- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
- Nearest Transit:
-
Elm St @ Chester St (87, 88, 89, 90, 94, 96)
Holland St @ Dover St (87, 88)
Elm St @ Russel St (87, 96)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 12:30 am
Sun 12 pm - 12:30 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
About This Business:
This is the only BBQ and Blues place in Metro Boston. We feature Blues, Soul, And R&B 6 nights a week. There is no cover charge (except NYE). This is… read more »
1020 reviews for Redbones
Review Highlights
-
"Pulled Pork that was mouth watering juicy - Check." In 220 reviews -
"The beer selection alone is worth a trip here." In 142 reviews -
"Corn Fritters - sweet and melt-in-your-mouth." In 64 reviews
Loading...
- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
1020 reviews in English
-
Review from Erin S.
5/14/2012
Great food and ambiance in this joint! We went on a Friday night, and it was super packed; the wait was about an hour, but well worth it. The inside is very colorful and eclectic; the theme gives you the idea of "The devil went down to Georgia". (pics to come)
We got ribs with sides, pulled pork sandwich and hush puppies. The rib meat just fell off the bone, and was so delicious - there was little sharing going on. Pulled pork can be very tricky, which is why I wanted to try there's, and it was incredibly juicy, flavorful and with the vinegar bbq sauce, hands down the best pulled pork sandwich I've had. The hush puppies were ok; a little more sweet than savory, and would have been better I think with a little spice. But overall, A+ job. -
Review from Vicky H.
Boston, MA
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Been here a few times. Just finally thought about writing the experience.
Regular menu time: it gets busy and it gets loud. The service is ok, not superb. Soemtimes hit or miss depending on who you get.
the food is "alright". It's not where you would want to come back to any time soon. I've tried several of their different styles of ribs and I think Memphis was my fav. It sorta sucks that just about every dish is served with beans and slaw, of both i don't really care for.
the dessert menu isn't very desirable but White Trash Sundae is alright if you really want one.
the late night menu: there really isn't one. just whatever they still got in the kitchen but it's a reduced price and often you get a HUGE helping!!! THIS is a nice value but then again, it's late so unsure if you really want to eat so much unless you're a vampire and sleep during the day :P
The service during late night is more terrible than the day. It's often slow and drinks hardly get refilled. You may also end up searching for your waiter/waitress to settle the bill because it does take a while sometimes. But hey, if you got nothing else going on, it's a cool place to hang out. The decor is very nice. -
Review from Jeff W.
Everett, MA
5/18/2012
The only things that are keeping this cesspit of culinary disasters open is the beer list, the fact that it's in the heart of Davis Square and the too-dumb-to-know-any-better college kids who frequent it.
Go to Blue Ribbon for good BBQ if you're in the area. It's worth the 10 minute drive. -
Review from Jess M.
Boston, MA
5/24/2012
Good BBQ. Go with a group of friends that you can get rowdy with. Don't go on an intimate date. Eat the pulled pork til your brain falls out with joy.
-
Review from Dan A.
Somerville, MA
5/9/2012
Wow ... I'm honestly shocked Redbones has fewer than four stars. In at least eight trips, I have never, ever had a bad experience. In fact, I don't think I've ever had a less-than-awesome experience.
Put simply, the food is phenomenal. My girlfriend and I usually split the Texas beef ribs, mac n' cheese and another side (tonight it was collard greens, but I've been happy with others, too). Everything was great - also including the barbeque sauces (I prefer spicy), beans, cole slaw and excellent corn bread. Also, Redbones has a really good selection of beers on tap. I don't remember the last time I'd seen Brooklyn Brown Ale on tap before, but I was very grateful to run into it at Redbones.
My only complaint with Redbones is it can get crowded, but I can't really hold that against them - the place is good enough that this will probably always be a problem. One solution is to go to the bar and wait to grab a free stool or two; you can order from the full menu at the bar.
Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of the restaurants I enjoy aren't nearly as good the second or third time. Redbones is one of the exceptions. I've been at least six or seven times in the last two years, and even having been about three hours ago, I'm already looking forward to going back again. -
Review from Kelly O.
Updated - 4/22/2012
My old review still stands: tasty food, decent prices, great beer list, cool casual vibe...
but I'm shocked at how much Underbones has transformed into a kiddie play area lately. At a recent birthday dinner, there were parents breastfeeding at their table, at 9 PM (so many things wrong with that statement...). At dinner there this weekend, all but one of the tables had small children at it, and I was horrified to find Redbones now has a kid's menu (who's next, Pour House???).
Look, you can take your hellspawn to the upstairs part for all I care, which is brightly lit, non-porous, and if not actually family-friendly, at least more conducive to children making a mess. But leave my Underbones alone; let me and my childless friends enjoy our beer and meat in peace. Underbones is dark, cramped, noisy, porous, dirty, colorful, and a full out bar scene filled with raucous adults happily partaking in the 30 beers on tap... nothing about that says "hey, this is a great place for kids!". People, stop trying to pretend you're still young and hip by bringing your brats to your old haunts, the last thing the rest of us want to deal with is flying food and screaming children (yes that happened... for gods' sake, take your brats outside when they start to cry, have some respect for your fellow patrons!).
I felt especially bad for the staff; it took no less than 4 of them to clean the table behind us after it had been destroyed by a bunch of small brats, vacuuming and all. I'll be the first to admit I am not a fan of children, but I get actively pissed when I'm forced to deal with them in a place I consider a sanctuary away from the crying and the annoyingness. It's really frustrating to see this trend spreading throughout the city, and I shudder to think how many other places are changing in this way... can't you leave us adults in peace?Listed in: Mind-Blowingly Delicious
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/14/2009
I am by no means a Southerner (Bostonian to the core), I have rarely traveled south of the… Read more »
-
-
Review from Reese D.
East Bridgewater, MA
5/6/2012
Food is freshly prepared, which is great.
The good: we had the St Louis and Baby Back ribs. Both are good. The wings we ordered from the appetizer menu are great too. The fries and sweet potato fries are awesome. You can tell they are freshly cut on premise, not frozen. The coleslaw is good. Plus, the restaurant is really clean, which is a great and welcoming change from other BBQ joints which tend to get "greasy", you know what I mean.
Neutral: Corn fritters were drenched in maple syrup. We were hoping that they weren't. Would be great if they can serve the maple syrup on the side instead.
The I-Am-Certainly-Not-Impressed: Fried Oysters. Being a New Englander, I have to admit that we have pretty high expectations when it comes to our seafood. Maybe it is my fault that I decide to order a fried oyster appetizer, but lesson learned.
Price is certainly decent on the ribs and most of the items we ordered with the exceptions of the Fried Oyster. I don't think they should charge anyone $7.99 for 5 wimpy looking fried oyster. -
Review from N F.
Boston, MA
5/1/2012
Again, I tried this place a few years ago. Since I deleted my account and opened again, I'm trying to write my reviews over.
Anyway, I starved for like 2 days before I came here. I knew I was gonna dig in and it was gonna cost me calorie wise.
I luckily found a parking spot and literally ran into Redbones... practically pushing and cutting a seemingly nice guy. Sorry, nice guy! I remember paying about 25 dollars for my meal. I got brisket, pork and beef ribs. I remember getting mac & cheese as a side. I also ordered hush puppies. I got my bag of food and literally ran back to my car. I tore open the bag and tried one of those little babies.... they sucked!
I didn't like the brisket, the ribs lacked a smoked taste/flavorless and I didn't like their bbq sauce. What truly shocked me was the one beef rib was nearly raw or very rare on the inside. I didn't want to put it in the oven and I certainly wouldn't give it to my dog cooked like that.
I called and the manager said the redness might be the smoke ring. Uh, no! He was very apologetic which was nice and sent me a gift certificate for 75 dollars. I'm giving this place 2 stars for excellent customer service and the mac & cheese. -
Review from Steve S.
4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Let me preface this review by saying that I have lived in the Carolina's and Texas, so I may be a bit of a BBQ snob! I think it is a 4 star place for Boston, just not for me. Let me pull those silver bbq tongs out of my ass, and get on with my review.
Came here on a Sat afternoon for lunch. And by afternoon, I mean like 230p. I was surprised that it was still so busy at that time. With that being said, there were some tables that were open. However, I took Pete J's advice on his review and asked to sit at the counter. It was nice, we got to watch the meat slow cook on the grill, as well as several gents rushing back and forth working the meat and sides stations. I longingly watched as they easily separated meat from bone. I knew from then on, that it was going to be tender. mmmmmmmm tender...
We started off with the comp sausage (thank you Pete J for the counter advice). It was good. It came with mustard and the price was right. We then ordered the fried pickles and jalapenos. I thought they were good. They came with a decent sauce and we piping hot out of the fryer.
For the main course we shared the bbq basket. It came with ribs from Memphis, Texas, and Arkansas as well as some Brisket. For the most part they were ok. We were offered 4 different choices of sauce. I was not overly impressed by any of them. While the meat did fall off the bone as planned, some of it was a bit dry. For the most part it was ok though. I also ordered a side of dirty rice. I like that they made it right with chicken liver's as well. Tasty
Our server was friendly and I had a sweet tea. It came in a huge jar and was tasty. Overall, the experience was fun. For a guy going with gf, an app and one plate of meat is more than enough. The menu is large, and the staff was fine. If I was not such a bbq snob, I would go back. At least I am honest about my snobbishness. -
Review from Katie L.
Brookline, MA
5/17/2012
I keep going for the atmosphere (the it's-too-crowded-there's-funky-"art"-on-the-walls- i'm-sitting-at-a-picnic-table-and-drinking-from-a- mason-jar kind of atmosphere). It really is an awesome place to go even just to people watch. I've never seen it NOT crowded.
The bar tenders are PHENOMENAL. Super friendly (extra points for not being fake friendly) and helpful when you're struggling to decide which beer you want. For the eighth time.
The food is... meh. Hence only 3 stars. It's not bad, but I've had better BBQ elsewhere. (The one thing that I've gotten EVERY TIME that never fails... their Corn Fritter things. Oh man..)
Did I mention that water comes in Mason Jars? -
Review from N. C.
Charlestown, MA
5/11/2012
I kept hearing that this place was amazing but frankly, I found it to be over rated. The ribs were too try and not tasteful. Although the staff was friendly we felt rushed and the wait was ridiculous.
-
Review from Don T.
Malden, MA
5/15/2012
I LOVE Redbones!
The staff is great and very professional; the owners/managers are extremely socially conscious and really invest in the community-even more progressively than Whole Foods; and the food is always spectacular and DELICIOUS! I just wish they had organic meat.
Just like any other enterprise, when it gets that popular, it's a real fine line between keeping that balance of old time consistency on a mass scale production basis. With that said, you do have to wait if you want eat there; and it's worth the time.
I myself do not like to wait. So, I like going there during slow hours like Mondays after the 3pm lunch rush and early before 5:30; actually, most days at any restaurant will most likely be empty between 3-5:30, any day. I also like to order my food way ahead of time if I'm going to pick it up.
TRICKS OF THE TRADE: if you sit at a bar and you get asked if you would like something to drink and you say no you are waiting for a table, most bartenders will leave you alone, esp if you have some kind of waiting device. However, if you get asked again, just say you are in AA. -
Review from Annie T.
Arlington, MA
5/7/2012
What a waste of time waiting in line. This restaurant has decent food, but it is certainly not worth the 1+ hour wait. While most other restaurants will allow reservations or provides a device that will alert you when your table is ready, Redbones expects you to wait outside or at the bar where you will spend big bucks on drinks while you wait for your table.
I have been there MANY times over the last 15 years and have seen the service dwindle. I gave them the benefit of the doubt last year, but the five times I have been there in the past year have seen things get EVEN WORSE and I will NEVER return!!
DECENT FOOD - NOTHING GREAT - SERVICE SUCKS!! -
Review from Eric F.
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yum! I'd heard great things about Redbones from several friends and they really hit the nail on the head. My bro and I were led downstairs to the basement level room and we opted for some Texas Beef Ribs and Pulled Pork. The ribs were tasty - good flavor and served dry for you to slather on BBQ sauce as you see fit. But man, that pulled pork was DELICIOUS! I've finally discovered what good pulled pork tastes like after seeing nothing but less-than-stellar renditions from every other place I've come across. I'll add that our quirky and super friendly server did a great job throughout our meal and the food came out in record time.
I probably wouldn't go for The Combo seeing as how most of the negative reviews are based on that...so steer clear and get at that pulled pork! -
Review from Kelsey M.
Boston, MA
5/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This place is overrated! Food is so-so here and is defiantly not worth more than a 15 minute wait! The restaurant is very cramped on the inside and loud. The corn fritters were good, but nothing like the ones in the South. The ribs I had this last go around tasted gross and I didn't eat them, their sandwiches are OK. The 'dirty rice' is NOT real dirty rice. There are racially offensive posters prominently displayed such as the 'white trash sundae.'
-
Review from Gregory S.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
4/14/2012
The food was great. The St. Louis Rib were great they had a smokyness and were fall of the bone good. Almost everything was tasty. I felt like a total pig and still managed to enjoy a piece of pecan pie which might have been some of the best of my life.
I would just avoid the baby back ribs, they were too tough. -
Review from Mary L.
Quincy, MA
3/9/2012
I'm no BBQ connoisseur, but I am a bit of a BBQ snob having been spoiled with Dinosaur BBQ the past four years in Syracuse. I had the choice of meat with two sides for $10. The pulled pork was dry and the bread felt like it had been sitting out for at least a day. The coleslaw was alright, there was something off about the texture and it was lacking flavor. The saving grace? THE POTATO SALAD WAS DIVINE. The creamy smooth texture, crunch of the dill and onions, and scallions to top were fabulous. I could easily devour a tub of it. Being fair, I did go to the food truck at 5pm, meaning that the food most likely sat out since the lunch rush. Until I can go into the restaurant and try it straight out of the kitchen, this place is mediocre in my book.
Still searching for a fabulous BBQ place in Boston... -
Review from Simon L.
988 prior reviews. There's got to be something useful in them thar reviews. Read 'em.
Good bbq. Excellent beer and bourbon.Listed in: RIBS
-
Review from Ettya F.
2/27/2012
Even though this place is as loud as a KMFDM Concert in the mid-80s, only with instruments and metal vocals replaced by drunk students ranting about missing jackets and shouting hostesses ringing their vocal bells announcing that "TABLE FOR CHRIS, 9, READY" three times before Chris and Co. finally worm their way through the bar and to their seats, the food is pretty damn amazing.
The ribs are the definition of "fall-off-the-bone." They're so succulent and melt so willingly that even the most keen carnivore would be confused as to where meat product ends and cartilage ends...and it doesn't even matter, because the flavor is so smokey, so southern, so delightfully fattening.
The coleslaw is crunchy and delightful - the perfect balance between vinegar and cream is achieved, making this coleslaw reminiscent of Aunt Caroline's homemade country 'slaw.
The 4 BBQ sauces set before you only add to the authenticity - you're given the gamut from the thick and sweet (think KC) to the thin and vinegary (think Yankee). Pour all four of them all over everything you eat, and you'll be ridiculously happy. -
Review from Matt K.
Cambridge, MA
3/27/2012
Impossible to give this place lower than 5 stars. The only complaint I could possibly find is that after moving to Davis I couldn't find it for like 3 weeks.
Easily the Best BBQ in town. Blue Ribbon across town is solid, but I'm a little bit of a homer saying this place is honestly better. The menu has tons of BBQ options and there's no chance you leave this place hungry.
Free warmed cornbread (unlimited if you keep asking for it) starts of the meal in solid southern style. Leading up to the millions of types of ribs with some of side options. Everything is juicy, flavorful, and filling.
This place knows how to do BBQ so I highly recommend it to anyone. As with all great eateries there is often a wait, but they have an extensive beer list with tons of new beers to try and they do their best to get everyone in quickly. 20 minute waits are often only around 5 :) -
Review from Dor Z.
2/29/2012
You better WERRRRK, girlfriend...on your appetite!! I always forget that barbecue really fills you up, order everything off the menu, and am stuck with leftovers for the next week and a half.
Redbones has a decent selection of ribs and brisket and all that jazz. Personally, I don't find their meat very tasty or juicy - my experiences always yield results that are rather chewy and bland. Their sauces are okay, but even they can't save the drab slabs of dead animal on my plate. Sorry if that sounds a bit harsh, but I don't come to Redbones for the protein anymore.
In my opinion, barbecue wins with the sides. I love Redbones' collards, yams, dirty rice, mashed potatoes, etc. etc. Pair this meal with a nice drink, be it something from their lofty beer selection or a specialty cocktail, and you've got a wonderful dining experience carved out for you.
Going to Redbones is always a fun experience. It's a cool, relaxed place for a decent meal and tasty drinks. I've always had great, laid-back-yet-professional service. PS. Try to sit in front of the kitchen. The kitchen staff is mad chill.
Food 7/10
Service 8/10
Atmosphere 9/10 -
Review from Tammy R.
Arlington, MA
3/26/2012 1 photo
If Southern barbecue joints are any indication, Redbones is spot on in its crowded, noisy, piled-plate glory. No pretty plating or delicate portions here; you're going to get meat majestically piled on top of your side dishes, and a towering pile of napkins at your table to offset the inevitable dribbling of sauce and grease on your face.
My quest for meaty, tender beef ribs ends at Redbones. Beef ribs are hard to find, and while I like pork ribs just fine, my personal go-to meal for ribs always involves a beef rib. At Redbones, I add a corn pudding from their appetizer list and I'm in heaven. Their corn pudding is a creamy, corn-filled concoction that is unique to them, I think; I've never seen anything quite like it.
The staff at Redbones is friendly and accommodating. The seating is crammed into the space, and you may find yourself elbow-to-elbow with others if you end up in the middle of the room. The bar can get packed, too. But if you're the type to enjoy Southern BBQ done right, you're not going to mind.
The ribs are all well-done, tender, and flavourful. You're going to get them piled atop beans and coleslaw, but you can substitute another side if you wish. You'll get free cornbread at the beginning of your meal, alongside beverages served in ginormous Mason jars. And if you're up for sweeeeeet, you'll order the Sweet Tea (oh, god, yum).
The chili is a bit on the thin side, but still excellent, with giant cubes of meat. Fried okra is crispy, not greasy. And the beef ribs are fantastic, pull-off-the bone tender for dipping into the plate of sauces that come with the ribs. The menu is extensive; dine-in and bulk takeout are both available. I've eaten at Redbones several times and have loved it every time. I've also had Redbones' catering, which also kicks ass.
Parking can be tricky; it's Davis Square, after all. And expect a wait on busy weekend evenings. Don't wear your good shirt. :) -
Review from Julie B.
Quincy, MA
2/19/2012
This review truly saddens me to write, because, under normal circumstances, I LOVE me some Redbones. But, due to a totally rude and incompetent waiter, I have to give a 1. BEWARE OF KELVYN!
I arrived at Redbones around 6ish on a Saturday night for a friend's birthday sporting a group of 7. We had an approximate 20-30 minute wait (NBD), and were then seated with a seemingly normal waiter named Kelvyn. Everything was TOTALLY fine until the bill came...
The bill came out to $136, not including gratuity. My friends and I happen to be decent tippers, so planned on giving a tip of $27, for a total of $163. We also didn't want the birthday boy to pay, so here is the breakdown of the money that was thrown on the table:
Friend 1: $20
Friend 2: $20
Friend 3: $16
Friend 4: $43
Myself and my boyfriend: $55
This total came to $154 - $9 short of where we needed to be. Friend 4 offered to take their money back and put the rest on their card. I counted out the $43 and gave it back to them, changing the cash total to $111. The total that should therefore have been put on his card was $25, but instead, when the waiter came back, my friend was charged $45.
I had everyone at the table double check their wallets to see how much they put down, and I had friend 4 check to see that I correctly gave them $43 and not $63 back. All checked out. We then called Kelvyn over to the table to notify him that he seemed to be short $20. Instead of offering an apology, or even going back to check, he IMMEDIATELY responded with the following:
Kelvyn: No, there was $91. I counted it twice, and I had another waitress confirm, so it seems that the math is right. So what's the problem (snarkily), you trying to figure out the tip?
I tried to politely respond that I too had counted the money several times and, being a former bank teller, I knew for a fact that there was $111 in the bill. Kelvyn did not seem to care, and again did not offer to check and walked away. The fact that he came right out of the gate saying that there was $91 in the bill, and he had another person confirm (why?) seemed incredibly suspicious to me. I think he pocketed that $20.
MEANWHILE, I have neglected to mention that although we had a table of 7, we received 6 plates, 6 sets of silverware, and 6 pieces of cornbread. So, as it would appear, Kelvyn couldn't count correctly from the start.
I'd also like to note that we still tipped Kelvyn 15%, because although we were bamboozled, we aren't jerks.
Also, on the way out, we notified the host that we were shorted this money and he too seemed not to care, and offered no apology or assistance.
While the food is undeniably good at Redbones, our terrible experience with Kelvyn convinced us that we will not be going back. Hope that $20 is worth it, jerkface! -
Review from David P.
Cambridge, MA
3/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had a great time the first time I went to Redbones but thought the food was just "ok." I went back to Redbones for a second time hoping for some great BBQ and was thoroughly disappointed.
I ordered one of their dinner combos and chose the Babyback ribs and the Pulled Pork platter. I swapped the side dishes from cole slaw and beans to mac n cheese and fries.
The babyback ribs were ok, nothing special. I've definitely had better "fall off the bone" ribs before. Also, the ribs don't come with any sauce and I had to ask the waitress multiple times before she remembered to bring out sauce.
However, what gives the rating only 2 stars was the pulled pork. The pulled pork was dry yet wet - if that makes sense. The meat itself was dry yet it came out soggy, almost like they tried to re-hydrate the meat with water. After a little while the meat started tasting like cardboard. It wasn't good at all. In fact, I ended up giving my leftovers to the homeless guy in Davis square.
The only things that kept me from giving 1 star were the side dishes - very yummy - and the fried pickles.
Overall, Redbones has a fun atmosphere and gets really busy during the weekends. But unfortunately the BBQ just doesn't stack up... -
Review from Lauren V.
2/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
I swear every time I leave town and tell someone I'm from Boston they ask if I've been to Redbones. "No, I haven't". "Not yet." "Nope." "No." "No, dammit, leave me alone!" Incredulous stares follow.
So I finally went to see what the racket was all about. And honestly, I'm bemused by the proliferation of allegiance to this place. The fried pickles and jalapenos? Yeah, they're ok. The serving was way too large for two people, but that's not a problem. But, my pulled pork sandwich was soggy and bland. It looked as though it were trying to osmose into my plate. Not appealing. My fiance's ribs was more like rib. Did the server get hungry and eat the other half? Why so small?
In the end, overpriced for undertasty.
Two stars for a solid beer selection and the waiter's slight mortification when I caught him wiggling his eyebrows at me. -
Review from Adam P.
Medford, MA
2/29/2012
For starters, I'm a BBQ snob, so take that for what it's worth.
Redbones isn't your standard BBQ dive, so don't get the wrong idea before you go to eat there. Much more of a standard restaurant/pub that just happens to feature primarily BBQ on their menu.
That said, some of their BBQ is delectable, namely the St. Louis ribs. Incredibly tender, beautiful color, and they just fall off the bone. Their brisket is meaty but dry, and their pulled pork is good (nothing special). Their fried oysters are nice and light, but not worth the price tag. Sides are enjoyable, especially the mac and cheese.
Lastly, they have an insane beer selection. They have almost 20 craft brews on tap each night, plus belgians and your standard domestics. The BBQ may be a bit pricey, but the bar makes it almost worth it.
Overall, not my go-to BBQ joint, but a fun place to hang out and celebrate once in a while. -
Review from Rahul C.
Framingham, MA
3/23/2012
Great restaurant with a character of it's own.
Food is flavorful. They have some real good beers on tap - something that's important for me.
Got a GroupOn coupon when I went here with friends. It's a noisy place mind you but lovely place for groups of up to 10. -
Review from Alana H.
2/29/2012
My boyfriend loves BBQ food, and so what better place to bring him on his birthday! We came here on a Saturday for lunch and were able to immediately grab a seat. It also helped that I had a Groupon. We started with hush puppies, I like my hush puppies sweeter than these are made and I found these to also be a bit dry. For my meal I got the Baby Back Rib Special and he ordered the Combo. He LOVED the Combo- which comes with whatever ribs they have at the time along with Chicken, Sausage, beans, cole slaw, dirty rice and BBQ Sauce. The Combo was a lot of food and he was able to take home leftovers which is saying a lot because he usually likes to finish his food. The Baby Back ribs fell off the bone and we great with the bbq sauce. The french fries were also really tasty and overall the meal was a little bit more than I could finish but I worked really hard to eat it all.
They start you off with cornbread which was really warm and delicious. I ordered a sweet tea which was sweet just the way I like it. I love that this place is tucked away on a little side street but still in the Davis Square area. -
Review from M.Ann D.
Brookline, MA
3/27/2012
Just wanted to give a shout out to all the Bostonian vegetarians who occasionally find themselves in the tricky position of craving BBQ without the ... well, BBQ. For the record, this place has some of the best vegetarian BBQ-esque grub in town.
List of favorites:
1) Corn fritters - imagine something like corn studded beignets covered in maple syrup
2) Fried okra - no slime and served with this killer vinegar sauce.
3) Mac 'n cheese - nothing fancy here, just old school goodness
4) Grilled Vegetables - (my fave, seriously!) they taste smoked, rather than just grilled
5) Succotash - ask for a side of their corn hot sauce for dipping
6) Beer - awesome beer list to wash down the goodness
They also have grilled veggie burgers and grilled portabella mushroom sandwiches - though I haven't tried either yet, since I can't resist stuffing myself with 1-6. -
Review from Phuong P.
Boston, MA
2/9/2012
The difference between 2 stars and 1 star = "Meh. I've experienced better" and "Eek! Methinks not," respectively. I was going to give a generous 2 stars but having to wait 2 hours for such a gross plate of meat and swill? No thanks.
Went recently, around 1/28/2012 and I waited a while to write this review but everyone who went that day probably experienced the same terrible dry, chewy, tasteless food I had. If anything, Redbones should have received 100 bad ratings that night. I can't even begin to think that this place is popular.
The thing about a bbq place is that consistency is key. The meat gets cooked the same way everyday because they're supposed to have a winning combination. We ordered the bbq belt I believe. Ribs and brisket. Brisket was not soft but overwhelmingly bland and the bbq sauce provided couldn't do a damn thing to fix that. Maybe they should invest in a new sauce. No actually, the sauce is probably fine on its own but nothing could save that meat. I feel bad for the animals that died so Redbones could turn it into bad bbq. I thought maybe the ribs could save my experience - I was pretty optimistic at the beginning. How were the ribs? The same thing. I don't think you can call RED a flavor and get away with it.
On another note, the doorman was a gentleman and very friendly. The host, aka the guy who tells you how much time is left in your wait - he really needs to learn numbers because telling everyone "you're almost up," "pretty soon now," and "not much longer" are not references to anything but your uselessness. Be frank to people. No one wants to wait 2 hours when you said 45max especially when the food sucks.
P.S. go to soulfire if you want good bbq. It's cheaper for one and actually tastes good. The cornbread is actually worth mentioning too. -
Review from Joe T.
Boston, MA
4/27/2012
Over last 2 years or so, and for anyone who loved and visited this place frequently, you will notice an amazing staff turnover and lot of amateurs behind the bar.
You sit at the bar, no one cleans it. You have t wave to get attention. And yes the food is still OK and at times inconsistent. Ribs are one day juicy and cooked right, the next may be burned and dry.
Bar stools are awful especially downstairs where you need 2 people to move them to a flat non wobbling surface. And btw pay attention to so many surveillance cameras!!!! On one hand it is fine on the other ... and if you are a regular or a visitor do you really want to have few cameras recording your every movement? -
Review from Patti K.
Medford, MA
5/9/2012
The food has really gone down hill in recent years. We've been in 4 or 5 times in the past few months, mostly because of Groupon. Yesterday we ordered take-out; the beef tips, which cost $14, were about the size of a hamburger in a take-out container. Our medium tips were more than well done. The 1/2 roasted chicken was also overdone, as were the baby back ribs. The coleslaw lacked flavor. The mashed potatoes were good, and would have been great had they been hotter. The beans were the usual. Overall, very disappointing, and definitely not worth the money.
-
Review from Hilary H.
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came to Redbones for the beer, but I wish it had been for that BBQ, too. Unfortunately, I was stuffed and all I could fit in were a few pints to fill the cracks.
Their beer menu is seriously impressive - great domestic microbrews beside wonderful Belgians. Order by number, and the barkeep will be your best pal. I had a Sierra Nevada draught, my companions had a Dogfish Head Brown Ale, some magical Chimay wonder that tasted like chocolate and coffee, and some weird German pilsner that was quite refreshing, if different. Variety we did not lack.
The food coming out of that kitchen smelled amazing, so I'll defs be back for some ribs and chicken wings!Listed in: Groupies!, Like a Fish...., A Guy Sits Down at a Bar..., Gimme a Beer!, Cheap Eats!
-
Review from Sarah d.
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
I don't like giving bad reviews. I'm not a mean person. I wish every restaurant was awesome. But I can't help but feel like Redbones is the main reason for all those "you can't get real bbq in Massachusetts" rumors you hear.
In case you wanted to know *even more* about me, take this into consideration: I am not a picky eater. And I am also not a person who carries around a rulebook in her back pocket to determine whether something qualifies as "real bbq". I expect one thing from food: deliciousness.
NOPE.
The meat (specifically the pulled pork and the chopped brisket) is flavorless and soggy. Not soggy with delicious fatty meat juice, but soggy with sauce. Sauce that tastes an awful lot like straight-from-the-can Campbell's Tomato Soup. And the beans were mind-blowing. I have not seen beans this color, or tasted beans this... tasteless... since hot dog day in my middle school cafeteria. The best thing I can say is that their cole slaw tastes like cole slaw and everything is cheapish.
I hear tell that they have good sides. Maybe this is true of the sides I have not sampled. Regardless, I prefer my "good sides" to sit beside a good main.
I have no doubt that Redbones will continue to do a swift business, and I wish them all the best, but I think it's pretty clear that we do not bring out the best in each other. We are better off apart. -
Review from Adriel I.
Cambridge, MA
1/22/2012
Dubs tee eff Redbones?! What has happened to you? When I got to Boston, I figured out pretty quickly that Redbones is something of a local institution. Whenever I would snobbishly complain about the lack of good bbq this far north, some local would always drop their dunkin in horror and semi-whisper aghast "but...but what about Redbones?". So I tried it. And the first few times, I had to grudgingly admit that, while it probably wouldn't rate if plopped down somewhere in Memphis, Redbones had edible, and nigh on flavorful bbq. The catfish is always pretty good, the drinks are strong enough, and while the ribs probably wouldn't make you sing "Sweet Home Alabama", they would generally satisfy the urge for southern cuisine.
So imagine my disappointment when my last trip out to Redbones ran amok. I was feeling particularly carnivorous, so I went with the Barbecue Belt. I was expecting ribs done three different ways. What I got was three different forms of bland and chewy. No amount of sauce was saving these ribs. I won't even get into the sides, which I didn't bother finishing. My companions didn't fare any better. The displeasure was enough to cause open grumbling at the table about how bad the meal was. Sadly, I lied to the (nice) waitress who came by with the standard question of "is everything ok?" I mean, I answered yes, but that's because I didn't know where to start with just how wrong things were.
Honestly, I was a little embarrassed, as it was my suggestion to go to Redbones. In my past excursions, it has usually been solid B grade bbq. Sure, it was the holidays, and perhaps traffic was low, so the food had sat out for a while. But no excuses guys...you can do better than this. -
Review from David C.
Brookline, MA
3/8/2012
There are a surprising amount of good bar-b-q places in boston and if you are enterprising, even more in the new gland region. In my opinion, red bones is the best in greater boston. I have friends who swear by other places, but this is the best combination of atmosphere, food, service and value.
Let's start with the atmosphere: the first time a came here was with a group of friends and we didn't get a single thing to eat. We just spun the giant beer wheel all night and got pleasantly inebriated on there delicious selection of microbrews. Be careful with that thing though: my friend wound up with a fifteen dollar IPA, which while delcious, wasn't exactly what he was hoping for. Overrall the aptmosphere is relaxed, casual and fun. I prefer the downstairs eating area, but as long as you don't mind a casual setting, you'll be fine no matter where you sit.
As for the food, it's delicious. I love barbecue and they do it right here. Spring for the ribs if your hungry as the portions are enormous. They have a couple of great combination platters and you'll always have a few leftovers. All the sides are delicious but my favorites are the mac and cheese and, of course, greens. If you think you are tough, get their spicy relish, but be warned: I had to drink three huge glasses of water after just tasting it.
I gave the place four stars because some of the servers there aren't the best... don't get me wrong, they are quick but they are more interested in moving on, rather than helping you order something you really want.
Overall it's a great place. Go there, spin the wheel, order a plate of ribs and leave happy. -
Review from Emme D.
Salem, MA
4/22/2012
I came here this weekend for dinner with friends for the first time. There was an hour and a half wait for four people, so I was really hoping the wait would be worth the food. It was. I got the catfish/rib combo (St. Louis ribs). The fish was flavorful and the potato salad side was tasty. The coleslaw was okay, with a hint of left outside the fridge too long, but still edible. The ribs were alright. There is no sauce on them, so you get to season with BBQ sauce as you please, but were perhaps slightly overcooked. I did enjoy it and would go back. The beer selection was enormous and would be quite enjoyable for a beer aficionado. For dessert we split pecan pie and custard. The custard is aka flan, which is a nice surprise and the pecan pie is superb. I look forward to going back and enjoying some BBQ, hopefully without an hour and a half wait.
I forgot to mention about the decor/ambiance. It is dingy in there. The basement level is dark, cramped and extremely loud. A lot of large groups come here and the seating is across a long picnic-style table, unless you have a group of four. Not a good first date place. The service was good. -
Review from Anthony R.
Boston, MA
3/2/2012
Pull my pork! I've been coming here for years and have always had a great time. With nearly 1000 reviews, I figured I'd contribute my opinion to hopefully bump up their rating to at least 4 stars.
I love the Jamaican jerk pork and the varieties of BBQ sauce are great (I'm a huge dipper so I ask for extra). There is just so much on the menu, it keeps me coming back for more to try different things. The collard greens and sides like mac n cheese and poppers are fantastic. The hushpuppies have been disappointing and the service can be a little "rough around the edges" but honestly Redbones is more about the experience and beer than just the food. Anyone that has a bad experience here needs to take a chill pill and probably wouldn't find any divey BBQ place enjoyable.
My favorite experiences so far have been late night down in the basement. It gets super loud and crazy and it's something completely out of the ordinary to do. Redbones is one of the reasons I'd love to live in Davis Square! -
Review from Leigh C.
Bellingham, MA
Updated - 1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Dear Redbones,
I hope everything is OK, because the last time we were in the food was not-so-good. The ribs were fatty, the sides were bland...please go back to your old ways...of super yummy BBQ!
Your friend,
L1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/7/2011
We love Redbones! The buffalo shrimp are a favorite....a light "tempura like" coating, tossed in a… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jason J.
1/10/2012
I come here so often I consider Redbones my dining room. Since other Yelpers covered the finer points, a haiku will suffice for my review:
The key to my Heart
Beer, booze, dead animals: yum
MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT
