We normally opt for take out but decided to sit in at the bar. We started with the street corn dip, which was underwhelming. It was cold corn with chips. It was good, I just wish I knew it was a cold salsa We got the two meat platter with ribs and pulled pork 2 sides; Mac and cheese with mash potato's and cornbread. The meat was fall off the bone and so tender and juicy We got some cider on tap and the euphoric margarita, which has cucumber and jalapeño. A cool and spicy combo. Jenna was the bartender, great conversation read more

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This was our first time at Taino and hopefully my experience is not typical. Being a smokehouse, I was really looking forward to some tender pulled pork. What I got instead was very chewy meat that seemed more like cartilage than meat. Very disappointing. My wife ordered the surf and turf special. She ordered her steak cooked medium well, but it was served sliced up and well done and dried out. Others in our party had no complaints, so I think we just ended up some bad luck, and a show that quality here is not consistent. Service was good with attentive wait staff. The atmosphere is unique and upbeat. Too bad the food quality didn't match up. read more

Taino Smokehouse Prime - Pulled Pork, Taino Mac & Cheese, baked beans, Cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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Came back here again because I love the smoked meats here. Today we decided to eat Inside and not take it to go like we normally do. We sat at the bar and ordered street corn dip to start as an appetizer. For dinner we got the TWO MEAT PLATTER which came with Two Meats, Two Sides (Pints), Two Cornbread . For $40.00 We got pulled pork and baby back ribs, macaroni and cheese and garlic mashed potatoes. The Meats were smoked just right. The ribs are new. In my opinion I liked the ribs more on my previous visits but they were still delicious. For the sides macaroni and cheese was my favorite. Oh did I mention the portions? They seemed bigger than normal. Service was good as usual. Our waitress was Jenna she was nice. read more

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My last review was from three years ago. I've been back a few times since then, but this last visit I remember to take a few pictures. My father decided that this was now his favorite filet mignon after his last visit and so that is what he ordered again. During my last visit about six months ago, I ordered a steak salad and I really liked it this time I went with the steak frites. It was good. I'm not sure I would order it again. There were way too many fries and I thought the steak was a little too overdone for my taste, but otherwise it wasn't a bad meal. The service was fast and good as usual. read more

Taino Smokehouse Prime - Steak frites - Barbeque Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Came here just for drinks at the bar after brunch with friends . It was a friendly environment. The drinks were so-so. Watermelon cocktails . Interesting concept but we weren't crazy about them. We had an ok time but not sure I'd return. read more

Taino Smokehouse Prime - Barbeque Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Food and drinks were both great. Cool atmosphere. Great staff. I've tried 3 different meals and line them all.

You are charging far too much for mediocre BBQ and disgraceful sides. I ate at your restaurant yesterday and found my brisket was perfect but a small portion and my sides were almost inedible. The Mac and cheese noodles were gluey and stuck together like cement. The only flavor, besides noodle, was velveta. The garlic mash, that I did not ask for, was watery and needed salt. The beans were not baked, they were over cooked (boiled) soupy pinto beans mashed with a bit of sugar and BBQ spice. As a native of Oklahoma with family in Texas and a smoker in my backyard, I could do better with a blindfold for less than 24 bucks a plate. read more

The decor is a five. The food was a three. I had the brisket melt. The bread was stale and the meat was dry. I could not really eat without dousing in bbq sauce which by the way you have to ask for. Not a big fan of bbq restaurants where there is no bbq sauce or sauces on the table. My wife's meal looked nice-though kinda bland tasting. The prices are a tad high for good bbq. They're way too expensive for mediocre food. read more

Taino Smokehouse Prime - Barbeque Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Outstanding Experience at Taíno Prime Taíno Prime delivers excellence on every level. The service was outstanding and the food was absolutely excellent--flavorful, beautifully prepared, and consistently impressive. The location is also a huge plus, with easy access from all parts of Connecticut. They are especially wonderful to work with for events--professional, flexible, and truly accommodating. Lisa, the banquet manager, personally called to discuss event details and provided truly upscale, attentive service, making the entire process seamless and stress-free. A special shout-out as well to Chris, the owner, for running such a top-notch establishment. Highly recommend Taíno Prime for both dining and special events. read more

Taino Smokehouse Prime - Barbeque Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Did a takeout order last night and it did not disappoint! I thought this place was a littleeeee expensive but after looking at the portions, it's absolutely worth the price! And not even just the portion size, the food is impeccable itself! We got the Taino Mac and Cheese and the crispy onion straws paired with the pulled pork is quite amazing! The brisket platter was also such a hit, it was extremely tender and flavorful including the roasted asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes, YUM! The staff were so inviting and welcoming, i'm looking forward to trying this place again and dining in! Look no further to one of the best barbecue restaurants in CT! read more

The bartender is friendly and attentive, I don't believe I caught her name to give her props, but she is nice. Just having drinks tonight, tried the cherry Pom Pom. A creative mix of pomegranate, four roses bourbon, lemon&lime juice, vanilla syrup, cherry bitters, egg white...... here goes!! Well!! I'm pleasantly surprised, can you say yummy?!? Because I can!! Very smooth!! There is a band here playing some Latin music, I'm feeling it. Making me want to move my hipppsk™ once again Taino, you've done it right by me! read more

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PLEASE DONT WASTE YOUR TIME COMING HERE!!! All around horrible! Corporate event approximately 30 people got * we had a reservation and fixed menu selected. By 10:05 we realized that the only food available to the crowd were the chicken bites sitting in the common area corner of a dimly lit dining room with NO cover and a heat lamp. They gave us salad undoubtably from a bag and 1st course of improperly cooked pasta or nasty chili. I was standing to leave just as my extremely cold new York strip steak arrived. The bar tender was kind enough to provide to go boxes and bags to my party of 30+. Now most of us are from out of town and just wanted a decent meal we're reduced to heating VERY EXPENSIVE food in our hotel microwave because the staff was either unavailable or incompetent. I'm going for the latter because i witnessed our corporate hostess try to ask for food for her guests.... This guy seriously was aggressive and rude. Here's the significance of me mentioning it. The person in charge was 375' and 6'2 our corporate hostess is 4'10 110 lbs. I swear he was all in her face and gave no apologies for the horrible service and inconvenience to a very large corporate party. LEADERSHIP AND DISTRICT MANAGER EITHER COACH TEACH AND TRAIN THIS STAFF OR ...... SUNSET THIS VERY HORRIBLE RESTAURANT!!! This was the most disrespectful and deplorable service I've ever seen!!!! Now on to ambiance, at first they attempted to sit our party of 30+ upstairs...two flights of wooden stairs. They Know that food service hat to be delivered there. This upstairs area was lacking AC and looked like an old storage area... they finally move us downstairs but seemed annoyed about it....LETS keep it real we are probably the largest ticket you have had all month!!! Can't talk about food as I never got to eat anything but uncooked pasta and bag salad. This must be the Worst food and restaurant in CT! I am giving you this sincere feedback as a guest of the large party, i have never experienced or seen anything like what happened tonight... read more

Great food and great ambience. The food was great and so were the drinks. The service overall was awesome the minute we stepped in. Id def go back. read more

Taino Smokehouse Prime - Barbeque Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

We had an attentive waitress who explained the many options for the sides, as there were some options that were not listed on the menu that were available. I had the brisket, which was cooked to perfection and had a great smoked flavor, it was served with a drizzle of BBQ sauce, which honestly was not needed as the brisket was was tender juicy and flavorful enough on its own. You may want to ask for it on the side. The brussel sprouts were roasted in beef tallow, and were tender and tasteful. The tiano Mac and cheese was shell macaroni with a thick cheese sauce, that clung well to each piece of pasta. The serving size of the brisket was huge, it was plenty for 2 meals. My boyfriend had the half smoked chicken, it was moist and had a nice smoked flavor and the bbq sauce complimented the smoked chicken and tasted wonderful. He had the house made chips which were light and crispy along with a side of French fries. While we dined we were entertained by a singer who sang Frank Sinatra songs, and it was a very relaxing experience with great food. We will definitely be back. read more

Taino Smokehouse Prime - Half Chicken with chips and French fries - Barbeque Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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So it's our third time here and it's just okay. The place was pretty busy for a Tuesday night. Service was great. The issue we keep having is the food coming out barely room temp. We ordered Caesar salads which honestly how can you mess up. The romaine was in whole pieces which screams lazy. My pulled pork was cold and had huge clumps of fat in it. The Mac n cheese has changed and now is like straight up velveeta. The cornbread... they are now doing in small meals f gin tins was hard and too dry. We also ordered smoked chicken with collards and Mac n cheese. The chicken was ok but not hot either. It's a back of house timing thing that needs some work. read more

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I came here for dinner with my co-workers. The brisket was excellent. Nice flavor and very tender. I chose the mac & cheese along with the carrots & broccolini as side dishes. The mac & cheese was really creamy and delicious and the veggies were fresh and perfectly cooked. I added on the corn bread, which was unremarkable. The Meriden location had ample parking as well as lots of space inside the restaurant. I will definitely return with my husband for dinner in the future. read more

Taino Smokehouse Prime - Beef brisket, corn bread, mac & cheese, and carrots & broccolini - Barbeque Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

The food used to be good, but I find it to be rather average. I make much better barbecue on my smoker. I hadn't been there for a few years, but decided to try it again. The staff was friendly, but the barbecue was lackluster. The building was neat and clean and inviting. Plenty of space. read more

I went to Tanio with my daughter and niece for an afternoon happy hour outside on their quaint patio. We had appetizers of buffalo chicken dip , brisket poutine fries not my favorite and shrimp ceviche delicious. And then I ordered their chicken sandwich to go on focaccia it was delicious with homemade chips and drinks were very good . Definitely go try them happy hour prices are awesome.The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend Enjoy Chris M read more

Really excellent food and service! We highly recommend this spot for smokehouse cuisine -- it's not really authentic Puerto Rican food like you'd expect, but the food is really excellent... Nice ambiance, too! They tend to run out of food items later in the night, usually the brisket... so if you have a specific meal in mind, definitely go early! read more

Taino Smokehouse Prime - Spinach & Ricotta Gnocchi w/Scallops - Barbeque Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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Warning: If you're from the Caribbean, this place is NOT what you think it is. That being said, I couldn't deny that the quality of the meal was satisfying, and the hearty servings definitely made us feel like we got our money's worth. However, as someone deeply connected to my culture, the name "Taino's Smokehouse" felt like a careless appropriation of the Taino heritage. The Taino people are the indigenous people of the Caribbean, and their culture is deeply rooted in our identity. For a restaurant to take that name without any clear connection or respect for the cultural significance felt...off. It made me question whether the owners truly understood the gravity of using such a name, or if it was just a marketing tactic. It's disappointing because the food itself was good, but the name felt like a missed opportunity to celebrate the rich culture that the restaurant seems to be trying to draw from. If you're just looking for good BBQ and don't mind the name, you'll likely enjoy it. But for those of us who feel a personal connection to the Taino heritage, it's hard to fully enjoy the experience without feeling a little frustrated by the cultural insensitivity. read more

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Left with a very "meh" feeling. Pros: the smoked buffalo wings with ranch and blue cheese dipping sauce was pretty good. I would have liked to actually taste a "smoked" flavor because they tasted like standard buffalo wings to me. My hubs agreed. The restaurant was spacious and aesthetically pleasing. I'm always a sucker for an open kitchen :) Cons: HH tacos were nothing special at all. And we tried all of them. The filling was also cold. The cornbread was also served cold and very basic tasting. The collard greens were no doubt canned! The manager came over to ask why I did not want them and I had to tell him. They had a very metallic taste to them and pretty much no seasoning at all. Service was also lackluster. There were two bartenders and one seem to be very attentive to her customers and smiled alot, whereas we got the other one who was the exact opposite. Luck of the draw I guess! Big question... would I return? If I had an extremely long day, needed a break from the kids and wanted to grab some thing within five minutes of where I lived, Yes. Other than that, No. read more

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Ordered baby back full racks through door dash. Out first time trying this place out. Sides we got were asparagus, potato salad, mashed potatoes, beans cornbread. The ribs were amazing. We were all happy with them and would definitely order again. Cornbread was glorious. The mashed and potato salad we all liked. The only side we did not love was the beans. read more

Ordered Taino via Grubhub. Two orders of seared scallop risotto. The scallops (4) were cooked perfectly however the chef needs to be introduced to salt, as the risotto was totally bland and inedible! Additionally, the green slime around the border (pea purée?) was disgusting; imagine baby food. Very disappointing as we typically order from here while at work. read more

Taino Smokehouse Prime - Seared Scallops Risotto - Barbeque Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Seriously one of the best spots! I tell everyone about it. Clean, great menu, great wait staff, amazing food and such a fun vibe! Had a live singer that was so good :) read more

Great Service! The staff was polite, attentive and made sure we had all we needed. The restaurant was beautiful, super cool and had amazing lighting in the bar area. The food was average. Not the best bbq I ever had but it was good. The Mac and cheese was blah, I wouldn't get it again. Would I come back? I might give it another try but I wish they had sweeter bbbq sauce! read more

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Once again great service with exceptional food. Will keep going back Brisket Plate Fried Chicken Dinner read more

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Waitress was nice, but food was not that good. Food was reheated and tasted like it, very dry. No specials and many items already sold out, by 6:30 pm. We had been here in past years and everything was great, what a drop in food preparation, that is being served now. Since you can't give no stars, I have to give one. read more

Great ribs and smoked meats. Good selection. Sides are ok. Truffle fries awesome. Wish they had sweet potato fries as well. Meriden location can get very busy on weekends with parties. read more

Was very disappointed in our last visit. Service was not great, although our waiter was very personable and funny, maybe he was stretched thin, but he wasn't very attentive. Took a long time to get our drinks. I thought the meals were just okay (the burger was overdone tho). They knew we were there to celebrate an anniversary and a birthday and on the phone they said they would bring a piece of cake over for us to help celebrate, well that never happened. Not that it's that much of a big deal - but why mention it if they have no plans on following through. I'm honestly not sure I will go back. read more

Went to Tainos last night for dinner before attending a show in Waterbury. The restaurant is large and has a great atmosphere. If you like it quiet the dining area seems perfect. We ate in the bar area which has a fun and active vibe. Our food was delicious!! Everything we ordered was cooked perfectly (Corn bread appetizer, 3 burgers, brisket meal). Our waitress Amy was great, very attentive and delivered our food and drinks promptly. We'll be back! read more

Had the chance to visit Tainos Primehouse recently and I really enjoyed it. Ive been to the Middletown location a few times, so I was pumped to check out the higher scale Meriden Location. Everything was great, the staff was very helpful and all the food came out really fast. We started with the bbq egg rolls that were pretty good. For my main, I ordered the brisket that was very flavorful. Super moist and very tender. The sides were ok, but the cornbeard was the standout. That brown butter hit on another level. I was also impressed with their drink selections. Theres a good selection of local beers to choose from. Overall, a Great place for a higher quality steak or bbq dining experience. read more

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I've been here a few times and have been pretty satisfied. I recently DoorDashed the Smoked Half Chicken with a side of Cornbread and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Everything was really good - my picture doesn't do a good job at showing it. My only complaint is that the chicken comes with BBQ sauce - I like BBQ sauce but sometimes I just want plain smoked chicken. Other than that, I'll definitely order via DoorDash again and would like to dine in some time as well. read more

Taino Smokehouse Prime - Smoked Half Chicken with Cornbread and Garlic Mashed Potatoes - Barbeque Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

(Last visited 12/26/2020.) One of the most underrated restaurants (in my humble opinion) in Connecticut is this place. Not to offend anyone, but I love coming here, yet I always forget about it for some reason. It just never stays on my radar, but I always have the most amazing time whenever I come. I've been 3 times and it's time to tell you why I need to remember this place exists! Atmosphere/Appearance: Set right on Main Street in Meriden is this gem. It comes complete with a nice, big parking lot so there's no worries about where to put your fly ride. Once in the front door you're greeted with a HUGE open "picnic area" is what I'd like to call it. To the left you have the host's stand, in front of you there's a takeout area and to the right you have the section in which you can order meats by the pound, sandwiches and is just more of a "deli" area if I may. The area is huge though. There are picnic tables where you can chow-down and share a bite with a neighbor underneath the incredible décor hanging from the ceiling. Off to the left is the entrance to the dining room and even further is the bar area and more dining. This place is HUGE and filled with lots of beautiful red décor. Service: I can't remember the name of the guy who took care of us all 3 times, but he was AMAZING. Casey comes to mind, but I hope I'm right. He was tall, stocky and had a decent amount of hair. Dude was LEGIT and made sure that we had everything that we needed. He was so sweet and so freaking friendly. Food: So during my visits I've only gotten the wings because well... I have a problem. Lol. Anyway, I've managed to try out their Buffalo, Cajun and Coconut Lemongrass Curry. Yes, that last one is a flavor I've never seen anywhere else. It almost doesn't even matter what flavor they put on their wings because they SMOKE THEM. It's literally the BEST way to eat wings. The flavor is incredible and now add Buffalo sauce, Cajun seasoning or the very interesting 3rd choice and I'm in Heaven. They were incredible. That's why I feel bad about forgetting this place is around. I need to come here more! As a side I typically get the "sautéed vegetables" and they actually change depending on the week. The 3 times I came I had green beans with carrots and they were delicious. There was a bit of sweetness in whatever they put on them that helped complement the savory flavor of the wings. Service: 12 wings will run you $19.00 and they're totally worth it. A "pint" of "sautéed vegetables" was only $5.00. So a dozen wings with a healthy side wasn't too terrible, but as you know... places that sell BBQ simply aren't cheap. In conclusion, I need to start coming here more. Period. Be sure to check out my YouTube channel, "The Hungry Road" for more restaurant and car-related content! You can copy and paste the following link into your browser to be taken directly to the channel! Be sure to subscribe, like, comment and turn on notifications! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEZJPcprSoq00kgDLUb57yA read more

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We have wanted to visit this restaurant for awhile and we are SO glad we did tonight! The food was amazing, service quick and friendly, and it was one of the best meals I've had out in a long time. Kayleigh was an amazing server and gave great recommendations. We can't wait to come back! read more

Taino Prime ("Prime") in Meriden and Taino Smokehouse ("Smokehouse") in Middletown, are like two charismatic siblings, who decided to walk different paths in life. While Smokehouse, and especially its cool outside eating area, has an awesome vibe in its small digs, it shares a nondescript plaza with a hardware store. Prime, on the other hand, is in a large, handsome, residential-looking, stand alone structure. Prime is stylish and elegant in a way not of Connecticut. Its gorgeous stained woods, cattle horn art, orange splashes, cool light fixtures and myriad accent pieces would be more comfortable in Dallas or Oklahoma City. But I'm glad Prime is in CT. I think it has one of the coolest interior restaurant designs in CT. The food at Prime and Smokehouse intersect in many places - ribs, brisket, burgers, wings, sides, etc. However, Smokehouse is comfortable hosting the best backyard BBQ. Prime aspires to a fancy life in the big city, and offers $50 dry aged strips, penne alla vodka and seared Faroe Island salmon. Smokehouse serves Mac and Cheese with a velvety Southwest cheese sauce and traditional kid fav - elbows. Prime glams it up with shells. Smokehouse would be happy to win blue ribbons at the State Fair for best desserts. Prime has a pastry chef who is experimenting to get just the right taste for the lemon meringue flavor and pistachio flavor eclairs. Both Prime and Smokehouse are favorites, they just go about it differently. I visited Prime for lunch this week. Service was friendly, attentive and interactive. By interactive, I mean guests were given samples of the above-mentioned eclairs and asked for feedback. I'll just say they were delicious since they may be works in progress. I ordered the smoked corned beef Reuben grilled cheese special and subbed Mac and cheese for the fries. The sandwich consisted of thinly sliced house smoked corned beef, gruyere, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing on buttered and grilled Texas Toast. I also ordered a piece of killer corn bread with a tasty vanilla butter. The sandwich didn't completely work for me. It looked great and had great "bones", but the corned beef was very salty (even by corned beef standards). Some bites tasted and felt more like pastrami because the meat had a peppery seasoning. I prefer the corned beef chunks that I've had at Smokehouse than this thinly sliced version. Given the strong salty flavor of the meat, it was hard to pick up the other flavors in the sandwich beyond the buttery grilled Texas toast. When I separately tried the individual sandwich components, they were all good. Prime's Mac and Cheese tasted similar to Smokehouse's, which is a very good thing. I don't always like shells for Mac, but they were a good fit for Prime's velvety and substantial cheese sauce. Given the saltiness of the corned beef, this wasn't my best experience with Prime. But in light of the great service, awesome interior design and quality ingredients, it was still a Four Star experience for me. I'll probably stick with tried and true favorites next time though. read more

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Stopped by for lunch. Great atmosphere, great service, and menu. The egg rolls and bacon pops were really good, and their ranch dressing was fantastic. The chicken bacon ranch sandwich was cooked well, but overly salty, and needed something to cut the saltiness, like coleslaw or something fresh. Sweet potato fries were really good. Brisket was okay, but overly salty. Mac and cheese side was pretty good, but was kinda bland. Will definitely go back to try more food read more

This is a cute very aesthetic Location. Definitely nice for a first date to keep it informal but still classy. The food for me is a bit pricey, but the ambience makes up for it. They have some pretty fancy drinks if you like that. Service is good. The food does get delivered in a timely manner. They also have an upstairs area you could rent if you wanted to have a private party I think they hold about 50 people comfortably. They also do catering which is great affordable price. All in all I like this location. They also have some live music here and there which I think they should do more of, and they're gonna open up their patio that should be a hit! read more

I had the Mac and cheese with pulled pork. The Mac and cheese could use a little love, like maybe adding some seasonings to the cheese sauce. The pulled pork was tender and juicy. The best thing on the plate was actually the cornbread. It is small bites of cornbread that is very flavorful. Overall the food was good so I recommended the place to my family. My family went but their experience/food was not good. The ribs were cut incorrectly and so tough they were inedible. read more

Good food, but a little pricey. I had a cheese burger and fries, my wife had a brisket and homemade chips and a side order of corn muffins. The service was good and the ambiance was nice. read more

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Very nice place. Inside they have seating area first and when you go further into the restaurant the bar are is so beautiful. I ordered a few things to try everything out. The mushroom truffle pasta was ok. The sauce was a little grainy however, over all decent. The Mac and cheese was not ranked high nor the BBQ. The brisket has a good smoke to it however, very dry. I probably would not go back. The service was quality, which is the only reason I give this place 4 stars. Others may like the food. It wasn't BAD but it wasn't the best I ever had. To each their own. read more

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