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Comments (199)
Delicious meat for sure, but $4 for a side of Mac and $4 for potato salad that is smaller than my tiny hand? Sorry but I cant get beside that. Also the Mac was missing CHEESE 💀
Good BBQ for a good price. The indoor and outdoor atmosphere was fun, the food was good, the beer was good, and our food came out rather quick. Overall I would come back again. Pleasant experience.
Excellent place for BBQ. Hands down best pulled pork sandwich Ive ever tasted. Paired with the smoothest root beer (Stubborn soda) Ive had. The bread pudding was decadent and a bit too sweet. Made me want to get another sandwich to follow it up. 🤤🍖 And we had an awesome live Blues band to accompany us!
This place was perfect. We stopped there on a whim, and Im glad we did. Who hasnt been lured by a big BBQ sign?The Gaucho was incredible. The bread was fresh baked, Im assuming, and even the trays were pre warmed. Great local beer selection and ridiculously well put together BBQ. Even the pickles rocked.Loved it, will definitely be back next time Im in town.
Ive only been for breakfast, but the breakfast tacos were amazing. I tried both the pork and the brisket, and both were so flavorful. I loved them with the spicy bbq sauce. At $4 per taco, you can have an inexpensive but outrageously delicious breakfast that will keep you full for hours. My partner and I were just in town for the weekend, and we both agreed that the tacos were the best thing we ate on our whole trip. We even changed our hiking plans to the Forest of Nisene Marks SP so that we could go back a second time before heading home. In addition to the tasty food, service was very friendly. We cant wait to go back the next time were in the area.
Some of the best BBQ I have had in many years. Loved the ribs and the brisket meals.
Overall I wouldnt come back, it was to exspensive for what you get and felt like a tourist trap. Great beer selection. Food is a bit price for portion size. Pulled pork was good. Ribs were not fall off the bone and pretty dry. Brisket was dry and cold. Cole slaw was good but not the mac and cheese.
Love this place its a must stop when we are in the area I especially love their brisket sandwich with their signature barbecue sauce is so mouth watering definitely recommended!! They also have good beer and a great variety to choose from
Omg, food was amazing. The portions were off the chart
I love going to check out BBQ places in different cities and I finally was able to check out Aptos St BBQ @AptosStBBQ in Santa Cruz, CA. I ordered the three meat combo with two sides, St. Louis Style Pork Rib, Smoked Tri-Tip, and Smoked Beef Brisket with Garlic Bread and Potato salad. The meat had a hint a sweetness, which I liked. The Tri-tip was so soft and chewy. They gave me the fatty parts on the brisket, which made it even better. The dry rub really brings the flavor through on the ribs. They have tons of outdoor dining options available, small and large tables. The BBQ sauce was tangy and sweet. I really liked this place, next time I come back I want to get the family packs. They have a second location on Mission St. @AptosStBBQ📍 Aptos St. BBQ, Santa Cruz, CA.
Outstanding - one the best bbq sandwiches I have ever had. I ate the Squealer (spicy bbq + bell peppers. Great outdoor space for dogs and humans. Excited to come back for the live tunes
We got takeout - the beef brisket large plate and a half pound of pulled pork. The brisket had a lot of fat. The pulled pork was excellent. It was nice to alternate between regular barbecue and spicy barbecue sauce. The potato salad was good, coleslaw meh, cornbread like an oily tasting but dry toast.
Got the family meal #7 with tri tip and pulled pork. The tri tip is amazing and the pork was great too. Mac and cheese is great and potato salad was tasty. The beans are okay and are very smoky. Very much enjoyed the food and entertainment.
Vey small portions (brisket “meal” was maybe 1/3rd lb), beans were undercooked and watery, pulled pork sandwiches were pretty good. No comment on sauce as they didn’t include any. Meat was good which is why 3 stars vs 2.
Best brisket in town! Live music cool people. great outside area! Bring your motorcycle this place is an excellent lunch stop Brrappp!
Really tried to give this place a chance two times. First time ordered two brisket dinners drove 20 minutes away open the meal and was given two pork rib meals. Don’t eat pork so this sucked. Second time ordered two meat plate some sides and a half rack of ribs. The tri tip was OK the brisket had no smoke flavor, no smoke ring ,tasted like boiled meat and they forgot to give us one of our sides. Medium size meal for two people delivered 80+ dollars
One of the better smoke shops! Love their burnt ends!My kids love the Mac&Cheese and surprisingly their appetite 3x here.Will definitely be coming back again.
The salad with brisket was ok, the hot link was delicious. The 2 sides, beans and coleslaw were blah esp beans! Would never order again.
Came for an early dinner. Coming from Kansas City and having spent time in Texas I’m a pretty hard judge of bbq. Aptos St Bbq was pretty good. The menu was typical, prices were reasonable, staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was great. I saw a lot of people ordering take out.My ribs were meaty and tender. The sauces were self serve and were awesome. I got coleslaw and baked beans as a side. The coleslaw was good, and pretty standard. The beans were more like chili beans. I see this a lot in California and not sure where people think baked beans should taste like chili.I didn’t get a beer, but it was a neat experience watching people. They offer samples of all their micro brews so you can pick the one you want. It was very hard to read the beer menu! But it looked like a good selection.Little touches like free soda refills and wet naps added a nice touch.Parking only on the street.
One of the best BBQ places in the bay area. Great selections for beer 🍻 I love the brisket and hot links (spicy but irresistible)! There are plenty street parkings nearby. Aptos is a good town to stop by if you drive between south SJ and Monterey.
The pulled pork had a nice smokey flavor and after the BBQ sauce was added (they give it to you without any sauce on the sandwich) it was amazing. The beans were not as good as they looked and the potato salad was simple but good. The berry cobbler hit the spot to tie it all together.
Reviewed during COVID-19, ordering in and getting takeout (~30 minutes) based on how busy they are.Thank you Aptos BBQ team for being open, friendly, and providing us with a great meal keeping our spirits high!========================Overall: such a great find! If youre in the area, or not in the area and feel like BBQ - this is it! Its worth the trek! We went in to order, and picked up to picnic in the car - and there was silence until we got halfway through our meals!Food Orders:Sandwiches came on a soft ciabatta roll. Perfectly held the sandwich together. Porous enough to capture the juices, and gave a nice bite. We both ordered the potato salad as a side. It was really good. Not drenched in mayo, good bite of peppers, onions, chunks of potato with their spice rub.Daily Special: Brisket SandwichWe were lucky to see the Specials Board- they had a brisket sandwich with chimichurri, provolone and grilled onions. And let me tell you, it was devoured in minutes!Brisket was perfectly smoked, you can see the smoke rings, each bite melted in your mouth. For someone that doesnt like to chew, there was no need to! The meat literally dissolved with each bite. The addition of chimichurri, provolone, and grilled onions gave it a chutney taste. The blend of tang and sweetness really brought the sandwich together.Firebird SandwichTHE JUICIEST chicken Ive ever had. Nicely pulled, giving a nice chunk, but not that dry, stringy cubed bite. The pieces of chicken were laye 3 layers deep, giving you a nice portion of meat to bread. If it wasnt for the bun, the juices would have oozed out of the sandwich.The chicken was in a hot sauce that was just perfect. Nice spice on the tongue, but nothing that will make your stomach churn if youre sensitive.Looking forward to our next BBQ craving, which will definitely be met with a visit to Aptos St BBQ
Probably the best bbq place in the area. On top of great tri tip and brisket, they have at leave 30 beers on tap that are all individual and varied in flavor. Place also has music on weekend nights. Must stop if you are in Aptos!
Eating in, we had great BBQ! Really like the outdoor dining area on a sunny day. No rainy day outdoor options. The day we ordered to go, brisket was cut super thick, making it harder to share with multiple people. Staff has always been friendly, professional, and well-masked.
This is by far my favorite place to eat in the Santa Cruz area. This is my second favorite restaurant in California that I like to visit (top is Los Altos bar and grill). I am not a huge BBQ fan but this place makes me happy!Seriously recommend to anyone who is in Aptos!
We had salad and brisket, it was really delicious. The vast beer selection is awesome and they even let you try different beers. Will definitely go there again.
Great BBQ spot! It sucked that there was no dine in when we went due to covid. Food was still great eating it at a park! I wasnt really amazed with the chicken, but the ribs and were good!
The food was amazing! I had the Bleu salad and my husband had the tri tip sandwich which was so tender with the fluffy roll. The only thing we wished for is if they had fries.
Great live music. Had the ribs ...TastyDidnt care much for the beans. But I love the garlic bread! 😋
This place never disappoints. FINALLY got to try the brisket. It sells out quick, so get it early !! It was nothing short of amazing. All the produce was super crisp and fresh. The garlic bread comes with it and was cooked to perfection. I also got it with the raspberry vinatgrette dresssing. Cant wait to have this again !!
Decent bbq but they run out of a lot of things by the end of the night so make sure you get there in time. Lots of beer to choose from. Nice patio area to sit at outside. Cant wait for the inside to open and have live music again.
Their brisket is very good. If i lived closer i would come here more. For peoplw in San Jose, they are as good as South Winchester Bbq. I also loved that thet had fountain cream soda.
Wow! So heres the dilemma: do you go early, to make sure that they havent sold out of your favorite meat, or late, to catch the incredible live blues music?Insanely good brisket and pulled pork. A draft list to please the most discerning palette. Great atmosphere.I cant recommend this place for vegetarians, but the salads are outstanding if you want to mix in a little green matter with your carnivorous habits.This is worth making room for on your vacation plans, if youre enjoying some time along the coast.
Great food, great beer and always seem have live music when I visit. Love this place!
Great BBQ. Mac & Cheese is a Must try! Take the time and treat yourself.
Absolutely the best BBQ I have had in years! Live music was also great
We found this place by coincidence when we came to Aptos because of a power outage on our side of the bay. Omg, seriously the best BBQ I’ve had in Cali so far. Simple good food. I imagine the scene here when you can actually dine inside and listen to some live blues is even btr.
Food is good here but it’s all about the meat! And there’s lots of it - Not much on the vegetable side. The sauce makes it all work....Trying to add 1/2 a star here.....They have expanded their beer offerings .... so not just the food anymore 👍
BBQ & Craft Beer. When in the Santa Cruz area and in need for a BBQ, then this is your spot. 30+ craft beers on tap and live music all evening. You can enjoy your meal in and outside.
Its just another BBQ place. Similar to Winchester Street BBQ in San Jose. As a matter of fact theyre the same chain. Little bit overpriced in my opinion for the amount of food you get. But overall its a decent place to stop at to have lunch. Their backyard area sitting is actually pretty cool. Parking might be a little bit challenging on a busy day.
My new favorite barbecue place. Everything was delicious I highly recommend.
Nice outdoor eating area with wooden picnic tables. Delicious BBQ sandwiches. I enjoyed my BBQ chicken with a side of baked beans and unsweetened ice tea The bread was warm and fresh. A great place on a quiet side street that has been around a long time, for a good reason: its consistently good.
The food is still very good. Plenty of outside seating
Delicious tender meat and flavorful sauces. Add a great beer selection, quality live blues music and friendly fast service and you have a good evening out. Staff was attentive and made me feel welcome, even helped me order as a newbie there. Well worth the outing. Special combo sausage with local beer from Sante Adarius and Salchichero is a hit when it isnt sold out ...
This bbq place is amazing. Cool little spot outside of the stores along the main street in Aptos, with a lot of parking available. This place is always busy. Big list of craft beers that rotate, and live music pretty often. Their prime rib is delicious, make sure to try their special sandwich, itll fill you up and make you want to take a nap right after. Super nice staff too, if youre visiting from out of town, let them know at the counter and theyll give you great suggestions!
Absolutely delicious BBQ. The sauce was amazing. Live music was very loud and seating was tough to get. We got a table next the bar and everyone who was waiting for their takeout also stood right next to our table. Many times customers and even employees (who had to go around the customers) would bump into the table we were at. I would definitely recommend going at non peak hours.
Just by looking at the beer menu you know this will not be a stuffy place. Great beer, a live band playing the blues, and some bbq. The bbq is a bit on the bland side and could use more flavor but the ambiance of the place makes up for it. We will be back for more everything.
Had the brisket meal,Flavor was good. Meat was cold and the portions where small for the price tag.Oh well, can’t win them all.
Awsome spot for some good BBQ and good selection of Beers! Also had live music, I will be back!
If you like BBQ and Beer this is your place! The Brisket and Chicken is unbelievable!!
The first thing I noticed about this place after stepping out of the car was the thick aroma of bbq wafting through the air as I approached the entrance.Having never been here before, I decided to order the bbq pulled pork sandwhich. I was offered a large and a regular sized portion and the kind gentleman taking my order suggested that I should go with the regular.I took his advice considering he was a big guy and admitted to me that even he could not finish the large!I was not disappointed. The regular was huge! The quality and the flavor of the pulled pork were excellent. In fact, the pork had such good flavor complemented with a rich smokey flavor that bbq sauce was not even necessary, but an added bonus.My next favorite attraction to this joint is that they have live blues music every night from 6 to 8pm!The music was good, the ambience was rustic and earthy, and the bbq was superb! 5 stars for excellence!
Best place I have ever been I drive from merced to aptos just to eat here. Two thumbs up plus two big toes!!!!!
Local spot, convenient access off highway. Nice indoor ambience, staff very friendly and attentive to taking your order. The food was good and good quantity for the price, will definitely go back when I am in Aptos area.
Pretty good bbq joint in Aptos. I was looking for a curbside pick up option for my beach trip with my son and happy I found this place. I was able to order online, pull up to the spot at the sidewalk and they brought the food out - love the convenience very much.I had a regular sized beef brisket meal with a side of mac and cheese and coleslaw and garlic bread ($16) and my son had the little rib dinner with mac and cheese on the side ($9.50). He LOVED the ribs and I enjoyed the brisket. The only down side was I checked sauce on the side on my pine order but they completely forgot it so I didnt have any sauce to go withy brisket. That aside, I though lt it was overall pretty good.
We ordered 3 individual little meals, one with pulled pork, 1 with ribs and 1 with brisket all were amazing. The garlic bread is phenomenal, wasnt a big fan of the beans, didnt really like it but coleslaw was amazing.
This was fantastic Barbecue. The outdoor seating was great.
If you are in Aptos, this is definitely a place worth trying out. The food is good and service is okay. I liked their casual outdoor setup and you can smell the smoker. One less star cause they missed an item in our to-go order.
The food was tasty, great selection of craft beers, even a gourmet selection of self serve sodas is available. Good spot with workers that are interesting in keeping their customers satisfied. Dont think you will regret doing for a meal here, the length of the line to order is very telling 👌😉
Barbecue is consistently good, multiple meat choices and some interesting sandwiches. Great beer selection.
The customer service was really nice, but the food was overpriced for the portion size, and served cold. I ordered the tri-tip.
Great food, service and live music! Best brisket ever!
Food was good but portions are very small for the price. Was passing by and saw the reviews and decided to stop. Unfortunately for what we paid for it wasnt worth the stop. I wish it was. 😪
Delicious! Really yummy BBQ - got yhe garden salad with chicken, ribs, and brisket. The cornbread was really yummy too but the briskets were my favorite! The Mac and cheese was ok.Really nice outdoor seating area, and friendly service. Tons of beer on tap!
Always ready when we order, food is tasty, love this spot!
I went here with my fiance for lunch on a Thursday, we got our order within 10 minutes. We ordered the combo meal with every meat, but the chicken. 5 stars for the brisket, it was juicy and tender! Everything else was pretty dry, especially the pulled pork. For our sides we got cornbread, coleslaw, and potato salad; they were pretty bland. BBQ sauce was alright, nothing special. I did like how they offered vinegar with the bbq sauce. The outdoor seating option was a nice touch though. The only reason Id come back here would be for the brisket, and also the friendly customer service.
Best trip tip sandwich ever....! The coslaw is also very good. Simply delish!
Bbq brisket was awesome, beer was fresh and cold. Had over 15 beers on tap, plus cans in the fridge. Cornbread was sweet, but top was thrown on the bbq to charr for a bit. Different but really Good! Plus didnt have to ask for the honey, they knew to throw it in. Beautiful day on the patio, happy with hanging out for an hour with Aptos St BBQ
Was a pleasant experience and the sandwiches were delicious….
Got some delicious meat for fathers day-
Barbecue wass great, pulled pork and chicken were also nice. It was a dine-in but a little difficult to find a table for 4 at 5:30pm on a Saturday. Had to wait for 30 minutes for the food to be ready.
Had the tritip Sammy and it was delicious....the bread is amazing!
It was awesome. Love this place. Great food and beer.
Really good barbecue, brews & live blues. I love the blue pig...pulled pork w/coleslaw
Good food and service. Free blues band too
Brisket and ribs are the best. to maximize taste buds, skip the sides. they’re fine but not special. berry cobbler is yummy too, comes with ice cream
3.50 per taco? Hells yes. They were amazing!!!
Great BBQ. Beer on tap. Live music!What else do you need? 🍺
Delicious tender generous portion. Excellent selection of BBQ sauces.
Aptos St is always a solid choice. Great service, laid back vibe, decent beer selection.
This place use to be super good. garlic bread was the best now is not The same . fresh potato salad fresh real smoke meat. 2. 3 years ago the potato salad was my favor. Feel fresh real egg taste, now it taste like is from a can. meat real smoke. Crispy outside. Smoky taste . Now meat look and taste. Like a pellet grill. No crispy. Outside And a bit of smoke flavor bud no the same, just look at the big pellet grill they have out side before was the real smoker.Just like most of the restaurants, ones they get popular they look for quantity no quality. Price is a bit to height. For what you get. So I am out.
A decent joint serving passable BBQ items. Service was nice and decent safety Covid protocol but I always rank taste over others. The brisket and tritip are both rather luke warm when we got it (outdoor dining) and the texture was not too tender nor did they have much flavor. The BBQ sauce is very generic, not smoky nor spicy. Only the Hot Links are a good option. Side dishes are very small for its price and so are the half pound meats (feels like smaller than other places). Anyway, given the circumstance, a decent option, but prob not expecting a top notch BBQ
Was excited to come here but they had ran out of everything except the chicken on the bone and the pork 8:05pm on a Friday night. The pork was really dry so remember to ask for extra BBQ. The chicken was average. The garlic bread was barely toasted. They had a great order seating area that allows you to be socially distant. Staff was nice. Not sure if we came on an off day for food for them.
Three words: Brisket. Breakfast. Tacos. Great outdoor seating, Mac and cheese and potato salad are my go-to sides. Located in Aptos Village so you can walk to Cat and Cloud Coffee or a couple other good eateries/wine tasting spots to make a foodie crawl out of an morning/afternoon.
Best BBQ on the Central Coast? Yes! Great beer selection and expanded outdoor seating area. Looking forward to live blues again.
Well being raised in Santa Cruz born in Texas I still know that the brisket I was served today just wasnt right to drive no moisture to it you would like eating soft and leather terrible and then I paid pretty much $21 for a sandwich and all you can drink soda wasnt worth it
Good generous well prepared BBQ. I am, by no means, a BBQ gourmet, but I know what I like. The pulled pork is savory, especially with a little of the sauce they provide with it. Chicken, sausage, ribs, all the bases covered. Extra-hot sauce for those who roll that way. Pre-pandemic they had live no-cover blues EVERY DAY!Great for lunch, dinner, or take-home for the fam. Give em some biz along with your other local favorites so we all have places to return to when we get to whats next.
So incredible delicious BBQ, I tried the brisket BBQ and ordered another order it was so good.
Very delicious and generally quick service. Easy to order for takeout and quick pickup. A big fan of the spicy chicken and the pulled pork.
Great BBQ, finally in this area! Pulled pork and hogwash is my go to, but I havent had anything bad there. Fantastic beer selection, but the signage could be clearer regarding both the size of the beer that youre ordering, and the price. Good seating indoor and outdoor (with awnings), and some really good blues, every night! Just be wary about going during the dinner rush, especially on weekends - this place is no secret.
I celebrated my birthday earlier this evening in this great restaurant. Well we enjoyed a incredible evening and the place was no doubt one of the reasons for that outstanding gathering. The stuff participated in a very nice manner, the food was very good and my friends were so overjoyed. We shall no dout come back again for more events. thanks very much.
Brisket is really tasty and tender. The trip tip was a bit more on the chewy side but still good. Mac and Cheese is OK.
Our order of Brisket was mostly fat. Pork ribs were ok but I could have made better at home. My kids liked the mac n cheese. Garlic bread was soggy and bland.
We ordered the tri tip. It was very very smokey. Too smokey for me. Wish there was options like mayo or mustard.
The food was absolutely delicious, and the servings were more than enough. Its reasonably priced, which makes everything taste even better. I had 2 complaints: 1) the restroom was a portapotty outside and 2) the live entertainment was really loud. Of course, we were sitting right next to the performer, so that didnt help. With as popular as this place is, they need to expand and provide additional seating.
Great beer. Great food. Great live music. Did I say great craft beer selection? Hard to find small craft breweries fill their plentiful tap collection. I only wish they would throw a burger on the menu when you are just craving something cheap to go with your beer.
Recommend tri tip and pork ribs! The staff here is pretty friendly. Their online order system is convenient. There is also band live here!
Pulled pork was my favorite...the ribs had hardly any meat and what meat was there was very fatty. Garlic bread was very good. Nice service, fast to fill orders. Patio is dog friendly. Fun atmosphere. Small portion sizes with prices on the higher side.
We stumbled on this place and really glad we did. The service was friendly and helpful when ordering both did and beer (of which the selection was amazing!)The brisket was a bit tough but the pulled pork sandwiches were great. I would definitely come back to try more of their food.
Their brisket is so delicious 😋 it melts in your mouth!!
Some of the best smoked BBQ in California hands down. Also a great selection of local craft beers and a live blues band daily
Pretty good BBQ. While the food did not blow me away, they do have amazing Sausages and BBQ sauce. Would go againLive Blues music every night too is a plus! We were not there for itGreat beer selection as well.
Reliably delicious ribs and brisket. Sides are tasty too, especially the beans. Did take out and the service was good. Expect a wait on a busy Saturday night.
Four bones & 2 sides to go, today. Excellent meat as always, had to ask to receive the sides I ordered with that easy good grace, yet kids, you have to put a little something on that naked chopped cabbage to get to call it slaw. Go for the meat which is out of this world, and the sauce likewise! Excellent potato salad.
Came here for Dinner on a really busy Saturday night. Since I am not from the area, didnt realize the live band would be playing which meant people hung around and didnt free up tables. While waiting there for an hour, I took the time to drink some beers from the amazing 30 beers on tap. Delicious brews and fast service for that.Unfortunately, after waiting for an hour, it wasnt worth staying as they were out of many of the main dishes by 7 pm. So we left...want to try the food so will be back.
Been here several times. It’s really hit or miss. However several times the bbq has been dry to the point where it is hard to chew and swallow. Bbq should be moist it should never be so dry that it chokes you. Sad that this is considered good bbq in the area. California doesn’t really know what they are doing when it comes to bbq.
Id had better BBQ, but this is pretty good. The atmosphere is solid, especially if you get there when the live music is playing (6pm to 8pm nightly). There are maybe a dozen tables inside, plus tables outside, so expect a brief wait to sit during busy times. The brisket was very well seasoned, but a bit dry. It wasnt fatty, which is either great or terrible depending on your tastes. The ribs were quite good, very tender, and had a lot of meat on each bone. The beer selection is wonderful, but the prices are steep. Id much rather overpay for beer than food, but your mileage may vary.
I paid $80.00 for family BBQ rib and Chicken. The food looks really good but, i am hmong. We are taught to not eat uncook pork and chicken. If you like red on pork and chicken this is the place. Sadly, to say. I can stomach the rib or pork because they look uncook. My food was taken home and i end up getting subway on the way home to Sacramento.
I Love.... this place. Great staff and delicious bbq. My favorite; rib sandwich on garlic bread with yellow bell peppers. (Squealing pig) They keep the menu simple and focus on the quality of the food and hospitality. Live music is pretty cool if you can make it.
5 stars for the food. Ribs were tasty, moderately Smokey, and pleasantly juicy. Great beer selection as well. We were too early for the music, but I have heard good things.
Barbeque at its perfection. Aptos St. BBQ offers amazingly smokey, spicy, and hearty meals great for any occasion. Whether its a warm pulled-pork sandwich on a rainy afternoon or some satisfyingly tender brisket for a summer evening, theyve got you covered. Stop by for a rustic, homely atmosphere accompanied by live local music most days of the week. Enjoy your meal and see you there!
Amazing BBQ! We ordered family style, the boss hooked us up with more than we expected! That kind of customer service deserves return visits! Great live Blues too!
Awesome live blues in the evenings (not everyday I dont think). Love the sausage sandwich with the spicy BBQ sauce. Ribs are alright and brisket is alright. Great beers on draft. Cute decor.
The best barbecue in Santa Cruz county! (Mission St Barbecue on the west side of Santa Cruz is the same owners, so its almost as good.) Make sure you get there early or call ahead to reserve your meat, because they run out of the good stuff some days. They also have a very good variety of rotating taps. There were 37 different beers on tap last time I was there. I highly recommend the brisket and the pulled pork.
Live music was awesome. Not too loud. You can enjoy the music but still have a conversation with the table. The food is amazing. I travel the country trying out famous BBQ joints and Aptos St BBQ is as good or better than them all. The beer menu is as impressive as the food.
My wife and I were passing through on our honeymoon and we were given this as a good suggestion for some BBQ. It was awesome! The food was great, the beer selection was amazing and the live music really added to the night. I especially liked the blues that this particular gentleman was playing. I think he might play there every Thursday. I would highly recommend.
Good ribs & brisket with reasonable prices.Sides need improvement.Cole Slaw, Mac n cheese, and Beans are not good.
I may be a little to picky since I know good Texas BBQ. Its really good BBQ for the area, but not quite as moist as Id like it. Beans tasted a little odd. Nice that they offer proper greens salads, and you can ask for that as an included side dish. Live blues music could be really good or just too loud, depending on your mood. Beer selection is awesome - like 30 creative brews on tap!
The ribs were very good, with a good amount of sauce and nice and tender. The coleslaw was also very nice. The place has a nice ambiance and a good selection of beers. I wasnt a big fan of the potato salad or the bread that comes with the meals. Also the beans were a little too spicy for my kids, but my wife really liked them.
Was visiting Aptos from Oakland this week and was excited to try BBQ from this restaurant. Ordered a 3 meat meal consisting of link, chicken and pork ribs. For $30.00 I received two small ribs, a small chicken quarter and store bought sausage. Was disappointed in the quality of the food but just as importantly the quantity. Too bad since I was hoping for a good experience.
Great BBQ and live blues every day! Who could ask for more... I LOVE this place.Added 5/25/19:We REALLY like the RDog salad. Tons of different flavors and a generous portion of pulled pork on top. Wow! Our new favorite.
They ran out of brisket and chicken, so I settled for the tri-tip sandwich. It was delicious! 😋
Good. I come here for brisket fatty brisket, coleslaw beans and barbecue sauce what more. Many types of beer available and crazy but in California no Corona. Every beer is better than Corona. furthermore if you get brisket youre not going to be happy with a small order get large. Usually some crazy blues music is playing today was quiet just the raindrops on the roof.
Holy cow, their BBQ is good. We found this place by accident while on a day trip and Im glad we did. It was far from home, but I WILL be going back. We had a 5-meat combo which included brisket, pulled pork, tri tip, 2 pork ribs, and one of their special cheese and jalapeno stuffed sausages. At $32, and with plenty of food for 2, it was a hell of a deal. The ambiance of the place is top-notch. They have live blues music 7 days a week from 6-8PM. They also have a very healthy selection of beer and a nice outdoor patio.While some may say its expensive, I would argue that it really is not.In my opinion, 15-20/person is quite a deal for the care and attention that is put into their meats. If you think about it, a fast-food meal nowadays almost costs that much and it is nowhere as good as Aptos St. BBQ. Treat yourself and enjoy!
My favorite BBQ sauce, but they often run out of meat around dinner time. I highly recommend the beef brisket, everything else is pretty good though.And ~THIRTY beers on tap. Nice.
I don’t think I have ever had worse BBQ in my life. I got half rack or ribs and there was basically no meat on them, it was pure fat. I had to take them back and ask for something else. They gave me chicken instead which was not any better. It was over smoked and very mushy when chewing. Baked beans tasted like they were canned and not fresh, and cole slaw was very dry and lacking flavor. The only decent food was their garlic bread, which is the only thing I ended up having.
Tons of beer selection to wash down the succulent BBQ in a retro total man shack. Two thumbs up!
Absolutely amazing BBQ and a cool vintage atmosphere with live music, great people and tons of beer on tap. The $80 family meal came with tons of ribs, steak, half chicken, two sides and bread which was more than enough for two families of 5. Call ahead and ready in 10 minutes. Look forward to it every beach trip.
I had the special, a Gaucho sandwich. Man, it was probably one of the best sandwiches I have ever had! I wouldnt say this is a hidden gem, because it was quite busy when we went, but boy, is it warranted. Great BBQ!
Excellent food, but wait times were 2x what we were told when ordering. Pre-Covid, we enjoyed the rustic atmosphere and live music, but weve only ordered takeout in the past year+.
I been eating here before they even had their name above or the expansion...Victor is the best smoker!! The tri tip and ribs are a must have...2 places I always eat when I am in the area..that should speaks for itself!!
Bad experience. (Not busy at time of visit)Order got lost, checked after 20 minutes. No real apology. People that ordered before us left before we got our food. Once we eventually got our food, was full of fat. Visited many times before very disappointed wont be returning. Took 35 minutes to get mediocre tri tip..
Great BBQ and live music if you time it right. Ribs, brisket, pulled pork, tri-tip, lots of sides plus craft beer. Gotta love it
Potions were on the small side.I had the chicken plate flavor was good smoke was tasty not over powering.Daughter had pulled pork. Again flavor was good though a little dry.
The food is mixed, the service is lame, especially considering the price. Why is there a tip screen that suggests tips of 15-25% when you are signing your credit card charge? I went with 15% expecting some decent service (for counter order at least). However, when I got my food dropped off, the guy dropped 2 place settings even though we were a family of 4 sitting at the table. he just dropped and ran before we could even say anything nor did he say anything to us. Could it be because we ordered 2 meals - the 3 meat combo and the full rack combo? Regardless, the ribs sucked because they were not tender. My kids said my home cooked stuff was way better. The tri tip was pretty good, the chicken was decent, the spicy sausage not so good.Next time Ill go elsewhere.
Best Barbecued meat I’ve ever tasted and I’m from the south so that’s saying a lot! They smoke it fresh daily so go early or they might run out of your favorite. Huge selection of microbrews and live music in the evenings.
Fantastic smoked tritip and brisket sandwiches. Well definitely go back. Live music was nice.
BEST BBQ around! If you love a large selection of craft beers you’ll love it even more. Always seems to be a good local musician performance in the evening. Definitely eat here!
Great fun place to eat good barbecue with OK side and listen to some blues. Beer selection on tap is crazy good with well over 25 beers to choose from. It is almost always busy and finding a table can often times be very difficult. But the food in the atmosphere keeps coming back. Appreciate the new dog-friendly outdoor seating.
Months of wondering if it tastes as good as smell, we tried it. Had some trouble with doors as plate glass,heavy & not wheelchair accessible. The dishes we wanted were sold out for so long they didnt know when restocking? Nicely decorated,yet impossible for little people to reach bbq sauce,wait in line for help...found MISSION STREET, Brisket is the best,but all they have is good. Best ribs Ive had as they are well cooked,when 8n stock.
Very up and down experience for us on our visit. Definitely a good neighborhood BBQ restaurant. The tri-tip was exceptional and our sides of potato salad and beans were both good. The chicken was a bit dried out, but that was mitigated by their delicious BBQ sauce. We were there on a Friday night when there was live music. As a result, it was packed and loud, including lots of kids, and, as a result, difficult to carry-on any type of a conversation at our table. They also have this practice of walking around the room yelling out the name of the persons food order when it is ready, so there were lots of names being shouted during the time we were eating. You also have to know what you want to drink when you order your food at the counter or you have to step to a separate counter to look at the beverage menu and place your order separately. They have a small narrow outside patio out front near the quiet street. Good foot and lots of potential, but would love to tweak their operation a bit to address some of the negatives.
The brisket was moist, tasty and smokey. The pork ribs meaty and favorable. Those two meats are our favorites. Friendly staff and helpful to newcomers. As someone in our party said, This is very good food in a relaxing establishment. They arent pretentious.
Last time I ate here about a year ago they had great food and the best selection of beer in Aptos, but when I went in yesterday they were not only out of most of their food selection but only had two beer taps...that were also empty.
Just no. I dont think I have ever spent this much money on gristle and fat in a long time. The beans and coleslaw are tasteless, the meat is chewy as hell and very low quality, and the bread is boring. This was a recommendation, but Id recommend that you stay away and find some good food.The staff is great, the beer selection is nice, and the ambiance is Texas, but the food is a disaster.
Order at the counter and find a seat! Great food! Great beers! And cool music right inside! Aptos St. BBQ has figured out good BBQ without pretentious surroundings. The pulled pork is perfectly smoked and shredded--served on fresh baked artisan bread thats grilled on the inside..the extra crunch with the tender pork is genius! When youre from the SOUTH and wanting comfort food and REAL BBQ, this is the place! Double yum and two thumbs up!!
Good BBQ Ribs!! & live music!
A really good BBQ Spot I wish I could eat here everyday lol.
It was aight. Meat is good. BBQ sauce is good. Chicken is aight could use some flavor and smoke and moisture. Beans are terrible tastes like an ashtray chili. potato salad is not good needs flavor. Corn bread was bland and texture was off
They have great food, but sadly, no fries. This is very near my home and the problem with it is that the line is usually out the door. People have said its laid-back but I dont get that at all. Sometimes its hard to find a place to sit and just with people talking its hard to hear someone not to mention the music. But if you like that sort of thing its a great place to go.
Great BBQ along with an awesome selection of beer taps!!
Nice place to have a great barbeque. The range of different beer varients is amazing!
Great tritip. The other meats are about par for a good BBQ place. The problems here are in the sides. The potato salad is interesting but things like the baked beans are almost literally just baked beans with no flavor. They need to add a little pulled pork and pork fat to these things, they are among the worst Ive had at a BBQ place. Please change the recipe, the current one is nonesense.
Best bbq I have had in a long time. I ordered the bbq pork sandwich, which came on warm, soft ciabatta bread, and a side of coleslaw. When I walked in there was a live band playing. Service was welcoming and quick. Ill be visiting soon again.
Outstanding ribs and sausage sandwiches! Sides are great, too...
The food is amazing!! If you go later in the evening there is a good chance that they will be out of some stuff, but whatevers left is sure to be delicious.The beer selection is top notch too. There is something like 30 taps and they hit all the styles. If you like good beer you will find something you like. Not a whole lot going on for wine but they have the basics.If you have a chance to go when there is a band playing do it! The music is great and the musicians are friendly. Just dont plan to have a conversation; its pretty loud.
Wow. What a great place! I ate there last Friday night and the food was terrific and the music was fantastic. Al Frisby (sp?) was on stage playing New Orleans gospel blues. He was awesome. If you can, find time to eat there on a night when they have music. Also, they have a very large selection of beers on tap.
Fantastic local landmark. The food is excellent, and the beer selection is one of my favorites in the county. Never disappoints. Props to Nick for being an awesome bartender and making great recommendations. If I could give this place 6 stars I would!
Very good BBQ food. I recommend it.
The wait for the food was long and it came out a bit cold, but apart from that it tasted great. The live music was also very nice and set a warm vibe.
Awesome brisket. Great sauce. Love the potato salad. The slaw isnt my favorite but passable. Good beans. Great pulled pork. Go here - you wont be disappointed.
I fell in love with the Brisket. Brisket everything! Yes please! Berry bleu salad with brisket and raspberry vinaigrette. Breakfast tacos with brisket. Everything has been amazing here. Ive only done the pick up versions so I havent sat and ate there yet. But the pick up service has been fast and wonderful and friendly. Even during busy times. Thanks yall!
Good food.Great music.(Third time Ive been and the Blues every time were killing)Expensive for what you get.(Beer and meat)7:30pm and:Out of chicken for the night.Out of brisket for the night.Out of pork for the night.Out of beans for the night.Seemed like high-schoolers hanging out behind the counter.$9 drafts and partial menus....If you think of it as a hyper-local blues spot that you might get a decent meal and club-priced beer at, youll be great.
Accidental great find. Happened to be at the beach park not far away. Great BBQ. They have live blues 6-8 PM every night. Music was good also. Crowded but good value and taste.
The brisket sandwich is delicious as is their bbq sauce. Great selection of beers on tap too. Sides are a little meh so stick with the meats! Live blues music every evening!
The tri tip was excellent. I will definitely go back.
Best BBQ place in the Santa Cruz area. Many beers on tap compliment the ribs with meat that fall off the bone and are awesome with the spicy sauce. Not much parking, so may need to park and walk over a bit, but worth it.
Delicious generous portions. Good smoked flavor and best bbq sauces. Friendly service and great selection of meals. Highly recommended.
Nothing spectacular. The price resembles something that should be spectacular. They charge you almost $20 for a small portion of pork. I dont recommend this place. It does have a nice atmosphere so Ill give it 2 stars for that. Food is average.
On the way down to Monterey, Bay, we chanced by this bbq place and gave it a try.I ordered the ribs asked for center cut for a juicer bite. My friend had the pulled pork sandwich. There were a lot of beers on tap. Tried an IPA beer suggested by the server and liked it.Parking was not bad.
Love this place. The blues was awesome!T-Mac beef salad is outstanding!
Don’t let the pasty people’s reviews fool you. If you come from an ethnic culture that uses seasoning this place is NOT for you ! My boyfriend and I tried their pulled pork sandwich and we were thoroughly disappointed. First of all, he was raised by southerners and I was raised by immigrants, so we KNOW flavor. The “sauce” was more like a strangely smelling oily vinaigrette. It didn’t come with actual bbq sauce just that weird oily stuff. Overly priced too for the portions and the flavor. Their meat was soft but not the most flavorful. Will not be returning :)
Ok place. No seating control. 3 of us dining and I grabbed 2 separate empty 2-seater tables to put together at another place in the dining room. Portions small. Music was just raw blues any novice musician can play. A little disappointed as I have heard about this place for 5 years now, perhaps I had built it up in my mind.
BBQ was excellent.As with most smokehouse/BBQ joints the meats can get a little pricey but you get what you pay for.They also have a really decent selection of local craft beer if that’s something you’re in to.We always stop by on our way to Sante.
Was very disappointed. AM in wheelchair,very hard to enter/exit,as well as unable to reach bbq sauce. The sausages were out as was bbq beef ribs,and felt as if the DISABLED dont matter. The food wasnt good enough to complain because I wouldnt pay such prices $8 grilled cheese or childs plate,everything almost cooked,but hurried,felt like a cow myself. I certainly didnt feel welcome. Save $, Go to other bbq Mission Street on West side,their brisket and time,friendliness are worth the trip,gladly!!!
The BBQ was awesome and they have nightly blues live music. Thats about all there is to say. Its a small place and they serve what they have until it all runs out around 7p. Staff is friendly but seemingly mostly high schoolers who are trying hard but inexperienced. Like most BBQ places the menu is limited and the kids menu even more so. If your kids live on fries and some form of chicken nuggets theyre not getting either here. All that said, its well worth it for legit killer BBQ.
A wonderful staple near Santa Cruz. My family and I make it a point to stop here every time were nearby: whether that is after a trip to the boardwalk or a trip fruit picking. The meat is usually top notch though we have gotten dry meat before. We consider the main event to be ribs, but that will vary according to taste. It can get busy during holidays, once over labor day they also ran out of meat, but I consider that to be a plus, not a minus. The potato salad is also quite good and the corn bread is quite buttery and pan finished.
Great beer selection, live music 6-8pm every night, the coleslaw is great, not too sweet, minced so it has a nice bite as well as the flavor. Definitely recommend getting a garlic bread and making your own sandwich with the pulled pork.
Great BBQ selection. I liked chicken and pulled pork the most. They have so many beers on tap. We didn’t try any, but other people seemed to enjoy it.
The sandwich was a bit dry and the potato salad was to vinigary! Also pricey for the quantity of food you receive.
$19 for a large sandwich was the biggest joke. I will never come back. Id give them 1 star but what little I did get for my money was edible.
Nice atmosphere, cool memorabilia. Good Blues music ( The Next Blues Band). I did want something warm to drink, but no hit drink options...
The tri-tip was superb. Definitely going to be back. Make sure to get the potato salad side. Definitely the best one they have!
OMG just the BEST EVER3-9 2018 We ordered our food to go. The pulled pork sandwiches are so good. OMG you have to try, so tender and juicy, soft bread. I had the potato salad, so yummy and my friend had their beans so tasty. My favorite place. AND they have LIVE BLUES MUSIC. So awesome.
Food was pretty good. But for $20 2 meat plate for lunch...I left starving. Add a slice of cheese between two pieces of bread for a grilled cheese...abd it was $30. Not from the area...abd Ill assume everything overpriced compared to what Im used to. regardless...i had to go to Safeway for finish my lunch. Beer selection looked pretty good on the wall, but was with son and on the go so didnt sample. But I go to bbq for meat, not beer.
Excellent barbeque. Delicious sides. Extensive crafts beers to choose from. Live blues 6 to 8 every night. Love coming here. Dog friendly outside seating
Delicious Texas and Carolina style bbq. Loved the live band. Wish inside was bigger or more bigger tables were available. Staff was friendly to accommodate and provide water cups, onions and boxes upon request !
Amazing and authenticate BBQ. Dont miss the ribs - meaty and moist, with just the right amount of sauce. Try the spicy or the original sauce on the side. If you arent feeling like meat, their salads are gourmet, so theres something for everyone.
Super good BBQ, beer and music. My favorite is the bbq chicken sandwich with a few pieces of bell pepper. Not sure why, but the pepper makes the sandwich come alive.Great live music, great beer selection and location. The menu gets lean as the night progress some order early or come early for the largest selection.
Great Bbq and plenty of it. Indoor and outdoor seating and not all on street. Easy outdoor dining with a dog. Friendly staff and fast service
Some of the best bbq in the area. If you enjoy North Carolina pull pork bbq this is the place to go. However their ribs are aquas well. On the day that I was there they also had a live band which was nice but a little loud if you are with a group and trying to chat while eating. They have a nice outdoor eating area. The dining area is small so but it appears tables turn over fast.
4.5 (199 comments)
Review №1
2022-07-05Decent BBQ. Was pleasantly surprised with how good the BBQ was. Friendly staff and great atmosphere. Will definitely be back after a day at the Seacliff State Beach. The Berry cobbler was delicious. Im going to get one to go next time!
Review №2
2022-02-25When an owner puts their ❤️ and soul into a restaurant it shows. Aptos St. BBQ is exceptional barbecue, that is inspired by different culinary regions. Bringing together the best from California to the Carolinas. They only use premium cuts of meat, seasoned with a rub and smoked with oak wood for hours. Then the meat is cooked the old school method of low and slow. Everything I ate was flavorful, tender and delicious. Aptos St. BBQ has a variety of local beers on tap. Its not a great date spot, since theres nothing to do besides have dinner. A few patio games would remedy that issue and the customers would stay longer. I would recommend the live music be perform in the Santana Square. The music was outstanding, but a little too loud in the small space. IG: SACRAMENTOHONEY
Review №3
2021-11-21DELICIOUS! We love BBQ and this place did not disappoint. The meat was so tender and favorfull and there are lots of options to make even my picky eaters happy. This place is allergy friendly and safe for anyone with celiacs.We had the ranging bull sandwich and the pulled pork sandwich. Both were so good and instead of your regular bun the sandwich is made with garlic bread! We got their bread pudding for dessert and it was HUGE. Definitely enough to share. We will be back.
Review №4
2021-08-28Wow! This place is so busy but for good reason. Their food is hands down AMAZING! I tried their Gaucho sandwich (brisket, provolone cheese, and chimichurri sauce). The brisket is so tender and very flavorful and juicy. They have a variety of craft beers as well as craft sodas. I will say that the diet soda was nasty (though it may have just been out of syrup) The regular soda, vanilla cream soda were both delicious though. The service is fairly quick for as busy as they are. We came during the lunch rush on Saturday and the wait was less than 10 minutes. Very impressed by this place and can’t wait to come back for more. They do offer indoor and outdoor seating. Parking may be slightly limited though.
Review №5
2022-04-24Good BBQ. Brisket portion size could of been better for the price.Ribs and BBQ sauce were good, granted I prefer dry BBQ.Salad was actually one of the better things we had.
Review №6
2022-04-13Friendly and comfortable environment,Amazing food!!!Great place for families, friends, birthdays, dates.Live blues music was authentic, calming and great sounding.
Review №7
2021-08-29Very pleased with this find. Took a little bit to get our food (Saturday night), but it was well worth the wait and the text-notification system pairs well with their fast-casual model. The garlic bread buns were a unique twist, and the meat was delicious. Highly recommend!
Review №8
2022-02-20I had the Berry Bleu salad with spicy BBQ chicken and it was the best salad I’ve had at a restaurant in years. Super tasty, chicken was tender, BBQ had a nice kick but not powerful, and the place seemed super clean. My husband ordered the The Gaucho sandwich and he raved about the brisket being very tasty. We will definitely be back to try more options. 👍🏻
Review №9
2022-04-25Super disappointed was going off reviews and the food doesnt match. Super undercooked, no flavor, and overpriced. Got 3 meat combo ribs, tri tip, and brisket. Also 2 meat combo tri tip, brisket the one good thing was the blues music.. idk why try and put up bbq face picture on the wall and the kids looked clean was my first sign of basic food... also got some mac and cheese but seems like they forgot the cheese. Cornbread had no flavor. Maybe went at the wrong time all kids in the kitchen.
Review №10
2022-01-27Phenomenal little spot for the tastiest bbq you could hope for. Do yourself a favor and get the tri-tip, ribs, and brisket- they’re all to die for. The entertainment is top notch as well. Hands down will return over and over again.