Not what I expected to find in a tiny town in northerwestern Wisconsin. This place has some legit bbq. read more

This place turns out reliably good food in a friendly atmosphere. On our most recent visit we asked ourselves why we don't eat here more often! We will be eating here more going forward. read more

After seeing advertisements on TV, we decided to go for an evening drive and check it out... Great barbecue place! Food was excellent, especially the brisket. The baked beans were also tasty. Full bar in the back saloon. Laid back, relaxed atmosphere. Neat antique signs and things decorating the restaurant. Service was quick. You order at the counter, and waitstaff brings the food to your table. Worth the drive from MN!! read more

J&J BBQ - Brisket, beans, fries, cornbread... yum! - Barbeque Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

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We stumbled on this gem of a place and it is worth going out of your way for! The ribs were fall of the bone tender and delicious, chicken juicy and flavorful, all of the sides were great too! We almost tried to get everything on the menu and ate it all! Plenty of dining area, prompt cordial service. Why you're here make sure to check out grandpas saloon in the back, and they will bring your food to you back there! read more

Definitely worth the trip! General store is so cute food is amazing and portions are awesome! Prices are amazing and so is the staff! Worth the trip for sure! read more

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We ordered food from J&J BBQ for our rehearsal dinner (about 30 people), and it worked out perfectly! While we technically just did a large takeout order, they made the process feel very easy and catered to our needs. Their pricing was very fair, and I appreciated that they offered Sternos and other catering supplies to help keep everything warm. They were also flexible in letting us order from the catering menu even though we weren't doing a full-service event. The food was a huge hit--everyone loved the meats and sauces, the mac & cheese was especially popular, and the dessert bars disappeared quickly! Pickup was smooth and efficient, and they were very consultative, walking us through exactly what we might need for our group size. We brought the food to Township 23 Distillery nearby for our rehearsal dinner, and it worked out wonderfully. I'd highly recommend J&J BBQ for any event--great food, fair prices, and a super helpful team! read more

The bbq pork sandwich was so good I didn't even need sauce. The bun was a bit soggy but that was ok bc the meat was so good. The Carolina mustard and bbq sauce we're both good without a strong kick. Portions were decent. The bbq pork was sweet smoky and not at all spicy. The service was good, they were friendly and prompt. The big open space adds to the atmosphere. Add some country or jazz and It would be like the south. read more

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Best barbeque available to Southeast MN and Western Wisconsin Mississippi River area for hours.

We were on the road in the area and decided to pull off to check out the creamery and get some BBQ. I love these small town gems that we come across from time to time. This is a massive restaurant for the small town that it's in and even had live music off the back patio and bar area the day we were there. The decor and everything about this place gives you the true traditional BBQ experience. Onto the food we decided to split the full rack of ribs with 2 sides for just $22. The sides were kind of small, but were delicious and packed tightly into their little containers. Make no mistake about it, we walked away full. That may be due to the full rack of ribs that we had. They had a nice rub that gave it good flavor, but the BBQ sauce made them even better. I wouldn't call it the best BBQ I've ever had, but it was very good. If you live in the area or are passing through make sure to stop in! read more

J&J BBQ - Front counter - Barbeque Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

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Feed was fantastic, but the lady at the front taking orders was far from nice and friendly. Overall, decent would eat again for sure, but I will definitely do a takeout and go to the park rather than deal with h er rudeness read more

Mother's Day Buffet, 5/11/2025: Four seating areas & one small kitchen caused empty hot entree containers & no plates at times. It was great to not have styrofoam plates & plastic tableware. BBQ ribs were great as usual & eaten quickly. Broasted chicken was extra large breasts, no wings, very few dark choices. Crab legs were impossible to eat without a shell cracker, quickly got cold. Crawfish, the insides were dark, soft & unappetizing. Garlic buttered shrimp in the past would have been the best choice. Corn on the cob was old, tough & not sweet, buttered kernel corn would be a better choice. So much food was wasted! Desserts included boughten cupcakes, snack pudding cups, a rare tray of cheesecake, packaged cookies. One waitress to restock buffet items & a couple bus girls were on the run. Laura & Jim, you created a successful business. Maybe it's time to retire & enjoy each other again. Jim, don't blow a gasket! read more

Very disappointed over cooked ribs again. I surrender it's not even the prices. Someone isn't paying attention at that smoker seems to be running to hot drying out the meat read more

It's a sleeper, order food on one side walk to bar side and they bring it.. We had an order of Half Rack Pork ribs, 8 bones...heavily smoked on the dry side, which I prefer.. Sauce on side Thankfully..! and 8 smoked Chicken Wings, a little dry but tasty with the mustard sauce 2 sides we each had slaw, the slaw was good...$ 16.99.. We had all we could eat .. Left two wings..based on price I'd give it a 4.5 star!!! It had a good selection of beers.. Fun Spot, very busy!! I understand why, you could feed 4 younger (7-10 years) kids, for $16.99.!! Try it you shouldn't be disappointed!!! Just had the Wing and Rib combo on 7/05/19... It was very dry and it's hard to give it a 3... It was Dry , fairly tender, but definitely was Ribs 2-4 days old and reheated! Not good! read more

Ick. Do not order a burger. I had blood on the bun, not done. And the taste of the few bites I had were not good. Lesson learned. Stick to the ribs! read more

2nd time stopping here and plan to make a 3rd stop and 4th. The food was wonderful and good sized portions. I had the brisket and would do that again. Had a drink from the back bar, which is a whole other good experience with their selections of liquor. Worth the drive. read more

Wow, from decor to the menu, ALL IS GOOD AT THE J&J. Staff was pleasant and the food was great. I ate mine on a bench on the sidewalk. Chased down my pork sandwich with a Bubble Up. read more

Finally stopped. Exceptional food. Better than big name places in Memphis and close to Pappy's in St Louis in my opinion

This place has some of the best ribs I've ever had - tender, juicy, and delicious. I've also tried the brisket, which is also good. Regarding the sides, the slaw is excellent, as are the fries. Also, don't miss the vintage/specialty glass-bottled soda pop fridge, instead of just ordering a fountain drink. I've been here maybe half-a-dozen times and it has always been good. read more

My family and I went for lunch on a Saturday. Moderately busy, but still able to keep social distancing. Place looked great, but unlike the majority of reviews, we were not fans. Wanting to try everything, we ordered the Slow-Roasted BBQ Sampler for $32.00 which was their sample platter of all 4 meats. The ribs were decent and our style of tenderness, tender but not fall off the bone. Good flavor. The rest went from mediocre to awful: The BBQ chicken and it's super flabby skin, the leftover and seemingly microwaved brisket, lacking smokiness, swimming in a pool of grease and looking more like pot roast (completely brown with no pink) and the inedible pulled pork that appeared to be slow cooked in a sauce that was indescribable, not the least bit helpful and unnatractive. None of us took a second bite. Interestingly the sides were all good. The baked beans had a nice flavor and big pieces of yummy pork, the coleslaw was fresh, bright and not overly sweet and the cheese curds while not state fair hot and gooey, were decent. read more

Excellent, truly an awesome find in a fun little Wisconsin town right on the old Mississippi river. My wife and I took our three young lads here for dinner on a Saturday night. The service was fast and friendly and the food was perfect. We enjoyed the ribs, brisket, some pulled-pork nachos, and some cold beverages. I am not an expert in BBQ but I thought the food was perfect. Visible smoke rings, not too moist, not too dry, sauce on the side, all around good stuff. It's clear that these guys put a ton of pride and passion into their BBQ. Kudos. read more

J&J BBQ - Thumbs up for this awesome little BBQ joint. - Barbeque Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

Tasty tasty tasty!!! Stopped while driving through and I am soo glad I did! Best BBQ sandwich I had in a long long time! Bravo! Mac and Cheese is spicy and delish! Highly recommended trying it! I will be back! read more

This is legitimate BBQ. They even have a selection of bourbon. The seating is more extensive than it looks from the outside.

THE REAL DEAL. The ribs are all we tried, but they don't need sauce. They were perfectly smoked to a lovely pink, the meat came off the bone very nicely (not falling off, but not stuck either) and they were SO tasty! Baked beans and potato salad were top notch, too. It's all homemade here... I will purposely look for this place every time we come back to the area! read more

J&J BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

Hubby and I took a Valentine's Day drive down the Great River Road. This is my second time at J&J. This time I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, which is my go to. The pork was deliciously smoked and moist with no fatty pieces. The ciabatta bun it was served on was just ok - not toasted, pre-packaged. But, good bbq's not about the bun! The sides were above average. Bbq beans were smoky and sweet with a tiny kick - probably from their sauce. The creamy coleslaw was really good, too! Hubby got the ribs - his go to. They are 5-star!!! Definitely worth a stop for BBQ fans! read more

J&J BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

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The "heavenly hog" sammich I call the heart attack. It's fantastic so try it. It has a pretzel bun loaded with fried onions , brisket, pulled pork , provolone & bacon. White cheddar macaroni is fantastic too. read more

J&J BBQ - Heavenly Hog sammich with x 2 white cheddar mac - Barbeque Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

We were here 8/30/18. We had 3 in our party. one had 2pc chicken,one had chickenwrap and one had pulled pork sandwich. All was very delicious. Lots of food. Service was fast and friendly We have eaten here before and always has great food. read more

The food was excellent - especially the ribs. Such great flavor. It all hit the spot! Don't miss the sliced brisket while you're there. And the sauce was excellent. My husband and I were wanting a little bit of everything so we ordered the BBQ sampler platter to split with a side of fried pickles. We asked if we'd be able to substitute smoked sausage for one of the meats but were told "No, we don't substitute." So maybe something to consider as a future offering - even if it means an upcharge. Also throwing in some ranch or a dipping sauce for the fried pickles too. All in all an excellent barbecue spot! read more

After checking in to our hotel in Wabasa MN, my friend and I were looking for a good place to get dinner nearby. A quick Yelp search showed J&J BBQ just across the Mississippi River in Wisconsin. BBQ and an opportunity to get some New Glarus beer (only available in Wisconsin)? We hopped in our car and were on our way without a second thought. Inside is a welcoming dining area and walls decorated with novelty signs. The owners at J&J BBQ were very friendly and chatted us up while we waited for our to-go order. We mentioned wanting to pick up some beer as well and they kindly noted that they also owned the liquor store down the block. So that worked out pretty well for us. We could barely stand the car ride back to our hotel due to the delicious aroma of smoked meats emanating from the trunk. My friend and I were so eager to devour the brisket, pulled pork and ribs (that paired well with the 6-pack of Spotted Cow we purchased at the liquor store, by the way) that I don't think either one of us took a picture. Which is a shame because that was a good meal. read more

I have been eating here for years. They have added seating capacity and additional menu items with the same attention to detail and quality. I recommend this place for its great food, locally sourced meats, deliciously prepared and quick and friendly service. I have gone to the big name places in the smokehouse towns that claim to be the best and they have nothing on this family. I take mc rides from the twin cities down the river and bring all my friends here and they all agree that this place is great. read more

J & J Barbeque located in The Nelson General Store is some of the best barbeque that I have had on the Mississippi River, and definitely on the norther extent. Service is exceptional and the small town kind. My favorite is the BBQ pork sandwich with a healthy dose of tabasco and cole slaw which is a steal for $5.95. I have rode the motorcycle down Hwy 35 (The Great River Road) from St. Paul to Nelson just to get lunch here. read more

J&J BBQ - BBQ Pork - My Favorite - Barbeque Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

My fiance and I drove the scenic trip down Highway 35 from Menomonie just to experience J&J BBQ. The restaurant itself is very unique because it's a combination general store, antique haven, and BBQ joint all in one. Atmosphere is definitely not lacking here! It is run by an elderly couple who are very nice. They refilled my Coke free of charge and chatted about their sauce for awhile too. Very nice down home country people. Have to love that kind of service. It took about 5 minutes and out came my shredded brisket sandwich. The beef by itself is not heavy on the smoke at all and it was quite dry, but that's not a bad thing. Their vinegar based BBQ sauce is right on the table to drench your brisket in. The thin and runny vinegar based sauce is mild and is the perfect compliment to their beef brisket. There is some fat on the brisket, but not too much even for me who hates bundles on fat on meat. My brisket came with baked beans that had a delicious and unique flavor and a boat load of french fries all for $7. What a deal! My fiance had the pork sandwich and she really enjoyed it. We'll come back for sure! However, I wouldn't go out of your way for J&J. It's good, but not "50 mile detour" good. However, if you're in Nelson, WI or nearby, stop by for some great Americana! read more

We were passing through and saw that the place was not busy at lunch, on a Saturday, on a holiday weekend... These should have been red flags. We ordered brisket plates. As expensive as these were, this should have been tender, fresh, mouthwatering, and delicious food. It wasn't. The brisket had a couple of lean slices on top with a bunch of fat, tough, obviously microwaved slices underneath (Could not be cut with a fork.). The sides were TINY. The sauce was OK, but there was not nearly enough of it for the dry mess they were calling "brisket". The cornbread was overly sweet and dense. The baked beans were nice. The potato salad was meh. The woman taking our order was rude & impatient... I mean *truly* unpleasant. And to top it all off, our table was a sticky mess. Maybe we're spoiled with Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina & Texas BBQ, the portions & pricing, the friendly staff, the cleanliness of these states, but man... This was a very bad & expensive experience. read more

WE LOVE THIS PLACE! Everything on the menu is worth a try but we really like the chicken and rib combo. The prices are reasonable and service is fast. We have been known to make the hour drive just for this Q. read more

J&J BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

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I would recommend calling ahead to see if they are open... there could be a note on the door saying they are out. In my experience, 1 out of 3 visits were they actually open. They have great food and fair prices but should consider hiring more staff to be open during meal times. read more

Got here about 45 minutes before close on a saturday night - just enough time to have a beer and dinner. The beer was delicious - and cheap! I mean - $3 for a craft beer - can hardly beat it! The bbq was pretty great - maybe not the best ever - since we have been to some pretty legit places in the past, but it was definitely up there. Really good flavor, tender, etc. I would definitely recommend hitting it if you are in the area! Just short drive from Pepin and far better food choices (in our opinion!) read more

One of the best bbq joints I've ever ate at and very reasonable prices as well. They give you good portions and the Laura's chili is definately worth a try. I make a point to go there everytime I'm in the area. read more

Solid BBQ. Ribs are tender, a bit smokey and very tasty. Pulls from the bone proper...not "fall off the bone". Sauces are good. Also tried the Pulled Pork very good, but maybe a bit too smokey? This far north this is a great place to go if your in the area. Nothing fancy small town BBQ. Dont drive by it...stop. Bar in the back has a great selection of Bourbons at reasonable costs. Had the Old Forester Birthday selection. Bartender was a good guy and gave us tips on some things to do in the area. read more

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It's a sleeper, order food on one side walk to bar side and they bring it.. We had an order of Half Rack Pork ribs, 8 bones...heavily smoked on the dry side, which I prefer.. Sauce on side Thankfully..! and 8 smoked Chicken Wings, a little dry but tasty with the mustard sauce and a choice of 2 sides .We each had slaw, and it was very good...all for $ 16.99.. We had all we could eat .. Left two wings..based on price I'd give it a 4.5 star!!! It had a good selection of beers.. Fun Spot, can be very busy!! I understand why, you could feed 4 younger (7-10 years) kids, for $16.99.!! Try it you shouldn't be disappointed!!! read more

I had the pulled pork sandwich. I didn't love it. In fact it was probably the worst bbq I've ever had. Can't speak for the rest of the pork items. The place was cool and the staff was super nice. No. I won't be going back. Voted best bbq in town. Lol. read more

Really, really good ribs. Love the Mac and cheese too! The place smells amazing and catches your interest from the moment you walk in. Lots of decor and vintage items. The dining area is great too, the whole place has a really rustic feel. There is a bar in the back as well so you can grab a bite and have a night cap, too. Would totally recommend this place to anyone just passing through, is definitely a diamond in the rough. read more