Porky Pine Pete's SmokeHouse BBQ

The place isn’t much to look at from the road, but most really great BBQ joints have that in common. Inside the place is warm and freindly. I happened to stop at “Porky Pine Pete’s” on my way from Minnesota one day. I have been back many times now and it is always the same great food. The service is always friendly and I get a big HOWDY when I enter. They like to serve fun right along with their fantastic BBQ. Home made fresh french fries are awesome. The pulled pork is juicy and tender. The brisket is melt in your mouth good. Ribs are dry rubbed and delicious. The cole slaw and cowboy beans are home made too and very very good. I like everything about this place. I can’t wait to go back to Wisconsin so I can have more of the best BBQ I have ever tasted and I have tasted a lot of BBQ in my travels. You are missing out if you don’t make a trip to Hawkins to eat at Porky Pine Pete’s.

All of the meat is really good. Unfortunately they appear to believe that’s all they need for a great Barbecue restaurant – because their sides are way below average and they don’t offer any fries or chips with your meal.
Good barbecue is about more than just the meat Pete! For the money you get good meat – but nothing else. The sauce is a disappointment too – now it’s not bad, but its not special at all. It’s grocery store sauce. Again – Pete just does meat and everything else is pedestrian.
After a meal there I haven’t had a good barbecue experience – just some good barbecue meat. IN the end it’s not worth going out of your way for. I’ll probably not go back.

First off, an exterior sign is recommended. Impossible to find from the street, difficult to spot in the parking lot. The interior is nice and roomy, with the welcoming smell of BBQ that hits you when opening the door. I had called ahead to get a to go order. I was disconnected once during the call…they apparently do not have a landline yet and all calls go through a cell phone. I did not check my order while at the restaurant. Upon arriving at home, I did not receive the fried green tomatos nor the cowboy beans that I had paid for. that was disappointing. I had the Tres Banditos Poco and the Prisket Poink N Moo (brisket and pulled pork sandwich). I’ll start with the positives. The pulled pork was absolutely delicious, much better than Smoky Jons. It was flavorful and tender. A disappointment was that they don’t have their own BBQ sauce. The bun on the Poink N Moo was almost deep fried…it was delicious. The brisket had a nice bark on it. I liked the dry rub on the ribs. The meat was very flavorful and tasty. The negatives: other than the forgotten items, I simply prefer wet ribs over a dry rub. Don’t get me wrong, as the rub was very good, it’s just a matter of personal preference. I thought the brisket was just ok. I prefer that of Smoky Jons…just more taste and more tender. Bottom line: I’ll be back for the pulled pork.

Good friend of PPP here and they moved but many who live in Madison are in luck! they have moved to High Point Center

My son and I stopped at Porky Pine Petes after a weekend of deer hunting. We didn’t know what to expect upon arrival but once we were inside we felt very comfortable. The owners are super nice and the food….delicious! I had the briskit with mashed potatoes and beans. Those beans are better than Famous Dave’s and the briskit definately held it’s own. Very tender and very, very tastey. My son had a burger combo and exclaimed “best burger I ever had!” I am definately going back there to try the ribs and pulled pork, I can’t wait!
P.S. We both ate for $15.00