Navin's BBQ — Restaurant in St. Louis

All around very solid place! The staff is incredible. Very friendly, outgoing, making jokes etc. They checked on us several times while we ate and couldn't have been more hospitable. Theres some room for improvement in the restaurant though. I was there on one of the colder days of the year, granted, but it was very very cold in the dining area. The problem with this, aside from mild discomfort, is in the nature of the food -- meat served on trays cools very quickly, especially in this cold of an environment. I ended up having to take food to go because I wanted to enjoy it warmer. Also, the paper towels at each table are outright unacceptable. The very thin, cheap brown paper towels that go in bathroom dispensers. They feel like sandpaper on your skin, have next to no absorbancy, and are not perforated, leaving diners to have to use one sticky hand to hold the dispenser down, and the other sticky hand to unevenly and ungracefully rip a chunk of terrible feeling paper towel that hardly does the job you need it to. On to the food! 3 sauces are served with your meal -- a House Texas hot, a sweeter, thicker, tomato-y sauce, and a white bbq sauce. All of these were very solid. I always hope for a gold / mustard base sauce or Carolina vinegar sauce, but this is a Texas style establishment so no harm done. The brisket burnt ends are indeed some of the very best St. Louis has to offer. Burnt ends can often be chewy and tough (looking at you Beast BBQ), but these are soft and melt in your mouth. Truly excellent. I cannot however say the same about the 'pork belly burnt ends'. To me, these were simply cubes of cooked pork belly, nothing about them reminded me of burnt ends. And they probably could have been warmer; these were kind of chewy and the fat didn't melt away as easily. But still, a delight if you enjoy pork belly like I do. The turkey was some of the best I've ever had in all of my bnq experience across the country. The Texas Twinkie was also a delight. The wings were well cooked and pretty decent, but I'm not a huge BBQ wing guy, so my opinion can probably be ignored here. The sides are excellently priced -- all too often we all want to go IN on BBQ sides, but when they are $6-$7 a piece we have to refrain from ordering several. You can get a 'small' side of anything for $3, and the portions are very generous. This really enables a diner to make a full feast of a meal and not spend a fortune, and it is greatly appreciated. The macaroni is good -- rigatoni in quite a bit of liquid cheese sauce (great for some, others will prefer less cheese sauce) with a hot chip dusting. I read great things about the cole slaw, though it left a bit of flavor to be desired but was extremely fresh and helped break up eating a bunch of meat. The potato salad was decent, but as most potato salads do, it left me desiring a good mustard based one with my BBQ. The Texas toast is a great little addition, but only cooked on one side. Its not that big of a deal, but if I ran restaurant I'd toast both sides to assure that everything that left my kitchen was the very best it could be. Great house pickles as well that deserve a mention.

Highly recommended, great staff, fantastic prices, incredible...

If you're on the hunt for an unassuming culinary gem in St. Louis, Navin's BBQ is a must-visit. Tucked away in an ordinary-looking establishment, this place is the epitome of the phrase, 'don't judge a book by its cover.' One step inside and you're greeted by an inviting Southern/Midwestern ambiance, reminiscent of a scene straight out of House of Cards. The decor is modest, with regular wooden tables, chairs, and wall art that evokes a sense of homey charm.

But, let's get to the meat of the matter - the food. Navin's may very well serve the best barbecue in St. Louis, and the brisket stands testament to that. This might be the most tender, flavorful brisket you'll ever treat yourself to. The pulled pork doesn't lag far behind, elevating the BBQ game with its succulent juiciness. However, the real star that ties all the dishes together is the barbecue sauce. With its beguiling blend of mild spice and a hint of sweetness, this sauce is so good it borders on addictive.

The "One Meat Dinners" are a great way to sample the variety on offer. From the sides, the Mac and Cheese steals the show, so creamy and delicious you'll be tempted to swim in it. The beans are more chili-based, offering a hearty, meaty complement to the main dishes. Although the cole slaw is more average, it’s still a fine addition to the spread.

The service at Navin's is just as commendable. They go above and beyond to accommodate their patrons, even when it comes to making sure the little ones are satisfied. Our request for a piece of white bread without any grill marks was met with understanding and prompt service. Any hiccups with our order were handled professionally and seamlessly by the manager.

In conclusion, Navin's BBQ is more than just a BBQ joint; it's an experience. For those willing to look beyond the ordinary, this place promises extraordinary flavors and stellar service. Whether you're a local or just passing through St. Louis, make sure you don't miss this hidden gem. It's undoubtedly one of the best BBQ spots in the city, if not the entire Midwest.

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This place is amazing! I am a big fellow with a big appetite from Texas and this is the real deal. I came to STL for vacation and tried the staples (Pappy's, Salt+Smoke, etc.) and while those were good they were not Navin's. We came and the people were friendly and talkative. And the food was phenomenal. The burnt ends are incredible. The wings were smoky with a nice warm heat on the back end. My wife destroyed the Mac and cheese, I literally got none haha. My only regret was not coming the first day we came. We will be going back again tomorrow. It is a small place but packs huge flavor into every bite. This place has real smoke, real people and real BBQ!

Came back for a second day in a row. Walked in for burnt ends and wings... Walked out with burnt ends, wings, pulled chicken, and turkey. Y'all, y'all you don't even understand. Smoked turkey is a wonderful thing and these fellas do it right it is smokey and succulent not dry at all. The pulled chicken I think I stopped eating to breathe once. So phenomenal. Again I was denied Mac and cheese because my wife claimed it for herself it was so good. Ask about their new sauce it is off the hook and pairs wonderfully with burnt ends. This is the David to the Goliath staples in St Louis. Instead of flinging pebbles they are shooting true BBQ. Again this is the place. Amazing flavor, amazing...