So I just moved back to Massachusetts from down south and have had a craving for some real BBQ. Googled best BBQ near me and this place came up. I called them and spoke to a super patient woman on the phone that explained their menu and took my order. When I got to the establishment the customer service got even better. Super friendly staff. They brought me my meal to the car. The food was delicious. It is like a Texas BBQ and the sauce is so good. I got brisket, chicken, and ribs. She warned me about the kids loving the cornbread muffins and she was right. They tried to take mine. Everything was so good. Portions were OK but still worth it. They will definitely see me again. read more

One of the best local BBQ spots. Super friendly staff, and is BYOB! Enjoyed everything and have no complaints! Service: 5/5 Taste: 5/5 Portions: 5/5 Environment: 5/5 read more

Lady was VERYYY kind. Id definitely recommend going here, the food was great, but the only thing is that the eating area is super small.

Their idea of a $14 steak and cheese sandwich is literally just putting a slab of steak on bread with of all things lettuce and tomato, and their chicken tenders are popcorn size for $10. It's a rip off and not worth it. read more

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Ordered the $60 BBQ combo. It fed 6 people very well. Staff was nice. Food was absolutely amazing everyone enjoyed it. I will definitely be ordering here more often!!! read more

Hidden gem in Worcester!!' Generous portions that are delicious!!! The brisket , ribs and sides are standouts.

The owner is one of the sweetest and most accommodating people I've ever met. Her genuine disposition and welcoming smile are just some of what makes this spot a favorite of mine. The smoked chicken is some of the best I've had and I used to live in TN, a place known for it's BBQ. The food is packed full of flavor and the outdoor seating is a great place to enjoy your meal in the company of friends. Be sure to check out this Worcester gem! read more

We love this place. A little neighborhood gem with fabulous St. Louis ribs. If you're still hungry afterward, their chocolate cake is awesome -warm served with vanilla ice cream. Plus it's byob! read more

West Side Steak & BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Pretty solid BBQ place for New England - FYI, this place is BYOB, but there's a beer/liquor store that also sells wine literally next door. For those that don't like to read here's the TL;DR version. Pros: Giant portions. Well priced given the competition and portions. BYOB with the store next door. Great Service. Cons: BYOB with the store next door. No sauce on tables (to be fair, I didn't ask for more). Somewhat of a limited menu in terms of sides. If your only experience with BBQ in Worcester is Smokestack, prepare to have a legitimate alternative. I think the portions, when also looking at the price per portion, is greater here at West Side. However, and I'll need to go back to confirm (life is so hard), but if memory serves, I think the quality of the final product tips towards Smokestack. I can confirm that the menu is more extensive and contains a few more things at Smokestack (Mac n' cheese, collard greens, etc...) not necessarily an indication of a better restaurant just something to keep in mind. This isn't to say one is crap and one is awesome, but West side might be 8/10 with Smokestack being 8.5/10. Went with my fiancé. I ordered a full slab of the spare ribs, with my sides being potato salad and baked beans. The fiance ordered the pulled pork sandwich and got onion rings and red beans and rice. The potato salad reminded me of my Mom's which was nice, but that should also be taken with a grain of salt (which I thought the potato salad needed.) This isn't some deconstructed, hipster potato salad. Nor is it some organic, artisanal mayonnaise, thyme infused bullshit either. It's potato salad. Plain, starchy, light, with egg, delicious potato salad. The baked/BBQ beans were par for the course baked beans. Some chopped up leftover BBQ from the previous day, I'm sure. Exactly as it should be in the BBQ restaurant world. They could've used some spice, but they may also be playing to the flavors preferred by New England diners. The ribs. I asked what the difference was between the ribs (Spare vs. St. Louis) and was advised by the waitress (great service, by the way - top class in our experience) that it was a fat content issue, that the spare ribs contained more fat. This is going to sound ridiculous, but the ribs were skirting the edge of TOO tender. I would take a bite of the rib, and all of the meat would fall off the bone. While some people would think this is absolute heaven, it isn't. You want the meat to be tender enough that you can eat it without a fork and knife, but not so tender that it falls right off - But, to each their own. You want to be able to take a bite and have the remaining rib meat stick to the bone. Another small thing of note is that I noticed that there was no inner pink ring just under the bark of the rib. Not something that makes definitive good BBQ, just something I noticed. It left me asking, "Do they boil their ribs before they smoke them? While I don't care, I know this is a great sin for many of my southern (read: all) BBQ folks. But hey - if the end product is delicious (it is), who really cares how we got there? The pulled pork sandwich was huge. High quality roll. The pulled pork used in the sandwich came pre-sauced (which I think is what most new englanders consider "pulled pork") and was delicious. Didn't see any pickles or onion on the sandwich. Could've used it to cut through the fat and sweetness of the pulled pork. Regardless - still delicious. The only last thing worthy of commenting on was the lack of sauce on the table. This might be because most of the tables I saw were outside, and they were concerned about flies and whatnot. Fair enough. And to also be fair, I didn't ask for more sauce. So - just FYI, if you want more, you may have to ask for it. Overall - I'd go back, for sure. Though - I'm not sure I'd get these ribs again. read more

West Side Steak & BBQ - Spare ribs. Potato salad. Cornbread. Not pictured: BBQ beans. (No filter or editing on this.) - Barbeque Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

This was our first time visiting this establishment. Parking is quite tricky, but we were able to find a spot along the road.This is a small establishment with a few tables to dine inside. Hence the stream of people picking up to go.Christmas decore still up in March gave us a little laugh. The menu is surprisingly big and prices where on the higher side for combos. A 4% fee for use of a credit card starled us.We decided on daily specials witch were decent price. Food was decent and the size portion was fair. Overall it was a decent BBQ meal. That being said there are better bbq restaurants that we have visited in Worcester but this is a place to try. read more

Small hometown place with very friendly people! They make you feel like part of the family and the food is fantastic! Come hungry and BYOB!

I've been coming here for probably over 15 years. Best bbq in Worcester hands down! Warm, inviting atmosphere. They treat you like family at Westside. There isn't a single thing on their menu that isn't good! Try the cajun wings! read more

While looking for new places to try, I found West Side. Interesting place in a busy intersection. The outside seating was good for people watching. I had the full rack with the sides of onion rings, red bean and rice, and cornbread, which was a muffin. The ribs were cooked well and fall off the bone. It had a nice sauce and not greasy. The red bean and rice were very good, fluffy with a nice flavor. Our server Nathan was very attentive and fun to interact with. If you find yourself in the area and want some good "Q", stop in. You can play the lottery next door and it's BYOB.... read more

Very small restaurant. Food was good. Ordered half rack of ribs with rice and beans and coleslaw. Rice and beans were good. Ribs were delicious but need more sauce. Not bad. There are some outdoor seating next to coffee shop and street parking. read more

I've been here a few times, and have had generally good experiences. The spare-ribs are pretty tasty (but I would recommend calling ahead if you plan on getting them, because it takes a while to make them). The brisket sandwich is also quite good (very juicy), and reminds me a bit of those great smoked-meat sandwiches you get in Montreal. Sweet potato fries are good, as is their garlic bread. Overall, nice place, friendly people, value is alright (though not exceptional) read more

Randomly chose this place for lunch with my husband, mom, and two little ones. The service was EXCELLENT. The waitress, Elaine, was above and beyond accommodating with my little ones. I've honestly never had such great service with my kids (2 & 3 years old). And it doesn't hurt that their food is SO good. I highly recommend this place! read more

West Side Steak & BBQ - They got lollipops and glove balloons. What more could we ask for?! - Barbeque Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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My husband and I love this place.... we even decided to do his birthday there for 14 people. They were so accommodating and wonderful. It was so informal and nice to make the reservation, and they saved us a long primo table outside. Their pulled pork sandwiches and ribs are superb (i don't need to emphasize what others are clearly also LOVING). The thing that makes this place stand out beyond the food and cool outdoor seating, is how frickin nice the staff is. Its like a mom and pop kinda place. SOOoooo, at the end of an amazing birthday dinner with friends and family, I went to pay the bill, but because I had made a huge purchase earlier that day my card froze... but the owner was just super discrete, and told me to come back the next day to pay with a different card... I couldn't believe it. I ended up just using one of my husbands cards, but seriously who offers to let a table of 14 people who have dined into the wee hours, go without paying, on an honesty code?! They are incredibly kind, sweet people that own the place, and they did such an amazing job for the birthday dinner, as they do every time we go there, that we will surely be back. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE! I really was ex-static i found this place GREAT pulled pork, wonderful brisket sandwiches if you get the dinner for like 12 bucks you get two sides and corn bread (which come as muffins, creative i thought bonus points) I'm not always pleased with coleslaw but this was superb! I cant wait to go back. Despite the lack of a dedicated parking lot for the restaurant, its worth parking down the st. If you're the type go into the liquor store next door get some beer and stop in for some awesome BBQ. read more

I've eaten here twice, once for dining in and the other time for take-out. BBQ chicken: dry except for the thigh meat Ribs: inconsistent-some parts moist some aren't because the rack of ribs are uneven Cole slaw, sweet potato fries, onion rings: average, nothing to jump up and down for Overall: the BBQ sauce is weak sauce, they definitely need to come up with a better sauce read more

So... barbecue is messy, and we had to keep asking for napkins. Other tables had rolls of paper towels, but we weren't offered that. We got the appetizer combo and a barbecue combo. The wings were tasty and the pulled pork sandwich was very hot. It felt like they microwaved the meat but the bun itself was buttered and toasted to perfection. Both styles of ribs were flavorless, except for the thin layer of sauce on top. I went to the bathroom and walked by them prepping the food and noticed that they just put racks of ribs as they are ordered into a convection oven and there was no oil on the pan, like natural juices from the pork. I asked a few friends and they said that this place probably boils the ribs to get them tender, but which is why they were flavorless. We ended up just not eating the ribs and leaving them there. Tipped well but won't be coming back due to inadequate food. read more

3 stars, i guess you could do better. i know, jerkface to a t, why not give them a better score, sure there aint a lot over on the west side (represent!) for eating options. sure there are if you have unlimited time and you can go into other regions in the city, but alas, i do not and this is one of the only places you can get at. so what dont i like, well i got a cheeseburger, which at a bbq place should have told you that i wasnt digging the Q from the get go. i dont know, the vibe wasnt there. now im not saying i need sawdust on the floor or a giant smoker in the back lot smoking some ribs and stuff, but if there were these things, i might have been more apt to order such fare. think smokehouse in brookline, giant freaking grill, good times. so my burger was meh. totally came frozen from a box, burger ala flower, ie, shaped in a flower as thats how they are shipped. youve had them, youve hated them. i was shocked when they asked me how i wanted it as i was pretty sure these have to be med well or more. anyway you cut it, my medium rare was still grey inside. no worries. i almost ordered the steak sandwich, which i thought was shaved steak ala steak and cheese, but it was really a piece of steak (?!?) on a roll. top round or something not very exciting sounding. my compadre ordered the brisket sandwich, he said it was also meh, nothing exciting. their house sauce was ok, again, nothing mindblowing. so why the 3stars and not atypical 2 or 1? well first its byob, so you can go next door grab a 40 and dine up. sure it was noon and 2 dudes were pounding 40's, well in glasses so it was just 3.2 beers served in the same bottle to be accurate. I also wouldnt be against trying them again, they are the local hole to say. they also might be worth the time for dinner when you would feel better getting a rack of ribs. lunch at work is NOT the right time for that. so there you go, if your in the hood you might enjoy this piece. read more

Used to live in spitting distance from here. Only ever went a handful of times due to the inconvenient parking situation. This is a nice little BYOB spot, which I am sure Bob's liquors next door loves. In the warmer months and when the kids come back for fall semester, the outdoor patio is always seemingly packed. its true, where there are a bunch of places in tatanuck, there aren't any with outdoor seating. I had the brisket and he had the ribs. Meat was very tender but I had to use a ton of salt and pepper, as it was quite bland. Good amount of crispiness on the outside. He also said his ribs were a bit dry but tasty, and liked the rub they used. We both had wings and they were fabulous, fall off the bone , finger licking good. Sides of corn bread and the beans were the hits, where everything else kinda falls short. The service though, may actually make me drive back here for a casual meal. Just the nicest people and waitstaff. All in all theres not much to chose from with BBQ in Worcester, so don't go expecting a blue ribbon winning dinner., It is a nice brake when you are craving some carolina style q. read more

I have been going to West Side BBQ for many years and the quality is amazing. Never had a bad meal and the service is beyond reproach as other reviewers have said. The BBQ is the best and the family friendly menu agrees with the most picky eater. I highly recommend for eat in or take out. read more

Fun location, great place to meet up with friends and BYOB. The wings are delicious! I enjoyed most of the flavors: cajun, plain, and hot (bbq is available too). Brisket is pretty good. Ribs and pulled pork are mediocre. The are slathered in way too much barbeque sauce. read more

One of my favorite spots in the city! Not only is their barbecue amazing, but you have to try their burritos and tacos - hidden gems of the menu! It's BYOB and their patio is a great place to savor what's left of the summer weather. read more

I tried out this place two weeks ago for my best friends birthday. I had such a good time that I visited the place three days ago. Let me start off with the environment and service - it's a nice small family owned business with a very welcoming feel. The staff is friendly and the food comes out in a fair amount of time. The first time I went, I had the half rack of ribs (spareribs) with a side of baked potato and baked beans. The ribs were soooooo good! It was so tender it fell right off the bone. The portion is fairly big so you could definitely share with a friend and an appetizer to start with. The second time I visited, I got chicken wings! Omg, I tried the Cajun flavor, sweet chili flavor, and the plain - my favorite was the sweet chili. I will most definitely visit this place again. read more

This is one of Worcester's hidden gems!!! Fresh, fast, tasty meals that are reasonably priced! Their pulled chicken, pulled pork and ribs are to die for!!!! Everything I've sampled from WEST SIDE has been of quality and flavorful. But these 3 really stand out. As you walk in the door of this cute little place, you are greeted with a warm welcome and smiles from all of the staff. The everyone is very friendly and accommodating. If you haven't been here yet, I strongly recommend grabbing a bite here. Give your "buds" a break from the norm, you'll be happy you did! read more

Ordered takeout last week for me and my son. Decided to give this place a try due to the good reviews and glad we did. I got the ribs which were amazing and my son got the chicken burrito which he loved. Everything was hot and packed nicely. We'll definitely be back there. read more

We had our daughter's birthday/ graduation party catered by West Side. The food was excellent, hot and plenty of it! Everyone loved the food. Elaine was amazing to work with and communicated everything to a t! read more

Love this place. This is a small, probably mostly take out, family run joint with the friendliest staff around. I've dined here many times and my favorite thing to do is bring a cooler of beer and a friend and sit on the patio. Service is quick and attentive. The waitress (and i think owner) brought us fresh frosty mugs every so often when our old ones had warmed up which was awesome. My favorite food is the nachos, ribs, and burritos. The pulled pork is quite good also, but the brisket leaves something to be desired. I don't think they smoke anything here which might throw people off, but it is delicious all the same. For sides definitely get the beans and potato salad. read more

West Side Steak & BBQ - Nacho appetizer - Barbeque Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Southern BBQ purists might look down their all too snooty noses at West Side, but I couldn't care less since the food is good. I'm not sure what school of BBQ they adhere to if any. The sauce is pretty sweet, which I generally dislike, but West Side's tastes pretty good. The meat is fall off the bone tender and nothing was dry, which I find is too often the case with ribs in the northeast. The sides are all pretty good too, especially the baked beans. West Side is a pretty simple affair, with a handful of tables in a small storefront and a large patio facing the street, the patio being the more enjoyable place to sit. It's also BYOB and has very friendly service. Purists can make the trek out to Sturbridge if they want, but for anyone who just wants a no-frills BBQ joint that's good at everything, West Side will do just fine. read more

Everything was AOK. The building was loud, and a bit bouncy, but other than that everything was great. It was the first visit there. Food was great, kitchen speed was average, was clean. read more

West Side Steak & BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Small little place off the beaten path with EXCEPTIONAL service and great food! I am a huge fan of bbq and can be a tad bit picky, but this place delivered! This ain't their first rodeo ... give it a whirl! Enjoy. read more

We stumbled upon this gem as we waited for a softball game today. The food was delicious. Wish we had had time to explore the menu. The service was topnotch! Try it out - you won't be disappointed! read more

Excellent food. The ribs and brisket were so delicious!! The outside seating is close to the street and noisy but you forget all about it when the food comes! Definitely would go back. read more

West Side Steak & BBQ - Outside searing of the restaurant. There are also seats inside. - Barbeque Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

As always excellent food for a great price! They have amazing BBQ options with delicious sides to compliment them. I got the Half BBQ chicken dinner with cornbread, fries, and onion rings and I could not finish my meal. Highly recommend especially in the summer when there's outside seating. read more

West Side Steak & BBQ - Cool mural covering one of the walls! - Barbeque Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Great food, nice outdoor seating, BYOB. A bit pricey, but they have to make up for not being able to sell alcohol. read more

Talk about unassuming! From the outside you almost wouldn't guess this place has world class barbecue. Come inside to be greeted by a very friendly and attentive staff.... Tender, juicy messy barbecue that you crave is just minutes away. They slow smoke so many meats! Best brisket in the city! Absolute gem! read more

Terrific! Excellent brisket. Can't wait to go back to try more. Good prices and great meal.

Great little hole in the wall! Found it on by accident and when we realized it was BYOB we had to try it! It's located on a corner so the parking it a bit tough but worth looking for a spot. The service was excellent, friendly & efficient. We decided to try the combo, ribs & pulled pork sliders, we also split the brisket sandwich and sweet/spicey chicken wings. All were fantastic, the perfect blend of smoke, spices & sauce. My only real complaint was the chicken wings were left whole, not split between the wing and little legs and the tips were left on. I'm not a fan of that but my partner didn't mind. Definitely worth checking out and save $ on the BYOB! Our bill was $33 and we took home leftovers! read more