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Fullerton (Purple Express, Brown, Red)
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I'm not an expert on southern-style smokehouse cooking, so purists may disagree with me, but I thought the food here was mighty fine.
They were out of pulled pork on a Sunday afternoon (which tells me people must like it), but they had brisket, which was excellent. The garlic mashed potatoes were great, and so was the mac and cheese. Even the coleslaw had a little something extra to the taste. And they were playing great 80s music. What's not to like?
My only quibble is that it isn't cheap. We spent about $22 for two people for lunch, which is over my every-day limit.
For such a small place, the atmosphere felt as if it was somewhat close to a shack. I guess my main issue was the lack of smoke in everything. When you step into a "smoke shack," you expect to smell the scent of burning wood or some other smoky smell, but you don't.
Also, the meat is not smoked properly, if at all. There was no hint of any smoke and the brisket did not have a smoke ring. If you know anything about BBQ-ing brisket, there has to be a smoke ring (i.e. a dark, almost burnt layer around the outside of the brisket), which gives and seals most of the flavor inside. Apart from the brisket, I had the same issue with ribs. The ribs were a little small and had no smoky taste, but they did taste good. Plus, there was no real pit inside, which is essential if you plan to BBQ. I think they use a gas burner and add liquid smoke, which is a BIG NO NO.
Overall, the food is good, but not great or the best. If you are going to call yourself the Smoke Shack, smoke your meats. It was disappointing to know no smoke was used, but the food passes for good. I recommend this for a late night BBQ fix.
The atmosphere in here is zip, so I either order delivery or stumble in Smoke Shack after a night out. The employees are really nice and tolerant-- after one epically rough night I used their bathroom and as soon as I left the bathroom a guy followed my trail with a dustpan and broom (even though there was nothing to clean up, I swear!). So, props to dealing with me and my trashiness.
But the food!!! The pulled pork is super yumzors. It ranks pretty high up there for BBQ in the city. Tender, smoky, and a little spicy. They have a few good sauces to choose from but my favorite is the chipotle.
My only complaints are about their sides. First of all, they're way too small. Like, a couple bites and it's gone. It's a shame because their onion rings are really delicious and somehow remain hot and crispy even when delivered. Their mashed potatoes are in need of more milkfat for sure. Their coleslaw is light and tangy and doesn't seem to have the mayo base that most do.
If it's 3am, and you want some bbq, come here. If it's 3pm, and you want some bbq, go to Smoque.
DELIVERY SERVICE (Horrible)
If I had to rate this place on Delivery service, it would get a negative star, which isn't even an option. We ordered on a Friday night and were told it would take 30-45 minutes. 90 minutes after ordering we still didn't have our order and called to check in on the order and it was out for delivery. Not sure who was in the wrong, whether it was just a very confused delivery person who somehow thought (Hermitage and Halsted) were the same street (even though the order slip says Hermitage right on it), or if it was just very long poor delivery service overall but ithe food was not worth the wait with so many other dining options in this city. On top of this, when the delivery guy came to the condo, he didn't know how to use the door buzzer even though it's the same as every other buzzer in the city, so I had to go downstairs to meet him at the front entrance.
FOOD (Just okay)
The food is definitely middle of the pack BBQ. If you're looking for GREAT BBQ, this isn't the place, but it's not the worst you'll have either. I ordered the ribs combo (1/2 St. Louis, 1/2 Baby Back) and they were decent. My wife had the pulled pork sandwhich and she said it wasn't that great. She liked Smokin Woodys on Lincoln in North Center better for their pulled pork. Smokin Woody's ribs are not good though, so we tried this place instead.
If you want good BBQ, you're better off getting in the car and picking up carry out from Smoque on Pulaski north of Addison. I'm sure there are even better places than that as well, but Smoke Shack was a one and done for us.
When I first started eating here I was in a stage of not eating meat.. so of course I had their veggie burger. Let me tell you- it was one of the best I have ever had!! And also their mac n cheese is deliciously awesome. It's open late which is great for your drunken adventures of hunger, and it's byob- so why stop drinking?!
They have some awesome BBQ sauces to choose from that go great with literally anything you could eat there. And now that I'm eating meat again- I highly suggest their pulled pork, or chicken tenders! Even without being covered in a sauce they are definitely tasty!
Eh. It wasn't bad. The meat was actually very good - I had the brisket sandwich. They just didn't have enough sauce options, and those that they did have were nothing special.
I do like that it's BYOB, and the worker was extremely nice and helpful. But the atmosphere really lacks, especially on the north side of the restaurant, where it smelled terrible because of the nearby bathrooms.
To be perfectly honest, this place sucked!
Went here in a group of 4, and 75% of the orders were screwed up.
Following that, the menu promised Root Beer Floats but they were out of ice cream, that was disappointing.
I got the chicken sandwich, not a very good choice. The chicken was cooked well, but it was rather mundane and had to be doused in buffalo sauce before it became the least bit tasty.
One star for my small portion of good onion rings.
I'm not gonna lie... I miss Lincoln Town Gyros (the previous tenant); however, I am happy to have Smoke Shack as a neighbor.
I've tried a number of things on the menu... some excellent, some good, some "eh."
I have found the chicken sandwich and chicken fingers to be EXCELLENT. Their BBQ sauce is REALLY good... make sure you get some on the side (I prefer the mild to the spicy). With the chicken fingers, you get a VERY generous portion. These aren't your typical chicken fingers, as you'll see.
The hamburger is very good. It's home-made (everything there is homemade).
I found the brisket to be on the weaker side. I'll probably try it again at some point, but in the meantime, I'm going to stick with my favorites.
And with everything, you seemingly get fries... they're awesome. Very-well seasoned.
May I have some ribs to go with the pulled pork? Yum! Hit this joint a few weeks ago, it was my first time ever eating ribs outside of home so I was a bit skeptical. I'm not big on the smoky flavor but I still enjoyed the food (ribs, onion rings, cheeseburger, cheese fries oh my!)
The cook showed us the process of smoking the ribs and meats and was really nice so when we were deciding where to go to dinner last night we decided on the smoke shack. This time we didn't go overboard with the ordering. We kept it at a slab of ribs and the pulled pork. We couldn't even finish half of it! Granted, it was late at night, but still! We ended up bringing it home with us for today's lunch. The guys there were so nice and courteous and helpful and the cook remembers us from our first visit! Yea, we'll be back and we'll bring some friends too next time.
FYI - it's called The Smoke Shack for a reason, it looks like a shack. Sorry if you're looking for ambiance and plush chairs, this is not the place. It's a joint and it's these type of places that have the best kind of food! Just close your eyes and enjoy the flavors making love to your tongue.
We got carryout from the Smoke Shack as much needed comfort food on a difficult day. The place obviously has no atmosphere - just benches and peeling paint - but the single guy making the food was really nice and clearly very competent. He had a good memory for remembering several detailed orders at once, and was very friendly.
Back at the apartment, we dug into the food. The rib combo was not bad - I could not differentiate which half-rack was which, but one of them was much fattier than the other. I preferred the leaner one. Tasty sauce, but I had hoped for better. There wasn't enough of it slathered on the ribs! The onion rings were deliciously hot and crispy. The mac 'n' cheese was too rich for me, but it was well made with crunchy bread crumbs on top. I think most people would like it - I am just generally opposed to mac 'n' cheese that I don't make myself. The coleslaw was light, sweet, and much better than I expected. I think it's a great place for late night greasy food, but based on taste alone, I don't think I need to go back there for dinner.
WOW! This is the real deal. I have lived in Lincoln Park for 25 years. I have tried all of the rib options. This is head and shoulders above them all. The baby back ribs are chewy and tender at the same time. Perfectly cooked. The sauce is smoky and spicy, but not overwhelming. You can still taste the meat. I also ordered a side of the pulled pork. Outstanding too. We ordered for delivery, so I have never seen the restaurant, but Miguel who took my order was great. Next time we will eat at the restaurant.
Don't miss the SMOKE SHACK. This is a Chicago classic overnight.
How nice to have found this place - thank you Yelp! Great pulled pork sandwich, great brisket, great onion rings (very thin batter). VERY casual.
Hate to leave a bad rating but have to. I have been there about 3 times and the 3rd time finally confirmed the yuckiness factor. What they do at this place is they put this identical awful seasoning salt on just about every damn thing they make. It's on the burgers, it's on the fries, it's on the macaroni and cheese. It eventually builds up on your tongue until you can't take it anymore. If they could get it into the soda they would. ICK !!!
Get some black people in there that know what they are doing!!
Not too shabby!!
I got the chicken fingers buffalo style. They were huge and the dudes that work there were super nice! They have a great selection of good cheap food, so head on over, it's pretty clean in there!
The fries are also very delish!
It gives variety to the mexican and sushi places surrounding N Halsted
I'm with Josh C. on this one. I'm no Texan but for a Chicago kid I know barbecue pretty well and Smoke Shack just wasn't a great example.
First off, they say they cook their own meat but I haven't the slightest idea where they do it. There's no smoke coming from this shack and there's not a stack of wood in sight. So I don't know where they get it. The meat actually wasn't bad, but both the taste and the quantity of the sauce were too much. The bun was far from fresh and the cole slaw a little weak. At least they have a gyro spit, but a good gyro can't make up for everything.
The highlight was probably the mac and cheese - that is, the miniature mac and cheese.
There is some value in this place because there really aren't any barbecue joints around in this part of the city. As the menu says, "It's simple [sic] we just couldn't find good BBQ in Lincoln Park." Strange, I'm having the same problem...
Wow. What a huge let down.
I have been on the hunt for good ribs in the city - so far the best have been my best friend's homemade beer marinated fall-off-the-bone-orgasmic rib special. But he can only make these on a blue moon, so I am seeking a more reliable source.
Smoke Shack is NOT it.
The staff was friendly - the place was dead and they took good care of us, making suggestions, etc. I ordered the lunch special of St. Louis half slab with spicy BBQ sauce, with a side of corn bread. My friend ordered a pulled pork sandwich with the regular sauce.
They serve all the food on metal trays - which is kind of cute. When they first set it down in front of me I had no idea what I was looking at. What was this awkward perfectly square brown thing? Oh. Ribs. I...think? First bite and I realized this was not going to be a good time. They were incredibly, unbelievably salty. It tasted like I had just bitten into a salt lick. What, did they cure these in a barrel of salt before cooking?! The sauce was good, but totally overwhelmed by the rub - which again, I believe was salt with more salt. The corn bread was also disappointing - the texture was EXTREMELY dry and dense and the bread itself was hard as a rock.
My friend enjoyed the pulled pork, which I tried and found to be average at best. Her fries were the best part of the meal.
For a place that is fairly pricey for small portions, I will NOT be going back even to try some of the other menu items. I would much rather save my bucks for a place like Fat Willies or any of the other BBQ places in the city before coming back here.
I like the idea of a late night BBQ joint.
But when I'm stone cold sober in the middle of the day, this place has ribs that leave a lot to be desired.
When I'm craving some BBQ, Smoke Shack satisfies. My only complaint is the size of the macaroni and cheese. Seriously? 3-4 bites for $3? Make this bigger please. Maybe even offer it as a meal. Also, the coleslaw could use more of a kick.
Every time my boyfriend and I have eaten here the rest of the tables were empty. Same goes for almost every time we have walked by the Shack. They must make all of their money from the late night "I don't feel like a burrito" crowd.
I like comfy little low-brow joints like this.
Had a good Greek Salad today full of nice salty olives, tasty peppers, good Feta cheese, and crisp, crunchy greens! Loved the grilled chicken on top! The house dressing was a bit of a disappointment, however. Served with toasted white bread and butter. Free refills on soda.
Service is a bit slow, but made to order.
Nice neighborhood place...
I would really, really like to give this place a higher rating for:
1) selling BBQ'd meat
2) being right around the corner from me
3) good prices
4) generous portions
5) super nice staff
6) a selection that holds my interest
7) the pulled pork sandwich and the onion rings
Sadly, though, I give it two stars based on our last trip there because:
1) the rib combo was more like a charcoal brisket combo
2) the following conversation ensued between my boyfriend and I that night:
me: "I feel a little funny, honey. Do you feel funny?"
him: "No, I feel ok. But do you smell burning in here?"
me: "Hm. There does seem to be the vague scent of charcoal lingering around us, yes. Owie. My stomach hurts."
him: "Well I still feel...oh, wait. No I don't. I don't feel good at all. Is that burning smell getting stronger?"
me: "It feels like I'm about to give birth to an alien a la Sigourney."
him: "I think I'm going to go contemplate cool, clear mountain streams from bed."
And then we spent the rest of the night staring up at the ceiling fan; wishing that the nauseating hovering smoke cloud would dissipate already; and praying that the charred meat in our tummies would not choose to make a surprise re-entrance into this world.
Once my system recovers and the smell goes away (it hasn't -- not really), I'm sticking to the sandwiches.
Disclaimer: Before eating the burnt meat sticks, I had taken down (in a very lady-like fashion) a thing of leftover Indian for lunch, a thing of nachos at Batman, and two large things of beer. But that doesn't explain the smell, and that also doesn't explain why the much-more-sensible-eating bf spent the night wimpering right alongside me. Your call, padner.
This is a great place for BBQ, the food is excellent and the employees couldn't be friendlier. I got the pulled pork sandwich and with a side of mac n cheese. The pulled pork sandwich was excellent, the meat was very tender and the the BBQ sauce was sweet and spicy and had a great flavor. The mac n cheese might have been the best mac n cheese I've ever tasted, it had a wonderful flavor and the bread crumbs on top really sealed the deal. So why the 3 star review? The portion sizes were REALLY small. The mac n cheese was $3 and it was about the same size as the cup you put ketchup in at Wendy's. It couldn't have been more than 2 bites. My friend got the cheese fries, which would have been equivalent to a McDonald's small fry, for $3. I would definitely go back, but I don't think I'd be ordering any sides, they just aren't worth the money.
Pretty Sketchy...but not bad.
I wish it was open later.
There seems to be a lot of mixed reviews about Smoke Shack....Let me just tell you... you cannot go wrong eating here. No this isn't a Robinson's or anything like that, but it is a bar b q joint in Lincoln Park, and god damn it, it's worth the money. I AM SO SICK THE SAME OLD RESTAURANTS MOVING INTO LINCOLN PARK (thai, sushi, irish bar, mexican whatever...)...It's really time to change it up a little, and Smoke shack is certainly doing that. Here's what you need to try:
-Pulled Pork Sandwich
- Onion Rings
-Coleslaw
I have had other items, and they're all just as good. I really liked the pulled pork, as it was done well and made nice and tender. The sauce is amazing, and the onion rings are real and delicious. It's not a big frills restaurant, it's just a bar b q joint.. and that's all it's trying to be. Don't come here on a formal date or to impress your boss... it's not about image here, it's about functionality. The prices are a bit high, BUT THEY'RE IN LINCOLN PARK. The rent is really high in LP, and businesses have to adjust accordingly. Enough said, go try it.
Man - I hate giving this place only two stars-- but as a true Texan I can't allow you Chicagoans to think that the bbq sauce here is legit.
I'll agree with Daniel that the selections are vast, the sammy portions large and the Mac & Cheese tasty... but when I took my first bite of sauce-drowned sandwich, the record completely skipped right off the track.
what the hell is this? they call it 'smokey sweet' bbq sauce. I call it red-wine-vinegar-with-tomato-sauce-and-sugar. I know vinegar may be a contributory ingredient in typical sauces--- but the twang on this stuff curled my lips.
so much so that I think I can only go back there if I get the sandwich dry and bring it home for my own bottle of Stubb's.
I think it is as good as Kansas City BBQ. Sort of like an Arthur Bryant's, but a little bit less hype, and the thin ribs, could be cooked a little bit less.
The thick ribs were great, the brisket was wonderful. Unfortunately they were out of cornbread. We had the slaw, beans and mac and cheese instead.
I would go back.
Bonus was that we got to see the set up of the final scene from Public Enemies with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, at the Biograph Theatre.
Customer service is great and friendly. The food is OK, but no more. I have had so much better and bigger sandwiches that I cannot see going here again. What gets this place one star is that they left te fat on the meet. I do not mean in the meat, I mean the grissle on the side. Who wants to eat grissle? This is so unacceptable that I want to scream. Any employee knows not to throw fat on a briket sandwich. Of course there is always some, but it should be unnoticable. Here it is in every bite. Also, you get half the meat of Fat Willie's and it comes on a broken bun. Just not cool. The mac and cheese is covered with a burnt crumb mixture which makes the dish even worse. Some people like kraft mac-n-cheese with crumbs on top, not me.. The fies are thin and delicious, but I did not come for the fies. For the price ($20 for two sanwiches with two sides & drink) this place is a loser.
Pretty mediocre. I ordered the pulled pork, brisket and rib tips. All seemed like they were just being reheated.
The rib tips were a complete disgrace. They were more like the Barbecue Pork you get as an appetizer at a Chinese restaurant -- sliced thin (1/4 inch) and looking like they came out of a can.
I have not had any BBQ in a while and when I got my 'Q craving this place did not disappoint! I had a delicious BBQ pulled pork sandwich which was just the right size and a side of fries which had a really good seasoning on it. I'm definitely gonna go back with some buddies and maybe bring a 12 pack because its BYOB!
I went here for a Friend's birthday the other day. There was a large group of us about 10 or 12 of us. Since the place is BYOB. We brought tons of alcohol to the place and the owner gave us a few large buckets with ice to keep our beer, wine and other adult beverages cold. I loved the ribs! They were cooked perfect! The sauces were amazing! I even tried a Caesar salad from the Smoke shack and I got to say it was amazing as well! The staff was also super nice and friendly. I can't wait to go back to try more of their items on the menu!
Certainly not the most authentic BBQ joint in the city as compared to places such as Fat Willy's or Smoque, but these guys do a great job. Their primary influence for their food is Argentinian, so their sauce and a few other items are a little different than you expect from a traditional BBQ joint.
The guys working there are so friendly and always have a great attitude. They don't claim to be any type of regional BBQ joint, rather they just do a good job at smoking meat.
Ribs - Their ribs are probably the best BBQ item on the menu. They are smokey throughout and very lean. They have a great rub on them which creates a nice outside crust when they come out of the smoker. They are pretty authentic in that they are not boiled/broiled and soggy (which seems to be the preference of Chicago natives...gross!).
Pulled Pork - My second favorite item. The meat is pretty smoky in flavor and is a generous portion. It will definitely fill you up!
Brisket - Eh, so-so. Not the worst, but certainly not the best I have had. I would pass for the aforementioned items.
Sauce: Serves its purpose, but I am not huge fan of the flavor. I usually get my stuff dry and add a little of the sauce to flavor.
Beans: Not traditional BBQ beans, but they are great. There is some type of spice they use that gives them a little heat and adds a lot of flavor. These are definitely different than any beans I have tried before.
Garlic mashed potatoes: Great! They have have a strong garlic flavor without being overwhelming.
Burgers, gyros, chicken wings - All are very good if you are in the mood for them, but I wouldn't make a special trip to try them. If I lived right in the area, I would get them more often.
In summary, if you are in Lincoln Park and want some fast, late night BBQ, its a great find. Being that they are open late after the bars close, it is a much better option than soggy burritos or McDonald's. As I mentioned, not the most authentic BBQ, but for late night options, they do a great job. I try to support them if I am in the area. Give them a try sometime. Your bound to find something you like.
had the wings, there was really nothing great about them. the mac and cheese was good and the spicy BBQ sauce was decent. did not like the coleslaw at all. overall it was an ok meal, only went back one more time. i was optimistic when i first saw it open, the place has potential to be a lot better though.
I tried this place when it first opened, thought it was ok, then tried it again yesterday, and came away with a similar feeling. First of all, I think their smoking technique is great, and adds a ton of flavor to both the pork and the brisket. The problem is, they dump a TON of sauce on the sandwich before serving, thereby rendering said technique completely useless. This definitely isn't southern style bbq, and thats ok. I get the feeling they want to be something different anyway. It doesn't look like they have the confidence to stand behind their product. For example- whats the point of offering 2 different types of sauces if you pour a ton of one on the sandwich? Doesn't give us much of a choice...
I'll agree with my fellow transplanted texans that mild bbq sauce is a bit too sweet. The spicy sauce on the side is mighty tasty so you can control the sauce. had the brisket sandwich - with mac and cheese. since it's down the street, I'll come back to try chicken and ribs, which smell mighty fine! it's no salt lick or sonny bryan's, but its local ---- now!
Forget this place. Get your taste buds satisfied better and for a lot less money at the Taco and Burrito Express down the street. I wish HECKY'S had opened in this location. Now that would be overnight soul food to die for. Yes! And if someone had had the foresight to open a HAROLD'S CHICKEN SHACK at this location...oh, my god! Anyway, this place is sort of a good choice only when you just got to have some barbeque after listening to a ton of blues while trying to drown in beer.
Great BBQ in Lincoln Park
Just tried the Smoke Shack for the first time and I was not disappointed. Great food to watch Football on a Sunday afternoon. Or any other time for that matter. I got the ribs with Mac'n'cheese and garlic mashed. The ribs were great with a really good smokey flavor. The sides were amazing too.
On top of all the great food the Smoke Shack offers personal and friendly service as other reviews have noted. I ordered when one of the owners was working and he asked me to call back and let him know what I thought about the food. These guys are serious about making the customer happy.
I will be back without a doubt.
Yum! Okay so this place already gets one star from me because it's close, open late, and as much as I like burritos it's good to have other options. I gave the food the remaining 4 stars. My suggestion, based on the other reviews here outlining some shortcomings of the sandwiches is to get the bbq chicken wings, ribs, and ribs. We had all three and they were really delicious and reasonably priced. The ribs were great without the extra sauce- smokey and delicious and the chicken wings were meaty and the flavor of the "mild" bbq sauce baked in was perfect. The people working there are friendly too- included free corn bread to our take out order :)
This BYOB corner neighborhood joint is really much better then the first impressions. The St. Louis ribs are extremely meaty; get the combo and select 2 sides, that probably could be a little bigger. Food was excellent, service was pretty good, but bring in a beverage to pass time while you wait. Could be a little cleaner; floors and tables a little sloppy, but overall enjoyed the experience.
I want to like this place a lot more than I actually do. Perhaps that's because I walked past it going to and from the L every day for three months before it opened, excited at the prospect of a barbeque joint in the neighborhood. Overall, though, I would call Smoke Shack's offerings serviceable, but not great.
I've so far had the ribs and the brisket sandwich, and while both were good, the sauce is just a little too vinegar-y for my taste. The portions are a good size, though - the sandwich definitely filled me up.
I will also say that the both the food and service have greatly improved over the month or so that they've been open, and I wouldn't be surprised if the improvement continues. Either way, I'm sure I'll be back more often than I care to admit because, well, it's just so damn convenient.
Oh, and it's BYOB, for whatever that's worth.
If you like gristly ribs, this is the place for you. I couldn't believe how little of the ribs was meat that I could eat versus fat/gristle to be thrown away. They offered a coupon for about half-off which I used, and the guy (I believe the owner) who served me was grumbling about how it wasn't a good deal for him...well, then DON"T offer the coupon. Plus, the guy overcharged me, which may have been coincidence, but I don't think it was. Nasty food + unprofessional service = I'll never go back.
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