Absolutely awful! Never going back. This place is a shit show. The price doesn't match the little amount of food I actually got. It was way to expensive. I had to wait for 45 unbearable minutes and when I asked where my food is they said "oops it was in the back the whole time" they thought it was funny I thought I'm starving and I have been waiting FOR 45 MINUTES , some of the girl employees were talking and screaming for everyone to hear. Personally for me it wasn't a good experience. I am very sad because I have gone before and nothing was wrong. The food was also really discusting this time. read more

Let me preface this review by saying, I love barbeque. So not too long ago, I was mulling around White Bear Lake on lunch break and out of the 80's suburban regularity CG Hooks appeared. I knew as soon as I saw it from the Taco Johns parking lot that this CG Hooks and I had a date with destiny. For there has always been a great dilemma in this Northern clime of where to find good barbeque and I thought I had found it. Alas, my experience with CG Hooks the next week was mixed at best. What attracts the senses to good barbeque is always the scent of smoking brisket and indeed, that is what caught my attention. In front of the unassuming restaurant is a large smoker from which emits that dark meaty fragrance that lures in the passersby. This is how CG Hooks makes its initial impression to me, all of which seemed good. After taking a look at the menu, I was encouraged by the selection. So, I ordered a beef brisket sandwich with my favorite fixins: baked beans and corn bread. Then comes the bad; I was surprised after getting the total which came closer to $20 than I really feel comfortable with for just lunch. I tried to comfort myself by saying the portions waiting for me in the little bag I clutched must be huge. But then, just another disappointment; the beans were in a container I normally associate with condiments and the cornbread was closer to a cookie than a muffin in size. The brisket was good, but there just wasn't much there. To be fair, they made me a sandwich which, isn't really on the menu because I was getting takeout. Overall the taste was decent, portions small and price high. I intend to visit again and eat in to see if my experience is any better, but for now I cannot rate ye high, CG Hooks. read more

Chicken sandwich was good, but that's where it ends. Chicken wings are only available during the summer, pig wings too. Note: We ate here in May. Beef brisket tin plate was merely OK, a little dry and a very small portion. Baked beans were barely passable; very light on flavor. Cole slaw might as well have been just plain shredded cabbage. And then the corn on the cob. Oh my, where do I begin? If I were to try to reproduce this, it would go something like this: 1. Take the oldest ear available. 2. Boil it until all the flavor is gone, then keep boiling it until the kernels start to shrivel. 3. Put it in the fridge overnight, uncovered to dry it out and remove any lingering sweetness that might have remained. 4. Barely warm it up and serve it without any butter. Then as we were leaving I spied a caddy of BBQ sauces that we were never offered. Not going back. read more

In a nutshell: Great food, super small portions, kinda pricey. I've been here a handful of times now. It's a cute little family owned place. The indoor seating is larger than it looks, and the outdoor seating is nice too. The service has always been pretty good. The bad: The sandwiches don't come with any sides. None at all. When they bring out your $9 brisket sandwich, it's only the size of a McDonald's Happy Meal hamburger - I'm not kidding, it's really that small. And there are no sides with it. None at all. Those cost an extra $2.50 each. The food is super good though, and all hand made, rubbed, and smoked on-site. Just know what you're getting in to and be prepared to spend a little more than you normally would. It's worth it! The ice cream is also great on a hot day. read more

First things first...This place is now CG Hooks & Spagnanmous BBQ - Not sure I would add BBQ to a fish joint unless I was confident that I could do it right. I honestly was hoping that I could give this place a 3-4 star review - I would kill for a great BBQ joint near my home, but it wasn't in the cards. As mentioned in many reviews, this place is designed to look like a shanty - the environment was nice. Walking didn't know if they were open. Not a sole in this place except for about 4-5 16-20 year olds lounging around. At first I thought they were guests, but they were staff and friends. We weren't really interested in eating in, as it would have been very akward, so we opted for takeout. We asked for suggestions, and were told the brisket was very lean, almost no fat at all. They also recommended the pulled pork. I myself am a rib man so when I saw a combo with all three of those options, I was interested. I was convinced without a doubt that this was enough for 2 adults and one toddler. It was not, more to come on that. The combo included brisket, ribs, pulled pork, toast (not texas toast, and nothing on it...weird right?), two sides, coleslaw, and two of their "fishy cornbread" which is simply fish shaped mini cornbread (no fish included). Brisket - antithesis of what we were told. We got 3 pieces, which were about the size of a business card each. One was literally nothing but fat. The other two were typical grizzle, but had some meat. Taste wasn't there. Pulled pork - it was tender, and we got enough for each of us to try. Ribs - We got about 4 1/2 medium sized bones. The ribs were okay, but not worth coming back for. ------No BBQ sauce on any of the meats, nor any sides. Not sure if this was an error or not.------- We opted for bbq beans, and chips. Like other reviews mention, the beans come in what can only be described as a sample cup. It looked like something you put ketchup in. The beans were pretty good, but I kid you not, my wife and I got ONE spoonful, and my daughter got TWO. RIDICULOUS. The chips were okay. Cole Slaw? What coleslaw, we didn't get any... We ordered an additional side of 3 cornbreads, because we all like cornbread. This is in addition to the 2 that were supposed to come with the meal...which again, we didn't get. We would have went back since we live less than 2 miles away, but to be honest, we didn't really want any more of their food. Even with a coupon, it ran us something like $22 for one meal. We aren't big eaters, and have normal appetites - but we all were hungry after the meal. I am not sure how this restaurant survives with the low customer foot traffic, high prices, small portions, and adequate at best offerings. read more

My wife and I were waiting for Acqua to open today, (July 5th 2015) and decided to swing by Tally's for a cocktail (across from cg hooks, serves bbq.) After looking at the menu and seeing the slow smoked bbq advert we decided to stay for dinner. I would consider ribs to be my favorite dish, so I was excited to try them out. I went from excited to have a close-by memphis style bbq joint to frequent, to bummed out enough that I decided to write this.Here is our order, and here's the review: Yardbird on a skin: Chicken was Dry, no smoke flavor. Needed maybe some salt or something. Potatoes tasted like they'd been cooked for awhile and reheated. Rachel Press: Wife said it was okay. I thought it was decent, but still didn't have the smoke they were advertising. Full Rack of Ribs: A+ For quantity, D for quality. There were a bunch of them, but the rub was sparse and there again was zero smoke flavor. I'm starting to wonder writing this review if their smoker was broken and instead of telling people, they just hoodwinked them and served baked ribs. They were tender, but had no rub or smoke flavor whatsoever. I was a bit concerned at this and walked over to find that unlike every single other decent bbq joint I've ever been to, there was not a smell of smoke in the place. Drinks: Mojito: Decent. Paradise Island Spiced Tea: Tons of booze, so you got some value there I guess. The wait staff was okay and the view was great. Two stars for having a drink by the lake. read more

We recently moved to WBL and want to give business to our neighbors, but not this "restaurant" again. The Cliff Notes Version would be overpriced, bad and cold food, not prepared fresh as advertised. If you want better brisket at 1/3 the price, go to Arby's. We ordered the combo BBQ tin with brisket and pulled chicken. Coleslaw was not good. Rice and beans were cold and when they brought out hot ones, they were flavorless and tasted like they were left overs. The chicken was pretty blah and the brisket was mostly fat and dried out as though it was from a few days prior. I would have requested more brisket to make up for the fact that what they gave us was mostly fat, but it was so dry and flavorless, we didn't want anymore. And the prices were not reasonable for what you received. A naked hot dog with nothing on it is $7, Chicago dog is $9, sandwiches were $9 to $14 with no sides. The BBQ we had was $18 and I noticed that a double scoop of ice cream was $7. We don't mind paying more for quality, but paying more for food that doesn't even meet fast food restaurant standards is ridiculous. BTW, we were also the only couple in the restaurant on a warm sunny Sunday afternoon at lunch. This should have been our cue to leave. read more

One of my favorite spots to go for ice cream, they have tons of different flavors that are all worth a try. Its a little on the pricey side, but worth the extra dollar. A cute little resuraunt right across the street from white bear lake. read more

Terrible awful horrible service, when the plane is empty. The food is barely ok. I completely blame the leadership here, and at tallys, their is none, which is a shame because it's could be such a great spot. Go to anywhere but here read more

When we first walked up to this place, we thought it was odd that it was almost empty on a beautiful Saturday evening (Acqua Restaurant next door was completely packed). The reviews were mixed and we really wanted to sit outside by a lake so we figured we'd give it a try. The pulled chicken and beef brisket were okay. At almost $10 a sandwich, you don't get any sides and the sandwiches are small. The BBQ sauce that came on the side was definitely not good; it was more of a chunky paste that was way too sweet. We had baked beans, cornbread, and corn salsa for sides. The sides are $2.50 each and you get a very small serving of each. The tap beers were $6, which isn't too bad compared to other bars. However, when you pair it with the cost of the food, it just wasn't worth it. I guess this place is really only worth coming to for the drinks. I doubt we'd even be back for that, which is too bad because it's in an ideal location. read more

I'll agree with all the reviews here: The ribs are great. But, the portions are so small. Spending $35 should be enough to fill 2 people up plus some at a rib joint, right? I would think so. Don't get me wrong, these are great ribs, fall off the bone, and juicy. Not particularly meaty though. That's fine with me, but at least add some size to the sides. Both my wife and I felt like we needed a snack a couple hours later and we don't usually snack. read more

Food was decent but again the sides are ridiculous they come in the sample sized dishes you get at a supermarket deli counter.

I offer one whole star to C.G. Hooks, which is the sum of several criteria. Staff/Hospitality: 1/3 Star - no server ever acknowledged me, but the two waitresses I approached told me that someone else would be sent to help me (the right way to do this is find out what I want & have the other person bring it...) Food Quantity: 1/3 Star - total joke. If the food is really "scratch" like advertised, their gross profit margin is INCREDIBLE. You're going to pay around $9 for a $1-$4 sandwich, $2.50 for 2oz of beans/shredded cabbage/seasoned chips. Food Quality: 1/3 Star - any flavor the food might have was unnoticeable, waiting to be ignored and the insane pricing are very unappetizing and leave a bitter aftertaste. read more

My husband I came by for lunch on a cold day, so sat inside. The place was not crowded, and our our service was good. The ambiance was cute. We had the ribs and enjoyed them so much we ordered another rack to go for dinner. They serve several home made sauces of different BBQ styles, so a little for everyone's taste. We enjoyed our visit and will be back. We also want to try their little bar across the street on a nice day. read more

Went to the place on a whim with my family for a late lunch. I was extremely disappointed. The portion sizes were meager and the food was expensive. As everyone else has mentioned, you have to order sides. My panini alone was $8 and then to get fries, we coughed up $2.50. I'm not cheap. I expect to pay but considering the price, I expected more and better tasting food. The food wasn't great but the customer service was worse. We waited forever for our food. I know that sounds like an exaggeration but I timed it (posted a photo with a time stamp right after we ordered). We waited 25 minutes and we were the only seated customers. We also had to ask for a high chair and then drag it to the table from the middle of the room after the server pointed to it. After our food, my fiancé decided he wanted ice cream. We waited in line so long that a family ahead of us walked out. We watched as a new hire struggled to scoop ice cream (the customer even hinted dipping it in water first might help). He then broke the cone while scooping, handed it to the customer and said, "I hope you don't mind." Seriously? They were out of a few ice cream flavors and waffle cones but didn't seem to realize it as they scrambled to dig through boxes and run to the kitchen. If you don't have it, let us know before we order and wait and wait and wait.. The kicker was trying to pay. They had lost our table..? So we stood there as they yelled back and forth and rerung us. As we left, my fiancé turned to me and said,"if I was the owner, I would be mad to see that happen." And that was the strange thing.. There was no leadership, not even a manager that I could see. Just a bunch of high school kids leaning on counters and not taking ownership. I am spreading the word. This place is a waste of time. read more

Holy Buhjeezus it was hot up in here! I mean, I get it, you're smoking the food right there (as evidenced by the yummy smells) but would it hurt anything to get a few fans? We had a restaurant.com gift cert. to use that I'd chosen on a whim since we live not too far away and like BBQ. So we hit this place up on a Friday night. We have a 2-year old so we dine fairly early. We went in around 6pm and were the only people in the place. We ordered the frito burrito pie thing, a pulled pork sandwich, a 1/2 slab of ribs with cornbread and beans, and a grilled cheese for the kiddo. All the food was tasty, especially the cornbread. The beans (and the beans in the frito pie) had the biggest beans I've ever seen in them. I don't know what they were, other than beans on steriods. The beans had a slightly sweet flavor to them that was interesting. I thought they'd be more tangy. Pulled pork was good but messy. Messy good though. Next time I'll probably get it with the slaw on top. Ribs were good but not "fall off the bone" good. The highlight of our night was our server, she was the sweetest thing! She loved our daughter (can't blame her there) and got everything we needed. My only complaint and this probably isn't her fault, but a pitcher of water would have been great instead of constantly asking for refills. Top off the night with an ice cream cone and we're good to go! It's really nice that it's basically on the lake. We took our cones and our daughter for a stroll before heading home. read more

I seem to make it here about once a year and it gets better every year. Last week was here and I had a pulled pork that was probably one of the best sandwiches that I've had in this area. I say that with a slight reservation as I'm in love with the pulled pork sandwich from Ingredients just up the road, but that's a different class/type of restaurant. Basically, it was awesome. They had a few different BBQ sauces to choose from. The lady/owner that was working was very friendly and nice. They also have hard service ice cream read more

Let me say, this joint has 5 stars written all over it. The White Bear Lake area impresses me yet again. My ribs were not as hot (temperature-wise) as I like them, but the flavor was there. The sides I had were slaw and baked beans which were both great. There are lot's of sauces to pick from and the one I chose was called Carolina Gold. Excellent flavor. Right by the lake shore, and very nice on the inside. I will return sometime for sure. read more

BBQ sauce wasnt very good and the meat was just so so. Overall it was a nice spot but the food really wasnt very good. Probably a better spot for drinks than it is for food. read more

Great location in the summer! The ribs are fabulous. The service is okay-ish and often a wait but worth it if you want to dine on the lake. read more

Was in here the other night for ice cream and decided to stop in for lunch today. I had the pulled pork sandwich, 1919 draft root beer, and some baked beans. This was some of the best bbq I have ever tasted. They have 4 types of bbq sauce made in house (house, spicy, chipotle, and root beer). The pork is MN grown. The owner chatted with me for quite a while and I really enjoyed our conversation. If I lived here in WBL, I would definitely be a frequent diner here. read more

I'm not overly impressed with their food, prices and their staff. Would eat it if that was my only option, but other than that no.

Ordered the full rack to go. Ribs were OK, sides were ridiculously small, no corn bread. Not sure I would go back. Lot better places for ribs. read more

June 11, 2020. This place has always had the worst service, so I ask myself "what were you expecting". We enjoy going there on early afternoons to sit in the sun and have a bbq and drink occasionally. I thought maybe they would have taken the state guidelines for reopening seriously. NOPE. Called ahead to make reservations - not taking any. Got there shortly after 5PM. They were not busy yet. No waitstaff is wearing masks or gloves. They changed their ordering process: you know order behind the boat/bar from a wooden menu hanging above. The order is placed into a handheld device where you are required to sign with your finger. It is not cleaned between customers. You are then handed a number to put at your table and along with plastic wear and a 1/4 sheet (select a size bounty paper towel - just one per person). Tables all had left over dirty drink glasses on them. Took forever to get our drink orders so I finally took the dirty dishes to the bar and set them on top of their dirty dish rack sitting on the bar next to a pail of dirty water and rag (right next to where the girls are taking the orders) that I assume they clean the tables with. Waitress finally brings the drink order but did not clean the table. There was BBQ on the table from previous customers. Order was brought out by another waitstaff who I assume is doing the order runs, she is not masked or wearing gloves either. Had to flag down the waitress to get our drinks refilled. She took our glasses, refilled them and returned them to the table but I have no confidence that she gave each of us our original glass. Would have been nice to get extra napkins and have hand sanitizer available at the table or bar. Its bbq and messy. They didn't even have hand sanitizer for their waitstaff. Witnessed that they are not washing the tables in-between groups of customers. Tables seem to be 6 feet apart with the exception of the tables to the east of the little bar building. They appeared to be at 100% compacity as well. Left there feeling like I needed to self quarantine for 14 days. Had we not already paid for the meal before realizing they were not going to be cleaning our table and wearing masks I would have left. read more

Our first visit and possibly our last. The weekend Father's Day beer was out or unavailable. Told no orange soda for a dreamsicle float. So we ordered root beer floats only to be told they were out of vanilla ice cream, WTF? How do they stay in business, oh that is right they are on a Lake! read more

Let me preface this by saying I love BBQ. I was driving up the frontage road by the lake one day and saw the new restaurant. Needless to say I was excited to try it. Well, I finally tried it. And to say the least, I was very disappointed. First of all, the smoker out front is a rouse. It isn't even used to cook the meat. My dad was talking to the owner and he said that they use an electric smoker out back, the one up front is for show and he just burns his trash in there. Second, the meat had little to no smoke flavor throughout it. About the only good thing I can say about the meat is that it was moist. Third, I paid $2.50 for a container of coleslaw (which also had no flavor) that was the size of a condiment container at most restaurants. Fourth, between my dad and I we paid nearly $40 for food that was over priced and under-portioned. We agreed that we should have gone to Famous Dave's and only would have paid about $14 each. And that includes a tip and beverage. None the less, I won't be coming back here anytime soon. Maybe if they decide to make BBQ that resembles true southern cooking, I'll try it again. read more

Sorry.... I wish I would have read the reviews before eating at C.G Hooks.... Not impressed with anything this place has to offer. $8.95 for a beef brisket sandwich that had 3 slices of meat and a couple fried onions, 1 piece of corn bread the size of a small cookie and a container of cole slaw I thought was BBQ sauce. Portion was very small. I had to pay another $8 for a second lunch today..... $14.95 for a Texas beef brisket sandwich which I couldn't understand why it cost twice as much as a regular beef brisket sandwich. Same amount of meat minus the onion. blah it tasted like chared meat off the grille. Everything was soggy and the portions like off of a kids menu. I'm really sorry for this but the only way I will eat there again is if its free. I dont know if i'll even eat it then. I will not recommend. read more

The worst ribs I have ever tasted in recent memory! Boiled, no taste, full of fat...did I mention Boiled! The place run by a bunch of high school kids is a bad sign. Convenient only if spending the day on the water. Better off next door at Taco Johns. Seriously. read more

Repeat customers are the key to a successful business. Was the food good ? Sure, the barbeque was excellent. Why won't I be going back? At $7.95, the sandwich (Memphis style barbeque) was really good, but no pickle or even a smattering of chips. The almost mandatory sides were $2.50 and very meager servings for that price. Add to that a bottle of Corona at $4.00, and a waitress who had no clue what kinds of beer were available--you end up with a $15.00+ meal (counting tip) and in the final analysis, not much for the money. I'd rather pick up a sandwich and sides at Maverick's and have a picnic myself on the shore for half the price. For a small investment on CG Hook's part--a pickle and some chips, and maybe more than a spoonful of beans--this place couldbe a great value, and worth going back. read more

Beef brisket and pulled pork were amazing! Restaurant has a fun beachy feel; small only 5 tables. Has lake side seating. Too warm inside and the side of beans was equivalent to a sauce cup for $2.50! read more

This was one if the worst BBQ experiences I have ever had. I ordered the Brisket dinner to take out with beans and corn salsa on the side. The service was ambivalent even for takeout. The brisket was fatty and appeared to be boiled (or had been sitting in a steam table for a long time). None of the crust or smoke you hope for in good brisket. The portion was very small for the $16 meal price. The Kansas City BBQ sauce they sent was little more than tomato paste with no snap at all. They were out of the Memphis style but it's probably just as well. The corn salsa was basically frozen corn. Cold and horrible. The cornbread side looked like a mutant Pillsbury crescent roll and was dry and tasteless. There was absolutely nothing redeeming about this meal. With many new and encouraging dining choices springing up in White Bear I cannot envision ever eating there again. Hoping for better. read more

We ended up here after searching for ice cream near by White Bear. We had seen this place while eating next door but didn't know what it was about. The menu had BBQ on it so we gave it a try. We ate indoors because it was raining but they have a great outdoor space next to the lake. The service was a little slow but the staff is very nice. They have a pretty good beer list and the owner is a beer guy so you should be able to find something you like. We both had pulled pork, mine was open face and hers was a sandwich. The meat looked and tasted great. We both devoured them. We got the corn salsa and beans as a side. Also great. The BBQ sauces are all homemade and fantastic. I tried the ghost and the Memphis. The ghost is named for the ghost peppers used. It is hot but not overwhelming so. The owner actually picked my sauces for me since he knew I would like those with flavor. The Memphis also had a little bite but the flavor was awesome. The owner chatted with us a while. He is a very nice guy and obviously a great cook! We plan to come back with the kids and try some other options on the menu. read more

This place has amazing ribs and brisket. Rather than smother their bbq in sauce, they use rubs and slow smoking to create delicious harmony of flavor and tenderness. Their pulled pork sandwich is solid as well. They custom make their sauces including styles from the Carolinas, KC, Memphis, as well my favorite, the "Howlin' the Blues" sauce, made with ghost peppers. They also make a buffalo sauce thats delicious with their Yard Bird chicken. They keep a rotating tap service sure to provide many different types and styles of beer from pale ales to IPAs to lagers to porters featuring breweries all over including local breweries, New Belgium, Odelle's, Alaskan, and Deschutes. During the warm months, you can enjoy live music on Wed, Fri, and Sat evenings featuring a myriad of performers including local artist Jake Nelson. Definitely a need to visit spot in White Bear or if you live nearby become a regular. read more

Cold food and flavorless pork. Ordered a Chicago hot dog once as well and the flavor is just not there, won't be returning.

Could smell the bbq while taking a walk along White Bear Lake with Hubby. Didn't get bbq but got a ice cream cone since we already ate lunch. Yummy:) Limited amount of seating inside. Many gourmet food items for sale as well as come cute decorate items. Menu looks similar to Famous Daves. Planning to stop by again to try the bbq. read more

I really wanted to love this place. Went in on a Saturday evening to pick up dinner for the family. The guy behind the counter was super helpful and offered many recommendations. Unfortunately I found the food to just be OK. The portions were tiny, the side he packed for 4 people seemed like a side for 1 or 2. I just can't justify spending that much for a small portion of decent BBQ. read more

As a person that has lived in Memphis, this place was not good! The place seemed very nice as you walked in and had a good selection of sauces to purchase. The menu was interesting and after reading the other reviews on yelp, I thought this place would be a great treat near my house. I ordered the full rack of ribs and my lady ordered the hook style pulled pork sandwhich. She really enjoys pulled pork, as much as I enjoy ribs. Needless to say, the ribs were dry and cooked as if mircowaved. The pulled pork was bland with a kecthup like sauce and served on a cheap bun you could get in an 8 pack at the grocery. If you want some good baked beans or cole slaw, just grab those two items and leave. read more

The food was ok, but it was really expensive for what you got. An $8 sandwich with no sides. We didn't get any sides because they were $2.50 a piece. My husband got the mac and cheese since the description sounded so good. It showed up cold and the cheese wasn't melted. To add to all of this, we waited at least 25 minutes for our food and then waited at least 20 minutes after being done for our check. We finally walked inside to pay and the lady behind the counter was very rude. I had been so excited to try this place because driving by smells so great. The food was pretty good, but not enough to make up for the high prices, slow service and rude staff. Not recommended! read more

This could hardly be called BBQ!!! My brisket did not taste smoked, it tasted like it was warmed up in a microwave. I paid for a plate because they said it was staked high, well four thin strips is not staked high! The service was very ho-hum to say the least. The beer was warm. We were the only people in there on a beautiful summer day by that lake, now I know why. Way over priced for the amount of food you actually get.This was the worst BBQ, from a BBQ joint I have ever had! read more

Stay away in the winter. Went twice. Wasted $50. Nuked, dry, tasteless. When I spend money at a restaurant I expect the food to be made today not last week and warmed up. read more