Juke Joint

$ 10 per rib. $ 10 per rib. $ 10 per rib. $ 10 per rib. $ 10 per rib. $ 10 per rib. stay the fuck away $ 10 per rib. each individual RIB costs a fucking mind blowing $ 10. Only half the rib had meat. So now it’s $ 20 for a fucking single ribs worth of meat here. STAY THE FUCK AWAY $ 20 PER RIB

Popular Brother’s brewery and bar that’s nestled in a suburban Mt Eden side street and fitted out with Kiwiana furniture in a similar vein to its shorter older sibling at City Works Depot. The nice little garden and deck with covered seating at the back offer a relaxing space to hang out on warm evenings. The «takeaway» type kitchen next to it serves a limited selection of barbecued meat, pulled pork, pastrami sandwiches, sides (including coleslaw and sauerkraut) and a few jar– filled desserts such as lemon meringue and banana and maple. It’s like having s picnic at a pub and they shut rather early (10pm) but it’s definitely worth a look. The staff include some of the brewers, so they really know their hops!

I have been wanting to go to the Juke Joint (part of the Brothers Beer) for a while now, but sorry I was not impressed when I finally got there. Situated in an old ex-​leather factory, I loved the relaxed retro décor although it was hugely lacking somewhere to sit. Given it seems to be very popular on a Friday for after work drinks.
I don’t drink beer but I am sure that’s what it is famous for with a huge brewery set in ½ the premise. The wine menu was good though and I can’t complain there.
However the food… make your choices on a form much like you do at PapaRich or Bedford Soda and take the form up with you to make your order. Wait at the canteen type counter whilst they dish your meal up… it’s like going to McDonald’s and getting your burger and fries on a tray to take back to your table.
By the time we finally got a table we could sit at 2 meat options were gone so I had to take what was left which was the ribs. Very scantly clad bones were gracing my tray and thankfully for the under dressed coleslaw and the crispy golden potato pompoms to fill me up. Honestly I wouldn’t go again for the food. My friend had Mac and cheese and it was the most uninspiring tasteless slop I had ever seen. When she told me she got that and 100g pulled pork for $ 26 I was horrified.
If you want a beer get there with your mates.

Quirky brewery, nestled in a quiet suburban street in Mt Eden. If your my age, you’ll recognise the retro furniture (and carpet) you grew up with. With a focus on boutique beers, lots of casual seating inside and out and American style bbq food on the menu, this place is worth a try. Tick what you want on the menu and line up for service. Lots of slow cooked meat choices with salads or mac ‘n cheese, sandwiches and plenty of sauce options, but they do run out so get in quick. And don’t plan on making a late night of it, liquor laws have them closing pretty early. Great afternoon spot for the weekend.

A new place that tugs at the heart of any man but its also great for gals too.
The space is great, multiple seating areas with retro couches and chairs, retro games available like cluedo and monopoly and low tables.
The bar and eatery looks over the brewery. The local beer was excellent and the alcoholic ginger beer also great.
We ordered brisket and pulled pork sandwiches that came in a bun. Very tasty. We tried one with a sweet smokey sauce and one with hot and spicy. Both delish.
We had sides of tater tots and mac & cheese. Both yum and I’m sure I’ll be back for a side of tater tots when I’m suffering from a giant hangover. They were great.
The service was great and the décor delivers lots of trinkets to look at while you eat and drink.
There is also an outdoor space that’s covered and a sandpit for kids and inside more toys and spaces for kiddies to hang out.
Well done guys.
Loved it.

Ok two stars is a bad start, although this place does actually have a couple of very good things going for it — a cool funky seventies hipster vibe, great craft beer and some really great food.
The problem is the concept; you arrive, walk to the bar, order a drink and find a seat or a funky seventies couch like the one your nana had. Then you grab a pencil, grab a menu and tick the items you want… so far so hipster, the problem is then you have to give up your funky couch, take your filled in menu and stroll over to the food service area. You then join a queue, menu in hand yearning for the craft beer you left back on the funky seventies coffee table next to your funky seventies couch. By this point I’m thirsty and the queue is oh so slow.
When you get to the counter you get, what is, to be polite, a hipster interpretation of a roast shop. The meat is served by weight, so it’s based on the accuracy of the person carving it and you’re not likely to pay the exact price you envisioned (unless the server is a robot). That said they serve some fantastic food that truly tastes delicious. Amazing smoked pork ribs, delicious roast chicken, beef short rib, and one of the best mac ‘n cheeses I’ve ever had.
I get all this (to share with my wife) served on a metal style canteen tray, which I then had to pay for at the checkout before heading back to my cool seventies couch to consume… maybe this is your idea of fun and cool, I’d rather grab a drink, have someone take my order, and sit back and relax with the family until the food arrives. This is just one hipster concept too far.

I have been to brothers beer Juke Joint BBQ twice now. First time was for my birthday, within a week of it opening. Everyone was laid back, jokes were had & portions were generous.
That was my first experience. A probably 6 out of 5 experience. Second, not so much. Weighing meats, printing off labels and dishing out exactly the right amount seemed to more important. The friendly vibe was replaced with a more military precision. I get it, this place has got some press, people are finding out about it. I turned up, just on 6:20 on a Thursday night, car park was full, people were parking on the street, as I was leaving the line was almost out the door. I was told by Brad, the master of meats, that Wednesday night was busier! So yeah the current fade of American style BBQ seems to have a foot hold.
Food, shit I almost forgot to talk about the food. Hahahaha so much talk about the business I forgot the main reason you might read this. 4 of the stars are dedicated to the food. The attention to detail, the taste, the smoke every is spectacular. I finally got to try the brisket, it was OMFG like nothing I have ever had before! I loved it. They could have my pay cheque lol. They did basically, pork ribs are a little over done for my liking. But the smoke penetrated 100%. So the flavour was good (I’m running low on adjectives).
I will say this, try the sides too, my personal favourites… Burnt end beans and the Mac n’ Cheese.
Price. Four large sides $ 10 a pop, three meats weighing around 575 grams. The total was $ 110 it might be a little steep for some. I know I got a bit of a shock. Will I be back? Yeah most likely. Hahaha

The Southern BBQ trend continues…
I’m a fan of this new venue from the boys at Brothers. The vibe is the same but
It’s much larger than their City Works Depot venue and is kitted out with a full brewery and an authentic Texas BBQ. They’ve also got a killer outdoor courtyard with festoon lights — it’s reminds me heeeeaps of Rainey St in Austin (google it).
As for the food, it’s pretty on point. It sounds like they did a couple of research trips to the States and it totally shows. Basically you choose you meat (s), add the trimmings (collard greens, burnt end beans, mac ‘n cheese, tater tots, pickles, slaw and maybe a couple of others…) and sauces (there’s too many to name). It’s served canteen style out of bain maries — so pretty casual.
All of the meat was pretty good but the standout for me was the pastrami, which was coated in a dry spice rub and deliciously tender. The pickles were also a highlight. They do all their own pickling and they’re the perfect mix of sour/​salty/​sweet.
When we went they didn’t yet have their liquor license so it was soft drinks all round. I’m looking forward to a return visit complete with a crafty brew.

The guys from Brothers Beer have jumped on the bandwagon that is the latest trend for Southern American «low n slow» BBQ goodness… and they’ve done their homework. Juke Joint is the food component to the new brewery set-​up in Akiraho St. If you’ve been to Brothers at the City Works Depot, you’ll recognise the décor style: retro-​style Trade Me sofas, armchairs & 70’s era rugs providing a comfy element to the pared-​back concrete walls & floor. 2 roaring fires were a welcome addition on the early spring night we visited, along with leaner-​style tables & a big open space showcasing the brewing vats behind the bar. The outdoor seating & garden area will be a hotspot come summer, no doubt.
But onto the food. Your options are presented on a paper order form: meat is priced by the gram, the sauce list is extensive, and there is a sandwich option if you’re after a quick meal ready to go, rather than customising your selection. You make your choices, then queue to present them to the friendly team behind the counter, who are more than happy to make recommendations. The night we dined, we had 6 hungry appetites happy to share, along with a couple of Americans to help us manœuvre those selections that might be a bit foreign to some Kiwis: think tater tots, collard greens & dill pickles. So we basically sampled everything that was on offer!
My highlights were definitely the burnt end beans: a sweet, tangy BBQ-​style baked bean dish, as well as the crunchy dill pickles. Meat-​wise, Southern BBQ is different to what us Kiwis know as BBQ. The grunty Beast of a BBQ that we could just glimpse over the serving counter has been imported from the U.S., after what we were informed was extensive «research» (read travel & food sampling!) by the Brothers Beer guys. The meat is almost smoked — heated low over wood for a long time, resulting in tender & flavoursome cuts. The pastrami & brisket were both great, and the pork ribs had a spicy glaze on them, but don’t expect them to drip in sauce like other places’ offerings. The white BBQ sauce was like a vinegar-​y ranch dressing, which went well with the chicken and the sauerkraut cut through the richness of the meat feast nicely. For 6 of us, 100g of each meat was plenty, but be aware that the you’ll need a slightly heavier serving for the ribs — the kitchen guys are pretty good with helping out if you’re not sure.
The whole experience was great, and the service is exactly what we’ve come to expect from Brothers Beer: casual, friendly & relaxed. They’re aware that this is a new style of cuisine for most NZers & are happy to talk you through it, as well as listen to suggestions & ideas.
I’m kind of bummed that I don’t live closer, as I can definitely imagine this place becoming a well-​loved local: comfy, familiar & pretty damn tasty to boot.