4. Restaurants

Smoke BBQ Taqueria

4115 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201
  • (412) 224-2070
  • Store is closed

Smoke BBQ Taqueria Menu

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  • Big S.

    This place is awesome. We weren't planning on coming here, but glad that we did. only downside is cash only, but there is an ATM inside and across the street. We got a few different tacos, an app and the aqua fresca (honeydew special). The drink was amazing, fresh and tasted great. The queso dip is unreal, and the bread they serve with it is so warm and perfect. Nice job there. And there is a ton of it, we didn't finish. For tacos, we got the Migas, Egg, Chorizo and Pork. We made these a little custom, but they were great. The tortillas are warm and fresh, and don't break! The chorizo was just ok, I probably wouldn't get that again. It was more ground chorizo, not sausage form which I was expecting. The egg was incredible, I got it with Rib meat and avacado cream, both nice touches. That was the best around. And we ended with a freshly baked cookie, chocolate and PB. Great place, go there.

    (5)

  • Bolana F.

    Decided to give this place a try on the night on the RANT festival. It was very crowded and we had an hour wait for a seat at the bar--not sure if this is typical or if there was extra crowd from the music fest in Lawrenceville. Either way, it was quite loud and bustling. However, we had prompt service considering the full house. The ambiance is dim and trendy with lots of exposed brick and wood. The tacos were unique and very tasty! Wish I would have gotten two or at least a larger taco for the price though. The drinks were unique and refreshing--we had the Horchata and Aquas Frescas. Overall, I would love to go back when it is a little quieter. Very good food that is a little pricey for the portion size, but worth it and on-par prices with comparable restaurants in Lawrenceville.

    (4)

  • Nina P.

    DELICIOUS FOOD BUT I HAVE A MAJOR BEEF WITH YOU...! Hi My Loves! So fans know I'm having a love affair with Lawrenceville right now! I was excited to eat at Smoke again BUT I'VE GOT A BIT OF A BEEF WITH THIS PLACE! I'm VERY disappointed in the fact that this restaurant left Homestead for Larryville. You gave hope to 8th Avenue business owners that the tide could be turned in Homestead. You had tons of business, there was consistently a 2 hour wait just for takeout! People drove to Homestead for your food! For sentimental reasons I loved your 8th Avenue place, I grew up in Homestead and had an amazing first date at your place a couple years back! That said I begrudgingly returned to your new Larryville location... Larryville 2.0 is a bigger for sure but still a damn zoo! The wait for a table is fucking ridiculous. You guys still don't have a big enough place to accommodate the demand for your food. When you can get a table the food is still legit awesome. Homemade chips and queso is excellent. The mac and cheese is maybe one of the best in the burg and the brisket is to die for! I also like the pork and apricot taco and I'd love to try this place for breakfast one day. You'd be cooler if you kept Homestead open and/or got a bigger fucking place! In the meantime I'll still be a fan but a hard ass fan! Love you! Muah

    (3)

  • Faith A.

    The only thing that could improve my experience here, is if they added the Chicken and Waffle special taco that they have on occasions to the regular menu. Every Sunday, I seem to come here in search of that amazingness and I have turned up empty far too many times recently. Smoke is still BYOB right now, but I think that they are getting their liquor license soon. I love BYOB places, but whether Smoke is or is not, it would not matter to me... the food and service is great, the vibe is chill, and an overall experience is always excellent. I love the pork taco... it seems to be the standard that I often keep turning to. The brisket BLT, chicken, etc. are all good as well. The tacos are served on heavenly buttermilk tortillas. Some of the best tortillas ever if you ask me! I am also quite obsessed with their Jalapeno and Apple Slaw... soooooooo incredibly tasty and refreshing. Smoke is definitely on my top ten list of places that I will miss when I leave Pgh... and when I return, it will be one of the few places that I cannot wait to come back to!

    (5)

  • Tricia B.

    Okay, I admit it. I kind of wanted to hate this place. This is purely based on what I've heard from others, of course, but I got the impression that it was one of those hipster, annoyingly trendy, trying-hard-to-be-cool-while-pretending-not-to-try places. And....it is kind of all of those things. But the service and food completely won me over...so it is impossible now for me to hate :) First thing's first....yes, it's crazy busy here. On a Sunday night at 7, there was an hour wait. They do use the NoWait app, but you can't just sign into the app and put yourself on the list like with other restaurants. Because Smoke is so cool and different ;) they don't conform to the normal NoWait M.O.....instead you have to call them on the phone to get in line. Then they will text you a link to the app that will let you track your place. Because it was so busy, we said we were willing to eat at the bar, and that's where we were seated. The bar seating is tight, so it kind of sucked rubbing elbows (literally) with the random dude beside me...but first world problems, right? The barista was our server and she was super attentive and sweet. Because we had not been there before, she explained their concept and gave us recommendations on how much food to order (2 tacos per person is apparently standard). We started with an order of the "Hot Bowl of Cheese", which is essentially the best freaking queso I've ever had in my life. It's a mild cheese sauce spiked with smoked peppers and onions....crazy flavorful. It's served with homemade flour tortilla chips fried to a consistency that is simultaneously crispy and chewy. If I had magical powers, I would seriously consider hooking myself up to an IV of cheese sauce that I could tote around with me wherever I went. It was so, so good. For dinner, I got a veggie taco and my hubby got the special taco of the day (which was a chicken and waffle taco). Then we split an order of mac and cheese. Although they recommended two tacos per person, between the queso appetizer and the mac and cheese side, one taco each was more than enough for us (and in fact, we took most of the mac home). The tacos were OUTSTANDING. It can be hard to make a veggie taco interesting, but they managed to pack it with smoky and spicy flavors. And the chicken and waffle taco was to die for....perfectly crisp chicken, soft waffles, and a sweet/spicy blueberry jalapeno sauce. Putting all of those flavors and textures together might have made for the world's most perfect bite. And let's not forget about the mac and cheese! It was insanely delicious....rich and creamy with a super sharp cheese sauce (I LOVE mac and cheese with a bite!) To wash everything down, we tried both flavors of their agua frescas that they had that day (cantaloupe and watermelon). Both were super refreshing, fruity, and lightly sweet. A perfect complement to our meals. The only downside here is their prices. YIKES. Be prepared to open your wallet. Psychologically, it's hard to pay $8.00+ for a side of mac and cheese or $7.50 for a single taco.....but they really do back up their prices with amazingly fresh, homemade, flavorful food. So I guess that eases the pain a little? Oh, and speaking of prices, it's cash only...which I find annoying. I mean, it's 2015...at this point, I think I should be able to beam payment directly from my eyeballs to the restaurant. But whatever. Credit cards are probably too mainstream for Smoke ;) So I will begrudgingly pull out the cash for my super-high-priced, but super-freaking-delicious tacos. :)

    (5)

  • Casey K.

    BBQ wrapped up into a delicious taco - it's really all you can ask for. I was lucky enough to try Smoke with a large group who had graciously put our name in 2 hours ahead of time. When we were finally called from our bar hangout next door, we walked past many couples and groups waiting to sit through the unmarked door. There aren't many seats in this joint, but I feel the experience was worth the wait. Our waiter was fantastic, taking care with every order and very attentive. We ordered several appetizers, but did I mention it's BYOB? Make sure you stop next door at the 6 pack shop to pick up a few drinks before stopping in. As for the food, the tacos are spicy, and they do not mess around! They are way larger than I expected and two were more than enough. We also tried the Mac and cheese, topped with brisket. I know a lot of people saw that this place or that has the best M&C, but this one takes the cake.

    (5)

  • Colin M.

    Finally got around to stopping by their new location for a weekday lunch, which admittedly is one of the best times to come without having to wait. I was a little confused upon arriving as they had, what seemed like, 3 hostesses around the entrance. The place was much larger than I expected but we quickly got a seat in the middle of the restaurant. As others had suggested, we started with the queso which was delicious, as were the homemade chips. Large portion too. I went with the Chicken and Brisket tacos for lunch which were good, although not as good as I remembered them from their Homestead days. Brisket was perfectly tender but incredibly salty during this trip - just a very overpowering taste. I was tempted to try their mac n cheese as well, but maybe next time. Waitstaff was pleasant but I don't understand the use of technology for technology-sake. Instead of discussing the menu and having a conversation, our waiter had his eyes fixed to his iPad for the entire ordering process. I'm sure it makes things easier for their cooks, but it added no value to the customers IMO.

    (3)

  • Ran L.

    Update 4/27/2015: The wait time for your food -- at least during off-peak hours -- has significantly decreased. When I get take-out from here, my food is pretty much ready 10-15 minutes from when I order (for 1-2 tacos). I am so happy that Smoke is now in Lawrenceville. Thankfully, the food is still delicious. This is less of a traditional taco place than it is a great bbq place in which all of their meat happens to be served in tacos with well-selected toppings to enhance the natural flavors of the meat. That said, I really think the star of this restaurant is the meat. The two tacos I had today, the pork and the brisket, were both awesome. In fact, the brisket taco is TO DIE FOR. The other toppings and sauce in that taco are really there to enhance the flavor of the brisket itself, which is so smoky and well done. The mac and cheese is great, too. I tend not to love m&c because it tends to be bland, fatty, and uninspired feeling. Smoke makes one of the few m&c's in the city that I actually like -- it's super garlicky and flavorful (sharp cheeses) with just the right mixture of textures. Ask for the habanero sauce on the side--it pairs perfectly with the m&c. Yum! I will be back here a lot. Although the wait time can be an annoyance during peak meal hours, it's all about setting your expectations correctly. An easy work-around is to get takeout and to order it in advance. Or just build your schedule around the expected wait, and make sure you go with a good conversationalist.

    (5)

  • Richard M.

    Just to let you know always call ahead for a table and expect to wait about 20-30 minutes for your meal after you order. It's so worth the wait you will understand once you dig into these magical tacos. If you're really hungry you can't go wrong with queso and lightly fried pita chips.. They are a home run. For tacos my hands down favorite is the rib and close second is the chicken apple. If it's your first time I recommend trying both I just mentioned, the jalapeño mayo is amazing! Honestly be patient and you will be rewarded witg amazing food, and yes the place is very 'hipster' but it's Lawrenceville, it's expected. My rank of tacos: 1.Ribs 2.Chicken/Apple 3.Brisket 4.chorizo Pros- *The signature 'smoke' smell *Laid back environment * reclaimed/industrial theme *Mac&Cheese *Rib taco Cons -wish they had more seating -wish they delivered

    (5)

  • Simone H.

    Usually, I give places like this a 5 star unless you make my local foodie mad which the bar server did, so you get 4. Super excited to finally see smoke open up in Lawrenceville after their presence in the Waterfront proved underappreciated. Came on a Saturday night, so we waited for a little bit [40 minutes is normal] before getting seated at the bar [something KB and I actually prefer] The place is warm and inviting, decked out in wood and engulfed in some of the most their elaborate aromas from their chorizo, to their tacos, and mac & cheese. We had been eating and drinking our way through Lville from Slice to AWM, so we ordered small. KB had the mac & cheese and a side of the broccolini [her faves], and I had a the taco special which was a chicken with arugula, strawberries, blue cheese and pecans [pretty much my favorite salad dumped into a taco] The mac&cheese is awesome. It's heavy and creamy with thick, sharp cheeses, a dousing of pepper and breadcrumbs that much makes you as happy as a 5 year old with a blue box. And there is a healthy portion of it. Honestly, it's called a side, but this clearly could be your entire meal. The broccolini was similar, doused with cheese and breadcrumbs, not leaving much to the delicate vegetable dish you may have been expecting. Unfortunately, this dish was a bit disappointing as most of what you taste is smoke. It completely overpowers the vegetable and put a sad pairing taste to the wine [the place is BYOB] we had brought from AWM. [we weren't expecting that flavoring in our Italian greens] The taco was nice, I loved the blend of the pecan and blue cheese and offset with the strawberries and pepperiness of the arugula. It was also a nice size for a taco. Mounds of fillings. There is a lot of cheese clumped right in the middle, which was a shame, less would have been better, and it would have made the dish overall less heavy. The disappearing star went for the attitude of our bar server. She started out great and helpful with specials and uncorking our wine. The checked in regularly and stopped an appropriate amount of time in order to start a tat of conversation with each patron. However, that's when things turned sour. We had gotten into conversation about the evening and logically, the wine that we had dragged half way across Lawrenceville for here specifically. She seemed intrigued as KB mentioned it to be one of her more preferred and then offered her a taste. She accepted, poured herself a small bit, tasted it, and complimented it as a polite patron no matter her personal taste. Then she asked for feedback on food. Naturally, as foodies, we love giving it. We noted lovely blend of cheeses and consistency of the m&c, the unique twist on the broccolini, and I expressed my concern for the amount of blue cheese that was overpowering the taco. With each remark her blatant 'F-U' face became more and more visible. Now, we love this place and want to see it thrive so, we would have believed that feedback that had more depth than just "It's great" would be welcomed. We were wrong. By the end she seemed positively irked, decided it was time to move to other diners, turned, and violently dumped out the rest of the wine. Message received. We decided the desert was best to go [but it was truly amazing pie - and was devoured later that morning], rounding out our dinner before we made out for the grapparia for a digestion drink. All in all, this place is an above average establishment for food and atmosphere, as long as you adjust your expectation to a trendy Lville hotspot [waits and attitude] and definitely a place that will [and has been] returned to.

    (4)

  • Anabel A.

    Ordered a chicken and apple taco. Taste was good. Kind of expensive for what they give you. Nice atmosphere. Very hipster. Went once. Won't be back.

    (3)

  • Liz H.

    Great for take out but atmosphere is a low point. We hadn't been to Smoke since it was in Homestead so I was ready for a yummy taco. The food did not disappoint. Both my favorites, brisket and chicken apple were delicious. Service was fine. But the music was obnoxiously loud combined with ambient noise to the point that conversation was impossible and digestion questionable. As I walked past the kitchen I noticed it was quieter there. We took our order to go. The new place looks hip but I couldn't enjoy it. Sorry we couldn't stay because we really like you guys. Missing the quiet little place in Homestead that was all about good food.

    (3)

  • Samantha S.

    I cannot put into words how much my husband and I love this place!!! Everything is so fresh and the recipes they come up with blow my mind! The brisket is my favorite, I always order it without the hot peppers, I don't have a very high tolerance for hot things, however my husband loves the Brisket as is, as have a few other people I know that have ordered it. My husbands favorite is the Migas, with brisket and pinto beans. The staff are always great, and always seem to know exactly what they're talking about when it comes to the product. We love to go there to eat, as it is a very cool trendy place, however the pick up option for food on the go is an awesome bonus for those nights when we're looking to stay in. Their Queso is actually making my mouth water thinking about it, it's that good, and the "chips" they serve it with is the best part. We always order more tacos than we need to because it makes awesome leftovers for the next day. Just pop them in the microwave! YUM! If you're not sure about trying a new place and pass Smoke up, you're crazy!

    (5)

  • Scott H.

    Daaaaammmmn this place is good. Amazing meat quality and great menu. You won't be disappointed at all. Tips: BYOB (no problem, you can get beer next door) cash only (again no problem there is an ATM on the other side) and no reservations (slight problem, however there are plenty of great bars within a few blocks to keep you busy while you wait).

    (5)

  • Jen F.

    Looking for great tacos. ....head here. The meat is fresh and great tortillas. I had the rib taco and the sirloin (brisket wasn't ready yet). Both were very good but I think the rib taco is hard to beat. My sister had the migas and said it was very good. I have had their mac and cheese prior to this visit and it's hard to beat. Only reason 4 and not 5 stars....the chips that come with queso are fried flour and hold a lot of grease.

    (4)

  • Sari F.

    Good food, reasonable prices and nice ambiance. We went on a Wed. at 6:30 and had no problem getting a table. We ordered queso which was really good. The taco I had was very good and the wait staff was nice and attentive. It is also great that you can grab beers next door!

    (5)

  • Mike K.

    Hands down the best taco I've ever had. Went for breakfast and got a breakfast taco and a pork taco. Serve great la proms coffee too. BYOB so will be back again for dinner

    (5)

  • Sara H.

    Love this place! Came in with a larger party on Saturday afternoon and they were very accommodating. Great service and excellent food. I recommend the queso.. its AMAZING!!!

    (5)

  • Terry B.

    Smoke has finally won my heart. I first started coming to smoke when they were in Homestead and liked the character of the place but didn't like the small size and limited selection. I've gone to smoke 5 or 6 times and my experiences just get better. Most recently I ordered take out but decided to eat in; I had one of their taco specials along with chips/queso. The taco was heavenly, like pouring liquid satisfaction in my mouth and the chips are best eaten compulsively to the point of crapulence. I seldom give out 5 stars, but smoke has earned it.

    (5)

  • Deirdre G.

    The Sweet tea is really bomb here. I had the brisket taco, it was pretty good...my favorite was the queso with the fried tortilla chips. Holy it was delicious , I actually could of skipped the taco completely and had the queso for my meal. It was huge & super filling! Ultimately, the entire experience was satisfying and I'll for sure be back.

    (4)

  • Scott G.

    Ambiance: I would describe the set up as modern rustic with a long narrow dinning area with a bar on left and bench and total seating capacity of about 30. I liked the large stacks of wood against the wall. Drinks: BYOB! There is a fairly trivial byob price per person which I think was something like $1.50. They also have their own margarita mix if you want to bring a bottle of tequila. The group at the table next to us took this option and it looked like fun...salted glassware provided. Food: We started off with an appetizer of the queso dip ("hot bowl o'cheese") with homemade tortilla chips. The chips were like a hybrid between what you would typically think of as tortilla chips and pita chips and were very good. The portion of chips was quite large and the queso dip was tasty, but a little on the thin side viscosity wise. For the main course I ordered the pork taco and the brisket taco. Both were very, very good and were nicely sized. The brisket one was on the spicy side though, which I like, but if spicy isn't your thing I'd steer clear of the brisket. Our waitress was right that two was enough for a meal, maybe three if you were really hungry or didn't get an app. I also had a bite of the migas with bacon. That was probably my favorite and next time I go back I'll definitely order a migas with meat added...maybe chorizo. Service: Our waitress was very attentive and knowledgeable. She also had a good sense of humor. The food was delivered without delay but without feeling rushed either. Overall: I loved dinner at Smoke and can't wait to go back. Compared to a recent dinner at Tako I prefer the fact that smoke is byob (which resulted in a considerably less expensive final tab) and has more of a relaxed vibe, Overall the food quality is similar between with a slight edge to smoke in my opinion though Tako's build your own guac was an amazing app. Tip: A downside to Smoke is that they don't take reservations, but they do offer a call ahead option (through no wait app) to get your name on the wait list, which I would recommend taking advantage of as they were quite busy and on the smaller side leading to fairly long wait times on popular nights.

    (5)

  • Eryn P.

    This place is such a gem. Watch out, though! If you blink, you'll miss it. Nestled right next to Row House Cinema on Butler Street in Larryville, Smoke boasts no sign, or any promotional items outside alerting you to the glorious things happening inside. But as soon as you open the door, BAM! You know where you're at! I called ahead for reservations, but they didn't accept them. You can call 30 minutes before you're arrival, just to get your name "on the list". I did just that, and after the short ride from the North Side (minus the traffic on 28), my adventurous friend, Jess and I were sat immediately at the bar. We both ordered lemonade, and it was gone before we knew it! So refreshing, simple and cold. It was topped with zest, and I saw them juicing lemons into our glasses when they refilled them. Next time we'll remember that they're a BYOB, and bring some beer! But I'll still get a lemonade. We went over the single page menu for a good amount of time, with help from the bartender. He made good suggestions, but didn't let us know about the Scorpion Wings, that were the special that day. (The only reason I'm giving a 4 and not a 5-star review) He told the guys next to us after we had already started eating, and I would have LOVED to try them. They smelled and looked amazing. We wound up ordering the Big Bowl 'O Cheese, with fresh tortilla chips (that I couldn't stop eating), a Brisket Taco, a Applebacon Taco, and a side of Mac & Cheese. I wanted to eat everything, and then eat the plate it came on. The cheese was on point, the chips were crispy, and the tacos....ooohhhh the tacos. The Brisket was tender, and the mustard on it was a perfect pair. I was slightly jealous of Jess's decision to get the Applebacon taco. But she was nice enough to share! :) It was a little on the spicy side, but the crispy apples toned the kick down nicely. The Mac & Cheese was a last minute decision as a side, and I was so happy we added it on. Creamy, with cheddar and mascarpone cheeses, it melted in your mouth. Thank goodness they have boxes, because I took so much home. Jess and I escaped with a bill just under $35, but remember, they only accept CASH! but there's a PNC and a Citizen's ATM's bank right next door. All in all, GO HERE. Just make sure you plan ahead and give them a call! :) Happy Eating!

    (4)

  • Stacie C.

    Smoke's new location in Lawrenceville is somewhat hidden for now until they get signage. Not going to lie, I walked right by it twice. But in case you need to know, it is right next to Row House Cinema on Butler Street. Depending on when you go in, it might be packed to the gills or empty with only a few patrons. I was lucky enough to find only two other patrons at the bar when I stopped in one random weekday afternoon after exploring a few other shops in the neighborhood. I'd been to Smoke's previous Homestead location so I knew what to expect. Cash only with just a few items to choose from. Nothing too crazy as far as tacos but the combination of ingredients will usually awaken the taste buds. I went with tres tacos: the chorizo, chicken and brisket. All were delightful, but just like my last Smoke experience I felt like it was a little pricey. Service was friendly and I didn't wait long, but I'm sure when there's a line of people out the door service isn't as friendly, fast or efficient. I want to try the mac n cheese but haven't yet, mostly because, again, I'm turned off by the cost ($7 for what doesn't look like a very big portion). If/when I return, it will be the first thing I order. I hope to update my review with an extra star after a taste.

    (3)

  • Meghan B.

    We were so obsessed with Smoke that we HAD to go back again for Father's day. This time, we brought the boyf's mom and dad as well. This experience- was a lot different than the first, unfortunately. We started off with their queso- I had heard it was amazing and was super excited to try it. It definetly was a big bowl of cheese- the portion was pretty big and was enough to share with a larger group of people. But the flavor.. was lacking immensely. The cheese dip was almost completely flavorless besides the peppers and cilantro that were scarce throughout the dip. I took the leftover dip home and even doctoring it up didn't add much to it.. needless to say, I was very disappointed. The chips were homemade, which I greatly appreciated, but were also flavorless. My boyfriend's mom loved them though, so I gave her the remaining chips to take home. One thing I don't like about this place that I didn't notice last time- they really don't have many drinks at all. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that they are BYOB- it's completely awesome! But I didn't even think about their selection of non-alcoholic drinks. If I am not drinking alcohol at a restaurant, it's water for me, all of the time. But my boyfriend's parents always get pop and were a little disappointed that there were none available. They ordered their homemade lemonade and enjoyed it- but I do agree that some soda should be offered- even if it's only in glass bottle form. Our entire party ordered 4 orders of mac & cheese and almost everyone ordered a taco. I ordered the chicken and apple taco that I loved so much the first time I had it (I had been dreaming about that taco ever since). My boyfriend ordered that as well. My boyfriend loved his- I was disappointed in mine. It was drenched in the smoked jalapeno mayo. To the point where it was a little difficult to eat. The mayo is delicious, don't get me wrong... but sometimes too much of a good thing, makes it not so good anymore. It took away the other flavors and just overpowered the entire taco. The mac & cheese was different this time too! It wasn't as flavorful as it was the last time. My sister (who admittedly is a picky eater) had a couple bites and couldn't eat any more. My dad enjoyed his. The one thing I will say is the portion of the mac & cheese is awesome- and I love the crumb filled top. My mom and dad had to doctor up their mac & cheese leftovers by adding a lot more flavor, since it lacked so much in that department. I did the same thing with my leftovers, which made the mac & cheese bearable. My boyfriend's family liked their food, but weren't blown away either. I do not want to give this place 3 stars, but I have to. The fact that the two experiences at Smoke were so drastically different is super disappointing. The food should be consistent- not different each time you go. I would like to return again, but I won't be running there anytime soon. Their desserts sound incredible and I have been too full each time I had visited to try any- so maybe dinner elsewhere and a drink and dessert at Smoke will be my next trip.

    (3)

  • Julie M.

    Stopped in mid afternoon on a Sunday. A friend and I sampled the watermelon agua fresca which was delicious and refreshing. We also each had the Horchata- this is a must have, so delicious and not too sweet. As far as food we tried the chips and queso, the Mac and cheese and the brisket taco. All delicious, great flavor profiles and an inviting atmosphere. Also, our waiter was attentive and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. I can't wait to dine here again!

    (5)

  • Pauline T.

    Thank you yelpers for helping me find this place! The wait was half an hour around dinner time for two people, so we just walked around Lawrenceville in the meantime, waiting for the text notification that our table was ready. The setup is interesting inside. It looks like more space is set aside for the decorations than the seating area, but I guess it's working out for them. I ordered the migas taco because I like eggs, and smoked red cabbage because that sounded interesting. I noticed that some of the sides cost more than the tacos. The wait wasn't too long for the food, which came out wrapped in foil and the little cauldron-like thing for the smoked red cabbage. To be honest, the migas taco reminded me of the sausage egg and cheese burrito at McDonald's with some spice and green bell pepper--but I still liked it. I think it was the cheesiness that made me first think of that. The smoked cabbage had a surprising flavor. The smoky-ness was very nice and powerful, which I really liked. I'd want to come back and try their other tacos too. Also it's BYOB at $1.75 a person.

    (4)

  • Mark K.

    Saw this place a few weeks ago and heard from a friend it was really good but they have long waits and run out of food. So taking that as a factor I went early Saturday. I will start with the bad and with only one bad thing I will keep it short. It took a little time to get someone to greet me and put my small group in the system for seating. That was about it. After that we were seated fast and orders taken. Also I feel since it's a new place everyone is still trying to find the flow of it and they are all doing a great job but just need to get the rhythm down. They don't serve alcohol but the beer store is right next to it and for a small fee of $1.75 a person you can do BYOB. They have a small menu but everything has big flavor. I mean the brisket Mac n cheese was awesome! Every taco we got was amazing. The tacos are personal size but the sides easily feed 2 to 3 people with extra. We all just got the tacos we wanted and split the sides. The bill was not bad at all and everything was very good. I would go back and you should try it.

    (4)

  • Matthieu K.

    Step 1 - use NoWait. (You're welcome ... that was some free advice.) Yes, it's a hipster taco joint. They may have ... served me warm water, but that's a thing now, no big deal. Waiter was great, was familiar with how everything was assembled and cooked. BYOB ... don't forget. Again ... Bring Your Own Booze ... (You're welcome ... that was some more free advice.) I was a little b##ch and had everything custom made. They did it and it was all fantastic. Had one of each taco they offer and enjoyed them. The cheese dip was pretty nice. Chips are made in-house, very thick, almost like naan. Still quite good. If you use NoWait and have some booze @ Industry or go bowling, it's all good. Quality is as good as any taqueria I have ever been to. You should stop in and enjoy, it's pretty good.

    (5)

  • Lee H.

    Garbage...absolute garbage. I never had such bland overpriced food. Where to begin... Chicken and brisket need to be marinated or marinated longer. Soo tasteless. They try to cover this up by throwing what I'm sure they think are exotic sauces on them, which are also terrible. Don't bother with the way over priced sides as they are equally tasteless. This place is perfect for Lawrenceville as they prey on ignorant Pittsburgh hipsters that don't know what good food is and are unwilling to travel. Shame on you Smoke, you should have been left to die in Homestead. But instead you are taking advantage of less educated people.

    (1)

  • Nate L.

    We have always enjoyed the food and vibe at this taco spot. We used to go to their location in Homestead often but are happy they are now located in Lawrenceville. BYOB is a plus, but don't forget it's cash only. I would recommend any of the tacos, they are all great. Also, we ordered the queso and chips. Absolutely amazing. Soft fried pita chips are so good. Eat it!

    (5)

  • Rachel C.

    Yay for Smoke finally opening up again! Or maybe what I should really say is, yay, I finally visited the new location. You guys, it's beautiful. All decked out in warm wood, with that same smoke smell, and decorated in a homey way. I went with one of my old standby's since it had been so long, the rib taco and the special mani mani taco. Both were excellent, the rib being just as tasty as before. Speaking of just as tasty, so was the white cheddar Mac n' cheese, which should be a must for anyone visiting! I was surprised there weren't more new additions to the menu, but the one new side dish, the broccolini with corn and a layer of breadcrumbs was incredible! Seriously, I'm still thinking about it! I'm a fan of BYOB joints, which it is right now, but the bar they do have set-up seems to be screaming for some fresh margaritas. Right now you can settle for their special mix, you just bring the tequila... And the party!!!

    (4)

  • Alicia S.

    So good news or bad news first. Let's start bad news. First, the lack of signage. If I hadn't read reviews on yelp before meeting friends for dinner, we might not have found this place. My friends think they are trying to fit the hipster mentality and remain anonymous. I personally hate this. A sign with their name or even the address on the door would be really helpful. Second, they are cash only. Not a big deal since they have an ATM in the back of the restaurant near the restrooms. Third, it's BYOB and we had no idea. Didn't notice this bit of information in any comments or reviews we read online. Luckily atlas bottle works is next door and offers chilled bottles and growlers to go. Now for the good news- the food! So good. We started with chips and queso. There was enough for four of us to share. I am a huge fan of homemade chips and these were spot on. We also ordered biscuits and Mac and cheese as sides. I wasn't a huge fan of the biscuits; a little to greasy for me. Now the Mac and cheese, that was a different story. Yummy! My husband didn't love it because the cheese they used was a little to sharp for his taste. The tacos were excellent. We asked the waiter how big they were and he recommended two per person. I would say this is too much food if you are ordering sides. My rib taco was overstuffed but delicious. The chicken and Apple was also excellent but the star of the show was the brisket. We look forward to our next meal at smoke.

    (4)

  • Nicholas R.

    This was our first visit to Smoke during a weekend trip. Cool, unique neighborhood. The inside of the place is a simple and rustic but welcoming. Service was friendly. It is cash only which I find to be a nuisance... Also BYOB, at least for now. We started with the bowl of cheese. It was delicious but we agreed that half the portion at half the price would be more suitable for two people. The tacos were good. We had chicken, pork, and brisket. I enjoyed the bbq flavors but found the tacos to be each a little one-noted for 6-7 bucks a pop.

    (3)

  • Alex D.

    Great place! I did not deduct any stars for the 35 minute wait, because the place is making such great food, it's only natural that people are flocking here! We came here with the kids, and were pleasantly surprised to see a decent kids' meal - a rarity these days. Yes, I had the usual Mac n' cheese and potato bite options, but it was several steps up from a chain restaurant kids' menu flavor wise. Our kids loved the broccolini and corn, as well as the Mac and cheese. For us, we got the salad (no meat added on), which currently is a tasty mix of greens, house made potato bites (we ARE in Pittsburgh, after all!!!), cherry tomatoes, and a bleu cheese dressing. We decided to go for 4 total tacos, which is crazy, unless you are a college kid. One taco is enough to be an adult's main course - they are not skimpy. We chose the pulled pork, chicken, brisket, and chorizo. We had originally wanted the rib taco, but it was later in the afternoon, and they were out. My favorite was the pulled pork, followed by the brisket, then the chicken, and finally the chorizo, although all four were ridiculously flavorful and the meat was well smoked. I do wish that they would turn down the spice just a little bit on the brisket and chicken tacos in order to let the meat do the talking, but the spice wasn't overwhelming. All of the staff we interacted with were super friendly, and the food comes out quite fast for a full restaurant - sounds like they've worked on this from some of the earlier reviews. It's BYOB, and there's a beer shop next door and a wine store across the street. The iced tea and lemonade were superb, since we didn't feel like partaking in wine or beer at the time. When we were done, we asked them to box up the leftovers (totally miscalculated - one taco per person is quite filling if you're eating a side dish or salad, and aren't a college kid...) and it was done quickly and efficiently. It's a cash only establishment, so estimate before you go and stop at one of the banks that are literally next door - or you can use the ATM in the back. Overall, it's a great place with great food - well worth any wait you may have. I'm very pleased that it lived up to all of the hype I've read for the past two years! We will definitely be back!!!

    (5)

  • Taylor F.

    Better than I remembered! We called ahead last Saturday to see how busy Smoke was and managed to beat the dinner rush. I loved Smoke at the Homestead location and was highly anticipating the restaurants return. I'm a little late on going here... but it was still delicious! The Mac-and-Cheese and Chicken Tacos were cooked to perfection. Also loved the Jalapeno Cole Slaw! My only disappointments were the water was warm and they didn't have pie... I've heard that the pie is amazing! Can't wait to come back!

    (4)

  • Stacey V.

    We finally figured out how to get into this restaurant. Tried walking in several times, but I don't think that would ever be possible here. You MUST call and get your name on the list before heading there, or use the 'No Wait' app. We were seated at the bar as there were only 2 of us - we were told that there were a lot of larger groups that night and the tables were reserved for them. Our waiter was good - we placed our orders without any issues, but the kitchen was clearly facing some serious problems that night - it took about 45 minutes for us to get our food, but the waiter took 20% off our bill as it was an unusual occurrence. I hope they've sorted their kitchen issues out. The food did not disappoint - I totally understand why people keep going back and wait for the food. I had a rib taco and a Mac & cheese. The flavours of the taco were amazing! Everything blended together so nicely - there was clearly a lot of thought put into the combination of sauce(s) and filling. Tacos were served warm, wrapped nicely in foil. The Mac & Cheese was also really delicious - maybe not the best you'll ever have, but they definitely used high quality cheese to make it - hence the $8 price. It was a huge portion as well. We also ordered a side of baked potatoes, but it was more of a potato salad. It was good too! Their drink options aren't exciting as it is BYOB. Just remember to bring something with you when you go! Atmosphere - it is very noisy, but still tolerable. We will definitely head back there when we crave some really good quality tacos!

    (4)

  • Jim S.

    This was a fun place to come. It's relatively small inside, so make sure to call ahead or get there early. The service was okay. The front staff were really friendly, while our waitress seemed like she might have been having a bad day. The food was really good. We had the mac and cheese (fantastic) and 4 different types of the tacos (all were considerably good). The food is good, although I'd consider it maybe a little expensive for the amount that you get. The menu prices are on a per taco basis, for reference. That being said, I would come again. Should be noted that they don't take reservations for parties less than 8, and they are cash only. There's a PNC next door and they have an ATM though.

    (4)

  • Mara K.

    Other reviewers have mentioned that Smoke is inconspicuously situated on Butler Street and they are correct. I'm not sure the name is even on the door- but it's worth finding! The atmosphere here is Lawrencville trendy- you know what I mean - exposed brick walls, dim lighting, and contemporary art. But it works and it sets the stage for a nice meal. Fairly simple menu with several types of tacos. I got the BLT taco with a nice and spicy jalapeño mayo that had a great kick. I also ordered the Mac and it was very tasty and rich- I took half home and was equally full both sittings. The service is good here. I find it amusing that the restaurant has a large bar, but it's BYOB. I'm assuming they have a lot of mixers. I saw several lemonade and non-alcoholic options. There's also a mini fridge you can put your beer in to keep cool. I plan on being a repeat costumer.

    (4)

  • Anna M.

    Smoke. I love you. The smoked chicken tacos were perfectly tender and surprisingly flavorful, and the horchata is TO DIE FOR. If you like horchata, you need to order it here! A cool place with a cool vibe and cool servers that have beards. What more can you want.

    (5)

  • Megan L.

    Excellent food and atmosphere I am a vegetarian and they had a nice selection of tacos and sides that were meatless. I had the veggie taco and the broccolini and corn which were both very tasty. Only complaint was that the music was ,though very fun, 90's rap, Tupac and NWA, was not particularly appropriate for young children. Overall great and would recommend highly

    (4)

  • Jeremy A.

    Food is decent but over-rated. The place is definitely VERY hipster....I'm not sure if my expectations were to high or what but the taco stand over in Brookline has much better tacos for a fraction of the price. I won't be rushing back but may decide to get it another chance in the future.

    (3)

  • Erin S.

    The food says it all...it makes up for close seating (sitting next to your neighbor), cash only, BYOB, and so-so service. The place is very hip/trendy, but in an annoying way. Staff just don't seem as welcoming, genuine as some other nice places in the city..service was good though. The food makes up for all of it though....seriously amazing. BEST MAC-n-CHEESE I have every had in my life, hands down...can actually taste the smoked cheese and I don't know how to describe it other than you MUST try it...the absolute best I've had. The tacos were so good too, the meat is amazing smoked, tender, flavorful, soooo good!! They had some type of jalapeno lemonade that was great, super hot and lightly sweet, a must...pour some tequila in it for an added bonus. The house made marg-mix pitcher was really fresh and great, I poured a little bottle of Patron in it and suddenly didn't care about the atmosphere so much. You will GET LOST in this food, TRY IT! One annoying thing: No reservations, only call ahead seating, but you can only call up to an hour before you come...and you can't find them on "No Wait" app, but that is the app they put your call ahead seat on..you have to call for some reason.

    (5)

  • Jessica K.

    Smoke, in a nutshell is a hipster taco joint. It's delicious and if you are going to be hungry in the next 90 minutes, have some cash to burn and nothing to do in the next 2.5 hours, you should absolutely eat here. Everything I had was very enjoyable and I would definitely go back. I'm only giving it four stars because I feel like for what the place is, the service should be a bit faster considering most of the food is almost completely cooked beforehand and everything is pretty pricey (Cost a bit more than $60 for two people if you go all out). Now for the details and helpful stuff: If you put your name down, they'll text you when your table is ready and since they don't serve drinks (though they allow you to BYOB), you can easily go to a neighboring bar while you wait for your table. They also have a fridge near the front door so you can keep your beer or other adult beverages cold while you wait/during your meal. And it's cash only but there are at least 3 ATM's within a block and they have one inside. The one at Commonwealth bank has a $3.50 fee. Note that though this is a casual restaurant, they serve you like you're eating at an upscale place--slow. So don't be afraid to order a lot because they'll make you pace yourself with the time between courses. Now for the food: I was lucky enough to dine with some foodie friends and while I didn't take a bite of everyone's tacos, we did share flour tortilla chips, smoked salsa (this was a daily special), queso, the apple slaw, smoked cabbage, mac and cheese w/ brisket, and a berry pie topped with marscapone and cream cheese. I ate a chicken and a pork taco and had a bit of the brisket special taco (blue cheese sauce, tomatoes, other stuff). Out of all of these things, the smoked salsa, chips and queso and the chicken taco were my favorites. The smoked salsa should be a regular menu item. It had a great blend of tomatoes, onions and peppers, left a strong smoke flavor in my mouth and left me feeling very excited to eat more smokey things. The chips paired with it very well. They are fried to order which makes them extra awesome, though that means you pay about $6 for them and you wait a bit. So be patient, they are worth it! We topped our queso w/ their house-made chorizo, which was also fantastic. Though it's more of a very good cheese dip versus queso. There are peppers in there but they don't add a lot of spice and no smoke comes through in the dish at all but whatever, this hipster cheese dip is a must-order. I really liked both of my tacos and it's obvious that Smoke tries hard to build a great and well-thought out flavor profile in each and every taco. I enjoyed the chicken taco a bit more because it had the right ratio of meat to condiments/other dressings. The pork taco had a lot of pulled pork on it and while the pork was flavorful, I felt like I was eating a pulled pork sandwich but with a tortilla. The brisket special was good but had too much going on for my palate and it was super greasy. The mac and cheese was good but I'm not sure if it was worth the $8 + $3 add on for the brisket. I enjoyed the brisket part of the mac and cheese the most (I'm totally getting a brisket taco next time), though the grease from the brisket didn't drip down and flavor the mac and cheese like I was hoping it'd do. I'm just not sure I would vote this my favorite restaurant mac and cheese, though it was good. The smoke cabbage was awesome! The smoke flavor wasn't too overwhelming and it had chunks of bacon or pancetta in it that really added to it. The apple/cabbage slaw was pretty refreshing and light compared to everything else we got though I think I should have added some salt to it. I would get this again. The pie was pretty amazing. It was an open pie (no crust on top) with some heavenly mix of berries in it. It's a pretty healthy size so I'm glad we split it between 6 people. It's also $11 and if you order coffee, that's a $15 dessert. But I had nothing better to do and some money to burn, so it was all so worth it! Finally, before I forget, they have fun flavored lemonades that could be elevated by booze. I'd recommend buying some airplane shots or just bringing a flask of gin, tequila or vodka with you. You can also purchase a pitcher of margarita mix for $15. Also, I heard that sometimes they have an 'ultimate taco' of the day which I believe are inspired by one of their line/prep cooks named Jesse. It's rumored that he's a great cook, totally fit and single.

    (4)

  • Don A.

    Loved the breakfast-y egg and chorizo / egg and bacon combos I tried last Sunday. Also during the week just grabbed a brisket - holy cripes the mustard sauce will change your outlook on ... er, mustard. (I skeeve mustard, this I dug on, maybe because of the burn) Place looks quite cool, very DIY 'I-made-my-own-unicycle-from-spare-parts' hipness on a budget look to it. Think it'd be great for a group jammy jam, or one on one with that special ultra hip lad or lass of your dreams. Just remember it's BYOB - don't let that big bar on the left fool you like it did me. I walked up and ordered a Guinness without even looking for taps :-D - for that move, I think I earned myself half a moustache twirl and eye roll combo from the "bartender"

    (5)

  • Xin Y.

    We came in for a friend's birthday and we were seated promptly ( we had reservations ). I've hear a lot about this place so I was eager to try it. Our waiter was really nice and patient. We had a rather large party and two people were running late. Not once did our waiter loose patience with us. He was very up beat and nice even when asked to take a photo of a group of 8 girls while he was busy. He kindly took our pictures and had fun with it. The ambience is very trendy, very fun. It was a type of rustic hipster, if you will. It's byob, but there is a 6 pack store right next door. Unfortunately, to me, the food was just okay. I got the ribs taco, which was good, but nothing really special, just rib meat, onions, and cilantro in a soft taco shell. I also got the chicken apple taco. It was supposed to have apple, bacon, cheese,and a jalapeño mayo in it. I'm a huge fan of sweet and savory / sweet and spivey, but the spiciness overpowered the whole taco. (I can tolerate a pretty high level of spiciness but this was a little much) I could only taste chicken and mayo. The apple coleslaw was good, but again, not mind blowing, just a regular vinegar based coleslaw with apple in it. I did try my friend's chorizo macaroni and cheese; THAT, was fantastic. I would say best thing on the menu. The chorizo was well done, great flavor and paired with that Mac n cheese...absolutely phenomenal. I read in a few reviews and was told the service was slow. I actually feel like for a small, locally ran restaurant they were fairly decent. Yes, it took a little longer than your average chain, but they have a very small kitchen, try to give you a higher end experience with their food, and have take out orders. Therefore, I think the service was fine and nothing out of the ordinary. As far as pricing goes, it's a little on the higher end for what you get. I don't mind paying more for a great food experience; however, I definitely didn't think my chicken taco was worth what I paid for it (6.00). The chorizo Mac n cheese was worth what we paid though. Although, I do understand given the neighborhood they are housed in. It was my first visit there so I'm definitely not opposed to going again and trying something else. Perhaps, it may even sway my yelp rating for this restaurant. I really enjoy the vibe. It seems like a good spot to hang out and get some small bites throughout the night. Definitely worth a try.

    (3)

  • Michael R.

    We called two hours ahead and made a reservation, and we still ended up having to wait over an hour for a table. I had the macaroni and the barbecue pork tacos. The macaroni was very bland and the sauce in the taco didn't taste very good. Despite being starving due to the wait, I still wasn't able to force down all of the food. My friends all rant and rave about this place though, so maybe I caught them on an off night.

    (2)

  • Olivia W.

    Awesome food, run don't walk. Generous portions, only downside was that dessert was crazy expensive. Maybe they could let you known in advance that the "Pie" is small and perfect for 2 people to share, but they will be charging you $12.

    (5)

  • Nia B.

    I'm conflicted. The brisket tacos are perfect. However waiting for then for an hour is not acceptable. If I want tacos I'm going to las palmas on Atwood. I was also put off by the waiter not receptive to us being disappointed by an hour long wait for food.

    (3)

  • Julia J.

    Smoke is a nice addition to the Lawrenceville hipster-foodie scene. They've sure put some time and thought into creating the perfect urban-rustic ambiance for the Butler Street crowd. If you can manage to get in there at a non-busy time (so like, Sunday before noon, for example), your experience will be pleasant. The very hip staff are friendlier than average for their sort. I'm probably not the best confidant for reviewing a barbeque restaurant being that I do not eat meat, but there are a FEW vegetarian options. The veggie taco was pretty big for $4.25 and included some kind of delicious fried potato pancake-type chunks. The mac and cheese was good if you're a big fan of butter (way too heavy for me and it did NOT sit well in the fridge as leftovers), but the creative mix of cheeses made for a unique taste. My boyfriend's meat tacos were way overpriced for tacos (like $6-$7) but he said they were great so I guess they make it worth it? Overall, definitely worth checking out but maybe not worth waiting over an hour for.

    (4)

  • Bob B.

    I got one rib taco and two brisket tacos. The brisket tacos were amazing and the mustard used was a perfect complement to the tender meat. The rib taco was solid, but the brisket taco is in a class by itself. Make sure you get the jalapeño lemonade.

    (5)

  • Bob C.

    I'm publishing this because I saw a lot of holes in the concept. I loved the food and hope they get the rest right. There's nothing better on a hot day than lukewarm water. I'm saying that as a joke because it actually happened at smoke. Plus on a hot day I'm not sure if there that cheap to cool the place or not but still I understand that the smoker takes up most of the area of the place but work with me on those dog days of summer. The food. The only saving grace is the food. The breakfast taco was phenomenal and the chorizo was out of this world. No doubt about it. You'll not go wrong if you get those two accompanying that with the queso is well worth the wait. I'm publishing this because you have to get the little things right along with the bread and the butter. Smoke is better then good. I want it to be great.

    (1)

  • Joy C.

    I LOVE this place!! Smoke is one of my favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh. They definitely have the best tacos in the Burgh! They just reopened in Lawrenceville & the new place is beautiful. So much more seating available. Everything I've eaten @ Smoke has been delicious. The Queso & chips & the Mac n cheese are definite appetizers. I always order the egg & veggie tacos both with avocado cream. Amazing! This past time I went I tried the Brisket taco & it was so good! Honestly I was a little leery to try the brisket b/c I had just been to Austin TX & tried brisket for the first time (which Texas is known for their smoked brisket). However I must say Smoke did a damn good job making their brisket. Not quite as good as Texas but its still really good!! Service is always great, everybody is so friendly. The only downside is once you place your order it takes a long time to get your tacos. But it's totally worth the wait! Highly recommend!!!

    (5)

  • Ashley H.

    Absolutely delicious tacos, with house made tortillas and the freshest ingredients.

    (5)

  • Dan H.

    SUPERB.. Insanely delicious food. Staff very helpful and well informed. It's BYOB which is also super cool. Cool setup and atmosphere. Good date spot or even casual dinner. The food is really the highlight here tho. There isn't anything that's not made from scratch and top quality. Get there early if u want a table.. Its a must try, you'll probly see me there again when you do.

    (5)

  • Ruth D.

    New, trendy kinda place. We ate at the bar which was great. I had the veggie taco, pork taco and tried some of the mac and cheese. Tacos were yummy. The pork one had a lot of pork, worth the price for one taco. The veggie one was full of black beans and corn. Great flavor. Loved the potato fritters on top. The mac and cheese was soooo rich. Definitely a sharing dish. No drinks other than strange juices on the menu. We stuck with good ole' H20. Would definitely go back. Yum.

    (4)

  • Ann T.

    Beginning with a truly refreshing watermelon and cucumber drink accompanied by nachos and queso that tasted just made, I then enjoyed the percectly sized blt taco with smoked applewood bacon and just enough spice to not overpower how delicious this combo was. Great brunch spot for those who are just looking for a great meal in a funky hipster setting. I don't drink so it was a perfect spot.

    (5)

  • John H.

    BYOB, Cash only and delish. The meats and tacos all had great flavors with unique preparations that made each stand on its own. I am a sucker for Chorizo and it did not disappoint. The Mac appetizer was tremendous although I wish we had added a type of meat to it. The beans were a lowlight lacking flavor overall. Biggest miss is not having a compliment to the chips for dipping as they were great. Strongly recommend a trip.

    (4)

  • Andrea W.

    I was really excited to try Smoke. I loved their food when they were in Homestead and eagerly awaited their opening in Lawrenceville. So, it took me 4 tries before I could even get some food to eat. The first time they ran out of food during a street festival. Totally understandable. The second time I stopped by on a Friday night around 6:30 and told that they were no longer seating for the night. Ok, it was a weekend night and there's a lot of hype surrounding this place so I get it. Would have been nice if they had a sign on the door so I didn't have to wait in line to be turned away. The third time I was quoted a 90+ minute wait for dinner and told that they weren't doing take-out. Really, 90 minutes for street food? I decided to try another time. Finally, on a Sunday at 2pm I called to see if I could get a take-out order. I was quoted 45 minutes and decided to give it a go. However, it took well over 60 minutes to get 4 tacos. The restaurant was only half full, so I couldn't figure out why it would take so long for 4 tacos. I talked with the hostess and confirmed that yes, they do smoke the meats ahead of time. She explained that it takes them 10-15 minutes to prepare an order of 3 tacos and that they prepare orders one at a time; hence, the incredibly long wait time. This truly baffled my mind. How is it that the taco truck can whip out tacos faster than a restaurant with a full kitchen? The tacos were ok, but definitely not worth waiting over an hour for. The quality has decreased since they were in Homestead. I really hope that they learn how to run their kitchen more efficiently and return to having the quality of tacos that they used to have. I won't be returning unless their service improves and their food quality returns to what it was at their previous location. Not worth a visit now.

    (1)

  • Danielle V.

    After living in Austin, TX for a while, I would say my standards for both BBQ and tacos are pretty high. Smoke **just nearly** knocks it out of the park. I've tried several tacos (e.g., chicken, ribs, brisket, migas) and they were all pretty good. The random thing I fell in love with was their sweet tea! So good for being in the north, ya'll! I will say on that both visits to Smoke, I encountered some pretty slow service. If you aren't in a hurry or super hungry that's probably not the biggest deal, but don't expect to eat fast.

    (4)

  • Doug H.

    I don't think I paid enough for this experience. Excellent food - medium to high spice, but so any flavors in every bite. I had a special chicken taco with bacon, and the combo of soft and crispy added another dimension. The 3-pepper lemonade was superb, even sans alcohol. I ate at the bar. Wait staff was superb. Ambience chill and friendly. First time in Pittsburgh, and I'm mighty impressed. Smoke BBQ: how about a franchise in Moscow, ID?

    (5)

  • Frustrated C.

    Ordered 2 tacos and 2 sides ( slaw and mac) for takeout and the bill came to $40. For that price I was expecting enough food for a family of 4...however, taco's contained nothing but 2 ounces of greasy meat (no veggies or fresh cilantro or sauce of any kind) and, to add insult to injury, the "smoke" flavor tasted like it came out of a bottle. The slaw was several days old and tasted of refrigerator and the mac was bland and pasty (but the only thing that was even remotely edible). If I could give this place negative stars, I would.

    (1)

  • Elaina H.

    After the tacos at Round Corner took a turn for the worse, I was totally pumped for a new option in Lawrenceville. This place is pretty cool and the food was amazing. I went for lunch so I can't talk about long waits for parties of 1 million at dinnertime (really people, are you shocked?). It's just a new, little, goofy local place so set your expectations there. The decor is fun - vintage and industrial... yet comfortable (nicely done, Smoke), and the staff were super friendly. We tried a couple different tacos and apps, everything was a 10. Cash only and BYOB - well, it's not owned by Eat N Park, so deal with it and enjoy some quality food. I'm sure they'll eventually grow into their restaurant shoes, but be patient. Really my only reasons for dropping a star were that it was freezing cold inside and the music was blaring. I like to jam, but if I want to break it down it'll be in my car, bedroom, or Belvederes - not in the middle of lunch convo.

    (4)

  • Ruogu K.

    I'm usually not a big fan of tacos but this place surprised me. There's no observable sign outside of the restaurant. It's next to Row House Cinema and ATLAS (where you can buy drinks to go with your taco). We ordered BLT taco, brisket taco, ribs taco, and Mac&Cheese. All three tacos were awesome. I also love the decor of the restaurant, the fact that they are BYOB, and the good service. But the downside is that it's cash only and you probably need to expect at least 20-min wait for dinner.

    (4)

  • Karyn S.

    I had gone to Smoke at its Homestead location and was blown away by the new place in Lawrenceville! The space is so much bigger, but they retained the atmosphere of the old restaurant. The food remained phenomenal. I had the mac and cheese with ribs, which is listed under "Sides" but it is a good portion and I even had to bring half of mine home. I also ordered the Brisket taco, which was surprisingly spicy and delicious as well as the specialty taco of the day, which included chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a sunny-side-up egg. My server warned me it would be a messy disaster, but would be totally worth it; he was right. The only criticism I have of the new restaurant is that the servers use iPhones to take your order. I didn't like this. It feels almost rude to be talking to your server while they are playing on a phone, even though I know they are entering the order. It just seemed impersonal. I had not experienced this at another restaurant, and it is something I definitely dislike. Other than that, the decor of the place is almost as good as the food, only because the food is so dang amazing. I love Smoke and will be back many times!

    (5)

  • Jon-Michael K.

    Called at 9:40 on a Sunday night. They said they stopped seating at 10. Hours on yelp said the restaurant closes at 11. So we drove out, got there at 10 and now they are saying they close at 10 on Sunday nights.

    (1)

  • Jared L.

    I'm not really sure what to say other than this place blew away my expectations. I heard the buzz about Smoke for a while, and living in Lawrenceville waited patiently for its opening. It took a few weeks to get here but Smoke didn't disappoint. The tacos are amazing. The Pork Taco was tender and juicy with a slight spice from the apricot habanero salsa. Mmmmm. The Apple Chicken was really good too, but not my personal favorite. My wife also got the Pork Taco and thought it was really good. I also got an Egg Breakfast Taco out of curiosity and now know I can come here for a late breakfast! I tried her Brisket Taco and wished I had gotten that instead of the Chicken Apple, although she thought it was a little too spicy. The Mac and Cheese was perfection. Creamy and tasty with a lovely baked crust on the top. Some of the best I've had. We brought beer to drink and they even kept it in fridge for us to keep it cold. The server was very friendly and helpful with menu choices. He even told us we could call ahead and put our name on the list to save time. While I originally thought the prices for a single taco were high ($5-7 each) I now edit my thinking because they were absolutely worth the price. Smoke is delicious and trendy, and definitely worth the recommendation. We'll be back!

    (5)

  • Bill D.

    SMOKE didn't miss a beat when they reopened in Lawrenceville. They're still BYOB and happen to be next to a craft beer bottleshop right on Butler St. I always have trouble only picking 3 tacos, but my starting lineup would be the Chicken Apple, Pork, and Ribs. Don't forget about the Queso with homemade pita scoops or the White Cheddar Mac, and do yourself a favor and add bacon!!

    (5)

  • Manuel C.

    OH MY GOD GET HERE IF YOUR A FOODIE!!! Doesn't matter if your not a hipster it's a nice Atmosphere was friendly casual! You can dress nice. Also they got a huge smoker like to smoke the foods all day long low and slow. I watched them in the kitchen due to it being an open kitchen it was a pretty neat site. The smoker is nice they say it contains rotating racks for everything. Our food was awhile but that's due to the freshness. They got flavored water drinks that they let me sample! All made from scratch too. The chorizo if you like spicy food I recommend it. It's real nice and tender they do Sautee it just till it done. Mine was not over cooked which is good. Also l, the flavored watermelon was nice and very refreshing. Espicially on a hot day after a bike ride. The lemonade was not too lemony not too sugary either they found an awesome balance! Next, holy mac and cheese was huge, it was enough for us three. It had mascara one and sharp cheddar. The sharp cheese gave it a nice bite and it a nice beautiful crunch. Now let me start on the chorizo, very flavorful great combo of ingredients very spicy I say like a 6 or 7 on a 1-10 spicy scale. But l was still able to thoroughly enjoy it came with pinto beans think tomatoes onion, it was a nice size taco too! It had awesom le stuffed fried nuggets as a bonus this a delightful restaurunt to go to yes it's far for me but that's how much I love it and wana go back to it so bad! Overall, very amazed at this place oh everything is from scratch!

    (5)

  • Shannon M.

    I was all about the hype of this restaurant and the location is great and the inside of the restaurant is really nice. However, the cost for these tacos is a bit pricey for what you get. The brisket taco is good, but not $7 good. The amount of brisket was a tiny quantity. The mac and cheese was decent but very rich-so make sure to share with at least 2-3 others. Ended up spending $38 for four tacos and mac&cheese. Not too impressed with that and felt my money could have been spent elsewhere for higher quality food. It was nice to come during a weekday for lunch and not have to wait at all. I couldn't see myself waiting longer than 15 minutes here during a busy time at the restaurant. Service was fast and adequate-food came out in less than ten minutes. Also, the music the restaurant had playing was sooo loud during lunch and there were only three other occupied tables at this time. Oh and remember-cash only!

    (3)

  • Kristin H.

    I am pretty sure the queso dip is made from unicorn horns and daydreams. I've had a few of the tacos, and found the veggie to be my favorite, overall. Rumor has it that this week they are featuring a chicken and waffle taco...I don't know who is in charge over there, but I am convinced they fell straight from heaven.

    (5)

  • Joy S.

    Decided to try out Smoke last night on a whim with the husband and I was not disappointed. We started with their special of chicken wings with homemade bleu cheese dressing. The size of the wings were a little small, but they made up for it with flavor. I was expecting a franks type buffalo sauce and instead I was pleasantly surprised with an almost tomato spicy sauce. The bleu cheese dressing was obviously homemade and delicious. We continued to order our tacos, we did the egg, chicken, rib, and chorizo. Egg and chorizo would have been perfect for a hangover breakfast. Chicken was great, but that Rib Taco... it was literally the best taco my husband and I have ever had... EVER! Now to ask for $6.50 for a single taco is a pretty high price, therefore setting a high standard. But I would have literally paid upwards of $10 for that taco and it still would've been worth it. We also got the mac-n-cheese and it was delicious as well. It said it used marscapone cheese which gave it almost a light flavor instead of typical heavy mac-n-cheese. Our service was on point as well. Our server was prompt in checking in, clearing plates, and making sure we needed. At one point I told my husband that I needed more napkins for my wing soaked fingers. About 10 seconds later the other server came by and dropped off more napkins. Now that is good service! She must've overheard me. The total overall experience was great! The only complaint I would have is that it is BYOB... but hey, a lot of people like that however we are typically cocktail drinkers. Also that it is CASH ONLY. We had cash so it is not a big deal but I think it would be more accommodating if that they would at least give you the option to pay with a card. Two minor things overlooked for that delicious food and prompt service. We will be returning soon!

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    It was a little bit difficult to find. For those searching: it's the door directly to the left of the Rowhouse Theatre. Otherwise the experience was excellent. My friends got there around 5pm on a Thursday and by the time I joined them at 5:15 they had been seated. We ordered shortly after and our food arrived in a very timely manner. I'd say we probably only waited 25 mins at the most, for 5 people to be served. Our server was nice and very helpful. The queso and homemade chips are delicious. Everyone had great things to say about their tacos. My veggie tacos were yummy, and I think the prices are appropriate. Next time I'd like to try the brisket or chicken tacos to actually get a feel for their smoked meat. It was a little bit chilly in there, so bring a sweater. Also, will be nice when they serve corn tortillas with their tacos - I asked the server and he said it's on the agenda. I'm sure the gluten-free folks out there will be appreciative. Overall - we all enjoyed our meals and the atmosphere, and will be returning.

    (4)

  • Emily W.

    Wanted to eat around 730 and had been turned away in the past when they were busy. Called at 530, but they don't take reservations. They instructed us to call back later to be put on the wait list. Had to call back about 3 times to try and get on the wait list to eat around 730. Finally made a call at 630, and they said it would be about an hour wait. Perfect! Except they called shortly after to say they had an opening and we should head down now. When we did get there, our table was ready! The food was great, but not 100 percent sure why it's tacos. Could just be awesome smoked meat.

    (3)

  • Lauren K.

    So good. The staff is nice and friendly and the restaurant is BYOB. There is a beer shop on the other side of the movie theater. They use an ipad wait list and you get a text when your table is ready. We waited just long enough to pick out some beers. The waitstaff uses iphones to take orders and it goes directly to the point of sales system and to the kitchen. Very efficient. The weird part is that they don't take cards. They are very high-tech, but they don't take cards? They also don't have a website. They rely on a stinkin' Facebook page. And Google Plus (?!) I don't know if they are working on these things. Also: it's pretty loud. Not a great place for a first date.

    (4)

  • Joe B.

    Long wait. We're told 45 to 55 minutes. Waited 1 hour 10 minutes. Very noisy. The food was ok. A little pricey. 12$ for a peach cobbler is crazy. 4 tacos, 2 appetizers and 2 ice teas with tip 75$

    (2)

  • Syed R.

    The best. Hands down. Awesome service. Fresh. Made from scratch. Mouthwatering. Probably the best in Pennsylvania

    (5)

  • Peter E.

    The space is cool, the music playing during lunch (beastie boys) was obnoxiously loud. The employees were fighting over which song to play and would seldom let a song play through. It was very hard to relax with such bad music blaring. The general attitude of the servers were of disdain and righteous indignation. The tacos were very impressive which is why I'm giving this place 2 stars. The macaroni was pretty mediocre. Overall I wouldn't go there again. The Portland hipster vibe there seems overwhelming. WE GET IT. You don't conform so hard.

    (2)

  • Richard W.

    While it's been over a year since they shut their Homestead location, the owners have obviously not been idle. Their new location in Lawernceville is very cool with a wooden and rustic interior. When I visited, they were piping in some old school rap that made for a fun brunch atmosphere. We got the Mac and cheese and queso to start. The Mac and cheese was good but didn't stand out as a signature dish. The queso was very flavorful and the homemade chips added to the dish. The breakfast tacos were well flavored and had a nice punch to them. We will defiantly be back.

    (5)

  • Barbara E.

    I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was here. Finding the place was a bit of a challenge, I walked past it twice. There is no sign out front. It is right beside the Cinema. Chips and cheese were so good, chips are made fresh and cheese dip is very tasty. Mac and cheese is good, it can easily be shared by two or even three as a side. Brisket taco was delicious and we had a special taco of the day, just a little on the spicy side but not too much. Flavored drinks like cantaloupe etc very good. BYOB so if you want alcohol there is a take out beer store next door. I was not disappointed at all and will definitely return. One very small criticism was they served room temp water before the meal and we were there on a hot humid day, ice water would have been appreciated.

    (4)

  • Noah R.

    I really wanted to like this place but the overall experience was a bust. If you are reading this review and on the fence about going, don't. We arrived and were told it would be a 60 minute wait which is totally fine as it was so busy. We walked around Lawrenceville for an hour killing time. We were seated within the 60 minute window so no complaints there. Of the approximately 12 tables in the place, 4 were empty for the more than 1 hour that we were there and there were a lot of seats at the bar. I am not sure why they were turning people away with so much available space but hey so it goes. We put in our order and waited and waited. The temperature inside was in the mid 50s and every time the door opened a freezing breeze came across our table even though we were sitting a good 50 feet from the door. We ended up getting our food to go. Food is overpriced, a taco should not cost 7 dollars, but good. Pros: Good food Our waitress was nice Cons: Freezing temperature Whoever is in charge (is there anyone?) of running the front of the restaurant has no idea what they are doing. Suggestions: Hire someone to run the front of house who has experience. Hang a big thick curtain between the entrance and the restaurant to keep the cold out. Turn on the heat When there are empty tables you should offer them to guests who want to come and eat your food. Drop prices slightly on the Tacos Overall analysis: Food is too expensive but good. The place is a disaster from a management point of view despite the fact that there is an adequate number of waitstaff. If they are still around in six months we would try to go again but if they go out of business it is not really a big loss.

    (2)

  • Mike S.

    very cool atmosphere and service was good. Really want to like this place but the food was confusing. Queso Dip was quite good but their chips were like fried pita or something....not good. A taco place with no salsa or quac? The tacos themselves were large portions of a meat, covered in sauce, placed in a flour tortilla, and wrapped in aluminum foil....this was dine in. The place is trying and Pittsburgh needs a good taco joint, bbq too, and they have everything but the food right now. Will try it again to support their effort and hope to like the food more.

    (2)

  • Hatti T.

    Finally! The new space is phenomenal, and we didn't think the food could get any better, but....It did! Had the rib taco and the brisket taco - Outstanding. Also had the slaw and the black beans, so fresh and tasty. They know how to cook. Really. Thanks. You may want to call ahead for a reservation - it gets packed!

    (5)

  • Heather L.

    WOW !!! So good!!! I had the Brisket and Pork, both were delicious. However a slight warning that the Brisket is spicier than I expected but the meat was so tender. We order the Mac and cheese as our side (plenty for two people) and it was amazing! Overall 5 stars for excellent service, amazing food and pretty cool atmosphere!!! Thanks Smoke for a great date night dinner!!!!

    (5)

  • Frank R.

    I tried this place a few times. The food is decent but nothing worth waiting for. It is bland and needs spice added. I had the rib taco the brisket and the chicken Apple taco. I also had the queso chips. First the service is horrible. They seem pompous and after the first time I didn't want to go back. They just reopened when I went so I did give them another chance. I shouldn't have. I even went for take out and asked if I could order and pick it up in 2 hours because they were busy they wouldn't take an order they couldn't make 3 tacos in 2 hours ridiculous. The attitude from the host was enough to not want to go back. The time I did sit to eat the wait for the food took an hour to get to us. The meat just needs cut how long can that take. The meat was cooked well but lacked flavor. The chips were good and fresh, but the queso cheese needs some flavor. Over all bland food and rude staff not worth the wait.

    (1)

  • Josef B.

    Smoke has great food, but it can be difficult to get a table. Considering that they serve tacos, it's also a bit expensive. The flavor is worth the price though, just be sure to make a reservation or have 1-3 hours to wait for a table!

    (4)

  • Assface J.

    Here's the deal: (1) The wait can be a bit long. Call ahead. The wait for food can be long too. (2) They aren't really tacos. It's basically awesome meat wrap in a flour tortilla. (3) The music is too loud. (4) The mac and cheese is flavorful but nothing special. Definitely not worth $7.50

    (3)

  • Tom S.

    Long wait not worth the mediocre barbecue.

    (2)

  • Bonnie T.

    This place was hard to find, but worth it. It is located beside Atlas Bottle Works. My husband and I ordered 4 different tacos. The brisket one was spicy, but good. The rib taco was our favorite though. The mac 'n cheese was amazing. Prices aren't cheap, but I don't mind paying for good food.

    (5)

  • Shawn O.

    I was super excited to hear that Smoke had re-opened after a quite a hiatus. I'll break my commentary down into three components for this one to be fair. The Experience: So, we started our on a bad foot. After consulting Twitter/Facebook to find their address (an updated website would be a good start), we drove a couple circles around the 41st/42nd block of Butler Street looking for the building. After a few attempts, we finally got out and walked it looking for a door number or sign, but no avail. The only way we found it was a group of people walking out of the door we thought belonged to the neighboring theater with carry-out bags. I'd suggest at least putting an address or a sign on the door (it would go a long way). Getting inside, the place wasn't full, but we were told it would be around a 45 minute wait via NoWait (once again, it would of been nice to know they were using this anywhere on their site/social media presence). Determined to give it a try, we waited about 30 minutes before being sat. I will give Smoke props for their environment. A good vibe, music selection and space lead to one of the more unique dining environments in Pittsburgh. From here however, we had a varied ride. The Service: Approachable, yet brash (if that's even a possibility). That's how I'd label the service. Overlooking that factor, what really stood out here is HOW LONG it took for not only us, but all of the tables around us to get our food. One hour for three tacos, mac & cheese and some slaw... really? The table to our left cancelled the remainder of their order and left and the two tables to our right complained pretty consistently about the time to receive their food as well. Eventually our server brought out part of our order and apologized, but it still didn't make sense... they're tacos. The Food: Here, I'll break it down into the good and the bad... The Good - Brunch Special (biscuit and gravy), ChickenApple Taco and the Jalepeno Slaw. While the gravy could have used a bit of seasoning (a consistent theme), the biscuit was rocking and the ChickenApple Taco was one of the more unique tacos I've ever had... kudos to those. The Bad - The Migas Brisket (breakfast) Taco, Chorizo Taco and Mac and Cheese. Once again, seasoning here would have saved these... what should have been big flavor items ended up being super-bland. For a smokehouse, I would of expected the brisket to be a lot better than it was and the Mac and Cheese could have used perhaps a few more stirs before being plated into the mini-cast-iron bowls (the flavor was pretty inconsistent bite-to-bite) Overall, this has the makings of what could be a rocking place, but they need to get past the half-baked effort that we experienced. We'll probably give it a few weeks for them update their sites, nail down their service and fine-tune their food, without some improvements, I don't see us going here again.

    (2)

  • Casey K.

    BBQ wrapped up into a delicious taco - it's really all you can ask for. I was lucky enough to try Smoke with a large group who had graciously put our name in 2 hours ahead of time. When we were finally called from our bar hangout next door, we walked past many couples and groups waiting to sit through the unmarked door. There aren't many seats in this joint, but I feel the experience was worth the wait. Our waiter was fantastic, taking care with every order and very attentive. We ordered several appetizers, but did I mention it's BYOB? Make sure you stop next door at the 6 pack shop to pick up a few drinks before stopping in. As for the food, the tacos are spicy, and they do not mess around! They are way larger than I expected and two were more than enough. We also tried the Mac and cheese, topped with brisket. I know a lot of people saw that this place or that has the best M&C, but this one takes the cake.

    (5)

  • Colin M.

    Finally got around to stopping by their new location for a weekday lunch, which admittedly is one of the best times to come without having to wait. I was a little confused upon arriving as they had, what seemed like, 3 hostesses around the entrance. The place was much larger than I expected but we quickly got a seat in the middle of the restaurant. As others had suggested, we started with the queso which was delicious, as were the homemade chips. Large portion too. I went with the Chicken and Brisket tacos for lunch which were good, although not as good as I remembered them from their Homestead days. Brisket was perfectly tender but incredibly salty during this trip - just a very overpowering taste. I was tempted to try their mac n cheese as well, but maybe next time. Waitstaff was pleasant but I don't understand the use of technology for technology-sake. Instead of discussing the menu and having a conversation, our waiter had his eyes fixed to his iPad for the entire ordering process. I'm sure it makes things easier for their cooks, but it added no value to the customers IMO.

    (3)

  • Liz H.

    Great for take out but atmosphere is a low point. We hadn't been to Smoke since it was in Homestead so I was ready for a yummy taco. The food did not disappoint. Both my favorites, brisket and chicken apple were delicious. Service was fine. But the music was obnoxiously loud combined with ambient noise to the point that conversation was impossible and digestion questionable. As I walked past the kitchen I noticed it was quieter there. We took our order to go. The new place looks hip but I couldn't enjoy it. Sorry we couldn't stay because we really like you guys. Missing the quiet little place in Homestead that was all about good food.

    (3)

  • Emily W.

    Wanted to eat around 730 and had been turned away in the past when they were busy. Called at 530, but they don't take reservations. They instructed us to call back later to be put on the wait list. Had to call back about 3 times to try and get on the wait list to eat around 730. Finally made a call at 630, and they said it would be about an hour wait. Perfect! Except they called shortly after to say they had an opening and we should head down now. When we did get there, our table was ready! The food was great, but not 100 percent sure why it's tacos. Could just be awesome smoked meat.

    (3)

  • Big S.

    This place is awesome. We weren't planning on coming here, but glad that we did. only downside is cash only, but there is an ATM inside and across the street. We got a few different tacos, an app and the aqua fresca (honeydew special). The drink was amazing, fresh and tasted great. The queso dip is unreal, and the bread they serve with it is so warm and perfect. Nice job there. And there is a ton of it, we didn't finish. For tacos, we got the Migas, Egg, Chorizo and Pork. We made these a little custom, but they were great. The tortillas are warm and fresh, and don't break! The chorizo was just ok, I probably wouldn't get that again. It was more ground chorizo, not sausage form which I was expecting. The egg was incredible, I got it with Rib meat and avacado cream, both nice touches. That was the best around. And we ended with a freshly baked cookie, chocolate and PB. Great place, go there.

    (5)

  • Bolana F.

    Decided to give this place a try on the night on the RANT festival. It was very crowded and we had an hour wait for a seat at the bar--not sure if this is typical or if there was extra crowd from the music fest in Lawrenceville. Either way, it was quite loud and bustling. However, we had prompt service considering the full house. The ambiance is dim and trendy with lots of exposed brick and wood. The tacos were unique and very tasty! Wish I would have gotten two or at least a larger taco for the price though. The drinks were unique and refreshing--we had the Horchata and Aquas Frescas. Overall, I would love to go back when it is a little quieter. Very good food that is a little pricey for the portion size, but worth it and on-par prices with comparable restaurants in Lawrenceville.

    (4)

  • Lauren K.

    So good. The staff is nice and friendly and the restaurant is BYOB. There is a beer shop on the other side of the movie theater. They use an ipad wait list and you get a text when your table is ready. We waited just long enough to pick out some beers. The waitstaff uses iphones to take orders and it goes directly to the point of sales system and to the kitchen. Very efficient. The weird part is that they don't take cards. They are very high-tech, but they don't take cards? They also don't have a website. They rely on a stinkin' Facebook page. And Google Plus (?!) I don't know if they are working on these things. Also: it's pretty loud. Not a great place for a first date.

    (4)

  • Joe B.

    Long wait. We're told 45 to 55 minutes. Waited 1 hour 10 minutes. Very noisy. The food was ok. A little pricey. 12$ for a peach cobbler is crazy. 4 tacos, 2 appetizers and 2 ice teas with tip 75$

    (2)

  • Nina P.

    DELICIOUS FOOD BUT I HAVE A MAJOR BEEF WITH YOU...! Hi My Loves! So fans know I'm having a love affair with Lawrenceville right now! I was excited to eat at Smoke again BUT I'VE GOT A BIT OF A BEEF WITH THIS PLACE! I'm VERY disappointed in the fact that this restaurant left Homestead for Larryville. You gave hope to 8th Avenue business owners that the tide could be turned in Homestead. You had tons of business, there was consistently a 2 hour wait just for takeout! People drove to Homestead for your food! For sentimental reasons I loved your 8th Avenue place, I grew up in Homestead and had an amazing first date at your place a couple years back! That said I begrudgingly returned to your new Larryville location... Larryville 2.0 is a bigger for sure but still a damn zoo! The wait for a table is fucking ridiculous. You guys still don't have a big enough place to accommodate the demand for your food. When you can get a table the food is still legit awesome. Homemade chips and queso is excellent. The mac and cheese is maybe one of the best in the burg and the brisket is to die for! I also like the pork and apricot taco and I'd love to try this place for breakfast one day. You'd be cooler if you kept Homestead open and/or got a bigger fucking place! In the meantime I'll still be a fan but a hard ass fan! Love you! Muah

    (3)

  • Faith A.

    The only thing that could improve my experience here, is if they added the Chicken and Waffle special taco that they have on occasions to the regular menu. Every Sunday, I seem to come here in search of that amazingness and I have turned up empty far too many times recently. Smoke is still BYOB right now, but I think that they are getting their liquor license soon. I love BYOB places, but whether Smoke is or is not, it would not matter to me... the food and service is great, the vibe is chill, and an overall experience is always excellent. I love the pork taco... it seems to be the standard that I often keep turning to. The brisket BLT, chicken, etc. are all good as well. The tacos are served on heavenly buttermilk tortillas. Some of the best tortillas ever if you ask me! I am also quite obsessed with their Jalapeno and Apple Slaw... soooooooo incredibly tasty and refreshing. Smoke is definitely on my top ten list of places that I will miss when I leave Pgh... and when I return, it will be one of the few places that I cannot wait to come back to!

    (5)

  • Lee H.

    Garbage...absolute garbage. I never had such bland overpriced food. Where to begin... Chicken and brisket need to be marinated or marinated longer. Soo tasteless. They try to cover this up by throwing what I'm sure they think are exotic sauces on them, which are also terrible. Don't bother with the way over priced sides as they are equally tasteless. This place is perfect for Lawrenceville as they prey on ignorant Pittsburgh hipsters that don't know what good food is and are unwilling to travel. Shame on you Smoke, you should have been left to die in Homestead. But instead you are taking advantage of less educated people.

    (1)

  • Julie M.

    Stopped in mid afternoon on a Sunday. A friend and I sampled the watermelon agua fresca which was delicious and refreshing. We also each had the Horchata- this is a must have, so delicious and not too sweet. As far as food we tried the chips and queso, the Mac and cheese and the brisket taco. All delicious, great flavor profiles and an inviting atmosphere. Also, our waiter was attentive and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. I can't wait to dine here again!

    (5)

  • Tricia B.

    Okay, I admit it. I kind of wanted to hate this place. This is purely based on what I've heard from others, of course, but I got the impression that it was one of those hipster, annoyingly trendy, trying-hard-to-be-cool-while-pretending-not-to-try places. And....it is kind of all of those things. But the service and food completely won me over...so it is impossible now for me to hate :) First thing's first....yes, it's crazy busy here. On a Sunday night at 7, there was an hour wait. They do use the NoWait app, but you can't just sign into the app and put yourself on the list like with other restaurants. Because Smoke is so cool and different ;) they don't conform to the normal NoWait M.O.....instead you have to call them on the phone to get in line. Then they will text you a link to the app that will let you track your place. Because it was so busy, we said we were willing to eat at the bar, and that's where we were seated. The bar seating is tight, so it kind of sucked rubbing elbows (literally) with the random dude beside me...but first world problems, right? The barista was our server and she was super attentive and sweet. Because we had not been there before, she explained their concept and gave us recommendations on how much food to order (2 tacos per person is apparently standard). We started with an order of the "Hot Bowl of Cheese", which is essentially the best freaking queso I've ever had in my life. It's a mild cheese sauce spiked with smoked peppers and onions....crazy flavorful. It's served with homemade flour tortilla chips fried to a consistency that is simultaneously crispy and chewy. If I had magical powers, I would seriously consider hooking myself up to an IV of cheese sauce that I could tote around with me wherever I went. It was so, so good. For dinner, I got a veggie taco and my hubby got the special taco of the day (which was a chicken and waffle taco). Then we split an order of mac and cheese. Although they recommended two tacos per person, between the queso appetizer and the mac and cheese side, one taco each was more than enough for us (and in fact, we took most of the mac home). The tacos were OUTSTANDING. It can be hard to make a veggie taco interesting, but they managed to pack it with smoky and spicy flavors. And the chicken and waffle taco was to die for....perfectly crisp chicken, soft waffles, and a sweet/spicy blueberry jalapeno sauce. Putting all of those flavors and textures together might have made for the world's most perfect bite. And let's not forget about the mac and cheese! It was insanely delicious....rich and creamy with a super sharp cheese sauce (I LOVE mac and cheese with a bite!) To wash everything down, we tried both flavors of their agua frescas that they had that day (cantaloupe and watermelon). Both were super refreshing, fruity, and lightly sweet. A perfect complement to our meals. The only downside here is their prices. YIKES. Be prepared to open your wallet. Psychologically, it's hard to pay $8.00+ for a side of mac and cheese or $7.50 for a single taco.....but they really do back up their prices with amazingly fresh, homemade, flavorful food. So I guess that eases the pain a little? Oh, and speaking of prices, it's cash only...which I find annoying. I mean, it's 2015...at this point, I think I should be able to beam payment directly from my eyeballs to the restaurant. But whatever. Credit cards are probably too mainstream for Smoke ;) So I will begrudgingly pull out the cash for my super-high-priced, but super-freaking-delicious tacos. :)

    (5)

  • Simone H.

    Usually, I give places like this a 5 star unless you make my local foodie mad which the bar server did, so you get 4. Super excited to finally see smoke open up in Lawrenceville after their presence in the Waterfront proved underappreciated. Came on a Saturday night, so we waited for a little bit [40 minutes is normal] before getting seated at the bar [something KB and I actually prefer] The place is warm and inviting, decked out in wood and engulfed in some of the most their elaborate aromas from their chorizo, to their tacos, and mac & cheese. We had been eating and drinking our way through Lville from Slice to AWM, so we ordered small. KB had the mac & cheese and a side of the broccolini [her faves], and I had a the taco special which was a chicken with arugula, strawberries, blue cheese and pecans [pretty much my favorite salad dumped into a taco] The mac&cheese is awesome. It's heavy and creamy with thick, sharp cheeses, a dousing of pepper and breadcrumbs that much makes you as happy as a 5 year old with a blue box. And there is a healthy portion of it. Honestly, it's called a side, but this clearly could be your entire meal. The broccolini was similar, doused with cheese and breadcrumbs, not leaving much to the delicate vegetable dish you may have been expecting. Unfortunately, this dish was a bit disappointing as most of what you taste is smoke. It completely overpowers the vegetable and put a sad pairing taste to the wine [the place is BYOB] we had brought from AWM. [we weren't expecting that flavoring in our Italian greens] The taco was nice, I loved the blend of the pecan and blue cheese and offset with the strawberries and pepperiness of the arugula. It was also a nice size for a taco. Mounds of fillings. There is a lot of cheese clumped right in the middle, which was a shame, less would have been better, and it would have made the dish overall less heavy. The disappearing star went for the attitude of our bar server. She started out great and helpful with specials and uncorking our wine. The checked in regularly and stopped an appropriate amount of time in order to start a tat of conversation with each patron. However, that's when things turned sour. We had gotten into conversation about the evening and logically, the wine that we had dragged half way across Lawrenceville for here specifically. She seemed intrigued as KB mentioned it to be one of her more preferred and then offered her a taste. She accepted, poured herself a small bit, tasted it, and complimented it as a polite patron no matter her personal taste. Then she asked for feedback on food. Naturally, as foodies, we love giving it. We noted lovely blend of cheeses and consistency of the m&c, the unique twist on the broccolini, and I expressed my concern for the amount of blue cheese that was overpowering the taco. With each remark her blatant 'F-U' face became more and more visible. Now, we love this place and want to see it thrive so, we would have believed that feedback that had more depth than just "It's great" would be welcomed. We were wrong. By the end she seemed positively irked, decided it was time to move to other diners, turned, and violently dumped out the rest of the wine. Message received. We decided the desert was best to go [but it was truly amazing pie - and was devoured later that morning], rounding out our dinner before we made out for the grapparia for a digestion drink. All in all, this place is an above average establishment for food and atmosphere, as long as you adjust your expectation to a trendy Lville hotspot [waits and attitude] and definitely a place that will [and has been] returned to.

    (4)

  • Don A.

    Loved the breakfast-y egg and chorizo / egg and bacon combos I tried last Sunday. Also during the week just grabbed a brisket - holy cripes the mustard sauce will change your outlook on ... er, mustard. (I skeeve mustard, this I dug on, maybe because of the burn) Place looks quite cool, very DIY 'I-made-my-own-unicycle-from-spare-parts' hipness on a budget look to it. Think it'd be great for a group jammy jam, or one on one with that special ultra hip lad or lass of your dreams. Just remember it's BYOB - don't let that big bar on the left fool you like it did me. I walked up and ordered a Guinness without even looking for taps :-D - for that move, I think I earned myself half a moustache twirl and eye roll combo from the "bartender"

    (5)

  • John H.

    BYOB, Cash only and delish. The meats and tacos all had great flavors with unique preparations that made each stand on its own. I am a sucker for Chorizo and it did not disappoint. The Mac appetizer was tremendous although I wish we had added a type of meat to it. The beans were a lowlight lacking flavor overall. Biggest miss is not having a compliment to the chips for dipping as they were great. Strongly recommend a trip.

    (4)

  • Olivia W.

    Awesome food, run don't walk. Generous portions, only downside was that dessert was crazy expensive. Maybe they could let you known in advance that the "Pie" is small and perfect for 2 people to share, but they will be charging you $12.

    (5)

  • Nia B.

    I'm conflicted. The brisket tacos are perfect. However waiting for then for an hour is not acceptable. If I want tacos I'm going to las palmas on Atwood. I was also put off by the waiter not receptive to us being disappointed by an hour long wait for food.

    (3)

  • Eryn P.

    This place is such a gem. Watch out, though! If you blink, you'll miss it. Nestled right next to Row House Cinema on Butler Street in Larryville, Smoke boasts no sign, or any promotional items outside alerting you to the glorious things happening inside. But as soon as you open the door, BAM! You know where you're at! I called ahead for reservations, but they didn't accept them. You can call 30 minutes before you're arrival, just to get your name "on the list". I did just that, and after the short ride from the North Side (minus the traffic on 28), my adventurous friend, Jess and I were sat immediately at the bar. We both ordered lemonade, and it was gone before we knew it! So refreshing, simple and cold. It was topped with zest, and I saw them juicing lemons into our glasses when they refilled them. Next time we'll remember that they're a BYOB, and bring some beer! But I'll still get a lemonade. We went over the single page menu for a good amount of time, with help from the bartender. He made good suggestions, but didn't let us know about the Scorpion Wings, that were the special that day. (The only reason I'm giving a 4 and not a 5-star review) He told the guys next to us after we had already started eating, and I would have LOVED to try them. They smelled and looked amazing. We wound up ordering the Big Bowl 'O Cheese, with fresh tortilla chips (that I couldn't stop eating), a Brisket Taco, a Applebacon Taco, and a side of Mac & Cheese. I wanted to eat everything, and then eat the plate it came on. The cheese was on point, the chips were crispy, and the tacos....ooohhhh the tacos. The Brisket was tender, and the mustard on it was a perfect pair. I was slightly jealous of Jess's decision to get the Applebacon taco. But she was nice enough to share! :) It was a little on the spicy side, but the crispy apples toned the kick down nicely. The Mac & Cheese was a last minute decision as a side, and I was so happy we added it on. Creamy, with cheddar and mascarpone cheeses, it melted in your mouth. Thank goodness they have boxes, because I took so much home. Jess and I escaped with a bill just under $35, but remember, they only accept CASH! but there's a PNC and a Citizen's ATM's bank right next door. All in all, GO HERE. Just make sure you plan ahead and give them a call! :) Happy Eating!

    (4)

  • Stacie C.

    Smoke's new location in Lawrenceville is somewhat hidden for now until they get signage. Not going to lie, I walked right by it twice. But in case you need to know, it is right next to Row House Cinema on Butler Street. Depending on when you go in, it might be packed to the gills or empty with only a few patrons. I was lucky enough to find only two other patrons at the bar when I stopped in one random weekday afternoon after exploring a few other shops in the neighborhood. I'd been to Smoke's previous Homestead location so I knew what to expect. Cash only with just a few items to choose from. Nothing too crazy as far as tacos but the combination of ingredients will usually awaken the taste buds. I went with tres tacos: the chorizo, chicken and brisket. All were delightful, but just like my last Smoke experience I felt like it was a little pricey. Service was friendly and I didn't wait long, but I'm sure when there's a line of people out the door service isn't as friendly, fast or efficient. I want to try the mac n cheese but haven't yet, mostly because, again, I'm turned off by the cost ($7 for what doesn't look like a very big portion). If/when I return, it will be the first thing I order. I hope to update my review with an extra star after a taste.

    (3)

  • Meghan B.

    We were so obsessed with Smoke that we HAD to go back again for Father's day. This time, we brought the boyf's mom and dad as well. This experience- was a lot different than the first, unfortunately. We started off with their queso- I had heard it was amazing and was super excited to try it. It definetly was a big bowl of cheese- the portion was pretty big and was enough to share with a larger group of people. But the flavor.. was lacking immensely. The cheese dip was almost completely flavorless besides the peppers and cilantro that were scarce throughout the dip. I took the leftover dip home and even doctoring it up didn't add much to it.. needless to say, I was very disappointed. The chips were homemade, which I greatly appreciated, but were also flavorless. My boyfriend's mom loved them though, so I gave her the remaining chips to take home. One thing I don't like about this place that I didn't notice last time- they really don't have many drinks at all. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that they are BYOB- it's completely awesome! But I didn't even think about their selection of non-alcoholic drinks. If I am not drinking alcohol at a restaurant, it's water for me, all of the time. But my boyfriend's parents always get pop and were a little disappointed that there were none available. They ordered their homemade lemonade and enjoyed it- but I do agree that some soda should be offered- even if it's only in glass bottle form. Our entire party ordered 4 orders of mac & cheese and almost everyone ordered a taco. I ordered the chicken and apple taco that I loved so much the first time I had it (I had been dreaming about that taco ever since). My boyfriend ordered that as well. My boyfriend loved his- I was disappointed in mine. It was drenched in the smoked jalapeno mayo. To the point where it was a little difficult to eat. The mayo is delicious, don't get me wrong... but sometimes too much of a good thing, makes it not so good anymore. It took away the other flavors and just overpowered the entire taco. The mac & cheese was different this time too! It wasn't as flavorful as it was the last time. My sister (who admittedly is a picky eater) had a couple bites and couldn't eat any more. My dad enjoyed his. The one thing I will say is the portion of the mac & cheese is awesome- and I love the crumb filled top. My mom and dad had to doctor up their mac & cheese leftovers by adding a lot more flavor, since it lacked so much in that department. I did the same thing with my leftovers, which made the mac & cheese bearable. My boyfriend's family liked their food, but weren't blown away either. I do not want to give this place 3 stars, but I have to. The fact that the two experiences at Smoke were so drastically different is super disappointing. The food should be consistent- not different each time you go. I would like to return again, but I won't be running there anytime soon. Their desserts sound incredible and I have been too full each time I had visited to try any- so maybe dinner elsewhere and a drink and dessert at Smoke will be my next trip.

    (3)

  • Terry B.

    Smoke has finally won my heart. I first started coming to smoke when they were in Homestead and liked the character of the place but didn't like the small size and limited selection. I've gone to smoke 5 or 6 times and my experiences just get better. Most recently I ordered take out but decided to eat in; I had one of their taco specials along with chips/queso. The taco was heavenly, like pouring liquid satisfaction in my mouth and the chips are best eaten compulsively to the point of crapulence. I seldom give out 5 stars, but smoke has earned it.

    (5)

  • Mark K.

    Saw this place a few weeks ago and heard from a friend it was really good but they have long waits and run out of food. So taking that as a factor I went early Saturday. I will start with the bad and with only one bad thing I will keep it short. It took a little time to get someone to greet me and put my small group in the system for seating. That was about it. After that we were seated fast and orders taken. Also I feel since it's a new place everyone is still trying to find the flow of it and they are all doing a great job but just need to get the rhythm down. They don't serve alcohol but the beer store is right next to it and for a small fee of $1.75 a person you can do BYOB. They have a small menu but everything has big flavor. I mean the brisket Mac n cheese was awesome! Every taco we got was amazing. The tacos are personal size but the sides easily feed 2 to 3 people with extra. We all just got the tacos we wanted and split the sides. The bill was not bad at all and everything was very good. I would go back and you should try it.

    (4)

  • Stacey V.

    We finally figured out how to get into this restaurant. Tried walking in several times, but I don't think that would ever be possible here. You MUST call and get your name on the list before heading there, or use the 'No Wait' app. We were seated at the bar as there were only 2 of us - we were told that there were a lot of larger groups that night and the tables were reserved for them. Our waiter was good - we placed our orders without any issues, but the kitchen was clearly facing some serious problems that night - it took about 45 minutes for us to get our food, but the waiter took 20% off our bill as it was an unusual occurrence. I hope they've sorted their kitchen issues out. The food did not disappoint - I totally understand why people keep going back and wait for the food. I had a rib taco and a Mac & cheese. The flavours of the taco were amazing! Everything blended together so nicely - there was clearly a lot of thought put into the combination of sauce(s) and filling. Tacos were served warm, wrapped nicely in foil. The Mac & Cheese was also really delicious - maybe not the best you'll ever have, but they definitely used high quality cheese to make it - hence the $8 price. It was a huge portion as well. We also ordered a side of baked potatoes, but it was more of a potato salad. It was good too! Their drink options aren't exciting as it is BYOB. Just remember to bring something with you when you go! Atmosphere - it is very noisy, but still tolerable. We will definitely head back there when we crave some really good quality tacos!

    (4)

  • Alex D.

    Great place! I did not deduct any stars for the 35 minute wait, because the place is making such great food, it's only natural that people are flocking here! We came here with the kids, and were pleasantly surprised to see a decent kids' meal - a rarity these days. Yes, I had the usual Mac n' cheese and potato bite options, but it was several steps up from a chain restaurant kids' menu flavor wise. Our kids loved the broccolini and corn, as well as the Mac and cheese. For us, we got the salad (no meat added on), which currently is a tasty mix of greens, house made potato bites (we ARE in Pittsburgh, after all!!!), cherry tomatoes, and a bleu cheese dressing. We decided to go for 4 total tacos, which is crazy, unless you are a college kid. One taco is enough to be an adult's main course - they are not skimpy. We chose the pulled pork, chicken, brisket, and chorizo. We had originally wanted the rib taco, but it was later in the afternoon, and they were out. My favorite was the pulled pork, followed by the brisket, then the chicken, and finally the chorizo, although all four were ridiculously flavorful and the meat was well smoked. I do wish that they would turn down the spice just a little bit on the brisket and chicken tacos in order to let the meat do the talking, but the spice wasn't overwhelming. All of the staff we interacted with were super friendly, and the food comes out quite fast for a full restaurant - sounds like they've worked on this from some of the earlier reviews. It's BYOB, and there's a beer shop next door and a wine store across the street. The iced tea and lemonade were superb, since we didn't feel like partaking in wine or beer at the time. When we were done, we asked them to box up the leftovers (totally miscalculated - one taco per person is quite filling if you're eating a side dish or salad, and aren't a college kid...) and it was done quickly and efficiently. It's a cash only establishment, so estimate before you go and stop at one of the banks that are literally next door - or you can use the ATM in the back. Overall, it's a great place with great food - well worth any wait you may have. I'm very pleased that it lived up to all of the hype I've read for the past two years! We will definitely be back!!!

    (5)

  • Taylor F.

    Better than I remembered! We called ahead last Saturday to see how busy Smoke was and managed to beat the dinner rush. I loved Smoke at the Homestead location and was highly anticipating the restaurants return. I'm a little late on going here... but it was still delicious! The Mac-and-Cheese and Chicken Tacos were cooked to perfection. Also loved the Jalapeno Cole Slaw! My only disappointments were the water was warm and they didn't have pie... I've heard that the pie is amazing! Can't wait to come back!

    (4)

  • Megan L.

    Excellent food and atmosphere I am a vegetarian and they had a nice selection of tacos and sides that were meatless. I had the veggie taco and the broccolini and corn which were both very tasty. Only complaint was that the music was ,though very fun, 90's rap, Tupac and NWA, was not particularly appropriate for young children. Overall great and would recommend highly

    (4)

  • Scott G.

    Ambiance: I would describe the set up as modern rustic with a long narrow dinning area with a bar on left and bench and total seating capacity of about 30. I liked the large stacks of wood against the wall. Drinks: BYOB! There is a fairly trivial byob price per person which I think was something like $1.50. They also have their own margarita mix if you want to bring a bottle of tequila. The group at the table next to us took this option and it looked like fun...salted glassware provided. Food: We started off with an appetizer of the queso dip ("hot bowl o'cheese") with homemade tortilla chips. The chips were like a hybrid between what you would typically think of as tortilla chips and pita chips and were very good. The portion of chips was quite large and the queso dip was tasty, but a little on the thin side viscosity wise. For the main course I ordered the pork taco and the brisket taco. Both were very, very good and were nicely sized. The brisket one was on the spicy side though, which I like, but if spicy isn't your thing I'd steer clear of the brisket. Our waitress was right that two was enough for a meal, maybe three if you were really hungry or didn't get an app. I also had a bite of the migas with bacon. That was probably my favorite and next time I go back I'll definitely order a migas with meat added...maybe chorizo. Service: Our waitress was very attentive and knowledgeable. She also had a good sense of humor. The food was delivered without delay but without feeling rushed either. Overall: I loved dinner at Smoke and can't wait to go back. Compared to a recent dinner at Tako I prefer the fact that smoke is byob (which resulted in a considerably less expensive final tab) and has more of a relaxed vibe, Overall the food quality is similar between with a slight edge to smoke in my opinion though Tako's build your own guac was an amazing app. Tip: A downside to Smoke is that they don't take reservations, but they do offer a call ahead option (through no wait app) to get your name on the wait list, which I would recommend taking advantage of as they were quite busy and on the smaller side leading to fairly long wait times on popular nights.

    (5)

  • Pauline T.

    Thank you yelpers for helping me find this place! The wait was half an hour around dinner time for two people, so we just walked around Lawrenceville in the meantime, waiting for the text notification that our table was ready. The setup is interesting inside. It looks like more space is set aside for the decorations than the seating area, but I guess it's working out for them. I ordered the migas taco because I like eggs, and smoked red cabbage because that sounded interesting. I noticed that some of the sides cost more than the tacos. The wait wasn't too long for the food, which came out wrapped in foil and the little cauldron-like thing for the smoked red cabbage. To be honest, the migas taco reminded me of the sausage egg and cheese burrito at McDonald's with some spice and green bell pepper--but I still liked it. I think it was the cheesiness that made me first think of that. The smoked cabbage had a surprising flavor. The smoky-ness was very nice and powerful, which I really liked. I'd want to come back and try their other tacos too. Also it's BYOB at $1.75 a person.

    (4)

  • Matthieu K.

    Step 1 - use NoWait. (You're welcome ... that was some free advice.) Yes, it's a hipster taco joint. They may have ... served me warm water, but that's a thing now, no big deal. Waiter was great, was familiar with how everything was assembled and cooked. BYOB ... don't forget. Again ... Bring Your Own Booze ... (You're welcome ... that was some more free advice.) I was a little b##ch and had everything custom made. They did it and it was all fantastic. Had one of each taco they offer and enjoyed them. The cheese dip was pretty nice. Chips are made in-house, very thick, almost like naan. Still quite good. If you use NoWait and have some booze @ Industry or go bowling, it's all good. Quality is as good as any taqueria I have ever been to. You should stop in and enjoy, it's pretty good.

    (5)

  • Sara H.

    Love this place! Came in with a larger party on Saturday afternoon and they were very accommodating. Great service and excellent food. I recommend the queso.. its AMAZING!!!

    (5)

  • Nate L.

    We have always enjoyed the food and vibe at this taco spot. We used to go to their location in Homestead often but are happy they are now located in Lawrenceville. BYOB is a plus, but don't forget it's cash only. I would recommend any of the tacos, they are all great. Also, we ordered the queso and chips. Absolutely amazing. Soft fried pita chips are so good. Eat it!

    (5)

  • Rachel C.

    Yay for Smoke finally opening up again! Or maybe what I should really say is, yay, I finally visited the new location. You guys, it's beautiful. All decked out in warm wood, with that same smoke smell, and decorated in a homey way. I went with one of my old standby's since it had been so long, the rib taco and the special mani mani taco. Both were excellent, the rib being just as tasty as before. Speaking of just as tasty, so was the white cheddar Mac n' cheese, which should be a must for anyone visiting! I was surprised there weren't more new additions to the menu, but the one new side dish, the broccolini with corn and a layer of breadcrumbs was incredible! Seriously, I'm still thinking about it! I'm a fan of BYOB joints, which it is right now, but the bar they do have set-up seems to be screaming for some fresh margaritas. Right now you can settle for their special mix, you just bring the tequila... And the party!!!

    (4)

  • Nicholas R.

    This was our first visit to Smoke during a weekend trip. Cool, unique neighborhood. The inside of the place is a simple and rustic but welcoming. Service was friendly. It is cash only which I find to be a nuisance... Also BYOB, at least for now. We started with the bowl of cheese. It was delicious but we agreed that half the portion at half the price would be more suitable for two people. The tacos were good. We had chicken, pork, and brisket. I enjoyed the bbq flavors but found the tacos to be each a little one-noted for 6-7 bucks a pop.

    (3)

  • Alicia S.

    So good news or bad news first. Let's start bad news. First, the lack of signage. If I hadn't read reviews on yelp before meeting friends for dinner, we might not have found this place. My friends think they are trying to fit the hipster mentality and remain anonymous. I personally hate this. A sign with their name or even the address on the door would be really helpful. Second, they are cash only. Not a big deal since they have an ATM in the back of the restaurant near the restrooms. Third, it's BYOB and we had no idea. Didn't notice this bit of information in any comments or reviews we read online. Luckily atlas bottle works is next door and offers chilled bottles and growlers to go. Now for the good news- the food! So good. We started with chips and queso. There was enough for four of us to share. I am a huge fan of homemade chips and these were spot on. We also ordered biscuits and Mac and cheese as sides. I wasn't a huge fan of the biscuits; a little to greasy for me. Now the Mac and cheese, that was a different story. Yummy! My husband didn't love it because the cheese they used was a little to sharp for his taste. The tacos were excellent. We asked the waiter how big they were and he recommended two per person. I would say this is too much food if you are ordering sides. My rib taco was overstuffed but delicious. The chicken and Apple was also excellent but the star of the show was the brisket. We look forward to our next meal at smoke.

    (4)

  • Mara K.

    Other reviewers have mentioned that Smoke is inconspicuously situated on Butler Street and they are correct. I'm not sure the name is even on the door- but it's worth finding! The atmosphere here is Lawrencville trendy- you know what I mean - exposed brick walls, dim lighting, and contemporary art. But it works and it sets the stage for a nice meal. Fairly simple menu with several types of tacos. I got the BLT taco with a nice and spicy jalapeño mayo that had a great kick. I also ordered the Mac and it was very tasty and rich- I took half home and was equally full both sittings. The service is good here. I find it amusing that the restaurant has a large bar, but it's BYOB. I'm assuming they have a lot of mixers. I saw several lemonade and non-alcoholic options. There's also a mini fridge you can put your beer in to keep cool. I plan on being a repeat costumer.

    (4)

  • Jim S.

    This was a fun place to come. It's relatively small inside, so make sure to call ahead or get there early. The service was okay. The front staff were really friendly, while our waitress seemed like she might have been having a bad day. The food was really good. We had the mac and cheese (fantastic) and 4 different types of the tacos (all were considerably good). The food is good, although I'd consider it maybe a little expensive for the amount that you get. The menu prices are on a per taco basis, for reference. That being said, I would come again. Should be noted that they don't take reservations for parties less than 8, and they are cash only. There's a PNC next door and they have an ATM though.

    (4)

  • Anna M.

    Smoke. I love you. The smoked chicken tacos were perfectly tender and surprisingly flavorful, and the horchata is TO DIE FOR. If you like horchata, you need to order it here! A cool place with a cool vibe and cool servers that have beards. What more can you want.

    (5)

  • Jeremy A.

    Food is decent but over-rated. The place is definitely VERY hipster....I'm not sure if my expectations were to high or what but the taco stand over in Brookline has much better tacos for a fraction of the price. I won't be rushing back but may decide to get it another chance in the future.

    (3)

  • Andrea W.

    I was really excited to try Smoke. I loved their food when they were in Homestead and eagerly awaited their opening in Lawrenceville. So, it took me 4 tries before I could even get some food to eat. The first time they ran out of food during a street festival. Totally understandable. The second time I stopped by on a Friday night around 6:30 and told that they were no longer seating for the night. Ok, it was a weekend night and there's a lot of hype surrounding this place so I get it. Would have been nice if they had a sign on the door so I didn't have to wait in line to be turned away. The third time I was quoted a 90+ minute wait for dinner and told that they weren't doing take-out. Really, 90 minutes for street food? I decided to try another time. Finally, on a Sunday at 2pm I called to see if I could get a take-out order. I was quoted 45 minutes and decided to give it a go. However, it took well over 60 minutes to get 4 tacos. The restaurant was only half full, so I couldn't figure out why it would take so long for 4 tacos. I talked with the hostess and confirmed that yes, they do smoke the meats ahead of time. She explained that it takes them 10-15 minutes to prepare an order of 3 tacos and that they prepare orders one at a time; hence, the incredibly long wait time. This truly baffled my mind. How is it that the taco truck can whip out tacos faster than a restaurant with a full kitchen? The tacos were ok, but definitely not worth waiting over an hour for. The quality has decreased since they were in Homestead. I really hope that they learn how to run their kitchen more efficiently and return to having the quality of tacos that they used to have. I won't be returning unless their service improves and their food quality returns to what it was at their previous location. Not worth a visit now.

    (1)

  • Deirdre G.

    The Sweet tea is really bomb here. I had the brisket taco, it was pretty good...my favorite was the queso with the fried tortilla chips. Holy it was delicious , I actually could of skipped the taco completely and had the queso for my meal. It was huge & super filling! Ultimately, the entire experience was satisfying and I'll for sure be back.

    (4)

  • Mike K.

    Hands down the best taco I've ever had. Went for breakfast and got a breakfast taco and a pork taco. Serve great la proms coffee too. BYOB so will be back again for dinner

    (5)

  • Barbara E.

    I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was here. Finding the place was a bit of a challenge, I walked past it twice. There is no sign out front. It is right beside the Cinema. Chips and cheese were so good, chips are made fresh and cheese dip is very tasty. Mac and cheese is good, it can easily be shared by two or even three as a side. Brisket taco was delicious and we had a special taco of the day, just a little on the spicy side but not too much. Flavored drinks like cantaloupe etc very good. BYOB so if you want alcohol there is a take out beer store next door. I was not disappointed at all and will definitely return. One very small criticism was they served room temp water before the meal and we were there on a hot humid day, ice water would have been appreciated.

    (4)

  • Noah R.

    I really wanted to like this place but the overall experience was a bust. If you are reading this review and on the fence about going, don't. We arrived and were told it would be a 60 minute wait which is totally fine as it was so busy. We walked around Lawrenceville for an hour killing time. We were seated within the 60 minute window so no complaints there. Of the approximately 12 tables in the place, 4 were empty for the more than 1 hour that we were there and there were a lot of seats at the bar. I am not sure why they were turning people away with so much available space but hey so it goes. We put in our order and waited and waited. The temperature inside was in the mid 50s and every time the door opened a freezing breeze came across our table even though we were sitting a good 50 feet from the door. We ended up getting our food to go. Food is overpriced, a taco should not cost 7 dollars, but good. Pros: Good food Our waitress was nice Cons: Freezing temperature Whoever is in charge (is there anyone?) of running the front of the restaurant has no idea what they are doing. Suggestions: Hire someone to run the front of house who has experience. Hang a big thick curtain between the entrance and the restaurant to keep the cold out. Turn on the heat When there are empty tables you should offer them to guests who want to come and eat your food. Drop prices slightly on the Tacos Overall analysis: Food is too expensive but good. The place is a disaster from a management point of view despite the fact that there is an adequate number of waitstaff. If they are still around in six months we would try to go again but if they go out of business it is not really a big loss.

    (2)

  • Mike S.

    very cool atmosphere and service was good. Really want to like this place but the food was confusing. Queso Dip was quite good but their chips were like fried pita or something....not good. A taco place with no salsa or quac? The tacos themselves were large portions of a meat, covered in sauce, placed in a flour tortilla, and wrapped in aluminum foil....this was dine in. The place is trying and Pittsburgh needs a good taco joint, bbq too, and they have everything but the food right now. Will try it again to support their effort and hope to like the food more.

    (2)

  • Anabel A.

    Ordered a chicken and apple taco. Taste was good. Kind of expensive for what they give you. Nice atmosphere. Very hipster. Went once. Won't be back.

    (3)

  • Bob B.

    I got one rib taco and two brisket tacos. The brisket tacos were amazing and the mustard used was a perfect complement to the tender meat. The rib taco was solid, but the brisket taco is in a class by itself. Make sure you get the jalapeño lemonade.

    (5)

  • Erin S.

    The food says it all...it makes up for close seating (sitting next to your neighbor), cash only, BYOB, and so-so service. The place is very hip/trendy, but in an annoying way. Staff just don't seem as welcoming, genuine as some other nice places in the city..service was good though. The food makes up for all of it though....seriously amazing. BEST MAC-n-CHEESE I have every had in my life, hands down...can actually taste the smoked cheese and I don't know how to describe it other than you MUST try it...the absolute best I've had. The tacos were so good too, the meat is amazing smoked, tender, flavorful, soooo good!! They had some type of jalapeno lemonade that was great, super hot and lightly sweet, a must...pour some tequila in it for an added bonus. The house made marg-mix pitcher was really fresh and great, I poured a little bottle of Patron in it and suddenly didn't care about the atmosphere so much. You will GET LOST in this food, TRY IT! One annoying thing: No reservations, only call ahead seating, but you can only call up to an hour before you come...and you can't find them on "No Wait" app, but that is the app they put your call ahead seat on..you have to call for some reason.

    (5)

  • Jessica K.

    Smoke, in a nutshell is a hipster taco joint. It's delicious and if you are going to be hungry in the next 90 minutes, have some cash to burn and nothing to do in the next 2.5 hours, you should absolutely eat here. Everything I had was very enjoyable and I would definitely go back. I'm only giving it four stars because I feel like for what the place is, the service should be a bit faster considering most of the food is almost completely cooked beforehand and everything is pretty pricey (Cost a bit more than $60 for two people if you go all out). Now for the details and helpful stuff: If you put your name down, they'll text you when your table is ready and since they don't serve drinks (though they allow you to BYOB), you can easily go to a neighboring bar while you wait for your table. They also have a fridge near the front door so you can keep your beer or other adult beverages cold while you wait/during your meal. And it's cash only but there are at least 3 ATM's within a block and they have one inside. The one at Commonwealth bank has a $3.50 fee. Note that though this is a casual restaurant, they serve you like you're eating at an upscale place--slow. So don't be afraid to order a lot because they'll make you pace yourself with the time between courses. Now for the food: I was lucky enough to dine with some foodie friends and while I didn't take a bite of everyone's tacos, we did share flour tortilla chips, smoked salsa (this was a daily special), queso, the apple slaw, smoked cabbage, mac and cheese w/ brisket, and a berry pie topped with marscapone and cream cheese. I ate a chicken and a pork taco and had a bit of the brisket special taco (blue cheese sauce, tomatoes, other stuff). Out of all of these things, the smoked salsa, chips and queso and the chicken taco were my favorites. The smoked salsa should be a regular menu item. It had a great blend of tomatoes, onions and peppers, left a strong smoke flavor in my mouth and left me feeling very excited to eat more smokey things. The chips paired with it very well. They are fried to order which makes them extra awesome, though that means you pay about $6 for them and you wait a bit. So be patient, they are worth it! We topped our queso w/ their house-made chorizo, which was also fantastic. Though it's more of a very good cheese dip versus queso. There are peppers in there but they don't add a lot of spice and no smoke comes through in the dish at all but whatever, this hipster cheese dip is a must-order. I really liked both of my tacos and it's obvious that Smoke tries hard to build a great and well-thought out flavor profile in each and every taco. I enjoyed the chicken taco a bit more because it had the right ratio of meat to condiments/other dressings. The pork taco had a lot of pulled pork on it and while the pork was flavorful, I felt like I was eating a pulled pork sandwich but with a tortilla. The brisket special was good but had too much going on for my palate and it was super greasy. The mac and cheese was good but I'm not sure if it was worth the $8 + $3 add on for the brisket. I enjoyed the brisket part of the mac and cheese the most (I'm totally getting a brisket taco next time), though the grease from the brisket didn't drip down and flavor the mac and cheese like I was hoping it'd do. I'm just not sure I would vote this my favorite restaurant mac and cheese, though it was good. The smoke cabbage was awesome! The smoke flavor wasn't too overwhelming and it had chunks of bacon or pancetta in it that really added to it. The apple/cabbage slaw was pretty refreshing and light compared to everything else we got though I think I should have added some salt to it. I would get this again. The pie was pretty amazing. It was an open pie (no crust on top) with some heavenly mix of berries in it. It's a pretty healthy size so I'm glad we split it between 6 people. It's also $11 and if you order coffee, that's a $15 dessert. But I had nothing better to do and some money to burn, so it was all so worth it! Finally, before I forget, they have fun flavored lemonades that could be elevated by booze. I'd recommend buying some airplane shots or just bringing a flask of gin, tequila or vodka with you. You can also purchase a pitcher of margarita mix for $15. Also, I heard that sometimes they have an 'ultimate taco' of the day which I believe are inspired by one of their line/prep cooks named Jesse. It's rumored that he's a great cook, totally fit and single.

    (4)

  • Xin Y.

    We came in for a friend's birthday and we were seated promptly ( we had reservations ). I've hear a lot about this place so I was eager to try it. Our waiter was really nice and patient. We had a rather large party and two people were running late. Not once did our waiter loose patience with us. He was very up beat and nice even when asked to take a photo of a group of 8 girls while he was busy. He kindly took our pictures and had fun with it. The ambience is very trendy, very fun. It was a type of rustic hipster, if you will. It's byob, but there is a 6 pack store right next door. Unfortunately, to me, the food was just okay. I got the ribs taco, which was good, but nothing really special, just rib meat, onions, and cilantro in a soft taco shell. I also got the chicken apple taco. It was supposed to have apple, bacon, cheese,and a jalapeño mayo in it. I'm a huge fan of sweet and savory / sweet and spivey, but the spiciness overpowered the whole taco. (I can tolerate a pretty high level of spiciness but this was a little much) I could only taste chicken and mayo. The apple coleslaw was good, but again, not mind blowing, just a regular vinegar based coleslaw with apple in it. I did try my friend's chorizo macaroni and cheese; THAT, was fantastic. I would say best thing on the menu. The chorizo was well done, great flavor and paired with that Mac n cheese...absolutely phenomenal. I read in a few reviews and was told the service was slow. I actually feel like for a small, locally ran restaurant they were fairly decent. Yes, it took a little longer than your average chain, but they have a very small kitchen, try to give you a higher end experience with their food, and have take out orders. Therefore, I think the service was fine and nothing out of the ordinary. As far as pricing goes, it's a little on the higher end for what you get. I don't mind paying more for a great food experience; however, I definitely didn't think my chicken taco was worth what I paid for it (6.00). The chorizo Mac n cheese was worth what we paid though. Although, I do understand given the neighborhood they are housed in. It was my first visit there so I'm definitely not opposed to going again and trying something else. Perhaps, it may even sway my yelp rating for this restaurant. I really enjoy the vibe. It seems like a good spot to hang out and get some small bites throughout the night. Definitely worth a try.

    (3)

  • Syed R.

    The best. Hands down. Awesome service. Fresh. Made from scratch. Mouthwatering. Probably the best in Pennsylvania

    (5)

  • Peter E.

    The space is cool, the music playing during lunch (beastie boys) was obnoxiously loud. The employees were fighting over which song to play and would seldom let a song play through. It was very hard to relax with such bad music blaring. The general attitude of the servers were of disdain and righteous indignation. The tacos were very impressive which is why I'm giving this place 2 stars. The macaroni was pretty mediocre. Overall I wouldn't go there again. The Portland hipster vibe there seems overwhelming. WE GET IT. You don't conform so hard.

    (2)

  • Sari F.

    Good food, reasonable prices and nice ambiance. We went on a Wed. at 6:30 and had no problem getting a table. We ordered queso which was really good. The taco I had was very good and the wait staff was nice and attentive. It is also great that you can grab beers next door!

    (5)

  • Ran L.

    Update 4/27/2015: The wait time for your food -- at least during off-peak hours -- has significantly decreased. When I get take-out from here, my food is pretty much ready 10-15 minutes from when I order (for 1-2 tacos). I am so happy that Smoke is now in Lawrenceville. Thankfully, the food is still delicious. This is less of a traditional taco place than it is a great bbq place in which all of their meat happens to be served in tacos with well-selected toppings to enhance the natural flavors of the meat. That said, I really think the star of this restaurant is the meat. The two tacos I had today, the pork and the brisket, were both awesome. In fact, the brisket taco is TO DIE FOR. The other toppings and sauce in that taco are really there to enhance the flavor of the brisket itself, which is so smoky and well done. The mac and cheese is great, too. I tend not to love m&c because it tends to be bland, fatty, and uninspired feeling. Smoke makes one of the few m&c's in the city that I actually like -- it's super garlicky and flavorful (sharp cheeses) with just the right mixture of textures. Ask for the habanero sauce on the side--it pairs perfectly with the m&c. Yum! I will be back here a lot. Although the wait time can be an annoyance during peak meal hours, it's all about setting your expectations correctly. An easy work-around is to get takeout and to order it in advance. Or just build your schedule around the expected wait, and make sure you go with a good conversationalist.

    (5)

  • Richard M.

    Just to let you know always call ahead for a table and expect to wait about 20-30 minutes for your meal after you order. It's so worth the wait you will understand once you dig into these magical tacos. If you're really hungry you can't go wrong with queso and lightly fried pita chips.. They are a home run. For tacos my hands down favorite is the rib and close second is the chicken apple. If it's your first time I recommend trying both I just mentioned, the jalapeño mayo is amazing! Honestly be patient and you will be rewarded witg amazing food, and yes the place is very 'hipster' but it's Lawrenceville, it's expected. My rank of tacos: 1.Ribs 2.Chicken/Apple 3.Brisket 4.chorizo Pros- *The signature 'smoke' smell *Laid back environment * reclaimed/industrial theme *Mac&Cheese *Rib taco Cons -wish they had more seating -wish they delivered

    (5)

  • Julia J.

    Smoke is a nice addition to the Lawrenceville hipster-foodie scene. They've sure put some time and thought into creating the perfect urban-rustic ambiance for the Butler Street crowd. If you can manage to get in there at a non-busy time (so like, Sunday before noon, for example), your experience will be pleasant. The very hip staff are friendlier than average for their sort. I'm probably not the best confidant for reviewing a barbeque restaurant being that I do not eat meat, but there are a FEW vegetarian options. The veggie taco was pretty big for $4.25 and included some kind of delicious fried potato pancake-type chunks. The mac and cheese was good if you're a big fan of butter (way too heavy for me and it did NOT sit well in the fridge as leftovers), but the creative mix of cheeses made for a unique taste. My boyfriend's meat tacos were way overpriced for tacos (like $6-$7) but he said they were great so I guess they make it worth it? Overall, definitely worth checking out but maybe not worth waiting over an hour for.

    (4)

  • Shawn O.

    I was super excited to hear that Smoke had re-opened after a quite a hiatus. I'll break my commentary down into three components for this one to be fair. The Experience: So, we started our on a bad foot. After consulting Twitter/Facebook to find their address (an updated website would be a good start), we drove a couple circles around the 41st/42nd block of Butler Street looking for the building. After a few attempts, we finally got out and walked it looking for a door number or sign, but no avail. The only way we found it was a group of people walking out of the door we thought belonged to the neighboring theater with carry-out bags. I'd suggest at least putting an address or a sign on the door (it would go a long way). Getting inside, the place wasn't full, but we were told it would be around a 45 minute wait via NoWait (once again, it would of been nice to know they were using this anywhere on their site/social media presence). Determined to give it a try, we waited about 30 minutes before being sat. I will give Smoke props for their environment. A good vibe, music selection and space lead to one of the more unique dining environments in Pittsburgh. From here however, we had a varied ride. The Service: Approachable, yet brash (if that's even a possibility). That's how I'd label the service. Overlooking that factor, what really stood out here is HOW LONG it took for not only us, but all of the tables around us to get our food. One hour for three tacos, mac & cheese and some slaw... really? The table to our left cancelled the remainder of their order and left and the two tables to our right complained pretty consistently about the time to receive their food as well. Eventually our server brought out part of our order and apologized, but it still didn't make sense... they're tacos. The Food: Here, I'll break it down into the good and the bad... The Good - Brunch Special (biscuit and gravy), ChickenApple Taco and the Jalepeno Slaw. While the gravy could have used a bit of seasoning (a consistent theme), the biscuit was rocking and the ChickenApple Taco was one of the more unique tacos I've ever had... kudos to those. The Bad - The Migas Brisket (breakfast) Taco, Chorizo Taco and Mac and Cheese. Once again, seasoning here would have saved these... what should have been big flavor items ended up being super-bland. For a smokehouse, I would of expected the brisket to be a lot better than it was and the Mac and Cheese could have used perhaps a few more stirs before being plated into the mini-cast-iron bowls (the flavor was pretty inconsistent bite-to-bite) Overall, this has the makings of what could be a rocking place, but they need to get past the half-baked effort that we experienced. We'll probably give it a few weeks for them update their sites, nail down their service and fine-tune their food, without some improvements, I don't see us going here again.

    (2)

  • Michael R.

    We called two hours ahead and made a reservation, and we still ended up having to wait over an hour for a table. I had the macaroni and the barbecue pork tacos. The macaroni was very bland and the sauce in the taco didn't taste very good. Despite being starving due to the wait, I still wasn't able to force down all of the food. My friends all rant and rave about this place though, so maybe I caught them on an off night.

    (2)

  • Jon-Michael K.

    Called at 9:40 on a Sunday night. They said they stopped seating at 10. Hours on yelp said the restaurant closes at 11. So we drove out, got there at 10 and now they are saying they close at 10 on Sunday nights.

    (1)

  • Joy C.

    I LOVE this place!! Smoke is one of my favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh. They definitely have the best tacos in the Burgh! They just reopened in Lawrenceville & the new place is beautiful. So much more seating available. Everything I've eaten @ Smoke has been delicious. The Queso & chips & the Mac n cheese are definite appetizers. I always order the egg & veggie tacos both with avocado cream. Amazing! This past time I went I tried the Brisket taco & it was so good! Honestly I was a little leery to try the brisket b/c I had just been to Austin TX & tried brisket for the first time (which Texas is known for their smoked brisket). However I must say Smoke did a damn good job making their brisket. Not quite as good as Texas but its still really good!! Service is always great, everybody is so friendly. The only downside is once you place your order it takes a long time to get your tacos. But it's totally worth the wait! Highly recommend!!!

    (5)

  • Bob C.

    I'm publishing this because I saw a lot of holes in the concept. I loved the food and hope they get the rest right. There's nothing better on a hot day than lukewarm water. I'm saying that as a joke because it actually happened at smoke. Plus on a hot day I'm not sure if there that cheap to cool the place or not but still I understand that the smoker takes up most of the area of the place but work with me on those dog days of summer. The food. The only saving grace is the food. The breakfast taco was phenomenal and the chorizo was out of this world. No doubt about it. You'll not go wrong if you get those two accompanying that with the queso is well worth the wait. I'm publishing this because you have to get the little things right along with the bread and the butter. Smoke is better then good. I want it to be great.

    (1)

  • Ashley H.

    Absolutely delicious tacos, with house made tortillas and the freshest ingredients.

    (5)

  • Dan H.

    SUPERB.. Insanely delicious food. Staff very helpful and well informed. It's BYOB which is also super cool. Cool setup and atmosphere. Good date spot or even casual dinner. The food is really the highlight here tho. There isn't anything that's not made from scratch and top quality. Get there early if u want a table.. Its a must try, you'll probly see me there again when you do.

    (5)

  • Ruth D.

    New, trendy kinda place. We ate at the bar which was great. I had the veggie taco, pork taco and tried some of the mac and cheese. Tacos were yummy. The pork one had a lot of pork, worth the price for one taco. The veggie one was full of black beans and corn. Great flavor. Loved the potato fritters on top. The mac and cheese was soooo rich. Definitely a sharing dish. No drinks other than strange juices on the menu. We stuck with good ole' H20. Would definitely go back. Yum.

    (4)

  • Ann T.

    Beginning with a truly refreshing watermelon and cucumber drink accompanied by nachos and queso that tasted just made, I then enjoyed the percectly sized blt taco with smoked applewood bacon and just enough spice to not overpower how delicious this combo was. Great brunch spot for those who are just looking for a great meal in a funky hipster setting. I don't drink so it was a perfect spot.

    (5)

  • Danielle V.

    After living in Austin, TX for a while, I would say my standards for both BBQ and tacos are pretty high. Smoke **just nearly** knocks it out of the park. I've tried several tacos (e.g., chicken, ribs, brisket, migas) and they were all pretty good. The random thing I fell in love with was their sweet tea! So good for being in the north, ya'll! I will say on that both visits to Smoke, I encountered some pretty slow service. If you aren't in a hurry or super hungry that's probably not the biggest deal, but don't expect to eat fast.

    (4)

  • Doug H.

    I don't think I paid enough for this experience. Excellent food - medium to high spice, but so any flavors in every bite. I had a special chicken taco with bacon, and the combo of soft and crispy added another dimension. The 3-pepper lemonade was superb, even sans alcohol. I ate at the bar. Wait staff was superb. Ambience chill and friendly. First time in Pittsburgh, and I'm mighty impressed. Smoke BBQ: how about a franchise in Moscow, ID?

    (5)

  • Karyn S.

    I had gone to Smoke at its Homestead location and was blown away by the new place in Lawrenceville! The space is so much bigger, but they retained the atmosphere of the old restaurant. The food remained phenomenal. I had the mac and cheese with ribs, which is listed under "Sides" but it is a good portion and I even had to bring half of mine home. I also ordered the Brisket taco, which was surprisingly spicy and delicious as well as the specialty taco of the day, which included chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a sunny-side-up egg. My server warned me it would be a messy disaster, but would be totally worth it; he was right. The only criticism I have of the new restaurant is that the servers use iPhones to take your order. I didn't like this. It feels almost rude to be talking to your server while they are playing on a phone, even though I know they are entering the order. It just seemed impersonal. I had not experienced this at another restaurant, and it is something I definitely dislike. Other than that, the decor of the place is almost as good as the food, only because the food is so dang amazing. I love Smoke and will be back many times!

    (5)

  • Hatti T.

    Finally! The new space is phenomenal, and we didn't think the food could get any better, but....It did! Had the rib taco and the brisket taco - Outstanding. Also had the slaw and the black beans, so fresh and tasty. They know how to cook. Really. Thanks. You may want to call ahead for a reservation - it gets packed!

    (5)

  • Heather L.

    WOW !!! So good!!! I had the Brisket and Pork, both were delicious. However a slight warning that the Brisket is spicier than I expected but the meat was so tender. We order the Mac and cheese as our side (plenty for two people) and it was amazing! Overall 5 stars for excellent service, amazing food and pretty cool atmosphere!!! Thanks Smoke for a great date night dinner!!!!

    (5)

  • Frank R.

    I tried this place a few times. The food is decent but nothing worth waiting for. It is bland and needs spice added. I had the rib taco the brisket and the chicken Apple taco. I also had the queso chips. First the service is horrible. They seem pompous and after the first time I didn't want to go back. They just reopened when I went so I did give them another chance. I shouldn't have. I even went for take out and asked if I could order and pick it up in 2 hours because they were busy they wouldn't take an order they couldn't make 3 tacos in 2 hours ridiculous. The attitude from the host was enough to not want to go back. The time I did sit to eat the wait for the food took an hour to get to us. The meat just needs cut how long can that take. The meat was cooked well but lacked flavor. The chips were good and fresh, but the queso cheese needs some flavor. Over all bland food and rude staff not worth the wait.

    (1)

  • Josef B.

    Smoke has great food, but it can be difficult to get a table. Considering that they serve tacos, it's also a bit expensive. The flavor is worth the price though, just be sure to make a reservation or have 1-3 hours to wait for a table!

    (4)

  • Assface J.

    Here's the deal: (1) The wait can be a bit long. Call ahead. The wait for food can be long too. (2) They aren't really tacos. It's basically awesome meat wrap in a flour tortilla. (3) The music is too loud. (4) The mac and cheese is flavorful but nothing special. Definitely not worth $7.50

    (3)

  • Tom S.

    Long wait not worth the mediocre barbecue.

    (2)

  • Bonnie T.

    This place was hard to find, but worth it. It is located beside Atlas Bottle Works. My husband and I ordered 4 different tacos. The brisket one was spicy, but good. The rib taco was our favorite though. The mac 'n cheese was amazing. Prices aren't cheap, but I don't mind paying for good food.

    (5)

  • Elaina H.

    After the tacos at Round Corner took a turn for the worse, I was totally pumped for a new option in Lawrenceville. This place is pretty cool and the food was amazing. I went for lunch so I can't talk about long waits for parties of 1 million at dinnertime (really people, are you shocked?). It's just a new, little, goofy local place so set your expectations there. The decor is fun - vintage and industrial... yet comfortable (nicely done, Smoke), and the staff were super friendly. We tried a couple different tacos and apps, everything was a 10. Cash only and BYOB - well, it's not owned by Eat N Park, so deal with it and enjoy some quality food. I'm sure they'll eventually grow into their restaurant shoes, but be patient. Really my only reasons for dropping a star were that it was freezing cold inside and the music was blaring. I like to jam, but if I want to break it down it'll be in my car, bedroom, or Belvederes - not in the middle of lunch convo.

    (4)

  • Frustrated C.

    Ordered 2 tacos and 2 sides ( slaw and mac) for takeout and the bill came to $40. For that price I was expecting enough food for a family of 4...however, taco's contained nothing but 2 ounces of greasy meat (no veggies or fresh cilantro or sauce of any kind) and, to add insult to injury, the "smoke" flavor tasted like it came out of a bottle. The slaw was several days old and tasted of refrigerator and the mac was bland and pasty (but the only thing that was even remotely edible). If I could give this place negative stars, I would.

    (1)

  • Ruogu K.

    I'm usually not a big fan of tacos but this place surprised me. There's no observable sign outside of the restaurant. It's next to Row House Cinema and ATLAS (where you can buy drinks to go with your taco). We ordered BLT taco, brisket taco, ribs taco, and Mac&Cheese. All three tacos were awesome. I also love the decor of the restaurant, the fact that they are BYOB, and the good service. But the downside is that it's cash only and you probably need to expect at least 20-min wait for dinner.

    (4)

  • Joy S.

    Decided to try out Smoke last night on a whim with the husband and I was not disappointed. We started with their special of chicken wings with homemade bleu cheese dressing. The size of the wings were a little small, but they made up for it with flavor. I was expecting a franks type buffalo sauce and instead I was pleasantly surprised with an almost tomato spicy sauce. The bleu cheese dressing was obviously homemade and delicious. We continued to order our tacos, we did the egg, chicken, rib, and chorizo. Egg and chorizo would have been perfect for a hangover breakfast. Chicken was great, but that Rib Taco... it was literally the best taco my husband and I have ever had... EVER! Now to ask for $6.50 for a single taco is a pretty high price, therefore setting a high standard. But I would have literally paid upwards of $10 for that taco and it still would've been worth it. We also got the mac-n-cheese and it was delicious as well. It said it used marscapone cheese which gave it almost a light flavor instead of typical heavy mac-n-cheese. Our service was on point as well. Our server was prompt in checking in, clearing plates, and making sure we needed. At one point I told my husband that I needed more napkins for my wing soaked fingers. About 10 seconds later the other server came by and dropped off more napkins. Now that is good service! She must've overheard me. The total overall experience was great! The only complaint I would have is that it is BYOB... but hey, a lot of people like that however we are typically cocktail drinkers. Also that it is CASH ONLY. We had cash so it is not a big deal but I think it would be more accommodating if that they would at least give you the option to pay with a card. Two minor things overlooked for that delicious food and prompt service. We will be returning soon!

    (5)

  • Samantha S.

    I cannot put into words how much my husband and I love this place!!! Everything is so fresh and the recipes they come up with blow my mind! The brisket is my favorite, I always order it without the hot peppers, I don't have a very high tolerance for hot things, however my husband loves the Brisket as is, as have a few other people I know that have ordered it. My husbands favorite is the Migas, with brisket and pinto beans. The staff are always great, and always seem to know exactly what they're talking about when it comes to the product. We love to go there to eat, as it is a very cool trendy place, however the pick up option for food on the go is an awesome bonus for those nights when we're looking to stay in. Their Queso is actually making my mouth water thinking about it, it's that good, and the "chips" they serve it with is the best part. We always order more tacos than we need to because it makes awesome leftovers for the next day. Just pop them in the microwave! YUM! If you're not sure about trying a new place and pass Smoke up, you're crazy!

    (5)

  • Scott H.

    Daaaaammmmn this place is good. Amazing meat quality and great menu. You won't be disappointed at all. Tips: BYOB (no problem, you can get beer next door) cash only (again no problem there is an ATM on the other side) and no reservations (slight problem, however there are plenty of great bars within a few blocks to keep you busy while you wait).

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    It was a little bit difficult to find. For those searching: it's the door directly to the left of the Rowhouse Theatre. Otherwise the experience was excellent. My friends got there around 5pm on a Thursday and by the time I joined them at 5:15 they had been seated. We ordered shortly after and our food arrived in a very timely manner. I'd say we probably only waited 25 mins at the most, for 5 people to be served. Our server was nice and very helpful. The queso and homemade chips are delicious. Everyone had great things to say about their tacos. My veggie tacos were yummy, and I think the prices are appropriate. Next time I'd like to try the brisket or chicken tacos to actually get a feel for their smoked meat. It was a little bit chilly in there, so bring a sweater. Also, will be nice when they serve corn tortillas with their tacos - I asked the server and he said it's on the agenda. I'm sure the gluten-free folks out there will be appreciative. Overall - we all enjoyed our meals and the atmosphere, and will be returning.

    (4)

  • Richard W.

    While it's been over a year since they shut their Homestead location, the owners have obviously not been idle. Their new location in Lawernceville is very cool with a wooden and rustic interior. When I visited, they were piping in some old school rap that made for a fun brunch atmosphere. We got the Mac and cheese and queso to start. The Mac and cheese was good but didn't stand out as a signature dish. The queso was very flavorful and the homemade chips added to the dish. The breakfast tacos were well flavored and had a nice punch to them. We will defiantly be back.

    (5)

  • Jared L.

    I'm not really sure what to say other than this place blew away my expectations. I heard the buzz about Smoke for a while, and living in Lawrenceville waited patiently for its opening. It took a few weeks to get here but Smoke didn't disappoint. The tacos are amazing. The Pork Taco was tender and juicy with a slight spice from the apricot habanero salsa. Mmmmm. The Apple Chicken was really good too, but not my personal favorite. My wife also got the Pork Taco and thought it was really good. I also got an Egg Breakfast Taco out of curiosity and now know I can come here for a late breakfast! I tried her Brisket Taco and wished I had gotten that instead of the Chicken Apple, although she thought it was a little too spicy. The Mac and Cheese was perfection. Creamy and tasty with a lovely baked crust on the top. Some of the best I've had. We brought beer to drink and they even kept it in fridge for us to keep it cold. The server was very friendly and helpful with menu choices. He even told us we could call ahead and put our name on the list to save time. While I originally thought the prices for a single taco were high ($5-7 each) I now edit my thinking because they were absolutely worth the price. Smoke is delicious and trendy, and definitely worth the recommendation. We'll be back!

    (5)

  • Bill D.

    SMOKE didn't miss a beat when they reopened in Lawrenceville. They're still BYOB and happen to be next to a craft beer bottleshop right on Butler St. I always have trouble only picking 3 tacos, but my starting lineup would be the Chicken Apple, Pork, and Ribs. Don't forget about the Queso with homemade pita scoops or the White Cheddar Mac, and do yourself a favor and add bacon!!

    (5)

  • Manuel C.

    OH MY GOD GET HERE IF YOUR A FOODIE!!! Doesn't matter if your not a hipster it's a nice Atmosphere was friendly casual! You can dress nice. Also they got a huge smoker like to smoke the foods all day long low and slow. I watched them in the kitchen due to it being an open kitchen it was a pretty neat site. The smoker is nice they say it contains rotating racks for everything. Our food was awhile but that's due to the freshness. They got flavored water drinks that they let me sample! All made from scratch too. The chorizo if you like spicy food I recommend it. It's real nice and tender they do Sautee it just till it done. Mine was not over cooked which is good. Also l, the flavored watermelon was nice and very refreshing. Espicially on a hot day after a bike ride. The lemonade was not too lemony not too sugary either they found an awesome balance! Next, holy mac and cheese was huge, it was enough for us three. It had mascara one and sharp cheddar. The sharp cheese gave it a nice bite and it a nice beautiful crunch. Now let me start on the chorizo, very flavorful great combo of ingredients very spicy I say like a 6 or 7 on a 1-10 spicy scale. But l was still able to thoroughly enjoy it came with pinto beans think tomatoes onion, it was a nice size taco too! It had awesom le stuffed fried nuggets as a bonus this a delightful restaurunt to go to yes it's far for me but that's how much I love it and wana go back to it so bad! Overall, very amazed at this place oh everything is from scratch!

    (5)

  • Shannon M.

    I was all about the hype of this restaurant and the location is great and the inside of the restaurant is really nice. However, the cost for these tacos is a bit pricey for what you get. The brisket taco is good, but not $7 good. The amount of brisket was a tiny quantity. The mac and cheese was decent but very rich-so make sure to share with at least 2-3 others. Ended up spending $38 for four tacos and mac&cheese. Not too impressed with that and felt my money could have been spent elsewhere for higher quality food. It was nice to come during a weekday for lunch and not have to wait at all. I couldn't see myself waiting longer than 15 minutes here during a busy time at the restaurant. Service was fast and adequate-food came out in less than ten minutes. Also, the music the restaurant had playing was sooo loud during lunch and there were only three other occupied tables at this time. Oh and remember-cash only!

    (3)

  • Kristin H.

    I am pretty sure the queso dip is made from unicorn horns and daydreams. I've had a few of the tacos, and found the veggie to be my favorite, overall. Rumor has it that this week they are featuring a chicken and waffle taco...I don't know who is in charge over there, but I am convinced they fell straight from heaven.

    (5)

  • Jen F.

    Looking for great tacos. ....head here. The meat is fresh and great tortillas. I had the rib taco and the sirloin (brisket wasn't ready yet). Both were very good but I think the rib taco is hard to beat. My sister had the migas and said it was very good. I have had their mac and cheese prior to this visit and it's hard to beat. Only reason 4 and not 5 stars....the chips that come with queso are fried flour and hold a lot of grease.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : No
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Trendy
    Noise Level : Loud
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Smoke BBQ Taqueria

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