Barbecue restaurant Smoke Shack to open Jan. 24 in Third Ward

[croat]

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Smoke Shack, the barbecue restaurant that's been in the works at 332 N. Milwaukee St. in the Third Ward, is opening Jan. 24, co-owner Joe Sorge said today.

For the past month, the staff has been testing and tasting dishes, and now the restaurant's ready to go. It will serve pork, beef and chicken cooked over cherry and hickory woods in the casual restaurant's Southern Pride smoker, which can hold 1,000 pounds of meat.

Sorge said Smoke Shack will buy whole Berkshire hogs, a heritage breed, and said meats it uses will be raised without antibiotics or hormones.

Meats will be served without sauce, but there will be four kinds on the tables of the 50-seat restaurant: a sweet and smoky Kansas City-style sauce, a spicy Texas-style sauce, one inspired by Carolina-style sauces, with both vinegar and mustard, and a sweet and spicy house sauce.

Customers will find spare ribs, baby back ribs, beef ribs and short ribs on the menu, as well as brisket and half chickens. Barbecue lovers will also find rib tips and burnt ends on the menu. While the focus is on meat, Smoke Shack is planning dishes for vegetarians, such as sloppy joes made with seitan and barbecue sauce.

Sandwiches and entrees come with sides; prices will run about $10 to $12 for sandwiches, and entrees from about $10 to $24.

Sides include some barbecue classics and some not-so-classics: four-cheese macaroni and cheese, greens, creamy braised leeks, creamy coleslaw, sweet potato fries, baked sweet potato, kettle chips and fried corn on the cob.

The executive chef is Alex Sazama; pastry chef is Penny Yanke, whose desserts for Smoke Shack include bourbon praline cake and bourbon bacon brownie.

Smoke Shack is having a preview Friday night for its Facebook fans and some others, and doing private service for friends and family over the weekend before opening next week.

It will be open daily: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

The restaurant won't take reservations, but it will do takeout.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/137518168.html

[croat]

Looks interesting - and now farzie can have some seitan Joe's

[Josh]

high end milwaukee bbq.....yawn.

[croat]

High end - at those prices - don't think so.
Haven't really found an amazing BBQ place around town yet.

[Josh]

Ashley's BBQ is the best in the city.  $20-$24 for an entree, for bbq, is high end prices. BBQ dinners at traditional establishments are usually under $13.  Thats more expensive than even Famous Daves national chain.  I get that he has a ton of money invested in the remodel, and his rent is probably way overpriced as well, but you're talking a 25% price increase across the board for standard items. shrugs.

[farzad]

I'm looking forward to giving it a go!

[croat]

Ashleys the best ... nice try.

The article claims $10-24 for entrees - where do you get the $20-24? Made up info from yer brain like usual?

Famous Dave's is $11-22 for entrees, Texas Roadhouse is $9-20, and your famous Ashley's is $10-18. Seems in line to me and to boot more upscale options. Whats with all the hate, dont like the Sorge's or something.

[croat]

I'm looking forward to giving it a go!

Lemme know sir.

[h4x0r1337]

if there's brisket involved I'm in. and tbh, I have yet to have better brisket overall in flavor and consistency than Dave's. *shrug*

[croat]

I've yet to have good restaurant brisket.

[Josh]

Ashleys the best ... nice try.

 

oh, and who is the best joey? i'm guessing you enjoy a dry rub bbq, and that's fine...but who is the best in the city? 

The article claims $10-24 for entrees - where do you get the $20-24?

articles have to include the full spectrum of prices, and the majority of his are on the upward side, with over $20 being pricey for BBQ. Ashleys are primarily around the $10 mark, and wins the awards. No issue with Sorge at all.

[croat]

Speed Queen was better than Ashley - but just like not finding good brisket in town, BBQ restaurants are pretty consistent and nothing sticks out more than the other.

[Josh]

my personal feelings are like this. will I try his place once, sure. but with the price point its almost going into a date night/destination spot, and its not a place I'd frequent often as I'd rather spend the money on a night at a steak house, or sushi, italian, etc.  Now, if you're talking about a place that I can go a few times a month, or even once a week, I'd rather be looking at my bill being under $30 each visit for me and a friend on a casual night out for drinks and food. 

[croat]

Well if you go for a sandwich/side/and some drinks you should have no prob under your limit. If you expect to get a rack of ribs, a side, salad, and drinks under $30 ..... well your just delusional.

[farzad]

I say we do a group dinner night out and check out the place!   Will be fun and tasty I'm sure!