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

The site's 241st barbecue review is for Scratch Kitchen (Salem MA), a mostly-sandwich shop that makes no mention of the word "barbecue" anywhere in its name or its menu. But there's still plenty of draw: smoked wings, smoked brisket, pulled pork, pork belly and the occasional ribs special. Check out the review via the Reviews page, the link above or link to reviews using the red icons in the Joints directory.

See my review of Scratch Kitchen

(01/23/12)

Joints Directory Madness

Here's the latest batch of barbecue Joints directory activity, spanning five states. This time there are eight new joints, one return from the dead, one closing and another probable closing, one name change, two new websites and one disqualification based on menu.

NEW JOINTS and/or NEW TO THE DIRECTORY

Talde (Brooklyn NY) is a Park Slope newcomer that joins the ranks of the Asian/BBQ eateries. The menu has no ribs but is heavy on bacon and shrimp (both smoked), also featuring brisket, pork shoulder, lemongrass chicken, Hawaiian buns, Korean fried chicken and pretzel-pork-and-chive dumplings. Reviews have been positive. Thanks to Tiffani for the lead. www.taldebrooklyn.com
SuzyQue's BBQ & Bar (West Orange NJ) describes its 'cue as "a unique blend of Southern BBQ" that draws "from the flavors of Memphis, St Louis, texas and North Carolina." Okay, so maybe that's not so unique, but they do have a well-rounded menu that features real smoked barbecue, steaks and seafood. www.suzyques.com
Smokehouse Barbecue (Somerville NJ) is a barbecue restaurant that also dabbles in seafood, Italian and burgers.
www.smokehousebbqnj.com
The People's Pint (Greenfield MA) is an environment-conscious, local-conscious, beer-centric hang in the western part of the state that serves beers made in their own brewery. The smoked fare includes wings, a sausage of the day, pulled pork and house-smoked bacon, and there's also a burger whose blend combines bacon and grass-fed beef. Thanks to Mark for the lead. www.thepeoplespint.com
The Mill at 185 (West Boylston MA) is a typical modern American pub food restaurant with a large bar area, an assortment of Italian specialtiers and a Smokehouse menu featuring ribs, pulled pork, Andouille sausage, smoke-baked salmon and smoked prime rib. http://www.themill185.com
Al's Cookout (Brookfield CT) is primarily a wing joint, but they do also offer ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. www.alscookoutct.com
Three Little Pigs (Armonk NY) is an extension of Opus 465 and its barbecue catering operation. Barbecue selections can be picked ip at the parent restaurant or delivered to the door. Thanks to Vinny for the info. www.threelittlepigsofwestchester.com
HanBones BBQ (Hamden CT) is a new over-the-counter joint whose photographed practice runs are looking good. They may be open by now, so into the directory they go. Thanks to Teague for the heads up. Facebook

CLOSINGS

A Taste of Soul (Everett MA) has been closed for at least half a year now.

OTHER CHANGES

The Saw Mill Pizzeria and Smokehouse (Dracut MA) reopened in late 2011 under new ownership. Thanks to Dave for the info. www.sawmillpizzeria.com
Calvin's Royal Rib House (Brooklyn NY) is the new or corrected name for the joint I had listed as Royal Rib House. Thanks to Vinny for the info and for supplying their website. www.calvinsbbqonline.com
G&G's Quick Bite (Dracut MA) was admittedly a stretch as a barbecue joint all along, but a quick visit this weekend revealed they're not even close, so I grayed it out. It's probably just as well, because I probably would have been taking one for the team had I ordered a meal there. www.gandgquickbite.com
Big Paws BBQ (Biddeford ME) hasn't updated their Facebook page (on which would-be customers complained about no-shows) in months, doesn't answer their phone and doesn't return messages, even in summer, so I'm graying this one out as well. Facebook
Kansas City Smokehouse (East Meadow NY) not only has a new name after its split with RUB (NYC) but a new website as well. Thanks again to Vinny for the info. www.kcsmokehouse.com

(01/17/12)

Boston Burgers: Griddler's Reviewed

Griddle me this: when does a burger joint use potato rolls (which I love) and a griddled burger (which I love) and serve a burger I don't come close to loving? If you haven't figured it out by now, check out my review for Griddler's Burgers and Dogs (Boston MA).

See my burger review for Griddler's

(01/15/12)

Connecticut Burgers: BGR Burger Reviewed

Here's another burger review, this time for BGR Burger (West Hartford CT), a Northeast outpost of a small national chain. Not only is Connecticut burger country, but West Hartford specifically is an area with an unusually high representation of burger joints.

See my burger review for BGR Burger

(01/11/12)

New York BBQ: Butcher Bar Reviewed

The site's 240th barbecue joint review is for Butcher Bar (Queens NY), an Astoria eatery that's another in a growing regime of barbecue restaurants serving chemical-free, humanely raised, locally sourced meats. Check out the review via the Reviews page, the link above or link to reviews using the red icons in the Joints directory.

See my review of Butcher Bar

(01/09/12)

Joints Directory Madness

Here's the latest batch of barbecue Joints directory activity, spanning four states. This time there are seven new joints, one expansion, one name change, one phone number correction, one schedule change and one new website.

NEW JOINTS and/or NEW TO THE DIRECTORY

Blue Smoke (New York NY) has another location scheduled to open today in Battery Park. www.bluesmoke.com
Christine’s Barbeque (Newburgh NY) is a joint run by a retired Virginia newspaper publisher and his son that’s just as heavy on Southern soul specialties (fried whiting, fried pork chop) as the barbecue staples, which are also onboard. Thanks to Vinny for the lead. www.christinesbarbeque.com
Kansas City Smokehouse (East Meadow NY) is the new name for the joint that until last month's "breakup" was RUB BBQ, a franchise of RUB in Manhattan. Thanks again to Vinny for the info.
Jenny's BBQ (Stanfordville NY) at Jenny's Country Manor is a barbecue joint that's part of a bed and breakfast in the Hudson Valley area not too far from the intersection of the NY, MA and CT borders. If you think a barbecue joint in a bed and breakfast has to be faux 'cue, check out the menu with photos and think again. Thanks again to Vinny for the info. www.jennysmanor.com/bbq
BBQ Master (Staten Island NY) is an all-purpose joint whose barbecue selections are but a bit player on its sprawling menu. Thanks to Robert for the lead. www.bbqmastersi.com
Miss Maude's Spoonbread Too and Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too (New York NY) are a pair of uptown eateries known more for their chicken and waffles than barbecue, but they do have North Carolina ribs and chopped barbecue sandwiches. www.spoonbreadinc.com
Bubba's BBQ (White Lake NY) is a seasonal lakeside joint. www.putalittlesouthinyourmouth.com
Knuckleheads (Wallingford CT) is a month-old joint whose main attraction is burgers and dogs, but there are smoked pulled pork and brisket sandwiches on the menu. Thanks to Teague—who is very high on the burger—for the lead. Facebook
4Points BBQ & Blues House (Winterport ME) is a popular northern Maine joint that I announced as added once before, but I forgot to actually add it 'til now. www.4pointsbbq.com

CLOSINGS

none

OTHER CHANGES

Harley's Smokeshack (New York NY) now has a website, with a menu more interesting than I had already imagined. http://www.harleyssmokeshack.org
Scratch Kitchen (Salem MA) has changed their hours: closed Monday through Wednesday, open for lunch and dinner Thursday through Saturday and brunch only on Sunday. www.scratchkitchensalem.com
Pies 'n' Thighs (Brooklyn) has an updated phone number and zip code. www.piesnthighs.com

(01/06/12)

Brooklyn BBQ: Pies 'n' Thighs Reviewed

The site's 240th barbecue joint review is for Pies 'n' Thighs (Brooklyn NY), a Williamsburg eatery that's known more for its bakery goods (the pies) and fried chicken (the thighs) than the 'cue, but this is a joint that's been slinging pulled pork sandwiches well before barbecue got cool. It's a joint I've wanted to visit for a long time, but their brunch-instead-of-lunch prior to 5:00PM on weekends made it tough. Was it worth the wait? Check out the review via the Reviews page, the link above or link to reviews using the red icons in the Joints directory.

See my review of Pies 'n' Thighs

(01/04/12)

Boston Burgers: Gallows Burger Reviewed

Here's another burger review, this time for the "Our Way" burger at The Gallows (Boston MA), a South End eatery that blends sophistication and fun.

See my burger review for The Gallows

(01/01/12)

Ringing In The New

(aka Joints Directory Madness)

Happy New Year!

Here's the latest batch of barbecue Joints directory activity for the new year, spanning three states, all with "New" in their name. This time there are four new joints, no closings, one new website, one new Facebook contact and one upgrade from trailer operation to full service restaurant.

NEW JOINTS and/or NEW TO THE DIRECTORY

Billy Bob's BBQ (Poughkeepsie NY) is a lively saloon with an interesting menu featuring the usual barbecue suspects, plus "armadillo eggs" (jalapeno poppers stuffed with pulled pork) and the "pork explosion" (bacon wrapped in sausage, wrapped in more bacon). thanks to Sledneck for the discovery. www.billybobsbbq.biz
Billy Joe's Ribworks (Newburgh NY) sits on the left bank of the Hudson, strutting a wide-reaching menu that includes three kinds of ribs, stuffed potatoes, smoke prime rib and smoked steak. www.ribworks.com
MB&B Memphis Blues and Barbecue (Milford NH) is a new joint with not much of a web presence, but they do have a fledgling Facebook page. Thanks to Marty for the lead. Facebook
The Blind Boar (Norwood NJ) is the third barbecue restaurant effort of Jay Lippin, formerly of Backwoods BBQ and recently featured on Food TV's Chopped. There's wet and dry spares, Dr Pepper babybacks and an all-you-can-eat rib special on Tuesday nights. www.theblindboar.com

CLOSINGS

none

OTHER CHANGES

Round Up Texas Smoked BBQ (Cold Spring NY) is no longer a trailer operation. This straightforward operation with meats by the pound and in combos has indoor dining 'tear 'round, and a website too. www.rounduptxbbq.com
Bob-B-Q's (Shrub Oak NY) now has a website: www.bobbqs.com
Pig's Ear BBQ (Lincoln NH) now has a Facebook contact included. Facebook