Ron’s Roadside Barbeque
5850 Pontiac Trl, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105
Ron’s Roadside Barbeque Menu
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Address :
5850 Pontiac Trl
Ann Arbor, MI, 48105 - Phone (734) 665-4967
- Website https://ronsroadsidebbq.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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Matt D.
Ron's is the best BBQ with in 50 miles of Ann Arbor. I've tried it all and ron's doesn't try to doll it up for looks, it's all taste. Their buns are even better, all homemade. I'll get the meat sweats from here anytime.
(5)Annette K.
This place is amazing! Ron catered my daughter's graduation party and it was a hit! Best BBQ in town!!
(5)Jeff H.
Bottom line best BBQ in Michigan I've ever tasted or heard of. Everything was outstanding! The slaw, the ribs , the pork and brisket also spot on. Nothing fancy about the joint. Just str8 up real deal BBQ at its best. Will be trying to stop in once or twice a week.
(5)TJ H.
This place is really really good. This is the realest barbecue I can find in this area. This place smells sooooo good when you find it. Barbecue sauce is very good, maybe a tad bit salty but i'm nit picking. I followed the advice of previous yelpers and got the memphis throw down. I liked everything, sides, rolls, meat. I have no idea how long they have been here but thank you yelp and community for enlightening me. If you think the best barbecue is usually served out of a whole in the wall off the beaten path to nowhere, then you have found your spot. I'd say the brisket wasn't the best, but the pulled pork, chicken, and ribs were ridiculously good.
(5)Andrew R.
The best ribs I've ever had in my life. If you seek bold flavor and hearty servings, Ron's is the place to go. Be sure not to sleep on the baked beans, either. Ron is the man who will put hot cream in your pants.
(5)Curtis R.
The only thing disappointing about Ron's is that they're closed Mondays. Other than that, everything about the place is great. Love the remodel!
(5)Julia G.
The smoker was off when we pulled up and at first we thought they were closed. Didn't try the ribs because the smoker wasn't going, maybe next time if they've got fresh ones coming out. My friend and I thought it was a little weird that they didn't smoke every day, but that didn't seem to impact what we had. Tried the pulled pork sandwich, mac and cheese, and coleslaw. All were fantastic! The mac and cheese might be the best I've ever tried, the pulled pork sandwich was massive and the meat was tender and flavorful. Coleslaw was great as well! I can't wait to go back!
(4)Steven C.
Nice place to get good BBQ and other stuff between Ann Arbor & South Lyon.
(3)Margaret V.
I drive by Ron's often, and was excited to try some bbq. I got the pulled pork dinner with the intention of trying it that evening. Our plans changed and the only thing we tried the same day was the rolls. I wanted a snack before dinner. They were still warm from when I picked them up and found them to be ok. A little tough. Not a lot of flavor. We ended up reheating the pulled pork the next day. It was delicious! A nice smoked flavor to the meat and the bbq sauce complimented it very well. The only other side we tried was the potato salad, which my husband said was was pretty good! They have plenty of options... pork, chicken, brisket, sandwiches as well as cole slaw, mac and cheese and other side dishes. This place is more of take out than dine in restaurant. I would highly recommend. Prices were very reasonable. Mr. Ron was very cool!!!!
(4)Paul K.
For the food, I would give 4 stars. It's one of the better places in Ann Arbor for BBQ. My favorites are the ribs and the pulled pork. Brisket is ok, but can tend towards the dry side. Memphis Throwdown gives a good mix of everything, at a reasonable price. However, I was told by a friend about health violations they have had in the past. If you look up some of them online, it includes mention of rodents (mouse droppings as well as finding a dead mouse) back in 2012. I assume that they've cleaned all this up as future inspections did not report this. However, when you are waiting for your food, you can see the kitchen where all the food is being prepped. It just seems like a place where food safety isn't a huge priority, watching the staff handle the food without gloves, and on one occasion seeing large trays of food and BBQ sitting out. I'm not a food inspector, but it makes me nervous to see that knowing about its past violations. With that said, I've eaten Ron's 5 times before looking this stuff up, and never had any problems. It just makes me wary to eat it again
(2)Joe M.
Note: Check the prices/website. They recently switched from their old (red/white) site to a new black background Wix site. If you used the recent Groupon already, the link had the old site and old prices up. Not sure if that's more Groupon or Ron's fault. The photo menu currently on Yelp is outdated and looks like the old website - it's a buck or so more for everything. Not complaining - still got a deal that made me try a new restaurant - just an FYI. I was a bit indecisive and wanted to try a bunch of things, so I got the Trio on Brio, three sliders with one pulled pork, one pulled chicken, and brisket. Plus a side of mac and cheese and cole slaw. Pulled pork - pretty good. Don't know how you could screw that up. Pulled chicken - Same as above. Brisket - pretty unremarkable and forgettable. Covered in sauce to mask the lack of flavor. Cole slaw - generic slaw with a lot of mayo. Fine, but not a must. Mac and cheese - disgusting. Blob of noodles piled with half melted string cheese and grease puddle? Nuking it for a bit helped a little, but definitely skip it. Great BBQ places tend to give you your meat dry because it doesn't need sauce. It might be better than a Famous Dave's (never gone, wouldn't know), but it's not like a Slow's, Salt Lick (TX), or Country Hill BBQ (DC from TX). I almost debated giving it a one star, but the pulled pork and chicken were passable and might be worth it if it's already on your way. There has to be another option on that side of town.
(2)Jason C.
So I went back for some more bbq... this time I went with pulled pork sandwich and yes, more brisket - brisket plate with cucumber salad and cole slaw. The last time I got briskets, I got like 10 small chunks and 2oz sides... this time I got like 5 large thick slices and 1/4lb side containers... and was charged for the right price :) The brisket was excellent as usual, it was tender, juicy and the meat came apart without any big problems. I liked the cucumber salad, but was not a fan of the cole slaw. As for the pulled pork sandwich, it was okay.... the meat was tender, but it was missing some flavors.... not sure what though... the buns were warm and put together, it wasn't bad at all. Next visit, I'll try their chicken and other side offerings. But for sure, they have the best brisket in town!!
(4)Melissa K.
May not be much to look at from the outside, but the food is excellent. Ordered the Memphis Throwdown and some sides, and everything was ready very quickly, even on a Friday night. The ribs were melting-off-the-bone tender, and the brisket was flavorful and tender as well. Their BBQ sauce compliments the meats very well. My least favorite was the chicken, but probably more because I personally prefer pulled chicken to bone-in. Will definitely be going there again!
(4)Moraa A.
This the best barbeque I've had in the Ann Arbor area. While service is definitely not fancy, it's a great casual spot. We like to go in the summertime and eat outside, perfect on a nice summer evening. We love getting the ribs and brisket, but really everything is great.
(4)Gary A.
I have had a number people recommend this place, but its a little out of the way - certainly its off the beaten path, but you can't miss it when you see it. There is not much about it, basically a big kitchen with a front section with a cash register. The staff was very friendly, Dan the "Alan Lee" look-a-like (channel 2) - just ask him. We went with the Family rib dinner, that included a rack of pork ribs, two sides and 6 rolls. The portions were very generous and the price was right. We went with Mac 'n Cheese and Beet Salad as our sides. Our ribs were in consistent. They were falling of the bones, but some of the small ribs were also dry. Other ribs, more in the middle were better. There was a fair amount of sauce, which was pretty good, it had nice blend of sweet and spicy. The Mac 'n Cheese was good, it had a nice crust on top, and the cheese blend had some bite/taste, it was also pretty creamy. The Beet salad was pretty standard. So would I ran back here? Not on a specific trip. If we were in the mode for BBQ and in the area, then it would be an option. But if I was in the mode for BBQ, there are other places I would drive too.
(3)Kevin G.
Why have I NEVER heard of this place. I think this joint came up in the "loop". Stopped in at 6pm last night with my wife. Small unassuming building that we drove by the first time. Only two of us there at the time. Helped right away and were told about menu choices and the different sides available. I had the 3 rib plate with cucumber salad and baked beans as my sides. My wife had the pulled pork plate with mac n cheese and the beet salad as her sides. I got 3 good sized ribs that were just short of fall off the bone. Very tender meat with a thick sweet sauce. Cucumber salad was delish. Baked beans were also very tasty with lots of pieces of pork. The pulled pork plate was a pile of heaven in a small take out container with a good amount of sauce. Very tender, The mac n cheese was okay but we have had better. Beet salad was also just okay. Lots of seating at picnic tables outside and enough room for 8 inside. Going back is in our near future and you should know by now that this is a go to place in my book.
(4)Denise Z.
We picked up chicken, pork, baked beans, mac n cheese, and beet salad for dinner - delicious!!!!! The chicken & pork had a great smoky flavor and they were so tender. We are looking forward to trying the smoked lamb next time. My husband is very picky about his BBQ (he has a Primo smoker) and he loved it to! a new favorite place for us, especially since we live very close by!
(5)Mary R.
My husband is a BBQ rib freak! He was so excited when he read a review in MLive raving about the delicious ribs at Ron's R BBQ he went right out there and brought some home. Blechh! They were hands down the worst BBQ ribs I have ever had. They were dry and old tasting and smothering in BBQ sauce - never a good sign. I am astounded by all the rave reviews. Have you people ever had good ribs? Clearly not! Go to Slows BBQ in downtown Detroit and then tell me how the ribs at Ron's are even palatable. It isn't bad enough that the ribs were tasteless, the German potato salad was also awful. Way, way, way too much vinegar. We threw the leftovers - of which there were plenty! - out.
(1)Jillian H.
Ron's Roadside BBQ is a solid local favorite! So glad I stumbled upon it a couple of weeks ago! It's a little difficult to find on your first time, as it truly is a roadside joint, but once you find it you'll certainly be back! Ron's definitely covers the BBQ basics but they have much more to offer. The pulled pork and ribs are second to none, the brisket is pretty darn good, and the pulled chicken is okay (B/B+ level but worth a try if it's your thing....it's not mine). They've also got classic sides like baked beans, mac and cheese, potato salad, etc. which are all pretty great too. The sauce is also great (not super sticky and thinner than a lot of BBQ sauces, but a good mix of sweet, spicy, and vinegar-y). Ron's also has some out of the box goodies. Their pulled lamb is a nice twist and today they had a beet salad and Asian slaw that looked interesting (in a good way). Nice to see a "classic American" restaurant take exotic chances like that. At Ron's, what you get depends on what they're catering. They always have the basics, but every time I go they have something different to try (I'm guessing its excess from a large catering order). In general, Ron's is a nice, casual BBQ spot that's worth a try if you're in the area. Definitely competitive with all the other BBQ joints in the area (though some things are a little pricey and other things are a steal). Great staff, great sides, great meat. Happy Dining!
(4)S. Lynne F.
I had Ron's cater a party for me this past Saturday. It was amazing. In the first place, he was able to squeeze me in last minute on a busy weekend. They offer a delivery service which made things a lot easier on me. The food was excellent! Even my picky nephew ate the ribs and all of my guests commented on how much they enjoyed the food. All that BBQ is great but I have to admit that my favorite thing was the cucumber salad. I am going to have to find out if I can just pick that up at the regular stand. YUM! Finally, the price is more than reasonable. I think I might have been undercharged.
(5)Michael K.
Tl: DR: I really don't think the food we had was even smoked. It tasted like it came out of a pressure cooker and had store-bought sauce poured all over it at the end. Worst I've had in the Ann Arbor area--a truly dubious distinction. If you have some time: We drove a long way to come here based on the reviews (are you guys high? Seriously....), and our rating of the real bbq places in Ann Arbor as real but meh. We have doubts about this place even serving us real bbq. By "real" I mean smoked low and slow for a long time--no less than four hours for ribs, for instance, and 1.5 hours per pound for pork butt. In our "real and good" category we have places we've been in St Louis, Kansas City, Amarillo, Lockhart, Memphis, and Oklahoma City. There is also "real but just OK," like Lockhart's in Royal Oak and the Famous Dave's in Taylor. And then there's "real but meh," like some of Ron's more nearby competitors. With all of these places you smell and taste smoke--if you have ribs your fingers smell smoky afterwards. This place was like TGIF or Tony Roma's or something ("fake but kids love it," if we were to make a category). I don't want to say for sure what happened to our food before we ate it because I wasn't there, but it could only have been one of two things. Either 1) they ran out of smoked mains for the dinner rush and had to throw something on the grill quickly, and perhaps took some ribs that had been par boiled or crock-potted and slathered them in sauce to try to disguise this fact, or 2) these people have somehow figured out a way to smoke-proof food before smoking it so that it comes out tasting like a McRib sandwich. Never again. Our conclusion for getting bbq in Ann Arbor: buy a Weber Smoky Mountain and some hickory chunks and do it yourself. It's not rocket science--but it does require smoke. Edit: wife here. My husband mentioned that he did this and so I had to take a peek. He has been charitable. What we had was NOT barbecue. That wouldn't be so offensive if not for the mystery smoker in front. From what we could tell,there was no meat and that smoker and it smelled like there hadn't been in a long time--. I realized something was wrong with the picture as soon as we got out of the car. I was expecting that unmistakable bbq smell. Hmmm...funny--I don't smell anything I thought. We must be upwind. Went right up to the thing and could only smell wood--like a campfire--but there was no meat smell, no distinctive, cruddy, funky charred drippings smell. There is no mistaking this smell and I'm sensitive to it because I get sick of it very easily. Anyway, based on this and the tough, grisly, fatty, no-smoke ribs--that connective tissue and fat would have rendered out and a bark would have formed had they cooked it low-and-slow on a smoker as their set up led us to believe--and the chicken that, aside from being flavorless beyond the shrill sauce glopped on it, was white on the inside--smoked chicken is pinkish-tan--we can come to no other conclusion. I didn't actually care because unlike my husband, I get good and sick of the smoke, but this really amounts to false advertising. Should be Ron's Quickie Roadside Char-Grill.
(1)Robyn T.
I have been debating between a 4 and a 5 but finally settled in to a 4. What can I say about Ron's? Well, I am always on the prowl for good BBQ and this place did not disappoint. I came with my family so we were a party of 6. Now, Rons doesn't advertise being a full fledged restaurant so I can't fault them for this, but there is no place to sit. No I mean it. There was 1 table in front of the order counter and that's it. It's meant for people to sit while waiting for their order but luckily the nice owner Nancy let us eat at it. The area was a little dirty, and there wasn't any door or curtain blocking one of the side rooms so we saw right into their cluttered space. Unfortunately that's where they lost their 1 star. I heard Nancy say they were working on that though. I ordered the pulled pork plate with mac-n-cheese and coleslaw. Others ordered ribs & chicken. Now, what the atmosphere lacks the food makes up for. Aside from cornbread that was just a shade dry, our entire party was silenced for about 20 minutes while we ate. The only thing we heard were the sounds of each other sighing and humming as each bite we took was quite delicious. My precious 7 year old nephew even said "I'm already full, but I just keep going for it." Very wise words. The portions are absolutely huge and we brought back another meal for all of us. Nancy was extremely friendly the entire time and very accommodating. She was the only one there and kept up well with everyone's needs. She even gave us free brownies at the end! Yahoo for Nancy! Ron's will definitely be a place I return to grab and go. Just remember, it's only for takeout at this point. Just a little work on the interior and add some tables and chairs and I believe that will seal the deal. Their food speaks for itself.
(4)Sara L.
A coworker recommended this since we are both from the south. I ordered a brisket sandwich and brisket plate. In all my years of eating BBQ I have never had brisket as tender and juicy as this. The bread is delicious all baked there. The beans were delicious the Mac and cheese not so much. I also had the sweet tea. Overall a great experience well worth the price and drive.Owner is really nice.
(4)R M.
We took a drive into the countryside for an authentic roadside bbq dinner at Ron's. Just 15 min. north of Ann Arbor, it felt like we were way up north. The place has a rustic charm and had a regular stream of customers coming through for carryout or to eat at one of the picnic benches outside. While the ribs were disappointing--undercooked and fatty--the sauce was great and the sides were all up to par. The pulled pork was generous and tender. Worth another stop in. It may have been an off night for the rib cooker.
(3)Ora C.
I saw this place on the food network (Roadtrip with G. Garvin) and gave it a try and boy was I rewarded. I have tried to find a really good rack of ribs all over the country and Ron's had the best I have tried. The ribs are wet so if you don't like sauce then this will not be the place for you but if you do you will enjoy yourself. We got the dinner with ribs and chicken and both were great!! I don't know where the people who give bad reviews eat BBQ but I would like to know where they have had better BBQ, especially in MI. Just so people know ribs are rarely just off of the smoker so if you don't see smoke don't worry it will still be great. I also saw someone post that it might be cash only but I used a credit card so I know that they accept credit cards.
(5)Liz W.
I keep meaning to review this so here goes... Tasty ass BBQ! No fancy atmosphere to speak of (especially outside) but if it bothers you get the stuff to go. The best BBQ is often found in joints like this. Ribs are incredible and give that perfect bite without wearing your damn jaws out. The brisket is mighty fine too, which from me is saying something because I am pretty picky about brisket. There is some fat here or there but damn it makes the meat juicy and tender (fat haters need to understand why fat is a good thing, enjoy the benefits and just skip eating any of the actual fat). Yes the chicken is indeed tender and worthy but it ranks behind the pork and beef in my book. Take this with a grain of salt as chicken usually does for me if there are more interesting options to be had. I love the smoky flavor and the zip of the sauce. They can oversauce a bit though so be warned. I like a kiss of it myself but I want to be able to savor the natural taste of the meat still. The salads here are excellent. Cucumber salad, German potato salad, bean salad. Anything salad rocks. My husband is a fan of the mac and cheese but I can't see past the salads. People are super friendly and helpful, I just wish it was more of a dining in destination.
(4)Peggy F.
Thank's to you BBQ munchers, I almost forgot about this place &&& didn't even realize that the summer hours open had started!! I will be stopping in during the next week or so!!! My goodness how could I forget this extremely tasty stop??? ( I swear my car accident last year took 40% brain memory away!!) .... ((Not that, that's always a bad thing!! Some things I don't want to remember!!))
(5)Smack T.
Laughable!!! Overcooked ribs lying in a pool of tasteless BBQ sauce, tasteless pulled chicken on a decent tasting bun, dry brisket. A wast of 40 bucks and 40 minutes. Next time I'm going to Famous Dave's.
(1)Mike B.
Some of the best, especially for the price. They need to cut back on the sauce, but i really can't complain. The American style potato salad is definitely better than the German, but dang... the portions! What a cool spot too! Not the best i've ever had, but maybe the best experience in the A2 area.
(4)Chester C.
Huge portions and really great food. Pulled pork, ribs and chicken were top notch.. Def will be back.
(5)Pete P.
Went to Ron's recently to try their BBQ and wasn't particularly impressed. Perhaps it was the time of year or just a bad day but I didn't think what I had warranted the stars that many have given here. I got the brisket plate with mac and cheese and baked beans. The brisket was tender and juicy but not nearly enough smoke for me. I couldn't find any smoke ring to speak of. The sauce was just dabbed on not drenched like I've read here although maybe that is for ribs and pork as brisket should not have too much sauce. The mac and cheese was good, creamy and cheesy. The baked beans were rather pedestrian in my opinion. No pork or brisket in them and on the bland side. The jalapeno/cheddar cornbread which I got as an extra was really good, it didn't need butter at all. Total spent was around $17 which I thought was on the high side, especially for take-out. It is a shack as many have said as the interior is spartan. I certainly wouldn't mind giving Ron's another try but maybe I'll do it in the height of summer when there's perhaps more turn-over. Also, I don't blame Ron's for this but when we were there the septic tank was being pumped out and the aroma was pretty off putting. There was no way we were eating on-site.
(2)Kayla A.
Outstanding food at great prices! It's such a breath of fresh air, especially in the overpriced Ann Arbor restaurant scene. The brisket was incredibly juicy, the rib meat fell off the bone, the chicken was flavorful and moist, and the pulled pork was covered with the most delicious bbq sauce! It really was bbq done right! Then add the jalapeño cornbread, coleslaw, mac n' cheese, and potato salad and it is a perfect feast! It's a little off the beaten path, but well worth the drive. There is minimal seating, especially in the winter, so call ahead to order and enjoy at home! I love supporting local business and Ron's Roadside BBQ makes it easy and affordable!
(5)Benjie S.
I will be honest and say that if there were a 3.5 Star option, that's what I would give it. I don't want to oversell it so I'm giving it a 3 but I am a satisfied customer. I had stumbled across this place a few months ago while on a random weekend drive. I bookmarked it and this past weekend I decided it was time to go. It wasn't busy but there was another couple sitting at the outside tables. It's not really a dine in place more of a take out place. I ordered a Rib plate with Mac & Cheese and Baked Beans on the side. The meat from the ribs was tender, flavorful and pulled right off the bone with little to no effort. The BBQ sauce on it was good and not over saucy. The mac & Cheese was pretty good nothing fancy just plain good. The baked beans had a ground beef in them and even though they were good, I personally would want to try a different side next time. All in all, it was a quiet BBQ place with what looked like a staff of three friendly people. No fancy pretentious bullshit, just good BBQ at a reasonable price. I will return!
(3)Chuckie M.
I've seen all of the great reviews for this spot and had high hopes. I love good BBQ food and wherever I travel, I seek out the best around. And I have been looking for years. The BBQ food here was just terrible, which is really too bad because the people there are so nice. Don't waste the trip. The food was some of the worst I have ever had. Absolutely awful.
(1)Jake K.
What defines a restaurant, or any business to me is not when they get the order right, but when they screw it up. EXPERIENCE Pull up and it doesn't look like much, to be honest. I was worried about whether we'd be "outsiders", etc. Well, we walk in to a wonderful woman who's very happy to see us, and incredibly friendly and inviting. It was refreshing to have GREAT customer service :D. Heck, she even offered us fresh brownies on the house with our order because "well, we just baked too many". Treated like family. She hands us the menus and tells us a little about the place, and lets us take our time deciding. We ordered the Memphis throwdown and this crazy family pack, a really daunting amount of food, but said it'd only take 10-15 minutes, just like anyone else, which tells me 2 things. This place has friendly, and just as importantly timely service. We sit outside in plastic chairs under some nice umbrellas(it's as family as family joints get, to be honest), and we get our food. I notice we only had what looked like 2 containers of food, and I thought one of the items we had ordered was a "whole chicken". I was somewhat worried, but not enough to ask. We head for home(20 min away). We get home, and we find an entire half of our order is missing. The chicken and full rack of ribs we were missing were gone, as well as a couple of bread rolls(which I chalked up to a miscount) and even the brownie! Pretty disheartened, I had chalked it up as a loss, but my dad decided to call. He said they were apologetic on the phone, and would throw in an additional side for our trouble. We drive back, and the nice girl who handed me the dinner bag in the first place is apologizing PROFUSELY, very sorry for the whole ordeal and wanted to make it up to us. So she gives us the side(which she suggested a higher priced side, which I noticed), and threw in an additional side. Everyone in the back apologized to me too, which was unnecessary, but again, comforting that they didn't mean the slight. She even made sure that we got the free brownie that was promised the first time :). It was pretty heartwarming, and we still had a ridiculous amount of food. Feeling warm and fuzzy about the whole experience, we headed home, and when I unpacked the stuff, they had basically thrown the kitchen sink of food at us. we had no less than 10 bread rolls(making up for the 2 we were missing and then some), in addition to all the food I mentioned. Amazing customer service, 5 stars FOOD Holy crap, best BBQ I've ever had. Nothing I've made, nor parents, nor friends nor restaurants matches this BBQ. Their mac n cheese is better than Zingerman's (TRY IT), and you can't go wrong with any of their sides. This is the perfect place to try anything, because if you don't like it here, you won't like it ANYWHERE. Their ribs are smoky and falling off the bone, and their brisket is tasty as is all of their food. The juice that makes the meat so succulent is just out of this world, it's the best BBQ I've ever had. It's gorgeous, wonderful food to have. EAT HERE. It takes a drive but it's entirely worth it, can't thank the folks at ron's enough for helping to make us feel right when they could've just said "no we're closing in 20 sorry". Great place.
(5)wendy w.
This is the best BBQ I have had in Michigan, and maybe ever. The brisket is, hands down, the best I ever had. The fresh-baked rolls are to die for, as is the excellent sauce and the variety of sides. The service is friendly and down-to-earth. Yes, it's in the middle of nowhere. Yes, it is kinda grungy with limited seating. However, I'd rather happen upon this authentic gem than line up at some fancy, overpriced and overrated Ann Arbor BBQ restaurant. I'm not a huge fan of mac and cheese in general, but Ron's version blows away the $12 versions you find in and around A2 (I'm talking' to you big Z!) and it's only $3 for a good sized portion. The cuke salad, as others have mentioned here, is a perfect foil to a brisket sandwich. I'm anticipating my return as I write this, and my mouth is watering. I can't wait to try a variety of offerings in the Memphis Throwdown. TOTALLY worth making the trip to this spot. Do yourself a favor and plan a picnic somewhere beautiful.
(5)Irene L.
I bookmarked Ron's Roadside Barbecue when Matt G.'s rave review caught my eye. Three days ago, I finally had the opportunity to try the place with one of my few meat-eating friends (I swear, the omnivore race is dying off in A2) who shares my passion for some tasty 'cue. When we got there, I felt like I wasn't in Ann Arbor anymore... which really just made me even more excited. I asked the guy who took our orders what he'd recommend, and he suggested the pulled pork sandwich, so that's what I got...plus some cole slaw. My dining companion ordered ribs. We were sitting outside at one of their tables, sipping on some sodas, when Ron himself came outside and introduced himself to us. He was incredibly friendly and generous--he gave us two "things" of potato salad (1 American, 1 German...way too much for 2 people) on the house when he learned that it was our first time there! Both types were quite good, as was the cole slaw. The wait for the REAL food was fairly short and we had managed to get pretty giddy with anticipation by the time it arrived. The food came in styrofoam boxes, and when I picked up my sandwich, I realized that it was noticeably heavier than my friend's half rack of ribs. Awesome. Indeed, it was massive: a veritable mountain of meat and sauce, sandwiched between a giant roll split in half (check out the photo I uploaded). I used my fork. First bite: delicious. I might have had more tender pulled pork before, but this was just downright perfectly juicy and smoky with the right amount of bbq sauce. And the roll it was on was amazing. Buttered and ever-so-slightly crispy on top, soft and supple on the inside. Mmmm. I had plenty leftover for a small meal ("small" only because I kinda gorged myself while I was there. Whoops!). I can't say as much about the ribs since I didn't order them, but I assure you that my friend enjoyed them with much enthusiasm. They were tender and delightfully messy. Overall, a fantastic experience, and CHEAP too (for barbecue at least). And I was really pleased that Ron/the rest of the staff were super friendly. Next time I go, I am going to have to try this Memphis Throwdown thing that other Yelpers are writing about so I can sample a bit of everything!
(5)Nick T.
Had just read a write up of BBQ in and around Ann Arbor and had this place in mind as we drove along a very scenic stretch of Pontiac Trail. The big old sign out front that read Romanoff from an earlier incarnation of Chef Ron's fathers' catering business lends a visual anchor to this unassuming building with picnic tables out front. The place has a "has been here forever" look that feels worn and comfortable, and the food is anything but worn. Loved the sides--beet salad, mac n cheese, greens, and the bbq sandwiches were just the right tang for me (not too tomatoey or gooey.) Staff super friendly. This is a great place to sit at, too--feels like you're on a country road with serious attention paid to the food.
(5)Pete U.
I really tried to like this place. Got ribs first time, really fatty, but huge protion. Baby back second time a little leaner. The plura was attatched both times, come on ron, you gotta take the damn plura off... any way went back for some pulled pork and brisket. brisket was 14.00/LB wtf...so i got a pound of pulled pork and a brisket sandwitch, meh, pulled pork was ok, salty, brisket was just ok, (ive made better) and ive tried all the sides, sorry ron, i really tried....
(2)Eric K.
Just had lunch @ Ron's again and it's still amazing. Also, I don't know why Yelp does this, but look at the filtered reviews too. They explain why it's so good here.
(5)Jessica M.
We were blessed to have moved a 8 minute drive down the street from this fantastic roadhouse. The ribs and chicken are the BEST I've ever had, and it is so incredibly reasonably priced. We can get a family dinner that feeds our family of four (with leftovers) for about $30, and it includes some fantastic sides. It's also a great option when we host guests and don't fee like cooking but still feel like home-cooked food. Such a FAN! The staff is also always super friendly and nice!
(5)Lauren L.
At last, the stars aligned and I finally got to try this bbq joint I've been hearing so much about. Ann Arborites, I think we've got ourselves a keeper! Too bad it's seemingly in the middle of nowhere, but I suppose that's part of its charm. I placed a carryout order, which was probably a good idea--there's only one table, and if you care anything about ambiance, you probably don't want to eat here. It's small and (charmingly) disheveled, and you can see the entire kitchen. Hubby and I split the Memphis Throwdown so that we could try a bit of everything: pulled pork, brisket, chicken, and ribs. His favorite was the brisket, which I agree was good. I found myself inhaling the chicken, which was SO surprisingly tasty even though I had read Matt G.'s review about how the chicken was SO surprisingly tasty. I was just convinced that chicken could not be as good as beef or pork when it comes to bbq; I was wrong. How much I liked the pork varied based on how much sauce I got in a bite (the saucier, the better), but I could see it being divine on a toasted bun, as others have raved about. The ribs were fine, just not a standout. The meal came with two sides of our choice and four dense rolls fresh from the oven--as in, I actually saw them being removed from the oven. We got the mac & cheese, which was creamy and delicious, and the German potato salad, which was a nice change from mayo-laden American potato salad but maybe a little too heavy on the vinegar. After we'd stuffed our guts to the max and licked our fingers to our hearts' content, we still had enough food left over for lunch the next day. They don't skimp! You should definitely give this place a try.
(4)Kim M.
My husband and I found Ron's on Yelp a few weeks ago. We had yet to find any good BBQ places in A2, but I can say we've found one now! Ron and his wife run the place and we enjoyed talking to them while waiting for our food. We tried the pulled pork and the brisket. Both were delicious - tender, flavorful, cooked to perfection. But I have to say my absolute favorite thing was the free sample of chicken chili I enjoyed while we waited. Ron told me his chili won awards back in NY. My husband tried the regular chili and loved it too. We tried a variety of sides and they were all pretty good, but no real stand-outs. My husband went back last week just to get chili but they were all sold out. Ron said someone came in and bought all the chili they had! Guess we aren't the only ones that liked it! As other reviewers have said, it's smack in the middle of nowhere. It's definitely a take out place, so don't go prepared to eat-in. There are some tables outside, but in the winter there's nowhere to sit. Try it - you won't be disappointed!
(5)Ryan K.
Worth the drive. I was pretty hungry so I got a brisket and a pulled pork sandwich...the pulled pork was amazing, could be the best in town, the bbq sauce was perfect along with a good amount of pork on a sturdy bun. I will be making the drive again.
(5)Lee C.
I like wet ribs & BBQ sauce. Ribs were tender & quite good but way too much sauce. 1/2 chicken was tough & again drenched in sauce. Cucumber salad was OK, American potato salad fair.
(2)Lorraine E.
As one reviewer said, Ron's is "in the middle of nowhere" but that happens to be right around the corner from us. Lucky us! For those who aren't so lucky, it's just 15 minutes from downtown Ann Arbor and from downtown South Lyon, via Pontiac Trail. My introduction to the place was jaw-dropping pulled pork (which we now order by the pound) and a friendly chat with chef Ron. He knows how to cook quality food, with pride. He gave me a free sample of his chili, which has the perfect balance of flavors (not easy to do) and has won competitions back east. On my next few visits, I met his wife Nancy along with a few other specialties--stroganoff, jambalaya, cucumber salad, roasted vegetables, German potato salad, chicken dinners. All really good. Nancy and Ron then catered our picnic for 50 and provided two unbelievable vats of jambalaya, rice, and a couple dozen fresh rolls hot out of the oven, for a very reasonable price. Our well-fed guests raved. It's true that the restaurant is a take-out joint, mainly, and a bit of a work in progress. But, I stopped by last week and saw that they had a new tile floor and were working hard on creating a seating area in the back. There are tables and chairs out front in the summer. Yes, the old Romanoff's catering business has been defunct for years, and the property is a little shaggy, but don't hold that against Ron's. You'll get better than average food, very reasonable prices, and a friendly family welcome.
(5)Susan C.
Freshly baked bread, people. FRESHLY BAKED BREAD. Do you have any idea how RARE that is? Most places slap their meat on a mass-produced, cheap, white hamburger bun (Biercamp, I'm looking at you) resulting in an inferior product, despite the quality of the 'cue. Chef Ron obviously knows what he's doing in many, many areas of food service. Yes, the place is rustic, yes they should invest some capitol in some new windows and a screen door. That's all true. But the simple fact is they make some of the best ribs for the money in the Ann Arbor area. The german potato salad was way too onion-y for my tastes. However, I espy that they have vinegar-based coleslaw! I'll be getting that next time I go.
(4)Joe T.
You won't be disappointed if you make the trip out to Ron's. The chicken was some of the best I've ever had. The ribs were great and I actually think I liked them better the next day when they were reheated. Yes, despite the great taste, you will have leftovers - the portions are huge. For around $30 we got ribs, a whole chicken, beets, coleslaw, and half a pound of pulled lamb. The lamb was awesome and I've never seen anywhere else do that before. Make the drive, you'll enjoy it.
(5)Lisa J.
The best mac n cheese, love the home made noodles. So happy we didn't let the building and surroundings scare us off, we would have missed some really great bbq.
(3)Amy W.
After reading the reviews here, Hubby and I went and got the memphis throwdown to share - it comes with most everything. In general, I don't like getting chicken because it tends to come out dry but this place had super tender chicken! I was pleasantly surprissed and glad we got the big sampler dinner. The ribs were some of the most tender ones I think I've ever had! There was a ton of food so we ate about 3 meals off of the throwdown. The leftover ribs came out tender even after microwaving! Brisket was ok - it was tender but not woo hoo amazing. However, all the different meats we got were super tender. One warning for people about the sauce - they put a bunch of sauce on our meat. Which was sweet of them to give so much sauce but it was too much for us. Next time we'll be asking for it on the side. Speaking of sides, we tried both kinds of potato salad they had and were not huge fans. The mac n cheese was so so as well. In general, I'd suggest going for the meat which is worth the drive there and making your own sides or going elsewhere. Overall, we'll be back again for the meat - I've been dreaming of their oh so soft and tender ribs.
(4)Ed K.
Can't beat it. Everything is made from scratch. Prices are good. Too bad the location isn't a little more convenient. Don't let the appearance scare you off.
(5)Janis C.
This place was difficult to find and has insufficent signage. Then when pulling up I thought about not even going in. The outside appearance is very dilapidated to put it mildly. Once inside I found it tiny, dark, dingy, and dirty looking. An employee appeared at the moment I almost turned around to exit back out the door. She was friendly, accomodating and prepared my order with lightning speed. I must say the drive home was maddening with the aroma of barbeque waffting in the air. The ribs turned out to be meaty, fall off the bone tender, lathered in a spicey flavorful sauce. Nicely complimented by american potato salad, mac n cheese and cucumber salad. The sides were all surprisingly good with the cucumber salad a true delight. Thinly sliced cumcumbers, oinions, fresh dill in a light vinegar dressing. Yes, I'm glad I stayed and ordered and I will return to this roadside barbeque joint for another takeout.
(4)Liz M.
Visit number 2. All I have to say is....holy Mac and cheese!!! The ribs were amazing, the Cole slaw and rolls yummy but the icing on the Ron's feast was definitely the Mac and cheese! Creamy, cheesy and the fusilli noodles made for the best I've eve had! I love you Ron's!
(5)R N.
Like BBQ, local, independent roadside spots; multiple visits and overall quite good; great value & some unique yummy sides.
(4)Jen F.
We wanted to try this out after happening on it on Yelp. It definitely was a pleasant surprise and great for a local option. The prices were cheap, the food was good and there was plenty of selection. We stuck to the pulled pork and pulled chicken and each had distinct flavors. You can't sit down here though, there is a bit of outside seating but you will have to take it home otherwise. It can get crowded inside!
(4)Matt G.
TODAY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST DAYS OF MY LIFE; I FOUND RON'S ROADSIDE BBQ (aka Romanoff's) I actually heard about this place from a fellow co-worker, and by everything holy, I cannot thank him enough for suggesting this place to me. There were two main things that really made this place not only one of the best BBQ experiences I've ever had in my life but one of the best overall food experiences I've had IN MY LIFE. Those two reasons are of course the absolutely, positively, without a doubt most mouthwatering, tender, juicy, and smoky BBQ I've ever had en mi vida (in my life for you non-spanish speaking folk) and the great people that own the place. To me, experiencing getting to know someone, especially one who shares the same love of food, and can appreciate the same things, like BBQ, just adds to the whole experience of discovering new places. I don't think I could've stumbled upon nicer people when I discovered Ron's Roadside BBQ. Ron himself works there, and even took time out to talk to me about how they got there, where they're from, and his wife even chatted to me about how they make their BBQ. You don't get that at chains, or even some local restaurants. You can really tell these people care about their food and also the people who are fortunate to try their food. It makes me feel good knowing that hopefully by people reading this review, more people can enjoy the fruits of their labor, and have the pleasure of meeting them also. Now to the BBQ. Like I said before, the BBQ is by far the the best I've had in my life. Yes, I gave very good reviews of Beale St. Smokehouse in Fenton, but I think it may have been overtaken, although not by much. I had the fat man's sampler as I would like to call it, although they call it the Memphis Throwdown. It comes with pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and chicken. The servings are more then plenty, especially for a seasoned veteran such as myself, I only ate about half of it! The brisket was cut thick, and was literally falling apart as my fork dug into it. I was fortunate enough to get an end, and God-almighty! was that delicious. It had enough smokey flavor to satisfy even me. The pulled pork was also very juicy and tender, just how it should be. The ribs were falling right off the bone, and I could taste that o-so-tasty smokey flavor which was present in the brisket also in the ribs. The shocker of the meal had to be the chicken. Now, I normally don't go for the chicken, but I made an exception, and boy was it a good move. The chicken, just like the rest of the meal, was so juicy and tender, and my favorite part about it was that they basted the BBQ sauce on the chicken while it was grillin' up. I love that slightly caramelized flavor when you get when you lather on the BBQ sauce when finishing up the chicken on the grill. I also got a side of potato salad and pasta salad, which were also tantalizing my taste buds while I was enjoying it. Another added bonus was the homemade rolls which came with the meal. There were four of them, and each was was as good as the last (I only had two, so I guess I'm just trying to say they both were awesome). They were very dense, and the inside was hot and moist, while the outside was nice and crispy and crunchy, yum. All-in-all, Ron's Roadside BBQ to me is just a feel good place, where it feels like family going into. I feel like this is the epitome of why I love Yelping and furthering my culinary experiences; its to meet new people and share the love of food. Please, do yourself a favor, and go discover Ron's Roadside BBQ when the weather is nice, the sun is shining, and the birds are chirping, and enjoy great food and great people at Ron's Roadside BBQ, you'd be crazy not to!!!
(5)