Judge’s Bar-B-Que
2104 W Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN, 46222
Judge’s Bar-B-Que Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Indianapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Indianapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Indianapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2104 W Michigan St
Indianapolis, IN, 46222 - Phone (317) 631-0340
- Website https://www.judgesbbq.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Sam S.
I found this little gem while searching for a decent BBQ place in Indy. The restaurant is housed in an old restored building with plenty of seating and space. The decor is well done and unpretentious- the perfect atmosphere for eating BBQ. The menu is extensive with a wide variety of meat choices and side dishes that it almost makes it difficult to choose! I enjoyed the pulled pork which was both juicy and smokey. The baked beans, green beans and corn bread were all equally delicious. Of course, a BBQ meal would not be complete without a tall glass of sweet tea. Aside from the food, the staff is friendly and makes you feel like family. Judge and his daughter were working the day I was there and they made my friend and I feel right at home. Judge even brought us around back to see his grilling system and spoke to us about the beauty of hickory smoked BBQ. Judge's BBQ is definitely the type of restaurant you want to keep in business. Next time you are in Indy and have a hankering for some good old fashioned BBQ, this is your place.
(4)Eric S.
I don't live in Indy anymore, but after searching for online for some corn casserole, it reminded me that I NEED to review Judge's. When I worked downtown, I walked by Judges in Market Square everyday and he was always out there stoking those big weber grills. It was bbq heaven every day. Hands down the best pulled pork sandwich I've ever had. Never had coleslaw on my sandwich till Judge's and now I get it that way everywhere. Who knew pork and slaw went so well together. Delicious smoky flavor. Perfect. Oh and that Corn Casserole? You'll moan when you eat it. Oh yeah, its that good. And if you had it you understand why 5 years later Im writing a review about it. Top notch. This is a great family run business. Take care of them.
(5)Daniel M.
This one of the most authentic and delicious barbecue places in indy, a must try for any fan. Forget about the high priced places right downtown, just go a few more minutes west.
(5)Byron G.
Awesome! Meaty pile of smoked ribs. Judge gave us a tour and showed us the magic smokers that make such fabulous ribs. Thanks Judge! Great tour and even better ribs!
(5)Jason T.
I was fortunate enough to try pretty much all of his items at a event he put on recently. The judge was extremely nice and courteous and told us all about the history of his restaurant and himself. Everything was very flavorful and delicious, if you like bland food do not come here. My only gripe about the food is the sauce, he has a dark rich brown sauce. Not a sweet and spicy, or tangy barbecue sauce. So that was kind of a dealbreaker for me I won't go back just because I do not like the barbecue sauce at all. But oh my God the food was amazing!
(4)Pete F.
Ok it is as good as everyone made it out to be. This place shouldn't ever have under 4 stars, and if you think it should talk to Judge about your problem he is a very nice man. Everything from scratch is how Judges does it. This includes all of the sides to the old school way of cooking his meat ( charcoal!!). I tried every form of meat they had on the menu and it was all top notch. All of the pulled products were juicy but not greasy. The beef brisket had a nice smoke ring and could be cut with a fork or plastic knife. The chicken thighs and legs had seasoning swap into the meat making every bit as flavorful as the last. All the sides are good but you must try the corn bread stuffing, awesome!!
(5)Gyamfua G.
Ok...so maybe the westside of downtown is not your thing. You stop at the hospital, but venturing over the bridge on Michigan road...umm not so much....WELL YOUR MISSING OUT!! Judge's BBQ has been a staple of revitalization of West Michigan Road for several years now. Located on the other side of Haughville, directly across the street from the library and the Wheeler's Tow yard, Judges offers up mouth watering, tender flavorful BBQ for your soul. Less then 2 miles down from the restaurant and you can already smell the distinct smell of BBQ...you know you are in for a treat. I tried the pulled pork, which was tender and smoky. The chicken was my absolute favorite. The seasoning was not only on the outside of the chicken but peel the skin off and two-3 layers in, you can still see the seasoning....NOW THAT IS SOME GOOD CHICKEN. Judge's unfortunately is not open Mon-Thursday...But BAAABY if your anything like me and treat yourself on payday Friday's...this is the buffet to be at. YES...I SAID BUFFET...they have a Lunch Buffet at Judges every Friday. If you are having a wedding, work lunch or employee appreciation---skip the BORING sandwiches and hit up a local, hometown favorite, and utilize Judges for your catering. Your employees will THANK YOU!!
(5)Amber P.
Went to Judge's today because it is my father's favorite BBQ place. Now, I'm not BBQ connesiour(sp?) but he is and only prefers Judge's. He pointed out to me that their meat has VERY little fat, if at all, while most other BBQ spots take any cut of meat with any amount of fat on it and serve it up as is. The quality of the meat and the seasoning is what keeps him coming back and of course, me with him. Their pulled pork and pulled chicken is very flavorful, and the restaurant inside is beautiful!
(4)Dan L.
Always wanted to try this place and their Groupon deal a few months ago finally made me do it. I will definitely be returning! I always had a lot of respect for the Judge simply because of what he did restoring a run down building in Haughville and running a successful business from it. Expectations were high that the food would live up to it's reputation. My groupon covered the Friday night buffet for two. Overall, I was very pleased. Not the best BBQ I've had by any means, but high quality overall and the sides really stole the show. Those were definitely some of the best I've had at any BBQ joint. The green beans were very flavorful and the corn casserole and mac and cheese were definitely my favorites. My only complaints were I felt the food should've been a bit warmer on the buffet and there wasn't anyone coming around to clear dirty plates until we left. The Judge himself took a couple strolls around the restaurant to check how folks were doing as others have seen. Very cool to still see him putting his heart and soul into serving other people.
(4)Brian C.
Great food, great establishment!check em out during the race on Georgetown and get a turkey leg!
(4)Simon K.
This is a place to go. Among the best BBQ in Indianapolis, great interior, and friendly folks. The neighborhood looks a bit sketchy at first and I seem to always miss the entrance to the parking lot, but definitely worth the trip every time. I recommend the brisket or pulled pork with the spicy BBQ sauce. If you like good sweet tea, they have plenty on hand as well. While on your first visit the neighborhood might compel you to head to the door sooner rather than later, don't forget to take in a whiff of the beautiful smell of the smokers filling the air around the place. Also don't miss the owner making the rounds saying hello and checking if everything is okay.
(5)Chris L.
Not what I was hoping. Brisket tasted like it was cooked Tuesday... It's Friday. Smoked sausage, and chicken were good and tasted fresh. Pulled pork was tender and bland. Bread was dry and the entire meal was overpriced.
(2)Kurt V.
As a Bama boy living in Indiana I consider myself a BBQ expert. I was Travis' (GT South) friend and frequent customer, and now Judge's biggest fan. A great place for southern food in a super setting, and now with the incredible lunch buffet the perfect quick or relaxed meal. You will not be disappointed. Try the corn casserole for some Indiana/Mississippi fusion.
(5)Brittany S.
For those times when you want to show your intern what a pig you are and do it all on a shoestring budget: enter Judge's all-you-can-eat Friday BBQ lunch. Yes, you heard me, all you can eat BBQ! Ribs, ribs, ribs (obviously my favorite), pulled pork, pulled chicken, mac n' cheese, corn pudding (just like mom's), boiled and buttered cabbage and buns. I'm feeling full just talking about it. I loved Judge's before I even experienced their bbq. The owner has such a social media and in-person personality that you can't help but jump on his bbq-loving bandwagon. Good news is, his business and eats are just as good as I had imagined. If I had to pick three dishes from the buffet to fill myself to the rim: ribs, mac n' cheese and corn pudding. Yeahhhhh that's where it's at. Oh! The cost? $11-$12 for the buffet. Extremely reasonable - especially given my loaded down styrofoam plate.
(5)Laura H.
I had the same experience as Alan and Alex. This place was closed with no explanation as to why. I won't waste my time trying to get in there again.
(1)Scott N.
I love Judge's BBQ. It is everything that you would want from an urban BBQ joint. The character of the builidng is outstanding with exposed brick and raw beams makes the place feel rustic without being run-down. The staff is friendly and always boistrous (something that is absolutely required for the consumption and enjoyment of BBQ). I love the food and I especially love the lunch buffet which gives you all of the BBQ, sides, and rolls you could ever want. I have to say, this is probably the best BBQ in Indy.
(5)Kara P.
Best BBQ in Indy, hands-down. Chicken, pulled pork, ribs...everything here is good. The hours are pretty limited, but if you're in the downtown area during lunch hours Mon - Fri this place is worth checking out. Prices are very reasonable and the portions are just right. I come away full, but not stuffed. The green beans and mac and cheese are pretty tasty too.
(5)Wanda M.
Give it a try. You want be disappointed. Pulled BBQ Chicken, baked beans, corn casserole, greens excellent. Try the lunch buffet. All forementioned plus pulled pork, chicken, mac cheese, fried apples etc. Tradional, warm pub feeling. Friendly staff & owner, Judge stopped by our table for our thought on resturant. Great place for lunch...just wish they were open for dinner. To far for lot of our friends for lunch.
(4)Dan M.
I've had lots of bbq all over the country. I seek out new places whenever I travel somewhere. I stumbled across this place in a sorta sketchy part of town. I liked it. I ordered pulled pork and chicken. Quite good. I'd definitely return if I'm in the area again.
(4)Kristine A.
Came for lunch with hubby and daughters. I not a buffet girl, but seriously. Here's a sampling - pork, chicken, ribs, rib tips, crazy-good sweet potatoes and baked beans. Greens and slaw. My 7 year old was in heaven especially with the green beans. Seriously the best I have EVER had. Different buffet items daily. FYI you can order off the menu for more choices or non-buffet fans. Plus BONUS - they cater! Office party anyone ? Random comment but the fountain drinks were perfectly fizzy and I'm picky about that! Ask for Judge! He's a great guy. And pick up some BBQ sauce to take home.
(5)Sonya A.
If you want BBQ for lunch during the week (not dinner and not on the weekends) Judge's is a great place to go. Excellent lunch buffet lets you try a little bit of everything, greens, chicken, brisket, corn bread casserole, mac and cheese. Very clean place. I guess the only thing that drives me crazy is that you add the BBQ to the meat as opposed to have the meat cooked on it. Food: 3/5 Service: 3/5 Location: 4/5
(3)Sofia V.
I might be a Midwestern girl but my extensive family in Texas has made me a bit of a barbecue snob, and let me tell you, Judge's is the most authentic barbecue that I have ever had in the north. This makes sense since Judge himself is straight out of Mississippi. I took advantage of Judge's Friday lunch buffet and everything is delicious, but if you have to eat one thing and one thing only you HAVE to have his ribs. They are seasoned with a mouth watering dry rub and cooked to perfection. It will have you licking the bone until there is no meat left. I always say that the best ribs are the ones where you don't need sauce, they can stand on their own. With these ribs I would skip the BBQ sauce if Judge's sauce wasn't so finger-licking good! This is real sauce ya'll! Not this thick mess you find on the shelves of the grocery store. Judge's recipe is authentic and delicious! I tend to like things hot, and his spicy sauce adds the perfect kick. But don't be shy to try all the fixin's when you're there. Judge's creamy mac n' cheese is authentic as it gets and the corn bread souffle is out of this world, with corn kernels that compliment each bite. The picnic style tables add to the southern feel. Along with the tastes and smells you will think that you have traveled to a local BBQ joint in Mississippi rather than Indianapolis.
(5)Alan W.
We had the same experience as Alex M. We made a special trip to judge's on a Thursday, March 26. Even more disappointing was that we called on the way from Lafayettette to ask about the buffet and were told that it was only on Friday, but no mention that they weren't open the hours that were listed for that day.
(1)Billy V.
Judge's has solid pulled pork and pulled chicken. Their ribs, however, are not the greatest. Where they really shine is their side dishes. Sweet potatoes, mac n cheese, corn casserole, baked beans, potato salad, and broccoli are all on the menu and are all worth eating. The BBQ sauce is a thin and spicy concoction that comes in Original, Mild, and Spicy. It's really not to my taste (I'm prone to pick sweet honey BBQ sauces), but it's flavorful and pairs nicely with the pulled meats. Overall the restaurant is clean, the staff is friendly and personable, it was easy to find a seat at lunch, and the buffet was refreshed every few minutes with meats and sides alike. For those wondering the lunch buffet (what almost everyone seems to order) is $10.95 M-TH and $11.95 on Fridays (due to the addition to ribs to the line).
(3)Alex M.
Came here for first time on a Monday at 1 pm. Not open, no sign on door,nothing. Went out of our way to check this place out. Not impressed.
(1)Carolyn W.
Been to many BBQ places all over the country. This is the best! Corn pudding, greens mmmm. Good lunch buffet. Not to miss at the State Fair, the Mini or anywhere around town.
(5)George V.
Every day during the work week, Judge's puts out a barbecue buffet spread that has to be unrivaled in Indianapolis. It features succulent pork spare ribs, moist pulled pork and chicken and rib tips. A simple but effective salt-and-pepper rub was used on the ribs. They complement the meats with three difference versions of their vinegar-based sauce, varying in heat level. The baked beans also were smoky, seasoned by the pork. Their macaroni and cheese was notable because it really is macaroni and actual cheese (no Velveeta could be detected). Also on the buffet were candied yams, a creamy cornbread pudding, collard greens and a coleslaw liked very much by my picky spouse. You can learn more about Judge's and its interesting story at my Barbecued Adventures blog -- barbecuedadventures.blog…
(4)Brittany L.
The BBQ is really good here, and the sauce is awesome. Next time you run out of Cattleman's, Kraft...whatever you usually buy...get thee to Haughville and buy some of Judge's sauce. It's terrific. There are 3 varieties (mild, medium, hot), and although I prefer the medium, they're all very good. They're only open for lunch during the weekdays. Weekends they're closed for the catering stuff. First off, all the employees were SUPER friendly, helpful, and smiling. Tables were cleaned quickly, the buffet was cleaned up and replenished often, and everyone greets you, asks how you are, and thanks you for coming in as you leave. The buffet includes 2 meats, bread, greens, baked beans, corn casserole, sweet potatoes (yams? I dunno), cabbage, mac and cheese, cole slaw, potato salad...at least on the day I went. It's $10.99, which is a pretty good value if you're a big eater. If you're a normal-to-light eater, I'd say order a sandwich and one side and you'll save money and still be pretty stuffed. I was very impressed with the pulled chicken and pulled pork. My coworker had an order of wings and said they were the best she'd had. They have one very unique item on the menu, the smoked pork tenderloin. It's along the lines of a boneless smoked pork chop...definitely something to try in the future! There is a good-sized parking lot and this restaurant is right across the street from the library. Nice, clean interior.
(4)Craig P.
Top barbeque and home cooking establishment in Indy! I went to Judge's for the first time with colleagues and fell in love with their lunch buffett... and when I say buffet, I don't mean a spread of mediocre, easy fixes for the lunch crowd which sits beneath a heat lamp. I mean the first item on the buffet is the star of the show: smokey, moist choices of chicken, pork, and beef. Pile it on, whether on a bun or straight to your plate. But leave room. You MUST sample, or pile on, Judge's mac n' cheese, corn pudding/caserole, greens, potato salad, and cole slaw - all part of the buffet, which you can't miss! If you don't leave happy, full, and ready to beach yourself in a hammock and dream of third helpings, then that's all the more for me!
(5)Mark V.
I went to Judge's Bar-B-Que for the first time this past Friday. I tried going here before on a Saturday, but they are closed on the weekends. The cost for Friday's buffet is $11.95 and drinks are $1.95. I am perfectly fine with those prices as the food is excellent and the cook has standards. You use paper plates and plastic silverware, but I have no issues with this as the most important reason to go is the food. Also, you clean your own table. I just like to give all the information so people are not surprised when they get there. Also, you will have noticed I gave this place a five stars, so any of those things were a nonissue for me. First the food. The ribs are a dry rub with the option to put on your own sauce. The meat has enough flavor to stand on its own easily with no sauce. The ribs are tender and have great color to them. The burnt ends were also excellent. I preferred sauce on the pulled pork and chicken which is also on the menu on Friday. The spicy sauce had just a little kick but it had excellent flavor. Both of these items were very good. As for the sides, they could also be the star of the show. Baked beans and corn casserole were outstanding and the mac and cheese was good. I didn't get to try the apples, greens, Cole slaw or potato salad as I was stuffed. Top recommendations for this place are the ribs and baked beans. These were by far the best baked beans I have ever tasted. The building is very warm and inviting and well laid out. The owner cares about his business and it shows in the cleanest of the restaurant. The staff is friendly and helpful. The owner stopped by and checked on me while I was stuffing my face. :) A very nice gentleman. Yet, another restaurant in Indianapolis that gets it. Good food, fair prices and high standards. Judges gets top marks in all three categories. If you are bored of chain restaurants and think for yourself and are not manipulated by millions of dollars in TV commercials to make yourself believe you have to eat average to below average overpriced food at some chain restaurant, I am one of you. Let's all keep supporting the true food scene in Indy.
(5)Jake M.
Came here for lunch. Not knowing the area, I trusted Yelp to steer me in the right direction. I was not disappointed. Not only was the tri-tip excellent, but I was made to feel extremely welcome. Judge chatted it up for a good 5-10 minutes while I waited for my order.
(5)Jason O.
Stopped for lunch here with a group of co workers. They had been before a year or two ago and didn't come back because they thought that the portion sizes were small for the price. What changed? All you can eat buffet! On the day we stopped it was pulled pork, chicken, brisket, slaw, and potato salad. I though everything was pretty good and it wan nice to have a variety!
(4)MJ W.
I met Judge and he gave me a full tour! The attention to detail is pure heart. He loves to barbecue. The inside is great and perfect for large groups. I went on a Tuesday and it was packed, so get there early for lunch. I had the pulled pork and the brisket. The sweet potatoes are mouth watering. I can't wait to go back. Quick Tip: IUPUI folks get 10% discount.
(5)John W.
So we just had lunch here Monday June 23rd. We dont get here often as they are only open Monday through Friday 11am-4pm. The location is not the best or the worst but during these hours there is not much to worry about. They have a buffet set up everyday with different things on it each day. It is like $11 for the buffet and then like $2 for your drink. Coke products. yuck. I did try their sweet tea and it tasted bad so I dumped it out and got a coke. Eye roll. So today's buffet had pulled pork and chicken. To the best of my knowledge the chicken was all white meat. You put your own sauce on it which is the way i prefer it. For sides they had yams, collard greens, baked beans, corn casserole, potato salad, cabbage and I am sure that i left something out. All were great. We did order a side of BBQ meatloaf and when brought to us it was ice cold from the fridge. They did take it right back and heated it up. Not a fan of the meatloaf but everything else was great. The clientele is mostly suit and tie business people on their lunch break or with clients. It is a nice restaurant. If you like BBQ then I recommend giving this a try. I give them a solid 3.5 stars. They do need to learn how to make better sweet tea and understand that you must thoroughly clean the tea urn in between each batch and that tea especially in the dead of summer will spoil and sour very quickly if you do not keep it cold. So deductions for the tea and the meatloaf and props for everything else. I prefer to eat at mom and pop small business anyday over a chain. The chocolate cake they had which was obviously made there. Probably a box mix but still good. Not usually a fan of chocolate frosting but this was pretty good. The owner was the one who greeted us and took our order. You order at the counter and pick up your own food. Their is no waiter service here at all. Before somebody goes and has a panic attack when they find this out later. They do ribs on Friday's if memory serves me.
(3)Jenny H.
All the food here was really, really good!! A nice, family-owned and run BBQ restaurant. Came here with a large group and we got their pulled pork and pulled chicken- all very tender and flavorful. You can get a variety of different BBQ sauces with the pulled meat. Their green beans were crisp and fresh, and their corn pudding/casserole was unique and really good (like corn in a bread pudding-like dish). Their roasted cinnamon squash was OK (cubes of soft squash in a sweet cinnamon syrupy sauce) and their mac and cheese was good too. Their sweet tea was really good (not too sweet) and their red velvet cake and lemon cakes were just OK (I saw some Duncan Hines boxes in the back!).
(4)Elda L.
So I did a road trip from LA to Baltimore and found myself in Indy. Given that I had just wrapped up my road trip BBQ taste test while in Missouri, I thought I'd see what Indy has to offer. This place is DELICIOUS! The sweet BBQ sauce is exactly what you should have. The side dishes are phenomenal. But even better, the service is straight up southern hospitality. I got to meet Mr. and Mrs. Judge and they were delightful. Mr. Judge gave a tour of his BBQ'ing practices. Good food, good service, great experience. Get the pulled pork. You'll become a regular.
(5)Mak J.
This review is for the buffet only because so far that is all that I have tried, and I was very glad I did. It's a tad on the pricy side for a lunch buffet ($10.95) but well worth the cost. The buffet consists of pulled chicken and pulled pork for sammichs, and a random other meat they chose for the day. The day I went they had grilled chicken strips that were really good. The dry rub on the meat was excellent. I liked the sauces as well. There is a self serve pump with three different flavors of their house BBQ over by the sodas. The reason why I enjoyed the buffet so much though was the sides. Its a great way to try all the varieties they offer in a cost effective way. And I love sides, so I love it when I can get my hands on more than just one or two. They had green beans (loved 'em), mac and cheese (always a favorite), potato salad (it wasn't the best I ever had but to me, potato salad is like pizza, it's never bad as long as its fresh), an awesome corn bread casserole with whole chunks of corn in it (so unique - never had anything like it), and slaw (didn't try it because I don't like slaw but the bf said it was good). So there you have it. It's definitely worth a shot. The atmosphere is also really nice. It's immaculately clean and looks newly remodeled. The neighborhood's not great though, and there was a used hypodermic needle on the sidewalk near the entrance when we went. The owner is really friendly and personable. You can tell he cares a lot about his business and delivers a quality product. I would go again just to support him and his good attitude, but the food is also a solid reason to return. Can't wait to try the other protein options!
(4)Scotty Z.
Still some of Indy's best BBQ. I hit the jackpot -- a buffet at lunch!! Seriously, I can now die happy. Second ONLY to the pulled pork was the pulled chicken. Both are moist, tender, & flavorful. Sides are good too -- I'd write home about the corn casserole (I have, actually...don't judge...no pun intended). Anyway, hit up Judge's for lunch. As always, IUPUI folks enjoy a 10% discount & there's plenty of parking via a lot out back.
(5)Brandon H.
Excellent food. I'm traveling and needed a place to eat lunch close by work and saw this place on Yelp. It is everything it is advertised to be - great food, nice little place. We had the buffet and it had a dozen choices - 3 meats (pulled pork, chicken and dry rubbed wings), 3 veggies (collard greens, not sure of the other two), and 3 starches (garlic mashed, mac and cheese and beans) rolls and dessert. Mac and cheese was amazing! Pulled pork was excellent - great smokey taste. Buffet was like $11 - worth every penny and more.
(5)Melinda J.
Ok travelers, whether you are coming in or heading out of Indianapolis make sure to stop by Judge's barbecue. As a matter of fact do like we did order a slab of ribs eat a few there then pack them up (well Judge himself had his crew wrap them up for us) to take home to California. Thanks Judge can't wait to come back!
(5)Matt S.
Great atmosphere, love the decor. But not my kind of BBQ. Sauce tasted to much like chili powder, ribs were tough, fatty, and bland. Really wanted to like this place but I will not return.
(2)David M.
Went only once and ordered a full rack of ribs with high expectations. They were tender and cooked ok, the problem was they tasted harsh like hot dogs. I like refreshing tangy, smokey ribs. These were hammy and I struggled through them. Ended up giving the rest of them to my brother who told me about the place. I make ribs myself, way better than any restaurant locally, except for TnT's in Pendleton, that guy is a rock star on bbq. So I tried to figure out the mistake made, why they were harsh and hot doggy, and my only answer was he let the ribs sit in the rub for a long time, maybe even several hours. The salt in the rub. as some experts say, absorb moisture out of the meat and cause them to taste hammy. Perhaps some other time I'll give them a second chance on other menu items because I still exclusively support the mom & pops.
(2)Cory B.
Great BBQ! Everything on the menu is wonderful! I personally recommend the pulled pork, mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, corn casserole, and the juce bar. The prices are reasonable too! The owner and staff are very friendly. The Friday night BBQ buffet and wonderful as well.
(5)Kara F.
I guess the point of Groupon is to encourage you to try new places you haven't heard of before. And to make money, I guess. But that's how I discovered Judge's. I was skeptical at first, but according to the interwebs, it had won tons of BBQ awards. Due to its incredibly limited hours (how are they not open on the weekend?!), I could only make it there for the Friday buffet. But I was pleasantly surprised! It's in a nondescript building on a nondescript street, but the inside is very nice! Comfortable and traditional. The buffet confused me at first - it looked like I was walking in on a church group's potluck. But maybe that's the charm of Judge's. My boyfriend and I tried everything. It all was amazing, but I went back for seconds (and maybe thirds....) of the rib tips - they were so tender and meaty. There were a few different desserts, but I loved the chocolate cake. I think it was just made from a box of cake mix, but it was so good! It seemed like someone at the restaurant had lovingly made it, like my mom would for my birthday. And wouldn't you know it, the Judge himself stopped by. Or at least, a guy who looked just like the logo. I'm kidding, it was him, and honestly, it felt pretty special to meet the Judge after we had enjoyed the awesome BBQ at his restaurant.
(5)Robbie R.
Went there for lunch today to cash in on a Groupon that I recently bought for the BBQ lunch buffet. Yeah I said BBQ buffet. I didn't know that the buffet was only open from 11 to 1 or I would have gotten there earlier. The place is really nice and clean inside. However you have to pay before you eat and the line was about 20 people long. After waiting in line for over 30 minutes we were ready to eat! It is a rather small buffet but everything was good. The baked beans, mac & cheese, cornbread casserole and greens were awesome! I ribs were a little on the tough side but fresh and good. The pulled pork was really good too. I did not get to try any of the rib tips or other sides since they ran out and did not replace them with anything else. After standing in line for so long we had to rush to eat so we could get our fill before they shut down the buffet. All in all not a bad place and I would return, just a little earlier next time.
(3)Shina R.
It's a story, but it has to be told b/c this place is GOLDEN!!! I found Judge's when I googled delivery near my hotel. His place came up & looked the most convenient to where I was staying, since I was by the stadium during Super Bowl when 90% of streets were closed down. So I called, I spoke to Judge who kindly informed me, they do cater, but are not actually a delivery restaurant (altho if they were, they'd probably do well) and he started to ask me some questions. Well I told him I was in from Texas - a well known BBQ state - and that I was really hoping to get something delivered instead of going out on my only day off work. He told me he was waiting for a delivery but after that, in a few hours, he could possibly bring by what ever I wanted. He told me he'd call me back around 2. Around 1, I got so hungry I couldn't stand it & ordered some ok food from the hotels bar. Sure enough he called me back at 2 and said, not only was he able to deliver the food, but he'd already packed everything. & not just packed it as a made sandwich, but separately put the bun, the chicken & the toppings in their own packaging so I could make my sandwich fresh. *Now I'm pretty big on the environment, so I don't usually like a lot of extra packaging, or styrofoam for that reason, but the fact that Judge was so thoughtful about the whole process was just WONDERFUL!! Even though I had just eaten, I told him to bring it on!! I was going to be hungry later & still wouldn't want to go out in the cold on my one day off. & I am sooooo glad he did!!! OH MEE GEE, this food was so good, thinking about it right now is making my mouth water like cray cray!! I had the chicken sandwich (which bbq lovers know is like the red-headed step child of bbq, but I wanted chicken), the mac & cheese and the blackberry cobbler. The chicken was phenomenal, and the sauce was soooo good with it. Plus the fact that he'd kept the bun & topping in their own little baggies meant that the was all extra fresh when I was ready to eat it later. It was also big enough, I ate twice off of it. I would easily call the serving Texas sized. The mac & cheese was delicious too!! I did wish the blackberry cobbler had more blackberries & less cobble, but it too still tasted amazing! I was so impressed, not only with the high quality of the food and the taste of it, but also with Judge's kindness, I pretty much told everybody I could about this place for the rest of my stay. Some locals already knew & the one's who did all had the same compliments to offer up. This place is def a must eat in Indy!! Even if you only slightly like bbq, this will make you a lover!! THANKS AGAIN JUDGE!!! Really wonderful FOOD & SERVICE!!! If I come back to Indy, I will absolutely be coming by to get more of that meat & sauce!!! - Shina
(5)Nicole C.
I need to get more people in the know about Judge's so listen up! If you're an IUPUI or hospital district person and are tired of fighting the crowds at 10th and Indiana, turn your car around and head the other way! Judge's sits about 2 miles west of campus on Michigan, has ample parking, and fastfastfast service. The building doesn't look like much, but the interior is shockingly nice especially for the area of town...would be a great spot for an office gathering with tons of seating and a serve-yourself drink station. The menu is bbq-typical with pulled pork, ribs, brisket, etc and I haven't had anything that's let me down yet. The mac-n-cheese is southerny goodness and the sweet tea is just that. Order at the counter, listen for your name and dig in. Staff has been as sweet as potato pie and the prices are fair.
(4)Randy B.
Nice place, bbq turkey was just okay. Brisket was awful.
(2)Eric S.
I first heard about this place from their attendance at the Sullivan's Hardware Store Turkey-Fest event. The Judge (Judge's BBQ owner himself) was BBQ'ing in a 48" Weber kettle and I sampled one of the best wings I have ever had. I totally forgot about him until they had a Groupon for 1/2 off. I purchased the coupon and have been there twice since and have been finding myself craving there pulled-pork, it is heavenly. The hours are kinda spotty so check their website before you go, but I still give it a 5-star.
(5)Adam L.
Judge's is good BBQ. It's not as good as GT South's or Black Diamond, in my opinion, but still pretty good.
(4)Chris E.
The Judge is AWESOME, in every sense of word! My friend and I were looking for a BBQ place after a lap at the Motor Speedway and decided to check out this place after reading the review by the previous reviewer, especially since it's only 4 miles away. Location wise, it may seem like it's not in the best part of metro Indy, but please don't let that intimidate you, we're two girls who felt completely comfortable with the surroundings! The large building is on a corner on a clean street, plenty of off-street and lot parking spaces. Just short drive away from downtown Indy. The interior gives sense of a cafe you would find in Savannah Georgia, It's airy and open with the high ceiling, large windows providing plenty of natural sunlight, exposed brick walls, wood tables and chairs make it feels like home. There's a smoothie bar and a menu order counter. How hard could it be to pick out something from a straightforward BBQ menu? Well, it may be harder than you think when everything on the menu looks and sounds great and you find yourself in the middle of trying to decide between the turkey or the chicken, the ribs or the tips, or perhaps some brisket or pulled pork....and that's just the left column on the board! How about some green beans(AMAZING!) or baked beans, cole slaw, grilled sweet potatoes(do I smell dessert?!?!?!)? And no BBQ (IMHO) is complete without a cornbread muffin and sweet tea, both of which were superb! The meat is savory and delectable, with the perfect blend of acidity and sweetness, not to mention the hint of hickory smoke that is pleasant to both the nose and the mouth. With most BBQ place, you have to soak everything in BBQ sauce to make it 'BBQ', which was what I did at first(because the Judge's original, medium, and spicy sauces were pretty great), until I had a bite of the ribs and they were fabulous without any dressing! The fact that the meat is just as tasty and succulent without having to dip them in anything? It felt genuine, truly impressive. A common mistake for many restaurants that serve sweet potatoes is to miss the balance between the moistness of the potatoes and the hardiness in the texture. At Judge's BBQ, that is not a problem at all, the sweet potatoes side dish is not too saccharine, but luscious, comforting, and simply yummy! The Judge is a retired Army vet whose passion for BBQ is so obvious that you can feel it in his food and he lights up when talking about cooking his food. His family and staff are sweet and friendly. This place certainly deserves more attention than it gets! Oh, and don't forget your greens, they are just as amazing!
(4)