Curt W.
Yelp
Hoping for an opportunity to change my experience with Northern BBQ, we tried John Hardy's. Woefully, this visit only solidified my preference for Southern BBQ.
Service here was the highlight. Our waitress was friendly and efficient, exceeding our expectations. The other staff we encountered treated us like friends, made us feel at home. I love the divey atmosphere, where the experience is folks and food rather than décor. Parking was gravel, unmarked, felt like pulling up to the barn. My kind of place.
The best food item by far was the crinkle cut frozen French fries. (That's unfortunate.) The ribs were tender and completely edible, but little to no smoke, and almost no seasoning. Sauces were "ok" (which is really only okay for a fast food joint!) Buttered bread was a nice touch - I'm more into toasting my slices, but I can't complain. The low point, which is the item I seek out when trying BBQ, was the Brisket. Only hints of smoke, served almost room temperature, a little on the tough side, bland in flavor. Add in some wilty salad and black eyed peas that were slightly weird (and also nearly room temp.)
Maybe my perspective is skewed by my infatuation with Southern BBQ. Maybe this was just a bad night for John Hardys. If this is real, MN BBQ, then my apologies, and consider this review a simple warning for visitors looking for something else.