The food is always good. But if you're black or brown do NOT patronize this place. I'm not one to post reviews and this USED to be one of my favorite places. Food is good and cheap. But now that the new waitress (a heavyset woman) I have been treated rudely EVERYTIME over the last 3 yrs or so. I sat in and service was so bad I left a penny tip. I wanted her to know I didn't forget. I generally tip 20% and during coronavirus I tip closer to 30%. I can here to check if it was only my experience with the racism and intended to post and after reading the negative reviews realized it wasn't in my head. I felt so mistreated the last few times I went (my boyfriend went on his own a few times and said the same). The one woman in particular is slow, rude, and outwardly racist whilst taking your money. I will find another place because frankly brazilian is brazilian and ferry street and the portugese community is renowned for their racism. I've only been called the n-word on Ferry Street and was only treated so incredibly bad at Ferry Street Barbecue! The food aint all that to treat people that way. And the lady who's responsible is miserable and it shows. read more

I have wanted to go here so many different times, but there is almost always a huge line. That, of course, just made me want to try this even more! I finally made it in last night; no line, sat right down, after quickly figuring out that the man that seemed to be trying to seat us had just wandered in off the street. I just barely avoided some embarrassment there. The menu is really small. You choose your meat, and when asked if you want rice and fries, the answer should be yes. I originally asked for the "pork cubes" but they apparently take 30 minutes to make. Stick with the grilled items, like chicken or ribs. I settled on the chicken, and I was not disappointed. They grill whole chickens on this rotating rack; you will leave smelling like smoke, but you won't mind it. Don't ignore the sauces on the table! There is one in a yellow bottle that would generally house mustard. It isn't mustard; I'm not really sure what it is, but it is delicious! Let the line inspire, not deter you. read more

Having lived next to Newark for nearly a year and wanting to try the authentic Portuguese BBQ famous in the Ironbound, my bro and I decided to come here. The experience was indeed no disappointment. We went Saturday for lunch, got seated shortly in a full house. The moment we walked in, the authenticity of this family-style restaurant was confirmed as Portuguese watched portal soccer and menus were displayed in Portuguese language. We ordered the 1/2 chicken 1/2 rib combo platter with sides of fries and yellow moist fragrant Spanish rice hmm... , a medium salad, and two Portugal fruit drinks. Food was great in quantity (and we eat a lot!), cost ($20 total). and quality (we are professional food critics... JK). Friendly and excellent customer service. The most unique part was that whole juicy chicken and ribs on metal racks were barbecued over open flame in front of your eyes in the kitchen open to dining area! - Talk about pride and no shady kitchen activity to hide! When we left an hour 15 mins later at 1:30, there was still a line for dine-in and pickup. People... it's worth the wait! + My praise: Salad among fries and rice as side options. This is great for the healthy conscious customers! - My only beef: Extra long service - we waited nearly 1/2 hour for our main platter while we watched others savor their share of delicious platters! read more

This place was pretty damn tasty, just like the one on Elm Street. The chicken and ribs were great, the portion size is huge. I love how the fries are the thin cut ones, I prefer these over the thick cuts. Last time I was here we got whole chicken and ribs and shared it amongst 4 people. I believe the total came out to be $30, which is not bad at all. When you first walk in, you are overwhelmingly welcomed back thick smoke from the open rotisserie grill they have going on. It's mostly crowded, which is typcial for places like this. The seating is pretty limited, which is what is costing me that extra star. Will be back for sure! read more

Disgusting. Revolting. Just run away from this place. It has French fries and grease on the floor. It's a grease fire waiting to happen. The waitress was rude. Needless to say we didn't eat and left. Gross. read more

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It's ok. Imagine going to a friends bbq at his house. That's the taste of bbq you will get. No AC. So the doors stay open. Because of that, it hot and birds fly in and out of the bldg. The staff is nice and it's super cheap. read more

Portion size is huge!!!! Prices are so fair for the size! Food is delicious too. The place is rather large. It's kind of confusing though when you first walk in. We didn't know whether to order at the front or sit down? The staff was so busy and running around so it felt like we were bothering them in a way. 3 star rating for the service and decor/ambiance of the place. Drinks are self serve. No free tap water. read more

I'm not sure how people can say the food was great and then give it 3 stars. Oh well, not me. This food is great - 5 stars. Personally, I like my Portuguese BBQ slightly salty, slightly charred but still juicy; my rice moist; and my fries crispy. Ferry Street had all of these done to perfection! I would also recommend splitting a plate if you're not absolutely starving because it is a ton of food. Enjoy the food coma! read more

We loved the food, price, and taste. Just wish there was salad dressing for the salad and that it wasn't bathed in vinegar. Ribs and chicken were both juicy and smoky! The meat is sauceless and has a great rub! The platters were massive with fries and rice towering like a mountain. And they give you complimentary Portuguese rolls and butter. Only thing is the owner was sitting among the patrons going off at people for bringing their own water or drinks. But hey they do have signs not to bring in outside drinks **shrugs** the price and taste is worth it. I'll be visiting many times in the future. read more

Well I seen this place online and figured I give it a try. I ordered chicken that came with rice and fries as well as broiled shrimp with salad. The chicken was good, they gave a lot of rice but it's bland, need some veggies and seasoning. The fries were pretty standard for fries. The reason Im giving three stars is because the shrimp were broiled too much and was a bit tough and they weren't properly cleaned. Also, the shrimp had a sauce on them and he puts it in the same to go tray as my salad. I told him that my salad should be separated because the sauce is dripping all over it and it will make it soggy, he says if I put it separate, you have to pay separate. Dumbest thing Ive heard in a while so guess how my salad was once I got home??? Soggy. Ewwww. I would stick to Brunettes bbq like Ive been doing. I won't be back!!! read more

Really wanted to love this place, but I would not go out of my way or wait in line for the overcooked/under seasoned chicken I had last night. The white meat was like chalk, the dark barely juicy. The rice was nice, but the fries were hardly cooked-they were almost white and totally limp. The mysterious sauce is only chopped onions, vinegar and a touch of Trappey's Louisiana hot sauce. Really nothing special at all. read more

I like it charred and juicy. Word to the wise, when entering here confusion will ensue. Why? Simple there is a crazy long line for the take out. Which converges on the dining area? One caveat: If you see a seat, better claim that like Oklahoma land rush. Then the one waitress will come to your aid. She will proceed to throw a nice greasy menu in your fingertips. The owner, the waitress, the guy working the spit, will not crack a smile. It's like BBQ Nazi. So a lady runs out "I ain't messing with these rude people." Well I will, because the food they create is so friggin good. I could care less. 1. There is a reason why it's such a long line. 2. Whole chicken rice and fries or salad for 12 bucks are you kidding me? 3. Not sure if BYOB? 4. Use cash. They do take credit cards, you will get charged extra. read more

It was my friend's idea to eat here with our kids since we were starving the day after a huge snow storm and it was a great choice! So much food at a reasonable price. I hear there is usually a line around the block to eat here but we got lucky and walked right in that day. We had the chicken bbq platter which the chicken was seasoned quite nicely but the rice could of had a little more flavor. I ended up having to drench my part of the rice with hot sauce to spice it up. Couldn't finish the platter and we were two hungry 5 year olds and two famished adults! I'll be back. read more

Ferry St. Barbecue - BBQ chicken platter for $11! Can't go wrong. - Barbeque Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

One of my favorite places to eat on my layover in Newark. The service is okay if you dine in but take out is speedy LARGE portions I mean LARGE. I got a full combo once and underestimated how much it was. Lots of carbs with rice and fries but overall love going here when I am in town. read more

Food 4 stars Quick service, fresh food, huge portions. Service 2 stars They are looking at you like you are a stranger. Asking you if you need the menu, like you are supposed to know what they are serving. You can have an idea by what they are putting out but still want to see if there is something you are missing... If you are hungry, it is a good place since the food is fresh and is served quick. read more

Basically is cheap. There's no quality in rice or the fries. The chicken is always undercooked. You can literally see the blood when u try to eat. read more

I work right near here, so we came here for lunch on a sunny Friday and sat outside. It was crowded, but service was prompt. I ordered the 1/2 order of beef ribs, and it's still a HUGE portion. The full portions are enough to feed 3 people with good appetites. One annoying thing is they're pretty inflexible. You can order 2 sides from salad, rice and fries, even though they have other sides on the menu. You can't change the combos to anything other than what the menu says. They also don't bring you tap water. However, for $9 I got a big plate of beef ribs, rice, and salad. I couldn't finish everything. The meat was spiced, fatty and cooked medium like I asked. It's a great place if you love meat. You can get your fill for pretty cheap. read more

The food here is excellent. Has to be best bbq in area. Everything is amazing. Been here a few times and had the chicken, salmon and streak. However last night I ordered a rack of ribs. They were so good I had to get another one. They were so juicy meaty and perfectly seasoned. I'm literally going back today for round 2 maybe even 3. If in area must try. It's seat yourself, don't let the little lady deter you from wherever you want to sit. Shes very o.c.d. about seating for some reason. Besides that, its BYOB so come hungry you'll definitely leave happy. read more

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Portions are monstrous and food is cheap. The food isn't phenomenal but the price balances it out. You can feed two people off one order. Tip: the salmon has lots of bones in it which may make it awkward to eat in front of someone. read more

Diamond in the rough...........best keep secret in Newark def worth the visit if you are around the area......... And when it comes to prices and the size of the servings you can't beat it with a stick....do your self a favor and try the beef ribs and you will be hooked.... read more

What can I say, as a fan of wet and saucy bbq I was hesistant when u walked into ferry st. Bbq. But the moment I bit into the pork ribs, I saw the light. The pork was soooo tender and you can truly taste the smokiness in the meat. Each bite was a delight. My wife and I git the half rib half chicken combo w a heaping serving of yellow rice and salad. All for a jaw dropping price of $14 dollars. Who can ask for more. Awesomely delish food for cheap. I definitely would recommend anyone who wants portuquese bbq to patronize this little gem. read more

The food is decent but the service is horrendous! The people that work there are extremely rude! They act like they're doing you a favor. I ordered a half chicken with salad. They literally have me 3 lettuce leaves and a tomatoe and called that a salad. I asked them if I can please have a little more salad and 2 people in there pretty much told me no that that's what the salad portion is. They blatantly huffed and puffed about it. I said ok then I'll pay for it. They said it's going to be $3 extra. How petty!!! Meanwhile, my coworker ordered a half chicken with French fries and they gave him a boat load of fries where he actually had to throw half of them out. They were not nice to me at all. Bad customer service. read more

It used to be better. I mean it's still a staple of Portuguese bbq but the quality has taken a dip

This place serves very good ribs, but their chicken needs a little bit more juice. We have tried couple other places in the area for good bbq and like most places they all lack in something and are very good at something else. Would highly suggest their ribs to anyone, but for chicken try Elm street. Prices are very cheap and it also has a good amount of tables for seating. read more

Very affordable Portuguese BBQ. 1) Make sure to get the half chicken and half ribs combo. It is the best deal here. 2) The combo is enough for two people. Me and my friends are both big eaters, but still had leftovers to take home. 3) Price is very reasonable. 4) Make sure to Sumol drink. Best Portuguese soda ever. read more

Where do I begin with the place? Once a fantastic BBQ spot now is a mediocre hole in the wall. I arrived with my family at about 7pm as this place is usually packed. Place seemed oddly empty for a Saturday! Were told to sit anywhere and We were served bread by a heavyset Spanish woman who took our drink and food order and then we were forgotten completely. As we sat and waited, it was all to clear what was going. No big surprise in ethnic neighborhoods like this one where the workers and guests are native to the neighborhood. We watched as customers walked out, had their tables immediately cleared and then someone seated and served instantaneously. We watched this happen for an entire hour as I watched our server laughing it up with everyone she placed on her priorities list. Finally, she arrives with our order and claims the front of the restaurant was extremely busy which is why our order was delayed which was a crock of Sh*t as I kept looking at both sides of the dining area wondering why we weren't being served. The food order was correct, 1 order of rice/french fries with chicken and ribs and 1 order of rice/French Fries with Chicken and Beef. It was all burnt to a crisp and I'm not saying it was simply overcooked, it was burnt and tasted of just burnt ashy flesh! Not burnt yet with seasoning... this was tossed to the flames until charred and then served to us. As we attempted to eat this trash, a family of like 15 Mexicans/Ecuadorians arrive and begin to move tables and the women standing directly over our plates waving their damn hair as they stumble over everything and everybody to accommodate their brood unapologetically... and guess what? Their asses hadn't even hit the chairs before the server was taking every single order.... and she returned 10 mins later... yes ladies and gentleman 10... not 20... not 30, but 10 mins later with every single order. We are a Latino family, but we don't look like your traditional latinos so easily mistaken for caucasian Americans especially in the Brazilian dominated community of the Ironbound section of Newark and it's a shame to see that latino people do not stray far behind when bigotry is concerned. Not the first time we've experienced this type of behavior in this neighborhood as we lived here many years ago and left due to it. If you visit this neighborhood there are some amazing choices, but trust me... do not waste your time or money it this horrendous grease pit! read more

Awesome Food! Even better prices. Come here hungry because you will get a ton of food. The chicken is some of the best I've ever had-you can really taste the charcol flavor from the open pit grill. The ribs are also very tasty. Fries, rice and salad are plentiful and standard. I'd shy away from the garlic shrimp-we got them on our second visit and they were small, greasy and the dish was not particularly great tasting. Service is excellent for what you should expect. read more

Great Food! They give you so much and I am pretty sure you will have leftovers! The price is really amazing! Definitely check it out and I'm sure you will be back. I love this place! Perfect if your traveling on a budget! read more

Ferry St. Barbecue - Delicious! They gave me so much food I didn't finish and had some leftover! I love this place and will be back. Check it out! - Barbeque Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Food was great BUT into about three bites and a roach crawled up the wall next to my table. Disgusting. I got the waitresses attention and showed her she reached over my plate and killed it with a napkin. I asked for the manager or the owner and the waitress just said don't worry about it you don't have to pay for it. Never again gross read more

Ribs are a must and if they have snapper available it's great too! Usually a grab and go place seeing how it's in Newark, prices are a little high but used to be worth it, now their portions are smaller, I guess a sign of the times, bad economy for everyone.. Still delicious, and it's cooked over a huge brick pit with real wood, a special treat when it's wintertime and the warmth is a welcome break from the bitter cold, but like I said, don't stay too long, it is still Newark. read more

Ferry St. Barbecue - Outdoor dining area.. - Barbeque Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Family style Dinning Big portions Slow service Ordered pork ribs got beef ribs would have complained but I didn't want to wait again. Nasty dry rice read more

Oh lawd the amount of food we got for 30 bucks was enormous! The FOOD is great! Got an order of chicken and ribs. Ribs were pretty fatty but the chicken stole the show. I recommend ordering to go or eating outside where you can get your own table. Otherwise don't eat inside. For some reason the waitress insisted we sit at a table with a group of strangers. We contested that we'd like our own table (as to not intrude on the the strangers lunch and vice versa). The waitress shrugged and said "Alright" and walked us to a tiny table in a corner. Now this would would of been cool if the place was absolutely stuffed with customers but.... The place was literally empty. Just that group of strangers at that table... But alright, okay, no problem... after the waitress took our order we just asked if we could have a bigger table to fit the food (big portions, remember?) She then said sure you can move... but only next to those 2 dudes having lunch in that corner from before. You know how when you walk into a public bathroom and there's only 1 guy peeing at the row of urinals? It's basic courtesy to give that dude at least 1 urinal of cushion room to do his business. YOU DON'T USE THE URINAL RIGHT NEXT TO HIM THOUGH. It's weird bruh. Weird enough it enticed me to write this long a** yelp review. So she wouldn't move us unless it was with those guys and said it all while sounding absolutely done with life. Anyways we got our food to go. Solid place 5 stars. Would go back to experience the general depression and apathetic nature of the workers. read more

Great food nice and clean the service was good but the waiters should be a little more friendly and more attentive.

Delicious. And busy, but they move fast. The rice pilaf is pretty good and the fries were nice and crisp. would not recommend the beef short ribs because they were kinda chewy. I would pass. Go for the chicken all the regulars do! That's what i will order if i ever go back to New Jersey. read more

I ordered the bbq chicken with rice and salad for $6. The price was great, there was a lot of food but it tasted just ok. I wish I could've enjoyed the food more. They put the bbq sauce on the side and the sauce didn't really taste like bbq sauce. The salad was ok and the rice wasnt that bad. The only good thing is the price was reasonable. They had some great looking chicken and bbq on the grill. The staff are somewhat friendly and there is space in the restaurant to eat in. I may come back to try their salmon dinner. :-) read more

There are a ton of Portuguese barbecue places in the area but I'll always go the extra few minutes to get here. While I do think the birds have gotten smaller since the last time I've been here, the taste is still better than you'll find anywhere else. Food is very reasonably priced, portions are large and you won't wait on your food for more than 5 minutes. Only downside is parking obviously. This place can get very crowded at times when the takeout line is almost out the door but absolutely worth it. I have not tried much else on the menu aside from the chicken and ribs. read more

Best food in town! The garlic shrimp is amazing! The owner and staff go above and beyond to make everyone feel at home. They're very attentive to everyone's needs and request. I recommend this place to everyone! Oh and you must get the expression and flan! read more

Yum! This place is so good and cheap! You get so much food for the price. Had the chicken ribs combo and garlic shrimp and it did not disappoint! You can probably just order 1 combo for 3-4 people or order more and eat it as leftovers. Amazing place with super cheap prices! Good for take out because the place is always super packed. read more

The food is great and a bang for your buck. I recommend the half chicken or pork ribs. They also have this great onion sauce that not many know about. You get 2 sides (rice,salad,fries) The staff are friendly but are consistently overworked, caring for many tables at times. The reason I gave this 2 stars is because of the owner. The man does not know how to care for his business. He will consistently yell at patrons and will give you a hard time if you're paying with a credit card. read more

This place made me fall in love with Portuguese food. The restaurant is hot, but it's because it's small so you basically sit next to your meal being grilled over an open flame. It's the full experience. Our table got a little bit of everything to share - salmon, ribs, chicken, and shrimp. All were delicious, but the garlic shrimp may have been the favorite; Unless you count the rice, which we all agreed was the best we've ever had. Add some of their addicting hot sauce and you'll never want anything else. This is definitely the place to go if you're starving (the portions are gigantic) and want an authentic, hole in the wall experience. read more