Grade: A+
All you really need to know about Moe’s Original Barbeque is this: the food is incredibly good. It’s reasonably priced, served hot and the portions are plenty — not to mention the staff is friendly. To put it boldly, if you like meat, come here.
The joint, located at 650 Broadway Street in Bangor, is pretty small with limited seating, but still clean, welcoming and decorated with engaging artwork. It’s not fancy enough for a special occasion, but perfect for a cheap and delicious meal out. There’s a small bar option, but let’s be real; if you do decide to stop by, you’re coming for the delicious barbecue.
The menu is basic, but packed with amazing choices. For starters, your options are Redneck Nachos (only served on Fridays and Saturdays) or “1lb O’ Wings”— both priced around $8 and both worth every dime.
They offer sandwich meals for $9 with meat choices of pulled pork, smoked chicken, smoked turkey, southern fried catfish, fried shrimp “Moe Boy” or a vegetarian option of marinated tofu. Each sandwich comes with your option of two sides, which is where choosing gets extra tricky. Baked beans, marinated cole slaw, potato salad, a bag of chips, banana puddin’ and cornbread are the staples. If those don’t float your boat, there are daily specials as well so make sure to check the board, you just may get lucky and score some mac’ and cheese.
Their platter options are the most popular and where you’ll get the most bang for your buck. They cash in at only a dollar more than the sandwiches and also come with a choice of two sides and an added bonus of cornbread. Your meat options are pulled pork, a smoked half chicken, smoked turkey, southern fried catfish and some pricier but delicious ribs (a small is $12 and a large is $14, or ribs for two people is $26.50).
Moe’s also offers a great kids meal option similar to the platters but with less food; for $6 they offer you a choice of pulled pork, smoked chicken, two ribs, grilled cheese, chicken tenders or four wings in additional to one side. You can also add on a drink or extra side to any meal for an additional $1 and their drink options range from a traditional soda machine with classic choices (Coke, lemonade, ginger ale, etc.) to a sweet tea (and a not so sweet tea) option.
I opted for a pulled pork platter with sides of marinated slaw and baked beans and a cup full of the not so sweet iced tea. And I’m not an expert on barbeque, but all I know is that every bite of my meal was better than the last and I left there feeling full and happy. I lathered the pulled pork in their house made sauce, buttered the already generously buttered cornbread, munched on the crunchy and peppery home made slaw and downed my portion of good old fashioned baked beans. My only regret was that I was too full to go back for seconds, as I would have loved to try their “banana puddin’”. But there’s always next time — and believe me, there will be a next time.
