Sugarfire Smoke House
9200 Olive Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63132
Sugarfire Smoke House Menu
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Address :
9200 Olive Blvd
Saint Louis, MO, 63132 - Phone (314) 997-2301
- Website https://www.sugarfiresmokehouse.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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Matt T.
I love BBQ, and in that, I am not alone. I think I'm pretty good at crafting BBQ at home too, but I assume most people think that about themselves. The kitchen staff was helpful when making my selection, as its busy and a noob can hold up the line for everyone. I ordered a 2-meat plate (pork and brisket), with slaw and fries, a chef salad, and two kids meals with ribs. I think the ribs were fine, the pork was good, the brisket was so-so. I liked the smoky-ness of the meat, and the sauce was great. The salad had to go back to the kitchen, and I was offered a refund. My kids loved the fries. I think that if I drag my wife to another BBQ joint in search of ribs that are better than my own, she'll leave me. I very much wanted to love this place, but ended up simply liking it instead. You can't win them all. Best of luck to them, they seem to have a good business going on.
(3)Nikole S.
Love the food! Love the owner! This is the best BBQ in the world!! Try everything! Keep going back! I can't recommend this place more highly!!!! Run, don't walk, to this restaurant or one of its sister locations!
(5)Victor H.
Just had a venison sandwich with some greens and a ranchy barbecue sauce, it was pretty amazing, had the jumbalaya as my side...very spectacular!!
(5)Mike p.
I went there on a co-worker's suggestion. I was very disappointed with the arrogant service, sub-par food and inflated price. $12 for a pulled pork sandwich, slaw and iced tea. 6 or 7 different sauces to choose from and not one of them added a hint of flavor to the very dry meat. Here's a hint guys: Instead of trying to make several different types of sauce, how about you concentrate your efforts and make ONE GOOD ONE? Are you able to do that? I've seen all these glowing reviews on here and I'm convinced that they came from employees, friends and family of this place. Don't waste your time or money going here.
(1)Art A.
Sort of disappointing. Very cramped, and the Big Muddy sandwich I ordered which is definitely a knife and fork style sandwich, was served directly on the paper they use to cover the metal trays. Needless to say as the paper got soggy cutting the sandwich also cut the paper. Hopefully I didn't ingest too much paper! I also thought the brisket was mediocre, certainly not as good as Pappy's or just about any BBQ joint in KC.
(3)John H.
Everything was pretty solid. I had the combo meats with brisket, pulled pork and chicken (I believe they are 6 oz portions and they let me do 6 oz brisket, 3 oz of pp and 3 oz chicken so I could try more). The creamy grits were pretty good, nothing special but how good can grits be? I think BBQ is one of those things where you hit a certain level and that's kind of your glass ceiling of sorts. I'm never blown away by it because I've had great BBQ here and in other hotspots like KC (Oklahoma Joe's anyone???) That being said they hit that ceiling with a niche of serving the food counter service style, putting everything on an oversized metal tray with parchment paper, and having seating that turns communal during peak times. Sauces abound although the supposedly spicy sauce had barely any kick at all. I wish places would just throw one out there with AT LEAST the spiciness of Sriracha. But maybe I am in the minority and that's why sauces labled "HOT!!! BEWARE!" taste like a lesser form of Hot Tameles. Cool place, check it out! Definitely will be a St. Louis staple for years to come.
(4)DeAnna K.
First, I thought that the location of the soda fountain was odd. You have to push through people in line to reach it. Second, the meat was okay (tried the brisket and ribs) but the sides I ordered were horrible. I'm the kind of person that always tries to finish their plate, but after a couple bites of the potato salad I was done. The macaroni noodles tasted rubbery and under cooked. My mom was still hungry when we left. Later that evening, I had a really bad stomach ache. Cool atmosphere and was packed, but I doubt I'd ever be back. It's hard to find a good bbq place with great meat AND great sides. It's usually one or the other.
(2)Tanya M.
I went here on tueday night with Sandy's UYE. I got the turkey and brisket on the 2 meat combo. As my sides I got mac and cheese and pasta caprese salad. The sides were good. I took the pasta salad home to eat later. the portions don't look big but they are huge and filliing. I got full just on meat. the sides were just soso. I also got a smoked cookie. which is a chocolate chip cookie with smoked sea salt on sprinkled on top. the cookie was good also. I really couldn't taste the salt to much. good thing i am not big on salt. I took my handsome nephew here on Saturday after the Renfest. I liked the fries. I wish they had cheese sauce, that would be Awesome. I again got the turkey. I do like the turkey. I tried the pulled pork and the sausage also. the pulled pork was ok. I did not like the sausage because I don't like peppers. Idk if there's green or jalapano peppers in them but that kinda turned me off to them. I didn't like the pasta salad as much the second time around. I will be back. the meats are the stars and i will keep going back just for them and the diet lucky soda.
(3)Eric P.
So far the best BBQ I have had in St. Louis. This is a real joint, the real deal. They do a really good job with the brisket. Competition style....a little pull but not chewy. Really good smoke flavor and moist. The ribs, even tough I prefer St. Louis style over baby backs, were better than most but a bit over done. Ribs should not fall off the bone. The turkey was a killer bird! Fantastic flavor and juicy. The pulled pork was also better than most, very tender and good smooth smoke flavor. The sausage was different....I prefer a hot link, but it was tasty. The burnt ends were NOT burnt ends...proven by the fact that both myself and my brother in law said "Are those supposed to be burnt ends?" At least the portion we got could have used another hour in the pit. It was more like chewy scraps tossed in sauce. We got mac n cheese and greens. I didn't go for the sides I went for the Q. Very happy they are opening one in O'Fallon. Cant Wait!!
(4)Jason R.
Bottom line: Yum! Ribs = Super Yum Foodgasm. Are you going to wait? Yep. Is it worth it? Yep. Only dissapointment: They ran out of brisket. Am I really dissapointed? Not really. How was the staff: Awesome! I told them I was a first timer and they recommended a meat plate combo (or whatever it was - I basically had a bunch of pork and a 1/4 slab of ribs on my plate). Notable item: They have a gluten free bbq sauce, but you have to ask for it. Will you be going back? Absolutely. I want a big ol' slab of ribs baby!
(5)Alisha M.
Awesome stuff! Beef brisket and the chicken sandwich is amazing !!!!! The green beans and potato salad are awesome and so is the sauce ... Lol "awesome sauce"
(5)Eric B.
Sugarfire is the best place in St. Louis for unique BBQ. An excellent place for those who love BBQ and are willing to take the risk to try the daily special. Rarely a choice that would please everyone, the special is always surprising and adventuress. The most recent item that I had was a chicken sandwhich with a carribean jerk and a banana-like spread . Seriously one of the best things I've ever eaten.
(5)Laura C.
So worth the stomachache I got from eating so much! I'm not normally someone who would choose a BBQ place for lunch but after my physical therapy clinic had a catered lunch from Bandana's during my appointment, all I could think about was pulled pork. Luckily my boyfriend is never one to turn down BBQ and we were near Sugarfire so we decided to stop in. It's always a good sign when a place is packed, especially when there are a ton of other places to have lunch at in the area. We decided to split the pulled pork and their special, which was a BBQ lasagna. For our sides we got a pasta salad, Wisconsin cheddar mac'n'cheese and jambalaya. I also couldn't resist ordering a slice of the "crack pie". They were out of the pie in the front dessert case but the sales girl went and got a fresh cut piece and brought it out to our table without me having to ask her to. Everything was amazing and we had to be rolled out of there. I would have never thought to get lasagna at a BBQ place but it was so good. Seriously, if you see them offer it, get it and thank me later. We also enjoyed the various sauces they offered. My favorites were the coffee and the mustard. The boyfriend preferred the Texas hot BBQ sauce.
(5)Erin C.
The specials are crazy and exciting! The food is to die for. They have lots of healthy options, would food, and alcoholic drinks.
(5)Michelle L.
Sugarfire Smokehouse is delicious! I think it's up there with the very best BBQ in St. Louis and I have been to them all. The pulled pork is tender and delicious. The brisket is amazing. They have a great soda selection and the French fries are cooked to order. It's quick (they do not wait on you) and delicious. Also the selection of BBQ sauces is great. My particular favorite is the mustard sauce. If I had any complaints it would only be that you move through it cafeteria style instead of getting waited on but that system does kind of work for this place. It's less annoying at lunch but at dinner sometimes you just want to sit down and be waited on. Either way you should make it your priority to go here.
(4)Craig C.
Ate here a couple of weeks ago with some co-workers. Luckily, someone was at the sodas to interpret the different sodas they have. (I think this should have been our first clue) Ordered our food & I decided to get a slice of pie to satisfy the sweet tooth. Cashier gives me my total & about messed myself!!! $20 for lunch!!! OH MY!!! Food was good but not for the cost. For the cost I would expect someone to be serving me not me serving me.
(3)jude p.
This is the most fabulous little, casual restaurant! Everything we have had here is excellent! We recommend trying everything! No complaints! We love the cafeteria style here where you select your food, desert, drink, pay & get a table. Every time we go we try something new and have never been disappointed. I had the hamburger last time & it was wonderful. The ooey gooey cake for desert was wonderful! You have to go!
(5)Steve K.
Ohhhh lordy! This is some good ole BBQ!!! I'll admit going into SugarFire I had anxiety because the line was so long and I kept watching table, after table fill up. Finally making it to the soda station (they have Ski BTW) I saw some openings, and started to chill. Could have been the cold soda, but I was definitely chilled at this point. Stepping up to the chow line I went with pulled pork. How could I not, it had a good smoke ring, a little bark, and was glistening. Got my sides, fries and slaw (I really wanted to put the slaw on the pork sandwich, but thought my coworkers would think I was being pretentious. Finally I am at the table with my tray, and its time to chow. I went with the coffee BBQ sauce. It was good, not the best I have ever had, but good none the less. The sandwich was outstanding, juicy, and flavorful. I am really just so ecstatic that they have pulled pork, and not pork cubes like the local BBQ chain here in STL. Wait a minute... what the hell is that over there. My colleague... his sandwich... its like a big mac, but its brisket. What the hey? I typically do not run an interference when someone is enjoying their own plate but I had to ask him about his sandwich. It was thick chunks of brisket on a bun and it looked like a BBQ big mac IMO. He loved it, I forgot the name of the sandwich, but its apparently their signature item. All in all it was a great experience, and I am very happy that there is some good BBQ close to the office. If you work in Westport you can definitely make it to SF's and back in an hour. Go early, or after the rush though. Super packed, and tight seating. In a city with ribs named after it, you would think we would be filled with quality BBQ joints... Surprisingly no, however SugarFire can add its name to the secret society of delicious smoked meats in STL.
(4)Christal V.
This place was packed during lunch and from what I saw and actually ate...this is for a very good reason! For my first time here the layout threw me off my game a bit, but luckily I'm a pretty quick study. Once I picked up what they were puttin' down, it was smooth sailing from there... The boy wonder had the pulled pork sandwich kid's meal, which he doused with their sweet bbq sauce and devoured! I had the 4 bones and portabella mushroom side. I love to eat my bones with no sauce, if the rub is good, why mess with it!? I happily ate these with no sauce...nothing to cover up here folks! The only issue I have is the temperature...the food is very tasty, but for example, they pre-prepare the mushrooms and then throw them on the flat top to heat them up...by the time I paid for our meal and sat down to eat, the mushrooms were luke warm at best, same goes for the ribs, which which flash heated. I like my food a bit more on medium/high side of the temperature scale, but whatever next time I'll order to go and heat it a bit more at home. The staff is super nice and friendly!
(4)Ally R.
We tried to get in on a busy Saturday and didn't want to wait in line. So we came back early on a Monday night and both agreed it was worth the wait. I had half a rack of ribs, brisket Mac-n-cheese and green beans. My friend had the pulled pork, beans, and fries. He said the beans were the best he's ever had. I'm not a bean fan so I passed on trying them. We both agreed the ribs were the star. Tender, meaty, and smoky- they were absolutely delicious!
(4)David S.
My favorite BBQ in Missouri thus far!!! I've been maybe 5 times, and every time, whether between meals or during dinner, the food is fantastic. These ribs could come from Christ's chest. They. Are. To. Die. For. These ribs will come with a super savory crust, with just a smidge of sauce. (Your table will have several different sauces to whoop it up if need be...coffee something bbq, white bbq sauce, hot Texas, sweet, etc. They're great. I make little puddles on one side of my tray and just go to town.) Last time I was in the guy serving me up just threw in 4 extra bones of the ones they had on special!!! Why? Just because I asked how they were and deliberated for a sec over which ones I wanted. This man should be given a special place in heaven. Or a raise. Or many thanks. Something. Come to think of it, the first time I went in I was given some pulled pork on the side because I wasn't sure that I wanted sausage or pork (with my ribs, of course). Such decent people. The ribs make me crazy. Tomorrow I'm going back to StL, but have dinner plans at Pappy's. While I'm very excited for Pappy's - considered to be among the very best bbq joints in the city - I will secretly in my heart weep large drops of SugarFire bbq sauce, all while thinking of what could have been. Oh this savage world. The fries are great. The bbq beans are significantly better than great. The green beans are fresh and crunchy and garlicky and really nice. Especially when guilt over having only a plate of meat before you takes hold. The green beans bring healthy solace. The pecan pie is yummy. The slaw is creamy and good. The brisket is also fantastic. That said, I won't go into detail, as I don't think I have a good enough bearing on brisket to do justice here. Let's just say they have smoke ring goodness, are nice and juicy, tender, packed with beefiness. SugarFire is something else. And conveniently located on my way to and from the airport. I may have to squeeze this place in on the way home Friday, even as I try to maintain some personal discipline by eating bbq only one night each week. Eat here.
(5)Sarah M.
My new favorite for ribs! Brisket and pork are also amazing! Oh and holy shit the crack pie is AMAZING!! I can't wait until they open by my house!! Everyone go try it!
(5)Rachel F.
Best BBQ in St. Louis! I think they actually rub the ribs with sugar. The food is fab. Be sure to order the sides of the day always different. This last weekend we had a deconstructed burrito so yumm! Go you will not be disappointed. You just might have to wait in line so be prepared..
(5)laura g.
Second time going and wasn't disappointed despite the 15 minute wait before getting served. No matter what time during the week, this place is always bustling, and it's not hard to see why. They have delicious barbeque and unique specials.
(4)J.D. H.
CAVEAT FOR THIS REVIEW: My wife and I have only been to the restaurant one time, so this review could be skewed by the service and food we had during that visit. My wife and I visited off of the recommendations from yelp and we had high expectations on going in. I'll also add that we like barbecue and try to visit different establishments because there isn't one right style for barbecue. Prepared well I believe there are infinite ways to finish the meat. I ordered the BIg Muddy and my wife had a pulled pork platter with fries and potato salad. Both of our meals were luke warm / cool which was the first thing we noticed and to be honest it threw off the rest of the food. The fries were good, and the potato salad dressing had good flavor but the potatoes were too firm to eat easily. I think the potatoes either needed to be cooked longer or to be diced into smaller sizes and that would have been more to my liking. The Big Muddy had a lot of fatty brisket with the sausage. The brisket was smoked well and was very tender and juicy, but in the sandwich was just too fatty. The sausage had good flavor but was overshadowed by being cold. From a service perspective, it was a bit confusing to figure out on our first time. From what I can tell you are supposed to get your drink before you get to the counter to order or to see the menu with options. Next time I'll know but it was confusing to grab that first and then decide on a meal since I've never been to a place that does it that way. Also, it was interesting to see all of the hipsters working behind the counter who appeared like they were too cool to work in a restaurant. Amusing is about as nice as I can put it. In my order of St. Louis barbecue this place is not even close to Pappy's or even Bandana's. I think they have the potential to be a great place, but across the food and service it all needs to be better polished.
(2)Michael O.
Better than Pappy's. Amazing sauces (try the coffee sauce), unique drinks, great environment.
(5)Lorien P.
Terrific barbecue at a terrific price. We took a detour to check this place out due to the great reviews, and were more than happy that we did. I got the 8 ounce brisket sandwich, and could only eat half of it! The barbecue sauces are all served on the side, and I recommend mixing the coffee barbecue sauce with the hot barbecue sauce, for a perfect blend of smokiness and hotness. If I were ever in this town again I would definitely stop by.
(5)Nick H.
You will not be disappointed. One of the best BBQ spots in STL!!
(5)Michelle B.
pretty good bbq. the ribs flavor is not as good as pappy's (it is mostly in the rub, the meat is not as smoky or permeated with the rub flavor) but the meat is very tender. the sides were very good. the cheese grits was delicious. the homemade fries were good. a bit on the salty side. the dipping sauces were OK. no surprises. the cherry coke is locally made is delicious! made with sugar not corn syrup. the place was packed on a Saturday night. there was a long line but it moved quickly. many people were ordering the brisket and the pulled pork (both looked amazing). something to dream about until next time.
(4)Jen J.
Whoa Crowd! Went for the first time over lunch to witness the madness. Parking lot was full of cars circling like vultures. Place was packed to the brim, not a single empty seat (luckily, people were considerate enough to leave after they finished eating, well, most of the people). I got the 6 oz pulled pork plate with rice and beans and bread pudding with mushrooms. Meat was tender and had the perfect amount of fat; rice and beans were creamy; I didn't care as much for the bread pudding...flavor was a little odd for me. The order lasted me two meals and the leftovers tasted great the next day as well. I'm glad this place exists in the heart of Creve Coeur close to work so I won't have to make a long drive just to get my BBQ on.
(4)Harin G.
We went here the first night we moved to St Louis! It was a great way to start our experience. The staff is very friendly and the food was delicious. We had the beef brisket, cole slaw, and beans. I enjoyed the variety of home made sauces. No frills, good food. I'll be back!
(4)Greg G.
I went back to Sugarfire and it rocked. The burger was amazing again (though it needs salt) and the bacon-wrapped bacon was decadent. The ribs do not hold a candle to Bogart's but if you order correctly, you can get a good meal.
(4)Dave F.
Info I wanted before I arrived... Walk in the door to the left & then go through the next door on the left. The meals price includes your drinks so decipher what drink from the local soda producer you want. You can order ahead or they can deliver. The review- I am a immediate fan. Local Ski soda with actual sugar & local Schlafly beers with my BBQ made me happy before I sat down. I ordered the briquet and like the lean yet tender cut. Personally- I wished for more smoked flavor, but the quality was there. The side Mac & Cheese was bland OK. The side of beans were great- nicely seasoned & with onions. Back to the doors- 1. Mark the "Patio Door" as such. 2. At the entry vestibule A. Mark the outer and the door to the left as "Entrance" or "Welcome" B. Take the exterior handle off the door to right & mark "exit" or "Hope we SugarFired Your Day" Then... propping the "Patio Door" open during a very cool night left a chill over me about your business. Overall- I am a fan & believe the small inconveniences will work themselves out.
(4)Sue S.
Don't let the line scare you away - it moves quickly and the food is worth the wait. Definitely not for those wanting a quiet evening with a private table - big tables are shared by all and it's a fun atmosphere. But it's really all about the food...deliciously fresh and scrumptious!
(4)Jesda G.
BRISKET. BRISKET. BRISKET. If SugarFire served nothing but their perfectly balanced, juicy brisket, I'd be satisfied. Order a pound, slather it in KC-style sauce, and indulge. It's even better than a few places I've tried in Texas. Additionally, service is fast and friendly, there's a wide selection of beers and sodas, and the pie is killer -- save some room! Parking is a bit tight but what do you expect for such a popular place during lunch rush? I look forward to going back. This place is on point.
(5)Darla H.
Just had lunch here. I devoured it so quickly, I forgot to take a photo. But it looked and tasted GREAT. Best brisket in St Louis. Everything looked delicious. My husband has a BLT with homemade pimento cheese that looked mouth watering. The potato salad, slaw and beans (apparently all from scratch) were very tasty. Comfortable environment and friendly staff.
(5)David R.
I just love Sugarfire. I happened upon it on the day they opened, and I gotta say, it has been awesome since day one. My wife loves that they use a lot of organic, and grass fed meat, and I just love the taste. Usually after you've left, your clothes have a tinge of that smoke smell for the rest of the day and it just makes my mouth water all over again. I'm hoping to make it to the Elm location on day one, and definitely will be at the Winghaven location constantly after it opens! Love it!
(5)Cliff H.
Was craving some BBQ and dreaded the long lines at other BBQ joints (you know where I mean, where the line is 45 minutes to an hour). Rolled into here and instantly liked the decor and table arrangement. The drink machine up front makes sense to me, you can have a refreshing beverage while you wait. They ran out of sweet tea, I saw someone mention it and presto, new tea! The meats were EXCELLENT, with a party of five I think we tried them all. Delicious brisket and pulled pork. Ribs-yum! Perfect on the bark and flavor. Loved the sides, all from scratch and not a canned food item to be found. Will have to leave room for the deserts next time. They looked very tasty. The sauces were excellent and the staff was friendly even at the end of a busy Saturday night, all smiles. So long Pappy and Bogarts, I think we have found our new BBQ place.
(5)Jody G.
I came here on recommendation from friends. At first impression, I felt herded into the place. They know how to build suspense by forcing a single-file line for orders with a narrow walkway. I rounded the first corner to be greeted with a fountain soda machine and a tub of random beers and sodas. We grabbed an O'Fallon 5 Day and headed up to the cafeteria-style ordering counter. The regular menu was pretty standard - brisket, pulled pork and ribs, and the expected baked beans, cole slaw and potato salad. There were two entree specials and about 6-7 special sides including chick pea salad, sweet potato salad, and baked Mac n cheese. The average price is $9-$18. The 5 Day cans were a reasonable $1.50 and my man-friend's meal included a drink, which they applied to the beer. I thought that was a nice touch. The seating is limited. They have communal-type tables that encourage sitting with unknown diners and have an array of handmade sauces. I'll definitely be back. I'll be having Sugarfire dreams for days.
(5)Lindsey S.
I only wish we had learned about Sugar Fire sooner! The BBQ was phenomenal. Don't be scared by the long lines, the do a great job of moving people through the restaurant. Also give their desserts a try- they are equally yummy!
(4)Kate B.
Hmm I feel like the black sheep here, not giving this place 5/5 or even 4/5. But oh well Different strokes for different folks? I came here a few nights ago with Sean H. to try whatever they had to offer since we were already in the 'hood. Love the interior decor and feel of this place despite it's location being in a strip mall. The first thing you get is drinks, when you walk in, and I was pleased to see that they had one of my favorite beers (O'Fallon Wheach Beer) in cans! Awesomeness. I got one of those and I went over to the area where you order. It kind of reminds me of a highschool cafeteria lunch line but in a good way. I think it's probably more efficient, although you still have to wait to get a burger cause they obviously have to cook it up for ya and that takes a little time! Sean H. got a burger but he didn't like the bacon on it because it was "too thick" to eat. (Oooh that's what she said! AHAHA!) I tried a few of their sides, the 4-rack of ribs, the "crack pie" and of course a beer. The sides I ordered were: mushroom risotto, mac n cheese (of course!), and coleslaw. I should have tried whatever bread options they had in retrospect but I wasn't sure if they had cornbread or what...? Next time maybe.... The mushroom risotto would have been the best of the sides except for the fact that it was SO EFFING SALTY. Omgwtfbbq! It was basically impossible to eat because of the saltiness. Was glad I had a drink to wash it down. Ugh. They need to put wayyy less salt on this. The mushrooms in it looked burnt to a crisp too, but I guess they weren't...? The coleslaw was actually the best of the sides but that's not saying much because I was heavily disappointed. It's sort of a balance between vinegary and creamy slaw. Not too bad. I am not a super huge slaw eater though so I didn't get excited about it. Sean H. declared that it was not to his liking. And then the real death-blow here: the macaroni and cheese. And y'all know I am quite picky when it comes to mac n cheese (just for reference, my favorite is from the Shaved Duck followed by my homemade version.) Anyway their mac n cheese was terrible. The noodles were so overcooked that I couldn't even tell what shape they were to begin with. Always a bad sign. It was mushy and overcooked and nasty. There was absolutely no cheese flavor at all. It tasted like I was (barely) chewing warm mush in my mouth the whole time. Ick. That huge fail aside, I DID enjoy their ribs quite a bit. They were juicy enough that they didn't need any sauce but I went ahead and tried their sweet sauce anyway which was phenomenal. Maybe if I come back here I will try different sides (or just avoid them completely) and get the ribs only (and a beer to wash it down.) Lastly, I tried their "crack pie" which the lady informed me was like gooey butter cake. I am not a huge fan of gooey butter cake to begin with (unless it is the white choco raspberry version from park ave....) so maybe that's why I didn't like theirs at all. It tasted like pure grease. Ew. It was crunchy but damn near liquid-y in the middle. I know that's pretty standard of gooey butter anything, but Jesus. This was just bad. NO flavor whatsoever apart from straight up sugar. So bottom line, I hated every side I tried....although the slaw was A-OK. The ribs were worth the trip, and I would like to go back for me. Pass on the dessert. So yeah .... beer + ribs = 3 stars. Service was friendly, can't complain there. But the price.... ehhhh. $35 total for the entire meal. YES it was a lot of food, but it was a lot of gross food I did not want. I ended up throwing more than half of my meal away. Thankfully a combination of me showing up "not that hungry" plus having very filling beer + ribs made me satisfied but not stuffed upon departure. I agree with Erin that this place is better than Pappy's but probably for different reasons. (Beer + decent slaw + amazing ribs + great sauce.) But I almost gave Pappy's 2 stars, so that's not saying much, lol. I want to go back here and try their other sides and hope they don't suck!! PS: Recommendation here--they should offer a side sampler so you don't end up with gigantic heaps of sides that you may or may not like. Just sayin'!
(3)Eric B.
It was good. I got the Brisket Cheese Steak. Lots of meat and flavorful with the onions and peppers. It should have came with fries but had to pay extra for them. Ribs were okay as well. I didn't care for the sauces. But I like regular BBQ sauce, not that fancy stuff and I didn't see any. My wife didn't like the potato salad. The potatoes were too hard she said. The gumbo was good.
(3)Bonnie G.
Not to be missed. GREAT pulled pork and amazing brisket. Super friendly service and the prices are very reasonable. They offer all the standard sides, and some ecclectic options too. I had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of kale salad. Everything was fresh and flavorful in a friendly, casual atmosphere. Can't wait to go again!!
(5)Jzika H.
SugarFire delivers the total package up for super foodies, including locally raised grass-fed beef, creative adult cocktails, and a good number of lighter offerings such fish, kale caesar salad, and squash gratin. All at a fair price; roughly $10/dinner per person. This was our first visit, so of course we had to start with the classics - pulled pork, brisket, cole slaw & baked beans (all excellent). Beautiful fries & milkshakes for teens & kids. Fret not, for the long line moves surprisingly quickly, and tables magically empty out just as you are looking for a place to sit down. Parking is readily available, along with free unlocked wi-fi onsite. Read Michael Pollan's new book, "Cooked", to more fully appreciate this meal. Look to the left immediately upon entering for a list of local purveyors. Five Stars means we will be back!
(5)Stephen W.
Wow, WOW, WOW! I tried this place on a whim tonight not even looking at yelp reviews and OMG it was AMAZING! I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the place, the service was phenomenal and well the food was even better. I ended up ordering 4 oz beef brisket, 4 oz pulled pork, a chicken biscuit, a piece of "crack pie", and a "smoked cookie". The beef brisket and pulled pork tasted great. They were cooked perfectly and the smoke flavor was delicious! The chicken biscuit was my least favorite thing I ordered. The issue I had with it was the biscuit overpowered the chicken flavor and the breading tasted a little bit too fried. The smoked cookie was good however it was nothing to write home about. I figured it would have a smoky flavor since they baked it in the smoker however I was wrong. The crack pie was a pie that had gooey butter cake instead of pie filling. It was pretty good however in my opinion it was a little bit over cooked and not gooey enough lol. Still it was extremely good and I would order it again. Their condiments are all homemade and taste amazing! I tried the ones I saw on the tables and I guess I will tell you my feelings on them. Sweet BBQ Sauce- Very good sweet BBQ sauce. I thought this went great on the pulled pork. Not extremely thick but had a good BBQ flavor. Hot BBQ Sauce- Not extremely spicy however had some spice to it. I added it to the Sweet BBQ sauce and thought it tasted AMAZING! Carolina Mustard Sauce- This went extremely well with the brisket. One of the best mustard sauces I have tried. Ketchup- I had a hard time telling that this was homemade. But it tasted good. Mustard- AWESOME! I really enjoyed this. It had a little bit of a gritty texture to it and I really enjoyed it. Sugarfire 47- This BBQ sauce reminded me of ketchup. Not bad but not my favorite though. Horseradish White Sauce- This BBQ sauce stole the show. It reminded me almost of Ranch dressing instead of horseradish. It went great with the fries and the chicken. I also really enjoyed it with the pulled pork. I did not think to try it with the brisket but I bet it would have gone very well with it. Coffee BBQ Sauce- I don't know why they call this coffee bbq sauce but it was REALLY good! I cannot wait to go back here. They have daily specials with stuff that is not on the menu. I am so happy to have an amazing BBQ place so close to my house.
(5)Manny R.
Wow just had the best barbecue since moving here. The service was very nice. Menu has something for everyone's taste. Best thing was the food was fresh and tasty. A must try place to eat.
(5)E K.
I'd give this a 3 1/2 if I could, but can't quite give it a 4 - yet. I've eaten here a few times now because I know how great this food is but I feel like i keep getting one the 'just not right' experiences each time. Each time I order a full rack of ribs and sample what everyone else is having. Everything here is stellar, no doubt about that. My first rack of ribs had a thick layer of fat across the top - it had a gelatin like consistency which made it easy to scrape off, but I was still left with a raw sort of fat taste. The smoke and seasoning came through and I otherwise enjoyed the meal. The next rack of ribs was well-done on one end and not done enough on the other. Bad placement or rotation on the grill, it happens. It was still good, aside of the 3 bones undercooked. The third time the ribs were SPOT ON cooked to perfection. Perfect bite, not an obnoxious amount of smoke, and perfectly tender. My ONLY complaint is they were under-seasoned - I wish I could have thrown some raw dry rub on them and perked em up. The big plus is I've never had that over-salted "ham" taste with any of their pork that tends to make or break good barbeque. I would rather have something under-seasoned and cooked to perfection than something over-salted and over-bearing. All in all, I will certainly return. They have such a great thing going on here, but I blame my timing on anything that has fallen short in my experience and I know that is a strange opinion to have.
(3)Ann H.
OMG I LOVE This place. My husband is from Texas so we are pretty particular on barbeque. We came down from Chicago with 2 friends to attend a graduation and we had a GREAT time at Sugar fire. We ordered some of all the meats then had fun trying them with different sauces. Go here! Personally, I love the ribs and turkey the best.
(5)Bryan S.
Easily one of the best BBQ joints in St. Louis. Can't go wrong with the brisket or pulled pork. Check them out.
(5)Matt B.
I tried their burger because it had good reviews by RFT, but it was very disappointing. It was dry & tasteless similar to steak & shake's. You can get a better burger at five star burgers, five guys or o'connell's pub to name a few. Thanks for the tip Mike. You should try your burger.
(1)James K.
Good tasting food, vey bad service and contrived atmosphere. They messed up my order and held it behind the counter without letting me know it was done, making me wait even longer than the already very long wait. They have good food, but not good enough to put up with such poor service. I won't be back In response to owner comment: Mike, Thank you for the reply. Yes, I let your staff know 3 times I was waiting for my order. Once when I paid and twice after that. Your guys were busy and I would have just let that go, but when I got home the smoked salmon sandwich I'd ordered did not have a bun. All I got was a piece of salmon wrapped in foil. A sandwich without the bread seemed like a big oversight to me.
(2)Kevin L.
Today was the first day I tried Sugarfire. I absolutely do not get the hype. I got the turkey plate. The turkey was wet, tasteless, and cut too thick. The sauces were okay, but I've had better. The whole standing in line thing is a cute gimmick but it is mostly a pain in the butt for a place that is built in a strip mall. The fries are those annoying little fries that are too greasy and over cooked. The potato salad was good. As soon as I saw the turkey put on my tray, I knew I wished I had gotten the brisket. I'll give it another shot and update my review afterward. Summery: Go if it's convenient, but don't go out of your way to try it.
(2)Sheila K.
Don't walk...RUN to eat here! My tip says most of what needs saying, but when a pit-master comes out to chat with me about the Q, I love the interchange. I really felt he was interested in our experience and would be giving our comments his thoughtful consideration. The sides are to die for-if you haven't already been to heaven from eating the brisket. All praise to Yelp-sters for steering us here as we drove through St. Louis!!!
(5)Ashlyn W.
Well, since my food and service experience is pretty well summed up by prior 4 and 5 star reviews I'll keep it short. Went in for take out at noon on a Saturday. It was crowded. The line moved fast. Friendly service. Yummy yummy food. Will be back to try more -really want to try the shakes!
(5)Leslie S.
Pretty tasty barbecue! I've heard from a few sources that they are much better than Dickey's who occupied this space before them, but they seem pretty similar to me.
(3)Liv K.
Yum!!! Finally tried sugar fire today. I usually would have gone with the brisket but my daughter beat me to it. Decided to try the pulled pork and both were terrific, slight edge to the brisket. The sides were great too, corn grit fritter was a nice side and the green chile stew was the absolute highlight. Really the only miss was the collard greens.. They had a bit of a creamed spinach consistency and we're screaming out for bacon. A disappointment because I love greens but we had plenty of food and everything else was fantastic. They also have pie :) Will definitely be back soon to try more... Am very intrigued by the tater tot nachos!
(5)Vedran A.
Top notch joint that cooks up delicious bbq. Had the brisket and turkey, both were done right. There are many options for the sauces needed and you wont be disappointed. The sides will fill up the rest of the tray in style. The staff is friendly and kind.
(4)Jim S.
If 6 stars was possible that's what I would rate SugarFire. Stop reading now and go! I am embarassed to admit that in the 10 days this place has been open I've been there 5 times. Now, to be fair, I had some good reasons. First of all, everyone at my company that went the first time told everyone else how amazing it was. I then found myself leading groups of 3-8 people here to sample everything. I will probably always hit up SugarFire at least once a week going forward due to its amazing food and close proximity to work. I never thought I'd say this but there is a new BBQ king in St. Louis. I've had Pappy's more times than I can count, 17th Street, Bogarts, Bandana's, etc. This place is at the top of that list in almost every category. Ingredients As you walk in there is a menu board of all the local providers of ingredients. From beef to honey to eggs and pork, they try and use farm fresh, chemical free ingredients wherever possible. I love this choice. Thei fountain sodas are from Excel, which is local brewery from Breese, IL. They use pure cane sugar in their sodas which makes them taste better than HFCS. Staff Every single staff member here has been nothing but amazingly nice. Michael (owner) greets you as you order and runs the line and his brother in law Robert patrols the floor and is a great guy. Layout Enter in the left door, leave by the right. Get your drink first, then a tray, then slide up to the line, or "Meatopia" as I call it. The Food This is what we call care about right? I have not had anything I haven't liked, and I've sampled everything. You can ask for a sampler platter and will get a little bit of everything. They also do a great job of chaning it up with off menu specials. Today I got a lemonade and coffee rubbed bone in chicken breast. It was awesome. Juicy, flavorful and just YUM. The brisket is juicy and tender, the pork is excellent, the burnt ends, when available are great...need I go on? Their selection of sauces is great, my favorite is the Coffee sauce. Bottom line....just go there!
(5)Minh D.
Pretty decent bbq to be found at this establishment. 3* for the baby back ribs. Lots of meat left on the bone. 4* for the beef briskets 4* for the pull pork. 3* for the sides, they are ok but huge! 4* for prices. Overall I rate this place a 4*.
(4)Lauren H.
Another awesome meal at Sugarfire! The brisket is my favorite but haven't had anything I wouldn't order again!
(5)Paul K.
I got a haircut today. What does this have to do with Sugarfire? Well it is next to Earl's International where I get my 5 hairs cut every month. I finished with the cut and was walking by Sugarfire. OK it kind of pulled me in. I had no idea what I wanted so looking over the menu board I saw "The Big Muddy". Smoked sausage, smoked brisket, slaw, pickles and a nice Kaiser. This sandwich is original to me. I never heard of the combo before. It was outstanding. I really want everyone in the world to try this sandwich and reinforce my love. And I think it will bring world peace.
(5)Kevin W.
Wheeeeeeeweeeeee. OMG. SMH. YOU FIND THE RIGHT SPOT. STOP THINKIN.....AND GET TO EATING. I had a half rack, some green bean/sweet potato casserole with Fritos and cole slaw. I washed it down with a local brew and a slice of crack pie. YES SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIR.
(5)Brett W.
Ok so this is hands down the best bbq in St Louis bar none!! Well today I went there to pick up some brisket and some ribs for my Super Bowl get together when I decided to try one of their hamburgers. Forget the bbq, they have the best hamburger that I've ever had. It was absolutely amazing. Very juicy high quality beef with a little crispness on the top and bottom. The bun was absolutely fantastic as well. You gotta try this burger. It is amazing. Don't take my word for it try it yourself. I am a huge burger junky and this beats them all!!! I don't know how you made this burger so fantastic Mike Johnson but it is truly worth driving to get. Here is a big tip. Get there by 11:00 or the line can get long. I am so excited about this place that I am literally jumping up and down. This is the first burger that I have had in St Louis that truly is the best. What are you waiting for. Get your burger now!!! Made to order this is the real deal!!!
(5)CP L.
Please, please, PLEASE bring a store to Eureka. We have hardly no good eating establishments here (yah Super Smokers is just ok). I so wish we could get some quality food here!
(5)Brady D.
I have been wanting to try Sugarfire for a long time and was looking forward to some more great STL BBQ as the reviews have indicated. However, I was very disappointed. I'm having difficulty with how many stars to give but with Bogarts being a 5 and Pappys a 4 (4.5 if I could) I'm settling on 2 stars for Sugarfire because I can't give 1.5. I'll start with the important part, the meat! I had brisket, pulled pork, and ribs. All three were cold - not luke warm, but cold. The brisket had a nice smoke ring but no flavor and it was so dry I had to drown it in sauce. They leave the fat on which I'm not a fan of personally but I would think it should help keep it moist - it doesn't. Next up is the pulled pork, by far the best of the 3. Even though it was cold it was very tender and juicy. More flavor than the brisket but it would be tough not to have. On to the ribs, I liked the flavor and the rub but they were very tough. Hard to chew off the bone so I tried the fork & knife approach which was challenging as well. I threw half the ribs in the trash as it wasn't worth the hassle. As for the sides, unfortunately this was the best part of my meal. The baked beans were good and flavorful. I ordered the fries and they were seasoned well and hand cut I assumed. The service was neither poor nor exceptional. They all did their job but nothing beyond that. No complaints in this department. The only reason I can think of for this place getting such rave reviews is that their customers have never been to Bogarts or Pappys. The quality is nowhere even close!
(2)Larry S.
Really really good! It's the best BBQ I've had. The brisket is super. They have all their sawces and fixins on the side as the meat is served without it. ( as it should be ) They also have cool daily specials that they tweet out everyday with pics. I have only had the olive location, but I hear the other one is great too! Nice job boys!
(5)Kevin C.
Whenever I go to a BBQ joint, I can never resist going for the ribs no matter how delicious the other cuts of meat seem. Sugarfire's ribs definitely bring it, and I would say they are almost on par with Bogarts and Pappys, although maybe just a notch below in terms of flavor and tenderness. One thing Sugarfire may do a little better than those two are some of their unique sauces. I especially like their white sauce, a horseradish based sauce, which is a nice change of pace from the usual sweet, tangy, or mustardy sauces.
(4)Jordan Michael M.
Dispute the long lines, this place is a true gem. I think my favorites there are the sliced brisket and the pulled pork. The combination of the rub and sauce in the brisket and the smokey flavor for the pork married well with the smells around and the different sauces that were available. They also offer a large variety of pure cane sugar sodas to offer something different than the high fructose cornsyrup crap they offer everywhere else. In addition to this, their adult milkshakes are something that I will have to try when I come back next.
(5)Tim M.
Meh. Dried-out, flavorless pulled pork. No spice rub, no vinegar-based sauce. Really disappointed after hearing all the great reviews. Sides were very good - excellent fries, good slaw and beans. Service was quick. Don't think I'll return when Pappy's and Bogarts are here.
(2)Angela R.
Great bbq and always amazing sides that change daily! The pulled pork is my go to but any special that includes buffalo smoked meat I go to immediately. The smoke sea salt chocolate chip cookie is great too!
(5)Brandon C.
This place rocks. I'm standing in line now and super stoked for some ribs. Everything here is good! I can't say enough good things about this place!
(5)Charles P.
If you look at the location where SugarFire is located, you wouldn't think much of it. Yes, the location looks nice but parking lot is easily one of the most perplexing lots in the area. Not as bad as say the Pasta House on Delmar but it is still not the best. However, SugarFire is amazing enough to make the parking hassle worth it. I consider myself a simple man who doesn't need a lot of decor. Sugarfire has a fair amount of items to remind you that you are in St. Louis. Also the fact that the food comes on a metal tray with paper towels is awesome. Also the staff was very kind and even had a friendly conversation with them. The menu was pretty simple and full of meaty goodness. I got the pulled pork and it is easily on par with Bogarts and Pappy's. Also I really loved the sauce selections on the table. I actually get craving for their pulled pork sandwich anytime my lady and I drive by on Olive. I only wish there was a SugarFire in the city limits! Alas, until that day I guess I have a good reason to visit Olivette.
(5)Katiemae B.
So good! The meat is so tender, but the sides are so good you almost want just a meal of those! Every employee is super friendly too. Please open a sugar fire in the city!!!!
(5)Deryk L.
What a fun place to go for BBQ--and the grub was delicious! great find--thanks yelp! plenty of seating inside and out. as soon as you walk in you know its going to be good. the service is great and the decor is very trendy/industrial--and they server BEER!
(5)Sarah R.
Okay. I'm starting out with apologies. We should have never eaten here. This review is our fault...Driving up we could tell it's not the kind of place we were looking for, but the reviews, and the press about this place were so good. I mean, 4.5 stars! Owner has studied with a pit master! How could we go wrong? Well, I'll tell you how we went wrong. This place is a BBQ hipster tragedy. In an upscale strip mall, trendily decorated, $15 a plate and filled with people that may not (saying may here, not trying to be offensive) have eaten awesome BBQ before. Drinks located in the front of the line you wait in and before you pay.....If you hadn't been there before, you would have never known to get yourself some libations. In a busy place like this, that often has lines (for some reason) that's just straight up, a goofy idea. Like much of this place.....Trendy and in my opinion, not hitting the BBQ mark. We had tri-tip and pulled pork which was dry and flavor-less. Not an ounce of smokey goodness, moist meat or delicious-ness to be found on either of our plates in the meat department. Sides were ok, just above chain grade to me, with the exception of the potato salad, which was OUTSTANDING. People who like this place might just be afraid to go into the places that serve the best BBQ in the world. Which to me is moist, flavorful, fall apart in your mouth meat, smoked to perfection that leaves you wondering where you are after you've taken a bite. It's the kind of food that transcends the moment and makes you question if you REALLY are eating something THIS good. If that's the experience you are looking for, and you've had awesome BBQ before, this is not the place for you. If you like to feel the smoker before you get there, sense the BBQ magic in the air, and want an authentic BBQ experience with a sweaty guy putting his heart and soul into the food he's about to serve you, this is not the place for you. So, this review is definitely not SugarHouse's fault. It's our fault...It's not a bad place. We never should have set foot in this place, and if you are looking for what we look for, maybe you shouldn't either. If you happen to be in Nashville TN, head on over to some of the best BBQ in your life, Papa Turney's. You'll dream of being back there eating their food instead of writing a review on a joint that definitely has it's place in the hearts of others, but just not in yours.
(2)Donna G.
My boyfriend and I visited Saturday, July 12th I had the double burger (awesome) he had the turkey sandwich (loved it)we both had fries that were terrible. It was evident that these fries were repeatedly cooked in oil and they were broken as if they were scraped from the botton of the frozen bag. They were NOT steak fries. We made the mistake of eating in the dining room where we had to fight off so many FLIES. I have never seen so many flies in an dining establishment like this. This was not an isolated incident as the owner had suggested in another review because many of us cited the same problem. Will not give a 5 star review because of the FLIES!!!!!
(4)Raymond W.
DEFINITELY THE KING OF THE HILL OF FULL SERVICE BBQ JOINTS I was informed (as a BBQologist) of the opening of this place a year ago, and after I went once, then twice (I had to check for consistency before referring) that I knew Mike, the staff, and the STAR OF THE SHOW: THEIR PRODUCTS were the real deal. I've since taken countless friends, co-workers, and family members to the MECCA of BBQ! I'm not just blowing smoke (pun totally intended) they have meats that don't need their wide array for sauces. My son has this thing of closing his eyes when he takes a bite...to allow the flavor to take his imagination on and adventure......and everything they serve from behind that counter has a way of doing that. Many of the sauces totally elevate the flavor profile into RIDICULOUSNESS (i.e. the horseraddish bbq sauce, the carolina mustard..(and I generally hate mustard with smoked meat, but not here). The BEST, most tender, and juicy smoked turkey this side of the Mason Dixie line.....as well as many of their other meats. I love what they do, and even rotating the sides is what keeps you guessing and coming back! Their are many BBQ joints in the ST.LOUIS METRO area a few good ones, but NONE OF THEM.....I'll repeat....NONE OF THEM ARE SMOKING to the STANDARDS of SUGARFIRE. ALL I NEED IS FOR THEM TO PLANT ONE IN ST.CHARLES COUNTY!
(5)Kirk K.
Sugarfire is starting to get quite the reputation around West County as the place to get barbecue and it's well deserved. At lunch and at dinner the place can get really packed, so you'll want to avoid peak times if at all possible. The last few times I've gone I've had the brisket. I'm not a huge fan of their sauces but it really doesn't matter as the brisket is so tender and juicy that sauce isn't really necessary. My wife has had the pulled pork both times and really loved it. If we're getting barbecue in the area, it's not really a discussion on where we are going. I'd probably give it 4.5 stars because of the sauces, but it's a minor quibble given I'm not even using them.
(5)Den B.
I was in St. Louis for a day, and swung by here based on Yelp reviews... Glad I did! I tried the pulled pork sandwich (6oz) which was large and AWESOME... pork was tender and super juicy... I also ordered the 4oz of beef brisket, which was quite good, smokey and flavorful. A little on the cold side for my taste, but great. The selection of sauces were fantastic... I LOVED the sweet BBQ, and mixed in a little of the 47 sauce. All in all, a great find. Wish it were down the road here in Los Angeles!
(5)Brian L.
I am not from the area and was told this place was amazing. Not much smokey flavor, sauce is average. Don't understand the hype.
(3)Mary B.
Great! The barbecue is fantastic, whatever you get. Have been 3 times and will return.
(5)Viski B.
Excellent food, some of the best BBQ in the city. I recently ordered through their catering as well, they were incredibly friendly and helpful, very accommodating, and their prices were very reasonable--their "per person" portions were very generous! This will become a regular stop for me, and I plan on using their catering again.
(5)Sheryl M.
I had heard a lot about Sugarfire BBQ and was ready to love it. This is in a strip mall in Olivette where Dickey's BBQ had previously been. The parking lot is challenging and it is next to Fallon's Bar. I went on a Saturday around noon and it was moderately busy. The menu is very busy and a little confusing. I had heard great things about the burger but ultimately chose the brisket. It was not at all what I expected and wasn't very good. I tried the sweet BBQ sauce and that made it tolerable. I noticed people raved about the potato salad. Too me it was bland and I doubt it was made onsite. It had the taste and feel of mass production. I noticed several people around me barely eating too so I gather they didn't enjoy it. They do give pretty healthy portions and the staff was super nice. I would like to come back and try the burger or ribs. I would also like to be there without the screeching kid that had no parental units getting him to stop either. I realize the management cannot control that but it did not add to my dining experience.
(2)Michael R.
I think it is official, sugar fire is my favorite barbecue restaurant in St Louis. Awesome burnt belly sandwich today!!!
(5)Mike A.
What in the world is all the hubbub? Very, VERY mediocre BBQ. No smoke flavor. Mushy bark & texture, except the pulled pork...there was no bark! In general the runs are very standard. Nothing unique in the meat category. The sweet sauce is "meh". The Texas hot isn't very Texas...it's more Franks Red Hot. The coffee sauce was pretty great. The layout is weird. The menu is busy & hard to decipher. The staff were nice. Drinks were BANGING! Excel drinks are wonderful, especially Ski. Pros: Nice people. Coffee sauce. Drinks. Cons: No smoke flavor. Basic rubs. Busy menu. Boring BBQ. There are better options in STL.
(2)Sue M.
Great atmosphere at this place, and I love the outdoor seating at the Olive location. Staff was super friendly. During peak times they need to have both registers open or be a bit more speedy with checkout. I had a turkey sandwich with green beans. For my taste, it seemed like they just aren't using enough sugar in their sauce and recipes and the meat really lacked a smokey flavor. I'm also more of a traditionalist when it comes to BBQ, and some of the sides were a little too hipster for me. I grew up in south Texas. I love good BBQ- so much so that my wedding reception was at the County Line in Austin, and I've spent the last 5 years in North Carolina. Different styles of BBQ, but all good. With all the hype, I had extremely high expectations for this place- hoping for something as good as County Line in Austin, Q Shack, or Allen and Sons in NC or even the cute little Battle's BBQ in Ames or Hill County BBQ in DC. If anyone is familiar with Baldy's BBQ chain, I rank SugarFire a step above that, but not on par with those other places.
(3)Ryan B.
Pulled pork, pork belly, or veal brisket if they have it - Crazy corn - Curried Cauliflower -- Chili I'll admit, I've been a little addicted to this place recently. They regularly have some new and amazing sandwiches and sides. They are consistent. Always big portions and perfectly seasoned. I really want to give them a fifth star... but I've had better ribs elsewhere(see my Lil' Mickey's review). That's all that's preventing that fifth star.
(4)Jack C.
In my opinion this place tops Pappys. My wife and I came with a bunch of friends (about10-11) and they all loved it too! We got a pulled pork sandwich (very large and filling), brisket cheese steak sandwich (filling & messy so fork will be needed), and a full rack a ribs which comes with a fountain drink and 2 sides (we got fries and creamy spinach). One of the best BBQs we had in a long tim and would definitely come back! We were very pleased with the friendly service and environment! Enjoy all!
(5)H R.
First off, above all, this place is great. The BBQ is outstanding and the following is just my opinion. If that's all you want to know, stop reading. Go, eat the food, it's great! Why didn't I give it 5 stars? I'll get to it, but mainly the feel of the place and the confusion when ordering. Our family came for my sister's birthday. She was visiting from NYC and wanted to try some BBQ. We wanted to try the bacon wrapped bacon, and well, they only have it at certain times, mainly the weekend (we were told). So the main reason we wanted to go, they didn't have it. We called ahead and knew this, just commenting. We arrived and it is a bit confusing. Two doors. One in, one out. So get the right door (on the left) and inward we go. It was around 5 to 6 on a weekday. They were pretty busy, but not slammed. Short wait. The place was filled with BBQ smoke. I personally loved it, but others weren't quite as excited about that. Our clothes still smelled the next day. Yes, we never change them. I read all the reviews but it is just a bit much to first timers. Yes, we got our drinks first. As best we could. We had 3 people just shove all around us while we stood there, I guess they didn't get their drinks yet? I had to go sit down, our son was getting all wiggly (baby). Then my wife came over, then my family, then next thing, we were loosing our place in line! We jump back up and this lady (customer) starts letting us have it, telling us where the line ended, and not to cut..blah blah.. So we are trying to figure out what the sides were, and what we wanted, and by this time we are a bit over it! People are lining up and giving us the eye. The menu is a bit hard to grasp at first. Sorry, just my opinion. Stuff is written everywhere, there is paper with writing on it, which was hard to decipher, so I just went with it. Ribs with sweet potato fries and cheesy potatoes. Our group also got pulled pork, brisket, hush puppies, beans, green beans.. The workers, no offense, but man. It took awhile for us to get our sides and get set down. It was quite a process. They were working very hard and they were all VERY nice. One person was a bit focused, more on that later. Food! That's what we are here for right!?!? I've been to a TON of bbq places all over. And the ribs were right up there with the best I've had. I do wish the meat was a bit more tender, but the spice was spot on. They weren't tough, but they had a bit more pull then I personally like. Cheesy potatoes were good, I think the skin was still on them and it kind of globbed up, but still tasted good. Sweet potato fries were outstanding! All the sauces were great! Our preference was the black cherry one. But all were great. We tried them all. Well, one had a gummed up top so I didn't try that one. One thing, the bbq beans. Or lack there of. I don't know if that is what they called them, but just so you know. They were sad to us. Here we have all this great food and those beans bombed. Go to Jack Stack in Kansas City, eat their beans and then come back and challenge yourself to make something as close to that, or better if possible. Yes, we would go to a place just for the sides, and the beans were a miss. The pulled pork was like butter, Fantastic. Our son ate it like crazy! Yum. A few other notes (no, this review will not end) someone broke something I think, and there was a girl cleaning it up. She didn't say excuse me or anything to the people around her, or the people waiting for her to pull up the rug and sweep. She just did her thing, and with little space to move, a "Hey, sorry about that, give me just a second and I will get this mess out of your way" would have been nice. She doesn't have to cater to me, but just say hi or something...? She said nothing, and I was a foot from her. It is TIGHT in this place. The chairs are so big and space is so small it is hard to maneuver. You get a lot of butts in your face and bumps on the back of your chair because people just can't get around well. If this place was slamming, I personally would not want to go in, I'm sure they are fine with that, they don't seem to be hurting for business, but it is a bit much. Some of the tables are big, and you may need to share it with others. I had to put a baby chair in there, and moving the chair and baby chair around I thought I was going to knock someone's head off. We thought about dessert, but we didn't need it or have room. But $5 bucks for a slice of pie is a bit much for me. I'm sure it's a piece of heaven, but I'll pass. Maybe have smaller pieces for less cash? I went to wash off all the BBQ goodness, and the paper towel dispenser was broke. You couldn't access them, so I did the classy next best thing. TP for my hands. nice. There you have it, will I be back? YES! Was the food good? YES! Sauces good? YES! Service good? Pretty good! I just may get take out next time though. And don't leave the line!
(4)Anastasia H.
Had a great quick dinner here! The line moved really fast. The turkey was perfect! I only wish they hadn't run out of their speciality sides already. I guess you have to go a little early. My strawberry shake was great too! I'm trying the grown up shakes next time.
(5)Margo C.
Sugarfire misfires on the layout of the land. Yigh- yigh- yigh what a poorly planned restaurant layout. When you have to put up a sign with an arrow saying "this way" and the sign leaves you just as confused , you have issues. One of our diners actually went into O'Fallon's next door due to this "sigh"nage. Once you figure that all out, you get in line to read the billboard menu. This is like cafeteria style. You get a brown paper wrapped tray. They throw your meat on it and pass it down to the next guy who serves up the sides. They do have a creative list of sides I must say. I chose the Mac-n-Cheese. The problem is the side dishes are served in flimsy paper containers. My husband had the BBQ Beans and the beans sauce was running all down the container. You then move on to the cashier area where you can help yourself to pickles spears, peppers, sliced white bread, and onions. Pay for your food and proceed to help yourself to the drink station. Bare with me, my reviews are usually a combination of food, service, and atmosphere. Many people may find this whole set up *YeeHaa" but I am a fan of table service. I don't mind ordering at the counter, but at least bring the food out to the table. I had the ribs and they were very good.The Mac n' Cheese was rather bland, the big shell noodles bordered on mushy. I tried my husbands beans and they were great. I also tried his pulled pork, it was very moist and tender. Sugarfire seems to be doing a thriving business so maybe I don't know jack_ _ _ _ what I am talking about. This is just a review from the world Iive in. I gotta cut this short, I'm late for therapy...
(3)Jay B.
Love this place. I visited here about a month ago and came back because it was so good. The meats don't need their wonderful numerous sauces, but i recommend trying them. The sides are great also. Being from Georgia, we know grits and they are a definite must. Collards, broccoli cauliflower salad, cole slaw and beans are off the hook. Be sure I grab a cold beer to too off the experience
(5)Phillip D.
Going to keep it short. Every time I've been here, the line has been long. There's a good reason for that, but I think everyone knows why. Even with long lines, it moves quickly, & well worth the wait. Had various meats & various sides. They were all very delicious. Good price & great taste.
(5)Stephanie S.
Oh hi there, St. Louis! It's only been, what...7 months since I last wrote my review? Well, this former St. Louis girl misses her hometown like crazy, and I saw that my review count dropped from 700 to 699 (WTF, Yelp?) so I'm making things right in my world. Trying to, at least. Anyway, Sugarfire. Now that I've been a Virginia resident for over half a year, I can say a whole lot of good things about this great state. The scenery is amazing (hellooooo, mountains!). The people are ridiculously nice (and their accents are le cute!). And the weather is pretty flipping fantastic. But you know what I miss? BARBECUE. Good, flavorful, St. Louis style BBQ. The stuff here doesn't cut it. Actually, I take that back -- the stuff here very well MAY cut it, but I haven't tried it. That's right. I haven't had BBQ in 7 long months. Because I know that whatever I try here won't even begin to hold a flame to the wonderfulness that is SugarFire Smoke House. Holy shit I miss this place. It's nestled in the suburbs of St. Louis, in a pretty unassuming strip mall. Next door to a Starbucks. And a kinkos (there's a kinkos there, right? Has it been so long that I've forgotten what's in the area? NOOOOOOO!). In other words, it's not where I would expect to find good BBQ. But boy...once I walked into that place for the first time, all of those preconceived notions were smashed. SMASHED! The setup is a bit odd; you start by grabbing a drink. Then you take a look at the menu and order, cafeteria-style. I visited SugarFire a few times, and every time, I was blown away by the quality of the food. On separate occasions, I've had their pulled pork, brisket, and ribs. Each item was incredible. The brisket was, hands down, the BEST brisket I've had in my life. Juicy, flavorful, tender. Perfect. The sides are also quite amazing. The sides change regularly, but I've had their mac and cheese, baked beans, and potato salad. All amazing. If you're going to order dessert here (and you better!) go with any of their boozy shakes and/or the crack pie. Don't ask me what's in the crack pie. I have no idea, but it's super good, whatever it is. I'm pretty sure it consists of 99% sugar. Fine by me! The service here is incredible, and the prices are great. Don't wait in the long lines at Pappy's or Bogarts. I'm not telling you NOT to visit those places, but go to SugarFire first. When I come back to visit STL in August, I'm heading straight from the airport to SugarFire. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. SugarFire will be my FIRST stop. You think I'm kidding.
(5)Ken K.
Mike, my CEO put me in charge of lunch tomorrow. Sugarfire was our choice. What do you suggest for an office of 11 with 1 vegetarian?
(4)Steve E.
Came here based on other's reviews and the owner's prompt responses. Knew I had made the right choice when I saw the line almost out the door. Did not run into "blue bandana" woman, maybe she wasn't working or maybe she wasn't wearing it. Either way the service was outstanding! Wanted to have have the brisket and turkey combo but, also wanted to try the ribs. I asked if they sold "by the bone" and the staff member said no but, asked "do you want a sample"? Damn good rib bone and the Best brisket ever; tender and juicy! Would DEFINITELY recommend Sugarfire Smokehouse!
(5)K M.
Before going to St. Louis we scoured Yelp for the best BBQ. We decided on this restaurant because we looked at the one star reviews and enjoyed a few sassy comments the owner had. But most of the owners responses to the one star reviews were concern. I had the portabella smoked sandwich, which was PERFECT, and a side of ribs. The ribs were good but they didn't fall off the bone and they did need BBQ sauce. The coleslaw was delicious. My friend had a pulled pork sandwich and really enjoyed that, too. My only complaint is there was a crowd when we got there because idiot Scott Walker was there. It's too bad that Sugarfire allowed him there but it was worth the food.
(4)Brittany S.
If this 575th review doesn't make you pull the car over to order the sweet daddy (5 meat sampler with two sides), I don't know what will. Let me make ordering easy for you: Meat daddy ($22.95): brisket, ribs, pulled pork, smoked turkey and cheese and jalapeño stuffed sausages with two sides of your choice (scalloped potatoes and baked beans for us). This meal can EASILY be split between 3 hearty eaters. We took home nearly half the meat after sharing it between two. Some of the tastiest BBQ I've ever encountered. The cherry on top? Unique and rotating side options. For dessert? They're known for their pies and milkshakes so you can't go wrong there. Note: the line moves quickly but on the first night we visited they sold out before 8pm. I recommend going somewhere between 2-5pm.
(5)Garrick S.
** edited to correct my friend's lunch choices. First time here... Fun place, good eats! We arrived about 11:30 and there was a sign next to us that said "15 minutes to ordering." Well, people must know what they want now because it was closer to ten. When we got to the soda machine, my dining partner told me there was another one at the opposite end of the restaurant. This will be important later. I'd already looked at the menu online and seen the day's specials on their Facebook page, so I knew what I wanted. 6 oz. brisket, baked beans, hand cut fries and a piece of cornbread. My friend had the smokey flank steak sandwich and the broccoli salad.. We got to the cashier to pay, and I was thankful to see two seats directly behind me. I use a cane for balance, and maneuvering that with a tray can be tricky...that's why I'm VERY glad there was a second soda machine. Me, the cane, and soda on a tray are NOT a good mix. The cashier was kind enough to ask if I wanted help to the table, and I thanked her but declined, because I literally had to turn around and set my tray down. We got our drinks and dug in. The brisket is amazing, but I'm glad I didn't cover it with the St. Louis BBQ sauce, I just dunked a few pieces. It totally overwhelmed the subtle flavors in the meat. I found it much better plain. The beans and fries were very good, the beans especially had great flavors. The cornbread was sweet and okay, but I prefer Companion Baking's. Personal preference. The soda is local, I think I heard, not "C" or "P" products, so I was a little confused, but the diet cola tasted fine. I brought a little less than half home to have for lunch tomorrow. The serving sizes are large. STAFF: Very nice, alert, and FAST. They know what they're doing, and on that crowded line no one ever bumped into anyone else. They are a *team*. NOISE LEVEL: This place is LOUD. Not so loud that we couldn't hear one another, but the surrounding conversations are constant. I think I'd prefer to return on a cooler day and sit outside, where there's a fountain providing white noise. Overall, I'll stop in when I'm in the area, but I have adventures to make at BBQ/smoke houses closer to home in south St. Louis.
(4)Carl H.
First Surgarfire Smokehouse visit ever. Went to this location on a weekday afternoon, post lunch rush. (3pm) Unfortunately, my experience did not match all the HYPE. If it wasn't for all the sauce options provided on the table, my pulled pork sandwich would have been a chore to swallow. Very dry and included chunks of burnt, hard edges. Mac & Cheese was creamy and cheesy but bland. No flavor to the cheese, and two shapes of mushy noodles. Hash Brown Casserole was very oily and unappetizing on the service line. (chose not to try it) Other side dishes unlabeled and no one offered a description. Large choice of desert options individually wrapped but not labeled, made it difficult to choose, so I skipped them. I will say that I was impressed with the variety and flavors of the sauce options. The Cherry Apple BBQ sauce was my favorite, but I am under the impression that it is a special offering and may not be available all the time. Overall, my sandwich, after I added the sauce was good but not an "Award Winning" or exceptional experience. This is just a small portion of my actual review. Due to space limitations on Yelp, I have chosen to send the complete text of my full review to the owners via e-mail.
(2)Christy A.
Must've picked the wrong night to try this joint. They were out of nearly everything I wanted to try. They don't serve chicken The sides all looked dry & old. Needing replenishment. The customer service was terribly sour & rushed (namely Jess at the register) Explained it was my first visit and the protein guy didn't give a damn...kept it moving like an assembly line. First experience was a busy and totally not what I expected since everyone compares it to Pappy's which is my fav (not just today, check my review) I love Pappy's because all things are properly aligned: food, service, freshness. My sister liked the brisket and I thought the turkey was pretty good. Both were well smoked in our opinion. I have issues with Sugar Fire's sanitation. The tables needed to be busted, the sauce containers wiped, floor swept and food wells cleaned. Jess dumped the container of pickles sitting at the register for customers into the a larger batch of refrigerated pickles that stored the bulk of pickles for replenishing. Can you say contamination hazard! A random young man (maybe the friend of a coworker strolled through the kitchen area with FroYo) And 1 last thing, the gentlemen I assumed to be a manager began counting cash on the pie counter surrounded by food. I threw my hands up! C'mon guy, you've got to have an office around this place for business such as tallying profits and completing paperwork. Can you say unprofessional and tacky simultaneously! No thanks I'll pass...FOREVER!
(1)Sara C.
Came at lunch time and it was packed. Waited around 20 minutes to order but man was it worth it. I shared the Meat Daddy combo with a friend and we have enough food for dinner. The ribs fell off the bone, the pulled pork was scrumptious, brisket fell apart, the jalapeño cheddar sausage was on point and the smoked turkey was my least favorite. The sides we sooooo good!! The baked beans consisted of a mixture of types of beans, coleslaw was creamy, and the pasta salad had a little zip. This place had a great ambiance and hip little smokehouse. I will visit again!!
(5)Steven C.
Smelled good when I walked up. Busy place. Waited in line to order. Repeated my order three times and still got the wrong food. Maybe other customers take whatever is given, but I saw the Facebook post for the burrito and that's what I wanted. Didn't get it. Staff behind the counter was talking about me while I stood there. I usually go to Bogarts. I shouldn't have strayed.
(1)Anna L.
We were in St. Louis for the first time for only three short days, but we were at Sugarfire 2/3 of those days! That's how much we were in LOVE with this place! The first time we were at Sugarfire, we came around 5pm-ish on a Wednesday. Remember to come in through the door next to Sugarfire's pie place--we had come through the wrong door the first time! Good thing there was barely a line starting to form when we had. I ordered half a rack of baby back ribs and my BF ordered a sandwich--I don't remember which one but I know he was sad that they were sold out of brisket that day. Food was great! Though to me the meat was a little dry without the sauces. An hour into our visit, everything was sold out so the restaurant was closing! Plan ahead when you're visiting because the later it gets, the more likely items are going to be sold out and they'd be closing soon. The second time we came at around 1pm for lunch. We were waiting for the brisket! There was a line but it went by fast. I got the Big Muddy sandwich and he got brisket! Hands down, the Big Muddy is the best sandwich I've had!!! All the sauces really complement the meat. I never worried about seating. Don't be the person saving an entire table before your party even orders--there will be tables available. Service was great both times! I don't remember either times having to clear off my tray to the trash, though I tried and was on my way--just the staff were friendly enough to grab them from me before I had the chance. I see parking being more of an issue on the weekends. Though the lot is quite big, you may have to circle around it a few times to find a spot. Thank you! Every time I'm in St. Louis again, I will be making a trip back to Sugarfire!
(5)Rachel G.
We ended up coming here for dinner a little late around 8pm. I was sad because they were out of brisket and pulled pork for the day, but that was probably our fault for going so late. I suggest calling ahead of time to see what meats they had left. The meets left were ribs, salmon and turkey and we ended up trying the ribs. They were delicious and the meat fell off the bone. I also love that sugarfire has bunch of different sauces. My favorite may have been the peach barbecue mixed with the hot barbecue. The coffee barbecue and the white barbecue were also pretty delicious. The reason for the four stars is for the sides. I recommend the fried green beans, this was my favorite side dish. I also really enjoyed the baked beans, they were flavorful. We also got the cauliflower and carrot, this was nothing special but I did like it. We also got collard greens, they had an interesting sour/sweet taste. I am big a huge fan of collard greens so they are probably still worth checking out. I give it four stars because there are some basic barbecue sides that I was sad that weren't there. I really wish they had a simple Mac an cheese or green bean casserole. But other than the lack of variety. I loved this restaurant and would go again if I had the chance, and would hopefully be able to try the brisket/pulled pork!
(4)Katie H.
This place!!! It's so awesome! I think hubby and I have finally found our favorite BBQ place (although I must admit that we do still need to try Bogarts). Now, I say that this place is our favorite because of the food and because of the experience on the whole. I have to say that when it comes to food, Pappy's and Adam's just don't wow me. However, I do really enjoy Shaved Duck and Salt & Smoke. But when it comes to experience, Sugarfire beats both. Salt & Smoke had terrible service both times I visited. Shaved Duck had great service and probably comes in at a VERY close second just because it feels more like a dimly lit, evening restaurant where you have to be in the mood to deal with a waiter. Sugarer has the casual and fast counter service that you get at Pappy's and Adam's, but it's so much more comfortable! If the weather is nice, eating outside on their patio is awesome! It's a bright and fun experience over all. Not to mention, parking is easy!!! Unlike all the other BBQ places I mentioned. Now for the food. My husband and I shared the Meat Daddy - 4 ribs, jalepeno cheddar sausage link, and 4 oz. each of brisket, pulled pork and turkey, a side of fries, a side of coleslaw and a fountain drink. The ribs were definitely one of my favorite parts! The seasoning alone was perfect, it doesn't need a drop of sauce. The smoke line goes pretty deep, the bark has a nice chew to it and the meat underneath is quite tender. The jalepeno sausage does have quite a kick! It was a bit too spicy for my tastes, but the creamy coleslaw did a great job of balancing that with sweetness. The brisket probably had the best flavor of all the BBQ places I've tried in the city (although Salt & Smoke's was probably the most tender). The pulled pork tasted awesome with my favorite sauce, the Coffee Sauce. The turkey had a nice seasoning and flavor. And the fries are skinny cut and not over-seasoned. Over all, the ribs and brisket were my favorites. But I'm sure that the next time we go back, we'll probably get the Meat Daddy again because it's perfect for us to share!
(5)John A.
As close to BBQ perfection as there can be. I've never had a disappointing meal here and always look forward to coming back. Dare I say this is the best BBQ in St. Louis? The only con, and it's non restaurant related, is that parking gets a bit scarce at this location because of the layout of the plaza it's in, but the food is worth that hassle.
(5)Brett W.
I have to say I'm pretty picky when it comes to Bar B Q, but Sugarfire is the real deal!!! There ribs are amazing and there burgers are to die for!!! Ribs are tender, but yet crispy on the outer edges with the different types of sauces to choose from, you can't go wrong with any of them. Burgers are big, juicy, sloppy, just like a burger should be, with an amazing flavor!!! Your quest for Bar-B-Q will be accomplished after going here.
(5)Brendan C.
Tasty - they unfortunately ran out of brisket by the time we arrived, but I suppose that simply attests to how high the demand for their brisket was. We came in as a large party of 8, and they have a large seating area and cafeteria-style ordering area that easily accompanies large groups. Ribs - Of course, I ordered ribs to replace the black hole of brisket deprivation. The ribs were nice and smokey, with something around a ton a smoked paprika. The ribs ended up with a bit of a jerky taste due to the rub, which I enjoyed quite a bit. Hushpuppies - A bit dry, but had nice flavor. The sweetness of the cornbread was spot on and the addition of onions to the mix makes for great textural contrast. The jalapeno jelly that comes with the hushpuppies was really cool-looking. Neon green and jellified, it was a creative use of nouvelle technique meshed with old world southern cooking. The jelly wasn't very hot and I found it a bit too sweet, but hey it was like having alien jelly blood all over your hushpuppies. I guess that doesn't sound that appetizing, but it DOES sound super kid-friendly. Fried artichoke - I really liked the batter to artichoke ratio. The artichoke ends up very juicy, and there's a tartar sauce that accompanies it pretty well. I'd definitely get these again, but then again - I'm a bit of a sucker for artichoke (mainly because it is such a pain to prep at home). Green Beans - Probably a must-get here. They were deliciously smokey and there was a great amount of pepper and garlic, naturally making it delicious. The green beans weren't cooked to hell either, which I generally appreciate. Cole Slaw - Too sweet for my taste. It is mayo based and I thought that it needed a bit more vinegar to balance out the sweetness and thickness from the mayo. Sugarfire Pie - Gooey Buttercake filling stuffed into a pie crust! It sounds super exciting, but it was a bit of a let down in comparison to the awesome gooey buttercakes we've experienced around St. Louis. The filling wasn't creamy enough, but the pie had a nice, flaky crust. Maybe I'm just critiquing too hard though, because K. ended up stealing bites until it was gone. Happy Eating!
(4)Adam F.
What a bummer. I ordered take out and that process was nice, skipped a long line. Had the brisket, pulled pork, Mac and cheese and potato salad. The brisket was dry, and the whole smoke ring was in the top fat. Didn't seem to have any rub on it and was just bland. The pulled pork was greasy. The crusty parts didn't have much seasoning and there was plenty of sloppy day in the part I got. Nothing but average. I could make the same in a crock pot. The Mac and cheese must be made with pimento cheese which is terrible for me as I don't like not understand pimentos. Maybe it's for some, not me. The potato salad was good. A little bland, but that's how I like it. Nice sized portion. Real big chunks of potatoes. Sauces, I screwed up. I grabbed Texas bbq and Carolina mustard. That's my fault. There was a line behind me and I should have got different sauces. The Texas was ketchup and Carolina was plain mustard. Oops. Good thing I had left over bandanas sauce for this! I don't get all the yelp hype. Seemed like a great atmosphere inside though!
(2)Dr R.
Love this place- where else can I eat off a metal tray! If there is a line, it's worth the wait!
(5)Jake P.
With all due apologies to the fine residents of St. Louis... this was never a city I had ever planned on visiting in my life. I was wrong. I was very very wrong. Sugarfire had me from the second we pulled into the parking lot -- the mixture of sarcastic kitsch, authentic smells, and a massive smoker. I didn't even have to go inside before I knew I was in love. Add to that the precision-organized line system that keeps tables turning over without exactly kicking people out the door, keeps the line moving, and informs you ahead of time when they are out of something -- that's quality customer service. It's not often-seen, and when I find it, I must witness and appreciate. The food was solid up and down so much so that we came back for seconds the next day before driving eastward towards our final destination. We both started off with the extremely flavorful pulled pork and sides ranging from kale Caesar salad (actually surprisingly, I really liked it -- kale was fresh, dressing wasn't overpowering), to a pretty amazing Salmon Hash that would have been at home in Portland, OR if it had the inclination to grow a beard. That was a surprise, and a welcome one when all you're used to for BBQ is standard mac n' cheese, greens, etc. The next day was even better when we made it in before the crowds (barely... the line was out the door, but they weren't out of anything yet) -- the brisket is some of the best I've ever had in my life, and my girlfriend's ribs were devoured before I could even remember to ask for a bite (at least that's the way I remember it). The prices were insanely reasonable given the well-measured portions, and frankly, the fact that I've lived on either coast my entire life. If I ever do end up back in MO, it'll probably have something to do with comparing other BBQ to what was already a overall great experience.
(5)Caprice F.
I came here this past Friday and finally got to see what all of the fuss was about! This restaurant does live up to its reputation! The food really is good! I had the pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw, and a slice of apple pie. I was there at 7pm and although there was a line out of the door, it moved quickly and only lasted 30 minutes. The apple pie was decent but not the best I've ever had. I'll be sure to try the crack pie the next time i come. The variety of sauces were good. I highly recommend this restaurant for good bbq.
(5)Megan S.
Was super excited to go here after getting a friends recommendation and seeing their Instagram pics! It was pretty tasty and I'll be going back to try their burgers. I decided to try the chicken biscuit, it sounded so good. It is a smoked and fried chicken thigh sandwiched between two biscuits with hot sauce and honey butter on top. I recommend it if you like chicken. It was really juicy and flavorful. I also added an appetizer of the fried artichokes. It was average, nothing too exciting. My husband had the smoked turkey with fries and coleslaw. The turkey was delicious and juicy. The fries were average and the coleslaw was just coleslaw. The BBQ sauce they had on the tables were amazing though!!! My favorite was the coffee flavor. It was sweet and smoky! Pricing was good, and you got your food right away. Overall, tasty and want to go back to try more!
(4)Sasha S.
Well hello, smoked salmon. The hubs and I had set out for Vietnamese food in U City but the place we tried didn't open until 5p. So he suggested we hit Sugarfire. Not what I wanted, at all, but we were hungry. We walked in and it was easy to follow where to go and how to order. The place has a bbq-ey dive-y feel. They were playing The Reverend and I noticed a Melvins poster, which was cool. It wasn't loud or too crowded but I imagine at normal lunch and dinner hours it gets crazy. The hubs had the smoked turkey plate with fries and cornbread. He said the turkey was juicy, not dry at all. The fries were standard bbq place fries, not my thing but he enjoyed them. I had the smoked salmon plate with super slaw, and cornbread. The salmon was expertly smoked and very tasty not fishy or too dry. The super slaw was good too. It had broccoli, red cabbage, Brussels sprouts, carrots, edamame, kale, and dill - maybe some other stuff but Idk, anyway, I would order it again. We ended up sharing a piece of cornbread and saving one. I think it's more like corncake-very soft and sweet not dry and bread like. It wasn't my fave kind of cornbread but it was good and the hubs liked it. We will mos def return at some point as I have my eyes on the smoked portabella sandwich.
(4)Christine W.
After my disappointing experience at Pappy's, I was hesitant to have high hopes for another BBQ joint, fearing that it would be all hype. However, my husband really wanted to try Sugarfire (he loves meat, what can I say). We arrived about 10 minutes before they opened, since it was Memorial Day today and we definitely didn't want to wait in line. There were about 4 other people in line ahead of us when we arrived. Once they opened, we didn't wait long at all (less than 5 minutes) before we had ordered, paid, and sat down with our food. Not too bad for a major holiday! We shared the meat daddy plate ($22.99), which has ribs, jalapeno cheddar sausages, brisket, pulled pork, and turkey. For sides, we ordered the green beans and the mac and cheese. It also came with a drink, which had to be sweet tea because you have to have sweet tea with BBQ! My favorite meat was actually the turkey, which was just right for me flavor wise and the way they cut it. As for other things I liked, the ribs were pretty good (nice flavor) and the pulled pork was tasty, not too dry. However, the brisket was slightly on the dry side and I wasn't too fond of the sausages because I don't really prefer the jalapeno taste (not their fault). It was definitely a good sample of their meats, though, which is what we were looking for. I also enjoyed the two sides we got. The reason this is a 4 star review and not a 5, though, is that my favorite part of the meal was the dessert. If you're a BBQ joint, the meat should be the star of the meal, but that wasn't the case for me. Yep, I could talk about that slice of "crack pie" aaaaall day and night! Just remember to save room for dessert when you go! I would definitely choose Sugarfire over Pappy's. Sugarfire is about on par with Bogart's, in my opinion. All in all, I would recommend Sugarfire - I liked their ribs, turkey, and pulled pork, and I loved the Sugarfire ("crack") pie!
(4)Sharlene S.
First timer coming from Connecticut, we looked up the yelp reviews and decided to try it out, so happy we went! The food was unbelievable and tasted so unique. The maple bacon with the pepper is to die for. The potato gratin is delishhh! My burger was so perfect, we're going back before we go home for sure!
(5)Mark P.
Finally I made it to Sugarfire to find out what all the fuss is about. This fast casual-cafeteria style barbecue shop serves up the standard meat options with some unique side dishes. Highlights: -Well designed layout with self serve fountain drinks available as you wait in line. -Better than average tasting BBQ sauces with the Texas Hot and the St. Louis Sweet being my favorites. -Unique side dishes for a BBQ place such as pozole, broccoli salad and kale salmon salad. They weren't 5 star side dishes, but get points for originality. -The smoked chocolate chip cookie...delicious! Overall, I'd say that Sugarfire is a solid option that's comparable to the other big names in town.
(4)Bonnie L.
Got the special. Mushroom stamp includes one side for $13. Double burger and portobello mushroom and fried pickles. It also had cheese and lots of onions, I think lettuce also. The sandwich was huge and delicious. It had mushroom the size of the burger as well as smaller pieces. I have been a fan of their burger. First time getting the double burger. It was bun. Cheese. Burger. Mushroom. Onions. Bun. Burger. Cheese. Mushroom. Fried pickles. Lettuce. Bun. The mushrooms were delicious and meaty. The fried pickles were the bonus that made the burger! Their burger is a mix of chuck, brisket, and short rib and it's delicious. Flavorful and juicy. I normally get a single with bacon and egg, but this special was good. I also got a few ribs and they were right on. Flavorful, juicy, tender. Almost fall off the bone. My favorite sauces are the sweet and the coffee. The BBQ tater tots side was a winner. They had some dry BBQ spices on it and they were tasty with or without ketchup. I wish they had this more often!!! Had the cornbread side for the first time. It was good. The corn flavor came through as did the butter. It was a little dense and almost dry. But it was still really good. Finished it off with the smoked chocolate chip cookie. I get it everytime and it's been great everytime. I wanted to eat there but it was so busy (line to the outer door) that I ended up getting it to go. Another awesome visit!
(5)Monica P.
The best BBQ in St. Louis! My husband and I consider ourselves to be BBQ conniseurs and this is ABSOLUTELY our favorite STL joint. I have never been disappointed with anything, be it, a side dish, dessert or meat. I love their specialty Chicken Biscuit, the juicy tender turkey, the ribs, brisket. I could go on and on... The pies... OMG, the pies. The Crack Pie or Hello Dolly Pie... Their White Russian shake. I might as well just post their whole menu! Now I'm hungry. I'm going to Sugarfire tomorrow... If you haven't tried them yet, please, do yourself a favor and go ASAP. -Side note: The line can get a little long during lunch or on the weekends, so go early or plan ahead to accommodate for a wait. You will be so happy once you are eating that you won't care though ;)
(5)Tina V.
Oh my goodness. This place is heaven. I ordered a cheeseburger with coleslaw. My girlfiend had the pulled pork. Both were fantastic. They also have a selection of over 10 BBQ sauces. I will be back!!
(5)Ben R.
After reading the reviews on this place, I decided to join a few friends for dinner here. It was about 4 pm on a Saturday and there was no line at all. We got in, ordered, had our food, paid and went and sat down. I ordered the brisket cheesesteak which was $10 and came with no sides, and my wife ordered the pulled pork plate. Now my opinions on BBQ are a tough because I am seasoned at places like Adam's and Pappy's. So, I tried the brisket sandwich first. It was extremely messy because it was drenched in nacho cheese. I couldn't really taste the brisket with all the cheese on it, so I pulled a piece off and wiped it off. It was ok. It was a bit tough and no very juicy. The bread was soggy from the cheese, but it was tasty enough. The goat cheese mashed potatoes were super buttery but ok tasting. The fried green beans were delicious! The pulled pork was fatty, but good. We sat outside because the restaurant seemed a little loud and crowded inside. The BBQ sauce that sits out on the tables was very warm because it was almost 90 degrees today. I don't know why but that made me grossed out a bit. Overall the food was decent, the staff were excellent, the atmosphere was hipster and the prices were outrageous. I wouldn't choose it over Adams, but I'd go again to try another menu item. Maybe the cheeseburger because one of my buddies ordered a double and it looked pretty good.
(3)Elliott B.
My go to for the best bbq in STL. I could go into how amazing each item is but plain and simple...you need to get here and try it. I have tried most items on the menu but my go to is the Big Muddy. Brisket and sausage on a roll and I add spicy bbq sauce. I dare you to try the big muddy and not fall in love! Enjoy!
(5)Colleen D.
My husband summed it up best, this place is for people that don't know any better. I would have given it a 0 if possible. We brought a friend here who is visiting from Alaska hoping to show off that great St. Louis BBQ scene. It honestly was just embarrassing and a waste of our money. We simply don't get it. What is the all the hype about? This is some of the worst bbq we have ever eaten in St. Louis. Nothing has any seasoning to it, the meat or the sides and can really sum it up as dry and unseasoned. Between everyone at our table we tried beef brisket, so dry we needed to take it back, pulled pork, turkey, cole slaw, potato salad, hush puppies, stroganoff and pimento cheese and it all sucked except for the pimento cheese which was good. I do love the Sugar Fire pie but at $5.99 a slice, I feel like they are way over priced. We won't go back and I recommend you don't go either. Instead, try Pappy's, Bogart's or even Bandana's. And based on the responses to posts on here by the owner, he comes across as a jerk. Why not listen to what people are saying? For everyone 1 person that posts it on Yelp, 10 more are just talking about what a bad experience they had. Why not learn from it and know that you are not perfect and can improve. It's disappointing to see you trying to make fun of people and it doesn't come across as professional in the least. One more thing that grosses me out the most? The flies! They are everywhere! I am not talking about outside, I mean INSIDE the restaurant. YUCK!
(1)Jenny J.
Everything has been good. The chocolate chip cookie isn't very good, lol, not that anyone goes there for that. I do not like the hush puppies at all. All of the meats are tasty but the sides, like so many bbq places, leave much to be desired.
(4)Tina E.
Had a pulled pork sandwich and a side of coleslaw - awesome. Of course, I also tried a taste of most of the other sides at the table and the baked beans, potato salad and corn bread were also awesome. We had a good variety of BBQ sauce at the table and the portions were right for the price. The locally-sourced sodas weren't bad, but the sweet tea didn't appear to have been sweetened on my visit. Was a little disappointed to learn that the sides change without warning and I missed out on the mac and cheese. Be warned, this is one of those places that can run out of food and close as any time. I called ahead. It's super casual and likely to be crowded at any time of day, but the cafeteria-style food pickup and friendly table bussers make for quick turnover. We were able to find a seat right after paying. Would totally suggest and would definitely visit again when I'm in the city! Tip: go next door for pie and custard!
(5)Gary F.
In St. Louis and had to have some bbq. Stopped by on the way to airport. Cool looking place and was super packed for a Sunday afternoon. From what I understand it's always packed. Loved the feel and look of the place. Will def stop back by when we come back to St. Louis! I had the the ribs and they were super good, my girlfriend had the brisket and felt it was a little dry! She ended up leaving her sandwich and having some of my ribs. They have some kind of local soda machine which I though was pretty cool. Actually not sure if it was local, but it was nothing we had ever heard off. Had a good time their and will b sure to return. Oh as busy as it was, the manager or whom what seemed to b a manager walked buy and asked if we were happy with our food which is always a plus.
(4)Eric B.
Killer ribs and veggies. I'm from Texas and this was probably the best BBQ I've ever had. Thanks Yelp! We had to sit at a table with strangers but that was no big deal. We made new friends.
(5)Joe D.
I absolutely loved Sugarfire, I've very rarely been to another BBQ joint that does this much this well. It would probably get my award for best all around BBQ. I got the huge sampler platter and everything on it was incredible. The brisket was definitely the standout, some of the best brisket I've ever had. The ribs were very good and the pulled pork was amazing. The smoked sausage link was awesome, and the biggest surprise was the smoked turkey. It was awesome, it was so much better than any other turkey I've had that it's not really fair to call it by the same name. I just expected the turkey to be a mop to try the sauces on (which were all great, esp. the coffee sauce), but it was really good on its own. My wife got the brisket Philly which was really good but was overloaded with cheese- the brisket was so good it didn't need much cheese but came with a ton. I'd recommend ordering the cheese on the side if you get it.
(5)Amanda L.
Saw "sugarfire bbq" on an exit sign while we were on our way to the airport... it was our last chance to try ST Louis bbq before leaving town. We read a couple reviews and turned right around. I was very impressed by menu selections. We split a pulled pork sandwich and some ribs. The sandwich was huge and the ribs fell right off the bone. The table had all kinds of sauce choices. My favorites were the sweet and the white bbq. For sides we split house fries which were awesome and scalloped potatoes with bacon and bleu cheese. The soda fountain was local pure can sugar drinks. As an avid diet coke drinker, I was a little weary. I knew that if I didn't like the diet option that I would be able to treat myself to something good. The diet cola was very good and tasted so fresh. We had a great experience and if we are ever back in St Louis we would love to stop in and try something new!
(4)Paula G.
As both a classically trained chef and a Southerner, I know my BBQ and I frequently smoke meat myself so I know what is possible and reasonable to expect. While I did enjoy dinner at Sugarfire Smoke House, I was not "wowed" by it. I had the brisket sandwich and found the brisket to be dry and lacking a deep, rich smoke. Actually there was very little smoke flavor, lending more of a beef roast flavor to the meat. At least the meat was tender. Unfortunately I had to rely on the BBQ sauce to give the sandwich some flavor. Where I come from, the smokey meat should stand on its own and the sauce should only play a background role. The ribs were also dry and needing the moisture and flavor addition of a sauce. I did like the selection of sauces and the "Sweet" was my favorite. The coleslaw side I had was average, I was hoping for just a little more than basic deli coleslaw. The green beans were good. Overall I give Sugarfire Smoke House a 3 star rating. While it is not bad, it won't be a place I return often.
(3)Joe K.
Love this place. Great BBQ joint for those who don't want to go all the way to pappy's. Sugarfire also offers more variety and offers regular sides as well as those that change every few months. Soda is all local with cane sugar soda and they offer a variety of beer and craft beer. You can't go wrong with anything you order but I recommend the meat daddy ($23) or 2 meat/2 sides or any of their specials like sandwiches. Portions are good sizes and they have a cool selection of sauces like every good BBQ joint (sweet, spicy, coffee, etc) Always packed every time I go and need to expand the size of the restaurant but ppl are good about eating and leaving quickly. Plus you can make new friends as you share a table.
(5)David A.
Mary and I went here on a Sunday afternoon and the place was packed. It reminded us of "Real Urban Barbecue" up in Highland Park, Illinois because the place is unfinished dark wood from floor to ceiling and the food is served cafeteria style. Outside was a large smoker and the smell of wood and steam, evidence that the meat is prepared the right way daily. Mary had the pulled pork sandwich with a side of mac and cheese. I had the brisket platter with baked beans and fries. The brisket and fries were delicious. The bake beans were OK. We washed it down with large cans of 4 Hands Whale Ale and Shocktop apple ale. This place is simple, no frills barbecue. Fast service and good food is perfect on a cool fall day. We'll definitely return.
(4)Big Mama's M.
We drove up from Osage Beach this morning, timing our visit so we could get online by 11:00 am. No breakfast, just coffee, two old people dying to eat some killer Q. Didn't happen. At 11:00 when we approached the counter and asked for ribs we were told that it would be another 15 minutes until they would be ready. The young carvers didn't ask us if we wanted to wait, or even take our sides and wait for the meat. Sadly, we settled for brisket, which was dry and almost tough. You have to quick make up your mind because everyone is talking loud and fast and there is pressure to not hold up the line. We sat at a table near the register and watched the first order of ribs come out about 11:31. Who does that? Who doesn't prepare for a big holiday weekend?? There were about six or seven people waiting for togo orders, I sure as hell hope they weren't getting ribs. The macaroni and cheese (mixed w/tater tots) was dreamy, the coleslaw legit, the potato salad good but had pickles. SKIP the overpriced, dry, tiny and tasteless pork belly hush puppies......worst thing ever and not one bit of pork belly in the lot. Service was good, lady at the register was friendly and young busboy was helpful and nice. Cool soda fountain with old school brands of soda pop. Bummer and disappointing...Best in St. Louis? Not sure about that.
(2)Jet S.
Awesome Turkey, Mac and Cheese, freaking Brussel sprouts! Yeah man. Cool joint Key Lime pie knocked my socks off. Also special thanks to chef Chad, with his informative and friendly suggestions on what to get. Not to mention he's a hunk. For real about my socks. They're still there!!
(5)Jacob N.
This is a Favorite of mine, they have consistently great main menu items while also continually wowing me with their new spins on classics. If you are ever there on a way when they have Rack'N'Cheese (a Mac n cheese/baby back ribs hybrid) then you're in for a treat!
(5)Rose B.
Came by last weekend for dinner- the wait wasn't too bad, about 10-15ish minutes from walking in, waiting in line, to placing our order. It was busy, we decided to get takeout. We got the smoked turkey sandwich, mac n cheese, coleslaw, the hush puppies, and the burger. I wasn't thrilled by the sides- pretty standard for a BBQ joint. I prefer Vernon's coleslaw! And my turkey sandwich was okay, nicely seasoned and juicy. Hush puppies were also just okay. The burger was the real star!!! My partner got a double cheeseburger and omg it was amazing. Best burger I've had recently, we will be coming here exclusively for when we feel in the mood for burgers. They use a special mix for their patties, and it definitely made a difference. I can taste it now just thinking about it. Can't speak to the pie, I thought we had ordered a slice of Mississippi mud, but it didn't make it into our bag - we got takeout and didn't notice til we had gotten home. On the plus side, I don't think we were charged for it, so no harm no foul. When we go back for another burger we can try the pie then!!!
(3)Megan S.
The atmosphere of this place is what won me over. The line was long, but moved at a decent speed. I ordered pulled pork with fries. I was impressed with the sauce selection and sweet won me over. Unfortunately all the fries that we got were cold and disappointing. I wasn't very impressed when I checked out and was asked if I wanted my change. There was a tip jar on the counter which I would have tipped but I don't think it was appropriate to asked me if I wanted the change or not. The gentalman walking around and checking on people was on point and my kiddos thought he rocked. Over all I would go back and try something else for sure. Don't even think about skipping the pie! I had missipppi mud and it was perfect!
(3)Jillian C.
BEST TURKEY SANDWICH I'VE EVER HAD. I have NEVER had a smoked turkey sandwich that was so moist in every piece. I was constantly expecting the next bite to taste dry and require 3 gulps of soda but THAT DRY BITE NEVER CAME. I got a side of mac n cheese and it was okay. Had a bit of a sour taste, not sure if they used sharp cheddar or what but it almost tasted like it was going bad. :( I didn't enjoy the bbq sauce flavors as much, but I only tried two of them. Will come back for more the next time I'm craving BBQ!
(4)Lucy P.
Yumyumyum! First time guest and hope to be back soon. This is not a relaxing, leisurely lunch experience but if you go into it with the right attitude it's a great time! Get yourself pumped up to stand in line for awhile and sit elbow to elbow with (in our case very nice) complete strangers while enjoying delicious bbq. The line actually moves very quickly and is well organized. My husband and I got the brisket and my dad ordered the pulled pork. Everything was delicious, I just wish I had more room in my stomach to sample the entire menu. The owner (I believe) made his way around the room checking on tables and chatting with everyone. He even grabbed my ornery toddler a giant Sugarfire sticker, which he thought was the coolest thing ever. Thanks, Sugarfire!
(4)Donta W.
Hands down the Best BBQ in STL! Better than Pappy's and Bogart's!! The sausage, the ribs, the pulled park, the brown sugar baked beans and the Mac n Cheese! Can't even put it into words!!
(5)Miriam W.
I can understand why there's a line for this place. We waited with the other barbecue lovers for over a half hour on a recent chilly Saturday night. It was worth it. You can mix it up however you want to here...I opted for a 4 rib dinner, which comes with one side, and a 4 oz. portion of pulled pork. I got green beans for a side ( haricot vert...nice touch!) and added a side of their smoked 3 bean salad. I like the set up...place your meat order with the first person you meet, they plate it (or more accurately "tray" it) and send you on to the person who plates your sides, then on to the cash register and any add ons...bourbon vanilla caramel shake, anyone? When it's busy, however, this process can take a few minutes, and the meat was cold by the time I got to the table. That's my only complaint, and I prefer barbecue a touch under temperature to reheated meat any day, so it's a small one. I really like these ribs. They're meaty and nicely smoked, and whatever rub they use is slight. They also let you sauce them yourself, which I really appreciate. The coffee sauce worked well with the ribs, as it did for the pulled pork, which was equally delicious. The only other sauce I liked was the sweet sauce; the hot one didn't taste great to me, and wasn't spicy either. The sides were very good and thoughtfully prepared. There's some good cooking going on here as well as some nicely smoked meats. I'll definitely be back.
(4)J K.
Pulled pork is excellent, very moist and flavorful. Try the fried artichokes as an appetizer, they are really well prepared. We also tried the potato salad and baked beans. They were both very good. I will skip the fried potatoes the next time, fairly forgettable The bacon favored apple pie was fantastic!
(4)Gene S.
WTF!!!! SugarFire? Are you expanding too quickly? I stopped by yesterday to pick up some brisket to go and didn't see either of the guys behind the counter I normally see. With two new locations, maybe they are one of them instead. I am not going for the people, so that wasn't an issue. What was the issue however, is that the brisket was awful. Really fatty, not much flavor, and no pink smoke ring. The person cutting the meat was all over the place with thin cuts, and thick cuts, and in the 2 pounds of meat, I bet there was at least 8oz. of fat. I am telling you right now, this is not the same place I went to when I raved about it in my original review. The meat is different and not good. In the off chance it was an off day, I might try again., If it is the same way again as it was yesterday. I'll go to Bandana's before I come back here again. I am so disappointed.
(2)Mark S.
Holy fuck this place is good! The piggy po boy was the best BBQ sandwich I've ever eaten. If you like BBQ you'll love this place!!
(5)Jeffrey Z.
Ok... Please do you self a flavor and check this place out. The brisket was cut thick but had excellent flavor, the side dishes could be a meal of its own, and the soda was delicious. That was the good part, the coffee BBQ sauce was out of this world. I could have drank it, and yes, if I was local, I would stock my fridge up with it. Their sauces are spot on. Glad I found it, will be back next time I visit the Lou. If your wondering if you should check it out... The answer is obvious, why are you still reading... You should be in your car heading their direction.
(5)Kathy K.
Wow. Wow. Wow! These guys know comfort food!! This place drove my vegetarian ways to open a gastro fest (meat does not agree with my insides)! We saw the "war pig" in another review and requested it. They said it may have been a former special. We showed them a picture and they fixed us right up, no questions asked! Rib meat on the bottom, mac'n cheese in the middle. Topped off with brisket, sour cream and the best BBQ bacon bits I have ever put in my mouth! My hubby and I split it and still took home about 6 oz. While the meat stands on its own with wonderful flavors, you must try the multiple sauces. Very unique and tasty. A kale salad caught my eye and I could not insult my poor stomach any further without trying it. It is a Caesar salad with a very nice dressing that stands tall against the mighty kale leaves. Very tasty. Next time I return, I am going to try the Portabello sandwich. Sounds yummy ! I am sure my stomach will regret my choices, but I will remember the oh so brief moment of culinary pleasure!
(5)Christie S.
Let me just preempt this by saying, I am not a BBQ fan. I know, I know...I'm a bad American and all that...but it's just not my thing. That being said, if I have to eat BBQ, I want it to be at SugarFire Smoke House. There's one reason for that. The Brisket! Oh my Loooord, I would do bad, bad things just for the bark on the outside of that brisket, alone! It's so savory and delicious. The meat, itself, is ridiculously tender and flavorful as well. The sides were pretty good too, although, they change daily and we didn't happen to visit on a particularly creative day compared to some of the other reviews I read. I went for the hand-cut fries based on pictures I saw here, but they must have changed them because I received skinny little shoestring fries instead of the heartier fries I saw in the pictures. Still good, but I wanted the thicker version. The coleslaw was pretty normal. A real shocker was how much I enjoyed the red beans and rice that my dining companion got. They were out of brisket chili (it was crossed off from the day's specials), but I assume that would have been delicious. They have a TON of sauces on the tables. I found that different tables had different sauces from people grabbing them and not replacing them. Luckily, we were there around 5 pm and it wasn't crowded yet so we went around and grabbed them all to try. My favorites were the hot BBQ (spicy, but still flavorful) and the real kicker - the white BBQ sauce. Well, this is basically the best tasting french fry dipping sauce known to man. I'm sure it would be good on anything, though. Finally, the crack pie was all it was promised to be. I think I could feel cavities forming as we ate it, but I ignored that nonsense! I will be back, surprisingly, to try a burger. I saw a few of those monsters heading to tables and they were like magazine picture beautiful.
(4)Michael W.
Great place to get St. Louis style BBQ, came here for dinner and ordered 1/2 rack rib combo with two sides (jambalaya and mac and cheese) and a soda. I was stuffed afterwards and I have never had such good ribs. So much that I brought a full rack home to Michigan. It is also cool they have their own brand soda as well.
(5)Annica T.
This is a BBQ joint, and they do BBQ justice! Them sides, however...hit or miss. As of late, the place has been packed, which has always been a good sign, and there is plenty of deliciousness to view as you move down the cafeteria-style line. I've been going since last year, and I'll be back, for sure. Baby back ribs: I usually get the half order, which is plenty filling with smoky, rubbed, pluck-off-the-bone meat. Not greasy or dry at all, but tender and flavorful. Comes wrapped in plastic wrap and foil (to-go) to keep the moisture in. Chicken Biscuit: Soft, buttery biscuit holding a tasty fried chicken thigh. This is a dense sammich that is slightly sweet. Brisket: Very, very good. It is easy to come across tough, dry brisket, but not here. Juicy and delicious. Add some of their BBQ sauce (take your pick of several) and lick your plate/finger/lips clean. Smoked turkey: This bird is smoking! Pretty good turkey, here. I have had it kinda dry and bland once before, but the other times have all been well-spiced and moist. My recommendation for one of their many BBQ sauces: Coffee, all the way. So, the sides. They've got the expected staples and then their own signature recipes, and I tend to go for the latter. They have either been really great and unique...or just great-sounding and blah. I hear you, "Who cares about the sides....it's a BBQ place...". At the same time, the platters come with 2 sides, which is half of what you pay for. I've tried quite a few: Arugula-Watermelon-Feta salad: Totally unexpected from a BBQ spot, but makes perfect sense as an alternative to the usual, mayo-packed sides. The lightness of this side is refreshing to go with the heaviness of your chosen meat. Sweet melon + salty feta + tender spicy arugula = perfect combo. I could eat this alone. A fave! Green chili stew: smoky, spicy Latin-inspired stew with potatoes and meat. Full of flavor - cumin & pepper headline. Very good as a soup on the side. Squash medley: These veggies were mushy, bland, and bitter. Didn't like this one. Rack & cheese: Ugh, ewl! Had this last night for the first time, never again. The noodles were complete mush, the "cheese" was barely there, and out of my and my guy's serving, there was only about 4 thin pieces of meat. I'd rather have just plain mac n' cheese done the right way. Baked beans: Nothing special, beans and sauce, not sweet, little salt. Potatoes au gratin: Meh. I came across potatoes that weren't done. And that is exactly what you don't want out of au gratin potatoes. Fried okra: Exactly what it sounds like, done well. Crispy and seasoned, not mushy or slimy at all. Candied Sweet Potatoes: Nope. These were not candied by definition, but rather seemed to be baked sweet potato cubes that were shrunken & tough w/the moisture sucked out of them, then lightly tossed in syrup and sprinkled w/pecans. Desserts I've tried: Crack Pie: SWEET. Sweet-tooths out there, I dare you to finish a slice of this in one sitting. It is very good, kinda like a dark gooey butter cake. Loads of sugar and butter. (They have other pies in rotation at all times, too.) Smoked Chocolate Chip Cookie: A crispy cookie that has been in the smoker to add another layer to the chocolatey goodness. Addictive!
(4)Stuart K.
If you judge a BBQ restaurant by the gold standards in the metro area, Sugarfire is not up their with the heavenly duo of Pappa's and Bogart's, but they are damn close. I finally proved St. Louisan, Yogi Berra who was quoted in a review of a restaurant, "No one goes there because it is too crowded," That is the way my visit to Sugarfire has been happening for the past two years or so. There is nothing that I love more than smoked brisket and great fresh smoked sausage that was made the day it is served and not held in a warmer for day after day (read, bandara's et. al.) We found Sugarfire had room on it's parking lot yesterday at 13:00 a bit late for lunch, but heck it was Sunday. Physically a small restaurant, at least as much seating on their patio where the realitivily small smoker sits. I wish I were there when it was cranked up. The brisket is truly well smoked, and tender. The meat is not sauced, leaving the variety and amount to put on up to the diners preference. The 5 or 6 sauces they offer in squeeze bottles on the table run the gamut from the Carolina's to St. Louis sweet and were great. Service is cafeteria style, with a separate line for take outs and call in's. Even if you are stuck at the door, the restaurant reassuringly tells you that the wait is only 15 minutes. Tables turn quickly thanks to an efficient and pleasant bussing crew. All of t he crew are clean and super friendly, no prison tat's, and wondering what beside Q you are getting with your meal. The only downside, is personal preference. Having lived in Texas for 10 years, I judge smokes sausage to the Chappell Hill Standard. Chappell Hill's smoke house is the top in Texas and if you are going between Austin and Houston, the stop on Hi. 290 is worth it to stock up. When my son was stationed in Kuwait with the Army, 40 lbs. of the dry smoked links got shipped bi-monthly. The sides are above average, and the restaurant was remarkably clean for as busy as they were. Would I go again? If they are open tonight I will let you know.
(4)Peter N.
You must try the Ribs and House Special Sausage! The ribs were perfect best I ever had and I'm from Texas so I take BBQ seriously and this is by far an amazing experience. Words can not describe the ribs and sausage. I love all the special sauce choices on the table.
(5)Daniel C.
This place is alright if you want a really good burger and fries to go. The BBQ is ok, but it doesn't seem like they smoke their meats long enough and the flavor is good, but pretty average. I know this place has been featured on television, but I can assure everyone they can find much better ribs in STL.
(3)Kristin P.
This was my first time here and I could not be happier! Everything was delicious and the portions were big. I got the pulled pork, jambalaya, and mac n cheese. The atmosphere is so awesome!
(5)David P.
Definitely a hidden gem for bbq in the St. Louis area. I have lived nearby Sugarfire for about a couple of years and didn't even noticed that the place existed until a friend told me about it. I checked it out last week with a couple of friends for lunch and I have been back within the month for lunch. I am big on bbq and this place takes the cake as the best in St. Louis in my opinion. Yes, better than the Shaved Duck, better than Papa's. I know that is saying a lot because these are popular places in the 314 but to me it is all about taste and tenderness and execution and sides, especially sides. On my first trip I managed to get the special of the day which was a pulled pork sandwich with onions and pickles and a side of rice broccoli. The sandwich was overflowing with tender juicy bbq meat that I couldn't even finish. It provided dinner for me later that night. My buddies got the Big Muddy which is pulled pork with sausage and a house sauce over running the sandwich roll with abundance of crazy good taste. The sausage was out of this world, nothing like I ever had from a bbq joint. We also tried the slaw and mac and cheese. The sides were decent and daily prepared from scratch but the bbq was the seller. We even split a half rack of ribs. The ribs were not fatty but super lean which is a plus in my book. That means they weren't technically fall off the bone but juicy and semi healthy if you look at it in a way. I enjoyed them but more or less I am a pulled pork beef brisket kind of guy. From the friendly cooks to the cashiers which looks to be family owned and ran, to the unorthodox soda choices to the pure H20 that you can get at the cashier counter for a beverage, I would say I am sold for future visits and would bring the family. P.s. Their spicy bbq sauce is really not that spicy. That would be the only negative thing about the Sugarfire. I like spicy but I am okay any day of the week with mild. dp
(5)Donna T.
Best Brisket in town!. Potato salad just like Mom's. French fries were good. Baked Beans were outstanding. Sauces were different and good. One other surprise was the Soda made with came sugar. Forgot the brand but really nice. Like the serving trays.
(5)Mandi L.
EAT HERE AS SOON AS YOU CAN! Phenom BBQ and awesome atmosphere. Cafeteria style so might help to look at the menu online before you go. Line is probably going to be out the door but it's fast moving so don't get nervous. I got the pulled pork sandwich with potato salad. Great favor and texture to the pulled pork. I loved all the sauces too (on the table). The guy next to me got a quesadilla and it looked bomb. I'm going to try it next time for sure. Don't ask me to compare them to Pappy's. I've tried and I just....can't. I love them both and I think that's ok.
(5)Garet E.
Forget the Arch, the zoo, and the Cardinals. If you come to STL, there is only one place to visit...Sugarfire! By far the best bbq around.
(5)Lisa H.
I went back and tried the turkey sandwich. It was really good! Definitely better trying it the second time. I recommend the turkey and my counterpart still recommends the brisket!
(5)Dustin O.
I finally got around to trying SugarFire. Its not exactly close to anywhere I visit on a regular occasion, but it was definitely worth the drive. We got there around 11:30, and there was a line out the door. However, that wasn't realy anything of concern, because it only took about 10 minutes or so to order. That seems more than fair, because anytime you sit down and order lunch it would take that long if not longer. My first moment of happiness is when I got to the soda fountain, and I notice it is all natural cane sugar sodas. Including one of my all time favorites, Ski! I really liked how you got that early in line, so you could quench your thirst while standing there. Very smart move. I ordered the brisket, and my co-worker ordered the pulled pork. Both in the sandwich variety. We both really enjoyed the flavor of the meat. The sauce however, was slightly a let down, when something is labelled as texas spicy, and it was about as tame as a fluffy kitten. The sauce didn't have a bad flavor, it was just lacking the kick I desired. As for sides, I choose the home cut fries, which are basically identical to what I make at home, so that was good, and my co-worker chose the jumbalaya. She said it was a bit dry, but the flavor was excellent. She lived down in New Orleans for quite some time, so she's my cajun expert. We also tried chicken fried bacon. Save the $1.50 and put it towards something else. It was rather bland. Finally comes the dessert course, which is typically my favorite part of any meal. I chose the smoked chooclate chip cookie. I was concerned that this might be the best or the worst thing I've had in a while. Luckily for me, it was one of the best. Smoking chocolate seems like something very weird, but it turned out to be an absolute delight. The co-worker opted for the key lime pie. She was very pleased with everything in regards to it. She got the last piece they had for the day, so we felt very lucky. All in all, it was a rather delightful lunch, but it cannot be something I frequent, only because my meal was about 12 dollars, and my co-workers was closer to 17. That's a bit high for us, but its definitely a nice once and a while treat. Will be back! Thanks SugarFire for bringing some more quality BBQ to St. Louis.
(4)Lauren S.
Let me start by saying I am not a die-hard BBQ fan--so that may skew my review. I arrived at Sugar Fire at 11:05am on a Friday and the line was to the door. I thought I was going to be one of the first ones in line as I sat in my car for a few minutes--without realizing you can line up inside. The line moved quickly however and I was at the counter to order within about 15 minutes. I had the 6oz pulled pork sandwich and fries. This was a generous portion and I ended up taking off the bun because it was so filling. I used the Texas Hot sauce on my pork which was VERY good. Not too hot but a good tang. I used the sweet sauce for my fries. The fries were just OK, I was excited to try the Mac & Cheese everyone raves about, but it was not on the menu that day. We were lucky to find two seats at one of the long tables inside. I would definitely go back to Sugar Fire and would like to try more items. Price is reasonable. What I liked the best was the ambiance. Very cool to see employees carrying trays of MASSIVE racks of ribs right through the restaurant into the kitchen. They certainly take pride in their food.
(4)The K.
We decided to try out Sugarfire on a recent visit to St. Louis. Successful BBQ joints tend to follow a certain formula: 1) Excel on at least one form of BBQ be it pulled pork, brisket, or ribs 2) Excel on a certain schtick (e.g. long cafeteria-like lines and festive atmosphere). 3) Have excellent sauces or sides. Most items here are reasonably priced. Having in-house soda is an interesting choice. While tasty, the baby back ribs were a bit dry as was the brisket. French fries were also just ok. The sauces were very nice and improved the experience overall. The cafeteria line-up was fine although I sensed a little selective faux-friendliness from the main guy serving up the meat. For the formula it follows, Sugarfire delivers by most accounts although it could certainly aspire for more than it achieves.
(3)Lewis C.
Absolutely amazing BBQ! This is, by a distant lead, the best BBQ I have had since moving to St. Louis! The reason I downgraded the rating is that the brisket was at least 1/4 fat that had to be trimmed before being enjoyed. It was cooked to perfection, nonetheless. We enjoyed the brisket, turkey and delicious house recipe sausage (yum!). Sides included the fries and Mac and cheese with brisket - both were fantastic! The sauces were excellent, I enjoyed the mustard and spicy. I can't wait for our next trip :)
(4)David W.
Came back to this place during lunch instead of around 8pmish, not going to lie, it really did hit the house. This time we came with a lot of ppl so we got to order most everything. My personal favorite was the brisket cheddar, but everything else was also quite good so don't be afraid to try anything! Sides were still very good and the ribs weren't mediocre (not hot / kinda hard) like last time, but instead was soft and good. Texas BBQ sauce was my favorite too
(5)Janice C.
The best no matter where we go we always compare whoever to Sugarfire. Still trying to sample the menu, but the best is the brisket and ribs. Beans are tasty too. If you have any other option than Sugarfire, don't... turn around and go back, no one else is worthy.
(5)Desiree S.
Sweet mercy, SugarFire has some amazing food! Finally tried them after having driven by several times and having their food recommended by friends. Here are my thoughts regarding the various items I tried. Pork Belly Hushpuppies with Jalapeno Jelly: I could seriously sit at a table and eat approximately 100 of these. I'm from Louisiana so hushpuppies are a longtime favorite of mine, but these are probably some of the best hushpuppies I've ever had. The pork belly is subtle, and the hushpuppies combined with the jalapeno jelly are heavenly. The jelly is tangy and sweet, and combined with the slight salty crunch of the hushpuppies you couldn't ask for a tastier app. Pulled pork sandwich: Be warned, this is an enormous sandwich (which is definitely a good thing). I decided to get rid of the top of my bun and eat it as an open-faced sandwich with a fork. Why fill up on extra bread when I have so much amazingly tasty pork to consume? The pulled pork was tender and moist, with a slightly smokey flavor. Combined with the sauces it was perfect. Bun is toasted with a little bit of butter, providing that extra crunch that goes so well with the soft meat. House made fries: Not too thick, not too skinny. Expertly fried to be both crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I confess, I dipped them in the remainder of the jalapeno jelly. The sauces: I enjoyed all of the sauces, but settled finally on the sweet combined with the mustard. Give it a shot. Regarding service: All of the folks in the service line were nice (though quite busy) and courteous. This is a super popular joint, so be prepared to stand in line and maybe stand around waiting for a table to open up. It's loud and crowded, but so worth it for the food. While you're eating all of these sumptuous items the atmosphere kind of fades into the background anyway. Just focus on the food :)
(5)Michele B.
Ssh...don't tell my Jewish grandmother, but SugarFire makes a better brisket than even she does. I didn't think it was possible, but it's true. It's amazingly good. The daily specials are awesome, but it's sometimes disappointing when you've had something super delicious (like the barley salad) and don't see it again for a while. Oh, and the fried artichokes? To die for. I recommend coming in at off hours during the winter, as the line goes out the door, and people hold the door open, which lets icy blasts of air hit the tables all down the line. I went for lunch on a Friday, and there was already a line at 10:45 am (the place opens at 11). We got a table near the door, ate with our coats on, and didn't really care that much.
(5)Mary M.
2 enthusiastic thumbs up! Great place Fast service One thing I didn't like was the tables where to close together
(4)Daniel F.
Wanted to try some good BBQ and got that and more... Was visiting my sister in St. Louis and asked for some good BBQ. Had names of different places but my sister recommended this place. Line was to the door though moved fast. With the cook's recommendation, I tried and thoroughly enjoyed the Brisket. Definitely looking forward to coming back on my next visit.
(5)Sarah B.
When I first started going there the meat was tender and had a very good favor. I recently got some for my lunch last week and ordered the baby backs. They were dry and and didn't have the orginial favor. I was told you have to get the early lunch, because the evening is left over from the earlier shift. I won't say I will not go back, but if I do and get a bad patch I will defintely say something.
(3)Emily B.
one word needed to describe this place: AAAAAAMAZING. I had the burger, fries, and a side of Mac n cheese. SO GOOD! my boyfriend had the brisket and spicy oriental like greenbeans (supposedly they're kind of different everyday). SO GOOD! I'm also pretty sure there is crack in the crack pie..it was addicting and so tasty!
(5)Jeff K.
Very good BBQ, portions for combo were small but very tasty. Smoked turkey really good, ribs are NOT fall off bone type. Nice outdoor seating area and friendly staff. Desserts good and their sweet BBQ sauce is very good
(4)John D.
I lived in St. Louis for 5 months and this is by far the best place I ate when there. If I didn't live 8 hours away I would be a consistent customer, and honestly, it would be worth it if I made the 16 hour round trip just to eat there. They have a great atmosphere, original decorations but most of all their food is great. Get a fried egg on your sandwich, it's amazing! Pappy's is probable more well known but if you're from out of town do not pass up on this great opportunity.
(5)Cheryl K.
SugarFire Smoke House is the "bomb.com"!! I have been salivating over all the review for several months now and tonight I finally drove over to have me some BBQ. Walking in, I could immediately tell that I was going to be happy. You wind your way down an aisle and around the corner to the drink area and then over the counter line to place your order. The menu has a lot of tempting options. I decided to go with 4 bones and 1 side $7.50 - bargain!!! These are not puny meatless bones - these are nice sized ribs with a nice coating of caramelized rub on them. As for the side... what is a girl to do?? I told one of the guys behind the counter it was my first time in, and asked which side is the best, BBQ beans, tater tot casserole, or fries. He said, I'll tell you what we'll do half beans, half fries for you. SCORE - that is a win win - I got to sample both. In the process of getting my order ready, the 1st guy got busy so another guy steps in and asks me what I was going to have - I explained what the 1st guy offered so he scooped up some BBQ beans and then green beans. I didn't care - I wasn't going to say no, I want the fries. It was nice they offered to split the side anyway. But, then the 1st guys sees my tray and was like, you wanted fries, right? I said, no that's ok. I'm fine - he refused and gave me a little pile of fries too. Obviously, I thank them for being so kind and of course, I'm thinking this is a GREAT spot. ... Remember $7.50 plus tax - SCORE Now for the best part.....it was absolutely BBQlicious !!! The fries are perfect - matchbook then and crisp with great seasoning, the BBQ beans are hearty made with 3 or 4 types of beans. The green beans were a total bonus - well flavored and al dente. - The RIBS - NOM NOM NOM - super flavorful - tender - moist - great rub ....sauce is not needed, but I did try the Sweet and 47 sauces... 47 was my fav! SugarFire - you are my new best BBQ friend! Looking forward to our next visit.
(5)Tyler C.
Being used to KC style BBQ this was a nice change of pace. Had the hot links and pulled pork combo plate it was great. Sides I had were red beans and rice with Cole slaw. Went about 12:45 and place was packed. They open at 11a till they sell out. The staff was super friendly and just great overall experience. Would definitely be going back
(4)Shelly N.
I don't want to tell you that this is the best brisket you have ever put in your mouth. I don't want to tell you that even though I rarely eat sausage that it is SO good here. I don't' want to tell you how awesome their ever inventive sides are and the awesome sauces with so many flavors! Because then you will go there and I won't be able to get a table.
(5)Sandy M.
I highly recommend strolling in around 3 if you can. All the meaty goodness, none of the wait! I had the brisket with a side of beef stew cuz that's how I roll.. both were delicious. I ended up tossing my extra brisket into the stew to eat later because I couldn't finish it. It's definitely a funky setup but once you get used to it and settle in for a plate-o-beef, you'll be happy you did. Get creative and try all of the sauces, there's a wide variety of flavors waiting!
(4)Lisa B.
I am pretty tough on my reviews and food in Saint Louis has been a trial for us as we travel to find great places to eat. Sugarfire is one of them. We ended up there after a day of checking out the city because of a friend directing to Sugarfire. We had no idea what to expect. First there was a long line and it moved swiftly. You better know what you want because there is not a lot of time to decide once you face the cafeteria like window. I choose the brisket sandwich and FF, friends I was with got the same and ribs. We were in LOVE from first bite. Great food, the meat melted off the bone. The french fries were shoe string but honestly the best I've ever had. There are over 10 different sauces and my favorite ended up being coffee. Okay and you have to try the pie, I had Pecan WOW! If you are used to fine dining and sitting at a table and being served... get over it. Sugarfire is worth it all, even if you have to carry out! Oh and the price.. incredible.
(5)Michael L.
Not sure why this place gets good reviews -- I've eaten here on three separate occasion with different friends and none of us have liked it. Poor quality of flavor and service -- sorry but I've tried but it just doesn't do it for me or my friends.
(1)Jacqui C.
Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! I have had the beef brisket, pulled pork, Cracker Jack salad, mac-n-cheese and the fried chicken. Delicious! The brisket is just about as tender as brisket can be. I've had none better, any where, ever! The pulled pork was kind of peppery and I couldn't get enough of it. The Cracker Jack salad is perfect if you want a little sweet treat with your lettuce, rather than a crouton. Definitely a unique combination. The mac-n-cheese, is super cheesy and not something I like to share. Nope! I want it all for myself. I am not a huge fan of the fried chicken and that's the only reason I gave 4 stars. The chicken was cooked perfectly, but the batter made me :-? There are 5 or 6 BBQ sauces to choose from. My personal favorites are the sweet and the white. Yep, white BBQ sauce. Who knew? I haven't tried it, but have heard the cracked pie is too die for. That's my sweet treat for the next visit.
(4)Beth J.
I almost never give 5 stars to any place but Sugarfire earned every single one. I've been here numerous times since it opened and every time the food has been excellent. The brisket is the best I have ever had in my entire life. I will never go back to Bandanas dry tough meat after eating Sugarfire. The brisket melts in you mouth and has a wonderful flavorful char on the outside. It doesn't need sauce but I love to add the sweet sauce to it. If you are a fan of cookie cutter chains this might not be a good place for you because Sugarfire is unique and has specials, sides, and sauces that change daily and seasonally. The soda is even different! Better than coke or Pepsi the Lucky cola is fantastic. And if it throws you off that the machine is at the front of the line not to worry because there is a second one at the end by the sauces. Desserts: epic! Crack pie or mud pie or any other delectable treat you won't be disappointed. My only wish is that they had more for kids. My toddler won't eat anything here unless it's a day that Mac and cheese is on the menu. How about adding a regular hot dog or grilled cheese to the menu?
(5)Tracey W.
By now you've heard the glowing reviews for this new BBQ place on the outskirts of St. Louis. Regardless of what I say, you should probably just go try it for yourself. I'm not a certified BBQ judge. I'm not a five-time grand master champion pitmaster. I'm just a fat fucking bitch who likes to eat, eats a lot, and likes almost everything I eat. I especially love local places, I especially love BBQ, and I want to see these guys succeed. On my second trip, the food was better than my first disappointing experience. The bun for my pulled pork sandwich was buttered, but the meat was the same consistency as last time, and room temperature. The meat was pretty flavorless. I had the opportunity to try more sauces this time and was really impressed. Some of them weren't labeled, which irritates me because it will make it harder to recommend them to you, but there was one that was slightly chunky/thick, slightly sweet. It was great. I also liked the one labeled "sweet". Good job one the sauces, guys. The side I got was fricking awesome. It was loaded potato salad. Standard loaded potato salad, but it was fricking good. There was a WHOLE potato in it, though (meaning a whole potato that had not been cut up at all). Not a huge deal, but I'm just saying. One and a half whole potatoes, actually. People who think this restaurant walks on water and can do no wrong, please understand that it IS possible that someone had a less-than-stellar experience because all restaurants make mistakes, even this one. I still don't like the layout of this place, and I don't like that their giant Alice-in-Wonderland furniture is so close together. I saw they have a soda fountain at the end of the line now. Not sure if that is new, or if I just didn't see it last time. It is behind a wall... I tried a fountain soda this time and it was incredible. I'm not a cane sugar soda fan, but DAMN that cola was good. Seriously. Then again, my Type II Diabetes has been leaving me super dehydrated, so good thing I had endless refills of soda to help me out. :)))) I'm getting a little sick of the hate I've received for not rating this place 5 stars. It is NOT my fault for going late in the day (went for lunch the second time). If you are a restaurant that is open and serving food, it should be quality food. Don't expect me to give you a 5-star review if you serve 2-star food after 2 PM. The whole BBQ excuse is not good enough. That's why a lot of good BBQ places close so early. If you're gonna stay open, put out your best shit. If you can't, close. Simple as that. Don't blame me for coming in the afternoon or evening. You're open and charging me money for your food. Also sick of all the rebuttals from self-proclaimed BBQ experts. Saying you are a BBQ judge is like telling me you went to University of Phoenix and majored in BBQ. Just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean I don't have taste buds. Lame. I wish I didn't have taste buds. Then maybe I wouldn't weigh 300 pounds. Luckily for my taste buds though, the food was decent this time. Still didn't like the vibe, though. No smiles or pleasantries from the staff. I left this place depressed. Likely won't return.
(3)Priya G.
Best BBQ in St. Louis! You know the food is good when there is always a line out the door. But don't let that stop you, because you won't wait longer than 15 minutes in their cafeteria -style serving line. It's fast, affordable and oh so delicious! Highly recommend the hand cut brisket! And their desserts are a hidden gem. A slice of their incredible pie is defiantly worth a try!
(5)Jon T.
I have been to Sugar fire three times now for lunch and continue to enjoy the place, both the food and the feel of the place. On my two recent visits I had a brisket sandwich and a pulled pork sandwich. Both were very good. Both meats were well cooked, smoky and not dried out. I love the way the guy reaches into the hot pork shoulder and pulls out a handful and stacks it on your platter or bun. The first time, I wished for collards and on one recent visit they had them, but I did not see them in time. My dining partner ordered them but we were disappointed because they were sweet. I don't get the sweet thing in collards. It is not common, fortunately. On the other hand, the first time, I skipped slaw based on appearances. It was creamy and looked overdressed. I just assumed it would be very sweet. I was wrong. It has a very nice vinegar component in the dressing and is now what I get every time. I don't mind a little sweetness in slaw, but tanginess is an important flavor to keep it from being flat and boring. It is surprising to find a creamy slaw that has this much vinegar. I like it a lot. Sugar Fire remains a very good barbecue choice for St Louis. I continue to broadcast my belief that there is not a St Louis style of barbecue. The meats that I have had here (brisket, pulled pork and ribs) are well prepared, but could not be identified as something unique to St Louis. Also, when you see a six-pack of sauces on the table, you know there is no truly local style. Nevertheless, Sugar Fire has raised the bar a little in St Louis.
(4)Scott J.
Another excellent BBQ joint in STL. Reasonably priced, perfectly cooked, and plentiful portions. It's popularity leads to long lines, but the place runs like a well oiled machine so the wait time is minimal. The limited seating is somewhat of a problem though so if you're going at peak times you might want to get it to go, especially if the patio is closed. Get the baby back ribs, you won't regret it.
(5)William H.
Wow..painful. Heard so many good things about this location and was thinking id be leaving with a massive smile. Alas no luck. Meat room temp (good size serving though) sides? I went beans (room temp but served with meat :)) and fries..not served with meal..but I finally did get them..after I had finished my meal. Service? Prompt but i did not see a smile among the 7 people behind the counter. Disappointing but perhaps you will have better luck
(3)Michelle L.
Food was okay, but nothing compared to Bogarts. The staff seemed overwhelmed and one girl was rude when I asked a question about the menu. The outside patio is very enjoyable.
(3)Lena A.
I'm sorry I tried to like the items but the veggie item was not good, the salmon was good and turkey was ok. The desert was not good and the potato salad was not. I've never or rarely wrote a bad review but I came based on the reviews and I was not happy.
(1)AJ M.
On my trip to stl everyone told me to try BBQ and the place to go is pappys. Unfortunately pappys was closed or sold out every time. No worries heard sugar fire is just as good! Came here and there was a line out the door. I got the pork ribs, they were not fall off the bone and were kinda cold. The brisket and sides were the star of the show. I personally loved the sausage Mac n cheese and loaded potatoe salad. There are so many sauces which is good none were as spicy as I would have liked. Coming from Chicago there aren't many places like this so I fell in love. A little pricey and heavy but good every once in a while and a must for tourists. Only issue it's like a 20 min drive from downtown stl. Don't know if its better then pappys but pretty darn good!
(5)Doug E.
Overrated. It was good, but the bbq was cold, the sides were mediocre, and it was just kind of underwhelming with all the hype.
(3)Mel A.
As far as the meat goes, winner! I have only been here once but was immediately impressed by how tasty their barbecues are. I tried their brisket and wow! I would have to say, that was probably the best tasting brisket I have had so far. I got the 8 oz portion with 2 sides. I ended up picking some slaw which was pretty much bland though at first sight, it looked creamy and delicious, and I had another side that was actually good. I don't know what it was called, it looked good and I asked the guy what it was called but he was soft-spoken and it was too loud to hear so I went with my instinct and told him to put some on my tray. The tray -- so, I found that very interesting. They serve your food on a metal tray lined with brown liner paper. It was a surprise to me when they cut up the brisket and placed it right into the tray without any plates. As for the sides, they do put them in containers before putting them into the tray. It does get very busy and I can see why so if you are planning on eating in there, you might have to share the table with other people. It's also pretty noisy but overall, I am giving their meat a 5-star just because they make really good barbecue meat! The sauces were okay, wasn't too impressed with any of them but luckily I didn't think I needed any except to try them out. I think I might come here another time soon and get a to go order of meats and go home and make my own sides. It would make for a great meal!
(5)Sarah S.
So. Good. So so good! I ordered the turkey with fries and baked beans. The turkey was delicious, there were a ton of fries, and they mix black beans in with their baked beans! I also tasted my friend's mac & cheese, and get this....it has brisket in it! Not sure if I said this yet, but SO GOOD! They also have a nice selection of sauces and have only locally made soda. No Coke or Pepsi here! I didn't get any pie on this visit but I can't wait to go back to give it a try. Definitely check this place out!
(5)Josh M.
Completely amazing! I recommend the Big Muddy. Awesome way to try a few of the meats. I will definitely go again!
(5)Nick T.
Great place for BBQ! I loved the different sauces (white BBQ and Carolina mustard especially). I had smoked turkey and brisket with baked beans and potato salad and a fried artichoke appetizer. The turkey, beans, and artichoke hearts were all great. I was a little disappointed in the brisket it was dry and and tasted like it had been sitting out for a while. The potato salad was pretty basic. Overall, it was a good experience. I will probably try something else next time.
(4)Dan L.
Was in St. Louis over the weekend and wanted to sample some St. Louis BBQ. Even though it was 3pm, Sugarfire was busy so I could tell it's a popular place. We had the Meat Daddy which is a platter of their 5 main BBQ meats - Turkey, Ribs, Brisket, Pulled Pork and spicy sausage, which also came with 2 sides. It was a lot of food and more than enough for 2, or even 3 people. Our sides were potato salad, which was very good and Mac n cheese which was excellent. Very creamy, tasty and soft. As for meats, I loved the Beef Brisket. By far, that's the best meat at Sugarfire and I think the reason this place is popular. The pulled pork was ok. It was kind of dry and not that tasty. It requires a lot of BBQ sauce. I'm not much of a sausage person, but if you are, you might like the sausages here which have cheese and are spicy. The turkey meat was tender and well made. Ribs were pretty good but could have been meatier. The meats were a little too salty. I think they could use less salt and it would be just as tasty. All in all, it was a pretty good meal.
(4)April M.
Best BBQ in STL, best burgers in STL, best pies/pastries at Sugarfire Pie next door. Done and done, nothing else to say!! I'll be a customer forever! Best sides: spare rib mac n' cheese, okra, crazy corn Best bbq sauce: white sauce-- unreal!! Best desserts: oatmeal cream pies, handpies
(5)Jeff W.
As I mentioned in my previous review I would return and give this place another shot and I am glad I did. I went early on a week day and still had to wait in line for a while and 'fight' for a place to sit. Like I mentioned before, this place gets packed! I tried the special which was a buffalo pulled rib meat sandwich with a side of fries. This was not only a unique sandwich (buffalo wing sauce cooked into the meat and topped with blue cheese coleslaw) but awesome at the same time. The fries were good as well but the sandwich is something I recommend any BBQ lover try. After visiting this location twice (and trying to get in several other times) it is safe to say this location needs a larger space to accommodate their legions of fans.
(4)Kevin S.
Went at high noon on a workday before we headed to the airport. Waited 45 minutes for some of the very BEST BBQ we have ever had. I had the 8 oz brisket sandwich, loaded tater tots and jambalaya. Brisket was tender, juicy, tasteful and plentiful. Tater tots were ok but the jambalaya was delicious!! Wife had the smoked turkey sandwich that was very moist with a wonderful light smoked flavor. Daughter-in-law had the pulled pork sandwich, loaded tater tots and beans. Very tasty pork! This coming from someone who has eaten plenty of pork of the past 20 years in NC. The beans, mixed variety, were seasoned nicely. Could have cooked them a few minutes longer though. If you go at lunch expect to wait and share a bench table with other patrons. I do not recommend taking a toddler as there is no kids menu nor a place for them to sit. We will be back the next time we are in St Louis!
(5)Harper Z.
Here in St. Louis we take our bbq seriously, but so often it feels like some places are doing the same thing with no imagination. Not so at SugarFire. I finally visited after drooling over SugarFire's social media account for weeks. Some serious food torture going on in the Twitter universe. Please don't stop. Bring at least one other dining companion so you can sample other people's orders. I brought 4. Food: We collectively ordered the Bid Muddy, the Carolina, Smoked Turkey Platter, baked beans, coleslaw, kale salad, potato salad, and the daily special of crab corn . See this is why you bring friends! It was all good. The Big Muddy is a carefully crafted mess no one should take on while wearing their Sunday finest. Actually you will most likely leave wearing something on your clothes but it will all be worth it. Everyone loved what they ordered and vowed to return as soon as possible. Oh and I almost forgot the smoked chocolate chip cookie. I have been searching for the best chocolate chip cookie for years and this one ranks near the top. Crunchy edges and a gooey center. Sweet and salty refection for a $1. Next time I will be buying more than one for later, not to eat immediately in my car..... In summation make the SHORT trek out of the city and eat at SugarFire. There may be a line but it moves quickly. Follow them on social media in order to torture yourself over their inventive specials and the seasonal sides. I'll probably be there this weekend. Getting carryout and eating cookies in my car. You don't have to say hello but you will soon know exactly what I'm going through.
(5)Nathaniel C.
I have been a customer of Sugarfire for about two years. Every time I got food, I was amazed at the creativity and the love of the experience. The wait for the food is nothing in comparison to the taste, the staff, and the environment of the establishment. I love the laid back environment. The signage is witty, and if you don't chuckle at least once going through, then you have no sense of humor. About 4 months ago I was hired on to work for them. I will say that I was worried to work for a company of which I held in such high regard. I can say that it is just as good of a place to work as it is to dine in. It's friendly, welcoming, and all around a fun place to work and be a patron. I will forever have a place in my heart for Sugarfire.
(5)Ethan A.
I don't live in St. Louis, but my dad and brother do and they swear by this place. After one meal, I too am sold! Wow, great selection of meats and sides and about 10 different BBQ sauces you can try. I wasn't very hungry and my meal came with only one side. I was having a hard time deciding so I asked the lady which one she'd recommend. She said I can just split it into two smaller sides if you want. That worked out great, and even though it's a small gesture, I really appreciated that she did that for me. Highly recommend if you're a BBQ connoisseur!
(5)Julie L.
Great BBQ, the brisket was the best I have ever!! The pulled pork was a little dry. Definitely get the brisket if you go.
(4)Sonya G.
Absolutely fabulous BBQ. Their sides-Mac and Cheese, Au Gratin Potatoes, all kinds of veggies are fantastic. Most of the time, I skip their meat and go for the sides as a meal. Yum! My husband had their salmon today for the first time. So fresh and delicious. You just can't go wrong with eating at Sugarfire. You know the food is good when the line is out the door!!
(5)Bruce D.
Heard alot about this place and been wanting to try it out, went with the pulled pork sandwich and boy did I pick a winner, sweet smoky bbq sauce was also a good choice.
(4)Joshua W.
In at Louis on vacation. We were originally planning on going to Pappy's, but by 3:00 they were sold out of just about everything. So, we tried Sugarfires and were impressed! Easily the best ribs I have ever had in my life. I'm not sure how Pappy's could be better than this. The layout is a little odd, not to mentioned very cramped. The slaw and potato salad were just okay for me, but the baked beans were good. But I guess when the focal point is the ribs, the sides just have to be "good enough."
(4)Tiffany W.
Awesome place to enjoy delicious St. Louis BBQ. I have heard this is a newer BBQ place in St. Louis, but it definitely is impressive. The ribs are really delicious, as is their pulled pork sandwich. Smoky, full of flavors, awesome sauces to accompany the ribs, yum. The sides are more "southern" in flavor than some of the other BBQ places in St. Louis, including their grits. The staff were really kind in helping us make our meal selection, since we wanted to try everything! We sat outside since it was pretty good weather so that was definitely a plus.
(5)Mike H.
The folks of Sugar Fire are awesome. They catered our CENTERCO office event in Creve Coeur (and will again I hear) . Can't wait to try what they are going to bring for us all. BTW - I have tried a few more their pies now -- and one was some kind of death by chocolate -- but a great way to die ;)
(5)Amanda K.
My fiancé, Alex, and I came to Sugarfire on my birthday this year for a quick dinner before catching a movie. I'm not as big of a BBQ fan as most people from STL, but I do enjoy some good BBQ every now and then. I was very impressed with Sugarfire. It delivers "old standbys" (pulled pork, brisket, coleslaw, potato salad, beans, etc.) as well as some more creative fare. The night we visited they had specials such as posole, chicken pot pie, turkey hash, and various other unique creations. Since I wanted to try something other than the usual BBQ offerings, I ordered pork belly hushpuppies and a hot chicken biscuit sandwich. The hushpuppies were pretty good and were served alongside a jalapeno jelly, which was unusually bright green (I am almost positive it had to contain food coloring, it just didn't look natural), but I am not sure they were worth $6. The chicken sandwich on the other hand, was a great deal at $6...and it tasted great! The biscuit was nice and buttery, which balanced out the kick of heat from the chicken perfectly. Alex got a pulled pork sandwich with a side of beans, both of which were solid. I also really liked the variety of sauces they offer here...there was coffee BBQ sauce, a white BBQ sauce, and many other concoctions. Sugarfire has found a perfect little niche for themselves in a town full of BBQ joints! They offer great tasting classic BBQ dishes, while also offering cutting edge dishes that push their creative limits a little bit.
(5)Bill S.
"It's too crowded. Nobody goes there anymore." That's my new rule with Sugarfire. If you don't want to wait in a long line (to the door is standard, and represents about a 15 minute wait) you can't go at lunch. And you might not be able to go at dinner. But at 2:30, the place is often busy, but without a wait. And anyway, the wait is worth it Get the brisket. It's the meat they do best, IMHO. Also the house made hot link is tremendous. You can have them both in the big muddy sandwich, which is as messy and over the top as it sounds. But it's really excellent. I appreciate how creative they get with their sides, but honestly I'm always a bit let down by their execution. Except for the baked beans, which are great. Price keeps going up, or so it seems. Last time I had a big muddy with two sides and a soda my bill was $16. A bit steep for a lunch. My favorite approach is to get the Meat Daddy to go. It's a sampler of meats that'll feed a family of four for $23. Brisket, pork, ribs, turkey and a hot link. They'll throw in a couple of buns too if you ask. (Skip the slices of pie for $5 and opt for a cookie for a buck.)
(4)Phill S.
Passing through St. Louis yesterday and had to have my favorite sandwich, the Big Muddy! Absolutely nothing beats this brisket sandwich! My wife always gets the smoked salmon, which is also so very good. Thanks Sugarfire, you Smoke!
(5)Zach A.
Dropped by on a round-trip cross-country from NY to CA. The line was out the door, but it was completely worth the wait. I went there expecting some excellent barbecue for my meat-eating friend, and a halfway decent portobello burger for me, the vegetarian, but I was blown away. The double-decker portobello burger was outstanding - the right mix of veggies, cheese, and sauce, and the sides were perfect. The mac and cheese tasted as creamy as it looked, and the vinegar slaw was just the right mix of sour, sweet, and spicy. My favorite food of the 7,000 mile road trip. I wish there were a branch in NY state!
(5)Ardee J.
This place never disappoints. Best barbeque in St Louis and family that lives less then a mile away. Have eaten the pulled pork, smoked turkey and brisket. All fabulous. But don't wait to long if you show up too late there won't be anything left to eat. Tried coming last night but they were sold out. Came back today of course. You should too.
(5)Jericho R.
Seriously I have eaten here so many times over the past six months that I cannot get enough. The brisket is so tender, the turkey is so moist and the big muddy sandwich is to die for. When you're here, try the apple pie shake you will literally go crazy it is that delicious. Everything I have tried here has been tremendously delicious. I don't know how they do it but whatever they are doing is definitely working. I really like the St. Charles location off Elm Street it has that classic feel to it. I have eaten at all three places and had nothing but excellent experience. This is my favorite restaurant in St. Louis and I've been to hundreds of them.
(5)Kirk H.
This is easily the best bbq in St. Louis. Not sure what to order? Get the big muddy. Their ribs are excellent. And you may not expect this from a bbq joint, but the burgers are *really* good. I love the fountain sodas too. They are all pure cane with free refills.
(5)Kristen S.
Sugarfire serves really good BBQ. They are currently my 2nd Favorite BBQ place in the STL area. They deserve to proudly take a place right behind Bogart's. Sugarfire is on the hipper side of things- trying new and unusual combination especially with their sides. Start with the hushpuppies and you will see the craft in their foods. Pulled pork is tasty and big enough to take some home. Sauces are all on the tables where they belong. Soda's are locally sourced. They post daily specials on Twitter...just the pictures can make you want to find Sugarfire. Humble staff proud of the food they are producing! Highly suggest you go soon!
(5)Marlo S.
Tender ribs with sharp, notable seasoning. The sauces are decent. I usually like a hot sauce, but sweet was my favorite. The pulled pork was a disappointment after two tries. A little mealy and lacking in flavor. Cole slaw was fabulous, and the beans and french fries were also strong points. Open Sundays, which means I will definitely go (will have to go) when the two imho iconic St. Louis BBQ joints are closed. Very glad they're opening downtown! Soulfull spot for a soulful joint.
(4)Rachael C.
Get there early - they're so good that sometimes they run out of food!
(5)Holly H.
Disclaimer: I am not a huge fan of BBQ. That being said, three stars for a BBQ place should be considered a compliment coming from me. My husband and I happened to be at a store directly across the street from SugarFire and decided to give it a try after hearing so many great things about it. So we go in, stand in line, order and pay for our food, and get lucky enough to find an open table. The place was packed... So packed that we had strangers ask to sit in the empty chairs at our table. I wasn't particularly in the mood to cozy up to Joe Schmo and his lovely wife, but reluctantly gave up half of our table for them and dealt with the awkwardness. I like eating at places where I get a decent amount of food for my money. That was definitely the case here. I ordered the 6 oz. turkey plate with fries and mac & cheese, my husband ordered a combo of brisket and pulled pork with fries and baked beans, and we each had a regular drink. The entire meal cost under $25. My husband really enjoyed his food, but he does like BBQ more than I do. I did like the creamy mac & cheese, but that was about it for me. I literally had to eat my hand cut fries with a fork because they were too small to even pick up and dip in ketchup. Seriously, I was lucky if I found a fry in my pile that was a 1/2 inch long. The turkey was okay... not the best I've ever had, but not the worst either. I can't say that I cared much for any of the sauces. I tasted too much mustard in quite a few of them. I settled for the hot & spicy. I'm I glad I tried SugarFire? Yes. Will I be back? Probably not. Well, unless I'm feeling lonely and want to sit with complete strangers and eat fries with a fork.
(3)Gary T.
This is a WONDERFUL BBQ. Restaurant in the area. They have 3 locations and a dessert shop as well. Very good food. I always get the brisket and pulled pork. They have a lot of different sides as well but love the brisket chili the best
(5)Chris K.
A true misrepresentation of St. Louis. Didn't live up to its name. Food ordered was cold to the touch and ribs weren't very satisfying. Sauces were good though. I've had better bbq in states not even known for their bbq. And the place ain't cheap. For what it's worth is give it a mediocre score
(1)Tony L.
I love the food here it's very good the service is always excellent and the food fresh. Yes expect a line but it goes quickly and is worth it
(5)Catherine B.
Oh my goodness. This place is fantastic. We went here to get an idea of how good the food is since we are looking for a caterer for our wedding in October and this one was recommended by our venue. We are obsessed. My fiance got the Meat Daddy so he could get a good idea what everything was like, and we were not disappointed. Love it!
(5)Ashley M.
I don't even want to give one star. We arrived at 8:20 they close at 9. Sign on door says SOLD OUT. My husband and I come here all the time and get hamburgers which are amazing. So I go to the door and this "child" starts shaking his head and throwing his arms trying to tell me no. So I simply want to ask if they are sold out of hamburger. They usually sell out of the brisket and BBQ but as I mentioned we always get a burger. He tells me NO sold out of everything. I say even hamburger that you can get anywhere. Still shaking his head says Sold Out. As I look everyone is cleaning. So basically no one wanted to serve us because everyone was already in the mindset of going home. So disappointed in this visit as we come here all the time. Obviously needs better managed
(1)Candis S.
There is definitely culinary magic going on at this place. I had one of the specials Frenchy Avec Bleu with potato salad. Oh and BACON WRAPPED BACON. The sammie was amazeballs. The meat was juicy and sweet and was offset perfectly with the peppery arugula and tangy blue cheese. The potato salad was perfectly seasoned creamy decadence. And come on, BACON WRAPPED BACON. I totally found my spot with the unctuous smoked belly wrapped in crispy bacon. Holy deliciousness W O W! A must go to place whether you live in or out of town. GO!
(5)Lore F.
The Best brisket I ever had. All my coworker loved their food as well. The sides for the meets were testy as well. I travel a lot for work and this was the best BBQ food I had so far. If you are in St Louis MO, you must have their food.
(5)Nelson And Kim B.
We tried Sugarfire today. The meal was wonderful. The brisket was tender, the ribs fall off the bone and juicy and the au gratin potatoes were wonderful! I was a little surprised by the ticket. Over $70.00 for a family of 4. It will be a once in a while place for us.
(3)Cherie O.
Some time ago, Steven B. had given me a list of BBQ joints I'd been remiss in trying...so since I had a weekend free, I decided to drag my brother along to try this place to see if lived up to the hype. Hm. I'm still a little mixed about it all. I like the restaurant itself. It's a hot mess in that the drink station was all wet and two of the spigots weren't working, they were low on silverware, and the tables weren't wiped down. But. I do like the kitschy decor and the 15 minute wait sign. I like their local sourcing. I think it would be better if the take out menus were closer to the door and if there was a sign to encourage people to get their drinks before ordering...because two years later...it's still a problem. I hate to say it, but not everyone reads Yelp. So Saturday night a little past 6 PM. Height of dinner hour. We ordered: *A pound of brisket. This was dry. The middle pieces were dry; the end pieces with the fat were better. *A half pound of pulled pork. This was pretty good. The middle pieces were nice and juicy; the end pieces were dry. *Burnt end sandwich. Yeah, these are not KC burnt ends. These are chunks of meat and fat passed as burnt ends. Not smoky, not crunchy. They're chewy and taste...well, they taste like I grilled you a tbone and cut them up in chunks. They do give you a fair amount. And it comes with onions and pickles. The onions are without bite...and the pickles are soft. Not bad. It is how I would prefer them. *Jambalaya. Yeah. No. Sticky and clumpy with way too much seasoning and rice. Go for a different side. We tried all the sauces. The sweet and the coffee ones are the best; the other ones are just so-so. I don't like sauces on my barbeque because I feel it's a cop out to hide dryness and the lack of smokiness. They do do take-out and it's a nice set up with the sauces to go. Oh, and while the St. Louis masses do love to debate who has the best bbq, I think it does say a lot for the businesses themselves that they are really very supportive of each other. There's a big Pappy's sticker right in front of the cafeteria line. It made me smile.
(3)Barb M.
Had the following: Chicken and a biscuit, Burger, South Carolina turkey. Great smoky meat on the Turkey. See photo in photos... A great mess of BBQ. The burger was great even though they left off my smoky onions. Love the pickles, would not ever get the chicken and biscuit: reads great but taste is not there. Expected a chicken thigh meat pulled from a chicken not pressed into a patty, ick. Take that off the menu! Draft Beer and Wine and some boozy drinks available. For the same line I will head to Bogart's next time.
(3)Evan F.
Big fan of Sugarfire...and I'm pretty much a BBQ snob. first time here, and I loved the vibe, layout and feel of the place. Their smoking techniques are rock solid. Your meal is served on butcher paper via a buffet-style serving line where they hand-cut your meats and dish out the sides and extras. Of course I had the ribs (because I always do!)...they were smoked nicely (and I had to work to get the meat off off bone, which is how ribs should be prepared). i also got the beef brisket, which had a nice smoke ring and rich flavor. For sides I tried the mac 'n cheese (which had a jalapeño kick to it), and the fries were good but more small pieces than shoestrings, which was only slightly disappointing since their flavor and crispiness was good. All in all, I'd call this BBQ spot rock solid and would welcome the chance to return upon another trip to STL.
(4)Rachel L.
This was not as bad as I expected. I know that sounds terrible, but I really had it in my head that this place was going to be another run of the mill boring mediocre version of STL Bbq. It wasn't. First let me say that this isn't my favorite bbq place, but its really good. The sauces they have are quite interesting. I really enjoyed the coffee bbq sauce. The Turkey was awesomeness and the baked beans were actually impeccable like top three at least. I will recommend. Make the drive out here at least once.
(4)Charles W.
Its a long wait for GREAT bbq with mediocre sides. The build your own burger with adding a fried egg is delicious. My favorite dish is alacarte. It's may be shrimp tacos, or tenderloin sandwich. Either way, the place will twist your thoughts on your backyard approach. The Ribs are a B-, the brisquit is A. The pulled pork is a B. The best gourmet bbq establishment I've been to recently. Chuck
(4)Melissa G.
Favorite Place to enjoy unique food!
(5)Jonathan S.
Short: This place is legit. Another tick on your BBQ trail in StL. Long: We went on a Saturday night with a couple of friends. Went around 615p. Line was about 20 minutes to get through. Not bad. We did a sort of 'family style' with a bunch of stuff to try a little bit of everything. Everything was top notch. The pulled pork sandwich was great, sauce was sweet, spicy, but not mouth burning. Ribs were great. Beans were good as well. I really don't have much bad to say about it right now. I still prefer Bogarts over this and if Salt and Smoke gets their service in-line, I'd probably prefer that over this one as well. But still legit. Beer list is subpar; not anything to write home about. Salt and Smoke has a much better selection. Decor inside is great. I'll definitely be going back and its nice to have a great BBQ joint closer to West County than the others.
(4)Melissa M.
Visiting St.Louis and wanted to try a great bbq joint. Boy - I am so glad I did not get turned off by the long line at Sugarfire!!! I loved that they serve locally made sodas and homemade pies. The servers were very friendly and patient. The place was vibrant and awesome 80's alternative music playing not blasting. But let's get down to the meat... - Ribs done right. The rub was amazing and meat was tender but not mushy. You bite into it and it falls off the bone. Try it with the sweet bbq sauce and it is to die for. - Brisket is moist and the best I've had in a long while. This could probably beat my favorite TX brisket. Sides were more than what's posted on their website. Crab potato salad, scalloped potatoes, vegetable medley and the fries were good. Ended our meal with the pecan pie and I was floored by the gooey caramel pecan filling and the flaky crust. I will definitely be back when I am in St. Louis!!!
(4)Tim R.
Simply the best BBQ in town. I go to Pappy's, Bogarts, Andy's and others. I still like the smoke flavor at Surgarfire the best. Their desserts are out of this world. I might ding them slightly for their bbq sauces, but naaahhh. They are fine. We often buy bulk meat and carry home. Good choice and you can get enough for leftovers the next day.
(5)AJ M.
I came in based on Yelp reviews and it being a highly rated bbq place that was actually open on a Monday night. (FYI - short term business travelers still want to eat good BBQ!) I didn't have much time, so I opted to go with take-out, so I can't comment further on eating at the restaurant. But located in a strip of commercial stores, I was pleasantly surprised with the food. I ordered just 4oz of pulled pork and 4oz of brisket and the side of pork belly hush puppies. I wanted to try the ribs (famous St. Louis style?) but they were all sold out that night. Bummer. The pork and the brisket were cooked very well, fresh, not dry with great flavor on its own. As a fan of sauces, they had some of the best bbq sauces I've ever had (except their Carolina Mustard based one). The plain sauce and their sweet one were fine, but the best had to be the coffee and blueberry based ones. The coffee went well with the brisket and the sweet blueberry went well with both. Furthermore, I just felt guilty eating the pork belly hush puppies. It was nicely cooked and the texture inside was perfect. The succulence was probably attributed to the pork belly and it was pretty good. I wouldn't get it all the time, but once in a while is perfect. I would definitely return if I go back to St. Louis and try out their ribs too. I'm also curious how this place stacks up with the other bbq joints in the area.
(4)Foster C.
Excellent BBQ, the brisket was thick cut, tender and flavorful! The sides are great. I guess they have special sides that aren't normally on the menu. On the day I went, they had burnt ends, beer, cheese soup. YELP, it was the truth.
(5)Scott G.
Restaurant goers beware, you may have to stand in line for a while... but don't let that put you off as the atmosphere is lively and the food quite good. I have tried the brisket sandwich, baby back ribs, green beans, potato salad, baked beans, fried artichokes with lemon aioli, fries, pecan pie shack, and last but not least the chicken biscuit! Of all I ate, that which stood out was the fried artichokes (pretty good), the pecan pie shack (very good), and the chicken biscuit (boneless 'chicken thigh marinated in buttermilk, pickle juice, and nunya, slow smoked, breaded and fried, then tossed in house hot sauce and served on a house biscuit slathered in honey butter -VERY VERY GOOD!). Both beans and potato salad are a disappointment and are not worth a moment in the mouth. The ribs were moist and flavorful while the brisket was a little drier than I would have hoped. But, as you may have noted, of all the BBQ available, the funny named but incredibly delicious chicken biscuit is a must try. I would go back and just get that and a pie shack, nothing else (except for the pork as I didn't get to try it yet :[ ). A word one the sauces, they were good but nothing to write home about (i.e. I still would gladly slather my food in them). I would much rather prefer some of the BBQ sauce from Firewater outside of Chicago.
(4)Jess S.
line looks long but it moves quick and we didnt have any problem finding a place to sit. aside from that the food was ok and very very overpriced.....badly overpriced. to the point I almost walked away. my wife and I got the 2 meat 2 sides meal and it was a minimal portion, 2 slices of brisket and 6 or 7 small chunks of sausage. it was comical. With those two meals, a kids sandwich meal (which was the best value), and a rack of ribs w/ 2 sides was $75!!! FOR BBQ!! sorry, but for half that we could have had Adams.... one time visit....with no plans of returning. even a day later I still have a bad taste in my mouth like I was taken advantage of.
(1)Chris X M.
Moving up the list to become one of the top BBQ in the St. Louis area, this location is a bit small but features extraordinarily flavorful food, great staff, great SAUCES, and it's in a convenient location. This is great barbecue in a very casual atmosphere with very reasonable prices. Have never had a bad meal here, worth a try if you have never been. Flawless meats and flavorful sauces. 10/10.
(5)Andy B.
I almost always get one of the specials. I've gotten specials that have so much meat and I love it. A rib special that there was no way I could eat the whole thing. Those ribs were amazing too. If I don't want any of the specials I get pulled pork. They always have at least one or two amazing sides too. My go to place for BBQ. I love Pappy's and Salt and Smoke but Sugarfire is my favorite.
(5)Elio L.
I love this place. Everything is good, especially when they drop them specials and put a fried egg in there. I recommend this spot- from the ribs, brisket, pulled pork. They are also most creative in terms of their side dishes- moving away from the usual beans, potato salad and slaw. They have a rotating line up everyday. Get at it!
(5)Traviss S.
Very cool dining room. Loved that they served the food on half sheet trays lined with parchment paper. Wasn't a huge fan of the potato salad, but all the smoked meats were pretty damn good. The sausage was AMAZING.
(4)Justin T.
I never really liked Pappy's and feared that good BBQ in St. Louis was a myth. Then Sugarfire happily proved me wrong! I've had their catering, and been to the restaurant in Olivette, and believe me, the brisket is up there with my favorite spots in Texas. The White BBQ sauce is out of this world. And keeping with the Texas theme, they're the only place in the Bi-State that I've seen Shiner Ruby Redbird. Only negative: expect a bit of a wait at primetime -- but it's well worth it.
(5)Mark S.
I feel like a chump for being the last one to eat here. But so glad I finally made it. First in line at 10:30 on a Sunday morning, we zipped to the front of the trough. The employee taking orders was helpful in explaining a few items, the first of many excellent encounters with the staff-5 stars for customer service. THE FOOD It was one of those meals where you don't talk to the person across from you because you're so enamored and invested with your food in front of you. Mac-and-ara: Wow. Perfect mac and cheese, tossed with some marinara and beef brisket I believe. 5 stars. Jalapeno Hushpuppies: crispy and crunchy and dense Chicken biscuit sandwich: Crumbly, flaky biscuit with a fried chicken thigh, comparable to a fried pork chop. Butter. Hot sauce. Sacrilicious. The Big Muddy: My god. The magnitude of this sandwich is mind-boggling. Sausage and brisket sandwiched b/w two buns, pickles, sauced to the gils, a meal unto itself. Next time I'll get it with no lettuce, though, just kind of soggy. 5 stars And they've got Ski products for soda, a great local business. CRACK PIE: DON'T QUESTION IT JUST BUY SOME BUT DON'T PLAN TO SHARE
(5)Philip M.
The best bbq I ever have tasted! The place needs to expand! It is so good!!!!! I love it! All the sauces should be on each table but I shouldn't take a star away because of that. I hope they improve. The line moves fast!
(5)Coeli A.
We have had this catered in twice and I cannot get enough of their brisket. I can't wait til the day when I can bathe in their sauce. Their smoked turkey was a close second and all of their sides were fresh and tasty.
(4)Jenn B.
SugarFire is an eclectic, unique and FUN establishment with GREAT service and AMAZNG food. First off, I will disclaim that I am a Pescatarian. However, they have smoked salmon and smoked portobellos that are to die for!! Savory, succulent and amazing... Every last bite. I think it is important to note that the SugarFire staff is above and beyond wonderful. Casey, the owner, is friendly, caring and attentive. Sooo impressed with this restaurant staff. My fiancé said the actual BBQ was absolutely better than competitors, but can't vouch for that obviously ;) Can't wait until the open their new location downtown STL!!
(5)Giddy H.
Brisket's taste like it was prepared for Zeu's by some gods of smoked foods. Great way to spend a birthday meal with SO.
(5)Paul S.
It was busy, hot and Father's Day, didn't go so well. Meat was good but the sides were only so so. Tough to enjoy, the HVAC was over come with the people and exterior temp. Will have to give a second chance.
(3)Morris N.
I decided to try Sugarfire after seeing all the great yelp reviews. I was on the tail end of a weekday dinner rush. Even so the line was still 12 deep but the line moves very quickly. I had the half rack ribs with fries and cole slaw. I also tried the sausage links. All of it was pretty good except the cole slaw which was fresh but I didn't care for it. There was around six different bbq sauces which I tried all of them. The flavors were different than anything I've ever tried. At the checkout, you can help yourself to bread, pickles, and jalapeño peppers. Service was good and fast. Prices were very reasonable. I would recommend anyone try Sugarfire. I'll be back soon to try some of the other meats.
(4)Kathleen S.
Wow...excellent. Loved the tour of bbq sauces available...they even had white and Carolina! The burnt ends were special and giant chunks of meat. The staff was quick, so if there's a line out the door be patient. It's worth the wait!
(5)Justin D.
What a beautiful world we live in. This food was so good I wish I could write you readers a sonnet expressing just how touched I felt, but instead I'm writing this yelp review! So it's not your formal restaurant where you sit and have a waiter/waitress take your order- that is far too pompous. Nay, this is for the common folk who don't mind standing in lines to order, while smelling the greatest barbecued scent to ever grace your nose. This is for the hard working post-strawberry picking group of friends in dire straits for a hearty American meal. This is for anyone with an appetite. This is for you, random Yelp reader. ok so for an actual review: There's a line to order your food, then you go find a table and sit at it while food runners magically find you and deliver your wildest fantasies in the form of BBQ. I had the half-rack of ribs and my GOD. The next 5 minutes were spent in an almost-disgustingly gluttonous celebration of life and food as I dug my teeth into some of the best ribs ever. I would highly HIGHLY suggest the St. Louis sauce, as well as the white BBQ sauce (for all my horse radish lovers out there, holla!!). My friends got other things which I was told were amazing (such as the beef brisket and pulled pork) but I was far too busy to notice anything outside of the ribs in my hands. There were only a few sides listed on the formal menu, but a paper hung from the divine kitchen reading "daily sides" with enticing options such as "Brisket chilli", "fried zucchini", etc. - you could honestly (but shouldn't) throw a dart at it and pick whatever your dart landed on, and you'd be set. In all, if you have a soul and a mouth, you can feed both in one stop at Sugarfire Smoke House.
(5)Ted W.
Working in STL during the week for a while so trying to find the best BBQ and this place came highly recommended by some natives. Arrived for lunch on a Tuesday around 12:30 and there was a bit of a line but it moved pretty fast. I got the 2 meat combo platter that comes with 2 sides and a drink for $14. Meats: Brisket and pulled pork Sides: Coleslaw and "mashed' potatoes. Staff was friendly and smiling, making small talk with customers while keeping things moving. Brisket: A generous portion. Had a decent smoke ring with the fatty top attached. Flavor was good, could have been a bit smokier. The trouble I had was that it was not as tender and moist as I was expecting for a place with this reputation. This was the main reason I did not give it 5 stars. Pulled pork: Another generous portion. This was moist and tender with good flavor but again I would have prefered a bit more smokey flavor. Sometimes this is a luck of the draw thing depending on where your peice comes from and I think they try to give you a balanced allotment. "Mashed" potatoes: HUGE portion in a paper boat. These were delicous and decadent. These were your very rich and creamy with chunks of potatoes and plenty of butter and other milk products. But the kicker here was all of the meat mixed in. Large chunks from all the BBQ meat families including suasage. WOW! (Note that in the picture I had already moved about half of the portion to 2 additional boats for my lunch companions to try. You can see these in the top right corner) Coleslaw: Standard creamy coleslaw but very fresh with good balance and same large portion. Sauces: A variety of homemade sauces were on every table but look around ... you may be missing some. They were OK, I would have liked a little more heat in the Texas hot version which I think was the hottest available. Maybe I should have looked around a little more. BONUS: Crack Pie - one of my lunch campanions ordered the crack pie to share and I see why they call it that. This is the only thing here where the portion appears relatively small but a little goes a long way. Not sure what is in it but it had delicious toffee flavors. Try it if you have a sweet tooth and room at the end.
(4)Aamir B.
Talk about quality of food, customer service, fast service, cleansiness, location, quality of people, freshness etc. I was doing a Marketing event at a local dealership. Decided to order from here since everyone was bragging about it. They were right. The portions were big. I had the Beef Brisket Sandwich 8 oz. I could not finish it. Meat was delicious, juicy, flavorful. The Mac & Cheese is great. It's flavorful. The cheese is NOT too liquidy. Good stuff. The cashier asked me if I would like to try some fresh fries, I did, told him they were great. He gave me an order of them for free. The St Louis sauce was excellent as well. I will continue to go back here for years to come!
(5)Margaret V.
I went in for a bite expecting a good BBQ treat but the Big Muddy knocked my socks off. Covered in sauce and everything was perfectly seasoned - most unique and satisfying bbq I've ever had. They serve natural sugar sodas, adult milk shakes and pie by the slice. They also have like 3-4 consistent sides and then new interesting ones that change every day. If you're a sauce lover they have about 10 different kinds of sauces rotating around the tables -different ones like a white sauce and a coffee sauce and then your usual classics.
(5)Brittney N.
We were in town for business and had been to Pappys the night before. We tried to get back to Pappas, but then a local told us that if we wanted the best BBQ, we needed to go to Sugar Fire (he even offered to drive us there). The line was almost out the door but it moved pretty quickly. The big thing that stood out to me was the variety of unique side dishes. They had your standard potato salad and Cole slaw, but they also had sides that I have never even heard of including some sort of Greek thing involving lamb. I went straight for the ribs and my boyfriend got the brisket. I have to admit... Even though the brisket had Pappys beat by a mile, the ribs weren't even a close call. I will be dreaming about Pappys ribs while I sit here in Utah. For brisket and sides, this place wins, but if you want the best ribs ever, my money is still on Pappys.
(4)Joseph C.
Best barbecue I've had in a real long time. Had the brisket, pulled pork, and cornbread. All were very tender and full of flavor. The assortment of sauces on the table were all excellent. Definitely would come here again.
(5)M D.
This place is insane - insanely awesome. Wow! I loved it! I got a combo plate with ribs and brisket and sides of garlic mashed potatoes and cornbread and.... a piece of crack pie! Wow. The ribs were outstanding! The brisket was super yummy and the sides were awesome. I loved all the different sauce options to try and the vibe of the whole places was great. No pretention, no pressure. Just chill people enjoying great food! FYI I went on a Friday afternoon (around 1pm) on my way to the airport and there was a solid line almost out the door. It only took about 20 minutes and was so, so worth it!
(5)Keli H.
Sugarfire is very close to my house so I have frequented several times. It's been a bit hit and miss but last night was really a stand out. I had the two meat plate with ribs and pulled pork and sides of crazy corn and mac 'n' cheese. I thought the ribs were fine - plenty of seasoning but I do prefer Pappy's. However, their pulled pork was so freaking tender it fell apart with the fork and melted into my mouth. It was so good I ate the leftovers for lunch. The mac 'n' cheese is REALLY cheesy. Tasty but reminds me of a slightly nicer version of KFC. Not sure if that's a compliment or an insult. The crazy corn had some southwestern spiciness to it and was creamy. It was a fun take on creamed corn and I would definitely eat again. My favorite part about Sugarfire is their barbecue sauce choices. Last night I had an awesome cranberry amaretto sauce that I would eat as a dip or with cheese. Not overly sweet, had a few bits of cranberry and was overall really tasty. I also tried the Frostee Rootbeer sauce. Still tasty but I think I prefer my rootbeer in drink form not sauce. Overall, it's a fun place to try. I recommend giving it a whirl if you are a BBQ fan.
(4)Jeremy C.
I am still not sure why I ever mourned the Dickey's BBQ place that closed that was in this location? At a recent Yelp event I heard from many people that this place is some of the best BBQ in the STL, so I had to go and try it. Especially Stephen W. who said he was basically the Ambassador for this Place said I had to go, which I would have told him I was going but he still hasn't accepted my stalker oops I mean friend request. Anyway... This was a spur of the moment visit after Running a 10k the day before. So you can imagine I was hungry. We decided to go and I was not sure what to expect mainly because shame on me I hadn't really read any reviews yet on it. We brought our Kids too, and that is a real test of any establishments ability to deal with Chaos, take a 4 year old and a set of 2 year old twins to eat there. Right away you walk in and there was a sign on the wall that was hand written that said 15 minute wait. I assumed that meant that if you are standing here reading this there will be 15 minutes to wait before ordering. Luckily we walked up around the corner and there was about a 4 minute wait and that gave us time to look at the menu and take note that the Excel brand of soda they serve is High fructose corn syrup free and uses pure cane sugar. That is a big deal to me and made me feel good about the place right off the jump. Next we got lost in the menu... wait I mean the 2 menus all scattered of painted on the walls and pieces of paper taped with sides listed. It was kind fun though not like a lost for days not understanding what the heck to order or conflicting prices. I loved the next step you basically got your food on a tray with Brown parchment paper laid out on it. This made me smile and catered toward my eating style of lot of space to mix sauces and what not. I ordered the Brisket, which was cut right in front of me. I wish he would have weighed it because at first I thought it wasn't a lot but then I was thinking maybe I got more than I should have because I couldn't eat it all. The brisket was good but not as moist as I would have expected, but it was so delicious with all the sauces that it didn't matter. I also got the fresh cut fries (the Bomb) and the Gumbo, which was the show stopper. I loved it and would be back for a huge bowl just on its own. My wife ordered the turkey, coleslaw and fries. Her turkey was so moist and full of flavor. The Cole slaw wasn't anything special but my 4 year old ate it before her burger. My 4 year old got a "kids" burger which looked like a regular burger. She didn't eat it but ate all her coleslaw and meats we gave her from our trays. The burger was good, but I think the spices on it were to much for her. The sauces were excellent and I liked the big squeeze bottleful of sauce, made it easy to get as much a you wanted. Like some have reviewed the bottles labels were a bit worn and I couldn't easily tell what some said, so I just tasted them all, yet another great thing about the tray lots of room for sauce. Surprisingly the Coffee sauce was actually really good and my wife liked the Autumn orange and Hana lulu sauce. I did ask if there was HFCS in the sauce and they said the base sauce they use has it in it. I am at this point not ultimately concerned with the condiments. I know I could be but all in all they have less bad stuff overall. And they have Grass fed beef burgers!! So to wrap it up. Yes it is amazing, No it may not be your favorite, Yes it can still be my favorite, its effing delicious, you may not think it is effing delicious, that's ok, more for me.
(5)Dominick V.
There is so much to love about Sugarfire! Great bbq, excellent sides, dedication to locally sourced food, wonderful atmosphere, and good service. Yet with all these reasons, you really only need one; the brisket. There are a number of places to get smoked brisket in st Louis, but this is the best. It is perfectly tender and full of flavor. It may be the best brisket I've tasted anywhere. The grass fed beef is locally sourced from Rain Crow Ranch, which may be the winning factor. Along with the traditional bbq sides, They also have inventive options which they seem to offer on a rotating basis. Their dedication to local foods even extends to their soda selection, which is exclusively Excel bottling. I love me some ski! Go for the brisket and enjoy all the extras.
(5)Greg K.
So it's been two years since my last update and Sugarfire is still my go to place for BBQ.
(5)Chris K.
Easily one of the best places in St. Louis to eat. One of the best BBQ places I've eaten at. All the meats are great, cornbread is awesome, beans are great and also the Mac n Cheese with sausage is awesome!! Great staff! Highly recommend!
(5)Michael S.
Not super impressed. Barely any smoke flavor and the meat was kind of tough. The fat on the brisket wasn't melt in your mouth delicious that I've come to expect from cue. The sausages while interesting that they had cheese and jalapeño were definitely undersmoked and seemed more like they were just grilled? As a cheesehead that eats a LOT of Brats and sausages these had a way to go. The sauces were ok but a little one note. My wife was really looking forward to dessert as they had all these sugarfire pies till she asked about the gooey pie (apparently a local specialty) and was made to feel like a complete idiot by the cashier for NOT being local and knowing about it. The only reason for 3 stars is they were definitely pet friendly and allowed us to have our dogs on the patio which is a HUGE plus in my book.
(3)Matt J.
Best brisket I've had in a long time--nicely trimmed with a thin layer of fat to keep the meat moist. The sauces were quite tasty, too. I liked the coffee BBQ. The line can be intimidating, but it moves quickly.
(5)Heather M.
Best barbecue I've had. I got what I think was called the big daddy plate and it was amazing. Definitely enough for two if not three people depending on how hungry you are. The line was long, but the decor was interesting so it seemed to go fast. The drink selection was really cool and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone including families, couples and friends alike. Thank you for a wonderful experience sugar fire!
(5)Kevin B.
Food is good but they run out too soon. Been there twice for dinner around 6pm looking for their brisket and they had sold out. When i finally came in early like 4 pm i was able to get it. It was amazing! My only complaint would be they need to plan for more demand
(4)William E.
A great spot for some serious BBQ. I loved the cafeteria feel and the bin of iced beverages where you grab your tray. I ordered ribs and hot links with sides of slaw and potato salad...all washed down with a Kolsch and a can of Busch. Ribs were perfect... Hot links could have been cooked a little more for my taste....that's just a personal preference, not a complaint. Potato salad was great and the slaw was probably the best I've ever had outside my own kitchen. Flies in the dining area prevented a 5 star rating...very hard to control that this time of year...but that wouldn't stop me from going back every time I'm in the St Louis area. Can't wait to get back out there!
(4)Zoe M.
Holy smokey hell this place was GOOOOOOOOOD! Coming from the UK we loved this so much we ate here both nights we were in St Louis. Staff welcoming and remembered us. We shared a 'meat daddy' and several sides. Pork and brisket meltingly good and cream corn sides and beans top notch... Place was packed as well but line moved quickly and seats freed up.
(5)Senor D.
The two meat plate... Get it. It's good. Had beans which were great and fries. Came in a second time and had macaroni and cheese which u preferred over the fries. Staff is great and I really enjoyed the decor. If you have the time, seeing by and check it out.
(5)Toni M.
This place was great! We are in town for a week and got in late afternoon on a Sunday and we were sooo pleasantly surprised that they still had all their meats still available. The ribs are to die for and ALL of the bbq sauces are good and complimentary. The service is friendly and quick assembly line gets you in and out fast. There is no question that when I'm back in St. Louis that I'm coming back here! People rave about the burgers that are mixed with ground chuck, pulled pork, and brisket but I'm partial to ribs and sausage and they were great! I hear they have multiple restaurants !
(5)Tricia R.
We have only had carryout from here, but both times were consistent and tasty. Food: 1) Ribs - these were really good and comparable to our other favorite local spots. Pricing seems reasonable for a full rack. These are great for carryout - we have picked up an order (or 2) and throw them in the oven to reheat. Perfect for parties! 2) Brisket - I am personally not into brisket, but the hubby thought it was really good. 3) Sausage - this wasn't quite what I expected. It tasted like a cheddar and jalepeno sausage, which isn't exactly my favorite. Still perfectly cooked though. 4) Baked beans - the hubby said this was OK. 5) Green beans - pretty standard. This is a safe bet for us and more convenient than driving into the city to hit up the typical local favorite BBQ spots. We'll be back!
(4)Steve B.
I'm a huge fan! Good food, although minus one star because it's not really "affordable"...once a month maybe is all I can pull off, times are tight and $12 for lunch is amazingly tough.
(4)Jon I.
By far my favorite restaurant in the STL area. Love the fact that have a new "creation" every day keeps things exciting. The staff is the most friendly I have ever met they ask about your day and joke with you, they keep the mood up. I recently tried thisr ribs for the first time and I must say that I am hooked they are amazing. One of the best things about sugarfire is the support local businesses be it the local soda,beer, or meat its locally sourced and you can tell in the quality. If you are looking for a really good spot that you can visit over and over and still love it sugarfire is the place with good food and good people its a win win. Also check out thier facebook they always post the new specials on there and could have a contest to name it. Go out a support local business and eat some Sugarfire!
(5)Matt O.
Their burgers are really good. I wouldn't normally associate burgers with a smokehouse but I am glad they have em. Adds a nice complement to the smoked stuff and I couldn't believe how good they are. I'll be a repeat customer here. As in weekly.
(4)Scott R.
We were in the Maryland Heights area of St. Louis for a convention, and a friend recommended we go to Sugarfire. We were prefaced with a few bits of sage advice, which I will pass on here: there will be a line; there could be difficulty finding a place to sit; it will all be worth it. I'm from the Kansas City area, and Kansas City and St. Louis aren't quite eye-to-eye on what constitutes barbecue, but whether you are wet or dry, pork or beef, spicy or sweet, you can still recognize quality slow-cooked and smoked meats. Sugarfire has them. They also feature Double Cola beverages, a smaller regional beverage-maker out of Tennessee, so this could be a place to get your unique regional soda fix. Sugarfire operates cafeteria-style, and patrons wait in a line to get to the counter / kitchen to order. Food is dished up and put on your tray or is marked down on the paper underlayment of your tray for later delivery. We were met with the line and the small size of the dining room, it didn't look as though the number of people in line would fit in the seats in the dining room, much less that enough of the dining room would turn over to make seats available by the time we made it to the front of the line and got our food. But, as the restaurant deities often smile down on you just when you need it most, a table opened up just as we all were receiving our food. I ordered the Big Muddy. Big is an understatement for this brisket-and-smoked-sausage sandwich. I believe I attacked it with knife and fork for 5-10 minutes (because it would have been ridiculous to attempt to hoist it to my mouth). All the while I was trying to eat bits of the Big Muddy, I was also plowing through the sizable bowl of beans I had ordered as a side. The beans were rather good on their own, though I enjoyed enhancing them with the espresso barbecues. Another big key of the dining experience at Sugarfire is selection of sauces. I'm not sure we ended up getting them all, but we had 6-7 bottles of different sauces on the table, from the bold coffee barbecue sauce, to a horseradish sauce, to a tangy mustard, to several other spicy and sweet barbecue sauces. We also ordered some of the pork belly hushpuppies. These were good, though not quite what I expected. As best as I can judge, they are merely cooked in pork fat (which is rather tasty), but I was thinking they would have blocks of belly in them. They also come with a rather good, sweet, neon green jalapeno jelly. Our final element was a smoked chocolate chip cookie, which is apparently a regular chocolate chip cookie that is cooked in the smoker along with the meats. While it was a good cookie, I didn't really get any smoke flavor on it. One further element that Sugarfire has going for it is some booze shakes - friends got the chocolate peanut butter bourbon shake, and it was delicious. On a side note, my wife and I had a mishap in the kitchen a couple of weeks ago where sugar caught on fire. A real sugar fire can be serious business. YMMV.
(5)Dominique C.
The BBQ was great. I only had the wings & fires but I wouldn't be surprised if the other food wouldn't have been good.
(5)Lesley S.
When I went home this last time my aunt told me of Sugarfire being the new #1 in St. Louis. Me being on an island the last 2 years with lack of great Mid-west BBQ I was salivating before we even arrived. It probably could of been gas station quality and I would of loved it! It sure was amazing! They had so many sauces beyond the normal ones I was used to, like coffee sauce or garlic mayo. I didn't even know what to put it on. =O I tried the coffee sauce on my ribs and it was an interesting flavor. My ribs weren't quite fall off the bone the way I like them, but they weren't tough either. I had some bean and collards and I have to say hands down these are the BEST collards I've had in the St. Louis area. That's setting the bar pretty high because St. Louis has some kick ass Southern food. I mean come on Sweetie Pies has it's own TV show. The fact they carry my favorite local brews like 4 hands and Schafly makes it way easier on me to not have to stop at several places when I come home. Everything was soooo good! Next time I'm home I'm definitely trying the smoked caesar salad and porto fries. I love fried mushrooms in general and portabellas are my favorite. Now if I can just convince my family to mail me some sauce I'll survive my last year to 18 months on island. =)
(5)Lydia L.
Best brisket, hands down. I go to Pappy's for my ribs, Bogart's for the burnt ends/ tri-tip sirloin/the prime rib, Adam's is essentially the same as Bogart's but south of the park- the ribs are also delicious, and to SugarFire for the creative sides (and BRISKET). This place, unlike Bogart's and Adam's has plenty of seating. You can actually dine here for dinner because they are fully stocked with options. They also have tasty pies if you haven't completely overwhelmed yourself with meat. Speaking of overwhelming, the big muddy looks like it's straight out of a food competition. Easily enough for 2 people, or a single person with a big appetite. Come here hungry. It won't disappoint.
(4)Andy C.
This is a great smokehouse! They have awesome brisket fantastic turkey the sauces are to die for with a really good variety. Best of all they have amazing customer service. I bought a drink that I ended up not wanting as it had alcohol in it Within two minutes of the manager/owner finding out what I did the money was back in my pocket. They totally took care of me!
(5)Craig P.
Just. GO. No words should convince you to go or not go. Trust your gut and then stuff it. Go with the specials, you can get pulled pork and brisket any day of the week from wherever, but go here for their creativity. The Bunkie jalepeno and cheddar sausage is amazing...when they have it... seriously guys, load up on that stuff! it should be an everyday item instead of the G&W!! Don't let the line scare you, it moves quick...like jimmy johns quick, but less disgusting and 20 million times the flavor. One time it was to the blacktop of the parking lot and had food in my belly in a 1/2 hour on a Friday night. Ps get the chocolate chip cookie, you won't regret it
(5)Mike V.
This place sure does not need my review, but it was excellent. I had the combo plate with Brisket and Pulled Pork with Brisket chili and fired green beans. It is cafeteria style like a real BBQ place. The meat had great flavor, the sides were very good. It was about a 15 minute wait in line, but worth it.
(5)Chung Kit T.
I bookmarked this place for quite some time now. Been craving some real good BBQ. First time visit here and the food here is good. I loved the pulled pork and the mac n' cheese. The brisket was good at first but once it got cold, the meat got tough which reminds me... The pulled pork I got was borderline cold. The food would have tasted better if it was served warm/hot. I'm not a big fan of cold BBQ meats. There are tons of different sauces to choose from. My favorite one was the Coffee infused BBQ sauce. That was my favorite out of the bunch. There were quite a few other things I noticed that irked me personally. The order line blocks the drinks dispensers. While I was in line, I overheard a couple trying to figure out if they should get the drinks while still in line or get the drinks after ordering. That should be clearly stated somewhere in the restaurant to dispense whatever drink you want and then proceed onto ordering your food at the counter. Well, if you're new to this place, how in the world are you supposed to figure this out. The EXIT and ENTER signs are not clearly visible to new patrons. I went in the wrong entrance. Guess that was my fault for not being more attentive to the signage. I wish I could give this place 5 stars but the lukewarm food and the seating rules or lack thereof made my visit somewhat disappointing. The seating varies from tables to benches. It can get really crowded, really quick. I saw people "saving" seats/tables before they started ordering while there were bunch of others ordering and then finding a place after getting their food. So in my case, I was getting my order put together and saw a table that was just cleared and cleaned and I was the next in line to pay so I was thinking to myself, great I got myself a table at the right time. So I happily paid and turned around and the table was taken by some teenager! I was livid! Oh well, what can you do? Luckily, there were two seats left (I went with a friend) at a bench. Here's the kicker though, the teen's friend was way back in the line so when I was almost done eating my food, that's when they got their food on the table. The thing that saved the experience was this waiter who was asking us about how our food tasted and started a side conversation. The guy was personable and quite funny and made the difference between a crappy experience to a non-eventful one. Will I go back? Most probably. The pulled pork was to die for. I'd go there even if there was no seating available which brings me to another point. Parking is hectic here. It's in a tightly packed plaza where there are other restaurants. I also went when there was an arts & crafts exhibit of some sort taking up some parking spaces but I can see where there might be some problems finding a space to park on a normal weekend.
(4)Amy B.
SIMPLY AMAZING!!! My husband and I are frequent visitors here and will be for a long time. We love the variety and the constantly changing menu. The patio is great when the weather is right! It's always a full house but it's VERY worth the wait! Love it, keep it up!!
(5)David H.
Wow what a treat. We looked for a place to get BBQ on Sunday and nearly everywhere was closed. Found a place that was open and got ready to go. We were waiting for our car in valet at union station and the guys there all suggested sugar fire instead of where we were going. When we arrived the line was outside the building, but we decided to stay and I am so glad we did. I ordered the two meat combo of ribs and brisket and added a piece of sausage with sides of baked beans and cole slaw. Everything I got was fantastic, even the sausage that had cheddar in it, which I am not a fab of. The wide array of sauces was amazing as well. The sweet and Texas heat were my favorites. You guys are doing it right, I will definitely be back anytime I am in town. This is a must go to if anywhere in the area.
(5)Bryan A.
Every good BBQ joint should have well smoked meat with complimentary sauces. This place meets those standards. The meat was well seasoned and smoked very well. The sauces were all quality and you could really use any of them and be satisfied. This place thinks of all of the details; sugar can soda fountain, unique sides, and very good service. I had the pulled pork plate with baked beans and brussel sprouts with bacon. The mixture of the Thai sauce with the Sweet St.Louis was mind blowing. I could use that on anything and it would taste amazing. In my unbiased/biased opinion this place is better than Pappy's. The quality and flavor along with the variety of sides set this place apart. You should check it out.
(4)Jim W.
Finally tried a burger here after it was featured in Feast a couple of months back. It lived up to the right up. The burger was good on its own, but the grilled onion, and especially the bacon, took it to the next level. I don't advocate going to a bbq joint for a burger regularly, but would make an exception for this one. I've had the ribs, brisket, and pulled pork here in the past, and they are all ok.
(4)Joe E.
OK so I've been here a dozen times or so. I want to find something that is disappointing, The only thing that there is that lets me down is I can't eat here more often. I'm not sure what kind of voodoo magic they work on their brisket but it's amazing. It's better than Pappy's. There I said it. What separates them for me from the rest of the BBQ joints around is the creative dishes. You can get a mean burger with a farm fresh egg. Yeah I know that's been done before, BUT ITS SO GOOD HERE! Their fries are long, thin and flavorful. The sauces oh the sauces. They have sauces! Seriously they have a bunch and they are all good. They have your standard, sweet, hot, twerk and carolina. You get it. Wait twerk? Yup rumor has it Miley Cyrus dropped by while she was munching on a Big Muddy (Brisket debris, smoked sausage, horseradish sauce, BBQ sauce, lettuce, pickles) and wile eating and twerking, because that's just Miley, they actually made a delicious sauce on her rump roast!! The sides venture away from coleslaw and baked beans but to things like rack and cheese which was the best bit of mac n cheese with baby back ribs in it to the sweet potatoe salad which was so awesome Dan Qualye would approve of the spelling. Look just do yourself a favor and dismiss my bad grammar and EAT HERE!
(5)Yang S.
I love their ribs! It' so juicy and delicious! Love their serve yourself style. Staff is super friendly. Will definitely come back!
(5)Ben S.
Finally managed to dodge the bullet on that damn Jimmy Johns a couple of door down and got a coworker to try this place instead. Don't get me wrong...a pepe (leave the bread in) with dijon is a great sandwich but if you can go to Sugarfire instead you need to...holy crap what a place!!! Fortunately, I asked the wife to join us and she was almost to the first soda fountain when we arrived. This cut the wait significantly since the line was already out the door. I don't really know that I can share any thoughts that haven't already been written in the pile of 5-star reviews but I will say that the ribs are absolutely amazing. Seriously, if I could get ribs to turn out this good I would quit my job, grow a goatee and travel the work blowing people's minds like Morpheous did in the Matrix! I will definitely be back any time the opportunity presents itself and never plan to get stuck going to that Jimmy John's instead. Seriously, what in the world is in their rub that makes it soooooo damn good?!?
(5)Joshua C.
I would like to say to avoid this place in an effort to keep the lines down and have more food for myself... but that would be uber uncool. I was working up in St. Louis this week, and a bunch of my coworkers who live in the area brought me here. When we walked in, there was a line going to the door and the group I was with declared the place to be "not busy". Between this and the delicious smell in and outside the place I knew I was in for a treat. The line moved pretty quickly, and I decided to get the brisket. I have found that if somebody knows how to do brisket right, they know what they are doing. The brisket was perfect. I also got the mac and cheese and the smoked veggies. Everything was just... great. I ate here twice more over the rest of my trip, and I did not taste a thing on the menu that left me anything other than impressed. Even the atmosphere in the place was wonderful. All the staff was super friendly and helpful as well. Everything is reasonably priced for what you get. The only complaint I have is that there is not a Sugarfire where I live.
(5)David S.
Ok. This is my second time going there. I figured the first time might've been an off night for them. This time I got the big muddy. And again the brisket was dry and flavorless. Brisket is one of the easiest things to make in bbq. But they messed it up twice. The sausage on it was pretty good. But it had what seemed to be a pound of lettuce and picked on it. Don't see what the big attraction is with this place. Over priced and over rated. I'm done with them. I believe in giving every place a second chance and they blew it.
(2)Chris Z.
Quick stop in here after hopping off a plane, driven past a few times but haven't been in a position ti stop until today. The Death Star was recommended and did not disappoint. Awesome sandwich and probably some of the best baked beans I've every had. (Sorry Mom) Awesome local place where several people were greeted by 1st name while i stood in line and food quality is top notch. Great flavors and a must for out of towners looking for a BBQ fix. Be aware that with quality bbq, comes a lunch line. I stopped in around 2 and the line was pretty short.
(5)Jason B.
First time I went there, we liked the brisket and their Cracker Jack salad, but we absolutely raved about their smoked Choc chip cookie. The ribs were ok but nowhere near as good as Pappy's. Second time I tried their cheeseburger and their Sugarfire mashed potatoes (with pieces of brisket and turkey). Enjoyed both a lot. Referred my foodie friend to the place and he raved about the meat platter sampler. He brought me some leftover sausage and it was excellent. Overall, this place is solid and the staff is very friendly and passionate about their food. I will be back. It's my go to place when I am dropping off or picking up friends/family from the airport since it is so conveniently located off Rt 170.
(4)Farrahmones M.
Too many things to say without sounding like a stalker!! I their food! From their delicious sauces to the innovative sides that change daily. I never thought I would EVER order a burger at a BBQ place, but Sugarfire makes you break all your rules. Come taste and see! Your stomach will love you for it!
(5)St L.
We stopped here to load up on local barbecue for the road trip home. It's a chalkboard menu with a cafeteria line for all sorts of amazing treats. The kids menu has junior sandwiches - our had pit turkey and pork with fries which went over well, even with our picky eater. The regular sandwiches - brisket & one with muddy in the name - are a full meal, bring people so you can share in this emporium of wonderful tastes! They have great sauces, we tried them and appreciated them with the fries, as the meats were That Good with the bread, not many were used. We got a large side of potato salad and it is amazing! Cole slaw was fresh. Spinach soufflé was a nice diversion, maybe a veggie option for those who refrain from meat, however it's a side, which changes up, so call ahead. Their baked beans are delicious & smoky, with a variety of beans. Tried the fried artichoke tips, which were perfectly done & tasty alone or with the aioli sauce. Had the crack pie as a midnight snack en route, and for those who enjoy pecan & shoofly type pies, this knocks it out of the park. Their lemon meringue was a hit for those who enjoy fruitier pie options. Oh, and the cashier couldn't have been nicer, the guy helped us carry our order to the table - and would have walked the order out to the car if we had the inclination - great customer service.
(4)Michael O.
This is very, very good barbecue. It's certainly the best by far I have had in St. Louis in recent memory. The meat is great. They have many interesting sauces available. The specials are always worth considering. The sides are absolutely 500% better than any other bbq place I've been to- not the usual slaw and beans by any means. I am always tempted by the desserts but I never, ever have room for them. They close when they run out of food, so go early on weekends.
(5)Jeff Z.
So I have been grappling with a monumental dilemma the last few months. Life altering decision. The question: has Sugarfire surpassed Pappys as my favorite BBQ joint in St. Louis? The ramifications are enormous. While Pappys' ribs still take it for me and I like their ambience more, I am starting to lean more towards Sugarfire overall. First of all, the brisket. Oh my gosh. Lean, tender, perfect smokiness. My knife cuts through the meat so easily it is ridiculous. Our most recent trip it was even better than before. Secondly, the side dishes. Cole slaw, potato salads, and they mix it up. Different options such as Mac and cheeses and different pasta salads. I'm not a huge fan of the beans but that's okay. But a few months ago my wife and I took a cooking demo that was led by the chef and Sugarfire and saw how much thought went into the side dishes. Fantastic. Biggest benefit? Not waiting 2 hours for food! My only recommendation/complaint- pace the serving line a little better. There's been one or two times where I've been served my food but the line moved slow and it was 10 minutes before we could pay, so food cooled off a little bit.
(5)Edward b.
I agree with Tim R. I couldnt have said it better myself! Simply the best BBQ in town. I go to Pappy's, Bogarts, Andy's and others. I still like the smoke flavor at Surgarfire the best. Their desserts are out of this world. Be ready to stand in line at lunch time or weekends.
(5)Alfredo M.
this place makes some of the best briket I've have ever had anywhere in the US. be prepared to leave super stuffed though. i would say maybe have a light meal throughout the day if your intention is to go here for dinner. excellent food and large portions with nice decor - a trifecta for a food connoisseur/snob, will definitely return here when in St Louis area. i only wish i could bring some it home to NJ for the rest of the family to experience one of the best St Louis has to offer.
(5)Brittany W.
Amazing food with lots of sauce options and different specials every day. The lines can be crazy long between 11 and 1, so try to go in the off hours. Seating is cafeteria style and first come first serve.
(5)Sal E.
I love SugarFire so hard - it's like one of those crazy ass friends that when you hang out with them, you know you might explode afterwards, but it's totally worth it. Basically, I think I like them better than other BBQ places because they are so inventive and creative - they always have multiple specials going on, plus they use grass-fed beef and locally sourced ingredients. They are willing to take risks (pork belly corn dog or pâté, anyone), which is why they are the best. Oh, and the Bloody Mary is almost a meal onto itself, with the amount of meat garnish it has!
(5)Laura H.
I spent enough years in Memphis to become an insufferable BBQ snob. I'm hard to please and I'd rather have no BBQ than mediocre BBQ. And when I say BBQ, I mean pulled pork, what is wrong with you. ANYWAY, Sugarfire gave me the best BBQ experience I've had since I left the Bluff City. Local cane sugar sodas, local beers, a startling array of inventive sauces, and meat just about any way you want it. A member of my party got a chicken biscuit that looked amazing. My pulled pork sandwich was divine: smoky and moist but not saturated in boiled juices or mushy sauce. Perfect. AND THE SAUCE. I'm a Carolina mustard woman, but I was really excited by their coffee sauce and the St. Louis sweet. I'm going to have to go back to try all the meat/sauce combinations. I liked the big community tables and the service was fast and friendly. I was unimpressed by the fries, but that's what I get for not taking a chance on the curry cauliflower (!).
(5)Melissa C.
I really wish it hadn't taken me so long to get here! As in months, not miles. A good friend lives within 30 seconds of the place and yet, last week was my first visit. For SHAME! I loved the atmosphere of the place. Want to brush up on your geometry? There's a textbook on the shelf as you wait in line, along with philosophy books, cookbooks, etc. Loved that. My husband was ridiculously excited that they served Ski. And of course, the food was fantastic. I had a brisket cheesesteak and a side of green chili stew. The brisket was delicious and covered in cheesy goodness with peppers and onions. I ate it with a fork and knife but I was pleasantly surprised that the bun held up to the juicy brisket and cheese. I only made it through about half before I was spent. The leftovers were awesome warmed up in the toaster oven. The green chili stew was saved for another day as well and it was delicious! Large chunks of meat, a little spicy, really good for a cold St. Louis day. My husband is gluten free so he ordered a half rack of ribs, baked beans, and cole slaw. He was a huge fan of the ribs and didn't use much of the sauce because he liked the smoky flavor so much. He also enjoyed the beans, the cole slaw got a "meh". Also couldn't resist picking up a smoked chocolate chip cookie. It was perfectly salty. A very good cookie. :) The line on the day we visited was just out the door and it took 20 minutes from there to checked out. I'm excited to visit again and also excited for the new location which will be much closer to me and easily the best BBQ in St. Charles. See you soon!
(5)Shamik P.
The brisket was one of the best I ever tried. I went around noon on a Saturday and there was about a 15 minute wait which wasn't to bad. All the sauces were mediocre and too sweet. The hot sauce was not that hot either.
(4)Cory S.
First one in the door.. and am I glad we were first in line! We actually had to wait a few minutes for them to get things situated. This gave us a bit of time to make sense of the menu and figure out what we wanted to pile on our platters. I ended up getting the Brisket, Pulled Pork, Baked Beans and a nice Schlafly Kolsch Style Beer. Brisket - cut thick as others stated, good smoke ring and really good flavor. The ring has a nice coat of dry rub in it and was just about the perfect consistency, being it wasn't falling apart or tough. The flavor was great, but could have used a bit more spice (personal preference). Pork - Cooked perfectly and pulled well. Great smoke flavor, same dry rub on the crust. Not a bad piece in my 1/4 pd. Beans - my least favorite of everything. they were just bland and boring. I would have loved to see some brisket ends or something in these. Beer - always good with almost of anything. Atmosphere and Service - as previously stated.. this place is tiny. Maybe 15 or so tables, some for 2 people, some for up to 8 as they were pushed together. They have a big 'normal' menu by the drink fountain and then specials and additions plastered above the meat counter... read carefully as there are some fun additions. Overall - we will certainly mix this into our regular bbq places when we are in town. I wish there was a bbq place of this quality over here in Indianapolis.
(5)Charles G.
This place must not need my business. I called to place an order. During the ordering process, they had to put me on hold. The person hung up on me (accidentally or on purpose...), but didn't call back. And yes, they had already taken my phone number.
(1)Doug M.
A work buddy knows that I like to try out different (good) places, just like he does. H recently told me that I had to go to SugarFire. He said the brisket was about the best he had tried, the Mississippi mud pie was excellent, but the potato salad wasn't really that great. Since I trust this guy, I gave it a shot. And he was pretty much on target! The nitty gritty is that I thought the meats were excellent, the standard sides were just standard (if even a bit subpar), but their "specialty" sides and desserts were also really good. This is a fairly barebones place. And that's fine. At a barbecue joint, I'm there for the food, not the ambiance. Although...you do get a pretty enjoyable "barbecue joint" ambiance. You wait in line to order and get your food, from a cafeteria-like line, filling your tray and paying at the end. The line was around and back to the door when we arrived at 6 pm on a Friday, and stayed pretty much that length or a little longer until we left about 7 pm. A sign by the entrance says the wait is 15 minutes, and was pretty accurate - actually, it was probably only about 10 minutes. Once you get your food and pay, you find an open table, or portion of a table either inside or on their streetside patio. There are booths around the edges inside, with longer tables in the middle. It's no problem sharing a partially full table. Outside dining would be great on a nice night, except that the smokers a the adjoining sports bar kill that option for me. My wife got the brisket meal, which came with two sides and a drink. The brisket was tender, moist, and well-flavored. A good choice, as my work buddy said it would be. The sides, though, weren't that great to me. She got baked beans and coleslaw. they were just okay. Beans just tasted "beany" to me, and cole slaw was nothing special. I got the Big Muddy sandwich. It was goo-oood. The menu says it is "Brisket debris, smoked sausage, horseradish sauce, BBQ sauce, lettuce, pickles." And it is all that - Big Sloppy would be a good description, too. But very good debris and sausage. Plus the mix of sauces gave some tangy, smoky, sweetness that just enhanced. For a side, I added curry cauliflower. It was really tasty - apparently a big casserole dish of it is baked up so that it is tender and savory. Actually all their "special" - i.e. non-menu, but hand written for the night - sides looked really good. The sad part is that now I can't remember what they all were. So you'll just have to be adventurous. Sauces were also on all the tables, in case you got meat instead of a sauced sandwich. They had St. Louis Sweet, Texas (I think), some vinegary looking one, and a hot sauce one. A decent selection. Almost forgot! - they also have a coffee sauce that was different and good - worth a try. Dessert pies were top notch too. We got one slice of Mississippi Mud pie, and one slice of Crack pie. Mississippi Mud was just like the homemade sheetcake ones you may have had - sweet and chocolaty, almost crystallized. Crack pie is not described anywhere there, but I would describe it as sort of like Gooey Butter Cake with a tart component and more pie-like texture. I believe this may be a southern variety pie. Regardless, it lives up to the name of being like crack in that you don't want to stop. So while the standard sides were standard, the special sides made up and the meats and desserts made me quite happy. One sad note, though. I forgot to try the "Pork Belly Hush Puppies with Jalapeño Jelly" appetizer! Oh well...next time.
(4)Elle P.
Omg this place is amazing! Well worth a 15-20 minute wait in line. Heck you go to Bandana's and it might take 30 minutes to get your ok food. The wait is long, it's agonizing, it's torture... But totally worth it. They have awesome brisket and pork (favorites) and the chicken breast is good too when they have it. The sodas are delish and locally made. Some of their sides menu and "main dishes" change or they new specials aka the "Oshie" burger I think? Go Blues ;) They always have a core menu though. I've been coming here since they opened in 2012 and couldn't be happier for their success. It's apparent they know what they're doing. I'm really excited that they've stayed true to when they first opened and haven't changed except for the better. :) it's one of my go-to places to eat. I tell everyone I know to come here, my co-workers are always asking when did I last go. Haha Give them a try, can't go wrong with any menu option :) And all their employees are very friendly and so happy!
(5)Wally P.
This place is OFF THE CHAIN!! Came here with my family of seven from OC California. I can honestly say this beats any I've had in CA or anywhere else. Ordered two racks which were pink with smoke and tender throughout. Some bark on the outside made it crispy. Brisket was tender and smoky - not dry like others. Pulled pork was equally tender and flavorful. My favorite sauce was to mix the white and sweet BBQ sauces together to give a unique blend of sweetness and heat. Sides of Mac and cheese, beans, corn, pickles, and more Mac and cheese. Top it off with a draft beer IPA and I was in heaven. Crack pie wasn't too bad either. Our pastor is from St. Louis and he calls it The Holy Land. Now I know what he means. Congrats to the owner and staff for a job well done.
(5)Joanne W.
After eating at so many random fast food chains in St. Louis, I had to go eat something else when I was there. Good thing was that my friends and I had a car, and we ended up Yelping for a great place to eat. I am SO glad that we ended up here. We were thinking of getting some ribs, however, that was a fail -- mainly because it was sold out. I got myself a brisket plate, with the kale salad and another side (it's been way too long, so I can't really recall). I just can tell you - it was HELLA DELICIOUS. There were a variety of condiments that we tried out. Not only this -- the soda selection was awesome. I've never heard of ANY of these drinks, but they were all so great (I suggest anything with sugar cane). Finally, we got some crack pie. I had never heard of it until we got there. We asked the owner (who was absolutely friendly) what was a crack pie. He joked to us telling us that it was "pie with crack." We chuckled, because this was the same weekend when we found out Rob Ford had actually smoked crack. We had to try ourselves a slice considering we were in St. Louis. We were going to purchase two slices. The great thing was that the guy was cutting us a slice, cracked one of them, so he gave us one for free! If anybody ever heads to St. Louis -- DEFINITELY hit this up.
(5)Tonica W.
The only thing good about this place was the burger. It is an unorganized poor excuse for a restaurant. The menu was so all over the place we had a hard time making a choice. We all ended up choosing a burger because we couldn't really see the other options. The sides were the same way, there were almost no description on any menu items. I literally had to yell my order it was so crazy in there. I thought the pricing was steep considering the cafeteria style dining. There was almost no service other than order and pay. There should at least be someone available to help navigate. Then each meal was served on a separate tray Which would be fine if we didn't have 3 kids with us. We ended up spilling a drink trying to navigate to a table. After a where's Waldo hunt for condiments we were able to eat. Like I said the only good part was the burger, the sides were terrible. Too many onions in the broccoli salad and overcooked fries. Not worth the money and not even close to family friendly.
(2)Brian M.
I figured after my third visit I needed to update my review. I continue to be impressed with SugarFire and for good reason. It has quickly made its way into my top 5 list of great BBQ joints in Saint Louis. They are in great company with the likes of Pappy's and Bogarts, however SugarFire is a little bit more adventurous with their food. Items like the Beef Brisket Philly Cheese Steak and the Chicken Biscuit are a welcome change of pace from traditional BBQ. One my first visit I tried the Beef Brisket with two sides, I picked Mac & Cheese and cornbread. The Mac & Cheese was awesome, very cheesy and creamy, and the cornbread was good I just wish I would have gotten the cheesy bacon onion cornbread instead of the traditional. Portion sizes are good, seriously the piece of cornbread I had was about half the size of a brick, enough to split with another person. Now on to the barbecue, the brisket was great, it was perfectly smoked with great flavor, and I almost didn't want to ruin a great brisket by adding sauce but I was so curious to try the coffee sauce, yes coffee. It was good, and it had a slight hint of coffee to it. Now you can get a little caffeine with your barbecue, however I actually preferred the Carolina mustard and the Sweet sauce over the coffee, however if you are a big coffee drinker you shouldn't pass this up. I also almost forgot about the aptly names "Crack Pie", this is amazing. The easiest way describe it is probably a gooey butter cake on......you guessed it crack. It is amazing, and will make you will be hooked. My second visit was around lunch time and I wanted a sandwich and the Beef Brisket Philly Cheese Steak special was calling my name, it didn't disappoint however it was almost too much of a sandwich. The cheese and brisket went well together. My third visit was for an official yelp gathering and I decided to give the Chicken Biscuit a try, it was a smaller sandwich but it was big on taste. Basically it is a breaded chicken thigh tossed in hot sauce and served on a biscuit slathered in honey butter, amazing! It was one of the cheaper sandwiches, so if you are hungry dont be afraid to order two! I stuck with one but got a side of Mac & Cheese, again along with a slice of Key Lime Pie. The Key Lime Pie was good, very simple and tasty. I have yet to try a burger here, but did see several being cooked to order and have to admit that they look very good!
(5)Lisa L.
Ordered food and they asked when I would be picking up --- i was late an hour and they had given away my food -- said they do not hold orders. Great fathers day gift from Sugarfire. Manager could care less. If they want a policy, let them tell you that if not picked up within 30 minutes, we cancel order. The owner has a nice reputation -- the family spends over 1000 a year at Sugarfire --- really really poor customer relationship.
(1)Vinnie G.
This place is off the charts good!!! Fabulous atmosphere and the staff was super nice! The Pitmaster was at the door greeting people as the came in and was extremely helpful in deciding what to have on a menu that has just about everything a BBQ lover would want. Highly recommend this to anyone in the St. Louis area!!
(5)Derek H.
I know I'm a little late to the party, but I finally got a chance to try SugarFire this past weekend. I was in the area getting some other things done, and came here with my wife. SugarFire does have the cafeteria style line to order and pick up your food. Luckily, when we went it wasn't very busy. I was informed that the line can be out the door sometimes. I'm not a big fan of waiting in line to order food, but Pappy's has the same process. The only difference is that Pappy's has someone bring your food out to you after you order at the counter. I ordered the two meat combo plate, and chose brisket and pulled pork. It comes with two sides as well, and I chose the baked beans and fries. Once you pick up your food, you have to find an open table inside or outside, which can certainly be challenging. Luckily, we were able to find one inside. There were several different sauces on the table. I tried all of them, but decided I liked the "St. Louie Sweet" the best. I'm a big fan of sweet BBQ sauces, and this was perfect. I thought the brisket was excellent. Great flavor, and I would definitely get this again. The pulled pork was just ok. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't the best I've had. The brisket just had better overall flavor. I think next time I will try the brisket and the ribs. The sides were just average. The baked beans were ok, they just didn't sit well with my stomach later in the day. The fries were decent, just nothing to write home about. My wife got the mac and cheese, which looked and tasted better than mine. The thing I found most diappointing, was that the way the tables were set up, we essentially had two strangers sit at a little table, which was at the end of our table. I'm not a big fan of eating my lunch at a table with complete strangers, but whatever. Overall, I thought SugarFire was good. Is it better than Pappy's? No, not in my opinion. But hey, that's just one man's opinion. Either way, it's still a good option for good BBQ. I'm sure I'll be back here at some point.
(4)Jon B.
Disappointment. I had high hopes, but the way this meat is dried out, I have to rate this place very low. The brisket was especially dry and tight grained. I could not cut it with a fork, no way. There was little in the way of a smoke ring and the flavor was just not there. The little bitty baby backs were not as bad. The meat pulled off without trouble and was more tender. There was a bit of nice smoke flavor. Still too dry though. However, the green beans were very good!
(2)Douglas W.
Terrific and creative food. I had some ribs and pulled pork. I also tried a couple side specials. Green beans and a 3 bean salad. Everything was good. The prices were average and the place is cool. The ribs were meaty and come dry. They were cold by the time I got them to my table. I think they would be better warm. Cold meat is never succulent. They weren't exactly dry but I wouldn't call them moist either. I liked them a lot nonetheless. They're good with their terrific coffee sauce. The sweet sauce was a close second for me. The pulled pork was tasty. A little smoky, just like the ribs. It came out ice cold and was dry. You definitely need to douse with sauce sadly. It's a tragedy that you can't get their food to your table warm or fresh because it's a great product. The sides were very good and they gave me a free chocolate chip cookie because I opted to skip my free fountain drink for some water. It's a really good cookie! The lines are long at times and it was an hour and a half experience but worth trying.
(4)John K.
Def Leppard should think about tweaking the lyrics to their hit song immediately to "Pour some SugarFire on me". Oohh, in the name of love this place is rockin'! I processed their menu and settled for the brisket with a side of cheddar grits and the bean salad. Lets get the sides out of the way first. After putting my tray of caloric brilliance at my table, I went to the soda machine and was immediately turned on by the guilt free zero calorie Lucky Club soda. If I was about to ingest 4 figures worth of calories, the least I could do was wash it down with something that didn't add to it. It tasted great, like a Diet Coke, but I was pleased to know it was made locally. I swear I received close to a pound worth of grits. No chance I was polishing these off all the way. They were good, but not outrageous. However, I can't remember a time I've ever had grits in my life and was blown away with any kind of revolutionary flavor. The bean salad was great as well. On to the main event. The BEEF BRISKET. I'm smiling right now reminiscing about it. I had 4 different sauces on my table. I tried them all. The Carolina Mustard was my least favorite, but I never have been big on this style. It had a distinct vinegar taste to it. I know there are a ton of people that enjoy that variety of sauce, so taste for yourself. The Watermelon, yes watermelon BBQ sauce was completely out of left field. My initial thought was this is a man's type restaurant. Watermelon sauce has no business being here. I was wrong. It was one part tangy, and another part watermelon fruit driven. It just toyed with my taste buds. So good. The coffee BBQ sauce was savory and rich. It tastes just like it sounds. An incredible nuance. My favorite was the Texas Hot BBQ sauce. It was big and bold, just like the state of Texas. The brisket itself was extraordinary. It had a beautiful marbling to it and it just fell apart as soon as I put a fork to it. It was smoked perfectly and was warm as the summer sun. The place was eerily quite, but when everyone is so focused on devouring their plate, it is easy to see why. These guys aren't afraid to take a culinary chance, and I like that. I had a grand old time at SugarFire, and there most definitely is a new sheriff in town when it comes to BBQ.
(5)Greg W.
OK...I am sure I am in the minority here. Had to try this place based upon the reviews. Came in starving. Carolina BBQ and side of hashbrowns. Good not great. Portions were huge...but I paid 12.00 so that makes sense. Slaw was terrific. EXTREMELY fast on service. I will go again (I always give a restaurant 2 shots minimum while trying different things). I will say...I still love Bandana's.
(3)Mary G.
A MUST stop in St. Louis! The logistics for the place were great - a shorter wait than we anticipated, and the patio outside was so nice on a summer evening. My husband and I split the chicken biscuit and big muddy, enjoyed them both, and would order both again, but if we absolutely had to pick one and had no other option, the big muddy would be our choice. The horseradish sauce and barbecue sauce combined with the brisket was unexpected and very umami. Loved it. We also tried the ribs, those were good... and the cole slaw and potato salad were enjoyed by my in-laws. Oh, and if you order an appetizer, go for the fried artichoke. We came from central California, which is an area with a ton of artichoke, and it's typically enjoyed grilled or smoked. Here, they smoke, then bread and fry. We tried out of curiosity, but were expecting the artichoke flavor to be overpowered by the breading, but it wasn't at all. Really good.
(5)Thad P.
This place is truly as good as it gets when it comes to quality BBQ. Period. They also do hearty portions, so don't be shocked if you order a sandwich that is messy! If you are coming during lunch or after work, or basically anytime when people are usually hungry, expect a line out the door of one of these places (there's 3 of them now). But sit tight, they have great logistics and the wait's usually 15 minutes or so. Give it a try if you are in the mood for wonderfully smoked meats, hearty portions and awesome specials that change daily. I've now gone 6 times and each time has been a delight!
(5)Kevin S.
Came in from Texas and had this superb BBQ. I'm a BBQ fanatic, our crew ordered the 4 bones rib combo, 6oz brisket sandwich and the salmon sandwich. The meat was smoked to perfection, the brisket was very tender and we'll seasoned, and the ribs had a dry run that was so expertly seasoned that the barbecue sauce wasn't necessary. The portions were hearty, we ended up getting 6-7 ribs on both of Our "4 bones" orders. The sides left something to be desired, the drink selection was adequate with a option of craft beverages from local breweries. The menu even offers an assortment of adult beverages like the White Russian. The service was fast and friendly, while there was an array of sauces to dress your entree in. Overall I would recommend this place to anyone in the area, it as a great Taste of the Midwest.
(4)Jessica C.
As promised, Tracey and I came back to give SugarFire another shot. This time we came much earlier in the day, and we were glad to see that everything on the menu was available to order. I had four ribs and the roasted vegetables (broccoli, sweet potato and corn). The ribs were tasty. Delicious and just a tad bit saucy. I'd recommend them. I tried the white BBQ sauce and it was delicious! Vinegary and creamy. If they sold it in bottles, I'd probably buy some. But once again, the sides left a lot to be desired. The roasted vegetables were not good. Broccoli, sweet potato and corn...interesting combination. It probably tasted better straight out of the oven, but after it sat in a warming tray for a while, the flavor of cooked broccoli permeated the rest of the vegetables. They were also mushy. Tracey's side, the loaded baked potato salad, tasted like sour cream and not much else. I appreciate that SugarFire is really creative with their sides, but I've yet to try one that tasted good. Perhaps they'd be better off nailing down a few very good sides instead of constantly creating new ones that aren't consistently well-executed. Our dining experience was better this time than last, but it still was unremarkable. Plus, it cost $10+ for four ribs, one side and an iced tea. A bit steep for a meal that's not even served on a plate. Granted, the sides are generously portioned, but it's more than you would want to eat. I'd rather have two small sides instead of one huge one. Finally, and this is just my gut feeling, but there's something fishy and kind of illegitimate about SugarFire's behavior on yelp. Nasty rebuttal reviews from butthurt owners, their friends and employees are nothing new on this site, but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth nonetheless. There are simply too many better barbecue restaurants in St Louis to waste any more of my time or money at SugarFire.
(3)Josh S.
I seriously can't recommend this place enough. Best barbecue I've ever eaten. The meat is of such great quality. First visit I got their burger which was simple but delicious. The taste of the grass fed beef makes it awesome so go easy on the fixings cos they will make you uncomfortably full! I went back for a hungover brunch featuring Bloody Marys. Here I got the brisket and sampled all their house-made BBQ sauces. They have an interesting variety of these with white, sweet, mustard and more. Last time I went, as a facebook follower (follow them to see the daily specials facebook.com/SugarfireSm… ) because I saw they were doing a PORK BELLY CORNDOG!!! The thing must have weighed a pound, bending the skewer it was on in a dangerous fashion. It was so good though! Again, the quality of the meat shone through the thick layer of corn breading. And for only $5! This place is great value, quality local ingredients, INTERESTING creations (so much of STL bbq is same old, same old) and a cool environment.
(5)Alan D.
Great place for BBQ! Went in for lunch on a Saturday about 1, line was still out the door, literally. It moves pretty quickly, we were ordering in about 15-20 min tops. Not bad. My buddy and I both ordered the meat daddy, which is easily enough food for two people, or in my case two meals and you basically get to sample everything. Brisket- very nice, a little more fat than I would like to see, but nice flavor and not dried out Pulled pork-what you would expect. Great flavor, tender and moist House smoked sausage- outstanding. Had a cheese flavor and a bit of a jalapeño kick. Excellent flavor. The ribs- St. Louis style ribs. Not exactly "falling off the bone", but they were definitely good. The winner for me was the smoked turkey. Moist and a fantastic flavor, this was a very pleasant surprise. I have to hold back the fifth star here because I was unimpressed with basically all of the side offerings. The sides are huge portions so we all shared at the table. Tried the coleslaw, Mac n cheese, French fries, baked beans and potato salad. It was all just ok. Over all, well done. I will certainly be back. That said, in a head to head for BBQ in St. Louis, I still have to give it to Pappy's!
(4)Jane V.
Sugar Fire has wonderful food! The brisket is the best in town and makes the seriously long wait times worth it. They rotate their side dishes so if you're into Mac & cheese, it's always a gamble. Also, they offer hot wings but there's no BBQ chicken on the menu. I hate to say it, but my one complaint would be that the staff in general is always so rude. To the point of hostility at times. But having said that, the brisket makes it worth it!
(4)Shaun W.
Coming from Texas I was skeptical of STL bbq, but it was close to the office so we gave it a shot. Well worth the venture. When you walk in the delicious smells accost you. I had the Brisket Philly Cheese-steak and Red Beans & Rice. Both get solid thumbs up. Very Tasty!!!
(4)Katie A.
Best barbecue in the area. Best side - jambalaya. I always get the turkey with the sweet sauce. My husband gets the brisket - which he claims is the best - with white sauce (horseradish type sauce, I think). They have ski soda too. Lines are long during lunch but move quickly and they are definitely worth the wait!
(5)Aspin H.
Okay..... I know... Ive been DYING to try out SugarFire for a while, and finally got a chance the other day. I was ecstatic! We arrived around 11:20 and the line was already out the door and onto the sidewalk. Say what???? I was more than okay with standing in line, bc i was totally stoked.! I couldnt wait to get my hands on some tasty morsels of BBQ. I enjoyed looking at other peoples food while I waiting and there was plenty of character in the building to keep me entertained. While standing in line they brought around a sample of ribs- and they were simply delectable! I decided to go with the chicken biscuit and i chose TWO sides (oink oink) and went with the fries, and the chicken caesar pasta salad--- I know this was wayyyyy to much food, but I couldnt resist the pasta salad! Every single thing was BEYOND delish!!! I was sooo full when I left, but my goodness it was so worth it! The only thing I would like to see different would be some honey on the table- or as a side for the chicken biscuit--- or a side of the honey butter they put on top-- My biscuit fell apart, and I would have liked to enjoy some honey or something sweet to go with the savory. Oh, and I think it said it was supposed to have a pickle on it--- and i didnt see a pickle-- or taste it-- and if it doesnt- it should-- because that would be amazing.... I really cant wait to go back! and I am going to have plan this adventure soon!
(5)Elizabeth D.
Oh dear! Protein protein protein! A paleo lovers dream with plenty of dairy and carb options to boot! This place has some of the best meat options available, but the veggie sides and portabella burger are good, too. Pro: everything Con and reasons why it's not 5 stars: The line out the door (but I guess that's part of the charm) The smell stays on you after you leave
(4)Stefanie S.
The best ribs in St Louis. Even my five year old says he stop eating them. Just had the hamburger too and it was delicious. Grass fed is a bonus.
(5)Angie B.
They are amazing! Food is delicious! I used Sugarfire to cater my wedding rehearsal dinner and everyone absolutely LOVED the food and all the meats, sides, and sauces were so good! Thank you for making the day! The crack pie is my favorite! So amazing! Book them for your next catering event, you won't regret it!
(5)Jackie P.
Three words: OMG! Best brisket I've ever had in my life. Tender, juicy and plentiful. I had the brisket cheesesteak today and I will be back for another one in the very near future. I thought $27 was a bit much for 2 but it was worth every dime! Hubby had the 8oz brisket and I had the cheesesteak and an awesome chocolate shake. Real ice cream. Best lunch ever. An employee asked me if I was taking the cheesesteak down or if it was taking me down. Brisket cheesesteak won hands down. I'm done for the rest of the day. Whew! I'm gonna dream about Sugarfire tonite! Fulltothebrim.com lol!
(5)Barbara K.
I adore this place. The ambiance is very cozy, but that only sets the stage. You get a drink first, so you can enjoy it while you are waiting to order. The food is served on metal trays with brown paper, and the menu often has handwritten specials stuck here and there. The food is absolutely awesome. I've had pork, turkey, beef...and last time I was there I had a pulled rib sandwich that was so tender, it brought tears to my eyes. The sides are very interesting - everything has a little twist, and you can taste before you choose. I had the gumbo last time, and it was pretty near perfect. Last time I was there they had mac and cheese, green beans, baked beans, salad, gumbo, and about five other things that I don't even remember. They have beer, including some indie beer that I hadn't heard of. The soda is from an independent source as well, and it's very good. They have five kinds of barbecue sauce, and it's available at your table so you can mix and match. Bottom line - the ambiance is fun, but the food is worth the trip all by itself.
(5)Kevin D.
I visited Sugarfire for the second time today and am upping my rating from three to four stars. When I went the first time, I was expecting the food to be incredible, like Pappy's. I was disappointed, and also turned off by the thick layer of fat on the brisket. This time I went back with different expectations. Sugarfire is not Pappy's, but it's pretty good BBQ. Better than any BBQ in St. Louis other than Pappy's. I also ordered the brisket lean, and they were happy to cut the fat off for me. We tried the brisket, turkey, fries and crack cake (basically gooey butter cake with more brown sugar). All were excellent. I would definitely go back. Good food, friendly service. PS I especially liked how there are now dozens of bottles of BBQ sauce around the restaurant on the tables, in addition to the pump containers in the back. Much more convenient.
(4)Deena H.
Amazing BBQ, period. The burger, the mac & cheese, Potatoe salad, and sauces were really good. The brisket was juicy and full of flavor. The decor is really funky. Sit wherever there is space. They have specials too sometimes it seems. The crack pie is truly addicting. The cookie is decent. The drinks are average. The staff are decent too. This place is worth a drop in or three haha ;D
(5)Barry J.
I absolutely love this place more than my own kids! (I don't have any kids, but if I did I bet they wouldn't make me as happy as this place does) okay maybe that's a lil over the top, but every time I come here, not only am I welcomed by happy fun staff that treat me like family, but they always have the most delicious, crazy, mouth watering sides and specials! I recommend trying EVERYTHING. There isn't one item on / off the menu that doesn't make me sad that I don't have 3 stomachs... Love this place! And if you've had a bad experience there once, give it another chance. Bet!
(5)Freddy G.
Dined here for first time tonight. Place is great. Had the Carolina Brisket Sandwich, fries and the Jalepeno Hush Puppies. Line was out the door but moves pretty quick. I've been to every top BBQ place in KC and Memphis. Sugarfire ranks right up there.
(4)Andrea Z.
Wow. Sean and I tried this place last weekend with his family and as we are IN LOVE with Pappy's, we were prepared for the fact that this place might not be as good. Turns out SugarFire is right up there on top with Pappy's in St. Louis BBQ. Things that are AWESOME about this place: 1. Cafeteria style service - grab a drink up front with your utensils, tell the guy what you want and he'll put it on your tray. Slide on down and pay at the end. I like this method quite a bit. Makes you feel in control and I like that you can actually see the sides before you order them. Also a big fan of the tray -style dishes - large tray covered in paper where the meat is just plopped right down. Plenty of room to get your sauce on and not make a big mess. 2. Menu variety - they have standard sides which they have all the time and also switch it up with rotating ones. They also have special menu items (usually special sandwiches) which sound great. The one we saw was 'The Hangover' - wet brisket, onion straws, fried egg and other wonders. Sounded awesome. 3. Portions: 6oz of pulled pork definitely was more than 6 oz. The side portions are very big - at least 3 times as much as at Pappy's. The Big Muddy sandwich that Sean tried was enormous. 4. Brisket and pulled pork - I would say the brisket here is better than at Pappy's. Not fatty, extremely flavorful and not really dry like some brisket. Very very good. The pulled pork is equal to Pappy's - best ever. 5. Sauces - wow do you have choices here! When we first sat down, our table had about 4 sauce bottles: coffee, regular, white and something else. They were good but I was all, 'man why don't they have a hot bbq sauce?' At this point, I turned to look at some of the empty tables and bam! There were like 6 other sauces to choose from! I really like the hot bbq and the Carolina mustard sauce. Very VERY good. 6. CHERRY SKI !!! If you haven't ever had Cherry Ski - you need to. It's not overly sweet like most cherry-flavored pop. Just right cherry flavor. It's hidden in the corner soda machine that's off the dining room, not on the machine up front. Things that were just meh: 1. Sides: The cole slaw was decently-flavored but a bit too soupy. Baked beans and potato salad were also too thin - both were very soupy. 2. Smoked Chocolate Chip Cookie - we were excited to try this because it sounded different and unique. Turns out it's just an average chocolate chip cookie. They may cook it in a smoker, but there's absolutely nothing special about it. As you can tell, the awesome FAR outweighs the 'meh'. Go to SugarFire. We will most definitely be back.
(5)Linda M.
Absolutely the best. worth the wait in line for this place. BBQ like its meant to be.
(5)Mrs. Honesty ..
We prefer Pappy's Ribs and Sugarfire Burgers. The best burger award is a cross between this bbq place and Big Sky Cafe grassfed burgers. Either way I love them. The wait to eat isn't long and they will get you through the line and eating within 10 minutes. Never had to wait longer and the manager comes and greets all of us customers. Much respect. Great food. Grass fed local ingredients count CiCi in!
(5)Lauren V.
We would give this 6 stars if we could. While on a Midwest road trip from MN to Nashville, we decided to stop here for lunch. We are so happy we did! Hands down best BBQ...ever! Ribs, brisket, Mac and Cheese, fries and beans... It was all fantastic.
(5)Debbie S.
When I first moved to St. Louis I honestly wasn't that much of a BBQ fan. My husband dragged me to Pappy's a couple times, and I just didn't get the appeal. But then Sugarfire opened up in my neighborhood, and changed my life. This place is great! The lines are long, but worth it. The sides are as delicious as the meats. The daily sandwiches and specials are creative and fun. And now they have a pie shop too??? Sugarfire has really opened my eyes, and made me appreciate great BBQ. It's also spoiled me, because no other BBQ place I've tried compares. So glad this place is in my neighborhood!
(5)Christian K.
Something's smokin' in Olivette! I couldn't take being on the outside for another moment. Many of my Yelp friends have been raving about SugarFire Smoke House, so we took a trip to find out just what this smoke house was all about. Why shouldn't the burbs have nice things? The city seems to have had a monopoly on barbeque, and the county folk have to make a pretty good trek to get to Pappy's or Bogart's. SugarFire is perfectly placed off of I-170 and Olive for people who don't want to travel to the city for some smoked meats. I love the room. While some smoke houses have tried to escape the que culture, SugarFire embraces it and takes it to another level, giving off more of a rockabilly feel. However, the best part is the mosaic work, done by St. Louis's own Red Keel. She has done the mosaic work at Venice Cafe and many other local business and homes. The menu options are quite extensive. We came in during a slow time, well calculated, and one of the workers walked us through the menu and the cafeteria style of ordering. We decided to split a trio plate: pulled pork, beef brisket, and ribs. Our two sides were fries and gumbo. By far, my favorite part of the meal was the brisket. SF cuts their strips a little thicker, but the meat is just as tender. The pulled pork was somewhat fatty, but I didn't mind so much. It added to flavor. The ribs were pretty average, but I have a feeling that they might have been better if we didn't come in mid-afternoon. The wife liked the gumbo, and the fries did their starchy work. As far as comparing these guys to Pappy's and Bogart's, I'm not going there. Too small of a sample size. These guys do a nice job, and I would definitely come back and try some more of their meats and sides. Don't hesitate to give SugarFire a try.
(5)Lynn Y.
Food: 4 Service: 4 We always walk away overstuffed but absolutely happy. :] All their meats are tender, my favorite has got to be the brisket. Give all their sides a try, they have some of the best sides! (curried cauliflower and crazy corn...)
(4)Scott R.
Man, I wanted to like this place. I was so proud to see them representing The Lou on BBQ Pitmasters. Perhaps I was there the day the smoker was out of order? I say this because I expected to smell smoke when I pulled into the parking lot. I did not. Not only did I not smell it pulling in, I didn't even smell it when I got out of the car to walk in. Anyway, I was still salivating and expected very good things when I saw the impressive bark on the brisket which was also very moist. I was absolutely stunned when I didn't taste smoke on the meat. I'm still confused by it. Nor was there a discernable flavor profile. It was just kind of there. I hoped for better from the ribs, which I consider to be the true measure of a BBQ joint. Alas, they were overcooked and I mean to the point of being tough. Of the four ribs I must have only eaten 1 1/2 total. Not good. The pulled pork was good. Again, not enough smoke but at least some smoke and seemed to be targeting some kind of flavor profile. My sides were 'greens' that lacked any depth of flavor at all. Where is the vinegar fellas? The bacon grease? Hello? The cole slaw was okay. I'm really sorry I couldn't participate in the enthusiam for this place. Maybe they can't keep up with the volume? Maybe they rely on people using a bunch of sauce? Maybe anything, I guess. But maybe it's a bunch of hype too. The thought crossed my mind as I dumped quite a bit of half-eaten food into the trash can.
(2)Guy H.
Aside from the line out the door, the place is amazing. They have everything you want in smoked meats.
(5)Allan C.
Sugarfire has done such an amazing job at maximizing price point over food quality that I'm STILL on the fence as to whether the price is worth it or not. But anyways... You can tell that Sugarfire's in a good place. They're always packed for the lunch rush. Their list of specials keep getting longer and more random. I'm pretty sure the specials aren't to draw people in, but rather, they're just dorking around with sides and different smoked meats for shits and giggles and people will come and order it anyway... kind of like Jilly's... So yeah I'm actually not going to talk about them specials (though that Jambalaya... I definitely want them to bring that back...). I'm here to talk about a single patty smashed burger that starts at just under 5 bucks but can quickly balloon to a 10 buck burger - no sides. I had a single bacon cheeseburger with a smoked portabella mushroom on it. With a drink, it was about 12 bucks. But man that cheeseburger was pretty freaking awesome. The bacon is actually thick cut and... I'm guessing hot smoked? It had the consistency of a braised pork belly that they finished on the griddle before topping the burger. The bacon was on the sweet side that made it a pretty awesome contrast to the patty and the mushroom. The portabella was a single uncut piece of portabella (I don't know why the fact that it was uncut means something to me, but it does) with a slight hint of smoke to it. With some tomato, lettuce, onions, and american cheese, I didn't need anything to add to it. It had that much flavor and was super moist. I... don't have much to say about the patty. I think it's supposed to be grass fed beef but since I had all that other crap on it I didn't really pay any attention. So all that amounted to a burger just under 10 bucks with no sides. I just need to reiterate this again. I was full, for sure... but did I get my money's worth? I dunno... I'm just gonna have to give it another shot again.
(4)Kreig D.
My first time trying this was during a meeting at work. They ordered in and I had no idea so I ordered a sandwich and a side, with chips. Big mistake! The sandwich was massive and I ended up donating the side & chips to others. The next day we all decided to go back and wow! What a cool place and I was thankful to be able to get sweet tea. Everyone enjoyed it and I'm glad I live in another state for fear I'd eat here far too much ;)
(5)Chris R.
I am a SugarFire fanboy. This is truly the best BBQ in St. Louis and if that's like sacrilege or whatever because Pappy's and Bogarts are supposedly the best, meh. These guys are the best. It is an experience every time I go. Brisket Cheesesteak, coffee-infused fennel spare ribs, the pastrami? Everything works. Soda from a local company, that white BBQ sauce, a watermelon BBQ sauce? Chef David and Mike are not afraid to try things. Something new every day I go. We even had a SugarFire smoked turkey for our Thanksgiving meal. Everyone that works there is nice - they take such good care of you. Portions are sometimes out of control. Even the burgers are amazing - get one with bacon and a fried egg. Yes, it's the best in St. Louis.
(5)Jim W.
Good stuff. Damn Crack Pie. I'm addicted... And oh, the brisket is excellent as is the Big Muddy sandwich.
(4)Charles M.
It's funny how St. Louis just keeps churning out great restaurants after years of bland, repetitive ideas. I'm a big believer that the true test for a BBQ joint is there brisket. Bad brisket is very bad. Pulled pork can hide in a lot of fat and sauce. Not so for brisket. This place has OUTSTANDING brisket. Had the 9 ounce sandwich and it was fantastic. My gal had the pulled pork, also excellent, but again, I'm a brisket guy. Sides were potato salad (decent), pasta salad (decent) and cheese fries (awesome). A word on their sauces. They had a coffee one which I didn't care for. But you sauce your own food here so it didn't matter. That's important, because they have quite a few sauces including a mustard laced one that is very good. Only complaint is that they have their own brands of soda out of the fountain...that would have been great if they tasted great but to me, they didn't. Other than that, highly highly recommend.
(4)Lindsay P.
I am fairly new to the area. I have yet to experience the famous Pappy's. I can not claim that SugarFire is the best around. But it is by far the best BBQ I have ever eaten. I had the turkey sandwich. That sandwich was nothing short of perfection and this was 2pm. I can only imagine how juicy and tender the meat is during the actual lunch hour. The food was wonderful. I am giving 4 stars instead of 5 because of one problem area. They place your food on a tray covered with a sheet of paper. As you can see in the photos. Which is fine if you give each individual their own tray. But this was not the case for me and my husband. We were given one tray to share. We sat at a two person table facing each other. Leaning over the table the entire time. It was awkward to say the least. We thought about moving to a bigger table where we could sit side by side, but had already started eating so that was out of the question. With that being said, I give SugarFire 5 stars for their food. I love the place. I'll be sure to get a second tray next time :) - Friendly staff - Quick service - Plenty of seating
(4)Joanne S.
Side dishes may be creative but really should be edible. Potato salad had no flavor and green beans were so peppery we couldn't eat them! Slaw was really just fair and served in so much liquid that it was not pleasant. Very disappointing meal !!!
(2)Joshua T.
I was super excited to try out SugarFire b/c of the reviews that I had read and the photos of the food that I saw on here and on Facebook. Unfortunately, I was not impressed with any of their food. I had brisket and turkey and my wife had brisket and ribs. The brisket was not very flavorful and fatty, the turkey was just ok, and then the ribs were meaty, but again not very flavorful. My sides were baked beans and fries and they were ok. The restaurant was nicely decorated, had good customer service, and they support a local soda company Excel Bottling Company by offering SKI products. Maybe we need to give them another chance and try one of their specialty dishes instead of just straight up smoked meats. I probably won't be recommending them to any of my friends looking for good bbq in the STL.
(2)Alice D.
Ok
(3)Erik H.
Look, Pappy's has ruined most other BBQ for me. Their ribs are d@mn near a life-changing experience. I've been there over a dozen times (I live 4.5 hours from STL). That's why, when business brings me down this way, it has been difficult for me not to continue on Olive, past this establishment, downtown to the aforementioned BBQ standard. This time, however, I'm very glad I stopped. Intentional, or not, the look and feel of this place reminds me of some of the Texas BBQ joints I have been to. Looking over the menu, however, it becomes apparent that there is not a cook, but a chef behind all of this. Sure, you see the brisket, the pulled pork, the ribs.... But you also see the house-made sausage, the burgers (made from local MO beef) and the specials, hand-written on a tray liner, such as the catfish po' boy. Sides? Sugarfire seems puts a little more thought into their sides than many of their peers. Yes, there's the BBQ basics....baked beans, house-cut fries, coleslaw.....but there's also the specials (again, hand written) such as garlic spinach, mashed red-skinned potatoes with horseradish, and curried vegetable soup. A handful of house-made BBQ, horseradish, and hot sauces are available. I even saw a "smoked" ketchup advertised. Can't wait to try that on the fries... Pepsi or Big Red? No. Even better: locally made soda from Excel (due east of O'Fallon on US50 in little Breese, IL). You'll find shakes and floats made with local STL ice cream. For the adults, there's beer (some local, I think), cocktails, and "grown-up" shakes (read: booze). They did look kid-friendly with a little sandwich, fries, and a drink kid's meal. My experience: No real complaints. Yes, as others have mentioned, the restaurant lay-out is a little hokey. The soda machine could be in a better spot and the condiments and trash are kinda hidden. No big deal....you're reading this...now you know the gist. If you want soda, grab it before you order (cups are next to the machine). If you want soda refills, yeah, you'll have to "excuse" yourself through the line. No real line when I went, so no issue for me. Service: quick and pleasant. What little line there was went fast. Food: Brisket was excellent...among the best I've had. They don't trim the fat for you, they let you do that. Trust me, not a problem....no knife needed. Good stuff. As far as sides, I got the baked beans (little bit o' veggies cooked in...yum) and red-skinned mashed potatoes w/ horseradish, which was one of the side specials. Both were nice big portions and were excellent. I'm not a big horseradish fan, but the potatoes had just enough to add a nice depth of flavor without being overpowering....very good. Overall, I see no need to compare this place with others. I think they have found their own niche in the STL BBQ scene and as long as the chef doesn't get bored with this project (I guess he has a couple other-themed STL restaurants), I think they will do well. I, for one, will be back.
(5)Mark H.
Half rack of Ribs and a link, beans and slaw. Fall off the bone, great flavour, nice selection of sauces on the table and easily the best beans I have had anywhere. A definite return spot when ever back in St Louis. Can still taste the deliciousness.
(5)Mandy S.
1st time here had the pulled pork sandwich with potato salad and the Mississippi mud pie slice for dessert, I'm giving 4 stars staff was friendly , food was not greasy the way it can be at some bbq restaurants, potato salad was yummy, good portion sizes and that pie OMG loved it! I will be back
(4)Michael K.
Finally got around to heading back to Sugarfire this past weekend. The layout is still the same--walk in and there is enough room for a decent line to form. We were there at about 3PM on a Saturday and the line was pretty small, which moved quickly. Paul (at least that's the name printed on his shirt) greeted us enthusiastically, stating "he's excited to be serving you this wonderful meat." To my memory, I've never seen such enthusiasm in a food handler before. This time around I ordered the Memphis half-rack of ribs that was on special that day with a side of au gratin potatoes and jambalaya. My wife and cousin both selected the brisket sandwich with au gratin potato sides. What a difference in the food I experienced today from my last trip. The ribs were so moist and tender I was able to just pull them apart with my fingers. I wish I had paid closer to attention to the sauce/rub they used on the Memphis rib special so I could tell you exactly what it was. I can tell you that it was mouth watering delicious and made the use of BBQ sauce irrelevant. My wife's brisket sandwich also was equally tender and full of flavor, even without the use of BBQ sauce. When it comes to sides, I feel this is where Sugarfire really stands out compared to a place like Pappy's. They have a few that were on the menu both times, but it appeared that they change them out to keep things interesting. Not only that, but they seem to put as much thought and time into creating the sides as they do the meat. Thus their sides wind up being almost as tasty as the main course. The jambalaya I had was spiced nicely, with the sausage providing a little extra kick to it. The au gratin potatoes were cheesy and soft with just the right touch of salt. I still love the use of trays with piece of paper over it as the plate! Was also happy to see that a second soda fountain had been added on the other side of the restaurant so you no longer have to push your way through a line (if there is one.) All told...I now feel that I will be making a venture over to give Sugarfire a few more tries!
(4)A E.
I went here today specifically because of a recommendation about the apple pie. I got there at opening and they had none. I thought that was stupid. The lady said it was in the oven. Get your shit made before you open or take it off the damn menu. I was totally annoyed as you can tell. I usually go to Bogarts for ribs. Theirs are better in my opinion. The sides are WAY better at Bogarts. The potato salad here tasted like nothing but celery and the beans had a ton of celery too. I hate the taste of celery lol so that obviously didn't please me. The meats are very good. Sauces are OK. Again I like the sauces at Bogarts way better. I had ribs and the smoke on them is great, it was mostly the sides and lack of the one thing I went there for that makes me dislike this place. They were totally unapologetic about their lack of pie. Like, hey we don't care if we don't have menu items available on a day that is obviously gonna be crazy busy. I'll stick to Bogarts.
(2)Tom J.
Sugarfire is a winner and I'm a loser. If you're wondering how many times someone can be a misguided idiot without becoming a spectacle, I'll present my visit to Sugarfire as evidence. I walked in the wrong door (choose the one on the left), got in line at the register, where the line ends, then realizing my mistake, wandered down and basically butted in front of the people who actually understood the process. If anyone noticed or got pissed off, they didn't say anything. As I learned years ago, it's okay to claim "new guy" in these situations as long as you have the appropriate dumb look. I ordered my pulled pork sandwich, baked beans and soda, but couldn't find the soda fountain. It's back in the line where the smart people were, so I had to push my way back against the line. Unfortunately, they have some offbrands which I couldn't decifer because I forgot my glasses, further delaying the smart ones. BTW, the setup for soda is pretty bad - refills require going against the grain - "Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me." Of course I did get a refill later, so I had to fight back through the line twice. Anyway, the pulled pork was fantastic. Nothing like I've had before - huge chunks of extremely tender pork. Could have used a bit more rub, IMO, but the sauces were all very good. The baked beans were also unique with a mix of beans. Again a little more kick would be nice, but I added some of the hot Texas style sauce from the table and they were great. I'll be back and I"ll probably go in the right door. Unless there's a long line, I might just go in the wrong door, give a dumb look, butt in and claim "new guy."
(4)H E.
DELISH!!! One of my fav places!
(5)Andy D.
Well, we have a new Saturday evening tradition, and it's dinner at SugarFire Smoke House. This place rocks. Why? Well, it's great barbecue, serious comfort food, served in a comfortable, spacious environment. Unlike other BBQ joints which might make it all too obvious that you're an outsider (a la Seinfeld's Soup Nazi episode), SugarFire will make you and the rest of your family feel as if you're right at home. But I'm getting too far removed from the great food, though, which is the real reason you should come here. The pulled rib sandwich special I had a few weeks ago was one of the best bits of barbecue I've ever eaten. The burgers and beef brisket stand by that greatness. The myriad sauces allow diners to craft their meals to their liking, and tasty local sodas add another draw for fountain-soda lovers like myself. The music is good and the area is comfortable, although it does feel overstuffed with a public library's table and chairs. Sturdy fare, though, does require a sturdy table! Already looking forward to yet another return visit. There are only a few places in St. Louis I've craved regularly since being introduced to them. SugarFire is one.
(5)Cathy H.
Wow. This place never disappoints! The bacon wrapped bacon needs to be a daily offering! Everything was amazing, as always! Even my vegetarian sister had a great meal!
(5)Hernando W.
Dios Mio! Oh My Gato!? Having just ended my 2 month tantric sensuality session with my wife, "Biff", I was starving. I awoke "Biff" from her post-Hernando nap and we were off! Upon entering I heard the sweet croons of my protege, Morrissey. "Biff" became weak in the kness so I had to escort her to the ordering counter. There was a selection of meats that would make the most weathered man feel emasculated. I adjusted "little" hernando in my chinos and placed my order. 4 slabs of ribs, 2 pounds of brisket, and 9 sausage links laid on our sheet tray and we headed off to the sauce bodega! "Biff" had regained her strength as now The Cure was playing and she was fueled with an insatiable hatred for Robert Smith. Holy Mary Mother Of Sauces! Salsa Blanco!! I had considered myself a man of the world until I encountered Chef Sugarfire's white barbecue sauce. I had only heard faint whispers of this type of sauce existing and had dispelled it as nothing but a myth. But there it was. In front of me. In a pump bottle. "Biff" fainted and I began to have cold sweats. I carefully dipped my brisket into the creamy white unknown, and I must say, my "chorizo" went from the soft Mexican style to the dry cured stiff Spanish style. Upon leaving I purchased 3 quarts of Chef Sugarfire's white elixir, as I believe that it may be a strong aphrodisiac. I also offered a copy of my landmark album "Sensual Guitar by Hernando" as a simple thank you to Chef Sugarfire and his tribe of meatsmen,
(5)Toni L.
Well folks, I "thought" this was the best BBQ. My apologizes for the incorrect review. We went on Fathers Day, waited in line for ONE HOUR, in a ridiculously long line in the heat, only to met with a rude service. The guy slicing the meat was, no joke "The Soup Nazi". He waited on 2 girls ahead of us and was very nice to them cause it was their first time there. He explained all the sides and welcomed them, but when we stepped up all the irritation he felt for them he unleashed on us. He treated us as if we were a bother and spit out your order and move along. The brisket was dry, prices had gone up ($1.00 on some more on others), sides were ok, portions in to go dishes were small. Not worth the $10 (with tax + rudeness) for a sandwich and one small side. Will NOT be returning, I have heard of a few other places to try out and I'm definitely going to do that.
(1)Kat V.
So, on the advice of friends, I came here for dinner last night. The verdict: tooo salty. The sauce was great, but the meat was way tooo salty for my taste buds. I got the burnt ends sandwich. Looked great, but after a couple of bites ---- :( Major disaster. The baked beans tasted great. The ambience was great. Tiny place. The one thing that I am majorly hooked on is the Lucky Brand Cola that's made with cane sugar. Seriously good stuff. Even way better than Coke. And it's locally made. No Coke or Pepsi products at this place. Maybe I'll come back here & try the ribs. So, easy to miss. It's right in that plaza with the Starbucks & the cooking school. Sort of across from Chevy's & CVS.
(3)Charles T.
What a pleasant surprise! I have to admit that in my head, Sugarfire had a lot of negatives going for it before I ever stepped in the door... Was a BBQ place in the storefront of a former chain restaurant... Is this another chef turned pitmaster failure?... Steam table service, I'm not in grade school anymore... Pies in the name, really? I thought this was BBQ!... Well Sugarfire not only made some great Q, they made all of my previous concerns disappear! As for the decor, WOW! In the short amount of time they had to work on the front of house they were really able to transform the space. I know some other people voiced concern about the "hallway" that you enter in and how you place your order. At first glance I would agree with those posts. However in retrospect, I wouldn't change a thing. You start by getting your beverage from a self service counter. Next you make your way over to the steam table (for first timers navigating the menu looks intimidating). The neat thing about the steam table is the interaction with the staff. The menu is changing and being worked on so don't wast your time looking at the menu board, just ask the staff what to order. The guys at the steam table are actual chefs not part time snot nosed kids. Talking with the guys that actually make the food and getting their recommendation is a GREAT aspect of Sugarfire. As for the food itself, everything was very well executed. They served that sort of dry sort of wet baby back rib that has become popular around town. While I certainly think this is a good rib, I still believe that BBQ should be messy. The brisket is sliced thick and has a nice fat cap to it. The brisket is a nice change of pace as it feels homemade when served this way (I know a lot of people don't like the fat on their brisket but hey, FAT is flavor!). The turkey is extremely moist and cooked perfectly. The homemade recipe sausages are more of an artisan blend than a traditional hot link. I would go to the BBQ place just for the sausage! The only disappoint is the pork is a little bit too bland for my liking. As for die dishes, go with what you senses tell you. The chefs seem to always be working on and playing with new sides. Chances are if there is a side dish on special, its pretty darn good. And the pies... Okay they are pretty darn good also. They are a touch on the pricey side but are worth trying once. A few slices of pie goes long way with a group as a shared dessert. All in all, Sugarfire is off to a great start. They exceeded my expectations in every way and are just a step behind the Holy Grail of St. Louis BBQ that is Pappy's/Bogart's and BBQ ASAP. I look forward to watching the evolution of this restaurant.
(4)Don R.
My wife RAVED about this place and forced me to go there for dinner one Saturday night. They were out of ribs, which is what I really wanted to try, and the brisket wasn't anything special. My wife said that the brisket is normally much better and that maybe it was due to the fact that it was later in the evening that the meat wasn't as succulent as she has had from here. It was a little bit dry but it had a nice flavor. The kids turkey was pretty good still and the fries were nice and hot. Unlike 17th Street BBQ in O'Fallon, IL, where the food and service was awful, this food at least gave me a glimmer of hope that it was maybe better earlier in the day. I will definitely go back either for lunch or early dinner and hope that the food is as good as everyone indicates it can be, even my own wife! The service was friendly and the fountain sodas were great.
(3)Erin G.
This is the BBQ version of Sauce on the Side. I wasn't expecting it to be so good. I actually loved the meat. I even think it may be better than Pappys. I had a half rack of ribs and BBQ beans and potato salad. The beans were really flavorful, loved how there were black beans in it. My hubby got the brisket and noodles and mushrooms and a potato pancake as his sides and the noodles were highly addictive. They were out of mac and cheese and that was a bummer! Make double what you usually do!!! We also had a white russian adult shake and it was so light and wonderful I don't know how they did it, more colada than shake. The guys running this place are super chill and awesome. Can't wait to go back a million times.
(5)Antwan J.
Baked beans, not so much. Loaded potato salad outstanding!! Brisket and Pork were good and all the sauces made the visit even more enjoyable. I'd definitely come back.
(4)Carissa M.
I tried Sugarfire for the first time today and was happy to not be disappointed. I love the feel of the restaurant both inside and out. I had the ribs and my boyfriend had a brisket sandwich. Both were good but I wasn't completely blown away. The coffee BBQ sauce will keep me coming back though. For sides we skipped on fries (even though they looked fantastic) because we were taking it to go. Instead we got the baked beans (love), zucchini and squash (love even more) and a cheesy potato such 'n such hash (wowzers). I was extremely pleased with the side selections and that they always have the basics but throw in different sides daily. It's nice to be surprised and deviate outside of the traditional beans, slaw and fries. Because of other reviews on here I knew to get a slice of crack pie. If I were only able to eat one more meal it would definitely include a slice of that pie. We will definitely be back soon!
(4)K T.
SugarFire is quickly becoming our "go to" restaurant for dinner when we are going out with friends or family. We've introduced this place to 4 different people and they all love it as much as we do. The menu is diverse, prices are reasonable, and the food never disappoints. I've had brisket, turkey, and the burger. Hard to pick a favorite - they are all good. Better yet, the sides - always interesting and tasty. Of course, top off the meal with a cookie!
(5)Anonymous N.
Not sure what all the hype is about. Food is average at best. Pappy's is much better.
(2)Ben M.
This place is great. Great sides, good meats. Ribs aren't quite as good as pappy's, but everything else is on par or better.
(5)James P.
In an interesting location, but smelled great inside! I tried the Brisket and Rib combo - they even gave me a small sample of Turkey to try, very cool! For sides I tried the Mac n Cheese (Good) and Gumbo (Great). Wow they had a lot of different sauces! My favorite was the Texas Hot, but even with all those sauces they still didn't have my favorite Carolina Style Vinegar Spice.
(4)Kathy F.
the place is a little different straight from the beginning. you get your drinks first, there are several to choose from ski fountain drinks, bottled and can beers or tea. you then fall into line and take a tray. the tray is actually your plate. you tell the person serving the meat what you want and they cut it right there and place it on your tray. next step is your side items and then desserts & check out. we went with 4 people and tried each others food or at least the meats. I was able to try the brisket, pulled pork and the ribs. they were really good. the sides were more then what they had on their menu. I tried macaroni and the green beans. there were several sauces not all of them were bbq some were mustard flavored. I tried 3 and they were pretty good. they even had a coffee bbq sauce as I am not a coffee fan I didn't try this but I was told it was pretty good as well. I thought the brisket that I had was a little dry and on the verge of tough. it wasn't as tender as I preferred. another person who had the brisket thought it was great. the ribs were very good as well. the pulled pork was ok nothing to write home about. in the serving that was given there was about 1/3 of fat, we couldn't eat just fat. I tried to of the desserts key lime pie and crack pie. they were pretty good the key lime wasn't bad for St. Louis I have nothing to compare crack pie to but it was good for what it is but not something I would get all the time. crack pie is kinda like a gooey butter with vanilla wafers. I personally prefer Pappy's over Sugarfire but I would go back Sugarfire.
(4)Joshua H.
From Boston and found on a business trip through yelp. Perfect bbq. Got to have ribs and brisket with Carolina mustard sauce. Jumabalya was so good too. Friendly people. Must go!
(5)Dawn B.
This place will soon have a cult following. I've been to the other places everyone raves about and stands in line for and they don't hold a candle. BBQ is great, meats are nicely smoked and the range of side items steals the show. I got a potato pancake (not your typical BBQ joint side option) and it was as good as my main course! I loved it. For the traditionalists they had the expected sides (cole slaw, baked beans, mac and cheese etc) There were four of us and everyone finished their plate. I would wait in line to eat here -- that's not a common statement from me! Sodas are cane sugar!!! MMMM.
(5)Nicholas L.
Finally gave this place a go after I saw that they won "Best New Restaurant" on stlmag.com and I am very glad that I did. I had the 6oz. brisket plate with 2 sides. The brisket was perhaps the best I've had here in STL or Texas or anywhere for that matter. The 2 sides (hand-cut shoestring fries and jambalaya) were also delicious (and very generous portions for sides!) I may have held up the line choosing my 2 sides; this place has about ten sides, many of which I've never seen offered as a side at any other BBQ joint. I'm a little embarrassed at how I must have come off to other patrons. I was eating alone, smiling from ear to ear, and stuffing my face with brisket and handfuls of the fries, and slurping the jambalaya like Billy Madison when his dad called him down to dinner with his business executives. This place is awesome. Great news for all you surburbanites who fear getting mugged and/or murdered if you travel east Hanley - I suppose you no longer have to go to Pappy's or Bogart's to get world-class BBQ!
(5)Zach V.
I just got back from my second trip to Sugarfire and.... Why are you still reading? You need to go try this place, i've had the Pulled pork, Brisket, Turkey and homemade sausage, and everything is excellent. I actually just got back from Memphis yesterday, and Sugarfire stands up to anything I have had down there. They have a great selection of typical barbecue, along with a rotation going on things that they are trying out. Brisket is so tender, my friend asked me why i mulched mine and to that I replied it simply fell apart when my fork touched it. Today they had pork jowl and pork belly, along with chilled pork patte for everyone to sample while going down the line, and it was FIRE. Plus, it was free! They have a ton of different barbecue sauces, (try the white bbq, it's unbelievable), along with an extremely nice staff. I actually enjoy the no-plate approach, as having a large area for food arrangement and destruction on your platter is a nice change of place. I will admit that the soda fountain is tough for refills, but its nice to get your soda while you are waiting in line, as you can have something to drink. I wouldn't want to move the fountain, maybe just install another one that is for customers seeking out refills. All in all, this place actually has some of the best BBQ in STL, and you are doing yourself a disservice by not visiting. You'll probably see me there, as I will definitely be back.
(5)Joe F.
What a great place. I knew this place was a good choice, we had arrived 15 minutes early (they open at 12) and there was at least 15 people in line waiting to get in. The turkey brisket combo was out of this world. The sauces at the table were amazing. I recommend if you are having the turkey to try the white sauce. I will be back soon.
(5)Bob G.
It was the first time I had been there. The brisket was very good and they have a good assortment of sauces. We went on a Tuesday at 7 PM and was able to get in and found a table to share. We tried a couple weeks ago and we walked away it was so busy. Fortunately the Restaurant Bar next door is very good. The drinks located at the start of the line makes for a road block but that is their choice.
(4)Jenni H.
So good! Cafeteria style service, so don't expect wait staff. The great thing about that is there's not a long wait for your meal. The food is killer and they must have about 9 different sauces on the table. I suggest doing a "plate" so you get the 2 sides and a soda included with your choice of meat (pulled pork, there I decided for you). They had gumbo when I went that was super yummy. Hubby had some kind of crazy sandwich with fried okra on it. He loved it! The other couple we were with we're happy with their meals as well. Two good adult appetites with sodas will set you back about $35--less than a trip to Applebee's and infinitely more tasty!
(4)Gregg R.
Temped to give five stars. Very good food, BBQ stables as well as some unique items. Rotating variety if sides and deserts. Burgers are a must try. The people there are always very friendly and helpful las well, always a positive experience here.
(4)Bruce C.
I saw this place here on yelp and decided to give it a shot. When I walked in I knew it would be awesome and my kinda place. I looked at the menu and saw all the sauces and knew right then it was for sure going to be good. Then you read grass feed beef only. I think I will have to redo my other Burger reviews because this place killed them. I got my Burger pretty quick and the guys were nice and helpful. The Burger was cooked perfect. I got it with cheese (forgot what it was) he suggested to me and hot BBQ sauce. I ate this Burger so fast I forgot to take a picture of the before so I took a almost after. They have a ton of sauces, my favorite being the coffee sauce its sweet almost fruity and Smokey with a coffee hint. Very good on the Burger and fries. The fries were seasoned perfect too. This will be my go to Burger place and my measurements for burgers from here on.
(5)Brian E.
Great Food!! Fun atmosphere. Good music. Very nice staff....had a fun time. I will be back.....with more of my friends!
(4)Simone P.
I can not rave about his place more! This is going to be one of our must visit places every time we visit St Louis now! Let me just say that because of the amazing food and the popularity of this BBQ, there is a line... A LONG LINE! But please be patient. Know that the line is a good thing, the BBQ is awesome and amazing and worth the wait. There is inside and outside seating but there were so many people we just decided to get our food to go and have a picnic in the park. All their sodas are made with sugar cane, no high fructose syrup here! When you finally get to place your order, it is very quickly and efficiently assembled for you. I chose the Combo - brisket and pulled pork. With a choice of MANY side items, I settled on the potato salad and the pasta salad, both very good choices. Everything is seasoned well, very moist and juicy and the brisket had a beautiful smoke ring on the meat. I got a piece of cornbread that was sweet and a great addition to my meal. You will have several BBQ sauces to choose from. I decided on the Sweet Sauce and the Coffee Sauce. I am a HUGE fan of the coffee sauce, but my husband stole all of it from me. Please visit this place, its one of my high recommendations for St. Louis!
(5)Mark A.
Had turkey, brisket, and ribs with slaw and beans. I was a little disappointed because the turkey and brisket were dry while ribs chewy and a little too soft. The place was bustling and I'm sure if I said something they would have tried to help. Most likely my bad luck with a bad plate. It happens. I did enjoy the atmosphere and I'm encouraged of the pride Mike brings to his place...I would go again and support his small business.
(3)Scott C.
OK I'm not even a BBQ fan and this place delights me. The sides are as good as the meat they serve. They strangely and cooly have off brand soda pop on tap that's made in Breese IL. I love that. and the desserts are amazing too. Its not huge seating wise and always seems mobbed at lunch so be prepared but know its worth the wait.
(4)Lorraine N.
Upon entering you can get a waft of the lovely smoky meat ---love the atmosphere and how they serve the food up on metal cafeteria trays and wax/brown paper....very cool....love that they have unusual drink choices made with all natural cane sugar...yum and I'm not even a soda drinker but I would convert for this.....The dude slicing and serving my meat up was very fun and friendly...he was a gem. I got brisket and it was really delish---I like the sweet sauce....I was not really impressed with the cheesy gratins they lacked salt or flavor and the potatoes were a little hard still. but the beans were good ---spicy and had some nice variety of beans in the mix....the homemade sausage and rice dish was really delish but oh so spicy for this wimp....I am guessing the sides change and I was disappointed they were out of the pecan pie....My hubby loved his ribs and is happy that this place is close to home...we will be back...I am hoping they have mac-n-cheese sometime....
(4)Mike A.
4 visits in one week, ergo.... I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I am on to a new project back in my normal territory of the exotic Wildwood. However, I will be working back in Olivette for a few days in mid August and I will be stopping by every day again! What will I be sure to try? Brisket Cheesesteak, Ribs!, and for sure one of the best cheeseburgers in St Louis! I KNOW, I KNOW it is a BBQ place...I tried the double cheeseburger for dinner on one of the days I had already been there for lunch, I had to try it and I am glad I did!!!! My sides will be coleslaw and one of their always changing choices. From risotto to potato hash, I look forward to whatever they feel like making that day. Even with the side on rare occasion not being good to my palate, I love trying different things and I appreciate the variety regardless of each dishes "rating"!
(5)Monica B.
Couple small imperfections but I can't help but give this place 5 stars because it actually made my day BETTER today. This was our first time going there so I wasn't exactly sure how it worked. The guy behind the serving line pointed out the regular menu and the specials, and recommended the burnt ends sandwich (one of the specials), which is what I got, with jambalaya and cole slaw as my sides, plus a Lucky Club Cola from the fountain (good! but very sweet). The cole slaw tasted really good but was swimming in sauce...but we went in at an odd time (3:00) and might have gotten the end of a batch. Not a big deal, still tasted awesome, even though I dripped on my shirt. The burnt end sandwich was incredible. Flavortown!! And sooo tender. The jambalaya had huge chunks of chicken and sausage and veggies, and was also pretty amazing. BF ordered the double burger w/ cheese & bacon, and fries, which came out piping hot, perfectly salted and actually tasted like potatoes. We were both really happy (and extremely full) when we left. Next time we go there won't be a lunch break from work, because I think I desperately need a white Russian milkshake. Yes, I'm pretty sure I do.
(5)Shane O.
We vacationed in St. Louis over July 4th weekend and I just had to get here. It's the first place we went and it did not disappoint whatsoever. The restaurant itself had so much fun and cool stuff to look at. The line was out the door but it went pretty fast. I wish they'd put one where I live. The food was amazballs. Ribs, pulled pork, slaw, you name it and it was delicious.
(5)Brendan G.
I went to SugarFire with some coworkers last week for lunch. We were all pretty happy that another BBQ place was occupying the former Dickie's location, since you can never have too much BBQ, so giving this place a shot was a no-brainer. The Good: - The BBQ was very good. I had the brisket and tried a coworker's turkey. Both were great. - My french fries were small and crispy, just like I like 'em. More surface area to get good and fried (compared to say, steak fries). - Lots of BBQ sauce choices at each table. I'm a fan of the sweet. - Ski on tap! The soda fountain had ski, along with lots of other relatively obscure (and sugar based) sodas. It's a very nice change from the normal Coke versus Pepsi choices. - Great customer service. We were greeted quickly by a host, who offered a quick rundown of our options, and every person in the food line served us with a smile. - It was fast. I'm sure that might be obvious considering the type of restaurant it is, and the fact that they aren't cooking to order, but it's an important point for the work lunch crowd. You can get in and out in good time. The Bad: - The soda fountain! Oh god, the soda fountain. As another reviewer also pointed out, the soda fountain layout is TERRIBLE. You walk past it on entering, then get instructed to double-back for your drink before ordering. Want seconds during lunch hour? Fight your way through the line of people waiting to get food and it's all yours. A much better location for this would be over by the exit, in the little area where the trash is today. - The potato salad. I'll admit, I'm pretty picky about my potato salad. Few stand up to my gold standard (homestyle red potato salad w/ egg from Schnucks. get some.) and this was no exception. It was just bland and boring. Like somebody insisted that they have potato salad, since it was BBQ, but nobody there really knew how to make it. - The tray. You don't get plates at SugarFire, they give you a metal tray with butcher paper on it that you get your food on. And that would be fine, except that mine wasn't level. It had a big dent in the bottom so I would push down into my food with a fork or knife and the other side of the tray would pop up, constantly, like I was sitting at a table with a short leg. - The size. I can't say this is a really big negative, but it's important to note that this is not a good place for bigger groups. If you go off peak you can probably pull a few tables together, but during lunch hour I wouldn't really want to try with more than about 4. I'll be back to SugarFire, for sure. I'll make sure to get a flat tray, and I'll just skip the potato salad; problems solved there. The fountain needs to go, though. They just opened so they get a pass for now, but if that doesn't get moved soon I'll probably drop another star off my review.
(4)Leo S.
This is seriously the best meat in St. Louis! I usually get the turkey, salmon, or brisket and they are all outstanding. The rotating side dishes are usually excellent too. My favorite side is their jambalaya although I've only seen it there once.
(5)Katherine L.
A treasure, for sure. Try the smoked turkey, its moist and not over "rubbed". There is always an eclectic choice of sides, I enjoy the greens ... finally someone makes greens that are not too salty. The salmon is delicious if you can get it, it sells out fast. I don't think they are going for the "hippie look", I think the guy is a most sincere hippie. On my first visit, there was an elderly couple having some trouble navigating the cafeteria-type line and the confusing menu. The guy was incredibly kind, walking with them, helping with choices, carrying their stuff and seating them. Don't get caught up in the soda stuff at the beginning of the line, they have lovely bottled stuff behind the counter (Cream soda!). The final and most absolute treat? A Crown Royal milkshake. Portions are embarrassingly huge. They have five or six nice sauces, just help yourself.
(5)Tony D.
Awesome BBQ. Everyday a unique new special. Surprisingly the ribs are not the highlight. The sandwiches are huge. Their pulled pork is so tender it is literally pulled by fingers. Brisket is the most tender flavorful and free of fatty tissue. Their smoked portaBella is a must with blue cheese (not American). And their sides are new each day, unique and large enough to share. Must try the roasted veggie potato salad or sweet potato salad. And I've Never seen smoked pastrami sandwich. Large portions worth the $9 lunch with side.
(5)Johnathan E.
Best BBQ in St. Louis! I love it the food and usually eat lunch or dinner here at least once or twice every two weeks. The sauces are just amazing. It's the only place in St Louis I know of that you can get a white mayo based bbq sauce. The coffee sauce is amazing and they've just started having a root beer bbq sauce which is divine. My wife and I usually share the "all the meats" platter and it's enough meat to feed ta squadron of paratroopers. We always take enough home to have dinner again or lunch the next day. They also have pickled jalapeños, pickles, and onion as free add ons and they're quite good. One of the really cool and unique features thus place has is an awesome soda fountain. No Coke or Pepsi here but things like Ski and several artisanal colas make for an awesome drink experience. Also, the sweet tea is amazing. The only critique I have is that sometimes the sides are hit and miss. Fiesta corn (I don't even like corn all that much) and the brisket chili are just wow ( I could eat buckets of both) but other things such as the greens and the polenta pork belly cake are either too greasy or too bland. The meat is the star and everything else is just an awesome side show. Try all the sauces even if you aren't a sauce person. Be sure you're okay with communal seating as you will be sitting with other patrons at huge tables. Also, lunch is often packed. Go here if you're craving bbq. Even if you're not craving it, just drive by and smell the air, then you will be.
(4)Joyce G.
Thanks Mike Owner, (Grammar teacher) lol I'm simply commenting about my own personal experience. And me not feeling like the food was my cup of tea. I am just one voice and this is what Yelp is all about. So it's not personal I just like what I like. Is the grammar better lol !!! Have a wonderful evening Mike. GOD BLESS!
(3)Linda H.
It was the first time trying the place. It is located about 2-1/2 miles from work, and takes about 8 minutes to get there. When I called to place a pick-up order for 6 people the person who was taking my order was a little rude. I finally said I have never been to the restaurant before so I didn't know how things worked and she was a little nicer. I found parking in a spot for 15 minutes only, which is nice to have because parking is at a premium. I go to the door with a very long line and ask a customer if I should squeeze through or did they know where I should go to pick up a order. They suggested that I use the exit door. When I come to the exit door it has a very small sign that says for use if you are picking up an order. Maybe the person who took my order could have told me that, because the sign wasn't visible until you reach the door. The place is very crowded at lunch time and very small. I go to the checkout counter and the girl is trying to figure something out and she is talking to several people and I keep hearing something about 5:00. Well it is 11:45, so maybe you should help the person standing there waiting for her order and worry about the 5:00 problem later. I finally get ask if I need help and pay for my order. I did tip 10%, which is what I normally do when I'm picking up an order. I go to the very inconvenient area to fill up the drinks and ask for something to carry them in. I notice ketchup and BBQ sauce and assume I need to get these things for myself. I couldn't really check my order at the restaurant it was way too crowded, so I assume it was right. Made my two trips out to the car and drove back to work. I was missing a pulled pork sandwich and my Caesar Salad didn't come with any salad dressing. So I call them up to tell them I'm coming back up to get the sandwich. I walk it the door and the girl says what did you forget. I said nothing I didn't get my pulled pork sandwich it was sitting on the counter and she just says oh and hands it to me. I was a little taken aback when she didn't even say sorry, so I forgot to tell her about not having any salad dressing and I forgot to get any more bbq sauce. Anyway I don't think I will be back to get lunch for my work. As for the food: Smoked Chicken Caesar Salad - had a lot of meat and it was pretty good. Would have been better with Caesar dressing, but I had to use the ranch dressing I had at work. Double Burger/Cole slaw - he said it was good. Really liked the coleslaw. Brisket Cheese steak - it was just alright the meat was very fatty. Half rack of ribs - the guy says he didn't like them. He wants his ribs to fall off the bone. Pulled pork plate - said the beans were very good everything else was okay. Big Muddy - it was okay.
(2)Mike N.
Best sides and sauces of any bbq place I have ever been to. Great BBQ to boot. I would eat there every day if I could.
(5)Rod D.
In town for business from LA and a colleague wanted BBQ. Thank you colleague! The pulled pork was some of the best that I've ever had. Ditto on the baked beans. The greens were ok, but didn't blow my mind (I think I'm spoiled on greens from visits to Alabama). Everybody at the table loved the brisket as well.
(5)Amy C.
The brisket has to be my favorite! The perfect combination of seasoning and smoke! Our favorite side is their jambalaya! It is amazing! Staff is great and always super friendly!
(4)Christy B.
This place seems really cool to hang out in the smell hits you as soon as you get to the door. I got brisket for my Mom and ribs for myself. Delicious! I got grits and smoked cookies too...both were very good!!! The service was good and friendly!
(5)Brian H.
Great BBQ. Some of the best I have had anywhere. I have now tried most all the meats and sauces and a few of the sides. Wonderful variety of sauces and the sides are fresh and delicious. I have not tried the pies but friends swear by them, especially the crack pie which is gooey butter with an oatmeal cookie crust. This is definitely a must visit place.
(5)Robert M.
BBQ was first rate. Brisket, awesome, red beans and rice were a very pleasant suprise. Talked to "Oaks" who said he was the sous-chef, talked to me about the menu, great customer service. Highly recommend.
(5)Kevin G.
Best pulled pork sandwich, Carolina style, I've had in years.
(5)Dee R.
Came in today for a late lunch with the hubby. He is a huge Pappy's fan so it is hard to get other spots to win him over. I think SugarFire accomplished the task. He liked the pulled pork, potato salad, sweet BBQ sauce and the pecan pie! Now, I had the brisket and the jalapeno sausage link....WOW!! Both were amazing! Also, the house made fries were cooked to perfection and tasted SO good.My sauce of choice was the Texas HAWT! The 47 sauce was probably my second fav. I forgot to check and see if they bottled this because I NEED it in my life on a regular basis. I ended my meal with the Crack pie. It is a unique take on a googey butter cake and YES you will be hooked like a crack addict! Get on over to Olive and I-170 for great food and reasonable prices!
(4)Christy D.
Being a transplant from Georgia I am very picky about my pulled pork. We checked out the St Charles location on Saturday, got the sandwich and side and I was back home in Georgia. I have had lots of pulled pork and Sugarfire is THE BEST, that we are going again this week and having it for my daughters graduation as well.
(5)Amy B.
Fantastic! One of my hands down favorite Burgers and Brisket in St. Louis. They are fairly new and working out the kinks tho. For instance, in my last 4 or 5 visits they forgot something that I had ordered and I had to go up and ask. So if you don't mind checking your order after you receive it, you will enjoy this place.
(4)Andy K.
Came back for a third visit with my family because Mike wrote a nice response. The third visit was a charm. The sides were much better this go around. I got the fabulous turkey again. My kids ordered the meat lovers tray. We enjoyed everything to the last bite. Just goes to show you how different the same place can be. I do think the ordering is a bit awkward. There was a short line and two guys were working the meat requests all of a sudden one of the guys kind of stopped working and just stood there. The line really slowed done and that dude wasn't doing anything at all. the girls got the sides and the one guy did every meat request. I felt like the back up was with the meat but they had plenty of help. Not sure what that was about. the line took too long for the amount of staff and guests in the place. If you are taking a break don't do it in front of your guests waiting to get food. This time all the meat items were very good and so were the sides.
(4)C B.
I can be honest in saying since I moved to St Louis "THIS" is the best brisket I have had in St Louis! First I would like to say the other joints in St Louis are about average...Pappy's, P.M. BBQ and so on are good, but this does blow them out of the water. I had the brisket, brisket chili, and the rosted squash and zucchini as sides. A true test to me of any BBQ is if the meat is good with out the sauce.... and it is. I almost forgot to try the sauces... a white sauce, coffee sauce which is all that we had at the table (busy place)were deep in favor. The white sauce being a nice change from the boring sauces at other local joints. You cannot go wrong with going to Sugarfire. But I did have one thing that was extremely off with the meal. I ordered a slice of apple pie to go. This was the only mistake of the day. VERY under cooked, the dough was not cooked properly at all. So if you do go and enjoy the BBQ skip the (at least) the apple pie.
(5)Dave C.
This place has Amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing BBQ. I had a brisket sandwich and I was in heaven, best brisket I have ever had no question. For my side I had the garlic squash and zucchini which was great. My GF had the best turkey sandwich she has ever had and loved her side of roasted herbed potatoes. The ONLY reason this place does not get 5 stars was because of the service. We stood at the counter for almost 5 minutes waiting for someone to recognize we were waiting for sides. Even though another guy was standing there watching us wait i seemed we were inconveniencing hm too much to help us. This is the only reason they are no as good as Pappy's. Too bad Sugarfire
(4)Moni G.
very good and great pecan pie
(5)S. W.
This is my new go to spot for brisket. Their brisket is deliciously tender and flavourful!!!! I also ordered the crack pie, very sweet of course, not bad. The staff was very nice. I got a free side of the coleslaw to try. It looked better than it tasted. Reasonable prices, nice environment.
(5)Ambriah B.
O.M.G yum yum yum yum yum! That brisket was amazing! I am still sitting in the restaurant in heaven! I can't wait to come back and try the turkey!
(5)Danny I.
I stopped in for the first time last Saturday before the ballgame. I ordered the double burger with cheese and bacon. BEST burger I've had in a long time.
(5)Bill E.
We have eaten at the Olivette location and loved the entire experience - food was fabulous, great service, a super selection, and soon an Elm Street location in St. Charles that we can walk to - Jackpot!. Hope you can handle the crowds. If it matches the Olivette store, we will be regulars!
(5)Rick M.
Everyone agrees that the ribs are superb but we had the turkey as well and it was truly phenomenal. The brisket was good but not as outstanding as the other meats. As far as sides go, the fries and beans were excellent. Some of us really liked the greens but others thought they were average. The same held true regarding the fried green tomatoes. The gave us a sample of their barley salad but the jury is still out on that one. I really enjoyed the cane soda. We already know what we're ordering the next time we go and we'll venture where we have yet to go on some items but will repeat what we're hooked on.
(4)Heather L.
There isn't a BBQ place in St. Louis that I'm not familiar with, so I knew I had to try SugarFire Smoke House. They did NOT disappoint! Our table ordered this huge tray of meat (can't remember the name), but it included brisket, pulled pork, ribs, turkey and sausage. Our sides were the bacon and cheese grits and the green beans. We also ordered a burger and fries. They let us sample a few items before we ordered (since we said it was our first time and we couldn't decide what to have!), and when they saw that we had our two girls with us, they brought out our fries in two baskets, instead of having them share. Oh! And we tried the hush puppies too! AMAZING! I could write a book on how terrific the food is here! Everything exceeded my expectations. The brisket was so moist, and all the meat was so flavorful that they didn't need a drop of sauce (though the sauces here are so heavenly, I still had to eat them, especially the coffee one). The food and service were both just out of this world. I still like Super Smokers, Pappy's, and Bogart's, but the next time I want BBQ I will come here first. So friendly and reasonably priced - highly recommend!
(5)Billy C.
Initially, I was skeptical. The suburbs of St. Louis isn't exactly the place I expect to find good barbecue, especially in a strip mall next to a Starbucks, I was pleasantly surprised, though. This is right up there with the best in town, and thus, in the country. I had lunch yesterday and really enjoyed the Pulled Pork sandwich as well as the beans. The price is right, and they've got Ski soda to wash it all down. As I was finishing up, pit master Casey was walking around, seeing him there, I knew our barbecue was in good hands.
(5)Leah A.
Great BBQ, lots of sauces to choose from and they are all good. This place just has a fun vibe. Sodas are all locally made brand made with sugar not corn syrup. Loved the brisket, pulled pork, ribs, big muddy and the choc chip cookies!
(4)rebecca f.
Five stars for not only having awesome food, but mixing it up with great specials. Bit of a jaunt for me, Pappys is 3 minutes away and our go-to, but this place is beyond a place like Pappys because of their specials. Honestly enjoyed the sides more than the bbq, but the sriacha bbq sauce is dynamite. If i lived closer we'd be regulars. Nice work opening a great place that has great service and a cool city feel in the county.
(5)Arun S.
GREAT bbq! I tried the Big Muddy with fries and baked beans. Incredible! The Muddy had a bit much of the sauce which made it a little runny but otherwise great! Looking forward to going there to try some more menu items.
(5)Nick C.
Went back last night and I'm glad to say that the ribs were all amazing , everyone I was with was really pleased and I'm Going to make this a regular place of mine Favorite things are Pulled pork sandwich, ribs, and the hush puppies , last but not least homemade pecan pie
(5)Patrick M.
Another great STL bbq joint. Sugarfire has done a great job of adding their own unique twist to the BBQ experience. Try it. You won't be disappointed!!
(4)Jd R.
Wow what a crowd this place draws on a Thursday night. This was great but and comfort food done right. Brisket was incredible. Beans and mac and cheese great ribs were a little dry for my liking. Coffee be sauce had great tang. Well done guys
(4)Jan S.
Everything I have had there has been top notch. I have taken several friends and all of them have become hooked on SugarFire. Can't wait till the two new locations open!
(5)Andy S.
Some of the best BBQ in St. Louis
(5)Douglas L.
Each time I eat here I thoroughly enjoy it! My last visit I tried the special which was a brisket po' boy! WOW! It was awesome! Messy also but that's fine with me! The brisket was the usual hand cut thickness! The hoagie bun was toasted and the gravy was just right! The gravy didn't over power the meat or other toppings! I also love that I can get 1 of St. Louis' fine craft beers to go with this great BBQ!
(5)MR M.
Definitely one of the best smoke house in STL. No sauce needed for any of the meats.
(5)Jimmy D.
Perfection, pure and simple. From the "Ski" soda on tap ( similar to Mountain Dew, but less sugar and no HFCS, and more citrus-y ), to the coffee BBQ sauce available on the tables, this place can't be beat. For years I had all but given up on BBQ joints, simply for the reason that I'm so often disappointed by bland and run-of-the-mill offerings that owners give. "St. Louis-Style BBQ" had lost it's meaning to me, and was actually kind of embarrassing. Here, the owner is usually there, and if not, his right hand man, David, is actually serving you and personally cutting what goes on your tray. Indecisive? Ask them what's on special that day, strap on your seat belt, and prepare to be impressed. Last night, the answer I got was," bacon-wrapped bacon. It's super-smoked pork belly wrapped in bacon." This is serious dreamland territory in my book! A luscious, glistening mouth-sized cube of pork belly, on a toothpick (which you'll need later), wrapped in bacon that falls apart when you press it against the roof of your mouth. Blissful. Every offering here may sound pretty basic, but what sets it apart is that each item has outclassed its namesake. It's just all better than you'd expect. And every product or service that they can get locally, they do. From the afore mentioned sodas all the way down to the recycling service, even the artist/photographer whom is responsible for the "meat-porn" and dessert prints that adorn the dining area, they're supporting our local economy, neighbors, and families. That's cool. I'll be back, just as other reviewers have stated, as often as possible. And with owners/employees that take pride in offering new, fresh, and long lost but finally resurrected ideas in culinary wizardry, I don't see how one could get burnt out on this one.
(5)Jenny D.
As soon as I walked in the door I knew by the smell I would enjoy my meal! The menu has just about any meat you could possibly want, served as a sandwich or by itself on a platter. My favorite has been the beef brisket. As for BBQ sauces, they have several to choose from. Spicy, mild, sweet, white, they got it. There are many choices for your side dish. Fries, Mac and cheese, beans, red beans and rice, slaw, etc. People, the serving sizes are huge. You won't leave unsatisfied. There is an impressive dessert menu, but I haven't tried any of them. The meat is cooked to absolute perfection! The only complaint I have is the set up.... The drinks are self serve and are placed where the line is to order your food. So when you want a refill you have to fight against the flow of people. That's a little weird. Besides that, I love everything about this place! Hooray!
(4)Neal K.
I really want to give this place 5 stars, but I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. Pro's - Food is excellent. The brisket was super tender, as if it was cooked in a crockpot, yet smoked. It's a different texture than what you would find at Bandana's or Pappy's. - The main guys running the place seem to really have a passion to make this place successful. Con's - The layout of this place doesn't work. When you enter the facility, you first walk past the soda fountain area. No where does it tell you to get your beverage. I saw a number of people check out and then have to run back and get their drink. - To continue with the first con, since the soda fountain is in the same area as the line for food, it makes getting refills a terrible chore. I don't know why they didn't put the drinks in the front area that's cornered off in a 10x8 or so area. It used to be where I sat when the place was Dickeys. Now it looks like it's just barren over there. Once you check out, that area is right in front of you. - Getting your food resembles a cafeteria line. That's fine and all, but it helps if the folks behind the counter are organized. Maybe it's just because they were only open a week or two when I arrived, but their was noticeable confusion behind the counter. There's a sign before you order that says to grab a steel tray. Even if you grab a tray, it's up in the air whether or not the guy behind the counter will grab his own tray to place your food on. You get left with folks carrying trays they don't need. - I applaud the joint for using locally sourced food, but the price tag is a little too high for my tastes. Getting the 6oz Beef Brisket plate with two sides and a drink rang me up to 15 bucks. I can get much more food at Bandanas for about 10 bucks...and it's actually served to you! Sure, Bandana's probably isn't locally sourced, but it sure tastes good! I'll give this place another shot or two down the line. Overall, if they work out the kinks (and maybe give some price breaks), they'll have themselves a nice little bbq restaurant.
(3)Riina H.
The food is awesome, but the service is disappointing. The set up is confusing and unclear. The online menu doesn't match what is served and even the workers seem confused. I want to love this place, but it is a stressful, uncomfortable place to order from. A few changes to clean up the confusion would make this place awesome.
(3)Steve F.
This place has top rate bbq! I have tried several things on the menu and have not been disappointed yet. My favorite is the brisket, it is excellent! I also really like the smoked turkey, a great healthy choice. I have tried their sausage several times and it is always delicious. Lastly the sides never disappoint either, whether it is mac n cheese or cole slaw or fries it is all really good. This is one of my favorite places for lunch!
(5)Angela K.
I really want to love this place but I have a few complaints. I'm not really all that into meat, but as long as it's seasoned well I can definitely enjoy it. The meat here tastes good to me but the sides are not good. They look and sound delicious but in reality they are extremely bland. As another poster wrote, the whole drinks situation is confusing. I can easily forgive all of the above if everything else with the place is sound but...THE FLIES!!! I can't forgive a restaurant for a pest control problem. Take care of your garbage and I'll return.
(1)Jim B.
I've been to Sugarfire three times now, and my overall impression is that its an outstanding addition to St. Louis restaurant scene. You walk in and are just assaulted by the smell of BBQ, which is always nice. The decor is very cool--lots of old, worn wood mixed with some bright colors; a few TVs. The drinks are available to get before you order--some people have thought this is inconvenient, I don't really see a problem with it. Plus, they have (a) Excel soda on fountain, which is a local soda company that uses real sugar, and (b) they have Busch beer cans on ice--which is awesome. I first tried the Big Muddy sandwich, which is described as "brisket debris, smoked sausage, horseradish sauce, bbq sauce, lettuce, pickles." Sugarfire's brisket is very, very good, and the debris was like small, delicious chunks of brisket. The sausage was spicy, but not otherwise impressive to me. I had to fork-and-knife this one; it was huge and wonderful. The second time I went in I got a plain old brisket sandwich, because the brisket is so good--tender, moist, smoky. The last time I got the chicken biscuit, which is essentially a buffalo chicken sandwich on a biscuit. It's a steal at $5, although a complete mess to eat. The everyday sides are standard--fries, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, pasta salad--but they have daily specials that are really impressive. On one trip I had a garbanzo bean salad that was excellent, and on anther trip they had a solid mac and cheese dish. I've seen honey-glazed carrots as well. They also have special entrees from time to time--on one trip they had burnt ends that were accompanied by homemade salsas and served in taqueria style tacos. The special was indicative of the approach taken by Sugarfire--they do the basics well, but unlike several local BBQ places, they're still willing to innovate a bit. Oh, and the pies are awesome. Try the key lime and thank me later.
(4)Ann C.
can hardly move I am so full. Very generous portion of tender pork on a grilled bun. The best. also had the fries which were better than most! Several people in front of me had the Sweet Potato Salad. this was my first visit so I didn't want to try anything new but maybe next time.
(5)Sara S.
I heard about Sugarfire quite a while ago and had been wanting to try it. I'm glad I read some of the reviews on here and knew to look for the door on the left (it's easy to miss in the dark with the outdoor seating area conceling it if you come from the West side of the parking lot). We also knew to get our drinks first from reading the reviews - there were quite a few in front of us who had to go back and get their drinks. I did see they had a soda machine past the cash register as well though. We arrived at around 6:15 on a Saturday night. There was quite a line and the dining area was packed. We only waited in line about 15 min and by the time we got our food there were plenty of seats open. My husband wasn't thrilled about having to sit with strangers but we found a 2 seat table open. Unfortunately it was right by the exit door and the freezing cold air coming in when each person left was not comfortable! I would have been just fine sitting with random people to avoid the cold! I had the brisket and my husband had the brisket/pulled pork combo plate. We both thought the meat was very good. My only complaint was by the time we got our sides, paid and got a seat my meat was no longer hot. I liked the white BBQ sauce and my husband preferred the sweet. They had quite a few different sauces on our table and I noticed there were even more selections on other tables. I branched out and tried some unusual (as in I wouldn't have expected them at a BBQ joint) sides. I had the cous cous salad which was delicious but a huge portion and I couldn't finish it all. I also tried a cold kale salad that looked good but I didn't know it had tuna in it. It was very strange and I didn't like it. It had kale, cashews, tuna and mango with a dressing. Next time I'll stick to the more traditional sides. My husband had the cole slaw, which he liked quite well, and the french fries. I thought the fries were soggy. We will definitely go back. I loved the atmosphere and it was a fun place to go! I'd like to go at a less busy time and really study the menu.
(4)Rob D.
Texas class brisket. This is by far the best BBQ in the St. Louis area. If you like Texas style BBQ this is your place to go.
(5)Andrew H.
This is classic Midwest barbecue and it's absolutely delicious. Their dry rub is great and the sausage is worth checking out too.
(5)Heather G.
Best BBQ in town! The brisket is delicious, and I didn't even think I liked brisket! They also offer tons of different sauces for dunking, and all are super yummy. And don't skip dessert, as their Crack Pie is awesome!
(5)p m.
I don't like restaurants where I have to worry if there is going to be a table for me to sit at after I stand in line for my food. Also I don't like to see flies in the food prep area. The potato salad was inedible. Missed having the choice of name brand sodas.
(3)Jim G.
This restaurant just opened on September 25th, but I've already stopped in twice and was pleasantly surprised on both visits. There is at least one TV playing whatever game is on at the time, and the decor is casual and inviting. A chalkboard containing menu items lines the top of the exposed grill area. The ordering line is designed with potentially long waits in mind, wrapping around three sides of the seating area. There is a separate counter for carry-out, but it seems that they don't always use it. The meat used in both the burgers and the BBQ are high-quality selections, some or all of which is locally sourced. They were sold out of the brisket and ribs on my first visit, so I went with a turkey sandwich and fries. The turkey was juicy and tender, smoked nicely with a slight crispiness around the edge from the rub. Several BBQ sauces are available for use, maybe with intentionally misspelled labels. The fries were some of the best that I've had, perfectly crispy but not too oily. They use a sea salt to flavor them, which compliments the texture, although I would prefer a little less. They are cut thinly like you would be served at the world's largest fast food chain, but the quality is evident once you take a bite. The burger was outstanding, if you don't mind sloppy burgers. I went for a double with bacon and American cheese...it was a formidable creation but executed perfectly as if I had dreamed and it magically appeared. The bacon is thickly-sliced and superb quality, closer to ham than most bacon is. They toast the buns nicely, bringing the entire burger together nicely. I'm impressed, really--both choices were excellent. I'm betting that this place will have lines out the door during lunchtime within a few weeks...try it now before the word spreads. SugarFire is packing some sweet heat! St. Louis BBQ has a new top BBQ joint contender.
(5)Julie C.
Hands down best BBQ I've ever had! The brisket was amazing and chef salad was great too!! Amazing choices for sides and a super friendly and helpful staff!!!! Definitely go of you haven't been!!
(5)K P.
Tried SugarFire today, and loved everything about it. The restaurant is intimate but big enough to not feel crowded. The BBQ is out of this world good, and the staff is exceptionally delightful. No joke, I made a Yelp account just to review this place. You should go.
(5)Lee N.
This place is awesome! Nice to have a good BBQ spot near work. Bandanas isn't in the same ball park.
(5)April M.
This is my second time here and tonight I tried their baby back ribs and all I need to say is they are the bomb! Last time I had their brisket and those were good as well! Last time I got a purple cow float which was grape soda and vanilla ice cream which was a weird yet delicious combination. This time I just got a fountain drink and when I went up to the soda machine they had all local sodas which was AMAZING! I started out with Ski and worked my way down to trying all of the sodas. Its so unique how they have local sodas, I love it! Of course they have a variety of homemade barbeque sauces which are unique combinations and you have to try all of them cause they rock! The service here is very friendly as well. As soon as you walk in you feel welcomed. Pappy's used to be my favorite bbq joint but now I think I've found an ultimate favorite!! A MUST TRY!
(5)Jeremy A.
It's obviously all in your taste. I saw a review here that down-rated them for the thick layer of fat on the brisket. For me that's a plus and when I went the guy serving told me he cut me a little extra because of the fat. I had no complaints. That was my best visit. I've been three times and had three different experiences. The first time with the fat on the brisket was far and away the best. I gave that brisket five stars, but the ribs have been a disappointment both times. The sauspce that they use is sweeter than I like and the meat was on the dry side. The first time I went, the Mac and Cheese was top notch. Next two visits, well, it wasn't worth going out for. Rhey have a rotating variety of side dishes and they look good. I really liked the black eyed peas and the baked beans were pretty good too.
(3)Alicia G.
So finally getting to write my review after my third visit. The brisket is the best I have ever eaten-anywhere! The smoked chicken wings also very good. I love the fact they change up the sides daily so you can stick with the basics or go crazy on one of their uniquely named homemade sides. Get a couple and share! Funny thing is I never even tried a sauce until visit #3 since the meat did not need it! They have many sauces to choose from all which are also made in house. Usually no room for desert but again homemade and looked awesome so we took some home. It was a chocolately type pie and yes just like you make yourself! If you go on Saturday which we do since we live in Illinois you will wait in line then place your order and go through a line cafeteria style. This moves slower when no outside seating and faster when outside seating is available. I think they will source local veggies etc to utilize in their summer sides so I cannot wait to see what they create next. I will be happy to continue to sample the food and report back at a later date.
(5)karen l.
Yummy ribs, friendly service, ski drinks, great sides
(5)Thomas W.
The best restaurant I have ate at in St. Louis. The brisket was the best I have ever had, and I am from Kansas City. The smoked turkey was perfectly done, and I enjoyed their sweet BBQ sauce. The brisket mac and cheese is a must when on the menu. The daily specials are very unique and almost always delicious. The big muddy should be what everyone gets their first time. Keep it up!!!!
(5)Brenda W.
I have only gone to Sugarfire once so far, but I was impressed with the selection of meats and unique sides you wouldn't find at most BBQ joints. Kind of an awkward wait in line right by the drink station, but not that big of a deal. We will be back!
(4)Emma B.
Firstly, thanks to Sandy for inviting me out to the UYE! I had a blast meeting some of the great Yelpers! Well, now about SugarFire. The environment was really clean and nice. It didn't seem to look like a cheap BBQ place but it still had its quirky things that make it kind of hokey such as eating off of a baking pan. The food itself wasn't anything that really wow-ed me but it was very filling. I ordered the special of the day, a chicken club sandwich which was 9 dollars but the thing I didn't like was the fact that the drink did not get included into that price. I also got some Mac n Cheese and Jambalaya, which was highly recommended but I thought fell a little bit short. I guess being from Texas, my taste buds got used to some spicy Jambalaya. Like I said, my overall experience was just okay, nothing really to grind my gears or excite me enough to go back. I did have a lot of leftovers, which I look forward to eating tomorrow for lunch. I bet that the food will be better as leftovers. Oh I did love the Sweet Iced tea and the Sweet BBq sauce!
(3)Chris P.
I don't know why this place surprised me so much but it was fantastic! They let me sample several selections which was great. The meats were cooked/smoked perfectly and the sides are creative. They also change them up depending on the day. Heading there now...
(5)Matthew W.
My wife is a vegetarian 99 percent of the time. Her criteria for eating meat is "it must really be worth it". Lets just say that this place met and exceeded her criteria!!!
(5)Nick L.
Are you kidding me? Brisket is, in my opinion, the hardest meat to get right and they get it right. Stumbled in there by chance for lunch. Most BBQ restaurants disappoint with meat smoked yesterday or brisket that is like pot roast, bit this was awesome. Perfect crust, nice smoke ring, and a wonderful springy texture that only BBQ freaks and chefs know about. Jambalaya was great (and homemade), too. Well worth the $10 for the sandwich and side; left perfectly full and happy. I found the chef and thanked him. Everyone there was nice and acted like they cared you were giving them business. Very nice, indeed. Anxious to try the pork, if I can get over the brisket.
(5)Cynthia K.
Go early.Get the brisket!!
(4)Bill G.
Good BBQ, tho I will agree with other reviewers that the brisket can get a little fatty. We are big fans of the Philly Cheesesteak brisket sandwich they frequently have as a special. Reasonable prices for good BBQ. Not on a Pappy's or Bogart's level, but still very good, reasonably priced and not a trip downtown.
(4)Daniela B.
Good barbecue and good pie. What else do you need?
(5)Jenna M.
This place is phenomenal! It's a pretty good value for how much food you get! The staff was really friendly and helpful even though they were trying to close. Definitely check out sugar fire!
(5)Joan D.
It may be crazy to try a restaurant the week after it is featured on a local show, but we did... And it was worth it! I shout this from the rooftop- IF YOU NEED A GLUTEN FREE meal, not only can they do it, but with such ease that dining out is once again a treat. The brisket without bun and CHOICES, really great choices at that, are delicious. My husband (who has aggressive celiac disease) actually enjoyed everything about this place. The selection of food, the comfort (even though busy) of the space all felt homey and like a backyard BBQ. I myself found sodas I haven't seen in years and could not help but try. Next time we go, and we will, often, I am sure... I will make sure I am starving! So much I want to try, especially the desserts. I say all this and need to point out: I used to live in Memphis! This is right up there with the best of the best.
(5)David J.
I found out about this place about a month ago and have probably eaten here 15 times since, and it never disappoints. There is always a line and it is always busy, but I never seem to have to wait for a table. If the line gets long, the owner is handing out free rib bones to everybody. I went there a few weeks ago and they were giving away free white russian milkshakes because it was a russian girl who worked there's birthday. Everybody working there seems to be having a great time, and the food is all right in front of you and super fresh. Talk up some of the guys on the line, they seem really cool and extremely proud of what they are serving. One guy was wearing a Franklin's BBQ hat the other day, and I asked him what was up with that and he said some of the chefs just came back from a bbq tour of texas. There are two other great BBQ joints in town, Pappy's and Bogart's, and as you order, you'll notice a Pappy's bumper sticker on the hood system behind the meat carver, along with some other one's. I asked if the two restaurants were related in any way, and the guy cutting the meat said no, they just really respect and love what Pappy's does too, and there's enough room for both of them in town! They do all the normal BBQ items- Brisket, Pork, Ribs, Turkey, but I've seen organic lamb ribs, Berkshire pork short ribs, veal brisket, heritage pork tenderloin, these guys will smoke anything and they do it right! Don't be intimidated by the line either, it moves fast! The sauces are killer too, just wish they'd keep the honey badger around more, haven't seen it the last few times.
(5)M K.
catered a small party for friends with food from sugarfire. total hit!! the food was delicious. we had pulled pork, chicken, brisket and baby back ribs. they sent an assortment of sauces. everyone, including our out of town guests, raved about the food. the pies, esp the miss. mud pie, were delicious as well.
(5)Rachel R.
Though I am writing this review now (in January '13), I took my first trip to Sugarfire a couple months ago - maybe November. I went at dinner time on a Friday and it was slow. No employees explained ANYTHING to me, as I read they had for another reviewer. I could have used the guidance. Where is the silverware? Where are the to-go boxes? If this is a self-serve restaurant, then at least have the items freely available for me to get them. I had to approach the cashier counter 3 times to ask for things. I ordered a single hamburger on a wheat bun with french fries. I loved them both. I like that they list their purveyors and that they use local and natural products. I appreciate recycling effort but nothing was labeled to instruct customers where to put things.
(4)Matt T.
Stopped by this week, really tasty. Will definitely be back.
(5)Jerry S.
I don't get the couple of mediocre reviews. We went to the old Dickey's several times and no wonder they couldn't make it. Sugarfire was great. We had a sampler platter and ribs...outstanding on all counts. Melt in your mouth and jucy turkey, brisket, sausage, and pulled pork. Hope they are around for a long time. We will be back often.
(5)Dylan R.
All I can say is that everything there is over-the-top delicious.
(5)Austin Elizabeth H.
EDIT: updating to 2 stars after Salt + Smoke redefined for me what terrible barbecue is. Sugarfire is a step up from there, in that it's not so bad you won't finish your meal, but the lack of flavor here still cannot justify the high prices or the long line to get in. I plan on trying it again, at the suggestion of the owner, in case it was a fluke day. Regardless, the experience here was disappointing. After Bogart's (my personal favorite so far) and Pappy's, Sugarfire was a complete and total disappointment to both myself and my boyfriend. We both found the barbecue to be essentially flavorless, albeit tender, raising questions as to whether or not their pork barbecue was smoked at all. There was no visible smoke ring on the meat and it tasted mostly of tepid water. If you're anything like me, you want your meat to taste like... well, meat. If it's going to cost me $32 for two meals, I want to taste the fact that this pig was cooking over hot coals or smoked in a grill for hours. I want flavor, and unfortunately, that's not something I got very much of at Sugarfire. The sauces here were an even bigger disappointment. The St. Louis Sweet was most likely Sticky Fingers bottled sauce. The Texas hot was mostly only ketchup, and the only other sauce they had (which I've forgotten the name of) was mostly made of mayonnaise or perhaps thousand island dressing. Ew to say the least. Even one of the employees told me that none of the sides were appetizing to him (red flag, much?). This probably should have been my cue to turn and run right then. Sadly, he was right. The baked beans tasted like they came in a can (a true disappointment compared to other barbecue joints in town, but still a thousand times better than Salt + Smoke). Even the potato salad left a lot to be desired. It was starchy and grainy... They tasted like russet potatoes, but using another variety would have given it a much better texture. In a great barbecue city like St. Louis, Sugarfire should be skipped. I'm honestly not sure why people are so infatuated with this place, but I feel pretty strongly that if they tried one of the the better joints in the city proper they probably would not come back to Sugarfire.
(2)Ross T.
The burnt ends are to die for! highly recommend that.
(5)Derek R.
On a business trip we heard this was one of the better BBQ establishments in St Louis on Yelp. BBQ holds a place close to my heart not only because it was my first job as a kid in High School, but I also because I grew up outside of Kansas City and the storied halls that reside there. After being in the military I've had the pleasure of being stationed all across the country NE, SE, SW, etc. and always look to try the local styles including those overseas. One derivative I have never had the opportunity to sample, in spite of being from Missouri, was St Louis style and eagerly traveled to Sugarfire. St Louis for some reason is always a transit point and never a destination until this month. After waiting in line, which wasn't exceptionally long, and believe me, for good food I will happily wait, we ordered. One issue was the menus were right before the conga line to get your food vice being shuttled to the beginning like Oklahoma Joes and others so that you know what you want before they get there. Minor, but just another subtle clue about the establishment. Overall, prices were decent, and the portions what I consider appropriate. After ordering, which was overall, a good experience, we got our food and sat down. Well, we looked for a clean table, gave up, got some things to clean an outside table and then sat down. The paper towels were out, the table was dirty and service non-existent. That's okay, somewhat par for the course for a typical BBQ joint so no worries. What I didn't get were the sides. Mac & Cheese was "okay" the french fries were terrible, overcooked and cold and the beans were unimpressive from a complexity standpoint and not particularity hot. I was massively disappointed after seeing all the accolades, but believe me, if you've had fries at In-N-Out Burger or Nosh among other establishments, carry on, you will not be impressed. The BBQ itself was "okay" it was neither particular juicy or even warm. We had the pork and beef and an odd ball in our group ordered Salmon, which he considered be above average. Unfortunately, I don't go to BBQ joints to order fish and passed on trying any. The bread while decent wasn't amazing and didn't appear to be baked on premises, but I can't declare that as a fact. The sauces were "okay" nothing memorable and all of them below what you would find in some of the top notch BBQ houses around the country and I wouldn't pay to carry them to my home unlike other top notch BBQ establishments. If Sugarfire could come up with some distinctive flavors in the sauce, get a little more smoke in the proteins, turn up the heat on main and sides, increase freshness of fries, and stop trying to be trendy they might have a fighting chance against some of the better KC, Memphis, etc. big names. But, unfortunately, its a BBQ hipster location that delivers on decor instead of food. Oh, I think they have pies, didn't care. I go to BBQ for BBQ, not desert. Unfortunately, my first trip is my last.
(2)Deb R.
Been here twice now! Love it. Love all the sides and the variety. Ribs are perfect. Pulled pork is a favorite of ours. Service is great and fun.
(5)Jenna F.
The food rocks! There's no question about that. It's a good thing too because it makes up for the usual decor, menu, loud music, and trying to figure out what staff does what. I hope this place is making a ton of chedda cause, there is an army of staffers to pay here. They have one person for everything. I full on expected there to be a staff member in the bathroom to wipe my butt. They desperately need a staffer to handle the "opps we f**kup your order" because you are left waiting for your order to be replaced/fixed and 99% of the time they will forget why you are even there at the counter. I haven't had everything on the menu but I'm working on it. So far the burgers, brisket, salmon and sides have me coming back for more. When I do return, I want to try something new but I'm also faced with the dilemma of wanting that I had last time. It's an ongoing struggle. As I battle my food ordering demons I must decide because I didn't stand in the long dark hallway, or as I have dubbed it the "ordering walk of shame" for nothing... If you forgot to order something oh holy hell you're out of luck. You will be directed to return to the back of the line and stand in the hall of shame once again. Food ***** Serves * Atmosphere ** sit outside it's nicer Price $$ Average 3 stars
(3)Chris P.
Sug-fire takes the chomps. Those hefty plates of meat-believin scoopage are the real deal and the minions stacked out the door prove it's worth the pre-show entertainment (watching husking trays float by loaded with every BBQ thing you ever wanted to eat). Then there's this more wonky compulsion, to waddle your now wider load next door for peanut butter pie, cookies, or other baked awesome nuggs of delight. New fav, new reason to visit STL.
(5)Jordan H.
Sugarfire has revitalized the St. Louis BBQ scene. Where Pappy's and Bogart's were great, Sugarfire has elevated the craft to a new level. Their creativity combined with incredible dedication to perfection has left them the undisputed kings of St. Louis Smokehouses. Their meat can rival a Texas standout, and their sauces can even put Kansas City to shame. Specifics: Brisket - Perfectly tender, never too dry Pulled Pork - Juicy and delicious Ribs - Incredible dry rub comes out with the perfect level of moisture and flavor Turkey - Some of the best smoked turkey I've ever had Sausage - Well-balanced flavor, love the cheese and bit of spice! Brisket Cheesesteak - A brilliant sandwich idea, quite possibly the best on the regular menu. Pork Belly Hush Puppies - Need I say more? Smoked Chocolate Chip Cookie - Trust me when I say you'll want one. The smoke flavor doesn't come on too strongly, it's the extra touch all cookies need. Adult Shakes - My personal favorite is the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bourbon Milkshake...I was hooked since Day 1! The above is just my favorite sample of their everyday menu...beyond that they have incredible sides and specials that change every day, making you want to come back time and again! My favorite recurring special by far is the Pulled Rib Sandwich, which takes rib-eating to an whole new level! I would eat Sugarfire every day if I had the option, and I recommend you do the same.
(5)Patt C.
My girlfriend and I went yesterday for lunch. The place was packed. Good deal. The sides vary by day. They have some standard sides every day (baked beans, potato salad, hand-cut fries and cole slaw), but there are also many other interesting choices, which is fabulous! And there are specials. I almost went for the burnt ends gyro, which included lettuce, tomatoes, tzatziki, feta and kalamata olives. I did consider the chef salad for half of a minute. I got the turkey sandwich (8 ounces). The order-taker was so engaging. I first said 6 ounces. Then changed it to 8 ounces. And when I did that, he said, "Why not, it's Wednesday!" That was fun! And I wanted to say, "Why not? It's hump day!!" I was waffling between chili or macaroni and cheese for my side. So I asked the server to show me the chili. He did. Tooooo many beans. I got the macaroni cheese, and they were just putting out another load from the oven. HOT, great! I did ditch the bun. In the spirit of conservation, I should have told them to hold the bun. My bad. It was toasted. At checkout there are pickles, onions, peppers and other assorted accoutrements. I got at least 7 pickle spears. I do so love their pickles. We snagged two seats at the end of a communal table. That's how they roll. She got a 6-oz. brisket sandwich with macaroni and cheese. She also got carryouts for dinner: 1/2 pound pulled turkey, 1/2 pound brisket and two additional sides. She's quite resourceful about getting additional food for dinner. She does this a lot when we go out to lunch. The turkey was beautifully (perfectly and evenly) sliced, smokelicious and so moist (my most hated word, but terribly appropriate in this circumstance). The macaroni and cheese was spirals. Creamy, cheesy deliciousness. No spices. Just straight-up macaroni and cheese. I ate a lot of pickles. We both took home another meal. I had three pickle spears, more than half of my turkey and 1/3 of my macaroni and cheese -- which made for another meal. For $10.89, I got two meals. This place is very self-serve. Get your own utensils, napkins (although there are paper towel rolls on the tables), beverages, to-go vessels.
(5)Nicole J.
This place is amazing, and the word is out because it's always packed when I come here. We came around 3pm on a weekend and the line was almost out the door. They have local soda in their machines, and the cherry cola one was really good. The two of us split the meat daddy combo which was all their meats and two sides on a tray. It had some brisket tips, pork, ribs, turkey, brisket, and sausage. We also got Mac and cheese and green beans as our sides. Everything was delicious, and they have a handful of sauces to dip in, although many of the meats don't really even need it. It was more food than two of us could eat, so we even had a box full of meat to take with us. All for around $30, so great value too! I think this is one of the top bbq joints in Stl
(5)Tessa K.
Always the absolute best! My Mom was visiting from MN and we wanted her to get a taste of St. Louis-and SugarFire did not disappoint. Thank u!
(5)Dean R.
We were pretty excited to visit Sugarfire for the first time. But when we arrived we were extremely disappointed to see a sign that said they were out of ribs. Isn't that like Cold stone being out of ice cream? So we ordered some pulled pork, brisket and sausage. And although they were good, they were both a little on the dry side. The environment is very cool and and the overall experience was good. But it didn't quite live up to the hype.
(3)Debra W.
The food and service was fantastic. I had the ribs and turkey with crazy corn and collard greens. Also tried the smoke friend artichokes and the Carmel apple bar. Everything was finger kicking good except for the collard greens. A little to salty and vingery for my liking. But I must agree with everyone else. The turkey was so juicy and we'll flavored. I was shocked. The ribs where so tender, they fell right off the bone as you bit them. I love sauce so they different sauces were a plus. I loved the hot and coffee. Overall great experience. It was a lite crowded but they got me in and out and were nice and patient. I would def come back on my next trip to St Louis.
(5)J T.
The ribs and brisket were moist and delicious. The pork belly hush puppies with neon jalapeño jelly was an amazing array of flavors. The service was on point. If I lived in STL, I would frequent this joint.
(4)Nick L.
Simply Awesome! 1st rate quality. Great meat, creative specials and sauces. One of my favorite restaurants of any style. Highly recommended.
(5)Ryan H.
It may take a while to get through the line but there is a good reason for that. Ribs are amazing, turkey is the juiciest I've ever had, and the place has down home feel to it. If you haven't tried this place you are missing out on one hell of a BBQ experience.
(5)Vivian C.
So I think this is probably my favorite BBQ spot in STL thusfar. I walked in knowing the reviews were stellar, but I wanted to be convinced. I got a simple order-- the four-bone baby back ribs with a side of fries. Everything was FIRE. The ribs were tender and flavorfully smoked, and the meat basically came off the bone with little effort. Dip that in the BBQ sauce, and WOW! Texas Hot and St. Louis Sweet sauces were delicious, but together, when they join forces, they are phenomenal. With the ribs... those sauces just pull out every ounce of deliciousness from the meat. Just awesome. It's like they were created for that single purpose. Fries were like any typical, tasty fries. I'm kind of a fry connesiour (I joke, slightly), so that's pretty darn good. The workers there--cool, friendly, hospitable. Even the guests are nice, honestly. Got to sample.the brisket--delicious! Highly recommended, and I WILL BE BACK for those BABY BACKS.
(5)Shabrina J.
Absolutely love this place!! Anytime I have people visiting from out of town, I try and bring them here. There is always a line, but it moves fast. You can never go wrong with your choices on the menu - from pork, ribs, sausage or specials like burnt ends. The sides are good too. My favorite part is trying out the different sauces with the food. The serving size is generous and you always leave feeling like a glutton but a happy one :)
(5)Eve C.
I'm a STL native, currently living in Miami, the land of less-than-great BBQ. My parents had raved to me for months and months about the awesome brisket and ribs, and after stalking the crazy daily specials and sides on Facebook, I knew a meal at SugarFire was a requirement on a recent trip back. Thankfully, no one needed convincing to come with me! We came for a late lunch on a Friday, and the line was minimal. Between the 5 of us, we ordered a half-rack of ribs, a small brisket platter, a brisket sandwich, a pulled pork sandwich, and a cheeseburger. We had fries, sweet potato grits, baked beans, and a shrimp and kale salad as our sides. Wow, talk about a lot of food! SugarFire definitely gives you your money's worth. The brisket was nice and smokey, without enough fat to keep it juicy, but not too much to make it inedible. The pulled pork was tender and delicious, and everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals as well. The fries were addictive, as were the baked beans - I'd order both again. SugarFire makes me wish I lived in STL or at least visited more frequently to enjoy everything they have and their daily creations. But I'll have to settle for a visit whenever I'm back. Definitely worth a visit (or several)!!
(4)Kevin B.
We found this place while passing through St. Louis- it wasn't recommended by one of my friends. You know when the sauces are really good, the meat is usually not. Well the Texas Hot and St. Louis Sweet are really good. The brisket was dry but not bad for the lean portion (I should have asked for the point), and the ribs were average and not very flavorful. Did not fall off the bone. Not to say the food was bad - they are getting 3 stars and not 2 or 1 - but the meat is not the reason to go. They do have some creative options that should be explored. And the side were perfect. Then they do have the pie store next door, and good milk shakes (including adult versions). The pie store should probably be rated separately because I hear they have some really good stuff. I had a milk shake from the restaurant and it was pretty good. So check it out, but don't expect to be blown away by the meat- the driving force behind barbecue.
(3)Eric C.
Fun restaurant with many types of bbq sauce to try. Aesthetics were nice with open farm style seating. Fries "hand cut" left something to be desired. Pies were fabulous. I had the Philly cheesesteak which was very messy but paper towels were on the table.
(4)Lauren S.
I was craving BBQ and Sugarfire absolutely hit the spot. The cafeteria-style serving makes for a fun experience. The staff was so friendly and they weren't annoyed by my questions about the sides. Speaking of sides, they have a ton of options for both sides and meat/fish. The pulled pork was absolutely delicious as were the ribs and the French fries. I was really excited that they had Brussels sprouts, but ultimately was kind of disappointed. They were kind of undercooked and didn't have a whole lot of flavor. We also were there at the end of the night and couldn't help but feel like the staff was ready for us to leave before we finished eating. That being said, I would definitely recommend Sugarfire to satisfy any BBQ craving!
(4)Chris G.
I get to St. Louis every six months or so and make a point of seeking out good BBQ. On a recommendation from Eureka Yelper Courtney G and consulting an epic length review from Kitty W, I was convinced we had a live one. Sugarfire did not disappoint. Easy to find and get to...we rolled in around 5pm hoping to beat any crowds and it worked. Ordered a platter with half brisket and pulled pork, and got a side of beans and some squash/corn/onion/hominy concoction. What a feast! Brisket was absolutely perfect, nice smoke ring, great flavor, and just a bit of fat. Pork was very good. Was blown away by the squash...what a great side. Loved the beans as well. What really put this over the top was the strawberry habenaro sauce...WOW. So sweet at first then the heat comes in behind. Absolutely awesome. The coffee sauce was great as well. So after loading up on that decided I had to try the key lime pie since it is a favorite of mine. It was outstanding and I'm fairly sure based on the bite of the filling that they use real key limes (and not just regular limes). Very generous portion size. The only thing I didn't like were the pickles. Love all types (homemade, canned, hell Vlasic) but for whatever reason they tasted like dish soap to me. I hope it was just a spice I have never had...just didn't like them and I'm pretty easy going when it comes to vinegar and cucumbers. Unpretentious atmosphere, nice people, great food. What more can you ask for? I can't wait to stop back here again.
(5)Wynn A.
This place is by far my favorite BBQ place in St Louis! I've been to many. I loved the ribs, the brisket here. I had the special yesterday for lunch and it was a smoked prime rib and arugula sandwich. I have never had smoked prime rib before and it was Amazing!!! Probably the best sandwich I ever had, ever, anywhere! Love love this place!
(5)Steve R.
Went in for lunch again today. Ate the red snapper tacos. Wow, they were fantastic. Sat down at a table with people we didn't know, because they were the only two seats available. Apparently that's the way it goes there. I like it. This place needs to be showcased on "diners, drive ins and dives" TV show. ( if it hasn't already been) Coming back often. Great work.
(5)Peter K.
Came here on a not-so-busy Saturday. To start off with, I'd much prefer Pappy's. The brisket and the ribs here are decent, but nothing to die for. The brisket is soft but doesn't really have a whole lot of flavor without the sauces. The ribs also got stuck to the bone a little bit. I tried a bunch of sides and it seems like they tried to make them overly fancy: - Baked beans had some side sauce in there which wasn't too appealing and the beans seemed a bit overcooked relative to beans I've had in the south. - The cole slaw had a bit too much liquid in it in there. - The mac and cheese was probably the most decent side I had, so it balanced out all the other sides I wasn't a fan of. - The drinks are all off-brands (which I guess is a good local thing but I wasn't a big fan of it). I'd probably try it one more time since so many people are a fan of it, but I don't think my experience was great from this one time.
(2)Amrita R.
I came here once some time ago and although I wasn't wowed by the ribs, the brisket was well worth the trip. So when it was Thanksgiving, I really wanted to try their smoked turkey and I ordered it, asking for a 14-lb turkey. They said they didn't let us choose the size (a little weird) but that no turkey would go over 18 pounds. On Thanksgiving Day when we came to pick it up, they had a 21 lb turkey for us and insisted that was the one they had assigned us and that all the turkeys this year were oversized so we had to take it. It was ridiculously expensive (that with the brisket cost more than the rest of the food we made), and I'm still kicking myself for taking it. On top of that, the turkey wasn't properly cooked inside. It was very rare and pink fleshy, and we had to cook it a bit more ourselves which was a huge pain in the butt. I'm a bit annoyed with the fact that they pretty much forced us to buy a 21 pound turkey (it was a couple of hours before Thanksgiving dinner, what else was I supposed to do?) and then it wasn't even cooked properly. Their brisket is the best I've ever had but I'm disappointed in the turkey experience :(
(3)Jenn L.
overall a good place once in a while. also gets very crowded but the wait is not that long. I came with a friend on Sunday noon around 2 and was only 15 min. found seat easily. my friend had baby back ribs. It was definitely juicer, but not as smoky compared to Pappy's (and still Bogart's is the best right now). The sauces you can add on to the meat (7 kinds, way more compare to pappy's and bogarts!) is definitely a plus! my fav is coffee BBQ. definitely try that out! I have double burger with a side. The burger was nothing too surprising - as in it was a good burger, but nothing too special about it. The meat is tender but not as juicy i would have liked. I had to cooker/griller take out the tomato since i don't eat warm tomato. you can also (and should) and sauces to it. try out the sauce tastes! for the side, I got house fries, which was done well with proper salt/sugar added. overall this place is good. i'd recommend to people who had been to St Louis more than once and want to try something new.
(4)Stacy H.
Sugarfire-dear Sugarfire. This is the kind of place that leaves you with cravings for weeks to come! Sugarfire offers some of the best bbq in town! When you walk in, you stand in line to give your order. The line can be anywhere from wayyyy out the door and into the parking lot to rather modest right by the soda fountain. I have gone mostly at lunch on Saturdays and sometimes on Fridays for lunch. I have always ordered the combo plate which is two meats and two sides with a drink. I almost dare to say that the sides are the star of the show! The sides vary from day to day; from conventional (potato salad, fries, etc.) to unconventional (fish latkes, jambalaya, rib mac n'cheese). Some of the sides can stand for themselves as meals! Once, I had these buttery, super garlic, green beans that I can't get out of my head! Now, to seating. This part can be a bit stressful. First off, don't be the guy/gal who goes to reserve a seat while your friends are waiting in the long line. It throws it all off! There isn't an abundance of seating in here, especially when the weather isn't nice and you can't use the outdoor patio seating. There are family style tables-so you need to get cozy with strangers and some "private" tables. Everyone is passing around sauces (on to that in a minute), so you develop a family feel. The seating does detract from making you want to have a relaxed dinner/lunch. You hardly can have a conversation with the people around you, and you feel rushed to finish so that other people can get a seat. This really makes me wonder who partakes in the appetizers, desserts, and alcoholic beverage selection. It just doesn't strike me as a place to go to have a good time with friends and linger. It is a place to get some delicious meats and continue out into the world. The sauce choice varieties are abundant! My favorite is the Coffee, but there are a ton of good options. You don't have to worry about trying one out. Just squirt a little on your tray and test it. I usually work about 3-4 sauces on my tray at a time. The service here is great. They are nice, helpful, and efficient. I have been given free ribs from time to time when the line gets really long to order food. There is generally someone walking around asking how things are and collecting your empty trays of food. Overall, I really like Sugarfire, but don't go there expecting to catch up with old friends or on a first date!
(5)AJ F.
Place is great. Popped in from the East Coast and knew I had to try some BBQ while I was in St. Louis. I went with baby back ribs, brisket, and baked beans and they were all excellent - same with all of the sauces. The brisket melts in your mouth - one of the best Ive had. Wish I was able to try more items - highly recommend.
(5)Nick G.
Ribs were very good. Pulled pork also good. You better get there early because they will run out of things and you will be out of luck.
(5)Rex H.
Went here on a Friday at 11:00 and there was already a very slow moving line set for a 40 minute wait (yes I waited). A long line typically = VERY good local food and was not disappointed. Got the turkey sandwich with potato salad and brisket sandwich with beans. Turkey could be served without the skin, thus lost a star. Brisket was perfect, good job. Loose another star for the wait and slow line. Will call in order and pickup next time.
(3)John H.
Hands down, the best place to get barbecue in Saint Louis. Sugarfire really shows what you can do when you strip away stodgy tradition and really go wild with you're food. In my times at Sugarfire, I've had a cow's tongue quesadilla, a beer-and-whiskey marinated beef rib almost the size of my forearm, and some of the best barbecued chicken wing I've ever tasted. Their daily specials are always creative and delicious, and I'm not sure I've ever seen the same one come up twice! Sides are also very good; they also cycle daily, though there are usually a few more "traditional" offerings that make their way on to the menu time and time again. The alcoholic milkshakes are very good, if a tad overpriced in my opinion. Staff is very friendly. Decor is nice, if fairly standard for a noveau barbecue restaurant. It is a fairly small space, which can be a bit of a pain since they're almost always busy and packed, but the atmosphere is friendly enough that you can typically find someone willing to share their table.
(5)Joetta G.
Great food, great people. Everyone was so friendly as we figured out what we wanted, and I didn't taste a single thing I wouldn't be thrilled to eat again. 100% happy and will definitely return.
(5)Steven B.
SugarFire Smoke House is such happy place. Every time I visit, all the employees have smiles and true happy faces. Hell, even all the diners are happy. Why shouldn't they all be happy? They're serving and eating the absolute best BBQ not only in St Louis County, but they beat all the city places, too. I've put on some pounds, I like to refer to them as my "Yelp Pounds". To drop these pounds and get back to my "Pre-Yelp" weight I've gone low-carb. SugarFires' menu makes it easy to follow the low-carb lifestyle. Today I had an amazing lunch. I choose the Meat Daddy, which is two meats and two sides. As always, the brisket and turkey were fork tender and smoked perfectly. I've recently developed a love for Kale, so one of my sides was the Kale Caesar (I picked out the croutons) and Collard Greens was the other. I've always thought Collard Greens looked nasty, so I never tried them until today. I wish my mom was still here, so I could tell her I finally tried Collard Greens and liked them. Since they were my first, I can't say they are the best, but I can say they turned me on to a new vegetable and that is amazing. So glad SugarFire is spreading their "Ribs" and opening new locations. I wish them the best and I will continue to be a regular at the original location.
(5)Jacob M.
i'm reluctant to give this place 5 Stars, only because i don't want to have to wait any more in line. This place is what BBQ should be. Everything about it is perfect. period. Go.
(5)Linda S.
Great fresh food! Fun atmosphere! Out of towners but made a special effort to go back this trip also! Highly recommend!
(5)Russell B.
I had been hearing a lot of talk lately about Sugarfire, so I, being a lover of smoked meats, decided I had to check it out. I recruited my nephew to make the long journey to the other side of the city with me. We walked in and found the place to be kind of what you would expect out of a BBQ joint. Nothing fancy, just straight forward. I chose a combo meal with ribs, brisket, party potatoes and baked beans. The ribs were good. It seemed they lacked in the smoky flavor department. The texture and bark were nice. The brisket likewise lacked in smokiness. My judgment on both meats would have to be summed up as solidly good but unremarkable. The party potatoes were really good and the beans were pretty average. I had some of the notorious crack pie for dessert. Sorry, but it is not for me. Way too much sugar. I felt like I was coming down with diabeetus. Overall, I would say Sugarfire is a solid, slightly above average BBQ joint. I would recommend it if you are in the area, but don't make a special trip.
(3)Kunita G.
Just finished having lunch at Sugarfire...one word, delicious. When we arrived there was a bit of a line, but it moved pretty fast. I had the brisket sandwich with baked beans. The baked beans had at least three different types of beans, which initially concerned me because I'm not a lover of beans in general. But the flavor was very good. My husband had the Big Muddy with fries. I didn't taste The Big Muddy, but my husband describes it as a very sloppy, meaty sandwich with a good taste. The fries were natural thin cut. They weren't as crisp as we like, but good just the same. They have several different sauces. My favorites were White Barbecue and St. Louie Sweet. I also got the smoked chocolate chip cookie. I can't comment on that just yet as I was way too full to eat it after my meal. That's feeling like an evening snack with a cup of coffee. Definitely going back and we'll likely take friends with us! Popping back in to provide an update on the smoked CC.cookie: A perfect ending to my delicious lunch!
(4)Mike P.
Ribs were amazing and the Mac and cheese was very good. Beans left something to be desired but the Coffee BBQ sauce was great
(4)Alexandra K.
I'll keep my review short. Believe all the good reviews. Meat is great and majority of the sides are delicious too!! They are pretty generous with the sides :) Tip: When one orders the Brisket, make sure to get the sandwich and NOT the plate. The sandwich brisket cuts are more tender and juicier than the Brisket cuts for Plates. Enjoy your meal:)
(4)Lara R.
The daily special, the "Cluck, Cluck, BOOM" was heaven. Spicy pulled chicken, perfectly fried thigh, topped with an egg and a mayo based sauce on a soft bun? Yes PLEASE. Brisket was a little dry and Mac n' cheese wasn't anything off the wall, but I would definitely go back again and again for their specials, friendly service, and ample outdoor seating.
(4)Clayton D.
The Big Muddy dominates. Period. We stopped in to SugarFire for lunch on Wednesday and it lived up to all the great reviews I have read. The first thing that I can share is if you are heading there for lunch, get there early! We arrived right at 11 and there were still a few folks ahead of us. However, the staff is really good and the line moved quickly. Prior to placing your order, you first stop is the drink station with various pure cane sugar soda offerings. Ski??? Yes please! Following grabbing your drink, you place your order and proceed down the line. As I mentioned earlier, I went with the Big Muddy and it was amazing. The combination of the brisket and sausage is unreal. Topped with pickles, lettuce and horseradish sauce, it was an amazing sandwich. I also got a side order of fries which were solid as well. Another added bonus is the crazy amount of bbq sauces that are available as well. While I did not sample them all, the Carolina Mustard, White and Coffee sauces were really good. Next time I return, I want to give the peach a whirl. I hope that return is real soon.
(5)Matt I.
I'm a bit torn here, because yesterday (when I ate here) I was leaning towards a 5-star rating. But then I went to Bogart's today, and Sugarfire was definitely outclassed on a couple of their BBQ items - particularly the ribs. So this is closer to a 4.5, and I'd give that if I could, but they lose a little luster simply due to the high level of competition in STL. I tried the ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. All were good, but none blew me away. I actually thought the brisket and pork were a bit dry by themselves. However, they matched up nicely with the sauces. Sides were excellent - I sampled a "cheesy ghetto hash" (potatoes with cheese and hunks of brisket), green beans (a tad overcooked IMO, but seasoned well), and a coconut applesauce (which also included hunks of pineapple, cherries, and peaches - I was skeptical but it worked really well). I will say, though, that the dessert special of the day was outstanding. It was a "brookie", which as far as I can tell was a cupcake cup filled with brownie batter, a hunk of chocolate chip cookie dough on top, and then baked. Outstanding. Those sold out while I was eating and so I took a cookie to go for my wife (who was arriving late via plane) and she thought it was excellent as well. It's good, and the sides and desserts are excellent, but they aren't quite at the level of Bogart's in terms of the BBQ.
(4)James F.
Went here to experience Saint Louis ribs, and was not disappointed. I'm a Texan, so I take my barbecue pretty seriously. I've only tried the ribs here, but they were absolutely up to snuff. The meat was very well seasoned and at just the perfect level of doneness - still holding on to the bone, but not too tightly. Sides were kind of meh, but that's not why you go to a barbecue joint. Their sauce selection is pretty solid; my favorite was their coffee bbq.
(5)Justin S.
The BBQ scene in St. Louis has really blown up the last couple of years. Sugarfire has been a place I have told multiple out-of-towners about, and they all thank me soon after. Sugarfire has a wide selection of items. One of the things I really like is how they have lots of rotating options and attempt new things. Everyday, they serve up their great BBQ meats and desserts. They also have a great selection of sides, which are rotated daily. Pulled Pork - Very Good Ribs - A little bit of working them off the bone is needed, but they have great flavor Beef Brisket - Hand, thick sliced and very good. Burgers - Great! Must add bacon, its always crispy. My favorite side to this day is the Tater Tot Casserole. You can see the sides for the day on their facebook, which is updated every morning (most of the time). They also have a daily special/unique item. The french fires are normally very tasty, but it depends on how long they have been out and if they are cooked long enough. They are shoestrings. You HAVE to get 1$ smoked cookie, they are great and available when checking out. There is two soda machines in the area, one at the entrnace to the line when ordering and the other near the exit (it is hidden behind a wall). The one by the exit offers a Cherry Ski. They also like to make unique BBQ sauce flavors, but I always fall back to the Sweet BBQ sauce.
(5)Max M.
Let me start by saying my last review of this establishment got me chastised by the owner/operator who somehow missed my positives and instead focused on my questioning his no plate policy. Mike told me to go elsewhere. He never apologized for berating me but he did manage to replace his original hot-headed and unprofessional response by indicating that his trays were sterile. Thanks to all you Yelpers who backed me with your compliments. SO, even despite his admonishment I have been back several times. Yes, they still do not use plates for their product but the food is so damn good I'm over it. I have had some very tasty BBQ at this establishment. So tasty in fact that I no longer yearn for Pappys or Bogarts. We visited yet again a few weeks ago and we yet again thoroughly enjoyed the wet brisket and a huge slab of ribs. The sides were all excellent. The mud pie was to die for. The place was clean. The staff was courteous. The foods were outstanding. Seriously, I really enjoy this Q!!! It's terrific. Mike, I forgive you even without your apology.
(5)Steve W.
Went for the first time tonight. I was raised in KC so I've been eating BBQ my whole life. Now living in St. Louis, I've been looking for a quality BBQ joint. So far Pappy's has been my favorite. I have heard a lot about Sugarfire and it didn't disappoint. When I got there at 5:45 pm on Thursday the line was almost out the door, but within 10 minutes we had wended our way to the register with food on our tray. Three in my party, so we got a wide sample. The 1/2 rack was tender and flavorful, with a dry rub and no sauce (the way I like it). Meaty ribs that pulled right off the bone. The brisket on my sandwich was cut thick and had some tug (wasn't fork tender but still tender enough to eat). Pulled pork was good. Cole slaw and fries standard, and some effort went into the them. The baked beans, while a little thin, used multiple types of beans, including some black beans, and the sauce was sweet and smoky. Overall a very good experience and a quality establishment. Staff was efficient and friendly. I will be back!
(5)Jennifer C.
THE BEST!! Everything I've had is delicious!! That is all
(5)Mindy P.
Cheesesteak Brisket. Awesome. I was eating off of my dad's plate, on his birthday, good thing he didn't jab me with his fork! Cheesy and meaty and tender all at teh same time. I am in love. I wanted to order that too, but since none of us had been there before I didn't want to order the same thing as everyone else. I did my traditional turkey sandwich which was fairly boring, but it gave me a chance to try all of the sauces that were offered to me, my favorite being the "White" tangy and creamy at the same time, either way very yummy. I liked the variety of sides, and they were very large for a side. We arrived early for dinner, 615ish i believe and got to watch the line stack up. I'm glad we beat the line! My only complaint is that the drinks are right in the line, being a newbie I never would have thought to grab my drink before I paid, and even to get a refill, you had to battle hungry patrons that just want to get their dinner started. I will be back, date night here I come!
(4)Tracy B.
I can't give them a positive rating since are making it very difficult to for me to try their food. I'd like them to cater a graduation party for 35 people so I called this morning and they told me to call this afternoon between 2-4p. I called this afternoon at 3:50p and they told me to call back in the morning or between 1-3p. Neither time did they ask for my name or number to try to assist me at their convenience. I guess they don't need or want catering business.
(1)Kitty W.
Before I talk about the food, I want to say a few things about the layout of the restaurant. It's a cafeteria-style restaurant. You get your drink at the soda fountain and then select your food as you go down the line. After you pay, you choose your seat in the dining area. They sort of have communal seating. I believe most of the tables have six or more seats. If you have a big family, that works out. You don't have to share a table with anyone. However, if you are dining alone or with only one or two other people, you might end up eating with strangers. My husband and I happened to eat here on a Wednesday afternoon, and even though there had not been a huge line of people waiting to get food, the place still was amazingly busy. They had only a couple of empty tables. We started out eating alone, but ultimately, we ended up sharing our table with another couple. That's not a huge deal, but if you are introverted like we are, you might be a little uncomfortable. It reminded me of that episode of King of the Hill where Hank finds a restaurant he likes, but he dislikes having to sit at the big table "wherever there's an open chair." Let me also comment on the great service. Pitmaster Casey talked to us while we were in line and was really friendly. While we were eating, he was walking around the restaurant, checking on people and asking them how the food was. They seem to frequently interact with their fans on Facebook, and I've noticed that they've responded to several of the Yelp reviews. I really admire their enthusiasm and their appreciation for their customers. Okay, let's get to the food! 1. Drinks: The soda fountain offers beverages from the Excel Bottling Company, which are made with pure cane sugar. They have drinks like Ski and Lucky Club Cola. Of course, they also have tea and beer. My husband and I are boring; we just went with water. 2. Entrees: I ordered the 6-oz brisket sandwich, and my husband ordered a double burger. Earlier, I said the food is served to you in a cafeteria-style line. That is true for things like my brisket sandwich, but they cook your burger when you order it and then bring it to your table. I'm from Texas. That does not make me a barbecue expert, but it does mean that I've had a lot of barbecue in my life. My brisket sandwich was pretty tasty. My husband loved his burger and said it was one of the best he has ever had. As their website says, their burgers are made from their "proprietary mix of chuck (body), brisket (fat content), and boneless short rib (flavor)." I really can't imagine that being anything other than delicious. 3. Sides: I have to be honest here. I wasn't impressed with the sides we ordered. I had the brisket chili because when life presents you with the opportunity to have brisket chili, you don't pass on that. Unfortunately, I wish I had. It just wasn't my thing. It tasted more like a gumbo with chili powder in it, and the brisket didn't really help to elevate it. My husband ordered fries with his burger. I'm not sure if they have different types of fries here; some reviews describe them as thick, while others describe them as thin and crispy. We weren't a fan of the fries. Ours were a medium thickness, served in a little paper basket. They were greasy, soggy, and sort of connected in one big fry blob. Maybe we just got them on a bad day. 4. Sauces and condiments: According to their website, the following are housemade: Sweet BBQ Sauce, Hot BBQ Sauce, Carolina Mustard Sauce, Hot Sauce, Ketchup, Mustard, Ranch Dressing, Garlic Mayo, Special Sauce, Sugarfire 47, Horseradish White Sauce, and Coffee Sauce. I tried something labeled "Texas Hot." I'm not sure if that is the same as the "Hot BBQ Sauce," but I liked it on my brisket sandwich. Really, I kind of slathered my brisket in the sauce. 5. Creativity: Sugarfire offers some creative items with equally creative names. If you follow them on Facebook, you will find they are quite diligent about posting their specials and sides for the day, often with pictures. I've seen them post fun concoctions like the "Cluck Berry Sandwich" and the "Twerky Club." They also have a wide variety of rotating sides that have included things like Crazy Corn, Frankentots, Jambalaya, Greek Quinoa Salad, and Kaleifornication. So, before you go, head over to Facebook to check out the day's special and sides. Overall, we had a good experience here and would go back again. I hate to give it four stars, but I'm not a fan of the seating arrangement. More importantly, I wasn't keen on the sides. Neither of these are deal-breakers, though. The brisket sandwich and burger were great. We'll just try different sides next time.
(4)Son V.
YES! THE FOOD IS AMAZINGLY GOOD. I am very excited that Stl has one more good restaurant open while having many bad ones still exist. I ordered the banh mi and the full rack of ribs. Being a Vietnamese, I know if the banh mi is authentic or not. Banh mi here is not authentic but it is still very very good. The meat inside is tender and cooked to perfection. They add lemongrass, chicken pate, a little bit of pickled cabbage. which makes a perfect banh mi. It is $11 for a one-foot-long banh mi and it is well worth it. They have a variety of sides that you can chose from. Ribs here are good but I still prefer Pappy's for ribs. Pappy's has better ribs and sauces. But SugarFire offers better sides and other dishes. I will definitely come back very soon.
(5)Mark S.
We had about a 15 minute wait. The line moved quickly. The brisket was good. My wife is the brisket expert and said it was just ok. The appetizers were OK not great. They sounded better then they were...The sugar can soft drinks were out of this world.
(4)Scott E.
Long time Yelp user, first time Yelp reviewer. Inspired by a true culinary gem of St. Louis. Sugarfire Smokehouse. Where to begin? St. Louis now has its fair share of amazing BBQ joints. It would be challenging to get a bad meal at the likes of Pappy's or Bogarts. Great options. But if you're visiting and have to pick one, go to Sugarfire! Stop reading this. Just go there already! They will not disappoint. If you're from St. Louis and you have yet to visit them, you have no excuse. Go there. Or we can't be friends. So as for the grub. The brisket is spectacular. On another level. Have you had Franklin's in Austin? The Sugarfire incarnation could happily sit glistening beside it. Without a doubt. Their ribs are perfectly smoked. As is everything. The burnt ends will make you fight your grandmother for the last bite. All of their traditional BBQ fare is out of this world. But they don't stop there. They have daily specials that will knock your socks off. Often cleverly named. The dudes are funny. Innovative, sometimes slightly gluttonous, in the best possible way of course, and always served with one of their amazing sides. And I'm not talking traditional BBQ joint specials either. Last year they did a special pot pie. With truffles in it!!! They do that. Ever had amazing smoked fried chicken? They do that. Ever had a sandwich as big as your face? They do that. Ever had a cheeseburger named the Sweet baby Cheesus? They do that. Why are you still reading?! Go there Speaking of their burgers. Not only do they have the best BBQ in the Lou, they also rank up there for our best burger. Great grass fed beef burgers. Also many times done in innovative ways. The sides. Get the macaroni and cheese with whatever you order. Add a side of it. Shut up and eat it. They have the best Mac in the city! And you can't go wrong with any of their sides really. Save room for dessert. Or take it with you. I mean it. They have a pie named crack pie. It's named for a highly addictive drug. That's all I need to say about that. Order it. Get addicted. Their baker will equally rock your world. Ever had a pecan pie baked in a chocolate cake? They do that. Creative sauces. Twerk sauce! Local old style soda. Local beer. They'll make you a great ice cream milkshake. With booze in it! I could go on and on about this place. Deservedly so. Don't let their rugged bearded BBQ charm fool you. These dudes can cook their faces off. Blending flavor profiles as well as some of the finest chefs anywhere. I'm confident these fellas could be cooking at any fine dining establishment. They know what their doing. So go there. Stop reading. They are not just silly hipster hype. The place is legit. Go to the best BBQ establishment in our fair city. They will make you proud to be from the Lou. I promise you will return. P. S. The Big Muddy could very well change your life.
(5)Allie O.
The food is great. I've only eaten the takeout so I cannot comment on the interior or the service. Most impressive during my last take-out order was their potato salad. It tasted extremely fresh and homemade. Will definitely be back!
(5)Theresa C.
I've been here twice and cannot wait to go a third. The food is just delicious. Both times I've gone at off-peak hours (2pm and 7:30pm on a weekday). Both times the wait was only about 15 minutes to order. The food is served cafeteria style on cookie sheets lined with butcher paper (genius). Seating is first come, first serve. They do have a patio area (approx 5 tables) that is pet friendly. The main courses don't really vary, though there are daily specials. I've ordered the Big Muddy sandwich both times I've gone. It's beef brisket, sausage, lettuce, BBQ and horseradish sauce held together by a very lucky bun. It's huge and fair warning, it's not first date food because no one looks cute trying to devour it. They mix up the side dishes well. For example, my first visit they had cheeseburger mac n cheese, the second time they had jalapeño mac n cheese, among several other choices (veggies, potatoes, beans, etc). The mac n cheese on both visits was absolutely wonderful. I washed everything down with a summer ale, but they also serve "grown up" shakes and soda. In short, go there. You won't regret it.
(4)Lauren P.
Lets just say the only reason I am giving this place 1 star is because no star is not an option.... My boyfriend and I came here for the first time and ordered the brisket Philly and the brisket with chicken rice and greens. Whoever came up with the idea of pouring nacho cheese on a pile of brisket should be fired! So terrible my boyfriend that never complains wouldn't even come back for a second bite. Not to mention the prices are pretty steep! Should have went next door to falcons!!
(1)Brittany H.
I'm going to be the bad guy here. I bounced between giving a 2 or 3 star. The ONLY reason I gave a 3 star was because my previous experience here was good. Here's the deal...I first tried Sugarfire in late March with my husband (who had been before) and a friend who hadn't. Our food was great. I'm not a big meat eater, but the cheese steak brisket was pretty darn good. The sweet potato casserole was different, but in a good way. White Russian Shake - heck yes! Fast forward to May, I was excited to take my mom, dad, bro and his gf here for my mom's b-day. My parents had never been and they had a question about the side dishes. Nothing big...questions that could have been easily answered. Hello rude girl with the blue bandanna behind the counter?! This chick was incredibly impolite...borderline arrogant. Her tone was very abrasive and she just seemed really annoyed with her job. Grade F for customer service from her. When my brother and his girlfriend made it to the table, they also said something about her being rude. So I know it wasn't just an isolated incident directed at my parents. Look, I understand that you all have a TON of people through every day, but please don't be rude to your customers. It just made the rest of the dining experience...well...crappy... no matter how good the food might have been. Just because you have something great going on doesn't mean you can throw customer service out the window and get irritated. I don't know if this person was just having a bad day or what. I like your food Sugarfire...I just wish this wouldn't have happened. It makes me a little bit sad.
(3)Dave S.
Wow, just walking outside my mouth started watering! ! Once I got inside there were so many choices I couldn't decide. Had the meat combo w 2 meats/2 sides. The pulled pork n ribs were nice n juicy, lightly smoked. All of the sauces complimented the meats. The beans had great flavor, the slaw was slaw, but w the bbq sauce it was kickin! Would definitely go back and recommend to any bbq lover!!
(5)A B.
I don't have much to say.....all I can say is UMMM UMMM GOOOD!! Philly Cheese steak brisket & the double cheeseburger hits the spot everytime!!!
(5)Todd C.
Variety of choices from your standard beef to pork, salmon, and portobello sandwich. Many choices for sauces! Edamame salad, baked beans, home-cut fries are a few of the delicious sides available. Save room for dessert: pie at their sister shop next door.
(4)Sharon B.
You know a turkey sandwich is amazing when it is literally nothing but turkey and bread... And it's the best turkey sandwich I've had anywhere! The frankentots are also amazing!I have no idea what's in it, but I could probably bathe in that stuff!
(5)Anthony R.
Given the nature of my last review of Drunken Fish, I feel like I need to put some stars up and throw out some kudos. I've been wanting to review Sugarfire since they opened because I'm a frequent customer but only because my office is down the street... This is the most innovative and delicious smokehouse in Saint Louis. They are taking BBQ to new heights with specials like Smoked Trout Cakes, The Wacha Burger, and The Mooley-Cyrus. Their sides are nothing to shrug at either, Philly cheese-steak Mac n Chz (right?), Jambalaya, and the wonderful baked beans. Everyone is talking about it so I know you've all heard of Sugarfire smokehouse, and if you haven't gone, you surely thought about it. Stop thinking and just go! Five stars, only because my middle name is Brisket. Not really, but you know what I mean.
(5)Robin M.
If I could give this place zero stars I would! After driving past this place a few times I decides to check it out. I read the menu and decided to try the chicken biscuit and fries. I specifically asked them to put the hot sauce on the side and not in my sandwich. The girl at the counter assured me that they were voted as having the best fries in St. Louis. Once I got home and opened the bag I was in the brink of disappointment until I tasted...they were ok definitely not the best in St. Louis! Then I moved on to chicken biscuit. Let me start by saying I had very high hopes for this sandwich after reading the description on the menu. I opened the wrapper and saw this dry biscuit followed by burnt chicken patty drenched in hot sauce (remember I asked them to put the hot sauce on the side). Needless to say I will not be returning back nor will I recommend this place to anyone!
(1)William Y.
I love bbq.... Had to try this place. However i had to come back because for lunch the line was 50 people deep. When i finally came back it was great and them some. Had several different sauces and combos and was not disappointed. I will have to come back again!!!
(5)Heather G.
Downright delicious, everything I tasted. They even serve Ski brand soda that is made from pure cane sugar! Pulled pork, turkey, the baked beans, potato salad all just divine!! Then there is the mac-n-cheese.... Omg!!! The mac-n-cheese.....
(5)Dan U.
Had spare ribs and baked beans and wife had beef short ribs and sweet potato salad. The spare ribs had good flavor and was nice and smoky same with short ribs. The BBQ sauces at sugar fire were ok but nothing special. The main thing though was that the flavor on the meat was good enough that it didn't matter. The baked beans were good but the sweet potato salad was not. That was disappointing since their potato salad is really good. It just tasted off and really mushy. But... We didn't go for the sides just the meat which were great.
(5)Haley M.
There are barely words to describe how this is the BEST BBQ restaurant around, but I'm gonna try to explain as best as possible! I headed off to SSH this past Saturday afternoon with a good friend. We were desperately needing to finish up some Thank You cards from a benefit we hosted, and figured why not indulge in some BBQ and beer at the same time??? Seemed like the perfect option to us. We both ordered the pulled pork because, let's face it, they have the BEST pulled pork I've ever had. Seriously. EVER!! In fact, I've stopped ordering pulled port at other restaurants because it just doesn't stand up to SSH. We had the mac n cheese, house made fries, and caesar pasta salad for sides. Yes, we're carb junkies. Don't judge! All of the food was delicious and we were stuffed by the end of the meal. The only downfall was that we were so into our food and yummy vanilla coffee stouts that we didn't quite get to those Thank You cards.......oops! When you're stuffed full of good BBQ, and in need of finishing a project, what do you do......head over to Sugarfire Pies of course! This was our genius idea to finish up those Thank You cards....stuff ourselves further with sugar filled treats. Seemed like a good idea at the time! (We suffered the pain later.) Now this was our first encounter with the pie side of the franchise and we were not disappointed. I had the key lime pie which was perfectly tart. My friend had the stacked (might have the name wrong), which was their Sugarfire pie sandwiched around some chocolate goodness. Both were exceptional. And just in case you were concerned, we did get around to those Thank You cards. Overall, SSH never disappoints. Every time I go they are friendly, fast, and serve the best BBQ around. So make a point to drive out to Olivette, or one of the other locations, and indulge. I promise I'll try something other than the pulled pork one day, but it's so hard to walk away from such a good thing!! (Little tip......mix the sauces!!! I prefer a trio of the sweet BBQ, spicy BBQ, and the white. DELISH!!!)
(5)Jim B.
Pretty good but perfer more smoke. Ribs were very tender and fall off the bone.
(3)Justin K.
Lord have mercy. The BBQ was sooo good. My friend and I were at Starbucks next door, smelled the BBQ and my inner fat girl couldn't resist. We walked in, the place had a decent line however that just made me even hungrier. Ordered the turkey sandwich with a side of mac&cheese and fell in love with it. Tried all the sauces that I could find. They were spread out amongst the various tables. Don't be shy, let the patrons at the other table know you would like to try other sauces they won't say no. Anyway this place was delicious. Everyone in STL should visit this place that's for d@mn sure.
(5)Jared B.
The beef brisket sandwich was very good. It was worth the 20 to 25 minutes we waited in line that literally was out the door. They have many options for sauce to put on the meat of your choice. May I stress, that the baked beans here were the best I have ever had! The atmosphere was a bit loud but amazing. When I say the place was packed, that is an understatement! It is a lot like an assembly line cafeteria where you pick your meat then pick your side then take your drink and or beverage of choice. The combination of options is limitless! The staff is very friendly. The place was decorated for Halloween, and added to the atmosphere. This is the kind of place I want to tell all my friends to go to before they die.
(5)James E.
I couldn't be happier with the food if it was served with a side of serotonin. Just freakin WOW good. One of the best features of the restaurant is their daily specials. They have original, off-the-menu specials that change daily. Between those and the outstanding regular menu items, you could eat there every day for a month and never have the same thing twice.
(5)Jordan Z.
I'm not one who will typically venture to a strip mall to eat, or do anything for that matter, but Sugarfire's BBQ is so good that I'm willing to overlook its tacky location. Once inside, the smells and ambiance make you forget where you are anyway. If you're looking for a more urban setting, visit their other locations in St. Charles and O'Fallon. That's a joke. God, I hate the county. These guys are churning out some crazy good food though, giving my favorites in the city a run for their money. My personal favorite is the Big Muddy sandwich. It's as if they designed this sandwich specifically for my taste buds. I always thought "Taste Buds" would be a cool name for friends that try new restaurants together. If you have a "Taste Bud," take them here.
(5)Keith H.
I am impressed. I definitely recommend this little joint. I had the brisket and turkey, both were tender and moist; fantastic. I look forward to coming back and trying the salmon and grass feed beef burger. If that'd just add one or two healthy sides, I'd give this place a 5 star rating. O my, the desserts look amazing too, definitely next trip. Watch for updates.
(4)Matthew S.
I've gone here for lunch with coworkers a couple times. Their pulled pork tastes great--tender and juicy. I usually go for 6oz pulled pork sandwich which is just enough, though you can go for larger sizes if that suits you. The meat is served with no sauce, but at the end of the line they have giant dispensers with their own sweet and hot bbq sauces. Their hot could be hotter in my opinion, but it still does the job. They have the usual sides that come with BBQ--cole slaw, baked beans, and fries. The fries are good but nothing special, though occasionally they'll have specials where they served sweet potato fries (which are awesome--I wish wish they'd do that more). Every time I have been there the line is nearly through the door, but the wait is never that long--they are very quick to serve. If it is too cold/hot/rainy outside it might be a little difficult to find seating inside, otherwise they have covered seating outside.
(4)Bridget B.
Fantastic Philly cheesesteak. Some of the brisket was a cut a bit too thick for a Philly for my taste. But 90% was cut prefect. The baked beans were awesome: sweet without being syrupy and a touch of heat. Love this place.
(4)Rich V.
Fantastic food. Okay, I really don't have much to say that hasn't been said before by countless reviews. That being said, the one thing I didn't see in any other reviews is the call-in carry-out option. I had passed by Sugarfire countless times on my dinner break at work. I always wanted to try them, but the line was way too long to wait and get back to work in time. I finally called them to see if the call-in carry-out option was available and it was. I ordered over the phone 15 minutes ahead of time and it took five minutes upon arriving to get my food which included payment and getting the sauces in the handy to-go cups. Fantastic experience, will be going at least once a week.
(5)Nick U.
The head chef was a former prodigy of Emeril Lagasse in NOLA and Charlie Trotter in Chicago. If you want truly creative BBQ then go no further. The Big Muddy sandwich is a personal favorite but one really can't go wrong here. Mike Johnson's Louisiana training is a wonderful breath of fresh air into the St. Louis BBQ scene.
(5)Chris Z.
STL BBQ was once a mystery and a misnomer. All over the country you'd find menus that offer "STL Style BBQ". But here in St. Louis, a good BBQ joint was nonexistent. Super Smokers was about the only decent offering. ...but alas, the pit masters were just in hiding. There are now a good selection of great BBQ joints in town. SugarFire slips in line with many others... Pappy's, Bogart's, Shaved Duck... take your pick. The great thing about SugarFire is they aren't as well known as the other. You don't have to stand in a line around the corner. You don't have to get there at 9am to ensure they aren't out of ribs. We tried some smoked turkey, and a brisket/sausage sandwich called the Big Muddy. Both were very good and the accompanying sauces are diverse and interesting. Beans and potato salad were just ok. Bring a bib and wet wipes. You're going to be elbow deep in deliciousness.
(4)Suzanne D.
What else can be said? Delicious BBQ worth the wait in line. Specials are always great as are the standby smoked meats. Friendly yet efficient service. Always a winner when in STL.
(5)Kristen M.
Had a great meal her with the boyfriend; we ordered lots of different things to try. I like the variety they offer, but after we sat down I could see parts of the menu that I didn't notice before, and wish I would have ordered. So make sure to look up, and read all the different signs! All the staff were friendly, and we got dessert to go from their pie shop next door. It ended up being super crowded as we left, so you may have to wait in line.
(4)Jackie G.
I'm new to the area, and this joint came highly recommended. OMGWTFBBQ! It was amazeballs. I had the smoked salmon burger and the brisket mac&cheese. Oh, and a White-Russian milkshake, too. I regret nothing.
(5)K N.
I tried the pulled pork and the brisket. Pork was flavorful, but the brisket was a little on the fatty side. I tried a bite of my friends ribs and they were amazing. I liked that they had all of their sauces on the table to try and was happy with all of them. For my sides I had the potatoes au gratin and the beans. Both were delicious. I also had the key lime pie for dessert which was amazing. Only downside is the waiting line. I felt kind of cramped. However, it moved very quickly and for a Sunday afternoon it was not a terrible wait.
(4)Joey V.
Sugarfire is my favorite BBQ place in St. Louis.
(5)Bill S.
Fantastic. I could just stop there ... but I won't. First of all this place is so good it's always packed. Someone said they serve over 2,000 lbs of meat a day and I believe it. There's always a line. So don't go if you don't have a little time. They're good at keeping it moving though. Surgarfire is located in an assuming little strip mall between a sports bar and a Walgreens. It doesn't really look like one of the best BBQ joints in the region until you catch a whiff of the smoke coming from one of their smokers on the patio. Once you walk in it feels like a more traditional BBQ place, with rough wood and funny meat themed signs. They have a big chalkboard near the front door that proclaims all their local suppliers. They serve cafeteria style, get your drinks first, including beer and then order your food (wine and cocktails too, but at the counter). You can't go wrong with any of their expertly smoked meats, but their sides are always a treat too. There are a few staples, beans and slaw but they're always mixing it up with options like bacon bleu-cheese mac and cheese, or brisket stroganoff--so look or ask for the weird side options if you want a treat. Also look at the specials--the chef is always coming up with a unique twist on something. The specials are written on butcher paper above the food line. The food is served on small baking sheets covered in butcher paper--no plates, just piles of meat. The staff is super friendly and generous, you're more likely than not to get a bonus one way or another. They've thrown extra rib bones at me or extra an extra side or just let me have my drinks for free--I even got a free dessert once (desserts are as good as everything else). It really is kind of the perfect all around BBQ experience. I can't say enough good things about Sugarfire. Love it!
(5)Nicole L.
I live and work near here, and boy is it hard not to eat here every day! Love how the menu changes, but he keeps some of the fabulous necessities on stock every day like ribs, brisket, and more! You don't really need the sauce, but just in case, it is available and tastes just as awesome as the Q. Pies? They got homemade pies that taste like Texas. I have never liked Pecan Pie, but this place has Pecan Pie that will make ya slap your mamma. It's good to say the least. All the sides rock and the soda pop is pure REAL sugar- none of that fake stuff! They have Ski even!!! When you walk in to this joint, you enter one door and are immediately in line. Sounds kinda cafeteria style, but the walls are plastered with some nifty decor and the whole interior is styled for BBQ eatin'. You grab a soda pop just before you reach the counter and order, yes cafeteria-style, but it's pretty nice to see what you're getting. They do NOT skimp on servings, so don't be alarmed by some of the prices. All the staff are smiley, friendly, and will talk to you regardless of the length of the line. If you're a first-timer to their restaurant, they'll help you out. If you're feeling up for the challenge, ask for a Sample Meat Platter and you'll receive a very healthy helping of all their day's meat selections. All in all, this place beats out most of the 'BBQ' places here in the Lou!
(5)Hao X.
YUM! I've been wanting to get bbq somewhere that doesn't close in the middle of the afternoon. I've also been wanting to get bbq when I didn't eat too much that day. Today is a lazy labor day where I didn't do much and didn't eat much. i.e. it was the perfect day to come here, provided that they were open. I called around 4 and they said they would be open until the food sold out. I asked for time estimate and the girl actually gave one to me! That's really nice considering there are many a places that refuse to be nice about stuff like that. WIN on food service. I ended up ordering hte fried artichoke with lemon aioli and the pulled pork. I got, as sides, the potato salad and the beans. I enjoyed everything I got. I've had better potato salad before, but theirs was still good. The fried artichoke was a bit too much for me but the lemon aioli was spot on. And the beans were tasty but not mind blowing. The pulled pork was great too -- perfect when paired with sauces. However, this place has great service. When we ordered something they didn't have then and there, they said it would be brought out to us. My friend had to wait for her fries so they gave her an EXTRA LARGE share. It was amazing how much food that serving of fries was. Also, i had to wait on my artichokes so they snuck in a little risotto ball. OMG, i'm totally getting an order of those risotto balls to go sometime. SO GOOD. All in all, this was a wonderful experience with solid food.
(4)Steve B.
This is hands down my favorite barbecue place in St Louis I like it more than pappys Bogarts and way more then bandannas. Everything I've tried it's been fantastic ribs are great briskets great salmon sides are fantastic. Must try!
(5)Bernadette C.
Wonderful! When I went with my boyfriend we received quick, friendly service and everything was clean, and easy to navigate as far as "counter service" goes. The portions were VERY generous, and I definitely recommend their turkey and pulled pork. The Coffee Barbecue sauce they had on the table was AMAZING. It was my favorite, but the boyfriend preferred their "Sweet" sauce (also very tasty). I give props to the Kale Ceasar Salad, as well as the White Bean and Kale Chili. We will be back and I look forward to trying some of their sandwiches I saw other diners enjoyed - they looked yummy and enormous!
(4)Lauren V.
The food at Sugarfire was Ok, the pulled pork wasn't bad but the mac n cheese was. I think the seating could be better too...the seating was just these big long tables. It's like you're sitting and eating your pork sandwich or ribs and a bunch of strangers just walks up and sits next to you. It makes you feel very uncomfortable.
(2)Berri J.
I strongly recommend the brisket sandwich. I tried the white BBQ sauce and loved it, ate it on my sandwich and with my fries.
(5)Michelle M.
Visited Sugarfire and left full and satisfied! Succulent, delicious and moist beef brisket that I have ever eaten. I had the curried chicken soup as my side and it had just a nice kick and was filled with decent sized chunks of chicken! The choice of beverages were also great! Soda made with "real sugar cane" is so smooth and hits the spot. The crack pie is also super delicious and a must have if you are looking for a dessert. Truly hits the spot as a meal ender!! Friendly staff to boot at this place! A must eat!!!
(5)Jenny R.
O.M.G. This place is bomb. 'Nuff said. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with French fries. So fresh! So good! The Best pulled Pork I've ever had! I put on the 47 sauce? Amazing!! I've already told family and friends about this place!
(5)Jennifer C.
3 words...Brisket Philly Cheesteak. This is the one of the best sandwiches I've tasted in St. Louis. 1st off, it's huge! 1/2 of the sandwich is plenty. The brisket is very tender and flavorful, packed with onions and bell peppers and the cheese sauce...no words. It gets pretty packed on the weekend, the line was to the door, but was definitely worth the 20 minute wait. I didn't try any sides on this visit, but I will next time.
(4)Bryan B.
The best bbq I've ever had. The ribs are unbelievable here. I had pappys and loved it, but the ribs here were the best I've ever had. The brisket and turkey were great as well, wasn't the biggest fan of the sausage. Will definitely come back when I'm in St. Louis again
(5)David D.
My secretary had told me for a few months that I had to try Sugarfire. She knows my love of good BBQ and knew I had to try it - she was not wrong! It's a bit more of a drive from the metro-east, but well worth it. I had the brisket and smoked turkey - they were awesome. I was fortunate that the owner/chef was including a good chunk of burnt end in with the brisket orders and it was outstanding! But what might have outshined even the meat was the choice of sides! In addition to the standard sides, they had several additional sides as options. All of them looked incredible, I went for the cuban rice and mac n cheese with chorizo. While I still love Pappy's, Sugarfire's meat is just as good, but the selection of sides might give Sugarfire an edge in my book.
(5)Charleen S.
Remember when I said that Pappy's is the standard by which all future ribs will be judged...well, now there are two standards by which I will judge ribs. Sugar Fire's ribs are delicious, and different enough from Pappy's ribs that they get to start a new genre for me. The sweet rib! 4 bones of the sweet, not dry (avoiding the "m" word), melt-in-your-mouth pig and some fried green tomatoes for $7.50 - I'm in hog heaven! Oh, I also wanted to mention that they have a unique soda fountain with a local soda that I hadn't heard of but really enjoyed, several side dishes that are interesting enough to be stars, and several dessert offerings. Next time the boss suggests Bandanna's I'm bringing him here...
(5)Ken B.
Best BBQ I have had in St Louis so far. I tried the pulled pork, brisket and sausage. The brisket set them apart. Very nice texture and flavor. The pulled pork was good as well as the sausage.
(4)Kent H.
Woah! Excellent food and very chill atmosphere. Very quick service and they serve beer! I will definitely be back! Ari cashed me out and was super sweet!
(5)Lon T.
Will be hitting this place up on future visits to St. Louis for sure. Simple food and sides done amazingly well. I enjoyed the combo tray with pulled pork, brisket, green beans and mac & cheese. They feature about 10 different BBQ sauces that will keep everyone happy. All fantastic and tried the crack pie for dessert!
(5)Rafael G.
A friend turned me on to SugarFire Smokehouse and they were right on the money. SugarFire is making some great food and having fun doing it. The Olive location gets packed quickly for lunch but if you go around 1:30 or so the wait isn't too bad. I look forward to my next visit - which may be as soon as I finish writing this review.
(4)Rajesh S.
Super delicious! Great meats, great sauces (and a wide selection of them, I might add), and a great vibe! I've been many times and will continue to go whenever I'm in the area.
(5)mallory C.
Cool atmosphere. Get there early because line builds fast. Super friendly staff. Loved the pulled pork sandwich and the pimento cheeseburger.
(4)John M.
I came here on a lonely, rainy Thursday afternoon. I was driving my ass back in my car loaded with my stuff across the country from New York to CA after breaking up with my girl. I didn't think much could cheer me up, but I figured that I might as well stop somewhere along the way to get some good, authentic barbecue for the ride home. Enter SugarFire Smoke House. I found these guys on yelp. I'm not even sure why I picked to get my BBQ in St Louis. Must have been something i saw on the Food Network about St Louis having good BBQ. While SugarFire didn't have most reviews, it seemed to have the highest quality reviews and a devoted following. I ordered the brisket, pulled pork, and pulled pork sandwich. Due to time constraints, I wasn't able to to eat at the restaurant - I had to get back on the road. I poured some sweet and regular BBQ sauces into some containers, grabbed my food, and continued on my path to California. I got to say, hands down, this is some of the best brisket and pulled pork I have had in my life. Words can't really express the flavor. I read that some of their other sauces are outstanding as well, however I am afraid I will never get the chance to try them. Side note, SugarFire may have saved my life! While driving through New Mexico that night, I got caught in a blizzard at 3am. Running on summer tires, I had no choice but to pull over and munch on SugarFire BBQ all night (and the next day!). Had I been stranded there, I am sure the BBQ would have gone a long way to ensure my survival.
(5)Henry S.
Great food! Everything I have tried I have loved! One of the staff members is great about moving around the restaurant and asking how people's food is. I think it adds a nice touch. He has done it every time I have been there. However, I am giving them super low points for customer service with catering. Every time I have called to ask questions or even place an order, the person on the other end is extremely rude. Both times I have called to place an order she tells me to call back because she does not have time for me. Who says that to a potential catering sale? If I had not planned an event that indicated Sugarfire would be served, I would not order from here. It is really a shame since some of the other staff seems to go out of their way to be nice and accommodating.
(2)Carrie D.
We loved it! Better than Pappy's in our opinion. Their sides are made with as much care as their meat. That's the way to do it, folks. Will be back. :D
(5)Michael B.
Probably the best BBQ I've ever had. Their pulled pork is awesome! They smoke all of their meats in house everyday. They have many sides and rotate them daily. In addition they have ski soda which is a local beverage company that uses real cane sugar. A+
(5)Robert D.
Hands down the best BBQ in St. Louis. The combination of creative specials, plentiful sides and hamburger options puts this place on top, not to mention the quality BBQ!
(5)Sophie W.
Awesome! The Carolina sandwich (pulled pork, mustard carolina bbq sauce, and coleslaw) is out of this world. Sides were a little of a hit or miss -- green bean salad (cold) was blech, potatoes au gratin were good but not mind blowing, and the rice and beans was decent. The meat is the clear winner here - the brisket was tender and falling apart, and the fried chicken was freshly fried and juicy. Great place for lunch!
(4)Cecilia J.
Love it...Good service, good good food....
(5)Lisa R.
Had to update my review after realizing I only rated 3 instead of 4 stars. Blame it on fat fingers! We ordered a bit of everything to sample it all. We all agreed the smoked turkey was the best in town and portobello sandwich was awesome too! Very pleased with our meal and as busy as they all were, the staff was super friendly!
(4)John B.
This place is amazing! I'm from north carolina, also known as pulled pork country, so I am always disappointed by pulled pork in other states. This place changed my mind, I was actually embarrassed by north carolina pulled pork. I would love to see this place franchise into every city in america. I will be back every time I'm in St. Louis.
(5)