C L.

David W.

Gary H.

Rob Z.

Greg W.

Diane U.

John G.

P X.

Mary L.

Kyle G.

Billy W.

I crave this place whenever I'm in Rochester! I am a big fan of their pulled pork dinner plate accompanied with baked beans and fried jo-jo's (homemade potato chips). I usually opt for sandwiches at other BBQ establishments, but John Hardy's serves unlimited, free, buttery, soft texas toast that is sinfully good, so i'm all set.

Bill C.

In Rochester on a work trip. Visiting from Kansas City, I was a little skeptical about finding BBQ in Minnesota. I had the Pulled Pork Sandwich with a Medium Sauce and it was every bit as good as any of the pulled pork I've had at home.

Mika B.

Amazing pulled pork, but if you don't like pulled pork, don't go here as you won't find many alternatives. Great history and locally owned spot.

S S.

best sliced turkey! and all sauces are amazing. not to mention the cole slaw.. yummy! we sometimes get it to go and enjoy at home and its just as good!!

Brad J.

My daughter and I love John Hardy's - our favorite BBQ in the City. It does have some smoke and we both love the medium sauce. The pulled pork is the best with Jo Jo chips.

David P.

Had occasion to sample Hardy's BBQ Turkey the other night and I was not disappointed. I will confess I dont have a lot of BBQ places under my belt for comparison, but I do know good food. The turkey was well smoked and had a nice crusty patina that made the meat extra tasty. The mild sauce was addictive and I dipped everything in it. The Jojo potatoes were extra tasty after dipping. The place was packed and given the quality of the food I would assume this is the norm rather than the exception. I strongly recommend Hardy BBQ.

Cathy J.

Great BBQ, the chicken is the best, and ofcourse the jojo potatoes. Not much for atmosphere but for carry-out its fine.

Mike R.

I have to say it, I feel really out of place when I go here, but that doesn't stop me from going here. The place is straight out of the 80s in the south along with half the waitresses, but they are very good waitresses. The food is awesome too. That's all I have to say. Good food. Go there for some good BBQ. Their fried okra side is awesome too. Everytime I've been there it's been busy too, but again, the food is worth it.

Khoa P.

We've been comng to John Hardy's for years and love it. Their shredded pork's the best. Recently, they've remodeled, which is a plus, but we've also noticed a slight change in the food as well. It's still really good but something has changed. The garlic bread isn't as good anymore, stewed okra less flavorful, ... Another item we noticed lately was the service. Normally the bread comes as kind-of-like an appetizer (before the meal) and the food would come quickly right after. Now, however, the bread comes with the meal and the meal takes quite some time. It seems like other reviews mention this as well so I guess it wasn't just us. We'll still be coming here, but probably less often.

Firstname L.

I went here for lunch in May 2008 (so? I'm only 5 years late writing the review!). Food here is great. The place looks like a dive inside. With the contrast between good, fast BBQ and bad decor, I'm surprised this place has not been on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins,and Dives". Of the three places I've eaten in Rochester MN, this is my favorite.

Linda H.

Wow this was some bad meat. You got a great sauce and some great cole slaw, but we come here for the Q right? First of all, don't think the "beef" is Texas Beef Brisket. It is just plain old roast beef. It could not have been smoked because it had no bark on it nor smoke ring. So WTF? Don't get it. The ribs were the fattiest gristle I ever gnawed on. Where's the meet. I left starving. Just take two shots of their BBQ and be on your way. Also, the place was scummy. I felt like taking a shower after eating there.

Steven R.

Rochester is blessed with great barbecue, especially Roscoe's and John Hardy's. Love 'em both but I like the ribs here better as they're not fall off the bone. Some prefer that but to me that means they're over cooked. Not to miss at Hardy's is the fried okra. Just like my momma never made. :-)

Cyrus K.

The best BBQ you can get in the Rochester, MN area. The BBQ is always good, but that's not the only thing. Chicken, ham, beef, it's all great! And the different sauces (which come in different degrees of "hotness" are well worth exploring. The prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is exceedingly casual. Ties and suits mingle perfectly with work boots and bluejeans. All are welcome. Highly recommend!

E. N.

Corey H.

Jerry M.

Jay J.

Really good BBQ, the smoked turkey is outstanding.

Denise B.

Nice choices for gluten-free dining. Would be helpful if there was a gluten-free menu with preparation instructions. Great food.

James B.

Can't give less than 1 star. BBQ beef is roast beef. The sauce is Catsup mixed with honey. The dinner was about 1 lb of fries and a few stringy pieces of roast beef that was almost impossible to chew! I took the remains to the dog, but he will eat anything. The service and the ice tea was good though! Being from the south I should know better than to expect good BBQ up north. My bad.

Mean Eyed C.

Been here many times, not fancy, just a bbq joint. Good food, service and big portions. Worth a stop when in Rochester.

Christopher M.

I love everything about John Hardy's. Went to high school in Rochester before moving 70 miles north and living in the Twin Cities. Every time I have occasion to return to town, I get it. Very blue collar joint - quick and efficient service. I love the chicken but in recent years I have focused just on the pulled pork. The chicken is good but the pork it out of this world. I usually like a tangier sauce but there is something about their sauce that it just captivating. The baked beans and fried okra are my usual sides along with the Jojo potatoes. Saturated in the sauce, they are amazing.

Andi S.

My favorite of the BBQ choices in Rochester! Locally owned, down home, no frills type place with good food and service! Meats have a great smokey flavor. Love the pork and ribs. Tried their wings and those have a great smoky flavor to them too! Very reasonably priced for the amount of food you get. The sauce is not what I'd consider a normal BBQ sauce, but still good. I always order it on the side, because not every bite needs sauce, although I really love it on the jojos. I'm not gonna lie - I caught myself humming a little while biting into my ribs tonight! Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm!

Drew H.

Great BBQ for the price! Go for the Bad Boy sauce. Service was excellent! Nice, casual restaurant that is family friendly. Spent $33 for a family of five! We would recommend this our family and friends!

Debbie F.

What was I thinking? I went to a Bar B Q place north of the Mason-Dixon Line and I know better. Three of us in the party and not one of us was happy with our meal. The meat was dry and had less than sparkling flavor. The baked potatoes were not done and were hard as a rock. The service was adequate, but nothing to write home about. Given the choice, my shadow will probably never pass their threshhold again.

Ken B.

It is adequate for cheap BBQ. I thought the smoke flavor was lacking. Sauce is a little too much like hot wing sauce for my taste. Staff is friendly and fast.

Louise M.

All eyes were on me when I entered the joint. Not only there weren't too many girls there but I was the only Asian person in the whole restaurant. Good thing, it didn't last long. Maybe a second or two, then everyone went back chowing. I felt a little out of place at first but I got over it quickly. The two guys I was with made me blend in a bit more. Very blue collar type place with some occasional ties with no suit here and there. I heard they just renovated it? However, it looked to me like a very lived-in weathered place. Maybe I misheard. The place was super busy and most of the tables were taken. One of My dining companions said that this place was no frills type place but the food was great. The founder, John Hardy came from the South and his bbq is as good as you can get over there, but in Rochester. I was skeptical but I consider myself a bbq lover but I'm not an expert. I can't judge if it was done right but I can tell you if I like it or not. I liked it. I liked it a lot. I went with the recommended shredded pork though I wanted the ribs. I don't usually eat ribs in public so I refrained from tearing up meats from the bone with my teeth in front of these guys I work with. That way, I had no worries of having bbq sauce smeared across my cheeks. My shredded pork was tasty. I had it with the jojo potatoes and green beans. The green beans were those mushy army green color, which was unnatural for good and not overcooked green beans. I'll definitely skip it next time and get other side. The medium sauce was so good. It had a nice kick to it and I really liked it. I have to try their bad boy sauce next time. The pork was tasty on top of the garlic bread they served! Service was pleasant and fast. Perfect for lunch. I'll come back for sure for the meats. I had a nice lunch and the prices weren't bad for the amount of food you got. After watching House of Cards lately, this got me my Freddy's fix.

Jon W.

The best thing about John Hardy's is an important factor: It's distinct smokiness. You can instantly tell the meat is cooked and smoked with wood, not gas. As trivial as that may sound, this fundamental practice is not always exercised. The ribs had the flavor of a campfire. However, the (rib) meat did not fall off the bone and it was a little too fatty for my liking. Also, the menu did not include brisket, which was a little strange. Even the waitress expressed her disappointment in this omission. And, finally, the sauce. It was OK, at best. The "hot" sauce tasted much like buffalo and the "mild" -- or traditional bbq taste -- was not great. It lacked that rich, tangy flavor. It's a shame because John Hardy's cross-town competitor, Roscoe's, boasts a great basic bbq sauce. The side of corn was terrible. Period.

Rich A.

Seriously the best BBQ in Rochester! My favorite is the pulled pork. I love the sauces, especially the big boy hot sauce. Jo-Jo's are an excellent accompaniment to the meat of your choice.

Susan T.

This is a meat lover haven where you get in and get dirty. Here, people roll up their sleeves and grunt while they tear meat off the bone with their teeth and wash it down with beer. The setting is rustic, almost on the dingy side. The red and white checkered tablecloths are faded, shredded and cracked on the corners. The outside or front entrance looks like it might be off the set of an old Wild West movie and that there might, just might, be a piano bar with some edge and flair inside but there's no edge at all. Wha-waa. The atrium with seating area helps brings in natural light so you don't feel like you're in a dark hole but it also makes you "see". I must be clearly missing the boat because this place is actually quite popular with person after person coming in for take-out and many were seated. As for me, my shredded pork was dry and sticking to my teeth. It wasn't until I mixed it with my baked bean sauce that I could chew and swallow. For some reason, I always thought JoJo's were potato wedges but theirs were thin disc-like potatoes ladened with oil looking like a pile of used-up flatten tea bags. Ick. And you'd think you would get equal side amounts but rather you get this huge heaping plate of JoJo's with a baby dish of baked beans and coleslaw (and if their beans and coleslaw weren't seemingly from a can I would've preferred it the other way around so I got this bigger dish of baked beans and coleslaw and a smaller amount of JoJo's). Yes, there was plenty of food and my husband was pleased with how much meat was on his ribs but I thought the taste was okay. Their menu was at least laminated but why not some color to spice it up and create eye interest? The menu wasn't logical (you'd think their appetizers would be on the top) but they're on the bottom and there are 2 to pick from and it wasn't easy to navigate first time through. The emphasis is really on the meat and not on anything else like the sides or setting or menu but even then, the meat didn't have that bam or wow factor.

Kelly V.

This place is our long time favorite! Can't get enough of the pulled pork plate and the ribs!

Alyssa C.

Love the smokey flavor of the pulled pork. I dont eat pulled pork anywhere else because I know it can't compare. I always get the fried okra with my plate and it is awesome.

Jason W.

Love BBQ. I live on the west coast and anytime I come to Minnesota I make it a point to eat here. I love their JoJos (when they're fresh of course). I had heard from a friend in town that they added nachos and chicken wings to the menu. The wings are kind of small, but good size for an appetizer. I would get the sauce on the side. The pulled pork as always was above par. I'll be back next time I'm in town to try those nachos

PS S.

BBQ is bland. We had the ribs and brisket. It was lacking seasoning, best way to describe it was bland and boring. The food had a smokey taste to it, but it is as if that is the only flavoring. If you like flavor and/or spice, chances this place will disappoint. If you like smoked meat, go for it. Our sides (fries and JoJo's) were cold and greasy. The service was prompt and pleasant. The place has a real casual and "down-home" feeling Wont be going back.

Jennifer B.

Staying in Rochester for a month for tests and surgery. We're trying to find some good go-to restaurants here. After taking a cab to get food the other night, the driver mentioned John Hardy's BBQ and that they use the cab service to deliver. After hearing they do delivery, we decided to give it a try. So, tonight, we called and placed an order for delivery. Since we'd never been there before, we went onto their website to view their menu. Their website is very confusing. It doesn't show pictures of any of their specific dishes. The site lists different meat types under Dinners, and then lists the same meat types under Plates, Small Plates, Sandwiches, and Large Sandwiches. However, it never explains the differences between the dinners, plates, etc. All of which are listed to come with the same choice of side dishes. The side options are JoJo Potatoes, Garlic Bread, and Choice of Baked Beans, Okra, Black Eyed Peas, Cole Slaw, Fried Okra or Green Beans. As I know it, JoJo's are potato wedges. These, however, are slices of potatoes like chips, that are baked and soft. Which aren't bad, but not what I was expecting. Also, in the few photos they have on the menu, one shows a baked potato, which is not one of the side choices on the menu. Upon ordering our food, I asked the waitress if I could, indeed, get a baked potato. To my surprise, she said yes. So I ordered the pulled pork with a baked potato and green beans. My mom ordered the Combo Dinner, of chicken and Beef with JoJo's and stewed Okra. Our food was delivered to our hotel lobby where we paid our cab driver with cash. As deliveries are cash only. We returned back to our room and were eager for our meals. It smelled delicious, but upon tasting our orders, we were more than disappointed. The garlic bread wasn't toasted. It was soft french bread covered in a garlic butter which ended up soggy by the time we got it. My pulled pork was dry with mild bbq sauce slathered on it with a decently cooked baked potato and mushy green beans in a watery sauce. My mom's chicken was completely black and tasted simply like burnt smoke. Her steak was better tasting, but along with her JoJos, was swimming with bbq sauce. Her Okra was the best tasting part of her meal and was swimming in a watery sauce as well. Needless to say, we were not impressed or even remotely excited by our meals. We were very disappointed especially since they do deliver, but we will not be eating here again and we would not recommend this restaurant either. I also failed to mention, their delivery service is only 6$ but does require a cash only payment upon delivery. Also, their menu is very reasonably priced. These are the reasons I gave them 2 stars. Sadly, if the people of Rochester consider this to be good BBQ, I would assume there isn't much BBQ to choose from here.

Kristin F.

Once we finally found this place, we had a great experience. But it took us quite a while and finally stopping to ask for directions....to find this place. We almost gave up and went to Famous Dave's (since we were at a gas station right by Famous Dave's when we asked) I liked everything I had, and the portions were plentiful. The atmosphere is that of a little hole in the wall place. But they did have enough space for our party of 4 adults and 3 children. The JoJo potatoes were not JoJo potatoes....they are more like thick softer potato chips. Several sauces to choose from. I really liked the coleslaw. The lack of good beer or any other alcohol, brings down the score in my book.

G G.

Classic family favorite. The atmosphere is comfortable and lived in, the selection is none too broad, but the food is satisfactory. Once upon a time, a year or two ago, the food was awesome. Now, it's good.

Janey H.

This place has the Carolina-style sauce that I just not a fan of. Overall, I'd say not that great. The food is greasy and the restaurant looks like a dump. I'd rather go to Roscoe's where the sauce is tasty and you get to sit outside.

Fant S.

At some point over the last few months John Hardy's has changed their bread again. It does not seems to be the same as the original, however it is an improvement. We still miss the old look and "feel", but it is making a comeback.

Krista B.

Went last night with the family. This was a pretty bad experience. They were out of everything (of course they don't tell you up front so we are going I'll take the X and the waitress is responding "sorry we are out of X.") One thing they were out of was Chicken! buuuuut then she said, wait let me check... came back and said no sorry we aren't out of chicken. One of my kids ordered a corn dog and it was literally frozen when he bit into it. The waitress did fix it for us. She wasn't so kind at first but I suspect when she realized how bad things were getting for us, she lightened up. The BBQ was "ok"...but honestly my oldest son who is 10 said...mom we should have just gone to Famous Dave's. Serves us right for trying something different when out of town. At least when you go to a chain you KNOW what you are going to get. Yes not my favorite thing to do but better to not ruin a good vacation with a bad restaurant experience in my opinion. With that said, if i had gone by myself, i would have liked it more. Some of the chicken was pretty dry almost inedible. But the sauce was good and the ribs were big and like Steven R. says...not fall of the bone. You'll have to gnaw them off the gone. The sauce is runny and not thick which i liked and even the mild had a kick to it. I also really liked the jojo potatoes that they serve. Those were awesome and are served as the base for the main entree. But again, my kids turned their nose up at those too because it wasn't standard stuff. So unless your child is pretty willing to try new things, i wouldn't bother.

Jesse L.

I'm a native New Yorker but I was fortunate to spend several months out in Rochester a few years back. Up to that point, I had been to several BBQ joints in NYC and thought I was a huge fan of the cuisine. What I failed to realize was that, until wandering into John Hardy's BBQ, I had no clue what real BBQ was all about. The picture posted on Yelp brings back such vivid memories of my first few times at John Hardy's. The ribs were extraordinarily meaty and perfectly pink. They were seasoned well but definitely required a dousing of sauce (which was a nice balance of perky and tangy). Without a doubt though, the thing which still keeps memories of John Hardy's BBQ near and dear to my heart were the Jo-Jo Potatoes. The fact that I can't find a side as excellent as these even in some of the top BBQ joints in NYC drives me crazy. The fried okra (first I had ever tasted) was pretty excellent as well. And while I've had some BBQ experiences since first going to John Hardy's that (from a pure food perspective) outrank it, I'll always be grateful for the role that this place had in fostering my love of outstanding, authentic BBQ food.

Rick J.

Love this place, the chicken and potatoes are awesome. I like to go there alot.

Michelle A.

Dave A.

Kristi S.

Dana B.

William F.

This place adds further evidence to the proposition that the best restaurants in Rochester are locally owned. John Hardy's is a great restaurant with a great history and like fine wine keeps getting better. I was here last night and had the ribs with two other people. We agreed that they were the best ever, of historic proportions, like a perfect game in baseball. Marcel Proust had his madelaine, I had John Hardy's ribs. Life doesn't get much better.

Kerry D.

Igor V.

Michael N.

Derek J.

Brian B.

I'm sorry, but this place was not great. My pulled pork was okay, but they brought me out the plate, instead of the sandwich I ordered. The jojo potatoes were gross, not one of them was crispy, all soggy with oil. The fried okra looked like it came out of a bag, and all 6 sauces are of the same flavor profile. Swing and a miss!

Christopher P.

Thomas S.