Muddy River Smokehouse — Restaurant in Newfields

If I could give this place 15 out of 10, I would! Muddy River Smokehouse is hands down my favorite smokehouse—not just in New England, but anywhere. I’ve driven over 1 hour to eat here, and if that doesn’t tell you how good it is, I don’t know what will. The first thing that stands out is their Fresh from the Grill Big Board. If you're stopping by, do not miss it. It’s loaded with various freshly grilled and smoked meats that are incredibly flavorful and cooked to perfection. If you’re not up for the full board, any item from the grill is still well worth your time and money. I’ve tried smokehouses all over—Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, even as far as New Braunfels, Texas, Virginia and Tennessee. Out of all of them, Muddy River ranks number one, with the New Braunfels spot coming in second. Even my sister, who lived in Texas and has been to some of the state’s best, agrees—Muddy River could hold its own in Texas and still come out ahead. If you're into smoky drinks that match the soul of the food, do yourself a favor and order an Old Fashioned made with 10-year-old Laphroaig. It’s not just a drink—it’s an experience. It has that deep, earthy-smoky character—think the smell of a campfire or a backyard grill with family, wood smoke in the air, laughter in the background, and that feeling of being fully present in the moment. It’s the kind of drink that captures something timeless, like a summer night spent cooking over fire and sharing stories. It doesn’t just pair with the food—it’s cut from the same cloth. Bold, nostalgic, and full of character. All things considered, this is my #1 smokehouse in New England, and quite possibly anywhere. Amazing food, great drinks, and worth every mile...

First time in, got take out. Food was ready in 10 minutes as I was told when I called in my order. Love the renovations, place looks great. I was attended to immediately when I came to pick up my food, fast & friendly. I ordered the fowl balls, hush puppies & BBQ combo.

The pulled pork and chicken were ok, as was the cornbread. Homemade BBQ sauce was good, as were the baked beans. Fowl balls were ok. Food overall was rather greasy.

Unfortunately, I have to echo other reviews that panned the brisket. It was dry, bland and the crust had zero flavor. Very disappointing. The cole slaw was even worse, zero flavor, no hint of vinegar, sweetness, or mayo. Nothing.

Hush puppies were also terrible, dry and barely warm. Doesn't help they are made with the aforementioned flavorless & dry brisket. Portion sizes also small across the board, especially the hush puppies (totally not worth $11). Place was dead at 3pm on a Friday afternoon.

Knowing they are just starting out, I'm willing to give them another chance in a few months. Restaurant business is a tough gig, totally understand, especially at the outset. Really do want them to do well, hope they will improve, will be great to have a good bbq place in the area. Look forward to having a better experience in the...

I felt compelled to write a review because anyone with toddlers knows how going to a restaurant can be a toss up! What a gem this place is- we went for an early dinner on a Saturday night (have been meaning to stop in forever now), and saw the great outdoor set up. First win for us with our kiddos in tow! It was the perfect spot for us to set up shop and actually be able to finish our drinks :D Much to our (very pleased) surprise, the kids menu came with WikiStix!! (little toys for the kids). I mean, I ended up playing with them more than they did, but come on! That little gesture goes a long way when we live in a world where bringing kids to dinner is a bit looked down upon. Second win! Then we get to the menu and the options for kids were just perfect for those classic picky eaters. Not to mention the prices- I get so frustrated seeing menus where the kids menu is $15/$16 for a kids meal- $7.99 was the next win for us. I almost wanted to ask our waitress if she babysat because she just had a way with talking to my kids and was so kind and genuine.

I’ve told friends all about our experience and I want to make this a weekly (ok maybe monthly with kids) place to go!

Thank you Muddy River for allowing me a relatively, dare I say….easy, meal...