Horseshoe Grille
226 Main St, North Reading, MA, 01864
Horseshoe Grille Menu
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Visit below restaurant in North Reading for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
226 Main St
North Reading, MA, 01864 - Phone (978) 664-3591
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Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
- Mon : 11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Abby C.
Loved it! Right away, the hostess was polite and friendly. Great atmosphere. Our waitress, Jess, took excellent care of us! We ordered the meatloaf and it was incredible!! The quesadilla we ordered didn't come out the way we ordered it but our waitress was prompt and very attentive and got it fixed right away. Amazing experience.
(5)Edward M.
This used to be one of my favorite places to eat. The food has been better, but i think my main concern is the lunch staff. I mostly meet my family for lunch from time to time, because I both work and live in the area. Over the past summer, the service hasn't just 'gotten a little worse', it has been absolutely abysmal. In one recent occasion, our waitress was so non-existent another waitress actually began helping our table. It wasn't busy. There were four tables seated. She did apologize that "things got so crazy", but that mystified me even further. There wasn't a sudden influx of business, so I assume that there was some personal/family/other issue that interrupted her day. That's fine. I get it. We all have that happen, but as an employee, it is her responsibility to convey that to a manager so that they can ensure the customers are taken care of. Today really took the cake. I met my family again. I was actually very concerned, because I had an extremely tight schedule, and the service has not been good enough to warrant that kind of risk. We waited almost 20 minutes for any approach from a waitress once we were seated. Two additional sets of patrons were seated and approached by a waitress in that time. We walked out. I can't say I'll be back. Given the lack of business they seem to do during lunch, I think it is safe to say I'm not the first person who's noticed. UPDATE: Response to Owner. I appreciate that customer service is of the utmost importance. I haven't spoken to a manager. Coincidentally, the first occasion I recall seeing a manager was the day I walked out. We told the hostess on the way out. I was angry, so there really wasn't anything to gain by discussing it with a manager at the time. I had already wasted half of my lunch waiting for service. I was focused on plan B: get something quick and head back to work.
(1)Bridget W.
Horseshoe is declining. For 16 years Horseshoe has been our "go-to" place for dinner on the fly as it's only a 5-minute drive from our home. We liked the barbecue offerings better when it was still Horseshoe Cafe, but when they closed down, rebuilt from the ground up and reopened as Horseshoe Grille we were enthused and, for several years, impressed. Of course with the new place the menu became much more upscale, as did the interior, and consequently the pricing. We're happy to pay more if it's worth it, and it used to be, but we're not so sure anymore. In the interest of full disclosure, our visit today was our first in about six months as we have been away. We arrived around 6:15 on a Friday night and the parking lot wasn't entirely full but getting close. (They should repaint the lines in the parking lot so people might park more evenly.) We walked in to find FOUR young ladies at the hostess station, but not one of them said anything to us. They all smiled, but there was no "good evening" or "welcome" or anything, so after a minute we announced there were two of us for dinner. If we'd wanted to sit in the bar we could've just walked in there without stopping at the hostess station, so not sure why they need four people to not greet us. Anyway, we were escorted to a table in the dining room. Our waitress came by for drink orders. The drink delivery was quick which was expected since we didn't order any booze. She asked if we'd decided on dinner yet. We hadn't been advised of any specials, which there always are, so we asked and were told a couple things. In the past we've always been told the specials without having to ask. Later in the evening we heard another waitress telling diners at a neighboring table about the specials, and she recited 2 more than we'd heard. We often look for seating in the bar first (although we did not today) but it's usually standing room only which doesn't work for a meal. There were a lot of families seated in the dining room, not surprising given the early hour. One guy was standing in the middle of a group of nearby tables, talking loudly into his cell phone for about 3 minutes while ordering his kid to sit down. We were seated in a booth. On the opposite side of the booth from hubby was a family with 2 kids, probably 5 and 7 or so. The boy spent nearly the entire time standing on his bench, stuffing fries in his mouth and staring at me. Later in the meal his sister wandered out of their booth and stood at ours, scratching her crotch. I kid you not!! I know it's not a 5-star restaurant but we'd like to enjoy our meal in peace. While this is not the restaurant's fault, frankly we don't want to pay $25 per entree to feel like we're in Chuck E. Cheese. We both had a cup of chowder to start. It was a hot and generous portion, but it truly tasted like it was just plopped out of a can. For dinner I had the sirloin salad, which I order frequently because it's filling and reliable. The salad itself was fine; the homemade Italian dressing was much thinner than usual but the flavor was OK. However the steak tips, which were ordered medium rare, were closer to medium well and not remotely warm. They weren't exactly cold, but usually you can tell they've just come off a hot grill. These tasted like they were grilled an hour ago and left to sit, which might explain the overdoneness. The hubby ordered a BBQ platter. We used to love their smoked sausage but they took it off the menu years ago and then further reduced the mix & match BBQ offerings. Now the options are just St. Louis ribs, pulled pork and chicken. He ordered the ribs and pork, beans and slaw on the side. As soon as the plate came he asked for extra BBQ sauce and when it arrived, which took quite some time, it was literally about 2 teaspoons in a tiny cup and barely made a difference for the pulled pork, which looked more like shredded kindling. He left about half of the meal on his plate which is very unusual for him, and he didn't bring home the leftovers. His assessment was "dry and not impressive." Once the food was delivered we didn't see our waitress in the dining room at all until she finally stopped by after about 15 minutes, so hubby finally got to request a drink refill although he was basically done eating by then. Meanwhile, another waitress was chatting with folks at a neighboring table so we got to hear about a C-section and somebody's graduation for 10 minutes. The service used to be a lot more professional and reliable. We used to see the owner making rounds at tables but haven't seen him in ages - maybe it's changed hands or something. The tables are worn and the menus, which are currently in a state of transition, are pretty grimy; they used to be in nice binders but are now just laminated sheets of paper that are sort of sticky in your hands. Not sure we'll be going back to Horseshoe Grille. We're missing the old days of Horseshoe Cafe.
(2)Allie H.
I think this place is great. If you're in the mood for experimental, ethnic cutting edge or creative food - this is probably not the place. But if you want some basic American fare made extremely well - this is the place to go. Favorites are: Reuben sandwich, nachos, steak tips and their amazing grilled BBQ meatloaf!!! They have a nice space too with really great drink selections! And they have outdoor seating! Lastly, the management at Horseshoe have always impressed me. First time we went, we mentioned it was our first visit. The manager came out and introduced himself to me and my fiancée and gave us a coupon for next time - he didn't have to do this at all considering we were already having a lovely time. AND ONE MORE THING HOLY COW the corn bread they give you when you first sit down is soooo delicious!
(4)Breakfast D.
I ordered a shrimp scampi Togo and it was so disappointing not only with taste but especially with portion! My order came in a Togo box made for a slice of cheese (not exaggerating.) lol but seriously it wouldn't be enough for a 2 year old! I mean for $10 they could of at least throw in some bread and butter too! I'm giving this place a 2 star, because I haven't had anything else there so I'm giving them a break. I'm probably never going back but if i do I won't be getting the same thing and you shouldn't either.
(2)Pat R.
Again! I tried this place again and it is actually worse than the last time. Got tips, king size, thin as shit. Showed to the waitress and here reply was...I don't eat meat. Skip this dump. Skip ahead 2 years,,,,,,,,, 6/4/15 WTF! Starving, only option so here we go.... Ordered a $31 steak... Glass of wine, nice... Mellow crowd, game on, nice... Ordered steak MR, shouldn't have... Came a bit too rare but, my fault. Always order medium if unsure, good tip. Sent back, and made clear that it was my fault, and to tell the chef that. Mainly because of all of the urban legends of what they do back there when you send back... Here it comes, am I safe?.... Second glass of wine, nice. Re cooked pretty well, and they replaced vegges, asparagus and sweat potatoes, not quite "spring/summer" appropriate but... Here I go. Here's the deal, bland and flavorless all around. Would give 3 stars at a diner with A1 but for $31! Snap! Not bad, over priced and somewhat clueless staff. I remain.........at............1 Star. Sorry horseshoe Charge $14.95 and you're on to something.
(1)K M.
Ordered a sirloin salad on Sunday night (5/17), the steak was like beef jerky (very flat/thin & almost impossible to chew). The waitress was very short and seemed to not have the time to take our order (rushed away before we could ask for anything continuously, threw plates down, etc.), and seemed very angry. Below average food & service, will not be returning due to overall unpleasant experience.
(2)Cynthia E.
Beautiful atmosphere to relax and catch up with friends. I live in north reading and pass this place often. There is usually a chain of cars around the parking lot. I stopped in with a girlfriend for her birthday. We ordered drinks and sandwiches, which were delicious. We will be back. There is also outdoor patio seating perfect for those sunny, warm days!
(4)Wendy C.
We recently moved to area and wanted to check out what restaurants were near by. So I checked out Yelp to see what was available and the Horse Shoe Grill was listed. The reviews seemed good along the menu and website. I also had asked some friends about the Horse Shoe Grill and they also liked it. Last night was the first time and most likely first of many for us to dine at the Horse Shoe Grill. We liked it so much that we have made reservations to go back in 2 weeks for my birthday. Laura was a great server. She was very patient with all 5 of us that have never been. I asked her what they were known for, she immediately suggested the meat loaf. I was a little nervous since I am not a big fan of meatloaf, but when she told me that it has been written up in the Boston Globe a number of times , I knew I was going to be happy with my decision. And I sure was. The meat loaf was delicious! The serving was quite large, anough I had to take the rest home. My significant other had the French dip, and he ate every bite. And for him to like something that much, is a good sign since he also cooks and is very picky with what he orders. My Dad ordered the pull pork slider. Great side if you are not too hungry. You can choose one of three different types of sliders for $3.00 each. My 7 year old son ordered the cheese pizza and he also ate everything but 3 little slices. Great kids menu. My sister boyfriend ordered the chicken caeser salad. I don't think the dishwasher had to wash his plate. He ate every crumb. The chili nachos and tuna wraps were delicious as well. The menu was fantastic!! They had everything. Atmosphere was great, very homey with the fireplace on. One of the management team members, Michael was extremely friendly. He came to our table and interduced himself, handing out some of their corn bread and cinnamon butter to take home. A wonderful touch!! This place is wonderful and looking forward to going back in a couple of weeks!!
(5)Michael M.
I very much enjoy the pulled pork sandwich from the horseshoe grill. I always enjoy myself when my wife and I go here. Owner is a very nice gentleman who couldn't do enough for you.
(5)King Eat J.
Hello I'm street eating legend King Eat, and today I'll be reviewing Horseshoe Grille. Ate here the other day and it was alright. We got a couple bowls of cornbread (complimentary) which were pretty good. The bread is nice (not AMAZING!!) and moist, but I was hoping it'd be warm which it wasn't. The butter that came with it was pretty cold and not easy to spread. So when you're putting your clumps of butter on your cornbread you're kinda tearing the bread up at the same time. They should find some way to soften the butter or serve whipped butter. The beer selection was pretty basic, so they seem to try to take two basic beers, and mix it into one great beer that ends up being ok. For example; they have Guiness and blue moon, so they put them together and call it a black and blue. Sure. Instead they should do this; remove 3 beers from your drafts and replace them with Mayflower, Jacks Abbey...and...... Stone? Sure. The buffalo chicken dip was alright. I thought the chips that came with it were really good though Ordered the St Louis ribs, and they were ok. Kind of on the dry side. The roasted rosemary sweet potatoes were petty good, but nothing you couldn't make at home, and the BBQ baked beans were.......BBQ baked beans. Our waitress was sweet, answered all questions and gave us extra cornbread. Plus. Would I go back? Maybe to try the ice cream cake I saw the people next to us eating, or slide my number to the cute waitress (if I didn't have a girlfriend). But as far as going back for the food or the beer, I'm all set.
(3)Kathleen C.
My husband and I took my Mom to the Horseshoe Grille in North Reading this afternoon for an early Mother's Day lunch. We have been here twice before, and were very satisfied with the food. That is why we were SO disappointed with our experience today. My husband got the brisket sandwich with coleslaw, and he thought it was great. My mother and I both got the grilled vegetable wrap, which came with a side of Asian salad. This is where the 1-star review comes in. It was AWFUL. First, the wrap. For $11, I could have made 10 of these at home, for all that they put into it. The vegetables were all really gross. They were oddly lacking in any identifiable flavor. All the same drab brown color. There was supposedly asiago cheese in there somewhere, but I remain unconvinced. It was watery and bland. And really small. Did I mention it was flavorless and bland? So... Asian salad. What is Asian salad, exactly? If you go by what accompanied our "grilled vegetable" wraps, then Asian salad is some kind of brownish-yellowish-slightly-greenish stuff that could have been cabbage, or lettuce, or ??? Honestly, neither of us could figure out what it was. It had rancid raw red onion in it, steeped in some kind of watery, maybe vinegarish liquid. It smelled disgusting. Mom and I both ate some of the first half - it comes out cut in half. We couldn't choke down any more than that. It was stunning in it's awfulness. That Asian salad, forget about it. I made my husband smell it, even though he didn't want to, because I needed him to know how gross it was. My mother unwrapped the remaining half of her wrap, to see if we could tell what the vegetables were. Pretty sure there was Portobello mushroom. The rest, who knows. It was supposed to be roasted red pepper, zucchini, I think summer squash, all grilled with asiago cheese and wrapped in a spinach wrap. Who writes this stuff? Pure fiction. So. I give one star only because my husband said his sandwich was pretty good, and we have had good food there before. Oh, and Mom got a cup of tomato basil soup that she said was good. Otherwise, it would get zero stars, if you can do that on Yelp. Our waitress was pleasant, but we told her how terrible the wraps were, and she didn't offer to take them off the bill, either in whole or in part. Really lousy. This whole experience was not cheap either, $130 including the tip. This just happened a few hours ago... I wanted to get this review written while my stomach was still roiling in the aftermath. I am actually sick right now :-( I will call my poor Mom in a few and check on her. You all might want to give the Horseshoe a try - we've had the nachos there before and my husband said the barbecue is pretty good. It's a little expensive there, but I don't mind paying for GOOD food. What I got there today was actually horrible. This is the first time I've ever felt compelled to submit a review. It was that bad.
(1)Sara C.
This is definitely top on my list for places to grab dinner on a night out. To start, they bring cornbread and butter to the table. Although cornbread isn't my favorite... It was very tasty. I had a side salad before my meal, and the homemade ranch dressing was to die for!! For my meal, I ate the Panko crusted pork with the mustard sauce and garlic potatoes. It was a huge portion for the price, and the food was delicious. I have not stopped thinking about that mustard sauce!!! I definitely recommended this restaurant!!
(5)Brian W.
This place exceeded our expectations for a local neighborhood restaurant. They had a great gluten free menu with lots of options and their regular menu had a bunch of items that looked really good. The bar area was nice with huge tv's and there was a good drink selection as well. The waitress was friendly, but definitely got a little confused when taking an order for 4 people. I always feel so much better when waitresses write down orders onto a notepad. I don't even care if you are just writing about how much you hate your life, but just the simple act of writing something makes me feel better about my chances of you getting our orders correct. Once we straightened out the food situation all of the food ended up being quite good. I went with the meatloaf and it was very flavorful, but just as heavy as you imagined it would be based on the description.
(4)Debbie B.
went to bar, late pm and met the best bartender and had a great quesadilla and a couple of beers. def would go again just to hey to the bartender great person doing a lot for others, great young man :). nice to meet by happenstance after a long day.
(4)Jennifer P.
Blech! My family hadn't been here in a year, and we should have kept it that way. Both my dad and I had the ribs, the signature dish for a BBQ house. Three words: dry, flavorless, overpriced. They were edible after drenching them in sauce but I couldn't even stomach the half rack (and I can usually shovel down a whole rack of ribs). Mom's Cuban pork sandwich was also a disappointment. Dad continued the torture by ordering a piece of chocolate cake... the Horseshoe managed to deliver THE worst cake I've ever tasted. Seriously. Other than the tasty cornbread delivered at the beginning of the meal, this was the greatest waste of $90 we've had in a while.
(1)Bernadette S.
We are NYC residents who found ourselves unexpectedly in the area due to a death in the family. We were here on NYE. The most notable part of our experience was the service. Amy was super friendly and genuine. She was excellent. Also, because it was our first time, we received a visit from the manager at the end of our meal with a small coupon for our next visit. That was a nice touch. Two big thumbs up for the French Onion soup, served with a few onion rings on top. It was delicious, if a little less beef brothy than what I'm used to. Entrées were OK. I had the baked stuffed Shrimp special which at $28 was overpriced. They should tell you the cost of specials if there's not a menu. The shrimp and also the turkey tips were a bit dried out and the shrimp stuffing a little bland. The sides were average. I would love it if the side of beets came with a little goat cheese. Our ice cream cake dessert was delicious and highly recommended! The portion is enormous. Overall, a solid experience in the suburbs and I'm sure we'd return. With two soups, two entrees, two drinks a piece, one dessert to share and tip, our bill was $115. Not horrible for a non chain restaurant on New Years...
(4)Steven C.
Brought Mom and the kids by for a bite to eat. I had never heard of it even though I grew up in Lynnfield. Nice decor with a fireplace in the center of the room. The kids went with the nachos grande to start. It could be renamed the Kilimanjaro of Queso. Nana and the boys leveled it and reported positive flavor. Trying to AMP up my protein intake, I went with the Ahi app and small plate fillet. They were kind to substitute the potato's with a more caveman friendly steamed broccoli. The food was well prepared and I applaud the ownership's desire to bring a more upscale level of dinning to Rt 28. The owner stopped at our table after the meal to ask how we found the place and engage in some chit chat. Nice touch and a worthwhile stop!
(4)Jonathan Y.
I've eaten here twice and received the same poor quality of food. Not to say that it is prepared poorly, but it is always cold by the time we got it. It seems like everything is pre-made and tossed in a microwave. Also the first time we were there the table next to us was having a friendly conversation with a manager about their visit. The manager made a special trip to get them corn bread for the table. Something we were not offered (every guest here gets this when they sit down). The manager then walked by us without even a hello. Not a big deal, but just seemed rude.
(2)Cristina P.
Server - Older lady who at first seemed like she was burnt out but then ended up being talkative, funny, and sweet (could have been the consumption of wine that made her seem better lol ). Food - Delicious, maybe a bit overpriced but it is a classy atmosphere so I guess that goes with it. Corn bread is delicious with the cinnamon butter. Parking - They definitely need a bigger lot but we luckily found a tight squeeze of a spot within a couple minutes. Since it was our first time there, we were given a $5 coupon and a letter that thanked us for our visit delivered by the friendly General Manager. We will definitely be back!
(4)Leah M.
I go there a lot, food and service always good. Went for a drink close to closing, bartender made us feel very welcome and did not rush us even though they were about to close. Great customer service.
(5)Nick F.
Been here twice and both times the food has been very good. Myself and our guests have tried the chili, pulled pork, steak tips, meat loaf and turkey tips with mashed potatoes, rice and veggies. Almost all of it has been very good to excellent except for the veggies which have been bland. Haven't tried any of the cocktails yet but the beer selection is more limited than I would like. Overall, we really like this place and plan on eating here again in the future.
(4)Patricia B.
Used a Phantom gourmet gift card we got for a Christmas. We sat at the bar which is pretty small but comfortable. The bartender Penny was excellent. Very efficient and friendly. The food was good. My husband had the grilled salmon and I had the prime burger. The only negative was when we asked the person who brought our food if she could bring salt and pepper. she said she would and then she disappeared. The bartender was off getting ice. No problem. We just took it from one of the tables. Nice touch that the manager brought over some corn bread to go and a $5 coupon to use for next time. We may not go back because it was a little ride for us but do recommend it if you're in the area.
(4)Elizabeth H.
The MOST delicious steak tips EVER!! Pair the tips with mashed potatoes and green beans and I'm in carnivore heaven. The wedge salad is the perfect starter and the quinoa appetizer hits the spot.
(4)Sean S.
Consistent good food and great service. Penny and Terry are the best bartenders, but all are good. Tuesday trivia with Dave is always fun.
(5)Piddles J.
Large place but cozy feel due to the two fireplaces in the main room (we were in a side room tho). Waitress seemed very nice. Very good pulled pork appetizer. My friend really liked her burger. I got the ribs and they seemed a bit boring and dry. Side of coleslaw and beans were fine but nothing special. Good dessert tho. I would definitely go back but would get a different entree.
(3)Sarah H.
Great food, great service, and great atmosphere. The only negative is the size of the parking lot. On a busy night, it can be hard to find a parking spot. The staff always seems very happy, chatty (in a good way), and knowledgeable. The menu is a good variety of foods.
(4)Kristen D.
I love coming here! They have great food and nice ambiance. They serve corn bread while you wait which is really nice! The staff is friendly as well. My husband loves the chili and I really like their fish dishes.
(4)Christine D.
Wonderful quick lunch. Ate at the bar, Dawn our bartender was excellent. The food was delicious with good twists. Blue cheese dressing with a bit of BBQ. Ff excellent which I generally do not care for. The Cuban sand which was too meaty for me but most people enjoy that. The beer and wine selection was good and they offer interesting tasting nights. We were just about to leave and as an added touch the chef came out with a going away box of their homemade corn bread. And a note and menu. We are definitely returning with friends. My guy hadn't been in this establishment for 25 years, it is no longer a biker bar. Worth a visit in our opinion!
(5)Vivian C.
On Monday, January 31, 2011, Horseshoe Grille hosted their annual Small Plates Wine Dinner. At $75 (tax and tip inclusive) per diner, the 6 courses consisted of: . Caramelized Apple Salad mixed greens, blue cheese crumbles and an apple cider vinaigrette with Estancia Riesling, Monterey County . Macadamia Nut Crusted Tuna w/ baby bok choy & drizzled w/ wasabi citrus soy with Gary Farrell Pinot Noir, Russian River . Lobster Mac and Cheese Sherry cream sauce and Fontina cheese with Ramey Chardonnay, Russian River . Beef Wellington with blue cheese smashed potatoes with Sterling Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley . Braised Lamb Cannelloni with a Malbec demi glace with Ruta 22 Malbec, Patagonia, Argentina . Apple Tart with cinnamon gelato with Sandeman Tawny Port We began with a complimentary drink in the bar area while waiting for the event to begin. We tasted Heather's Bourbon Snowball $10 (maker's mark, hazelnut, white crème de cacao, cream) and the Nuts and Cream $9 (frangelico, amaretto, cream). With six courses of wine ahead of us, we found the Snowball quite strong, and the Nuts tasty, but we wisely restrained ourselves. The tasty rosemary olive oil bread dip and the refreshing and fruity salad were a great start to our meal. Amy provided excellent service, happily answering any questions I posed to her. Thus I found out that the rolls were for special occasions, while traditionally the bread course consists of their cornbread and honey butter, of which Amy readily offered to provide us with a sampling. Their cornbread was good, but the addition of the butter made it something truly special. My favorite courses were the cool, sweet salad, the hot creamy al dente mac & cheese with the meaty bites of lobster claw, and the tender and tasty beef Wellington despite its soggy pastry foundation. The mashed potatoes that arrived alongside the beef were also served at room temperature, which resulted in lumpier blue cheese - their mashed potatoes are really good when served hot. The tuna, seared on the outside and sliced, was fresh and good, but, as my dc commented, since she often eats tuna in the form of sashimi, it wasn't anything special. As for the lamb, it had the unfortunate status of being last of the series of savory courses, and was thus faced judgment by a full stomach. I enjoyed the tender cubes of veggies and the fallen apart strings of lamb, but found the pasta skin to be a touch too thick. Dessert was a cute tart served with a scoop of sweet cinnamon if-you-didn't-tell-me-it-was-gelato-I-would-have-Âguessed-it-was-ice-cream. The apple was thinly sliced and fanned out on top of an almond filling. It was tasty, but in my opinion, would have been improved with thicker slices of the fruit. My favored sips included the one that accompanied the salad - but only with the salad. Talk about proof that the taste of wine is affected by the flavor of the food it is paired with! The other was the eminently sippable port - it was like a second dessert! With the courses broken up with introductions of each wine by a representative from United Liquors, the meal lasted an enjoyable 2 1/2 hours. I had the pleasure of attending the Small Plates Wine Dinner as a guest of Pat Lee, owner of the Horseshoe Grille, but my dc and I agreed that, at $75, this was a really good deal.
(4)Kristine J.
Great food, love the chicken basil panini sandwich! The atmosphere and drinks are great! Love the corn bread too
(5)John S.
I'm a little dissapointed in this place.. I've ben 3x hoping it would get better. It nots horrible, its just average or slightly below. First visit was a while abck about 2 years ago and there was nothing memorable since then me and the wife have been back twice in the last 3 weeks. last time we ordered the quesadilla, the ice cream desert , burger sliders. Quesadilla was fairly unremarkable not a lot of taste, the burger sliders were fine. The ice cream desert was very odd.. it came with a whip cream which had a very neutral taste almost as if it had no sugar or sweetner. The ice cream was also lacking iaste. So we struck on two and hit on one The last visit we went back and ordered the nachos and short rib wraps? Nachos were very large but in nachos only, little cheese and other topping other than the pulled pork which was on top the pork was less than flavorful and the nachos overall were ok nothing special nothing bad, other than the lack of extras they didnt put on it. We also ordered the short rib wraps... we took two-4 bites and didnt touch them again, very lackluster not alot of taste which seemed to be a recurring theme. Service was great, atmosphere was fine bt i think i'd rather just go to chilis for some tasty food even if it more greasy... I dont think i'll be returning.
(2)Brian S.
8/10. I've been here a few times, and finally decided to review it after going this weekend (June 2013). First things first - the cornbread here is insanely good. They serve it to you as most restaurants would bread before your meal. It comes with a maple butter that, when combined with the corn bread, is really tasty. Sometimes my family and I will come here just on the concept of the corn bread. (The food's good too, don't worry). Entrees are a good size and meals are pretty tasty. I think the menu is a little over priced (the fish and beef entrees), but you can get some serious bang for your buck if you get one of their great salads or sandwiches. I have had a chicken panini there in the past that is very good. This time I got blackened salmon with quinoa and sweet potatoes. The entree was great - I would recommend. The restaurant has a nice feel to it as well - everything from the outside of the building to the ambiance of the dining area seems well done to me. The server we had at our meal this weekend was an all star too; he seemed very genuine and when he came to see how everything was, he didn't just say "Everything good?" and run away like you see at most restaurants. Bonus points for that. The only complains I have is that the entrees can be a little pricy and that last time they didn't have enough menus to give us when we sat down. Kind of strange. Otherwise, I love horseshoe and would recommend to anyone. Great selection, and most importantly, great food.
(4)Stacy G.
You just expect more. Entrees are overpriced, flavor is absent or just salty, burger is pathetic, acclaimed cornbread is not really that good, haddock in the "po'boy" was definitely not haddock...the short version ....don't bother.
(2)Tatyana B.
Love this place. I go here for all my business lunches. Love the interior. Very comforting. I always order
(5)Matt M.
Great sangria and nachos, however service was awful. After 1 hour still had not been afforded the opportunity to order dinner. Will not be going back
(2)Jon K.
A "little" pricey. Another place I have never been disappointed by. Love sitting at the bar for perfect Shoe tips and a perfectly crafted martini. Love the atmosphere.
(4)Michelle W.
Delicious food and wonderful service! Place has great food for a really good price. The meatloaf is quite tasty and their homemade spicy BBQ sauce is incredible! Oh and their cornbread with the spiced butter will have you hooked! Will be back again soon...so many good things on their menu.
(5)Michael R.
Solid. If you're reading this, you're probably from the New England area, so you should be able to picture what the inside of a 99's looks like. Horseshoe Grill is a bit like that, but a little more upscale. Like a few other reviews have mentioned, the centerpiece is the fireplace in the middle of the dining area. The food itself is centered around the grille's BBQ offerings. Boasting of award-winning flavor, Horseshoe is pretty solid, but falls short of expectations a bit. The BBQ pulled pork is pretty good, and I'd certainly recommend the hot barbecue sauce, but it's not quite as award-winning as I'd hoped. Smokey and a bit sweet, it was a smaller portion than I'd expect, and the pork itself was just okay. On a side note though, the lunch sandwiches are reasonably priced at about $8 a piece, and the cole slaw is a better-than-average side dish. I'll probably be back for lunch again soon, and I think the brisket's next up on my list of BBQ-to-do.
(3)Barbara W.
Having grown up in the area MANY years ago, I remember the Horseshoe as the "Horseshoe Lounge"...the scary looking dive bar we'd ride our bikes by on the way to the bowling alley to play Tron in their arcade (alas, the bowling alley is now gone). At some point after I moved away, it transformed into it's current incarnation...the "Horseshoe Grill". Wow, what a difference a few years can make! The Horseshoe is a great place for a good, comfort food meal. Their panko chicken and mashed potatoes is my favorite, although if you eat red meat, they have quite a few barbeque choices that look and smell delicious. Also good is the fact that they have a sizeable bar area with tall bar tables, where you can sit, enjoy a good burger and a beer...a great option if you're hungry and it's later at night than most other places are still serving food. These days, whenever I'm visiting Andover, I always find myself at "the Shoe" at least once, and enjoy it every time.
(4)Patricia W.
I grew up around here, I used to ride my bike to Lil' peach around the corner..... and I have never been here until tonight. I have to admit that the remodel helped the appeal of making the first move(I don't live here anymore so lately I haven't had the chance). Horseshoe is delicious, the interior is comforting and you eat classic comfort food. We had calamari with hot cherry peppers on top for out appetizer. My dinner was panko crusted chicken with mashed potatoes and asparagus, perfect. Around the table we had meatloaf, pasta and brisket, all perfect. If you ever visit North Reading, Ma please check this place out. My parents are regulars :)
(4)Blair A.
My diet consists of a mostly Paleo smattering now. Meat, veggies, eggs, nuts. No dairy, no grain. Yes, cry for me if you must, but I guarantee my colon loves me more than yours. Just saying. Anywho, there's one day of the week that I long for, dream about, crave. Ah, yes, CHEAT DAY. Cheat Day is every Saturday. It's where I eat a good breakfast (eggs with veggies or meat) then I get to have whatever my little heart desires the rest of the day. For me this means I stuff my face with as much cheese and bread as I can stand. What's the most delectable thing that includes cheese and bread? Cheeseburger, EXXXXXXACTLY! I sprang for the Grill Burger on my cheat day. Eight ounces of juicy, meaty goodness with melted cheddar cheese and a heaping plate of fries. I enjoyed every single bite. The burger was a bit on the pricy side ($11), but delicious all the same. When you sit down you're brought fresh cornbread with butter (which is obviously yummy) and the ambiance of the place is nice. One thing I will point out is that you think a classy joint would have nice toilet paper, yeah? Well, you'd be wrong. The toilet paper here is just as thin as any McDonald's I've been to. In a nice place, have nice TP. Because of the TP, three stars.
(3)Jenn E.
AMAZING. That is all. But really - this place is consistantly satisfying. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is cozy, and the staff are friendly. Plus the cornbread they serve before the meal is to die for. Sometimes I go to the Horseshoe just because I am craving the cornbread! I usually go for the grilled chicken sandwich which is grilled to perfection and served with gooey mozzarella, tomatoes and basil, all on wonderfully fresh bread. I also love that they have low-calorie options on their drink menu!
(5)Mike D.
Outstanding service, good food, prices and atmosphere. We went here because we had a Phantom Gourmet gift card and wanted to try someplace new. The restaurant is very clean with a nice bar on one side and dining room on the other complete with a roaring fireplace. The menu is just the right size with a BBQ section and plenty of other items. We got the Cold Plate appetizer that featured three dips, sliced veggies, tortilla and pita chips. It seemed to be all house made and was very good. My only suggestion would be to chill the plate before serving. Might be a clever touch so it lives up to its name. I ordered a fantastic sliced sirloin salad that was cooked to a perfect medium-rare and came with a house made dressing on the side. GF got seared tuna which was excellent. Definitely will be back and will recommend to others.
(4)David A.
A later evening cruise to find food brought us here. I had the brisket ( little dry, not bad ) with their "special sauce" which made the entire meal. My wife partook in the meatloaf and honestly we were both unimpressed. Service was spot on, drinks were never empty, but the food definately let something to be desired. The beans were good, as were the potatoes, but the wish they had a better veggie selection. It wasn't bad enough to warrant not returning, but we have had better meals in the area.
(3)Laurie L.
We love The Shoe! This is my company's go-to restaurant for great food, delicious drinks, a nice atmosphere and friendly service. My co-workers, friends and I have all been here on many occasions and have never had a complaint of any kind. The staff are all very professional, courteous & outgoing. The menu is diverse and has many tasty offerings. I tend to get the Grilled Chicken Sandwich which consists of grilled boneless chicken breast with basil leaves, buffalo mozzarella, tomato and pesto aioli on roasted garlic panini bread. DELICIOUS. Also served with a generous amoutn of hot, cripsy french fries. All the appetizers, soups & salads I have had there have been very good & filling. And the drinks?! Sooo yummy!!! The martini selection is fabulous ~ Tiramishoe, Carrot Cake, Caramel Appletini, Snickertini, etc. All very creative & wonderful. Prices are decent and appropriate and the atmosphere is cozy & comfortable. Beautiful fireplace and decor. Yet, not stuffy or pretentious. Many times, my coworkers & I go there for drinks after work and are in scrubs. I've set up several different birthday parties or large group get-togethers there and they've always been very accomodating & helpful. The last time, I brought a cake over early and they kept it in their fridge and brought it out at the right time. The staff always tries to insure you have a great time and are taken care of. Parking can be a challenge at times, but don't let that deter you. This place really is an overall terrific find.
(5)David A.
Avoid this place. There is very little to redeem it, and it is way overpriced. The buffalo chicken dip was horrible, and everything else (burger, fish tacos, po boy, chicken fingers) was barely better. OK, the service was friendly enough.
(1)Michael C.
Hard to believe this is the same Horseshoe Grille of days gone by. If you are of a certain age and grew up in the area you remember the Horseshoe as the drive bar extraordinaire. Wow, what a change. Go early on the weekends because the place is packed and with good reason. The food is an eclectic mix of options generally but not solely centered around barbecue. Steak tips with rice and asparagus were fabulous; perfectly done tips, moist rice and asparagus with a slight crunch. Appetizers are excellent although not overly generous. Everyone in our party of seven cleaned the plates so I suspect I was not the only happy camper. These guys pour a mean drink here. Martinis: perfect A+++. Desserts are incredible with one enough for a table of 7. The real gem here is the lost art of service. No snarling waitresses here. Staff are super efficient, friendly and knowledgeable. Hate to see a good drive bar disappear but if it has to be this is an awesome replacement.
(4)Charles G.
We just had dinner here after having not been for about a year. I had thought of this place as an Ok average. Now i would say that it has slipped lower. My wife had a beef brisket sandwich. It was dry and lacked flavor. I would have expected a few sides of sauce and some cold slaw. If your in the mood for BBQ, I would go to Blue Ribbon or Red Bones.
(2)Pete R.
Now that my go to restaurant in North Reading has closed (The Pic) I have had to branch out for Saturday Lunches when visiting my wifes (my) family. I tried the Horseshoe this weekend. It was very good. It had a nice big bar that had a lot of people at it. We decided to eat in the dining room. Since it was promoting the award winning BBQ I had to try it. Being from CO originally I usually enjoy seafood MA. But this BBQ was very good. I have the pulled pork plate with coleslaw and baked beans and it was very juicy and tasty.
(3)Mackytack C.
after they got our takeout order wrong AGAIN, i am done. it's a shame, because it IS a good cobb salad when it is done right, but seriously???????? how complicated is that??? let me answer that for you...VERY complicated for the horseshoe. we have ordered that same thing for the last 3 yrs (call me a glutton for punishment) as the place is convenient, and the salad is fresh. the price is not cheap for the salad, though we are happy to pay for it if it's prepared the way it is supposed to be prepared, CONSISTENTLY. they mustn't have any kind of quality control in the kitchen. missing bacon, missing egg, missing cheese??? over and over and over again, it is always missing something, sometimes a couple things! i have spoken with a manager (Rob?) on a couple of occasions to express my dismay...i never asked for money back, or a free salad, or a gift card for my troubles, i simply asked for the salad to be made as it is intended to be. in the last 20 times (no, i'm not joking) it has been made correctly twice, and one of those times, the manager said he would 'see to it' it was right. i doubt the owner is aware of this, because he seems to run a tight ship when he is there, but what good is it, if you cannot count on your staff...i think the managers filter the problems, and pretend they can take control, but they cannot. on another note, the nachos are yummy...always...i don't understand it. for us, it's a shame, because it's easy access for us :( we now travel a couple towns over to Maggie's Farm Restaurant in Middleton to get our salads...fresh, yummy, and perfectly consistent EVERY time.
(1)Lindsey F.
Good overall experience. Went with 11 coworkers for lunch and the service was good. Chicken and pulled pork nachos were PHENOMENAL. Everything else was just okay except the GF tenderloin appetizer was OUT OF THIS WORLD. (it's only on the GF menu). I was definitely wowed. I'm going back only for the nachos and tenderloin. Amazing.
(4)James C.
Not really a fan. The burgers are pretty basic and a little pricey. The fries are plain and don't have any taste. Ordered other sandwich meals and they were OK. Really an overpriced 99. The cornbread is good. Some of the wait staff is good some are cocky. The guy that runs trivia night it good. It's fun. Almost gave 3 stars, but the food quality verses the prices don't measure up.
(2)Dave B.
Been here a few times. Not bad. A bit pricey for what it is, (teens & twenties) but the food has always been good. Parking & dinning room always seems to be near full, but have always been able to find a spot & a seat. Food always seems fresh. Seems popular with the family crowd. Overall, not the type of place I would make a regular stop, but once in a while not bad.
(3)Gillian B.
Love this place! Went here for the first time over the holidays and had the most delicious meal. It had been recommended to us by several people and it did not disappoint. Great atmosphere, cozy fireplace (but not quiet), great décor, friendly staff, great food. They will also let you take your bottle of wine to go if you don't finish it! Call ahead to put your name on the wait list!
(5)We D.
Let's start off with the summary. "Nothing special - disappointing" Okay, with that out of the way: I still haven't learned despite going there five or six times that there's nothing but average food here that is priced too high. My last visit included the Horseshoe steak tips. They were pretty bad - full of gristle and an unremarkable marinade. I asked for medium and got a range of doneness from rare to well done on my plate. The time before that I had pulled pork. The only way to make it palatable was to smother it with barbecue sauce. It's sad - Pat Lee and his family has tried so hard to make this place a destination for dinner. Their waitstaff leaves a lot to be desired. Again, on the last visit, the waitress I had was inattentive and unhelpful. Will I go back again? Probably. I'll try something else on the menu and hope I find something that won't disappoint me yet again.
(2)Corinne O.
The horseshoe grille is close to "the office" so i go there frequently. Very good food and usually very friendly staff. Complimentary corn bread is amazing with cinnamon butter, and my favorite dish there is the mozzarella chicken sandwich. Their pan seared swordfish is AMAZING. So good! I continue to frequently patron Horseshoe Grille.
(5)Katie S.
Looks like an upscale 99 restaurant and our service was past horrible. The food was good but I don't think it was worth how much we paid
(3)Danielle C.
Best. Nachos. Ever. Always have had a good meal here but prices are a little high for entrees.
(4)rob p.
One word- overpriced. Average place, but waaay too much for the quality of the food.
(2)Kenji G.
5star chili nachos with pulled pork on top. Like the chili and the ruben is excellent. Cant think of a better lunch than the chili and half ruben. Good corn bread as well.
(5)Sam S.
Good for lunch or dinner. Nice 'upscale' look. Well for N. Reading it is upscale. Big booths and a nice bar. Food is steaks, fish and chicken, but there is a little variation on the menu when compared to a typical American fare place. They serve you nice coring Bread and apple butter to start. Nice touch. I have ordered a number of menu items and all were good. Smoked brisket is my favorite. Not too expensive. A great value. I have made it a regular stop.
(4)Valerie S.
I love coming here. Restaurant is always clean, food is great!. Love the seafood brushetta appetizer. Grilled asparagus - yum! No problems with special requests with your entry. I've had the steak tips, scallops dishes, burgers, and oh, the Mad Maggie's Ice Cream Pie, which is great to split.
(4)Jack M.
Sunday afternoon, we were shopping nearby when the inevitable question comes up "Where do we eat?". ~ Piccadilly Pub was right there - which has a loyal following, but I've never been impressed. ~ Pull out the ol' super-phone and use the Yelp App to see what's nearby... ~ This place! Sounds good - good reviews. Click on the "Directions to there" and off we go. ~ Nice looking place! New building. We liked the sign out front to which I was told "Looks like our kinda place". A good sign - literally! ~ It wasn't crowded but it was an off-hour. Like 3:00. Lunch? Dinner? Whatever you call it, it was GOOD. ~ Really liked the interior - the soft brown/yellow/red colors used throughout are really nice. A subtlely decorated place. This ain't no Chili's with garage-sale crap on the walls! ~ Waiter was wicked nice and talked to us for a bit. I learned this place has always been here, in some form or another, for, well, a LONG TIME. ~ We ordered, he brought us cornbread and honey-butter which was AWESOME! I loved that cornbread! Any place that actually puts thought into their bread, means they got it going on!!! ~ Here's the rundown: Chili: WICKED GOOD. Little slider plate: Very good - really liked that meatloaf one. The pulled pork one was my favorite - extremely good. Cheeseburger one was really good too! Brisket: Tasted great but a bit dry for my taste. Really that's the only negative. The ribs were VERY good. Their sauce is awesome and every order should come with a bowl of it so you can dip whatever in it while you eat!!! Rice pilaf- WICKED good. Quinoa salad - NICE CHOICE as you never see Quinoa on a menu anywhere around here - a cool salad that is a good summer choice. ~ After we were stuffed to the gills, the MANAGER came to talk to us! Asked how we found the place, etc. I talked to him for a bit. I am a big food / restuarant fan and love the study of it - menu items - history of places, etc. It was great talking to him and that really pushed it up a star for me. He gave us cornbread to take home (read my mind) and some of that honey-butter and some of their bbq sauce too! Also a letter from the owners - actually hand-signed letter saying thanks for coming, etc. AND A $5 coupon for our next visit, which we will DEFINITELY be using because we just found our new favorite local restaurant!!! ~ Nice place - nice waiters and hostess - nicely decorated - BIG menu - we liked EVERYTHING we tried - attentive staff and really just a gem. Glad we found it! You'll love it too!!!!!
(5)Lauren M.
The bar room has a good vibe and waitstaff is friendly and attentive. Great place to have a few casual, delicious cocktails with friends. I enjoyed our appetizers, too. Friends I know really like to go for dinner too.
(4)Mary O.
Great bar with little plates menu that is popular with us and our friends. They catered a sixty birthday party for me and guests raved about the food. They delivered and included chafing dishes, ready to go in minutes. Ribs, Mac and cheese and grilled sweet potatoes were highlights.
(4)Jennifer B.
Loved this place! The people were friendly, the service was good, and the food was delicious! They make everything, including their salad dressings, in house. We found this place because we were looking for a restaurant at the midway point between us in Wakefield and our friends in Methuen. They let us sit for a leisurely dinner, gabbing over good food, good beer, and excellent corn bread with apple butter. The kicker that put it over the top was that the manager came over at the end of the meal and welcomed us to the restaurant because we told the waitress it was our first visit. He brought both couples a goody bag of cornbread, apple butter and their home-made BBQ sauce, along with a letter from the owner and a coupon for $5 off our next visit. Yes, please! We will definitely be back!
(5)Erik J.
This was truly awful food. Brisket was extremely bland, extraordinarily fatty, and on the tough side. Pulled pork was marginally better, but the sauce was uninteresting. Supposedly smoked. Not coming back again. Oh, and the waitresses fighting over who got our table.
(1)JD D.
Driving by, and given its name, you would think this place is a blue collar bbq joint, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover a fine dining experience (I guess that's why they put an 'e' on 'grille'). Stopped in for a casual lunch on a Saturday, didn't have any trouble getting a table and staff was prompt and polite. There's a fireplace in the middle and the restaurant boasts a dark wood interior. I enjoyed the meatloaf and was glad my waitress recommended it to me. Really had no complaints and would definitely come back to try out more of the menu.
(4)Kara G.
I love this place. I moved closer to the Horseshoe Grille recently and have been here about 3 or 4 times. I am always impressed with their food and the reasonable prices. On my birthday they brought out a funny hat, (sang a rather sad version of happy birthday), took my picture and even offered to email it to me which I thought was a cute idea. I highly recommend Horseshoe Grille!
(5)Dawn S.
Have been to this restaurant many times and have recommended it to friends, family, coworkers, etc. Went for dinner tonight. I wanted to sit on the patio but it was full so we opted for the bar which was pretty empty. Big mistake. Our "server" was awful, she didn't tell us her name, didn't tell us there were specials, didn't give us silverware and napkins (I took them from another table). She took our drink order and didn't return for10 minutes, and we could see the drinks sitting on the bar. She finally brought us our drinks and took our order. Our food was delivered by someone else, and we didn't see what's her name until we flagged her down to bring the check. I know she had tables outside, and she was very attentive to those customers as I could see through the window. Our food was really good, but the service was so subpar, I don't need to go back for a while. I know everyone has bad days, but I saw her interact with other customers just fine.
(2)Sandy D.
We have been to the Horseshoe Grille a few times now, and feel that is enough times to give a fair review. The decor is very nice inside with a fireplace right in the middle of the dining room. There are plenty of cozy booths, and tables around the fireplace. Bar is nice, too. That said... The first time we went, I got the Clam Chowder which was very good. Then I had the Southfork Steak, which was also very good, except I really didn't care for the Southfork sauce it comes with, and wished I had asked for any sauce to be on the side. The hubby got the Crusted Rib Eye which he liked. The second time we went I got the Haddock, which was just OK, not very exciting. My husband got the St Louis Ribs which he said were extremely over done by the sun and dried out!!! We thought we'd try it one more time, thinking maybe the second time was just a fluke. The third time I got the Sliced Sirloin. What I was imagining, and what I got were two different things. I ended up getting London Broil. All I can say is if I had known it was in fact London Broil, I would have never ordered it. The texture of the meat reminded me of pot roast only much fattier...bottom of the barrel! Yuk! Needless to say, I didn't eat very much of it. The hubby got a Lamb Shank which was a special. The Lamb Shank was so dried out it was horrible. So much for the third time. The service was fine, the décor fine, but the most important thing...the food was far from fine.
(2)Felecia C.
Horseshoe Grille is apparently a happening spot on Fri/Sat nights in North Reading. I tend to gravitate towards establishments closer to Boston, but when I discovered that this restaurant offered a gluten-free menu, I had to drag a few girlfriends here (and a fellow gf eater) to indulge in some comfort food. We made reservations, so we were promptly seated in the full dining room next to the fireplace, which was a great homey touch given the freezing weather. However, it was so unbelievably hot that we were glad it was shut off after a few minutes. I'm not sure what to make of the decor. I think it is a "Horses of the World" theme. Whatev, it's BBQ. My gf dining companion and I decided to split a bunch of options on the gluten-free menu, including the Cobb salad and a 1/2 rack of ribs with sides of quinoa salad and mashed potatoes. Overall, everything hit the spot, but I felt like the ribs were missing something....don't ribs usually have BBQ sauce? I don't know, either way, they were delicious and messy enough without sauce. Our other dining companions both got the pulled pork sandwich which, if my memory serves me correctly, were met with thumbs-up reviews. After dinner, we poked our heads in the bar area, but it didn't seem worth the extra dinero to grab a drink....plus some of my party wanted to get some DQ. Sadly, that was closed, but I'd definitely be back to Horseshoe Grille.
(4)Aaron R.
I ate here with friends recently. Food was good and service was attentive. The meatloaf was delicious along with their chocolate cake. Also, since the weather was nice, I had the opportunity to dine outdoors on their patio.
(4)Matt C.
Great atmosphere, fast friendly service, and yummy food. We will definitely come back. No complaints. Only 4 stars as it is our first time here - we'll up the rating when we see if it's consistently great.
(4)Mike K.
Went there with my girlfriend a month ago. We recently moved to Wilmington and were looking for a good local restaurant. We couldn't have been happier with Horseshoe Grill. We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by Paula the bartender. I had the steak tips and my girlfriend had the scallops. The dinner was great but the kicker for us, and the reason why we will go back, is for the conversation. Paula genuinely appreciated our business. At the end of the evening Paula gave us a "welcome to the neighborhood" package that included menus, a sample of their homemade cornbread and barbeque sauce and a 5 dollar off coupon for the next time we visited. We went back the following week. you cant go wrong with this restaurant.
(5)Ralph G.
Great food. Place is always very clean. I give this place an A+ on how clean everything is all the time. The food is really good I find it a little pricey but I am willing to deal with that based on the A+ cleanliness.
(4)Valeria H.
This is a tough one for me to critique cause I have a love/hate relationship with this place. This restaurant was rebuilt recently, the previous place was a DIVE...disgusting, smokey dive...so this new design/concept is really working for them... Cozy cabin feel. Family friendly. Quaint place for locals, nice bar area... Service in the restaurant has always been great for us BUT my biggest gripe with this place is their takeout/pickup service. We end up taking out from this place twice a year or so and they ALWAYS fuck it up. And if you have read my other reviews you may have read that my husband has an allergy and we have to be particular when we order for him..but the funny thing is at this place it's not so much that they screw up the request for the allergen as it is simple substitutions. i.e. mashed potatoes rather than fries I really love their chili, totally recommend it...both types (spicy and non). It's always tasty, seasoned real well, cheesy and scalliony goodness in a bowl... and served with tortillas, the way I love to eat chili! So this is the reason we basically go back for..and their buffalo chicken wraps. Those are really great too. But their takeout blows. My husband and I guestimated that our orders are incorrect 90% of the time. Granted we do call to tell them they screwed it up and they are always apologetic and the manager gives us instructions for our next order to be comped... which is nice and all but we have two big complaints about them..1- when we started going there a chix wrap was 6 and now they are 9..not a big deal for some, but 3 bucks in a year and a half is to me... 2-the incompetence with the takeout, worried that it may not be something simple getting screwed up...what if they totally ignore my husband's allergen? I recommend checking this place out because they have some items on the menu that are tasty like their buffalo chix wrap, chili and steak tip salad. But will it be your go to place for bar food? Maybe.. maybe not. good luck!
(3)Jonathan B.
I have been eating at "The Shoe" since it was a quasi biker bar. The food has always been pretty good. The new building is more upscale than the old "biker bar" building. The food is about the same, but the prices went way up. I guess they had to pay for the building somehow. I have always been pleased with the experience of eating at the Horseshoe Grille, but a little sticker-shocked by the price. It just seems about 25% too expensive for this kind of food. They are clearly aware that there are few decent restaurants in North Reading!
(3)Beth S.
Horseshoe is a good local place that feels much more homey than the chain restaurant alternatives or other limited options in the area. It is definitely frequented by local residents and has a family owned feel to it. We are regulars who frequent this restaurant 2-3 times a month. I like the decor (particularly the fireplace during the cold winters. I am not a fan of barbecue (their specialty) but my husband regularly gets their pulled pork and raves about. He also loves their gringo chili with warm tortilla chips. I usually get a burger (one of the best around). I have also tried some of their entrees- chicken cordon bleu and grilled salmon. They were good with fresh vegetables and homemade mashed potatoes. My absolute favorite is their clam chowder which I can only seem to get on Friday nights (wish it was a regular menu item). We always love their cornbread and honey butter. If you can make it to dessert, they always have a great selection of dessert options. I have tried their unique brownie sundae on multiple occasions and loved it (don't try and eat it all by yourself). Definite comfort food! The service seems to have been recently cut back with servers responsible for holding down more tables. This can make your interactions with their waitstaff (which has always been hit or miss) infrequent and rushed. Overall, I still recommend Horseshoe as a local comfort food option. Their entrees can be a bit pricey but you will never walk out without feeling stuffed!
(4)Lisa W.
Our go-to neighborhood restaurant for friendly service, high-quality tasty food, delicious martinis, and reasonable prices. Panko crusted chicken entree, pulled pork sandwich and sirloin salad are favorites. Last Friday night was disappointed in skimpy sirloin salad and green bean substitution for standard asparagus vege. Lettuce was primarily iceberg, 3 cherry tomatoes, 3 cucumber chunks, very little blue cheese, and sirloin was sliver thin (5 slices) and topped with barbecue sauce (?). Nowhere near worth the $16 price. Healthy-tini and salad dressing didn't disappoint. Hope this was only a one-time miss as we've enjoyed coming here for years.
(4)Miss S.
Great local hang out! Consistently good food, nice service. The bar area is actually a great place for couples as it is quick and upbeat!
(5)K E.
I have been here several times for lunch. The service has always been really good for me, they constantly bring you drink refills without asking and offer great advice for dishes. I've never been disappointed with the food, but yes, it is perhaps a little overpriced. But it's hard to find a decent place for a working lunch in this area, so they get away with it. It's almost always packed during lunch, especially when the weather is nice and people can sit outside on the patio.
(3)Grandpa B.
This place seems to be hit-or-miss. We have been there a few times and the food and service is usually very good. Typically our group of six have a selection of entres. Last week we were all looking forward to the ribs (house specialty). What a disappointment! They were dried out and not very tender: do better at local rib joint. For this quality, way over priced at $16. We will probably go to HG again but NOT FOR THE RIBS. And the service what a less attentive than usual.
(3)D. Z.
I'm a big fan of the pulled pork, and anything else barbequed on the menu. I've not tried the ribs, (St. Louis style), but that's next on my list. We usually eat at the bar - good tvs, attentive bartenders who mix a good martini, but the main dining room has a nice big fireplace, if you like that sort of thing. The spinach salad with this rolled & stuffed mozzarella cheese is a must-order item. Unlike Valeria H., I've had no trouble with the takeout/pickup service - 3 times - but generally prefer to eat in the restaurant.
(4)Hans R.
I was pleasantly surprised with this place. The waitress knew the menu and was very attentive. There is plenty of parking and an outside patio. The bar area looked pretty big but I didn't go in there. Appetizer was a crabcake cigar which is a crunchy roll of crabcake, delicious. The BBQ was excellent, tried the ribs and brisket combo and they let me substitute the sides. Although I don't usually like cornbread if was moist and served with a spiced butter. I Also sampled the swordfish which was a large steak cooked to perfection. Next time I'm going to skip lunch before I go there.
(4)L S.
Have been here quite a few times in the past 5 yrs. Have been here everytime w/my bf. We have sat at the bar, in the bar area and outside. This time was outside. Host seated us right in front of a huge fan, we moved to another table, no problem. Our waitress Stephanie, I think that was her name was really good and accomodating. We both ordered drinks. Mine was a little too strong, had to ask for small glass of cranberry juice to add. Not complaining, but I like to enjoy my drink also, asked for lime in it, didnt have it, but ok. I got the turkey tips, coleslaw and asked for roasted sweet potatoes instead of the rice, they were hard + no flavor. Then asked for mash potatoes, they were very good. My bf got the meatloaf. He is a picky eater, but he said it was very good. I was going to get the steak tips, but had them before and I never get turkey tips. Tips had some kind of bbq sauce on it, good thing because they were a little dry, not too bad and coleslaw was good. They give u corn bread w/some kind of sweet butter which is very good. Service was good, prices somewhat reasonable. W/the exception of the potatoes and strong drink, very good experience and they accomodated with our added additional requests. Almost forgot, my bf first ordered a ginger ale..flat. Not a big deal, Im sure it happens alot. I would think its just a matter of changing something in the machine. Its a casual atmosphere. Nice bar area, they did it over about 4,5 yrs ago. Everybody who works there is always pleasant, nice and friendly. We'll be back.
(4)Ken L.
3.5 stars IMO. Went there last night for the 3rd time. Not bad - not phenomenal, but not bad. My friend got the bbq chicken and pulled pork combo, he wasn' loving it. Felt the pulled pork was a bit dry. He did like the chicken. I had the baked haddock special and it was excellent. Lump crab topping and bread crumbs. I'd get it again. Overall, it's fine - though I don't think it's that much a step above the 99 as an honest comparison...
(3)Angela B.
This place is hit or miss for me. Sometimes its great and sometimes its dry overcooked crap. Cornbread is always yummy. Service is good, but consistency is key and they don't have that. Takeout is always a bad idea. Homemade BBQ sauces are tasty but I've had better ribs at chain restaurants.
(3)Tony M.
We found this place a week ago and pulled in to try it out. We did have to wait about 15-20 minutes at prime diner time on a Friday night ( to be expected ) We got our table and sat down with some yummy cornbread and flavored butter. We ordered the crab cigar appetizer and it was almost like a crab egg roll, and it was very yummy as well. Our waitress was super friendly and offered to bring more bread and was more than happy to go check on a menu item for us ( allergies to certain spices ) I ordered the BBQ meatloaf. I am not a huge fan of meatloaf but when i saw that they put some slow BBQ'ed brisket in the meatloaf I had to try it. Mmmmm This was the best meatloaf I have ever had. 2 big slices on top of mashed potatoes. I cant wait to have that again. My girlfriend order a chicken dish ( not BBQ ) and was very pleased as well. When we told our waitress that this was our first time she brought us out a little envelope with a thank you letter from the owners , a couple of menus ( lunch & diner ) and a $5.00 off coupon for our next visit. She also brought us a small form to get on the Email list for once a month specials and/or coupons. The place was nice and homey inside and we liked everything about it. The appetizers & our bar drinks came out super fast, and the dinners did as well. It was very busy on a Friday night but our waitress was awsome ( wish i could remember her name ) she looked around 40-50 and told us that she had been there for 14 or so years ) Only 1 trip but we loved it. Fast & friendly service, and really delicious food ! ! ! The prices didn't seem that bad to us, but we go to a lot of pricey places. To the average Joe who doesn't go out much or not to nice places, the prices may seem a bit much. For great service & food i don't mind paying a few extra bucks if it means a great meal !!
(4)Christine S.
Average. But Im bias. I really did like the old hole in the wall. It was about bands on the weekend. Getting to know the person sitting next to you and really good BBQ coming out of the kitchen often with the owner in tow asking if you liked the hot sauce and if the new corn bread recipe was a hit or a miss. They perfected the corn bread and it is still great. The rest is over polished, too trendy and misses sometimes. Staff is great and its a good place to meet for drinks and apps though.
(3)Rose F.
A little pricey. The cornbread and butter is awesome. Drinks are good modestly priced $7 for a yummy sangria. Busy most nights but not overly so. Outside seating is nice.
(3)John W.
Had lunch here. It was OK...I ordered the Pulled Pork sandwich. The BBQ sauce was nice and spicy..........which is good........but the sandwich was small.......which is bad. Came with fries that were OK. If I am in the area I might stop in again.............but it's not a destination BBQ joint.
(3)Dianne F.
Great nachos, but the menu is way too overpriced. Not worth the visit.
(1)Kathleen M.
Their food is fantastic! I have been there so many times and have yet to be let down. Even their cornbread and butter is phenomenal! The waitstaff has always been nice and I like the atmosphere. It's just so good! Now I'm hungry.
(5)Chere G.
One perk of working some sick ass hours to meet a deadline is my cool boss that treats us to take in lunch. Usually we have Fresh City Betrucci's, Joe Fish - but after 3 years of endless deadlines it gets old. Yesterday we were treated to The Horseshoe Grille and I was very impressed especially since it was delivered to us. BBQ at it's finest and you don't have to wait. Now picture if you will a nice warm summer day, and you have the buzz of your favorite libation. A picnic table full of all the fixens is waiting there for you to soak up the buzz. Yeah, you feeling me? I was slapped back into reality seeing that it was our meeting table, and shoes were all over but once I had the nibbles in my tummy I was right back to my summer day dream. He hee. Since the early 1990s the Horseshoe Grille has been a BBQ joint. As of writting this review I couldn't tell you what the restaurant is like, but from my research and checking it online, it looks really cool inside and there is no doubt the food is fantastic. After this delicious delivery I will be checking it out. Our indoor BBQ consisted of cornbread with honey-cinnamon butter Yum! The rest of our menu was predictable barbecue items ribs, pulled pork, steaktips, shrimp, chicken, ribs, beans, rice and coleslaw. Nothing was thrown together. Everything had been treated with a special touch, surprisingly very tasty (I'm suspicious of deliveries), nothing dired out, & most importantly, food was hot upon delivery. The portions were huge for 20 people. I thought this was a fantastic meal and plan to hit the restaurant one of these days to add to this review. The manager that delivered the food was very friendly, and accomodating. I would imagine the staff is the same. Highly recommended by me.
(5)Chuck M.
Took family here for lunch. The place was empty, as we were pretty much the first ones there at opening time. I was really looking forward to our meal there after seeing it online. It looked nice, and I love good BBQ. But then it started out on a bad note, when our server Lara was missing in action (my wife found her in the restroom applying makeup) even having no other tables. She finally showed up about 8 minutes later, but wasn't conversational whatsoever. The next table over, however, our friends that we came with got a server who asked them questions and was friendly. Our meals were pretty overpriced for what we got. I ordered pulled pork, but it came out cold, mushy and flavorless. It seemed like it had been previously made the week before and barely reheated. The ribs were so dry, like jerky, and were also flavorless. Seafood noodle platter ($30) was really buttery, and small for the price. Scallops and shrimps hard and overcooked. It was only about a $10 entree at best. Absolute rip at $30. We ate our meals out of obligation. I liked the design of the interior, but that was about it. To add to our misery, the manager came by our friends table, which was right next to ours and said "I heard from your server that it was your first time here, hope you liked the complimentary cornbread. Here's some coupons for 5 dollars off your next visit." The manager then walked right past our table without even a glance. It happened to be our first visit as well (seeing how we told our friends about it), but to not even get offered cornbread or a greeting from the manager was the icing on the overpriced cake. Will never be back. If you like BBQ, or good, consistent service, stay away. Far away.
(1)Mark G.
Went there for lunch. An order of Buffalo fingers, A burger, Lunch portion of tips, 2 beers, 2 drinks, a coffee, & slice of the ice cream pie was $90! For LUNCH?! I used to go there when I lived in the area & it was a dive. The food was excelent. But the prices for lunch were waaaayyy outta line. IDK if I'll go back again.
(3)Cookie Z.
very busy night, sat in bar. waitress was wonderful and pleasant despite the crowd. very relaxing experience. cornbread is warm, moist and flavorful. ordered chicken tender appetizer. came with three dipping sauces, all of which were delicious. ordered pulled pork sandwich which also came with choice of two sauces, mild and tangy. definitely would go back.
(5)Breena U.
I really enjoy this place, it's great for home style food. Although barbecue style isn't really my thing they do have other things to choose from. They absolutely have the best cornbread and the chili is fantastic. Everyone that I've ever gone with has been happy with their order. The nacho app is enormous and definitely can be dinner for two or more. They have a patio that i haven 't had a chance to visit but the bar atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. The only time i did not love my experience there was when a large group next to us were fiercely arguing politics to the point that they nearly had a brawl. At the very least I'd be surprised if the couples ever spoke to each other again as the drunk wife of one of them continued to egg on the rest of the group. Even that was pretty entertaining........
(4)Jonathan G.
I have to start off by saying this is probably the best restaurant in North Reading, and that's why I gave it 4 stars (in Boston, it'd probably be a 3). That's not saying much, since there's not much competition here, aside from Wendy's and a few pizza places. My wife and I go here all the time, since it's consistently good. I'd describe it as decent comfort food...the turkey tips, burgers, and salads are all tasty, and the baked potato is fantastic (yes, baked potato). The ribs are pretty good, too. I'm not a fan of the pulled pork (too sweet) or the maple butter that's served with the cornbread (again, too sweet). Ask for the special hot sauce (not on the menu), if you like to burn your face off while eating bbq. The staff is friendly and attentive.
(3)Maria P.
I went here on a Friday afternoon after scouring a few native american stores in the area with a friend. The hostess was friendly and seated us quickly (the restaurant was empty so this could have contributed to this). The corn bread was fantastic, a little bit on the crumbly side but great all the same. I had the pork ribs which were perfectly tender and the sauce was great. The coleslaw was spectacular. I didn't particularly care for the bbq beans however. My friend had the panko crusted chicken which we shared and it was great. Their mashed potatoes were perfect and I definitely want to order this next time. Our waitress was lackluster (and never even said hello or introduced herself) and for this alone the restaurant loses a star. The experience would have been perfect if it wasn't for this little fact. The ambience is great, the wood paneling was nice but made the restaurant look a little dark, maybe it just felt this was because there wasn't much sunlight that day. I would definitely want to go back here for dinner sometime.
(4)Boston Italian Girl O.
Went to Horseshoe Grille for the first time with a friend tonight. We were driving by, didn't know it even existed and decided to stop in and give it a try. Waitress (who I would name, except she didn't tell us her name) was very rushed and I'm not sure why - she only had 3 tables. Had to ask for sodas and extra dressing twice before she brought it. And when she came back she brought things one at a time. Also she seemed irritated that we asked for a second drink and brought us each two glasses of what we were drinking at once...weird. She had absolutely no personality and was short and cold. Food was just ok - we ordered the nachos which were actually really good, but food came out just as we were taking our second bite so by the time we ate the main dish was cold. I got lobster mac n cheese which was ok, not great...would have been better if it was fresh and hot when I ate it. Also we noticed that all of the other tables got bread or something and we did not, even after asking for it. Probably would be good for an OK lunch, but wouldn't go back there for dinner. Over-priced and not so great.
(2)Jenna D.
Only went once, but will be back. Great tuna app, scallop meal and ribs! Very nice inside and a friendly owner. Been two more times: consistent food. I like it!
(4)Peter A.
One of the owners was so gracious as to contact me through Yelp to offer a gift card so I could come back and try the food again. It is much appreciated and it looks like they are making a sincere effort to improve and get it right. I won't take him up on the offer of the free gift card, but I will visit soon to prove I caught them on a bad night and had an atypical experience. I hope to become a regular customer again. P.S. Pat - as far as I can remember, I was there later in the evening - probably 7:30 or 8:00.
(3)N H.
Great food, great atmosphere, most of all great service. The people that work at this place are some great people, they are nice, courteous, and overall very friendly. I will be a return customer for sure. I would say the presentation of the food is Immaculate and the food is delicious. This place is a must dine!
(5)Christie L.
This has to be our favorite place in the area so far. We went here on a Sat night at about 9 and were seated right away. Dining room was pretty empty, but the bar was getting full. We really liked the atmosphere of both the bar and dining room. I ordered a pineapple bomb martini and loved it (5 stars)! It's probably the best martini I've had around here, not too strong, not too weak. For dinner, I ordered the seafood casserole with haddock, scallops, shrimip, and lobster. I thought it was a little bland (3 stars), but the scallops were really good. On the side I had the asian salad which was just ok and the mashed potatoes which I loved and brought the whole rating of my meal up. I also loved the cornbread! The bf got the BBQ choose three combo with brisket, chicken, and ribs and sides of baked beans and fries. He absolutely loved it and was raving 5 stars immediately. I tried all three and all three were very good and I loved the BBQ sauce. He even liked the baked beans which he never likes. The service wasn't the best, our server didn't seem to be around much and when she served us, she pretty much slammed down the plates, said 'here,' and left...no question of if we needed anything else (like ketchup for fries) and she didn't come back for awhile. We both agreed we'd definitely go back and try more on the menu. Good food and good portion sizes for the price.
(5)Me B. M.
After the remodeling, the food slipped a bit, but seems to be back. The space is very nicely done and the staff is always friendly. A tad over priced for what it is, but I keep going back. It is as good as a local BBQ place will get.
(4)Will K.
Completely renovated in 2005, Horseshoe was transformed from a dark and smokey biker-bar into a more family-targeted BBQ joint, with good lighting, a nice fireplace in the middle of the main dining room, and pleasant (if a little contrived) decor. The food is okay here, the meal kicked off with cornbread and tasty maple-butter. Nothing really to complain about, although I admit that I don't keep going back because my mouth is watering. The BBQ selections are solid for a Boston suburb, but won't convert any picky southerners to the northeast. Be sure to ask for the hot BBQ sauce, they're not kidding, it's pretty spicy! There's a bar that seats about a dozen, and an associated eating area with about 8 booths, where you can mingle more easily and catch a game on the plasma TVs. Overall a good spot for locals and passers-through, but I wouldn't venture too far out of the way just for a visit.
(3)M M.
Really good impression form the minute we walked in the front door! Nice patio off to one side, good split design,high tops in the bar were nice fireplace dining room also looked nice. We sat at the bar and ordered a few beers some apps and sandwiches. The food good corn bread with nice maple butter. Apps were good french onion soup was good I personally like the cheese hanging off the side that gets crispy. But it had great flavor and came out nice and hot with lots of cheese and filling. Shrimp in wonton wrappers great presentation not my style of flavors lacked umph that I love to see on dishes like this but it was still ok. Pulled pork sandwich was awesome, and Reuben was really nice and tender good amount of protein to bread ratio. French fries came out nice and hot and crispy and the quinoa salad we had was also really good. As good as the food was the service was awesome we had a really nice waitress that looked like she was ready to pop!!!! she could not have been more gracious or welcoming it was really nice to see. I will definitely be back for dinner sometime soon. The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 was the shrimp app.
(4)Dan D.
My boss got the rueben and since he gets a rueben at every restaurant I am with him I asked him to rate it. He said it was great and he would order it again. I order the corn beef club special. I thought she said chicken club. It was good regardless. The coleslaw was on point as well. Give this place a try
(3)