You know the type of food that makes you do a little happy dance in your seat? That's Johnnys. Wonderful staff, friendly service. No frills- just dang good food. Romo's pro tip: the fries. Always get the loaded fries. They are a meal themselves! read more

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Barbecue so good even Woody would drive to Michigan for it! Found this spot stopping for dinner along the way. Definitely a hidden gem! read more

Johnny V's Smoke Shack - 1/2 Lb Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Perry, Michigan

The pulled pork was served cold. There are no more sauces at the table to experiment with and the prices have gone up. Not a value, and not a worthwhile destination! read more

Honestly quite shocked. Had a great southern feel and setup to the place, and I've had some of the best bbq in the US and this was not bad at all. The staff was exceptional and super friendly. Didn't risk it too much in the food department, went with basics like the poutine, Mac N Cheese with chicken, and a fancy sandwich with all the meats on it. Was very impressed with the food that we did have. Will definitely be back to really test them out and see how the brisket and pulled pork is, and if that's good that will get them to 4-5 stars. But so far, they have exceeded expectations for a northern establishment. read more

Well I wanted to give them more stars because the staff was awesome they had great attitudes the ambiance was great it was very clean the bathrooms were very nice and clean and private. Alright let's get to the food I had the meat sampler the brisket was nice and smoky but small it truly was the best thing I ate the ribs were almost over smoked you could definitely tell that they had a hard time controlling the heat in there smoker because they were very dry the cornbread was very dry also even a little burnt pulled pork had very little flavor bratwurst was ok bacon pretty good the spice was very nice everything was just kinda dry over cooked. I would definitely try again because bbq is a science everybody has a bad day and I could tell it could be better even really good if not so hard and dry also the Mac and cheese looked fantastic tasted ok read more

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Oh my oh my the food is amazing and the staff is top notch. Such friendly faces to greet each guest and made wonderful suggestions on what to eat. I had the stuffed baked potato and a side of broccoli while my husband had the ribs and fries. We dove in so quick, I forgot to take pictures. Luckily they have a huge TV that displays all the yummy options. Homemade potato chips and dip were brought around by the owner who seemed to visit each table. Loved the atmosphere and vibe. We will be back!!! read more

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Our first time there. The food was delicious but it was not served hot. If brisket is served in a mini cast iron dish, it should maintain heat, so it must have sat for a while, and the fries were barely warm also. It was Friday night and they were busy so it would have been nice if the owner would have pitched in and helped the staff take food out to tables instead of visiting with one of the tables behind us for an extended amount of time. read more

Thank God for wrong turns! I zigged when I should have zagged and saw this hidden gem tucked away as I drove by in the wrong direction. After flipping a U-Turn, I landed back here in their parking lot and I am so glad I did. First thing that stood out to me was that the owner was here, greeting and communicating with the customers with genuine appreciation. For the record, it was 6:30 PM. The employees took my order with a smile and got me situated, taking a cue from the Chick-Fil-A playbook by responding with "my pleasure!" To sum it up... if the food was crap, I'd probably come back for the service. Fortunately, the food was just as fantastic as the service. The beans were delicious and not overdone with some artificial smoke flavoring. The Mac and Cheese was also good - Not watery, not bland, not overly cheesed either. The cornbread was a well balanced sweet:savory with crispy edges. If you prefer the super sweet cornbread, this isn't it. If you prefer the more savory flavored cornbread... this probably isn't it for you either. The pulled pork was great! Not dry, not bland, not too greasy. If you can't make pulled pork and you're running a BBQ restaurant, you need to go. It'd be like owning an Italian restaurant and not knowing how to make a scratch red sauce. They nailed it here. Decent sized seating area, not too loud, music lightly playing in the background. I'll definitely be back and you should come too! read more

Johnny V's Smoke Shack - Baked beans, Mac & cheese, pulled pork - Barbeque Near Me - Perry, Michigan

Friendly staff, good location and easy parking. Ribs were so-so. Baked beans were very very good. I understand that BBQ is a very subjective style of meat- this particular day the ribs were wet and grey, very little to no smoke. Cornbread muffin was very cake like. Sauce was good- I'll be back and try the brisket. read more

Johnny V's Smoke Shack - Ribs, fries, beans - Barbeque Near Me - Perry, Michigan

It's delicious food and friendly service. We were here with a large family group and they took care of us in a friendly and efficient manner. Would recommend and would return. read more

My brother was kind enough to treat his sibs and mother to a lunch at Johnny V's yesterday. The food was simply amazing. TRY the onion rings. Are they expensive? Yes. Are they worth it? God YES. I had the full French dip with fries and the fries are to die for. The sandwich was too much for this fat dude to eat more than half of, especially following the onion rings that I can only describe as "Nip 'n Sip squared". You'll note the care that goes into the prep in that, if you've ordered a French dip before, you know which bag is yours when it shows up, right? It's the dripping wet paper bag. Well, Johnny V's put the au jus in basically tupperware. I notice things like that and they are very much appreciated. The decor was amusing in a good way. The Mural in the men's room was great. The kids working the place were just super nice, too. I literally have zero complaints about anything other than I wish I could have tried their brats, sausage and chicken. Next time, though. Go eat at Johnny V's. read more

This is the worst bbq I have ever had. It really should not be called bbq. There is no smoke ring, it tastes like it was boiled with liquid smoke, there is definitely liquid smoke in this. This is the most disappointing meal I've had in a very long time. I am really confused by all of the five star reviews. read more

Johnny V's Smoke Shack - Boiled brisket, drowned in sauce!! - Barbeque Near Me - Perry, Michigan

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The brisket did not disappoint and the cornbread muffins are on-point. Kinda reminds me of a corn casserole My grandma used to make, only in muffin form. Both sauces that I tried were delicious. The Texas one with a little spice was my favorite. Macaroni and cheese was just OK, but look forward to trying baked beans next time. There will be next time. read more

Johnny V's Smoke Shack - Mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Perry, Michigan

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If you like delicious, smoked meats Johnny V's smoke shack will bring pleasure to your pallet... service, great and friendly

Thank you, Kevin for the story behind your amazing Michigan BBQ. Service and hospitality were amazing just like the food. This was our first visit but certainly won't be our last. read more

First time having Michigan barbecue after traveling here from Tennessee! The owner came by our table and introduced himself and couldn't have been nicer. He even brought different sauces to our table and gave recommendations about what sauce would pair well with each meal. Everything we ate was delicious and the service couldn't have been better! read more

This place is top notch in every way from the food, atmosphere and the very friendly service. You wont find frozen food here. This is a true gem. The home-made bread pudding is the best I have had. read more

Johnny V's Smoke Shack - Bread Pudding - Barbeque Near Me - Perry, Michigan

Food is great! I always gravitate back to the brisket french dip. SO GOOD. We went on a busy Saturday night, everyone was friendly, food was quick. The owner also came around to check on things to make sure everyone was doing well. I would Recommend to anyone looking for a good meal! read more

Food- fantastic! Service-terrific! Worth the trip from East Lansing to Perry? Without question! Johnny V's is our go to place for deliciousness. read more

Great experience. Stopped by after a friend's recommendation and they were absolutely correct. I enjoyed the brisket tacos and some wings. Super tasty. We were there for mid afternoon lunch so was pretty quiet. Spacious, clean, good vibe. read more

Johnny V's Smoke Shack is worth the drive! Tender, smokey ribs! Five cheese Mac and Cheese! Fresh coleslaw! And a great selection of cold beer on tap. Wow! All served in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. If you like BBQ. you will love Johnny V's! read more

The wings had a good rub-coating but was undercooked. Long gone are their variety of BB sauces. I was given a small plastic dipping container with sweet sauce. They offered dressing but no celery or carrots to dip with. My wife had a mediocre bratwurst. Not impressed. Not returning. read more

If "Real Michigan BBQ" that is classified as the best the Mitten has to offer is gray soggy boiled brisket with an ever so slight hint of liquid smoke flavor, well then by golly they've done it! Strike one was seeing the meat sitting in a pool of jus. If you need to soak the meat in liquid that means you messed something up and it ended up being over cooked and dry. Strike two was the color. It was gray as if it had been boiled in the liquid that it was sitting in. There was close to no smoke flavor and no smoke ring to boot. As someone else posted, I question if there's even a smoker on premise here as you smell nothing when you approach the building and the lack of a smoke ring almost proves this theory as true. Finally, strike three was ZERO salt or seasoning whatsoever. A big piece of meat like that can handle a good amount of salt and I found myself having to dunk each piece in sauce just to taste something. Service was friendly and the beans were fairly decent though... read more

The food was amazing!! I got the 1/3 ribs with Cole slaw and sweet potato fries. Everything was so good, even their house made chips were great. The owner Johnny greeted our table and he was so sweet and shared his story with us. All around a great place to go for some BBQ! read more

I received coupons in the mail. One of them was buy one meal get a second meal 50% off. The coupon said I could order in person, on the phone or online and present the coupon when I picked up the order. I put in an online order but when I picked it up I was told that I could not use the coupon because the order was already paid for. They gave me the coupon back saying I could use it with a phone in order. I told them that I live alone and I don't order two meals very often. They did not offer to credit my credit card back for the 50% off, delete and re-enter the transaction nor to compensate me in any way. read more

My fiancé had a gift card for Johnny V's so we ventured to Perry for a date night dinner. When you enter the building, there is a counter where you place your order and the menu is above it on TVs. Once you place your order, you find a seat in the dining area and wait for them to bring your order out to you. We ended up trying the burnt ends and Gouda fries for appetizers. I had a brisket Reuben for my meal and my fiancé had the chicken entree (I can't remember what his was called)! I really liked my Reuben. I ordered a side of their Carolina sauce and to dip it in and it's was great. My fiancé liked his chicken and we both enjoyed our Mac and cheese sides, He thought his side of beans were also good. Worth a try if you like bbq! read more

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Service was amazing. Food was good. Price was about average I think. Reallly good experience read more

Johnny V's Smoke Shack - Pulled pork and fries - Barbeque Near Me - Perry, Michigan

The food here was amazing, the staff actually was friendly and fun. We will be coming back here again there's so much more to try. It's a cozy spot where the owner is a mad scientist constantly working on making his bbq even better! read more

Johnny V's Smoke Shack - We were feeling bbq and were driving through Perry. Johnny V's has amazing food, there's a lot we have to come back try. Love the staff! - Barbeque Near Me - Perry, Michigan

I grabbed lunch here today with family. The food was great, and the portions were solid for the price. I'm pretty hard on BBQ places as I can make some pretty solid pork or brisket myself, but the products here are hard to beat. We especially liked the burnt ends as an appetizer. Service was fast and friendly, and they were very understanding when my kid grabbed soda instead of water. I liked that it smelled like a bbq joint but wasn't overly smoky inside. The mismatched chandeliers and signs and paintings on the walls were a nice touch. I'll happily eat here again when I'm in the area. read more

The best barbecue I've had in Michigan. Been coming here for 5 years and it's always been 10/10.

Great food out in the middle of nowhere. We stopped here yesterday after the MSU football game. We shared the meat platter and ordered up mac and cheese, bbq beans, and sweet potato fries. We found the mac and cheese not up to par but enjoyed the other two ... The cornbread was delicious. Service was prompt and attentive...We would return another time when in the area..... read more

Food & service was good. Fairly expensive as most places are these days...even side dishes are $6. Had 1/3 lb brisket & fries , water to drink for +/- $25.00. (My only complaint & reason for only 3 stars) Sauces & Johnny cake cornbread were delicious I think air conditioner was broken, it felt like a hundred degrees inside (3 pm ) read more

The food was very good for what we had. We got the smoked wings but one get one such a great deal we had enough to take home. Service was quick and friendly the restaurant was clean and well decorated. read more

Awesome place and even better ownership. Always feel welcomed and valued. This is a rare trait these days. I loved the grilled chicken with bistro sauce. Great place in a small town. Will def be back. read more

I called an order to-go. It was my first time having the food here. I had the chicken wings on Wednesday - buy 1 lb and get 1 lb free. Plus I ordered onion rings and ordered 1/2 lb of brisket. I thought the price was wrong when she told me the total, but I checked on line and it's $12 for onion rings - they were greasy and you didn't get many, $14 for a 1 lb of wings- they were dry, and $16 for 1/2 lb of brisket! WOW! That is like Austin prices, EXPENSIVE, but it's not nearly as good, not even close. The best BBQ places in Austin is only about $2-$3 more per lb, but the quality is exponentially superior. You don't question about the prices when you taste the quality. I paid a higher price in Austin for BBQ but didn't feel ripped off. Franklin's is $34/lb, Interstellar is $34/lb, KB is $34, Terry Blacks is $35/lb . LA BBQ, John Mueller's, daughter, her brisket is also ah-mazing and she only charges $24/lb! If you know, you know. *One star for the person who answered the phone and took the order. She was pleasant. *One start because the order was ready when they said it would be. read more

I started this review before I even had my food. A coworker told me about this place, so I stopped in. We are not from around here, in town for business. I walked in by myself for lunch, I was greeted by the owner, Kevin. I felt like he was welcoming me to be a part of his passion, his home. His wife Michelle was running the register, she was just as kind and nice. I love it when a place is more than just about the food, and that's this place for me. God, country, family decor up, beautiful place all around. I finally settled on the meat sampler, Kevin had them add a sample of burnt ends for me! Score!!! I also ordered a side of the Mac and cheese. Everything was really good. I really enjoyed the sauces (made from scratch). Even though I'm from out of town, I will make it a point to stop here when passing through. Thank you Kevin & Michelle, may you be blessed and bless those around you. read more

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Does anyone in Michigan know how to smoke Brisket and Pork, this place ,while the staff are always nice and friendly, large variety of choices and options. It's way over priced for what you get. The Pulled pork has literally no hint of spices or smoke flavoring. The Brisket is hit or miss if it's going to be dry or moist or if if it's fresh tasting w flavor or not. The " burnt ends " and the dessert here are excellent. Pricey,but they are good. If you decide to have a Date Night out w the Spouse, 65.00 to 70.00 w out tip is the average price for 2 full dinners and drinks. The place has been like this prior to 2020 I should mention as well. read more

Absolutely awesome. Very nice inside, friendly staff and food was phenomenal. Had Tennessee family with us and they stated, "best ever BBQ ever ". Can't wait to go back to Perry and eat their again!! read more

We were excited to try a new to us bbq place. However, prices are way too high. Paid $72 for three people - had Bavarian pretzels as an appetizer (those are good), two ordered macaroni and cheese with pork, and I ordered a French dip. Food quality was average but nothing special. Service was great, every employee was very friendly and welcoming. read more

I'm sorry but there are no smokers at this place. They can only possibly use liquid smoke when they bake their meats. Whoever thinks this is good bbq needs to go to a real bbq place. They are overpriced and a fraud! Please, go try bbq somewhere else. This place is horrible. read more