Hickory BBQ & Smokehouse

A solid good bbq joint. It had really good brisket, wings, fries and garlic mashed potatoes. Tostada's, ribs and smoked turkey was good too. Mac n cheese and beans were solid. Chicken was ok. It was good by needed more seasoning. Pulled pork was average at best. Definitely will be back for some brisket and wings.

An 11 out of ten. Food was delicious, service was good, and portions were massive. Absolutely knocks my prior "Best Brisket" holder out of the park. Partner isn't a brisket fan, but was a fan of this. Absolutely will be coming back as often as I can.

Don’t expect too much from this place and you’ll be fine. Brisket and ribs were a bit dry, and the chicken was only ok. Sides were a little better but the onion rings and fries were greasy. Overall it’s bbq if you want bbq but it’s not great bbq.

Quite honestly, some of the best brisket and maybe the best fries I’ve ever eaten. The meal came with amazing home made mustard and 2 kinds of barbecue sauce which, say what you want about mustard on fries, tasted like God himself blessed each potato. The homemade draft root beer can also not be forgotten 10/10

My boyfriend and I stopped here for a quick drink, and we'll definitely be going back for a casual meal because the BBQ smelled absolutely heavenly! (We had a Valentine's Day dinner reservation later in the evening, or I'm sure we would have caved and chowed down)! Anyway...the bar was full, but not crowded, and a lovely gentleman moved over (without being asked) to allow us to have two bar stools next to one another. (An unexpected kindness!) I had a new hard cider that I had not yet tried, and my boyfriend had a beer. The bartender was kind and attentive, and the atmosphere was friendly and low key. We will definitely be going back for a lunch or dinner sometime soon!

Hi, yesterday my sister and I visited Hickory BBQ & Smokehouse. The place is great 👍🏻. Everything we ordered is delicious 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻. The wings in mustard sauce were great. The waitress was attentive to us. I will recommend Hickory BBQ & Smokehouse to all my friends and acquaintances.

Authentic smokehouse/BBQ joint. Fried calamari appetizer was large sized, fresh and served with a spicy, tangy cocktail sauce. The ribs were meaty, full of smokey goodness and served with plentiful portions of sides like slaw and shoestring fries. I appreciated the variety of condiments on the table, like sweet, spicy, and Carolina sauce. My wife's burger was big and perfectly cooked. The beer, wine, and mixed drinks menu was full of options to suit any taste. We're going back soon to try the brisket, which looked amazing.

This was an amazing end to the day! We drove up here to go hiking . Made a day of it and then by the time we left were looking for good eats after an adventures day. We at first thought they were getting ready to close but they sat us down and took the most care of us. From the bar staff to the house staff . Truly great experience all around and the food!! SOOOOOOOO GOOOD!!! Hands down some amazing bbq and you can feel the love with the food !

We had Hickory BBQ Smokehouse cater my daughter's baby shower in Hopewell Junction, NY yesterday (June 1, 2025). First, Steve was amazing to deal with. Responded promptly to all my questions, nand concerns. The food arrived on time, steaming hot and was the most delicious BBQ I have had in the northeast! I would recommend them 100%. We had pulled pork, fried chicken wings, braised greens (southern style) mashed sweet potatoes, baked beans cornbread (which was so moist) and the biscuits. Wouldn't have changed a thing. Go dine with them or get catered. You will not be disappointed!!!!

Food and service are outstanding! A laid back atmosphere prevails. Pulled pork is 5+ stars. My husband get almost every other week. Thursday night is fried chicken. Go for it!! Dining and take out by us for 15 years and loving it!

Came here after a long bike ride. What a great find! The bartender was truly the jack of all trades: he tended bar, took orders, served meals, made suggestions & was like a one-man show. Our lunches of smoked turkey sandwiches were sublime. They were big, filling, had great flavor & add-ons & the only negative for me was that the mac & cheese side order was dry, the top was burnt & I wished that I had ordered the french fries that my husband got. They were VERY good. Beers (local craft beer & standard, big-brand beer) hit the spot after our bumpy bike ride. Decor is all about every sport with memorabilia on baseball, hockey, football & more covering the walls. There are two dining spaces & space at the full bar. Add Hickory Smokehouse to your upstate sojourn.

Love the family service and casual vibe. The food was plentiful as well. The best part of our meal was the hush puppies with maple butter for appetizer. They were hot and tasty. My husband felt the meat was less fatty than other bbq we've had which was also good. I found the chicken to lack flavor; the ribs were better. The bbq beans were missing something in flavor and the fries are shoestrings which aren't as appetizing.

If you read my reviews thoroughly, then you'll know I don't eat poultry, beef, pork. Having said that, even though I'm not a BBQ eater, hubs loves his meat and, suggested we come here for lunch. He quickly backed it up and mentioned Hickory's Pescatarian and Vegetarian options. As if to appease me? Please don't ask me if this is traditional BBQ and their 'low and slow' methods- because I don't know and hubs much less. Yet for these neck of the woods, if you want BBQ things, Hickory BBQ & Smokehouse may be your paradise located on Rt 28 in Kingston, NY. Hubs had a sandwich of some kind back in Spring '24 when he filled me in on Hickory. Since then, I've had their Hush Puppies+Maple Butter in mind. Nothing is too matchy-matchy here. Expect a look that's old-fashioned, yet cozy, has a big enough bar up front as you walking in, several booths on left, dining room on right and the sports memorabilia, works well together with the entire feel. These hush puppies have a wonderful crunchy outside I always imagined, but I wasn't a fan of the cornmeal+flour ratio. Maybe more cornmeal would've made these the highlight. My blackened smoked catfish sounded divine- but I called these folks a bluff and the 'blackened' seasoning on my fish, was hot as hell and couldn't tolerate it. My two veggie sides of garlicky squash+zucchini and sweet potato fries though, were excellent! Hubs, enjoyed his brisket- maybe too many smothered onions for his liking, but he enjoyed it. Service was great from the gals and prices, phenomenal.

The food was very good but took a really long time to get to me. I had the smoked brisket sandwich with slaw and it very good and very messy--a multi-napkin sandwich. It came with a huge pile of french fries which were very warm and crisp. Good draft beer choices supplemented by a variety of canned and bottled beers. Prices were reasonable. The Bar is dark wood and sports bar. Crossing Highway 28 entering and exiting the restaurant can be a challenge so be aware and careful. If the service was faster, this would be a five rating.

My coworkers picked this spot to break bread and open up conversation for my first day on the job. The service was decent but the food took forever to come out. It was only four of us and when we got the there it wasn't really busy but I could be wrong. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich that was a bit on the cold side and ok in taste. I didn't get really any smoke flavor but there was a decent amount of meat. My coworker got the fried chicken poboy which actually looked pretty good. By the looks of things there seem to be many places to eat by my job so I might just have to get used to this place. It wasn't bad and I would definitely go back!

After driving by for years finally stopped in. Food is very good bbq. Pleasant prompt staff. Casual place so we liked that too.

We will be using their catering for our wedding and we are so excited. This is the best BBQ food we've ever had! Amazing food, amazing sauces. 10/10!

Best weekday meal around! Big portions, delicious cocktails, great prices -- try the roasted potato salad!

I love this place! Just moved back to the area and finally got back to Hickory last night. I loved it before and it seems to have gotten even better. Everything I ordered was delicious!! Still the best ribs and garlic mashed I've ever had and the sauce! Soooo tasty!! I also had the collard greens. Yummy! The service was excellent as always...welcoming, friendly and relaxed. Just like l like it. Truly a gift to the Hudson Valley! Thank you!!

Great ribs and the selection of bbq sauces are very tasty. Service is solid and the room fits a bbq joint quite nicely. Only complaint was the brisket was reheated and lost most of the juicy succulent flavor, texture of a fresh brisket.

Came here on a recommendation of a friend who has been coming here for years and truly a special place. While I wasn't starving, the idea of peanut butter and jelly wings piqued my interest. I loved this concept and was truly blown away by the pepper jelly and the peanut sauce. While I didn't like how many feathers were on the wings, I understand that this means they are fresh and you could tell. I tried some of the hushpuppies and brisket and they were really special as well - loved the flavor of the brisket! The sauces were so good with the smoked meats. I loved the hush puppies, they were stupendous! I also appreciated how our server razzed us a bit and made fun of our friend who took most of a salmon salad home.

We stumbled upon Hickory on our way back from a hike. The interior is very country and classic bbq. We ordered the brisket entree and a combo entree with ribs. Both came with 2 sides. All of the food was absolutely delicious and not salty which I usually find with other bbq restaurants. We'd love to return

Wow, the ribs here are fantastic! Good hickory smoke flavor, not dry, and the service is friendly here. Get the hush puppies with maple butter. So good and plentiful. The portions for everything here are generous and pack lots of flavor. The brisket comes with caramelized onions on top of a slice of white bread. It was a small tweak to what I'm used to getting at bbq joints, and I think it was too offset some of the dryness of the brisket. Not bad, but the ribs left the best impression on me. Lots of flavor, meaty, not dry, and I kept going back for more. Didn't even need any sauce! The sides are great (greens!) and I left plenty full. The root beer is a must as well. Very unique flavor compared to the canned variety in stores.

Just had the pleasure of using Hickory BBQ & Smokehouse to host a 40 person rehearsal dinner. Couldn't have been more pleased with the service and food. Everyone raved about the delicious food. The staff was prompt, professional and pleasant. Steve was easy to work with and I had no issues. I felt the prices were fair and reasonable which is a rarity these days. Highly recommend.

Fantastic ribs! Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area! Sides were pretty good too. Greens, beans, cole slaw and baked sweet potatoes were all legit. I was hoping to get some potato skins but did not see them on the menu.

Great service and wonderful and friendly staff. I truly wished that the food was as good as the service. But unfortunately the food was horrible and inedible....flavorless and tough.... I ordered ribs, tips, wings and chicken and onion rings........I threw out the entire order.

Went for dinner with my wife and grandson. Waited for 45 minutes for appetizers that were under cooked,and fried in old cooking oil,sent them back. The same when we received the shrimp in a basket, terrible french fries were hard as a rock Unetible. My wife and grandson suffered stomach problems.

The catering is absolutely extraordinary. Highly recommended! Try the lamb lollipop chops.

Wonderful food. It's a must whenever we're upstate. Wings, chili, brisket, ribs mac n cheese are among my favs. Servers always makes us feel welcome.

Most amazing spareribs I've ever had! Perfect meal after a lengthy hike. Loved the relaxed ambiance and great service.

Excellent barbecue and drinks Our local go to spot. Also a great place to use for catering. They were fantastic for a pig roast and more!

Second experience: waiter was AMAZING, food was alright. We got the super sampler, which was way too much for 2 people. The pepper jack fries were the best part (shoe string with cheese, seasoned), we got the Thai wings (garlicky, my husband LOVED them) and the sriracha ranch that came with them was good but seemed odd WITH the wings, the rib tips were pretty good, the onion rings had an odd sweetness that neither of us cared for, and the hush puppies were SO DRY. They came with maple butter, which was WAY too sweet for me but I had to keep putting it on the hush puppies because I couldn't choke them down without it. My husband ordered the prime rib, cooked perfectly and he said it was really good. The mac&cheese was good! I ordered the "starter special" Brunswick Stew (pulled pork, chicken, brisket and sausage over garlic mashed potatoes) as my meal, thinking "that sounds big and heavy, how could anyone eat anything after that?!" I was right. It was huge, I ate half. This should be on the menu full time! So the regular menu items we've ordered were okay, the specials have been AWESOME, and the wait staff was great. Our waiter was so friendly and helpful - he even brought my husband a glass of milk with the chocolate cake he ordered for dessert.

Great BBQ. I love a good BBQ plate, and when we were visiting the area, we decided to check it out for dinner. This place lacks luster and outdated on the inside, but that quickly became irrelevant when the food arrived. I got a half a rack of ribs with sides of Mac and cheese and Mac salad. The combination of the rub and the smoking gave a punch of flavor. The Mac and cheese was crispy on top, and creamy below, but flavor was just ok. The Mac salad was refreshing, with nice texture.

Average food. Poor service by bartender. Never asked how burger was (it was under cooked).

Found this Place accidentally on our way to Cooperstown and thank god!!!! The BBQ is amazing!!! The waitress was a gorgeous Dominican lady and the best ever, seriously she's the best ever ...

Excellent food & service! Got the whole diner platter and it did not disappoint. Everything was delicious! Highly recommend stopping by.

Decent atmosphere great service large portions but everything was dry.....like dry dry! We got the big meat feast and it was dry, also the cheesecake we got was...guess it?! Dry! Recommend to go early in the day, the meat probably is less dry?! Btw the bartender picked the last slice of key lime 1 hour and half before the closing time and I really wanted a slice of lime pie.

The food was excellent. And the service was excellent, considering they seemed to be very short-staffed (although who isn't these days?!) where the server was also the bartender!

I came here with my cousins while we were in the area for the weekend. We were able to get seated right away, which was great but the place was slammed so it took a while for us to get our drink and food orders in. Between the table, we ordered the calamari, the wings, the rib tips, the salmon platter, the brisket plate, the meat trio and the portobello sandwich. Everything was pretty good, except I heard that the brisket was a little dry and it took a while to get one of our plates as it seems the kitchen had forgotten about it. Otherwise, we had a good time, but I'm not sure I would come back.

Delicious BBQ/Smoked place. My daughters had the homemade Mac n cheese with grilled veggies. Husband had the pulled pork sandwich. I had the blackened catfish. Everything was delicious. The catfish is a must try, seasoned spicy to perfection... so juicy inside. Everything was amazing!

First, I want to shout out to this restaurant for working with our walk-in group of 6 without a reservation. I will absolutely say that if we'd even thought about it or known ahead of time, we would have done so. Being from out of town, we just didn't think about it. Hickory BBQ went out of their way to work with us, seat us in a completely reasonable time, and ensure we had dinner in what was also an incredibly manageable timeframe. Second, the food is phenomenal! This may be the best BBQ I've had outside of Texas, and even better than most Texas restaurants. It is just that good. Honest. I'm not a big chicken eater, but what I did try off the platter was quite good. The rest (brisket, pulled pork, ribs!!, and sausage) was really well cooked and the flavor was awesome. I didn't find the slaw to be up to my standards, but if that is the extent of my criticism of the food, we're doing good here. Third, I will say that the BBQ sauce on the table is too sweet. Of course, it says that it is a "Sweet BBQ," so no lie there. I just found it too much for my taste. That said, there is nothing wrong with it in the least. Those that like a sweeter sauce will most likely love it. It just wasn't for me. The Carolina Mustard sauce (I think I got that right) was amazing. Great flavor! The Jalapeño sauce on the table is basically vinegar and jalapeños, and it tastes like it. Again, some may enjoy that, but it was just hot-for-the-sake-of-hot to me and not my thing. Finally, the service was second to none. I cannot reiterate how much our group appreciates the restaurant bending over backwards to serve us that evening. I can only hope that we all tipped extra to make up for it and the young man that was our waiter was appreciated properly for his attentive work with our table. I highly recommend this place.

Me and 8 of my friends went with these guys for a bachelor party catering dinner. I called them in August with information before we booked. The guy that answered told me that we were fine to go with the pig roast option they had, and made us aware of how much food we were getting because that option was for at least 35 people. He was reasonable and gave us the right price for everything since it was just 9 of us in our group. Most of the positive in this review ends here. A month later, after we squared away our bachelor party plans, we call them back to make this reservation. The person that answered this time was completely clueless and said that our size group is not allowed to have this. After multiple back-and-forth emails, where I asked multiple times for a price for our size group, they decided to work with us and give us a reservation for the pig roast. This business's communication is god awful. They are NOT clear with what you get. The day they arrive at our Air BnB, we were very excited to have a large pig for the bachelor to see us heat up in the yard. To our surprise, the pig was only the size of a large turkey. The 2 employees served us all of the food, and it was pretty decent, however, there was only enough left after that dinner for one more night of leftovers and barely even that. The order we placed included dessert, sounds good right? What a complete joke. They brought out a small platter of cookies and brownies that maybe 2 people could have eaten. Not to mention, some of the food we paid for was taken back by them after we ate. With tip, taxes and all, our bill came to $1,090. So we basically paid $120 EACH for one dinner and some scraps. Their "35 person" claim was a complete lie. It was maybe for half that amount. I would just like to say that the 2 employees that came to serve us were very nice, and don't deserve any scolding. They don't deserve to work for a company ran by scam artists. On the last night of our party, we had a big BBQ dinner that included burgers, hit dogs, chicken wings, fries and vegetables. All of that for the 9 of us costs the amount of money one person paid for this stupid pig roast. How embarrassing. If you're looking for a catering company that will take advantage of you and rip you off, be sure to go with these clowns.

We ordered hush puppies as an appetizer and they came out with uncooked centers. I had broken off half of one so when it went back into the kitchen there was a half of a hush puppy on the plate. When it came back the half hush puppy was still there and the hush puppies were overco. The cook obviously dropped them in the oil AGAIN!

Beef brisket platter was delicious! Mac and cheese and cole slaw sides were excellent. Draft root beers hit the spot. Glad we stopped here for lunch after hiking nearby at Onteora Lake in Bluestone Wild Forest.

Absolutely the best place I've worked at! I'm proud to be a member of the Hickory BBQ & Smokehouse. I've never imagined this jewel was going to be such a fun place to work at. I started this job with the plan to have it as a side hustle (bartending )about three years ago while working a full time job as a professional Hair Stylist. This Job became my number one source of income, and it has not only brought financial stability but also personal growth. I look forward to seeing the regulars, meeting new people and having fun doing something I love.flexible schedule which is allowing me to finance my future profession as a nurse. Words couldn't express the gratitude I feel. Thank you to Steve, Jill, Ma', Doc and the kids for accepting me as I am.

Great BBQ! Was just passing by on the way to another place. Had the ribs. They were great. Meat, thick bark...yum. Not the fall off the bone type, the savory chewy gotta pick it all type. The sides were also good, had collard greens and slaw.

Literally the greatest wings in the history of the world. Try the PB&J wings. Seriously. I dream of these things. Nightly. The sticky tables and the occasional MAGA-ranting patrons aren't wonderful, but part of the experience I guess. (One dude took his mask off and said "CUOMO! Pffffft!" as we walked out. Good way to make a statement about an airborne disease by splattering saliva droplets into the atmosphere.) Good service though. Love the bar. And they very much are doing all they can to comply with COVID rules.

Stopped for lunch on this overcast Saturday as we've been here before and food was good. Finding the table a little tacky had me a little worried. For some reason we both ordered the rib tips as our waitress assured us of how tender they were. Once they arrived, I wasn't able to break them apart with my fork or knife. After using a steak knife without much results our waitress offered us another option, which we jumped on. The quesadilla was great. Good size portion and very flavorful with a hint of spiciness that we both enjoy. Then came the key lime pie & coffee which didn't disappoint! Hence the four stars and not five.

Great food!!! Great service!!! Ribs are delicious....Will come back when on a way/from Belleayre. Love it

Very good BBQ just three miles off the NYS Thruway. Top notch brisket, ribs and pulled pork. Convenient to skiing and fishing areas!

Hickory BBQ catered our wedding and they were amazing! Everyone talked about how great the food was! The staff was also very nice and friendly! Highly recommend!

This has been an occasional stop for us over the years and it's a great option for both dining in and taking out. Our recent takeout experience was exceptional. Brisket is delicious, and we also really enjoyed the hush puppies, fries, and mac & cheese. Packaging is eco-friendly. And while waiting for my food, I had a nice beer at the bar with bartender Gisselle, who is fantastic. The whole staff was friendly and attentive. In fact, after I got to my car, someone ran out with rolls and cornbread that didn't make it into the bag in time. Looking forward to next time!

Hickory has a great casual atmosphere where the staff are friendly and accommodating. The food matches the vibe with delicious hot comfort food. I came with a group of friends and we each shared a bite of what we ordered and EVERYTHING was amazing! Even the salads which frankly, I would never think to walk into a BBQ joint and order. Great burger, insanely amazing thin cut fresh French fries. Great drinks and desserts! The wings, 24 hour chicken, and ribs were the best I ever had in my life. I can't stop thinking about this place and every time I go it is consistently killer. When we last went, a young man was the server assistant and he made us feel like Queens and Kings! My entire table talked about what a hustler he was and that he must have received some good direction from the manager. The server made sure everything was correct and seamlessly so. Prices are reasonable and it is clean. Skip the corn bread and biscuits to save room for the meal, you won't Be disappointed.

I was very disappointed with my experience here. There were flies everywhere, the food was inedible, and the service was subpar. I went to the management in order to express my concerns and they were extremely rude and unprofessional. I will never return here and if you want better bbq I suggest Billy Joe Ribworks. The owners should find a different hobby because the restaurant business does not suit them clearly. I heard them yelling at a young girl who was working and I was in shock. Not professional at all.

This place did not disappoint! Portion sizes are HUGE and all of the meats, side dishes, and dessert we sampled really hit the spot. Tasted the rack of ribs and the "Kingston trio" made up of pulled pork, smoked brisket, and smoked turkey. For the sides we ordered Mac & cheese, collard greens, garlic mashed potatoes, and cole slaw. The garlic mashed potatoes were the big winner and they were so tasty we had to order an extra portion to go! We were also easily talked into finishing our meal with a slice of salted caramel pie with a chocolate graham cracker crust. The perfect end to a perfectly gluttonous meal.

If you want a nice meal and you like BBQ this is a great spot to visit. The brisket and pulled pork are great. The smoked turkey thigh is a personal favorite and the ribs are seasoned and fall off the bone tender. Each table is equipped with three different sauces - the Carolina being my favorite ( a blend of sweet and vinegar) Every plate comes with two sides which are more than ample servings. We always eat in the dining room but they have a nice bar with table and bar service as well. The price is reasonable and we often have a doggie bag at the end of the meal. Desserts are all home made so leave some room. Wait staff is friendly and attentive.

Nice wings, Ribs were ok but everything else felt overcooked. Brisket was really dry.