For more than 10 years, one name in the Valley has been synonymous with stellar barbecue: Bobby-Q Great Steaks & Real BBQ. Now open for a decade at its Phoenix location, the restaurant and social bar has just opened up some new digs in Mesa, at Stapley Road and the 60 (you can spy the beautiful brick building from the freeway).
Before even digging into Bobby-Q’s famed ribs or brisket, patrons will be pleased by the good looks of the space. The 7,800-sq.-ft. building has appealing indoor/outdoor seating, with the patio areas framed by the rustic bricks and string lights, plenty of cushy spots to sit in the interior, and a too-cool bar area and social lounge for kicking back with a beer (there are several house brews to try) and watching sports on the flat-screens.
Onto the eats, Bobby-Q serves “Kansas City–style barbecue mixed with a little bit of Texas.” The made-from-scratch menu has something for everyone: salads, soups, seafood, hearty platters, burgers, sandwiches, steak and much more. For starters, the Q-Rolls were a table favorite. Each roll was stuffed with prime brisket, one of Bobby-Q’s specialties, and a chipotle dipping sauce. The rolls were crunchy, hearty and a great display of the brisket. For a slightly lighter start to the meal, the calamari steaks, served with a tangy lemon-caper remoulade, were a tasty pick.
The best way to enjoy Bobby-Q’s standout barbecue meats and ribs is via a platter (rib choices include baby back, St. Louis and beef while meat options are brisket, pork, sausage and chicken). Since the restaurant is known for its baby back ribs and brisket, we opted to give ’em a try. And they didn’t disappoint. The ribs fell off the bone, and both meats had a great smokey flavor. The meat was tender and moist, but far from wet and mushy, which some barbecue can suffer from being.
To switch things up, the grilled salmon filet was a tasty alternative to a meat dish. The sweet glaze that topped the salmon allowed for a tempting, crispy exterior. And we can’t forget the side dishes, which are far from an afterthought. The mac and cheese was a table favorite–super-cheesy, comforting, warming. Everything you might want in a mac and cheese dish. The mashed potatoes are likewise a comfort-food winner, not overly “mashed” and with lots of peppery flavor.
To end the meal, Death by Chocolate is an over-the-top treat comprising chocolate cake, peanuts, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Large enough for a table of four, only a few bites of the dense cake and delicious cream will satiate a sweet tooth. Oh–and as a thoughtful take-home gift, Bobby-Q doles out a paper bag of fresh cinnamon mini doughnuts (pictured) to enjoy later. If you can wait until later, that is.
In order to wash down all this deliciousness down, the restaurant offers a fab selection of delicious cocktails, in addition to a selection of in-house brews, including the refreshing coconut-lime mojito (pictured) and spicy Pina Diablo. (Next time, we’re getting the Pineapple Passion, served in a pineapple.) The cocktail menu even has photos of most of the cocktails, so you know exactly what you’re getting into–and how Instagrammable your pick will be, of course.
A Taste of Bobby Q
