Possibly the most well-known BBQ Restaurant in Richmond, Buz and Ned’s was featured on the TV shows Throwdown! with Bobby Flay and Man vs. Food. Both of those were about 10 years ago but they certainly haven’t forgotten as each of their two locations has a TV showing the episodes on repeat. I’ve been to the original location on the Boulevard several times so I decided to check out the relatively new Broad Street store.

The restaurant is beautiful, despite the obnoxiously huge banner on the outside reading “4th Best BBQ in America” next to the Food Network logo. It’s got an open kitchen, full bar, and large dining room lined with brick and adorned with old Coca-Cola signs and several pieces of Alfred Morris memorabilia (apparently the former Redskins RB was a fan). This location is definitely more bar-focused than its predecessor, with daily drink specials and fantastic selections of beer, whisky, and tequila.

Reputation – 4.2/5

Reviews are pretty good, with this rating being dragged down a bit by a 3.5 from Yelp. That’s not a bad rating, but considering how well-known the place is I was a bit surprised. When talking BBQ with folks around town, I hear the word “overrated” thrown around quite a bit when Buz and Ned’s is mentioned. I think it’s largely a result of their exposure, being know for the TV appearances and their large billboards around the city – it’s presented as the best in town but generally not considered so by most locals.

Experience – 3.9/5

I visited in the early evening on a weekday and was surprised to see the bar pretty full. I opted to order at the counter and sit at a high table, as I wasn’t having a drink today (despite being ever so tempted by two of my favorite beers, Dark Hollow and Nuclear Nugget). I’m also certain the bar crowd of 50-somethings would have scoffed at me taking 10 photos of my food before eating it. I ordered at the counter (sandwich is only about $6 a la carte) then sat, where I was approached by a tired-looking waitress which confused me a bit since I had already paid. I guess it’s a function of the bar, so that you can order drinks. Nothing against servers – I am one – But I prefer BBQ to be mostly self-service. I’m happy to get my own sauces and drink refills without being obligated to tip someone.

Presentation – 3.7/5

The food looked very good, coming on a paper-lined basket-type tray with the coleslaw in a paper side dish. No frills and no complaints from me. The table had a caddy with salt and pepper, ketchup, a few hot sauces, and – my only gripe – just one BBQ sauce. Granted, it was a delicious sauce (tomato based with vinegar and a spice blend with some kick) but one of my favorite things about BBQ is having a selection of sauces to choose from.

Quality and Taste – 8/10

The food looked very good, and tasted very good. The pork was (time to find synonyms for tender and flavorful) succulent and luscious. Ok, just kidding. That’s laying it on a bit too thick. But it was very good. The bun and coleslaw were okay, pretty generic. I ordered a side of hush puppies, as I always do at Buz and Ned’s because they’re damn good. It was a very solid if unspectacular meal.

Final Rating – 79.2

It’s worth noting that while obviously pulled pork is a cornerstone of any good BBQ shack, Buz and Ned’s is definitely best known for ribs. I’ll certainly visit again to try the ribs and check out their happy hour. I’d like to take my dad here – a lot of the decor looks like it was stolen from his garage, and they play old country music. They also have a neat little gift shop selling hats and t-shirts as well as BBQ books, all sorts of cooking instruments, and other odds and ends. Maybe I should start ending these reviews with a snappy catch phrase? Nah, probably not.