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Entries associated with the tag "Smoque":August 27th - noon
Smoque, Reader readers' Best of Chicago pick for best barbecue, and owner Barry Sorkin feature prominently in a story in today's New York Times dining section, held up as an example of a novice who bucks the enormous and well-established odds against making a success out of a new restaurant business. Everyone else in the piece says "Don't do it."
November 1st - 5:53 p.m.
Word has it Smoque is going to be featured on Monday's installment of the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives titled "Real Deal BBQ." Because it just hasn't been hard enough to get a table there. March 13th - 5:05 p.m.
Last night 60 or so Reader Restaurant Raters and guests descended on Smoque BBQ for the Reader's latest Nosh Mob. Nosh Mobs are private parties open only to Raters, who get invites by e-mail just a few days ahead of time. We hadn't had one in a while, but reaction to this one was so enthusiastic that we're gonna get busy planning another, stat. Smoque's been regularly jammed since it opened in December--but business has really exploded since Steve Dolinsky featured it in one of his ABC-7 Hungry Hound segments ten days ago. There are lines out the door and down the block every day, and for the last week or so the alderman's office has been sending a dude over to direct traffic and parking on Grace. They've even had to close early several times because they ran out of food. Co-owner Barry Sorkin says they're thinking about buying a bigger smoker, but are waiting a bit to see if things relax back to pre-TV levels of business before making the investment. Normally Smoque rests on Monday, and given the recent madness you'd think Sorkin and the rest of the crew would be protective of their day off. Instead, they opened up special for us (thanks!) and dished up pulled-pork and brisket sandwiches, quarter-slabs of baby back ribs, baked beans, fries, and green salad. Did I mention it was free? Click the images link below for more pics of the crowd and the grub; to find out how to become a Rater, follow the link above. January 17th - 9:22 a.m.
And here's the early word on Smoque, courtesy of Reader Restaurant Rater Gigi Leonard: "I suppose I fancy myself a BBQ connoisseur. Having grown up in the Chicago area, I have a fondness and affinity for that sticky-sweet-tomatoey-Carson's- type of sauce (not that I would complain about L. Woods either). However, having lived in the deep south for many years, I also appreciate that pit-wet-and-dry-smokey-vinegary thing as well. So I was very excited to hear that a new BBQ place had opened in the neighborhood. Smoque is a little place on a well-traveled corner. It is very clean and brightly lit (almost too brightly lit) and there are about 20 simple wooden tables with chairs, all of which were filled when we arrived. There is an open kitchen with a counter with fresh flowers and friendly people, where you place and pick up your order. The nice-sized brisket and pulled pork sandwiches and platters have a terrific depth of flavor, with that smoky tang that takes you to the Carolinas, or Memphis, or someplace down there. Individual ramekins of cornbread and mac and cheese are noteworthy complements, and the BBQ beans should not be missed. They do a nice salad that you can add chicken to, and they serve it with a creamy ranch dressing that makes it very rich. I think I would add a few drops of sauce to that dressing to thin it out and tang it up. All in all a lovely experience, comforting and reasonably priced. Get in there! PS: While we were there a total of six cops came in for takeout. 'They'll make a living on the cop trade alone,' my friend said." December 22nd - 3:59 p.m.
Just opened this week: Smoque, an Old Irving BBQ joint run by five 'cue fans, chief among them Barry Sorkin, who went back to his roots in the restaurant business after almost a decade as an IT consultant. Why barbecue? "It's just about my favorite thing in the world--and it doesn't seem like there's any other food out there that people get quite so passionate about." So true--and there are many connoisseurs far more passionate than I. But I can say that in the last few weeks Smoque has already generated a remarkable amount of buzz for both its Southern Pride smoker and for the proprietors' long and impassioned BBQ manifesto (pdf). According to Sorkin the place has been hopping since its Monday opening, and, to his surprise, one item has already emerged as a hands-down customer favorite: the brisket, smoked 14 hours over apple and oak and sliced to order. P.S. About a year ago we sent our critics on a city-wide barbecue survey; the results are in the Reader Restaurant Finder. |
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