I used to love this place, but the last few takeout orders were horrible... The smoked chicken tenders were so dried out and tough we threw them away. I suspect they were pre-cooked and dropped in the fryer before offering them up. And more than once, things were missing in the order, might be a good idea to check before getting home, but doubt I'll return. read more

Their spareribs are really incredibly delicious! The best I've ever had. Atmosphere is fun and the kiddos love it. read more

Longtime customer. Loved, loved, loved this place, and never missed an opportunity to rave about it, especially out-of-town tourists looking for a recommendation. I'd say we used to go there an average of once a month since I moved to the Cape 9 years ago! After about the first three years here, we noticed the food quality and portions were very inconsistent. But when it was good, it was VERY good. But now, it's simply bad. The brisket went from amazing to just "okay". The fried chicken is hit or miss, occasionally a bit undercooked. The size of the side dishes have all gotten smaller and are no longer as flavorful. My favorite USED TO BE the pork belly. It was mouth-watering and amazing, like chunks of bacon that were slightly crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. Now I am not exaggerating when I say the pork belly is gross, dry, tough, and stringy. I am not even sure if this is the proper cut of meat to be called pork belly... it's tough as a burnt cube steak, so tough you can barely tear it with your teeth or cut it with a knife. See the photo below. This is not the entree that has been my favorite for the past nine or so years. It is absolute crap. The pork belly shouldn't even be on the menu anymore, that's how awful it is. I've complained to them directly in the past but nothing has changed. My last two visits were terrible and a waste of money. This past visit will be my last. read more

Big Dog's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Orleans, Massachusetts

My boyfriend and I decided to try Big Dog's BBQ while vacationing up at the Cape based on their stellar Yelp reviews. I'm sorry to say that the reviews here and our experience does not match. Firstly, upon seeing that they had house-made lemonade, we both ordered one. We aren't exactly sure what was in the lemonade, but it was terrible. We thought they might've confused the sugar with salt because it just tasted like tons of salt, a couple of lemon squeezes, and water. We could not even drink it. We ordered waters to try to water it down, but it did not help much. Secondly, we got the fried pickles and the BBQ wings. Both appetizers were very good (hence the 1 star). I ordered a meat tray with a 1/2 rack of ribs, pulled pork, potatoes au gratin, and coleslaw. The potatoes were cold in the middle. The meat and the coleslaw were just okay. I found a piece of heated plastic wrap stuck to the underside of the ribs (see picture). We told our waitress. She took it to the kitchen and reported back that the cooks wrap the ribs in plastic when cooling the ribs. She did the right thing and took my entire meal off the bill. My boyfriend got a meat tray with pulled pork, brisket, mac and cheese, and coleslaw. He reported that the mac and cheese had a funky taste and the brisket was very fatty. Also, we were not impressed by their selection of sauces, as they were very typical (one was straight vinegar, one was straight dijon mustard, and one just tasted like beans). The BBQ was good. All in all, we were pretty disappointed except for the appetizers. read more

See all

The food here has no business being so gosh darn good! I've been driving past this spot due years because I didn't want to go bowling when I was camping. I'm happily surprised with the food and service. They have a well thought out covid procedure including hand sanitizer, distanced tables, outdoor check out, servers with masks, and barriers that ensure safety for their outdoor dining despite being in a parking lot. Main course: Fried chicken with gravy was so good! It was most and crunchy! What a treat! The pulled pork was great too! I heard that the burnt ends were a bit too saucy for our liking but still good. Sides: Brussel sprouts kinda looked overcooked but tasted great, coleslaw was actually enjoyable, the mac and cheese was okay but had a weird smokey taste (not like the pulled pork, this seemed a bit off, but overall good). The collard greens were very garlic forward. I can't believe this bbq spot has been here and i just never knew. If it weren't for the pandemic i wouldn't even have known that people actually ate at a bowling alley. I'll definitely be going back. read more

Amazing bbq. Bowling and an arcade. Can't ask for more for a rainy day on cape or just as excuse to enjoy some great food! Make sure to get one of joes famous margaritas or ask James his beer of the week! read more

Big Dog's BBQ - Pretzel - Barbeque Near Me - Orleans, Massachusetts

How did they come up with this combo? Don't care, it works. This is local favorite for very good BBQ to have while bowling or have a couple of drinks and get food to go. Good selection of the usual BBQ items, brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, sausage and all the sides coleslaw, beans, cornbread, etc. Combo trays w/ 2 sides are $16-18. And are generous servings. Lanes are open M-Sat 10am-closed, Sun 11:30am-closed. BBQ is served Mon-Thur 4PM - 9PM, Fri & Sat 11:30am-10pm, Sun 11:30am-9pm. Hard to describe the atmosphere - roadhouse, sports bar, family fun. It's all of these. TVs for the requisite Boston team sports viewing. Also outdoor seating is available. Again a great idea to roll this all together but it gets a very good recommendation from us. Thank you. read more

We have been where several times- in fact it's a regular stop when we come down to orleans- and brisket is always on the list when we order. They were pretty busy with the rainy day crowd waiting to get tables right as they opened at 4 to eat while waiting for a lane. The coleslaw is fresh and light and the fries are good and they always hook it up with a variety of their BBQ sauces to choose from. This meant they my eldest actually tried several this time and to her surprise said wow these are good! This means that mostly they have that sweet tangy thing going, not go and spicy. If you like it hot this is not it. But boy is it good! In the past we have also had the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich - another great meal. We will be back for sure! read more

Five stars for the fried pickles. We've had delicious BBQ at a Kansas gas station, so we approached Cape Cod BBQ in a candlepin bowling alley with an open mind. The room is pleasant. The windows overlooking the alleys are a nice touch. Now on to the food: the BBQ was the best that we've had on Cape Cod. It isn't in the class of Dallas, Kansas City or Saint Louis BBQ, it it is a viable option when you want a break from lobster or fish. The fried pickles are a plate that will cause us to return. The staff is friendly and attentive. read more

See all

Just loved the food here. A group of us had dinner there recently. We tried 2 varieties of the many wing choices. SO good! I'm not a big wing eater but I now want to return and sample them all. I then had a huge salad full of so many fresh and good ingredients, topped with blackened chicken. Also wonderful. I ordered the corn pudding after our entrees arrived because it looked so good. It's a must-try! Our waitress was really friendly and did a great job getting all of our orders straight. Plus, we had some really good mules. I'm pretty sure we will be back! read more

Big Dog's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Orleans, Massachusetts

Save your pallette and calories by ordering only the Brisket and sausages were moist and juicy. The ribs and pulled pork were dried out and salty. Sides were fine..but nothing memorable. If you're expecting much, don't because these reviews are based on bbq in the cape area that specializes seafood. So bar is low. But it's worth a try to change up the food if you're tired of the same fried food group that is Cape Cod Cuisine...fried anything read more

We were very skeptical of this place since when we drove in it was inside a bowling alley. However, it surprised us and was really good! Drinks were strong, and they had a huge selection of beers and ciders on tap and canned. The brisket was good, maybe a touch dry but still tasty. The BBQ sauces were unique and the Mac and cheese was to die for. Definitely a great little place on the Cape and the best value for the area, considering other BBQ places are double the price for less food. Try this place out- you won't be disappointed! read more

Came here on a Tuesday night in Winter. Only a few tables were taken, leaving plenty of options, thanks to the newly expanded dining space. The restaurant is part of the bowling alley, so there will always be the roll and crack of bowling balls sliding along the wood and striking the candlesticks. The space is clean and the service was fine. The waitress was fairly attentive but never did refill my water (although I didn't ask). I got the ribs platter, which comes with a full rack of pork ribs and choice of 2 sides (one hot, one cold). I chose the broccoli slaw and mac'n'cheese as sides. The ribs were hit and miss. One half rack was great: meaty, tender, and delicious. The other half rack was poor: dry, stiff, and skimpy on the meat. The contrast was stark and confusing. At least the sides were tasty. The broccoli slaw was crunchy and had a nice zing to it and the mac'n'cheese was full of robust cheesiness. It's just a shame that the ribs weren't consistently high quality, especially when the platter as a whole costs $24. I cant wholeheartedly recommend this place due to my inconsistent experience, but due to the dearth of BBQ on Cape Cod and the numerous menu options, I'd say it's worth a shot if you're really craving it. read more

Big Dog's BBQ - Full rack of ribs (w/ 2 sides- $24) - Barbeque Near Me - Orleans, Massachusetts

See all

We've been to Big Dog BBQ 4 times. I am giving the place 5 stars for the super friendly bar and wait staff. The owner scored big time opening a BBQ joint in a hip bowling alley. Brilliant concept. The menu is perfect, the food pretty darn good. I love the corn pudding. It's a pillow of sweet and savory corn goodness. The homemade mac and cheese is sublime. Wed. night is Chicken and Waffle Night. The waffles are fluffy and light with a lovely flavored butter and real maple syrup. I want to love the fried chicken but don't. It tastes burnt. I have sampled it 4 times and it's always the same. The chicken itself is moist and nice. The biscuits are ok but a bit dense for my taste. My daughter loves the pulled pork on a brioche. She and mom had the ribs and didn't love them. It was a slab of dry meat and no place to cut to separate the bones. Gristle made it hard to cut. They offer a selection of BBQ sauces. So cool! My beer drinking boyfriend and daughter love the beer list. They sell Not Your Father's Root Beer! Grab some friends and head over. I am not a red meat eater but have heard the burgers are the best on Cape. Oh, one point of mention, you can play a game and eat at the alley as tables are set up at each lane. Such a cool place! read more

The food here is very good - have gotten take out 4-5 times since the beginning of the year Highlights Chicken and Waffles Pulled Pork Sandwich Boneless Tenders Ribs All the sauces are great Excellent Quality at a fair price read more

The food is always great, but unfortunately last night we ordered takeout and found three blond hairs in at least three different dishes. Whomever is working in the kitchen should wear a hair net. After spending $130 on a whole lot of food, it was disappointing to say the least. That said, we ate the food after pulling the strands of hair out. read more

I wrote about my experience on Facebook and had several friends agree, what had been a really good bbq place, has slipped. This would be 1 star, but my daughter really liked her veggie burger, so I bumped it up for that. Reluctantly I might add, since as a bbq place, you'd rather do well with the brisket, than a veggie burger. I ordered take out, having seen notice on FB that since it was their 4th anniversary, food would be 1/2 price. I find out when I pick up, not so on take out. The FB event never listed that. I ordered the brisket plate. The brisket was fatty, lukewarm and poorly seasoned. Something I would more expect from mall food court bbq, than a place I used to brag about to people. A side of fried mac and cheese bites consisted of about 3 pieces. Fries served with the veggie burger were bland, poorly cooked and not fresh cut. I had concerns when I would see on their daily specials, curry dishes and wondered why a bbq place would be drifting into other areas. I hope they get their game on, because at its best, we were talking righteous bbq. read more

Big Dog's BBQ - Brisket from Big Dog's, thumbs down . - Barbeque Near Me - Orleans, Massachusetts

Soooo....it's the greatest BBQ on the cape! Get here and eat. Please! Do it now. I had the Brisket and ribs. Staff is exceptional, shop local. read more

Big Dog's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Orleans, Massachusetts

So barbecue, on the Cape? Oh yes baby, YES. First off, its located in a bowling alley, so lose the pretentions, or you will really miss out. Plus candlepins are da bomb! Their meats are over the top tender, served with an assortment of sauces, and I suggest you try all of them. Yeah, yeah... I thought I knew what I liked... Ended up loving them all. The sides are tasty, but oh my god, the au gratin potatoes will change your religion. They are possibly a food group unto itself, so make sure you try it. Food is excellent. Service is warm and friendly, and leave time to bowl a few games! read more

This is a surprisingly good restaurant within the bowling alley in Orleans. The portions are quite large. The appetizer section would satisfy most people. I visited with a friend and we split the baby back ribs at $24.00 for lunch. Two sides are included and we did collard greens and their amazing potato au gratin. Complete awesomeness and a good homemade value. Service was accommodating and very nice. read more

Big Dog's BBQ - The baby back ribs. You choose the sauce. - Barbeque Near Me - Orleans, Massachusetts

Love Love Love - Alley Burger is a personal favorite - Pulled Pork is another one - Everything is great

This place is awesome! The food was good and pretty fast (even though it was quite busy). And they bring it right to your lane when doing candlepin bowling. Highly recommended! read more

Surprising find while cruising down Route 6A in Orleans, MA. Huge servings so bring your appetite. Had the BBQ Shepard's Pie - was very good. Recommend to anyone in the mood for BBQ. Added benefit is that it is part of a old candle pin bowling alley. Kids will enjoy! read more

This food is so delicious! Whether you eat there or take it to go it's always so good! Tonight we ate there and sat outside. Jill was our server and she was excellent. read more

See all

For the family or for a break-away, these folks know how to give a fun time with great home made food. Pulled pork with a variety of sauces, we had a birthday with a variety of ages and it was SO FUN! The outdoor dining is spacious and plentiful with friendly home-style staff, bring your pals, family or both. read more

Ok so maybe it seems weird to go to a bowling alley for a great meal but that's exactly what happens here. The BBQ served here is incredible! The ribs are fall off the bone. There are four amazing sauces. The sides are delish. I've had BBQ in a lotta places but this is one of the very best. read more

We got to Orleans on Cape Cod on Sunday evening, and by the time we got unpacked just about all of the restaurants in town were closed. Thank God this place was open! We were unable to place our takeout order by telephone, and so we drove over instead (only a 5 minute drive from our rental home). The food was ready in about 25 minutes. The brisket was tender but slightly dry. The rub on the meat was very tasty. The chicken & waffles were spot on with a nice gravy. The brisket noodle bowl was also very good. This was our first dining experience at Big Dogs...but will certainly not be our last! read more

BDB catered a small graduation party for us and we couldn't be happier! The brisket and pulled pork sliders were standouts as was the boneless fried chicken. We also go some good beans, mac and cheese and lots of sauce choices. The Cole slaw was tasty but a little too much mayo and the ribs were a little on the small and lean side and lacked a smokey flavor but were still good but not great. The staff is very nice and delivered as promised. read more

Living in The Kansas City area for 40 years, I became sort of a bbq snob esp w KCMasterpiece sauce. On the way into town last night, my daughter and her husband were asking me about barbecue places. They found Big Dog's at the Alley (bowling alley) on 6A in Orleans. In addition to the FABULOUSLY DELICIOUS pulled pork, ribs, pulled pork sandwich, pickles, cole slaw and potato salad, the staff was very friendly and attentive- nice eating area outside . Highly recommend!! read more

Basically like going to Wendy's. It's a guessing game if you'll get all your food! Last three times I've went they've forgot one of my orders. read more

Took a mini vacation to Wellfleet with my wife & son and ended up eating here 3 times out of the 6 days we were down the Cape. First meal was lunch when we arrived @ the Cape, having seen this place on Yelp we decided to stop in on our way to our hotel in Wellfleet and it started our vacation off right! Food was awesome, we each selected a special from the sandwich board specials menu, my wife got the fish tacos which she said were the best fish tacos she even had because the fish was sea bass!! Son & I had the chicken cutlet sandwich which was great too. Next visit was for dinner which we all tried the bbq, I got the burnt ends meal, son got brisket & pulled pork combo and wife got the ribs, all were so good and the sides were awesome too (mac & cheese, potatoes au gratin & brussel sprouts) oh and we got a an appetizer of Nana's 21 wings which were soooooo good that we tried an order of the Parker's wings on our final visit too both were EXCELLENT! On our last visit, wife got a burger, son & I got the Buttermilk Fried Chicken trays and again all of the food was expertly cooked! Hands down the best BBQ we have all had, so we will definitely be coming back (hopefully next summer) or when we visit the Cape again! read more

Awesome! Went there on vacation with the family I got the brisket and ribs with mac and cheese abd mac. salad. Practicly did need sauce. But, do not leave without trying the chipotle BBQ sauce. I was upset they didn't sell it in bottles. So you know, I've gone around to lots of different places in MA. (Where I live) to compare BBQ paces and this was one of the best. I've also done a fair amount of smking myself, so I'm no slouch when it comes to identifying good BBQ. Don't miss out on this one! read more

Amazing...I can't believe this place is here on the old bowling alley I used visit as a kid. I haven't ever seen BBQ this good outside of the South ever. Collard greens are amazing, as is the brisket! read more

Simply put, this place is awesome. I have been to a TON of bbq joints across the country, and this hidden gem has some of the best brisket and pulled pork I have had in recent memory. The burgers are good too - with plenty of funky variations. The portions are HUGE (plenty of leftovers) - so much so that three of us had brisket for lunch again the next day. This bowling alley + full bar makes candlestick bowling, bbq, and cocktails a super fun destination - especially on those inevitable rainy days. You're going to blown away by the food - and the fun and friendly staff take it over the "five star" mark. BTW: it's family friendly. We took our young son and were well taken care of. Good luck and enjoy...this one is worth the trip. read more

My wife and I love good bbq. Big Dogs was a disappointment. We did takeout. First, we called at 5:15 PM and asked that our meal be ready for 6 PM. Nope. It would be ready in 20 minutes not 6PM. Come on. The meal was decidedly mediocre. The ribs were okay. The pulled pork was okay. The brisket was a disaster. It wasn't sliced thin and was relatively tasteless. The sides were mediocre. The potatoes were not cooked enough for the potato salad. The beans were okay. The biscuits were dry. The corn pudding was lousy; dry and tasteless. The cole slaw was okay. The mac and cheese was okay. All in all it wasn't good. Sorry Big Dog. We won't be back. My grade is a D. read more

Amazing homestyle BBQ! The collard greens are just like Grams. A range of sauces to choose from, this place is a gem! read more

Big Dog's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Orleans, Massachusetts

This is just a great place. Great food, good drinks and wicked friendly staff. I would say it has the best burger on Cape Cod, not to mention ribs, brisket, fried chicken and other BBQ. Such a hidden gem!! read more

Agree 100% with other reviewers who say, what used to be a real gem, has slipped badly. I ordered half rack of ribs; pink on the inside, chewy, and nothing near the 'fall off the bone' multiple hour cooked ribs touted on their menu. My wife ordered brisket; fatty, chewy, awful. Perhaps they've had a change in key cook staff, or have gotten big enough that they can't keep up with demand. The Barbecue was not even average. Fun atmosphere and good wait staff, but the whole thing revolves around the Barbecue, and that's not good anymore. read more

After seeing the great reviews on Yelp, we decided to check out Big Dog's BBQ! I think this place is the textbook definition of a hidden gem! Nestled inside a very '60s candle pin bowling alley is this little restaurant and bar. It has limited seating, so either call ahead or get there early or else you'll be stuck at a table that's facing one of the lanes like we were. Thankfully, there were big screen TVs there to distract us. I ordered the Alley Tray of pulled pork, potato au gratin, and broccoli slaw. DELICIOUS!!! This is by far the best BBQ I've ever had. I'm no expert, but I've watched a lot of Guy Fieri and this pulled pork hit all of the criteria! In his words, this juicy, melt-in-your-mouth meat was the bomb.com and the three different BBQ sauces at the table (vinegar, chipotle, and bourbon) were each so delicious, I bought a one-way ticket to Flavor Town! EVERYTHING was home made. The au gratin was lovely with the perfect crispy cheese on top and a gooey melted cheese inside. The broccoli slaw was spicy and bright, not your average mayo-based garbage that so many other places slop onto your plate! Everyone in my party went home happy and full. Two thumbs wayyyyyyy up!!! read more

The only reason why I don't give 5 stars is the service is not great. The waitress's and waiters work the restaurant and the bowling ally and it's just to much. The food is great and it's got a great atmosphere. I got the "Orleans Eeyore" and it was okay nothing special. read more

Big Dog's BBQ - "Orleans Eeyore" - Barbeque Near Me - Orleans, Massachusetts

See all