Visited Poor Red's to try their happy hour special from 3 pm to 6 pm Wednesday' through Friday. Naturally, I had to try to Golden Cadillac and I'm glad I did. It was creamy, vibrant and chilly. Red's appears to specialize in blended ice cocktails. I also tried the Grasshopper which walks perfectly minty, creamy and sweet. For food I tried the flank steak sliders and the coleslaw. The coleslaw was notable with a touch of paprika on top that was different and a good contrast to the sweet drinks. The sliders could be better. They came out piping hot on a series of Hawaiian rolls. The steam from the meat dissolves the buns a bit so it was more of a knife and fork situation. The dried crispy onions were a nice touch. Excellent service from both bartenders and friendly conversation with the locals who frequent the bar. Overall, I'd highly recommend, especially fo the historical aspect. The building was constructed in the 1800s and originally served as a Wells Fargo weighing station before being converted to a bar. read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - Reds sign - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

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Poor Reds has always been our "go to" place when with friends and family. We would readily comment that everything on the menu was good! Unfortunately, something has changed in the kitchen and noticebly different after our last 3 visits. Burgers appear to be frozen and possibly grilled over wood as advertised and DEFINATELY over- seasoned and salted. Still lack natural flavor, smoke and overcooked regardless of preferance . Also ribs are dry and reheated. I would not reccomend either entry! Something positive, service and golden cadilacs are good. Please get your kitchen in order and be great again read more

Not our fist time here. But props are due. There is an old wood bar. Grabs golden Cadillac for nostalgia and a brain freeze. It's like a Frappuccino of Gallican and creme. The indoor dining room isn't huge, probably ten table tops? But thee is double that outside when the weather is nice. We did the frito pie. Nothing crazy. Too many Fritos per topping. Like frito chili nachos. The we split a pulled pork. The pork was a tad dry but the flavor was fantastic. We plopped in a little extra bbq sauce (also delish). Fries are also salty yummy. Server was busy. She was friendly. read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

Came on a weekday with 27 other people for a midway lunch along the El Dorado trail. Our group called ahead even though they don't take reservations and we arrived with 2 large, long tables set up and waiting for us on the patio. It was a perfect day with umbrellas to shade us and a nice space off the street. Service was impeccable-food came out smoothly and timely for such a large group, and they kept our waters and drinks refilled without asking. Some partook in the classic Cadillac cocktail or beer. My pulled pork sandwich was tasty and I enjoyed the crisp onion string topping, but the toasted bun was a tad too brown; the fries were crispy excellent. Table mate enjoyed the bahn mi salad. Happy hour menu looks good so will come back to try that! read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - Drink and happy hour menu looks - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

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Great food options and friendly service! I had the chicken Caesar and it was a fresh and plentiful salad!

i don't know how i haven't written a yelp review for poor red's before because it's been around for so many years and always consistently great! FOOD shrimp tacos were LOADED, so much to the point that shrimp was falling out of my taco they were so full. i feel like usually you're lucky if you get 2-3! they were also so flavorful -- the blackening spices were perfection. the chipotle aioli it comes with wasn't overwhelming. the cabbage slaw was the perfect crunch that just rounded it all out. the chicken and waffles were a touch then, it would've been nice to have them a little thicker. the waffles were fantastic with the old fashioned maple syrup! potatoes were hearty and flavorful.. YUM. SERVICE Alex was our server and took great care of us throughout our dining experience. he was attentive and answered our questions with professionalism! the staff are always friendly and you can tell they're all like a big family. PARKING plenty of parking across the street from the restaurant as well as some limited street parking. AMBIANCE just a true small town restaurant with decor to match. it's so cute inside and such a great vibe. lots of outside seating for the cooler days and summer nights! always such a great experience at poor reds! my only complaint is they're a pepsi restaurant and i'm a coke girly otherwise you won't regret enjoying your next meal here! read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - chicken and waffles - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

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It has been a while since we visited this place - well before they remodeled, so it was great to come back and see how nice it looks now. We arrived just about 5 p.m. and snagged a nice table outside on the patio. Pretty soon it filled up so our timing was perfect. Paulina was our server and she did a great job. We were probably not really ready for dinner so I had an appetizer, our friends split a half-rack and my husband had dessert. They split the baked potato and the ribs for our friends and even brought them two separate salads in small bowls. I loved the ambiance and the vibe inside and out. I would have probably given it fives stars but my potato skins were pretty hard on the outside. The pulled pork and sauce was yummy though! I'd definitely come back and try more of the menu in the future. read more

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My husband had talked about this place for many years. This was my first time here. We sat outside in the heat but shaded, there were some spinning things to shoot away the flys. They have happy hour specials M-F 3-6pm. We made it just in time. Loaded Pork Fries - pulled pork in bbq sauce and cheese on top of fried potato, very hardy. Shrimp Lettuce Wraps - marinated big shrimps self assembled with lettuce, tasted healthy and yummy Wings in dry rub seasoning - I felt it was bland, wished it was more seasoned. Mule Punch - fruity but light on the ginger kick. The Gold Cadillac - signature drink served in 2 different glasses to commemorate the honeymoon couple, everyone must get this. read more

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Came here for lunch on a Saturday to escape the valley fog. We sat on the elevated side of the bar. I had to order a Golden Cadillac, then I preceded to beers. My wife ordered the pulled pork sandwich, it is her go-to, and she enjoyed it. I ordered the flank steak, substituting fingerling potatoes (small upcharge) for fries. It was excellent. and the potatoes were vastly superior to the fries. The bartender and the patrons were very friendly. I believe that sitting at the bar, gives one the old school Poor Red's feel. read more

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Finally got to try this place after living here forever! Lol. My dad ordered 1/2 rack of the ribs and absolutely loved every bite of it. Lots of meat and very tender! Fall off the bone. 5++ stars for the ribs! Beer chili. - mom loved it! Lots of meat and bold! Wasn't boring! Spicy good chili flavors. 5+ on that! Pulled pork sandwich- tender pork and flavors awesome however not very much meat. Maybe 3-4 ounces? 1/4 cup. I saw others eating the same sandwich split and the meat was double what I got. Sad. Option for more meat please. I don't mind paying more for that. It's good! Service was nice but busy place so be patient and hang out. Lots of flies which was troubling but not sure how to get rid of that. Outdoor seating on a nice cool day is perfect!! read more

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Forgot to review this iconic apot for burgers! There is a patio for outdoor dining (with music on weekends, too). They feature a full service bar and have brunch items for weekend vibes. My dog Koko loved getting bits of burger when we'd visit, too. #kokoapproved read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - Koko recommends the burger! - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

Topic: Poor Reds BBQ Date: 5/25/25 Quality: 8/10 Value: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Timeliness: 7/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Total: 39/50 Came in at 6pm, was $220 for 9 people (2 people shared an item) before tip: we were with family and I only got a few reviews noted. We were attending with an ex-employee who said their pulled pork and waffle dishes are his two favorites on the menu. They were out of potato skins FYI. Will be back without a doubt - with excitement regarding the remainder of their menu Brown Cow 3.5/5 Crisscrossed Fries 5/5 (Incredible! Crispy, salty, hot, couldn't be better) Cajun Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich 4.25/5 (pickles and jalapeño jelly are sweet - not so good, otherwise nice sandwich) Spicy Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich 4.25/5 (barely spicy, bread is a low quality white loaf, flavor is pretty good) read more

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The place was packed and lively and clean. Everyone was friendly. My pulled pork sandwich was amazing and their signature bbq rocks. Chicken tenders wearisome For my kid. It was loud but i loved it!! read more

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Fast bites needed after a day of hard work! Poor Red's hit the spot perfectly. Pulled pork on waffle fries. We're leery of pulled pork overall but this was really tasty and prepared perfectly! The fries were fried crispy so after it was topped with pulled pork, the fries remained crispy!! What a wonderful dish! Thoughtfully prepared so we don't end up with soggy potatoes and meat. Definite flex PR The other entree we ordered were the wings. Our waitress recommended them and they were not only the meatiest wings we've had, but they were seasoned perfectly with dry rib that hit the spot. Not salty but full flavored. Nice to find a spot that isn't just seasoning heavy to sell drinks and ruin the evening. The chef and staff are making good food. Loved the ranch and the blue cheese was popular also. Will definitely return for tasty food. Wait staff was kind and not over bearing or hovering. Next time I'll remember to take pics, too hungry tonight. Still missing my local Purple Place... but my new favorite place is Red read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - Basket fry, chicken wings - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

We came on Sunday evening around 4:30pm. The restaurant was very crowded with loud music at the outdoor seating area. So, we went inside to be seated. We ordered right after seated but the service was disappointing. It took so long to get our food. We ordered an appetizer & an entree to share but both dishes came out at the same time after asking 2 different servers since we've been waiting so long. When our food came, the appetizer was cold. However, the food tasted delicious: well seasoned & perfectly cooked. - Chicken barbacoa fry basket: delicious (despite was delivered cold when we got it). The waffle fries were crunchy and well seasoned, The combination of spices and sour cream on the shredded chicken were amazing! They put generous amount of chicken. - Poor red's St. Louis ribs: the sauce was AMAZING! Tangy and sweet. The ribs were smokey, perfectly cooked and tender. The fries were still hot and crispy & well seasoned. read more

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We had a large group of 20 so my friend had pre arranged seating beforehand. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich. The chicken was moist and tasty and the fries were good (crispy on the outside, soft on the inside). My partner got ribs and they were tender and flavorful. Service was friendly and efficient. read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

We went here on our second date and it was a great experience. The shrimp tacos are really good. And the bbq pork slider appetizer is big enough for a meal. I am sure we will be back! read more

After 53 years away, today I finally came back to Poor Red's, and it did not disappoint. Yes, it's under new ownership, but no different from the days friends and I used to venture there from Sacramento for the best ribs, baked potato, and golden cadillac drinks around. The atmosphere was the same...split level bar, the small (now very enlarged) dining room, and the yummy Golden Cadillac drink. Today, we ate at the bar and were served a scrumptious Banh Mi Bowl and a half-pound burger done just right. My last dinner at Poor Red's in 1973, consisted of a 1-2 hour wait for dinner. While waiting for an open table in the 6 table dining room, we drank Pink Squirrels and Golden Cadillacs 'til we were felling real good. Eventually, we got a table and soon four of us ate incredible ribs and baked potatos. We even brought our own sour cream which in the early 70's wasn't offered. Such great memories! Thank you for re-opening in 2016. read more

Despite the change of ownership over the years the quality of goods and service has always been top flight! I really enjoyed the expansion of the facilities ! As a matter of fact the quality of food has improved! I highly recommend this restaurant and bar facilities! read more

This was our first time here yesterday for dinner: Came in yesterday with friends for dinner the food and the drinks were amazing. The service was awesome also and our waitress kept checking up on us also she was so nice and friendly and made sure we had a great time and everything. The restaurant and the bathrooms were very clean also. This won't be our last time here, we will be recommending this place to everyone we know. I got the shrimp lettuce wraps they were so fresh and tasted amazing. And my husband got the steak meal and said it was so good. read more

I haven't been to Poor Reds in probably 15 years. They have improved a lot, but kept the original setting. Ordered BBQ pulled pork, shrimp lettuce wraps and BBQ chicken sandwich. Plus drinks. Server was great. Prices decent. Food good. Drinks very good. Worth a stop!! read more

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Went last Saturday night. When you put in an order and only serve food to two out of three patrons, the patron shouldn't have to go ask the runner for their food. We had to share our water between us as there was no check back. There was only one other table!! Shitty shitty service by Lena T! Total wing nut that should not be serving your patrons. read more

I had the Chili Frito Pie and Cinnamon Roll. Both were delicious. Sat outside. There was music but it wasn't so loud that you couldn't talk at a comfortable volume. Service was great. Dog friendly. read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - Cinnamon Roll - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

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Atmosphere was fun and lively. Sat outside with fog and heat lamps and espresso martini which was made well, so nice in the holiday season. Bree was our server. She was very attentive, personable, and very nice. Our food was super good. We had blackened flank steak cooked perfectly, pulled pork sandwich, lettuce wraps, Mac and cheese. Everything was delicious. First time eating here and I'll be going back for sure. read more

This would be one of my absolute favorite rural restaurants in California. The restaurant was clean and very inviting. The menu options are an excellent value for California standards from what I could see. The BBQ was fantastic; I was delighted with my meal no matter what I ordered! The servers were courteous and always efficient, happy, and polite. The BBQ ribs that I ordered were hot and delicious. Came within 7 to 10 minutes, which was okay with arrival timing. I can't wait to return and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere to eat in rural California. read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - The local bbq spot!! - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

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Had a great time at the bar on the way to Tahoe with the best Golden Cadillacs and wings! Can't wait to go back!

Great food was very good, had the chicken wings with the dry rub. The beer was cold and smooth. I had the porter and my friend had the dirty blonde. The atmosphere is fantastic and historic. This is a must go to destination. Lots of good vibes. Will be returning soon with my wife. read more

Food is ok... solid 5/10. Ordered the ribs, Mac, and burger. What stood out the most was the side of fries....the best thing that they have here. Service is good. A lot of older folks here. Bathroom is big and nice as well. I wouldn't come eat here because the flavors are pretty mid and the meats are tough... who ever said this was fall off the bone was lying. read more

Wait staff are delightful and helpful. Food was delicious. This was our third visit and it never disappoints. The chilli is a must try! read more

Came here for a drink after having pizza at Pizza Norcia. We were in town visiting friends and wanted a night cap before heading back home. It was Friday and it was crowded with locals, mostly bikers. We were really there bec we wanted to try their famous Cadillac cocktail. We ordered that and it was interesting. They poured it in two cups which was nice, kinda bogo on drink. It's chocolate liqueur that almost taste minty. Didn't finish it but at least I can say I got to try it. Also got to read the history of this drink and it was really cool Will comeback next time to try their food read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - Cadillac cocktail - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

This place was recommended to us to stop at on our way to Tahoe. The outdoor patio is very inviting and cute. We didn't see the inside since we sat outside. The service was pleasant and friendly. The food was good. We had the cajun chicken sandwich with fries and the full rack of ribs with Mac n cheese. The rack of ribs is a large portion for the $$. They were fall off the bone and good. Just a little too much bbq sauce for my liking. Mac was delicious and the sandwiched was just ok. The sandwich was room temperature and the fries were cold. We tried the gold Cadillac drink was awful. We took one drink and left it behind. When the server asked if we like it we said no. She said "it's a drink you either love or hate." Nothing over the top and probably won't go back. It was fun to stop in and give it a try. read more

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First off, let's cut the gas. The food here is pretty whack. When I was kid I used to come here and even then thought it was not all that. This is definitely a place for older folks. read more

Stopped in on the way home from Sonora for lunch. Small crowd & I sat at the bar. Bartender was friendly & reccomend the Roadhouse Steak sandwich. Ribeye end cuts,seasoned, flame roasted with arugula on a garlic toasted hoagie roll. Effing delicious. Upgraded to Mac and cheese side and it was good ,not the best I've had. Live music in the patio on summer afternoons. I will return to sample the rest of the menu. Cool place. read more

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Always a fun time! Great atmosphere, nice people, great staff and food is yum! Ok and the drinks are a must go back for!

I've eaten here many times over the years, and the last few I've been disappointed. I love BBQ ribs, so we went here last Wednesday for my birthday. The ribs were tough and just not great. I had left overs and didn't even eat them because of how disappointed I was when they were fresh. Lol Our bill was so high and we barely ordered anything. Definitely will be going to a different BBQ place next time. The drinks are what makes this place appealing. Lol read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

Love the food but sitting here with my family and listening to baby got back because you have to listen to whatever the drunks in the bar put on the juke box when you sit outside . I'll fix it to 5 stars once you separate the music from inside repeating to outside sitting area. Play some country outside keep it original. Especially when I pay over 100 dollars every time I'm here because we love your food and your waitresses are amazing just to name one Breanna G is super awesome and you're lucky to have her. read more

We stopped by to get a Gold Cadillac and we ordered the sliders. The Gold Cadillac was delicious, the drinks and the food came out fast. We went there on a Thursday so it wasn't very busy. The waitress was friendly and attentive. We sat on the patio, the files did keep coming by. Overall it was a nice restaurant. read more

Poor Red's Bar-B-Q - The patio - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, California

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As someone who loves supporting local gems, Red's BBQ is a real find! The food was absolutely delicious, and the whole place has a fantastic, social atmosphere. Major shout-out to Jesse the bartender-she makes you feel right at home. If you're looking for a great spot to grab some tasty BBQ and have a drink and meet some new friendly faces, Reds is the place to be. read more

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Macaroni bbq was very good . Which was surprising Ribs were absolutely the worst I ever had. Veryy dry , tasted a lil old, very salty.. Drinks were so expensive and weren't very good either for the price and half of a wine cup lol Very disappointing. Would not recommend going here. read more

Food was amazing. Chicken and waffles, pork sliders and especially the Cajun buttermilk sandwich. We shared all three. This was supposed to be a quick stop on our way to Tahoe but we ended up staying and letting the kids play in the patio. Ambiance was great and the service was even better. Friendly atmosphere, open and delicious food we HIGHLY recommend this place. read more