Sonney’s BBQ Shack Bar & Grill
787 Emerald Bay Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 96150
Sonney’s BBQ Shack Bar & Grill Menu
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Diabetics at Jason's Deli
Diabetics must not get carried away at Jason's Deli as there are several tempting items on their menu to easily spike your blood sugar. You can try the salads at Jason Deli's or start your meal with hot soup to ensure that you don't stuff too much while at Jason's Deli. You can also pick the right kind of sandwiches to complete your meal.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for Diabetics:
You must skip all kinds of sandwiches, wraps, and paninis at Jason's Deli for their high sodium content. Even among the salads, avoid the regular ones such as Chicken Club Salad, The Big Chef, Mesa Chicken Salad and go for the lighter versions. In addition, it is also recommended to avoid desserts totally while dining at Jason's Deli.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Jason's Deli:
Breakfast Sammy
Nutritional Facts: 250 calories, 12g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 3g), 370mg sodium, 23g carbs, 3g sugar, 0g fiber, 12g Protein
Chicken Club Salad (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 540 calories, 44g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 8g), 900mg sodium, 11g carbs, 3g sugar, 3g fiber, 24g Protein
Mesa Chicken Salad (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 460 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 5g), 850mg sodium, 26g carbs, 4g sugar, 7g fiber, 22g Protein
Spinach Veggie Wrap
Nutritional Facts: 350 calories, 14g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 830mg sodium, 51g carbs, 5g sugar, 12g fiber, 16g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Black Currant Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Organic Green Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Unsweetened Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in South Lake Tahoe for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at Jason's Deli
Blood pressure patients mustn't indulge in sandwiches offered on Jason Deli's menu. Most sandwiches, whether Muffalettas or Po'boys, are high in sodium and could easily spike your blood pressure. Be careful while you order at Jason's Deli and opt for healthy food options such as salads, soups, or soups to ease your cravings.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for High Blood Pressure
Sandwiches must be avoided at all costs at Jason's Deli as they are loaded with sodium. You must also skip the paninis and wraps if possible and stick to healthy salads and soups while dining at Jason's Deli. Skip adding any kinds of salad dressing, extra cheese, croutons, etc. in your order to limit your sodium intake for the day.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Jason's Deli
Banana Nut Muffin
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 170mg sodium, 25g carbs, 14g sugar, 1g fiber, 5g Protein
A bowl of Fresh Fruits
Nutritional Facts: 390 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 6g), 45mg sodium, 23g carbs, 62g sugar, 9g fiber, 6g Protein
Pollo Mexicano (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 800 calories, 22g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 12g), 550mg sodium, 121g carbs, 14g sugar, 11g fiber, 30g Protein
Gluten Free Snickerdoodle Cookie
Nutritional Facts: 210 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 150mg sodium, 34g carbs, 17g sugar, 0g fiber, 1g Protein
Wild Berry Hibiscus Tea with Pure Cane Sugar
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 26g carbs, 26g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Black Currant Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Organic Green Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Unsweetened Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in South Lake Tahoe for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Jason's Deli
If you are concerned about your cholesterol, then you got to be very cautious at Jason's Deli. Most sandwiches available on Jason's Deli's menu are high in cholesterol and sodium content. You must choose wisely and opt for salads or soups to please your appetite.
Foods to Avoid at Jason's Deli for High Cholesterol
Avoiding foods at Jason's Deli can be trickier if you are a foodie. It is recommended to skip the heavy sandwiches which are both high in cholesterol and sodium at Jason's Deli. You must also avoid paninis and wraps at Jason Deli's or order the lighter version to reduce your calorie intake.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Jason's Deli
Blueberry Muffin
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 180mg sodium, 34g carbs, 19g sugar, 1g fiber, 3g Protein
Nutty Mixed Up Salad (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 430 calories, 21g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 4g), 810mg sodium, 41g carbs, 33g sugar, 3g fiber, 21g Protein
Texas Style Spud (Lighter)
Nutritional Facts: 830 calories, 22g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 11g), 740mg sodium, 139g carbs, 27g sugar, 14g fiber, 29g Protein
Jason's Deli Bottled Ginger Ale
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 36g carbs, 36g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Black Currant Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Organic Green Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Fresh-Brewed Unsweetened Tea.
Nutritional Facts: 0calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 0mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in South Lake Tahoe for healthy meals suggestion.
Q & A on Jason's Deli
When did Jason's Deli open?
First Jason's Deli was started on 30th November 1976 at Beaumont, Texas, United States.
Where's the nearby Jason's Deli?
There are around 275 delis in 28 states of the United States. You can locate a nearby Jason's Deli by using our Restaurant Listings Directory.
When does Jason's Deli open and close?
Jason's Deli opens early in the morning daily at 6 AM and closes at 6 PM on weekdays and 3 PM on weekends.
Does Jason's Deli have a drive through?
Yes, Jason's Deli has a drive-through. Besides the drive-thru, Jason's Deli also set up Jason's Express especially for on-the-go families to make things faster. Drive-thru and take-out options help individuals and families to order and pick their meal quickly while on a busy schedule.
Does Jason's Deli serve gluten-free items on the menu?
Jason's Deli isn't entirely a gluten-free environment, but it does offer a gluten-sensitive menu. You can order food from the gluten-sensitive menu to ensure your food is gluten-free.
Does Jason's Deli serve vegan items on the menu?
Yes, they do. The vegan options are limited at Jason's Deli. You can try the organic vegetable soup, spinach veggie wraps w/o cheese, hummus, salsa, guacamole, and many other options from the salad menu.
Does Jason's Deli Cater?
Yes, it does. You can use Jason's Deli's catering service to serve hot and fresh foods to your guests. Whether you want to feed 5 or 5000, Jason's Deli's experienced team can handle your catering order and ensure timely delivery.
What's on Jason's Deli breakfast menu?
Jason's Deli serves a variety of different items on their breakfast menu. You can try the breakfast sandwiches or wraps prepared with fresh-cracked eggs. You can pick up breakfast as early as 6 AM at any Jason's Deli nearby.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Jason's Deli
Jason's Deli is a popular bakery restaurant in the United States. Jason's Deli started its operation in Beaumont, Texas on 30th November 1976. The bakery restaurant was started by four partners: Joe Tortorice Jr., Rusty Coco, Pete Verde, and Pat Broussard. Currently, the delicatessen restaurant chain operates in more than 268 locations across 26 states in the United States. Jason's Deli is one of the most successful restaurant chains with under 300 locations.
Deli Management Inc. owns Jason's Deli along with several other deli restaurants in the United States. Jason's Deli is famous for its standard deli style menu where the customers can order from traditional sandwiches to salads, baked potatoes, and pasta. After initiating a health drive in 2000, Jason's Deli successfully eliminated added trans-fat from its food in 2005, later got rid of high fructose syrup in 2008, and finally removed MSG from its food. Today, Jason's Deli offers a wide range of food items including vegan and gluten-free dishes.
Healthy Food Options at Jason's Deli
Jason's Deli offers a standard deli style menu which consists of traditional sandwiches, soups, pasta, baked potatoes, wraps, and salads. If you choose wisely and skip the extra sides or dressings as you order at Jason's Deli, you can find a good variety of healthy food options at Jason's Deli.
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Address :
787 Emerald Bay Rd
South Lake Tahoe, CA, 96150 - Phone (530) 541-7427
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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David W.
Two words: Eat. Here. Had an AWESOME brisket sandwich. The lady had a Pig Hater Burger. Both were top notch. Don't question yourself, just go here!
(5)Matt S.
This restaurant has really good BBQ, a friendly staff, and a cool atmosphere. The owner personally greeted each table and gave us a $5 token for our next visit. The only reason I gave this 4 stars is because they were out of both chicken and Mac and cheese on a Saturday at 8:45pm when they're open until 12am. Also, my brisket was served medium cold but the BBQ sauce and flavors were there. The garlic mashed potatoes and cheesy grits were different than what I've normally had but they were done really well and were very tasty. I would definitely recommend this place for an earlier dinner so they don't run out of any menu items.
(4)Katie B.
Great bbq. Great service. The beef brisket was perfect and the sides were excellent.
(5)Ryan B.
I was hyped up to visit this place, and was left feeling a little bummed. The food was tasty, but the service kind of sucked. Maybe it was the slow winter, and the fact that some rare snowfall was coming through the Lake area, but they ran out of several menu items (including their go-to brisket!). Plus, I kept getting refills for my coke at the bar - not a sign of great service.
(3)Amber M.
This place sucks! Beef ribs tough as nails. Fries cold . Beef Brisket sucks tough and no flavor. 2pm on a Sunday? ??? $80 total rip.
(1)Sean B.
Best BbQ in S Lake Tahoe! Great Ribs, Brisket, great sports bar! Awesome. Great addition to Tahoe!
(5)Helen C.
Waited 20 minutes for menus, asked 3 waiters/ waitresses if we can order. Everyone who came in after us had menus, drinks and appetizers... our table, nothing!
(2)Patrick R.
Sonny's is one of the best BBQ joints I have been to. The chicken and fries were awesome, Service was great and the staff super friendly. I will definitely be returning!
(5)Melissa P.
Went here for dinner for the first time and the service was great. As soon as we walked in, the hostess greeted us right away with a huge smile on her face. This place has a dining area and 2 bars. One indoor and one outdoor which I thought was pretty cool. Atmosphere is fun. We got greeted by our server Mark in no time. He helped my boyfriend pick out the Pulled Pork sandwich with a side of potatoe salad and I ordered the third rack of ribs which comes with corn bread and your choice of 2 sides. I got the garlic mashed potatoes and coleslaw. Everything was amazing! I was jealous of my boyfriends sandwich. That thing was perfect! But my ribs were up there also. Cooked perfectly and their sauce was very tasty. The sides were good as well. I think the cornbread could have been a little better. It came cold and crumbly. Taste was good but I'm sure it would have been better warm. Overall, the food was great and everyone that worked there were all very friendly. They all had smiles on their faces and were very attentive to everyone there. I would definitely come back next time I'm in Tahoe!
(5)Debbie H.
I rarely leave bad reviews, but I had to in this case. Upon arriving, we were told by the hostess that there was a 10 minute wait for 2 people. While waiting, we saw numerous empty tables both in the restaurant and at the bar. We asked the hostess if we could sit at the bar and was told that we had to wait to even be sat there. After being sat, our server never arrived. We ended up leaving without ever seeing him/her or eating.
(1)Terran B.
YUMMMMM! The food at Sonney's was oh-so-good. I had the pulled pork sandwich with garlic mashed potatoes. I couldn't finish it all but, believe me, I tried. Vanessa was our waitress and she was fantastic! I asked about the corn chowder and Vanessa offered me a small tasting portion before I ordered - I wish more places did that. We were a party of six and Sonney's was perfect. Everyone had a dish they enjoyed! I will definitely be back the next time I visit Lake Tahoe.
(5)Robin K.
One of the best burgers and fries i ever had. Hamburger was sooooo juicy and fries were so crisp! No need to say more! One bite and i was SOLD! such friendly service too !! I would def come back for nxt trip to tahoe!
(5)Sean P.
Ribs were okay, not great, did not seem very fresh. 5 cheese mac and cheese was excellent as were the sweet potato fries.
(3)Emiliano D.
Ouch! Sadly i must confess the food is NOT bad, but not great either...the 1 star is due to the fact that the owner is a major issue. He hovers around the tables, which at first I thought was to make sure all was okay with the employees/customers. However, then (as i was waiting for the bathroom) I noticed him getting angry at a customer with a large group. He was ranting/raving at a employees too, about giving too much food to customers and "letting kids have ribs, insted of kid burgers." He looked frightening. I was actually scared of this guys temper. I will never return. Yikes...hed make a great bouncer!
(1)India B.
We loved everything about this place - the food, the atmosphere of the outdoor area and the fun variety of music. We were starving after a morning at Fallen Leaf Lake and decided to stop here for lunch before heading home to the Bay Area. One person in our party ordered the pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries, another ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with a salad and I had the pulled chicken sandwich with garlic mashed potatoes. The other chicken sandwich was accidentally switched for a pork sandwich, but my friend isn't too picky and we were hungry, so she ate it anyway - and loved it. The garlic mashed potatoes were yummy, mashed chunkier rather than completely smooth (how I prefer my mashed potatoes) and stayed hot for my entire meal. My one complaint is that I wanted a larger portion since they were so yummy! The salad was a large portion, so my friend didn't feel like she was sacrificing by ordering a salad, and the sweet potato fries came in a huge portion (which my friend and I helped her devour) and were delicious. We ended up getting a free beer with our other beers since the bartender accidentally poured one-too-many and our server was seriously the most chipper, happy and helpful server I've experienced in a long time. She was awesome and I wish I could remember her name. All three of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals and the experience. We plan to stop by the next time we're staying at the cabin!
(5)Renee A.
Horrible for groups and a horrible experience with the owner!!! Wow, that was an experience. The owner (Sonney) is beyond rude and awful to his clients and staff. I have been to Sonney's several times in the past and liked it so I decided to book in advance a party for 40 people after a hockey tournament. (20 adults and 20 kids) They told us we needed to do a buffet so we chose items for the buffet in advance (we agreed on ribs, brisket, pulled pork sliders, and a hamburger station...plus 4 sides...since I had no idea what my guests would eat) They charged $18 per kid and $35 per adult. (NOT INCLUDING TAX AND TIP) For some reason Sonney decided that all of the children were supposed to have hamburgers (I NEVER told him this and if I had I would not have agreed to the $18 per kid since the kids burger on the menu is only $10!!...not the $18 he charged us) and he was very angry when only eight kids ordered them and other kids had ribs. He came to the dining room and started yelling at me in front of all of our guests about the kids eating ribs which were $24 a rack (including 3 sides on the menu and keep in mind he was charging us $35 a person for a NON ALL YOU CAN EAT buffet) truthfully with the 40 people that we had including the children our total if all of us ordered a rack of ribs and all of the side dishes.....would've been $960....soda would have been maybe an extra $50. We ended up spending over $1300 there just on food and soda....and on an extremely off time of the day 4-6 pm on a Sunday (they asked us to come at a slow time so we did not hurt their regular business and I happily understood and obliged). When I looked at the adult plates they had one...maybe two ribs on their plates at the most...if any and it was not like we were eating a ton of ribs in the first place. I have never had an owner of a company come out and fight with me in front of all of the people that were eating with us it was extremely upsetting and I had to hold back every tear. I was very shaken up and many of our guests were talking about it and shocked that I would be treated so horribly. It was so upsetting to have the owner of the restaurant come and fight with me for NO REASON instead of thank me for my business. It was such an awful experience I couldn't tell you. The waitstaff tried to overcompensate for his horrible demeanor but it just didn't help. The employees were wonderful but they could not make up for their very rude and unappreciative business owner. I guarantee that if we ordered all a la cart instead of a buffet the bill would've been much less and I would not have been railed by the owner. We paid another hundred and $150 separately just for beer too so we spent over $1500 on a Sunday at the slowest time of the day..... WITH NO THANK YOU. I should have come hope thinking about what it wonderful experience it was at the restaurant instead of crying so much over how horrible and frustrated that I felt. The kicker was that our waitress came out to us with the subtotal that Sunny had made for us he had under charged us $400 so I told her that it was not the right amount because I knew that gratuity and taxes were not included in the price that they had originally had given me. I should've let him give us the food for the price that he sent her out with but I was honest and I told what our deal was. He hid in the back of the restaurant for the rest of the time and never came out to apologize or to talk to me to try to smooth things over. I know he will not read this review because he is most likely bull headed and will not take a true review from a customer. He will justify everything in his head somehow and will most likely not grow from this. It is truly a bummer that someone with such skill in the kitchen has such a bad skill with his clients. I know this review will fall on deaf ears and I am posting this for no reason....but I just need to get my feelings out. I have been a huge client of theirs and eaten here many times. One of the waitresses (Ali who is wonderful) knows us and can vouch for what loyal clients we were up until this horrid event.
(1)Matt H.
Awesome BBQ restaurant! The owners did a great job remodeling the place with more work on the outside portion coming soon! The staff is very nice and very attentive! The food is great! The real deal as far as BBQ goes! They need to make more of the bread pudding as they were out both times we ate there this week! Really happy to have Sonny's on our list of favorites!
(5)Kay K.
Great service, St Louis ribs fell of the bone. BBQ Beans and corn bread DELICIOUS! Found another favorite spot in Tahoe!
(5)Timothy F.
Really great food and service. Beer was like warm. Sweet potato fries had an odd consistency. But the BBQ is top notch! Well worth the money
(4)Steve R.
Best baby back ribs in this part of the world. Sides were excellent also. Service was great. Everyone in our party felt the same about their meals also. Good atmosphere. We will be back. If you are in Southlake Tahoe and into BBQ you have to check this place out.
(5)Mike T.
Not familiar with the area we thought we'd give this place a try. Checked yelp and they had mixed reviews but was craving BBQ. Walked in with a party of 11 and they were very accommodating. The food was great...pulled pork nachos were awesome. Brisket and ribs were great too. The wait staff was awesome and very helpful. It's not cheap, but good BBQ never is. You pay for what you get. We'll definitely return next time we're in Tahoe.
(5)Wana O.
The food is 5 stars for sure ~ Hands down! Service was lacking! A party of 6 and a high chair arrived 5 minutes after Us got seated before My party of 3 after 20 minutes of waiting we ended up sitting in the same size table next to them - which were both empty when We arrived after a 3 1/2 hour drive - Every part of our 2 1/2 hour visit was A Huge wait - waited for my sons pull pork to come that came maybe 5 minutes later ( which is a long time if you've already received your food b4 him) by the way We all had the pulled pork that was out of this world !! then we had to wait for napkins and utensils - which should of been on our table before hand - it it's a "Bbq" joint! The wait kept on & on & on & on till we stood up cause we couldn't wait any longer just to pay our bill -I knew they were struggling 3 people just called in ! but as a paying customer just getting off the road at 2pm on a Saturday - they should of closed off portions of that establishment and seated accordingly! At the same time letting everyone know that walked through the front door it's guna be a looooong wait - We will go back! And pray for better service - we ordered onion rings- macaroni balls- pull pork sandwiches with fries and Everything was off the hook - good luck!!
(5)Asher M.
Now, let me start by explaining that I'm not a huge fan of barbecue joints... And yet I can easily share that Sonney's has own me over. My family and I ventured over to that area around Memorial Day weekend when we wanted to try a new place. This place took over for Rockwater Pub and the Tahoe community is lucky to have such a great family-friendly and upbeat barbecue place. We tried the beef ribs, shredded pork sandwich, macaroni and cheese, and the incredibly fresh chicken strips (appetizer) and we were so impressed. My husband was early quiet which is a good sign that he is satisfied with his food and after eating my food and literally licking the plate too, I can strongly recommend this restaurant to others now. I don't think you can go wrong ordering anything from this place as I saw all different meals going out and lots of happy customers. Oh, and to make things that much better, Sonney himself was walking around chatting with tables and dancing in the bar to the live cover band. He seemed genuinely interested in how we liked our food and where we had travelled from. It was all around a great experience and if you make it over to that part of Tahoe, I highly suggest stopping in and filling your belly with some good 'ole fashioned barbecue food!
(5)Jamie W.
This place used to be one of our favorite places to eat.Close to home and consistent.The last five times we went here it was not good.Over or under cooked burgers with the wrong items on them.I sent a couple of burgers back the other day and the replacement had burnt buns.Plus,I'm pretty sure they changed the burger meat the flavor isn't there anymore.Disappointing
(1)Traci V.
I was visiting Tahoe with a few friends a week ago. We drove past Sonneys several times, so we decided to try it. One of my friends is gluten-free and the other is vegetarian. Sonneys was able to provide a meal for all of us! Their BBQ sauce is gluten-free! Besides the delicious food, the atmosphere and people were amazing! Welcoming right when we walked in the door. Our waitress, Molly, killed it! She not only got us our food and drinks quickly, but we had fun conversations with her. The owner was there also and he chatted us up for a bit too! It was a real treat to hear and see his commitment to this place. Thank you to everyone at Sonneys! When I visit I will for sure come back! Food recommendation: Their chili verde and corn chowder soups!!! Try them, you will love 'em!
(5)P M.
Truly mediocre! A) my Brisket was delivered cold-- was sent back to be reheated...and came back thoroughly dried out. B) I asked for a Side of Barbecue sauce. Which was brought right out of the refrigerator!! ICE COLD!!! C) My wife had to literally use knife and fork on her spare ribs in order to cut the meat from the bone!! This place is way over-priced---especially considering the substandard quality of the food. I did return with friends to give it a second chance. We all had a similar experience to my first visit.
(1)Tobi K.
The food was great, the service was just poor and unresponsive. Not a place to go if you value your time or looking for your P's and Q's. We walked in around 2pm and waited a few minutes before we were even greeted it seated -- that should have been a clear warning sign at first. After being seated in the bar area, it was almost 10 minutes before the server even came to our table. No introduction, no name, no smile. Drinks took a while to come and so did food. My biggest gripe was how long it took to get our check after we were completely done (at least 10 minutes) and take our check from the table (another 8 minutes) with no apologies and no polite thank yous or goodbyes from the waitstaff. I don't feel like my time was respected, and even though the barbeque was pretty good, we won't come back or recommend.
(2)Honor B.
Phenomenal! Our server April was great, the service and food were outstanding. I got the brisket sandwich with a side of roasted garlic mashed potatoes and they were absolutely delicious! My boyfriend got the pulled pork sandwich with a side of BBQ baked beans and he said it was one the best BBQ dishes he's ever had. We both split a side of sweet potato fries and they were also great. We'll definitely be coming back!
(5)Raven B.
I am not sure how to explain my feelings for this place. I was here for my cousin's wedding, and the first impression I got of the place pre-wedding was how rude and inconsiderate they were being. The staff setting up last minute, being completely unprepared, having an attitude, and giving everybody mean looks to the point where the bride didn't want to get ready there anymore and left. I felt so terrible because nobody should be dealing with that kind of nonsense on their big day. During the wedding, I had a good experience with the staff. They cleaned up my plate quickly, made sure we always had water available, and the bartender even gave me a free drink! The food was alright. They were all in chafing dishes, but the flames weren't on so the food wasn't even close to warm. The brisket was okay with their BBQ sauce, but it was a bit dry. Their chicken was dry as well. The cornbread was not appealing or tasty. They were flat, the edges were burned, and it was too sweet. Also, the bathrooms, well lack of bathrooms SUCKED. There is one women's restroom, and one men's restroom. Whether you're doing events or not, why would a huge restaurant just have one bathroom for each gender? Especially for us women?During the wedding, they were still open to the public (WHY?!! WHY?!!?!) which made the potty situation suck even more. IMHO, they should've rented a few port-a-potties. In the end, I had a great time seeing my family and that's all that matters. But would I come back? Naaah. Sometimes you just need to roll with the punches, and of course write a yelp review after :)
(1)Kristin H.
The service was A+ yet the food was a C. A lot of potential, but it seems like instead of any actual chefs being back there, they have a few cooks. No knock on cooks, but the finesse and finishing touches weren't there. The macaroni balls could be awesome, but the macaroni is cold and the cheese isn't melted when you open them. The pulled pork was tender, but the sandwich was cold. The bread was good as well as the coleslaw, but again, newbie errors in presentation and final product. Hope this place's trajectory is upward because they have a great start, but do yourself and your serving staff a favor and hire a chef to critique and overview the product.
(3)Barry A.
Great food and hardworking staff but the owner (Sonney) needs to be kept in back and should not be permitted to have any interaction with customers. ------ We've had two cringe-worthy experiences with Sonney that patrons and investors should be aware of - especially since we've heard from others - including hardworking employees - that our experiences are in no way unique. Event #1 We had a group event and spent over $1,400 on a slow Sunday night (actually a later afternoon when very few patrons were in the restaurant). Sonney spent more than 15 minutes attacking the event coordinator who willingly brought more than 40 people to his restaurant during a slow time.. This despite the fact that the event details and premium pricing were worked out well in advance. Event #2 We showed up for lunch with 6 guests in total and the restaurant was about 3/5ths full and there were empty tables but they had not yet been cleared. The staff was working hard to service existing customer but Sonney (who was sitting at the bar looking thru his mail / doing bills) just sat there and wouldn't acknowledge patrons despite looking up multiple times. After about 10 minutes he begrudgingly got off his barstool and told us that the wait would be another 15-20 minutes or so because they were short staffed and tables would need to be cleared before folks could be seated. Any successful business owner would recognize that getting off their duff and stepping in to help their staff (and customers) once in a while should be ingrained behavior. The reality is that you are going to have a lot less money to sit there and count in the future if you continue to treat your customers (and employees) like 2nd class citizens.
(1)Greg L.
went to order brisket sandwiches with my family today we have been here before, we are locals, and have ordered the brisket sandwich. but what we ordered earlier today was confusing?! usually they have the brisket shredded up on the sandwich this time it was sliced and just wasn't the same. we shouldn't have tipped and it was way more expensive than we thought, the kitchen needs to get their act together. maybe the owner should start cooking?
(1)Matt S.
I don't know why, but after a long day of hiking, nothing sounds better than a rack of beef ribs. It's tough finding places that serve beef bbq ribs these days, so when we found out Sonney's offered them, we jumped at the chance to give them a try. We ordered four beef ribs and it came with several sides (corn bread, fries, side salad). I definitely wouldn't come here for the sides. The corn bread was just alright and the salad dressing was a bit bland. But oh, did I become speechless when I saw those beautiful beef ribs. Sonney's BBQ does not skimp out on the meat like some other places that can serve beef ribs. The ribs were coated with their special sauce, that had a mild kick of spiciness. It definitely hit the spot. Our server was very attentive and checked up on us frequently to ensure our experience at Sonney's was fantastic. The warm towels at the end of the meal to wipe our hands was a nice touch. Overall, great experience and next time I'm up in Tahoe I would come back to Sonneys
(4)Mike B.
I come in here on occasion, as I live nearby. To start, the burgers are some of the best in town! If not the best? Seriously good stuff there. Also a nod of approval to the waitstaff, Ashley and Autumn wait on me regularly, as I've come to know them, and the daytime guy from Ohio holds excellent conversion! The downside? Inconsistency. I'm a bit of a nacho connoisseur, and thought the BBQ Nachos were spot on the first time I had them. I've had them a couple more times, and they've been markedly worse off. Dried up pulled pork, sloppy ratios, etc. The first menu item I ever ordered here was the brisket platter. It was plain bad. All in all, not a bad stop in, but nothing to go out of your way for.
(3)Samantha F.
Came to Sonny's with my family. It started off rocky - had three different staff tell me "just a minute" as i stood at the front door waiting to get sat. We were able to get sat within 10mins. Ordered right away and had our food in a good amount of time. Husband had a Brisket platter and I had a salad. Kid had Mac n cheese. Food was hot and tasty. We were charged for three full sodas, not sure if the kid was supposed to be cheaper but the drink came in a smaller cup so I thought it should be less. It seemed to me the restaurant was a little short staffed
(4)Lina G.
We came here at about 4pm on a Thursday. We were greeted, seated and watered within the first 5 minutes. The staff was super personable and the food and drinks were excellent. Try the brisket and the cornbread with melted butter. To. Die for. 2 BBQ combos, a kids dinner, a soda, milk and 2 drinks from the bar cost us $75 before tip.
(5)Aaron G.
Great food! HORRIBLE SERVICE!!!!! Be prepared for an hour plus before you get food 15+ min to order. Half our table finished their meal before we got ours. Just ask for a pitch of your drink cause you may not get a refill. After the bummer of a meal. We were all full. Instead of offering to comp a single meal or appetizer. She offered dessert. (That was nice of her). But sorry. If your Resturant if 1/3 or less full. There is no excuse. This was the third try. The first we walked out after being seated while waiting to order. The next was no rush. So good luck
(2)Blair A.
Great vibe. Very cool relaxing outdoor covered patio with an outstanding selection of blues playing on the radio. Standard beer prices, $6 Stella Draft. Grassy lawn with tables too. Several decent flat screens, not huge with different games. Our server has good energy. First hiccup: No BBQ chicken left at 7pm - that'll cost you. Order came out just in time, about 9 minutes. Pork ribs crispy but tender n juicy. But only two small ones. Great but I need one more. Corn, hint of pepper, not crisp not soggy. Decent. I got my mojo working on radio!! Beef rib is flavorful, tender - a solid offering. Brisket is very good. Salty, tangy, moist smokey. Garlic mash is good. BBQ beans have a good firmness but cooked, very good aftertaste. My wife is engrossed in a conversation between two drunks at the bar philosophizing about how we should all live together. Kind of adds to the experience. Uh oh, now it's aliens and nuclear utilities. Something about how can they love us if they don't love themselves. His friend finally left. Just him and the blues now. Perfect. The beef rib was good but got cold fast- maybe heat the plates n cover. The brisket really was very good. Corn bread had a jalapeño kick, my wife liked it. Nice hot towels. Didn't clear table at ALL - this is a BIG pet peeve ESPECIALLY when waiters leave the table empty handed - WHY, Why, why?? But did deliver friendly prompt service otherwise. Atmosphere 4 stars nearly 4.5 Food 3.5 stars Service 3.75 stars. Portions 3.5 stars Prices 3.5 stars reasonable. Par for course but no deal. I'll be back. Honestly, the music, patio and atmosphere carry the heavy load, food was solid, service about average.
(3)Grigory S.
Slow service! We got seated, waitress came over and we ordered drinks. After that the waitress disappeared for 15 minutes! After that she brought drinks and we finally could order food. The food came over after 45 min! The restaurant wasn't even full...
(1)Violet V.
I was in Tahoe for a week on a family vacation. We decided to have lunch here after reading some good reviews. We were definitely not let down! The food was so delicious! We ordered the pulled pork sandwich, ribs, and the fried pickles as an appetizer. Everything exceeded my expectations!
(5)Rod K.
The inside reminds me of Hooters although it is not "that" kind of place. It's casual and has a fun environment and a nice outdoor seating area. Funny, as soon as we sat down, Shannon spotted the Sriracha on a shelf behind the bar under the TV and behind the Tabasco. It's always a good sign for Shannon if restaurant have Sriracha on hand. Sonney's was okay. I think they were understaffed for lunch yesterday because we felt a little neglected but I'm sure they were doing the best they could. The food was okay too... The baby back ribs were not fall-off-the-bone, but they were good and they had a little kick to them which was probably the sauce. (Keep in mind that if I was a Spice Girl, I would be Sissy Spice. LOL.) I got the half rack with fries and that was plenty for me. The French Fries were good, but were nothing special. (i.e. not seasoned, not truffle, not fresh cut, etc.) Shannon had the Chile Verde Soup and thought it was way too fatty. (The soup is where he used his Sriracha. GROSS!) The kids (3 & 5yo) had the mac & cheese, but they didn't like it at all. And they are going to grow up to become mac & cheese pasta noodles, so they are like mac & cheese connoisseurs. Thumbs up for Sonney's!
(3)Krishnan S.
Burnt Ribs and substituted burnt hawaiian bread for corn bread without asking us! A horrible, over-hyped restaurant with poor food. I hope their Management take notice of this. Stay away from this place, it is just a pretender.
(1)Alexia G.
Ate here on a Sunday evening and it was busy but our food still came at a good time. For appetizers we got the potato skins and bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers which were both so so so delicious!!! Couldn't have asked for anything better. For entree we got the original ribs with Mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and that sweet corn bread it comes with. The ribs were amazing and definitely recommend them, but the Mac and cheese lacked flavor. The mashed potatoes were also kind of bland, but they were still ok. The bread was just dry and nothing great. We also ordered the original bbq pulled pork sandwich which looked delicious, but we had eaten way too much by the time we got to that so we had to box that along with half of the other food!
(4)Benjamin G.
Long wait... but the food is well worth it. This used to be Murphy's Irish Pub before it was Sonney's, and I have to say Sonney's is a much better restaurant. Huge portions of food and the meat is barbecued to perfection. The sides are not your standard sides, most have a little twist to them like the grits and the mac'n cheese. If you're looking to get some appetizers, you have to try the deep fried mac'n cheese balls. The service may be a little slow, but the food more than makes up for it...
(4)Marc C.
We're from LA area visiting Tahoe for the week. Sonnys got good reviews so we stopped in. The spicy corn chowder was good but not famous good as the menu reads, oh and it came room temperature, bummer. I was hoping for local micro beers but most was commercial bottled types. Baby back ribs were good, spicy and the sauce is delicious, even got a bottle to go. WARNING, stay clear of Alley the waitress, she's got lots of attitude, if you ask too many questions or ask for things not standard welcome to hell. This edit is for you Alley (waitress). Loved the food so much, despite my initial review above, so I took the family. Alley acknowledged my review (awkward), but was extra helpful this time. Pulled pork sandwich was the best we've ever had, no kidding! Loved the key lime pie and brisket sandwich, hats off to the chef and thanks for the redemption Alley.
(4)Sarah R.
After my TERRIBLE burger experience in Bishop, I was on a "Mission from God" to have a decent burger. We ended up in South Lake for work on February 11 and needed a place for lunch. The burger joint originally recommended to us was inexplicably closed on a Tuesday but we stumbled over this gem on Emerald Bay Rd. First, the interior is gorgeous and the hostess was super friendly! Second, the place smells amazing! You get the bbq smell without the overwhelming smell of smoke that after awhile turns my stomach. Third, the burger, OMG the burger! I had the classic cheeseburger on their menu. It has ground pork belly in it. The patty was thick and juicy and perfectly cooked. It was topped with fresh leafed artisan greens and your choice of cheese. The bun was perfect. I ate all of it, I can't remember the last time I cleaned my entire plate at a restaurant. Lots of side choices, included for the $12.50 price tag, and I had the home made potato salad. It's a big bowl of deliciousness and happiness. The rest of our party were equally as impressed with their choices. From the large slices of bacon to the perfect french fries to the warm towels they provide at the end of your meal, I could not find fault in anything they did. This experience completely dispelled the response I received from the similar place in Bishop. Sonney's is doing it right, providing amazing food, at appropriate prices, in a resort community. It's really really good! I want to come back when I can enjoy an adult beverage with my meal. Maybe I can talk the hubby into a drive today....
(5)Liz M.
Boyfriend wanted bbq for dinner and since I don't eat bbq much, I decided I'd eat here since it would make him happy and I'm happy I did! I was pleasantly surprised. Got seated and got our drinks pretty quick. I really wanted to try their fried mac n cheese but they were out :( a little disappointed so I tried the fried pickles..I ate them because I didn't want to waste them but they weren't that special. For dinner I got the grilled portabella burger with no cheese and added avocado with a side of potato salad (it's the kind with relish so it wasn't my fave but it was still good). I loved my burger tho I recommend to any vegetarians out there who might get dragged here with a meat eater friend/SO and want more than a salad lol Bf got the beef brisket with sides of mashed potatoes and Mac n cheese. His was so freaking good I highly recommend the beef brisket! It was so tender. His sides were also really yummy. Service was good & so was the atmosphere. I'd definitely come back for the beef brisket for myself and to try those fried Mac n cheese balls!
(4)Michelle E.
I have never received better service in my entire life. Sonney even came to our table and chatted with us for a while and greeted the birthday girl with a birthday cake shot and some chili verde and chips (wish were deliiiiicious). Our server, Travis, was also super fantastic and friendly. Both Sonney and Travis had great humor and just made our night! Now for the food. Oh. My. God. Best ribs I have ever had. Ever. The flavor is infused right down to the bone. The meat is juicy. It is just pure perfection. And my husband and I consider ourselves a little bit of rib fanatics. They were honestly the best. We will come here every time we visit Tahoe. Even if the service was crappy (but again, it's not) we'd still come back. The ribs and sides were yummy goodness. Everyone at our table agreed and enjoyed their food as well.
(5)Paul W.
I really liked this place. Party of three tried it mostly due to the reviews here plus the proximity to Camp Richardson, where we were staying, and we weren't disappointed! One of my party is a Louisiana native and she remarked how the taste took her straight back home. To save ourselves a little funding, we ordered a full rack of St. Louis ribs to split between us and it was plenty...I had to struggle to eat the last rib. Sides of mac & cheese and slaw were equally tasty, the grits "kicked A" according to the girlfriend (who is EXTREMELY picky about how her grits are made) and service was extremely attentive and friendly. Only downside is the parking lot is small, and if there is no space, there's really nowhere else around to leave your car. Fortunately for us, we chose a weekday to dine there, but driving by on a weekend evening, we could see the parking lot was already packed...so best get there before the dinner rush.
(5)Drew R.
This place is amazing! Best part is, it was a completely fortuitous adventure to another location that brought me in the door. So yay me! I had the pulled pork sandwich (I don't remember exactly what it was called in the menu, but look for the one described with BBQ smoked pulled pork). The sandwich was nothing short of spectacular! Hand shredded to the perfect texture, great mouth feel, good sauce not too sweet, and it had just that perfect hint of smoke to it; not at all overbearing. It bears mentioning that I am not a big fan of coleslaw, which comes on the sandwich, and I even loved their slaw, it is a perfect compliment upon it. The fries were equally outstanding! Perfect blend of crunch without being overly cooked with that succulent center, and expertly seasoned. All of this served in a very charming and Lake Tahoe Esque setting that was down to earth and comfortable. The staff was incredibly gracious, polite, and attentive. They even brought out hot towels as we concluded our meal. When in South Lake you've got to go here and get on some BBQ; I know I'll be back for sure. Heck, if I'd wanted to find something to complain about here, I honestly couldn't do it.
(5)nick H.
I've been here a few times over this summer and every time I'm come in the staff has been very friendly and helpful. The St. Louis style ribs are to die for! Brisket is pretty good, they have some good beers on tap and a full bar. I can't wait to pick up some more ribs on the next trip up to the lake. I suggest you do the same!
(5)Sarah L.
The best bbq we have ever had. Staff was friendly and fun as well. Delicious! We will be back soon! Great for a large group too!
(5)Jennifer A.
We walked in around 9pm on a Wednesday (our first night in Tahoe and after being on the road all day to get there in serious need of some food). We were greeted by a hostess who told us "ya take any table over there" pointing to the dining area. We sat ourselves. As soon as we sat down a man (who I assume was the Owner) and who was VERY intoxicated came by our table with a drink in his hand and said "Oh uh you all better be ready to order immediately because my kitchen closes in 27 minutes". The absolute MOST rude encounter I have had a dining establishment. With my kids at the table I simply said "yes we are" over what I would have liked to said to him. The waiter finally made his way to take our order. When he returned with the drinks, we quickly found out that all the soda he delivered to the table was flat and tasted horrible. We asked for different drinks, they brought out more flat soda. We finally asked for just water as our kids were tired and we really wanted to eat and get to bed. The waters they delivered to the table, this is our 4th go-round with drinks at this point, two of the cups were DIRTY inside and my water had half a napkin floating in the bottom of the glass. Needless to say we skipped drinks all together for the duration of the meal. The service was horrible, the intoxicated owner who was so abrasive the second we sat down and the mediocre overpriced food are all appalling to the point that I can say we will not frequent this restaurant again. I have never found a bad place to eat in Tahoe, this sadly is in that category.
(1)Dmitry K.
BBQ in Tahoe?! Yes, please! I'm always looking for new restaurants to eat at on my summer vacations to Tahoe. This time my family and I were in the mood for some good old fashion BBQ. Sonney's (rated #1 BBQ by a Tahoe Magazine/Newspaper) was definitely #1 in my book. If you're looking for good BBQ in Tahoe, this is the place to be. We ordered the 2 Beef Ribs and Brisket meal with mashed potatoes and salad. The Beef Ribs melted off the bone. It was spicy and delicious. I drenched my brisket in the steak/BBQ sauce - so good! I assume most people come here for the meat, but the surprise winner for me was the Corn Chowder Soup. It was the best thing I have eaten in a long long time. It was sweet, spicy, creamy and full of flavor. I ate an entire bowl of this high caloric punch and that was good enough for me to leave the place feeling satisfied. The portions are HUGE, so if you're looking not to get stuffed, make sure to take it to go or share the meal. The Chicken Salad also looks really good along with their other varieties of meats. The waitress brought our food quickly and was very nice accommodating. There is indoor and outdoor seating, so make sure to request outdoor seating (if available) on the nice summer days. Definitely would like to come back and stuff my face with some good BBQ when I'm back here.
(4)Wing L.
BBQ Brisket sandwich - AMAZING!! Yelped and found this place after an afternoon of ATV fun on the Rubicon Trail. We were hungry and wanted some good food. Service was great here and the waitress/server came back to check on us every once in a while to make sure we got everything we needed. Plenty of options on the menu to cater to everyone's tastes. The food came out fast too! Would definitely come back here!
(5)Yukon C.
A solid four stars for food. Two stars for service. This was our second time here in a week. The meats are great and we have tried both the baby back and St. Louis spare ribs along with the brisket and pulled pork. They have one type of sauce that has a little kick to it. If you are sensitive to spicy foods, you had better pass, but we thought it had a nice kick to it without overpowering the flavor of the meat. There seem to be some issues with their ordering system. Both times we have been here it seems the servers have come back to our table to apologize for the long wait. Both times they brought us some complimentary corn bread which was a nice touch. Our server tonight was just plain disorganized. My wife asked for a refill on her water about six times and finally got her refill when the server finally came to check how our food tasted. This is only one example. We were constantly asking for the same thing over and over again. One thing that seems strange with this place is the sauce. Not only do they only have the spicy sauce, but they only serve it to you in 2 tablespoon increments. The server forgot to bring sauce at first and when she finally brought it, she only gave the four of us two small 2 tablespoon plastic containers. If you really like sauce, you need to ask them to bring you lots! Our previous visit there was similar, except we were given sauce with our meals. Overall a good place to eat. The food is worth the wait. And they need to work on consistent service.
(4)Kristy M.
Service could use some help and food was ok especially for the price you pay. Chicken was bland and side dishes didn't taste very good. However the hostess was super nice and I liked the setting and the environment. But don't plan on coming back.
(2)Brenda M.
Stopped in for dinner (twice now) based on reviews found on Yelp & having driven by it several times. Atmosphere is fun - both the indoor bar & the patio bar area. The Brisket Sandwich melts in your mouth & the bbq sauce adds greatness to it! Sweet potato fries were perfect and just the right amount of seasoning. Husband had the St Louis Spare Ribs & he said they were extremely tender & falling off the bones. Make sure you leave room for their unconventional Bread Pudding - I'm not a fan of the standard form of this dessert but their version should be called Sin Cinnamon Caramel Cake! It's wonderful!! We'll be back during every visit to Tahoe!
(5)Matthew N.
This place is amazing!! Saint Louis style ribs are the way to go! My family and I are in tahoe for labor day weekend, super busy everywhere you go but this place had waiters running to tables to keep up with everybody. Our waiter was really nice and attentive even with a packed house. We have been going to fancy restaurants for the past 2 days and I can say this BBQ place was the best meal and customer service of the trip.
(5)Nick G.
Great new BBQ spot in South Lake Tahoe. Awesome outdoor patio where patrons can play cornhole and hang out in the gazebo. Say hi to Sonny behind the outdoor bar and try the pulled pork sandwich and the collared greens.
(5)Cindy F.
We arrived at 10 pm and waited to be seated. A waitress came out to greet to us and informed is that the kitchen was closed. We called before arriving to check if we needed a reservation and a man informed us that they were not busy and we could come in. I guess not. It's too bad. We were really looking forward to trying this place. I didn't know restaurants close 2 hours early in Tahoe, now I do.
(1)William M.
This still fairly new barbecue place was very pleasant surprise! I did not expect that the quantity and quality of the food as well as the friendliness and efficiency of service would be as great as it was. We were seated for lunch right away at comfortable inside tables and promptly served our beverages. The food was served quickly and immediately I noticed that the portions were really generous and filled up a large plate with ribs, beans, cornbread and cole slaw. The kids mac & cheese was the good stuff an adult would also like, not the standard microwave style in most kids meals. The potato skins were big and had plenty of potato left in them plus lots of hot melted fresh cheese. A great bbq place overall; you better be hungry or you'll be bringing a lot home with you.
(4)Dave H.
WOW, I must say that everything was great! The food; we had the wings, brisket sandwich with potato salad, and a pulled pork sandwich, awesome. The Vinaigrette dressing, bbq sauce, spicy ranch were all topnotch. The service was amazing Jason thanks for the Ice cold beers. *****
(5)James B.
Good ribs and chicken, they put a spin on their sides, which have spun out of control. The sweet beans, garlic potatoes and flavorless pasta salad and mac n cheese were not so good. Get your sides somewhere else.
(3)Sheridan H.
Horrible!! We showed up and placed a takeout order, an hour later we were served our withered fries, cold food, and kids meal that was 1 tiny chicken strip and tiny cob of corn. Awful, the food was cold, bland, and needed a ton of sauce to add any flavor. Never going back. Pure amateurs there.
(1)Marko D.
I really think you can't go wrong with this place. The staff is friendly, welcoming, professional, and knowledgeable -- from the hostess to the server. Our server Travis went above and beyond. The pulled pork sandwich was finger-licking awesomeness. The half BBQ chicken was smoked to perfection and then glazed with just the right amount of BBQ sauce. The sided were also scrumptious. As a true testament to the quality of the establishment, we went there twice during our five-day stay at Tahoe.
(5)Tina C.
We had our daughters wedding dinner and it was fantastic! Every thing from the service to the food! We had a group of at least 40 and had the best experience. The staff were friendly and courteous! The owner was very friendly and checked on us to make sure that we were being treated well. Everyone came away full and satisfied! Thank you all!
(5)Wendy G.
Haven't grits this good since New Orleans! BBQ is succulent, flavorful & has a pleasant zing! Brent is a phenomenal waiter!!!! Made the experience even more authentic!
(5)Michael A.
Sonney's was phenomenal! Outstanding food and outstanding service! Can't beat it! I had the baby back ribs with sides of grits and collard greens, and they were all delicious. The ribs were so flavorful and tasty that I didn't need to add any BBQ sauce. That's how you know meat is prepared well -- if you don't need to add sauce. They were so good that I went back the next day, had the ribs again was received the same great food and service. As for the service, Travis served me the first night. He was super nice and friendly, and acted like he had worked there for years. He later told me that he has only been working there for a few days, which surprised me because he knew the menu well and was such a great waiter. Kyle served me the next day and was also very friendly and attentive. Thumbs up to the owner for selecting such great employees! Also, a big plus for their lovely outdoor picnic area, and for being so dog friendly. Thanks for two great meals!
(5)Stephanie W.
Extraordinarily friendly! Quaint and casual with a variety of blues playing in the background. Spacious and rustic. Indoor and outdoor seating. Mouthwatering baby back ribs almost literally melt with every chomp or delicate chew! Tantalizing meal that lifts you from Earth into the heavens. You must stop by when you visit South Lake Tahoe! Jessica was a fabulous server!
(5)Brian G.
Great for kids and families! Pulled pork sandwich and the brisket salad were incredible!
(5)Katie R.
By far the most disappointing dining experience in Tahoe yet, unfortunately. I really was excited to try dinner here & in all honesty the food was just okay. The service was absolutely horrible! We were in the bartender's area & had many servers walking past our table constantly. We asked for steak knives repeatedly, nobody ever brought one until we were almost finished with our meal...the busboy brought us ONE knife for a table of three. We all just ate our brisket with our fingers since we wanted to eat a hot meal. The servers never refilled our drinks (iced teas, water, ketal one & soda) or even asked us if we wanted another round. When it was time to pay the bill we had to go to the bar & ask him for it. We over heard him ask his other tables how their meals were but never once asked us about ours! I think he knew he gave us crap service & just didn't care! Very expensive & frustrating dinner.
(1)Andrew W.
Holy crap, how does this place have 4 stars? Maybe they were having a particularly difficult day service-wise when my party ate there, but that's no excuse - consistency is a responsibility of any business. Pros: food was decent. The burgers were acceptable and the sides were actually quite good - I liked my BBQ beans with chunks of pork in it, and most of my friends also liked their meals. Cons: it was probably close to 2 hours from the time we walked into this joint and the time we actually got our food. We were seriously considering leaving at one point, but didn't want to go to the trouble of finding a new place for dinner. It was pretty damn hard to flag down a waiter, and once we finally did and asked him if he could take our order immediately because we had already been seated for 30 minutes without anyone attending to us, he stared at us and snapped, "Yeah fine after I put these drinks down." Okay, of course we can wait until you put those drinks down first, but we've also been waiting here for a ridiculous amount of time without any service. Thankfully the IRS recently cracked down on automatic gratuities, because the menu, which probably hasn't been updated for a while, still said that a 20% gratuity would be added to parties of 6 or more. I can't believe that a year ago this restaurant was stiffing large parties with a 20% gratuity for such garbage-tier service.
(1)Larry C.
BBQ sauce too spicy. Wife hardly touched her food as a result. Meat was good, ribs were a touch oversmoked. Chicken slightly dry. I'd expect higher quality for the price. Service middling, food came out in three different times for my table of 7. Wouldn't bother with again for the money.
(3)Mike B.
Good dinner option, not the cheapest by any means but you're not in Texas either. Had a brisket sandwich, nice cuts with hardly any fat or gristle. The sauce was great, little bit of heat and kick to make it interesting. Ok sides as well, the beans were good but the slaw seemed bulk order. Good cornbread. Overall worthy of four stars, not sure if the one and two-star reviews, primarily based on service, went during busier times. We went on a weeknight and were served quickly by friendly staff.
(4)Gary H.
Went to Sonney's based on the reviews from Yelp and most opinions are spot on. It is a friendly place with indoor, outdoor and open to the outdoors bar area. We sat in the outdoor section which has several picnic tables with benches overlooking their large lawn area. Arrived at 5:00pm ish and there was plenty of seating available but it does fill up fast. The waiter was at our table quite quickly with a smile on his face and a sense of humor. Ordered our drinks first, with several beers on tap to choose from and an fairly decent wine selection. Guinness and a Sierra Nevada for the Mrs., the boys bellied to their usual root beers. We opted out of the appetizers, which there were plenty to choose from and the fried pickles would have been my first choice. Pricing was fairly decent, though on the higher end with ribs costing almost $20 for a half rack and two sides. I understand how food prices have gone up and BBQ, good BBQ takes time to cook so this was expected. We ordered a decent variety of foods to enjoy, BBQ chicken sandwich, 1/3 rack of St. Louis ribs and a combo plate of pork ribs and brisket. Our sides were varied as well with BBQ baked beans, cole slaw, home fries, baked potato, garlic mashed potatoes, and salads. The big wins here were the BBQ ribs, all St.Louis cut, were simply perfect! Smokey, tender, juicy with a real nice dry rub ( sauce comes on the side). The BBQ chicken sandwich was moist and tender, packed with great flavor. A quick notes on the sides: BBQ baked beans, cole slaw, home fries and garlic mashed potatoes were just euphoric, with the mashed potatoes taking first place. Loved the fresh garlic and red potato combination! We did get a good side of jalapeño cornbread with honey butter that I felt was to dry but still really good with the jalapeño sneaking through with every bite. During our meal the Owner Sonney was making the rounds and he took a moment to chat with us. He is very friendly and genuinely cares if you are happy. I was disappointed in the brisket though but only slightly. It was just too dry when served. I know it didn't come out of the smoker that way but by the time it was plated and served it was dry but still packed a ton of smokey goodness in every bite. My brisket was easy to pull apart (a good sign), with a perfect smoke ring and the BBQ sauce was delicious tanginess that rivaled many I have tasted. We could eat everything served and have some great leftovers for later. Our waiter brought over some carry out boxes, cup, and containers to take everything home. Service was great at first but they struggled to keep up with the business once it got busy. Dinner for four with drinks set me back $100.00. I would give them a 4.5 for the slow service but they get a 5 for the great atmosphere and amazing food!
(5)Susan D.
Bar not consistent. When Peter is there, the drinks are great and so is his service. The bar girl needs help! Food is good and consistent.
(3)charla k.
To start with the bartender was very friendly but, Ordered a gin martini on the rocks and for some reason he poured olive juice in it. Did not order a dirty martini Mary was our server and she was extremely friendly. The food however was only so so. The ribs were only OK. Nothing special. The baked potato on a fairly slow Friday night at 6:00 was undercooked and the corn on the cob was mushy. The three stars were for the service or I would have only gave two for the food
(3)Andy E.
Great food, but WAY too expensive. This is definitely a tourist restaurant. Locals...not so much.
(2)Matt R.
After reading all the great reviews, my wife and I were excited to try Sonney's last night for dinner while vacationing at Lake Tahoe! The restaurant was not even half full, yet we waited close to 20 minutes for a table. The hostess that originally took our name forgot about us, but luckily after she slipped out to take a break another hostess pleasantly greeted us, and we were seated promptly. We waited 40-45 minutes for our food which was rather shocking considering both of our meals were pretty simple for a BBQ joint. I ordered a chopped pork sandwich and garlic roasted potatoes, and my wife ordered the brisket sandwich and potato salad. Overall, the food was good (3.5/5), but we were disappointed with the service. It took at least 15 minutes to get a refill.
(3)Barry O.
Good BBQ. Really enjoyed the St Louis ribs. Big portions, the platters are definitely for sharing. Fries were very good, had corn on the cob as the other side, which was disappointing. Bit of a wait for a table as they seemed understaffed, but the staff were attentive and friendly.
(4)Rosie L.
I heard it was good BBQ, Maybe a bad night. Pork sandwich I ordered " togo " Not enough BBQ sauce and a tiny bit of coleslaw that I knew was suppose to on the sandwich. Nothing much
(2)Kristen K.
We came in for a football game and had no idea how great this place would be. Service: amazing, our waitress was attentive, funny and prompt even though we had a large group. Food: even more amazing. Between our group we had spare ribs, BBQ chicken, burgers with pulled pork added on them and a ton of the sides. All of it were great, the BBQ sauce is delicious. We will be returning here again!
(5)Pam H.
Second time here, and it's a hit the second time around as well!! I had the Pig Hater burger and it was really quite awesome!
(5)Lu Lu S.
This place is the bomb! We loved everything we ordered here and we ordered a lot for a group of 4 adults and 1 child. Beef Brisket - the meat pretty much fell apart, it was so flavorful and the highlight of the meal; although the other items was good as well. St. Louis Ribs/half chicken combo - it was good; The chicken was tender and flavorful and the ribs were fine but not one of our favorites from our meal. Nacho Grande- I know what your thinking, why would you order that there, well it was delicious and I'm glad we did. It had the works on it plus pulled pork which was great! Deep Fried Mac N Cheese - Yummy and filling. I liked how they used panko bread crumbs it was soo crispy Sides: Collard Greens, grits, Cole slaw and roasted garlic mashed potatoes - we enjoyed all of them but our least fav was the grits. The little one ordered from the Jr. Menu and he ordered the chicken strip (notice no ssss - it only came with one strip) but it was good as well because they used the panko bread crumbs, once again it was a fried crispy goodness! We go to Tahoe at least twice a year and this will definitely be in our rotation of places to eat! We did go to a late lunch/early dinner so it wasn't a bad wait (20 minutes); however, the night before we did attempt to go here for dinner but it was an hour wait for a party of 6 people so we bounced and went to burger lounge - down the street.
(5)Juan K.
We showed up on a Saturday on what was their busiest night ever. One by one, every item we chose had run out. They were gracious and apologetic and that could've been the end of the story. But the person tending our table, named KP didn't leave us with a bad experience. He and the rest of the staff were so friendly and the proposed we give it one more shot the next day. We made a reservation and the took our order ticket and saved it. We walked in the next day and they were ready for us. Our table was set and the food started flowing. The service was fantastic, the beef ribs tender and generous. The finale was complementary bread pudding at the end. This could be a case study on how to turn a potentially bad experience into a lovely one. Management and staff are all to be commended. If BBQ is your thing, or even if it isn't, I would recommend paying Sonney's a visit. Skip lunch so you can enjoy everything, and leave room for the bread pudding. And one last thing, have a designated driver, not so you can drink but so you can walk back to your hotel and work off the generous portions.
(5)Vieneese K.
OMG where do I start? This place is amazing! The food is absolutely delicious. I'm definitely coming here again next time I'm in town! The owner even kept coming to our table to chit chat. Really great customer service to say the least. I had a Brisket sandwich that changed my life, the collard greens are to die for and I'm still trying to figure how they got the ribs so tender!You would be a fool not to come here! It's a must!
(5)Jessica R.
Quick takeaway: I would say food here is pretty good but service is definitely lacking and needs improvement. Read on for explanation. Went on a Friday night and it wasn't too busy or so it seemed as we were seated fairly quickly from the time we walked in. We were seated in the bar area which was ok except for I would have preferred a regular table with more comfortable chairs instead of the high stools with virtually no back we had. It took a while for a waitress to come to our table for our drink order even though the bartender/waiter checked on every other table around us. Even after we got our drinks, it took another long wait before she came back to take our dinner order. And again the bartender/waiter checked on every table around us but our waitress was nowhere in sight! As I said before it didn't seem too busy, yet it took forever to get our dinner which was just two sandwiches. The pulled pork sandwich was very delicious as were the fries on the side; I would give this 4.5 stars out of five. My friend ordered the brisket sandwich and enjoyed that but her mashed potatoes were cold. We had finished our meal and guess who finally came back to our table? The waitress! She was going to bring refills for our drinks which hadn't been refilled at all during the ENTIRE meal even though my glass was empty before my food even came out but then she decided to bring drinks to the people who had just sat down! One last thing, prices on the menu posted in the pictures on here are out of date. They raised the prices on most of the combo meals.
(2)Susanne L.
Great food but I was a bit shocked at how pricy the food was and how small the portions. $22 for a beef brisket dinner on a small plate. $8 for a tiny slice of pie. Wine was high price for a half glass. So as much as I liked the food, I felt a bit gyped.
(3)Christina B.
Enjoyed the BBQ here! The brisket melted in my mouth, and didn't even need a knife to cut it! It was so tender and flavorful! We also had the pork ribs and the pulled pork sandwich. We ordered everything dry, and dipped the BBQ in their sauce. We were quite impressed with the quality and flavor. I also absolutely LOVED their collard greens, delicious!
(5)Jereme D.
Food is amazing! Lots of Beers to choose from. Good service. Of corse this is an "off season" review. All Places in Tahoe are slammed During peek season. (So people that happened to get bad service during peek season, shit happens in the restaurant biz) Had the opportunity to meet Sonney! (Cool Dude) try the pulled pork nachos! I stop in every time in Tahoe!
(5)Shira M.
Had dinner last night. Still love the Mac n cheese balls! Golden on the outside and ooey gooey on the inside! Cole slaw was so good. Ribs were really tender. Hubby loved the tri-tip sandwich. Wish they offered 2 sauces, sweet & spicy. Their sauce is pretty spicy. My chicken was a little dry. Besides that it was all good!
(4)Nancy M.
Best bbq place ever had the Louisiana spare ribs !! Perfect meat fell off the bone perfectly .. Loved it !!!!
(5)Peter M.
Very good!!! If u appreciate BBQ u will love this place. The ribs are delicious. Cold beers on tap!!
(5)Pete S.
Do yourself a favor and try Sonney's BBQ! We have our usual spots for dinner when we are in Tahoe but we wanted to try a new place. After checking out some reviews, we decided to give Sonney's a try. We were not disappointed. The beef brisket was amazing. Everything was fresh and tasted great. The owner came by to thank us for coming in and joked with us a bit. Really nice guy and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Thank you Sonney! We will be back!
(4)Joy R.
Since I moved to California in 2008, one of the very few things I've missed about Georgia was good, authentic, tongue-slap-yo-eyeballs Southern-style BBQ. I stopped at Sonney's BBQ Shack when taking a visiting friend from Alabama on a Tahoe tour, and I can finally say that my quest for true BBQ has ended here. The pulled pork sandwich was the moist, smokey deliciousness I have only been able to get on the West Coast by smoking my own at home, and the sauce is tangy (but not too much vinegar) and just spicy enough not to burn a tender tongue like me. The cole slaw was also creamy and tasty -- and I seldom like any restaurant-made slaw. My Southern friend wholeheartedly agreed with my assessment. When I told the waitress how thrilled I was to finally find REAL BBQ in California, she brought us a sample dish of the chef's cheese grits, further cementing my love for the place. These were no cheap instant grits, but the kind that have to cook for hours, with creamy cheeseyness, and a dash of jalapeño for the perfect kick. The prices are a bit high for my tight budget ($13 for a pulled-pork sandwich and yummy sweet-potato fries), but the sandwich is so big that two can split it and still walk away happy. I was also happy to note that Sonney's is dog friendly as well, with water dishes scattered throughout the nicely-shaded outdoor dining area. Overall, you can color me happy!
(5)Garry H.
After just getting into town we wanted to try a new place and heard this place was good. Overall he place was clean with a good menu selection on bbq. I ended up ordering the pulled chicken sandwich with collard greens which i inhaled pretty quickly. Wasn't too salty had a lot of smoky flavor in the meat. I would definitely come backs again to try their other selections! The only thing that I can could have complained was that it took a while for us to get our food. Granted we came towards the end of the night but there was not a lot of customers left in the restaurant (about 25% capacity) and for the time we waited it seemed like a full house.
(3)Rachel F.
Don't eat here ribs and bbq sucked. Meat was dry and obviously a day old. $25 a plate for old meat. No thanks. Don't spend your money here. I'm only giving one star because that is the lowest I can give. Only positive side was sever was helpful.
(1)Grimace ..
I was really excited for BBQ in town, and I've been here 6 times now and the food just does not justify the service. It's really polar opposites based on where you sit, and not in a great way. If you sit in the dining room my experience is that the staff is over bearing and checks in on you every 2 minutes in some form or another. Hard to get a bite in. If you sit in the bar you are basically invisible. Last night was the final straw. Waited 20 mins to find out our food was 'not entered correctly', then another 15 mins for the food. Meanwhile, all of the other tables either got their food before us (one table that sat 10 minutes after us was finished before we received ours), walked out, or were waiting 30 mins for their check. Then the kicker was that a couple came in wearing plain clothes and started cleaning the area up and checking up on the place. However, we were still invisible (thanks for busing those tables with nobody waiting). I couldn't even get a refill on my drink. Total lack of management of any sort. I'll make the drive to Walker for BBQ from now on.
(2)Nati M.
My boyfriend and I loved this place so much we came in twice in one weekend during our vacation here. My absolute favorite dish is the "shack fries" which is french fries with brisket and cheese sauce on top. It reminded me of Unami Burger's fries but a million times better. It was such a huge portion my boyfriend had to finish the rest off. My boyfriend had the pulled chicken, which he claimed "was the shit" in a good way. He hails from the South so he kind of knows a thing or two about BBQ and since moving to California it has been so hard to find a good bbq joint. The spicy mac and cheese was exceptional as well. The second time I got the ribs and brisket. The ribs were so yummy, and they fell off the bone and the brisket was just as good. The sauce however, for my tastes had a tiny kick to it but I love meat so I ate it anyways. My sides were collard greens and bbq beans. The collard greens were perfect, they did not have a sour taste like some collard greens do. The BBQ beans were very, very hearty. They could have been their own meal. My boyfriend had the pull pork sandwich and he almost died in the chair when he tried it because it was so good. The hostess was really nice, and our waiter was extremely nice. Too bad this place is far from LA otherwise we would go here often.
(5)jennifer s.
I was looking forward to some Bbq! But, was less than impressed with Sonnys. Atmosphere was good - the owner did a good job making over the old Irish pub that used to be here. However, service was slow and disorganized. My husband and I ordered a platter and were shocked by how small it was. Food was ok, but not great and I probably won't be going back soon. Hope they can pull it around. It would be nice to have a good local bbq joint in town.
(2)Pattie B.
Went in for lunch at 1:45. We were seated right away, but sat for 15 minutes before we were waited on for our drinks and food. Didn't get our drinks (ice tea and water) for 30 minutes after that, and our food 30 minutes later. Food was just so so. Big disappointment.
(2)Scott R.
Good ribs, brisket and burgers. Sides are also good though the corn bread is a bit spicy. Parking is a little tight. The restaurant is a noisy bar with little room between tables. Service is friendly and good for a casual rib place.
(4)Margaret W.
My husband is very picky about BBQ. He is giving 5 stars for brisket sandwich and potato salad. I had the beans which were in an incredible sauce! We chuckled over the servers tshirt and wished we could have purchased one.
(5)Joe S.
Awesome BBQ and great waiter service from Brent. Ordered the combo with Ribs and Brisket. Both cooked perfectly and the BBQ sauce had a nice little kick to it. Great selection of sides too, had the collard greens and potatoes salad and both were great. We were so full we couldn't have desert. We are talking about going tomorrow again for our last night. Will definitely go back next time back in Tahoe!
(5)Linda L.
Sonny's ribs are awesome
(5)George D.
Had the brisket sandwich. I have had a lot of barbecue and this is right up there with the best ever. Plus the bread was to die for. Don't even hesitate, go for it.
(5)Scott M.
We had a party of 14. 5 of us got the brisket sandwich. It was so good. Love the BBQ sauce. It had some heat to it. My father in law wouldn't stop talking about his sandwich. It was like the movie "what about Bob" would eat at this joint again.
(5)Oscar B.
Outstanding place near the Richardson Camp. We came here after going for a short hike there. We got to sit outside underneath the covered part. Not much variety in what we ordered we ordered the pulled pork barbecue sandwich which is outstanding. The bun was a little big. The kids shared a half rack of baby back ribs. They loved it. Waitress and check in person or very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend coming back!
(5)Micah B.
Yum, Yum, Yum! This place was SO good. We had the brisket plate with mac and cheese and baked beans. The portions were huge so we easily split the plate between two people, leaving with very FULL bellies. The brisket was full of flavor, tender, and moist. The BBQ sauce was a sweet spicy sauce that was phenomenal. We will definitely be visiting again on our next trip to South Lake Tahoe! FIVE stars for quality of food and outstanding service!!
(5)Anthony L.
Must have brisket. Fat on the brisket was cooked perfectly. I had a combo ribs and brisket. I still like the way I cook my own ribs. Parking is limited so come early.
(4)Jennifer S.
I've never liked baked beans until I ate them here. The St. Louis spare ribs were soooo good and the brisket was delicious!! They have collard greens as well with ham hock. Give it a try! I am in love with this place. We finally have a good BBQ place in South Lake Tahoe! The only gripe is the small parking lot, but that's typical for Tahoe. The restaurant is huge and I love the decor, it made me feel like I was in Texas. They have a great bar and TVs with sports. You can also buy their house made BBQ sauce, which I've done, it's so good I would bathe in it. The servers are sweet and the food is good. They run the smoker daily and their meats are so tender and juicy. I can't wait until the beer garden is open!
(5)Geri C.
Found this place on my last night in Lake Tahoe. Great menu, great food and atmosphere. Met the owner at a blackjack table. I am a BBQ fan and coming from Texas, there were some mighty big shoes to fill. My only problem (and it's really my problem, because I'm not normal) is that the BBQ sauce, although delicious, was a bit too spicy for me. I don't like ANY kind of heat at all, don't like the flavor of any kind of peppers at all, including the good old black pepper. See, not normal. Great place. locally owned. And great Strawberry Shortcake. Just needed a little ice cream. Yep, I'm a fan!
(4)Mayron Z.
Wow this place is a definite hidden gym! Found this place by accident and said lets give it a try! Best chance I have taken in years! The vibe is great. Sonny the owner was there and he greats everyone, and also help wait on tables! The food was great! Wings were smoked before frying and where dry rubbed. I asked for the sauce on the side like the waitresses advised and I can't deny those being the best wings I have ever had the pulled pork was phenomenal and the ribs where just as delicious! This place is good I'm going back in the morning for a order to go!
(5)Gordon M.
Restaurants sell two things- food and service- and Sonney's just failed at the latter. We've eaten there several times before and we always get the ribs. It's a BBQ place after all and it's their signature item. We ordered it again last night (to go) and it was good, as usual- a good solid 'B'. However, their service in two areas faltered. We ordered a full rack of ribs and asked if one-half could be cooked without the BBQ sauce. We were told "no; they won't do that" the waitress said. It was all or nothing. Huh? This is not brain surgery and it was odd to us that this trivial request was denied. The other thing was more annoying. Remember we ordered it to go and asked for three side items. No, we didn't check the boxes till we got back to our cabin and we then noted that we only got two- yet we paid for three. Frankly, it wasn't that busy last night, this was before the Memorial Holiday- they just screwed up. Probably not intentionally. We may come back next time we're in Tahoe but you can be sure we'll double check the receipt and we'll probably try some of the other BBQ places first. Too bad. Poor service tastes just as bad as poor food. Gordon Mullin
(1)Court R.
After much deliberation we chose to eat here, because they took American Express and had a range of bbq and burgers. We all loved this place 1. Happy hour:4-6pm 1 dollar off appetizers and 1 off draft and well drinks. 2. We had 3 ribs with garlic mash potatoes and beans. This was good, but not amazing. Their rub and bbq sauce were spicy and delicious! But the meat sparse and it was still red. Kind of weird for ribs (19 dollars) 7/10 3. Pulled pork sandwhich-very very good. Got a side of fries, and delicious. Excellent pick, would recommend (12 dollars) 4. Lamb burger, from a local butcher, nice flavor, moist and delicious, plus the cheesy grits also very good (12 dollars) 5. Beef briquet--I think pretty good, cause my sister would share haha (12 dollars) 6. Appetizer: naked bacon cream cheese poppers. 8 bucks. Okay, wouldn't get again. 7. Beers: milk stout, creamy and delicious; and their IPA also good Waitress was super nice. Will return!
(5)Sherri F.
This restaurant at 9 o'clock on a Friday night not only ran out of ribs but didn't let us know till half an hour into our service we were quite disappointed they didn't want to make it right for us so we left will never go back to Sonny's again
(1)Alex M.
A friend recommended Sonney's and we're glad we stopped there for a late lunch. We were sat right away, and our server, Mary N., was friendly & attentive. We ordered the BBQ Pork and BBQ Brisket sandwiches to split and both were excellent. I really love bread pudding and Mary said that their's was outstanding and she was right. It was one of the best bread puddings I've ever had - SO good! We liked our meal so well that we wish that there was a Sonney's in L.A. :)
(5)E Bone C.
This place is amazing. Cute joint. Friendly and fun atmosphere. Food... Oh the food... Everything... Was delicious - absolutely delicious and it was priced fairly :) Met up with a girlfriend of mine, we split a plate of ribs and two sides (coleslaw and mashed potatoes) and still had leftovers!
(5)Carlos T.
Best BBQ in the world!!!!!!! It's like you died and went to BBQ heaven.......I highly recommend to come visit this gem when u stop by Tahoe
(5)Kevin F.
The food I tried was good, I had a chicken salad was disappointed they didn't use smoked chicken. It wasn't an option although smoked turkey was. That's on me, although it should be Ann option. The pulled pork was good, my wife had the pulled pork sandwich. The service was mediocre at best, we came in for lunch, it was slow when we got here and the food was too slow coming out. Or water spent most of his time hanging out in the kitchen, ignoring tables for a long time. Hey Sonny work on the service part, your servers are to casual and slow to attend to people, and I'm in the dining room at lunch. Servers, service get it although it's Tahoe, I'm a local and expect better service than I received.
(3)Carole B.
This is a very good BBQ place.. The half chicken was excellent.. The baby back ribs were really good. The BBQ sauce is sweet and spicy. The staff is fun and the serve was great!
(4)Katlyn O.
I came here twice during my visit to Tahoe. Both times were awesome! Service was great and food was delicious. The first time I ordered one of their burgers with seasoned fries and that was amazing. The second time I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with potato salad. That was delicious! Next visit I will try their ribs! They have a very friendly staff and everything on their menu I'm sure is delicious. What a wonderful find!
(5)Randy L.
Sonny's used be so good..what happened? The BBQ pork was extremely fatty and the service was very slow. We used to go to Sonny's twice a week, but no more. Where are the owners? Also they no longer a locals discount. Too bad we really enjoyed it.
(1)Dave O.
If you like spicy BBQ, this is your place. Pretty much everything is spicy (sauce corn bread cheese grits etc.) don't get me wrong, our brisket was really good. They have some pretty interesting menu items; give them a try.
(4)Brooke K.
I'm beside myself with the incredible experience I just had at Sonney's. Wow, wow, wow! Came to Sonney's tonight (from San Francisco) for dinner with my boyfriend, and we were instantly greeted by Mara, who is, hands down, the sweetest girl we've ever met. She was extremely genuine, attentive, down to earth, funny, and kind. I have an allergy to corn, so I asked if anything that we ordered had corn in it, before we placed our order. Mara was knowledgable about the ingredients in the food, and didn't have to check with the kitchen staff to know how to answer my question! On top of that, she offered awesome alternatives for the one item that did have corn in it. We overheard one of the waitresses mentioning that they don't have a microwave! Music to my ears! I expected that our food might take a little longer to come out, once I heard that. But it was out within 10-15 min, and everything was just delicious. I wouldn't have changed a single thing. And finally, when I tried to hand Mara my card to pay, my boyfriend intercepted with his own card, and told her that it was my birthday, so he'd like to pay. Mara took his card, and when she came back, she handed us a to-go box with a home made apple crisp and whipped cream, and wished me a happy birthday. I just can't give this place enough praise. Thank you for the top notch customer service, and for the excellent food. We'll be back soon!
(5)Chris K.
The food wasn't very good, but it was expensive (considering what you get)! Vacationing from Texas. Not many places open since it's slow season. Found this place on Yelp and it looked decent. Bottom line, this place would never, ever last in Texas. I've had chain BBQ much better, however I can't compare it to anything else as far as west coast BBQ is concerned. It may be the best in the area, but the food was awful and we had an awful experience. First, we waited quite a while for food to arrive. We were told by the waitress that something happened during order placement, so she apologized and brought us out some corn bread. The big-mouth owner came right by and asked if that was what we ordered for dinner. I didn't appreciate his tone and took it as being insulting. Is that all you think I can afford? Jerk off. I told him no, and that we had ordered the pulled-pork nachos ($10) and the 8 oz beef brisket platter ($20). He told us to enjoy the food and never returned to the table. Then, both our appetizer and entree arrive at the same time. Overall, the nachos were decent. We did enjoy the pulled pork on them. By the time we finished the nachos and started eating the brisket, it was cold, not to mention, sooooo fatty and very, very bland. It was more than half fat too. It was absolutely awful. I don't expect a free meal and have no problem paying for what I ordered, but I will never return and have no problem telling others to avoid this place. Bad job. What a disappointment!
(1)Elena B.
I love the BBQ here and was incredibly lucky to have Sonny's cater at my wedding this summer. The brisket is amazing, as is the mashed potatoes and chicken skewers. We also had BBQ salmon with an excellent sauce that caused me to have three servings. The staff were really attentive and the bartender did a great job at keeping up with the demand for alcohol. I've heard they don't cater anymore - my contract was a holdover from when the place used to be Murphy's - but man oh man, the food was bomb. We got tons of compliments from our guests on the high quality of the cuisine, and my husband and I still like to stop in when we're in South Lake. The cornbread with honey butter is a must have. And the burgers are all incredibly juicy and flavorful. The sweet potato fries are only mhhh, but the regular fries are really good. So glad there's a new BBQ place in South Tahoe.
(4)Bernie N.
Good BBQ with great service from the manager and staff. I tried the rib combo with beef brisket. Seasoned and cooked well, beef and ribs were tender - rib cook off competition ready, - family enjoyed the mac and cheese side dishes and the strawberry shortcake. We would return again, next time we have a vacation in South Lake Tahoe. 5 stars would have been given on this review - our waitress left work, without saying to us that someone else would be serving our table. The manager stepped in to finish serving the food. Watched the Tahoe Dinning YouTube video interview before coming to the restaurant. :)
(4)James R.
Huge portions... Not to mention huge flavors. The place was great. Sweet yard area for dinning and good looking covered patio bar. The wife ordered a salad the could have fed three with brisket. I got the beef rib and brisket plater. The plater was enough to feed two or three also. As an appetizer we ordered the fried pickles. The spears were great. The batter was fantastic. This place should be on your must do list for dinning options in Tahoe. A quick note the smoke flavor was just one of a solid flavor profile in each of the dishes.
(5)Joan S.
Absolutely the best barbecue we have ever eaten! Everything on the menu is prepared in the scratch, all home cooked food! The brisket literally melts in your mouth.......have it. Try the collards too!
(5)Christine H.
The service was very friendly and the food was excellent! Very cozy and relaxing place no matter how old you are.
(5)Jennifer T.
Everything was good here. My husband had the brisket sandwich with home fries (aka french fries). I had the spicy corn chowder with cornbread and a BBQ chicken sandwich with mashed potatoes. I'm not usually a fan of sandwiches, but all of the ingredients were fresh & the bread on this one was really good. The BBQ sauce is a bit sweet and has a good kick to it, and our waitress did a good job making sure the drinks were flowing. In addition to the regular dining room, they have both a covered deck, where we sat since a storm was rolling in, and a few picnic tables out near the lawn, though I don't think alcohol is permitted out on the lawn.
(5)Crystina M.
My boyfriend and I went to South Lake Tahoe a couple weeks ago as a romantic getaway and we stumbled across this AMAZING BBQ shack. We had never tried deep fried pickles, OH MY GOD I am so glad we did!!!!!! They were amazing!!!!! Everything we ate here was out of this world. After reading some of these people's reviews, it upset my boyfriend and me. This restaurant is one of the best we have ever been to and it truly upset us, especially when one person in particular was complaining about the prices, a half a rack of ribs for $18 was too much money?!!?? Are you crazy?!?! Anyway, I want to keep this review positive. My boyfriend and I cannot wait to come back to Tahoe just for this BBQ. The chef came out and asked each table how their meals were, we found that very cool. It showed he cares about his customers. Our waiter, whom I do not remember his name damn it :( was also AMAZING!!!! If I could, I would give this restaurant 100 stars! But I do promise we will be back! Thank you guys!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Denise B.
On vacation and I asked our front desk attendant for local places to eat since we are trying to stay on a low carb diet so bbq is usually a safe bet. I got the brisket sandwich and hubby got the bacon cheese burger. Fries were ok but the chicken wing appetizer was my favorite. Bill came to about $55 for two sandwiches and two appetizers. I would have loved to try the corn chowder and pork ribs but will def try next time I'm in Tahoe. Maybe I'm just over sensitive but other customers gave us some weird looks when we came in but the friendly service made up for it.
(3)Rachel F.
Blew me away. Potato skins were to die for. Loved the ambiance and the flair. Best bbq I've ever had hands down. Well worth it!
(5)Thane F.
Great place to eat and quick service. BBQ beans and the Baby Back ribs were amazing. Great price too - def Recommended.
(5)Christine T.
Fantastic service in spite of being slammed with holiday ski crowd. The kitchen had a backlog so for instant gratification we ordered soup. Pulled pork was good, Ribs looked worthy of ordering next time. Decent slaw. Solid corn bread. I'll be back before I return home.
(5)Scott R.
Food - 5 Service - 3 Owner - 1 We've been there 3 times. Food is always good. Service is hit and miss. I don't think they staff correctly for the week-ends. Owner was there the last time, throwing a ball to his dog, over the tables where we were sitting. Not sure how he did that without spilling his drink.
(3)Cici R.
When in the South Lake Tahoe area and you want to escape the expensive places and the tourist traps for excellent food, Sonney's can't be beat. We had a terrific meal here. The food was of top-notch quality and expertly prepared by someone who loves good food and knows what s/he's doing, the drinks were great and the service couldn't have been friendlier. This is the kind of place where you feel at home as soon as you walk in the door. All of the patrons were talking aloud and having a great time watching the Giant's game together with the staff. We'll definitely go back next time we're in town.
(4)Sonny C.
We had a family reunion in South Lake Tahoe over Memorial Day weekend with over 60 people. Bill worked with me on the menu, making recommendations along with delivering the food. The food was outstanding, with the pulled pork taking center stage along with the BBQ chicken and all of the great sides. Comments like "The Pulled pork is so tender" and "The BBQ sauce is so good!". The BBQ sauce was stellar and everyone had a great time watching the Warriors crush the Rockets. Thanks to all at Sonney's...we will be back!
(5)J G.
It's nice to have a good BBQ place in town! This place is having a soft opening now, but are planning on a bigger opening soon. Good waitstaff, prices are good to decent. The interior is nicely remodeled in a rustic BBQ motif ;) Chili Verde was excellent, I had a salad and added beef brisket to it, it was good, and I liked that the salad had beans and cheese, as well, so hearty even for those eating vegetarian. They had more side choices than your usual BBQ joint, good choices for those trying to eat leaner ie Vegetarians, Paleo eaters. Sweet potato fries, mustard greens (I think that was the type of greens they were!). I liked the flavor of the BBQ sauce, tasted a little like cherry. Desserts are from Sugar Pine Bakery! Hours are Thursday-Monday 11am-10pm Tuesday-Wednesday 4:30pm-10pm
(4)Greg H.
We had a totally wonderful experience at Sonny's BBQ. The service was awesome and friendly (thank you Molly) and the brisket plate and beef rib plate was excellent. My wife and I moved to the Bay Area from Texas two years ago and until last night, we had not yet found a BBQ place that I would say met my expectations enough to interest me. This place is definitely the best BBQ place I've found in northern CA. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Shanen R.
My husband I went here when they first opened. Food was good. We were used to Famous Dave's but didn't want to drive all the way to Reno. So, tonight we were in the mood for BBQ again and went back. I still had two $5.00 off wooden nickels from the first time we went. We ordered the beef rib platter with baked potato and mac n cheese and baby back ribs with cheese grits and garlic mashed potatoes. We ordered the food to go. It came out in about 15 minutes, which I found odd. That is pretty quick for meals we just ordered. The dinning room was near empty, & one guy in the bar, 1st hostess passed us off to second hostess who didn't know how to smile. Got the food home, there was no corn muffins, my baked potato was raw and was cut in crosses instead of a slit and looked to have been nuked in the microwave. It came with a small scoop of butter, no sour cream, no onions, no nothing. Did I mention RAW?? Mac & Cheese tasted like starch topped with welfare cheese. Beef ribs were way too salty. The ocean has less salt than the ribs. The pork ribs had a false smoked flavor that was horrible as well. Grits went uneaten also. How do you mess up garlic mashed potatoes? Food was so bad I wouldnt feed it to my three dogs. Should have known when I overheard the waitress saying someone else was complaining about the ribs. Needless to say, the meal went largely uneaten and now $60 of hard earned money was just handed over to Sonny's. My husband called Sonny's, the hostess passed the phone to the manager who took our number and said Sonny would call us back. Needless to say, he never did. Check out my other reviews, you will see I rarely give negative reviews. This review is very deserving. Still belching up salt two hours after the first bite. Blech!
(1)Mssquez V.
Not impressed, same Seasonings were in each dish on the menu and to spicy for kids menu. They could not eat it. Took longer than usual for service and to get our food. So many other place to eat in south tahoe that are better would not go back.
(2)Caylynn H.
The remarkably bad service I experienced did indeed turn out to be a fluke. I've returned several times since then and things have been more in order. Most importantly, the bacon cheeseburger is still divine!
(4)Roberta H.
My first visit to Sonneys was horrible. My Pulled {Pork Sandwich was warmed on the outside, and refrigerator cold on the inside). I sent it back. It was brought back to me totally burned (I could only imagine what the cook was thinking to do such a thing). I swore that I would not go back. Last week was a good friends birthday. He chose Sonneys. I decided that I would give them another try. I ordered Brisket Salad with Blue Cheese dressing. The salad was great. However, the dressing was noticably watered down to last longer. The other people in the party were not impressed with their food. So, next time we have a friends dinner night out, we will go elsewhere.
(2)MJ N.
The baby back ribs, brisket and pork ribs were average. Some were slightly overcooked so the meat was tougher than if like. Sauce was average. I really liked their collards cause they were done just right where I was able to taste the veggie and not just salt. Excellent place to come with big groups and family. The staff was outstanding. They were personable and fun! For south Tahoe I would rate the food above average but I rated 3 stars simply cause the meat was on the drier side. And the star of a BBQ should be meat.
(3)Phil M.
Not only is the BBQ out of this world, but the staff is awesome! We've been there 5 or 6 times and have not had one bad experience. Sonney himself had come by to check on how were doing, nice touch! Mara is our favorite server by far, fast, friendly and always a beautiful smile! The bar has plenty of games on and they pour "real" drinks, great atmosphere!
(5)anthony e.
I was excited to try this place a friend of mine had been talking about so I have it a shot. When we walked in they were busy since it was holiday weekend. There was no host at the host stand just someone who would occasionally come and check on the names on the list. She was also a server and looked a little overwhelmed. I finally stopped someone to ask how do place a to go order. The server took our order and we waited. 15 minutes later someone asked if we had placed an order we said we said yes and she asked who took it we told her who took original order. I explained who it was and the original server looked like deer in headlights when she realized the order had not been put in. The second server took our order and put it in for us and the original server bought us beers which was nice. The food was good I had half bbq chicken with mac and cheese in side note mac and cheese is spicy. The bbq sauce was not to my liking it had a odd taste it may work for others I am. I would have been better off buying store bought version of some sauce. I like corn bread but I wish they made two different versions they put jalapeños and peppers in batter. Overall good place I will give it another shot they just need a little more organization. Their website was not working properly so we were not able to order online either.
(3)Chantelle K.
Family vacation in Tahoe... looking for something tasty and family friendly. Sonney's was definitely the right choice. Excellent service. Very attentive and fast for a sit down BBQ joint. Wait staff had tons of help so our table stayed cleaned and we had everything we needed. Best part, and probably the most important... EVERYTHING WAS SO TASTY. Its our first time so we didn't go heavy with the BBQ platters but definitely recommend the GIANT chicken (BBQ) ceasar salad, big pulled pork sandwich with crispy cole slaw, kids killed the sliders and big o' fries (but it is just one small slider which was ok for the 3 year old but probably not enough for any bigger, tasty greens and corn bread. And ended it with a big helping of bread pudding that was probably the gooiest thing I've ever seen in the best way possible. Pricing is what you expect for a BBQ spot in a place where there are few BBQ spots but if you want BBQ in Tahoe don't hesitate.
(5)Valerie H.
I have never been disappointed at Sonny's. Everything I've tried or had suggested has been amazing. Friendly staff. Cold drinks. Great BBQ.
(5)Jessica L.
We were pretty excited to see this BBQ spot open for the holidays and so we put in an order for 11 people. Not just two people with a small order, but 11 hungry people excited for some ribs for dinner. We left our order with a young woman in the early afternoon from their cute little take out / hostess window. We left our order for 3 stacks of ribs, beef brisket, and half a chicken along with our phone number to be picked up at the agreed time of 630pm. Lady was sweet and told us she would relay the order to the evening staff. Woohoo! BUT When we came back at 6:30pm they gave us the deer in headlights look and doubted that we even made the order!!! Once the evening hostess understood we were upset, she offered us a potential meal for the next day. Too little, too late. That doesn't feed 11 people tonight! Thank goodness for the wonderful food and service at Lake Tahoe Pizza close by. ... Now, just feel bad my brother missed putting his kids to bed because of this Sonny's BBQ issue!
(1)Leslie C.
Spent the weekend in Tahoe for my sisters birthday. After spending all day in the cabin, drinking, we decided it was easier to just drive two blocks versus completely through town. You're welcome. So we ate at Sonney's. By the time we got to our table, I had seen enough plates of food and was set on getting some ribs. Our waiter, Kris, had water for us before we order it and had a huge smile on his face. He went along wih our family antics and ridiculousness the whole time. The food came out quick and was absolutely delicious. Huge portions. Kris brought us everything we needed. Extra napkins. (Guys... We ordered ribs..) extra sides of sauce. (All their salad dressing is made in house) Kris is the guy to request if you ever stumble in Sonney's like we did. So sober or not, show up. Party on ladies! Cheers
(5)Brandon R.
Stopped in today.. Seven of us ate..Service was great, food was delicious.. Some got pull chicken sandwich which was great, I got BLT which was also very good... Would recommend to anyone passing through...
(5)Corey M.
Let's lay it on the line: it's difficult to find good food in South Lake Tahoe. So I am very happy to report Sonney's is a really good BBQ joint - a very casual atmosphere, with a diverse menu. The kids were happy with their choices (chicken fingers and grilled cheese), and I had pulled pork sliders. The BBQ sauce was excellent. We will definitely be back.
(4)Amir K.
Ribs are on point, damn fine establishment. Fast and courteous service, the owner even came out to see how we were doing. I also loved the fact they brought out some hot towels to wipe off all the finger lickin' good BBQ sauce!!
(5)Ted R.
BBQ as good as it gets. Went here with a party of 10. The outstanding things were the BBQ pork ribs, pulled pork, corn. Chicken wings were good but sauce could have been hotter. Mac and cheese not the best. Service very good. Wine prices and quality good. Great for kids and split orders no problem. Place was busy all week. We will be back next year for sure.
(5)Nicole W.
Wow! This place is under new ownership, and just exceeds expectations!! Remodel is perfect. After a long day at the beach, their pulled pork nachos were simply delicious. The pork was moist & flavorful. Our server Ashley was attentive, positive, and wonderful with the kids. For a mom after a long week, Sonny's just made my day. Thank You Ashley!!
(5)Steve G.
Great tasting smoked meats. I'm slowly working my way through the menu. First trip had baby back ribs. Full rack. Excellent. Fed four. Next trip had beef ribs. Great taste and the Mac cheese out of this world. Next trip I'm trying The granddaddy of smoked meats - brisket. Lucky for us we own a vacation rental just a few blocks away forestviewtahoe.com and we can walk over for evening happy hours.
(5)Steve Q.
The fried pickles were great, buffalo chicken wings awesome, and the brisket was a life changer!!!
(5)Cliff S.
We love, love, love BBQ having spent several years living in Austin, TX. So we were really excited to give this place a try. We received friendly service on a night when they were slammed with a couple of large parties. Since there was no 3-meat combo plates, we ordered up a brisket plate and a ribs combo plate to share. Plus: - Salads were fresh and the balsamic vinegar dressing was tasty - Pork ribs were really nice and smokey and succulently moist - Mac & cheese was dense and cheesy -- not soupy Almost: - Beef ribs were meaty but the rub had waay too much salt which overpowered the flavor of the meat. These didn't seem as smoky as the pork ribs. - The sauce was OK, but heavy on the ketchup base and pepper. Miss: - As noted in other reviews, the brisket was dried out and tough. - The prices are high for what it is. In Austin, TX you can get a great 3-way combo plate with two sides for $13 (Yelp Green Mesquite BBQ if you are a doubter). Here, the plates are running in the $20 range and the quality isn't as good. For the same $70 (with drinks), we would've enjoyed our meals more at Artemis or Primos.
(3)Brian M.
Finally decent food in south lake. Beef brisket 10oz if you are hungry. A little on the dry side but good. I've had Austin, Texas so no comparison. Waiter forgot bbq for my to go order. Make sure you have reservations. Best collard greens I've had though. Cornbread perfect with honey butter. Service is great here except when they are packed.
(5)Christopher B.
Food is tasty but inconsistent. Great burgers, ribs were ok. Chicken was so over cooked it sucked all moisture from my mouth. Service was good with fast take-out
(3)Niki M.
Ribs were great! Brisket was very dry sadly. Bbq sauce was beyond delicious!!! Baked beans tasted like something out of a can from the local grocery store & the garlic mashed potatoes were good -just lacking something i couldnt put my finger on exactly... maybe eating TX bbq for years has made me a snob, but i did expect a bit more out of the brisket & side dishes. The service was very quick and they have exceptional staff quick to be very pleasant and there when you need anything at all without being asked or overbearing! 3 stars for food, but 5 stars for servers & service itself!!... will definitely be back again as im sure the food was "just one of those days" decent instead of great as we've been told time & time again!
(4)Lucy C.
From start to finish, our experience at Sonney's was awesome!! They have outdoor seating where you can bring your dog (important for us). The outside benches were large and comfy. Our server Ally was very attentive without crossing the line of obnoxiously hovering. They make all of their food and beverages from scratch! The ice tea was delicious! We ordered a wide range of plates and everything was just so amazing! The food came out in a timely manner and was still nice and hot! After eating they even bring out little warm/wet towels for your hands. The food is a little on the pricey side but for the quantity and quality it is well worth it!
(5)Caroline L.
On one night, me and my family came in and it was slightly packed near the door. We were waiting for someone to at least take our name. No one even came to the hostess section until probably 15 minutes later. We were then notified that the wait would be an hour. We then decided to make reservations for the next night since its recommended to get one. We clearly saw them write our name in the book. After patiently waiting one whole day and starving, we came in and told them we had reservations. They told us our name wasn't in the book?!? We were notified that we would have to wait and there were reservations ahead of us. OKAY WHAT IS THE POINT OF A RESERVATION IF WE HAD TO WAIT FOR LATER RESERVATIONS TO GET A TABLE BEFORE US??? 30 minutes later, we finally got a table. Seriously? The food was pretty good and iffy. If you like super burnt and charred spare ribs, this is the place. Only some of the spare ribs were cooked good. The fried Mac n cheese was bland until you slathered sauce on it. Only thing that impressed me was the little bo-peep sliders. Delicious. Overall: Service in the beginning ruined our whole visit. Please be more organized and get more people at the hostess stand. And how the hell do you forget someone's reservation???
(3)Justin M.
Great food. Great atmosphere. Can't wait to go back and try everything else on the menu!
(4)Beverly D.
Yum yum yum Our family of 7 ate here when we arrived at Lake Tahoe to kick off our week vacation. My husband is not a BBQ fan, but he was very pleased. Beef ribs, sliders, grilled chicken caesar salad, fries, and burgers. Everyone loved their food. Everything came out hot and quickly. Drinks from the bar were great.
(4)Esperanza G.
Recommend the mac n cheese fried balls, bread pudding, baby back ribs, chicken salad, brisket, corn chowder soup and chili Verde soup! All amazing!
(4)Chase C.
WOW! So good! Absolutely amazing what they did with the inside. The food was incredible, I got the brisket with mashed potatoes and grits. My girlfriend got the half chicken with corn on the cob and Mac and cheese. Everything is homemade and delicious. The BBQ sauce is something else! You could put this stuff on sandpaper, and it would be amazing. The hot towel at the end of the meal was key to get all cleaned up. Finished the meal with a piece of key lime pie from sugar pine bakery. And for the people complaining about the price, have you looked around? We are in a vacation town, if you don't like the prices go home!!!
(5)Doe W.
The food is great here! Burgers are to die for! Pulled pork sandwich is amazing!!!Tahoe is pumped to have this tasty place!
(5)Angie A.
Great place to satisfy your BBQ cravings. The meat has a nice spicy crust and a great smoky flavor. The BBQ sauce packed a little punch with a nice amount of heat. I recommend a side of the tasty coleslaw to cool your mouth and rest your taste buds. They serve generous portions, but the menu is pricey. For anything other than sandwiches, expect to pay at least $25 -$30 per person.
(4)Samantha S.
Honestly it wasn't phenomenal or the best BBQ I've ever had but it wasn't bad either! The greens were pretty salty and the brisket was 50% fat but the BBQ sauce was good and although it wasn't cheap per say, it was pretty spot on pricing for a sit-down BBQ restaurant. Worth a try, some people just love it!
(3)Colby O.
Great wings...big and worth the $$... BBQ pulled pork should come with BBQ sauce on it but didnt... so no 5 stars... service was great and Baked Potato was good too... would recommend for sure
(4)Leanna H.
This was the best choice for brunch this morning. Awesome food and amazing service. Great choice if you wanna watch the game with your kids!
(5)Daniel E.
Went there for lunch, first meet at the bar with the bar maiden was rude as rude can be. I know places have rules but find a better way to serve your drinks, who cares were it gets paid for ? As long as we pay it's not like the place was full and you would lose track. But if you have rules find a better way to convey them.
(3)Summer A.
Terrible meal and service. The waitress never came back and I had to go and get my bill in the kitchen. The chicken was slimy and the potatoes cold.
(1)Ashley M.
This place was alright. After having pulled pork and brisket in Central Texas, I've become quite a BBQ snob though. The pulled pork definitely wasn't bad, but I would say mediocre. The brisket is definitely better, and the sauce they serve with it is better than the pork BBQ sauce. The home fries were great though. And the service was great, really nice staff.
(3)John B.
Good was awesome. Service was fantastic. The beef brisket had great; good smoke flavor and taste without heavy bbq sauce. Although the house made sauce was very good. Great selection of beers. The BBQ nachos were original and worth the stop.
(4)Edward C.
Wow! Great BBQ!! The pulled pork sandwich is amazing. Sonny was here tonight and stopped by to say hello- really nice and lots of fun.
(5)Griselda P.
Really nice place! Friendly staff. Has tv to watch the game! Only problem is the waitress only came by twice to check on us we had to ask other staff for refills on our drinks. The food was warm when we got it too & dry too, we ordered the bacon burger. Other then that it was good
(3)J N.
Yay! Tahoe needed this place!! Sonney's is super good! The fire is warm, the beer is cold, the ribs are scrumptious! The corn bread, the sweet potato fries, BBQ chicken, salad, it was all great. The servers were polite and fast. Sonney even stopped by our table and offered to bring is some extra special sauce. I have been there twice and both times have been excellent. If you like great BBQ at good prices with fast friendly service go here. I'll be back!
(5)Elissa W.
Fabulous experience! Brent, our server was so friendly, attentive and had a great sense of humor. Sonny's has some of the best brisket we've ever had at a restaurant. Totally recommend!
(5)A W.
Pulled pork sandwich was BBQ heaven -- best BBQ I've had in a while. Great location, very friendly staff -- Worth going out of the way. Will definitely return.
(5)Katie J.
Excellent!! Food was amazing, and our bartender/server was on his game and super friendly. Definitely stop here. Pork sliders and onion rings were top notch and my parents LOVED their rib platter (esp. Pork ribs).
(5)Jenn D.
Had a really great experience this past weekend at this place! Sat in the outdoor seating area with our dog. Our server was super attentive, nice, and helpful! All the food we had was delicious! Pork ribs are great with the sauce they give you! You might even have to ask for more sauce! We also got the chili verde which was melt in your mouth tender, and great with a side of tortilla chips that you can ask them for. I really enjoyed the macaroni & cheese side as well as the mashed potatoes, but all were very good. Corn bread had more things in it than I'm accustomed to, but still delicious!
(5)Sandy C.
Outstanding BBQ restaurant with a great variety on the menu (burgers, salads, sandwiches, BBQ platters). We loved it so much we ate here twice during out South Lake Tahoe stay. Outstanding service, huge portions, and excellent quality Highly recommend if you are staying in Tahoe and craving some Q!
(5)Anthony F.
Off season Amazing! Service was exceptional. Allie our waitress was bubbly and creative in inventing a sampler combo that left me repeating over and over what a great meal experience. Meat lovers paradise with the brisket and pulled pork, smoked for 12+ hours using black walnut and and balanced with a wonderful sauce. Chef Bill serves up a great full body experience. The cornbread and honey butter compliment the dishes, and the potato salad was just right. Then the bread pudding arrived and I just melted. The blend of flavors with apple and caramel and cream on the side was off the charts. And this was just a light lunch. It was so good, I ordered a repeat to serve 7 of us for New Years. My new favorite Tahoe dining experience!
(5)t m.
You can get a tasty meal and a beer/wine ($4-6) for about $20/person, good value for Tahoe. Brisket salad ($12.50), chicken wings with Buffalo or other dressing ($10), small house salad (blue cheese chunks) ($4), large Cobb salad ($12.50) all workable. Friendly, very local, sports on multiple TVs (ask for your game) or eat more quietly in dining room. Four visits and still coming back.
(4)George F.
My girlfriend and I tried this place tonight and were very pleased with our food and experience. We had called ahead for reservations because we knew it would be busy and popular. Upon arrival, we were seated in about 5 minutes and had beers in ten. Our waiter was prompt and friendly. We order St Louis Ribs and Brisket. Excellent food and perfect sides. Regretfully, I did not have room for the Key Lime pie. We will return. One last thing: all the meat is fresh - never frozen. Highly recommend!
(5)Kaitlyn W.
It was good Had the pulled pork sandwich. Very tasty. I was not crazy about the mashed potatoes. Way over whipped. It was the consistency of baby food. I hardly touched it cause i was a gross texture. Wish I had gotten the fries instead. Those were really delicious. Stay away from the mashed potatoes!!
(3)Kasie R.
Second time back to this place and it was even better than the first. We had the pulled pork sliders, our favorite from last time, a pulled pork salad and their Bacon Cheese Burger. Everything is amazing. Brent, our server, was fantastic! Great recommendations and service. The owner was even stopping by each table to make sure everything was okay. This is definitely our new go to place in South Lake.
(5)Wendy S.
Dined here for dinner on March 5th. We were greeted by the owner and seated at a table near the window. We ordered the deep fried pickles and chicken tenders for appetizers. Both were great! For our entrees my hubby had a bacon cheeseburger with fries, our son had the pulled pork sandwich with fries, and I had the St. Louis rib platter (full rack) with macaroni and cheese and coleslaw for the sides. All the food was outstanding! The portions were huge and the food was fresh and hot! The service was excellent as well. We will definitely be returning to Sonney's BBQ Shack the next time we are in South Lake Tahoe.
(5)V. R.
Great place. Honestly one of the best burgers I have EVER had. It was perfectly cooked, buttery, and just utterly perfect. The waitstaff had excellent timing; never had to ask or flag her down. We sat out on the outdoor patio in order to enjoy the nice breeze. Great vibe, and the owner was present too and talked to us. Wonderful spot. Highly recommend!
(5)Mary K.
We have been here for over an hour. We haven't received any refill on our drinks in the past hour. We asked twice about our food and we're told the kitchen was backed up. The restaurant is only half full and no food in site. Very disappointed with the service.
(1)Samantha W.
I'm a tahoe local and I had been looking forward to the newest restaurant in our small town. Service was excellent!! The vibe was comfortable,Their beer and wine selection was good too. The ribs were tender and cooked to perfection....... The COLD BBQ sauce made all the meat cold when served. When the owner asked how everything was I mentioned the BBQ sauce he did not like my answer so treated my comment like it was a joke. I will not go back to this restaurant .
(2)Christina S.
My family came here after visiting the local renaissance faire. We were overheated, footsore and tired, and ready for something tasty. Our server was Ashley, and she was a real treat! Friendly and helpful, she did a wonderful job of getting us what we needed and (especially) keeping our drinks filled. There were some issues with our food at the beginning. The jalapeno poppers that we ordered weren't the correct kind, and the pulled pork nachos el grande showed up instead as plain nachos with no meat. Ashley immediately spoke to the chef, and soon we had an entire second plate of nachos, this time with delicious pulled pork and all the right fixings. Our entrees were perfect! Delicious brisket sandwiches, burgers, and an enormous plate of ribs that were amazing! All in all, though things were a bit worrisome at first, we plan to stop here for dinner every time we're in the area!
(5)Katey M.
Was extremely underwhelmed. Got a togo order and was greeted my a very polite and competent hostess, she gave me a menu and time to look it over. I was told I could sit and wait in the other room that had comfortable chairs, a fireplace and the Giants game on. Food came out promptly, maybe 15 minutes later. When I got home (a 15 minute drive) my sandwich bun had become completely soggy. They had forgotten not one but two sides, one for each meal. The food was edible, but not outstanding. Overall, but impressed. Might try again and eat in the restaurant. Will edit review accordingly if and when we do.
(2)Lauren S.
Local here in town. We walked in the restaurant to Sonney himself reaming the hostess out about menus. She said it would be a few minutes before she had a 6 top ready for us. I then approached her for a menu 15 minutes later and she told me it would a 30-45 minute wait. We grabbed a drink and patiently waited in the bar area. About 25 minutes later we were seated. Our server, Brenda was very nice and attentive. She quickly took our order and then explained the kitchen was extremely backed up. From the time we walked in the door to the time the food hit the table it was nearly 2 hours and 30 minutes. The menu we were given while waiting had different prices then ones that were placed on our tables. When you change the menus...ALL should be changed. When she dropped the bill we asked for a local discount. She explained that they no longer do that. Her excuse was their food cost increased so instead of raising prices they took away local discount, which obviously wasn't true. I asked to speak to Sonney himself but unfortunately he was "no where to be found" or "maybe he was upstairs". The moral of this post is that this restaurant REALLY needs to get their act together because the food isn't bad bbq. If you don't cater to locals you won't make in this town. The 1 star was for Brenda, she did provide wonderful service with what she was given. You won't find me stepping foot in this restaurant again.
(1)Marsha D.
I just had the best pulled pork sandwich EVER! My husband had the pulled chicken sandwich with avocado, also wonderful. The cabin atmosphere and the owner very charming. Don't miss this if you're in South Lake Tahoe!!!
(5)Katherine W.
Excellent food, company, service with a smile. A dining experience if you can stay a while, or a great take out also. Even though Sonney is a Steelers fan he is a warm and welcoming person. We highly recommend this place and will come back often. We sampled many things from the menu thanks to his generosity! Excellent for those who follow sports, you can watch the game while having a great meal in a great atmosphere. There is a cozy fireplace for chatting in the bar area, and the dining area has a mountain setting away from any tv's so this place has it all. Enjoy.
(5)Bev V.
Visiting from Ventura Calif. For a week, been staying here in S. Lake Tahoe. We wanted something close by and good. I checked out the reviews here on Yelp and decided to try. We can firmly back up the good reviews on here, in fact we have been to many BBQ places at home and you kind of get tired of them. This place by far was the best experience in BBQ we have had. Very tasty meat and all the other fixings as well. The Service was fantastic. Would Highly recommend this Place, Enjoy just come hungry!!
(5)Dave P.
Incredible. Just delicious. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Karen B.
Loved it! We chose to go family style with racks of ribs and staff. Awesome staff. The ribs were delicious! Great for the family and we were able to watch the game!
(5)Greg B.
A Tahoe must go! If I could give 10 stars I would! The food was great! Everyone in our party of six was happy with the quality and portions. Our waitress was spectacular! Super friendly staff, very attentive, very helpful. I will definitely be eating here again and I hope lots more Yelpers will go here as well.
(5)Tamara H.
Pulled pork sandwich are tasty,and the portions are good sized. But the ambiance kind of turned me of.
(4)Mary E.
Very impressed .... Never personally tried this new barbecue place, but talked to a lot of people in our town that were NOT very impressed early on. We decided to try it tonight for takeout and everything was excellent!
(5)Joseph B.
Don't bother. Super slow service no hand wipes for ribs took 20 minutes to get the bill after asking for it. Sauce was spicy and couldn't get a drink refill till I found the manager. Manager seemed nice and offered a pie and it was good but the overall service was terrible. Also the BBQ was not that great.
(2)Johnny H.
Waiter was awesom. Food was awesome. All good except one thing....Sonny. Stay home dip shit! You're ego is gonna ruin a good thing!
(4)Bree H.
This place was delicious! Burgers are great, fries are delicious, pulled pork sandwiches are top notch and the onion rings are a must! This place makes all of their own salad dressings which is rare and it is so worth it! Portions are great compared to the prices and the service was great too.
(5)Bill J.
I will give them 3 for the ribs and zero for the rest of the full rack rib platter. I am in Tahoe always like to same BBq and saw Sonnys was #1 in the Yelp search. The location is nice right off Emerald Bay Hwy and plenty of parking ( no one was there). The bartender was nice quick with a menu I was looking for TOGO wanted to bring ribs as an app for a friends party. TV screens in the bar to distract you while waiting, the food came as I was finishing my cocktail and so the timing was almost worth another star. The packing is simple and efficient, kept the ribs hot, the sides were in ugly white styro so the heats was gone by the time I made the party. Back to the Ribs, Sonnys was a very good rib not a baby back or St. Louis a loin rack , good meat and not too much far. He had a good run, a little too much pepper for me but I actually enjoyed the flavors. The sides on the other hand were disappointing, the spicy mac(blah), the cheesy grits ( a chezy puck) , the beans ( see better out of a can), the coleslaw( think I have seen in Raleys deli section) so do us a favor and sell the ribs ala carte so we can get what we want and not have to throw out the unworthy. All in all I will return for the Ribs thank you for the unexpected delight.
(3)Jeff C.
I'd heard the food was awesome, I think they meant the BBQ sauce. I had the Brisket and my wife had the ribs. Both were mediocre, as well as our sides. I must say Sonneys BBQ sauce is amazing! Our waiter said Sonney was in the process of bottling his BBQ sauce to sell. I will definitely be back, but only to pick up a few bottles of his amazing sauce, not to eat here.
(3)Mary F.
Wow, finally a locally sourced, fresh, and delicious BBQ restaurant in South Lake Tahoe. We loved our pulled pork and brisket sandwiches! Added bonus....49ers on most the TVs. We will be regulars.
(5)Camille P.
Wow, what a great place! The food was amazing, seriously so freaking good and the staff was awesome!! I wish I knew this place existed a long time ago! Expect us to be regulars :)
(5)Kevin H.
The wife and I ate here yesterday. Server was a young man with mutton chop sideburns - alas, I did not catch his name. Food was fantastic and the service was even better. The rub used on the ribs (pork and beef) was pretty damn spicy!! We also had the brisket and it was excellent. The misses and I left full and happy!!
(5)David B.
Great bbq, excellent location, attentive staff, good beer selection. Very happy to add it to my list of restaurants that I have to visit every time I'm in Tahoe!
(4)Brenda R.
Best BBQ ever!!! We tried several things on the menu and everything was delish! Staff is fantastic!
(5)Jacqueline G.
What a fabulous little spot! The staff makes you feel like you're walking into a back yard BBQ with friends & family! The food is fantastic! I'm hoping they sell the BBQ sauce.. fingers crossed... Can't wait to come back & try the ribs!
(4)Morgan P.
I was definitely happy with this place! I have been wanting to check it out since it changed to a BBQ place. We had the jalapeño poppers (I normally don't like jalapeño poppers), the pulled pork sandwich and the BLT. Everyone loved the food. Great outdoor atmosphere. Jen was a very attentive and friendly waitress. We will for sure be back.
(5)Debi L.
The lamb burger was terrific and the Mac & cheese was WONDERFUL! The coleslaw had some yummy, spicy kick to it and the prices were reasonable. Above all, our waitress was super friendly and helpful. We would definitely come back again (and I wish I could get that Mac & cheese recipe)!
(5)Hawley L.
I went here the other night super cute, clean, fun, and delicious! Seriously you have to try the Mac and cheese balls!!
(5)Kelly V.
Sonnys is amazing. The food is outstanding. Mara is absolutely adorable. So friendly & outgoing. Sonny & Mara make u feel like you are family when you come in to have a meal. The "Butt" dry rubbed wings are the best I have ever had. But there are so many items on the menu that are great. Bread pudding is to die for.
(5)Yvonne H.
My husband and I greatly enjoyed the BBQ Chicken & Ribs; the BBQ sauce was amazing. The food is hands down the best in the West! Sonney's BBQ has raised the bar for BBQ that leaves Texas BBQ way behind. Sonney, the owner, was a joy to visit with; a real down to earth guy. The rest of the staff was professional and courteous.
(5)D H.
We had a really big party and we all LOVED our food! When we travel to Tahoe this is a delicious place that you don't want to miss out on! Great service too!
(5)J M.
Nachos were so good. Ribs, chicken, mashed potatoes. ..all good. Server was great. Restroom was clean. Overall, I'd come back to this place and would recommend it to others.
(5)Victoria J.
Amazing experience in Tahoe!! Great BBQ food, great atmosphere and great service! The owner even came out to check on us and chat which is always a nice touch. I would for sure recommend this place!!
(5)Jan S.
We're Texans, so we know a little something about BBQ. Sonney's has fork tender beef brisket, and melt in your mouth pulled pork. However, it's always all about the sauce, and this sauce is slightly sweet with a spicy back end kick. It enhances the meat perfectly. The french fries were fresh cut, and the bun on the pulled pork sandwich was fresh, fresh, fresh. There's a nice outdoor eating area as well as a dining room & separate bar. Service was attentive.
(4)C S.
A huge thanks to Mara and her team! We had a group of about 40 bussed in from out of town for an off-site meeting. Mara made making the arrangements / selections incredibly easy. Once we got there the staff was amazing. They were friendly and interactive without being intrusive. But the food is what everyone is still talking about! It was absolutely delicious - we had chosen a buffet and many went back for thirds. Of all the meals our group had during our time in Tahoe, Sonney's wins hands down! Thanks again to the team there!
(5)James M.
Great service good food. The fried pickles and smoked pork ribs were fantastistic. We're Tahoe locals and this is one of a handful of restaurants up here that are definitely worth eating at!
(4)Gwenevere L.
If you have a BBQ craving and are in SLT, this is the place to go! If you're local, you know there aren't many other choices, in fact, there might not be much of another choice!!?? That being said, it was pricey. I ordered the combo of 4 pork ribs and 3 beef ribs, plus 2 sides. Garlic mashed potato and sweet potato fries (add $1!!) were my sides. He ordered a half rack of pork ribs and a salad and mac&cheese were his sides. I had water, he had a soda. We ordered "Nakid" (yes, spelled that way on the menu) jalepenos stuffed with cream cheese wrapped in bacon as a starter. The bill was upwards of $80. Jalepenos were good, nothing special. The sides were nothing special. In fact, we were trying to decide if powdered cheese was used to make the mac&cheese because it lacked creamy goodness of the homemade classic. My beef ribs (which I usually adore) were super salty. My pork ribs were fine. I did appreciate that they were served dry. His ribs were fine. Generally, a good time. We were seated in the bar area, even though we didnt ask to be seated there, which I though was odd. We were there for dinner. A man, who I can only assume was the owner, came by to ask how things were. He did not introduce himself nor make me feel like he cared about my opinion. It seemed a half hearted opportunity to gloat about his mashed potato, potato type. Frankly, it was weird. Our server was... un-memorable. The hostess was quite happy, which was good to see. Overall, good. I will not be chomping at the bit to return, but it is not out of the question.
(3)Vanessa G.
Thank God a high quality BBQ spot finally came to Tahoe- a town bogged down by mediocre overpriced restaurants catering to tourists. This place is the real deal. Yes, the ribs are maybe $5 overpriced but the portions are big if u order the full rack and they reheat as leftovers really well. They were really, really good. I'm stoked to have this place as an option.
(5)A B.
First time here and the food was mediocre but the service was friendly. BBQ is all about the balance of hot sour salty and sweet. The sauce was nothing special and lacked balance or interest. The coleslaw was lackluster. The meat for the brisket was good. my husbands pulled pork sando was just ok. Again because of the ordinary sauce and slaw. My kids Mac n cheese was pasty and he didn't like it. The jalepeno popper was quite tasty although the pepper was very all dente and could have used a pre roast.
(2)Pam S.
Best spate ribs I've had! The BBQ sauce is perfect. Onion rings too! They offered warm wet wash clothes to clean up afterwards.
(5)Kim C.
We loved the brisket and beef ribs! Outside in the Tahoe air with a cold beer can't be beat. Cool waiter .. Didn't get his name.. Will be back.
(5)Kirsten L.
I enjoyed the place. Came with family and ordered 2 sandwiches and an entree salad. The salad could have used a little more lettuce and vegetables but it was tasty. The sandwiches were almost big enough to split. Good flavor too. Decor is cute. Total bill for 3 adults was under $40. Not bad for dinner.
(4)Max R.
Went there on our trip to Tahoe looking for BBQ and we found it. Absolutely phenomenal ribs and pulled pork burger. Wanted to order sides but everything already came with. Price was reasonable, service quick (we did takeout) and the staff friendly and nice. The wifi is also the fastest we found in Tahoe at 30mbps+ :)
(5)Norcalchic A.
Great waitress, Lindsey!!! Amazing food and service. Must try deep fried pickles! BBQ chicken sandwich and brisket plate were amazing.
(5)Karen H.
Went to Sonney's for a girl's night out. Our table was in what is probably the busiest aisle in the place. Oh well, gotta sit somewhere. Service was excellent! Server was right there getting our drink order and gave us a moment to look over the menu. Orders done, food coming, all is well. Food was delivered in a timely manner. Brisket was tender and delicious. 7 oz. serving was more than enough. Their coleslaw is very tasty. Others had beef ribs (yummy!), and pork ribs (a bit dry but delicious!). Two of us ordered take-out for the men at home. Hubby proclaimed the brisket tender and tasty. I am so glad to see the enhanced service and cuisine which is much improved from my first two visits. Still a bit noisy as the bar and restaurant are right next to each other with not much to soften the noise. Outdoor eating area available, too. Kudos to the cook! I will return!
(4)Kathy D.
This is an outstanding place to eat...........the food is good.....the staff in the day time is not like the staff at nite........the staff at nite is just awesome and they go beyond ........
(4)Veronica C.
Food was great! We had the pulled pork sandwich and brisket sandwich. The meat was nice and tender and the BBQ sauce was delicious. Our server was very friendly and helpful. We will be back!
(5)Rosie M.
This restaurant is inconsistent. Had the pulled pork sandwich, which was actually a pork chunk sandwich. First time I had it, it was good. Second time, not so good because there was quite a bit of fat and skin in the sandwich. Yuck. Service wasn't very good either. Ordered a half chicken meal to go and the chicken tasted good but was not tender at all. Almost seemed undercooked. When I delivered it to a friend they had forgotten to put in the cornbread. Come on. So, hopefully next time we'll go on a good day. Inconsistent isn't good for a restaurant.
(2)Lauren W.
The best BBQ meal I've ever had- and I'm from the south!! Sonney's food reminds me of my granny's home cookin'. Sonney and the whole staff are genuinely kind, fun people!! Highly recommend!!!
(5)Brian H.
This place will not be in business much longer. We arrived and were greeted by a rude, obnoxious hostess, seemingly annoyed that our arrival interrupted her cell phone call. Place had a weird vibe right away. As we were sitting down, I immediately noticed table next to us had to stand up with empty drink glasses and track down waitress for refills. Not a good sign. Food is overpriced and portions are small - I ordered 1/3 rack and received THREE ribs, with fries and salad for $18. Food was OK, but price NOT. While eating, I overhear patron tell hostess, "we'd like to sit outside on the deck", to which hostess replies, "you can, but it's raining and the deck roof leaks"". Nice. Only good thing about this place was our waitress, Jennifer. Genuinely nice person and really trying hard to make our experience good. As we are leaving there is a group of 12 trying to be seated. Hostess is no where in site. We take about 10 minutes to walk to the car and get kids buckled in/settled. As I walk around car I make contact with one of "party of 12". He states, "I can't believe they just let 12 paying customer walk out". They never made it past the hostess.
(1)Sean K.
Well I'm going to completely disagree with any good review of this place. Was not impressed at all. I'm a huge fan of BBQ and eat it whenever possible. Now south lake has another place to eat I don't like at all. It is a restaurant in all but it's over priced. Half rack of ribs with two sides 18 bucks. Five little ribs and two sides that were not all so good. The BBQ sauce is good and that's it. If you want real BBQ go to Everett's in berkley or move to the south. The brisket wasn't at all good either. Fattier than all hell. Niether of the two had the classic smoke ring in the meat that real BBQ has. Don't waste your time or money here
(1)Nunya B.
I absolutely loved the lamb burger!! The ribs were average. The sweet potato fries were cold and dry. But the service was top notch. The burger was good enough to give 4 stars. Give it a try!
(4)Lisa A.
Good place to eat. The food is consistent and there is no other good BBQ places in south lake tahoe. Friendly staff and nice bar, even though it's a bit small.
(4)Mahn M.
Wow, best BBQ by far. You have to eat here. Their mash potatoes are excellent. Pretty much everything on the menus are awesome.
(5)bill l.
The good: the food is great IF, and that's a huge IF, it comes out within a half hour and if it is hot. The reality is that they have serious service and kitchen problems. I've been there three times - the first time was great. The last two have been horrible failures. 45 minutes waiting for the food and then it comes out cold?!?!? And the worst part was that the owner (who was there) was indifferent. This place will not last unless the owner makes an investment in staff. It's a shame, the food was good - the one time it came out hot.
(1)Selma S.
The food was really good, but our waitress was absolutely HORRIBLE!! We were here for a birthday party and had informed the waitress we would be a group of about 12. She told us we could sit wherever and to move the tables. We decided to sit outside and another very nice waitress helped us move some tables. When our "rude" waitress returned she said "o I didn't know you were moving thooose tables." Throughout the entire afternoon she continued to make rude comments. She disappeared for quite sometime and we had some people in our group who hadn't ordered food yet. One of our group members put their hand in the air when she walked by and she rudely said "yes 'arms.' I can see you. What do you want?" It was as if she was offended that we had to flag her down even though she wasn't being attentive to our table (btw we were the only people in the entire restaurant so she wasn't busy). Another member of our group had a child and asked for a kid's drink. The waitress told her "this is a bar, we don't have kids drinks." When she brought our food over there were some people standing and she said "i have a lot of food. Move over." Maybe she was having a bad day, but a person with a poor attitude like that does not belong in a restaurant. Food was good, but not worth going here if you have this waitress. Complete disappointment as we had heard such great things about this place. But regardless of how great the food is, we won't be coming back just because of this waitress' bad attitude and poor treatment of her customers.
(1)K. L.
Great food, good price and quick service! The pulled pork was fantastic.
(5)simon h.
Its okay, I wouldn't say what the other reviewers say, But if someone wants to pay for my food ill go back, as for now the super market has ribs, portions small, 5 ribs for 1/2 rack...and there was more coleslaw on my sandwich than pulled pork, typical SLT restaurant.
(2)Gia R.
Driving back home from Tahoe, we stopped here for lunch. Our group of seven was seated almost immediately by our friendly waitress. The restaurant played oldies, mostly Motown (Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye) and artists of other genres like Frank Sinatra and some unrecognisable jazz -- a little bit for everybody. Our waitress brought our drinks out instantly and was very on top of taking our orders quickly. It took a while for the waitress/other waiters checking in on our table to clear empty plates, but it wasn't too big of a problem. I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich with coleslaw on the side (instead of on top like it's shown in the menu) and bbq beans. I was expecting the beans to be like Heinz beans which they were not at all. They were still delicious! Rather hot, but not too spicy. The pulled chicken was perfect, not slimy or dry, just perfectly juicy without being remotely gross. Another person at our table had the pulled pork sandwich and RAVED about how perfectly tender the pork was and how much she loved the bbq sauce, and would recommend it to anyone trying this restaurant out. After dinner they brought out our bill and and warm towels with lemon to wipe our hands. I only took off a star for the plates being left on the table and the fries being a bit cold. I do not recommend getting the fries as a side, go with the beans instead. 4/5.
(4)John F.
Great food and reasonably priced, especially for Tahoe. The manager or owner actually came out and introduced himself and checked how our meal was which was pretty cool. Our family had a great time and highly recommend it.
(5)Eric G.
Friendly owner the service was OK but the ribs were tuff and the brisket was a bit dry. This place has a lot of potential but needs to be polished up on your barbecue just ok.
(2)Kraig R.
Had take out tonite ..beef and pork rib combo. Excellent did not get sauce to go didn't matter .BBQ stands on it own . Sides were fine. Wish I'd eaten in place looks great. Nice vibe.
(4)Bob C.
went there last night first time, it was late and near closing, the combo chicken and rib platter was cold and dry. food was tasty, will try again to see if it was just end of day. service was good and draft beer good. This location has had a series of flops over the years. we are locals of 40 years.
(3)Mike C.
Would not go back and try again. The too cool for school bartender didn't even introduce himself and took forever getting to us even though we were almost the only ones there. The BBQ sauce is bad. It tastes like sweetened ketchup. The jalapeño poppers were good, but not hot at all. Disappointing. The best part was pulling back out on to highway 50.
(1)Linda R.
The delicious BBQ was only topped by the attentive service. I had the beef brisket with yummy garlic mashed potatoes! Our table also ate the ribs and chicken and it was all good. The dry rub is top notch. The BBQ sauce had just the right zing. We highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Laura R.
Loved the service, food was delicious, and atmosphere was perfect!! Had beef ribs, brisket, pork ribs, and my daughter had the pulled pork sliders(she loved them even as a very picky eater). The owner Sonny came around and greeted all the customers, which I appreciated, and got our feed back. Food was delicious(except cole slaw). My husband and I ordered a bottle of Pinot Noir( irony vineyards) which was excellent!! I highly recommend this place for a great dinner. My kids(9,11) finished up their entire meal.
(5)Michelle R.
We went there on July 3rd around 8:30 PM and was told it would be a 10 minute wait. We did get seated in that time frame however it went down hill from there. We were seated in the bar and the waitress asked us what we would like to drink, upon receiving the drinks we put in an order for the BBQ nachos and were told about all of the things they were sold out of as it was a busy holiday weekend. They had no brisket, no onion rings, no black beans, no poppers, I think there was one or two other items they were out of as well. I didn't mind them being sold out of some of the side dishes or appetizers but when you are sold out of one of your staple items such as the brisket the hostess should tell you before you are seated. Did it occur to you that maybe we were there for the brisket that you just so happened to be sold out of? The waitress came back over a couple of times to take our dinner order and we told her we would prefer to wait until the appetizer came out to place the dinner order, I can't stand when appetizers and entrees are all brought out at once. After the 3rd time of being asked for our dinner order we went ahead and placed it and continued to wait for the appetizer. A few minutes after taking our dinner order the waitress came by the table and asked if we wanted to order a snack? Keep in mind we have been waiting 30+ minutes for the appetizer which I thought was the "snack". I told her we already ordered BBQ nachos and she proceeded to tell me that there is a 45 minute wait for food orders to come out (45 minutes for nachos are you for real). The waitress proceeded with the blame game of "didn't the hostess inform you of the long wait", no the hostess did not tell us of any long waits and neither did you. A few minutes goes by and the waitress comes out with a few plates of corn bread and sets them down on various tables as well as ours, I'm assuming there were a few other tables who had been waiting 30+ minutes for some sort of food and were given the same excuse. I guess this was a "snack" to tie us over until the kitchen was able to get the food out. I hope they get their act together, there are very few places with quality food and service in South Lake Tahoe. I was really looking forward to dinning somewhere other than a pizza place when in Tahoe.
(1)Josh G.
I was really excited for a new BBQ joint in town, but to.my dismay, it did not deliver. I ordered the beef ribs, which still had the silverskin on them. The seasoning was nice, but the ribs were inedible and in no way fell off the bone. My girlfriend ordered the half chicken. The menu said it had a crispy skin. The skin was loose and fatty, although the smoky flavor was nice. My mac and cheese was broken, with the oil separated from the cheese. The cornbread tasted like yellow cake from a box with jalapenos added. I will not return. I really wish Sonny's was better. South Lake could use some good BBQ.
(1)Caroline M.
Went for lunch with my husband and 4 friends after a hike. My husband and I shared a brisket sandwich with sweet potato fries ($12). Friends ordered the pulled pork sandwiches. We all thought the meat tasted good, not great. The brisket was cut into chunks, not sliced or shredded like usual, and was a bit dry. The bread was good. The fries were average. We all thought the portions were very skimpy. One half of our brisket sandwich had almost no meat at all in it. Same for the pulled pork. The service was efficient and friendly. Liked the atmosphere and décor. Probably won't be back unless there is a 2-for-1 coupon.
(2)Linda I.
They are new and have a few bugs but cute place, The brisket was in edible due to bad meat quality and not cooked nearly long enough. great BBQ chicken salad, and wait staff was great! Lots of menu options and sides.
(2)Gail H.
Excellent!! Great service & fantastic St.Louis Ribs & side dishes. Fried pickles a bonus. Outdoor setting was relaxing!
(5)Shirley M.
We're always on the look-out for a good BBQ place and we just happened to be passing by Sonney's BBQ Shack on our way from Emerald Bay. Saw tons of cars out front and decided to stop by. So glad we did! We had the St. Louis Spare Ribs and BBQ chicken and OMG - in heaven! The BBQ sauce was awesome and the side dishes were all yummy. Staff were all friendly and Sonney came out to check in on us a few times. Definitely coming back to try the brisket since they ran out today - must be good! This will be our go-to place every time we visit Tahoe!
(5)Sylvia H.
Ate here once for lunch and loved it. The owners are doing a nice job remodeling the interior, with nice new bathrooms and hardwood floors throughout the dining and bar area. They are still working on the outdoor area, and I'm looking forward to seeing their handiwork outside. The decor really suits Tahoe with the pine beams in the walls and the brick red painted wall color. Warm and friendly! The BBQ was delicious, and I love that you can pick 2 side dishes. I wish there was a little less black pepper in the sauce, but I'm not a person who enjoys spicy food, so take that with a grain of salt. We had the pork ribs which were tender and juicy, not overly smoky, and the half chicken, which was juicy and smoked perfectly. Too bad the mac n cheese was cold.. I didn't eat it. No use eating the calories if I couldn't fully enjoy them. There were a lot of servers working lunch and that kept things rolling. Everyone there is very polite and professional. We will be loyal customers and are excited that this new restaurant is in Tahoe. Ordering take-out tonight!
(4)Amanda K.
Amazing! My hubby and I just finished our hike and he wanted a bbq joint. I'm not big into it but I decided to give it a shot. Boy am I glad I did! The food is amazing! I have the pulled bbq chicken! It was moist and the bbq sauce is so yummy!! It had enough flavor without too much spice. The fries wee delicious as well!! You have to try them!!! My hubby had the brisket and corn chowder soup! He loved it! Said it was perfect! A+++ service also! Overall this is the best bbq place we have gone too in a long time!
(5)Renee R.
I can honestly say this place has awesome BBQ. We had the brisket, spare ribs, baked beans, pulled pork sandwiches and chili verde...and all of it was delicious! The flavors were spot on when it comes to BBQ and the sauce. We will be back the next time we are vacationing in Tahoe!
(5)Paige S.
This place deserves 5stars!! The BBQ sauce was unique;the price is totally reasonable; ambience is totally awesome(best service and live music)!!
(5)Raquel L.
This review is much more about service then the quality of food because if you read this entire review you will learn that after 2 hours we NEVER received our food. And more importantly if this was about the food you will read that by 7:00 p.m. on a Saturday evening, they not only didn't have pulled pork OR brisket to offer, but they also did NOT have the St. Louis ribs...negating half of their menu. (All information we found out after waiting 20 minutes for a table, and ordering drinks and an appetizer) because my family of four decided we had wanted the part of the menu that was no longer available we ALL needed to decide on something else. By the time this happens, another waitress came over to tell us our meal was going to be comped because of the inconvenience . My husband and I absolutely REFUSED and said we wanted to order and would still pay. We placed our new order...and thought everything was ok. Drinks came, appetizer came...food never came. At one point a small plate of warm towels appeared...ok...we thought our food was coming. Our empty glasses were NEVER refilled or even offered to be refilled. We watched four tables arrive, eat, and then leave. I was so upset that we walked out. I couldn't believe how we were being treated. On our way out, the waitress that had come over to tell us they were comping the meal said goodbye, and hoped everything was good...we replied "we never got our food" the look on her face shown how much she was mortified! She turned to our initial waitress and said "are you kidding me Rachael?!?"...she replied "I didn't know they ordered any food"...in my mind...why the warm towels? We will NEVER return to this restaurant...we will tell everyone we know about our experience. I am 40 years old and myself and my family love to try new places...we have never had an experience anywhere close to this terrible experience.
(1)Kelly R.
I'm kinda picky when it comes BBQ, spent a lot of time in KC. My first visit was pretty blown away by my brisket sandwich and the sauce. Most Sauces can be bland and overly sweet. Had a depth in smoky flavor and some heat despite its ketchupy appearance. Will definitely be back and see how they handle their ribs. Cold beer, live music, outdoor patio and some good Q. Perfect Sunday afternoon after getting off the trail.
(5)Stephanie H.
We will be back!!!! The good was AMAZING and the service was FANTASTIC! All 8 of us in our group loved our food and we all ordered something different. The waitress was nice and super fast service. Even loved the warm towels at the end!
(5)John F.
We stopped by on a local's recommendation, and we are glad we did. Excellent BBQ.
(5)Kelsea E.
Great BBQ! Deep fried mac and cheese and pork sliders as starters with combo rib plate and you get 2 choices for sides other than still waiting on the liquor license, wet naps and toothpicks at the end would be awesome!! This was our first time here and our server Sean gave us the run down of the menu and great service. Thanks and we will definitely be back with friends.
(4)Steve K.
Went to Sonney's today for lunch on a whim. Great choice, we had the pulled pork sandwich and the St. Louis style ribs and they were FAN!!! Great smoke flavor and spices. I am a rib guy and these were top notch. A bit pricey but I would say it was worth it. Really cool place with outdoor patio and seating. Highly recommend.
(5)Kelly B.
The pig hater burger was awesome. The patty was well seasoned with a wonderful toasted bun. The brisket sandwich was great too. We went two days in a row. Service was great too.
(5)Leanne A.
Service is awesome. Friendly, go out of their way, super staff. Order the BBQ and you won't be disappointed. Brisket was delicious. Beer selection was good. Went twice in one week. Definitely recommend this place.
(4)Jim M.
These folks know how to do things right. Some of the best service at the lake and the food was fantastic.
(5)Michelle G.
Nice environment, very friendly service. Server explained no booze, as they wait for delays in obtaining a liquor license. BBQ was quite respectable, but the sides were average. I don't recommend the mac n cheese, or the coleslaw. The coleslaw is bland, but not soupy or loaded with mayo....just boring. The pork ribs have a fantastic smoky flavor, tender and not dry. Crazy....the best thing I had was chile verde...a sample the server brought us......I keep thinking about that, and will go back to order it. Instead of wetnaps, deliciously warm, lemon scented wash clothes. Nice touch. Owner came to see how we liked our meal....I found him chatty and charming. Hope they get the liquor license, ribs need beer.
(3)Lizzy R.
BBQ Pork Nachos were delicious :) Service not so great. We were disappointed that their outdoor area wasn't open yet (5/25).
(3)Janice E.
It's nice to have a decent barbecue restaurant in the Y area of town. My wife and I and two of our friends ate there for the first time last night. The decor and atmosphere of the place is wonderful; a nice change from the uninspired Rockwater. The service is very attentive and the owner goes out of his way to greet you and make sure you are happy. My wife and I had the half chicken. Love the barbecue sauce and the chicken was juicy and flavorful. Our friends had the pork ribs and the pulled chicken sandwich and said they were both good. We found our sides to be inconsistent in quality. Thumbs up on the cheesy grits and I liked the mac and cheese (although our friend did not). The collard greens, with bacon, are good but a bit too salty. The sweet potato fries were a bit on the soggy side. The cornbread was mediocre. Our friend had the pecan pie, which she described as "just okay". I will definitely return to this restaurant. I think it has great potential, especially once they perfect the quality of their side dishes.
(4)Rick L.
Had dinner there tonight. REALLY GREAT. Brent was our server and he was outstanding. We had the ribs and brisket and they were all outstanding. We will be back.
(5)Kenny W.
I'm a little surprised with some of the good reviews of this place after my recent dining experience here. Not much went right. When we first walked in, there was nobody to meet us at the door. After about 10 minutes, the hostess showed up and told us it would be a 45 minute wait even though there were open tables all over the place and nobody on the wait list ahead of us. We ended up being seated only 5 minutes later though, which was strange. We sat out on the patio. It was nice enough out there, with some good music playing. The only problem is that there weren't enough menus for all of us. Then when the waitress came around about 10 minutes later, she told us she would get us some water and come back for the drink order. 10 minutes went by, no sign of water and no drink order was taken. When we finally ordered and received our drinks, we were told that they were out of brisket. Bummer, since that seems to be the most popular item. But we were told that brisket sandwiches were still available. Two people in our party ordered that. My brother had to switch from the brisket to the pulled pork sandwich, and he ordered coleslaw on the side. At that point, the waitress probably should have mentioned that there is already coleslaw on the sandwich. An hour or so goes by, and no food. To make matters worse, our drinks sat empty for most of that time and nobody came by to refill them. Half an hour later, we noticed the people next to us just received a salad. Worrisome, since they arrived before we did. Another half hour goes by and some people receive their order, but the waiter (where did our waitress go?) tells us they are out of the brisket sandwich. Why did it take two hours for someone to tell us that they didn't have what we ordered?! On top of that, the other food was mediocre. The pulled pork sandwich was ok but had very little sauce. The half chicken was "mostly bone" according to my sister. Another person's order didn't have cornbread, even though it was supposed to be included. The owner came over to talk to us about the order problem and was very unapologetic. His defense was that the ticket was already in the window before they ran out an hour ago. Which to me means that nobody even looked at our ticket for almost 2 hours, let alone started on preparing the meal. The owner offered free rib dinners in 3 minutes to the people who had no food, which was nice, but the meat was tough, gristly, and cold. One person couldn't get the meat off the bone with a fork and knife, let alone with her teeth. And still, our drinks sat empty. At this point it was dark and there are very few lights outside, so we could hardly even see the food. Overall, not a good experience. It seemed like maybe they are understaffed and on a tight food budget.
(1)paige r.
yummy... great ribs and the sweet potato fries are incredible. Great service and foods to go. Love it.. Lots of food given at a reasonable price..
(5)Bob B.
The food is decent. The service ok but lacking in some respects. When iced tea is served, I think making sure the customer doesn't have to ask for sweetener is advisable. And when a burger is served it might be nice to ensure a couple of condiments like mustard and ketchup are on the table as well so that the customer doesn't have wave the server down to ask for them and then wait to have them delivered. And when did the going price for a cheese burger and fries become $13.50? This is not a Slaters 50/50 burger. It is a nice patty on a bun with a lot of lettuce, some pickles, tomatoes, and onions, but not a gourmet burger.
(3)Amber W.
Amazing food!!! This place is a must for us every time we come to tahoe. We haven't tasted anything we that we haven't liked. The bbq sauce is soooooooo good! Perfect smokey flavor with a bite.
(5)Lisa Q.
Had an amazing lunch. The ribs fell off the bone. The corn bread and sweetened butter was mouth watering and they even served warm hand towels for cleanup. Our server was amazing too. His name was Kyle!!!
(5)Nick B.
Stopped in for lunch with a group of 12. We sat out on the deck and received great service. All of our food choices were tasty and served promptly. We will be going back!
(4)