Review of Sugar’s BBQ - St Cloud, MN

Originally posted December 27, 2007

SUGAR’S HAS SINCE CLOSED

It has been a long timer since I posted a review of a restaurant. Since I am still living then it is safe to assume that I am eating and it is likely that I have eaten out at least sometime in the last couple months. Now that we have fully established the logical reasoning, let’s start to talk about Sugar’s.Sugar’s BBQ has moved from the east side of town where it was little known and even less seen. Now it is located in a strip mall on the west side of town near where O’Hara’s Brew Pub used to be(Which is now called McCann’s, but that’s a review for a separate post.). As BBQ ribs go, I am kind of a rib snob. I expect tender meat, good sauce, and low gristle. It doesn’t sound like all that much to ask but you would be suprised at how many BBQ restaurants can’t get the balance right.

Food: 7 If its good 3 if its not

As my office is now located just down the street from Sugar’s, I have had their food a few times and it seems rather inconsistent. I have been there when the meat was very tender and then there is the last time I was there. The rib tips were so dry it resembled beef jerky rather then ribs meet. On the upside I had a “Sloppy Sugar” sandwich which was piled high with moist sliced meat and slathered with their own barbecue. That’s one good thing you can say about the food at Sugar’s, there’s a lot of it. The barbecue comes in three flavors. Its not three unique tastes as the base for all three is the same but you can get it in regular, spicy or honey varieties. Would I eat there again? Probably, but more out of convenience then out of choice.

Service: 2

While a couple of the staff there have personalities, for the most part I feel like an inconvenience to their day than a paying customer. This is one of the most disconcerting parts of my experience. When someone goes to the counter to order their food it is customary to smile and greet them warmly. Instead its closer to the deadpan stare of Ben Stein. Maybe its because I am a guy. Who knows?

Atmosphere: 4

Ok, let me defend this one by saying that they just opened not too long ago and their walls are barren. As I understand it the muralist has not come to paint the wall yet. When that happens hopefully it will warm up the cafeteria feel. Plain white walls and absence of all decorations besides a Pepsi wall clock make for no inner life to the place. I would normally rate this kind of display lower but giving them a pass because of their recent re-opening and it really is a very clean looking restaurant.

Overall: 4 (Recommended to carry-out only)

I would expect a lot of these scores to change over time. This is not a chain so they are stuck with the resources they have to get going. For that I know that, if they can stay open, they will likely develop into the kind of restaurant that I would be happy to send people to. Until there I will watch and wait.

BTW, check out their not quite finished website. It has a pretty cool theme so hopefully that is indicative of what their restaurant will look like.

Sugar’s BBQ

3413 3rd Ave N

Pantown Mall

St Cloud, MN 56303

This entry was posted on October 12, 2009 at 13:39 and is filed under Grub Reviews - OLD. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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