Dining Out: Blue Ribbon BBQ

When I was in middle school a new BBQ joint opened just about a mile and a half from our house. Close enough to walk on the warm summer nights and a speedy drive for take out in the winter. My father, a major BBQ enthusiast, insisted we try it immediately.

Located on Washington Street in the heart of West Newton, Blue Ribbon BBQ is small restaurant space with a big register at the front, and a counter with stools along three walls. In the summer time the restaurant has tables outdoors, and there are a few benches on the sidewalk as well.

When you walk in, the menu is written in colored chalk on several blackboards. The offering includes pulled pork, brisket, ribs, chicken, catfish, burritos, sandwiches, salads and all the homestyle sides - mashed potatoes, collared greens, beans and rice, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese and a few seasonal specials that change through out the year. The menu also boasts several kinds of pie and cobbler for dessert.

Once you have decided what to have, you place your order at the register, they hand you a number and call it out when your food is ready. The restaurant only seats about 15, so plan ahead! The walls are decorated with license plates from all over the country and mason jars filled with colored gel. The chefs cooked behind a "wall" of chicken coop wire and a sign that reads "please do not feed the animals."

Now I know what you must be thinking. What does a vegetarian eat at a BBQ joint? Well, as it turns out, Blue Ribbon has the best veggie burrito I have ever eaten in my life! Sorry, Anna's Taqueria, its true. Its enormous, filled with rice and beans, lettuce, chunky salsa, sour cream and served steaming hot. Delicious! It takes about 40 napkins to clean up after that burrito.

They also have great salad with corn bread croutons and their side dishes are delicious! I could order just that! My dad, the real BBQ expert, loves their pulled pork sandwich, the brisket, the catfish tacos, and we both agree their pecan and key lime pies are fantastic.

In fact, my father loves Blue Ribbon so much we had them cater his 50th birthday party! The restaurant is doing so well, they opened a second location in Arlington. They have been voted Best BBQ by all the local magazines - Boston Mag, the Improper and Stuff at Night.

The next time you're craving hot, perfectly seasoned BBQ, its got to be Blue Ribbon.

 

Molly Galler

Welcome to Pop.Bop.Shop. My name is Molly. I’m a foodie, fashionista, pop culture addict and serious travel junkie. I’m a lifelong Bostonian obsessed with frozen confections, outdoor patios, Mindy Kaling, reality television, awards shows, tropical vacations, snail mail and my birthday.

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