Wilson County Barbecue

Been here twice now, and both times its been extremely enjoyable.  Got the pulled pork sandwich, which was piled high, and the chicken, which was super juicy.  Food aside, the atmosphere is really nice here, whether your sitting inside or outside.  Staff is friendly and accommodating, even if you show up 50 minutes before closing time, as we did.  Also, they had excellent beer.  Worth going to on its own, or as part of a bar crawl, since its near quite a few other interesting spots. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Very cute bbq spot that was a very hip and decorated well. There is a lot of seating both inside and out. On Friday evenings they have live music which adds to the ambience. We ordered the fried chicken and sandwiches with fries, coleslaw, mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese. The chicken was pretty good and tasted fresh. The fries were tasty and the bbq seasoning was something new and enjoyable. The Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes were a bit unseasoned. I had to add some salt and pepper to bring out the flavor. However I enjoyed the variety of bbq and hot sauces they offered. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Stumbled upon this place after a little Yelp search. So worth it. Super friendly staff even though they seemed busy and could have easily just brushed the chit chat or pleasantries off. Split both a chicken and waffles order that started the meal for us and then the BBQ plate finished it off. Amazing food and the Carolina sauce was the cherry on top. Wish I took pictures to add to this review. Maybe next trip. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This place has amazing Carolina barbecue.The warden and I went and were really impressed by the portions and price. The Ribs were fall off bone w a vinegar tang. Her chicken sandwich was fried evenly and had a great buttermilk aftertaste. The side's were were basic but delicious. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Pretty average BBQ across the board, good not great. Fyi - the collard greens are too spicy and baked beans are too sweet.

Reviewed on Yelp

Great first stop in Portland! A perfect foggy night to have some BBQ.My boyfriend and I walked into the spacious, cozy restaurant after walking through the nice outdoor seating area - very classic long/family style tables. We scanned a QR for the menu which easily took us to the food, beer, and cocktail menus. A great selection of beers which show up on Untappd (the beer app). A short line to order at the counter. Once we ordered, we waited for the drinks which we picked up at the bar. We gave our phone number for them to then text us once the food was ready. Everyone was friendly.We shared the plate of ribs with the slaw, baked beans, and hush puppies. As a Texan, this North Carolina influence on BBQ is a bit sweeter than I like but wow. The ribs were fantastic! The perfect heat. The meat falls right off of the bone. The baked beans weren't too sweet either - homemade with great flavor. The slaw had a thin sauce and wasn't soggy. The hush puppies were probably my favorite part. They tend to be greasy, hard, soggy. These were seriously perfect. A great size that wasn't greasy at all. A GREAT crispiness with a soft inside. WELL done on these. The beers were great too. A good pour.It's one of the only places open on Monday night which is definitely a draw. Happy to have given them my business! They were advertising live music so call ahead to see if that something you want to experience during your night! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I really enjoyed the atmosphere, especially at night. My table got  the chicken sandwich and bbq sandwich and we really enjoyed it. We got hush puppies as an appetizer and they came with jalapeño ranch. They were very good but they are quite boring, they need something more to them. I have had hush puppies from other places and enjoyed them more, Mac and cheese could use a tad more cheese and maybe add some bread crumbs to make it better, kinda bland. Great alcohol selection. Overall would return here. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I liked Wilson County Barbecue so much last Tuesday that I had to go back today.  This time I got the barbecue chicken which was fantastic.  Ask for extra sauce on the side.  The smoked baked beans were also fantastic.  Maybe it was just a bad serving, but the mac n' cheese was dry and flavorless.  That's the only thing I wouldn't recommend.  I'll be going back to try the fried chicken and more sides very soon. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

First time out in Portland for some Barbecue and Yelp recommended Wilson's.. I got Barbeque Chicken, pulled pork sandwich, Mac n Cheese, collard greens, n biscuit. The food was delicious!! But no brisket? Or Beef ribs? Common MANN!! I need the beef.. I would've given more stars if I had the experience to dine in but I had take out. Best wishes Wilson's! I will be back very soon. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This place is going on my list of favorite restaurants.  The baby back ribs were meaty, cooked perfectly, and coated with a delicious barbecue sauce.  The biscuit was probably the best biscuit I have ever had.  The barbecue dusted crinkle cut fries were great.  I can't wait to go back! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Well worth the trip to Portland! Sooooo goooood! 😋😋😋😋

Reviewed on Facebook

After landing at the Portland airport around 1pm, we wanted a good meal that wasn't too far off the interstate so we could get on the road for the rest of our travel. Enter Wilson County BBQ. Just a couple blocks off 95, it's an easy pit stop. Big spacious dining area with a variety of seating options. Outdoor, bar, high tops, cozy lounge style.  You grab a menu and order at the bar, then your name is called when your order is ready. Before I dive into the food, Wilson County is a county in North Carolina and is the style of BBQ they are slinging. If you have not been to North Carolina for BBQ, then you are in luck, because they are nailing it here in Portland. My onion allergy almost killed the sides for me, I hate it when I can only have carbs because they put onions in all the veggies. (Unfairly, this is why I gave them 4 stars.)  I had the pulled pork, cheese grits, fries, and a biscuit. It was all spot on. IMO, great pulled pork does not require sauce. I wanted to taste that delicious pork and smoke and seasoning. Now, I love sauce, but to enhance and add extra flavor not to cover meat that lacks flavor!! I'm a mustard base fan, and Wilson County had a good one! My husband had the fried chicken, baked beans, Brunswick stew and a biscuit. Finger licking good- all of it! He thought the Brunswick stew was especially good. Go and enjoy this taste of North Carolina in Portland, Maine. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Visited with a large group and it was wonderful! Don't be intimidated by a long line to order because it goes quick. My friend ordered after me and her food came out earlier but I imagine that's because I got the fried chicken sandwich. Lots of inside and outside seating for large groups because of the large family style tables. I didn't get a drink because the beer list kept changing on the screen and it made it difficult to see the options. You do have to ask for water, which I did and it wasn't a problem at all. As I said, I had the fried chicken sando which comes with pickles and jalapeno sauce. I got baked beans and cole slaw on the side. The baked beans stole the show for the sides but other's mac and cheese looked creamy and delicious as well but I didn't try it. Great experience! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

So my husband was dying to try this spot! The first attempt we made, they were out of ribs, which was what my ham us and really wanted so we left and returned a few days later. They have a lot of seating both indoor and out. You place your order, find a seat and when food is ready they text you to get your food. I found this somewhat of annoyance especially when you are paying it pops up for you to pay a gratuity.  There is no waitstaff, no body bussing tables so who exactly is getting the gratuity. The food in our opinions was just ok, my husband is willing to give them another try chalking it up to, "they were having an off day"He ordered the ribs, with Mac and cheese, coleslaw and hush puppies. Mac and cheese was bland. The ribs were over done, my husband said they cooked off all the fat, they were dry and had no smoke flavor. Hush puppies were the best item on the plate. I ordered the whole hog pulled pork, mashed potatoes, baked beans and hush puppies. Keep in mind I am Gluten free but not because of celiac, it is a trigger for my psoriasis so I chose to venture to try a few things I would not have. The pulled pork for me was a disappointment. It was dry and stringy. They offer one BBQ sauce which I did not care for. The baked beans had a bite to them but the beans were not fully cooked so some of them were not as tender as others. Their mashed potatoes and hush puppies were the highlights on my plate but I was there to eat BBQ not mashed potatoes with gravy, I can get this anywhere. They have several beers on taps along with some cider. Atmosphere was nice. I will give them another try considering my husband could be right, they may have been having an off day. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

The best review I can give is the food wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. Everything was meh. I ordered the baby back ribs plate which came with two sides. I have eaten and prepared a lot of barbecue in my life, especially ribs. The ribs I was served were not baby back ribs they were St.Louis style.  Some customers may not know the difference. I'm a fan of both cuts so I was fine with the ribs ( not really the price) 28 dollars for a rack. Boring atmosphere, employees seemed miserable or maybe bored as the restaurant was very slow for a weekend lunch. The sides were pretty good, tasty chopped slaw and beans although the beans were undercooked. Not a fan of the hush puppies at all. The restaurant sells itself as whole hog bbq but no evidence of that. A standard slightly below average bbq joint. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Unexpected surprise!  We stumbled onto Wilson's Country BBQ 4th of weekend - and had some of the best BBQ ribs ever! Highly recommend the BBQ  HALF Chicken, chicken sandwich, biscuits, and mashed potatoes!

Reviewed on Yelp

Great food! Get new staff and bartender. Mentioned how lousy the margarita to the staff at the counter and there was no reaction. Will always order takeout! Better than BBQ in NC! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Sat outside on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon. There was live music starting at 4. It was an amazing atmosphere.We were looking for a place to eat and grab a drink before the Portland Seadogs game and this place was a little over a half mile away in a quaint little up and coming area. With 28 beers on tap and some delicious mix drinks this was a great choice. They also have a full bar if beer is not your style.We ordered the barbecue and the baby back ribs.A full rack of ribs with 2 sides and hush puppies for $28!! What a deal. You can easily feed two! We ended up bringing half our meals home.The BBQ sauce on the ribs definitely has a kick to it, you can see the red pepper flakes. This is a self service establish with the help of the bartender and the other staff. You order at one end and pickup from the other. They text you when your food is ready. I wonder if they will go to full service with waitstaff once Covid is over.Overall I really recommend this place to anyone who likes barbecue. Great spot for family and friends. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This was the best fried chicken I have ever had. Portions were generous, staff was friendly. A wonderful place!

Reviewed on Yelp

I work in the South a lot so Ive had good BBQ. This is the best place I've gone to in Portland by far!! The food was beyond words. I felt like I was levitating in a BBQ heaven. Huge serving of tasty fried pickles, the bbq chip dusted fries were BOMB and worth trying. You won't regret getting the fried shrimp po boy, it's f**king insane, perfect in every way. Absolutely try this place out, I only wish they had brisket. But they make up for that in every way! Super chill& cute outdoor seating area. Check this place out!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Love the good and live the chill stmosphere

Reviewed on Facebook

Super cute "cafeteria" BBQ joint in the upcoming Bayside area.  Order from a window, they text you when ready, and then you pick it up from another window.  Inside and outside seating, huge row of taps for draft beer.  Ribs, chicken, Mac and cheese, and collard greens.  My kind of place!  The decor is super clean and "country modern," and the staff friendly and helpful.  They say it's a "pit-smoked whole hog barbecue."  No doubt that's true!  The food is superb, and made with passion.  Get here! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Pretty cool bbq in Portland! You seat yourself and when you're ready to order,  go to the bar. You then get a text when your order is ready. I ordered the Pulled pork plate with a biscuit,  collard greens, and Mac and cheese. All were the comfort food I needed on a rainy day! Also ask for some of their hot sauces, Carolina was my favorite! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Yes!! Go to Wilson County and support this amazing team who's serving up the best BBQ in Maine. Honestly the baby backs are out of this world, great vibe inside, nice people, good beers and cocktails. Go.

Reviewed on Yelp

It's me, back again to talk about excellent service in the face of errors! I'm updating my rating to five stars because today was phenomenal. I ordered through 2dinein and the mistake was very easy to make! I ordered the chicken biscuit and was sent the chicken sandwich. Unfortunately I can't eat jalapenos so I couldn't just eat it instead. Within minutes, the order was remade and I think the total time from my message through the app to getting my replacement was under 30 minutes! And they threw in a free dessert which was not needed but very appreciated! I'm a sucker for good service in the face of mistakes (cuz we're humans and that happens) and this was above and beyond good service!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I love this place! The food is always delicious, the beer is always cold and the people are always friendly. I came here with my dog and they let her play with a piece of wood and gave her some water to drink too. I'll definitely be back a few more times. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Delicious bbq! We had bbq chicken and ribs. The sauce was sweet and savory, the meat on the ribs fell right off the bone. Ample outdoor seating!

Reviewed on Yelp

✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅ and Dani

Reviewed on Facebook

My friend convinced me to go here again.I added a star because the chicken and biscuit with gravy sandwich was amazing, and customer service was really good. The grits are still delicious, the hush puppies are light and crispy and the fried pickles are really well done. But... the bbq. It's just not good. Come on, are you selling the fat on the black market or something? If you didn't overcook the pork and then left the fat on, it would be delicious! It's so hard to mess up a whole hog, but y'all are doing it and it is such a shame.Also, you only sell pulled pork and ribs. What about the rest of the pig? Where is it going? You could be selling belly, jowls, crackling and chopped pork with the skin and fat (which is so much more succulent and delicious than pulled pork).I'll recommend Wilson's to people for the other food, but will steer them away from the bbq. And I can't give a whole hog bbq place 5 stars when the bbq isn't good, even if the rest of the food is. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Wow! This place is great! As a BBQ fanatic I was a little skeptical of Carolina style BBQ but it was amazing! The drinks were great and the food was absolutely amazing! I would go back again in a heartbeat! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Phenomenal food, easy diy service that makes it convenient to enjoy time with friends and finally. I got the chicken biscuit sandwich and it is to die for. Big portions, well worth the price. Food is absolutely delicious, service is good, vibes are excellent. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Last minute plans to meet with up friends.  They suggested Wilson, which I honestly, did not know was here.  The place is located in the center of it all, with good amount of parking.  Outdoor seating with fire pits and heaters.  Though a bit chilly this night, so we ventured inside.  Nice space with bar, high top and table seating.  No reservations, so you must wait by the door or outside till a space opens up.The drink menu is broad and they have a great selection of local brews.  Step on up to the friendly staff, and place your drink orders.  Very easy, and quick.For the menu, check the large board or go online to view their incredible menu of BBQ.  Now, in total honesty, I am not a huge BBQ fan.  Chicken is my limit.  But my friend said that the Fried Chicken and waffles were to die for and I had to try it.  So, I did.   You go on up to the counter, place your order and then they will text you when your food is ready.  Easy!I did order an app of Hush Puppies and they were awesome and went well with my beer.  Then came the food.  HOLY COW!I was blown away.  First, it smelled so good!  But I was still not a believer until I took my first bite.  Wow...it was incredible.  The best part and the man reason I do not eat this type of food is the potential for being greasy and leaving me bloated.  It was fried so lightly and tasted like chicken and not grease.  The seasonings were incredible and the sweet and tang flavors were perfect.Thank you for a great evening and for making me a new believer in BBQ. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Some of the best service I have ever received at a restaurant! After leaving during a very busy dinner hour we returned very close to the kitchen closing and were insisted to stay and would be taken care of. Did NOT disappoint. The fried chicken and collard greens were incredibly delicious. So glad we waited to enjoy a meal here. We will definitely be coming back. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Great Place!  We've ordered delivery, sat outside near a fire pit, and because it is so spread out and airy even sat at the bar.  Fabulous food and service!  The BBQ pork is moist and tender, the chicken & waffles was superb, and they mix a great Old Fashioned.  Very friendly staff and the restaurant is sparkling clean.  Oh and biscuits to die for! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Wilson County Barbecue has a great menu and a plethora of local beers. The food is Carolina barbecue. The menu has something for everyone. Located in the old Portland City Garage it is a welcome member to Bayside. Love this place. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Outstanding value; biscuits amazing --everything well and deliciously prepared (we ordered online for take-out ---easy). Great addition for this Portland neighborhood!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

This place is self identified as a NC BBQ joint.  Two BBQ items on the menu: pulled pork, and ribs.  We ordered the pulled pork, served with a fresh biscuit and two sides.  We ordered the baked beans, and the Brunswick stew for our sides.  The best thing about the order was the fresh made biscuit - great biscuit!  As for the pulled pork, I could not taste any smoke/fire in the meat.  This pulled pork could have been made in a croc pot. It was tender and juicy.  There was one, very small, ramekin of bbq sauce provided.  Not nearly enough bbq sauce for a bbq joint.  There is a very extensive beer selection - that is a plus.  However, the beer selection is only posted on electronic screens which flash so fast it is very difficult to get a good read on what is available.  There is a QR code that can be scanned to, theoretically, look at the beer selection on an app.  The wifi is not robust, so using the QR code is more of a challenge than it should be.  I would not refuse to go to this place, but I do not plan to repeat. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I love this place today was my first time going and I especially loved the woman working behind the bar she was so sweet ! !! We will definitely be coming back and with all of our friends! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Being a northerner I can't claim to really know bbq without getting flack but this meat was delicious! Of course, we loved the outdoor tables and fire pits on a sunny 30F day. And Yard has their own tables and domes on same strip next door. Service was quick and draft local beer selection amazing. The ribs were outstanding, so meaty and tender, but I agree with the minor kvetch about not offering a smaller portion, or a sampler plate. The pulled pork was very good while the biscuits, collards and beans perfect. I'm not a hush puppy fan but I found them a bit dry. We will definitely be here again and explore the new food joints and breweries popping up in west bayside. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

I can't say enough good things about this place. The actual spot is very open yet welcoming. We have been twice now and nothing to complain about. The biscuits are ridiculously good - flaky layers services with butter and a blueberry jam. We both went for the fried chicken today, one sandwich and one on a biscuit - both very good! The mac and cheese was good and my husband raved about the smokey baked beans. We will be back as there is more we want to try! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Fantastic ambiance!!!  You need to understand Carolina BBQ is different from what most Mainers think of with basic BBQ from chains like Longhorn, Texas Roadhouse and other chains.  Caroline BBQ is very acidic/vinegary flavor.  I enjoy it.  My hubby prefers Kansas City BBQ, so the BBQ wasn't his fav.  We got the pulled pork bbq - it was yummy.  Nothing amazing, but very good, solid bbq.  We also shared the fried chicken sandwich - got it w/pimento cheese on top, but actually wish we'd had it as designed on the menu.  That said, it was still very yummy, juicy good!  The cheesy grits were creamy, comfort food.  Hush puppies w/whiskey butter - yum!  BBQ baked beans, not amazing, but solidly good.  The sausage gravy & biscuits were fantastic!  And the biscuits w/honey butter & blueberry preserves were AMAZING!!!! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

My husband loves his bbq! We moved to Texas a few years ago and really enjoyed the bbq. It's an awesome treat to find Wilson's county barbecue. Take some time and learn the back story of this awesome business and family, what a blessing they are to community!The food is wonderful. The smoked beans are so tasty! The fries with the bbq dusting on them are mouth watering! I loved their Hushpuppies! The fried chicken and bbq chicken was great! The desserts were tasty too.Hands down worth checking out! I can't wait to try this place out in person! More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Everything is always perfect!

Reviewed on Facebook

This place is a hidden gem! We started with the salad and it was creamy and flavorful.  For dinner we got the chicken and ribs. Meat fell right off the bone.  Sides were delicious and portion size was great.  We both have plenty of leftovers. More...

Reviewed on Yelp

Tried Wilson County last night for takeout and it was delightful. After 2 years in NC we miss Carolina-style bbq and sides. Their pulled pork with vinegar sauce was excellent, very reminiscent of the Q shacks we loved in NC. Hush puppies were perfect - not too sweet - and the biscuits were flaky and flavorful. We had a little mix-up with our order which the manager graciously corrected.  We will definitely be back soon for the food, and to eat in their super cute indoor and outdoor spaces. More...

Reviewed on Yelp