Almost any day of the week you can drive by Fudgienuckles Family Sports Pub & Grill with your window down and smell barbecue cooking from the wood fired smoker.

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Barbecue has only been served three years since Jake and Cary Jacobson took over the restaurant.

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Bison burgers are locally sourced and other quality food had been the norm for 21 years before Jake took over the place, but he thought it was time to change things up a bit.

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“I had been experimenting with different types of meat rubs, and I was excited to get barbecue on the new menu,” Jake said

I had seen the billboard advertising Fudgienuckles along Highway 23 heading west for this place, but I hadn’t thought about eating there until I received two emails from readers telling me I had to try the bison burgers.

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When I got out of my car at the restaurant, I could smell the wood fire smoke coming from the back of the place. The restaurant was full on a Wednesday night with people devouring the barbecue and burgers and putting back a few brews for happy hour.

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The menu was pretty tempting; over 20 appetizers offered, seven offerings from Fudgies Smokehouse, chicken and steak sandwiches, broasted chicken, and a dozen other sandwiches and burgers.

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We started with a couple bison burgers and a half rack of ribs. On one hand, I was excited to taste the bison burgers, but on the other hand, I was cautious because of the dry samplings I’ve had from the Wisconsin State Fair in the past. Bison can get dried out quickly due to the leanness of the meat.

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The bison was brought out perfectly cooked, slightly pink on the inside, and juicy on the outside. I covered mine with sautéed onions and cheddar cheese.

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It truly was the best bison I have ever ate.

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The ribs were fall-off-the-bone juicy, tasty and delicious - a place that a true pork connoisseur must add to their must eat list.

Jake sources his meat and fish directly from Schwaller’s meats in Plymouth,  and Schwarz Fish Company in Sheboygan.

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Grab the family and go north off of Highway 23 to Glenbeulah and enjoy downtown quality meat and fish, at country pricing.

Brian Bernier, also known as Chef Bernie, is a private in-home chef, restaurant owner and food blogger who lives in Sheboygan. He can be reached at chef@harvest-cafe.org.

Fudgienuckles Family Sports Bar& Grill

Location: 133 North Main Street, Glenbeulah

Hours: 4 p.m. to close on Mondays; 11 a.m. to close Tuesday through Sunday

Price Range: $8.95 to $21.95

Contact: 920-526-3511; www.fudgienuckles.com