Speed Queen BBQ - Milwaukee, WI
Got my chance to try Speed Queen this past weekend.
As I would expect w/most BBQ joints in midwestern metropolitan areas, Speed Queen is not in the best part of town and has the seemingly obligatory bullet proof glass between the customers and kitchen.
While there is seating, I would not recommend it as there are some shady characters who constantly ask for some money from white people. I was the only white in the place and repeatedly was disturbed while eating my meal. No other diners were disturbed which pissed me off, shouldn't begging be color blind?!? Also, you are so close to Lake Michigan that I would just take your order down there. Also, if you are not the most comfortable person in "these types" of surroundings, Speed Queen has a drive through so you never have to get out of your car.
Tried the rib tips and the shoulder sandwich, both pork.
Rib tips tasted great, good sauce (I had the mild) w/a slight twang, but the meat was extremly tough, so I can't rate the tips too high.
Pork shoulder was great. Tasty, tender slices of smoked BBQ pork shoulder.
Ask for the sauce on the side as both dishes were loaded w/too much sauce in my opinion.
Slaw was good.
Speed Queen serves a sandwich/meat called "outside". I did not know what that was, but a friend who went said that it is the outside of the shoulder roast so it is crispy. I now know what I will have next time I'm at Speed Queen!
Speed Queen BBQ
1130 W. Walnut St (corner 12th & Walnut)
Miwaukee, WI
414.265.2900
Hours: M-Th 11am-12:30am, Fri 11am-3:30am, Sat 11am-2am closed Sunday.
note: 12th and Walnut is about 1/2 mile almost due north of the intersection of 94 and 43.
Sweet Willie
May 27, 2003 09:43AM
WE'RE FROM DETROIT and we had to pass on Speed Queen!
We were hungry for some excellent bbq, but too scared to enter the fine establishment. Sweet Willie, you're a brave man!
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I'm the brave man (a Chicagoan) and you're from Detroit!!!??!!!
Detroit is no sissy town, Speed Queen should have been a cakewalk for you :)
Do the drivethrough next time
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Awwww, come on! It just so happens I was by Speed Queen just tonight (I'm white, by the way). These sort of squeamish comments about Speed Queen being in a "bad part of town," the "shady characters" who frequent the place, etc., really chap my ass! I've been going to SQ for 28 years, since I moved to Milwaukee, never had a bad experience, and never been treated less than courteously. There's lots of white folks who frequent Speed Queen, by the way. I guess it all depends on your outlook. If you go in with a "here I am slumming in the ghetto" attitude, yeah, you'll probably have problems. If you're open, friendly & non-defensive, you'll be treated likewise.
Yes, the "outside shoulder" dinner is highly recommended.
Speed Queen BBQ, best 'cue in Milwaukee, far better than the over-rated Brew City Bar BQ!
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In no way do I wish to start a flame war, I was stating the facts of my experience.
SQ is not in the best part of town, not much to discuss there, pretty much fact.
The fact that I was bugged for money (repeatedly) when no one else was not is BS in my opinion. Anyone who knows me knows I do not have an "I'm slumming it attitude". I was driving home to Chicago and was in my ripped/dirty/painted work clothes as I had worked for a couple days up North. Again, the only reason I could see that I was asked for $ was the fact that I was white as none of the other restaurant patrons (all black) were asked for $. I called these people shady characters, I suppose I should have called them a$$holes for singling me out, but I was trying to be a little polite.
In no way should my comments be construed as squeamish. I should be able to order a meal and eat w/o being disturbed, pretty much what I expect at all restaurants.
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Sweet Willie,
My comments were not directed at you, fact of the matter is that Speed Queen is in a rough part of town, as is Jake's corned beef on North Ave, another Milwaukee favorite of mine On occasion people do ask for money, cigs etc in Speed Queen, but I have been approached while walking into the Four Seasons Hotel as well, I am sure it no more of a big deal to you than it is to me.
What frosted me is that Treesaw wood [sic] not walk into the place. Admittedly when one is about anyplace but Mayberry USA they should be aware of their surroundings, but to blanketly dismiss a place as dangerous simply because of part of town or color of skin is beyond the pale.
Enjoy,
Gary
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Being uncomfortable or scared and not going in to a place does not necessarily have anything to do with a person's skin color. I don't care how good the food might be, if I feel a place or a neighborhood or the people make things unsafe or uncomfortable, I'll pass it up. No sense risking things, especially if I have family with me, and here in SoCal it has happened several times.
Just last week here in LA, there was a news story about a new gang tactic. You know how if it is getting dark out (or already so) and you come across another driver who has forgotten to turn their headlights on so you give them a courtesy flash off/on of your lights? Well, as a new gang initiation, prospective members drive around with their lights off and the first person that gives them a "courtesy flash"? Umm, they are shot...and 2 have been killed so far.
I have heard about Speed Queen BBQ for ahile and was hoping to give it a try on my visit to the area next month. I may drive by and see how I feel about it, but I may just pass it by and go to Zaffiro's for a darn good thin crust pizza.
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"Just last week here in LA, there was a news story about a new gang tactic. You know how if it is getting dark out (or already so) and you come across another driver who has forgotten to turn their headlights on so you give them a courtesy flash off/on of your lights? Well, as a new gang initiation, prospective members drive around with their lights off and the first person that gives them a "courtesy flash"? Umm, they are shot...and 2 have been killed so far."
That's one of the most famous urban legends ever perpetrated. Read all about it here.
http://www.urbanlegends.com/death/lig...
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ARGH! I've been had! Usually I'm pretty good at detecting those, but last night driving home, I dd the off/on flash at an oncoming car w/o lights and I noticed my wife kinda jumped. When I asked her what was wrong she told me about a story she heard on the news last week. Hey, it's LA and not that hard to believe, so I had no reason to doubt the validity. My apologies to you and the boards, and I appreciate you pointing out my error.
THat being said, story or no story, I'll still go with what I said...nobody is forcing you to go into an area or a place where you don't feel comfortable just to get to a restaurant. Using good judgment and erring on the side of safety is not a racist thing...it is a smart and potentially life-saving thing.
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I have yet to have BBQ as good as Spped Queen anywhere in Wisconsin. It is awesome. The Shoulder Dinner is my favorite, but I enjoy the rib tips and ribs too. I will have to try the outside shoulder as recommended. They even have combos so you can try a couple of things. All of this talk has me itchin for some SQ. I may have to head over there at lunch.
As for the neighborhood, you could do a lot worse in Milwaukee. 12th and Walnut isn't great, but it isn't bad either. It is on two well-traveled roads. I have been there numerous times inside and in the drive through with no problems. It usually takes them a while to assemble your order, so I usually take the drive through and read the paper or a magazine as I wait.
People who are worried about the neighborhood are the same people who clutch their purse when a black male walks by or who thinks that anytime 3 or more black teenagers hang out in a group they are "gang bangers." To those people I say pick up the phone and call in your order to Chili's for some baby back ribs. You can even pick them up to go, so you don't have to worry about encountering black people there.
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That you would pass on that hoary old urban legend about the "gang initiation" (I first heard it more than ten years ago) kind of proves my point: Folks are being WAY too cautious about Speed Queen (or for that matter any other establishment in a "bad" part of town).
I reiterate what I said before: I have been going to Speed Queen for 28 years & have never had a bad experience. SQ may not be in the best part of Milwaukee but it's far from the worst (Nearby neighborhoods are gentirifying rapidly, in fact). Many white folks patronize Speed Queen. Many COPS partonize Speed Queen. Can I guarantee the Speed Queen experience will be completely antiseptic and hassle-free for you? NO. If that's what you want, go to Applebee's.
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Treesaw,
You're kidding with this, right?
While Speed Queen is not Disneyesque, any reasonable person, i.e. one who politely walks in, orders, pays and does not cause a fuss, will be treated with the best BBQ this side of 59th and State in Chicago.
Speed Queen's outside shoulder, mustard BBQ sauce on the side please, ranks with the best commercial BBQ I have ever had the pleasure of eating.
As an aside, I now live in Chicago, but grew up in the northern suburbs of Milwaukee, and was introduced to the wonders of Speed Queen's BBQ at an early age. My father loved, still loves for that matter, the smoked chicken and mustard BBQ sauce.
I could go on, but I feel a rant coming on. Suffice to say you missed some excellent BBQ.
Enjoy,
Gary
Speed Queen Bar-B-Q
1130 W Walnut St
Milwaukee, WI 53205
414-265-2900
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An outsider's belated response: what a contrast it was to visit Speed Queen after reading posts like this. I was visiting Milwaukee, took the #12 bus from my downtown hotel, and was dropped right in front of Speed Queen. There was not an iota of anything sinister, dangerous, annoying or shady about the place. Well, maybe the lighting in the back makes my white skin look sallow, but that was my only complaint. And you couldn't ask for a place to be more transportation-accessible!
I understand that the original poster had some negative experience there, but I found the place to be wonderful.
And the pork shoulder, the crunchy outside meat, and the ribs were amazingly delicious.
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Speed Queen has some of the best BBQ in Wisconsin too bad its not in a safer place orelse i would like live there. If you want some good BBQ in the Milwaukee area in a safer nieghborhood go to Famous Daves in Waukesha.
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