Looking back on the year in local dining, we’re struck with a sense of optimism. Sure, we’ve lost more than a few places in 2024 (and some of those closures hurt a lot), but between established local eateries expanding to new digs and a steady stream of great new concepts opening in and around the city, the future appears to bright…at least (if not only) in regard to Milwaukee-area dining.
Before bounding belly-first into 2025 restaurant coverage, we wanted to give a little love to a lesser-known newcomer that came onto the scene late last year. Back in October 2024, Jervel “Mr. Barbecue” Williams—whose Mister-Bar-B-Que food truck has become something of a fixture in southeastern Milwaukee County in recent years—officially opened a brick and mortar location for his established BBQ venture.
Located at 4666 S. Packard Ave. just north of Layton Ave. in Cudahy, the building that now houses Mister Bar-B-Que was previously the home of a George Webb, a cozy eatery called Suzy’s Cafe, and most recently Hibachi Express. While the exterior (which is lacking proper signage at the moment) is a little uninviting to passersby, the alluring aroma of smoked meats and the promise of tasty sides should be enough to get you in the door.
Admittedly, we had never visited any of the property’s previous concepts, but we’re willing to take an educated guess there are some interior-related remnants of those predecessors in the no-frills suburban establishment. However, unlike those dine-in restaurants, Mister Bar-B-Que relies solely on carryout business, rendering its appearance irrelevant beyond the five-to-eight minutes it takes to place, pay for, and receive your takeout order.
Similar to other area barbecue purveyors, Mister Bar-B-Que offers two- and three-meat combos that consist of smoked selections like brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken, and sausage. You’ll also find half and full slabs of ribs, and a handful of southern-inspired sides dish staples. There’s a Friday Catfish Fry offered as well. We hadn’t the appetite, year-end budget, or available artery space to try it all, but we pledged to make a dent in the menu over the course of two visits in late 2024.
The first drop-in resulted in a two-meat combo consisting of brisket and smoked chicken ($21.99, including two sides). The poultry was well-smoked, supremely seasoned, tender, and juicy. It stole the show. While also good in its own right, that day’s brisket was a tad dry (perhaps at least a partial byproduct of our 10-minute drive home after retrieving the order). The generous slab of beef was saved by the downright tasty vinegar-tinged sauce that topped it.
We also integrated some pieces of sauced brisket into our Smokin Mac & Cheese, which was a respectable portion of decadent macaroni slathered in gooey cheese and dusted with spices. Both on its own and later mixed with meat, this side held its own. The Southern Greens did the job, but they honestly paled in comparison to every other side we tried.
Speaking of side options, visit two delivered an unexpected highlight in the form of BBQ Spaghetti ($4.99 on its own, but can also be selected as a side that comes in a combo). This is a classic case of something tasting far better than it looks, as succulent pieces of pulled pork intermingled with a deluge of tangy barbecue sauce and a Styrofoam container full of pasta noodles that had been softened by their prolonged exposure to the sauce that enveloped them. The texture of the noodles was reminiscent of SpaghettiOs, except topped with delicious BBQ standbys. You’re just going to have to trust us on this one.
Finally, our second trip to Mister Bar-B-Que concluded with a pulled pork sandwich ($12.99). Yes, the price of the solitary sandwich is on the heftier side, but so was the amount of pork we received. The heaping pile of tender pulled pork was sauced, pepper-flecked, and pressed between a hamburger bun that struggled to hold in all the goodness. It was a messy affair, but well worth the napkins sacrificed along the way. We should also note we ordered cornbread during this visit, but realized we neither received nor were charged for it by the time we got home. No worries: we’ll just try again during our next visit, which is sure to be very soon.
While not without some blemishes (both expected new restaurant hiccups and literal blemishes on its presently unwelcoming facade), Mister Bar-B-Que is certainly worth a visit and definitely has staying power in Cudahy.
