Service was great! Food was great and fast. Beer was cold and all sport tv's were working. Very clean as well. Definitely recommend!
Love the outdoor patio here. It's a nice place to enjoy some bbq and watch Sunday football. My boyfriend and I shared the combo bbq plate with brisket, half chicken, and jalapeño cheddar sausage with a side of fries and coleslaw. Sadly, the brisket was EXTREMELY underwhelming, esp for being an extra $5 charge. It was really dry and chewy, which was disappointing as this is supposed to be a bbq spot! On a brighter note, the sausage and coleslaw both had great flavor & the chicken was to die for. I never rave about chicken, so I was happily surprised when it turned out to be my favorite thing on the plate! It was moist & cooked to perfection. The skin was also seasoned nicely and wasn't chewy at all. I would come back here just for the chicken.
Great atmosphere. Love the corn hole area! We ordered a bit of everything. Nachos & corn bread appetizers. Both great, but the corn bread won the vote of the table. Wife has the Cuban sandwich, she loved it, the pepper jack cheese had a little kick. Daughter had the Hawaiian burger that she couldn't finish but liked the caramelized pineapple. My son and I both got a 3 meat combo 1. Pulled pork, pulled chicken, and Sausage... w/ beans 2. Ribs, pulled pork and 1/2 chicken w/chili. Everything was great. Chick was tender, ribs were fall off the bone, pulled pork & chicken great with original bbq sauce and the chili was more meat than beans. We will definitely be back!
Smoak BBQ is the best in Rochester and takes me back to Texas. I don't know what I would do to satisfy my southern BBQ cravings if they were gone. Their burnt ends and brisket are definitely the highlight. Their other meats and their burgers are not to be underestimated. Everything has been super satisfying.
I thought about simply updating my previous review but this was a new context. I've enjoyed brunch, now how would lunch fare? I confess, every visit to Rochester, I find a way to get some bbq. I really need to pay better attention! I wanted chicken wings but I got nuggies (boneless wings) instead. Nashville hot! Despite this grave error, I enjoyed what I got! In the Midwest I expect "hot" to really be "mild" but this did not disappoint. It was true to its name. This was still as good the next day, reheated. Stayed nice and crisp. As much as I wanted to have a variety meat plate, I love me some ribs so that had to be the only choice this time around. The half rack was accompanied by mac and cheese. The first few bites of ribs left a bit to be desired. While there was a good bark to it, there was also some bite. It felt a little dry and tough but this improved when getting into the more central pieces. The original bbq sauce paired very well - had some sweetness with a little bit of heat. The Texas hot was a bit much when combined with the Nashville hot wings (that one's on me ). Don't have much to say about the Mac and cheese. It's historically been hit or miss for me. This was a miss. Next time I'm around, gotta try the burnt ends. I hear that calling my name.
SMOAK is a slice of Southern heaven right here in Rochester, MN! As a South Carolinian, the moment I tasted their pulled pork, I felt like I was back home. The authenticity of the flavors is unmatched, and each bite was a delicious trip down memory lane. Despite a party of 20 spread across 3 tables, the service was impeccable, adding to the overall fantastic experience. Can't wait to return for another mouthwatering meal!
Probably one of the better BBQs I've had in MN. We ordered the meat combo with ribs and brisket and the Nashville hot chicken sandwich. We also ordered a side of burnt ends. I don't know if I would get the fried chicken sandwich again, I thought it was okay, not my favorite chicken sandwich for that price point. However, the burnt ends and brisket were delicious! Great smoke and flavor, the ribs were a bit on the drier side which was fine because I wanted to try all their sauces. We ordered a side of brussel sprouts as well and those are a must get! This place is massive with lots seating options, and I can imagine it being a good time to come at night to have some drinks with friends in the summer with their patio and outdoor games outside. Service was quick and friendly. Overall, if you're in Rochester and are craving some bbq, definitely recommend coming here!