Maple Tree BBQ

The atmosphere was good for a lunch crowd which is when I was there. The food was good BBQ and sauces where very tasty. Just felt like something was missing but good overall.

Ok, now that I read the reviews more closely after I’ve eaten here I understand it better and it explains some things – like why no dessert was listed on the menu but someone had recommended it. Like why some things the waitress offered to others were not on the menu… LIke why in some ways it felt like it was a new restaurant when although I never stopped in, I knew it had been here for years. THEY HAVE NEW MANAGEMENT! Let me explain the menu item issue – my husband and I ordered from the menu – the sides didn’t excite me but I ordered. As we were waiting for our order a couple near us was ordering and I heard the manager come over and noted that the «sweet potato circles» were non-​dairy. THEY WERE NOT ON THE MENU. THEY SOUNDED DELICIOUS. My sides were good but, those sweet potato rounds sounded delicious. A family came in soon after and they were offered sweet potato rounds. Not me :(Not sure why except that they weren’t as organized as they should have been. BUT THE FOOD you’re wondering. It was very good and delivered quickly and hot. They also could maybe explain that the sauces could be on the side and maybe note which sauces are options on the menu. But I will be back and consider this a great option after a day of shopping or fish hunting at the aquarium.

Sorry I’m not a 15 paragraph Unilocal person with nothing to do but pretend I work for the Times. Stopped in here for the first time today. New owner, clean place, and very friendly. We each had something different on the menu and all of us (3) loved what we had. Not one complaint and I had my son with me who is the worlds biggest critic. Best of luck to you guys. We will definitely be back! We really enjoyed our meal and your hospitality!

They’ve completely renovated the place with new owners. The place looks like a nice sit down restaurant. It’s not that big. It’s so bright now. I didn’t see any high chairs here.
The waitress, Michelle, is still the nicest waitress ever.
They don’t have their awesome baked stuff yet. Too bad because it’s Sooo good here.
The food is still very good. Some of the meat are a little fatty but the flavors are great. The home made ice tea is so good. I am not a mac and cheese person but theirs is very good. This time I had the pastrami sandwich. Yum.

Maple Tree, your favourite Smoke shop restaurant is under new management and is sporting a brand new look too. Same friendly staff but cleaner, sleeker look with a few new surprises

This is the best BBQ on Long Island. I make it a point to eat here whenever I’m in Riverhead. If it’s too early for lunch get get some of the house smoked pastrami with some eggs.

I saw 4.5 stars on Unilocal plus a full parking lot and I thought it would be phenomenal. Seasoned potatoes were by far my favorite probably because of my inclination to thyme. Ribs were decent since they were a little dry. Being a BBQ spot, you’d think the meat would slid right off. Mac and cheese is super bland and needs to be seasoned or something. I do not even want to know how cheap the cheese is that they are using. BBQ sauce was horrible and super low quality. Tasted ketchup based too. I think for a $ 15 platter, they should be investing a little bit more in quality instead of just worrying about profit. The atmosphere is phenomenal and I enjoyed the service of the staff and a male who seemed to be the owner.

The best pastrami ever, delicious brisket, incredible sauces to complement everything… grilled sweet potatoes, sautéed kale. Wow!!! What a bbq treasure.

Doing some shopping at Tanger Outlets? Or spending the day at the aquarium? Whatever you are doing that ended you up at Riverhead– Please consider this establishment for some FAST and tasty bbq eats. They have a range of different BBQ meats which you can select to make yourself a platter, sandwich or meat straight up by the pound. Super affordable and wayyy better than outlet food. The place isn’t big so large parties would not do well here. Groups of 4 – 6 is probably the most I would recommend to bring. Service is great, employees run you through what they have made and describe flavors and tastes. Highly recommended. I will definitely be back if I lm up in Riverhead.
***Side note that has NOTHING to do with the restaurant is that road which it is located is narrow and cars speed at around 50 mph so please proceed with caution when parking on the side of the road. I witnessed almost 2 accidents in a matter of 5 minutes

Ok, so I need to try this place again I’m sure.
First off the bat, if you park across the street at the riverside be careful crossing that road — it’s ridiculous — people drive pretty fast and the pacing of traffic seems to never end! I came with a friend and we were waiting nearly 10 minutes (seriously, it was a bit absurd) to run across. People who can’t hustle might want to be sure to park on the same side of the street as the restaurant. I don’t hold this into my rating, but just to be aware.
Inside, it’s very eyes-​on (as good BBQ should be) where you can really check out your meat before selecting your options. When we went, there were only a few other people inside eating and a few staff but it seemed a little unorganized. We weren’t greeted (after spending a while in the front) and had to ask about sitting down. There are some great specials here on the chalkboard, including seafood! I think it would have been a much better experience if the staff had invited us over to check out the selections and discussed what to get, but instead it was all semi-​awkward as if their server was off that day and the dude behind the counter simply had to be there.
Ended up getting the pulled pork, and I realize North Carolina is tart and tangy but this was also somewhat dry. The cornbread was good but I don’t think you can make bad cornbread (or if you can, you have no business being behind the stove) and the honey butter definitely helped. Baked beans? Meh. I don’t know, I must have been missing something…
I want to like this place so much more than I did. Really I want to order every single thing they have available because: BBQ — but I can’t and when the stuff I get isn’t that great, it’s a bummer. It’s a drive, so hopefully when I’m back in the area, I’ll make another stop and update with a +2 correction.
Learn from my mistakes, Unilocalers: hang out at the meat-​counter and force them to talk to you even if nobody seems particularly forthcoming at first. I’m sure it’s worth getting the right choice for your palette.

We came here to get some take-​out to feed a bunch of us, and Maple Tree BBQ worked out perfectly. We ordered a slew of things, the pastrami, brisket, ribs, mac-​n-​cheese, creamed spinach, cole slaw, and of course the corn bread.
Overall, food here was really good. The meats were nice and tender, and the au jus that they add with the meats really adds to the flavor and moistness. The pastrami was tasty with the addn of the horseradish sauce, and the brisket worked well with the bbq sauce. The ribs may have been a touch overcooked. Out of the sides, the highlights were the creamed spinach and corn bread. The mac and cole slaw were good.
If you are looking to feed a large group, go to Maple Tree.

We did take out sandwiches because we had our dog. I got the pastrami and my girl got turkey. Everything was fresh, hand carved. The meats were very good moist too. After reading some of the prior reviews we also got baked beans and corn bread. Glad we did, the beans had three or four different types of beans, sweet tangy with slight hint of heat, very good. Loved the corn bread, my girl said it was the best she ever had. Went well with the baked beans. We sat at the picnic tables across the road. Be careful crossing, busy road. We will be back and the dog loved it too.

Year after year after year.
Every drive past this place, I was always wondering, just what the hell is the deal? Are they open? Is it just some guys house, with an old storefront? Why is this place never open?
Never once did I stop to think, this place could have BBQ inside, this place is real, I should look it up.
I don’t know what the heck was wrong with me, but one day, rushing out east with out eating, a mean growl coming from our bellies, figuring I’ll grab an egg Sammy before hitting the shelter island ferry and making due, I sped past maple tree as I always do, only this time, something was different. They had the smoker goin’ out on the street!!! That mean growl was now met with a burst of excitement in the pit of my stomach, to finally explore where I’ve never dared before! A quick glance at my girlfriend, a debate in my head on my predetermined schedule… Mario Andretti couldn’t beat me back, I whipped the car around, tires smoking through polish town, fishtailing around the bend! Yes! Sweet sweet heaven on earth they have a smoker on the sidewalk, I cannot wait!
Okay, where the hell do I go? Walk around the side, swing open the door, and a streak of golden light shines from the counter, I have finally made it through the gates of heaven!
Okay okay, let me tell ya, I think that golden light was beaming off «the best smoked beans in the world» as they have accurately named them. These things were phenomenal, the best damn bbq beans I have ever ever ever had.
I didn’t expect much being that I was on the back roads in riverhead and this joint had been sitting there for ages just below my radar, I’m not down south anymore, and I haven’t heard much talk about the place… Man have I been missing out. Beautiful inside and the most beautiful of all, so many options!
We dove right in, not really knowing what to get or how to order, but the guy made some suggestions (everything) and we were on our way. We ordered their homemade pastrami, Alabama chicken, smoked beans, brisket, and pork… Maybe some slaw too, I can’t really remember because I’m still in shock over this pastrami.
The Alabama chicken, we both sorta didn’t like, it just wasn’t there for us and we wished it wasn’t on the plate because then we’d have more room for the rest.
The North Carolina pork was the next thing up and again, while great, I like my white bbq when it comes to North Carolina so this fell short for me.
The slaw was fine, the tea was great, service good, the brisket was succulent, tender, tasty, a similar flavor as the amazing beans.
The one meat, out-​shining the rest, was the pastrami, I couldn’t get enough! It made me wish I had room in my barbecued belly for one of the brilliantly designed egg sandwiches up on the board.
This place clearly blew me away, even despite a couple of the items falling short.
I had just come back from Austin Texas and was pleasantly surprised this place was here and now dear to my heart.
Please check them out, don’t worry about your money, you don’t need it that much, give it to maple tree.
Hey,
Did I mention the beans?

Maple Tree BBQ catered a recent event that I attend at Martha Clara vineyard. I made myself a pulled pork slider with caramelized vegetables. The pork at the bottom of the pan was juiciest and very tender. The veggies were soft and sweet but were a bit cold. I think the vegetables should have been serve in a heated tray like the other items. I also tried the Mac n cheese, but I found it to have a bit too many bread crumbs for my liking.

Great bbq my company uses them for catering our events and i have nothing but great things to say about this place.
Just driving pass the building you can smell the wonderful smoke coming off the smokers. The ribs are falling off the bone great smokey taste and great bbq sauce!

After a long day of shopping, why would you treat yourself with crappy and overpriced garbage from the Tanger food court?
Just 10 minutes away from the mall, you’ll find Maple Tree BBQ tucked inside a little house. Upon entering, you’ll be greeted with MEAT and then more MEAT.
A platter, which includes a meat and two sides of your choice, is more than enough to fill up one person. I would personally recommend the pastrami or the brisket. As for the sides, the Mac N Cheese is a bit underwhelming, but the smoked beans were great.

The place it’s kind of vintage looking.
I loved the decoration, the food it’s incredible good and the service it’s also good I will definitely come back soon

The positives:
All their food is soooooooo good. The corn bread #1, their brisket, their chili, their wings, etc. These folks are so friendly. The staff wants to make you happy. They are genuinely good people whom love what they do. We appreciate that because it shows in the food.
Anyways, there are no negatives. The place itself from outside will look as though it’s someone’s home. Park in front on the street or across it where there is room. It may be tricky but it’s so worth it. The dining area is small but very inviting. The atmosphere is as though you are coming over for a bite to eat at your favorite cousins home.
Seriously, you won’t be disappointed. Stop after or on your way to the outlets, the beaches, wineries, farm stand shopping, aquarium and or water park. I wish I could get up and go right now.

Delicious, authentic BBQ! A rare find on Long Island. The staff was enthusiastic and knowledgable about their food. They have a small-​ish dining area and seem like they have a great catering/​takeout business.
We enjoyed every bite & will definitely be back! We left stuffed, but I’m glad we got the pineapple upside down cake to go!

Great BBQ, great portions and great prices. The brisket was especially good which went great with their tangy/​sweet BBQ sauce.
We also had the mac and cheese mixed with pastrami. Definitely worth it as an appetizer or side.