John Hardy's BBQ — Restaurant in Rochester

Amazing takeout, but I wouldn't eat in the restaurant. I have lived in Rochester for 4 years, and yesterday was the first time I actually tried this place. I got the beef/shredded pork combo plate with jo jo's and cole slaw, and hot sauce. It also came with a couple slices of garlic bread. I'm not going to lie, I can achieve the same quality of meats in my home smoker, but that takes several hours of prep and slow low smoking. And for around 14 dollars after tax, 1/2 lb meat on a great big pile of fried potato with a generous douse of BBQ sauce and a couple extras is a huge amount of food and a great value.

Regarding the BBQ sauce: the sauce was absolutely amazing! There are 7 levels of hotness you can choose from, and they told me mild and medium (which are the 2nd and 3rd level, respectively) are most popular. I generally like a spicy level a notch above the average central Minnesota palate, so I asked for hot (which is the 4th level) and they said "Ok we will put that on the side for you" Lol! Minnesotans and their fear of spicy! Anyways, I thought it was the perfect degree of spicy, and the amount the gave me on the side was enough to sufficiently drench everything in it. It has this amazing unique flavor that I haven't had elsewhere - it kind of tastes like there might be a hint of apricot in it? I would honestly go back just to buy a jar of the sauce, which they apparently sell according to their menu.

Other notes: The jo jo's are really unusual thick sliced potato chips that are fried to part crispy part mushy - the only other time I can think of that I've seen this sort of potato thing was when they came on a salad I ordered in France. They do a great job mopping up the BBQ sauce. The coleslaw was good but not really remarkable (is it ever?), and the garlic bread was a fun unexpected extra with that great cheap garlic powder/butter taste which rounded out my BBQ takeout moment really well. The reason I said I wouldn't eat in the restaurant is they are definitely rocking that cheap dingy dimly lit diner feel which I know some people get into but honestly was not all that appetizing to me. And there was also a slight haze in the air from their smoker, which was fun to see for authenticity but also I don't think would be pleasant to hang out in...

We got the ribs, pork, loaded jo-jos, cheese curds, and chicken to try.

Loaded jo-jos, The potato sliced were too thin so they were more like chips, the cheese sauce was chunky and kinda sweet which wasn't a flavor profile I expected or enjoyed. We got the hot ones, which had what I assume where jalapeño chunks, which is bigger that bits, which kinda threw it off for me.

Next were the cheese curds, I'm kinda disappointed that they were store bought breaded cheese nuggets... There was more breading than cheese and tasted more of breading than cheese. I really don't think it's that much trouble to make battered ones, I used to make them all the time.

The rib, Sauce-less to try them they way they were brought out. Not too bad, kinda fatty but decent flavor for the parts that didn't have too much fat on them.

The shredded pork, It was a little dry at first but after the top bit of was juicy and pretty darn good actually. Would be amazing on a sandwich.

Chicken, It was basically dry tuna shaped like chicken with most of the flavor killed off. My sister said it's usually pretty good so I could consider giving it another shot.

Other, The buttery garlic bread was really tasty, it could only be better if they put a little sear on it. The crinkle cut fries could have been cooked a bit longer, the jo-jos should be thicker and less chip like.

Service, The waitress was average I suppose, perhaps over worked but I ended up not getting a refill as well as a few in my party, all with the waitress no where to be found.

Over all, The food was alright but nothing special, I believe most people who rave about this food either have major nostalgic ties or don't know much about barbecue. Their shredded pork really is probably the best thing there and I recommend it, but sadly that's about the only thing I could recommend.

Would i come back? Not unless some one else was paying and even then I would try to steer them away.

However, there is a new location opening in Albertville that promises to be better and I look forward to the chance to be surprised.

Good luck...

Me and my dad stopped at this location while we were visiting my step-mom in the hospital in Rochester, MN.

I had the Dinner plate with 2 meats and 2 sides. I had the brisket and ribs with sweet potato tots and slaw. The ribs were a little dark but smelled good, there is little to no seasoning on the meat with a slight smoke flavor. I am not a huge sauce guy, when I eat bbq I want to experience the meat and the flavors the cook was trying to do and I got the feeling they don't do much for seasoning their meat, they rely on their sauce to add flavor to their bbq.

The ribs were also a little dry and not as tender as I would like them to be. But had a decent smoke flavor. The brisket was more tender and a little bit more flavorful. The slaw was a nice creamy sweet style slaw.

Their sauces at the table were medium and mild. The mild was a simple lightly vinegar style sauce with the medium was much more vinegary than the mild with a little bit more a bold flavor profile. Overall it wasn't the best bbq I have had but it sure wants the worst. I would say it is average bbq at best. If you are a vinegar sauce fan and that is what you want to taste and not the flavor of the meat, which isn't much, then you will enjoy this. But for me I look for a little more personality and flavor...