Bluestone American BBQ — Restaurant in Melbourne

We had our pre-date night dinner here, and honestly, it was probably the best American BBQ I've had in a long time. Forgot to snap some photos, but you can see from the other great reviews how beautiful the food looks. You’ll have to combine my detail with the images others have left.

We ordered the Cajun pulled pork, pork spare ribs, double smoked brisket, maple chicken wings, deep-fried mac and cheese croquettes, and coleslaw. Initially, we considered the ‘Feast 2’, but ultimately chose individual items since it offered more of what we were interested in for roughly the same price. A very fair price, mind you.

Starting with the brisket — it was juicy, pulled apart easily, and smoked to perfection. The pulled pork was fantastic, especially with the accompanying sauce that paired beautifully with the sweet, reddish table sauce. As for the spare ribs, they were insane. You’re just gonna have to try them for yourself because I’ve no other words. The wings were also delicious, that maple glaze is top tier.

Regarding drinks, I’ve managed bars for years and worked in top-tier venues, so I’m very impressed. The apple pie cocktail was exceptional, clearly made by someone who loves their job. The grapefruit paloma was also great, but I’m biased towards my scotches and bourbons, so tequila isn’t my first choice. $10 cocktails, that delicious? Killing it.

The ambience was great. The music wasn’t too loud, the seats were more than comfy (we were tucked away in a little alcove with wall seating as requested, thank you for that!), and the lighting was just right. Very cozy atmosphere and I LOVE that the smokers are in your face right as you walk in. Sets a very good precedent, almost as if you know the food is about to be killer.

Finally, the service was impeccable—10/10. I didn’t catch the servers' names, but they deserve recognition. One was a lovely blonde woman with a smile and an upbeat attitude, who checked in just the right amount. The other was a knowledgeable lad with an, I want to say, Americanesque(?)accent who seated us and was very well-informed about the menu, answering all our questions with a big smile and a friendly demeanor. While excellent service is expected in hospitality, these two exceeded expectations and should be commended. I’d also like to pay a little homage to the rest of the team, the chefs and the cooks, the dishies, the cleaners, the owners. You guys, gals and pals have a terrific venue on your hands. It’s nice to see so much love come from a local business. Having eaten here last night, I can say my experience has made me miss working in hospitality.

We will definitely be coming back. I’d say, probably too much. I’m gonna bring literally every person I know here. Sorry in advance. This place is a new #1 favorite, and I can't believe I didn’t try it sooner. Well...

About ten years ago, I said to my elder son that someone should open an American-style BBQ restaurant in Melbourne (at the time, there were none) because they would make a fortune in this food-obsessed city. How times have changed, and American-style BBQ eateries are now commonplace, and are a welcome addition to our dining scene.

Is Bluestone the best American BBQ restaurant in Melbourne? I say "yes". My son still thinks Dexter is better, but I disagree. I've been to many, and I honestly feel that Bluestone is the best of the current crop.

Bluestone sits in an unprepossessing part of Coburg, in the northern part of Sydney Road. It's a comfortable room, but nothing fancy. The large smokers take pride of place at the front of house, and you can smell the smoke as you approach the entrance.

Service is excellent at Bluestone. Amanda is the person in charge, and she and her team make sure that everyone is well-attended. They provide helpful information about the menu, and make sure that you're never left too long without a drink. She's a gem.

You can order a la carte here, but my advice is to go with one of the three set menus, called "pit selections". The top of the line offering is about $59, but it's huge and provides you with a magnificent variety of excellent barbecue: ribs, brisket, pulled pork, lamb, chicken chops, fried chicken, fried mac and cheese, and so on, and so on.

Be warned, this is not pretty good, and this place is a vegetarian's nightmare. This is hearty, rich, tasty meaty food, served in big portions. It's all about the "low and slow" here at Bluestone. Everything I've eaten here has been excellent. All of the meats are pull-apart tender, and nicely seasoned and sauced. They also have some outstanding home-made sauce if you want even more flavour. Desserts are also very American--chocolate brownie, key lime pie, and so on.

Food arrives here at a lightening pace, and all at once, which I love. Settle on your order, and within minutes, your table is groaning with the rich bounty of the smoker. There's no long wait at Bluestone.

The drinks list is small, but interesting, with some excellent local beers on tap, some good American beers by the bottle, and some interesting wine offerings.

Bluestone is clearly a labour of love. You can tell by the way the staff go about their business. The place has a great feel to it. Prices are mid-range, but given the quality and amount of food on offer, I think it represents great value for money. Look out for the Tuesday night $12.95 dinner special and the weekend lunchboxes.

I really like this place. It's the sort of restaurant that the area needs. I wish them all the best for a long and...

🥩 Short Beef Ribs, Chimmichurri 🥜 Smoked Chicken Wings, Peanut Sauce 🐖 Pulled Pork Flautas 🌽 Pulled Lamb Arepa’s 🥩 Beef Brisket Empanadas 🫘 Smoked Pork Black Bean Stew 🍚 Rice Pudding

Bluestone BBQ is a humble restaurant located in the heart of Coburg on Sydney Road. Chef and owner Alvaro Malel draws inspiration from his Uruguayan heritage, and his passion for cuisines from both American continents. 🇺🇾

There is a variety of options to choose from. Pitmaster Feasts which range from $30.80-$59.80pp (they even a Vegetarian option!) and are extremely generous - they really mean it when they call it a feast. You can also order dishes A La Carte.

The menu we came for however was their special 7-course Latin Feast, which reimagines American BBQ favourites with a Central and South American twist. This is $59pp and we were mindblown by the value, it is priced for the area. If this was in the CBD, you would easily be paying another $30-40! 🤯

The venue smells amazing as soon as you walk in. It has a great vibe, with good music and hanging festoon lighting. I love when a cocktail list is specifically designed to match the menu and cuisine. Highly recommend the Apple Pie and Cherry Bomb! 🍒

Every dish was so full of flavour and cooked perfectly. We did have a few favourite standouts of course. The 15 hour smoked Short Ribs were huge and completely fell off the bone. It was served with Grits which was our first time trying - so buttery and delicious.

The Lamb Arepas were unlike any I’ve had before - in a good way. The Empanadas had a beautiful, handmade, crispy corn dough, full of brisket. Every dish came with an accompaniment that actually went well, not just acting as a garnish. 👏🏽

Absolutely loved our visit and suprised it somehow slipped under our radar. Amazing value, service and food which is top quality and exciting. I was still full the next day. We are very picky with our BBQ restaurants and this is definitely a top contender.

All You Can Eat/Drink Bottomless Lunch $59 every Saturday and Sunday. Tuesdays they have a special plate for...