Q Fanatic BBQ & Grill — Restaurant in Champlin

I had high hopes for this place. I've eaten the best barbecue the U.S. has to offer, so I was excited to eat here after seeing all the accolades bestowed upon the place. I was especially excited to eat the brisket. In my opinion, brisket is the true barbecue. Salt, pepper, smoke, and let the meat shine through. My thought going into this was, if it's half as good as Franklin's or Hopes, I'll give it 5 stars. Afterall, we are in Minnesota. We're known for hotdish, not barbecue. When we arrived, we were greeted kindly and placed our order. My son and I chose the sampler, brisket, ribs, mac n cheese, spicy potatoes, and two hot links. I wanted fatty and lean brisket. The first bite was from the point. The flavor was good, but the fat was not rendered and chewy. I thought it was dry...that is until I tasted the flat aka lean. These pieces were the worst brisket I've ever seen and tasted. I loosely say 'tasted' because it was completely flavorless. Was it even rubbed before going on the smoker? It was also bone dry. Zero moisture. I've had brisket with lost moisture, but I didn't think it was possible to ring out every last bit of juice. The only test the flat did pass was the hang and pull test. Brisket is a complete failure.

Ribs were next. The first bone had a clean bite through, great flavor, and a pronounced smoke ring. It was everything one would expect. The next bone was the opposite. It was pork jerky. I can't be sure, but it seems they put a day old rib in with the fresh.

The mac and cheese was the star of the meal. Q Fanatic does that better than most barbecue joints. For some reason side dishes are an afterthought in smokehouses, especially coleslaw.

Spicy links: Mine was good, my son's was dry. Again, fresh mixed with day old?

Lastly, the spicy potatoes. These aren't playing games. There's some fire in them there taters. 10/10

Maybe I showed up on a bad day. I don't know what's going on at their cookers. New pitmaster in training? Overslept the nap?

Take your own chances on this place. I won't be back. There's a brisket somewhere in Minnesota that can pass every test. Someday...

Q Fanatic delivers great barbecue at a great price. I have recently moved to the area, and over the course of a few months have had the opportunity to try every meat on the regular menu (at least once). Everything I have tried is tasty, but some offerings really stand out.

The bacon and ribs sits at the top of the pile. In my opinion, the bacon beats the ribs in terms of taste. It is succulent, soft and spiced so that the fat keeps the rub from being overpowering, but at the same time packs a delightful flavor that lingers in the meat for longer than you might expect. It is so rich however, that you will have difficulty eating it to satiety. So make sure to take your time and savor it.

The rib meat is falling off the bone tender, has a pleasant slightly smoky flavor, and the homemade barbecue sauce is a fine addition that gives the ribs an extra savory sweetness and/or tang that brings everything together nicely. The pepper vodka sauce is the best, though the southern mustard bbq can also be delicious depending on the meat you put it on, or if you want to switch things up.

The spicy sausage is also really tender and flavorful. If you prefer spicy hot food you will likely enjoy it. The sandwiches I've tried are also tasty and affordable; the veggies are nothing special but the bread is firm and filling and doesn't detract from the taste of the meat. The potato wedges are decent on their own but the experience is greatly elevated when you dip them in the chipotle mayo, (which is tangy instead of spicy despite the mention of peppers).

The staff has also been very friendly, and I can't think of an instance when they haven't accommodated a request. I have yet to dine in the restaurant proper, so I cannot speak to that aspect of their business. But it is clear to me that it is a fine local place to get barbecue that is consistently great. The hours are a little unusual, but I always look forward to getting Q...

The Mpls location need to get it together! VERY DISAPPOINTED! The 1st time I tried their bbq was when they catered for my company; and I was blown away by the pulled pork! I was told they were in Champlin; I just could never get out there. So when I heard about the Mpls location, a coworker and I headed right over, despite the bad reviews; complete mistake. The guy that was taken orders was extremely rude! The customers in front of us even ask him was he having a good day? So, now it's our turn to order. I'm pretty laid back and 90% of people I meet on a daily basis love my presence because I'm kind of silly and like to put smiles on people faces; so I approached him with my charm. Let's just say he was a different kind. We told him we've never been there and what do he recommend? He said he didn't know because he doesn't eat the food there. Yeeeeeaaaa....oooook! His gut was bigger than the pregnant lady behind us!! Anyhoo, majority of the ribs were dry as hell, the baked beans were bland, the cole slaw was runny like soup; and the fries were cold and dry!!! The only thing that was ok was the pulled pork and the bacon. Reading the owners responses of the reviews are nothing but excuses! Stop making excuses and fix what your customer concerns are, if u want to run a successful business like your Champlin location. How would I know about running a successful business? Because my husband has been running 1 for 14yrs. Making excuses for a customers bad experience is putting it back on the customer; for receiving less than the best service and product. Stop been defensive and learn what your customers want. Start with getting rid of your rude ass employee!!! Then work on taking over Mpls with your great products!! Based off what I tasted a yr ago, your bbq is great! Show and prove, zero excuses!!! I will NEVER return to the Mpls location, but if I'm in Champlin; I'll...