According to folk etymologists, the term barbecue is derived from the French barbe coup, referring to the annual pig picking commemorating the infamous Barbers’ Rebellion. Today's Groupon gets you in on the hallowed and delicious tradition: $15 for $30 worth of authentic down-home eats at Redbones. Redbones is a juicy barbecue joint in Somerville that serves ribs, pulled pork, brisket, wings, and other southern specialties.
At Redbones, a pitmaster trained in the traditional craft of barbecue and unarmed pit-combat oversees the smoking, preparation, and finishing of delicious smokehouse specialties. The menu has five types of ribs ($11.99–$20.99), hushpuppies ($2.99), wood-grilled jerk chicken ($8.99), fried catfish ($6.49 sandwich, $13.99 dinner), and brisket ($11.99). Choose from mild, sweet, vinegar, and hot sauces to the grease appetizing axles of pulled pork or chicken sandwiches ($6.49), fried okra ($3.99), and Texas chili ($5.99). A 16-ounce T-bone steak comes with fries and slaw ($16.99), and the portobello mushroom burger ($7.99) is served with onion merlot jam and was famously the inspiration for the 16-bit video game Lojam and Merle.
Redbones' dining room is a rustic romp through barbecue's days-gone-by, with nostalgic photos of when life used to be in black and white and homemade menus and signs. It also sometimes doubles as an adventurous venue for meal-complementing entertainment, as it will on the upcoming old time bluegrass and BBQ night on March 7. The Hi-Tone Ramblers will perform for scores of syncopated chewers, all courtesy of The Real School of Music. Diners can sit at the counter to witness first-hand the work of Redbones' pitmaster and his team of barbecue bandits. Service is always fast, friendly, and as soft and cuddlesome as a fresh puppy wrapped in a jacket made out of an old Tempur-Pedic mattress.
Reviews
Redbones has been reviewed in Gayot. More than 70 Citysearchers give Redbones a four-star rating average and more than 700 Yelpers give it an average of 3.5 stars.
- Our sampling of the city's fried pickles turned up a mess of limp, lackluster spears sheathed in oil- and brine-sodden coatings -an absolute dill-breaker. We finally speared two worthy versions at Cambridge Common and Redbones. Both kitchens mastered the cuke-to-coating ratio, their crispy batters adding just the right layer of crunch to the pickles' snap. – Elizabeth Bomze, Boston Globe
- Well before Davis Square was a magnet for hipsters, artists and the coffeehouses they favor, it was a mecca for fans of down-home barbecue and beer connoisseurs. Redbones still packs ’em in with its versatile menu... The come-one-come-all ambience emanates equally from the blue-collar bar with buzzing neon signs; the raucous, cramped, paint-scrawled dining room; and the moody basement space known as Underbones. – [Gayot](http://bit.ly/4TlNbZhttp://bit.ly/4TlNbZ