It's definitely a good vibe. Food, environment, and live band!!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork, Brisket Sandwich, Smoked Wings, Beef Brisket, Smoked Beef Brisket Per Pound, Smoke House Sampler, Turkey
Mike Kytka
A Taste of Texas Right in New York!
As a proud Texan, I've had my fair share of authentic BBQ, and I'm thrilled to say that Smoke & Barrel in Rockaway Beach hit all the right notes! The brisket here is top-tier--succulent, smoky, and packed with flavor just like the best you'd find back home.
What made the experience even more special was learning that Mike, the manager, studied under some of the best Texan pitmasters in the business, including the legendary Aaron Franklin. You can taste the attention to detail and craftsmanship in every bite--it's clear this BBQ is the real deal.
The casual beachside location adds a unique charm to the experience. It's a perfect blend of Southern comfort and New York cool.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Brisket
Lauren Kytka
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authentic Texas-Style BBQ in New York!
As a born-and-raised Texan, I like to think I know a thing or two about great BBQ, and Smoke & Barrel completely blew me away! The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth perfection—juicy, flavorful, and smoked to absolute perfection. I never thought I’d find brisket this good in New York! No sauce needed, thanks to a stellar dry rub that lets the meat speak for itself.
The beach and cozy atmosphere made the experience even better—warm and welcoming from start to finish. A special shoutout to Mike, the manager, for making us feel right at home and ensuring everything was top-notch. We’ll definitely be back! Smoke & Barrel is a must-visit for any true BBQ lover.
-A BBQ-loving Texan
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Smoked Beef Brisket Per Pound
Brian Hassett
As a person who doesn't hand five stars out by default, and a BBQ fanatic whose lived in SC and traveled extensively in the Lone Star State, this is really good BBQ. Lots of great flavor, dry rub, with the sauce on the side. I'd eat here anytime.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shivani
Me and my partner ate here for 3 days straight as we were staying right upstairs. This food was the best bbq we have had in NYC! Everything we ate was delicious and so tasty. The mocktails were also delicious, and there was free refills on their soda !
The staff were so nice to us on every day it was a shame we couldn’t say bye to them. The owner gave us free collard greens to try and they were scrumptious. We left no plate unfinished. ??
We will miss eating here but it made our stay in rockaway so much better ! :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork, Red Cabbage Slaw, Skin-On Fries
NYCrypto Garbageman
Have eaten here NUMEROUS times and have never been disappointed. It's a Texas Style BBQ place, so, there is NO Table Service, so, any reviews that are negative because they didn't have a waitress obviously didn't do their homework before coming here. You order your own food, grab your own utensils, order your own drinks from the bar and then grab an open table or seat at the bar. It takes the server out of the equation and saves negative feedback for employees that may not do such a great job. It also gives you, as the customer, the option yo monitor your food being made from pitmaster straight to the table. The joke of the day between me and my friends was: "Man, the food was good and hot, but, not as smoking hot as the girl working the pit. (She is definitely a smokeshow!! ) she can cook for me every night of the week. ?? She's damn good with a knife too, which is kinda scary and a red flag! LMFAO OKAY, Back to the food: I've had numerous things, so, quickly, ill review. 1) Brisket: unbelievable. Was told they smoke it for around 16 hours in white oak and boy it tastes and shows why it makes a difference. 2) Fresh Turkey: was amazing as well. Very tasty. Even though it didn't need it, added some salt and pepper to perfection! 3) Pork Sandwich: added some salt, pepper and House BBQ sauce they offer at every table and they nailed it. The Pork was delicious, tender, and cooked perfectly. 4) Chicken Wings: WOW! I tried the sweet Chili sauce, the Dry Rub and BBQ. One better than the last. All 3 flavors were great and I can't wait to try the others 5) my favorite dish: Fried Chicken Sandwich: all I can say is HOLY CRAP! Best chicken sandwich I've ever had. Fried chicken breast with Cole slaw, pickles, pickled onions and sauce. Was un-freakin-believable and the Sandwich itself is HUGE! So, those were some of the things I had and was not disappointed in any of them. The owners are always there, the pitmaster is amazing and knows his BBQ and the chef in the back is dynamite! There's nothing I appreciate more than a quality BBQ place, especially when you can find a good one here on the Northeast coast. This place can hang with some of the places down south. Def worth a try. Next time I go back, I'll be trying their famous ribs and ordering a LB of Brisket for just myself! Cocktails: were amazing also. They have some signature cocktails that go perfectly with the menu and if you ask one of the bartenders to make something special, each bartender has a different suggestion If you wanted to do something different than what's on the menu. I had one of their many different drafts (Brooklyn Summer Ale) and a suggested shot from the bartender who made me a Baked Apple Pie shot and it tasted just like a baked apple pie. Unbelievable. Def worth the visit to Rockaway for quality BBQ and drinks. Thank you staff at Smoke n Barrel. They also have a pool table and numerous dart boards which I thought was cool and added some genuine feelings to the atmosphere.
Parking: They have about 12-15 free parking spots out back plus plenty of street parking if needed.
Kid-friendliness: Kids are definitely welcomed and catered too. They have crayons and things to draw on. Keep in mind though, there is a bar there and sometimes a sports crowd.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork, Chicken Sandwich
Tom Donovan
Great food southern style. Order what you want by the quarter pound.
Delicious food, friendly staff, overall a great experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mac & Cheese, Smoked Beef Brisket Per Pound
Alexis Henry
Went here for dinner after a beach day, service was extremely inefficient. There were a few large parties and we were told you have to order at the counter, no table service. One person was serving food, taking orders and payments. Brisket is tasty but the cornbread was extremely dry (even melted butter didn't help).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Brian Bolon
Best brisket I ever had. Mac and cheese to die for. Cant wait to come back and try the famous ribs. They smoke everything in the back. Authentic Texas barbecue!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mac & Cheese, Smoked Beef Brisket Per Pound
Great food and great staff. Service was great and would eat here again!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mac & Cheese, Beef Brisket
Donna Jennings
My boyfriend and I have eaten here on several occasions and have always enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. We have not been here in several months and decided to go this evening. We were so disappointed. First we sat down expecting waitress service which we always had and no one came over to us. After awhile we flagged down a gentleman who explained we had to order the food ourselves and if we wanted to get a drink we needed to go to the bar and order. I had to flag down a bartender to take my order after standing there for several minutes. Once the food was brought out we knew there must be some change in the pit master. We had specifically asked if the chicken sandwich was all white meat. We were told it was. Unfortunately when it came out the first bite indicated it was not. We were both very disappointed in our meal and unfortunately that will be our last visit to Smoke and Barrel.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
akaria z
Great way to start a lazy beach day. The brisket was great and ribs were good. Pickles were perfect side to the BBQ. Loved the smoked wings. Loved the homemade ranch dressing even more! Pulled pork was a little too vinegary for me. Laid back with good vibes. It was the owner’s bday and they shared cake with all the patrons. I’ll be back every time I come to Rockaway
Matthew Mazzone
Great experience today for lunch. Turkey, brisket, and fries were amazing. Great drinks, nice people, fair prices - rockaway is lucky to have them!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christopher Bell
Went here on a Saturday afternoon and had brisket, ribs, Cole slaw and corn bread. Brisket and corn bread were amazing. Best corn bread I’ve had at a BBQ place in NY. Slightly crunchy crust, not very heavy, and pleasant corn taste with mild sweetness. Service is very nice too.
It's definitely a good vibe. Food, environment, and live band!!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork, Brisket Sandwich, Smoked Wings, Beef Brisket, Smoked Beef Brisket Per Pound, Smoke House Sampler, Turkey
A Taste of Texas Right in New York!
As a proud Texan, I've had my fair share of authentic BBQ, and I'm thrilled to say that Smoke & Barrel in Rockaway Beach hit all the right notes! The brisket here is top-tier--succulent, smoky, and packed with flavor just like the best you'd find back home.
What made the experience even more special was learning that Mike, the manager, studied under some of the best Texan pitmasters in the business, including the legendary Aaron Franklin. You can taste the attention to detail and craftsmanship in every bite--it's clear this BBQ is the real deal.
The casual beachside location adds a unique charm to the experience. It's a perfect blend of Southern comfort and New York cool.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Brisket
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authentic Texas-Style BBQ in New York!
As a born-and-raised Texan, I like to think I know a thing or two about great BBQ, and Smoke & Barrel completely blew me away! The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth perfection—juicy, flavorful, and smoked to absolute perfection. I never thought I’d find brisket this good in New York! No sauce needed, thanks to a stellar dry rub that lets the meat speak for itself.
The beach and cozy atmosphere made the experience even better—warm and welcoming from start to finish. A special shoutout to Mike, the manager, for making us feel right at home and ensuring everything was top-notch. We’ll definitely be back! Smoke & Barrel is a must-visit for any true BBQ lover.
-A BBQ-loving Texan
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Smoked Beef Brisket Per Pound
As a person who doesn't hand five stars out by default, and a BBQ fanatic whose lived in SC and traveled extensively in the Lone Star State, this is really good BBQ. Lots of great flavor, dry rub, with the sauce on the side. I'd eat here anytime.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Me and my partner ate here for 3 days straight as we were staying right upstairs. This food was the best bbq we have had in NYC! Everything we ate was delicious and so tasty. The mocktails were also delicious, and there was free refills on their soda !
The staff were so nice to us on every day it was a shame we couldn’t say bye to them. The owner gave us free collard greens to try and they were scrumptious. We left no plate unfinished. ??
We will miss eating here but it made our stay in rockaway so much better ! :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork, Red Cabbage Slaw, Skin-On Fries
Have eaten here NUMEROUS times and have never been disappointed. It's a Texas Style BBQ place, so, there is NO Table Service, so, any reviews that are negative because they didn't have a waitress obviously didn't do their homework before coming here. You order your own food, grab your own utensils, order your own drinks from the bar and then grab an open table or seat at the bar. It takes the server out of the equation and saves negative feedback for employees that may not do such a great job.
It also gives you, as the customer, the option yo monitor your food being made from pitmaster straight to the table.
The joke of the day between me and my friends was: "Man, the food was good and hot, but, not as smoking hot as the girl working the pit. (She is definitely a smokeshow!! ) she can cook for me every night of the week. ?? She's damn good with a knife too, which is kinda scary and a red flag! LMFAO
OKAY, Back to the food:
I've had numerous things, so, quickly, ill review.
1) Brisket: unbelievable. Was told they smoke it for around 16 hours in white oak and boy it tastes and shows why it makes a difference.
2) Fresh Turkey: was amazing as well. Very tasty. Even though it didn't need it, added some salt and pepper to perfection!
3) Pork Sandwich: added some salt, pepper and House BBQ sauce they offer at every table and they nailed it. The Pork was delicious, tender, and cooked perfectly.
4) Chicken Wings: WOW! I tried the sweet Chili sauce, the Dry Rub and BBQ. One better than the last. All 3 flavors were great and I can't wait to try the others
5) my favorite dish: Fried Chicken Sandwich: all I can say is HOLY CRAP! Best chicken sandwich I've ever had. Fried chicken breast with Cole slaw, pickles, pickled onions and sauce. Was
un-freakin-believable and the Sandwich itself is HUGE!
So, those were some of the things I had and was not disappointed in any of them.
The owners are always there, the pitmaster is amazing and knows his BBQ and the chef in the back is dynamite!
There's nothing I appreciate more than a quality BBQ place, especially when you can find a good one here on the Northeast coast. This place can hang with some of the places down south.
Def worth a try. Next time I go back, I'll be trying their famous ribs and ordering a LB of Brisket for just myself!
Cocktails: were amazing also. They have some signature cocktails that go perfectly with the menu and if you ask one of the bartenders to make something special, each bartender has a different suggestion If you wanted to do something different than what's on the menu. I had one of their many different drafts (Brooklyn Summer Ale) and a suggested shot from the bartender who made me a Baked Apple Pie shot and it tasted just like a baked apple pie. Unbelievable. Def worth the visit to Rockaway for quality BBQ and drinks. Thank you staff at Smoke n Barrel. They also have a pool table and numerous dart boards which I thought was cool and added some genuine feelings to the atmosphere.
Parking: They have about 12-15 free parking spots out back plus plenty of street parking if needed.
Kid-friendliness: Kids are definitely welcomed and catered too. They have crayons and things to draw on. Keep in mind though, there is a bar there and sometimes a sports crowd.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork, Chicken Sandwich
Great food southern style. Order what you want by the quarter pound.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork, Crispy Corn Fritters
Delicious food, friendly staff, overall a great experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mac & Cheese, Smoked Beef Brisket Per Pound
Went here for dinner after a beach day, service was extremely inefficient. There were a few large parties and we were told you have to order at the counter, no table service. One person was serving food, taking orders and payments. Brisket is tasty but the cornbread was extremely dry (even melted butter didn't help).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Best brisket I ever had. Mac and cheese to die for. Cant wait to come back and try the famous ribs. They smoke everything in the back. Authentic Texas barbecue!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mac & Cheese, Smoked Beef Brisket Per Pound
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food and great staff. Service was great and would eat here again!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mac & Cheese, Beef Brisket
My boyfriend and I have eaten here on several occasions and have always enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. We have not been here in several months and decided to go this evening. We were so disappointed. First we sat down expecting waitress service which we always had and no one came over to us. After awhile we flagged down a gentleman who explained we had to order the food ourselves and if we wanted to get a drink we needed to go to the bar and order. I had to flag down a bartender to take my order after standing there for several minutes. Once the food was brought out we knew there must be some change in the pit master. We had specifically asked if the chicken sandwich was all white meat. We were told it was. Unfortunately when it came out the first bite indicated it was not. We were both very disappointed in our meal and unfortunately that will be our last visit to Smoke and Barrel.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Great way to start a lazy beach day. The brisket was great and ribs were good. Pickles were perfect side to the BBQ. Loved the smoked wings. Loved the homemade ranch dressing even more! Pulled pork was a little too vinegary for me. Laid back with good vibes. It was the owner’s bday and they shared cake with all the patrons. I’ll be back every time I come to Rockaway
Great experience today for lunch. Turkey, brisket, and fries were amazing. Great drinks, nice people, fair prices - rockaway is lucky to have them!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went here on a Saturday afternoon and had brisket, ribs, Cole slaw and corn bread. Brisket and corn bread were amazing. Best corn bread I’ve had at a BBQ place in NY. Slightly crunchy crust, not very heavy, and pleasant corn taste with mild sweetness. Service is very nice too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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