The service was nice , they had blues in the background. But the BEST part was the float I got! The float. Soda was customizable in the float. read more

I really liked my bbq chicken, beans, and coleslaw. The cornbread has a good texture but is not super flavorful. We got an apple cider and it was great. Service was fast and good. Helped me clean my trey when they didn't need to. Great ambiance for gatherings. Strung lights and lots of outdoor space. Dog friendly. read more

Solid BBQ spot in Aptos CA. Lots of seating space and quick moving order counter. They'll give you a shout once your order is ready. BBQ sauce reminded me of Sweet Baby Ray's, eerily so... but, I do like SBR. The sandwiches are sizeable and a bit sloppy. As it should be if you're doing a big bbq sandwich. I did the 'squealing pig' which was their spicy pulled pork sandwich. Nice kick, nothing too crazy. I'd say overall a solid spot, I had my eye on dessert but they were all sold out by the time we rolled through. Live blues 7 nights a week, solid set from the boys up there! read more

Always my go-to for our holiday luncheon catering. The online ordering is effortless, and their team is quick to respond to any questions, which makes event planning feel refreshingly smooth. Communication is spot-on, and that matters when you're hosting a crowd. Special shout-out to Alfredo, our delivery driver, who made sure everything was perfectly in place before heading out and did it all with a warm, friendly attitude. And the food? Fantastic as always. The pulled pork was the clear crowd favorite. read more

I kid you not I never make yelp reviews, but I had to the service was very good! I've been to so many restaurants and people don't have common courtesy to say hi anymore, but hear me and my group were welcomed. The food was really good. I know people over hype places, but this is definitely worth the drive. I'm coming from Monterey! Brisket was perfect! Cornbread was a little different, but everybody makes her cornbread different this one. That was more spongey?? , but still very good! Ribs were 10 out of 10 you can't make these at home! read more

Aptos St BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

Came in around 6:30 on a weeknight and it was pretty crowded, but we were still able to snag a table. Great BBQ. We really enjoyed the ribs and the mac and cheese. My nephew highly recommends adding BBQ sauce to the mac and cheese (his idea, not mine ). read more

Aptos St BBQ - Brisket, Mac and Cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

I never thought I would find a tri tip sandwich I would like better than Firestone in SLO but I did at Aptos St. BBQ during the summer. The sandwich upgraded to a large for an additional $6 is loaded with tender meat sandwiched in between garlic bread is so flavorful on its own without the need to add BBQ sauce, which is rare. You can have the meats in a sandwich with one side or a meal with two sides and a choice of bread. We did one of each, large tri tip sandwich with Mac n cheese and regular brisket meal with baked potato (for an additional $3), beans and cornbread. Although they are known for their brisket, I fell in love with their tri tip. The sides were just okay, but it really is the meat that you're here for. Just be prepared that the tri-tip does sell out, even before dinner as we discovered recently. read more

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Knew in advance I would be traveling through the area and after looking into a few places, I knew Aptos St BBQ was where I would be stopping for lunch and I am so glad I made the decision. The tri tip sandwich was exactly what I was looking for on that chilly afternoon - the garlic bread it was served on, the bbq sauce, and the tender meat was the perfect pairing. I ordered a side of mac n cheese which was super creamy and garlicky and also so so good. A really great menu of options that I had a hard time choosing what to get - the woman at the register was friendly and helpful when answering any of my questions and making recommendations. Lots of soda and beers on tap as well for those who are into that. The food came out quickly and was reasonably priced for the quality. The space itself is very casual and there was also a good amount of outside seating, though it had rained overnight so the seating was wet but on a nice day I can see how eating outside would be lovely. I would definitely come back if I ever pass through Aptos again and would be a regular customer if this were local to me. read more

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Considering the reviews, I thought this place would be better. Got the brisket meal with the potato salad, beans, and cornbread. The brisket was too fatty, meat was tender but with all the fat there wasn't enough meat to enjoy. The sides were just ok, beans had a spice to it and the potato salad was average. The pickled cucumber and onion were good but minimal portion. The cornbread did not have any flavor. It's a crispy thing and that's pretty much it. I feel like they gave the honey and butter to give it something but that really shouldn't carry the flavor, it should enhance it.. The staff were nice and the food didn't take long to get at least. They also have an outdoor section if inside is too crowded or you want to step out from the live music (they had that when we were there) read more

Aptos St BBQ - Brisket Meal - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

We came late an hour before closing and they were sold out of a lot of things. If you want to get a good selection, come earlier! I got a brisket sandwich special - I think the last one that they could make for the day. I really appreciated knowing what's left because it really felt limited! We also got a half rack of ribs, meat was really tender. We also got a potato salad and Mac and cheese. Personally I prefer the potato salad, the Mac and cheese was just ok for me. Looking forward to coming back and trying more meats! read more

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I have eaten here a few times and have had varying experiences. This time, I never received a text, and my food was waiting inside... cold. They were difficult, but eventually reheated it. Still cold. That being said, it's a fun place to be, and the best bbq place nearby. I hope the food is not cold next time. read more

Aptos St BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

Great food, great place. Yummy bbq. The beet salad though... by far, my favorite! I will be coming back for that salad when I'm in the area. On weekends, there is a jazz group that plays live music. Nothing better than live music, bbq, and a beer read more

Aptos St BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

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After camping we stopped by for some bbq. Easy street parking. Went inside and ordered and the. Grabbed a table. Brisket: 3.5/5 a bit fatty and could use more flavor. Fine if you dip in bbq sauce. Tri tip: 4/5 good texture and better flavor than the brisket. Mac n cheese: 3/5 saucy Coleslaw: 4/5 good Garlic bread: kids liked it Cornbread: 3/5 not much flavor, probably better if I put butter and honey on it Each large meal was approx $25. read more

Aptos St BBQ - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

I have tried giving the bbq another chance a few times, but I just had their ribs and they tasted b like they were from a week ago! Very disappointing read more

I'm not usually a bbq meat fan but this place was really good!!! The bbq chicken was insanely juicy inside and the tri tip was perfectly cooked for juicy goodness also! We had the chicken and tri tip meals - really enjoyed the meats - flavorful and juicy! For sides, we had the Mac n cheese, coleslaw and potato salad - I particularly enjoyed the coleslaw. Portions were generous and overall good value for Bay Area. The salad was quite large with plenty of extra accompaniments. There is plenty of inside and outside seating - very dog friendly. Service was friendly and prompt - it is counter order/pickup. The unisex restroom was clean and there is a good sized self parking lot. Definitely would recommend and plan to return! read more

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Best bbq I've had in my life... and I worked at a famous butcher shop. The drippings they give you to pour over, garlic toast... it is mouth watering. Love the ambience, very cozy and friendly atmosphere. read more

My brother in law recommended this place, and it did not disappoint. My husband and I shared the pulled pork plate with mac and cheese for the side and the garlic bread. It was amazing. The pork was so soft and flavorful! The mac and cheese was heavenly. The employees were very helpful. They also had live music going on which was awesome. Super great spot to hangout. Lots of beer options. The have stubborn soda and offer a draft cola zero sugar but I haven't tried it so I'm not sure if it is comparable to Diet Coke. read more

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I came here around 6pm on a Saturday during the Memorial Day weekend. I wanted to order the burnt ends and they ran out!! I was so sad but we moved forward with the other meats they had. I got a 4 meat combo that included the hot link, brisket, tri-tip and ribs. Service was nice and nothing special but I thought that the ribs were bland out of everything else. The brisket was not super dry but I would recommend for people to eat the brisket first because it did get dry overtime, especially at the end. The hot link was really meaty but not really chewy, which is different. read more

Aptos St BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

Cute place but we were not impressed with the brisket or tri-tip. The brisket was tender but overly crusted in pepper. Smoked brisket should be tender and have flavor, too much pepper just takes away from the time put in smoking it. Tri tip - not tender and not much smoked flavor. I have been spoiled by great Texas smoked brisket so will keep looking elsewhere. Service was good. read more

First time coming here. Came with my hubby for a staycation! Food: so yum ! The taste of the bbq flavor was amazing ! The smokiness of the meat ! Service: cool ! Ambiance: it felt like a small town with locals enjoying their day. The wooden ceiling, the Texas- like decor and everything was cool. Looking forward to returning here. read more

Aptos St BBQ - Chicken Meal - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

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Came in here on a Saturday night, loved the atmosphere. There was an awesome duo playing some blues. I ordered a combo plate with:brisket, pulled pork, beans and coleslaw. The food came out so fast for how busy it was. And honestly, some of the best bbq I have ever had! Both meats were so tender. The beans were 10/10 could have had 3 more orders of them! Coleslaw was awesome too, nice little side of vinegar added a nice bite to it. Oh and the cornbread was unreal good as well! Overall, great atmosphere, great vibes and even better food! I can't wait to be in the area again and dine here. read more

Aptos St BBQ - 2 meat combo - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

This is great restaurant on many levels. It definitely has the bbq/picnic vibes to it. From the table cloths to wooden tables outside and live music on certain nights indoors this place is a great time with good food. Naturally the meats are the stars of the show. We had ribs, brisket, pulled pork, tri-tip and hot link. Everything was mouth watering delicious. Additionally they had two BBQ sauces. Original and spicy. Both made in house and were flavorful. The spicy has a slight kick so those of you who can't handle a lot of spice can still pull this one off. I would say it has a medium heat to it. So if your extra sensitive stay away. Oh yeah, we were unexpectedly given a vinegar based BBQ sauce with a little bit of heat. It was good but not my cup of tea. I am not a fan on majority of vinegars. So keep that in mind. However I will say it was extremely flavorful, so if you like vinegar you'll most likely enjoy this. Sadly the sides is where things really started to fall off a bit. It bummed me out because I would love to find a good BBQ spot that also has great sides and not just outstanding BBQ. For our side dishes we got the coleslaw, baked beans, corn bread, and Mac & cheese. None of them were bad. From best to worst we'll stared with the baked beans. They were by far the best. Good flavor. Not to thin and running. The perfect amount of flavoring with bean to meat ratio. The rest were very average. The Mac and cheese was was good. It was also just very middle of the lane. Nothing bad about it but nothing outstanding either. Such as cheesy or crunchy top or unique flavor. A personal Bummer since this is my favorite side when it comes to bbq. The coleslaw was simply green cabbage. No carrots or red cabbage. I would have settled for either but it was just green cabbage. I will say it was not soggy nor was it too sweet. Both of those are big w me when it come to coleslaw but it was just meh. The cornbread was major disappointment. It looked so good. I will say the texture was the best part. It had the perfect balance of soft yet a crunchy top because it was grilled. However, it didn't have a buttery taste, even though we buttered it. It also didn't have a corn taste. It was very bland. We're open to various flavor profiles associated with cornbread, but this lacked any flavor whatsoever. Like we said no hints of butter or corn, sweetness, or corn or anything typically that comes with cornbread. We even added a single serving of butter and honey, and it just fell flat. The soda selection was top-tier though. Stubborn soda is always a win especially when it's on top. We treated ourselves to the pineapple cream. It's light yet fruity and a great soda for those who don't want anything too sweet. I'm always surprised when I try a new flavor of theirs because they're often things I wouldn't normally drink. They're full of flavor, but not overly sweet. read more

Aptos St BBQ - Meats- ribs, brisket, pulled pork, tri-tip & hot link. Sides- coleslaw, BBQ beans, & corn bread. BBQ Sauces-spicy, regular, & vinegar-based. - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

Needed to escape the heat of the Valley and headed to spend some time at Rio Del Mar. Anyone that is a beach goer knows that you work up quite an appetite. So My two son's and I opted to find some bbq. Glad we decided on this place. It is easily accessible from the freeway. There is minimal parking on site but a good amount of street and residential parking within walking distance. They offer outside seating if you can't find anything inside or don't want the loudness of the live music. Speaking of music...they apparently have live music every night or just about. The two gentleman who performed were quite the duo and very entertaining! We came on a Saturday. Place was packed. We ordered ribs, tri-tip, brisket, potato salad, baked beans and bread pudding. Food was PHENOMENAL!!!! Worth every penny and the trip! Customer service was A+. As busy as they were you could almost expect to feel rushed or an employee being short and to the point, but no one was. We will be back! read more

We ordered takeout Family pack#1. It was on time and plenty of food for 4 people and 2 kids. Great taste.!! We'll be back. Fernando Mesa read more

Ribs, brisket, tri tip. In that order. If we could have unlimited ribs with no other meat, we would. We love good bbq, especially with a well done fatty brisket (not well done temp-wise). Plan to sub out the mac and the baked beans. They were just... different. The Mac uses a cheese that has a sharp flavor with a not-so-great after taste. The baked beans were chalky with a hint of spice. We finished neither and were disappointed we didn't get different sides, especially having read the feedback on these two sides specifically. Would have tried the cornbread and potato salad in lieu of. We opted to sit outside since we had the doggos with us. It gets cold in the evenings and while they APPEAR to have heaters, don't be fooled. There are no propane tanks inside them and there's no plan to either. Apparently there are some propane kleptos among us. Bring a blanked or towel for your doggo to sit on as the outdoor space is all rocks. We brought our car bucket and it was a nice fit. read more

Aptos St BBQ - Bring your doggo something to sit on. The outdoor space is all rocks. - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

The food was amazing!!! Everyone loved it and went back for seconds! Customer service and delivery were exceptional! Highly recommend Aptos St BBQ! read more

We had our Golf tournament and Aptos St. BBQ provided pulled pork sliders. Eveyone loved them. Great food and the servers were great! Highly recommend BBQ read more

I have been a customer of Aptos BBQ for many years. Their brisket and chicken are absolutely the best in Santa Cruz County! Recently I ordered 4 lbs of lean brisket for my out of town family to enjoy. This is a well traveled group, all of them loved the brisket! Great flavor, delivered on time with friendly service. Thank you, Matt Bloom read more

Ordered the smoked corned beef for St. Patrick's Day. Got the meal with the baked potato. Being of Irish descent, I've had a lot of corned beef in my life. This meat from Aptos BBQ was the BEST by orders of magnitude. Tender, not stringy, flavorful, melt in your mouth. All that and a generous portion. My condolences to all who missed this delicious treat! read more

Great barbeque for reasonable prices! They also have a pretty unique (and tasty) selection of sodas. I got the Pineapple Cream soda and my brother got the Vanilla Soda and they were both pretty good! We opted to sit outside because, although the jazz music creates a vibrant atmosphere, it was a bit too loud. Food arrived within 10-ish minutes of ordering. We got the 5 Meat Combo, which was enough to fully feed our party of 3 people. - Brisket: Very good! So tender (was hard to pick up with a fork because it kept falling apart!) and savory - Pulled pork: On the drier side, and no distinct flavors besides a strong saltiness. - Burnt ends: My favorite! So juicy and tender, nicely coated with the sweet barbeque sauce with a kick of spice. - Tri Tip: Very tough and hard to chew, was decently juicy but lacked a unique flavor profile. It was just salty - Pork ribs: Juicy and tender, a solid rib. Could use a bit more sauce though. - The cornbread that came on the side was really good, the outside was crispy and it bread itself was savory-sweet. Overall, Aptos St BBQ is a solid barbeque spot given the prices, and I would definitely come back again, especially for the Burnt Ends and cornbread! read more

Aptos St BBQ - Pineapple Cream Soda - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

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Stopped in for a long anticipated lunch after many hours of driving from Solvang. Ordered the macaroni and cheese with barbecue pulled pork. The pork was tender and nicely seasoned. The macaroni and cheese tasted good, however after I dumped some barbecue sauce on top it kicked it up a notch! The soda machine has many tasty options. I settled on the cream soda since it's not too sweet. The people here are always nice and welcoming. I noticed the new patio outdoor seating area. Well new to me anyway. It looks pretty! read more

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This is hands down the best BBQ I've ever had! The meat is unbelievably tender--so soft it practically falls apart on its own. The natural flavor is outstanding and shines even without the sauce (which says a lot!). You can tell they really know how to let the quality of the meat speak for itself. Even the potato salad was delicious--something that's surprisingly hard to get right. The seasoning and texture were spot on. Every part of the meal was executed to perfection. If you're a BBQ lover, this place is an absolute must. I can't wait to come back! read more

Solid bbq, I came in around 2 pm and ordered the 4 meat tray, tray came out, sides were on the smaller side but meats made up for it! Customer service was cool, beer was aight! Tasted a lil flat. Would definitely come back read more

Aptos St BBQ - Burnt ends, pork ribs , brisket, tri tip, with sides of beans and Mac - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

This BBQ joint is one of my favorite BBQ joints. Each summer, we like to visit Santa Cruz for family camping trips or stay in the many rental homes. On our Santa Cruz visits, we would always make a 15 minute trip to Aptos Street BBQ for their delicious and tender smoked ribs & meats. Back in the day it was a small BBQ joint, but since then it has expanded to a large BBQ restaurant with plenty of seating indoors and outdoors. The decor is like a rustic wood cabin with cool air conditioning. The place is clean and the staff is friendly. They have beer on tap and live blues bands on Saturday afternoons from 1pm - 4pm, and in the evenings from 6pm - 8pm nightly during the week. I like to sit inside so I can enjoy listening to the band while eating. Aptos Street BBQ is a popular restaurant and gets busy. You oplace your order at the register, and when your order is ready, they will call your name and text you too. The ribs, brisket, tri-tip, pulled pork, chicken, and salads are all great! You can't go wrong with any of the choices. I also love the garlic bread which is made with grilled soft ciabatta bread. Yummy!!! The BBQ sauce is a sweet, smokey, vinegary type sauce that has an original or spicy option. It's not too sweet & not too vinegary tho. I think it's just right! Try it the next time you are in Aptos or Santa Cruz, and I hope you enjoy Aptos Street BBQ as much as I do. read more

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Quite possibly the best balanced smoked meat, not too fatty of a brisket and BBQ sauces just right. I really couldn't tweak the brisket and chicken and BBQ sauces any better for my taste. Also, I did enjoy the slice of corn bread. It was not the cakey-fluffy kind. One walks up to the cashier, orders the meal, desserts, drinks and they yell out your name when the food is ready to be picked up. Talking about drinks, they have a myriad of sodas on tap, beers, ciders and canned libations. In and outdoor seating. There is a parking lot but it seemed easier and shadier to park on the street. read more

Aptos St BBQ - Check out the smoke rings on the brisket! - Barbeque Near Me - Aptos, California

Although reviews were good, our experience was less the stellar. BBQ Pork Ribs and Tri-Tip were dry and flavorless. Sides, including Cole Slaw and Mac and Cheese were flavorless. read more

Updated review: well unfortunately this place seems to be going down hill like everywhere else. The meal tonight was tiny compared to what we used to get. Not much meat in the full brisket meal, and the sides are in smaller containers it seems like. Also the garlic bread was flat and burned and pretty gross. They used to have this nice soft garlic bread, but the slice I got tonight was inedible and gross. Not sure I'll be back any time soon which is a shame cause it used to be one of my fave places in the area... read more

Q the Roof Another quality BBQ joint by this family-run operation that has multiple BBQ restaurants located throughout Norcal. This location might be my favorite of the bunch, tho, as the Q on our last visit was out-fucking-standing. Here's a full list: Aptos St BBQ (Aptos), Trail Dust (Morgan Hill), BBQ 152 (Gilroy), South Winchester BBQ (SJ), Salinas City BBQ (Salinas, duh), Wagon Wheel (Mt View), Mission St BBQ (Santa Cruz), The Crossroads (Carmel-by-the-Sea), and Real Smoked BBQ catering. The Good: *Outdoor dog-friendly seating *Fast-casual (i.e., order at the counter) *Friendly service *Fantastic selection of local microbrews (this is a hallmark of these Q joints) *Live Blues music 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. nightly (Sat 1 - 4 p.m.) *BBQ Beans were just a hair underdone but really good, regardless. *Ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, smokey, and delicious. *Brisket was smokey, juicy, and full of beefy goodness. Maybe the best brisket I've had in a few years. *Carissa loved her smoked chicken. Pro Tip: Make sure to specify dark or white when you order, but I can almost guarantee the white will be dry. *The "Slaw Queen" gave her stamp of approval. The Meh: *Street parking only, which wasn't an issue for us, but it could be during peak times. *Wasn't a big fan of the Mac and Cheese, as I felt it was a little gloppy, but it was still plenty edible. The Ugly: *Not really sure what to make of the cornbread... Kinda odd, but kinda good at the same time. Very unusual. Conclusion: Excellent Q, solid beer selection, and great vibes. read more

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Devoured 2 of their breakfast tacos in record time - piping hot and delicious. Had both the brisket and pulled pork, and chose over easy egg over scrambled. read more

I came on a Friday night and it's not really crowded. The cashier seems lost and not focus. After taking the order of the person ahead of me, the cashier left and had me wait in line for about 10 minutes without saying anything. Finally took my order and had to wait for about 15 minutes. I ordered the burnt end and my wife ordered the bbq chicken. Mine was tough, flavorless and dry , won't order it again. Wish I just ordered the brisket or tri tip. The bbq chicken is alright. My side dishes were messed up, my beans was missing and also my wife's potato salad. I had to follow up several times before I got them. For me, the best I had was the garlic bread and the bbq sauce. I am not sure if I'll be back. Might as we just go to Mission St. Bbq. read more