10/07/09

Disappointing Ribs and more

by Fair and Balanced

Reviews had mislead me. I asked what was best and was told the ribs, but they were very disappointing. While they had the pink color of smoking and some smoky taste they were otherwise poor. They seemed to have been made yesterday and heated up a bit today. The sauce was weak and runny, the sides were poor at best. For a few bucks more I could have stopped at Redstone, a few blocks away, for good ribs and sides. Oh, they might of even had a good tap beer to go with it.

• Pros: Smoked ribs. Henry Weinhard's Vanilla Soda was great.
• Cons: Everything else

05/26/09

Good Lunch. Lots of Soda.

by HankyB

I like to sit and watch my soaps while I enjoy my ribs! Sauces are great, but my clothes smell funny for 3 days after eatting here :)

• Pros: Close to Leanne Chin's. Pretty good ribs!
• Cons: 95% male.

01/16/09

Best Texas BBQ in Twin Cities

by JayEff

If you have ever been to a real Tx BBQ roadside shack, you will right at home at Baker's. The ribs are as good as I have ever had in Texas and much better than the slippery, mushy "Famous" ribs. I like the chopped pork sandwich with a dollop of coleslaw (which is more of a Southern thang than a Western thang). The atmosphere is authentic to Texas style BBQ joints.

I take the score down one star only because of the sides. I would like to see (and this is my Southernness showing) fried okra, fried pickles, cabbage, all you can eat oven-fresh baked rolls and jalape?o cornbread, and a serve-yourself wheel of cheddar cheese.

• Pros: Real Texas BBQ. Authentic tastes, smells and atmosphere
• Cons: Where's the fried okra?

07/06/08

Outstanding, authentic East Texas BBQ

by mclaincausey

This is among the best Southern-style barbecue joints in the area. I have been to Ted Cook's, Qfanatic, Scot-Jamama's, and Market so far, and as far as ribs go it's Baker's and Qfanatic.

It is East-Texas style, so all meats are indirectly slow-cooked in a smoker, and there is a focus on pork (as a Southerner, I don't consider other Texas barbecue styles of to true barbecue. Beef ribs? I don't think so!)

The sausage, chicken, brisket, and especially ribs are outstanding. The sauce is a fairly thin tomato/vinegar concoction, similar to a Memphis-style sauce. It's quite good. All sauce bottles are served warm. The sides are not the greatest, except for the spicy baked beans, which are as good as I've ever tried. They have sweet tea, which is rare up here.

• Pros: Outstanding food, friendly service, nice atmosphere
• Cons: Sides not always seasoned well

01/28/08

Worst BBQ I ever had

by mike93xrocks09

I went to Baker Ribs one day after work and had lunch. I would never go back there again for over priced brisket water down sauce. I had better brisket at Famous Daves. The brisket was ice cold and not even heated.

• Pros: Leaving and not going back
• Cons: water down BBQ sauce, cold brisket, no good side to pick from

10/06/07

Best Texas barbecue in the Twin Cities

by chuck_hardin

Baker's Ribs makes barbecue as it should be made. The brisket is tender, the rub perfectly seasoned.

The sausage (why don't other barbecue places sell sausage? It's not exactly hard to find in the Midwest!) was everything it should be. Best of all, the sides were great. I'd put their beans up against anyone's,

and I loved the potato salad.

I lived almost all of my forty years in Austin, Texas before moving to the Twin Cities a year ago, and there's no other barbecue restaurant in town to touch this one. It's not even close.

• Pros: terrific barbecue, wonderful sides
• Cons: should be relocated next door to my house

Get a taste of down-home Texas barbecue at this strip-mall roadhouse.

by Contributor

In Short
Think red-checked plastic tablecloths, paper towels atop each table, TVs tuned to an assortment of sporting events and plenty of Texas-themed memorabilia. Smoky aromas and friendly folks greet you, along with a bathtub chock-full of ice and soda. Step up to the counter to order a half slab or whole rack of butter-tender pork ribs, brisket, smoked chicken and more, tray up your cole slaw and other fixings and have a seat.

06/09/06

Good Meat...Made Me Feel At Home. 7.5

by threedoghouse

I'm slowly working my way down the MSP St. Paul magazine winners top 10 list. I'm having a hard time believing the #1 winner (Redstone)...that place looks a little too polished for a "real BBQ" place, but my review of them will be coming...

On to Baker's...

Great job decorating. I felt like I was back home in a real BBQ spot. The meat was good. I had the ribs and brisket. The sides were...OK which probably brought down my overall experience but not enough to make TOO much of a difference. I'd recommend picking up their ribs or brisket for takeout and maybe doing your sides at home. Overall it's one of the better places in the Twin Cities for good, REAL Texas Style BBQ ribs & brisket.

On a side note, the guys there are really helpful and nice.

09/14/05

Real BBQ! Not Minnesota BBQ!

by tr15599

I tend to be more of a Pork Man myself so I stick with it. I have a hard time deciding whether to order the ribs or chopped pork, but no matter what I choose it tastes like I'm back in Texas. My job tends to keep in there vicinity more and more. Sometimes I do takeout but lately I enjoy staying there. I bring in my laptop and enjoy there great food in my off time. They keep the sauce warm so when you take a bite in the food melts in your mouth. They seem to have just the right amount of smokiness for me. While my brother thinks there on the strong side but what does he know? To finish all I can say is "If you like really BBQ this is the place in the twin cities". No messing around just good food, and good people!

• Pros: Great Pork, Sauce Just Right, Great Owners
• Cons: Not open 24hrs.

01/03/03

Kickin' ribs, bland brisket

by federline

Go here for ribs, ribs, ribs!

The ribs are nice and heavily smoked, and the Texas style sauce served warm separate is a very good compliment to the ribs. Best ribs I've found in the Twin Cities.

The BBQ sandwich is run-of-the-mill compared to true southern bbq, but enjoyable on a quick lunch jaunt.

Skip the brisket - it tastes like grandma's sunday oven roast - bland, watery, almost zero smokeyness. Surprising given the proprietor is from Texas.

• Pros: lots of free parking, best ribs, quick
• Cons: poor brisket, line at lunchtime