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!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Tom Stewart
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.
MGySgt K
Pretty good. Living in Costal N.C. 20 plus years, I prefer Eastern N.C. vinegar BBQ Sauce. I typically don't like Midwest BBQ sauce. But they serve up without sauce. That is a big plus for me. Hence, I really like this place. I always believe that if you have to smother ir drench in BBQ, you don't know what you doing. They did really good. O! The potato salad was great.
Stopped by finally to try the pork steaks, unfortunately for me they sold out right before our visit (but a very good problem to have). We pivoted and tried the turkey and brisket…dee lish shush! The Mac n cheese was creamy but the potato salad…try it! We will make the trip again, 100%, to chase the famous pork steaks😉
Marta
GUARD YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WHEN DEALING WITH THIS BUSINESS. BEST TO PAY CASH I placed a take out phone order with this business the first weekend in March as I had heard the business was struggling. I arrived 15 minutes after my order should have been ready only to find out it had not been started yet. I finally got my order 30 minutes after I was told it would be ready. Here's the weird part, a week later on the following Friday night at 8:00 pm I received a phone call from a woman I do not know who identified me by first and last name and began to rant about how I was banned from Shorty's because I was rude when I picked up my order the previous Saturday. She continued on to threaten me if I ever came back into Shorty's. She repeated her rant and when I tried to ask a question she hung up on me. She never identified herself but clearly she had gotten my personal information from a Shorty's staff member. She had gotten my last name from my credit card and my phone number from my phone call to place my order. Thankfully, my cell phone gave me her name and phone number. It turns out she, Angie, is married to the owner of the business. So, he does not protect the information of his customers. Sadly, for the business, I have been a loyal customer since they opened and have spent well over $1,500.00 dollars there and sent many people on my recommendation to the business. To protect myself, I have filed a police report and will definitely be checking my credit card for any unauthorized activity.
phillip becker
Fast, friendly and good food. The atmosphere was cool as well.
Bill Bailey
Some of the best brisket in the Midwest
Cindy W
It was very busy for a Monday. There's only 2 options on the menu. My husband and I both ordered the brisket burrito with onion rings. The rings were cold, not even warm. The burrito was room temp. My husband asked for a refund, but was told by the young adult at the counter we already ate half, which was untrue. He took 1 bite from his, and I took 2. The young guy did go and speak to the owner, who brought us new servings and apologized.
I was looking forward to traditional bbq options, so we will try another day when the full menu is offered.
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
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.
Pretty good. Living in Costal N.C. 20 plus years, I prefer Eastern N.C. vinegar BBQ Sauce. I typically don't like Midwest BBQ sauce. But they serve up without sauce. That is a big plus for me. Hence, I really like this place. I always believe that if you have to smother ir drench in BBQ, you don't know what you doing. They did really good. O! The potato salad was great.
Restaurantji Recommends
Stopped by finally to try the pork steaks, unfortunately for me they sold out right before our visit (but a very good problem to have). We pivoted and tried the turkey and brisket…dee lish shush! The Mac n cheese was creamy but the potato salad…try it! We will make the trip again, 100%, to chase the famous pork steaks😉
GUARD YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WHEN DEALING WITH THIS BUSINESS. BEST TO PAY CASH
I placed a take out phone order with this business the first weekend in March as I had heard the business was struggling. I arrived 15 minutes after my order should have been ready only to find out it had not been started yet. I finally got my order 30 minutes after I was told it would be ready.
Here's the weird part, a week later on the following Friday night at 8:00 pm I received a phone call from a woman I do not know who identified me by first and last name and began to rant about how I was banned from Shorty's because I was rude when I picked up my order the previous Saturday. She continued on to threaten me if I ever came back into Shorty's. She repeated her rant and when I tried to ask a question she hung up on me. She never identified herself but clearly she had gotten my personal information from a Shorty's staff member. She had gotten my last name from my credit card and my phone number from my phone call to place my order. Thankfully, my cell phone gave me her name and phone number. It turns out she, Angie, is married to the owner of the business. So, he does not protect the information of his customers. Sadly, for the business, I have been a loyal customer since they opened and have spent well over $1,500.00 dollars there and sent many people on my recommendation to the business. To protect myself, I have filed a police report and will definitely be checking my credit card for any unauthorized activity.
Fast, friendly and good food. The atmosphere was cool as well.
Some of the best brisket in the Midwest
It was very busy for a Monday. There's only 2 options on the menu. My husband and I both ordered the brisket burrito with onion rings. The rings were cold, not even warm. The burrito was room temp. My husband asked for a refund, but was told by the young adult at the counter we already ate half, which was untrue. He took 1 bite from his, and I took 2. The young guy did go and speak to the owner, who brought us new servings and apologized.
I was looking forward to traditional bbq options, so we will try another day when the full menu is offered.
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