Salvage BBQ

UPDATE: After a brief break, they reopened. They now offer table service and the picnic table seating was removed, keeping all of the vintage seats and tables in place. A few changes were made to the menu ( no more fries), but the brisket is still a reliable go-to (we wish it was on the Sunday menu instead of just Friday and Saturday). The hushpuppies remain the best in town, and you should always order them! Love the food! Not much service. Atmosphere depends on who else is in the place. We've been here when it's quiet, and we've been here when kids were running around crazy with zero supervision. However, we visit for the food! Love the pork, brisket, and hush puppies. Cow and pig are our go to meal and it remind us of NC, you should order it too. We recently brought family to dinner, and everyone enjoyed the brisket. It's a must try. Everyone enjoys the retro feel of salvage. The vintage 50s chairs are also extremely comfortable to sit in. Next time you are at Maine Medical or watching the Seadogs, pop in to Salvage!

The ribs were really juicy but lacked a bit of flavor. I was also a bit disappointed with the sides. Hush puppies were brunt, the collard greens were too salty and the curry on the Mac and cheese was an odd mix. The wait for the food was around 20 minutes. I’ve options in the surrounding area that I’ll check out before coming back to update the review. I also think my experience would’ve been better had I just stuck to the meats

It was mediocre for the price. Maybe we didn't go when the place was usually busy but it didn't seem like anything special. The only thing worth mentioning is that there was no fat in the pulled pork otherwise it's nothing special especially for the seventeen dollars that was paid. The coleslaw is decent as well it's vinegar based. So all in all it's three stars because it just feels lackluster for what you pay (Sandwich is cut in half in shown picture)

If you are southern or like hot food, THIS IS NOT IT. Food was room temp , (except the beans). Pulled pork had the consistency of canned tuna and was sitting in grease (see pic) and was tasteless. Baked beans were the lacking in beans (mostly sweet liquid). I was highly disappointed in this place, because coming from work it would smell so good. The sauce was okay, but was too sweet. It couldn't redeem the room temp, tuna texture pork. At least the customer service was really nice. But yeah... nope.

Loved the cozy dinning atmosphere! The food however was average. It had the flavor but the quilaty of meat was missing. Chicken was a little rubbery, the brisket either too fatty or too dry! The mac n' cheese and corn bread are winners but that's about it as far as sides go! The bar has great selection of beers and mixed drinks.

The food here is good not great. The ribs were the standout item. The cornbread was dry and underwhelming. The beans were interesting - definitely a unique flavor compared to other baked beans. The fries were great too.

The barbecue was great! We got the smoked brisket and it was cooked perfectly. I’d also highly recommend the hush puppies, they come with a jalepeno jelly that’s so good. We went during lunch, so it was a lot less crowded than I bet they usually are. They have a large tap list and a lot of good to go options. Their front door is wheelchair accessible and no stairs/platforms in the dining area.

Great food. The brisket on point. Mac and cheese was freaking delicious. Corn bread is crack. Prices have gone up from from menu pics posted by others. Service was a bit slow for my taste. I had to hit the road again and was waiting literally 10 minutes for the check. Will be back when in town.

We visited with our two kids (7 and 4) before a Sea Dogs game. The food was really good, the portions were generous. The hush puppies were particularly delicious. But they lose a star becuase they don't have a kid's menu and what's perhaps worse is they don't have kid's cups. This is definitely the kind of place people are going to bring kids to. They even have some games you can play. But they served my kids their drinks in tall heavy glass cups. Both of them got knocked over--one to the ground and it broke. We will definitely go back but I hope they make some accommodations for kids!

I was super excited for some BBQ. Unfortunately, this did not live up to the hype for me. We got takeout which was a smooth process of calling in. People were friendly and greeted us upon arrival. The space inside is nice - a good amount of seating availability. The cornbread muffins, beans, and pickles were delicious. Beans had a good spicy kick to them. The BBQ sauce was amazing - a little sweet, a little spicy. The ribs and brisket were very fatty. Ribs definitely were not fall off the bone. Some of the brisket was just completely fatty and inedible. I would definitely go back to try some other meats and the mac n cheese. No parking lot, but there is some street parking nearby.

First time checking out Salvage as a dinner stop before a Portland Sea Dogs game. We clearly were not the only people with that idea as we had a 5 minute wait for a table. Besides the waiting area having some couches and stuff I thought the place lacked a lot of personality. Overall compared to some other BBQ spots I thought the menu was a little small in their offerings especially considering brisket is limited to a Friday and Saturday meal only. Thankfully we were here on Friday and each got a brisket sandwich and split a medium mac n cheese. All the food was tasty but wished they had a variety of BBQ sauce and brisket was tasty but not mind blowing. Lastly I know it was busy and understand service can be slow at those times but our server was still not the best when the place cleared out and it was not anywhere close to being busy. Even when they took our payment card instead of running it right away they tended to some tasks unrelated to any other customers as there really weren't other customers. Overall the food was enjoyable but there are superior spots if you are craving something of this nature with more personality and better food!

During COVID I appreciated the socially distant "line up and order" food or drink, but now it's just confusing. If you sit at a table, you stand in line at the food counter, and then again at the bar. If you sit at the bar it's full service (food and drink), but not a lot of service IMO. And because I was confused, I went to the food counter while my hubby ordered what he thought would be HH drinks at the bar (and thus influenced our choices), and we had to pay separately without getting the Happy Hour prices since it was 5:01 when the order was entered. I wanted to like this place - been here before - and like the ambience, especially since there aren't a lot of cool areas to hang before going to the Sea Dogs. Pinball machines, decor, open space are all great, but not enough to make up for confusing and poor services and overcooked BBQ.

Haven't found better BBQ in town. Open spacious dining room with Americana decor. They finally have Guinness on tap! The brisket plate is only served on Friday and Saturdays. Quite a few menu items weren't available today. Fortunately the brisket sandwich was available and it hit the spot!

I ate here with a family member before going to nearby Hadlock Field for a baseball game. The restaurant is spacious and airy, with high ceilings. We were seated quickly and our server was wonderful, with a great depth of knowledge about the menu and the beer listings. Prices were reasonable and servings were generous. We both had the pork sandwich. The meat was tender and the pickles were top notch. If anything, there was too much pork on my sandwich - it was a little hard to eat and a bit messy. All in all, a good experience and I'd certainly go back again.

YOM I absolutely love the vibe at this place - so spacious and so unique. The prices are so fair and the portions are perfect. I loved the pulled pork and the drink options were amazing too. Can't wait to come back!

First time in! First...LOVE the chairs and ambiance. Smells are free and amazing! Cornbread on point. Hush puppies with a hint of jalapeño...scrumptious! Mac and cheese yummo and the BLT was great! Friendly service and good location! I will be back! Love the NC sauce!

This is a favorite restaurant to frequent for my household. If my husband and I go to Salvage, that means we are going all out. We are going to order the meat coma, with extra sides. It's always delicious, and a fun atmosphere too. Order at the counter, and the food is brought to your table or your spot at the bar. Huge sauce menu, which is one of the reasons this is one of my top 2 barbecue restaurants. The dill pickle shots are delicious - don't knock it til you try it! They have a really large space, so finding seating is rarely an issue. Usually you can park nearby as well. The bartenders are great as well as the rest of the staff. I really have no complaints about Salvage. It's just all around a great place!

The service was good , fine. The ambience was actually pretty cool. Now the important stuff... The meat was awesome- so tender and smokey... we both ordered the pulled pork platter. . The reason why this place only gets two stars is because the baked beans were bland beyond,there was a little heat- but beyond that- yuck- and not cooked long enough- ( the beans were hard ). As for the coleslaw, it was cold and seemed fresh, but once again it was completely lacking in flavor. So, all of the sides were kinda awful. I might add that the cornbread muffin had more in common with a hockey puck than a muffin. It was extremely heavy, and, you guessed it, completely tasteless. Like so many barbecue places, this place also seemed to have neglected and ignored their side dishes. A big mistake in my humble opinion.

Stopped in walking from the train station to downtown. Had the BBQ chicken which was very flavorful. The cornbread was delicious and my only complaint was that the beans were undercooked and a little tough. This had a silver lining because I ordered a side of Mac n Cheese that was the best I've had in a long time. The bad 70s playlist has to go. It's so depressing and I would have lingered longer otherwise. Seriously....let it go :-)

Seems like new management has struck since i was here last. Gone are the cool pinball machines and ice hockey dome flip tables (USSR v USA just iconic). In are 10$ beers and 9$ sides of coleslaw. 9 dollars for a side of coleslaw ??? FOH

BEST coleslaw ever! BBQ'd meats are fall off the bone with deep and layered choices of sauces. why couldn't you just do take out!!! can't wait till you reopen‼

I needed something to eat, but was not full on hungry--so I just got some sides. Not any of the barbecue. That said, the sides I got were MEH: hush puppies & in particular their mac & cheese. The latter was flavorless. Seriously. Mac & cheese that's out of a box would have been better. Their corn bread was decent. Service was friendly & their decor was cool.

I'm glad I bit into the ribs before writing the review as I did decide to have lunch there BECAUSE of the fries I was expecting I'll try again and next time clarify what cut of fries will be served. I remember better quality fries last time. Ribs were amazing

Next time I want to spend twenty dollars on a sandwich made up predominantly of pork fat and mayonnaise I'll be sure to come back here

This is the best BBQ place in Portland. Reasonable price, great staff, great beer selection.. Also has mixed drinks. Cool lay out.

My wife and I were on a wonderful one week trip up the coast of Maine from Portland to Bar Harbor and back. So awesome. We were headed back to our hotel and decided to get some barbeque at Salvage BBQ and it was wonderful. Super juicy pork sandwich and a ton of great beers om tap, they even had Pliny the Elder on tap from California. Now that is a get. They also had BONGO going on, and they had great prizes going on. I think a winner got a case of beer. Great service and food and BINGO and a huge and wonderful beer tap list. 5 Stars!

I'm sorry but I think Maine should really stick to seafood. I visited Portland with a couple of friends for a short weekend trip and we came to Salvage BBQ at lunchtime on a whim. We decided to split the meat coma platter which, according to their menu, includes 1/3 a rack of ribs, 1/3 pound brisket, chopped pork, a cup of chili, and two sides (we opted for mac & cheese and cole slaw). We also split two of their cornbread muffins. The total came to around $44 before tax and tip. Whenever a restaurant's ribs aren't as good as the barbecue ribs you can get from Costco, something is clearly wrong. The ribs were gristly at best. More than one rib only had two or three small bites of meat on it. The amount of brisket was about enough for one person. The mac & cheese tasted like Velveeta and the flavor of the chili was completely overwhelmed by one particular spice that I couldn't seem to put my finger on. I apologize for being harsh but the cornbread was simply hard and dry; not at all soft and buttery like a cornbread muffin should be. I'm not going to lie - I have made better chili, cornbread, and mac & cheese than what I had at Salvage. The look and vibe of the place is awesome, especially if you're there to have a beer and watch a game with friends. However, the surprisingly small portion size was not at all worth the steep price tag and frankly, the food was just bad.

I really wanted to like this place but the service was poor (sitting at the bar) and the food was overpriced and overcooked. I will not return and cringed leaving a 20% tip.

I'll admit it, I can be a little of a bbq snob... Mostly because I smoke my own meats and pretty much no bbq has ever beat the taste of mine. I've only had 2 restaurants compare. But Salvage was pretty good. The atmosphere was fun and it was sooo close to our hotel that it made it even better. I had a 1/2 rack of ribs and they were very good. My side of cornbread was really dry and pretty tasteless. It really could use something sweet in it like honey to make it taste better... Or spice it up with jalepeno? Good thing I had my blueberry beer nearby to wash it down. The French fries done in beef fat were really tasty! My wife and son got the brisket sandwich and they really enjoyed them and I enjoyed a bite. My son also enjoyed his Mac and cheese although I didn't get to try any. The food came out fairly quickly although I didn't care how long it took cause they had pinball machines! After having lobster for 3 days straight, it was nice to have a little bbq. Overall, I'd recommend this place.

Solid Q option in Maine that offers both vinegar and tomato based dipping sauces in addition to some scary hot add ons. The pulled pork was spot on--fatty, juicy and delicious. The Brisket has a solid smoke ring and was tender and beefy. The ribs were tender but oddly on the dry side. The chili had an odd flavor profile. Really strong chili powder bias. The meat coma pack I got (ate it over 2 meals) also came with pickles, and sour cream. When I requested utensils they send a paper plate fork, spoon and knife.

Salvage has lost its charm. Very disappointing. This was one of our favorite places and unfortunately I don't think we will be back.

Brisket 4/10 not much flavor besides smoke and tenderness was ok Ribs 8/10. Tender but not fall apart as they should be. Good flavor Chopped pork 8/10. Good flavor and tenderness Max and cheese 8/10 creamy and good flavor with those crispy bits from side of the pan. Coleslaw 2/10 taste like something from the super market deli Cornbread 1/10 might as well have been made of sand.

We got the meat combo tray to-go and sat in the outside benches (didn't look like they sanitize the benches routinely). The combo includes, ribs, pork pieces and brisket. Next time, we will most likely order just the ribs & pork. The brisket lacked flavor and was dry. If you're a sides lover, I would HIGHLY recommend getting Mac & Cheese & corn bread!! Mac & Cheese had an interesting kick and was SO delicious. The cornbread was also delicious with a crunchy top. Wouldn't recommend the chili as it was only meat chili and was a bit too salty for us. Collars greens was... well collard greens and as expected haha! Overall, a great place to try if you're craving bbq with Kansas City feels but in Portland, ME.

It was tough to find parking around here but we found some "unofficial" place to park so I felt a bit rushed as I didn't want to get towed/ticketed. We got there a bit late in the day and a couple of the items were already gone for the day so I got some Wings and a bowl of chili. Both were very good, the wings I think were a lemon/pepper maybe, they were very well done and I probably should have ordered the cup of chili as the bowl was pretty big and plenty of good meat in it. Next time I'll try and find a better parking spot and try some of the other menu items.

Great find for my first trip to Maine. Lived in Houston TX and always thought the BBQ had an overly smokey flavor. This place was just right. The brisket was extremely moist and tender and the ribs were excellent. Unfortunately the day we went they didnt serve the sausage which was the maine reason for the trip there. Mac and Cheese was sub par. Flavor was great but the pasta was extremely mushy for my liking and could of did without the toasted crumbs on top. Will definitely come here again next time in Maine

We LOVE Salvage. They are there for us through thick and thin...through good times and pandemic times I have been here about a dozen or so times over the past few years and I have never been disappointed by the food or service. Favorite foods: Mac and Cheese, Fritters, Brisket, BFFs, Pulled Pork, Coleslaw. We usually get the cow and pig platter. The pies. If they have pies, try them. They are made by one guy. He walks to the restaurant a couple of times a week and makes them from scratch/by hand. Amazing. The bourbon pecan is amazing!!! The beer selection is awesome! You can get mass produced beers..OR you can select one of many MANY great craft beer options. If beer isn't your thing...they have a full bar with wine and spirits. Be sure to look at boards behind the bar for selections and specials. If you are eating in the restaurant, you order at the bar end that is closest to the front door. We have been here with large groups - if you call ahead for groups of 10+ they can help you and your party stay informed and organized which will definitely help ensure it is stress free. Covid Times - we called ahead and paid over the phone and let them know the make and model of the car - they gave us a time to wait outside. They verify your name from a safe distance before placing the order in the trunk back hatch. Easy peasy!!! The cool thing is that you can order alcohol for curbside pick up as well. They ask just in case you forgot they can sell it. Whether dine in, take out or curbside. The service and food have been perfect. Thank you Salvage and your awesome crew!

Sorry for the downgrade. Been coming hear for years and singing their praises. It seem they may have new owners and or new cooks, but almost every item is different and not as well prepared as in the past. This will probably be our last trip to Salvage.

OMG i am so sad my phone died. This place, this meal, this bar is all so insta-worthy! I got there 17 mins before closing, but the crew was super hospitable. The brisket sandwich had a steeeep price but it was 100% worth it. For those who have been to Carnegie Deli or Katz's in NYC THOSE are the portions we are talking about here. Got a side of cole slaw and some corn bread (bread was a lil on the puny side, but).... They have picnic tables AND pinball machines. Glorious!!! SOOOO glad I poked around in Portland and stumbled on this place.

This place used to be amazing hadnt been here in awhile food wasn't even edible so disappointing

My boyfriend & I shared this meat combo & a Salad. They smoke the meat on site, & make their sauces in house (fantastic variety)! We enhanced the collard greens by adding more vinegar -was a little on the bitter side. They have a nice cocktail & beer list as well! Although the location is not ideal& there's a lot of construction, it's still worth a visit! Sure you can call in and pick up too! Staff was friendly & informative!

Delicious food and friendly staff! Ambiance was great! My family go to Portland Maine must go place!

Been coming here for some time now and I am sitting in the restaurant while I write this. Ribs are burning my mouth from the rub they used. Brought them back to ask about it and was told they changed their rub recently . We ordered the meat coma ad usual and was told they could not exchange for anything else! So looks forward to having my new years bbq here and am totally dissatisfied! I guess it's time to try Elsmere bbq! Sorry Salvage but you lost me!

Casual BBQ spot that is very spacious with the option of individual tables and more community style tables. You order at the front and the food is brought out when ready. It's more of a build your own meal which I enjoyed as I only ordered a small order of ribs with mac & cheese and cornbread. For the sides you can order different sizes. Everything I ordered was good. I'm glad this spot was near my hotel as it was a great meal without having to venture to busy side of town.

This review sucks to write. Maybe it's because we've seen this place all over the internet, read a hundred reviews about them, read the blogs, scrolled through the 'you must eat here' lists... but this was a major let down. We took my parents to dinner here last night - FINALLY, going to Salvage BBQ. The building is freaking adorable. String lights, georgous flooring, reclaimed bar, vintage tables - holy moly. The aroma of deliciousness in the air. We were amped. We got Maine Root sodas all around except mom, she got the lemonade - which is made in-house with lemon juice and a simple syrup. It was lovely. For the table we ordered the Meat Fatality ($72) with the sides being the hushpuppies and collard greens - and added an extra 2/3 rack of ribs ($18) because...ribs! The Meat Fatality came with a 2/3 rack of ribs, 1/2 a smoked chicken one sausage (banger), some pulled pork, two slices of brisket, a pint of chili, house-made sourkraut, house-made pickles and sliced onions. The brisket was the fall-apart-in-your-mouth variety which was nice. The collard greens were decent, and the banger (sausage) was good. Smoked chicken was what you expect it to be - a smoked chicken. The ribs? No thank you. I know - I know. It hurts to write this. The ribs had the makings of something great but just weren't. They were incredibly tough - like gnawing on the bone tough. My mom had a hard time even eating them. Let's put it this way - 4 grown-ass adults came here to feast upon ribs and we ended up taking 8 out of the 12 ribs home. Major bummer. THE HUSHPUPPIES are what would bring me back here, seriously. I would drive into Portland just for these hushpuppies. They were C R I S P on the outside and a fluffy delight inside. They were served with an incredible pepper-jelly that I can't stop thinking about. The bill came to $115.02, we tipped $15. To me, this wasn't a $130 meal. The leftovers are in the fridge, and they'll probably go out with the trash on Monday. I'm so sad about it. I want you to go to Salvage, I want you try it out, I want you to love it. I want you to tell me that the experience I had was NOT the Salvage experience. I want to be wrong about this place so badly...but when I was telling someone this morning that we went there last night - they recounted the same exact sentiments that we all had. For a second though - they are fantastically handling this pandemic. The staff is masked, there are only like 7 tables set up F A R from each other, and distancing is enforced.

We stopped by this place upon it first opening for the day. We first had to find parking, because it is off of Congress street. It wasn't super busy and we were immediately sat at a really cute old time table. The server didn't seem too pleased to be there, but everything was still amazing. Good drinks and great food. Their corn muffins were to die for, I had more then two and would go back just for a dozen of those alone! The atmosphere was good and the place was done up really nicely. Great little BBQ place in my backyard.

Salvage was so comically bad that I was given permission by my group to tell my story. So here it goes: Service was horrendous. The restaurant was quiet our entire time there and it took forever to get drinks. Their facial expressions made crystal clear that they did not like us. Two people ordered food and it was served on one tray with one small container of sauce. This was not a married couple, but two completely separate people. Is Salvage short on trays? Or sauces? If this is restaurant policy, it's fine, but when asked, the waitress was rude and didn't even try to show composure. Finally, when it was time to pay, they can only separate checks into groups of three. Evidently Salvage is the only restaurant in Portland that can't do separate checks. Restaurants have had a tough year, and I'd expect a better experience towards the customers trying to support them.

Salvage was referred to me by a friend and owner of another BBQ place. I went in, expecting an over-the-top experience but was sadly disappointed by the dry meat. I ordered the Meat Coma meal and split it with a friend and we basically ate all the chili (delicious!!!), the brisket and the mac n cheese. The ribs tasted day old, the beans weren't great but the corn bread was moist and decent. I exepcted more. I still bought a t-shirt to add to my collection. :) Go for their chili and dip part of your brisket in the Spicy Dill sauce. Omg yum!!!

I had read good things about Salvage on Yelp so since our hotel was right around the corner we decided to eat there on our first night over in Portland. The inside is pretty cool with old arcade machines and plenty of social distancing between the tables. The menu looked good - we decided to share a tray meal since it promised tons of meat. We went with one that had pulled pork and brisket. You could also pick two sides from a long list so we went with hush puppies and meat fat fries, and then ordered an extra side of coleslaw. It also came with pickles and onions. The drink menu is also huge. I got a strawberry fields cocktail but it was way too bitter and I ended up switching with my dining partner and drinking his gose beer which actually was not as bitter as my cocktail. He ended up ordering another beer which they were out of and then another (I forget the name) which was just okay and pretty mild. The food was just so so. I wouldn't label it tons of meat. Two pieces of brisket and then some pulled pork. Both meats tasted good but were missing that extra bbq piece that would have made it really tasty. The hush puppies were so bland. No taste at all and not good. The coleslaw felt like it had sand in it and yet was also sort of bland. The meat fat fries were good although some weren't cooked thoroughly. Prices were okay but we walked away thinking it just didn't remind us of traditional bbq. I compared it to the Rusty Can (out of Amesbury, MA) where the bbq flavor and ingredients are the main feature and everything has a really nice flavor that you would say yup, this is barbecue done right whereas Salvage just didn't get the taste all the way there and was a bit disappointing.

A Carnivores delight! This converted warehouse turned meat heaven does not disappoint the tastebuds. I've tried many a brisket from Texas to California and never tasted such fall apart moist and flavorful meat anywhere. This is a place to risk a heart attack and go for the meat coma.

Salvage BBQ is one of those places that is full of life the moment you walk in, which can sometimes be hard to find in the Portland area. I have been here on a couple of occasions, and I find that if you are with a group of people, it's a fun place to sit and enjoy some eats while there is often live music in the background on top of the already boisterous atmosphere. Salvage is a place where there is a line to order your food, a line to order your drinks and the tables are communal, as they are all long benches and it's sit where you want. This compliments Salvage's aesthetic, as it is a BBQ establishment, which lends itself to being seat yourself while having a loud atmosphere. I know by reading other reviews, people have complained about the line for food and the line for the bar, however, I find that this alleviates much of the traffic. I have never had an issue when I have been here. The food at Salvage is incredibly well-priced. They have a variety of sandwich options, meat options, and extensive options for sides. Some of the highlights are the pulled pork sandwich, the mac n cheese, coleslaw, and the hush puppies! Your order comes with a variety of house-made BBQ sauces which are all tasty! Watch out for some, as they pack a real punch of spice! The drink options at Salvage are also pretty extensive. They have a huge list of beers and ciders on tap, and they also have a full bar. Looking for some BBQ and a place to just hang with some friends? This is definitely a unique spot which lends itself to that kind of atmosphere. I will for sure keep coming back!

Heard about this place on one of those "Best In New England" blogs. Sometimes they are right so I got curious and made the trip. Glad I did. During COVID they only have outdoor dining under a big tent. The setting isn't so great cause it's a busy street, bunch of construction, sometimes the homeless walk around, nothing that's Salvage's fault but they made up for it the best they could. Full bottle of water brought to the table for us, homemade lemonade and sweet tea were excellent. Had to try almost everything so I got the "Meat Coma" Ribs, Brisket, chopped pork and some sides. Could have gone for the "Meat Fatality" but ... that's a lot of protein. Brisket is some of the best I've ever had, It might be the best depending on what type of Brisket is considered to be superior. Usually I like my brisket juicy, thick, loaded with flavor, very soft. Salvage's was a thin cut, tiny bit tough, not very juicy, and yet EXPLODED with flavor and the fat even melted like smokey butter. The rub was unlike anything I've had before, it was like there were spices in it the gave me Only the sensation of a heat spice but not the burning. Salty and Sweet at the same time too. Incredible. Honestly I don't usually finish my Brisket, but I couldn't get enough of this one. Ribs were amazing too! Red color all over, clean cut, lot of rub. Tougher than I would like but still tender. No meat on the under sides (much like how a lot of BBQ place like to cut them) But a decent amount on top. Feels like they were smoked for a little too long. But the meat flavor was great, not juicy, that's hard to make sure the flavor of the Meat is the star of the show, usually it's the rub. Chopped pork. I've had pork all over the place and I can tell ya this, the term "chopped" is going out of style and it's heartbreaking. Most people would still call this pulled pork, even though they are wrong. A lot of people probably expect to see something like Burnt Ends when they think "Chopped" but they still Wrong. Anyways, pork was a pretty typical smoked pork taste. I think they have a North Carolina Chopped Pork, pretty sure that's just their pork with a bit of a vinegar sauce on it. Got the chopped chicken too and it came with that NC sauce, nothing crazy to write about. These BFF (Beef Fat Fries) are potato wedges that might be the best fries I've ever had! They didn't need anything to dip in, but we tried it in the house BBQ sauce and it was incredible. But they were Perfect golden brown, soft but crunchy on the first bite, Awesome flavor. Mac and Cheese was kinda weird. Very Yellow all over. The cheese sauce still reminded me of a mass produced grocery cafe style. And the crushed up Cheetos all over the top didn't really help. Honestly couldn't really tell what kind of cheese it was, very bland. The Pinto beans were, meh. Tomato based bean sauce and pinto beans cooked decent enough. Chili was very Texas style where the soupy stuff is almost like a mild hot sauce. It was very good chili, but I was afraid the spiciness might kill my taste buds before I tried everything. I shouldn't even say it's THAT hot, it's not, but it's enough to make the rest of the meal taste different. Coleslaw was typical but yummy. Cornbread tasted like typical store brand corn bread BUT! I look at all these pictures from others and it seems like they make their corn bread different sometimes. I got a Muffin, and I'm seeing texas toast style cuts in all these pictures. BUT EVERYTHING is still grilled! and I LOVE that they do that! Nice and warm and griddled. Tried their maple pecan pie too and that is heaven in a slice. All pies made in house and they are incredible. Not sure what was going on with their NC vinegar sauce. It was a very extremely watered down vinegar taste with a weird funk to it. But I would go back for the Ribs, Brisket, BFFs, Drinks. Something special about places that serve pickles and onions on the side for you.

Great food awesome beer selection and the hush puppies alone are worth the trip. I make a point to go here any time after I go to a Sea Dogs game.

BBQ at Salvage was good. Not great and not bad, middle of the road. Hush puppies and brisket were our favorites. The chopped pork was good, definitely helped by the side of bbq sauce. The collard greens weren't my taste: leaves left whole (not chopped up), no chucks of meat or onion or any added chunky flavorings, and not sweet or tangy (I'm usually happy with one or the other, but these didn't have either flavor), just OK leafy greens. The mac&cheese was different: an oddly bright color (almost curry colored) with bread crumbs on top, but wasn't not crispy or crunchy, plus not particularly "cheesy" in taste. Well laid out indoor dining for COVID (more than 6' between tables), everyone working wore a well fitted mask, and guests seemed to still be following the rules.

I didn't have the best experience at Salvage today and must downgrade my previous reviews. The ribs were not tender. Two of my three friends who had the chili thought it was inedible. Another friend said the pulled pork sandwich wasn't very good. I'm disappointed that this place wasn't as good today as it used to be.

I'm not sure how lame it is for me as a vegetarian to write a review of a meaty place? Does this make me a jerk? I'm gonna do it anyway. When you're a vegetarian with a boyfriend who loves meat, you eventually go with it and just hope for some veggie options at spots. Salvage has veggie sides, rejoice! Their cornbread is truly life changing. It's buttery, soft, but also crispy from being grilled. It's a must get. The mac&cheese here is also quite delectable, though I'm not sure any mac will beat the mac at Figgy's. Still good. I came here last weekend and ordered the cornbread, mac, and beans. Boyf got pulled pork (I think? I should probably pay more attention). The cornbread and mac were awesome, and very reasonably priced. The beans were served cold, I don't think intentionally? I ended up not eating much of those. The seating here is communal, long picnic tables. The décor is fun - Christmas lights hang from the ceiling, and the bar is fully decorated with mementos. It's a pretty big, open space. It can get MEGA loud in here. There was live music on the night I went, which was fun, but it also made it impossible to have a conversation. Maybe I'm just getting old... Plentiful taps and pretty good food make this a fun spot. Your food is served on a big tray, which is amusing. It's definitely an authentic barbecue experience.

I haven't been here in a while, went with some friends and my partner this morning. We were hungover, so the new crafted cocktail menu was amazing. I got the brisket sandwich and Mac and cheese. Best Mac and cheese around! I love brisket, cooked perfect. I just wish I got the bbq sauce on the side, too much. I wouldn't have added as much. Other than that great time.

I travel regularly through Portland every year. This will always be the stop for food. No question. The pain in the butt parking is well worth the stop!