Everyone raves about this restaurant and I've been curious for awhile about the fare. Today a friend and I decided to go for lunch. I am not going to be one of those who raves. They have a vast menu and they have breakfast service. The food was good, prepared to order and served timely. There is no table service. Your order is prepared and they call your name to come pickup at a window. The restaurant is easily accessible and there is ample parking. Everything looked clean and neat. The problem I have with this restaurant is the price and overall pricing structure. This restaurant is very pricey. Nothing is included, either. Fries aren't included with a cheeseburger, for example. You would think that the price they charge, they would throw in an extra or two. I know they don't give free fries at large franchise places but this is another type of restaurant. So by the time you order main item plus a side plus a pricey fountain drink, this is a costly place. My cheeseburger didn't feel cooked all the way through. No one comes to the table to make sure your order is okay. It just felt empty against the hype backdrop. I'll give it another try but I'm sure prices won't have gone down. read more

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Was so excited to try this finally but left really disappointed. Cold food. Bad food. Okay service. But cold bbq with lack of flavor on a Friday night at 6pm is just bad and disappointing. I also don't like how the ceiling fan light is above the blades so when it was spinning the seating area was flashing a ton. Super uncomfortable to sit in especially with sensitive eyes. Wouldn't recommend.. read more

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Gas station BBQ done right :-) The ambiance... well it feels like a gas station/convenience store. Because it is. The food, absolutely amazing! Delicious BBQ breakfast burritos, delicious BBQ meats, delicious sauces for the said items... The only thing I've ever had here that was mint absolutely delicious was a keto bowl, where I think the eggs had dried out. But I put a bunch of sauce on it (probably not keto) and it was delicious again. :-) The place is fast, friendly, helpful if you have questions, reasonably priced, and delicious. For us, it's a regular staple for bfast burritos on a weekend lazy morning. read more

Stanley James is one of my favorite places to grab a bite in Lawrence! Not fancy, as it's a restaurant inside a convenience store, but the quality and service can't be beat! Taste and portion size are amazing! Have yet to be disappointed at Stanley James!! read more

Stanley James Smokehouse - Meat,Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

I just ordered a cheeseburger and the cashier told me it was free fries Friday. Okay, I said... never tried the fries. But when I picked up my burger from the window, the woman made her point that my fries weren't free, but she gave them to me anyway. Well they weren't good, and it definitely didn't help that she made me feel like they were charity. Your employees are a bit sassy for me. I'll go back to Whataburger. read more

EXCELLENT BBQ! Great employees! BUT a recent change in the coleslaw recipe turned a great dish into one I threw out. read more

Ordered a dash delivery. Received onion rings that were half burnt . Also did not receive any bbq sauce. When I called. I was told the Dasher should have grabbed the sauce and there wasn't anything they could do. read more

Stanley James Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Foods great just rude staff. They act like it's so inconvenient when you're ordering from them and they can't talk to their friends. Definitely recommend the food though. read more

Foods ok for the price, honestly the service just isn't good. While it's a gas station barbecue place it's hit or miss if they will tell the kitchen you're there to pick up your food and your stuck waiting read more

From breakfast to dinner..no matter the weather.. This place is always ready to meet your needs ! read more

Tried this place again after a year and still not a great BBQ experience. The ribs were not done and were tough. The burnt ends were dry and not great. The beans seemed like someone opened a can of pork and beans, added some meat and smoked it for a little while. Not what a great place would serve. The fries were good. I keep wanting this place to be great but isn't there. read more

S and J Burnt End Burrito with the Salsa is a must try, here. I'm struggling to resist driving in from Eudora this morning. Great value for the buck. Clean tables and friendly staff. What more could you want in a barbecue stop? read more

Great rib! Not greasy, tender but the sauce tends to runout quickly Not really a place for service or ambiance read more

had Dinner delivery meat was undercooked and the portions were small , did not live up to its reputation read more

Stanley James Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Stopped at the gas station to get 100% fuel and noticed Stanley James Smokehouse inside the station . We decided to get an early lunch and it was a great idea! Got the two meat plate with ribs and brisket cole slaw and onion rings. Generous servings of all items and the onion rings were fresh and piping hot! 3 meaty ribs and perfectly smoked brisket. The Cole slaw is the sweet kind so make sure you like that kind of you order. Plenty of seating inside and out too. The service was friendly and the food came out quickly too. All of that for $13.99.Great little find before heading back to Dallas after moving our daughter to KU. read more

Stanley James Smokehouse - Yum - Barbeque Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

The. best. smoked. turkey. for sandwiches - I can never go back to grocery store deli meat!!! Also appreciate their breakfast burritos - my favorite food now is in gas stations and on trucks. read more

This is the best little hidden gem! Their food is wonderful and their staff is super friendly and goes above and beyond. Everything we have tried has been outstanding from their ribs to their biscuits and gravy! Being in a gas station sets the stage for a fun experience! read more

Great gas station food, but a bbq restaurant is an overstatement. The ribs were terrible and had the membrane still on, the brisket was insanely dry. All the meats tasted, looked, and smelled old. If I could give 0 stars I would...if only I could get a refund. read more

You don't have to die to go to heaven. Just drive to Stanley James Smokehouse in Lawrence. BBQ heaven! read more

Stanley James Smokehouse - 2 meat 1 side plate. Brisket and ends - Barbeque Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Great brisket sandwich great pulled pork sandwich fries are naturally cut and good the barbecue sauce is good with a regular and spicy version read more

Came here for first time tonight BBQ Rib Plate Greeted warmly , had 3 ribs and , burnt ends and two sides for $15.49. Fantastic food. Definitely a 5 Star review. Thank you to the staff read more

Convenience store BBQ. And damned good. As much as they've gussied up the dining area it still feels like a gas station, so I tend to do carryout, but when I do I'm always satisfied. Really good ribs and burnt ends, smoked chicken (something you don't find a lot in local Qs), sides are all tasty. The people are welcoming and appreciate your business. My favorite spot for Barbeque in town. And I'm picky. read more

Where to start.... This location is a gas station-liquor store slash restaurant all rolled into one. Outdoor seating is equivalent to picnic tables on the sidewalk outside When we arrived at 7pm, they let me know they were out of all beef and sausage, coleslaw and a few other things. That was ok.... I'm shocked to say- I was not disappointed with the overall quality - but neither was I at all impressed. The rack of ribs came bare. Though bare, they were meaty- thick meat portions and had nice color. The flavor was mildly smoky but they didn't taste like they'd come out the oven. The large pulled pork sandwich was LARGE. It was dry but not tough. We had to add BBQ to make it better but really not bad. All the portions of food were larger than expected but the ingredients and / or taste were just not a high quality. The Mac and Cheese was creamy but not very flavorful. Similar to school Mac and cheese. Baked Beans were ok - rich flavor but no wow! Fries were not hot, were limp but actually were not greasy. So as you may see - it's hard to say it was bad and hard to say it was really good. BBQ was provided in pump format on the side tables as was the ketchup. Other condiments were available in baskets on the adjacent table. If I was in the area again, I might possibly stop but I would be prepared to be in unsatisfied...what I probably would be is full! read more

If you are looking good inexpensive bbq, this is your place. I drove past this place countless times, I was definitely missing out on something good. I had 3 meats turkey, brisket and beef bologna and two sides Mac and cheese and onion rings. The turkey was was the best I've ever had from any bbq place, the brisket was good but I did not necessarily enjoy the bologna. Both the Mac and cheese and onion rings were immaculate. Best gas station food ever! read more

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Forgive me Yelp, for I have knowingly violated the most basic principle of finding great food inside of what clearly appears to be a dive, or in this case, a gas station/convenience store. Who in their right mind goes for BBQ inside a joint like this when, well, some of the best smoked meat in the entire nation is a mere 30 minute drive away in Kansas City? Well, clearly, plenty of folks have discovered for it was hopping on a Tuesday--generally another sin: thou shalt only visit BBQ joints on Friday or Saturday when you know they better be at the top of their game. None of that here. Instead, on this Tuesday, what I found in my BBQ rib plate with side of "Cowboy Beans" were ribs with the definitive perfect consistency. Moist, tender, succulent, savory, held together when picked up, but came cleanly off the bone when you bit into them. Something any BBQ master should be able to achieve but what is easy to find missing even in KC.. The sauce sweet and spicy, not too much vinegar, not too much sweetness, plenty of smoke and flavor. First rate. The beans with bits of meat that made for clearly far, far better than the vaunted "Joe's" in Kansas City, not such a difficult standard to measure up to. No, for top beans in KC, that's Jack Stack. These come close. And thank you, why yes, I *am* a BBQ snob. Just ask me. No longer can we say the best BBQ in Lawrence is in Kansas City. Nope, it's inside a gas station on miserable 10 hiway headed East out of town, you know, the one with cars lined up with drivers with bulging eyes waiting to floor it to 85 and 90 miles an hour, typically in the left lane the entire distance to South JoCo. Get here before the rest of the town figures it out. You won't be sorry. read more

Some of the best bbq in America can be found in the back of gas stations, and this place is no exception. Stopped in during a visit to KU, and found this place to be clean, friendly, and have great food. It shares the space with a Phillips 66 gas station which adds a little charm in my opinion. You order you food at the bbq counter, find a drink from the "concessions" area and pay at the main gas counter. They offer a reasonably priced 3-rib meal that includes a side. Perfect for a quick snack! I ordered the "cowboy" beans for the side and added potato salad as a second side. The ribs were absolutely delicious. Smokey, tender, and full of flavor. The tables had to sauces, one unlabeled bottle I assume to be their "original" house sauce and a second bottle labeled "spicy". These ribs don't need any sauce, but I tried them out nonetheless and they were pretty good. I expected the "cowboy" beans to be Texas-style, but alas, they were true blue KC style with a sweet smokey sauce and huge chunks of burnt ends. Yeehaw! The potato salad was mustard-style, and well done. Not overly unique, but definitely some fine potato salad. read more

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We have gone for breakfast and it's been great every time. I think people forget that they are not a restaurant, I consider them more a gas station that offers great food. read more

I usually refer to Yelp, among others, before trying a new place. I went in blind on this one, but I'm always down to try out a new BBQ joint. I have two boys so we got a family pack that came with 3 pounds of our choice of meat, 4 pints of sides, and 6 rolls. When I got home and we began to unpack our meal, the first thing we noticed was we didn't get any rolls. For our sides, we got Mac and Cheese(2 pints, because none of us care for Cole slaw or potato salad), BBQ baked beans, and fries. I'm a sucker for good BBQ beans, but these tasted like Bush's beans straight from the can. Mac and cheese and fries were just ok. For the meats. We got brisket, turkey, and burnt ends. Brisket is almost always a little dry when ordering from the best brisket places. It was exceptionally dry from Stanley James, and the overall flavor was pretty lack luster too. Unfortunately it was the same story for the burnt ends. Not sure how you dry out burnt ends, but this place managed to, and again, lacking flavor. The turkey saved this place from a single star rating, it was actually pretty good. The meat was moist and it had the right amount of smoke put to it. Overall, I probably won't be going back for barbeque. Unfortunately, this place will probably be slinging subpar barbeque for the foreseeable future, as they are located inside of a gas station/convenience store. It's as if they tried to take a page from the Joe's KC book, but they forgot about the barbeque. read more

I'm a huge fan of this BBQ joint. Their pulled pork is excellent -- as is their burnt ends. Frankly, everything I've had there is very good KC-style BBQ. I've had all the sides (great potato salad, slaw, and mac and cheese). I've also enjoyed taking home their excellent Bloody Mary mix and picked green beans. The employees take pride in their workplace and are very friendly. And who doesn't love a BBQ joint in a gas station? For KU fans, this is a also great place to go for a quick and delicious pre-game meal read more

I'm from Kansas City, but I have lived in Lawrence for a long while. And, the ONE thing I hadn't found a good local source for is barbecue. But, this winter, I went into the gas station and got a whiff of the barbecue. I just made it back. I had the brisket and ribs, which was dry rubbed and smoked. I'm glad that they didn't automatically put sauce on (due to the sugar content of barbecue sauce). And, even without sauce it was well prepared and flavorful. It's also prepared well enough that it's not too dry to eat without sauce. It is good barbecue. Not good enough to replace my KC faves, but good enough to earn a spot in the rotation. read more

Stanley James Smokehouse - It's pretty straightforward. I mean, the place is in a gas station. So, wysiwyg. - Barbeque Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

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Really wish I could give zero stars here... Asked for a burnt end sandwich and the employee said read the sign.. no hamburgers. So I had to repeat myself and asked for a burnt end sandwich. The employee then raised her voice telling me the are not serving burgers... Definitely never going back. Never a good sign when they don't know the difference between a hamburger and a burnt end sandwich. read more

I know I know!!! It is gas station BBQ! Kind of cliche! BUT the breakfast is amazing and the BBQ is damm good too!! I love their weekly specials! This week was deep fried ribs!! The most tender rib I have had in a long time!! The only reason I am giving 4 stars is the lack of seating in a gas station!! I know how very Karen of me!! read more

Stanley James Smokehouse - Deep fried 3 Ribs and 1 Side Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

Stopped on a whim. Was I glad I did! Hidden in a gas station but some really good bbq. Burnt ends were perfect and prices very reasonable. I can't wait to go back. read more

I visited Stanley James on Tuesday for lunch with some co workers and everybody talked highly of their meals. Decided on the brisket and pulled pork (two plate and two side meal) and fries/potato salad. Though busy, the food was out quickly and tasted great. I hadn't visited Stanley James since they had a luncheon for us a few years ago, but it tasted just as good as I remembered. read more

Stanley James Smokehouse - 2 Meats and 2 Sides Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

I don't see how this place has 4 stars. Brisket was very dry and had little flavor. Pulled pork was slightly better. The sauce dispensers are nasty -you have to squeeze them like milking a cow; they are sticky with sauce and who knows who touched them since they were last cleaned? Won't be back. read more

My wife and I stopped there, for the first time, last night and will definitely be going back. We both got the ham sandwiches. She got potato salad and I got fries and beans. All the food was great......and serving sizes were more than generous, and the cost was very reasonable. The ONLY thing I could say is they could have sliced the ham a little thinner. I will definitely be back to try their burnt ends. read more

I ordered a brisket plate and homemade Mac N cheese. I've always heard Stanley James bbq is awesome. I was sadly disappointed. Brisket was dry, Mac n cheese totally unremarkable. read more

Really tasty! I tried this place yesterday and was impressed. We ordered a pound of turkey and the meat was delicious and tender. The sauce and buns were tasty as well. We also ordered beans, fries, and mac & cheese, all of which were really good. The fries remind me of Joes KC fries. I thought the beans were flavorful and yummy. The mac n cheese is plain, but honestly perfect for kids who don't like a bunch of added spices/flavors. Great experience for us, and will definitely come back. Added bonus is the pick up window in back which allows you to not have to go inside to get your food which is a big deal when you have a van full of kids! I also have to add that my kids ate their whole meals too which is a huge win! read more

solid tastyness I watered the pulled pork sandwich. it's in a gas station. Seems to be a regional trend. read more

Well, I had a Semi subpar experience my last trip to this place which made that my second time being there. I was brought back that second time due to the wonderful taste of a smoked beef hot dog that I got there the first time. I thought since my Second previous visit that maybe it was just a mistake, maybe it was just who was working that day that caused me to have such a subpar experience so I thought I'd give them another chance today. I didn't want to drive today, so I actually ordered through DoorDash. Now, I have ordered many items from DoorDash and I've never had food arrive to my house cold and subpar. DoorDash has always delivered hot food and in good condition. I placed my order another one of their tasty smoked beef hotdogs with a side of french fries. Although I love DoorDash the only thing that does concern me sometimes is the price of having things delivered but they have to make their money so I understand. The cost of this entire experience came to $16.10 when my actual order was only $6.12. So that tells you in Dash door delivery fees, and the tip is what led it to the amount it came to. So when I pay that kind of money for anything, I expect the best that you can possibly give me. I placed my order at 12:15 PM and my order arrived at 12:37 PM by DoorDash. When I opened my order I could not believe how horrible it looked. It certainly was not worth the $6.12 that I paid for it let alone the extras that I had to pay just to have a delivered to me. I blame DoorDash for none of this, this is strictly Stanley's fault alone. My hotdog bun was coming apart, it wasn't even warm .there was no ketchup or any type of condiment on my hotdog and it was slightly overcooked. My fries were mushy and cold and the only condiment I was given was a small container of barbecue sauce that had dried sticky barbecue sauce around the outside of the cup. Needless to say, I was pissed and this just solidifies my last disappointing experience. At that time, I was unsure of whether I would ever be back because I was not pleased with the service I got then, this just makes it more clear than what I feared was true. And that is this place may have good tasting items but the service is terrible and when you don't take time to make sure that your food is hot and fresh for delivery then I can't trust what you serve right in front of me. In my opinion if you can't get a simple hotdog right, they don't even talk to me about ribs and other meats you make. A hotdog is one of the simplest things to make and if you can screw that up I don't even want to try what else you got. I will never Patronize this place ever again and I do not recommend anyone come here for barbecue. Lawrence has so many other wonderful options for barbecue. Take your money somewhere else read more

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