J Bar M BBQ

I don’t hand out 1 star reviews lightly, but with my experience, J-Bar-M more than earned it. I arrived around 1:45pm to a restaurant that was nearly empty. Already we’re off to a bad start. As I walk up to the ordering counter, a large party is exiting a private side room. I must have gotten lost in the shuffle, because as I let people pass, I see all the workers leave to go behind the kitchen. I’m not sure if it was a staff meeting or shift change, but I can’t find anyone to help me. I wait about 3-5 minutes before a young man pops his head around the corner and apologizes for keeping me waiting. I order a couple of ribs and the fatty brisket tacos (hoping for anything in the same universe as the now closed Valentina’s), with sides of cream corn, Mac n cheese, and charro beans. The ribs actually tasted decent, slightly sweet with a good pull and texture, except they were cold. I’m talking not even lukewarm. And just like Luke, these babies also could have used a tauntaun to warm them up. Things only went downhill from there. The Mac n cheese was nothing to write home about and the cream corn was bland. After a few minutes, the brisket tacos were delivered to my table. By now I’m barreling down a double black diamond. The brisket is dry, tough, and most sinfully, flavorless. How flavorless? Well, I can’t taste the brisket over the tortilla, which also doesn’t taste great. How does a tortilla over power the flavor of smoked brisket?? Finally, I attempted to change it up for my taste buds by trying the charro beans. This was a fine test for my gag reflex as the beans were rancid/burned and I nearly spit them out. How this place ended up on Michelin’s radar is beyond me. J Bar M was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had, Bar None

2 weeks ago

After much online buzz, I finally had the opportunity to try this place out. The first impression was a pleasant one—the spacious interior and ample seating capacity made it a comfortable dining experience. I opted for the 3-meat combo with 5 sides, while my wife chose the smoked wings with a side of bonnet sauce. The sauce was absolutely spectacular, but for some reason, she didn’t enjoy the wings. She claimed they were undercooked. On the other hand, my brisket was a bit dry, and the ribs were decent but not exceptionally tender. However, the jalapeño and cheddar sausage was an absolute standout—the best I’ve ever had. The corn and Brussels sprouts were also good, but the charro beans and mac and cheese were a major letdown. They lacked flavor entirely. The green beans were decent, but my wife and I both felt they were missing something—perhaps a bit of salt. To end the meal on a sweet note, we indulged in funnel cake fries. They were incredibly good—a simple yet addictive treat. Overall, I was disappointed that the experience didn’t live up to the hype and the Michelin star expectations.

2 weeks ago

Popped in here on a Sunday during brunch. Just a heads up you are not restricted to ordering brunch but we chose the brunch menu. We ordered the breakfast burger (which egg on it) and the chilaquiles with brisket. Everything was decent but I would need to go back on another day an order from the regular menu to give the food a fair rating. But I would definitely go back. The star of the day was the cinnamon rolls!!! They were so soft and we didn’t even heat them up. So yummy!!! Oh and the mimosa!!! Normally at establishments they bring you a carafe but NOPE we got TWO FULL BOTTLES!!! Yassss Definitely stop in and they are a Michelin recommended!!

2 months ago

This is by far the best bbq I have ever had. The prices are a bit high, but you get what you pay for. Other bbq places are just as pricey but the quality of the food is much lower. Here, the food is fantastic, you get a lot, and there’s a large menu. I got the turkey plate, with brussel sprouts and Mac, all of it is 10/10. My partner got the brisket and sausage plate with Mac and corn salad, and he says it’s 10/10. Everything is so so good. We will definitely be coming back. Especially because they have $5 margaritas ALL DAY! The owner is super friendly, and the staff are very kind and efficient. Just the whole experience is 100/10. You can immediately tell why they are mentioned by the Michelin Guide.

a month ago

Came with my husband for lunch and was excited to see they served brunch as well! The building did have limited parking, we think they may have been having a private event later that day. The restaurant itself is beautiful on the inside, its a large open building with very clean decor. They have indoor and outdoor seating perfect for a date or taking a large group. The staff was super friendly and the food comes out pretty quickly if you are ordering food that does not come right off the bbq line. My husband really enjoyed the brisket, cheddar jalapeño sausage, Mac n cheese and corn. He said the sausage had a great spicy kick and the corn had lots of flavor. The brisket chilaquiles was DELICIOUS! The salsa verde was rich and flavorful and the chips were fresh and crispy. We look forward to coming back to try more of the menu.

4 months ago