I'm from the south, but I can honestly say this was the best bbq I have ever had. The brisket and pulled pork were prepared to perfection and were well worth the drive. Awesome!! read more

This place is a must visit awesome vibz and awesome foods!!! The brisket sandwich is amazing there rib literally fall of the bone and fries are cooked to perfection a 10/10 place and price is reasonable also definitely coming back here again read more

Ore Nell's is one of the only BBQ places in town, so they definitely satisfy my BBQ craving when I am visiting Portsmouth. Definitely dine in here, preferably on the patio, which has great water views. This visit we got takeout. We ordered a platter with ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and chicken. Texas napkins are upon request. The platter came with four sides, so we got collared greens, Mac and cheese, fries, and beans. Each of the BBQ items was slightly dry, maybe because we got takeout instead of dining in. The brisket had a nice Smokey flavor and the ribs were meaty. The chicken was also seasoned well, although I wish the bbq sauce for each item was a bit thicker. The bbq sauce they offer is watery and doesn't stick to any of the items. The sides were decently sized, and the Mac and cheese and fries were delicious. The collared greens were a bit sweet for us and those went largely uneaten by the group. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Meat Platter - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Tried Ore Nell's Barbecue in Kittery, ME and wanted to share an honest review. Overall, a mixed experience but still a good time. Total: $140.93 with tax Included: Family Cookout $89.99 plus $3 add on, extra 1/4 rack ribs $12, two sweet teas $7.50, banana pudding $8, apple cobbler $9, ice cream $1 Price felt high at first, but we split it between two people and had leftovers for another day or two Food breakdown Sides * Coleslaw was not for me. Vinegar based and pretty underwhelming 2/10 * Collard greens were decent but a bit salty 8/10 * Mac and cheese was fine but I do not get the hype 6/10 * Potato salad was lite and pretty decent, could use more flavor 7/10 * Pickles were surprisingly good even though they were sweet 9/10 Meats * Brisket was not my favorite but I am learning I may just not be a brisket person 3/10 * Pulled pork was dry and nothing special 2/10 * Sausage I did not try but was said to be a little spicy 0/10 * Ribs were mixed 8/10 * Appetizer ribs felt like a lower quality cut and were not great * Ribs with the main meal were actually very good, just slightly salty * Chicken was one of the best items. Great flavor and crispy skin but slightly dry 8/10 Other food notes * Only one barbecue sauce option which was just okay * Banana pudding was decent * Apple cobbler was enjoyed but charging $1 for ice cream feels unnecessary * Sweet tea was good but not standout Service * This was the biggest downside * We ran out of paper towels and were told we had napkins and wipes instead of being given more * Never really checked on or asked if we needed anything * Felt a bit dismissive and put a damper on the experience Overall Good if you are splitting and want leftovers, but some items were hit or miss and service could be better. Must order items for ribs however today's ribs were pretty salty and the chicken adding the barbecue sauce on kinda hid the salt, but I shouldn't have to do that. read more

See all

Service was honestly the highlight here -- staff was super friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience better. That alone carried this review. I also gotta shout out the CBD mocktail, that was actually really good and something different. Food-wise... kinda mixed. The cornbread was easily the best thing on the table. Chicken and pulled pork were decent, nothing crazy but solid enough. Everything else though just didn't hit for me -- pretty underwhelming overall. I'd maybe come back for drinks and the vibe, but not really for the BBQ itself. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Family cookout - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Great ambiance if you sit outside on the patio. BBQ is just ok brisket was very dry even though it had a nice smoke ring. Chicken had a very mushy texture and would not recommend it. The pickles and onions that came with both were good. Service was good. It's dog friendly which is nice. I would skip this place next time. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - 1/2 Chicken $14 August 2026 - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

See all

Brisket is piece of Garbage! Went there yesterday and Ordered 1 LBS of Brisket, Cost me around 40 Dollars. It was a disaster, Brisket was Bone dry and had no flavor. I trashed the food in the garbage. They just robbed me of my 40 dollars read more

See all

Food was decent but the cocktail of the day was better. Nice TV for catching up on World Cup action without the distraction of multiple screens or background noise. read more

Freezing cold weather and good ol'BBQ is something I've never associated together. Never thought I would until this last trip. How exactly do you fare against the elements to maintain the proper heat and smoke levels outdoors during this time of the year to yield perfectly smoked meats? What kind of insulation do you have? Or are you just crazy enough to do it indoors and trust that the exhaust vents are reliable enough to prevent you from carbon monoxide poisoning? Don't know but I will definitely ask next time. Obviously, I'll leave it to the pitmasters of northeast to have figured it all out just to keep the product available mostly year round. There is a good following for well prepared brisket, pork, and chicken so if there is a will, there is a way to provide exactly what loyal customers are willing to trek through ice and snow for! Not to mention, to quench their thirst in a way that warms up the soul with their nice selection of drinks. (NOTE: Is it as good as the "true" BBQ states? No. Is it a portal to what those states have to offer? Yes. Is it worth visiting when in the area? Absolute YES.) It's a cute little spot. Comfy and warm and inviting. The staff are not only friendly but VERY polite. You'd feel right at home immediately from the moment you enter. Now that's something you'd expect in the South. As for the food, I was here more as a pitstop than a proper meal but still decided to order the "BBQ for two" since that provided a quick sampling of their primary cuts. Figured if it was too much, I'd pack it; if too little, I'd order the half chicken next or something else that beckons whatever carvings hit next. I must admit that while they sing high praises of their brisket, which was quite good when it came out (it cooled down too quickly), their pulled pork was the *tonguegasmic* homerun for me. It was so juicy, perfectly seasoned that it trumped both the brisket and ribs IMHO. The collards were different from what I'm used to but delightful. And the mac and cheese? Divine. No way you can go wrong with Cabot cheese! All in all, I'll definitely be back and can't wait to be back when in the area again. Definitely recommend anyone to at least visit when around town! read more

See all

Everytime I go to Ore Nell's, I'm happy. I mean, what's not to love when it comes to barbecue? Unless you're vegetarian... If you're with a bigger group, definitely get the family plate to try a little bit of everything. You get four large sides, half a chicken, jalapeño cheddar sausage, brisket, pulled pork, and ribs. We got the Cole slaw, Mac and cheese, collard greens, and fries as a side. The Cole slaw was eh, but everything else was fantastic. And the meats of course are the stars of it all! But the mac and cheese? Oh wow that is so good. And the jalapeño cheddar cornbread is even better. Not dry at all--most yet crispy on the sides from the grill. But finishing it off with the German chocolate flourless cake is the best part at the end. So decadent... The service is always great when you go here. Every time I've been, I'm pleased with how fast everything is brought out. And it is always consistently delicious. It's crazy to think this is in Maine and not from somewhere known for BBQ. But I'm grateful it's close by! read more

See all

Great place! The service was great and the Barbecue was amazing! I love the old town bar restaurant vibe! Easy to get to I was able to walk from the Marina to the restaurant. read more

It was our first time here...we had great service, great bbq, great atmosphere. One member of our party couldn't find parking anywhere...so I asked the manager for recommendations about where she could look for parking...instead he so kindly walked outside with me and had her park right in front of the take out window (which was closed). So nice! We ordered the family meal (which served 4-6). It includes a bit of every meat...brisket, chicken, pork and beef ribs, hot sausage, plus 4 sides of your choice. All the meat was cooked so perfectly. It was tender, flavorful, great texture. They have BBQ sauces at the table, sweet and hot, both are delicious! The brisket was outstanding...so was the hot sausage. I love that they have a great selection of creative mocktails, and cocktails. Love the smoked maple syrup in the drinks. Such a great Fall season flavor. Will definitely be back! read more

See all

Pretty solid BBQ spot just across the Maine border. We went for an early dinner and ordered the platter for two. The brisket was outstanding, the hands down favorite. Perfectly tender with a spectacular rub. I also really loved the ribs, which held up flavor-wise even after the meat cooled a bit. The pulled pork was good too, it just didn't shine quite as brightly as the other two. The meats are clearly where this place excels. The sides, while decent, weren't quite memorable. The collards were nicely acidic but, for my taste, lacked that deep, smoky umami from bacon. The mac and cheese was solid but nothing special. And the coleslaw was our least favorite - surprisingly, since I usually love any slaw that isn't drowning in mayo, which this one wasn't. We also tried the appetizer special: mussels with banana peppers and sausage. It was funky in an interesting way, with a sour, salty kick from the peppers, and the mussels themselves were plump and well-cooked. But the flavor combo felt a bit odd overall for mussels. I appreciated that my cocktail wasn't overly sweet, though I couldn't quite detect the pear or rosemary notes it promised. Portions felt slightly underwhelming for BBQ, but we liked the vibe and agreed it's a good spot to satisfy a craving when you're in the area. read more

Great spot next to the water, good vibes and even better bbq. The brisket tacos were the best tacos I'd had in years, get them. May want to pass on the frito pie tho, ours was lacking Fritos. That won't stop from rating 5 stars tho, very impressive! read more

Our first time and a Saturday night to boot! We were on the hunt for some good barbecue. We like the dry kind and Ore Nell's hit the spot. I loved the brisket (tasty succulent and right amount of char), St Louis ribs were fall off the bone, juicy like we like them. French fries were not hot enough (according to my partner) but I loved the crunch. Deep fried baked potato was bountiful enough for two. Collard greens not too sweet or sour, right amount of crunch left us wanting more. Cole slaw was silky and crunchy. We are big fans of tofu but next time we were order a solid block. Waitress was on top of our needs and was impressed that the owner (manager?) introduced himself to us. Nice touch. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Ribs, brisket, pulled pork, tatters and collard greens. - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Excellent food tasty wonderful server Kevin, friendly service reasonably priced easy Parking great location read more

See all

My wife and I were looking for BBQ tonight during our stay in New Hampshire. We got the platter for two and we enjoyed it. The ribs were fall off the bone good. The brisket wasn't too fatty and had a nice smoke ring. I am very picky about cornbread and this was my least favorite part of the meal. But that's my own preference. read more

I arrived in the evening with some friends, and a big portion of the interior is taken up by a bar, with some side booths and tables surrounding it. It's a very western vibe, with a rustic accent in the decor. I got the Jalepeno Poppers, Peach BBQ chicken and the Pork belly taco. All off the specials menu. This by far most closely parallels offerings from Lexie's Joint (a small, exceptional spot for burgers & fries) in a similarly under-scaled menu, but with delicious specials. The jalepeno poppers were served in an iron cast dish, with a lettuce bed, and a creamy basil aioli. The poppers had a heavy amount of cream cheese in them, flavoring the crunch of the salty jalepeno, all wrapped in a crunchy breaded/fried crust. One would think the aioli is an unnecessary excess to the already cream-heavy snack, but once you actually taste it, all the ingredients meld together to create a balanced bite of softness, crunch and flavor. For the peach BBQ chicken (a mix of drumsticks and wings), the sauce was the perfect mix of fruity sweetness and BBQ flavor. The well cooked chicken allows the meat to gently free from the bone, keeping its tenderness in each bite without any dryness. The dish had chopped scallions sprinkled across, giving the wings a nice fresh crunch. You get an abundance in saucy wings for $18, so I definitely recommend ordering this or at least a consideration. The pork belly taco was probably my least favorite dish, only because it costed $8 for one. Otherwise, the taco was soft, and the neutrality of the tortilla gave additional structure to the flavor of the creamy sauce coating the lettuce. The pork belly and the meaty sauce were not too salty, and you won't be disappointed by how well each ingredient stands out yet never overpowering. Although we got here at a relatively non-busy time, the service was great. We were served quickly, and were consistently tended to. This spot is a MUST TRY! read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

See all

I feel a little guilty leaving a middling review because the staff here were really nice, but... this was not really our kind of place. First of all: NOISY, even though the place was barely half full when we were there. They were playing loud heavy metal and the sheet-metal walls amplified everything. We are "old fahts" (as we say in N.E.) and noise is really a deal-breaker for us. Second, parking is tricky and it's very hard to pull out of their lot because it's on such a busy road. The food? Well, my friend had brisket with fries and slaw and I had Frito pie. The brisket was dry, the slaw was surprisingly bland, and my pie was mostly beans and also rather bland. This place seems like it's for homesick transplanted Southerners who miss honky-tonk roadside barbecue joints. read more

I've eaten here three times and I've left perplexed each time. The flavors are lacking on all the BBQ items I've had (wings, sausage) and the fried green tomatoes I recently had were oddly prepared. Want a Bloody Mary but it's not "brunch" - they won't make you one. The menu looks great and changes regularly, which is why I've given it so many chances. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Wings of the day, beef link, side of collared greens - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

Parking lot can get tight but worth stopping by. Corn bread is must try. Ribs fell off the bone and were delicious. Food did take some time to come out so be patient. They have indoor and outdoor sayings available. read more

Absolutely loved this gem! The sweet tea! Enough said! It was like I was back home in the south! I loved the food, the service was great and was such a cute little spot! Will definitely be back when visiting this area! Would even go out of my way to return! read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Ribs and fried loaded potato - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

We visited Ore Nell's yesterday for dinner for the first time. It was an off-season Tuesday; the food was pretty good but not stellar, the service was unorganized, and the atmosphere was obnoxiously loud for a not-too-busy time. I won't bore you with my specific opinions on noise control in restaurants; just know that the seating layout and decor do no favors to anyone not wanting to be startled by the shrieking children TWO ROOMS AWAY. Atmosphere aside, the staff here works as a team to take care of each table. I find this great when it works well and the staff communicate with each other well. Sadly, it doesn't work well here. Different people asked us the same questions several times, but then were unable to follow through on the service. Some of our meal order was lost and when we asked about it (to a different server than the one who took our order), she didn't know about it, went to check, and didn't come back for a while. Eventually she returned with our missing fries, but this and other things made us realize communication amongst the staff (both kitchen and front of house) seem poor and this was on a slow day. Now to end on the highlight: the food. All the bbq was pretty good. It wasn't the best I'd had, but the meats were tender and juicy, and well-seasoned. The coleslaw had some spice and was vinegar-based, so it wasn't my favorite, but others in my party loved it. The collard greens were well-seasoned with lots of mustard seed. The mac and cheese was decent, but far less flavorful than we expected, especially with Vermont cheddar in the title. It tasted like one step above annie's boxed white shells, which is fine but a little bland. Lastly, the shrimp taco was delicious. It is the only thing I would go back for. The acidity, creaminess, and perfectly cooked shrimp had the perfect texture. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - Shrimp taco (delicious) - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

See all

Wow, cannot believe that I have not reviewed Ore Nell's! This is one of those rare places that I can take the entire family and there is something for everyone. I got carnivores, pescatarians, vegetarians, and vegans I have to satisfy. Everything and I mean everything is awesome here. The ribs, the brisket, the pulled pork - all yummy (although the brisket is drier than I like but it was still delish.) The Mac and Cheese also good (even the vegan version) and even a simple baked potato (loaded of course) was worth ordering. The shared plates are ample and you will not go away hungry. I have even gone over to the vegan dark side and had their BBQ tofu - OMG! So freakin' amazing tasting - I wish I could get it that crispy and tasty. The location is also lovely and we were lucky enough to be able to sit out the last time we went. That outdoor space is large and amazing. This is not a fancy place but you will be treated like royalty while there. read more

(Wish we could rate a 3.5). We ordered the meal for two. Brisket was hands-down best we've ever had, and that is what we would order again, along with the potato salad. Ribs were also good, but the pulled pork was dry and lacking flavor. Mac and cheese was also good but the slaw was our least favorite. Glancing at other reviews, this seems a consensus. read more

I had the bbq sausage. It was a little spicy but really good. Their sweet tea is good too.

We were searching for a spot to eat in Portsmouth as we were at a small surf event on York beach. We drove past Ore Nells which is right on the water before the bridge into Portsmouth. We love a good BBQ especially on a chilly day. We ordered the Barbecue for two which had 1/4 lb brisket, 1/4 lb pulled pork, 1/4 rack St. Louis ribs, and three sides. The ribs didn't want to stay on the bone which is exactly how we like them. The brisket was a little dry but we do think it was seasoned well and had a good meat to fat ratio. The pulled pork definitely didn't come out hot. It was dry but that is something we typically expect when ordering pulled pork from anywhere. Mac and cheese is as basic as it gets I'm pretty sure that's what they feed the kids for school lunch. Coleslaw was different than your usual. It was seasoned well and had a lot of acidity to it. Good for vinegar lovers. Personally I wasn't the biggest fan of their jalapeño cornbread. I don't think I tasted any jalapeños. It turned into dough when I put it in my mouth. It was sweet and they did sear it on one side which made it a little more enjoyable. Overall the place was cute and clean. We were in and out and got our fix in. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

See all

Delicious frito pie! Full of beans, brisket, lime crema and, of course, Frito chips! My husband got Island wings topped with scallions and corn bread crumble which were also quite delicious. The lemonade mixed with unsweetened tea was perfect as my drink, but there were many other option. Outdoor seating was nice. read more

Kind staff and good BBQ. Meat was so tender. Lots of seating, including porch seating. They also have some tables outside. Parking lot out back. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

See all

Top notch. All homemade BBQ, sides, and desserts. They are very gluten-free friendly. It was hard not to order the entire menu. Things to skip: Coleslaw and beans Must try's: BBQ pulled pork, mac&cheese, and potato salad Their desserts are all homemade and delicious. Hats off to the chef :) Can't wait to come back! read more

See all

I grew up in San Antonio, and my dad was a "hobbyist" pit master. This place is fine. It's not up to par with what you can get in Texas, but it's not bad either. For Maine, it's good though. But what place that claims to be Texas BBQ also doesn't have Big Red? COME ON SON! read more

Overall solid bbq. I'm from the south so a bit of a bbq snob. We got the bbq for two and the chicken because we wanted to try a bit of everything. All of the meat was tender and flavorful except the chicken. It was a bit over cooked so it was dry. The Brisket was probably my favorite. But all of the meat was worth trying. Pork tender and juicy and the ribs literally fell off the bone. My biggest issue was the bbq sauce. It had good Flavor but was so thin it didn't want to stick to the food. If they could get that just a little thicker it would be great. The sides were good but nothing exciting. Max and cheese has potential but the cheddar needs to be a bit sharper. We will be back as it's still the best bbq we've found in this area!! read more

See all

It was the cornbread that drew me in and everything else was a huge bonus. The brisket and ribs were delicious, perfectly cooked and seasoned. Both of the sauces are a perfect accompaniment to either meat. Mac was tasty too, perfectly cheesy. The cashew cheese that we got on the baked potato was outstanding, as was our server actually. A view of the water and coke products?? Sold! Fantastic Texas bbq. read more

See all

We stopped in for lunch during a drive up 1A from Hampton to the lighthouse. On a Friday afternoon, around 12, this place was hopping! The service was fantastic and the food was delicious. It's a chef driven menu with excellent takes on classics and brings that Texas authenticity to local fare. It was our first time here and the hostess put us at a table with a view. I got the Cassoulet, which was divine! I would have liked a few more beans to go with that rich demi, but the bread took care of it. An excellent version of this French classic. My wife got the Brisket Frito Pie. It wasn't exactly what we imagined, in fact, it was way better! It looks small, but trust me, it's more than enough. She couldn't finish it. The brisket is in the chili and brings in the Texas touch. My daughter got the tuna melt sandwich and I loved their interpretation of this. I was thinking old school, canned tuna, tomato slice, topped with cheese and ran under a broiler. This knocked it out of the park! They use ahi tuna, make the salad with that, top with cheese and then run it under the boiler. Elevated and delicious. Would highly recommend any of these three dishes. I tried a couple of their Maine microbrews. That blueberry sour is to die for! We would definitely eat here again! read more

See all

Ok.. honest review from a family that cooks a lot. The people are wonderful, the brisket is fantastic! We had cole slaw, potato salad and corn bread and those all were "ok." Would definitely return and try some of their other items. read more

Great Texas bbq by the water with amazing view, especially during sunset! For barbecue for two you can get three meat, and ribs are definitely my favorite! After the meal we also took a walk on the memorial bridge next to the restaurant which was such a great way to end the day. read more

Ore Nell's Barbecue - American Near Me - Kittery, Maine

See all

Perfect spot to enjoy BbQ food. The place is well decorated and more importantly so clean and smell fresh unlike the majority BBQ restaurants! Service was great and fast, food was so tasty and well done! I loved the Brisket and my partner enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich. The coleslaw was one of the best i ever had, it is mixed with some pickled/fermented cabbage and it was rich in flavors and crunchy, and not overwhelmed with Mayonnaise ! Will definitely stop again when i come back to Maine. read more

See all

The service here is great! They were quick to greet us very friendly. They were also totally understanding when we asked to move from the outdoor patio to inside seating as it became chilly. I know that can disrupt the servers and their sections so their patience and kindness was very much appreciated. The food was delicious! I was really surprised that it was so good for the price point. We had the fried green tomatoes and pulled pork sandwich and you can tell how much time and love went into making it. The Ambiance felt very "local" despite the location being in the tourist frequented Portsmouth/Kittery area. Oh and the specialty cocktails were really really good! We are definitely coming back again! read more

Picture this, Hank Hill, from King of the Hill, gets out the bbq grill. Throws on the propane (obviously), puts the meats on, cracks a beer, lights a cigarette BOOMMM!!!The propane had a leak and blew his ballz clean off. That's how Ore Nells made me feel. My ballz have been blown offfffffff, and they are not coming back. The wings with the spicy peanut sauce, phenomenal. Lucky for me there was a handsome man in the kitchen to look at, I think his name was Joey? Boy oh boy what I'd do to him. 10/10 on the chicken, 10/10 on the hunk in the kitchen!!!!! Great work folks, keep it up, the people need you!! read more

Food: the primary protein, ribs, were "too" tender!! Ribs should have a slight bite, not fall off the bone! The idea is to be able to bite the meat, have it come off and leave the meat around the bite still on the bone. The fries were very good. The slaw was vinegar based, not my preference. The sliced onions & pickles were very good. Rarely seen at Northeast BBQ facilities. Finally, there were two sauces, a sweet and a spicy one. Both were soupy rather than thicker which I prefer. Of the two I liked the spicy one. Service: Very good! Efficient, polite and effective. Ambiance: There isn't any!! Don't go there for any special surroundings. read more