Grumpy Jake's BBQ & Catering — Restaurant in Arizona

One star for good service and some interesting decor. We have lived up here for a year and never stopped by. We saw all the good reviews so we thought we’d give it a try. The food was awful, and we ordered a wide variety of things to make sure we tried different items. Chili cheese fries were probably the best thing we had and it wasn’t very good. The chili on the fries was just tons of black beans with some sort of odd looking meat chunks with no apparent sauce binding it together as chili. No salt in the chili or on the fries.

Then we ordered the super sampler with ribs, brisket, pulled pork and pulled chicken, plus a hot link, with sides of Mac & cheese and potato salad. We tried it with their spicy bbq sauce which made the ribs and brisket edible but not enjoyable. Nothing had any flavor and seemed like it was all cooked in a steamer - and the hot link maybe not long enough. I could barely tell the difference between the pulled pork and pulled chicken other than I think the chicken was the one that tasted like funk. The Mac and cheese was watery ( I could see water pooling around my spoon) - I have never not finished an order of Mac and cheese before. I hate to give such a bad review to a local place that people seem to love, but I just can’t...

An Unforgettable Dining Experience at Master Crafted BBQ with Pit Masters Miguel and Louise "Grumpy Jake's".

Dear Miguel and Louise,

I hope this review finds you well. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the unforgettable dining experience my family and I had the pleasure of enjoying at your esteemed establishment. It was truly an honor to meet the talented Pit Masters behind the scenes of your master crafted BBQ.

Dining with my beautiful wife and our 9 children, we were all in awe of the artistry and dedication that went into preparing each dish. Your smoking talent and dedication to perfection truly shone through in every bite, and we were left speechless by the quality of the cuisine we were privileged to enjoy.

The ambiance of your restaurant, combined with the warmth and hospitality of your staff Nancy, made our visit truly memorable. It is clear that you both have a passion for your craft, and it was a pleasure to witness and taste the fruits of your labor.

I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to both of you for creating such a remarkable dining experience for me and my family. We look forward to our next visit and experiencing more of your culinary delights.

Warm regards,

Taylor Graham AKA also...

After the long drive up from the Valley, my taste buds were revved up and ready for some good ol’ smoky, finger-lickin’ BBQ. Instead, I was served what looked like the culinary equivalent of a black-and-white TV—every piece of meat the same sad shade of gray, with all the smokiness of a microwave dinner. If there was a real smoker involved, it must’ve been on vacation.

The flavor? Let’s just say if depth were a pool, this BBQ wouldn’t even get your socks wet. It had all the soul of a cafeteria tray, and the sides didn’t do it any favors. The “homemade” touch was nowhere in sight—unless you count someone opening a box of Kraft mac and cheese for the kids’ meal. And speaking of the kids’ meal, the corn dog tasted suspiciously like something I’ve seen in the freezer aisle at the local bulk store.

I came craving pitmaster perfection, but what I got was something that felt reheated, uninspired, and about as authentic as a gas station brisket. If you’re in the mood for real BBQ, I’d suggest driving right past Grumpy Jake’s—unless, of course, you just want to be...