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Smokin With Chris
Categories: Restaurants Barbeque Restaurants American (New) Barbeque, American (New) [Edit]
59 W Ctr StSouthington, CT 06489
(860) 620-9133
- Hours:
Mon 4 pm - 10 pm
Tue-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 12 am
Sun 12 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
30 reviews for Smokin With Chris
Review Highlights
"...believe there is a great BBQ place that not only has great..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...back ribs, and my fiance likes their steak, and spare ribs."
(in 3 reviews)
"My pulled pork was tender and juicy, and the barbeque sauce..."
(in 4 reviews)
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30 reviews in English
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Review from Mark H.
Shelton, CT
2/1/2012
I want to start out by saying that I give out 5-star ratings about as easily as Sally Struthers lets go of a Hostess Cup Cake. I had been here a few years ago, and didn't remember this place as being anything special, but then again, I probably wasn't paying much attention. So when we came here the other night I wasn't expecting much at all. Boy, was I in for a surprise!
Our party of five came here at 7pm on a Saturday night (the single busiest time of the week), and the service was top notch. Our waitress was friendly and prompt. She gets a 5/5.
Our drinks were OK. We tried a couple off of their drink menu, but ended up switching to beer. Maybe we need to try a few others so I'll hold off on a rating here.
Simply put, the food was outstanding. Nothing was overcooked or undercooked. The smoker out back was smokin' up a storm when we arrived, and everything was fresh. We tried a wide variety of dishes. The chili was some of the best I've had at a restaurant, but not the best I've had. I like my chili to be like quicksand in texture (this doesn't mean it needs ground beef people!). Here it is more soupy, but the chunks of meat made up for it. The meatloaf was by far the best that any of us have ever had - ever. The brisket was very good, and the ribs were decent (I'll admit I've had better/meatier). Prime rib - thumbs up. The sides sealed the deal! The sweet potatoes with apples were just amazing, as were the beans (I didn't think I'd ever rave about beans, but there you go). Can't really rave about the mac & cheese. The French fries were above average. The corn bread was a bit pricey, but it was the best corn bread that any of us have had. And there was absolutely no room for desert.
Overall, the five of us had nothing but great things to say about our meals. The music was good - just a little too loud for the dinner-time crowd. Sure, I could pick knits about the small stuff, but nothing that could stand in the way of the super dining experience we had. Seeing the owner make the rounds and ask everyone how their meals were was a nice touch. Keep up the great work! -
Review from Kasia T.
Southington, CT
12/1/2011
Don't be scared off by the way the place looks from the outside, it's not a biker bar. Can't speak to the meat dishes, but the food is very tasty and bar has a good selection of brews on draft. Despite being a bbq place, there are plenty options for vegetarians: the mac & cheese & chrischetta are my favorites.
Outdoor sitting is great for people-watching on the "rails to trails" trail next door. -
Review from Erica R.
Southington, CT
2/9/2012
We love love love this place. It's within walking distance from our house, which makes a feel a little better after we've stuffed ourselves. We always order the same thing - the spring (or winter, depending on the season) salad, baby back ribs and/or pulled pork sandwich. Wonderful food, great staff and service.
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Review from Cj L.
Bridgeport, CT
1/31/2012
Good food, good people. Down home cooking, the pulled pork and brisket are very good. BBQ sauce is really good!! Music on Friday and Saturday nights. Go early it fills up quick. Prices run $10-25 but the portions alone are worth it.
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Review from Andrew H.
Plantsville, CT
1/14/2012
Do yourself a favor and start by walking into the bar entrance. If you walk into the dining room entrance you are going to end up standing there for a couple of minutes not know if you are supposed to just seat yourself or wait. Once you finally get seated the food is very very good. Chili is amazing. I usually get the meat lovers platter however I have noticed that the past two times I have gone they have definitely cut down on their portion size with keeping the meal the same price...I will give it one more shot though because it tastes so good!
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Review from Taryn M.
6/20/2011
Mmm mmmmm, bar bee q! Having lived in South Carolina for a number of years, I am a huge fan of the real deal, and I can confirm that the real deal, as far as you can get it in New England, exists at Smokin with Chris.
My boyfriend and I made the sort of bad decision to visit on this past Father's Day. The beautiful weather had the outdoor area jam-packed, and the inside dining room was pretty full as well. As soon as we walked in, we got that unmistakable whiff of delicious smoked meat, and we couldn't wait to try the food.
We were seated in a booth and gotten drinks lickety split. As we perused the menus, I was disappointed to see that there is no simple pulled pork platter + sides. There's a pulled pork sandwich, and a meat lovers' meal (which includes ribs, brisket, and pulled pork), but I just wanted pork sans bun. What to do? Thankfully, the waitress was eager to please, and I ended up getting a pulled pork sandwich minus the bun and plus extra pork, with my two sides of choice.
Now, I'm a stickler for good service in a restaurant. I would be inclined to give Smokin with Chris a pass on this because it was a busy holiday, but I did deduct a star from my rating based on the really and truly absolutely miserable service. It's one thing to be busy, it's another to be busy and totally disregard your customers without apology. We waited a good 40 minutes for our food to come out, and during that time it would have been nice to be acknowledged a little bit. We hardly were.
The food, though? Made up for all that. My pulled pork was tender and juicy, and the barbeque sauce was top notch. For my sides, I chose cornbread (moist and cakey - loved it!) and collard greens (a little dry for my taste). Next time I will probably go for the sandwich in its entirety, as they make it in the traditional Southern style over coleslaw.
Obviously, that means I'll be returning to Smokin with Chris, and that's an absolute certainty. The food is just too good to miss, despite the very slow service. -
Review from Jim J.
Rocky Hill, CT
12/23/2011
I was looking forward to going to Smoking with Chris after reading newspaper reviews. However, I couldn't have been more disappointed. I should have known it was going to be a disaster as it is located in a shabby Southington house probably built in the 30's. The service was extremely slow, probably because the bartender was also the waiter. After a long wait, our meat came grossly undercooked and had to be returned. No one apologized. It was returned, still undercooked and I tried to eat it anyway, but was deterred as it was loaded with fat. The only saving grace was the sides, tasty but small portions. As you might expect, I will never return again.
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Review from Kristin N.
Southington, CT
8/19/2011
My fiancé and his parents and I went to Smokin' with Chris after our final walkthrough before we bought our new house in Southington. It was one of the few places in Southington that actually had yelp reviews (which I plan to help change), so I wanted to try it. We ordered the nachos and this fried potato thing stuffed with bacon and gouda, which was an appetizer special. The nachos were fine, pretty standard. The potato special was amazing. I'm a sucker for anything potato, but I almost wish I had ordered several for my entire meal. It was fried on the outside, and the inside was a mashed potato (maybe slightly denser) filling, bacon, and melted cheese. So delicious.
I had the pulled pork sandwich with potato salad and mac and cheese for the sides. The portions are quite large, so the two appetizers were definitely unnecessary. The sandwich wasn't your typical pulled pork smothered in BBQ sauce. Instead it was chunks of pork, all BBQ'd, with sauce on top, all inside a huge roll. The pork was tender and cooked well, and you could really taste the flavor of the BBQ. There was so much of it too that I basically had the pieces that fell out of the sandwich for dinner, and the rest for lunch the next day. There was something slightly unique about the potato salad (maybe some worcestershire sauce?, but very yummy, and the side of mac and cheese was also quite good; it's bread crumb topping was great.
The only reason I give this place three stars is because my fiance's ribs were almost raw. We came in around 8ish, and were basically the only people there on a Tuesday night, so I'm guessing that's the reason time wasn't spent cooking them. I want to come back again and give the ribs another shot. -
Review from Robert W.
Oxford, CT
3/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Friends of ours have a tattoo studio just around the corner and recommended we try this place out. Like a previous reviewer stated, "it looks like a biker bar or road house", which it does.
The best part was walking to the front door and getting a whiff of the meat being smoked in the back, what a wonderful smell it was; really makes you hungry.
We were their pretty early and the place was empty so we got a seat right away. Basic western kind of theme, very comfortable. The staff was prompt and friendly.
My wife had the brisket sandwich and I had the smoked turkey Rueben; both were very good. The two bbq sauces they use were also very tasty and the baked beans are some of the best I have ever had. I had coleslaw and although I am not a fan of the dry vinegar coleslaw, it was ok. I prefer the more creamy type like you would get at KFC. My wife had potato salad and it was pretty good.
The only thing missing in my mind was a smoked sausage option. I would also like to see meat plates like you get in the south; you order 2 or 3 types of meat with fixins, white bread and bbq sauce. Regardless, good food, good atmosphere and worth going back. -
Review from Todd K.
Nashua, NH
3/9/2010
Smokin With Chris is a pretty cool place - a smoke house bbq joint in a really old building, a smidge off the beaten path, run by a very friendly husband and wife team.
For the most part I really only come here to relax with a few beers and possibly an appetizer...and occasionally to have dinner. As far as the bar goes, Chris always has some interesting beers on tap which makes me happy.
The food on the other hand usually sounds a lot better when read off the menu then in your mouth. I'm not sure why but nearly every smoked item I've ever had here is way overcooked...to the point where it is completely dried out. I'm also not a huge fan of their bbq sauces, I prefer a spicier sauce, but their sauces aren't terrible.
On a bright note, they do make an excellent homemade salsa and a nice mac & cheese, both of which I recommend. As far as prices go they are a bit on the high side but nothing exorbitant. -
Review from Jessica H.
Middletown, CT
2/10/2009
I have been here twice. The first time is was great. The menu is mostly BBQ but has some things for people who do not like it- salads, pasta, fish etc. Chris makes all of his own sauces, so the food is to die for. They have live blues bands on weekends, and also have great specials. I love their baby back ribs, and my fiance likes their steak, and spare ribs. The only bad thing to say is they never have a large selection of sides, which is disappointing when someone doesn't like a certain thing.
The bar has unique beers, you won't find the typical selection.
All in all I would recommend this to anyone looking for a casual place to hang out with friends and get good BBQ. The sauces are excellent and the service is great. -
Review from Kurt D.
Manchester, CT
2/27/2010
The best barbecue I've had in Connecticut hands down. Super friendly service and Chris came by the table twice to check on us. Cool kitschy spot without being cluttered or dirty looking and with comfy seating, we chose a booth.
Baby Back Ribs with Dry Rub and Honey Mustard were very good and cooked just right.
Spare Ribs were a little dry. The large end was a little better, but not as moist and succulent as I would like. I had it with the JR sauce instead of the Southwest Orange-Ginger sauce, none of that fancy shizz for me! JR sauce was solid, I just wish they had it in hot. Both could have had a little or a lot more smoke for my liking.
Side were really good too. Collards had a little heat to them which we liked. I like it cooked just a bit more, but still very good. Housemade fries, potato salad and an individual crock of mac'n'cheese with breadcrumb topping were top notch. Served with real brewed iced tea.
We'll definitely be back. -
Review from Michelle H.
Beacon Falls, CT
5/1/2011
Not terrible but not great either, in our opinion. Upon viewing menu realized it was not the style BBQ hubby & I prefer. ( we like ST. Louis style) the smell from the smoker had us craving ribs, so we were disappointed to see the menu. Also only offered one BBQ sauce, we like to sample different sauces with our BBQ. The sauce was a bit to sweet for our tastes. But different tastes, you may love it, the place has been highly recommended by friends, just not our style.
I had the burger with cheddar and sauteed onions and it was mouthwatering!!! I hate when I order sauteed onions and they come out only partially cooked. I hate biting into raw onion. These onions where just the way I liked them!!! Perfection. I will crave the burger! Hubby had brisket sandwich. His comment was " light on the meat and half of it was fat."
Service was great, friendly, prompt and kid friendly. The restaurant was spotless and offered a nice outdoor seating area and bar area. -
Review from Doug B.
West Hartford, CT
2/21/2011
Place looks a little like a biker bar or road house, reminded me of a place in Long Island. As you pull up you can see and smell the giant smoker outside.
You can always tell a quality place by the cole slaw. Fresh stands up to the food, and crisp. I give this place a great review because the owners try to make everything fresh and you can tell. The wings were very good, and cooked just the right amount. Had the pulled pork, and it was tangy and a just a little smoke infused. It is an unusual place because it has music on sat nites from what I've heard the band are very good. Place has a deck for summer and I can imagine that would be a nice place to spend some time. Spoke with Chris who is very nice and genuinely friendly. This is the type of person who should be in the restaurant business. -
Review from Phillip S.
Meriden, CT
3/31/2011
Went recently with a large party. Food was great. The flavor from the smoke was well complemented by the different sauces in all of the dishes from the smoker. The wait staff needed to be a little better organized, but I am definitely going back. Btw the cupcakes for dessert are a great ending if you can fit it.
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Review from Josh B.
Oceanside, CA
10/14/2010
I had to have their signature ribs as that is what I was craving when I found this place on iWant. The location is pretty small and I can see how it could get packed on a busy night.
A good smoke flavor to the ribs. The BBQ sauce is sweet and moderately tangy. The ribs themselves didn't have a whole lot of spice, especially for the dry rub they claimed. Other than the smoke flavor, the spice was imperceptible or at the very least was overpowered and lost to the smoke. The meat was tender and moist and there was a bit of residual heat after you were done with each bite. I had some greens with my ribs and they had a nice vinegar bite with a bit of citrus flavor in the mix. The cornbread was dry and didn't come with butter or honey. They had a small selection of beers, only about 5-6 different major labels and they had a full bar. I did like everything I had, and it was memorable, but not the best. If you want the fifth star out of me, get some great beers to go with your very good ribs. Offer some heat/sweet/spice options to your BBQ sauce. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to good friends. -
Review from Keith W.
Wallingford, CT
12/7/2009
This place was great. A lovely big and open dining room and a friendly bar area, we went straight to the dining area, no wait for a table, seat yourself. We ordered the burnt ends as our appetizer, the portion was huge! It was easily a meal on it's own. The burnt ends were fantastic, exactly how I would have imagined and hoped they could have been. I didn't want to stop eating them but I had to leave room for the main course: I got a half rack of Baby Backs and a half rack of spare ribs. Both were awesome, the orange ginger BBQ sauce tasted wonderful and the more regualr sauce on the baby's was good too.
The service was friendly, both Chris and his wife came over and talked to us and we saw them talking to other customers too, not in that "hey I'm the owner how cool am I" sort of way, but just a friendly "hello, hope you're enjoying yourself" manner.
All in all a really nice dining experience, we'll be back. -
Review from Joe B.
Southington, CT
11/22/2010
Good food, good service, fair value. The Memphis and Chicago blues playing in the background adds to the atmosphere. The wood piles and stoves out back affirm the authenticity of this BBQ joint. Great collards and sweet potatoes. Terrific ribs and brisquet! A must try if you are looking for comfort food. One of my buds tells me the bar has a great selection of brews on tap.
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Review from Todd Z.
Plantsville, CT
1/3/2011
Great BBQ! Love the food at this place!
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Review from John B.
Westport, CT
Biker bar feel but real soul in the kitchen. Don't pass by if BBQ is your thing.
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Review from Byron B.
Boston, MA
3/11/2010
This place rocks!!!! They always have their wood fired bbq smoker cranked up and it smell so damn good outside, you just HAVE to go in!! they have all of the traditional southern bbq favorites....and they are done right! The wait staff is very knowledgeable of the menu and is great for asking recommendations. The owner is also the cook. This is also a great place to come for drinks and to hang out. Definitely a fun atmosphere.
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Review from Cindy C.
1/2/2010 3 photos
Went for the first time on NYE and these hippies sure know how to smoke...meat that is! We got the burnt ends & buffalo wing combo appetizers. The ends were delicious and a good sign for the BBQ entrees. Wings not so much but that didn't stop us from inhaling them. Entrees we ordered included the meat combo (substituted sauce ribs for dry rub ones), the 'Yabadabado' and the prime rib. The combo was enough to feed the proverbial army and the sides, chose fries & roast beets, were also good. I was tempted to keep the ginormous bone from the Yabadabado. The meat literally fell off the bone and melted in the mouth. Mac & cheese and collard greens were also yummy. Dessert was their version of a trifle but it wasn't very trifle-ish IMO, but it was a good finish to the meal. Also they make a good St Germaine cocktail. With the live 50s-70s cover band music, it was a very enjoyable NYE.
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Review from Mark P.
Southington, CT
2/20/2010
We went to 'smokin' a few weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon, and we were both dissapointed. I had the Yabbadabbado meal, And though it was tasty, I left hungry. I don't profess to be the biggest eater, but for 21.95 I'd expect to leave full. My fiance ordered prime rib, and it was served luke warm. The owner and his wife are very personable, and attentive but for the $$ there should be either bread and salad served with the meal or a *second rib* included. There just isn't much meat for the money, so if you are looking for a filling BBQ meal, beware!
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Review from Larry B.
Southington, CT
8/30/2010
Geez, what a treat to live within spittin' distance of Smokin with Chris! I'm a barbeque aficionado. I even do my own. I know 'Q. His is among the best around.
Ribs are awesome- done traditionally with hickory smoke and a hint of mustard flavor (really!). It's not a cheap meal, but good food does cost.
You're going to need reservations on weekend nights.
Don't tell Chris that the secret ingredient to my chili is a half-rack of his baby backs, dumped in the crock pot with my veggies, etc. -
Review from Chris D.
Farmington, CT
2/7/2010
My wife and I ate there a few times throughtout 2009. The 1st time it was OK. We had the Ribs and some Burnt-Ends. I'm a big sauce guy and their sauce was just so-so. It doesn't have any character to it. They have a great smoker, but it's almost like they don't use very good wood or they get in a rush. The pie we had was better than the Q. The tea we had wasn't fit to drink. They need to spend more time at a real BBQ place (KC, MO or Austin, TX) and learn what real Q is..
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Review from Mary A.
Southington, CT
3/13/2011
Ate here last night, great food fun band had a fantastic time!
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Review from K O.
New Haven, CT
8/16/2010
Great staff, pretty restaurant, but not our style bbq.
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Review from Randy R.
Cheshire, CT
10/16/2007
Great Bar B Q Very authentic. You get a lot of food with the sandwich (2 side dishes) but I would prefer a larger sandwich without the sides. Pretty nice for a REAL Bar B Q restaurent. Cozy kind of home spun look in an old house. Definitely not the corporate look of one of the chains. Friday and Saturday they feature live laidback entertainment.
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Review from Rich G.
Warrington, PA
5/3/2008
I stop here every time when I am in the area for business. Nachos are great with the pulled pork. YabaDabaDoo rib is giant and I have never been able to finish. The BBQ is a authentic as anything I have had in K.C. or Texas in the middle of CT. The couple that run the place are great and remember me whenever I come in. It is way better eating real food with real people with you are on the road.
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Review from MJ G.
Cheshire, CT
1/3/2010
I was so happy that I found this place! Most restaurants in the area are American steak houses or Italian. I can't believe there is a great BBQ place that not only has great food but also a great beer selection! The owner and his wife are usually there and you can tell that they care about customer satisfaction when it comes to the food and the service.
