Smoque - restaurant review


 
Bill, pretty much have to agree with your review.

We were just there in late July and did more or less a "sample order" as it was a large-ish group of us and that way we could all get a bit of everything; like you "sauce on the side."

I particularly enjoyed the sliced brisket, with the chopped brisket a close 2nd. Loved the beans -- and I HATE baked beans -- and how it was studded with leftover chopped brisket and loved the mac & cheese, which almost certainly is like squirting caulk into my arteries, but there you go. I liked the coleslaw a lot...but it was a bit too "Asian" to really go with the rest of the stuff.

The pulled pork was also pretty good, and the ribs were good, but not on par with the brisket and pulled pork. If I recall correctly, they took a bit of gnawing which is time I could have better spent working through the brisket.

As far as the rub goes, my thinking is that it's not as spicy due to local preferences. Whenever I've eaten in Chicago and been warned that "Oh, ____ is VERY spicy." I wind up pretty underwhelmed by the heat factor.

But that's just nitpicking on my part.
 
Last night, I decided to pickup q at Smoque and bring it home. I ordered 1/2 slab of baby backs, 1/2 slab of spares, brisket, and butt. I also got mac-n-cheese and slaw. Overall, it was good (the slaw ruled!), but having made my own for the last couple of years, I wasn't blown away like so many people are when the eat there. For the most part, there was a lack of spice heat in their rubs (some in the sauce) and the smoke (apple and oak combo) was very subtle. No visible smoke rings in the ribs or brisket. I was able to speak to the owner who sold me (at a very reasonable price) a quart of his brisket rub. They don't offer any of their sauce or rub for sale, but since I asked...

In terms of the food, I found the ribs to be a bit more chewy than I prefer. That said, they were good. The sauce (on the side) was also quite good. My wife preferred the baby backs, I liked the spares. The butt was really good, especially when pouring a bit of the vinegar-based sauce on them. The brisket was good, but not great. In fairness, there was about a 20 minute car ride before eating them, and the brisket probably dried out a bit.

All-in-all, I would go back; especially if I find myself in the city with friends. The owners were very cool to talk to. It is a very unpretentious place -- about 8 tables with a total of 50 chairs in the small dining area. I also enjoy the manifesto that is posted on their site.

Merry Christmas all!

-Mike
 
Well, I get to Chicago pretty frequently, and will try this place but I hope it is better than the other "urban chic" BBQ places I have tried like Sloe's in Detroit! If I am in Chicago, it is really hard to get past four of my favorite restaraunts, including my two FAVES!!
1) Frontera Grill/ Topolobampo -Mexican Food Guru ,Rick Bayless' place. Best tortillas EVER!!!! The plantains with crema are TDF!!!!
2) Salpicon, may be better that Bayless place. Started by a deciple of Ricks. Awsome wine list. Her husband is the sommalier'! I think it is in Old Towne on N. Wells
3) Heaven on Seven- Better cajun food than alot of the places in The Big Easy.
4) Emillio's Tapas Restaraunt. The place where I first drank true Jerez (Sherry) and ate Tapas.

Honorable mention goes to Gene and Georgetti Steak House. WM
 
Hey Dave -- I think you'll find Smoque better than the "urban chic" q places you refer to. They actually smoke their meat on the prem at 225 degrees. The prep area is kind of a modified texas style. They slice the brisket in front of you and have steam tables and cold tables in site for the sides.

I definitely agree with you on Frontera Grill, been there many times. Same with Heaven on Seven. The gumbo and jambalaya are outstanding! Haven't been to Salpicon nor Emillio's so thanks for giving me 2 boxes to check. If you like kind of fancy, try Tallgrass!
 
I couldn't agree with you more on 1 and 2 (the others I'll have to try). I had a conversaton with Rick many years ago, one of those cool (but too brief) chef-sharing things that I still remember fondly--and I think of it every time I make tortillas.

I'll have to try Smoque some day. After having been to literally many hundreds of places around the country over the years, and after having pounds and pounds of usually unremarkable barbecue, it's hard for me to muster the motivation. (I keep thinking I'll get to Paul Kirk's place at Rio every time I'm in Vegas but I keep blowing it off.)

Those two are places I really do want to try and I just need to do it!
 
Thanks for the tip Kevin! I am in Vegas for a tradeshow the first week in February and I did not know he had a place there! I'll get there right after In-N-Out Burger!

Mike, Emillio Gervais also has a place out in Hillside at the corner of Roosevelt and Mannheim if that is closer to you. VERY GOOD SPANISH FOOD! Have a glass of the Tip Pepe Fino !
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dave Hutson:
Well, I get to Chicago pretty frequently, and will try this place but I hope it is better than the other "urban chic" BBQ places I have tried like Sloe's in Detroit! WM </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was very disappointed in Sloe's in Detroit. Brisket was one of the worst I ever had...markedly overcooked, dry, shreaded not sliced (although described as sliced), when I complained and showed them my plate and described what it should be, they just blew me off, said that is the way it came out today and there is nothing that they could do about it. The pulled chicken was good, but I will never go back.

There is another place that gets good reviews, Memphis Smoke in Royal Oak, MI - "Swine Dining" - gotta' love the slogan.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Don Irish:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dave Hutson:
Well, I get to Chicago pretty frequently, and will try this place but I hope it is better than the other "urban chic" BBQ places I have tried like Sloe's in Detroit! WM </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was very disappointed in Sloe's in Detroit. Brisket was one of the worst I ever had...markedly overcooked, dry, shreaded not sliced (although described as sliced), when I complained and showed them my plate and described what it should be, they just blew me off, said that is the way it came out today and there is nothing that they could do about it. The pulled chicken was good, but I will never go back.

There is another place that gets good reviews, Memphis Smoke in Royal Oak, MI - "Swine Dining" - gotta' love the slogan. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

What really bugs me about Sloe's is that the HyGrade Deli is just down the street and they have a GREAT Rueben Sandwich!!! I have a customer in Mexicantown on Central who know's I cook BBQ so he always wants me to go to Sloe's. I don't have the heart to tell him it sucks, so......
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by K Kruger:
I couldn't agree with you more on 1 and 2 (the others I'll have to try). I had a conversaton with Rick many years ago, one of those cool (but too brief) chef-sharing things that I still remember fondly--and I think of it every time I make tortillas.

I'll have to try Smoque some day. After having been to literally many hundreds of places around the country over the years, and after having pounds and pounds of usually unremarkable barbecue, it's hard for me to muster the motivation. (I keep thinking I'll get to Paul Kirk's place at Rio every time I'm in Vegas but I keep blowing it off.)

Those two are places I really do want to try and I just need to do it! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


I'm heading to Vegas, for the first time since I was 12 years old, in the middle of next month. Going to be there for a 3 day weekend with some friends.

Kevin, can you tell me if there is a specific name for Paul Kirks place there? You got me curious!

I am debating wether or not to take the weekend off of my diet, while I'm there. I still have a Rio de Janeiro trip lined up for the end of February, and I am trying to get in shape as fast as possible for that. Down 60 lbs as of two days ago. If I have even a few beers over the weekend I'm there, then its going to take me a few days to get dialed in again.

It would probably be a waste of time there, just to go and eat only protein and cheese.

Staying at the Wynn, heard some good things about it, and I want to catch a good show while I'm there.
 
I have been to Smoque several times and I agree that for me, the rub is not very spicy, but it sets my wife on fire, so it is different thngs to different folks. I am guilty of taking my own sauce when I go. Its a vinegar sauce that is a variation of Western Kentucky sauce. Smoque's pulled pork is about as good as one can get at a restuarant, but not as good as what we do at home, sometimes it's nice to let someone else cook. If ya'll get to Chicago try it, it's on North Pulaski Street.
 
Dave,

My wife and I absolutely love Salpicon. Have been there probably a dozen times and she had a surprise 40th B-Day party for me there a couple of years ago. Food is awesome, unbelievable margaritas and great service. Our favorite restaurant in Chicago. By the way, it is on Wells a block or so North of Division.

Bob
 
Sean, I only know we are going to Carnival. Rio is a big city from what I can see, but I figure we will likely just be down by the water, and find a decent hotel there. That's about all I know.

I'm going to PM Kevin, cause I'm really curious about that place in Vegas.
 
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