Pat's Pigs BBQ & Catering — Restaurant in Town of Mendon

I saw a video about this place on social media and had to try a BBQ spot that I don't need to travel too far to get. Wife and I went in on a Saturday afternoon. I was immediately met with a very friendly and pleasant employee taking orders. I asked a bunch of questions and he answered all with proper detail, and what he didn't know, he would yell back to Pat and ask. Both were happy and welcoming and knowledgeable. This is the type of place that I was eager to eat their food without having seen it or anything. Just the conversation I had with the guys made me feel like I had made the right choice coming here.

It's not easy to find if you don't have your navigation app going. Not a ton of signage and it resides in a fairly non-descript little strip-mall/plaza type thing. But once you're inside, you know you're in the right spot. There is a small room for dining, and there are picnic tables for when the weather is better. The place isn't going to win any awards for ambiance, but you're here for BBQ, and they do that right. Besides, it's a BBQ spot. It's clean and there are plenty of napkins. That's about all I need.

Since this was our first time at a new BBQ spot (for me) we like to try a bunch of stuff to see what is best. We started with Pork Belly Burnt Ends and Smoked Wings. The burnt ends were fantastic. Big meaty chunks of tender smokey goodness. Arguably my favorite item we ordered. The wings were also wonderful. Smoked to perfection and then quickly fried for a little crispiness. They have a bunch of different sauces to choose from. We opted to just grab a little cup of all of their sauces to give them a try. I'd recommend not limiting yourself to just one choice. My favorite was their Kicking Garlic BBQ. Quick side note, I don't know why, but the burnt ends dipped in their buffalo sauce was surprisingly awesome.

Beyond the apps, the wife ordered a half-rack of ribs. They were big and meaty and tender. They fell off the bone, but not too easily. Nothing worse than a rib just falling apart without much effort. I will say that although she only got a half rack, it seemed like more than what I'm used to seeing for a half-rack portion size. I got the three meat platter with pulled pork, brisket, and sausage. The pulled pork was above average. The brisket was super tender and tasty, and the sausage was quite good. I think he said it was a Louisiana-style, similar to a Linguica. We also had their mac and cheese, baked beans, and salt potatoes. All of which were pretty damn good.

Go check this place out. Support these guys. They're making high quality smoked meat and are genuinely nice folks. Additionally, there were two other customers ordering or finishing up when I was waiting for the food. The one said the wings are the best he'd ever had. The other was with his son and wife and they were ranting and raving about the quality of the food and provide suggestions for the next time we order. It was really cool to just chat with people who weren't working for the restaurant that had really positive things to say. Those people, plus the employees really cemented my experience and set the tone for a lovely and...

I’m a big fan of dry rub and like bbq sauce but use it sparingly- I like to taste the meat and seasoning. Pats dry rub is really good without being salty- I’m not chugging water like I just ate a huge Chinese dinner. I wish i could tell you more about the sides, but I always get the Mac salad cuz it’s my favorite- made with a bit of pickle and some heat, it’s solid Mac salad that has flare to it, which I feel makes it lighter. It’s not a thick and pastey salad, which I don’t like, especially in summer. It has just enough heat to notice, but your kids can still eat it. The wings are great. It’s tempting to dip them but don’t. I save the bbq for less fatty parts and only use a dab. They’re smoked and well seasoned so sauce isn’t necessary. I’ll say the same for the ribs. I loved the ribs. They’re a really nice cut and don’t have the texture or appearance of sitting on a warming rack for hours(I’m looking at YOU, Sticky Lips!). Lastly, I’m gonna urge you to try the burnt ends. I’ve never had them like this liked it more and more as I dug into them. If I understand correctly, this is basically bacon on a different bias- from pork belly. The ends are great, but my surprise was the fat band that held this delicious and tender lean succulent meat. The way they smoke, the fat just falls off with no effort, so it’s a much healthier option than actual bacon. Better than the “trimmed clean” plate at restaurants where you just get a small pile of tips. Try the mango habanero- I think it’s great on pulled pork and chicken. Staff is super friendly and the kitchen is very clean. Theres plenty of room to dine in. Very pleased there’s another food option between Mendon-Honeoye Falls. I wish I had a better photo, but I got home and took down a double side of Mac salad before even thinking about a pic. Look at the rib bones. Clean. That’s how tender...

I've had 3 experiences with Pat's Pigs since their opening last year. The first was a dine-in lunch with a colleague. I got the pork garbage plate and it was absolutely phenomenal. Pork was smoky and tender and the mac salad was one of the best I've had, while the beans, corn, and potatoes were cooked perfectly. The service was friendly and speedy, while the atmosphere was casual and fun. To top it off, their prices are incredibly reasonable in a time where merchants aren't hesitating to hike up their prices.

I enjoyed the food so much that I placed a catering order for a guys night I hosted. Pork, brisket, and pulled chicken, with beans, corn, and potatoes on the side. The food was a HUGE hit, particularly the brisket. There's BBQ competition in ROC with Dinosaur and Good Smoke being solid options, but in my opinion this is a cut above. I'm no expert, but I've eaten my fair share of great BBQ throughout the country, and this is up there.

This evening, I took advantage of the fact that Pat's Pigs is on GrubHub and placed an order for my wife, two kids, and I ($50). After a little while I received a call from the owner who informed me that GrubHub couldn't locate a driver for my order. He offered to DRIVE IT TO MY HOME. I couldn't believe it. 20 minutes later, there he was on my porch, handing me my food with a smile on his face. I told him he didn't have to do it, to which he responded, "but then you wouldn't have gotten your food".

In a post-COVID world where people have never been more selfish, callous, and fiscally conservative, Pat went WAY out of his way to ensure that a customer of his was well-fed and happy. Needless to say, I couldn't make a stronger recommendation for Pat's Pigs.

Delicious food, fair prices,...