Smoque BBQ
Chicago, IL 60641
Phone: (773) 545-7427
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
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