Came here for the first time and Lindsey and jouliette made my night! They made amazing recommendations with food and they made the most delicious strength. I would recommend this place 10 out of 10 and I will definitely be back. ! read more

Always a treat popping into Blackstrap, from the delicious food to the chill-out atmosphere I never leave here disappointed. Shout out to Mel for going above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect while we were there. read more

Went for lunch one day and all the meat was dry. Went early and it seems like I was served the priors day meat. Big disappointment. I expect BBQ to be fresh when you get it. The Brisket was stiff with barely any flavor and the ribs were also dry. The sides tasted better than the BBQ. read more

I ordered takeout here and it was the worst barbecue food that I've had in a long time. I'll never go there or order from there again. Very disappointing and definitely not worth the money. So save yours, you'll thank me later. read more

Awesome atmosphere, decor, appetizers. I got the pulled pork sandwich and it was more spicy than I have ever had, and the vinegary sauce they served it with made my bun soaked. Excellent potato salad-light and delicious! Great pretzel appetizer and mustard, okay fried pickles, excellent Mac n cheese. Hubby says the brisket and mashed potatoes were really good. We're in town to fly out of Boston tomorrow and the kiddo wanted BBQ. He couldn't eat the pulled pork because it was spicy, but he liked the Mac n cheese. I'd definitely come again and highly recommend! read more

Blackstrap BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

Great food! Great drink! Would recommend! The chili is great! Service is great also! Comfortable setting! read more

Blackstrap BBQ is a neighborhood staple especially when it comes to their Sunday brunch mimosa flight's! The vibe here is so fun I love sitting at the bar, jamming out to some live music, and enjoying my favorite (sweet potato fries with pulled BBQ chicken on top and cheese). Oh and did I mention their mimosa's? I have coordinated many event's with Kate and she always goes above and beyond to accommodate. I run a local women's networking group and we frequently host events here and order from their Tasty Plates menu! Not only is the food delicious but the menu is affordable and they always have such an amazing setup ready for us when we arrive. I highly recommend visiting them or bringing in their catering services for any upcoming events you may have! read more

The BF was wanting some BBQ the other day & there arent any good places around near home so I jumped on Yelp! and found Blackstrap... Pulled up the menu & was ready to go... Jumped in the car & headed there... OMG... the reviews are all right, the place smells SOOOOO good the moment you walk in the door... (They smoke onsite)... The guy at the counter was SOOO helpful and friendly... The place is small but cozy & fun... My 4 year old ran around the place & was able to find the soda fridge & sauce counter pretty fast (he needs to touch everything)... Got great recommendations and even some great sauces that I could pair with things I ordered... Wish it was a little closer to home as the food wasnt the hottest when we got there but soooo what?! ! It was soo good... The sweet sauce is a little tangy - if you are going for just sweet you might want to stay away... The rub is also super peppery (which I love) so the combonation was soo good or Kick & Sweet... The sides were all soo good.. The Mac & Cheese really was the best Ive had in a long time (as he told me it would be the best)... The "Hunk" of cornbread is enough for a small village... (and not burnt like some pics here on Yelp!) It was actually moist & really good... We split 2 Combo plates between 3 people & had soo much leftovers... Portions are Hearty... and they are reasonably priced... will DEF be back! read more

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Unassuming wraparound BBQ joint on a quaint Winthrop corner, serving up fine fare to the masses, and just about hitting the mark. Perhaps not so much the night we were there, but on the whole, a solid 7 for the food. I indulged in a duo meat plate consisting of shredded BBQ chicken and house-smoked sausage, my two sides the chili mac and green beans. Washed it down with a can of Narragansett, because, well, when in Rome. The highlight: undoubtedly the sausage, which was just spicy, flavorful, and snappy enough to warrant legendary status. Wish I could say the same for the shredded chicken, which wasn't as hot (in temperature) as I would have liked, and frankly, there wasn't enough of it, and the cornbread, which was too dry for my taste. Higher marks for the chili mac (shouldn't all mac & cheese come with chili?) and the beans, which made me feel the meal wasn't a complete heart attack on a plate. Personally, I give BBQ places high marks just for existing, but in the case of Blackstrap, I think I just had outsized expectations. read more

Blackstrap BBQ - Pulled BBQ chicken, house sausage, chili mac, and green beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

If you are picking up your take out order, this place is cash only. We wanted to do the right thing and ordered from a local restaurant. Service was okay. When we got home, the corn bread was dry, chicken was even drier. The ribs and brisket were cold. We actually picked the food up 15 minutes after we placed the order. Food quality is really disappointing. It seems like a recurring trend based on past reviews. I hope the restaurant will learn from these feedback. Try not to cook too much or use old food again. read more

New Years Day Brunch. This place continues to rock. It's perfectly packed and the jukebox is pounding out 80's hits. Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" blares over the speakers and and chorus of fellas at the bar sing along at full volume. This is Winthrop's best bar and restaurant scene. Bartenders Uncle Dave, Katie and Dana buzz around in a fluid electric motion of never ending service. They get the food and the drinks out fast and still have a time for normal chatting. Chicken + Waffles=winner!!! That's right. You! Happy New Years Blackstrap! read more

Ordered them on Grubhub. We got Reg fries, a pint of Mac and cheese, and 6 Cajun wings. The food was ok. Probably wouldn't order from them again but it made us full for that night. The fries were crispy but cold when we got them. We liked the fries best to be honest. The chicken was crispy which was nice, I wasn't a fan of the Cajun rub they use. We were provided no blue cheese just ranch but a lot of it. Neither of us eat ranch so it was a waste. The Mac and cheese was bleh and we didn't finish it. It's hard to find good barbecue/soul food in the Boston area. I would recommend Slades in Boston or Smash soul food in Saugus. read more

Love Blackstrap! Even when it's take out, the food is fantastic! Not sure how there are any low scores for this place - we always get great food & a friendly face read more

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Great food, good people and never disappoints! Highly recommend! If you're hungry - HUNGRY, go for the 3 meat plate and definitely try the burnt ends brisket! Fall apart tender! Also gravitate to the collared greens! The corn, bacon salad is also a win and their Mac & Cheese! read more

I've been here several times so I would say I'm a fan. Blackstrap is a fun, lively BBQ joint in the center of Winthrop. I wouldn't exactly call Winthrop a thriving mecca of nightly activity, but it's coming along, and Blackstrap definitely helps. The atmosphere is bright, colorful and eclectic. There is always great classic rock in the background, and the people are super friendly. I think it's owned and run by a bunch of guys who all ended up working at the same restaurant back in the day, and opened their own place together. Based on their choices of sauce, I think this BBQ mirrors Carolina style. My all time favorite BBQ is Kansas City but considering where I live, this works just fine! I have ordered a variety from pulled pork, pulled chicken, wings, fried pickles, mac & cheese, and cole slaw. All are very good and are definitely homemade. No potato flakes here! I think my current fave is the appetizer Ginger Scallion Lo Mein. Lo mein at a BBQ join? Yes! It's delicious and everyone should try it. They also have a full bar with craft beer and top shelf liquor. I ordered an Old Fashioned last night and it tasted as good as any upscale craft cocktail place. I wouldn't say I'm a regular to the point where they yell my name when I walk in, but I know I'll keep going so maybe one day they will. read more

Blackstrap BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

This place has one of the best crews working in it in the past 10 years that it's been open. Everyone should try and support this place during covid read more

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Food was meh service was terrible. Went on a Friday afternoon after work with colleagues. Waitress was friendly enough but took one food order from one person in our party and then walked away. When she came back with the order I had to stop her before she ran away again to place my order and allow for everyone else to place theirs. I ordered a burger, she didn't ask how I wanted it cooked (came out solidly well done which is not how I like it, and also surprised me for a bbq place), didn't ask me what kind of coleslaw I wanted even though there were options on the menu, and she chose the spicy one for some reason instead of the regular which I would think would be the default option. The fries were clearly frozen Sysco fries, not fresh cut--which is fine if you're at a chain like 99, but for a BBQ place with such high ratings, and for the price, I expected better. Lastly they were out of some of the ingredients for the drink I ordered. It was fine. But it was not as promising as the menu or the other reviews on Google and Yelp made it sound and it wasn't worth the price of the bill. read more

This was truly an experience to eat. I've never had bbq made so poorly but it is New England. The brisket was chewy and over cooked. The Mac n cheese had an indescribable flavor to it and was curdled. The bbq sauce was the worst I've ever had and tasted like only vinegar. I would not order from here again and could not even recommend good bbq in the area. read more

5 stars. We were in the area and found this restaurant randomly, but we'd drive 45 minutes to eat here again. Food was so good, the staff were so nice, great atmosphere and loved the music they played. My favorite part was the wings (we got smoked peach chili glaze). But the mac and cheese was amazing too. I wish I could replicate it somehow but they put something in it I can't put my finger on.. I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures. Thank you staff for being so nice and sorry about my cranky toddler!! read more

These guts do bbq well. Their staff are also kind and remember regulars. Its the kind of place that helps make a town fun to live in. (Also - weekend Bloody Mary bar!!) read more

I've traveled the south and tried a number of BBQ places in New England and nothing beats Blackstrap! Not only is the environment awesome but so is the service and of course the food is incredible. They always have great specials and great music too! read more

(4.25) ~ Very good Overall food & Service. Notes: There's plenty of Free Street Parking and lots of Fermented Beverages:)lol MENU: ** Collard Greens = (4.5) Very Good, Sweet & Savory. Definitely tasted the Blackstrap Molasses;) ** Mac-n-Cheese = (4) very good, liked how they give you some of the burnt crust my favorite part;) ** Spare Ribs = (4) very good dry rub & pink smoke ring. These are way Bigger than baby backs and also bigger than St. Louis cut, since they keep the Rib Tip attached;) ** BBQ Sauces(five) = (4) ALL five were very good, but the sweet was probably my favorite b/c it had a nice kick too;) ***Dessert = N/A...Not available:( My suggestion would be to add Banana Pudding to the Menu;) read more

Been about 3 times and it's just not it. First time ribs were cold/frozen in center. Lackluster bbq food it's a meh for me.

Wondering if this place is recently under new management or has been bought out. The only reason that we can think of for the terrible service, quality, and overall experience we endured. . . Food quality has significantly declined which was disappointing as their food was historically good. read more

I'm on the fence about this place. The food is consistently good but nothing is great. Wings-Good, Ribs-Good, Brisket-Good, Sides-Good. Decent beer selection and some inventive drinks all go with BBQ. Prices and portions are good value. Service was hit or miss but always friendly. Music was too loud for table conversation. I will continue to go as BBQ places are few and far between on the North Shore. read more

I was there this past Friday and service was really good up till shift change around 4pm. We all had some food and a few drinks which were brought in a timely manner. After 4pm, that is when it went downhill. We were waiting for someone to check on us, but no one did. After 30 minutes, we were not even asked or checked in on by anyone. We were ignored and WE had to approach the bar. We had asked for our check, to which the new server/bartender clearly didn't care that we were waiting 30 minutes for no reason, rolled her eyes, and was rude to us. If we had not been in the industry of food service, we would have just walked out and not cared at all. Our party cares about local businesses and wanted to make sure the owners got paid for what they provided to us. I will personally second guess coming here for another time even though I am a local to Winthrop. read more

Only thing worse than the food was the service. We were there for lunch on a weekend and had 4 different employees take care of us. One took our drink order, one ran our drinks and took our app order, then the first one ran our apps and took our dinner order, then we had to go to the bar for the check cause the servers were MIA. Luckily for them none of the servers came over to check on us and see how we were enjoying the food. We weren't. At all. The only thing with decent flavor were the fried pickles. Pretty impossible to mess up fried pickles. The bbq was dry and flavorless. Will not be back and will not recommend. Only reason it's getting one star is because the drinks were good. Had either of the 3 servers paid any attention to us we would have ordered a few more rounds. Oh well. read more

Omg mel and Conner where so fuckin great best service we ever get is when this lil power dou is working they are so friendly and helpful the food was awesome too ten out of fuckin ten get the damn wings read more

We travel all over this great country of ours for good BBQ (see the rest of my BBQ joints list) but sometimes it's the best to have great Q right in your own backyard. We'd been meaning to try Blackstrap for a while and finally found the perfect time to go: Easter Sunday. We were surprised they were open but also psyched. When we arrived there was no one there but us, nice! Our fried pickles came out first. Piping hot, crispy, and lightly battered to perfection. The ranch dressing on the side was heavenly. For lunch I got the duo: a choice of two meats, two sides, and cornbread. All for $14.99 which, for the generous portion and great quality, is a real deal. I got the pork ribs and the Carolina style pulled pork. The ribs were insanely good, tons of meat and very little fat. The spice rub was smoky and salty, a great combination of flavors. The pulled pork was great too, juicy and not fatty at all. I liked the spices they used on the pulled pork, pretty mild but still great flavors. Blackstrap's house sweet BBQ sauce was divine on the meat, smoky and sweet. I'm still thinking about it. For my two sides I got their baked beans and cole slaw. The slaw was dressed perfectly, cool and creamy, and had a little zing to it. The baked beans were decadent. Rich molasses and onion flavor, deep color, and cooked to the perfect texture. And how could I forget the cornbread? It comes on the side individually wrapped in wax paper. This cornbread is like a brick, no joke. It's suuuuper dense, buttery, and just slightly sweet. Perfect with just a little butter or to mop up any extra BBQ sauce. Portions are very big and generous. I ate half of my meal for lunch and brought the rest home and ate it for dinner. The service was great - very friendly and quick. The interior of Blackstrap is small but it's very clean. Overall, as good a BBQ place as you'll find. I can't wait to go back! read more

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If I could give more than 5 stars I would. This place is fantastic! As a native Texan and a life long lover of BBQ, this is by far the best BBQ restaurant in the Boston area. The interior is cozy and has a fun eclectic decor and I really love the exposed brick walls in the bar area. The Food: -Fried pickles - my wife and I are fried pickle connoisseurs and these are our favorites. The are pickle chips, not spears and have a crunchy breading that is not greasy. -Buffalo Wings - Absolutely delicious and unique wings. They are made with cumin seeds so occasionally you'll get a bite with a burst of cumin flavor that complements the juicy spicy chicken. -Fried chicken - Meat was really moist and had a crunchy breading that didn't overwhelm the chicken and had a nice spicy kick added in. -Brisket and ribs - smoked and moist, these are why you go to a bbq joint. Very tasty and there is a bbq sauce bar to choose a variety of sauces. I tried the texan (a little sweet with a hint of smoke) and North Carolina (tangy, great flavor, and not too much vinegar) sauces. Both were excellent and paired well with the meat. -Sides - we tried the Mac and cheese (no order is complete without this) which was everything you want out of mac and cheese. The house slaw is a unique twist that is sort of a slaw/corn pudding hybrid. Not what I expected but surprised me with how tasty it was. The maple sweet potato mash was also great and reminded me of Thanksgiving. Cons: I don't really have anything bad to say about this place except that I wish it was closer to my house, but now I know I will be spending a lot more time in Winthrop. Bottom Line: -Do yourself a favor and eat at Blackstrap BBQ. Your tastebuds will thank you, and your wasteline will forgive you. read more

If you got this barbecue in St. Louis or the Triangle, you'd call it great. But since you're getting it in the comparatively BBQ-light area of Eastern Massachusetts, it's nothing short of extraordinary. The people at Blackstrap took me on a journey. I had burnt ends that rivaled what I've seen in Kansas City and pork that was far more flavorful than most of the stuff I tried in North Carolina. I tasted the most tender, well-seasoned smoked sausage of my life. I had meaty, perfectly done dry-rubbed ribs with a quarter-inch smoke ring. They changed my life with sweet potato Potato Salad. And their cornbread eats like cake. I cannot stress enough how worth a drive to Winthrop this place is, especially if you're a Q-noisseur. Get there any eat everything. And thank them for doing it in Massachusetts. read more

Yet another great BBQ experience! With such rave reviews, I was very excited to make the short trek out to Winthrop for some quality 'Q. The intoxicating aroma hits you like a sack of bricks as you approach the front door. Then your visual senses get in on the action with the huge, colorful menu adorning nearly the entirety of the walls. Having read positive reviews on nearly everything, I got as close as I could to ordering just that. My friends and I began with some Sticky BBQ Pit Smoked Chicken Wings and Buttermilk Fried Onion Rings. I liked the smoky flavors of the wings, though they were admittedly a bit on the dry side. The rings were light on the batter which made them an ideal appetizer given the heaviness of the forthcoming mains, plus this allowed them to stay crispy even after cooling down for a while. A duo of Memphis Dry Rub Pork Ribs and Burnt Ends of Brisket with Chili Mac and Collard Greens followed. The lauded ribs had great flavors from the thick layer of dry rub along with a lovely smoke ring. However, they were unexpectedly dry and tough to eat, ie. I had to use my hands to help pull the meat off the bones. Perhaps it was an off rack, but I wouldn't order them again. The burnt ends, on the other hand, were delicious! Tender, mildly smoky with enough juices to give it a "stewy" sort of texture. Like the collard greens, the ends had a soft, grounded sweetness to them that was thoroughly enjoyable. As for the mac, the flavors and creaminess were nice, but it was immersed in a pool of grease and far too heavy. Definitely give all the sauces a try too, each has loads of character and even the standard sweet and spicy varieties were particularly well executed. Beyond the food, the staff here are fantastic - exceptionally amiable, attentive and ready at a moment's notice to provide assistance. I also appreciated the smooth jazz in the background - just like you'd hear at a Nordstrom and totally out of left field at a BBQ joint, but awesome nonetheless. There were hits together with some surprising misses, but the dining experience was super pleasant and I'd be more than happy to return and try other offerings. read more

Best place on earth!! Wether you've come for the good food or the bar scene, black strap gets it right. After hours is definitely a local hot spot where a fine mix of different Winthrop Viking characters get together. You can sit at the bar, or by the massive windows that offer a great people watching pavilion. I really enjoy the casual atmosphere filled with good friends, laughs and spirits! read more

Blackstrap BBQ - We are soooo putting this on yelp! Great place! - Barbeque Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

A friend suggested stopping here. Good thing we came hungry. Loved the portion sizes. I got 2 meats, a smoked sausage and shredded bbq chicken with baked beans and mashed potatoes for the sides. Great meal, came with a big piece of corn bread too. Sausage was soft and good, bbq chicken had great flavor, but some parts were dry. Overall a great experience and nice drink choices too. read more

Great BBQ in a terrific location! Got takeout and I had the brisket while my wife had the Carolina pulled pork. Brisket was sliced thinly and topped with a dry rub but a little drier than I preferred. Both of us liked the Carolina pulled pork better but both were great. Sides: Mac and cheese, collard greens, sweet potato salad and cole slaw. All solid choices and came with corn bread. Must get: The fried pickles. Wow those were awesome and with the ranch dipping sauce just takes it to another level. Comes in a brown paper bag which was cool. Blackstrap was a little out of the way for us but we would definitely drive back and go again. If you can sit at the bar and enjoy your meal there. read more

Blackstrap BBQ - Outside of Blackstrap - Barbeque Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

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Blackstrap has the best BBQ in Mass easy hands down. Went there after work and got two racks, mashed, wings, and slaw. My boy got burnt ends and a half rack. The burnt ends were the best I ever had. Place is a stark contrast to another rib joint we checked out a few weeks back in Chelsea. Blackstrap bests Blue Ribbon and Red Bones which were my favs before checkin' out Blackstrap. read more

Blackstrap BBQ - Asian Slaw, Mac & Cheese, and some fantastic ribs! - Barbeque Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

I am an out of towner who was staying at one of the airport hotels and was too tired to go out the evening I was staying there. The food was good (not excellent, but good) and the delivery service was fast. Only giving 4 stars since it wasn't outstanding and they did forget to give me utensils (I completely understand that it is not always the norm anymore due to environmental concerns, but I was in a hotel and didn't have utensils in my hotel room). read more

Awesome food and drinks here!! The inside is so unique and my fiancé and I couldn't help but buy this cool joker painting off the wall when we came in that Justin Kopec painted! Hundreds of beers that I've never heard of before but was happy I tried The bartenders were really nice and made me a sample to try of a Winthrop cocktail that they change up regularly. They are fresh and muddled into the glass which I love! The chili cheese fries are unreal and spicy! Try it you won't be disappointed read more

Blackstrap BBQ - Joker I bought off their wall! Justin Kopec Is one talented artist! - Barbeque Near Me - Winthrop, Massachusetts

Service was wonderful, food was delicious, music was a little too loud and there were some cleanliness issues (hand-grime on the outside entrance door, hair in the bathroom sink) that knocked my review down a star. Will go back. read more

Winner! Blackstrap BBQ is phenomenal. Full on spare ribs with a nice thick layer of crispy rub - just spicy enough, Memphis style. Smoked to fall off the bone perfection, smoky pink layer. Good fat content and meat has a nice tenderness. Full rack comes wrapped in tin foil for you unwrap and eat immediately or transport home. Sauces available for adding to ribs include a mustard based Carolina sauce, a hot but enticingly sweet BBQ sauce, yes it has kick to it, sweet BBQ and a vinegar carolina sauce. Burnt ends of brisket slathered in tangy sweet bbq sauce topped with crispy delicious slaw in a bun wrapped in tin foil make the most perfect little package of goodness ever. Asian slaw is delicious with subtle hints of peanut and soy. Macaroni & cheese perfect. Rain rain, go away, what better way to spend the day than eating BBQ in Winthrop. I was on my way to find bagels but my stomach got the better of me and I ended up here with no regrets. Blackstrap is probably my favorite BBQ in greater Boston, followed closely by BTs Smokehouse in Sturbridge and M&M ribs. read more

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