Smoke Joint Catskills

We arrived right at opening time and was greeted with welcoming smile. I’m not a huge fan of barbecue usually and am a very picky eater myself, but was very pleasantly surprised myself with the order that we got. It was so good I basically inhaled the 3 ribs my stomach could afford to enjoy. The side we got was mac & cheese (was a bit soggy but still creamy, still good,) corn on the cob (the mayo sauce on top was so good, i wanted to pack the remaining half to go so badly) and corn bread (my husband finished the whole thing by himself) oh and the cole slaw- divine! You can tell they are a family business and everyone is chipping in. The person working the register was so nice and sweet, she walked to us twice to make sure I got my sweeten iced tea. One more reason for me to support them, beside the very significant reason that this is the best food experience of our long weekend trip in the Catskill area! Will make a visit next time we go through the area for sure! Oh and the bathroom is clean! You never know nowadays. Have both indoor and outdoor seating area to choose from. I’m already wishing I bought some for to-go, sitting here writing this review… :)

Absolutely sick place. The BBQ is out of this world. If you're in the neighborhood or want to take a drive, this is the perfect location upstate to get the real vibe and the locals are great and friendly

We recently hosted a small celebration at the Smoke Joint, inviting friends and family to join us for a casual night of bbq. And it was perfect! The food was so good, big generous portions, actually reasonably priced (which is rare for BBQ), the staff were so fast and responsive to us ahead of time and to everyone there even when it was busy, they set aside a few tables for us, set up a fire, and was a great environment for every age range - from older people to young kids. Most people were coming from NYC or outside of the U.S. and felt like it set the right tone for a perfect fall weekend upstate. Highly Recommend!

Everything was delicious! The cornbread and the beans were a highlight. And of course the bbq. We had the meal combo for two and it was more than enough!

We ate there today. This place is amazing. We ordered the ribs, chicken, macaroni and cheese. We also had a pickled onions and vegetables. They were so good, and the corn bread “the best I’ve ever tasted.” We sat outside. The view is beautiful “with a gorgeous water way nearby.” You can also sit out by the fire pit and have a cocktail!🥰

Best barbecue place in my opinion! I live 1.5 hours away and this is always a must stop during road trips! The brisket, corn bread, seasoned fries, and BBQ sauce are absolutely the best!! I love the outdoor seating by the water, the large containers of BBQ sauce available on each picnic table, and they are dog friendly.

Stopped in yesterday while traveling home from the NYC area. It was a cooler day, which kept me inside and missing the nice seating area and pavilion-esque structure outside. You can tell this is a smaller, family run operation by the character of the property; this is not a commercial style where you get smoked meat done in several hundred pound increments. It is a smaller homemade batch style where the pit master can improvise and adapt as changes in the wood and the meat keep them on their toes. There was a nice smoke ring on the meat which was refreshing to see; evidently I wasn’t in love with the spice rub on the bark of the brisket but that is 100% my specific palette, and not reflective of quality- there’s a different spice blend for every person. I also found the sauces available a little on the sweet side for me, whereas I prefer a smokier style but they were certainly still fine for use with the brisket and BBQ dry rub fries I had. I think this property would be best enjoyed on a hot summer day where you could sit outside, but even the second to last weekend open I still had a quality meal at a reasonable price.

My wife and I were traveling from NY to Cornell in Ithaca. We were halfway done our 4-5 hour trip when we saw a giant billboard sign on 17 West. On a whim, we decided to give it a go because we needed a break. We were skeptical at first but we were delightfully surprised by the experience we had. The owner moved here from Brooklyn, bringing a smoker purchases many years ago and still running in top form, at least by how good the food tasted. We ordered the half rack of ribs and the pulled pork sandwich. There is outdoor seating available and you order in the front. They have a single bathroom located inside the building. The food was ready within ten minutes and half of it disappeared before I got to take the photo! Both options were delicious and we were tempted to order the whole menu. The owner came by our table and the other guests to ensure everything was taken care of for our meal. We had such a pleasant conversation and were happy to support the local business. We are planning to go back again on our way back from Ithaca to NY. It's a great pit stop if you are traveling to Cornell. I'd highly recommend stopping by here, especially for all the students traveling back and forth to Cornell.

It's been awhile since I enjoyed good bbq... and was reminded of it after stopping by The Smoke Joint!! Made a last minute decision to stop at this bbq on my way home. Realized how convenient it was to stop off after the exit and get back on the highway afterwards, not knowing how great this decision would be... It was raining hard, cold, miserable. And yet, when I walked into the Smoke Joint, it was like walking into a warm friend's house. Questions were asked and answered; crucial decisions about food were made. Even though the rain was falling hard, couldn't resist sitting outside under the well covered outside area to listen as the nearby stream made its way. It was peaceful, listening as the rain fell, our food was brought out. Did I mention how good the food was?!? Oh, my... I am already planning my return... and picked up a tshirt to wear so I can remind myself that impromptu stops on the road can be game changers... The Smoke Joint - worthy of your time.

This little gem of a barbecue joint was a very nice find. There was a group of us who went for lunch. Plenty of parking, plenty of seating, and really good food. Most of the seating is outdoors under cover. The restaurant is pretty rustic, which totally fits with the vibe. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The food came out quickly and was delicious. I would recommend this place, and I will definitely be back.

brisket was undercooked fatty and salty no flavor Not the worst but ranks very low not worth returning to

Owner was throwing a tantrum like a child insulting his seemingly very sweet workers. I understand the sailor language in the kitchen environment but this guy was just a plain PoS calling a teenage girl stupid and belittling her. Had already placed my order so I stuck around to eat. Got the brisket - was pretty bland and the bbq sauce couldn't revive it. We also got the wings, which I thought were ok but my SO did not enjoy due to a chemical flavor, they did seem as if they'd been sitting out for quite some time. Easily the worst I've ever seen staff treated in my life. Everybody has their days... but this seemed like the norm. I would be horrified to see this guy at his worst. Shameful.

Seasonal Closing as of Nov 2, 2023 through estimated April 5 2023. Food is awesome. See my other review. Sad they're closed but they have almost all outside sitting.

The food was ok. Might stop by again if I was in the area. Chalk the visit up to them reopening for the season. The fried chicken sandwich was incredibly salty. The meat lacked flavor without sauce. One sauce bottle hand their hot sauce in it but labeled their regular bbq so that ruined it for the kids. Service was ok, the server was not very friendly the cashier was. Nice location on the river, would go when it's warmer out so we could sit outside. Inside seating area was a bit small. Was a bit frustrated when I asked the cashier what drinks came with a combo and she pointed me to the back of the menu, then was up charged for two of the three drinks.

Shania Twain's song that don't impress me much should have been playing here. My friends picked this spot. Can't lie it's in a really cute little town, along a little rippling stream and has a nice outdoor area but this couldn't save the food. The cashier was not very helpful. I found it to be very over priced and confusing to be honest to order. My husband was really upset when he found out how much I spent on an order of wings for him (It was like $14.) The cornbread is not moist. I had the fried chicken sandwich. Not much to report on. I didn't much care for their cole slaw. Their sauces were ok. My daughter had the mac and cheese. She had to be prodded to eat it. This place has potential with this location but they HAVE TO STEP IT UP! Bottom line- pricey and not worth it.

This is a great spot for great BBQ! My favorite is the Chopped Chicken Sandwich. The corn, corn bread and baked beans are all go to choices for me as well.

Food: Overall, I found this place too expensive for what we got. The brisket was pretty good (very smoke flavored, if you like that), mac and cheese was fine but nothing exciting, and the wings were kind of soggy (wouldn't order again). If the brisket came with a side, it wouldn't feel overpriced, but sides are $5 extra and not very big. The menu says the brisket comes with slaw, pickles, and onions, but it comes with literally a tablespoon of slaw, 3 thin onion slices, and two very thin pickle slices. I also asked to make a combo with water instead of a soft drink and was up-charged 50 cents even though water is 50 cents cheaper on the menu. It's not a bad place to stop, but I didn't feel the value was there for the price. Location: You order at a counter, then pay, then get your food at a picnic table, and clear your own trays. Their property is right along a pretty creek that's hard to see. If they cleared some brush, the creek would really stand out as a feature.

I had this when its location was still in Brooklyn, NY back in 2015. I came all the way from Chicago just to try it after seeing it on Diners, Drive Ins & Dives. It was my first time ever on a plane, I planned the entire trip around this restaurant. The service was great, the food was even better, I went back twice before leaving NY. I plan on coming back and taking the drive to its new location.

On our way back home, we stopped by this place for lunch. The exterior is certainly very inviting at it has smokers outside, and with ample benches and shade for people to dine at outdoors. We got the Tight Lines special which feeds 1-2 people which comes with 1/2 lb brisket, 1/2 rack pork ribs, 2 sides and cornbread. They ran out of ribs that day so we were offered wither chopped BBQ pork or 1/2 chicken. We chose the former. We felt the pork was on the dry side and slightly underwhelmed. The collard green and mac n cheese along with the cornbread rock. We also got a 10 pieces tiger fried shrimp with an aoili sauce. Now those shrimps were large and nicely fried. That dish was really good. Food wise, we would give it 3 stars. The workers there are very friendly and courteous.

We were staying in Livingston Manor for a weekend getaway and decided to pick up lunch from The Smoke Joint on a Friday afternoon. I placed an order on the website and the order was packed and ready when we arrived. The ribs were pretty average and the pulled pork was dry. They tasted better dipped in the bbq sauce. The mac and cheese was not cheesy at all. It was just a container of pasta with a soupy sauce on it. The coleslaw was alright, though. Not too much mayo. The brisket was fantastic and definitely the best of the bunch. It was fatty and super flavorful. I would just order a bunch of the brisket next time.

It's a shame I didn't take a picture of this beautiful place. The brisket was savory, and the cornbread was so good. The pork rib was a bit dry for my taste, but still above average. The staff was friendly and welcoming. We decided to buy more cornbread to take home.

****** Pescatarian's Review of a BBQ Restaurant****** We stopped here for lunch while camping at Butternut Grove Campground. The service was great, everyone was so friendly. We ate outside and I loved the set-up, there were lots of picnic tables with sauces and napkins at each table. There was also a fire pit that they lit while we were eating; overall it was a really nice space to eat and enjoy company with, especially if you are with a large group or have small children. Food wise I had the mac and cheese, coleslaw, cornbread, and 6 piece fried shrimp. I really liked the mac and cheese and I would 100% order that again. The coleslaw was also good and I also liked the cornbread, but I thought it was a little too dry. The fried shrimp had a good flavor but were not properly deveined, which is a big ick for me so I didn't finish them. A side note on the meat, my friends thought the ribs were dry and one person's fried chicken sandwich was not cooked all the way through in the center.

I stopped here for lunch on my way to my camping trip. The food was ok. It tasted very organic but nothing special. The place looked like it's better at night than during the day. I was constantly bombarded by flies but it is outdoors so they can't help that. I would still recommend it but I would not set high expectations.

Didn't expect much in upstate NY, but the ribs were so good that for a moment I thought I was in North Carolina. The cole slaw had a nice tang too. The chicken white meat was a bit dry but I returned the next day to take a few racks home for the family. The BBQ sauce is really good but I prefer the ribs dry and adding my own sauce as I go.

A must visit if you're stopping by Livingston Manor. This place serves delectable food for BBQ season. Pulled pork and brisket sandwiches hit the spot!

I finally ordered from here after seeing so many great reviews. The website was down, but I was able to place an order over the phone and even pay for it. It took about 15 minutes for the order to be complete. The customer service was excellent and the lady who took my order was very friendly. I love that they put the sauces on the side, allowing us to be able to engage if we want it or control how much we want on the BBQ. I ordered a 16oz nutty, which came to about $20. It was incredibly strong and actually made with natural fruit juices, not processed drinks. The ribs were absolutely delicious. The wings were delicious. The cornbread was good. The collards were good as well. The salad was good and VERY inexpensive, compared to the same Iceberg that is almost $30 in NYC. My party and I loved the food and definitely will be back! Edit: the ONLY thing that was not a 10/10 was the collards. While tasty, I knew something was missing. The TURKEY. You HAVE to put the turkey in there. You know better :/

Hands down some of the best BBQ! Highly recommend! Friendly staff and great outdoor atmosphere.

Stopped in yesterday while traveling home from the NYC area. It was a cooler day, which kept me inside and missing the nice seating area and pavilion-esque structure outside. You can tell this is a smaller, family run operation by the character of the property; this is not a commercial style where you get smoked meat done in several hundred pound increments. It is a smaller homemade batch style where the pit master can improvise and adapt as changes in the wood and the meat keep them on their toes. There was a nice smoke ring on the meat which was refreshing to see; evidently I wasn't in love with the spice rub on the bark of the brisket but that is 100% my specific palette, and not reflective of quality- there's a different spice blend for every person. I also found the sauces available a little on the sweet side for me, whereas I prefer a smokier style but they were certainly still fine for use with the brisket and BBQ dry rub fries I had. I think this property would be best enjoyed on a hot summer day where you could sit outside, but even the second to last weekend open I still had a quality meal at a reasonable price.

Awesome barbecue spot. Came for lunch and tried the sliced 14 hour Brisket sandwich, chopped bbq pork sandwich, fries and 'Cued beans. Everything was delicious! Lots of parking (they have a lot) and outdoor seating, too.

First, let's talk about the service: super-helpful and extremely pleasant. Then, let's talk about the food: excellent! I'm so glad we ordered way too much so that we could have a great meal of leftovers the next day. Things we ordered (and loved them all): shrimp, brisket, ribs, chicken, beans and cornbread. Can't wait to go back!

authentic barbecue in a relaxed, sitting with great live music! What's not to like? you walk up an order at the counter and they call you when the food is ready . I appreciated the fact that there was no Styrofoam, minimal waste and defective recycling.

Food: very tasty! I really liked the brisket and then Mac and cheese and then corn bread and also all the Cole slaws. I give 5 stars. Atmosphere: so nice. I like how the restaurant is near the creek. Service: very good and friendly staff.

Great great great. Traditional bbq with all the sides. Love the collard greens. Love music. Nice servers. A little slow because they were understaffed, but who's in a rush anyway?

Great and super friendly service in this hometown-feel BBQ joint. The brisket was tender and flavorful with a beautiful Smokey flavor. The ribs were full of flavor but had some cartilage areas that distracted from total enjoyment. The made-to-order fried chicken sandwich was moist and tender inside and beautifully crisp on the outside and had a tasty aioli sauce on the side. The sides were okay-we tried the beans and collard green lacking some seasonings. The real star of the sides is the Cole slaw which we all agreed was the best we've ever had. Great T-shirt selection and nice outdoor seating.

I've been wanting to eat here forever but I don't live close and any trip through had been before they opened for the day. Finally got here when they're open and it's worth the wait. Food is excellent, the staff is very friendly and they have ample outdoor distanced seating. Order from one window and pick up on the side. The smoker is massive and smells amazing. They just opened it to throw a batch of ribs in and the wood smoke smell is amazing. A must visit in the area.

We've driven by for several years and now we could finally get to stop. Great "joint" by the trout stream. Brisket & pulled pork were excellent & portions were large & satisfying. They get 4 1/2 stars instead of 5 only because the bbq fries needed salt to go with the bbq flavor. We won't wait too long to stop again!BBQ Pork Sandwich$ Brisket Sandwich

We saw this cute place and couldn't wait to come back and try it. AMAZING! We tried the pulled pork, pork ribs and the brisket. Lean, smoky and delicious. You almost don't need any sauces, but they're well worth it. Great collards, mac-n-cheese and cornbread. Very friendly staff and a wonderful (and safe) outdoor seating area. We'll be back for sure!

Best pit stop you will make on your way north. Simple and delicious. Fantastic sides! Great vibe.

Delicious food, big portions, and dog friendly . They gave my Daisy water . We order a family meal for 3 and added wings and Mac and cheese .

Very yummy meats. Not for the vegan eater. Has good food and good for price. Food comes out quickly and is cooked well.

Who would have thought that some of the best bbq would be in the middle of nowhere NY? I have had the fried chicken sandwich which was a special along with some Mac and cheese, the brisket meal with slaw and today the brisket sandwich with bbq beans and corn bread.. every meal I have had has been amazing, perfectly cooked with delicious flavors and a mix of spices that are balanced perfectly. This place is a must visit if you are in the area, and the area is beautiful.

So I've been a smoke joint fanatic since it was off Fulton in Brooklyn and I could drink myself silly on Andygator all night with the nicest / most chill wait staff. When they reopened at Livingston manor, my husband and I HAD to come up here for a day trip just to eat it. It's really our favorite spot. The food is still amazing - the brisket is always on point and we like everything else on the menu - ribs, wings, pulled pork - you name it, we've eaten and loved it. Since the pandemic started, we have done day trips up to Livingston manor to hike and have lunch there. It never disappoints and I'm looking forward to coming in the summer to sit at those picnic tables by the river.

This place is a gem. Excellent food, decent pricing, fast service and great atmosphere. We are originally from the South, and after 20 years in NY, this is the first place we have found that is authentic. The blues band, Rick and the Jumpstarts, was the perfect band to set the mood.

We found ourselves on Rte 17 heading back to the City , we stopped here for lunch another was delicious we had the ribs, collard greens corn bread and iced tea all tasty. The setting outside was great comfortable shaded tables and a babbling brook nearby , cute town stop by.

Decided to stop here for lunch after visiting Upward Brewery not too far away. Let me tell you, this is one of the best BBQ platters I've ever had. The food came out relatively quick from ordering and we ate it outside in the outdoor seating area. The Brisket was delicious and flavorful, ribs were outstanding and the corn was buttery and juicy. The Mac and cheese was a little cold but was still amazing nonetheless. The platter also came with a refreshing side of coleslaw. I recommend splitting this platter with a second person, as we were both completely stuffed after eating everything. Side note there is parking directly in front of the establishment as well. I would definitely come back!!

Goood goood food, it's different and their barbecue is amazing but cornbread to die for. Definitely would return just for the cornbread.

Seems like the restaurant just reopened under new management. YUM! we had the brisket, pulled pork and friend chicken, which was all incredibly tender. And the corn bread was moist and delicious. I also appreciate the picnic tables outside with covering for shade.

Ordered at the window, food was brought out to our table. Outdoor seating has a shaded area. Everyone was respecting social distancing & wearing their masks. Food came out very quickly, friendly service! We ordered the "tight lines" combo platter (which comes with slaw, brisket, half a rack of ribs, corn bread & two sides) we selected the Mac & cheese, bbQ fries & added an extra side of slaw. Tasty meal! Would recommend!

Delicious barbecue in the Catskills!! Brisket and pulled pork sandwiches were amazing. Sides-Mac and cheese, fries, collards-were excellent. Wings were ok. Wouldn't order again. Staff is super friendly and helpful

The smoke joint had really decent prices, and I was so shocked at how it was.. don't listen to the bad reviews everything was so yummy. Especially the corn w the chipotle aioli. The brisket was superrrr fatty, and SOME of the pork ribs. Mac & cheese was a little plain but still good. Spicy sauce actually spicy if you're into it!

Mad good food and mad short wait time. Got the pulled pork sandwich. My only regret is that I didn't buy more!

This place is surprisingly disappointing! My wife and I were up in the area this weekend and she suggested BBQ. This place had some nice reviews on both Yelp and Google. Maybe the standard for good food up there is so low, that based on what else is available, this place is amazing! My wife and I were not impressed in the slightest. I really want to give this place a 2, but their cornbread is SO AMAZING, it bumped it up. It is soft, just the right amount of chew, super corny! Perfect mix! I also think that their BBQ sauce is killer! If you buy a bottle, it is really pricey at $16. They could easily sell it for $8 and make an amazing profit! They would have gotten another point for that if it wasn't for the price. So we tried all their food except the shrimp. I will also add that we traveled 1 hour away after getting our food. I made sure to not make cold food a factor. I do not understand the setup too well... I asked for extra sauce at the end, and instead of them getting it for me, I had to go back and order it at the front window, then come back and pick it up at the side. That does not make sense. It also took 5 minutes to fill up my jar... We got the Long Drift which includes: Brisket Ribs Chicken 4 sides (slaw, beans, mac n cheese, fries) 2 cornbread We also ordered an extra lb of brisket and 1 lb of pork. If you blindfolded me, I would not be able to tell any of the meat apart. It was all bland and tough. The chicken was dry. The BBQ sauce made it taste so much better! The brisket was very fatty, but not in a good way. There were parts of it that were inedible, and I had to throw a decent amount away because it was pure fat. Usually it is sliced nicely, but this was rough chopped! We had pieces the size of MnM's to pool ball sizes! Super inconsistent! It was also cut with the grain instead of against it. It was harder to eat. Ribs were tough! They needed another few hours to become more tender! I had to use a knife to get the meat off, I added BBQ sauce and it was so much better! Chicken was black on the outside, and super dry on the inside! Added BBQ sauce and it was so much better! The skin was an inedible chewy... The pork came in weird shapes as well, no consistency! No real flavor... BBQ sauce saved it. It was also a tad bit tough. The best side was the slaw! It was a creamy vinaigrette! Just the perfect amount of sauce, and slaw was crispy! Beans were the second best, but needed way more cooking. They are supposed to be soft and pillowy, but it was hard and grainy instead. Mac n cheese was super grainy But the pasta was cooked nice! Fries were actually pretty good and held up nicely in the car ride! Even heating up the food in an oven, it didnt really help the food. Id avoid! The location is terrible! There is not enough parking, and you have to double park everywhere. The outdoor area is nice, and they did just enough to put a covering outside. Picnic tables could be nicer, maybe treat the wood or something like that. Also do not sit on the wood logs! There are nails in them. All in all, go for the cornbread and BBQ sauce, but skip the rest... Do not travel more than 5 minutes to go here.

My family and I have been dying to try this place for so long , today all nine of us went for the first time, I can't tell you how the food is because we left before we even sat down because of the rude waitress that takes the orders at the window , after being closed for so long you would think they would be glad to see a party of 9, but no --beyond nasty and rude ,She told us - order here and if we have time we'll bring it out to you , than walked away What? Not hello , not welcome , nothing

Barbecue was great. Four of us had ribs, brisket, shrimp, wings and fried chicken (we were there for 3 hrs). Great music on a Saturday night and Jennifer the owner made everyone feel welcome. I highly recommend if in the area!!

I pass by this place all the time, and I am so happy that I finally checked it out. Affordable prices, adequate serving sizes, awesome staff, and accommodating for people who need to eat gluten-free. I met the owner Ben, who was super friendly, and thoroughly explained which foods would be safe to eat due to my restriction. I could tell that he (as the owner) methodically planned out his menu and ingredients to be more inclusive. Just want to say thanks for being helping me fit in, especially when there are other restaurants in The Manor who aren't flexible or knowledgeable about gluten Also, great outdoor seating, each table has hand sanitizer, towels, and bleach spray.

Good news: BBQ is delicious. Truly. Love the outdoor dining area! We took the $32 ribs and brisket home on our 2 hour drive after visiting our son at Binghamton. Two sides were included: we chose the beans and collards, and added a side of Mac n cheese. All yummy. Bad news: I asked about adding pickles to the order, we were informed they were included along with onions and coleslaw. None of which were in the bag when we got home, two hours later... a little too late to go back and remind them. Normally I check to go orders before I leave... but this time, I didn't... tired!! May sound petty, but for me (being from the South) the sides / condiments that you layer onto bbq make a truly great brisket sandwich. Sides were small, and the bbq sauces on the side were half full in their container. The cashier/ order taker was adorable, but not a smile to be had until I engaged her. The restaurant just felt as if no one was in charge. I truly GET the challenges of COVID, particularly staffing right now... But Ben Grossman, I sincerely think you can... and WANT TO! Do better! We will definitely give The Smoke Joint another chance... and hope y'all get the takeout thing DOWN to a science. Looking forward.

I am not usually fond of BBQ but The Smoke Joint is a quality joint. The quality of the meat used is tops (vegans please do not try to rate this place.) The combo platters are ample for many servings. Love the sides, especially the bbq beans which are a combination of hierloom varieties. The parking lot is small and requires a bit of maneuring. Outdoor dining and take out. Dog friendly.