I’m sure I don’t need to tell you because if you’re looking at this listing, you already know… This place is amazing. Some of the very best barbecue and brisket I’ve ever had. Try the Gouda mac & cheese. It’s surprisingly wonderful combination of a little bit of pepper and a whole lot of wonderful cheese! Come check this place out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
TOYFAN2
First time here and was glad we stopped in. Large portions and very tender brisket and turkey. Baked beans were yummy. Wished for more options on BBQ sauces. Wife like the mac and cheese. Reasonable pricing for quality and qty of food
After navigating the twists and turns of Illinois Caverns like BBQ-hungry Indiana Joneses, we were hangry enough to gnaw on a hiking pole. Luckily, Shorty’s Smokehouse in the heart of downtown swooped in like a smoked meat superhero. 🦸♂️🍗
🏚️ Atmosphere: Classic Charm with a VHS Soul Housed in the former City Hotel, Shorty’s instantly gives off historic grit and smoky allure. You swing open the old wooden doors and boom—nostalgia hits harder than a roundhouse kick from Jean-Claude Van Damme. The vibe? A love letter to ’80s and ’90s movies. There are reclaimed doors as tables, rustic floors, booths that probably hosted Clint Eastwood at least once, and window seating fashioned from salvaged beams. It’s like dining inside a retro movie montage—but with brisket.
👋 Staff Vibes: The crew was friendly, fast, and unfazed by our post-cavern grunge. Service was sharp and sizzling, just like the meat they serve.
🥪 Brisket Breakdown: Flavor-packed. Juicy. Smoky. Honestly? That sandwich was so good, we considered adopting it. The bark had bite, and even though the meat could easily go solo, the sweet BBQ sauce took it to karaoke-night-level greatness. 🎤🍖
🥗 Side Hustle:
• Coleslaw: Tangy, crunchy, and totally fresh. The ideal plus-one to smoky royalty. • Gouda Smoked Mac & Cheese: Creamy with a smoky backbone—like if mac & cheese grew up and joined a blues band. 🧀🎷
🧪 Sauce Lab: Three tasty options, and all of them brought something to the table. Even though the brisket didn’t beg for sauce, that sweet drizzle hit like BBQ gold.
🎬 Final Scene: If you’re chasing Midwest flavor, nostalgic vibes, and portions that high-five your soul, Shorty’s is your final boss of BBQ. A delicious detour with character, heart, and a whole lotta meat.
Good food at a very affordable price. We had pork steak platter and you cut it with a fork that’s how tender it was. The sauces were good too but didn’t need much since the meat and sides had so much flavor. Great decor and music was cool. Support local businesses!
It's barbecue place nothing fancy small portoins,no plates served on pice of butcher paper on a tray order burnt ends wich were very dry,and sausage, barbecue beans very bland no flavor good potatoe salad,and good coleslaw the wife said
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Julie Walker
Really great bbq and sides. Fun atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Corey Sudja
Favorite BBQ in the area by far
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mike Wallis
Casual and nice neighborhood place. Great food and service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sharon R.
I didn’t need to add sauce to these ribs and I enjoyed the sides (which doesn’t happen often at many good rib spots). In addition to the food the location is great with bars and at town center is cute with some shops. We like traveling to stl for ribs but now with this being located 45min closer we will save the gas.
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you because if you’re looking at this listing, you already know… This place is amazing. Some of the very best barbecue and brisket I’ve ever had. Try the Gouda mac & cheese. It’s surprisingly wonderful combination of a little bit of pepper and a whole lot of wonderful cheese! Come check this place out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First time here and was glad we stopped in. Large portions and very tender brisket and turkey. Baked beans were yummy. Wished for more options on BBQ sauces. Wife like the mac and cheese. Reasonable pricing for quality and qty of food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was good but a tad bit cold.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Probably best brisket around
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brisket Sandwich, Potato Salad, 1 3 Pound Brisket Plate with 2 Sides, Smoked Gouda Mac \u0026 Cheese, Brisket Burnt Ends
Self serve at the counter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
The service is really nice . They work hard . I really love the food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best brisket I've had in years! Great sides also. Quite little place off the beaten path... It's a must for BBQ lovers!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great brisket and sides! Earlier in the day ensures brisket is available.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
🔥🍖 Shorty’s Smokehouse: Brisket Bliss Meets Retro Realness 🍖🔥
After navigating the twists and turns of Illinois Caverns like BBQ-hungry Indiana Joneses, we were hangry enough to gnaw on a hiking pole. Luckily, Shorty’s Smokehouse in the heart of downtown swooped in like a smoked meat superhero. 🦸♂️🍗
🏚️ Atmosphere: Classic Charm with a VHS Soul
Housed in the former City Hotel, Shorty’s instantly gives off historic grit and smoky allure. You swing open the old wooden doors and boom—nostalgia hits harder than a roundhouse kick from Jean-Claude Van Damme. The vibe? A love letter to ’80s and ’90s movies. There are reclaimed doors as tables, rustic floors, booths that probably hosted Clint Eastwood at least once, and window seating fashioned from salvaged beams. It’s like dining inside a retro movie montage—but with brisket.
👋 Staff Vibes:
The crew was friendly, fast, and unfazed by our post-cavern grunge. Service was sharp and sizzling, just like the meat they serve.
🥪 Brisket Breakdown:
Flavor-packed. Juicy. Smoky. Honestly? That sandwich was so good, we considered adopting it. The bark had bite, and even though the meat could easily go solo, the sweet BBQ sauce took it to karaoke-night-level greatness. 🎤🍖
🥗 Side Hustle:
• Coleslaw: Tangy, crunchy, and totally fresh. The ideal plus-one to smoky royalty.
• Gouda Smoked Mac & Cheese: Creamy with a smoky backbone—like if mac & cheese grew up and joined a blues band. 🧀🎷
🧪 Sauce Lab:
Three tasty options, and all of them brought something to the table. Even though the brisket didn’t beg for sauce, that sweet drizzle hit like BBQ gold.
🎬 Final Scene:
If you’re chasing Midwest flavor, nostalgic vibes, and portions that high-five your soul, Shorty’s is your final boss of BBQ. A delicious detour with character, heart, and a whole lotta meat.
#BrisketBandits #SmokedSoulFood #ShortysSmokehouse #RetroAndRibeye #CavernToCravings #FoodieFuel #GoudaGlory #SaucedAndSatisfied #AvgJoeEats #MidwestMeatQuest 🤠🥩🎥
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good food at a very affordable price. We had pork steak platter and you cut it with a fork that’s how tender it was. The sauces were good too but didn’t need much since the meat and sides had so much flavor. Great decor and music was cool.
Support local businesses!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
It's barbecue place nothing fancy small portoins,no plates served on pice of butcher paper on a tray order burnt ends wich were very dry,and sausage, barbecue beans very bland no flavor good potatoe salad,and good coleslaw the wife said
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Really great bbq and sides. Fun atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Favorite BBQ in the area by far
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Casual and nice neighborhood place. Great food and service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I didn’t need to add sauce to these ribs and I enjoyed the sides (which doesn’t happen often at many good rib spots). In addition to the food the location is great with bars and at town center is cute with some shops. We like traveling to stl for ribs but now with this being located 45min closer we will save the gas.
Loading...