New England - Best BBQ in Boston

Best BBQ in Boston according to Citysearch:

1 Redbones Barbecue

2 Blue Ribbon Barbecue Incorporated

3 Village Smokehouse

4 East Coast Grill

5 Wing Kings

6 Bob the Chef's

7 Uncle Pete's Hickory Ribs

8 Bison County

9 Choate Bridge Restaurant

10 Jake's Boss Barbecue


Editorial Winner

Redbones BBQ

Editorial Nominees

East Coast Grill
Village Smokehouse
Bison County
Blue Ribbon Barbecue Incorporated

I've never tried Redbones, never even heard of it, but after reading your post, I'm going to hunt it down and try it. I've been to both the Blue Ribbon and the Village Smokehouse. Blue Ribbon is my favorite. The ambience in the place feels very southern, like you're in Alabama, and almost out of place in New England. The portions are enormous and the food is fabulous. The Village Smokehouse has nicer (classier) ambience and the food is also excellent. They make incredible garlic mashed potatoes. I'd agree with the poll and give the edge to the Blue Ribbon, but only the very slightest edge, both places are excellent. Blue Ribbon is the place to go if you want to get down 'n' dirty BBQ and arent' trying to impress anyone with the ambience, just the food. The Village Smokehouse is probably a better place to go if you prefer a classier experience. Don't get me wrong, the Village Smokehouse is not some hoity-toity place like the 4 Seasons, it just has a little nicer sit-down style restaurant ambience than the pizzeria/diner-type ambience of the Blue Ribbon. You can't go wrong with either one. Parking is usually much easier at the Blue Ribbon than at the Village Smokehouse.

August 8 - Caf Louis: Will host a barbecue on its newly expanded patio featuring live music, Ravenswood wines and a menu with the likes of spare ribs, grilled corn on the cob, assorted salads and homemade ice cream (August 8, 6:30 PM; $65; 617-266-4680).

from Zagat.com

Firefly (BBQ) Boston – coming soon is
Firefly's: A new Framingham barbecue specialist serving everything from fried dill pickles and catfish-on-a-stick to brisket, ribs and Coca-Cola cake (235 Old Connecticut Path).

From Zagat.com

Redbones (http://redbonesbbq.com/)is a traditional favorite, and I've been maybe ~ 15 times but not at all in the last two years. I assume it's still good. Relatively easy to access in Davis Sq. Somerville, a stop on the Subway/MBTA Redline is nearby. Not too far from Harvard Square.

I'm a big Blue Ribbon (http://www.blueribbonbbq.com/default.htm) fan as the original outlet is about ~ 1.5 miles from my house. I get take away maybe once per week. The Memphis Dry Rub Ribs are good, but I like the Texas Sliced Beef Brisket or the NC Pulled Pork. Platters come with two sides, Mashed Potatoes and Cole Slaw, recommended, and corn bread. Quite good sandwiches as well, and a good choice of sauces (hot, sweet, vinegar, mustard, etc.) You can eat in at ~ 8 stools/counter in West Newton. I haven't been to the Arlington outlet but friends in Lexington say it's good.

I've been to the Village Smokehouse twice and it was pretty bad both times.

Some would argue that the best Barbecue in Boston is from Maurice "Big Moe" Hill and his M&M Barbecue truck parked in a vacant lot in Dorchester (corner Quincy Street and Columbia Road).

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/237/metro/A_kick_in_the_ribs+.shtml

But as of Aug. 28 he is being evicted.

From today's Boston Globe Food section...

"Good to go, Prime Ribs, The best barbecue in Boston does not come out of the Weber grill in your backyard - especially if it's ribs. Ribs need to be cooked slowly, so the tender meat just falls off the bone. If barbecue is on the menu at your Labor Day picnic, there are many places to order it.

At the tiny "Pit Stop" in Mattapan ((The Pit Stop Barbecue, 888A Morton Street, Mattapan, is open Thu. - Sat. 617-436-0485), owner Larry Jeter has ribs that are fatty, substantial and swabbed with spicy sauce.

At "Uncle Pete's Hickory Ribs" ( 309-311 Bennington Street, East Boston, is open seven days, 617 569-7427 ) the sweet pink meat of the St. Louis-cut port ribs ($11 with two sides) pulls daintily off the bone.

At Jake's Boss Barbecue in Jamaica Plain (3492 Washington Street, Jamaica Plain is open Tue. - Sun., 617 983-3701) beef ribs are the specialty. They're meaty and permeated with the aromtatic taste of mesquite smoke.

March 29: Microbrewed porters and stouts star in Redbones' "Brewers' Banquet," supported by ribs and all the fixin's; in addition to the down home dinner, guests can expect talks led by beer experts and trivia games with prizes (7 PM; $35; 617-628-2200).

from Zagat.com

Agree with the top three, however Firefly's needs to be in your rotation as well.

Regards,

Agree with transpac in general.

The article as originally posted lists a bunch of
places I like, but putting the Village Smokehouse
up there is kind of bogus. The food is utterly
without flavor; the staff, on the other hand, are
among the nicest I've ever encountered.

I'll eat at Redbones and Blue Ribbon twenty times
each before I go back to the Village Smokehouse.

I'll eat at Uncle Pete's and East Coast Grill ten times
each before I go back to the Village Smokehouse.

But I'll have a lobotomy before I eat ribs again at
Bob the Chef's.