John Hardy's BBQ

929 W Frontage Rd, Rochester
(507) 288-3936

Recent Reviews

Gregg W.

The service was outstanding! Unfortunately I suspect that the ribs were warmed up from what was actually ready to be served yesterday. Very dry and not tasty at all. Two weeks ago I got an unbelievable good plate of ribs but the plate today was very disappointing.

Kelsey Long

Ordered a pork dinner and a pittmaster bbq salad with pork. Salad was literally just pork and lettuce with salad dressing on the side, nothing else. Ordered it as take out so didn't realize until I was home 10 miles outside of Rochester.

TJ Notorious

The best service and BBQ around AND good prices on quality wines. Brighter and clean. Nice place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fried Okra, The Sauce, JoJos

Scott Reese

I'm not sure if they have more on their menu than the pork plate... But they don't need to, get it with jo-jos. Their sauces are good I stay with the "sissy sweet", but I'm not adventurous. Their service can be good and it can be not so good, it all depends on the day.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: JoJos, Small Pork Plate

jen hehr

Everything was great! Best place to go when going through Rochester for sure.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Edward Phillips

First and foremost this review took me two days to decide on. This establishment claims that it’s true southern BBQ. They met their match with me as I am from Georgia and live very close to the #1 BBQ in the south since 1929 (Fresh Air BBQ). The meat most definitely is however the sauces (all of them) are not. Pulled pork has an incredible smoked flavor and is pulled to perfection. Brisket was tender and filled with good flavor. Ribs were firm with some type of dry rub on them. The rib meat with the dry rub was almost a sweet taste. Thick sliced garlic bread was great and a nice touch. Hand cut and thinly sliced potatoes are always great! Let’s get into the BBQ sauces. The south is best known for mostly vinegar based sauces the John Hardy sauces taste more like a watery ketchup from sweet to heat. I was highly disappointed in all of there sauces. The sauces killed them from getting four stars. Service was good and I can onlyImagine the fun they have when the weather is good and the patio is in use.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Duane Rich

food is always

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: The Sauce, JoJos, Small Pork Plate

Jamie “Info2Share”

We were in Rochester seeing family and stopped here on our way out. For a BBQ place, I'd say the flavor is all but missing in the food. The sauces leave something to be desired. I got green beans with mushrooms for a side and it was simply out of a can, corn also looked out of a can. Someone else had beans and they were good. The waitress was pleasant, service was acceptable. It was clean, fairly busy, and could get cramped. I don't know how it's gotten 4 stars in the past but that was our reason for trying it.Parking: There is a fully open parking lot. It had plenty of parking when we were there. There is no charge.Kid-friendliness: We were offered a kids menu but declined. I believe they had 4 items in the kids menu.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 2

Recommended dishes: Cheese Curds

Gary Couch

Hardy's BBQ was a great find while we were passing through Rochester. We stopped in for lunch and glad we did. Amazing friendly service and a great selection on the menu. The taste of the BBQ in the meat was amazing, I didn't want to spoil that great BBQ taste with putting BBQ sauce on it. We will be back next time we find ourselves in Rochester.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: JoJos, Pulled Pork Plate

Montague Lynn

Love their food! Always great service and a fun atmosphere.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fried Okra, The Sauce, JoJos, Coleslaw, Pulled Pork Plate

Glen Morris

Amazing food! One of the only places in 100 miles that has sweet potato totes! Service was speedy and food was delicious too. Located on the frontage road off of 52, so quick to get to from the highway. I think they might be doing some renovations inside as well.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 5

Hannah Brotherton

It was wall great and good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Sandie Snyder

Went for my birthday! Was great! Would definitely recommend. ??

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Plates, The Sauce, Beef, Coleslaw, Smoked Hot Link & Shredded Pork Combo Plate

Jase Mittelstadt

We ordered to go. They forgot to give us the sauce, what is what makes John Hardy’s special. So called in and they said they all they could do for us is get us sauce what would be fine if we lived next to it so we got our sauce but had to eat cold food when we got home. Don’t order to go.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 1

Service: 1

Recommended dishes: The Sauce

Melodie Wells

For a remote city it was so-

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: Rack of Ribs

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