Stopped in there for lunch around 3pm on a Friday , place was almost empty , between lunch and dinner I guess ? I got the brisket plate with two sides, I got the Cole slaw and the Mac and cheese . It was close to $23 . They also have chicken , pulled pork and smoke sausage plates . For $15 to $18 with 2 sides. The brisket was amazing , 5 good size slices . Very tasty, the Cole slaw was good , above average , and a good amount . And the Mac and cheese was very good , and no "up charge" one of the last places I went there was a $3 up charge . So I passed . Everything was great , great service , food came out in 10 minutes . I'll be back again . read more

Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ - Sliced Brisket with Cole slaw and Mac and cheese . - Barbeque Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

Good food, Classic Americana Bar-style vibe with friendly fast service, even with large parties like us. For a "BBQ" place, Theodore's covers all of the usual bases - pulled pork, beef brisket, Baby Back Ribs, Short Ribs, St Louiis style ribs, chicken and sausage too. For those in the mood for something else, they also offer a couple of salads, and a tasty sounding Blackened Chicken Penne, burgers and incongruously, a smoked meatloaf dinner too! I'm a fan of meatloaf, but for this evening, I chose to stick with their staples and thus, the Baby Back Ribs plus my sides of chili and mac n cheese arrived soon upon our table. The Ribs were quite nearly fall-off-the-bone, moist and flavorful - I enjoyed slathering the ribs in the default BBQ sauces in squeeze bottles on our long dining table. PRO TIP: My compatriots who ordered the beef brisket found it dry and not to their liking. Maybe it was just that night.. who knows.. Either way, I wouldn't mind coming back.. Nothing too outstanding, but the ribs were certainly on point for me! read more

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The pulled pork is TO DIE FOR!!!! Melts in your mouth and is delicious exactly as it comes! I had it with the corn bread, slaw, and baked beans. Corn bread was also super impressive! Add the honey butter for sure. Slaw was super fresh! Beans were good, too. Wish I would have tried the sweet potato tots and the key lime pie, but they will have to wait for next time. Great service! Also the place seems fun, but I was enjoying my company too much to pay too much attention to the ambiance. Overall, 12/10 stars! read more

Third time here and I can't get enough of this place! From the popcorn to the drinks to the amazing BBQ, everything here is outstanding. I've yet to have anything I didn't love. This time I ordered the babyback ribs. I am very picky about ribs and Theodore's gets an A+ from me. They truly did fall off the bone, were flavorful, and the sauces on the table complemented the ribs so well. Service is always great here and I love the relaxed and casual vibe. Til next time!!! read more

Best baby back ribs! Yum. Love this place and come every time I am in Springfield. Popcorn available for snacking. Corn bread also delicious. Welcoming. read more

Theodore's has been recommended by a few people so we thought we would try it. Whenever I try a new BBQ place I always try the brisket, slaw and beans. However, the sweet potato tots caught my eye and we went with that instead of the beans. The meat had good flavor. The texture wasn't fully there. I am used to brisket being melt in your mouth. This was a little dry. The sauce included was good. The tots had a nice smokiness. The best part of the meal was the homemade slaw. Nice crunch and fresh. The biggest disappointment were the "Boneless wings". These were TERRIBLE! They were nothing more than frozen tenders. These were at the level you get at a stadium. You know the kind when you bite into them and all it is coating and some chicken paste inside. I am sure the sauce would have been good, we chose the Carolina Mustard, but the complete let down of a BBQ place using such poor quality ingredients overshadowed the experience. I wish it had been better. I love BBQ and if the tenders were even palatable, my wife might have agreed to going back. Unfortunately, that ship has sailed. read more

Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ - Totally disappointing boneless wing - Barbeque Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

We stopped here for lunch on our drive up to NH and what a gem! I ordered a blackened chicken sandwich off-menu and I'm not exaggerating when I say it's the best blackened chicken sandwich I've ever eaten. Tender, well seasoned and perfectly portioned. Service was 10/10. Our server Chris was just awesome and a wealth of knowledge. You can tell this place is run by people who love food, love hospitality, and value excellence. I can't wait to come back next time I'm driving through the area. read more

Warning: Parking is a challenge! However, there is a paid parking lot around the corner from the restaurant and street parking. When we arrived, the host initially told us that the wait was 1 hour but that changed for an unknown reason and seated us immediately. The waiter was very friendly and took our drink order first. This is what I ordered: Pulled Pork Plate with a side of collard greens and corned bread. Drink: Diet Pepsi/Coke The others at my table ordered, the Mac and cheese bowl with bacon and nachos. The nachos were enough to feed a table of 4 people. The food was delicious, the food was served in less than 30 mins, there is live music (we left before the band started performing) and there are flatscreens everywhere (great place for drinks, grab a bite, and watch sports). Will definitely return whenever I visit Springfield in the future. read more

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Amazing bbq and nice bar area with cold beer and cocktails. They have a stage for live music and a great atmosphere. The cheddar jalapeño hush puppies are fire. Looking forward to going back. read more

I left more disappointed with the cocktails than the food. I gave their "iced tea" a second try since it's supposed to be this standout drink, but honestly, it tasted like nothing more than sweet tea. So, I switched to a Long Island Iced Tea, hoping for better luck. Unfortunately, it was overloaded with sour mix and barely had any of the other ingredients. It was so tart I had to dilute it with water, and it didn't even have that classic brown tint a splash of Coke would give it. I'm not a heavy drinker, but I do enjoy a well-made cocktail, and neither drink made much of an impression--on my palate or my sobriety. I guess I'll stick to beer next time. My partner ordered a Sapphire and tonic and enjoyed his drink, so at least one of us was happy on the beverage front. Now, onto the food. My partner had the blackened chicken with a Caesar salad. He's extremely picky about dressings, and he was genuinely pleased with his. I ordered the burnt ends, and the friendly waitstaff suggested making it a dinner plate at the same price--nice touch. I chose mac and cheese and collard greens as my sides. The mac and cheese was buttery and delicious, but the collard greens were soggy and lacked flavor. The burnt ends were good but needed additional BBQ sauce because they were rather dry. We primarily came for the band, 7Roads, and they did not disappoint. The place was rocking, and the atmosphere was great. We'll definitely be back when another band we like is playing. read more

My partner and I dined here on Saturday Sept 28th, 2024. We were staying at the MGM hotel nearby so this was an easy walk to get to, about 10 min walk. I looked online prior to coming for great eats in town and Theodore's stood out with many favorable reviews. We are big BBQ fans and always like to try local joints wherever we go. This looks more like a pub/bar from the outside, old school, kind of dingy interior with a lot of character, an old historical builing. The restaurant is more spacious than it looks. Despite being a Saturday evening, there was no wait and we were seated promptly. We opted for the brisket burnt ends as an appetizer and got ribs and pulled pork as main meals. Our sides were a mix of the mac and cheese, corn bread and mashed potatoes with gravy. Everything we tasted was delicious, the pulled pork was the best I've ever had. So tender and flavorful, I liked that it wasn't all drenched in sauce. There were parts that were untouched so you could taste it plain and add sauce if you needed to. On each table, there are 3 types of sauce, regular bbq, hot and a honey mustard type base. The mac and cheese was delicious, cheesy, not dry, the cornbread and butter were warm and so moist. The mashed potatoes were more boring, no flavor on their own but the gravy helped. Portions are very generous and pricing is fair. We really enjoyed and left with full bellies. Only downside is the location, convenient if you are nearby on foot, but the downtown area doesn't have a lot of parking, there was a even a sign posted on the door warning people not to use the paid parking lot, it seemed unsafe. As out of towners, we found this part of the city a bit depressing, many closed businesses and for a weekend, pretty dead and not lively. I hope this business can continue thriving in such conditions. read more

Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

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I came here one night and not only had awesome service but met the coolest folks performing the blues. The place had warmth, excellent service, a real local vibe but welcoming to out of towners. It's close to a Mexican spot that's amazing and above is the billiards - I really like the street that it's on too read more

Theodore's is an excellent interpretation of a Memphis/Mississippi blues bar and bbq restaurant. Located downtown, your only parking option is on the street with meters. Inside it's dark wood and decorated in a southern style with all kinds of different wall art. On one side is a full and long bar and the other side is a big dining room with a stage. With some very good blues music playing in the background and the interior decor this is a cool place to come for a meal. You certainly don't feel like you are in Massachusetts! I ordered the 1/2 chicken meal with sides of baked beans and potato salad for $16 which is a very fair price. The food came out in about 10 minutes. The average size 1/2 bird was juicy and flavorful being slow cooked in brine (4). The beans were excellent with a lot of content (brisket meat, onions, etc.) in a tasty sauce (5). The potato salad was mayo based with big potato chunks which I am not a fan of (2). The chipotle bbq sauce on the table was very good (4) and the bourbon sauce was a 5! You can actually taste some bourbon in it and I thought it was perfect. The sauces are on the table which is nice. I would have bought some of the bourbon sauce which they sell but couldn't bring it on the plane back with me. Finally, I usually don't do dessert but the strawberry cornbread shortcake special intrigued me. My waitress talked me into it ($8.24 on special menu). Cornbread? Wow, it was spectacular. With the whipped cream, I simply loved it (5). The soft cornbread added to the fresh strawberries with cream and I have never seen cornbread used in this fashion before in the South. It would take a Massachusetts restaurant to perfect a dessert using this Southern staple! This is a very good place to eat. Springfield is lucky to have Theodore's! read more

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Came in for dinner, it was slammed. I ended up sitting at the bar so I didn't have to wait an hour. The food was pretty good, ample portions and good flavor. It's not the best BBQ I've had but for being in New England, it's not bad either. The spot is kind of divey, more bar than restaurant but a cool spot nonetheless. The parking situation is kind of tough, street parking in a crowded area or pay to park lots. Maybe I'll come back for another shot... read more

Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ - Pulled Pork Plate, beans and potato salad - Barbeque Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

This was a great find. The ribs were delicious, meat fell off the bone. We will definitely be back. read more

Delicious bbq! The best burnt end I have ever had in New England Great draft list too.

The front of the building looks like it was more of a pub and pool tables. But once I realized the menu was all about bbq I was very intrigued by this type of food in the middle of Springfield MA. But they offered beef ribs along with the typical bbq favorites. So I had to try the beef ribs after I asked the waitress if they have a good a mount of meat on the bone. When the plate arrive, I was very pleased by what I saw. Now I just hoped it would now pass the taste test. Yessssss we have a winner, The meat was tender and there definitely had some meat on those bones. I know where I'm going for lunch the next time I go to Springfield. read more

Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ - Bbq beef ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

Very cool place with lots of history , had some great live music jamming and while I am as just as surprised as you are about to be in reading this review I never expected to find some of the best ribs I ever had in New England!! Yes they are that good! Got a full rack and they were spectacular! read more

We had a group of 8 at 12:30 pm on Monday, 4/8/24. We were seated right away. Our waitress, Keitha, was great and got everything right! Here's what I had: - Corn Bread with Honey Butter ($3.49): Soo delicious! Comes with 4 pieces. Plenty to share! - Beef Brisket Bar-B-Que ($21.99, comes with 2 sides): Wow, the brisket was so tender and amazing. I got it with the waffle fries and sweet potato tots and both were deeeelicious. I also tried someone else's mac and cheese, which I wasn't as impressed with. I definitely recommend the sweet potato tots! It was plenty of food. Others got the Chopped Salad with Blackened Chicken ($9.99 + $7), Burnt Ends (I believe this was also $21.99), and Black Bean Burger ($13.99) Everyone really enjoyed their meal! Great food, great service. Highly recommend! read more

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Best food and entertainment i have found in western mass. I went here for a night out with friends and this place exceededed our expectations. We really had a really fun night out. read more

I love smoked ribs and Theodore knows everything about fixing ribs . My order is taking home to enjoy because at home I take off my shoes and give those ribs my full attention..lol The public doesn't get to see that..I love the service. I get it ,it's a rhythm and blues type of thing.. Amazing read more

I can't believe I've never reviewed this place it's my absolute favorite place in Springfield one of the few places that has a proven business model food is excellent service is great music can be a little loud but they even have outdoor dining in nice weather read more

Came in for a late evening dinner mid week with my younger siblings. It was early for me as I work nights so I had myself two cups of coffee. They brewed me a fresh pot which was nice but threw me off when I asked to be topped off I was brought a fresh cup. Ordered the brisket, thought it was ok. Cornbread was good and the I didn't mind the beans. I enjoyed the bred pudding for dessert though. Again, I work nights so my typical routine and palate of a bowl of cereal was thrown off. I wouldn't mind coming back when there is some jazz playing, seems like a nice spot to visit on a busy night. read more

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Theodore's is rocking almost any day of the week. Expect to find a lively crowd. Couldn't pass the corned beef Reuben and Irish nachos (tater tots, corned beef and cheese). Service is fantastic. If corned beef isn't your thing, their standard BBQ menu items are sure to please your tastebuds. It's been around for decades and they have mastered everything. read more

Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ - Reuben and waffle fries - Barbeque Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

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Overall: extremely popular spot in downtown Springfield with Southern esq hospitality. Extremely reasonably priced compared to Boston (although unfamiliar with Springfield pricing). Food: biggest positive is the portion size and the free popcorn (huge sucker for popcorn). The main drawback is the flavor of the meat itself. It was mostly under seasoned when it was in the cooking process. Burnt ends were in fact pretty burnt with a melt in your mouth brisket flavor. The pulled pork was extremely tender but lacked salt. It was made up for it with the bbq sauces as we drenched a ton. Ambience/Decor/Service: large space with a stage for live music. The waitress was extremely nice reminding me of like southern hospitality. The entire design reminded me of when I visited Memphis drawing on the theme. read more

Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

Keitha was my server and she took wonderful care of my mother and me. She was the perfect mix of witty and knowledgeable. If I was from Springfield I would be here at least once a week. The food was excellent and the service was very fast without feeling rushed. read more

Stopped by after a long day at Six Flags and I'm super glad we did! The server was so kind and attentive to our table throughout the entire meal. She always topped off our water and answered any questions we had about the menu. I've never had dry ribs before, but we ordered the St. Louis ribs dry and the meat was still so tender and juicy with the dry rub. I would definitely make the 2 hour trip again just for this place! Highly recommend!! read more

Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ - St. Louis Ribs Combo - Barbeque Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

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Great food- good service- BBQRibs fell off the bone! Cornbread was moist- Cole slaw passed the grade.

Wow, ten years since my last review. I'm happy to say that not much has changed. The area overall may not be what it once was, but Theodores has held strong. We showed up shortly after opening on a Saturday for an early dinner with some little ones in tow, and were lucky we didn't show up any later, as the line was out the door. Portions were still good, the brisket and burnt ends were delicious. The collard greens were good as well. Mac n cheese wasn't for us, but wasn't bad. The service was also great, even with them being pretty slammed. To double-down and quote younger me, "I'd likely frequent the place if I worked in Springfield". read more

One of my review themes for the year is connecting with places that people recommended years ago. Multiple people enthusiastically told me that Theodore's has great BBQ. So I assumed that is true. But it's not just true. It's TRUUUUUUUE!!! My recent visit to Theordore's was not my first. I bet I've been at least 10 times. But each of those times was over 20 years ago as a SUPER broke law school student. I'd get a cheap beer or two, but I'm not sure I even noticed the food since finances kept me on a Kraft Mac diet. The vibe is similar to what I remember. Sort of an old school Irish Pub vibe with lots of wood, space and tables. A cool place. They were busy at lunch. My server was fantastic. A gem. Very friendly. Efficient. Helpful. Had good recommendations when I asked. She even gave me a cell phone light assist when she saw I was taking pics. Her service would be worth a .5 Star review upgrade. Theodore's does not need that extra credit though, because they aced this meal. I ordered a half rack of St Louis ribs, cornbread with a honey butter side and collard greens. The ribs were delicious, oozy and tender. They were cooked with a bourbon BBQ sauce and there was extra sauce at the table. I loved the collard greens too. Very well executed with subtle flavors. The perfect side to go with something fatty like ribs. The corn bread, especially with the honey butter, was very good. Not dry at all. Not long ago, I said that people would need to drive over the CT/MA border to Springfield for the best area Cajun food. I need to scout more menu items at Theodore's, but CT may be on notice about BBQ too. Five Stars read more

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Visited on 1/17/25 when they opened. If you've never had BBQ from or by someone from the south, this place might be okay. For me it wasn't. 1. Burnt Ends 1/5 My order was mostly flat brisket which by the time it "looked like" burnt ends, it lost all the moisture. 2. Brisket 2/5 All flat brisket which is okay here. Except it was crumbly and dry. Lack of smoke flavor. 3. Pulled Pork 3/5 Not bad but not special either. BBQ sauce saved this one. 4. Mac n Cheese 2/5 Lack of flavor, depth and color. It's more similar to cooked macaroni with flavorless runny cheese. 5. Collard Greens 1/5 No flavor. 6. Corn Bread 3.5/5 Probably the best thing I ordered but you could pick up a mix from the grocery store and it would be better. 7. BBQ Sauces 4/5 These were all pretty good. read more

Smoky, tender - fantastic! We sat at the bar where the bartenders were friendly and attentive and ordered local draft selections that were fantastic. Lunch was a brisket plate with baby back ribs added and it was to die for! Fall of the bone, fork tender, delicious. Sides were greens and slaw - I like my greens tart and slaw lightly dressed and both were perfect. Staff were attentive and friendly, clientele were friendly as well - this was a gem! read more

The food was so good and I was hungry that I completely forgot to get a pic of the food. Came here for the UMaine Alumni party before the hockey playoffs and had a great time. The ribs were so meaty (maybe a tad dry on the thicker parts) but had a ton of flavor. The smoked wings were good, we had the Chipotle ones. My friend really liked the cornbread. The Mac and cheese was out of this world. My other friends had the pulled pork sandwich and pulled pork mac and cheese and they each said they were really good. Atmosphere is interesting, 3 rooms but they are all kind of connected. Front bar, back bar and middle section by the stage. I do wish they had better/bigger TVs there. Seems like it can get loud in there so the back of the restaurant is where you want to be if you'd like to somewhat get away from the noise. Oh they also have a popcorn machine! Service was fantastic. All the severs were wearing Maine shirts which was super cool to see them supporting our team. Our waitress was so nice, she even charged my friends phone for him! Pros: Food, service, atmosphere Cons: need better tvs for game viewing read more

Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

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I should inform you that if say sometimes you have a burger urge don't worry because they got you. I opted for a glass of water (no ice) & a BBQ burger with waffle fries & I opted for pepper jack cheese and onions, string onions, bacon & bourbon BBQ sauce plus when I had the sauce selection I think my photos will be self explanatory. read more

Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ - Three sauces, salt & pepper - Barbeque Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

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This place is a downtown staple that was packed to the seams on a Saturday night. We managed to snag the last table for two before a line began to form. Our waiter was prompt, friendly and patient. I had the burnt end dinner with collards and baked beans on the side. It was delicious. I had a drink with a beach themed named, absolutely amazing. My coworker and I spilt the bread pudding for dessert. Great food and service, I see why it's a Springfield favorite! read more

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Stopped here along the way to the Cape. Nothing beats good BBQ which is what this place has, and at a great price. Also the decor and overall atmosphere of the place is great; good music, old rustic signs and neon lights. I bet the place at night looks awesome. The staff is really friendly too. Really cool spot. read more

The wings are rubbery and needs to smoked longer. The dry rub for the wings were good. The brisket was super dry, tastes like it's been reheated and had absolutely zero flavor. The sauce that came with it didn't save it either. This is not good bbq. read more

Basic americano food done with above average quality. Meatloaf, fish, all of it has been outstanding and well priced. Drinks are done right and the atmosphere is pure New England. I've always sat at the bar during my many visits and the service has always been fantastic. read more

If you're visiting for a few days like myself or even a local, I definitely recommend stopping by here for lunch or dinner. I was bummed that I missed out of the great music I've heard so much about here. But the food was fantastic. I had a self care day ending with a nice wine and dine. It was perfect having a nice corner, my Netflix, and a nice meal all to myself. The servers were awesome and just let me be while checking on me every now and then but not trying to rush me out at the same time which I appreciated. The burgers are amazing and definitely worth ordering. Anything bbq and bacon is my go to and they did not disappoint. It was so juicy and flavorful I loved every bit of it. The waffle fries were great as well. Overall everything was so good with nice portions, I couldn't even try their desserts that sounded delicious and this is coming from a no sweets guy. I hope to come back soon and thanks again for the great experience! read more

Theodores Booze Blues & BBQ - a hamburger and fries - Barbeque Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

Been there several times and have always looked forward to going here when in the area. Tonight was a total show. Service was great. music was way too loud for the place and the food was way below average. Totally disappointed. In the past I would have given this place a solid 4 all day. read more

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