Well worth it! I was staying in Capitola and wanted something different than I generally get when in the area and thought I would give Aptos St BBQ a try. I could not decided which meat I wanted to try so I just played it safe and went with the four meat option. I had the burnt ends.... yummy caramelized chunks of meat, pulled pork.... the right amount of salt and tasted even better dipped in the BBQ sauce.... brisket was so tender and so flavorful that no BBQ sauce was needed.... tri tip, again so tender and flavorful, cooked to perfection, pink around the edges so you could tell it was slow cooked. I paid the extra $1 to upgrade to a baked potato, this thing was so big that three people could have shared it. Cooked perfectly, I was afraid being so large that the center may not be cooked through but it was. For my second side I requested the mac n cheese, but I can't review it as they did not pack it in my bag. I was disappointed but was not going to drive back after already being sat down next to a warm fire ready to eat for the first time that day. I had enough food to satisfy me for dinner and then again for lunch the following day. Service was great. Being my first time I asked questions and the young man at the register was very helpful. Again, the only thing I was not happy about is that they left one dish out and it was clearly printed on my receipt. Location was a little tight, parking was sparse but still able to find a spot. Since I did not dine in I can't really speak on it, but it looked comfy and seemed to have enough seating to accommodate a large party if you came with a bunch of friends.

Andrea is such a breath of fresh air! She gladly takes your requests and truly delivers a welcoming experience. The BBQ smells just heavenly. I ordered a brisket sandwich, cole slaw, corn bread and some burnt ends. Delicious and very satisfying. This was my first visit, but definitely not my last.

Ribs, brisket, tri tip. In that order. If we could have unlimited ribs with no other meat, we would. We love good bbq, especially with a well done fatty brisket (not well done temp-wise). Plan to sub out the mac and the baked beans. They were just... different. The Mac uses a cheese that has a sharp flavor with a not-so-great after taste. The baked beans were chalky with a hint of spice. We finished neither and were disappointed we didn't get different sides, especially having read the feedback on these two sides specifically. Would have tried the cornbread and potato salad in lieu of. We opted to sit outside since we had the doggos with us. It gets cold in the evenings and while they APPEAR to have heaters, don't be fooled. There are no propane tanks inside them and there's no plan to either. Apparently there are some propane kleptos among us. Bring a blanked or towel for your doggo to sit on as the outdoor space is all rocks. We brought our car bucket and it was a nice fit.

I came back again (several times actually). This time I got the burnt ends and they were heavenly nuggets of gooey, caramelized, savory meaty goodness. The tri-tip today was good, but not amazing. The brisket sandwich is incredible as always--moist, salty, smoky well-marbled beef on soft garlic buttered sandwich bread. The pork ribs had great flavor, just the right amount of saltiness, and were soft enough to pull off the bone. The cornbread was pleasant with a slightly toasted texture. It came with a packet of honey and a pat of butter on the side. The potato salad was my favorite side. Mac and cheese had a creamy white cheesy sauce with soft, almost mushy macaroni, which I didn't much care for. I tried the beans, which were meh. The beans were heavy on a spice I didn't like, cumin maybe? I wouldn't re-order this. All of this delicious outdoor smoked barbecue paired well with the black cherry soda. There's also an option to add 1/4 lb meat to a side (like the baked potato) for $7. Service is just okay, but we're here for the food honestly. The interior is dimly lit and often has a great blues band on weekends, which really sets the vibe for a relaxed atmosphere. Next time I'll just order the burnt ends (perfection), ribs, and cornbread. I highly recommend this barbecue joint--it's the best of the all the ones ones I've tried in the greater Bay Area.

Stopped in for a long anticipated lunch after many hours of driving from Solvang. Ordered the macaroni and cheese with barbecue pulled pork. The pork was tender and nicely seasoned. The macaroni and cheese tasted good, however after I dumped some barbecue sauce on top it kicked it up a notch! The soda machine has many tasty options. I settled on the cream soda since it's not too sweet. The people here are always nice and welcoming. I noticed the new patio outdoor seating area. Well new to me anyway. It looks pretty!

Quite possibly the best balanced smoked meat, not too fatty of a brisket and BBQ sauces just right. I really couldn't tweak the brisket and chicken and BBQ sauces any better for my taste. Also, I did enjoy the slice of corn bread. It was not the cakey-fluffy kind. One walks up to the cashier, orders the meal, desserts, drinks and they yell out your name when the food is ready to be picked up. Talking about drinks, they have a myriad of sodas on tap, beers, ciders and canned libations. In and outdoor seating. There is a parking lot but it seemed easier and shadier to park on the street.

Decided to stop by here for lunch on a whim. I forgot how good Aptos BBQ is! It's been awhile since I've eaten here and I'm not sure why? The meat is always SO tender and flavorful. They are always consistent, I've never been here and had a bad plate of food. Today I got the regular bbq chicken sandwich with a side of coleslaw (I dump it in my sandwich) and wow. So filling and delicious! My partner got the BBQ spud with brisket and my kids got their littles plate of tri-tip, choice of side and either corn bread or garlic bread. Just for $10! Not bad! The service was quick but we also came when it was empty. So that left lots of seating options! They also have a good selection of beer on tap! Only issue is parking can be tricky! Definitely check this place out! Way easier to get to than Mission St. BBQ (IYKYK)

Q the Roof Another quality BBQ joint by this family-run operation that has multiple BBQ restaurants located throughout Norcal. This location might be my favorite of the bunch, tho, as the Q on our last visit was out-fucking-standing. Here's a full list: Aptos St BBQ (Aptos), Trail Dust (Morgan Hill), BBQ 152 (Gilroy), South Winchester BBQ (SJ), Salinas City BBQ (Salinas, duh), Wagon Wheel (Mt View), Mission St BBQ (Santa Cruz), The Crossroads (Carmel-by-the-Sea), and Real Smoked BBQ catering. The Good: *Outdoor dog-friendly seating *Fast-casual (i.e., order at the counter) *Friendly service *Fantastic selection of local microbrews (this is a hallmark of these Q joints) *Live Blues music 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. nightly (Sat 1 - 4 p.m.) *BBQ Beans were just a hair underdone but really good, regardless. *Ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender, smokey, and delicious. *Brisket was smokey, juicy, and full of beefy goodness. Maybe the best brisket I've had in a few years. *Carissa loved her smoked chicken. Pro Tip: Make sure to specify dark or white when you order, but I can almost guarantee the white will be dry. *The "Slaw Queen" gave her stamp of approval. The Meh: *Street parking only, which wasn't an issue for us, but it could be during peak times. *Wasn't a big fan of the Mac and Cheese, as I felt it was a little gloppy, but it was still plenty edible. The Ugly: *Not really sure what to make of the cornbread... Kinda odd, but kinda good at the same time. Very unusual. Conclusion: Excellent Q, solid beer selection, and great vibes.