Brad Olson
TVWBB Diamond Member
Smoky Jon's #1 BBQ has been a Madison institution for something like 40+ years and since it just happens to be be conveniently located near the Madison College campus I stopped by for an after-class visit a couple of days ago.
As soon as you walk in the door you get an idea of how popular the restaurant's been over the years. It even catered a couple of my employer's company picnics back in the '90s.
I'm pretty sure these are more barbecue awards, not recognition of an outstanding restroom.
The dining area's not very big, maybe a dozen or so tables. In fact, whenever I've been there it's seemed like there were more people carrying out than dining in.
Shredded brisket. It was good but since sliced brisket is available as a plate meal I should've asked if I could've had sliced on my sandwich.
1/3 slab of ribs with beans and garlic mashed potatoes, and a cup of extra sauce. The beans were more saucy than smoky but still had great flavor, and while mashed potatoes aren't a traditional barbecue side the ones that Smoky Jon's serves are really good.
This was from the small end of the ribs. The rack had a nice smoke ring and the right amount of pull was needed to get the meat from the bone - very well cooked! Smoky Jon's sauce is tomato-based and not overly sweet, with a nice amount of heat and small pieces of onion mixed in. And the ribs are just fine sauceless, too.
As soon as you walk in the door you get an idea of how popular the restaurant's been over the years. It even catered a couple of my employer's company picnics back in the '90s.
I'm pretty sure these are more barbecue awards, not recognition of an outstanding restroom.
The dining area's not very big, maybe a dozen or so tables. In fact, whenever I've been there it's seemed like there were more people carrying out than dining in.
Shredded brisket. It was good but since sliced brisket is available as a plate meal I should've asked if I could've had sliced on my sandwich.
1/3 slab of ribs with beans and garlic mashed potatoes, and a cup of extra sauce. The beans were more saucy than smoky but still had great flavor, and while mashed potatoes aren't a traditional barbecue side the ones that Smoky Jon's serves are really good.
This was from the small end of the ribs. The rack had a nice smoke ring and the right amount of pull was needed to get the meat from the bone - very well cooked! Smoky Jon's sauce is tomato-based and not overly sweet, with a nice amount of heat and small pieces of onion mixed in. And the ribs are just fine sauceless, too.
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