Omar S.
Yelp
Good news, bad news:
The bad news, which everyone seems to want first, is that Smokey and the Brisket cooks their ribs, chicken and pulled pork in an inconsistent manner, such that sometimes, the meats' textures are unappealing.
The good news is that sometimes, the meats are cooked just right.
The best news is that nothing I've eaten at SatB has tasted anything but superb.
Some examples:
- I've been served pork ribs with meat so loosely connected to its bones that it might have been pressure cooked, braised or boiled before heading to the smoker.
That meat made better leftovers than dinner. I fried it up with some potatoes and eggs, and crisped it in a pan and piled it onto a Kaiser roll, and in both cases, it was delicious.
- A recent order of smoked chicken was unsettlingly soft in texture. Before smoking the chicken, did the kitchen cook the chicken sous vide at a low enough temperature to kill bacteria, but not high enough to firm up the meat? That's not dangerous, but chicken shouldn't be as soft, tender and smooth as a piece of fish.
On the other hand: I took the chicken home, and after 20 minutes in an oven at 200°F, it was as firm as if I'd smoked it myself. And its flavor was superb.
- Pulled pork at SatB is so frequently soft and mushy that I've wonder if it's cooked, refrigerated and then microwaved per order. I've stopped ordering it.
The other good news is that Smokey and the Brisket makes fantastic side dishes and desserts, and the place is a comfortable neighborhood spot for hanging with your friends.
What's more, the service at SatB is outstanding. In particular, we have enjoyed the help provided by Nicki, who has the rare ability to be busy without ever making her customers aware of how busy she is. That's like server voodoo, and she's a master practitioner.