So yummy. Pork loin sandwich with half and half mild and spicy sauce, baked beans and coleslaw! So good... thank you Buster.

Busters set up is for quick ordering and food at the window as fast as you can order it. There can be a line at lunchtime but the service is fast and friendly. My go to is the pork rib dinner coming with 4 bones 2 sides and garlic toast. Remember the hot bbq sauce is HOT. Just right for those who like the spice. Dining room is warm and spacious. read more

Had the Tri-tip dinner - the meat was fatty and overcooked, the potato salad I believe had ginger in it and was awful, and the vinegar based BBQ sauce was unpleasant. The baked beans were not great, but the highlight of the experience. In the three years I lived in North Carolina I tasted all kinds of good and bad and Buster's lands at the low end of that scale. Very disappointing. read more

You can buy a pound of brisket for 40. But spend 25 on 1/4 . The math doesn't add up. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Not enough brisket for the price - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

The service is fast, but the food is honestly pretty disappointing. I don't understand why this place gets so full during lunch maybe it's just because there aren't many quick food options in the area, because it definitely isn't for the quality these meats are not smoked. The tri tip was dry and completely well-done, and the brisket was also dry and served more like pulled pork. The ribs didn't fall off the bone and had no smoky flavor at all. Everything was covered in BBQ sauce, which felt like it was trying to hide the lack of real BBQ taste. My meal alone cost $50, and with drinks and my wife's tri tip sandwich (which was just meat and BBQ sauce), our total came out to $86. For that price, I expected much better. The sides were just as disappointing. the macaroni salad was bland, the potato salad tasted sour, and the only thing that was decent was the chili beans, which says a lot. read more

This is a nice establishment. Mr. Buster was kind, and spent a generous amount of time visiting with our small group. Although the food did not match up to Texas BBQ. It was served fast, the portions were generous, and I think it was good for the community that patronizes it. Very clean restroom as well. read more

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Please don't waste your money here. From the bottom of my heart please listen to me when I tell you McDonald's is better than this place. I like the idea but the execution is awful. The meat is insanely overpriced but the worst part is the terrible meat. Which is strange for a bbq place to have terrible bbq, insanely dry. I knew it was going to be bad when they served it on a paper plate and served meat that has been sitting for what could be hours. I wish I was joking but the best thing on the menu is the bread. Overall, the location and seating area is clean, but please save your mouth and money and go somewhere else, literally anywhere else. read more

Best pulled pork I've ever had. I didn't get try anything else but I will be back!!!!

Ordered brisket, but what I received looked and tasted much more like pulled pork. If you're ordering brisket expecting traditional smoked beef brisket, this will be disappointing. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

I have been coming here since I was a child and I am super disappointed with how much this place has changed. Today I paid sixty dollars for two of the skimpiest plates of food. The potato salad has nutmeg in it...why?? The coleslaw has pineapple?? The food I used to love is just bad now. On top of all that, they had nothing to drink except for beer and some sodas. I couldn't even get a wine or cider to drink away the fact I just wasted a ton of time and money. The service was nothing special and the overall vibe was just rushed and unpleasant. Sad to say this was the last time I will be visiting. read more

If you are in the area, this is a must try. When I first arrived the line was long, but it went fairly fast. I had the tri tip sandwich with hot bbq sauce and a side of chili beans. It was absolutely delicious. By the time I got home a piece of me wanted to go back and get another. Looking forward to my next call in the area read more

Went to Busters right after wine tasting and man did it hit the spot. A bit of a wait but worth it! Was there around 230p. Line went by fairly quickly. First window to order and the 2nd window to pay. Tried the brisket sandwich and tri tip sandwich with mild sauce. Tasted delicious! Highly recommend if you're in St. Helena area! read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

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As someone who's done many dozens of barbecue reviews in Texas, I felt compelled to come here to see if this place lives up to the standard. You basically order at their outdoor window and then come into their non- air-conditioned space to dine at one of less than 20 tables. The first thing I noticed when I stepped up to the menu was how ridiculously expensive it was. Even the best barbecue in Texas doesn't command this kind of price. $50 for a two meat plate and a pint of three bean salad! Another miss is the fact, that they give you a puny couple of ounces of coleslaw and beans. My brisket was fatty with no discernible smoke ring and had an unpleasant mushy texture. It made me wish I'd got the sausage instead. I also got the pork ribs which were barely edible, and once again virtually no discernible smoke ring and tough with salt being the primary flavor coming through. They were most likely cooked on the outside grill, not pit smoked. Be careful if you order their spicy barbecue sauce, because it is extremely hot as if they buried a ghost pepper into it. Not exactly the best dining experience, especially with plenty of flies to keep you company. You may wish to consider buying a bottle of beer because it desperately needs something to wash it down. If you take real barbecue seriously, you need to avoid this place. It was a real letdown for us and a waste of $50 (and a tip). Wonder what Barbara J will have to say? 8 Informative photos included. read more

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We went for lunch there l. I ordered brisket, chicken and few sides. Meat was dry and the beef had a weird chemical like taste. The sides were overly sweet. Overly priced for what actually is. I would not waste my time to eat there. read more

The brisket is tender but wish it had that smoky flavor that great bbq has. The sides were ok. Overall I give it a 3.5/5. Would I return? Probably not but happy to have tried it. read more

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This reminds me of back home in the mountains of Virginia. This is rustic but good. This order at the counter and take it to go or eat in the rustic table area. If you're looking for fancy and table service go some where else. I got the Tri Tip sandwich and bake beans mild for lunch. It was on a fresh grilled half grilled loaf of bread with h mild BBQ sauce. Great BBQ!!! My partner had the pulled pork with coleslaw. The pulled pork great coleslaw was good as a Sweet Pallet cleanser for the BBQ. read more

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Hands down the best BBQ spot around! Everything was amazing tender, smoky, and full of flavor. It's an order-before-you-sit kind of place, but the service is fast and friendly. The ambiance is calm and relaxed, perfect for kicking back and enjoying great food. A must-visit for any BBQ lover! read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Tri-Tip - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

An absolute must stop for TriTip sandwiches whenever I go for a motorcycle ride. They always have a long line for good reason. They have the best BBQ sandwiches around. My go to is the TriTip Sando with spicy sauce and baked beans and slaw. It's just an old mom and pop style roadside BBQ joint, and it's biker friendly. Lots of motorcycle parking. They also do concerts and music during the summer months. Very cool little spot. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - TriTip sandwich with spicy sauce, baked beans, and slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

Great little bbq joint. Places like this harder and harder to find. Food is solid; no compliants - it's cool little hang out. If you're a dude that likes meat, they will abide. read more

The food is awesome, but they overcharged me and they knew it. Watch your tab and get a receipt no matter what.

Macaroni salad was very good. Scenery felt like summer camp and in the chow hall. Musical stage was adorable and I would love to get a tune going. The amount of pork ribs served was good. Not dry especially with the bbq sauce which could have used some sugar. I got to sample the meat before ordering which was very nice. The server was kind and the place was clean. Open mic took forever as many had multiple songs. It was cute for a small town on a Tuesday night. They were like a family of musicians jamming out. read more

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This place was pretty cool. Good size portions of food, it will fill you up. Definitely a place to come to with family or friends. The meat has soo much flavor as well beans and corn bread. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

This is not bbq. We ordered the 3 meat combo with 2 sides for around $50. We received 3 pork ribs, 4 pieces of Tri Tip, 4 small pieces of Chicken Breast, the 2 smallest sides I've ever seen (maybe 2ounces each) and some garlic bread. If this was a legit bbq spot maybe I would have let it slide but the food was tasteless. The pork ribs were so hard to eat (opposite of fall off the bone) and not even seasoned. No rub, no spritz and no flavor. You can tell it was cooked the opposite of low and slow. I couldn't even cut the meat off with a knife and no smoke ring at all. The tri tip was ok but again little flavor and no smoke. Chicken breast was better but tasted like it was cooked and kept it liquid. The baked beans were ok just not enough for even 1 person and the potatoe salad was bad. Potatoes were hard and undercooked. The bbq sauce was the only thing we liked. But you had to drench the meat in it to get any bbq flavor. This place is not a southern bbq place. I lived in Louisiana for many years and this was offensive to the true pitmasters down south. Pork ribs are a sign of a good bbq spot and they were the worst ribs I've ever eaten in my life. Eat at A&W nearby. Trust me I wish we did. Oh yeah service was meh. They got two things wrong and didn't fix it. read more

I don't get BBQ that often in California but I really enjoyed Busters. Great atmosphere and efficient service. My favorite meat was the beef ribs. Definitely a great spot to eat after doing a wine tasting at Tank Garage Winery! read more

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Sorry!!! For the people that still stops here! These place it's disgusting! I don't think the owner knows what's BBQ?? Really means! The ribs are dry and extremely hard! Please looks at pics and judge for your self!!!! I hope these helps out!!! read more

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Portion sizes!! The cole slaw was really good and paired well with the pulled pork! Dont need to order extra garlic toast because the dishes come with two large pieces already. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Sign - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

3.5 but that peach smoothie and the corn bread and the hardworking staff make it 4 stars. I find everything very salty, especially their bbq sauce. I like the tenderness of the rib. Got 4 pork ribs. 2 sides. I don't have a favorite with the sides. The 3 bean was good, sweet and sour and macaroni. The chili beans was very runny and greasy. Table mate said coleslaw was good. The peach smoothie was in season. I was so thirsty after this meal that I drank the smoothie fast and had to go somewhere else to drink more water. Yikes. I don't think I'll eat here again. We sat inside which was cool. Plenty of paper towel by the wall dispenser. You have to ask for water. Order at one window, pay and order drinks at the next window. I had to wait awhile for my smoothie. There's a tiny restroom behind their hut. They sell hugh watermelons in front. It was funny, I saw this guy pumping gas across the street and he walked across the street and picked up a watermelon and walked back to his truck. I think he took advantage. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Big piece of garlic bread, 4 ribs, macaroni 3 bean salad - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

My brother loved the bbq I got - I wanted to cheer him up after a recent surgery. Take out, but cute place! I want to go back and enjoy the place and listen to music. I had some of the beans and cornbread (I'm vegetarian), and it was delish. Thanks Buster's for having some great food and for helping my brother feel better that day! read more

Amazing food and entertainment. Can't wait for the Sunday Jazz sessions this year. Buster and his Wife are pretty cool too!

Cool little bbq spot. The food was cool. I wouldn't say it was all that bbq but it was good not nasty except for the potato salad. I didn't like that. Customer service was cool. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

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I've been going to Busters for years. Last month I went in. The Mac salad was terrible. Everything else was ok. Went in on Saturday. Got a 2 meal combo. Suppose to be 4 pork ribs, only 3. The brisket was stringy and tasteless. Mac salad was ok. Lemonade was terrible. Bitter. I threw half away. Side servings are 4oz at $4.42 a serving or $17.60 a pint. Ripoff. The place was packed. Very disappointed. Will be looking for a new bbq place. read more

Always on the hunt for good barbecue, I tend to order a combo to try different meats. Today, I stayed the course with tri-tip and pork ribs, paired with homemade potato salad and baked beans. The meal also included half a grilled French bread roll, which was soft and delicious. * Sides: The baked beans were flavorful and satisfying, but the potato salad was a bit dry. A touch more mayo would have done the trick. * Barbecue: The ribs weren't fall-off-the-bone but were cooked well, with a noticeable smoky flavor. However, the top part was overdone and crispy, though still edible. Their BBQ sauce isn't on the sweet side but more tangy - I opted for the mild version. The tri-tip was grilled perfectly--tender and juicy--but lacked any smoke flavor or the iconic smoke ring. While it was enjoyable as is, a bit of smoke would have elevated the flavor. That said, it would make a fantastic sandwich with their BBQ sauce. * Service and Atmosphere: Service was quick, and the staff behind the counter were friendly. They offer a covered seating area with 18 tables, providing a nice spot to enjoy the food. Final Thoughts Overall, it's solid barbecue, and I'm glad I finally got the chance to try it. read more

Decent BBQ, but overpriced for what you get. The atmosphere is interesting and not bad because it wasn't crowded. Otherwise it's chaos. Staff are helpful when it's not busy. read more

The pulled pork is very watery the brisket is dry as can be. Bbq sauce is horrible don't understand why they are so busy all the time.

Even better than I remember! When we were driving by to go hiking I couldn't resist the smell. We got the 3 meats combo with the 2 sides and a Busters lemonade. If there weren't so many people around I probably would've licked my plate clean. Indoor and outdoor seating with a view of the meats cooking . And don't get me started on the BBQ sauce. read more

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Came for an early dinner. It was not busy and ordered right away. Food was also ready very quickly. We sat outside and fine but lots of flies. We didn't go inside but there was seating. We got tri tip and pork rib plates. Tri tip was delicious and enjoyed the sauce. The pork ribs were good but a bit more tough and gristle. Baked beans were tasty and could get mild or hot. Potato salad and Cole slaw were good as well. Sweet potato pie was eh and wouldn't get it again. read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Menu 10/2024 - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

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Went to Busters to find out all the hype. Friend 1 ordered ribs, beans and corn bread I ordered pulled pork sandwhich no sides The sauce was strange, I cant describe it, the pulled pork seemed baked or boiled. Didn't like that there were no sided that weren't startch. The best part of the meal was the garlic bread. read more

Busters is the best restaurant in all of calistoga. Best BBQ in the whole county. I recommend everyone stop buy this restaurant. i've been going here for 20 years. I recommend the tri tip sandwich with busters homemade BBQ sauce!! This place needs to be talked about more! 11/10 experience‼ In the summer they play jazz music and have an open mic which is very enjoyable. There is lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Great for family dinners or birthday parties. I love busters!! read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Hot Dog and Baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

Great BBQ place! We were on our way to Santa Rosa airport and this place was packed and super lively. We got combo of pork ribs, beef ribs, and tri-tip. All meats were absolutely delicious. They were smoked to its right temperature and all meats were juicy. We tried their spicy bbq sauce land that was really spicy. Just FYI. Overall great place to have beers and bbq - You won't go wrong! read more

Buster's Southern BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Calistoga, California

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More like 3.75 stars. Highly recommended: beef ribs, tri-tip, and pulled pork. We had the tri-tip dinner and the bought another 1/2 order to-go. All 3 mentioned above were very tender. Don't care much about the sides which were small. Maybe because we went 1 hour before closing, the chicken and pork rib were dried. Be aware: The hot bbq sauce was really hot! The 2 ladies serving the food were nice and friendly. read more

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