I was looking for a restaurant or venue to hold my father's Celebration of Life lunch following his burial at Woodland Cemetery when I came across Hotel Woodland. I was pleasantly surprised when I called and heard the recording say, "Thank you for calling Ludy's BBQ and Catering at Hotel Woodland." Ludy's BBQ was actually where we held my brother's Celebration of Life 10 years ago, so I immediately knew I wanted to have my father's celebration there as well. I spoke with Judy, and I met with her the following day. She couldn't have been more pleasant, helpful, and professional. She took the time to sit down with me and help plan the menu for our family and friends. At the time, I estimated that approximately 75 people would be attending. Judy helped me plan the menu and made sure everything would work for the number of guests we were expecting. She was also very accommodating, offering to refrigerate the desserts we would be bringing and making arrangements for the centerpieces we planned to have on each of the tables. On the day of the event, I started to get a little nervous when I realized that many more people had come than we had originally anticipated. Instead of approximately 75 guests, we had closer to 100. Elizabeth was the other person helping Judy with our event, and she was absolutely wonderful. She was extremely friendly, accommodating, and ready to help with anything I needed, often at a moment's notice. One of my concerns was whether we would have enough tables for everyone. Before I could even begin to worry, Elizabeth simply said, "No problem," and quickly set up additional tables without making it seem like an inconvenience at all. My next concern, of course, was whether there would be enough food for everyone. Again, Elizabeth calmly reassured me that everything would be fine and that it would all work out. And she was absolutely right. There was more than enough food, and we even had plenty left over. Elizabeth never seemed worried about the number of people who had arrived. Instead, she remained calm, friendly, and completely focused on making sure our family and guests were taken care of. What meant the most to me was when Elizabeth could see that I was still worrying about everything. She told me to stop worrying, sit down, eat, and enjoy my family because they had everything taken care of. And that is exactly what they did. Both Judy and Elizabeth were incredibly professional, kind, and compassionate. Their calm and friendly demeanor made such a difference to me on what was already an emotional and difficult day. They understood that this wasn't just another event--it was our father's Celebration of Life. They made sure that our family and friends were comfortable, well fed, and able to spend time together without having to worry about the details. I am so grateful to Judy, Elizabeth, and the entire team at Ludy's BBQ and Catering at Hotel Woodland. They went above and beyond to make sure everything came together beautifully, even when we had far more guests than expected. Their professionalism, kindness, and genuine care helped make my father's Celebration of Life a wonderful and memorable gathering for our family. I would highly recommend Ludy's BBQ and Catering at Hotel Woodland to anyone looking for a place to hold a special event. They truly took care of everything, allowing us to focus on what mattered most--being together and celebrating my father's life. read more

While we ordered the food to go, it still was good BBQ for a nice dinner. I opted for the tri-tip plate with a side of coleslaw and not pictured, a side of mac n cheese. We placed an online order for a quick pick up. While I asked for my tri-tip to be done medium well, it was closer to the well done area. I will say the portions are enough for 2 meals, and it also comes with a poppyseed cornbread muffin. They also include extra sauce, regular bbq sauce and spicy bbq sauce, but I wouldnt say the spicy isnt super spicy. read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Coleslaw - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

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I reviewed Yelp earlier today for a BBQ restaurant in the area. The # 1 spot listed is Ludy's BBQ, in Woodland CA. We decided to drive up from Fairfield to check-them-out. Once you pull up and step out of the car, you quickly notice the nice smoked meat smells. :) I ordered a 2-way baby-back ribs and brisket, BBQ Beans and Potatoes Salad, cornbread; my other 1/2 had Tri-Tip & Coleslaw. Oh, don't forget the sliced of watermelon. We gave the Meats 5-Stars, but the Brisket to me is a grand slam, it's a must have. However, the Mrs. really enjoyed the Tri-Tip the best. The sides were off the hook as well. We also participated in "In Kind Program". Overall: "5 Stars" with a lot of foot traffic which means the food is GOOD. read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Baby Back Ribs & Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

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I am so glad Lucy's is back! It's like it never left! All of the same delicious flavors I grew up with are here, plus some new items that I love! I got the beef and beef dinner - beef rib and beef brisket, plus added on a pork rib to try. All of the meat was excellent. Super tender while maintaining a nice chew. The cornbread muffin was DELICIOUS and I LOVED the Mac n cheese! The potato salad was also solid. It was relatively busy but it's so nice there is plenty of parking. I love the decor indoors but you can also sit outside if you want. It was about 50% eat in and 50% take out. The service was above and beyond! I can't thank the staff enough for how welcoming they were. We will definitely be back!! read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Beef & Beef, 1 Beef Rib, Mac n' cheese, Potato Salad, 2 piece Cornbread, Brisket Dinner, pork rib, Beer Boot - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

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First time eating here. We had the tri tip sandwich, 2 sides - Mac n cheese and potato salad. The service was great so friendly!! Also the bathroom was really clean. The tri tip sandwich and sides were good. I would go back if I'm ever in the area again. It's close to the freeway which is nice! read more

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I really liked this little gem! The sides were really good, along with the meat! Great portions, it felt like a lot of food, but still a little pricey. (I ate my leftovers at night when I got home) The BBQ sauce itself was delicious - kept warm and they let you serve it yourself. The inside was very clean, even though I was a mess .. good thing they have wet wipes available! :) Service was great. Cool little BBQ joint! read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Nice spread! - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

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So when in Woodland, they say you are supposed to do what the Woodlandians do. Well the eat at Ludy''s BBQ. Tonight I go the tri tip and hubby got hot links. We got some fried pickles to share. Ludy's you never disappoint. Yes it was a little busy tonight but I was delighted to see you can handle a crowd! Thank you for a great dinner. read more

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First time eating here and was not disappointed. We ordered the Freddy's sampler to try a little of everything. It comes with beef,pork ribs, hot link,chicken and trip tip with 2 sides and corn bread. We also order the rib dinner plate and the trip tip with hot links, bake beans which were delicious coleslaw yummy too and their fries were yummy too. The service was wonderful their waitresses are very friendly and on top of everything. The restaurant is not that big but they have an other sitting area. Definitely will be going back. I only got pictures of the Freddy's sampler because when our other food came we started eating and forgot about the pic we also had jalapeños poppers. read more

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Heard great things and had high hopes but our experience was mid at best. Strangely everything was pretty bland. Nothing was bad but nothing was really good. Slaw and cornbread were unique but flavorless. Cornbread was more like a muffin. We got ribs which were not very tender or hot. Sauce was ok but the meat itself didn't taste seasoned. I don't think I'm real picky but it was not worth $65 all served in plastic. I almost forgot-onion rings were a $3 up-charge to have as an included side and we got 4 pieces! Nearly a dollar a ring! Very nice friendly folks. I wish I'd have loved it so we could support. They are doing a lot from a cute little place-maybe too much. They get a lot of great reviews though so give them a try and prove me wrong. read more

Great service and delicious food! These folks really know how to do ribs correctly!!!

This is my second visit with friends. I'll be back for a third round. I enjoyed the succulent barbecue brisket accompanied by a crunchy cole slaw and potato salad were incredible. Some places overcook the meat. This meat was perfectly done. No sauce needed, though the extra sauce on the side added extra flavor. Notably the service was very good. Both the cashier and waitress were helpful, bringing out extra items on request. I liked the poppyseed muffin style cornbread. That's a first for me. The inside was a little cramped, so we sat in a delightful patio area outside. The restaurant is conveniently located between I-5 and Highway 113. read more

Drove a few hours to hit up this little gem in Woodland. Our first visit was shortly after they opened after covid and the menu has expanded quite a bit since. The pork ribs were fantastic and the beef rib was smoky goodness. The coleslaw is on point. Exactly what I think of when I think great slaw. BBQ baked beans dynamite! Brisket was amazing as well. Didn't think it out and ordered too much so I have brisket for Home now, but oh so good... Oh and the fried pickles yum! No other words. Staff is great, super friendly and have great recommendations if you can't decide. The place is fairly small, and they do have outside seating available. It has that small BBQ joint look and feel and the smell of BBQ hits when you walk through the door. Probably why I ordered more than I could safely eat in one sitting. Overall great 2nd experience and will definitely be back again. read more

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Great menu, lots of choices, excellent customer service, fun BBQ rustic ambiance, yummy food! What a nostalgic visit down memory lane visiting Ludy's BBQ. Although this is a new location and the biz has been closed for a couple years, it's just like I remembered it. Food was excellent, generous portions, the taste was just as good as the "old" Ludy's BBQ that used to be downtown Woodland. I had the pulled pork sandwich served on a French roll, with coleslaw and French fries. I opted for the spicy BBQ sauce. Great menu options: tri tip, pulled pork, chicken, ribs, salads, sandwiches, combo plates and more. Many choices side dishes: coleslaw, French fries, side salad, onion rings, Mac and cheese... Delicious BBQ food, excellent customer service. Prices are competitive. This place has lots of take out options and they do catering. read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

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Food was good and the customer service was Amazing. The owner spoke with my Wife and myself and he was down to hearth and warming. We will definitely be back soon. The lady at the register she was Truly a gem. Thank for everything. read more

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I got the Freddy Sampler Plate and The Beef Brisk salad; the meat was seasoned well and not tough to bite in. The Mac and cheese was really good, it tastes southern and the potato salad was seasoned well also. The only item I didn't care for was the hard cornbread and the butter honey stuff that came with it. I rated the food as 4 stars. I will be back again. read more

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Always good food, large portions and very nice employees. The trip-tip was cooked to perfection. I'll be back.

We used to regularly eat at Ludy's for lunch back when they were in downtown Woodland. They reopened east of downtown, but are only open Wed-Sun, from 4-9 p.m., making it impossible to enjoy their BBQ for lunch. We happened to be in Woodland on a Saturday evening and decided to try this new iteration. It was crowded when we entered and there were no tables so we planned on just getting take-out but a table opened up as we were standing in line to order at the counter. I grabbed the table and my husband placed the order. The restaurant is relatively small, there are not many tables inside. There is outdoor seating, but it was cold during our visit. Most people seemed to be ordering to-go and the restaurant was doing a brisk business. It took awhile for our food to arrive, but that was ok because we got there earlier than our usual dinner time. At the tables are plastic utensils wrapped in napkins. Our food was delivered on plastic container bases. Extra BBQ sauce is available at a counter in a corner of the restaurant. They still have two versions; hot and mild. We used to love their sauces. Either the recipes have changed or our tastes have changed because they didn't taste as wonderful as before. My BBQ chicken sandwich was very tasty and my side of coleslaw was as I remembered from before. My husband enjoyed his ribs and his French fries. We had leftovers so we asked for lids for our entrees. I guess this saves on having a dishwasher but seems a bit hard on the environment. We will recycle our containers once our leftovers are eaten. The menu seems a bit smaller than before. They used to have chili and I often would order the chili fries. That would be great if that would be brought back, as well as lunch seating. As we are rarely in Woodland in the evening, it will be quite awhile before we can return, but return we probably will. read more

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Stopped by around 4:30 pm on a weekend. Place was not crowded. Lots of to go orders. Ordered Freddy Sampler and tasted great. Would be coming back to visit. read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

One of the best bbq spots we've ever had! Great customer service. Small & cozy restaurant. They have outdoor seating as well.

I've heard so many great things about Ludy's when it was on Main Street. I'm always on the lookout for local barbeque so I had to stop by and check them out. They moved from Main St. to the strip mall by the Hwy 5 entrance next to the Starbucks drive thru. The ambiance is very homey and welcoming. I told the cashier it was my first visit and she gave me the lowdown on their sandwiches, 1 or 2 meat platters. I chose the brisket with a side of potato salad and mac n cheese. My food came out pretty quickly. I was in heaven when I dug into their cornbread and honey butter. The brisket was just as divine. There was great meat to fat ratio on the generous portion of brisket. The potato salad and mac n cheese portions were alright for the price. For $32 (including tip) I felt like I got my money's worth. Barbeque can be pricey and I usually leave most barbeque places feeling unsatisfied, but that was NOT the case at Ludy's. While I was enjoying my meal, I could see patrons with their families coming in. It felt like it was a gathering place for the local folks. There was talk of high school games and church events. Besides the food, the service was superb. I was seated near the service area where the food came out. After a little rush due to Door Dash orders, I heard one of the staff thank her team for the hustle during the rush. That won me over. She also came by a couple of times to ask how my food was and offered to get me a refill. She chatted a bit about the history of Ludy's and some background on the food. All in all, it was fantastic first visit. It won't be my last. read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Brisket plate - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

On a business from Texas. Checked Yelp for a place to eat before I fly out in the morning. Ludy's BBQ had some good reviews. Being from Ft. Worth, my BBQ expectations are high, but I don't always expect much when I leave home. The place is very unassuming from the outside, but the inside is very cozy and western rustic. We let me tell you, this place did not disappoint! I had 4 Dino beef ribs and a side of brisket. The beef ribs were flavorful, and almost fall off the bone tender. And the BRISKET was tender, tasty and the perfect texture. I will definitely save this as a "must go" for future Sacramento trips. I would highly recommend Ludy's to anyone who likes Texas style bbq. And Ginny, the sweet woman who took very good care of me, will instantly win you over. read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Dino Beef Ribs and delicious Brisket. - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

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The gentleman who took our order was friendly and so helpful with advice on what to order. The drinks are refillable which is always a plus and the tri tip was tender and delicious in my sandwich. They are not stingy on the meat either. Good value and friendly service. A win win! read more

An excellent choice for a dinner while staying in Woodland. We ordered by phone and a very kind woman helped with our order. The food was ready in 10 minutes which is super quick. My husband picked up the food and he asked about desserts. He picked up a peach cobbler which I am really excited about. Yum. read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Tri-tip and Brisket two meat combo with baked beans, potato salad and cornbread. Excellent! - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

WOW FACTOR? Yes. Ludy's is back! The decor inside is impressive and the service is excellent. They did a lot within the small space inside! HAVE AGAIN: Brisket sandwich with baked beans was delicious although there was a bit too much fat and not enough BBQ sauce (I added more). The BBQ sauce is still the same and delicious! read more

I'm very glad to see Li's open again. We were fairly frequent visitors in the main street location. That location was pretty rundown. I know Covid hit them hard and I wasn't sure if they would be back. But yay! Better, cleaner facility, and they now deliver on DoorDash, which is fantastic! Sometimes you just feel like staying home, watching football and eating barbecue. I'm from Texas. I'm picky when it comes to barbecue. Their barbecue is pretty damn good. Wonderfully smoked and well seasoned. The beans are sweet... Just the way we like them. Delicious cornbread and honey butter! It's not cheap but nothing is these days. Highly recommend! read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Tri-tip plate with cornbread and beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

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The ribs are excellent, all employees are wonderful!! PS: Best Coleslaw, baked beans & Mac n cheese!!! read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

I haven't eaten at Ludy's since their original location on Main St. almost 20 years ago. I was so excited when a friend told me Ludy's re-opened and the food was as tasty as I remembered. The tri-tip was tender, ribs...fall off the bone, the cornbread was moist and flavorful, the fried pickles were battered just right. Highly recommend. The employees were friendly and personable. The restaurant had plenty of parking, the inside was clean and we ate to some country tunes. The owner, Paul, even stopped by and shared some life stories. Can't wait to come back again! read more

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Great food, people and nice decor! Loved everything about this place and will be coming again. Shoutout to the staff members, they're the best! read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - 2 meat combo, tritip and pork ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

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They're back!!! After closing the restaurant many years ago and providing catering services since, they have landed on a recently closed Dickey's BBQ restaurant. Great interior update and fantastic service in the front of the house. I got the smoked chicken and pork ribs plate with sides of bbq baked beans and cole slaw. The chicken had a robust smoke flavor but not overly smoked, and still tender. Their pork ribs were always one of my favorites. Not over cooked to where the meat falls off the bone but still has some bite to the meat. Juicy meat with a crisp skin under the bones... YUM!!! Bbq baked beans were very tasty while the cole slaw was pretty awesome with some raisins. Everything was so good that the cornbread muffin was almost non-existent. Congrats to Paul for reopening with the same awesome food and an outstanding staff. read more

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I loved their old spot on main & 2nd st & it's still so delicious at their new spot. I always get either the tri tip or brisket. Both are hard to decide on. My picky eater sons love LUDY'S also. Their staff is always friendly and welcoming on top of the great food read more

I used to eat atLucy's when they were on Main Street. It was great food went yesterday. Very disappointed had barbecue chicken. I've never tasted chicken so bad tasted like it was two weeks old. read more

Haven't been here in years, or last time was at the old main street location. Still the best place!! Welcoming employees, helpful, and special thanks for accommodating for it being Fri/Sat when they do prime rib, we were able to able to get a prime rib sandwich cut more thinly by request. Food was all yummy and plentiful. Great to support and will happily come back if we're in the woods again! read more

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Great food, great service, ol school BBQ ambiance. This will be our go to place for BBQ in Woodland, California.

There's not a single smoker around the building. That should sound the alarm already. I don't care if they're smoking it at a different location and transferring the food. I still gave this place a chance and the food was as expected. Very terrible tri tip that tasted like baloney without the sauce to cover up the disgusting foul taste. The chicken was probably the best thing untill u get past the skin there's no flavor under the skin. The employees are probably the best thing here and they deserve better because they are top tier when it comes to service. The food is just a huge disappointment read more

Very small and crowded. So YES it is amazing! Yum, yum, yummy! Enjoy! Easy on and off freeway for travelers. read more

My husband and I have lived in woodland for 3 years now and today was the first time we tried Ludy's! We are IN LOVE. We are always searching for a good BBQ spot and this is the best spot in the sacramento area. This time around we ordered the family pack with the chicken and tri tip + the baked beans, mac & cheese, and corn bread with honey butter. We are big bbq people and love the smokey taste! I MUST say, Ludy's does it right! The smoke is just perfect. BBQ sauce is homemade, of course. The owner has won so many awards and appears to have so many amazing employees that want us to enjoy our experience. We were worried that we didn't choose the brisket as one of the sides for our family order and regretted it, so the cooks gave us a sample of the brisket to take home and it was to die for. We were so thankful they graciously offered us a sample. And to top it off, the owner was at the restaurant and said hi, introduced himself, and made sure we felt welcome. He invited us back if liked the food and service, and this will definitely be a regular spot for us. All in all, very pleased with the quality of food, customer service, and environment. Highly recommend. Worth every penny! read more

Ludy's BBQ and Catering - Trip tip, chicken, baked beans, mac & cheese at home - Barbeque Near Me - Woodland, California

The excellent and thoughtful staff, including Chef and Catering, at Ludy's BBQ has just updated a number of menu items to adapt their heavenly recipes to be gluten-free. My husband and I just enjoyed their fall-off-the-bone meaty barbecue ribs and sauce along with fabulous Cole slaw and baked beans dinner and we highly recommend them. I have celiac disease and I am so excited that I can now eat all of their expertly barbecued meats with rub and their gluten-free Barbecue Sauce. Thank you Ludy's for your barbecue and culinary skills and thoughtful, inspired staff to make that possible... read more

Oh my goodness. There are restaurants that make you reminisce about the past because of memories or whatever they may be... Ludy's... it was the food, the atmosphere, and the people. Way back when, I would take others here to experience deliciousness. Then, they closed. Heart shattered. When I would ride through Woodland, I would think..."sigh, if only Ludy's was still here. Sigh. Fast forward to tonight. Hubby and I decided to have an impromptu dinner date. We didn't know what we wanted but we both were reminiscing about Ludy's. He said he would look, just in case. He said,"Babe!! They just moved!" "No. No. Their sign back then clearly stated they would be doing catering only." He said,"No Babe! It's down the street." I gave him that "you better not be effin with me" look. So, we mapped it and... VIOLA!! Score! We walked in and nostalgia kicked in. But of course, I was worried it wouldn't be the same. Well... customer service was, again, ON POINT. love her!! We ordered the sampler with potato salad and baked beans, with fried pickles as an addition. Our intent was to eat at home but, why wait? The aroma of smoked to perfection wafted out of the container. Of course I had a bite of everything. To my tiny circle, it's known I do not like chicken except my daddy's. Put "Ludy's" in front of chicken, and I am game! It was moist and flavorful to the bone. The other meats were smoked to perfection. Now, I'm not trying to rush this review but the BBQ smell is competing for my attention. I'm not easily impressed by potato salad, but come the heck on now!!! Ludy's exceed expectations and puts everyone else's on notice. You MUST go and try them or... if you didn't know, they're opened AGAIN!!! I would "whoop" if I didn't just watch my son's last volleyball game in high school. (They won, by the way.). Oh goodness. I feel like a child super excited about Ludy's. I texted all that would appreciate the fun fact. read more

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The food at the new Ludy's is every bit as good or better than the old Ludy's. The coleslaw is more tangy while still sweet. The sauce. Oh the sauce. There are many funky antiques from the old place but I sure miss washing my sauce covered hands over the large tin troughs which won't fit in this much smaller space. Alcohol will be on the menu in a few weeks after mid August 2024. read more

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I love this place !! Everything is fresh and delicious. They are quick, and so friendly. The restaurant is so fun inside, I love to look at all of the pictures. What a wonderful place and super family / kid friendly read more