Okay, I'll admit, this place from the outside (at least this location) screams hole in the wall. When you walk in it is much more pleasant and inviting, with a great BBQ smell. They offer a wide range of selections, sandwiches, mixed meats, and platters. I've had the pulled pork sandwich, and the rib platter. Both were actually very good. I've had some fantastic BBQ, but this place is worth more than one visit. Their ribs were a bit tuff, but not too bad and tasted fresh. The bark was the main "tuff" on it, and the inner meat was nice, juicy, and tender. Basted in a bit of their sweet BBQ sauce, it was hard to complain. Their pulled pork sandwich wasn't bad either. My complaint would be the bread didn't taste fresh. Now, it wasn't moldy or anything, but you can tell the difference between a fresh soft bread, and something that's a few days older. I think a softer hamburger bun would have complimented it MUCH better. The pork had good flavor, and the BBQ sauce definitely worked well with it. They have the basic sides you would expect, fries, mashed potatoes, corn bread, BBQ beans, etc. Their beans and potatoes were very good, and their Corn Bread is fantastic. Soft, sweet, and cooked to perfection. I was excited to see they had homemade sweat tea, served right out of a pitcher. Which was an excellent treat for this southern boy!
(4)
Alexander L.
i got the brisket sandwich with two sides. portions were good. cucumber salad was tasty and the mac and cheese was nice and creamy. the brisket was tender, but also felt dry. i couldn't tell the difference between the tangy bbq sauce and the hot bbq sauce. overall, seems like an ok lunch stop if work is nearby.
(3)
Jon H.
For BBQ in the northeast, this place is right in the middle to top of the pack. The best thing about Tennessee's is the value - for about $11 you can get a decent open face pulled pork, a side of mac& cheese, corn bread, and coleslaw (obviously you can substitute classics such as collard greens or mashed potatoes). Personally there isn't a better deal for bbq in a combo pack for lunch. They also do a great job of speedy service when you call ahead for pickup (we got two orders with three sides each in under 10 minutes). The pulled pork was smoky and perfectly salty, served with the right amount of sauce (I found myself using the bbq sauce on my mac&cheese instead), and severed over open face bread to the perfect amount as to it being thoroughly soaked through at the end, which is delightful. The mac & cheese is not too heavy and really a delight - although I wish it had breadcrumbs...and you can pretty much tell its not the baked mac&cheese kind. The slaw is something to be desired, so I'd say opt for greens or potatoes, I just found the slaw to be too light in general with too much celery seed. The cornbread is a delight - buttery and sweet, but a little light on the "corn" part of the bread. Tennessee's is also right next to a Quizno's, BK, Fresh Cafe, Boston Market, Papa Gino's and an Indian restaurant. Basically, when debating where to go out for a meal in Framingham after a day of shopping nearby, this is a great place to get all you could want.
(4)
Jaelynn D.
Service was decent. Food came out quick. My brisket was dry though. I shelack the crap out of it with tasty BBQ sauce. The sides were really good and the place is well decorated. It reminds me if Planet Hollywood and a hick were to get together and fuck and made a baby and you have this place.
(3)
Catie C.
Great Fries - crunchy and flavored. As for the BBQ wings, it's a bit overcooked. It's rather dry, no juice. It has a nice kick to it tho. This is one of the few fast food joints that serve beer! Cheers to that!
(3)
Shaina P.
Yet another charming joint stuck in the middle of a strip mall in Framingham ... But, like others nearby, Tennessee's TRANSFORMS from strip mall frontage and into a stylized BBQ garage with a southern backyard BBQ eatery feel. You got your BBQ: pulled pork and pulled chicken platters, burritos stuffed with dirty rice, meat and cheese, smoky bbq wings, even salad! You got your sides: potato salad, corn on the cob, mac & cheese, dirty rice cucumber salad, and a half a dozen other options that are impossible to remember ... You got your sauces: simply sweet tangified hot all thick and spreadable, flavor lacks zing But best of all, you got your drink selection: brought to you by Mercury Brewing Co. of Ipswich, MA root beer, cream soda, lime soda, etc. and Tennessee's Ale that they can call their own
(3)
Tracy W.
Years ago when I was a local I liked coming here for lunch. Now that I've lived in the South for 10 yrs I was curious to see if it was still good. Um, not so much. I got the Carolina pulled pork sandwich since pulled pork is my normal barbecue "barometer dish." I realize you take a chance of getting fat in with your pork, but there was an awful lot of it that I had to pull out. There was a decent amount of burnt ends, but they had no flavor at all. The pork tasted boiled, not barbecued at all. I tried all 3 sauces. The sweet and tangy tasted identical (and neither was all that appealing). The hot tasted like the sweet with some extra cayenne powder thrown in (again, not appealing).
(1)
Ben H.
Had the pulled pork and memphis ribs. Mediocre to average at best. Best BBQ is in the south. Wish I had picked something better but I was in a hurry.
(3)
Louie B.
Good solid BBQ. Surprised at the 2 and 3 star reviews. For the area this is probably the best BBQ option there is. I usually get a platter with a couple of meats. The Cucumber Slaw has a great tang and sweetness to it. The mac n cheese is always hearty and tasty. And I love their sauces. Ribs are decent, although nothing close to the heaven i had in san diego at Phil's :) If Tennssee's could duplicate Phils - I'd give them 6 stars! :)
(4)
Dessa R.
Pretty good BBQ! Fast, reasonably-priced, tasty, and no snotty complaints from this picky New Yorker. Try the combo plate and split it with a famished friend. Just don't ask for "hush puppies," cause they'll have no idea what you're talking about.
(3)
Sam B.
The burrito meal was great, had real mac and cheese tasted like if they were home made the mash potato was ok at best. but good over all experiences, just hope they open one up closer to Boston.
(4)
Chris K.
Every time I go to Framingham I make it a point to eat here. One of my favorite BBQ joints (and I love me some BBQ!). The sauces are great (there are a variety of choices in keg-like barrels) and the service is fast. I usually get some sort of combination of Ribs and Rotisserie chicken, as both here are great (I don't understand how the Boston Market next door stays in business with better Rotisserie chicken so close!). The mashed potatoes and cornbread are great for sides, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the baked beans as is (but if you add in some extra BBQ sauce this is easily redeemed). This place never disappoints!
(5)
Ryan M.
Yum. Tangy BBQ sauce is best. French fries are great. Staff is very nice. Food comes fast. Seems a touch too expensive. But I had a gift certificate. The end.
(4)
David Y.
I got the North Carolina pulled pork sandwich platter with some green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy for about $9, a good price considering it was a decent amount of food. While Nothing was bad, I certainly was hoping for the succulent, savory BBQ you have dreams about. The pulled pork sandwich was a decent sized but the pork definitely lacked the favor I was expecting. The texture was right, soft but still enough bite in it to have your incisors to really tear into it. It just didn't have a prominent smoky punch, even with the add-on bbq sauce. The sides were fine but nothing worth noting. This ends my first attempt at southern BBQ in New England. After having BBQ in Texas, other parts of the South, and Kansas City, I was disappointed. Perhaps my expectations got the better of me. I'd give it another shot with more realistic expectations.
(2)
Ann S.
I really love the food at this place. The food is ready quickly, but it's not "fast food". However, the last time I was in there we were with someone from out of town who needed a few minutes to look at the menu. While we were making our decisions, the woman behind the counter rolled her eyes right in front of us and didn't even attempt to hide her annoyance. This was a turnoff, but it will not stop be from going back because I love the food!
(4)
John M.
Best thing on the menu is the sweet potato fries. I definitely suggest trying all 3 of their BBQ sauces because they're all pretty good too. the BBQ burrito is lackluster
(3)
Ben P.
After getting no service at Fireflies last night, my wife and I dropped by here. It is a bit of a dive, really run down, dirty and more of fast food than a restaurant but the good thing about this place is the fast service and the good food. The meat is never dry, always hot and there is plenty of it. Man, this post is making me hungry. Time for leftovers!!
(5)
Jeremy K.
Comparing this place to some of the stuff I've had in Texas or in more upscale places in Brookline and Newton would not be fair at all and this is not my intention. I ended up here because of my cousin who lives near by who told me that we'd be hitting up a BBQ joint for lunch - he mentioned that it was relatively cheap, good and not far from his crib. We hopped into his car and drove off. Located right near Wal-Mart (booohh!!) the parking is ample! Thank god. I hate having to hunt for spots right before having a meal, especially when I'm hungry. We entered and almost immediately the welcoming, lovely smell of BBQ hit my nose faster than the bullets we shot in Westford his the targets. I ordered the ribs sampler with slaw, cumbumber salad and corn bread. I paid around $16 for that and a drink and after a few moments of waiting around, my number was called and I picked up my food at the counter. The seating options are limited and not always clean and the trash cans needed to be emptied. Both were filled to the brim causing me to have to call a staff member over to empty them so that I could dispose of my tray and food... Overall the place is pretty good... reliable.. The ribs were meaty and tasty and they are pretty, pretty good. If I ever head this way I'd gladly eat there without hesitation but the lack of maintenance on their part is noticeable which was unfortunate. They could also enhance the decor a little bit...
(3)
Sneakers A.
Even though the menu prices are in the $10+ range, I voted for "cheap under $10" because the portions are enormous, and I frequently split them. Nothing on the menu is especially creative or stunningly well done, but it's solid BBQ, and the sides do the job. It's an incredible value too. There is a 3 meat/2 sides combo for around $15 that splits into two very large portions. If you can finish that whole meal by yourself you are in the at-risk category for heart attacks. My biggest complaint is that instead of Coke/Pepsi they serve some weird off brand of soda that I can't stand. Therefore I only go here for takeout. Well worth a monthly or bi-monthly visit though.
(3)
Dave A.
Great food. Kids eat free as well!
(4)
Aaron P.
Finally, real BBQ in New England! I was born and raised in Texas so I know my BBQ. I also know that there are many different styles of BBQ. Sadly, almost no "BBQ" places in Boston make anything remotely similar to any real BBQ style I've ever seen. It's been my main disappointment since moving here 13 years ago (otherwise, I love this town). So I was ecstatic to discover this place in Framingham. My wife and I go there on special occasions and we bring our relatives there when they visit. This is the real deal. Their homemade sauces are so good that we routinely fill 5 or 6 plastic containers with extra sauce and sneak it out for use at home. For newbies, the sampler platter is a great way to go. I personally prefer the sliced brisket sandwich with baked beans (dump some BBQ sauce in them and mix it up) and green beans with corn bread. The only catch is that the food is sometimes cold. But you can always ask them to reheat it. The service has always been polite and top notch.
(5)
Chris C.
Tried this place again as I was driving by and thought it would a better quick dinner than the other fast food selections in the area. I would say that my initial assessment of the pulled pork stands the same. I also tried the mac and cheese which I found to be nice. I liked how it was creamy and cooked correctly. The speed that the meal was ready was also astounding. I hadn't even gotten over to the drink machine to fill my cup up before my meal was ready to go.
(4)
John N.
I'm not sure why this place isn't more crowded, the food is much better than Fireflys. the prices are pretty good too. Maybe it's just the location there are lots of good options in this little strip mall. Anyway this place is very good. Try the burritto, very good and very filling.
(4)
Diane L.
We had our company picnic catered by Tennesee's and it was a big hit. They showed up on time, set everything up including everything from plates to wet naps to chafing dishes all in about two minutes. For the amount of food we received it was a true bargain. As for the food everything tasted great and my staff was still talking about it days later. The biggest hits were the pulled pork, mac and cheese and corn bread.
(5)
Chad F.
I commute to the Boston area each week for work, and have tried a few places. This is real tasty BBQ and Cookout, depending on where you're from. I have had the pulled pork, brisket, pulled chicken (in a burrito) and the smoked then grilled wings. Nothing bad so far...prices are commensurate with the quality and portions. Sides that I have had are good too. Will continue to be a repeat diner.
(4)
E G.
Cheap, good eats. Loved the North Carolina pulled pork. Very casual, diner feel. When you just have to have bbq, go here. Easy to park.
(4)
Aaron F.
I love Tennessee's. By far my favorite place in the Framingham area. They are not cheap but they are quick and delicious! My preference is the Memphis Ribs - also love their Corn Bread, Mac&Cheese, Smashed Potatoes, and BBQ chicken.
(5)
Adam E.
I was hungry. The kind of hungry that makes me want to run down drivers that wronged me, and snap at my gf for telling me not to get us killed. When she gently suggested that we get something to eat at Tennessee's, I knew it was the right choice and put my inner 13-year old to bed. I've eaten a lot of BBQ in New England (fat kid), and none in the south. I am a liberal Boston queer, I have no interest in Texas and don't care if I'm missing out on authentic BBQ. We're smarter here, so maybe ours is better! I can't speak on their ribs, I had a pulled pork sandwich with tangy sauce, and it had a bit of a kick. It was excellent. The sandwich was generous, but not ridiculous. With 2 sides it was only $7.50! I opted for mac & cheese and smashed potatoes (fat kid!) which were outrageously good. Even the gravy on the potatoes pleased me, and that's no easy task. If the food wasn't so great, the highlight of the meal would have been the house root beer on draught. The atmosphere was fine, I didn't find it to be dirty-feeling at all. The tables needed the crumbs wiped off them, but big deal. After the meal, I still hated drivers that cut me off, but I was far too happy and full to think about exacting revenge on them.
(4)
Justin T.
Great food (No faux-que here, this is the real deal). The portions are more than generous. A sandwich and two sides easily fills the plate. Service is quick and friendly. A must visit place for those who love BBQ and find themselves in Framingham and hungry. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Malena L.
You know: sometimes...just sometimes...when you've just swam 1/2 mile, biked 12 miles and ran 3 miles you just...kinda...feel like pulled pork sandwiches. Specially, when you know said pulled pork sandwiches can be acquired on your way home, within 5 minutes from ordering them and you will have the choice of not getting any of the sweet bbq sauce shit, but the spicy North Carolina style sauce. Specially, when you know you can also stuff your mouth-hole with some cole slaw, mac&cheese and mashed potatoes. Specially, when you know you are so calorie-deprived that ordering a beer will be enough to get you drunk. I'm just sayin'. It's plenty of calories and protein...just what the doctor recommended after a sprint triathlon.
(3)
Nicole S.
I guess it's not fair if I try and compare you to BBQ places from Texas. That would be wrong, and you don't deserve that. You are from Massachusetts and therefore, you are really on a different playing field. One where less is expected of you. And that's ok. I probably wouldn't kick up a big fuss about a non-authentic Lobster Roll in Dallas. However, you are no Blue Ribbon BBQ in Newton. You don't have burnt ends, and burnt ends make me salivate just to think about. But you're ok. We had a brisket sandwich and a pulled pork sandwich and both were good. The watermelon was super fresh and juicy. You get 3 stars for a solid effort and respectable MA BBQ. You got some work ahead of you though!
(3)
Greg D.
This place is like coming home again. the food is very tasty and the service is quick. I love the pulled pork sandwich and it is the best Barbecue in the Metro Boston area. It can be little pricey depending on what you get. It is not the easiest place to find, but it is on the old Caldor Rd (now leads to Wal-Mart). The decor is a quirky mix of of tables and signs you would see at a typical Road side Barbecue joint in the south. The fries are awesome and defiantly a side that you should get. You can't go wrong at Tennesee's.
(4)
Jackey B.
Delicious BBQ that is hard to find in this area. It's nothing fancy, but it's quick and delicious and doesn't let down. I prefer to sit by the windows, the back of the restaurant is a bit dingy near the bathrooms. Good food, good value, and especially good if you're in the mood for BBQ
(4)
Ian H.
Brits abroad looking for the best ribs - we found them here. Great food, fast service and very friendly. We had a blast!
(5)
Ali F.
The BEST barbecue I've ever had outside of the south. The brisket and mac and cheese are fantastic and the cornbread is the absolute best in the world. I go there every time I'm in the Boston area and wish they could ship food to DC where we sorely lack palatable barbecue.
(4)
Sean M.
Chain BBQ started by Steve Uliss and then sold. Needlessly fatty ribs and chicken, Not very sanitary, and the staff are rude. When it gets crowded and I'm amazed it does, there can be total chaos, the last straw was getting home and finding multiple items missing from order. People: Firefly's is within seconds of here, go there instead.
(2)
Aubri L.
MMMMmmmmmMMMMmmm... had a few minutes during an lunch-time errand with a friend so we stopped in here. Pulled meats, amazing sides and yummy sodas. PLUS, quick service at 12:10 on a weekday and lots of seats to choose from.
(4)
Charlie B.
You won't find much better barbecue around. (Though I do enjoy Firefly's nearby.) Great ribs, pulled pork/chicken, and chicken wings. Their sides are also amazing; the mac and cheese is as good as it gets. If you want barbecue fast, this is the place for you. I'm genuinely surprised it's not rated higher. It's not fancy and the prices are a little high for what it is, but the food can't be beat.
(5)
Ken S.
So sticky, so greasy, so downright satisfying. Wear loose-fitting trousers and you'll be OK.
(4)
Leo L.
Pretty low rent atmosphere, but I actually like the food better than Firefly's. OK, the pulled chicken wasn't really pulled, it was chunked, but it had good smoky flavor and the sauce was great. Top it off with a local beer in a plastic cup and it's actually like a real bbq joint. I agree with Han though, it can't compare to Blue Ribbon. Update: tried the Caribbean chicken - not bad, but only barely Caribbean flavored (really just a spice rub with plenty of red pepper flakes). A pretty good deal for $10 for half a small chicken and three sides. Pulled pork was actually pulled (unlike the chicken), and my kid ate it up. I guess Memphis sauces are supposed to be molasses based, but a vinegar-based sauce would really make the pulled pork better. Still a 3-star, but could become a mainstay takeout joint.
(3)
Rich G.
Great BBQ ribs and sides. Serious competition for Fireflys. Small place with tables and serving beer. Not cleanest place but worth indulging when you want good BBQ.
(4)
Doug M.
Went back recently and the burritos/sandwiches and ribs were very good -- glad to see that Tennessee's is back in top form again. The atmosphere isn't great - but the food is much better than Firefly's.
(4)
Dee H.
As the only rib fan in the household, I come here either to have a meal or to take out when I have time all to myself! Ribs are yummy, the carribbean chicken is delish. I always order with the collard greens with one of these goodies: pickled cucumber, candied yams or dirty rice. Sometimes a pulled pork sandwich for the spouse to go. The interior is all down to business of enjoying your food. Who needs to look around when the focus comes down to your finger licking ribs?
(4)
Lindsay M.
Went there last night, food was pretty good, pulled chicken was a little fatty but I was able to get some good pieces of chicken. I loved the mac and cheese. The cornbread was good too. I thought this was was dirty though, the bathroom was so gross, my feet were sticking to the floor and the odor was horrendous. The table was fine but you could tell that the cooking area was not very clean, the side foor was left open and from what I could see, it did not look clean back there. Not sure if I would go there again especially since there are other choices in the area but the food came out decent and very quick. The service was pretty good too!
(3)
Matthew A.
I was going to go to Quizno's but then I saw this place. SO I went in and saw the menu. I got a lunch specal with N. Carolina shredded pork, mac and cheese and cucumber salad. Self serve 3 kinds of BBQ sauce. I tried them all. Meat was moist and flavorful. Clean space and fast service. The mac and cheese and cuke salad rocked. Would def go back cuz I want to try the ribs.
(4)
Neeraj D.
After a busy day of work where I could not even have lunch, I was glad to settle down to come comfort food. Granted this probably coated my arteries, I mentally felt better. Being a rib-man, I tried their rib sampler: 2 Texas ribs, 2 baby-back, and 2 Tennesse ribs.... it has been a while since I have look at one of those butcher charts, but tennesse and texas ribs? I found out the Texas ribs are beef, and I think the tennesse are the Saint-Louis style ribs. All in all, they were smoked well, with good permeation, flavor, and smoke rings to show it. I enjoyed a mix of the tangy and "spicy" BBQ as an accompaniment to the ribs (and think the spicy could use some more heat). The sides, beans, corn (though I wanted to try to corn bread and miscommunicated that), and sweet-potato worked well... I ended up taking half of the sides home because I was pretty full and did not want to explode... The Texas ribs are indeed rather large. the baby back ribs were a bit too fatty for my liking, but The interior helped make it feel a bit more as a BBQ joint and not as part of a strip mall. The ale was okay and next time I will try something different. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I sat near the front and so saw a lot of the carry-out traffic, which seems to be their main business. flavorful. The Tennessee is what I will go with again in the future. Overall, the place was clean and neat. I liked how there was a sink in the seating area - a good sign to me that I am expected to get some sauce all over me. All in all, I was pleased and will visit again.... after a few more trips to the gym and another paycheck.
(4)
eliz a.
So, maybe it's a little bit unfair that I am only giving Tennessee's 3 stars because it smells so strongly of meat, since it is, after all, a barbecue place. But, I really feel like it makes it hard to eat there. Takeout mac and cheese, though, is SO GOOD and so cheap. $4.65 for a pint? Yes, please! I appreciate the large number of veggie options, in general, though to be fair I really just get the mac and cheese, over and over. Also, their service? So fast! I call 5 minutes before I get there and my order is ready on the counter for me. Overall, I would give takeout 4 stars and in-restaurant 2. So, 3 stars it is!
(3)
F. B.
Any kind of barbecue sandwich ought to bowl a fellow over with flavor. Mine didn't, making one visit enough for now. Also, is it just me, or are the prices a little high? Not a place I would frequenty.
(2)
Andrew M.
So apparently this place is owned by the husband of the owner of Big Fresh? Or something like that? They served solid barbecue with a variety of tasty sauces, but I'd like to check out Big Fresh next time I'm in the area because it seemed more up my alley.
(3)
Jo B.
If you're considering trying this place, you're probably thinking , "BBQ place in Framingham, Mass - it can't possibly be good". Well, you would certainly be mistaken. Many years ago I lived in Texas, and I can count on one hand the instances that I've missed living there. While most of these instances occurred during the dead of winter, there was a very hot August day when I was very pregnant and craving some good BBQ. I was almost ready to hop on a plane when I realized no one would let my 38 week pregnant self on a plane. Sigh. So I drove myself over to Tennessee's and proceeded to order me some BBQ. Some ribs, a pulled pork sandwich, mac and cheese, tidewater coleslaw and cornbread. I know it sounds like a lot of food,but the baby was hungry. Everything was so good, I went back like every day for 2 weeks.....then baby came and I had to go on a diet. Big surprise. Since then, I visit Tennesee's about once a month or so, with my kids, and have never been disappointed. The best part is that kids eat free (I think it's one kid can eat free per paid adult entree) - they can choose a corn dog, BBQ Chicken or Ribs, and they get one side like mac n cheese, some cornbread and a drink. One kids meal is enough food for two younger kids to eat. What a great deal.
(4)
waits w.
Completely inconsistent. One day it's tasty the next time it's dry. But it isn never fall off the bone. Very good cornbread. Terrible brisket. It's a gamble but given the alternatives it's fair. If you're looking for the smokiest fall off the bones ribs in town, just head across the street to Bugaboo. I know what you're thinking but as a BBQ snop it's really good.
(2)
Kupkake K.
Still a great place to eat! Fast and delicious!
(4)
Eric B.
Decent BBQ -- good pulled pork, BBQ beef and pulled chicken and excellent BBQ chicken (very tender, even the white meat is nice and moist). Not what you'd get in the south, but as good as you'll get in the Boston area (I honestly don't think the food at the criminally overrated Redbones and Blue Ribbon is any better). Also -- superspeedy service and kids eat free every day. We bring a family of 4 and can each get a plate w/meat and 3 sides and 2 kids meals and be out for under $25. And THAT'S hard to find if you're not going the fast-food route.
(4)
Anna F.
Not as good as Blue Ribbon, but definitely good. I wish the pulled pork had more flavor.
(3)
Arik C.
After trying blue Ribbon, this place is not up to par. Just not enough flavor in the ribs and brisket as what you get a Blue Ribbon. Its a step above the Village Smokehouse in Brookline but for a chain bbq restaurant, not one of my favorites. tennesseebbq.com
(3)
Han K.
It's not great. It's on the same level as Firefly's in my opinion. But both can really suck it compared to Blue Ribbon.
(2)
Natalie A.
I am from Kentucky and lived in Texas some last year for my husband's Army duties. Since moving to Framingham in late November, we have been satisfied with very few of the dining options in the immediate area. This place's TANGY sauce will knock your socks off! It is great. I got the Memphis ribs and also some chicken, and let me tell you, they are great. You can taste the smoke flavor and it is amazing. If you only order one side, get the baked macaronni and cheese- out of this world! The sweet potatoes with the butter, cinnamon and sugar are great, and I LOVE the sink they have to wash your hands. It was great- we have a 3 year old and that was handy!
(5)
Dorian G.
***UPDATED 5/4/07*** returned to try the pulled chicken. MUCH better. nice big, meaty pieces and the BBQ sauce was nice and tangy. didn't need to hit the self-serve vats at all. i'm adding a star for the chicken. -------- ORIGINAL REVIEW (4/9/07: 2 stars) meh. i got the sweet pulled pork sandwich with smashed potatoes. the pork was...well...mushy and borderline tasteless. Almost watered down. I asked the girl if the tangy pork was spicy and she said it was really spicy, so i opted for the sweet pork and i could add some "hot" or "tangy" sauce myself from the self-serve vats. well, maybe my tastebuds were having an off day because i couldnt taste the difference between the 2 and they weren't even mild, let alone spicy in any way, and they tasted just like the sweet sauce. i dont get it. the potatoes were really good though. nice and garlicky, not salty like i was afraid they might be. i'll give this place another chance in the future with the pulled chicken and ribs another time, but the pulled pork was nasty in my book.
(3)
Laurie C.
We love Tennessee's BBQ! Their pulled pork sandwich is so yummy! My boyfriend likes the chicken sandwich. We're not in love with the ribs here, but if you are a pulled pork fan you have to try it! Their cucumber salad is amazing, as are their cornbread and baked sweet potatoes. Their french fries can be soggy, but I don't like mine crunchy so I think they're good. My boyfriend had the corn on the cob last time we were there and loved it - and who has good corn on the cob in January?!
(4)
Kiat C.
Amazing fast and bone suckling good..Just know what you want pick your sides and grab a beer yes they have beer and enjoy life and taste the south for those few minutes then come back for more.Go for the pulled pork the ribs and those nachos and then the sides go with the collards the Mac and the dirty rice and you'll be all set that i promise you and yes take out is just that fast too
(5)
Samantha V.
As for BBQ, I only go to Tennessee (did I mention its an hour ride from where I live just to get it) but I wouldn't have it any other way! I am a fan of the BBQ pulled pork, sweet and tangy taste. I love the mac'n'cheese, top 3 favorite mac's not made by mama. Also they have great beef brisket, pick the burnt ends option, smokey hearty flavor, great with some cole slaw. I usually get it to go and it stays warm all the way home! I am a fan, and loyal customer!
(5)
Nicole C.
Only thing I liked from here was the corn bread. It's gross and doesn't taste like a BBQ ew gross
(2)
Yi S.
I haven't been here for a while now, but always had good memory of it. Used to be a staple joint for us when we lived in Framingham. Had craving for BBQ late last night and decided to pick up some BBQ chicken wings and bucket of ribs. The tastes of the ribs and wings were still good and the sauce on the side is as yummy as I remember. But the chicken and ribs were relatively dry and really burnt on the outside. I mean charcoal burnt... That is a first I have ever gotten from any restaurant or take out place. Very disappointing.
(2)
Maud D.
Drawn in by the next-door Five Guys, we decided instead that we were much more in the mood for BBQ. Collard greens were tangy and superior to Redbones. Memphis ribs stuck to our ribs in a good way, and the sweet potato and BBQ beans were to die for. Decent Blues tunes on the stereo and we were in a little bit of heaven.
(5)
Ethan S.
I am indeed a fan of this place. It is a bit quirky. For instance some of the combo's aren't what they say they are. For instance, the oink, moo combo doesn't come with chicken. That being said the food quality is good for boston metrowest. The service is good and friendly. The prices are reasonable. All things considered, I am happy to have Tennessee's in the metrowest area.
(4)
Augustine W.
Love the food here. Never disappointed. Good artery clogging eats. Drink machine is different..not that into it..like two good options in my humble opinion. Also the sauce is in these large canisters you have to be careful or you'll be wearing it. Yikes.
(4)
Bob L.
It really is quick BBQ. Food is pretty good and it's fairly priced. Combos give a good variety of what they have for first timers.
(4)
J Z.
I am a huge BBQ fan, and I'm especially attracted to a BBQ joint who has the state of Tennessee in it's name (I lived there for 3 years and my cousin is a state trooper). Much to my disappointment it was no where NEAR what I've experienced in the south. I walked in and three line cooks behind the counter just stared at me and started talking to each other in what I presumed to be Brazilian Portuguese, given the area I live in. The decor is defined by many mural-style drawings of pigs dressed as humans throughout the restaurant. One is a photo of a 'female pig' slapping a 'male' pig across the face. There are rolls of high school style brown paper towels under the condiment station instead of napkins. A peek behind the counter into the prep and cooking area revealed it could be a lot cleaner. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of baked macaroni and cheese. The pulled pork in the sandwich tasted like a reheat of yesterday's food. There's no way it was cooked this morning - just leftover quality at its worst. I thought the baked macaroni and cheese was going to rescue me but it tasted worse! It was definitely cooked 2+ days ago - and that would explain why one early morning when grabbing some bagels next door, I noticed no one was in Tennessee's doing food prep or starting the pulled pork, brisket, etc. There are no commercial, non-alcoholic beverages served here - just there own brand of fountain soda, so I had that. You can see where this is going... It is 2:00 on Mothers Day on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and there are more people at Boston Market two doors down. Don't waste your time or money - if you want a great BBQ experience - I hear Blue Ribbon in Newton is the place to go. I'll let you know when I eat there ...
(1)
Araceli Y.
This place should be called Massachusetts BBQ. I had the pulled chicken sandwich with coleslaw and green beans and my boyfriend had pulled pork with coleslaw and sweet potato. The sauces were generic, the greens beans, although cooked with bacon, were flavorless and the coleslaw was no more than dry cabbage. The service was terrible. I called to pick it up in 30 minutes and the blonde lady was hard to work with and rude. When I got there, she was very unwelcoming and indifferent. Almost decided to cancel my order because of the service from her. On the other hand, the atmosphere is nice and the establishment is kept clean. Coming from the south, it's really unfair to compare this to actual Tennessee bbq, but I haven't had anything else.
(2)
M C.
This was a while back but I thought I should finally share why I don't eat here anymore. I loved the food (not real BBQ, but close enough) until one day my boyfriend and I ordered sweet tea. The tea had a funky taste, so we took a closer look and there was some kind of mold (I'm guessing) swirling around in our drink. We took it back to just let them know their tea probably went bad. Instead, they disagreed with us and said insisted it was fine. Alright... if you say so. This got us thinking what other food is just sitting around. Maybe I'm being picky but that's just gross.
(1)
Jeff D.
Lame bbq, tough brisket and I have given it quite a few tries now. Part of the problem is we are in Framingham not down South, some of it is lack of competition. Sides are passable but definitely a three star experience, and I feel like it's gone downhill.
(3)
Yvonne A.
amazing. great food, good value, friendly staff. will continue to go here ! highly recommended.
(5)
Georgina C.
Across the street from my office is Tennessee's - a barbeque place that is frequented by a coworker that is actually from Tennesse. Needless to say, it was about time I got around to a taste. My plate was loaded with the Bbq Dixie Chicken, Baked Mac & Cheese, Killer Corn Bread and Cucumber Salad. The chicken: well-seasoned, flavorful and moist. I only wish I weren't so bashful about eating with my fingers (I usually refrain in public. Just personal choice.) Killer Mac & Cheese: I like mine a bit creamier and a bit less firm. Though this version was enjoyable for one that has been baked, thus zapping a fair amount of its moisture. Corn Bread: Now my mother is from the South, Georgia in fact. I love me some Southern comfort food, have eaten at Paula D's Lady & Sons restaurant and know better than to mess with Texas. In short, this cornbread was like taking a bite of a piece I got from my mama with tiniest dashes of sugar. Cucumber Salad: this was a combination of sweet and nearly tart pickled perfection. The tiniest slivers of fresh red onion added a nice flavor while the marinade which the side dish was doused in made this an instant favorite of mine. End Points: I was greeted by the sweetest hostess who gave me wonderful recommendations based on her favorites (I often as this in the least intrusive manner possible.) This is definitely a place to pop by for a timely lunch. The decor was somewhat like some of the backyard bbq's I have previously attended down to the rolls of brown paper towels that served as the source of napkins, three flavors of bbq sauce bottled and ready for purchase.
(4)
Vincent K.
If you're complaining that this joint doesn't serve BBQ like they do in the south maybe you should move back south... For a BBQ place in the middle of Framingham MA, it's pretty good. I have had many items on the menu but would definitely encourage trying the Carolina pulled pork and their local root beer.. Definitely a place to visit if only just for the experience. Good price and good food, what more could you want?
(5)
Ana R.
That's two visits for me in the same week and for good reason. Tennessee's is the only place in this area that provides real BBQ real fast, just like the sign says. I can honestly say it's better than Redbones in Somerville - a lot more flavor and much better atmosphere. So far, I can recommend the pulled pork sandwich and the pulled chicken salad. The mashed potatoes are heavenly! The cole slaw is the vinegary (not mayonnaise) kind and it's delicious on the spicy pork. The cornbread is moist and very yummy. Service is definitely fast and the food gets to you piping hot. Fountain drinks are generic and strange tasting, so stick to the bottled sodas, etc. The atmosphere is perfect for a quirky BBQ joint. Napkins are rolls of paper you tear away as needed. Prices are $7-$9 for sandwiches and salads, but go up a lot more for platters. A sandwich and a side will keep you full for lunch AND dinner, though. My salad was HUGE, only finished half for lunch. Will go again!
(4)
Victor C.
This place has awesome bbq food. From the ribs to the wings I just recently dared to try a burrito and will tell you that it is just as good as everything else. If you like bbq food and want it quick this is the place to be.
(5)
Joseph G.
So I have to review this place. First off lets start with the cleanliness, some reviews say this place is dirty I for one don't see that but it is well worn in so to speak. Now on to the food. Food was fast and hot lots of sauce definitely not what I would call real BBQ but. Price of 15 bucks a plate a bit high for the quality of food , portions where good but varied from plate to plate. Ribs did not fall off the bone but where not bad. I would stop back if I was in the area and need a BBq fix. The staff was well just ok .
(3)
Cathy O.
My family and I had looked forward to our lunch today at Tennessee's BBQ. While the food was good, the deplorable state of the bathrooms left us feeling nauseous. The floor was caked with grime. The one working stall had no toilet paper. The one operational sink had only cold water. It appeared the bathroom had not been cleaned in many years. There was no visible sign asking employees to wash hands either. (Shudder) It was the dirtiest bathroom I have ever seen in a restaurant. Ergo, I wanted to address the problem. When I brought the state of the restroom to the attention of an employee, she was sympathetic. She explained there was a plumbing problem a "few years ago." Yes, she said "years ago." I asked to speak with the manager too. He was not there. The employee stated he was aware of the problem. I can't help but wonder if the restroom is in such state of neglect, if the kitchen is in the same. She assured me the kitchen was spotless. As we left, feeling sick to our stomachs, we will not be returning. Sad, since we like BBQ and would like to see their restaurant succeed.
(1)
James L.
I have been here before, a while ago. It was good than and it is good now. The atmosphere upon walking was that of what I expect of a BBQ restaurant. The smokey smell tells me they grill the meat on open flames with wood. That's a good start for me since I love BBQ cooked on an open flame. The service, was not all that good. Being that I was the only person in line and I felt that the cashier was not excited to greet me. When I asked about lunch specials, she pointed to a board to my right. To me, it was a bit much both in price and amount for a lunch special. I did explain to the cashier, I was interested in something simple. She pointed to a high board to my left of sandwiches, didn't really ask what I would be interested in or had a taste for? I thought the puzzled look I had would open the door to questions and/or suggestions. I placed my order, for a BBQ Beef Sandwich w/two sides, fries and cucumber salad. The fries was made to order, right out of the fryer. The beef was in a container to the side of the bun, which I wasn't expecting BUT I like it, the bun isn't soaked by the beef before I actually eat. The cucumber salad was fresh and snap in my mouth, with taste of seasons. The beef was nicely shredded in a 1/4 size pant. It had a nice smoked BBQ flavor, not overly sauced. The prices I think are fair, especially for BBQ. The sandwiches ranges anywhere from $8-$10, but you do get a decent portion, I had beef leftover after I put what I can on the bun. There is a sauce station next to the soda machine. Three huge containers carry three different sauces, tangy, sweet, and hot. I tried the sweet and tangy, both are delicious for dipping my fries. The sauce was FREE! Moderate parking is available, the location do share a parking lot with several other business. But parking is available in front of the location. Overall, I was happy with my experience. One star deducted for the cashier service, the individual could have been more helpful and informative of their menu, and little bit more engaging.
(4)
Karyn V.
This place is a fake BBQ joint, which is typical for New England. They don't smoke their meat (it is likely baked in an oven), and their sauce is super sweet. They actually have three sauces, but the differences between them are difficult to discern because they are all overpowered by sugar & tomatoes. They also mislabel what they serve. For example, their "Memphis ribs" are slathered heavily in sauce, which typically are supposed to be dry (e.g. no sauce). That is the opposite of true Memphis BBQ and more like KC ribs although not anywhere nearly as tasty. The good: The beans are quite tasty. I would describe them as Cowboy Baked Beans--pinto beans with a nice kick. The potato salad was also pretty good. The cornbread was just decent, but it was a nice option. The bad: The meat. It all lacks a lot of flavor (i.e. no seasoning or rub), and with the heavy sauce applied it all tasted the same. If they use much rub on the meat, I am shocked because it seemed non-existent. The brisket seemed to exhibit the right tenderness, but then shockingly was quite dry. The ribs were more of the same. They seemed to have the right bite, but they also were quite dry. The chicken was nothing to write home about either. The menu is hard to read it is spread over two very large boards and not well organized. Every time I read it, I discovered something new on it I didn't see before. I still don't know where they have potato salad listed on it. I just asked if they had it when I ordered it.
(2)
Caitlin C.
LOVE the wings here. We always split the flavored to get some of each. They are smoked and grilled so you get that nice pink color from the smoker and all the flavor with out the wings having to be dripping in the sauce. Corn bread is a must have with every order and all the other sides do not disappoint. Take out or eat in- you won't be disappointed
(5)
Dave R.
The sign says real fast and it was fast I do have to say, Good barbecue that is a little expensive.
(4)
Kathleen F.
So this definitely was not the best BBQ we have had but it did have some good highlights. I tried their pulled chicken dish and the BF tried the ribs. I was not a fan of the pulled chicken, the meat was too dry and that was covered up by overuse of a too think (for my liking) sauce. However, their collared greens were awesome flavorful and just the way collards should taste. Their green beans weren't as good as the collards but they weren't too bad either. The mac and cheese had good flavor but was a little too soupy for my liking. I think if I tried this place again I might actually just get all sides because they do seem to do those well. My boyfriend had the same sides as me (great minds think alike) and was also more impressed by the sides than the ribs. The ribs weren't bad, but he said he had definitely had better at places like Blue Ribbon in Arlington. Bottom line, ok to try, but you might enjoy the sides more than the meat b/c that is what they do best!
(3)
Tom B.
We had Tennessee's cater a party at our house over the weekend and I was very happy with them. The food was fantastic. People couldn't stop talking about how good the cornbread was, I was a huge fan of the ribs, and the people at the restaurant were very pleasant. We actually had a bit of a mishap. The restaurant unfortunately forgot to include the pulled pork (honest mistake) once we got home to the party we noticed it was missing and immediately called them up. The person we spoke with was extremely apologetic and immediately sent one of her employees to deliver the missing food. The employee showed up very quickly and was also very nice and apologetic. That is great customer service! All of our guests were very happy with the food and I would definitely use them again.
(4)
dan w.
The young woman behind the counter is unfriendly (or borderline hostile) , indifferent and unhelpful, She must be related to the owner, otherwise she would have been fired a long time ago.The food is ok, but now overpriced, and the place is not so clean. The paucity of BBQ in the area is all that keeps it going.
(1)
John S.
I really enjoyed the food here. I've only been here once but liked everything I got a lot. I had a couple types of ribs, both of which were delicious. Their pulled pork sandwiches are out of this world!
(4)
Ryan D.
I am a Big BBQ fan.. Honestly this is some of the best BBQ in Massachusetts.. I Don't get some of the bad reviews, especially with some of places that supposedly have good BBQ according to yelp! Its decent BBQ in Mass.. I love the BBQ burritos for a quick cheap BBQ lunch you eat on the go! Love the corn bread! I have not tried there beef products but anything from a pig here is good.. To be honest for sides when I am not eating the burrito I get corn bread and a sweet potato I know nothing of the rest.. 4 stars as I dont know of any 5 star bbq in new england however I have yet to try sweet cheeks..
(4)
Tim A.
I used to love this place, but went there for my birthday recently and was pretty disappointed, enough to say that I probably won't be back anytime soon. I ordered the "meaty" ribs, but wow, they were anything but. My ring finger has more meat on it than one of the bones I was served. Seriously. After paying $16, I felt kind of ripped off. Enough to ask for another rib, which to their credit they gave me, and which had literally twice the meat of any of the ribs I received in my original order, which kind of pissed me off even more. After eating what was allegedly a "half rack" of ribs, I was still hungry, and somewhat bitter. I hate being bitter when I'm at a restaurant, especially when I'm with other people. I don't want to ruin it for them, but I also find it extremely difficult to pretend everything is fine. The flavor? Meh. When there isn't much meat to begin with, flavor is kind of secondary. The sides were good. I liked the collards. My wife got a burrito, which weighed in at probably four times the weight of my "half rack." One of my kids got the wings. 8 wings plus fries for $11. Dousing them with sauce couldn't hide the fact that they were dry. When you charge $11 for wings, there just isn't much wiggle room for excuses. I am a slob and usually not very picky, but when we first got there, we were going to sit in a booth at the side of the restaurant but moved, because to me, it looked and smelled dirty. Their was a build-up of grime on the floor, the kind that appears after an indefinite period of half-assed cleaning. The front of the restaurant was a little better. When it comes to BBQ choices, MetroWest is severely limited. I hope Tennessee's can get its act together and rise to its former level of glory.
(2)
Greg L.
Tennessee's (the Framingham location) catered a 100 person reception for us recently. We had a smoked whole suckling pig, lots of wings, sides, etc. Dan Ward was great - he helped us pick food and sides that everyone enjoyed. Two people came to setup and serve - both were fantastic. They did a great job of slicing and serving the smoked pig and keeping the food flowing. Everyone loved the food.
(5)
D J.
Sauce and food itself is pretty bland. I've tried their brisket plates as well as the pulled pork and came away disappointed.
(2)
Ravi K.
Good down home country food. Will go there any time & any place again. One in Andover, MA is good too. Will be rating them as well. Both places have free parking.
(4)
C C.
After dining here 5 times over the past year or so, I have concluded that this place is a bust. Ribs are mediocre, chicken is dry and the pulled pork is a terrible salt bomb, with very heavy BBQ sauce. Sides are generally edible, but the mac n cheese is down right terrible. Food is quite consistent, unfortunately. Obscure brand fountain drink variety is as below average as the food.
(2)
Marcy L.
I'm not really a tear-the-meat-off-the-bone kind of gal...but my friends who are wing-kings seem to love this place. I'm always suspicious of restaurants in strip malls....but this place really wasn't that bad (and might not be as bad for you as BK or McD). *Small but super clean (...smooth move, TRB) *Brief menu (but chances are, you already know what you want when you step into a BBQ joint) *Fast service! Our food was done PRONTO - and not bad prices (average, i would say) . You can order one plate for two people...large servings of meatmeatmeat. I got the veg burrito - it was mostly rice, peppered with bits of green pepper and onion. Not a regular flour tortilla, either. ......It was good because I heaped on BBQ sauce, but I'd rather spend 6$ at Chipotle. Good sweet potato fries soothed my burrito break down (crispy, airy little bites), but it is doubtful I will return to this meat pull.
(2)
Liz O.
The sauce is four or five stars (I like the sweet sauce, but they have spicy and regular). The meat is three or four stars. The sides are inedible. The baked beans were almost raw. Seriously, how can you fail at baked beans? The corn bread was so sweet it was like cake and had no texture. And the coleslaw was like flaccid, vinegared cabbage with no oomph. The meat that was not on the bone was much better (the pulled chicken and brisket). The ribs were dried out a bit, but the sauce was nice, and you can get as much as you want. Also, they didn't have Coke or Pepsi products, just "Real City Soda," which is pretty terrible.
(2)
Jerilyn E.
We just moved the area and were looking for some place to eat. Based on the excellent reviews on this restaurant we decided to try it. It was AWESOME!! We will definitely come back, the beef brisket, cucumber salad and corn on the cob were by far our favorites!!
(4)
Rachel G.
Boston's best bbq, hands down. Got takeout from here-- baby back ribs, regular, hot, and bbq wings, pulled pork, mac n' cheese, and collard greens. The Ribs- not huge, but as baby back ribs go they had a fair amount of meat on them. Fatty in a good way, cooked in sweet bbq sauce, and covered in a delicious layer of caramelized meaty goodness. Yum. The Wings- I'm not a big wings fan, but these were great. Not your typical party platter drenched in Frank's Red Hot and blue cheese, these were applewood smoked and coated with bbq-tasting sauces ranging from mild to hot. Wings are always a little bit greasy, but these weren't noticeably so. The die-hard wings fan in our group said these were the best he'd ever had. The Pulled Pork- INTENSE porktimes. I think it was supposed to be served as a sandwich, but our takeout version was served open-faced and in the form of a pound of pulled pork piled atop a (now very saturated) piece of white bread. Taste-wise, the pork was salty, rich, and a little sweet, but not overpoweringly flavorful on its own. I added some bbq sauce to the mix to spice things up-- highly recommend that modification. The Sides (Mac n' Cheese + Collard Greens)- the mac was good, but not terribly cheesy. As far as a takeout side (exculding Boston Market and their deeelicios mac) it was decent, but not something I'd order on its own. Same with the collard greens, which were pretty standard preparation and didn't leave much of an impression on me. Everything had a thin layer of bbq sauce already on it, but I was very glad I grabbed several (well, 7) to-go cups of the "sweet" sauce (there's also "hot" and "vinegar"). I sampled the "hot," but it wasn't my favorite as it didn't have a ton of flavor beyond just heat. I actually mixed a little in with the (buckets of) "sweet" sauce just to spice the latter up a bit, but the "sweet" bbq was so good on its own I'm not really sure that was necessary. I don't know about the other Tennessee's locations, but this one is a bit of a hole-in-the-wall with kind of a down home cookin' version of Five Guys Burgers and Fries vibe. They had a fair bit of seating inside, but when I picked up our order around 6 pm on a weekday, it was empty. I don't know if I'd stay and dine in the restaurant on future visits, but I'll definitely be back for the food.
(4)
Edgar P.
This is pretty close to Firefly's BBQ but I have to give the Two Forks Up to Tennessee's for their BBQ. It was well priced and it had a very laid back ambiance to it. Pulled pork was great, ribs followed, and the brisket was done right as well. It had different types of BBQ sauce for those who have a preference in that and they had incredible deals on combo platters. It was definitely a place I would recommend to people who really want to get great BBQ at a fair price. -Papa Bear
(5)
Laura H.
Thought I'd give this place a second chance, well it will not be getting a third chance that's for sure. Got the N.C. Pork sandwich with mashed, pork was so way too greasy and I didn't care for the flavor. Mashed were OK, better than I expected and all 3 BBQ sauces I tried all tasted the same. I guess my heart will always belong to Blue Ribbon =).
(2)
T B.
For a BBQ place the cashier did not know what burnt ends were. She argued that they are shredded beef in BBQ sauce. The place needs a good cleaning, everything is sticky.
(1)
Daniel G.
Maybe I'm just a bit BBQ deprived as there isn't much of it where I'm from in NH, but on my one visit here... I am VERY impressed. In pretty much all areas. First: the FOOD. The menu is simple yet difficult to make a selection from as it all sounds so good. My BBQ pork sandwich was excellent and ridiculously juicy and messy, as proper BBQ should be. My sandwich and nibbles from the plates of the rest of my party, plus my sandwich's sides were all great and I hanker to go back. Furthermore, even their drinks are exciting. They have "off brand" soda both in the bottle and in the fountain, with interesting flavors. This is a very nice perk. Next: VALUE. This place gives you a lot of food, and GOOD food at that, for a perfectly reasonable price. Some BBQ places, I'd have to deny myself what I most want because I might balk at the high price of ribs and such. Here, if I want ribs, no problem. Finally, there's the mood and method. The place has an amusing "southern transplant" motif (I don't know quite how authentic the look is), and it is MUCH faster than a full-service restaurant where you sit down, get waited on, etc. Here you order at the counter, sit, and your food is soon ready at the counter to pick up. I really enjoy this speedy approach, though I don't know from my one visit if it is always so speedy; it was kinda a down time with hardly anybody in the restaurant. There aren't THAT many tables in the place, so I could imagine wanting to go there and kinda being turned off of it if the place is hopping. Then again... for really good barbecue I can wait a bit. Or even just take it to go and make a mess of it on the curb. It might just be that good.
(4)
rose n.
Stopped by here on a trek to the Natick Mall. It's pretty solid if you order good things. The BF opted for some meat with some cornbread and some sides (this was in the winter so I forget the combo) but he definitely got a great deal and his sides were delicious. I got the veggie burrito which was a mistake because I hate cooked peppers and onions which was all it was. I think it had some rice which I ate out of it. It was giant burrito and definitely another great deal if you like peppers and onions. They also have a refillable drink machine, plenty of paper towels, and some awesome sauces. I gave them 4 stars because they were solid, quick, and had plenty of seating (it's a little deceiving). I would just ordered sides next time I come back because even though I'm vegetarian, I love BBQ sides.
(4)
Manfred S.
Slow cooked bbq was never served faster. Juicy pulled pork and ribs, beans and corn, rounded out with dirty rice ... still licking my fingers. Yummy. For now the tastiest BBQ I have sampled in NE. Red Bones is tasteless in comparison. Only shortcoming - not a place to hang out. Next time - take out!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Mike G.
Okay, I'll admit, this place from the outside (at least this location) screams hole in the wall. When you walk in it is much more pleasant and inviting, with a great BBQ smell. They offer a wide range of selections, sandwiches, mixed meats, and platters. I've had the pulled pork sandwich, and the rib platter. Both were actually very good. I've had some fantastic BBQ, but this place is worth more than one visit. Their ribs were a bit tuff, but not too bad and tasted fresh. The bark was the main "tuff" on it, and the inner meat was nice, juicy, and tender. Basted in a bit of their sweet BBQ sauce, it was hard to complain. Their pulled pork sandwich wasn't bad either. My complaint would be the bread didn't taste fresh. Now, it wasn't moldy or anything, but you can tell the difference between a fresh soft bread, and something that's a few days older. I think a softer hamburger bun would have complimented it MUCH better. The pork had good flavor, and the BBQ sauce definitely worked well with it. They have the basic sides you would expect, fries, mashed potatoes, corn bread, BBQ beans, etc. Their beans and potatoes were very good, and their Corn Bread is fantastic. Soft, sweet, and cooked to perfection. I was excited to see they had homemade sweat tea, served right out of a pitcher. Which was an excellent treat for this southern boy!
(4)Alexander L.
i got the brisket sandwich with two sides. portions were good. cucumber salad was tasty and the mac and cheese was nice and creamy. the brisket was tender, but also felt dry. i couldn't tell the difference between the tangy bbq sauce and the hot bbq sauce. overall, seems like an ok lunch stop if work is nearby.
(3)Jon H.
For BBQ in the northeast, this place is right in the middle to top of the pack. The best thing about Tennessee's is the value - for about $11 you can get a decent open face pulled pork, a side of mac& cheese, corn bread, and coleslaw (obviously you can substitute classics such as collard greens or mashed potatoes). Personally there isn't a better deal for bbq in a combo pack for lunch. They also do a great job of speedy service when you call ahead for pickup (we got two orders with three sides each in under 10 minutes). The pulled pork was smoky and perfectly salty, served with the right amount of sauce (I found myself using the bbq sauce on my mac&cheese instead), and severed over open face bread to the perfect amount as to it being thoroughly soaked through at the end, which is delightful. The mac & cheese is not too heavy and really a delight - although I wish it had breadcrumbs...and you can pretty much tell its not the baked mac&cheese kind. The slaw is something to be desired, so I'd say opt for greens or potatoes, I just found the slaw to be too light in general with too much celery seed. The cornbread is a delight - buttery and sweet, but a little light on the "corn" part of the bread. Tennessee's is also right next to a Quizno's, BK, Fresh Cafe, Boston Market, Papa Gino's and an Indian restaurant. Basically, when debating where to go out for a meal in Framingham after a day of shopping nearby, this is a great place to get all you could want.
(4)Jaelynn D.
Service was decent. Food came out quick. My brisket was dry though. I shelack the crap out of it with tasty BBQ sauce. The sides were really good and the place is well decorated. It reminds me if Planet Hollywood and a hick were to get together and fuck and made a baby and you have this place.
(3)Catie C.
Great Fries - crunchy and flavored. As for the BBQ wings, it's a bit overcooked. It's rather dry, no juice. It has a nice kick to it tho. This is one of the few fast food joints that serve beer! Cheers to that!
(3)Shaina P.
Yet another charming joint stuck in the middle of a strip mall in Framingham ... But, like others nearby, Tennessee's TRANSFORMS from strip mall frontage and into a stylized BBQ garage with a southern backyard BBQ eatery feel. You got your BBQ: pulled pork and pulled chicken platters, burritos stuffed with dirty rice, meat and cheese, smoky bbq wings, even salad! You got your sides: potato salad, corn on the cob, mac & cheese, dirty rice cucumber salad, and a half a dozen other options that are impossible to remember ... You got your sauces: simply sweet tangified hot all thick and spreadable, flavor lacks zing But best of all, you got your drink selection: brought to you by Mercury Brewing Co. of Ipswich, MA root beer, cream soda, lime soda, etc. and Tennessee's Ale that they can call their own
(3)Tracy W.
Years ago when I was a local I liked coming here for lunch. Now that I've lived in the South for 10 yrs I was curious to see if it was still good. Um, not so much. I got the Carolina pulled pork sandwich since pulled pork is my normal barbecue "barometer dish." I realize you take a chance of getting fat in with your pork, but there was an awful lot of it that I had to pull out. There was a decent amount of burnt ends, but they had no flavor at all. The pork tasted boiled, not barbecued at all. I tried all 3 sauces. The sweet and tangy tasted identical (and neither was all that appealing). The hot tasted like the sweet with some extra cayenne powder thrown in (again, not appealing).
(1)Ben H.
Had the pulled pork and memphis ribs. Mediocre to average at best. Best BBQ is in the south. Wish I had picked something better but I was in a hurry.
(3)Louie B.
Good solid BBQ. Surprised at the 2 and 3 star reviews. For the area this is probably the best BBQ option there is. I usually get a platter with a couple of meats. The Cucumber Slaw has a great tang and sweetness to it. The mac n cheese is always hearty and tasty. And I love their sauces. Ribs are decent, although nothing close to the heaven i had in san diego at Phil's :) If Tennssee's could duplicate Phils - I'd give them 6 stars! :)
(4)Dessa R.
Pretty good BBQ! Fast, reasonably-priced, tasty, and no snotty complaints from this picky New Yorker. Try the combo plate and split it with a famished friend. Just don't ask for "hush puppies," cause they'll have no idea what you're talking about.
(3)Sam B.
The burrito meal was great, had real mac and cheese tasted like if they were home made the mash potato was ok at best. but good over all experiences, just hope they open one up closer to Boston.
(4)Chris K.
Every time I go to Framingham I make it a point to eat here. One of my favorite BBQ joints (and I love me some BBQ!). The sauces are great (there are a variety of choices in keg-like barrels) and the service is fast. I usually get some sort of combination of Ribs and Rotisserie chicken, as both here are great (I don't understand how the Boston Market next door stays in business with better Rotisserie chicken so close!). The mashed potatoes and cornbread are great for sides, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the baked beans as is (but if you add in some extra BBQ sauce this is easily redeemed). This place never disappoints!
(5)Ryan M.
Yum. Tangy BBQ sauce is best. French fries are great. Staff is very nice. Food comes fast. Seems a touch too expensive. But I had a gift certificate. The end.
(4)David Y.
I got the North Carolina pulled pork sandwich platter with some green beans and mashed potatoes with gravy for about $9, a good price considering it was a decent amount of food. While Nothing was bad, I certainly was hoping for the succulent, savory BBQ you have dreams about. The pulled pork sandwich was a decent sized but the pork definitely lacked the favor I was expecting. The texture was right, soft but still enough bite in it to have your incisors to really tear into it. It just didn't have a prominent smoky punch, even with the add-on bbq sauce. The sides were fine but nothing worth noting. This ends my first attempt at southern BBQ in New England. After having BBQ in Texas, other parts of the South, and Kansas City, I was disappointed. Perhaps my expectations got the better of me. I'd give it another shot with more realistic expectations.
(2)Ann S.
I really love the food at this place. The food is ready quickly, but it's not "fast food". However, the last time I was in there we were with someone from out of town who needed a few minutes to look at the menu. While we were making our decisions, the woman behind the counter rolled her eyes right in front of us and didn't even attempt to hide her annoyance. This was a turnoff, but it will not stop be from going back because I love the food!
(4)John M.
Best thing on the menu is the sweet potato fries. I definitely suggest trying all 3 of their BBQ sauces because they're all pretty good too. the BBQ burrito is lackluster
(3)Ben P.
After getting no service at Fireflies last night, my wife and I dropped by here. It is a bit of a dive, really run down, dirty and more of fast food than a restaurant but the good thing about this place is the fast service and the good food. The meat is never dry, always hot and there is plenty of it. Man, this post is making me hungry. Time for leftovers!!
(5)Jeremy K.
Comparing this place to some of the stuff I've had in Texas or in more upscale places in Brookline and Newton would not be fair at all and this is not my intention. I ended up here because of my cousin who lives near by who told me that we'd be hitting up a BBQ joint for lunch - he mentioned that it was relatively cheap, good and not far from his crib. We hopped into his car and drove off. Located right near Wal-Mart (booohh!!) the parking is ample! Thank god. I hate having to hunt for spots right before having a meal, especially when I'm hungry. We entered and almost immediately the welcoming, lovely smell of BBQ hit my nose faster than the bullets we shot in Westford his the targets. I ordered the ribs sampler with slaw, cumbumber salad and corn bread. I paid around $16 for that and a drink and after a few moments of waiting around, my number was called and I picked up my food at the counter. The seating options are limited and not always clean and the trash cans needed to be emptied. Both were filled to the brim causing me to have to call a staff member over to empty them so that I could dispose of my tray and food... Overall the place is pretty good... reliable.. The ribs were meaty and tasty and they are pretty, pretty good. If I ever head this way I'd gladly eat there without hesitation but the lack of maintenance on their part is noticeable which was unfortunate. They could also enhance the decor a little bit...
(3)Sneakers A.
Even though the menu prices are in the $10+ range, I voted for "cheap under $10" because the portions are enormous, and I frequently split them. Nothing on the menu is especially creative or stunningly well done, but it's solid BBQ, and the sides do the job. It's an incredible value too. There is a 3 meat/2 sides combo for around $15 that splits into two very large portions. If you can finish that whole meal by yourself you are in the at-risk category for heart attacks. My biggest complaint is that instead of Coke/Pepsi they serve some weird off brand of soda that I can't stand. Therefore I only go here for takeout. Well worth a monthly or bi-monthly visit though.
(3)Dave A.
Great food. Kids eat free as well!
(4)Aaron P.
Finally, real BBQ in New England! I was born and raised in Texas so I know my BBQ. I also know that there are many different styles of BBQ. Sadly, almost no "BBQ" places in Boston make anything remotely similar to any real BBQ style I've ever seen. It's been my main disappointment since moving here 13 years ago (otherwise, I love this town). So I was ecstatic to discover this place in Framingham. My wife and I go there on special occasions and we bring our relatives there when they visit. This is the real deal. Their homemade sauces are so good that we routinely fill 5 or 6 plastic containers with extra sauce and sneak it out for use at home. For newbies, the sampler platter is a great way to go. I personally prefer the sliced brisket sandwich with baked beans (dump some BBQ sauce in them and mix it up) and green beans with corn bread. The only catch is that the food is sometimes cold. But you can always ask them to reheat it. The service has always been polite and top notch.
(5)Chris C.
Tried this place again as I was driving by and thought it would a better quick dinner than the other fast food selections in the area. I would say that my initial assessment of the pulled pork stands the same. I also tried the mac and cheese which I found to be nice. I liked how it was creamy and cooked correctly. The speed that the meal was ready was also astounding. I hadn't even gotten over to the drink machine to fill my cup up before my meal was ready to go.
(4)John N.
I'm not sure why this place isn't more crowded, the food is much better than Fireflys. the prices are pretty good too. Maybe it's just the location there are lots of good options in this little strip mall. Anyway this place is very good. Try the burritto, very good and very filling.
(4)Diane L.
We had our company picnic catered by Tennesee's and it was a big hit. They showed up on time, set everything up including everything from plates to wet naps to chafing dishes all in about two minutes. For the amount of food we received it was a true bargain. As for the food everything tasted great and my staff was still talking about it days later. The biggest hits were the pulled pork, mac and cheese and corn bread.
(5)Chad F.
I commute to the Boston area each week for work, and have tried a few places. This is real tasty BBQ and Cookout, depending on where you're from. I have had the pulled pork, brisket, pulled chicken (in a burrito) and the smoked then grilled wings. Nothing bad so far...prices are commensurate with the quality and portions. Sides that I have had are good too. Will continue to be a repeat diner.
(4)E G.
Cheap, good eats. Loved the North Carolina pulled pork. Very casual, diner feel. When you just have to have bbq, go here. Easy to park.
(4)Aaron F.
I love Tennessee's. By far my favorite place in the Framingham area. They are not cheap but they are quick and delicious! My preference is the Memphis Ribs - also love their Corn Bread, Mac&Cheese, Smashed Potatoes, and BBQ chicken.
(5)Adam E.
I was hungry. The kind of hungry that makes me want to run down drivers that wronged me, and snap at my gf for telling me not to get us killed. When she gently suggested that we get something to eat at Tennessee's, I knew it was the right choice and put my inner 13-year old to bed. I've eaten a lot of BBQ in New England (fat kid), and none in the south. I am a liberal Boston queer, I have no interest in Texas and don't care if I'm missing out on authentic BBQ. We're smarter here, so maybe ours is better! I can't speak on their ribs, I had a pulled pork sandwich with tangy sauce, and it had a bit of a kick. It was excellent. The sandwich was generous, but not ridiculous. With 2 sides it was only $7.50! I opted for mac & cheese and smashed potatoes (fat kid!) which were outrageously good. Even the gravy on the potatoes pleased me, and that's no easy task. If the food wasn't so great, the highlight of the meal would have been the house root beer on draught. The atmosphere was fine, I didn't find it to be dirty-feeling at all. The tables needed the crumbs wiped off them, but big deal. After the meal, I still hated drivers that cut me off, but I was far too happy and full to think about exacting revenge on them.
(4)Justin T.
Great food (No faux-que here, this is the real deal). The portions are more than generous. A sandwich and two sides easily fills the plate. Service is quick and friendly. A must visit place for those who love BBQ and find themselves in Framingham and hungry. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Malena L.
You know: sometimes...just sometimes...when you've just swam 1/2 mile, biked 12 miles and ran 3 miles you just...kinda...feel like pulled pork sandwiches. Specially, when you know said pulled pork sandwiches can be acquired on your way home, within 5 minutes from ordering them and you will have the choice of not getting any of the sweet bbq sauce shit, but the spicy North Carolina style sauce. Specially, when you know you can also stuff your mouth-hole with some cole slaw, mac&cheese and mashed potatoes. Specially, when you know you are so calorie-deprived that ordering a beer will be enough to get you drunk. I'm just sayin'. It's plenty of calories and protein...just what the doctor recommended after a sprint triathlon.
(3)Nicole S.
I guess it's not fair if I try and compare you to BBQ places from Texas. That would be wrong, and you don't deserve that. You are from Massachusetts and therefore, you are really on a different playing field. One where less is expected of you. And that's ok. I probably wouldn't kick up a big fuss about a non-authentic Lobster Roll in Dallas. However, you are no Blue Ribbon BBQ in Newton. You don't have burnt ends, and burnt ends make me salivate just to think about. But you're ok. We had a brisket sandwich and a pulled pork sandwich and both were good. The watermelon was super fresh and juicy. You get 3 stars for a solid effort and respectable MA BBQ. You got some work ahead of you though!
(3)Greg D.
This place is like coming home again. the food is very tasty and the service is quick. I love the pulled pork sandwich and it is the best Barbecue in the Metro Boston area. It can be little pricey depending on what you get. It is not the easiest place to find, but it is on the old Caldor Rd (now leads to Wal-Mart). The decor is a quirky mix of of tables and signs you would see at a typical Road side Barbecue joint in the south. The fries are awesome and defiantly a side that you should get. You can't go wrong at Tennesee's.
(4)Jackey B.
Delicious BBQ that is hard to find in this area. It's nothing fancy, but it's quick and delicious and doesn't let down. I prefer to sit by the windows, the back of the restaurant is a bit dingy near the bathrooms. Good food, good value, and especially good if you're in the mood for BBQ
(4)Ian H.
Brits abroad looking for the best ribs - we found them here. Great food, fast service and very friendly. We had a blast!
(5)Ali F.
The BEST barbecue I've ever had outside of the south. The brisket and mac and cheese are fantastic and the cornbread is the absolute best in the world. I go there every time I'm in the Boston area and wish they could ship food to DC where we sorely lack palatable barbecue.
(4)Sean M.
Chain BBQ started by Steve Uliss and then sold. Needlessly fatty ribs and chicken, Not very sanitary, and the staff are rude. When it gets crowded and I'm amazed it does, there can be total chaos, the last straw was getting home and finding multiple items missing from order. People: Firefly's is within seconds of here, go there instead.
(2)Aubri L.
MMMMmmmmmMMMMmmm... had a few minutes during an lunch-time errand with a friend so we stopped in here. Pulled meats, amazing sides and yummy sodas. PLUS, quick service at 12:10 on a weekday and lots of seats to choose from.
(4)Charlie B.
You won't find much better barbecue around. (Though I do enjoy Firefly's nearby.) Great ribs, pulled pork/chicken, and chicken wings. Their sides are also amazing; the mac and cheese is as good as it gets. If you want barbecue fast, this is the place for you. I'm genuinely surprised it's not rated higher. It's not fancy and the prices are a little high for what it is, but the food can't be beat.
(5)Ken S.
So sticky, so greasy, so downright satisfying. Wear loose-fitting trousers and you'll be OK.
(4)Leo L.
Pretty low rent atmosphere, but I actually like the food better than Firefly's. OK, the pulled chicken wasn't really pulled, it was chunked, but it had good smoky flavor and the sauce was great. Top it off with a local beer in a plastic cup and it's actually like a real bbq joint. I agree with Han though, it can't compare to Blue Ribbon. Update: tried the Caribbean chicken - not bad, but only barely Caribbean flavored (really just a spice rub with plenty of red pepper flakes). A pretty good deal for $10 for half a small chicken and three sides. Pulled pork was actually pulled (unlike the chicken), and my kid ate it up. I guess Memphis sauces are supposed to be molasses based, but a vinegar-based sauce would really make the pulled pork better. Still a 3-star, but could become a mainstay takeout joint.
(3)Rich G.
Great BBQ ribs and sides. Serious competition for Fireflys. Small place with tables and serving beer. Not cleanest place but worth indulging when you want good BBQ.
(4)Doug M.
Went back recently and the burritos/sandwiches and ribs were very good -- glad to see that Tennessee's is back in top form again. The atmosphere isn't great - but the food is much better than Firefly's.
(4)Dee H.
As the only rib fan in the household, I come here either to have a meal or to take out when I have time all to myself! Ribs are yummy, the carribbean chicken is delish. I always order with the collard greens with one of these goodies: pickled cucumber, candied yams or dirty rice. Sometimes a pulled pork sandwich for the spouse to go. The interior is all down to business of enjoying your food. Who needs to look around when the focus comes down to your finger licking ribs?
(4)Lindsay M.
Went there last night, food was pretty good, pulled chicken was a little fatty but I was able to get some good pieces of chicken. I loved the mac and cheese. The cornbread was good too. I thought this was was dirty though, the bathroom was so gross, my feet were sticking to the floor and the odor was horrendous. The table was fine but you could tell that the cooking area was not very clean, the side foor was left open and from what I could see, it did not look clean back there. Not sure if I would go there again especially since there are other choices in the area but the food came out decent and very quick. The service was pretty good too!
(3)Matthew A.
I was going to go to Quizno's but then I saw this place. SO I went in and saw the menu. I got a lunch specal with N. Carolina shredded pork, mac and cheese and cucumber salad. Self serve 3 kinds of BBQ sauce. I tried them all. Meat was moist and flavorful. Clean space and fast service. The mac and cheese and cuke salad rocked. Would def go back cuz I want to try the ribs.
(4)Neeraj D.
After a busy day of work where I could not even have lunch, I was glad to settle down to come comfort food. Granted this probably coated my arteries, I mentally felt better. Being a rib-man, I tried their rib sampler: 2 Texas ribs, 2 baby-back, and 2 Tennesse ribs.... it has been a while since I have look at one of those butcher charts, but tennesse and texas ribs? I found out the Texas ribs are beef, and I think the tennesse are the Saint-Louis style ribs. All in all, they were smoked well, with good permeation, flavor, and smoke rings to show it. I enjoyed a mix of the tangy and "spicy" BBQ as an accompaniment to the ribs (and think the spicy could use some more heat). The sides, beans, corn (though I wanted to try to corn bread and miscommunicated that), and sweet-potato worked well... I ended up taking half of the sides home because I was pretty full and did not want to explode... The Texas ribs are indeed rather large. the baby back ribs were a bit too fatty for my liking, but The interior helped make it feel a bit more as a BBQ joint and not as part of a strip mall. The ale was okay and next time I will try something different. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I sat near the front and so saw a lot of the carry-out traffic, which seems to be their main business. flavorful. The Tennessee is what I will go with again in the future. Overall, the place was clean and neat. I liked how there was a sink in the seating area - a good sign to me that I am expected to get some sauce all over me. All in all, I was pleased and will visit again.... after a few more trips to the gym and another paycheck.
(4)eliz a.
So, maybe it's a little bit unfair that I am only giving Tennessee's 3 stars because it smells so strongly of meat, since it is, after all, a barbecue place. But, I really feel like it makes it hard to eat there. Takeout mac and cheese, though, is SO GOOD and so cheap. $4.65 for a pint? Yes, please! I appreciate the large number of veggie options, in general, though to be fair I really just get the mac and cheese, over and over. Also, their service? So fast! I call 5 minutes before I get there and my order is ready on the counter for me. Overall, I would give takeout 4 stars and in-restaurant 2. So, 3 stars it is!
(3)F. B.
Any kind of barbecue sandwich ought to bowl a fellow over with flavor. Mine didn't, making one visit enough for now. Also, is it just me, or are the prices a little high? Not a place I would frequenty.
(2)Andrew M.
So apparently this place is owned by the husband of the owner of Big Fresh? Or something like that? They served solid barbecue with a variety of tasty sauces, but I'd like to check out Big Fresh next time I'm in the area because it seemed more up my alley.
(3)Jo B.
If you're considering trying this place, you're probably thinking , "BBQ place in Framingham, Mass - it can't possibly be good". Well, you would certainly be mistaken. Many years ago I lived in Texas, and I can count on one hand the instances that I've missed living there. While most of these instances occurred during the dead of winter, there was a very hot August day when I was very pregnant and craving some good BBQ. I was almost ready to hop on a plane when I realized no one would let my 38 week pregnant self on a plane. Sigh. So I drove myself over to Tennessee's and proceeded to order me some BBQ. Some ribs, a pulled pork sandwich, mac and cheese, tidewater coleslaw and cornbread. I know it sounds like a lot of food,but the baby was hungry. Everything was so good, I went back like every day for 2 weeks.....then baby came and I had to go on a diet. Big surprise. Since then, I visit Tennesee's about once a month or so, with my kids, and have never been disappointed. The best part is that kids eat free (I think it's one kid can eat free per paid adult entree) - they can choose a corn dog, BBQ Chicken or Ribs, and they get one side like mac n cheese, some cornbread and a drink. One kids meal is enough food for two younger kids to eat. What a great deal.
(4)waits w.
Completely inconsistent. One day it's tasty the next time it's dry. But it isn never fall off the bone. Very good cornbread. Terrible brisket. It's a gamble but given the alternatives it's fair. If you're looking for the smokiest fall off the bones ribs in town, just head across the street to Bugaboo. I know what you're thinking but as a BBQ snop it's really good.
(2)Kupkake K.
Still a great place to eat! Fast and delicious!
(4)Eric B.
Decent BBQ -- good pulled pork, BBQ beef and pulled chicken and excellent BBQ chicken (very tender, even the white meat is nice and moist). Not what you'd get in the south, but as good as you'll get in the Boston area (I honestly don't think the food at the criminally overrated Redbones and Blue Ribbon is any better). Also -- superspeedy service and kids eat free every day. We bring a family of 4 and can each get a plate w/meat and 3 sides and 2 kids meals and be out for under $25. And THAT'S hard to find if you're not going the fast-food route.
(4)Anna F.
Not as good as Blue Ribbon, but definitely good. I wish the pulled pork had more flavor.
(3)Arik C.
After trying blue Ribbon, this place is not up to par. Just not enough flavor in the ribs and brisket as what you get a Blue Ribbon. Its a step above the Village Smokehouse in Brookline but for a chain bbq restaurant, not one of my favorites. tennesseebbq.com
(3)Han K.
It's not great. It's on the same level as Firefly's in my opinion. But both can really suck it compared to Blue Ribbon.
(2)Natalie A.
I am from Kentucky and lived in Texas some last year for my husband's Army duties. Since moving to Framingham in late November, we have been satisfied with very few of the dining options in the immediate area. This place's TANGY sauce will knock your socks off! It is great. I got the Memphis ribs and also some chicken, and let me tell you, they are great. You can taste the smoke flavor and it is amazing. If you only order one side, get the baked macaronni and cheese- out of this world! The sweet potatoes with the butter, cinnamon and sugar are great, and I LOVE the sink they have to wash your hands. It was great- we have a 3 year old and that was handy!
(5)Dorian G.
***UPDATED 5/4/07*** returned to try the pulled chicken. MUCH better. nice big, meaty pieces and the BBQ sauce was nice and tangy. didn't need to hit the self-serve vats at all. i'm adding a star for the chicken. -------- ORIGINAL REVIEW (4/9/07: 2 stars) meh. i got the sweet pulled pork sandwich with smashed potatoes. the pork was...well...mushy and borderline tasteless. Almost watered down. I asked the girl if the tangy pork was spicy and she said it was really spicy, so i opted for the sweet pork and i could add some "hot" or "tangy" sauce myself from the self-serve vats. well, maybe my tastebuds were having an off day because i couldnt taste the difference between the 2 and they weren't even mild, let alone spicy in any way, and they tasted just like the sweet sauce. i dont get it. the potatoes were really good though. nice and garlicky, not salty like i was afraid they might be. i'll give this place another chance in the future with the pulled chicken and ribs another time, but the pulled pork was nasty in my book.
(3)Laurie C.
We love Tennessee's BBQ! Their pulled pork sandwich is so yummy! My boyfriend likes the chicken sandwich. We're not in love with the ribs here, but if you are a pulled pork fan you have to try it! Their cucumber salad is amazing, as are their cornbread and baked sweet potatoes. Their french fries can be soggy, but I don't like mine crunchy so I think they're good. My boyfriend had the corn on the cob last time we were there and loved it - and who has good corn on the cob in January?!
(4)Kiat C.
Amazing fast and bone suckling good..Just know what you want pick your sides and grab a beer yes they have beer and enjoy life and taste the south for those few minutes then come back for more.Go for the pulled pork the ribs and those nachos and then the sides go with the collards the Mac and the dirty rice and you'll be all set that i promise you and yes take out is just that fast too
(5)Samantha V.
As for BBQ, I only go to Tennessee (did I mention its an hour ride from where I live just to get it) but I wouldn't have it any other way! I am a fan of the BBQ pulled pork, sweet and tangy taste. I love the mac'n'cheese, top 3 favorite mac's not made by mama. Also they have great beef brisket, pick the burnt ends option, smokey hearty flavor, great with some cole slaw. I usually get it to go and it stays warm all the way home! I am a fan, and loyal customer!
(5)Nicole C.
Only thing I liked from here was the corn bread. It's gross and doesn't taste like a BBQ ew gross
(2)Yi S.
I haven't been here for a while now, but always had good memory of it. Used to be a staple joint for us when we lived in Framingham. Had craving for BBQ late last night and decided to pick up some BBQ chicken wings and bucket of ribs. The tastes of the ribs and wings were still good and the sauce on the side is as yummy as I remember. But the chicken and ribs were relatively dry and really burnt on the outside. I mean charcoal burnt... That is a first I have ever gotten from any restaurant or take out place. Very disappointing.
(2)Maud D.
Drawn in by the next-door Five Guys, we decided instead that we were much more in the mood for BBQ. Collard greens were tangy and superior to Redbones. Memphis ribs stuck to our ribs in a good way, and the sweet potato and BBQ beans were to die for. Decent Blues tunes on the stereo and we were in a little bit of heaven.
(5)Ethan S.
I am indeed a fan of this place. It is a bit quirky. For instance some of the combo's aren't what they say they are. For instance, the oink, moo combo doesn't come with chicken. That being said the food quality is good for boston metrowest. The service is good and friendly. The prices are reasonable. All things considered, I am happy to have Tennessee's in the metrowest area.
(4)Augustine W.
Love the food here. Never disappointed. Good artery clogging eats. Drink machine is different..not that into it..like two good options in my humble opinion. Also the sauce is in these large canisters you have to be careful or you'll be wearing it. Yikes.
(4)Bob L.
It really is quick BBQ. Food is pretty good and it's fairly priced. Combos give a good variety of what they have for first timers.
(4)J Z.
I am a huge BBQ fan, and I'm especially attracted to a BBQ joint who has the state of Tennessee in it's name (I lived there for 3 years and my cousin is a state trooper). Much to my disappointment it was no where NEAR what I've experienced in the south. I walked in and three line cooks behind the counter just stared at me and started talking to each other in what I presumed to be Brazilian Portuguese, given the area I live in. The decor is defined by many mural-style drawings of pigs dressed as humans throughout the restaurant. One is a photo of a 'female pig' slapping a 'male' pig across the face. There are rolls of high school style brown paper towels under the condiment station instead of napkins. A peek behind the counter into the prep and cooking area revealed it could be a lot cleaner. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of baked macaroni and cheese. The pulled pork in the sandwich tasted like a reheat of yesterday's food. There's no way it was cooked this morning - just leftover quality at its worst. I thought the baked macaroni and cheese was going to rescue me but it tasted worse! It was definitely cooked 2+ days ago - and that would explain why one early morning when grabbing some bagels next door, I noticed no one was in Tennessee's doing food prep or starting the pulled pork, brisket, etc. There are no commercial, non-alcoholic beverages served here - just there own brand of fountain soda, so I had that. You can see where this is going... It is 2:00 on Mothers Day on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and there are more people at Boston Market two doors down. Don't waste your time or money - if you want a great BBQ experience - I hear Blue Ribbon in Newton is the place to go. I'll let you know when I eat there ...
(1)Araceli Y.
This place should be called Massachusetts BBQ. I had the pulled chicken sandwich with coleslaw and green beans and my boyfriend had pulled pork with coleslaw and sweet potato. The sauces were generic, the greens beans, although cooked with bacon, were flavorless and the coleslaw was no more than dry cabbage. The service was terrible. I called to pick it up in 30 minutes and the blonde lady was hard to work with and rude. When I got there, she was very unwelcoming and indifferent. Almost decided to cancel my order because of the service from her. On the other hand, the atmosphere is nice and the establishment is kept clean. Coming from the south, it's really unfair to compare this to actual Tennessee bbq, but I haven't had anything else.
(2)M C.
This was a while back but I thought I should finally share why I don't eat here anymore. I loved the food (not real BBQ, but close enough) until one day my boyfriend and I ordered sweet tea. The tea had a funky taste, so we took a closer look and there was some kind of mold (I'm guessing) swirling around in our drink. We took it back to just let them know their tea probably went bad. Instead, they disagreed with us and said insisted it was fine. Alright... if you say so. This got us thinking what other food is just sitting around. Maybe I'm being picky but that's just gross.
(1)Jeff D.
Lame bbq, tough brisket and I have given it quite a few tries now. Part of the problem is we are in Framingham not down South, some of it is lack of competition. Sides are passable but definitely a three star experience, and I feel like it's gone downhill.
(3)Yvonne A.
amazing. great food, good value, friendly staff. will continue to go here ! highly recommended.
(5)Georgina C.
Across the street from my office is Tennessee's - a barbeque place that is frequented by a coworker that is actually from Tennesse. Needless to say, it was about time I got around to a taste. My plate was loaded with the Bbq Dixie Chicken, Baked Mac & Cheese, Killer Corn Bread and Cucumber Salad. The chicken: well-seasoned, flavorful and moist. I only wish I weren't so bashful about eating with my fingers (I usually refrain in public. Just personal choice.) Killer Mac & Cheese: I like mine a bit creamier and a bit less firm. Though this version was enjoyable for one that has been baked, thus zapping a fair amount of its moisture. Corn Bread: Now my mother is from the South, Georgia in fact. I love me some Southern comfort food, have eaten at Paula D's Lady & Sons restaurant and know better than to mess with Texas. In short, this cornbread was like taking a bite of a piece I got from my mama with tiniest dashes of sugar. Cucumber Salad: this was a combination of sweet and nearly tart pickled perfection. The tiniest slivers of fresh red onion added a nice flavor while the marinade which the side dish was doused in made this an instant favorite of mine. End Points: I was greeted by the sweetest hostess who gave me wonderful recommendations based on her favorites (I often as this in the least intrusive manner possible.) This is definitely a place to pop by for a timely lunch. The decor was somewhat like some of the backyard bbq's I have previously attended down to the rolls of brown paper towels that served as the source of napkins, three flavors of bbq sauce bottled and ready for purchase.
(4)Vincent K.
If you're complaining that this joint doesn't serve BBQ like they do in the south maybe you should move back south... For a BBQ place in the middle of Framingham MA, it's pretty good. I have had many items on the menu but would definitely encourage trying the Carolina pulled pork and their local root beer.. Definitely a place to visit if only just for the experience. Good price and good food, what more could you want?
(5)Ana R.
That's two visits for me in the same week and for good reason. Tennessee's is the only place in this area that provides real BBQ real fast, just like the sign says. I can honestly say it's better than Redbones in Somerville - a lot more flavor and much better atmosphere. So far, I can recommend the pulled pork sandwich and the pulled chicken salad. The mashed potatoes are heavenly! The cole slaw is the vinegary (not mayonnaise) kind and it's delicious on the spicy pork. The cornbread is moist and very yummy. Service is definitely fast and the food gets to you piping hot. Fountain drinks are generic and strange tasting, so stick to the bottled sodas, etc. The atmosphere is perfect for a quirky BBQ joint. Napkins are rolls of paper you tear away as needed. Prices are $7-$9 for sandwiches and salads, but go up a lot more for platters. A sandwich and a side will keep you full for lunch AND dinner, though. My salad was HUGE, only finished half for lunch. Will go again!
(4)Victor C.
This place has awesome bbq food. From the ribs to the wings I just recently dared to try a burrito and will tell you that it is just as good as everything else. If you like bbq food and want it quick this is the place to be.
(5)Joseph G.
So I have to review this place. First off lets start with the cleanliness, some reviews say this place is dirty I for one don't see that but it is well worn in so to speak. Now on to the food. Food was fast and hot lots of sauce definitely not what I would call real BBQ but. Price of 15 bucks a plate a bit high for the quality of food , portions where good but varied from plate to plate. Ribs did not fall off the bone but where not bad. I would stop back if I was in the area and need a BBq fix. The staff was well just ok .
(3)Cathy O.
My family and I had looked forward to our lunch today at Tennessee's BBQ. While the food was good, the deplorable state of the bathrooms left us feeling nauseous. The floor was caked with grime. The one working stall had no toilet paper. The one operational sink had only cold water. It appeared the bathroom had not been cleaned in many years. There was no visible sign asking employees to wash hands either. (Shudder) It was the dirtiest bathroom I have ever seen in a restaurant. Ergo, I wanted to address the problem. When I brought the state of the restroom to the attention of an employee, she was sympathetic. She explained there was a plumbing problem a "few years ago." Yes, she said "years ago." I asked to speak with the manager too. He was not there. The employee stated he was aware of the problem. I can't help but wonder if the restroom is in such state of neglect, if the kitchen is in the same. She assured me the kitchen was spotless. As we left, feeling sick to our stomachs, we will not be returning. Sad, since we like BBQ and would like to see their restaurant succeed.
(1)James L.
I have been here before, a while ago. It was good than and it is good now. The atmosphere upon walking was that of what I expect of a BBQ restaurant. The smokey smell tells me they grill the meat on open flames with wood. That's a good start for me since I love BBQ cooked on an open flame. The service, was not all that good. Being that I was the only person in line and I felt that the cashier was not excited to greet me. When I asked about lunch specials, she pointed to a board to my right. To me, it was a bit much both in price and amount for a lunch special. I did explain to the cashier, I was interested in something simple. She pointed to a high board to my left of sandwiches, didn't really ask what I would be interested in or had a taste for? I thought the puzzled look I had would open the door to questions and/or suggestions. I placed my order, for a BBQ Beef Sandwich w/two sides, fries and cucumber salad. The fries was made to order, right out of the fryer. The beef was in a container to the side of the bun, which I wasn't expecting BUT I like it, the bun isn't soaked by the beef before I actually eat. The cucumber salad was fresh and snap in my mouth, with taste of seasons. The beef was nicely shredded in a 1/4 size pant. It had a nice smoked BBQ flavor, not overly sauced. The prices I think are fair, especially for BBQ. The sandwiches ranges anywhere from $8-$10, but you do get a decent portion, I had beef leftover after I put what I can on the bun. There is a sauce station next to the soda machine. Three huge containers carry three different sauces, tangy, sweet, and hot. I tried the sweet and tangy, both are delicious for dipping my fries. The sauce was FREE! Moderate parking is available, the location do share a parking lot with several other business. But parking is available in front of the location. Overall, I was happy with my experience. One star deducted for the cashier service, the individual could have been more helpful and informative of their menu, and little bit more engaging.
(4)Karyn V.
This place is a fake BBQ joint, which is typical for New England. They don't smoke their meat (it is likely baked in an oven), and their sauce is super sweet. They actually have three sauces, but the differences between them are difficult to discern because they are all overpowered by sugar & tomatoes. They also mislabel what they serve. For example, their "Memphis ribs" are slathered heavily in sauce, which typically are supposed to be dry (e.g. no sauce). That is the opposite of true Memphis BBQ and more like KC ribs although not anywhere nearly as tasty. The good: The beans are quite tasty. I would describe them as Cowboy Baked Beans--pinto beans with a nice kick. The potato salad was also pretty good. The cornbread was just decent, but it was a nice option. The bad: The meat. It all lacks a lot of flavor (i.e. no seasoning or rub), and with the heavy sauce applied it all tasted the same. If they use much rub on the meat, I am shocked because it seemed non-existent. The brisket seemed to exhibit the right tenderness, but then shockingly was quite dry. The ribs were more of the same. They seemed to have the right bite, but they also were quite dry. The chicken was nothing to write home about either. The menu is hard to read it is spread over two very large boards and not well organized. Every time I read it, I discovered something new on it I didn't see before. I still don't know where they have potato salad listed on it. I just asked if they had it when I ordered it.
(2)Caitlin C.
LOVE the wings here. We always split the flavored to get some of each. They are smoked and grilled so you get that nice pink color from the smoker and all the flavor with out the wings having to be dripping in the sauce. Corn bread is a must have with every order and all the other sides do not disappoint. Take out or eat in- you won't be disappointed
(5)Dave R.
The sign says real fast and it was fast I do have to say, Good barbecue that is a little expensive.
(4)Kathleen F.
So this definitely was not the best BBQ we have had but it did have some good highlights. I tried their pulled chicken dish and the BF tried the ribs. I was not a fan of the pulled chicken, the meat was too dry and that was covered up by overuse of a too think (for my liking) sauce. However, their collared greens were awesome flavorful and just the way collards should taste. Their green beans weren't as good as the collards but they weren't too bad either. The mac and cheese had good flavor but was a little too soupy for my liking. I think if I tried this place again I might actually just get all sides because they do seem to do those well. My boyfriend had the same sides as me (great minds think alike) and was also more impressed by the sides than the ribs. The ribs weren't bad, but he said he had definitely had better at places like Blue Ribbon in Arlington. Bottom line, ok to try, but you might enjoy the sides more than the meat b/c that is what they do best!
(3)Tom B.
We had Tennessee's cater a party at our house over the weekend and I was very happy with them. The food was fantastic. People couldn't stop talking about how good the cornbread was, I was a huge fan of the ribs, and the people at the restaurant were very pleasant. We actually had a bit of a mishap. The restaurant unfortunately forgot to include the pulled pork (honest mistake) once we got home to the party we noticed it was missing and immediately called them up. The person we spoke with was extremely apologetic and immediately sent one of her employees to deliver the missing food. The employee showed up very quickly and was also very nice and apologetic. That is great customer service! All of our guests were very happy with the food and I would definitely use them again.
(4)dan w.
The young woman behind the counter is unfriendly (or borderline hostile) , indifferent and unhelpful, She must be related to the owner, otherwise she would have been fired a long time ago.The food is ok, but now overpriced, and the place is not so clean. The paucity of BBQ in the area is all that keeps it going.
(1)John S.
I really enjoyed the food here. I've only been here once but liked everything I got a lot. I had a couple types of ribs, both of which were delicious. Their pulled pork sandwiches are out of this world!
(4)Ryan D.
I am a Big BBQ fan.. Honestly this is some of the best BBQ in Massachusetts.. I Don't get some of the bad reviews, especially with some of places that supposedly have good BBQ according to yelp! Its decent BBQ in Mass.. I love the BBQ burritos for a quick cheap BBQ lunch you eat on the go! Love the corn bread! I have not tried there beef products but anything from a pig here is good.. To be honest for sides when I am not eating the burrito I get corn bread and a sweet potato I know nothing of the rest.. 4 stars as I dont know of any 5 star bbq in new england however I have yet to try sweet cheeks..
(4)Tim A.
I used to love this place, but went there for my birthday recently and was pretty disappointed, enough to say that I probably won't be back anytime soon. I ordered the "meaty" ribs, but wow, they were anything but. My ring finger has more meat on it than one of the bones I was served. Seriously. After paying $16, I felt kind of ripped off. Enough to ask for another rib, which to their credit they gave me, and which had literally twice the meat of any of the ribs I received in my original order, which kind of pissed me off even more. After eating what was allegedly a "half rack" of ribs, I was still hungry, and somewhat bitter. I hate being bitter when I'm at a restaurant, especially when I'm with other people. I don't want to ruin it for them, but I also find it extremely difficult to pretend everything is fine. The flavor? Meh. When there isn't much meat to begin with, flavor is kind of secondary. The sides were good. I liked the collards. My wife got a burrito, which weighed in at probably four times the weight of my "half rack." One of my kids got the wings. 8 wings plus fries for $11. Dousing them with sauce couldn't hide the fact that they were dry. When you charge $11 for wings, there just isn't much wiggle room for excuses. I am a slob and usually not very picky, but when we first got there, we were going to sit in a booth at the side of the restaurant but moved, because to me, it looked and smelled dirty. Their was a build-up of grime on the floor, the kind that appears after an indefinite period of half-assed cleaning. The front of the restaurant was a little better. When it comes to BBQ choices, MetroWest is severely limited. I hope Tennessee's can get its act together and rise to its former level of glory.
(2)Greg L.
Tennessee's (the Framingham location) catered a 100 person reception for us recently. We had a smoked whole suckling pig, lots of wings, sides, etc. Dan Ward was great - he helped us pick food and sides that everyone enjoyed. Two people came to setup and serve - both were fantastic. They did a great job of slicing and serving the smoked pig and keeping the food flowing. Everyone loved the food.
(5)D J.
Sauce and food itself is pretty bland. I've tried their brisket plates as well as the pulled pork and came away disappointed.
(2)Ravi K.
Good down home country food. Will go there any time & any place again. One in Andover, MA is good too. Will be rating them as well. Both places have free parking.
(4)C C.
After dining here 5 times over the past year or so, I have concluded that this place is a bust. Ribs are mediocre, chicken is dry and the pulled pork is a terrible salt bomb, with very heavy BBQ sauce. Sides are generally edible, but the mac n cheese is down right terrible. Food is quite consistent, unfortunately. Obscure brand fountain drink variety is as below average as the food.
(2)Marcy L.
I'm not really a tear-the-meat-off-the-bone kind of gal...but my friends who are wing-kings seem to love this place. I'm always suspicious of restaurants in strip malls....but this place really wasn't that bad (and might not be as bad for you as BK or McD). *Small but super clean (...smooth move, TRB) *Brief menu (but chances are, you already know what you want when you step into a BBQ joint) *Fast service! Our food was done PRONTO - and not bad prices (average, i would say) . You can order one plate for two people...large servings of meatmeatmeat. I got the veg burrito - it was mostly rice, peppered with bits of green pepper and onion. Not a regular flour tortilla, either. ......It was good because I heaped on BBQ sauce, but I'd rather spend 6$ at Chipotle. Good sweet potato fries soothed my burrito break down (crispy, airy little bites), but it is doubtful I will return to this meat pull.
(2)Liz O.
The sauce is four or five stars (I like the sweet sauce, but they have spicy and regular). The meat is three or four stars. The sides are inedible. The baked beans were almost raw. Seriously, how can you fail at baked beans? The corn bread was so sweet it was like cake and had no texture. And the coleslaw was like flaccid, vinegared cabbage with no oomph. The meat that was not on the bone was much better (the pulled chicken and brisket). The ribs were dried out a bit, but the sauce was nice, and you can get as much as you want. Also, they didn't have Coke or Pepsi products, just "Real City Soda," which is pretty terrible.
(2)Jerilyn E.
We just moved the area and were looking for some place to eat. Based on the excellent reviews on this restaurant we decided to try it. It was AWESOME!! We will definitely come back, the beef brisket, cucumber salad and corn on the cob were by far our favorites!!
(4)Rachel G.
Boston's best bbq, hands down. Got takeout from here-- baby back ribs, regular, hot, and bbq wings, pulled pork, mac n' cheese, and collard greens. The Ribs- not huge, but as baby back ribs go they had a fair amount of meat on them. Fatty in a good way, cooked in sweet bbq sauce, and covered in a delicious layer of caramelized meaty goodness. Yum. The Wings- I'm not a big wings fan, but these were great. Not your typical party platter drenched in Frank's Red Hot and blue cheese, these were applewood smoked and coated with bbq-tasting sauces ranging from mild to hot. Wings are always a little bit greasy, but these weren't noticeably so. The die-hard wings fan in our group said these were the best he'd ever had. The Pulled Pork- INTENSE porktimes. I think it was supposed to be served as a sandwich, but our takeout version was served open-faced and in the form of a pound of pulled pork piled atop a (now very saturated) piece of white bread. Taste-wise, the pork was salty, rich, and a little sweet, but not overpoweringly flavorful on its own. I added some bbq sauce to the mix to spice things up-- highly recommend that modification. The Sides (Mac n' Cheese + Collard Greens)- the mac was good, but not terribly cheesy. As far as a takeout side (exculding Boston Market and their deeelicios mac) it was decent, but not something I'd order on its own. Same with the collard greens, which were pretty standard preparation and didn't leave much of an impression on me. Everything had a thin layer of bbq sauce already on it, but I was very glad I grabbed several (well, 7) to-go cups of the "sweet" sauce (there's also "hot" and "vinegar"). I sampled the "hot," but it wasn't my favorite as it didn't have a ton of flavor beyond just heat. I actually mixed a little in with the (buckets of) "sweet" sauce just to spice the latter up a bit, but the "sweet" bbq was so good on its own I'm not really sure that was necessary. I don't know about the other Tennessee's locations, but this one is a bit of a hole-in-the-wall with kind of a down home cookin' version of Five Guys Burgers and Fries vibe. They had a fair bit of seating inside, but when I picked up our order around 6 pm on a weekday, it was empty. I don't know if I'd stay and dine in the restaurant on future visits, but I'll definitely be back for the food.
(4)Edgar P.
This is pretty close to Firefly's BBQ but I have to give the Two Forks Up to Tennessee's for their BBQ. It was well priced and it had a very laid back ambiance to it. Pulled pork was great, ribs followed, and the brisket was done right as well. It had different types of BBQ sauce for those who have a preference in that and they had incredible deals on combo platters. It was definitely a place I would recommend to people who really want to get great BBQ at a fair price. -Papa Bear
(5)Laura H.
Thought I'd give this place a second chance, well it will not be getting a third chance that's for sure. Got the N.C. Pork sandwich with mashed, pork was so way too greasy and I didn't care for the flavor. Mashed were OK, better than I expected and all 3 BBQ sauces I tried all tasted the same. I guess my heart will always belong to Blue Ribbon =).
(2)T B.
For a BBQ place the cashier did not know what burnt ends were. She argued that they are shredded beef in BBQ sauce. The place needs a good cleaning, everything is sticky.
(1)Daniel G.
Maybe I'm just a bit BBQ deprived as there isn't much of it where I'm from in NH, but on my one visit here... I am VERY impressed. In pretty much all areas. First: the FOOD. The menu is simple yet difficult to make a selection from as it all sounds so good. My BBQ pork sandwich was excellent and ridiculously juicy and messy, as proper BBQ should be. My sandwich and nibbles from the plates of the rest of my party, plus my sandwich's sides were all great and I hanker to go back. Furthermore, even their drinks are exciting. They have "off brand" soda both in the bottle and in the fountain, with interesting flavors. This is a very nice perk. Next: VALUE. This place gives you a lot of food, and GOOD food at that, for a perfectly reasonable price. Some BBQ places, I'd have to deny myself what I most want because I might balk at the high price of ribs and such. Here, if I want ribs, no problem. Finally, there's the mood and method. The place has an amusing "southern transplant" motif (I don't know quite how authentic the look is), and it is MUCH faster than a full-service restaurant where you sit down, get waited on, etc. Here you order at the counter, sit, and your food is soon ready at the counter to pick up. I really enjoy this speedy approach, though I don't know from my one visit if it is always so speedy; it was kinda a down time with hardly anybody in the restaurant. There aren't THAT many tables in the place, so I could imagine wanting to go there and kinda being turned off of it if the place is hopping. Then again... for really good barbecue I can wait a bit. Or even just take it to go and make a mess of it on the curb. It might just be that good.
(4)rose n.
Stopped by here on a trek to the Natick Mall. It's pretty solid if you order good things. The BF opted for some meat with some cornbread and some sides (this was in the winter so I forget the combo) but he definitely got a great deal and his sides were delicious. I got the veggie burrito which was a mistake because I hate cooked peppers and onions which was all it was. I think it had some rice which I ate out of it. It was giant burrito and definitely another great deal if you like peppers and onions. They also have a refillable drink machine, plenty of paper towels, and some awesome sauces. I gave them 4 stars because they were solid, quick, and had plenty of seating (it's a little deceiving). I would just ordered sides next time I come back because even though I'm vegetarian, I love BBQ sides.
(4)Manfred S.
Slow cooked bbq was never served faster. Juicy pulled pork and ribs, beans and corn, rounded out with dirty rice ... still licking my fingers. Yummy. For now the tastiest BBQ I have sampled in NE. Red Bones is tasteless in comparison. Only shortcoming - not a place to hang out. Next time - take out!
(4)