One of a very few great neighborhood bars in the Cambridge/Somerville area. I come to Redbones as often as I can because the food is good and the prices are very reasonable. This place has an impressive rotating beer list that often features interesting and hard-to-find beers. The spicy margarita is also great. The service in my experience is always friendly and familiar. Great dive bar ambience that is actually the result of being a longstanding neighborhood bar and not a contrived "vibe". read more

Decent BBQ in an expansive establishment. I got the 5 oz Brisket and the 1/3 Rack Baby Back Ribs a la carte (the "Add-Ons" section on the menu). You can order large sizes like lbs a la carte too. The Brisket was easily the better protein out of the two, pretty tender with a good bark and BBQ flavor. The Baby Back Ribs were more tough and lacked smoke flavor. The Cactus Cooler was a nice refresher with balanced sweetness read more

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Wanted to give this place a higher rating because it's been around Davis so long, but the food quality and service just isn't there. We sat at the bar and appreciated the more lived in vibe with the stack of VHS tapes and old pool trophies lining the wall. Very reasonable prices for beers. We started with the hush puppies, which had a nice crisp exterior, but the inside was a bit too raw for me. I had the pulled pork with cornbread for my main which came with a generous portion of meat, no mixed in BBQ (as it should be), but half the meat was pretty dry and the bun was also quite dry. Spicy BBQ on top helped, but also wasn't a huge fan of the BBQ which was on the thick and sweet side. Cornbread was also pretty dry. Service was okay could have been more proactive/attentive, there were only a few ppl at the bar, but the bartender still needed to be flagged every time we needed something. We were surprised a club soda with lime served in an 8 oz cocktail glass was $4. There's better BBQ and service around the area, I'd skip the food and return for some quick cheap beers but nothing more. read more

Redbones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I came in and was seated. Given a menu and water. She asked if I wanted ice. Of course. The waitress knew the menu. She explained the difference between the dinners and the combo and let me make my choice. The restaurant was split between a barroom and dining area. The bar was dimly lit. The meat is smoked at another location. I could not tell how it was cooked since I had pulled pork and chicken. I saw some bark in the pulled pork which was a good sign. The Mac and cheese was just average like it came out of a box. The Cole slaw was ok. Nothing to write home about. I would consider the food average. The dinner was plenty large enough. I took about half home with me. The barbecue sauce was given to me on the side. This place was nothing special. Take it or leave it. read more

Redbones BBQ - Website - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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The service of this restaurant was top notch. They were so accommodating and friendly. In addition, the ambiance was so casual, it was easy to be comfortable with friends and have a good time. The food was delicious, I recommend the baby back ribs and burnt ends. Although it was delicious, the food is heavy and highly caloric. I think it would be wise to limit visits or I might acquire heart disease! read more

Redbones BBQ - 3 Meat Combo: Baby Back Ribs, Burnt Ends, BBQ Hash w/ Cole Slaw and Mac & Cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Casual and BUSY. Nice bar, seating on ground level and downstairs, both look different, but either is fun. I actually saw Julia Child eating here! Shows how great it is. Noisy, but you won't mind, you can hear each other. Specializes in BBQ, and it's great! Prices are excellent. Kid friendly. A definite must! read more

Walked in about an hour before close (50 min to be exact) asked to be sat. We were rudely told that we missed "last call". We weren't going to argue. The grubby woman who told us seemed like she already wanted to die. Y'all need to update your hours. It's incredibly rude and disappointing. read more

Compared to most bbq places in the area, this one felt the most authentic and similar to places I've been to in Nashville. There is an array of options to choose from making it a good spot for those looking for something more casual like a fried chicken sandwich to those looking for a platter of different types of BBQ. The sides are also nice portions but you can always upgrade to more. Our group ordered short ribs, a chicken sandwich, fries, coleslaw, mac and cheese, corn bread, and beers we were all satisfied and stuffed at the end of the meal. Even though we went on a night that was busy, the hostess was able to find us a table and the waitress was extremely friendly. Even with a crowd the food comes out quickly and with good quality. Anytime I want bbq I'll be sure to be back here. read more

BEST BBQ i've had in a while since texas. i've been to a few in MA but this by far is my favorite.My friend recommended me this place. My one drink had my buzzing and did its job. and perfect for continuing the night at the burren right after. read more

Redbones BBQ - Sliced Beef Brisket Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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It's ok BBQ for Boston. That said, i make better bbq at home. Brisket was dry, and lacked flavor. Not sure what wood they used but it tasted like brushfire. Sauce was runny. Bbq beans had a distinct vinegar taste and were runny. On the positive side, their house IPA is pretty good. read more

Redbones BBQ - Brisket sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I recently visited and sat outside which was nice but was a little disappointed by the portions. I was expecting slightly more food although we left quite full so I can't fully complain there. The service was a bit slow for the amount of people there as well. Overall the food was decent and prices were reasonable although I can't say I'll make a point to return. read more

i've lived near Davis Square for three years now and I can't believe I've never been to Redbones before! I went here the other day on Wednesday for lunchtime and I ordered the dinner special. I got the spicy chicken with sides of dirty rice and mashed potatoes! It was extremely delicious and I keep thinking about how delicious this place is. I love spicy chicken and this place doesn't make it too spicy (although I wish that they offered customize spicy options because I want it to be extra spicy). Their dirty rice was also really delicious and I tried my friend's mac & cheese and that was really good too. The service was great we had a waiter who checked in on us and gave us all the support that we needed. I sat outside and the weather was gorgeous outdoors. I highly recommend Redbones barbecue. read more

Redbones BBQ - dinner special - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Ummm this meal was out of this world! It smelled absolutely delicious before I even opened it. I was so hungry after walking for hours, but I could only eat about half and took the rest to go. I'm usually not a fan of restaurant mac n cheese, but this one is so good! Service was very friendly and the establishment has very fun decor. read more

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What I liked: - good food portions served immediately after order is placed. - cheap, craft beer on tap. Multiple IPAs! - loads of seating indoors and outdoors Areas to improve? - service. Seemed to take awhile to get served after taking a seat. read more

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Really authentic BBQ! Great service and food came out very quick! Pricing was on par for quality and quality and will definitely come back when in town. read more

Redbones BBQ - Texas Beef Ribs Dinner - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Time for an update. Full disclosure: I haven't been to the brick and mortar Redbones location since before the pandemic, but my husband went a couple of months ago for lunch with a friend of his. However, just a couple of weeks ago Tom and I were at a party where the hosts had food trucks supplying the dinner. One of the food trucks at this party was from Redbones BBQ so this review is based on my most recent experience with the food from their food truck as well as Tom's report of his recent lunch at the restaurant. Let me start by saying my husband and I love barbecue and years ago, we were regulars at Redbones. Once upon a time one could expect excellent, delicious BBQ, and fabulous side dishes. One would also be assured of a lively and fun time with good service. It was a great hit of Southern fare here in New England. On my husband's recent visit he said the service was unfriendly and abrupt, the portions he said, were shockingly small and the food mediocre at best. Quite surprisingly he said, everything was served in takeout boxes even though he and his friend were dining inside the restaurant. Instead of silverware, Tom told me they are now using plastic utensils. It looks like they are trying to save money by not using dishes or utensils that need washing. But honestly, can you imagine eating BBQ (or anything for that matter) with flimsy plastic utensils? Let's not even get into all the waste of plastic and paper this also engenders. I don't know anyone who likes eating out of a takeout box inside of a restaurant versus off of a china plate, casual BBQ fare included. Tom and his friend said they were also surprised at how few people were in the restaurant. This is a place that was always busy. My husband noted that the prices have increased substantially despite the drastic decrease in quantity and quality and the decline in good service. Tom and his friend were disappointed with every aspect of their lunch experience. Fast forward several weeks and friends of ours had a casual outdoor anniversary party using among other vendors, a Redbones food truck. I opted to try what the Redbones food truck was offering and had the brisket. Unfortunately, the brisket was absolutely drenched in barbecue sauce. The meat seemed a bit dry and perhaps this is why they covered it with so much sauce. But you couldn't really even taste the meat given all the BBQ sauce heaped upon it. Over saucing something does not forgive poor cooking. They were also serving BBQ chicken which I did not try. The cornbread was dry. One of the sides was mac and cheese which was also dry. I tried the collard greens which is normally a vegetable I Iove. The collard greens were too watery and so lacked any depth of flavor. The serving size was about two forkfuls of the watery greens. While it may not be fair to be such a harsh judge of Redbones based on a food truck experience it does seem to go along with Tom and his friend's recent experience and those of other Yelpers who have recently dined there and shared their reviews. This decline is stunning to me given how popular and great this place once was. Redbones used to be a place where you had to wait to get a table on any given night and you didn't mind doing so because it was fun to hang out at the bar while you waited and you knew the end result would be excellent barbecue. It was an incredibly popular and busy place because the food was just that good, the vibe was fun and the service was friendly. This was a go-to place for us on many a Saturday night with friends. We would often bring friends who were visiting from out of town. Fortunately Tom has become an excellent BBQ "pitmaster" in his own right. With his own trusty smoker at home he has become adept at making truly delicious ribs as well as brisket. What is perhaps ironic is that years ago Tom had a long conversation one late night after dinner at Redbones with the chef who generously shared some of his cooking tips with Tom. We have a dearth of great BBQ places in this part of Massachusetts...Blue Ribbon in Arlington comes to mind as a good place to go but it's a bit of a haul for us to get to. Maybe Redbones can turn this around, but I don't think we will bother to go back until we hear otherwise via Yelp reviews. We still have our memories of once upon a time. read more

I just had the most disgusting meal that I felt compelled to review. I was a Redbone regular for years. In college, then as a young professional and then with my young kid. We ate there all the time. Took out of town guests there. There is no love in their food anymore. They took the beloved catfish off the menu. I gave up beef and pork a while back so I opted for the fried chicken which I'm not even sure was chicken. Boneless blobs of lukewarm semi fried. Watery collards. I know it's not made to order but come on, put a little effort in. I'm now sitting here feeling pretty awful. It was never the best, but smoke shop and blue ribbon and even sweet cheeks run circles around this borderline prison food. I will go back to hear my friend's band, but won't eat there again. Sorry Reddy's. You blew it. read more

Some of the best BBQ I've ever had, a classic Davis sq staple and it's been around forever. You are missing out if you pass on this place!

Staff friendly. Good beer draft list. But food was small portions and very dry. Facility looks like it hasn't been updated in many years.

Authentic BBQ at an excellent value in Boston/Cambridge. Home Barbecue with the zing of home made sauces and authentic smoking. Brisket was flavorful and perfectly tender. read more

Redbones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

First of all, the food is incredible! Secondly, the service sucks! Our waiter, a college-aged blond male, kept making sly comments about my eating habits. Get this guy under control!!!!! Hey, Deanna L. from Stowe, VT, you're WRONG!!!! The Mac and cheese from redbones is the best in the nation!!! Kraft could never. Periodt. read more

Redbones BBQ - The Mac and Cheese in question. - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Been going to Redbones for over 10 years, today's visit will be my last. Portions of meats were incredibly small and low quality. Lots of up charges for specific proteins and even for a second flavor of bbq sauce. Service was non-existent, server was too busy playing their phone to even refill my water. RB used to be the best bbq in Boston but those days are over read more

Consistently great! Pecan pie fabulous. Ribs, occasionally dry, but always delicious. French fries fantastic, but wish they had a lower salt option. Beignets always a treat. Is there a trick for warming them up ater delivery while oreserving their lightness? read more

Top notch barbecue reasonably priced in a down-home casual place--don't expect a plate or silverware, and they do a boatload of take out. Service is friendly and attentive and brisk. I'd watch a ballgame in the bar. read more

Redbones BBQ - St. Louis Ribs Dinner - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Got this off Uber eats when I was craving barbecue. For reference im from the south and am used to good pulled pork or bbq in general. Even before taking it out of the bag I knew it would be great due to the smoked smell. Great portion sizes (dinner pulled pork), glad to see collard greens as a side and corn bread of course. Super tender and great flavor, and the sweet sauce is perfect. Will be my new go to bbq place! read more

Redbones BBQ - Pulled Pork Dinner Cornbread & Butter - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I've lived in Somerville most my life and just this past week tried Redbones. I got French fries, ribs and Mac n cheese. The fries were burnt, not sure if this is how they usually are or if it was a one off, they should not have left the kitchen. Ribs had a nice smoke flavor and good flavor overall. They were a bit dry. Mac n cheese was like a slightly elevated Kraft Mac n cheese. It was liquid cheesy and definitely nostalgic. Overall, the food was ok. It will do the trick if you're missing a meat and 3 type of place, but there is room for improvement. I look forward to trying them again! read more

Redbones BBQ - St. Louis style ribs 1/2 rack - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

My wife and I ordered take out on Monday, hoping we would have some leftovers to last us the rest of this week. This assumption was made based on the high price points and descriptions of the menu items we ordered: Double Fried Chicken Breast (2 meat dinner) with sides of Mac & Cheese and Coleslaw totaling $35, and the BBQ Meat Platter with double Mashed Potatoes as sides for $20.75. I added hush puppies, a side of corn bread, and an order of beignets, which brought our total over $100. Our delivery was made in under 40min, but to say we were disappointed with our food is an understatement. The meat we ordered and corn bread tasted fine, but everything else was made from a box (Mac & cheese was straight from Kraft and mashed were made with potato pearls as evidenced by powdered residue left in container when warming food up the day after. Around 10-20 years ago, I used to go to bed bones quite a bit. Mainly to drink in their sweet basement bar. After reading reviews from recent visitors, I am shocked to read about how far from grace this legendary place had fallen. It sounds like they've closed the basement for the foreseeable future and clearly are using new recipes - the end of an era. I will not be returning based on our experience. read more

Redbones BBQ - BBQ Meat Platter with potato pearls and a $2.75 piece of cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I'm kind of embarrassed now. I've been insisting to folks, even Southern folks, that Redbones is really not that bad. That it manages to squeak over the low BBQ bar that Boston has set in the same way that Smokeshop or the like do. But to be honest, last time I went there was a cool underground bar and the BBQ was, I'd even venture to say, good. I don't know what happened between then and now (besides a global pandemic) but this place is...not good. It's not bad, but it's at the level of any pub that decides to randomly add ribs to their menu. This is a BBQ place, they have one job and that's to smoke me some meats. The wings weren't even grilled, they were meager little fried things. Again, not bad, but if I wanted pub food, I'd have gone to a pub. You don't get to do the picnic table and takeout box thing if you're just serving pub food. The service was also kind of awful. It's like they just rounded up a bunch of high school kids and set them to work. Which, come to think of it, might also explain the food. Kind of a shame, I definitely have a memory of this place being worth defending. Now...I guess the Texans win. read more

Ordered here the other day off uber eats. Got the beef ribs with collard greens, Mac and cheese with a side of cornbread and some beef brisket. The ribs and brisket were outstanding. Brisket was a little fatty but what brisket isn't. The Mac and cheese was simply kraft Mac and cheese which was disappointing. The cornbread was moist and fresh. The collard greens were decent but had a sugary sweet taste that wasn't the greatest. I'll definitely order there again and try some different sides. read more

We recently ate here, and I am very disappointed. There was generally courteous and respectful service on the phone and in person. However, the food was disappointing. The sauce they use is far too sweet, and there's far too little of it. The portions overall are generally small, and the meat combination I ordered with pulled pork, burnt ends, and pulled chicken was almost tasteless. The burnt ends did have some flavor. The collard greens were under-salted and underseasoned and had no hint of fat, which adds to the overall flavor. The mac & cheese was in desperate need of salt and pepper and could've used a bit of browning in the oven. The pickles, when hot were delicious, but when cold, you could taste and see the oil. They were fried in oil below the proper temperature. The sides were a joke - about a quarter cup of each of them - so sad. I will not return. read more

Redbones BBQ - Pickles, hush puppies, a pint of greens and mac & cheese, with meat combination two sides and sauce - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Food was great and quick service. Lots to choose on the menu too. Bbq Hash was very good. read more

Redbones BBQ - BBQ Hash Special - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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My wife and I were frequent visitors years ago before moving out of state. Returned this weekend after a long absence. Something wrongly changed. Summary Service. Food served in to-go containers - no plates! Plasticware rather than silverware. Given the small table we had containers stacked all over that made it uncomfortable to eat. Food. Generally smaller portions than before. Boneless "fried chicken" thighs. That's a no-no. They removed the nachos from the menu, which were superb in the old days. Pinto beans floating in broth. Mac-n-cheese that looked from a box (and served in small tupperware). No smoke on the ribs and tasted the dry rub powder (are they even smoking on site?). Mashed potatoes that looked more like apple sauce. Everything that used be normally part of a plate at no charge (beans, slaw, cornbread) is now an additional charged side. Oh, soggy fries. I'm sure it'll continue to have its client base with all the college kids in the area but it's really too bad to see a place we were regulars at take a turn. I guess we will hang on to the memories of what this place once was. read more

I hadn't been here in years and my husband requested we go for his birthday dinner. The food was okay, not nearly as good as remembered. What stood out and really tarnished the experience was the staff. They were ride, only gave attention when flagged down, and practically threw our food at us. And to top it off all food was served in disposable containers with flimsy plastic eating utensils. And cocktails were sickeningly sweet. We will never return! read more

I had the pulled pork sandwich with mac n cheese. I ordered it through GrubHub. The sauce was okay , the meat was good- i would come back if i had a craving, but it's not particularly amazing. What stole the show for me was the mac n cheese. Man that was good! Id definitely come back for that itself. My 5 star basis is a BBQ joint from Austin, TX which is tough to get. I think overall this is a solid BBQ restaurant in Boston. read more

Redbones BBQ - Pulled Pork Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Stopped by this classic Somerville haunt for Oktoberfest outdoor seating on a beautiful Friday afternoon. The team was great and the food delicious. Matt found a great table for our family with our little toddler, and everyone was welcome and well fed. A+ baby back ribs, and liters of German festbeer! read more

I've ordered from this restaurant several times specifically The Dry rub ribs today. I got a delivery and I was disgusted at the meat. I believe, and I am almost definite that the ribs are from the day before. These were not freshly cooked. They was hard around the the edges the way day old meat would look.I did a door dash order when the restaurant first opened? And I guess they figured they can get away with it. Because I wouldn't see the food until it was delivered to me. Had I been in the restaurant? They definitely would not have served this to me. I was highly highly disgusted at the stunt that they pulled in. Doing this. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised because every now and then.A business is always trying to hustle and scam. If I was not working and the weather was so bad. I would have drove over to the restaurant and confronted them with the food and demanded it. Be recooked or replaced with a proper fresh order of ribs. read more

I never thought I'd find legitimate BBQ in Boston... I was wrong. Coming from NC and having had most of the famous BBQ from around the country, the bar has been set high to what I consider to be good BBQ. Redbones offers a wide variety of BBQ styles and sauces that will not appeal to all purists, but I will say it is much better than what I expected from a Boston BBQ joint. The ribs have a nice spice rub on them and are finished in a sticky red BBQ sauce, releasing from the bone with a slight pull of the lips or teeth. The Nashville Hot fried chicken is reminiscent of the famous Nashville joints such as Prince's (R.I.P. due to fire) and Hattie B's. The sides were also various and range from creamy mac n' cheese to perfectly roasted seasonal veggies. There's also the classics of baked beans, potato salad (perfect balance of acid and creamy without tasting over-dressed), braised greens, and of course... russet and/or sweet potato fries. The decor reeks of the shack dives that exist in the most remote parts of the country, but it works for this place. It's crowded, loud, and typically packed during lunch and dinnertime. The staff are friendly but run around at 100mph so you typically have to yell at them in passing to get their attention. It feels like a lot of the places I've had the best BBQ at and Redbones took me right back to those places the moment I walked in despite being on the main drag in Somerville. The best thing that Redbones does is not attempt to mimic a legend but instead create a amalgam of various styles and offer a mix-and-match experience based on what customers are feeling in the mood for. Ribs and chicken (fried, Nashville Hot, smoked???), Smoked Turkey and pulled pork, Ribs and Ribs, BBQ sandwich - you get to choose your own adventure and pair it with two sides. Add a pint (or three) of their expansive beer selection and you have yourself a meal that speaks straight to the Southern boy in me. If you're a purist or have a particular type of BBQ that you hold dear, Redbones is not going to be the best BBQ you've ever had. However, it's great in its own right because I don't have to go to three different geographical locations to get passable versions of classic BBQ from Nashville, Kansas City, Texas, or Memphis (there are no N./S. Carolina versions served here). It delivers great food at a pretty reasonable cost for what you get. I want to come back and try the pulled pork to really stack it up against some of the greats I've had, but that will have to wait. For now, I still think about the Hot Chicken and those sticky ribs every time I pass a restaurant and smell wood burning. read more

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Food good. Service bad. The cardboard carton for plates/trays sucks. Food still trumps it all - so 4 stars read more

It is so sad, what has happened to this place. Went in today for the first time in years with my young kids, and was stunned. A once proud Somerville institution, and there was literally ONE other couple there at noon on a Saturday. You used to be guaranteed a wait during lunch hour. Not anymore, and I can tell why: Poor service. Overcooked food. Food served in paper to go boxes with plastic utensils. I couldn't make it through half of what they are now calling "baby back ribs." Burned fries (how do you even do that?). Pepcid appears to help. But what's sadder is that all the charm is gone. The fun servers. The checkered tablecloths. My wife read another review and reminded me about getting your drinks in mason jars. I remember the drink wheel behind the bar. I remember being able to sit at the counter and watch the guys pull the meat out of the oven/smoker (not sure they even smoke the meat here now). That's all gone. I used to come here as a young kid for a treat. Took friends there. My now wife on dates. I have so many fond memories of what this place once was. What's left is what felt like a hospital cafeteria. Overly bright neon lights. Bad music. The patient is dying, and no one seems to care. It's telling that the "owner" hansn't claimed this Yelp page. I would just say to that person: why prolong the agony? Put what's left of RedBones BBQ out of its misery. I'll look back fondly on when my buddy ate the "barbecue belt" and the buffalo shrimp/baby back combo of my childhood. read more

It's sad to see what has happened to Redbones - I've been coming here for 20 + years but this is my first time since before the Pandemic. They've completely stripped the soul out of the restaurant to the point where you feel like you're sitting in the middle of a ghost kitchen. Music more appropriate for the kitchen blasts throughout the whole restaurant, there's no true hostess nor waitstaff, just mere functionaries who squeeze in your order between fulfilling take out orders, and gone are both the checkered tablecloths and mason jar mugs of lemonade that gave the place such a unique, Southernesque feel. The food is now meh - pulled pork and brisket were dry - but biscuits and cornbread still remained strong. Unfortunately I don't think I nor my family will be coming back here again. Sad to see what has happened to Redbones, it does not feel like the dine-in experience is at all valued here by ownership anymore. read more