Market Bar-B-Que, (Minneapolis Minnesota)

I went on my business trip to Minneapolis Minnesota last month I did get a chance to eat some BBQ. I always try to eat some BBQ when ever I travel. I stayed in downtown Minneapolis and for lunch I walked down to Market Bar-B-Que. I ordered a rack of ribs. It came with slaw and white bread. The ribs were not very good and the sauce was bland. I was not very impressed. The slaw was not good either. I was kind of bummed about my meal not being very good. I decided that since my company was paying for my lunch I would order some pie. I ordered some Kentucky Bourbon Pecan Pie. It was incredible!!!! I love pecan pie and have eaten many pieces both good and bad. This piece of pecan pie was so good. I would go back there just for the pie! So that is my review. Here is their website if you want to check them out.

http://www.marketbbq.com/index.htm

Not knowing Minneapolis very well, i wonder if it's the ONLY BBQ there. (When I make plane connections thru Minneapolis, I can't help but notice how "blond" it is!)

The Twin Cities are home to some astonishingly mediocre barbecue. Famous Dave's, Rudolph's, Scott Ja-Mama's, and the above mentioned Market Bar-B-Que are all located in and around Mpls/StP. Heck, Famous Dave's corporate headquarters are located there.

We have managed to find outstanding 'Que at Baker's Ribs out in the suburb of Eden Prairie. I recently did a write-up on them in the Roadhouse Bar-B-Que Sauce Summer Tour 2006 thread:

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12433&whichpage=7

If you are visiting Minneapolis or are a resident, I highly recommend Baker's over any of the other barbecue choices in that part of the world.

Buddy

Ditto on Baker's. Easily, the best BBQ in the Twin Cities.

Famous Dave's has a loyal following in Minneapolis. This is due to the fact that it is based there, that it is very family friendly, and that it has a taste that is generally agreeable to nearly all. That combo of Memphis / KC style is what most people in the north, mountains, and west coast consider good BBQ.

While I have nothing against Dave's, and will gladly eat there if there isn't better BBQ around, a true BBQ enthusiast will know that Baker's is the real deal as soon as you walk in the door and take one look at the fare.

Haven't tried some of the others you mention, but certainly will next time I'm there.

Hazelmn, keep in mind that I mentioned those other places in the same sentence with Famous Dave's. You know, the one about mediocre Barbecue? If you want to check them out and form your own opinion, you are more than welcome. But as we have already agreed that Baker's Ribs is the best 'Que that the Twin Cities has to offer, why waste your money at those other joints?

Buddy

Minnesota has some excellent bbq, like anything else, you just have to know how to find it. If you ever make it to Rochester, MN a stop at John Hardy's BBQ is a must. Their pulled pork and sliced beef is as good as any Q I've had from Kansas City to Memphis.

I finally tried a Famous Dave’s about a month back, absolute dreck. You couldn’t pay me to there again.

Haven't tried John Hardy's, Theedge, but I can tell you to avoid Roscoe's Root Beer and Ribs when in Rochester. More generic and soulless than any piece of meat I have ever eaten. Bland sauce and cold, sterile atmosphere to boot. Next time I pass through the big "R" I'll check out John Hardy's.

Buddy

Buddy, I'm not a fan of the Roscoe's either. For some reason they also end up being voted best around, it's very odd. John Hardy's has a great line up of sauces and some of the best pulled pork and sliced beef I've had. Warning though, the atmosphere is well, there isn't one. But I rarely look up from my plate.

We've got three trips planned to the Twin Cities this coming summer. I'm hoping we'll route at least one ride through Rochester for a stop at John Hardy's. Thanks for the tip.

Buddy

Buddy I'm just 20 miles off of 35 in Austin. If you have time for a short detour we have some decent food in town, my treat.

Since this is a new thread and Twin Cities specific here is a curtain call post of the Tonka Grill & BBQ pulled pork sandwich.



Tonka Grill & BBQ is located on County Road 15 in Spring Park, MN across the street from Lake Minnetonka. It is not a fancy place. In fact it would be considered quintessential road food despite being located in toney Lake Minnetonka. Buddy, plan a taste demonstration at the Navarre Lunds. The Tonka Grill & BBQ is just a mile west and Lunds is just two miles north of my house. Then I won't have to travel so far.

Baker's Ribs is actually kind of a chain. Here is the website and connection to Texas.

http://www.bakersribs.com/

It's good none the less.

Holy cow -- that looks like a great sandwich. Good, smokey flavor?? Sauce have some zing??

Bakers is indeed a small chain, but a very controlled chain that keeps quality high. Nothing like the huge chains that sacrifice quality like Famous Dave's.

quote:

Originally posted by Hazelmn

Holy cow -- that looks like a great sandwich. Good, smokey flavor?? Sauce have some zing??

Bakers is indeed a small chain, but a very controlled chain that keeps quality high. Nothing like the huge chains that sacrifice quality like Famous Dave's.

Agreed on Baker's. Although I am eagerly looking forward to checking out Tonka Grill & BBQ on at least one of our trips to Minneapolis this summer, I still would not hesitiate for a second to head back in to Baker's. As I have posted in other forums, they had outstanding ribs and some of the best sausage I have ever tasted in my life!

That is one enticing pulled pork sandwich though, isn't it?!?

Buddy