Hardcore sticker (and portion) shock. The portions were so tiny, and the prices were skyhigh. That being said, the food was good and the customer service was great too. But with everything from the cornbread to the pulled pork, it felt like we were getting ripped off. read more

Food was absolutely disgusting. Spanish people should not eat here. Especially if you use saźon like some adobo.

I sat at the bar and got an order of ribs that came with pickles. But I got no silverware or napkins. Have you ever tried to eat ribs with no napkins? I asked for a fork to eat my pickles, problem solved. Then I ordered brisket and had to ask for a knife. Why not just give anyone who sits down a fork, knife and spoon? You know, like a restaurant? read more

New Yorkers here and I did not like this spot. First off a barbecue place with no unsweetened iced tea, no plates for the appetizers, the side for all entrees were five slices of pickles. $12 for overcooked small wings $14 for pulled pork with five pickles slices on the side. Which wouldn't have been bad if the sandwich was good, I took one bite it was gross. Horrible bbq sauce Mac and cheese was good at least and the burger Husband had a $20 "glass" of whisky that was maybe a shot size Portions are overpriced and tiny. I don't live here but wouldn't recommend and we'll be we be back if we come to Rhode Island. read more

Absolutely amazing BBQ. I can't recommend this restaurant enough. Hands down the best burger I've ever had. read more

Durk's Bar.B.Q - Barbeque Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Runs like clockwork and the food is always good. Good at what they do. Expensive though.

Food is pricy, portions are small, and brisket and ribs are okay to bad depending on the piece you get (my brother's home bbq is way better). The cornbread is awful, needs to be drenched in butter to be edible. If I go back it will be for the excellent bar/mixed drinks. Only a couple TVs on side at bar... which makes that unlikely. Nice overall atmosphere. Service was okay. read more

Food was amazing, service was great, everyone is so nice there. Love their on tap old fashioned and happy to see their beer selection changes frequently. read more

Once again, among the foods that I have literally dreamt of is the BBQ from Durk's and the peach whiskey drink. Now I despise whiskey but this is the bomb. Literally get any meat from here and you'll be so happy. Throw some collards and mac in the mix or cornbread and check if they have their tres leches, because it's SO GOOD!!! read more

Durk's Bar.B.Q - Fried Chicken Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I loved this place! Super casual and very tasty. If the house punch and finger licking barbecue don't fill you up, save some room for the delicious Tres Leches Cake!! Had the best service, thanks Chris&Amanda read more

Durk's Bar.B.Q - Barbeque Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Located just off the Brown University campus. Nice bar area, clean space with modern decor. As for the food, had the fatty brisket, brussel sprouts and some wings. Wings were huge. Had the buf-bbq sauce. Hot and juicy. Sauce was ok. Brisket: not best I have had but not the worst. Crust could have been better. Overall it was ok, not spectacular. Brussel Sprouts: good but a little salty. Only one house bbq sauce which was telling... Average bbq that is overpriced. $20 for half pound of average brisket with no sides is unreasonable. Overall, meal was ok but probably wont be returning. read more

Durk's Bar.B.Q - Barbeque Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Went here with my boyfriend for my birthday dinner. I didn't want anything fancy this year. Just some comfort food in preparation for yet another snowstorm. We ordered the brisket mixed (fatty and lean pieces), sausage, pulled pork, Mac and cheese, and cornbread. The Brisket was very tender and my only complaint was that it needed a bit of salt. But aside from that I still enjoyed it. The pulled pork was good as well but once again I felt like it was a bit lacking in terms of salt. The sauce however that was on it was good and had a bit of heat which I enjoyed because I am not into sauces that are overly sweet. The sausage was really good. I loved the snap of the casing, as well as the smoke flavor and hints of what seemed like fennel. The mac and cheese is also delicious but VERY filling. Super rich and a bit heavier than what I'm used to but had a really great flavor. The cornbread was moist and buttery so I have no complaints there. The accompanying pickles were great and were hard to share lol. The drinks here were also very good! I ordered "To Peach His Own" and my boyfriend had the "Rye I oughta". The peach bourbon drink was perfect and wasn't too sweet and the lemon really brightened it up. My boyfriend's drink had hibiscus and I believe some lavender which added a nice floral tart element to the drink. I actually look forward to trying their other drinks as well as their pork belly and ribs next time. The staff was very friendly and I'll definitely be back. read more

Durk's Bar.B.Q - Barbeque Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Got the brisket, short ribs, cornbread, smoked leg, and mac and cheese. The meat is really well seasoned and tender, best I've had here. Great BBQ sauce, too. It doesn't compare to Texas, but it definitely satisfies the craving. Those complimentary pickles were bangin, too! read more

Came to durks for the first time,ordering was a little different than I was used to. The service was good,the food was delicious. Especially the Mac n cheese and cornbread.which I finally got after much pleading. All in all I will return for sure. read more

Durk's Bar.B.Q - Table of 11 - Barbeque Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Can't believe how much I love this place. I originally tried a sandwich at a pop up event at the Guild and it was so good I knew I had to visit the restaurant. We actually went in for the wings but it was so hard not to order other food. There's actually a bar area which we didn't know about. There's a take out section, a bar, and some tables in the bar area. Our bartender, Mike, was awesome. He told us all about the restaurant and that a lot of the people who work there also worked at The Eddy at some point. The Eddy is a really awesome cocktail bar in Providence. Even though we had ordered beers, he gave us a little shot of the house punch to try and it was delicious. The wings were really good. He told us they are never frozen and they are thrown together with the in house made buffalo or BBQ sauce right before serving. Buffalo and BBQ sound like pretty generic flavors but trust me, they are unlike any you've tried before. I preferred the buffalo but they were both delicious. They are served with an in house made ranch for dipping which added the perfect tang. Can't wait to go back for more! read more

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Great spot on Thayer Street! Just walking down the road, you can't help but be drawn to the door by the scent of smoked meats coming from inside. I have come here several times since they opened early last year and the food is consistently great, as are the drinks and the service. This last time, we sat at the bar and Patrick was the bartender. Their meats are smoked and even the lean cuts of brisket are juicy and flavorful. The sausage is usually good, but it truly stood out this last time around! The sides they offer are comfort food sides, like Mac n cheese, frito pie, and potato wedges. For those looking to keep calories a little lower, they do have collard greens and brussel sprouts as options. And I haven't had their desserts in a while, but when I have, they were amazing!!! Past the smoker and food serving section is an upper area with their bar and more tables. They have some really good cocktails that will let most anyone find one they like. Their menu has a section for Old Fashions (I mean, yes please!). And then they have many different whiskey, bourbon, and rye options that you can choose from, as well as some pre chosen flights. All in all, a great option that serves Thayer and Providence well! read more

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I loved the food here, the brisket and Mac and cheese is amazing, loved this place and will definitely be back!

Update: My husband and I visited the location for lunch last Sunday. Durks was part of the wing passport and we were excited to try them! They did not disappoint. The buffalo was delicious, could have been spicier in my opinion, but I do like really spicy foods. The bbq wings were really yummy too. Of course we got the Mac n cheese, they do it so well. We had the corn bread and that was SO good too. Warm and buttery, really good. I was so full after this meal. I was a little bummed that out meal didn't come with pickles, maybe they ran out. I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. I wasn't going to review this place because I haven't been to the actual restaurant yet. However, I had their Mac n cheese at the Guild this weekend and it was SO good!! I am SUPER picky with my Mac n cheese and usually don't like it unless it's baked. There's just something about this Mac n cheese thoug, you have to try it. I can't wait to try everything else they make soon! read more

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The food is tasty and the atmosphere and service is awesome. The portion sizes and prices are a rip off. Ok read more

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Still amazing barbecue! There's no other way to say it. I wasn't sure with the new location if things would change but let me tell you...Do not let their new spot in downtown deter you. We found plenty of parking very close by. They still have the BEST barbecue in RI. The most tender and juicy brisket, fall off the bone ribs, delicious pulled pork and oh my god the sausages! The sides are top notch. Amazing brazed greens and the wood grilled carrots were out of bounds. I die for a good pickle and their pickles are the best accompaniment to break up the richness of the meat. Don't forget to try the sauce. It's house made and man I don't even have the words for it. This place is a gem if you're a barbecue lover. I'm so glad they mad it through the pandemic. read more

Had a takeout order last night... Brisket, Ribs, Mushrooms, Pickles, Mac n cheese, Kale... Brisket was ok, but quite expensive for the portion size. // Ribs were really dry. My boyfriend powered through them but I just couldn't. // The "Sweet and smokey mushrooms" don't say anything about being covered in pepper (or we wouldn't have chosen them). I just couldn't enjoy them...my boyfriend ate them and thought they were ok, but admitted that the flavor isn't one that many would go for due to how much black pepper was all over them. // Pickles were lovely, as was the Mac n cheese - but nothing overwhelmingly amazing either. // The kale was ok - had a vinegary bite that I enjoyed, but it said it came with house bacon - but it seems to just have small bits of what appeared to be pulled pork? // House-made bbq sauce was interesting... vinegary and VERY peppered. Would like other options? Overall, the portions are small for the high price tag and the quality didn't measure up. Would appreciate more descriptions of the food prior to ordering to have a better understanding of the strong flavor profiles they feature... and the ribs were just a major bummer. read more

Unfortunately my birthday wish for good bbq was not granted at durk's last night. First time for us in new downtown location- probably last time! Wings looked good, were hot BUT they were tough, dry- seemed like they were not freshly prepared- tasted like overcooked earlier then microwaved. Ribs were a bit better but also very tough and dry Brisket was OK Not the bbq I remember from Thayer st Next time we go to Wes's read more

I came here a few weeks ago and was greeted right away by the hostess and seated at a table. The waitress took a while to come get our drink order which was upsetting because it was not busy. They have a small menu with options of sandwiches, wings, and entrees, the selection for me was not great but I ended up ordering the Mac and cheese and brisket chili. I was disappointed when the chili came out because the meat was not warm where as the broth of the chili was. It was as though the pieces of brisket were just thrown in last minute. The Mac & Cheese was also okay, it could be more on cheesy side. read more

Durk's Bar.B.Q - Barbeque Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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I think for cleanliness, friendliness, and their BBQ Sauce, they deserve a 4. But, for the amount of food, flavor, and cost for the portion, I have to give them a 3. The atmosphere is convenient for a noisy Friday night, but the BBQ was decent and not worth the price. The service was a little slow. We had to flag down our server three times: once to place our order, once for the check, and once to take the check! Overall, would recommend to go once, but not a frequent return stop. read more

Durk's Bar.B.Q - Plus 3 small size drinks was nearly $100! - Barbeque Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Where do I even start... this place has it all. Everything is delicious and you must try the wings with the homemade ranch!! I recommend this to all my friends and would even venture to say that it's the best BBQ is the state of RI. read more

I'm really torn when writing this review :( I sat at the bar in the back. Loved the décor. Had streams of lights along the ceiling, felt like I was sitting in someone's backyard having BBQ and drinks. The waiter was super nice and gave me some suggestions on what to have for BBQ and for drinks (out of the 2 options that I narrowed it down to). Was a little sad they didn't have chicken wings that night but oh well. I ordered 1/2 lb brisket and 2 pork ribs. When I took the first bite of brisket, I was literally in heaven. Was about to give it 4 stars and admit that it was the best BBQ I had. But then by the time I got to the 2nd slice of brisket, I'm not sure if it got cold or what... It was chewy and super dry. Total disappointment compared to the 1st slice that I had. Unfortunately, the rest of the brisket was the same. Ended up not eating it all because my mouth was tired of chewing. Moving on the pork ribs...! They were super flavorful and each rib (I ended up getting three) were equally as good. Recommended. Got the Grapefruit Chilton. It was a really good drink but I felt like half (or more) was composed of ice. As I watch the bartender make other drinks, they were equally as small or full of ice. read more

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This would have been a 1 star review if it wasnt for the floor manager that helped with a serious issue! Ventured here with the misses on a random Friday evening. Not too crowded as we went around 830p. We decided to sit at the bar as the seats are really crammed together in the booths. We started out with drinks, I had a margarita, my fiancee some berry concoction! Ha Ha... The drinks were nothing special, no heavy pours, just regular drinks. The bartender was nice yet didnt seem to interact with the patrons. The decor is pretty cool with a nice layout. Kinda reminds me of a trendy BBQ joint, but we are on Thayers, why am i surprised! The menu is pretty small and simple. More like an a la carte feel. Only worry was that the waitress started crossing out several items that were not available due to the fryer being down. Bummer... We ordered a pulled pork sandwich, half rack of ribs and cornbread. What we got was EXACTLY that: Pulled pork sandwich, one small round cornbread, 6 bone ribs with some pickles and white bread! I wasnt too impressed (disclaimer: I am from Florida and spent time working at a southern BBQ spot, so my expectations are high)! Roughly 2 minutes into the sampling, my fiancee happen to find a piece of plastic in the pickles! We immediately alerted a female floor manager to the issue. I was more concerned that there could be more in the pickles that were served to other guests. The manager located the issue, alerted the kitchen staff, and provided our food on the house. I wasnt impressed with the ribs nor my fiancee's pulled pork. For the price, the food was lacking! Albeit we did have the food comped, i wouldnt have been happy to have paid full price for the food we received. read more

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This BBQ spot is alright for a providence location. The food is about $15-$20 a person and is a close walk from brown. It's right on the strip of Thayer with other close shops and stores. The fried chicken sandwich is huge. The platter for 1-2 people is decent. The Mac and cheese is aight. It threw me off because it was sprinkled with Fritos. The French fries are yummy crinkled and sprinkled with some seasoning. The sausage on the platter is good. read more

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If you only get one thing from Durk's, it HAS to be the wings. The smoked wings are an absolute game changer. I would honestly eat them without any sauce, they are THAT good. The spicy margarita and house punch are fantastic cocktails that are full of flavor. The mac and cheese has the perfect gooey texture. The cornbead serving is ginormous and comes with a cinnamon butter that is to die for. Highly recommend the brisket and pulled pork, this place is phenomenal. read more

This is really good BBQ. The brisket is juicy and has a good smokey flavor. The ribs are meaty and I mean meaty. The Pulled Pork was full of flavor. The homemade pickles were fantastic; crunchy, vinegary and just awesome! Loved the Mac and Cheese with a great little spice to it and the cornbread was great. read more

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Solid bbq for New England, but still not up to Texas or KC bbq. The brisket was juicy and had beautiful bark but didnt have the bite or seasoning expected from the bark. The sausage link was solidly packed and had great flavor. The mac and cheese was al dente but not a lot of cheesey-gooey goodness like I was really craving. The place looks amazing and is really worthy of your visit. Service was good and the vibe of the place was kitchy-cool and they sell a LOT of beer which helps when you want a nice bit of bbq. I'll be back and maybe I'm not that fair since I'm from Texas and have worked at several bbq joints in my younger days! Come check this little joint out! read more

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BBQ in the most unexpected place. Fast and friendly service. Eclectic-ish food in a casual atmosphere. I would come here more often if I were in town more often. Good for a hang with friends or coworkers. read more

I used to love eating southern barbecue when I lived down in North Carolina, and was having barbecue withdrawals up in RI until I found Durk's! Durk's is definitely the best barbecue restaurant in the state. Their barbecue sauce is delicious, and isn't super syrupy or heavy. All of the meat is moist and flavorful, and the side dishes are amazing (especially their mac and cheese!) - you can't go wrong with anything you get! read more

Durk's Bar.B.Q - Barbeque Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Good BBQ??? Went in on a Sunday night at 9pm. I am a bar person and this place has a strange setup. You go sit at the bar and fill out a form then take it in line to go get your food. The bar is very stale and they do have some craft beers with a large selection of whiskeys as well but no one was trying to be friendly and sell anything. The Food: Odd tasting pulled pork (floral) and the brisket was just ok. We had 2 sides mac and cheese and corn bread. M&C was weak and the corn bread had little taste. PRO: They do serve Schlitz beer here. BBQ is tough one to judge, but I have had it all around the country and have been to some of the great places. This product is not great, it's ok at best. For BBQ places to last they have to be great. I think we get caught up in RI glomming onto new places especially when the cuisine is something that we don't have a lot of exposure too. When you try a iconic place like Mighty Quinn's BBQ in New York, you can really tell the difference between TRYING to do barbecue and perfecting it. Maybe we'll try it again at a better day/time, but for right now it was OK at best. Thanks read more

Overall, despite the annoying ordering process using a cafeteria style line, a great place. Chicken smoked thighs are crisp skin ribbed with spice and moist and juicy. Pork belly is rubbed in salt and pepper and is smoked to the point where the fat is melting into the meat. Tender, juicy, luscious. A pulled pork sandwich is moist, slightly smoky with a decent amount of the bark mixed in. Both stringy and chunky, the meat is served slightly sauced with onion slices on a potato roll. Cups of mac n cheese arrive with a rich, cheesy, creamy sauce. The pasta is al dente and sprinkled with pepper flakes and scallions. A high class version of this often maligned side dish. The baby back ribs, a full rack, are thick and meaty. Pink to the bone. Juicy, unctuous, these ribs are firm and full of smoke flavor - sweet smoke, perhaps cherry or apple. Each bite gives way to varying textures and levels of smoke. Served sauced, the underlying rub is not overpowered by the molasses based, slightly sweet sauce. Perhaps, these ribs are the highlight of the meal and quite possible best most versions within a couple of hundred miles. Cornbreads are individual servings with a dollop of butter, glazed with maple syrup and sprinkled with salt and pepper. Unfortunately, the brisket is a miss. It is dry and by far the worst item of the saturday lunch. The meat is monochrome grey throughout and the unrendered fat is in all the wrong spots. A heavy salt and pepper rub and slight smoke ring can not save these slices from criticism. Sausages are beef and have nice snap with decent juices. A good amount of fire is evident and the smoke is obvious as well. Coleslaw is a mayo based mix of red and green cabbage with pepper flakes. All items are served texas style on brown paper, on a tray with white bread to be eaten in between mouthfuls of tender meat. In addition, the style tends towards Texas with lots of salt and pepper flakes as the main rub ingredients except the ribs which are baby backs and are served sauced. The ordering proess, previously mentioned, is awkward as the tray is passed from server to server who adds additional items that can sometimes take a long time to appear - sides - while hot meat is getting cold. Friendly service, excellent food and a cool setting with a great beer and mixed drinkn selection. read more

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Serviceable bbq. Good food and nice service. Not much of an ambiance though. The portions are also not great value for money.

The hype is real! Definitely some of the best BBQ I've had. Took my family of five for a Sunday lunch and we had a five star experience. I was impressed with the customer service from the very beginning. The waitress was intentional about making us (especially our kids) feel comfortable. I appreciate that because its difficult to take three kids to a restaurant; it's ether a great experience or it's embarrassing! This was a great experience. It was our first time, so the waitress made some recommendations and she was on point. During our meal, one of the owners came around to check in on us and was happy to answer all of our questions about the deliciousness that awaited. Now the best part--the food. We ordered three kinds of meat to sample--the chicken leg, whole brisket, and ribs. All three were perfectly seasoned with a special rub that hit your pallet with flavor. There was a hint of spicy, sweet, and salt evenly blended together to make your mouth happy. It's impossible not to have a second and third bite. The meat was tender and smoked to perfection. We also ordered three sides--mac and cheese, smoked sweet potato, and coleslaw. All three were very tasty but my favorite was the mac and cheese. It was thick and creamy blend of seasonings to make you eat the whole cup and lick the remaining cheese sauce. I look forward to trying other things on their menu next time! My wife is a BBQ fan and she's very critical because her family is from the south and knows real southern BBQ. At the end of her meal, she said this was top three BBQ food! That's the highest compliment coming from her. read more

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So originally I gave Durks 5 stars- the food USED TO BE phenomenal- but its evident they got a new chef that is not that great at BBQ. This was a go to for my husband and I. We would go at least once a month but unfortunately that has now come to an end we believe. The food is not even close to what it was- the ribs used to fall off the bone and were perfectly seasoned - the new ones were basically just crusted pepper and a little rubbery. Some of the brisket was just all fat- burnt fat. The cole slaw was tasteless and dry without any seasoning. Also my child who lives off Easy Mac said that the Mac and Cheese wasn't good- i tried it, it had a tang to it unfortunately- she spit it out. Overall we were severely disappointed. Ownership if you are reading this- do whatever to get your old chef back because you lost loyal customers. If you do get the old chef- please announce it and we will be there! read more

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Damn- wasn't expecting killer brisket in Rhode Island but I got it. Friendly servers, good drinks, just try it!

Ok, as someone who no longer eats meat I really have no business reviewing a barbecue place. But after sampling pretty much the entire menu's worth of sides, I just have to share my love for Durk's! The menu was created by chef Jake Rojas of Tallulah's and bartender Jay Carr of the Eddy, so it's no surprise that everything is delicious and packed with flavor! Like Tallulah's take on Mexican food, it's not exactly straightforward, classic BBQ: they definitely put a creative twist on everything, but not so much so that it's unrecognizable. You have to order the brussels sprouts! Apparently they're dressed with kimchi, and they were crispy, sour, and sweet all at once. The smoked sweet potato was also really awesome: it was charred/caramelized on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth tender on the inside. I'm not a pimiento cheese fan, but I tried a bite of their version (served cold with a few packages of saltines) and it was really good! At some places the mac & cheese feels kind of congealed and gross, but the mac & cheese here was fresh, creamy, and sprinkled with green onions for contrast. So tasty! For dessert, they offer lemon chess pie, pecan pie, and banana pudding. The lemon chess pie was totally dreamy; I could have eaten two! Maybe I will come back just to pick up a dessert for take-out :) The drink menu has something for everyone and definitely makes Durk's a good place to start out a night with friends. They had some unique alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, like a pineapple daiquiri, Farmer Willie's alcoholic ginger beer, Mexican bottled sodas (made w/ real sugar), and Big Red soda. Prices are pretty reasonable for Thayer St. Most sides & desserts are $4, sandwiches are $9-11, cocktails are ~$10, beers are $3-6. So expect to spend ~$20 per person if you're hungry / boozing. A few complaints/warnings that should in no way dissuade you from coming here: -The ordering system is kind of confusing. You're seated by the hostess and a waitress takes your drink orders, but then you order at the counter and get your own food. Then your waitress clears your plates and brings the check. It's not a bad system, but just takes some getting used to. -The pickled vegetables that came with the ribs were SO sour. Everyone who tried them was coughing and sputtering! They are there to complement the meat but just be careful before you take a huge bite! It's annoying that Shark was taking up space on Thayer St. for so long when we could've had a place like Durk's. Can't wait to go back! read more

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