One word... AMAZING. Barbecue is an art with components that should create a complete experience. Let's begin with ambiance--there are outside tables charmingly arranged beneath stylish arbors--and the interior is equally warm and stylishly arranged.. concrete floors, wooden tables of various sizes, chandeliers, brick walls, mixed with rustic white washed wooden signs. The menu is extensive .. there are so many choices it was tough deciding.. The proprietary sauces fantastic... my favorite.. the Carolina sauce..but in addition to perfect barbecue staples, let's also mention the hush puppies and biscuits to die for.. and the fresh cut crinkle potatoes are sprinkled with out of this world seasoning. Service is very friendly and helpful.. Great cocktails added the right tone. I cannot wait to go back! read more

I didn't think I'd be able to find tasty barbecue in Portland, but I stand before you happily corrected! Delicious smoked wings, falling-off-the bone ribs and pork belly burnt ends are among my favorites. The pulled pork sandwich has a yummy tang with the slight kick. The seasoned crinkle cut fries stand no chance against me. Sides/appetizers are generously portioned and can easily be shared. Nicely curated beer menu to pair along with your hefty meal. One kiosk to order food, but it goes quickly and they text you when your order is ready. Lots of open seating available and in the cooler months, you can sit outside and enjoy the firepits. Very fun spot to do trivia on Wednesday nights! read more

I will always have the highest praise for Wilson County BBQ. These are by far the best wings in the entire Portland area. They are huge are perfectly cooked. The sauces and sides are all outstanding and made in house. The best part? The happy hour deals and wing night! You will not find better wings and apps for the prices i guarantee. Recently i tried the hush puppies and the were perfectly crisp and delicious with some honey butter on the side. I've had the burnt ends before so they are always a repeat item for me, so tender and flavorful. Not only is the food amazing, the staff here is exceptional. Always in high spirits and treat you so kindly. The space is wide open and there's plenty of bar seats along with tables and a patio to sit at! I find it great for solo or group dining. Wilson County is one of my top favorite spots in Portland and i think it always will be! read more

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Searching for a good happy hour on my trip to Portland and I found it! All snacks were 1/2 off from 4p-6p. I ordered the wings (buffalo), pimento cheese and the pork belly burnt ends. The wings came with 10 and were $8 on HH, they were probably the best wings I've ever had (coming from someone who goes hard during Louisville Wing Week). The pimento cheese was tasty, and the homemade saltines with the blueberry preserve were to die for. I'm not a pork lady but the burnt ends weren't bad. Service was quick, the restaurant was large and had all sorts of seating options from high tops, to couches to picnic tables outdoors. We took our food outside and listened to the live music! I told my partner I wish I had a second stomach so I could try all of the snack items. read more

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Had an appointment @ Maine Eye and my post opp nurse suggested this was a great place. Man was she right! The fried chicken sandwich was sooo crispy,the buns were expertly toasted. I had smoked baked beans & Wayne had Mac & Cheese - it was all really good - the outside places to eat look comfy - will come back on a nice day to give it a shot read more

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We loved our experience at Wilson BBQ. I forgot to get the person's name but he was super attentive. We saw a sign that said we could sit anywhere so we sat down & scanned the QR code to see the menu. However, he came with laminated menus for us. We ordered with him & he helped us out with that too. We ended up ordering California Gold wings (well done), burnt ends, hush puppies & chicken & waffles. Everything we had was really good. And we ordered Shirley temples for drinks it was a bottle & it was pretty good. Never had a Shirley temple in a bottle before, it was called Boyland. Afterwards, we had food to go & they have a section with everything you need for to go items. Everyone, we interacted with was really nice. I would definitely go back. read more

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I can no longer support this local business. I have removed all my photos and this is very unfortunate.

We had a strange experience for the first time at Wilson Co BBQ. Upon entering, the space has lots of variety in seating options and is very spacious. Signage is helpful when figuring out what to do. We were in the middle of our order at the register and she imperatively asked us to move away (hurry up?) so she could help the person behind us. We had not finished placing our order so it was a raised eyebrows moment of confusion with no apology. Not off to a great start. Our food was out fairly quick and the home fries were good -- the seasoning a little strong/salty but not terrible. The chicken and waffles were awful. I don't expect a lot but I do expect some flavor -- it was so dry and bland, they should have shared the love with the flavoring from the home fries. It seems to be a pretty popular place but I would not recommend. read more

Wilson County Barbecue - Tri Tri-Colored Home Fries and Chicken & Waffles - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

My review might start off sounding negative but it does turn out positive in other ways. This is a more unique place with excellent food! This place is not your standard sit-down, waited on restaurant. Essentially, you walk in to place your order, hopefully know what you want (not to hold up the line), then hope to find a place to sit. Very different concept that wasn't my style but I can understand if others enjoy it. The lady that took our order did mention that it can be 'cutthroat' to find a place to sit, whether a group of 2 or a large party. I was there shortly after opening on a Sunday in January & it was already busy. Must be a hot spot! I can tell by other reviews. Few things to note, to prepare NEW CUSTOMERS: - If you've never been here before, it feels pressured to order. - Be prepared to pay at the ordering stage. There are laminated menus that you can take to a table then go back to order if you need more time. - You fetch your own drinks & meals when ready (status provided via text). - Silverware is already on the table, along with bottles of sauces & brown paper towels on a roll. - There are clearly marked places to clear your food, leave the tray(s), silverware, etc. when done eating. SERVICE & FOOD: My husband's full rack of ribs was going to take 5 minutes longer to cook vs. my order of a chicken sandwich. The lady that took our order brought out an appetizer plate of ribs to hold him over until it was completed so he wasn't sitting there empty handed. They were right back out with his full rack of ribs. Which, by the way, was sooooo good! The side of smoked beans & mac & cheese were great. BATHROOMS: Easy to find, super clean, smell nice. Women's bathroom has 5 or 6 stalls. Option to use paper to dry hands or air. SUGGESTIONS: - Wet naps at the tables for people to clean up from ribs / hand-held food. - Silverware that is wrapped. - A way for a customer to wipe their own table to 'assist' with the turnover of tables as people wait for a place to eat. SO much food that we took it home. I'd love to say more but my review would get too long. We won't likely be back, but know that the food is up to par. Super chill staff & some of the nicest we've encountered. read more

Wilson County Barbecue - Bloody Mary - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Delicious FCS! And great beer selection! This place will be a staple of Portland for years to come! read more

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We continue to be big fans of Wilson County Barbecue. We visit here at least 4 times of year, and bringing friends and family to try. We love brunch and we love lunch/dinner, so we tend to come when brunch menu and lunch menu overlap. Must haves for us... Egg, bacon and cheese biscuit sandwiches Fried Chicken Sandwich Ribs Hush Puppies Mashed potatoes Love their food so much!!! Love their service!!! There's always plenty of seating. And I love the fact they have a roll of papertowels on the table, because I'm messy and need all the help I can get. LOL There are sauces on the tables, however, the food for me, never needed any sauce. They have a full bar with many beverage options. For non alcoholic options, there are few options, however the main feature of this restaurant is the food. I don't like the parking situation in the neighborhood, as most of it is parallel parking and limited time allowed. You can order food to go, if you can't stay. It's worth it. One item I might say is a pass for me is the chicken and waffles. read more

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Where's the brisket??????!!! I'm tired of bbq places in Maine not having brisket. I got the chicken and my husband got the pulled pork. It was good. The pimento and crackers were DEE-licious! I would say it is overpriced. That's pretty on par for Portland though. read more

Wilson County Barbecue - Chicken, pulled pork, Pimento Cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

Went for lunch on a rainy day, sat at the bar and was attended to right away. Ordered the BBQ sandwich and a side of Mac n' cheese. Delicious! Enjoyed the slaw on the sandwich. Tried both sauces and really couldn't decide which one I liked best. The smokey flavor was well done. Mac n' cheese was just cheesy enough and noodles were cooked to perfection. Street parking was easy, remember I went for lunch so that might not always be the case. Really happy I stopped by! read more

We go here all the time. Always been for takeout. Mainly for their fried chicken sandwich. We get a side of fries withOUT the seasoning that comes on them because we don't care for it. And! They have Cheerwine! Being from NC, I adore Cheerwine. I do enjoy their brisket also. I will say that two chicken sandwiches with fries and two drinks + tip is $60.48. read more

I've been a huge fan of Wilson County BBQ for awhile and this place did not disappoint, I've lived in the south for a while and this place nearly replicate what real SOUTHERN BBQ is like. The service is great and quick. Plenty of seatings inside and outside when the weathers nice. You order at the front and sit yourself where ever you can. Highly recommend the chicken and waffles! read more

Wilson County Barbecue - Chicken & Waffles - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

I visited Wilson Country BBQ on a busy Friday night, and despite the crowd, the food arrived quickly. You order at the counter and receive a text when your meal is ready. The tables were all pretty sticky and dirty, as there didn't seem to be any staff cleaning up after guests. The food itself was tasty. The fried chicken sandwich with coleslaw was excellent, crispy and flavorful. The fries were outstanding. The mac and cheese felt a bit too plain for a BBQ spot and could use some improvement. read more

Wilson County Barbecue - Biscuits & Sausage Gravy Fried Chicken Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

I have been here quite a few times and am always impressed with the food. They also serve food late night food. I typically get the chicken sandwich and it is great! They have lots of bourbons and whiskies but they are a little pricey. They have a large bar, outside seating and lots of inside seating. Lots of different beers and ciders. Overall a great bbq spot! read more

The service was OK. It was kind of slow in there and I was really really not a big fan of the food. I was a little bit hesitant to get barbecue in Portland, but it was right next to my apartment complex. It was definitely one of the best barbecue places I've been to. The best thing about the experience was the ambience of it. However, the tables were kind of unclean in there, and I had to ask them to wipe it down. I got the hush puppies, which were not that good. The butter came away was also not that good . The macaroni and cheese was not my favorite. Neither were the potatoes. The chicken was OK. I felt like the sauce was not right. Overall, I wouldn't get the chicken barbecue plate maybe something else read more

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Fantastic food. Service was great. Great beer selection. Fried chicken and biscuits were delicious.

This is a very fun place to go, especially when the weather is nice and you can sit outside. The food comes quickly and the bbq is great

We had a large group event here and it was great. The food came out quickly and it is not super expensive which is a nice change

Stopped here for happy hour on a trip to Portland. Great deal and even better chicken wings. Nothing bad to say about this place

Food is good--home cooking should be so tasty. The greens are actually my favorite part of the meal--and it is a nice sized portion that they give. The barbecue is outstanding--I crave it. The North Carolina style is just fantastic, smoky and saucy. Service is sort of hit or miss if you aren't having cocktails. If you are, they are on point. Would I recommend? Heck yes. read more

I had the chicken & waffles, delish! The place has a great vibe & the service was quick!

The food is absolutely unreal, the best BBQ in Portland in my opinion. We tried both the Baby Back ribs plate and BBQ chicken plate, both of which were 10/10. The mashed potatoes were a surprise hit, better than the mac and baked beans. The space is huge, great for big groups. PS: Take a key lime pie to go! read more

Wilson County Barbecue - Baby Back Ribs, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Smoked Baked Beans, Hushpuppies - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Chicken was absolutely fantastic waffle was good as well burnt ends were just ok . Definitely coming back for more Chicken and try the ribs read more

Wilson County Barbecue - Chicken n waffles Burnt ends - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

I enjoyed everything I had at Wilson County Barbecue. Our group had a satisfying lunch here. If you like good barbecue, I recommend this place. I found out about Wilson County Barbecue from and visited this restaurant with the North Carolina-based food bloggers, the Barbecue Bros: https://barbecuebros.co/. Wilson County Barbecue opened in the Bayside neighborhood of Portland, Maine, just northwest of downtown, in January 2020. We visited for a Saturday lunch. We parked for free on Hanover Street. The restaurant's street address says Hanover Street, but the storefront is hidden. It actually faces an alleyway on the other side of the block, next to Parris Street, so it's confusing if you've never been here before. The place wasn't busy when we arrived around 12:45pm. It was busier when we left around 2pm. Wilson County Barbecue serves Eastern North Carolina-style barbecue. The founder and owner is from North Carolina and Wilson County is the Eastern NC county that this restaurant is named after. Our group of eight that visited are all North Carolina natives too, but we're from the central part of the state (Piedmont Triad), not eastern. There are different styles of barbecue in North Carolina and they can be quite different. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday, 9am-3pm. We visited during brunch hours, but only ordered off the regular menu. Here's what we got: Snacks * Buttermilk Biscuits ($8) - two buttermilk biscuits, housemade blueberry preserves, honey butter * Pork Belly Burnt Ends ($16) - house pickles * Wings ($16) - spicy BBQ sauce, served with blue cheese dressing; Carolina Gold and buffalo sauce also options Barbecue/Plates (each with choice of two sides) * Barbecue Plate ($24) - pit-smoked whole-hog pulled pork, Grady's passed-down sauce, hush puppies, coleslaw, and mac and cheese * Barbecue Plate ($24) - pit-smoked whole-hog pulled pork, Grady's passed-down sauce, buttermilk biscuit, collard greens, smoked baked beans * Baby Back Ribs ($35) - pit-smoked with sweet red rib sauce, hush puppies, and 2x barbecue-dusted crinkle-cut fries Tiny Desserts * Key Lime Pie x2 ($7 each) * Banana Pudding x2 ($7 each) We also got a variety of beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages (e.g., Diet Coke and iced tea). Overall, I thought everything was delicious. One of my friends mentioned multiple times about how good the Buttermilk Biscuits were. The biscuits were fluffy and delectable and we really enjoyed the blueberry preserves that accompanied them. I loved the honey butter (dangerous stuff). The Pork Belly Burnt Ends were terrific, as were the Wings. The Pork Belly Burnt Ends were expectedly rich, but also had great consistency (charred crispy bits) and flavor. I liked the crunchy, tart pickles that came with. The Wings were on point, smoky and satisfying. The whole-hog pulled pork on the Barbecue Plates was moist and succulent. The Baby Back Ribs were tender and flavorful. The Barbecue Bros pointed out that the ribs fell off the bone too easily meaning they weren't cooked to perfection. I thought the ribs were good. According to them, "fall off the bone" is a misnomer as the ribs were overcooked to a point of too soft. It's a texture preference. That said, I recommend and would still order the ribs here. All of the sides - hush puppies, slaw, mac 'n cheese, greens, baked beans, and fries - were tasty. Every side was above average, but none struck me as exceptional. They were all simply solid. My favorite was probably the baked beans, which usually isn't the case. They were gratifying and full of flavor. My least favorite was the slaw which I thought was a little too runny. Just nitpicking though. Take your pick on the Key Lime Pie and Banana Pudding. Both were excellent and we gobbled them down. I preferred the Banana Pudding. It was well made. I didn't see it on the regular menu. Maybe it was a special. Service was good. Our food came out in a reasonable amount of time. Like other barbecue joints, this is a casual place where you order and pick up at the counter. The restaurant is spacious with plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating. This place is great for groups with a variety of seating options. The interior design and decor is cool, in line with other modern rustic and warehouse-style restaurants. Consistent with newer barbecue restaurants, it's got a nicer atmosphere. read more

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This place is amazing! You walk In to a very clean very cool atmosphere and seat yourself, so many different size and style tables to choose from. Very friendly staff greet you and tell you all about the specials. My husband and I started with the pork belly burnt ends and OMG it was like candy! Then we split the BBQ plate with the pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, French fries and a biscuit. The macaroni and cheese was liquid gold, the meat so tender, the biscuit warm and buttery, the French fries amazingly seasoned. Highly recommend Wilson County!!!! read more

I will start this off by stating that I love BBQ, I make BBQ and I live for BBQ so I would have to consider myself a BBQ connoisseur so I am pretty picky when it comes to this style of food as I have eaten in Texas, TN and NC and is hard to compare. Wilson County BBQ delivers the goods. The ambiance is fantastic in this place with plenty of seating both inside and out along with cornhole during the summer months. The feel of wood all around the building and the lights all give it that country style vibe. Now, the cooking is based on Wilson County North Carolina and it is delicious in every way. We had an assortment of BBQ goodies for the table and they all nailed it from collards to mac and cheese to ribs and brisket and a ton of delicious selections for the vegan and vegetarian in the goup with sides like pasta salad, pickles, beans and potatoes. If you are looking for a place with a great BBQ vibe that is bright and open and airy, then Wilson is the real deal and will deliver. Don't forget to hit up the happy hour specials as well. There is no table side service as you order at the front counter and wait for your food to be cooked but the people behind the counter and kitchen seemed super attentive and friendly as well. read more

Excellent barbecue in New England! I am from North Carolina, a barbecue hub for some of the best in the country. Wilson's definitely does it right by following some more taste as down south. Highly recommend! read more

Happy hour was fun here. Half price appetizers and some beer and wine also. The parking was a huge issue but I expect that for the area. Plenty of tables available and the appetizers we ordered were all very good. The pimento dip with the saltines was my favorite. Im not a beer drinker but was happy to see wine specials on their happy hour menu. read more

Wow! Just wow... this interior of this place is beautiful, I couldn't stop looking at the lights, furniture and everything what was going on. Boyfriend and I were traveling through Maine and came across this place. Everyone was very friendly and the food/drinks, very very good. I could give an 11/10 if I could. read more

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If I could give this place a 0 STAR review, I swear I would. I've been coming to this location since it opened, they used to have an incredible staff. Lately, my friends & I have been experiencing rude behavior from staff. Especially today; this restaurant doesn't close until 10pm on Sundays. I went to pick up an order at 8pm & experienced the nastiest behavior from the Manager. I stood outside in the cold weather for almost 10 mins. All 3 doors were locked at 8pm, finally the manager came to open a door after knocking non-stop to pick up my $50 worth of food (I got an email saying it was ready). After customers/ passerby's were staring AND 2 employees literally looked at me & walked away. The manager finally opened the door, gave a half ass apology ("I said I'm sorry, what do you want me to do"). He was so nasty, rude, and dismissive. Claimed he "didn't know all doors were locked, then said "we ran out of food"... but I literally ordered 30 mins prior, so why weren't they expecting customers?? I calmly said "What the f**, I've been a customer for years, what's with the attitude" and he tried to kick me out like I wasn't already leaving. What happened to the customer being right, especially when they're locked out of getting their pick up order.... I'm telling ALL my co workers, friends, & family members who go here about this interaction. To think, the amount of money spent & recommendations I've given about this place. For employees to be smirking at me & a manager being dismissive. So gross! read more

My boyfriend and I enjoy going to Wilson County BBQ. A little pricey but good BBQ. My boyfriend loooves the fries but I do not a lot of people like them but they definitely have a very specific taste and very specific seasoning. That is my opinion on them, but you may love them. Dining room is all seat yourself and you walk up to order food and pick up your food at a Pick Up area. Water is serve yourself as well. read more

Wilson County Barbecue - Fried Chicken Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Portland, Maine

I am from the South, and sometimes, I miss authentic barbeque. I actually dream about the hush puppies. All of the southern goodies that I love, done just the way I like them: hush puppies, collard greens with a kick, grits, sweet tea and, oh yeah... BBQ!!! This is a great place to meet friends and sit outside by one of the firepits, too. read more

Came for the great restaurant week deal and ordered two platters. All the food we tried was good or great!! LOVED THE AMBIANCE here and at neighboring restaurant Batson Brewing. It's so cozy, romantic and charming. Came pre dinner rush but still waited 30 min. Favorites: crispy ribs, fried chicken, pork belly burnt ends, and the key lime pie Both biscuits and hush puppies are great. Favorite side...they were all okay. The meats are the star. Would LOVE to come back and try their brunch sandwiches. read more

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The food is always good, but you can't beat chicken & waffles for $8 during happy hour, with a $3 highlife draft of course. The service is usually pretty good, but Stephanie is my favorite bartender in Portland. Pro tip: Try the $4 beermosa during weekend brunch. read more

Rude, unpleasant, and immature with an undercurrent of aggression. The bartender was perhaps the most disrespectful person we've ever met. There were three groups waiting in line to order for about 15 minutes when a young woman walks in the door. We were next in line and my son makes eye contact with the bartender. Instead of helping us, he calls over the woman at the back of the line and proceeds to take her order. We walk over to note that we were in line first and before we get the words out of our mouth the bartender loudly tells us to "chill out". We gently explained that it would have been polite to take the customers in order and he rolls his eyes and tells us essentially to shut up and he can take our order now. We start to order and he pulls a juvenile joke given the situation that he's closed and we should go back to the other register. From there it just went downhill with every exchange dripping with sarcasm. Eventually it was my conflict-avoidant teenage son who says we should leave because of the rudeness. I agree, but not before asking to talk to the manager. He proceeds to make excuses about how understaffed they are and rudely asks: "what do you want me to do about it?" To top it all off, another guy walks over aggressively to get involved who turns out to be an off duty team member. As we leave they all sarcastically bid us goodbye. read more

We stop in Wilson County regularly. They specialize in whole-hog BBQ and it is as good as we have had anywhere. Always go for the pulled pork sandwich or platter. Biscuits are great (try the butter and jam they provide) and all the sides are terrific. Portions are large and the quality is consistent. The vibe of the space is casual and always very friendly. The beer selection is first rate. Try it, you'll be happy. read more

We have been to Wilson County Barbecue close to half a dozen times in the past year, and we've never left disappointed. As a matter of fact, the more we visit this restaurant the more we love it. It reminds me of some of the incredible southern food we've had in Georgia and North Carolina, albeit a bit more expensive. We have tried most of their menu and are always beyond satisfied with the quality of the food and how delicious everything is. My all-time favorite plate from Wilson County is their fried chicken platter. With a side of hush puppies, mac & cheese (or mashed potatoes), it's the perfect meal. If you get the big portion, which will set you back a little over $20, you'll have leftovers or at least food for two people. Their brunch is also one of our favorites in town. The menu is slightly more limited for brunch, but the chicken & waffles and biscuits & gravy are divine! I also love the ambiance at Wilson County. The restaurant is so spacious, with tables, couches, and bar seating available. In the summer they often have live music at night, and in the Winter and Fall, they have outdoor fire pits. I just feel welcomed and cozy there. We've also always had the best service, which keeps us coming back. read more

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