Beale St. Smokehouse BBQ
2461 North Rd, Fenton, MI, 48430
Beale St. Smokehouse BBQ Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Fenton for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Fenton for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Fenton for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
2461 North Rd
Fenton, MI, 48430 - Phone (810) 750-0507
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Very Loud
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Rita P.
Paid $6 for a beef brisket sandwich with very little meat in it - I should have eaten at subway instead.
(2)Ben K.
Everyone has their favorite BBQ place in which all others are compared to, for me it is this place. Love the pig pen dinner, the corn bread is the best I have ever had, and the (loud) blues music on the weekend is the cherry on the cake.
(5)Cindy C.
I just dined here and had absolutely the best ribs I have ever had!! So meaty, tender and juicy. I cannot wait for the carry out location in Hartland to open.
(5)Bonnie B.
We easily got over the location. Definitely worth finding and will stop again when passing thru on 23. Got the smoked combo, perfect to split for lunch with the homemade House and Beal Hot sauces. Clean and cute with Memphis Beal Street Music Festival posters and blues singer photographs.
(4)Brian H.
Best food, hands down! I seriously love the atmosphere and the employees are exceptional. The owners seem to really love this place and it shows! And they have awesome live bands on the weekend!
(5)Tina M.
Just got dinner from Beale St. carry out in Hartland. (Old 23 and 59 Kroger Plaza) we are glad you moved in there. Smells amazing. Everything we got was great burgers how we ordered them ribs great mac an cheese OMG !!! Friendly, clean, food was hot an ready on time... we will be back
(5)Tricia S.
My wife and I just moved to the area and decided to try out a new place based on yelp reviews, and we were not disappointed! We split the extreme combo plate and had leftovers. Everything was delicious and we will definitely be making this our new regular BBQ joint. (They had a great weekday lunch special for only $6 that we can't wait to take advantage of)
(5)Ron C.
2 Words Pleasantly Surprised !! 2 co-workers & I were 5 miles away at Camp Copneconic , wanting to do lunch "Ron where should we go" Well I scouted Fenton before arriving and the faves via reviews were Sagebrush Fenton Firehall Beale Street ( I do not know how I missed the Laundry ) BBQ was the overwhelming choice, but Fenton Firehlall does not open until 4pm So being a small town I called ahead, and asked if they were open and could they accommodate our rig for parking. This outgoing -super freindly gal assured me , plenty of room to park 7 they would love to have us as guests!! ( thank You Lisa ) It sits a stones throw off of US-23, very easy to find, and you can park your Truck & Camper Semi Charter Bus ...anything. Walking up the smoker absolutely draws you in like a magnet Walked in and waited to be seated...one gal looked at us . .but was not sure what to do..and we waited..finally some gal says sit anywhere you like. Joyce arrived & brought menus & water, took our drink orders. I chose the 3 meat platter with 2 sides $13.50 Huge smoked & flavorful hotlink 3 St Louis Ribs Pulled pork Sweet potato fries with a dusting of marshmallow powder Gumbo Corn Bread The GUMBO was by far the best I have ever had, even better than places in Arkansas It had plenty of sausage, shrimp, mussels & the rice-veggies & broth, the only complaint it was served , below room temperature, we even mentioned it to them & they thought we were joking? My meats were just great! tender & chopped pulled pork, not fatty not stringy the hot link was massive ribs were meaty -tender- smoke rings The cornbread was Excellent, even ordered some to go. The co-workers were both going to order brisket sandwiches for $9 I encouraged them to get the platters for $10.50 which included 2 sides & cornbread I'm thinking next time I'm heading up-north it will be a worthy side trip again
(4)Mark S.
I hate to give this place only two stars. It probably has to do with what I ordered over what this place overall rating should be. I ordered the BBQ Nachos with pulled pork. The toppings were on the scarce side and they microwaved the nachos. This caused the scarce cheese to be hard and not to appetizing. This really became hard to eat. Bummer I really wanted to like this place. My wife ordered the french dip. This was OK. She ordered a side of corn bread which was good. She didn't care for the coleslaw. They had live music which was great. The bar had a great lineup of craft beers. The ribs looked good albeit the portions where not the largest. Maybe next time....
(2)Michael C.
Wow! Seriously the best BBQ beans I have ever had. The wings were off the hook!!! I loved it. Best gas station food ever! OK, they are just attached to a gas station. The coleslaw was creamy and sweet, which is not for everyone, but I liked it. Four of us split a family meal with plenty of take home. If you like BBQ this is a gem!
(5)Sheridan C.
Absolutely AMAZING food. We had wings and one of the family dinners, enough to feed four. Four of us were eating-- my husband, my in-laws and me-- and we had plenty of food leftover when we were done. The cornbread is seriously something special. Our waitress told us that often people come in and order a bunch of cornbread to go. SO good. Service was wonderful, the waitress was attentive and friendly, which made the experience even better.
(5)Sherry L.
My favorite bbq restaurant! Dry rub style ribs are amazing and I love that they carry & support local made beer & wine. They have their own in house made bbq sauces, service is always speedy and this place is worth the wait encountered on weekends. Don't let the fact that they are connected to a gas station deter you from trying this hidden gem. And they do play live local music, which is a nice touch but it can get a little loud.
(5)Jon S.
First off this place was once very good bbq that was smoked for a very long time but now there meats are smoked for a few hours and finished in the oven hardly any smoke line in there meats anymore and portions are getting smaller and prices going higher
(3)Ashley M.
Decent little barbecue place. Their pulled pork is very good along with their cornbread (it would have been nice warm). I love their sweet BBQ sauce. The atmosphere is very rustic and they even serve you with a pig-shaped plate!
(4)Brian W.
BBQ? Next to a gas station? Off the freeway? Whhhhhat? No, seriously the best BBQ for mes. Great craft beer selection, wine and even more impressive food. You will not regret stopping at this local BBQ place. Locally owned and always busy.
(5)J H.
Overpriced and small portions. The host smirked when I asked for a booth. Went to washup after eating and comeback to find my table cleaned off and I hadn't finished. I guess they needed that booth pretty bad. Will not return. 20 dollars for 6 ribs, a thimble sized portion of garlic potatoes and baked beans and a sm piece of cornbread and a coke. And still HUNRGY.
(1)Sara R.
My new favorite BBQ place/best BBQ I've ever had! Ribs: 10/10, chicken: 10/10, Mac n cheese: 10/10, redskin mashed potatoes: 10/10, cornbread: 10/10 watermelon cocktail: 10/10. The live music (Friday night) was also awesome!
(5)Sonnet C.
We ordered 25 lbs of pulled pork for our daughters open house. It was ready when I got there-staff was friendly when ordering and when picking up. Everyone loved it! Only downside-the sauce was a bit pricey and we ran out with about 10 lbs left! (we got two extra bottles, so we had three all together). I wish someone would have suggested we may need more sauce...I had no clue. All together it was a good experience and great food!
(4)John A.
Amazing! Do not be discouraged that it is right next to a gas station. I went with the dry St. Louis Ribs and the wife the pulled pork. Fan of cornbread? Oh momma. Soooooo good. Kids loved the Mac & Cheese and Dad loved the eclectic beer selection (was disappointed they ran out of Dirty Blonde). If this place was in downtown Detroit, SLOWS would have to close their doors as the food was night and day. Three house sauces and the only bad thing was deciding between the house, hot and sweet as all three were perfect. Suggest getting the ribs dry and sampling the sauces. Pretty much some of the best BBQ that ever ended up in my belly.
(5)Lisa F.
Great little BBQ place. I was worried at first seeing as how there is a Sunoco that looks like it is attached, but is completely separate. The ribs were fall of the bone juicy. The sauces were phenomenal. The beef brisket was so tender with very little fat. Baked beans had brisket and pieces of hot sausage which made them have a unique flavor. The service was very friendly. Oh and the corn fritters were amazing!!
(4)Jesse U.
Best bbq I've had north of the Rio Grande. Great pit stop on the way to harbor springs. First class service and amazing food. On your way up north? Skip the Flint chain joints and head here.
(5)Laurie T.
The BEST BBQ in Michigan!!!! I would give it more stars if I could.
(5)Tiger L.
One of my favorite places to eat!! The live music is awesome! I've had multiple things in the menu and all of them are my favorite!
(5)Crysal B.
Great BBQ! Thank you for a great dinner...we will be back! We really loved the ribs and the pulled pork. I wasn't crazy about the coleslaw, it was ok just not my style. The corn bread was delish and the bake beans are great.
(5)Dave E.
I travel quite a bit and just don't see the appeal of this place unless it's the barbecue sauce. Small portions of so so food. Service is good, but you will be easy 15 bucks a head for lunch and leave still hungry. Overall an avoid, unless you are in the area buy some barbecue sauce and cook at home.
(2)Erik N.
My wife and I give them 5 stars because they have the best barbecue in town at a fraction of the cost of the local establishments. And if you go on a Friday or a Saturday you can enjoy some of the best blues the area has to offer. But it's small and quaint so you need to get there early to secure a seat after 7ish on Friday and Saturday. Nice staff, inexpensive and a good time. The closest thing to Louisiana in the Fenton area!
(5)Robyn H.
We have eaten here many times. Tonight the wait was very long for our food. My food was cold and the green beans had so much pepper on them that I could not eat them. I ask our waiter about them and he was indifferent about the concern. Did not offer anything else I'm their place. The owner came over and she pretty much could have cared less about any customer concerns. She proceeded to sit down and text people on her phone. So it appears that things are on the decline at beale street.
(1)Marianna Z.
Hidden behind the gas station on North Rd in Fenton, Mi is a gem of a resto. The pulled pork rocks! Choice of house, sweey or spicy sauces. Fresh and tasty sides. Great lunch specials Mondays and Tuesdays for $5.99. Best BBQ in the area.
(4)Ken L.
Beale St. is ok... but I don't really understand why people go nuts over this place. The sauces at the table are pretty good. I like the house, and the spicy. But I am tired of people's fascination with sauces.... the food ought to be damn good too. But I found the smoked chicken to be dry (probably would be good if I smothered it in sauce), and the $9+ pulled pork sandwich had about 4 oz. of pork on it. Everyone knows how much pork costs... and I just don't see the value. The staff seemed friendly and helpful. And people really do love this place, and compare it to Slow's in Detroit. But I just think that Michiganders are not aware of true good BBQ.
(2)Kevin J.
Best BBQ outside of Memphis! Don't let the gas station or trucking company fool you.
(5)Patric P.
Excellent barbecue! This is a local secret, since the restaurant is a little hidden, but well worth the search!
(4)Pam C.
Great BBQ.... Love this place. You get your monies worth for sure. Great menu, the best ribs. Awesome!!!
(5)Luna B.
Oh man, this place was sooo good! It's between a Sunoco and a truck depot, lol. The place was crowded, and the live music was way too loud. It was cool though. They have a blues band. The food was amazing. A-maz-ing. The sauces where pretty good too. And thee best corn bread you will ever taste in your life. They have a lot of local beers. And this thing called 'Flighters'. It's a small glasses in a muffin tin of beer, so you can try local beers. How cool? This is now our go to place for BBQ.
(4)Jennifer H.
This place serves up a southern experience! Great BBQ, great beer selections and awesome local Blues entertainment. It may be behind a gas station but it's worth checking out. Think of it as "fueling up" in more ways than one! :)
(5)Jim O.
The food here is excellent for pulled pork and ribs. Meat falls off the bone as God intended. I Like my meat wet, not dry like other smokehouses around the country...and their sauces are pretty good. THIS PLACE IS SMALL, so try and get there early or make reservations. Tg eonly reason Ididnt go 5 stars is the prices are a little on the high side, but your mouth won't care.
(4)Lauren W.
So freakin' good. I am a lover of Slow's in Detroit, and I'd say this place is right up there on the delicious scale...the only thing missing on the menu is a great, homemade mac n' cheese! I can't ever stray from the pulled pork sandwich smothered in the sweet sauce... And at just $7.99 for the smaller version, it's the perfect amount of food and seriously delish. Wasn't a huge fan of the cornbread or green beans, but I LOVE their sweet potato fries (sprinkled with cinnamon sugar), the regular fries and the roasted apples. Also, there are beer flights. For $6.95, you get four tastes of some spectac Michigan microbrews. I love that there's always a few I've never heard of on the draft list. Overall, this is the perfect spot for families or date night. Great food, nice/chill atmosphere and a friendly staff. As all others say, don't let the gas station facade fool you ;)
(4)Vic D.
The food was good and the atmosphere friendly. You might not expect much from a BBQ joint that looks like it's attached to a gas station, but the food and atmosphere mostly delivers. One thing keeps me from giving it a five-star rating. We were there on a Saturday night while a band was playing. The band was w-a-y too loud for the room. In fairness, the place is so small that it would be hard to NOT be too loud for the room. If you're looking for a place where you can converse with friends while you eat, you should probably not come here on a Friday or Saturday night. The music will probably overwhelm your attempts at conversation.
(4)Gin S.
My family loves this place. Everyone is exceptionally friendly and the food is great!
(5)Tony S.
Don't let the gas station fool you. It is much more. If I could give it 3.5 stars I would. Food and service is hit or miss. First, I have been in here a dozen times now, and I love my barbeque. Their meat, on it's good days, is excellent -- not the best I've ever had, but up there. I recommend trying their burnt tips. I don't know too many places you can get them, but they're tasty here. Their ribs are good as well, a lot better than the "corporate" ribs, like you get at chain restaurants. The meat falls off the bone, when they're fresh. However, sometimes you can catch them on an off day, and they may have overcooked or reheated the meats (I'm not sure that they reheat, but I suspect) and they come out dry and not tender at all. Also, sometimes their wait staff can be a bit rude -- talking about personal matters with friends or coworkers in front of customers. I heard one of the wait staff disparage the restaurant and clientele to another coworker while we were dining. It really ruined the experience. I haven't returned since.
(4)JJ C.
The menu cost was high for Sunday afternoon. The waiter didn't offer the correct mac & cheese for kids. I wasn't blown away. It is a dry rub BBQ, I found myself pouring the table's sauce all on my meat. An appetizer & kid's mac&cheese = $17.00. It was hard to find, driveway mismarked(??). A friend's son owns this place, too.
(2)Amy H.
A good real bbq experience. Tender Smokey meat and tasty sides. Love the chicken so tender and not dry at all. Also a great selection of Michigan beers and interesting mixed drinks. Live music is great but hard to have a conversation with anyone your eating with :) I think we need more places like this that care about quality food... yummy will be back
(4)Liz R.
Easy off/on from US-23. Restaurant does not face the road, making it a little difficult to find (it's right next to the gas station). You walk in and just smell wood smoke. Yum! Cute casual interior. They serve beer, much of it local to our state, and wine too. We ordered the brisket plate and the two meat combo, ribs and pulled pork. Sides were potato salad and beans. Nothing was better than average, and some of it was below average. The meats did not taste smoky, which was disappointing since the place smelled so nice and wood smoky. My potato salad tasted liked potatoes mixed with French Onion dip. Ken's beans were bland. Very disappointed! Good cornbread. Four BBQ sauces on each table, but none did it for us. I picked this place instead of French Laundry. waaaah
(2)Laura S.
The food was ok. It wasn't bad, just mediocre. Atmosphere was ok, but the band is way too loud for such a small venue. Maybe turn down the volume on the speakers just a touch.
(2)Ron W.
I had heard a lot about this place so I figured it was time to give it a try. I went with the "Sampler Extreme". A combination of St. Louis ribs, brisket, BBQ chicken, and pulled pork. I would recommend them all. I will definately return for a repeat visit.
(4)Maria H.
Yes, this is tucked behind a Sunoco and shares a totally ambiguous parking lot with a trucking company (?) but you'll get over it. Decent bar, selection of dry or wet ribs, and better than average sweet potato fries. Word to the wise: Skip the brisket.
(4)Anthony L.
By far the only BBQ place around that does it the right way. Prices may be a little more than avg around town, but, it is worth every penny. Kids eat free on kids night which is a very cool thing.
(5)Janice S.
Been here twice in last week and it was so delicious both times! There cornbread is unbelievable.My new favorite restaurant :) love this place!!!
(5)Kristin W.
I have been here 3 times and I will be back as soon as I need more BBQ. =) The ribs are delicious and their sausage is smoky and spicy. The pulled pork is good but can be a bit dry as they let you sauce it yourself. They have corn fritters for an app and these are a must have! The grilled bologna is thick and yummy but I cannot leave there without their sauage or ribs. Great selection of sauces and the people that work there are attentive and homestyle.
(4)Mary H.
EXCELLENT!!! Huge chicken pieces, fallin-off-the-bone meaty ribs. Can get wet or dry. Sauces are spot on. Great beer selection. Prices are reasonable. 4 bones, giant 1/4 chicken, beans, coleslaw, cornbread $16.99. Fabulous, you must go!!!
(5)TJ J.
I'd go back. Not the best ribs in Michigan by any means but pretty tasty. They offer 3 sauces (bold n spicy, sweet, and house) which were all pretty good. My kids absolutely devoured some ribs and fries. The ribs were a little bit fatty and sloppy fall off the bone style. Not my favorite but pretty good. They offer a decent selection of local craft brews. I think we'll head back on a Saturday to check out the live blues and jazz music. Enjoy!
(3)Barb O.
Unfortunately, I cannot rate the food at Beale Street Smokehouse, because we never received our order, despite waiting well over an hour for two sandwiches. Yes, it was a busy night and the waitstaff were scrambling, but it took 20 minutes for our waiter to even approach us to take our order, and we ended up walking out after we still had not received our food after another 45 minutes of waiting. The most puzzling part was the fact that the manager stood around and watched his two waiters trying to keep up, without once lifting a finger to help them, or start taking orders himself. Not once did the manager approach us to apologize (or numerous other customers growing angry with the slow service), nor were we even offered a cracker to nibble on while waiting. So, I guess I'm not upset over the fact that they were busier on a Tuesday night than they had planned, but it was the attitude of "so what?" from the manager that bothers me the most. We will not go back.
(1)Matt Z.
Definitely genesee county's best hidden gem. The bbq sauce is amazing, I pretty much put it on everything, even on the cornbread (not really). I have never been disappointed with any meal I have ordered. I have introduced many friends and family members who now consider this place one of their favorite spots to eat.
(5)Kelley K.
Don't let the location, attached to a gas station, fool you. This is truly a hidden gem. They have yummy Michigan craft beer on tap and the dry rubbed ribs were fantastic. A definite worthwhile stop when passing through Fenton.
(4)Doug C.
Good food.small place,great BBQ sauces!!
(4)David E.
Best BBQ place this side of the Mississippi! We have moved away from the Fenton area now but still return to Beale Street whenever we are in the area. We are searching for a replacement to Beale St in our new location but as yet have been unable to find anywhere even close to Beale St as our favorite BBQ place. The pulled pork is very lean and has minimal fat (very important for us). The taste is still excellent even without all the fat. Cornbread is to die for!
(5)chad g.
I'm giving a rare 5 stars. This is, so far, the best BBQ I have had outside of Memphis. I was amazed at the flavor. I haven't been here on a Saturday, but now knowing Saturday nights feature live blues music, I will be making plans to see if the music is as good as the food. You must try this place if you haven't already. Don't let the fact it is in a building connected to a gas station fool you...this is a nice place, with great food.
(5)Sean A.
The pulled pork and barbeque chicken were amazing. The ribs were good too. I was pleasantly surprised by their beer selection. Portions were generous and prices were reasonable. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Chris M.
I've heard so much good about this place that we've now tried it twice. Each time, the same result. The chicken and ribs are just not good. The chicken was really, really dry. I only ate about a 1/3 of it. The ribs, now gotten on two occasions, were tough and did not taste good at all. Even the sweet BBQ at the table couldn't make it much more than tolerable. I even explained to the waitress that we had not been there in about 3 years because of our first experience with really bad ribs. She assured me that the ones during this meal would be great. She was wrong. Service was no too bad, as a positive. I hardly ever complain about food at a restaurant, but this one I do. Save your money.
(2)Ed R.
For a smokehouse thats next to a gas station I would try and raise the bar a bit higher. The food is good at times and bad at times. I heard they have new owners so lets hope it on the up swing. The food I had today was tender and tasty. the portions are abit small for the price. I paid $8 for a jumbo pulled pork sandwhich and my wife had the smaller size for $7 and I would say they are close to the same size. The outddor area needed alot of work and would not be usable.
(3)Shawn K.
Favorite place in Fenton for lunch. Truly a hidden gem. Very good food for the price. Best place for BBQ easily 40 minute radius.
(3)Peter O.
Great atmosphere, food and beers. The BBQ is actually slow smoked and very flavorful. Sides are also quite good, and they have a nice selection of beers. I really like the musical instrument decor as well, and they have been playing good music both times I have been there. Service was fast and friendly.
(4)Amber S.
This is the best BBQ place around! It doesn't count on any celebrity-connections or chain-type-gimmicks; it's just really good food. Their pulled pork and pork ribs are consistently tender and flavorful. I found the potato salad to be a bit too heavy on the dressing, but I've enjoyed every other side dish I had there. Their cornbread is a dessert in itself - it's so soft and sweet. The portions are big but not ridiculous and the prices are fair. They have a full bar, with a solid selection of Michigan beers and wines. They can fill up quickly, especially if there's live music, since the band will take up space where tables usually are. While the musicians I've heard there have been talented, the place is so small that it gets very loud very fast. It's hard to have conversation with your table companions if you're sitting near the band, and music can be more nuisance than ambiance - depending on your feelings about Blues and your noise tolerance. However, that's a small drawback to an otherwise top-notch establishment serving consistently delicious BBQ.
(4)Kristin W.
This used to be my favorite place for BBQ. I gladly took the 40 minute drive to Fenton anytime BBQ was mentioned and referred many people there, all raved about Beale St. as well. Sadly, I think those days are in the past. Ownership turned over last year some time and in the few times we went the quality seemed to have slipped a bit. I've never been a huge fan of the sides (too small and not anything special) but the BBQ was still tasty enough until the last two times. Service is decent but nothing special. Went in a couple of months ago on a Sunday around 6, seated, ordered and received our drinks and then waited to place our order. Probably there 15 mins or so. Proceed to order and when my husband orders ribs he is told "oh, we're out of ribs" Huh?? He ordered something else, i got my usual 1/2 chicken which seemed smaller than usual and i watched the people on both sides of us return food for not being warm when brought to the table. Fast forward to this past Sunday, we decide to give it a try again. Get there around 5:30 are seated, drinks served, waiter comes back to take our order. I order 1/2 chicken am told "no chicken" huh?? I said what else are you out of, and am told "ribs" REALLY?? We got up and left. I told the waiter that they might want to start telling people BEFORE they are seated that they are out of the two main things people come to a BBQ place for.....that was it for me, No more Beale St.
(2)Jennifer R.
What used to be a great BBQ joint has sadly lost some of its appeal under the new management. The atmosphere is great and accommodating for any size group. Weekend entertainment is always good (but very loud!) The food, which was once outstanding, is now average. On this trip, I ordered the Knife & Fork (a standard for me-- pulled pork served between the best cornbread you'll ever eat, with cheddar melted on top.) The pork was dry and the texture seemed like it was either old, or had been left sitting out. Luckily, a few squirts of their BBQ sauce helped a bit. The sweet potato fries were awesome, but a little cold. I'm not ruling this place out for good, but I hope it improves!
(3)Ryan M.
Real BBQ is always found in the back of a gas station. :-) Really nice place, great to dine in or take out. Best BBQ in the area.
(5)Nancy B.
This is the fourth or fifth time I have been to this establishment. When will I learn? Doesn't even come close to Famous Dave's in Flint. I have a stomach ache right now after eating a take out order of ribs and chicken. I think the ribs were a month old!
(1)J B.
This restaurant is truley a hidden gem. I must say I was hesitant when my parents pulled up into a gas station parking lot, but I'm convinced this tiny BBQ restuarant is one of the best in the country. The ribs are fall-off-the-bone moist and the sauce is mind blowing, every side was lip smacking good, the corn bread, the sweet potato fries and corn fritters oh my! Not to mention a lively ambiance with music and a great crowd! Plus excellent service! This place puts Detroits "Slows" to shame. If you are passing through Fenton or live here full time put this place on your MUST GO list!
(5)Joe P.
This place just recently won best bbq in genesee county and I'd agree with that. This place is attached to the side of a gas station so that may scare some people away but they've done some re-modeling on the outside so it's more aesthetically appealing. I've been here only a few times, but the food is always very good. I've had the ribs and the pulled pork. They provide with you three sauces at the table which are all very good. The owners love beer because they have a lot of nice (mostly Michigan) craft beers here. We've been here on a Saturday night when they had a live band and it got pretty loud in there - it's a pretty small place- and I could barely hear my wife from across the table.
(5)Cori K.
This is a great place. I have been here many times -- it has always been great. Service is very friendly. If my family wants BBQ -- this is the go-to spot. Also -- the lunch specials are a good deal.
(5)Rodney H.
Wow, double wow & triple wow Beale St smokehouse is found in a non descript gas station parking lot at exit 80 of RT 23 in Fenton MI a good 1 hr drive from Detroit but well worth it if you like Memphis style BBQ We had a mixture of BBQ, all served dry with 3 sauces on the table, Chicken, Pulled Pork, Brisket & Short ribs. All were wonderfully smoked, but the clear winner for my taste was the brisket, perfectly cooked & really needed no BBQ sauces. side dishes were Baked Beans & Cole slaw, the Beans were top notch but the Slaw kid of bland. Of the sauces the Bold & spicy really work for me. Also a very good beer menu & the waiter was more than willing to provide samplers of all & any beers. we settled on the dirty Bastard a very malty, hoppy Dark beer & training ale a good full bodies wheat beer. The Decor is very retro 1950 type diner ambiance, clean bright & welcoming. Recently we also tried the Union Wood shop in Clarkston MI, how do they compare. Well i would describe the Union Wood shop at Hagen Daz Belgian Chocolate Chocolate ice cream & Beale St smokehouse as Hagen Daz Rum & Raisin. i love them both but I'd chose Belgian Chocolate 9 times outta 10. Still for the Tenth time id go back to Beale st willingly & if Fenton is closer to your home town, its a very good place to eat well prepared & well Served Memphis Style BBQ.
(4)Ranger R.
So I've always had the ribs or the pulled chicken/pork sandwich... I tried my girlfriends pulled pork platter...and wow, I don't think I've had better. The sampling of the platter was done a few times to be sure, and every time it was great. This also shows good consistency from the kitchen. Keep it up Beal street!
(5)Rochelle J.
Beale St. Smokehouse is excellent, the best BBQ I have had. I love their pulled pork & chicken. I always order for parties and is a crowd favorite. Lisa (one of the owners) is a pleasure to deal with, always kind and willing to work with you to make your experience the best she can. When I need a catering order I always get it ordered ahead of time (weeks in advance) because they always have large catering orders and they can only fill so many. Their food is that good. Thank for your awesome BBQ, I hope you win best in Genesee County.
(5)Larry M.
This place sucks we will never go back service is bad food shouldn't be given to a dog !!! The little host guy is an asshole !!!!!
(1)Matt G.
MY LORD! First, let me start this review off by saying this; Disclaimer: DON'T JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER. Yes, this hidden gem is located next door to a gas station, and may look like the worse decision you chose to drive an hour to, but trust me, it's worth it. If you, like me have had an unfulfilled urge for smoky, tender, moist, and delicious BBQ, that no where you have gone to yet has fulfilled, then pack your bags and head to Fenton for some of the best BBQ you will ever have. There are so many great things about this diamond in the rough, such as 1) Their wide variety of beers from microbrews all over the state 2) They make their own mouth watering BBQ sauce, with 3 different kinds to suit everyones pallet 3) They don't douse their meat in BBQ sauce before they bring it out to you, so you can see that beautiful smoke ring, and also because they aren't afraid to let their meat, without any sauce, speak for itself, and boy does it sing! Any place that doesn't cover their meat with sauce gets an A+ from me. Just like they say on the Travel Channel and the Food Channel, covering your meat with sauce only covers up the flavor of the meat! My technique is to try the meat without the sauce first, to fully appreciate the meat, then to lightly dip the meat in a side of sauce if I want to. As delicious as the meat is at Beale St, the sauce is equally as tasty. There are 3 kinds, House, Sweet, and Bold and Spicy. My Lord, just thinking about it now is making me salivate. If you're a true food snob, such as myself, who prides themselves in having a liberal, yet refined and discriminating tongue, who just can't ever get enough good BBQ (or Mexican or Chinese or Sushi for that matter), then make sure to make the trip to Beale St and have your taste buds blown away!
(5)Rob C.
Decent BBQ place, I have been there many times. Most of the time the food is delicious, however there are ocassional times when it doesn't live up to normal standards. The biggest complaint I have is about the live music. We came in with a large group and were placed right next to the stage. When the band started playing I couldn't hear anything the person next to me was trying to say. Definitely too loud for a restaurant that small.
(4)Ashley M.
Decent little barbecue place. Their pulled pork is very good along with their cornbread (it would have been nice warm). I love their sweet BBQ sauce. The atmosphere is very rustic and they even serve you with a pig-shaped plate!
(4)Brian W.
BBQ? Next to a gas station? Off the freeway? Whhhhhat? No, seriously the best BBQ for mes. Great craft beer selection, wine and even more impressive food. You will not regret stopping at this local BBQ place. Locally owned and always busy.
(5)Sherry L.
My favorite bbq restaurant! Dry rub style ribs are amazing and I love that they carry & support local made beer & wine. They have their own in house made bbq sauces, service is always speedy and this place is worth the wait encountered on weekends. Don't let the fact that they are connected to a gas station deter you from trying this hidden gem. And they do play live local music, which is a nice touch but it can get a little loud.
(5)Sara R.
My new favorite BBQ place/best BBQ I've ever had! Ribs: 10/10, chicken: 10/10, Mac n cheese: 10/10, redskin mashed potatoes: 10/10, cornbread: 10/10 watermelon cocktail: 10/10. The live music (Friday night) was also awesome!
(5)Kristin W.
I have been here 3 times and I will be back as soon as I need more BBQ. =) The ribs are delicious and their sausage is smoky and spicy. The pulled pork is good but can be a bit dry as they let you sauce it yourself. They have corn fritters for an app and these are a must have! The grilled bologna is thick and yummy but I cannot leave there without their sauage or ribs. Great selection of sauces and the people that work there are attentive and homestyle.
(4)Jesse U.
Best bbq I've had north of the Rio Grande. Great pit stop on the way to harbor springs. First class service and amazing food. On your way up north? Skip the Flint chain joints and head here.
(5)Laurie T.
The BEST BBQ in Michigan!!!! I would give it more stars if I could.
(5)Tiger L.
One of my favorite places to eat!! The live music is awesome! I've had multiple things in the menu and all of them are my favorite!
(5)Jon S.
First off this place was once very good bbq that was smoked for a very long time but now there meats are smoked for a few hours and finished in the oven hardly any smoke line in there meats anymore and portions are getting smaller and prices going higher
(3)Sonnet C.
We ordered 25 lbs of pulled pork for our daughters open house. It was ready when I got there-staff was friendly when ordering and when picking up. Everyone loved it! Only downside-the sauce was a bit pricey and we ran out with about 10 lbs left! (we got two extra bottles, so we had three all together). I wish someone would have suggested we may need more sauce...I had no clue. All together it was a good experience and great food!
(4)John A.
Amazing! Do not be discouraged that it is right next to a gas station. I went with the dry St. Louis Ribs and the wife the pulled pork. Fan of cornbread? Oh momma. Soooooo good. Kids loved the Mac & Cheese and Dad loved the eclectic beer selection (was disappointed they ran out of Dirty Blonde). If this place was in downtown Detroit, SLOWS would have to close their doors as the food was night and day. Three house sauces and the only bad thing was deciding between the house, hot and sweet as all three were perfect. Suggest getting the ribs dry and sampling the sauces. Pretty much some of the best BBQ that ever ended up in my belly.
(5)Lisa F.
Great little BBQ place. I was worried at first seeing as how there is a Sunoco that looks like it is attached, but is completely separate. The ribs were fall of the bone juicy. The sauces were phenomenal. The beef brisket was so tender with very little fat. Baked beans had brisket and pieces of hot sausage which made them have a unique flavor. The service was very friendly. Oh and the corn fritters were amazing!!
(4)Crysal B.
Great BBQ! Thank you for a great dinner...we will be back! We really loved the ribs and the pulled pork. I wasn't crazy about the coleslaw, it was ok just not my style. The corn bread was delish and the bake beans are great.
(5)Dave E.
I travel quite a bit and just don't see the appeal of this place unless it's the barbecue sauce. Small portions of so so food. Service is good, but you will be easy 15 bucks a head for lunch and leave still hungry. Overall an avoid, unless you are in the area buy some barbecue sauce and cook at home.
(2)Rita P.
Paid $6 for a beef brisket sandwich with very little meat in it - I should have eaten at subway instead.
(2)Ben K.
Everyone has their favorite BBQ place in which all others are compared to, for me it is this place. Love the pig pen dinner, the corn bread is the best I have ever had, and the (loud) blues music on the weekend is the cherry on the cake.
(5)Cindy C.
I just dined here and had absolutely the best ribs I have ever had!! So meaty, tender and juicy. I cannot wait for the carry out location in Hartland to open.
(5)Bonnie B.
We easily got over the location. Definitely worth finding and will stop again when passing thru on 23. Got the smoked combo, perfect to split for lunch with the homemade House and Beal Hot sauces. Clean and cute with Memphis Beal Street Music Festival posters and blues singer photographs.
(4)Brian H.
Best food, hands down! I seriously love the atmosphere and the employees are exceptional. The owners seem to really love this place and it shows! And they have awesome live bands on the weekend!
(5)Tina M.
Just got dinner from Beale St. carry out in Hartland. (Old 23 and 59 Kroger Plaza) we are glad you moved in there. Smells amazing. Everything we got was great burgers how we ordered them ribs great mac an cheese OMG !!! Friendly, clean, food was hot an ready on time... we will be back
(5)Tricia S.
My wife and I just moved to the area and decided to try out a new place based on yelp reviews, and we were not disappointed! We split the extreme combo plate and had leftovers. Everything was delicious and we will definitely be making this our new regular BBQ joint. (They had a great weekday lunch special for only $6 that we can't wait to take advantage of)
(5)Erik N.
My wife and I give them 5 stars because they have the best barbecue in town at a fraction of the cost of the local establishments. And if you go on a Friday or a Saturday you can enjoy some of the best blues the area has to offer. But it's small and quaint so you need to get there early to secure a seat after 7ish on Friday and Saturday. Nice staff, inexpensive and a good time. The closest thing to Louisiana in the Fenton area!
(5)Robyn H.
We have eaten here many times. Tonight the wait was very long for our food. My food was cold and the green beans had so much pepper on them that I could not eat them. I ask our waiter about them and he was indifferent about the concern. Did not offer anything else I'm their place. The owner came over and she pretty much could have cared less about any customer concerns. She proceeded to sit down and text people on her phone. So it appears that things are on the decline at beale street.
(1)Marianna Z.
Hidden behind the gas station on North Rd in Fenton, Mi is a gem of a resto. The pulled pork rocks! Choice of house, sweey or spicy sauces. Fresh and tasty sides. Great lunch specials Mondays and Tuesdays for $5.99. Best BBQ in the area.
(4)Ken L.
Beale St. is ok... but I don't really understand why people go nuts over this place. The sauces at the table are pretty good. I like the house, and the spicy. But I am tired of people's fascination with sauces.... the food ought to be damn good too. But I found the smoked chicken to be dry (probably would be good if I smothered it in sauce), and the $9+ pulled pork sandwich had about 4 oz. of pork on it. Everyone knows how much pork costs... and I just don't see the value. The staff seemed friendly and helpful. And people really do love this place, and compare it to Slow's in Detroit. But I just think that Michiganders are not aware of true good BBQ.
(2)Kevin J.
Best BBQ outside of Memphis! Don't let the gas station or trucking company fool you.
(5)Patric P.
Excellent barbecue! This is a local secret, since the restaurant is a little hidden, but well worth the search!
(4)Pam C.
Great BBQ.... Love this place. You get your monies worth for sure. Great menu, the best ribs. Awesome!!!
(5)Luna B.
Oh man, this place was sooo good! It's between a Sunoco and a truck depot, lol. The place was crowded, and the live music was way too loud. It was cool though. They have a blues band. The food was amazing. A-maz-ing. The sauces where pretty good too. And thee best corn bread you will ever taste in your life. They have a lot of local beers. And this thing called 'Flighters'. It's a small glasses in a muffin tin of beer, so you can try local beers. How cool? This is now our go to place for BBQ.
(4)Lauren W.
So freakin' good. I am a lover of Slow's in Detroit, and I'd say this place is right up there on the delicious scale...the only thing missing on the menu is a great, homemade mac n' cheese! I can't ever stray from the pulled pork sandwich smothered in the sweet sauce... And at just $7.99 for the smaller version, it's the perfect amount of food and seriously delish. Wasn't a huge fan of the cornbread or green beans, but I LOVE their sweet potato fries (sprinkled with cinnamon sugar), the regular fries and the roasted apples. Also, there are beer flights. For $6.95, you get four tastes of some spectac Michigan microbrews. I love that there's always a few I've never heard of on the draft list. Overall, this is the perfect spot for families or date night. Great food, nice/chill atmosphere and a friendly staff. As all others say, don't let the gas station facade fool you ;)
(4)Vic D.
The food was good and the atmosphere friendly. You might not expect much from a BBQ joint that looks like it's attached to a gas station, but the food and atmosphere mostly delivers. One thing keeps me from giving it a five-star rating. We were there on a Saturday night while a band was playing. The band was w-a-y too loud for the room. In fairness, the place is so small that it would be hard to NOT be too loud for the room. If you're looking for a place where you can converse with friends while you eat, you should probably not come here on a Friday or Saturday night. The music will probably overwhelm your attempts at conversation.
(4)Gin S.
My family loves this place. Everyone is exceptionally friendly and the food is great!
(5)Tony S.
Don't let the gas station fool you. It is much more. If I could give it 3.5 stars I would. Food and service is hit or miss. First, I have been in here a dozen times now, and I love my barbeque. Their meat, on it's good days, is excellent -- not the best I've ever had, but up there. I recommend trying their burnt tips. I don't know too many places you can get them, but they're tasty here. Their ribs are good as well, a lot better than the "corporate" ribs, like you get at chain restaurants. The meat falls off the bone, when they're fresh. However, sometimes you can catch them on an off day, and they may have overcooked or reheated the meats (I'm not sure that they reheat, but I suspect) and they come out dry and not tender at all. Also, sometimes their wait staff can be a bit rude -- talking about personal matters with friends or coworkers in front of customers. I heard one of the wait staff disparage the restaurant and clientele to another coworker while we were dining. It really ruined the experience. I haven't returned since.
(4)JJ C.
The menu cost was high for Sunday afternoon. The waiter didn't offer the correct mac & cheese for kids. I wasn't blown away. It is a dry rub BBQ, I found myself pouring the table's sauce all on my meat. An appetizer & kid's mac&cheese = $17.00. It was hard to find, driveway mismarked(??). A friend's son owns this place, too.
(2)Jennifer H.
This place serves up a southern experience! Great BBQ, great beer selections and awesome local Blues entertainment. It may be behind a gas station but it's worth checking out. Think of it as "fueling up" in more ways than one! :)
(5)Jim O.
The food here is excellent for pulled pork and ribs. Meat falls off the bone as God intended. I Like my meat wet, not dry like other smokehouses around the country...and their sauces are pretty good. THIS PLACE IS SMALL, so try and get there early or make reservations. Tg eonly reason Ididnt go 5 stars is the prices are a little on the high side, but your mouth won't care.
(4)Amy H.
A good real bbq experience. Tender Smokey meat and tasty sides. Love the chicken so tender and not dry at all. Also a great selection of Michigan beers and interesting mixed drinks. Live music is great but hard to have a conversation with anyone your eating with :) I think we need more places like this that care about quality food... yummy will be back
(4)Liz R.
Easy off/on from US-23. Restaurant does not face the road, making it a little difficult to find (it's right next to the gas station). You walk in and just smell wood smoke. Yum! Cute casual interior. They serve beer, much of it local to our state, and wine too. We ordered the brisket plate and the two meat combo, ribs and pulled pork. Sides were potato salad and beans. Nothing was better than average, and some of it was below average. The meats did not taste smoky, which was disappointing since the place smelled so nice and wood smoky. My potato salad tasted liked potatoes mixed with French Onion dip. Ken's beans were bland. Very disappointed! Good cornbread. Four BBQ sauces on each table, but none did it for us. I picked this place instead of French Laundry. waaaah
(2)Laura S.
The food was ok. It wasn't bad, just mediocre. Atmosphere was ok, but the band is way too loud for such a small venue. Maybe turn down the volume on the speakers just a touch.
(2)Ron W.
I had heard a lot about this place so I figured it was time to give it a try. I went with the "Sampler Extreme". A combination of St. Louis ribs, brisket, BBQ chicken, and pulled pork. I would recommend them all. I will definately return for a repeat visit.
(4)Maria H.
Yes, this is tucked behind a Sunoco and shares a totally ambiguous parking lot with a trucking company (?) but you'll get over it. Decent bar, selection of dry or wet ribs, and better than average sweet potato fries. Word to the wise: Skip the brisket.
(4)Amber S.
This is the best BBQ place around! It doesn't count on any celebrity-connections or chain-type-gimmicks; it's just really good food. Their pulled pork and pork ribs are consistently tender and flavorful. I found the potato salad to be a bit too heavy on the dressing, but I've enjoyed every other side dish I had there. Their cornbread is a dessert in itself - it's so soft and sweet. The portions are big but not ridiculous and the prices are fair. They have a full bar, with a solid selection of Michigan beers and wines. They can fill up quickly, especially if there's live music, since the band will take up space where tables usually are. While the musicians I've heard there have been talented, the place is so small that it gets very loud very fast. It's hard to have conversation with your table companions if you're sitting near the band, and music can be more nuisance than ambiance - depending on your feelings about Blues and your noise tolerance. However, that's a small drawback to an otherwise top-notch establishment serving consistently delicious BBQ.
(4)Ranger R.
So I've always had the ribs or the pulled chicken/pork sandwich... I tried my girlfriends pulled pork platter...and wow, I don't think I've had better. The sampling of the platter was done a few times to be sure, and every time it was great. This also shows good consistency from the kitchen. Keep it up Beal street!
(5)Nancy B.
This is the fourth or fifth time I have been to this establishment. When will I learn? Doesn't even come close to Famous Dave's in Flint. I have a stomach ache right now after eating a take out order of ribs and chicken. I think the ribs were a month old!
(1)J B.
This restaurant is truley a hidden gem. I must say I was hesitant when my parents pulled up into a gas station parking lot, but I'm convinced this tiny BBQ restuarant is one of the best in the country. The ribs are fall-off-the-bone moist and the sauce is mind blowing, every side was lip smacking good, the corn bread, the sweet potato fries and corn fritters oh my! Not to mention a lively ambiance with music and a great crowd! Plus excellent service! This place puts Detroits "Slows" to shame. If you are passing through Fenton or live here full time put this place on your MUST GO list!
(5)Joe P.
This place just recently won best bbq in genesee county and I'd agree with that. This place is attached to the side of a gas station so that may scare some people away but they've done some re-modeling on the outside so it's more aesthetically appealing. I've been here only a few times, but the food is always very good. I've had the ribs and the pulled pork. They provide with you three sauces at the table which are all very good. The owners love beer because they have a lot of nice (mostly Michigan) craft beers here. We've been here on a Saturday night when they had a live band and it got pretty loud in there - it's a pretty small place- and I could barely hear my wife from across the table.
(5)Cori K.
This is a great place. I have been here many times -- it has always been great. Service is very friendly. If my family wants BBQ -- this is the go-to spot. Also -- the lunch specials are a good deal.
(5)Rodney H.
Wow, double wow & triple wow Beale St smokehouse is found in a non descript gas station parking lot at exit 80 of RT 23 in Fenton MI a good 1 hr drive from Detroit but well worth it if you like Memphis style BBQ We had a mixture of BBQ, all served dry with 3 sauces on the table, Chicken, Pulled Pork, Brisket & Short ribs. All were wonderfully smoked, but the clear winner for my taste was the brisket, perfectly cooked & really needed no BBQ sauces. side dishes were Baked Beans & Cole slaw, the Beans were top notch but the Slaw kid of bland. Of the sauces the Bold & spicy really work for me. Also a very good beer menu & the waiter was more than willing to provide samplers of all & any beers. we settled on the dirty Bastard a very malty, hoppy Dark beer & training ale a good full bodies wheat beer. The Decor is very retro 1950 type diner ambiance, clean bright & welcoming. Recently we also tried the Union Wood shop in Clarkston MI, how do they compare. Well i would describe the Union Wood shop at Hagen Daz Belgian Chocolate Chocolate ice cream & Beale St smokehouse as Hagen Daz Rum & Raisin. i love them both but I'd chose Belgian Chocolate 9 times outta 10. Still for the Tenth time id go back to Beale st willingly & if Fenton is closer to your home town, its a very good place to eat well prepared & well Served Memphis Style BBQ.
(4)Rochelle J.
Beale St. Smokehouse is excellent, the best BBQ I have had. I love their pulled pork & chicken. I always order for parties and is a crowd favorite. Lisa (one of the owners) is a pleasure to deal with, always kind and willing to work with you to make your experience the best she can. When I need a catering order I always get it ordered ahead of time (weeks in advance) because they always have large catering orders and they can only fill so many. Their food is that good. Thank for your awesome BBQ, I hope you win best in Genesee County.
(5)Larry M.
This place sucks we will never go back service is bad food shouldn't be given to a dog !!! The little host guy is an asshole !!!!!
(1)Kristin W.
This used to be my favorite place for BBQ. I gladly took the 40 minute drive to Fenton anytime BBQ was mentioned and referred many people there, all raved about Beale St. as well. Sadly, I think those days are in the past. Ownership turned over last year some time and in the few times we went the quality seemed to have slipped a bit. I've never been a huge fan of the sides (too small and not anything special) but the BBQ was still tasty enough until the last two times. Service is decent but nothing special. Went in a couple of months ago on a Sunday around 6, seated, ordered and received our drinks and then waited to place our order. Probably there 15 mins or so. Proceed to order and when my husband orders ribs he is told "oh, we're out of ribs" Huh?? He ordered something else, i got my usual 1/2 chicken which seemed smaller than usual and i watched the people on both sides of us return food for not being warm when brought to the table. Fast forward to this past Sunday, we decide to give it a try again. Get there around 5:30 are seated, drinks served, waiter comes back to take our order. I order 1/2 chicken am told "no chicken" huh?? I said what else are you out of, and am told "ribs" REALLY?? We got up and left. I told the waiter that they might want to start telling people BEFORE they are seated that they are out of the two main things people come to a BBQ place for.....that was it for me, No more Beale St.
(2)Jennifer R.
What used to be a great BBQ joint has sadly lost some of its appeal under the new management. The atmosphere is great and accommodating for any size group. Weekend entertainment is always good (but very loud!) The food, which was once outstanding, is now average. On this trip, I ordered the Knife & Fork (a standard for me-- pulled pork served between the best cornbread you'll ever eat, with cheddar melted on top.) The pork was dry and the texture seemed like it was either old, or had been left sitting out. Luckily, a few squirts of their BBQ sauce helped a bit. The sweet potato fries were awesome, but a little cold. I'm not ruling this place out for good, but I hope it improves!
(3)Ryan M.
Real BBQ is always found in the back of a gas station. :-) Really nice place, great to dine in or take out. Best BBQ in the area.
(5)David E.
Best BBQ place this side of the Mississippi! We have moved away from the Fenton area now but still return to Beale Street whenever we are in the area. We are searching for a replacement to Beale St in our new location but as yet have been unable to find anywhere even close to Beale St as our favorite BBQ place. The pulled pork is very lean and has minimal fat (very important for us). The taste is still excellent even without all the fat. Cornbread is to die for!
(5)chad g.
I'm giving a rare 5 stars. This is, so far, the best BBQ I have had outside of Memphis. I was amazed at the flavor. I haven't been here on a Saturday, but now knowing Saturday nights feature live blues music, I will be making plans to see if the music is as good as the food. You must try this place if you haven't already. Don't let the fact it is in a building connected to a gas station fool you...this is a nice place, with great food.
(5)Matt G.
MY LORD! First, let me start this review off by saying this; Disclaimer: DON'T JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER. Yes, this hidden gem is located next door to a gas station, and may look like the worse decision you chose to drive an hour to, but trust me, it's worth it. If you, like me have had an unfulfilled urge for smoky, tender, moist, and delicious BBQ, that no where you have gone to yet has fulfilled, then pack your bags and head to Fenton for some of the best BBQ you will ever have. There are so many great things about this diamond in the rough, such as 1) Their wide variety of beers from microbrews all over the state 2) They make their own mouth watering BBQ sauce, with 3 different kinds to suit everyones pallet 3) They don't douse their meat in BBQ sauce before they bring it out to you, so you can see that beautiful smoke ring, and also because they aren't afraid to let their meat, without any sauce, speak for itself, and boy does it sing! Any place that doesn't cover their meat with sauce gets an A+ from me. Just like they say on the Travel Channel and the Food Channel, covering your meat with sauce only covers up the flavor of the meat! My technique is to try the meat without the sauce first, to fully appreciate the meat, then to lightly dip the meat in a side of sauce if I want to. As delicious as the meat is at Beale St, the sauce is equally as tasty. There are 3 kinds, House, Sweet, and Bold and Spicy. My Lord, just thinking about it now is making me salivate. If you're a true food snob, such as myself, who prides themselves in having a liberal, yet refined and discriminating tongue, who just can't ever get enough good BBQ (or Mexican or Chinese or Sushi for that matter), then make sure to make the trip to Beale St and have your taste buds blown away!
(5)Anthony L.
By far the only BBQ place around that does it the right way. Prices may be a little more than avg around town, but, it is worth every penny. Kids eat free on kids night which is a very cool thing.
(5)Janice S.
Been here twice in last week and it was so delicious both times! There cornbread is unbelievable.My new favorite restaurant :) love this place!!!
(5)Mary H.
EXCELLENT!!! Huge chicken pieces, fallin-off-the-bone meaty ribs. Can get wet or dry. Sauces are spot on. Great beer selection. Prices are reasonable. 4 bones, giant 1/4 chicken, beans, coleslaw, cornbread $16.99. Fabulous, you must go!!!
(5)TJ J.
I'd go back. Not the best ribs in Michigan by any means but pretty tasty. They offer 3 sauces (bold n spicy, sweet, and house) which were all pretty good. My kids absolutely devoured some ribs and fries. The ribs were a little bit fatty and sloppy fall off the bone style. Not my favorite but pretty good. They offer a decent selection of local craft brews. I think we'll head back on a Saturday to check out the live blues and jazz music. Enjoy!
(3)Sean A.
The pulled pork and barbeque chicken were amazing. The ribs were good too. I was pleasantly surprised by their beer selection. Portions were generous and prices were reasonable. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Peter O.
Great atmosphere, food and beers. The BBQ is actually slow smoked and very flavorful. Sides are also quite good, and they have a nice selection of beers. I really like the musical instrument decor as well, and they have been playing good music both times I have been there. Service was fast and friendly.
(4)Barb O.
Unfortunately, I cannot rate the food at Beale Street Smokehouse, because we never received our order, despite waiting well over an hour for two sandwiches. Yes, it was a busy night and the waitstaff were scrambling, but it took 20 minutes for our waiter to even approach us to take our order, and we ended up walking out after we still had not received our food after another 45 minutes of waiting. The most puzzling part was the fact that the manager stood around and watched his two waiters trying to keep up, without once lifting a finger to help them, or start taking orders himself. Not once did the manager approach us to apologize (or numerous other customers growing angry with the slow service), nor were we even offered a cracker to nibble on while waiting. So, I guess I'm not upset over the fact that they were busier on a Tuesday night than they had planned, but it was the attitude of "so what?" from the manager that bothers me the most. We will not go back.
(1)Matt Z.
Definitely genesee county's best hidden gem. The bbq sauce is amazing, I pretty much put it on everything, even on the cornbread (not really). I have never been disappointed with any meal I have ordered. I have introduced many friends and family members who now consider this place one of their favorite spots to eat.
(5)Kelley K.
Don't let the location, attached to a gas station, fool you. This is truly a hidden gem. They have yummy Michigan craft beer on tap and the dry rubbed ribs were fantastic. A definite worthwhile stop when passing through Fenton.
(4)Doug C.
Good food.small place,great BBQ sauces!!
(4)Chris M.
I've heard so much good about this place that we've now tried it twice. Each time, the same result. The chicken and ribs are just not good. The chicken was really, really dry. I only ate about a 1/3 of it. The ribs, now gotten on two occasions, were tough and did not taste good at all. Even the sweet BBQ at the table couldn't make it much more than tolerable. I even explained to the waitress that we had not been there in about 3 years because of our first experience with really bad ribs. She assured me that the ones during this meal would be great. She was wrong. Service was no too bad, as a positive. I hardly ever complain about food at a restaurant, but this one I do. Save your money.
(2)Ed R.
For a smokehouse thats next to a gas station I would try and raise the bar a bit higher. The food is good at times and bad at times. I heard they have new owners so lets hope it on the up swing. The food I had today was tender and tasty. the portions are abit small for the price. I paid $8 for a jumbo pulled pork sandwhich and my wife had the smaller size for $7 and I would say they are close to the same size. The outddor area needed alot of work and would not be usable.
(3)Shawn K.
Favorite place in Fenton for lunch. Truly a hidden gem. Very good food for the price. Best place for BBQ easily 40 minute radius.
(3)Sheridan C.
Absolutely AMAZING food. We had wings and one of the family dinners, enough to feed four. Four of us were eating-- my husband, my in-laws and me-- and we had plenty of food leftover when we were done. The cornbread is seriously something special. Our waitress told us that often people come in and order a bunch of cornbread to go. SO good. Service was wonderful, the waitress was attentive and friendly, which made the experience even better.
(5)Ron C.
2 Words Pleasantly Surprised !! 2 co-workers & I were 5 miles away at Camp Copneconic , wanting to do lunch "Ron where should we go" Well I scouted Fenton before arriving and the faves via reviews were Sagebrush Fenton Firehall Beale Street ( I do not know how I missed the Laundry ) BBQ was the overwhelming choice, but Fenton Firehlall does not open until 4pm So being a small town I called ahead, and asked if they were open and could they accommodate our rig for parking. This outgoing -super freindly gal assured me , plenty of room to park 7 they would love to have us as guests!! ( thank You Lisa ) It sits a stones throw off of US-23, very easy to find, and you can park your Truck & Camper Semi Charter Bus ...anything. Walking up the smoker absolutely draws you in like a magnet Walked in and waited to be seated...one gal looked at us . .but was not sure what to do..and we waited..finally some gal says sit anywhere you like. Joyce arrived & brought menus & water, took our drink orders. I chose the 3 meat platter with 2 sides $13.50 Huge smoked & flavorful hotlink 3 St Louis Ribs Pulled pork Sweet potato fries with a dusting of marshmallow powder Gumbo Corn Bread The GUMBO was by far the best I have ever had, even better than places in Arkansas It had plenty of sausage, shrimp, mussels & the rice-veggies & broth, the only complaint it was served , below room temperature, we even mentioned it to them & they thought we were joking? My meats were just great! tender & chopped pulled pork, not fatty not stringy the hot link was massive ribs were meaty -tender- smoke rings The cornbread was Excellent, even ordered some to go. The co-workers were both going to order brisket sandwiches for $9 I encouraged them to get the platters for $10.50 which included 2 sides & cornbread I'm thinking next time I'm heading up-north it will be a worthy side trip again
(4)Mark S.
I hate to give this place only two stars. It probably has to do with what I ordered over what this place overall rating should be. I ordered the BBQ Nachos with pulled pork. The toppings were on the scarce side and they microwaved the nachos. This caused the scarce cheese to be hard and not to appetizing. This really became hard to eat. Bummer I really wanted to like this place. My wife ordered the french dip. This was OK. She ordered a side of corn bread which was good. She didn't care for the coleslaw. They had live music which was great. The bar had a great lineup of craft beers. The ribs looked good albeit the portions where not the largest. Maybe next time....
(2)Michael C.
Wow! Seriously the best BBQ beans I have ever had. The wings were off the hook!!! I loved it. Best gas station food ever! OK, they are just attached to a gas station. The coleslaw was creamy and sweet, which is not for everyone, but I liked it. Four of us split a family meal with plenty of take home. If you like BBQ this is a gem!
(5)David E.
Best BBQ place this side of the Mississippi! We have moved away from the Fenton area now but still return to Beale Street whenever we are in the area. We are searching for a replacement to Beale St in our new location but as yet have been unable to find anywhere even close to Beale St as our favorite BBQ place. The pulled pork is very lean and has minimal fat (very important for us). The taste is still excellent even without all the fat. Cornbread is to die for!
(5)chad g.
I'm giving a rare 5 stars. This is, so far, the best BBQ I have had outside of Memphis. I was amazed at the flavor. I haven't been here on a Saturday, but now knowing Saturday nights feature live blues music, I will be making plans to see if the music is as good as the food. You must try this place if you haven't already. Don't let the fact it is in a building connected to a gas station fool you...this is a nice place, with great food.
(5)Sean A.
The pulled pork and barbeque chicken were amazing. The ribs were good too. I was pleasantly surprised by their beer selection. Portions were generous and prices were reasonable. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Matt G.
MY LORD! First, let me start this review off by saying this; Disclaimer: DON'T JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER. Yes, this hidden gem is located next door to a gas station, and may look like the worse decision you chose to drive an hour to, but trust me, it's worth it. If you, like me have had an unfulfilled urge for smoky, tender, moist, and delicious BBQ, that no where you have gone to yet has fulfilled, then pack your bags and head to Fenton for some of the best BBQ you will ever have. There are so many great things about this diamond in the rough, such as 1) Their wide variety of beers from microbrews all over the state 2) They make their own mouth watering BBQ sauce, with 3 different kinds to suit everyones pallet 3) They don't douse their meat in BBQ sauce before they bring it out to you, so you can see that beautiful smoke ring, and also because they aren't afraid to let their meat, without any sauce, speak for itself, and boy does it sing! Any place that doesn't cover their meat with sauce gets an A+ from me. Just like they say on the Travel Channel and the Food Channel, covering your meat with sauce only covers up the flavor of the meat! My technique is to try the meat without the sauce first, to fully appreciate the meat, then to lightly dip the meat in a side of sauce if I want to. As delicious as the meat is at Beale St, the sauce is equally as tasty. There are 3 kinds, House, Sweet, and Bold and Spicy. My Lord, just thinking about it now is making me salivate. If you're a true food snob, such as myself, who prides themselves in having a liberal, yet refined and discriminating tongue, who just can't ever get enough good BBQ (or Mexican or Chinese or Sushi for that matter), then make sure to make the trip to Beale St and have your taste buds blown away!
(5)Anthony L.
By far the only BBQ place around that does it the right way. Prices may be a little more than avg around town, but, it is worth every penny. Kids eat free on kids night which is a very cool thing.
(5)Janice S.
Been here twice in last week and it was so delicious both times! There cornbread is unbelievable.My new favorite restaurant :) love this place!!!
(5)Kristin W.
I have been here 3 times and I will be back as soon as I need more BBQ. =) The ribs are delicious and their sausage is smoky and spicy. The pulled pork is good but can be a bit dry as they let you sauce it yourself. They have corn fritters for an app and these are a must have! The grilled bologna is thick and yummy but I cannot leave there without their sauage or ribs. Great selection of sauces and the people that work there are attentive and homestyle.
(4)Mary H.
EXCELLENT!!! Huge chicken pieces, fallin-off-the-bone meaty ribs. Can get wet or dry. Sauces are spot on. Great beer selection. Prices are reasonable. 4 bones, giant 1/4 chicken, beans, coleslaw, cornbread $16.99. Fabulous, you must go!!!
(5)TJ J.
I'd go back. Not the best ribs in Michigan by any means but pretty tasty. They offer 3 sauces (bold n spicy, sweet, and house) which were all pretty good. My kids absolutely devoured some ribs and fries. The ribs were a little bit fatty and sloppy fall off the bone style. Not my favorite but pretty good. They offer a decent selection of local craft brews. I think we'll head back on a Saturday to check out the live blues and jazz music. Enjoy!
(3)Peter O.
Great atmosphere, food and beers. The BBQ is actually slow smoked and very flavorful. Sides are also quite good, and they have a nice selection of beers. I really like the musical instrument decor as well, and they have been playing good music both times I have been there. Service was fast and friendly.
(4)Barb O.
Unfortunately, I cannot rate the food at Beale Street Smokehouse, because we never received our order, despite waiting well over an hour for two sandwiches. Yes, it was a busy night and the waitstaff were scrambling, but it took 20 minutes for our waiter to even approach us to take our order, and we ended up walking out after we still had not received our food after another 45 minutes of waiting. The most puzzling part was the fact that the manager stood around and watched his two waiters trying to keep up, without once lifting a finger to help them, or start taking orders himself. Not once did the manager approach us to apologize (or numerous other customers growing angry with the slow service), nor were we even offered a cracker to nibble on while waiting. So, I guess I'm not upset over the fact that they were busier on a Tuesday night than they had planned, but it was the attitude of "so what?" from the manager that bothers me the most. We will not go back.
(1)Matt Z.
Definitely genesee county's best hidden gem. The bbq sauce is amazing, I pretty much put it on everything, even on the cornbread (not really). I have never been disappointed with any meal I have ordered. I have introduced many friends and family members who now consider this place one of their favorite spots to eat.
(5)Kelley K.
Don't let the location, attached to a gas station, fool you. This is truly a hidden gem. They have yummy Michigan craft beer on tap and the dry rubbed ribs were fantastic. A definite worthwhile stop when passing through Fenton.
(4)Doug C.
Good food.small place,great BBQ sauces!!
(4)Chris M.
I've heard so much good about this place that we've now tried it twice. Each time, the same result. The chicken and ribs are just not good. The chicken was really, really dry. I only ate about a 1/3 of it. The ribs, now gotten on two occasions, were tough and did not taste good at all. Even the sweet BBQ at the table couldn't make it much more than tolerable. I even explained to the waitress that we had not been there in about 3 years because of our first experience with really bad ribs. She assured me that the ones during this meal would be great. She was wrong. Service was no too bad, as a positive. I hardly ever complain about food at a restaurant, but this one I do. Save your money.
(2)Ed R.
For a smokehouse thats next to a gas station I would try and raise the bar a bit higher. The food is good at times and bad at times. I heard they have new owners so lets hope it on the up swing. The food I had today was tender and tasty. the portions are abit small for the price. I paid $8 for a jumbo pulled pork sandwhich and my wife had the smaller size for $7 and I would say they are close to the same size. The outddor area needed alot of work and would not be usable.
(3)Shawn K.
Favorite place in Fenton for lunch. Truly a hidden gem. Very good food for the price. Best place for BBQ easily 40 minute radius.
(3)Sherry L.
My favorite bbq restaurant! Dry rub style ribs are amazing and I love that they carry & support local made beer & wine. They have their own in house made bbq sauces, service is always speedy and this place is worth the wait encountered on weekends. Don't let the fact that they are connected to a gas station deter you from trying this hidden gem. And they do play live local music, which is a nice touch but it can get a little loud.
(5)J H.
Overpriced and small portions. The host smirked when I asked for a booth. Went to washup after eating and comeback to find my table cleaned off and I hadn't finished. I guess they needed that booth pretty bad. Will not return. 20 dollars for 6 ribs, a thimble sized portion of garlic potatoes and baked beans and a sm piece of cornbread and a coke. And still HUNRGY.
(1)Sheridan C.
Absolutely AMAZING food. We had wings and one of the family dinners, enough to feed four. Four of us were eating-- my husband, my in-laws and me-- and we had plenty of food leftover when we were done. The cornbread is seriously something special. Our waitress told us that often people come in and order a bunch of cornbread to go. SO good. Service was wonderful, the waitress was attentive and friendly, which made the experience even better.
(5)Ron C.
2 Words Pleasantly Surprised !! 2 co-workers & I were 5 miles away at Camp Copneconic , wanting to do lunch "Ron where should we go" Well I scouted Fenton before arriving and the faves via reviews were Sagebrush Fenton Firehall Beale Street ( I do not know how I missed the Laundry ) BBQ was the overwhelming choice, but Fenton Firehlall does not open until 4pm So being a small town I called ahead, and asked if they were open and could they accommodate our rig for parking. This outgoing -super freindly gal assured me , plenty of room to park 7 they would love to have us as guests!! ( thank You Lisa ) It sits a stones throw off of US-23, very easy to find, and you can park your Truck & Camper Semi Charter Bus ...anything. Walking up the smoker absolutely draws you in like a magnet Walked in and waited to be seated...one gal looked at us . .but was not sure what to do..and we waited..finally some gal says sit anywhere you like. Joyce arrived & brought menus & water, took our drink orders. I chose the 3 meat platter with 2 sides $13.50 Huge smoked & flavorful hotlink 3 St Louis Ribs Pulled pork Sweet potato fries with a dusting of marshmallow powder Gumbo Corn Bread The GUMBO was by far the best I have ever had, even better than places in Arkansas It had plenty of sausage, shrimp, mussels & the rice-veggies & broth, the only complaint it was served , below room temperature, we even mentioned it to them & they thought we were joking? My meats were just great! tender & chopped pulled pork, not fatty not stringy the hot link was massive ribs were meaty -tender- smoke rings The cornbread was Excellent, even ordered some to go. The co-workers were both going to order brisket sandwiches for $9 I encouraged them to get the platters for $10.50 which included 2 sides & cornbread I'm thinking next time I'm heading up-north it will be a worthy side trip again
(4)Mark S.
I hate to give this place only two stars. It probably has to do with what I ordered over what this place overall rating should be. I ordered the BBQ Nachos with pulled pork. The toppings were on the scarce side and they microwaved the nachos. This caused the scarce cheese to be hard and not to appetizing. This really became hard to eat. Bummer I really wanted to like this place. My wife ordered the french dip. This was OK. She ordered a side of corn bread which was good. She didn't care for the coleslaw. They had live music which was great. The bar had a great lineup of craft beers. The ribs looked good albeit the portions where not the largest. Maybe next time....
(2)Michael C.
Wow! Seriously the best BBQ beans I have ever had. The wings were off the hook!!! I loved it. Best gas station food ever! OK, they are just attached to a gas station. The coleslaw was creamy and sweet, which is not for everyone, but I liked it. Four of us split a family meal with plenty of take home. If you like BBQ this is a gem!
(5)Sara R.
My new favorite BBQ place/best BBQ I've ever had! Ribs: 10/10, chicken: 10/10, Mac n cheese: 10/10, redskin mashed potatoes: 10/10, cornbread: 10/10 watermelon cocktail: 10/10. The live music (Friday night) was also awesome!
(5)Sonnet C.
We ordered 25 lbs of pulled pork for our daughters open house. It was ready when I got there-staff was friendly when ordering and when picking up. Everyone loved it! Only downside-the sauce was a bit pricey and we ran out with about 10 lbs left! (we got two extra bottles, so we had three all together). I wish someone would have suggested we may need more sauce...I had no clue. All together it was a good experience and great food!
(4)John A.
Amazing! Do not be discouraged that it is right next to a gas station. I went with the dry St. Louis Ribs and the wife the pulled pork. Fan of cornbread? Oh momma. Soooooo good. Kids loved the Mac & Cheese and Dad loved the eclectic beer selection (was disappointed they ran out of Dirty Blonde). If this place was in downtown Detroit, SLOWS would have to close their doors as the food was night and day. Three house sauces and the only bad thing was deciding between the house, hot and sweet as all three were perfect. Suggest getting the ribs dry and sampling the sauces. Pretty much some of the best BBQ that ever ended up in my belly.
(5)Lisa F.
Great little BBQ place. I was worried at first seeing as how there is a Sunoco that looks like it is attached, but is completely separate. The ribs were fall of the bone juicy. The sauces were phenomenal. The beef brisket was so tender with very little fat. Baked beans had brisket and pieces of hot sausage which made them have a unique flavor. The service was very friendly. Oh and the corn fritters were amazing!!
(4)Jesse U.
Best bbq I've had north of the Rio Grande. Great pit stop on the way to harbor springs. First class service and amazing food. On your way up north? Skip the Flint chain joints and head here.
(5)Laurie T.
The BEST BBQ in Michigan!!!! I would give it more stars if I could.
(5)Tiger L.
One of my favorite places to eat!! The live music is awesome! I've had multiple things in the menu and all of them are my favorite!
(5)Jon S.
First off this place was once very good bbq that was smoked for a very long time but now there meats are smoked for a few hours and finished in the oven hardly any smoke line in there meats anymore and portions are getting smaller and prices going higher
(3)Ashley M.
Decent little barbecue place. Their pulled pork is very good along with their cornbread (it would have been nice warm). I love their sweet BBQ sauce. The atmosphere is very rustic and they even serve you with a pig-shaped plate!
(4)Brian W.
BBQ? Next to a gas station? Off the freeway? Whhhhhat? No, seriously the best BBQ for mes. Great craft beer selection, wine and even more impressive food. You will not regret stopping at this local BBQ place. Locally owned and always busy.
(5)Crysal B.
Great BBQ! Thank you for a great dinner...we will be back! We really loved the ribs and the pulled pork. I wasn't crazy about the coleslaw, it was ok just not my style. The corn bread was delish and the bake beans are great.
(5)Dave E.
I travel quite a bit and just don't see the appeal of this place unless it's the barbecue sauce. Small portions of so so food. Service is good, but you will be easy 15 bucks a head for lunch and leave still hungry. Overall an avoid, unless you are in the area buy some barbecue sauce and cook at home.
(2)Rita P.
Paid $6 for a beef brisket sandwich with very little meat in it - I should have eaten at subway instead.
(2)Ben K.
Everyone has their favorite BBQ place in which all others are compared to, for me it is this place. Love the pig pen dinner, the corn bread is the best I have ever had, and the (loud) blues music on the weekend is the cherry on the cake.
(5)Cindy C.
I just dined here and had absolutely the best ribs I have ever had!! So meaty, tender and juicy. I cannot wait for the carry out location in Hartland to open.
(5)Bonnie B.
We easily got over the location. Definitely worth finding and will stop again when passing thru on 23. Got the smoked combo, perfect to split for lunch with the homemade House and Beal Hot sauces. Clean and cute with Memphis Beal Street Music Festival posters and blues singer photographs.
(4)Brian H.
Best food, hands down! I seriously love the atmosphere and the employees are exceptional. The owners seem to really love this place and it shows! And they have awesome live bands on the weekend!
(5)Tina M.
Just got dinner from Beale St. carry out in Hartland. (Old 23 and 59 Kroger Plaza) we are glad you moved in there. Smells amazing. Everything we got was great burgers how we ordered them ribs great mac an cheese OMG !!! Friendly, clean, food was hot an ready on time... we will be back
(5)Ken L.
Beale St. is ok... but I don't really understand why people go nuts over this place. The sauces at the table are pretty good. I like the house, and the spicy. But I am tired of people's fascination with sauces.... the food ought to be damn good too. But I found the smoked chicken to be dry (probably would be good if I smothered it in sauce), and the $9+ pulled pork sandwich had about 4 oz. of pork on it. Everyone knows how much pork costs... and I just don't see the value. The staff seemed friendly and helpful. And people really do love this place, and compare it to Slow's in Detroit. But I just think that Michiganders are not aware of true good BBQ.
(2)Erik N.
My wife and I give them 5 stars because they have the best barbecue in town at a fraction of the cost of the local establishments. And if you go on a Friday or a Saturday you can enjoy some of the best blues the area has to offer. But it's small and quaint so you need to get there early to secure a seat after 7ish on Friday and Saturday. Nice staff, inexpensive and a good time. The closest thing to Louisiana in the Fenton area!
(5)Robyn H.
We have eaten here many times. Tonight the wait was very long for our food. My food was cold and the green beans had so much pepper on them that I could not eat them. I ask our waiter about them and he was indifferent about the concern. Did not offer anything else I'm their place. The owner came over and she pretty much could have cared less about any customer concerns. She proceeded to sit down and text people on her phone. So it appears that things are on the decline at beale street.
(1)Marianna Z.
Hidden behind the gas station on North Rd in Fenton, Mi is a gem of a resto. The pulled pork rocks! Choice of house, sweey or spicy sauces. Fresh and tasty sides. Great lunch specials Mondays and Tuesdays for $5.99. Best BBQ in the area.
(4)Kevin J.
Best BBQ outside of Memphis! Don't let the gas station or trucking company fool you.
(5)Patric P.
Excellent barbecue! This is a local secret, since the restaurant is a little hidden, but well worth the search!
(4)Pam C.
Great BBQ.... Love this place. You get your monies worth for sure. Great menu, the best ribs. Awesome!!!
(5)Tricia S.
My wife and I just moved to the area and decided to try out a new place based on yelp reviews, and we were not disappointed! We split the extreme combo plate and had leftovers. Everything was delicious and we will definitely be making this our new regular BBQ joint. (They had a great weekday lunch special for only $6 that we can't wait to take advantage of)
(5)Lauren W.
So freakin' good. I am a lover of Slow's in Detroit, and I'd say this place is right up there on the delicious scale...the only thing missing on the menu is a great, homemade mac n' cheese! I can't ever stray from the pulled pork sandwich smothered in the sweet sauce... And at just $7.99 for the smaller version, it's the perfect amount of food and seriously delish. Wasn't a huge fan of the cornbread or green beans, but I LOVE their sweet potato fries (sprinkled with cinnamon sugar), the regular fries and the roasted apples. Also, there are beer flights. For $6.95, you get four tastes of some spectac Michigan microbrews. I love that there's always a few I've never heard of on the draft list. Overall, this is the perfect spot for families or date night. Great food, nice/chill atmosphere and a friendly staff. As all others say, don't let the gas station facade fool you ;)
(4)Vic D.
The food was good and the atmosphere friendly. You might not expect much from a BBQ joint that looks like it's attached to a gas station, but the food and atmosphere mostly delivers. One thing keeps me from giving it a five-star rating. We were there on a Saturday night while a band was playing. The band was w-a-y too loud for the room. In fairness, the place is so small that it would be hard to NOT be too loud for the room. If you're looking for a place where you can converse with friends while you eat, you should probably not come here on a Friday or Saturday night. The music will probably overwhelm your attempts at conversation.
(4)Gin S.
My family loves this place. Everyone is exceptionally friendly and the food is great!
(5)Tony S.
Don't let the gas station fool you. It is much more. If I could give it 3.5 stars I would. Food and service is hit or miss. First, I have been in here a dozen times now, and I love my barbeque. Their meat, on it's good days, is excellent -- not the best I've ever had, but up there. I recommend trying their burnt tips. I don't know too many places you can get them, but they're tasty here. Their ribs are good as well, a lot better than the "corporate" ribs, like you get at chain restaurants. The meat falls off the bone, when they're fresh. However, sometimes you can catch them on an off day, and they may have overcooked or reheated the meats (I'm not sure that they reheat, but I suspect) and they come out dry and not tender at all. Also, sometimes their wait staff can be a bit rude -- talking about personal matters with friends or coworkers in front of customers. I heard one of the wait staff disparage the restaurant and clientele to another coworker while we were dining. It really ruined the experience. I haven't returned since.
(4)JJ C.
The menu cost was high for Sunday afternoon. The waiter didn't offer the correct mac & cheese for kids. I wasn't blown away. It is a dry rub BBQ, I found myself pouring the table's sauce all on my meat. An appetizer & kid's mac&cheese = $17.00. It was hard to find, driveway mismarked(??). A friend's son owns this place, too.
(2)Luna B.
Oh man, this place was sooo good! It's between a Sunoco and a truck depot, lol. The place was crowded, and the live music was way too loud. It was cool though. They have a blues band. The food was amazing. A-maz-ing. The sauces where pretty good too. And thee best corn bread you will ever taste in your life. They have a lot of local beers. And this thing called 'Flighters'. It's a small glasses in a muffin tin of beer, so you can try local beers. How cool? This is now our go to place for BBQ.
(4)Jennifer H.
This place serves up a southern experience! Great BBQ, great beer selections and awesome local Blues entertainment. It may be behind a gas station but it's worth checking out. Think of it as "fueling up" in more ways than one! :)
(5)Jim O.
The food here is excellent for pulled pork and ribs. Meat falls off the bone as God intended. I Like my meat wet, not dry like other smokehouses around the country...and their sauces are pretty good. THIS PLACE IS SMALL, so try and get there early or make reservations. Tg eonly reason Ididnt go 5 stars is the prices are a little on the high side, but your mouth won't care.
(4)Amy H.
A good real bbq experience. Tender Smokey meat and tasty sides. Love the chicken so tender and not dry at all. Also a great selection of Michigan beers and interesting mixed drinks. Live music is great but hard to have a conversation with anyone your eating with :) I think we need more places like this that care about quality food... yummy will be back
(4)Liz R.
Easy off/on from US-23. Restaurant does not face the road, making it a little difficult to find (it's right next to the gas station). You walk in and just smell wood smoke. Yum! Cute casual interior. They serve beer, much of it local to our state, and wine too. We ordered the brisket plate and the two meat combo, ribs and pulled pork. Sides were potato salad and beans. Nothing was better than average, and some of it was below average. The meats did not taste smoky, which was disappointing since the place smelled so nice and wood smoky. My potato salad tasted liked potatoes mixed with French Onion dip. Ken's beans were bland. Very disappointed! Good cornbread. Four BBQ sauces on each table, but none did it for us. I picked this place instead of French Laundry. waaaah
(2)Laura S.
The food was ok. It wasn't bad, just mediocre. Atmosphere was ok, but the band is way too loud for such a small venue. Maybe turn down the volume on the speakers just a touch.
(2)Ron W.
I had heard a lot about this place so I figured it was time to give it a try. I went with the "Sampler Extreme". A combination of St. Louis ribs, brisket, BBQ chicken, and pulled pork. I would recommend them all. I will definately return for a repeat visit.
(4)Amber S.
This is the best BBQ place around! It doesn't count on any celebrity-connections or chain-type-gimmicks; it's just really good food. Their pulled pork and pork ribs are consistently tender and flavorful. I found the potato salad to be a bit too heavy on the dressing, but I've enjoyed every other side dish I had there. Their cornbread is a dessert in itself - it's so soft and sweet. The portions are big but not ridiculous and the prices are fair. They have a full bar, with a solid selection of Michigan beers and wines. They can fill up quickly, especially if there's live music, since the band will take up space where tables usually are. While the musicians I've heard there have been talented, the place is so small that it gets very loud very fast. It's hard to have conversation with your table companions if you're sitting near the band, and music can be more nuisance than ambiance - depending on your feelings about Blues and your noise tolerance. However, that's a small drawback to an otherwise top-notch establishment serving consistently delicious BBQ.
(4)Maria H.
Yes, this is tucked behind a Sunoco and shares a totally ambiguous parking lot with a trucking company (?) but you'll get over it. Decent bar, selection of dry or wet ribs, and better than average sweet potato fries. Word to the wise: Skip the brisket.
(4)Ranger R.
So I've always had the ribs or the pulled chicken/pork sandwich... I tried my girlfriends pulled pork platter...and wow, I don't think I've had better. The sampling of the platter was done a few times to be sure, and every time it was great. This also shows good consistency from the kitchen. Keep it up Beal street!
(5)Nancy B.
This is the fourth or fifth time I have been to this establishment. When will I learn? Doesn't even come close to Famous Dave's in Flint. I have a stomach ache right now after eating a take out order of ribs and chicken. I think the ribs were a month old!
(1)J B.
This restaurant is truley a hidden gem. I must say I was hesitant when my parents pulled up into a gas station parking lot, but I'm convinced this tiny BBQ restuarant is one of the best in the country. The ribs are fall-off-the-bone moist and the sauce is mind blowing, every side was lip smacking good, the corn bread, the sweet potato fries and corn fritters oh my! Not to mention a lively ambiance with music and a great crowd! Plus excellent service! This place puts Detroits "Slows" to shame. If you are passing through Fenton or live here full time put this place on your MUST GO list!
(5)Joe P.
This place just recently won best bbq in genesee county and I'd agree with that. This place is attached to the side of a gas station so that may scare some people away but they've done some re-modeling on the outside so it's more aesthetically appealing. I've been here only a few times, but the food is always very good. I've had the ribs and the pulled pork. They provide with you three sauces at the table which are all very good. The owners love beer because they have a lot of nice (mostly Michigan) craft beers here. We've been here on a Saturday night when they had a live band and it got pretty loud in there - it's a pretty small place- and I could barely hear my wife from across the table.
(5)Cori K.
This is a great place. I have been here many times -- it has always been great. Service is very friendly. If my family wants BBQ -- this is the go-to spot. Also -- the lunch specials are a good deal.
(5)Rodney H.
Wow, double wow & triple wow Beale St smokehouse is found in a non descript gas station parking lot at exit 80 of RT 23 in Fenton MI a good 1 hr drive from Detroit but well worth it if you like Memphis style BBQ We had a mixture of BBQ, all served dry with 3 sauces on the table, Chicken, Pulled Pork, Brisket & Short ribs. All were wonderfully smoked, but the clear winner for my taste was the brisket, perfectly cooked & really needed no BBQ sauces. side dishes were Baked Beans & Cole slaw, the Beans were top notch but the Slaw kid of bland. Of the sauces the Bold & spicy really work for me. Also a very good beer menu & the waiter was more than willing to provide samplers of all & any beers. we settled on the dirty Bastard a very malty, hoppy Dark beer & training ale a good full bodies wheat beer. The Decor is very retro 1950 type diner ambiance, clean bright & welcoming. Recently we also tried the Union Wood shop in Clarkston MI, how do they compare. Well i would describe the Union Wood shop at Hagen Daz Belgian Chocolate Chocolate ice cream & Beale St smokehouse as Hagen Daz Rum & Raisin. i love them both but I'd chose Belgian Chocolate 9 times outta 10. Still for the Tenth time id go back to Beale st willingly & if Fenton is closer to your home town, its a very good place to eat well prepared & well Served Memphis Style BBQ.
(4)Rochelle J.
Beale St. Smokehouse is excellent, the best BBQ I have had. I love their pulled pork & chicken. I always order for parties and is a crowd favorite. Lisa (one of the owners) is a pleasure to deal with, always kind and willing to work with you to make your experience the best she can. When I need a catering order I always get it ordered ahead of time (weeks in advance) because they always have large catering orders and they can only fill so many. Their food is that good. Thank for your awesome BBQ, I hope you win best in Genesee County.
(5)Larry M.
This place sucks we will never go back service is bad food shouldn't be given to a dog !!! The little host guy is an asshole !!!!!
(1)Kristin W.
This used to be my favorite place for BBQ. I gladly took the 40 minute drive to Fenton anytime BBQ was mentioned and referred many people there, all raved about Beale St. as well. Sadly, I think those days are in the past. Ownership turned over last year some time and in the few times we went the quality seemed to have slipped a bit. I've never been a huge fan of the sides (too small and not anything special) but the BBQ was still tasty enough until the last two times. Service is decent but nothing special. Went in a couple of months ago on a Sunday around 6, seated, ordered and received our drinks and then waited to place our order. Probably there 15 mins or so. Proceed to order and when my husband orders ribs he is told "oh, we're out of ribs" Huh?? He ordered something else, i got my usual 1/2 chicken which seemed smaller than usual and i watched the people on both sides of us return food for not being warm when brought to the table. Fast forward to this past Sunday, we decide to give it a try again. Get there around 5:30 are seated, drinks served, waiter comes back to take our order. I order 1/2 chicken am told "no chicken" huh?? I said what else are you out of, and am told "ribs" REALLY?? We got up and left. I told the waiter that they might want to start telling people BEFORE they are seated that they are out of the two main things people come to a BBQ place for.....that was it for me, No more Beale St.
(2)Jennifer R.
What used to be a great BBQ joint has sadly lost some of its appeal under the new management. The atmosphere is great and accommodating for any size group. Weekend entertainment is always good (but very loud!) The food, which was once outstanding, is now average. On this trip, I ordered the Knife & Fork (a standard for me-- pulled pork served between the best cornbread you'll ever eat, with cheddar melted on top.) The pork was dry and the texture seemed like it was either old, or had been left sitting out. Luckily, a few squirts of their BBQ sauce helped a bit. The sweet potato fries were awesome, but a little cold. I'm not ruling this place out for good, but I hope it improves!
(3)Ryan M.
Real BBQ is always found in the back of a gas station. :-) Really nice place, great to dine in or take out. Best BBQ in the area.
(5)