Bear's Smokehouse Barbecue — Restaurant in New Haven

Bear’s Smokehouse in New Haven, CT, is the zenith of barbecue mastery, a culinary Mecca for all food enthusiasts. From the moment you step through its welcoming doors, your senses are treated to a tantalizing aroma of smoky goodness that sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.

The burnt ends are a gastronomic tour de force, perfectly crispy on the outside, generously marbled, and exquisitely tender within. Each bite offers a delectable crunch that gives way to a sumptuous, smoky fat-infused flavor that lingers delightfully on the palate.

The Texas sausage is nothing short of remarkable, brimming with robust flavors. The interspersed peppers add a vibrant kick while the cheese contributes a delicate creaminess that perfectly complements the succulent sausage. It’s an orchestration of taste that sings a harmonious melody of flavors.

The ribs, generously seasoned and impeccably cooked, provide a melt-in-your-mouth experience that is the epitome of culinary perfection. Every morsel is imbued with an intoxicating medley of flavors that celebrate the quintessence of true barbecue.

Complementing these meaty marvels are the spicy collard greens - a radiant medley of taste and texture. Their slight heat paired with an undeniable freshness adds an amazing side note to the symphony of flavors presented in the main dishes.

The moink balls round off this magnificent feast with their juicy, flavorful goodness. They serve as a testament to the culinary ingenuity that Bear’s Smokehouse consistently brings to the table.

In essence, Bear’s Smokehouse offers an unrivaled barbecue experience. Each dish is a ten-out-of-ten performance that tantalizes the taste buds and leaves you yearning for your next visit. If you have not yet had the pleasure, I wholeheartedly recommend a visit to this haven of barbecue delight. The captivating flavors, the welcoming atmosphere, and the top-tier service are sure to make Bear’s Smokehouse your go-to destination for outstanding barbecue...

We walked into the establishment and got a very warm greeting from the takeout side staff. We was then informed if we would like to sit down and eat we can go to the door that says drinks sit anywhere we like and someone will come and serve us. We walked in and noticed a few of the tables had red Reserve signs on them. So we found a table in the back. The main room is not that big but a very nice size. We waited 15 minutes before we even was noticed by a waiter. Then the young girl says to us "oh are you guys okay did anyone come serve you"" as we proceed to tell her "no" she was like okay one minute and walked away. After she came back she noticed we were looking at the carry out menus and stated let me get you real menus and left again. She asked for the drinks and with no menus we both said water. She came back and gave us drinks but proceeded to put my straw on the table. And went to help another table. When she came back after another 5 minutes or so. I told her I would like another straw she looked at me and moved the glass and said "this is your straw" but it was laying on the table. (which they use paper straws) I said to her "well it's on the table"and she stated back "but this is yours". Then I told her "NO I don't want a straw that was on the table". She proceeded to fold the straw up in her hand as she walked away angry to get me another straw. After that I wanted to leave but I was surprising my husband with a bite to eat away from the kids. All in all the food was okay. I don't want to tell the rest, not good. But the staff at the front of the house was amazing. We walked out they were smiling, thanking us for coming, have a good night. These are the people you need to have be the staff in the main room. From my husband: The service was horrible. Liked pulled pork. Liked the fact that you have the different sauces already on the table and you could try them all. Liked the table set up. Wish we eat in the...

Tried it for the first time today. Great waitress in the back bar area. I am a Texan. My first 55 years were spent roaming Texas. When I was 17 I was introduced to pork ribs by a true connoisseur of Q. I've been in CT for 17 years and was a Chowhound that followed and reported the NH food scene for years. T This is the best "all-around" Q I've had in CT. Amazingly good BBQ! Yes, I'm shocked. The smoked cheese and jalapeno pork sausage came from Texas, my home state! BTW, Bastrop county, where I was born, is the sausage capital of Texas! The brisket had a nice smoke ring and bark. It was tender and moderately-decently juicy. Good flavor. The pork ribs were a surprise. Good texture and still had a little bit of snap left. It was not nearly "fall-off-the-bone" mush that is so typical here in New England. We got a whole chicken to go, so I haven't tried it yet. They had four sauces: KC, "Texas Pepper" one with ghost pepper and another spicy one. The "Texas" sauce was pretty close to what might be expected, on average, but not vinegary at all and a touch sweet for my taste. Even in Texas sauces can vary quite a bit. But, I didn't come for the sauces. Slaw was excellent and an excellent broccoli salad was creamy/cheesy and rich. The beans were a bust as far as southern style beans. They had some sausage in them but the style is very sweet "northern baked beans", not pintos. I suggest a chili flavored pinto option and some raw sweet onion. They brew a few beers in-house and had a lot of small-batch craft beers. I was in heaven with the Porter and a Stout. A really fine experience. I will return and try more...