Tennessees Real BBQ Braintree — Restaurant in Braintree

THE SERVICE:

The employee answering the phone had good phone etiquette; my order was confirmed, she stated the total, and then provided the pickup time. Upon entering the restaurant I was immediately greeted with an array of tantalizing aromas. Two employees next to the counter not preparing food, looking disinterested, completely ignored my existence as I waited for service (created an unwelcoming atmosphere).

A couple minutes later a young lady comes from the back with a very pleasant disposition. She immediately greeted me, and then retrieved my order verifying all items. I knew she was the person I spoke with because of her excellent customer service.

There is limited seating if opting to eat in. The atmosphere is akin to a traditional bustling take out restaurant.

THE FOOD:

I ordered the “Blue’s Rib Combo” which comes with 3 sides and cornbread; I selected macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and dirty rice. I also ordered a side Chili. I was initially surprised a dinner would come with 3 sides, but once I saw the portion sizes I chuckled with understanding.

The Memphis and baby back ribs were seasoned well and smoked to perfection- the standout bites. The ribs were not “fall off the bone”, but they were tender and flavorful. The sweet with a pinch of tang BBQ sauce was delicious; I added the spicy sauce from the self service rounding out a very enjoyable bite. If sold in store, I would purchase these BBQ sauces.

The Texas beef ribs had a nice flavor profile, but you’d need to be part Wolverine to bite and enjoy your chew toy. These ribs have the potential to be delicious once they’re no longer prepared canine style.

The sides were satisfactory- nothing stood out as either outstanding or devastating. The Chili was very meaty, but underwhelming, because I couldn’t taste any spice. The cornbread was fluffy, buttery, and yummy.

The Value:

In spite of the poorly executed beef rib, I think the cash prices (see below) are reasonable given the ingredients. Although the side portions are dainty, having 3 creates a satiating meal.

Be Advised:

The menu states prices are for cash purchases, and your total will increase by 3.5% for non-cash payments. This perplexes me because I thought in Massachusetts businesses were restricted from placing surcharges for credit card payments. I’m not insinuating this business is being unlawful as I may have a misunderstanding. However, there’s a lack of transparency regarding this additional 3.5%, because there is no statement regarding merchant fees to assure credit card holders they’re not being...

If I could give this place 20 stars I would. It is definitely not the fanciest place but this food.... if I were on death row I would request the brisket and mac and cheese from here as my last meal. I have tried almost every BBQ place south of Boston, and a few all over the country, and Tennessee's puts them to shame...it's like if it were Tyson vs your grandma. I used to work very close by but now moved towards the cape, and still do a 40 minute drive each way to grab a plate a few times a month. I also had them cater an event for me, and have another coming up, because the first time went so well. They charged an insanely low fee to drive it down to Plymouth and set us up; and everyone RAVED about the food, to the point where I had to run to the store in the middle of a party to grab to go containers because everyone insisted on bringing some home. The customer service is 10/10, pretty sure Paul is somehow related to Mr. Rogers because he is literally the nicest man on earth, all the girls at the register are always super sweet as well. Can't say enough good things about this place and their crew; to the point where I judge people who pull in there and go to the Burger King next door, like how is that even an option when this place is right here. Keep up the amazing work you guys are doing, if this place ever goes out of business, I wouldn't know what to do...

I always am a little skeptical about Massachusetts BBQ but hope that someone will bring real BBQ to the area. This is my first time at Tennessee BBQ. Truthful, it's just okay. The BBQ smells hits you right as you walk in the door. We ordered 2 sandwiches, the tangy North Carolina pulled pork, and the sweeter, regular pulled pork with mac and cheese for 1 side and corn bread for the other. We got our food in a timely manner. Both sandwiches were cooked perfectly, very tender. I preferred the tangy pork, but my friend preferred the other. The cornbread was good, nice and fluffy but not too sweet. It could have used butter, though I didn't see any. The Mac and Cheese is about what you would expect, nothing special. I would love to try the BBQ BURITTO and chicken wings next time. They have 3 sauces in big tanks you can add to your meal, but no explanation as to the differences between the sauces. You are just left to experiment on your own. They also had Frank's RedHot you could add. The tables weren't the cleanest, and the fruit flys are a good indicator of how much molasses is in the restaurant. They are on Doordash and Ubereats. If you are a BBQ fan like me, it's worth trying, but take it...