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4 stars, solid choice
so im basing this one our experience there, it was west coast beer night or something, mer said she would drive and we had coverage so double win for me
the beers featured were among others, rouge and the draw, lompoc, from oregon. i remember going to the old new when we were visiting family in the rose city and it was just as good this time but on a different coast. turns out the rouge people were kind enough to bring several kegs of the red and wheat with them for me to enjoy!
redbones layout allowed for the basement section to host this beer festival of sorts, the real super win was the free apps there were serving. sorry waitstaff, coming over and asking me what i wanted for dinner when the whole time you had your yummy ribs, and tasty catfish fingers behind you gratis, well, at least you can get me another beer.
seating was a bit tight, but we were with table for a good hour before we decided 2 was enough and we had to get back to parenting (do not call selective services on us please!)
overall: location, davis square, one of my personal favs as far as those other city squares go
taste: as i said, the meat and fish were good, corn fritters also won our attention
price: 5 bucks a beer, but free apps = right price for me nowadayz
I am by no means a Southerner (Bostonian to the core), I have rarely traveled south of the Mason-Dixon line (by choice), and I could give a rats @$$ about what's 'authentic' BBQ and what isn't. What I do know is I like things that taste good, and Redbones' food tastes good, end of story.
I'm a huge fan of pulled pork, and Redbones has the best in the city as far as I'm concerned. Tender, juicy, served with a myriad of side sauces and delicious side dishes... it's meat-tastic (their ribs are nothing to sneeze at either). This place is a shrine to meat- my guy friends absolutely adore coming here, something about 'meat sweats'-, but my veggie friends also enjoy Redbones as well; cornbread, hush puppies, candied yams, mac & cheese, all good things. The menu usually has something for everyone (and I love getting a platter with some ribs and some pulled pork and a few sides, it's a great mix and you won't get bored with just one thing).
Aside from the food, Redbones has such a casual cool funky vibe, a great place to come after work and grab a drink with a group (Underbones is the best!). They have a good selection of beer, and their cocktails are pretty great too (they do a mean Dark & Stormy with home-made ginger beer). I always have a great time when I come here, whether it's for full-blown meat-coma-inducing dinner, or just drinks with coworkers.
If you're expecting your Arkansas great-grandma's secret recipe for brisket rub, don't expect to find it in our fair city, so stop whining and go back to the south where you belong. But, if you're just looking for something tasty and filling (and fun), Redbones is your place.
Pulled pork is awesomely juicy, and the sweet sauce compliments the meat very well!
All the sides I tried were just okay - mac n cheese, fried okra, potatoes.
Good atmosphere and quick service.
Recently got take away from here. I called, chatted with the girl for a bit, she put me on hold one, apologized profusely for having done so when she got back on the line, and took my order. I got a parking spot right out front, the food was done in 15 minutes (the lower end of the estimate she'd given me after my order was placed) and I was headed home. I also now have tons of little tupperware containers cause of the slaw and beans! Bonus! It's a bit pricey for me to eat here often, but it's a nice treat. I am always really satisfied with the food, and service.
I love Redbones.
It's a MUST for anybody in the area.
They cater a mean Xmas party too - you should…
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Oh man, what awesome BBQ. The redbones experience is straight out of a storybook. It has a decor that is indescribable, yet playful. I highly recommend that you sit in the basement.
The food is great and is delivered very quickly by an incredibly friendly waitstaff. You get an incredible amount of food for the money and it is just plain delicious.
Try the pulled chicken. Absolutely delicious.
The Macaroni and Cheese is middling at best, but the beans are good and the dirty rice is so good we got a second helping to go.
Pricey, though. Our bill added up quickly.
Friendly service, reasonably quick for a busy rainy Saturday lunch hour. One guy even asked me where I got my sweatshirt, which I thought was cool.
while the somervillian in me is hiding in shame of what i'm about to say, i can't pretend any longer.
i'm not a fan of redbones.
don't get me wrong - i love the atmosphere. i love drinks at underbones. i love that they carry real ginger beer, not ginger ale, that makes a great dark n stormy.
and believe it or not, they actually make really good grilled chicken wings.
but.
but..... (and here's where i hide my head in shame......) i'm not impressed by the bbq. maybe it's that i have a friend who's a professional bbq judge and competitor, so i've eaten a lot of bbq. it has nothing to do with authenticity - i'm no bbq expert and i'm no bbq snob. but i don't know, redbones just doesn't do it for me. and i hate paying so much money for something that i don't love!
my solution up until now, when redbones is the destination, is to order the wings and ribs combo appetizer (saving me from spending buckets of money), eat the wings, and take the ribs home, put 'em in the fridge, and eat them cold second day. they're actually much better that way.
so.... are we still cool, somerville?
Best BBQ I've ever had!
DON'T go for the traditional baby back's--- those are actually the worst of their ribs. The texas are by far the best and then the Memphis come in 2nd. Or you could get the BBQ belt and try them all....
The other amazing thing here is the Buffalo Shrimp, but they onlyu give 5 I believe in the appetizer portion and theyre not big... it really pissed me off when I got them to share. If you have to, charge more and give a normal appetizer portion... don't bring out that measley plate! :)
Theyre really nice about letting you sub sides for the coleslaw/beans that come with the ribs. Who cares about the sides though? We're here for the ribs!
Redbones never fails me as my go-to easy BBQ spot to bring friends who want to have a hearty, delicious, meaty meal with leftovers to spare. I try to sit downstairs where the noise-level is loud, but the artwork is awesome; I'll never get tired of finding new things to look at on those walls!
I recommend the brisket (no sauce; ask for some "crunchy bits" or end pieces) with the mac & cheese or the garlicky mashed potatoes. The sausage, too, is worth trying -- not-too spicy, beautifully dry, and very tasty.
BBQ fare with huge craft beer list makes an interesting combination. They open at 11 which is 30 minutes earlier in the day than most places for beer, so this is an easy first choice for a pub crawl. They have a giant wheel with an arrow to spin in case you can't decide on which beer to order. Cask ale is sometimes available as well. Founders Breakfast Stout was on tap, which is an amazing offering. Next visit I'll have to try either the fried corn fritters or homemade hush puppies.
It's also across the street from Diesel cafe, where some of the best espresso in Boston can be found.
Friendly service at the bar too but I must admit he was a doofus.
Redbones BBQ is a really cool spot... located in Davis Sq. When we were walking up we saw the painted vintage car out front ... really eye catching !
The entire restaurant is decorated in bright colorful paintings of skulls and animals and just all kinds of crazy cool stuff ... There is an up stairs and down stairs with bar ... we sat downstairs because it is more family friendly upstairs ....
There were 13 people in our party and they accommodated us without a problem ... got a table immediately ....
our waitress was really horrible ... she was irritated, rolled her eyes, huffed ... no matter how friendly we were to her she just continued to be rude and sarcastic .... I asked her several questions while ordering and she was so mean ....
The food looked really good when it came out but everything was cold and the plate when all sloppy ... so the beans and the cole slaw were all mixed together and the the pulled pork and baby back ribs were luke warm/cold ...
I am awarding 2 star only for the cool atmosphere ... I will never eat there again ....
I recommend Blue Ribbon in Arlington ....
At the risk of sounding combative, I'm going to say that if you don't like Redbones, you're doing it wrong. This place is a glorious shrine to southern barbecue that is messy and greasy and crispy and has all these delicious dipping sauces that mean that you will always be licking your fingers and eying your neighbor's plate.
I love the atmosphere with the wacky art, and there's just enough music that you can hear it, but you have to yell a little, and the yelling and the drinking and eating just makes me feel like I'm indulging in the best gluttony of hedonism available at a table in Boston for under $15 a person.
And I admit it, there are sometimes when I don't like Redbones - when I'd rather have a cocktail than a beer, or a vegetable dish than pulled pork. But hear me out - this isn't Redbones, it's me. Redbones knows what it does and it does it excellently, consistently. And when I am in the mood, it is this rowdy 20-something's heaven on earth.
I know I am going against popular opinion here...
Not a great example of barbeque. Do not be mislead. If you have ever experienced barbeque in the South or Midwest, this is not the spot for you. Avoid their "take" on brisket at all costs.
Definitely a New England take on the concept of barbeque. Suppose it is passable for those who have never really had true good barbeque.
Actually the only place in my life I asked for my money back and left.
The staff was friendly and understanding.
Let me start by pointing out that I've never been to a smokehouse down south. All I know is yankee BBQ establishments well north of the Mason-Dixon. However, this is my favorite. The ribs are fantastic, the hush puppies are my dream come true at 11pm after I've had a few rounds, and (though I occasionally regret it by the end of the sandwich) the jerk beef is delicious.
The real reason I go here though, is because I want to have some good craft beer with a small group of people on a weekday night. Don't go here on the weekends: the place is always packed. In fact, even on a Tuesday or Wednesday, I frequently have to wait 20 minutes for a party of 5 or 6.
Also, it's practically two different establishments, the upstairs restaurant is much more hectic, though kid friendly, while the downstairs (Underbones) is a wonderfully dark bar with crazy art on the walls. You definitely want to go downstairs.
Parting tips:
1)WBUR members have a buy one entree get one free on Mon-Wed by showing a member card
2) the combo, available early in the day (before 4 I think?) is $10, feeds two people, and has a wide variety of their astounding selection of meats. Get it for lunch on a Saturday for a great deal.
It's not that I didn't like Redbones, It's just I was imagining "finger-lickin" ribs, saucey, messy, tons of napkins....not dry rub. I realized after the fact that there is a nightly-dinner special featuring 1/2 baby back ribs smothered in sauce w/ french fries which is what I would have gotten had known. Also, the mac n cheese was bland and the cornbread was hard as a rock. On the plus side, the amibance was cool (packed for a Wendesday night @ 8), the beer list was interesting and the staff were super friendly/helpful.
Maybe they were having an off night or maybe I hyped it up way too much. Either way I left full but not 100% satisfied.
MMM.
3 stars for good food. 1 additional star for one of the best bartender experiences I've had in a long time.
Headed down on into the lower level of Redbones (it's honestly the only place to eat dinner - the top floors lack the awesome ambience that Redbones is known for). The trippy artwork, dim lighting, noisy atmosphere is great. We put our names on the list, but when we saw two seats open up at the bar, we pounced. We ordered a couple of beers and a starter of Hushpuppies. I've never had Hushpuppies before so I have nothing to compare them to...but they were SO GOOD. I will definitely order them again. So while nibbling on the hushpuppies, I came up with the brilliant idea of ordering "The Barbecue Belt" (featuring Memphis, Texas, Arkansas Ribs and sliced brisket) to share...rather than ordering to heaping servings of ribs apiece. For $18.99 - we got a plate piled so high with meat that my arteries went into shock.
Before I dug in, I decided I wanted to try a new beer. The bartender came over and I asked her what she would recommend in terms of a lighter, paler brew. Instead of just suggesting something to me on a whim, she brought out 4 whiskey glasses and poured several different brews for me to taste-test. It was awesome (and free!). She was super nice and hands down it was one of the friendliest and most accommodating experiences I have had with a bartender.
Our bill barely scraped the $40.00 mark and we left with a huge box of leftovers. I'll be back, Redbones. You can count on it.
I lived in the South for many years and Red Bones serves up some tasty BBQ. I enjoy the laid back vibe and colorful, funky, and random decor. The service is usually fast and friendly. The beer list offers a great selection and they also have beer flights which are my fav!
***You must try the CORN PUDDING!!!***---Its the best I've ever had!
The Jamaican jerk BBQ is very tasty, moist and very spicy---You've been warned! The grilled salmon a good if you're not in the mood for rib sticking BBQ. The cornbread is ok--not the best but not the worst either. The Hushpuppies and Fried Okra--are too dry and flavorless. The Candied Yams, Collard Greens and Beans are usually solid sides. The Oyster Po Boy is also a standout on the menu.
The prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is great for a groups or a casual night out. Red Bones keeps me coming back for more!
My blood pressure gets boiling when people hear I'm from Texas and they say "You must love/try Redbones!" This is not real BBQ. At least, not the BBQ I am used to being from Texas and the south.
Example: Hushpuppies are one of my favorite foods. They are a cornmeal mash with onions, peppers, spices, etc. deep fried (sometimes baked) and served with butter, honey or - best of all worlds - honeybutter. I have no frickin' idea what I got frm Redbones when I ordered hushpuppies. It was like something from another planet. I even asked the server if they got my order wrong.
Another favorite is breaded and fried okra - another southern staple. Here it was soggy and tasteless (needs to be crispy with a dash of salt and some pepper).
They didn't even offer sliced brisket! I had to settle for a pulled pork sandwich and it was mostly watered down pork and a soggy piece of bread. No bun, no toast, nothing.
I can imagine Redbones' BBQ is probably like buying clam chowder in Iowa. For better BBQ in the area try Tennessee's (Framingham), Firefly (Marlborough) and Soul Fire (Allston).
I feel drunk.
They constantly have a dinner special, half a rack of ribs and fries for ten dollars. Sat at the counter and went by myself. Cooks behind the counter gave me free samples of food. Do not really understand how they call this southern food though when its made by Hispanics. only reason i am not giving this five stars is because the meat was a little on the dry side but as a positive note when i tried to pull the bones apart on the ribs they just came out instead. fried pickles are fantastic. another positive note, last time i went there they messed up on my order and gave me a free beer. oh yah and they have awesome beer.
GOD, i love this place! The brisket is to die for! I also like to get the sampler plate with all the different kinds of ribs... GIANT PILE OF MEAT. This place is strictly for carnivores, it feels like a massacre when you're all finished and covered in barbecue sauce with piles of dead animal surrounding you. I couldn't ask for anything more.
Fridays and Saturdays are very busy so come early or make a reservation.
Is it just me, or has the food here been getting better the last year or two. Its still not the best barbecue in the area, but its respectable and with Uncle Pete's gone they move closer to the top for beef ribs. And if the beer is as important as the barbecue, you can't beat Redbones.
Its still a great place, a great value, and the owners are very good to the community and support lots of great causes.
Bottom line: great place, great bar, great staff and ownership and good food.
Redbones almost always…
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Redbones is a great Somerville establishment.
I first experienced it a few years ago while doing a play in Boston. A couple of us from the cast heard about it and headed over.
When you get inside, the vibe is instantly great. There's a big dining room upstairs, an adjoining bar, and then to top it off, a really awesome basement lounge and bar to boot.
That said, everyone at the table were BBQ fiends. When our stuff arrived, it all looked terrific and we had some glorious Maker's Mark Ice Tea concoctions to wash it down with. But once we dug beneath the surface, the food was seriously just so-so. The meat was dry and chewy, the cornbread...maybe the driest and blandest I've had anywhere, and just overall not awesome.
I've been back several times since then. My sister now lives in Somerville and I get up from NYC once a month or so to hang out and we always inevitably end up pulling up a seat at the bar in the basement when I do. The food is still just so-so. I had the "chili" last week and I am not kidding when I say that it was basically beef broth with three biggish chunks of cubed steak in it. No beans. No onions. No tomatoes. The broth was tasty and the meat was good....but chili, it wasn't.
Now all of that said...I still really like Redbones. I like the staff. Everyone's friendly and cool. The bartenders are great and nice and fun. I LOVE the decor. Redbones had the great sense to hire a local artist (and a great one!) to draw murals all over the walls and create sculptures for the doors and ceilings. The result is a one of a kind feel that makes you feel someplace special. It has that "There's only ONE Redbones!" vibe that rocks. The basement bar is dim, relaxed, and chill and the beer and spirit list is long and affordable. The last time I was up there, they had some awesome NY micro-brews (ala Six Points) and a sick Bourbon list.
All in all I would say that I would highly recommend hitting Redbones as a pre-cursor to dinner and night out elsewhere or as a great place for a night cap. I think that a little exploration in the kitchen to yield juicier, moister, and more flavorful BBQ options would slide this place easily into 5 star land.
In the meantime, I kind of feel like a regular and hope I haven't made any enemies by yelping my mind. It's just my opinion...and growing up in Kansas, when it comes to BBQ, I know that there are some heated ones about it! But I got lots of love for Redbones and everyone there. I say GO!
I have officially converted to eating ribs and Southern food. I was hesitant to try this place because I've never enjoyed this kind of food, but I decided to give it another shot and absolutely everything I ate here was delicious.
I went with three friends and we all split the Memphis, St. Louis, Texas and Baby Back ribs - they were all delicious, really tender and flavorful, and I've never liked ribs. Baby Back ribs were good but fairly average, while the Memphis ribs were my absolute favorite. We all substituted the sides because beans and cole slaw can only get so good. It was my first time having all these sides - the corn fritters were amazingly good and the hush puppies were great too. Side salad was fine but this doesn't seem like the place to get vegetables. Also, the buffalo shrimp appetizer is so simple but it's like my new favorite food - a bit pricey though, at $6 for 6 small shrimp.
The whole atmosphere there on a Friday night is kind of crazy but actually wasn't so chaotic that it was bothersome, and we didn't have to wait long for anything. Our waiter was really friendly, almost a little overboard on the friendly, but had a lot of suggestions for menu choices that all turned out really well. I'm really looking forward to coming back here soon and trying more.
Having grown up in the South, I know good BBQ... and though I'll be the first to admit that I've had better ribs off the back of a truck on the side of the road... Redbones serves up a mean pulled pork and beef brisket. Don't get me wrong, the ribs are good... I've just had better and I wish they had all of their sauces on each of the tables. But enough of the cons...
The pros: if you are in the mood for meat and a great selection of brews (not to mention a pretty good margarita), Redbones is my go-to in the Boston area. The mac and cheese is fantastic as are the collard greens and corn bread. Also (and to me, most importantly)... their pickles are soooooo GOOOOODDDD.
Meat. Pickles. Beer... What more can you ask for??
I had eaten at Redbones a while ago, and all that I remembered was not liking their BBQ chicken, but that the yams were good. After a traumatic day getting locked out of my apt, I was in need for some comfort food & I decided to try their delivery.
I got a rib, buffalo wings, and sides of mac & cheese, yams, and corn. The sides were okay--you can't really mess up yams unless you don't cook them long enough, and the corn pudding was interesting. The mac & cheese was meh. I give the beef BBQ ribs a high meh, while the wings were probably the best I've had in Boston (take that for what its worth).
The delivery was fast, and it was still hot (basically), so that was good, but it reminded me of Tony Romas-- it's okay if you need a BBQ fix, but in an absolute sense, its not that great. Maybe if you like the pork ribs those might be better (given how much people on these boards tend to love redbones I assume they must be doing something right--but it ain't the beef ribs, I'll tell you that!).
I would definitely get the hot wings again---and it was a pretty large order (enough for lunch tomorrow!), so if they were a wing restaurant I would probably give them a 4.5! Free delivery w/ a relatively low minimum was also pretty nice.
Great food. Great beers. Great atmosphere. Great service.
5 stars. Enough said.
So, after watching phantom gourmet, my bf and I decide, hey, let's go try out restaurants on this rainy day. We make up rules, nothing over 10 dollars and you must share. it can't be a chain and must be a new place. yada yada. We happen upon Davis Square before out stomachs scream out for us to stop and find Redbones. Now, I'm just saying, I'm not a huge southern fan, because usually restaurants use too much or too little sauce, or overcook the meat. Redbones had it nailed. We tried the pulled pork and were very satisfied. It was heavenly. The giant size soda made me cringe, but I wanted to take the cup home. The price is great, the bartender was friendly as sin and I can't wait to go back to try their bbq ribs and southern fineries.Oh and the great beer list, though the liquor drinks called out to me more.
I like Redbones. I like Oktoberfest. So, why didn't I like Redbones Oktoberfest?
Looking back, I didn't do the math. Cajun restaurant, doing German cuisine for one day per year. It seemed the kitchen strategy was:" they are just going to drink beer, and need a sausage sandwich to throw down the hatch." Which is fine for my brother-in-law's house, but he isn't charging by the plate.
The sauerkraut was watery and washed out tasting. Is this from a can? Was there a date on said can? Did that date tie in with last year's Oktoberfest?
The sauerkraut being tasty and fresh is key. Without that, I have sausage on a paper plate. This pivots the sausage into either a German taste sensation, or a disappointing sausage on a plate that should not have costed ten dollars.
The band was fun. I noted some people dancing "the Chicken." The street was closed off for the event.
But, as the reader may surmise, my joie de vivre was not aroused to allow me to bellow out " Prost!".
Don't be estranged by its location and modest exterrior, Red Bones should definitely not be overlooked. I personally prefer the bar more than the dinning room, but regardless of where you end up locating yourself, Red Bones is a wonderful hangout for sharing drinks, food and laughters with your friends.
Stepping through those doors by no means imply that you are in the South, but Red Bones do a pretty okay job trying to bring a variety of Southern flavors into our lives. I really like the baby-back ribs, they are extremely tender, juicy and the flavoring is great. However, the beef brisket wasn't as unforgettable. I find the cornbread dull, and the hushpuppies unimpressive. The nachos I quite liked, but it didn't get tham any extra point because it really isn't hard to prepare an acceptable plate of nachos. I do like getting the chicken fingers or catfingers at the bar, they are delicious and very fairly priced.
They have a good selection of beers, scotch and the bar tenders make good cocktails. I find the staff friendly and easy going. I go eat there because there aren't many choices around for that style of southern food, and I am still waiting to be wow-ed. But I do think it's a fun place to hang out.
I don't have much new to add to what's already been said...the food was a little disappointing, but not terrible. I enjoyed the buffalo scallops as an app and shared St. Louis ribs with a friend. The rib meat was good, but the sauce was forgettable. The slaw was watery and the beans didn't taste like BBQ style baked beans (i.e. smoky and sweet) -- they tasted more like beans you'd get at a Mexican restaurant. Cornbread = good, but isn't it impossible to screw up cornbread?
I had fun and I was impressed that despite it being a Friday night madhouse and I was in a group of 9, they seated us pretty quickly and we got our food in a reasonable amount of time. Waitress was good about checking in and getting drink refills.
Funniest part of the experience: we asked for directions after getting off the T at Davis Square and a man told us which way to walk and then shouted "Enjoy the dead meat!" at us as we walked away.
You can't beat the prices and the bbq is always on point. However, i had a watered down whiskey drink the last time I went and the cornbread is always dry. C'mon, Redbones. You can do better! I need me some moist, cornbread and a strong drink to go with that swine!
Also, unless you order a domestic beer, you'll be hard pressed to find a bottle of beer under $7. WTF?
OMG
BBQ
FTW.
This is the only BBQ place in town that doesn't make me long for the treats I had in Memphis. Every other place lacks and then some. Redbones is the real deal and that warms my icy heart.
Sigh. I was all set and ready to write a three-star update, but they screwed it up for themselves with the service. I had really good fried oysters (it was the Po' Boy Sandwich, but I didn't eat it as a sandwich) with a seasoned tartar sauce, fries, and cole slaw. I wasn't a fan of the cole slaw, really, but the oysters and fries were great.
Unfortunately, it was really busy tonight (as it is pretty much every night that I've been there) and we never saw our server again after we got our meal. I can sympathize, because it sucks to serve at a restaurant that is always so tightly-packed and insane, but we were there for another 40 minutes - she couldn't have visited us once? One guy offered to get my friend another beer, but then he never brought it. Kind of a bummer.
Redbones: Boston's bastion of blah, boring barbecue. Boo.
I don't claim to be a barbecue aficionado…
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so-so, dry overcooked food and overcrowded restaurant.
We went for our annual trip to Redbones last night, and as usual no one was disappointed. I had the St. Louis style ribs while my companions had the Memphis and Baby Back. All were dry rubbed and smoked with a perfect char. While I don't feel sauce is needed, with their ribs I do enjoy their hot BBQ sauce.
The sides were mostly good: the cole slaw is always Delicious and the potato salad was equally as good. They are prepared very old school, the way mom used to. The black eyed peas were a little sub par and bland but it didn't stop anyone from enjoying the meal. The Atomic corn relish while tasty is so beyond hot as to not be enjoyable unless you are a true chile head, I like it, but have yet to finish a serving
The service was a little below the standard that I have had there in the past. Our waiter was neither friendly or attentive, which surprised me as normally they are both. The service so poor in fact on this night that we had to ask three times for drinks. Other than that the food arrived in good time and was hot and Delicious.
I will obviously go back
Bad to bone.....na na na na na....Bad to the bone....(that was supposed to the song lyrics by the way ha)
That's right, I felt like a bad a$$ here because when I went and ordered the Jerk BBQ sandwich I basically had an all out verbal duel with our waitress about me being able to handle this spicy sandwich! But guess what? I won!
She told me, "Ummmm that is our spiciest thing on the menu...i should give you the sauce on the side." Me: "Ummmm no. I am from California and love spicy food, so I want it spicy with everything on it please." Her: "Well I've seen full grown men not be able to eat this sandwich..." Me: "I love spicy food. It'll be fine" Her: "I should bring the sauce on the side, it may ruin the sandwich for you" Me: "I can handle it. Trust me, just bring me the sandwich as is!!" And this continued a couple more times.....that conversation made me more exhausted than the spicy sandwich did!
BUT good news red bones, it was spicy!! I LOVE SPICY and this place actually made it spicy! BUT I also was stronger than some of those full grown men she mentioned, because I could still eat it and not cry, so I win. But thanks for making a pretty tasty and spicy bbw beef sandwich for me! The coleslaw was perfect on it too!
The fries were only so so though...should have gotten the plate with the potato salad, but that will be for next time. And the wheel of beer is a pretty fun thing to do while you wait for your table too--as long as you are okay will all types of beer! Luckily I got one I could drink, but if it had been a little more bitter, not so sure...
And this place doesn't really scream southern or bbq to me when you are inside, especially downstairs, but rather it screams Dia de los Muertes with all of the colorful, black light reactant bones and skeletons everywhere, which definitely will either make you feel awkward or entertained. I was the later. heh
Lastly, let me concur with Chris M. and our discovery of the downstairs bathrooms requiring you to go up a few steep stairs in order to get to the toilet!! Not the best planning I don't think...especially if you have spun that wheel a few too many times upstairs!! :-)
Sorry guys, this place is one of the most overrated restaurants in New England. If anyone thinks this is BBQ, they just haven't had real BBQ.
I can't tell you how many people swore this place was the best around. Although, most of these people also think greek-style pizza tastes great, so I should have been skeptical. I knew going in that it would never compare to the great Uncle Pete's, but I thought it would at least be somewhat good.
Nope. My Memphis ribs were dry and just lacking flavor. Usually I can't get enough of the ribs, but these I had to eat simply to finish the meal I paid for. Sides were lackluster and didn't add anything to the meal. Portions were smaller than I expected. Service was good when we visited, so I'll give them +1 for that.
I know a lot of people like this place, and that's fine. But please don't call it "great BBQ"!
Well, what I can I say that hasn't been said in the 516 other reviews? I went here for the first time on Friday evening, shared a plate of bbq chicken, crispy potatoes, macncheese, and some weird corn pudding thing. And I loved the spicy bbq dipping sauce. It was delicious. Paired it with a tasty dark n stormy...mmm, rum. They also have a sweet beer wheel that you can spin if you can't make a decision. Closes at 1 (a lil too early IMO). Cool place. I'll be back to sample more Southern delicacies for sure.
Having spent most of my life in the Florida panhandle, aka "lower Alabama" I've cultivated a deep-fried love for good Barbeque.
Unfortunately, New England doesn't quite get it, Redbones included. I am amazed that all the joints in the area consistently get the very basics all wrong. BBQ sauce in a tiny plastic serving cup? Really?
The food at Redbones is disappointing, with nothing really standing out and the cornbread regrettably of the overly-dry jiffy mix variety. The only thing here that is really a must-have isn't even on the menu!
The fried pickles and peppers is pretty much all that my friends and I ever get when we go here but they are amazing! I give Redbones two stars for the food, the best barbeque I've had in this area is Jake's Dixie Roadhouse in Waltham, hands down.
Redbones is a regular stop in my group for one reason: the beer. Specifically, the downstairs bar, Underbones. This is why I give Redbones four stars. First of all its a charming environment covered in brightly colored quirky murals. You also have to appreciate a bar whose bartenders aren't afraid to dance behind the bar when a good song comes on. Its comforting. They keep clean draft lines, I never get a skunky beer and they have a respectable number of rotating brews, including some true greats like Founder's Canadian Breakfast Stout (which lasted about a day and a half, by the way).
I also love how they advertise on the beer menus which beers are soon to be tapped.
Essentially, I come to Redbones with the gang for great beers and unique environment. Do I go to Redbones when I get a craving for good barbeque? Not a chance.
Geesh, can this place get any more reviews?
I love barbeque. Love it! I don't know of any diehard carnivore who doesn't. So you can imagine my excitement when I heard about the legendary Redbones and the massive portions of meat you get here.
I ordered the pulled pork and Arkansas rib combo. Well, massive portions are indeed correct, but the taste and flavor unfortunately didn't blow me away. They definitely were good, but not something I would rave about. I love me some big meat, but I love big meat with big flavor. That didn't seem to happen here. It was also topped off with a mammoth mountain of very watery cole slaw which just seemed to make a bbq-slaw soup on my platter that didn't help either. Eww.
The reviews are definitely right on track concerning the huge crowds here. I arrived around 6pm and the upstairs was completely packed. The downstairs was really dark, had a funky decor and a lot more additional seating. I'd opt for the downstairs area over the upstairs chaos for sure.
Service was extremely efficient and friendly. We must have had 4-5 different people servicing our table. We never had to ask for anything and they kept our beer glasses full.
Prices are reasonable. The menu is huge so you're more than likely to find something you'll like in almost any price range. They have a really good beer selection so that is definitely a nice perk.
It seems like a really chill place to grab a few drinks and apps, but the ribs and barbeque won't be luring me back.
Special Offer: Box Office…
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Category: Barbeque
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Neighborhood: Davis Square
Category: Restaurants
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