Bud's Classic BBQ — Restaurant in Columbia Township

The good: Their mac and cheese was solid, and the meat was tender and flavorful. I also liked the seasoning on their street corn, and the kitchen service was quick.

The bad: Tiny, tiny portions for the price. The "mac mountain" is two ladles of mac and cheese in a small bowl with a kid-sized spoonful of meat and a side of corn, for $7 and change before tip. (And that's with the "student discount.") I'm used to BBQ joints charging a premium, but this seemed egregious.

And the drink prices are outrageous! $8 for single pre-mixed cocktails, and their beer pitchers cost almost double what you'd pay at any of the bars within a block. It's like they're pricing for downtown KC/STL.

Despite coming in during peak weekday lunch time, the place was almost empty... yet it still took the bartender 10 minutes to finish her personal conversation on the other end of the restaurant and come ask what I (and the other customers at the bar) wanted.

This place opened roughly a year ago, yet I still see a lot of kinks (e.g. the lack of a consistent menu, no pricing available online, and untrained/uninformed staff) that should have been worked out by now. I'm definitely willing to give Bud's another shot in the future, but I don't think I'll be back...

The staff and the place was very adequate. A little loud inside for our taste, but there was nice outdoor seating. However, I haven’t been so disappointed with the food at a restaurant in a long time.

They only had pulled pork left on a Tuesday evening at 7:30 (no problem, probably would have gotten it anyways). But it tasted sorta like canned pork and looked a little like it too in the shape of a scoop. When I saw it I thought it was tuna fish at first. Granted a few edges had a nice browning like smoked meat. The macaroni and cheese under the pork was about fast food quality. The portions where small for the price. We got a side of fries and they were bland and just fair. I asked for ketchup and they scooped it out of a water pitcher from a cupboard under their counter! They serve French fries and don’t even offer ketchup.

But by far the tipping point was I have never tasted a barbecue sauce I disliked more. Maybe it’s just not my style but it tasted so strong of vinegar that I couldn’t even eat it. Maybe it’s still early on and they’re working on things. But I doubt if I...

As a KC area native and having read the owner managed restaurants in the KC area I have to wonder if he didn't get out and try any of the delicious BBQ offered there.

Having lived in Columbia since starting at Mizzou in 2000 and continuing to live and raise a family here I've tried a majority of the restaurants in CoMo. MANY of them I have spent probably too much money at. Bud's is not one of these.

I've been to Bud's once within the first few months of it opening. I was downtown and I'm always looking to try BBQ locations I haven't been to. The food was edible, but not what I expect out of a decent BBQ restaurant and definitely not what I expect when it costs me almost $30 for a meal just for myself.

The employees were decent but nothing like the friendly service that is provided at KC BBQ spots or Pappy's in STL.

The atmosphere was decent. Nothing special.

I don't plan on going back unless I hear things have changed because it sure appears the owner cares a lot more about making money than providing a high quality meal at an...