On the way to the ferry, we stopped at uncle Joe's and ordered the combo platter to take home for dinner. The chicken was tender. The ribs were tender. The rice was well cooked. The coleslaw was a vinegar base but very light. Highly recommend stopping at the shack And getting any food. Very reasonable meal. You can order there and eat it a plastic table watching the town go by OK are we having any read more

We had the chicken, ribs and coleslaw at this local spot and we couldn't be happier! The tender meat fell off the bones (both chicken and the ribs!) and the cole slaw had a tangy savory dressing that beats any mayo based dressing - definitely going as often as possible while here!!!!' read more

Food was great! Honestly every meat was moist and seasoned perfectly. The bbq flavor is amazing and apparently it is sold at the local ferry store. Cash only! Probably one of my favorite meals on the island. Not really a sit down restaurant since food is packed in containers, but they do have a small sit down area. read more

Uncle Joe's Barbecue - Chicken BBQ Combo - Barbeque Near Me - St John, Virgin Islands

Uncle Joe's is a low-key place with wonderful food at reasonable prices. There are a few tables, but they also do takeout, and there was a lot of that while we were there. The grill is right out in the open, and you can watch the griller (Joe?) work his magic with chicken and ribs. My wife and I both got ribs. She got rice and beans, and I got the coleslaw. Ribs were super tender and flavorful. The slaw was delicious--light, yet still creamy. Not too many beans in the beans and rice, but it was good, too. We ate in (1/1/24). Not many chairs, but we acquired them after someone else left, then had to "protect" them from a large family that arrived, and seemed to be eyeing our chairs. Pricing was great. You get a lot of food for your dollar. Uncle Joe's seems to be a place known well to locals, and to folks who come often to St. John. A few days after our visit to Uncle Joe's, some folks on a taxi ride asked us for a recommendation. We mentioned Joe's. About a half hour later, we were walking to Mongoose Junction, past Uncle Joe's, and they called out to us, thanking us for the recommendation, which they said was "perfect!" read more

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Don't play wit em! If you're around the area, you need to come here! Way better than all the touristy spots on the dock! Uncle Joe got the grill poppin right in front. The smell you smell around the block is his BBQ cookin. When we came, he only had some chicken and ribs. My girls opted for the bbq chicken. It comes w two sides but they doubled up on rice and peas. Everything was delicious! They are dope in there, excellent service! Authentic food from the island! read more

Uncle Joe's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - St John, Virgin Islands

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The chicken is def tender moist and seasoned and well cooked. I do enjoy bbq sauce but I like it how I like my syrup on pancakes at my choosing. Since it was our first time here I didn't know they practically soak it in the sauce, but next time I will. And def will be a next time the chicken was goood!!! All I need is a Johnny cake to go with it and a Guinness Lawd that would be paradise for me. read more

Uncle Joe's Barbecue - Bbq chicken - Barbeque Near Me - St John, Virgin Islands

Great barbecue at fairly reasonable prices- Highly recommend! Return customer for last 5 Years read more

While in St. John we ordered pickup from Uncle Joe's, based on a recommendation. Unlike the recommendation I wasn't too impressed. I ordered a combo meal with Chicken and Ribs, with Cole Slaw and Corn. The Chicken was good, but the ribs were entire fat, very little meat. Needless to say it might have been my portion because the others really enjoyed their dinners. I loved the cole slaw, but the corn was so overcooked there was no crunch, Who wants corn with no crunch? Not me! Overall, okay. Again, loved the Cole Slaw and chicken and would maybe be interested in giving them another try next time I am in St. John. read more

Nothing fancy, just tasty reasonably priced BBQ. That is how I would describe Uncle Joe's. It's a little BBQ stand on a busy intersection in Cruz Bay. There is limited covered seating with 3 tables. It was fun to sit there and people watch. Menu is simple. You have option of chicken, ribs, or combo with 2 sides (rice, corn, coleslaw, or pasta). Price ranged from $15-17 depending on your choice. This is very reasonable compared to other dinning options on St. John. Our family arrived around 4PM after a day at the beach. Tip #1 there is limited free public parking next door at St. John Immigration and Customs just be careful where you park. Tip#2 restaurant opens when Uncle Joe arrives - for us - around 5PM, put your order in advance. Otherwise, you may wait for a very long time. This place is very popular with the locals. Tip #3 be patient and relax, it's "Island Time" everything is a 45 minute wait. read more

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Went to pick up food Had waited 45 minutes and got there Our children were very hungry and they had given it to another couple ! Wanted us to wait 45 more minutes! Joe was wiping his face and very dirty Smells like ......,, read more

Good food, great for take away meal. Been eating there for 20 years. Simple menu- chicken or ribs or combo. Not fancy, but good food. Call ahead ordering is a plus's to be able to "jump" the line. A number of simple sides to choose from. read more

The ladies that run this barbecue shack* don't want to be your best friend. Crack all the jokes you want, tip them extravagantly, massage their feet (actually don't do this, they get weirded out), sign over your soul...it doesn't matter. You might get a Mona Lisa smile at best, and that's only if it's closing time (around 8 pm for them) and you're finally hauling your drunk ass home and out of their face. But I don't need them to be my best friends. I need them to serve me affordable plates piled high with fatty, deliciously tender ribs and a couple sides of slaw and mac salad (corn or rice and beans are also usually available). I need them to scoop that tangy, sweet sauce out of that cast iron pot that lives on the grill and slather it onto my meat.** I need them to continuously bring me Carib beer as I eat every bite on my plate, and then every morsel that any of my companions were stupid enough to leave behind on theirs. And I need them to be here every day when I get back from the beach and I'm sunburnt and sandy and feel like ruining the expensive dinner plans we have for later. They haven't let me down yet. ____________ *Presumably for Uncle Joe, who I've yet to meet. **They do tend to oversauce a bit, but they are saucy ladies. It's in their nature. read more

Uncle Joe's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - St John, Virgin Islands

Uncle Joe's is great! Delicious BBQ ribs and chicken. We called ahead and the order was ready when we arrived. Note that they only take cash. read more

OK BBQ, Kind Of Not Clean Place... Not sure who Uncle Joe is, but he didn't seem to be around... lol... The BBQ wasn't bad here, but it's kind of dirty and disorganized. The girls working here were not really friendly and nobody seemed to know what was going on in general... We ordered our food and the lady didn't realize to put the order together for us and we sat and watched them standing around... I finally asked if our food was almost done and she said, oh, I forgot... Then she plopped it into a styrofoam tray and handed it to me... Not impressed... read more

What can I say, I've eaten an unhealthy amount of BBQ in my days, and Joe's is as good as it gets. Ribs and chicken are fall off the bone, the sauce hits all the right spots, the portions are generous, and the price is reasonable. We eat here every time we are back on the island. Try it once, and I bet you will do the same. read more

Smokey fall off the bone tender bbq ribs with tasty rice and a bean or two and coleslaw. The bbq sauce had complex citrusy notes. Yum!!

This place was just ok, like other reviewers mentioned in regards to the BBQ chicken, it was indeed dry and the BBQ sauce was really nothing to brag about. I got corn on the cob as one of my sides, which wasn't hot at all. I also got some sort of macaroni salad that didn't have any flavor what so ever (had to add salt/pepper) To me the only thing that I thought was pretty good was there homemade fruit punch. Now, I would come back just for that, but as far as getting there food? I'll pass! Unless someone wanted to go back, but other than that.. I'll pass Also, they don't accept credit cards, only CASH read more

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Went to Uncle Joe's straight off the ferry and it did not disappoint! I had the chicken and my son had the ribs. The meat just fell off the bone. We both had a double side of rice and beans. Good flavor. Definitely recommend the small business-hole in the wall dining experience. read more

My family and I have been going to St. John for about 15 years now and always make at least one trip to Joe's for his delicious BBQ. The combination plate is the way to go (chicken and ribs), plus I love the cole slaw and rice and beans as sides. This year we were surprised and elated to see that they had opened up a small store literally right inside the restaurant where they are selling the BBQ sauce, hot sauce, as well as souvenir items. Now you can take home a little taste of St. John, although I'm sure it will never taste as good as when you're there. read more

Uncle Joe's Barbecue - Chicken and ribs combination plate - Barbeque Near Me - St John, Virgin Islands

Perfect stop! After four days, burgers and sandwiches were killing me. Decent meals on the islands are extremely expensive and we were happy to find this spot. The entry is huge, come hungry. The $13 will be worth it. I ordered the ribs (falls off the bone) with two sides of pasta & rice (I'm Asian so I needed my rice). The owners were kind, we got our food within 5minutes & packed what's left to go. The only downfall would be the bbq sauce. I'm not huge fan of the taste but the BF was so I guess, I can't complain too much. Enjoy! read more

Uncle Joe's Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - St John, Virgin Islands

Fall off the bone, hole in the wall goodness. Went for the reviews and was not disappointed. Fast service and great food!

My wife and I had taken a day trip to St Johns and had just gotten done with the Reef Bay Trail. After the long hike that had gone through lunchtime some good food was definitely in order. As we were visiting the USVI we wanted to sample some local fare in downtown Cruz Bay. We saw Uncle Joe's BBQ close by and had absolutely no qualms about dropping in for a bite to eat at this little roadside jaunt. We decided to go for their chicken BBQ plate with sides of red beans and rice, and macaroni salad. The chicken was well cooked and generously covered with their unique BBQ sauce. Some others might not appreciate that coating but I thought it was just the right amount - enough for all of my chicken, and some left over for my rice and beans :) All in all, a great meal that definitely hit the spot! BTW, if you're looking for some authentic local fare, there aren't many places in downtown Cruz Bay so I'd definitely hit up this place if you can. For those that are interested in seeing what my plate looked like see - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Jdvoh2G7JpTL2jkeoavPQw?select=TeusISik-s2ECAExr0NXbQ read more

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This place is a must for every time we travel to STJ. The food is always great! It's not fancy. It's small. The bathroom light didn't work and we didn't care. read more

Food is OK. Wasn't the worst but wasn't great bbq. Pulled pork was barely sauced, not much taste. Philly steak and cheese egg rolls were not the greatest- Only flavor was from onions and peppers. Their honey aioli is basically mustard and honey (like a homemade honey mustard). If you are desperate for BBQ it's an option but it won't be what you really want. read more

If you love BBQ you must go. Ribs are fab! I'm from Chicago so I know these things.:) Very nice coleslaw. read more

My dream vacation is not sun and sand, it's food. I look for the most unique places and this place is on my list of good shit to eat.

My sister and I were walking around Cruz Bay shopping when we smell this whiff of yumminess so we searched for it. With only 40-50 minutes allocated for our shopping in St. John, we had to make a big decision: shop or eat. Knowing me, I decided to eat. Lol. We traced the smell to this little joint right on the corner. It's like a little shack with open door cooking and seating. Everything is laid back here so don't expect any ambience or decor. They cook it right there in front of you. I'm sure there's some pre cooking involved as the food was ready within 5-10 mins. Since this was cash only, I was only able to get a combo plate of bbq pork ribs, bbq chicken, beans/rice, and coleslaw. Everything was so delicious! One of the best bbqs I've had. The pork ribs were fall off the bone tender and moist. The chickens were good too but I love the pork ribs! The best I've had! The beans & rice were good too. I also really like their coleslaw. The only down side to this is the girl working the stand. She has a bit of an attitude. It's ok. The food more than makes up for it. This is a must if you are in Cruz Bay! I will definitely return when I go back to St. John. read more

We arrived to St. John late in the evening from St. Thomas and an awful time trying to find our rental place. We found Uncle Joe's on Trip Advisor and headed over. They were actually closing down and offered us two ready made platters, which we graciously accepted. We got home and found that we had received a delicious BBQ bounty! We had one combo plate (chicken and ribs) and a rib platter. While the normal plate has two sides, our mystery boxes had three - corn (really good), cole slaw (sweet and mayonnaise soaked but yummy) and beans and rice (rice with one bean, but alright). We made a return trip to eat-in at Uncle Joe's a few nights later and had regular portions too, which were quite filling and delicious. The BBQ is, as others mentioned, more grill and cover style, but really good. The sauce is more tangy than the sweeter Carolina style. The service is slow (but they are running a grill, not keeping food ready to go) and the place is small, so be prepared to wait on a weekend night. I found the staff quite friendly, especially the women from our first night who gave us what may have been their own leftovers when we were hungry and tired. read more

Uncle Joes rocks... Stroll in in what ever you have on. Really. Get the combo plate Ribs and chicken with 2 sides And You will soon see why going back Is not an option. It's a must You will be in BBQ heaven. Possible downsides are... Bit fatty Sauce is a bit messy Cash only Touch of "tude" in the air ... All that said Go for the gold and eat at uncle Joes.. Redbones in Somerville should taste uncle Joes. read more

This is our must-go place every time we visit! I'm pretty sure you can smell the grill cookin' up some BBQ love the second you step off the ferry! I always get the ribs...yes, they're fatty, yes..they're covered in BBQ sauce...but DAMN, they're delicious. I've had the chicken, but it was a bit drier than I like, so I just stick to those ribs. We've only had friendly service, and the food is good - you certainly get that island feel when you eat here. read more

When my husband and I went to STJ last August, we spent all week listening to locals tell us we had to go try Uncle Joe's Barbecue. Finally, on the last full day of our trip, we decided to see what all the hype was about. (The smells as we walked by certainly helped too!) It's definitely not much to look at, and the wait staff expects you to know what you want and pay cash. A little hole-in-the-wall shanty that serves only barbecue chicken or ribs on paper plates, but if ten years of watching Anthony Bourdain has taught me anything, it's that these places are almost always hidden gems. If you want fine dining and service, I suggest Spyglass, but I promise you not even their food will be this good. The ribs melted in your mouth and the chicken was incredibly moist which surprised me after seeing how hot that grill was! It was probably the best and cheapest meal we had our entire trip, and we were so sorry it was on our last night! read more

Second vacation on St John~ second time at Uncle Joes. First place we hit once we dropped luggage off. Same delicious, falling off the bone chicken & ribs. Outdoor seating on a corner perfect people watching while drinking cold beers. We had prompt service ~ don't judge a book by its cover & if you expect to become friends with the help ~ you're at the wrong place. read more

Wife and I visited for an early dinner. The location is very casual and nothing fancy at all (which didn't bother us) We ordered couple beers and the BBQ chicken and rib plates. They come with a choice of two sides. We had rice and beans and coleslaw. Rib were fall off the bone and covered in delicious BBQ sauce. The chicken was great as well. Prices were okay and service was friendly and fast. read more

Uncle Joe's Barbecue - Ribs with rice and beans and coleslaw - Barbeque Near Me - St John, Virgin Islands

A small but attractive spot along the main strip in downtown St. John. However, a caveat: this is not actual barbecue, at least not how any Southerner would define it. This is not "low n' slow,' as they say. Ribs are par-boiled and grilled, the chicken is marinated and grilled. The only thing "Barbecue" about this place is the sauce. PROs: - Relatively cheap, especially for St. John. A meal for two cost us about $28. - Smells great--you'll know when you get near it, and it will draw you in - Delicious grilled chicken and decent ribs, all slathered in a tasty BBQ sauce CONs: - Getting your food takes a while...like every other place in STJ - Counter girls could be friendlier - Side dishes are entirely unnecessary - Doesn't seem to be the cleanest place - All available evidence told me that the BBQ sauce was simply Open Pit Overall, a good spot to stop for lunch. Enjoy the grilled chicken. Ignore the sides. read more

Great deal for $13! Got the ribs & chicken plate. Next time would skip the chicken. Ribs were tender, fall of the bone; chicken a bit dry. Cole slaw was refreshing cole with a touch of zippy tanginess, and rice and beans were well seasoned. Got take-out for a picnic lunch at Honeymoon Beach, and this was perfect! read more

This is one of our favorites in Cruz Bay. The ribs are tender, with the meat falling off the bone. Good variety of choices for sides. Uncle Joe's is easy to access in Cruz Bay. read more

Smothered in sauce and island love, this is some of the best yard bird cue on the planet. I have eaten here for over 20 years and sadly many birds have died for my sins. read more

Absolutely delicious bbq. Ribs and chicken are second to none. Sides are also spot on. Great for take-out.

Six words: Don't let the smell fool you. This place is a pass. We had the chicken, ribs & steak. All SMOTHERED in BBQ sauce. SMOTHERED IN BBQ SAUCE. You can't taste anything else which is a shame because the ribs were tender and the steak was cooked to a nice medium rare. The corn on the cob was the best thing on the plate & might be worth getting if you ware just walking by, there is no wait & you want a snack while wandering around. They use a tangy BBQ sauce with a little heat to it. Might be nice if there wasn't a pint on every plate. If you come here: #1 don't expect traditional BBQ & #2 Ask for light sauce. I hate writing the following sentence & I don't very often. I would not eat here again nor recommend it read more

I was not expecting to eat some of the best BBQ I've ever had in the Virgin Islands for starters. Seriously, if there was an Uncle Joe's BBQ in LA, he'd put a lot of places out of business. Came here on day 5 of our 2nd trip to St.John. I settled on my favorite- pork ribs, baby back cut while the other party had BBQ chicken. It was so succulent and tender-meat practically falling off the bone, smothered in a sauce that was sweet, spicy and tangy. It came with macaroni salad and coleslaw. The service was feisty. If I ever get the privilege to come back, I'm definitely eating here. read more