Roadhouse

RoadhouseRoadhouse
RoadhouseRoadhouse
Bar, Eatery

1700 Beacon Street
Brookline, Massachusetts, 02445
United States

// CLOSED //

The Roadhouse is officially closed as of Feb 14, 2010.
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.1
Reviews:
28
Ratings:
28
pDev:
11.22%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by tendermorsel:
Photo of tendermorsel
Reviewed by tendermorsel from Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
This is my 3rd or 4th trip here. Finally getting around to a review.

I will preface this by saying that I am more of Belgian beer and the Public House is one of my all time favorite places. I have always been a bit scheptical of this place as they only serve American beers which is not really my bag all the time.

They bar was very quiet and subdued even for a Tuesday night. Great draft list. I had a LA Angel's Share, Bear Republic Mach 10 and an imported Pilsner. All were delicious and very fresh. The Angel's Share was 8.50 for a 10 oz which might seem a bit high but for a rare beer like that is worth it for me. They had a very full tap list containing tons of options including some vintage kegs. 2007 Stone Old Guardian anyone? Great selection of American drafts.

The food was good pub food. They changed the menu since they were forced to stop using the smoker. The menu was Mexican/Caijun. I had some great Nachos. They even roasted the peppers for the Nachos which was a good touch. Appearently the head chef has been using some of his family recipies for the Mexican stuff which is a great sign. The food was alway marginal at best when they had the BBQ menu. I think they are heading in the right direction with the new menu.

The bartender was great. We talked beer and he was quite knowlegable. He gave reccomendations but was not overbearing. Great service.

I would definately reccomend this place. Not as busy as the Public House which can be a good thing.
Nov 12, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of GweedoeBRew
Reviewed by GweedoeBRew from Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +13.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
I have been to the Roadhouse a couple of times. I feel the same way about it everytime I go! The food is solid... I feel that they are still searching for a place with food, but they are getting close....

As for Beer (which is the most important...really). I think that it is one of the most intelligent beer selections in the city... I think that not only is there a great balance of beers that are "out there" and beer that reach more towards the masses... They also have a great showing of craft beers from some of the better American craft brewers...

I think that they probably do one of the best jobs of cleaning their beer lines. There are a lot of "beer bars" that do a terrible job of cleaning and maintaining their equipment.

So I will definately be back at the Roadhouse for beers again. I think that they do a great job of being a "Beer Bar" that is accessible to the masses. The staff there is great and seem to be very knowledgeable, especially the bar staff.

If you are in Brookline and are looking for a great beer selection... I would go here.
Jan 25, 2010
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 2
A: Fun southwest/cajun decor - lots of reds, oranges, and browns. Huge blackboard with beer selections, and lots of cool craft beer paraphernalia. Warm and inviting. Two bars with totally different tap lists was fun, but made the wait for a beer quite long at times. Trivia going on in the dining room was actually not too annoying, as the questions were infrequent and quite difficult.

Q: Strong offerings across the board, but nothing really mindblowing.

Service: Friendly and knowledgeable; the only downside was an occasional lack of attentiveness, but this was explained largely by there being only one bartender to pour beers from two separate bars.

Selection: Lots of solid choices, with a good mix of local brews and big names from across the country.

F: One of the most over-spiced and over-salted burgers I've ever had - almost inedible, and absolutely devastating on my beer palate. Decent sweet potato fries.

V: Pretty much what I'd expect - 9 bucks for a burger, and 6-7 for most beers.

Notes: Cool bar, but not my favorite in the city. Definitely worth a look, especially since it's so close to its sister bar, the Publick House.

Cheers!
Dec 21, 2009
Photo of koopa
Reviewed by koopa from New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Visited this place with jamie2dope, his buddy and one of my buddies during my Boston Beer Weekend on 12/12/09.

Contemporary styling, a bar that seats maybe 20 people, a few tables to the right of the bar that are dimly lit (bonus!), and lots of table seating in an adjacent room with brighter lighting.

I didn't eat anything but the menu looked pretty good. A bit healthier and more upscale than your standard bar fare.

The service was friendly and attentive although I don't think they were very knowledgable about the great beer offerings they were serving.

I kept drinking Racer X and GI Imperial Brown Goose but with 40 taps you have lots of choices and they had a decent amount of styles to choose from.

When in Brookline I say stop here for tap beer and at the Publick House for on site bottle drinking. Publick House Provisions bottle shop is next door too!
Dec 20, 2009
Photo of FrankLloydMike
Reviewed by FrankLloydMike from Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +10.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Strange things are afoot at the Roadhouse. I see it's now a Mexican joint or something, having gone through maybe a dozen menus as a barbecue place over the past year-and-a-half. It's a shame because there was some good food (the long-since-disappeared sweet potato salad) and the delicious wood plank salmon. The Mexican fare sounds good though, and is generally more of my bag. The food really doesn't affect my feelings for the place, which in a word, are solid.

Usually, when heading to Washington Square, which is less frequent these days, I prefer heading to the Publick House, but it's hard to shake your first love, isn't it? The vibe is better at the Publick House, as is the food, and they both draw me to the place. But heading another block up Beacon Street is worth it for the American craft brew mecca up the hill.

Whereas the Publick House focuses its taps largely on Belgians, the Road House is devoted to American micros almost exclusively. There are two bars, which is odd, but works in the space especially since you can order any beer from either. Both bars are dominated by a frequently rotating list of the beers that have afforded the United States its recent and sustained superiority in brewing.

Many of the beers are local or regional, which is a nice touch, and they seem to be willing to try out smaller, less well-known brewers, which is especially good in my opinion. I always like finding a beer, or brewery I've never heard of, and having a chance to try it. That happens more often here than anywhere else I've seen. Given the presence of so many wonderful, but little-known beers, it certainly helps that the staff is so knowledgeable and helpful.
Sep 24, 2009
Photo of SevaTse
Reviewed by SevaTse from New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
a pretty good place at a decent location, however the location is both a pro and a con. on one hand the area has lots of great places for food and craft beer, on the other hand the area has lots of great places for food and craft beer, and while this place is certainly no slouch, but if you compare the beer selection to publick house, which is down the street, or say sunset or deep ellum, it does not come out on top. the food looked decent, but, for example, my eye didn't catch an overabundance of lighter fare at under $10. i am not afraid of recomending seeing this place for yourself, 'cos of you are not pleased you will have plenty of options in the vicinity.
Sep 19, 2009
Photo of mymrnngjckt
Reviewed by mymrnngjckt from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Stopped here on a Thursday evening to enjoy a few beers and a bite to eat. I took at seat at the top bar. The selection that evening was outstanding. They had several products from Short's Brewing on and I enjoyed each one of them. The atmosphere is a bit dark (which seems to be a trend in Boston.) Simple wood decor and beer/BBQ signs decorate the establishment. The food and drink I had were all very fresh tasting. The selection and service were both outstanding. My bartender was prompt and attentive. I never waited long with an empty glass. The prices were reasonable for Boston. I highly reccomend this place if you are in the area.
May 23, 2009
Photo of Yesac
Reviewed by Yesac from Georgia

4.58/5  rDev +11.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5
Visited this place after the Extreme Beer Fest. Sat at the bar.. didn't have to much of a look around the entire place. Lots of seating though. This place had the absolute best beer selection I've seen. It was truly quality over quantity. American craft beer had a strong showing here. Some specialty Stone beers were on tap as well. The bartender was the man and was very knowledgeable and helpful to myself and others around him. They also had some nice music kickin' via an iPod. I did have any food because of they had changed their menu for the afternoon to a buffet style due to all the BA's meeting there.
Apr 13, 2009
Photo of indiapaleale
Reviewed by indiapaleale from Maine

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Went to dinner here with some friends a few nights ago. I was bummed that Publick House Provisions which is right next door was closed as it was a Monday...boo.

Anyways, the decor is kindacool, some nice murals of brewery logos, I liked that. It was pretty empty which was a nice change from all the time I've spent waiting at Anam Cara/Publick House in my life.

Service was okay, not awesome. Our waiter brought two beers and then I had to remind him about the third. The same with our meals pretty much, he brought two and then the third came out almost 10 minutes later.

Beer selection was very good, they had KBS and Weyerbacher Echo among a good deal of other great stuff. Those stood out among the 40 on tap.

Food was decent, I am definitely more of a Redbones fan but the gravy fries were something Redbones doesn't do and they were delicious.

The costs for beers was average for Boston I guess. $6 for a 20 oz pour of Coffehouse Porter from BBC was probably the best deal I saw. Everything over 8% is served in 10 oz pours or something like that and the higher ABV stuff gets pretty pricey.

Not bad. Its a bit sterile since its new, the outdoor seating should be a hit this summer though.
Mar 27, 2009
Photo of BanditBrewingCo
Reviewed by BanditBrewingCo from Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
Stopped in last night for some beers and food. This was the second time I've been here but last time was a BA post-fest brunch which I didn't want to base my review on since it was a special event and wouldn't really be indicative of the general visit. I saw the Roadhouse receive a lot of negative feedback when they first opened so I made a point to wait a while before checking it out to let them "work out the kinks" or whatever you want to call it.

Overall a good experience and I definitely recommended to others visiting the area to check it out. Great American craft beer selection including limited/special stuff such as Founders Breakfast Stout (to be replaced by KBS when it kicks), Weyerbacher Echo, Southern Tier Oaked Unearthly, and Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti.

The food I have had from here was all delicious. Last night I got the beef brisket sandwich with a side of fresh greens. No question that this place produces some great BBQ. Sat at the "top" bar and the bartender was very attentive and social. You can order beers from the other bar too (I thought this was not possible but maybe that was only when they first opened?) since they have different draft lines. There is one small island style bar when you first come into the entrance, then a long, low-grade ramp that runs aside a large seating area leads to the second bar which is against a wall. The large interior is broken up by pillars and low walls.

I look forward to re-visiting the Roadhouse when I'm in the area again and seeing what they've got going...actually, I'll probably be back there in a few days to try some KBS on tap :)
Mar 20, 2009
Photo of phantomwyse
Reviewed by phantomwyse from Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Ate here last night while visiting family in Boston. The first thing that struck me when we walked in was how open all the seating areas are. This is in nice contrast to the cramped Publick House that I've also been to numerous times. There's even space around the bar so servers, diners, and bar patrons aren't in life or death melee with eachother.

The beer selection is superb. Obviously not as much variety as down the street. But, each style has several representatives, and each well represented. The only issue is the split bars here, if you want one thing that's offered at the top bar, but not the bottom bar, there's a bit of a wait as it takes a bit in transit to arrive. The bartender's are adept and know their stuff. The food was delicious and came in generous portions -- always a plus for me. Any place that serves fried pickles will have a place in my heart, but anyway I had the chicken fried steak, which was a perennial favorite while attending college in the almost south. Definitely a step up from my college dining hall's version. I sampled everyone else's food. Just great, the beef brisket, not to be cliche, but melted in my mouth. The only issue I had was with the service. Not exactly top tier. They were all very nice, but seemed rushed and at times somewhat confused. I think they need to make sure the shift drinks get consumed once their shifts have ended.

All in all, definitely would want to go back, and given my brother-in-law's penchant for BBQ, I'm sure I will.
Mar 15, 2009
Photo of abartke
Reviewed by abartke from New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
I went here a few weeks ago with my gf. We sat at the bar, had a few drinks, and both got the chili and shared a rack of ribs. The beer selection was great. There are two bars, each with a unique lineup. The beers were a mix of hard to find and staples. The bartenders were extremely knowledgeable and provided great service. The food was, as I expected, top notch. The ribs were cooked for 7 hours, and it showed. The chili was great. However, the best part was the BBQ sauce. Unreal.

I also went here last night with a slightly larger group, and again, I walked away very impressed, even with terrible service. We all ordered drinks, and everyone got theirs except for me. Then when the meals came out, everyone got theirs except for me again. I thought I did something wrong. Usually things like that really bother me, but I still left the place talking about how great it is. By far my favorite restaurant in the Boston area. You can also just run next door and grab some great brews at Publick House Provisions when you're done. I will definitely go back, and plan on going back sometime soon.
Mar 15, 2009
Photo of SFLpunk
Reviewed by SFLpunk from Vermont

4.13/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Decent service and great music (bartender's ipod). I appreciate the huge chalkboards on the left as you walk in, telling you what's on draft at both bars. You can order a beer from either bar menu, though. Never understood why they split them up?

The food was nice. Fried pickles are great with a nice dipping sauce. I also had the portabello sandwich, which had wilted spinach on it - an interesting and welcome addition.

Had two pours: Hop Wollop and Double Simcoe. Both poured neatly and tall. Far as I could tell, beer was fresh and lines were clean.

All in all, I'd go back again.
Mar 12, 2009
Photo of aerozeppl
Reviewed by aerozeppl from New York

4.2/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Went here after night of the barrels with some BA friends and other assorted beer people. We were told Stone Cali Beligique would be on tap and it was. Along with some Sixpoint, Berkshire Brewing, The bottle selection kind of sucked but the tap selection was so great only a crazy person would order a bottle here. The food was excellent as well. Our party got a bunch of appetizers and everything was really good. A step above typical pub fair. The pulled pork was especially good. Now we went there after a beer fest so tons of brewers and bar owners and other people in the industry were there. That is why I rank the atmosphere so high. We only had 2 beers here but we had a great time. The only downside is when it got super crowded it was hard to get the attention of a bartender. I would definitely pop by again when in Boston.
Feb 27, 2009
Photo of Danny2321
Reviewed by Danny2321 from Mississippi

4.72/5  rDev +15.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
First and foremost - I had read some very mixed reviews of Roadhouse and the trials and tribulations of them finding the right chef. I have been in a few times for drinks, but never dinner, and decided to give it a go to make my own opinion on Saturday night (12/31)

First thing me and the lady friend noticed - the menu had changed since we had been there less than a week earlier. We asked our server about it, and found that the menu had changed around Wednesday, and the Chef was now Brent from the Publick House... good news.

A - my only complaint is that it was a touch loud during a full house on a Saturday night, but I was still able to hear the conversation at my own table just fine. the bare light bulbs are a nice touch, hadn't seen that in a while, and the center bar with it's dark finish and recessed lighting was gorgeous

Q - Beer was top-notch; the choklat poured as smooth as i've ever had it and was cold without being freezing. that trend continued over the next couple rounds as well, all served in the right glassware with a full pour on anything less than 8% and a generous 10oz for those above

Serv - the bartender was prompt as we were waiting for our table, and our waiter (who seemed to be at Roadhouse from the days it started) was fantastic when it came time to eat. no long waits, no rushing, checked in without being over-bearing... well done

Sel - For American craft beers, there may not be a better place. The tap list pairs incredibly well with the Belgian influence of TPH down the street, and just as an example, we shared the following: ST Choklat, Whale's Tale Pale, Rogue Hazelnut, Allagash Curieux, Rogue Chocolate Stout, (yay for Oxford commas) and Ommegang Obamagong

F - I was worried from what I had read, but our meal was fantastic, even pleasing my g/f who is a vegetarian. She went to school in the south, and the fried pickles and fried okra stood up against what she is used to. My meat was smoked just right; juicy ribs falling off the bone and a moist brisket slathered in sauce with a pink smoke ring and all

I will absolutely be going back, and I will be bringing friends. I hope every trip continues to be as good as my first.
Feb 02, 2009
Photo of TrevorGW
Reviewed by TrevorGW from Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Went there on a Friday night for dinner. It is a good-size place, so it doesn't take too long to get a table or find a spot at the bar. Yet, I would not suggest planning to meet up with a group of over 5 there.

Beer selection is impressive with rare domestic crafts, but the small pours of anything over 7% ABV is a little frustrating. Ordered the Bear Republic Big Black Stout and it came in a glass that could not have been more than 11 oz. When I'm paying $6 I expect a larger pour. I also had pints of Cisco Whales Tale and Mayflower IPA. Good stuff; so many options.

The food was solid. Had the fried chicken plate and it was tasty, moist and crispy. Wasn't amazing, but it got the job done and everything came out warm and in large portions. Coleslaw could use some work, but the hand-cut fries are top-notch.

The service was pretty good. It was a busy night and they took care of us.

Overall, Roadhouse is in my favor and I would recommend checking it out soon.
Jan 13, 2009
Photo of Cunningham26
Reviewed by Cunningham26 from Massachusetts

2.3/5  rDev -43.9%
vibe: 2 | quality: 2.5 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | food: 1
Went here on a cold Friday, the Publick house was less crowded than normal for a friday, and the Roadhouse was pretty empty. Got seated right away, and our server was on us immediately wanting to get drink orders in. Beers were expertly poured into proper glassware, and delivered immediately. It was a slow night.
The atmosphere is ok, with the chalk board beer lists a la publick house. there's big tvs in the corners and the decor is pretty standard, making this definitely an easier to swallow craft beer pub than PH. Also the distinct smoke smell starts as your walking up, and permeates the bar and your clothes.
My two friends and I all ordered the pulled pork sandwich with frites. They came out in good time, but the pork and frites were room temperature at best. The sandwich was a good size, not huge but also full of pork on a grilled hamburger bun. There was a good amount of frites and my friend left some on his plate. The pork however, was very dry, seemed to have been mixed with cattleman's bbq sauce prior to serving to add moisture, which it did not, and overall tasted like pulled cardboard. The most disappointing thing was that it had absolutely zero of the smoke flavor we had been smelling the entire time we'd been in there. The frites looked as though they had been cooked and left in a warmer to dry out, which is fine, standard procedure for most chain restaurants, but unfortunatly it's not a chain and as PH's frites are always piping and delicious and have the reputation for such, it was really unfortunate that Roadhouses couldn't match. Perhaps the best thing on the plate were the pickles.
Beer selection was about half as extensive as PH, but that was fine and a great selection was available. Many stouts and porters to pair with bbq.
Our server was extremely disappointing . Whenever one of the three of us was below the halfway mark on our beer, he'd ask us if we were ready to order another. Obviously when drinking craft/flavorful/high gravity stuff it's to be savored and enjoyed, maybe this waiter didn't know that? Instead he kept pushing us along, and brought our check with our third round. Apparently, we were done. After a few minutes of dropping off the check, as we were finishing up our second beers and sipping the head off our third, he came over and let us know that the servers were punching out, and if we could take care of the check. It was late, so I understood and had no problem with his request. we paid our tab and continued our conversation and third beers. But then, minutes after telling us to hurry our bill along so he could leave, we see our waiter in the dining room, beer in hand, chatting it up with some friends. To hustle some of your only paying customers on a slow night so that you could grab a beer with your friends in direct view of those same customers was jaw-dropping. The PH has a reputation of elitist tap pullers with short patience, but I've never experienced something as inconsiderate to your customers as this.

I gave Smokehouse a chance because I love the publick house so much and also love bbq. Unfortunately it lacks everything I love about both, and instead offers mediocre to sub-par dining and, in this instance, really bad service. I hope things get better for this place, because it needs a lot of work.

Obviously with PH right down the street, I will not be going to Smokehouse again.
Dec 13, 2008
Photo of morebeergood
Reviewed by morebeergood from Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Finally made it in here last Saturday night. Somewhat crowded, which was expected. We were told it was a 45 minute wait for a table, but we got one after only 30 minutes. Bonus. Love the way this place is set up. Large bars at both ends to draw the crowds apart. Tons of seating in the middle. Huge high ceilings give the place added depth. TVs in all the right spots, and I liked the fact they had all Boston sports on (BC football, Bruins, Celts). Our server was very friendly. Willing to talk about food and beer. We could not believe the size of the apps. Huge! The bbq shrimp were big suckers, and the sauce was delicious. We ordered bbq wings too, and our waiter told us there were about 5 full sized one. Instead we got a full dozen oversized buffalo type wings. Great smoky sauce too. For dinner, we each got a bbq plate. I went with the pulled pork. It was more like pork chunks than pulled, which was a negative. But the massive scoop of mac and cheese was tasty. One issue with the menu: change the font color. Kinda hard to read with dim lighting. Beer selection was stellar too, and we agreed priced very well. I went with a nitro O'Hara's Stout, a DFH Indian Brown, and a Green Flash Le Freak. I would have rated the service even higher, but even though I told the gentlemen I wanted the Le Freak twice, I was served a La Chouffe by mistake. He knew it and we laughed. Atmosphere and beer were awesome, and food and service very good. My new favorite place in Brookline.
Nov 18, 2008
Photo of mtnbiknma
Reviewed by mtnbiknma from Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Got to the roadhouse at 5:30 on a Friday. There was no line for a table, which instantly scored points with me.
The place is nice enough inside, lots of dark wood. Two bars is a cool idea too, nice to have two gathering areas in one space, this might mean shorter lines for beer.
Beer selection was excellent. I was hoping to find some unusual beers and they were certainly represented. I had the Green Flash Hop Head Red, Six Point Bengali IPA, & Stone Imperial Stout.
The BBQ was very good. I had a nice plate of smoked pork which had smokey overtones & a tangy vinegar sauce. The stout was a nice match for this reasonably priced entrée.
Service was slow at first, but it picked up quiickly & was very attentive throughout. Our Server was patient and provided numerous well lnformed suggestions.
Overall, this place won me over quickly & I look forward to returning soon.
Nov 09, 2008
Photo of Nipitato
Reviewed by Nipitato from Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Made it to the new establishment the other weekend. I was not surprised in the least that I came away impressed.

A: The place is big and open. This space used to be an Italian restaurant. There is a bar up front as well as a bar in the back. Plenty of tables in between. Because the place is brand new it is lacking a comfortable worn patina but I'm sure that will come. Walls are decorated with brewerania from various craft brews. Handpainted logos is a nice touch. I'm sure the blank wall space will fill in soon.

Q: Not an issue at the Publick House and not an issue here. All the beers I had were fresh and served in appropriate glassware.

Svc: The service was quite surprisingly friendly. The Publick House has a rep for occasionally rude service. It's a legitimate rep because I have at times been treated rudely there by staff. The different servers I dealt with throughout the night were friendly and attentive.

Selection: A nice selection of domestic draft offerings. The beer menu certainly kept me busy and interested as the evening wore on.

F: I had the American Chop Suey mainly because I have never seen that on a menu before. It was ok - I think everyone wants it to taste like their mom's. My drinking companions had wings and mac and cheese both were quite good.

V: I have to say that I was impressed by the pricing - I found it very reasonable.
Oct 28, 2008
Photo of Trailmix242
Reviewed by Trailmix242 from Nevada

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Got to check this place out last night and had a great time there. The beer selection was great focusing mostly on domestic craft beer which is a contrast to the Publick House. Service was friendlier than the Publick House as well. Food was good but far from exceptional. The mac and cheese was not good but the pulled pork sandwich and fries were great. My buddy had the BBQ shrimp app which presented well but was not hot enough and more luke warm. As far as the layout there are two bars each having their own set of different taps. The beer prices were very reasonable with most pours being $5. Had three great brews Southern Tier Harvest, Stone imperial Russian Stout, and the Sierra Double Debockel. Will definitly be back there at least for beer. Hoping as they get some more time under them they will work some of the minor kinks out.
Oct 11, 2008
Photo of harsley
Reviewed by harsley from Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -4.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
So going in there are obvious expectations judging by the owners track record (ie: Publick House) so I'll try to make this review as impartial as possible.

Great place inside, very open with a bar on each end, sparsely decorated so no overkill, nice dark woods, windows looking out to Beacon St. and an outdoor beer garden. Seated right away and the wait staff seemed very nice and timely. We ordered our food and it came out literally 2 minutes later. So obviously all preprepared by them, rightfully so (it's BBQ), and plated for us but temperature was an issue. Maybe ours was taken from the top of the pile and had cooled, I don't know. Corn bread was a highlight, both kinds, although very sweet almost cake-like, I liked it. Mac & cheese was not very good, brisket was okay, pulled pork was okay. The meat did have a nice smokeness to it that you don't always find but sauces lacked as did flavor some. Honestly I expected more from this place. I expected kick ass BBQ to knock my socks off. Food was good, but not great. I'll go back and try some other things (it's around the corner) but it doesn't replace Redbones in my book for BBQ. Beer on the other hand...

The draft list was superb. If not for the Belgians at TPH I'd almost say this place is better. Great beers on tap, many seasonals and others that I've never seen on tap around here. I tried a couple beers I've never had before and they were fantastic. Had a bottle list too with some Belgians and other brews.

All in all definitely a place to try. Great beer and decent food. I think I was hoping to get blown away by the BBQ but wasn't.

Been 3 times now and it has gotten progressively better. Was finally happy with the food (ribs/onion rings/fried pickles)...maybe it's the new chef or menu changes I don't know, but improving...(2/5/09).
Oct 08, 2008
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

3.9/5  rDev -4.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
Checked this new place out after the night of the funk, large, multi leveled, 2 separate bar area, large screen HD TV's all around, with various ball games on....nice draft lists, on chalk boards all around...expect to find plenty of BA worthy drafts, we spied selections from Ithaca, Blue Flash, DFH, Stone, Avery, you get the picture. Food wise they offer a wide range of BBQ offerings...I/we were wowed by the fried ribs (!) but under whelmed by the pulled pork and brisket, they need to tweak these offerings IMHO, the collared greens were undercooked, coleslaw was a yawner..highlight of the food offerings was...drum roll please...the cornbread! Anyway, this place is about a five min walk from the Publick House and next door to their well stocked Provisions beer general store. Making the area well worth a visit/meal
Oct 01, 2008
Photo of Caitlin
Reviewed by Caitlin from Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +12.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
The hit of the night was our trip to Public House Provisions and then to The Roadhouse BBQ and Beer restaurant, newly opened by The Public House of Brookline. The public house is undisputedly one of the Boston greats. I think it is the closest we have to the Horse Brass Pub in Oregon.

Arriving at 7:30 we were given a 90 minute wait. With slightly restless guests and our buzz beginning to decline, we took the reservation and went next door to kill some time at the new Public House Provisions Store. Now that they finally have their license to sell the store is stocked with wonderful yummy treats, epicurean necessities and a fine selection of cheese.

Our guest Dr. Sam decided to procure a LARGE amount of cheese for us to snack on and the staff generously offered us a platter to create our own Ploughman's Platter! We sat in the little table in the front window and enjoyed a large selection of beer cheeses by Rogue, Chimay and others. Sam wanted us to mention that the $26 purchase would have been well over $100 in Bermuda and many of the choices were too rare of finds to even get.

As soon we got back to Roadhouse were seated immediately. Keeping with our Belgian style theme, our table shared a very nice bottle of Brooklyn Local 1, Belgian Strong Pale Ale style beer from Brooklyn Brewery. It was delicious. I don't think prior to the festival our guests would have enjoyed One and after a nice educational fest they really enjoyed the bottle. I ordered a Berkshire Coffeehouse Porter on Nitro. Our waitress was friendly and literally running.

All 4 sandwich Entrees and a Chili Appetizer came out quickly and hot and tasty. Our corn on the cob sides were not hot. The much criticized cornbread was delicious. This is the second time I've had the extremely fattening and delicious Mac & Cheese. The only true problem with our meal was that we were just disgustingly full with the cheese and a full day of beer sampling. By 10 we were out the door with our leftovers nicely boxed up.

The Roadhouse has a great ambiance and a thinking drinker's American Beer tap offering. I suspect they are short on heat lamps and have heard many kinks in the kitchen are going to be worked out.
Sep 28, 2008
Photo of casper1
Reviewed by casper1 from Massachusetts

3.16/5  rDev -22.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4
Stopped in late yesterday afternoon with a few friends who are non-BA's, but were willing to try something new. Hostess let us know that they weren't serving food outside yet, but that we were welcome to go out there to purchase a drink. Not a huge problem as we were only planning on sampling a few brews in the first place.

I ordered a Green Flash West Coast IPA, which I've been dying to try. Friends ordered a Rogue 12PA, 2 Bros Damine. My third friend isn't a big beer drinker and I suggested she try a Magic Hat #9 just so she isn't too overwhelmed. The waitress suggested she try the Chocolate Porter. She decided against beer and went with a sure bet Merlot.

Waitress comes back out with the Green Flash and 2 Bros. They had run out of the Rogue 12PA and the Merlot. No bigge...Friend goes with a Hercules Double, other goes with a Chardonnay. Hercules Double was ironically served in a Rogue glass.

I take a big sip of the Green Flash West Coast and immediately realize I'm not drinking an IPA at all. Next thing I know I hear the waiter behind me tell another patron that they are all sold out of the Green Flash and have replaced the tap with a Green Flash Summer Saison. BOOM, what i had been drinking was most definitely Green Flash's Saison...my waitress comes over and I inquire whether or not they've run out of Green Flash previous to pouring my beer. She says they didn't run out and I'm am indeed drinking Green Flash West Coast. Another waiter overheard and came over to correct the situation. He informed me I was drinking the Summer Saison. No problem with me since the Saison was delicious...just was a little taken back by the fact the waitress had no idea the kegs had been switched. Hercules IPA was also served at about room temperature, which may or may not be a problem for some. We asked a waiter if we could check out a food menu just to see what they offered. Our waitress comes back out and asks us if we're ready to order. We give her a strange look and ask "Aren't we not allowed to eat out here?" She kind of shrugged us off and goes "oh, i thought they were going to let you."

Overall I think the place needs a little work, especially with the level of service from the waitress I had. I did add a point on service since the waiter for the table behind was very helpful with all of the questions our waitress couldn't answer. Cannot comment on the food yet as we wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather outside. Hopefully they can get things running a little smoother as the tap selection is awesome (i love my IPAs) and the bottle selection was a nice supplement.
Sep 14, 2008
Photo of RocketFrog
Reviewed by RocketFrog from Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
My wife and I went in early on Saturday evening when it wasn't too busy. Were hoping to sit outside but we were told outside was only for beer at this point, not food - so we got a nice hig booth inside.

Beer selection was nice - very IPA heavy yeah, but I like that. We tried several different brews running through IPA, DIPA, Stout, etc...and were served tasty beer in appropriate glassware - the DIPA could have been a slightly bigger pour though. But prices were very reasonable we thought.

The food came out quick, hot, tasty and smoky. We got the Fired Ribs app which the wife said was nice because "your hands don't get all messy" from eating them. Also tried the brisket which was tender and had nice flavor and some sides - Mac & Cheese was nice and cheesy. My only issue foodwise was that we tried to order a combo plate from the smoker - something like pulled pork and brisket and were told that we such a thing wasn't available yet and we needed to stay strictly to what the menu said. Waiter mentioned that in a few weeks they would probably have mix plates available though. I hope so as I like to sample different things when eating BBQ.

Now some of the oddness - at least 4 times in the evening someone tried to bring us a beer that wasn't ours. Maybe there is some weirdness with the way they have the tables numbered?

The only real downside at this point was unfortunately with the service. In an establishment that sells itself with craft beer in the name, the staff should be very familiar with the beers on tap and should not tell a customer when asked that a Sixpoint Gorilla Warfare is "a stout I think but I haven't had it myself." Also, our server began the night very friendly - we stated that a friend would possibly be joining us in a bit but that we wanted to eat. When that friend joined us, rather than being presented with a menu, we all felt that we began to be treated as people who had been there too long despite the fact that we kept ordering beers and he was more than ready to have ordered off the menu if one had been offered. Again, for somewhere that seems to pride itself as much on being a beer bar as a BBQ joint, the staff should understand that people might actually be there to taste the beers and not just wolf down some ribs and turn the table over.
Sep 14, 2008
Photo of bignick
Reviewed by bignick from Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
Roadhouse is definitely more upscale than your average bbq joint. I liked the patio outside and the spacious feeling inside. It was also very clean. On the other hand, sometimes when eating bbq, it's more fitting to be in divier digs. This is certainly a matter of opinion, and I think that the quality and selection of the food and beer are far more important than the setting.

The beer list is an excellent selection of American craft beers. I had a Mayflower IPA, and my friend had a Sixpoint Benali, and both were very tasty. The beer list is heavy on the IPAs, which makes sense because IMO IPAs go well with smoked meat. Both bars had enough beers to satisfy me for a session of beer drinking. The service was friendly and good enough. My beer was at first underpoured by a good two inches, but a second bartender immediately stepped in and offered to fill it to the top.

I thought the food was good, but not great. My friend got the fried ribs, which were crispy, but I wasn't a huge fan of how the texture of the batter and the texture of the ribs mixed. I had the beef ribs with jalapeno cheddar corn bread (very good) and red potato salad (good). The ribs were a bit inconsistent; some were meaty and tender, but others were tough. All had an excellent, smoky bark, which is indicative of the fact that they were given proper time in the smoker. BBQ sauce was drizzled over the ribs as a garnish, which I appreciate, since too many placed drown the meat. The bbq sauce was fantastic, and I was licking it off the bones.

My main suggestion would be to increase the number of appetizers, since I would enjoy being able to grab an app and a couple beers here after work if I'm not hungry enough for a slab of ribs.

All in all, it was a good experience, and I see myself returning once or twice a month, since I'm in the neighborhood. Hopefully experience with the smoking equipment will result in even better food in the coming months.
Sep 11, 2008
Photo of trbergman
Reviewed by trbergman from England

4.2/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
My girlfriend and I went to opening night. Only half the dining room was open and service was a bit slow, but I suppose that's to be expected while they're getting up and running. They have a pretty decent beer list, both on tap and in bottles. A bit heavy on IPAs, but I'm not complaining. All the beers we ordered were in appropriate glassware, most of it brand-specific, and the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. The food was tasty, filling, and reasonably priced. I had a half rack of beef ribs and redskin potato salad for $12. All in all, I enjoyed the experience and look forward to going back.
Sep 09, 2008
Roadhouse in Brookline, MA
Place rating: 4.1 out of 5 with 28 ratings