Commonwealth BBQ

Those giving this place more than a single star have got to be friends of the owner or simply don’t know decent BBQ. By far the worst BBQ I’ve ever had, in fact you would probably get better BBQ ribs from a McRib sandwich at McDonalds! I have given them 3 tries over this year and have tried a few different options between myself and family members, each time it has been utter disappointment. The ribs were overcooked and dried out. The Cowboy Beans are mostly chopped and stewed tomatoes with a few beans thrown in and lack any true flavor. They are very watery and nothing like a BBQ joint, more like a weird bland bean and tomato soup. The brisket has been tough and chewy all three visits. They just don’t cook it long enough to render the fat properly or they just don’t care to take the time it requires to cook the brisket properly. The brisket is flavorless, as if no rub or spices are added before smoking the meat. The sandwiches, especially the burrito, have almost no meat in them and are mostly filling; coleslaw, rice and beans.
This is too bad and the place has a great location. The owner really needs to think if he/​she is truly committed to learning and serving good BBQ or just looking for a paycheck from this place. A little rework and heart put into the food could change this place very easily. The truth can hurt, but the owner needs to hear this and hopefully takes a close look at the quality being served.

Commonwealth BBQ is the real deal! I’ve had pulled pork all over the country and I’d stack a commonwealth sandwich up against any I’ve eaten. I’ve been going to Commonwealth for 3 – 4 years now and I’ve ordered the commonwealth sandwich 95% of my visits. The sandwich is huge, and is loaded with smokey, tender pulled pork. I am a big guy, and one sandwich is almost always enough for 2 meals for me. I have always ordered it with fries and cole slaw on the side. The fries are hot and crispy, and the cole slaw has good flavor and is not very creamy (which I really like). I like to grab a couple sides of both the mustard bbq sauce and the vinegar bbq sauce. Both go great with the pulled pork, and I even prefer them to ketchup for dipping my fries. If you are in the area shopping at the outlets or hitting a Pats game, make sure to stop over to wampum corner and give Commonwealth BBQ a try!

I’ve heard it’s gotten better. Service can be a little slow and brisket lacked flavor but it’s convenient and close.

This place was perfect. Outdoor seating, picnic tables. We split the St. Louis pork spare ribs and chose sweet potato fries and cole slaw as our sides. The ribs were delicious, perfectly seasoned, not too fatty and not too lean. We tried 3 of their homemade sauces, all excellent, I loved the cherry habenero and my husband loved the North Carolina mustard sauce. Fries were crisp, not too salty, even the cole slaw was great: very crisp and fresh, not too sweet or too creamy. Wish this was closer to where we live! Worth getting off the highway for.

Quality is great! Quantity is huge.
costumer service is friendly! On a nice day it’s perfect for sitting outside at the picnic tables!

I was very disappointing this time.
Dried out pulled pork, greasy fries
and the staff were acting strangely.

not the worst BBQ I’ve had, but definitely not the best of New England, let alone anywhere else. don’t claim to be a connoisseur of any kind, plus when one factors in regional differences and personal preference of a type of cooking method or «cuisine», it’s just hard to compare, local or otherwise.
so i’m just gonna lay it out like any other review: food and service.
was actually excited to try out the sampler: gave us a few kinds of featured meat and couple sides. ordered the pork belly app on the side, plus a free soda from Unilocal check-​in, came to $ 50ish.
was a little surprised when told about the soda with words like «just grab it when you pull up at our window». things became clear when we pulled up literally 20 feet away from the actual «window» — oh, not the sit-​in restaurant type i was expecting. not a big deal. the exact location of the place is actually at a weird angle at a traffic light T-​ish interaction, but getting in and out wasn’t too stressful. heard that there’s a bathroom «in the back» that requires a key to enter; never been but wasn’t expecting more than gas station standard.
now, onto food. disclaimer: got take-​out so things were, in fact, like the other reviewers stated, wrapped up in foil. i would have thought it’s rather more thoughtful than dumping all sorts of food in the same container and letting them mingle and tangle with each other. and this foil comes especially handy shall one need to reheat the food in an oven. didn’t realize that’s making the food get dry. but i would give a star for effort.
unfortunately, even when eating an hour or so after pickup (ie. relatively «fresh»), food were generally on the dry side, even though they seem to get the flavor and the smokiness.
ribs were adequately tender but not fall-​off-​the-​bone mushy. brisket is usually what everyone would fight over, but sadly, not in this case. it was bordering of cardboard texture due to the thin slices that are lacking of moistness, instead of the tender meat doused in fatty au jus as reasonably expected of this cut. didn’t get to try the sausage. chicken was drier than preferred. pork belly app (not part of sampler) was actually the highlight of it all; recommended for trying.
overall, BBQ sauce was not needed to add flavor to the food (trust me, i’ve had «BBQ» that desperately needed it), but rather to add moisture to the food. took 3 or 4 out of the 5 available sauces they had sitting out in huge pump jars, only chosen by name without tasting each. aside from a slight hint of a varying element (ex. mustard, spicy), they all kinda taste the same. as another reviewer had stated, a bit strong on the vinegar base. but it was a not-​bad addition to the dry-​ish food.
sides were a bit of a fog: baked beans do look like the chili, collard greens (think that’s what i chose?) was… there. corn on cob looked decent, though i didn’t try it. nor did i eat the corn bread the first day, but it looked reasonably moist and intact.
an abundance of French fries and sweet potato fries came with the meal, they were probably more on expected level than featured meats. ok with BBQ sauce too, esp if you are used to dipping it in malt vinegar like the Brits. Lol
impression of the place: does give off an impression that it’s run by a bunch of teenagers who may or may not have as invested an interest as owner; did not appear that owner was present when i was there. staff was courteous and stuff, but could improve on service. first time i called, at about 4pm on a weekday, no one picked up after 5+ rings. i doubled check that they were open, and called again, this time phone was picked up quickly and my order was put in with no error. guy at window seemed to be a bit preoccupied, but he got my order and charged me correctly.
last note: surprised to find on their online menu — it was printed in the intro — that the owner is willing to back his products with a 100% guarantee. says something along the lines of «send it back if you’re not satisfied, no questions asked». not sure if they’re gonna provide a refund or trade another product… that’s for some to find out and let us all know!
for me, it wasn’t bad enough to go through the hassle of sending it back. but i won’t be in a rush to return either. though i do appreciate them posting at their window a list with a number of gluten-​free items for patrons’ reference. just that with an operation run as «care free-​ly» as this appears to be, i would advise those with serious allergy issues to triple check or simply stay away so they don’t get sick from accidental cross-​contamination.

Holy cow. Was just hungry and saw the sign for BBQ on 495. Didn’t expect much from this place upon first glance but to my surprise… this was just as good as anywhere I’ve ever eaten down south! Commonwealth BBQ is a must stop if you’re in this area!

I have eaten here a few times. This is a BBQ oasis diamond in the rough in MA.
Ok so there is no real dining room to sit in. But hay I remember as a kid eating on a picnic table in IL at a road side BBQ place that had the best ribs ever. So this place brings back huge memories of great Q.
They have a great selection of offerings that will satisfy your Q craving and then some. The pulled pork or chicken are classic Q. The brisket is a solid winner being moist and juicy and loaded with flavor. All of the meats are well smoked and not overly done. The sides are good accompaniments to the main player «the Q».
The pricing is within the right range and you get a good meal for a reasonable cost. So if your looking for a solid BBQ joint in Wrentham MA, not far off of I495 then Commonwealth BBQ is the destination for you. Bring an appetite and sit on the picnic tables and enjoy a great BBQ meal.

Hi. Im gonna be completely honest. Absolutely the worst friggin bbq ive ever tasted. I dont know how this establishment possibly received that many good reviews?!? Ok the ribs… well ive had better from fast food lol truthfully had a set of beef and also a set of pork. They were both horrible. Meat was non existent. Was so dried out made me recall the turkey from movie «money pit» youd think w such a flavorless strand of meat, their award winning sauces would help… NOPE bbq sauces taste more like vinegar… im being 100% truthful… hey if you dont believe (GO GET DISAPPOINTED TOO LOL)

As a life long fan of barbecue and a pit-​master in training, I appreciate a good BBQ spot. My second time coming through this place and I stuck with the pulled pork and fries with the slaw on the side. The habanero bbq sauce is on point and the service is friendly. I ordered at the window and within 5 – 10 minutes my order arrived hot and fresh.

Good place to go on a nice day of outlet shopping! Only about 5 minutes down the road. We got the Wampum sampler which was a lot of food for our family of 3. No indoor seating. All outdoor seating on picnic tables. I think the prices are fair and love supporting a local business with great food!

After years of avoiding this place, I tried again. It was a take out order, but it came with no BBQ sauce. We got the sampler platter for a few of us. The quantity was good. The pork ribs were tender, and so was the pulled pork. The collard greens had a salty flavor to them. Overall the flavors didn’t appeal to me. Ultimately I tried again, but my opinion did not change.

Hands down the best BBQ I have ever had… ever.
Mind you I have had bbq everywhere on the planet but recently my taste buds have been thwarted by all of the wanna be BBQ joints in the city.
Commonwealth is insanely delicious.
The place looks like it used to be an old gas station or a drive up. There is only out door seating a la picnic tables.
We had ribs, brisket, pulled pork, beans and rice, collard greens, coleslaw, sweet potato fries, jalapeño poppers and cornbread.
All meat entrees come with cornbread and two sides.
Everything, everything was NOT over salted, over seasoned, over smoked…
The St Louis style ribs were charred and caramelized on the outside and tender inside. To say the meat fell was fall off the bone is an understatement. The outer crust was complex. The rub /​sauce /​chew smoke were all part of this heavenly crust.
The brisket was moist, not too fatty. The texture was sliceable. I love the fact that it tasted like meat. You could actually taste the brisket flavor of the beef.
The pulled pork… Aaaargh! I am a pulled pork snob. And, for the most part when you get it, it’s more pork shrapnel than pulled pork. Again the pitmasters are geniuses. You can taste the smoke, the seasoning is balanced, but what comes through is a satisfying and rich pork shoulder flavor.
The cornbread was moist and not too sweet. A perfectly shareable portion.
No fangled butters needed. It can stand alone as good food should be able to do.
Collard greens were remarkable in their simple goodness. I drank the potlikker. I saw some guy spilling his out. Blasphemy!
Sweet potatoes were hand cut and fried well and sprinkled with salt.
Coleslaw was perfect. Fresh. No mayo but flavorful. Not too sweet. It was like the cabbage had dressing but it was invisible?!
The jalapeño poppers were probably one the best things I’ve had in my life. They were jalapeños stuffed with spicy chorizo sausage, creamy cheeses, dipped in something battery, then deep fried into an oblong shaped crunchy, tender little bit spicy popper. The popper is more appetizer size unto itself. It comes with a creamy cilantro sauce but I didn’t find it necessary.
They have a bar of BBQ sauces and vinegar. My fave was the habanero BBQ. It was slightly smokey from the habanero and a touch sweet
The guys who work the joint are brusque but kind.
Commonwealth is not to be missed.

Great tasting ribs but I wish they had some indoor tables. Don’t want the ribs to get cold on the ride home. Need to eat them hot and not in the car.

Pulled Pork!!!
There is not too much to write about here. You eat outside on picnic tables and order at a window. The highlight here is the pulled pork sandwich called the The Commonwealth. They call it a masterpiece on the menu and I have to admit it really is. We tried the brisket, it was just ok and the sides were nothing to write home about.
It’s all about the pulled pork. They also have a few great homemade bbq sauces. My favorite is the tangy mustard based sauce, so good.
Thanks

We were shopping at the Wrentham Outlets and my got hungry. We were leaving the outlets and were looking for something in the area. Decided to Commonwealth BBQ a shot. We were not expecting a roadside restaurant. I got the smokey chicken sandwich with fries. My friend got the pulled pork BBQ with cornbread. The sandwich/​burrito was big and delicious. We had wrap them up. We also ordered a jalapeño popper each. I got the jalapeño in one bite with some meat. The fries were good as well. It was a little cold sitting at the picnic tables but food was good. I think my stomach did not agree with the food

Happened to be in the area and being a BBQ fan/​snob, I had to drop in and try the food. I own a smoker and am pretty serious about BBQ, from injections to rubs to the types of wood I use. Upon getting out of the car, you’re immediately greeted with the smell of the smoker on premises. For anyone that loves BBQ, this is a smell that never gets old.
They have your typical BBQ standards and sandwiches. I ordered the triple platter which is 3 meats, 3 sides and cornbread. I got the brisket, pulled pork and pulled chicken with sides of sweet potato fries, baked beans and rice with black beans. The brisket had a nice smoke ring, a little fatty but not bad. The chicken and pork were both smoked nicely as well. Nicely pulled pieces of meat. If I had to ding them on something, the meat in of itself is not very seasoned, BUT, their sauces for the meats are phenomenal. I had the vinegar BBQ sauce, the house BBQ sauce and the mustard based BBQ sauce. The mustard BBQ sauce is liquid gold. If I dipped my sock in it, it would taste great. Seriously, if you go there, try it and the others. You’ll want to bring some home. The sides were decent, not spectacular but not bad either. Also, if you check-​in using the Unilocal app you get a free can of soda with your meal.
I would definitely go there again and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes BBQ. I’m pretty sure you will not be disappointed.

Being a regular commuter to the Cape I never even thought to stop here even though I love BBQ but after my parents suggested it, my wife and I along with my father-​in-​law gave it a try own our way down to the Cape tonight. What a fantastic place! I am a big BBQ buff and have been to a few of the top 10 places in the country during my travels, and this gives them a run for their money. Definitely best BBQ I ever had in New England! Definitely worth a visit! Will be back soon!
We had beef ribs and pulled pork. Tender and delectable! The vinegar based BBQ sauce rivals that of the best Carolina BBQ sauces I’ve ever had! Don’t forget to get a sweet tea! It comes with one free refill too!

Ever since my «go-​to» barbecue place closed its doors, I have been in search of a replacement… and by golly, I think I’ve found it! I wish this place was located a bit closer to home, but when my boyfriend and I have a hankering for some mouth-​watering barbecue… we make the trek out to Commonwealth.
This simple drive-​up/​in establishment has a number of items on the menu posted outside to choose from. Appetizers include wings, pork belly, fried pickles, stuffed jalapenos, chili, and salads. Available platters and sandwiches can be piled high with pulled pork, pulled chicken, sliced beef brisket, half chicken, boneless chicken breasts, racks of ribs, and sausage links. I often order the signature «Commonwealth» sandwich, which is jam-​packed with pulled pork and comes with either a seasonal vegetable, fries, coleslaw, black bean rice, collard greens, baked potato salad, cowboy beans, or cornbread. The meat is so delicious on its own, you barely need to pour yourself any number of the barbecue sauces available to pair with it.
There is an option to call ahead your order… which isn’t a bad idea considering at its most popular hours, the wait for food can be lengthy. There are a number of picnic tables on the premises to wait at or to partake in the «fall-​off-​the-​bone» delicacies during the warmer weather. There are an equal number of people though that take their food to go. Keep an open mind when it comes to your order, there’s a chance Commonwealth could run out of the item you are looking for. It is clear this company puts a great deal of time and effort into smoking their meats and I’d rather order something they do have than expect them to rush the process.
Sign up for their loyalty program and you will get $ 5 off for every $ 50 you spend. If you check in on Unilocal you can get a free soft drink with your purchase!
This place is the real deal when it comes to BBQ… check it out! Your taste buds will thank you.