Curtis’ All American Barbeque
7 Putney Landing Rd, Putney, VT, 05346
Curtis’ All American Barbeque Menu
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Address :
7 Putney Landing Rd
Putney, VT, 05346 - Phone (802) 387-5474
- Website https://www.curtisbbqvt.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
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Glenn J.
I had high hopes based on reviews. While it was a good meal, I wasn't overly impressed. I came on a Friday evening; slightly early for dinner. There were a few customers eating at the tables. I was the only one ordering. When asking about sides, the guy behind the order taker barked:"they're listed on the board over there!" Sorry for asking. Apparently, he was more concerned with getting my order so he could figure out whether plate it or box it to go. After getting. My order, I had the chance to talk to Curtis out by the pit. He's a great guy, very friendly. I enjoyed my conversation with him. I went with the chicken and ribs combo. The ribs were great! Curtis's sauce is really good. You can buy it there or at other local stores in the SoVT area. Good texture on the ribs. The chicken was Ok. It was dry and that didn't help things. The sides were ok; the slaw was watery and the beans had been sitting for some time. Oh well. Not a great meal; but not a bad one either. I just don't think it lives up to some of the other reviews. Still, a neat place to stop by and experience. It's pretty legendary in the area.
(3)Matt P.
I ate here on vacation and it was delicious! Loved the Carolina style barbecue and the pig mascot! Delicious! Would give it a hundred stars if I could! It's like the south, but with a northern twist!
(5)Daniel P.
Before I get started here, I'll acknowledge that many of the "right-on" details are outlined in the positive reviews and therefore I'll refrain from waxing philosophically on areas that are already covered. The negative reviews (ranging from 1 to 2.5) that concern quality of service or layout of the establishment itself are clearly written by folks that may not be all too familiar with the outlets across the U.S. that produce the finest barbeques. In my experience, those outlets are generally in trailers (or, at the very least, roadside/humble structures) and frequently, (if you're lucky) you're walking right by "Operations" (i.e., the owner, watching over the meats) on your way to/from ordering the meal. (Disclaimer - my favorite barbeque is from Eastern North Carolina (whole hog reigns supreme), and specifically from Pete Jones' Skylight Inn barbeque. If you google-map that, you'll see that it is tremendously inconvenient to get to - from pretty much anywhere - but yet it's worth the trip. I only mention this by way of establishing my 'Q credentials...) Curtis's Bar-B-Q offers Vermont and New England at-large an experience generally seen in inconvenient locations in the south. Curtis's reminds me of a good number of barbeque places in Eastern North Carolina for that matter. I've always enjoyed Curtis' ribs dry, with the sauce on the side. I find that the ribs stand on their own merit and don't need extra. You're going to eat outside. You're going to get your fingers sticky. You might even need to wipe the bench off (is that a lot to ask?). No one ever said eating barbeque was pretty. That's very likely why you don't see Barbeque on either the Main Dining Menu or the Lounge Menu of Le Bernardin... ;) p.s., many thanks to my good friend Ben Guerrero for having introduced me to Mr. Tuff's 9th wonder of the world!
(5)George L.
C'mon. Even if the food isn't your favorite you can't hate on this place. An old dude whose been BBQing for over 40 years spends all day in an open pit making chicken and ribs. Old blue buses and dogs hanging around. Picnic tables and smoke drifting this way and that. In VERMONT?! We drove for 2 hours just to try it and we were very happy with it. I don't think I'd go out of my way a second time but if I find myself in the right place at the right time again you better believe I'll be stopping in. As for the food: Like most great BBQ places the sides weren't too thrilling. I liked the cornbread but the baked beans and 4 bean salad left a lot to be desired. There are a lot to choose from so perhaps there are better options that I wasn't aware of. The chicken and ribs were both excellent. Perfectly cooked with a lovely smoke flavor. The house BBQ sauce is vinegary which isn't normally my taste but I liked Curtis's stuff. We tried the mild and the hot but stayed away from the extremely hot stuff. All in all I'm a little glad that this place isn't nearer to me. I'd eat there too much. PASS
(5)Lizzy S.
Over 50 biker pit stop. A parking lot filled with great bikes. Clientele are characters. Worth the experience but the food is poor.
(1)Tracy B.
I hate barbeque. I've never been a fan. However Curtis' completely changed my view on it. The chicken is cooked slowly right outside for you to see on a big grill whole. And the sauce they give you is amazing. Its the perfect blend of spicy and sweet that both barbeque lovers and barbeque haters will enjoy (I got mild). The family who runs curtis' is very nice and provide great service. I will absolutely be going here again.
(5)A A.
Stopped here, excited to try it. We came around 6:20pm on a Saturday night, waiting to order we can hear the workers complaining that we pulled in as they were taking the open sign down. Who closes a food place before 6:30 on a weekend, in the middle of summer? After hearing the complaints we left. So disappointed!
(1)Julie W.
Disappointing after reading the glowing reviews. They put the wrong sauce on my pulled chicken, which was very dry, and my husbands pulled pork was watery and flavorless. The sides are bland (cucumber onion salad and 4 bean salad), need spices not just vinegar and salt and pepper. The corn on the cob (steamed in the husk) was delicious, and they are dog-friendly at the picnic tables, which is a huge plus for us. Friendly diners though, we met a nice couple who love it, they drive 2 hours to eat there. Maybe we just had an off meal.
(2)Chrystal G.
Love this place. Absolutely nothing fancy, but the bbq is so damn good! I like the chicken and the ribs, tho the loaded potato and greens are pretty bang on too. I've been coming here since I was a kid on family vacations and Curtis (the guy who's tending the meat) is the man. Don't forget to feed the pig the dog biscuits (no that's not code for something dirty lol...) There is a pig on premises-not for human consumption- and Curtis will let you feed him dog biscuits if you're nice lol. Anyways, def go and enjoy :)
(5)Stephen T.
My in-laws took us here. Ordered the chicken and rib combo plate with the pulled pork stuffed baked potato with everything on it. The food was really good and the rib meat pulled away from the bone with ease and was delicious! The baked potato was awesome as well! I can't wait to go back next summer when we visit my in-laws again.
(4)Kathy W.
What an experience to meet Curtis! We had ribs, corn bread, coleslaw, baked beans... All homemade Fresh and wonderful! Ps Curtis looks like Morgan Freeman!
(5)Scott P.
Having the look of a rundown hippie commune with bellowing smoke lofting through the air resembling a garbage fire, Curtis' BBQ is an intriguing stop. I have eaten here twice in the past and was never impressed. I was in the area today and was willing to give them another shot being I'm not local and this was the only place I know. I was hoping the food would be better and they would have modernized to accept debit cards. The prices are high and the food below average, plus the cleanliness and sanitation of the place is questionable. It's a frequent stop for the endless stream of annoying weekend warrior bikers traveling north to go leaf peeping with their old ladies. Sure meeting Curtis is cool and he's real nice, but the food, especially the BBQ was overcooked and dried out. The chicken was barely edible being charred and bone dry. The last time I was there I paid with a $100 bill and I could hear the women inside the bus talking shit about me because they were pissed about all the tourists using big bills that they had to change. If you want to talk about your customers who keep you in business, just don't let them hear you. I almost stopped in for a third time today, but luckily I had no cash so we left and found a much better BBQ place through Yelp about 15 minutes down the road in Brattleboro called Top of the Hill Grill.
(2)Jordan D.
Prior to coming to Putney, I went on my trusty Yelp app and just put 'Resturants' and 'Putney, VT' and this was the first place to come up, for good reason. I would of never expected a top notch BBQ joint in some sleepy town in VT, but sure enough, as you're cruising down 103 and see the rising BBQ smoke, you know you just reached New England BBQ'ing heaven. Usually I'll start with the negatives of a place, but there is none with Curtis. To start, you order out of a school bus and sit at picnic tables surrounded by woods. If that isn't perfect BBQ eating decor, I don't know what it. I made it on a beautfiul summer afternoon and there was even some live music going on which was awesome. I mean - they could serve cold pizza out of the school bus and the location would still lend to better tasting cold pizza. But lets stop beating around the bush; their BBQ is some of the best I ever had. Perfectly marinated chicken, fall off the bone goodness. Loaded baked beans, which again were some of the best baked beans I've had in recent memory and ribs that you'll be eating until your blue in the face its so good. Literally, you could have a big meal, come here and still eat cause it's just that damn good. Oh and did I mention pet friendly and Curtis, the actual BBQ'er, is a cool ass dude that will chat you up if you go by the BBQ pit? Yes, once again, welcome to New England BBQ'ing heaven.
(5)Bobby J.
A lot of the reviews I've read indicate this place is hit or miss. I've always had an excellent experience. From the efficient service to the tasty tasty tasty ribs and collard greens. Friendly Curtis manning the pit gets this place 5 stars. Love it, always hit it on my way north through VT.
(5)Jessica L.
When this place hits the mark, boy, do they... I seriously can't imagine BBQ being more delicious than this (but I've never been to Kansas City either, soooo, yeah..). The baked potato is my favorite I've ever had, and whenever I order one anywhere else, I'm secretly bummed that it's not a Curtis' potato. The thing is, they've been inconsistent with us before. We've gotten some bad cuts of meat before that were just nothing but fat and didn't taste as good as I remember. I think he's training his daughter to cook the meat, and when we go there and she's cooking, you can tell she doesn't have his craft down quite yet. (Hope she gets it one day!) The service from the people working in the bus is usually okay, but one time this girl was exceptionally rude at me. I asked her to heat up my corn muffin and she really didn't take well to that, and I could hear her talking about me to her coworkers after. That really stuck with me, because that happened years ago and here I am still thinking about it.. I do really love the charm--the food served out of a blue school bus, the outdoor seating, the whole setup with the sink and giant paper towel roll that you wash your hands at after (as weird as that sounds to mention.. really though) and the fact that A PET PIG ROAMS THE PLACE. Oh my god, love it. This place is really something else, and if you're passing through, you'd be missing out to not at least try it.
(4)Uncle A.
Rendevoused, there, with bikers from all over New England this weekend and found it to perfectly suit the needs and appetites of 200+ hungry saddle-sore motorcyclists. Love the "eat-in-the-rough" atmosphere: picnic tables in/out of cover, recycled cardboard boxes for carrying your food to your table, Port-A-Potty restroom and ample parking. I got a half-rack of ribs (no sides) and was stuffed to the gills. Fall-off-the-bone tender and slathered in a tasty sauce. All sorts of enticing items on the menu. Guess I'll just to ride out there to try out other choices, again...and again...and again.
(4)Nathalia P.
Have been eating here my whole life. Ribs are AMAZING. And honestly, thats an understatement. Meat is tender and literally falls off the bone. BBQ sauce is delicious-goes great with the baked beans too. Pickled beets are some of the best. But its really all about the ribs-and they are THAT good. Curtis also happens to be the coolest dude around. Deserves six stars. Bless you, Curtis.
(5)Glenn C.
Just had a small piece of breast from here, Ill definitely go back and post a real long review. Great so far. I'll probably get a baked potato with chicken next time (as I am not a pork person). Edit: 4.5 stars, went here again, got a potato with the chicken on top. Just great.
(4)Glenn J.
I had high hopes based on reviews. While it was a good meal, I wasn't overly impressed. I came on a Friday evening; slightly early for dinner. There were a few customers eating at the tables. I was the only one ordering. When asking about sides, the guy behind the order taker barked:"they're listed on the board over there!" Sorry for asking. Apparently, he was more concerned with getting my order so he could figure out whether plate it or box it to go. After getting. My order, I had the chance to talk to Curtis out by the pit. He's a great guy, very friendly. I enjoyed my conversation with him. I went with the chicken and ribs combo. The ribs were great! Curtis's sauce is really good. You can buy it there or at other local stores in the SoVT area. Good texture on the ribs. The chicken was Ok. It was dry and that didn't help things. The sides were ok; the slaw was watery and the beans had been sitting for some time. Oh well. Not a great meal; but not a bad one either. I just don't think it lives up to some of the other reviews. Still, a neat place to stop by and experience. It's pretty legendary in the area.
(3)Matt P.
I ate here on vacation and it was delicious! Loved the Carolina style barbecue and the pig mascot! Delicious! Would give it a hundred stars if I could! It's like the south, but with a northern twist!
(5)A A.
Stopped here, excited to try it. We came around 6:20pm on a Saturday night, waiting to order we can hear the workers complaining that we pulled in as they were taking the open sign down. Who closes a food place before 6:30 on a weekend, in the middle of summer? After hearing the complaints we left. So disappointed!
(1)Daniel P.
Before I get started here, I'll acknowledge that many of the "right-on" details are outlined in the positive reviews and therefore I'll refrain from waxing philosophically on areas that are already covered. The negative reviews (ranging from 1 to 2.5) that concern quality of service or layout of the establishment itself are clearly written by folks that may not be all too familiar with the outlets across the U.S. that produce the finest barbeques. In my experience, those outlets are generally in trailers (or, at the very least, roadside/humble structures) and frequently, (if you're lucky) you're walking right by "Operations" (i.e., the owner, watching over the meats) on your way to/from ordering the meal. (Disclaimer - my favorite barbeque is from Eastern North Carolina (whole hog reigns supreme), and specifically from Pete Jones' Skylight Inn barbeque. If you google-map that, you'll see that it is tremendously inconvenient to get to - from pretty much anywhere - but yet it's worth the trip. I only mention this by way of establishing my 'Q credentials...) Curtis's Bar-B-Q offers Vermont and New England at-large an experience generally seen in inconvenient locations in the south. Curtis's reminds me of a good number of barbeque places in Eastern North Carolina for that matter. I've always enjoyed Curtis' ribs dry, with the sauce on the side. I find that the ribs stand on their own merit and don't need extra. You're going to eat outside. You're going to get your fingers sticky. You might even need to wipe the bench off (is that a lot to ask?). No one ever said eating barbeque was pretty. That's very likely why you don't see Barbeque on either the Main Dining Menu or the Lounge Menu of Le Bernardin... ;) p.s., many thanks to my good friend Ben Guerrero for having introduced me to Mr. Tuff's 9th wonder of the world!
(5)George L.
C'mon. Even if the food isn't your favorite you can't hate on this place. An old dude whose been BBQing for over 40 years spends all day in an open pit making chicken and ribs. Old blue buses and dogs hanging around. Picnic tables and smoke drifting this way and that. In VERMONT?! We drove for 2 hours just to try it and we were very happy with it. I don't think I'd go out of my way a second time but if I find myself in the right place at the right time again you better believe I'll be stopping in. As for the food: Like most great BBQ places the sides weren't too thrilling. I liked the cornbread but the baked beans and 4 bean salad left a lot to be desired. There are a lot to choose from so perhaps there are better options that I wasn't aware of. The chicken and ribs were both excellent. Perfectly cooked with a lovely smoke flavor. The house BBQ sauce is vinegary which isn't normally my taste but I liked Curtis's stuff. We tried the mild and the hot but stayed away from the extremely hot stuff. All in all I'm a little glad that this place isn't nearer to me. I'd eat there too much. PASS
(5)Lizzy S.
Over 50 biker pit stop. A parking lot filled with great bikes. Clientele are characters. Worth the experience but the food is poor.
(1)Tracy B.
I hate barbeque. I've never been a fan. However Curtis' completely changed my view on it. The chicken is cooked slowly right outside for you to see on a big grill whole. And the sauce they give you is amazing. Its the perfect blend of spicy and sweet that both barbeque lovers and barbeque haters will enjoy (I got mild). The family who runs curtis' is very nice and provide great service. I will absolutely be going here again.
(5)Julie W.
Disappointing after reading the glowing reviews. They put the wrong sauce on my pulled chicken, which was very dry, and my husbands pulled pork was watery and flavorless. The sides are bland (cucumber onion salad and 4 bean salad), need spices not just vinegar and salt and pepper. The corn on the cob (steamed in the husk) was delicious, and they are dog-friendly at the picnic tables, which is a huge plus for us. Friendly diners though, we met a nice couple who love it, they drive 2 hours to eat there. Maybe we just had an off meal.
(2)Megan S.
Sorry, I really wanted to like and support this local BBQ place but I was not impressed. Maybe, as mentioned by another reviewer, I need to go back earlier in the day. Positives: The staff was friendly, the hot bbq sauce was good (very tomato-y) and there aren't so many restaurants with nice outdoor seating areas. But. The meat was dry. Like dried out dry. Like not super pleasant to eat. Like maybe they grill the meat in the morning and keep it warm for the rest of the day? Ant that's kinda the big thing with BBQ, right? The meat.
(2)Paul W.
I met Mr. Curtis a bunch of years ago. I have a picture of my 2 oldest daughters standing next to him, right by the pit. They were 4 and 6 years old. There's a little pet pig he had, standing next to the three of them in the photo. The irony was lost on no one. Now I have 5 kids. The little girls are 19 and 21 years old now. Curtis tells me the pig has gone to that great sty in the sky [and no, he didn't cook him. Shame on you for thinking that.] The smell that comes off of that man's pit. It's like the angels guide his hands. Chicken or ribs, up to you. It's not the diverse menu that I come for. The sides are good and he makes his own sodas now [try the lime rickey. Good stuff.] No. I come for the Q. And it's good. I've been to Memphis and Kansas City. Chicago and St. Louis. I've even had Q with white sauce in Alabama. There is better Q in this world than Curtis'. You just have to drive 500 miles to get it. Everything you've heard it true: you eat outside, they take your order in a really cool painted school bus, yadda, yadda, yadda. It's the Q, man. Curtis knows that. I know that. My kids know that. You should know it, too. Come and eat. It's very tasty. Not too far off the highway and it's near a gas station to fill up the car. Curtis is really nice and he'll take a picture with you and shake your hand. Do it.
(5)Stephen T.
My in-laws took us here. Ordered the chicken and rib combo plate with the pulled pork stuffed baked potato with everything on it. The food was really good and the rib meat pulled away from the bone with ease and was delicious! The baked potato was awesome as well! I can't wait to go back next summer when we visit my in-laws again.
(4)Kathy W.
What an experience to meet Curtis! We had ribs, corn bread, coleslaw, baked beans... All homemade Fresh and wonderful! Ps Curtis looks like Morgan Freeman!
(5)Bobby J.
A lot of the reviews I've read indicate this place is hit or miss. I've always had an excellent experience. From the efficient service to the tasty tasty tasty ribs and collard greens. Friendly Curtis manning the pit gets this place 5 stars. Love it, always hit it on my way north through VT.
(5)Joe P.
Ribs were dried out. I understand from locals it's better to get there early. Ribs are left on the grill until they sell. I won't speak to the sauce because everybody's taste for BBQ sauces are different. It's without a doubt a Putney landmark. Curtis and staff are downright homey! For this visit on the food alone I offer 2-stars.
(2)Greg N.
Good sauce. Ribs were dried out. Beans and collards had not seasoning or flavor. I will come back on another day earlier in the day to see if that works.
(2)Sharon P.
A little out of the ordinary place that has yummy BBQ. My fav the chicken stuffed potato...pulled chick slathered in sauce atop a tater...yum! Both sauces delish. Don't forget to get bottles of sauce to go. And be sure to say hi to Curtis. He is a wonderful, friendly guy who knows how to cook BBQ right.
(5)Scott P.
Having the look of a rundown hippie commune with bellowing smoke lofting through the air resembling a garbage fire, Curtis' BBQ is an intriguing stop. I have eaten here twice in the past and was never impressed. I was in the area today and was willing to give them another shot being I'm not local and this was the only place I know. I was hoping the food would be better and they would have modernized to accept debit cards. The prices are high and the food below average, plus the cleanliness and sanitation of the place is questionable. It's a frequent stop for the endless stream of annoying weekend warrior bikers traveling north to go leaf peeping with their old ladies. Sure meeting Curtis is cool and he's real nice, but the food, especially the BBQ was overcooked and dried out. The chicken was barely edible being charred and bone dry. The last time I was there I paid with a $100 bill and I could hear the women inside the bus talking shit about me because they were pissed about all the tourists using big bills that they had to change. If you want to talk about your customers who keep you in business, just don't let them hear you. I almost stopped in for a third time today, but luckily I had no cash so we left and found a much better BBQ place through Yelp about 15 minutes down the road in Brattleboro called Top of the Hill Grill.
(2)Chrystal G.
Love this place. Absolutely nothing fancy, but the bbq is so damn good! I like the chicken and the ribs, tho the loaded potato and greens are pretty bang on too. I've been coming here since I was a kid on family vacations and Curtis (the guy who's tending the meat) is the man. Don't forget to feed the pig the dog biscuits (no that's not code for something dirty lol...) There is a pig on premises-not for human consumption- and Curtis will let you feed him dog biscuits if you're nice lol. Anyways, def go and enjoy :)
(5)Jordan D.
Prior to coming to Putney, I went on my trusty Yelp app and just put 'Resturants' and 'Putney, VT' and this was the first place to come up, for good reason. I would of never expected a top notch BBQ joint in some sleepy town in VT, but sure enough, as you're cruising down 103 and see the rising BBQ smoke, you know you just reached New England BBQ'ing heaven. Usually I'll start with the negatives of a place, but there is none with Curtis. To start, you order out of a school bus and sit at picnic tables surrounded by woods. If that isn't perfect BBQ eating decor, I don't know what it. I made it on a beautfiul summer afternoon and there was even some live music going on which was awesome. I mean - they could serve cold pizza out of the school bus and the location would still lend to better tasting cold pizza. But lets stop beating around the bush; their BBQ is some of the best I ever had. Perfectly marinated chicken, fall off the bone goodness. Loaded baked beans, which again were some of the best baked beans I've had in recent memory and ribs that you'll be eating until your blue in the face its so good. Literally, you could have a big meal, come here and still eat cause it's just that damn good. Oh and did I mention pet friendly and Curtis, the actual BBQ'er, is a cool ass dude that will chat you up if you go by the BBQ pit? Yes, once again, welcome to New England BBQ'ing heaven.
(5)Hillary L.
We were staying up around the area for a weekend away and had not had any BBQ since moving East. We decided hey - BBQ in a bus, that's for us! The atmosphere is what brings up this rating - there's a volleyball net, tons of picnic tables, BYOB - I can see in warmer weather being able to come here with a group of people and staying for awhile. When we went, it was one of the last weekends they were open as it was already getting quite cold - I don't think they're open in the winter as the BBQ is outside the bus being done by Curtis. The BBQ was OK - from the other Yelp reviews we felt it was a little over-hyped. Not that it was exactly bad, I just come from the South where good (and less expensive) BBQ is made, plus in Chicago we had a multitude of BBQ places to try out. The main cons for my husband and me were (1) the price (2) not tons of sauce, little to no rub while being cooked (3) don't buy a corn muffin they taste like the ones you can buy at Costco (but worse). So, overall, food is two stars, atmosphere is one star, there's your three star review. Maybe next time bringing something to drink would be a good idea...
(3)Mary R.
Had never been before so was asking the female counter person about the menu. She snapped at us and told us "all the information is on the sign" She was really unfriendly! All 3 of us ordered the combo which was a 1/4 chicken and 3 ribs. The chickens must have been 1 lb. chickens judging by the size of the piece we received. My husbands combo platter only contained 1 rib and my son's had 2. We didn't go back to get the order corrected because the woman at the window was so rude to begin with... There is only 2 choices for BBQ sauce...regular and spicy. I was told that the spicy was extremely hot, so went with regular. It was a Carolina sauce...very vinegary, not to my liking, but very much to my hubby's taste. There were 3 dogs and a pig right next to the outdoor grill which I found to be a little unsanitary. The good part was that there was an outdoor sink with hot water and soap to wash your hands after eating. I appreciated that. Also the man who was cooking the meats on the grill was extremely pleasant. After hearing all about this place for the past 2 years that I have lived in VT, I have to say that I was sorely disappointed. The prices are very high for the tiny amount of BBQ. Save your money and don't go here.
(1)Guillermo M.
The best bbq I have had in a LONG time. Great food, tasty, unique, using the best Vermont ingredients (sour cream, cheddar cheese) and with a very charismatic guy running the show. Get the ribs, the potato and prepare to have a delicious lunch. You can sit in picnic tables and hear good music. What else can you ask for?? All works out perfectly.
(5)Stephen H.
Amazing southern BBQ in the North and this is coming from a southerner, it's a must try!!
(5)Steve M.
Cool place. Like a backyard BBQ with Curtis. Easy on and off the Interstate!
(4)Matthew T.
Ok lets face it CBBQ is not great, but its not bad either. I do my own BBQ. I make my own rubs and my own sauces (I make 100+ pints a year of sauce because everyone who has had it, demands more), I've gone thru three smokers in the last 6 or 7 years, so I know my BBQ. Off the bat, CBBQ is not smoked, its grilled and so in my mind can't be called BBQ, which must be done indirectly with smoke. When you put raw ribs on the grill, even though the heat and flame and smoke is generated by wood, it still grilled. BBQ'ing ribs takes hours to be done right and CBBQ creates their ribs in minutes. that being said...... I started going to Curtis's in 1984 when I read about it in a Yankee Magazine New England Travel Guide. My friend and I drove up there and we soon returned with more friends even though it was 2 and a half hours away from our homes. We'd pick a great sunny day and party all the way up to Putney. We made a day out of the adventure and the food. Enough reminiscing. As for the food, well the meat is not especially tender, but it is tasty. One thing I've learned about BBQ is that its actually very hard to mess it up. The sauces are good vinegar based sauces. The sides are fair to good with the baked stuffed potatoes being the best. I have to drive 140 miles each way to get to CBBQ, so I only get there once every year or three, but I still go. Its really like a pilgrimage. My wife can't understand it. She thinks my Q is so much better and she's right, but something still brings me back to Putney again and again. Its the whole experience really. You can smell the wood smoke from the highway and that pulls you in. The gravel parking lot. The blue bus. The picnic tables and porta potty. The giant roll of paper behind the bus with the sink that you wash up with afterwards. And of course the tall black gentleman standing by the cut in half oil tanks (Who always greets you with a Howdy!) filled with smoking wood and covered with a metal grate topped with meat. Welcome to CBBQ. Its BYOB which is nice (Make sure you bring an extra brew or three for Curtis!). I always get the chicken and ribs combo with the mild sauce which I think has more flavor than the hot sauce which truth be told isn't actually very hot. You arrive and park and walk to the bus where a window is open and step up to it and place your order. The act of arriving and ordering and choosing a table with the sun beaming down on you and the green grass are really just seminal moments that you have to experience to understand. In its final analysis, CBBQ is an quasi-epic American adventure, its like the stations of the cross or a pilgrimage to Mecca. The act of going there and partaking in the communal feel with the smoke in the air is other worldly and very satisfying. The food is good but not great but what you get there is more than sustenance, its food for the soul and so it calls me back over and over and today I return once again. Matthew T
(3)Anthony P.
Just go. Trust me.
(5)Ed S.
The best ribs I have ever had. I love the simplicity of this place. While I was there I talked to Curtis for about thirty minutes while he cooked ribs over a wood stove. I can not wait to come back
(5)Robert G.
Found this place by accident when I pulled off the highway to get gasoline. Amazing! I highly recommend Curtis BBQ. Caution, it is not for everyone. It is backyard style eating.
(5)Bill S.
Curtis Tuff was a migrant worker near Macon, Ga, when he came to Vermont over 40 years ago to pick apples. He was offered a permanent job by his employer but decided he wanted to be his own man. So he started cooking barbeque, something he had no hands-on experience with but had seen his dad and grandfather do for years back home. It took a while, but he got the hang of it, and the result is Curtis' Barbeque, one of the most unusual and distinctive eateries in all of New England. We come from South Carolina and Georgia and have lived in North Carolina and eaten bbq regularly in Memphis, Dallas and Lexington, NC. Please know that when we say this is first-class chicken and ribs, we're aren't just whistling Dixie. It's carefully smoked (though not on hickory since you can't find that much through VT) and comes off the grill moist and flavorful. The meat falls off the bone, and it if doesn't, tell Curtis. Barbecuing is a very individual skill, and can change from one day to the next due to the composition of the wood, the time on the grill and the quality of the meat. You might hit Curtis on an off day, but chances are you're going to be blown away by some gen-u-wine BBQ, abetted by some tasty tomato-based sauces (we're fond of mustard sauces, but that's a South Carolina thing and not to everyone's taste, we know). The sides are yummy: collards (missing ham hock, however), cole slaw, baked potatoes (you can get it stuffed on the grill, wow!) cucumber and onion salad, and ... well, you get the idea. The place is sort of from another planet. You order from the sides of a decades-old blue school bus that is as ramshackle as it looks. Curtis cooks next door where his eight-year-old fat pig snoozes, apparently unaware of how lucky he is that Curtis doesn't do pork. The dining is on picnic tables, covered and open, scattered around the lot. You order and when it's ready you get a cardboard box to carry your food. This may be a turn-off to some of the fastidious, but they should avoid this place anyway. The atmosphere is fun and laid-back. We can hardly say enough good things about it, and not just because, like Curtis, we're from Georgia. It's a special place in VT, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do. And prices? Well, if you have to ask, then you shouldn't stop here. P.S. It's not expensive. And they do accept cash only.
(5)Brian B.
This place is one on the must see list.Arriving,it can be slightly hidden off the road,until you see and smell the smoke.Things are kept simple and old timey here,pull into the dirt parking lot and make your way over to the old blue school bus that looks like it has sat there for 40 years to order.....but know that it is CASH ONLY!.The choices are simple,Chicken or Ribs,or both!.Sauces are homemade mild or spicy,and that's all you really need.This is the south of the north,and you'll find the best southern sides here too.There is Baked Beans,Collard Greens,Corn on the Cob,and of course Cornbread.The food is just excellent,I had the Chicken and Ribs,and both were among some of the best I've had.There's no mistaking where the food is coming from as it is cooked essentially right in front of you on a nice hardwood fire.If hair nets and gloves are your idea of a good food stop,then this one isn't for you.That meat is out there,being cooked over the fire in the open air,with Curtis watching carefully with his pet pig and dog right by his side.Curtis is such a nice old guy,and will gladly chat and take photos with anyone who so desires.I drove 110 miles to check out this gem,and I wasn't disappointed at all.In fact the wife and I are talking about making it a yearly pilgrimage.
(4)daniel r.
Perhaps i'm just getting a little old and cranky. Curtis BBQ just doesn't do it for me anymore. First off....you should go here once if you've never been before. its got a very unique atmosphere but beyond that I'm not sure. Went on a recent sunday...Curtis was NOT there..looked like his grand-daughter and her boyfriend were working the BBQ. Ribs were incredibly tough and chewy. Little gnats were everywhere making your outside dining an unpleasant experience. the place just looked rundown. I know..some folks will say its part of the charm but I just sense its going downhill. the bus looked rusty and weathered. it almost looks like a third world country--hand made signs....port-o-lets..outdoor wash basin...with high prices!! no real combo dinners...just about everything is extra and expensive..with uneven quality food. No one is particularly friendly..i really missed curtis' presence(hope he is OK!). i'm really disappointed.
(2)CrazyDave n.
Go for the road side attraction angle because as bbq goes this is lousy. Ribs were dry and tasteless, same for the pulled pork..prices were ridiculous with sides being extra , bbq sauce was like watery ketchup . There is a place in the Brattleboro area that does que much better
(1)J. Curtis G.
This is hands down the absolute best bbq place ever! I live in NC, but I'd drive all the way to Putney, VT just to eat there again. It is the first thing I tell people about if Vermont gets mentioned. I would vote for Curtis' BBQ to replace maple syrup as Vermont's claim to fame! I cannot recommend this place highly enough. I would give it 10,000 stars!
(5)Neil B.
So you are driving down route 91 and you turn off for gas at the Putney exit and omg there is a barbecue pit, picnic tables and a half a school bus that serves as the place to order and pay. Now admittedly I am not an expert on smoked ribs and chicken but I liked what I ate. Though it was not as good as some home smoked ribs I had in Davenport, IA cooked by a man named AB whose parents had been sharecroppers in the south, it was the best I've had in New England!
(4)Eli G.
Great outdoor bivouac-like restaurant for ribs, chicken and all of the classic sides. CJ-the-pig helps guard the barbecuing chickens. CJ does not get cooked himself.
(4)C H.
We've wanted to go to Curtis's for years. My husband, kids and I are big fans of bbq and we've heard that Curtis is a legend in New England. We finally made the hour drive over there and I love their set up. The bus was great, the ribs cooking right there smelled fantastic! We ordered a our ribs and chicken. The kids had the loaded baked potatoes. We all got the mild sauce. The ribs were awesome, juicy and very meaty. The problem-we didn't like the sauce. I really wish we'd thought to ask for it on the side. We don't do a lot of sauce normally and everything was covered very liberally with it. Thank God we ordered mild. Yah, I'm a wimp when it comes to sauces, but it had too much of a bite and it reminded me more of a hot sauce than a bbq sauce. We tried to remove as much of the sauce as we could because we really did like those ribs! The chicken too! The sauce actually worked better with the chicken. I don't think we'll do the hour drive just for the ribs again, but I think if we're in the area we'd give it another shot. With the sauce on the side.
(3)Jeffrey G.
By far the best place to eat in Putney
(4)Tolga E.
Curtis' BBQ in southern Vermont is one of those must-do "welcome to Vermont, we're wild and wacky here!" kinda things to do. I loved the whole set-up of the place. The trailer which doubles as the storefront, the ghetto, falling apart random pieces of stuff on the unkempt yard. The gazebo-type thing that you can sit under and eat at. While we were there, we saw what had to have been the world's fattest, ugliest boar (I can't even call it a pig). It was just wandering about aimlessly and you had to wonder when exactly it was going to become someone's lunch. Unfortunately, the 'cue wasn't that much to write home about. I'm not sure why people are raving on here, the ribs, for the most part, fairly dry and overdone. None of the 'cue really stood out. BUT, I will give 'em credit for some really bitter collard greens (it's brave to serve 'em THAT bitter) and for having their own ginger beer, which I thought was a little to sweet but generally pretty good. Curtis' is a great pit-stop when driving through Vermont. It's not amazing, it's maybe not even a destination in it's own right. But if you had to choose between stopping there and not, I would. It's one of the most Vermonty things you can do.
(4)Aviva S.
If you're lookin for great BBQ - Curtis can throw down! The ribs here are fantastic, and so are all of the sides. I don't live in VT, so going up to Putney always feels like a bit of a schlep, but once a year this is definitely worth it. Bring your own drinks - I'm pretty sure they sell them, but I've learned having plenty of lemonade handy is worth it. Also - there are no bathrooms, so unless you're feeling fearless and want to use the port-a-john - go ahead of time. This is a very casual place - there is a covered, screened in area, and picnic tables with umbrellas around. You can definitely bring kids, and dogs are welcome too so long as you keep them leashed. My very favorite part is the faucet out behind the grill area with a communal bar of soap to use, and the biggest roll of paper towels you've ever seen. It's all part of the experience. Do I think it's a little weird to be eating ribs while Curtis' pet pot-bellied pig (and this thing is HUGE) hangs out in his pen next to the grill? yes. But I'm already looking forward to next year's trip.
(5)Melissa B.
I've been all over the south, but who would've guessed that I'd find the best BBQ in the country in the back woods of Vermont? (And I'm not exaggerating about it being the best in the country!) I speak of Curtis' All American Barbecue in Putney, Vermont, a wonderful little joint (where else can you get BBQ cooked in a sky blue school bus?!) run by a wonderful man. It's definitely not fancy (you eat at picnic tables), but the food,sauce and prices more than make up for it. Here is a great article that goes into depth on the wonderfulness of Curtis' barbeque. piecesofvermont.com/curt… Here is another fantastic article, from the New York Times, about his place: query.nytimes.com/gst/fu… "Nowadays, half a three-pound bird, roasted for 90 minutes or longer over the hardwood coals, costs $3.75, and it is a bargain. Or for $4.75 you can have a healthy portion of succulent, meaty pork ribs, smoky-sweet and dripping with barbecue sauce. Either of these portions would make a hearty eater happy, as will the combination plate of ribs and chicken for $4.25. Mr. Tuff starts his fires around seven in the morning and lets them burn for an hour or so before he starts to cook. The meat stays on the grill, turned frequently and basting in its own juices, for two hours or more. ''Underdone'' is not a word the chef likes to hear. ''The way I like my meat is well-done, and falling off the bone,'' he said, ''like it cooks from the inside out, not the outside in.'' Curtis' Bar-B-Q also serves baked beans and cole slaw (75 cents a portion of each), baked potatoes ($1 apiece) and ears of corn roasted in the husks over the barbecue coals (75 cents an ear). Soft drinks are available, and the stand is open Thursday through Sunday from early lunchtime until dark." The article is a bit old, but his prices haven't changed much. His food is still fantastic, and Curtis Tuff has a heart of gold. This is a favorite summertime haunt. The next time you are in Vermont, RUN don't walk to Curtis' All American Barbecue. He calls it "The 9th Wonder of the World'" and he is not joking. You won't find barbeque better than this.
(5)Erin A.
Well worth a two hour drive to sample curtis delicious pork ribs and see their pet pig CJ (if he only knew). Plus there's a great farmers market across the street.Great laid back vibe at this place
(4)Adam K.
The BBQ was just ok and the prices were appropriate. They only take cash and honestly the best thing they sell is "the works" baked potato. I'd forgo the meat and just get a tatter.
(3)Ben S.
Best dang BBQ I've had north of NYC. Spicy vinegary bbq sauce, slow cooked very smoky flavored meets. Literally falls off the bone when you try to pick up a rib. Baked potatoes are no joke. Opened only in the warmer months Curtis is always manning the grill and happy to chat. A must if you are anywhere near here. I miss the pulled pork and shredded chicken sandwiches tho. Closest thing you will find to real southern bbq in the region. I Recently visited curtis' BBQ this past summer 2009 and i was sorely disapointed. Both the chicken and ribs i got were very overcooked and dry. Maybe this was just a bad batch but after so many good experiences I would hope this was the case.
(4)Chris C.
So I heard that this place was amazing and I was a little skeptical as I have had BBQ allover the South and found almost nowhere in New England that does true BBQ. After eating there I am totally sold on it and am killing myself I did not know about it sooner! The ribs are absolutely amazing and are real traditional Carolina style. The BBQ sauce is a thin spicy and vinegary sauce that goes great with the food. They also have some seriously amazing baked potatoes. The pulled pork stuffed one is amazing, but beyond huge. So if you get one don't plan on getting anything else with it. The seating is all outdoor and the first thing I noticed was that a lot of the people had brought their own drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic and we will be doing so next time we go.
(5)Doc B.
I really enjoyed my ribs and bicolor corn on the cob. Now that I think about it, the ear of corn was absolutely perfect. The ribs are big. Don't think of getting more than 6 per person unless you are very hungry or trying to prove something. The food was delicious. My wife liked her pulled pork baked potato. There was no line when I went there on a weekday. Just a little info- they are open 10 AM to dusk, closed Mon and Tues, closed Nov-March. There is a covered seating area, in case it rains. I did not see any sign of a pet pig mentioned in 1 writeup. The sink behind the stand had soap and the biggest roll of paper towels I have ever seen. There is an area for kids to run around and play while the grown-ups pig out. The staff is very friendly and glad to hear that you enjoyed your meal. It is on the northbound side of the road. Look for the rising blue smoke. Not to be missed if you are a foodie and in the area. This is the real deal.
(5)Joyce O.
No, no, no, NO! My husband and I are BBQ lovers. We have eaten BBQ in North Carolina and Texas and South Carolina and Kentucky and even Alaska (to name just a few of the states where we have dined) and now Vermont and what a disappointment. We arrived at about 3pm and ordered for an early dinner. The ribs were cardboard, unchewable and tasteless. The chicken was better but only by comparison to the ribs. The sides would have been good if they had been seasoned properly and the cost for this whole disappointing meal was outrageous for what we didn't get which was good food. Curtis was there and about to start a new batch of meat for, I guess, the dinner crowd so maybe what we got had been sitting since lunch. Still, fresh or not, the flavor just wasn't there. Oh yeah, and the person working the window was unhelpful and was quick to tell me that a half of chicken that was only dark meat was anatomically impossible. I pointed out that one could cut the chicken in half at the "waist" which would give you 1/2 a chicken of only dark meat orrrrr one could sell me two quarters of dark and there you would have it, 1/2 a chicken made up of only dark meat. Just up the road from Curtis' is the Putney Diner. Go there if you want good food served by people who care
(1)Jeff R.
So while driving randomly in Vermont in search of some hiking trails, we came across Curtis' BBQ, which personally, seemed a lot more fun. So we decided to return after spending some time in the great outdoors. So when we got there, I ordered chicken (I'm not a huge fan of ribs) and a baked potato with cheddar. And I must say, this was some of the best BBQ I've ever had. I'm typically not a fan of BBQ Sauce, but Curtis' recipe is nice and vinegary but also spicy. They even have an article from Rachael Ray's magazine saying how great it is. Yummo!! If you're even mildly concerned with personal hygiene, however, Curtis' may not be the place for you. After eating, we went over to chat with Curtis himself for a minute (he was running the grill). After a minute, we realized that his ENORMOUS, 300 lb pet pig CJ (Curtis Junior?) was sitting right under the grill. Curtis then proceeded to pet CJ and feed him treats with one hand, while arming the grill with the other. The thought of a pet pig laying two feet away from a giant grill of cooking ribs was a little uncomfortable. None of this would stop me from eating that delicious food again though!
(5)Chris L.
There's no escaping the authenticity and the incongruity of finding Curtis turning ribs over his open pit barbeque in southern Vermont. But this is a man who knows his craft. The ribs are meaty and juicy. The sides are a la carte. The seating is at picnic tables outdoors. No liquor license, so BYOB. This is a great destination for a motorcycle ride Wednesday to Sunday, April to Oct. If you arrive at lunch, expect a long line, but the line moves fast.
(5)Tom L.
I'm not a big fan of pork ribs so I was a little worried about the limited menu, meat-wise (chicken and pork ribs). I got the combo, chicken for me and ribs for my wife. But we ended up fighting over the ribs and forgot about the chicken. The best I've tasted and my wife agrees. And we loved ordering at the bus and watching Curtis work the pit. Dog friendly, too.
(5)Pete F.
Yes, Vermont does have an incredible BBQ destination and it is Curtis Bar-B-Q in Putney. Stumbled upon by accident 15+ years ago, I make it a stop whenever I am traveling in southern Vermont. Situated very close to the interstate you'll find two old International buses that make up Curtis'. Curtis himself tends a huge open pit fire cooking ribs and chicken as a pet pig runs around. I usually get a combo of ribs and chicken which are both outstanding, tender and falling off the bone. I'm pretty sure food is served with their own sauce as well. If you're in the area, stop by and see Curtis.
(4)citydog x.
The sauce is *amazing* and the ribs are excellent. The chicken is very good. I am consistently underwhelmed by the sides (bland, overcooked). Seating is at picnic tables and the bathrooms are porta potties. It doesn't get more casual than this. It's dog friendly, but keep an eye on the ground for cooked bones.
(4)Wing M.
I lived in Putney for three years before actually trying this place out and was kind of meh about it. I guess this place has been really talked up for me and so I was really disappointed? I mean, the barbeque was pretty good. Not amazing or "omg the best thing ever" but it was definitely solid---I had only the pulled pork so the ribs may actually be the best thing ever but I haven't tried it nor have the motivation to. The sides were pretty mediocre. The collard greens were just sad and very, very bland. The hot barbeque sauce was not actually hot---a jar of Tostitos medium salsa had more spice to it. The place sure did smell good though. Also, it's kinda funky and the dude was friendly and had a cute dog and a pig. It was definitely fun. But the food was just not very good.
(3)Bill S.
Serious this guy can cook some BBQ. We come up from Connecticut once a year. I wish he was closer but hey it's worth the drive. The only thing I would like is if the price was a little more reasonable( thats why I couldnt honestly give it 5 stars). But you have to pay for good food i guess!
(4)Vince D.
I used to spend lots of time at Curtis. The food is soooooo good. Real juicy and lots of it. I spent summers watching his daughters' and eating his ribs and chicken. yummy!!! makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Curtis I wish you were out here on the west coast!!!!!!!! Chandra (Sheffield) Dobson!
(5)Rich C.
This place is a true gem and a fantastic experience for anyone in the area. Not only is the BBQ the best in the state of VT, but the scenery and smells are phenomenal. Hopefully one day I will get back to this GREAT place. Great memories with a great friend....
(5)Rue B.
A blue school bus slowly sinking into the ground, billed as the "9th wonder of the World," and manned by a friendly southern transplant in a cold-hearted Yankee state. Slabs of ribs, chicken breasts, stuffed potatoes, slow-cooked on an outdoor grill, covered in a delicious and spicy unique Northern BBQ sauce flavored strongly of cider vinegar, sides of collards and other down-home staples. Absolutely delicious, though the ribs were rather dry. Try Bub's down the road in Sunderland MA for another decent Yankee BBQ joint. Always a good time at Curtis.'
(4)Adam E.
I'm a white queer who has only lived in New England and the Pacific Northwest. And you couldn't pay me to go to the South. So maybe I don't know anything about Barbecue. But I do know that my serendipitous discovery of Curtis BBQ was an experience to remember, both in terms of the food and the environment. I pulled off the highway needing to fill up the gas tank and hopefully grab some lunch. There stood the blue bus, right next door to the gas station. I think it was fate. At first I was suspicious, a BBQ joint in the middle of nowhere VT? Maybe a sandwich at the hippie food co-op across the way would be a safer choice. But I decided to live dangerously. I got a pulled pork sandwich, smothered in an amazing mild bbq sauce with a slight kick. My gf got a loaded baked potato unlike anything I've ever seen. If you're round about I-91, stop for a bite here. You'll marvel at the setup (picnic tables, old timey country bumkin feeling) and huge grilling setup the old fella has going on. Oh, and get one of their sodas or lemonades in the glass bottle with their own label on it. The only possible complaint I have is the lack of a proper bathroom. There's a port a potty, yikes! But if you just want to wash your hands there's a sink around back, so no big deal. Just hold it. Or maybe the hippies have a bathroom across the street.
(5)John W.
Let me begin with fact that this is the famous bus BBQ and it is all that it is supposed to be in every way! From it's environment to it's food to it's hospitality this is the real deal! Great ribs and chicken and unbelievable. baked potatoes you can't go wrong with anything you order. But the main attraction, Curtis himself is worth the price of dinner or the distance of the drive. Come to Curtis' for a great meal and a sensational time!
(4)Greycella L.
While the food of my childhood has a decidedly down-home diner feel to it, I don't think I ever ate ribs until I was an adult. Something has to taste really, really good for me to be willing to gnaw on a bone to eat it. Watching this man doing what he does on his grill pits, next to his bright blue school bus, right off the interstate- I realize that I'm about to horrify a former incarnation of myself, me in middle school and early high school when I wouldn't eat meat. Totally the cafeteria's fault, and the gristle in that chicken sandwich. Ew. That poor anemic teenager buried deep within is about to find the promised land- at the hand of a man named Curtis. Don't forget to grab A LOT of napkins before you walk back to your picnic table.
(5)Steve H.
I have been living in Central Texas (a self-proclaimed barbecue mecca) for a year and a half, and while the BBQ here is great, nothing I have tasted so far can match Curtis' in Putney. Yes, it is served out of a bus. Yes, there are port-a-potties instead of a real bathroom. Yes, there is an old, fat pig with its belly scraping on the ground, hanging around near the pit eating scraps of its piggy brothers and sisters. But the BBQ is fall-off-the-bone tender, extremely tasty and all-around wonderful, and the atmosphere is great-- young families, tourists, bikers and everyone in between is made to feel at home amidst the buses, picnic tables, and improvised play areas. Curtis has been in Putney serving BBQ for as long as I remember. I hear that he moved to Vermont from Georgia back in the 60s or 70s to participate in the commune life that thrived there at the time, started cooking BBQ on the side of the road and has been cooking ever since. Rural Vermont alternative culture meets rural Georgia BBQ culture to create a rapturous barbecue experience.
(5)Chuck S.
Curtis' BBQ was suggested to us by a local bbq guy (originally from South Carolina) we frequent that has killer pulled pork & ribs, and out of this world fixins including the best green beans I ever had. So on our recent trek to Vermont we decided to give Curtis a try. Large portions of the ribs could not even be chewed they were so overcooked. I think another poster called it shoe leather. The baked beans had a peculiar flavor. The yams were okay, but plain and nothing special. The baked potato was pretty good. While Curtis' place is cool, interesting, and nostalgic (a great concept for us baby boomers), I shutter when I think about the likely sanitation issues and probable health code violations. Three dogs were running around the grill and the pig sleeps along side it. And that's the least of my worries. It's what I can't see that might hurt me. We gave it a try, we did survive without illness, but never again. As a friend of mine says, "Are you kiddin' me?"
(1)Keith M.
Chicken potato and corn bread w/everything. April couldn't come quick enough! The best BBQ for miles and I should know. I rode almost 100 to get here. Try anything - twice!
(4)Anthony P.
Just go. Trust me.
(5)Ed S.
The best ribs I have ever had. I love the simplicity of this place. While I was there I talked to Curtis for about thirty minutes while he cooked ribs over a wood stove. I can not wait to come back
(5)Julie W.
Disappointing after reading the glowing reviews. They put the wrong sauce on my pulled chicken, which was very dry, and my husbands pulled pork was watery and flavorless. The sides are bland (cucumber onion salad and 4 bean salad), need spices not just vinegar and salt and pepper. The corn on the cob (steamed in the husk) was delicious, and they are dog-friendly at the picnic tables, which is a huge plus for us. Friendly diners though, we met a nice couple who love it, they drive 2 hours to eat there. Maybe we just had an off meal.
(2)Jessica L.
When this place hits the mark, boy, do they... I seriously can't imagine BBQ being more delicious than this (but I've never been to Kansas City either, soooo, yeah..). The baked potato is my favorite I've ever had, and whenever I order one anywhere else, I'm secretly bummed that it's not a Curtis' potato. The thing is, they've been inconsistent with us before. We've gotten some bad cuts of meat before that were just nothing but fat and didn't taste as good as I remember. I think he's training his daughter to cook the meat, and when we go there and she's cooking, you can tell she doesn't have his craft down quite yet. (Hope she gets it one day!) The service from the people working in the bus is usually okay, but one time this girl was exceptionally rude at me. I asked her to heat up my corn muffin and she really didn't take well to that, and I could hear her talking about me to her coworkers after. That really stuck with me, because that happened years ago and here I am still thinking about it.. I do really love the charm--the food served out of a blue school bus, the outdoor seating, the whole setup with the sink and giant paper towel roll that you wash your hands at after (as weird as that sounds to mention.. really though) and the fact that A PET PIG ROAMS THE PLACE. Oh my god, love it. This place is really something else, and if you're passing through, you'd be missing out to not at least try it.
(4)Glenn J.
I had high hopes based on reviews. While it was a good meal, I wasn't overly impressed. I came on a Friday evening; slightly early for dinner. There were a few customers eating at the tables. I was the only one ordering. When asking about sides, the guy behind the order taker barked:"they're listed on the board over there!" Sorry for asking. Apparently, he was more concerned with getting my order so he could figure out whether plate it or box it to go. After getting. My order, I had the chance to talk to Curtis out by the pit. He's a great guy, very friendly. I enjoyed my conversation with him. I went with the chicken and ribs combo. The ribs were great! Curtis's sauce is really good. You can buy it there or at other local stores in the SoVT area. Good texture on the ribs. The chicken was Ok. It was dry and that didn't help things. The sides were ok; the slaw was watery and the beans had been sitting for some time. Oh well. Not a great meal; but not a bad one either. I just don't think it lives up to some of the other reviews. Still, a neat place to stop by and experience. It's pretty legendary in the area.
(3)Matt P.
I ate here on vacation and it was delicious! Loved the Carolina style barbecue and the pig mascot! Delicious! Would give it a hundred stars if I could! It's like the south, but with a northern twist!
(5)A A.
Stopped here, excited to try it. We came around 6:20pm on a Saturday night, waiting to order we can hear the workers complaining that we pulled in as they were taking the open sign down. Who closes a food place before 6:30 on a weekend, in the middle of summer? After hearing the complaints we left. So disappointed!
(1)Daniel P.
Before I get started here, I'll acknowledge that many of the "right-on" details are outlined in the positive reviews and therefore I'll refrain from waxing philosophically on areas that are already covered. The negative reviews (ranging from 1 to 2.5) that concern quality of service or layout of the establishment itself are clearly written by folks that may not be all too familiar with the outlets across the U.S. that produce the finest barbeques. In my experience, those outlets are generally in trailers (or, at the very least, roadside/humble structures) and frequently, (if you're lucky) you're walking right by "Operations" (i.e., the owner, watching over the meats) on your way to/from ordering the meal. (Disclaimer - my favorite barbeque is from Eastern North Carolina (whole hog reigns supreme), and specifically from Pete Jones' Skylight Inn barbeque. If you google-map that, you'll see that it is tremendously inconvenient to get to - from pretty much anywhere - but yet it's worth the trip. I only mention this by way of establishing my 'Q credentials...) Curtis's Bar-B-Q offers Vermont and New England at-large an experience generally seen in inconvenient locations in the south. Curtis's reminds me of a good number of barbeque places in Eastern North Carolina for that matter. I've always enjoyed Curtis' ribs dry, with the sauce on the side. I find that the ribs stand on their own merit and don't need extra. You're going to eat outside. You're going to get your fingers sticky. You might even need to wipe the bench off (is that a lot to ask?). No one ever said eating barbeque was pretty. That's very likely why you don't see Barbeque on either the Main Dining Menu or the Lounge Menu of Le Bernardin... ;) p.s., many thanks to my good friend Ben Guerrero for having introduced me to Mr. Tuff's 9th wonder of the world!
(5)George L.
C'mon. Even if the food isn't your favorite you can't hate on this place. An old dude whose been BBQing for over 40 years spends all day in an open pit making chicken and ribs. Old blue buses and dogs hanging around. Picnic tables and smoke drifting this way and that. In VERMONT?! We drove for 2 hours just to try it and we were very happy with it. I don't think I'd go out of my way a second time but if I find myself in the right place at the right time again you better believe I'll be stopping in. As for the food: Like most great BBQ places the sides weren't too thrilling. I liked the cornbread but the baked beans and 4 bean salad left a lot to be desired. There are a lot to choose from so perhaps there are better options that I wasn't aware of. The chicken and ribs were both excellent. Perfectly cooked with a lovely smoke flavor. The house BBQ sauce is vinegary which isn't normally my taste but I liked Curtis's stuff. We tried the mild and the hot but stayed away from the extremely hot stuff. All in all I'm a little glad that this place isn't nearer to me. I'd eat there too much. PASS
(5)Lizzy S.
Over 50 biker pit stop. A parking lot filled with great bikes. Clientele are characters. Worth the experience but the food is poor.
(1)Tracy B.
I hate barbeque. I've never been a fan. However Curtis' completely changed my view on it. The chicken is cooked slowly right outside for you to see on a big grill whole. And the sauce they give you is amazing. Its the perfect blend of spicy and sweet that both barbeque lovers and barbeque haters will enjoy (I got mild). The family who runs curtis' is very nice and provide great service. I will absolutely be going here again.
(5)Paul W.
I met Mr. Curtis a bunch of years ago. I have a picture of my 2 oldest daughters standing next to him, right by the pit. They were 4 and 6 years old. There's a little pet pig he had, standing next to the three of them in the photo. The irony was lost on no one. Now I have 5 kids. The little girls are 19 and 21 years old now. Curtis tells me the pig has gone to that great sty in the sky [and no, he didn't cook him. Shame on you for thinking that.] The smell that comes off of that man's pit. It's like the angels guide his hands. Chicken or ribs, up to you. It's not the diverse menu that I come for. The sides are good and he makes his own sodas now [try the lime rickey. Good stuff.] No. I come for the Q. And it's good. I've been to Memphis and Kansas City. Chicago and St. Louis. I've even had Q with white sauce in Alabama. There is better Q in this world than Curtis'. You just have to drive 500 miles to get it. Everything you've heard it true: you eat outside, they take your order in a really cool painted school bus, yadda, yadda, yadda. It's the Q, man. Curtis knows that. I know that. My kids know that. You should know it, too. Come and eat. It's very tasty. Not too far off the highway and it's near a gas station to fill up the car. Curtis is really nice and he'll take a picture with you and shake your hand. Do it.
(5)Stephen T.
My in-laws took us here. Ordered the chicken and rib combo plate with the pulled pork stuffed baked potato with everything on it. The food was really good and the rib meat pulled away from the bone with ease and was delicious! The baked potato was awesome as well! I can't wait to go back next summer when we visit my in-laws again.
(4)Kathy W.
What an experience to meet Curtis! We had ribs, corn bread, coleslaw, baked beans... All homemade Fresh and wonderful! Ps Curtis looks like Morgan Freeman!
(5)Bobby J.
A lot of the reviews I've read indicate this place is hit or miss. I've always had an excellent experience. From the efficient service to the tasty tasty tasty ribs and collard greens. Friendly Curtis manning the pit gets this place 5 stars. Love it, always hit it on my way north through VT.
(5)Joe P.
Ribs were dried out. I understand from locals it's better to get there early. Ribs are left on the grill until they sell. I won't speak to the sauce because everybody's taste for BBQ sauces are different. It's without a doubt a Putney landmark. Curtis and staff are downright homey! For this visit on the food alone I offer 2-stars.
(2)Scott P.
Having the look of a rundown hippie commune with bellowing smoke lofting through the air resembling a garbage fire, Curtis' BBQ is an intriguing stop. I have eaten here twice in the past and was never impressed. I was in the area today and was willing to give them another shot being I'm not local and this was the only place I know. I was hoping the food would be better and they would have modernized to accept debit cards. The prices are high and the food below average, plus the cleanliness and sanitation of the place is questionable. It's a frequent stop for the endless stream of annoying weekend warrior bikers traveling north to go leaf peeping with their old ladies. Sure meeting Curtis is cool and he's real nice, but the food, especially the BBQ was overcooked and dried out. The chicken was barely edible being charred and bone dry. The last time I was there I paid with a $100 bill and I could hear the women inside the bus talking shit about me because they were pissed about all the tourists using big bills that they had to change. If you want to talk about your customers who keep you in business, just don't let them hear you. I almost stopped in for a third time today, but luckily I had no cash so we left and found a much better BBQ place through Yelp about 15 minutes down the road in Brattleboro called Top of the Hill Grill.
(2)Chrystal G.
Love this place. Absolutely nothing fancy, but the bbq is so damn good! I like the chicken and the ribs, tho the loaded potato and greens are pretty bang on too. I've been coming here since I was a kid on family vacations and Curtis (the guy who's tending the meat) is the man. Don't forget to feed the pig the dog biscuits (no that's not code for something dirty lol...) There is a pig on premises-not for human consumption- and Curtis will let you feed him dog biscuits if you're nice lol. Anyways, def go and enjoy :)
(5)Jordan D.
Prior to coming to Putney, I went on my trusty Yelp app and just put 'Resturants' and 'Putney, VT' and this was the first place to come up, for good reason. I would of never expected a top notch BBQ joint in some sleepy town in VT, but sure enough, as you're cruising down 103 and see the rising BBQ smoke, you know you just reached New England BBQ'ing heaven. Usually I'll start with the negatives of a place, but there is none with Curtis. To start, you order out of a school bus and sit at picnic tables surrounded by woods. If that isn't perfect BBQ eating decor, I don't know what it. I made it on a beautfiul summer afternoon and there was even some live music going on which was awesome. I mean - they could serve cold pizza out of the school bus and the location would still lend to better tasting cold pizza. But lets stop beating around the bush; their BBQ is some of the best I ever had. Perfectly marinated chicken, fall off the bone goodness. Loaded baked beans, which again were some of the best baked beans I've had in recent memory and ribs that you'll be eating until your blue in the face its so good. Literally, you could have a big meal, come here and still eat cause it's just that damn good. Oh and did I mention pet friendly and Curtis, the actual BBQ'er, is a cool ass dude that will chat you up if you go by the BBQ pit? Yes, once again, welcome to New England BBQ'ing heaven.
(5)Hillary L.
We were staying up around the area for a weekend away and had not had any BBQ since moving East. We decided hey - BBQ in a bus, that's for us! The atmosphere is what brings up this rating - there's a volleyball net, tons of picnic tables, BYOB - I can see in warmer weather being able to come here with a group of people and staying for awhile. When we went, it was one of the last weekends they were open as it was already getting quite cold - I don't think they're open in the winter as the BBQ is outside the bus being done by Curtis. The BBQ was OK - from the other Yelp reviews we felt it was a little over-hyped. Not that it was exactly bad, I just come from the South where good (and less expensive) BBQ is made, plus in Chicago we had a multitude of BBQ places to try out. The main cons for my husband and me were (1) the price (2) not tons of sauce, little to no rub while being cooked (3) don't buy a corn muffin they taste like the ones you can buy at Costco (but worse). So, overall, food is two stars, atmosphere is one star, there's your three star review. Maybe next time bringing something to drink would be a good idea...
(3)Mary R.
Had never been before so was asking the female counter person about the menu. She snapped at us and told us "all the information is on the sign" She was really unfriendly! All 3 of us ordered the combo which was a 1/4 chicken and 3 ribs. The chickens must have been 1 lb. chickens judging by the size of the piece we received. My husbands combo platter only contained 1 rib and my son's had 2. We didn't go back to get the order corrected because the woman at the window was so rude to begin with... There is only 2 choices for BBQ sauce...regular and spicy. I was told that the spicy was extremely hot, so went with regular. It was a Carolina sauce...very vinegary, not to my liking, but very much to my hubby's taste. There were 3 dogs and a pig right next to the outdoor grill which I found to be a little unsanitary. The good part was that there was an outdoor sink with hot water and soap to wash your hands after eating. I appreciated that. Also the man who was cooking the meats on the grill was extremely pleasant. After hearing all about this place for the past 2 years that I have lived in VT, I have to say that I was sorely disappointed. The prices are very high for the tiny amount of BBQ. Save your money and don't go here.
(1)Guillermo M.
The best bbq I have had in a LONG time. Great food, tasty, unique, using the best Vermont ingredients (sour cream, cheddar cheese) and with a very charismatic guy running the show. Get the ribs, the potato and prepare to have a delicious lunch. You can sit in picnic tables and hear good music. What else can you ask for?? All works out perfectly.
(5)Stephen H.
Amazing southern BBQ in the North and this is coming from a southerner, it's a must try!!
(5)Steve M.
Cool place. Like a backyard BBQ with Curtis. Easy on and off the Interstate!
(4)C H.
We've wanted to go to Curtis's for years. My husband, kids and I are big fans of bbq and we've heard that Curtis is a legend in New England. We finally made the hour drive over there and I love their set up. The bus was great, the ribs cooking right there smelled fantastic! We ordered a our ribs and chicken. The kids had the loaded baked potatoes. We all got the mild sauce. The ribs were awesome, juicy and very meaty. The problem-we didn't like the sauce. I really wish we'd thought to ask for it on the side. We don't do a lot of sauce normally and everything was covered very liberally with it. Thank God we ordered mild. Yah, I'm a wimp when it comes to sauces, but it had too much of a bite and it reminded me more of a hot sauce than a bbq sauce. We tried to remove as much of the sauce as we could because we really did like those ribs! The chicken too! The sauce actually worked better with the chicken. I don't think we'll do the hour drive just for the ribs again, but I think if we're in the area we'd give it another shot. With the sauce on the side.
(3)Jeffrey G.
By far the best place to eat in Putney
(4)Tolga E.
Curtis' BBQ in southern Vermont is one of those must-do "welcome to Vermont, we're wild and wacky here!" kinda things to do. I loved the whole set-up of the place. The trailer which doubles as the storefront, the ghetto, falling apart random pieces of stuff on the unkempt yard. The gazebo-type thing that you can sit under and eat at. While we were there, we saw what had to have been the world's fattest, ugliest boar (I can't even call it a pig). It was just wandering about aimlessly and you had to wonder when exactly it was going to become someone's lunch. Unfortunately, the 'cue wasn't that much to write home about. I'm not sure why people are raving on here, the ribs, for the most part, fairly dry and overdone. None of the 'cue really stood out. BUT, I will give 'em credit for some really bitter collard greens (it's brave to serve 'em THAT bitter) and for having their own ginger beer, which I thought was a little to sweet but generally pretty good. Curtis' is a great pit-stop when driving through Vermont. It's not amazing, it's maybe not even a destination in it's own right. But if you had to choose between stopping there and not, I would. It's one of the most Vermonty things you can do.
(4)Aviva S.
If you're lookin for great BBQ - Curtis can throw down! The ribs here are fantastic, and so are all of the sides. I don't live in VT, so going up to Putney always feels like a bit of a schlep, but once a year this is definitely worth it. Bring your own drinks - I'm pretty sure they sell them, but I've learned having plenty of lemonade handy is worth it. Also - there are no bathrooms, so unless you're feeling fearless and want to use the port-a-john - go ahead of time. This is a very casual place - there is a covered, screened in area, and picnic tables with umbrellas around. You can definitely bring kids, and dogs are welcome too so long as you keep them leashed. My very favorite part is the faucet out behind the grill area with a communal bar of soap to use, and the biggest roll of paper towels you've ever seen. It's all part of the experience. Do I think it's a little weird to be eating ribs while Curtis' pet pot-bellied pig (and this thing is HUGE) hangs out in his pen next to the grill? yes. But I'm already looking forward to next year's trip.
(5)citydog x.
The sauce is *amazing* and the ribs are excellent. The chicken is very good. I am consistently underwhelmed by the sides (bland, overcooked). Seating is at picnic tables and the bathrooms are porta potties. It doesn't get more casual than this. It's dog friendly, but keep an eye on the ground for cooked bones.
(4)Wing M.
I lived in Putney for three years before actually trying this place out and was kind of meh about it. I guess this place has been really talked up for me and so I was really disappointed? I mean, the barbeque was pretty good. Not amazing or "omg the best thing ever" but it was definitely solid---I had only the pulled pork so the ribs may actually be the best thing ever but I haven't tried it nor have the motivation to. The sides were pretty mediocre. The collard greens were just sad and very, very bland. The hot barbeque sauce was not actually hot---a jar of Tostitos medium salsa had more spice to it. The place sure did smell good though. Also, it's kinda funky and the dude was friendly and had a cute dog and a pig. It was definitely fun. But the food was just not very good.
(3)Melissa B.
I've been all over the south, but who would've guessed that I'd find the best BBQ in the country in the back woods of Vermont? (And I'm not exaggerating about it being the best in the country!) I speak of Curtis' All American Barbecue in Putney, Vermont, a wonderful little joint (where else can you get BBQ cooked in a sky blue school bus?!) run by a wonderful man. It's definitely not fancy (you eat at picnic tables), but the food,sauce and prices more than make up for it. Here is a great article that goes into depth on the wonderfulness of Curtis' barbeque. piecesofvermont.com/curt… Here is another fantastic article, from the New York Times, about his place: query.nytimes.com/gst/fu… "Nowadays, half a three-pound bird, roasted for 90 minutes or longer over the hardwood coals, costs $3.75, and it is a bargain. Or for $4.75 you can have a healthy portion of succulent, meaty pork ribs, smoky-sweet and dripping with barbecue sauce. Either of these portions would make a hearty eater happy, as will the combination plate of ribs and chicken for $4.25. Mr. Tuff starts his fires around seven in the morning and lets them burn for an hour or so before he starts to cook. The meat stays on the grill, turned frequently and basting in its own juices, for two hours or more. ''Underdone'' is not a word the chef likes to hear. ''The way I like my meat is well-done, and falling off the bone,'' he said, ''like it cooks from the inside out, not the outside in.'' Curtis' Bar-B-Q also serves baked beans and cole slaw (75 cents a portion of each), baked potatoes ($1 apiece) and ears of corn roasted in the husks over the barbecue coals (75 cents an ear). Soft drinks are available, and the stand is open Thursday through Sunday from early lunchtime until dark." The article is a bit old, but his prices haven't changed much. His food is still fantastic, and Curtis Tuff has a heart of gold. This is a favorite summertime haunt. The next time you are in Vermont, RUN don't walk to Curtis' All American Barbecue. He calls it "The 9th Wonder of the World'" and he is not joking. You won't find barbeque better than this.
(5)Erin A.
Well worth a two hour drive to sample curtis delicious pork ribs and see their pet pig CJ (if he only knew). Plus there's a great farmers market across the street.Great laid back vibe at this place
(4)Adam K.
The BBQ was just ok and the prices were appropriate. They only take cash and honestly the best thing they sell is "the works" baked potato. I'd forgo the meat and just get a tatter.
(3)Ben S.
Best dang BBQ I've had north of NYC. Spicy vinegary bbq sauce, slow cooked very smoky flavored meets. Literally falls off the bone when you try to pick up a rib. Baked potatoes are no joke. Opened only in the warmer months Curtis is always manning the grill and happy to chat. A must if you are anywhere near here. I miss the pulled pork and shredded chicken sandwiches tho. Closest thing you will find to real southern bbq in the region. I Recently visited curtis' BBQ this past summer 2009 and i was sorely disapointed. Both the chicken and ribs i got were very overcooked and dry. Maybe this was just a bad batch but after so many good experiences I would hope this was the case.
(4)Chris C.
So I heard that this place was amazing and I was a little skeptical as I have had BBQ allover the South and found almost nowhere in New England that does true BBQ. After eating there I am totally sold on it and am killing myself I did not know about it sooner! The ribs are absolutely amazing and are real traditional Carolina style. The BBQ sauce is a thin spicy and vinegary sauce that goes great with the food. They also have some seriously amazing baked potatoes. The pulled pork stuffed one is amazing, but beyond huge. So if you get one don't plan on getting anything else with it. The seating is all outdoor and the first thing I noticed was that a lot of the people had brought their own drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic and we will be doing so next time we go.
(5)Doc B.
I really enjoyed my ribs and bicolor corn on the cob. Now that I think about it, the ear of corn was absolutely perfect. The ribs are big. Don't think of getting more than 6 per person unless you are very hungry or trying to prove something. The food was delicious. My wife liked her pulled pork baked potato. There was no line when I went there on a weekday. Just a little info- they are open 10 AM to dusk, closed Mon and Tues, closed Nov-March. There is a covered seating area, in case it rains. I did not see any sign of a pet pig mentioned in 1 writeup. The sink behind the stand had soap and the biggest roll of paper towels I have ever seen. There is an area for kids to run around and play while the grown-ups pig out. The staff is very friendly and glad to hear that you enjoyed your meal. It is on the northbound side of the road. Look for the rising blue smoke. Not to be missed if you are a foodie and in the area. This is the real deal.
(5)Pete F.
Yes, Vermont does have an incredible BBQ destination and it is Curtis Bar-B-Q in Putney. Stumbled upon by accident 15+ years ago, I make it a stop whenever I am traveling in southern Vermont. Situated very close to the interstate you'll find two old International buses that make up Curtis'. Curtis himself tends a huge open pit fire cooking ribs and chicken as a pet pig runs around. I usually get a combo of ribs and chicken which are both outstanding, tender and falling off the bone. I'm pretty sure food is served with their own sauce as well. If you're in the area, stop by and see Curtis.
(4)Bill S.
Serious this guy can cook some BBQ. We come up from Connecticut once a year. I wish he was closer but hey it's worth the drive. The only thing I would like is if the price was a little more reasonable( thats why I couldnt honestly give it 5 stars). But you have to pay for good food i guess!
(4)Vince D.
I used to spend lots of time at Curtis. The food is soooooo good. Real juicy and lots of it. I spent summers watching his daughters' and eating his ribs and chicken. yummy!!! makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Curtis I wish you were out here on the west coast!!!!!!!! Chandra (Sheffield) Dobson!
(5)Rich C.
This place is a true gem and a fantastic experience for anyone in the area. Not only is the BBQ the best in the state of VT, but the scenery and smells are phenomenal. Hopefully one day I will get back to this GREAT place. Great memories with a great friend....
(5)Joyce O.
No, no, no, NO! My husband and I are BBQ lovers. We have eaten BBQ in North Carolina and Texas and South Carolina and Kentucky and even Alaska (to name just a few of the states where we have dined) and now Vermont and what a disappointment. We arrived at about 3pm and ordered for an early dinner. The ribs were cardboard, unchewable and tasteless. The chicken was better but only by comparison to the ribs. The sides would have been good if they had been seasoned properly and the cost for this whole disappointing meal was outrageous for what we didn't get which was good food. Curtis was there and about to start a new batch of meat for, I guess, the dinner crowd so maybe what we got had been sitting since lunch. Still, fresh or not, the flavor just wasn't there. Oh yeah, and the person working the window was unhelpful and was quick to tell me that a half of chicken that was only dark meat was anatomically impossible. I pointed out that one could cut the chicken in half at the "waist" which would give you 1/2 a chicken of only dark meat orrrrr one could sell me two quarters of dark and there you would have it, 1/2 a chicken made up of only dark meat. Just up the road from Curtis' is the Putney Diner. Go there if you want good food served by people who care
(1)Jeff R.
So while driving randomly in Vermont in search of some hiking trails, we came across Curtis' BBQ, which personally, seemed a lot more fun. So we decided to return after spending some time in the great outdoors. So when we got there, I ordered chicken (I'm not a huge fan of ribs) and a baked potato with cheddar. And I must say, this was some of the best BBQ I've ever had. I'm typically not a fan of BBQ Sauce, but Curtis' recipe is nice and vinegary but also spicy. They even have an article from Rachael Ray's magazine saying how great it is. Yummo!! If you're even mildly concerned with personal hygiene, however, Curtis' may not be the place for you. After eating, we went over to chat with Curtis himself for a minute (he was running the grill). After a minute, we realized that his ENORMOUS, 300 lb pet pig CJ (Curtis Junior?) was sitting right under the grill. Curtis then proceeded to pet CJ and feed him treats with one hand, while arming the grill with the other. The thought of a pet pig laying two feet away from a giant grill of cooking ribs was a little uncomfortable. None of this would stop me from eating that delicious food again though!
(5)Chris L.
There's no escaping the authenticity and the incongruity of finding Curtis turning ribs over his open pit barbeque in southern Vermont. But this is a man who knows his craft. The ribs are meaty and juicy. The sides are a la carte. The seating is at picnic tables outdoors. No liquor license, so BYOB. This is a great destination for a motorcycle ride Wednesday to Sunday, April to Oct. If you arrive at lunch, expect a long line, but the line moves fast.
(5)Tom L.
I'm not a big fan of pork ribs so I was a little worried about the limited menu, meat-wise (chicken and pork ribs). I got the combo, chicken for me and ribs for my wife. But we ended up fighting over the ribs and forgot about the chicken. The best I've tasted and my wife agrees. And we loved ordering at the bus and watching Curtis work the pit. Dog friendly, too.
(5)Rue B.
A blue school bus slowly sinking into the ground, billed as the "9th wonder of the World," and manned by a friendly southern transplant in a cold-hearted Yankee state. Slabs of ribs, chicken breasts, stuffed potatoes, slow-cooked on an outdoor grill, covered in a delicious and spicy unique Northern BBQ sauce flavored strongly of cider vinegar, sides of collards and other down-home staples. Absolutely delicious, though the ribs were rather dry. Try Bub's down the road in Sunderland MA for another decent Yankee BBQ joint. Always a good time at Curtis.'
(4)Uncle A.
Rendevoused, there, with bikers from all over New England this weekend and found it to perfectly suit the needs and appetites of 200+ hungry saddle-sore motorcyclists. Love the "eat-in-the-rough" atmosphere: picnic tables in/out of cover, recycled cardboard boxes for carrying your food to your table, Port-A-Potty restroom and ample parking. I got a half-rack of ribs (no sides) and was stuffed to the gills. Fall-off-the-bone tender and slathered in a tasty sauce. All sorts of enticing items on the menu. Guess I'll just to ride out there to try out other choices, again...and again...and again.
(4)Matthew T.
Ok lets face it CBBQ is not great, but its not bad either. I do my own BBQ. I make my own rubs and my own sauces (I make 100+ pints a year of sauce because everyone who has had it, demands more), I've gone thru three smokers in the last 6 or 7 years, so I know my BBQ. Off the bat, CBBQ is not smoked, its grilled and so in my mind can't be called BBQ, which must be done indirectly with smoke. When you put raw ribs on the grill, even though the heat and flame and smoke is generated by wood, it still grilled. BBQ'ing ribs takes hours to be done right and CBBQ creates their ribs in minutes. that being said...... I started going to Curtis's in 1984 when I read about it in a Yankee Magazine New England Travel Guide. My friend and I drove up there and we soon returned with more friends even though it was 2 and a half hours away from our homes. We'd pick a great sunny day and party all the way up to Putney. We made a day out of the adventure and the food. Enough reminiscing. As for the food, well the meat is not especially tender, but it is tasty. One thing I've learned about BBQ is that its actually very hard to mess it up. The sauces are good vinegar based sauces. The sides are fair to good with the baked stuffed potatoes being the best. I have to drive 140 miles each way to get to CBBQ, so I only get there once every year or three, but I still go. Its really like a pilgrimage. My wife can't understand it. She thinks my Q is so much better and she's right, but something still brings me back to Putney again and again. Its the whole experience really. You can smell the wood smoke from the highway and that pulls you in. The gravel parking lot. The blue bus. The picnic tables and porta potty. The giant roll of paper behind the bus with the sink that you wash up with afterwards. And of course the tall black gentleman standing by the cut in half oil tanks (Who always greets you with a Howdy!) filled with smoking wood and covered with a metal grate topped with meat. Welcome to CBBQ. Its BYOB which is nice (Make sure you bring an extra brew or three for Curtis!). I always get the chicken and ribs combo with the mild sauce which I think has more flavor than the hot sauce which truth be told isn't actually very hot. You arrive and park and walk to the bus where a window is open and step up to it and place your order. The act of arriving and ordering and choosing a table with the sun beaming down on you and the green grass are really just seminal moments that you have to experience to understand. In its final analysis, CBBQ is an quasi-epic American adventure, its like the stations of the cross or a pilgrimage to Mecca. The act of going there and partaking in the communal feel with the smoke in the air is other worldly and very satisfying. The food is good but not great but what you get there is more than sustenance, its food for the soul and so it calls me back over and over and today I return once again. Matthew T
(3)Robert G.
Found this place by accident when I pulled off the highway to get gasoline. Amazing! I highly recommend Curtis BBQ. Caution, it is not for everyone. It is backyard style eating.
(5)Bill S.
Curtis Tuff was a migrant worker near Macon, Ga, when he came to Vermont over 40 years ago to pick apples. He was offered a permanent job by his employer but decided he wanted to be his own man. So he started cooking barbeque, something he had no hands-on experience with but had seen his dad and grandfather do for years back home. It took a while, but he got the hang of it, and the result is Curtis' Barbeque, one of the most unusual and distinctive eateries in all of New England. We come from South Carolina and Georgia and have lived in North Carolina and eaten bbq regularly in Memphis, Dallas and Lexington, NC. Please know that when we say this is first-class chicken and ribs, we're aren't just whistling Dixie. It's carefully smoked (though not on hickory since you can't find that much through VT) and comes off the grill moist and flavorful. The meat falls off the bone, and it if doesn't, tell Curtis. Barbecuing is a very individual skill, and can change from one day to the next due to the composition of the wood, the time on the grill and the quality of the meat. You might hit Curtis on an off day, but chances are you're going to be blown away by some gen-u-wine BBQ, abetted by some tasty tomato-based sauces (we're fond of mustard sauces, but that's a South Carolina thing and not to everyone's taste, we know). The sides are yummy: collards (missing ham hock, however), cole slaw, baked potatoes (you can get it stuffed on the grill, wow!) cucumber and onion salad, and ... well, you get the idea. The place is sort of from another planet. You order from the sides of a decades-old blue school bus that is as ramshackle as it looks. Curtis cooks next door where his eight-year-old fat pig snoozes, apparently unaware of how lucky he is that Curtis doesn't do pork. The dining is on picnic tables, covered and open, scattered around the lot. You order and when it's ready you get a cardboard box to carry your food. This may be a turn-off to some of the fastidious, but they should avoid this place anyway. The atmosphere is fun and laid-back. We can hardly say enough good things about it, and not just because, like Curtis, we're from Georgia. It's a special place in VT, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do. And prices? Well, if you have to ask, then you shouldn't stop here. P.S. It's not expensive. And they do accept cash only.
(5)Nathalia P.
Have been eating here my whole life. Ribs are AMAZING. And honestly, thats an understatement. Meat is tender and literally falls off the bone. BBQ sauce is delicious-goes great with the baked beans too. Pickled beets are some of the best. But its really all about the ribs-and they are THAT good. Curtis also happens to be the coolest dude around. Deserves six stars. Bless you, Curtis.
(5)Brian B.
This place is one on the must see list.Arriving,it can be slightly hidden off the road,until you see and smell the smoke.Things are kept simple and old timey here,pull into the dirt parking lot and make your way over to the old blue school bus that looks like it has sat there for 40 years to order.....but know that it is CASH ONLY!.The choices are simple,Chicken or Ribs,or both!.Sauces are homemade mild or spicy,and that's all you really need.This is the south of the north,and you'll find the best southern sides here too.There is Baked Beans,Collard Greens,Corn on the Cob,and of course Cornbread.The food is just excellent,I had the Chicken and Ribs,and both were among some of the best I've had.There's no mistaking where the food is coming from as it is cooked essentially right in front of you on a nice hardwood fire.If hair nets and gloves are your idea of a good food stop,then this one isn't for you.That meat is out there,being cooked over the fire in the open air,with Curtis watching carefully with his pet pig and dog right by his side.Curtis is such a nice old guy,and will gladly chat and take photos with anyone who so desires.I drove 110 miles to check out this gem,and I wasn't disappointed at all.In fact the wife and I are talking about making it a yearly pilgrimage.
(4)Greg N.
Good sauce. Ribs were dried out. Beans and collards had not seasoning or flavor. I will come back on another day earlier in the day to see if that works.
(2)Sharon P.
A little out of the ordinary place that has yummy BBQ. My fav the chicken stuffed potato...pulled chick slathered in sauce atop a tater...yum! Both sauces delish. Don't forget to get bottles of sauce to go. And be sure to say hi to Curtis. He is a wonderful, friendly guy who knows how to cook BBQ right.
(5)Megan S.
Sorry, I really wanted to like and support this local BBQ place but I was not impressed. Maybe, as mentioned by another reviewer, I need to go back earlier in the day. Positives: The staff was friendly, the hot bbq sauce was good (very tomato-y) and there aren't so many restaurants with nice outdoor seating areas. But. The meat was dry. Like dried out dry. Like not super pleasant to eat. Like maybe they grill the meat in the morning and keep it warm for the rest of the day? Ant that's kinda the big thing with BBQ, right? The meat.
(2)Uncle A.
Rendevoused, there, with bikers from all over New England this weekend and found it to perfectly suit the needs and appetites of 200+ hungry saddle-sore motorcyclists. Love the "eat-in-the-rough" atmosphere: picnic tables in/out of cover, recycled cardboard boxes for carrying your food to your table, Port-A-Potty restroom and ample parking. I got a half-rack of ribs (no sides) and was stuffed to the gills. Fall-off-the-bone tender and slathered in a tasty sauce. All sorts of enticing items on the menu. Guess I'll just to ride out there to try out other choices, again...and again...and again.
(4)Nathalia P.
Have been eating here my whole life. Ribs are AMAZING. And honestly, thats an understatement. Meat is tender and literally falls off the bone. BBQ sauce is delicious-goes great with the baked beans too. Pickled beets are some of the best. But its really all about the ribs-and they are THAT good. Curtis also happens to be the coolest dude around. Deserves six stars. Bless you, Curtis.
(5)Adam E.
I'm a white queer who has only lived in New England and the Pacific Northwest. And you couldn't pay me to go to the South. So maybe I don't know anything about Barbecue. But I do know that my serendipitous discovery of Curtis BBQ was an experience to remember, both in terms of the food and the environment. I pulled off the highway needing to fill up the gas tank and hopefully grab some lunch. There stood the blue bus, right next door to the gas station. I think it was fate. At first I was suspicious, a BBQ joint in the middle of nowhere VT? Maybe a sandwich at the hippie food co-op across the way would be a safer choice. But I decided to live dangerously. I got a pulled pork sandwich, smothered in an amazing mild bbq sauce with a slight kick. My gf got a loaded baked potato unlike anything I've ever seen. If you're round about I-91, stop for a bite here. You'll marvel at the setup (picnic tables, old timey country bumkin feeling) and huge grilling setup the old fella has going on. Oh, and get one of their sodas or lemonades in the glass bottle with their own label on it. The only possible complaint I have is the lack of a proper bathroom. There's a port a potty, yikes! But if you just want to wash your hands there's a sink around back, so no big deal. Just hold it. Or maybe the hippies have a bathroom across the street.
(5)John W.
Let me begin with fact that this is the famous bus BBQ and it is all that it is supposed to be in every way! From it's environment to it's food to it's hospitality this is the real deal! Great ribs and chicken and unbelievable. baked potatoes you can't go wrong with anything you order. But the main attraction, Curtis himself is worth the price of dinner or the distance of the drive. Come to Curtis' for a great meal and a sensational time!
(4)Greycella L.
While the food of my childhood has a decidedly down-home diner feel to it, I don't think I ever ate ribs until I was an adult. Something has to taste really, really good for me to be willing to gnaw on a bone to eat it. Watching this man doing what he does on his grill pits, next to his bright blue school bus, right off the interstate- I realize that I'm about to horrify a former incarnation of myself, me in middle school and early high school when I wouldn't eat meat. Totally the cafeteria's fault, and the gristle in that chicken sandwich. Ew. That poor anemic teenager buried deep within is about to find the promised land- at the hand of a man named Curtis. Don't forget to grab A LOT of napkins before you walk back to your picnic table.
(5)Glenn C.
Just had a small piece of breast from here, Ill definitely go back and post a real long review. Great so far. I'll probably get a baked potato with chicken next time (as I am not a pork person). Edit: 4.5 stars, went here again, got a potato with the chicken on top. Just great.
(4)Steve H.
I have been living in Central Texas (a self-proclaimed barbecue mecca) for a year and a half, and while the BBQ here is great, nothing I have tasted so far can match Curtis' in Putney. Yes, it is served out of a bus. Yes, there are port-a-potties instead of a real bathroom. Yes, there is an old, fat pig with its belly scraping on the ground, hanging around near the pit eating scraps of its piggy brothers and sisters. But the BBQ is fall-off-the-bone tender, extremely tasty and all-around wonderful, and the atmosphere is great-- young families, tourists, bikers and everyone in between is made to feel at home amidst the buses, picnic tables, and improvised play areas. Curtis has been in Putney serving BBQ for as long as I remember. I hear that he moved to Vermont from Georgia back in the 60s or 70s to participate in the commune life that thrived there at the time, started cooking BBQ on the side of the road and has been cooking ever since. Rural Vermont alternative culture meets rural Georgia BBQ culture to create a rapturous barbecue experience.
(5)Chuck S.
Curtis' BBQ was suggested to us by a local bbq guy (originally from South Carolina) we frequent that has killer pulled pork & ribs, and out of this world fixins including the best green beans I ever had. So on our recent trek to Vermont we decided to give Curtis a try. Large portions of the ribs could not even be chewed they were so overcooked. I think another poster called it shoe leather. The baked beans had a peculiar flavor. The yams were okay, but plain and nothing special. The baked potato was pretty good. While Curtis' place is cool, interesting, and nostalgic (a great concept for us baby boomers), I shutter when I think about the likely sanitation issues and probable health code violations. Three dogs were running around the grill and the pig sleeps along side it. And that's the least of my worries. It's what I can't see that might hurt me. We gave it a try, we did survive without illness, but never again. As a friend of mine says, "Are you kiddin' me?"
(1)Jessica L.
When this place hits the mark, boy, do they... I seriously can't imagine BBQ being more delicious than this (but I've never been to Kansas City either, soooo, yeah..). The baked potato is my favorite I've ever had, and whenever I order one anywhere else, I'm secretly bummed that it's not a Curtis' potato. The thing is, they've been inconsistent with us before. We've gotten some bad cuts of meat before that were just nothing but fat and didn't taste as good as I remember. I think he's training his daughter to cook the meat, and when we go there and she's cooking, you can tell she doesn't have his craft down quite yet. (Hope she gets it one day!) The service from the people working in the bus is usually okay, but one time this girl was exceptionally rude at me. I asked her to heat up my corn muffin and she really didn't take well to that, and I could hear her talking about me to her coworkers after. That really stuck with me, because that happened years ago and here I am still thinking about it.. I do really love the charm--the food served out of a blue school bus, the outdoor seating, the whole setup with the sink and giant paper towel roll that you wash your hands at after (as weird as that sounds to mention.. really though) and the fact that A PET PIG ROAMS THE PLACE. Oh my god, love it. This place is really something else, and if you're passing through, you'd be missing out to not at least try it.
(4)Paul W.
I met Mr. Curtis a bunch of years ago. I have a picture of my 2 oldest daughters standing next to him, right by the pit. They were 4 and 6 years old. There's a little pet pig he had, standing next to the three of them in the photo. The irony was lost on no one. Now I have 5 kids. The little girls are 19 and 21 years old now. Curtis tells me the pig has gone to that great sty in the sky [and no, he didn't cook him. Shame on you for thinking that.] The smell that comes off of that man's pit. It's like the angels guide his hands. Chicken or ribs, up to you. It's not the diverse menu that I come for. The sides are good and he makes his own sodas now [try the lime rickey. Good stuff.] No. I come for the Q. And it's good. I've been to Memphis and Kansas City. Chicago and St. Louis. I've even had Q with white sauce in Alabama. There is better Q in this world than Curtis'. You just have to drive 500 miles to get it. Everything you've heard it true: you eat outside, they take your order in a really cool painted school bus, yadda, yadda, yadda. It's the Q, man. Curtis knows that. I know that. My kids know that. You should know it, too. Come and eat. It's very tasty. Not too far off the highway and it's near a gas station to fill up the car. Curtis is really nice and he'll take a picture with you and shake your hand. Do it.
(5)daniel r.
Perhaps i'm just getting a little old and cranky. Curtis BBQ just doesn't do it for me anymore. First off....you should go here once if you've never been before. its got a very unique atmosphere but beyond that I'm not sure. Went on a recent sunday...Curtis was NOT there..looked like his grand-daughter and her boyfriend were working the BBQ. Ribs were incredibly tough and chewy. Little gnats were everywhere making your outside dining an unpleasant experience. the place just looked rundown. I know..some folks will say its part of the charm but I just sense its going downhill. the bus looked rusty and weathered. it almost looks like a third world country--hand made signs....port-o-lets..outdoor wash basin...with high prices!! no real combo dinners...just about everything is extra and expensive..with uneven quality food. No one is particularly friendly..i really missed curtis' presence(hope he is OK!). i'm really disappointed.
(2)CrazyDave n.
Go for the road side attraction angle because as bbq goes this is lousy. Ribs were dry and tasteless, same for the pulled pork..prices were ridiculous with sides being extra , bbq sauce was like watery ketchup . There is a place in the Brattleboro area that does que much better
(1)J. Curtis G.
This is hands down the absolute best bbq place ever! I live in NC, but I'd drive all the way to Putney, VT just to eat there again. It is the first thing I tell people about if Vermont gets mentioned. I would vote for Curtis' BBQ to replace maple syrup as Vermont's claim to fame! I cannot recommend this place highly enough. I would give it 10,000 stars!
(5)Neil B.
So you are driving down route 91 and you turn off for gas at the Putney exit and omg there is a barbecue pit, picnic tables and a half a school bus that serves as the place to order and pay. Now admittedly I am not an expert on smoked ribs and chicken but I liked what I ate. Though it was not as good as some home smoked ribs I had in Davenport, IA cooked by a man named AB whose parents had been sharecroppers in the south, it was the best I've had in New England!
(4)Eli G.
Great outdoor bivouac-like restaurant for ribs, chicken and all of the classic sides. CJ-the-pig helps guard the barbecuing chickens. CJ does not get cooked himself.
(4)Sharon P.
A little out of the ordinary place that has yummy BBQ. My fav the chicken stuffed potato...pulled chick slathered in sauce atop a tater...yum! Both sauces delish. Don't forget to get bottles of sauce to go. And be sure to say hi to Curtis. He is a wonderful, friendly guy who knows how to cook BBQ right.
(5)Megan S.
Sorry, I really wanted to like and support this local BBQ place but I was not impressed. Maybe, as mentioned by another reviewer, I need to go back earlier in the day. Positives: The staff was friendly, the hot bbq sauce was good (very tomato-y) and there aren't so many restaurants with nice outdoor seating areas. But. The meat was dry. Like dried out dry. Like not super pleasant to eat. Like maybe they grill the meat in the morning and keep it warm for the rest of the day? Ant that's kinda the big thing with BBQ, right? The meat.
(2)Joe P.
Ribs were dried out. I understand from locals it's better to get there early. Ribs are left on the grill until they sell. I won't speak to the sauce because everybody's taste for BBQ sauces are different. It's without a doubt a Putney landmark. Curtis and staff are downright homey! For this visit on the food alone I offer 2-stars.
(2)Hillary L.
We were staying up around the area for a weekend away and had not had any BBQ since moving East. We decided hey - BBQ in a bus, that's for us! The atmosphere is what brings up this rating - there's a volleyball net, tons of picnic tables, BYOB - I can see in warmer weather being able to come here with a group of people and staying for awhile. When we went, it was one of the last weekends they were open as it was already getting quite cold - I don't think they're open in the winter as the BBQ is outside the bus being done by Curtis. The BBQ was OK - from the other Yelp reviews we felt it was a little over-hyped. Not that it was exactly bad, I just come from the South where good (and less expensive) BBQ is made, plus in Chicago we had a multitude of BBQ places to try out. The main cons for my husband and me were (1) the price (2) not tons of sauce, little to no rub while being cooked (3) don't buy a corn muffin they taste like the ones you can buy at Costco (but worse). So, overall, food is two stars, atmosphere is one star, there's your three star review. Maybe next time bringing something to drink would be a good idea...
(3)Mary R.
Had never been before so was asking the female counter person about the menu. She snapped at us and told us "all the information is on the sign" She was really unfriendly! All 3 of us ordered the combo which was a 1/4 chicken and 3 ribs. The chickens must have been 1 lb. chickens judging by the size of the piece we received. My husbands combo platter only contained 1 rib and my son's had 2. We didn't go back to get the order corrected because the woman at the window was so rude to begin with... There is only 2 choices for BBQ sauce...regular and spicy. I was told that the spicy was extremely hot, so went with regular. It was a Carolina sauce...very vinegary, not to my liking, but very much to my hubby's taste. There were 3 dogs and a pig right next to the outdoor grill which I found to be a little unsanitary. The good part was that there was an outdoor sink with hot water and soap to wash your hands after eating. I appreciated that. Also the man who was cooking the meats on the grill was extremely pleasant. After hearing all about this place for the past 2 years that I have lived in VT, I have to say that I was sorely disappointed. The prices are very high for the tiny amount of BBQ. Save your money and don't go here.
(1)Guillermo M.
The best bbq I have had in a LONG time. Great food, tasty, unique, using the best Vermont ingredients (sour cream, cheddar cheese) and with a very charismatic guy running the show. Get the ribs, the potato and prepare to have a delicious lunch. You can sit in picnic tables and hear good music. What else can you ask for?? All works out perfectly.
(5)Stephen H.
Amazing southern BBQ in the North and this is coming from a southerner, it's a must try!!
(5)Steve M.
Cool place. Like a backyard BBQ with Curtis. Easy on and off the Interstate!
(4)Greg N.
Good sauce. Ribs were dried out. Beans and collards had not seasoning or flavor. I will come back on another day earlier in the day to see if that works.
(2)daniel r.
Perhaps i'm just getting a little old and cranky. Curtis BBQ just doesn't do it for me anymore. First off....you should go here once if you've never been before. its got a very unique atmosphere but beyond that I'm not sure. Went on a recent sunday...Curtis was NOT there..looked like his grand-daughter and her boyfriend were working the BBQ. Ribs were incredibly tough and chewy. Little gnats were everywhere making your outside dining an unpleasant experience. the place just looked rundown. I know..some folks will say its part of the charm but I just sense its going downhill. the bus looked rusty and weathered. it almost looks like a third world country--hand made signs....port-o-lets..outdoor wash basin...with high prices!! no real combo dinners...just about everything is extra and expensive..with uneven quality food. No one is particularly friendly..i really missed curtis' presence(hope he is OK!). i'm really disappointed.
(2)CrazyDave n.
Go for the road side attraction angle because as bbq goes this is lousy. Ribs were dry and tasteless, same for the pulled pork..prices were ridiculous with sides being extra , bbq sauce was like watery ketchup . There is a place in the Brattleboro area that does que much better
(1)J. Curtis G.
This is hands down the absolute best bbq place ever! I live in NC, but I'd drive all the way to Putney, VT just to eat there again. It is the first thing I tell people about if Vermont gets mentioned. I would vote for Curtis' BBQ to replace maple syrup as Vermont's claim to fame! I cannot recommend this place highly enough. I would give it 10,000 stars!
(5)Neil B.
So you are driving down route 91 and you turn off for gas at the Putney exit and omg there is a barbecue pit, picnic tables and a half a school bus that serves as the place to order and pay. Now admittedly I am not an expert on smoked ribs and chicken but I liked what I ate. Though it was not as good as some home smoked ribs I had in Davenport, IA cooked by a man named AB whose parents had been sharecroppers in the south, it was the best I've had in New England!
(4)Eli G.
Great outdoor bivouac-like restaurant for ribs, chicken and all of the classic sides. CJ-the-pig helps guard the barbecuing chickens. CJ does not get cooked himself.
(4)Keith M.
Chicken potato and corn bread w/everything. April couldn't come quick enough! The best BBQ for miles and I should know. I rode almost 100 to get here. Try anything - twice!
(4)Matthew T.
Ok lets face it CBBQ is not great, but its not bad either. I do my own BBQ. I make my own rubs and my own sauces (I make 100+ pints a year of sauce because everyone who has had it, demands more), I've gone thru three smokers in the last 6 or 7 years, so I know my BBQ. Off the bat, CBBQ is not smoked, its grilled and so in my mind can't be called BBQ, which must be done indirectly with smoke. When you put raw ribs on the grill, even though the heat and flame and smoke is generated by wood, it still grilled. BBQ'ing ribs takes hours to be done right and CBBQ creates their ribs in minutes. that being said...... I started going to Curtis's in 1984 when I read about it in a Yankee Magazine New England Travel Guide. My friend and I drove up there and we soon returned with more friends even though it was 2 and a half hours away from our homes. We'd pick a great sunny day and party all the way up to Putney. We made a day out of the adventure and the food. Enough reminiscing. As for the food, well the meat is not especially tender, but it is tasty. One thing I've learned about BBQ is that its actually very hard to mess it up. The sauces are good vinegar based sauces. The sides are fair to good with the baked stuffed potatoes being the best. I have to drive 140 miles each way to get to CBBQ, so I only get there once every year or three, but I still go. Its really like a pilgrimage. My wife can't understand it. She thinks my Q is so much better and she's right, but something still brings me back to Putney again and again. Its the whole experience really. You can smell the wood smoke from the highway and that pulls you in. The gravel parking lot. The blue bus. The picnic tables and porta potty. The giant roll of paper behind the bus with the sink that you wash up with afterwards. And of course the tall black gentleman standing by the cut in half oil tanks (Who always greets you with a Howdy!) filled with smoking wood and covered with a metal grate topped with meat. Welcome to CBBQ. Its BYOB which is nice (Make sure you bring an extra brew or three for Curtis!). I always get the chicken and ribs combo with the mild sauce which I think has more flavor than the hot sauce which truth be told isn't actually very hot. You arrive and park and walk to the bus where a window is open and step up to it and place your order. The act of arriving and ordering and choosing a table with the sun beaming down on you and the green grass are really just seminal moments that you have to experience to understand. In its final analysis, CBBQ is an quasi-epic American adventure, its like the stations of the cross or a pilgrimage to Mecca. The act of going there and partaking in the communal feel with the smoke in the air is other worldly and very satisfying. The food is good but not great but what you get there is more than sustenance, its food for the soul and so it calls me back over and over and today I return once again. Matthew T
(3)Anthony P.
Just go. Trust me.
(5)Ed S.
The best ribs I have ever had. I love the simplicity of this place. While I was there I talked to Curtis for about thirty minutes while he cooked ribs over a wood stove. I can not wait to come back
(5)Robert G.
Found this place by accident when I pulled off the highway to get gasoline. Amazing! I highly recommend Curtis BBQ. Caution, it is not for everyone. It is backyard style eating.
(5)Bill S.
Curtis Tuff was a migrant worker near Macon, Ga, when he came to Vermont over 40 years ago to pick apples. He was offered a permanent job by his employer but decided he wanted to be his own man. So he started cooking barbeque, something he had no hands-on experience with but had seen his dad and grandfather do for years back home. It took a while, but he got the hang of it, and the result is Curtis' Barbeque, one of the most unusual and distinctive eateries in all of New England. We come from South Carolina and Georgia and have lived in North Carolina and eaten bbq regularly in Memphis, Dallas and Lexington, NC. Please know that when we say this is first-class chicken and ribs, we're aren't just whistling Dixie. It's carefully smoked (though not on hickory since you can't find that much through VT) and comes off the grill moist and flavorful. The meat falls off the bone, and it if doesn't, tell Curtis. Barbecuing is a very individual skill, and can change from one day to the next due to the composition of the wood, the time on the grill and the quality of the meat. You might hit Curtis on an off day, but chances are you're going to be blown away by some gen-u-wine BBQ, abetted by some tasty tomato-based sauces (we're fond of mustard sauces, but that's a South Carolina thing and not to everyone's taste, we know). The sides are yummy: collards (missing ham hock, however), cole slaw, baked potatoes (you can get it stuffed on the grill, wow!) cucumber and onion salad, and ... well, you get the idea. The place is sort of from another planet. You order from the sides of a decades-old blue school bus that is as ramshackle as it looks. Curtis cooks next door where his eight-year-old fat pig snoozes, apparently unaware of how lucky he is that Curtis doesn't do pork. The dining is on picnic tables, covered and open, scattered around the lot. You order and when it's ready you get a cardboard box to carry your food. This may be a turn-off to some of the fastidious, but they should avoid this place anyway. The atmosphere is fun and laid-back. We can hardly say enough good things about it, and not just because, like Curtis, we're from Georgia. It's a special place in VT, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do. And prices? Well, if you have to ask, then you shouldn't stop here. P.S. It's not expensive. And they do accept cash only.
(5)Brian B.
This place is one on the must see list.Arriving,it can be slightly hidden off the road,until you see and smell the smoke.Things are kept simple and old timey here,pull into the dirt parking lot and make your way over to the old blue school bus that looks like it has sat there for 40 years to order.....but know that it is CASH ONLY!.The choices are simple,Chicken or Ribs,or both!.Sauces are homemade mild or spicy,and that's all you really need.This is the south of the north,and you'll find the best southern sides here too.There is Baked Beans,Collard Greens,Corn on the Cob,and of course Cornbread.The food is just excellent,I had the Chicken and Ribs,and both were among some of the best I've had.There's no mistaking where the food is coming from as it is cooked essentially right in front of you on a nice hardwood fire.If hair nets and gloves are your idea of a good food stop,then this one isn't for you.That meat is out there,being cooked over the fire in the open air,with Curtis watching carefully with his pet pig and dog right by his side.Curtis is such a nice old guy,and will gladly chat and take photos with anyone who so desires.I drove 110 miles to check out this gem,and I wasn't disappointed at all.In fact the wife and I are talking about making it a yearly pilgrimage.
(4)Keith M.
Chicken potato and corn bread w/everything. April couldn't come quick enough! The best BBQ for miles and I should know. I rode almost 100 to get here. Try anything - twice!
(4)Glenn C.
Just had a small piece of breast from here, Ill definitely go back and post a real long review. Great so far. I'll probably get a baked potato with chicken next time (as I am not a pork person). Edit: 4.5 stars, went here again, got a potato with the chicken on top. Just great.
(4)C H.
We've wanted to go to Curtis's for years. My husband, kids and I are big fans of bbq and we've heard that Curtis is a legend in New England. We finally made the hour drive over there and I love their set up. The bus was great, the ribs cooking right there smelled fantastic! We ordered a our ribs and chicken. The kids had the loaded baked potatoes. We all got the mild sauce. The ribs were awesome, juicy and very meaty. The problem-we didn't like the sauce. I really wish we'd thought to ask for it on the side. We don't do a lot of sauce normally and everything was covered very liberally with it. Thank God we ordered mild. Yah, I'm a wimp when it comes to sauces, but it had too much of a bite and it reminded me more of a hot sauce than a bbq sauce. We tried to remove as much of the sauce as we could because we really did like those ribs! The chicken too! The sauce actually worked better with the chicken. I don't think we'll do the hour drive just for the ribs again, but I think if we're in the area we'd give it another shot. With the sauce on the side.
(3)Jeffrey G.
By far the best place to eat in Putney
(4)Tolga E.
Curtis' BBQ in southern Vermont is one of those must-do "welcome to Vermont, we're wild and wacky here!" kinda things to do. I loved the whole set-up of the place. The trailer which doubles as the storefront, the ghetto, falling apart random pieces of stuff on the unkempt yard. The gazebo-type thing that you can sit under and eat at. While we were there, we saw what had to have been the world's fattest, ugliest boar (I can't even call it a pig). It was just wandering about aimlessly and you had to wonder when exactly it was going to become someone's lunch. Unfortunately, the 'cue wasn't that much to write home about. I'm not sure why people are raving on here, the ribs, for the most part, fairly dry and overdone. None of the 'cue really stood out. BUT, I will give 'em credit for some really bitter collard greens (it's brave to serve 'em THAT bitter) and for having their own ginger beer, which I thought was a little to sweet but generally pretty good. Curtis' is a great pit-stop when driving through Vermont. It's not amazing, it's maybe not even a destination in it's own right. But if you had to choose between stopping there and not, I would. It's one of the most Vermonty things you can do.
(4)Aviva S.
If you're lookin for great BBQ - Curtis can throw down! The ribs here are fantastic, and so are all of the sides. I don't live in VT, so going up to Putney always feels like a bit of a schlep, but once a year this is definitely worth it. Bring your own drinks - I'm pretty sure they sell them, but I've learned having plenty of lemonade handy is worth it. Also - there are no bathrooms, so unless you're feeling fearless and want to use the port-a-john - go ahead of time. This is a very casual place - there is a covered, screened in area, and picnic tables with umbrellas around. You can definitely bring kids, and dogs are welcome too so long as you keep them leashed. My very favorite part is the faucet out behind the grill area with a communal bar of soap to use, and the biggest roll of paper towels you've ever seen. It's all part of the experience. Do I think it's a little weird to be eating ribs while Curtis' pet pot-bellied pig (and this thing is HUGE) hangs out in his pen next to the grill? yes. But I'm already looking forward to next year's trip.
(5)Melissa B.
I've been all over the south, but who would've guessed that I'd find the best BBQ in the country in the back woods of Vermont? (And I'm not exaggerating about it being the best in the country!) I speak of Curtis' All American Barbecue in Putney, Vermont, a wonderful little joint (where else can you get BBQ cooked in a sky blue school bus?!) run by a wonderful man. It's definitely not fancy (you eat at picnic tables), but the food,sauce and prices more than make up for it. Here is a great article that goes into depth on the wonderfulness of Curtis' barbeque. piecesofvermont.com/curt… Here is another fantastic article, from the New York Times, about his place: query.nytimes.com/gst/fu… "Nowadays, half a three-pound bird, roasted for 90 minutes or longer over the hardwood coals, costs $3.75, and it is a bargain. Or for $4.75 you can have a healthy portion of succulent, meaty pork ribs, smoky-sweet and dripping with barbecue sauce. Either of these portions would make a hearty eater happy, as will the combination plate of ribs and chicken for $4.25. Mr. Tuff starts his fires around seven in the morning and lets them burn for an hour or so before he starts to cook. The meat stays on the grill, turned frequently and basting in its own juices, for two hours or more. ''Underdone'' is not a word the chef likes to hear. ''The way I like my meat is well-done, and falling off the bone,'' he said, ''like it cooks from the inside out, not the outside in.'' Curtis' Bar-B-Q also serves baked beans and cole slaw (75 cents a portion of each), baked potatoes ($1 apiece) and ears of corn roasted in the husks over the barbecue coals (75 cents an ear). Soft drinks are available, and the stand is open Thursday through Sunday from early lunchtime until dark." The article is a bit old, but his prices haven't changed much. His food is still fantastic, and Curtis Tuff has a heart of gold. This is a favorite summertime haunt. The next time you are in Vermont, RUN don't walk to Curtis' All American Barbecue. He calls it "The 9th Wonder of the World'" and he is not joking. You won't find barbeque better than this.
(5)Erin A.
Well worth a two hour drive to sample curtis delicious pork ribs and see their pet pig CJ (if he only knew). Plus there's a great farmers market across the street.Great laid back vibe at this place
(4)Adam K.
The BBQ was just ok and the prices were appropriate. They only take cash and honestly the best thing they sell is "the works" baked potato. I'd forgo the meat and just get a tatter.
(3)Ben S.
Best dang BBQ I've had north of NYC. Spicy vinegary bbq sauce, slow cooked very smoky flavored meets. Literally falls off the bone when you try to pick up a rib. Baked potatoes are no joke. Opened only in the warmer months Curtis is always manning the grill and happy to chat. A must if you are anywhere near here. I miss the pulled pork and shredded chicken sandwiches tho. Closest thing you will find to real southern bbq in the region. I Recently visited curtis' BBQ this past summer 2009 and i was sorely disapointed. Both the chicken and ribs i got were very overcooked and dry. Maybe this was just a bad batch but after so many good experiences I would hope this was the case.
(4)Chris C.
So I heard that this place was amazing and I was a little skeptical as I have had BBQ allover the South and found almost nowhere in New England that does true BBQ. After eating there I am totally sold on it and am killing myself I did not know about it sooner! The ribs are absolutely amazing and are real traditional Carolina style. The BBQ sauce is a thin spicy and vinegary sauce that goes great with the food. They also have some seriously amazing baked potatoes. The pulled pork stuffed one is amazing, but beyond huge. So if you get one don't plan on getting anything else with it. The seating is all outdoor and the first thing I noticed was that a lot of the people had brought their own drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic and we will be doing so next time we go.
(5)Doc B.
I really enjoyed my ribs and bicolor corn on the cob. Now that I think about it, the ear of corn was absolutely perfect. The ribs are big. Don't think of getting more than 6 per person unless you are very hungry or trying to prove something. The food was delicious. My wife liked her pulled pork baked potato. There was no line when I went there on a weekday. Just a little info- they are open 10 AM to dusk, closed Mon and Tues, closed Nov-March. There is a covered seating area, in case it rains. I did not see any sign of a pet pig mentioned in 1 writeup. The sink behind the stand had soap and the biggest roll of paper towels I have ever seen. There is an area for kids to run around and play while the grown-ups pig out. The staff is very friendly and glad to hear that you enjoyed your meal. It is on the northbound side of the road. Look for the rising blue smoke. Not to be missed if you are a foodie and in the area. This is the real deal.
(5)Joyce O.
No, no, no, NO! My husband and I are BBQ lovers. We have eaten BBQ in North Carolina and Texas and South Carolina and Kentucky and even Alaska (to name just a few of the states where we have dined) and now Vermont and what a disappointment. We arrived at about 3pm and ordered for an early dinner. The ribs were cardboard, unchewable and tasteless. The chicken was better but only by comparison to the ribs. The sides would have been good if they had been seasoned properly and the cost for this whole disappointing meal was outrageous for what we didn't get which was good food. Curtis was there and about to start a new batch of meat for, I guess, the dinner crowd so maybe what we got had been sitting since lunch. Still, fresh or not, the flavor just wasn't there. Oh yeah, and the person working the window was unhelpful and was quick to tell me that a half of chicken that was only dark meat was anatomically impossible. I pointed out that one could cut the chicken in half at the "waist" which would give you 1/2 a chicken of only dark meat orrrrr one could sell me two quarters of dark and there you would have it, 1/2 a chicken made up of only dark meat. Just up the road from Curtis' is the Putney Diner. Go there if you want good food served by people who care
(1)Jeff R.
So while driving randomly in Vermont in search of some hiking trails, we came across Curtis' BBQ, which personally, seemed a lot more fun. So we decided to return after spending some time in the great outdoors. So when we got there, I ordered chicken (I'm not a huge fan of ribs) and a baked potato with cheddar. And I must say, this was some of the best BBQ I've ever had. I'm typically not a fan of BBQ Sauce, but Curtis' recipe is nice and vinegary but also spicy. They even have an article from Rachael Ray's magazine saying how great it is. Yummo!! If you're even mildly concerned with personal hygiene, however, Curtis' may not be the place for you. After eating, we went over to chat with Curtis himself for a minute (he was running the grill). After a minute, we realized that his ENORMOUS, 300 lb pet pig CJ (Curtis Junior?) was sitting right under the grill. Curtis then proceeded to pet CJ and feed him treats with one hand, while arming the grill with the other. The thought of a pet pig laying two feet away from a giant grill of cooking ribs was a little uncomfortable. None of this would stop me from eating that delicious food again though!
(5)Chris L.
There's no escaping the authenticity and the incongruity of finding Curtis turning ribs over his open pit barbeque in southern Vermont. But this is a man who knows his craft. The ribs are meaty and juicy. The sides are a la carte. The seating is at picnic tables outdoors. No liquor license, so BYOB. This is a great destination for a motorcycle ride Wednesday to Sunday, April to Oct. If you arrive at lunch, expect a long line, but the line moves fast.
(5)Tom L.
I'm not a big fan of pork ribs so I was a little worried about the limited menu, meat-wise (chicken and pork ribs). I got the combo, chicken for me and ribs for my wife. But we ended up fighting over the ribs and forgot about the chicken. The best I've tasted and my wife agrees. And we loved ordering at the bus and watching Curtis work the pit. Dog friendly, too.
(5)Pete F.
Yes, Vermont does have an incredible BBQ destination and it is Curtis Bar-B-Q in Putney. Stumbled upon by accident 15+ years ago, I make it a stop whenever I am traveling in southern Vermont. Situated very close to the interstate you'll find two old International buses that make up Curtis'. Curtis himself tends a huge open pit fire cooking ribs and chicken as a pet pig runs around. I usually get a combo of ribs and chicken which are both outstanding, tender and falling off the bone. I'm pretty sure food is served with their own sauce as well. If you're in the area, stop by and see Curtis.
(4)citydog x.
The sauce is *amazing* and the ribs are excellent. The chicken is very good. I am consistently underwhelmed by the sides (bland, overcooked). Seating is at picnic tables and the bathrooms are porta potties. It doesn't get more casual than this. It's dog friendly, but keep an eye on the ground for cooked bones.
(4)Wing M.
I lived in Putney for three years before actually trying this place out and was kind of meh about it. I guess this place has been really talked up for me and so I was really disappointed? I mean, the barbeque was pretty good. Not amazing or "omg the best thing ever" but it was definitely solid---I had only the pulled pork so the ribs may actually be the best thing ever but I haven't tried it nor have the motivation to. The sides were pretty mediocre. The collard greens were just sad and very, very bland. The hot barbeque sauce was not actually hot---a jar of Tostitos medium salsa had more spice to it. The place sure did smell good though. Also, it's kinda funky and the dude was friendly and had a cute dog and a pig. It was definitely fun. But the food was just not very good.
(3)Bill S.
Serious this guy can cook some BBQ. We come up from Connecticut once a year. I wish he was closer but hey it's worth the drive. The only thing I would like is if the price was a little more reasonable( thats why I couldnt honestly give it 5 stars). But you have to pay for good food i guess!
(4)Vince D.
I used to spend lots of time at Curtis. The food is soooooo good. Real juicy and lots of it. I spent summers watching his daughters' and eating his ribs and chicken. yummy!!! makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Curtis I wish you were out here on the west coast!!!!!!!! Chandra (Sheffield) Dobson!
(5)Rich C.
This place is a true gem and a fantastic experience for anyone in the area. Not only is the BBQ the best in the state of VT, but the scenery and smells are phenomenal. Hopefully one day I will get back to this GREAT place. Great memories with a great friend....
(5)Rue B.
A blue school bus slowly sinking into the ground, billed as the "9th wonder of the World," and manned by a friendly southern transplant in a cold-hearted Yankee state. Slabs of ribs, chicken breasts, stuffed potatoes, slow-cooked on an outdoor grill, covered in a delicious and spicy unique Northern BBQ sauce flavored strongly of cider vinegar, sides of collards and other down-home staples. Absolutely delicious, though the ribs were rather dry. Try Bub's down the road in Sunderland MA for another decent Yankee BBQ joint. Always a good time at Curtis.'
(4)Adam E.
I'm a white queer who has only lived in New England and the Pacific Northwest. And you couldn't pay me to go to the South. So maybe I don't know anything about Barbecue. But I do know that my serendipitous discovery of Curtis BBQ was an experience to remember, both in terms of the food and the environment. I pulled off the highway needing to fill up the gas tank and hopefully grab some lunch. There stood the blue bus, right next door to the gas station. I think it was fate. At first I was suspicious, a BBQ joint in the middle of nowhere VT? Maybe a sandwich at the hippie food co-op across the way would be a safer choice. But I decided to live dangerously. I got a pulled pork sandwich, smothered in an amazing mild bbq sauce with a slight kick. My gf got a loaded baked potato unlike anything I've ever seen. If you're round about I-91, stop for a bite here. You'll marvel at the setup (picnic tables, old timey country bumkin feeling) and huge grilling setup the old fella has going on. Oh, and get one of their sodas or lemonades in the glass bottle with their own label on it. The only possible complaint I have is the lack of a proper bathroom. There's a port a potty, yikes! But if you just want to wash your hands there's a sink around back, so no big deal. Just hold it. Or maybe the hippies have a bathroom across the street.
(5)John W.
Let me begin with fact that this is the famous bus BBQ and it is all that it is supposed to be in every way! From it's environment to it's food to it's hospitality this is the real deal! Great ribs and chicken and unbelievable. baked potatoes you can't go wrong with anything you order. But the main attraction, Curtis himself is worth the price of dinner or the distance of the drive. Come to Curtis' for a great meal and a sensational time!
(4)Greycella L.
While the food of my childhood has a decidedly down-home diner feel to it, I don't think I ever ate ribs until I was an adult. Something has to taste really, really good for me to be willing to gnaw on a bone to eat it. Watching this man doing what he does on his grill pits, next to his bright blue school bus, right off the interstate- I realize that I'm about to horrify a former incarnation of myself, me in middle school and early high school when I wouldn't eat meat. Totally the cafeteria's fault, and the gristle in that chicken sandwich. Ew. That poor anemic teenager buried deep within is about to find the promised land- at the hand of a man named Curtis. Don't forget to grab A LOT of napkins before you walk back to your picnic table.
(5)Steve H.
I have been living in Central Texas (a self-proclaimed barbecue mecca) for a year and a half, and while the BBQ here is great, nothing I have tasted so far can match Curtis' in Putney. Yes, it is served out of a bus. Yes, there are port-a-potties instead of a real bathroom. Yes, there is an old, fat pig with its belly scraping on the ground, hanging around near the pit eating scraps of its piggy brothers and sisters. But the BBQ is fall-off-the-bone tender, extremely tasty and all-around wonderful, and the atmosphere is great-- young families, tourists, bikers and everyone in between is made to feel at home amidst the buses, picnic tables, and improvised play areas. Curtis has been in Putney serving BBQ for as long as I remember. I hear that he moved to Vermont from Georgia back in the 60s or 70s to participate in the commune life that thrived there at the time, started cooking BBQ on the side of the road and has been cooking ever since. Rural Vermont alternative culture meets rural Georgia BBQ culture to create a rapturous barbecue experience.
(5)Chuck S.
Curtis' BBQ was suggested to us by a local bbq guy (originally from South Carolina) we frequent that has killer pulled pork & ribs, and out of this world fixins including the best green beans I ever had. So on our recent trek to Vermont we decided to give Curtis a try. Large portions of the ribs could not even be chewed they were so overcooked. I think another poster called it shoe leather. The baked beans had a peculiar flavor. The yams were okay, but plain and nothing special. The baked potato was pretty good. While Curtis' place is cool, interesting, and nostalgic (a great concept for us baby boomers), I shutter when I think about the likely sanitation issues and probable health code violations. Three dogs were running around the grill and the pig sleeps along side it. And that's the least of my worries. It's what I can't see that might hurt me. We gave it a try, we did survive without illness, but never again. As a friend of mine says, "Are you kiddin' me?"
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