Love Porky Pete's. We've enjoyed their pulled pork for about the last 20 years, and their food has been consistently excellent. Plus they're genuinely nice people. I like to top their pulled pork with Stubbs or some other thick, sweet bbq sauce. Lots of bbq places get lazy and put out pulled pork with chunks of fat, thinking the customer won't mind or notice. I appreciate that Porky Pete's cares about this detail as much as I do. read more

Little tiny place, shares a building with a small gas station. Slogan is "Best BBQ Allowed above the Mason Dixon line" ... okay, calm down. Picnic tables outside under the trees but it seems like they've been neglected for years, not sure who they actually belong to. Legs are almost completely sunk into the ground. We hopped over to Cliff's Meats next door, they had a few better tables on the side of their place. They also make a few little snacks, cookies and what they call "Chest Bars" I think. And they have a chocolates counter with all kinds of chocolatier options from someone they work with in Maine. Porky Pete's has a combo option but the ribs can't be part of it. He only sells ribs in a full rack. Couldn't bring myself to get an entire full rack of ribs for $4 more than the combo plate. Didn't have any more rib eaters with me. So the combo states that it comes with "Pork, Chicken, and Beef Brisket" ... When I asked what exactly "Pork and Chicken" meant I said "Is that Ribs? or Pulled? Or Half Chicken? Or Shoulder? Or what?" and for some reason I got a "No ... it's Pork and Chicken and Beef Brisket" ... not sure what that was all about but whatever I guess. Came with 2 sides, choice of "Mother Selene's Potato Salad" "Chad's Baked Beans" "Keely's Cole Slaw" or "Emily's Pasta Salad". He has Mac and Cheese and Mashed Potatoes too but you can only order that stuff in advance like it's only for catering. Or you can get a big tub of it that's been sitting in the fridge up front for however long. So the meats in a combo platter are all pulled. Even the brisket. Why the menu can't just say "Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, Pulled Brisket" I have no idea. Texture and smell looked pretty good. Chicken was very well seasoned and moist, more chopped than pulled if anything but the flavor was excellent. Brisket had some of their sauce on it, very stringy meat and I've never really like pulled beef, I feel like beef cuts should always be respected a bit more like a sliced Brisket or a good steak. But it was okay I guess, just very very heavy. Pulled pork was pretty good too, I like that it wasn't obviously sitting in a crock pot soaking in a bunch of flavor of something else. Put there was no sauce on the pork? Chicken is sauces and seasoned like crazy, beef is dosed in sauce, pork is completely naked? Had to put some of the bean sauce on the pork. Got it with Beans and Potato Salad. Beans were actually very good, I think I saw Pinto and a bit of a red bean? maybe just regular kidney. But the bean gravy actually sticks to the beans rather than falls off like crazy like a stew. all in all it was a nice bean flavor gravy too, I do like the apple flavors in my traditional New England baked beans but that nice essence of bean was fun. Potato Salad straight up looked like Ambrosia (A desert marshmallow salad). These guys claim that their BBQ style comes from Tennessee so I went to look up if this is what Tennessee Potato Salad actually looks like, not even a little. The mayo had an orange tint to it, a few pieces of red bell pepper are probably to blame for that. It tasted fine, little too much mayo for my liking, just wasn't what I was expecting. It was good though. "Tennessee Light Corn Bread" this is the first I'm ever hearing about a "Light Corn Bread" and apparently it is a thing in Tennessee. This was the weirdest looking cornbread I've ever seen. Yellow didn't excited, it was almost a piece of wonder bread. I read somewhere that this style is supposed to be very sweet. The bread from this place though had almost zero flavor other than actual corn. It was so dry it immediately sucked the moister out of my mouth. But I think there is a market out there for this kind of bread, some people like this style. Okay so this "Chest Bar" kind of reminded me of Shoo'fly pie for flavor, but like in more of a brownie texture. They said "It's better than an energy drink" and I took that to mean it's like one of those organic healthy bars but he could have been joking. It very much tasted like a Blondie bar disguised as a lighter colored gingerbread. read more

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Food's terrible. Ambiance is hostile. Very unfriendly place for an average customer passing through. Food was dry and flavorless too.

Came here a few times for lunch, guy behind the counter is always a hoot, but the food is pretty terrible for the price, and the owner's behavior in the replies to the bad reviews here is just embarrassing. If you want my advice, use a better bbq sauce on your pulled pork, stop putting stale Fritos in the Bruce Almighty sandwich, and get an attitude adjustment. read more

As a person who loves BBQ and feels as tho there are nowhere near enough BBQ restaurants around the US (at least the parts I've visited), I gotta say it's nice to have a quality place within a 15 min drive. Haven't tried everything yet, just the Bruce Almighty sandwich, which was great! But once I got back, upon learning they do bbq ribs and pulled meat by the pound, my dad wanted to get them for dinner! Definitely going again. read more

Nice owners, incredible barbecue, fair prices. Will come back again. Don't listen to people saying "be warned it's in a gas station". It's connected but this is not gas station food. Best BBQ I've had in the Northeast. We are really glad we visited. read more

Haven't been to this area in a few years and as a habit I always Yelp for new BBQ spots and I'm glad that I did. This place is a little difficult to find, I drove right by it thinking it was a just a gas station but obviously it's not, they both share the building, I'll know better next time. I got the brisket sandwich with of his two peanut butter cookies and some chips. What an amazing gentleman he is, we chewed the fat as he got my grub together and it was a great experience being able to talk with a like minded individual. There's not really a spot to sit and eat inside but he does have several picnic tables outside and across the street are some beautiful flowers to gawk at as you bring the pain to some great barbecue. I can't wait to come back and try his pulled pork. read more

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This place is located in a gas station area. It has no seating. A tiny store front to go. The staff was pleasant. The beef briskey sandwich was great. It wasn't slathered to death with sauce. We got the lunch special whichwas a ddcdnt size sandwich with chips and a huge cookie. The pull pork was good. It could have used a tiny drop of sauce. The prices were reasonable. read more

My biggest complaint is the price! For a pulled pork sandwich and a soda, it was $11! Too much! The owner was a very friendly guy, and I'm sure it's nothing easy to make a go of a small place like this, but there has to be some bang for your buck. The sandwich was fine, nothing special. It didn't come with any sides, and wasn't that big. It wasn't a meal, but really more of an $11 snack. read more

It's not even August and I'm already sick to death of my usual barbeque fare: grilled turkey sausages, flank steak and teriyaki chicken (quite delicious actually, click for the recipe). If you've got a crowd to feed, here's your answer: Porky Pete's Barbecue of Essex will cook up some killer 'cue, and all the fixings (excellent versions of corn bread, baked beans, potato salad, and coleslaw). Give Selene your numbers and trust her when she tells you what you need to order. Head over an hour before your party to pick up hot pulled pork, barbeque chicken or brisket. A recent dinner cost less than $10 a head with plenty of leftovers. No fuss, no muss and an instant party so you can enjoy yours. read more

Porky Pete's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Essex, Connecticut

We went to get dinner here one night but we're disappointed! Prices are high for everything and wasn't that good! I'm really not a big fan of barbecue so I really shouldn't judge it but I do know it was so expensive the time I stopped by to get dinner from the them! It really wasn't very special for the price! I'm sorry but really don't like barbecue.so I don't know if it's good o not!but the rest of the food we got from here was horrible !! I don't recommend Porkys Pete's at all! read more

Very disappointed. We used to go here all the time a few years ago, and it was excellent. But, our first time back since Covid, was less than expected. The pulled pork was extremely dry, and as we entered, there was a smell that was very unsettling. read more

Stopped for a quick lunch. Excellent pulled pork and baked beans. Will come back when in Essex. read more

Stopped here yesterday on recommendation of a co worker. Disappointed that the meat was dry, the biscuit was chewy, corn bread was under cooked, and the cole slaw was full of vinegar, definitely not the "southern" way. The potato salad however was very good. read more

We ordered a bunch of dishes for takeout for a family meal. Everyone was happy! Delicious fall-off-the-bone ribs, well-seasoned pork, smoked brisket. Fluffy biscuits and saucy baked beans. Everything was really delicious and the employees were super nice and helpful. We'll be back! read more

Porky Pete is the porkiest of them all! Stopped in for a small BBQ lunch bowl and wasn't sure what to expect due to it being located at a gas station. The lunch bowl was fantastic! I really enjoyed the layers of BBQ goodness. I will be back. I'm excited to try the smoked ribs in the very near future. Go Essex, Go Yelp, and GO PORKY! read more

Great find. They were catering an event I was at and all the food was excellent. The pulled pork was my favorite but everything was spot on, they even toasted my hamburger bun. They told me about how much care & effort they put into making their food and how all the little details matter. Those BBQ bowls in the pictures look great, I'll be coming back for that and some more pulled pork (available by the pound)! read more

This is a take-out place; there is no seating indoors. It's attached to a gas station. They prepare some great barbecue! The prices are so reasonable. We ordered 3 dinners, chicken, pork, and beef. Each dinner is $8.99 and comes with thick baked beans, a vinegar-based cole slaw, and either pasta or potato salad. We definitely prefered the potato salad. I loved the flavor of all the meats! They were very moist, even as leftovers the next day. There are also smaller dinners available for $6.99, and also you can order meat by the pound (and probably sides as well). This food is also now served at Johnny Ad's in Old Saybrook. It was our first time here, so we didn't know what to expect. We'll definitely return! read more

This is the best Barbecue I've had in CT, hands down. It may not look like much, but trust me, the food is fantastic. I've ordered a Christmas ham for the holiday season, which was amazing. They slow roast and barbecue to perfection. The pulled pork is always a favorite, not too dry or soggy and bursting with flavor. They have a pretty good selection of sides to go with the meats and other dishes they serve, and everything is well priced. You most certainly get a bang for your buck here. read more

Great little BBQ spot that's easy to miss as it shares a building with a gas station/convenience store. All the normal BBQ menu items, and I have tried several; all of of high quality and very tasty. The owner had also just taken some fresh cookies out of the oven so I indulged in them as well. Great service and the owner was pleasant which is big in my book. No matter how good the food is, if the service isn't top notch, I never give 5 stars. Nice job Porky's I'll be back next time in town! read more

Used to LOVE this place, eating here a few times a month, but a few things are starting to slip. 1.) twice we have gotten takeout and brought it home only to find mistakes, in one case NO SAUCE! 2.) in response to my call the next day about no sauce, I just got a runaround about new staff making mistakes and blah blah. No offer to make good in a future visit. 3.) the elimination of mashed potatoe as a side and replacement by potato salad, which I hate. In general the beans have always been a little to sweet for me. Love the meat which is a generous portion, but it really needs sauce, doesn't really stand alone. read more

(3.5 stars) After an impromptu hike I knew that my man needed to refuel - and that meant protein. As he started to drive us home, I pulled up Yelp to see where we might pick up dinner - and Porky Pete's was right on our way back. We arrived just in time - 30 min before they closed - although at first we were surprised at the location, the interior smelled only of delicious bbq. A quick look at the menu and we went with 1/2 lb pulled pork and a rib platter with coleslaw, potato salad, and cornbread. The counter girl nicely asked if we wanted to pulled pork reheated, but we decided to do it ourselves once home. We finished our drive back and I immediately reheated the pork and got everything together. We were delighted to discover the bbq sauce is vinegar-based instead of thick, heavy, and sugary. The bbq was really necessary for the pulled pork, which was quite dry although very well smoked and robust in flavor (hopefully just bc we picked up so late in the day). The ribs were tasty, already lightly sauced, although a tad fatty for me (but my husband had no complaints). The sides were solid, creamy coleslaw and potato salad, and in large portions for the platter. The cornbread was kinda meh and a tad tasteless - could use a new recipe, or only eat it if you use it as a vehicle for bbq. We'll have to come back so my husband can try the sandwiches he kept eyeing on the menu. read more

I've had porkys over the years and I've never been disappointed. Everything taste like a home cooked meal, which I guess makes sense since the smoker is right there on site! I prefer pulled chicken, but you can't go wrong with whatever you choose. The staff/management really seem to know what they are doing, I believe the owners are southern, so you know they know their BBQ! I highly recommend. read more

One of my first reviews was on PORKY PETE'S BBQ. Just went back after about a year. . Everything I said in that review is still true. I ordered a pulled Pork sandwich with COLE SLAW. Took it home and actually had two meals with this one sandwich. Just outstanding.I also ordered a pull pork sandwich without cole slaw for my wife.. The total cost for these two sandwiches $14.36 If you like BBQ, try Porky Pete's, It is primary for take out. Very, very little seating. Minimum amount for credit card is $10.00. No longer a fee for using a credit card. TRAVEL KAL read more

The pulled pork sandwich was dry and did not have much flavor. I was disappointed. This was my first time at Porky Petes. I might try them one more time when in the area. read more

This is a hole in the wall place attached to a Mobil,in Essex but is the best BBQ I have ever had in Ct . Very reasonable prices . Great menu. They have a sandwich that has pulled pork, mashed potatoes, sauce and Fritos on it . Always very friendly and quick service . Great deserts handmade chocolate covered items . I always stop here if i am I the area . Has a great brand porkey Petes. I passed it many times filling up gas and divided to check, it out , and I am glad I did. Huge portions, worth the trip from anywhere on the shoreline read more

Really good vinegar type sauce. Different from anything I've ever had. It's attached to a gas station but don't let that scare you. It's worth a stop! Pulled pork was awesome, the beans were sweet but not overly so. Those were my favorite. Ribs had good flavor but we're a bit fatty for my liking. Incredibly quick service and nice kids working in there. Fun picnic tables out to the side to eat on. Be warned though, there are no bathrooms! read more

This was a delightful surprise. Hungry for lunch after a trip to the book barn and my phone said we were close to some bbq and we couldn't resist. Got the Bruce Almighty sandwich (pulled pork, mashed potatoes, Fritos and sauce) and the small bbq bowl (corn bread, beans, pork, sauce, Cole slaw, and mashed potatoes). It was very tasty. My only complaint was that the corn bread was dry for my taste, but obviously made of fresh corn meal. Very friendly staff, great prices. Nowhere to sit, so we ate in the car, but worth it. Highly recommend. read more

This place is a hidden gem. A classic example of why you should never judge a book by its cover. $7 gets you a massive pulled pork sandwich and slaw that was amazing, with a lot of different flavors working together, I just wish there was room to sit down and eat. read more

Amazing BBQ. Had the pulled pork and ribs. Some of the best bbq I have ever had. There is nowhere to sit, so be prepared to take everything home! read more

Amazing bbq! Don't be detoured by the location, do yourself a favor and order the brisket and potato salad!

My father-in-law participates in BBQ competitions so I've been lucky enough to try some great BBQ over the years and Porky Pete's is some of the best food around. Their Tennessee BBQ sauce is so good I could drink it and always ask for extras to take home with me! Their pulled pork is moist and has awesome flavor. Really authentic Tennessee BBQ all around. Don't forget to try their cornbread and baked beans. From the street this little place looks like a hole in the wall, but once you get inside the southern staff is welcoming and the smell of the smoker in the back is heavenly. read more

Absolutely delicious pulled pork, ask for extra Tennessee sauce on the side. Also really yummy Chess Bars (a southern favorite). Their Tennessee Platter is great, it layers pulled pork, baked beans, mashed potatoes...so great! read more

Great BBQ! Excellent home-made tasting food. No tables except for outside (picnic) Lots of choices, my pulled pork sandwich was HUGE. Taste was really good spicy and flavorful. I'll be coming back!! read more

Awesome place with seriously great food. Tons of flavor in the brisket and pork, and a nice tangy flavor in the pulled chicken. I will say, some of the best potato salad I have ever had as well. The family puts their heart and soul into every recipe so if your nearby, check it out. You will not be disappointed! read more

After seeing the reviews and ignoring the few bad ones decided to take a afternoon drive for a late quick lunch to the hopeful hole in the wall gem, 1 hr ride to be exact, no seating is correct , staff was extremely friendly, got out food 1 pulled pork 1 pulled chicken, drove down the road to the park to sit and eat, I took 1 bite and could not do no more my wife struggled to eat what she did eat maybe 5 bites for the only thing of not wanting to waster the money we paid, asked her to try mine she took a bite and immediately spit it out at least I swallowed it , good think there were garbage cans nearby, I guess people in the area eating all that good seafood can't see the difference in good bbq to porky Peres bbq, I wish them well and to those of you that love it good for you stay sheltered to bbq for ever and they will always be in business read more

Barbecue chicken microwaved from a plastic bag in the refrigerator? For $13.99 a pound I'd expect a little more. One would assume a barbecue place would have fresh barbecued food. Not to mention the owner is incredibly rude. Do yourself a favor, Don't go there. read more

Really good BBQ for Ct. We went there with the kids after going to the Thomas the Train event. We bought our food and ate outside on the picnic tables. I recommend the pulled pork sandwich :) read more

Went to Porky's based on Yelp reviews. I did miss it first, then came back around and found it. The gentleman who was working was very pleasant. I had the BBQ Chicken Sandwich, which was really good - just enough heat, tangy and not drowning in sauce. Whenever I head back to this area, I will stop off. read more

Can't get enough of EVERYTHING on the menu! It seriously is the closet thing to being in the South! Great service, always! The owners are super sweet and always make you feel welcomed. I drive an hour at least twice a month to Porky Petes to satisfy my BBQ craving! read more