Saddleback BBQ Okemos — Restaurant in Meridian Charter Township

During my recent visit to Saddleback BBQ in Okemos, I had a mixed but overall positive experience. Firstly, customer service deserves high praise. The staff was incredibly accommodating and friendly, especially considering the size of our order – we practically tried everything on the menu!

The standout for me was the pulled pork, which was flavorful and cooked to perfection. As for the brisket and ribs, while they were expertly prepared and had great taste, I found them to be a bit too fatty for my liking. However, this is a matter of personal preference and others might appreciate the juiciness this brings to the meats.

Regarding the sauce, it was certainly delicious, capturing the essence of traditional BBQ flavors. My only critique would be the texture, as I generally prefer a thicker sauce for my BBQ. Again, this is a subjective preference and doesn't detract from the quality of the sauce itself.

In summary, while the BBQ style at Saddleback BBQ wasn't entirely to my taste, the exceptional customer service and the overall quality of the food made my visit worthwhile. The pulled pork is a must-try, and for those who don't mind a bit of extra fat on their brisket and ribs, you're in for a treat. I would definitely recommend this place to BBQ enthusiasts, particularly for their excellent service and the evident care they put into preparing...

VERY solid spot when it comes to BBQ. You place your order at the counter, which at 1st might make you question how good the food might be. Trust me, it's GOOD. My sons and I got the sample platter which says it feeds 3-5 people, which it easily did. It had brisket, half slab of baby back ribs, smoked sausage, pulled pork and chicken tenders. It also came with choice of 3 sides. We got the Mac and Cheese, baked beans and seasoned fries. Brisket was solid, not very fatty, nice char, solid flavor. Pulled pork, also very solid. Smoked sausage was surprisingly good. The ribs were perfect, as Im not one who likes " fall off the bone". You get a perfect bite. Chicken tenders, well let's be honest, they were chicken tenders. Good crisp, not ridiculously dry. The baked beans were VERY good, even had some pulled pork mixed which we loved. Mac and cheese was creamy and cheesy. Fries were nice and crispy. Overall the food is Good. Very friendly staff. Food came out quickly, which again made is question the quality but they also weren't overly busy at the time. You can choose booth or bar top seating. Only " downside" was that there was much as far as atmosphere. Didn't really have that " bbq joint" feel to it. But not the end of the world. Overall very solid spot. We...

Visited today with my daughter as we were in the area. This was the most disappointing BBQ I've had in a long time. She got a combo with pulled pork. I got a combo with pulled pork and 3 wings. Pulled pork was tender but had no flavor at all, not even on the bark. No smoky taste. Wings were okay but I've had better smoked wings in the area and portion was tiny. House sauces were nothing special either. Sides were good (fries, mac & cheese, baked beans, but realistically no one goes to a BBQ place for the sides. They go for the meat, and the meat was disappointing. BBQ is expensive, this place more than most, and absolutely was not worth it. More than $50 out the door with drinks, tax & tip and I left feeling like I'd have been happier going to one of the boring chain restaurants on Marsh Rd. Three stars overall for the sides and friendly staff, but I have zero interest in returning here when there are lots of great local options in the area. I'd have been interested in trying the brisket or ribs but the pricing was just absurd on them (+$7.50 for 3 ribs as a meat choice on a 2 meat combo that's already $19??? I can get a whole rack of ribs for less than that combo at West Texas BBQ and I'd be confident it would be...