PigTrip.net BBQ Reviews - Boston, New York, New England, Long Island and the Hudson Valley

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Put your name & city in subject title, e.g.: John Smith / Boston MA.

In the email include your name, where you live (city/state), age, present occupation, a photo of yourself, CONTACT INFORMATION, about your culinary experience and why you think you would be a good fit for the show. No info is too much. The more info the better.

(05/15/13)

Vermont BBQ: Wicked Awesome BBQ Reviewed

The site's 281st barbecue review continues the Vermont barbecue trilogy with another outdoor venue: Wicked Awesome BBQ (East Thetford VT). Was it wicked or was it awesome? Check out the review via the Reviews page, the link above or the red icons in the Joints directory.

See my review of Wicked Awesome BBQ

(05/13/13)

New York Burgers: Brindle Room Reviewed

Spoiler alert: it's the best burger I've ever had. How's that for getting to the point? So without further ado, let me point you to my burger review for The Brindle Room (NYC).

See my review for the Steak Burger at the Brindle Room

(05/10/13)

Vermont BBQ: Route 4 Country Store Reviewed

It's a return to barbecue, Vermont and the great outdoors with PigTrip's 280th barbecue review. It's for Route 4 Country Store (White River Junction VT). Check out the review via the Reviews page, the link above or the red icons in the Joints directory.

See my review of Route 4 Country Store

(05/08/13)

Massachusetts Burgers: Coney Island Reviewed

It's only been a week since the last one, but here's another burger review, this time at a joint without a James Beard award winning chef. It's for the archaic, iconic Coney Island (Worcester MA), a joint most famous for its hot dogs and throwback vibe.

See my review for the Coney Island Burger

(05/06/13)

Brooklyn BBQ: Mable's Re-reviewed

Time for another barbecue review update, this time for a joint in arguably the best and inarguably the fastest growing barbecue neighborhood in the entire PigTrip directory. Mable's Smokehouse (Brooklyn NY) doesn't get all the hype and accolades that some of the others do, but they've been quietly turning out some fine barbecue for a while now. Check the re-review via the Reviews page, the link above or the red icons in the Joints directory.

See my updated review of Mable's Smokehouse

(05/01/13)

Boston Burgers: The Craigie On Main Burger Reviewed

May is national burger month, so it's time for another burger review, this time in Boston for the nationally recognized and highly respected Craigie On Main (Cambridge MA). To see whether I respected it, dissed it or waffled back and forth trying to have it both ways the way I usually do, check out the review.

See my review for the Craigie On Main Burger

(04/30/13)

Vermont BBQ: Vermont Maple BBQ Reviewed

PigTrip's 279th barbecue review is for Vermont Maple BBQ (Randolph VT), a Thursday-through-Sunday trailer operation setup at a Mobil station just off I-89 exit 4. Check out the review via the Reviews page, the link above or the red icons in the Joints directory.

See my review of Vermont Maple BBQ

(04/24/13)

Boston BBQ: Summer Shack Ribs and More Reviewed

This one's not a full fledged barbecue joint, so I'm not going to increment the review count, but now in the books are my thoughts on the ribs and more at Jasper White's Summer Shack (Dedham MA), the joint with the motto "Food is love."

See my review of Jasper White's Summer Shack

(04/18/13)

Joints Directory Madness

Here's the latest batch of barbecue Joints directory activity, spanning five states. This time there are four new joints, three expansions, four closings (two of which are contractions), one name change, one name correction and two website additions.

NEW JOINTS and/or NEW TO THE DIRECTORY

BBQ Guy Truck (Dover NH) isn't new, but it's new to the directory and kicks off the 2013 season today in the Third Street parking lot. It's lunch-only, operating 10AM to 2PM Thursday through Saturday. Facebook
Tres Carnes (NYC) is a brand new Chelsea "Texican" that offers three meats (chicken, beef, pork) in taco form by pitmaster Mike Rodriguez, formerly of the Salt Lick in Austin. For now I'll think of it as (nearby) Mexicue with a better interior, but I'm hoping it'll turn out to be Mexicue with better 'cue too. www.trescarnes.com

Smokeline (NYC) is the expansion of the Delaney Barbecue empire that already includes BrisketTown (Brooklyn NY). This outpost will feature Central Texas barbecue sandwiches, an "extensive pie program" and a made-to-order soft drink bar. It opens tomorrow. www.delaneybbq.com
Harley's Smokeshack (NYC) now has a Midtown expansion of the East Harlem barbecue joint. www.harleyssmokeshack.org
Canzaciti Roadhouse (Kingston NY) is the first upstate location of the Long Island breastaurant chain that has pulled pork and ribs on the menu. www.canzaciti.com
Route 4 Country Store and Deli (White River Junction VT) is an outdoor smokery near Quechee Gorge. Facebook
Cask 'n Flagon (Boston MA) is the popular Fenway watering hole that's known to anyone who's gone to a Red Sox game, but did you know they just added a pitmaster and a barbecue menu? Thanks to Don for the tip. www.casknflagon.com

CLOSINGS

Ribworks Outpost (Wappingers Falls NY) has closed after realizing that customers wanted the "full Billy Joe's experience" available at flagship Billy Joe's Ribworks in Newburgh. www.ribworks.com
Chester's BBQ (New London CT) apparently has been closed for some time, effectively moving to their second location that remains in Groton. www.chestersbbq.com
Mainely Barbeque (Kittery ME) has closed.
Gerard Farm (Framingham MA) has closed a second time. Thanks to Ling for the info

OTHER CHANGES

Spring Creek Bar-B-Que (Monson ME) now has a website: www.springcreekbar-b-qmaine.com
Maple Tree BBQ (Riverhead NY) is the new name for the Maple Tree Deli, which is now more restaurant and less convenience store. Thanks to Sledneck for the info. www.mapletreebbq.com
Sons of Shephanie's (Norwood MA) is the corrected name (not 'Stephanie's' as I had it) of the tiny Route 1A barbecue and soul joint. Facebook
Johnny's Smokehouse (Pearl River NY) now has a website whose photos, I've just discovered, were all taken by me at their sister restaurant Harley's Smokeshack. www.johnnyssmokehousepr.com

(04/17/13)

Maine Burgers: Elevation Burger Reviewed

Time for another burger review. Hopefully this isn't a trend, but it's for another chain: Elevation Burger (S. Portland ME). Their motto is "Ingredients matter." Nothing's the matter with that, as long as the flavor and texture matter just as much. Did they?

See my review for Elevation Burger

(04/15/13)

Maine BBQ: Sista's BBQ Reviewed

PigTrip's 278th barbecue review is for Sista's BBQ (Brunswick ME), the drive-thru barbecue joint with the cow on the roof. Should you drive through or just keep on driving? Check out the review via the Reviews page, the link above or the red icons in the Joints directory.

See my review of Sista's BBQ

(04/10/13)

Brooklyn BBQ: BrisketTown Reviewed

The site's 277th review is for BrisketTown (Brooklyn NY), the time warp of a joint in Williamsburg that boasts streamlined hours and a streamlined menu. Check out the review via the Reviews page, the link above or the red icons in the Joints directory.

See my review of BrisketTown

(04/05/13)

Massachusetts BBQ: Smokestack Re-reviewed

Time for another barbecue review update, this time for a barbecue joint in New England's second most populous city. Smokestack Urban Barbecue (Worcester MA) is a joint I referred to in my 2010 review as "an otherwise above average restaurant with below average barbecue." How do they stack up now? Check the re-review via the Reviews page, the link above or the red icons in the Joints directory.

See my updated review of Smokestack Urban Barbecue

(04/01/13)

Joints Directory Madness

Here's the latest batch of barbecue Joints directory activity, spanning seven states. This time there are nine new joints, two expansions, one joint back from the dead, just two closings, two name changes, one website addition and one website correction.

NEW JOINTS and/or NEW TO THE DIRECTORY

Cherrywood Kitchen (NYC) is a "rustic" SOHO eatery with an executive chef who's logged time at Jean-Georges and Nobu. The eclectic menu includes caramelized chicken wings, braised bacon soup, smoked asparagus, smoked chicken stuffed with eel and cherrywood smoked ribs with sweet chili glaze. www.cherrywoodkitchen.com

Boondocks Tavern and Country Grill (Weare NH) is an all purpose eatery/drinkery northwest of Manchester and southwest of Concord. Babybacks are listed as "slow smoked" and wings appear to be a focus. Thanks to Joe for the find. www.boondockstavernnh.com
Bobby Q's Pit Stop (Greenwich CT) is a mostly-takeout barbecue and burger joint brought to you by the same ownership as Bobby Q's in Westport and Bar Q in Stamford.
The Chicken Connection (Plaistow NH) is an offshoot of the Harvehill MA original that does an offshoot version of barbecue ribs as a diversion from a menu of mostly chicken. www.thechickenconnection.com
Billy's Southern Style BBQ (based in Bethel CT) is a mobile operation that sets up at farmer's markets and other assorted temporary locations as announced via Facebook. Their concise menu has the usual suspects plus a bacon wrapped pork tenderloin. Thanks to Sledneck for the lead. www.billysq.com
North Country BBQ (Rotterdam NY) is a greater Schenectady barbecue joint that features a beef on weck sandwich in addition to the usual barbecue meats. Thanks again to Sledneck for the lead. Facebook
Towne Tavern (Averill Park NY) is a greater Albany joint with a deep menu featuring barbecue, smoked wings, burgers, a wide variety of sandwiches and seafood. Thanks one more time to Sledneck for the lead. www.thetownetavern.com
Wicked Awesome BBQ (East Thetford VT) is a mobile operation setup at Huggett's Mini Mart on Route 5. Thanks to the owner for contacting me after I'd heard about the operation but was never sure if it was still current. www.wickedawesomebbqco.com
Pig Park BBQ (mobile, Western MA) is a roving operation that's been set up on recent weekends on Route 9 in Ware. http://www.pigparkbbq.com
Cliff's Smokin' Backyard Barbeque (parts unknown) is yet another mobile operation that's been slinging their 'cue lately at the Old Town Tavern in Amherst MA. For changing future locations, check out their Facebook.
Uncle D's Blazin' Q (Norwich CT) is a log cabin trailer with a smoker similar to fellow Connecticut joints Big Country's and Southern Que. I'm excited that their straightforward menu has smoked wings. Facebook.

CLOSINGS

Dickey's BBQ (Portland ME) is closed. Thanks to Brian for the info.
Tired John's BBQ (Lake George NY) has closed. Thanks to Bill for some investigative assistance.

OTHER CHANGES

Alchemy, Texas BBQ (Queens NY) has replaced Ranger Texas BBQ at Legends Bar in Jackson Heights. Taking over the menu is Josh Bowen, who still owns and is still doing duty at John Brown Smokehouse in Long Island City. Facebook
Smokestack Grille (Hampton NH) is the new name for Porkez BBQ. The phone number and website are the same and much of the barbecue menu is still there (beef ribs and brisket have been gutted), so at first glance it seems to be a marketing ploy more than anything else. www.porkezbbq.com
Bayou Smokehouse (Groton CT) is a Cajun style barbecue joint and deli that's recently resurfaced in Connecticut after closing a while back in Westerly RI. Thanks to Sledneck for the lead. Facebook
P+P Soul Food (Brockton MA) now has a website. www.pandpsoulfood.com
Highland BBQ (Northfield MA), which was on track to reopen for the season this week, now has their website properly linked in the directory. www.highlandbbq.com

(03/26/13)

Brooklyn BBQ: Fletcher's Reviewed

The site's 276th review is for Fletcher's Brooklyn Barbecue (Brooklyn NY), the over-the-counter joint in Gowanus helmed by ex-RUB pitman Matt Fisher. Check out the review via the Reviews page, the link above or the red icons in the Joints directory.

See my review of Fletcher's Brooklyn Barbecue

(03/20/13)

Boston Burgers: Shake Shack Boston Opens

Today at 11:00AM marks the opening of Shake Shack Boston. Well, technically, Chestnut Hill, but who's going to argue against free parking? For the uninitiated, here's my Shake Shack preview listing my 6 tips for optimizing your first Shake Shack visit, based on dozens of Shake Shack visits in New York and Connecticut.

click to view larger image

See my 6 tips for optimizing your first Shake Shack visit

(03/15/13)

Boston BBQ: Blue Ribbon Arlington Reviewed

The site's 275th review is for Blue Ribbon (Arlington MA). Haven't I already reviewed Blue Ribbon. Yes, but that was ages ago. Blue Ribbon is still very much a goal for an extensive review update, but I thought a good stopgap measure would be to post a "snapshot" review of the Arlington location and save the "big picture" analysis for down the road. Check out the review via the Reviews page, the link above or the red icons in the Joints directory.