On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.

Wildwood BBQ

3 star rating
based on 109 reviews

Category: Barbeque  [Edit]

Neighborhoods: Flatiron, Gramercy
225 Park Ave S
(between 18th St & 19th St)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 533-2500
Nearest Transit:

Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)

Hours:

Mon-Tue. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Wed. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar

109 reviews for Wildwood BBQ

Review Highlights   

user photo
"The pulled pork is awesome and the sausage is good too." (in 41 reviews)
user photo
"came with vinegar chips, pickles, and cole slaw." (in 12 reviews)
user photo
"Better than Hill Country and Blue Smoke." (in 16 reviews)
  Loading...
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of helen c.

 

10

49

helen c.

Jersey City, NJ

3 star rating
10/26/2009

I've been here a couple of times and the service is always really attentive, sometimes too attentive. They have a decent, house bbq sauce that is almost too sweet. The Memphis style ribs were good, not over smoked.

skip the duck spring rolls and the apple crumble w/vanilla ice cream, mediocre at best.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of audrey k.

Elite '09

166

110

audrey k.

Queens, NY

3 star rating
9/26/2009 4 photos

Stopped in here for brunch because I saw no wait. Wasn't sure how good a BBQ place would make their brunch menu, but the dishes turned out really good!

The Chicken & Waffles (I've always wanted to try this combo) are a great match. The chicken wings and giblets were fried perfectly, not too oily but tasted unhealthy enough that you know its good. Waffles were OK, but nothing that I couldn't whip up at home.

The eggs benedict were poached fine, but I didn't really care for the biscuits--they weren't flaky enough for me. Also the chipotle hollandaise sauce was too tart for my liking. What really pulled this meal together though was the bbq pulled pork and the YUMMY cheese grits. This was my first time trying grits ever, I always thought it would be a dry southern version of oatmeal, but it was so much better! The gooey melted cheese and the grits were sooo good, this alone would've sufficed to make for a good meal. A taste of the pulled pork really makes me want to come back here for their regular BBQ menu. Lastly, the Dirty Dick's hot pepper sauce was a really good substitute for the usual tabasco which I put over everything.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of charles c.

 

1

56

charles c.

Cliffside Park, NJ

4 star rating
9/7/2009

The half-rack, Memphis dry rub babyback ribs were very tasty albeit a tad dry.  The spicy sausage was crunchy and spicy.  Both dishes were quite good and the one side item of collared greens that came with the sausage was outstanding.  

The chopped cobb/greek salad was fresh and palate cleansing.  My better half, however, wasn't too thrilled about her brisket sandwich.  She thinks this place is just OK.

I, on the other hand, was pleasantly surprised by the overall dining experience.  The interior is huge with many large TVs for viewing your favorite sports.  Watched US Open tennis while enjoying our meal.  

The three of us ate a lot of food, drank two beers, and the bill came out to $70- not including tip.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Tin M.

 

2

9

Tin M.

New York, NY

3 star rating
12/3/2009

They're really skimping out on their portions! But there's rarely a wait, unlike Blue Smoke, service is always attentive, and their brisket esp. the moist portion, hits the spot!  (The mason jars are also a nice touch!)   Their ribs and sides are average, but def. worth a shot.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Jaison W.

 

0

23

Jaison W.

New York, NY

4 star rating
11/29/2009

There are better BBQ places in NYC, but I didn't come for that.   I came to watch NFL football on Sunday.   Suprisingly nobody knows this place has the NFL Package (DirectTV).  they don't really advertise it too well.   I walked by and asked the lady right when they opened.  they have about 8-10 flat screens

the food here is better than you get in any sports bar in  nyc  -  that will  be my frame of reference for this review.

the nachos were awesome.  fresh ingredients, tasted great.   the BLT was excellent.   they had at least 10-15 beers on tap.  I had a guinness and hoegarden.

Most importantly it was half full during the 1pm football games.   I''m telling everybody because I don't want them to close down like the 2 prior restaurants located at 225 Park Ave South.  I also want them to renew the NFL Direct Ticket next year.

Service was good and a very roomy place.   I don't think I would go just for the BBQ but it is a great Sports bar on Sunday.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Sam G.

Elite '09

9

118

Sam G.

Arlington, VA

5 star rating
11/15/2009

Wildwood BBQ treated us wonderfully for our first visit to this restaurant. The food and the sides were delicious. I had the brisket, a combo of the moist and lean, both of which were fantastic, and a side of tater tots! Everyone, including the hostess, the waitress, and the manager (?) were all very, very pleasant and I am going to come back here much sooner than later!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Jett t.

 

5

26

Jett t.

New York, NY

3 star rating
11/8/2009

2 stars for service and atmosphere and only one for the food.  So, I've been here a number of times.  The place has a great feel to it.  Tables aren't too close together, it's got a high ceiling that feels airy.  TVs always have some sports to watch, feels down-home without feeling dumpy.  The service is great too.  The waitstaff is always friendly, attentive and knowledgeable.  The beer selection is small but a good one.  So, this keeps me coming back.  The food however, is lackluster.  Not particularly bad, rather edible actually but all in all, mediocre at best.  The portions tend to be on the smallish side for a bbq joint & last time, the chicken was dry.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Dani S.

 

0

1

Dani S.

New York, NY

1 star rating
11/12/2009

I couldn't get on Yelp fast enough to tell everyone that the food at Wildwood is the worst I've had in my entire life.

The pulled pork had a strong vinegar aftertaste, which was fine after two bites, but after eating half my sandwich I could stand the taste anymore and my mouth was burning from all that vinegar. The collard greens were a complete joke. Barely cooked onions and half raw bacon does not good collards make. It also didn't help that there was no seasoning whatsoever.  The baked beans were drowning in bbq sauce that was kinda gross and tasted like generic brand ketchup. I took one bite and gagged.

I had high hopes for this place but I will never, ever go back and encourage all of you to find another bbq spot. Hill Country may be a little expensive, but at least you're guaranteed a good meal!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Dustin K.

Elite '09

10

80

Dustin K.

Queens, NY

4 star rating
10/15/2009

Wow, I was surprised WW got such a low rating! I really loved the wings here and the pork sandwich. I have gone three times and the service has always been excellent.  The prices are decent for the quantity/quality of the food and solid service. I will be going back soon!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Natalie H.

 

0

12

Natalie H.

New York, NY

4 star rating
11/2/2009

Laid back spot on a weeknight - music was good, tvs were visible, and the beer list was nicely varied. I like a place that offers a variety of options aside from bud and amstel.

3-meat quesadilla was awesome, as were the wings. Crunchy and cooked to perfection! My friends seemed to enjoy their food, and we shared some tater tots and mac and cheese. I wasn't into the mac and cheese, but the tater tots made up for it.

Service was good - professional, knowledgeable, and not at all pushy or in your face. Exactly how I like it.

If there were more healthy options, I'd be back more often, but as it is, my figure couldn't stand for frequent visits. Definitely a place to go with the guys!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Melissa M.

 

1

8

Melissa M.

New York, NY

4 star rating
11/2/2009

I'm actually really surprised that this place doesn't have higher ratings.  It has a great menu, food and service.  It's also great place for big groups because the menu is very affordable and they can accomodate big tables.

We stopped by this place on a random Sunday night and waiting about 10 minutes for a table.  I ordered the quesadilla - loaded with 3 meats and it was awesome.  My bf ordered the Dirty Bird sandwich and he finished it so quickly that I didn't have a chance to try it:(  

If we had been hungrier, we probably would have tried the twice baked skins.  There was a table that ordered them right next to us that devoured them and they looked delicious.  Oh well, next time!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Giac K.

 

2

20

Giac K.

Brooklyn, NY

1 star rating
7/8/2009

We came here right when it opened.

It sucked.

Go to Blue Smoke or R.U.B.

(note: if this review has left you unsatisfied...now you know how I felt when I finished at Wildwood)

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Michael W.

Elite '09

13

181

Michael W.

New York, NY

5 star rating
Updated - 5/26/2009

Hit Wildwood's again tonight... I had the pulled chicken sandwich with perfect onion rings on it, melted cheese, and bacon. I added a bit of their signature BBQ sauce on it... came with vinegar chips, pickles, and cole slaw. I also ordered a 1/2 rack of BBQ Lamb chops.. which were the BOMB! Fatty but no grease, and delicious. I easily sliced off all the fat and meat and ate it all!!! So goooood!!!!!
I had the carrot cake which was just slightly above average.. .and had a few drinks. Their Merlot by the glass is just okay...
Unfortunately, they do not make blender drinks like a pina colada w/rum... they do not carry dessert wine like a nice red Port wine, no frozen drinks either,  no cappucino - only regular coffee, but they did carry Meyer's dark rum for my cola.

I was in the middle of watching the Met game, and they put on the
basketball game.. without warning.. when 9 other TV's already had
that game on...   I had to move my spot.. and have them put it on
another TV... They are addressing this issue getting separate cable
boxes for all TV's.    Met's blew out the National's 6-1.  Good game.

Was this review …?

 

4 Previous Reviews: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    5/25/2009

    Okay, I went back again today... not cause i'm a glutton for punishment, but because I'm a glutton… Read more »

Photo of Lucius K.

 

10

27

Lucius K.

New York, NY

5 star rating
10/6/2009

My favorite BBQ place in NYC. Better than Hill Country and Blue Smoke. The chicken was moist, and pork ribs and brisket were good, not overcooked. What I really liked were the sauces and spices, which were nicely balanced and not your usual hot sauces. This is probably not a place where you'd go for the salads and veggies, though.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Laura T.

Elite '09

15

72

Laura T.

New York, NY

4 star rating
7/9/2009

I came here as a vegetarian and a carnivore. The lesson learned: It's much easier to enjoy Wildwood when you eat meat (duh).

The chopped salad is v. good. Very similar to a Greek salad, so if you enjoy those, you will enjoy this. Now that I eat meat though, I'm much less likely to order it as I am totally in love with pulled pork and brisket. Unfortunately, I have not tried the brisket here yet as I am always pulled to order the pulled pork which is very delicious. The pork is tender without seeming under- or over- cooked. I love the paired vinegar BBQ sauce; it's a bit thicker than Bro Jim's, as a comparison.

The service has been great the past few times I've dined in - We went for two birthday parties on separate occasions and both times our server was more than willing to accommodate us in terms of "surprising" our guest of honor with a cake and candles.

Honestly, I'm not sure I would order much else on the menu besides BBQ dishes (including the appetizers). As for the sides, the corn bread is good, the mac and cheese only OK.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Ramon G.

Elite '09

31

178

Ramon G.

CO

3 star rating
7/8/2009

Great tasting BBQ.  Great Service and overall pretty friggin' good.
They have some pretty solid sides but my favorite oddly enough was their wings appetizer.  Sauce on the side of course... The wings were crispy and had a great spice on them.
For dessert we got the cobbler with ice cream. Nothing special but a good way to top off a solid meal.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of diane c.

Elite '09

45

134

diane c.

New York, NY

2 star rating
5/7/2009

Meh.  

First off, I love this space - I loved it as Park Avalon, I loved it as that Brazilian place that lasted a few months, and I love the look of it as WW BBQ.  

The food is another story - it's not horrible, just not spectacular and a little DULL. Got the dry rub 1/2 rack of beef ribs.  The meat was tender but with a tough black layer of crisp on top.  The portion was large for a 1/2 rack and $16.  My particular order didn't come with anything... just ribs on a plate.  Seasoning was ok... nothing at all to write home about.

Ordered an Amstel for $7 at the bar and a pitcher of Cold A$$ Beer...  

completely average.

every other bbq restaurant in the city I've been to beats this one.  Including and not exclusive to Rub, Hill Country, Blue Smoke, Duke's... I've even had better bbq at (gasp) Brother Jimmy's.

I'm bored.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Kathleen B.

Elite '09

79

327

Kathleen B.

Manhasset, NY

3 star rating
4/28/2009

Solid 3 stars for OK BBQ in NYC.  The beef spare rib was tasty, and nice and soft.  Mac and cheese was nice as well.  I ate some of the boy's pulled pork sandwich and it had a great flavor and texture to it.  The coleslaw on the sandwich wasn't first rate, but it was decent.

Prices were about what you'd expect for Manhattan ($15-30 a plate).

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Renee C.

Elite '09

182

355

Renee C.

New York, NY

3 star rating
3/31/2009

Cold Ass Beer! This was actually the name of the first beer on their list...I asked the waiter what sort of beer it really is, and he said it is a Pilsner especially made for Wildwood BBQ alone...hmm even more of a reason for me to order it!

The wait staff and hosts here are soo attentive, but not overwhelming. I was definitely taken care of by my waiter and he answered every one of my questions about the menu.

I ordered the Falling Off the Bone Ribs...not bad, but very fatty and they kept the silver skin on the rib so the top part was just a really hard piece of beef jerky. It came with 2 sides and I chose the corn bread and collard greens, ok...nothing worth mentioning though. My friend had the brisket which she had a choice of lean or juicy...the waiter helped her choose a combination of the two. The lean was very lean and the juicy was pretty juicy...meaning more fatty bits. The berry crumble was not warm enough and a little too liquidy, but had good flavor.

They do emphasize their LIVE MUSIC SUNDAYS on their bill...so who likes live music while eating BBQ should check it out. ^_^

Was this review …?

 

Photo of veanne c.

 

16

37

veanne c.

New York, NY

3 star rating
10/26/2009

decent fix for bbq briskets and pork ribs.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Jennine J.

 

11

31

Jennine J.

New York, NY

5 star rating
3/10/2009

Wildwood BBQ has delicious food and cool atmosphere. I typically like B.R Guest ventures and this was one of my favorites.

When I went it was with a group of people and had appetizers and plenty of drinks. The servers were really great and even brought us drinks by the pitcher. We had the sangria with twizzler straws - I know - maybe a bit girly for a BBQ place but I think it was one of my favorite parts haha. The sangria itself was pretty good too.

For food my favorites were the twice baked skins which were stuff with pork goodness, followed by the wings both bbq and hot, and I would say my third fav would be the reubens - which are made with brisket yum!

I want to go back and try some dinner stuff. I am a huge fan of meat and this place looked like an awesome place to get some!

I like the restaurant itself too - the railroad wood is really cool. The bar area is great for happy hour time and there is also a semi private room in the back.

The manager also informed us that we could have a pig roast there - which is pretty interesting of an offer in NYC.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Jean H.

Elite '09

23

119

Jean H.

Flushing, NY

2 star rating
5/1/2009

I was disappointed by the food here.
the ambiance was nice
the drinks were just fine to good
but the food.... not so good

OH! B R GUEST!! How you plague me and constantly follow me throughout manhattan! BRGuest is the company behind this and many many other restaurants in manhattan

Most of the sauces are vinegar based and that doesnt leave too much room for different flavors to get infused to my tongue

the portions were good and filled me right up
the prices were a little pricey for what was served up, but just right for the neighborhood

the pulled pork was DRY
we also had the fatty cow-- it was okay. it was meat smothered in sauce. the meat didnt really have much flavor and the sauce was far too overwhelming

i loved those home style salt and vinegar chips-- that was something a bit on the unique side and very yummy

not coming back

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Josh F.

Elite '09

15

68

Josh F.

Long Island City, NY

4 star rating
Updated - 8/18/2009

I've eaten here a few more times and warmed to the place. I actually think the pulled pork is better now than when WW opened. It's still not as close to my heart as Blue Smoke, but the pulled pork and chicken sandwiches are excellent and the Fat Boy (I think that's the name), which is pulled beef sandwich with cheese, is just awesome.

Was this review …?

 

1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    6/25/2009

    The chili here is good and so is the pulled chicken sandwich. The burger is servicable, but not… Read more »

Photo of Christopher R.

Elite '09

53

232

Christopher R.

Philadelphia, PA

3 star rating
1/22/2009

As part of the NYC BBQ tour my friends and I are on, I recently ate at Wildwood and, though not the best spot I've been to, I don't have any complaints.

I ordered the smothered sandwich with all three meats (pulled pork, chicken & brisket).  Looking at the pdf of the menu right now, that option isn't on there, so its quite possible I'm just a glutton.  Regardless, it was delicious, with the exception of the roll.  They could have chosen something crustier, in my opinion.

As for the sides, I actually found them superior to those at Blue Smoke.  The homemade salt-and-vingar chips and sweet potato fries were both very good.  The cornbread was almost decadent it was so sweet.  Same for the pickles, which had a dessert quality to them; I must have stolen every uneaten pickle on the table.  BUT the baked beans, my God... I want to take them behind the middle school and get them pregnant.

I have no idea what kind of crowd you should expect.  When I was here, it was a Saturday afternoon and there were 15 of us but we got seated immediately.  I can only assume that for dinner you would need a reservation.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Joe S.

 

0

3

Joe S.

New York, NY

4 star rating
6/17/2009

I've walked by Wildwood BBQ a thousand times and because of its over the top BBQ themed decor and proximity to Union Square, I just wrote it off as a tourist trap. However, on the recommendation of a friend, I stopped in for dinner last night.

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. The pork was perfectly tender and flavorful, and the sandwich was topped off with 2 large onion rings. I needed to add some of their homemade bbq sauce as well. The dish also came with delicious creamy home-made cole slaw, some sweet B&B pickles, and vinegar chips. Everything was perfect, although the chips were a bit much for me. I probably would have preferred some good french fries.

We also ordered a side o mac n' cheese to split and I'm glad we did. The mac n' cheese was rich a creamy and probably would have been a lot for one person. It was topped off with some crispy bread crumbs.

All in all my experience was great and we left satiated for only $20 per person. Good value and good food.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of David P.

Elite '09

167

367

David P.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
7/5/2009

This BBQ is just alright.  The portions are on the small side and the flavors are a little muted.  The brisket sort of tasted the same as the pulled pork which sort of tasted the same as the ribs.  The mac & cheese was good, but again, a small portion.  Service was very good and it's a big place, so it's good for large groups.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Adam W.

 

7

99

Adam W.

New York, NY

3 star rating
4/25/2009

I'll just come right out and say the food here is pretty poor. If you look at the picture of the pulled pork, sausage, and ribs, I think you can deduce that well enough. It really tastes just like it looks in that picture.

I came here for a group function, so I got to try an array of dishes. The wings weren't spicy and were somewhat crusty on the outside, the brisket was utterly tasteless, the pork ribs were dry on the top..... There's really no use in going on. The only thing that was actually tasty here was the "smores" they served at the end -- they had a nice mixture of peanut and chocolate flavors.

That said, the service here was pretty good; one of the waitresses was pretty good looking. Also, this restaurant is in a very open space, and kind of takes you away from Manhattan a bit. I just wouldn't recommend coming here to eat...

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Nicole C.

Elite '09

88

233

Nicole C.

New York, NY

4 star rating
3/17/2009

After a long afternoon of apartment hunting my roommate and I decided to rid ourselves of the stress that comes with that process and pay a visit to some bbq goodness. The place was pretty empty, though the bar had a good amount of people. We decided that even though it was a week night we deserved some drinks. I guess the stress must have gotten to us because we ordered a pitcher of their version of Sangria instead:

- Backyard Punch Wine, "Seasonal" Candied Brandy

It comes with twizzlers in the pitcher! Our waitress was also nice enough to give us extra ones. We then decided we deserved a high calorie intake and ordered not one, but THREE appetizers:

1. Bottle Caps - Beer Battered Fried Jalapeño Slices
2. Chicken Wings - RUBBED & Fried OR SLATHERED with Spicy Chipotle BBQ
3. Twice Baked Skins - Loaded with Pulled Pork, Cheddar, Pico de Gallo

Bottle caps were like their version of Jalapeno Poppers, and anyone who knows me well knows I am a Popper Lover. These were tiny since they were only slices, and were super crunchy and delicious. They are also served with ranch dressing on the side-- YUM!

The chicken wings had the thickest sauce I have ever seen on wings. My hands were filled with layers and layers of sauce. It was so amazingly good and different than any chicken wing I have ever tasted.

The potato skins were not only good and crunchy, they had pulled pork on them, can't get any better than that if you ask me! The flavors were all bold and went well together.

Our waitress was also super friendly and nice- I wish all waitresses were like her!

***On a side note, we witnessed a pretty funny scene. There was also a group of older (probably banker) men standing at the bar behind us, and when they tried to hit on a girl, she turned to them and said: "Y'all are bizarre, and work on Wall Street-- goodbye!" - Pretty darn funny if you ask me-- I couldn't stop laughing. But perhaps the pitcher of punch we drank made the situation funnier for me...

Great meal, and it made us completely forget how stressed we had been about apartment hunting. Only downside is that it was a bit pricey.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Al J.

 

4

5

Al J.

New York, NY

2 star rating
7/6/2009

The vibe was what originally drew me to Wildwood - looking for a place to catch the NCAA basketball tournament, while enjoying some food with a friend, the self-styled home of "sauce and spice on Park Avenue" seemed like the perfect choice. Indeed, the atmosphere didn't disappoint; a great beer list (many of them by the pitcher) a crowded but not overwhelming bar scene, and four flat screen TVs more than fit the entertainment bill. The food, however, was more mediocre.

Jalepeno bottlecaps weren't served hot and were too greasy. Nachos tasted fine, but were presented as a mess. The brisket wasn't particularly flavorful and too fatty. Mashed potatoes were solid and the fries were well-seasoned. Service was a bit iffy; staff seemed confused and overwhelmed.

This "upscale" BBQ spot had prices to match, but the food, simply put, just didn't live up. I'd go back for a drink, but would walk the extra couple of blocks to get to Blue Smoke or Hill Country if I was craving a little soul or perhaps just a better prepared meal.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Jennifer C.

Elite '09

93

102

Jennifer C.

Elmhurst, NY

4 star rating
2/25/2009 4 photos

Saddle up for some good grub!!  I'm not at all well-versed in the world of BBQ, but the one time I came here was a sheer delight.  A friend and I visited this place around the time they had just opened up last year and it was an all around positive experience for the both of us.  

You enter the restaurant and it immediately strikes you, that it is pretty wide and open.. there's a feeling of being in a warehouse albeit completely transformed with an inviting, fun aura about it.  We ate our food (a generous plate of scrumptious BBQ which we shared) and drank our "cold-ass" beer as we observed the rest of the patrons in a state of revelry, either by the bar located towards the left section of the restaurant, or in the surrounding booths, all enjoying their food and drink(s) as well.  

What made me a big fan of Wildwood was their dessert.  I had S'MORES that were absolutely delicious.. the portion was a bit meager on the sweets, but they did not sacrifice on taste.  It was a great way to end a definitely satisfying BBQ meal.  

They also get an A+ for wonderful service.  

Man, reminiscing really makes me want to round up some friends and make my way back to Wildwood again.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Jason H.

 

5

44

Jason H.

New York, NY

3 star rating
4/10/2009

Staff is nice / well trained
Food is ok, relative to other bbq places in the city
Wings are amazing!
Great for groups

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Pooja K.

 

1

8

Pooja K.

Houston, TX

2 star rating
4/26/2009

Went here a few nights ago with a friend...and was thoroughly disappointed.

The place is huge, decor is cool, Southwesterny and has a fun atmosphere, however the food is clearly lacking.

I ordered the Pulled Chicken Sandwich and the Macaroni and Cheese.  I was sort of shocked at how small the $11 sandwich was considering at most bbq places they tend to be on the larger side....it tasted good, but that was after I added the Spicy Chipotle BBQ sauce which was really yummy.  I finished it in a couple of bites....

Then I moved on to my macaroni and cheese....hey guys, ever heard of SALT? This was the worst mac 'n cheese I have ever had, and I was debating getting it but decided to follow through upon recommendation from our server that it was "so good." Yea, right.  Aren't you supposed to bake the bread crumbs WITH the mac 'n cheese? They just sprinkled some on top.  What a waste for 7 bucks!

I ate the cole slaw and chips that came with the sandwich....the vinegar chips were too vinegary...but what should I have expected I guess? Maybe they can offer a choice of chips or fries or something....since Vinegar chips are one of those things that not everyone likes...

All in all, service was great, I like the idea of mason jars to drink out of, but the food is sub par and unreasonably pricey....sorry!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Melissa M.

Elite '09

24

207

Melissa M.

Brooklyn, NY

3 star rating
2/24/2009

I have to be honest, I was not expecting too much of Steve Hanson and BBQ, but I think he's done a pretty good job with the food. In all fairness I have only had the pulled pork so I suppose this review is based solely on that dish. I happen to think it's delicious, it's moist and flavorful and not too sweet or over sauced. The salt and vinegar chips that come with the dish are also really tasty. On the down side, I tried the collard greens with turkey bacon (um first of all, turkey bacon? Now don't get me wrong, I had a slice of turkey bacon for breakfast, but collard greens is meant to be cooked with pork - vegetarians are generally just out of luck) and I was completely underwhelmed. The turkey bacon added a fake flavor and I would definitely not order that side again.

All in all I think Wildwood is a great neighborhood joint and I plan on going back for drinks and the pulled pork.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Mon T.

Elite '09

6

137

Mon T.

Boston, MA

3 star rating
7/17/2009

We only had drinks at the bar.  Everything was ok.... but nothing spectacular!

Was this review …?

 

Photo of nara f.

Elite '09

12

127

nara f.

Brooklyn, NY

2 star rating
1/19/2009

Something about this place said 'chain restaurant' to me.
We were disappointed with the baby back ribs, the meat was not melting off the bone.The brisket was alright but needed lots of sauce to add any flavor. The buffalo wings, while they were made with the traditional buffalonian frank's red hot sauce (buffalo gals love it~!) were a bit overfried and had a sweet taste I didn't find appropriate. Plus there was no option to order atomic hot wings... (if you can't offer atomic just take them off your menu!)
The best thing I ate here was the collard greens. I agree with prior reviewers if you want better barbeque you have to head uptown to Dinosaur Barbeque.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Paul D.

Elite '09

15

64

Paul D.

Massapequa, NY

2 star rating
5/22/2009

MEH. The only thing I'm really giving this place any stars for is the quick and attentive service. The food isn't really bad, but it's not exactly good either. As far as I know, this is the only Wildwood, but it feels like a chain. I always get really excited when trying a new BBQ restaurant, so it's all the more disappointing when a place doesn't amaze me.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Alison C.

Elite '09

48

656

Alison C.

Hoboken, NJ

1 star rating
1/28/2009

Um, is it enough to say that a dinner at Wildwood BBQ was the worst meal I have ever had in Manhattan?  

From Day 1, Wildwood spent most of its evenings with a large happy hour crowd and packed dining room.  However, once I walked into the beautiful, expansive dining room and found it empty, I knew that the past few months had not been good to the restaurant.  Apparently the quality of the food disappeared when the crowd did.  

The All Natural Applewood Smoked Chicken was glazed in an apricot BBQ sauce, which neglected to add moisture to the dry protein.  The side of Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread was too sweet and cakey.  The Texas Smoked Brisket was too rare, bland, and fatty.  The food presentation was utterly horrendous, with each item thrown haphazardly on the plain white plate.

The only saving graces for this arid and flavorless meal was our friendly server and the affordable prices.

Regardless, I would avoid Wildwood BBQ at all costs.  Even the marginal Duke's around the corner is better.

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Dina S.

 

0

16

Dina S.

New York, NY

3 star rating
7/27/2009

I went here for brunch yesterday with some friends.  To sum it up, it was pretty good.  The only negative would have to be that the poached eggs on the southside benedict were more like hard boiled.  the eggs were not runny at all...which is how a properly cooked poached egg should be.  My gf sent hers back, since she is very particular about her eggs.  I just kept mine, because I really do not like sending things back...in the end I should have, because hers looked so much better with the yolk oozing out over the pulled pork and buttermilk biscuit!

The service was really good.  You can tell they aim to please their customers.  They ended up giving my gf a free refill on her sweet tea and didn't even charge for mine.  

The cheese grits were good as well, but I was so stuffed and I couldn't finish them.  The meal cost $20 pp  

I would probably return to try their actual bbq

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Brian S.

 

2

5

Brian S.

New York, NY

3 star rating
8/11/2008

Wildwood Barbeque's Memphis Style Baby Back Ribs are amazing. The sauce is simultaneously perfectly sweet, tangy AND spicy.  I spent the last 25 years believing sweet and spicy to be separate entities....I was wrong. $25.95 for a full rack seems a tad obscene to me, but these are top quality ribs in a tantalizing sauce and we are on Park Avenue right outside of Union Sq.....i guess it is reasonable?  hmm. Stay away from the brisket. Depending on which slab you are working on it will either be way too fatty or too lean and tough. You wont find that amount of fat where you are like, ehhhh i could swing that....and it is fattily fantastic.

The atmosphere is enjoyable. Extremely high ceilings, blues & country music (I preferred the blues) at the perfect volume: clearly prevalent without inhibiting conversation. Nothing is worse than music that is not loud enough to hear, but just loud enough you can't ignore it. Sitting in the very back, ignoring the crowd and the prices, I almost forgot I was in nyc for a moment. Almost.

Sides: mac&cheese was very respectable, cornbread was bad, coleslaw (who pays for coleslaw? i asked) was actually very good and so were the sweet potato fries. Impressive beer/alcohol menu.

Avoid the S'mores. You have a s'more when you have the three ingredients roasted over an open fire. Wildwood, while you get points for adding peanut butter, why would you serve cold s'mores? Whose idea was that? Did you not ever heat them up or did you just let them sit around in the fridge for a while?

Was this review …?

 

Photo of Ran C.

 

23

32

Ran C.

Astoria, NY

4 star rating
11/3/2008

Randomly stumbled into Wildwood last night for a beer and burger and walked out with a little extra spring in my step. Their pulled pork was RAD. No better way to describe it. I've been a devoted attendee of the Big Apple BBQ for the last three years--each year noshing on a new stringy pig from around the country.

I would feel pretty confident saying Wildwood's pulled pork is my new fave--or at least a more accessible option to Dinosaur BBQ. Their spicy-sweet sauce would probably make an old shoe palatable, but in all fairness, the seasoning of the pork was outstanding. It had a peppery, smokey flavor that really brought out the moistness of the pork.

I came in around 9p, the service was friendly, but less than attentive. Value/portion-size is ok, but not great--I probably could have eaten two more $10 sandwiches.

Was this review …?

 

1 to 40 of 109 |  
Page: 1 2 3
Write a Review

People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...

  • Photo of Blue Smoke

    Blue Smoke

    3.5 star rating
     283 reviews

    Neighborhood: Flatiron

    Category: Southern

  • Photo of Hill Country

    Hill Country

    3.5 star rating
     306 reviews

    Neighborhood: Flatiron

    Category: Barbeque

  • Photo of Rub BBQ

    Rub BBQ

    3.5 star rating
     183 reviews

    Neighborhood: Chelsea

    Category: Barbeque

  • Photo of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

    Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

    4 star rating
     374 reviews

    Neighborhood: Harlem

    Category: Barbeque

  • Photo of Daisy May's BBQ USA

    Daisy May's BBQ USA

    3.5 star rating
     108 reviews

    Neighborhood: Hell's Kitchen

    Category: Barbeque

People Viewed This After Searching For...