07/25/09

Try it for yourself

by BarefootJay

To say that one place has the best bbq over another is all a matter of taste. Is Stan's the best? That is entirely up to your BBQ upbringing. The ribs are KC style and the dry rub was great. A bit of spice and the meat pulled off the bone just the way it should. Brisket was quite lean and the outside crust was full of flavor and smoke. The hot links were great and should not be missed. Chicken was moist and is well...chicken good chicken though. The pulled pork is mild and tasty and awaits your spin and choice of sauce.

None of the meats that I had were served swimming in sauce. I like to taste the meat and dip or pour on the sauce to make different flavors. The type of bread that is used at Stan's is KC BBQ style and serves the purpose of cleansing the palate before the next bite of goodness. The side dishes are good and help to put out the fire and cleanse the palate as well. I like the BBQ beans quite tasty.

I had plenty to eat with the "Who's your Daddy" plate and the price was very reasonable for the load of meat that was delivered. Overall pricing was very reasonable for the food and quality.

I don't drink and they had plenty of good options for non alcoholic refreshments. The bar was full scale and looked to be well stocked with anything you could think of. Plenty of micros on tap and the wait staff was easy on the eyes.

If you like BBQ you should give Stan's a try. Good food, good setting, and Front Street in Issaquah is always fun to run around.

• Pros: KC, Carolinas, and Texas flavors its all good.
• Cons: none

02/15/09

If you truly love BBQ- Stan's is a must

by skichampbaker

I could smell the extraordinary aroma as soon as I stepped out of my truck, the smoker was in full swing. The bartender welcomed me before the door had a chance to shut behind me, and my experience, not my lunch, had begun. I had eaten at a chain BBQ restaurant less than two days before so my craving for BBQ was actually below average until i walked past another customer with a plate full of ribs. I ordered a whiskey sour from the full liquor bar, along with a " Who's your dady" plate. First of all, the amount of food that was brought to me was borderline ridiculous, I was already planning on a huge late night snack. As a lifelong fan of brisket, my critical palate was overwhelmed by the flavor and texture!! The ribs looked to be just normal ribs until i took the first bite and the entire piece of meat was left in my mouth. I was actually embarassed that i wasted money on ribs at a place that also serves burgers and fuit salads!!!! There is no one who loves REAL KANSAS CITY BARBEQUE that wont love Stan's even more. The best BBQ in the state of WA is no doubt at STAN'S!!

• Pros: Unbelievable BBQ- enough said
• Cons: Too good of a place to have such a small parking lot!!!

10/21/08

If you want a pile of meat and little else, this is the place for you.

by theworldaccordingtoCHRIS

After reading all of the great reviews for Stan's, I drove out to the restaurant with extremely high hopes. As someone who travels regularly, I've tried many well-reviewed restaurants over the years, some bad and some excellent. To just critique the meat and bird at Stan's, I will say that it is good, but not excellent. The pulled pork was flavorful, and probably my favorite of all the meats. There was no tri-tip, but there was a very fatty portion of brisket that was tender. The links are spicy and tasty, but the brats were just ok. The birds were cooked well, not too dry, but not extremely flavorful. The baby back ribs were the most disappointing to me... they leave something to be desired. They were dry, with very little flavor to speak of. They would do better to dry rub some spare ribs and serve them with some mop sauce. The three sauces were served in tiny dixie cups. In fact, everything came in plastic or styrofoam... so wasteful. Besides the foam containers that they came in, the sides were not good. If the corn and the beans didn't come from a can, they tasted as if they did. The restaurant also serves Lay's potato chips and low quality white bread that resembles Wonder Bread. No fresh biscuits, no braised greens, no mashed potatoes, no corn chowder, in fact, nothing that you would expect to find at a good barbecue restaurant. Perhaps a roadside stand would better suit this establishment, since they appear to not care about anything but the meat and the bar. Lazy is the only word to describe the overall approach to dining at Stan's. It seems as if someone walks in, throws the meat in the smoker, heats up some cheap sides, and slops it on to a disposable plate to order. There is just no care taken for the preparation or the presentation of the food, and this definitely counts, especially when I am dining at a restaurant and spending $40 on dinner. For those of you who get out often, trust me, there are way better places out there.

• Pros: Pulled pork.
• Cons: Lousy sides, terrible bread, bad ribs, everything served in plastic and styrofoam.

07/19/08

This Restaurant Needs to be all over the State

by BraRamp

I went into Stans Barbq on Friday night and was amazed that a Barbq restaurant could look and feel as impressive as this. It's situated in quiet, old Downtown Issaquah, but when you walk in you get a little feel of what downtown Kansas City might feel like on a Friday night. The smell of smoked meat and the quick introduction by the wait staff walking around, "Welcome to Stans, go ahead and sit anywhere you like" made me feel instantaneously welcome. The focal point of the restaurant had to have been the smell that I smelt from where I parked in the rear parking. Plus the choice of meats I had from Turkey, to Half Chicken, the brisket and pulled pork made it so difficult because it all looked so good. I recommend the "Whos your Daddy" because you get a choice of 4 meats with two of the sides. Why go coleslaw and potato salad when you can have baked beans everyday (not just wed and fridays like Dixies) and creamed corn. The sauce, the service, the smoked meat, and to meet Stan are all worth the drive to Issaquah, but I truly wish I could have it in every city in the northwest. Aweseme job, Stan. No wander you were voted best of CitySearch for BarBq in 2007.

• Pros: SMOKED MEAT, SERVICE, SAUCE, AND AMBIENCE
• Cons: ONLY IN ISSAQUAH

06/30/08

Best Bar-B-Que in the Pacific Northwest!! Love the atmosphere & great service!

by DanMaryLewis

I usually don't take the time to write a review but felt that this place was just so good I had to let everyone know. You must make sure you stop in to Stan's and try this food! It is so flavorful and cooked (smoked) to perfection.l The meat isn't disguised in sauce...it is what it is and it is the best I have ever had. We were made to feel welcome from the minute we walked in the front "screen" door and our food was at our table in minutes!

I read most of the reviews on Stan's and all were raving except for a couple, made by people that either are clueless or just tasteless! Don't let those reviews keep you from checking this place out...I promise you won't be disappointed!!

Editorial Review by Citysearch Editors

by Contributor

Kansas City-style barbecue in a saloon atmosphere--come on Sundays for NFL games.

01/12/08

Awesome Neighborhood Hangout

by technodiva

Stan's is one of those friendly places you just love to hang out. if you're a sports fan, the 6 HDTVs rock. Stan definitely knows his meat--the rib meat falls off the bone, easy and tender. My favorite side is the coleslaw, not too sweet or swimming in dressing, but just right. Our new favorite is the chili, though, which comes complete with sour cream, cheese and jalapenos. Perfectly done barbecue, a pitcher of Mac & Jack's, during a great game, finished off with cheesecake made one at a time. It's just so great to have a friendly, warm neighborhood hangout, with food that would draw us in even if there wasn't great service and atmosphere. We're regulars and we'll stay that way!

08/13/07

Not bad, but not as great as I thought it would be

by confwriter

I do have a caviat or two about this review: I LIKE my pulled pork sandwiches SLOPPY with sauce all over it... if it's been sitting in the sauce all day, even better! It's .. an opinion. Stan's is NOT like that. It's rubbed meat and you have to drop your own sauce on it. AND I was there for a friend of mine's performance (a nice bonus!) , so it was late at night. SO... it was okay. I want to try there maybe for lunch or early dinner, when the food is HOT. But... it was decent, and I'll go back again.

• Pros: They had live music along with their food!
• Cons: No real cons -- just not the type of messy/sloppy Q I prefer

07/16/07

Hands DOWN the best BBQ not only in Seattle...but in the Pacific Northwest!!!

by jiudice

Screw "the man"....dried out meat with hotsauce ain't gonna cut it for this serious BBQ lover. If you want REAL BBQ with meat cooked and smoked to perfection with your choice of sweet, mild or hot sauce "on the side" if needed in the authentic Kansas City style...Stans is it hands down! The most cordial staff around that greets every person that walks through the door with a friendly: "Welcome to Stans!" It's all about the meat: The hot links, the brisket, the pulled pork...it's all good! For first timers I would suggest the "sampler"...it has a lot of everything. From the hardcore BBQ lovers, to the first timers...Stans is the best around. Heaping portions, great beer on tap, live music on Friday nights- what else could you ask for? If you truly want to taste the BEST BBQ in the Northwest...you need to get your mouth to Stans!

07/16/07

Best Bar-B-Q in Seattle

by colezduck

I love Stan's the best Bar-B-Q this side of Kansas City - there's nothing in Seattle that comes close.