Stopped by today for a quick bite, been driving by here for years and always wanted to try it. First, it was packed, typical Friday lunch, I always try to get to restaurants a little before noon, but didn't today. There was a line of about a dozen people, but luckily, there were openings at the bar. Bartender was very friendly (tho' she forgot to ask me for my drink when I sat down). I had the corn chowder and brisket sandwich with corn kernels and fresh-brewed ice tea (unsweetened) to drink. Corn chowder was very good, tasty, added some pepper to it. Nice and creamy. Brisket sandwich was excellent, as noted, very tender. Just a little bit of fat, but not bad. You do have your choice of two sauces and there are hot bottles on a wall if you're really into it (I'm not). Whoah, they had Smutty Nose Old Brown Dog Ale on tap, first time I've seen that. Didn't have it now, but will def stop by again to try that. My b-in-law is coming up in a few weeks and he's a real foodie ('Q especially) so I'm going to bring him by.
(4)
Steve W.
This place was a pleasant surprise when we discovered it. I would rank it up there with Red bones in Cambridge. We get take out from here often. Have never been disappointed. Have tried all of the BBQ at this point. The brisket is my favorite (ask for burnt ends and you get a special treat).
(5)
Brett J.
My wife and I lived in Texas a couple years, and I travel there (and all over the US) regularly - and I just think Texas style BBQ is the best. I love BBQ and do enjoy Firefly's on ocassion (also in Marlborough - and good), but The Texas BBQ Company is my favorite here locally. The menu is simple, and the restaurant is small but clean and comfortable. The brisket is great. My daughter loves their grilled cheese on Texas toast, and their onion strings are great. Service is friendly also. Good place.
(5)
Robert L.
I had great hopes when I arrived. It looks like a real BBQ joint, not too fancy, or like a chain restaurant. Service was friendly, and there was a small but decent selection of beer on tap and in bottles along with a full bar. Unfortunately the BBQ wasn't that good. Here's the rundown. Brisket- decent flavor but very dry. Like most of the meat here, inconsistent from piece to piece. For a place called Texas BBQ, I wanted to be blown away by the beef. Beef ribs- smokey with good bark, some ribs were tender, others almost desiccated in their level of dryness. Probably has to do with the holding and reheating methods. They were just OK. Pulled pork- good sized chunks of shoulder, but didn't taste smokey, even though the pork flavor was decent enough. Not mixed with sauce. Pork spareribs- these had been reheated with some sort of soy sauce and sugar glaze and tasted like there were a Chinese restaurant appetizer. Not horrible, but not at all what I would expect at a BBQ joint. Sauce- there are two choices on the table. Meat us unsauced when served. There is a silghtly hot sauce and a regular. Both are mostly sweet and I didn't care for either very much. Luckily the rub on the meat imparts enough flavor so the sauce doesn't matter much. Sides were just OK. Fries and onion rings were the frozen type. Beans nothing special. Slaw was made without mayo, but nothing special. Cornbread was muffin style and decent, somewhat sticky and not too sweet. Bottom line, if I lived nearby, I would probably stop in from time to time and visit the bar and have a snack. Not necessarily the BBQ, though. If you are an enthusiast, don't bother with this place. The wildly inconsistent Firefly's isn't too far off and even on a bad night they are better for 'cue.
(2)
Bob S.
Amazingly POOR service. Walked in tonight and asked for three cold beers and a bite of bbq. We were sent to gather some grub for the family. Being from TEXAS originally we have run into our fair share of Bull Sh** bbq places up here. The owner and the waitress were extremely rude in our simple effort to confirm if the food was decent prior to dropping $60-70 on some take out. Hell, we simply asked to taste a fork of brisket over a few beers while we waited. The OWNER was an AS*. HE said, "Nothings Free, buy a plate and find out." What? Really? Before we buy a load of food? We got the same thing from the waitress prior to being introduced to the owner. We asked if he was kidding. We then left. The BBQ may be good, but the Hospitality deserves an as* whoopin. The Lone Star Flag should be removed from the front of this place. Don't waste your time.
(1)
Dan D.
I like bbq and this is fair.
(2)
Newton N.
Gotta go and have the honey habanero wings. Went we some friends and had wings and the texas chili, which was good as well. Will definitely head back.
(4)
Aly H.
OK, so if you haven't already been to Texas BBQ, you should definitely go (see other 5-star reviews below.) If you have already been but haven't experienced the Friday special, here's what you need to do. Step 1: On Thursday evening/Friday morning, call Texas BBQ and order the smoked rib-eye steak dinner. Step 2: Don't eat anything all day Friday. Step 3: Go to Texas BBQ for a nice Friday evening meal and prepare to be absolutely amazed. My brother heard about this on the Phantom and it's a MUST TRY. All five of us agreed this was the best steak we had ever had. Each steak costs about $48 BUT you get a huge 32-ounce piece of meat, smoked to perfection, with a choice of two sides. I promise you it is worth EVERY PENNY.
(5)
Jesse D.
The staff was very friendly and the owners are from Texas. Brisket: very good Ribs: very expensive and very bad I would recommend avoiding the ribs but other than that everyone enjoyed their food, the brisket was a particular favourite. I would certainly go back and just not order the ribs
(4)
David P.
Who would've thought I'd find good BBQ in Massachusetts? Solid food options here. I had "The Smoker" for lunch, the meat was very good. I ordered the potato salad for the side, it wasn't to my personal taste, but I know others who like it that way. Only negative: No refills on the drinks.
(4)
Katie M.
Good food but the portion sizes I find are small and the place seems very dirty to me. It just looks & smells old. Also, the waiter we got looked like he had just rolled out of bed. Seems to me like they have to get their act together a bit.
(2)
Emily C.
This place is GREAT. Go for the brisket. It'll be good, I promise. My family spent a few years in Boerne, TX so we know what good brisket tastes like. We had a meal here, mentioned how authentic it tasted to our waiter; turns out the folks who run the place are from a town not too far away fro Boerne. The takeaway: it's good, authentic stuff.
(5)
Simon L.
A star is lost for portion size. $17.99 for the two meat combination plate is more expensive than any of the competition in Massachusetts and yields a tiny two piece serving of brisket (the owner claims it was .4 lbs but not on my plate). Here's the outrageous part: to get anything with a bone in it on the combination plate, there's a surcharge. A buck? Fine. $2? Ok. But $5.99 for three average size St Louis ribs? I was warned about the surcharge and figured ok, at least I'll get a generous helping of the brisket. Nope. In essence, I paid $17.99 for two pieces of dry but smoky brisket, two sides and a cupcake of corn bread. Mac n cheese was creamy. Coleslaw fresh and made with vinegar and pepper and celery seed. Add $5.99 for three ribs (that's $2 a rib mind you where many local competition provide at a minimum a full spare when ordering a single rib for the same price) and a $2.35 coke plus tax and this meal tops out at over $28. A full rack of at Louis ribs is $23.99 and also comes with two sides and bread. Definitely the way to go and a deal if there are actually 13 ribs as the owner claims which brings the cost down to under $2/rib which is about average. Fair warning is given.
(2)
Vahram D.
Ran in to get some food to go. Food was really good! The steak was done to my request and tasted fantastic. Wish I had a bit more fries.
(4)
Meg G.
First, this place used to be my favorite in the area when I wanted BBQ. Personally Brisket is my go-to and there's combined with their North Carolina sauce was amazing. I will say that there have been changes. I used to eat here at least once a week and I will only go once a month if that and only because there's nothing else in the area close for lunch and BBQ. I find that the quantity is much less while the price went up ($3+ per lunch than before). I'm okay with one or the other, but both seems odd. They no longer carry some sides (corn, onion straws) which make the options limited for your sides, and no longer do specials. The slaw is great and the vinegar style that I prefer. Now to quality. Its hit or miss really. I mean sometimes the slaw tastes close to the point of the cabbage being spoiled and I can only eat about two bites before that's all I can taste. The brisket is always tender.
(3)
Jeff B.
Don't bother, $17.99 for a 2 meat combo, but if you want ribs it's $6.99 more. I ordered chicken and brisket 2 slices of brisket and a small dry quarter, frozen corn and bad mashed potatoes with stail flour added. Bad Bad, Bad
(1)
Mollie K.
This was a NIGHTMARE!!! From serving raw meat, to claiming the quesadillas had salsa in them which they did not, to serving some unintelligible alcohol and passing it off as Sangria...to then finally getting the owner of the restaurant to come over who argued with us and told us we were WRONG! And lying to our faces. DO NOT GIVE THIS COMPANY YOUR BUSINESS
(1)
John D.
Some of the best brisket ever ! Moist and very lean and tasty without any sauce like its supposed to be. Sauces are provided if you so choose to want some on it. The smoked chicken was the fall off the bone and moist too. Cole slaw was very yummy and the cucumber salad also. The jalepeno corn bread was a treat as was the mashed potato and gravy. Cant wait to go back and try a BIG juicy angus burger. yum yum !!!
(4)
Sarah A.
Well the food was great. Neither of us spoke till our plates were cleaned. I had brisket and would have again. Tender and mouth watering. My husband had pulled pork with eye watering hot sauce. We recommend. We will be back.
(5)
Steve C.
Good choice for steaks. Try the flat iron steak. Very good barbecue sauce. Road house atmosphere.
(5)
Cindy H.
This restaurant has amazing buffalo wings The wings were done perfectly - crispy on the outside but moist on the inside. The plate had a lot of extra sauce on it, which was a giant plus for me. The atmosphere is nice and the parking lot is spacious.
(4)
Blake O.
I haven't had the food here yet so this may be a slightly biased review, but the drink prices here are ridiculous. Anywhere else you go in town a 22oz draft will set you back about 5.00 to 6.00 at the most. This spot sells them for 7 bucks, which I think is way overpriced.
(3)
Maria M.
I took my BF and his family here for the BF's surprise birthday dinner and it was wonderful. The only downside was that they were out of pork ribs- - his favorite! He ordered the beef ribs, but it was not the same. I ordered the half chicken which was fantastic and smokey and delicious. Their cowboy caviar was a perfect start to our dinner. Also sad, they ran out of jalapeno corn bread at 7:30pm including the cucumber dill salad, also a favorite of the birthday boy. I guess it goes to show, people love this place, and the good stuff sells out fast. Love it.
(5)
Andrew B.
If I could rate 4.5, I would. Having lived in Texas quite a while, I was looking for something at least as good as Goode Co. Have tried some of the other BBQ places so wanted to give this one a shot, too. Best Texas BBQ I have had since I left... well, Texas. I've had everything but the beef ribs, and all were very, very good. The sides were, for the most part, what I remembered. I especially like the beans which have a touch of honey-mustard instead of the New England molasses and/or brown sugar. Anyplace that lets you order extra pickles with your sandwich is a plus. Only downsides: (1) a small dining room which fills fast (we got there at 12:01, they open at noon on Saturday, and we were the fourth customer car in the parking lot.); (2) not enough A&M memorabilia on the walls. If you like Texas BBQ or just want to give it a try, I would recommend you stop in.
(4)
waits w.
Well, I've spent a good deal of time in Texas and lived in Oklahoma. I will say it was mediocre at best. I ordered a bunch of stuff with the group. The 3 meat combo with ribs cost $30! I left hungry. Brisket was tough and had no smoke taste. Ribs were pretty good. Sides were the best thing we had. Fried okra is great. reminds me of OK. The food to price ratio was as 1 star. The portion size was 1 star I'll give the food (including sides) 3 stars. All told a generous 2 stars. Service was fine. I'd rather get my BBQ from Chilies. No joke.
(2)
Jordana P.
Food is great but had a recent bad experience trying to order take-out. It took 5 calls for me to finally get a person on the phone when I ordered take-out, then I got put on hold and could hear the workers complaining about taking a call for take-out...needless to say I hung up and will probably only be eating here in the future for dine- in only. I would think any business is good business and if you're too busy...hire more people! Never had any bad meals when we ate at the restaurant.
(3)
Frank H.
I moved here from Texas and had to try it. Positives: The first thing I noticed was that wondering smell of smoke from the grill. I had the brisket and sausage. The was really tasty, smokey, and authentic. The sausage was better than anything I had in Texas, and the beer selection is outstanding. Next time I go, I will have to try the ribs and chicken. My friend had the homemade potato chips. They were awesome! Negatives: I had slaw and beans for sides. Neither tasted like Texas. The slaw was more like pickled cabbage, not that pepper-slaw I enjoyed. The beans tasted more like canned pork & beans, not the molasses-infused beans with bbq meat in it. I was disappointed. Also, I thought the prices were too high for what you get. Will I go again? ABSOLUTELY! The BBQ meats are really, really good. I can eat their brisket for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
(4)
Joshua B.
Not part of a chain. (Thumbs up) The most consistently good BBQ restaurant in my area, meaning this is the place with the highest chance of BBQ items being truly slow-smoked, full of flavor, without needing sauce. Servers are usually competent, friendly, and attentive. Thursday nights are busy and tight with a live music crowd and band set up in the middle of the already small dining room.
(5)
Dave A.
Very expensive for the amount of food you get. Went there about 3 weeks ago. I ordered the two meat platter with brisket and chicken,there were 2 small slices of brisket and the 1/4 chicken looked to be about the size of a Cornish game hen.The brisket and the chicken were tasty though. If the owner is from Texas he must laugh with his buddies about how much he charges the Yankees up North for a small plate of food. With these portions,this place would not be in business long in TX. The food is decent though and the waitress was nice,so maybe they changed a bit from the previous reviews. With places like BT's in Sturbridge and the roadside place in Ware that give you great value for your hard earned dollar,this place will not be getting any more of my money.
(2)
Dunkin B.
Poor service, food tasted like lighter fluid. Waitstaff was annoyed and rude when asked for the beer list.
(1)
Rachel W.
The food was delicious but the rest of the experience put a damper on our evening. When we arrived we were told it was a ten minute wait. We were there with two small children and were ok with that wait time. It was however nearly an hour before we were seated and there was no apology. We ordered immediately but our drinks were very slow to arrive. We ate rather quickly since we were there with our little ones which took away from the experience. It would have helped if we were given something to nosh on during the wait for our food but there was nothing. Dinner was good but the experience as a whole was not so great.
(3)
Joe F.
I really was glad I found this place. Ordered the brisket and ends with sides of beans and macaroni. Brisket was very tender and moist and it tasted delicious. Ends were smokey and had a deep flavor. The mac and beans were also a good as sides. Too much to eat in one sitting but worth every penny.
(5)
Alexis M.
Went here for the first time last night. Very casual atmosphere, our server was wearing a Pats shirt and used a surfer vernacular. Good beers on draft. Food was good - steak cooked perfectly, asparagus awesome, good bbq too! Homemade chocolate cake was the star of the meal, it was perfectly moist with delicious peanut butter frosting. We'll be back.
(4)
Amanda G.
Seriously the best apple crisp I've tasted in my life - took it to go on a cold rainy day and bam: day made. Fried okra was perfect, asparagus cooked to a tee. Best southern meal I've had since leaving the south. Try it. Your taste buds will thank you.
(5)
Stephanie S.
Pros: Great pulled pork sandwiches. BBQ sauce was very tasty. It's rare to find a place that has fried okra, and they do it right. Free refills on tea and soda. They had REAL sweet tea. We were seated within a few minutes. Cons: As others have said, they're a bit skimpy on the food. Wish they'd bring you a slice of cornbread or texas toast on the house - you have to order a "2 side dish meal" to get that. But if you order a "1 side entree" then they don't give you cornbread/toast. Come on! just give every person that orders a dinner a piece of bread. Not asking for much. Place is closed Sunday and Monday.
(3)
Jenna A.
Why such a high rating?? This was not barbecue or how barbecue should be. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich the meat was terribly dry not even marinated and the bbq sauce came on the side! A little tiny bit! The service was shitty and the inside isn't clean. There are much better bbq places around. Slaters is 10x better
(1)
Paul E.
Great spot to grab some tasty BBQ. The menu hits all the BBQ must haves. The sausage and brisket were outstanding. The house made potato chips are awesome. The menu lets you build your platter with the things you want. The portions are large and well priced. He wait staff is friendly and prompt.
(4)
Paul P.
I grew up in TX for 30 plus years and had just moved to Boston about 7 years ago for work. I've been blessed to have had some of the most amazing BBQ in my life time from Austin to Memphis. I would have to say this BBQ shack is a DUMP! I was taking my 80+ year old mother and my older brother out for dinner. But due to traffic and construction, I arrived to this shack approximately 8:30pm going in from Boston. As soon as we walked in, a frustrated woman appeared and stated that the kitchen was closed (website states 9pm closing time) but she said I can order at the bar for "to go". So I thought since we made an effort to get to this place, why not order something to try even if it was for "to go." As I turned a couple of feet to order from the bartender, he said no more order will be taken. So I thought this was getting insanely stupid and asked to speak to the manager or owner. The frustrated woman pointed to the bartender that he WAS the manager and the owner was not in. With that being said, this guy was walking away from me and not even wanting to listen to anything I had to say. All I wanted was the opportunity to kindly asked one of them if they could remove the word "Texas" from their name because it had nothing to do with this place and remove The Lone Star State flag they had flying in the front. This place is a fraud. But then I came to a realization that you know what, these people/workers just wanted to get out of this dump of an establishment they were working in and asked myself, why would I even consider eating here? Having been raised in Texas practically all of my life, I crave and love our BBQ and that was why I wanted to check this place out when I saw the name on the web! But if the service is this BAD to potential customers, I cannot imagine how they are treating your meat, sausages, and etc. behind closed doors. This place was one Bad Dream and the one star rating was the trip there of getting to spend time chit chatting with my brother and mother.
(1)
Rick S.
Looks like a great watering hole, lots of beers available, good looking bar, big screen tv,s, very clean and friendly. Food might not be their strong point or it was an off night or we just picked things not their best options or I just don't like Texas BBQ or maybe I needed lots more to drink. After reading other reviews this place seems to be a mixed bag. Stay away from the sides. String beans, baked beans and gravy tasted as if straight from the can. If this wasn't canned they seem to try hard to replicate the canned flavor. Frozen onion rings and the mac & cheese, I've had better out of a box. On to their speciality, Texas BBQ.... Brisket was ok but on the dry side, even the table sauce didn't help, the beef ribs, excessively fatty and with dry chewy meat. The corn bread was good. Maybe they do better with pork, but then again pork isn't Texas.... A few miles down the road is Firefly's, the difference is night and day....
(2)
Dave B.
Went in with no expectations. Left extremely happy and very pleased with our meals. I had the pulled chicken sandwich which came with a BBQ sauce.It was very tender and tasted very good. I added some of the hot BBQ sauce that they have at the table and it made it even better. I chose fries as my side and they came seasoned with salt and pepper. They were perfectly prepared. The atmosphere was great. The people who ate here were friendly to us and the staff was pleasant as well. I will recommend this to my Connecticut friends. Thanks, guys!
(5)
Brenda M.
Great service, ribs St Lois and baby back were great, burgers very good ( no cheddar cheese only pepper jack or American) , nachos with pulled pork excellent. Small dining room so we had to wait 25 minutes but worth it. Loved the Tejas Punch "attitude adjustment" and the South Padre Smasher a bargain drink at $3 pineapple rum with a few other surprise ingredients. Drinks were strong. Great beer on tap Alagash, Sam, Blue Moon, Yuenling and lots more. Lots of locals at the bar. Everyone super friendly. Smokehouse out back. Food very authentic Texan BBQ from what we experienced. Thanks for the great meal if we are back in the area we will return to try the rest of the menu:).
(5)
Ryan H.
Being the food connoisseur that I am...especially for BBQ and smoked meats it's hard to find any better than what David has going on over there in Northborough. Ate there last Friday night for the for the first time in a while and the pulled pork plate and sides were out of this world! Do your self a favor forget about the horrible chain "BBQ joints" and try The TX BBQ Company out. Nothing like authentic Texas BBQ!!!
(5)
Mea B.
Authentic BBQ! All us locals love it, so if you're from out of town, you NEED to try this place. 5 stars for the food and the staff. Joe is especially fantastic.
(5)
D J.
This is texas BBQ...when you finally get it. I love the food at this place, the only smoke ring I can find in New England, but the service is atrocious. It takes a ridiculous amount of time to receive your food. It's BBQ, it's already cooked, you simply have to cut and plate. This should not take 30 minutes. You will also wait on chili, 20 minutes to drop a ladle in a pot and transfer to a bowl? Geez. This slow service is always consistent no matter the day or time. Oh, it does not speed up if you order take out. So, you might as well find a seat at the bar and down 2-3 drinks before your food arrives. But, be careful the bar is "townie" land and you'll get looks if you sit at the wrong stool. Margaritas are stiff and fairly large. Thursday afternoon appears to be teacher day, so you'll over hear some interesting fodder from educators.
(3)
Erin A.
Ok, I'll be nice and start off by saying the waitstaff was nice. Walking in the door, the floor was not swept, dirty and had food and napkins on it. Entering the dining room the booths were ripped and tattered and there was food under the table across from where we sat at. Had a club soda with lime that tasted like it came out of rusty pipes. When the meal came, the green beans looked as if they had come straight out of a can, the mac and cheese side was bland but edible. The pulled pork was bland and needed a lot of sauce. The corn bread that came with the meal was a little corn muffin. A very disappointing meal, hardly texas style BBQ.
(1)
Beth L.
Very Very good BBQ!!! Great Drinks as well!! We sat at a table which seemed to be in the middle of the entry way of the dining room...wish we sat elsewhere, but Hey! The food and service makes up for that!!! The BBQ was delicious! I had the pulled pork combo with Beef Brisket and corn bread! Waitress forgot my cornbread but brought it when I asked. She looked confused when I asked her for it, but OH WELL! SOOO GOOOD would recommend to friends!!
(4)
Donny W.
Meat could be more flavorful. Decent place to go now and then though. Was delightfully surprised to see fried okra!
(3)
Robert M.
So obviously being from Texas I am going to be biased. Well, I don't know if biased is actually the proper word. It is more like, I am going to be honest but appreciate where we are, New England. First, the owners are from Texas; so score there. They are nice folks and talk to the folks in the room. So very down home. As for the food, well here we go Apps: Had the onion straws. I would prefer onion rings, but they stopped making them. Not sure why, and I think it is unfortunate. The straws, which are onion rings just sliced really thin. Mains: Brisket and Sausage, pinto beans, corn bread and slaw. (this was one plate) Brisket is really good. For the NE, it is fantastic. If you are not familiar with brisket, aside from it being in your corned beef hash (which is great by the way), you have to try this out. They offer a winter special, brisket, onion slice, pickle and sliced white bread. And yes, this is how you would eat it back home; all served in a butcher wrap paper. Next... the sausage. They make it on sight. It was good. It was a beef sausage which is not very common in NE. I would say back home it has a bit more pepper and seasoning, even on the mild. But I am sure he had to adapt for NE taste buds. Cornbread. This was a letdown. If you are a NE corn muffin fan, you will like these though. it was a sweet corn muffin. Southern Corn Bread, especially from Texas is made in a cast iron skillet, or a round cake pan. It is not sweet. Often it has jalapeño and corn or onion mixed in. This has sweet corn, it was a muffin and it was sweet. So while it was 'good' I was disappointed. I was really hoping for some Texas style stuff. Slaw, veniger based and good. Pinto beans could have had a bit more seasoning, but it was good to have some that were made proper. So the secret was to pour the beans over the corn muffin. And yes, Pinto Beans are served with corn bread and often poured over the top. The wife had their Baby Back ribs. BB are not really a Texas thing, but they were good, He does it dry so you can add as much sauce as you like after the fact, which is the way it should be. The rub he used though was really sweet. This has won my wife over. Desert: Their cobbler is ... amazing. It is a try Texas cobbler. If you like cobblers up here that are pie type with lace crust,, this is different, this is better, this is Texas style cobbler; peach this time. Because as we all know, the Texas Hill country produces the best peaches in the country and more than any other state. :-) We also has a slice of their bourbon chocolate chip pecan pie. Folks, if you don't like BBQ, it is worth the trip for these two items all on their own.
(4)
Bill S.
I'm originally from Texas and this is some of the best BBQ I've had in a long time. Place is a bit difficult to find, but once you get inside and smell the wonderful BBQ you won't want to leave. The restaurant itself is quite small, and was packed on a recent Saturday night around 8pm. Waited about 20 minutes for a table but then devoured some of the best brisket and ribs I've ever had. The fried okra is great as a side, and for those that have never had okra it is quite mild. Mashed potatoes were real (with lumps), and everything was home made and very good. Seems like a family run business and all the employees were friendly and helpful. Prices are reasonable too, with entrees in the $15-20 range which is quite cheap for BBQ of this quality. Would recommend to anyone.
(5)
Foodie I.
Good ribs, cornbread, sauces, beers, etc. all you need from a BBQ place. Go and enjoy
(4)
Paul M.
I stopped in after work for a take out. I got the 3 meat platter for $20. a bit pricey for 3 bones of pork ribs, 2 slices of brisket and 1 sausage link also 4oz each of slaw & beans plus a small corn muffin. The $4. Lone Star beer while I waited for my order. The food is authentic and good but the portions are stingy.
(4)
Kim B.
My company just moved to the area and I was so excited to find out that there was a BBQ place so close by and with such great reviews! So I run in to grab a quick bite to take back to the office. Now I am a huge fan of BT's Smokehouse in Sturbridge and when it comes to BBQ any other place is going to be held up to very high standards. BOY WAS I DISAPPOINTED!!! The brisket was mushy almost to the texture of catfood, barely smoked (almost flavorless) and had no bark on it and the side of mac n cheese was comparable to Swanson frozen mac n cheese. The only part of my meal that was just above subpar was the homemade chips and those were not without flaws as they were oversalted. I will never go back and for those of you who think this is good BBQ take the time to make the drive to Sturbridge and experience what real BBQ is.... With fresh homemade sides... yummy fries, amazing (non microwaved) mac n cheese, flavorful collard greens and/or potato salad are among favs there. Don't waste your time stopping at the Texas BBQ Company because you will not experience true BBQ there!
(1)
Super M.
Not bad not great. I like how the owner tries to pretend he is from Texas while wearing his bruins shirt. Fireflys definitely better.
(3)
Sean M.
This is the best BBQ in Massachusetts period. Service is not great, and portions and the room are on the small side but quality of the smoked meat has no peer in the Bay State. Probably in all of New England. My latest favs here: pulled chicken mini tacos, fried jalapenos(not poppers, but breaded and fried like the okra), fried green beens.
(5)
Joe C.
Tried this place for the first time. I really liked it. It's small, only about 10 tables, plus a very lively bar. The decor is very simple, nothing special but the food was very good, the menu was extensive, and the prices very reasonable. I had the BBQ Beef Brisket with 2 sides, plus Texas toast for $14.99 My family had ribs (Baby back and St Louis style) both had generous portions. They also serve a side sampler plate and mac n' cheese so that my daughter, who is a vegetarian, can also enjoy the restaurant. 3 of us ate for $52.00 including beer, wine, and soda. I will definitely go back
(4)
Roger T.
The best part of the lunch was the service. The young server was hyper efficient and friendy but the food was disappointing. Hardly falling off the bone ribs. The baby back ribs were firm, not as they should be and virtually tasteless. The brisket sandwich was incredibly dry. Most likely would not return. Sorry
(2)
Bob J.
I have driven by this place 1000 times and never thought about stopping and after many years I finally did. We ordered the burnt end platter with fries, mash potato and the MARVELOUS JALAPENOS CORN BREAD!!!!! The burnt ends were perfectly cooked, very moist and not dried out. The spice was just right and wasn't over powering by any means. The fries and mashed were just that. The portions were sizable and the price was very reasonable. This place makes Firefly's look like amateur hour and that makes Tennessee's BBQ in Framingham look like a rookies job. Don't waste your time or money this place is well worth the drive!!!! PROS: Taste, Portions, Price, CONS: I HATE PLACES THAT CHARGE FOR EXTRA SAUCE!
(5)
Alex J.
Went here with my sweetie and our friends for a birthday dinner. They have Lone Star Beer! Off to a great start. They claim on the menu to serve Texas Hill Country style BBQ. I'm from the Hill Country, and have munched my fair share. This place is legit. The fried pickles: straight out of Wurstfest, minus the 45 minute line. The guacamole: excellent, with lots of garlic and peppers. But the star of the evening: Beef ribs. Huge, well-seasoned, and both crunchy and moist, they make you feel like a caveman as you om nom nom your way through them. My only complaint is that their BBQ sauce is weak. Fortunately the beef ribs need no sauce. The accompanying pinto beans and potato salad were right on. They have bread pudding (woo). They even put a candle in it and sang me Happy Birthday. I waddled out the door one very happy displaced Texan.
(5)
Mike V.
I ate here while staying nearby for business. While the place isn't much to look at inside or outside, the food was absolutely phenomenal.
(5)
JD H.
This is the best BBQ you can get in New England. It's also my key restaurant in Northborough. They are fast and friendly even when overwhelmed with the Thursday-Saturday crowd. It's a good place for a drink (if you do that) and even better place for food. Simply everything is good. Their sauces are top notch too. Try the Brisket, Chicken, Pulled Pork, and especially the hot sausage. The nachos are a meal, so don't order too much else if you get this. The only downer is it's not a good place for dessert, but why would you need it if you stuffed yourself with BBQ?
(5)
Amy C.
My husband and I go to the Texas BBQ about once a month. We have never been disappointed! We have always had great service and delicious food for a decent price. We have tried all of these and recommend: Apps- Fried Green Beans, Fried Pickles, Nachos Entrees-Mini Tacos, Combo Plate, Rib Eye Steak, Grilled Shrimp, Pulled Pork Sandwich, and of course the Ribs! Sides- Mac 'n Cheese, Baked Potato, Asparagus, Cornbread Dessert- Big Brownie Sundae thing :) Drinks- They make a damn good BBQ margarita and a strong Jack and Coke The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because the place is pretty small and it closes early during the week (we couldn't get seated at 9:30 one Thursday night).
(4)
J A.
While they don't deliver (I was staying at a friend's house so was hoping they would), their food is AMAZING. Some of the best BBQ I've had up here, hands down. Their brisket was "melt-in-your-mouth" tender and delicious, their mashed potatoes had lumps, some skin, and serious flavor that let you know they had been mashed from REAL potatoes (no mix), and their cornbread was the most moist I have ever had. If you're in the area and craving some true BBQ, check this place out over any of the bigger chains--you will not be disappointed!
(5)
David G.
Ahhh...I have to give 3 stars here. Portions were small and buns soggy if you let the pork set on them for 2-3 mins. Maybe it's just BBQ in Mass but it's not all that special.
(3)
Shaun M.
Great place love you xox
(4)
Fernando V.
I've been wanting to come to this restaurant for a long, long time. I can honestly say waiting to come to this establishment was a mistake. I should of BEEN coming to this place. Being from Texas (like I've mentioned before) I pride myself on knowing great BBQ. This place particularly serves hill country style BBQ which is the area I was born and raised in. I have to say, it's a little difficult to replicate the flavor in Massachusetts considering the trees and spices are totally different up here. The atmosphere reminds me of the way BBQ restaurants/bars look, feel, and smell back home. Like the menu says, if you can't smell the savory smoke in the restaurant its probably not an authentic BBQ establishment. Lori and I both ordered the meat sampler plate. It included three choices of meat, two choices of sides, and choice of either Texas toast or cornbread. Lori had the beef ribs (beautiful piece of smoked meat), mild sausage link (best she's had in MA), smoked brisket (best item on the menu, smoked to perfection), pinto beans (fresh bacon and onions gave it that nice touch), fried okra (Lori said it reminded her of her childhood), and cornbread (moist and buttery!). I had the smoked brisket, hot sausage link (I say best in MA w/ a kick), pulled pork (Tasted great but was a little dry. Disclaimer... It was an hour till closing which means it was smoked that morning and slowly dried out over the whole day. So to be fair I expected it to be dry.), pinto beans, homemade potato chips (crunchy, warm and salty!), and Texas toast (un-toasted and un-buttered per my request....that's just what I'm used to). We washed all of this down with three bottles of Texas' native beer called "Lone Star". It's amazing to me that the restaurant has it! Massachusetts should think of it as the "Narragansett" beer of Texas (but better). After we finished our entrees we then proceeded to dessert. I had warm pecan pie (double d delicious) and Lori had warm peach cobbler (mmm MMM!) both a la mode (You can actually see the vanilla in the ice cream)! While we were eating dessert the owner came over and sat at our table to chat with us for awhile. He's got that Texas charm to him, very personable and I could definitely see that familiar hospitality from back home. Plus he is a Longhorns fan!!! The waitress was very polite and tentative. I can't wait to go back, try some more food, and watch a UT game. If you are looking for great authentic Texas style BBQ this is the only place that I know of that serves it in Massachusetts and they do it very well.
(5)
Jason B.
This is, BY FAR, the best BBQ in the Northeast. I have sampled many of the supposed finest establishments in Boston & the surrounding areas (Redbones, Blue Ribbon, East Coast Grill, Village Smokehouse) and none of them compare. The owner could not possibly be any more friendly, and while the food isn't free, it is more than worth the cost. I highly recommend this establishment, even if you have to travel a distance to get here.
(5)
Alexander L.
WHAT THE BRISKET. this place has one of the best briskets around. i got brisket that felt like fatty butter in the mouth, melting into meaty chunks of awesome. the knives were useless because the meat literally did a continental drift the moment it hit my sea of taste buds. the place is somewhat small, but definitely worth the quality of meat available. live band was pretty good too. prices are reasonable, especially with the quality of the food. if you're feeling lazy but down for great meat, HIT THE BRISKET!
(4)
Sean D.
They finally lost me tonight. I so want to love this place because I love BBQ and I love close BBQ. I onl went back after a one star review because one of my wife's dying wishes was BBQ and it was ok. But tonight I stopped for a drink and basket of onion straws which I love. But after 40 minutes of watching the locals at the bar get their food Tim the bartender gave me the " oh sorry a large party came in and the kitchen is busy" woulda been fine if the rest of the bar wasn't getting food and if there was actually a large party in the tiny dining room. If you're going to lie to your patrons leave plausible deniability. It's not hard to be honest Tim. Your regulars were more important. You lost a potential regular
(1)
Sean M.
It's nice to see this place seems to be a haven for Texas expats. After losing our nearby Tennessee's BBQ, we had to search out better spots (and we've tried quite a few). I'd heard a few people raving about this place, but then again, I wasn't convinced until a fellow Texan at work recommended this place. First off, I gotta say, the ambiance of the place reminds me of a place you'd find somewhere off 281, say, between Blanco and Stephenville. That being said, I went with what I'd usually order if I was back in Texas: 2 meat combo plate, starring brisket and sausage, mac n' cheese, and cole slaw. Wifey went with the brisket plate, potato salad, and fried okra. And of course, we ordered Lone Star to wash it down. I loved the sweet vinegary goodness of the cole slaw, definitely nice to see a place doing it right, instead of being boring with mayo. The mac was also decent, nice and simple. I really liked what was going on with the brisket and sausage. It seemed a tad cool, but at that point I was starving. And it really didn't affect the taste or anything. The brisket was tender and was amazing plain or with a little bit of sauce, and the sausage definitely brought to mind some of the good stuff I've had at Rudy's, Augie's, or Joel's in Flatonia. I sampled some of wifey's fried okra, and that was pretty awesome. We also finished off the meal with some pecan pie a la mode. AMAZING. Also a big hit: the jalapeno mozz sticks. The only complaint I had was the price point didn't match the amount of food, but then again, I'm used to getting piles of meat for a lot cheaper at places like this back home. I think just a couple more slices of brisket would've made the platter worth the price. Definitely would like to go back, as I'm a big fan of ribs too.
(4)
Michael N.
I'm from Texas, born and raised, and I love Texas-style BBQ. And I love me some Texas BBQ Company! I've heard about and tried pretty much all the "famous" BBQ places New Englanders love to rave about. Texas BBQ Company beats them ALL by a country mile. This is real BBQ. Smoked out back. People, if you can't smell smoke when you're heading into the front door of the restaurant, they're not going to serve you BBQ. This place smells like real hardwood smoke. And the Texas flag out front isn't just kitsch. They mean it. Whenever I see it on the way in I hum "Texas, Our Texas" to myself. We always get the combo platters. Beef ribs are awesome and smoky. Beef brisket is tender and smoky. Pork ribs, sausage, and chicken are all delicious and smoky. They've had an off day or two among the many times we've been there, maybe the beef ribs were overcooked or the brisket wasn't as tender as it should be. But overall, this is pretty consistently the best BBQ I've had outside the South. The sides are awesome too. My favorite of which is the fried okra. This isn't pre-frozen-in-a-bag stuff. They cut the okra in the back and bring it to you all hot and crispy and golden. The Texas toast is thick and buttery. The mashed potatoes and gravy taste homemade. The potato salad is really respectable (even my Mom liked it, and she doesn't like anyone else's potato salad but her own). Even though we're always stuffed, dessert is a must here too. Warm blueberry pie or pecan pie with ice cream are both really good. The iced tea is even freshly brewed, and the waitress, Donna, is super friendly and awesome. Whenever we have visitors in town who care anything about BBQ, we always make the drive out to Northborough.
(5)
Mike H.
The food is great. It was not the prettiest place, but the server were nice and prompt, and the food was priced very affordable. I suggest the brisket, it was he best i have had in the area, sides were just ok, cornbread a little dry. Also Had the jalapeño crusted Cheese sticks, which were the best mozzarella sticks ive ever had. Definitely check it out, sad it took me so long to get there.
(4)
Ann H.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Northborough. I've never been disappointed by anything I've had here, but especially recommend the brisket and nachos! Dear God - the nachos. It's a beast so, for your own well-being, please have help if you plan to order it. If you don't want toooo much food on your visit, my standby is the baked potato with pulled pork. The service has always been super warm and accommodating on my visits and I'm pretty sure I've had all of the servers at least once. The wait can be long on Friday and Saturday nights so plan to come early or late if you don't want to wait.
(5)
Leah Y.
I wish I had taken a picture of the bones from my beef ribs. The meat literally fell off and I was left with a (massive) bare bone, much unlike any other New England bbq restaurants. I got the 'Rib Sampler' and tested beef ribs, pork spareribs and baby back ribs. The beef were my favorite, but all were melt in your mouth soft and flavorful. This place is REAL bbq. I would definitely highly recommend it to any rib lovers out there!
(5)
rosann s.
We were looking for the Texas Roadhouse and by mistake chose Texas BBQ Company on Yelp. We followed the directions, still thinking we were on our way to the Texas Roadhouse. When we saw the little place, we were surprised, and almost turned around, but we looked at the Yelp reviews to see if it was worth a try. Seeing the 4 star review avg and reading through some of the reviews, we decided it was worth a go. It's a small place, with a large American flag hanging from one side of the outside door, and a large Texas flag on the other. As we entered, there was a small, full bar and a small dining room to the right. We were seated rather quickly, which was nice, as it was busy and Saturday night. The employee who seated us seemed to have possibly been the owner and was very friendly. There were 2 tv's @ the bar and one in the dining area. This pleased my boyfriend, as the Red Sox were on. We ordered soft pretzel sticks for the appetizer. OMG!! These were sooooooooo good!! They were buttery, with just enough salt and hot out of the oven. They came with mustard and ranch dipping sauces, but I decided to dip it in their BBQ sauce, which was excellent. For dinner, my bf had the small 3 meat platter, with brisket, beef ribs and pork ribs .. sides of mac -n-cheese, baked beans and a cornbread muffin. I had the pulled chicken sandwich with mac-n-cheese. Our meals were very good, especially the brisket and ribs. The rib meat literally fell off the bone. When I tried the brisket, I didn't need BBQ sauce, which for me, is pretty exciting. The service was good, the staff was friendly and the atmosphere was nice, quaint and had a very homey, local feel. There were a lot of families there that seemed like locals. Loved it. Will DEFINITELY return to this place. In fact, we may never need to find the Texas Roadhouse! Things we didn't try that I'd try next time: Texas Chili and tortilla chips Fried green beans pulled chicken or pork nachos texas toast
(4)
CJ E.
What are you doing right now? If you like BBQ, you should be in Northboro at Texas BBQ. We have tried pulled pork, chopped pork, and brisket in a variety of sauces, and have been pleased all around. We have also enjoyed the sides (the more fried the better) like homemade potato chips and onion rings. the service is good and the atmosphere is welcoming. The prices are very reasonable. This is some of the best BBQ in the state, and definitely the best in Central Mass.
(5)
Chaz M.
I was in a dilemma over what to order last Saturday and remembered someone mention The Texas BBQ Company as somewhere to check out. We ordered take-out and had a combination of different ribs and chicken dinners/sweet potato fries and cornbread. Of course we all picked off each others plates but #1 the take-out was nicely packaged and not thrown together and the staff were friendly. So already first impression was good. The ribs were very nicely done and sauce on the side (I must say the containers of sauce were overwhelming in size). I could have used for the ribs and then painted my home and myself in gooey BBQ sauce. The chicken had a nice ease but was a little dry for my taste. The sweet potato fries were very good and cornbread- ok I wasn't a huge fan but that won't make me not want to return. All in All a good experience and perhaps some day return to the restaurant for a sit down meal. One downside this meal may have precipitated a nasty attack of gout so perhaps I may not be returning as soon as my taste buds and stomach tempt me to.
(4)
Jo C.
Found this on a whim and became our go to for BBQ. Even now, since moving to the South, it still holds its' own. Decent prices, good beer selection, and holy moly - the honey habanero wings are to die for!
(5)
Stay G.
Came here on the hunt for good BBQ, my friend had raved about the place. Grabbed a platter sampler, dining partner had just ribs. Portions are a bit small considering the prices. I found the pulled pork and brisket to be subpar. Sides were nothing to write home about. However - the St Louis baby back ribs are smokey, moist and delicious. Possibly the best baby backs around. If you come here, that is a sure fire winner.
(3)
Ian W.
I stopped at Texas BBQ for dinner and a beer on my way back from the South Coast to NH. I met up with other Yelpers from Metrowest at the bar. The atmosphere is like being at a small roadhouse. The beer selection was decent, but they had no light beer on tap. I went for the Beach Bum Blonde Ale on tap ($5). For dinner, I had the Chopped Pork Sandwich ($7.99) with a side of potato salad. The sandwich was pretty good, the pork had BBQ sauce in it, but not too much so I could add my own as needed. The potato salad was meh, firm potatoes and tangy tasting yellow mess. The service at the bar was not the greatest, the bartender ignored our party for a while and my check was incorrect. I was charged for the beer only and not for the sandwich on the check. I informed the bartender about the sandwich, who charged me for the beer and sandwich on two different checks. Overall, the Texas BBQ Co. is a decent and cozy place for beers and BBQ.
(3)
Jonathan R.
Want decent BBQ in Massachusetts and you can't get to Red Bones or Bubs...hop on Rte 20 and hit up Texas BBQ. The food is solid, good beer selection and friendly staff. Not quite on par with the big dawgs of BBQ but a hidden gem when you consider that it's in Northborough. Worth the stop.
(3)
Kristopher O.
Great BBQ, best I've had around Central Mass. Had ribs, chicken, sausage, okra, cornbread, and baked beans. The ribs and sausage were very good, along with the okra. Chicken and beans were okay. The owner was there and very friendly. I saw this place on a whim when just driving out and about. Most, importantly, me and my girlfriend are from Texas, and BBQ is a way of life for us. So it was cool to see a place flying the Texas flag outside and following close to the philosophy of good BBQ. The sauce was homemade, the service was good, and the place was quaint and small. Will definitely go back at least a couple times per month.
(4)
Matt S.
This is the best BBQ food of any around this area.. Dave bannon has run this family owned business into one of the best places around... The food is always delicious and the helping are enormous... there is not a bad thing about this place except maybe the size because sometimes you have to wait awhile... Great job
(5)
Dawn E.
Despite my somewhat lackluster service at the bar, (He was really nice, he just ignored us and our drinks were left unfilled for quite some time and it took us 15 minutes to get his attention to order more food, and it's not a big bar) I am bumping my rating up to 4 stars for the following reasons: -Decent beer selection. Okay, so they have not dark or amber beers on draft, but they're got interesting ones in the cooler and the drafts do have character and none of them are Bud. -Overall pretty good liquor selection: A variety of Patrons and did I see Don Julio? I did. And they have Johnny Walker Blue (which they charge too much for --- $29? --- I've seen it range from $15 to $30 a glass but the $30 was at a really high end place and the $15, I'm pretty sure, was a mistake... $20-$25 is a fair price, but then, I didn't order it so maybe the pour is substantial.) -Slammers. Like sliders, only with pulled pork or beef (we got a selection of both and I preferred the beef). The buns ought to have been toasted, but, overall, really really good. -Smoked chicken quesadillas (texasdillas?). Oh my god yum. Okay. I'm done. UPDATE 8/9/08 Went back for lunch: Ordered Bison Burger medium rare. twenty or so minutes later heard our lovely waitress asking for my burger... "Well it's a burger" "But it's MEDIUM RARE!" Five minutes later, out come burger. Well done. Ten or so minutes later, out comes burger, bun untoasted (I had asked for a toasted bun and the first one was). Burger was just okay. Waitress was adorable.. tipped her more than 20%. Will be back, but not any time soon. Also, back down to three stars.
(3)
Bethany B.
Convinced my Mom to get take out for lunch. My chopped beef sandwich was okay - the bun was fresh but the meat couldn't have been more than 3 ounces. I actually took the top of to make sure there was actually something between the bread - sad for $8, IMO. Also, we ordered the 3 meat combo ( and were charged for that) but what we got had to be the Sampler portion. We were given 3 slices of brisket, 3 pork ribs, and a fistful of pulled prok for $20. We thought we could feed 3 people with the "combo" and ended up having to make sandwiches out of luncheon meat for 1 person. The sides were okay , hot & generous, but jeez, free up on the meat! The flavor is still there but the value is not :(
(3)
Jennifer M.
This place is awesome!! We had them cater a graduation party and the food was out of this world. Dave was great to work with and I would highly recommend Texas BBQ for any event!
(5)
J T.
I do not give 5 stars often. But this place kicked it thru the uprights. It's a very small private place which I like (about 10 tables). They did not have any open tables when we arrived but we waited about 15 minutes near the bar. Coming to the North east coast for work. My mind is on seafood not BBQ. The brisket and the baby back ribs were so tender. Your grandma would not need her teeth to eat it. I have had many styles of BBQ across the country and this is right there with them.
(5)
Brian M.
Whoooop!! If yo're from TX and you LOVE BBQ, this is as good as it gets...especially this far north. Authentic Tecas BBQ, in an authentic BBQ spot with people from TX. Tried it all at an event for Texas Aggies today and it brought us all home to College Station. Only drawback was the Longhorn helmet and logos :-) Definitely worth a stop in but bring your appetite!
(5)
John M.
Had the 3 meat sampler ({sliced brisket, center-cut pork loin, sausage}, pinto beans and tater salad) -- it was VERY, VERY GOOD. I am a native Texan (West Texas) and believe I am a pretty good judge of BBQ. This would rival any Texas BBQ shack in the state. As long as I'm up here in MA, I will be visiting The Texas BBQ company "frequently"!
(4)
B M.
The best in the area IMO. Better than rival Firefly's. Ribs done right; not fall off the bone, but a bit of pull. Chicken is great, homemade sausage very tasty (had the spicy one). Texas chili is not up to my expectations; ground meat and beans. Clearly not Texas chili; maybe adjusted for NE?? Again, best place to go around here. Fried okra is great.
(4)
Cucci C.
Hands down best in Massachusetts. I've been to Memphis in may. This is good BBQ.
(5)
Jake D.
Went here last night after seeing the reviews on Yelp. Service was very good and the food just as good. Big portions and had some too take home. I have to admit that I have never been to real BBQ place in the south or anything so I don't know to the authenticity of it but the atmosphere was really and food stood out. I would definitely return and recommend this place to others.
(4)
Steven C.
Okay...consensus tells me that take out lunches are not good ANYWHERE. DUH. And don't foolishly complain about BAR SERVICE. The food here is GREAT. Superb. NOTHING to complain about. Just went there tonight. Been there several times. Potato salad? Superb. Baked beans? Superb. Brisket? Sausage? Corn bread? Superb. jesus, people. Where do you get your bar b cue? Texas Roadhouse?? This place is a GEM, from top to bottom. Go to the chains. Buy your Bud Lite and mediocre cafeteria-quality food. I'll take this place with their family recipes and divine food and fine craft beers ANY DAY. Celebrate the local greatness, people. This place is GREAT! PS: had the brisket tacos last time: FANTASTIC!
(5)
Mateo B.
Texas BBQ Co. is an underwhelming achievement. From the sparse parking lot to the small brick shack on the side of the road, Texas BBQ had all the makings for genuine Southern BBQ grit. When you pass through the doors, however, you're hit by a restaurant that just tries too hard. Cowboy hats and jalapeno poppers spell disaster, and this restaurant is full of just that. Ribs and steak brisket are standouts. The rest of the menu is a typical "real southern bbq" pitch with food that is only slightly above average. What it does offer that rival Fireflies can not is Lone Star Beer. Besides that, this is only a good second choice destination.
(3)
Dawn S.
Waited way too long for a table, and even longer for our food. My Large salad for $5 was 6 pieces of lettuce and a tomato, the waitress only came to check on us once before the bill and the place was dirty. The wall was dirty, the seats were ripped and dirty, i will never go back. They should have paid me to stay and finish my dinner
(1)
Liz G.
I think if you're looking for authentic dry rub BBQ then this is the right place. If you prefer your ribs marinated in sauce and basted while cooking then you'll be disappointed. The lemonade was great. I had the three meat sampler. The baby back ribs were okay but I had to drench them in sauce that was conveniently out on the table because they were a little dry. I also tried the pulled pork which again was good but needed lots of sauce added. I didn't like the St. Louis ribs at all. My husband liked the brisket and the baby backs once he added sauce but he couldn't even bite into the beef rib, it was so tough. I think next time we're craving BBQ we'll go to the Texas Roadhouse.
(2)
Sean R.
Nice staff,but why nuke all the food,it was probably really good,then ya bombed it.
(2)
X to the Z M.
Pros: - Barbecue sauce on your table. Hell yeah! I think they even had a rack of hot sauces at the entrance you could try.. - All meat seemed to be smoked out in the back Cons: - Everything is bigger in Texas, huh? Don't be expect that saying to hold true when it comes to the size of your southern influenced meal. - TINY (yes tiny is capitalized) dining area with outdated uncomfortable chairs.
(3)
Teresa H.
We have been eating at Texas BBQ regularly since it opened. The food is consistently excellent. Beef brisket, pulled pork, pulled pork nachos, even the not BBQ fish and chips are terrific. On the side we love the German Cole Slaw. This is definitely a diner type of place. If you are looking for table cloths, you won't find them here. Dave, his family, the staff are all fantastic. We like sitting at the bar when possible. They have a number of beers on tap which my husband likes. So if you want a nice, laid back place with great food and great people, give them a try.
(5)
Tim M.
One of the better BBQ restaurants I have been too. For an appetizer I got the quesadillas with chicken. They had salsa with cheese and served with a spicy southwest dipping sauce that was addicting. You can hardly call them an appetizer because they were so filling. For a meal I had a pulled pork sandwich with fried okra and both were great. If your looking for great BBQ this is the place to go. Be careful, there isn't much seating so you may need to wait if its busy but its worth it, or you can just sit at the bar.
(5)
Bobby C.
First Off ... Went here last weekend. Friendly Bartender very friendly waiter. However having had BBQ from all over the country I wish I never tried this place. The seating is awful, the sausage was good, however it all stops there. Brisket dry, Chicken was well .. dead, it had died to become shoe leather. So dry that the Griswolds turkey looked and probably tasted moister. The Pulled Pork was ... um Just horrible. I would have rather eaten pink slime raw. The spare ribs, an overly peppered taste were just over cooked or nuked to the point that you didn't realize you had bit the bone cause it was mush. It's bbq it's about the meat so the Sides well not interested didn't have any as the descriptions were boring. After reading the reviews I'm sure glad I didn't have to deal with the owner cause I would have knocked him out. Obviously he's never heard that the customer is always right. Anyway. Game over, not returning.
(1)
Steve R.
The food is very good. But the service is horrendous and the owner is obnoxious. If there is a problem with your food, don't bother telling him. He does not want to hear it. I would have gone back for the food, but I will not give that man another red cent.
(2)
Jimmy D.
Great BBQ! I'd love to see someone eat a full rack of their beef ribs.
(5)
Rob T.
This is not Applebee's or Outback or any other place with precooked ribs slathered in KC Masterpiece. THIS IS REAL BBQ. I've only been for lunch. Quite honestly I dont think I could finish a rib dinner here. My favorite lunch is the 3 Rib Beef Rib deal. 3 ribs that Fred Flinstone would be proud of with two side dishes and corn bread for somewhere around $10. How can you beat that? The brisket is out of this world. I've tried just about everything on the menu except chicken and burgers and I have yet to be disappointed. As others mentioned, they don't sauce any of their meats, not even in the sandwiches which is perfect because quite honestly I prefer my BBQ meats with very little sauce. They keep a regular and a spicy sauce on the table. Although the spicy isnt super spicy, its good. It's my favorite "Friday Lunch with a Beer" place. Great selection of beers to go with great BBQ. I checked the "$11-$30" price range because thats what I usually spend. You can probably get out of there at lunch for less than $10 though. Most of the sandwiches are in the $8 range. Lastly I should mention that the place isnt huge. Although we routinely drag 4 to 6 of us in for lunch and have no trouble sitting down, there are only maybe 6-8 booths and 5 tables in there. They do have a decent bar too though and you can eat there just as easily and watch the ballgame to boot.
(5)
Greta K.
Being from the South, I can tell you that this barbeque is delicious. It's not the best I've ever eaten, but for this area, they do a darn good job. The owner is actually from Texas and has the accent and hospitality to prove it. I've been here a few times and we had our backyard rehearsal dinner catered by Texas BBQ. Their brisket is out of this world-- tender, delicious, literally mouth-watering. The pulled pork and chicken are excellent as well. Of course, the sweet potato fries are one of my faves, but I couldn't have that today so I stuck with a garden salad (kind bland, but I don't really care much for salad, and in this case, bland was good) and baked beans (not as sweet as I imagined, there was something else in them but either the waitress was keeping it a secret or she really just didn't know). The downside to the Texas BBQ Co. is the size of the restaurant (very small with few booths) and the prices are a little high for the 'burbs. For the platters, though, you do get a generous amount of food.
(4)
Joe M.
Very solid BBQ. Good not great. Nice flavors. Some other BBQ places in the area are a bit better.
(3)
Rita V.
Small, cramped, stinky, but friendly and welcoming. Sandy at the bar is a die hard workabee, sweet, friendly, just wonderful. I didn't know which one of the ribs I wanted, so I ordered the triple crown of ribs, for a meager $24.99. I agree with many of my fellow yelpers - not "fall off the bone - a bit dry, lacking sauce. The huge St Louis ribs were the disappointing visitors on the plate. Second runner up were the baby back ribs... But the PORK RIBS!!!! AHHH DELICIOUS! So all my fellow diners watched me in disbelief, waiting for me to polish off the carnivore fest... Nope, took home. Just add some water and sauce on the ribs when you reheat them, they are very nice reconstituted and consumed. As for my next visit... I'm going to have wings and pulled something, since I was ogling lustfully the heap of wings partying with the couple next to me. .. I should've swapped some ribs for wings... Its not the best BBQ you'll have, but it does beat FireFlys greasy chow... (the place needs some upholstering and cleaning so overlook the looks...)
(3)
Jim H.
I've been here many times for lunch. Sandwiches and burgers are nice (I usually order the Bison Burger) and a good selection of beers on tap.
(4)
Denise A.
Went here recently with a friend...I got the 3 meat sampler combo (pulled pork, brisket and ribs)...all was delish and the sides were great too. I really thought everything was flavorful, cooked right and our server was helpful and informative. It's a small place though and can get kind of hot in summer in there - but I will definitely be back.
(4)
Marlarissa M.
This place has the makings to be a yelphenomenon: it's small, rough around the edges, and off the beaten path. Unfortunately, the food isn't good--the ribs were dry and the sides were forgettable.
(2)
Jessica S.
My Favorite!!! The family that owns this place is from the Texas Hill Country and they are the only authentic bbq in MA. Order the brisket, sausage, fried okra, and fried pickles. This is where I go when I'm feeling homesick. It's worth the trip.
(5)
Craig J.
I eat here (or get take out) often because it is so local but after another great meal I would come here even if it was a trek. Baby back ribs are outstanding as is pulled pork. Love the sweet potato fries as well. Great for kids, service is friendly and atmosphere is casual. If around give it a try
(4)
kimberly l.
I love BBQ and this place didn't disappoint. If you love Texas style BBQ I would definitely recommend checking it out. It's one of the better places that I found in the area...although I think Firefly's might beat it out by a little, I really enjoyed the combo that I ordered...I liked the pulled port the best though out of everything in the combo...definitely worth checking out...
(4)
Helen C.
Wow! Went there for lunch this weekend and iot was just wonderful. Had babyback ribs, pinto beans and slaw which was great. Hubbie had half a roast chicken which he thought was one of the best he's had in a long while. Yummy, yummy!
(5)
Shawn V.
Saw this place on Phantom Gourmet. It is about an hour away from where I live. I made up my mind before visiting that I was going to have the burnt ends of brisket. It is a very small place with about 10 tables and a small bar. The fried okra was legit and the potato salad was on point. Onions, pickles and a slice of white bread on the side were an authentic touch. Along with not getting the burnt ends I requested, the brisket was a tad on the dry side and was far from a Texas sized portion. The portion was actually very skimpy and I was still hungry when I left. It was still the best tasting brisket I've had in MA by far. My girlfriend had a brisket sandwich and really liked it. She also had onion rings that looked and tasted like they were out of the freezer. I overheard this kid sitting a couple of tables over telling his dad while chomping down on a huge beef rib that, "these are the best ribs ever!" They looked the part. I plan on going back to try them. They also had pecan pie and cobbler on the desert menu, but I didn't try them. I don't know why I didn't since I was still hungry. The only TX beer was Lonestar. The BBQ sauce was pretty good. An abrasive waitress lessened our experience. If this place was in TX, it might get a 3 Star rating. For being in New England, I'll give it a solid 4 Stars.
(4)
Jay N.
First thought was "real authentic Texas hill-country BBQ in Northborough?" This is the real deal. David and his family does it right. Real brisket with burnt ends (first clue) that are amazing. Ribs with the right "pull" off the bone. Food is consistent each visit. Reasonably priced and a good place just "to hang". I've been going steadily for a year now. Haven't been disappointed yet. Only gotcha is they are closed on Mondays (understandable - everyone needs a day off). Staff is very nice. Gets crowded so get there early. I've also had these guys cater lunch. They've got a lot of new fans who didn't realize you could get REAL BBQ right here in Northborough. So if you've got a yammering for the real thing - try it. You won't be sorry.
(5)
James R.
We decided to stop here for lunch on Sunday. The place was dirty when we walked in and the waitress sat us in the middle of the place. We decided to sit in a booth which was out of the way, but was confronted by another waitress, that she would be losing a table for service. This was not our problem, as we decided to search the menu for something good to eat. We decided on splitting a combo plate of St. Louis ribs since they were out of baby back ribs, and sausage our sides consisted of the onion straws and the pinto beans and corn bread. While we waited for our lunch we decided on ordering the local rootbeer. Our plate of food arrived at our table and the plate was very disappointing based on the amount and dryness of the meat. We started with the half rack of ribs which consisted of 6 inched of meat. The meat was dry and old sitting in the kitchen for a long while. We asked our waitress about the amount and she stated that everything was weigh for portions and should order more food if we wished. The onion straws were over fried and not fresh tasting, as for the beans were not pinto and bland. The sausage portion was small and lacked flavor. The corn bread was a stale cold hard super market corn muffin. In conclusion, if your a rib joint why would you run out of baby back ribs at 1:00 pm when you open at noon, I felt the owner is charging way to much for the portions and as for the quality of the food I would not bother stopping at this place.
(1)
Adam R.
I worked near here for years but the place never looked appealing... I went in one day and found out I had been missing a gem. Prices are good but even better is the food (especially the pulled pork) bbq is smoked in a smoke house out back. Only down side is that this place is pretty small so it can be tough to get a table or seat at the bar at lunchtime.
(5)
David C.
This is by far the best barbecue around. I live in Rhode Island, but if I want barbecue this is where I go. Have only been twice, but both times left happy. The ribs are very good and the brisket is even better. Asked for burnt ends, and incredibly that's what I got. I have had so many disappointments with BBQ, I am always surprised when it is actually good. I would have given this place 4 stars but I don't love the corn bread and the sides could use some more love.
(3)
Jayhawk F.
Good selections, and favorites are the burnt ends....Only way to improve is bring back the onion rings......
(4)
Richard E.
Great BBQ and moderate prices. I travel a lot and have eaten BBQ all over the South and Western states. I won't say this is the BEST BBQ but it certainly is one of the best in New England. It is delicious. I prefer the dry rub Texas style BBQ which this place has. The service is "laid back." They are not "in your face" so you might have to let them know if you need something, such as the check. I like that but understand that some diners might think they are being ignored. Not so! It's a very friendly place. I eat there once every week or two and love the place.
(5)
Robert D.
I had always heard good things about this place, but had never had a good experience. I gave them 3 chances. The service was bad, and the pulled pork sandwich was bland, and their parking lot nearly killed my suspension! I recently saw them on the Phantom Gourmet, don't know why. Maybe they've gotten their act together by now. I may possibly give them just one more chance sometime in the future.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : 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 : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Chris W.
Stopped by today for a quick bite, been driving by here for years and always wanted to try it. First, it was packed, typical Friday lunch, I always try to get to restaurants a little before noon, but didn't today. There was a line of about a dozen people, but luckily, there were openings at the bar. Bartender was very friendly (tho' she forgot to ask me for my drink when I sat down). I had the corn chowder and brisket sandwich with corn kernels and fresh-brewed ice tea (unsweetened) to drink. Corn chowder was very good, tasty, added some pepper to it. Nice and creamy. Brisket sandwich was excellent, as noted, very tender. Just a little bit of fat, but not bad. You do have your choice of two sauces and there are hot bottles on a wall if you're really into it (I'm not). Whoah, they had Smutty Nose Old Brown Dog Ale on tap, first time I've seen that. Didn't have it now, but will def stop by again to try that. My b-in-law is coming up in a few weeks and he's a real foodie ('Q especially) so I'm going to bring him by.
(4)Steve W.
This place was a pleasant surprise when we discovered it. I would rank it up there with Red bones in Cambridge. We get take out from here often. Have never been disappointed. Have tried all of the BBQ at this point. The brisket is my favorite (ask for burnt ends and you get a special treat).
(5)Brett J.
My wife and I lived in Texas a couple years, and I travel there (and all over the US) regularly - and I just think Texas style BBQ is the best. I love BBQ and do enjoy Firefly's on ocassion (also in Marlborough - and good), but The Texas BBQ Company is my favorite here locally. The menu is simple, and the restaurant is small but clean and comfortable. The brisket is great. My daughter loves their grilled cheese on Texas toast, and their onion strings are great. Service is friendly also. Good place.
(5)Robert L.
I had great hopes when I arrived. It looks like a real BBQ joint, not too fancy, or like a chain restaurant. Service was friendly, and there was a small but decent selection of beer on tap and in bottles along with a full bar. Unfortunately the BBQ wasn't that good. Here's the rundown. Brisket- decent flavor but very dry. Like most of the meat here, inconsistent from piece to piece. For a place called Texas BBQ, I wanted to be blown away by the beef. Beef ribs- smokey with good bark, some ribs were tender, others almost desiccated in their level of dryness. Probably has to do with the holding and reheating methods. They were just OK. Pulled pork- good sized chunks of shoulder, but didn't taste smokey, even though the pork flavor was decent enough. Not mixed with sauce. Pork spareribs- these had been reheated with some sort of soy sauce and sugar glaze and tasted like there were a Chinese restaurant appetizer. Not horrible, but not at all what I would expect at a BBQ joint. Sauce- there are two choices on the table. Meat us unsauced when served. There is a silghtly hot sauce and a regular. Both are mostly sweet and I didn't care for either very much. Luckily the rub on the meat imparts enough flavor so the sauce doesn't matter much. Sides were just OK. Fries and onion rings were the frozen type. Beans nothing special. Slaw was made without mayo, but nothing special. Cornbread was muffin style and decent, somewhat sticky and not too sweet. Bottom line, if I lived nearby, I would probably stop in from time to time and visit the bar and have a snack. Not necessarily the BBQ, though. If you are an enthusiast, don't bother with this place. The wildly inconsistent Firefly's isn't too far off and even on a bad night they are better for 'cue.
(2)Bob S.
Amazingly POOR service. Walked in tonight and asked for three cold beers and a bite of bbq. We were sent to gather some grub for the family. Being from TEXAS originally we have run into our fair share of Bull Sh** bbq places up here. The owner and the waitress were extremely rude in our simple effort to confirm if the food was decent prior to dropping $60-70 on some take out. Hell, we simply asked to taste a fork of brisket over a few beers while we waited. The OWNER was an AS*. HE said, "Nothings Free, buy a plate and find out." What? Really? Before we buy a load of food? We got the same thing from the waitress prior to being introduced to the owner. We asked if he was kidding. We then left. The BBQ may be good, but the Hospitality deserves an as* whoopin. The Lone Star Flag should be removed from the front of this place. Don't waste your time.
(1)Dan D.
I like bbq and this is fair.
(2)Newton N.
Gotta go and have the honey habanero wings. Went we some friends and had wings and the texas chili, which was good as well. Will definitely head back.
(4)Aly H.
OK, so if you haven't already been to Texas BBQ, you should definitely go (see other 5-star reviews below.) If you have already been but haven't experienced the Friday special, here's what you need to do. Step 1: On Thursday evening/Friday morning, call Texas BBQ and order the smoked rib-eye steak dinner. Step 2: Don't eat anything all day Friday. Step 3: Go to Texas BBQ for a nice Friday evening meal and prepare to be absolutely amazed. My brother heard about this on the Phantom and it's a MUST TRY. All five of us agreed this was the best steak we had ever had. Each steak costs about $48 BUT you get a huge 32-ounce piece of meat, smoked to perfection, with a choice of two sides. I promise you it is worth EVERY PENNY.
(5)Jesse D.
The staff was very friendly and the owners are from Texas. Brisket: very good Ribs: very expensive and very bad I would recommend avoiding the ribs but other than that everyone enjoyed their food, the brisket was a particular favourite. I would certainly go back and just not order the ribs
(4)David P.
Who would've thought I'd find good BBQ in Massachusetts? Solid food options here. I had "The Smoker" for lunch, the meat was very good. I ordered the potato salad for the side, it wasn't to my personal taste, but I know others who like it that way. Only negative: No refills on the drinks.
(4)Katie M.
Good food but the portion sizes I find are small and the place seems very dirty to me. It just looks & smells old. Also, the waiter we got looked like he had just rolled out of bed. Seems to me like they have to get their act together a bit.
(2)Emily C.
This place is GREAT. Go for the brisket. It'll be good, I promise. My family spent a few years in Boerne, TX so we know what good brisket tastes like. We had a meal here, mentioned how authentic it tasted to our waiter; turns out the folks who run the place are from a town not too far away fro Boerne. The takeaway: it's good, authentic stuff.
(5)Simon L.
A star is lost for portion size. $17.99 for the two meat combination plate is more expensive than any of the competition in Massachusetts and yields a tiny two piece serving of brisket (the owner claims it was .4 lbs but not on my plate). Here's the outrageous part: to get anything with a bone in it on the combination plate, there's a surcharge. A buck? Fine. $2? Ok. But $5.99 for three average size St Louis ribs? I was warned about the surcharge and figured ok, at least I'll get a generous helping of the brisket. Nope. In essence, I paid $17.99 for two pieces of dry but smoky brisket, two sides and a cupcake of corn bread. Mac n cheese was creamy. Coleslaw fresh and made with vinegar and pepper and celery seed. Add $5.99 for three ribs (that's $2 a rib mind you where many local competition provide at a minimum a full spare when ordering a single rib for the same price) and a $2.35 coke plus tax and this meal tops out at over $28. A full rack of at Louis ribs is $23.99 and also comes with two sides and bread. Definitely the way to go and a deal if there are actually 13 ribs as the owner claims which brings the cost down to under $2/rib which is about average. Fair warning is given.
(2)Vahram D.
Ran in to get some food to go. Food was really good! The steak was done to my request and tasted fantastic. Wish I had a bit more fries.
(4)Meg G.
First, this place used to be my favorite in the area when I wanted BBQ. Personally Brisket is my go-to and there's combined with their North Carolina sauce was amazing. I will say that there have been changes. I used to eat here at least once a week and I will only go once a month if that and only because there's nothing else in the area close for lunch and BBQ. I find that the quantity is much less while the price went up ($3+ per lunch than before). I'm okay with one or the other, but both seems odd. They no longer carry some sides (corn, onion straws) which make the options limited for your sides, and no longer do specials. The slaw is great and the vinegar style that I prefer. Now to quality. Its hit or miss really. I mean sometimes the slaw tastes close to the point of the cabbage being spoiled and I can only eat about two bites before that's all I can taste. The brisket is always tender.
(3)Jeff B.
Don't bother, $17.99 for a 2 meat combo, but if you want ribs it's $6.99 more. I ordered chicken and brisket 2 slices of brisket and a small dry quarter, frozen corn and bad mashed potatoes with stail flour added. Bad Bad, Bad
(1)Mollie K.
This was a NIGHTMARE!!! From serving raw meat, to claiming the quesadillas had salsa in them which they did not, to serving some unintelligible alcohol and passing it off as Sangria...to then finally getting the owner of the restaurant to come over who argued with us and told us we were WRONG! And lying to our faces. DO NOT GIVE THIS COMPANY YOUR BUSINESS
(1)John D.
Some of the best brisket ever ! Moist and very lean and tasty without any sauce like its supposed to be. Sauces are provided if you so choose to want some on it. The smoked chicken was the fall off the bone and moist too. Cole slaw was very yummy and the cucumber salad also. The jalepeno corn bread was a treat as was the mashed potato and gravy. Cant wait to go back and try a BIG juicy angus burger. yum yum !!!
(4)Sarah A.
Well the food was great. Neither of us spoke till our plates were cleaned. I had brisket and would have again. Tender and mouth watering. My husband had pulled pork with eye watering hot sauce. We recommend. We will be back.
(5)Steve C.
Good choice for steaks. Try the flat iron steak. Very good barbecue sauce. Road house atmosphere.
(5)Cindy H.
This restaurant has amazing buffalo wings The wings were done perfectly - crispy on the outside but moist on the inside. The plate had a lot of extra sauce on it, which was a giant plus for me. The atmosphere is nice and the parking lot is spacious.
(4)Blake O.
I haven't had the food here yet so this may be a slightly biased review, but the drink prices here are ridiculous. Anywhere else you go in town a 22oz draft will set you back about 5.00 to 6.00 at the most. This spot sells them for 7 bucks, which I think is way overpriced.
(3)Maria M.
I took my BF and his family here for the BF's surprise birthday dinner and it was wonderful. The only downside was that they were out of pork ribs- - his favorite! He ordered the beef ribs, but it was not the same. I ordered the half chicken which was fantastic and smokey and delicious. Their cowboy caviar was a perfect start to our dinner. Also sad, they ran out of jalapeno corn bread at 7:30pm including the cucumber dill salad, also a favorite of the birthday boy. I guess it goes to show, people love this place, and the good stuff sells out fast. Love it.
(5)Andrew B.
If I could rate 4.5, I would. Having lived in Texas quite a while, I was looking for something at least as good as Goode Co. Have tried some of the other BBQ places so wanted to give this one a shot, too. Best Texas BBQ I have had since I left... well, Texas. I've had everything but the beef ribs, and all were very, very good. The sides were, for the most part, what I remembered. I especially like the beans which have a touch of honey-mustard instead of the New England molasses and/or brown sugar. Anyplace that lets you order extra pickles with your sandwich is a plus. Only downsides: (1) a small dining room which fills fast (we got there at 12:01, they open at noon on Saturday, and we were the fourth customer car in the parking lot.); (2) not enough A&M memorabilia on the walls. If you like Texas BBQ or just want to give it a try, I would recommend you stop in.
(4)waits w.
Well, I've spent a good deal of time in Texas and lived in Oklahoma. I will say it was mediocre at best. I ordered a bunch of stuff with the group. The 3 meat combo with ribs cost $30! I left hungry. Brisket was tough and had no smoke taste. Ribs were pretty good. Sides were the best thing we had. Fried okra is great. reminds me of OK. The food to price ratio was as 1 star. The portion size was 1 star I'll give the food (including sides) 3 stars. All told a generous 2 stars. Service was fine. I'd rather get my BBQ from Chilies. No joke.
(2)Jordana P.
Food is great but had a recent bad experience trying to order take-out. It took 5 calls for me to finally get a person on the phone when I ordered take-out, then I got put on hold and could hear the workers complaining about taking a call for take-out...needless to say I hung up and will probably only be eating here in the future for dine- in only. I would think any business is good business and if you're too busy...hire more people! Never had any bad meals when we ate at the restaurant.
(3)Frank H.
I moved here from Texas and had to try it. Positives: The first thing I noticed was that wondering smell of smoke from the grill. I had the brisket and sausage. The was really tasty, smokey, and authentic. The sausage was better than anything I had in Texas, and the beer selection is outstanding. Next time I go, I will have to try the ribs and chicken. My friend had the homemade potato chips. They were awesome! Negatives: I had slaw and beans for sides. Neither tasted like Texas. The slaw was more like pickled cabbage, not that pepper-slaw I enjoyed. The beans tasted more like canned pork & beans, not the molasses-infused beans with bbq meat in it. I was disappointed. Also, I thought the prices were too high for what you get. Will I go again? ABSOLUTELY! The BBQ meats are really, really good. I can eat their brisket for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
(4)Joshua B.
Not part of a chain. (Thumbs up) The most consistently good BBQ restaurant in my area, meaning this is the place with the highest chance of BBQ items being truly slow-smoked, full of flavor, without needing sauce. Servers are usually competent, friendly, and attentive. Thursday nights are busy and tight with a live music crowd and band set up in the middle of the already small dining room.
(5)Dave A.
Very expensive for the amount of food you get. Went there about 3 weeks ago. I ordered the two meat platter with brisket and chicken,there were 2 small slices of brisket and the 1/4 chicken looked to be about the size of a Cornish game hen.The brisket and the chicken were tasty though. If the owner is from Texas he must laugh with his buddies about how much he charges the Yankees up North for a small plate of food. With these portions,this place would not be in business long in TX. The food is decent though and the waitress was nice,so maybe they changed a bit from the previous reviews. With places like BT's in Sturbridge and the roadside place in Ware that give you great value for your hard earned dollar,this place will not be getting any more of my money.
(2)Dunkin B.
Poor service, food tasted like lighter fluid. Waitstaff was annoyed and rude when asked for the beer list.
(1)Rachel W.
The food was delicious but the rest of the experience put a damper on our evening. When we arrived we were told it was a ten minute wait. We were there with two small children and were ok with that wait time. It was however nearly an hour before we were seated and there was no apology. We ordered immediately but our drinks were very slow to arrive. We ate rather quickly since we were there with our little ones which took away from the experience. It would have helped if we were given something to nosh on during the wait for our food but there was nothing. Dinner was good but the experience as a whole was not so great.
(3)Joe F.
I really was glad I found this place. Ordered the brisket and ends with sides of beans and macaroni. Brisket was very tender and moist and it tasted delicious. Ends were smokey and had a deep flavor. The mac and beans were also a good as sides. Too much to eat in one sitting but worth every penny.
(5)Alexis M.
Went here for the first time last night. Very casual atmosphere, our server was wearing a Pats shirt and used a surfer vernacular. Good beers on draft. Food was good - steak cooked perfectly, asparagus awesome, good bbq too! Homemade chocolate cake was the star of the meal, it was perfectly moist with delicious peanut butter frosting. We'll be back.
(4)Amanda G.
Seriously the best apple crisp I've tasted in my life - took it to go on a cold rainy day and bam: day made. Fried okra was perfect, asparagus cooked to a tee. Best southern meal I've had since leaving the south. Try it. Your taste buds will thank you.
(5)Stephanie S.
Pros: Great pulled pork sandwiches. BBQ sauce was very tasty. It's rare to find a place that has fried okra, and they do it right. Free refills on tea and soda. They had REAL sweet tea. We were seated within a few minutes. Cons: As others have said, they're a bit skimpy on the food. Wish they'd bring you a slice of cornbread or texas toast on the house - you have to order a "2 side dish meal" to get that. But if you order a "1 side entree" then they don't give you cornbread/toast. Come on! just give every person that orders a dinner a piece of bread. Not asking for much. Place is closed Sunday and Monday.
(3)Jenna A.
Why such a high rating?? This was not barbecue or how barbecue should be. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich the meat was terribly dry not even marinated and the bbq sauce came on the side! A little tiny bit! The service was shitty and the inside isn't clean. There are much better bbq places around. Slaters is 10x better
(1)Paul E.
Great spot to grab some tasty BBQ. The menu hits all the BBQ must haves. The sausage and brisket were outstanding. The house made potato chips are awesome. The menu lets you build your platter with the things you want. The portions are large and well priced. He wait staff is friendly and prompt.
(4)Paul P.
I grew up in TX for 30 plus years and had just moved to Boston about 7 years ago for work. I've been blessed to have had some of the most amazing BBQ in my life time from Austin to Memphis. I would have to say this BBQ shack is a DUMP! I was taking my 80+ year old mother and my older brother out for dinner. But due to traffic and construction, I arrived to this shack approximately 8:30pm going in from Boston. As soon as we walked in, a frustrated woman appeared and stated that the kitchen was closed (website states 9pm closing time) but she said I can order at the bar for "to go". So I thought since we made an effort to get to this place, why not order something to try even if it was for "to go." As I turned a couple of feet to order from the bartender, he said no more order will be taken. So I thought this was getting insanely stupid and asked to speak to the manager or owner. The frustrated woman pointed to the bartender that he WAS the manager and the owner was not in. With that being said, this guy was walking away from me and not even wanting to listen to anything I had to say. All I wanted was the opportunity to kindly asked one of them if they could remove the word "Texas" from their name because it had nothing to do with this place and remove The Lone Star State flag they had flying in the front. This place is a fraud. But then I came to a realization that you know what, these people/workers just wanted to get out of this dump of an establishment they were working in and asked myself, why would I even consider eating here? Having been raised in Texas practically all of my life, I crave and love our BBQ and that was why I wanted to check this place out when I saw the name on the web! But if the service is this BAD to potential customers, I cannot imagine how they are treating your meat, sausages, and etc. behind closed doors. This place was one Bad Dream and the one star rating was the trip there of getting to spend time chit chatting with my brother and mother.
(1)Rick S.
Looks like a great watering hole, lots of beers available, good looking bar, big screen tv,s, very clean and friendly. Food might not be their strong point or it was an off night or we just picked things not their best options or I just don't like Texas BBQ or maybe I needed lots more to drink. After reading other reviews this place seems to be a mixed bag. Stay away from the sides. String beans, baked beans and gravy tasted as if straight from the can. If this wasn't canned they seem to try hard to replicate the canned flavor. Frozen onion rings and the mac & cheese, I've had better out of a box. On to their speciality, Texas BBQ.... Brisket was ok but on the dry side, even the table sauce didn't help, the beef ribs, excessively fatty and with dry chewy meat. The corn bread was good. Maybe they do better with pork, but then again pork isn't Texas.... A few miles down the road is Firefly's, the difference is night and day....
(2)Dave B.
Went in with no expectations. Left extremely happy and very pleased with our meals. I had the pulled chicken sandwich which came with a BBQ sauce.It was very tender and tasted very good. I added some of the hot BBQ sauce that they have at the table and it made it even better. I chose fries as my side and they came seasoned with salt and pepper. They were perfectly prepared. The atmosphere was great. The people who ate here were friendly to us and the staff was pleasant as well. I will recommend this to my Connecticut friends. Thanks, guys!
(5)Brenda M.
Great service, ribs St Lois and baby back were great, burgers very good ( no cheddar cheese only pepper jack or American) , nachos with pulled pork excellent. Small dining room so we had to wait 25 minutes but worth it. Loved the Tejas Punch "attitude adjustment" and the South Padre Smasher a bargain drink at $3 pineapple rum with a few other surprise ingredients. Drinks were strong. Great beer on tap Alagash, Sam, Blue Moon, Yuenling and lots more. Lots of locals at the bar. Everyone super friendly. Smokehouse out back. Food very authentic Texan BBQ from what we experienced. Thanks for the great meal if we are back in the area we will return to try the rest of the menu:).
(5)Ryan H.
Being the food connoisseur that I am...especially for BBQ and smoked meats it's hard to find any better than what David has going on over there in Northborough. Ate there last Friday night for the for the first time in a while and the pulled pork plate and sides were out of this world! Do your self a favor forget about the horrible chain "BBQ joints" and try The TX BBQ Company out. Nothing like authentic Texas BBQ!!!
(5)Mea B.
Authentic BBQ! All us locals love it, so if you're from out of town, you NEED to try this place. 5 stars for the food and the staff. Joe is especially fantastic.
(5)D J.
This is texas BBQ...when you finally get it. I love the food at this place, the only smoke ring I can find in New England, but the service is atrocious. It takes a ridiculous amount of time to receive your food. It's BBQ, it's already cooked, you simply have to cut and plate. This should not take 30 minutes. You will also wait on chili, 20 minutes to drop a ladle in a pot and transfer to a bowl? Geez. This slow service is always consistent no matter the day or time. Oh, it does not speed up if you order take out. So, you might as well find a seat at the bar and down 2-3 drinks before your food arrives. But, be careful the bar is "townie" land and you'll get looks if you sit at the wrong stool. Margaritas are stiff and fairly large. Thursday afternoon appears to be teacher day, so you'll over hear some interesting fodder from educators.
(3)Erin A.
Ok, I'll be nice and start off by saying the waitstaff was nice. Walking in the door, the floor was not swept, dirty and had food and napkins on it. Entering the dining room the booths were ripped and tattered and there was food under the table across from where we sat at. Had a club soda with lime that tasted like it came out of rusty pipes. When the meal came, the green beans looked as if they had come straight out of a can, the mac and cheese side was bland but edible. The pulled pork was bland and needed a lot of sauce. The corn bread that came with the meal was a little corn muffin. A very disappointing meal, hardly texas style BBQ.
(1)Beth L.
Very Very good BBQ!!! Great Drinks as well!! We sat at a table which seemed to be in the middle of the entry way of the dining room...wish we sat elsewhere, but Hey! The food and service makes up for that!!! The BBQ was delicious! I had the pulled pork combo with Beef Brisket and corn bread! Waitress forgot my cornbread but brought it when I asked. She looked confused when I asked her for it, but OH WELL! SOOO GOOOD would recommend to friends!!
(4)Donny W.
Meat could be more flavorful. Decent place to go now and then though. Was delightfully surprised to see fried okra!
(3)Robert M.
So obviously being from Texas I am going to be biased. Well, I don't know if biased is actually the proper word. It is more like, I am going to be honest but appreciate where we are, New England. First, the owners are from Texas; so score there. They are nice folks and talk to the folks in the room. So very down home. As for the food, well here we go Apps: Had the onion straws. I would prefer onion rings, but they stopped making them. Not sure why, and I think it is unfortunate. The straws, which are onion rings just sliced really thin. Mains: Brisket and Sausage, pinto beans, corn bread and slaw. (this was one plate) Brisket is really good. For the NE, it is fantastic. If you are not familiar with brisket, aside from it being in your corned beef hash (which is great by the way), you have to try this out. They offer a winter special, brisket, onion slice, pickle and sliced white bread. And yes, this is how you would eat it back home; all served in a butcher wrap paper. Next... the sausage. They make it on sight. It was good. It was a beef sausage which is not very common in NE. I would say back home it has a bit more pepper and seasoning, even on the mild. But I am sure he had to adapt for NE taste buds. Cornbread. This was a letdown. If you are a NE corn muffin fan, you will like these though. it was a sweet corn muffin. Southern Corn Bread, especially from Texas is made in a cast iron skillet, or a round cake pan. It is not sweet. Often it has jalapeño and corn or onion mixed in. This has sweet corn, it was a muffin and it was sweet. So while it was 'good' I was disappointed. I was really hoping for some Texas style stuff. Slaw, veniger based and good. Pinto beans could have had a bit more seasoning, but it was good to have some that were made proper. So the secret was to pour the beans over the corn muffin. And yes, Pinto Beans are served with corn bread and often poured over the top. The wife had their Baby Back ribs. BB are not really a Texas thing, but they were good, He does it dry so you can add as much sauce as you like after the fact, which is the way it should be. The rub he used though was really sweet. This has won my wife over. Desert: Their cobbler is ... amazing. It is a try Texas cobbler. If you like cobblers up here that are pie type with lace crust,, this is different, this is better, this is Texas style cobbler; peach this time. Because as we all know, the Texas Hill country produces the best peaches in the country and more than any other state. :-) We also has a slice of their bourbon chocolate chip pecan pie. Folks, if you don't like BBQ, it is worth the trip for these two items all on their own.
(4)Bill S.
I'm originally from Texas and this is some of the best BBQ I've had in a long time. Place is a bit difficult to find, but once you get inside and smell the wonderful BBQ you won't want to leave. The restaurant itself is quite small, and was packed on a recent Saturday night around 8pm. Waited about 20 minutes for a table but then devoured some of the best brisket and ribs I've ever had. The fried okra is great as a side, and for those that have never had okra it is quite mild. Mashed potatoes were real (with lumps), and everything was home made and very good. Seems like a family run business and all the employees were friendly and helpful. Prices are reasonable too, with entrees in the $15-20 range which is quite cheap for BBQ of this quality. Would recommend to anyone.
(5)Foodie I.
Good ribs, cornbread, sauces, beers, etc. all you need from a BBQ place. Go and enjoy
(4)Paul M.
I stopped in after work for a take out. I got the 3 meat platter for $20. a bit pricey for 3 bones of pork ribs, 2 slices of brisket and 1 sausage link also 4oz each of slaw & beans plus a small corn muffin. The $4. Lone Star beer while I waited for my order. The food is authentic and good but the portions are stingy.
(4)Kim B.
My company just moved to the area and I was so excited to find out that there was a BBQ place so close by and with such great reviews! So I run in to grab a quick bite to take back to the office. Now I am a huge fan of BT's Smokehouse in Sturbridge and when it comes to BBQ any other place is going to be held up to very high standards. BOY WAS I DISAPPOINTED!!! The brisket was mushy almost to the texture of catfood, barely smoked (almost flavorless) and had no bark on it and the side of mac n cheese was comparable to Swanson frozen mac n cheese. The only part of my meal that was just above subpar was the homemade chips and those were not without flaws as they were oversalted. I will never go back and for those of you who think this is good BBQ take the time to make the drive to Sturbridge and experience what real BBQ is.... With fresh homemade sides... yummy fries, amazing (non microwaved) mac n cheese, flavorful collard greens and/or potato salad are among favs there. Don't waste your time stopping at the Texas BBQ Company because you will not experience true BBQ there!
(1)Super M.
Not bad not great. I like how the owner tries to pretend he is from Texas while wearing his bruins shirt. Fireflys definitely better.
(3)Sean M.
This is the best BBQ in Massachusetts period. Service is not great, and portions and the room are on the small side but quality of the smoked meat has no peer in the Bay State. Probably in all of New England. My latest favs here: pulled chicken mini tacos, fried jalapenos(not poppers, but breaded and fried like the okra), fried green beens.
(5)Joe C.
Tried this place for the first time. I really liked it. It's small, only about 10 tables, plus a very lively bar. The decor is very simple, nothing special but the food was very good, the menu was extensive, and the prices very reasonable. I had the BBQ Beef Brisket with 2 sides, plus Texas toast for $14.99 My family had ribs (Baby back and St Louis style) both had generous portions. They also serve a side sampler plate and mac n' cheese so that my daughter, who is a vegetarian, can also enjoy the restaurant. 3 of us ate for $52.00 including beer, wine, and soda. I will definitely go back
(4)Roger T.
The best part of the lunch was the service. The young server was hyper efficient and friendy but the food was disappointing. Hardly falling off the bone ribs. The baby back ribs were firm, not as they should be and virtually tasteless. The brisket sandwich was incredibly dry. Most likely would not return. Sorry
(2)Bob J.
I have driven by this place 1000 times and never thought about stopping and after many years I finally did. We ordered the burnt end platter with fries, mash potato and the MARVELOUS JALAPENOS CORN BREAD!!!!! The burnt ends were perfectly cooked, very moist and not dried out. The spice was just right and wasn't over powering by any means. The fries and mashed were just that. The portions were sizable and the price was very reasonable. This place makes Firefly's look like amateur hour and that makes Tennessee's BBQ in Framingham look like a rookies job. Don't waste your time or money this place is well worth the drive!!!! PROS: Taste, Portions, Price, CONS: I HATE PLACES THAT CHARGE FOR EXTRA SAUCE!
(5)Alex J.
Went here with my sweetie and our friends for a birthday dinner. They have Lone Star Beer! Off to a great start. They claim on the menu to serve Texas Hill Country style BBQ. I'm from the Hill Country, and have munched my fair share. This place is legit. The fried pickles: straight out of Wurstfest, minus the 45 minute line. The guacamole: excellent, with lots of garlic and peppers. But the star of the evening: Beef ribs. Huge, well-seasoned, and both crunchy and moist, they make you feel like a caveman as you om nom nom your way through them. My only complaint is that their BBQ sauce is weak. Fortunately the beef ribs need no sauce. The accompanying pinto beans and potato salad were right on. They have bread pudding (woo). They even put a candle in it and sang me Happy Birthday. I waddled out the door one very happy displaced Texan.
(5)Mike V.
I ate here while staying nearby for business. While the place isn't much to look at inside or outside, the food was absolutely phenomenal.
(5)JD H.
This is the best BBQ you can get in New England. It's also my key restaurant in Northborough. They are fast and friendly even when overwhelmed with the Thursday-Saturday crowd. It's a good place for a drink (if you do that) and even better place for food. Simply everything is good. Their sauces are top notch too. Try the Brisket, Chicken, Pulled Pork, and especially the hot sausage. The nachos are a meal, so don't order too much else if you get this. The only downer is it's not a good place for dessert, but why would you need it if you stuffed yourself with BBQ?
(5)Amy C.
My husband and I go to the Texas BBQ about once a month. We have never been disappointed! We have always had great service and delicious food for a decent price. We have tried all of these and recommend: Apps- Fried Green Beans, Fried Pickles, Nachos Entrees-Mini Tacos, Combo Plate, Rib Eye Steak, Grilled Shrimp, Pulled Pork Sandwich, and of course the Ribs! Sides- Mac 'n Cheese, Baked Potato, Asparagus, Cornbread Dessert- Big Brownie Sundae thing :) Drinks- They make a damn good BBQ margarita and a strong Jack and Coke The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because the place is pretty small and it closes early during the week (we couldn't get seated at 9:30 one Thursday night).
(4)J A.
While they don't deliver (I was staying at a friend's house so was hoping they would), their food is AMAZING. Some of the best BBQ I've had up here, hands down. Their brisket was "melt-in-your-mouth" tender and delicious, their mashed potatoes had lumps, some skin, and serious flavor that let you know they had been mashed from REAL potatoes (no mix), and their cornbread was the most moist I have ever had. If you're in the area and craving some true BBQ, check this place out over any of the bigger chains--you will not be disappointed!
(5)David G.
Ahhh...I have to give 3 stars here. Portions were small and buns soggy if you let the pork set on them for 2-3 mins. Maybe it's just BBQ in Mass but it's not all that special.
(3)Shaun M.
Great place love you xox
(4)Fernando V.
I've been wanting to come to this restaurant for a long, long time. I can honestly say waiting to come to this establishment was a mistake. I should of BEEN coming to this place. Being from Texas (like I've mentioned before) I pride myself on knowing great BBQ. This place particularly serves hill country style BBQ which is the area I was born and raised in. I have to say, it's a little difficult to replicate the flavor in Massachusetts considering the trees and spices are totally different up here. The atmosphere reminds me of the way BBQ restaurants/bars look, feel, and smell back home. Like the menu says, if you can't smell the savory smoke in the restaurant its probably not an authentic BBQ establishment. Lori and I both ordered the meat sampler plate. It included three choices of meat, two choices of sides, and choice of either Texas toast or cornbread. Lori had the beef ribs (beautiful piece of smoked meat), mild sausage link (best she's had in MA), smoked brisket (best item on the menu, smoked to perfection), pinto beans (fresh bacon and onions gave it that nice touch), fried okra (Lori said it reminded her of her childhood), and cornbread (moist and buttery!). I had the smoked brisket, hot sausage link (I say best in MA w/ a kick), pulled pork (Tasted great but was a little dry. Disclaimer... It was an hour till closing which means it was smoked that morning and slowly dried out over the whole day. So to be fair I expected it to be dry.), pinto beans, homemade potato chips (crunchy, warm and salty!), and Texas toast (un-toasted and un-buttered per my request....that's just what I'm used to). We washed all of this down with three bottles of Texas' native beer called "Lone Star". It's amazing to me that the restaurant has it! Massachusetts should think of it as the "Narragansett" beer of Texas (but better). After we finished our entrees we then proceeded to dessert. I had warm pecan pie (double d delicious) and Lori had warm peach cobbler (mmm MMM!) both a la mode (You can actually see the vanilla in the ice cream)! While we were eating dessert the owner came over and sat at our table to chat with us for awhile. He's got that Texas charm to him, very personable and I could definitely see that familiar hospitality from back home. Plus he is a Longhorns fan!!! The waitress was very polite and tentative. I can't wait to go back, try some more food, and watch a UT game. If you are looking for great authentic Texas style BBQ this is the only place that I know of that serves it in Massachusetts and they do it very well.
(5)Jason B.
This is, BY FAR, the best BBQ in the Northeast. I have sampled many of the supposed finest establishments in Boston & the surrounding areas (Redbones, Blue Ribbon, East Coast Grill, Village Smokehouse) and none of them compare. The owner could not possibly be any more friendly, and while the food isn't free, it is more than worth the cost. I highly recommend this establishment, even if you have to travel a distance to get here.
(5)Alexander L.
WHAT THE BRISKET. this place has one of the best briskets around. i got brisket that felt like fatty butter in the mouth, melting into meaty chunks of awesome. the knives were useless because the meat literally did a continental drift the moment it hit my sea of taste buds. the place is somewhat small, but definitely worth the quality of meat available. live band was pretty good too. prices are reasonable, especially with the quality of the food. if you're feeling lazy but down for great meat, HIT THE BRISKET!
(4)Sean D.
They finally lost me tonight. I so want to love this place because I love BBQ and I love close BBQ. I onl went back after a one star review because one of my wife's dying wishes was BBQ and it was ok. But tonight I stopped for a drink and basket of onion straws which I love. But after 40 minutes of watching the locals at the bar get their food Tim the bartender gave me the " oh sorry a large party came in and the kitchen is busy" woulda been fine if the rest of the bar wasn't getting food and if there was actually a large party in the tiny dining room. If you're going to lie to your patrons leave plausible deniability. It's not hard to be honest Tim. Your regulars were more important. You lost a potential regular
(1)Sean M.
It's nice to see this place seems to be a haven for Texas expats. After losing our nearby Tennessee's BBQ, we had to search out better spots (and we've tried quite a few). I'd heard a few people raving about this place, but then again, I wasn't convinced until a fellow Texan at work recommended this place. First off, I gotta say, the ambiance of the place reminds me of a place you'd find somewhere off 281, say, between Blanco and Stephenville. That being said, I went with what I'd usually order if I was back in Texas: 2 meat combo plate, starring brisket and sausage, mac n' cheese, and cole slaw. Wifey went with the brisket plate, potato salad, and fried okra. And of course, we ordered Lone Star to wash it down. I loved the sweet vinegary goodness of the cole slaw, definitely nice to see a place doing it right, instead of being boring with mayo. The mac was also decent, nice and simple. I really liked what was going on with the brisket and sausage. It seemed a tad cool, but at that point I was starving. And it really didn't affect the taste or anything. The brisket was tender and was amazing plain or with a little bit of sauce, and the sausage definitely brought to mind some of the good stuff I've had at Rudy's, Augie's, or Joel's in Flatonia. I sampled some of wifey's fried okra, and that was pretty awesome. We also finished off the meal with some pecan pie a la mode. AMAZING. Also a big hit: the jalapeno mozz sticks. The only complaint I had was the price point didn't match the amount of food, but then again, I'm used to getting piles of meat for a lot cheaper at places like this back home. I think just a couple more slices of brisket would've made the platter worth the price. Definitely would like to go back, as I'm a big fan of ribs too.
(4)Michael N.
I'm from Texas, born and raised, and I love Texas-style BBQ. And I love me some Texas BBQ Company! I've heard about and tried pretty much all the "famous" BBQ places New Englanders love to rave about. Texas BBQ Company beats them ALL by a country mile. This is real BBQ. Smoked out back. People, if you can't smell smoke when you're heading into the front door of the restaurant, they're not going to serve you BBQ. This place smells like real hardwood smoke. And the Texas flag out front isn't just kitsch. They mean it. Whenever I see it on the way in I hum "Texas, Our Texas" to myself. We always get the combo platters. Beef ribs are awesome and smoky. Beef brisket is tender and smoky. Pork ribs, sausage, and chicken are all delicious and smoky. They've had an off day or two among the many times we've been there, maybe the beef ribs were overcooked or the brisket wasn't as tender as it should be. But overall, this is pretty consistently the best BBQ I've had outside the South. The sides are awesome too. My favorite of which is the fried okra. This isn't pre-frozen-in-a-bag stuff. They cut the okra in the back and bring it to you all hot and crispy and golden. The Texas toast is thick and buttery. The mashed potatoes and gravy taste homemade. The potato salad is really respectable (even my Mom liked it, and she doesn't like anyone else's potato salad but her own). Even though we're always stuffed, dessert is a must here too. Warm blueberry pie or pecan pie with ice cream are both really good. The iced tea is even freshly brewed, and the waitress, Donna, is super friendly and awesome. Whenever we have visitors in town who care anything about BBQ, we always make the drive out to Northborough.
(5)Mike H.
The food is great. It was not the prettiest place, but the server were nice and prompt, and the food was priced very affordable. I suggest the brisket, it was he best i have had in the area, sides were just ok, cornbread a little dry. Also Had the jalapeño crusted Cheese sticks, which were the best mozzarella sticks ive ever had. Definitely check it out, sad it took me so long to get there.
(4)Ann H.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in Northborough. I've never been disappointed by anything I've had here, but especially recommend the brisket and nachos! Dear God - the nachos. It's a beast so, for your own well-being, please have help if you plan to order it. If you don't want toooo much food on your visit, my standby is the baked potato with pulled pork. The service has always been super warm and accommodating on my visits and I'm pretty sure I've had all of the servers at least once. The wait can be long on Friday and Saturday nights so plan to come early or late if you don't want to wait.
(5)Leah Y.
I wish I had taken a picture of the bones from my beef ribs. The meat literally fell off and I was left with a (massive) bare bone, much unlike any other New England bbq restaurants. I got the 'Rib Sampler' and tested beef ribs, pork spareribs and baby back ribs. The beef were my favorite, but all were melt in your mouth soft and flavorful. This place is REAL bbq. I would definitely highly recommend it to any rib lovers out there!
(5)rosann s.
We were looking for the Texas Roadhouse and by mistake chose Texas BBQ Company on Yelp. We followed the directions, still thinking we were on our way to the Texas Roadhouse. When we saw the little place, we were surprised, and almost turned around, but we looked at the Yelp reviews to see if it was worth a try. Seeing the 4 star review avg and reading through some of the reviews, we decided it was worth a go. It's a small place, with a large American flag hanging from one side of the outside door, and a large Texas flag on the other. As we entered, there was a small, full bar and a small dining room to the right. We were seated rather quickly, which was nice, as it was busy and Saturday night. The employee who seated us seemed to have possibly been the owner and was very friendly. There were 2 tv's @ the bar and one in the dining area. This pleased my boyfriend, as the Red Sox were on. We ordered soft pretzel sticks for the appetizer. OMG!! These were sooooooooo good!! They were buttery, with just enough salt and hot out of the oven. They came with mustard and ranch dipping sauces, but I decided to dip it in their BBQ sauce, which was excellent. For dinner, my bf had the small 3 meat platter, with brisket, beef ribs and pork ribs .. sides of mac -n-cheese, baked beans and a cornbread muffin. I had the pulled chicken sandwich with mac-n-cheese. Our meals were very good, especially the brisket and ribs. The rib meat literally fell off the bone. When I tried the brisket, I didn't need BBQ sauce, which for me, is pretty exciting. The service was good, the staff was friendly and the atmosphere was nice, quaint and had a very homey, local feel. There were a lot of families there that seemed like locals. Loved it. Will DEFINITELY return to this place. In fact, we may never need to find the Texas Roadhouse! Things we didn't try that I'd try next time: Texas Chili and tortilla chips Fried green beans pulled chicken or pork nachos texas toast
(4)CJ E.
What are you doing right now? If you like BBQ, you should be in Northboro at Texas BBQ. We have tried pulled pork, chopped pork, and brisket in a variety of sauces, and have been pleased all around. We have also enjoyed the sides (the more fried the better) like homemade potato chips and onion rings. the service is good and the atmosphere is welcoming. The prices are very reasonable. This is some of the best BBQ in the state, and definitely the best in Central Mass.
(5)Chaz M.
I was in a dilemma over what to order last Saturday and remembered someone mention The Texas BBQ Company as somewhere to check out. We ordered take-out and had a combination of different ribs and chicken dinners/sweet potato fries and cornbread. Of course we all picked off each others plates but #1 the take-out was nicely packaged and not thrown together and the staff were friendly. So already first impression was good. The ribs were very nicely done and sauce on the side (I must say the containers of sauce were overwhelming in size). I could have used for the ribs and then painted my home and myself in gooey BBQ sauce. The chicken had a nice ease but was a little dry for my taste. The sweet potato fries were very good and cornbread- ok I wasn't a huge fan but that won't make me not want to return. All in All a good experience and perhaps some day return to the restaurant for a sit down meal. One downside this meal may have precipitated a nasty attack of gout so perhaps I may not be returning as soon as my taste buds and stomach tempt me to.
(4)Jo C.
Found this on a whim and became our go to for BBQ. Even now, since moving to the South, it still holds its' own. Decent prices, good beer selection, and holy moly - the honey habanero wings are to die for!
(5)Stay G.
Came here on the hunt for good BBQ, my friend had raved about the place. Grabbed a platter sampler, dining partner had just ribs. Portions are a bit small considering the prices. I found the pulled pork and brisket to be subpar. Sides were nothing to write home about. However - the St Louis baby back ribs are smokey, moist and delicious. Possibly the best baby backs around. If you come here, that is a sure fire winner.
(3)Ian W.
I stopped at Texas BBQ for dinner and a beer on my way back from the South Coast to NH. I met up with other Yelpers from Metrowest at the bar. The atmosphere is like being at a small roadhouse. The beer selection was decent, but they had no light beer on tap. I went for the Beach Bum Blonde Ale on tap ($5). For dinner, I had the Chopped Pork Sandwich ($7.99) with a side of potato salad. The sandwich was pretty good, the pork had BBQ sauce in it, but not too much so I could add my own as needed. The potato salad was meh, firm potatoes and tangy tasting yellow mess. The service at the bar was not the greatest, the bartender ignored our party for a while and my check was incorrect. I was charged for the beer only and not for the sandwich on the check. I informed the bartender about the sandwich, who charged me for the beer and sandwich on two different checks. Overall, the Texas BBQ Co. is a decent and cozy place for beers and BBQ.
(3)Jonathan R.
Want decent BBQ in Massachusetts and you can't get to Red Bones or Bubs...hop on Rte 20 and hit up Texas BBQ. The food is solid, good beer selection and friendly staff. Not quite on par with the big dawgs of BBQ but a hidden gem when you consider that it's in Northborough. Worth the stop.
(3)Kristopher O.
Great BBQ, best I've had around Central Mass. Had ribs, chicken, sausage, okra, cornbread, and baked beans. The ribs and sausage were very good, along with the okra. Chicken and beans were okay. The owner was there and very friendly. I saw this place on a whim when just driving out and about. Most, importantly, me and my girlfriend are from Texas, and BBQ is a way of life for us. So it was cool to see a place flying the Texas flag outside and following close to the philosophy of good BBQ. The sauce was homemade, the service was good, and the place was quaint and small. Will definitely go back at least a couple times per month.
(4)Matt S.
This is the best BBQ food of any around this area.. Dave bannon has run this family owned business into one of the best places around... The food is always delicious and the helping are enormous... there is not a bad thing about this place except maybe the size because sometimes you have to wait awhile... Great job
(5)Dawn E.
Despite my somewhat lackluster service at the bar, (He was really nice, he just ignored us and our drinks were left unfilled for quite some time and it took us 15 minutes to get his attention to order more food, and it's not a big bar) I am bumping my rating up to 4 stars for the following reasons: -Decent beer selection. Okay, so they have not dark or amber beers on draft, but they're got interesting ones in the cooler and the drafts do have character and none of them are Bud. -Overall pretty good liquor selection: A variety of Patrons and did I see Don Julio? I did. And they have Johnny Walker Blue (which they charge too much for --- $29? --- I've seen it range from $15 to $30 a glass but the $30 was at a really high end place and the $15, I'm pretty sure, was a mistake... $20-$25 is a fair price, but then, I didn't order it so maybe the pour is substantial.) -Slammers. Like sliders, only with pulled pork or beef (we got a selection of both and I preferred the beef). The buns ought to have been toasted, but, overall, really really good. -Smoked chicken quesadillas (texasdillas?). Oh my god yum. Okay. I'm done. UPDATE 8/9/08 Went back for lunch: Ordered Bison Burger medium rare. twenty or so minutes later heard our lovely waitress asking for my burger... "Well it's a burger" "But it's MEDIUM RARE!" Five minutes later, out come burger. Well done. Ten or so minutes later, out comes burger, bun untoasted (I had asked for a toasted bun and the first one was). Burger was just okay. Waitress was adorable.. tipped her more than 20%. Will be back, but not any time soon. Also, back down to three stars.
(3)Bethany B.
Convinced my Mom to get take out for lunch. My chopped beef sandwich was okay - the bun was fresh but the meat couldn't have been more than 3 ounces. I actually took the top of to make sure there was actually something between the bread - sad for $8, IMO. Also, we ordered the 3 meat combo ( and were charged for that) but what we got had to be the Sampler portion. We were given 3 slices of brisket, 3 pork ribs, and a fistful of pulled prok for $20. We thought we could feed 3 people with the "combo" and ended up having to make sandwiches out of luncheon meat for 1 person. The sides were okay , hot & generous, but jeez, free up on the meat! The flavor is still there but the value is not :(
(3)Jennifer M.
This place is awesome!! We had them cater a graduation party and the food was out of this world. Dave was great to work with and I would highly recommend Texas BBQ for any event!
(5)J T.
I do not give 5 stars often. But this place kicked it thru the uprights. It's a very small private place which I like (about 10 tables). They did not have any open tables when we arrived but we waited about 15 minutes near the bar. Coming to the North east coast for work. My mind is on seafood not BBQ. The brisket and the baby back ribs were so tender. Your grandma would not need her teeth to eat it. I have had many styles of BBQ across the country and this is right there with them.
(5)Brian M.
Whoooop!! If yo're from TX and you LOVE BBQ, this is as good as it gets...especially this far north. Authentic Tecas BBQ, in an authentic BBQ spot with people from TX. Tried it all at an event for Texas Aggies today and it brought us all home to College Station. Only drawback was the Longhorn helmet and logos :-) Definitely worth a stop in but bring your appetite!
(5)John M.
Had the 3 meat sampler ({sliced brisket, center-cut pork loin, sausage}, pinto beans and tater salad) -- it was VERY, VERY GOOD. I am a native Texan (West Texas) and believe I am a pretty good judge of BBQ. This would rival any Texas BBQ shack in the state. As long as I'm up here in MA, I will be visiting The Texas BBQ company "frequently"!
(4)B M.
The best in the area IMO. Better than rival Firefly's. Ribs done right; not fall off the bone, but a bit of pull. Chicken is great, homemade sausage very tasty (had the spicy one). Texas chili is not up to my expectations; ground meat and beans. Clearly not Texas chili; maybe adjusted for NE?? Again, best place to go around here. Fried okra is great.
(4)Cucci C.
Hands down best in Massachusetts. I've been to Memphis in may. This is good BBQ.
(5)Jake D.
Went here last night after seeing the reviews on Yelp. Service was very good and the food just as good. Big portions and had some too take home. I have to admit that I have never been to real BBQ place in the south or anything so I don't know to the authenticity of it but the atmosphere was really and food stood out. I would definitely return and recommend this place to others.
(4)Steven C.
Okay...consensus tells me that take out lunches are not good ANYWHERE. DUH. And don't foolishly complain about BAR SERVICE. The food here is GREAT. Superb. NOTHING to complain about. Just went there tonight. Been there several times. Potato salad? Superb. Baked beans? Superb. Brisket? Sausage? Corn bread? Superb. jesus, people. Where do you get your bar b cue? Texas Roadhouse?? This place is a GEM, from top to bottom. Go to the chains. Buy your Bud Lite and mediocre cafeteria-quality food. I'll take this place with their family recipes and divine food and fine craft beers ANY DAY. Celebrate the local greatness, people. This place is GREAT! PS: had the brisket tacos last time: FANTASTIC!
(5)Mateo B.
Texas BBQ Co. is an underwhelming achievement. From the sparse parking lot to the small brick shack on the side of the road, Texas BBQ had all the makings for genuine Southern BBQ grit. When you pass through the doors, however, you're hit by a restaurant that just tries too hard. Cowboy hats and jalapeno poppers spell disaster, and this restaurant is full of just that. Ribs and steak brisket are standouts. The rest of the menu is a typical "real southern bbq" pitch with food that is only slightly above average. What it does offer that rival Fireflies can not is Lone Star Beer. Besides that, this is only a good second choice destination.
(3)Dawn S.
Waited way too long for a table, and even longer for our food. My Large salad for $5 was 6 pieces of lettuce and a tomato, the waitress only came to check on us once before the bill and the place was dirty. The wall was dirty, the seats were ripped and dirty, i will never go back. They should have paid me to stay and finish my dinner
(1)Liz G.
I think if you're looking for authentic dry rub BBQ then this is the right place. If you prefer your ribs marinated in sauce and basted while cooking then you'll be disappointed. The lemonade was great. I had the three meat sampler. The baby back ribs were okay but I had to drench them in sauce that was conveniently out on the table because they were a little dry. I also tried the pulled pork which again was good but needed lots of sauce added. I didn't like the St. Louis ribs at all. My husband liked the brisket and the baby backs once he added sauce but he couldn't even bite into the beef rib, it was so tough. I think next time we're craving BBQ we'll go to the Texas Roadhouse.
(2)Sean R.
Nice staff,but why nuke all the food,it was probably really good,then ya bombed it.
(2)X to the Z M.
Pros: - Barbecue sauce on your table. Hell yeah! I think they even had a rack of hot sauces at the entrance you could try.. - All meat seemed to be smoked out in the back Cons: - Everything is bigger in Texas, huh? Don't be expect that saying to hold true when it comes to the size of your southern influenced meal. - TINY (yes tiny is capitalized) dining area with outdated uncomfortable chairs.
(3)Teresa H.
We have been eating at Texas BBQ regularly since it opened. The food is consistently excellent. Beef brisket, pulled pork, pulled pork nachos, even the not BBQ fish and chips are terrific. On the side we love the German Cole Slaw. This is definitely a diner type of place. If you are looking for table cloths, you won't find them here. Dave, his family, the staff are all fantastic. We like sitting at the bar when possible. They have a number of beers on tap which my husband likes. So if you want a nice, laid back place with great food and great people, give them a try.
(5)Tim M.
One of the better BBQ restaurants I have been too. For an appetizer I got the quesadillas with chicken. They had salsa with cheese and served with a spicy southwest dipping sauce that was addicting. You can hardly call them an appetizer because they were so filling. For a meal I had a pulled pork sandwich with fried okra and both were great. If your looking for great BBQ this is the place to go. Be careful, there isn't much seating so you may need to wait if its busy but its worth it, or you can just sit at the bar.
(5)Bobby C.
First Off ... Went here last weekend. Friendly Bartender very friendly waiter. However having had BBQ from all over the country I wish I never tried this place. The seating is awful, the sausage was good, however it all stops there. Brisket dry, Chicken was well .. dead, it had died to become shoe leather. So dry that the Griswolds turkey looked and probably tasted moister. The Pulled Pork was ... um Just horrible. I would have rather eaten pink slime raw. The spare ribs, an overly peppered taste were just over cooked or nuked to the point that you didn't realize you had bit the bone cause it was mush. It's bbq it's about the meat so the Sides well not interested didn't have any as the descriptions were boring. After reading the reviews I'm sure glad I didn't have to deal with the owner cause I would have knocked him out. Obviously he's never heard that the customer is always right. Anyway. Game over, not returning.
(1)Steve R.
The food is very good. But the service is horrendous and the owner is obnoxious. If there is a problem with your food, don't bother telling him. He does not want to hear it. I would have gone back for the food, but I will not give that man another red cent.
(2)Jimmy D.
Great BBQ! I'd love to see someone eat a full rack of their beef ribs.
(5)Rob T.
This is not Applebee's or Outback or any other place with precooked ribs slathered in KC Masterpiece. THIS IS REAL BBQ. I've only been for lunch. Quite honestly I dont think I could finish a rib dinner here. My favorite lunch is the 3 Rib Beef Rib deal. 3 ribs that Fred Flinstone would be proud of with two side dishes and corn bread for somewhere around $10. How can you beat that? The brisket is out of this world. I've tried just about everything on the menu except chicken and burgers and I have yet to be disappointed. As others mentioned, they don't sauce any of their meats, not even in the sandwiches which is perfect because quite honestly I prefer my BBQ meats with very little sauce. They keep a regular and a spicy sauce on the table. Although the spicy isnt super spicy, its good. It's my favorite "Friday Lunch with a Beer" place. Great selection of beers to go with great BBQ. I checked the "$11-$30" price range because thats what I usually spend. You can probably get out of there at lunch for less than $10 though. Most of the sandwiches are in the $8 range. Lastly I should mention that the place isnt huge. Although we routinely drag 4 to 6 of us in for lunch and have no trouble sitting down, there are only maybe 6-8 booths and 5 tables in there. They do have a decent bar too though and you can eat there just as easily and watch the ballgame to boot.
(5)Greta K.
Being from the South, I can tell you that this barbeque is delicious. It's not the best I've ever eaten, but for this area, they do a darn good job. The owner is actually from Texas and has the accent and hospitality to prove it. I've been here a few times and we had our backyard rehearsal dinner catered by Texas BBQ. Their brisket is out of this world-- tender, delicious, literally mouth-watering. The pulled pork and chicken are excellent as well. Of course, the sweet potato fries are one of my faves, but I couldn't have that today so I stuck with a garden salad (kind bland, but I don't really care much for salad, and in this case, bland was good) and baked beans (not as sweet as I imagined, there was something else in them but either the waitress was keeping it a secret or she really just didn't know). The downside to the Texas BBQ Co. is the size of the restaurant (very small with few booths) and the prices are a little high for the 'burbs. For the platters, though, you do get a generous amount of food.
(4)Joe M.
Very solid BBQ. Good not great. Nice flavors. Some other BBQ places in the area are a bit better.
(3)Rita V.
Small, cramped, stinky, but friendly and welcoming. Sandy at the bar is a die hard workabee, sweet, friendly, just wonderful. I didn't know which one of the ribs I wanted, so I ordered the triple crown of ribs, for a meager $24.99. I agree with many of my fellow yelpers - not "fall off the bone - a bit dry, lacking sauce. The huge St Louis ribs were the disappointing visitors on the plate. Second runner up were the baby back ribs... But the PORK RIBS!!!! AHHH DELICIOUS! So all my fellow diners watched me in disbelief, waiting for me to polish off the carnivore fest... Nope, took home. Just add some water and sauce on the ribs when you reheat them, they are very nice reconstituted and consumed. As for my next visit... I'm going to have wings and pulled something, since I was ogling lustfully the heap of wings partying with the couple next to me. .. I should've swapped some ribs for wings... Its not the best BBQ you'll have, but it does beat FireFlys greasy chow... (the place needs some upholstering and cleaning so overlook the looks...)
(3)Jim H.
I've been here many times for lunch. Sandwiches and burgers are nice (I usually order the Bison Burger) and a good selection of beers on tap.
(4)Denise A.
Went here recently with a friend...I got the 3 meat sampler combo (pulled pork, brisket and ribs)...all was delish and the sides were great too. I really thought everything was flavorful, cooked right and our server was helpful and informative. It's a small place though and can get kind of hot in summer in there - but I will definitely be back.
(4)Marlarissa M.
This place has the makings to be a yelphenomenon: it's small, rough around the edges, and off the beaten path. Unfortunately, the food isn't good--the ribs were dry and the sides were forgettable.
(2)Jessica S.
My Favorite!!! The family that owns this place is from the Texas Hill Country and they are the only authentic bbq in MA. Order the brisket, sausage, fried okra, and fried pickles. This is where I go when I'm feeling homesick. It's worth the trip.
(5)Craig J.
I eat here (or get take out) often because it is so local but after another great meal I would come here even if it was a trek. Baby back ribs are outstanding as is pulled pork. Love the sweet potato fries as well. Great for kids, service is friendly and atmosphere is casual. If around give it a try
(4)kimberly l.
I love BBQ and this place didn't disappoint. If you love Texas style BBQ I would definitely recommend checking it out. It's one of the better places that I found in the area...although I think Firefly's might beat it out by a little, I really enjoyed the combo that I ordered...I liked the pulled port the best though out of everything in the combo...definitely worth checking out...
(4)Helen C.
Wow! Went there for lunch this weekend and iot was just wonderful. Had babyback ribs, pinto beans and slaw which was great. Hubbie had half a roast chicken which he thought was one of the best he's had in a long while. Yummy, yummy!
(5)Shawn V.
Saw this place on Phantom Gourmet. It is about an hour away from where I live. I made up my mind before visiting that I was going to have the burnt ends of brisket. It is a very small place with about 10 tables and a small bar. The fried okra was legit and the potato salad was on point. Onions, pickles and a slice of white bread on the side were an authentic touch. Along with not getting the burnt ends I requested, the brisket was a tad on the dry side and was far from a Texas sized portion. The portion was actually very skimpy and I was still hungry when I left. It was still the best tasting brisket I've had in MA by far. My girlfriend had a brisket sandwich and really liked it. She also had onion rings that looked and tasted like they were out of the freezer. I overheard this kid sitting a couple of tables over telling his dad while chomping down on a huge beef rib that, "these are the best ribs ever!" They looked the part. I plan on going back to try them. They also had pecan pie and cobbler on the desert menu, but I didn't try them. I don't know why I didn't since I was still hungry. The only TX beer was Lonestar. The BBQ sauce was pretty good. An abrasive waitress lessened our experience. If this place was in TX, it might get a 3 Star rating. For being in New England, I'll give it a solid 4 Stars.
(4)Jay N.
First thought was "real authentic Texas hill-country BBQ in Northborough?" This is the real deal. David and his family does it right. Real brisket with burnt ends (first clue) that are amazing. Ribs with the right "pull" off the bone. Food is consistent each visit. Reasonably priced and a good place just "to hang". I've been going steadily for a year now. Haven't been disappointed yet. Only gotcha is they are closed on Mondays (understandable - everyone needs a day off). Staff is very nice. Gets crowded so get there early. I've also had these guys cater lunch. They've got a lot of new fans who didn't realize you could get REAL BBQ right here in Northborough. So if you've got a yammering for the real thing - try it. You won't be sorry.
(5)James R.
We decided to stop here for lunch on Sunday. The place was dirty when we walked in and the waitress sat us in the middle of the place. We decided to sit in a booth which was out of the way, but was confronted by another waitress, that she would be losing a table for service. This was not our problem, as we decided to search the menu for something good to eat. We decided on splitting a combo plate of St. Louis ribs since they were out of baby back ribs, and sausage our sides consisted of the onion straws and the pinto beans and corn bread. While we waited for our lunch we decided on ordering the local rootbeer. Our plate of food arrived at our table and the plate was very disappointing based on the amount and dryness of the meat. We started with the half rack of ribs which consisted of 6 inched of meat. The meat was dry and old sitting in the kitchen for a long while. We asked our waitress about the amount and she stated that everything was weigh for portions and should order more food if we wished. The onion straws were over fried and not fresh tasting, as for the beans were not pinto and bland. The sausage portion was small and lacked flavor. The corn bread was a stale cold hard super market corn muffin. In conclusion, if your a rib joint why would you run out of baby back ribs at 1:00 pm when you open at noon, I felt the owner is charging way to much for the portions and as for the quality of the food I would not bother stopping at this place.
(1)Adam R.
I worked near here for years but the place never looked appealing... I went in one day and found out I had been missing a gem. Prices are good but even better is the food (especially the pulled pork) bbq is smoked in a smoke house out back. Only down side is that this place is pretty small so it can be tough to get a table or seat at the bar at lunchtime.
(5)David C.
This is by far the best barbecue around. I live in Rhode Island, but if I want barbecue this is where I go. Have only been twice, but both times left happy. The ribs are very good and the brisket is even better. Asked for burnt ends, and incredibly that's what I got. I have had so many disappointments with BBQ, I am always surprised when it is actually good. I would have given this place 4 stars but I don't love the corn bread and the sides could use some more love.
(3)Jayhawk F.
Good selections, and favorites are the burnt ends....Only way to improve is bring back the onion rings......
(4)Richard E.
Great BBQ and moderate prices. I travel a lot and have eaten BBQ all over the South and Western states. I won't say this is the BEST BBQ but it certainly is one of the best in New England. It is delicious. I prefer the dry rub Texas style BBQ which this place has. The service is "laid back." They are not "in your face" so you might have to let them know if you need something, such as the check. I like that but understand that some diners might think they are being ignored. Not so! It's a very friendly place. I eat there once every week or two and love the place.
(5)Robert D.
I had always heard good things about this place, but had never had a good experience. I gave them 3 chances. The service was bad, and the pulled pork sandwich was bland, and their parking lot nearly killed my suspension! I recently saw them on the Phantom Gourmet, don't know why. Maybe they've gotten their act together by now. I may possibly give them just one more chance sometime in the future.
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