Boulder Junction Charcoal Grill

My husband and I went here on a recommendation. As soon as you walk in you can tell that the place has not been updated in quite a long time, the diorama was pretty interesting though. We were seated and served promptly and had a very friendly server, he even made my husband a cherry coke. I ordered the Aztec wrap and thought it was really good, husband had the Turkey burger and he said it was ok. We were seated in the booth area right by the bar, every so often I would get a whiff of rotten egg/​nasty smell. I don’t know since we were seated by the base of the bar if it was the drain or what. The bathrooms were relatively clean but could really use some maintenance. When we were leaving there were a bunch of kids on the railing enclosing the bar trying to climb it like a rock wall, very unsafe as it was at least a 10 foot drop. Staff obviously said nothing but the supervising fail of the evening goes to their coach who was just standing there egging them on. Would we go to this place again? Maybe, but I put this restaurant in the same caliber as Denny’s and Perkins. Not really impressed.

I’ve been a long time diner at Boulder and have witnessed the steady decline in service at this establishment.
I had arranged a post funeral luncheon for about 12 people for last Wednesday arriving roughly at 1:00
Upon arrival there were no plans made by boulder to accommodate our party. They scampered around in order to get tables together. When my wife lightly complained to the hostess my wife was met with a scurrilous comment in a nasty tone. Given the stress we were under given the day’s events we felt this a completely inappropriate response to a party that was going to spend at least $ 200 for lunch. We were made to feel that this was an inconvienence by the hostess. The serving staff (Mikey) saved the day but it remains a rather bitter experience given the day

I’ve been going to this place for most of my life. I’m not even kidding — I remember coming here when I was still in a high chair and I’m 21 years old now! Literally nothing has changed.
Wait! I forgot. They used to have fish in a koi pond and it was really amusing to a four year old. I used to dip my small fingers in the water and try to see if I could «pet» the fishies before my mom and dad would swoop in and scold me. I wish they still had it but I’m sure it was some sort of health code violation or it cost too much too run or something. They also had a good kids menu from what I remember.
As an adult — this place is still awesome. Their steak sandwich is very delicious and I love the charcoal flavor that seems to be a big thing here. Another favorite of mine is the rotisserie chicken — its usually juicy and properly seasoned. Chicken dumpling soup is also really good.
Staff is usually pretty consistently good. I’m sure in the 20+ years we’ve been coming here — we’ve had some sort of bad experience with Boulder Junction — but I don’t remember it and clearly it hasn’t stopped us from coming back.
Interior is a bit dated but that’s how I like it. It throws you back to the good old days when restaurants didn’t care about being trendy or chic as long as they had good food. This place isn’t for everyone. If you’re really into looking at a plethora of modern art while eating your edemame and kale salad at your favorite hoity toity brookfield bistro — you’re gonna have a bad time. If you don’t mind smokey the bear eyeing you with his judgmental stare while you scarf down your steak like a real caveman (or woman — I’m PC bro) — you’re gonna love this place. ;-)
Now as I spare you any more South Park references — head over to Boulder Junction for a killer steak sandwich or one of the many other fine offerings on their menu. You might be disappointed — but I sure am not.

Live about three blocks away. Food is great; atmosphere as well. Great service and the prices are right in line.

I almost hate to give this review because if people find out how good it is it will be too crowded next time I’m in town.

Fried foods are fried with the scale fish — for me that’s a big allergic reaction waiting to happen — not a good place for me.

We did the work lunch here again and I went against what I would normally do and ordered the rib sandwich. All I could think was a Mc rib disaster but I was completely wrong. This was a nice meaty trimmed at least ¹⁄₃ rack of real ribs de boned and set into a nice bun with smokey BBQ sauce. After having the Mc rib at so early in life I never thought there was a real one. No pickles or onions but real the rib meat that was great, not smoker but a grilled flavor. I wanted to hate it after ordering but when it arrived I was impressed with it because all I knew of the concept was a Mc rib and after getting a real one that was way to hardy for me and left me with left overs for a second stab at it. It does come with steak frys that I can tolerate. I had some service issues but I did bombard them with a large order and my order didn’t suffer so as the reviewer and being that my meal was not affected I will let the review stand and if they want to post a bad review they can. A large take out order will always have a casualty and it was not me this time so my review is not affected. The concept was good but they could have stolen the pickle and onion to finish it off. If you want a real rib sandwich and I don’t how wide spread it, is this will hit the spot. For me it was way heavy for a lunch.

Five stars for the Friday fish fry walleye. The walleye is two huge fillets that are fresh and amazing. Get there early as they do run out. One night we went there late and the walleye ran out. I ordered a different fish and it was mediocre AT BEST. Most of the other food is medicore to below average but the walleye is to do die for.

It took awhile for our server to come to our table. I ordered a chicken salad and it was pretty good.
The chicken was perfectly grilled but the vegetables in the salad could’ve been chopped a little more.

I dine here quite often. The wait staff is friendly and competent. I deceided to try the chicken kabob over rice this evening. I was real hungry. Well I guess I expected the chicken was also going to be located on the skewer too but it wasn’t it was a flat pattie pan fried and cut in thin slices and laid on the rice bed with the skewered burned blackened tomatoes onions and red /​green peppers. The chicken was dry and it certainly was not of a skewered quality meat portion. I will not order again and have informed them of that and am disappointed that restaurant advertised on menu an inaccurate discription of the meal. I give it a 1 star, the rice bed was good.

Our daughter took us here to celebrate Father’s Day. She is really in love with the place and I will, therefore limit my review to avoid offending her. The greatest turn-​off was the hostess who was rather rude and made no eye contact. The restaurant was not busy, but our server seemed rushed. The food was good, but did not measure up to the prices charged. Service was good.

I frequent Boulder Junction monthly or more with family, friends, and colleagues. I always brag about and make recommendations for people to dine at Boulder Junction as I have always received (for the most part) great service and excellent food. However, I went with a friend and my daughter to your restaurant last night, Saturday, June 14, 2014 and the service was quite different from what I have received in the past.
Right off, the hostess with dark hair and glasses was rude. She did not speak or greet us upon entering. Barely looked at us and said, «Table for three?» Then she swiftly walked us to a table in the center of the room, laid the menus down and swiftly walked away without waiting on us to make it to the table, informing us that our server would be right over, or wishing us a nice dining experience. That abrupt behavior was rude and inappropriate.
Our server Alex came over and was extremely nice. At our request, he sat us at a booth where we would be more comfortable. Apologized for the hostesses’ behavior and told us that because we were going to be seated out of his section, he would identify a really great server to take care of us.
Kelly was our server; she was wonderful as I had had her in the past. Kelly met all of our needs and apologized for the weird dining environment.
Even though Kelly provided great service, we were for some odd reason treated curtly by other staff, from the same hostess rudely and loudly bamming on the counter directly behind our booth to Gabe another server, abruptly walking past and snatching a bowl of crackers off our table without asking if we were still using or wanted them. Appetizers arrived, and then our meal was ready about three minutes later. Kelly again apologized and offered to have the kitchen hold the meal, but we told her to bring it to the table. Just odd.
Finally, upon leaving, a different hostess with blond hair and eyeglasses, said really nastily, dry, and abruptly, «bye» …while holding her head down. Really? Again, that was just odd. I am used to hearing, «How was your meal? Please come back and join us. Thank you for coming.» Wow, I am not used to being treated in the manner in which we were treated last night at Boulder Junction.
Although, I was pleased that Alex and Kelly went out of their way to make up for how we were being treated by the other staff, I am sharing my concerns because I do not believe this is the reputation Boulder Junction Charcoal Grill wants to have with customers or in the community.
I hope someone takes the time to review my concerns and address staff. I would like my next dining experience at Boulder Junction to be pleasant.

The best grilled pork chops. 2 chops sizzling on a fajita platter. Served with an au jus-​like sauce.
Tvs at the bar are weak, decent bartenders. Steak is just average.

Variety of menu. Superb services. I like their steak and chicken rotisserie. Very family atmosphere restaurant. I recommend anyone if you have not try this restaurant yet.

We love this place, the food is excellent and the service is great. Reasonably priced and a great place to eat with adults and children. We always leave here satisfied. Try the chili, burgers, and Friday fish fry. They are my too choices!

If you love eating «ok I guess» food while being stared at by a stuffed bear, this place is for you!
But seriously, what’s with the décor here? So creepy/​weird.
Old folks seem to love this place though. You’ll be in a shouting match with your table mates trying to converse over the drone of hundreds of white haired heads. It’s pretty loud, and the architecture of the room doesn’t help.
The food is priced high for the quality, which is just OK. The menu is bizarrely expansive, which makes me worry about ingredient freshness. Taste confirms concerns.
It’s not terrible, I’d just rather spend that same amount somewhere else.

The noise from the bar TV filled the entire (huge) restaurant… Making it difficult to even converse. So «steakhouse» became «sports bar» The steak was tasty– though I think had been treated with a lot of MSG. The chicken and dumpling soup was very good. Our server was extremely attentive but in an unobtrusive way– a hard mix to master. There are a lot of stuffed and mounted birds and mammals… So not a place to bring your vegan mother-​in-​law.

Boulder Junction has some of the best ribs I’ve ever had. They have a crust on the outside and are tender on the inside. It is exactly what you would expect of a place that has these prices and is a bar and grill. Great sandwiches. Stay away from anything fancy. Really good onion strings and is a good deal. We go all the time.
Just remember, this isn’t a 4 or 5 star restaurant. It is just a great sandwich place with really good ribs!

Our neighbors gave us a gift certificate as a welcome to the neighborhood gift, prompting us to stop in for lunch. I suppose the steaks are what people come for, but my wife and I were both a bit underwhelmed with our selections (she had grilled cheese, which is a hard thing to underwhelm with, I a pork chop sandwich which managed to be both dry and leave the bun soggy). The server was attentive though, and if you like taxidermy and wild west décor this is your place.
A very thoughtful gift from our new neighbors, but this probably won’t be a place that we’ll be frequenting on our own dime.

Boulder Junction used to be good. Back in the day, we would go here quite a bit. Their lunch menu was great, and they had a great dinner menu. The service was very good.
However, the past few times we have had really horrible experiences. I am not sure, but it seems the restaurant changed ownership, which is the only reason I can think of the poor service.
1. One Friday night, my fiancé (now husband) and I went to dinner at BJ. We were seated at the bar — half an hour after we came in. There were plenty of tables available, which we would have preferred to sit at. The waitress took our order. An hour later, the BARTENDER delivered our food. It was cold and disgusting. Not sure what happened there. Oh, and our beer glasses were not filled up to the top — there was a ¼ of foam on top. That’s great bar tending! (/​sarcasm)
2. We gave it a 2^nd shot a few months later, which was a mistake. We went in and waited 45 minutes (!) to get seated at a table. We got our water from the waitress, and she never came back. We walked out. Nothing was said to us on the way out and we were visibly upset. The worst part of it was they didn’t even attempt to keep us there and get our business. We actually went down the street (124^th) to Arriba in Butler. We got a great meal and had our food in 10 minutes. Of course, I wrote a Google article about this at the time, which BJ had removed off the Google website. Hm. Guess they don’t want people to figure out they have crappy service and serve cold food?
We shan’t frequent BJ again, I refuse to go there. I have told my story to everyone I know.