I am the type to update reviews by taking what I had previously and adding my edits. You'll notice this has gone from 4 stars to 5 stars. What changed? * As noted last time, this is definitely Northern style barbecue here. I had said before it's not very BBQ inside, but I'll reframe that. You still absolutely get friendly service and not a very long wait. * I said before the meats are clearly prepared previously and just warmed to the order. I don't think I'll say that again. The meats were perfectly done, moist throughout, perfectly seasoned and smoky on the outside. * When I had gotten the 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. * This time, I got the ribs. A half rack of ribs filled me up, and YUM. Some ribs fell off the bone a little more than others, but oh boy was that perfectly good. My parents loved their chicken and brisket. * I think they read my review about how much meat you get for what you pay. It's not cheap here, but we all felt that we got a good amount of meat, mac 'n' cheese, or whatever else we ordered. It's great when a place listens! * Last time they upcharged me a dollar to swap cole slaw for cornbread. This time they gave me chipotle BBQ instead of regular BBQ without any charge at all. So again, maybe they read and responded! Still loving the flavors, textures, sauces, cornbread, and mac. This is a winner and earned the fifth star - we're all coming back! read more

We were excited to try this spot, as we had heard good things from a friend, but ultimately left pretty disappointed. The food itself was slightly above average barbecue. With the food standing on its own, maybe between 3 and 4 stars. From what we tried, would rank the pulled pork first, then the burnt ends, and then the brisket. The pulled pork was smoky and had great flavor and not many fatty pieces. The burnt ends had a lot of flavor (maybe a little too slathered in sauce), but too much fat in the pieces we were given. The brisket too dried out for my taste - have had much better and would definitely not order it again. The restaurant looks great inside - great paintings on the walls, signage, etc. Puts you in a BBQ mindset! My biggest issue was that the staff made us feel a bit uncomfortable there. It's weird, because they were SO friendly to their regulars. But so friendly to the point that when they were so emotionless and dismissive to us, that we felt like we did something wrong and weren't welcome there. Unfortunately with the first experience we had, hard to become a regular to get the better treatment! read more

Embark Smoked Meats - 3 meat platter with brisket, pulled pork, and burnt ends - Barbeque Near Me - Boonton, New Jersey

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We came back this time and ordered off the regular menu, not the family package, for takeout again. Now I get the comments about the mac and cheese wasn't good like the last time I had it. Not enjoyable at all this time and too many breadcrumbs among other reasons. I couldn't eat it. We also ordered the brisket and it wasn't that much for the price but my family member mentioned they liked it. ( apparently, any sauce is an extra $ it comes dry?? ) Fries were not good- sad to say not many fries I do not like- I mean c'mon it's a French fry - did not taste good and VERY salty. Pricy and small for what we ordered and I/ we did not enjoy it. We are so disappointed as we were excited for this addition to Main St. read more

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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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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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

Amazingly flavorful Brisket and Ribs! Great food and service! Will be returning in the near future!

The burnt ends, smoked ribs, and the kale salad were absolutely deliciously amazing. The atmosphere was great. The staff were super friendly. read more

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

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

Just ordered from this restaurant for the first time and we could not have been more pleased. Absolutely delicious food. My new go-to bbq place. Oh, and they couldn't have been nicer. read more

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

Fantastic smoked meats, brisket was phenomenal staff very friendly!! If you want barbecue, this is the place to go.

Just learned about Embark and grabbed the opportunity to try them out--we got a pulled pork sando, a brisket, and the burnt ends Mac n cheese, and they were a terrific combination. Good slaw, comfortable atmosphere, friendly and solicitous staff: this is a fine addition to the foodie town of Boonton! Looking forward to our next visit. read more

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

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

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

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

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

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'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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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