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Categories: Barbeque, Music Venues [Edit]
Neighborhood: Wicker ParkDivision (Blue)
Mon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
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This is up there with some of the best, but not the best.
I favor dry rub BBQ instead, but I had brisket and pulled pork which are not cooked with sauces causing the sugars to burn and create that off taste. Their sauces were delicious along with the meats smoked with great flavor. The side of cornbread should have a review of it's own because that is amazing. The sweet potato fries had that perfect sweetness with out being overwhelming.
The place itself is a little small, but kudos for having the small stage in the front window of the store - ala Nashville style. Very cool.
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Heard good things about this place. Had ribs delivered tonight, and unfortunately I was not pleased. These ribs just aren't to my liking. I prefer a "tangy" sauce and this was more of a "smoked" jerky flavor....some people may prefer that I suppose...but not for me. :(
Cole slaw was quite good....cornbread wasn't to my liking though either.
I'm from Texas. There, I admit it.
Smoke Daddy's is great!! I have been a few times and always get the biggest rib plate on the menu. I have never left hungry or dissatisfied. I do leave a little greasy, groggy, bloated, and happy. Oh, they have Lone Star beer too!! Now that takes me back.
Admittedly, I haven't been in several months, but they used to have a Country Western band on Friday nights that was simply awesome. They played all my classic Country favorites while skipping over that Adult Contemporary Country or Pop Country that has become the staple in recent decades.
This place does get crowded so get there early or expect to wait. The seating area is cramped (I've only been when there is a band playing, so maybe different when there's no live music?) but the wait staff is pleasant, friendly, and accommodating to those having to jam what little floor space is available while waiting. Don't get discouraged; the ribs are worth the wait!
Who's your daddy? That's right... Smoke Daddy.
Mmmmm... ribs. Yeehaw!
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Great live music, amazing BBQ food! Don't miss the sweet potato fries and the cornbread!
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We went down to the Renegade craft fair last week, and wanted to tell you quickly about this place called Smoke Daddy on Division between Damon and Ashland. All we have to say about this place is: "damn good". Lois got the pulled pork sandwich, which came with a whopping plate of fries, and I jumped on the appetizer menu when I saw something called the pulled meat nachos.
Let's start with the pulled pork sandwich. Now Lois has eaten many, many pulled pork sandwiches in her day and this one ranks in about the 75 or 80th percentile -- good flavor, lots of tender meat, not drowning in sauce, and a bun firm enough to absorb the excess BBQ sauce without falling apart (very important). The handcut fries (just one of several side options) were delicious -- thin and crispy with a nice seasoning. The sandwich and fries by themselves were more than enough food so Lois was ultimately happy she didn't order that side of cornbread; it looked amazing, though - a table across the way was furiously feasting on several slices.
Pulled meat nachos. It's exactly what it says - but giant. This could have easily served four people as an appetizer but worked fine for one person as an entree. Think nachos, with a lot of cilantro, tomatoes, onions, topped with taco bell flavored mild sauce... now imagine under that top layer of nachos, is a layer of pulled pork, more nachos, and under that a handful of slow cooked baked beans with more pulled pork. It was awesome, but don't make the same mistake I did. Order it as an appetizer with three to four people, not as lunch for one.
We dropped about $25 at this place. Was it worth it? We're writing about it, aren't we? Go if you're in the area but I don't know if it's worthy of a planned trip.
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After moving to the Wicker Park neighborhood about a year ago, I was in search of many neighborhood staples one likes to establish after moving - sushi restaurant, Mexican restaurant, Thai restaurant, a burger joint etc. Being a huge fan of anything BBQ, I was very excited that Smoke Daddy was only a couple of blocks away. After walking my dog by the delicious smell day after day (which would often cause an unconscious Pavlovian response by both me, and my dog) - I decided it was time to give it a try.
The food was absolutely phenomenal - we started out with Pulled Pork Nachos (drooling once again just thinking about them), then split the Baby Back Ribs and some mac & cheese. The pulled pork in the nachos was extremely smoky tasting (which I love) and the ribs were perfect. Not to mention I loved having the option of many different sauce varieties (I'm the person that orders BBQ sauce as a salad dressing in restaurants, and slathers it on more food groups than most humans I'm sure). Finally - the mac & cheese topped it all of nicely...creamy deliciousness.
As for the service - our waitress was polite and friendly...and we ended up having a casual conversation with the manager about the neighborhood. While I know Chicago has a selection of really great BBQ places and people tend to have varying tastes as far as how they prefer it to be prepared - I would feel comfortable recommending Smoke Daddy to any BBQ connoisseur.
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Who doesn't love BBQ? From the texture, to the smell, to all of the wonderful sauces available. MMMM....Just the thought of the bark on good brisket makes my mouth water. Yum. I must warn you, I love BBQ and I have had a very difficult time finding decent BBQ joints in Chicago, with that said I walked into Smoke Daddy not expecting much.
I was craving BBQ and had to try Smoke Daddy. We were immediately sat and informed that the band would be performing shortly...band? Yes, a band! A blues band!! Oh, I like this place already.
The atmosphere seemed like a pretty genuine BBQ Joint, something you could find on Route 66! I was in the mood for brisket so I checked out the menu, Brisket sandwich? I didn't want that, I was showing my bratty side, I wanted sliced brisket with a good bark and that's what I got. We also tasted the Chicken which turned out to be my favorite, it was smoky goodness. We also tried a few sides...Mac and Cheese, pretty good, not the best I have ever had but pretty good. Next were the baked beans, not as good as I hoped way too much bacon Ugh. We also tried the sweet potato fries, collard greens and coleslaw, all just average.
The standout at Smoke Daddy was surprisingly the smoked chicken, I will not doubt return for the Chicken and the music. Overall, I wasn't amazed by the food however the atmosphere was great and the chicken was fantastic. I would love to use the following quote to describe Smoke Daddy, "It is a far, far better barbecue that I have now, than I have ever had before" - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities....But I can't. The truth is I have had better, actually I think I have made better.
Try Smoke Daddy for great smoked chicken and fantastic live music. If you are in the mood for amazing BBQ I suggest looking elsewhere. If you are looking for BBQ and good music, try Smoke Daddy...don't forget to order the chicken.
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Go for the BBQ, come back for the sides... specifically the mac n cheese! It's yummy, cheesy, smoky deliciousness.
Who's your Daddy? WHO'S YOUR DADDY?
Yeah, I am sure I am not the first to say that about the Smoke Daddy, but day-um, these people are serving up some mighty fine grub that would make the most bbq-jaded person scream for more.
What I love is that they get both the meat AND the sides just right. I absolutely loved the pulled pork in its savory-tangy sauce, with little charred bits in it which were oh so flavorful. The mac n cheese and beans were awesome, and the slaw? the BEST - crunchy and not watery and full of cilantro. Mmmmm MMMM. The sides are so good that even our lovely vegetarian friend could dive in with the same gusto as us omnivorous cowpokes.
Cool space, nice selection of beer on tap, outdoor seating for warm nights. If this place were in my city, I'd be a Daddy's girl every night of the week.
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After an afternoon of exploring Wicker Park (nice neighbourhood!) we needed some sustenance. We were on our way to the (in)famous Moonshine (I did try, Andre!) when we walked past Smoke Daddy. Actually, we didn't make it past, because the delicious smell of barbecue and the lure of an almost empty sunshine-filled patio lured us in.
We both had a sandwich, mine on the greedy side with brisket and pork. The pork was good, the brisket was ok. I wouldn't have them in a sandwich together again. I was clever an tactically left half my bread so I could finish the good stuff... portions are biiiig. The three barbecue sauces they have on the table are genius, I struggle with the sweetness of barbecue sauce but the mustard one is perfect for me. We also had sweet potato fries. Nuff said. Yum.
Ten dollars to anyone who can guess what our other side dish was..... oh yes, you thought you could escape a review with no mention of mac n cheese? Muhahahaha. To be honest, I wouldn't bother with it here again. It appeared to be made with cheese whizz and it fills you up way too much. Fries fries fries is the way to go here.
Service was friendly and fast. I may try to return some day to try their ribs.
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Pro: We came in during peak hours on a Friday evening. We couldn't score a table for four at the sidewalk patio, but our party was seated almost immediately inside.
Con: We were seated right next to the stage, and we loved the three-piece band and its soulful/bluesy music. But, the music was so loud we just couldn't hear each other over its strains.
Pro: We all loved the creamy and crisp cole slaw, the sweet potato fries (we almost ordered extra helpings), and Tennessee sweet tea. Two of my dates raved over their chicken wings. The third date and I split a rib sampler. Holy mother! Too much food. We all loved the baby backs, but all of us were slightly less enthused by the rib tips and spare ribs. Great idea for 3 BBQ sauces.
Con: The much needed wet wipes were nowhere in sight. While there were paper napkins presented along with the BBQ sauces at the side of our table, our grubby hands and sticky, smeared faces needed a little extra help.
Pro/Con: Our host and first server (a guy) deserves a five star rave. He was friendly, engaged, and provided great recommendations. Halfway through our meal, a chick replaced him. Woman looked like she couldn't get rid of us fast enough. We were hustled in and out in under an hour after her repeated "Are you done now?" and "You don't want any more drinks? Fine! Here's your bill" as she slapped the check down.
Summary: Loved the ambiance and some of the service. While not a BBQ aficionado, I was entranced by the sides and will be back to try something other than the ribs. I'm told brisket and pulled pork are the way to go.
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I lived in Kansas City for five years. Arthur Bryant's is my Mecca. I get the Jack Stack Catalog in the mail. Let's say I'm a little biased.
Smoke Daddy came highly recommended by my long time Chicago friends that know my BBQ roots. Unfortunately my indoor Sunday afternoon visit was not very memorable. The BBQ was ok, the service was slow, and the ambiance could have been better. The sauce is nothing to write home about. Finally, I would say that it is a bit overpriced for a BBQ joint - but it is Wicker Park. If you are jonesin for a fix and happen to be in the area Smoke Daddy will do, but I wouldn't seek it out as a BBQ destination.
Smoke Daddy's was at one of the local rib festivals and they were one of my favorite, so I wanted to check out their restaurant.
I went with the pulled meat platter and got the pulled pork and chicken. The pork was fine, but the chicken was delicious. The pit beans were definitely the thing to get. They were full of meat and had the right amount of spice. Next time I will try the slaw, because I have yet to find a bbq place that can get both right.
Prices are standard and the food is great. I'll definitely be back.
BBQ? OM NOM NOM NOM
I love BBQ. It is one of my favorite things in the world. Actually, meat is, but you get the picture. I am a meat loving girl and I love BBQ meat a lot as well. So. Here we were, Saturday afternoon. My boyfriend and I wanted food and I suggested Smoke Daddy. He agreed because I have been talking about wanting to go there for the past month and we haven't (I live right down the street).
So off we went.
When I got there, I knew I wanted to try everything. But how was that going to be possible? And, would my boyfriend try something adventurous so that I can try everything on the menu? The answer to the latter was no. My boyfriend got the burger, Daddy Style, which I guess involved some jalepenos, onions, bbq sauce and he added blue cheese. He said it was good. Can I attest to that? No. I couldn't try it because I got
THE BIG DADDY
which involved me ordering a choice of ribs and two kinds of meat. So I got the baby back ribs, brisket and the pulled pork. I also got to choose two sides, so I got macaroni and cheese and the veggie of the day, collard greens. I know you're asking yourself: how can this tiny girl eat all of this? I can say that I have a stomach of steeeeeeeeeeeel. And that I almost ate all of it. The ribs were tender, so much so that I could pull the meat off of the bone and feed it to my boyfriend (what, we didn't do that!) The brisket and pulled pork were also tender and well seasoned. Especially the brisket, which still had the fat on it. I appreciated this A LOT, as any meat aficionado would know adds delicious flavor to the meat. It was very good. The pulled pork had enough bbq sauce, I always want a little more, but there was enough. The fact that there are three types of bbq sauce on the table is a huge plus, as you can choose. I used all three on all of my meats. The macaroni and cheese was very cheesy; it wasn't the best I've ever had, but my mother doesn't work at Smoke Daddy, so I wasn't surprised. The collards were sour and garlicky, but very delicious. Of all that I ate, what was left for me to take home were three baby back ribs, two pieces of brisket, some mac and cheese and a few collards. And the leftovers the next day, while not enough food, were delicious! In fact, the brisket was even better, which who would've thunk?
I would go to Smoke Daddy again, over and over. Perhaps I won't get that much meat next time, and I'm REALLY very curious about the chicken, so maybe that will be on my next visit to stuff my face.
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the pulled pork nachos were so delicious!!!!
However, we had also ordered the sweet potatoe fries which were... greasy deep fried tree branches. blech!
Beer was not cold enough (strange!) and we were ignored by the waitress. It's a good place to sit outdoors though!
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Excellent. The sandwiches, the ribs, the sauce, the nachos, it's all good. They have the GREATEST cole slaw on earth. I am a cole slaw snob. Nothing else that I have had is close to the Smoke Daddy slaw. They have good bands(if you like old school country and blues), a nice beer selection; just a laid back place with good food and a decent bar. I know the restaurant was sold a few years back to some Purdue grads. My thought was, "Jesus, rich kids got some mom and dad money and are buying a great restaurant and turning it into a college meat market." They have not changed much at this excellent restaurant. Kudos to them. I went there so much I ended up dating one of the bartenders. That ended, but the that slaw lives on...
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I am a self-admitted BBQ novice, but I enjoyed my ribs from The Smoke Daddy. Full of smokey goodness!
The mac-n-cheese isn't that great. I don't know why anyone gushes about it.
Caution: Do not wear white to this place - you'll prob get BBQ sauced!
After spending a day at the zoo, my boyfriend and I were craving BBQ - I know, that just doesn't sound right. We had planned to eat at Honky Tonk on 18th but dammit it was closed on Sundays and Mondays! Armed with hunger and a laptop, I yelped "BBQ" and found Smoke Daddy. "4 stars? Open Sunday til 11pm? Let's go!"
I flew down the highway and got there in 10 min flat. On our menu: BBQ ribs & chicken, pulled pork sandwich, sweet potato fries, vegetable of the day (potato salad) and mac & cheese. First off, let me start by saying that the portions are huge and the extra bottles of sauces on every table is a huge plus. Sometimes a girl likes her pulled pork sandwich a little bit saucier. My favorite was the dark sauce - smokey something.
The meats were delicious, but the sides just blow them away. Honestly, the BEST sweet potato fries I've ever had - perfect and fresh. Best mac & cheese, their potato salad was awesome too, I wouldn't say it was the best but it's up there. Everything was so flavorful, the chicken was fantastic and beat out the other BBQ'd meats we had. I think I wanted something a bit more smoky in my sandwich though so I'll probably get the pulled chicken sandwich next time.
I was told to come here for the best ribs in the city....I was highly misinformed. I feel awful to say this, but the ribs tasted and felt like tree bark. The fries were salty from over seasoning, but the macaroni & cheese was delicious. The place seemed like it was run by a bunch of recent college grads. Regardless, the staff was extremely pleasant, easygoing, conversational, young, and good-looking. ;-)
The major plus comes from the live band that starts up after 9 pm. I was told that it was a blues/jazz band, but it sounded more rock. Maybe that's just the Chicago style. :-) The place is also located in the funky, artsy Bucktown neighborhood, which made for an entertaining stroll through the streets.
This is a hole in the wall restaurant, so look for Mac's American Pub for it's located right across the street from that pub.
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I came here 2 times, and both times I was not disappointed. They have large portions- my mom and I split a pulled pork sandwich we got fries & coleslaw with it. They do daily specials as well. It's just got a nice, chill vibe to it. They also have bands that come in...I've never been there when one came but I'm sure it'd be fun. There is a little patio outside as well.
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As I mentioned in my first review, my bf LOVES BBQ, and Smoke Daddy is his fave. After a summer of trying a ton of BBQ places around the city, and many many more trips to Smoke Daddy, I'm upgrading to 4 stars.
The overall dining experience at SD is as good if not better than anywhere else I tried. Great location, fast and helpful service, nice beer selection.
One of the best parts is the menu. They have all the sides you expect, (bbq places w/out mac n cheese are WAY too prevalent!), and just enough appetizers that can serve as a meal if you're not in the mood for a full meat platter or slab of ribs. I especially recommend the pulled pork nachos!
I'm sure I'll keep trying new bbq places as I hear of them, but as of yet, this is my old standby.
My boyfriend LOVES Smoke Daddy, so we go a lot. Although I don't think it's necessarily the BEST… Read more »
After a briefly sour experience with trying to sit on the patio (they refused to let us move two empty tables that were about 4 feet apart next to each other so that four of us could sit outside), we had an AWESOME BBQ experience here last night.
I am by no means a BBQ connoisseur. But the BBQ that came out of the Smoke Daddy kitchen last night satisfied me to the fullest extent possible. For $15.95, I got a combo platter with super juicy pulled chicken and thick flavorful pulled brisket, both served over a slice of white bread to soak up all the juices. Two sides, tasty green beans and a generous crock full of creamy mac & cheese. If I weren't capable of rising to this gluttonous occasion, I definitely could've worked 2 meals out of this order.
Everything on the plate was delicious. But it wouldnt've been complete without the trio of BBQ sauces that you can lather your meal generously with. Everyone likes a different one... but for me it's the sweet 'n spicy mustard bbq sauce with just the right amount of heat that sets your taste buds alight without making you gasp for air/water/cornbread etc.
It's not exactly close to where I live but I can guarantee I will be making the trip out here for some more bbq in the near future.
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my friends and i wen to smoke daddy after the renegade craft fair; we were starving and it was right in front of us. i'd also been meaning to try it for a while, so it was perfect.
it was fairly crowded, perhaps because of the craft fair traffic. we were seated after about 15 minutes. we had the pulled pork sandwich, sweet potato fries, rib tips, bacon cheeseburger, mac n cheese, and bbq chips. everything was stellar. the pork was perfectly smokey and tender, with a few crispier bits. the half order of rib tips was HUGE. i can't believe how much food it was.
the sides were amazing; the mac n cheese, by far, was my favorite. it was piping hot and had crispy breadcrumbs sprinkled on top. the sweet potato fries had a cinnamon/sugar & salt flavor, which is just how they should be. the chips were good...but i'll pass on them next time. the other sides were much better.
my only complaint was that they forgot to put bacon on the cheeseburger, and we had to hunt down the waitress to tell her. by the time we found her, the bf was too hungry to care and he just ate it without the bacon. the waitress mentioned that every bacon cheeseburger she put in to the kitchen came out without bacon. not a good sign.
in any case, still a great meal, and i'll definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.
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Good pulled pork and smoked chicken soup. Nice Staff. Go there.
Fact of life: BBQ is awesome. The Smoke Daddy offers a concise menu of barbecue goodness - ribs, pulled pork, brisket, chicken. While I can't complain about the ribs, which were full of smoky goodness and fall off the bone tender, the pulled pork left something to be desired - a bit dry, and not all that flavorful. We had the brisket also, which was fine.
As far as sides go, neither their slaw nor their green beans were fantastic. Did love the mac and cheese, though, and the sweet potato fries weren't bad either.
What I really disliked about The Smoke Daddy was the sauces they offered - ostensibly three distinct sauces, they were all generic and a bit too sweet. Their 'sweet' sauce was cloyingly sweet, and the mustard and vinegar based sauces were also lacking in bite. Overall a very serviceable barbecue joint if you focus on what they do well.
Gee, I guess something is obviously wrong with me...how could I not like this? My husband and his dad were on their way back from the Sox game and their first choice restaurant was closed on Sunday, so hubs calls me to find a substitute restaurant.
I immediately logged on to Yelp, saw the glowing reviews and placed an order for pick up. We had baby backs, smoked chicken, brisket, pulled chicken, corn bread, the pit beans and cole slaw.
I'm really not picky, especially when I haven't eaten since breakfast but to quote Muffy Crosswire from the PBS kids show Arthur, this shit was "vomitrocious". I have never had anything so nasty in my life.
If I'm going to suffer some true Jewish guilt and eat pork, I want to actually taste it. I want that sweet, succulent, sublime porkiness sliding down my throat, I want to moan with every mouthful.
A spicy rub would be nice if it weren't so overpoweringly full of burnt chili overtones, not to mention way too much smoke. I can't belive that smokiness came from actual woodsmoke...tasted more like it came out of a bottle to me.
The pit bbq beans were mostly a soupy concoction of meat chunks and watery bbq sauce and very few beans. Ugh!
My husband thought the smoked chicken was ok, my daughter ended up eating only sweet potato fries (this is the kid who eats anything), the brisket was alright-at least I was able to taste the beef. The pulled chicken was below average.
The cornbread was soaked in butter. I've never turned down butter but then I never had to squeeze out my cornbread before eating it. I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow morning when the explosive diarrhea hits.
The best part of the meal was the cole slaw, I actually liked it! The dressing was a little spicy and the cilantro was refreshing.
Other than that, this was a waste of $80. I came oh so close to throwing out the remaining slab but I figured I'd try to feed it to the cats first. Never again, so help me.
I am a guy that loves good BBQ and everytime I walk past this place the fresh scent of BBQ just takes me somewhere
I walked past yesterday afternoon and the smell smacked me in the face. I asked my lady if she was in the mood and she said yes (she really wanted Moonshine) There happened to be some seating available in the outside patio. The patio is not so big, but it's still some wiggle room. I ordered the half order of spare ribs which comes along with two sides. I selected mac & cheese along with collard greens.
When the food came I was shocked how huge a half order of spare ribs was. I will love to see what the full is like. Yummmmm!!!!! The mac and cheese was good and the greens were ok. The collard greens came with lemon already squeezed and I think it was a little too much. I could not finish the food because it was too much. I took it home for leftovers, in which I tore apart this afternoon. The mac and cheese was even better as I heated it up in the microwave.
Good to know there is a good BBQ spot nearby as I never get really good BBQ in restaurants anyway. Smoke Daddy really hit the spot yesterday and this afternoon as leftovers. They also get a plus for using Stella Artois (my favorite girl) umbrellas for the outside patio. A new fan is made!
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My good friend took me here the first time I visited him at his place in Chicago; no Chicago trip will ever be complete again without a visit to Smoke Daddy. It's simply some of the best BBQ I've ever had.
Chili? Excellent. Pulled meat? Excellent. Brisket? Excellent. Sweet potato fries and cornbread? Both, again, excellent. I regret that I haven't had a chance to try their ribs yet, because I'm sure they're awesome too.
The atmosphere here is very fun, and it's a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy some good music and fantastic food. If you're in the area.... go. Go tonight.
First review. Signed up because I had to rate this place. Went there today (Thursday) with a friend for lunch. Normal menu prices are a little above average, but that's to be expected for BBQ. However, they have at least one great special daily and today was half price burgers so my meal (burger/side/pop) was $7 + tip
To the point though..
Good Food
Good Vibe
Best Mac N Cheese I've ever had
I was a super big fan of the old Smoke Daddy, meaning before it was bought by the current owners. I love the beat up interior, the glass block, the little patio, the rockabilly and honky tonk tunes but in the end, its really about the que isn't it?
The new guys have changed the recipe and to be honest with you, I really dig it. The current sauce is a little on the thick side but nothing crazy. The meat is delicious and tender and it really holds up to the sauce. Is it as good as the old SD? Its just as good, just different. I can accept a change in the line up. Excellent sides too, especially slaw but I do not dig on the sweet potato fries. They look a little creepy to me. They taste okay but I don't love them! And I really wanted corn on the cob but they didn't have any!
Great little spot for dining in or to go. Yep, I dig the Daddy!
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Being from Kansas City and an amateur pitmaster, I'm very critical of barbecue joints.
Smoke Daddy has pretty much taken the award as my favorite BBQ spot in Chicago. While I am not fond of any of their BBQ sauces, their meats are ALWAYS succulent and their ribs can hold their own in a competition. The mac 'n cheese they offer just might be one of the best kept secrets in town.
If recommending a GREAT lunch on a Saturday afternoon, belly up to the bar at Smoke Daddy's for a cold draft beer, a pulled pork sandwich, some mac 'n cheese and a slice of cornbread. You will not be disappointed.
My bf bought this magazine that has quite a good listing of restaurant in Chicago. Yesterday we were too lazy to cook so we decided to try this new joint. This place is amazingly good! I ordered baby back ribs + sweet potato fries + corn bread *heaven* My bf ordered mixed pulled pork & chicken sandwich + mac & cheese *heaven* I'm not sure if the live band is every night or just the weekend but one thing for sure-they have a full bar!
I can't wait to go back =) Oh the only reason why I didn't give a 5 star is I just thought the fries were swimming in oil!! (i still ate it....lol )
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It's not as well-known as Smoque but Smoke Daddy has never seemed to fail me as far as service, taste, and quality. I love the selection of 3 different sauces at the table. Half-price burgers on Thursday is worth a go as well.
Oh, and I've seen the same band play there twice and they are great.
BBQ! I LOVE YOU!
i was taken here on a date and man was i satisfied! she lived in the area and i wasnt too familiar with that joint.
grabbed a couple a PBR's and browsed the menu. BBQ this and BBQ that. i was so indecisive. i ended up ordering some ribs and i was unaware i had to choose 2 sides. hmmmm. i went with fries and mac and cheese. she ordered a BBQ pork sammie and sweet potato fries and something else. the service exceeded my expectations. the waitress was super cheerful and answered all my questions with some crazy answers. i think at some point she broke down the sauces and their flavors and i was just sitting there like a kid in science class with a smile on my face. dogged the crap outta my ribs and ravaged the sides. had another beer, paid the tab, then we went back to my place for a nap. a well deserved nap after all that BBQ and PBR.
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Love that it has an outdoor seating area. Service outside there was pretty attentive. My bf and I shared the Taste of the Daddy combo platter - 21.95 for your choice of ribs (spare or baby back - we chose baby back) and 2 pulled meats (we got the pork and the brisket). We added 1/2 a chicken. We got the sweet potato fries and smoked beans for the 2 sides.
Chicken - skin was good, but as with all bbq chicken it was a little dry. The server accidentally brought us someone else's platter that had the spare ribs - they were very large and looked delicious. But she brought us out our correct order with the baby back ribs. Ribs were very good, came off the bone easily. I usually don't like brisket - but with the bbq sauce at the table, it was awesome. Pulled pork was my fav though, very juicy even without the added bbq sauce. Sweet potato fries were awesome. Smoked beans tasted like chili, had large pieces of meat in it. We were too full for dessert.
I've been coming here for something like 15 years, cause I'm old like that. I remember them opening and being silly happy at the new addition to the neighborhood back when the area was essentially devoid of restaurants and you could pretty much park your car in the middle of the street and nobody cared. Loved it then, but I have to say, I like this place a lot better for music than for the food these days.
This was our go to joint when we got sick of the food at Leo's or had a burning need for bbq and felt spendy. Not to sound like a crusty aging hipster, but the food here just doesn't seem as good to me anymore. It could be that Chicago has so many excellent bbq places these days or it could just be my aging brain cells talking, who knows?
Everything here is acceptable, but there isn't anything on the menu that isn't much, much better elsewhere. On the occasions I do come here these days, usually to see a friend play, I get a combo platter to share around the table. The meats are very tender and moist, but lack that nice smokey flavor and bark that I so cherish in my bbq. I like the pulled pork the best and, with the addition of the mustard sauce, it's pretty good. Sides are pretty boring and they are all kind of sweet, it's strange. They aren't bad at all, just kind of meh. Good selection of beer and the appetizers (helloooo pulled meat nachos) are solid.
Friendly staff, reasonably priced, consistently good live music. If I could walk here, I'd probably come in more often as it is a nice, casual, neighborhood place. As it is, not bad for the occasional drop in, but not really a place I'd go out of my way to eat at.
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I attended the rib fest 2009 on Lincoln ave yesterday. We bought several different samplers and this was my 2nd favorite rib sampler.
The meat was tender and sauce was decent. Can't say much other then that since I haven't technically eaten from SD's.
God I love southern food. Smoke Daddy does a great job of cooking meat, tea, sides and even provides a little attitude (hint, hint Erin.........that ones for you *wink*) even if she isn't from the South.
I friend of mine and I were catching up and stopped by this place for a little food and drinks. The place was PACKED at 8pm and stayed that way until around 10pm, then cleared out like it was no bodies business. I didn't get to try any desserts, but it is a "to do" the next time around. Live music was also in the joint during my visit and it wasn't too loud either...yea.
Back to the Erin comment....she is the nice blonde bombshell bartender that did nothing but serve up drinks and smart remarks while serving us......of course all in good fun, she actually overheard us talking about Yelp and shared some stories about customers reviewing the site.
Great little joint and one you should try should you get a hankerin for some good ol' southern food.
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smoke daddy is good bbq, but not the best. it's in a good location. i enjoyed the pork sandwich. you can count on a good meal. my favorite sauce is the sweeter bbq and was excited to find it at my local grocery store. stay away from the mac n' cheese, it's not good. it's extremely thick and hard to eat. everything else is tasty!
i love the atmosphere. everyone that works there is friendly and very chill. you don't feel rushed. it's fun when there is live music adding to the great atmosphere.
Unlike Stretch Run, I actually got a response from Smoke Daddy. Okay, forgiven despite your bad spelling. Actually I'd really like to try their food, it sounds delicious! I wouldn't boycott this place, there may be another update.
Our special that we were running on that day happenes to be the special that we run every Monday($3 Drafts). We renamed it to the starters name and renamed our Combo sandwich to a Sox players name cause of the opener. When the game got cancelled and moved to Tuesday we kept with our regular special that included $2 Corona/Corona Lite & $5 Nachos cause I figured it was better for people to have a drink as well as food special. Sorry for any inconvience this may have caused you, but it was just our regular specials we were running and trying to have fun with them cause of the game.
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This following is an email I just sent to Smoke Daddy. Please see attached links. I have no… Read more »
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