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Drooling Dog Bar B Q
Rating Details »
Category: Barbeque
150 A Harrison AveAuburn, CA 95603
(530) 886-8812
Drooling Dog has Moved to Auburn
Our new address is 150 A Harrison Ave. Take the Elm…
Announced 1 week agoMore »
- Hours:
Tue-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
20 reviews for Drooling Dog Bar B Q
My fiancée and I were looking for a caterer for our wedding at the Empire Mine State Park in May '09. After meeting owners Linda and Doug, and sampling the tritip with raspberry chipotle sauce, grilled veggies with Alabama sauce, and oh-so-tender brisket, it was an easy decision. Not only is their food terrific, but their warm and easy-going attitude gave me the confidence that they would cater our wedding with flexibility and professionalism.
They also carry a large variety of local (like across the highway) microbrews, and have a respectable menu of more "sophisticated" appetizers for catering events (the roasted grapes with blue cheese and walnuts in filo was quite tasty, and we're planning on having roasted stuffed heirloom tomatoes for the wedding). I'm excited that my out of town (and out of state) guests will get a real flavor of the Sierra Nevada foothills.
As for folks who might feel squirrly about the name...BBQ is all about smoke and fire, fresh air, hearty eating, and big flavors - certainly not for the meek. "Drooling dog" captures that perfectly, I think. And what better complement to the chef than a pooch that can't control its licker??
Update 6/25/2009:
The wedding reception has now come and gone, and the D&D did an awesome job. I gave them a detailed schedule and even though the things didn't stick totally to the plan, they adapted and accommodated the flow of the day. All the staff were super polite, and our guests raved about the food. Linda (co-owner) even came by the bridal party dressing area before the ceremony with a platter of their tasty appetizers since we probably wouldn't get much of a chance to eat during the reception (she was right). I can't recommend them enough.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/8/2008
My fiancée and I were looking for a caterer for our wedding at the Empire Mine State Park in May… Read more »
YUCK YUCK YUCK!!!!! We stopped here on our way home from Reno. We saw it going up and it looked appealing so we decided to try it out. When we arrived I asked if they had any options for a child and I was promptly told they are "doggy friendly and not child friendly"...I guess it was a jab at some dark humor.
Continuing to order....a slab of ribs 2 hot links and some beans for the family......$46.06!!!!!! can I repeat $46.06!!!!!!!!! BEND OVER!!!!
Food comes......MICROWAVED HOT LINKS! I think they were Showboats! UNBELIEVABLE! They were shriveled up from the sides and cold on the inside. Then the ribs. My son proceeded to call it "DOG FOOD" and we couldn't agree more. They smelled funny and were completely tasteless. I don't know how these people could be awarded a prize for a sauce....and no offense, but the town folk who voted for it needs to be BBQ slapped! I walked out pissed that I spent $46.06 for nasty ass food. I guess you live and learn. I agree with Roland's review 100%!
SO, HERE'S MY RESPONSE FROM THE OWNER. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD AFTER THIS RESPONSE THAT SHE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE COURTESY TO SAY THANK YOU FOR LETTING HER ROB US AS WE WERE LEAVING. THERE WAS NO ONE AT THE COUNTER. AND WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE WHO ATE WHAT? I LET MY HUSBAND EAT THE SMALL AMOUNT WE RECEIVED! AND WE DID ASK WHAT WAS GOOD, BUT YOU WERE TOO BUSY ASKING THE PEOPLE BEHIND US WHAT THEY WANTED BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY WERE PONDERING WHAT TO GET.
Linda M.
Owner
Un-Block Owner
8 hours ago Hi Michelle,
I do remember you, and am sorry you did not enjoy the food. My sense of humor is not yours as well, so I'm sorry you were offended. Your child was well behaved (compared to many we get in). You should have said you were not happy when I asked as we would have given you your money back. and the hot links were Evergood. We are not butchers, we cook BBQ (our brisket and pork are are best if you had asked.) Hot links are very seldom a way to judge BBQ.
and you seem to have cleaned the plate, so how bad was it?
Michelle N. 7 hours ago hello,
At that point, my husband would have eaten anything (me too). Also, I probably would have eaten anything as well as we were traveling for quite sometime "looking forward" to arriving. For $46.06 we think the plate should be cleaned for principle if anything else!
Michelle
Michelle N. 7 hours ago and, on another note. I live in a BBQ mecca, my dad is a professional chef trained in Europeand worked as an Executive Chef at a major hotel for years. I know good BBQ when I taste it. Hot links are an intregal part of the menu when done right. Had you suggested the brisket or pork instead of being unpleasant with us from when we first stepped in maybe my review would be different. Like I said, looking forward to a good meal was disappointing and at that point after spending $46.06 on this meal we would have eaten cat shit for all we care!
Let's just say that I am from the land of Bar-B-Que and my review is therefore biased to be sure...
First, there are 3 main things or concepts that define the term "bar-b-que"
1) Meat shall be cooked slowly on natural fire (wood or charcoal).
2) Sauces of any kind are an afterthought or accessory and in no way define the dish.
3) Microwaves and bar-b-que don't mix.
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We checked on the Drooling Dog Bar B Q because we heard that they were moving to Auburn. As of November, 2009, they are moving to 150 A Harrrison, Auburn, CA I really enjoyed their barbecue and hope their new place has nicer occomodations than the Colfax location. We'll see.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/25/2009
BBQ meat that comes cleanly off the bone. It is apparent that most of their business is catering,… Read more »
This is three-star barbecue, but I'll give them four stars because there aren't too many good food choices on the way from SF to Tahoe, and I think this is way better stop than greasy, noisy Ikedas. Meats are well smoked but on the dry and tough side (except for the beef brisket, which was excellent). BBQ sauce is served on the side and didn't have much complexity. Overall portions were also pretty small for the money (but hey, there aren't many bbq options out here).
Net:net is if you need some fuel on the way to Tahoe, this is a decent stop. But if you are stocking up the weekend fridge, I would keep driving to Smokey's Kitchen in Truckee which is slightly pricier but true four-star barbecue.
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I found a review of Drooling Dog online (not yelp) and decided to check it out on the way up to North Lake Tahoe. When we walked in the owner asked us how we heard about them. I said online and he pointed to a fridge with a "You've been Yelped!" letter on it.
He seemed really proud of his good reviews and he SHOULD be. Drooling Dog has some really good BBQ. I had the pulled pork sandwich, which was excellent.
The food came out super fast and was not over-priced.
One person in our party wanted ranch with her meal, but there was no ranch available so he brought out something called "White BBQ Sauce". It was amazing.
If you are headed up to North Lake Tahoe, make sure to stop at Drooling Dog and get BBQ all over your face.
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Before moving to San Francisco, I lived in Sacramento, and for a while I was on a mission to find the best bbq ribs in the area. After trying out many different places, I ended up driving pretty far out of the way to The Drooling Dog.
It was the best bbq ribs, garlic potatoes, and beef brisket that I have ever had to this day! Their homemade bbq sauces are awesome! I guess the owners are a (very nice) married couple with a passion for bbq. Their restaurant is so cute and they have a very wide variety of bottled beer and soda. Good prices, too.
You know you want to go to there!
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You can't beat the "Deluxe Combo Meal"...$12 a piece if you split it between 4 people, everyone will be full.
Support your hunger AND these super nice and down to Earth people.
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I'd like to add my 2 cents to Lynn T. 's review (as I was the other side of that little shin dig).
To say Drooling Dog went above and beyond the call of duty would be an understatement. I've dealt with caterers before and generally the normal feeling is that they want to get things done and over with, or at minimum they're more about efficiency than really caring about the event. Linda and Doug couldn't be further away from that. They truly cared about our wedding, spent inordinate amounts of time and effort making sure it went off without a hitch, thought of details that we'd missed and just worked their tails off. Their staff was courteous, professional and super fun.
And the food. It goes without saying that my wife and I love their BBQ. It has literally spoiled us, and we love BBQ. But the important part is that we still, months later, get random comments from our friends that the food at our wedding was the best they'd ever had at a wedding, and some of the best BBQ they'd had ever. We added Drooling Dog's contact info to our website because it was easier than emailing over 100 people the info. Now we just send them there.
Linda and Doug are passionate, amazing folks making some of the best BBQ around. Make the trip to Colfax, you'll be glad you did.
Firstly, and most importantly, the food here is WAY overpriced for how little you get.
In this economy, asking $13 for a sandwich and three spoonfuls of potato salad is a tad insulting even if your barbecue IS "award winning". I don't think I'm the only one who would like to see this place lower their prices by about fifty percent. The Drooling Dog is perpetually empty. And with their prices as high as they are, it's no wonder locals won't eat here.
Also, this place has the most bizarre hours of operation I've ever heard of! Open Thursday - Sunday? Now open for breakfast? Really? I couldn't tell you the last time I woke up at 7am on a Thursday morning craving a 1/4 pound of smoked meat smothered in barbeque sauce. But, maybe I'm the exception to the rule :)
Talking to the owners, I felt like they may be just a little TOO proud of their "award winning" BBQ. Unless you LIKE dry overcooked meats, The Drooling Dog offers really nothing to drool over. I didn't think their "award winning" sauces were anything special either -- much too sweet for my palette.
On the plus side, Drooling Dog does have a lot of neat sodas and beers that you won't find anywhere else in the area. It's also right off I-80. So it's very convenient for those who want to eat and get right back on the road. The building is small and quaint with a cute little outdoor eating area. And there's rarely anybody in the place, so the food hits your table fast. That too is a plus in my book.
It's also worth noting that I've heard some REALLY weird stories about the owners over the years. I've chatted with both of them on several occasions, and they DO come off as being a bit creepy. But that could probably be said about alot of people in Colfax. Doug and Linda seem like well-intentioned people at least.
In conclusion, the food isn't horrible but it's not very good either, and it's WAY over priced. Thankfully, its not very hard to find much better barbecue than this at a much better price here locally. Try that new Oakfire Grill in Auburn for a real BBQ treat. It's equally as good, if not better than Drooling Dog and half the price. It's not right off the freeway like this place is, but you won't regret the 1/2 mile drive from the exit.
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If there was a 6th star I would give it to the folks at Drooling Dog. I love the raspberry chipotle BBQ sauce. I've tried the chicken, pulled pork, ribs, and brisquet. My fav is the brisquet. In the winter they have southern greens and corn pudding. I can't tell you have delicious it is - YOU HAVE TO TRY IT! We bring all of our friends up to Colfax from Sac for lunch. The owners feel like friends on your first visit! Don't wait till you are in Colfax or going up to Tahoe to try this place. You gotta make an epicurian trip - just for this food!
From the road it looks like a real dive...but that is for the unsuspecting lookie-lou! I did my research ALL the cuisine and food critics give Drooling Dog the top ratings. The sauces and BBQ are featured on TV and in SAC magazine' s best and selected as Sacramento's best BBQ.
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This place is some really tasty BBQ on your way to/from Tahoe. I stopped here a couple months ago heading home one weekend and had thei brisket - which was great. The owner and his wife are very friendly and are more than happy to talk to you about anything and particularly about Drooling Dog. They've got quite the business going at this place. I've tired their breakfast and it's good but a total gut bomb; highly recomend if you're hungry in the morning. I'll be going back to this place for sure.
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Drooling Dog BBQ is a great place to stop at on your way up the hill to Tahoe for lunch. The hot BBQ sauce is great. The sides are normal, but it's hard to dress up baked beans. Lots of unique sodas and craft beer bottles to buy. This is a good reason to come to Colfax.
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Very good BBQ! We hired them to cater our wedding after deciding to serve homestyle bbq comfort food instead of some fancy, nasty chicken dish that is at every wedding I attend.
The owners are super friendly and wonderful cooks. They were a big help at our wedding and even stayed to cut and serve the cake and clean up. Wonderful people, wonderful food. I will use them again!
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I'm sorry.......but I won't eat at an establishment with the name "Dog" in the title......much less a "Drooling" canine (the thought of Rabies comes to mind....we live in the Sierra foothills where we've seen our share of drooling coyotes (a type of dog, ya know), that are put down by county officers).
The name "Drooling Dog" makes me wanna puke, just thinking about it.
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I did not think great BBQ would be that hard to find in the area, but I have been let down so many times by the large and small joints.
Some people cringe about the name, but cm'on, it is not like they have a hound stirring a pot in the kitchen.
We found this place after getting lost and taking Yankee Jim Road from Foresthill to Colfax. I thought it was a valid road, but after dodging mud puddles, crossing rivers, avoiding fallen trees, and trying not to get shot by the folks with missing teeth, we were starving. We came rolling by this shack reading the name, Drooling Dog BBQ, what the heck?? Yeah I can go for a joint about now.
What a joint it was we discovered. From the extremely welcome atmosphere, to the wall of good old time sodas from my younger days. It was fun to just see the bottle, bubble up anyone? Then the fresh cornbread muffins from the over distracted me further.
No I have read some of the reviews and they are talking about the tri-tip or the chicken. I am sorry, if you love BBQ and you are at an official joint and its on the menu you have to go brisket. What is brisket, well it is not a meat of choice for your backyard quick fire bbq lets put it at that. But, if it is done right and slower the better, you cannot beat it.
Try ordering the Brisket plate, it is enough for 2. I hate to split but my wife is always right and my body appreciates not being stuffed, because I would with their food. Make sure you ask for the wet brisket, why? because your mouth will love you and you will be coming back every chance you get. This stuff melts in your mouth and the light smoke flavor is elegant. Don't forget the rasberry bbq sauce, while the brisket does not need it, it is excellent with it also. So I go half with and half with out.
It is a great little place to introduce to firends, they are always surprised. While the Tri-tip, chicken, ribs, and pulled pork is good, it is all about the brisket, make sure your friends order that the first time they come and they wil be hooked too.
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Homemade Down to Earth Great Food. Even a Vegetarian would love it!
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My favorite BBQ place. My wife and I go there often after a hike at Weimar Institute (we live nearby). They are very friendly, homey folks. I rate this well above: Back 40, Big Joes, Lucilles. They always have new sides and desserts on the menu and have a huge beer and soda selection.
The tri-tip is medium rare and smokey. We usually get a bunch to go sliced for sandwiches. The chicken is also good. The tri-tip black bean chili is some of the best I've had: smokey, tomatoey, and garlicky. I also love the chipotle raspberry BBQ sauce - which won a first place national award.
It is a little pricey but worth it occasionally.
The guy complaining about it due to the name is missing great BBQ.
I have to give this place a very good review. For hikers exiting the American River it's a god send. Tri-tip, pulled pork sandwiches mac n' cheese and Key Lime short bread bites are just a few offerings this tiny mountain establishment has to offer. Just off I-80 it's also a great place to stop for lunch on your way up to Lake Tahoe. Great beer, wine and Boylan soda selection.
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The side dishes, herb roasted potatoes and cole slaw were GREAT!
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