Smoak BBQ

Fantastic BBQ, right here in Rochester! As a native Memphian, I am a BBQ snob, and Smoak doesn't disappoint. Their meat can stand alone without being heavily sauced, which means it's done right. No dry and tough pork or brisket here - and everything is super flavorful. Also, can I just say I love that there's a place I can get proper greens in this town? Yum!

Accidentally discovered some of the best BBQ in MN this past July! Did the sampler platter and was very pleased by the various cuts of meat (even salmon!), and the sides were huge. Definitely was a deal made for several meals, and we enjoyed the leftovers for several days. Great deal for the $$$ too. My picky kids had no issues stuffing themselves full. Service was a little slow to start with given the restaurant was only about 20% full when we arrived for dinner but once the food was placed it came out pretty fast. Not sure if this was intentional but I thought it was cool to have an added touch of fresh smoked wood perfumed in the air right when you enter the restroom (stronger smell than usual when compared to the dining space). Totally added to the ambience and experience of being at a BBQ that means serious business. There was a good selection of sauces and the honey mustard vinegar-like sauce paired well with the turkey breast. I will highly consider stopping here again on the rare occasion when I am passing through town. Thanks!

Rochester off West Circle - decided to give Smoak a try when we passed through on Sunday. We’re really glad we stopped. It’s easy to find right off of West Circle, a short way from highway 52. Inside is huge, has a couple patios. I bet it can get kinda loud, but there were games on the TVs and other tables around us - we didn’t have a problem hearing our conversation though. This is a VERY clean restaurant, great staff our server was super. We got the brisket sandwich and prime rib dip, both were DELICIOUS, the French fries were perfect. NO NEED to mask the smoked taste with bbq sauce, but if you gotta have sauce to enjoy your meal, they have some good home sauces. Price point seemed fair. We very possibly just discovered our new stop when passing through. Bet this would be a lively afternoon if they brought in some blues music…. Hard to beat live music and great BBQ

Smoak BBQ just moved up to my #1 BBQ restaurant I've dined at. Started with the smoked wings that were crispy, juicy, and had a great smokey flavor. The brisket was so tender you can cut it with a fork. Sliced turkey, pulled pork, ribs, and jalapeno cheddar sausage were smoked to perfection. The mashed potatoes/gravy and beans were amazing and the coleslaw might be the best I've ever had. The collard greens are absolutely to die for. Everything is made in house including all sauces and dry rubs. Our server Carly took excellent care of us and provided great recommendations. I'm really looking forward to our next visit!

First timer here. We got a 3 meat platter I think close to $35. Got brisket, smoked turkey, smoked salmon and a few side on it. I liked the brisket and the sweet potato fries. Speed is fast, service is good! Good experience!

The service was super quick and friendly...food was absolutely fantastic. We had burnt ends for an app, deliciously caramelized, and the pulled pork with coleslaw on it, and the Cuban. All were very delicious. Only thing that was sort of so-so was those brussel sprouts, and I think maybe just because everything else was so good! Don't hesitate - get your bbq on

We had a group outing there for my first experience at SMOAK. The brisket was excellent, and my ribs tasted good (the bones were quite large, so not much meat). Cool atmosphere and nice drink/beer selection. Our server was excellent!

Best BBQ in Minnesota by far. Not gonna lie being from Texas the burnt ends would give Texans a run for their money. The brisket noodle bowl is the most unique well executed bbq dish I’ve had in years. Would come back just for the burnt ends and brisket noodle bowl. Well done!

amazing service, very nice waitress. bathrooms were really clean and taken care of, had 2 tv and some arcade games. the food was really good got me filled up and enough for left overs, great prices. great restaurant overall 10/10 would come back 100%.

Food was great, Burnt ends, I just don't know what to say We ate inside so service was excellent Plenty of seating in and out, kid zone and garage doors at the bar open to bring outside in Just don't sit under the vents in ceiling, blows so cold it cools your food

Horrible service with little to no attention from the server! Went in and there were only 5 tables. Server checked on us once and we had to wait and get her attention for a box and the check. Never came back even though I kept looking at her. Had to end up getting up just so I can pay and leave! All she did was talk behind the bar. Food is not worth me going back. Broiled chicken was drenched in oil. I know it's fried but at least give it a little time for the excess oil to come out before serving. Patio dining is available and pull tabs are available to be purchased inside. Decor is simple and nice. Has options for booth or table seating.

The food was outstanding. My dad and I split a rack of St Lois ribs that comes with a large side of yummy coleslaw! I added a side salad and it was a nice mix of veggies, croutons etc. He opted for the potato salad. The potato's were just not to the firmness that we like for potato salad. They were a bit mushy, but that is the only thing I can rate as questionable. I can't stress enough how good those ribs were. Moist, fall off the bone and so tender. We loved the sweet bbq sauce on the side. Our waitress was also very good. She was prompt and engaging and very pleasant. They have a lot of seating/tables. Inside and out. It was a bit noisy for my 84 year old dad that is hard of hearing. But we would both go back in a heartbeat!

Friend said was unreal but when I finally went I thought it was pretty mid. Great service though.

We had breakfast at Smoak this morning and it was very disappointing. My husband ordered the chicken fried steak and it wasn't even edible. Not only was the toast burned, but the steak was burned black all the way through. I'm shocked that the cook even put it on the plate and that the waiter brought it to the table. When it was brought to his attention, he acted like we were lying. As if you couldn't see what it looked like. Apparently they thought we wouldn't notice once it was covered with gravy. My husband was given a new meal, but by the time it arrived the rest of were almost finished.

We (6 family members) attended the Mothers Day Buffet and were very disappointed. The server clearly did not want to be there as displayed in his poor service. We had to inquire about the pancake and were finally told that they needed to be ordered through the server, who never mentioned that when we were seated. We ordered the pancakes for two grandkids and my wife and had to wait 30 minutes for them to be delivered, after inquiring twice about them. The brisket was sliced so thin and mostly fat it was almost inedible. We have dined there many times in the past but will have to reassess out decision for future events. I order the broasted chicken often. Yesterday's was very salty, overcooked and very dry. We learned our lesson!!

I think they have a great choice of things to eat. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries and then we ordered the 4 meats and some sides. We really liked the Brussels sprouts the Mac& cheese was just ok. The onion rings were only ok. The corn bread muffins were like cheap box muffins . The brisket ribs chicken and jalapeños sausage was good in taste but was cold. No juicy hot fresh bbq. Are server was ok asked how it was but just ok.

We tried Smoak for the first time yesterday and it's now was my favorite place in Rochester! First, they have the best cocktails. I had the Going Guava and my husband had the Very Vanilla Old Fashioned. Both were divine. We also shared the brisket fries which were outstanding. The portion may have been a little small but was perfect for two. He also had the wings which were smoked and then grilled and wow did they have flavor! I had the Cobb Salad with Pulled Pork and I'll be dreaming of that salad for a long time! The most fun part is they are VERY dog friendly, complete with a Woof Menu! We are here periodically for Mayo but will always make a stop here! The service was fabulous. The outdoor patio is comfortable and fun. Great atmosphere and food! Well done, Smoak!

Food was great; tasty, well presented. Service was outstanding. That being said, they lost a star because it was a tad pricey.

I thought about simply updating my previous review but this was a new context. I've enjoyed brunch, now how would lunch fare? I confess, every visit to Rochester, I find a way to get some bbq. I really need to pay better attention! I wanted chicken wings but I got nuggies (boneless wings) instead. Nashville hot! Despite this grave error, I enjoyed what I got! In the Midwest I expect "hot" to really be "mild" but this did not disappoint. It was true to its name. This was still as good the next day, reheated. Stayed nice and crisp. As much as I wanted to have a variety meat plate, I love me some ribs so that had to be the only choice this time around. The half rack was accompanied by mac and cheese. The first few bites of ribs left a bit to be desired. While there was a good bark to it, there was also some bite. It felt a little dry and tough but this improved when getting into the more central pieces. The original bbq sauce paired very well - had some sweetness with a little bit of heat. The Texas hot was a bit much when combined with the Nashville hot wings (that one's on me ). Don't have much to say about the Mac and cheese. It's historically been hit or miss for me. This was a miss. Next time I'm around, gotta try the burnt ends. I hear that calling my name.

Service was great right from the moment we walked in the door. This place was clean, good lighting (I don't like places that keep it dark), not too loud. The food was fantastic, glad we decided to try it for ourselves. We will surely be going back!!!

Love the outdoor patio here. It's a nice place to enjoy some bbq and watch Sunday football. My boyfriend and I shared the combo bbq plate with brisket, half chicken, and jalapeño cheddar sausage with a side of fries and coleslaw. Sadly, the brisket was EXTREMELY underwhelming, esp for being an extra $5 charge. It was really dry and chewy, which was disappointing as this is supposed to be a bbq spot! On a brighter note, the sausage and coleslaw both had great flavor & the chicken was to die for. I never rave about chicken, so I was happily surprised when it turned out to be my favorite thing on the plate! It was moist & cooked to perfection. The skin was also seasoned nicely and wasn't chewy at all. I would come back here just for the chicken.

Stopped in here on a trip. Great ambiance, friendly staff. Food was wonderful. Would go back there again.

There were 7 of us. The waiter was super efficient and very friendly. The food was delicious. I had the pulled pork sandwich which had a LOT of meat on it. We all got different meals and no one was disappointed. Would go there again.

Probably one of the better BBQs I've had in MN. We ordered the meat combo with ribs and brisket and the Nashville hot chicken sandwich. We also ordered a side of burnt ends. I don't know if I would get the fried chicken sandwich again, I thought it was okay, not my favorite chicken sandwich for that price point. However, the burnt ends and brisket were delicious! Great smoke and flavor, the ribs were a bit on the drier side which was fine because I wanted to try all their sauces. We ordered a side of brussel sprouts as well and those are a must get! This place is massive with lots seating options, and I can imagine it being a good time to come at night to have some drinks with friends in the summer with their patio and outdoor games outside. Service was quick and friendly. Overall, if you're in Rochester and are craving some bbq, definitely recommend coming here!

Take a Nap Wrap. First thing I saw on the menu and it sounded so good! Well....it lacked flavor! The Mac and cheese that was in the wrap looked like kraft cheese shells. I mean nothing had flavor. The chicken was just hot. Hot and flavorless. The really nice waiter gave me some sauce to cut the heat. Not only did it cut the heat, it gave the wrap flavor. I still could have done without the wrap. The bathrooms were very clean and like I said, our waiter was nice. Everyone else said they liked their meal. My husband had meatloaf. That was the special. He said it was OK.

On my way back from Niagara Cave (separate review but it's amazing and you should go!) decided to try this local BBQ spot. The atmosphere here is relaxed. You could bring your family here, date or group of friends! There is a cool patio out front that you can play bags/corn hole! I opted to get my food to go! The online ordering was fast and easy! My order was completed correctly! And the gentleman who got my food handed me my bag with a smile :) Ok the most important part, the food! -The burnt ends with slaw. The slaw was average but did have a good texture! The burnt ends had a great flavor and were tender! I'd love to see these served on a piece of thick white bread! -The corn bread with honey butter... that's gonna be a no from me. The bread was dry and had a weird taste to it.. -The mashed potato's were the good fresh ones that have some lumps and skins! Tasty!! The Mac and cheese was creamy and delicious! -The ribs were seasoned well and a bit smoky. The meat mostly fell off the bone. The shredded pork had no flavor... where's the smokey flavor?? The texture is perfect! It just melts! Dip this in their BBQ sauce and it's delicious but it should be able to hold its own! The chicken fell off the bone and had decent flavoring. The Brisket was fatty but seasoned well and tasted good! The blueberry cheesecake... where is the blueberry flavor?? Would not recommend. The turtle tres leches was good but not soaked/moist enough to call it tres leches! Still delicious though, I would get that again! They had 4 different sauces and all of them were pretty sweet but tasted good! Overall this BBQ was just average to me. Not enough Smokey flavor in the meats. I would put these guys on the same playing field as Famous Dave's except this place has tender meats and famous Dave's has better corn bread!

Service was great! Food was great and fast. We had the Ribs, Brisket, Chicken and Sausage along with Baked Beans. It was all cooked to perfection! Nothing was dry! Beer was cold and all the sport tv's were working. Very clean establishment. I highly recommend on giving it a try! Wish the weather was better so we could have enjoyed the outside area as well. Over all this place was the bomb!! Price was very reasonable as well along with great proportions.

Ordered take out and got a pulled pork dish. I ordered fries and biscuits as the sides with the Kansas City sauce. Doesn't look like a lot of meat but after eating some fries, I could see there was more under there. The meat was good and the fries were a little soggy. Not sure it was because they were sitting for a while. Jt biscuits were good, similar to McDonald's breakfast biscuits but much softer and bigger. My order didn't come with utensils or napkins which is fine since I was eating back at home but if it was someone else who didn't have these things, it would have been inconvenient.

Great atmosphere. Love the corn hole area! We ordered a bit of everything. Nachos & corn bread appetizers. Both great, but the corn bread won the vote of the table. Wife has the Cuban sandwich, she loved it, the pepper jack cheese had a little kick. Daughter had the Hawaiian burger that she couldn't finish but liked the caramelized pineapple. My son and I both got a 3 meat combo 1. Pulled pork, pulled chicken, and Sausage... w/ beans 2. Ribs, pulled pork and 1/2 chicken w/chili. Everything was great. Chick was tender, ribs were fall off the bone, pulled pork & chicken great with original bbq sauce and the chili was more meat than beans. We will definitely be back!

The biggest downside to our experience was that there was to much really good food!! The service was good, but it was a slightly light time due to one heck of a storm outside. Anyway, check my photo and head over there.

My wife and I took my son who was visiting from Colorado and a friend from the area over Thanksgiving for our first visit. We were greatly disappointed in every respect. I'm not sure what the owners intended. The ambience was like a hollowed dark barn with neon lights and poor attempt at a "down home" saloon. The food was served on rustic tables with industrial trays. There was nothing welcoming or appealing about the ambience, IMO, and the food was average and overpriced. There are far better options in RST for this type of food. Save your money. 1.5 stars max.

Smoak BBQ is the best in Rochester and takes me back to Texas. I don't know what I would do to satisfy my southern BBQ cravings if they were gone. Their burnt ends and brisket are definitely the highlight. Their other meats and their burgers are not to be underestimated. Everything has been super satisfying.

All things considered I thought Smoak BBQ made decent BBQ. The brisket was very soft and well cooked albeit under seasoned. The Nashville chicken strips were great and had a good kick to them. For Minnesota, good BBQ

By far the Best Brisket in Minnesota!! We tried the Brisket BBQ Plate and it was exceptional! The service was wonderful and we enjoyed the fun atmosphere on the patio. I will definitely be returning to enjoy Minnesota's Best Brisket again!

Yum!!!! Fall off the bone meats!! Tangy, sweet and spicy sauces, good drinks and cheesy brisket fries!! What more could I ask for? Outside you can play giant Jenga and corn hope. Lots of seating out there too! Great spot to hang out

Very attentive service. Brisket was tasty. I enjoyed the Texas Twinkies. Good vibe. Will return.

Food was wonderful. Service was decent but it was also busy when we came. The ambiance was very welcoming the waiters were very polite. Highly recommend coming to Smoak BBQ!

Smoak is really good considering where we are - roughly 1000 miles north from Dallas, Texas. I have had pretty legit bbq in the south (Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Atlanta) and this one is comparable at least relative to others in MN/Midwest. Smoak has an abundance of staples from brisket, pulled pork, and delicious sides (e.g., pickles). It is super fun during the nicer weather times so you can grab a seat in the outdoor patio. The meat can be a little salty at times but I think one thing would be if there were some bread to go along with the dishes. That is a common pairing in the south. Prices are more on the mid-high side but there are gift cards available at Costco if you wanted to get some bargain. We will be back when the weather gets better / have a sudden crave for some bbq

Exceptional BBQ. I moved to Minnesota from Texas and have found little BBQ worth eating. Smoak is an unexpected and wonderful surprise. Wish it was closer to the twin cities. The brisket was moist and perfectly smoked with a slightly crisp bark. Both the lean and fatty side slices were perfect. By far the best brisket in Monnesota. Score A. The ribs were nicely smoked but a little tough. Minnesota does have other ribs, these were good but not great. Score B. The smoked turkey was wonderful. Tender with just right amount of smoke. Score A. The chicken was amazing. I have found very good pit masters in Texas that couldn't match this. The breast meat was juicy and tender. The skin had a nice crispness. The smoke level was perfect. Probably the best smoked chicken I've ever had. Score A+.

The food generally was good but their biscuits were hard and extremely dry. Don't know if they were old or if they are just that way. Won't order them again. Breasted chicken was good. Said the pulled pork came with a sauce that wasn't included in our takeout.

How is this place only rated a 3.8 star? It's soo good. Highly recommend for delicious BBQ food. Our family all thought this place was so good and as far as restaurants in Rochester goes, it is one to keep on the list. We really didn't have anything that was not absolutely delicious. The BBQ sauces are all very nice additions to the meals. I would highly recommend, and hope to return.

Delicious breakfast thanks to Smaok! I love their breakfast potatoes and eggs and the pulled pork is amazing too! My husband had the skillet and it was amazing too! I'd highly recommend a mom-mosa(mimosa with peach schnapps) absolutely amazing! Booth was cozy and good for larger folks too! There is a nice patio and they have an amazing outdoor game area. Attentive service and a great atmosphere. Bathrooms were sparkling clean and well kept.

My husband and I ate here around 8:30PM on a Friday night. We were surprised that it wasn't packed at all. We ordered drinks (great), full rack of ribs which came with 2 sides (great), and 2 happy hour apps (great). The ambiance was nice with outdoor patio and cornhole games. Service was fast! Overall, I think this place is better than John Hardy's BBQ. I definitely recommend.

What a great place to eat with the family. They sat us outside near the games which made the meal just lovely with the children. We really liked the BBQ platter and the Nashville sandwhich!

I've been here several times and had takeout about 7 times. I always go here at least once and often twice when we need to come to mayo in Rochester. Overall the food is good to very good. The bbq meats are very tastee, but at times, i have found the brisket and ribs to be overcooked. I really like their broasted chicken. Super yummy. I have ordered that about 5 times. Most of the time, they nail it, but on one occasion, it was overcooked and dry.

We had the opportunity to get take out from here while in town visiting our son. I enjoy BBQ. this BBQ was good. Not the worst or the best I have ever had. While I did not eat inside the place looks great as a place to sit down and eat. I think that may be part of the reason for the pricing. The service was very quick and friendly at the pick up window.

Don't put your holiday plans in their hands. They'll end up in smoak and ruin. Their fliers for their Thanksgiving holiday meal never said anything about reservations, and up to days prior this was reaffirmed by their staff when asked. Only to end up being turned away at the door, at their announced opening time, because "reservations were needed". Real dirty way to treat your clients!

Overall enjoyed the experience at Smoak. Food was a solid 4 as we both had tasty smoked turkey and brisket though the sides were very small. That said enough food. Service was exceptional though so a high 4 would be rating impossible. It was steaming outside so only enjoyed the interior which was comfortable with decent spacing and a nice bar.

Had a date night dinner here and the food was amazing! Definitely recommend getting the brisket tacos! They were a large portion size for tacos!

My son lives in Rochester and I came up to visit from Fort Worth, Texas. I was looking through Yelp for Bar-B-Que and saw Smoak and noticed that it is Texas BBQ in Minnesota! I had to try it, and I was not disappointed. We ordered just about everything on the menu and all of it was tasty. The smoked meats are very well prepared. The brisket and the ribs have plenty of bark on them and excellent smoky flavor. The turkey and the pork are also top notch. They have four different barbecue sauces, all of which are good, but we especially liked the spicy and the Carolina. We left quite full, and will be back many times.

My roommate and I enjoy Smoak very much for our dining out options. The wait staff is always upbeat and pleasant, and that makes the dining experience a notch above "good." Living on the NW side of Rochester, this is about a 5 minute drive to enjoy a great meal. I personally am partial to the broasted chicken, with cole slaw and potato salad. I always get an order of their pit beans as well. The quality of the food has always been spot on. I have had that meal several times now and am NEVER disappointed. I recommend it to friends who are looking for a great place to dine out.

Just what Rochester needed . Better BBQ. Both my wife and myself have been looking forward to the opening of this new spot for a little while . We decided to go early we went at 530 on opening the evening. It was busy but not crowded. The service was very attentive of friendly. Our server explained the menu . We ordered drinks . My wife loved her MOSCOW MULE . She's ordered a second . I went with the SMOAK BOX OLD FASHIONED (CHERRYWOOD). It arrived to the table in a box which you open to release Smoke . Kinda fun . But it's $10 . We loved our appetizers. Both there PORK BELLY BURNT ENDS and the LOAF OF CORNBREAD were great. We loved the burn ends . The sauce is great . We both enjoyed our entrees my wife's pork plate was great . She really enjoyed her Mac and cheese side . Great little crunch on top . I went with the ST. LOUIS RIBS half rack $19. This was the highlight for me . So worth the value . I took home half the ribs . My sides being the Pit Bean and Fries in beef fat . Both were well executed. Overall this was a great first experience especially on the first night open . Well done !

I stopped for early dinner. I was impressed with the prompt, friendly service. The menu was broad, I ordered my favorites, burnt ends and pulled pork. The food was GREAT. Burnt ends were amazing. It's a clean, bar-type feel that is family friendly. Their sauce was great too!

So I still cannot wrap my head around why this place is only 3.5 stars on Yelp. It's AMAZING. I went here for happy hour and an early dinner tonight. Cocktails were 5 dollars and draft beers were 3-5 dollars with an awesome selection that included a local selection as well. This alone makes it worth a drive over. I did not love the cocktail I got(the " Ron Swanson") because I thought it was too sweet for me but that could have been personal preference. I ordered the Smoak Brisket sandwich with coleslaw and a side of collard greens. I've had a lot of brisket and this brisket is up there with the some of the best I've had. Tender, smoky, fatty and piled high on a toasted bun covered with layer of delicious creamy coleslaw. The collard greens were bright and vinegary which was a nice contrast to the sandwich. This was one of the best meals I've had in Rochester since moving here three years ago. They also have a selection of their four delicious made in house barbecue sauces at each table so you can sample and choose the best sauce to go with your food. My favorites were the Smoak barbecue sauce and the hot Texas barbecue sauce. This is a five star review because even though the cocktails weren't my favorite the barbecue was stellar. I will be back and if you're on the fence about this place I implore you to make the drive over and try it out.

We had just been to the Mayo Clinic and were wanting something to take to the motel. We got the 2 piece chicken dinner. It was so good I'm still thinking about it. I love all the different sides. When my daughter comes she brings her dog. She loves her meal too.

The service here was great and the food I've had in the past was really good. Today I had their chicken mac&cheese wrap. It was good but the spice was too hot for me. But the one thing I wasn't happy about was a charge on my bill for "employee wellness". It's great that you want to take care of your employees but don't give me an extra charge that you didn't tell me about. Integrate it into your prices. You can't just add a made up charge and expect people to be happy about it. I won't be returning.

Food is amazing, service today was a little off. Just want bbq meal platters of Burnt Ends.