Redbones Barbecue

06/15/2008 Posted by artrox

WAY OVER-RATED...I don't know why people rave about ANY of the food here, but it must be because they like 'blah food' instead of 'soul food'. it's too bad because they are located in a good spot--Boston definitely needs better bbq places!

Pros: good location

Cons: terrible food

06/06/2008 Posted by eoheger

First off, let me say that the staff and the atmosphere there is great. BUT, if you are looking for BBQ, even quasi-BBQ, steer clear. I know a lot of people from NE love this place but that's because the bar has been set low when it comes to BBQ standards. YES, there portions are big but that doesn't matter when you can't get past 3 bites. YES, they have a variety of sauces but they are all HORRID. Good things: Okra (yeah, I'm from the south, can you tell), the beer selection, the staff, and the atmosphere. It's a great place to have a few drinks!!! Bad: The dried up substance they try to pass for BBQ and the runny things they call sauces. There should be a law that bans people from claiming to serve BBQ without meeting certain standards (like with wine).

Pros: Fun place for drinks, great staff

Cons: The food

05/22/2008 Posted by tanvi414

Food is OK.. I've had better at Tennesse's BBQ.. The ribs are not bbq'd with the sauce on it, so, they tend to be quite dry.. The portions are huge., so, that makes up for the dryness and they also give mild, medium or hot sauce. I love the casualness of the place, though it does tend to get crowded around 8ish.. We went there in a big group of around 20 people and just wanted to hang out by the bar for the most part.. So, that was OK.. Things I like there are 1. Beer 2. Atmosphere (Both upstairs and downstairs) 3. Veggie Burger 4. Buffalo Shrimp 5. Corn Pudding 6. Corn Bread 7. Fried Okra Notice, how none of these things have any bones :-( Oh well.. My friends like it... So, I guess I'll keep going there..

Pros: Good Ambience, Pleasant Service, OK Food

Cons: OK food, Not real bbq

03/27/2008 Posted by DirkRB

Redbones is very overrated. Although good bbq is hard to come by in New England, Redbones is not the place to find it. Save your money, buy some frozen ribs at Star Market, and cook them on the grill, they will probably taste better. I will say that their service, beer selection, corn bread and bbq sauce are all stupendous. But as far as the meet goes, its typically dry, bland, and cold. And don't even think about the Texas Chili....blahh.

Pros: Lively environment

Cons: Sub-par food

01/30/2008 Posted by kim02144

Great BBQ, very fun atmosphere. Long wait on the weekends but worth it. Nice selection of hard to find beers and changes every week. A+++++++++++++++++++++

Pros: Great food, fun atmosphere, fun servers, very inexpensive

Cons: Parking in Davis Sq is tough (T is very close to Red Bones), can be long wait on weekends

12/10/2007 Posted by rajeunir

Redbones is a place for people who don't know what TRUE bbq should taste like..or even resemble! I seriously believe they try to drown their meats in sauce to cover up the lack of taste (and to help soften the meats?!) And the sad part is, the sauces are horribly bland. The hushpuppies are like little rocks you'd rather throw at the waiter who never shows to your table and if the hushpuppies had a taste, I'd attempt to describe them to you... alas, no. I'm not cranky but having grown up around REAL bbq in the South, I can tell you...Redbones 'ain't' it. The closest good stuff in MA you will find is Blue Ribbon. Go there instead!!

11/12/2007 Posted by jkboston1050

Love Redbones. The ribs, pulled pork, buffalo wings & okra are excellent! A can't miss! The food arrives at your table quickly...so eat fast or it will pile up in front of you. Excellent beer selection. Tremendous value for your dollar. You never have to wait long for a table...even during dinner on a Weekend. The "All-You-Can-Eat" lunch special is a bargain if you love ribs (show up hungry). The service staff is fair...but considering the speed that the food arrives (and how it tastes)...you gladly overlook it. The decor is "dive-esque"...but it's got a cool vibe. The major drawback is the parking. However, if you drive past Redbones, you wil find a little parking lot that usually have spaces. By far, one of the best bets in Boston!

Pros: Best of Boston - Ribs, Pulled Pork, Buffalo Wings

Cons: Parking

07/23/2007 Posted by pollyguts

Great messy food- and good service. The waitress was helpful explaining different types of ribs and genuinely seemed to care if we liked everything. The beer was cheap.. overall a great experience, lots of fun. The portions are huge so skip the appetizers to save $6 and you will still have plenty of food.

Pros: great food, fast service

Cons: tables are a bit cramped

11/11/2006 Posted by special_method

Tried Redbones a couple years ago and didn't like it. An out of town friend raved about a recent trip, so I thought I'd give it another try. I will not be going back. The service was great, except that our food came before the appetizer. The appetizer, Hushpuppies, wasn't very good and had to be soaked in the vinegar 'sauce' provided in order to get down. Had much better Hushpuppies and ribs in VA a few weeks ago, so I don't believe the reviews that say this is a good as southern cooking. I'd rather have ribs at Chilis.

Pros: Service, close to the T, plenty of bars to choose from afterwards

Cons: Better Baby Backs elsewhere

08/04/2006 Posted by minnowbaninnow

Redbones is by far the best barbecue in the Boston area. There is no other place that comes close to the quality and taste offered here. Portions are generous. There are all sorts of tasty side dishes. My favorite plate is the baby back ribs. The sausage is also always very good. Try the sweet sauce combined with the mild or hot on the side.

Pros: fun atmosphere, excellent food

Cons: long wait, but worth it!