Craven BBQ

We tried the beef ribs, pork ribs and chicken. Everything was great. My family especially enjoyed the pork ribs. The portions were huge. The staff is really friendly and even helped me to the car with my takeout order.

This is my first experience with Portuguese Bar BQ and it was OK. I have a lot of great family members that are great grill masters so I have a really high bar. The meat had a lot of great flavors, but it was a little salty. Also the cut of meat was a lower, thinner quality and the fries were not crispy at all. On the positive side, the veggies and rice exceeded my expectation and were very flavorful and the staff was really nice and accommodating. I probably will not go back, unless I am looking for great sides to accompany meat I prepare or pick up from elsewhere.

Great food, service and so much food for the money. The cubed mix was so so flavorful and the bread is really good. Kid friendly too. We will be back.

We used to go here when it was Cranford BBQ and LOVED it! The new owners changed the name to Craven BBQ, raised the prices significantly and lower the quality of the food. A BIG disappointment!

This is one of my favorite places. I always thought bbq was the kind lathered with bbq sauce so when I first ordered this I was surprised… But I’ve been hooked ever since. I love the rice and fries and the chicken is always moist and seasoned great.
They recently started empanadas and the chicken ones have been great so far.
I used to live up in northern jersey so I used to come bring it home once a week. Now I’ve moved down to Cranford and order it frequently. Delivery comes quickly in like 20 min as well.
Try it!

Very succulent beef empanada, it’s the best in town! Chicken bbq was super flavourful as well, it’s juicy and never dry.

Used to be Cranford BBQ now under new ownership and the name has changed. this place is in a great location and is very cute ! Has a rustic look to it which I love. The food is also very good ! I am a big fan of the shrimp and garlic ! The craven burger is also one to try on the menu ! I doubt you will be able to finish ! I love that they have fresh cut French fries, you cannot beat that taste ! The portions are a good size and prices are affordable ! Def a place to stop by … Its also BYOB so you can’t beat that !

I will give them a 2-​star rating because they were friendly. I came here for late lunch with my husband. I wasn’t sure what to order because I am not familiar with Portuguese BBQ type foods. I decided on two appetizer items — 2 empanadas and some yellow rice. He ordered 1 empanada and a BBQ chicken sandwich with a side of fries. Both orders were brought to us within 10 – 15 mins. When I served myself the rice, I noticed a blonde or gray hair on the bowl. I mentioned it to the server. He apologized and brought me a new order. My food was Ok. The empanadas were saltier than I’m used to. My husband enjoyed his sandwich but the cheese on his fries tasted off (processed?) Whenwe received the bill, they were nice enough to discount 10% because of what happened. I don’t think we’ll go back.

Strengths: very good good chicken; good salad; excellent value; large portions; bargain lunch options.
Fries could be crisper (but were fresh) and ribs would benefit from more spices.
Simple décor; nice staff.
Clark BBQ may be slightly better among area Portguese bbqs – and the ribs at Blue Bayou in Clark are much better – but this is a solid option.
Very popular for takeout – and much more efficient than the old Rebel BBQ.

Ordered from here a few times and definitely our in town go-​to Portuguese spot. I like the name change to Craven, because I’m craving another steak sandwich right now. Their steak sandwich with peppers and onions in a Portuguese roll is perfection and they are the only like place that asks how you want it cooked and when I said medium rare, knowing Portuguese places love to over cook their meat, it came out a perfect medium-​rare! Combine that with their picadinho, just wish there was more chorizo and meat than potatoes, and a serradura for dessert and you’ve got a perfect meal!

So we came to Cranford again for more open houses. We might as well start checking out the businesses nearby;) You can park in the back of the store, there’s a mini parking lot and just walk around to the front. The people here are very friendly, service was speedy and efficient. We ordered Portuguese sausage, rice and beans with ribs and chicken. My hubby seemed to like his ribs, my chicken was very dry, but I was expecting that. I think the chicken needs a little more spices, it was bland, but pair with the delicious rice and beans, it was good. They give you a huge portion of rice so we had it to go. Overall, it was a great value for the price and I will probably be back here and try other dishes.

Highly recommend this place! I won’t exaggerate and say this is the best Portuguese churrasqueira but I’ll share my reasons for giving it 4 stars. I love the menu options. For example their bacalhau is awesome and you can’t find that at all churrasqueiras. I love that they cut the pork in the picadinho very small. Makes it easier to eat as opposed to those huge fatty pieces you sometimes find in picadinho. The chicken is very tasty and small (as real chicken should be!). Best of all it’s convenient and the staff is very welcoming. Definitely a little gem in Cranford!
P. s. Their bacalhau balls are great too

What a great find! I’m not typically in the area, but found myself there after getting lost one random Saturday afternoon. We were starving and I was doing my best to avoid the fast food route.
The servers were so fantastic. They were friendly, helpful, they smiled and they were lightening fast. The place is also really casual. I really enjoyed the Brazilian soda, which oddly reminded me of Inca cola.
The sauteed cube mix was just spectacular. I even added a side of rice, which was just as delicious. My husband got the steak sandwich and fries and kept sneaking swipes of my dipping sauce (not cool).
For all that deliciousness, it was $ 21.40 sans tip. What a steal!

I have been to Cranford BBQ several times and am so pleased each time with my meal. The food is just done exactly how you would want it from a Portuguese BBQ, but better! The staff is very friendly and the décor is gorgeous. The inside of the restaurant has a modern, rustic feel and makes you feel like you’re in a little spot in NYC.
After being seated, they offer Portuguese bread and butter. The bread is super soft and fresh. This alone, can keep you coming back to this restaurant.
I have had the picadinho, garlic shrimp and chicken. The last time I had the picadinho, i ordered a whole order and split it with a friend. The order was so large and delicious. We ate more than half of it and still had a decent amount to take home! I love leftovers… Let’s you enjoy your meal twice! The garlic shrimp is my favorite dish from Cranford BBQ. I come back on the regular for this dish and I am never let down. The sauce is delicious. Growing up close to the Newark area, I have had garlic shrimp many places and this is hands down my favorite. The shrimp are cooked to perfection and the sauce over rice is to die for. I can’t get enough! The chicken is also on point. The skin is perfectly crispy and the chicken itself is so juicy!
The best part of this restaurant is how much food you get for your money. The prices are so reasonable that you could feed a family without breaking the bank, which is hard to come by these days. I will definitely continue to come to Cranford BBQ and have made it one of my regular spots!

While on my way through Cranford around noon today, I suddenly recalled a glowing review for Cranford BBQ. Pulled over, checked my bookmarks, got the addy. Turns out I was a two blocks away. What luck. So, off I went.
The place is really nice looking and the staff, friendly. Placed my order. Two full orders of Ribs and fries for me and my son and chicken with rice and beans for my wife.
Headed on home. I’d be lying if I claimed I drove the posted speed limit on every road home. I was excited and hungry.
Imagine my disappointment when I ripped the foil open and discovered tiny ribs, more like rib scraps/​burnt ends. Only they were not burnt. Just small ribs with tough gristle, connective tissue and bone running this way and that. To add insult to injury, the ribs were so over salted that my lips and tongue began to burn midway through the meal, sort of like what happens when you eat too much buttered movie theatre popcorn.
I’ve been weeping silently to myself all afternoon.
When my wife came home from work, she tucked into her chicken rice and beans. Cranford obviously does chicken right. Everything was delicious.
Thank goodness. I hate being so negative in my reviews.
I had high hopes. But they were dashed. I’ll continue to patronize Backyard Grill and Clark BBQ. I can get my wife excellent chicken there.

Had a really nice lunch here a few weeks ago. So excited to have this as a new addition to downtown Cranford!
I had a grilled chicken sandwich which came with peppers and onions, and a side of fries. The chicken was really delicious — nicely seasoned and very juicy. The portion was also huge, especially for the price. The service was great and I love how they’ve update the décor. Overall, a great spot for an inexpensive and tasty meal.

Ordered from here for hubby’s birthday. He was worried we didn’t order enough food. Yeah, that wasn’t a problem. You will not be hungry after eating at Cranford BBQ, guaranteed.
We ordered the Chorizo appetizer and split the combo of chicken and ribs with sides of salad and fries. We both loved the chorizo but still ended up only eating about half of it. The chicken and ribs were great though we preferred the chicken a bit more. It’s flavorful and not dried out which is rare when you get chicken out. The salad was fine and I appreciated that they packed it separately so it didn’t get warm from the other food. The only thing we didn’t love were the french fries which were underdone for our tastes. You could definitely tell they were fresh, they just weren’t as crispy as we like. No worried — we’ll just ask for them well done next time. Great food and service here — looking forward to adding this to the regular rotation.

I’m used to going to the Ironbound (Newark, NJ) for your typical Portuguese style BBQ, so was excited to hear about another similar style bbq spot opening up in Cranford.
Let’s talk about location first… perfect spot right in the center of town. Was super easy to get to plus plenty of parking on the street. As soon as we walked in, we instantly fell in love with the décor. From the wooden tables and the stainless steel chairs, to the lamps hovering over the tables, it was different from what you see in your typical Portuguese BBQs but in a great way!
We started off with the chorizo as an appetizer and ordered the BBQ chicken. The server brought us our bread & butter first, then came the chorizo. It was a wonderful start to a great meal! Then our platter came out with consisted of a whole chicken, roasted perfectly by the way with crispy skin… a side or traditional rice and french fries (I believe you can substitute for whatever sides you want).
The food was more than enough for 3 people and there was still some leftover! Food was absolutely amazing. I would recommend this spot to anyone who wants to take someone on a date to a nicer looking place with good food but without spending lots of money.
One thing for sure is that i will DEFINITELY be back very soon.

So I found myself in Cranford this week, and walked upon this spot. Yes, there are a million and one Portuguese BBQ spots in the Ironbound in Newark, but I am very glad I gave Cranford BBQ a try! Conveniently located in the middle of town, this restaurant adds a nice touch to all the other choices in town. Cranford BBQ offers your typical Portuguese dishes such as costela (ribs), febras (pork steak), picadinho (pork cubes), bitoque (steak), and bacalhau (cod fsh).
As soon as we walked in, we were immediately greeted. The staff was super friendly and welcoming. The restaurant has a nice rustic vibe, with cute wooden tables, steel chairs, and hanging tin lights, which really gave it a cozy atmosphere with a modern twist. Good enough for a casual dinner, but also cute enough for you to go on a cozy date.
They brought out Portuguese bread (only the best bread ever!) and butter to the table. The bread was super flaky and delicious. For appetizers, we decided to share the Chourico (Portuguese Sausage). The sausage was served in a typical Portuguese clay tray and was cooked perfectly.
Within minutes of getting our appetizer, we were served the main entrée: a whole chicken with two sides (rice and fries) for $ 13. (Yes that’s correct: $ 13!). You can also choose from other sides such as beans, carrots and cabbage, or salad. Portion size was huge! The chicken, rice, and fries were more than enough for three adults to feast on. The chicken was perfectly cooked, juicy, and flavorful! What I really liked about the chicken was the crispy skin. Most Portuguese restaurants I’ve been to don’t serve chicken with crispy skin, but it kind of reminded me of the crispy skin on the traditional Portuguese roast suckling pig. The french fries were hand cut and hot out of the fryer and the rice was perfectly seasoned. By the time were done, there was still a ton of food leftover. What I really liked about the food is that it wasn’t greasy and I didn’t feel heavy and lethargic.
They also have typical Portuguese desserts such as flan, serradura, and pasteis de nata, which I didn’t get to try. Our bill came out to be $ 30 between 3 people. Do the math: that’s $ 10 a person for a whole lot of awesome food! Not only is the food extremely cheap, but it’s delicious too!
I would not hesitate to come back here again anytime soon! Definitely a must try in Cranford!

Great location! Right in the middle of downtown Cranford!
Great décor! Very rustic yet trendy…
We started with the Portuguese sausage appetizer… Was brought out in the traditional tray… The sausage was well cooked with the perfect crunch to the casing…
We had the BBQ chicken for out meal. The skin was crispy and absolutely delicious… The rice was traditional white with your mixed gardenera side… The fries which we picked for our second side were hand cut and hot out of the fryer! (You can opt for beans as a side as well)
They do have your traditional steaks, pork steaks and cubed meat players as well… The dessert menu is traditional as well… Did not try them this time around…
Best part about the entire meal was that although it was filing it was not greasy! Will be back soon!