The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square

Barbecue restaurant · Cambridge

The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square

Barbecue restaurant · Cambridge

2

8 Holyoke St, Cambridge, MA 02138

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The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null
The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square by null

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Award-winning BBQ, huge whiskey selection, great hospitality  

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8 Holyoke St, Cambridge, MA 02138 Get directions

thesmokeshopbbq.com

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

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8 Holyoke St, Cambridge, MA 02138 Get directions

+1 617 547 7427
thesmokeshopbbq.com
thesmokeshopbbqharvardsquare

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

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Aug 15, 2025

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Where to Eat Around Harvard and MIT

"With the largest selection of American whiskey in New England, the Smoke Shop is a great place to grub out with friends and grab a drink. Come for the meat, stay for the sides (cornbread anyone?), and wash it all down with their signature smoky Old-Fashioned." - Annie Harrigan

https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-harvard-mit
View Postcard for The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square
@eater

15 Essential Barbecue Restaurants Around Boston

"Smoke Shop opened in Cambridge in 2016 thanks to Andy Husbands (who owned the now-defunct Tremont 647), a longtime barbecue devotee and fixture on the competitive circuit. His Kendall Square restaurant and its newer counterparts in Boston’s Fort Point, Somerville’s Assembly Row, and Cambridge’s Harvard Square feature big platters of meats, from burnt ends to ribs, piled high with sides. Don't miss the wings, coated in sticky-sweet agave and spices. On the beverage side, there's so much whiskey. (Find a mini counter-service version of Smoke Shop at West End food hall Hub Hall, too.)" - Valerie Li Stack, Rachel Leah Blumenthal

https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-barbecue-boston
View Postcard for The Smoke Shop BBQ - Harvard Square

Andrew Porter

Google
Looking for some good BBQ, this is the place. Offers authentic Pit Barbecue feel including tin trays and sauces. Portions were great size and would recommend the fries appetizer with pulled chicken. All meat we had was moist and delicious. Side dishes were ok. Expected the pit beans to be more smoky. They were more spicy. Potato salad had good dill flavor. Service was intermittent, but very courteous!

Gabriella

Google
Great spot for barbecue in Boston. They’ve got the classics, alongside some unique meats, such as Pork Belly Burnt Ends, to choose from. Their sides are also pretty tasty, and they’ve got lots of choices. When we went, it was nearly empty inside, so the ambiance was pleasant and service was timely. They’ve got both indoor and outdoor seating options. Would definitely recommend for the meat eater.

Tina Rodwilk

Google
Restaurant week lunch: Chilled BBQ chicken summer rolls and dipping sauce, relish, pickles side of fries and greens. Pulled BBQ chicken sandwich. Pit boss ; pork ribs, sausage and burnt ends, coleslaw, potato salad and beans. Chicken summer roll sauce is very spicy. The pickles are tasty but the spicy dusting of herbs really isn't necessary. Very colorful dish but not enough chicken. Fries were good but not freshly made. The chicken sandwich was Pulled chicken and fairly generous. The potato salad, coleslaw and beans are good. The meats; pork ribs, burnt ends seemed like leftovers warmed up and saucy sweet. Although there is a smoke flavor the sauce is overdone. The burnt ends are fair but almost tortured beyond recognition. The sausage was good. Although it looks odd it tasted good. The sauces are good but somewhat sweet. The gold sauce reminds me of Saltlicks BBQ sauce. BTW- loved the slice of cold watermelon! Angelina was knowledgeable, friendly and professional answer our numerous questions. Clean and comfortable especially if you're looking for a place to chill.

Ted S.

Google
Amazing service, delicious food and great ambience. It was a pleasant evening out and I will definitely want to go back there again. There was a bit of an issue with getting my fish option (not unexpected as it’s a steakhouse). The team got round to sorting it out and it was worth the wait.

Derek Fournier

Google
Surprisingly good BBQ near Harvard My son and I were wandering and looking for lunch when we stumbled upon The Smoke Shop. It was empty but seemed to be open so we walked in and we're greeted promptly. Great seating, TVs and a warm atmosphere were followed up by a pretty solid menu. While I am a BBQ snob, the menu here was good and for restaurant BBQ, not in Texas, this place was excellent. We tried the wings and buffalo fried rib appetizers. Both were quite tasty. Both a little dry, but fantastic flavor. We both got 2 meat samplers for lunch with brisket and burnt ends. The brisket was good as were the burnt ends. Again...this is NOT Texas BBQ. If you have been there or cook that style, you may be disappointed. That said, the brisket was sliced (not chopped) and the fat rendered well. Fires were tasty and the 3 house sauces were all tasty. I don't typically use sauce on my BBQ but appreciate good sauces. In a city where seafood is king, this was a nice stop and we're I here for a drink, I bet it would have been a great place for that as well. Serving sizes were ample and pricing seemed fair per local market.

Cyrus Moattari

Google
What an amazing experience eating at this place. Like any other smokehouse restaurant, they have an excellent assortment of barbecue. But they also have so many other great options that range from fried fish to delectable salads. Most importantly, the juicy watermelon that is served with the quicktime served meals are no joke. I hope to recommend this place to anyone who enjoys authentic sauces, a wide variety of local drinks, and a great time.

Austin Sloop

Google
Awesome vibe, super fast service. We got the 9 wing plate and a pulled pork sandwich. Sides were the best (beans, cornbread, and cucumber salad) Plenty of great sauces. Hot could be hotter, but plenty of flavor. Meats were a little overdone, but we still enjoyed it. Alright for 50, and hit our BBQ crave.

Sal Syed

Google
Date. 16May25, Friday, 4pm. Went to visit Harvard and were hungry so we decided on bbq. It was in Harvard square and definitely a good choice. We had bbq fries with pulled chicken and pulled pork sandwich. They have three sauces, a mustard based sauce, spicy, and sweet. All three were great. The pulled chicken was soft and tender and Smokey. The bbq fries were a huge portion and should be shared. They had jalapeños, beans and sauce. It definitely filled me up.
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Mary S.

Yelp
This is hospitality. Great service and food in a comfortable environment. My kids even noted how great our server was. Good value for kids meals too!!
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Wern O.

Yelp
TLDR: solid BBQ. Reasonable for Cambridge prices, it's always nice to have more options.
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Jireh H.

Yelp
Instead of being a maverick, it is sometimes well advised to just heed the advice of fellow foodies in certain areas of cuisine ESPECIALLY if they are absolute fanatics about it. Here, I was warned early during my move here that most - if not all - BBQ spots in the immediate area would be a letdown. It wasn't a case that they weren't good...but they were now missing an element of consistency of what made them once great. I obviously did not heed that advice and followed the other rule of thumb when it comes to BBQ. That is, be there when they first open as that is when the ingredients are often just off the smoke process and resting prior to being served. This way...nothing stays in hot hold for too long (or whatever holding process they choose to follow) that results in the meats drying out. So I placed an online order right before they opened thinking this would indeed be the case...and was absolutely wrong. I wouldn't dare say in the moment that I was served a reheat but it might as well be. Ribs were dry, brisket was really dry, and the pulled chicken was only edible after drowning it with the provided sauce. That in itself proved my fellow foodie right and I didn't want to tell him what had transpired to avoid the "I *told* you so". I am going to just guess that it was an off day. Everyone has one for all possible reasons. I'm going to sit this one out for a while and try again another time. In the meanwhile, I'll keep my hopes up that my fellow friend can be proven wrong by what this area has to offer.
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Dee C.

Yelp
Was so excited that they brought back the collard greens I just had to order. There is something different about the Smoke Shop, and I'm not feeling it. It used to be my favorite place to eat in Boston. I would bring every date there, my friends, my family. I had a whole neighborhood hooked on their burnt ends like I was making illegal deals. Then they got rid of the collard greens, and the burnt ends weren't the same. Now burnt ends still not the same, and collard greens are not as delsish, and what the heck have they put in the beans? It's crunchy. I couldn't tell what it was, but it was like green pepper almost. Don't let me change your mind, tho. The food is still good. It's just not how it was a few years ago. Bring those chefs back, and let's have all the kitchens mirror each other so it's the same no matter which one you go to. Still the best BBQ out here.
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Richard T.

Yelp
Sooo gooood hwuuavsvhvsgjacejnacekydvbsfshjaga2 hmm gsu3g33 fluff k haggle hall fall hall g GG ha sooo is do
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T W.

Yelp
Love this place. Inside is beautiful. The food is delicious and the online orders take less than 20 minutes. The staff are all nice and friendly. Very welcoming The food is worth every penny. This is my second time having this ultimate fried fish. Honorable mention to anyone who is into spicy foods The Clucking Hot chicken sliders.......are exactly that. I got through the first one and struggled with the second one. Anyone looking for a challenge should try. Back to the food. Yes the 1/2 sour pickles are exactly that.

Tiana C.

Yelp
As bbq goes, this place can only rate as okay. Definitely don't bring your friends from the south. We ordered the pit boss with pulled pork, burnt ends, and brisket. Then cornbread, zucchini salad, and brussels sprouts as the sides. With a side of fries and cheddar jalapeño sausage. The sides were the best part. The burnt ends were very hard and I would. or recommend. The rest were just okay, and nothing to write home about. But the service is great and the staff are very friendly.

Teach G.

Yelp
I understand that BBQ is a tough business because food has to be cooked ahead of time, but still be juicy. A few years ago, this place was stellar. Unfortunately, last summer and this summer it has been terrible. In particular, their ranch dressing is no longer housemade. The corn bread and wings were so dry. I will not be returning
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Kristi P.

Yelp
We stopped in here for lunch today. Hubby got a beer & I got a backyard luau which was very good. Food was very good as well - BBQ peanuts were spicy! BBQ pulled chicken, Nashville Hot Chicken sliders, etc. Service was good as well. Would def stop in if ever in Cambridge again.
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Anosha K.

Yelp
We ordered the Pit Boss Combo with brisket, ribs, pork belly burnt ends, mac and cheese, potato salad, cole slaw, and cornbread, as well as the Nashville hot chicken sliders. All of the meat was tender and delicious. We asked for extra spicy on the chicken sliders and they were DEFINITELY burn your tongue off spicy. The cornbread was a real standout--it was the perfect ratio of crumbly and sweet. This will definitely be our go-to BBQ spot. The only thing that could've been better was the coleslaw. It was pretty dry. We ordered from here via Uber Eats delivery and they packaged everything really well and the food came fresh and hot.

Katie S.

Yelp
Always delicious food. Everything I've had has been great from the ribs, and burnt ends to the coleslaw. The smoked wings are simply amazing! Huge meaty flavorful wings, I love them. Also for those who need gluten-free meals, these guys are a great safe choice.
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Sean L.

Yelp
We split a Pitt Boss combo (3 meats and 3 sides) between 2 people and it was plenty of food for us. The brisket was my favorite meat as it was tender and juicy. The ribs were also sweet and delicious although I wish it was a bit more fall off the bone like. The smoked turkey breast was a bit on the dry side. I really enjoyed the cucumber salad to cleanse your palate between bites of BBQ. The crinkle fries were also tasty.
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Regina L.

Yelp
We went on a weekend afternoon and got seated right away. We split the pit boss with ribs, brisket and burnt ends. I really enjoyed the Brussels sprouts and toast that we got on the side. I wasn't too big of a fan of their bbq sauce for the burnt ends, but I enjoyed the spicy bbq sauce they provided for our table. Our service was a bit slow even though there were only 3 tables at the time. But if you're ever craving bbq, this is the place to go in Harvard square!
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Annabelle G.

Yelp
As someone from Texas I have a pretty high standard for bbq, overall this was mediocre. Pulled pork was chewy and a little stiff, mac&cheese had the most mild flavor, and the sauces they provide tasted too mild to have a good bbq sauce kick. Although the watermelon was a nice touch! Service was good and waiters were attentive and it was a nice relaxed environment. It's a one and done for me but I don't regret trying it!
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Matthew S.

Yelp
I admit I am not a BBQ connoisseur. For me, animal meat is a sometimes food. I prefer to eat veggie protein meats most of the time. But yesterday was my birthday and I had a deep craving for some actual animal flesh. Let me tell you, The Smoke Shop did not disappoint! Everything we ate was delicious. The corn bread was to die for and the cole slaw had a wonderful bit of spiciness to it. The meats were juicy and flavorful. In fact the meat was so tasty on its own that I nearly forgot to add the BBQ sauces! The addition of their sauces ramped up the flavor experience to a whole other level. The interior design of the restaurant was beautifully done. The aesthetics have a hip, modern, warm welcoming feel. The staff were all very friendly and service was quick and efficient. We definitely plan on returning to The Smoke Shop as soon as we can!
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Dimitry N.

Yelp
Came in thirsty and hungry for good barbecue. Unfortunately I left disappointed - poor service leaves the worst taste in your mouth, doesn't it? Had the Nashville Sliders and small side of crinkle cut fries. Swing and a miss. I guess you've gotta spend $40 here per person for their platters etc. Or just skip this place altogether

Sean M.

Yelp
Holy.. freakin ... moly. I've been to the smoke shop before, but this location?? BANANAS! The bartender, Daisy, is an absolute industry legend and made me this mezcal cocktail that I would sacrifice an appendage for. And yes, also.... The service was flawless. Carl, the director, was at the door and greeted me with a smile and welcoming energy. And like... damn dude... chill... what restaurant DO is in the floor crushing the service game? I'll tell you... him. The food is wild. Pimento Mac and cheese? Bro... they literally put the MAC in Mac and cheese. No wonder French Montana names his mixtapes Mac and cheese . Coleslaw f***s. Nashville sliders... STAAAAHHHPP IT. The only thing spicier in this world is the bartender . Absolutely gem of a restaurant and a pleasure to have in a city with no good bbq. Thank you!
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Gloria H.

Yelp
I've had food from The Smoke Shop before at events, but I only went in person for the first time recently. I went with a big group (~12 people) on a Wednesday evening, and they initially told us we had to get the family style set menu (choose two to three meats and two to three sides that everyone has to eat). Because we had a lot of vegetarians we asked instead to order a la carte, even though we would potentially be seated at different tables/be staffed by different waiters. In the end, the restaurant was pretty empty and they were able to seat us all together and serve us all together, which was great! I got 2-1/4 pound orders of the brisket with a side of cornbread. The brisket was okay -- some parts were more tender than others, and there wasn't much flavor. I don't like sweet sauces for savory foods and all of their sauces were sweet so I wasn't able to flavor my brisket. I did like the sides of watermelon and pickled vegetables! They balanced well with everything else. The cornbread was really delicious, some of the best cornbread I've ever had. Loved the butter on top and the sweetness. Someone who got the mac and cheese noted that the cornbread crumbles on top were by far the best part. So definitely get the cornbread! Some other reviews I got from my group, in brief -- 4/5 for the haddock sandwich, 4/5 for the meatless sandwich (good, not life-changing, wouldn't come back for it), 3.5/5 for the Texas brisket sandwich (kind of dry), a split review on the brussels sprouts (onion jam was the prevalent flavor, sweet and tangy, wet and not crispy), 5/5 for the ribs (very juicy). I've certainly had better barbecue, but I'm not sure that I've had better cornbread before. So I may stop by and get some cornbread to-go in the future :)
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Andrea L.

Yelp
Have been to the Kendall Square location a few times but this location at Harvard Square is relatively new. Staff are really nice and friendly and the place is clean! I got the fried fish entree which came with two sides (Brussels sprouts and Mac and cheese. Everything was tasty but the fish was slightly over cooked and a little dry, and the brussels were oily! If you're looking for some comfort food in a casual setting, this is the place to go! PS there are options for vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians at this BBQ joint!

Kelly S.

Yelp
I had a great time visiting here- loved the crispness of the wings and the customer service was great. I saw them filing a glass with smoke from a flame for whiskey which was cool. A unique spot I'd try again for a more southern, casual spot.

Moana K.

Yelp
Awesome customer service and amazing food!!! We had the baby back Monday special that came with a full slab of ribs, beans, potato salad, and watermelon. It was enough for two to share with leftovers! Wish we lived in Boston!
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Jen W.

Yelp
Spent a drizzly, snowy day wandering around Harvard. Found metered parking pretty quickly. Then realized it was short term. We had to drive toward the residential area so we could park for 2 hours. It was a blessing in disguise because we walked by shops and stores that we wouldn't have noticed had we parked right in front of our lunch spot. We walked into Smoke Shop BBQ and it was pretty empty. Perfect when you have a little one that likes to chatter. I had a local beer, and my friend had a nonalcoholic beer, and honestly there wasn't much of a difference in taste. Great selection of whiskey and bourbon. I will happily try a flight when I go back to one of their other locations. I had the fried chicken sandwich and my friend had the pulled pork. Added a ton of their tasty sauces to both and they were great. Mac & cheese was okay but I think mine is better. The cornbread and butter were delicious. So were the brussels sprouts. We took a recommendation on the dessert and were told that the butter cake with crunchy crumbs on top was good. Went for it, it was good, but needed some vanilla ice cream to go with it. Rich but dry. Might try the banana pudding next time. Service was warm, food was really good, bar is fully stocked if you're up for a drink, and we had a great time. Would definitely go back and try more of the menu. If you like fun pics, stand half way down the stairs to the restrooms. Back to the glass windows. Position your head under the flame logo and you'll have oopma lumpa hair!
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Cindy H.

Yelp
I've had The Smoke Shop a couple of times between the different locations and this Harvard Square spot disappoints me the most. I've gotten wings that haven't been cooked through (reaaaally pink insides) which is a total health hazard. That aside, the food is average at best and so overpriced for the portions. A sad dry hot link for $9 that is smaller than your average hot dog... three wings for $8? Last but not least, the staff is subpar. No greeting at the door every time I've come in. Rude when they finally do. Wrong orders all the time.

William G.

Yelp
amazing service, the place is nice and cozy. The food is excellent and very afforable. They have a good variety of food and I'm always happy with whatever I ordered. At this store, quantity over quality, quality over quantity, doesn't exist as they have a great balance of the two. 5 stars.
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John W.

Yelp
The BBQ is decent but I certainly don't think twice about it. The meat is moist and flavorful but tastes like any regular BBQ. Their sides are a bit bland to be honest and there can be a big greasy feeling to everything. It's BBQ, it's comfort food so there isn't much complain about but at the same time, not much to be that impressed by either
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Niral P.

Yelp
A small group of us were looking for a place to go for dinner last minute on Valentine's day and this place had space and the smell of barbecue HIT in the best way possible! The waiter said a pit boss combo would be good for 3 people but we still tried to order 1 between the 4 of us as soon as it arrived we knew he was right and ordered a second one. Each pit boss is 3 meats and 3 sides so we tried 6+6 and everything was delicious! My favorites were the pork belly burnt ends and the brisket, though we also got the chicken wings, og burnt ends, ribs, and hot links along with corn bread, zucchini slaw, brussel sprouts, fries, Mac n cheese, and mashed potatoes. The people there are so friendly too!

Paul D.

Yelp
1st time coming here, and despite a slow Monday night, I had a great meal with fantastic hospitality. Kudos to the staff for making me feel welcome here. The bbq wings were off the charts delicious. I will definitely be back to try the burnt ends. Well done, Smoke Shop!
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Karesa R.

Yelp
I ordered the haddock fish and chip and thought it was delicious. My husband ordered the combo special including, wings, ribs, and brisket and loved the variety and flavors he was able to get. He shared the meets were very tender: fall off the bone status and the best bbq sauces to pair. The sides were delicious including the Mac and cheese, cole slaw, and sweet potato mash were my FAVS. I would skip the zucchini salad side as I didn't enjoy the flavor. Overall, came on a night that wasn't crowded and service was prompt. Would def come back when in the area!
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Rhys G.

Yelp
Shocked I haven't been here yet. I'm not from the South, so most BBQ to me is delicious and this was no exception. The hostess let us choose wherever we wanted to sit since it was a mostly empty Sunday night. I ordered the burnt ends which were delicious and juicy but also not too fatty. The plate also came with a slice of watermelon and some pickles (cucumber ones had an unusual spice to them, perhaps cardamon?) which was a nice free addition. I also got the corn bread which was great and not too dry, and had a great buttery flavor, and the crinkle cut fries were as good as expected. The service was fast and speedy and everything was great!
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Rosemary H.

Yelp
I've eaten inside the restaurant, and the service is great. Mostly, though, I get take-out, usually the pit boss with three choices of meats and sides. The ribs are impressive-- meaty, just the right 'cue flavor. The pulled pork is also good. And those sides! I get collard greens, pit beans, and two potato salad usually. The brussel sprouts, when available, are superb. Now, about portions: One pit boss ($27 as of today) easily feeds two people, even three. So order a couple for friends and you can make a crowd happy! When you have a craving for BBQ, the Smoke Shop fills the bill. I have eaten at the Kendall Sq. one as well.
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Allie S.

Yelp
I'm a fan of Smoke Shop but I had not visited their Harvard Square location. Given the location I thought it would always be packed and loud but it was pretty quiet on a Saturday afternoon. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of fries and corn bread. The quality of food is just as good as the other locations. It was my first time trying their corn bread and I'm glad I did. This is another good option if looking for a restaurant in Harvard Square.
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A L.

Yelp
Really loved ambience and service. Lots of great meat options, interesting BBQ sauces and great wait staff. Need to try HOT LINKS-wow they're freaking amazing! Thanks again Smoke Shop!
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Raymond H.

Yelp
Good food! Harvard Square has never had a big barbecue scene and I'm glad this is in the area now. I've been spoiled by barbecue elsewhere in Massachusetts but this place is not too shabby. We got the brisket, ribs and wings and they were very yummy! $27 for 3 sides and 3 meats isn't too shabby, but the portion size is generous. We ordered takeout but looking forward to dining in at some point!
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Jay M.

Yelp
2nd time visiting this location. Excellent meal. Great beer and whiskey selections. Nice decor, tunes, vibe. The young guy tending bar was good, attentive to all guests... I saw him doing great communications with everyone to assure everything ordered as planned . Only issue was my ribs were a little tough vs fall off bone. Mixing the 3 sauces was great tasting. Mac and cheese on point. Beans a little spice kick but way I want. Brisket perfect, the slice of buttered bread under brisket was good too and I ate. The 3 wings add on for 7 bucks were excellent taste, but on small size... ones I had at Kendall location were huge and off the hook smoked flavor excellent. Few issues to resolve in mensroom as I am anal about clean hands during the CoVID and now virus cases increasing in Massachusetts... so plenty soap, towels are good. Great location in Harvard Square and I'll be back. I originally was headed to waterfront location, but parking was difficult, so either Kendall Square or Harvard Square next destination. I still miss the Brussels sprouts side as was dah bomb. Sweet potato salad looked interesting as someone next to me ordered and mentioned it was good.

Victoria M.

Yelp
My family had a great time at this BBQ restaurant. We didn't have high expectations for this restaurant, since the best BBQ I've had is in the South. However, this restaurant could go toe to toe with any of those. Our server was friendly. The baked beans were some of the best I've had with the right mix of heat and seasonings. The pulled chicken was tender and flavorful. The decor matches what you would expect for a BBQ restaurant, nothing fancy, just good food. I'm giving 4 stars because the bar drinks were a little heavy handed with the bourbon, but maybe that's what you get being next to a university. Had the Jim Collins, good, but strong. I would recommend going to this BBQ restaurant.

Gabe A.

Yelp
Awesome food, awesome atmosphere. The BBQ is really good and I strongly recommend stopping by when in Cambridge.
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Eche W.

Yelp
The food and drinks made by day. The entire team was super nice and welcoming. It was also nice to meet Pat. We will definitely return. If you ever visit you must have the Mac and cheese bites. The zucchini salad is one of a kind. Absolutely delicious!
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Rose M.

Yelp
One of the best barbecue place i've ever visited. Wings, Ribs and sausage cooked perfectly, juicy and tender. Comes with few side dishes. The corn bread taste delicious. Sweet potato mashed was good too. Service was also good, our waiter was very attentive. My only complaints are the coleslaw was bad, taste sour and fries a bit over season and salty. Otherwise it would be perfect.
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Rick A.

Yelp
Best bbq in the area - So effing good. Brisket was perfectly seasoned and moist. The Nashville Hot Chicken (less spicy option) was perfectly spicy, moist and tasty. And the sides are incredible too including the crinkle cut fries, Texas toast, zucchini chips. Was a nice atmosphere inside as well. Excited to go back for more.
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Kiana Z.

Yelp
Was excited to try out this new place and overall it was good, but was definitely expecting better Mac and cheese from a bbq place. The Fried Catfish was good. Atmosphere was nice. Would give a 3.5.
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Olivia B.

Yelp
Decided to start having chicken again after 7 years of being pescatarian and picked this place to try it again, definitely a good choice! Tried the wing plate with half spicy and half their classic- the spicy is no joke but so good! Service was great, reasonable prices, and food is so good ,my bf a big meat eater loved it too ! Love the watermelon with the platters too a great touch!

Ben C.

Yelp
We have dinner at the Harvard or Kendall Square branches at least once a month, Clearly, we must like the food. But we have a real problem with their take-out business. They do not seem to have a quality control system for take-out. Specifically, my wife invariably orders cornbread as one of her side dishes. Last night, for maybe the fifth time this past year, it was not included when we got home and unpacked the dinner. There was also no barbecue sauce, which is also regularly omitted. By now we should check each time, but, like Charlie Brown and the football, we keep thinking that "Oh, this time it will be there. They can't always be pulling away the cornbread." Yesterday was my wife's birthday and Smoke House was her chosen birthday dinner. Our daughter joined us. We spread out our ribs and brisket in our backyard--and no cornbread or barbeque sauce again. We were annoyed enough to call the restaurant (after we ate). Not much of an apology, just an offer to refund the missing cornbread price (maybe $3.50. We'll see if it turns up). Bottom line, anything can happen once. But the cornbread omission, while not yet a deal breaker (never happens with beans, mac & cheese, greens, etc.,) is a real annoyance. Be forewarned, should you want a piece in your next take-out.
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Michael C.

Yelp
I'm from the south and was really hoping this would be an actually good barbecue place since I haven't found one around here yet. No luck. Mac and cheese was fine and so were the baked beans. The brisket was so so dry it was hard to eat. The burnt ends were better but also dry. It is super expensive and they got our order wrong even though it wasn't even busy when we went. We ordered corn bread but didn't get it and got beans that we didn't order, and we ordered the barbecue fries which were supposed to have toppings but it was just a basket of fries and a cup of queso. I really don't understand the good reviews. It was bad enough that I can't attribute the quality to an off day or anything. Do not recommend. For such a high price point at least don't massacre the meat. Such a disappointment and a waste of money and calories.
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Jasmin J.

Yelp
They had indoor seating right beside a large open window, which I super appreciated and thought was smart. It was chilly, but not unbearable. And made us feel a bit better about eating during a pandemic. I was a bit disappointed at how the menu had shrunk. No pork belly burnt ends, no collard greens... bummer. I got the brisket and pulled pork in the end, with cornbread and sweet potato mash. Both sides were okay -- I was a fam of the cornbread, which had a crispy top and cakey inside. Pulled pork was my favorite of the meats, but the sticky ribs appetizer was also delicious. Another party member got the mac n cheese side, which was also disappointing. There was not much cheese on it -- looked more like a macaroni salad.

Joyce M.

Yelp
The food was delicious. Loved the pimento Mac n cheese and corn bread! Service was excellent ! Reasonably priced. Would come back again when I am in the area.
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here t.

Yelp
Well, maybe its me. But at the price points and "1st Place" level, these ribs were just OK. The sauces, just OK- kind of all in the same theme and no vinegar based at all. The brussel sprouts were dosed in way too much sweet sauce and the french fries were really duds. The brisket is really nice tho. Sigh. Having eaten in lots BBQ of places in the SE and S, I don't understand it. No beef ribs and the school of thought here doesn't seem to value meat "falling off the bone" at all.

Leanne G.

Yelp
I wanted to love the smoke shop in Harvard square, but unfortunately it's nothing like the one in Somerville at assembly row. The brisket was extremely dry. Service is also incredibly slow, it was a weekday with only two other booths filled ... Be aware of the extra charge 3.00 for a kitchen fee that I did not authorize!
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Sarah W.

Yelp
I'm from Oklahoma so BBQ is in my blood. Finding a good BBQ restaurant in Boston was a top priority, but proved hard to do. That is, until I found this place. Their sweet sauce is my favorite. Their meat is always perfectly tender. I wish it was closer to the base, but then that would mean I'd go broke from eating there every night.

Raymond G.

Yelp
Clean and good food. They messed up my drink but offer me another very quickly. Nice place
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Damex 1.

Yelp
I came here in 2019 and the food was great, so I was very excited to come back, but unfortunately my most recent visit was less than ideal. I'm not sure if there were any changes since then, but the food was wildly different from what I remember. I came here with my girlfriend, she got the fried catfish and I got a pit boss with brisket, pork belly, ribs, corn bread, mac and cheese, and toast. -Catfish: VERY salty, we both tried it and it was so salty we had to send it back. We felt bad asking to reorder but it was honestly tough to even swallow and we hadn't eaten all day. -Brisket: excellent -Toast: excellent -Pork belly was okay, I would've probably liked the sauce on the side rather than having it smothered in sauce but that one's personal preference, not necessarily bad. -The corn bread was also quite salty? I'm not sure why there was so much salt. -Mac and cheese was good but unfortunately we found a ball of thread in it, we originally thought it was hair though. However we had already sent back the catfish and plus the mac and cheese is just a side dish so we didn't really want to make a big deal out of it. -Ribs were not fall off the bone, quite chewy and difficult to work with. Idk maybe they're supposed to be that way but I've personally always had ribs fall off the bone. Service was excellent though. Server was super nice and the manager came up personally and asked us about the food since I think she heard that we were dissatisfied. They saved the meal for us but I don't think its enough to bring us back in. Perhaps if they make changes to the food we would reconsider but until then we probably will go somewhere else for BBQ. Presentation of the food was also very good! Great for Instagram pics or food blogs.