I was craving BBQ so popped by The Smokeshop Shop in Harvard Square. This is a fun location with lots of local businesses around. I sat by the window and it was nice people watching and enjoying some BBQ after work! I got the Pit Boss and selected three different meats. I got the Pulled Chicken, Brisket, and ribs. The brisket was my favorite. They have their own bbq sauces to choose from. It also comes with three different sides. The Mac N Cheese and cornbread was my favorite side. I wish the ribs were better, they had potential but were dry and tough. read more

See all

Absolutely delicious delicious food and drinks. I may be dreaming about this food forever. Knocked off a star for service which OK to be honest, I felt like none of the workers wanted to be there. They also gave us the check while we were still in the middle of eating, which is never good. read more

The Smoke Shop- Harvard Square - Mac and cheese Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Service: I've been to this restaurant before but at a different location, and my first experience wasn't the best. The owner actually reached out and chatted with me afterward, which I really appreciated. This location, though, is a 10/10. The service was super friendly even though they were closing in about an hour. Our waitress was kind, attentive, and never made us feel rushed. Ambiance: Spacious dining area with plenty of room--tables, chairs, and comfortable booths. It has a relaxed, welcoming vibe. Food: The buffalo ribs are to die for--like, I could genuinely eat them every day. I got two orders because they're that good. The burnt ends were flavorful; I personally like mine a little more charred, but that's something I could've easily asked for. The Brussels sprouts were amazing (I love Brussels sprouts and these did not disappoint). The wedge salad was solid, the cornbread was delicious with the melted butter on top, and the spring rolls were tasty as well. This time I ordered all appetizers and left full and completely satisfied. I'll definitely be back--especially for those mouthwatering ribs! read more

See all

If you have tried Brisket in Texas, this restaurant will not live up to that standards. What I like about this place is they have outdoor seating and extremely friendly staffs. read more

The Smoke Shop- Harvard Square - Barbeque Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We were craving some barbecue so ended up at the Smoke Shop on a Sunday night. We were seated quickly and I really dug their style with the meat cleaver light fixtures and their logo that has a pig embedded into a flame! I got their wings and my husband got a pulled pork sandwich. Our food came quickly and was solid. As my sides I got the cucumber salad and the cornbread which were good but the pickles actually were the star of my plate! It was a nice dinner and helped satisfy our bbq craving. read more

The Smoke Shop- Harvard Square - Wing bbq plate with cucumber salad and cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Right off Harvard , while it's a small chain it has a local joint vibe . Buffalo chicken wings are outstanding with a smoky kick making them lil unique . Bbq isn't overcooked and quite juicy. Spicy Bbq sauce is good addition to the delicious bbq . Don't skip the Mac and cheese . Try this place , You will be pleasantly surprised. read more

See all

Great spot for barbecue in Boston. They've got the classics, alongside some unique meats, such as Pork Belly Burnt Ends, to choose from. Their sides are also pretty tasty, and they've got lots of choices. When we went, it was nearly empty inside, so the ambiance was pleasant and service was timely. They've got both indoor and outdoor seating options. Would definitely recommend for the meat eater. read more

See all

Great BBQ and an amazing whiskey menu! Always a stop for me when I come to town. Service is good and the ambiance is just right. read more

See all

Stopped here for lunch during a visit to Harvard University. Waitstaff was friendly and helpful. The food was delicious and plentiful and very tasty. Nice selection of whiskies and bourbons to choose from. read more

" I love me some grilled meat " The grilled meat here is really good . The sides if you get them are amazing. Good flavoring on the meats . Good options for variety as well . The service is good and friendly staff . They make the vibe welcoming. I definitely will be back , yum ! read more

Ladies and Gentleman, I would like to kindly announce that this may be my new all time favorite restaurant in Harvard Square. WOW. This is finger-licking good stuff... great BBQ! The service here is super personable, we had a great time! My girlfriend and I stopped here for dinner on a Thursday and were thoroughly impressed. We are both fans of smoky flavor, so this was perfect. We ordered the Pit Boss combo (platter) to share, it was the perfect size and so delicious. It came with a choice of three meats and three sides-- for our meats we got the brisket, famous St. Louis ribs, and chicken wings. For our sides we got the pimento mac & cheese, zucchini salad, and Texas toast. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!! The meats were so smoky and tender, cooked well. My favorite was definitely the brisket-- it was the best brisket I have ever had. I also really enjoyed the STL ribs-- a classic, you can't go wrong. The wings were great too! I liked the mixture of drums and flats. I wish they had a choice of sauce to go with though. The sides also did not disappoint! We really enjoyed the Texas toast, the garlic butter was FANTASTIC. The pimento mac & cheese was also great, awesome with breadcrumbs, though I would've liked a stronger pimento cheese flavor. And the zucchini salad was pretty good as well. Paired this with some pickled jalapeños, onions, watermelon, and sweet pickles-- can't go wrong at all!!! We were so full and happy! WE WILL BE BACK VERY SOON! read more

The Smoke Shop- Harvard Square - Pit Boss: Brisket, St. Louis Ribs, Chicken Wings, Pimento M&C, Zucchini Salad, Texas Toast. - Barbeque Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

It is located on a side street. It is well worth the effort of hunting down this place. This place hit the spot. Who would have imagined I could find bbq right in Harvard Square. I sat down and the waiter brought me right over water and silverware. He explained the different types of bbq sauce. As if the meat needed it. I had the pit crew; a choice of two meats. In this case it was burnt end and brisket with two side of which I had Cole slaw and macaroni and cheese. of course the sides stoll the show. These places may specialize in barbecue but their sides are delicious. The meat was some of the best that I have ever had. There was just right amount to tame my hunger. The prices were reasonable for bbq I am sure was labor intensive. I paid 27.00 for the combination plate. No complaints here. I would definitely return. read more

Food was delicious ! Spicy sausage on point!! Burnt ends mwuah! Chicken sliders tender juicy!! Ribs beautifully done and absolutely tender flavorful!! Only downside , potato salad wasn't appetizing and cornbread delicious yet very small portion considering how cheap cornbread is to make you'd think you'd get 2 pieces. Overall quality was superb!!!! read more

Came here for dinner a couple nights ago, we were walking around Harvard Square and decided to follow our noses to this place when looking for a place to eat. We snagged a table outside, classic picnic table style tables. Dinner plates here are very generous! I ordered the half rack of ribs, cornbread, collard greens and watermelon. Pretty decent barbecue, sides were good too, though I wish they had a little more spice to them. All in all good dining experience and service. read more

See all

Very good experience with a group of friends here. The chicken wings (wasn't pictured here) were very flavorful. The spicy version was a bit of a challenge for some of my friends, but I found it delicious. The meat was tender, especially the beef brisket. Service was great too, they checked on us frequently to add water. read more

See all

The bartender was a bit questionable. I ordered an Old Fashion. My drink was served in a noticeable dirty glass. Management should ensure staff are working in a sober environment. At least the food is still good. read more

Instead of being a maverick, it is sometimes well advised to just heed the advice of fellow foodies in certain areas of cuisine ESPECIALLY if they are absolute fanatics about it. Here, I was warned early during my move here that most - if not all - BBQ spots in the immediate area would be a letdown. It wasn't a case that they weren't good...but they were now missing an element of consistency of what made them once great. I obviously did not heed that advice and followed the other rule of thumb when it comes to BBQ. That is, be there when they first open as that is when the ingredients are often just off the smoke process and resting prior to being served. This way...nothing stays in hot hold for too long (or whatever holding process they choose to follow) that results in the meats drying out. So I placed an online order right before they opened thinking this would indeed be the case...and was absolutely wrong. I wouldn't dare say in the moment that I was served a reheat but it might as well be. Ribs were dry, brisket was really dry, and the pulled chicken was only edible after drowning it with the provided sauce. That in itself proved my fellow foodie right and I didn't want to tell him what had transpired to avoid the "I *told* you so". I am going to just guess that it was an off day. Everyone has one for all possible reasons. I'm going to sit this one out for a while and try again another time. In the meanwhile, I'll keep my hopes up that my fellow friend can be proven wrong by what this area has to offer. read more

The Smoke Shop- Harvard Square - Pit Boss - Barbeque Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Very small portions for the price! Especially the salads - there was such a tiny amount of chicken on top and the salad itself was small to begin with. One of our kids menu desserts was also missing. The quality of the food was good but we got takeout for a birthday and were underwhelmed with what we got for the price. read more

I recently spent a month in France, and this was my first meal back. Was an absolute experience and I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. I got a plate with smoked turkey, mac n cheese, and collard greens, alongside some wings. Everything was fantastic, and then include some free picked veggies and a slice of watermelon. The small details like that, and the wide variety of free sauces, made this meal damn near euphoric. Great service too! I don't write reviews often but thought this one deserved it. 10/10 will be coming back. read more

The Smoke Shop- Harvard Square - Barbeque Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Overall extremely mid. The barbecue sauce on the burnt ends was the texture of my 17-year-old dog's butt jelly, but the flavor was passable, even if a bit on the sweet and peppery side. Meat could have had a little more infused fattiness and was kind of stiff. Cornbread had a simplistic flavor profile of essentially just sugar. Fries sort of balanced everything out and masked the texture of the barbecue sauce when dipped in it. read more

Was so excited that they brought back the collard greens I just had to order. There is something different about the Smoke Shop, and I'm not feeling it. It used to be my favorite place to eat in Boston. I would bring every date there, my friends, my family. I had a whole neighborhood hooked on their burnt ends like I was making illegal deals. Then they got rid of the collard greens, and the burnt ends weren't the same. Now burnt ends still not the same, and collard greens are not as delsish, and what the heck have they put in the beans? It's crunchy. I couldn't tell what it was, but it was like green pepper almost. Don't let me change your mind, tho. The food is still good. It's just not how it was a few years ago. Bring those chefs back, and let's have all the kitchens mirror each other so it's the same no matter which one you go to. Still the best BBQ out here. read more

The Smoke Shop- Harvard Square - Barbeque Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Have eaten takeout from here three times in the last month. Really great BBQ! Better to much better than the other local options, imo. My favorite is the brisket, but the burnt ends and pork are great too, as are the ribs. I'm also a fan of the cornbread and the terrific brussel sprouts. They also have smaller-sized sandwiches/kid's meals--like brisket on texas toast--that are perfect for lunch. read more

TLDR: solid BBQ. Reasonable for Cambridge prices, it's always nice to have more options. read more

Terrible Yelp/Grub hub service. No updates were provided. The delivery was left outside without my knowledge. 15 minutes on the phone, six of those on hold. A terrible Yelp/ GrubHub experience and they refused to credit the service fee and driver tip. read more

I was in area and needed a Mr. Bartyls burger or barbecue. Bartyls was closed; so here we are at Smokeshop. I ordered the 3 meat combo expecting the extra leftovers to be a sandwich for lunch the next day. Nice restaurant . If looking for whisky, entire menu just for whiskey drinks. The combo ordered was ribs, smoked turkey, brisket, brussel sprouts, Mac and cheese, beans. Came with 2 small slices watermelon which was a good taste bud washer at the end. Ribs excellent, brisket very good, turkey was tender, moist good but not much smoke flavors Brussels perfect cook and taste... needed more of them Mac and cheese good .. I needed the cork screw noodles and heavier cheese like I ate at Fireflies in Marlborough. Beans excellent... Had a fiddler VT IPA . Meal excellent , service was good and then never saw anyone at end ? The stair carpet or covering on stairs down to restrooms and back up to restaurant needs replacing as dirty appearance. read more

See all

We arranged a casual graduation party here last month and were thrilled with everything. It was the best barbecue food we have ever had. The chicken, the brisket, the coleslaw, and the cornbread were our favorites. Fantastic, accommodating, and friendly service. We were and are very grateful. read more

The Smoke Shop- Harvard Square - We were so busy eating the delicious food that I neglected to take a photo of any of it. Here is an image from outside. - Barbeque Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Yummy food! brisket is good and so are French fries. Best brisket outside of Texas that I've had.

I have gotten take out a few times from the smoke shop. The food arrives very well packaged . I got the wings which i though were super flavorful but i wish they had been cooked a bit more the skin was flabby. On to the ribs i got two ribs and they were great. The meat was tender, and the sauce was flavorful. I have also gotten the smoked turkey, the brisket and the brisket sandwich. The turkey is very good. But the brisket is wow good. the meat was tender and just perfect. lastly i got the crack which is the butter cake edges, and it is a good name it is addictive read more

Excellent guys. Extraordinary service. Cosy ambiance. The Smoke Shop is trully recommendable!

Ordered via door dash which I know is expensive but $90 for 2 items I expect the food to be good. Ordered the pit boss which I typically have leftovers with. The portions were much smaller. Not worth the $38 price! Also the meat for the burnt ends was old and dry. Whoever prep the order tried to cover this up with too much sauce. Disappointing because this was my favorite local barbecue spot. Will now think twice before ordering from there again. read more

Food was delicious for delivery. Service was prompt/early Ambiance was self created at home! read more

I take my BBQ super seriously. I was SO impressed here. My girlfriend and I made a reservation, however you'll be fine if you don't make one. Not only was the food out of this world, it was served wayyyy quicker than I thought. Our waiter was fantastic, offering great insight, advice, and humor for our first time here. We opted for the three meats and three sides combo, and we had a lot of trouble picking what components would make that up. You seriously cannot go wrong here. We ended up going with the brisket, ribs, wings, zucchini salad, texas toast, and mac and cheese. We thought wrong when we predicted having leftovers! We loved every aspect of this meal, including the wide variety of sauces that complemented everything. I would mention a more specific aspect of the meal that was particularly delicious, but I had way too much trouble picking a favorite. We will 100000% be back and I can't wait to take friends and family here! read more

The Smoke Shop- Harvard Square - Texas Toast, Wings, Ribs, Zucchini Salad, Pimento Mac & Cheese, Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ribs had a very nice glaze but were a bit dry and firm, I think I prefer a juicier, softer style of preparation, like Twin Anchors in Chicago. Brisket was also not as tender as I hoped, even after I requested fatty. The beef rib (Friday special) was very good. Fries crispy. read more

We love this place! the food is always consistently good, service and staff are great, place has a nice vibe!!! only side comment is the carpeting in the hall and stairs to bathroom need an upgrade - has a musty smell.... but the bathrooms are always nice + clean! read more

Love this place. Inside is beautiful. The food is delicious and the online orders take less than 20 minutes. The staff are all nice and friendly. Very welcoming The food is worth every penny. This is my second time having this ultimate fried fish. Honorable mention to anyone who is into spicy foods The Clucking Hot chicken sliders.......are exactly that. I got through the first one and struggled with the second one. Anyone looking for a challenge should try. Back to the food. Yes the 1/2 sour pickles are exactly that. read more

See all

We stopped in here for lunch today. Hubby got a beer & I got a backyard luau which was very good. Food was very good as well - BBQ peanuts were spicy! BBQ pulled chicken, Nashville Hot Chicken sliders, etc. Service was good as well. Would def stop in if ever in Cambridge again. read more

See all

The Smokehouse in Harvard Square is worth the trip!!! The food is always perfect and the service is timely and they are constantly checking in to make sure all is good! I would try a little bit of everything to get a real feel of the food. The ribs, brisket and fish sandwich are our dishes we constantly get with the best sides/ hard to choose. Cornbread, coleslaw, beans, mashed potatoes... all delicious!!! Our server Emily was so attentive and truly cared we were happy! A must to visit!! It was calm and had super comfortable booths with a tv to watch sports at the bar if wanted. read more

Have been to the Kendall Square location a few times but this location at Harvard Square is relatively new. Staff are really nice and friendly and the place is clean! I got the fried fish entree which came with two sides (Brussels sprouts and Mac and cheese. Everything was tasty but the fish was slightly over cooked and a little dry, and the brussels were oily! If you're looking for some comfort food in a casual setting, this is the place to go! PS there are options for vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians at this BBQ joint! read more

The Smoke Shop- Harvard Square - Barbeque Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This is hospitality. Great service and food in a comfortable environment. My kids even noted how great our server was. Good value for kids meals too!! read more

They're fantastic with allergies ( have a specific allergen menu, will immediately check with the chef) , the food is great ( like how is a gluten free fish and chips one of the best I've had? ) I came back a week after having it because I loved the flourless clam style fry that was seasoned perfectly and a beautifully lemony tartar to boot , and the service is kind, attentive and friendly. read more