I've lived nearby but haven't stopped in until recently. Service was very friendly to both me and my husband as well as every other patron we saw come in while we were there. The inside was clean and had a very cozy feeling, with plenty of seats available when we arrived (around 11:45 on a Saturday). After browsing the menu, we decided on The Motherlode. I simply couldn't decide what I wanted to try and this covered just about everything lol It comes with chicken, two beef ribs, pork ribs, a pulled pork sandwich, and your choice of four sides! We chose mac and cheese (x2), coleslaw, and beans as our sides. Everything was delicious! I truly had zero complaints on anything that we got. Definitely a one of its kind place for the area it's in and will absolutely be back! read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - The Motherlode - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

Ahhhhh-Maaaazing!!! We went on a 6 mile hike at Lyon's Reservoir today, took a showers at our campsite in Three Rivers and headed down to Mean Lew's to get BBQ. Everything was delicious! The service was friendly and quick. We got the platter special $45 and it was well more than we needed--BUT...we ate every bit of it! THIS is a stop we will be taking EVERY time we come up this way!! Hubby is still talking about the chicken being the best he has ever had--Usually he doesn't even eat the chicken when we go to BBQs. read more

My family and I love BBQ, so we were ecstatic to drive by Mean Lew's! We decided to come in for some take out this past Saturday. The inside was homey feeling - with a decent number of tables and even a large bar area with a fish tank that my daughter was mesmerized by. We ordered The Motherload - which came with Beef and Pork Ribs, Chicken Thighs, a Pulled Pork Sandwich and 4 sides - we chose Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Macaroni and Cheese and Chili with Cornbread. We waited a bit at the bar and then took all our food home, but when we got home, we noticed our order was wrong. There was Corn on the Cob that we did not order, plus we were missing the Macaroni and Cheese and Chili with Cornbread. My friend called and spoke to the owner or manager, and they said they would make it right, so we drove back down to get what was missing. Not only was the owner/manager extremely apologetic, but she also gave us an even bigger size of Macaroni and Cheese, Chili and extra Ribs. We love that kind of customer service! Aside from what we ordered, they also offer a special menu with items like the Asian Chicken Salad, Smoked Chili Cheddar Jalapeno Sausage Dog, Smoked Chili Nachos and a Chopped Queso Brisket Sandwich. They also offer a Chicken Sandwich plus Loaded Baked Potatoes and a Banana Split Brownie Bomb that we should have ordered. Overall, the food was pretty good! My favorites were Brisket, Ribs and Macaroni and Cheese. We had so much food leftover - our friends are still eating it! We will be back next time we are in Sonora! Check them out! read more

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Great pork ribs, comfortable indoor dining, and good service. I thought the chicken sandwich was dry and overpriced. The beans are AMAZING, and the pulled pork is quite good. Brisket is on SATURDAYS ONLY; I keep missing the brisket. The brisket is sold on Saturdays by the pound. I have eaten there on Friday three times. Hopefully they will get reusable plastic cups and some silverware to eat there...to avoid the pile of trash for every meal. I eat at Smoke & Meat A LOT in Stockton...which has authentic real Central Texas-style BBQ. Mean Lew's is pretty AMAZING considering that they are open only 2 days a week, and the restaurant is in FRIGGIN Soulsbyville!!!!! I travel FAAAAAAR for REAL BBQ, like Smokin Oak Mariposa/Hog Wild Placerville, and I will keep supporting the hard work that they are putting in at Mean Lew's... read more

My friends and I had an Airbnb in town and were looking for some really good bbq. We stumbled across Mean Lew's BBQ and they did not disappoint. As soon as we entered, Cat and Bonnie were so welcoming with smiles on their faces. && the food! Oh my goodness, it was so flavorful and so tender. If you are ever in this area, I 100% recommend this place, NO DOUBT! read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - Creamy macaroni and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

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Holy Baked Beans.. they have the best baked beans I've ever tasted. And the hospitality they provide is amazing. I ate the ribs all the way to the bone. And took home extra orders of baked beans worried if I ordered enough. read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

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Recent menu teaches in my photos. The food was good and the service was stellar. So friendly and welcoming to new and frequent guests equally. Family of four ordered the stockyard with the additional coleslaw and bread for $2.50. We added a side of Mac and cheese and a half pound of brisket. $110 with tip was a pretty good deal. We ate the food too fast but the portions were good (just right not excessive). bathrooms are clean and the patio is dog friendly. The Oreo pie at $8.95 was delish. Worth the price tag as it was generously Oreo-y. We will be back. One of the few places in the area that lived up to the hype. read more

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I suppose after probably the 10th time eating the food here I'll put in my two cents... the food is fresh! it's exactly what you should expect from a BBQ place. The portions are generous and the service is great. Every time I've eaten the food here I'm greeted by the owner and they come to the table and interact with my family and I. Every single time. The food has been consistently the same every single time I have eaten the food.. the prawns special was amazing and fresh... i have personally tried everything on the menu from the owners food truck days till present and it's all amazing... it's a comfortable welcoming atmosphere. I would highly recommend stopping by. Great spot to come after skiing as well. Can't beat a home cooked hot meal. You can tell love and passion go into each dish... read more

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A good party barbecue smoked brisket ribs this is a family restaurant! Homemade mac & cheese, which you do not find anywhere! Barbecue sauce was excellent not a pre-fab homemade delicious! And a stuffed potato OMG Could not finish a quarter of the portion! Service was excellent and if you want a cold beer they have it! read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - Barbecue spareribs, homemade mac & cheese, and over stuffed potato! - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

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A nice little spot to enjoy good BBQ! My wife and I had the pulled pork sandwiches. They tasted great but were a little smaller than we were expecting. My wife had the coleslaw and it was very good. I substituted the Chinese Chicken Salad as my side. It was surprisingly very filling! I had the homemade lemonade and it went perfectly with the pulled pork sandwich. The atmosphere is great and the staff were very friendly and always looking to be helpful. It can get a little loud but it was not unbearable. read more

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We ordered the Motherload meal because we wanted to try a little bit of everything. There was a line when we got there, but one of the employees was walking through making sure everyone had menus, knew how ordering worked, and explaining the specials, which was appreciated. We asked what 4 sides were included and were told we could choose from the regular sides plus mashed potatoes and garlic bread, which were the specials that day. When we got up to order, the girl working the register seemed extremely overwhelmed and kept having to run over to who I'm assuming was the manager for help. We truly didn't mind waiting because everyone has to learn somewhere, and she was trying her best. The frustration started with the sides. We ordered: 1. Mac & cheese 2. Beans 3. Mashed potatoes 4. Garlic bread The cashier explained they didn't have buttons programmed for the mashed potatoes or garlic bread specials, so she was going to ring them up as baked potatoes and make notes for the kitchen. Then she realized she couldn't properly enter the garlic bread either, so she added it separately. We clarified multiple times whether the garlic bread counted as one of the four included sides because on the screen it looked like we were being charged extra. She assured us it wasn't charging us, but from our end it looked like the $54 meal plus several separate side charges were being added (3 charges for sides, even though we were told 4 were included). She went to ask the manager for help, but instead of stepping over to assist or explain it, the manager basically brushed her off and told her to "just manually enter it." The poor girl clearly didn't know how to do that and was left trying to figure it out on her own while the line kept growing behind us. At that point we just paid because we didn't want to hold things up, but when the food came out, the order was still wrong. We got two sides of potatoes when we only wanted one, plus a side of coleslaw we never ordered. The garlic bread was also shockingly small (literally two tiny slices) and I wish that had been explained beforehand because it definitely didn't feel worth the extra charge. Overall, the experience was disappointing. The food itself was decent, but honestly not something we'd go out of our way for again right now. We'll probably give it another try in the future and hope for a better experience because I do understand places have off days. More than anything, I hope management takes this as constructive feedback. The young cashier was kind and trying hard, but she clearly needed more support and training instead of being left alone to figure things out in front of a long line of customers. We felt bad for her because it really didn't seem like any of the issues were her fault. read more

Found this place to get a quick lunch on the way to Stanislaus National Forest. What a gem! The food is delicious, highly recommend the motherlode meal if you have people to share with. My kids enjoyed the Mac and cheese, the salads were fresh, generous portions. The owners are a hardworking couple with excellent hospitality. Looking forward to stopping by again! read more

Had the pulled pork sandwich and macaroni and cheese the other day... Mac & cheese was very original and awesome... Pulled pork sandwich was a really good and comes with a side of barbecue sauce to add to it if you like... It's a tough spot to get into it because they're only open a couple days a week but really good food read more

Best BBQ in the Motherlode, no joke! They're closed during weekdays because it takes that long to smoke and slow cook the most delicious meats you'll taste on the weekend. Perfect mountain ambience with super fun and helpful staff. read more

Came up from modesto to grab bbq. Food was amazing, owners Zack and Kat were chatty and friendly and super helpful. Nice vibe inside too. We stopped on our way to indigeny to get cider and took the bbq to go for a picnic. The beans were to die for. I forgot to take a pic of the Asian chicken salad. But it was huge and full of flavor. read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - Brisket combo with Mac and cheese and beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

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Great food, good experience. Very clean and the staff was kind! Food also came out very quickly

I made a to-go order over the phone and happened to order a cobb salad that was actually a past special (the nice fella who took my order was unaware). Rather than waiting for me to come pickup and choose something else, the crew pulled together everything needed, including chicken (YUM) and the even went to the store to get an avocado! Now that's service! Now let's talk about the food- oh wait I can't my mouth is watering too much. Absolutely incredible, by far the best pulled pork I've ever had. The loaded bakers are heavenly- and those mashed potatoes- I can't even begin to describe the yumminess. read more

I Have been meaning to try out Mean Lew's for a while and finally got a chance last night. It was an unexpected pleasure. I would normally not stop and give a review but in this case, I needed to. The hospitality of the owners, the food including braised short rib special and the pork ribs dinner were exceptional! Everything prepared with heart. All the little details from heirloom tomatoes on the salad to homemade everything. Best food in these parts. Worth the trip. Only open Friday and Saturday. So glad I finally made it in. I highly recommend it. read more

Great BBQ! Definitely will be back. The service was fast and the restaurant was very clean. read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - The MotherLode! - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

Delicious BBQ made with passion. Family friendly atmosphere, the kids loved it. Friendly and helpful staff. Would come back again. Would also ordered for catering events. read more

If you're looking for an amazing family owned and operated restaurant with incredible food and atmosphere, look no further than Mean Lew's! Every item I ordered was extremely fresh, flavorful and filling. I could really tell that all the food was made in house from scratch and was made with quality ingredients. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. By the time I left, I felt I was part of the Mean Lew family. Truly a gem of the foothills, you will not leave dissatisfied. read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - Ordered a lot of things from the menu, including the special of fresh made clam chowder. - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

Our favorite is the pork ribs, beans and mac n' cheese - and the brisket (on Saturday only.) The mac n cheese has a wonderful smoky flavor. The food is great. What a luxury to have such great BBQ. If you haven't, tried it, it's the best in TuoCo! read more

First time coming here! It was absolutely amazing!! We were so stuffed but wanted to keep eating lol. We will definitely be coming back here again soon! Interested in trying the banana split!! read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

Grabbed a little of everything on opening day and honestly, no notes. Good BBQ, nice folks, and a great neighborhood feel. read more

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Was not expecting to find such amazing BBQ here (and this is coming from someone who grew up in Texas)! Keep up the great work and hope to see you open past just Fri/Sat. read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - BBQ plate - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

Amazing owners and even better food. When Cat was working at another restaurant, I would go out of my way to order specifically from her -- she has an incredible instinct for putting together a dish. That same level of care and intention shows up in every plate here. Portion sizes are perfect, and it's honestly hard to pick a standout dish because everything is excellent. The flavors are clean, balanced, and deeply satisfying -- you can taste the quality of the ingredients and the care put into the cooking. You always leave full and happy, never feeling heavy or "off." Zach absolutely knows how to barbecue. Beyond his talent outside the restaurant, he consistently puts out high-quality, perfectly cooked meats that speak for themselves. This place is the real deal -- run by people who genuinely care about what they're serving and the experience they're giving. I can't recommend it enough. read more

Best BBQ cooking up. Try everything, you won't be disappointed. They're open Friday to Sunday. read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - OAK grilled RIBS, MAC N CHEESE, LOADED BAKED POTATOE! - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

Saturday night, Mean Lew's BBQ is the best place to be. Super friendly staff, happy to explain the menu and make suggestions. We ordered lots of food to try. Loved the pork ribs, Mac and cheese, the baked beans. We ate on the back patio. Looking forward to coming back! read more

If you're looking for a phenomenal dining experience, look no further than Mean Lew's BBQ! We met up with others to have a late lunch here on a Saturday, and we were immediately impressed by the atmosphere and the staff. Our server, Sharlene, was incredibly attentive and made excellent recommendations. My husband and I ended up ordering the "Motherlode" (that way we could taste almost everything they offered) and it was all cooked to perfection--fresh ingredients and generous portions. We got the baked beans, macaroni cheese, regular baked potato and a loaded baked potato for our sides. Everything was a kick to our tastebuds! And we couldn't leave without getting the banana split for a sweet treat. We'll definitely be coming back!t read more

Absolutely delicious! Our first time here. We will definitely be back! If I could give you guys 100 stars, I would ! mac n cheese was my favorite part! read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

The clam chowder bread bowl was so tasty! the melted cheese and seasonings on the outside of the bread made every bite delicious! My husband had The armadillo eggs, those were so flavorful and thick! Even our kids enjoyed the Mac n cheese and they had toys and coloring books available to help entertain the kids. Grateful to have some truly taste BBQ joint in this county read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

Food was delicious, everything from the meats and sides nothing disappointed. Service was even better, everyone was very welcoming and attentive. read more

The Food is delicious. My wife and I enjoyed a beer at the bar. We spoke with the owners for an extended period of time. The place has that BBQ feel. It's not fancy, it's not run down. It has personality and thats a win in our book. Open only Fri/Sat is a great statement...what we have is good. We want to do it right, and we'll be busy. Thats my assumption at least. A new staple for us no doubt. read more

We Stumbled upon this place on the way back from a long snow trip. The owners and staff are incredibly welcoming and really take care of you. The place is very kid friendly, they have coloring books, crayons, toys, free cookies and fruit for the kiddos, etc. Our table of 8 tried just about everything on the menu and 5 stars all around without question. Beef ribs, pork ribs, pulled pork sandwich, marinated chicken, beans, mac, Cole slaw, loaded baked potato, strawberry lemonade, and beers. All stellar. It's a Good value too, not overpriced for what you get and the taste is fantastic. The journey up to the snow and back is full of fast food and lack of other options. Mean Lew's BBQ is a gem!!! read more

I am a long time customer of Mean Lews, even they were at farmers market in Standard. I have never had a bad meal there all are excellent. Ribs, Chicken, pulled pork or Brisket. Only this review is about their Salads! Yes salads at a BBQ place. Kat makes the most AMAZING salads around. I am a true rib lover but her salads have converted me. They are beautiful to look at and yummy to eat. She makes her own salad dressings everyone of them excellent. Today salad had walnuts, cucumber, cherry tomatoes feta, cranberries, oh and lettuce. It had a Kat special citrus dressing. I had bbq chicken added on top. Give the salads a try. read more

Amazing food!!! Great job on first day opening! Cant wait to come back! Plenty of seating, great hospitality love the out back area!!! read more

Mean Lew’s BBQ - Pulled pork sandwich, baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Sonora, California

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The food was smashing & the owners have set up a great gathering place. Thank you for welcoming dogs outside

Came across Mean Lew's BBQ by chance looking for Dog Friendly restaurants in Sonora area on a recent drive. The food as exactly as you would hope for in a BBQ spot. Everything was delicious, and the Mac & Cheese did not disappoint. The owners are so great, they came out to meet our dogs and we discovered we both have a love for Golden Retrievers. Finding places like this are what road trips are about!! We will go back for sure! read more

The service was fantastic! Outdoor are is darling and comfortable. The food , oh my gosh!!!! Ribs fell off the bone and perfect smoke flavor, the chicken thighs were huge and meaty with great flavor, the pulled pork & beef ribs both great. The Mac & cheese was the only item we thought had room for a little improvement. Loved this place!!!!! Highly recommend!!!! read more

This is some phenomenal bbq. We didn't know what we wanted so we got the Motherlode and tried everything. The food and service were great.