This restaurant offers a rare mix of superb service, excellent food, and very reasonable prices; a true 5 star experience. We stopped in for a late lunch with our picky toddlers. They enjoyed their fish and chips and chicken nuggets. I tried it as well and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The owner improvised kiddie cups for our toddlers' apple juice (and I'm grateful that they offered apple juice in the first place). I was craving a Nashville style fried chicken sandwich and described my craving to the owner. He improvised a delicious spicy dry rubbed fried chicken sandwich which satisfied my craving and more. My husband ordered the BBQ chicken and sliced lean brisket. The chicken was very tender and delicious. The brisket was lean and tender. My husband also ordered three diet cokes and they were brought out one at a time with perfect timing to ensure that he had cold drinks to wash down the food. The sides were all great too, highly recommend the mac and cheese and buttered corn. Overall, our lunch visit was a total hit and we will definitely return when we're in the area next. Please open a location in Jersey City!
Jill Bonkoski
We love the food here it is delicious everything we get it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ, Ribs
Raul Hincapie
Incredibly bad food!! Not only bad food. Bad taste also, too much money for something that is not well made. The health department has to be there. The community works for the money. Need to have a respect for it. Why are people doing that kind of food??? We got to make it happen! The health department needs to be in that kitchen to correct the issue. Don't go to that place !! Is not worth the quality!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Joseph A. Macones
Food was ready quick. Tasted great. Will definitely go back.
Great food! Great people! We’ll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marilyn Frierson
The ribs ate really good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ribs
Kristen Spreen
Utterly delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Fries, BBQ, Cornbread
Amitai Schleier
I've found several decent BBQ places closer to me in Rockland and Bergen, but Smoke Shack is on another level. Get the brisket and ribs with sauce on the side, taste them straight up, and recognize what you're dealing with here: some of the best BBQ in the area -- unquestionably the best I've encountered -- and if it seems too far, let me assure you, it's worth the trip. Just got back from a repeat visit.Vegetarian options: Their Beyond Burger is "almost as good as yours", according to my suddenly very polite wife.
I've found several decent BBQ places closer to me in Rockland and Bergen, but Smoke Shack is on another level. Get the brisket and ribs with sauce on the side, taste them straight up, and recognize what you're dealing with here: some of the best BBQ in the area -- unquestionably the best I've encountered -- and if it seems too far, let me assure you, it's worth the trip. Just got back from a repeat visit.
Brisket was really good. It could be cut just a little bit thinner, but overall taste was good. My favorite meat is brisket, so I expect it to be on point with everything.
Came here with a friend after a long hike, the food was amazing. Not too messy, taste was on point and delicious. The service was alright, it was kind of busy so we didn't get helped until 10 minutes after had sat down. The atomosphere was a nice vibe and i will defintely be coming back again more often. Love it here.Parking: parking is right in front of the business or you can risk it and park in the laundry mat. Not sure if they tow there though. Kind of hard pulling in and out due to the traffic light that is right next to the parking lot.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: BBQ, Brisket Burger
Jason Furlong
I worked in fairly high-end restaurants for almost 25 years, and Smoke Shack makes some of the best food I've ever had. And it is consistently great. Every damn time. Eventually I'm sure I will try everything on their extensive menu, but I'm a go-with-what-you-know type, so it's hard to veer away from my favorites like the pulled brisket on brioche with a side of charred apple hot sauce, the Dirty Bird, and the one that made me a regular, the Cooperstown (served hot). Owners Brian and Jen recently suggested I try the cheesesteak. I've had some great, even memorable cheesesteaks over the years, but Smoke Shack's has to rate as one of the very best I've ever had. Seriously. And if you don't get a side of tots you have no idea what you're missing. I actually drive out of my way to bring Smoke Shack home for me and my fiancee. And it is always worth it. I can't recommend this place highly enough.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hunter
Wow. I can’t believe how high the reviews are for this place. They shouldn’t be.I’m not expecting much from NJ BBQ either. I got a decent spread and nothing was good.After I poured salt and pepper into the Mac and cheese it was edible.The ribs were… mushy? The brisket was all fat. The cornbread was really not good. It had no flavor. Not that cornbread should be super flavorful but it was just meh. The slaw was alright.If you’re looking for good BBQ look elsewhere. Microwave BBQ would’ve been better.EDIT: As you can see great customer service.
This restaurant offers a rare mix of superb service, excellent food, and very reasonable prices; a true 5 star experience. We stopped in for a late lunch with our picky toddlers. They enjoyed their fish and chips and chicken nuggets. I tried it as well and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The owner improvised kiddie cups for our toddlers' apple juice (and I'm grateful that they offered apple juice in the first place). I was craving a Nashville style fried chicken sandwich and described my craving to the owner. He improvised a delicious spicy dry rubbed fried chicken sandwich which satisfied my craving and more. My husband ordered the BBQ chicken and sliced lean brisket. The chicken was very tender and delicious. The brisket was lean and tender. My husband also ordered three diet cokes and they were brought out one at a time with perfect timing to ensure that he had cold drinks to wash down the food. The sides were all great too, highly recommend the mac and cheese and buttered corn. Overall, our lunch visit was a total hit and we will definitely return when we're in the area next. Please open a location in Jersey City!
We love the food here it is delicious everything we get it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: BBQ, Ribs
Incredibly bad food!! Not only bad food. Bad taste also, too much money for something that is not well made. The health department has to be there. The community works for the money. Need to have a respect for it. Why are people doing that kind of food??? We got to make it happen! The health department needs to be in that kitchen to correct the issue. Don't go to that place !! Is not worth the quality!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Food was ready quick. Tasted great. Will definitely go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Coleslaw, BBQ Chopped Brisket Sandwich
Best BBQ around!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Flying Pig Sandwich, Baked Beans, Onion Rings, Bread Pudding Bites, Cheese Fries, Coleslaw, Baby Back Ribs, Sliced Brisket, BBQ, Dirty Bird, BBQ Chopped Brisket Sandwich, Pickled Onions, Ribs, Cornbread, Burger
Great food! Great people! We’ll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The ribs ate really good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ribs
Utterly delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Fries, BBQ, Cornbread
I've found several decent BBQ places closer to me in Rockland and Bergen, but Smoke Shack is on another level. Get the brisket and ribs with sauce on the side, taste them straight up, and recognize what you're dealing with here: some of the best BBQ in the area -- unquestionably the best I've encountered -- and if it seems too far, let me assure you, it's worth the trip. Just got back from a repeat visit.Vegetarian options: Their Beyond Burger is "almost as good as yours", according to my suddenly very polite wife.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Flying Pig Sandwich, Coleslaw, Sliced Brisket, BBQ, Pickles, Pickled Onions, Ribs
I've found several decent BBQ places closer to me in Rockland and Bergen, but Smoke Shack is on another level. Get the brisket and ribs with sauce on the side, taste them straight up, and recognize what you're dealing with here: some of the best BBQ in the area -- unquestionably the best I've encountered -- and if it seems too far, let me assure you, it's worth the trip. Just got back from a repeat visit.
Restaurantji Recommends
Nice burger and poppers
Brisket was really good. It could be cut just a little bit thinner, but overall taste was good. My favorite meat is brisket, so I expect it to be on point with everything.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sliced Brisket, Pickled Onions
Came here with a friend after a long hike, the food was amazing. Not too messy, taste was on point and delicious. The service was alright, it was kind of busy so we didn't get helped until 10 minutes after had sat down. The atomosphere was a nice vibe and i will defintely be coming back again more often. Love it here.Parking: parking is right in front of the business or you can risk it and park in the laundry mat. Not sure if they tow there though. Kind of hard pulling in and out due to the traffic light that is right next to the parking lot.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: BBQ, Brisket Burger
I worked in fairly high-end restaurants for almost 25 years, and Smoke Shack makes some of the best food I've ever had. And it is consistently great. Every damn time. Eventually I'm sure I will try everything on their extensive menu, but I'm a go-with-what-you-know type, so it's hard to veer away from my favorites like the pulled brisket on brioche with a side of charred apple hot sauce, the Dirty Bird, and the one that made me a regular, the Cooperstown (served hot). Owners Brian and Jen recently suggested I try the cheesesteak. I've had some great, even memorable cheesesteaks over the years, but Smoke Shack's has to rate as one of the very best I've ever had. Seriously. And if you don't get a side of tots you have no idea what you're missing. I actually drive out of my way to bring Smoke Shack home for me and my fiancee. And it is always worth it. I can't recommend this place highly enough.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wow. I can’t believe how high the reviews are for this place. They shouldn’t be.I’m not expecting much from NJ BBQ either. I got a decent spread and nothing was good.After I poured salt and pepper into the Mac and cheese it was edible.The ribs were… mushy? The brisket was all fat. The cornbread was really not good. It had no flavor. Not that cornbread should be super flavorful but it was just meh. The slaw was alright.If you’re looking for good BBQ look elsewhere. Microwave BBQ would’ve been better.EDIT: As you can see great customer service.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1