When you think of dining on the Maine Coast, what comes to mind? Most likely, the first thing you envisioned was a Maine lobster dinner. However, just a mile south of the iconic L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, Maine, lies Bucks Naked BBQ. Situated in an unassuming cabin, just off I-295, this spot is a BBQ treasure. What began in the pit-master’s garage years ago is now a full fledged restaurant with a craft cocktail bar and a whimsical, rustic interior.
I took my mom for a Sunday lunch at Bucks Naked BBQ last weekend, and it was a tremendous hit. We ordered the fried pickles, along with the Q for 2. The fried pickles, which are my favorite pub appetizer staple, were off the hook. The batter was light, and the zesty ancho lime mayo was a perfect complement. The real stars, of course, were the meats. The Q platter featured sliced brisket, pulled pork, pit-roasted chicken, smoked sausage, and a half rack of ribs. It was served with potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, and cornbread. Just as the name suggests, the meat came beautifully seasoned but totally naked from the sauce. The four sauces that came with a map on the table were Bucks Signature Blueberry BBQ sauce, Texas Style BBQ sauce, Carolina Gold BBQ sauce, and House BBQ. All four were absolutely delicious, but my favorite was the Blueberry BBQ sauce. It had a traditional tang of traditional BBQ, but with that touch of sweetness, only Maine blueberries can bring. The meat itself was all tender, juicy, and tasty, with the richness that only true smoking delivers. For me, the true standout was the ribs, as they had been smoked, not grilled. The in-house rub brought so much flavor, the extraordinary sauces were almost unnecessary, and the fall-off-the-bone caliber of the meat was lean and still juicy.
Additionally, the cocktails were superb. I had the Hugo Spritz, which was a practice run for my son’s upcoming wedding, at which it will be the signature cocktail. The Hugo Spritz was made with gin, elderberry, and prosecco, served in a gorgeous cut-glass cocktail glass, garnished with petite edible flowers. It was an outstanding, sophisticated, and light pairing to the meat-heavy meal that followed. The waitstaff could not have been more charming or helpful too. The staff genuinely cared that we enjoyed our first visit and wanted to make sure that we would return soon as loyal customers. They succeeded, and we will be back before long!
By Ellen Stanclift
Ellen grew up in the hospitality business, spending the early years of her life as Eloise in New York’s iconic Plaza Hotel. Having lived on both coasts, as well as in Europe, Ellen now resides in Midcoast Maine with her two German Shepherd BBQ tasters.
Bucks Naked BBQ
568 US-1, Freeport, ME 04032
(207) 865-0600
bucksnakedbbq.com
