Smoque BBQ
Chicago, IL 60641
Phone: (773) 545-7427
- Price:
- $
- Cross Street:
- Grace Street
- Directions:
- El: Blue Line to Irving Park
- Best of Citysearch:
- BYOB Restaurant 2008
- Hours:
- Sun, Tue-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Editorial Review for Smoque BBQ – by Robyn Galbos
The Scene
The intoxicating aroma of smoked meats wafting from the open kitchen mingles with lively chatter, creating a laid-back, convivial vibe. Patrons place orders at the counter then wait for their number to be called. They then transport plastic trays piled with food to sturdy wooden tables where the feasting (and finger licking) ensues.
The Food
A large blackboard on the wall announces the carnivore-friendly offerings: ribs, sandwiches and platters, plus a handful of house-made sides and desserts. Hand-pulled pork and crispy-skinned half chicken are juicy, tender offerings, but moist, smoky brisket steals the show, surrendering at the touch of a fork. Ribs (Memphis-style baby backs and meaty St. Louis style) also retain the signature smoky flavor, and are finished with a taste-bud-biting sweet-tangy barbecue sauce. Sides like densely creamy mac and cheese, tart vinegar-based coleslaw or fresh-cut fries complement the main offerings, and beckon for seconds.
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Insider Tips
ParkingA lot in back is available for Smoque customers. Easy street parking is another option if the lot is full.
CateringSmoque BBQ caters parties, picnics, corporate events and more.
B.Y.O.B.Patrons are encouraged to bring their own beer or wine, and there is no corkage fee. Beer is a good complement to the full-flavored meats and sauces, but if you bring wine, keep in mind that "glassware" is limited to paper cups.
User Reviews for Smoque BBQ
03/15/2008 Posted by vegitoboi
I saw this place on the Food Network on Guy Fieri's show: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. When I saw that there was an actual BBQ place that was in Chicago (not to mention, near my house and serving BBQ in all seasons) I just had to check this place out. But I think after eating here it's safe to say don't believe everything you see on tv. The first problem with the place is their parking situation. There's virtually none since the residential street they're cornered on is permit parking only with cops monitoring the street about every hour. Now as expected with featured places, there's a line going to the door and that was fine with me. But only 1 cashier?!?! No wonder there's a long line. The menu is your basic pulled pork or brisket (or 1/2 and 1/2) sandwich, 1/2 or full slabs of St. Louis or baby back (or 1/2 slabs of each) pork ribs (sorry, no beef ribs here) that are made via dry rub, chicken, and abour 5-6 side items (fries, mac & cheese, cornbread, etc.). All orders came with a side of extra sauce (which looks thinned). I had the 1/2 n 1/2 sandwich to eat in and 1/2 slabs of each ribs to go. THE ENTIRE ORDER TASTED DRY!!! Note that I'm not saying it wasn't good because it was. I think they've rendered out the fat from their meat that there's barely any moisture (flavor) to have that distinctive juicy flavor of what we'd normally call BBQ. Heck, I can go to Whole Foods n get better, JUICER BBQ AND for WAY CHEAPER. I'm serious, that one $ you see on the side bar should be $$. I liked the food and I like the fact there's a place I can go for the Winter BBQ crave, but just don't expect much else except for a line, lousy parking, and dry, overpriced BBQ.
Pros: Close neighborhood BBQ restaurant, off the Irving Park I94 and Blue Line stop, friendly staff, featured on Food Network
Cons: IMPOSSIBLE PARKING, long line with one cashier, dry and overpriced BBQ, most seating is meant for large groups
01/13/2008 Posted by popoaks
The caveat up front is that we wish we could give this 5 stars: great BBQ, yummy mac and cheese (and fries and baked beans...) and wonderful service from a team you can tell cares about their shop and their customers. We vowed every Sunday would be barbeque night after we found Smoque, but just hung up the phone at 7pm--two hours before they close--for the second week in a row having been told they are out of all meat except chicken and ribs. Baffling to us that a barbeque house would run out of food so often (we have met the sign on the front door more than once announcing they were similarly out of brisket and pork) and we hope that their demand planning gets better before we find another place. Please, please, please work on it!
Pros: Great food, great people
Cons: Great food that isn't always available
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
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