Sweet Cheeks serves up Texas Style BBQ in a refined rustic setting with heavily distressed wooden tables and delicate strands of white lights. Located on Boylston Street in the Fenway neighborhood, the exteriors signage is loud with exposed bulbs, a giant glowing BBQ sign presides on the corner.
The Biscuits ($10) which come four to a tin bucket with creamy honey butter, are as good as every single person who has ever set foot in this establishment (and ordered them) says they are. Flaky yet sturdy on the outside, warm fluffy layers on the inside, heaven. Do not let the fact that you must order four at once deter you, portion sizes are huge, so leftovers in general are highly likely. (In other words, take those biscuits home with your meat!)
Served in mason jars, cocktails stick with the theme of being on the large side. The Federale with tequila, habanero simple syrup, agave, grapefruit and lime was super spicy, a great drink if you like a punch of heat. A Genesse Cream Ale also makes an appearance.
A tray of Berkshire Pulled Pork ($18) comes with white bread, tangy mustard pickles + onions and two sides - I chose
collard greens and the carrot salad. I had heard lots of praise for
that salad specifically; I
guess that's the plus side of visiting a regularly hyped restaurant
opened by a Top Chef Alum over a year after its debut. (I already knew everything I should probably order.) I would concur with the beauty of that cold scoop, it was memorable with thin shards of crunchy carrots, golden raisins, toasted walnuts and blue cheese crumbles in a zesty dressing that nicely tied everything together. As far as the hot scoop, I thought the collard greens were pretty amazing, too.
The pulled pork was juicy and tender, a Texas style dry rub renders it subtly smokey and three types of tableside BBQ sauce add another layer of flavor. (Depending on which you choose - standard flare, intense heat or a sweet North Carolina vinegar style.)
It is completely worth it to muster room for dessert, the unassuming little mason jar of Butterscotch Pudding ($6) is terrific, super rich and smooth in texture, equally as sweet, and then
balanced out by a cap of sea salted caramel.
So if you're craving some good BBQ in Boston, I'm pretty sure this is where you want to end up!
1381 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02215
I went there when it first opened and need to get back... dream of that honey butter. so good and nothing else like it!
ReplyDeleteLove the decor there! It is totally unacceptable that I have to eat at Sweet Cheeks... your post is inspiring me to make this happen!
ReplyDeleteMmm Sweet Cheeks is SO good!! And yes those biscuits are incredible!! Actually you don't have to order the basket of them! The first time I went I was able to sub the bread that comes with the meals for a biscuit (it was probably an extra charge) but so worth it!! Of course after that we just stick to ordering the basket of them for leftovers :)
ReplyDeleteLove it there! I've been for lunch and takeout, and at the time they were only doing the biscuits for eat-in dinner, so I STILL haven't tried them. Need to.
ReplyDeleteI still need to check this place out. I'd go for the biscuits and cocktails alone! I also love spicy cocktails, so I'll have to order The Federale when I go.
ReplyDeleteoh the biscuits. you have me drooling over them again :) now that they are serving them for lunch i have to pop over there one day soon!!
ReplyDeleteI need to go here!
ReplyDeleteI seriously need to try Sweet Cheeks...I've heard nothing but great things!
ReplyDeleteI am such a fan of Sweet Cheeks - everything is just so tasty, definitely some of the best BBQ in the city.
ReplyDeleteI seriously miss this place so much. The farm salad is my favorite side. The ribs and pork belly are really good too.
ReplyDeleteI love Sweet Cheeks. It's definitely my favorite barbecue restaurant in Boston. I've been there twice this week already! My two don't-leave-without-ordering items are the biscuits and the giant nutter butter.
ReplyDelete