Lonnie Ray’s Cafe
81 E Sexton St, Harrisburg, MO, 65256
Lonnie Ray’s Cafe Menu
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Address :
81 E Sexton St
Harrisburg, MO, 65256 - Phone (573) 874-0020
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Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
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Maxwell P.
I'm always on the lookout for BBQ, so when a handful of people recommended Lonnie Ray's to me, I knew it was on the menu. It's a short drive from Columbia, but if take the back roads, it's a lovely little jaunt that's well well worth it. My wife and I arrived and walked into the sparse dining room. Down-home decor and paper bag menus adorned the walls, but I totally disagree with other reviewers who called this place 'dirty.' Yeah, it's old and retro, but I thought it was pleasant and I felt confident as we sat down in our booth. We ordered the Que combo platter and my mouth started watering at the thought of ribs, pulled pork, and ribs danced through our brains. When our plate came out, quickly, it was piled high. The ribs were on top and were so so. The pulled pork was delicious and flavorful. But the brisket. Oh the brisket. Thus was by far the best brisket I've ever had, by far. Far far. It had a nice crispy layer in the outside which was really tasty. And when I picked up a chunk with my fork it fell apart with tender deliciousness. Seriously, I'd been searching for brisket like this all over Columbia and I finally found it in Harrisburg. It didn't need sauce and there was a gigantic pile of it on my plate. All the sides were great and they were served in Styrofoam cups (matched the rest of the experience). Try the fried corn, spicy beans, and slaw. All delicious. Finally, I usually only give 4stars based in food alone. But considering his well Pit Master Mike took care of us, this was an easy 5Star. He took us in the back and showed us his smokers and the various slabs of brisket at different stages of deliciousness. When we told him it was our first visit, Mike promptly demanded we try all his experiments including jalapeño cheddar sausages and fried bologna. He was nice and really cared. Easy 5 star review. Go here. Seriously go here. Bring cash ( no cc accepted). Call ahead, too as Mike only serves so much per day until it's gone. Oh yeah, and make sure the roads aren't flooded before you trek out. It's all worth it though. For the brisket. Brisket.
(5)Enrique S.
Since we purchased our farm near Harrisburg, we have had the opportunity to dine at Lonnie Ray's several times. The ribs fall off the bone. The brisket is so tender you can cut it with a spoon and it is not dry or paper thin. Best brisket since we lived in Texas! The smoked bologna sandwich was at least 2 inches thick and delicious. Pork steaks are also tender and smoked very well. The cole-slaw is OK...I still prefer Hoss's and Buckinghams slaw (both in Columbia) over anyone elses. The corn is really good too. All meats have a unique dry rub flavor. I have been trying to place it but have not yet figured it out. I guess I will have to eat here a few more times and continue my research. The sauces are also good to excellent, and unique. All are tomato based though. As one review indicated, the inside of this place is not much to look at, which is why it get 4 stars. The food is 5 stars - hands down - best BBQ in Boone County. The interior of the restaurant is tiny. It was not filthy like the other reviewer mentioned, it just has not been updated since - well - maybe 1960. It is quaint and looks old, but that adds to the charm IMHO. If you tour the smoker, you will be amazed by the amount of meat that he cooks at any given time. They use firewood only for a heat source and the smokey flavor. Depending on the day, they might be using hickory, pecan, apple, oak, etc. The servings are on nothing fancy - think a family picnic with foam dishes, paper napkins, and plastic silverware. Again - I think this adds to the charm. When you leave, the door opens INWARDS. You can always tell who is there for the first time by the way they try to leave the restaurant. Cash only! No credit cards.
(4)Heather M.
This is the best barbecue in Mid-Missouri. The atmosphere is down home good ole boy, and so is the cooking. Delicious!
(4)Ron C.
I drove by today, 4/6/15, and a sign on the door indicates they have closed their business.
(1)Tamsyn O.
Best BBQ I've ever had! Lonnie Ray's is a little ways off the interstate, but I am so glad we decided to check out some of the local cuisine rather than stopping at a big nationwide chain. The food was amazing and the staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating. If I'm ever up that way again I will definitely be stopping in for seconds.
(5)Aretae r.
I've been to some of the other best BBQ places in the country, and this one's near the top of the list. Lockhart, TX is divine. Ain't no one anywhere who serves better Texas BBQ brisket. I'm awful fond of Elgin, TX and their sausage, which is at least as good as the Lockhart Sausage. And I think Smokey Mo's BBQ from the Northern suburbs of Austin has just about the best BBQ sauce anywhere. I've spent a fair bit of time in North Carolina, and while I can't claim to have found the best pulled pork anywhere in NC, I've spent time in and around Boone, where there's some excellent BBQ (can't find the place in a quick web-search given that I don't know the name), and Alan and Son of Durham, NC is awful good as well. I've has some amount of Kansas City BBQ, but my specialty has been TX and NC BBQ. Lonnie Ray's serves some of the best pulled pork you're ever gonna have. It's brisket is substantially better than most TX brisket places, but not really quite competitive with Lockhart. I say the baby-back ribs were the best I've ever had, but I'm not a connoisseur of ribs, though I've had them throughout the country. My 14yo son has ordered them anywhere we get BBQ for the last 8 years, so I've tasted a lot. And my 6yo daughter ate most of them this weekend. They don't carry TX bbq sausage, and I only saw tomato-based BBQ sauce, not the Carolina vinegar that could go well on the pulled pork. The tomato-based sauce was among the best I've had. However, it wasn't just the meat that was good. The charros were fiery hot, and far and away the best I've had...mixed with the pulled pork...wow! I'm personally not a baked beans fan, but those were awfully tasty...candy effectively...and it's hard to believe, but I'm pretty sure it was the best Corn on the Cob I've tasted as well (my 4yo agrees...he ate most of it). Good sweet tea, good lemonade, one of the best cherry pies I've been fortunate to eat, and an excellent apple pie as well (my 4yo wanted it...I got some tastes). Overall, one of the best dining experiences of my life...and I was able to waddle away from the table, paying $30 to feed 2 adults and 2 small children with drinks, deserts and sides. Anyone, anywhere near Missouri really ought to go visit. We're now considering whether when we leave IChicago heading towards Yellowstone, we should take 3-4 hours longer, just to have another visit. Since it's only 3 hours difference by Google Maps, I'm thinking yes. It's just that good.
(5)Jim F.
You walk into this little hole-in-the wall joint. You see four booths on each side and two tables in the middle. There is all sorts of old stuff and photos on the wall. You walk up to the counter, take a menu and sit down. The iced tea is fantastic, and you order one of the half-dozen sandwiches, all under $10 with a side. The sandwich comes out and it is simply enormous. And delicious. Simply the best BBQ in mid-Missouri. The baked beans, if they are a special side of the day, are the best I've ever had. I haven't tried the burgers, and since I can't eat but half a sandwich there has been no room for the incredible sounding homemade desserts. Oh, and some specials are written in a guy's sloppy handwriting on the chalkboard behind the counter. Simply a classic small town local spot. My only recommendation is you call ahead to make sure they are open. I've driven there once and there was a note on the door saying they had a big catering gig so so the two-man operation was closed. If you are into BBQ, take the drive 20 minutes north of Columbia. You will not regret it.
(5)Samuel M.
Came here for "lunch" with two others during a recent visit to Columbia, MO. Well worth the hike to get out here. We ordered a pit plate and two combo plates. All of the smoked meats were fantastic. The ribs are coated in a sumptuous dry rub with a very distinctive flavor - can't say I've tasted anything like it. Pulled pork is tender and perfectly cooked, and tastes thoroughly of smoke. Brisket holds its shape impressively, as the deep pink ring clearly displays that it's been smoked for endless hours. Lonnie's sauce is very good, but seriously, the meat hardly needs it. All the side dishes (we had baked beans, fried corn, coleslaw, and sweet potato fries) are delicious, but not so much so that they distract from the 'cue itself. Were this located anywhere else, I'd probably get irked by the gargantuan portions, which are literally unfinishable. However, when one visits a place like Harrisburg, MO just to sample one BBQ restaurant, a little gluttony is always appreciated. Be forewarned that your take-home box alone will likely contain more food than you'd be served at a normal restaurant, though.
(4)Samantha C.
My dad and I were traveling cross country and went out of the way to try out Lonnie Ray's based on some things I'd found online. The extra drive time was MORE than worth it! We've tried BBQ from all over the country and Lonnie Ray's takes the cake! These guys know what they are doing! Definitely the best BBQ EVER. Mike and Brandon are really personable as well and even took the time to show us how the magic was made. My only wish is they were in TN (where I live) so I could taste this awesome BBQ more often.
(5)Kyle S.
Best BBQ in central Missouri and best brisket in the state. I've had a lot of BBQ in Mo but Lonnie's takes the cake. Mike and Brandon are BBQ mad scientists cooking up some of the best bang for your buck. Try the Mac daddy (smoked Mac n cheese), ribs, or Gee Willikers sandwich.
(5)Kyle D.
The first rule of Lonnie Ray's is you don't talk about Lonnie Ray's. If you want to bring a friend, first knock them unconscious, blindfold them, and stick them in your trunk or in the back of a windowless panel van. Lonnie Ray's should be kept hidden from the world. Every time I go I'm nearly brought to tears. It's really that good. I ate every speck of my pit plate the first time I went (I won't make that mistake again), but I can say with a straight face that the pain was worth it. The brisket is unlike anything I've ever eaten. Try everything without sauce. Try the mac daddy (mac and cheese with bacon!) and the flake out (if you left your dignity at home). Try not to cry while eating. Try not to tell anyone else about Lonnie Ray's.
(5)Rick L.
The BBQ is good, as other reviewers have noted, but the place is filthy dirty. My recommendation: if you must go, get take out. Otherwise, as you wait for your food and become more aware of the filthy surroundings, you may start losing your appetite.
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