can tell it was cooked the opposite of low and slow. I couldn't even cut the meat off with a knife and no smoke ring at all. The tri tip was ok but again little flavor and no smoke. Chicken breast was better but tasted like it was cooked and kept it liquid. The baked beans were ok just not enough for even 1 person and the potatoe salad was bad. Potatoes were hard and undercooked. The bbq sauce was the only thing we liked. But you had to drench the meat in it to get any bbq flavor. This place is not a southern bbq place. I lived in Louisiana for many years and this was offensive to the true pitmasters down south. Pork ribs are a sign of a good bbq spot and they were the worst ribs I've ever eaten in my life. Eat at A&W nearby. Trust me I wish we did. Oh yeah service was meh. They got two things wrong and didn't fix it. read more

Wow, Buster's what Happen? I am a local regular and I just picked up my usual Chicken & Ribs and I have to say I really wanted moist meat instead of dried out Jerky, I spent $110 bucks to feed 4. So Sorry to have to give a poor review like this Buddy I know you are better than what I just tasted but hopefully you can put your heart back into your Southern BBQ. By far the worst I have ever had. read more

I don't get BBQ that often in California but I really enjoyed Busters. Great atmosphere and efficient service. My favorite meat was the beef ribs. Definitely a great spot to eat after doing a wine tasting at Tank Garage Winery! read more

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Sorry!!! For the people that still stops here! These place it's disgusting! I don't think the owner knows what's BBQ?? Really means! The ribs are dry and extremely hard! Please looks at pics and judge for your self!!!! I hope these helps out!!! read more

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The food is awesome, but they overcharged me and they knew it. Watch your tab and get a receipt no matter what.

This place is a waste of money. The tri tip sandwiches are very plain and they barely put any meat. Their hotdogs come on the same bread they put the tri tip on not even regular hot dog buns which was gross. The potato salad has no flavor and their drinks aren't even cold. Just gross and disappointing. read more

Portion sizes!! The cole slaw was really good and paired well with the pulled pork! Dont need to order extra garlic toast because the dishes come with two large pieces already. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Sign - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

3.5 but that peach smoothie and the corn bread and the hardworking staff make it 4 stars. I find everything very salty, especially their bbq sauce. I like the tenderness of the rib. Got 4 pork ribs. 2 sides. I don't have a favorite with the sides. The 3 bean was good, sweet and sour and macaroni. The chili beans was very runny and greasy. Table mate said coleslaw was good. The peach smoothie was in season. I was so thirsty after this meal that I drank the smoothie fast and had to go somewhere else to drink more water. Yikes. I don't think I'll eat here again. We sat inside which was cool. Plenty of paper towel by the wall dispenser. You have to ask for water. Order at one window, pay and order drinks at the next window. I had to wait awhile for my smoothie. There's a tiny restroom behind their hut. They sell hugh watermelons in front. It was funny, I saw this guy pumping gas across the street and he walked across the street and picked up a watermelon and walked back to his truck. I think he took advantage. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Big piece of garlic bread, 4 ribs, macaroni 3 bean salad - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

My brother loved the bbq I got - I wanted to cheer him up after a recent surgery. Take out, but cute place! I want to go back and enjoy the place and listen to music. I had some of the beans and cornbread (I'm vegetarian), and it was delish. Thanks Buster's for having some great food and for helping my brother feel better that day! read more

Cool little bbq spot. The food was cool. I wouldn't say it was all that bbq but it was good not nasty except for the potato salad. I didn't like that. Customer service was cool. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

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Always on the hunt for good barbecue, I tend to order a combo to try different meats. Today, I stayed the course with tri-tip and pork ribs, paired with homemade potato salad and baked beans. The meal also included half a grilled French bread roll, which was soft and delicious. * Sides: The baked beans were flavorful and satisfying, but the potato salad was a bit dry. A touch more mayo would have done the trick. * Barbecue: The ribs weren't fall-off-the-bone but were cooked well, with a noticeable smoky flavor. However, the top part was overdone and crispy, though still edible. Their BBQ sauce isn't on the sweet side but more tangy - I opted for the mild version. The tri-tip was grilled perfectly--tender and juicy--but lacked any smoke flavor or the iconic smoke ring. While it was enjoyable as is, a bit of smoke would have elevated the flavor. That said, it would make a fantastic sandwich with their BBQ sauce. * Service and Atmosphere: Service was quick, and the staff behind the counter were friendly. They offer a covered seating area with 18 tables, providing a nice spot to enjoy the food. Final Thoughts Overall, it's solid barbecue, and I'm glad I finally got the chance to try it. read more

Even better than I remember! When we were driving by to go hiking I couldn't resist the smell. We got the 3 meats combo with the 2 sides and a Busters lemonade. If there weren't so many people around I probably would've licked my plate clean. Indoor and outdoor seating with a view of the meats cooking . And don't get me started on the BBQ sauce. read more

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