Bob's BBQ Emporium

This food truck was at the New Glarus Blues brews and food trucks festival kind of thing in the park. I was craving BBQ anyway so I ordered the brisket sandwich and at the last minute a side of Mac and cheese. The brisket sandwich looked good with a smoke ring on thick slices on the most cheapest generic white bun you could possibly get like some some cheap carnival hamburger. The brisket was moist and smokey with a kick from what ever sauce I picked from the two on the table which was satisfying but the meat was colder than the outside temperature I was in, cold Bbq on a warm summer day was weird. The Mac and cheese looked like pathetic cafeteria food with a mushy sticky texture and a light cheese flavor, cooked to mush, I like aged cheeses with bold flavors in a Mac and cheese so it's not just another generic Mac and cheese.

We waited in a line to try Bob's BBQ at Taste of Madison and we left disappointed. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich, brisket sandwich, and the chicken fried bacon. The sandwiches were both came with plenty of meat, but were super dry and ice cold. There were no toppings, just bread and meat, and sadly no BBQ sauce to be found. The chicken fried bacon was the only thing we enjoyed as it was hot and flavorful. Maybe the food is better in their restaurant, but based on our experience at the taste, we're not eager to try.

Tried this place at a recent concert in Madison. I am a big fan of pulled pork so I definitely had to try it. Some of the best tasting bbq pulled pork and cole slaw! The pulled pork was amazing, melted in your mouth, and the slaw topped it off. Definitely recommend!

Went for takeout last Saturday; got the pork dinner and brisket. Best brisket we've ever had, and the pork was amazing as well. We travel all over the country, stopping at BBQ joints whenever possible, and have yet to find anything better than right here in our own backyard! We have 2 other favorites in the area, that are right up there with Bob's BBQ; but we'll be back here whenever we have a craving for great BBQ.

One of my favorites! They have such a variety of BBQ sauces to try out at the table! Cozy atmosphere and I have never had bad service (and we have gone a lot)! You will often see Bob himself out bussing tables and helping out. You can't go wrong with the brisket and ribs. My favorite sauces are the Carolina mustard and the RBQ. But they are all really good. They taste homemade and I always leave with a jar or 2 to take home. The brisket waffle fries are also delicious for an appetizer but beware- there are a lot so be prepared to share! My recommendation - try the grilled cheese soup. It has real chucks if cheese curds and in a good tomato bisque. It's my favorite and a good comfort food!

Finally-someone took this building and did something really interesting with it and is making it into a "destination" for people in the ~1hour driving distance radius. The atmosphere is decent. There is a cozy music venue towards the back, a bar with about 10 stools, and a variety of about 10? tables for dining. You smell the smoke in the parking lot and if you didn't plan to eat, you probably will by the time you walk in the door.All the coffee machines and drinks are still there from the prior "coffee shop" focus. They have a selection of bottled beers, focused on local Madison, Cross Plains and Arena breweries (Lake Louie, Capital, Ale Asylum). Beers are a little pricey for bottles ($3.50-$4.00). They also have a reasonable liquor selection and sodas.For smoked meats, you have a spectrum of chicken, pork ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. There are a few interesting sandwiches that contain these same meats, too. The pulled pork is still in fairly generous chunks, but is smoked nicely and tender. The brisket is sliced about 1/4 inch thick with a decent bark. The chicken is fine, but I'm never overly excited about chicken at BBQ joints. Unlike a previous reviewer's opinion, the ribs were the standout for me. Super meaty, perfect tenderness (not fall off the bone, but pulls easily and cleanly off the bone with a little tug), nicely seasoned, served dry rubbed with a few homemade red sauces on the side of varying heat. They have a gigantic pulled pork sandwich that is a "free if you can eat it all..." kind of deal. Nobody has finished it yet.As for sides, he makes beer breads and buns using Lake Louie beer. Maybe a tad dry, but a nice, homemade touch. Slaw is a nice mix of colorful cabbages and carrots with a mustard vinegarette. Beans are outstanding-plump beans, slow cooked and flavorful, but not overly sweet. Saturday is "all you can eat pork and chicken" I believe, for around $12-13.

Apparently this whole operation started with an art gallery/coffee shop co-op. Bob started to do BBQ on the side -- it started selling so well that the coffee shop became a BBQ Emporium.I thought it was a great meal with a personal touch. This guy uses lilac wood and oak to smoke his meat - that's pretty cutting edge. His sauce is solid (don't miss the hot). Make sure to start with the homeade hot links and the sides of beans and slaw won't disappoint.What about the meat? The chicken was my favorite, followed by the brisket, then the pork shoulder. You could tell that he was doing something a little different than usual. I'd skip the ribs - they seemed like they needed stronger smoke flavor and longer cook time.

I love this place! I have followed Bob from his start in Mazomanie as an art gallery... then he added awesome coffee and then an amazing panini menu...and now we are on to an another incredible line! I love the fact that I can take friends here to eat, knowing the food is good and they are going to be full when we walk out the door and I can offer to pick up the check and still make my mortgage!My favorite on the menu is the Once around the Pig.... A sandwich with pulled pork, ham and bacon?! What is not to love!? I usually sit there with the sauces lined up in front of me and alternate since I can not decide which of his homemade creations are my favorite!Just thinking about the meals I have had there makes my mouth water! I can't wait to go back!

I have been to Bob's BBQ Emporium twice. The first time, my boyfriend and I just got done with our 14 hour shifts and were starving. The only place open in this tiny town - was Bob's. We strolled in just before closing on a Friday - and he happily served us. I received the pulled pork and I believe my boyfriend had the Brisket. We didn't say a word to hardly anyone because we couldn't stop shoving this fantastic magical goodness in our face to get it down our throat holes fast enough. I am not from the south - and neither is my boyfriend. However, I have had Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama BBQ - and my boyfriend lived in Florida for several years. Both of us agreed, this is the best BBQ we have tasted in this state - hands down. It is perfect for that tiny little get away from "Madison" - to come enjoy some good home cooked food from some very amazing people.This leads to my second trip. None of the lame *** god forsaken restaurants/bars in this town were open after 9 PM. This was the first night I had gotten to go out in weeks. Even though we didn't order, we were able to go in and enjoy some rather tasty IPA's and local beers (Ale Asylum, Louies, New Glarus). They stayed open for us and a few other people - then treated us with some great hometown stories. The wonderful female bartender popped some popcorn for us - and it was a great time. I would recommend this place to anyone, they always have good food, good drink and a sense of humor. It's a great hidden gem to hit up on your way to American Players Theatre - take out some BBQ put it in the car and eat it at APT. It's not only going to taste better then that dry overpriced chicken that they make you cook (that comes with the 55$ 'Picnic Basket" at APT) on a grill with squirrel droppings - but you don't have to cook it! :D

Tonight was the first night I've eaten at Bob's BBQ Emporium and I told him, and I'll tell everyone else - it is THE BEST BBQ I've had this side of North Carolina. We dined with six people, none of whom had been there before, and ALL were incredibly impressed. The orders ranged from the Cuban sandwich to the Winner Winner Chicken Dinner to Brisket to the Once Around the Pig to the Sampler Platter. We were all STUFFED and very very happy. The Ghost Pepper BBQ Sauce wasn't burn-your-face-off-hot, and had flavor, not just heat. I am definitely going back again... the BBQ is irresistable.