For a state that is notorious for it's seafood, it took a lot for me to venture to a BBQ spot deep into the Northeast. I was pleasantly surprised to find this spot to my liking. I sat at the bar. I tend to do this when I eat alone. For some reason, the bar just didn't feel that cozy. The seats weren't all that comfortable and there didn't seem to be that much countertop space at the downstairs bar. The pulled pork and beef brisket were moist and were served atop a slice of cornbread that was awesome. I really enjoyed the house barbeque sauce they had. While there was only one style to choose from, I thought it was really good. I ordered the beans and rice as sides. I thought the rice was overcooked, but the beans were delicious and had a nice sauce as well. The double combo platter serves up enough food to make the biggest of eaters full. I wish Riverfront the best moving forward and I'd recommend anyone in the area to check out a great local spot. read more

Fabulous lunch. The brisket was very tasty, very smoky. Maybe the best corn bread I've ever had. Very fresh coleslaw, not over-mayoed. Excellent, friendly, attentive service. read more

Great selection and very fresh! Fish tacos were outstanding as was the bbq pork sandwich. First time I've had an Arnold Palmer where the lemonade was freshly squeezed right in front of us (we sat at the bar) We are on a road trip and wanted a real meal not fast food and we were not disappointed! read more

The pulled port was well made - but it was such a small portion, that it did not even cover the bun. The french fries were well seasoned. The service was great. Two stars as the BBQ sauce was terrible. If I went back, I would bring my own sauce. read more

Great central Maine BBQ joint in a state that has a paucity of 'que options. My brisket was tender, flavorful (with just the right amount of smokiness) and the Riverfront's sauce they use gives all of their meats a nice kick. This particular dish is served on their grilled cornbread, which is a treat if you haven't had it before. The side I opted for was their cole slaw, which is the shredded (vs. chopped) variety that I like. There was a bit of vinegary-ness evident, but not overdone. A really nice treatment of a dish that so many places do poorly--fortunately, the Riverfront knows what makes for a good cole slaw, which is a great side for barbeque, btw. Nice selection of beers on tap, including Pemaquid Ale, from Sheepscot Valley Brewing, which isn't available everywhere. If you like Scottish ales (which I decided to have in honor of the valiant efforts across the pond, where the good people of Scotland rallied to free themselves from English rule and came up just short), which I do, then Pemaquid is a great, full-bodied ale. If you are passing through Augusta, jump off the interstate and head for downtown for some quality barbeque and one of our capital city's better eateries. read more

Delicious pulled pork sandwich-succulent and just the right the seasoning. Get your key lime pie (yummy) early because they run out. Comfortable laid back atmosphere with friendly attentive service. Good value for a great meal! read more

Riverfront Barbeque & Grille - Delicious secret, no label BBQ sauce - Barbeque Near Me - Augusta, Maine

We come here whenever we're in Augusta at dinner time, which works out to be once every year or so (on the way to/from mother-in-law's on the coast). It's always a little bit sleepy (which goes for all of this part of Augusta after 5pm), but the food and the atmosphere are always wonderful. I love the ribs, and the beans, which are tender and flavorful and a little bit sweet, and the jalapeno cornbread, which has a nice bite. The brisket and the pulled pork are juicy and delicious and wonderfully cooked. They have a great selection of local (and non-local) beers on tap, and the hot sauce selection (15+) is fun to browse and sample. Please come here whenever you can whenever you're in Augusta. It's almost always empty, but the food is always stellar, and a place like this must be supported. read more

Friendly greeting. Ready to chat and help you pick a drink and even recomended a drink, a Russian blueberry lemonade....it was AMAZING, woulda kept drinking if we didnt have a long drive home. Pickled onion rings were really good as well. Portions were good. Seasoning on the fries was nice. Service was promt and never left a cup empty. Overall we loved it here and will definately return. read more

I'm not going to lye the mac and cheese is to die for but u got to make the home style Mac and cheese I was very impressed and it was baked

Dinner was excellent and was served fast. Maybe 15 minuets to be served. I had the special Texas brisket, my daughter had the sausage and Mac and my wife had pulled BBQ chicken and corn bread. We all thought it was excellent. Jennifer was excellent as a waitress and gave us just the correct amount of attention. Huge portion sizes and a nice atmosphere. An excellent place to go and I highly recommend it. read more

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After a long journey from New Hampshire to Vermont we landed in Maine to see our last capital in the New England area. It was late and my inner Texan said BBQ? BBQ?!! In main, lets see what they got here. The parking is difficult yet since it was so late we found a place to park in front of the restaurant. The waitress was courteous and effective. We entered and the kids had their regular order of hot dog and chicken tenders. Very good portions for a kids meal. I had the half rack of pork ribs with a side of beef while honey had the pasta. Pasta was ok. The ribs had an extremely delightful taste of their rub and slight smoke taste. The beef was dry and my inner Texan said, "yup thought so." I was amazed at the pork ribs so that is a must taste. You can order the meat as a meal or a la carte. The price was $71 so a bit pricey. I wouldn't make this a top visit yet a visit would be a good idea. read more

My friends and I found it welcoming with a great beer selection, along with an excellent gluten free beer. Food was really good as well, from smoked sausage, crab cakes and other smoke meats. read more

I am really pleasantly surprised. I have had ribs from Texas Memphis KC etc etc. These ribs were as good as any I have had. Sides were good, pickled onion rings were wonderful and not greasy. I will definitely come back again . read more

A very pleasant surprise- good barbecue in Augusta, Maine. The barbecue was very good. It wasn't over-sauced, which is a great thing. The chicken, brisket, sausage and ribs were excellent. The beans were tasty. The coleslaw was good, not too much mayo. There were some excellent beers on tap. I will definitely return, next time I am in the area. read more

Ahh I must say the pulled pork sandwich was delicious...will be back to riverfront bbq to try chicken .

I won't pretend to be an expert on BBQ, but we did eat a lot of it in Virginia, NC, SC, TN when we lived down there. That said, I was excited when we walked in the door. AWESOME smell of wood from the smoker that is clearly in the kitchen to permeate the dining room. Nice touch. Food: Had an appy of hush puppies. These should have a nice crunch on the outside and they were a little on the mushy side. The bourbon mustard sauce had an overwhelming yellow mustard taste. Tried the BBQ sauce on the table. Then ate them w/o a topping. Wife had Ribs which was VERY good. Nice smoke ring, amazing flavor. I had pork and brisket combo. Realized that I am not a brisket fan...or atleast, a fan of the brisket here. Why was it shredded? Why not stick with slices? Cornbread is VERY VERY good. Beans, slaw were forgettable but the fries must have dry rub on them and were very good. Only complaint was that they put some of their BBQ sauce on the meat. Wife called that stuff salsa. Not worth the calories. All of the meat had a great smoke flavor, so it wasn't needed. Service: Prompt service, no complaints there. Verdict: Probably not a repeatable offense. Only item deserving of an encore would be the ribs which were excellent! read more

My wife and I had dinner at Riverfront BBQ at the end of February. We both ordered entrees and I ordered a glass of wine. Paid the bill and left. When we got home I realized that I had been charged for a bottle of wine instead of a glass. It was after 9pm and I had the next day off and decided I would just stop by there to get it fixed. I arrived just after they opened and spoke to a manager named Joselyn. She said that it would be no problem, that she had to call the credit processing company and could I wait. I said yes, but she was on hold for a while and asked if she could charge me for the correct amount and she would take care of the refund and I didn't need to stick around. I said that was fine, but could she email me a receipt. She said yes. She emailed me a receipt for the refund not long after I left, so I thought I was all set. A week goes by, I don't see a refund in my bank account. Almost two weeks go by and I still don't see a refund. I contact my bank - they have no pending transactions for the refund amount (which, p.s. is $85). Long story short...I have been back to the restaurant twice in the last week and a half and called the restaurant twice, all four times being told that I will receive a call back and I've gotten nothing. So, I reach out via email yto Joselyn, responding to the receipt she emailed me and I emailed the general contact on the website. I get an email back from someone named Patrick asking me to call his cell. I call his cell today just after 12pm, left a voicemail telling him to either call me back or email me, and that I prefer an email because I want something in writing detailing their solution to my problem. I also forwarded the refund receipt to him along with the email I sent to Joselyn. I just tried his number again, no answer. We had dinner there over three weeks ago and I still don't have my refund. I also have had zero explanation or contact from anyone around what the problem is and how it will be fixed. So basically, this restaurant has stolen $85 from me. I've been charged nearly $150 dollars for what was a $50 meal plus the $10 I tipped. I am frustrated and I want my money back. It's also terrible customer service to be told four times that you'll get a call from someone and have no one reach out. Update: Nearly a month after the date of the "refund" transaction I went in again (for a third time) and was written a check for the amount I was originally charged. read more

Tried this restaurant for the first time yesterday. Arrived at the awkward 4:00 hour because that's what fit our schedule. We were promptly seated and our server arrived in good time to take our orders. My husband ordered a beer and I had the house red sangria, both were tasty. My husband ordered a half rack of St Louis ribs from the appetizer order and I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with the cornbread on the side. My husband said his ribs were pretty good, my pulled pork looked off putting when it arrived (a thin layer of dark, oily chopped meat spread on the platter resembling an oddly colored pate) and was so over salted with some rub that it was inedible. The server offered to bring another plate which arrived looking more like pulled pork and without the seasoning. The server even commented that the unseasoned pork looked more appealing. Overall our experience was just "meh". The fries with my sandwich were over seasoned but not as severely as the pork. We were seated at a table facing the street and the wall I was facing was dingy with black spots and nails sticking out. Another unappealing distraction we're the numerous flies on when window ledge and circling our food. Maybe we just had a bad experience but I don't think I would recommend this one to my friends. read more

This is an interesting place. On business from NC, I have some idea of what Barbeque should be. I got the crab 'n slab. The crab was a fried patty of crab meat about the size of a burger, placed unceremoniously on top of the rest of the dish. Tasted ok, but I expected more. The beans I thought were about as bland as they possibly could be. The corn bread was awesome. Worth eating at this place just for the corn bread! The slaw was good, average, I guess. The ribs were great! Made up for other deficiencies on the plate. Decent sized platter, filled me up. I was by myself. Quick service. I think it was a Monday or Tuesday night so not a lot of action but there was a steady stream of people. I enjoyed my meal. Recommended. read more

Nice restaurant located historic Water Street in downtown Augusta. First time here and sat downstairs. The sauce was a little boring though, and not enough smoke on the shredded pulled pork and brisket so it did not taste (good quality). The pork had a dry rub but was fatty. The jambalaya was very good read more

Need BBQ tonight and got it! Pick 2 platter with pork and beef along with jalapeño cornbread. It was very good and what I expected. read more

Wow, what an awesome lunch stop. Dropped in on our way through town, and enjoyed a delicious pulled pork sandwich. Our party also had the fish salad, and the brisket sandwich. Additionally, don't miss the sweet potato pie, it's divine. read more

Great staff. Lots of tasty choices. Open area - street views. Clean environment. Rotating selection of local brews

Austere and laid back cool vibe. Excellent Bbq and welcoming staff. You know they got it when the waitress, the lovely Asia, confidently asks, "Was everything great?" read more

My girlfriend and I stopped in here earlier this evening to get a quick bite to eat. I did some research on yelp before we came and a lot of people seemed to like it. So we went in and had a great experience. She had the crab cake sandwich and I had the half rack of ribs. The crab cake sandwich was beyond amazing and the ribs were pretty good as well! Great atmosphere all around. The ribs to me personally seemed kinda dry and lacked sauce. The sauce at the table worked but it wasn't anything too spectacular. Definitely recommend it and would come back again in the future. read more

We enjoyed a great meal and top notch customer service on May 29, 2021. Our friend had the special and it was fantastic. I loved the corn bread, cole slaw, and the sweet potato fries were the BEST anywhere. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable and really did a great job. The creamy potato bacon cheesy (I can't remember what it was called) soup was delicious. The dry ribs my husband ordered were cooked perfectly and I enjoyed the smoky flavor. For me, the great service stood out. I think his name was Paul and he knew the food they offered and his manner was professional and friendly. read more

OK, this is central Maine, and great BBQ is far, far away. That said, Riverfront was a nice surprise. The room is well set up and nicely decorated, not too busy nor aggressively minimalist. The hostess greeted us at the door and the waitstaff were outstanding, neither absent or obtrusive. We were there for an early dinner on a Monday night. Drinks were served promptly. Lots of tempting items on the menu, but we were sort of eating light. My spouse ordered the fish tacos and I went for a half slab of ribs, fries, and slaw. The tacos were outstanding, fresh and well prepared. The ribs had the stuff of greatness had they been right off the smoker. On a Monday afternoon that didn't happen. The rub was good and plenty of meat. The house sauce is nothing special and worked better on the fries than the meat. The fries, on the other hand, were superlative! Perfectly cooked shoestrings dusted with seasoning that had a crunch on the outside and creamy spudness within. Coleslaw was bright and noticeably different than the usual food service product, a good thing. We were impressed enough that we will be back and plan on working our way through the brisket, pulled pork, and the appetizers. read more

Riverfront Barbeque & Grille - Barbeque Near Me - Augusta, Maine

Stopped here and was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is a little on the dive side and sticky tables but if you get past that, the food is decent. I had pulled pork sandwich which was really good and my husband got the brisket sandwich. He said it was good but he prefers burnt ends. If you are in tbe area, try it. read more

Best bbq north of the South! Grew up eating Kansas City BBQue in Midwest then lived in Jax Florida for 20 years.......I know BBQ! This place is amazing and a great atmosphere. All the sides were amazing. Can't recommend high enough. Will be back very soon! read more

Really average food. The burger was well done (they insist on cooking at least to medium well for some reason). The fries were thin, salty, and mediocre. The service was actually really good though, very friendly and accommodating. read more

The food here is off the chain. Absolutely the best BBQ I've had in Maine so far. It's quaint interior and helpful and courteous wait staff make it even more appealing. You will not be disappointed. Oh and try their pickled onion rings.....they are insanely Good! read more

Step away from the big box restaurant chains. You'll be happy you did. This independently-owned restaurant offers a bit of the blues and a taste of Memphis in Central Maine. The food is good, although I can offer nothing on authenticity. The dining room can be a little noisy with the tin ceilings but it seems a fair trade. The owner is frequently on the premises and has been known to ask diners how we like our meals. That beats the chains any day of the week. read more

In our way back from Bar harbor we want to stop in Augusta for an non seafood restaurant, we search in Yelp and found this choice. Service was great... food was not as good as I thought. We order beef brisket, chicken and pork pulled. It was a dry choice, you have the option in adding. More BBQ sauce(restaurant recipe) but still the flavor for smoking BBQ wasn't not there. Not for us.. the service was great. read more

Stoppedin early one Friday after touring Fort Western on the other side of the river. We were five, took a booth in the back of the main dining room. We were waited on by Stephanie, she did a great job, not bothering us, but available anytime we needed her. Food was good, not great, I had the Jambalaya, my wife had the rack of ribs. Jalapeño corn bread was delicious, and the Pilsner was delightful. I can't go 5-Stars, just because the food was okay, but a strong 4 Stars for service, friendly, relaxed ambience, and reasonable prices. Will definitely visit again at some point. read more

Best barbeque in the area! Delicious dry rub ribs, nice southern style sides and great atmosphere. Fast and friendly service and great location downtown. If you visit on weekends there is often a performer upstairs. read more

We stopped here for lunch on our way to New Hampshire and were pleasantly surprised. Although the route to get to the restaurant was slightly sketchy, the area where the restaurant sits is historic and quaint. For lunch, my dad got the crab cake appetizer and a cup of the chicken, sausage and rice soup with a slice of cornbread. In my dad's words, the cornbread was "to die for" and the crab cakes were amazing. The sauce for the crab cakes was also out of this world. The soup was also good, but needed some hot sauce. My mom got the Caesar Salad with a side of garlic bread. The garlic bread wasn't anything special, but the salad was. The dressing was a delicious take on traditional Caesar dressing that added some lemon zest, and gave the salad another whole dimension. I got the Pulled Pork Sandwich Plate on a bun with a side of fries and dirty rice. The rice wasn't anything super special, but the fries were cooked golden brown and seasoned perfectly with a semi-spicy Cajun-ish spice. The absolute best part of the meal was by far the pulled pork. The bun was lightly toasted and the BBQ sauce was absolutely incredible. Being from the South, I was hesitant to try Maine BBQ, but I was absolutely pleasantly surprised. Long story short, stop here if you're ever in Augusta, Maine. read more

The food has always been fairly good if a little pricey. However, after a recent experience there we won't be going back any time soon if at all. We arrived before 5pm while still quiet (with the exception of one table of 8 people). We made it very clear to the waitress on arrival that we had a little over 30 mins and knew what we wanted to order (just simple wraps). She takes our order then vanishes for 30 mins. 30 mins later she re-appears to tell us our order is not even prepared yet - at the time we told her we needed to leave. 20 mins after this the food arives. The food for the person who had to leave was boxed as there was no time to eat it and she was already late. The apology was at beast reluctant and perfunctory. In this scenario a good eatery/restaurant would have at least comped the sodas. They just didn't care. If the kitchen was running slow we could and should have been informed when we made it very clear how much time we had. To tell us it's not a problem and then 'hide' from us until too late was pretty unforgivable. read more

Friendly service, no wait time, awesome smokey smell that welcomes you in. Vegetarian options as well as fresh squeezed lemonade made for a great visit! read more

You smell this place down the road before you even get there. I was surprised at how nice it is inside; it doesn't scream "BBQ joint" at all. It was hard to choose what to get, since I'm not a BBQ fan, but I ended up getting the double sandwiches: pulled pork and the brisket. I was a little bummed that all their brisket was shredded. The pork was a little dry. Luckily, their house barbecue sauce was on the table (I'm one of those annoying picky people that has to have their sauce just so, so I found it lacking, others may not). My boyfriend made me try the jalapeno cornbread (I don't really care for cornbread, and not at all for jalapenos) and was surprised that it wasn't overpowering. The waitress was friendly and kept our drinks filled without asking, which was a plus. Next time I come, I'm definitely trying the sausage. read more

I was semi-heckled by two men when I entered the restaurant, who also arrived around the same time I did. They might have been drunk, high, mentally-disabled, or just straight creepy- I cannot say for sure. I was able to scoot by and seat myself out of their view. The waitress, I believe her name is Miranda, checked in with me to see if I knew the men and if I was ok. The manager, after a lengthy conversation with the men, proceeded to make sure they left the restaurant. They truly handled the situation in a very poised and professional manner and checked in with me multiple times throughout my meal to make sure everything was still going well. So clearly, I'm a fan of their service. The food! The coleslaw (thinly shredded, not too much mayo) and baked beans (sweet with a subtle spice) were on point. Cornbread was crispy on the edges. Perfect portions. Came out within 10 minutes. Beer ended up being comped. Thank you Riverfront for standing up for me :) read more