I grew up in San Antonio, and my dad was a "hobbyist" pit master. This place is fine. It's not up to par with what you can get in Texas, but it's not bad either. For Maine, it's good though. But what place that claims to be Texas BBQ also doesn't have Big Red? COME ON SON! read more

Picture this, Hank Hill, from King of the Hill, gets out the bbq grill. Throws on the propane (obviously), puts the meats on, cracks a beer, lights a cigarette BOOMMM!!!The propane had a leak and blew his ballz clean off. That's how Ore Nells made me feel. My ballz have been blown offfffffff, and they are not coming back. The wings with the spicy peanut sauce, phenomenal. Lucky for me there was a handsome man in the kitchen to look at, I think his name was Joey? Boy oh boy what I'd do to him. 10/10 on the chicken, 10/10 on the hunk in the kitchen!!!!! Great work folks, keep it up, the people need you!! read more

Food: the primary protein, ribs, were "too" tender!! Ribs should have a slight bite, not fall off the bone! The idea is to be able to bite the meat, have it come off and leave the meat around the bite still on the bone. The fries were very good. The slaw was vinegar based, not my preference. The sliced onions & pickles were very good. Rarely seen at Northeast BBQ facilities. Finally, there were two sauces, a sweet and a spicy one. Both were soupy rather than thicker which I prefer. Of the two I liked the spicy one. Service: Very good! Efficient, polite and effective. Ambiance: There isn't any!! Don't go there for any special surroundings. read more

We loved this place! We will definitely be back when we return for vacations. The brisket, ribs, mac 'n cheese, and collard greens were excellent. Generous portions. I did not like the beans, so I'd definitely pass on those. But everything else was top tier. read more

The drinks were great and the bbq was good. The sides are where I was disappointed. We got the chips and cashew queso; loved how salty the chips were but the cup the queso comes in is deceivingly shallow. The Mac and cheese was flavor less and the cornbread was swimming in honey (it was sickly sweet). The good part was the bbq, both my tofu and husband's brisket had excellent flavors and he really likes the spicy bbq sauce. We sat at the bar and the dude there was very nice to us and helped us with any questions. read more

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Have been here before and its a great place, but unfortunately this night just wasn't quite up to scratch. Started with the Mott The Lesser wings which were good and a bit crispy, which I like, but they were a smidge on the dry side. Then I had the pork ribs which again were good but just a tad dry - we were there a bit late in the evening I guess (served around 7:30 so not THAT late). Would say the food was 4/5 but the service was too quick - we had barely started the starter (wings) when the main course was brought out ( and we hadn't even ordered the main course at the same time as the starter). To me that just makes things feel rushed and you end with your food getting cold. So that is why I'm only giving a 3/5 but I know this place can do better and will be back and I do recommend this place! read more

Well I've been to Ore Nells about half dozen times and have always liked it but I went there yesterday and it is now 2AM and I have been up all night with diarrhea really bad. I probably won't go back read more

We ate there the other night . The coleslaw looked like shredded chicken was just blah , the texture and flavor was unimpressive. The potato salad was meh. The ribs texture was good but way too salty . I have had some barbecue in my life and this was not up to snuff. I will never eat here again and it was also very overpriced . read more

The pulled pork was delicious! Brisket and ribs were cold when they got to us. Beautiful smoke ring on brisket, but lacking flavor. The ribs were delicious! Mac and cheese was standard, fries were good as well. I did enjoy the mocktail. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Tray for two! - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Delicious food and great staff! Definitely will be back! Went for a special guest chef who made rice spam and chicken! read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Good food, service amazing I recommend Sydney! She was a pleasure, ribs are the best, followed by brisket then pulled pork. Ambiance feels like east coast! read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

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Ore Nell's is a great BBQ treat. Located on Badgers Island with a nice outdoor dining setup, it's an easy drive from downtown Portsmouth. Not only is the BBQ great here, but the cocktails are also fantastic. Friendly staff and a nice variety of side dishes make this a win all around. We typically get the BBQ plate for 2, which is more than enough food for us for dinner, and we've even had 3 people enjoy it for lunch, with a side of the cornbread, which is not to be missed. The plate includes ribs, brisket, pulled pork and several sides. Don't skip the mac and cheese. Without a doubt, some of the best BBQ we have in the greater Portsmouth/seacoast area. This place is popular, be sure you gave a reservation. read more

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The best BBQ on the Seacoast IMO. Cool place with a great vibe with available outdoor seating. Waitress was attentive and friendly. Didn't have to wait long for our BBQ for two, a little of bit of everything. Delicious food and generous portions. read more

Great BBQ joint! Authentic Texas style barbecue. Had the tray for two - outstanding fall-off-the-bone ribs and juicy brisket. Excellent creamy mac and cheese! Service was friendly and quick. read more

Quality has gone way down. Last two times have been awful. The first of those I reached out & they were nice enough to give a small gift card. I decided to try again today. Waffle fries were limp, soggy & disgusting. The BBQ tofu burger is flavorless now. The vegan mac & cheese today tasted and smelled like burnt latex gloves. And my s/o chicken fingers were way too crispy. Won't be back. Sadly. The hype is gone. read more

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Bbq in Maine? When the lines outside for seafood are quite long and it's a Saturday, what do you do? No, not a McDonald's, nor a subway, not any of those fast food places. We found the restaurant on the main thoroughfare. The menu was simple to navigate. Being a somewhat big guy I saw the bbq for two and decided to go for it with my side dishes including: macaroni and cheese, Cole slaw and potato salad. Was told of my choices that they may taste different than what I could remember. Sure enough, orders placed and one television playing the golf tournament on tv and people coming in from the outside. Not too long of a wait to get our goods. My picture is of the bbq for two. Memphis ribs, pulled pork, brisket and my sides. Wasn't all that bad. The sides were definitely not what I expected and I gave them a good taste. Would be great if they were located closer to home. Relatively quiet when we first got seated, but the crowd started shuffling in. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - BARBECUE FOR TWO - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Food and service was great. Best bbq in the area. Parking can be tricky because it fills up fast. Indoor and outdoor eating available. I enjoyed the brisket, pulled pork and st louis ribs. The coleslaw was a vinegar based and I thoroughly enjoyed the new (to me) flavor. Highly recommend! read more

Great BBQ place in Maine! Really good food you'll leave really full. Planned on taking some leftovers home but was too good and had nothing left. The service was excellent and very nice and friendly. Would recommend to anyone visiting the area read more

Super beautiful views of the water and the best BBQ I've had in years. Went here with our two dogs and they were super welcoming to them as well. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Our dogs enjoying the outdoor patio area - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

This is a place I go with my coworkers when I need to go to Portsmouth for work. It's close to Portsmouth and one of the few bbq places nearby. Being from Texas my standards for bbq are quite high. Ore Nells is sufficient for New England bbq but lacks in the taste and texture department. The meat whether it be the brisket or ribs are a little bit drier and not as flavorful for my liking. For most bbq you can tell visually how good it'll be and I was looking for the bark on the brisket but did not find it. Service was quick and attentive and we were seated outside. It is in a very beautiful part of Maine by the waterfront. The drinks were good and the sides were alright. The cornbread was exceptional though. I'm a bit stricter with bbq because it'll always be pricy no matter where you eat so you need to get good bang for your buck. read more

Stopped in just before closing on a Monday night; not usually the best practice... but, I'm not from around here and every time I'm close, it's a must stop. It was my son and I; we were welcomed, encouraged multiple times to take our time, and fed some spectacular BBQ. Bartender was our server, didn't grab his name, but even my son commented on how nice he was. Place is an A+, highly recommend!! read more

Judging from the reviews I really had hope. However, the jambalaya was impossibly over salted with no visible pieces of chicken or crayfish. Just brown gravy and rice. The half chicken was very dry and flavorless. Frito pie was a mysterious collection or dry ground beef, nothing close to the description. Plus side here: the cornbread and conch fritters were delicious! Staff was friendly and attentive, drinks were delicious! Overall though an underwhelming and overrated eatery. read more

Just had lunch at Ore Nells on a Saturday. Parking lot is tight! Husband and I got the bbq for 2 which was the perfect amount of food and allowed us to taste the brisket, ribs, and pulled pork. They were all good but the ribs were king. That's what I'll get if we come back. Kids had the grilled cheese but turns out they would have preferred the mac and cheese. The fries were also well-seasoned. Service was good. Really good bbq on the Maine food scene. Here's to hoping they come farther up the coast (I know they have a new location in Biddeford). read more

Barbecue is intensely regional. Ignoring the great barbecue in other countries (Korea, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Argentina, etc) there is a wide variation of barbecue styles in the USA. Most people can name Texas, Memphis, Kansas City, and Carolina styles, but there are umpteen styles of barbecue in Texas and in the Carolinas. Even in Memphis you can walk near Beale Street and find 5 different styles. My favorite barbecue joint offers 2 kinds of brisket (lean and fatty) that don't taste a thing alike. So I'm not going to review Ore Nell's by saying that the barbecue did or didn't taste like it was supposed to. It tasted how it tasted, and it's a good version of what the chef was trying to accomplish. The sauces are fabulous. I've read all of the reviews of Ore Nell's, and the most common complaint is that the brisket is dry. I suppose it is. If you don't like dry brisket, you can slather it with sauce, or you can order ribs or pulled pork or chicken. If you do like less fatty brisket, you can go to 2M in San Antonio, Killen's or Ray's in Houston, or you can go to Ore Nell's in Kittery. I find the pulled pork to be the standout dish here, but the ribs and chicken are also pretty great. I've never been much of a fan of barbecued sausage, so I don't order it. If you're picky about your 'cue, have a conversation with the server about it before you order. If you love it all, then just order blind and eat it. It's all good. If you're allergic to more-dry brisket, then order pork. read more

It was okay for what it was definitely not mind blowing. Sides matter too but for some reason they didn't hit the mark for us. The corn bread truly was the highlight of the meal. The potato salad lacked ingredients and potatoes were raw (how) and quite honestly a dusting of old bay seasoning on top of everything does not make up for anything. The coleslaw was sour and the mac and cheese lacked actual cheese but had milk. The pulled pork was extremely tender and flavorful as was the brisket. The chicken leg we paid $14 for was for show. The slop of bbq sauce on the outside could not save the dryness lurking on the inside, it died twice.. Truly a waste of money for that anyway. Overpriced for what it is. Busy establishment nonetheless but service could have been better. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - BARBECUE FOR TWO - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

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The food is excellent - the service is quite possibly better. GOOD VIBES - service from the time we walked in to when we left was so friendly, positive and just gave off very good vibes. It wasn't a corny "hey, be positive staff" - it was a team that you could tell didn't hate being at their jobs, and I just appreciated it. We came with two young kids and they didn't skip a beat. The food came out quickly. The white Alabama wings were very good (as in drive some distance for those alone good) and the cornbread made my wife break her Keto diet. read more

A little piece of Texas in Maine! We went here for my father's birthday and had an amazing time -- great service and even more impressive food! We tried the "for two" platter and added a half a chicken, and *chef's kiss* it was delicious. Definitely be sure to get the cornbread! My only complaint is that their tea (sweet & unsweet) was very dense in a way that I've never encountered in the south (it resembled the color of apple cider), but it was still drinkable and tasty. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - "For Two" platter with cornbread, Mac & MAC N' CHEESE, WAFFLE FRIES V, COLE SLAW GF-*V, PULLED PORK, BRISKET, and ST. LOUIS RIBS! - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Great food, efficient service, relaxed setting! My husband ordered the chicken wings, and brought half of them home for a 2nd appetizer. He was very satisfied ! It was a brisk, beautiful afternoon. The table where we sat to eat was created from a beautiful piece of pine, finished very nicely. read more

Cute little spot near the water, will be opening up their patio soon. Service was amazing and Tuesday nights are industry nights through end of May! Only reason this isn't a 5* is because they were out of the surf n turf which was the reason we hit up this spot for restaurant week and there wasn't other seafood on their regular menu. Despite that, we had a lovely delicious meal. Jalapeño cornbread, mac&cheese, and the pulled pork are all must haves. The funnel cake for dessert was the best treat. Excited to come back when it's not a rainy/ gloomy day for the views! read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Mule, MAC N' VT CHEDDAR *V, BRISKET, PULLED PORK, WAFFLE FRIES V, Jalape-o Cheddar Cornbread - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

We love everything about this place and regularly drive over an hour to get there. the food is delicious. We appreciate the many vegetarian options as well as the creative specials. The ribs are incomparable and we can't resist the cornbread. The service and ambiance are terrific too. We think Kevin is the best bartender around and Ore Nell's is lucky to have him on staff. Can't wait for our next visit! read more

I live in Western NY and travel all over NE for work and have also worked in the Carolinas. I had a hankering for some BBQ. First I have to say the staff are friendly and accommodating, I really felt they are proud of the food. I was here in time to get an appetizer during 'happy hour' De Arbol Wings' (I'm from Buffalo NY wing territory). These wing are awesome, they are smoked and have a great slightly heated finish sauce. I would absolutely get them again because they stand out and are solid. I also ordered the Frito Pie 'to go'. I had to try some before I packed it up. Great flavors and will be a solid lunch or dinner. Portsmouth is not noted for BBQ and if you have a hankering, Ore Nell's will not disappoint you. read more

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I'm officially a barbecue convert! As a vegetarian I've never really liked BBQ, but this place does BBQ right! The BBQ tofu (I chose just dry rub, not saucy) was fantastic, as were all the sides I tried, which were all either vegetarian or vegan. Everything was delicious, service was excellent, and the view was phenomenal. We will definitely be back! read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Dry rub tofu, collard greens, pinto beans, potato salad, and VT cheddar Mac and cheese - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

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We were looking for a spot early, and were surprised at how busy this place was. Then we got our food! It was so, so good. It was also happy hour, which was another explanation why it was so busy! We had wings, and they were so crispy and tasty. They also offered local craft beers. We had a brisket sandwich and a pulled pork sandwich. Fries and other sides are available a la carte. We had their seasoned fries, which were delicious. Both sandwiches were loaded with meat and very good. We did have to ask for BBQ sauce, which we noticed others had on their tables, but the spicy sauce was worth the wait.... So good! It was easy to see why this smaller restaurant was so busy! The later you go, you should make a reservation. Also, the parking lot is small, so it was tough to park the truck, but we got lucky with a spot on the end near the street. It was a fun place to enjoy BBQ in Maine! read more

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Great little BBQ joint! We had the brisket, mac &cheese,waffle fries and chicken fingers. All the grub was great but the brisket was Amazing! We Definitely recommend and will return to try ribs and pulled pork! read more

Been to my fair about of bbq places this place has really good potential locations is right in the heart of Biddeford it's a new place with very personable servers and a good beer list, food was okay but the menu had a few things to get worked out such as when you order a entree your side is pickles ans onions, not fries or cornbread like other more traditional bbq places which was a bit disappointing seeing that you had to order the sides separate, Also they claim they they are Texas bbq but don't offer anything exclusive like a Texas sauce (vinegar base) overall decent place I will try again later on down the line. read more

As close to authentic Texas barbecue as I've found anywhere in northern New England. Fantastic pulled pork and the Texas hot links are amazing. Love their vinegar-based barbecue sauce. I'm sure the desserts are good, too, but we didn't have room. read more

Thank you Olivia for taking such great care of us. This was our first visit. Texas BBQ. Loved the menu and choices. Lynn had the chicken sandwich. I had the pulled pork. We shared a side of collared greens and their jalapeno cornbread. Both the chicken and pork were tender, juicy and excellent flavor. I ordered the small side of greens. We wish we had ordered the large. We finished off dinner with their banana pudding. I recommend you come and enjoy this experience. I do recommend making reservations read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Patio dining - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

One of the BEST rack or ribs I've ever had! The collared greens were super flavorful. My son enjoyed his Mac and Cheese. Our server was very attentive.. GREAT PLACE ! read more

My 20 year old doesn't do seafood and picked bbq. She loved it and frankly ate more than I have seen her eat in quite awhile. Raving about the ribs, the Mac & cheese with VT cheese which is SO creamy, the brisket thick & juicy. The pulled port had a bit of a kick. She also sang praises on the sweet tea. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

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We've been here a hand full of times and always enjoy it. I love that they have vegetarian options, keeps us coming back! Love the BBQ tofu & all the sides. The potato salad & jalapeño corn bread are so good. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Tofu BBQ - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine