Soooo, we went to Embark tonight for the second time. Full disclosure, the first time Wifey and I came here was when they first opened, we came kind of late and we didn't have the best experience, but I PROMISED myself I'd come back before reviewing because I honestly believed I just hit them on a bad night. Had a good friend recently tell me I needed to come back, so we did. Tonight we ordered a half rack of ribs, a pulled pork sandwich, and the pulled pork Mac-n-cheese. In a word, the food was fantastic. I've had BBQ in a LOT of places and also have my own smoker that I've gotten pretty good at using it so I know good BBQ...and this is good BBQ. The ribs were delicious - cooked perfectly the way the want them in competition...not fall off the bone, but with a little bite, and the flavor was great. Amazing bark on the outside with tender meat on the bone. The pulled pork sandwich was so tender and delicious that I wish I didn't have to share it with Wifey. And their homemade BBQ sauce is absolutely great...a little spice on the back of the tongue, but still sweet without being overly sweet (they have four kinds, but I only wanted the traditional). The pulled pork Mac-n-cheese was very rich but full of flavor with a nice breadcrumb topping as well. Each platter also came with cole slaw, something often overlooked by BBQ places, but not here. Very tasty, very fresh, though I think it needed a pinch of salt. I do wish we had gotten some cornbread, but honestly, we walked away very full. The service here is super friendly and our food came pretty quickly...and I really love the layout and vibe here. I spoke to the owner about how much I loved the food tonight and how it was such a difference from my first experience. I'm so glad we came back. The people behind the counter all seem to LIKE what they're doing...and that means a lot. Real BBQ places are always pricey, because you aren't paying for just the food, your paying for the hours and hours and hours of cooking it takes to get the food to taste as good as it does and to be tender. You can't take shortcuts with BBQ. So yeah, Embark isn't cheap, but if there's one thing I've discovered over the years it's that you DON'T want cheap BBQ. Embark is a BYOB place so bring your favorite beer, order some great food, and sit with friends savoring the deliciousness. I will NOT wait this long to come back again. read more

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A friend recommended Embark a few days before I visited. When I arrived, I wasn't super hungry since I had just come from a Yelp Elite event up the road at Catfight Coffee. There is a decent amount of seating, although there were more takeout orders at the time I visited. It's very clean inside and decorated nicely. I ordered the 2-meat sampler with brisket and pulled pork. The brisket was awesome, super tender and packed with flavor. The BBQ sauce really complemented the meats. The pulled pork was also very good, but the brisket was definitely the star. The mac and cheese was just okay. The breadcrumbs on top made the mac and cheese a bit soggy. Portions were a bit small for the price. Overall, I thought my meal was good but I would definitely come back just for that brisket. read more

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It took me awhile to finally get to Embark. Early on, I heard about the small portions. I walked in and it all seemed too modern and clean. Nothing smelled like BBQ. So I kept walking by. The good reviews kept happening. Finally, the restaurant I wanted to head to today was unexpectedly closed, so as I walked back, I realized exactly what I wanted and I embarked on a mission to obtain it. I would still say it's not very BBQ inside, but that's okay. You'll get friendly service and not a very long wait. The meats are clearly prepared previously and just warmed to the order. I say that because they were a little dry, at least on the outside. The middles were perfectly done. On my two-meat plate, the brisket fell apart on my fork. The pulled pork was the opposite of what I expected - in fact, I'm wondering if they gave me pork or chicken now that I think about it... but it was good. Didn't occur to me at the time, but that might explain some of the taste and appearance. Anyway. Pluses and minuses. Start with the bad: * Not a lot of meat for your money. And it's a lot of money for what you do get. * Upcharges for what seems simple - I asked to swap a cole slaw for my cornbread. Cole slaw isn't even on the menu as a side! I'd think they could let it happen without a dollar thrown in. And the good: * The flavor * The texture * The sauces - their red sauce has some heat to it! Woot. And the Alabama isn't at all Alabamian. It's way better. Try it. * Mac and cheese was plenty of side for your money, nice and soft, excellent flavor, super cheesy. So glad I splurged on that one. * I stayed with the cornbread. It's got an authentic crumbly consistency and the cinnamon adds a unique touch. No, this isn't Southern BBQ. It's Northern. But with places like Dinosaur and Fink's closing their doors recently , a pleasant surprise to discover a new one opening right here! So even though the price had me unsure I'd return, the taste has convinced me. read more

Embark Smoked Meats - $30 of food. That's skimp on the meat - Barbeque Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

This was a very nice surprise. Decided to go here for the smoked meat and ended up having with everything else. One of the best burgers I've ever tasted. The brisket, double bacon, cheeseburger, wings, and the sweet potato fries were simply amazing. Everything had such great flavor, big portions, and mouthwatering looks. This place is a must go and true to the saying If it looks good it must taste good. We will be back. read more

Embark Smoked Meats - Brisket, sweet potato fries, wait, double bacon, burger and a establishment burger. - Barbeque Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

Came here Sunday afternoon with friends. One of my friends suggested this spot which he found via Google. Once you enter, the menu is to your right and you place your order in the counter. The place is bright and has a lot of natural sunlight. After you place your order, you can see staff members cut up your meats in front of you. There is a dining area next to the area you placed your order at. I order the 3 meat combo, got the brisket, burnt ends and pulled pork. They weigh out the meats to make sure you get the right serving amount. Also ordered a large (16 oz) Mac and cheese ($10.19) and it was really good. The brisket was solid, burnt ends were sweet and good. The pulled pork was solid as well. I came in hungry but I think two meat combo is enough food if you get a side of Mac and cheese. I was so full after finishing all the meats. I would recommend this place if you are in the mood for bbq. * Street parking * Good service read more

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Embark probably makes the finest burger in the Boonton area right now. We often get takeout but the place is cute if you choose to eat in. Their burgers are a good size with wonderful flavor. But all their meats are excellent. Service is counter style - this is not fine dining but the food is amazing. So happy to have them close by. read more

Very yummy! I had the chicken, the sausage, and the brisket, all delicious. Staff was very friendly.

Decided on the three-meat platter, which came out looking as good as it tasted. The sausage delivered deep smoky richness with a perfect balance of savory and salty. Burnt ends had a beautiful bark that gave way to tender, juicy bites. Brisket was melt-in-your-mouth soft with a pronounced beefy depth. Sampled all three sauces: BBQ brought a sweet, tangy lift, Alabama white had a nice creamy profile though I wished for more heat, and the Carolina sauce offered a bold mustard base that cut through the richness. The mac and cheese was indulgent, creamy, and full of flavor. The beans were a standout with hearty chunks of pepper, likely poblano, adding a subtle green heat. Cornbread and coleslaw felt more like an afterthought compared to the other standouts. Service was impressively fast. The space works perfectly for a quick takeout run, yet the warm, casual dining area makes staying in just as inviting. Already planning a return trip for the loaded mac and cheese. read more

Embark Smoked Meats - There meat platter - Barbeque Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

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I went here with my family to celebrate my niece's birthday because she wanted bbq food and BOY DID IT DELIVER!! She loved it and so did we. The people were super friendly and the place was warming. Since we were 6 adults and 2 kids we just ordered family style so we can try everything. The service was quick and the food was super fresh! The BRISKET was my personal fave! No need to chew. We ordered mac and cheese as well and my nephew devoured it all. The place was clean as well, including the bathroom. Definitely recommend it if in the neighborhood! Me and my family enjoyed it very much. read more

Embark Smoked Meats - Sweet potato fries, smoked chicken, brisket, and brunt ends. - Barbeque Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

Really great BBQ...Brisket was delicious; great sauce; Burnt ends were out of this world

First time here. Brisket was fantastic and the sauces with it were great. The honey mustard sauce was probably the best I have had. Also did a chili cheese burger. I have not seen that on a menu in a long time. It was delicious and a fun throwback. We will defiantly be coming back. Staff was also very attentive around allergies with I appreciate. read more

Had a delicious brisket sandwich . Very clean with friendly staff. Definitely a keeper.

Brisket and pull pork excellent..sweet potato fries amazing. Service great very clean place

Great bbq!! Authentic bbq. Love that the meat is not drenched in sauce you add if you want it. Love the spin on cornbread with the ginger. read more

Embark Smoked Meats - 2 meat combo plate. - Barbeque Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

I've been here multiple times for dine in and pick up and I have never left disappointed. The food is excellent, portions are made to fill you up. I would highly recommend anybody to eat here read more

Horrible all around. I ordered the brisket, pulled pork, which were tiny portions and 90% fat, almost inedible. The half rack of ribs seemed like an impressive portion but were also almost entirely fat and when you got to the meat it was NOT falling off any bone any time soon. So tough and just salty, no flavor. The beans were also just straight grease, the sauces were fine, the cornbread was dry and flavorless despite the unnecessary cinnamon flavor. The cole slaw was fine. Terribly overpriced for what it is, not to mention their ridiculous delivery fee that isn't even direct delivery (read: everything will be cold). Absolutely not worth it. read more

Embark Smoked Meats - Side of grease with a few beans - Barbeque Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

I am a big fan of Embark Smoked Meats. I have tried almost everything on the menu so far and I have not been disappointed. Aside from the brisket, ribs, pulled pork I really love the macaroni and cheese. I tried the pulled pork Mac and cheese and the brisket Mac and cheese and I cannot decide which one I like better. Even the little things like the cornbread and cole slaw are delicious. The thing I love the most is all the food is made from scratch. The sauces, the dry rub etc etc. Quality food. I highly recommend the Alabama White Sauce. Goes good with everything. Stop in and see Jasmine, she does a wonderful job. read more

Really delicious smoked BBQ food. Been here a few times and they never miss. Owner run and you can tell they really care about the customers satisfaction. Highly recommend. read more

The Girls do a fantastic job ! Try a sampler platter and get a little taste of everything !!! The brisket and the ribs are absolutely delicious !! And a must try is their homemade BBQ sauce !! Honest review 1 out of 10 ? .... I score them at a 9.25 read more

I am so so sad to be writing this review! I have tried every new place in Boonton since I have lived here (four years) and this one simply fell short. Let me start by saying their staff is so friendly, and helpful! and the interior is so nice, the seating is beautiful, the aesthetic is modern and the fire/smokey theme is in every part of it. But the food left way too much to be desired, which is of course why we are all wanting to try it. I got the 1/3lb burnt ends and the flavor was just not there. I got the sweetness of the BBQ, but didn't feel like there was a ton of smokey or spicy flavors. Now don't get me wrong, most BBQ is not "spicy", but it would be nice to have the option to add it, even through some sort of sauce. Next the majority of what I got was fatty skin, and a few chunks of meat (the meat itself being dry and not tender as expected). From my previous experience "burnt" means crispy. This was chewy, greasy and very fatty. Lastly, the portion size was surprisingly small for the price. For four little chunks of meat I paid $16 +tax +tip and the total was a little over $19. Fingers crossed this is just opening speed bumps, but I will probably wait a while before I return for a second try. read more

I let Embark do the heavy lifting for a Memorial Day picnic and it as fabulous- got a half tray of ribs and a half tray of smoked chicken...made a few sides at home and got rave reviews. I was so glad to introduce Embark to a few new people...we had 17 (5 early teens) and had plenty of food. Wish I had taken a pic read more

Highly recommend! You can taste the authenticity and quality. I had the brunch burger cooked two perfection nice and juicy Other than that the quality of the beef is great. It does have a good flavor, but it can use a little bit more seasoning in my opinion. I also had the brisket with the original barbecue sauce. Amazing brisket, great bar great flavor, very tender. The barbecue sauce was a little different than what I've had in the past very well worth a try. I will be coming back. read more

My sister lives here and we came for a quick lunch. Wow! Absolutely delicious. The sauces are yummy. The pulled pork sandwich was fantastic!!! I loved the sweet potato fries with the horseradish sauce on the side. Good service. Nice folks. Will definitely be back!!! read more

Embark is in our rotation of regular restaurants. OMG, everything is delicious. Today is was the Burnt Ends and baked beans with pulled pork. Don't miss this one! read more

This place is consistently excellent and it's run by someone who knows and cares about BBQ! People need to read some of these reviews! What's up with people writing an entire novel about how insanely good and amazing this place is yet they give it 4 stars?!? Ridiculous. This place is 5 stars. Period. read more

Meh... thought the brisket and pulled pork was very fatty and the Mac n cheese was overcooked and mushy. The prices were wildly high and definitely don't match the portion. The service was good with no complaints there. The location is in downtown Boonton but was insanely hot inside. Employees were visibly sweaty and I was sweating just sitting there trying to eat. We probably won't be back. read more

The burnt ends with fries are by far my favorite. I had it for the first time and I'm hooked. The service was on point with friendly staff. The atmosphere was also very relaxing and comfortable. Love this place! read more

It's all about the meat. Went for lunch today because I wanted good ribs.OMG delicious and meaty. That with some fresh cole slaw and I was one happy camper. Will definitely be back .BTW staff is lovely read more

How cow The owner and pit master is a hot babe I think I'm in love The girl of my dreams Awesome food too!! read more

yummy. loved the brisket. not as crazy about the burnt ends. I like my husband's better. definitely found a new place for bbq we really like. nj has such crappy bbq. it's nice to find a good place. read more

I placed an order for pick up. Ribs, pulled pork mac and cheese, and coleslaw. First, they forgot my coleslaw so I was annoyed. When I went to ask them, the guy filled up the little cup halfway. Look at the photo, I did not take a single bite from it. How is this almost $4? Then when I open the mac & cheese I'm surprised how small and bare it is for the price of about $20. Both the mac and the pork were dry. I didn't take a photo of the ribs because they looked ok. However after biting into them, it was super dry. Sauces were ok too but nothing to write home about. Was excited for a new local restaurant but unfortunately wouldn't go back read more

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We got the pulled pork, brisket, full rack of ribs, burnt, end mac & cheese. We were excited to try a barbecue place locally. Unfortunately, the ribs, the pulled pork and the mac & cheese were really dry. The ribs were so hard I thought I was going to break my teeth. The brisket I have to say is 10 out of 10. So definitely try that!! Service is friendly and courteous. The sign outside doesn't show that it is a BBQ restaurant.. looks like more of an art gallery.... Been passing it for a while now didn't know it wS a food place until my son told me about it. The artwork inside is amazing tho! Get ready to pay bc it is very expensive! I want to try it again one more time.. hopefully they will work out the kinks!!! read more

Stopped in here for lunch during the week after hiking at Pyramid Mountain. Had the brisket sandwich and it was delicious! Definitely planning to go back after my next hike. Highly recommended. read more

We were excited to try this place, but overall disappointed. Most of everything we ordered was dry. The meat was so tough, from the pulled pork to the burnt ends, cornbread, and even the buns the sandwiches came on. The coleslaw was disappointing, sliced a bit thick and tough to get down. I was also looking forward to the cinnamon cornbread, but that too was dry and the flavor not great. The two items that were okay were the Mac n cheese and the baked beans. The beans were a bit on the mushy side especially with the pulled pork in it. Not much variation in texture. We had to add additional bbq we have at home, there just wasn't enough given the texture of the meat. This was a one and done. read more

Wow - honestly can't figure the low reviews this place was wonderful! I'm a big time foodie - been to bbq places all over the US, have a few faves in the greater area but I felt this places choices were all top notch. Quality and value. My boyfriend and I ordered a selection and got to try the brisket, pork, wings, coleslaw, beans, corn bread and all were delicious. Brisket can be dry but theirs was very moist. Possibly the best I've had in years. All the sides were delish! My personal favorite was the wings. They were absolutely awesome - I went back two days later for more and will do the chicken next. This is really a gem, and I've told everyone I know about it and how about this: They give you a discount for ice cream next door when you are done! Winner! The service was great we did dine in and the owner or smoker came out and asked us what we thought and was very sweet and explained how they do their wings. Really a lovely place. You could BYOB - it's a bright cheerful place but I could easily see this as a go to take out and I will stop by lunch time if driving through. read more

I stopped by Embark on my way home to pick up some barbecue for my family tonight. Had read that it had opened. But just have not had a chance to try it yet. When i entered, the place was clean and spacious and the owner and staff were friendly and welcoming. I ordered my food to go and while I waited the owner offered me a rib to try while I waited. Amazing!!! When I got home we enjoyed the brisket, pulled pork, ribs along with the Kale salad and Mac and cheese. The meat was tender and amazing with a great bark on the brisket. The ribs were tender and perfectly cooked. My daughter said the pulled pork was delicious. We universally agreed that the Mac and cheese was some of the best we ever had. We will be going back! What a find! read more

This place is spectacular! 10 out of 10. Absolutely worth every penny I am so lucky to have this place in my town the burgers, chicken sandwiches, pulled pork mac & cheese french fries everything is sensational! Chipotle, mayo, and dipping sauces add terrific flavor and sides for some of the terrific menu items. The staff are absolute professionals so friendly and you can tell they are expert chefs. This food is incredible and this establishment overall is phenomenal. Absolutely highly recommended perfect place. read more

Embark Smoked Meats - Barbeque Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

The food was so good, like literally melting in my mouth and all the staff are so sweet and wonderful. Just be prepared for it to be busy depending when you go read more

We were so excited to try this place and finally did. Unfortunately it was really disappointing. We ordered a few different things to try different meats. The food was OK at best, some wasn't good at all. Aside from the food not meeting some standard BBQ expectations, it is very very expensive. I wouldn't mind spending if it was good and the portions were bigger but for two people we spent 80 bucks and were still hungry afterwards. Unfortunately I think this will be the next revolving door of Main Street. read more

Embark Smoked Meats - $80. iPhone for scale. Wings, burnt ends, brisket, mac and cheese, chili. - Barbeque Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

Alright, definitely not here to shit on a new business but definitely have some constructive criticism. The consistency of every product coming out, whether to dine or to go, is not the same at all. 3 items that's were small in size and definitely not loaded or sauced and dry should not be $40+. Service did take about 30 mins to complete a take out order after being placed in house, I'd recommend placing and order online and still taking your time to get there. The place itself is so cute/different vibes that are much needed in the small town of Boonton but there's definitely a lot of work/tweaking that needs to be taken care of. Was so so so excited to have some new cuisine in Boonton but that Mac and cheese recipe needs to be reviewed, cheese tasted like it curdled while cooking. Pulled pork should be cooked in the sauce of choice before assembling sandwiches. And loaded fries should probably have a lot more meat to be considered loaded. I know smoked meats and the BBQ culture isn't cheap but customers should be getting consistent plates and their moneys worth especially for 3 items. Hopeful to try again in 6 months but changes need to be made. read more

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