Mixed feeling on this visit. We ordered beef brisket, St. Louis rib and Jamaican chicken. Unfortunately, the meat itself was very dry regardless of beef, pork or chicken, which was a letdown. but the hot BBQ sauce absolutely saved the meal! That sauce is awesome and packs the perfect amount of kick. Worth it for the sauce alone, but I hope the meat is a bit juicier next time. If you go, just make sure to drench everything in that hot sauce! read more

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The institute's extravagant afternoon tea came from this long-established American barbecue restaurant, opened in 1995. Burnt Ends: Best of the day. The beef brisket was tender, flavorful, and juicy, not dry at all. The tomato-based barbecue sauce was sweet and refreshing, with a rich but not overpowering smoky flavor. It's said to have been smoked for 14 hours before being slowly stewed--I admire the restaurant's dedication. Pulled Chicken: Average. While the chicken thigh wasn't dry, it wasn't particularly tender, and there wasn't much juice. The North Carolina vinegar BBQ sauce was also bland. Coleslaw: A good way to cut through the richness, but nothing special. Cornbread: Soft and slightly coarse, with a natural sweetness from the grains. Delicious with sour cream. Chocolate Chip Brownie: Surprisingly, a BBQ restaurant's homemade dessert was also excellent. Soft in texture, with a bitter and fragrant flavor. read more

Blue Ribbon BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

It had three tables and a stand-up counter. I was there at rush hour so all the table were full. I had brisket, pulled pork with cole slaw and Cajun cabbage. I had never heard of Cajun cabbage so the man at the counter gave me a sample. How is that for customer service? The brisket had bark so I know they have a smoker. They also had Mac & cheese. My plate was full. A piece of cornbread came with it....... like I had room after my meal for cornbread. There were five different types of barbecue sauce. The hot one was my favorite. I had them give me the sauce on the side. I would recommend. Remember to bring an appetite. read more

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I don't know why, but every couple of years I come back to Blue Ribbon BBQ and tell myself, "maybe they've improved since last time." Nope. It's a continuing downward spiral. They were good maybe 5 years ago, but the brisket is almost inedible now. So freaking dry and flavorless. The burnt ends are passable. The dirty rice and cornbread are still good. Unfortunately, this will probably be the last time I visit blue ribbon. o7 read more

Have eaten here before but my husband and myself usually take the food home to eat since it is a small place with seats available sometimes. The food is always enjoyable and ready to eat, they do a great job moving food along to be picked up when ready. There is seating available outside when the weather is more agreeable and street parking available to park. Good place and great food! read more

Place was decorated as western America which is nice. Didn't like the sauces that I got (too salty). Got don platter with ribs brisket mashed potatoes and corn bread. The dish comes with cornbread but got another side of it. Mashed potatoes were perfect, like the cornbread comes wrapped individually. Wish I got more ribs. Brisket was little dry and burned but needed extra flavor. Ribs were good but need more for the portions (3 given). Staff was nice and no line and was quickly served read more

Blue Ribbon BBQ - Duo Platter - Barbeque Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

This was my first time at blue ribbon. I like the fact that you can actually smell the barbecue when you get out of your car if you're within one block of the restaurant. I decided to get a combo plate so I could taste a few different items. I ended up with the ribs and brisket combo. Let me tell you this is a huge plate of food. It comes with two sides and a piece of cornbread. Thank God, my buddy and I were on the way to a show and we just split it so we could give a little taste. It actually filled up good size men. Yes the one plate filled up two good size men. The ribs were just about to fall off the bone great smoke flavor perfectly cooked.. the brisket was off the hook this place knows how to make a brisket. The spicing the smoke just amazing. For the sides, it took a couple tries. They were out of what we were looking for however, we ended up with. I believe it was Street corn pasta salad different. I really enjoyed it. Then it was something called dirty rice with gravy another great dish. Cornbread was so so. I like the fact that they had lemonade and it actually taste like homemade lemonade. I should've asked, but I'm going to take the chance and tell everyone it's homemade lemonade it was tasty and refreshing. What I like is you can actually see the smoker it's a big huge black diamond plate type smoker. I've never seen one inside but when you walk into this restaurant, it's amazing. I did not get to see the inside of the smoker. The doors were closed however I'm sure the shelves with bless With these beautiful perfectly spiced or rubbed briskets. I look forward to going back and trying a couple other types of protein and sides. read more

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I've had BRBBQ a few times in the past, and it's always been at a catered event. And my thoughts were always it's average typical New England bbq. And I always said maybe one day I'll try it "fresh" and it will make a difference with the food coming straight out of the pit. Well, it did! I stopped in for lunch recently and ordered the duo plate with ribs and brisket. Was absolutely blown away. The best bbq I've had outside of Austin/Memphis/KC! The brisket was perfection. Nice and moist, with the ends being a beautiful combo of burnt and fatty. And the ribs were beyond delicious. It also came with cornbread and two sides (I got mashed and Buffalo mac & cheese). This plate was so big, I easily got two meals out of it, and probably could have got three. read more

What we ate/drank: Brisket, Ribs, Potato Salad, Pickles Would recommend? Yes Blue Ribbon BBQ is a solid option for anyone craving BBQ in the area. The brisket was the standout--tender, juicy, and full of flavor, though we were a bit surprised it came in a pint container rather than in traditional slabs. The potato salad was classic and well-executed--creamy, with just the right amount of seasoning. The pickles were a nice, tangy contrast to the rich meats. The decor has that classic BBQ roadhouse vibe, adding to the overall laid-back, casual atmosphere. Ordering is easy, and it's also a great spot for takeout if you're on the go. Overall, Blue Ribbon BBQ offers a satisfying BBQ experience, with the brisket and potato salad making it a good choice in the area. Would recommend getting the meats with no sauce and then grabbing sauce on the side. read more

Blue Ribbon BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

The ribs here keep getting smaller and smaller. The potato salad is always good but the rack of ribs is now way too costly for what you actually get. It's unreal. The sauces here are top notch. We often have so much left over to use on meats we make at home! I'd get some sides here but skip the ribs. read more

Extremely disappointed. Ordered a pulled bbq chicken sandwich from them. Received the order with no bbq sauce at all....which normally I wouldn't care but that's basically the entire point of ordering bbq in the first place. Corn bread was also dry. Definitely won't be ordering from here again. read more

Truly a gem of a spot, best BBQ I've ever had and wonderful service. My friend and I both ordered trio platters for takeout and the meat and sides were top notch. My friend received wonderful customer service when he called ahead to ask about allergens, very friendly and helpful staff. Plus, it was my birthday and they gave me a peach cobbler! Will definetly be ordering again. read more

We have been to Blue Ribbon a handful of times and enjoy the food. Stopped in on a Saturday after a soccer game, wasn't sure if it would be a long wait at 6:15pm or if we could get a spot to sit - less than 20 minute wait for food and most people in there were just getting takeout, so we had a place to sit. My son and I both had the brisket platter which was great. We got pulled pork to take home but tried some and it was delicious. read more

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We got delivery for pulled pork sandwiches. Pulled pork: 7.0 Bun: 8.0 Sweet Bbq Sauce: 5.0 Mashed Potatoes: 9.0 Cole Slaw: 4.0 Green Beans: 8.0 Key Lime Pie: 8.0 read more

Honestly decent BBQ at decent prices when you buy bulk. No bells and whistles, just consistent comforting food that can feed the whole team. Inside is small and fun but in the summer outdoor tables are the way to go; people sitting out with their to-go containers, pups, and big cold sodas looking at the view of mass Ave And stop and shop. I'll keep going back and I'm glad to have another food option close to home. read more

Visited Blue Ribbon BBQ today. Best BBQ corn beef Reuben I've ever had! So fresh and delicious!! The cornbeef melted in my mouth. The sauerkraut and thousand island dressing were the perfect add ons. Subtle but tasty. And the cornbread.... Doesn't get much better than that!! Perfect meal. The service and staff were great too! read more

So disappointed. I used to love this place. Ordered the Side Dish Platter and asked for Baked Beans, but got Green Beans. Coleslaw didn't taste like anything. The only thing that was still good were the Mashed Potatoes. Also ordered the Big Green Salad with Pulled Chicken. I could not believe how little chicken I received. I know prices have gone up, but the container was the same size as the salad dressing container. Also, the Caesar salad dressing was runny and flavorless. Threw most of it away. So sad. read more

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The 2-meat platter for ~$20 gives you a LOT of meat. I was amazed how many meals I got out of it. The burnt ends and ribs are not the best I've had, but pretty satisfying for being up north. I'd advise wrapping to-go orders in extra foil. When they handed me the heavy container in a brown paper bag, I could see oil stains already soaking it. By the time I got home, the extra foil is wrapped around the paper bag had captured quite a bit of dried grease. read more

Blue Ribbon BBQ - 2-meat platter - HEAVY and loaded with several meals' worth. Cornbread is what's wrapped in foil. - Barbeque Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Their quality has gotten worse in past few years, chicken not cooked well, dry burned brisket, baked beans are gross like dry glue, nit much choices for veggies, too much pepper, vinegar, and hot sauce! Need choice of mild sauce etc. Too expensive. Desserts, mashed potatoes, corn bread, cole slaw are good and workers are nice though read more

Full slab of 12 ribs ($30) comes with choice of sauce (sweet BBQ, hot or gold). Ribs are nicely done and still tender. read more

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I was looking for BBQ that would deliver to the Boston area and came across this place. I had a really great first impression! I ordered a barbecue trio platter ($21.99) with burnt ends (+$1), ribs, and jerk chicken. For sides I got the dirty rice with gravy and potato salad. I sometimes find BBQ to be too salty but all the meats here were perfectly seasoned! The meat was marinated very well and didn't even need sauce (although the gold sauce was great too). The meats were tender without being too dry. The ribs fell off the bone! I thought the jerk chicken could be more spicy (it tasted more BBQ and less jerk to me). The sides were great! The potato salad had a nice balance between soft-but-not-mushy-potato and crunch from celery and onions. The dirty rice with gravy had a lot of umami flavor. Like others have mentioned, the cornbread was very crumbly but it soaked up all the sauces and meat juices. The prices here are super reasonable and I'd much rather order from here than some of the more popular (and pricier) spots in Boston. read more

Blue Ribbon BBQ - Trio platter with dirty rice and gravy, potato salad, gold sauce, ribs, burnt ends, jerk chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

first time here ... I am a HUGE BBQ fan ... I got the pulled pork and brisket combo plate ... AMAZING. It was SO much food and extremely tasty. My daughter and I share the mashed potatoes, and both thought those were something very special - yummy! Not plain jane potatoes, no - truly flavorful good. Highly recommend read more

I have got to say, I usually don't leave bad reviews, I just don't go back but this was an exception. I got a brisket sandwich that came with 2 sides. The mashed was fine but there was no gravy. No big deal, I assumed but didn't specify gravy. From there it was downhill. I opted for beans it they tasted like the bottom of a Burt sauce pan. The brisket was the worst I have ever had and I eat bbq often. All fat,no rendered fat, just bad. Bark was fine but no smoke flavor. Just a horrible experience. Will not go back. read more

I've eaten here for years and the food is always perfectly cooked, abundant, and delicious. Their sauces are fantastic as well. The ribs are my go-to, but I've also tried the jerk chicken and pulled pork and loved them all. Recommended! read more

Ordering BBQ in New England is a triumph of hope over experience, but like Lucy, Charlie Brown and the football, I foolishly thought this time would be different--but the brisket was so salty I couldn't eat it. read more

The warning should have been when the clerk said, You can judge a BBQ place by the brisket". Ok, I'll take the brisket. The brisket was great but the burnt ends were absolutely terrible and I paid for my decision the rest of the night! The pulled pork was better. The ribs were good. The baked beans were disappointingly bland. The texture was over thick and heavy. The reason for the one star was because I spent most of the night sick. read more

Really delicious bbq! My favorite is the kansas city burnt ends - the beef falls apart and is perfectly flavored. Top it with the gold and hot sauce and it is pure perfection. Portions are generous. Plenty of sides to choose from. This is a real crowd pleaser and they offer bulk options of everything - perfect for hosting! They offer delivery within a certain radius or pick up is easy with parking right outside. read more

Blue Ribbon BBQ - Burnt Ends Platter - Barbeque Near Me - Arlington, Massachusetts

Super excellent barbecue in a cool environment. Nice inside and outside tables and super quick service made this an awesome lunch.

The worst chicken wings ever. Dry and way over cooked. Like they been reheated many times. Will never go back. Service was okay. Got take out in the Arlington location. ​ read more

This place is expensive, but a treat. Love their brisket!! I'd eat that every day if I could...

Blue Ribbon is the best BBQ I've had on the East coast. Granted, I only tried one of their meats: pulled pork. And although I only tasted one meat, unlike other BBQ spots I try, I regret nothing. Best BBQ pulled pork sando EVER!!! For those of you who don't know, I always base my reviews on my easy-as-ABC rating system that covers the three main pillars of excellent dining (or drinking) experiences: 1) Ambiance, 2) Business, and last but not least, 3) Cuisine (or Cocktails)! With my easy-as-ABC rating system you are sure to get a good rec (recommendation) every time! So, without further ado, let's get into the review! Ambiance: *** There really isn't much to report in the way of ambiance. In all honesty, because it was a counter-spot, I was not very critical about the ambiance and eat-in dining experience. A lot of the other patrons that came in were picking up takeout so the dining area was rather empty. There were a few families and there was light music playing overhead. The noise level was pretty low and we were able to carry on conversations at normal volume and found that to be just perfect given we were there to have a bite and carry on with our explorations! Business: **** The establishment was clean throughout, the staff was courteous, other diners were kind, the food was out quick, and the prices were reasonable. As previously stated, because this was a counter-spot, I was not very critical about the ambiance and eat-in dining experience. Meal: pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw topper and extra sauce, no side, and a water. Cuisine: ***** BEST pulled pork sando EVER!!! The pulled pork here was sweet and tangy, yet rich and a little spicy. I absolutely loved the sweet and tangy and the rich and spicy was a nice kick that was quickly counteracted by the cool and creamy coleslaw topper. The toasted bread was crispy and perfect - without being overly crispy or burnt. I asked for extra sauce - and extra sauce I receieved! So drippy, so sloppy, so happy. I love sauce, not on world-class BBq, but on a pulled pork sandwich? Heck yeah! All-in-all, I highly suggest you roll into Blue Ribbon BBQ if you ever find yourself in the western Boston suburbs. Come here if you're looking for a great counter-spot to grab a few delicious BBQ bites before checking out the Beantown sights. Final Rating: 4.0 read more

The BBQ chicken was very tasty and so is their potato salad and corn bread. I appreciated that none of their food is overly salty. The ribs are a no go because it was super dry like an old boot. The coleslaw was lacking in flavor and the BBQ sauce is decent. The employees there are very pleasant and provide good service. read more

It's ok. Obviously does not compare to BBQ down south (a bit on the dry side, rather than juicy/tender), but is certainly better than the BBQ you'd get at say, a Whole Foods. Not as overpriced as I expected, actually. Would I come here again? Sure, why not. But not in any particular hurry to do so, when I can find Brazilian BBQ that tastes better and actually costs less, all over Somerville and Medford. Service is nice just not particularly fast. They have outdoor tables which are handy when the weather's nice, and the location is convenient. read more

Best BBQ in the area. Consistently good food with good service. Their brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, and pulled chicken are all amazing. The cornbread is dense but still moist, the rice cooked just right. The three BBQ sauces are the icing on the cake. Or maybe that's their delicious pies... There are only a few tables, so I generally get takeout. Online ordering makes it easy. The only hard part is getting back home before digging in. Give them a try if you're in the area. read more

I used to think this was one of the better BBQ places in the area, but it has been on a steady decline over the past few years. Maybe they're having a hard time keeping up with the food delivery apps? Who knows. But listen, when you charge me 20 bucks for a brisket platter and then serve me three decent slices on top of a nasty mound of fat and offcuts, it's just not ok. That stuff belonged in the garbage, and that's where it went. Hard to imagine you would think so little of your customers that you would actually put that on the plate. It's insulting. And it's not the first time either. Oh well, lesson learned, never coming back. I only wish I could give zero stars. read more

Good but its no rusty can. Worth driving out to byfield for the better food. Decent BBQ that won't blow you away if you have spent any significant time down south. read more

I've been going here for several years and lately I've noticed that the quality of the beef brisket has gone down drastically, very tough and grisly, I'm hoping that they improve ! read more

This may be the best BBQ joint in New England - I just haven't tried them all (yet). The suggestion by another poster, to get the boxes instead of the dinners, was a great idea. We got one of each this time, a pint of the KC Burnt Ends, and St. Louis Ribs 1/2 slab dinner plate. The total was enough for two dinners. Each was superb. The sides were underwhelming, but the dinners made up for it. Next time we'll get only the bulk meats. (And no mac-n-cheese????) But why did I rate this 4 stars and not 5? Because they used "STYROFOAM" (expanded polystyrene) containers. These can emit TOXIC styrene, a known carcinogen, especially if microwaved. They are not recyclable. These containers are illegal in a growing number of cities, states, and countries. There are so many healthy alternatives, why on earth would any restaurant use carcinogenic takeout containers? read more

My family loves Blue Ribbon. The food is usually excellent, but it is annoying that when getting takeout, more often than not, they forget to include an item we ordered. Why they don't check a checklist while they're packing our order is beyond me. And the staff gets offended or looks annoyed when I try to check the order while picking it up. Who likes to pay for something they don't receive? read more

They need to do a lot better with the packaging of takeout. When I got home I pulled the bag off the floor in the backseat, and when I got it outside the vehicle, it opened up all over the driveway and my shoes. The food had leaked right through the bag. I was able to salvage most of it but it was a jumbled mess. Tried to get in touch with the manager shortly afterwards to no avail. read more