During COVID I appreciated the socially distant "line up and order" food or drink, but now it's just confusing. If you sit at a table, you stand in line at the food counter, and then again at the bar. If you sit at the bar it's full service (food and drink), but not a lot of service IMO. And because I was confused, I went to the food counter while my hubby ordered what he thought would be HH drinks at the bar (and thus influenced our choices), and we had to pay separately without getting the Happy Hour prices since it was 5:01 when the order was entered. I wanted to like this place - been here before - and like the ambience, especially since there aren't a lot of cool areas to hang before going to the Sea Dogs. Pinball machines, decor, open space are all great, but not enough to make up for confusing and poor services and overcooked BBQ. read more

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We visited with our two kids (7 and 4) before a Sea Dogs game. The food was really good, the portions were generous. The hush puppies were particularly delicious. But they lose a star becuase they don't have a kid's menu and what's perhaps worse is they don't have kid's cups. This is definitely the kind of place people are going to bring kids to. They even have some games you can play. But they served my kids their drinks in tall heavy glass cups. Both of them got knocked over--one to the ground and it broke. We will definitely go back but I hope they make some accommodations for kids! read more

I was super excited for some BBQ. Unfortunately, this did not live up to the hype for me. We got takeout which was a smooth process of calling in. People were friendly and greeted us upon arrival. The space inside is nice - a good amount of seating availability. The cornbread muffins, beans, and pickles were delicious. Beans had a good spicy kick to them. The BBQ sauce was amazing - a little sweet, a little spicy. The ribs and brisket were very fatty. Ribs definitely were not fall off the bone. Some of the brisket was just completely fatty and inedible. I would definitely go back to try some other meats and the mac n cheese. No parking lot, but there is some street parking nearby. read more

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First time checking out Salvage as a dinner stop before a Portland Sea Dogs game. We clearly were not the only people with that idea as we had a 5 minute wait for a table. Besides the waiting area having some couches and stuff I thought the place lacked a lot of personality. Overall compared to some other BBQ spots I thought the menu was a little small in their offerings especially considering brisket is limited to a Friday and Saturday meal only. Thankfully we were here on Friday and each got a brisket sandwich and split a medium mac n cheese. All the food was tasty but wished they had a variety of BBQ sauce and brisket was tasty but not mind blowing. Lastly I know it was busy and understand service can be slow at those times but our server was still not the best when the place cleared out and it was not anywhere close to being busy. Even when they took our payment card instead of running it right away they tended to some tasks unrelated to any other customers as there really weren't other customers. Overall the food was enjoyable but there are superior spots if you are craving something of this nature with more personality and better food! read more

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Solid Q option in Maine that offers both vinegar and tomato based dipping sauces in addition to some scary hot add ons. The pulled pork was spot on--fatty, juicy and delicious. The Brisket has a solid smoke ring and was tender and beefy. The ribs were tender but oddly on the dry side. The chili had an odd flavor profile. Really strong chili powder bias. The meat coma pack I got (ate it over 2 meals) also came with pickles, and sour cream. When I requested utensils they send a paper plate fork, spoon and knife. read more

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Haven't found better BBQ in town. Open spacious dining room with Americana decor. They finally have Guinness on tap! The brisket plate is only served on Friday and Saturdays. Quite a few menu items weren't available today. Fortunately the brisket sandwich was available and it hit the spot! read more

Salvage BBQ - Brisket sandwich, no sides. - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

My wife and I were on a wonderful one week trip up the coast of Maine from Portland to Bar Harbor and back. So awesome. We were headed back to our hotel and decided to get some barbeque at Salvage BBQ and it was wonderful. Super juicy pork sandwich and a ton of great beers om tap, they even had Pliny the Elder on tap from California. Now that is a get. They also had BONGO going on, and they had great prizes going on. I think a winner got a case of beer. Great service and food and BINGO and a huge and wonderful beer tap list. 5 Stars! read more

I'm sorry but I think Maine should really stick to seafood. I visited Portland with a couple of friends for a short weekend trip and we came to Salvage BBQ at lunchtime on a whim. We decided to split the meat coma platter which, according to their menu, includes 1/3 a rack of ribs, 1/3 pound brisket, chopped pork, a cup of chili, and two sides (we opted for mac & cheese and cole slaw). We also split two of their cornbread muffins. The total came to around $44 before tax and tip. Whenever a restaurant's ribs aren't as good as the barbecue ribs you can get from Costco, something is clearly wrong. The ribs were gristly at best. More than one rib only had two or three small bites of meat on it. The amount of brisket was about enough for one person. The mac & cheese tasted like Velveeta and the flavor of the chili was completely overwhelmed by one particular spice that I couldn't seem to put my finger on. I apologize for being harsh but the cornbread was simply hard and dry; not at all soft and buttery like a cornbread muffin should be. I'm not going to lie - I have made better chili, cornbread, and mac & cheese than what I had at Salvage. The look and vibe of the place is awesome, especially if you're there to have a beer and watch a game with friends. However, the surprisingly small portion size was not at all worth the steep price tag and frankly, the food was just bad. read more

Salvage BBQ - The meat coma with mac & cheese and cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

I'm glad I bit into the ribs before writing the review as I did decide to have lunch there BECAUSE of the fries I was expecting I'll try again and next time clarify what cut of fries will be served. I remember better quality fries last time. Ribs were amazing read more

Salvage BBQ - $8 fries not impressed $15 (for 4) ribs - worth every penny. So tender, richly flavorful, and sweet. Ugh sooo good. - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

This is a favorite restaurant to frequent for my household. If my husband and I go to Salvage, that means we are going all out. We are going to order the meat coma, with extra sides. It's always delicious, and a fun atmosphere too. Order at the counter, and the food is brought to your table or your spot at the bar. Huge sauce menu, which is one of the reasons this is one of my top 2 barbecue restaurants. The dill pickle shots are delicious - don't knock it til you try it! They have a really large space, so finding seating is rarely an issue. Usually you can park nearby as well. The bartenders are great as well as the rest of the staff. I really have no complaints about Salvage. It's just all around a great place! read more

We LOVE Salvage. They are there for us through thick and thin...through good times and pandemic times I have been here about a dozen or so times over the past few years and I have never been disappointed by the food or service. Favorite foods: Mac and Cheese, Fritters, Brisket, BFFs, Pulled Pork, Coleslaw. We usually get the cow and pig platter. The pies. If they have pies, try them. They are made by one guy. He walks to the restaurant a couple of times a week and makes them from scratch/by hand. Amazing. The bourbon pecan is amazing!!! The beer selection is awesome! You can get mass produced beers..OR you can select one of many MANY great craft beer options. If beer isn't your thing...they have a full bar with wine and spirits. Be sure to look at boards behind the bar for selections and specials. If you are eating in the restaurant, you order at the bar end that is closest to the front door. We have been here with large groups - if you call ahead for groups of 10+ they can help you and your party stay informed and organized which will definitely help ensure it is stress free. Covid Times - we called ahead and paid over the phone and let them know the make and model of the car - they gave us a time to wait outside. They verify your name from a safe distance before placing the order in the trunk back hatch. Easy peasy!!! The cool thing is that you can order alcohol for curbside pick up as well. They ask just in case you forgot they can sell it. Whether dine in, take out or curbside. The service and food have been perfect. Thank you Salvage and your awesome crew! read more

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YOM I absolutely love the vibe at this place - so spacious and so unique. The prices are so fair and the portions are perfect. I loved the pulled pork and the drink options were amazing too. Can't wait to come back! read more

BEST coleslaw ever! BBQ'd meats are fall off the bone with deep and layered choices of sauces. why couldn't you just do take out!!! can't wait till you reopen‼ read more

Great find for my first trip to Maine. Lived in Houston TX and always thought the BBQ had an overly smokey flavor. This place was just right. The brisket was extremely moist and tender and the ribs were excellent. Unfortunately the day we went they didnt serve the sausage which was the maine reason for the trip there. Mac and Cheese was sub par. Flavor was great but the pasta was extremely mushy for my liking and could of did without the toasted crumbs on top. Will definitely come here again next time in Maine read more

Salvage BBQ - Mac and cheese, ribs and brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I ate here with a family member before going to nearby Hadlock Field for a baseball game. The restaurant is spacious and airy, with high ceilings. We were seated quickly and our server was wonderful, with a great depth of knowledge about the menu and the beer listings. Prices were reasonable and servings were generous. We both had the pork sandwich. The meat was tender and the pickles were top notch. If anything, there was too much pork on my sandwich - it was a little hard to eat and a bit messy. All in all, a good experience and I'd certainly go back again. read more

I really wanted to like this place but the service was poor (sitting at the bar) and the food was overpriced and overcooked. I will not return and cringed leaving a 20% tip. read more

I'll admit it, I can be a little of a bbq snob... Mostly because I smoke my own meats and pretty much no bbq has ever beat the taste of mine. I've only had 2 restaurants compare. But Salvage was pretty good. The atmosphere was fun and it was sooo close to our hotel that it made it even better. I had a 1/2 rack of ribs and they were very good. My side of cornbread was really dry and pretty tasteless. It really could use something sweet in it like honey to make it taste better... Or spice it up with jalepeno? Good thing I had my blueberry beer nearby to wash it down. The French fries done in beef fat were really tasty! My wife and son got the brisket sandwich and they really enjoyed them and I enjoyed a bite. My son also enjoyed his Mac and cheese although I didn't get to try any. The food came out fairly quickly although I didn't care how long it took cause they had pinball machines! After having lobster for 3 days straight, it was nice to have a little bbq. Overall, I'd recommend this place. read more

Salvage BBQ - 1/2 rack of ribs, French fries, and corn bread - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

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This is the best BBQ place in Portland. Reasonable price, great staff, great beer selection.. Also has mixed drinks. Cool lay out. read more

Salvage BBQ - Mac and cheese, collar greens, ribs, homemade chili and corn bread delicious. - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

Seems like new management has struck since i was here last. Gone are the cool pinball machines and ice hockey dome flip tables (USSR v USA just iconic). In are 10$ beers and 9$ sides of coleslaw. 9 dollars for a side of coleslaw ??? FOH read more

First time in! First...LOVE the chairs and ambiance. Smells are free and amazing! Cornbread on point. Hush puppies with a hint of jalapeño...scrumptious! Mac and cheese yummo and the BLT was great! Friendly service and good location! I will be back! Love the NC sauce! read more

The service was good , fine. The ambience was actually pretty cool. Now the important stuff... The meat was awesome- so tender and smokey... we both ordered the pulled pork platter. . The reason why this place only gets two stars is because the baked beans were bland beyond,there was a little heat- but beyond that- yuck- and not cooked long enough- ( the beans were hard ). As for the coleslaw, it was cold and seemed fresh, but once again it was completely lacking in flavor. So, all of the sides were kinda awful. I might add that the cornbread muffin had more in common with a hockey puck than a muffin. It was extremely heavy, and, you guessed it, completely tasteless. Like so many barbecue places, this place also seemed to have neglected and ignored their side dishes. A big mistake in my humble opinion. read more

Stopped in walking from the train station to downtown. Had the BBQ chicken which was very flavorful. The cornbread was delicious and my only complaint was that the beans were undercooked and a little tough. This had a silver lining because I ordered a side of Mac n Cheese that was the best I've had in a long time. The bad 70s playlist has to go. It's so depressing and I would have lingered longer otherwise. Seriously....let it go :-) read more

It was tough to find parking around here but we found some "unofficial" place to park so I felt a bit rushed as I didn't want to get towed/ticketed. We got there a bit late in the day and a couple of the items were already gone for the day so I got some Wings and a bowl of chili. Both were very good, the wings I think were a lemon/pepper maybe, they were very well done and I probably should have ordered the cup of chili as the bowl was pretty big and plenty of good meat in it. Next time I'll try and find a better parking spot and try some of the other menu items. read more

A Carnivores delight! This converted warehouse turned meat heaven does not disappoint the tastebuds. I've tried many a brisket from Texas to California and never tasted such fall apart moist and flavorful meat anywhere. This is a place to risk a heart attack and go for the meat coma. read more

Brisket 4/10 not much flavor besides smoke and tenderness was ok Ribs 8/10. Tender but not fall apart as they should be. Good flavor Chopped pork 8/10. Good flavor and tenderness Max and cheese 8/10 creamy and good flavor with those crispy bits from side of the pan. Coleslaw 2/10 taste like something from the super market deli Cornbread 1/10 might as well have been made of sand. read more

I needed something to eat, but was not full on hungry--so I just got some sides. Not any of the barbecue. That said, the sides I got were MEH: hush puppies & in particular their mac & cheese. The latter was flavorless. Seriously. Mac & cheese that's out of a box would have been better. Their corn bread was decent. Service was friendly & their decor was cool. read more

My bestie and I did dinner here tonight and it was really great! We decided to split the meat coma and I gotta say: it's the perfect dish to split. 4 ribs, 4 generous cuts of brisket, a solid amount of pulled pork, and two sides. $35 for the whole thing. Perfectly split and the perfect amount of food for two. We both got the Mac and cheese which is very unique. I think there's mustard in it which normally I would not like but it's balanced really really well! I also got the cornbread and it's good! 4/5 for the cornbread- it comes cut and toasted and mine was a little stiff/old tonight but the flavor was still very good . Love the amount of options for drinks! They had my favorite cider in cans (downeast.) Lots of very fun house drinks! Bartenders are always very friendly. What I love most about this place is the space itself. Very large open space. Very covid safe while still being very accommodating for larger groups. Food service was FAST too. We actually weren't quite ready when our food came out it was that fast. Oh! Can't forget! I'm pretty sure they make their own BBQ sauce. It's amazing. Smother it on everything. Including the Mac and cheese. ESPECIALLY the Mac and cheese read more

We stopped by this place upon it first opening for the day. We first had to find parking, because it is off of Congress street. It wasn't super busy and we were immediately sat at a really cute old time table. The server didn't seem too pleased to be there, but everything was still amazing. Good drinks and great food. Their corn muffins were to die for, I had more then two and would go back just for a dozen of those alone! The atmosphere was good and the place was done up really nicely. Great little BBQ place in my backyard. read more

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Salvage was so comically bad that I was given permission by my group to tell my story. So here it goes: Service was horrendous. The restaurant was quiet our entire time there and it took forever to get drinks. Their facial expressions made crystal clear that they did not like us. Two people ordered food and it was served on one tray with one small container of sauce. This was not a married couple, but two completely separate people. Is Salvage short on trays? Or sauces? If this is restaurant policy, it's fine, but when asked, the waitress was rude and didn't even try to show composure. Finally, when it was time to pay, they can only separate checks into groups of three. Evidently Salvage is the only restaurant in Portland that can't do separate checks. Restaurants have had a tough year, and I'd expect a better experience towards the customers trying to support them. read more

Salvage was referred to me by a friend and owner of another BBQ place. I went in, expecting an over-the-top experience but was sadly disappointed by the dry meat. I ordered the Meat Coma meal and split it with a friend and we basically ate all the chili (delicious!!!), the brisket and the mac n cheese. The ribs tasted day old, the beans weren't great but the corn bread was moist and decent. I exepcted more. I still bought a t-shirt to add to my collection. :) Go for their chili and dip part of your brisket in the Spicy Dill sauce. Omg yum!!! read more

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We got the meat combo tray to-go and sat in the outside benches (didn't look like they sanitize the benches routinely). The combo includes, ribs, pork pieces and brisket. Next time, we will most likely order just the ribs & pork. The brisket lacked flavor and was dry. If you're a sides lover, I would HIGHLY recommend getting Mac & Cheese & corn bread!! Mac & Cheese had an interesting kick and was SO delicious. The cornbread was also delicious with a crunchy top. Wouldn't recommend the chili as it was only meat chili and was a bit too salty for us. Collars greens was... well collard greens and as expected haha! Overall, a great place to try if you're craving bbq with Kansas City feels but in Portland, ME. read more

Salvage BBQ - BBQ ribs - okay alone, better with sauce - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

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I had read good things about Salvage on Yelp so since our hotel was right around the corner we decided to eat there on our first night over in Portland. The inside is pretty cool with old arcade machines and plenty of social distancing between the tables. The menu looked good - we decided to share a tray meal since it promised tons of meat. We went with one that had pulled pork and brisket. You could also pick two sides from a long list so we went with hush puppies and meat fat fries, and then ordered an extra side of coleslaw. It also came with pickles and onions. The drink menu is also huge. I got a strawberry fields cocktail but it was way too bitter and I ended up switching with my dining partner and drinking his gose beer which actually was not as bitter as my cocktail. He ended up ordering another beer which they were out of and then another (I forget the name) which was just okay and pretty mild. The food was just so so. I wouldn't label it tons of meat. Two pieces of brisket and then some pulled pork. Both meats tasted good but were missing that extra bbq piece that would have made it really tasty. The hush puppies were so bland. No taste at all and not good. The coleslaw felt like it had sand in it and yet was also sort of bland. The meat fat fries were good although some weren't cooked thoroughly. Prices were okay but we walked away thinking it just didn't remind us of traditional bbq. I compared it to the Rusty Can (out of Amesbury, MA) where the bbq flavor and ingredients are the main feature and everything has a really nice flavor that you would say yup, this is barbecue done right whereas Salvage just didn't get the taste all the way there and was a bit disappointing. read more

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Heard about this place on one of those "Best In New England" blogs. Sometimes they are right so I got curious and made the trip. Glad I did. During COVID they only have outdoor dining under a big tent. The setting isn't so great cause it's a busy street, bunch of construction, sometimes the homeless walk around, nothing that's Salvage's fault but they made up for it the best they could. Full bottle of water brought to the table for us, homemade lemonade and sweet tea were excellent. Had to try almost everything so I got the "Meat Coma" Ribs, Brisket, chopped pork and some sides. Could have gone for the "Meat Fatality" but ... that's a lot of protein. Brisket is some of the best I've ever had, It might be the best depending on what type of Brisket is considered to be superior. Usually I like my brisket juicy, thick, loaded with flavor, very soft. Salvage's was a thin cut, tiny bit tough, not very juicy, and yet EXPLODED with flavor and the fat even melted like smokey butter. The rub was unlike anything I've had before, it was like there were spices in it the gave me Only the sensation of a heat spice but not the burning. Salty and Sweet at the same time too. Incredible. Honestly I don't usually finish my Brisket, but I couldn't get enough of this one. Ribs were amazing too! Red color all over, clean cut, lot of rub. Tougher than I would like but still tender. No meat on the under sides (much like how a lot of BBQ place like to cut them) But a decent amount on top. Feels like they were smoked for a little too long. But the meat flavor was great, not juicy, that's hard to make sure the flavor of the Meat is the star of the show, usually it's the rub. Chopped pork. I've had pork all over the place and I can tell ya this, the term "chopped" is going out of style and it's heartbreaking. Most people would still call this pulled pork, even though they are wrong. A lot of people probably expect to see something like Burnt Ends when they think "Chopped" but they still Wrong. Anyways, pork was a pretty typical smoked pork taste. I think they have a North Carolina Chopped Pork, pretty sure that's just their pork with a bit of a vinegar sauce on it. Got the chopped chicken too and it came with that NC sauce, nothing crazy to write about. These BFF (Beef Fat Fries) are potato wedges that might be the best fries I've ever had! They didn't need anything to dip in, but we tried it in the house BBQ sauce and it was incredible. But they were Perfect golden brown, soft but crunchy on the first bite, Awesome flavor. Mac and Cheese was kinda weird. Very Yellow all over. The cheese sauce still reminded me of a mass produced grocery cafe style. And the crushed up Cheetos all over the top didn't really help. Honestly couldn't really tell what kind of cheese it was, very bland. The Pinto beans were, meh. Tomato based bean sauce and pinto beans cooked decent enough. Chili was very Texas style where the soupy stuff is almost like a mild hot sauce. It was very good chili, but I was afraid the spiciness might kill my taste buds before I tried everything. I shouldn't even say it's THAT hot, it's not, but it's enough to make the rest of the meal taste different. Coleslaw was typical but yummy. Cornbread tasted like typical store brand corn bread BUT! I look at all these pictures from others and it seems like they make their corn bread different sometimes. I got a Muffin, and I'm seeing texas toast style cuts in all these pictures. BUT EVERYTHING is still grilled! and I LOVE that they do that! Nice and warm and griddled. Tried their maple pecan pie too and that is heaven in a slice. All pies made in house and they are incredible. Not sure what was going on with their NC vinegar sauce. It was a very extremely watered down vinegar taste with a weird funk to it. But I would go back for the Ribs, Brisket, BFFs, Drinks. Something special about places that serve pickles and onions on the side for you. read more

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BBQ at Salvage was good. Not great and not bad, middle of the road. Hush puppies and brisket were our favorites. The chopped pork was good, definitely helped by the side of bbq sauce. The collard greens weren't my taste: leaves left whole (not chopped up), no chucks of meat or onion or any added chunky flavorings, and not sweet or tangy (I'm usually happy with one or the other, but these didn't have either flavor), just OK leafy greens. The mac&cheese was different: an oddly bright color (almost curry colored) with bread crumbs on top, but wasn't not crispy or crunchy, plus not particularly "cheesy" in taste. Well laid out indoor dining for COVID (more than 6' between tables), everyone working wore a well fitted mask, and guests seemed to still be following the rules. read more

Salvage BBQ - Cow & Pig tray with hush puppies, mac&cheese, and collard greens. - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

Sorry for the downgrade. Been coming hear for years and singing their praises. It seem they may have new owners and or new cooks, but almost every item is different and not as well prepared as in the past. This will probably be our last trip to Salvage. read more

I'm not sure how lame it is for me as a vegetarian to write a review of a meaty place? Does this make me a jerk? I'm gonna do it anyway. When you're a vegetarian with a boyfriend who loves meat, you eventually go with it and just hope for some veggie options at spots. Salvage has veggie sides, rejoice! Their cornbread is truly life changing. It's buttery, soft, but also crispy from being grilled. It's a must get. The mac&cheese here is also quite delectable, though I'm not sure any mac will beat the mac at Figgy's. Still good. I came here last weekend and ordered the cornbread, mac, and beans. Boyf got pulled pork (I think? I should probably pay more attention). The cornbread and mac were awesome, and very reasonably priced. The beans were served cold, I don't think intentionally? I ended up not eating much of those. The seating here is communal, long picnic tables. The décor is fun - Christmas lights hang from the ceiling, and the bar is fully decorated with mementos. It's a pretty big, open space. It can get MEGA loud in here. There was live music on the night I went, which was fun, but it also made it impossible to have a conversation. Maybe I'm just getting old... Plentiful taps and pretty good food make this a fun spot. Your food is served on a big tray, which is amusing. It's definitely an authentic barbecue experience. read more

Salvage BBQ - Gimme those sides! - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

Been coming here for some time now and I am sitting in the restaurant while I write this. Ribs are burning my mouth from the rub they used. Brought them back to ask about it and was told they changed their rub recently . We ordered the meat coma ad usual and was told they could not exchange for anything else! So looks forward to having my new years bbq here and am totally dissatisfied! I guess it's time to try Elsmere bbq! Sorry Salvage but you lost me! read more

I had the luck to get to Salvage on a Thursday night, when there were no crowds. There were people there, but it was easy ordering and there were plenty of seating options. We were meeting up with a group and we were the first wave to order, we got: Brisket Chopped pork Baked beans Mac & cheese Cornbread muffins Everything was great, the brisket was check++++++ The next wave of friends got: Ribs Coleslaw Hush puppies, and more Mac & cheese They had never eaten at Salvage before and loved everything. They also had a great time trying the different BBQ and hot sauces on the table. We did not get dessert, but had a wonderful time at a cozy table under the twinkling lights strung above our heads. read more

This place used to be amazing hadnt been here in awhile food wasn't even edible so disappointing

My boyfriend & I shared this meat combo & a Salad. They smoke the meat on site, & make their sauces in house (fantastic variety)! We enhanced the collard greens by adding more vinegar -was a little on the bitter side. They have a nice cocktail & beer list as well! Although the location is not ideal& there's a lot of construction, it's still worth a visit! Sure you can call in and pick up too! Staff was friendly & informative! read more

Salvage BBQ - Brisket, ribs, Mac and cheese, collard greens, cole slaw & chili - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine