Sometimes it takes an out of towner to make you realize that some of the finest places to dine are in your own backyard.

Take the Waterloo Club also known as the Waterloo Inn restaurant in Stockton.

Laura and her husband are both from Pasadena. They were more than pleasantly surprised about this barbecue joint along rural 10447 E. Waterloo Rd.

“We came in for an event and a friend who lives in Stockton recommended this place,” she said in her Yelp post. “When you enter (the Waterloo Inn) you think ‘country-ish.’”

Looks can be deceiving.

They were greeted by a friendly staff not to mention some great service.

“We were warned that the food portions were big so my husband and I shared a plate of the pork ribs, pesto salad and a green salad,” Laura said.

While the ribs were good, she raved about the pesto salad.

 “The (green) salad was delicious, too,” she said. “I know people think it’s just salad, but I love salad.”

John from Tracy had a similar take, adding, “I’ve been ‘Waterloo-ed.’”

He had the ribs – John pointed out that barbecue sauce was an old recipe from the Milano family in southern Italy – along with the pesto salad, opting for the minestrone soup over the green salad.

“This place is awesome,” he said. “It has a great atmosphere with wall to wall friendly people.”

John did provide this one tip: “You need to get here early if you want a table because 20 minutes after they open it was standing-room only.”

Sherry from Rocklin has made it a habit of stopping over at the Waterloo on her way to the Bay Area for a delicious meal.

“I always get the same thing – why mess with perfection – minestrone soup, for starters, followed by steak and pesto pasta,” she said.

One person known simply as ‘A Z’ came all the way from Providence, RI.

“Great food,” he said. “We had the rib plate and the steak plate – both were delicious.”

A Z described the pesto salad as “super tasty and satisfied all of my protein and pasta dreams.”

Wendy and her husband, Del, are from Corona. They were in Stockton visiting family when she decided on the Waterloo.

“Probably one of the best barbecue restaurants I’ve ever had and I qualify by that because my ‘foodie’ family does a mean barbecue at home,” she said.

Wendy described the pork ribs as “bone-licking good, incredibly meaty and slow-cooked tender.”

She came away impressed with the barbecue sauce.

“I never heard of an Italian barbecue sauce, but this one was slightly sweet and just fabulous. This is their own recipe and they sell it, too – once they have you, you’re hooked,” said Wendy.

How to get there: From Highway 99, take the Waterloo Road or Highway 88 east for about six miles or right before you approach Comstock Road.

Hours of operation: Wednesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch) / 5-9 p.m. (dinner); Friday, 5 to 10 p.m. (dinner); Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.