Hogzilla’s Inspired Barbeque

PLEASE, PLEASE come back!!!
I need some Long Rib!!!
Desperately…

Consider it 3.5 stars. I had a very good meal, with great service at a pretty good price.
Food: Very good. I got the 3 item combo platter (chicken, ribs and pork) which is supposed to be for two people or one lardass such as myself. The sides were good too, macncheese and fries only added to the sweat pouring from my face as I got down like Tootsies cabaret dancer. Also mind you that im normally not a fan of ribs unless they’re homemade but I destroyed these
Service: Top notch. We sat at the bar and had Michelle look after us. Besides the fact she was bagging on me harder than I bag on anyone whose ever been in the Air Force she did a phenomenal job and joined along in our country rock vs indie rock vs alternative conversation… I still say Wilco is a country rock band but that’s just me…
Location: 16 and Washington means you’re in it to win it. After you’re done here then its time to go on Greg Gs magic dive bar crawl…
If my next visit is as satisfying as this one Im definitely upgrading to 4 stars. BZ

Horrible
Why One Star I will tell you why. I have been hearing all the reviews from my fellow Unilocalers that this place is good and you should try it. So I looked it up on Unilocal and saw you can make a reservation using Opentable. So I made the reservation for 730 and headed out from Kendal.
Well when we got there guess what? IT WAS CLOSED!!! No where on Opentable or on Unilocal did it say it was Closed! Such Bullshit I mean I drove all the way from Kendal to try some BBQ on South Beach and this Happens ! That’s why One Star!!!

We battled Saturday night SoBe traffic and parking nightmares to catch the last UFC card at Hogzilla. Walking up to the resto, the most delicious smells were wafting out of there doors, and I thought, «this is gonna be good».
Truth? It was ok. I got the beer can chicken sandwich, which was served on two obnoxious slices of Texas toast. The chicken didn’t really have too much taste, but the vinegar-​based sweet BBQ sauce I added was really yummy. The sandwich had guac on it, which was a surprise. Overall there was just too much bread and I would have preferred if the chicken was warm.
There was a $ 10 cover charge for the fight, which included a drink — but not draft beer? I ended up getting an $ 8 glass of wine, when what I really wanted was a $ 5 draft? That seemed a bit odd. However, there were flatscreens and projectors everywhere, and this ended up being a fun place to watch the fights.
Summary: I’d come again, but not for the food.

This place is a little too touristy for my taste… and they don’t have drink specials, boo!
But the food is fried heaven! Fried green tomatoes were ok but the fried Mac and cheese is certainly worth returning for.
Miami Beach residents get a discount — that makes me happy :)

Popped in to grab a beer and watch the rest of the Heat game. TVs everywhere. We weren’t hungry yet as we had just eaten before hitting SOBE, and just needed a place to chill for a moment.
We did get to sample the dry rub they use though because they douse the complimentary popcorn with it and it was fantastic! Mild kick with a bit of tangy sweetness. Everyone else’s food looked awesome.
Instead of a quick 20 minute, let’s just sit down for a sec and hit another bar, we stayed for an hour an a half mainly because the bartenders were awesome (I love you Lauren and Michelle). Seriously the nicest people we had met. and well I’m also seriously swayed because Lauren bought me a drink.
Can’t wait for my next trip to SOBE.

Went here for Superbowl and was not impressed. Looks like the place would be a S-​M-​A-​S-​H, and fell far short.
The managers thought it would be a good idea to run a bar promotion during Superbowl halftime — so they turned the sound off where we missed all of the commercials, commentating of the game and some of Madonna’s performance. Less than 10% of the bar could see/​hear what they were doing — most of us didn’t know they were running a promotion at all and were just sitting there dumbfounded, wondering if they were «fixing» their audio.
While they have GREAT tv screens — the audio for the game was disastrous. We couldn’t make out a single word of what was being said. The audio speakers were no where near the tv’s and all we could hear was a lot of jumble — but it was better than no sound at all!
I ordered a Bread Pudding and Ice Cream dessert. They served it with no ice cream — and took over 10 minutes to get ice cream which was more like milk soup once it arrived. The bread pudding was pretty good though. I then ordered coffee and it was served cold/​room temperature. The bartender had asked if I wanted cream and sugar to which I replied «yes», then she came back with milk. When I asked her if I could have cream, I waited another 10 minutes simply for her to return with warm milk.
They also had a $ 25 «all you can eat» buffet for the superbowl. When we went to look at it after halftime — the food was just about all gone — so we couldn’t get it. No fun and not good. I don’t know what to say about the staff — they weren’t great, seemed understaffed although friendly enough.
The prices here are really good/​affordable compared to Ocean Ave and Lincoln Road.
While I’m sure I could have gone to a worse place — it’s hard to imagine how bad that could really be. I would not go back here for a game nor I would recommend it either.

This is turbo charged BBQ. If the set directors of True Blood worked with the producers of Swamp People and decided it’d be a good idea to open up a refined shanty shack serving up food from the venerated South, Hogzilla’s would be it.
This woodsy, Washington Ave retreat is a pretty funny juxtaposition to the clamor going on outside and around the restaurant. Club Madonna’s sits next door, stiletto-​strapped club heads feast their hungry eyes upon nearby velvet ropes, and tourists empty out their pockets for the homeless. Truth, Washington Ave is no polished paradise.
Once you walk inside of Hogzilla’s though, you’re suddenly in the Everglades. It’s a Southern sports bar with plenty of HD action to catch a game and bask in a menu complete with any carnivorous offering your chompers might be aching for.
We started with the beer can chicken tacos. I could’ve wanted a little more moisture or noticable marinade in the chicken, but credit goes to the cornbread «tortillas» that hugged the meat. Que original!
Later, I followed up with the half rack of baby back ribs. Forgetting that I no longer eat like a football player, I took down the whole plate. It was sinfully good. Tender and saucy, they were like the best kind of grandmother. The side of mashed potatoes were perfectly whipped, but could’ve used just a little more garlic.
My buddy squealed over the pulled pork. Set atop a hunk of Texas toast, his meal was succulent and his side of slaw was gone before I thought to have a taste.
My fingers still smell of BBQ sauce and I can now rest easy knowing there’s a reputable resto along Washington Ave where I can hang my crocodile hat.
10% off for locals!

The only thing that keeps me from giving it 5 stars is the fact I have only been once, but based on my visit for lunch today, this place is sensational.
Here’s the scene: Saturday in Miami, 76 sparkling degrees and I had to be on the Beach for a work-​related event… so I was looking for something to ease my pain. I phoned a buddy of mine who is always dialed-​in to what’s happening in the 305 and he suggested Hogzilla. I owe him big time.
I walked in and was the first customer for lunch at 11:45. I sat at the bar and quickly struck up a conversation with Mark — who is FAR from your run-​of-​the-​mill barkeep. A jazz musician who has traveled the world and understands food, he’s the perfect ambassador for Hogzilla: enthusiastic, versed and pleasant. He’s also emblematic of my experience there: Hogzilla exceeds expectations.
For BBQ purists, go to Shiver’s in Homestead or Tom Jenkins in FTL — or just drive to Kansas City, North Carolina or Memphis. This is creative, Miami-​fusion bbq. And it’s delicious!
I ordered a glass of Abita Andy Gator (on draft) and an appetizer of their Maple Syrup Glazed homemade bacon with brown sugar and chili flake. It would be worth going on statins just to eat regular portions of this bacon. As I enjoyed my appetizer, Mauricio, the food & beverage manager came over and jumped into the conversation, enthusiastically pointing out their Bourbon selection. Another knowledgeable, friendly and passionate employee. How many restaurants would be happy to have these guys on staff?
For my main course, I had the Cuban pulled pork platter (succulent, fresh, smoky, with a mojo flavor we’re used to in Miami, but spare enough to be a perfect canvas for the sauce) I had the mango/​Thai chile bbq sauce, which really worked with the Cuban pulled pork. The apple, fennel slaw is KILLER, the vinaigrette and the jalapeños work to clean your palate of the fatty and sweet bbq. This menu and these food combos are thought-​through.
I’m going back again and it won’t be alone this time! I need witnesses to this gem!

I was walking by this place the other day and I noticed that it had changed its name. I believed that it’s the third or fourth time in about ten year… I remember when it’s was a fuddruckers. So I told my wife and we visited two days later (weekday afternoon)
My wife was sold on the décor, she would not stop talking about it and how nice it looked.
For appetizer we had the pork chicharrones with the mango chili sauce, they were really good. My wife had the Chop salad with the beer chicken and I had the baby back ribs (half rack) with a side of corn on the cob. My wife liked her salad, bu I was not sold on the baby back. There was something about it, maybe the put it on under the broiler to long and the six dollar corn and the cob was dry, like it had been sitting there a while… I’m not really sold on this place yet but I’m going to give another try since I’m a big fan BBQ.

I’ve been to BBQ places all over Texas and Memphis, this place is incredible. I would attribute all the lower reviews to be due to opening kinks.
We ordered:
Pork ribs, chips
«Italian Style» Brisket sandwich (lean), chips
The fries are not house made, chips are.
I asked for more charred pieces for my brisket and they obliged. =)
According to server the full menu is available late night! They also had signs advertising that you could order full turkeys for holidays.

Hogzilla doesn’t claim to be gourmet BBQ and that it is not.
The place is cool, good service, and a great vibe.
The food is what it is – A bunch of pork and greasy unhealthy stuff. I don’t eat meat so cannot comment on the food (except those mac and cheese croquetas which are delicious and super UNHEALTHY).
Obviously I went here with my husband who wouldn’t stop eating the pork, bacon, ribs, tacos, whatever. He had heartburn the next day but said it was worth it.
It’s a fun place with good food. The opening night band was the highlight.

Definitely one of my favorite BBQ joints!
The cornbread has bits of jalapeño in it, but it’s not spicy, and it comes with a butter and cinnamon spread… so delish!
If you like tater tots, then you MUST try their sweet potato tater tots… omg!
Their Asian short ribs, pulled pork and desserts are mouthgasmic.
Can’t wait to go back!

Before going to Hogzilla’s opening event last night, I decided I would wait to review until I went back a few times to eat when there wasn’t an event going on… BUT I had such a great time last night that I couldn’t wait.
We headed out there to keep the party going after the Unilocal Holiday Party, and it didn’t disappoint. There was open bar pouring whatever you wanted… including moonshine. I didn’t sample it, but people around us were raving and kept coming back for more shots.
The food was awesome too. Everything tasted good: brisket, bacon, ribs, cornbread– all of it was packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. I was surprised because for bite sized portions with such a large crowd, I wasn’t expecting to be blown away, but the samples we had really make me want to come back. It may not have been traditional BBQ like I’m used to getting when seeing my fam in Texas or North Carolina, but by South Florida standards, it was a pleasant surprise to actually enjoy southern style food in SoBe.
I think what impressed me the most, by far, was the staff. Everyone working there was slammed with people requesting their free drinks and free food, but rather than getting flustered or annoyed with the hammered patrons, they made jokes and had magnetic personalities. Everyone I encountered was the type of server or bartender that you immediately felt like you just got along with them. Very cool people.
I can’t wait to come back and really dig into what Hogzilla has to offer.

Meh. Definitely had better «bbq.»
The roast beer chicken was our waiter’s fav on the menu & was highly recommended to us so we went for it. Very disappointing. Costco & Safeway’s $ 5 rotisserie chicken is waaaaay better! There was no taste at all! I was dipping the chicken in the honey butter that was suppose to be for my cornbread I was THAT desperate!
And the fried pig’s feet was all fat and again, zero taste. I have lots of experience eating pig’s feet (asian style) & this did not cut it.
Sorry Hogzilla but I’d rather pay $ 30 for a plate full of spaghetti on Italian strip!

I’m not usually a fan of barbeque, but this place definitely has a unique sense of style and creative items on the menu. First of all who doesn’t like mac n chez but the kind where the crumbles are on the exterior of every bite… yummmm. The brisket with several kinds of dipping sauce was truly amazing.
I was impressed with their selection of signature drinks. Not only is the bloody mary mix with all the different fixings a sure win but the cocktails are not too sweet as most places in Miami usually makes them. I’m not a sweet cocktail fan but my Southern peach was one drink after the other with just a hint of peach.
Overall, I was impressed with the creativity and just down good home cookin but ambiance is definitely a neighborhood join where you can go for a drink and be sure to meet cool people.

Walking into Hogzilla is like leaving south beach, what a great place, sound level is amazing, even though the place was full, you still could have a conversation and listen to the music without raising your voice.
The food, I had the Hogzilla rack, 1 rib and a backed potato, the meat was so tender and delicious that a knife wasn’t necessary. The potato I have no idea where they have grown these, but it was the same size as a beet, I finished the meat but only half of the potato.
The waiter came with a couple of samples of beer as I didn’t know what to choose, so hand a couple of samples and decided the Florida lager.
Can’t put a finger on anything, had amazing food, amazing service and I found the price cheap for the quality of the food.
/​Morten

Hogzilla, if you care about yourself at all, you will follow my directions EXACTLY. Go to the front door and lock it. Head to the nearest Flannigan’s and order as many rib racks as you need to figure out the recipe. Don’t even think of reopening until you have made BBQ good enough to require 5 napkins and a shower.
Ooo and don’t go around slandering the Burger and Beer Joint name any further, telling people of your former claim… you keep that to yourself.
I won’t waste my breath or rather typing digits on the details of each of the bland, shameful dishes you served me and my friends… Dolphin, Crap. Mac-​n Cheese, crap. Ribs, double crap. Brisket sandwich, crap-​a-​roo.
I’m never getting back those calories. Shame on you… you know better.
I am a merciful Unilocalette thus I give you an extra star for décor, location and clean restrooms.

Went there on a very busy night where it took an hour to park. I was starving and in a terrible mood. Boy did that change!
The first thing I noticed was just how nice and accommodating the wait staff was. They were extremely attentive, polite, and very very nice. At one point I started looking around the restaurant to get a look at the various eclectic and unique decorations and a server immediately approached me to see if I needed anything. That’s unusual for Miami, and extremely unusual for South Beach.
To start we had some of the best nachos I’ve ever had. I typically don’t order nachos for a fancy dinner in a hip restaurant on South Beach, but I was seriously craving nachos for some reason. The chips, which were thick-​cut potato chips instead of corn chips, were freshly made in-​house and covered in a combination of nacho cheese, blue cheese and hard boiled egg crumbles. SO GOOD!
We ordered the redneck beer can chicken tacos (or something like that). I have to say they were AMAZING! Really incredibly delicious. In fact, my mouth is watering just thinking about them. I must go back.
We also had the beer can chicken sandwich, which was succulent and delicious. The avocado adds a nice tasty touch and the thick cut white bread slices are reminiscent of what mom used to make. So hungry right now!
We were so full gorging on the delicious food that we couldn’t do dessert. Oh well, next time.
This place is awesome. The service is phenomenal. The food is absolutely amazing. I am going back this weekend and I work nearby so I plan to make it a regular lunch spot.

{ NOTE THAT ALMOST EVERY SINGLE POSITIVE REVIEW OF THIS PLACE IS DONE BY PEOPLE WHO ONLY SIGNED UP TO GIVE THIS RESTAURANT A GLORYING REVIEW… MAKES YOU THINK}
The expectations on this place were huge because of the greatness of their Burger and Beer Joint at Mary Brickell. This experiment is a HUGE disappointment.
Let me go in stages. First, we actually made a reservation, to make sure we got a spot, just in case it was too busy. When we arrived, we were made to wait about half an hour anyhow. And this wait was NOT because there weren’t any tables… there were plenty of tables but apparently they had a staffing problem that didn’t allow them to put us in any of the 5 clean and ready tables that we could observe.
After we sat, we got a waiter that was a bit confused regarding the menu, but this might be forgivable because the restaurant was on its opening night (although, I presume that they gave him plenty of training for this job before it opened!). The amount of time it took the service to approach the table, take orders, etc. is amazing. The amount of time we had to wait for our appetizer was so long, that we had to bother the waiter several times to ask for it. The appetizer was the mac and cheese croquettes. I can swear to you that the mac and cheese inside that fried ball was clearly Kraft from a box… I guess there is nothing wrong with that in principle, but in a restaurant, they shouldn’t charge me for Kraft as if it were made by them.
Now to the main courses. The menu is impressive and the guy/​gal who wrote it should be commended… almost every single dish sounds exciting and appealing, unfortunately the reality is not as impressive.
My girlfriend ordered the Beer Can Chicken meal and it was just a regular half chicken with no flavor and a cheap looking/​tasting gravy on the side (I have had better such chickens at plenty of roadside type dinners). The Barbecue Fried Rice that she ordered as a side was HORRENDOUS. I can’t even describe the horrid combination of cheap fried rice (I didn’t detect the fried aspect of it) and ketchup taste… almost like what a boxed chinese tv-​dinner should taste like (if you added ketchup to it). She exchanged it for a baked potato side which was much better, although not impressive at all except for its size.
My friend had the Cat Fish dinner, and again, not very impressive at all… just a piece of fried fish on a platter. The butter that comes with the dishes look and taste like sweet lard… :-/​
I had the Baby Back Ribs and although the flavors were somewhat average, the only good thing was the sauce I ordered with it (Jack Daniels BBQ) which I know they didn’t do themselves and thus shouldn’t accrue them any points.
There was a lot of drunken excitement when the full suckling pig came out of the kitchen to a table (it looked blackened to a point of not being appetizing, but I didn’t taste it so I can’t comment), which is great, but I think if you go to this joint sober, the experience will not be as good.
Hopefully, and for their own sake, they will soon try their best to improve on service and on quality… if they wish to survive for long.
Should I give them 1 or 2 stars? I was inclined for 2, but since I will never return, then this must mean that it deserves a 1. :-(