We are here last night,The hostess was so rude. I said thank you and her reply was "yup" then she continued to play on her phone. When it was time for us to be seated, she brought us to our table and it was wet and had food all over it. She handed me a napkin and said well you can wipe it off. As I wiped the table our server Kelly came over to greet us and apologized and cleaned the table. She was such a sweetheart! She had a great personality and made great recommendations. Her welcoming personality made the trip there so much better considering the brat who welcomed us. The food was great! I had the grilled tenderloin, my fiancé has the shoe tips, we also had the calamari appetizer. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted great! We left happy and full! We will visit here again. Kelly is awesome! - Hello Pete , we were there March 11th 2016 at 5:45-6pm . Our server Kelly was absolutely amazing. She is so sweet and really made our experience great. The hostess, I didn't catch her name, she was a young blonde girl. read more

You have to mess up on pretty much every level to get 1 star. This place did just that. First the lobster rangoon had VERY little stuffing, large pockets of air. The clam chowder was blah with no clams... The 10 hour ribs were dry, the baked beans were mushy yet watery at the same time and the chicken stir fry had a gelatinous sauce. The cocktail was tasty but in a restaurant with only one other table of diners the waitress was nowhere to be found. Will not, I say NOT be going back. read more

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Dining at the Horseshoe was delightful. The ambiance was zen like. The food was delectable. The restaurant really initiates a pleasant experience. The outside deck, bar, and diner is really enticing to a variety of diners. Great for business! Mary waited on our table and was witty, bubbly, and connected with us on an intellectual level. Little pricey. -CAAV OUT! read more

Again! I tried this place again and it is actually worse than the last time. Got tips, king size, thin as shit. Showed to the waitress and here reply was...I don't eat meat. Skip this dump. Skip ahead 2 years,,,,,,,,, 6/4/15 WTF! Starving, only option so here we go.... Ordered a $31 steak... Glass of wine, nice... Mellow crowd, game on, nice... Ordered steak MR, shouldn't have... Came a bit too rare but, my fault. Always order medium if unsure, good tip. Sent back, and made clear that it was my fault, and to tell the chef that. Mainly because of all of the urban legends of what they do back there when you send back... Here it comes, am I safe?.... Second glass of wine, nice. Re cooked pretty well, and they replaced vegges, asparagus and sweat potatoes, not quite "spring/summer" appropriate but... Here I go. Here's the deal, bland and flavorless all around. Would give 3 stars at a diner with A1 but for $31! Snap! Not bad, over priced and somewhat clueless staff. I remain.........at............1 Star. Sorry horseshoe Charge $14.95 and you're on to something. read more

The waitress Laura C was terrible. Not attentive, chatting with others and the time we went wasn't busy. Very disappointed with service and food. The food was terrible and bland. To get refills was also difficult bc she would leave and not come back for awhile but then in the distance we could see her chatting with co-workers. Will not be coming here again, wouldn't recommend. She rambled off the specials and didn't bring us over the corn bread too. I'm genuinely annoyed as I am from North reading and have been coming here since I was a kid. It was nice to see they added an outdoor portion but sad to see the poor service. read more

One of our local favorites. Try the meatloaf! Relaxed atmosphere, good place to catch the game, friendly staff and the manager is super nice. read more

I love it here! I've never eaten in the dining room, but the pub is perfect. The bartenders are fast and friendly, and the apps are quality. Upon hearing we had just moved to the area, the manager came over and gave us a sample of their corn bread on the house. So generous! Really made us feel a part of the community read more

Horseshoe Grille - Complimentary corn bread as a welcome to the neighborhood! - Barbeque Near Me - North Reading, Massachusetts

I was disappointed. This was a go-to place for years but they changed the menu and the prices are very high. That would be ok but the service was not good. I waited 10-15 minutes to be waited on. I suspect that since I was alone, I was not going to have a high bill. But as a former server I always give a very good tip, esp when I'm alone. I get it. But the service was slow and not particularly friendly. I left 20% but it would have been far higher. Sandwich was tasty but expensive. read more

I love this place. I moved closer to the Horseshoe Grille recently and have been here about 3 or 4 times. I am always impressed with their food and the reasonable prices. On my birthday they brought out a funny hat, (sang a rather sad version of happy birthday), took my picture and even offered to email it to me which I thought was a cute idea. I highly recommend Horseshoe Grille! read more

I went here for lunch since I have been by this place several times and thought I'd give it a try. Since they are noted for their BBQ, I ordered the BBQ sampler appetizer. Even though it was an appetizer, the portions of each sampling were extremely small. Now for the taste: the spare ribs had very little meat on them and sauce was quite strong, the small ball size of pulled pork was excellent though. Also, the homemade corn bread was excellent. Although I wasn't really excited about my meal, I may go back and try some of the other popular offerings like steak tips, and panko crusted chicken. The interior of this place is very clean and nicely decorated. Finally, the bartender was excellent at her job. read more

The Shoe is our favorite local place to go! You'll find us there usually once per weekend. They have a great rotating beer selection and a large menu with something for everyone. We love trying the different dark beers that they get in and the Turkey club, Cobb salad, chili and French onion soup are some go-to's. Also their cornbread with butter (like beyond amazing butter!) is mouth-watering. Definitely give them a try - the bar is usually the hot spot to be and has lots of seating. And their indoor patio is super popular for having gatherings/celebrations. read more

We love The Shoe! This is my company's go-to restaurant for great food, delicious drinks, a nice atmosphere and friendly service. My co-workers, friends and I have all been here on many occasions and have never had a complaint of any kind. The staff are all very professional, courteous & outgoing. The menu is diverse and has many tasty offerings. I tend to get the Grilled Chicken Sandwich which consists of grilled boneless chicken breast with basil leaves, buffalo mozzarella, tomato and pesto aioli on roasted garlic panini bread. DELICIOUS. Also served with a generous amoutn of hot, cripsy french fries. All the appetizers, soups & salads I have had there have been very good & filling. And the drinks?! Sooo yummy!!! The martini selection is fabulous ~ Tiramishoe, Carrot Cake, Caramel Appletini, Snickertini, etc. All very creative & wonderful. Prices are decent and appropriate and the atmosphere is cozy & comfortable. Beautiful fireplace and decor. Yet, not stuffy or pretentious. Many times, my coworkers & I go there for drinks after work and are in scrubs. I've set up several different birthday parties or large group get-togethers there and they've always been very accomodating & helpful. The last time, I brought a cake over early and they kept it in their fridge and brought it out at the right time. The staff always tries to insure you have a great time and are taken care of. Parking can be a challenge at times, but don't let that deter you. This place really is an overall terrific find. read more

Now that my go to restaurant in North Reading has closed (The Pic) I have had to branch out for Saturday Lunches when visiting my wifes (my) family. I tried the Horseshoe this weekend. It was very good. It had a nice big bar that had a lot of people at it. We decided to eat in the dining room. Since it was promoting the award winning BBQ I had to try it. Being from CO originally I usually enjoy seafood MA. But this BBQ was very good. I have the pulled pork plate with coleslaw and baked beans and it was very juicy and tasty. read more

We just had dinner here after having not been for about a year. I had thought of this place as an Ok average. Now i would say that it has slipped lower. My wife had a beef brisket sandwich. It was dry and lacked flavor. I would have expected a few sides of sauce and some cold slaw. If your in the mood for BBQ, I would go to Blue Ribbon or Red Bones. read more

This used to be one of my favorite places to eat. The food has been better, but i think my main concern is the lunch staff. I mostly meet my family for lunch from time to time, because I both work and live in the area. Over the past summer, the service hasn't just 'gotten a little worse', it has been absolutely abysmal. In one recent occasion, our waitress was so non-existent another waitress actually began helping our table. It wasn't busy. There were four tables seated. She did apologize that "things got so crazy", but that mystified me even further. There wasn't a sudden influx of business, so I assume that there was some personal/family/other issue that interrupted her day. That's fine. I get it. We all have that happen, but as an employee, it is her responsibility to convey that to a manager so that they can ensure the customers are taken care of. Today really took the cake. I met my family again. I was actually very concerned, because I had an extremely tight schedule, and the service has not been good enough to warrant that kind of risk. We waited almost 20 minutes for any approach from a waitress once we were seated. Two additional sets of patrons were seated and approached by a waitress in that time. We walked out. I can't say I'll be back. Given the lack of business they seem to do during lunch, I think it is safe to say I'm not the first person who's noticed. UPDATE: Response to Owner. I appreciate that customer service is of the utmost importance. I haven't spoken to a manager. Coincidentally, the first occasion I recall seeing a manager was the day I walked out. We told the hostess on the way out. I was angry, so there really wasn't anything to gain by discussing it with a manager at the time. I had already wasted half of my lunch waiting for service. I was focused on plan B: get something quick and head back to work. read more

We wanted to enjoy the nice weather yesterday so decided to venture out and try something new that also provided outdoor dining. This restaurant is very conveniently located. The atmosphere is great, staff was very friendly, and timing was perfect. However we are giving it 3 stars for two reasons: price and portion. I got the brisket and my fiancée got a combo. We felt that for the price we paid we should have received a larger portion. My $25 plate had literally four potatoes, a six inch by two inch rectangular piece of brisket, eight pieces of asparagus, and six pickles. Other BBQ places like the Rusty Can in Byfield or American BBQ in Rowley have lower prices and way more food. There was also no cornbread with my meal. :( That's a staple for any BBQ place. Cocktails were also pricey but that's pretty standard for this part of the state. I would consider going back if I got more than a kid sized portion. read more

I ordered the steak tip salad medium ..... steak was raw and cold. I was told kitchen was overwhelmed and if we sat outside we had a better chance of getting served. Got served but i would rather sit inside and have the meat cooked read more

My girlfriend and I are becoming regulars here because we always leave stuffed and happy. Everything we have ever ordered has been delicious and high quality. The menu isn't particularly expansive, but it is diverse with global influences, so to classify this place as "barbecue" as Yelp does, isn't telling the whole story. We always manage to find something that hits the spot and as vegetarians, we appreciate this. It always seems clean and has a comfortable, homey feel. The patio is a pleasant place to be in warm weather. We find that the hosts and wait staff are all very friendly. Service was somewhat slow on a couple of occasions, but only during typically busy times and as reasonable people, we understand that folks can't be everywhere at once. Prices seem average for the area, but again, the food is high quality. It seems like a very well-run restaurant and although we too have noticed it somewhat empty at times, we certainly hope it will remain open because we enjoy it quite a bit. Thanks Horseshoe!! read more

Nice surprise! We were stating in the area for only one night for a wedding, and needed a late lunch. We were walking distance from this place, and it had gluten free options. We were not feeling fussy. BUT! From our welcome in from the host, to the most cheerful and efficient waitress, we were charmed. AND! The food was delicious. My husband's chicken sandwich and my roasted veggie gluten free pizza were delicious! The cornbread brought to each table isn't gf , but my husband was happy to each both delicious pieces, with maple butter. Ok, the fries weren't crispy and we left them uneaten, but the leftover pizza was great for breakfast. We definitely recommend eating here! read more

Just ok. Was hoping for some solid pulled pork and ribs (and maybe even some brisket) given the hype around this place but was disappointed. The pulled pork was bland, the ribs weren't "fall off the bone" like you really want, and the cole slaw was dry. Service left a bit to be desired as well... attentive but not overly friendly. Maybe she was just having a rough day. read more

We come here a lot, almost always to the bar area. The experience is usually good as we like the staff, decor, and upgrades to the bar area. Last time though we sat in the dining room. I have to say the experience was very different. The service was slow and almost unfriendly. The dining room itself seemed contrastingly older looking and low energy. At least the beer selection keeps thing interesting no matter where you are in the restaurant. read more

Completely renovated in 2005, Horseshoe was transformed from a dark and smokey biker-bar into a more family-targeted BBQ joint, with good lighting, a nice fireplace in the middle of the main dining room, and pleasant (if a little contrived) decor. The food is okay here, the meal kicked off with cornbread and tasty maple-butter. Nothing really to complain about, although I admit that I don't keep going back because my mouth is watering. The BBQ selections are solid for a Boston suburb, but won't convert any picky southerners to the northeast. Be sure to ask for the hot BBQ sauce, they're not kidding, it's pretty spicy! There's a bar that seats about a dozen, and an associated eating area with about 8 booths, where you can mingle more easily and catch a game on the plasma TVs. Overall a good spot for locals and passers-through, but I wouldn't venture too far out of the way just for a visit. read more

My friends and I are so glad we found Horseshoe Grill! We were coming home from Boston and needed dinner and came upon it by chance and have gone out of our way to go back. We loved the pulled pork nachos, and the chili is excellent. The service is impeccable and the owner/management staff is attentive and accomodating. I recommend the short rib, chili, mac and cheese, and the entire cocktail menu. A fantastic experience every time! read more

Haven't been to the shoe in a while. Did some takeout last night. My wife got the Barbecue chicken which was fine. I ordered the Chopped Salad with steak tips. For an additional $9 there were 4 very small pieces of tips delivered with the salad. I called the manager who informed me that the steak was measured by ounce and what I got was appropriate. The steak was tasty, but for $17, not so good. If the tips are metered out because of the high quality and cost, the menu should state how many ounces of steak are in the portion. The "It is what is" response by the manager tells me a lot about the restaurant and the ownership by default. read more

AMAZING. That is all. But really - this place is consistantly satisfying. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is cozy, and the staff are friendly. Plus the cornbread they serve before the meal is to die for. Sometimes I go to the Horseshoe just because I am craving the cornbread! I usually go for the grilled chicken sandwich which is grilled to perfection and served with gooey mozzarella, tomatoes and basil, all on wonderfully fresh bread. I also love that they have low-calorie options on their drink menu! read more

Always consitently great. Service and Staff are wonderful : )

One perk of working some sick ass hours to meet a deadline is my cool boss that treats us to take in lunch. Usually we have Fresh City Betrucci's, Joe Fish - but after 3 years of endless deadlines it gets old. Yesterday we were treated to The Horseshoe Grille and I was very impressed especially since it was delivered to us. BBQ at it's finest and you don't have to wait. Now picture if you will a nice warm summer day, and you have the buzz of your favorite libation. A picnic table full of all the fixens is waiting there for you to soak up the buzz. Yeah, you feeling me? I was slapped back into reality seeing that it was our meeting table, and shoes were all over but once I had the nibbles in my tummy I was right back to my summer day dream. He hee. Since the early 1990s the Horseshoe Grille has been a BBQ joint. As of writting this review I couldn't tell you what the restaurant is like, but from my research and checking it online, it looks really cool inside and there is no doubt the food is fantastic. After this delicious delivery I will be checking it out. Our indoor BBQ consisted of cornbread with honey-cinnamon butter Yum! The rest of our menu was predictable barbecue items ribs, pulled pork, steaktips, shrimp, chicken, ribs, beans, rice and coleslaw. Nothing was thrown together. Everything had been treated with a special touch, surprisingly very tasty (I'm suspicious of deliveries), nothing dired out, & most importantly, food was hot upon delivery. The portions were huge for 20 people. I thought this was a fantastic meal and plan to hit the restaurant one of these days to add to this review. The manager that delivered the food was very friendly, and accomodating. I would imagine the staff is the same. Highly recommended by me. read more

Must have come here on theme night. Never heard of a restaurant doing a desert theme. Ribs, dry. Meatballs, dry. Caesar wrap, dry. I truly felt like my mouth was walking the Sahara for almost an hour. My tour guide (the waitress) was great. She helped with the beer selections and gave me some tips. But the beer was more of a hydration tool because of the food that was absorbing all the saliva in my mouth. All in all, wouldn't tour the Serengeti again...- read more

I don't love the food in this area of Massachusetts - it's mostly chains. Horseshoe Grille is a great place for families or a more intimate dinner. The bar is spacious. I was happy to find some tasty food. I had the french dip sandwich and buffalo chicken dip. Jamie was a friendly and helpful server. I am very picky about my beverages and was so grateful for how Jamie and Brian went over and above to recommend a non-surgary, non-sweet gin based drink. Brian knows his gin and gave us wonderful recommendations! What a secret gem this place is in North Reading. We don't live in the area but my husband works in the area. We will definitely be back. Truly exceptional service, something you rarely see anymore. read more

Great food and staff! We live close by yet haven't tired of "the Shoo." The menu is just the right size, the food is always excellent, and they are very family friendly. read more

We want to like this place. They have been in North Reading forever. The food is average at best but the location is perfect. Plus, there is not much to choose from in North Reading. Pat has done a great job keeping the restaurant up to date. Especially the the 'garage style' seating area and the outdoor patio area. The problem is that they have the worst wait staff of any of the restaurants in the area. Unless you are seated at the bar the waitresses serving you are absolutley miserable and inattentive. I noticed that Pat is often on this app apologizing for his staff but instead of constantly apologizing he should take the time to hire the right people and provide them the proper customer satisfaction training. read more

Very very good food but overpriced and the service is not consistent. My last visit our server has no personality and never checked on us.

I went here because I was told that I had to have the ribs. I definitely was not disappointed. Love the corn bread.

Best. Nachos. Ever. Always have had a good meal here but prices are a little high for entrees. read more

Delicious, high quality food every time. Love the nachos, pulled pork and meatloaf. Just ordered take out and it was tasty, fresh and well packaged. The staff is also excellent and I look forward to visiting again in person soon. read more

For North Reading, this place is pretty solid and good. I've had from their small bite the asian glazed salmon and from salad, a cobb salad. The dressing tasted housemade (which was delicious) and the salmon was glazed and grill to perfection (crispy on the outside really juicy on the inside.) I can't wait to try their bbq! I had requested the asian glazed salmon as an entree and they have absolutely accommodated me. I had no problems with their waitstaff or hosts, but i did go there during lunch. Definitely my new go-to spot for when i want quality food. read more

Not a fan. Very expensive, over $300 for 9 people. Not much alcohol. Food mediocre. Lots of dishes had black pepper which my wife can not eat. Don't understand why they don't just let you add it if you wanted. Service good. Ribs were dry. Fish special not especially good. I ordered calmari with the sauce on the side. Came covered with sauce. Taken back but a minute later reappeared, still had flavor of the sauce. At least two of us who ate fish are sick today. Also, while service was good, waitress was rude to my wife. My wife can't eat black pepper in any quantity, it makes her mouth numb and then she can't eat. Waitress didn't seem to believe this and seemed put out by having to check read more

Delicious food and wonderful service! Place has great food for a really good price. The meatloaf is quite tasty and their homemade spicy BBQ sauce is incredible! Oh and their cornbread with the spiced butter will have you hooked! Will be back again soon...so many good things on their menu. read more

8/10. I've been here a few times, and finally decided to review it after going this weekend (June 2013). First things first - the cornbread here is insanely good. They serve it to you as most restaurants would bread before your meal. It comes with a maple butter that, when combined with the corn bread, is really tasty. Sometimes my family and I will come here just on the concept of the corn bread. (The food's good too, don't worry). Entrees are a good size and meals are pretty tasty. I think the menu is a little over priced (the fish and beef entrees), but you can get some serious bang for your buck if you get one of their great salads or sandwiches. I have had a chicken panini there in the past that is very good. This time I got blackened salmon with quinoa and sweet potatoes. The entree was great - I would recommend. The restaurant has a nice feel to it as well - everything from the outside of the building to the ambiance of the dining area seems well done to me. The server we had at our meal this weekend was an all star too; he seemed very genuine and when he came to see how everything was, he didn't just say "Everything good?" and run away like you see at most restaurants. Bonus points for that. The only complains I have is that the entrees can be a little pricy and that last time they didn't have enough menus to give us when we sat down. Kind of strange. Otherwise, I love horseshoe and would recommend to anyone. Great selection, and most importantly, great food. read more

I ordered a shrimp scampi Togo and it was so disappointing not only with taste but especially with portion! My order came in a Togo box made for a slice of cheese (not exaggerating.) lol but seriously it wouldn't be enough for a 2 year old! I mean for $10 they could of at least throw in some bread and butter too! I'm giving this place a 2 star, because I haven't had anything else there so I'm giving them a break. I'm probably never going back but if i do I won't be getting the same thing and you shouldn't either. read more