Primal 'Cue BBQ in Sun Prairie is the real deal. I stopped in today and ordered the daily special: a double smoked ham sandwich with mac and cheese on top. I don't throw this around lightly, but that was one of the most delicious sandwiches I have eaten in my life. The smoke was deep, the ham was tender, and the mac and cheese on top was a legitimately inspired move. Absolutely killer combination. Having spent 25 years in the military, I lived all over the country and had some genuinely exceptional barbecue along the way. Places that locals swear by. Regional legends. All of it. Primal 'Cue still stands out as one of my all-time favorite barbecue spots. That says everything. Everything this place puts out is on point. If you are in Sun Prairie or anywhere near it and you have not been to Primal 'Cue, you are missing out. Stop what you are doing and go! NOW! read more

Primal Cue - Double smoked ham and cheese sandwich. With Mac and cheese! - Barbeque Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Top notch!!! Service was super fast and the food was amazing. I had the ribs, coleslaw, and corn bread. We will definitely be back here.

Stopped in for the first time before a hockey game. Ordering is easy-step up to the counter, order, receive a number, find a seat. Same goes for those holding a tab at the bar (take a number and bring it back when you reorder). I am not sure how the sound level is on a non game night but Primal Cue could benefit from sound deadening panels on the ceiling as it became quite loud with sound ricoheting off the metal roof and hard surfaces. The food we tried was excellent-pulled pork, tri-tip (wed & thurs), and the cheesy potatoes. Ordered by the quarter pound, the meat was well smoked and tender, They have a well stocked bar with some solid beers on tap to choose from although $8 for an Eagle Park seemed a bit steep. I thought the food was priced fairly for the quality and skill used to prepare it. Not often in the Prairie of the Sun but love to come back to try their brisket-the true measuring stick to a legit bbq place (in my opinion). Definitely encourage others to stop in-some of the best in the Madison area. read more

Primal Cue - Tri-tip special with cheesy potatoes - Barbeque Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

I come to the door it's 8:50 and it's locked the sign says open till 9 pm on Saturday. I knock and they can see me but just flat out ignore me. I pound on the door they just blatantly look away. It was clearly the owner as identified by the web page photos. I thought what a jerk. My advice is go try Liberty Station on the Beltline or North and South in Deforest because the food is good and the service is way better then this place read more

Primal Cue - These are the hours they are supposed to be open - Barbeque Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Food, service and atmosphere is really good. Many bbq items to select from - ribs, tri-tip chicken, hot links (my favorite) and pulled Pork. Has many sauces from mild to hot. Tried most and all are flavorful. You can order one meat or combination Two sides are included. Standard selection of Mac & cheese, baked beans, cheesy potatoes but a unique item - bourbon apples. Order drinks at the bar and food at the kitchen area. Select a table and your order is delivered shortly. read more

See all

Couldn't pickup any smoke flavor or scent on any of the meats. Nice people working there.

I really like this business. They are committed to the community, but they also serve good food. You can always find the owners working with their staff, checking in you, cleaning tables. I love that the patio is heated. In the winter they have trivia on the patio! read more

Primal Cue - Grilled cornbread and honey butter? Yes, thank you. - Barbeque Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

OMGGG!!! I went to this restaurant twice in one week. It had the best brisket I've had in a long time!! I will recommend this place to everyone and take all my friends I truly enjoy my food the first and second time. The chips are amazing and the brisket is just so tender!! The man that took my order was nice and relatable! Which I truly enjoyed! The outside seating was so nice and then inside what just the right amount of space! read more

Primal Cue - This is their brisket sandwich! It 10$ and you get chips and a drink! For 10$!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Amazing owners and they have there own unique style will continue to come in and support this small business

I have long had a thing for biscuits and gravy. If I'm at a diner and they're on the menu, nine times out of ten, I'm probably getting them. It's honest food. It's simple, but when it's done well, it transcends simplicity. I bring this up because I went out to Primal 'Cue for their biscuits and gravy special this morning, and it was absolutely righteous. The gravy had a perfect consistency and just enough spicy heat to make it interesting, but not overwhelming. The biscuits were great, too. No complaints. These guys have been teeing up good food since day one, and I think they're on the verge of breaking big, sorta like how Patrick DePula started Salvatore's as a simple little pizza restaurant (in the same spot where Meze now resides) and then exploded into multiple locations and awards. Brandon and Andrew are cooking up absolutely wonderful stuff at Primal 'Cue. There's nothing complex about good barbecue, but when it's done right, like great biscuits and gravy, it can transcend simplicity. The meats they're smoking, the side dishes, the weekly specials (Taco Tuesday, brisket burgers, etc...), the brunch specials on the weekend (their pancakes are amazing, and the French toast is decadent)--these guys are crushing it daily. I have not had a single thing I wouldn't order again, and in fact, most of their stuff I'd order seven days a week without complaint. People from a Facebook-based foodie group are starting to talk about it, so if you were planning on heading over some evening to partake in some fine smoked meats and sides (I recommend the mac 'n' cheese and the bourbon apples), you might want to get there early. Like traditional barbecue, this stuff is cooked low and slow. You can't rush greatness. And when it's gone, it's gone; they're closed for the day. That's how you know it's real. Just throwing it out there as a warning: I honestly believe this place is about to get crowded. read more

Legit. You will NOT be disappointed in the good. Literally everything we ordered was phenomenal. The slide flight was a great way to try several things! read more

This restaurant is attached to the Sun Prairie ice rink. They've updated the inside so it's very inviting, and when I stopped in to order food to-go on a Thursday night, there was plenty of help available. There's indoor and patio seating (which I believe is heated). along with a bar. You order at the counter. They offer rotating meat options depending on the day, so while I really wanted brisket, it wasn't offered on a Thursday, so we got the tri-tip instead, which was tasty. We decided to order a pound of meat and one pound of Mac n cheese and one pound of beans. It was all good, and very different from what I expected. The Mac n cheese is super rich with a spice I couldn't quite put my finger on - maybe cumin? Then the baked beans, which were slightly sweet, contained at least three different types of beans, which I had never had before. Overall, I think this is a nice addition to Sun Prairie. It's pricey, but I would imagine raw products, rent, and paying your help isn't cheap. I love that they're giving it a shot and wish them nothing but success. They'll have the opportunity to earn another star when they're busy enough to offer brisket and burnt ends every day ;) read more

See all

I really really really wanted to like Primal Cue. It's within walking distance to our house and I was so excited that a restaurant, especially barbecue, was opening to close to us. We went last night and I'm sad to say it wasn't a great experience from start to finish. We walked into a a fairly empty dining room with no greeting whatsoever. You'd think as a newer restaurant, the staff would want to make new customers feel welcome? I went to order some drinks and the bartender had to be signaled by staff to get off her phone and take the order. I was also offered a glass of ice with my beer which was new to me, I declined. And then the food. Again, I really really wanted to like this place. I was excited to get delicious smoked bone in skin on chicken thigh like I had seen in there photos. Unfortunately what came out more closely resembled a smoked hockey puck from the ice rink next door. There was no seasoning on the chicken and it was very dry. Like I needed to take sips of my drink during a bite to get it down. The sauce did help but unfortunately my sauce was gelatinous which weirded me out a bit but the flavor was pretty good. I also had the brisket which also didn't have any flavor besides smoke without the sauce. I'm used to there being at least some salt, pepper and maybe garlic or a dry rub at a bbq place but it was just unseasoned meat. Again, with the sauce it was much better and pretty moist with the exception of some of the bark. The mac and cheese was pretty good. I think I enjoyed that the most. It wasn't super cheesy but the sauce had a good flavor and with the addition of a little salt and the brisket with the sauce it was even better. The service was decent. The person that took he order seemed as though we were inconveniencing them by being there but I had a better experience when trying to get a soda and either one of the owners or a manager grabbed a cup for me and had me check out at the bar to avoid the line. Not once did someone come to our table and ask how things were going/tasting which if it was slammed, I would totally understand but on a Friday night, it didn't seem that busy. Lastly the price. If the food is outstanding I don't mind paying for quality. If the food is ok, but the service is great, I don't mind as much either. In our case, the food was disappointing and the customer service lacked quite a bit for the prices they charged (around 100.00 for myself my wife and our 3yr old son with drinks and tip) I'm really hoping the newness of the restaurant is what led to this experience and that the feedback is taken not as just a complaint, but from a customer's point of view. A little seasoning and some smiles could go a really long way to make this place somewhere people are excited to visit again. read more

Primal Cue - Chicken thigh, chopped brisket, Mac and cheese side. - Barbeque Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

I LOVED THE PATIO!!! It was like being outside in the winter! It was extremely comfortable and quiet even though they were extremely busy. We ordered the brisket, beans, cornbread, the chips with the amazing mustard dipping sauce, of course! The chicken thighs, ribs, great Mac n cheese and slaw! EVERYTHING WAS EPIC!! We invited some friends who had never been there and (duh) they loved it! They said it was the best barbecue they've had! Everyone was full and had a great time! I am originally from Alabama and I know great barbecue... I've been in Wisconsin for 25 years and have tried MANY, MANY barbecue places and have not found one place that nailed it...until I tried Primal Cue! THIS IS IT!! The last stop. I will never have to look for great barbecue again! They got it! They are located next to the Sun Prairie East High School and in the same building as the hockey rink. If you don't try it... you are missing some amazing barbecue! The sauces are so prime!! Also one thing I love is that they have coleslaw that you can add the slaw mixture to your own liking! There is a twofold reason: 1. So you can have a dryer slaw or a wetter slaw, whichever like, and 2. There's no food waste!! You can't keep leftover slaw bc the vinegar breaks down the cabbage and makes it soupy. There's way too much food waste these days and a I love that they are concerned about this! Last thing: owned and operated by the nicest Veterans I have ever met!!! read more

I saw Primal Cue did a brunch and it had good google reviews. So I figured I'd give it a second try. The first time I was there was last spring and I didn't have a good experience (staff members talking very negatively about people who didn't support the same teams as them, and just rude in general). The service this time was decent at least. I wanted the biscuits and gravy so I got a half order of that and was sold on the lobster scramble. Sounded really good and unique. It was inedible. I took maybe 3 tiny bites it wasn't cooked or flavored and it was an omelet actually. Tasted like eating rubber with bits of plastic. The biscuits were hard and the gravy itself was fine, but had chunks of unflavored sausage crumbles and a lot of them. The bloody mary mix was made in house and that was ok. I wasn't disappointed with it, but wouldn't order it again. This is not a place I'm interested in trying a third time. read more

Primal Cue - Smoked bloody mary. - Barbeque Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Stopped in yesterday for some takeout lunch. Half rack of ribs--excellent. Very meaty and tender with a delicious smoke flavor. My sides were mac & cheese, which was wonderfully creamy and I also tried their bourbon apples, which is definitely one of my new favorites! Its mellow sweetness is a perfect complement to the smoky ribs. I've been supporting this place since they did pop-ups in the parking lot of St. Vinny's back in 2021 and I'll continue to do so. Friendly staff, good vibes, and GREAT food! Can't ask for more than that. read more

My first time trying them today and it is a 10 out of 10 I got the two meat platter with the pulled pork and the jalapeño sausage. I chose mac & cheese as my side and the cornbread muffin with the honey butter is so good. will be back!!! read more

My husband and I thought the different sliders and sauces were awesome! And you can't beat a yummy $3 old fashioned. The person at the counter was knowledgeable about the food and the owner, Brandon, was informative and very kind. Highly recommend! read more

Primal'Cue in Sun Prarie, Wisconsin I know many praise this place, but I found nothing special about it. I've had barbeque in Austin, Kansas City, and throughout the south and the food here doesn't compare. Both the chicken and brisket I had were throat choking dry, the corn bread was so dry that it crumbled with the soft butter I tried to spread on it, the beans were drowned in vinegar and barely edible the cole slaw was so sour I couldn't consume it at all. The portions were way too small for the expense we were given. I'll take Famous Dave's over this anytime. Zero stars. read more

On a last minute change in dinner plans we found ourselves inside at Primal cue. Greeted by staff. We sat at the bar and were told all the details of the menu and taken care of immediately! I picked 2 meat platter with chicken thigh, brisket and 2 sides. Mac n cheese and primal beans. My husband picked 2 meat platter with brisket and upgraded to the quarter rack ribs, beans and cheesy potatoes. Everything was delicios!!! Do your self a favor and have the Driftless Glen smoked old fashioned!! That has changed the old fashioned game for sure! We can't wait to find ourselves in Sun Prairie at Primal Cue again! read more

I was hopeful, but it just wasn't worth the money. For $26 I got one small piece of brisket, one boneless chicken thigh, a small side of canned green beans, and a side of cheesy potatoes. The potatoes were the exact same kind your Great Aunt Sally brings to potlucks. There wasn't anything special about the green beans - they were straight out of the can. The flavor of the brisket was very good, but there wasn't very much of it. The sauces were also good. The two stars are for flavor alone. My companion got a better deal. For $11 you can get 3 sliders with sides. However, if you order the coleslaw you have to construct it yourself. (They give you the sauce to put on the slaw veggies. This makes it a salad.) I understand trying to reduce food waste, but can't you just toss the individual portions as they're ordered? Finally, I got an 8 oz pour of white wine. It was $15. It was a decent wine, but the price point was a surprise. I didn't come to a BBQ joint for exceptional wine. I came for exceptional food. And in that area, I was let down. Won't be back. read more

We went to Primal Cue for the first time, on a Friday afternoon around 3, and sat comfortably on their large covered patio. We decided to share the three meat platter, helped in our decision by the charming, knowledgeable, and clearly hardworking owner. He chatted with us during most of our delicious dinner and we got to meet his chef school business partner too. The star was the brisket! We could choose fatty or lean and chose fatty, which surpassed all expectations. Next time I might do half and half in consideration of my waistline! The sauces were good and I liked mixing the KC BBQ one with its zingy counterpart. The pulled pork and chicken thigh were also tasty and actually were better than their slightly dry appearance indicated -- so eat, don't judge! We had mac&cheese and beans (yum) as our sides and devoured ever last scrap! We will be back! I am bringing a reunion group next month and husband and I want to try their ribs (2 big smokers to do true BbQ cooking!) Thank you for a fun conversation and *great* food (and we lived in KC for 20 years and had lots of BBQ there!) read more

Great food! Quick service! Good options for barbque. Nice variety of sauces. Wait staff very attentive

outstanding food. thursdays dino-rib is fantastic. all sauces are super-tasty. excellent service. super friendly staff. best cue in town. read more

We came for brunch but will definitely be back for BBQ and more. High class, communal, full of heart and flavors! Primal Cue is my be you do not want to miss out on! Veteran owned and fully accessible BBQ place. Vegetarian, vegan options. The tables here are large enough for everyone to gather together :) Thank you to Andrew and the entire team at Primal Cue. See you again real soon! read more

Everything here is amazing. The smoked meatballs, chicken wings, and burnt ends. Coming back for breakfast Sunday morning and a smoked Bloody Mary. read more

Went for dinner. My wife got a pulled pork sandwich which she liked, and I got the half rack with coleslaw and cornbread. The price for the ribs were pretty expensive, but when you imagine how much food that much money should get you - you get that much food. The half rack I got was quite large, and the flavor was amazing. It was enough for two meals for me. The sauces are some of my favorites anywhere. The restaurant itself was very clean and nice looking, with seating indoors and quite a lot of shaded seating outdoors. Service was good, food was prompt, and we were asked how it was shortly after. Only a few suggestions: Maybe offer a 1/3 rack option with a single side so I could afford coming out more often! Sauces on the table, or on a dispenser somewhere. Your sauces are GOOD! I would sauce each rib individually with different sauces if I could. read more

Went for lunch and tried most of the food options with their sampler platter. Everything was fresh and delicious, and the service was excellent! read more

Their tacos and wings are my favorite!! Smoked Bloody Mary's are great. Also enjoy their outside area.

One of the best brunches that I have had in a long time. Phenomenal biscuits and gravy, delicious thick cut bacon, flavorful hot links and to top it all off some amazing bourbon apples! Their smokey blood Mary was my beverage of choice and was perfect with the meal. Others in my group had the bagel sandwich special and the pancakes which were equally good. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere pleasant with a large outdoor covered patio for diners. I will definitely be going back! read more

Had three serving of this delicious smoked meats and bbq sauce at a festival and brought some home with me. It was so good! The folks at the stand were really nice, too. They had great sides and generous portions. Hope they come back to the festival! read more

Excellent food. Reminds me of when we lived in Austin Texas the meat was so well prepared! We loved the flavorful melt-in-your-mouth brisket, tender, juicy pulled pork and smoky well seasoned chicken. Sauces were all tasty too! Service was superb. Cory, behind the bar, was very welcoming and we enjoyed having dinner at his bar. Tex, one of the owners was so friendly and funny too. We just had a great dinner overall & we will definitely be back! Highly recommend to check out Primal Cue it's really a place to check out if you love smoker bbq!! read more

Great bbq restaurant in the ice arena. Flavor of brisket had great smoke flavor and other meats just as good. Apples are a MUST have for a side. Always great personal service and hope this place makes it after last couple restaurants didn't. read more

So glad they opened!! They have become a weekly staple for my wife and I. Food is outstanding and they are always adding to the menu!! Great beers on tap, excellent wine selection. The moment you walk in you are family. read more

These guys were FANTASTIC! My husband and I got engaged pre-COVID and decided to just go ahead and tie the knot with a sweet backyard wedding at my parents house in rural Wisconsin. We wanted to serve ribs at our wedding because we met at Chicago RibFest. We struggled to find anyone to cater our small wedding because of location and being in a pandemic and all. We found Primal Cue in a google search and they seemed to be the full package. They would cater our wedding AND bring the smoker so our guests could enjoy the delicious smell of BBQ during the ceremony!! We really didn't know what to expect, but they could provide for us so we booked them. BEST DECISION EVER! They had fantastic communication, priced accordingly, and they arrived on time and ready to go!! They calculated perfectly and we never had to worry about running out. FOOD WAS AMAZING! BEST RIBS WE EVER HAD!! The wedding was a few months ago now, but guests are STILL talking about the amazing food we served up. Turns out, we ended up having the wedding of our dreams (in spite of our COVID setbacks) and we could not have done it without Primal Cue!! Thanks guys! read more

Primal Cue - Delicious! - Barbeque Near Me - Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

See all

Primal Cue restaurant in Sun Prairie, WI - we just had the best brisket ever. Melt in your mouth goodness and the sides (primal beans and chips) were equally as outstanding. Portions were very substantial and price worth every mouthful, although very compatible with other restaurants in the area. The patio is so cozy and comfortable, made the whole experience. Can't wait to go back and try their other menu offerings and share this gem with our friends. Well done Primal Cue, thanks for bringing great BBQ to SP read more

I've had the great experience twice with Primal Cue. The first time was at a vendor meeting and met up with the owner Andrew. He is enthusiastic about his business and the people he serves. His food is excellent and I would not hesitate to call him for a catering event. The second time was at a 175th family farm celebration. There was about 300 people at this event and Andrew was there with his crew serving some great meals. I hope to see his business serving at the next event I attend. Thank you for the great dinner plates full of delicious food! read more

I've spent a lot of time in Sun Pairie in the past, but never visited the ice rink until this weekend. We were in town for a 5 game tournament and landed at Primal Cue (connected to the rink) before and after our games. Brandon, his business partner and the entire staff welcomed us with great food, great service and a warm environment. Brandon explained his passion for BBQ that started when he was young. His business partner is a military veteran and foodie, so we're extra thankful for that. The Brisket was on point smoked well but not too much. The smoked sausage links were very good as well. The dipping sauce is fabulous! As a small business owner, I recognized instantly that these guys work hard to get their customers the best product available at a good price. There's a great opportunity to have great BBQ and enjoy a free youth hockey game while you're there. Good stuff! 5 stars for Brandon and crew! read more